Test Valley Forum - Issue 179 - July 2023

Guide Price £1,500,000

An old dairy offering flexible accommodation including an annexe. In all, five bedrooms, five bathrooms, kitchen/breakfast room, drawing room, sitting room, boot room, study and store. Standing in 0.5 acre with outstanding countryside views.

Guide Price £775,000

A detached four bedroom chalet bungalow boasting plenty of natural light with two ground floor and two first floor bedrooms, sitting room with woodburner, kitchen/breakfast room and garage. Outstanding countryside views. Attractive gardens of 0.33 acre.

Guide Price £1,575,000

An exceptional property on the edge of Andover. Kitchen/breakfast room, utility, pantry, drawing room, dining room and study. Three/four bedrooms and two bathrooms. An excellent six-bay garage with office, store, and barn. Summer house. Gardens and grounds, in all 6.53 acres.

Coming Soon...

A superior, individual NEW detached house with outstanding views. Built to a high specification including Solar, ASHP and EV charger. Reception hall, kitchen/dining/family room, sitting room and study, four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Double garage. Landscaped gardens of 0.3 acre. Additional land may be available.

The Team

Editor

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

Advertising Manager Mandy Head mandyhead@forumpublications.co.uk Accounts accounts@forumpublications.co.uk

Contributors

Feature Writer Mica Bale

Get in Touch

Forum Publications Offices New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QE Tel: 01962 735137 www.forumpublications.co.uk

The Test Valley Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. Test 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. Test Valley Forum magazine content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or recommendations of its creators and any reliance upon its content is taken at the user’s sole risk. Adverts designed by Forum Publications remain the magazine's legal ownership. Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household © Forum Publications Ltd, 2023

We're All Going on an Ant Hunt

If it’s not unusual then why is it not usual to return home in the early hours of the morning following a slightly later evening out to discover the contents of the family pantry cupboard neatly, if not slightly unlovingly, strewn about the kitchen, dining room and any other surface deemed suitable to be the temporary resting place of weary, sagged bags of flour, sugar and the occasional withered vanilla pod. A quick rub of the eyes was in order. If the expectation had been to dismiss the notion that this was in fact reality, the hope was a crushing one.

“Ants!” The monosyllable was uttered in such a way that one could not quite determine whether this was a timely explanation for the unusual bomb disposal technique, a declaration of war or a vague attempt to lure said ants out of their hiding places. If we were playing Pied Piper, a greater incentive had to be extended.

Rubbing ones eyes didn’t help. Greater visuals only revealed yet more piles of tins, bags of flour and peculiar jars and clear packets of questionable contents. Raisins, nuts and seeds were stationed beside noodles and rice, jam jars and sticky bottles of soy sauce, barrel aged vinegar and the chocolate chips that had been forgotten for three years but now provided a welcome source of energy.

Specific yes but very relevant. Certainly, wading through piles of flour like a 17th century miller and carefully unwrapping each packet in a way that didn’t send a volcanic eruption of flour clouds into the atmosphere is quite the skill and one that I am now rather proud my Curriculum Vitae contains. It was a challenge to decide whether it should be included under the subheading of Hobbies and Interests or Experiences….perhaps both.

At this stage, the consideration of having nocturnal parents was one that crossed my mind in somewhat bemused tones. It was perhaps usual for twenty-somethings to return home quietly, in fear of awakening the parents from their slumber after a tough work week, however the atypical has never been apparent in our household. Madness is a consistent theme hence the ant-hunting in the early hours of a Saturday morning.

It all began earlier that evening when the junior members of the household were out and about and the more mature members of

the family were settling down for some quiet time. At some point in the evening, the pantry cupboard - for those who may not be familiar with the term, a pantry cupboard is a modern day twist on the highly sensible addition to any kitchen providing a resting place for cereals, grains and jars and the occasional hidden chocolate bar. Most modern houses are now devoid of their pantries, hence my mother’s sourcing and repurposing an old pine cupboard, complete with shelves, which now housed the family’s dry goods.

Anyway, the pantry cupboard was opened and a train of large ants was revealed, perhaps a hunting party on their way to a takeaway, perhaps another family returning from a night out. In any case, the moment of chaos had arrived and hastily, torches were brandished, instruments of weaponry were taken up and the food supplies were moved to safety. Now, it might be worth mentioning that although not as large as its walk-in counterpart, this pantry cupboard is sizeable, storing and protecting the dry supplies of an entire household.

Flour was flung to the distant part of the kitchen, sugar was groaningly relocated to higher ground and the occasional pause in proceedings to peruse the forgotten items of fig syrup that was a gift from aunty five years ago, with the seven year best before date passed in the last century, sneaky packets of and not-ourusual-brand-but-that’s-all-there-was-in-the-supermarket Covid purchases was quickly hastened at the sight of yet more ants, no doubt formulating their own plans. By the time the younger members of the family had returned, all eyes and ears were on ant hunting duty. The contents of the cupboard now completely removed from the cupboard, a large basket of varying bread flours and sugars was to be my close companion for the next few hours of the morning as each half-used packet required careful unravelling followed by the tap test to see if any more hungry ants could be discovered.

