Hocombe Mead
Hocombe Mead is a 400 year old, eight hectare countryside site comprising of beautiful ancient woodland and meadows
Hocombe Mead lies between Hiltingbury Road and Hocombe Road. The ancient woodland and meadows can be found on maps dating back to 1588 and support many special plants, fungi and animals, including Purple Loosestrife and 29 species of butterfly.
The reserve is bordered by residential properties and can be accessed on foot from Hiltingbury Road, Hocombe Drive and the northern end of Ashdown Road.
Hocombe Mead
- 226 Hiltingbury Road, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh SO53 5NN
Parking
There is no designated parking for Hocombe Mead, but it is possible to park at the shops in Ashdown Road and walk to the Hiltingbury Road entrance.
Hocombe Mead was declared a Local Nature Reserve in February 2008. In the same year a partnership was set up with The Grasslands Trust using funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund which provided a Community Grasslands Officer for the site. The aim was to improve visitor access to the site and provide opportunities for the local community to take part in activities there. More details can be found at their site set up as part of the project www.hocombe-mead.org
In the same year a partnership was set up with The Grasslands Trust using funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund which provided a Community Grasslands Officer for the site. The aim was to improve visitor access to the site and provide opportunities for the local community to take part in activities there.
Accessibility
There is a viewing platform that is accessible by wheelchairs from the Ashdown Road entrance and gives a lovely view of the North Meadow. There are interpretation boards throughout the reserve.