Forest Edge Gazette - January 2021

SCAN ME

Community Magazines

Forest Edge LOCAL DIRECTORY Easily nd local businesses & services COMMUNITY NEWS Raffle raises nearly £1000 for Hampshire countryside Wild Winter Larders

REGULAR FEATURES Quirky facts about Hampshire The Adventures of Daichi Monthly Walk: Crowdhill Pub Quiz & Sudoku

JAN

2021

In this issue

January

Edition of your local Forest Edge Gazette Community Magazine!

Here at Modern Magazines we sincerely hope you had a good Christmas and were able to meet with some family and friends. We will certainly remember these times and really appreciate it when we have less restrictions and are able to go out and about more freely again. Inside your local community magazine Daichi, the Dashing Dude family Campervan, looks back at 2020 with some fond memories, despite all the setbacks. We made the most of the times we did have and are now looking forward to some new and exciting places to visit in 2021! Do you have any plans? You cannot go wrong with a good old British ‘staycation’ - no matter the weather.

Whilst it is still a bit chilly, why not sit by the fire and have a read of your local community magazine from cover to cover? There are things to do such as a wordsearch, a sudoku, a pub quiz and even a New Year’s Resolution’s page for you to fill in! There are also of course our wonderful local businesses and trades people. They really appreciate your calls.

2020 was a challenge let’s face it, so let’s make 2021 the year we help our local shops, trades and businesses thrive like never before! Here at Modern Magazines with your local Directory, we intend to do everything we can to help them. I know you are with me on this. I really appreciate all that you do to help keep our neighbourhood businesses alive.

We wish you a great 2021. May we move forward from this past year with new enthusiasm and a spirit of helping one another.

Very Best Wishes,

Debbie, Stephen and Tracey Debbie’s email: debbie@mlggazettes.co.uk Tracey’s mobile: 07500 592584 and email: tracey@mlggazettes.co.uk Emma’s email: emma@mlggazettes.co.uk

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Raffle raises nearly £1000 for Hampshire countryside

6

Monthly Walk: Crowdhill & Fair Oak

8

Pub Quiz

10 Quirky Facts about Hampshire 12 Wordsearch 14 Poetry: The Road Not Taken 16 New Year Resolution Planner 18 Tastes so good: Bone broth 20 Wild Winter Larders 22 The Adventures of Daichi 24 Sudoku 26 Stargazing in Hampshire 28 Puzzle Answers

Advertise with us Take your business to new heights with our affordable advertising packages!

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To chat to Debbie or the sales team, give us a call on the number below...

01264 316499 Our magazines are printed in a factory that is FSC ® & ISO 14001 certified. Sustainable and environmentally friendly printing is part of our ethos. Using vegetable-based inks and recycling nearly 100% of our paper waste means you can be confident that this publication is not harming the planet.

MLG Magazines Ltd reserves the right to accept or reject any article or material supplied for publication or to edit material prior to publication. The opinions expressed or advice given in this publication are the views of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the publisher.

Every care is taken when compiling this magazine, however we cannot accept liability for misprints or mistakes. Dates and information quoted are believed correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change and no responsibility can be taken for loss, damage or omission of material due to error. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure they have permission to use any artwork which they supply to us or request for us to reproduce. Unless prior consent of the publisher is given, no part of this publication is to be reproduced.

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Raffle raises almost £1000 for Hampshire countryside A raffle organised by volunteers at CPRE Hampshire, the countryside charity has raised almost £1,000 to help the local countryside to thrive.

Robert Jamieson from the charity’s South Downs & Central District Group and co-organiser of the quiz nights usually held in Itchen Abbas and East Meon, says: 'We sadly had to cancel our two quiz nights this year due to coronavirus restrictions, however, not to be outdone we came up with the idea of holding a raffle in its place.

The prize of a case of six Hampshire sparkling wines and the draw took place in November by our Chair, Dee Haas. As it was a raffle, we asked for a donation to enter. We're delighted to say that we sold 70 tickets and the raffle raised almost £1,000 to support our work helping the Hampshire countryside to thrive.’