If you have ever felt overdressed for an occasion, remember that a going-out outfit is never ideal for ant hunting in the early hours of Saturday morning in the family kitchen. The next time your family descends into chaos, don’t forget it’s not unusual.

Written by Mica Bale

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Upcoming Events

Stockbridge Community Cinema

Friday 7th July

From 7.30pm

Stockbridge Town Hall, Stockbridge, SO20 6HE

Tár (15) - Starring Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár, the groundbreaking conductor of a major German Orchestra. Tár is at the height of her career, as she's preparing both a book launch and a muchanticipated live performance of Mahler's Fifth Symphony. Over the ensuing weeks her life begins to unravel in a singularly modern way. The result is a searing examination of power, and its impact and durability in today's society. (Partly subtitled). Information common to all films: Showing at. Tickets can be purchased online (£6.00 incl £0.50p booking fee per ticket) via www.stockbridgecinema.org.uk or by telephone from TicketSource 0333 666 3366 (£1.80 charge per telephone booking in addition to the online ticket price). Please visit our website for more details. Drinks and ices will be on sale.

Southern Voices: Music for a Summer’s Evening

Saturday 8th July

From 7.30pm St Peters Church, Stockbridge

Winchester based Chamber Choir, Southern Voices present a fabulous, light, summer concert in St Peter’s, Stockbridge. The programme is a summer fizz of madrigals, folksongs and toe-tapping jazz – including : Little Jazz Madrigals by Bob Chilcott; Songs & Sonnets from Shakespeare by George Shearing and Three Elizabethan Part Songs by Vaughan Williams. Two very special musicians provide accompaniment: Nicholas Sawley

(Head of Keyboard, Winchester College) and Alastair Hume (found member of the King’s Singers). The choir’s brilliant new conductor Jamal Sutton will be in charge. The choir are well established in Winchester and the South and 2024 marks their 40th Anniversary year. See the choir’s website: www.southernvoices. co.uk for information on this and more details about becoming a member, a friend and much more. Tickets £16 (Concessions £1 age 18 and under); ticketsource.co.uk/ southern-voices; Telephone 0333 666 3366 (booking fees apply); or at the door.

Registered Charity 1086868

Broughton Open Gardens

Sunday 11th July

From 2pm to 5.30pm Various Locations in the Village

Broughton Village, on the Wallop Brook, has 12 very varied gardens open for visitors on Sunday afternoon 11th July. There will be an exhibition of Millenium Banners in the church, the Dovecote will be open, and teas will be served in the village hall. Tickets £8.00 at the village hall. Under 16s free. In aid of St Mary's Church.

Stockbridge Community Cinema

Wednesday 12th July

From 4.15pm to 7.30pm

Stockbridge Town Hall, Stockbridge, SO20 6HE

The Fabelmans (12A) Loosely based on Spielberg's childhood growing up in postWorld War 2 era Arizona, from age seven to eighteen, a young man named Sammy Fabelman falls in love with films after his parents take him to see

"The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother. When he discovers a shattering family secret, he explores how the power of movies helps us see the truth about each other and ourselves.

'A song for all seasons' with Andover Chamber Choir

Stockbridge Antiques Fair

Saturday 5th August

From 9am to 4.30pm

Stockbridge Town Hall, Stockbridge, SO20 6HE

Saturday 15th July

From 7.30pm

All Saints’ Church, Upper Clatford, SP11 7HB

Folk songs, part songs, instrumental music and readings covering the four seasons with choral music by Elgar, Holst and Stanford among others, plus arrangements by Willcocks, Rutter and the choir's musical director Andrew Wyndham. Tickets £10 (to include refreshments) from the Greenfield Farm Shop, Anna Valley or hopkinsupperclatford@ gmail.com to reserve a ticket. All proceeds in aid of All Saints’ Church Fabric Fund.

The Bohemia to Broadway Opera Quintet

Saturday 15th July

From 7.30pm St Peters Church, Stockbridge

Dream with me… Opera quintet

From Bohemia to Broadway makes a welcome return to Stockbridge. Please join us as these superb young musicians take us on a musical voyage into a world of dreams, nightmares, lullabies and rude awakenings. Tickets £20 (U18s £5) from stockbridgemusic.uk or on the door. The Steinway Grand Piano has been made available by The

The Fair is held in Stockbridge Town Hall in the centre of the High Street, usually on the first Saturday of the month. We offer a wide range of Decorative, Interesting and Unusual items including good quality Furniture, Silver, Jewellery, Militaria, Motor memorabilia, Textiles and Books. We will also buy. Free Admission & Free Parking. Carol - 01264 335769 / 07870 432805 Steve - 01722 712267 / 07915 663251.

