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Southampton Common, which consists of over 300 acres of woodland, amenity and rough grassland, wetland and open water, is situated just north of the city centre.
©Steve Rigg
Dist:0.1km north<br/>This area of Southampton Common is left by the pond shown for the sake of Great-crested Newts that live in the pond. It also makes it a very good area for Damselflies as they need rough areas to roost in where they are safer from birds and Dragonflies.
©Hugh Venables
Dist:0.1km north<br/>Showing the fishing platforms and the reasonably successful attempts to re-establish bankside vegetation, using mesh covered planters to keep geese and people off the new vegetation.
©Hugh Venables
Dist:0.2km north<br/>Coronation Avenue North is, predictably, in the northern half of the Common and lined with trees. I would imagine that the 'Coronation' part commemorates the crowning of a British monarch some time in the past few centuries.
©Jim Champion
Dist:0.2km north<br/>This unassuming concrete lined lake is actually the reason Southampton Common is a SSSI - due to a population of Great-crested Newts. It is drained every winter to kill off any fish such as Sticklebacks that may have made it in to the pond that may prey on the newts. This also makes it good for dragonflies and damselflies as their larvae are also eaten by small fish.
©Hugh Venables
Dist:0.2km north<br/>Removal of young trees (mostly silver birch) and pollarding of older trees to open up the ground. This is to encourage heathland plants and increase light and vegetation along the ditches to encourage amphibians (Southampton Common supports 5 species, being a SSSI because of Great Crested Newt).
©Hugh Venables
Dist:0.2km north<br/>Much recent work to restore this pond has had some effect - some bankside vegetation is becoming established and dragonflies appear to be colonising after 200 carp were removed to restore some balance.
©Hugh Venables
Dist:0.2km north<br/>
©ANDY FISH
Dist:0.2km north<br/>This amazingly unprepossessing lake is why Southampton Common is a SSSI. Despite the concrete banks and litter the pond is important for Great-crested Newts and holds a surprising variety of Dragonflies and Damselflies, partly as it is drained each winter so is free from fish (that eat larvae)
©Hugh Venables
Dist:0.2km north<br/>These trees line Coronation Avenue North.
©Jim Champion
Dist:0.3km north<br/>One of the 'carriage drives' on the west side of Southampton Common, approaching the west end of the Ornamental Lake.
©Jim Champion
Dist:0.3km north<br/>
©David Martin
Dist:0.3km north<br/>The Horseshoe Path runs to the north of the Ornamental Lake on Southampton Common.
©Jim Champion
Dist:0.3km north<br/>
©Mark
Dist:0.3km north<br/>The tarmac path is called Carriage Drive South, and at the junction it continues on as Carriage Drive North. Holly Lodge and the Hill Lane/Bellemoor Road junction are off to the left.
©Jim Champion

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