Forest of Bere

The Forest of Bere (pronounced 'beer') is a wooded area in Hampshire, England, between Portsdown Hill and the South Downs.

The Forest is made up of woodland, open space, heathland, farmland and downland.It has 19th century oak and 20th century conifer plantations as well asareas of scrub and coppice, streams, ponds.

There are a number of paths and bridleways for walking and cycling.

There are four areas left of the former Royal Forest of Bere; Creech Wood, West Walk near Fareham, Stoke Park Wood, and Queens Enclosure.

The present Forest of Bere is a much smaller than when it was a Royal forest.At one time it stretched from the River Test at King's Somborne in the west through Hursley, Eastleigh, Bishop's Waltham and Denmead to Rowland's Castle in the east.

This forest is known to be haunted, with many sightings of strange figures lurking about at night. It is a very popular location to go on Friday 13th, and also on Haloween.

Many people have said to have seen a strange figure of a man who stands still in the near middle of the forest and will not move until you get close, then he will disappear all together. The identity of this person has not yet been found out, and he is known only to be seen when there is a full moon.

A young girl called Katie Greenham was raped and murdered in this very forrest.

See also:
* Denmead
* Hambledon

Links

* [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandHampshireBere/places/westwalk.html Hampshire County Council - West Walk]
* [http://www.hants.org.uk/hollybank-woods/FOB.html HollyBank Wood]
* [http://www.fareham.gov.uk/town/activities/places/forestofbere.asp Fareham Council - Bere]