The Bunney wood & stream 

The Bunney

'The Bunney is a narrow, long strip of ancient woodland. The southern part of this site is thought to have formed part of a Victorian garden once part of the Ingleside Estate, which accounts for the occurrence of exotic species such as rhododendron, Monterey pine and bamboo'.

I have so far been unable to find any reference to the naming of this woodland as The Bunney or why the spelling of Bunney. It is not shown on any Ordnance Survey map as The Bunney. If you have any information please use the 'Contact Us' page.

There is a stream that winds its way through The Bunney and its origins would be from the water that drains through the field opposite the Roll Call. This is culverted under Woolston Road and is then contained underground between the houses of Rookley and Stenbury Way. It emits into The Bunney from a culvert, by the path leading to Stenbury Way. Its course from there is down to and under Hound Way, through St Marys Wood and under St Marys Road into the gardens of Woodlands Drive. It leaves these properties for one in Hound Road and joins the waters, from the Butlocks Heath reservoir, known as Spear Pond Gully.

The fresh water flows through Spear Pond Wood down through to Sophie's Pond where it is culverted under Victoria Road to meet the Southampton Water.

'The Bunney Surname, meaning and history - English (Devon): possibly a nickname, as Reaney suggests, for someone having a prominent lump or swelling, from Middle English boni, buny 'swelling', 'bunion' (see Bunyan). It is also possibly a topographic name from the south western English dialect word bunny 'ravine'.'