Southwick Estate Visit (10th March 2007)

Everyone herd the talk!

On a beautiful spring morning in March, 20 keen walkers gathered in the village car park at Southwick to enjoy a guided walk around the Southwick Estate. The walk, led by Estate Manager Christopher Langford, was organised by CPRE Hampshire as part of their annual 'educational visits & walks' programme for 2007.

During the course of the walk, the group visited an ancient barn which has been converted to environmentally friendly offices, walked through the (very soggy!) water meadows, learnt about the reasoning behind the kerbing of the lane edges, and how Sparsholt College managed to do a 'count' of the fish in this part of the river Wallington. The walk also went through Lodge dairy farm, where Christopher and the farmer, Andrew Humphrey explained the financial plight of today's dairy farmer, and why so many are going out of business. The group were quite shocked to learn about the issues facing the farming community, and left the farm having a new appreciation of this way of life.

Through the woods to see the young planted trees and learn about the future of woodland management, and into the little church of St Nicholas, South Boarhunt where Christopher stood in the pulpit to give a talk on the history of the building - this also gave the walkers a chance to sit down and gather their strength for the next part of the walk!

The group then walked up onto Portsdown Hill and admired the long distance views North over the estate and beyond to Waterlooville, and to the South, over Portsmouth, the Solent, Southampton Water, and the Isle of Wight. Christopher also pointed out the areas earmarked for potential development, which will make such a dramatic difference to this stunning part of Hampshire.

Past Fort Nelson, where the group stopped to hear a little about the history of the 5 Forts built to defend Portsmouth from the French, and across fields and down the road into Southwick - where, sadly, the group had first hand experience of the epidemic of fly-tipping that blights the estate; at least 20 tyres, plainly thrown off a passing truck, were abandoned on the grass bank and even on the road. Christopher has been working with CPRE to produce a guidance leaflet for land managers and farmers, advising on how to deal with fly-tipping incidents, and this is a project that will (hopefully) go further. This is becoming a major problem for all landowners.

The walkers arrived back in the village after a 4 hour, 10km walk that left them tired but thoroughly invigorated by what they had seen and learnt. There was just time for a quick drink in the local pub, to see the steam engine working, before heading home.

Pam Mason
14th March 2007