History on your doorstep: 6. Wellesley Woodlands

Welcome to the fifth in my series. This time I’m showcasing my top ten favourite historical stories and features, selected from our ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ directory.

At number 6 is Wellesley Woodlands on the border of Surrey and Hampshire…

This is a statue of Arthur Wellesley, more widely known as the Duke of Wellington, sitting upon his horse, Copenhagen, at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.  It is, perhaps, the most visible reminder of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire’s rich military history.

Originally unveiled in 1846 at Hyde Park Corner in London, the statue was moved to Aldershot at the suggestion of the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) and unveiled at its present location atop Round Hill in 1885.

My favourite feature at Wellesley Woodlands is the Beech Trail at Rushmoor Bottom.  The fine beech trees here are evocative of the primaeval Beech wildwoods that probably dominated the landscape here during the warm Atlantic Period about 6,000 years ago – depicted here in The Shell Natural History of Britain (1970).

Beech wildwood from The Shell Natural History of Britain (1970).

For directions, information and more photographs, go to the Wellesley Woodlands entry in ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’.

Warden Mike

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