COUNTRY parks in the Eastleigh borough are to benefit from a major cash injection.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds is set to be granted to Royal Victory Country Park in Netley and Manor Farm in Bursledon in a bid to create new facilities at the sites.

Manor Farm is to benefit from a £1m cash boost.

The money will be shared with Staunton Country Park in Havant and will be used to improve facilities at the site, increase health and safety requirements, improve facilities for animal welfare as well as improve the existing cafe and fund new activities.

Meanwhile, £900,000 is set to be granted to improve the cafe and the Empire Room at Royal Victoria Country Park.

It aims to refurbish and preserve the heritage of the room and create a café aimed at increasing the income-generating opportunities of catering at the park.

The scheme is part of a major project led by Hampshire County Council and aimed at transforming and improving country parks.

It comes after plans to create new outdoor seating and an information hub at River Hamble Country Park were given the go-ahead.

As part of the scheme, the iconic chapel at Royal Victoria Country Park is also being revamped with work set to be completed by May 2018.

Now more money is set to be invested in other country parks in the borough.

Cllr Andrew Gibson, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for culture, recreation and countryside, said: “Our country parks are much loved and popular, but visitor expectations have changed over the past 30 years with greater competition from other sites and attractions.

“The country parks transformation programme is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve visitor facilities, make more of their natural and historical features, and help them become more financially self sustaining.”