Projects

Disused Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway (DNSR) Line (Footpath 502) Back

About the project:

The history of the Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway (DNSR) line between Winchester and Newbury dates to the 1885; Kings Worthy station was established in 1914 and Worthy Down Halt in 1924. The whole section of line was dismantled in 1964 as part of the Beeching Axe. Since then the landscape of the now disused line from north of Kings Worthy to South Wonston has in the most part remained intact, although the southern stretch is now dominated by the A34 trunk road. Nothing remains of Kings Worthy Station, however Worthy Down Halt is still very much visible as a relic of a bygone age.

The line is now used as a public footpath serving walkers in the local communities. Since the line was abandoned, a great deal of trees and scrub has encroached on both the embankments and path, the poor light conditions not offering any good ground level flora.

It is our intention to improve and maintain the disused line, creating wildflower glades, viewpoints and seating, as well as encouraging birds and bats. See Disused Railway Line Reconnaissance and our Railway Bench Design.

Where we have already created some openings in the scrub, wildflowers have started to colonise; for example, broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) and common twayblade (Listera ovata), both of the orchid family, can be seen on the southern most glade.

The disused railway line is located at grid reference SU 480 342

See also Worthy Down Halt

Tasks undertaken:

Pillbox Clearance - April 2009

Scrub Clearance & Maintenance - January 2009

Glade Clearance - June 2008

Glade Clearance - February 2008

Bird & Bat Box Fixing & Path Clearance - August 2006

Bench Plaque Fixing - June 2006

#2 Bench Installation - March 2006

#2 Bench Site Preparation & Wildflower Glade Consolidation - January 2006

Litter Picking & Rubbish Clearance - October 2005