Peter Lindon. The countryside charity depends entirely on public support and is currently running an appeal. There has been a surge of appreciation for the countryside and local green spaces during lockdown but with no events, this cannot be converted into much needed funds to support its work.

Please visit: www.cprehampshire.org.uk/getinvolved/appeal-2020 to find out more about how you can help to protect the Hampshire countryside now and for generations to come.

The winning ticket belonged to CPRE Hampshire members, Hugh and Sue Sandars of Micheldever. Robert Jamieson adds: 'We intend to hold the quiz evenings again next year when we sincerely hope that all the current troubles will be behind us. It is always a great evening and enjoyed by everybody. We need to raise funds for CPRE Hampshire as it keeps the charity doing its job, protecting our countryside at these difficult times.'

CPRE Hampshire is very grateful to the quiz nights organising team - Robert Jamieson, Christopher Napier and

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Dee Haas with Robert Jamieson drawing the raffle on a public bridleway in Ellisfield because of the current Covid rules

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A fresh walk from

Crowdhill & Fair Oak Start here This months walk heads out Eastwards of the Test Valley and treads brand new ground around the area of Fair Oak. The recommended parking and start point is from The Fox and Hounds, 3 Winchester Road, Crowdhill, SO50 7GD.

This is a walk of around 5 miles with complete variety of terrain and surroundings, but it is worth recording that the early sections are likely to be muddy, so that a time to complete the outing of roughly 1 hour 40 minutes could be acceptable. Thus, starting out from the car park we take the footpath immediately to the left of the pub, aiming down the gentle slope for about 300 metres; up to a T junction where we must turn right along a nice, wide gravel path, but only for 200 metres as far as the sharp left turn, where we go straight ahead into the woods (Upper Barn Copse).

Instead of aiming down the main bridleway we should veer slightly right here, at 45 degrees, up into the woods for just a short distance to join the perimeter path that runs on the edge of the woods, always keeping the wide open fields in view on the right. This path twists and turns regularly but continues on for some 800 metres before swinging right (still maintaining fields over to the right) and joining a switchback of a trail that includes crossing a truly rustic footbridge before climbing up and out onto a farm gravel track where we turn right.

Once away along the farm track we are weaving a path towards Stoke Park Farm, a thriving dairy farm, and we thread between a food silo and barns,

first turning left, then once beyond the barns, turning right (the blue footpath arrows on the telegraph poles confirm the correct route) and ultimately pitching up along a fully metalled tarmac road going right away from the farm. We are now

aiming towards a new housing estate some 600 metres away, but not before we pass the Carp Fishery Hatchery on the right, then climb a rise and through the houses that are spread lightly around. Once past the far side of this housing we pass Bishopstoke Cemetery on the left then shortly after we take the left turn through a metal gate that leads back into Stoke Park.

always following the central trail. This feature track, drops down hill, does a shimmy, then returns uphill again until reaching another boundary metal gate (the North Eastern Entrance). We exit the park and aim directly up the unmade road for a further 200 metres, join the road and in about 150 metres turn left opposite the Truck and Trailer Factory.

Just after the wooden marker post we need to turn right at 45 degrees to arc round for 300 metres as far as the main entrance to the Park in Stoke Park Road.

Stoke Park is an area of 512 acres that was purchased by the Forestry Commission in 1948, but can trace it’s history back to 1205 when King John used it for deer hunting.

There are still deer living around the woods but they are now safe from hunting. We are now on the main through trail that defines the entire park, by turning left we are joining the regular walkers going uphill, past a large stack of stored logs, and onwards

We are now commencing the finale of the walk, with a gentle 600 metre stroll beside new house on the left and woods on the right, passing a Children’s Nursery, crossing a local road and passing the entrance into Crowdhill Copse on the left, before arriving at our very first turning (now on the right) in 50 metres. The last 300 metres back to the car is the reverse of the start of our walk some time earlier; with the car park appearing above on the right. A welcome rest and refreshment will always be available at The Fox and Hounds after another well earned outing.

