Community-minded Lymington Dentist receives national honour.

British Citizen Award given to Dr Donald Mackenzie for services to the community

A generous Hampshire dentist who has devoted more than three decades to his local community has been recognised with a national honour. Dr Donald Mackenzie, of Lymington, has been given a British Citizen Award for his services to the community.

The British Citizen Awards (BCAs) were launched in January 2015, to recognise exceptional individuals who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a positive impact on society. BCAs are awarded twice annually, and recognise ‘everyday’ people whose achievements may otherwise be overlooked.

Dr Mackenzie, aged 67, has been actively involved in promoting and supporting many organisations and helping safeguard the heritage of the town of Lymington since 1981.

Whilst being a highly successful professional – a dental specialist in Prosthodontics – Dr Mackenzie has still found time to devote to causes which benefitted the community. He has undertaken several community roles and has numerous successes attributed to him.

His first initiative was leading a major campaign to relaunch the Chamber of Commerce including designing and building their first website and database and helping to set them on a new more sustainable path.

In addition, for the past 20 years he has volunteered with the Lymington Society freely giving his time, expertise and effort as an active member of the Lymington Society Committee.

As its first Press Spokesman working with his colleagues he helped to revive the Society which grew from a membership of 130 to over 400. Dr Mackenzie was responsible for obtaining listed building status and thereby preventing the demolition of “The Masters House” a significant local building which stands on the site of the old work house, helping to preserve the history of the town.

Working for the Lymington Society, Dr Mackenzie organised a petition and a public meeting which successfully persuaded the planners to stop overdevelopment of blocks of flats in the town and cut down on unsuitable over-development as well as further public meetings on important local issues.

Through his determined efforts and commitment to the community he was responsible, with the help of a small committee for bringing Christmas Lights back to Lymington in 2008 after a break of several years having raised over £20,000 to ensure that new lights were purchased and that all the new safety rules and regulations were followed. Now taken over by the Town Council, these lights are still in use today ensuring the town has Christmas Lights to be proud of.

He has been a significant donor to local charities St. Barbe Museum and the Solent Music Festival and has sponsored local sports clubs, and many cultural events

As one of the Trustees he has been actively involved in the regeneration of the St. Barbe Museum, which saw him play an important role in raising £610,000 for the project. He has helped oversee the upgrading and enlarging of the museum, which will soon be reopened and will have a completely new museum display and be able to show a much bigger range of exhibitions as well as show works of national importance.

He is currently Chairman of the project to restore the Walhampton Monument to Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale – Lord of the Admiralty. He has led the project from the start, working with colleagues to generate funds to landscape the land surrounding the monument so that instead of an overgrown wasteland there is now open community space which as well as having a new accessible foot path, will soon have a picturesque pond.

Dr Mackenzie is known and respected in the community for passionately pursuing the public interest, fighting for what he believes in and getting things done. Against a backdrop of public sector financial uncertainty, Dr Mackenzie has used his economic, political, IT and negotiating skills to make a huge difference to this New Forest community. He has utilised the internet to connect the community and advance the communication of his causes and subsequent fundraising capability.

At a time when many rural and coastal towns are suffering from a downturn in fortunes or the threat of over-development, Dr Mackenzie has helped various organisations steer a course which has seen the town maintain its heritage and improve its appeal to the community. His donations have benefitted the town and his sponsorships have benefitted local organisations.

Dr Mackenzie is one of 30 medallists who will be honoured at a prestigious ceremony on July 6, at the Palace of Westminster. All BCA recipients have positively impact society undertaking various activities in support of a number of causes. Each will receive a Medal of Honour, inscribed with the words ‘For the Good of the Country’. Medallists are also invited to use the initials BCA after their name.

Speaking about his nomination, Dr Mackenzie said: “I was thrilled to find out about the award. It’s great to get recognition for the projects that I have been involved in but their success is really down to the hard work of a lot of people, not just me, and I would like to share this honour with them.”