Music on the Test 2023

Sunday 3rd September

From 2pm to 5pm Houghton, North Houghton, Stockbridge, SO20 6LQ

Come and join us at Houghton Lodge for an afternoon of music with Test Valley Brass and Liza Marshall singing, followed by Loose Change Band, Followed by Marie Ponting singing. Celebrate the 230th anniversary of Houghton Lodge. Marquee available in case of rain - Bring your own chairs, tables, gazebos etc. Tickets £15, Children under 14 FREE. Tickets available from Chris Lynn - 01264 396511. Christopher.lynn36@gmail.com. Tea and lunch in a box availablePrice on application.

Do you like singing?

In the shower?

In a choir?

Andover Choral are looking for extra Altos, Tenors, Basses and Sopranos. Phone Frances Lynn on 01264 396511 or email Lynncf35@ gmail.com. They would love to hear from you. www. andoverchoralsociety.org.uk

Dorset Musical Instruments Trust.

Protect Your Pooch and Our Rivers

Our dogs love to cool off in hot weather, but did you know that a dip in the river could reduce their flea and tick protection? Many spot-on treatments wash off in water, forcing dog owners to spend more time and money to keep their pet safe.

These treatments can also do serious harm to a river’s wildlife. Because they are insecticides, they can kill the larvae of species like mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies. As a food source for fish, bats, and birds, these insects are crucial to the health of our rivers.

If you have a dog, ask your vet about flea treatment tablets, which don’t wash off in water. If you stick with spot-on treatments, explore other ways to beat the heat. A cooling vest can keep your dog refreshed during a walk, while a shallow paddling pool is great for at home.

As we seek to protect both our dogs and our wildlife, it might be time for a new approach to flea and tick treatment. A recent paper from Imperial College London notes that some ingredients have been banned in farming, and highlights the risk of parasites becoming immune to their effects.

One of the paper’s authors, Veterinary Surgeon Dr Andrew Prentis, suggests asking your vet “what is best for [your] pet, what is safe for the environment, and whether such regular preventative treatments are needed. In the same way that we only take antibiotics when we’re ill - not every month - we may need to apply the same principle to parasite treatments for our pets."

To learn more about our local chalk streams, and how you can care for them, check out the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme at www.hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes. Our work is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

There are few places lovelier to visit than chalk streams in summertime. Their vibrant wildlife and crystal-clear water make them ideal spots for walking on a warm day. Embark on a lively stroll along their banks, or take a quiet moment to enjoy their serene beauty. Look for brown trout, butterflies, and water voles; listen for coots, dragonflies, and kingfishers.

This talk will showcase some great places to see these amazing habitats in north and central Hampshire. From well-known treasures to underrated gems, get inspiration for days out and learn how to visit in a way that's safe for wildlife. Hampshire Countryside Service will also join us to share top tips for getting the most from the Rights of Way network.

Book at: www.hiwwt.org.uk/events

Free Online Talk – ‘Chalk Stream Walks of Hampshire’ - 6th July, 7-8pm.

Photograph © Tom Marshall

Art Exhibition and sale Stockbridge

Town Hall - 24th and 25th July (10.30-17.30 each day)

Hugh Dumas, a local artist, has decided the time has come for local artists to show what they have been creating in “Lockdown”. He has organised an Exhibition and Sale of the work of Test Valley artists in The Stockbridge Town Hall on the 24th and 25th of July. He says he will be showing an interesting and varied collection of art works, painted by himself and the many other artists in the Stockbridge area.

Hampshire has been at the forefront of looking after Ukrainian Refugees who, only a year ago, were living a normal life in Ukraine! In the Stockbridge area in particular, several families have opened their hearts and their homes to look after these wonderful people. He is planning to donate 20% from the net sales to assist Ukrainian Refugees as they go forward with their lives in this country. He is most grateful to Alix Baker, Julia Cassels, Caroline Harvey-Bathurst, Christina Meade, Sally Milligan, and Lisa Steinke who have, he says, “taught him all he knows about painting”, and who have kindly painted or donated to this Exhibition.

He would also like to thank other local artists and helpers who have given so freely of their time; and the many Sponsors (mentioned elsewhere) whose contributions will undoubtedly help to ensure the success of this fund-raising Art exhibition and sale.

For further information please contact Hugh Dumas at: Tel: 01794 388 275

Email: hpedumas@gmail.com

Council slashing carbon fuel emissions by up to 95 percent by switching vehicles to diesel alternative

Test Valley Borough Council’s (TVBC) fleet of vehicles have now all switched from using diesel fuel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), cutting carbon dioxide fuel emissions by up to 95%.

