Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project
Old Barge Cottages

The Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project aims to preserve the Itchen Navigation in a five year project that will create a heritage trail celebrating the outstanding wildlife and history of the internationally renowned chalk river system. 

The project was awarded £1.6million of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund in October 2007. This funding as well as funding from the project partners will be used for stabilising and restoring the Itchen Navigation riverbanks and for creating new trails which will incorporate eye-catching information boards, so that visitors can identify the many wildlife species and historic industrial structures around them.

Where is the Itchen Navigation?

The Itchen Navigation runs from Winchester to Southampton stretching 10 and a half miles. The Itchen Way is a long distance route running alongside the Navigation, which is part of a wider network of footpaths which link Winchester, Eastleigh and Southampton. Take a look at the map .

Why is the Itchen Navigation important?

  • The Itchen Navigation provides a home for a variety of wildlife. Some of this wildlife is rare or threatened, such as water vole, otter, kingfisher, Atlantic salmon and southern damselfly. The Navigation is part of a European Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); both these designations recognise the importance of this area for wildlife.
  • The Navigation is an important part of local history. It is a historic trading route between Winchester and Southampton. The Itchen Way walking route follows the route of the old towpath from which horses towed barges carrying cargo along the Navigation. The water itself was used to power mills in the area and was also channeled onto the water meadows adjacent to the Navigation. Remnants of some of the industrial structures used in the past, such as the locks, mills and bridges, can still be seen today.

How to get involved

Volunteer involvement is crucial to meet the aims of the project. There are a variety of tasks being run throughout the year for volunteers to get involved in. Follow the link to the Volunteer Opportunities page for more information.

What’s going on at the moment?

Have at look at our most recent newsletter to find out how the project is progressing in the Itchen Navigation News  Also, check out the press release section to find out about recent events.

The Partnership

The project is being managed by the Trust on behalf of a wider partnership of the Environment Agency, Winchester City Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Southampton City Council, Hampshire County Council, Natural England and the Inland Waterways Association.
 
Further Information

Look at our Frequently Asked Questions

Back editions of Itchen Navigation News

Reports and plans

Get in touch with us...

Contact the Itchen Navigation project team on tel 01489 774400  email  feedback@hwt.org.uk

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund