Upper Clatford Conservation Group 

Are you interested in looking after our beautiful Parish area?  If so, the Upper Clatford Conservation Group is a bunch of like-minded individuals who give up a couple of hours on the first Saturday of each month to improve some of the public countryside areas.  Tasks range from ivy and tree management, footpath clearance, heritage restoration and riverside management.  The tools used range from secateurs and pruning saws to brushcutters and chainsaws, but volunteers use the tools with which they feel comfortable and are qualified to use, so don’t be put off if a chainsaw is not for you!

Most parishioners believe that all of the open space and pathways in the parish area are fully managed by either TVBC or Hampshire County Council. It's not that simple!  Upper Clatford Parish Council have responsibility for the grounds maintenance for the sports pitches, parks and village green but this mainly covers grass cutting. This means our pathways often get overgrown and trees get choked up with ivy making them unstable and at risk of falling, in some cases. Hampshire County Council do have a responsibility regarding the paths through the  Countryside Access team but have very limited resources so rely upon groups such as this one to undertake many tasks that keep our countryside accessible.  In many cases we work in collaboration with the Hampshire County Council to achieve what needs to be done. Notable successes have been the relaying of part of the pathway round Bury Hill Ring and the replacement of the handrail on the entrance to Bury Hill Meadows from the Anna Valley side. 

If you're interested in coming along and joining  - we would really welcome you, whatever time you have to spare. We normally meet one Saturday a month for a morning.

Email: rnhbennett@hotmail.com for more information. 

 

New Handrail for Bury Hill Meadows Access Path

 

A new handrail has been constructed on the path from Anna Valley to Bury Hill Meadows to aid the safety of walkers, particularly in the wet periods.  The project was initiated by Richard Bennett who leads the Upper Clatford Conservation Group; led by Gemma Clinch, the Community Engagement Officer from Hampshire Countryside Services; funded and resourced by Test Valley Borough Council through the efforts of Rachel Hoyes and ably supported by conservation volunteer Charles Emmett. The end result is a fantastic improvement to the path. Big thanks to all involved.   A truly joint project to enhance access to the Countryside.