Local MP, Maria Miller, visited Shooting Stars Nursery, on the edge of Old Down park, to raise awareness of her petition to have the park designated as a Nature Reserve by the Borough Council. Maria met with Shooting Stars owner, Claire, and mum, Sarah, who is also contributing to work on the petition.
Maria said: “I am delighted to visit Shooting Stars and really grateful for their support with the petition. As I have repeatedly said, Old Down is integral to the health and quality of life of the local community, which is why I am calling on the Borough Council to designate Old Down as Local Nature Reserve.
“I know how valued Old Down is, especially by the children and parents of Shooting Stars, who can access this fantastic park right on their doorstep. It is vitally important to preserve this green space for our children, not just for their immediate use, but also for their future and for generations to come.
“I would urge all the people of Basingstoke who value this great ecological asset to sign the petition, as we are now only two weeks away from presenting to the Council and the more signatories we can get the more powerful the message.”
You can sign the petition at: