The area supports a large variety of wildlife, including one of the largest populations in Britain of the nationally rare great crested newt.

The Common is used for community events, Flower Festival, Race for life Cancer Research UK and formerly 'Power in the Park' hosted by Power FM.

The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre at the southern end has been built on the former site of Southampton Zoo and the comprehensive displays document the natural history of the area; with interactive resources, educational facilities and information about local wildlife and environmental management.

To the west, bordering on Hill Lane, is a historic cemetery that also includes many rare flora and fauna.

This is located near to a car parking zone and the Cowherds Inn, a local landmark which has a history going back to the 17th century.

[5] The mainline of the Rollesbrook rises slightly to the south of Cutthorn Mound at the northern end of the common.

[5][6] It flows in a general south westerly direction passing under The Avenue and being joined by several tributaries before leaving the area via the southern side of the cemetery.

[8] The documented history of Southampton Common can be traced back to a dispute over land rights in the 13th century.

[8] The dispute (which also included land beyond the common) was between the Lord of the manor of Shirley – one Nicholas de Sirlie – and the Burgesses of Southampton.

[8] The dispute was resolved on 13 May 1228 by the Borough agreeing to make a small payment to Nicholas de Sirlie and withdrawing any claims over the land that became known as Shirley Common.

[10] In the 17th century, the cowherd was paid 2d per cow but, was required to rent a house on the common for 20 shillings per year.

[12][13] This attempt was only partially successful and was disrupted a year later by a Mr Robert Russell digging on the common.

[14] In 1762 the cowherd's house was rebuilt at the expense of Alderman William Knight who agreed to pay for the building on the condition that the rent (which was then raised to £6 a year) was distributed among the poor of Southampton's parishes.

[11][15] For a period the town gallows were located on the north of Southampton Common with the last execution taking place there in 1785.

[15] A racecourse was built in on the common in 1822 but, with falling attendances, the various structures on the course had to be sold off in 1848 to meet the costs, and it ceased to be used.

[23] Separately, a few years before the expansion, a disused gravel pit had filled with water to the point it became a rough pond.

[23] In 1881 it was decided to form this pond into cemetery lake essentially by tidying it up and making more controllable connections to the streams on the common.

[25] Over the following decades occasional further drilling took place on the well with the final work being carried out in 1883 reaching a depth of 1,317 feet (401 m).

[13][26] In 1850 a further pair of reservoirs was constructed on the northern part of the common this time to hold water taken from the River Itchen at Mansbridge.

[21] A large number of huts were constructed on the common and it was used as a rest camp for troops preparing to leave the country via the Port of Southampton.

[28] The common continued to be used as a transit camp after the war and was returned to the civilian authorities in a rather piecemeal manner with the final part being handed over in August 1950.

[32][15] Poor conditions at the zoo under Mary Chipperfield’s management led to protests in the early 80s including a march to Hoglands Park.

[34] The council lost the case and as part of the proceedings it became clear that in general driving motor vehicles on the common was illegal under the 1931 Southampton Corporation Act.

[36][35] The act stated that sections of the common could be closed for fairs, shows circuses or other functions of like nature.

[23] A feeder from the Rollesbrook stream was constructed but the pool was generally filled from the town's potable water system.

The Common is a venue for a Parkrun; a weekly 5 km run on a Saturday morning starting from near the Hawthorns Centre.