Friends of Petersfield Heath
Looking after the Heath
Petersfield Heath - a precious area where the natural environment and people's enjoyment go hand in hand.
An area of public land that has much to offer everyone, from bird watching, boating, dog walking, picnicking, cricket and fishing. The Millennium Path, which circles the Pond, is suitable for wheelchairs.
The Friends of Petersfield Heath is an independent group, formed in 1999. Its aims are to promote an interest in this wonderful area of public land that is so rich in archaeology, history and natural history; to preserve the Heath as an area of natural heath land, grassland, woodland and water for the enjoyment of all who use it; to work closely with Petersfield Town Council in helping to manage the Heath and to undertake voluntary work where appropriate.
Petersfield Heath, covering some 95 acres, has been used by humans since ancient times and is the site of a group of 21 Bronze Age barrows ( or burial mounds) - one of the most complex in southern England. During the Middle Ages the Heath was grazed common land and, indeed, photographs show that grazing continued until the late 1920's. The now mature pine trees were planted on the barrows during Victorian times.
In 1890 the land was developed as a golf course by Petersfield Golf Club. Fairways were laid out through the heath land and a club house was built. In 1998 the Golf Club left the Heath. The open fairways are now being managed to return them to heath land as it was prior to 1890 - heath land being an increasingly rare and endangered wildlife habitat in Western Europe. The Friends of Petersfield Heath are involved in ensuring that the Heath is managed for the enjoyment of all.
Photos reproduced by kind permission of Peter Price