HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATIONAL PARKS!
South Downs announce inspiring initiative to help 75 schools
NEWS & EVENTS FOR JANUARY
Find out what's going on in the Meon Valley
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Sausage & Spinach Pasta Bake
HAMPSHIRE & ISLE OF WIGHT TRUST
Environment FeatureIncredible Umbellifers
STYLE ˙ INTERIORS ˙ HEALTH & BEAUTY ˙ INTERVIEWS ˙ FOOD & DRINK ˙ ENTERTAINMENT ˙ EVENTS
Bishop's Waltham – Price Guide £485,000 Freehold
Attractive period style home, lying in a great residential location within a convenient distance of Bishop's Waltham town centre. The property has been extended to provide impressive family living accommodation which is stylishly presented with a traditional sitting room, spacious, open plan kitchen/dining/living room and cloakroom. Three good sized bedrooms and bathroom. Front driveway parking. Good sized rear garden and a garden room/office.
Bishop's Waltham – Price Guide £430,000 Freehold
Super detached family home, lying in a desirable residential cul-de-sac location within a convenient walk of Bishop's Waltham town centre. Inside, there is a sitting room, dining area and conservatory. Kitchen and ground floor cloakroom. Upstairs, four bedrooms and family bathroom. Outside, a pretty well stocked front garden with a driveway alongside the house, providing off road parking and access to the attached garage. Enclosed garden to the rear, with well stocked borders and a garden store.
Spacious and unique home, nestling within beautifully landscaped gardens in the heart of Swanmore Village. The accommodation is well presented and offers a lovely sense of space and interest with some bespoke features which include an attractive split level entrance hall. Spacious sitting rm and dining rm, conservatory. Kitchen/breakfast room and utility. Good sized main bedroom with en suite. Two further bedrooms and bathroom. ground driveway providing ample parking, garage and a useful workshop/office/outbuilding.
Impressively situated country home, set within a small village hamlet in the heart of the picturesque Meon Valley. The property nestles within approximately 0.49 of an acre of established grounds and enjoys some lovely rural aspects and countryside views. Inside, the house offers a great combination of versatile space and practical accommodation, which has been perfectly designed to enjoy family living, entertaining and the surrounding views of the garden and beyond. There are five bedrooms. Double Oak framed car barn with office/studio over.
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• Change all your drawers, doors, panels and plinths
• New worktops can be fitted
• Amendments to existing cabinetry and layout can be made
• Built in ovens can be changed to eye level ovens
• No one will know its a makeover, it will look like a brand new kitchen
• All doors made to order to any size
Our head fitters are ex-shipwright joiners so you are guaranteed excellent quality installation.
Ben, Owner Uk Happy Kitchens Ltd
• Change as much or as little as you you'd like
• Free no obligation quotation
• Free design service for new projects
We also design and install bespoke new kitchens, bedrooms, boot rooms, media walls, living room storage.
Whether you want to just change your doors, or change everything you can see on the face, we can utilise your existing units, and change all the trims and panels, just like in the photos above, yes that really was a makeover, with a couple of small changes. Call us today for a free of charge home visit.
Happy Kitchens are quite unique as we are able to offer top quality products, available in any size, fitted by the best professionals in the business. Change your kitchen and bedroom with a makeover or design and install a new kitchen and bedroom, whichever suits your needs or price range.
8 year winner of the Best of Houzz award and one of the highest reviewed kitchen companies on Houzz in the UK
• Change as much or as little as you you'd like
• Free no obligation quotation
• Free design service for new projects
In 2008 over 85 people attended a meeting to discuss the issues affecting the Meon and what was needed in the future. This impressive turnout of local stakeholders including farmers, residents, fishermen, councillors and non governmental organisations highlighted many issues including water abstraction, urban and watercourse development, effluent discharges, disturbance, intensive agriculture, flood defences and habitat mismanagement, as well as showing clear support for a new coordinated approach through a partnership body.
In response to this community voice and in recognition of the importance of this valley, the pressures it faces and the lack of a ‘dedicated champion’ that works beyond statutory duty, the Meon Valley Partnership was established. The partners are already active in the catchment and this Agreement will allow a more strategic approach to be taken to make these efforts more effective. Better co-ordination will give better value and results to the people and wildlife that use, rely on and enjoy the valley. The Meon Valley Partnership will be an umbrella title for many smaller projects within the valley or influence the development of larger projects such as the South Downs Way ahead Nature Improvement Area.
To provide a co-ordinated, strategic approach to conserving and enhancing the Meon Valley from source to sea.
That will be delivered via the following aims:
1. To protect and enhance the Meon Valley’s landscape, biological and cultural heritage and the ecosystem services that are delivered.
2. To develop, deliver and support positive, practical action on the ground.
3. To liaise with local people to encourage sound use of the valley and foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for the Meon.
4. To raise the profile and understanding of the river, its valley and the ecosystem services that they deliver.
5. To develop a monitoring programme and a sustainable long-term strategy that looks beyond the MVP.
Members of the Parternship:
The Environment Agency: https://www.gov.uk/government/ organisations/environment-agency
The Wild Trout Trust: https://www.wildtrout.org/ Hampshire and Isle of Wight wildlife trust: https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/ Natural England: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ natural-england
Portsmouth Water: https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/ The Clean Water Partnership: https://thecleanwaterpartnership.com/
The South Downs National Park Authority: https://www.southdowns. gov.uk/
Winchester City Council: https://www.winchester.gov.uk/
And soon the Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust: https://www. wcsrt.org.uk/
As well as all those that work with and volunteer for the sake of The River!
