Near Bursledon
OS Map 196, Grid Ref SU493112 (First car park) or SU509119 (Manor Farm car
park), depending on task.
Client: Hampshire County Council, Manor Farm Country Park
Centuries ago Manor Farm, with its small church, was both manor and centre of the village. But when trade moved north to the Wickham turnpike the farm became a backwater of Bere Ashley. When the Council added it to Upper Hamble Country Park, it was a typical early 1920s farm of unimproved pasture, hay meadows and small arable plots surrounded by thick hedgerows and small copses and roughs. It complemented the ancient woods of Docks and Catlands Copse with their small-leaved lime and fields of pendulous sedge, and the shores of the tidal Hamble. Now the Council has some 400 acres, and the farm has been turned back another century to provide both a working example of a nineteenth century farm, and an educational resource for the people of Hampshire.
The park has two ponds. One is by the demonstration farm buildings, and has ducks, an island and a visiting water vole. The wilder pond, shown here, is mostly covered by reeds. A channel was cleared to maintain some open water.
Our ongoing work also covers fencing, path repairs and woodland management. The
woodland work includes coppicing and thinning out of areas to improve their
wildlife value.
For more information see their website:
Manor Farm Country Park.
The first car park is on the right after the gatekeeper’s
hut. From J8 of the M27, head north towards Hedge End, but turn right into
Pylands lane, signed Manor Farm Country Park. If the gatekeeper is on duty,
tell him you are here for the task and you will get free entry.
Manor Farm car park is over one mile further on along the lane. Look out for
the yellow HCV flags.
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