Crab Wood Local Nature Reserve
Ancient woodlands of oak, ash, maple and hazel coppice, with a rich flora and fauna

About the site
Crab Wood is a fine example of ancient coppiced woodland. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics and follow the story trail to find out more about this ancient woodland. Nature enthusiasts can explore further into the woods looking for its secretive wildlife.
Address
Near Sparsholt, Winchester
Crab Wood Dog Field Proposal FAQs
Hampshire County Council has developed a proposal to introduce a pay-to-use exercise field for dog walkers (this is split into 2 separate fields). The aim is to reduce the impact of increasing levels of dog walking within the Crab Wood Local Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Secure dog fields are increasingly popular, providing a safe space that can be used for training, play, exercise or simply relaxation.
What will the operating hours be?
We will be seeking to operate the dog field:
- 8am to 4pm during the winter months
- 7am to 8pm during the summer months
What impact will this have on parking?
The dog field will have two dedicated parking spaces for each dog field and an additional eight spaces for users of the Crab Wood Nature Reserve. This will ensure all customers have adequate parking and there will not be any additional parking pressure on local roads.
Additional measures to reduce inappropriate parking along Lanham Lane will be adopted, including reinstating natural barriers to reduce parking on the verges.
The entrance to the dog field will be located along Sarum Road by the entrance of Lanham Lane by-way. This will ensure that the by-way will be unaffected and present no additional risks to walkers / residents.
Why have we chosen this site?
Increased levels of dog walking are impacting the SSSI site, in particular the natural environment as well as nesting birds. Providing a dedicated exercise field should alleviate some of this impact.
By using this land for recreation, it will be in keeping with the local rural area.
Will this impact on the local environment?
The plans are to keep the natural environment feel for the dog field, giving users a ‘back to nature’ feel.
Any changes within the new dog fields will be through natural additions including trees, bushes, wood, and stones.
Will there be an increase in noise?
Creating a dedicated area for visitors to exercise their dogs is expected to reduce the number of dogs using Crab Wood.
Tree and hedgerow planting are proposed around the dog field to act as a natural barrier, dampening noise from dogs enjoying the field.
We anticipate that the main customers of the dog field to be people who already use Crab Wood.
How will customers access the dog fields?
The dog field would be accessed with a keycode entry system.
What are the timescales?
A planning application was submitted in early November 2024. Should planning approval be given, the plan is to adapt the site over the winter months with a view to open the dog field in the Spring 2025.
How will dog waste be managed?
The dog field will include several bins for dog waste that will be collected on a regular basis through an approved contractor.
Will the site have lighting?
The site will have solar powered lighting that will be motion activated to ensure any persons exiting the site at dusk or entering before it is fully light can do so safely. The lights will be directed on to the entry gates only.
How will this affect traffic?
We are not expecting more than 2-3 vehicles per hour as a result of our proposals. We have commissioned traffic surveys in the road to ensure this proposal will not have a detrimental effect on traffic.
What about cyclists?
There are no reported issues with cyclists in the area and we have no plans to add additional cycle barriers to the site and its surroundings.
Coppicing
People have worked these woods for generations. These woods would once have been coppiced by the local farmer or even by roving woodsmen. Sometimes the woodsmen would camp out all winter; some even had their families with them. Coppicing is the traditional craft of harvesting woodlands. It is used to make a range of wood products such as hazel hurdles, tool handles, thatching spars and charcoal. Coppicing allows sunlight to reach the woodland floor, creating habitats for plants and animals. The cut trees are not dead but will resprout new stems that will be suitable for harvesting again in years to come. A worked woodland will have many coups (cut areas) that are harvested on a rotation. Butterflies particularly enjoy the temporary sunny glades created by coppicing.
In the past the wood was used for hurdle making in particular. In Hampshire's rolling landscape sheep would roam on the downs during the day but were 'folded' or fenced-in with hazel hurdles at night. This was often near a farmstead. It kept the sheep safe and meant their dung would fertilise the soil. Thus, the typical Hampshire habitats of chalk downland and hazel coppice were once interdependent.
Another frequent use of coppice products was for charcoal making. Lengths of wood were piled up over a slow burning fire, then covered with turf and allowed to smoulder for days. The result: charred wood - or charcoal.
Contact us
Phone 01962 860948
Email [email protected]
Central Countryside Sites, Crabwood Depot, Sarum Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5QS
Activities and facilities
Parking Picnic tables Bird watching Good for walking Woodland Dogs allowed Local Nature Reserve