To contact the Meon Valley Partnership please email info@ meonvalleypartnership.org.uk
2025 will see the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill. Whilst the Bill is still being debated in Parliament, it is widely expected to be implemented by the Summer of 2025. Current landlords will be affected by the changes and may need to take action. We are here to help!
The Bill will mark the demise of the fixed term tenancy agreement with a reform to periodic tenancies (including existing agreements). Landlords will not be able to give notice within the first 12 months of the commencement of a tenancy and there will be a change in notice periods. Rent increases will need to be evidence based, bidding above the advertised rent will be illegal, and all landlords will have to sign up with a regulatory body and register each rental property on a central data base – yet to be assigned.
The Section 21, used to gain vacant possession, will be replaced by an amended Section 8 and, whilst the finer points of the legislation are yet to be agreed, the reality of the new Bill is that there will be a change from a discretionary to a more fact-based system.
To best manage the transfer our experienced team will work closely with our Landlords. We will advise wherever possible that a fully managed service (fees currently tax deductible) is implemented as regular management visits, regulatory compliance and comprehensive record keeping will be essential in ensuring that significant penalties are not incurred.
For more information on the Bill https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-bill/82ffc7fb-64b0-4af5a72e-c24701a5f12a
Kate Porter Sales
katep@countryhousecompany.co.uk
Claudia Hunt Lettings
claudia@countryhousecompany.co.uk
Kate Morton Management
kate@countryhousecompany.co.uk
For advice on how we can help you as a landlord to best navigate the new system contact: Kate Morton or Claudia Hunt on: 01730 771222 www.countryhousecompany.co.uk
The new year is a great time to review your finances and make sure everything is running smoothly. With inflation at a high and taxes on the rise, the changes you make today could have a big impact on the health of yourfinances in 20 and beyond.
1.Assess your savings
If you already have sufficient cash savings, you may want to consider investing in the stock market for your longterm savings objectives. While volatile, history shows that equities tend to perform better than cash over the long term.
2.Revisit your financial goals
Consider what you would like to achieve over the short, medium, and long term. Adjust the amount you are saving and where you are saving accordingly.
3.Check your pension is on track
Understanding how much money you’ve saved up in all your pension pots will help you work out whether you’re on track to achieve your retirement ambitions.
4.Make the most of your tax allowances
Using your ISA, capital gains tax and dividend allowances each tax year could help you grow your money more tax efficiently, maximising the value to you and your family.
5.Review your protection
Having the right protection is crucial to ensure you and your family’s finances hold up in the event of unexpected illness or death.
6.Get some financial advice
Understanding where to invest, how much you need to save for retirement and what to do to secure your family’s financial future can be really difficult on your own.
We live and work local to you. We would be delighted to help you and your family achieve financial clarity and stability.
Alice Proctor
Investment
ManagerAssistant Director
E: alice.proctor@brewin.co.uk
Financial Planner
Divisional Director
E: @brewin.co.uk
46 Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8RY
T: 01962 798000
W: www.brewin.co.uk/our-offices/winchester
The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy.
‘Using a settlement agreement to bring an employment relationship to an end, and effectively wipe the slate clean, can be very useful. But, to start the conversation, employers need to be able to speak off the record,’ says Linda Wilson, Partner and Head of Employment with MacDonald Oates. ‘There are ways that this can be done, but it’s not as simple as just stating something is off the record –employers need to take care and be aware of a few limitations.’
What is a settlement agreement?
A settlement agreement is a binding agreement to waive most contractual and statutory employment rights against the employer, usually in exchange for a payment and sometimes other benefits such as an agreed reference. To protect the employee, where there may be an imbalance of power, the agreement is only binding if certain conditions are met. Most significantly, unless the agreement is reached through Acas, the employee must receive advice from a lawyer or an appropriately qualified advisor.
Benefits of a settlement agreement
Dismissing an employee can be fraught with risk. Employers need to have a legally sound reason and must follow a fair dismissal process. If not, an employee with more than two years’ service could successfully bring a claim for unfair dismissal. Employees do not need two years’ service if they can establish that something else was at play, such as discrimination or if the employer found the employee difficult because they ‘blew the whistle’. Using a settlement agreement can avoid the cost, delay, hassle, and risk of instigating dismissal procedures. Unless certain rights are carved out, a suitably worded settlement agreement should prevent the employee from bringing claims against the employer.
Benefits of ‘off the record’ discussions
Talking ‘off the record’ allows for a frank discussion without the risk of it being used in evidence before a court or employment tribunal. Otherwise, if the employer asks the employee whether they would be interested in an agreed exit, the employee could resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal. Alternatively, if the employee is dismissed further down the line, the employee could use this conversation in an unfair dismissal claim to show that the performance management process was a sham and the employer ‘wanted them out’ all along.
When are conversations ‘off the record’?
If there is a dispute with the employee, the ‘without prejudice’
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rule may apply to protect communications genuinely aimed at resolving the dispute through settlement. This could apply to all types of employment claims, but does not apply in exceptional circumstances such as where the communications involve fraud or blackmail. If there is no dispute with the employee, and provided certain conditions are met, an employer can have what are known as ‘protected conversations’ without the risk of the conversation coming back to haunt them.
A word of warning; this protection only applies to unfair dismissal claims and discussions before the employee has left. If the employee has other potential claims, such as for discrimination, the conversation could form evidence in a tribunal. The protection also does not apply if the discussions involve ‘improper behaviour’.