Wrien by Malcolm Price

Finish here

?

1. Which famous English poet and novelist used the pen name Ellis Bell?

2. Over 99% of the world’s what comes from Hevea brasiliensis?

7. Before emptying into the Dead Sea, which sea does the River Jordan flow through?

8. How many types of chocolates would you find a box of Quality Street?

3. Which musical features the song ‘Memory’?

9. What is a mochachino?

10. Edward Teach is believed to be the real name of which famous pirate?

11. Can you name 2 American states consisting of only 4 letters in their name?

4. A work shift known as a ‘dog watch’ is related to which industry?

5. What does the German word ‘Meister’ mean?

6. Which famous Italian painted ‘The Last Supper’?

12. Which male artist performed ‘Somebody To Love’ at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in 1992?

13. Who invented blue jeans alongside Jacob Davis?

14. In which ocean was the Mary Celeste discovered?

15. Which Jessie J song begins ‘It seems like everybody’s got a price, I wonder how they sleep at night?'

Want to see how you did? Answers on Page 28 8

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QUIRKY

BY MICA BALE

As the new year gets underway. Hampshire begins another chapter in a great line of historical moments and events. From the marriage location of Henry VIII himself to a castle whose prisoners staged theatre shows, here are five more interesting facts from around the county.

It does not take a historian to appreciate Hampshire’s impressive history, in fact throughout the county are many hidden gems that provide snapshots into this treasure trove of heritage. The Fox Pub in Bramdean is one such gem. Dating back more than four hundred years, the pub has witnessed arguably one of the most significant battles of the Civil War and amazingly, the Prince of Wales, later to be George IV, once visited this Hampshire inn for refreshments for himself and his companions. Even more remarkably, the future king even allowed the pub to display his coat of arms, which remains proudly on display in the inn today.

TWO

Have you visited the Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum?

Believed to be the only Victorian steam-driven brickworks left in the UK, the brickworks date back to 1897 when the Ashby family saw the potential for a lucrative brick trade due to the rich supply of clay in Bursledon. Amazingly, just a few years later, in the early 20th century, more than twenty million bricks were being produced by this Hampshire enterprise! Through the years however, the brickworks saw less and less demand until 2015 when this slice of Hampshire’s industrial heritage was given a new lease of life as a museum open to the public.

Have you tried any of Hampshire’s own Gorilla Spirits? As well as producing a wide range of different spirits including gin, vodka, spiced rum and coffee liqueur, Gorilla Spirits, based in Upton Grey, also donates £1 from every bottle to the Gorilla Organisation which works to preserve endangered gorilla species for future generations. Founder Andy Daniel commented, “My vision for Gorilla Spirits Co. is to move with the market by creating a range of the highest quality spirits and liqueurs that people love to drink. Our commitment to donate £1 to the Gorilla Organization for every bottle that we sell lies at the heart of what we do but we look beyond this to find many other ways of making a positive contribution too”. That’s the ape-eal of Gorilla Spirits!

FOUR

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Marwell Zoo is home to more than one thousand animals, from zebras and giraffes to snow leopards and pygmy hippos.

Interestingly, as well as helping with vital conservation work, the site of the zoo is itself an historic area. Rumour has it that the Marwell Estate which dates back to the 14th century, was the actual site where King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour whose family then owned Marwell Hall.

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As one of the county’s greatest strongholds, Portchester Castle has been a beacon of fortitude since the times of the Romans and has played an important role in many fascinating eras of history. A large section of Portchester’s story includes acting as a gaol for various prisoners of war, most notably in the Napoleonic skirmishes, often holding thousands of foreign prisoners at a time. Amazingly, in 1810, Portchester was transformed into a theatre when French prisoners decided to amuse themselves by redecorating one of the castle’s many rooms and staging shows for fellow inmates and locals who would pay to see these shows!