The awards are in partnership with customer experience management company, InMoment, and are supported by the world’s largest optical retailer, Specsavers; one of the largest property and leisure management, development and regeneration companies in the UK, Places for People; leading ethical law firm Irwin Mitchell; the UK and Europe’s leading palletised freight distribution company, Pall-Ex, owned by BCAs Patron Hilary Devey; and specialist marketing, PR and communications agency, Lime Marketing – who each had representatives at the assessment day and will be presenting the awards in July.

Dr Mackenzie was nominated for a BCA by MP Desmond Swayne, who said: “Dr Mackenzie has given freely of his time, expertise and effort and has donated generously to local charities. He is well-known and respected locally for his efforts on behalf of the community.”

New Forest nursery just keeps on growing!

Experts in Agapanthus, Fairweather's export throughout Europe

A business in the heart of the New Forest is having an influence over the way gardens throughout Europe are going to look in the future. Fairweather’s Nursery in Beaulieu now export more than 25% of their turnover to France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The export sales have been developed over the past 10 years and are made up entirely from the sale of young Agapanthus plants.

Fairweather’s have developed many new strains of Agapanthus that offer new colours, more compact selections, improved hardiness and extend the traditional flowering season. Agapanthus gets their name from the Greek word agape=love and anthos= flower and are also called Lily of the Nile.

In order to offer uniform and vigorous plants all the 60 varieties that are commercially offered are produced in vitro, using tissue culture techniques that are also used on human cells. Initiation of the plants takes place in a UK laboratory with volume production then transferred to India and China.

Fairweather’s hold the Plant Heritage National collection of Agapanthus which contains over 500 named cultivars that are gathered from breeders across the world. The breadth of genetic variation and range, help the company make judgments about the introduction of new selections. Unique new plants that have good commercial prospects are protected in Europe by Plant Variety Rights and in the US by a patent.

Visit the Fairweather's Nursery on July 29th and 30th

Fairweather’s Nursery opens its doors once a year for the public to see the collection and its wholesale production nursery on July 29th and 30th 2017. Tours of the nursery with Patrick Fairweather will start at 11.30am and 2.30pm, including a demonstration of how to get the best from your Agapanthus, including tips on watering, feeding and dividing. Agapanthus, Lavenders and other perennials will be on sale throughout the weekend at special prices.

Visitors will also be able to see plants that form part of the Royal Horticultural Society Agapanthus trials which are also being held at RHS Wisley, that are being judged for the Award of Garden Merit.

The adjacent garden of Aline Fairweather who runs Fairweather’s Garden Centre in Beaulieu with her son is open all day for Cream Teas and refreshments.

Entry is £3.00 per person to the National Gardens Scheme. To date Fairweather’s have given over £10,000 to the charity which provides valuable support to Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Hospice UK plus other worthwhile charities.

Find out more about Fairweather's Garden Centre

Mamma Mia! Lymington's Italia Festival was HOT!

Thousands flocked to Lymington on Sunday for the Italia Festival 2017

Thousands flocked to Lymington on a beautifully sunny Sunday 2nd July for a taste of Italy. Now in its fourth year, Lymington's Italia Festival is fast becoming a popular annual attraction for the town and this year raised funds for The Stroke Association. 

In the morning, Lymington Yacht Haven welcomed the Ferrari Owners' Club and fifty Ferraris, visitors were able to get a good look at the cars before the grand procession around the town to Lymington's High Street. The Ferraris then parked along the top of the High Street opposite an Italian market selling Italian leather goods and a variety of Italian food.

Throughout the day, thousands of locals and visitors came to admire the Ferraris, try the Italian food and raise funds for national charity The Stroke Association through donations and a raffle.

Lymington & Pennington Town Council’s Town Mayor, Councillor Barry Dunning, was able to present the Stroke Association with a donation of £4000 raised during the day.

"What a stupendous event, even better than last year", said Lymington Mayor, Barry Dunning. "It's fantastic that all 50 cars arrived in convoy into the High Street, which was lined with crowds of people from far & wide – locals, holiday makers, campers and those who travelled miles just to come to this fantastic charity event.

The sound of the Ferrari engines coming up the High Street to great fanfare and car horns was absolutely amazing!" 

He added: "There were more Italian stalls than ever selling hot food, ice cream, drink and leather goods , with an array of prices to suit all budgets - and weren’t we extremely luck with the weather."