We can talk you through the timing and what you need to cover to make sure conversations are ‘off the record’. There are ways to efficiently bring an employment relationship to an end and to keep risks to a minimum, but there are traps for the unwary. This is why we recommend you take legal advice and we can help with this. For further information, please contact Linda in the employment team on 01730 268211 or email lsw@macdonaldoates.co.uk
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
Facsimile: 01730 261232
Facsimile: 01730 816016 Petersfield Telephone: 01730 268211
Midhurst Telephone: 01730 816711
This fabulous amount is an astonishing £1.1million MORE than the NGS raised in 2023. Of course that means we really have have to pull out all the stops in 2025 to try to surpass this figure. As always the lion's share (£2.550,000) goes to our main six nursing and health charities - some the Countries bast loved - The Queen’s Nursing Institute: Marie Curie: Macmillan Cancer Support: Hospice UK: Carers Trust and Parkinson’s UK:
This year we have added a very significant beneficiary to our list. The John King Brain Tumour Foundation. John King was an extremely popular chef with an international reputation. In 2015 John was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour, and sadly passed away in November 2016. John was treated at the Atkinson Morley Wing of St George’s Hospital in London. During John’s treatment he and his wife - Laura - discovered a roof garden (part of the Atkinson Morley Wing) which badly needed some serious attention, so with the blessing of the hospital and along with some friends they set about restoring the garden- and so The John King Brain Tumour Foundation came into being. Now along with maintaining the garden the Foundation raises thousands of pounds for neurological equipment for the hospital. I think we can be sure that the £50,000 donation will be put to good use. https://www. johnkingbraintumourfoundation.co.uk/about
And so - to the serious business of Garden Visiting. As always we kick off the Season with our Snowdrop and Spring bulbs gardens.
Little Court
Crawley, Winchester, SO21 2PU
Opening: Sunday & Monday 16th & 17th February and 23rd & 24th February 2pm to 4.30pm. Admission: £5.00 Children free. Cash only. Refreshments: Home-made teas in Village Hall. Popular naturalistic garden, especially exciting in Spring. Also open By Arrangement for Groups from Friday 15th February. Contact Patricia Elkington 01962 776365 OR elkslc@btinternet.com
Itchen Abbas, SO21 1AX
Opening: Tuesday & Wednesday 18th & 19th February 1pm to 4.30pm (Prebooking available). Admission: £10.00 Children free, includes Home-made teas. A 2 acre Winter green of note - appeared in several Garden Magazines - with a plethora of Spring bulbs.
Also open By arrangement for Groups from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 24. £12.00 per head - includes guided tour and home-made teas. Contact: Mark Porter 07814 958810: OR markstephenporter@ gmail.com
Bramdean House
Bramdean, Alresford, SO24 0JU
Opening: Sunday 9th February 1pm to 3.30pm
Admission: £6.50 children free. Cashless payments available. Refreshments: Coffee, tea & cake 5 acre garden with carpets of Spring bulbs.
Chawton House
Chawton, Alton, GU34 1SJ
Opening: Tuesday 18th March: 10.00am to 3.30pm
Admission: Adults £8.00 Children £6.00. Cashless Payments available. Refreshments: Light Refreshments. 15 acre listed English landscaped gardens with abundance of Spring flowers.
I hope this has whetted your appetite, and that you are able to visit one or more of these stunning gardens. If you are part of a group or even a group of friends, both Little Court and The Down House are open especially for Groups - simply contact garden owner.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year.
Pat Beagley (Head of Publicity)
National Garden Scheme - Hampshire pat.beagley@ngs.org.uk
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Supply and planting large specimen trees and shrubs
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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
For those of you who like your trail running Feats to be BIG, we give to you the Classic Element Race Series. Four trail running events based on the 4 classic elements….Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Whether it’s running under never-ending sky (Air), battling over ancient rugged coastline (Water), Pushing yourself on under a relentless sun (Fire) or clawing over muddy hills and rainy valleys (Earth), BigFeat Events have developed a series of races that will Challenge you, Awaken you and Inspire you.
Back for our fourth year, these spectacular but challenging courses return! The 2nd event in The Element Series, BigMud symbolises the element Earth. We have 2 wild ‘n’ muddy, single lap trail runs around the scenic Meon Valley. You’ll have a choice of Marathon or 16 mile distances, each starting at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire, with a 518ft climb up to the highest point in the South Downs, Butser Hill……. twice! Once at the top, you will then head out over the trails and rolling hills of the South Downs National Park, with the finish back where you started at the bottom of Butser Hill. This event will certainly challenge you but the spectacular scenery and friendly, encouraging atmosphere will leave you with an enormous feeling of accomplishment!
Start Times
Registration – 7.15am Race Start – 8.30am
Mandatory Kit
All runners will be required to carry at least 500ml of fluid with them. Most will have hydration vests but handheld soft flasks will be permitted. As weather is changeable, especially in winter, runners are advised to also wear (and carry) appropriate clothing for the conditions. We also strongly advise runners to download the GPX file of the route onto a wearable watch or mobile device. Although this is a marked course event, arrows can be tampered with, so a good understanding of the route is advisable. BigFeat Events do everything we can to mitigate the tampering with of course signage. Lastest Entry Date to Guarantee Finishers Medal - Thursday 9th January 2025.
