Barn Meadow forms a key part of Alresford’s rich agricultural Heritage
Here we can see how the water meadow’s irrigation channels appeared in 1870 – Ordnance Survey 6″ England & Wales Map 1870.
Over hundreds of years, this land was used as a working water meadow. Barn Meadow would be flooded in the early winter with water from the underground springs in the chalk aquifer. Coming from underground, the water is naturally warmed to around 11°C. This relative warmth changes growing conditions, allowing for an early hay crop – an early use of sustainable geothermal energy.
The hay crop was used to feed the sheep that were sold at the town’s sheep markets, which are the source of much of Alresford’s early wealth.
This is an illustration of the typical structures that make up a water meadow:
And with the magic of LiDAR imaging, we can see how those structures appear to this day at Barn Meadow:
The carrier channel still runs parallel to Drove Lane, between the two bridges. The ridges and furrows that make up the irrigation system are clearly visible on the LiDAR image. They help to account for the uniform distribution of certain vegetation on the aerial image on the main page.
LOSS OF WATER MEADOWS ON THE ITCHEN CATCHMENT
The Environment Agency’s Test & Itchen River Restoration Strategy Technical Report notes that “Particularly important on the River Itchen is the historic value of the water meadow system and associated structures.” The Arle/Alre being a tributary to the Itchen.
Yet surveys of Hampshire’s remaining water meadows show that between 2000 and 2018, 12 out of 37 water meadows were lost in the tributaries of the Upper Itchen – a reduction of 32% in just 18 years. This simply cannot be allowed to continue.
A VISION OF BARN MEADOW’S FUTURE?
Just a quarter of a mile downstream, you will find a wonderful example of the type of habitat Barn Meadow could be returned to. Hampshire Conservation Volunteers have restored and help maintain the water meadow structures at Stoke Mill, Ovington – see link. The water meadows are flooded every November for the enrichment of the wildlife that is dependent on this lowland fen habitat – see link.
Barn Meadow presents an opportunity for a similar restoration to species rich fen meadow. Such a change would greatly enhance the existing habitat and the vital connectivity it provides to the wildlife of the adjacent SSSI and SAC designated river.
Even in their own submission to the Community Consultation, the landowners describe Barn Meadow as “under-used farmland” and “an unmanaged parcel of private land”. This makes it clear that unless Barn Meadow is designated as Local Green Space (LGS) under Alresford’s emerging Neighbourhood Plan, the landowner sees no incentive to consider conservation work on the meadow.
Visit our page that sets out why Local Green Space designation is essential for Barn Meadow’s future and please help us continue to apply pressure on the town council to follow the community’s wishes by including the site as LGS.
