The wonderful Millennium Green was created in 2000 as part of a nationwide initiative by the Countryside Agency to create accessible open spaces. It is an area of land on the west side of Laverstoke Lane open to public access and recreation.
Its irregular shape surrounds the Parish sports facilities and encompasses a children’s play area, a quiet garden, recreation and events field, woodland area and path, and a spring fed pond and stream which flows into the River Test. The Green was promoted by the Parish Council and supported with Lottery funding, a grant from Basingstoke and Deane BC and through village fundraising.
The playground is popular place for village children. It was refurbished in 2017 with grant support from Basingstoke and Deane BC. The wood has a well-worn, shady path and it is full of snowdrops in late winter and bluebells in Spring. A small wooden bridge links it to the field which is used for informal games and has seats from which to enjoy the Hampshire country side and wonderful sunsets over Batts Meadow. The field is used for village events and has hosted village celebrations for the Jubilee, Coronation and other national and local events.
The quiet garden is a peaceful area with seats and is called the ‘secret garden’ by the local nursery children. It looks on to the field and park land which has some wonderful Cedar of Lebannon trees on the horizon.
The pond, which was an old watercress bed, has a viewing platform and a path links to a newly created permissive path alongside the stream. The creation of the platform was supported by the Watercress and Winterbournes project (Hants & IOW Wildlife Trust). With Basingstoke and Deane BC they also supported the creation of a permissive path alongside the stream which links the pond to public footpaths and the Mill Trail. There are paths all around the Green to enjoy this beautiful part of Hampshire.
The Green is owned and managed by a Charitable Trust (registered charity no. 1077392) which holds it in perpetuity for the benefit of the community and is maintained though work from fabulous volunteers and donations. . Click here to find out more about how you can get involved/donate to the trust.