Winter Word Search Can you find all 20 words?

Hint: Horizontal, vertical, diagonal and backwards words makeup this winter word search.

C O L D A H E B D S N M X I C S S B U L L E W G

G A H M R K N S R T E K N A L B Z N G A X H A B

M R N M H C E H V A E G U N E R A O U A O R I B G T S C O G X P N C H N O C E W K V R I A I Y B

A H A G Z T D I B Y X G G A E Z E E R F M V F T

N D D R X T E F W O Q Z W R V O O N A F V A J Z

Y K A Y Y B B R O N E E X F R L I I Z O V N N L

I I N L I K V B N Q P T B O C C T I C I C L E V

Z K C B R S M O S R W S N O W F L A K E E C G E

E S S E A C H I B E R N A T E Y U K E T E A O A

F B C E I R J Q Y C M V U T D J B E F Y A G V N

V R A M V S G W H T F N U K O B J I G L M B C M E D T X E E Z L I Q I C K E J U S W K Z A N P L

L T R Y N U P L U H R Z P X Y I K A N W E Y L B

A A Y V R J N I Y D L H F E L D H Z N N A N B J

A R D C J K Q Z S R M A O K Q I A K K L T N P C

M H C L X G P Z S E V O L G N Z A W Z R E N I U

K P B T I B D A K S A L E T U M K O R W R S G O

L P I N I Y U R D R L S V N A B H X Y T I U F J

Y S N T N C G D H Z W E O I R O Q R B L D V D B

H V M E S I Z M M X M Q H N Z S C Z V Z G K S B

S M K M I O Z K K X T Q B I U V Q J I B Y R N R

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POETRY PAGE

The Road Not Taken

BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Source: poetryfoundation.org

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Resolutions for the New Year 2021 More of this...

Less of this...

Things I will achieve...

I will try...

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I will learn...

I will visit...

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17

Food & Drink

Tastes so good...

Bone Broth After the excesses of Christmas and the New Year Cheer, a good dose of bone broth is the perfect antidote.

You can make up a hefty batch of this in one go and add it to soups, casseroles or simply drink it from a mug for perfect gut-healing health.

This recipe is not your regular stock - it’s packed with minerals and healing properties that will kick start your new year diet.

1.

Ingredients 4lbs beef or chicken bones 2.

12 cups water 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3.

1 medium onion, roughly chopped 4.

3 large carrots, chopped 5.

2 leeks, chopped 3 bay leaves 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 6 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon black peppercorns

6.

7.

8.

9.

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Preheat oven to 200c and line a baking sheet with foil. Place the bones on the sheet and roast for 40 minutes. Flip them halfway through.

Once they’re cooked, break them down and place in a large stockpot. Cover with the water and vinegar and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Add the chopped vegetables and add to the stockpot. Bring to a rolling boil and then lower to a simmer.

For the first 2-3 hours make sure you skim off any foamy layer that develops on the top and discard.

For beef bone broth simmer for 48 hours, for chicken 24 hours.

Allow to cool slightly and strain.

Transfer the broth to an airtight container and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight. This will allow the fat to rise to the top and solidify.

Scrape the fat off the top with a spoon. This will leave you with a gelatinous bone broth when cold.

Store in an airtight mason jar or freeze until ready to use then slowly warm the broth over a low heat or drop straight into soups and casseroles.

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19

Wild Winter Larders, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust The sight of your fridge or cupboards full after a trip to the shops can be very satisfying, but did you know humans aren’t the only ones who like to keep a wellstocked larder over the winter months?

All sorts of animals have been seen hiding food away, ready to eat in the depths of winter when other food sources get scarce.

Under the ground: Perhaps more unexpectedly, some British subterranean species also keep food stores in winter.

Moles keep stores of earthworms at this time of year, in preparation for the ground freezing and becoming too hard for them to feed. A mole’s storage method is rather gruesome; they bite the heads of worms, immobilising them and then keep their meal in chambers off their tunnels. In areas where flooding is likely the moles might also store their prey in a ‘fortress’ above ground. Some worms have a lucky escape, if they haven’t been eaten by the time the weather warms up, they can heal their heads and tunnel their way out.

