Hawley Meadows

Hawley Meadows, an important river floodplain site with a wet grassland habitat supporting a wide range of wildlife, straddles the border between Surrey and Hampshire. It is one of the few sites in the Valley that shows what the landscape may have been like over 100 years ago. It site serves as a natural flood defence with the fields acting
as a reservoir after heavy rainfall. Today its role as a floodplain meadow is even more important as it helps prevent the A331 and surrounding towns from flooding.

This traditional floodplain grazing meadow with areas of wet grassland and grazing marsh,  has been the focus of extensive landscape and habitat improvement work. During the construction of the A331 much of the existing grassland flora was lost. Local conservation volunteers have worked to restore the grassland and the site is now flourishing with:

• grassland species such as Great Burnet and Meadow Sweet
• large number of invertebrates including the nationally rare Yellow-faced Solitary Bee and Black Soldier Fly
• wading birds such as Snipe, Grey Heron and Little Egret

Most recently in August 2006 two new bridges were built on the site to improve access for all. The new bridge in the southern end of the site replaces an old wooden one, whilst the second bridge is adjacent to the main car park.

Access

The main car park is located off the northbound carriageway of the A331 between the M3 and the A30 opposite Watchmoor Business Park.

Path

The Blackwater Valley Path runs through the site.  It can be accessed by parking in the car park off the A331 and crossing the river via the bridge. Alternatively follow the path from Frimley Business Park in the south or Blackwater Park in the north.

Angling

The River Blackwater flows through the site and the reasonable stocks of fish in the river here provide good sport. Cove Brook also joins the River Blackwater at Hawley Meadows.

The site is owned by Hampshire County Council and leased to Hartley Wintney Angling Society; members only, no day tickets available.

Further information

• Article about the bridges at Hawley Meadow in Winter 2006/7 issue of BV News

See also the map of the Valley