Since 2014 this former grazing paddock has been transformed into a lovely thriving community nature reserve.
The reserve is managed in partnership with The Friends of Knowle Haven a dedicated group of volunteers working to ensure the conservation, protection and improvement of the reserve for all to enjoy.
The reserve is used by a wide range of community groups, local residents and visitors and is a great place for wildlife spotting.
Open access
The nearby Miner's Arms is open daily
Maintained footpaths
Well-behaved dogs welcome
The Friends of Knowle Haven
Mayles Lane,
Knowle,
Fareham,
Hampshire,
PO15 6DT
The land was formerly part of the estate of the Hampshire County Lunatic Asylum which opened in 1852 and then went through several extensions to cover a 100-acre site known as Knowle Farm.
The asylum, later Knowle Mental Hospital (1923) and then Knowle Hospital (1948), reached its peak in the 1950s with almost 2,000 patients housed before finally closing in 1996.
Berkeley Homes purchased a large part of the hospital site and started development of Knowle Village in 2000, securing approval to deliver 500 homes within 53 acres of the former hospital site. The nature reserve is a former grazing paddock, which has now been transformed into a flourishing haven for wildlife.
The park is managed in partnership with the Friends of Knowle Haven, a dedicated group of volunteers working to ensure the conservation, protection and improvement of the site, which welcomes a wide range of local residents, community groups and wildlife enthusiasts.