Helping wildlife stock up for winter can be really simple. Putting out food for birds and letting your garden grow wild, with log and rock piles provides food and places for wildlife to wait out the cold.

PHOTO BY DAVID WILLIAMS

In the woods: Some of the first animals that we might think of when we hear the words ‘winter larder’ are squirrels. These furry mammals hide high-fat food in a scattered fashion, either burying their hoard or stuffing it into hollows in trees. Their stash often includes nutritious meals like acorns and hazelnuts, but red squirrels have also been seen keeping fungi in dry spots between branches to eat later.

Squirrels hide so much food in preparation for winter that they inadvertently help woodlands to grow, with many of the forgotten seeds germinating in spring.

Looking to our feathered friends, acorns are also a firm favourite with jays. They cache their food in a similar way to squirrels, scattering it throughout the forest and often

forgetting some of the piles. If not buried or hidden well, their stores may be eaten by mice before the jays ever get the chance.

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21

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper Van Daichi the Dashing Dude, our wonderful, playful campervan has been looking back at 2020 and where he managed to take us, despite all the restrictions, lockdowns and worries of this last, unprecedented year.

Yes, it certainly was a year of uncertainties.

Daichi did not take us out every month, as the Government said, “No, there is a pandemic, protect the NHS, stay at home, save lives.”

So, we all did. We sat at home, we did a lot of gardening, Netflix has never been so popular, Disney Plus made a fortune, Zoom calls to friends, family and business associates became the new ‘normal’ and Amazon, one of the biggest companies on the planet got bigger.

Small, local shops closed. What a year.

Well, Daichi is not to be beaten. Nine out of the twelve months of the year he took us to new and exciting places. We started at ‘Slop Bog’ in Ferndown, Dorset. It was a cool, damp day, but the walk was very relaxing. White cows, a curious calf, trees, shrubs, birds and time to chill out and have a chat while taking in our wonderful British countryside. Totally free.

Daichi likes to see how many different types of places he can visit. England has such a wealth of historical sites, it would be amiss

Daichi basks in the sun at Lepe Beach

22

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Daichi on the ferry to the Isle of Wight to not see a British Castle! The old medieval Wardour Castle in Wiltshire was a great day out, all the way back in February 2020. Castles are inspiring places to visit and I am sure we will find another this bright New Year to show Daichi some of our memorable British history.

A firm favourite of mine is the Isle of Wight.

This time the weather was cold, wet and very windy so the wooden house on the cliff top was both a delight and a ‘haunt’. Waking up in the middle of the night to pitch black, then sudden outside lights appearing, was daunting, but the trip itself was pure family fun and crazy golf. Amazing views with such changing skies.

We could have been abroad, but no, we were on a wonderful British ‘staycation’. There is so much to see that is right on our doorstep, or at least not that far away. Osborne House and Queen Victoria’s beach were truly uplifting.

The New Forest and Lepe Beach was our first drive out after the first Lockdown. Boy, wild horses were not going to stop Daichi from getting out of that driveway! He was raring to go and beamed from wheel to wheel at all the ponies, horses, foals and cattle along the way.

He was in his element. Lepe Beach and the ice cream van after months of not getting out were

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a sight for sore eyes and we all beamed from ear to ear at this! Delicious. It was a simple trip with coffee and a picnic but most enjoyable.

We were free again and that was intoxicating!

A Treasure Trail was our next adventure. You can buy these online or at Information Centres and some local shops. The one we chose took us all around the Isle of Purbeck where there are Ball Clay Mines. These trails give clues and directions to find out ‘who dun it?’ and where?

The stories are fictional, but the clues take you from one location to another around the area you have chosen. This one was a drive and walk trail so Daichi literally took part as he drove us over hills and winding roads, through beautiful Purbeck villages and even passed the house where the family lived that inspired the James Bond movies. Fantastic, long ranging views of greenery and perfect countryside, whilst educating us along the way. Daichi highly recommends Treasure Trails.

