Moving to Andover

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I've been at living in Carterton for the last 6 years and after asking the nice people in the RAF for a posting back to Fife or Moray, they are sending me further south to Andover.
I've checked the Wildlife trusts and I know about the Test Valley, and the Hawk conservation centre. Are there any other good places to go and see wildlife, espicially those Water Voles.

Thanks in advance for any help and tips.

BWD

[kml]

You wil be quite near the New Forest where there is great wildlife to be seen,Otters,deer,reptiles and probably Water Voles.There are several wab members who live near by and I`m sure they will be able to point you in the right directions.

[tigger]

You will also be near the Salisbury Plain.... great wildlife there. Hares, skylarks...

Also the watermeadows in Salisbury are worth a visit (sure there must be Water Voles there), at least 5 rivers meet in Salisbury, so the whole of the valley and it's rivers are worth exploring (I know I grew up there).

Savernake Forest isn't toooo far away. Some beautiful trees there, also must be snakes etc

This article will help you find some water voles in Wiltshire

Good luck... and hope you enjoy the wildlife around Andover

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

I've been at living in Carterton for the last 6 years and after asking the nice people in the RAF for a posting back to Fife or Moray, they are sending me further south to Andover.

Ah, the dreaded handover/takeover, eh.

[Stewy]

Not exactly wildlife related but they have a pretty decent farmers market and even better you are only about 30mins drive away from Winchesters which is excellent, one of the biggest and best in the country I believe.

Hampshire Farmers' Markets

[Elean0r]

You've got the whole of the New Forest to explore, it'll take you ages. You're close enough to grassland too, no chance you'll get bored.

The Winchester Farmer's Market is brilliant, take loads of money with you if you go there.

[big bill]

Andover Andover this is Andover brings back memories good pubs in the town epsecially the Forrester Arms Stationed Tidworth for 5 years ,salisbury plains are quite good but just make sure you dont get caught up in the middle of an exercise

[LoveT]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Not exactly wildlife related but they have a pretty decent farmers market and even better you are only about 30mins drive away from Winchesters which is excellent, one of the biggest and best in the country I believe.

Hampshire Farmers' Markets

And - according to the website of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust - Otters have been seen in Winchester too!

You'll also not be far from the rivers Test and Avon - bound to see plenty of wildlife there, as well as the Itchen Navigation near Winchester.

Deer Stalker is more knowledgeable about the wildlife of the New Forest than me (as are most people ), so welcome to the area!

Thea

[ron1863]

Good luck in your new posting.

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Thanks everyone for your replies, ideas and links. I'm really looking forward to getting out and about and seeing the wildlife. Sounds like there will be plenty to keep me occupied.
We'll certainly make use of the farmers market, I'll google it now to get some more info.

Tormentil, We are going to see our new house tomorrow and then it will be time to book the march in/out. Oh the joys of the armed forces!!!!!!

Thanks again every one

BWD

[PMG]

You're going to really enjoy the area you're going to and in 12 months time you will be posting all sorts on here - I gaurantee it I'd say lucky you thro gritted teeth but it might give too much away about how I feel about where you are going ........ heh! heh! heh!

Pauline

[Deer Stalker]

Hi BWD.

I don't go up Andover way much but a couple more places close by are Bentley Wood Streetmap.co.uk- search results which has the Purple Emperor butterfly among others & Stockbridge Down Streetmap.co.uk- search results which is a patch of chalk grassland.

The New Forest is where I normally go, has the biggest tracts of Lowland Heathland, Valley Mires & Ancient Pasture Woodland in North-western Europe, its associated wildlife & isn't too far from you. If you have any questions give me a shout or have a look at my Blog on WAB.

[Jez]

Just to wish you well in your new post too!

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Hello WABbers, at last the Wobble Daggers have moved and are now back on line. Here we are living just on the edge of Andover and the garden and very close surrounding area is already looking ver y promising. Even as I sit here typing I can see a lovely buzzard sitting on the fence that surrounds the playing fields. He seems to be there most days and we often hear him mewing when he's in flight. We've also had a GSW and a green woodpecker in the garden as a well as gold and green finches, blue and great tits on the feeders, robins and chaffinch in the garden. There are also a huge amount of magpies, I don't think I've ever seen so many so often.

Apart from not finding any Water Voles, so far, I think i'm going to enjoy Andover.