HVO is a drop-in diesel alternative that benefits from an instant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions without the need for changes to engine infrastructure or machinery. It’s also made from 100% renewable raw materials, biodegradable and is odourless. The entire fleet, from waste collection vehicles to plant machinery, is now using HVO, after council leaders approved plans earlier this year. In 2019, TVBC declared a climate emergency, and this is another step towards the ambition of becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North, said: “Switching all of our vehicles from diesel to HVO is a huge step in the right direction as we cut our carbon emissions generated from our fleet vehicles by 95%.

“Using this biofuel does not require expensive vehicle changes and is completely fossil-free, fulfilling one of the pledges we made in our crossparty Climate Emergency action plan.”

Already this year, TVBC swapped out it’s diesel pedestrian street sweepers for new electric powered ones

How often do you hear this, or even say it to yourself, when you have ongoing symptoms, aches or pains? The phrase is often used as a throw away comment or diagnoses and what it implies is that nothing can be done, and can often result in a feeling of hopelessness and depression. It feels as if that at a certain age or stage, certain symptoms are inevitable, expected, and can therefore be rounded up and neatly swept under the carpet leaving the feeling like you just have to accept it. Well, I’m here to stand on my little soap box and to boldly say, it’s not your age, it’s not inevitable or to be expected, and there is something you can do about it!

Firstly you must be proactive. The younger you are when you make changes to improve the quality of your environment, lifestyle, social circle and whole-body health, the better you will fare as you get older.

‘Age-related degenerative change’ usually comes about after years of misuse and misalignment. Think of the wheels on a car like your body, and the tyres like your soft tissues, bones and joints. If the wheels are unbalanced the wear on the tyre will happen faster and unevenly. The same applies to you. If you spend the vast majority of your time in suboptimal positions and movement patterns, such as long hours in the car, at the desk, one sided sports or activities, your body will ‘degrade’ or ‘wear’ faster.

We all agree that smoking is a killer and disastrous for your health, and there is no doctor in the world that would wait until cancer or heart disease was diagnosed before telling you to quit. So why wait until the cliff edge of ‘age-related’ ill health to do something about it either?

There is an interesting conversation circulating at the moment about health span (biological age) versus lifespan (chronological age). How do you think yours may differ? Dr Peter Attia, a medical doctor and longevity expert believes our focus needs to be on the quality of life we’re living; our health span rather than our lifespan.

When it comes to healthy, happy longevity he argues movement and exercise is the most important area to focus on. Interestingly, in the Blue Zones as identified by Dan Buettner, (areas of the world that have the longest and healthiest living people), one of the common factors is that they live amongst hillsides, cliffs and coasts, and locally source their food from their own farms, gardens or markets. All of which promotes a variety of regular, daily movement patterns. Many movement patterns, that I would go so far as to say we have lost.

If you would like to find out how well your body is ageing and how your biological age measures up against your chronological age you can go to this link and use this fun calculator tool provided: www.biologicalage.com Your biological age result can show you how your lifestyle is affecting your health. If you are worried about the results, the good news is unlike your chronological age, there is something you can do about your biological age!

Want to know where to start? Here’s some inspiration: read more about Dan Buettner’s work on the Blue Zones, Dr Peter Attia’s book on longevity, or listen to Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s podcast #356 ‘Why health span matters more than lifespan’

Or pick up the phone, send me a message or book yourself in online, there’s lots we can do to help!

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It's your age

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Council secures funding for Andover town centre heat feasibility study

To ensure that Andover town centre reaches its heat decarbonisation potential, Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) have secured funding to carry out a heat feasibility study. It means that a review can be carried out to see whether there is potential for a centrally sourced heat network in the town centre. Heat networks distribute heat or cooling from a central source, and deliver it to a variety of different buildings, which would mean the need for individual boilers or electric heaters in every building would be avoided.

Heat networks are also uniquely able to use local sources of low carbon heat, from places like factories, the ground or even from rivers, which would otherwise go to waste. This would help with reducing carbon emissions and ensuring the project aligns with the council's Corporate Plan and ambition of being carbon neutral as soon as possible. To carry out this study, TVBC has secured £97,220 from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, while the council has also committed £18,100 in match funding.

The study is critical to the Andover town centre redevelopment programme. It will provide TVBC with an opportunity to shape the masterplan to understand the viable opportunities within the town for the decarbonisation of heat and will help inform a heat strategy going forward.

The plan is for TVBC to work with the University of Southampton Future Towns Innovation Hub to use the regeneration of Andover as a live case study to ensure sustainable development and low carbon technologies are incorporated into the regeneration project.

Test Valley appoints new Mayor

Following Test Valley’s Annual Full Council meeting on Wednesday 24 May, Councillor Phil Lashbrook was elected as the new Mayor for Test Valley.

