Basingbourne Heath

Location: Church Crookham, Fleet

Grid Reference: SU 807525

Access: Gained through Cranford Avenue, Wickham Road, Longdown, Award Road, Fairmile, Greenways and Basingbourne Road.

Terrain: A short length of public footpath runs through the site connecting Greenways to Cranford Avenue. Other paths, that follow a loop around the woods and heath, are more informal and can become wet during the winter and spring.

Facilities: Car Parking from Basingbourne Road is available beside the playground.

Basingbourne Heath is a fragile oasis completely surrounded by development. The reserve is comprised of two small pockets of heathland, which are enclosed by birch and pine woodland totalling 17.5 hectares (40 acres).

The two surviving pockets of heathland are remnants of the habitat that would have once covered the whole of north Hampshire, and much of southern England. Dominated by heather and purple moor grass, scattered pools exist throughout the heaths, providing permanent havens for their associated wildlife. Within this range of wildlife are nationally rare species of plants and insects. A looped walk covers, in a figure of eight, all corners of the site but can become boggy following rain.

Hart Countryside Service carries out conservation work within both the heaths and surrounding woodlands. Small pockets of scattered scrub have been cleared from the heathlands to allow its associated species to flourish once more. Glades have also been created in the woodland to allow the re-colonised by the heathland species, therefore gradually increasing the extent of the heathland.

Volunteer work parties are held annually allowing local residents to become involved in the management of the heath.