Beacon Hill on the A34 may not seem like an exciting day out, but the views from this very steep hill and 360 degrees of pure space are breath-taking. The sheer exhilaration of climbing the 261 metre incline and then seeing the sheer expanse of hills, trees and the beautiful Highclere Castle, otherwise known as Downton Abbey, in the distance were worth every effort. Again, learning about our history and the ‘Mummy’s Curse’ when the 5th Earl of Carnarvon was bitten by a fatal mosquito after funding the expedition which finally discovered

Daichi admires the sea at Bovisand

Daichi looks over the Isle of Purbeck Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. This story has evoked many a movie since! The Earl’s tomb can be seen at the top of the hill.

Taking my Mum and Dad to Docklow Pools was a real treat. Poor Dad, who is 85 now and Mum’s carer had managed on his own during the lockdown, so fishing at his favourite retreat was a delight for us all. A holiday to remember… and we are hoping to make it again this year!

Finally, our year ended with two fantastic trips, one to Devon and one to Cornwall. Bovisand in Devon with spectacular sea views over Plymouth Sound and the following month a trip to Kingsand and Cawsand literally opposite, across the large expanse of water.

We loved this whole area and Daichi skipped his way around the winding lanes with gorgeous beaches, watching crashing waves on the shores.

It may have been a year of ‘can’t do’ and many inhibitions but in between these trying times of being careful and protecting ourselves, Daichi still found time to take us out, when it was allowed, and have some family fun. His philosophy is very much what can be done, keep a positive view, get some space, get out and about and the world suddenly seems a better place. We hope you have plans to get out and about this year. We certainly have!

Where will Daichi take us in 2021?

By Debbie Corney

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23

Property Protection Trusts PPTs are by far one of the most common types of trusts included in wills.

The PPT is designed to take the deceased’s share in the home and give someone else (usually your spouse) a life interest in the property which will give them the protection of living in the property for the remainder of their lifetime or earlier if the trust specifies i.e. until remarriage. It also ensures that if the survivor requires long term care, at least half the property is preserved for the benefit of their beneficiaries who are normally the deceased’s children.

These types of trusts are generally used for married couples or civil partners to ensure the share of the home will ultimately pass to your children at the end of the trust period whilst still ensuring the interests of the surviving spouse are protected.

For example, a married couple, who have not been married before want to leave their share of their house to their children. They currently own the house as joint tenants. Dorset and Wight would sever the tenancy on the property registering them each as 50% owners. They then have their wills written to represent that if one died, their half of the property

would be held on Trust for the benefit of their children but allowing the survivor to live in their share of the property for life or a specified period of time.

So, what is the point of a PPT? The main reason for a PPT is the protection it provides for the beneficiaries i.e. your children, to ensure they are protected and ultimately receive a share of the home.

If the share of the home is simply gifted to your partner directly, this could cause a number of issues – the main one being that the whole value of the house could be assessed towards payment of care fees.

Another is sideways disinheritance i.e. the surviving partner remarries and the house passes to their new spouse under the Will. A PPT will enable the partner to stay in the home and will avoid the risk of the partner potentially disinheriting your children.

Dorset and Wight are your local trusted provider of affordable Lasting Power of Attorneys and professionally drafted Wills.

You have undoubtedly heard of us Now is the time: to call us.

Telephone 01264 252900 or 01983 623900 or visit: www.dorsetandwight.co.uk

Let’s Sudoku!

Do you love numbers? Enjoy 2 new Sudoku challenges in every issue!

