Bushfield Down Supporters Group

Working to preserve
Bushfield Down
and its surrounding area

VILLAGE GREEN APPLICATION FOR BUSHFIELD DOWN
(see the Open Spaces Society for details of Village Green rights)

LATEST UPDATE - January 2010

Following our application to achieve ‘Town and Village Green’ status, progress has been made but we are not out of the woods yet.

An objection to our application has been received from the Church Commissioners and a local farmer. Hampshire County Council has requested our response to these objections. We are working with the Open Spaces society and other very helpful people and will deliver this to HCC in January.

NOTE: People who have been using Bushfield since 1983 at least
Although we have at least 40 written statements to date, we may need to ask for more statements by locals who have been using Bushfield since at least 1983 for 'lawful sports and pastimes' - including walking, running, dog walking, blackberry picking, bird watching, picnicking, sledging or other recreational activities. If you fall into this category and would be prepared to swear a statement that this is the case, please email us at villagegreen@bushfielddown.co.uk.

All help is greatly welcomed to retain this marvellous piece of Hampshire countryside for recreational use by local residents.

Local Residents Enjoying the Snow on Bushfield Down - January 2010

click on the photographs below to view them in full-size

[1] boys with toboggan [2] view of St Catherine's Hill from Bushfield Down [3] families enjoying the snow on Bushfield Down [4] igloo with old tyre 'door' on Bushfield camp parade ground
[5] girls sledging on Bushfield Down [6] looking towards the beech avenue on Bushfield Down

One view why it is important to preserve Bushfield.

Andrew Rutter
'Winchester. Heart of a City' 2009

"Bushfield Down.  This is a unique area which, although it does not have any distinctive features, nonetheless by virtue of its elevated position on the west side of the valley plays a crucial part in the setting of St Cross, as well as providing a backdrop to the central conservation area. It also represents the best position to appreciate the three principal medieval buildings that give Winchester conservation area its visual character, the Cathedral, Winchester College and St Cross in their original downland setting, still amazingly unaffected by modern development. If one considers that these three groups of medieval buildings are of both national and European cultural importance .. unblemished by subsequent development, then the desirability of retaining this open space - part of their setting - becomes essential and should never be downgraded."

Andrew Rutter was Conservation Officer for Winchester City Council from 1974-1999

UPDATE - June 2009
An application for the registration of the Bushfield area as a Town or Village Green under Section 15
of the 2006 Commons Act was submitted to Hampshire County Council on Monday 30th June 2008

THANKS - June 2009
We would like to thank EVERYONE for your support! A large number of local residents have been involved providing material for the application, from witness statements to photographs and other evidence of use of the land. 

More than 80 people provided evidence of having taken part in 'as of right lawful sports and pastimes - without force, without stealth or secrecy, and without permission' on the land for many years - with one respondent providing evidence of having used the area since 1941!

SUBMISSION - June 2009
Bushfield Down Supporters Group members submitting
the application at Hampshire County Council offices



(click to view full-sized images in a new browser window)



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Supporters' Meeting - WhiteShute Ridge. Saturday 7th June 2008

A very successful meeting was held on Saturday, 7th June with approx. 50 people attending. John Pilkington, well-known local travel writer and broadcaster, emphasised the importance of the application in the wider context of preservation and access to the area

     
Photographs of the 7th June meeting
(click to view full-sized images in a new browser window)

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ABOUT BUSHFIELD

Bushfield Down is an area of outstanding natural beauty on the edge of four quite densely populated residential areas to the south of Winchester, Hampshire.

Bushfield Down offers extraordinary access to an open space filled with wild flowers and inhabited by many forms of wildlife. It is an area that provides a very special kind of freedom to local people who run, walk their dogs, explore with their children, and engage in other recreational activities.

Quite specific to the area are  the wonderful views of Winchester. From Bushfield Down you can see the 800-year old St Cross Church, the 900-year old Winchester Cathedral, St Catherine's Hill with its Iron Age earth works and many areas of Winchester.

Local residents of the area surrounding Bushfield Down are working to preserve their right to use this area for recreation. Please contact us if you would like more information or if you would like to join the Bushfield Down supporters group in working to retain access to this beautiful area.

Email contact:  villagegreen@bushfielddown.co.uk

Click here for details of the BIRDS ON BUSHFIELD DOWN