Itchen Valley Forum March 2022 by Mark Tubb

Forum

ISSUE 183 MARCH 2022

ITCHEN VALLEY

Life in your Community

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

MARCH NEWS & EVENTS

Fiery Creole Jambalaya

By Lucia Foster-Found

All the local news and events for the local area

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ITCHEN VALLEY FORUM MARCH 2022

CONTENTS 04 March Clubs & Events 06 Property Management

Buying, selling, letting? Find local estate agents and property management services

Feature

Garden

Make your garden dream come true

Feature

The Team

40 Food & Drink

Editor Mark Tubb editor@forumpublications.co.uk

Fiery Creole Jambalaya

Eat out, stay in: food, drink and dining in Hampshire

Speaking in tongues By Lucia Foster-Found

40 Recipe of the Month

Home

Trades, services, designers, All you need for your home

Motoring

Local services to keep your vehicle running

54 Education

The MacMillan Cape to Cape - £1,000,000 Marathon

Find local schools and educational experts

From photographers to solicitors every professional service you need

Arts & Culture

Animals & Pets

Entertainment

Discover local events and days out or in

Contributors

Forum Publications Offices

Unit 8A, Shelf House, New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QH Tel: 01962 735137 www.forumpublications.co.uk

30 Retail

Accounts accounts@forumpublications.co.uk

Get in Touch

Looking after your health and yourself!

Our regular retail feature, Unique, Bespoke, Eclectic and Local shopping

Advertising Manager Mandy Head mandyhead@forumpublications.co.uk

www. luciafosterfound.com

28 Wellbeing

Director of Marketing Rob Harrison rob@forummedianddesign.co.uk

Lucia Foster-Found

24 Professional Services

Director of Advertising Steve Walker stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

The Itchen Valley Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. Itchen Valley Forum takes reasonable efforts to include accurate, current information on its pages, but make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, safety or value of the published items that are displayed. No liability or responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions in magazine content. Itchen Valley Forum magazine content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or recommendations of its creators and any reliance upon its content is taken at the user’s sole risk. Adverts designed by Forum Publications remain the magazine's legal ownership. Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household © Forum Publications Ltd, 2022

COMMUNITY

March Clubs & Events Clubs & Societies

your name and press #) or David on 734 319 for more information

Alresford Art Society Learn to paint or re-visit an old hobby by joining the Alresford Art Society's classes. Choose daytime or evening. Mixed ability and beginners are available. Call Sue Gentry on 01962 773185 or email: sue. gentry@gentrypublicity.co.uk for more details

Dairy Dates

Alresford Ladies Group Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30 p.m. in the John Pearson Hall, Alresford. Alresford Rotary Club Talk on February 10th by Jonathan Read. Enquiries to Beverly Terrill, 01962 733112. Alresford and District Horticultural Society Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm in St Gregory’s Hall, Grange Road, Alresford. The next meeting will be on 10 November and the speaker will be Rosemary le Grande who will talk about the Gardens of South Africa. As the speaker has a health condition, masks will be obligatory for this meeting. For further information contact Mr Stephen Morley on 01962 733524 or hortic@allthemorleys.co.uk Cheriton Singers We are a small, friendly choir who meet each Tuesday evening in term time in Cheriton. The Alresford Community Centre Badminton Club A small friendly social group, meeting every Monday evening 7pm - 9.30pm In the upstairs hall at the centre! Phone: 01962 733812 Arle Reading Group We meet in Alresford Library from 2pm till 3pm on the third Monday of most months, to share our views about a book we have chosen to read, and which Hampshire CC Library Service supplies. The group widens the range of books we read, lets us hear other opinions, and is a sociable meeting in the town centre. We have space for two new members: please speak to one of the Librarians, or call Sue on 734 886 (there is a call minder, so be ready to give

Wednesday 9th March Alresford and District Horticultural Society Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in St. Gregory’s Hall, Grange Road, Alresford. The next meeting will be on March 9, when Barry Newman will give a talk on the Modern Kitchen Garden. For further information contact the Chairman, Mr Stephen Morley on 01962 733524 or hortic@allthemorleys.co.uk . Thursday 10th March Alresford Ladies Group A talk on Therapies by Sharon Cope Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30 p.m. in the John Pearson Hall, Alresford. Alresford Rotary Club Talk on February 10th by Jonathan Read. Enquiries to Beverly Terrill, 01962 733112. Thursday 24th March Alresford Art Society: a demonstration by Stephen Foster entitled 'Abstract landscape in oil' From 7.30pm in Bishop's Sutton Village Hall, Alresford Road (B3047), Alresford SO24 0AH (Covid regulations allowing). Non-members welcome - admission £3. For further information please contact Richard Cox on 01962 732043 or visit www.artsociety.alresford.org Friday 25th March Solos Sunday Tea The Solos Sunday tea is held in the John Pearson Hall New Alresford on the third Sunday of each month. Our next tea will be on Sunday, March 20th from2pm-4pm. Do come along for Tea, Homemade cake, Conversation and Friendship. Info 10am-12 noon 01962 733545 Friday 15th to Monday 18th April National Open Garden Scheme Crawley Gardens Winchester, SO21 2PR From 2pm to 5.30pm - Combined Admission: £8.00 children free

Refreshments in Village Hall: Homemade teas - https://ngs.org.uk/viewgarden/17567 - Here you have three gardens for one price - all set in the extremely picturesque village of Crawley, with its duck pond and thatched cottages. Little Court is 3 acre country garden with carpets of Spring bulbs. Bay Tree House is a Mediterranean style garden with bulbs and wildflowers. Paige Cottage is a traditional English garden with Spring bulbs and wildflowers. Wednesday 11th May Save The Date: Garden & Craft Fair in aid of Winchester Go-LD From 10am to 4pm at Upper Farm, Down Farm Lane, Headbourne Worthy, SO23 7LA. Entrance £5. Ample parking available onsite, sorry no dogs. A great day out with lots of exciting new stalls, a lunch marquee, floral workshops and demonstrations and illustrated plant and garden talks by a Hillier expert. Please look at our website for more details: https://winchestergold.org.uk/getinvolved/ This event is being generously supported by Cobbs, Hillier, Creative Flora, Savills and NFU Mutual. Saturday 26th March Charity concert at St Nicholas Church, Bishop’s Sutton In aid of Blood Cancer UK - ‘The Quay of Sea’ performed by Lester Simpson & Nigel Corbett. This hour-long concert starts at 6.00pm, doors open at 5.30pm. Tickets, £10 each, are available at the door. The music reflects Lester’s love of the sea and of sailing anything from a Mirror dinghy to a full-rigged ship. He will use his compositions and favourites from the great reservoir of nautical songs and stories, from the tragic to the comic. Listen to Lester on accordion, ukulele and vocals, ably assisted by Nigel Corbett on guitar, bouzouki and fiddle. So ‘stand by your bow stoppers, let go your shank painters, haul up your clew garnets, let tacks and sheets fly’…! Directions, enquiries and reservations available from stnbconcerts@gmail. com. Please use the village hall car park if necessary. If you would like to advertise your event please email it to editor@ forumpublications.co.uk

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LE T

Sales | Property Management | Lettings ROPLEY To Let: £2,250pcm | EPC Rating: E

ROPLEY Asking Price: £1,600,000 | EPC Rating: Exempt

FOUR MARKS Asking Price: £795,000 | EPC Rating: D

SO LD

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A name you can count on in a changing world…

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ALRESFORD Asking Price: £1,250,000 | EPC Rating: B

11 Broad Street, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9AR | alresford@hellards.co.uk www.hellards.co.uk | Tel. 01962 736333

Sales | Property Management | Lettings

Sales | Property Management | Lettings Sales | Property Management | Lettings

A name you can count on in a changing world…

Spring is on its way…

A name you can count on in a changing world… A name you can count on in a changing world…

With the worst of the winter weather now behind us, this is the time of year when people are once again thinking about moving home. The market remains buoyant and we are currently experiencing an unprecedented number of enquiries from motivated buyers and tenants who want to find their perfect home this year. Quality properties in Alresford and the surrounding villages are especially in demand, both to rent and to buy. If you are planning to sell or let out your property this year, now is the optimum time to talk to us. Our dedicated and friendly team will be delighted to guide you through the process from start to finish, with the minimum of fuss along the way. Call us today on 01962 736333 to discuss getting you moving in 2022!

11 Broad Street, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9AR | alresford@hellards.co.uk www.hellards.co.uk | Tel. 01962 736333

11 Broad Street, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9AR | alresford@hellards.co.uk 11 Broad Street, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 | 736333 alresford@hellards.co.uk www.hellards.co.uk | Tel. 9AR 01962 www.hellards.co.uk | Tel. 01962 736333

COMMUN ITY / PROPERTY Short Term Rental

summer months with activity focussed around The Solent and demand for rentals driven again by participants and spectators.

Short Term Rentals are very popular, especially for seasonal events. They can be profitable for landlords and provide flexibility for tenants. Intended to be a ‘home from home’, bills are usually included, and the tenant just arrives with the essentials.

The fishing season is usually from June to March bringing a demand for short term accommodation in the Itchen, Test and Meon Valleys. These areas are also popular for a variety of other country sports, each with its own seasons and need for short term accommodation.

