Horse riding by the Bourne Rivulet
The beautiful and varied Hampshire countryside has a lot to offer the keen horse-rider in the way of trails and picturesque locations to explore be it rolling hills and heaths, downland or forest. Equestrian can find thier own space in one of the many country parks with riding trails or follow some local cross country bridleways.
The stream running along the side of the road (Gangbridge Lane) is the Bourne Rivulet which is a river a tributary of the River Test. The Bourne Rivulet (known simply as 'The Bourne' locally) is a seasonal chalk stream that rises and falls with the natural water table in the area. It usually rises in January and flows until around August each year. It normally runs from the village of Upton and flows through the villages of Hurstbourne Tarrant, here at St Mary Bourne and Hurstbourne Priors before joining with the River Test near Tufton.
Due to public water extraction above the headwater, the river flows increasingly intermittently above it. However a local watercress farm, which is situated at the perennial headwaters, augments the flow and allows the Bourne to remain perennial downstream, the flow being maintained by its pumping of water back into the stream.
The Parish of St. Mary Bourne includes the larger village of that name (population c. 1000), the smaller village of Stoke (population c.170) and the hamlets of Binley, Dunley, Egbury, Upper, Middle and Lower-Wyke (pronounced "Wick" or "Week") and Wadwick. The old hamlet of Swampton has now been incorporated into St. Mary Bourne, as has the area known as Link, which stretches from the main village south to the viaduct. This picture was taken between Swampton & Stoke In the past, the parent church was Hurstbourne Priors (2 1/4 miles south and mentioned in the Domesday Book). St Peter's was built as its chapel of ease - for the convenience of inhabitants of St Mary Bourne. Now this parish is joined with that of Woodcott, some 4 miles in the direction of Newbury, and back again with Hurstbourne Priors and its southern neighbour, Longparish. There are rival theories why St Mary Bourne is so called: its main feature is this seasonal stream, the Bourne Rivulet, and under the old calendar it may well have risen on St Mary's Day (2nd February). Another theory is that the church was originally dedicated to St Mary.
Horse riding by the Bourne Rivulet
The beautiful and varied Hampshire countryside has a lot to offer the keen horse-rider in the way of trails and picturesque locations to explore be it rolling hills and heaths, downland or forest. Equestrian can find thier own space in one of the many country parks with riding trails or follow some local cross country bridleways.
The stream running along the side of the road (Gangbridge Lane) is the Bourne Rivulet which is a river a tributary of the River Test. The Bourne Rivulet (known simply as 'The Bourne' locally) is a seasonal chalk stream that rises and falls with the natural water table in the area. It usually rises in January and flows until around August each year. It normally runs from the village of Upton and flows through the villages of Hurstbourne Tarrant, here at St Mary Bourne and Hurstbourne Priors before joining with the River Test near Tufton.
Due to public water extraction above the headwater, the river flows increasingly intermittently above it. However a local watercress farm, which is situated at the perennial headwaters, augments the flow and allows the Bourne to remain perennial downstream, the flow being maintained by its pumping of water back into the stream.
The Parish of St. Mary Bourne includes the larger village of that name (population c. 1000), the smaller village of Stoke (population c.170) and the hamlets of Binley, Dunley, Egbury, Upper, Middle and Lower-Wyke (pronounced "Wick" or "Week") and Wadwick. The old hamlet of Swampton has now been incorporated into St. Mary Bourne, as has the area known as Link, which stretches from the main village south to the viaduct. This picture was taken between Swampton & Stoke In the past, the parent church was Hurstbourne Priors (2 1/4 miles south and mentioned in the Domesday Book). St Peter's was built as its chapel of ease - for the convenience of inhabitants of St Mary Bourne. Now this parish is joined with that of Woodcott, some 4 miles in the direction of Newbury, and back again with Hurstbourne Priors and its southern neighbour, Longparish. There are rival theories why St Mary Bourne is so called: its main feature is this seasonal stream, the Bourne Rivulet, and under the old calendar it may well have risen on St Mary's Day (2nd February). Another theory is that the church was originally dedicated to St Mary.