Warsash Common

Wildlife Interest | Informal Recreation | Walking to Health | Conservation Volunteering | Management Plan | Directions to Warsash Common | Contact |

Warsash Common is designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) which depicts its significance locally for both people and wildlife. Comprising a variety of habitats including dry woodland, open meadows, wet woodland and seasonal ponds, the Common supports a rich array of flora and fauna and is an integral part of the wider landscape.

Historically a mix of rough grassland and heathland, Warsash Common was once part of Titchfield Common and traditionally used for grazing and small holdings. In the earlier half of the twentieth century a change in land use, with extensive gravel extraction, took place across much of the site. Such major works helped to shape the undulating topography of the landscape we see today. Tipping replaced extraction until the 1970’s before the site was finally abandoned and left to regenerate naturally.

Acquired by Fareham Borough Council in 1995, Warsash Common has since been managed sustainably for both wildlife interest and as an informal public open space for people to visit and enjoy.

Wildlife Interest

The Common consists of a mosaic of habitat types. There are four significant areas of grassland on the site, all of which are actively managed for conservation and enhancement. The grasslands are awash with colour in the summer months displaying Ox-eye Daisy, Bird's-Foot-Trefoil, Yellow Fleabane, a variety of Vetches and visually striking Knapweed. Visitors can also observe a vast array of insect activity with butterflies, such as the Common Blue, bees, grasshoppers and crickets. Green Woodpeckers can be seen feeding on anthills and reptiles such as Adders and Common Lizards bask in open areas. The surrounding dense scrub provides nesting sites for songbirds and shelter for small mammals.

Much of the site consists of young semi-natural woodland that has regenerated since gravel extraction ended. Trees include Silver Birch, Grey Willow, Goat Willow, Oak and a variety of less frequent species. The ground floor has shade tolerant plant species such as mosses and ferns and the site is also excellent for fungi. Many insects, birds and mammals derive their food from the plentiful source of bramble and honeysuckle. The varied tree structure provides an excellent food source for the caterpillars of moths and butterflies and these in turn provide food for birds such as Wrens, Robins and Warblers. The sunny rides and woodland edges appeal to such colourful spectacles as Brimstone, Speckled Wood, and Gatekeeper butterflies. The woodlands also support badgers, fox and deer, frequently seen at dawn and dusk.

The remaining woodland on the Common is ancient semi-natural wet woodland which is found in the stream valleys that flow to Hook Lake to the south of the site. Large Alders growing in the marshy valley bottom dominate the canopy and many show evidence of historical coppice management. Remote Sedge and Lady Fern are frequent ground plants and damp autumn conditions encourage an abundance of fungi. The woodland to the north of the site is younger and trees predominating are Grey Willow and Downy Birch. The high humidity brings about the growth of bryophytes and waterlogged deadwood provides niche habitat for many invertebrates including beetles and craneflies. Wet woodland is considered a national priority habitat under the Habitats Directive and requires sensitive low-key management.

The Common also exhibits a number of seasonal ponds, wet hollows and two streams which support a variety of aquatic invertebrates as well as providing breeding sites for amphibians and feeding stations for birds such as Kingfisher and Little Egret. Dibles pond is the best known of these seasonal ponds and is frequented by newts, frogs, toads, grass snake, colourful dragonflies and damselflies and aquatic invertebrates such as water boatman, water beetles and pond skaters.  A night time visitor is the Pipistrelle Bat, busily foraging for insects over the water. A dramatic loss of ponds from the UK countryside over the last Century makes conservation and management of remaining ponds a top priority.

The aquatic plant list for Dibles Pond (30.44 Kb) and the entomology survey results for Warsash Common (1.29 Mb) are available for viewing.

Informal Recreation

Warsash Common is an interesting natural open space for visitors to explore and enjoy the outdoors. It is frequented by walkers, dog exercisers, families and runners, as well as cyclists and horse riders on the designated formal tracks.

The site has a number of seats for people to take a rest or sit and have a picnic. There are also a number of interpretation boards around the site providing information to visitors about the types of habitat and associated wildlife that they are likely to encounter.

Walking to Health Programme

There are a series of fifteen self guided walks around Fareham which includes an interesting walk around Warsash Common. The walk lasts approximately 30-45 minutes.

Conservation Volunteering

The Friends of Warsash Common are a group of dedicated local people that meet up one Sunday a month to undertake practical conservation work on the site. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Warsash Common (or any other site) we would be pleased to hear from you by either emailing the Rangers at conservation@fareham.gov.uk or completing an online countryside volunteer application form.  You can also view upcoming dates in the volunteer newsletter.

Management Plan

A ten year management plan for Warsash Common (1.25 Mb) is now in place covering the period of 2009-2019. This plan outlines the management objectives for the site and gives an annual work programme which sets out the work required to achieve these objectives.

Directions to Warsash Common

From the M27 come off at Junction 9, and exit towards Fareham West. At Park Gate Interchange take the 5th exit onto A3051/Southampton Road heading to Fareham W/ Segensworth/A27.  At Segensworth roundabout take the 5th exit onto A27/ Southampton Road. Continue to follow A27 going through two roundabouts. Turn left at Locks Road then go through one roundabout before turning right at Warash Road. Turn left onto Fleet End Road following the sign to Warsash Common. Continue past the Jolly Farmer Inn. Turn into New Road following the entrance sign to Warsash Common.

Contact

For further information about the Common or any other countryside site please contact the Countryside Rangers in the Department of Strategic Planning and Environment:

Tel: 01329 236100

E-mail conservation@fareham.gov.uk.

If you know of any faults, such as damaged signs, fences, fly tipping, excessive litter or obstructions on footpaths you can let us know by using the online form for reporting problems with parks and open spaces