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History
of the Wickham Water Meadows
text
and photos by Mike Gosney
What
is a Water Meadow?
Water
meadows have long been in existence in two basic forms: the earlier and
naturally occurring ones formed by the regular winter flooding of low lying land
usually adjacent to a river; and ones whereby river water is persuaded to flow
through an area of land by means of a series of man made ridges and small
ditches. Wickham’s Water Meadows
are of the natural variety.
The
early history of Wickham’s Water Meadows.
Owned by
the Lord of the Manor until the early part of the 20th century, from medieval
times to World War II the site of some eight acres was used as a meadow for the
grazing of cattle. Winter flooding
by the River Meon rendered it unsuitable for other forms of cultivation but the
flood water kept the frost out of the ground, allowing a much needed early
spring growth of grass for the cattle. Since
shortly after World War II the site has been left to nature as a sanctuary for
wild life, becoming populated with trees and scrub, and covered with a thick
blanket of stinging nettles, hog weed, and brambles.
Man has
had two major impacts on the site. First,
at some time prior to the mid 18th century, a subsidiary water course was dug to
provide a flow of water to a man-made water meadows at Fontley, and possibly to
improve the drainage from the village. Then
in 1766 a set of hatches across the River Meon was constructed to enhance the
effect of the side stream by forcing a greater flow of water along it when
necessary. Man’s second major impact came in the early twentieth century, when
the railway embankment was constructed along the site’s south-eastern
boundary. The embankment, which
today forms part of the Meon Valley bridle path, reduced the useable area of the
Meadows, but despite this they were still used for grazing from time to time
until the early 1960’s.
The
Water Meadows as they were in 1996
Recent
history of the Water Meadows.
The site
had long been regarded by villagers as one which should be made available as a
public open space when, in 1982, a Parish Appraisal elicited the response that
“The great majority are in favour of the local authority acquiring this area
should the opportunity arise”..., popular suggestions for its use being for
walking, recreation and leisure, as an open space and park, and for picnicking.
This view was later endorsed in the Winchester District’s Southern
Parishes Plan of 1991 and then the District Plan of 1994.
Then in 1996 ownership of
the site changed, and the new owner approached the Parish Council to see if they
would like to rent some of the Water Meadows for public use.
The Parish Council responded positively, but as
reclamation of the site was obviously going to be a major and expensive
exercise, decided that if possible the site should be purchased outright.
In
January 1997 the details became known of a scheme by which a grant of up to 50%
of the cost of acquiring and developing a “Millennium Green” could be
provided. The scheme, funded by the
Millennium Commission and administered by the Countryside Agency, aimed at the
creation of 250 “Millennium Greens” around the country.
Naturally, there were stringent criteria which had to be met in order to
qualify for a grant, but it was amazing how clearly these could be met in the
case of Wickham’s Water Meadows. Among
the criteria were that the green should have public support, be open to all,
have easy local access, be a new area of green space, and have links to another
green space or public right of way such as the old railway embankment.
1997 was therefore devoted to preparing first a Proposal, then a detailed
Site Plan, and finally the formal Grant Application.
The Application met with success on 17th December when an offer of a 50%
grant was received. The Wickham
Water Meadows Millennium Green Project was in being.
A
fundamental condition of a grant was that the site should be owned and run by a
registered charity, so in March 1998 the Wickham Water Meadows Millennium Green
Trust was established with the Parish Council as the Corporate Trustee.
The Site Plan was further defined (trees, fences, ground clearance, and
bridges) in order to be able to invite tenders, and the legal process of
purchasing the 5.7 acre site commenced. Completion
of the purchase took place on Friday, 10th July, just in time for work on the
trees to start the following Monday. Fences
and ground clearance then followed that autumn.
As soon
as ground conditions allowed, the abutments for the new bridge across the River
Meon were built early in May 1999, the bridge itself being installed later that
month. Timber edged gravel paths
(made 8 inches deep because of the ground characteristics), steps up the old
railway embankment, three picnic tables and six benches then followed, and the
Environment Agency made some great improvements to the river, replacing the old
hatches by a “ripple” effect with boulders.
Although local people enjoyed the Meadows that summer (especially the
youngsters who found they had access to the river as had their grandparents),
the official opening did not occur until Sunday, 5th September.
This was performed in glorious weather by the Mayor of Winchester who cut
tapes across the new bridge over the River Meon.
Those who had helped on the project were present as guests, together with
about 100 villagers many of whom had brought a picnic with which to end the
event.
In 2000
routine maintenance of the site began with regular cutting, by both volunteers
and professionals, of the grass on the picnic area and at the sides of the
paths. In September, the Trust
acquired the Old Forge. This had
always been in the plan as the building was becoming dilapidated and unsightly.
If refurbished it would not only form a worthy entrance to the Water
Meadows and remove an eyesore on entry to the village from the south, but it
could well become a useful adjunct to the main purpose of the project, the Water
Meadows themselves.
In the
summer of 2001 the roof of the Old Forge was replaced by a smart new one, and
plans laid for the refurbishment of the interior which included the addition of
a small toilet block since almost any use to which the building was eventually
put would call for this.
Early in
2002 a Planning Application was submitted and approved, water supply and
disposal negotiated, and building in earnest started in August.
Work was completed in September and a small local business took a three
year lease with the Trust. This was
a most appropriate use for the Old Forge as the income would directly support
the primary object of the Trust by providing for the regular maintenance of
“an open space to be known as ‘Wickham Water Meadows Millennium Green’ for
the benefit of the Inhabitants and to be used forever as an area of informal
recreation....” as the Trust Deed puts it.
With this, the Water Meadows project was concluded.
Old Forge
2000 Old Forge 2002
Thanks.
This
project could not have been brought to a successful conclusion without the
support and help of a great number of people and organisations.
The Parish Council both inspired the project and supported it
financially. The people of Wickham,
among them noticeably the Primary School children, demonstrated their enthusiasm
for the project, which was vital in obtaining the main Millennium Greens grant.
Many of them, either as members of a village organisation or as
individuals, gave generous donations and once the project had started gave
voluntary help. During the formulation of the site plan much help was received
from the Countryside Agency, Hampshire County Council, Winchester District
Council, the Environment Agency, and Hampshire Wildlife Trust.
On the financial front, the solicitors acting for the Trust gave some of
their services free, as did the Environment Agency in their work on the River
Meon. Winchester District and
Hampshire County Council both gave grants, and the latter was instrumental in a
large grant being received from the Onyx Trust to cover the cost of the two new
bridges. Some of the major local
contractors provided their services and materials on a non profit making basis.
Thanks
to all those mentioned above, and to many not mentioned, Wickham now has at its
heart a green and tranquil “oasis”, giving villagers and visitors alike a
place to enjoy a walk, or a picnic, or just a quiet moment beside the waters of
the River Meon.
 
The
Water Meadows in 1999
Come and see for yourselves
Note
from the webmaster
Without
the work of Mike Gosney, assisted by Dick Warwick in the early days, this
project would not have come to fruition. Mike worked tirelessly as Project
Manager for the Water Meadows, taking on the Old Forge refurbishment as work on
the Meadows reached completion. The Parish is very fortunate to have
benefited from Mike's commitment and management expertise.
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