Councillor Lashbrook, who represents the Bellinger ward on Test Valley Borough Council, will be supported by the Mayoress, Councillor Linda Lashbrook who represents Charlton and the Pentons. The new Mayor has spent the last 12 months deputising for the outgoing Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Alan Dowden and Councillor Celia Dowden. At the same meeting, at Crosfield Hall in Romsey, Councillor Gordon Bailey was appointed as Deputy Mayor. Mayor of Test Valley Phil Lashbrook, said:

“I’m delighted and honoured to have been appointed the new Mayor of this great borough. After a year of supporting Councillor Dowden as his deputy, I’m excited to see what the next 12 months brings and what events and activities are in store for me. I would like to thank all of my councillor colleagues for giving me this honour and I’m looking forward to working closely with Councillor Bailey over the coming year. I would also like to thank my wife, Mayoress Linda Lashbrook, for her unwavering support.”

During his civic year, Councillor Lashbrook announced that his Mayoral Appeal will be raising funds for a number of charities and groups including The Countess of Brecknock Hospice, Enham Trust and Romsey District Scouts.

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Bring the beauty of nature into your home with Featherstone's stunning seasonal flowers, harvested right in the heart of the Test Valley. Our farm's commitment to sustainability and biodiversity means that our flowers are not only breathtakingly beautiful but also grown with the utmost care for the environment. From delicate spring blooms to colourful summer bouquets and rich autumn arrangements, we offer a variety of fresh and unique options to suit any occasion.

July & August Hampshire Festivals

New Forest Folk Festival

Wednesday 5th - Sunday 9th July

the end of July, attracting around 95,000 visitors over the duration. In 2023 the show is being held on 25th, 26th and 27th July. Show jumping is a major feature with international classes held throughout the three days. A full range of equestrian classes also feature, as well as livestock competitions including cattle and sheep, plus a poultry section, rabbits, cage birds, and honey bees. Wander around the fantastic tradestands, where you can pick up treats for your dogs, brilliant equipment for your horses, clothes & accessories, homeware and some of our delicious local food and drink!

2023 line-up - Ward Thomas, Little Johnny England, Jim Cregan, Gigspanner Big Band, Alan Hull Songbook, Old Blind Dogs, The Longest Johns, Gary Fletcher, Reg Meuross, Wilson & Wakeman, IOTA, Steve Tilston, Ken Nicol’s Lockstep, SilverBlues, Jigantics Anthony, John Clarke, Liam Vincent & The Odd Foxes, Winter Wilson, Green Diesel, Banter, Matt Black Harbottle & Jonas and Southampton Ukulele Jam. We are located at Plaitford near Romsey which is on the edge of the New Forest Full address - Powells Farm, Salisbury Road, Plaitford, Romsey, Hants, SO51 6EE

Ticket Prices - 5 day adult (Wed - Sun) - £115

Children 5 - 15 years of age are half price and under 5 free for all tickets. Camping for Caravans, Camper Vans & Tents - £10 per pitch per night. Full 5 day camping (Wed - Sun) £40 Day Tickets (limited numbers) £50 per day www.newforestfolkfestival.co.uk

New Forest And Hampshire County Show

Tuesday 25th - Thursday 27th July

There are shows all day every day in the show rings for you to sit back, relax and watch. For more information visit: www.newforestshow.co.uk

Wickham Festival

Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th

August

Wickham Festival is a 4-day music & arts festival held every August in a rural location near the historic village of Wickham in Hampshire. There are four stages with live music, plus plenty of family friendly entertainment. There are campsites which can accommodate tents, motorhomes and caravans, all located next to the festival site. This years performers are - The Proclaimers, Midge Ure, The Saw Doctors, Mary Black, The Fisherman's Friends, Afro Celt Sound System, Show of Hands, Toyah & Robert Fripp, The South, Eric Bibb, Martyn Joseph, The Zombies and the list goes on! For more information visit www.wickhamfestival.co.uk

South Downs Show

Saturday 12th – Sunday 13th August

be a two day event. There will be lots going on including arena acts, entertaining attractions, dog shows, animal petting zoo, children’s rides and fun zone. There will also be country life stalls, alpacas, a beer tent and catering with live music. Get Your Tickets Now! Hometown Events are thrilled to be bringing The South Downs Show back again for 2023! Thank you to everyone who attended in 2022, despite the sweltering heat we had a fantastic weekend celebrating our beautiful South Downs National Park.Building on our success in 2022, join us in 2023 for awesome arena acts, entertaining attractions, dog shows, animal petting zoo, children’s rides and fun zone, country life stalls, beer tent and catering with live music and much much more…If you have any queries, contact us below.For more information and tickets please visit www.southdownsshow. com

Winchester Sausage And Cider Festival

Saturday 19th August

The New Forest & Hampshire County Show is an annual three day agricultural Show held at

At Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Gravel Hill, Horndean PO8 0QE The South Downs Show has been running for decades in various formats and this year it will

The incredible Sausage and Cider Festival will be returning to Winchester, but this time for a huge outdoor festival hosted at North Walls Recreation Grounds! With over 50m of bars with an amazing range of craft cider from around the uk, Cocktails, Beers. Plus great food vendors with 12+ types of sausage flavour and other street food vendors available on site. From 14:0023:00 For more information visit:

www.sausageandciderfest.co.uk/winchester

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Know before you go this summer –new rules come into force in the New Forest

Joint press release with Forestry England and New Forest District Council

This summer, local people and visitors are being encouraged to make sure they know about new measures in the New Forest to ensure they have a safe and enjoyable time here.

