Meon Valley Issue 34

Meon Valley

FORUM Iris Crowfoot The Wilderness College Saxons in the Meon Valley Claire Thurlow - Nature Writer Hampshire People - Diane Keen Cover Image: The River Meon in East Meon

JULY 2018 • ISSUE 34 • REACHING 18,750 READERS * • WWW.FORUMPUBLICATIONS.CO.UK BISHOP'S WALTHAM LANGRISH

BOTLEY

LOWER UPHAM

STROUD

SWANMORE

CLANFIELD MEONSTOKE TITCHFIELD

CORHAMPTON NEWTOWN UPHAM

CURDRIDGE

PETERSFIELD

WALTHAM CHASE

DROXFORD

DURLEY

EAST MEON

SHEDFIELD

SOBERTON

WARNFORD

WEST MEON

EXTON

SOBERTON HEATH WICKHAM

HAMBLEDON SOUTHWICK

WORLD'S END

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Editor - Mark Tubb Tel: 01962 735137 editor@forumpublications.co.uk Director of Advertising - Steve Walker Tel: 01962 735137 stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

WELCOME I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

OUR TEAM

Inside

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AUGUST COPY DEADLINE JULY 16th Printed on recycled paper The Meon Valley Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. The Meon 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. The Meon Valley 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. Š Forum Publications Ltd, 2018 * Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household

Keep up-to-date with what is happening in your area

32, 36, 44, 52, 54, 58

06 Wellbeing

Looking after your health and yourself!

08 Leisure

Discover local events and days out in Hampshire

16 Features

Iris Crowfoot, Hampshire People, Claire Thurlow, Saxons in the Meon Valley, The Wilderness College

28, 38, 46, 56

17 Professional

From photographers to solicitors - every professional service you need

30 Retail

Unique, Bespoke, Eclectic and Local shopping

33 Food & Drink Eat out, stay in: food, drink and dining in Hampshire

37 Garden

Make your garden dream come true. Or visit local beautiful country gardens

44 Home

Trades, services, designers.

All you need for your home

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

What's On

JULY

30 JUNE & 1ST JULY Open Gardens Swanmore Gardens open 1pm - 6pm.Teas at the Paterson Centre. Plants for sale. Free park and ride.Tickets: £6. Accompanied under 15s free. Proceeds shared between St Barnabas & Rowans Hospice. For more information please call: 01489 892750 or 02392 382433.

3 JULY Denmead Horticultural Society Denmead Horticultural Society meet on the first Tuesday of the month at All Saints church hall Denmead at 7.30. Guest entry £2.50. More information about regular meetings and the Retro themed village show on August 18th can be found on our website www.denmeadhorticulturalsociety. btck.co.uk

4 & 5 JULY Mayville High School presents Disney's High School Musical Showing at 2pm and 7pm at the King's Theatre, Southsea

8 JULY Bishop's Waltham Brocante This is the 2nd year for the Bishops Waltham Brocante, over 45 stands held in the main High Street offering a mixture of antiques, collectables, curios, vintage, retro and bric-a-brac.Whether you are a dealer an enthusiast or just want to clear your attic why not join in. 9.30am - 3.30pm fun for all the family.

25 JULY Waltham Chase Flower Club Waltham Chase Flower Club meets on the fourth Wednesday afternoon of each month in Waltham Chase Village Hall. 2.15pm start.

Visitors to demonstrations £5.00. Raffle, flower arranging and charity stalls, tea and biscuits (50p) at each meeting. Demonstration by Anne Clarke.

Competition - Summertime. Charity stall theme - bottles & cans.

28 JULY

14 JULY 61st Curdridge Country Show The Curdridge Country Show is a popular event held at the Curdridge Reading Room, Reading Room Lane, Curdridge, SO32 2HE from 11am to 5pm. There is lots to see and do with trade stands to peruse, activities for all of the family to enjoy and entertainment in the Arena. At only £13 for a family ticket with FREE parking onsite, it is a fantastic way to spend the day! We have an abundance of refreshments including our Tea-Tent, Hog Roast, Burgers and our new Tea-Tent Café offering delectable Cream Teas.

For more information go to our website at www. curdridgeshow.co.uk, follow us on FaceBook @CurdridgeCountryShow or email us at enquires@curdridgeshow.co.uk.We look forward to seeing you there!

Meon Valley Branch of the Jubilee Sailing Trust Live Music and Afternoon Tea At the Old Rectory Gardens,Wickham, PO16 6HR by kind permission of Neville Craig.

From 2.30pm on Saturday 28th July. Stroll in the beautiful acres of gardens, listen to Aurora, the fabulous French Chanteuse. Enjoy a delicious homemade tea, bring your own chairs or blankets.

Free parking, well behaved dogs on leads welcome.

Raffle with fabulous prizes, strictly limited number of tickets.Tickets, in advance only, £15, from rogermorfill@sky.com or 01489 892823.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Jubilee Sailing Trust, a local charity which promotes the integration of people of all abilities, able-bodied and disabled, through the challenge of Tall Ship sailing on Lord Nelson and Tenacious.

AUGUST

14 JULY Music with a French Flavour: Concert d'été Featuring the Choir of All Saints’ Botley, Upham Recorder Orchestra and other acts, followed by drinks and nibbles in the garden of Portland House. Please bring your own chairs to the garden and picnics too if you would like. For more information and tickets (£8/£6) from the Church Office. 01489 782445

5 AUGUST Trout 'n About Stockbridge's annual food and craft festival returns once again to Stockbridge High Street from 10am - 4pm.Trout 'n About showcases the best of local food, local produce and local crafts, in a family friendly, outdoor market environment. Parking will be provided in fields at either end of the High Street, from which a FREE King Alfred’s bus shuttle service will run you to the centre of the action.

22 JULY 12 JULY Classic Car Meet At The Trooper, Froxfield, Petersfield GU32 1BD. Set in the Hampshire countryside, this refined lodging in a white-painted former coaching inn hosts a classic car meet from 6pm onwards. www.trooperinn.com

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Vineyards of Hampshire 6th Annual Wine Festival Come and taste a selection of the region's sparkling and still wines. Meet the winemakers, go on a vineyard tour, book wine workshops, delicious Hampshire food stalls. Opposite The National Trust Hinton Ampner House, Raimes English Sparkling Vineyards, Hinton Ampner, Alresford, SO24 0JY

5 AUGUST Winchester Motorcycle Club Holding a motocross event at Whaddon Farm, Owslebury, nr Winchester, SO21 1JJ.With 8 separate classes: MX1 Modern Solos, MX2 Modern Solos,Veterans Modern Solos, Evo, Superevo, Pre 83 125s,Twinshock Clubman, Twinshock Over 50, Sidecars. First race from 11am. For more details visit: www.thewinchestermotorcycleclub.co.uk

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LEISU R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Leisure SECOND WIND RUNNING: GRAVEL HILL 5 AND MIDNIGHT MARATHON

country park, then on the public way-marked South Downs Way, with multiple water/feed stations along the way, this is a great way to run at night with others on a course that is simple to follow.

Under a full moon with a clear sky you can see a night view for miles around - the stars above, the headtorches along the hilltops and the lights of the villages below. ​ ven though this is a summer event, it can still get cold at night, so E please wear or carry appropriate clothing. In addition, all participants will be required to take a head-torch with spare batteries, and recommended to take a backup light source and carry a mobile phone.

You may take all night to finish it, but as a rough guide, we would expect the fastest finishers to be back just after Midnight and everyone to be finished by 4AM. For those that will take over 8 hours, there may be an early start at 8PM. After the finish, relax undercover with soup and bread rolls (including fully vegan option) before heading home.

We expect around 200 entrants, so plenty of people around without it spoiling the night running experience.

The South Downs Way section of the course is not specifically marked for the race - i.e. it is an course using public waymarks, although we add a few extra signs here and there on the less obvious parts.

The course starts within QECP (there will be some guidance signage and marshals). Before leaving the country park, the course joins the South Downs Way which you will be following out to Cocking and then back to QECP, again on the South Downs Way.

S

The South Downs Way is already publicly way-marked, and you will be expected to follow the signs. It's mostly pretty easy to follow, but there are a few points where course familiarity will help. You might like to join one of our guided course recces in advance of the event.

econd Wind Running brings two challenging trail-running events to Queen Elizabeth Country Park on Saturday 28th July. The Gravel Hill 5 starts at 4pm, and the Midnight Marathon starts at 9pm.

Gravel Hill 5

A run through the forest on a Summer's afternoon, on a fully marked and signposted course with no cutoff time with a shiny bespoke medal awaiting you at the finish. Test yourself on this beautiful trail run over five miles in the Gravel Hill and War Down areas of Queen Elizabeth Country Park where the hard work of the mile uphill is rewarded with over three miles of downhill, not forgetting the drinks and snacks at the half-way checkpoint on the way round.

At the finish, relax and enjoy music, sports shop stand and post-race refreshments, including a fine range of home-made cakes and pastries.

There are also toilets and a cafe within a few metres of the start/finish area.

The course trails are of good quality, but this is quite hilly on parts of the course with around 190m of vertical ascent and descent, so light trail shoes are recommended.

There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female, also age-group prizes for V40,V50,V60+ ladies and men. A team prize is awarded to the first team to have three people finish.

The terrain is hilly trail, sometimes chalky and therefore slippery when wet. Trail shoes are recommended, but if the weather has been dry prior to the event, then road shoes should suffice whilst offering less protection from the stony surface.

For more details and entry visit: secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/gravelhill-5

For more details and entry visit: secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/ midnight-marathon

Midnight Marathon

Both events take place on Saturday 28th July at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, near Petersfield, Hampshire, PO8 0QE

Enjoy the excitement of night running in the South Downs in the Summer. Starting with a signed route for a couple of miles within the 8

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LEISU R E WELLBEIN G ISSU E 3 4 | JULY

Leisure

TWO BRILLIANT FILMS COME TO DROXFORD THIS MONTH WITH FILM ON A FARM

Wellbeing LAPIS CARE INTRODUCES NEW INFORMATION ROADSHOWS

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apis Care are very excited to announce our new ‘Information Roadshows’.These are taking place once a month in and around the local area.The first was at Kings Community Church, Bishops Waltham in May.

As it was ‘Dementia Awareness’ week, we held a ‘Dementia Friends’ session and created 5 more ‘Dementia Friends’.This information session has been created by the Alzheimer’s Society to increase awareness of the many forms of dementia and how it affects people in reality…Statistics tell us that 1 in 3 people will be affected by dementia in their lifetime. https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about-dementia/facts-stats/10things-you-need-to-know-about-dementia

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ilm on a Farm is back in Droxford this month with two brilliant films to entice viewers to the Manor Farm venue in the heart of the South Downs National Park and the Meon Valley. Film on a Farm is a unique Outdoor Cinema experience. Showcasing some of the most stunning landscapes the Great British countryside has to offer. Pull up a straw bale, and snuggle up beneath a blanket of stars and join us for a night to remember with your favourite movie.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (15) Friday 6th July

Eddy (Nick Moran) convinces three friends to pool funds for a high-stakes poker game against local crime boss Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty). Harry cheats and Eddy loses, giving him a week to pay back 500,000 pounds or hand over his father’s pub. Desperate, Eddy and his friends wait for their neighbors to rob some drug dealers, then rob the robbers in turn. After both thefts, the number of interested criminal parties increases, with the four friends in dangerously over their heads.

Gates open at 07:00PM and film starts at approximately 09:00PM. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit: www.filmonafarm.co.uk/films/lock-stock-and-two-smoking-barrels/

La La Land (PG-13) - Saturday 7th July

Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.

Gates open at 07:00PM and film starts at approximately 09:00PM. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit: www.filmonafarm.co.uk/films/la-la-land/ For more information please visit: www.filmonafarm.co.uk 10

We will be holding regular ‘Dementia Friends’ sessions in the forthcoming months around the area. Additionally,We will be collaborating with our friends at ‘Shedfield Lodge’, Shedfield, our local specialist dementia care home, to raise awareness of dementia and its effects on the individual as well as their family and Friends.

We also focussed on the elderly and social isolation within the home.

We were very pleased to welcome along ‘Silver Line’, a charity started by Dame Esther Rantzen, to help reduce social isolation by providing regular phone calls from volunteers to chat and ‘Pen pals’ to write to.We hope to be working and supporting Silverline in several projects in the future.

The second in the ‘Square Cow’ In Wickham takes place on the 21st June from 10am to 12pm.We are focussing there on ‘‘Heat, Heart and Health.’With the impending summer weather, the importance of keeping hydrated as well as the signs & symptoms of heart attack and stroke as well as a ‘Dementia Friends’ session.

On the Wednesday 18th July 2018. From 1.30pm to 4pm We are in Titchfield Parish Rooms with similar themes and a further ‘dementia Friends’ Session.There is always coffee and cake… Please pop along to say hello. If there are any areas that you think that would be helpful please do email or contact us as per our details in the advert below.

We hope to run sessions on Cancer alongside ‘Breast Cancer Haven’ as well as Mental Health. From September we will be running monthly information sessions on ‘Long Term Health Conditions’, how to source care and support in the community. Dates will be confirmed our social media pages and through local forums so please keep an eye out.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us with this venture.

