Land and buildings for auction at Upton Country Park

Land at a popular Poole park is being auctioned to raise funds for improvements.

The sale of farmhouses, cottages and gardens at Upton Country Park will pay for improvements to walking, wheeling and cycling routes.

Councillors were given the green light to go ahead with plans following a cabinet meeting earlier this week.

BCP council haven’t said how much they hope to raise from the auction.

The plans will see the 90 acres of Upton Park Farmland transformed into publicly accessible green space, as a result of the lease that expired at the end of March this year.

New paths, benches and landscaping will make it easier for people of all ages and mobilities to enjoy.

Enhanced wildlife habitats will help to support biodiversity and nature recovery.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council will use the money gathered through the auction to renovate the park.

Councillor Millie Earl, leader of BCP council said: “Upton Country Park is such a wonderful place to visit, I think this will really extend what it is already known for and make sure it is available for future generations.

It’s about improving the visitor experience and making sure we are supporting our biodiversity aims as a council.”

The proposal for these improvements went to a full council consideration which was voted through, after leaving cabinet.

Councillor Earl said they’re looking at the works taking place over the next year.

The predicted end date for the renovations are conditional of the success of the auction.

The date for a public auction has not yet been finalised but should be confirmed soon.

It is thought that the majority of the work to Upton Country Park will be handled by BCP’s in-house green spaces team.

However, any bigger landscaping projects, like pathing, could be managed by an external contractor.

Councillor Earl said: “We don’t expect road closures, where the park is, it doesn’t have a huge number of residential properties nearby, so we don’t anticipate this being the kind of work that disturbs people.”

She added that there is the possibility of the land north of the A35 being renovated, as it currently stands vacant.