🎬A ministry film documenting 'Special Weapons' tests on the wall targets at Ashley Walk Bombing Range.

Over 3,000 acres of Ashley Walk were fenced off during the Second World War. Within this area many types of air delivered bombs were tested. Special concrete structures were built to assess the various bomb's effectiveness. There is still visible evidence of these structures and the scars remain from the largest weapons.

"Highball" was considered one of the smaller 'special weapons'. These tests were using actual size casings but without the high explosive. The footage here is thought to be from late 1942 and early 1943.

🎬An unnamed local filmmaker set up his camera on the top deck of a Southampton Tram. The result is a wonderful window on life in the last year of the Victorian age.

Southampton 1900, A Tram Journey. Starting at North Gate, Bargate Arch. North along Above Bar Street. Finishing at The Clock Tower, Palmerston Park.

🎬BBC South 50 years: Episode1 BBC South. A series of 19 mini-features made by BBC South at Southampton in 2011 to celebrate the station's 50 year history.

Episode 1 BBC South. Steve Humphrey tells the story of BBC South from the first broadcasts of South at Six. Introductory footage is from the British Pathé Archive.

NFG are indebted to the BBC staff at Southampton for their help in sourcing items for the archive. See more episodes in the Category - BBC South.

🎬Pony Drift: The British "Wild West" BBC Earth. Horse racing in the forest is an excellent occasion to see some breath taking "pony drifts", where riders gather up and herd the ponies at high speeds. The film features many recognizable faces including father and son, Richard and Robert Stride.

🎬Roger Finn explores a remote part of Hampshire to see the wildlife and discover its unusual neighbor.

For Roger, this is an exclusive visit to what is probably the south's best protected wildlife habitat. Thousands of people see it from afar every day, but very few are allowed into the saltmarshes at Fawley Power Station.

Alison Jones, Fawley’s Community Affairs Manager, said: “We have worked incredibly hard over the years to not only protect our environment but to actively help it flourish. The saltmarsh and the reservoir are wonderful examples of how this care and effort has paid off. To be asked to feature in Finn’s Country was a great opportunity for us to share this work with the wider public.”

A BBC South Today Feature

🎬Roger Finn goes in search of Dragonflies in the New Forest. Doug Overton guides Roger through the delicate world of dragonfly spotting. Over half of the UK's forty dragonfly species can be found in the New Forest.

Identified Species:
Damselfly
Hairy dragonfly
Golden-ringed dragonfly
Broad-bodied chaser
Large red damselfly
Southern damselfly

A BBC South Today Feature

Find out more here:
https://newforestdragonflies.com/