From large country homes to annexes and apartments, a variety of properties can be let out for shorter periods but we would recommend a period of three months to six months (subject to required consents). The polo season sees demand from May-September specifically in West Sussex near the Cowdray Park Estate, ‘Home of British Polo’ with 400 matches played and demand from both players and spectators for a place to rent during the period. The sailing season runs from March to November, peaking in the

Kate Porter Sales

Claudia Hunt Lettings

Meet Alex, the National Park apprentice For National Apprenticeship Week this February, we caught up with one of the National Park’s apprentices, Alex Jarvis. Can you tell us more about your apprentice role at the National Park? As an apprentice, I’m being trained in the role while in the job, in my case, that of a park ranger. This means that I carry out tasks with the park ranger at Seven Sisters, and they instruct me how and why these things are done. This can be anything from scrub clearance, to boundary repair, maintenance of signs and benches or a bird survey. I also attend college for the theoretical aspect of the course, and have to complete a portfolio summarising my work and study. Why did you choose an apprenticeship at the South Downs National Park? During the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most important things for me was spending time outside in nature. Informed by the experience, I decided that I wanted to try something different that meant I could spend more time in nature, but also allow me to gain new skills and gain experience in a new field. Growing up, we spent a lot of time going for walks at some of the most beautiful spots in the South Downs National Park, particularly the eastern end, the Long Man of Wilmington, Mount Caburn, and the Seven Sisters. So, when the opportunity came up to be able to not only work in this landscape, but also learn how it’s managed and protected for the benefit of both people and nature, I jumped at the chance! What do you think are the benefits of apprenticeships? I think the great thing about studying through an apprenticeship is

If you have a cottage or annexe on your grounds or are planning to go away for an extended period, then a short term rental may be an option. For existing landlords concerned about, or experiencing, a void period and would like the security of a tenant for three to six months, or have a property that may be suitable for short term rental, please call: Claudia Hunt or Louise Bailey on 02392 632275 email: claudia@countryhousecompany.co.uk or louise@countryhousecompany.co.uk

Marishelle Butler Management

EQDC Tel: 02392 632275

that it gives you the opportunity to see all aspects of a field; we learn both about the theoretical side of our work (ecology, conservation, common agricultural practices) and the practical applications (conservation grazing, vegetation management, species surveys, the importance and value of heritage crafts like hedgelaying). This combination allows you to get a very complete understanding of the job you are carrying out, while giving you a variety of skills and experience that will help in the wider world of work. I also think apprenticeships can be really helpful for those wishing to get in to a competitive industry, where it can seem difficult where to begin. What have been the challenges so far? Probably the most challenging aspect so far has been learning to use power tools. Learning to fell trees was incredibly interesting but also quite nerve-racking. Luckily our instructor was very helpful, and we all overcame this challenge and passed the course. What’s been the highlight of your time in the National Park as an apprentice so far? There are many! Since I spend most of my working days at Seven Sisters Country Park. Much of the practical work we do focuses on the large areas of chalk grassland found there. I have found learning about this habitat fascinating. Not only is the incredible diversity of plants and insects that can thrive there staggering, but learning how this is a man-made landscape that needs careful management and grazing has been really interesting. I also enjoyed learning the craft of hedge laying. What are your future aspirations for your apprenticeship? During the rest of my apprenticeship, I hope I can continue gaining experience working in conservation and land management, and contributing to the great work the rest of the team are doing at Seven Sisters. I also hope to continue taking courses in other areas that I’m interested in, such as woodland management and bird ringing.

The market is moving, are you? Open the conversation

Call for Property Sales | Lettings | Management advice and let us open doors for you in 2022 The property experts you can trust

Kate Porter - Head of Sales katep@countryhousecompany.co.uk

Claudia Hunt - Head of Lettings claudia@countryhousecompany.co.uk

Marishelle Butler - Head of Management marishelle@countryhousecompany.co.uk

02392 632 275 countryhousecompany.co.uk

¾9

FEATURE

Speaking in Tongues © LUCIA FOSTER-FOUND 2022

WWW.LUCIAFOSTERFOUND.COM

Trying to redress the gains made during Covid, Christmas, another Christmas and the golden, guiltless era of the broken bathroom scales, she was on a diet. Fantasising about food, she’d taken to binge watching Rick Stein’s Weekends and eating vicariously through Rick. “What about Portugal?” Gazing at Rick consuming a custard tart, she tried not to dribble. “The food in Lisbon looks really good..” Himself dragged his gaze away from his tablet. “Well, we haven’t had a holiday in years. I’m game.” “But I warn you” she gave him a stern look “I don’t know any Portuguese, not one word, so there’s no point in telling people I’m fluent.” Still in the dark why he found that so hilarious, inevitably she’d mastered versions of ‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand’ in several languages. Himself chuckled. “But you are fluent darling. Compared to me anyway – I only speak English. But in fact, now I think of it, I do know some Portuguese.” He announced with confidence. “You do?” After nearly a quarter of a century together, this was a rare revelation. “Yes. Marmalade.” “Marmalade?” “Yes. It is, I believe, the only Portuguese word in the English language.” He said with the air of someone imparting great knowledge. She had no idea if this was true, but it did sound entirely feasible. “Marmalade. Is that it? Only, we’re going to struggle a bit once breakfast is over.” Nodding, he agreed. “You’re right. Me randomly chirping in with ‘marmalade’ reminds me of when I was in Germany and only mastered ‘wurst’.” “Well, there’s worse things in German than ‘sausage’ that you could have said, Darling. An ex-boyfriend taught me to say ‘Ich bin ganz verrückt’ when shop assistants asked if I needed help. I thought I was telling them that I was quite alright.” “So what were you really saying?” “That I was quite mad.” Himself laughed a lot more than she considered strictly necessary. “That’s funny! It’s all Greek to me anyway. Actually – Greek is harder, what with the cyrillic alphabet and all.” He went back to his tablet,

a frown on his face. “Talking of foreign lingos, I messaged this guy, wanting some info on something he’s selling and all I got was a couple of words in a language I can’t identify. Here, have a look.” He passed her his tablet. “Ah yes,” she said with the air of someone imparting great knowledge “AFAIK means As Far As I Know and AMA stands for Ask Me Anything.” Himself looked bemused. “I feel there’s a secret code that I’m not a party to. For example, what is ‘foam-o’? Apparently during Covid lockdowns people stopped having it.. And what does it mean when someone wants you to Prime Minister them?” He asked as an afterthought. “FOMO. Fear of missing out. I suppose the upside to no social gatherings was that people weren’t stressing about being invited. I don’t know about the other thing. Did they mention Boris at all?” She considered that might open up a few interesting options. “Not specifically – they wrote ‘PM me’.” He gave a puzzled shrug. It was her turn to laugh louder than was decent. Having explained that PM meant Private Message, she went on to mention that being called the GOAT didn’t mean someone was accusing you of being an actual goat and YOLO was not a low fat yoghurt. He sighed. “How do you know all this?” he said and reached for the TV remote control. “Because, darling LOML” when he looked puzzled, she said “you can look that one up” and winked before continuing “if I didn’t know all this, I wouldn’t appreciate half of the stuff the kids send, tag or share with me.” But Himself was distracted. Gripping the old remote control, he was laboriously typing something out on YouTube using the tiny buttons. She threw him the sleek new remote with its in-built voice function. “I know you’ve a quaint, if somewhat misplaced loyalty to life before Alexa, but all you have to do is press the microphone button and tell it what you’re looking for.” He looked sad and a little sheepish. “I’m not being a Luddite believe me, I’ve tried talking to it. In English. But it says it doesn’t understand me; seems I’m.. speaking in tongues..”

PROPERTY

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01962 735137 stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

COMMUNITY Alresford Rotary 2022 A Star is born! – The 2021 Alresford Song and Music Contest Alresford does have real musical talent! The judges again had a tough job to compare the excellent entries to the contest as diverse as a Choir, bands, solo and group singers. All performed Christmas songs very well with entertaining performances. The overall winner was Rory Scott, a pupil at Perins School with a rendition of ‘Let it Snow’. The prizegiving took place at the school, in the presence of Perins Choir which was ‘Highly Commended’ by the Judges. The proceeds of the Contest go to the Rotary Club of Alresford Trust Fund (registered charity 1014447) to benefit local, national and international needs. An Older Star joins Alresford Rotary! At the end of last year, Alresford Rotary was delighted to welcome Reg Ling as a new member. Reg has in the past 40 years made an outstanding contribution to Rotary not only within the Rotary Wessex District but also on the national and international stages. Reg writes: “I transferred to Alresford after a decline in membership resulted in the closure of Chandler’s Ford and Itchen Valley Rotary. Fortunately, some members transferred to Eastleigh Rotary which is now spreading its activities to include Chandler’s Ford. I have few connections with Eastleigh but I have a strong link with Alresford. I was the President of Chandler’s Ford when it formed the Alresford Probus Club and when it was a sponsor club for the formation of Alresford Rotary some 36 years ago. Over the years I have had involvement with and worked with members of Alresford Rotary and had a continuing interest in it, so it seemed right when one door closed to enter another leading to Alresford. My daughter was married at St John’s, my wife Wendy is a member of the St John’s church bell ringers and we often take walks beside the River Arle. It was important to me to join another club because Rotary has performed so many good works locally, nationally and internationally. One international project I was responsible for, a children’s home in KwaZulu Natal for AIDS orphans, constructed a village to which Alresford Rotary was a significant contributor. One of the cottages there was named “Alresford”. To me, Rotary has brought so many friends all over the world and its charity, “The Rotary Foundation” spends over $1 million a day on humanitarian causes at home and abroad. I hope to continue to support these good works be it from funds Alresford Rotary raises at Christmas Tree sales, Bonfire night or any of its Rotary’s other activities. Working together we can achieve much more than we can individually. My principal personal humanitarian interest is the eradication of polio, awareness of which Alresford Rotary hopes to raise by the purple crocuses planted in November and flowering this spring on The Avenue, Arlebury Park and Nursery Road. “Probably mid-Hampshire’s Quiz of the Year” … takes place at Itchen Abbas village hall on Friday 8th April starting at 7.15 p.m. Tables of 6 (£75 per table) or £12.50 per person to include hot supper. Book early to avoid disappointment! – wjrp@

Hebrews 9:27,28

We would like to offer free booklet ''Why Must Jesus Return?'' Please request via our website contact form, http://newfarmchapel.org.uk Or by email: nfcalresford@gmail.com

NEW FARM CHAPEL New Farm Road, Alresford, Hampshire Sunday Services 10.30am and 4.30pm Tel:07447 158058 For any who wish to zoom, please ask for the zoom link via our website www.newfarmchapel.org.uk

hotmail.co.uk / 738788

Charity Dog Walk Sponsored by

Gay Dog Boarding Kennels Thursday 10th March, 2022 10.30am at Pinglestone House, Old Alresford, SO24 9TB (follow Home-Start signs for parking) Two guided walks of different lengths. Both walks leave at 10.45am prompt, whatever the weather. Walkers participate at their own risk.

Donation £12 per walker (includes soup and a ploughman’s lunch) Non-dog walkers and lunch only welcome too

Book your cket/s online (plus 84p booking fee) at www.cketsource.co.uk/home-start-winchester-districts alternavely send a cheque payable to Home-Start Winchester & Districts to Lanterns, Bereweeke Road, Winchester SO22 6AJ, call 07776 041574 or email info@home-startwinchester.org.uk

Help us to support local families

www.chartersestateagents.co.uk

01962 734633

alresford@chartersestateagents.co.uk

LOCAL | INDEPENDENT | AWARD -WINNING

ALRESFORD

SUCCESSFUL YEAR, SUCCESSFUL TEAM!

