Old Shirley Homepage


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<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<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<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<br/>
©Elliott Simpson
Dist:0.2km<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<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<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<br/>
©ANDY FISH
Dist:0.2km<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<br/>These trees line Coronation Avenue North.
©Jim Champion
Dist:0.2km<br/>
©Elliott Simpson
Dist:0.3km<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<br/>
©David Martin
Dist:0.3km<br/>The Horseshoe Path runs to the north of the Ornamental Lake on Southampton Common.
©Jim Champion

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]

Members Nearby

Old Shirley Discussion Forum

  • Parking

    I am wondering who is in favour of permit parking in swaythling, I know some roads have it, but many do not, the proposed new build in the high road of a surgery and student …
    Meanstreak in Swaythling, Wednesday 28 December, 2011


Places Near Old Shirley

Aldermoor • Banister's Park • Bassett • Bedford Place • Bevois Mount • Bevois Town • Bevois Valley • Coxford • Fitzhugh • Freemantle • Highfield • Hill • Hillyfields • Lord's Hill • Lords Wood • Lordswood • Maybush • Millbrook • Nursling • Old Shirley • Polygon • Redbridge • Rownhams • Shirley • Shirley Warren • Southampton • Southampton Common • Upper Shirley • Westwood Park • Wimpson •