Two new Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) have been introduced by New Forest District Council supported by Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority and the Verderers of the New Forest. The use of BBQs and fires in the Forest and feeding and petting ponies or donkeys are all banned, with those failing to comply liable to a fixed penalty fine or prosecution.

Their introduction follows repeated fire damage to the Forest caused by campfires and BBQs, and the growing risk of wildfires due to increasingly hotter and drier conditions. The PSPO bans the lighting of fires of any type including BBQs and any outdoor cooking facilities or equipment. It also makes it an offence to place, throw or drop items likely to cause a fire such as lit cigarettes.

Concern over the safety of the public and Forest animals, following injuries to the people and animal deaths resulting from being fed human food, created the need to better manage public

interactions with these free-roaming animals. The PSPO relating to this activity bans feeding and petting ponies or donkeys on the Forest.

Teams from Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority and the Verderers of the New Forest will be patrolling and engaging with the public to explain more about the new rules. Signs and information will be in place across the Forest. Along with other key things to know about visiting the area, the new rules will also be highlighted in the New Forest Code, widely publicised across the area and shared by local tourism businesses with many visitors before and during their stay.

The new orders apply from 1 July and where necessary can be enforced by issuing fixed penalty notices of £100, a sum which can rise to £1,000 following a successful prosecution.

Cllr Dan Poole, New Forest District Council’s portfolio holder for community, safety and wellbeing, said: ‘Most people enjoying the Forest do so with great care and regard for the New Forest Code. By making these PSPOs, we expect a reduction in the rare but damaging cases of anti-social behaviour associated with wildfires and barbecues on the Forest, and the feeding and petting of Forest animals.’

Charlotte Belcher, Community Manager at Forestry England, said: ‘The New Forest is a haven for nature and a special place to spend time. We

want to make sure everyone coming here, locals and visitors alike, can enjoy their visit and do so responsibly.

‘Our teams have spent increasing amounts of time over recent years working with the fire service to put out forest fires and trying to stop these spreading. It only takes one spark to start a wildfire. These new rules will help us ensure more people understand why it’s just not worth taking that risk. Please enjoy the Forest but always bring a picnic instead of a BBQ.’

Patrick Heneghan, Deputy Chair of the New Forest National Park Authority, said: ‘The New Forest National Park is a world capital for wildlife, with many rare species and habitats. This unique landscape is created with the help of grazing by commoners’ animals who play a vital role in creating and maintaining the habitat that allows other species to flourish. It’s important to recognise that they are not tame animals and can unexpectedly bite and kick. It’s logical that we must take steps to ensure the precious landscape and wildlife is protected, as well as keeping people safe. Joint patrols by the partners will focus on engagement and education, and we’re sure that the majority of people will continue to respect the New Forest Code.’

More information on the Public Space Protection Orders can be found online at www.newforest. gov.uk/PSPO

Crab & Asparagus Tart

SERVES 4 PEOPLE

PASTRY INGREDIENTS

• 180g plain flour

• 90g cold butter, cut into small pieces / diced

• 1 egg yolk mixed with 2 tbsp water (reserve the white for glazing the pastry)

FILLING INGREDIENTS

• 200g fresh crab meat (½ white, ½ brown meat)

• 300g tender asparagus

• 2 large eggs

• 1 egg yolk

• 250ml double cream

METHOD

Heat the oven to 200C. Making the pastry. Seive the flour into a large bowl with a pinch of salt, then add the diced butter. Take a table knife or pastry scraper and continue to cut the butter into smaller pieces in the flour. Rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, then add the egg yolk and water.

Use the knife or pastry scraper to cut in the liquid and then pull the mix together with your hands, trying not to overwork it, until you have a ball of pastry. Alternatively, put the flour, salt and butter into a food processor and whizz until you have crumbs. Add the liquid and pulse the mixture until it comes together. Wrap the pastry and chill in the fridge for about 10 mins, before rolling out to fit your tin. Chill again for at least 30 mins.

