New booklet on the setting of Winchester (From Hampshire Chronicle)

New booklet on the setting of Winchester

3:24pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Winchester By Andrew Napier

Winchester’S setting in its landscape is the inspiration for a new publication by the city’s preservation watchdogs.

Winchester and Its Setting, a full-colour document, which contains many new photographs and illustrations of the borders of the city’s urban landscape, has been produced by the City of Winchester Trust with the Hampshire Gardens Trust.

It aims to spark discussion on the future of the city’s boundaries at a time of potential major expansion with Barton Farm now earmarked for 2,000 homes by the city council.

The document looks at the impact on Winchester’s setting of possible development in areas such as Barton Farm, Pitt Manor and Bushfield Camp.

Winchester’s setting is widely admired for its unspoilt nature. Landscape architect Kim Wilkie describes it as “sitting particularly comfortably in its landscape”, compared to other English cities, and points out that it is still possible to walk from the Water Meadows to the Buttercross “without passing a petrol station, Tesco or a B&Q.”

Keith Leaman, chairman of the trust, said it is crucial to see any expansion of Winchester in the context of its landscape.

“Winchester has a unique setting, with defined boundaries and countryside views from even the heart of the city. We have managed to avoid much of the suburban sprawl that has diminished the appearance of other historic towns and cities in recent years.”

Gilly Drummond, president of the Hampshire Gardens Trust added: “The Hampshire Gardens Trust aims to help identify, conserve and protect the county’s heritage of historic parks gardens and designed green spaces so it is pleased to once again contribute to drawing attention to the need to protect the heritage assets of Winchester as the best guide to its future development.”

The booklet is available free of charge from the Heritage Centre, Upper Brook Street, which is open on Wednesday mornings, and from The Discovery Centre in Jewry Street.