NETHER Wallop is the proud home to Hampshire's newest village green.

The Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Neville Whiteley, officially opened the new green on Saturday.

The green is named Mouland's Meadow after the family who owns the meadow which is leased and maintained by the parish council.

Sadly Fred Mouland, who was 87 and had lived in the village all his life, died a few days before the unveiling of the plaque but the event was attended by his widow Sheila and by Alma, widow of Jack Mouland, Fred's brother.

Parish council chairman, Bob Willcox, said: "The project has largely been funded by Living Spaces, an offshoot of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with the balance coming from donations of parishioners and from two fundraising events.

"The land had previously been used as a builder's yard long ago and there was a considerable amount of work to be done to clear the site and a lot of consultation with local councils and English Nature.

"It has been leased at a peppercorn rent and will be maintained by the parish council to be used for leisure and recreation purposes with benches for people to sit and enjoy the meadow. Children have already been in the meadow and paddling in the brook.

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