Berry Hill

Hill, Mountain in Hampshire Winchester

England

Berry Hill

Farm buildings at Street End Credit: David Martin

Berry Hill is a small hill located in the county of Hampshire, England. Situated near the village of Swanmore, this hill is part of the South Downs National Park, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside. With an elevation of approximately 190 meters (623 feet), Berry Hill is not particularly high but is still considered a prominent landmark in the area.

The hill is covered in a mixture of grasslands, heathlands, and woodland, providing a diverse habitat for various plants and wildlife. Visitors to Berry Hill can explore the numerous walking trails that crisscross the area, allowing them to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the South Downs.

In addition to its natural attractions, Berry Hill also has historical significance. It is believed to have been inhabited since Neolithic times, with evidence of ancient settlements and burial mounds found in the surrounding area. This rich history adds an extra layer of interest for those exploring the hill.

Berry Hill is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Its location within the South Downs National Park ensures that it is well-maintained and easily accessible to visitors. Whether it's a leisurely walk, a picnic with a view, or birdwatching, Berry Hill offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing visitors to connect with nature and enjoy the picturesque landscapes that Hampshire has to offer.

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Berry Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.977124/-1.2043867 or Grid Reference SU5520. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Farm buildings at Street End

David Martin

Field at Street End

With a distant misty view of Fawley Refinery.

David Martin

Field edge path at Street End

David Martin

Path downhill towards Oatfield Bungalow

David Martin

Path across field above Oatfield Bungalow

David Martin

Esso pipeline moling compounds at Bigpath Lane

Aerial. In centre, two rectangular fenced compounds put up where the new pipeline will cross Bigpath Lane. These compounds are to facilitate use of a moling machine to carry the pipeline beneath the road. Part of another pair is seen at top right.

Peter Facey

Esso pipeline moling compounds at Stakes Lane

Aerial. Two rectangular fenced compounds put up where the new pipeline will cross the C88 Stakes Lane. These compounds are to facilitate use of a moling machine to carry the pipeline beneath the road.

Peter Facey

Esso pipeline moling compounds at Bigpath Lane

A ground level view of the compound seen in aerial view at Link .

Peter Facey

Esso pipeline moling compounds at Bigpath Lane

A ground level view of the compounds seen in aerial view at Link .

Peter Facey

Esso pipeline moling compounds on Stakes Lane

A ground level view of the compounds seen in aerial view at Link .

Peter Facey

Investigations by Headland Archaeology beside Bigpath Lane

Headland Archaeology ( Link

) had been contracted by Taylor Woodrow to carry out archaeological surveys along the route of the pipeline, as required by its planning consent.

Peter Facey

Pipe beneath Stakes Lane

Where Stakes Lane (C88) is crossed by Bigpath Lane. There is quite a large excavation here, as illustrated by the galvansied metal steps leading down to it. A single steel pipe has been inserted through the chalk beneath the road. Unfortunately, I did not catch the machine that did this insertion, but presumably it occupies most of the trench in the foreground. One method is to drill a hole slightly larger than the pipe diameter, and then insert the pipe, allowing the soil (or in this case chalk) to settle back onto the pipe. Alternatively, you can fit some kind of spike onto the front of a pipe and then force it hydraulically through the soil. In this case I would have thought the chalk would be too rigid for the latter technique. In either case it is important not to scrape the anti-corrosion coating of the steel pipe. Esso had stated that they intended to use auger boring in this case (video Link

), and they subsequently confirmed that this technique was used. For the other side see Link .

Peter Facey

Pipe beneath Stakes Lane

Where Stakes Lane (C88) is crossed by Bigpath Lane. This is the other side of Link . There is quite a large excavation here. A single steel pipe has been inserted through the chalk beneath the road. Unfortunately, I did not catch the machine that did this insertion, but presumably it occupies most of the trench in the foreground. One method is to drill a hole slightly larger than the pipe diameter, and then insert the pipe, allowing the soil (or in this case chalk) to settle back onto the pipe. Alternatively, you can fit some kind of spike onto the front of a pipe and then force it hydraulically through the soil. In this case I would have thought the chalk would be too rigid for the latter technique. In either case it is important not to scrape the anti-corrosion coating of the steel pipe. Esso subsequently confirmed that auger boring was used here.

Peter Facey

View towards Bigpath Farm

David Martin

Footpath across valley east of Upham

David Martin

Roe deer beside the Monarch's Way

Misty January morning, with many layers of woodland visible.

David Martin

Southampton to London Pipeline Project

In October 2020 Esso Petroleum Company obtained the Southampton to London Pipeline Development Consent Order 2020, permitting them to constuct a new fuel pipeline of diameter 330 mm from Boorley Green to the West London Terminal storage facility in Hounslow. It would carry high-pressure aviation fuel produced at their Fawley refinery to Heathrow airport. The official web site of the project was Link

. The new pipeline would follow the route of an existing one which was coming to the end of its life, but without disrupting it. Works first became visible in Hampshire in 2022 when lots of little rectangular fenced pens were created, in pairs, on either side of certain roads. The purpose of these pens was to enclose land needed to operate machines to take the pipeline beneath these roads. Two methods were mainly used: pipe pushing and auger boring depending, it seems, upon the nature of the ground. Pipe pushing could not be used in hard ground like flinty chalk. Earlier, in 2020, short surface scrapes could be seen on Google Earth, running diagonally across the line of the pipe and making a zig zag form. These were preliminary archaeological surveys.

David Martin