SELBORNE residents breathed a sigh of relief earlier this month, as work on the village green, known as The Plestor, was completed. The work started as a suggestion by East Hampshire's then conservation officers Andrew Dick and Richard Codd in response to a partially replaced path which caused uproar in the village. A long and thorough public consultation took place and the work was postponed several times while grants were secured. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), East Hampshire District Council, Selborne Parish Council and Hampshire County Council. Although the full project is a little larger than what has been done, the work has tidied up the popular space in the centre of the historic village. The path across The Plestor has been fully replaced to make it suitable for disabled access, which the old flint path had not been. The blue ragstone path has been restored, and a scion of the sycamore planted by Gilbert White's brother has been planted so it may become established before the older, rather ill sycamore dies. Chairman of Selborne Parish Council, Hayley Carter, said; "The work was completed by AGM Landscaping who said they had enjoyed the job and Selborne had been a pleasure to work in. "The feedback from residents so far has been very positive."