To enter the event visit: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event. php?event_id=13715
IF YOU HAVE A CAR THAT’S NO LONGER NEEDED, GIVE ME A CALL, IF I DON’T BUY IT, I CAN OFFER SOME FREE ADVICE ON ITS VALUE AND HOW TO DISPOSE OF IT.
The following cars have been carefully selected because of their low mileage, excellent condition and service history.
2020 (20) Honda Jazz 1.5 Crosstar EX Hybrid automatic, 5 door, satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors + camera, climate control air con, cruise control, alloy wheels, 8,000 miles, £19,995
2013 (13) Honda Jazz ES Automatic, climate control control air conditioning, remote central locking with 2 keys, alloy wheels, electric windows and power folding mirrors, 60,600 miles
£5995
1993 Honda CRX TransTop convertible, automatic, electric power roof, climate control air conditioning, alloy wheels, electric windows and mirrors, Japanese import in 2000 just one lady owner since, 71,000 miles, FULL SERVICE HISTORY FROM NEW.
£5,995
2006 (56) Vauxhall Agila Design 1.2, 5 door, 2 owners, air conditioning, central locking, electric front windows, just had a major service and Mot, excellent service history, 35,000 miles £1995
Thursday 9 January
From 10am to Midday
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Gravel Hill, PO8 0QE
Come and ride the blue mountain bike route and play in the skills area with a British Cycling qualified leader. Ideal for those who have not yet tried out the blue route, have a new bike to play with, are relatively new to off-road riding or are returning to mountain biking. This is a social ride for people of any age, the ride will be at an easy pace and the leader will ensure everyone has time to catch their breath. Those nervous about riding off road, are very welcome. Follow the booking link for more details. If you wish to hire an e-MTB for the ride, please contact Southern Ebike Rentals. Booking is essential. Meet in front of the Visitor Centre ready to ride at 10am, parking charges apply at all times. For more information about any of our events or activities please contact the team on 02392 595040 or email qecp. enquiries@hants.gov.uk
Join Steve Grundy & Karen Caws for an illustrated talk on Stoke Park Farm
Thursday 16 January
From 7.30pm to 9pm
St Peter's Church Hall, Free Street, Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, SO32 1EE
Stoke Park Farm, Located near Bishopstoke, faced the threat if major housing development, but thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, it's poised for a remarkable revival. Steve is Lead Species Monitoring Volunteer at Stoke Park Farm, a Biological Sciences graduate and a wildlife enthusiast. Karen is a volunteer leading a butterfly and plant monitoring teams, and is also an Eastleigh Borough Councillor for Bishopstoke to have more involvement in this site to be the best it can be for nature and increasing biodiversity, which is their end goal.
Tickets can be pre-booked or picked up on the door. Remember that anyone under 25 is FREE! Simply turn up on the night with proof of age. https://www.hiwwt. org.uk/events/2025-01-16-stokepark-farm-haven-wildlife
Saturday 18 January
From 10am to 6pm
Unit C1A, The Black Shed, Brockwood Barn, Bramdean, SO24 0LQ
Stained Glass Workshop with Jo Munford. Learn the technique of cutting glass and the Tiffany copper foil technique and produce an attractive stained glass plaque to take home. £115 or Wessex Sculptor members. £125 for nonmembers. All materials included. Contact Anne Lain 07785 715 985 anne.lain627@gmail.com
Introduction to Quilling at Bishop’s Waltham Library
Wed 22 and Wed 29 January
From 10am
Bishops Waltham Library, Free St, Bishop's Waltham, Southampton, SO32 1EE
An introduction to the craft of paper quilling. Learning Goals: Demonstrate winding a paper strip into a coil, use a mould & secure Manipulate several coils into at least four shapes and at least two scroll shapes. Arrange the coils and scrolls to create a picture. To book visit: https:// shop.hants.gov.uk/products/ introduction-to-quilling-bishops-waltham-library-wednesday22nd-and-29th-january-2025-1000am?variant=53793641693569
Bishop's Waltham Area
Oral History Group Talk
Tuesday 21 January
From 7pm to 8.30pm
Virtual Event
This presentation explores the extraordinary life of Alberta Sturges, ninth Countess of
Sandwich, an American heiress during the Gilded Age who defied the typical societal roles expected of women like her. For booking visit: https://www.balh.org.uk/ event-balh-breaking-the-moldalberta-sturges-the-redefiningof-an-american-heiress-in-thegilded-age-2025-01-21
Waking Up the HouseJane Austen
Friday 24 January
From 9am to 10am
Jane Austens House, Chawton, Hampshire, GU34 1SD
Join us for an exclusive, earlymorning tour of the house Jane Austen knew and loved. In this exclusive, early-morning tour, we’ll be unlocking doors, opening shutters and letting sunshine into the darkened rooms. Join us for a curatorial journey as we dust, polish and check that everything is in order to start the day. Along the way, we’ll share secrets and stories of this extraordinary house through the ages. After the tour, you’ll enjoy a light breakfast of tea and English muffins – just as Jane used to do! To book visit: https://buy.myonlinebooking. co.uk/janeaustenshouse/sessions. aspx?tid=61
In the heart of winter, settle into the great roundhouse for a night of saxon theatre
Friday 24 January
From 7pm to 9pm
Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, PO8 0BG
Join us around the fire for Kith and Kin - a warm-hearted solo show that centres on a day in the life of an everyday 9th century Saxon woman, a day that turns out to be unexpectedly and spectacularly anything but “everyday”. From milking the stubborn cow to seeing off Viking invaders and preparing for a great feast, the Saxon hall and the vibrant community who knew it are brought vividly to life in this innovative, immersive performance. Performed in a mix of spoken and sung Modern English and Old English, Kith
and Kin is a delight for adult audiences and young people 6+. There will be a bar selling locally produced cider, mead and a range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Hot drinks and snacks will also be available to be purchased from our shop. to book visit: https://butserancientfarm. ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/ shows/1173653000
Meon Valley U3A
Hello again. Let’s hope January weather is not too inclement. Fortunately, we can offer you a warm room for our lectures! Our January 25 presentations: on 7/1/25 at 2pm. South East Police Cyber Crime Team will advise us on “On line and off line scams.” And on 21/1/25 at 2pm.David Bailey is talking on “Wildlife Wanders the stories behind the images.”
