A PARISH council’s campaign to preserve open space near Winchester is to be welcomed.

There is a little-known swathe of chalk downland at Sir John Moore Barracks that is a wildlife haven. Ironically its quality is largely the result of the fact it has been under the stewardship of the Ministry of Defence since the Second World War.

But now the land at Flowerdown, largely managed by the MoD for its wildlife, is potentially under threat from the redevelopment of the base which is set to be vacated by the military by 2024.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is drawing up plans for development and ideas include housing, a business park and park and ride and the open land would be considered by many to be ripe for new more intensive uses.

With chronic development pressure around Winchester it is important that areas are protected. Unlike nearby Barton Farm Flowerdown has never been intensively farmed, greatly boosting its ecological importance. Over the coming decades Winchester is likely to grow in size so green lungs such as this need to be cherished.

READ MORE HERE: Campaign to save military land at barracks