AIDAN HUMPHRIES Branch Partner

ALEX DURANI Valuation Manager

REBECCA PEARSON Sales Manager

JULIET VAUGHAN-ARBUCKLE Sales Manager

Despite the huge challenges of the pandemic, stamp duty deadlines and an attracting buyers as well as the sheer dedication of the whole team and unprecedented lack of available homes, the Charters Alresford Team have the additional support of a network of offices across Hampshire and Surrey.” enjoyed their most successful year ever in 2021. The team in Alresford is made up of local individuals who are all experts in the market they operate in and who are passionate about the town they serve and one of the biggest contributing factors to Charters Alresford agreeing more sales in the SO24 postcode area than any other estate agent in 2021 (Source: Rightmove). “I am extremely proud of the team as they have worked so hard to maintain our high standards of service as well as delivering some exceptional results despite the challenges the market has given” claims Aidan Humphries, Alresford Branch Partner. “The prominence and comfort of our property showroom based in The Old Post Office in the heart of the town has been instrumental in

The demand for homes to buy or rent in Alresford has been staggering, contributing to significant price rises in both sectors which shows no signs of abating, and it has proven to be an exceptional time to realise maximum values for sellers. With mortgage rates remaining so low it remains cost effective for first time buyers and investors to enter the market but there has been demand for homes across all sectors of the market including a huge uplift in the sale of larger country homes in the villages surrounding Alresford. Despite the massive desire to purchase, the rental market has also seen unprecedented rises particularly in the centre of town which is proving an even more popular destination to reside.

If you are contemplating a move and would like advice on selling or renting your home, please call Aidan and the team on 01962 734633.

A SELECTION OF HOMES SOLD IN 2021

SOLD

ROPLEY

ALRESFORD

ROPLEY

A SELECTION OF HOMES LET IN 2021

LET

ALRESFORD

ITCHEN ABBAS

ALRESFORD I ALTON I BISHOPS WALTHAM I CHANDLERS FORD I FARNHAM I PARK GATE I ROMSEY I SOUTHAMPTON I WINCHESTER I LONDON

COMMUNITY Winchester County Councillors News New Car Park on the Dean The outline plan for The Dean was agreed in 2017 - this included flats at the front of the Coatings buildings and a car park behind for 47 vehicles. The current proposal so far only delivers 42 spaces and the design suggested is unlikely to be acceptable in planning terms. This will only cause a delay in delivering these extra parking spaces we need so desperately. Hampshire County Council plans to take back control of all on-street parking in April 2022, with the intention of making money. Our experience shows that does not happen without the introduction of parking charges! We will continue to press for a minimum of one hour free on-street parking, essential for shops and those locally who must drive into town. Working with the police, on all levels

Here we are out talking to the beat PCSOs about issues in Alresford and the Itchen Valley, including car break-ins, speeding and local drug dealing. Margot recently joined the Police and Crime Panel, the body that holds the Police and Crime Commissioner to account. They have little power, only that of veto, by a two thirds majority, of senior appointments and the budget. The panel have requested, they cannot require, performance indicators for what is promised as a result of the £10 per annum increase (Band D) in council tax. It's important we get good value for Money for local people. Endangered crayfish rediscovered for the first time in over 30 years Endangered crayfish has been rediscovered for the first time in 30 years at Winnall Moors Nature Reserve! Did you know that Margot volunteers locally to check the health of our rivers and tells us "We have found white-clawed crayfish locally too - it's really encouraging to see nature bouncing back".

Curtis Museum & Allen Gallery Allen Gallery Exhibitions

From Dawn to Dusk A selection of paintings on rural themes by W H Allen (after whom the Gallery is named) . Continues until 19th March. In the Main Exhibition area. FREE Through Olly’s Eyes (till 27th March) Olly Coulson is a local disabled artist. At the age of 8, he was involved in an accident where he was knocked off a bike and suffered a brain injury that has left with him with physical difficulties that include not being able to write with his dominant right hand, not being able to walk properly and mental and emotional issues. Olly's passion for art started at Treloar’s School and College and has been further enhanced by being an active member of Creative Response, Artscape, Art Venture, Art Invisible and Outside In. Olly has had pieces exhibited at Flora Twort Museum, Fabrica, Pallant

This is fantastic news as the white-clawed crayfish is the UK’s only native species of crayfish and an internationally endangered species. An uplifting discovery showing the importance of good river management. Plant a tree for the jubilee Time’s ticking on this one - ideally trees need to be in the ground by the end of March at the latest. If you do plant a tree, remember to add it to the ward count of Jubilee Trees by adding it to the online interactive map for the Queen’s Green Canopy https:// queensgreencanopy.org/ map-education-hub/ qgc-map/#/ 20 Is plenty In response to the 80% of those who filled in our annual local survey indicating that they’d like to see the introduction of 20mph limits on some residential roads, Margot has asked the Town and local Parish Councils to pass a motion supporting the campaign for 20mph where people live, work and play. It’s very clear that this is something most people want. And the survey results coincide with Hampshire County Council (HCC) announcing they will be reconsidering their earlier decision to block new 20mph limits. So, the time is right to put pressure on HCC to listen to local people and respond accordingly.

Russell Gordon -Smith 01962 733219

Margot Power 01962 734167

House and Piano Noble Gallery (in conjunction with Outside In). Olly has developed a love of creating Mer-people (Mermaids and Mermen), portraits, scenic landscapes, and using driftwood, sweet wrappers and other recycled materials. This exhibition showcases some of Olly's vibrant two dimensional work. In the Café area. FREE

Allen Gallery Talk

Mud Larking on the Thames Foreshore A talk by Simon Moore on his adventures scavenging in river mud. Mudlark was the term used for people who scavenged for items of value in this way during the late 18th and the 19th Century. There are still mudlarks today, but more interested in the historic value of their finds. Thursday 10th March, 7.30 pm. FREE, donations gratefully received. Please phone 01420 82802 or see our websites for the most up-to-date news on events www.hampshireculture.org.uk/curtis-museum www.hampshireculture.org.uk/allen-gallery

COMMUNITY Jackie’s County Corner for March Many of you ask me why a road is being dug up, or when a diversion is due to end? The County Council is encouraging all road users to connect to one.network It is really useful. After signing up, you can activate layers, and by diving in at greater magnification, you can see the roadworks and details of it. You can also request alerts: I now have alerts for my division daily- they arrive at 4am! You can define the boundary of interest. I recommend this for your journey to work? Three other matters for road users: • The Highway code has changed. You can see more at www.gov.uk • Don’t forget to check your driving licence: it may need renewing after the pandemic. • The new proposal to introduce 20mph zones is a complete change of attitude from HCC towards 20mph speed limits. To work out how and if this proposal is to go ahead, a working party has been set up to look at the options, and review the results of the Pilot schemes, including those in Winchester and Micheldever. Importantly, it includes seeking the support of the Police in its remit. The County council has confirmed a booking scheme for their HWRCs for the foreseeable future. This was the result of a survey of users: 89% liked the scheme. I think they missed one important point- it didn’t include those who don’t use the tips! I have asked again for an on-the-day booking. I was reassured that it is an aspiration, but at the time of writing is not in place because of a software issue. We also asked for equity for cyclists who can now book as road users, and argued for better pedestrian access in Alresford. The Dever Society has published a useful statement to clarify information on housing numbers in the district. They were dismayed to see the ridiculously huge figure bandied about: this is the developer’s aspiration figure. Winchester needs to agree to the release of land or brownfield sites to provide space for around 2700 homes in the new Local Plan to 2038. You can see more about this on my website: search ‘scare stories’ Meanwhile, the County Council continues to upgrade the Minerals and Waste Plan. I am proposing that oil and gas extraction licences are not renewed in this County. One impact of the Climate emergency is the conscious public and industrial increase in recycling, and many recycling companies are seeking cheap land with large areas of yard space for waste management activities. These sites are often poorly situated on rural roads. The increasingly heavy lorries destroy the roads and make it dangerous for other road users. With the changing emphasis on pedestrians, horseriders and cyclists, I have argued for a long time that this is unacceptable. This is a current concern for the Worthys, Stoke Charity and Sutton Scotney. I have been working with the officers to raise awareness of

this problem in the road planings site at Three Maids Hill. The entrance has now been moved away from a narrow road to connect directly with the main trunk network, with other protections for the environment. As I write, I am hopeful that the outcome of the Ecogen application will reflect this new hierarchy too: walkers, bikes and horses, cars, lorries. Sale of land at auction underneath the adopted roads. This can be very worrying for residents. Alerted to the sale at auction of a road in Alresford, this is a useful reminder of what road adoption actually means. The developer usually retains the land, but the County Council takes ownership of the ‘top two spits’ -two spades’ depth and gives full rights of passage over it. Using the County solicitors, I could reassure the residents that the auction of the land beneath will not change their rights of access. This seems to be a new trend. Please contact me if you are informed that your road is ‘up for auction’ so we can clarify the picture. Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk tel/text 07973 696 085. Ansaphone 01962 791054 www.jackieporter.co.uk

Age Concern Hampshire Attendance Allowance Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough, that you need someone to help look after you. You do not need to have someone caring for you already in order to claim. You could be eligible if you… • Have reached State Pension age • Have a physical disability, mental disability or both • Need help with personal care, such as getting washed, or someone to supervise you, for your own or somebody else’s safety • Have needed this help for at least 6 months (unless diagnosed with a terminal illness, in which case, you can claim straight away Did you know? • There are two different rates (rates for April 2021 March 2022): o £60.00 per week if you need help in the day or night o £89.60 per week if you need help in the day and at night • It is not means tested, it is tax free and it won’t reduce any other income received and may entitle you to, or increase, other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax support • You are not obliged to spend the benefit on a carer or other care. You may wish to spend the money on other services that assist you in day-to-day living. To obtain a claim form, contact the Attendance Allowance helpline on: 0800 731 0122 / text phone: 0800 731 0317. Find out more: www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance Find out more Contact Denise, Alresford’s Community Information Volunteer, on 07969 376023 or Age Concern Hampshire’s Information Hub to check if you are likely to be eligible, and help you complete the form – over the phone or a home visit, if needed. Call 0800 328 7154 or email enquiries@ageconcernhampshire. org.uk

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GARDEN

10 Spring Lawn Care Essentials Let’s look at what can be done now to get your lawn ready for a beautiful summer 1. Moss Low light levels, shade and increased rainfall creates the ideal conditions for moss to colonise your lawn. Always apply a moss killing treatment after you have raked or scarified your lawn in order to kill loose pieces of moss. Never, ever mow into moss. If you have moss in your lawn that you can’t remove then raise your mower blades so the grass leaf is at least 2cm above the moss. 2. Dethatch