Blind bake the pastry: cover it with greaseproof paper, fill it with baking beans or dried pulses and place in the oven for about 15 mins or until the pastry is almost ready. Remove the paper and beans, prick the pastry with a fork and place back in the oven for another 5-10 mins, until the really dry and crisp. Brush with a little beaten egg white and bake for an extra 2 mins. This may seem a rigmarole, but soggy pastry can be the ruination of a perfect tart.

Turn the oven down to 180C. Cut the asparagus spears to fit the tart. Plunge into boiling water for about 1 min if pencil-thin and just 2-3 mins for finger-thick spears. Drain and refresh in a bowl of cold water.

Beat the eggs and yolk with a fork, stir in the cream and white crabmeat and season with a little salt and pepper. Once the tart shell is ready, spread a layer of the brown crab meat over the base (this is where most of the crab favour is) and then pour over the crab custard. Arrange the asparagus on top of the tart and carefully place in the oven for 20-25 mins, until the filling is set and just wobbly.

Allow to sit for about 15 mins before removing the tin and serving warm with a simple salad and perhaps some new potatoes.

2 Medium Individial Panelled Sectional Doors

Small Panelled Sectional Door with accompanying Solidor front door Solidor Front Door

National Garden Scheme - Hampshire

Firstly I would like to refer you to my March Article regarding Horatio’s Garden and RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The great news is that Horatio’s Garden - designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Budd - received a Gold Medal AND Best Show Garden. The National Garden Scheme has been supporting Horatio’s Garden since 2015 and have donated over £400,000 to-date to help the charity create and care for beautiful, accessible gardens in all eleven NHS regional spinal injury centres. In spring 2019, the National Garden Scheme committed funding for the completion of all eleven gardens across the country and in 2022 donated a further £90,000. This garden will be moving to its permanent home in Sheffield’s Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre.

This support is only available from the NGS through the generosity of our volunteers, our garden owners and the general public who support us by visiting our gardens. There is a great garden opening towards the end of July in North Hampshire.

Andover Town Centre Experiences Boost as Temperatures

Soar

Andover has enjoyed a delightful shift in weather conditions as temperatures soared. The arrival of summer-like weather not only lifted the spirits of residents but also brought about a remarkable surge in sales for the town's independent retailers (Indies).

1 Povey’s Cottage, Stoney Heath, Baughurst, Tadley ,

RG26 5SN

Opening: Saturday & Sunday 22nd & 23rd July 1pm to 5pm

Admission: £5.00 children free Card Payment Available

Refreshments: Home-made teas.

Also open by arrangement for Groups of 15 + smrichards3012@icloud. com - A true country garden with something or everyone. Originally farm workers cottages on part of the Duke of Wellington’s estate. Consisting of herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs, a small orchard, greenhouses, fruit cage, vegetable garden and a small wildflower meadow area. Beehives in one corner of the garden and chickens in another corner. A feature of the garden is an unusual natural swimming pond.

Please don’t keep this to yourselves - share with your friends - lets make more people aware of the National Garden Scheme.

Best Wishes to All

Pat Beagley (Head of Publicity) pat.beagley@ngs.org.uk National Garden Scheme - Hampshire

Andover residents eagerly embraced the opportunity to bask in the sunshine, resulting in increased footfall in local stores and a significant boost in sales for independent retailers. The positive impact of the sunny weather extended beyond the residents' enjoyment, invigorating the local economy.

Among the businesses benefiting from the surge in customer activity were the town's café, restaurant and pub owners as more people sought to meet friends and take advantage of the pleasant weather. Bev Power, the owner of The Travelling Cup Cake, expressed her excitement about the rising demand for their gelato offerings. "Our gelato has become a sought-after addition to our menu, and we're thrilled to continue satisfying this increasing demand," she said.

The boost in sales for Andover's independent retailers highlights the interconnectedness between weather patterns and consumer behaviour. As temperatures rose, so did the enthusiasm of shoppers, who eagerly embraced the joys of summer and explored the offerings of their local stores. This significant upturn in sales not only brings economic benefits to the town but also fosters a sense of optimism and renewed energy among its residents.

Museum of Army Flying

Following a successful series of lectures across a wide range of topics at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc) have committed their continued support for the Museum by sponsoring the 2023-2024 lecture series.

The sponsorship from Landmarc lends its support to the informative and educational presentations spanning the history of British military aviation. The lectures, watched by audiences around the country, have proved to be a popular part of the Museum’s event programme. Technology and expertise supplied by Landmarc has enabled the Museum to stream the lectures online with live Q&A sessions at the end of each presentation.Recent lectures have seen best-selling author Liz McConaghy present to one of the biggest audiences of the year with her lecture ‘Chinook Crew Chick’ and Battlefield Guides Mike Peters and Julian Whippy also take to the stage.

In partnership with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Landmarc provides the support services that enable Armed Forces from around the world to prepare for frontline military operations across the UK Defence Training Estate, which includes the neighbouring Salisbury Plain Training Area.

