Portsmouth woodland walk to be created thanks to £20,000 grant
TRANQUIL Hilsea Lines in Portsmouth. Picture: Allan Hutchings (120258-868)
HISTORIC Hilsea Lines is to get a new woodland walk thanks to a £20,000 grant.
A Woodland Improvement Grant has been handed to Portsmouth City Council by the Forestry Commission to give the beauty spot a makeover.
The funds will be used to build new paths and improve existing ones, put up information boards and put new seating in the area.
A new woodland walk will be marked out to help guide nature-lovers through the area.
Linda Prior, secretary of the Ramblers’ Association Portsmouth Group, said: ‘It’s great to see this area is getting a bit of attention because it’s a really nice walk up there, but it does need a bit of an upgrade.
‘It will be good to have footpaths with clearer markings that make it easier for people to get around, and make them feel safer out there.
‘Hopefully once all the new plans are in place it will encourage more people to go walking in the area and enjoy visiting the north of the city, as well as the south.’
The improvement plans were developed through feedback from volunteers and users of the area, and the work will be carried out over the next five years.
In addition to the £20,000 grant, funding for up to £10,000 is also available for woodland maintenance and planting – a considerable boost to the £2,000 normally available to maintain the site each year.
Cllr Lee Hunt, the city’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport said: ‘This is fantastic news for Hilsea Lines and the many people who enjoy visiting the site to enjoy a taste of the country in the city.
‘Woodlands today have great potential as a community resource for education and recreation.
‘This extra funding means there will be more woodland accessible for free for the public to enjoy and support for the maintenance of important habitats for wildlife.’
Hilsea Lines covers just under 200 acres and contains woodland, hedgerows, meadows, water areas, and marshland.
The area also includes fortifications built during the 19th century on the orders of the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, to protect the northern flank of Portsmouth from attack by the French.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
BrigitteB
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 01:57 PMReally wish I'd paid attention in History now... it's all around us if we know what clues to look for!
BrigitteB
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 01:56 PMI wonder if Palmerston Road get's it's name from Lord Palmerston!
spencerc
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:11 AMWhat happened to plans to open up paths on the other side in horth harbour around to the old land fill site? Wasn't that going to be walking areas nature reserve and picnic ares etc?
owallace
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:52 AMlets hope it gets policed better by wardens and catch the dog walkers who let there dogs fowl the area i get fed up seeing it everywhere you walk. MORE BINS & BIGGER FINES
syncropair
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:26 AMNot such a nice place to walk now as there has been an increase in the amount of dog poo left behind.
grammarschoolboy
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:13 AMStill a lovely place to have a walk with the dog. I remember as a child in Cosham roaming these shores for hours but without the sound of that horrendous traffic that passes now. It was just boats then and the swans were just by the garage.
BlondBarefootRunner
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 09:34 AMThat is great news hopefully it will benefit runners too as I have ran through the Foxy's Forest a few times and one slip you can twist your ankle. So if there is going to be a new path hopefully it will be smooth and feet friendly as during the Summer time it is lovely to run through. Happy Barefoot Running :o)
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.