It is a unique attraction that has been at the heart of a Hampshire community for decades.

But now the scenic plot of land on the Waterside is under threat and residents have launch a battle to save it from developers.

The field has been rented by Barry Bevis as a home for his goats, llamas, pigs, donkeys, chickens, ducks and geese, for 35 years.

But now it could be replaced by a new housing development, under plans released by New Forest District Council.

Residents have reacted angrily to proposals that would see the field on Frost Lane, known affectionately as “Barry’s Field”, be replaced by up to 12 homes.

The site is one of three options that will be considered by council chiefs at a public consultation meeting on February 23, along with land at Forest Lodge farm and Cabot Drive.

But residents say removing the field, in Frost Lane, Hythe, would “rip the heart out of the community”.

Barry, 66, who owns the bungalow that backs onto the field, said: “I get a lot of pleasure out of it and I think the local people do too. The support they are giving us is terrific.

Campaign

“I never get any complaints about the animals so people must love coming here and bringing their children here. I just hope they can continue to do that.”

More than 1,000 people have already joined an Internet campaign to save Barry’s Field and petitions are being signed in local shops, pubs and post offices.

One local parent, Rebecca Clark, said: “It’s a major place in Hythe where all families go to take their children and feed the animals. I should think there are very few families in the area that haven’t been down to Barry’s field at some point.

“It’s something free that we can all do and enjoy and it’s such a big part of Hythe. It would be a great shame to lose it.”

A spokesman for New Forest District Council said: “The whole point of the document and the public consultation is because we want people’s opinions. The council has made no decision as yet on which sites it wants to use. We probably don’t need all three sites and it may be that we end up using none of them.”