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WELLBEIN G I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

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LEISU R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Leisure

NEWS FROM THE WEST MEON MUSIC FESTIVAL 2018 - FROM BAROQUE TO BUMBLEBEES

WICKHAM TWIGHLIGHT 10K SUNDAY 15TH JULY

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ome and join us for a jaunt in the summer sun, on the Meon Valley Trail. If you thought it was fun in the dark, come and do it in the twilight on a summer evening. It is a beautiful twilight 10k on a flat, fun course. Run along the Meon Valley Trail, the same as the Wickham Torchlight 10k, this is a flat and 'fast as you like' run, with the sun dipping behind you on the way out, and setting in front of you on the way back.

If you did the Wickham Torchlight in January, and you also the do the Wickham Torchlight in October, there will be a special medal for the 3 race series. The race is 10 kilometers long, with water stations, distance markers, toilets and free parking for contestants.

Entry fees

General Entry: £18 Rural Running Club Members: £13.50 Please note that entries are limited to 200 runners. Entry will not be available on the day, enter now to guarantee your place.

For more information and booking go to: racebest.com/ races/h7sqc

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his year’s West Meon Music Festival – to be held from 14 to 16 September – promises a weekend of music to enchant the entire family. From a sparkling opening concert of “Viennese Treasures”, to a light-hearted children’s concert, great piano quintets and late night folk music, to an afternoon remembering the end of the First World War, there is music to match all tastes.

Now in its eighth year, the festival – started by the internationally renowned Primrose Piano Quartet in 2011 – opens with a candlelit concert featuring such favourites as Schubert’s B-flat Piano Trio and Lehár’s Gold and Silver Waltz. On Saturday 15 September there will be a total of four concerts, starting with “A Transport of Delight” for children – including the Flight of the Bumblebee – and followed by a colourful programme of trios and quartets for woodwind and harpsichord from Harmoniemusik in the afternoon. The evening concert includes piano quintets by Schumann and Shostakovich, while the day ends at the village’s Thomas Lord pub when local folk band, Head North, makes a return visit to the festival and will also be helping to raise funds for this year’s festival charity – The Rosemary Foundation, which provides a “hospice at home” service.

Sunday morning’s coffee concert includes Edward Elgar’s Violin Sonata, written in 1918 at Brinkwells in West Sussex where Elgar had retreated to recover from bouts of ill health and depression brought on by the carnage of the War. In the afternoon the Primrose Piano Quartet will be joined by leading tenor James Gilchrist and former BBC Radio 3 presenter, Paul Guinery, for “The Lads in their Hundreds”, which takes its name from A E Housman’s poem set to music by composer George Butterworth, who was killed in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The concert features instrumental pieces, songs and poems by composers and writers, many of whom served in the War. Full details of all the festival programme can be found at www.westmeonmusic.co.uk. Ticket prices start from £12 and include refreshments with generous discounts for accompanied children and students, while festival pass options offer further savings. Tickets are now available online at the website or by post from the Box Office, Walnut Cottage, Hampton Hill, Swanmore SO32 2QN.

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LEISU R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Leisure

WIGGLE MEGA MEON SPORTIVE: SUNDAY 15TH JULY 2018

ILLYRIA PRESENTS THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE AT WINTERSHILL HALL

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f ever there was a perfect setting for a sunny weekend Sportive to unfold, the Meon Valley would be up there with the best. Its tree-sheltered darting country lanes, forest backdrops, fieldside rolling roads and spectacular views across to the Solent, Spinnaker Tower and the Isle of Wight make the Wiggle Mega Meon a Sportive not to miss.

Its valley setting provides enough hills to keep you on your toes and offers excellent views, punchy climbs and swooping terrain. This is a fine all-round sportive that will take your breath away.

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rederick, apprenticed to the Pirates since a child, learns that he was born in a leap year on 29th February, and that he is contracted to the Pirate King until his 21st BIRTHDAY, not his 21st year. With only the inept Penzance constabulary to protect him, how will he resist being forced to endure a life of crime until he is 84 - and will his sweetheart, Mabel, wait for him that long?

With hilarious melodrama, sharp satire and glittering wit, "The Pirates of Penzance" is as fresh as if it had been written today. It is packed-full of memorable songs such as "To be a Pirate King!"; "Modern Major General" and "A Policeman's Lot is Not a Happy One”.

Illyria was created in 1991, and ever since has delighted audiences the length and breadth of the UK, and in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, the United States and Canada. Illyria has also won 4 international "Best Performance" awards and attracted numerous "5-star" and "Critics' Choice" reviews for the lively clarity of its approach to Shakespeare's plays, the high quality of its shows for Families and the refreshing originality of its English classics adaptations and Gilbert & Sullivan performances. Illyria's mission is simply stated: to create a varied programme of outstandingly enjoyable theatre and to make it available for everyone to see.

Illyria has given more performances to more people across a wider area than any other open air touring theatre company. Producing a larger annual season than any of its competitors, and nearly three times the size of its nearest professional rival, Illyria’s presence dominates the sector and its standards set the bar high. Illyria is proud that for 25 years its popularity has enabled it to operate on a professional basis without any public funding.

For booking tickets to see Pirates of Penzance visit illyria.cloudvenue.co.uk/ thepiratesofpenzanceatwintershillhall

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As you set off from the ride’s base, you’ll notice that the more miles you cover, the further away you get from towns and civilisation as the route will guide you through the best of the Hampshire countryside, occasionally flitting across to West Sussex. Ambling out into the open, you’ll be led over the A3 and into the wilderness as you head through the back lanes and up towards Petersfield.

Passing below East Meon, you’ll have to slog it out on a series of climbs, including Old Winchester Hill, before hitting a descent sweet-spot around Warnford. Continuing to head north, the hills around the Upper Weald will get most KOM segment seekers out of the saddle.

Heading through Northington, Tichborne and Cheriton, the penultimate climbing challenge comes with around 15 miles to go.

From then on, it’s an uphill finish – lasting just under two miles – but you’ll soon be over the finish line to bask in the glory of having finished a tough but enjoyable route.

With three routes to choose from, the Wiggle Mega Meon will suit most cycling abilities - those who relish in longer mileage rides and spending a whole day in the saddle will certainly want to aim for the Epic route, but for those who are a little shy around big elevation gains can opt for the shorter Standard and Short routes.

The starting point for this event is South Downs College, Waterlooville, PO7 8AA For more information on routes and booking please visit: www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-mega-meonsportive/

LEISU R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

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F EAT U R E ISSUE 34 | JULY

Sporting a‘Tache at The Grange

‘W

BY IRIS CROWFOOT

hy has The Grange grown a moustache?’ my son asked me, as we walked up the drive at half-term. A 12m wide handlebar moustache had sprouted from the front entrance of the Greek temple-style mansion and around the corner we spotted other magnificent ‘taches decorating the opera house. ‘Perhaps it has something to do with The Barber of Seville?’ I suggested.

We were making our way to a family opera workshop, in a large white marquee set up on the lawn beside the lake. Grange Festival volunteers invited the participating children to sit on the floor in the middle and offered their grown-ups chairs around the outside, but we didn’t stay seated for long. Soon everyone was joining in, miming shaving the kids and waxing their moustaches, as we tried acting and singing at the same time like an opera chorus. It really isn’t as easy as the professionals make it look! The temperature inside the marquee increased in the sunshine and Karen Gillingham, the workshop director, said, ‘You know what it feels like on stage now, under the lights.’ After a picnic lunch, we were invited to watch the dress rehearsal of The Barber of Seville, to listen out for the bits we had learned and enjoy the performance.

When we entered the opera house, the first things I noticed were the bare brick walls, topped by an ornate plaster frieze, which surround the auditorium. This gives a hint about the extraordinary history of the building. It started life as a state-of-the-art iron and glass orangery in 1823, which channelled water down its classical columns to water the plants inside. A grainy black and white photograph from 1860 shows fifty ‘outdoor staff ’ stiffly sitting in their best clothes outside the open glass doors: a similar number of ‘indoor staff ’ was employed to run the neoclassical mansion at this time. In 1890 the orangery windows were filled in to convert it into a ballroom and presumably the plaster frieze was installed at this time. In 1944 Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower met there to discuss the invasion of Europe.

After the war, no one wanted to live in such a large and inconvenient house, let alone employ the staff.The mansion’s roof was removed

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in the early 1970s, accelerating its decay, and only a public outcry in The Times prevented complete demolition in 1975. Since then, English Heritage has preserved the mansion as a ‘roofed ruin’. Inside, the un-plastered walls, crumbling doorways and chandelier-swinging, white-netted ceilings (to catch falling debris) make the place look like a spooky film set. However, this mysterious building comes alive as a restaurant for The Grange Festival each summer, because a modern, architectural award-winning opera house was built in the ballroom in 2002.

The stalls, boxes and circle are free-standing, supported by smooth white pillars instead of the interior walls of the ballroom. Looking up, I could see contemporary fibre-optic lights twinkling on the underside of the circle. Hovering in the shadows above them were the tessellated plaster rectangles and crosses of the old ballroom ceiling. My son nudged me in the ribs to make me look down at a glass case set in the floor, which contained broken blue and white crockery discovered during the renovation. Once we had taken our seats, we looked towards what used to be the end wall of the ballroom, now the curtain.When this lifted, it revealed a vast modern opera stage, complete with stage-lights and revolving set.The Barber of Seville dress rehearsal started and we recognised the big tunes, laughed at the plot and even better, somebody’s Dad was abducted from the audience to sit in the barber’s chair to be shaved by Figaro.

As a family, we began to understand and enjoy opera for the first time.

Education and outreach activities such as this opera workshop are a new side of The Grange Festival. Michael Chance, the festival’s Artistic Director, says that he wants to ‘find those who don’t necessarily believe (yet!) in the community-building power music has.’To achieve this ambition, there is a dance workshop on 2nd July and local secondary schools are nominating 80 children to join in an ambitious project to create an opera in five days in August.Their opera, ‘The Time Capsule’, will be performed to the public on 31st August. For tickets, please check https://thegrangefestival.co.uk/ Iris Crowfoot

TFA have over 20 years history and 30+ advisers based in the South and South West.

Glen Belcher has lived and worked in the Meon Valley for over 20 years and runs the office in The Square, Wickham. He commented “ Clients engage with us to that we represent their best interests, providing unbiased and bespoke take efficient financial solutions from the whole market place whether private or corporate. We are therefore not influenced by an providers' products unlike a bank, insurance company or those companies offering restricted advice. “We are trusted and respected throughout the industry providing advice for charities, accountancy professionals and small companies. We can take you on the journey from protecting your loved ones (life assurance), building capital (investment/ savings), building and sustaining pension income (retirement) as well as utilising trusts and strategies to reduce inheritance tax. It is so important to preserve your wealth with the added advantage of tax efficient planning.�

TFA Trusted Financial Advice is a trading style of Tom French & Associates Ltd. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - FRN 185513.

LEISU R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Leisure

FOLKWELL: A CELEBRATION OF FOLK MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT & ARTISAN FOOD

Virgin Anthology of Songwriters for his contribution to comedy songwriting.

Featuring muscians including:

Kitty Macfarlane "Exciting young talent" The Guardian, "a must-see name on the UK folk scene" - Rob Bridge, Folk Radio UK "5 fine songs. Kitty Macfarlane - watch out for her. She's good" - Mike Harding Eric Sedge "a modern-day troubadour telling tales of ordinary folk' - FETA Magazine Pete Morton "Not only impressive... but a revelation' - The Guardian Hobo and The Hippies "An incredibly talented 6-piece folk group!" Featured on BBC Radio: Kent, live in session

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n exciting new Folk Music Festival on an outside stage comes to Fontwell on Saturday 21st July, all set for an eclectic line-up of singers and musicians led by Richard Digance and including Eric Sedge, Kitty MacFarlane, Georgia Lewis Band, Pete Morton and Hobo & the Hippies!

Aside from the main stage, there is plenty to do with an artisan food area including a hog

roast, real ale and cider bars, a craft village, Morris dancing, ukulele workshops, welly wanging, the Tug of War (£200 first prize, teams of 5.) and more!

Richard Digance A BAFTA Nominated entertainer and a recipient of The Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. He has also won a Sony Award and is one of only three British folk singers mentioned in The

THE 2018 MEON VALLEY LIONS SWANMORE FETE SATURDAY 14TH JULY

Georgia Lewis Band "young, exuberant & musically adept" (R2 Magazine) The festivals is open from 10.30am 10pm on Saturday 21st July with free parking onsite.

For more information and tickets visit: www.fontwellpark.co.uk/whats-on/ folkwell

flying display - don't miss it!

Once again we’ll have the classic cars and bikes on display, plus, we’ll have over 40 stalls, coconut shy, beat-the-goalie, games and rides and oodles of yummy things to eat and drink.

The classic motorbikes congregate in Swanmore mid-morning for their Meon Valley rally run to Alresford before returning to be displayed at the Recreation Ground.

