Eastleigh SANG: Locals plea to remove fencing trapping deer

Eastleigh Borough Council is building a Sustainable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) at Stoke Park Farm, an area of land designed to “provide alternative recreational opportunities for the public”.

Part of this development is a 20-hectare field, which was proposed as a “new area for public access” off Sewall Drive.

The fencing that has been put up around the perimeter of the SANG. (Image: Newsquest) But while getting the site ready ahead of its Summer 2025 opening date, a fence has been put in place around the perimeter, which has inadvertently started to trap deer inside.

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Resident Lin Malt told the Echo that “poor deer” are getting stuck inside the field because they can jump over from the elevated outside but then cannot get back out.

Kissing gates have now been locked and no public access signs have been placed on the entrance and exit to the SANG, though the Echo understands these measures were taken after a dog attacked deer. (Image: Newsquest) “The main area is a big open grassy area where people can walk through, you can have picnics there and they want to maintain the wildlife,” she said.

“But these new fences, which are probably about five foot high, are being laid across the natural entrances and exits to that area.”

More of the fencing that has been put up around the perimeter of the SANG. (Image: Newsquest) But while the SANG is not supposed to be used by the public yet as it is still under construction, some dog walkers have already taken advantage of the new site.

On April 14, loose dogs attacked a deer, which was “mauled” all over according to eye-witness Lee Sayers.

A drone shot of the SANG, with a red marker showing where Lee saw the injured deer. (Image: Lee Sayers) Lin said: “It’s got to go, they’ve got to take that fence out. It doesn’t mix.

“You can’t have wildlife and dogs on the loose.”

Eastleigh Borough Council has since locked gates leading into the field and put "no public access" signs on the fencing.

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Sandra Welch, a local beekeeper and co-owner of Bishopstoke Honey Bees, left the house in her pyjamas and sat with the injured deer while the RSPCA attended.

"That fence goes right across the deer's natural path," she said.

“They can get over but then see the fence and panic. Everybody’s saying the same thing, get that fence down."

Kissing gates have also been installed at the SANG’s entrance and exit.

While signs are up to say the field has “no public access” while under construction, Sandra worries a disabled person like herself will not be able to get through once complete.

Eastleigh Borough Council respond

A deer walking around the SANG peacefully. (Image: Lee Sayers) A petition has been launched to remove the fencing, which received over 1,000 signatures within the first two days of it being live.

Independent councillor Karen Caws posted on Facebook to say that the project team were told "early on" that the field was a "favourite grazing spot for deer", who "prefer the edge zones between woodland and fields".

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Her post said: "While they are capable of jumping over the fencing, the layout along the woodland edge isn’t ideal for easy passage.

"There have been some reports of deer struggling to exit, and we recognise this is a concern."

Eastleigh Borough Council told the BBC that it was "very concerned" about the deer being attacked, and responded by putting locks on the gates and opening parts of the fencing for the wildlife.