Thatch is a layer of organic matter that lays on top of the soil just above the roots of grass plants. It has little or no microbial activity, unless you get involved it will not decompose. It prevents water and nutrition reaching the roots. It reduces the amount of air in the soil that’s essential for healthy plant life. Spring is the right time to dethatch turf. Cutting into the thatch to introduce air spaces is ideal. Boosting microbial activity with a compost tea - yes, you heard me, you can make a tea from compost and its super for your lawn health. 3. Aerate Aeration is by far the most beneficial mechanical process for your lawn. Soil relies on beneficial fungi and bacteria which make micronutrients available to grass plants and also produces growth hormones whilst protecting the plants from attack from pests and disease. Worms and insects also need water, air and food. Roots grow in the air gaps between the soil particles, not in the soil itself. By aerating your lawn, you are introducing the air gaps essential to support that soil activity. In addition, aeration relieves compaction and helps reduce waterlogging too. 4. Rake Using a spring rake removes debris and helps the grass leaf stand upright. When things begin to grow again in the early spring it’s a good idea to give your lawn a bit of a hair-brush, get things standing to attention and ready for a mow. Spring raking removes lingering autumn leaves and grass blades that didn't survive winter. Do it now! 5. Over-seed Repair bare patches in your lawn by over-seeding. Remove the dead patch of grass with a rake. In-fill with compost and mix seed into the top layer. Give it a good water and wait until the seed germinates

6. Fertilise

All living things need food, they also need the right kind of food in the right quantities. Many home-owners seem to forget this. Lawns need the right amount of Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus throughout the year. The occasional sprinkle of a 3-in-1 spring feed from the garden centre is not really cutting it. If you are going to feed your own lawn focus on quality over quantity. Focus on feeding the soil and let the soil feed the plant. If in doubt, speak to a lawn care professional 7. Weed control Catch weeds early in the season if you can. Professional weed killers either cause the weed to produce excessive growth hormones and grow themselves to death or they inhibit the plant’s ability to photosynthesise and they starve to death. Some weeds are harder to control than others. Weed control is complex, get it right and your lawn’s going to look great this summer. 8. Water It costs less than £5 to water the average sized lawn. You only really need to do that every other week. Give it an inch of water (measured in a container on the lawn). Lawn care professionals use wetting agents, they keep water in the root-zone and mean that you can apply half as much water whilst getting the same results. 9. Mow The majority of lawn issues I see can be traced back to a poor mowing regime. It’s relatively easy to get it right. Make sure your mower blades are sharp. Cut off no more than ¼ of the leaf length each mow. Start from different places on the lawn. Ideally mulch mow, leaving clippings behind to feed the essential soil microbes. 10. Edge

Cutting a neat edge will help define the lawn Ensure you use a halfmoon edging tool and make sure it’s sharp. Work from a board that you stand on along the edge you are cutting. If it’s a curved edge you need then lay a rope or hose out first to ensure you are happy with the curve you are about to cut. Ensure the edge you cut slopes away from the turf. If in doubt, look on YouTube. We have a professional lawn edger, the type they use for cutting golf bunkers. If you’re lucky enough to have a big lawn to edge please get in touch.

Ian Kenyon sits on the committee of the UK Lawn Care Association and owns Shrekfeet Professional Lawncare. He is always happy to offer friendly, professional advice and help 01962 460146 www.shrekfeet.com

GARDEN

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COMMUNITY

Help older people and join the 2022 Challenge by donating unwanted items to the Age UK shop in Alresford Shop teams will be happy to tell you what they need, or can and can’t sell.

ge UK sets a target of receiving 2.2 million bags of donations to its charity shops across the nation in 2022. Unwanted items at the ready! The Age UK in Alresford is urging the local community to take part in its 2022 Challenge and donate their unwanted items to charity. By bringing in just two bags of quality things you no longer use, you can help Age UK raise much-needed funds to provide vital support to older people across the UK. Launching this month, the 2022 Challenge aims to help Age UK’s charity shops across the nation receive 2.2 million bags of donations by the end of the year. The Charity will turn every bag into more support for older people, with items sold on to be loved again and funds raised going towards services such as Age UK’s free national Advice Line and its Telephone Friendship Services. As well as raising crucial funds, by recycling unwanted items, the local community of Alresford will also be helping to reduce waste that may otherwise end up in a landfill. The Age UK shop in Alresford is encouraging everyone to embrace the new year and kick start 2022 with a big sort out at home and donate good-quality unwanted items to be loved again. So, whether it’s the

2. Wash and dry clothing before donating Sadly many charity shops find themselves dealing with damaged or soiled items, which is a waste of time and can be unpleasant for staff and volunteers. Before donating any clothes please ensure they are clean and dry. clothes or shoes you no longer wear, bags you don't use donate them to Age UK who can sell your items and raise money to support older people in later life. Shop Manager at the Age UK shop in Alresford said; “We are asking everyone in Alresford to join Age UK’s 2022 Challenge and support our local shop. “Why not use the gloomy winter months to have that sort out you’ve been putting off for months and part with some items you haven’t worn in years or don’t use anymore? Our team of staff and volunteers are on hand to collect donations and advise people if they are unsure what can be donated. As well as doing your bit for the environment, you will be helping us turn every bag into much needed money for Age UK. So do have a big clear out and drop in your donation bags today!”

3. Check the quality before donating Also, check the quality of clothing and other items – if there are stains, or tears or an item is missing it's unlikely that we can sell them. The Age UK in Alresford is also encouraging people to make their donations worth an extra 25% for the Charity by signing up to Gift Aid. By simply filling out a basic form when dropping off donations, means Age UK will receive an extra 25p from the government for every £1 that is raised from donated goods and it won’t cost you a penny! Age UK has over 250 shops across the UK, which are reliant on the generous donations of the local community to keep the shelves stocked and supported by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers. To find your nearest Age UK shop visit www.ageuk/shop

Age UK has compiled a set of top tips to make it even easier for people looking to donate items:

The Age UK 2022 Challenge is the first year long stock appeal for Age UK shops and will be supported by a range of activities from the Charity.

1. Check before you donate Age UK shops sell a range of clothing and accessories, household items and shoes. However, what our shops can accept may vary, for example, our shop cannot accept and sell electrical items, books or DVD. Do check with your local shop before donating.

To find out more about Age UK’s Telephone Friendship services and to be signposted to local Age UK services in your area please call Age UK's Advice Line for free on 0800 169 6565 (open every day from 8am – 7pm), or visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/telephonefriendship

GARDEN

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FEATURE

The Macmillan Cape to Cape £1,000,000 Marathon

lresford Allsorts Car Club member John Hankin and his neighbour Terry Addison are taking on what could be the very final Cape to Cape event in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. John has done 11 of the last 13 events and Terry co-drove on the last event from Cape Trafalgar (SW Spain) to Cape Cornwall (SW Cornwall). The aim of these events is to raise as much money for Macmillan Cancer Care as they can and originally they set out to raise £1M and including the Gift Aid they have achieved this. However, the participants decided that it should be them that raised this awesome sum unaided by the Government's Gift Aid so persuaded Dennis, the organiser, to lay on this (possibly the last) Cape to Cape and appropriately to do it within the confines of the United Kingdom and Ireland, so this year they will cover the only 3 Capes in this country of ours. Please note that none of the money raised goes in any way to cover the costs of the organisation of the event, each participant has paid an entry fee to cover those costs and obviously they cover their own expenses for hotels and fuel etc and that all monies raised go directly to Macmillan Cancer Care. Previously, the Cape to Cape has been described as the toughest classic car tour in Europe and the forthcoming fifteen-day 3,700mile event will in all probability live up to this nomenclature. This year they travel from Cape Cornwall (SW Cornwall) to Cape Wrath (NW Scotland) to Cape Clear (SW Ireland) and back to Cape Cornwall via the main C and D class roads but on occasion forest tracks and maybe a race circuit or similar venue. They won’t know the route until the day they do it as they have no idea of each day’s route until that day, scary sometimes. Around forty classic cars (two dating from the 1930s) will set off from Cape Cornwall on the 23rd of April 2022 on this marathon tour, which will cover all four countries of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The route has been carefully selected to incorporate some of the best scenery each country has to offer, but the competitive nature of this unique event will include a small selection of tests, hill starts and at times a requirement for precise navigation if the

desired penalty free performance is to be achieved. Over the past sixteen years, only a few have finished with a flawless performance, the maximum being three teams in 2007. In 2019, the last event organised there were none. However, the modus operandi of the Tour is, that whilst enjoying their classic cars along quiet roads, to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan Cancer Support, and with over £910,000 already raised (excluding Gift Aid), it is anticipated that they will reach the magic £1m mark by the time that the weary competitors return to Cornwall. The participants decided that it should be themselves that raised the £1M rather than have the Gift Aid as part of the amount! Why does it? Well, when asked, John’s reply was that he was very lucky to own such a car as his 1951 Jaguar XK120 and as both, his parents had used Macmillan Cancer Care when they needed cancer support, his wife Jane suggested that it would be a great idea to put the car to some good cause and she would navigate. This she did for several events until 2015 when she to succumbed to this terrible disease, which spurred John on to try to raise greater funds for Macmillan. They would like to re-iterate that all participants on this event pay their own entry fees, fuel and hotel bills plus any fines the organisers seem fit to charge for missing a checkpoint or running over their toes on a steep hill start, and so all donations and fundraised monies go directly to Macmillan Cancer Support. If you would like to make a donation to the event, which will go straight to Macmillan to help people living with cancer, then please donate. And please, if you are able, tick the GIFT AID section as that will add 25% to your donation and it won’t cost you a penny more. You can donate by using this website and your donation will go directly to Macmillan https://macmillan.org.enthuse.com/pf/ john-terry or if you would prefer to use a Sponsorship Form one can be obtained by giving either John (07778 142974) or Terry (07933 480581) a call. Or you can drop off a DONATION at either Heidi’s Patisserie or Hetre Shoes in West Street, Alresford.