Here they will be judged in four class categories, with the winners presented in the main arena.

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wanmore village fete is a good, oldfashioned, traditional village fete, where you can expect lots of fun and entertainment!

Gates open at 12.30pm on Saturday 14th July. There’ll be live music from Contraband, Soberton Strummers and Swanmore College of Technology Jazz Band, as well as the

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Birnie Boozle Band to help you relax in the food and bar enclosure.

This year we're delighted to have the Haven Falconry display team putting on a show in the main arena! They will have a static display of birds including owls, eagles and vultures to the side of the arena and will put the hawks through their paces in an exciting

Entry is Still only £1.50 (no increase for nine years!)

Timings: 12.30pm – Fete opens; 4.30pm – Fete closes Venue: New Road Recreation Ground, Swanmore, Hampshire.

For more information: www.meonvalleylionsclub.org.uk/ events/swanmoreannualcarnivalandfete. html

LEISU R E P R OF ESSION A L ISS U E 3 4 | JULY

Leisure

MOORS EDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL SATURDAY 14TH JULY 2018

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he 1st Moors Edge Festival presented by Waltham Festivals Ltd is coming to you this 2018! The Waltham Festivals Team have been busy working together and cannot wait to bring Moors Edge to Bishops Waltham on Saturday 14th July at Hoe Road Recreation Ground.

This one day family friendly music festival will cater for all ages and offer you an array of live music across two stages (one being totally undercover) from midday to 11pm. You can expect an eclectic mix of home grown talent along with other incredible acts, kids entertainment, copious stalls to keep you entertained, well stocked bars offering the finest of tipples & not to mention an abundance of good food to sample.

Or of course, if you prefer, please do bring your own picnic - all we ask is that you do not bring your own alcohol or any glass on to the festival site. This is shaping up to be a Hampshire based festival you will not want to miss in 2018.

The Moors Edge Festival is organised by just four local like-minded folk who have a vision of bringing local communities together to enjoy fantastic events. Their aim is to create a cohesion of love for live music, community connection and ultimately a friendly atmosphere. They have a wealth of experience when it comes to organising live music events and are proud to be hosting a selection of home grown talent, along with other great acts from across Hampshire and beyond.

It is guaranteed that there will be something for everyone at Moors Edge Festival this July. We look forward to seeing you at this fresh, new event catching some summer feel good vibes.

Adult Ticket (18+) £15 (£20 on the door) Child Ticket (13-17yrs) £5 (£10 on the door) Under 12's - Free (you still need a ticket) For more information and booking please visit www.walthamfestivals.co.uk

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Professional FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT THOUGHTS

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his morning someone asked very simply what key things they needed to consider when a loved one passed away.

Without a face to face conversation covering every nuance and option this was a tough question! We hope you never have to arrange a funeral, but most of us at some point will so here we have some pointers to help you.

1) Registration: when anyone passes away, their death needs to be registered.Very broadly speaking, if it was expected you will need to pick up the medical certificate from either the local GP’s or from the hospital, depending on where they passed away. If it was unexpected then the coroner may be involved and they, and the funeral director, will guide you through what happens next and the time frame.

2) Choose the funeral director: you don’t normally have the funeral director on speed dial. It’s an important, brief relationship and if you don’t like the company once you meet them you can change. It is very straight forward. No one will shout at you for changing your mind. If you don’t want to go to the funeral director’s premises, they should offer to come to you.

3) Avoid emotional overspending: ‘the rules are there are no rules’, so if you do not want limousines or lots of flowers or a solid mahogany coffin then don’t be made to feel that they are the norm. Spending more money doesn’t mean you loved them any more than if you didn’t. If the funeral is over your budget talk to your funeral director.

4) Consider the finer details: which include some significant matters.

Such as where the refreshments after the funeral will be held, how will you let people know when the funeral is, and an appropriate order of service that will reflect the person who has died and whether money donated to charity in memory is a better option than lots of flowers?

5) Settling the estate: There’s usually nothing complicated about being an executor or settling someone’s estate, but it can be time consuming.You may decide to do it yourself, or you may decide to pass some or all of it to a solicitor to deal with. They will be paid from the estate.

We will break these points down further in future issues but if you have any specific questions feel free to email mail@ahfreemantle.co.uk

P R OF ESSION A L ISS U E 3 4 | JU LY

Animed

Veterinary Hospital & Equine Unit

Is your Pet a member of the Healthy Pet Club yet?

Would you like to save money?

The Horse Health Programme is a preventative healthcare plan saving you up to ÂŁ150.

Our scheme is not an insurance - it is a monthly payment loyalty scheme that covers your pet for all preventative healthcare medicine including selected lifetime care medication.

We offer schemes for puppies and kittens, adult dogs and cats and rabbits

It is suitable for all horses, ponies and donkeys. Our competitively priced horse health plan includes more products and services than any other national scheme.

For just ÂŁ10.99 per month, our health plan has been carefully designed with the cost conscious owner in mind.

So why not join now? Simply call 01329 833112 www.horsehealthprogramme.co.uk

Tel: 01329 833112 www.animedvets.co.uk ANIMED VETERINARY GROUP

SHEDFIELD

SO32 2JG

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LEISU R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Leisure

SIMPLY JAGUAR AT BEAULIEU

WICKHAM FESTIVAL 2018

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ll Jaguar owners are invited to drive into Beaulieu on Sunday 8th July and park up within the museum complex for what promises to be a superb day out for both Jaguar owners and enthusiasts. Shine your X-Type, polish your XFR, and buff up your F-Type... whichever model you drive, all are welcome at the second annual Simply Jaguar, which is set to provide a great opportunity to admire some stunning vehicles and to connect with fellow enthusiasts.

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he outskirts of historic Wickham village provide a picturesque setting for one of the safest and most relaxed festivals of the summer. Enjoy some great live music.

Wickham is rated by many as one of the safest, most relaxed and family-friendly festivals in the UK. They were voted ‘Best UK Festival, cap. under 15000’ at the Live UK Music Business Awards in October 2015. Each year the festival introduces new ideas and keep what works.

This year there will be four stages at Wickham Festival. So as well as established artists including Squeeze, Richard Thompson Trio, Kate Rusby and The Red Hot Chilli Piperd, there will be plenty of opportunities to listen to up and coming young talent who are given the chance to showcase their talents. Wickham Festival is particularly keen to promote local artists and they're sure you’ll discover some great acts throughout the weekend.

All participants will have the opportunity to be chosen as the winner of the People’s Choice Award, selected by public vote. The winner will receive the Beaulieu Simply Jaguar trophy.

For more information, booking and prices visit: www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-jaguar

HAMBLEDON FOLK CLUB PRESENTS WILD WILL BARRETT'S FRENCH CONNECTION

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ild Willy Barrett, known as the Godfather of Grunge Folk, is a highly respected musician whose styles include folk, blues, gypsy jazz, reggae, bluegrass and punk. His latest musical ensemble, Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection, brings together a diverse group of musicians from the UK, Ireland and France - and features an original melange of French, Irish and English acoustic arrangements.

From a cafe in Paris, via a hooley in Dublin, to a night out in New Orleans - this band does it all using everything from a guitar, cello, fiddle, Uilleann pipes and banjo (and some exquisite singing) to provide a truly inimitable musical experience! www.wildwillybarrett.com/roaringtouring

It's not all about the music - You can enjoy a wide range of family entertainment including: cartoon cinema, storytelling, puppet theatre and make ‘n’ take crafts tent. In addition there is a digital funfair, playbus, laser arena, bouncy castles and children’s entertainers – and all are free once people are in the festival arena! Enjoy the entertainers who wander freely for your amusement or try out the giant deckchair or show your partner just how much they light up your life by holding hands under the electronic love heart. This was a huge hit last year so the festival is bringing back the giant heart which lights up only when two people hold hands beneath it to complete the circuit.

Public access is from Blind Lane. Please follow the signs when arriving in Wickham.

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This group will be coming to Hambledon Folk Club on the 11th July. Come on down, you really will have heard nothing like it!

All gigs are at The Youth Hut (between Village Hall and Vine Pub), West Street, Hambledon PO7 4RW Start: 8.30pm (doors open 8.00pm). Floor spots and guests welcome!

Entry: £10.00 (£8.00 members, £5.00 under 18s and students) Drinks: From Vine Pub next door (or bring your own). Tea/Coffee available at the Club Enquiries and booking/reservations: phone 02392 632719 or email folkclubhambledon@hotmail.co.uk www.hambledonfolkclub.com

Bishop’s Waltham | Price Guide £785,000 Fabulous barn conversion, nestling with a picturesque courtyard setting in a semi-rural location on the outskirts of Bishop’s Waltham. Beautifully refurbished and stylishly designed to incorporate fabulous features which enhance the character and charm of the house. Internal viewing is highly recommended.

If you love life in the Meon Valley and are thinking of making your next move, please talk to our Bishop’s Waltham team at no.

7 Cross Street. We’re friendly locals with great knowledge and enthusiasm for this beautiful area.

Contact us for a free sales or lettings valuation of your property.

Sales & Lettings: 01489 660860 bishopswaltham@pearsons.com

Offices throughout Hampshire | pearsons.com

SERVICE | MARKETING | E XPERIENCE

P R OF ESSION A L ISS U E 3 4 | JU LY

Professional WILLS – THEY ARE NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY

When thinking about who will look after your children you also need to think about financial support for the children. Parents often leave money in trust for their young children and it is important to think about who the trustees of this money will be.

Some people choose to appoint the guardians as the trustees as they may need access to this money but a degree of separation is often helpful.

When making a Will there are other issues that you may want to think about such as who will be your executors and make sure the terms of your Will are carried out, who will be the trustees and look after the assets for the beneficiaries until they are old enough, what would you like for your funeral.

Another issue that is not often thought about is, will an inheritance be detrimental to anyone? For example, is one of your beneficiaries vulnerable and could be subject to pressure if they were to inherit, are any of your beneficiaries receiving state help that receiving an inheritance could jeopardise, will an inheritance make the beneficiary’s estate subject to inheritance tax? There are usually ways round these issues and here at Trethowans we will discuss them with you and find a solution.

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hen people think about making a will, they usually think about who will inherit their money and possessions. Of course, this is an important part of making a will, but, if you have children who are under 18, have you thought about what will happen to them if you were to pass away?

Ensuring your children will be well looked after is considered by many to be far more important then ensuring your money passes to the correct people and making a will allows you to decide both. When you make your will you can appoint testamentary guardians, these are the people who will look after your children if you pass away and your child’s other parent has predeceased you.

When appointing guardians it is important to consider all the factors, such as where do the prospective guardians live, where would you like your children to be brought up, will the guardians have the time to care for your children, do they have their own children, how old are they, are their morals and beliefs the same as yours and many more. If you are appointing more than one guardian to act at the same time you need to ensure that they will be able to act harmoniously together. People often suggest appointing their parents and their partner’s parents, in practice this is not often viable whether it is because they live at other ends of the country or have very different ideas about where the children should be brought up!

In addition to appointing guardians you can appoint substitutes in case something happens to the prospective guardians before you or they do not feel able to act.

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If you require help or further information please contact Mihiri Gajraj at our Southampton office based in Hedge End on 02380 820544.

No r t h Mo to r Company Holden Farm, Cheriton, Alresford, Hants, SO24 ONX

Independent Garage and MOT Testing Centre Established in1999 - All makes of car serviced and repaired - Saab approved repairer and Subaru specialist Free collection, delivery and courtesy car (when available) Competitively priced tyres - Batteries - Vehicle Diagnostics - Exhausts

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

FINE ART AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

Chestnut Cattery Chestnut cattery is set in the rural location of North Boarhunt and is surrounded by chestnut trees.

The 26 penthouse chalets are all thermostatically heated, lit during the day and have 24-hour music. We are able to accommodate up to four cats from one family if required.

FINE ART, ASIAN ART, ANTIQUES, INTERIORS & COLLECTABLES AUCTION

P R OF ESSION A L ISS U E 3 4 | JU LY

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Tuesday 17th & Wednesday 18th July Viewing: Thursday 12th, 12 - 5pm, Friday 13th, 10am - 5pm, Saturday 14th, 10am - 2pm, Monday 16th, 10am - 5pm, Sale mornings from 8.30am

COSTS PER DAY

One cat £8 per day • Two cats £14 per day Three cats £18 per day • Four cats £20 per day

Tel: 01329 834723 / Mob: 07772 669386 cpchestnutcattery020@gmail.com chestnutcattery.co.uk

Illustrated catalogues available to view online at www.the-saleroom.com www.andrewsmithandson.com Enquiries: t:01962 735988 e:auctions@andrewsmithandson.com THE AUCTION ROOMS, MANOR FARM, ITCHEN STOKE, ALRESFORD SO24 0QT

Our Private Client specialists can advise on: • Wills • Powers of Attorney • Deputyship • Tax Planning • Trusts • Probate and Estate Administration • Mental Capacity Issues Southampton Office - Tel: 02380 321000 The Pavilion, Botleigh Grange Business Park, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2AF

Winchester Office (by appointment only) Tel: 01962 670677

www.trethowans.com

Suite 4, 45 Southgate Street, Winchester, SO23 9EH

Offices also in Salisbury, Poole & Bournemouth

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P R OF ESSION A L ISS U E 3 4 | JU LY

Professional

FINDING THE PERFECT FINAL RESTING PLACE WITH PORTCHESTER MEMORIAL GARDENS

NIGEL CHAMBERLAIN & PARTNERS HELPING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

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igel Chamberlain & Partners is an independent family funeral service that have been helping the communities of Bishops Waltham, the Meon Valley, Wickham, Botley and the many surrounding Hampshire villages for well over 100 years and can trace their continuous history in the funeral profession back to 1892.

