The Forest of Bere lies north of Fareham. A mixture of woodland, open space, ponds, streams, heathland, farmland and downland it provides countryside access to the residents of South-East Hampshire having a number of paths and bridleways for walking and cycling. More recently 20th century conifer plantations have been planted.
The forest is one of the remaining parts of the Royal forest of Bere, this covered an area stretching from the River Test at King's Somborne in the west through Hursley, Eastleigh, Bishop's Waltham and Denmead to Rowland's Castle in the east. The forest was used a source of oak for the navy to use in ship building.
Famous quotes containing the word forest:
“I perceive that in these woods the earliest settlements are, for various reasons, clustering about the lakes, but partly, I think, for the sake of the neighborhood as the oldest clearings. They are forest schools already established,—great centres of light.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)