5

3 9 7 8 1 2 5 3 3 9 7 2 1 6 9 1 2 7 3 1 3 5 9 2 1 5 3 9 7 3 1 5 9 2 5 3

9

4 1 5 9 2 4 8 1 8 2 2 4 7 9 8 3 2 1 5 4

2 5 1 8 9 4 8 5 9 4 1

9 8 4 2 6

Answers on Page 28

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3

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25

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL

STAR GAZING Welcome to the January Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include Mars shining brightly high in the south, the wonderful winter constellation of Taurus the Bull and his nearby companions the ‘Seven Sisters’, better known as the Pleiades star cluster. ***Warm shoes with thick socks, layers of clothes, a hat and a flask of hot tea are recommended during winter viewing!***

Interna onal Space Sta on

The ISS will be visible early in the morning between 1st and 8th January.

From the 18th January it is visible in the early evening, often twice per night before 8pm. To establish exact timings please visit www.heavens-above.com or a similar web page for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to Southampton.

Events The Earth is closest to the Sun (a term known as ‘perihelion’) on 2nd January at 1.50pm. So why isn’t it hotter than 5°C outside?! Surprisingly, the distance between the Sun and Earth has little bearing on the Earth’s temperature. It is the 23.5° tilt of the Earth that dictates the temperature we feel – currently the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, therefore the Sun’s rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle and their strength, which we feel as heat, is spread out over a wider area. We experience this reduction in energy as the cooler temperatures of winter.

Mercury

Visible in the evening sky, never straying far from the Sun, Mercury is tricky to spot. However, a pretty grouping (conjunction) with a sliver-crescent Moon, Jupiter and Saturn is visible to those with a clear, uninterrupted view of the south-west horizon on the 14th January (see figure). Looking out of a first-floor window may help, as will the use of binoculars to spot Saturn hidden in the twilight, but remember to only use them once the Sun has set.

Venus The ‘Morning Star’ is visible low in the south-east before sunrise, around 7.30am. Although extremely bright, it is close to the Sun and therefore hard to spot in the breaking dawn.

Mars Mars is still shining brightly in the constellation Pisces, but as it moves into Aries at the end of the month it fades rapidly. Look high in the south at 7pm on a clear night and search for a bright, orange-red ‘star’. For those with binoculars or a telescope there is an opportunity to see it close to Uranus on the 21st.

Saturn & Jupiter Both planets lie very low in the south-west and are only visible for a brief period just after sunset.

Moon This month’s full moon occurs on 28th January, and is traditionally known as the Wolf Moon.

Object of the Month Winter is the time when some of our most famous and well-loved constellations are at their best. It is often worth a quick look outside on the coldest evenings as these are typically those with the clearest skies.

The constellation of Taurus the Bull is one of the oldest constellations, and although it is most often associated with a number of legends pertaining to the Greek God Zeus, there is evidence to suggest that Stone Age peoples saw this particular group of stars as a bull over 12,000 years ago. The ‘head’ of the bull is the most prominent grouping in the shape of a ‘V’, with the eye of the bull marked by the red giant star, Aldebaran (‘The Follower’ in Arabic). Aldebaran is a massive star – it is 44x bigger than our Sun, and if it were placed where our Sun is today its surface would extend almost to the orbit of the planet Mercury. The Pleiades is a familiar star cluster lying close to the head of the bull. Often called the ‘Seven Sisters’, this group of noticeable stars has many legends and stories associated with it from a variety of different cultures, but interestingly many suggest the brightest seven stars in the cluster represent seven women. The Japanese word for the Pleiades cluster is Subaru, meaning ‘united’, and a logo containing six stars can be seen on the badges of Subaru vehicles.

Seven Sisters

Eye of the Bull Aldebaran

SE

Head of the Bull Constellation Taurus

High in the sky January 8PM

S

Mercury Jupiter

Saturn

SW Horizon 14 January 4.30PM

Answers Page PUB QUIZ 1. Emily Bronte 2. Rubber 3. Cats 4. Maritime 5. Master 6. Leonardo da Vinci 7. The Sea of Galilee 8. 13 9. A drink made with coee and chocolate 10. Blackbeard 11. Ohio, Utah, Iowa 12. George Michael 13. Levi Strauss 14. The Atlantic Ocean 15. Price Tag