Our qualified Funeral Directors Bob Metcalf MBE & Lucy Guilder. together with our dedicated team of staff, offer a truly personal 24 hour service. We firmly believe that as every life is unique, every funeral should be bespoke to suit the wishes of the family and tailored to suit the individual financial situation. As a long established family business, and unlike large corporate companies, we do not request a deposit or part payment prior to the funeral arrangement. We will always take time to offer you a wide range of options and a fully itemised estimate.

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hen you lose a loved one, everyone grieves differently - some want to lay ashes to rest straightaway, while others find comfort in keeping them for a while.

Either way, when the time is right, selecting the perfect final resting place for your loved one is an important decision.

The sympathetic team at Portchester Memorial Gardens will help you create a fitting tribute in one of the themed areas within their tranquil, mature grounds – including the Garden of the Sea with its sculptural anchors and wooden jetty, and the Hill of Roses, flooded with scent and colour. Linked together by meandering streams and pathways, these gardens are complemented by a beautiful lake and Temple, which provide an unrivalled setting for contemplation.

Through our extensive experience we offer help and guidance on the style and location of the ceremony from a simple unattended committal to a personalised celebration that truly reflects the individual.

With personal graves offered, ashes can be laid to rest and marked with an individual memorial stone. Memorial only options are also available.

Visit our website www.chamberlainfunerals.co.uk. Our team are personally available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 01489 892640

For more information, call 01329 828250 www.pmgardens.com Upper Cornaway Lane, Portchester, PO16 8NF

& Partners Independent Family NigelFUNERAL Chamberlain & Partners DIRECTORS

Independent Family Nigel Chamberlain serving the Meon Valley Nigel Chamberlain & Partners FUNERAL

since 1892 & Partners DIRECTORS Independent Family The Gate House, Road Independent Family serving FUNERAL the MeonVictoria Valley Independent Family since 1892 BISHOPS WALTHAM Funeral Directors DIRECTORS

FUNERAL DIRECTORS Bob Metcalf MBE (01489) 892640 Bob Metcalf MBE

The Gate House, Road serving theVictoria Meon Valley Serving the Meon Valley since 1892 (01489) 892640 BISHOPS since WALTHAM 1892 The Gate House, Victoria Road

serving the Meonservice Valley Personal 24WALTHAM hour BISHOPS

Bob Metcalf MBE Personal 24 sinceHour 1892Service (01489) Personal 24 Hour892640 Service

Tel: 01489 892640 www.chamberlainfunerals.co.uk www.chamberlainfunerals.co.uk TheHouse, Gate House, Victoria www.chamberlainfunerals.co.uk Bob Metcalf MBE The Gate Victoria Road, Bishops Road Waltham

Personal 24 WALTHAM Hour Service BISHOPS www.chamberlainfunerals.co.uk

(01489) 892640 Bob Metcalf Part Richard Steel & Partners Partof of Richard Steel & MBE Partners The Family Owned Funeral Directors The family owned funeral directors Part of Richard Steel & Partners Personal 24 Hour Service Serving Hampshire since 18601860 serving Hampshire since

The Family Funeral Directors Part ofOwned Richard Steel & Partners www.chamberlainfunerals.co.uk Serving Hampshire since 1860 The Family Owned Funeral Directors

A place of peace, a garden to remember

P R OF ESSION A L ISS U E 3 4 | JU LY

Nigel Chamberlain

Lay your loved one’s ashes to rest in your chosen plot in a beautiful, family-owned garden, complete with personalised memorial.

Sympathetic staff will help you find the perfect final resting place in this award-winning, tranquil setting, from the reflective Garden of Peace or fragrant Hill of Roses to the sheltered Garden of the Sea or vistas from Summerhouse View.

“A massive thank you – you have made such a sad time easier to manage, knowing that my beloved is surrounded by such beauty and is taken good care of.” - CH, Southsea

Tel: 01329 828250 www.pmgardens.com Upper Cornaway Lane, Portchester, PO16 8NF Location: Please note that we are not part of the Crematorium or their Garden of Remembrance. Follow our green signs

Serving Hampshire since 1860

Part of Richard Steel & Partners The Family Owned Funeral Directors Serving Hampshire since 1860

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HAMPSHIRE PEOPLE

The Forum talks with Diane Keen FEATURE ISSUE 3 4 | JULY

Diane Keen is one of Britain’s most recognisable and bestloved actresses.

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he has starred in some of our most iconic television series from ‘Cuckoo Waltz’, ‘Rings on their Fingers’, ‘A Touch of Frost’, to ten years in The Ruth Rendell Mysteries. More recently she spent nine years playing Practice Manager Julia Parsons in the BBC’s ‘Doctors’.

She’s starred in many films including ‘The Sweeney Movie’, ‘Silver Dream Racer’ with David Essex, ‘Sleeps Six’ with Ben Kingsley and ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ alongside Michael Caine.

How long has Diane been living in Hampshire, and does she have a favourite place?

I've been living in Hampshire since filming the Ruth Rendell series, so that was around 1991. Hampshire is God’s own country!

I loved living in London and I love the buzz it gives you - but there’s nothing like getting back on the train knowing I’ll be in the countryside again very soon. Winchester Hill is one of my favourite places, in fact I used to train there for my Kilimanjaro climb for charity a couple of years ago.

How did you become an actress?

With great difficulty and a lot of dedication and hard work, it’s the only way to achieve something you really want. I was brought up in Kenya, so arriving in England at 18 was a bit of a culture shock,

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but I also had the advantage of having no preconceived ideas. To me everything was possible.

I read an article in the paper about an agent so I took myself off to meet with them and I persuaded them to take me on! When you’re young, you’re so fearless and driven. They took me onto their books! I found myself working on a teenage magazine program for what was then Southern Television with Fred Dinage.

He was so wonderful to work with and taught me a lot about working with TV cameras. I’d never even been in a tv studio before then. We became, and still are, very good friends. It’s not easy in this industry though, you must be strong and dedicated and prepared to accept a lot of rejection which is hard.You really have to believe in yourself otherwise no one else will.

I wonder, which of her many parts has Diane most enjoyed?

Gosh that’s a difficult one. I think the Cuckoo Waltz with Lewis Collins and David Roper was definitely one, it was a gift of a part and brilliantly written by Geoffrey Lancashire. Working with the great, iconic Trevor Howard on ‘Shillingbury Blowers’ was unforgettable too, as was doing the film ‘Thirteen at Dinner’ with Peter Ustinov and Faye Dunaway.

You starred as Practice Manager Julia Parsons in the BBC ‘Doctors’ series for nine years before leaving. Was that a difficult decision for you?

Oh yes, I played Julia for nine years, the cast and crew are like family. The brilliant thing about that series is that there is a new story line every episode and they always cast such good young actors as well as established talented actors, which is a joy for the regulars because we got to work with so many talented people all the time. It’s a show that gives so many young actors a wonderful opportunity. It’s hard to be in a long running successful series, the

Could Hollywood entice you?

Diane laughs.Yes of course. I’ve done LA and I love the work ethic and environment there, but Atlanta is fast becoming the new Hollywood and a serious centre for our industry.

Do you have a favourite actor?

Oh, so many! Hugh Jackman is such a versatile actor and I’m a huge admirer of Meryl Streep, Robin Williams, Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchette, Gael Garcia Bernal, Emily Blunt. I could go on and on! Some extremely talented actors are also to be found in tv series. For me it’s all about the work, being immersed in a role.

I’ve been privileged to work with some amazing people and been very lucky to have won a few awards over the years. It’s a good feeling to know that people have really engaged and believed in the character you’ve created.

Is there one role you would love to play?

I’ve done a lot of Shakespeare in my time, but if someone were to offer me Lady Macbeth, I most certainly wouldn’t say no!

It’s a different industry these days to the one I knew as a young actor starting out. It’s more technical and money is tight, good roles are hard to come by as no one is willing to take risks with untried talent. I feel sorry for young actors trying to make a name for themselves these days.

You are a dedicated actress who has her feet firmly on the ground and is deeply appreciative of your career and position. I wonder if there are three things you couldn’t live without?

Well, I guess you can live without anything if you have to, but liquorice is my favourite treat. Growing up in Kenya, I literally had a view of Mt Kilimanjaro from my bedroom window, but sweets and chocolate were something that were hard to come by.

The first sweets I ever had were liquorice AllSorts, so I kind of made liquorice my go-to treat!

F EAT U R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

hours are long and it’s incredibly hard work, with early starts and late finishes, but it’s fantastic to do at the same time.

My health I guess, to not have good health would stop me doing all the things I love like scuba diving, travelling and exploring out of the way places.

I love discovering new places. I’m a dedicated conservationist and sometimes that means visiting hard to reach, out of the way places.

And books! I mean proper books, not a device, such as a Kindle or tablet. I’m an avid reader, and music, all kinds of music from all over the world.

Does Diane have any charities to which she is affiliated?

Yes, being brought up in Kenya wildlife was an everyday part of my life, so I can’t imagine not having lions in the wild anymore.

Potentially, this is what may well happen in ten years at the rate they’re being hunted, so I’m proud to be Patron of LionAid who work tirelessly to stop the killing and save the species.

I have also been an Ambassador for Action for Children for over thirty years now. They do incredible work helping young people and their families with a vast range of issues from homelessness, drug problems, abuse and numerous other problems across the board. We have centres all over the county where we can reach as many young people as possible. These are outreach centres where the most help and support can be given.

Crucially, we have managed to lobby successfully for the law to be changed so that young people who are in care are not turned out at the age of sixteen but remain under protection until the age of eighteen when they then become eligible for benefits if they need it.

With her busy life what next for Diane?

I'm about to do a celebrity edition of ‘Pointless’, which absolutely terrifies me! I’m researching everything I can.

Interestingly, I’m having to research myself as I’m writing my autobiography. I keep discovering times, places and people I can’t quite remember, so I have to dig through letters and photos etc to piece things together. I think I’ll be writing for quite a while!

Mind you, never say never, I am an actor after all, so when a part I want to do turns up I’ll be off and the book will have to wait!

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Market Square UNIQUE - BESPOKE - ECLECTIC - LOCAL

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S

Moda Rosa

Chase Cycles

Wickham Jewellery

Summer Sale starts Saturday 30th June 35 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AB

Giant Entour E Bike in Graphite Grey - £1,799.

Winchester Raod, Waltham Chase, SO32 2LG

Tel: 01962 733277 | www.modarosa.co.uk

Tel: 01489 893693 | nigelatchase@gmail.com

Baguette diamond half hoop eternity platinum ring - £2495 Warwick Lane, Wickham, PO17 5JN

J’adore la Maison

Sage Hair Design

Equestrian Fencing & Timber Ltd

Stockist of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, painting workshops and furniture painting service.The Square,Wickham (next to Lilly’s) PO17 5JT

Multi award winning hair dressing, Wickham's no.1 salon Sage Hair,The Square,Wickham, PO17 5JT

Wooden Storage Sheds from £240 + Vat H: 1875mm W: 1200mm D: 800mm

Tel: 01329 835255 | www.jadorelamaison.co.uk

Tel: 01329 835991 | www.sagehair.co.uk

Tel: 01329 835100 | www.equestrianfencing.com

Boutique ME

Simon Lawson Jewellers

Boutique ME

Holster Summer Stock In - Footwear to take you from the Beach to the Bar. Boutique Me, High Street, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1AA

18ct diamond cluster ring - £2,250 High Street, Bishop's Waltham, SO32 1AB

Envy Jewellery - New styles arriving soon Boutique Me, High Street, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1AA

Tel: 01489 891052 |

Tel: 01489 895575 | simonlawsonjewellers.co.uk

Tel: 01489 891052 |

Boutique ME

Tel: 01329 836327 | Find us in Warwick Lane

Boutique ME

R ETA IL I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

When enquiring about any of these Market Square items, please mention The Forum Magazine

Andrew Smith & Son - Auctioneers

Wickham Jewellery

Equestrian Fencing & Timber Ltd

Fine Art, Asian Art, Antiques, Interiors & Collectables Tues 17th and Wed18th July

Men's wedding band platinum - £1,000 Warwick Lane, Wickham, PO17 5JN

Keep warm on a Summers evening. Kiln Dried logs for Fire Pits and Pizza ovens from £4.95 + Vat (nets)

Tel: 01962 735988 | www.andrewsmithandson.com

Tel: 01329 836327 | Find us in Warwick Lane

Tel: 01329 835100 | www.equestrianfencing.com

e

WICKHAM JEWELLERY

e

New Jewellery • Pre-owned Pieces Watches • Diamond Jewellery Remodelling / Redesigns Repairs • Gold Purchased

e

e

Wickham Jewellery

Wickham Jewellery

Simon Lawson Jewellers

Diamond heart 18ct 5.3ct weight - £4,500 Warwick Lane, Wickham, PO17 5JN

If you wish to buy or sell any of the above, please visit us at: Warwick Lane, Wickham, PO17 5JN

9ct white gold blue topaz and diamond - £1,163 High Street, Bishop's Waltham, SO32 1AB

Tel: 01329 836327 | Find us in Warwick Lane

Tel: 01329 836327 | Find us in Warwick Lane

Tel: 01489 895575 | simonlawsonjewellers.co.uk

Sweet Corner

Wickham Jewellery

Botley Mills

Treat yourself to an ice cream sundae, knickerbocker glory or a New Forest ice cream. 10 High Street, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1AA

Ladies Ebel diamond watch - £1,000 Warwick Lane, Wickham, PO17 5JN

Small animals available, guinea pigs - £20 for a pair Botley Mills, Mill Hill, Southampton, SO30 2GB

Tel: 01489 877172 | www.sweetcorner.co.uk

Tel: 01329 836327 | Find us in Warwick Lane

Tel: 01489 772900 | www.botleymills.co.uk

31

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Community BISHOP'S WALTHAM ROTARY NEWS

ACTION AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT EASTLEIGH INVITES YOU TO ATTEMPT A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

T

he carnival is over….as the song goes.This article is written a few days before the annual Rotary organised BW Carnival, so I hope the weather stayed good and you all had a great time. I look forward to seeing the photographs.

