Meon Valley Land Appeal
The Meon Valley is one of Hampshire’s most treasured places – home to a beautiful chalk stream, vibrant wildflower meadows and ancient woodland. Just south of West Meon is a quiet stretch of water meadow shaped by the River Meon, and part of the landscape that defines the valley.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has a one-off opportunity to secure this land and protect it for generations to come. But we urgently need your help. Will you donate today to preserve this special site for wildlife?
Why is this land so important?
Opportunities like this are incredibly rare. Court House Meadows covers approximately 8.66 hectares (21.4 acres) of open grassland, with the River Meon flowing through the site, forming a key part of the wider landscape.
Chalk streams like the River Meon are exceptionally valuable – there are only around 200 in the world, with 80% in southern England. The River Meon is known as one of Hampshire’s ‘Cinderella Chalk Streams’, as it does not benefit from the level of legal protection and interest as the more well-known Rivers Itchen and Test. It has, however, often been cited as possibly the best example of a chalk stream in England.
Securing this land would protect the river and surrounding habitats, delivering lasting benefits for both nature and people. With expert care from your local Wildlife Trust, the site could provide:
- A vital refuge for overwintering wading birds
- A healthier, more natural floodplain that helps reduce flood risk
- A restored river corridor supporting wildlife and cleaner water
- A more diverse landscape, through essential tree and habitat management
This is land with huge potential to support local wildlife, but only if we act now.
We need to raise a further £65,000 to cover the cost of buying Court House Meadows and carrying out the management work required. By donating to this appeal today, you can help ensure this special place is protected.
© South Downs Joint Committee
Donations will be used for this land purchase and to support costs of setting up and managing the site for wildlife. If the land purchase is unable to proceed for any reason, funds raised through this appeal will be used to support nature’s recovery in Hampshire. If we exceed our target, we will be able to increase our impact and invest more in nature’s recovery across the county. Thank you for supporting local wildlife and nature recovery.