This annual event is organised by Lymington & Pennington Town Council and the Wessex Ferrari Owners Club.

(Photo: Left-Right: Mayor Barry Dunning, Andrew Peters (Deep Blue Financial) Tammy Angus (Stroke Association), Yvonne Hobbs (Stroke Association) & Rob Heard (Ferrari Club UK).

Outstanding news for Colten Care's New Milton home

Kingfishers gains top marks in independent inspection

A local family-owned residential and nursing home has received some ‘outstanding’ news after gaining top marks in an independent inspection. Colten Care’s Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, held an afternoon tea party to celebrate its official Outstanding rating from industry regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The assessment means the home is among the best one per cent of nursing homes nationally. The home was assessed across five criteria – being safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led – with sufficient elements reaching the highest standards to achieve the overall rating.

Inspectors praised team members for delivering “exceptional care and compassion”, noting the “service was personalised to meet people’s individual needs in a positive, open, transparent culture”.

The report quotes a GP who described the home as a “centre of excellence”, adding: “The care provided to people and relatives continues to be the best I have witnessed.”

In her comments, Deborah Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at the CQC, said: “It was inspiring to find the staff at Kingfishers constantly looking for ways to improve care so people had positive experiences and led fulfilling lives.

“Excellent links with the local community, schools and charities have been developed to support the home and involve those living at Kingfishers.

“There was a real focus on developing staff’s knowledge and skills in order to provide high quality care.

“The home had a culture of promoting people’s independence, recognising their individuality and providing care and support that embraced their culture and diversity."

The celebration party featured a sponge cake specially baked by Kingfishers’ chefs and iced with the Colten Care logo and one word: Outstanding.

Mark Aitchison, Chief Executive, told guests: “While all our homes are already rated Good, this is the first overall Outstanding rating for one of our homes and it’s absolutely fantastic. Care is what we’re all about - one team, working 24/7, 365 days of the year. That’s quite some undertaking and the team should all be incredibly proud of this achievement.”

Also attending was CQC Inspector Tony Smith who said: “I am just the messenger. I only write what I find and this is an outstanding home.”

Home Manager Beata Brzozowska said: “We’re thrilled with the inspectors’ report. It really is a testament to the commitment of our whole team. This is the happiest day of my life. Thank you all so much. We showed everyone that we can reach for the highest.”

Her views were echoed by Tania Ruzheva, Senior Care Lead, who added: “We work hard, supporting and respecting each other. This is the best prize a team can achieve and we’re all honoured to be part of it.”

Resident Eric Sinclare, 97, said: “The staff are wonderful, the place is wonderful and the activities are wonderful. What more can I say?”

Other guests included Cllr David Hawkins of New Milton Town Council who commented: “I was Mayor for three years and visited Kingfishers on many occasions. It’s a fantastic home and you can feel how family orientated it is as soon as you walk through the doors. Staff are always smiling. I think we should count ourselves very lucky that we have such an outstanding home in New Milton.”

The inspection report can be found at: http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-430575391.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT COLTEN CARE'S LOCAL HOMES

Colten Care operates six residential nursing and care homes in the local area, including three in Lymington: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and dementia specialist Linden House. There are also homes in Brockenhurst (Woodpecker's), New Milton (Kingfisher's) and Mudeford (Avon Reach). Click on the links to find out more about each home...

Reward raised to £5,000 to stop pony deaths in the New Forest.

Do you have information on any hit-and-run incidents where New Forest livestock has been injured or killed?

One of the distinctive features of the New Forest National Park are the open areas where ponies, cattle, donkeys, sheep and pigs roam free. All of the animals are owned by commoners and it is their free grazing across the forest that is vital to shaping the landscape that we know and love. 

The New Forest is one of the few areas in England where drivers often come face-to-face with animals on the road, both in daylight and at night. Unfortunately accidents do happen. Every animal killed is a great loss to the New Forest, and to its owner. One of the issues most regularly presented at the Verderer's Court are concerns about the numbers of commoning livestock killed or injured on the Forest roads.

This month, the Verderers announced an increase in the reward for information leading to the conviction of hit-and-run drivers who injure of kill New Forest livestock to £5,000. The move follows a series of fatalities this year. The hit-and-run scheme previously offered up to £1,000 but a cash injection from the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society, the Commoner’s Defence Association and international charity World Horse Welfare has resulted in the increase.