GARDEN

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PROFESSIONAL Mr Mac I hope that the recent storms did not cause any damage to your electronics. Most laptops and newer Apple computers with external power supplies should not be affected by a power surge. However older iMacs and desktop PCs are more susceptible to problems from electricity surges as the 240 volts from the power source is plugged directly into the machine. For those computers I strongly recommend a power surge protector. They are not expensive and £14.99 is a small price to pay. Internet speed is still a problem especially here in the villages. Type in fast.com into your internet browser, hit enter and you will see what your speed is. Between 30Mbps and 70 Mbps is acceptable, unfortunately some areas still have less than 10Mbps and that is going to cause problems if you are streaming TV services and downloading or uploading larger files such as photos. Always check with your internet provider on a regular basis and ask what the best speed is for your location. Do not be confused by the word fibre being used in advertising. Fibre broadband known as FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet), and full fibre (Fibre to the Premises) are the two options available. The latter is very, very fast. Unfortunately, it is only usually available in larger towns and cities. Fibre broadband is what most of us have for the foreseeable future. Go to the Openreach website https://www.openreach.com/fibrebroadband and you will see exactly what is available in your area. You will also see there an extensive list of UK providers. Andy - Mr Mac 07392 552 592 March 2022

Easter Holidays at Butser Ancient Farm Join us for a cracking Easter at Butser Ancient Farm as we open our ancient doors 7 days a week throughout the Easter holidays. Meet our newborn rare-breed baby lambs, go on the hunt for clues to crack our spring-time trail and learn a new skill with a hands-on demonstration. This Easter we’ll be celebrating the completion of our second Saxon hall -house based on excavations from the Anglo-Saxon settlement at nearby Chalton Down. Step back in time and discover what life would have been like in Hampshire in the 7th century and the ancient springtime celebrations of Ēostre. Over the Easter weekend come and meet the Saxons from Herigeas Hundas who will be joining us from Friday 15th to Monday 18th April with demonstrations, traditional crafts, cooking and combat displays. Every day of the holidays there will be the chance to get hands on and learn ancient skills from our wonderful staff and volunteers. The Easter holidays are also a chance to see our Wickerman being constructed and have a sneak peek at the top secret 2022 design! Saturday 9th April to Sunday 23rd April 10am to 4pm Normal admission applies - Advance booking recommended

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24 The Dean, Alresford, SO24 9AZ Tel: 01962 388470 (24 hr) Email: info@wessexfuneralservices.co.uk www.wessexfuneralservices.co.uk

PROUD TO NOW OFFER THE PEOPLE OF ALRESFORD OUR SERVICES • Traditional & Dignified Funerals at Affordable Prices • Funeral Plans at Fixed Prices, Why Pay More? We are a local independent family run business which operates on a 24 hours basis. You will always have a personal continuity and we will go through all the arrangements and look after you throughout.

Direct Cremation £1350 inclusive Bespoke Cremations from £2195 inclusive Traditional Burial from £2395 plus Cemetery fees

You are an extension of our family when in our care

Also located in Winchester, Eastleigh & New Milton

WELLBEING

Alresford Surgery News

The Hampshire Foot and Ankle Clinic combines the expertise of leading Orthopaedic surgeons, podiatrists and physiotherapists to provide comprehensive, highly specialised foot and ankle care to our patients.

We specialise in

Achilles Tendon, Ankle Arthritis, Ankle Sprains & Instability, Bunions, Flat Feet, Hallux Rigidus, Heel Pain, Ingrown Toenails, Lesser Toes, Morton's Neuroma, Peroneal Tendons, Sesamoiditis

Sites covered

The Hampshire Clinic, Sarum Road Hospital, The Winchester Clinic and Wessex Nuffield Hospital

Reminder Please continue to wear face masks when attending our Surgery. Please continue to wear a face mask when attending our surgeries, remembering also to wash your hands, and make space: hands, face, space. This is so we can continue to protect our most vulnerable patients, as well as each other. Thank you. COVID-19 Vaccination update We are still offering covid boosters to patients who require them and for the time being is being offered locally. More information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme can be found here: https://hampshiresouthamptonandisleofwightccg. nhs.uk/your-health/latest-information-on-covid-19/covid-19vaccination-programme Retirement of Sister Jo Stokes Sister Jo Stokes is taking early retirement from the surgery on 3rd March. Jo has worked at the surgery since 1999 & has developed our diabetic service during that time. Jo is hoping to still have some surgery contact through bank work. Welcome to new staff We are excited to announce the arrival of Megan Power who joins us as a Trainee ACP/ Paramedic Practitioner. Megan will be working alongside our GPs to deliver on the day care Wednesday-Friday. Megan, our Advanced Nurse Practitioner and GPs will be triaging patients and seeing those who require appointments in the surgery. Megan has worked in Primary Care as well as being a Paramedic so has a wealth of experience & knowledge. She is an independent and supplementary prescriber, so she is able to prescribe any medication that is required and can order any necessary investigations including bloods and x-rays and make referrals to specialities and community teams as appropriate.

Information and booking www.foot-ankle.co.uk appointments@foot-ankle.co.uk Robin Elliot: 01256 377685 Daniel Marsland: 01256 377685 James Calder: 020 3195 2430

WELLBEING

A CAREER IN OPTICS?

We have vacancies for optical, clinical and dispensing assistants. Experience welcomed but not essential as full training will be given.

For more details, enquire within or visit matheson-optometrists.com/vacancies.html or send your CV to amatheson@matoptom.com 01962 732336

Four Marks 01420 560082

Grayshott 01428 606069

Portchester 02392 387573

Alresford

www.matheson-optometrists.com

ELIZA WALKER Barbers

ONLINE CLASSES & STUDIO SESSIONS

NOW LOCATED AT STATION MILL, ALRESFORD, SO24 9JQ

• Gentlemans Hair Stylist • Located in Central Alresford • All Covid conditions in place • Easy parking

07733 016138 @ecw_barber

Booking on Fresha.com - search Eliza Walker Barber

RETAIL

Billy Goat ShoesMe light blue leather pumps - £47 Billy Goat, 11 East Street, Alresford, SO24 9EQ Tel: 01962 733926 | www.billygoatshoes.co.uk

Ragamuffin Fabulous Knitted Dinosaurs in large toy and mini rattle sizes. Suitable from birth. From £10.99 2 Bakehouse Yard, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 734488 | www.ragamuffin-uk.com

on your highstreet #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinesses Enticing and eclectic items now available on your highstreet this autumn. Stay local and support your diverse retailers!

Interior Style Extra large coil table lamp - £110 29 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AB Tel: 01962 736311 | www.interiorstyle.biz

D.Barker & Son Beluno necklace by Sif Jakobs in gold plated sterling silver - £99 40A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 732200 | www.dbarkerandson.co.uk

The Alresford Gift Shop Mother's Day cards and gifts in store and online 10 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AT Tel: 01962 732192 | alresfordgiftshop.co.uk

Alresford Beauty Clarins Mother's day sets - Full size perfume with complimentary travel pouch and mini spray - £36 24A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AT Tel: 01962 735553 | www.alresfordbeauty.co.uk

Andrew Smith & Son Auctioneers Classic & Contemporary Interiors Sale - Tues 22nd - Thurs

Alresford Beauty

24th March - Viewing 12 - 5 Thur 17th, 10-5 on the 18th, 10-2

Clarins trio of candles - Eau dynamisante, relax and tonic

on the 19th, 10 to 5 on the 21st, and 8.30am on day of sale Tel: 01962 735988 | www.andrewsmithandson.com

Tel: 01962 735553 | www.alresfordbeauty.co.uk

scents - £25 - 24A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AT

RETAIL

One of ITV's Most Popular Antiques Experts

BEST CASH PRICES PAID FOR: Gold & Silver Jewellery & Antiques Including: Watches, medals, bronzes, oriental ceramics, quality antiques, house clearance/insurance valuations

Happy to arrange home calls by appointment karendalmeny@gmail.com For enquiries please call:

07712 545 700 Karen Dalmeny

POLAR EXCHANGE SKIWEAR & ACCESSORIES FOR ALL AGES

Sustainable Diamonds Sustainable Diamonds Autumn Colours Sustainable Diamonds

Extensive choice. An exciting collection of performance ski kit and cold weather wear for every age. New location. Our fabulous showroom outside Alresford is the best way to try a variety of styles & sizes before you buy. Open by appointment from October to Easter, please email us to book a slot or make an enquiry. Same great service. Seasoned skiers ourselves, we offer buyers guidance in our showroom and at selected school events.

Left To Right: Teal Sapphire & Diamond Ring - £7,995 Blue Zircon & Diamond Ring - £2,865 Blue Tourmaline & Diamond Ring - £5,625

40a West Street,Alresford, Alresford, Hants 40a West Street, Hants 40a West Street, Alresford, Tel: 01962Alresford, 732200 Tel: 01962 732200 Tel: 01962 40a West Street, Hants www.dbarkerandson.co.uk www.dbarkerandson.co.uk www.dbarkerandson.co.uk Tel: 01962 732200 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk

Re-Opening April Re-Opening 12th 12 April Re-Opening 12th April th

email: skiwear@polarexchange.co.uk www.polarexchange.co.uk | 07783 538389 | 07767 238874

CULTURE

The Stilwell Art Group Exhibition Stockbridge Town Hall, Hampshire - March 11th – 16th 2022

The Stilwell Art Group work together under the inspirational teaching of Anthea Stilwell. This exciting collective exhibition at the Stockbridge Town Hall shows the range and diversity of work produced over the last three years by thirteen dynamic and contemporary artists from the group. “There is a unique buzz when we meet to paint together, it takes courage to ‘let go’ and to trust yourself – that comes from Anthea’s teaching, but the group is supportive and we learn a lot from each other too – and that makes you brave, take risks and the results are most exciting and rewarding!” says Jenny HillNorton who co-founded and co-ordinates the group. “We are all different in what we bring to the group but we are linked by our passion to paint for the joy of it – and I think that is evident in what we create together. This exhibition is a celebration of us growing as artists.” Within the last two years we have not been able to meet as before, but have made good use of Zoom sessions where Anthea is a technical wizard and gets us working as hard as ever, if not more so. It has been a productive

and enjoyable time and painting has contributed enormously to our sanity.

Carolyn Gilsenan, 'Pink Witterings’

Subject matter is varied and diverse including figures, landscapes and still lifes. The creative process starts with drawing and ideas are then explored expressively in a wide range of media including oils, acrylics, watercolours, charcoal, collage and mixed media. Anthea has great experience and originality as a teacher (having taught at Harrow School) but she never tells you directly what to do, rather pulling it out of us – which is really challenging but we all respond and produce the most exciting and fascinating results! This exhibition encapsulates the energy and diversity of the group. It is their sixth collective show. All work on display is for sale and new work will be hung during the show, which runs from 11th to 16th March at Stockbridge Town Hall.

