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Friends of North Stoneham Park
Eastleigh Borough Council, the Willis Fleming Historical Trust and BTCV are working together to set up a new community group to promote and look after the history, environment, and landscape of the historic North Stoneham Park.
Being involved in the group will give members opportunities to: learn about the fascinating history and wildlife of the area; organise events that interest them with support from local experts; get to know other like-minded members of the community; and develop personal skills and experience.
North Stoneham Park once covered the area that's bounded by Chestnut Avenue, Winchester Road, Bassett Green Road, and Stoneham Lane. The development of the landscape can be traced over two thousand years, through a Saxon deer park in the Middle Ages, and its redesign by the famous Capability Brown in the 1770s. The area is also of great interest to nature conservation, with its historic parkland habitats supporting a range of rare species. The area includes Avenue Park and its recently restored War Shrine, St Nicolas Church, and a circular walk using several public paths.
The group will be driven by local people with an interest in the area, and some of the functions that it might perform include:
- Raising awareness of the historic landscape of North Stoneham Park, for example by promoting walks to connect important features.
- Establishing links between different landowners and residents of the area to bring the historic landscape together.
- Researching and promoting the history of the area.
- Keeping an eye on important features such as the Shrine, and reporting problems or vandalism to the relevant authorities.
- Helping to organise Remembrance Day services at the Shrine in Avenue Park.
- Holding events that involve the wider public in the area, such as guided walks, local history events and talks.
- Allowing the Shrine to be opened to visitors through acting as voluntary wardens on open days.
- Helping conserve the wildlife of the area by taking part in practical conservation tasks.
- Organising projects to restore and enhance important features of the area.
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