2 4 3 5 9 7 1 6 8

5 7 6 8 2 1 4 3 9

1 8 9 6 4 3 5 2 7

4 9 8 2 1 5 3 7 6

3 1 5 9 7 6 8 4 2

6 2 7 3 8 4 9 1 5

9 6 2 4 3 8 7 5 1

7 5 4 1 6 9 2 8 3

8 3 1 7 5 2 6 9 4

9 7 2 6 5 3 8 1 4

8 3 4 1 2 9 6 5 7

6 1 5 8 4 7 3 9 2

4 5 8 9 1 6 2 7 3

3 9 1 2 7 4 5 6 8

2 6 7 3 8 5 9 4 1

5 8 3 7 9 1 4 2 6

1 4 6 5 3 2 7 8 9

Be sure to check out the next issue for more game pages!

28

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7 2 9 4 6 8 1 3 5

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run memorial business, that have been

supplying handcrafted memorials since 1987.

* Lawn Memorials * Kerbed Memorials * Cremation Tablets * Granite & Marble Vases * Cleaning & Restoration For a free brochure or more information Contact us on

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29

Index of advertisers

Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Directory...

Bathrooms Ocean Bathrooms................................. 13

Hotels & Restaurants The White Horse Romsey...................... 9

Cameras Rocky Rock Cameras............................. 29

Painters & Decorators Trevor Jerams....................................... 13

Community News Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust: Wild Winter Gardens............... 20 Raffle raises nearly ÂŁ1000 for Hampshire countryside...................... 4

Plumbers G.E. Harding......................................... 21

Driveways County Block Paving............................. 17 Features Adventures of Daichi............................ 22 Monthly Walk: Crowdhill & Fair Oak.... 6 New Year Resolution Planner................ 16 Poetry: The Road Not Taken................. 14 Quirky Facts about Hampshire............. 10 Stargazing in Hampshire...................... 28 Tastes so good: Bone broth.................. 18 Garage Doors Garolla.................................................. 21 Skandoor............................................... 5 Garden Services Barker & Geary..................................... 15 Novelty Kneelers................................... 15 Home Care Services Bluebird Care........................................ 19 30

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Puzzles Pub Quiz............................................... 8 Sudoku.................................................. 24 Puzzle Answers..................................... 28 Wordsearch.......................................... 12 Solicitors CGM Solicitors...................................... 29 The Waring Partnership........................ 32 Stonemasons Allstone Memorials............................... 29 Lockerley Stone & Masonry.................. 21 Peter Thomas........................................ 13 Waste Services Farmer & Son Clearances..................... 5 Will Writing Services Dorset & Wight Wills............................ 25 Windows, Doors & Conservatories GS Windows......................................... 3 Outlook Windows................................. 17 @mlggazettesnews

W H AT A R E YO U WA I T I N G F O R ? various memberships available Applemore Claypits Lane SO45 5TN

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31

M OV I N G F O RWA R D WI T H T H E WA R I N G PA RT N E R S H I P

It’s been a very unusual few months for the UK and, as the country begins to find its feet once more, The Waring Partnership is here to support you.

We want to ensure that when you talk to us you can do so in the manner that suits your circumstances. You can still phone or email us, as always, but we’re also happy to consult with you over Skype or Zoom.

If you need to come into the office we have taken practical steps to keep you safe.

Regardless of the method of communication, you can expect a professional, warm and friendly service from our dedicated and experienced staff. Whether you’re moving house, need help with family issues, or require assistance with a will or probate, you can rely on The Waring Partnership.

Celebrating 10 years

32

C o n v e y a n c i n g

•

F a m i l y

L a w

•

W i l l s

8 Marsh Parade, Hythe Tel: 023 8084 9381

info@the-waring-partnership.com www.the-waring-partnership.com

&

P r o b a t e

15 Water Lane, Totton Tel: 023 8066 0010

@mlggazettesnews The www.mlggazettes.co.uk Forest Edge Gazette • www.mlggazettes.co.uk