Scamming and on line fraud is a big problem for today and we are fortunate to have an expert to talk to us. David has lectured before to us and is an excellent speaker. We meet every first and third Tuesday at 2pm at the Wickham Community Centre during the lecture season. Everybody is welcome. Guests will get an especially warm welcome. (Guests pay £2 to defray speaker costs.) Tea and biscuits are provided after the talk, and we always have preloved books for charitable sale.
Lyndon (programme organiser) Contact-07881 991763 Or lyndonplmr@gmail.com www:u3asites.org.uk/meon-valley
Seventy-five years ago National Parks were created as special places where people and nature could come together, bringing hope and joy to a nation scarred by war.
Now, 75 years on and to celebrate their recent anniversary, the South Downs National Park is helping 75 schools to add beautiful wildlife havens to their school grounds.
Schools across the National Park and surrounding areas will be able to apply for grants of up to £1,000.
The “ReNature Grants” can be used for a myriad of purposes, such as planting a wildflower meadow, planting trees, digging a pond, building a bee hotel, installing bird boxes or creating an allotment. The initiative ties in with the National Park’s ongoing ReNature campaign, which is fighting against biodiversity loss by creating scores of new wildlife havens across the region.
It comes after the National Park launched a new immersive film trail along the South Downs Way earlier this year to mark the 75th birthday. The “Your National Park” trail
celebrates the local heroes of the South Downs and explores their intimate connections with the amazing landscape.
Siôn McGeever, Chief Executive of the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “Seventy five years on since their creation, National Parks continue to welcome, inspire and reinvigorate people of all ages, while becoming hubs for the nation’s nature and climate ambitions.
“It’s wonderful to be announcing this new funding to support schools and young people as we mark this milestone for National Parks.
“Young people need access to nature more than ever before, not only because they are the future custodians of our planet, but also because outdoor learning brings so many benefits to their
health and wellbeing. Ultimately, we want nature to be everywhere for everyone and this new scheme is another step towards that goal.
“Young people can play such an important role in helping biodiversity bounce back and I’m excited to see the new wildlife havens that are created by this inspiring initiative.”
Half of the funding is being provided by the National Park Authority and the other half by the South Downs National Park Trust, the official charity of the National Park.
Applications can be received until 1 July and are on a first-served basis.
Find out more and apply at https:// southdownstrust.org.uk/national-parks-75thbirthday-renature-fund-for-schools/
The South Downs National Park South Downs Centre, North Street, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9DH Telephone: 01730 814810 www.southdowns.gov.uk
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Polynucleotides
Beauty & Massages
Facials
Emsculpt Neo
BTL EMSELLA
Pain-Free Laser Hair Removal
The Non-Surgical Lift Package
The Perfect Peel
Thread Veins
Aqualyx
Dermal Fillers
Hydrafacial
Skin Tag Removal & Sterex
Profhilo
Chemical Peels
IPL Treatments
Radiofrequency Microneedling
Wrinkle Treatments
Winter
Those of us who have issues down there know the impact our vagina can have on our quality of life.
But we should ALL feel good about our vaginas.
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From puberty, childbirth, menopause, and all the fun stuff in between, our vaginas go through a lot, and we rarely give them the care they need.
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Feel good…
Who can benefit from Ultra Femme 360?
This is a safe and gentle treatment that is suitable for most women. If you have experienced vaginal changes since childbirth or menopause or have functional issues including stress incontinence or reduced sexual enjoyment, Ultra Femme 360 can tighten, restore, and rejuvenate your vagina for increased confidence and personal wellbeing.
Does the treatment hurt?
We understand that this kind of treatment can feel daunting. However, we aim to make you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the treatment, which is entirely painless and lasts only 8 minutes. There is no downtime, and you can return to your normal daily activities immediately afterwards. *Recommended one treatment per week for three weeks for the best results.
We are one of the first clinics in the country to offer this treatment and look forward to welcoming you at The Face & Skin Clinic.
Book your treatment today. We should all feel good about our vaginas.
2024 was a great year for Broadlands! We welcomed lots of new participants, their families and carers, to enjoy and benefit from the fabulous environment we share. We also welcomed lots of new supporters and friends to the many social and fund-raising events we have hosted. Several talks were held throughout the year; all of which were extremely well supported. The Cheerful Charlie talk sold out in record time. We held a Quiz Night, a wine-tasting evening, a trip to Liphook Equine Hospital, and our new Tea at Three Event all of which proved very popular. Our Open Morning attracted more visitors than ever before.
