Hillier's Haven
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Countryside award for Hillier's Haven
Hillier’s Haven has been awarded the CPRE Hampshire 2018 Countryside Award: Making Places - Building & Landscapes, for the work undertaken to enhance this previously unused space.
The open space in Abbots Barton was transformed from an inaccessible site to a green recreational environment for local residents to enjoy. Visitors can now explore woodland paths, a meadow area with stone fire pits, bird and bat boxes and a sculpture trail.
Cllr Jan Warwick, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said:
“This is fantastic news and this CPRE award shows what a wonderful job the Council’s Landscape and Open Spaces team has done.
The transformation has turned it into an idyllic place for families and people of ages to enjoy and it has really enhanced the area.
This administration is working hard to ensure that our open spaces are protected and enhanced throughout the district, and Hillier’s Haven is a great example of how we can achieve this.”The transformation of Hillier’s Haven was made possible through funding from the affordable Winchester City Council home development at Hillier Way.
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Naming of Open Space at Hillier Way
The Council’s Landscape and Open Spaces team are excited to announce that the new area will be called Hillier’s Haven – as suggested by local resident and Winchester Cub Scout Tom Duxbury after he won a competition to come up with a good name for the area.
Nine-year-old Tom Duxbury, who received some Wonky Woodpecker prizes for his contribution, said:
I live nearby and walk past the space for school and rugby so I’m really excited about Hillier’s Haven opening. I came up with the name because it is near Hillier Way and chose haven as it’s somewhere to come to be peaceful and quiet.
The new space has been designed by Winchester City Council’s Principal Landscape Architect Clare Penny, who said:
Thank-you to everyone who voted and especially Tom for submitting the favourite – Hillier’s Haven. We are moving forward with the project and are delighted to be able to provide these new facilities for the community.
An interview with Clare about Hillier's Haven can be found at the link on the right.
Hillier’s Haven will feature paths through the woodland, a meadow area with stone fire pits, bird and bat boxes, a sculpture trail, and interpretation boards showing a map of the area and details of the animals and plants you might come across.