Nodding donkeys can already be seen in East Hampshire and the question now is: are they set to become a more common sight and is the district home to a major source of oil?
New licences to drill onshore for oil and gas across the country have just been issued by the Government as we search for alternatives to the North Sea for supplies of fuel.
One site in Horndean is already producing 200 barrels of oil a day, explo
ration drilling will start near Rowlands Castle next year and one oil company is in discussions with a landowner in the Horndean area to start drilling at another site. But while the search for oil is a vital one for the future prosperity of the country, striking Black Gold would come at a price for East Hampshire.
As many of the drilling sites are in rural locations parts of the district's countryside will have to be cleared to make way for the nodding donkeys.
There are currently 10 oilfields dispersed throughout Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey, operated by Northern Petroleum and Star Energy.
Hampshire has four producing oil fields, including the one in Horndean, while there are seven further oilfields and two gas fields producing in West Sussex, Surrey and Dorset.
According to Northern Petroleum, it "seems certain" there will be further exploration and production of oil in Hampshire as oil companies respond to supply issues and technology improves.
A spokesman said: "Oil revenues will bring some wealth to the region with jobs, demand for services and payments of local taxes. We intend to pursue these projects."
The company has recently overcome fierce opposition from environmentalists to start drilling for oil in Markwells Wood, near Rowlands Castle, where the site is estimated to contain 27.5 million barrels of oil.
Construction of the 120ft high exploration rig will involve clearing part of the ancient woodland and the building of a temporary access road.
The work will take three months, beginning later this year, with drilling starting shortly afterwards.
Northern Petroleum is also in "advanced negotiations"with a local landowner to the south of the Horndean field to lease a site suitable for drilling. The company expects to file a planning application in the second half of 2008.