2025 is likely to be even more exciting as we celebrate our 70th Anniversary Year
Frank and Flora Welch bought Broadlands in 1946. Flora was a keen equestrian and had great interest, particularly after the polio epidemic in the early 1950’s, in the role of riding as a form of rehabilitation. In 1955 she held her first group of riders from Woodlarks in Farnham, a care home and activity centre for people with a range of disabilities. They were the first group to ride regularly at Broadlands. In 1964 Broadlands became one of the original members of the Advisory Council of Riding for the Disabled, the forerunner of the RDA. Sadly in 1975, Flora Welch died and her daughter Suzanne took over the running of Broadlands and is still involved today. The Group currently has up to 60 participants weekly who come and enjoy being with the ponies along with 70 regular volunteers. Broadlands continues to go from strength to strength.
We now offer hippotherapy and equine therapy in addition to riding. We currently have 10 ponies, specially selected for their calm, caring nature. Two of our ponies are over 23 years old and, with the average retirement age for a pony being 25, we are mindful that we will need to add new ponies to our team and train them to RDA compliant standards.
Our aim, therefore, for our Anniversary Year, in addition to securing the £120,000 funding required to cover our normal annual operating costs, is to raise an additional £30,000 to purchase, equip and train three new ponies to RDA compliant standards. Our first fund-raising event as part of our celebrations is our Online Auction of Promises which will be launched at the end of January. We have some amazing lots including some unique experiences and a weeks holiday in Cornwall! Anyone can bid for the items. Please keep your eye on our website where a QR code and link will be available. There is something for everyone!
Our biggest celebration will be on 20th June when we are holding a Platinum Party which we hope will be the party of the year! Live music, a magician and a casino will all be part of the fun! Again, keep your eye on our website for more information: www.broadlandsgrouprda.org.uk
2025 Events – so far
31st January Online Auction of Promises
4th February Horse Racing Trainers Andrew & Anna Lisa Balding talk
25th April Quiz Night – Medstead Village Hall
6th May Sophie de Rouet talk
20th June Platinum Party
11th September Alan Hiscox talk
25th September Wine Tasting
Everyone welcome!
The Meon Voices Christmas Concert will take place at St Peter’s Church Bishop’s Waltham on Saturday 14th December from 7.30pm, and all are welcome. There is no need to book, just come
Our menu is seasonal, locally sourced where possible & served in a family, sharing atmosphere. The style is relaxed, with quality & hospitality our ethos.
Enjoy any one side dish and poppadoms free of charge when collecting your takeaway From Monday 1 Jan to Friday 28 February 2025
Free Home Delivery For orders over £20 in a 3 mile radius
When I think of Petanque my imagination takes me to a village square in a French village. I’m relaxing in the dappled sunshine outside a café with a nice glass of wine; the warm gentle breeze is rustling the leaves of the trees; there is the occasional clink of metal ball against metal ball.
Shedfield in November wasn’t quite like that, when a group of MVARA members arrived Shedfield Petanque Club for a first taster session under the enthusiastic expert tutelage of Rod Bennet. What was warm was the greeting and hospitality of the Club, making everyone feel welcome. So, what exactly is Petanque and why is it played in Shedfield?
The sport of Petanque, known in parts of France, and by tourists with discarded plastic sets in the backs of their sheds, as Boule, was devised in the South of France near Marseille and Toulon in southern France around 1907.It has developed in many countries so that are now National and World Championships (but sadly no Olympic recognition) in addition to many clubs offering a social and recreational pastime. The aim is to toss a steel ball as close to a small wooden Jack to gain points, with the first to thirteen points being the winner. Petanque can be played as singles, doubles or triples and is a very much a sport for the whole family in which men and women, old and young generations can compete on an equal footing. The sport welcomes people of all abilities and can be played purely for leisure activities or competitively at various levels.
The Care Group aims to support the local community by:
• providing transport for visits to hospital, dentists, doctors and other health specialists
• giving assistance with completion of forms and documents on a confidential basis
• supporting the elderly with landline telephone issues
Petanque came to Shedfield in 1974 when Maurice Abney-Hastings returned from a camping trip to Brittany. They had been introduced to the sport by enthusiastic and welcoming French families and as a result had brought a set of steel boules back to the Sam’s Hotel, where they began to play on the gravel drive of the recreation ground opposite and so Shedfield pétanque Club was born – not the first every in the UK, but one of the first.
Such was the enthusiasm, that the members of the club, unilaterally founded the British Petanque Association (BPA). Approaches were made to French teams to arrange ‘Twinning Matches’ but Gallic bureaucracy struck. This couldn’t be done unless the BPA became a member of the Federation International de Petanque et Jeu Provencal (FIPJP). Not daunted, Maurice and his compatriots successfully presented the BPA credentials to the FIPJP AGM in September in Alicante in 1974 and a British team was sent to Quebec to play in the World Championships.
Petanque is just one of the activities from which MVARA members can benefit. MVARA offers:
• Bishop’s Waltham Reads – a Book Club;
• Bridge – an opportunity to play Bridge in a convivial social atmosphere;
• Table Tennis – social, friendly play, but with some members going on to play in local leagues;
• French – Advanced Conversation French to help maintain language skills;
• Italian – Intermediate level language classes;
• Spanish – intermediate level language classes;
• Scrabble – a fun way to tax the “little grey cells;”
• Keep fit – keep mobile; keep active; stay healthy;
• Tai Chi – at beginners, intermediate and advanced levels;
• Theatre visits – to Chichester, Southampton, and Winchester, including an upcoming trip to Hamilton;
• Lunches – monthly for members and an additional one for ladies;
• Visits to places of interest;
Annual Membership is just £5.00. For more details, please visit www.mvara.co.uk
• providing every newcomer, a welcome card with details of useful web contacts, a named person to assist, and/or point people in the right direction.
