News round up

Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice & Hound

Mercury prepares

The Mercury Library and Community Hub has been busy getting its patio and garden area shipshape in time for the warmer weather. It’s a lovely spot to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee surrounded by some colourful plants. There are daily newspapers and magazines to browse and a wide range of books on the library shelves. The children’s area has books, puzzles and drawing materials. Their regular activities continue to be popular: quilling, knit and natter, cribbage, book club, IT support and a Citizens Advice drop-in on the first Wednesday of each month.

Keep an eye on their Facebook page or the noticeboard outside the Mercury for details of our future fundraising events and weekly programme - facebook. com/MercuryHamble

Hedge End, West End & Botley

Wheeled sports area at Hatch Farm

as part of our annual programme to manage over 100 hectares of biodiversity rich grasslands at the park. The summer hay cut, after flowers have set seed, takes away nutrients and encourages a diversity of rarer plants to colonise and flower.”

Under this careful management the variety of flowering plants which thrive in low-nutrient conditions has increased dramatically and they will hopefully put on a spectacular show this spring and summer. These in turn provide structure and a food source for a variety of insects, including an array of grasshoppers and butterflies.”

The finishing touches are being added to the Hatch Farm wheeled sports area, with tree planting completed in March. Opened last autumn, the designers of the wheeled sports area, Fearless Ramps Ltd, were appointed following consultation with residents and local skate and scoot enthusiasts. The equipment has been enjoyed by many young, (and not so young), residents. To complete the project, seating, bins and path improvements are planned for the coming year.

The wheeled sports area has been supported by West End Parish Council and Hatch Farm Working Group, which includes Parish and Borough Councillors, together with representatives from the Barnsland Residents’ Association.

Mela celebrates culture

The celebration of all Eastleigh Borough’s cultures comes to the Leigh Road Recreation Ground on Sunday 23 July

Eastleigh Mela is a fantastic, free family day out and firm fixture in Eastleigh’s town centre event calendar. It’s a feast of music, dance, food stalls, children’s activities, interviews and demonstrations.

Chilli Fiesta spices things up

Summer gets even hotter in July with the arrival of the Eastleigh Chilli Fiesta – on Saturday 29 July, in the Leigh Road Recreation Ground.

Featuring the best in chilli-based food and drink, live music and the notorious chilli eating contest, a range of stalls will offer sizzling sauces, chilli jams, curries – and even chilli beer.

FREE EVENT