Scrub Clearance, Valley Park Woodlands Nature Reserve

Description

Meeting Point: Knightwood Leisure Centre

Valley Park Woodlands are located North of Chilworth and East of Chandlers Ford in the South of the Borough of Test Valley.  The five separate woodlands surround a large housing development making it ideally situated for educational visits as well as recreation.

All of the woodlands that make up the site are recorded on the Natural England Register of Ancient Semi Natural Woodland in Hampshire.  These ancient woodlands which cover approximately 40 hectares feature a mix of restored coppice, woodland rides, open glades, ponds, and rough grassland.  Managed by Test Valley Borough Council since 1998.  Two of the woodlands, Zionshill Copse and Little Covert were designated a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in 2002, with the remainder of the site achieving LNR status in 2009.  In 2010 Valley Park Woodlands LNR was awarded highly coveted Green Flag status.