As you all know, rotary is not just about collecting money and distributing it to needy causes. It’s also about a funny old word called fellowship, or if you like, socialising; and last month we did some international socialising.We also had a presentation from an international charity and contributed funds to it.

Debbie Walker, BWRC President, presented Don Short, President Hamble Valley Rotary Club, a cheque in support of the Rotary Jaipur Limb work being done in 19 centres in Africa. The work includes the workshop to provide the artificial limb, a training centre, a hostel for patients and carers together with a 4x4 ambulance. For just £40 you can change someone’s life; and once they have been given their limb they can work, and look after themselves and their family. If you would like to make a donation to this cause, just let me know at mike.berry@ bihopswalthamrotary.org.uk

BWRC twins with Nantes Rotary Club

Last month we organised a visit for 23 French Rotarians from Nantes.

This event happens every other year: we go to them and then they come to us.This exchange has been going on for years and is an essential part of Rotary: developing fellowship in the Rotary world. Jointly we are progressing projects in Africa to improve water quality and irrigation, but in May we showed the Nantes Rotarians Winchester Cathedral and Winchester College as a well as a rural Hampshire pub.

A

ction Against Destructive Development Eastleigh campaigners are trying a different tactic in their battle against building a relief road and too many new homes by attempting to enter the Guinness World Records by dressing

up as trees.

Members of the ADD are encouraging residents to take part in the event at Stoke Park Junior School in Bishopstoke on July 7 at 1.30pm.

They aim to break the current record of 1,000 people dressed up as trees, which was set in Mumbai, India.

The group is campaigning against the proposed plans to build 5,200 new homes near ancient woodland between Bishopstoke and Fair Oak.The plans were recently backed by civic chiefs in Eastleigh who said their choice was “the most logical option”.

Charlotte Adcock, who organised the event, says: “We have organised this fun event to get the community involved but also to draw attention to the irreversible environmental damage that would be caused by the Eastleigh Local Plan.”

“The plan threatens the local area as a whole, but in particular the seven remaining areas of ancient woodland within our district, and the precious ecosystem of the world-renowned River Itchen.”

Quarterly Socialising

Every time there is a fifth Thursday in the month we have a local social evening with partners, and last month was such a month.The only purpose of the event was socialising with friends; (and relaxing from all the preparation for the Carnival). So, not all work and no play!

As you can see above, your local Rotary club engages in a wide range of support of local and international causes as well as fellowship. For more information: Mike Berry at mike.berry@bishopswalthamrotary.org.uk 32

“We hope as many people as possible will come dressed up and join us.

Getting into the Guinness Book of World Records would certainly put Bishopstoke on the map!”

As per Guinness guidelines, residents have to wear dark brown trousers, green top and headdress with branches and leaves on. Alternatively, those taking part can design their own head-to-toe tree costume.

This will need to be pre-agreed a few weeks in advance by Guinness officials and to get involved email support@addeastleigh.org or call: 07775 693994

ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE FOR AS LITTLE AS

£60

PER MONTH

When:

Cost:

Saturday 7 July 2018 1.30pm to 3.00pm

Minimum £1 donation to enter

Where:

Contact:

Stoke Park Junior School, Underwood Road, Bishopstoke, Hampshire, SO50 6GR

Charlotte and Mark E: support@add-eastleigh.org T: 07775 693994

(PLUS VAT, MINIMUM 6 MONTH BOOKING FOR PRICE SHOWN)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! TOGETHER, LET'S BREAK A WORLD RECORD!

COMMU N IT Y F OOD & DR IN K ISSU E 34 | JULY

ADVERTISING OFFER

For more information

01962 735137 stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

HILTONBURY JERSEYS EST 1947

FRESH RAW JERSEY MILK & CREAM Strawberries now available

We are now stocking Strawberries every Friday, Saturday and Sunday which are a fantastic accompaniment with our fresh cream

Also Stocking Free Range Eggs Contact Oliver or Julie on: 07977 933470

hiltonbury_jerseys@btinternet.com • www.hiltonburyjerseys.co.uk Follow Hiltonbury Jerseys on Facebook UPLANDS FARM, WINCHESTER STREET, BOTLEY, SO30 2AA

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F OOD & DR IN K ISSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Food & Drink TASTE BUDS WERE TINGLING AHEAD OF THE HAMPSHIRE FOOD FESTIVAL THIS MONTH

Hill Place, in Swanmore. Guests enjoyed refreshing Hill Farm Juice and Hildon mocktails followed by Hampshire canapés served by Smallpiece Catering.

Guests met producers involved in July’s food festival including Hampshire Cheese, Danebury Wine, The Hampshire Jam and Chutney Company, Corner 53, Flack Manor Brewery, Parsonage Farm, Upham Brewery, Winchester Distillery and Summerdown Mint Farm.

Tracy Nash, Commercial Manager of Hampshire Fare, commented: “Today we are excited to be able to showcase some of the many events taking place during July’s Hampshire Food Festival. The festival involves food and drink producers from across the county and is a real celebration of the flavour of our county.

“I urge people to tap into what is on offer locally and use the festival as a time to discover new producers or find out more about their favourite Hampshire ingredients.”

Photo by Electric Eye Photography

H

ampshire is preparing to celebrate all things food and farming throughout July with over 60 tempting events taking place across the county. Organised by Hampshire Fare and sponsored by Hildon Mineral Water, the Hampshire Food Festival line-up includes: vineyard, farm and distillery tours; pop-up dinners; cooking masterclasses and more.

The festival was launched on Wednesday 13 June to press, sponsors and business associates in the grounds of the stunning events venue,

HAMBLEDON WINE FESTIVAL: SATURDAY 11TH AUGUST

Festival sponsors, Hildon, were on hand to refresh guests throughout the afternoon with bottles of their mineral water.

Samantha Greatbanks from Hildon, commented on their support of the festival: “We are proud to support the Hampshire Food Festival because we believe in working with local companies, and bringing together the best of local produce. Hampshire is very lucky to be home to some of the UK’s most prestigious producers ranging from wine to buffalo to water. The Hampshire Fare team work so hard bringing together the best from our geographical area and we are delighted to be part of it.”

The Hampshire Food Festival will take place 1st-31st July at venues across Hampshire. Many events require booking but others are free and you can turn up on the day www.hampshirefare.co.uk and this festival provides a great way to see what has happened over the course of the last year and believe us a lot has happened.

Also, the Hambledon Bus will be making its first appearance at the vineyard, take a look round or why not even purchase a tasting ticket which will give you access to try all three Cuvees.

There are three ticket options to purchase which are: Classic Cuvee Blue ticket - £20, Classic Cuvee Rose Pink ticket - £30 and Premiere VIP ticket - £75.

O

ur very own wine festival here at Hambledon, enjoy live music throughout the day and of course browse through food stands and wines from us and a few of our fellow wine friends.

With demonstrations running about different aspects of the vineyard and special offers on tours and masterclasses throughout the day this is a perfect opportunity to see behind the scenes of England’s oldest Commercial vineyard. If you have visted the vineyard before you will know that the vineyard is always growing

34

The Classic Cuvee Blue ticket includes festival entry and a branded Hambledon Wine Glass. The Classic Cuvee Rose Pink ticket includes festival entry and a branded Hambledon Wine Glass and three tasting samples of Hambledon Sparkling wine. The Premiere VIP ticket includes festival entry, a branded Hambledon Wine Glass, Three tasting samples, a complimentary tour with our winemaker, entry to all our masterclasses and VIP access on the Hambledon Bus. The festival takes place at Hambledon Vineyard, East St, Hambledon, PO7 4RY. For more information please visit: www.hambledonvineyard.co.uk/the-wine-shop/events

Bar Bistro

Steve Picken Music Spanish Guitar

Come and enjoy an evening of Spanish Delicacy accompanied by acoustic/Spanish guitar

F OOD & DR IN K ISSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Banks

Friday 20th July - 8pm 3 course set menu - ÂŁ29 For booking call 01489 896352 or email: banksbarbistro@gmail.com All dishes are cooked to order. We advise checking contents of a dish if you have any allergies

Farm Shop and Tea Rooms Our butchery department stocks free range beef, lamb, pork, poultry and local game, while our Farm Shop has a wealth of local fruit and vegetables available

BBQ PACKS NOW IN

With BBQ season in full swing, why not pop in and buy one of our BBQ packs for you and your friends and family to enjoy?

Tea Rooms and Sunday Carvery Open All Year

Home Grown Raspberries available Tel: 01329 833832 www.westlandsfarmshop.co.uk Westlands Farm, Pricketts Hill, Nr Wickham, SO32 2JW

35

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Church Services BISHOP'S WALTHAM O Catholic Church of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Sundays 09.30 Sunday Mass Saturdays 18.00 Evening Mass

O St. Peter's Sunday 1 July 08.00 BCP Communion 10.30 Joint Benefice Service

with the Blessed Mary

Upham, in St Peter’s

Rectory Garden followed

by picnic and BBQ Sunday 8 July 08.00 BCP Communion 09.15 Parish Communion 09.15 Breakfast@9 at the

Church Hall 18.30 Compline at Preshaw

Chapel, Upham Sunday 15 July 08.00 BCP Communion 09.15 Parish Communion 09.15 Informal Service in

Church Hall Sunday 22 July 08.00 BCP Communion 09.15 Morning Worship 09.15 Informal Service with

Communion in

Church Hall 18.30 Reflective Taize Service Sunday 29 July 08.00 BCP Communion 09.15 Parish Communion 09.15 Informal Service in

Church Hall Everyday 08.45 Morning Prayer Thursdays (except 10 & 24) 10.00 Midweek Communion

followed by refreshments

CORHAMPTON

O Saxon Church Sunday 8 July 18.30 Evensong with

Athanasian Consort Sunday 15 July 10.30 Matins Sunday 22 July 08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) Sunday 29 July 08.00 Holy Communion (BCP)

DROXFORD

O St. Mary & All Saints Sunday 1 July 08.00 Holy Communion

(BCP) Sunday 8 July 10.30 Holy Communion(CW) Sunday 15 July 10.00 Informal All-age –

Swithun & Winchester 36

EXTON

O St. Peter & St. Paul Sunday 1 July 18.30 Patronal Festival Evensong Sunday 15 July 08.00 Holy Communion

(BCP) Sunday 22 July 10.30 Holy Communion (CW) Sunday 29 July 10.30 Outdoor Service: Farms

& Garden at Tithes

MEONSTOKE

O St. Andrew's Sunday 1 July 10.30 Holy Communion (CW) Sunday 8 July 08.00 Holy Communion

(BCP)

HAMBLEDON

O Methodist Church Sunday 1 July 10.30 Worship service with

children's craft activities Sunday 8 July 10.30 Worship service Sunday 15 July 10.30 Worship service Sunday 22 July 10.30 Worship service Sunday 29 July 10.30 Worship service O St Peter & Paul Sunday 1 July 08.00 Holy Communion 10.30 Parish Communion 18.30 Evensong Sunday 8 July 08.00 Holy Communion 10.30 Parish Communion 18.30 Evensong Sunday 15 July 08.00 Holy Communion 10.30 Parish Communion 18.30 Evensong Sunday 22 July 08.00 Holy Communion 10.00 Short Family Service 11.00 Matins 18.30 Holy Communion Sunday 29 July 08.00 Holy Communion 10.30 Parish Communion 18.30 Evensong

