£3.3 million improvements planned to park

An artist impression of the improvements to the Country Park

In the coming months Itchen Valley Country Park will be made even better as a £3.3 million programme of improvements gets under way.

Planned improvements include a new community building and remodelling of the existing Highwood Barn and Kingfisher Barn, better barbecue and picnic areas, upgraded play equipment, a Changing Places room for disabled users, a new central events and welcoming space, and a covered outdoor seating area for customers to the popular Woodland Café.

Councillor Cynthia Garton, Chair of the Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee, which recently approved the £3.3 million transformation, said: “Our future investment will bring exciting new elements that will make the park more accessible and appealing to an even wider audience, while still maintaining its valued role in promoting the health and wellbeing of visitors.”

Council Leader, Councillor Keith House, said: “Itchen Valley Country Park is already a wonderful open space and this funding will make it even better as a visitor attraction, and as a green oasis where people can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of the natural environment. The planned improvements will underpin the Council’s aim of creating high quality recreational space that contributes to the wellbeing of Borough residents."