Greenham Common

Downs, Moorland in Berkshire

England

Greenham Common

Greenham Common is a large expanse of common land located in Berkshire, England. It covers an area of approximately 1,000 acres and is situated on the outskirts of the village of Greenham, near Newbury. The common is characterized by its diverse landscape, consisting of rolling hills, open moorland, and pockets of woodland.

Greenham Common is known for its rich biodiversity, hosting a variety of plant and animal species. The common is home to several rare and protected species, including the Dartford warbler, silver-studded blue butterfly, and sand lizard. It also boasts a diverse range of habitats, including heathland, acid grassland, and wetlands, which support this vibrant ecosystem.

Historically, Greenham Common was used for grazing livestock, and evidence of this can still be seen today in the form of old droveways and traditional dry-stone walls. However, the common gained international attention in the 1980s when it became the site of a major protest against the placement of nuclear weapons. The area was occupied by peace activists who set up a women's peace camp, which remained in place for nearly twenty years.

Today, Greenham Common is managed by the local council and serves as a recreational space for the public. It offers numerous walking trails and cycling routes, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore its natural beauty. The common is also home to a golf course, a nature reserve, and a small cafe, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.

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Greenham Common Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.377045/-1.2935387 or Grid Reference SU4964. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Greenham Common

The disused Control Tower building at the now derelict Greenham Common Airbase.

Brendan and Ruth McCartney

Greenham Common

The interesting looking Bunker Farm - The house is made of cob, a mixture of clay, stone and straw, and the walls are approx 3ft thick. The rest of the square is a mixture of woodland, farmland and the old Greenham Common Airbase.

Brendan and Ruth McCartney

Greenham Common - Main Runway

This is what is left of the main runway looking SE from N51°22.819 W001°17.641. The runway was dug up and used as hardcore for the A34 Newbury bypass.

Andy Malbon

Newbury

Looking west across Lower Farm, a local birdwatching haunt, towards Newbury Racecourse.

Brendan and Ruth McCartney

Greenham Common

This section of the common is in the northern half of the grid square south east of the control tower. The picture was taken looking south.

Pam Brophy

Greenham Common

This section of the common is at the control tower and parking area. This building is closest to the road and more or less north of the control tower. The picture was taken more or less from the south west side of the building. Greenham Common has been declared an area of scientific interest and played a role in the second world war.

Pam Brophy

Greenham and Crookham Common Nature Reserve

This area of the common is a nature reserve. This was taken from one of the reserves parking places in the lower half of the grid square west of the centre, looking south east along the edge of the copse.

Pam Brophy

Crookham, Greenham and Stroud Green Commons

These three commons are combined to make one very large area of common land which is not public property, but is made available for the use of the public. This section is situated in the middle of the lower half of the square.

Pam Brophy

Greenham, Crookham and Stroud Green Commons

This section of the commons is quite wooded in comparison to Greenham and Crookham Commons which are flat and generally quite sparsely vegetated. This section is in the south western section of the grid square.

Pam Brophy

Newtown Church

Tim Booth

Helen Thomas Memorial Peace Garden

Helen Thomas, an activist, died outside the main gates of Greenham Common Airbase at the Women's Peace Camp. She died in an incident involving a West Midlands Police horsebox on August the 5th, 1989. Helen would have set an historical precedent on August the 18th when she would have been the first person to have been tried in an English court in Welsh, her first language.

Pam Brophy

Dove and Fountain: Peace Garden

This dove was peacefully drinking water in this garden, on the edge of the Greenham Business Park. Helen Thomas was an activist and died at the Greenham Women's Peace camp by a police horse box the day before she was due to stand trial.

Pam Brophy

Entrance to the New Greenham Park

This business park is situated across a couple of squares. This entrance, near the memorial garden is in the northern half of the square. The square is characterised by commercial enterprises, farmland, residences, recreational facilities and the Peace Garden.

Pam Brophy

Warehouse Road: New Greenham Park

This square consists of Greenham Common, the business park and some copses.

Pam Brophy

Silver Birch Woodland: Greenham

This square is mostly woodland/plantation and farmland. The A339 also runs across the northern half of the square. This view of these silver birches is west of the lane that runs south off the roundabout in the north eastern corner of the square.

Pam Brophy

Silver Birch: Bark and Bracken

A closeup of the birch bark . This birch copse is also overgrown with bracken.

Pam Brophy

Haymaking near Greenham

This field was in the process of being mown for hay. This square contains some of the village of Bishops Green and is mostly farmland. This field is in the western half of the square, near the intersection of the minor road and Hyde Lane.

Pam Brophy