NEWTOWN

O Holy Trinity Church Sunday 8 July 09.30 Parish Holy Communion Sunday 15 July 10.00 Benefice Holy

Communion Sunday 29 July 10.00 Benefice Service for

Children's Week

SHIRRELL HEATH

O Methodist Church Sunday 1 July 10.30 Morning Worship 18.00 Evening Worship Sunday 8 July

09.00 Breakfast Church 18.00 Circuit Service at

(breakfast served

Waltham Chase

9-9.45am) followed by

Family Worship UPHAM

until 10.30am O Church of the 18.00 Evening Worship Blessed Mary Sunday 15 July Sunday 1 July 10.30 Morning Worship 10.30 Joint Benefice Service 18.00 Evening Worship

with St Peter’s Church, Sunday 22 July

Bishop’s Waltham in St 10.00 Morning Worship at St

Peter’s Rectory Garden

John the Baptist, Shedfield

followed by picnic 18.00 Evening Worship

and BBQ Sunday 29 July Sunday 8 July 10.00 Morning Worship Family Service 11.00 18.00 Evening Worship at 18.30 Compline at

Waltham Chase

Preshaw Chapel

Methodist Church Sunday 15 July Parish Communion 11.00 SOBERTON Sunday 22 July O St Peter's Church Informal Communion 11.00 Sunday 1 July Sunday 29 July 10.00 Benefice Holy Matins 11.00

Communion with ROCS

(for all children) WALTHAM CHASE Sunday 8 July O Waltham Chase 11.00 Special Service for Methodist Church

Sea Sunday Sunday 1 July Sunday 22 July 09.30 Family Breakfast 10.00 Benefice Holy 10.00 Family Worship

Communion 11.00 Worship & Word Sunday 8 July SWANMORE 10.30 Morning Worship O St Barnabas Sunday 15 July Sunday 1 July 10.30 Morning Worship 08.00 Eucharist Sunday 22 July 10.00 Parish Eucharist inc 10.30 Morning Worship

Sunday Club Sunday 8 July WARNFORD 08.00 Eucharist O Church of Our Lady 10.00 Parish Eucharist inc Sunday 1 July

Sunday Club 09.00 Holy Communion (BCP) Sunday 15 July Sunday 8 July 08.00 Eucharist 09.00 Parish Communion 10.00 3rd@10 Cafe Church Sunday 15 July 18.30 Eucharist 08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) Sunday 22 July Sunday 22 July 08.00 Eucharist 09.00 Mattins 10.00 Parish Eucharist Sunday 29 July Sunday 29 July 10.30 Cluster Communion 08.00 Eucharist Morning Prayer is said in 10.00 Parish Eucharist church at 9am on Saturdays Wednesdays (4, 18 & 25) 11.00 Eucharist WEST MEON Thursdays O St. John the Evangelist 08.15 Morning Prayer Sunday 1 July Saturdays 10.30 All Age Worship 12.00 Midday Prayer Sunday 8 July 10.30 Parish Communion O Methodist Church Sunday 15 July Sunday 1 July 10.30 Service of the Word 10.30 Morning Service Sunday 22 July 18.00 Evening Service 10.30 Parish Communion Sunday 8 July Morning Prayer is said 10.30 Morning Service in church at 9am on 18.00 Evening Service Wednesday and Thursdays (Except 12, 25 & 26) Sunday 15 July 10.00 Morning Service with

Holy Communion 18.00 Evening Service Sunday 22 July 10.00 Morning Service 18.00 Evening Service Sunday 29 July 10.00 Morning Service

NEW CONSTRUCTION, BARN CONVERSIONS & OAK FRAMING REPAIRS OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE.

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G A R DEN I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

OFFERING A COMPLETE SPECIALIST SERVICE IN

Please visit our website for all the latest news, information, second-hand machines for sale; and special offers in the showroom.

Barn Conversions and Repairs Using Traditional Materials and Methods New Oak Framed Construction New Houses, Barns, Garden Rooms & Extensions Oak Framed Garages, Stabled and agricultural Buildings

Offering a full service from groundworks to a complete turn-key build Unit 5, Frith Farm, Frith Lane, Wickham, Hampshire, PO17 5AW Tel: 01329 835 551 | Mob: 07801 143 986 | Email: danny@hampshireoak.co.uk Visit our website at hampshireoak.co.uk

Laceys Farm, Bramdean Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0JT

TEL: 01962 771800 steve.cann@btconnect.com www.georgecanngardenmachinery.co.uk

Supply and planting large specimen trees and shrubs Espalier, pleached and instant impact hedges All trees and shrubs carefully selected Design, landscaping and ongoing maintenance Free site visit and consultation Bosque is a trading name of Just Limegrass Ltd. Harko: 07710 502798 Tom: 07855 656984 www.bosque international.co.uk

37

F EAT U R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Empty nest syndrome

I

BY CLAIRE THURLOW

t’s hard being a parent.You spend time and energy rearing your little ones, supplying endless meals and keeping them safe, then suddenly it’s time for the youngsters to leave the nest.

For some of our garden birds the period from hatching to departure is a mere two weeks, when the fledglings are encouraged to leave the security of the nest for the potentially perilous wider world.

This week I witnessed the maiden flight of a baby robin. A rotund ball of feathers launched itself from the holly hedge and glided a few metres towards the patio.Things were looking hopeful for a successful, if ungainly, landing, but the trainee flyer misjudged its approach and collided with a ground-floor open window. With a muffled thud it pitched onto the path, and lay motionless on its back, tiny stick legs pointing skyward.

I walked towards the little bird, hoping it might just be stunned, but stopped in my tracks when a parent robin landed close to the offspring’s head. A flurry of agitated twittering issued from Mum/Dad, then it flew away to feed or encourage the other members of the brood.

Baby birds grow up fast, but flight feathers are the last to develop. Although downward flight is possible at around 12 days, upward flight isn’t possible until about day 15.

Robins nest close to the ground in hedges, tree roots or wall cavities, so we’re not talking about a big drop, but predatory magpies, neighbourhood cats and the merciless sparrow-hawk would all make mincemeat of a vulnerable fledgling.

So I stand guard for a bit. Careful not to get too close, in case I alarm the parent bird who keeps up the twittering from the holly hedge. Robins make good parents, and will keep feeding the young on the ground until they can fend for themselves. In fact, they are so

38 38

assiduous, that the RSPB report regular sightings of robins feeding fledglings of other bird species, such as blackbirds and willow warblers.

There is a flicker of movement from the fledgling.The legs twitch and it appears to take a deep breath as it manages to turn itself right-side up. It stands for a moment, blinks, then sits down again. Now that the bird is conscious, I don’t want to scare it and decide to observe from inside the house. Looking down on the robin through the open window, I’m amazed by the complexity of its feathers. From a distance they look drab, although making excellent camouflage on the sandstone flagstones, but up close, the layers of feathers reveal themselves in delicate shades of buff, chestnut and coffee.

It blinks and gives its immature wings an experimental flutter.They’re still rather weedy, but apparently undamaged. Another flutter and the young robin is ready. It risks an unsteady hop across the path, but gains in confidence and speed, jumping along a line of large pebbles. I lean out of the window, still watchful for predators, but the canny youngster has reached the safety of a shady gap beneath an old brick wall.

No doubt the creepy-crawlies which live there will provide a protein-rich snack.

Meanwhile, at the end of the garden, two of our nest boxes have become home to families of blue tits. If I stand too close, a parent bird lands on a low branch and ‘shouts’ at me, but even from an acceptable distance the high-pitched cheeps of baby birds are audible.

There might be as many as a dozen chicks per brood, so it will be getting rather crowded in there. Soon it will be their time to fledge and face that inaugural flight to the lawn below.

VISIT US IN Come & Visit Come & Visit SHIRRELL HEATH Our Yard & Our Yard & MON-FRI: Display Area Display Area GAZEBOS & ACCESSORIES 7.30AM-5PM Live the Dream with a Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services SAT: 8AM-1PM

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youforgotten dream ofal-fresco simply relaxing with a well earned glass of wine, or are hosting that never to be forgotten al-fresco Whether you dream of simply relaxing with a well earned glass of wine, or are hosting thatWhether never to be thatcheddreams or timber into roofed Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services will turn your dreams into party. A thatched or timber roofed Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services willparty. turnA your reality - it just couldn’t be easier.

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JOINERY WORKSHOPS SPECIALISING IN BESPOKE DRIVEWAY GATES, PEDESTRIAN GATES AND OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS weather conditions there may be a chance of water

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Specifically designed accessories ingress. We recommend with the thatched range that you to fit our range of

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Gazebos are available to further enhance your comfort

Gazebos areprotection. available to further enhance your comfort invest in a roof liner to improve water

invest in a roof liner to improve water protection.

and privacy. Available in a choice of terracotta or green.

and privacy. Available in a choice of terracotta or green.

Unless stated all Gazebos come with a deck base, solid and

Unless stated all Gazebos A full set of gazebo accessories can be found on the come insidewith a deck base, solid and

A full set of gazebo accessories can be found on the inside

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level back page of this brochure.

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pre-prepared base is also included in the price.

With all the benefits of a thatched or timber roofed Gazebo

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from Equestrian Fencing - Dreams really can come true!

from Equestrian Fencing - Dreams really can come true!

Tel: 01329 835100 Fax 01329 835157 Email: info@equestrianfencing.com please visit www.equestrianfencing.com

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Equestrian Fencing Services High Ridge Farm, Hospital Road, Shirrell Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2JR

Equestrian Fencing Services High Ridge Farm, Hospital Road, Shirrell Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2JR

Equestrian Fencing Services High Ridge Farm, Hospital Road, Shirrell Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2JR

Equestrian Fencing Services High Ridge Farm, Hospital Road, Shirrell Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2JR

Tel: 01329 835100 Fax 01329 835157 Email: info@equestrianfencing.com please visit www.equestrianfencing.com

Tel: 01329 835100 Fax 01329 835157 Email: info@equestrianfencing.com please visit www.equestrianfencing.com

from Equestrian Fencing - Dreams really can come true!

from Equestrian Fencing - Dreams really can come true!

With all the benefits of a thatched or timber roofed Gazebo

With all the benefits of a thatched or timber roofed Gazebo

pre-prepared base is also included in the price.

pre-prepared base is also included in the price.

back page of this brochure.

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level back page of this brochure.

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level

A full set of gazebo accessories can be found on the inside

Unless stated allfound Gazebos come with a deck base, solid and A full set of gazebo accessories can be on the inside

Unless stated all Gazebos come with a deck base, solid and

and privacy. Available in a choice of terracotta or green.

and privacy. Available in a choice of terracotta or green.

invest in a roof liner to improve water protection.

are available to further enhance your comfort invest in a roof liner to Gazebos improve water protection.

Gazebos are available to further enhance your comfort

ingress. We recommend with the thatched range that you

Specifically designedrange accessories to fit our range of ingress. We recommend with the thatched that you

Specifically designed accessories to fit our range of

weather conditions there may be a chance of water

weather conditions there may be a chance of water

environment. It is important to appreciate that in severe

sustainable forests, that to suit every size and style of garden. environment. It is important to appreciate in severe

sustainable forests, to suit every size and style of garden.

materials. They are designed to provide a shower proof

Gazebos from carefully selected materials. They are designed to provide a shower proof timber from well managed

Gazebos from carefully selected timber from well managed

All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are made

Equestrian Fencing Services offer an extensive range of All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are made

Equestrian Fencing Services offer an extensive range of

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P R OMOT ION ISSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Garden

IT’S THIRSTY WORK FOR A LAWN DURING THE SUMMER; LET’S LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS AND HOW WE CAN HELP.

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in order to correctly diagnose the problem. If you have patches of brown on your lawn speak to a professional who will be able to help put it right. Water in a morning to reduce fungal risk.

Acidity Grass plants require a neutral pH level to enable them to access available nutrients. High pH could well be a contributing factor to grass browning once it becomes stressed from high temperature and low rainfall. Ask a professional to take soil samples and test the pH. If necessary a correctional treatment plan will address the pH balance and give your lawn the opportunity to thrive.

ou may be wondering why your lawn turns brown in the summer and what you can do to help it remain healthy throughout the warmer months.

Drought and heat When temperatures rise and rain doesn’t fall lawn grasses become dormant. Brown grass leaves are a good indicator that your lawn is beginning to suffer from drought. The plant protects itself from death by withdrawing available moisture to the roots, causing leaf die-back.

When moisture returns the lawn will soon recover, however you may want to water your lawn so you can enjoy its lush and healthy appearance throughout the summer season.

Insects Lawns support a variety of insects, most are beneficial.Your lawn could be under attack from its two greatest pests. The first is the chafer grub; the young of the cock-chafer beetle. The second is the leather jacket; the young of the crane fly. Both of these pests damage the roots of grass plants and can be a cause of die-back during times of heat and water stress, when the lawn struggles to compete with its hungry nemesis. Correct nutrition and treatment plans will keep this problem under control.

