We’re at the time of year when the evenings are light enough for a short walk after work or after dinner. But where to go? Somewhere that’s not too far away, doesn’t need a map to navigate around, and is more interesting than wandering round a housing estate.
How about Fleming Park?
Fleming Park? Really?
To many people, Fleming Park is synonymous with the sports centre; it’s where you go to swim, play badminton or squash (I don’t do any of those). But the building (and its under-construction replacement) cover only a small area of the site. Fleming Park stretches the entire length of Passfield Avenue and includes all-weather playing surfaces, football pitches, a cricket square, and a children’s play area and paddling pool.
But unless you are a runner or dog-walker, you may not have ventured beyond the line of beech trees, over the Monks Brook, and discovered the scenery of the old golf course.
This area is maintained as a semi-wild parkland and provides a scenic and tranquil venue for a stroll. There are wildflowers to see, such as these cowslips.
The grass is mown to a longer length than the sports side part of the park, and a mile-long path winding round the perimeter provides a dry walkway in all weathers.
There are still remnants of the park’s previous life, such as raised teeing-off areas and the occasional notice …
… but in recent months Eastleigh Borough Council has removed many of the non-indigenous trees that screened the parallel fairways, giving the park a more natural look.
And now is a good time to enjoy these trees in their spring beauty.
And if you go there during the day, you can visit the Blackbird Café for a drink or light snack. I can recommend the bacon baps. And, something that is beyond the capability of CostaBucksNero#1 – recyclable takeaway cups!
All photos were taken by the author and are © Chandler’s Ford Today.
The next Chandler’s Ford Today meeting will be held at Blackbird Café!
Thanks for introducing Fleming Park to us. I have never known these secret places!
I went there again yesterday. I didn’t put in my post that there are also plenty of benches on which you can sit and watch the world go by. Unfortunatley, as it was Sunday, the Blackbird Cafe was closed.
May I suggest that elction hustings are held there? More relaxing that way.
Were it not for parkrun, I wouldn’t have discovered it either!
Wow – brilliant – another place for a dog walk! And with convenient parking too!
Yes, when I went there yesterday afternoon I think we were the only people without a dog. As I am close enough to walk there, I didn’t think of mentioning parking in my post, but you are right, there is plenty. Either at Fleming Park or by the Pavilion on the Park in Magpie Lane. There may also be limited parking in the road running between the leisure centre and the site of the old civic offices. Or you could park in Falkland Road and walk down the path – a path to the old golf course branches off just after the subway.
And full credit to the dog walkers of Eastleigh and Chandler’s Ford – I’ve never seen any dog mess.