Maggie Marten,'Trees on Bodmin Moor’

Artists Chris Cobley • Jo Ellis • Christian de Ferranti • Carolyn Gilsenan Jenny Hill-Norton • Lindy Janson • John Mackinlay • Maggie Marten Jane Martin • Jennifer Privett • Liz Shard • Carol Symon • Clare Warman Exhibition opens daily 11am – 5pm, Wednesday March 16th 11am – 4pm Stockbridge Town Hall, High Street, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 6HE e: admin@stockbridgetownhall.co.uk t: 01264 513299

Jane Martin, 'Spotty Jug & Three Pears’

A donation from sales will be made to Harefield Hospital.

ans

30PM

CULTURE

By Janette Evans 9–19 MAR @ 7.30PM

28 MAR–2 APR @ 7.30PM 28 MAR–2 APR @ 7.30PM

WED 9 MAR - SAT 19 MAR @ 7.30PM - SUN 13 MAR @2.30PM

MON 28 MAR - FRI 1 APR @ 7.30PM - SAT 2 APR 2.30PM & 7.30PM

13–23 APR @ 7.30PM

73 St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG 28 MAR–2 APR @ 7.30PM

www.titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com • 03336 663366

13–23 APR @ 7.30PM YOUTH THEATRE & CHILDREN'S SHOWS - SUN 11 JUL - AT 2PM & 6PM - THE GREAT BARN CCADS JANE WED JUL AT 7PM - THE GREAT BARN WED 13 PRESENTS APR - SAT 23 APRAUSTEN'S @ 7.30PMEMMA - SUN- 17 APR14@2.30PM

St Margarets 73 ST MARGARETS LANE, 73 TITCHFIELD, PO14Lane, 4BG Titchfield PO14 4BG WWW.TITCHFIELDFESTIVALTHEATRE.COM | BOX OFFICE: 03336 663366 www.titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com • 03336 663366 33

ANIMALS & PETS

Buddy – The Small Dog With A Big Heart A local Miniature Dachshund and his owner are prize winners after entering a national award celebrating the powerful bond between dogs and their humans. Buddy and Amber’s story won hearts at nutritious pet food company Vet’s Kitchen from the dozens of entries into their Woof and Well award. The Woof & Well Award was launched by Vet’s Kitchen in recognition of the contribution dogs have made to our health and wellbeing throughout the pandemic and beyond. Amber Humm, 18, from Sway, Lymington, has been battling a painful knee condition since she was 8 years old and was due for an operation in October last year. She was terrified but the day before, Amber’s mother surprised her daughter with a Dachshund puppy, Buddy.

Buddy quickly became Amber’s shadow, providing emotional support and a positive distraction through painful days made worse by the pandemic. Amber says: “My op got cancelled and moved to later in the year. However, it was unsuccessful and I am unfortunately still living in pain. But no matter how rubbish I feel, Buddy gives me a reason to get out of bed. He never leaves my side and makes me laugh every day. We support each other.” Amber and Buddy, now 18 months old, love to go for forest walks which Amber says always make her feel grateful and gives her time to relax even when struggling with pain. “We thought it was time to give our dogs recognition for their love and loyalty,” says Laura Shears, MD of Vet’s Kitchen. “Humans and their canine companions have always made for a winning team and more than ever in recent times, we have relied on them for the emotional support we needed. Buddy is a worthy winner, showing us that even the smallest dog can make the biggest difference to a life."

If you would like more information please visit

1 vetskitchen.co.uk D Vets_Kitchen E VetsKitchenPetFood/ Q www.instagram.com/vetskitchen/ 34

ENTERTAINMENT

WE NEED YOUR

Can you sign? If so the Alresford Watercress Festival would love to hear from you. We are looking for someone profficient in sign language to enhance our visitor experience of our cookery demonstrations and the Watercress Eating Competition on the main stage. Would you like to spend a day or even a few hours with us on Sunday May 15th 2022?

If so please contact Gill at gill.mick-grant@tiscali.co.uk

Behind every epic story there is a strong woman...’ Jessie Keane’s latest blockbuster novel is out February 3rd 2022 It’s available from Amazon, Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys & all good retailers or through Jessie’s website: www.jessie-keane.co.uk

Do you want to play Cricket this Summer? Easton & Martyr Worthy Cricket Club invites cricket players of all abilities to come and join us. • 3 x Senior Teams playing in the Hampshire Cricket League • Juniors Under 9, 11, 13 and 15 - Boys & Girls Teams • All Stars Under 7s • Ladies Social Team

7:15 PM FRIDAY 8 TH APRIL 2022 ITCHEN ABBAS VILLAGE HALL £12.50 EACH (6 PER TABLE)

LICENSED BAR

RAFFLE & PRIZES

HOT SUPPER

TO BOOK OR FOR APPLICATION FORMS & FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT JAMES PINNIGER (EVENINGS OR WEEKENDS) 01962 738788 OR EMAIL WJRP@HOTMAIL.CO.UK All Profits To Rotar y Charities Charity Number 1014447

Rotar y Club Of Alresford

Seniors training on Thursday evenings Seniors matches on Saturday afternoons Boys practise on Monday evenings Boys matches on Sunday mornings Girls practise and matches on Wednesday evenings All Under 9s practise on Friday evenings All Stars TBC Ladies practise on Tuesday evenings Website: www.emwcc.com Club Contacts:

Seniors: seb.stannard@btinternet.com Seniors: markdickety@hotmail.co.uk Boys and Girls: juniors@emwcc.com Ladies: charliegloyn@icloud.com

COMMUNITY Shed your cares and woes – Come along to the Alresford Men’s Shed

When the face of the green movement is young, female and Swedish, it is inspiring to see that a group of middle-aged English men and women are doing their bit for the environment, perhaps with just a little less publicity. But the Alresford Men’s Shed is more than just an environmental initiative, it provides vital support to the community. The Men’s Shed movement originated in Australia but is growing rapidly across the globe. In England alone, there are over 800 Men’s Sheds and more are opening all the time. The Alresford Men’s Shed has been running for over four years. In that time, it has established premises and equipment to enable it to work on well over 400 repairs and projects to extend the lives of machinery, repurpose articles, create useful items for the community and bring together members to work in a collegial and friendly environment. The Alresford Men’s Shed welcomes anyone, retired or working, male or female, old or young and promotes a strong message against the modern throwaway culture. In a way, it is spearheading a quiet revolution. The Shedders also put their skills to use in community projects, such as designing and building a water wall for Cheriton Playgroup, Remembrance Poppy Frames for St John’s Church Tower, and constructing Church & Public Notice Boards. Items are often

'Science' Sound & Light Show by Luxmuralis A spectacular show of light entitled ‘Science’, created and produced by Luxmuralis Artistic Collaboration. Walk through the History of Science in the stunning interior of Winchester Cathedral. Almost every inch of the Cathedral bathed in light and full of beautiful original compositions. The display will see the almost 1000-year-old building become the canvas for an exploration of the way in which scientists have shaped the past and will influence the future. This unforgettable multisensory experience transports visitors through elements, molecules, DNA, and the greatest discoveries of humanity, as we contemplate the

repurposed for the community which would otherwise be destined for landfill. At its core, the Men’s Shed provides an opportunity for people to get together to work with their hands, but that is to oversimplify its value to the community. Known as ‘Shedders’ the people who work on the projects have a variety of reasons for doing so. One Shedder told me “following the unexpected death of my wife joining the shed has been wonderful for me... The shed has become an important part of my life, it has helped so much in me coming to terms with what happened and provided great company at a difficult time in my life.” And they are not all men, two years ago the Shed welcomed its first female Shedder who says about her time in the Shed “everyone helps each other. It is an open exchange between all of us to find solutions to fix everyday little problems. We learn, we share, we laugh. It is a welcoming environment and around a cup of tea, we talk about everything, and stay in touch with what is happening in our town”. As we all move to more sustainable ways of living the Men’s Shed would like to welcome more Shedders to its ranks, and not just for woodwork. The Shed welcomes anyone skilled in DIY, IT, Electrics, Welding, Painting, or even the ability to sell on Facebook, Gumtree, or Ebay. You can simply bring things in and repair them in a sociable atmosphere. Why not drop in on a weekday morning and see how the Shed functions and have a cup of tea? You don’t have to commit, come for a week or two and give it a try. Now that we are finally emerging from the restrictions of the pandemic, it’s a great opportunity to get back out into the community and meet like-minded people. The Men’s Shed also wants to encourage more Shed supporters who can help the Shed by identifying potential community projects and by promoting the initiative more widely. This will enable the Shed to take on more upcycling and repurposing projects, both for the community and individuals in the area. The Men’s Shed is currently housed in a facility in the Dean which is earmarked for demolition to make way for the new car park. The Shed is a charity that relies on fundraising to enable it to secure new premises in the town. Please drop in at the Shed, email alresfordmenshed@gmail. com or follow facebook.com/AlresfordMensShed/ to support this quiet green revolution in our community.

wonders that make up the world around us. The installation is the creation of the award-winning collaboration of artists known as Luxmuralis, a collaborative team of artists from different backgrounds and artistic disciplines who create works across multiple media and presentation formats. Core to their work is the opportunity to explore the development of fine art tradition through new media, placing the medium in an art historical context. Timed ticket slots ensure no crowding, giving you room to move around and enjoy the experience. For information on health and safety protocol around the Cathedral, please visit: https://www.winchestercathedral.org.uk/news/caring-for-everyones-health/ Please note that all imagery on this page is not of Winchester Cathedral, and the display may look different at the event. Photo credit : Luxmuralis. Please be aware this event takes you on a journey around the Cathedral and may include steps up and down in places. In addition, as Luxmuralis is a show of light, this event may not be suitable for visitors with sensitivity to flashing/moving light. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any accessibility questions: cathedral.office@ winchester-cathedral.org.uk

M arch!