BWD

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

Hello WABbers, at last the Wobble Daggers have moved and are now back on line. Here we are living just on the edge of Andover and the garden and very close surrounding area is already looking ver y promising. Even as I sit here typing I can see a lovely buzzard sitting on the fence that surrounds the playing fields. He seems to be there most days and we often hear him mewing when he's in flight. We've also had a GSW and a green woodpecker in the garden as a well as gold and green finches, blue and great tits on the feeders, robins and chaffinch in the garden. There are also a huge amount of magpies, I don't think I've ever seen so many so often.

Apart from not finding any Water Voles, so far, I think i'm going to enjoy Andover.

BWD

Whey Hey! Nice to see you back - it all sounds very promising - good luck with the job and try putting food out for those woodpeckers - you might get them often enough to try photographing!

Pauline

PS Bentley Wood will have those Purple Emperors down at floor level poss on the car parks at 10am on decentish days - poss! Just a thought!

[monkey]

Hi
If you go to Old Arlesford which is not too far away from you there are Water Voles on the river there we saw at least 6 on a short stroll along approx 1 mile of the river

Linda

[Cheryl]

Originally Posted by LoveT

And - according to the website of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust - Otters have been seen in Winchester too!

They have indeed - although I've not seen them unfortunately If you go to the NT property - Winchester City Mill (a working water mill) they have CCTV cameras to record nocturnal Otter activity which they play back to visitors during the day.

Also 2km(ish) south of Winchester you have St Catherines Hill managed by Hampshire Wildlife Trust where you can see Chalkhill Blue, Brown Argus and Marbled White butterflies plus chalk flowers including clustered bellflower, frog orchid and musk orchid which I think is quite rare?

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Thanks for the replies, it is good to be back, I've missed you all.
We have plenty of places to explore now, maybe I need to diversify and look for other wildlife apart from watervoles, can't believe I just typed that I know that woodpeckers like coca nuts any other suggestions for food? I will try and get some photos, I need to try and get close enough to see the buzzard, he's on his fence at the moment.

BWD

[LoveT]

Welcome back!

It sounds like you're in wildlife heaven where you are, you lucky person!!

If you keep your eyes peeled, you may be lucky enough to see a Red Kite or two as well - the Hawk Conservancy Trust at Weyhill have been releasing Red Kites into the area for a few years, and I'm told they've now started breeding in the area too!

Thea

[Cheryl]

Red Kites have been reported in the Basingstoke area

[shei111]

Originally Posted by big bill

Andover Andover this is Andover brings back memories good pubs in the town epsecially the Forrester Arms Stationed Tidworth for 5 years ,salisbury plains are quite good but just make sure you dont get caught up in the middle of an exercise

Hello bill My hubby was also stationed there 1983 to 86 66 squadron. He didnt like it, shei.

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

Hello WABbers, at last the Wobble Daggers have moved and are now back on line. Here we are living just on the edge of Andover and the garden and very close surrounding area is already looking ver y promising. Even as I sit here typing I can see a lovely buzzard sitting on the fence that surrounds the playing fields. He seems to be there most days and we often hear him mewing when he's in flight. We've also had a GSW and a green woodpecker in the garden as a well as gold and green finches, blue and great tits on the feeders, robins and chaffinch in the garden. There are also a huge amount of magpies, I don't think I've ever seen so many so often.

Apart from not finding any Water Voles, so far, I think i'm going to enjoy Andover.

BWD

Good that you are now settled ok, glad to hear about all your visiting wildlife enjoy it, shei

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by LoveT

Welcome back!

It sounds like you're in wildlife heaven where you are, you lucky person!!

If you keep your eyes peeled, you may be lucky enough to see a Red Kite or two as well - the Hawk Conservancy Trust at Weyhill have been releasing Red Kites into the area for a few years, and I'm told they've now started breeding in the area too!

Thea

We are only about 3 miles from Weyhill, and have seen red kites at Monxton which is just down the road as well. The hawk conservancy trust is near the top of my to do list. Two buzzards on the fence this evening, must try a stake out at dawn next weekend to try and get some photos.

BWD

[LoveT]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

We are only about 3 miles from Weyhill, and have seen red kites at Monxton which is just down the road as well. The hawk conservancy trust is near the top of my to do list. Two buzzards on the fence this evening, must try a stake out at dawn next weekend to try and get some photos.

BWD

As The Trust seems to be my second home, perhaps I'll see you there some time !

Thea

[Toad]

I could quite easily visit the hawk conservancy on a daily basis and never get bored

Here is another place worthy of a visit

The UK Great Bustard reintroduction project

Welcome to the area