Itchen Valley Country Park

Itchen Valley Country Park is a country park in West End, Hampshire, England. As the name suggests, the River Itchen runs through the park, which covers 440 acres (1.8 km2).[1] The park has a number of walks and trails, including an off-road cycling track. There are a number of facilities for children, including a play area and a play trail. The Itchen Way footpath borders the park. The park was awarded the Green Flag award in 2009/10 and 2010/11.[2]

Itchen Valley Country Park
The visitors' centre
TypeCountry park
LocationWest End, Hampshire, UK
Coordinates50.943°N 1.345°W / 50.943; -1.345
Area440 acres (1.8 km2)
Operated byEastleigh Borough Council
StatusOpen all year

History

The site is on the opposite bank of the river to Southampton Airport, the runway of which is reputedly built over the remains of a Roman villa.[3]

The park was established when over 350 acres (1.4 km2) of the site were acquired by Eastleigh Borough Council in 1979.[4] The visitor centre was built in 1990.[1] In 2010 work started on a Go Ape adventure course in the park, which opened in Spring 2011.[5]

A free, weekly timed 5km parkrun is held at 9am every Saturday, having started on February 29, 2020.

Geography

The park contains a 250-acre (100 ha) water meadow nature reserve, 90 acres (36 ha) of ancient woodland (a third of which is classified as "semi-rural"), 60 acres (24 ha) of grazing land and a 40-acre (16 ha) recreation field.[4]

  • The recreation field and playground
    The recreation field and playground
  • Part of the woodland trail
    Part of the woodland trail

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Itchen Valley Country Park.

References
  1. Eastleigh Borough Council: Itchen Valley Country Park Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 5 April 2007
  2. "Green Flag awards". Eastleigh Borough Council website. Eastleigh Borough Council. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  3. Itchen Locations: Roman Level Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 5 April 2007
  4. Itchen Locations: Modern Level Accessed 5 April 2007
  5. "Go ahead for Go Ape". Eastleigh Borough Council website. Eastleigh Borough Council. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
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