The Forest of Bere lies north of Fareham. A mixture of woodland, open space, ponds, streams, heathland, farmland and downland it provides countryside access to the residents of South-East Hampshire having a number of paths and bridleways for walking and cycling. More recently 20th century conifer plantations have been planted.
The forest is one of the remaining parts of the Royal forest of Bere, this covered an area stretching from the River Test at King's Somborne in the west through Hursley, Eastleigh, Bishop's Waltham and Denmead to Rowland's Castle in the east. The forest was used a source of oak for the navy to use in ship building.
Famous quotes containing the words forest of and/or forest:
“Above the forest of the parakeets,
A parakeet of parakeets prevails,
A pip of life amid a mort of tails.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“For Nature ever faithful is
To such as trust her faithfulness.
When the forest shall mislead me,
When the night and morning lie,
When the sea and land refuse to feed me,
‘Twill be time enough to die.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)