The Spinney

Region: South West

The Spinney is a prominent belt of mature beech, sycamore and lime trees planted in 1912 as a windbreak for the former Park Prewett Hospital estate, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. This lovely woodland avenue has a central path which provides opportunity for pleasant circular and short walks and wildlife spotting.

The Present and the Future

The Spinney is managed in partnership with Brimstones for the benefit of the local community and wildlife. Brimstones help us to look after the site and run community events.

The Spinney Contact


The site contact for our The Spinney space is Edward Knowles

This space is managed by the Land Trust.

Visitor Information

Opening Hours

Open access.

Car Parking

On street parking nearby.

Toilets


(click here to find the nearest public toilets)

Café

Costa Coffee - Rooksdown is located in the centre of the site.

Entrance cost

Free

Accessibility

Sections of the woodland path are suitable for wheelchair access.

Footpaths

Yes

Dogs

Well controlled dogs welcome

Things to do

Interesting heritage features include the former Park Prewett Hospital administration building with clock stone, Recreation Hall, Water Tower landmark, Park Prewett Farm barn, 4 wooden Garden Pavilions, Red K6 telephone kiosk and traces of the old Park Prewett Railway line.

Conservation, Wildlife, Flora, Fauna

The Spinney is a great place to spot woodland birds and other woodland wildlife. Grassland areas adjoining the woodland avenues are home to a wide range of flowering shrubs, wildflowers and insects.

Other nearby attractions

Milestones museum, Basing Wood, The Vyne.

Other Links

View the link

Location

Park Prewett Road, Rooksdown, Basingstoke, Hampshire , RG24 9RG

Site size: 8.5 hectares

Events

There are currently no events relating to this space.

View all events

History

Park Prewett Hospital, also known as Park Prewett Mental Hospital, was a psychiatric hospital northwest of Basingstoke which operated from 1917 until 1997. It was built by the noted asylum architect George Thomas Hine following a report by the Lunacy Commission into overcrowding at Knowle Hospital in the south of the county. The Land Trust acquired the southern Spinney in 2012 and the northern Spinney in 2015.

Development

There are plans to create a circular woodland trail ‘The Spinney Trail’ with enhanced access provision, woodland seating, interpretation and sculptures.

Land Trust Contact

To contact the Land Trust about this site or how we could help manage your space please email our Countryside & Greenspace Officer (South & West) Jake Taylor .

To enquire about holding an event on a Land Trust site, please click here.

Downloads

Download Spinney Beech Trail Leaflet Download Spinney Circular Trail Leaflet Download Spinney Health Trail Download Spinney Historic Trail Leaflet Download Spinney Lime Trail Leaflet

Our other spaces in the South West

How you can help

We are always on the look out for enthusiastic, committed people who want to make a real and lasting difference in their local community.

Get Involved