Andrew-C

Bursledon

Woodland Park.This 4-acre woodland, open to public access on foot, lies to the east of Pilands Wood recreation ground and can be entered using the two wooden footbridges across the stream. It is owned and managed by the Woodland Park Community Group, a local registered charity. Volunteer work parties are held periodically. The group has it's own website, and provides updates of it's activities in the Magpie Express, the Pilands Wood newsletter.

Susannah Ritchie memorial seat, St Leonards churchyard. This seat in memory of Bursledon's local historian is situated near the lych gate in the new churchyard, facing towards the war memorial. The seat also faces towards the grave of Sir Mansfield Cumming, founder of MI6, with whom Susannah's father worked during their service in the navy. The area around the seat is being enhanced with informal planting including spring bulbs, the work being done by volunteers from Bursledon & District Gardening Club.

The WI boat. A small dinghy has been made into an attractive feature at the junction of Long Lane and School Road. Filled with compost it is planted to provide year round interest, with plants in flower from early spring till late autumn. Tended by keen gardeners from the local WI. Bursledon WI webpage

Local conservation projects

The Village Hall garden. By Bursledon & District Gardening Club. Removal of laurel and rhododendron. Replanting for low-maintenance through terram membrane covered with woodchips. The garden is now well established, and the effort of the volunteers has been much admired.

The Middle Allotment Green Space. A formerly derelict allotment, it has been converted into a wildlife conservation area. There is a small pond at the entrance which has tended to dry out in the recent hot summers. At the back of the glade is an area of woodland leading up the hill towards Kew Lane.

Bursledon Wild Wood is in the school's grounds. The infant and junior schools have quite large grounds including an area of woodland  leading down to the boundary with School Road. This wood, now named Bursledon Wild Wood, has been improved to provide a useful teaching resource. There is an oak built seating area and a viewing platform, constructed with help from Eastleigh Borough Council Countryside Service and the Millenium Volunteers. Much of the improvement and maintenance work has been done by local volunteers, many of whom are children from the school and their parents. Workdays are arranged twice each year, in spring and autumn.