As Fishlake Meadows has been mentioned in the Romsey Advertiser several times recently I wonder if the attached photo, taken about 1980 or 1981, would be of any interest to the readers? 

The soil was being ploughed prior to a cereal crop (probably barley) being planted. 

This was done for some years before the site was acquired by Hilliers who used it as a tree plantation for some time. The alluvial soil was very rich as there were allotments on the west end of the site. 

The area would have been pumped out to avoid flooding until Hilliers left the site. The pump, incidentally is still in situ just to the north of Fishlakes Road and has not worked for many years.

Leonard A Heasman,
Mercer Way,
Romsey

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