Volunteer drivers needed
To support the local community by providing private transport for essential purposes such as hospital, dentist and doctors' appointments. Mileage costs are covered at 40p per mile and personal insurance cover is provided.
Contact details for transport:
Droxford: 07977 096586
Corhampton, Meonstoke & Exton: 07795 928065
Chairman: 01489 877564
Good Neighbours Network: Droxford & District Community Care Group is part of this group which is funded by Hampshire County Council.
FROM THIS TO THIS IN ONE DAY
FROM THIS TO THIS IN ONE DAY
FROM THIS TO THIS IN ONE DAY
Skandoor has led the way in manufacturing and installing garage doors in Hampshire and the south for many years. Our speciality is high-quality garage and front doors, on-time delivery and full ownership from start to finish.
A well respected long established family run business based in Bishop's Waltham
AUTOMATIC INSULATED GARAGE DOORS & FRONT DOORS
• 6 good-quality pork sausages (about 400g), skinned
• 680g jar passata with garlic and herbs
• 1 tbsp oregano, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
• 500g pack pasta shapes
• 400g pack spinach
• 2 x 350g tubs ready-made cheese sauce (use a full-fat one if freezing)
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• 100g parmesan, grated
• 1 egg, beaten, to glaze
Heat a large frying pan and brown the sausages, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat. Pour off any fat from the pan, stir in the passata, bring to the boil, then add the oregano and season. Simmer for 10 mins.
Cook the pasta for 2 mins less than the pack says, reserve some cooking water, then drain, cool under cold water and drain again. Meanwhile, pour a kettle of boiling water over the spinach in a colander to wilt, then squeeze out all the water. Mix the pasta with the cheese sauce and some of the reserved water, to loosen. Season.
In a large dish, add the meat sauce, then the spinach, some nutmeg and seasoning. Next, add a third of the Parmesan, the cheesy pasta, more nutmeg and finally the rest of the cheese. Wrap and freeze. Defrost at room temperature for about 8 hrs. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake for 40-45 mins, until the dish is piping hot and golden.
Harry’s Carpets is a family-owned flooring company with over 40 years of experience. We pride ourselves in giving excellent customer service and unbeatable value for money. Our friendly team of experienced professionals are on hand to help you in choosing the best flooring for your project.
We can help you every step of the way with our bespoke, no-obligation measuring service. With our free and easy on-site parking, visiting our store is a hassle-free experience. Our range of professional fitters can install all types of flooring.
Ashley Groundworks Ltd (AGL) based in Hampshire, offers a comprehensive range of civil engineering, drainage and wastewater, environmental and groundworks services across the South-East.
• Drainage installation
• Utility service trenching
• Sub-DPC installation
• Site clearance
• Earth moving & excavations
• Underpinning
• Retaining walls & foundations
• Pile caps & floor slabs
Our expert team ensures your projects runs smoothly, delivering quality results every time
Every 1 Jan many of us set getting fit and losing weight as our top New Year intentions. We tell ourselves that this is the year we are going to become a better version of ourselves. The gym is often seen as the route to this new body, and the siren call of enticing January membership discounts is too good to resit. However, few of us last the distance, and even by February the number of regular gym users starts to fall away.
Another way to get fit, possibly lose weight (though no promises there I’m afraid), build resilience to bugs by spending time outdoors, meet new people and learn about the local countryside is to join some Rural Strides walks in 2025. Many of them are even free.
Rural Strides is not your usual walking group. Run by qualified walk leader and local ‘knowledge forager’ Malinka van der Gaauw, Malinka describes her walks more as ‘netwalking’ than plain old walking. With no defined membership, she says that Rural Strides walks attract “an entirely random selection of lovely people from all around the area, as well as from further afield. Everyone is simply interested in discovering new places and meeting new people”.
The main ‘new place’ that Malinka hopes people will discover is what she calls the Western Weald. This is the geologically varied and heavily wooded area between Petworth, West Sussex and the outskirts of Alton in Hampshire. This section of countryside was almost left out of the South Downs National Park because it wasn’t chalk. However, thanks to a vociferous group of local campaigners and support from celebrities like Ben Fogle and Bill Bryson it squeezed into the Park at the eleventh hour.
However, while the Western Weald landscape has been protected, its historic name has fallen from use. Using both normal walks through the area’s beautiful countryside as well as informative ones, Malinka is on a mission to resurrect this name and reconnect people to the Western Weald’s unique heritage and landscape.
As the Western Weald’s USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is trees, Malinka has declared 2025 a ‘tree-mendous’ year for walking by making them the theme of her walks this year. While not every walk will be about trees, she said that “we will generally be walking, learning and growing together as we explore the beauty and
importance of trees in the Western Weald”. Some tree walks already on the Rural Strides website are Feeling Firbulous, Walking with Giants and Dead to Yew, while some new, intriguing, walk and talk titles include The Wildwood, Rooted In History and Fuel The Fire.
Whether you're a seasoned nature lover or a curious beginner, these walks offer a unique opportunity to both immerse yourself in the wonders of the natural world and get fit. So, why not make your intention for 2025 stepping outside and rooting yourself in the beauty and wisdom of trees!
For more information see: www.ruralstrides.co.uk or sign up to the monthly newsletter to hear about new walks first.
