Public Art Commission - Broadleaf Park, Rownhams
Background
Broadleaf Park is a new housing development on land formerly known as Parkers Farm in Rownhams. It is located on the outskirts of the tranquil village of Rownhams, which is surrounded by the spectacular Hampshire countryside, close to Southampton and the nearby market town of Romsey.
The new community of 300 homes, once completed will feature a community orchard and allotments, three separate play areas for young children and large areas of green open space to enjoy as you walk through the meandering footpaths to fields and woodlands beyond.
Adjacent to the homes is the area of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), which is where the public art trail will be focused. This runs from the entrance to the development northeast, alongside the M27. Surrounding it is the woodland areas of Dymer’s Copse to the east and Clams Copse to the south.
As well as the public art, the SANG will bring the change of use of the land from grazed pasture to informal recreational space with infrastructure including:
- a 2.23km circular walk (surfaced only where wet) with pedestrian kissing gates with radar locks as required
- interpretation boards and finger posts
- timber benches at destination points or viewpoints
- combined dog and litter bins
- a community-led art trail.
There will also be enhancement of current biodiversity through:
- the creation of new habitats including wildflower meadow and wet meadow grassland
- areas of new woodland planting
- additional planting of individual trees
- reinforcement of existing hedgerows through additional planting
- the creation of a pond.
