FOVANT - Welcome to the Parish of Fovant. Fovant is a medium sized village which lies astride the main Salisbury – Shaftesbury A30 road, approximately ten miles equidistant between the two market centres. Fovant nestles in the Nadder valley just below the West Wiltshire Downs, and its Parish boundary extends up to the old droveway (often called the Herepath – “Here” being Saxon for army) which runs along the ridge atop Fovant Down. Fovant (called ‘Fobbefunt’ during the Saxon period because of its many fountain springs), enjoys the benefit of having its own spring water lake that feeds the brook which runs the entire length of the village. The stream flows through a former cressbed which later became a trout farm (now disused)and completes its journey as a tributary of the River Nadder – one of the five rivers which flow through Salisbury.

Fovant has a population of approximately 650, of which some 540 are eligible to vote. There are some 360 dwellings, and many of the older cottages and houses are built of the local Fovant, Chilmark and Hurdcott Stone. There are three social housing developments. Over time, the village green spaces have been infilled with small developments of new-build houses and refurbishments of existing dwellings (some involving the development of garden spaces). No development is permitted outside the designated village housing boundary but limited development may be carried out within the village - although there are few spaces left for development. The Parish Council is independent of the Parochial Church Council and has nine elected members. The village is blessed with a Church, Chapel, Village Hall, Shop with Post Office, Garage, Youth Club and a Doctor’s Surgery.

The village is located in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and includes within it’s boundary, areas of Special Scientific Interest and two Conservation Areas. This rural community was once famous for its cress beds which were located at the widest part of the valley floor in the centre of the village by the Mill House. The cress beds were replaced with a trout fishery which ceased operating and no longer provides employment to the people of the village. Mixed farming is carried out in the countryside surrounding the village, with cattle being preferred to sheep. West Farm specialises in the rearing of prize ‘Blonde D’Acquitaine’ cattle.