From the Southern Daily Echo:
"Thirty lime trees standing in the way of an ambitious two year project to restore the remains of historic parkland at North Stoneham to its former glory have been uprooted.
Research showed that the trees at Avenue Park would not have featured in the original plans of the site by famous 18th century landscape garden designer Capability Brown.
But instead of axing them, The Itchen Hamble Countryside Project merely moved the limes to a new location and realigned them with the remains of a lime avenue believed to fit in with Brown's original design. Countryside projects officer Nick Webb explained:
"With the help of an ingenious piece of machinery known as a tree spade. the trees were moved quickly and efficiently to provide an instant impact upon the landscape."
The countryside project, based in Eastleigh council's countryside and recreation services department, has also restored a section of old carriage drive, complete with a traditional metal kissing gate.
The drive originally connected Chestnut Avenue to the former North Stoneham House. Other recent works include the planting of several specimen oaks with practical and financial assistance from the Hampshire branch of the International Tree Foundation.
The huge restoration project of the vital green lung on Eastleigh's southern boundary with Southampton has been made possible through a partnership of Eastleigh council with local people, Hampshire County Council, Eastleigh and District Angling Club and other local landowners.
Cash for the scheme has primarily come from developers' contributions following redevelopment of the Stoneham Rectory site several years ago with further financial, design and practical assistance from the county council."