Downton Manor Farm Quarry, Milford on Sea

On Tuesday 5th April 2022, Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD MP officially opened the ‘Downton Jubilee Walk’, a new public footpath in Milford on Sea created by New Milton Sand and Ballast.

Downton Jubilee Walk is a new public facility, set on carefully restored land, adjacent to one of our working quarries. The new pathway will allow members of the public to enjoy a scenic stroll around the seven new lakes created at this location and observe natural wildlife in the area – from badgers and bumblebees to bats and several species of birds.

The opening saw Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD unveil the newly named public footpath, which honours the Queen’s Jubilee marking her 70 years on the throne in 2022. Guests were invited to enjoy refreshments and listen to speeches given by the MP and Rob Flower, Managing Director of New Milton Sand and Ballast.

The new footpath marks part of our ongoing environmental enhancement of the local area which to date includes other initiatives such as replenishing fresh water to the marshes in Lymington and planting over 20,000 trees and shrubs at New Milton, Downton and Pennington. It also initiates the start of further improvements still to come at Downton Manor Farm working with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight wildlife trust and the Bumblebee Conservation, alongside a new education programme with local schools.

The new walk runs alongside the Downton Manor Quarry, giving the public access to the ongoing land restoration. The quarry is currently undergoing temporary extraction for essential minerals, to create aggregates, concrete and other building products to support the local construction industry. Our restoration programme has introduced a much richer, biodiverse habitat for wildlife to thrive in and now enable the community to enjoy as well.

We have over 86 years’ experience in supplying quality aggregates, concrete, building materials and waste services across Dorset and Hampshire. With over 160 local staff and operates three quarries, five depots, four concrete plants, one recycling centre and two builder’s merchants, supporting thousands of customers across the south of England.

Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne TD MP, said: “I am pleased to have been invited to attend this important opening in my constituency, unveiling the brand-new plaque to mark the start of the Downton Jubilee Walk. This new public pathway will undoubtedly give local residents the opportunity to enjoy even more of our wonderful local wildlife and countryside.”

Rob Flower, Managing Director at New Milton Sand and Ballast, said: “The opening of the Downton Jubilee Walk is a key milestone in New Milton Sand and Ballast’s ongoing environmental enhancement and restoration of the Downton Manor Farm Quarry. We’re pleased to be providing public access for local residents to enjoy the benefits that our seven lakes and wildlife habitats can offer. It’s important that local residents can see the biodiverse impact that we are striving to achieve, and the opening of this walk marks an important part of the quarrying process and our commitment to our local community.

Access to the Downton Jubilee Walk is via Shorefield Road, Milford on Sea, Lymington, SO41 0PB. This is a permissive footpath.