CONCERNS about the state of a Winchester nature spot were raised in a town forum meeting.

St Faith’s Meadow at St Cross was leased to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust back in 2012.

The meadow, part of the River Itchen site of Special Scientific Interest, has been declining in recent years and Natural England allocated £53,800 for tree removal, fencing, restoration of the ditches to improve habitats and to facilitate improved water flow across the site, and channels and clearing the invasive scrub.

Concerned resident Mike Gibbons believes more work should be done and is concerned the money has not been managed effectively.

He told Winchester Town Forum: “The site is very important and locally protected, unfortunately it has been neglected therefore it needs remedial work and some money put in, this has been going on since 2005 when it was flagged up as being in declining condition.”

He added there is no movement of water, described areas of it as blocked and questioned whether the money allocated by Natural England had been spent properly.

After the meeting Mr Gibbons told the Chronicle:"I want at the earliest opportunity a plan that shows the watering of that site to bring it back to a wet meadow for the interest of biodiversity at the same time to try and create a mosaic for that for the benefit of birds the invertebrate, mammals and the plant community.

"It is pretty rank site at the moment because they have neglected it."

The council's corporate directorSteve Tilbury said: “Clearly works have been carried out but there may be more works that need to be done and there maybe a timing to do with that."

The meadow will be discussed again in more detail at the next Winchester Town Forum meeting at Winchester Guildhall on March 9.