Project to enhance 'long-neglected' New Milton woodland Ashington Park welcomed by town council

CLEARING footpaths and adding seats are among plans to enhance a “long-neglected” area of New Milton woodland.

The blueprint for Ashington Park, off Caird Avenue, was outlined by New Forest District Council landscape architect Jill Colclough to a town council amenities committee meeting.

Funded by developer contributions, the project’s first phase would comprise three main objectives.

These would be to improve facilities including the footpath and cut back vegetation.

A more minor route comprising a circular pathway with seats would be introduced plus woodland management to open up space.

Phase two – still in the design process – would involve discussions with the nearby Tesco store about pedestrian access from the woodland.

Committee chair Cllr Geoff Blunden called the project a “win-win” as works would be done with no town council contribution needed.

Asked by Cllr David Hawkins about improving access for disabled people and parents with pushchairs, Ms Colclough confirmed it was intended to make at least part of the site wheelchair accessible.

Excited by the scheme, Cllr Valya Schooling said: “It’s a long-neglected site that should have had our attention a long time ago.”

Ms Colclough explained: “The works are, in scale, very minor.

“It’s mainly restorative works and putting in place a longer term management plan to enhance the biodiversity aspects of the scheme.”

Due to the project’s size, she said there would not be any consultation and the works will be published on NFDC’s website as a project in progress.

The work could get under way by the latter part of this year.