Back in the Second World War this area was ‘invaded’ by many thousands of Canadian troops who set up huge camps in the local villages.

Many of these were named after the Great Lakes with Superior, Huron and Ontario among others. One of these was Erie Camp at Headley Down. Today that is the site of a large housing estate.

However, part of the site is also a nature reserve known as Heart of Erie Wood.

Now the Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust (HDNRT) is planning to recognise the Canadian connection in the reserve by recalling a rather unusual one-time member of the unit.

A bronze bear has been chosen as the central feature for the Heart of Erie Wood, part of a heritage project aiming to recover the history of the Heatherlands Estate and the nature reserve area during and after the Second World War.

The bear not only represents the connections between Canada and Headley during the war, but is also a reminder of the link between the Fort Garry Horse Regiment, stationed in the village from 1942-43, and their one-time mascot, who was the inspiration for perhaps the most famous bear of all – Winnie-the-Pooh.

The story began in Canada in 1914, when an orphaned female bear cub was rescued by army vet Harry Colebourn, and named after Winnipeg, his home town.

During the First World War they made the journey to England together with the Fort Garry Horse Regiment, where Winnie became the regimental mascot until the men were posted to the battlefields in France.

Winnie was then left in the safe keeping of London Zoo, where she became a firm favourite with children, particularly Christopher Robin, who was allowed inside the cage to feed her condensed milk.

He even named his teddy bear after Winnie, who was then immortalised by Christopher’s father, AA Milne, as ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’.

Now the Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust is organising a ‘Name Our Bear’ competition with suggestions to be sent in via Facebook or email, or on forms from the Woodlands Hall Community Centre.

Once the bear is established in his or her new location in Erie Wood, and whenever it becomes possible to gather together again, the trust will hold an inauguration and bulb planting party to celebrate the ongoing international connection between locals and descendants of the Canadian veterans.

The ‘Heart of Erie Wood’ project will also include a new hard-surfaced path, benches and information panels, making this a destination feature that will be easily accessible for visitors of all ages.

In addition to donations from local residents, funding has been awarded by district councillors Anthony Williams and Richard Millard, the Lottery Community Fund, Abri, and the Hampshire Rural Communities Fund.