Lead organisation
Partner organisations
Land Lore Consulting - meadow and scything expertise
Hampshire County Council - landowners - Cowslip meadow
Winchester City Council- landowners of various sites
Project description
In the chalk-rich landscapes of South Winchester, we’re bringing people together to reconnect with nature and one another. Building on the energy and insights from our 2024 pilot project, we’re launching a vibrant summer programme in 2025 that celebrates and protects the chalk meadow ecosystems right on our doorsteps.
From June to September, meadow management and haymaking sessions will invite people from all walks of life to get involved, learn new skills, and connect through shared purpose. By working side-by-side, we’ll grow stronger as a community and create lasting change for nature.
You can read about what we learned in our 2024 pilot report.
Project location
Across the Bar End and Highcliffe neighbourhood in Winchester, sixteen grassland sites—totalling just over 6 hectares—offer a huge opportunity to create spaces where both nature and community can thrive.
Owned by a mix of partners including Winchester City Council, the University of Winchester, National Highways, and Hampshire County Council, these sites have the potential to become vibrant, nature-rich meadows at the heart of local life. You can explore the full details and potential of these sites in the Hampshire Magnificent Meadows Feasibility Study.
Contribution to Big Chalk
The meadows around South Winchester may be small in size, but they play a big role in the bigger picture. As part of the iconic chalk landscapes that define southern England, these grasslands are a vital piece of the Big Chalk jigsaw — linking city communities with the South Downs and beyond.
Our Hampshire Magnificent Meadows Feasibility Study, created through a 2024–25 pilot, makes the case for a joined-up, community-powered approach to managing these sites.
By protecting and enhancing them, we’re not only creating a ‘Doorstep to the Downs’ — we’re actively contributing to the Big Chalk vision of a connected, nature-rich landscape stretching across the chalk and limestone spine of southern England.
Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?
The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.
If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.
Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.