Thank you Bishop’s Waltham
A Big Thank You to everyone in Bishop’s Waltham who supported this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal including the High Street Shops, Sainsbury’s Supermarket, Sainsbury’s Garage, Spar, Priory Inn, Bunch of Grapes, Barleycorn, Bishop’s Waltham Junior and Infants, Durley and Waltham Chase Schools, Ridgemede Care Home and the Country Market an amazing £8684.76 was raised plus St Peters Church also raised an additional £677.82. Also thank you to those who made crochet and knitted poppies which everyone loved and the local volunteers who manned the Poppy tables and distributed and collected the boxes all all those who donated, Well done everyone.
If you would like to be a volunteer and help in 2025 please contact debbiewalker9@hotmail.com
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At Town and Country, we take pride in ensuring every client receives the best customer service, from the informative and knowledgeable sales process through to the extensive after sales care.
Our boutique showroom showcases some of the finest kitchen and bathroom furniture available, with a strong emphasis on UK and European manufacturing. Bathroom manufacturers on display include Ambiance Bain, Kudos, Roper Rhodes, Tissino and Arte Form, with Porcelanosa and Ca’Pietra tiling throughout the showroom. Our kitchens are expertly crafted by Schuller, one of the largest German kitchen manufacturers, and Mackintosh, their products are made exclusively in Britain. Both have an extensive and inspiring collection ranging from the contemporary to the more traditional.
Please contact us regarding our complementary design and quotation service, we look forward to hearing from you.
Visit Town & Country
8 The High Street, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO3O 2EA
Telephone: 01489 536187
Email: sales@town-and-country.co.uk www.town-and-country.co.uk
As we move through the colder months of the year, a hidden world of nature is revealed to us. Leaves and flowers fall away, exposing the structures beneath. Along the banks of our chalk streams, we can see strange shapes that were once cloaked in clouds of small white flowers: the dry remains of plants known as umbellifers.
The umbellifer family is very large and contains many poisonous species, but also edible ones like carrot, celery, parsnip, fennel, cumin, dill, and coriander. If you’re thinking that its name sounds rather like “umbrella”, then you’re spot on: the two words share a common root in the Latin word for “shade” or “shadow”. The family name itself comes from umbels – flower clusters that radiate out from the main stem.
In most umbellifer species, these flowers are white and bloom through the spring and summer. They usually decline as the weather grows colder, leaving dried out stems behind. But even in wintertime, umbellifers are of great value to wildlife: they provide cover when vegetation is sparse, and some insects take shelter inside their hollow stems. Let’s look at some of the river-loving members of this floral family!
If you’re familiar with Hampshire’s history, you’ll no doubt know that watercress grows
in our chalk streams. But if you find some in the wild, it could be growing alongside our first umbellifer. Fool’s watercress is a creeping perennial that loves stream margins and wet ditches, although it can also be found in wetlands. Unlike watercress – which is actually in the cabbage family – it smells like carrot when crushed.
Another similar-looking plant is lesser waterparsnip, which grows on damp ground or in the shallow edges of clear, flowing water. Because it spreads through stems that run over the ground, called “stolons”, it can play a key role in reducing riverbank erosion. One way to identify it is by looking for a pale ring at the points where leaves branch off from the stem. True to its name, crushing it releases the scent of parsnip.
Our riverbanks are also home to hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) – not to be confused with the more famous hemlock (Conium maculatum), which also grows near water. Its close relative, river water-dropwort (Oenanthe fluviatilis), is more specialised; it likes clean, lowland rivers with plenty of calcium. This makes our chalk streams fantastic habitats for this species, if they’re in a healthy condition.
Since many of the umbellifers look alike, some caution is needed around them. Several species are highly toxic if eaten, and some have sap that can cause skin irritation. Giant hogweed
in particular can cause painful photosensitive blisters after only brief contact; this invasive species can reach a towering 5m when fully grown, but is harder to differentiate in its younger stages. If in doubt, it’s best to admire from a distance.
To learn more about chalk streams, explore the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme at hiwwt. org.uk/winterbournes. Our work is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Creating Sustainable Drainage Systems 8th and 15th January, Online
As our climate changes and urbanisation increases, some communities are experiencing more water around their roads and homes. Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) can help to manage this issue and protect our chalk streams from damaging runoff. Book your free ticket at hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes.
Do you own or manage land for horses? Join us for a programme of free online talks by Elizabeth Ranelagh (author of ‘Managing Grass for Horses’). Learn how to reduce your environmental impact through methods such as pasture reseeding, hedgerow cultivation, and manure storage. The talks will take place in early 2024 – email winterbournes@hiwwt.org.uk for details.
Established 1878
Friendly, professional advice on all areas of family law in the centre of Bishop's Waltham. Our friendly family team will do everything possible to guide you through the process and securing the right outcome for you and your family, no matter the situation.
Friendly, professional advice on all areas of family law in the centre of Bishops Waltham
Our friendly family team will do everything possible to guide you through the process and securing the right outcome for you and your family, no matter the situation.
Contact Serhan Handani at sh@bramsdonandchilds.com
Contact Serhan Handani at sh@bramsdonandchilds.com
Our Bishop's Waltham office has moved to: St.George's Square, Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, SO32 1GJ Tel: 01489 888240
Southsea Office 141 Elm Grove, Southsea, Hampshire PO5 1HR Tel: 02392 821251
Fair Oak Office Unit 10, Vicarage Farm Business Park, Winchester Road, Fair Oak, So50 7HD Tel: 02382 514300
www.bramsdonandchilds.com