When and how to water The biggest mistake made when watering a lawn is too-little, toooften. To help your lawn to become more drought resistant add enough water to encourage a deep root run so grass is more capable of finding water in the soil when things dry up. A good nutritional plan will also promote healthy root growth reducing the need to water. To green up a browning lawn add one inch of water once a week. If you simply want to ensure you lawn doesn’t die completely during a severe drought add half-an-inch of water every two weeks. To measure how much you are watering simply place a container on the lawn under the sprinkler spray and time how long it takes to fill. Repeat that time as you move the sprinkler around your lawn.

Alternatives to watering Science is a wonderful thing and a number of products have been developed for the management of tennis courts, golf and bowling greens. These products, not available on the high-street, can help to improve the water retaining ability of your lawn. Help to make grass plants more drought resistant, and greatly improve the appearance of your lawn during dry periods. Speak to a lawn care professional for more information; you may be surprised how effective and affordable this is compared to running up a large water meter bill.

Fungal disease Warmth and moisture can help promote fungal attack of your lawn grasses. Brown patches on your lawn may be an indicator that your lawn is under attack. Watering and moisture from dew add to the problem. Early diagnosis followed by the relevant treatment is essential.

It’s important to examine the area of grass around that which is dying

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Doggy doo – doggy don’t!

If a dog uses your lawn as a toilet then the nitrogen and other compounds in the dog urine can cause grass scorch. This is especially noticeable during periods of dry weather as the rain isn’t washing the urine through the soil and diluting it. There are products on the market to help reduce the impact of dog urine on your lawn if you think it might be a part of the problem.

What’s hiding beneath?

Do you really know what’s below that area of brown grass in your lawn? Might there be something under the surface preventing roots from become well-established? At other times of year the grass plants can cope with these obstructions, but once you introduce the stresses of heat and drought only those plants that are healthy and receiving the right nutrition will survive.

Mowing and nutrition Mowing your lawn at the correct height throughout the season will greatly help it when the weather presents challenging conditions.

If your lawn is correctly mowed, has a weed and feed treatment programme in place and has fungal issues treated correctly to ensure it is healthy, then it will be capable of coping with the stresses of drought and heat. A lawn that is already suffering from stress before the challenging weather arrives will fair less well. Speak to a lawn care professional to ensure your lawn looks its best throughout the year and is something you can enjoy and be proud of.

Ian Kenyon owns Shrekfeet Lawn and Garden Services. He is always happy to offer friendly, professional advice and help 01489 339188, 07739 789483 www.shrekfeet.com

G A R DEN I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

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G A R DEN I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Garden

GARDEN CLUB PRESIDENT PRESENTS SPECIAL AWARD

BISHOPS WALTHAM GARDENING CLUB 62ND ANNUAL OPEN SHOW

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avid Green has been a member of the Meon Valley Garden Club for over 60 years and first joined the committee in 1959. Whilst he has held many posts over the years including Chair and Vice- Chair, he has been President for over 20 years and is still going strong.

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ur 62nd Annual Open Show this year again features a ‘Create a Lego Monster’ competition for youngsters.

Building on last year’s success, we look forward to even more junior entries on Saturday 21st July at the Jubilee Hall, Little Shore Lane, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1ED this year. Despite the early Spring weather making growing conditions extremely difficult, things have almost returned to normal and later planted crops have caught up -proving that warmer soil, not early planting, usually does the trick! So, if you make it, bake it or grow it, then SHOW IT! With over 100 classes, ranging from Lego, to Sugar Craft, Floral Art and Photography as well as the more usual Cakes, Jam and, of course, Fruit and Vegetables, there really does seem a class to suit most tastes, so pick up your brochure in Bishops Waltham from either ‘Newtown Newsmart’ Winchester Road or the Post Office in the High Street.

Entry to all classes is free for BW Gardening Club members and all children, and it will cost just 20p per entry for non-members.

In continued support of the club, David and his wife Tricia have decided to donate a vase as the latest trophy for presentation at the Annual Summer Show. The David Green Special Award will be presented to the member with the most points across the whole show.

Its inaugural presentation will be at this year’s Summer Show on Sunday 22nd July.

Originally from Hamble, David now lives in Swanmore in the family home built by his father in the 1930’s. His love of gardening developed at Highfield School in Liphook during the Second World War where he grew carrots and strawberries, along with other tasty crops, to supplement his ‘ration’ diet which included kipper sausages!

David reflects on the many friends, hard work, much pleasure and rewards that gardening has given him over the years. “I especially enjoy giving a cup, often for the first time, to a slightly bewildered youngster with the admiring parents watching”, he recalls. He loves growing sweet peas, the freshness and perfume of the midsummer roses and the occasions when his Cybidian orchids flower in profusion, something he rarely achieves with his parsnips and melons.

The show is held at the Meon Hall at Pound Hill and starts at 1.30pm. In addition to the hall of exhibits which include flowers, vegetables and handicrafts there is a raffle, produce and plant sale, refreshments with scrumptious home baked cakes and scones as well as a variety of outdoor stalls and entertainment. There is ample parking and entry is £1 with accompanied children admitted free.

Parking at the Jubilee Hall is free, and refreshments will be available. With entry to the Show at 2pm just £1 per adultchildren free- our show benches should be full, to make for an afternoon of interest, fun and talking points.

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For further details see the club website at www.droxfordweb. co.uk. For those wishing to enter exhibits in the show, the full schedule and entry forms will be available to download from the website from 1st July 2018.

COMMU N IT Y HOME ISSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Community BISHOP'S WALTHAM IN BLOOM ANNUAL FLORAL COMPETITION COMES TO TOWN THIS MONTH

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ishop's Waltham in Bloom annual floral competition returns again this July, which is your chance to showcase your garden or the street you where you live.

The categories are the same as in previous years • Most florally attractive street • Most florally attractive part street (a group of 3 or more houses) • Most attractive front garden • Most attractive hanging basket on private premises • Most attractive commercial frontage • Most attractive hanging basket on a commercial property

Judging day is Wednesday 18th July. The two judges are from elsewhere in Hampshire and have judged for us before. Prize winners will be announced at our Annual BBQ on Sunday 19th August. All entrants to the competition are invited.

The annual floral competition is not all that Bishop's Waltham in Bloom do. We plant and maintain all the flower beds, tubs and hanging baskets in the village.

Most of these are sponsored by businesses and individuals. The sponsorship pays for the cost of the plants and towards the watering.

This is done on a daily basis from June through to September and we employ someone who waters early each morning. The baskets and planters are positioned in the early summer and remain in place until the autumn All flower beds need to be maintained throughout the year. They are planted up towards the end of May and then dead headed and weeded throughout the summer by a small team of volunteers. Plants are then removed in late October or in November.

We are trying to increase the number of permanent plants in the flower beds. Permanent planting means that the beds do not look too barren in the winter and early spring. We will always allow room for colourful plants throughout the summer. bishopswalthaminbloom.org.uk 44

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F EAT U R E I SSU E 1 41 | JU LY

Saxons in the Meon Valley S

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG RETURNS TO MEONSTOKE THIS JULY

axons in the Meon Valley started when the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in 2012 awarded the Friends of Corhampton Saxon Church a grant to help the communities of the Meon Valley bring to life the fascinating story of the Saxons in the Meon Valley.

Our charity and our community have since been awarded additional funding and support from the South Downs National Park Authority, Winchester & Hampshire Councils, Corhampton & Meonstoke Parish Councils. The William Collins Trust, the universities of Winchester, Cambridge and Nottingham, the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society, The Council for British Archaeology, the Robert Kiln Charitable Trust.

The excavation days are Tuesday 3rd - Saturday 7th July, Tuesday 10th - Saturday 14th July, Tuesday 17th - Saturday 21st July & Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th July.You can book your place online here www.ticketsource.co.uk/mvahg. Please note, you can book a maximum of 3 days.

Along with Meon Valley Archaeology & Heritage Group, we have been able to educate local people on local history. This has encouraged us to engage people of all ages from the ten villages of the Meon Valley in exploring and learning about the Saxons who lived in the Valley for six centuries, from when the Romans left England in the 5th century, to its conquest in the 1066 by the Normans.

The dig was featured in the BBC4 Digging For Britain programme broadcast in November 2017 and demonstrates the importance of the site. This summer we will be extending the ‘Temple Site’ and hope to discover further rooms of the bath house. In addition, we also plan to excavate two Neolithic barrows nearby, which were discovered by MVAHG members during a training course conducted by Historic England back in October 2014.

We are exploring, learning about and recreating the Saxon way of life and culture; remembering what they have done for us, celebrating their achievements and having fun!

This July, the Meon Valley Archaeology & Heritage Group and Winchester University are organising a dig for a third year. Our work continues following the excavation of June 2016 and July 2017 when a team of Winchester University Archaeology students and over 100 volunteers from villages in the Meon Valley and beyond took part in the excavation of a site near the village of Meonstoke.

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The site was discovered through a geophysical survey by the MVAHG in 2015. The hexagonal foundations of a Roman temple were unearthed during the 2016 and 2017 digs, together with rooms of a bath house. More than 100 volunteers have participated over the two summers, working alongside Winchester University undergraduates.

‘This dig demonstrates that even a time period as well documented as Roman Britain can still be rewritten by new archaeological discoveries.

It’s a wonderful temple site… and a very unusual hexagonal building.’

- Professor Alice Roberts, BBC4 Digging for Britain www.saxonsinthemeonvalley.org.uk

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H OME I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

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F EAT U R E ISSU E 34 | J U LY

Extinct Butterfly Returns to England

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BACK FROM THE BRINK CONSERVATION PROJECT

previously extinct butterfly will fly in its former English stronghold today for the first time in more than 40 years as part of the ambitious conservation project, Back from the Brink. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, working in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) has released Chequered Skipper butterflies at a secret location in Rockingham Forest, Northamptonshire, as part of the project.

It is anticipated that these butterflies will mate and lay the foundations of a new English population of Chequered Skipper in the forest.

The Back from the Brink project, made possible thanks to the National Lottery and People’s Postcode Lottery, aims to save 20 species from extinction and benefit over 200 more through 19 projects that span England. The Chequered Skipper, although always scarce, became extinct in England in 1976 as a result of habitat loss due to changes in woodland management that saw a decline in coppicing and management of long, narrow tracks (rides) and an increase in conifer plantations which were unsuitable for the butterfly. In England the butterfly was historically found in a band of woodlands and limestone grassland from Oxfordshire to Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

Although the Chequered Skipper is found in parts of Scotland, conservationists always hoped to reintroduce it to England if suitable habitat conditions could be recreated.

Reintroduction trials took place in the mid-1990s with the data gathered helping to provide vital information ahead of today’s major reintroduction attempt. The Back from the Brink project has enabled parts of the butterfly’s former stronghold Rockingham Forest to be restored to ideal conditions with wide, flower-filled rides. Earlier this week Butterfly Conservation ecologists travelled to Belgium to collect Chequered Skipper adults from the Fagne-Famenne region in the south of the country, where they are widespread, with the help of Belgian experts from the Research Institute for Nature and Forest and the Département de L’Etude du Milieu Naturel et Agricole.

The butterflies, a mix of males and females, were then taken via Eurostar across the Channel yesterday and transferred to Rockingham where they were placed in release cages overnight ahead of today’s release.

Today’s reintroduction is the first of a number of reintroductions that will take place at sites across Rockingham Forest over the next three years with the hope of building a large, resilient and sustainable population of Chequered Skipper across the whole landscape. Adults were chosen from Belgium rather than Scotland as the Belgian Chequered Skippers are found in a similar landscape to Rockingham Forest and share the same caterpillar foodplant, False Brome.

The reintroduction forms part of the Roots of Rockingham project which is working across a network of sites to restore the forest to its former glory helping many woodland species including the Willow Tit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Barbastelle Bat. The project will be closely monitored to assess its success in the early stages, with the aim that in one or two years, once the population is secure, the public will be able to visit and enjoy seeing Chequered Skippers fly in England again.

The reintroduction project is taking place in partnership with the Forestry Commission who in recent years has been managing their forests to help the reintroduction of the butterfly.

Forestry Commission Environment and Heritage Manager for the Central England District, Adrienne Bennett, said: “I know I speak on behalf of our whole Ecology Team and the local Foresters when I say that we are really pleased that we are able to work so closely with the Back from the Brink project on this species reintroduction programme.

“Our forests are actively managed, not only as a source of timber for UK industry and as a place for people to enjoy recreation activities within, but also as valuable wildlife habitats.”

Back from the Brink Communications Manager James HardingMorris said: “It’s fantastic to see one of our Back from the Brink projects make such great strides towards restoring a species to England.

“It will be a few years before we know how much of a success this introduction has been, but during that time Back from the Brink will be working to save hundreds of other threatened species. There will be events, training and volunteer opportunities across the country so that everyone can get involved in saving England’s most threatened species from extinction.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BACK FROM THE BRINK CONSERVATION PROJECT VISIT: NATUREBFTB.CO.UK 50

H OME I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

HAMPSHIRE

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WHAT WE OFFER We offer a complete project management service including: A Professional Tiling service, Qualified and fully insured Electrical and Gas Engineers, Plumbing, plastering and small building works.