Managing Director Mark Neill said, “The Army Flying Museum is an important part of our local community, and we are proud to be able to continue our partnership for another year. The Online Lectures are innovative, educational and invaluable to bringing our military history to new global audiences. We encourage anyone who has an interest in the military to take the opportunity to watch the lectures, or even to visit this wonderful museum. You won’t be disappointed.”

Lucy Johnson, Chief Executive of the Army Flying Museum said “When we first started the lecture series during the pandemic, we were astonished to see the number of people tuning in and particularly enjoying the live Q&A function. It has been great to see people returning to events in the Museum over the last year as well as viewing online to learn more about the history of military aviation and we are extremely grateful to Landmarc for continuing their support for the Museum.”

The next lecture on 20 July sees Paul Beaver, Trustee of the Army Flying Museum, present his latest book Winkle which tells the story of Battle of Britain hero Winkle Brown. Brown's extraordinary flying career saw him fight in the Battle of Britain, narrowly escape death on a torpedoed aircraft carrier, achieve a litany of new records and firsts as a test pilot, and fly more kinds of aircraft than any other pilot in history. To book visit https://armyflying.com/what-s-on/events/winkle/

Southern Voices: Music for a Summer’s Evening

Winchester based Chamber Choir, Southern Voices present a fabulous, light, summer concert in St Peter’s, Stockbridge SO20 6HF at 7.30pm on 8 July. The programme is a summer fizz of madrigals, folksongs and toe-tapping jazz – including : Little Jazz Madrigals by Bob Chilcott; Songs & Sonnets from Shakespeare by George Shearing and Three Elizabethan Part Songs by Vaughan Williams.

Two very special musicians provide accompaniment: Nicholas Sawley (Head of Keyboard, Winchester College) and Alastair Hume (found member of the King’s Singers). The choir’s brilliant new conductor Jamal Sutton will be in charge. Jamal opens the concert with four well known Elizabethan madrigals : ‘Now is the month of Maying’; ‘Weep, O mine eyes’; ‘O that the learned poets’ and ‘Fire! Fire!’. Later in the programme these madrigals are exactly repeated … but this time arranged by Bob Chilcott to some very modern jazz vibes ! A perfect programme for a summer’s evening light entertainment.

The choir are well established in Winchester and the South and 2024 marks their 40th Anniversary year. See the choir’s website: www.southernvoices.co.uk for information on this and more details about becoming a member, a friend and much more. Tickets £16 (Concessions £1 age 18 and under); ticketsource.co.uk/southernvoices; Telephone 0333 666 3366 (booking fees apply); or at the door. Registered Charity 1086868.

An lecture evening with Lady Carnarvon

Buy a NEW BUILD with confidence

Buying a new build offers many buyers the opportunity to get onto, or move up, the housing ladder. There are plenty of advantages to new homes, including being able to specify the layout and minimal repair and decoration costs. Here are our tips to help you buy a new build with confidence.

Check for a warranty

New properties usually come with guarantees, such as the National House Building Council (NHBC)’s 10-year warranty, but some developers also provide additional warranties or guarantees. This varies from developer to developer, so is worth checking.

Ensure you know what you’re getting If you are buying ‘off-plan’ (without seeing the actual house), it can be hard to envisage exactly what your home is going to look like when you move in – don’t be swayed by the show home, as your new pad won’t come with all the staging props!

Make sure you ask the developer for a list of everything the property includes. Will the garden be landscaped? Are white goods, carpets, and fittings included? Having a list up-front will help you when it comes to the exciting activity of shopping for your new home, as well as help to avoid any unexpected costs down the line.

Negotiate a price

When buying a new build, it can be difficult to negotiate a purchase price, however, we recommend ensuring that you negotiate some incentives, for example, will the developer pay the stamp duty, install carpets, fitted wardrobes or even help with energy costs for a certain period? Don’t be shy, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Consider your conveyancer

It’s not uncommon for developers to encourage buyers to use their preferred conveyancers or brokers. However, as with all house purchases, you can select an independent solicitor and lender to help you complete the process. This is an important decision and choosing your own conveyancer can be helpful in ensuring that they have your interests as a priority, rather than the developers’.

Talk to us about a mortgage for your new build

At Newbury Building Society, we provide 6-month mortgage offers for new build homes. This is longer than the average due to the property not being built yet! If you would like to talk about a morgage as a first-time buyer or for a new build home, appointments with our mortgage advisers are available on weekdays, in the evenings, and on Saturdays via video, phone, or in branch. Book online by scanning the QR code below.

Visit our Andover branch.

35 High Street, Andover, SP10 1LJ Call: 01635 555777 or visit: www.newbury.co.uk

Cliff Osborne, Senior Branch Manager of Newbury Building Society’s Andover branch.

YOUR MORTGAGE IS SECURED ON YOUR HOME.THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.