Introduction

The project commenced on 18th October 2004 and is being undertaken by the Overton Biodiversity Society (OBS). Roles and responsibilities for project delivery were established and a project management plan was developed.

The OBS website www.overton-biodiversity.org is a rich resource with many pictures and also a good summary of activities by the society generally, including the LHI project activities.

The LHI project has been well-publicised locally. At OBS meetings and talks, details and progress with the LHI project are displayed. The project is regularly featured in the village monthly news-sheet and there have been articles on several occasions in the local paper, the Andover Advertiser. The Chair of OBS was also interviewed about the project on local radio in Spring 2005.


The situation concerning formal project outputs at Easter 2006 was:


Project Output Progress

Surveys Hedgerow final report available on website & data provided to CPRE, HWT and HBIC.Tree survey continuing: 430 recorded
Workshops and Presentations Skills workshop on hedgerow surveying completed 2005 Q3Tree identification presentation made in 2006 Q1Workshop on ground flora planned for 2006 Q2
Nature Trails All 3 routes developed
Route Markers Permission granted for sighting. Several prototypes available
Trail Leaflets All proof-read and ready for printing
Guided Walks Planned for 2006 Q2
Interpretation Panels Site for village-centre panel identified content being planned

This report briefly describes progress in each of the main activity areas.


Hedgerow Surveys

Various Overton Biodiversity Society members received training in hedgerow surveying from the Hampshire Wildlife Trust (HWT) and subsequently organised local skills training for survey volunteers. As part of this, a pictorial field guide to leaf shapes was produced and found to be very helpful.

In the summer 2003 the OBS carried out a survey of 21 hedgerows based on the protocol developed by the Steering Group for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for Ancient and/or Species-rich Hedgerows (see 2003 hedge report). During 2004, the OBS surveyed further randomly selected hedgerows throughout the parish and, in addition, two specific 1km2 areas as a contribution to a Hampshire Hedgerow survey pilot. Altogether 77 hedgerows throughout the parish were surveyed and there was a considerable task of collating and analysing all the data (see Final Hedgerow Survey report). Following completion of the Overton hedgerow survey report, a number of hedgerows were additionally surveyed in 2005 as part of a CPRE/HWT Hampshire survey. All Overton data was sent to CPRE/HWT, the Local Council and HBIC (Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre).

As well as the formal reports, a “popular” booklet on hedgerow was compiled that includes history, identification, management and recipes as well as a summary of the previous hedgerow surveys.

Future hedgerow work will concentrate on monitoring specific local sites of concern and an “at-risk” hedgerows register is being compiled.



Summary of hedgerow survey deliverables:

PDF file title Brief Description
Hedge-report-2003 Preliminary report on hedgerow survey
Hedge-report-final Final report on hedgerow survey
OBS-hedgerows “Popular” guide to local hedgerows
Hedge-guide-2004 Field guide to woody species identification from leaf shapes




Tree Survey

OBS is undertaking a survey of ancient trees in the Parish. This is believed to be one of the most comprehensive surveys of its kind anywhere in the UK. It involves identification and recording of all notable trees including location, species, size etc. To date, 430 ancient trees have been surveyed and recorded on a computer database. An illustrated presentation on the Overton tree survey was given at an OBS Annual General Meeting and there has also been considerable local publicity.

Little Meadow

The field known as “Little Meadow”, adjacent to Overton Parish Church, has an area of approximately 2500 square meters. It is owned by the Parish Council who asked OBS to develop it as a community resource.

Ground measurements of Little Meadow were taken and a scale drawing produced. Some historical research was conducted. A botanical survey of Little Meadow was carried out by a Conservation Advisor from Hampshire Wildlife Trust, and a soil analysis report was also obtained. Negotiations with the Parish Council resulted in the relocation of the main gate which also allowed an area of hard-standing to be constructed.

Planting of the western border and the southern hedge took place in Spring 2005 involving around 30 villagers and making use of both purchased and donated plants. 120 native trees, comprising 8 species, were later planted as the Eastern hedge, which is to be laid in the future. A number of specimen trees were also planted.



Regular weeding parties have been established, using volunteers from the OBS, to control the docks and a log-pile habitat was constructed. Four large logs were installed and stabilised by setting them in trenches.

Following research on introducing wild flowers, 21 separate species were purchased, together with a quantity of Yellow Rattle seed and a meadow mix for chalk and limestone soils. Sixty native roses were also planted.

Future plans include identifying volunteers to grow plug plants for planting, construction of a human sundial and installation of an information board.

Local Nature Trails

Three nature and heritage walks were planned, each following a circular route from the village centre. They are entitled: “Little Meadow and Flashetts”, “Historic Overton”, and “Fields and River”. Leaflets were written for each route, including information on heritage and nature aspects on each walk and the walk guidance tested by OBS members and friends. Accompanying nature watch leaflets for each walk were also prepared with illustrations of animal and plant life likely to be sighted season by season. Permission has been obtained for route-markers on public footpath finger-posts.

A site for a nature and heritage trails information board has been identified in the centre of the village.

To minimise printing costs all three walks leaflets and nature-watch leaflets will be printed at the same time and will be made freely available at a number of village locations.