COMMUNITY

New Alresford Town Council New Councillor Following our recent Councillor vacancy, we would like to welcome back former Chair Steve Deeming for a second stint. Steve has previous experience of the responsibilities required of a Councillor and we look forward to his involvement moving forward. The Councillors of New Alresford Town Council are your advocate, so please let any of them know if you have any issues that you would like to raise about Alresford. All councillors, contact details are listed on the NATC website along with meeting details and other notices. Floral displays Would you or your business like to sponsor an up-the-pole display this year? Each year the council organises displays on some of the town centre lighting columns and the railings on West Street. They really add to the attractiveness of the town and this year the plants will be red, blue, and white to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The cost is £80. If you take part in the scheme your name or business will be advertised in the Forum and on the NATC website. Please contact committeeclerk@newalresford-tc.gov.uk or call 01962 732079. Tribute to Lord David Chidgey It is with great sadness to report that Alresford resident and former New Alresford Town Council Chairman, Lord David Chidgey died peacefully at the age of seventy-nine on 15th February. David was an MP until 2005 and became a life peer when he left the Commons. Along with others, he was instrumental in the acquisition of land for Arlebury Park. The Council sends condolences to his family and friends. The Queens Green Canopy The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”. In February, the Council planted 10 new trees at Arlebury Park as part of this initiative, two of which have been kindly donated by local residents. The trees include a mix of elm, cherry, hornbeam, silver birch and alder. It would be fantastic for Alresford to see an extra 70 trees planted this year to mark the Jubilee. If you’d like to plant a tree, see www.queensgreencanopy.org for advice and to ‘pin’ on the interactive map. New Alresford Town Council Arlebury Park, The Avenue, New Alresford, SO24 9EP Phone: 01962 732079 www.newalresford-tc.gov.uk

New Alresford Town Council

Town Assembly ON

Monday

7th

March, 19:30

ALRESFORD RECREATION CENTRE, ARLEBURY PARK Please do join us for A round-up of this year’s Council activities and to hear from local groups who received Council grants, PLUS Talk and Q&A session with

Genevieve from Troy Planning & Design

‘The Neighbourhood Plan for New Alresford – what it means for the town and how to get involved’

Complimentary refreshments provided

New Alresford Town Council’s

Annual Community Litter Pick ON

SATURDAY 26 MARCH 2022, 10:00 -12:00 TH

ALRESFORD RECREATION CENTRE, ARLEBURY PARK Join anytime between 10-12 - allocated patch or pick your favourite spot Litter equipment and gloves provided Complimentary hot drinks courtesy of The Arlebury Café Help us join hundreds of thousands of #LitterHeroes across the UK in the Keep Britain Tidy #BigBagChallenge on a mission to improve the environment

Help clean up our streets

Join the Great British Spring Clean Spring Clean

70th ANNIVERSARY

SAVE THE DATE SATURDAY 4 JUNE Picnic in Arlebury Park The Avenue, Alresford

FREE WATCH THE CELEBRATORY CONCERT ON THE BIG ENTRY SCREEN Fete • Children’s Activities • Refreshments

Join friends and family to celebrate this amazing milestone

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Fiery Creole Jambalaya Ingredients

3 tablespoons cooking oil 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning or sauce (available in most large supermarkets) 300g hot or mild chorizo sausage, thinly sliced 500g boneless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces 1 onion diced 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes or 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 small green pepper, diced (capsicum) 1 small red pepper, diced (capsicum) 4 cloves garlic, minced 400g can of chopped tomatoes 300g of uncooked long grain white rice Half a litre of chicken stock 500g raw prawns with no tails Chopped parsley to garnish

Method

Season the chorizo and chicken with half of the Cajun seasoning. Put 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan, add chorizo and brown. Remove the chorizo from the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add another tablespoon of oil and brown the chicken, and set it aside. With the remaining oil sauté the onion, capsicums and celery until soft and transparent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, approximately 30 seconds.

Add the tomatoes, the remaining cajun seasoning/sauce, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes (or cayenne powder) and hot pepper sauce. Then add the chicken and chorizo. Cook for a further 4 or 5 minutes whilst stirring occasionally. Now add the rice and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Once boiled, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked thoroughly. Finally place the raw prawns on top of the Jambalaya mixture, stir in gently and re-cover with the lid. Return to a simmer for 5 minutes or more, until the prawns have turned pink. Season with a little extra salt and pepper if desired. If you prefer a little more heat add some additional extra hot chilli sauce or cayenne pepper. Serve and sprinkle with a pinch of parsley. Serves 6 - Preparation time 40mins

HOME HOME

CJ The Plumber

Colin Joyce • Reliable friendly service Adrian Cobb COMMERCIAL •Plumbing INDUSTRIAL • Repairs or installation & Heating • DOMESTIC • Kitchen, bathroom, shower M: 07774electrical 979 325 Providing a comprehensive installation service • Outside tap, cold water T: 01962 735354 • Home automation • Lighting schemes • Electric gates • Emergency lighting • Electrical installations • Storage cisterns, taps, WC REFURBISHMENT • INTERIOR RECONSTRUCTION No job• Burglar too small –alarms No call out charge • Home entertainment • Fire alarms • No call out charge Free quotations available KITCHENS & BATHROOMS • GENERAL BUILDING ALL ASPECTS OF T: 01962 735397 w: butlerandking.co.uk e:info@butlerandking.co.uk Local, experienced, and here to help you. PLUMBING & HEATING 01962 776545

Unit G, Prospect Commercial Park, 4 Prospect Road, Reliable local Alresford, plumber Hampshire, SO24 9QF Domestic plumbing Andy Cliff • 01962 738883 • cliffbuilding@gmail.com

PR AERIALS DIGITAL TV & SATELLITE SPECIALIST

Paul Rolfe

Tel: 07531 812 026 www.afriend-drainage-services.co.uk

Free Quotes • Service & Repairs • Full Year Guarantee on parts • OAP Discounts TV installations considered • Freeview achieved where others have failed

• HIGH PRESSURE JETTING • CCTV SURVEYS • BLOCKED DRAINS • IMPACT MOLING • EXCAVATOR WORK • FULLY INSURED

Wallpaper Specialist

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UPGRADE YOUR WINDOWS & DOORS

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Complete Heating Systems High Efficiency Boiler and System Upgrades Power Flush and System Treatments

WINDOWS, DOORS, CONSERVATORIES Gas Boiler Service • Supply & Water Softeners

Installation • New Handles, Letterboxes, Locks Bathroom Installations • Broken Sealed-Units replaced

Venn & Son

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Complete Bathroom Installation Cloakroom and En-suites Power Showers and Electric Showers Tiling and Flooring

OTHER SERVICES

• Fascias, Soffits & Gutters

• Key Cutting & Locksmith Services Free competitive quotations

Tel (Cheriton): 01962 771285 www.exclusive-double-glazing.co.uk Mobile: 07973 407996 sales@exclusive-double-glazing.co.uk SHELF HOUSE, FARMfor ROAD, Est.NEW Locally overALRESFORD, 30 years SO24 9QE

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HOME

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COMMUNITY

Jazz in the Worthys There are several jazz activities occurring in and around the Worthys and you have probably heard one or more of them during the various Festivals that they have contributed to over the years. Here is a summary of what they get up to. Jazz Jam: On the first Monday of the month local jazzers gather at the Worthies Sports and Social club for their jazz jam. Starting around 8pm there are usually 15 - 20 musicians on a wide range of instruments ready to present tunes from the jazz standard repertoire. Players come from a wide range of backgrounds and styles. Most of the musicians are members of other regular bands in the district so it is also a good shop window if you are looking to hire a band. If you are a member of the club it is free, otherwise, you need to have a member sign you in ( just ask a member of the audience ) and there is no charge for admission. You can be signed in as a guest twice in any three month period but membership is only £20 a year and a half that if you are 60+ Musicians are welcome to join in and a small charge is made to contribute to the hire of the room.

The Little Big Band performing at the Phoenix, Twyford.

The Alley Cats: For many years a local quintet called the Alley Cats performed in the skittle alley at the Cart & Horses and when the alley was modernised and incorporated into the dining area of the pub they changed their name to Jazz Allies and, although they still did the odd gig in the new "alley" they sought a regular slot elsewhere. Since the lifting of lockdown restrictions, they have had a regular slot in the Cricketers Inn at Easton where they had played years before. On the second and fourth Thursday of the month, you can catch them playing from eight onwards in the pub. If you fancy a pint and some cool jazz come along. It is tuneful, mellow music that you can still hear yourself chat to. There is no charge for admission.

In the old Skittle Alley of the Cart & Horses

The Little Big Band: On the first and the third Thursday of the month The Little Big Band, led by Bert Simmonds, rehearses in the Jubilee Hall from 8pm onwards. You may have seen this eleven piece band with their singer, Sue, performing locally especially at the Worthy's Festivals over the years with their repertoire of jazz, big band and popular hits. If you have a function, party or celebration that would benefit from live music please do come along and talk to the band.

Swingworld: Some of the musicians from these activities also perform in the local Big Band called "Swingworld" and that band does the occasional gig locally. Their next gig is on Monday 28th March at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh in support of the Musician's Union Benevolent Fund. This event is a celebration of the music of Glenn Miller. Chris Walker, who had a jazz program on Radio Solent for many years, will be giving a talk about Miller and the swing era illustrated by some of his arrangements played by Swingworld. Non-members are welcome, admission is £12.

The Arts Society Trails of Discovery

The Arts Society has recently launched a children’s interactive walking trail for Alresford, aimed at 8-12 year olds. This is a circular trail that starts and finishes at the Station and is accessed with a QR code on a smart phone or tablet. Posters showing the code can be found at the Station Café and Shop, the Station Mill Café and the Library. Participants earn points by answering questions correctly and these are totalled at the end of the Trail. The Arts Society is a leading arts education charity with a global network of local societies. In addition to programmes of lectures and visits for members, Societies fund art projects for children and young people. Volunteers undertake conservation work in museums, galleries and historic houses, and have recorded churches for national archives, including the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volunteers also design Trails of Discovery in churches and other places of worship as well as historic houses, and they have recently included town and village trails as well as memory trails. The Arts Society Alresford (not to be confused with the Alresford Art Society), formerly known as NADFAS, has designed trails for St Mary’s Church, Easton and St Mary’s Church, Avington and now we have a town trail for Alresford.

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COMMUNITY New Alresford Chamber of Commerce A Fond Farwell The Chamber of Commerce would like to express a heartfelt thank you to our beloved secretary Davina Spinney. Davina has been the Chamber secretary for 5 years and has met this challenge with humour and enthusiasm. Her professional and approachable manner was an asset to our Town. Davina leaves to spend more time with her grandchildren, and we wish her the best. A Warm Welcome Lorraine Bailey has taken over the role as sectary for The Alresford Chamber of Commerce. Lorraine has worked in Alresford for 10 years as a business manager and knows the issues businesses are facing at present. Lorraine lives in Alresford and knows many people, the Chamber welcomes her to our Team.

