Greenways
Southampton has an amazing amount of wildlife. Most of our open spaces are managed to encourage biodiversity and protect the wildlife, and mowing regimes are timed to allow wildflowers to complete their life cycle.
The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre, situated on Southampton Common, can provide information and advice about wildlife in the city, which areas are managed for biodiversity and how you can encourage wildlife into your garden or local space.
Greenways
Greenways are ribbons of open space that follow stream valleys. They form valuable breaks in the built up area and in some cases reach out into the open countryside beyond. They provide areas for recreation, enhance Southampton’s landscape and provide a green corridor for wildlife.
Bassett Wood Greenway
At one time part of the grounds of the late 19th Century house named Bassett Wood.
Broadlands Valley Greenway
Originally part of the 300 acre estate bought by Thomas Dummer in 1705 for £3,400. He built South Stoneham House nearby overlooking the River Itchen.
Lords Wood Greenway
A large portion of Old Red Lodge Farm, part of the extensive Stoneham Estate owned by John Fleming, is now Southampton City Golf Course.
Lordsdale Greenway
To the north west of Aldermoor Road (on land which is now Nursling Plantation) there was a prehistoric settlement known as Aldermoor Camp.
Monks Brook Greenway
The Grange was built by the Dummer family in 1705. The house, a red brick mansion in Queen Anne style, was badly damaged by a fire in 1964 and was demolished in 1974.
Rollesbrook Valley Greenway
During the Middle Ages, Rollesbrook Valley lay to the east of the village of Hill. The village takes its name from the nearby hill at the ancient crossing point of Four Posts.
Shoreburs Greenway
William Chamberlayne built Weston Grove House in 1802 on land that he inherited from his life long friend Thomas Dummer of Cranbury.
Westwood Greenway
Formerly part of a large estate in the ownership of the Cistercian monastery of Netley Abbey.