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COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Clubs & Societies O Winchester & Solent Branch of the Cartophilic Society (Cigarette Cards)65+ For more information contact Keith Miller: 01243 865147

ARTS & CRAFTS O Bishop's65+ Waltham Photographic Society For more information visit: bishopswalthamphotosociety.co.uk O Curdridge Amateur Drama Group For more information please see www.curdridgedrama.co.uk O Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society For more information please ring 07701 044563 or email caroline-powell@live.com

65+

O The Solent Aviation Art Society For more information ring: 01489 578420

HORTICULTURE O Bishops Waltham Gardening Club For more information please see www.bwgc.org.uk O East Meon Garden Club For more information please call Pamela Peacock: 01730 823662 O Meon Valley Garden Club For more information please visit: www.meon-valley-garden-club. co.uk O West Meon Garden Club For more information please call Yvonne Noble: 01730 829050

O Bishop's Waltham Gateway Club For more information please contact Vee or Brian on 01489 895767.

O Bishop's Waltham Rotary Club For more information please visit: bishopswalthamrotary.org.uk.

O Meon Ladies For more information please email Sarah Snowdon on: sarah. snowdon@live.com O Meon Valley Lions Club For more information: 0845 833 7812 or visit: www. meonvalleylionsclub.org.uk 52

65+

MUSIC & DANCE O Bishop’s Waltham Library Toddler Time Every Wednesday during Term Time. 10.30am – 11am. Stories, rhymes and simple craft for the under 5’s

O West Meon Ladies Hockey Club For more information ring - 07786 830881 or email: jocopsey10@gmail.com or see Facebook- West Meon Ladies Hockey Club

65+ SENIOR CITIZENS

SPORTS CLUBS O Bishop's Waltham Badminton Club For further information visit: www.bishopswalthambc.com O Meon Valley Bowling Club For more information Tel: 01489 891871, email: meonbowls@live.co.uk www.meonvalleybowls.org.uk O South Downs Nordic Walking For more information please call: 07879 564990 or visit www. southdownsnordicwalking.co.uk

65+ O Swanmore Lawn

OTHER CLUBS & SOCIETIES O Bishop's Waltham Bridge Club For more information contact: Roger Robinson: 01489 877504 or Phil White: 01489 896877.

O The New Music Makers SATB Choir For more information contact Lin on 023 8045 4285 or visit: www.newmusicmakers.com O Singing for Fun For more information contact Annabel: 01489 877130 or 07732 329792.

Tennis Club For more information please visit: https://clubspark.lta.org. uk/swanmorelawntennisclub or contact: sec@swanmoretennis. co.uk.

O Meon Valley Active Retirment Association For more information visit: mvara.btck.co.uk O Meon Valley Carers Group For more information ring: 01489 895444 on Monday between 9.15 & 13.15 for details.

O Zero 4 Probus Club For more information contact Malcolm Watson: 01489 891875 or 07926 925466. https:// zero4probusclub.weebly.com O Waltham Priory Probus Club For more information please call Janet Gibson on 01489 783386.

O Hambledon Folk Club For more information visit: www.hambledonfolkclub.com folkclubhambledon@hotmail. co.uk O Meon Voices Choir For more information please contact Phil: 01489 579078, coundleypj@yahoo.com or Maureen 01489890335 alan@agbuckland.plus.com.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ANY OF THESE LISTINGS?

65+

Then visit www.forumpublications.co.uk.

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COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Community

WINCHESTER HAT FAIR 2018

conceived as a busking festival, Hat Fair takes its name from the tradition of the audience showing their appreciation by putting money in the hat at the end of the show. These days most of the festival’s artists are paid a fee to perform for free to our audiences.

However, we still uphold the hatting tradition by inviting a dozen or so of the world’s best street performers to ‘hat’ at the festival each year – we offer a contribution to their travel costs and provide food and accommodation for them during the festival, but they are primarily paid through the generosity of our audiences.

In 2013 Hat Fair became part of Live Theatre Winchester Trust, which also runs the Theatre Royal Winchester. Bringing together a historic theatre and an outdoor arts programme in creative collaboration has allowed us to develop our artistic ambitions relishing the opportunities this presents for encouraging talent and championing quality arts.

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With the introduction in 2015 of our new site-specific Christmas festival, Woolly Hat Fair, our vision now encompasses a year-round programme of cultural celebration around the city and beyond.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy at each year’s festival, and best of all, it’s absolutely FREE to attend!

at Fair is the UK’s longest running festival of outdoor arts. Founded in 1974 by Jonathan Kay, Hat Fair inspires and is inspired by the people, heritage and public spaces within the city of Winchester.

Our aim is to shine a light on the city, of Winchester by transforming the everyday into the extraordinary. Initially

Friday & Saturday – Two jam-packed dates of arts and culture all around Winchester city centre.

Sunday – All-day family picnic at North Walls Recreation Ground, with some of the world’s most spectacular street performers.

For more information visit: hatfair.co.uk

DELIVERY PERSON REQUIRED FOR THE

MEON VALLEY FORUM IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS

WICKHAM TITCHFIELD FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THESE ROUNDS, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH

TEL: 01962 735137 EDITOR@FORUMPUBLICATIONS.CO.UK

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H OME I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Choosing your residential property refurbishment partner is a big decision. We aim to ensure that the refurbishment of your home centres around you and your individual needs. With our extensive range of services, you can be sure we have plenty of options for you.

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F EAT U R E I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

THE FORUM TALKS WITH

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The Wilderness College

here are times when you stumble across something that so captivates you that you are stunned you hadn’t realized or recognized it before, and not only that but you feel slightly embarrassed about the preconceptions you held.What exactly is a wilderness college? A new age strange, even suspicious, weird way of educating?

Not a bit of it, all of those notions are completely unfounded and wholly inappropriate.

Director Bobby Acworth

The Wilderness College, based at the Matterley Estate near Winchester, has been running for two years in the school holidays and weekends. Now, thanks to the generosity of Minna and Peveril Bruce, owners of the Matterley Estate, the Wilderness College has been given the space and facilities to be able to run a college for one day a week on a Thursday for the last six months and this will extend to two days from September.

As a parent of children that have found mainstream schooling at times challenging, I often wondered if there wasn’t a different way in which the curriculum could be delivered.

Of course there are all sorts of options but often our insecurities regarding the way the system works means we want something that runs alongside that recognizable very mainstream education that we have issues with; it’s a real dilemma.

The Wilderness College is no amateur outward-bound exercise but rather offers a hands on, collegiate education.

Teaching professionals with many years experience and who are still working within state education run the college.These are teachers who know the current curriculum inside out but completely understand that mainstream teaching methods do not suit every child. In fact for some children these methods can become overwhelming, causing decreasing confidence and affecting their ability to learn.

The Director at the Wilderness College is Bobby Acworth who has been teaching at GCSE and A level across a broad spectrum of subjects for over thirty years.

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“ We have students aged from ten to sixteen.

They benefit hugely from the outdoor teaching environment simply because they have room to move and learn by doing! They have felt constrained within a classroom setting - having to sit still in a chair and study, they absolutely cannot concentrate under those circumstances.

Some find the noise levels problematical but there are many reasons why this method of teaching can really help some young people.”

Forward thinking mainstream schools are now realizing the numerous benefits of educating ‘off site’ allowing some pupils to study the curriculum at a Wilderness College for one day per week.

Bobby explains that aside from delivering education in the open environment the ethos of the Wilderness College is built around the ‘7 Cs’ that can be found in Bill Lucas and Guy Claxton’s (Winchester University) book, ‘Educating Ruby’.- Confidence. Curiosity. Collaboration.

Communication. Creativity. Commitment. Craftsmanship.

I chat to one of the students who at fourteen is committed to becoming a scientist with a passion for chemistry.

“I love learning here, this place allows me to be myself ” Science teacher Tom works in a Hampshire state school and volunteers at the Wilderness College in his own time. He was engaged in conversation about fungi with a small group of students.What was immediately apparent was his passion for his subject, which was utterly infectious; the students were totally engaged, curious for more information but also had the confidence to verbalize the knowledge they already had.

As other subjects; English, cookery, team building and crafts took place within a considerate and collaborative atmosphere the students were both captivated and deep in conversation with both the teachers and each other.

The Wilderness College provides a fabulous environment for learning; it is indeed a school without walls.

For more information visit: www.thewildernesscollege.co.uk or contact Bobby on: 07895 560906

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£1695 £1946 £252 £2827 £3253 £426 £3960 £4555 £595 £5095 £5860 £765 £6225 £7160 £935 £7360 £8465 £1105 £8495 £9760 £1265

IWS customers can benefit from Over 2300 Checkatrade reviews 10 Year insurance backed guarantees on all products A rated Triple or double glazing Huge range of products available in PVCu, timber, aluminium and timber alternative Stunning showrooms in Fareham, Chichester & Southampton Advanced weather seals on windows and doors High security door locks Repair and maintenance service Unrivalled experience and commitment to quality

01489 858090 ®

Any 3

Any 9

Hurry - Offers must end 30th July, Don’t miss out!

Visit our showrooms at: Market Road - Chichester, Fort Fareham - Newgate Lane & Park Gate - Southampton

Plus great deals available on

Prices † INC VAT

INC VAT

www.idealwindowsolutions.co.uk Unity Building, Fort Fareham Newgate Lane, PO14 1AH

These offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Standard product and standard obscured glass only, upgrades to other colours, and glass choices available at an extra cost. ^Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a Credit Broker and not a Lender.

Finance is available on orders over £1300. Finance available subject to status. IWS reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 3 4 | JU LY

Community WEST MEON THEATRE IN A TENT PRESENTS NELL GWYNN

LUXURY FLO ORING SPECIALIST

T: 01962 735715

ENQUIRIES@EDDOLLSCARPETS.COM 30 BROAD STREET, ALRESFORD HAMPSHIRE, SO24 9AQ

Whatever you want to store...

W

est Meon Theatre in a Tent is proud to present Nell Gwynn by Jessica Swale on the 11th - 15th July at 8pm with a matinee on 14th July at 2.30pm. The performance will be in the Indian Style tent in the park of West Meon House opposite The Thomas Lord.

Setting the Scene

London 1660. King Charles II has exploded onto the scene with a love of all things loud, extravagant and sexy. And at Drury Lane, a young Nell Gwynn is causing stirrings amongst the theatregoers.

Nell Gwynn won best new comedy in the 2016 Olivier Awards, was first produced at The Globe in 2015, then went to the West End for a short run before a national tour and finally back to The Glove in 2017. The Times described it as 'An absolute treat, a bawdy, witty, engaging romp'.

Pre-theatre suppers in The Thomas Lord (01730 829244). These can be booked from 5.30pm with last reservation at 7pm. 2 courses - £18, 3 courses - £23.

Buy tickets for the show online at www.westmeontheatre.co.uk 58

Whatever your needs, long or short term

...for whatever reason – house sale and purchase not coinciding, travelling, bereavement, house building work, decorating or even ‘de-cluttering’ to sell your house more quickly – we offer a friendly, flexible and secure facility.

Barn Store is a rurally-based, family run business covering the whole of the Meon Valley area. We offer all the features associated with the national chains, from high-tech security to hassle-free 24/7 access.

For more information, visit our website:

www.barn-store.co.uk or give us a call quoting FORUM-MV: Fareham:

02392 384888

Offwell Farm, Southwick, Fareham PO17 6DX

Alresford:

01962 771993 Holden Farm, Cheriton, Alresford SO23 0NX

SOLENT GARAGE DOORS THE PREMIER GARAGE DOOR SPECIALIST

GARAGE DOORS SUPPLIED AND FITTED • MAINTENANCE FREE DOORS • UP AND OVER DOORS • ROLLER DOORS • SIDE HUNG DOORS • SECTIONAL DOORS • AUTOMATION TO NEW AND EXISTING DOORS • REPAIRS: SPRINGS, CABLES, LOCKS, ETC FOR ALL MAKES OF DOOR

VAT FREE ON ALL NEW DOORS

Tel: 01489 786273 Mobile: 07500 926558

solentgaragedoors@yahoo.com www.solentgarage-doors.co.uk UNIT 5A BRIDGE FARM INDUSTRIES, CURBRIDGE, SO30 2HB

SPRING INTO SUMMER WITH A BEAUTIFUL NEW KITCHEN FROM SEARLE & TAYLOR

WE ARE OFFERING YOU A COMPLIMENTARY GIFT OF A QUOOKER FLEX BOILING WATER TAP FOR EVERY KITCHEN ORDER OVER £20,000* Order by 30th September 2018 WORTH

£1,150

As seen on TV, the Quooker Flex is the world’s first 100°C boiling water tap, equipped with a flexible pull-out hose for hot, cold and filtered water. From now until 30th September 2018 we are offering a complimentary polished chrome Quooker Flex tap with a PRO3-VAQ tank with a combined value of £1,150 for every kitchen order over £20,000*.

For more details please visit searle-taylor.co.uk ROPLEY SHOWROOM Searle & Taylor House, The Dene, Ropley, Hampshire SO24 0BH T: 01962 850 851

WINCHESTER SHOWROOM 19 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9EB T: 01962 850 300

*Terms and conditions apply