Market Town Survey Many businesses have been completing the Market town survey from Winchester City Council. This has gone out across the district in areas that have markets. Many local businesses have made lack of parking a major concern. Neighbourhood Plan We are delighted to have been invited by New Alresford Town Council to join the Advisory Group for Alresford Neighbourhood Plan. The objective of the plan is to enhance the quality of life in the Parish/Town in future years, have a framework for future land usage whilst also protecting community assets and natural environment in New Alresford. We welcome the opportunity for businesses to have contribution into this important document. Our secretary Lorraine Bailey will be feeding back on behalf of the Chamber, if businesses would like to contact us then please use the usual email info@alresfordchamber.co.uk Easter Egg Hunt It’s that time of year again Folks, the Chamber Committee are busy organising the beloved Easter Egg hunt for the town. This will be running from Saturday 9th April – Sunday 24th April. Leaflets will be left in many shops and downloadable from our website. Have fun!! The box will be in the usual place at The Swan Hotel and Our thanks go out to them and to New Alresford Town Council for their continued support of this project. www.alresfordchmaber.co.uk info@alresfordchamber.co.uk

Update on the Dean Car Park After concerns from our members about the proposed design of the car park on The Dean, with the car park being at the back of a curbside residential area, a question was raised at Winchester City Council (WCC) The plan was approved in 2016 and after key involvement from New Alresford Town Council and The Chamber of Commerce, a plan was presented to Cabinet in November 2017. The design was open, welcoming, clearly visible and included accessible disabled spaces. As many other car parks within the town are leased, this car park needed a careful design to ensure the usage and economic impact. The planned reduced spaces and change of design without further consultation from key stakeholders is a huge concern to us and we asked for further consultation on this.

Muck, Brass and Mobility The Alresford Pigs have had a busy start to the year. It’s pleasing that people are increasingly realising the Pigs are not just about organising fun events in the town. We do that, of course, but with a very real purpose of raising funds to help local people. Compost Speaking of funds, the old saying where there’s muck there’s brass holds true for another year as we sell and distribute our 50 Litre bags of Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost. We'll deliver it right to your door (Alresford area) courtesy of the Alresford Pigs Association volunteers and we'll use

the profits to help local people. It’s £8.50 per bag and you can order online on our website alresfordpigs.org or email us at: info@ alresfordpigs.org – we are looking to deliver in March so please hurry those orders in! Get Walking! With the relaxation of rules and springtime coming, it’s time to get out into the fresh air and exercise a few more muscles. As we get older sometimes things take longer to loosen up, and if you are not as mobile as you used to be, then think about trying some sort of mobility aid to help, like a walking stick. For a little bit of extra help to get moving, the Alresford Pigs have walking frames, Rollators with wheels, and even wheelchairs that are recycled around the community – these are free of charge and could help. The Pigs store also can supply crutches and other aids for those recovering from accidents or operations. Where the distance to the shops is becoming a problem, sometimes a powered mobility scooter might be the best answer – and we have plenty of these in stock, please just ask, we have the experience and expertise to help – and it’s free! For all forms of mobility help, consult the Alresford Pigs. If you, or someone you know, needs help please contact us. Be assured all enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence. We consider any request for financial support from within the area and although it’s impossible to list all of the people we have supported down the years they include organisations such as the Scouts, Guides, sports & youth groups, local schools for specific projects, families who are unable to fully fund school trips for their child, single parent families needing white goods, families needing support that cannot be provided by other services, mobility scooters, park benches, senior residents events and activities and life-saving defibrillators.

The Alresford Pigs Association is a registered charity (charity no. 1163001). More information can be found at www. alresfordpigs.org or email us at info@ alresfordpigs.org or for an immediate request for support call the Pigs Help line 01962 658961.

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DON S GARAGE DOORS

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Call 02380 600027 to arrange a free no obligation survey and quote Unit 6, Vicarage Farm Business Park, Winchester Road, Fair Oak, Eastleigh, SO50 7HD sales@donsgaragedoors.co.uk - www.donsgaragedoors.co.uk

Winchester City Councillor Fiona Isaacs Report - Supporting Our Community Help with Heating costs Support is being offered to some households from the government to help with rising energy costs. £150 rebate on your council tax for those in council tax bands A-D. You can apply through the council tax section at Winchester City Council (WCC).

Dean car park in Alresford. These changes are to be discussed with the Winchester County Council cabinet. This would prevent any members of the public speaking, and not allow any representation from the Chamber of Commerce. This would not allow adequate time for New Alresford Town Council to feedback in its usual manner. The November 2017 plan and design for the car park went through numerous consultations with all key stakeholders, which led to the land purchase being accepted. The recent planned reduction of spaces and alteration of land acquisition/design without consultation with key stakeholders does not sit well with me. The Dean car park is desperately needed, but the proposed changes could affect how it is perceived by its users, negating its worth if people don’t want to use it. Residents and businesses have strong feelings about using a car park that is hidden behind residential dwellings. I have formally requested that the proposed plans be delayed and that they re-consult with key stakeholders.

Rural bus routes and issues On the 27th of January 2022, I attended the Hampshire Passenger Transport Forum as I was required to feedback on important issues raised by residents across our rural ward. Bus companies tell me that they are back to pre-pandemic passenger levels. Encouraging passengers to return to bus services is highlighted as one of the rural bus company's top priorities. At this meeting, we looked at ways to implement this.

Bishop’s Sutton Footpath The feasibility study is currently underway, and we hope to establish the next steps once this report has been completed.

Why consultation is important? I have been notified of plans to adjust the layout, design, and significantly reduce the number of car park spaces at the proposed

Please contact me on Email - fisaacs@winchester.gov.uk Telephone - 01962 808072

Sun Lane development I continue to feed residents’ concerns back to the developer with particular reference to drainage concerns and screening. These have been alleviated and further consultation continues.

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COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • DOMESTIC Providing a comprehensive electrical installation service • Home automation • Lighting schemes • Electric gates • Emergency lighting • Electrical installations • Home entertainment • Fire alarms • Burglar alarms

T: 01962 735397 w: butlerandking.co.uk e: info@butlerandking.co.uk Unit G, Prospect Commercial Park, 4 Prospect Road, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9QF

The Downs Oak Company The South South Downs Oak Company TR T r aAdDiItTi IoOnNaAl L OOaAkK FFrRaAmMeErRsS

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Hardwood gates Gate automation Intercom systems Vehicle barriers

Barnes & Liddiard Electrical Contractors Limited All aspects of electrical work undertaken Fully compliant to part ‘P’ of the building regulations

Domestic Commercial Industrial Garden Lighting

Tel: 01962 733272 51

HOME / MOTORING

ALRESFORD MOTOR SERVICES LTD MOT TEST CENTRE

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New Farm Motor Services Ltd New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QE

01962 732338 L.P.G.A approved autogas conversions www.autogas.com Allows your petrol engine vehicle to run on Autogas, a fuel costing approximately 76p per ltr, with the environmental benefits of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide production and 2000 times fewer particulates produced from the exhaust fumes when compared with a diesel. Widely available across the country and locally in Winnall, Winchester and West Meon Hut service station. The government has committed to this fuel difference for the future.

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Class 7 Vans from 3,000 - 3,500kg Class 4 Cars and Vans up to 3,000kg All makes of cars and vans serviced and repaired All makes of truck and horsebox up to 7500kg maintained and prepared for ministry plating tests

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WE HAVE MOVED, NOW AT BRAMDEAN GARAGE A272 BRAMDEAN AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LACK OF AVAILABLE CARS BELOW, NOW WOULD BE A FANTASTIC TIME TO SELL ANY CAR NOT BEING USED AND GET A GREAT PRICE FOR IT. The following cars have been carefully selected because of their low mileage, excellent condition and service history.

2016 (66) Honda Jazz 1.3 EX , 5 door, Parking camera, cruise control, 23,000 miles, £ 30 road tax. 2012 (12) Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 Ecoflex S, 37,000 miles 2013 (13) Fiat 500 colour collection, 3 owners, air conditioning, 67,000 miles 2012 (12) Kia Picanto 1 Air, 2 owners, air con, 41,000 miles, 2004 (54) VW Polo 1.2S 3 door. Not perfect paintwork, but only 62,000 miles and serviced by ourselves since 2007

Holden Farm, Cheriton, Alresford, Hants, SO24 ONX

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MICRO CAMPERVAN Our latest conversion, on an 11,000 mile Nissan NV200 Combi. This Camper van (or perhaps, camper car) is under 4.5 metres long and less than 2 metres high so will fit in most garages and only count as a car on ferries etc.

VIEW OUR CURRENT STOCK AT www.andrews-autosource.co.uk/vehicles-for-sale

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CARS HAVE SERVICE HISTORY BRAMDEAN GARAGE, A272, BRAMDEAN

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Competitively priced tyres - Batteries - Vehicle Diagnostics - Exhausts

Telephone Gary or Andy on 01962 771331 or 771881 www.northmotor.co.uk info@northmotor.co.uk

Repairs Servicing M.O.T

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Equipment includes; 4 belted seats, air conditioning, parking camera and sensors, alloy wheels, tow bar, 6 speed gearbox and is still under manufacturer's warranty. The conversion has an elevating roof with space for an extra bed, swivelling passenger seat, compressor fridge, full mains electric hook up and leisure battery charged either from the engine or on board charger, hob with sink, pumped water, gas locker with drop out vent, full insulation and of course a rock and roll bed with gas strut assisted closing.

Established in1999 - All makes of car serviced and repaired - Saab approved repairer and Subaru specialist Free collection, delivery and courtesy car (when available)

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EDUCATION / COMMUNITY

Year 7 entry 2023 Book your place at our online conference for parents of current year 5 girls. Tips on how your daughters can succeed in years 6 and 7.

Saturday 26 March 2022 at 9am Booking is essential.

Please contact registrar@stswithuns.com or visit www.stswithuns.com/conference

Visit Hampshire Winter Photography Competition 2021

the Visit Hampshire website and may feature in Visit Hampshire marketing and promotions to help us show off our beautiful county. How to Enter Simply send your photo entry to tourism@hants.gov.uk with the title 'Winter Photography Competition 2022' and include the following details: Your name, address, age and where the photo was taken and a short caption about the photo. The competition closes on Sunday 20th March 2022 at 23.59. The winner will be chosen and contacted the week commencing the 21st of March 2022. Please read the full Winter Photography Competition terms and conditions at https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/dbimgs/ Winter%20Photography%20Competition%20Ts&Cs%20-%20 Final.pdf For more information on the competition visit: https://www.visithampshire.co.uk/visitor-information/competitions/photographycompetition

Visit Hampshire - Winter Photography Competition is back! Calling all photographers - we are looking for the best photographs capturing winter across Hampshire. Have you been out this winter with your camera, drone or phone to capture beautiful wintery Hampshire scenes? This could be snowy shots, your family out enjoying a winter walk, a crisp winter's day along the Solent coastline or frosty morning scenes in a Hampshire town or village. The winner will receive £100 of John Lewis vouchers. Plus, the winner and runners-up will also have their photo displayed on

Make sure you follow us on social media and share your days out in Hampshire and short breaks with us using the #VisitHampshire. We’ll make sure we share the very best posts and photos with our growing following!

Let your child discover who they want to be Prep 3–11 Day and Boarding Salisbury, Wiltshire

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Itchen Valley Forum March 2022

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