The reward will come into effect immediately and will be offered in connection with any incident occurring from 1st January 2017.

The animals have right of way

In a statement, the Verderers said the move was to encourage people to report drivers responsible for incidents involving New Forest livestock. A spokeswoman said: “This is a good moment to remind everyone who drives on the unfenced roads within the forest that the animals have right of way.

Slow down as you pass animals 

“Some of the more important measures that have been taken recently to reduce animal accidents include regular cutting back of roadside vegetation by the Forestry Commission to improve sight lines, making reflective collars available free of charge to all commoners for their ponies and donkeys and changing signs at various locations to warn drivers of the risks. We believe that if drivers slow down as they approach animals grazing on the verge and move over a little as they pass, a significant reduction in accidents would result.”

You must report any incidents within 24 hours

If you hit a New Forest animal, you must report the incident, even if the animal runs off. It may be in distress, have serious injuries that require immediate veterinary attention or have fatal injuries that would necessitate the animal being put to sleep. Some animals run away in fear and panic, even on broken limbs which can make you believe that it is unhurt. As a result the animal can suffer unnecessarily.

The Verderers state that if a collision with a Forest animal occurs (for whatever reason) drivers are required to report it to the authorities as soon as practicably possible, and certainly within 24 hours.

Drivers must not leave the scene of an accident (unless it is to call for help), particularly if the animal is still on the highway as it may cause a further accident.

Anyone with information regarding a hit-and-run incident in the New Forest, involving a commonable animal, is asked to ring the Verderers’ Office on 023 8028 2052, or Hampshire Police on 101.

The Official Verderer also announced to the Court that drivers on the New Forest roads can also expect to see more activity from the mobile traffic cameras. 

Download here a handy card with these emergency numbers.

Remember, Forest animals have no road sense and they have right of way. Drive slowly, especially at night, and give animals a wide berth. 

Learn more about the rules of the New Forest and how we can help to avoid injuring animals.

Announcing the winner of our JoJo Maman Bébé competition

Woodside Gardens is the best place for children in Lymington.

Last week our flash summer competition asked you where is the best place for children in Lymington.

The beautiful Woodside Gardens was the most chosen place - and we're not surprised! With it's fairies, space to kick a ball or have a picnic, playground, skatepark and sports areas it is perfect for all ages! 

Also suggested was Salterns Sailing Club, Lymington Seawater Baths, feeding the ducks at the Town Quay, Lymington's new JoJo Maman Bébé shop, Lymington Health & Leisure, walking along the sea wall, our local beaches, the shell souvenir shop, New Forest Icecream Parlour and even 'Grandma and Grandpa's house'!

Thank you to everyone who entered our competition on Facebook and by email.

The winner of the competition is: Kirsty Horne

Kirsty wins a £50 voucher to spend in Lymington's new JoJo Maman Bébé store on the High Street. Congratulations!

(and thanks to Ali Lansley for the great photo of the tulips at Woodside) 

Win a £50 voucher for Lymington's new JoJo Maman Bébé!

Where is the best place for children in Lymington?

We've teamed up with Lymington's new JoJo Maman Bébé to bring you a flash summer competition! Tell us where you think is the best place for children in Lymington. The winner will receive a £50 JoJo Maman Bébé gift voucher!

Where is great for children in Lymington?

Is it a particular local playground?

Or playing on the inflatables at the Seawater Baths?

Perhaps jumping in puddles in the New Forest?

Crabbing off the town quay?

Or maybe checking out the gorgeous toys and clothes in Lymington's new JoJo Maman Bébé?! 

To enter our Facebook Competition, go to Lymington.com's Facebook page (Lymington Hampshire) and find the post with this competition.

• LIKE the Lymington Hampshire Facebook page and
• TAG a friend who might also like to enter the competition and 
• WRITE in the Comments where you think the best place is for children in Lymington.

Deadline: midnight on Saturday 1st July 2017.

We will select the winner at random and announce on Sunday 2nd July 2017.

NB: If you are not on Facebook and would like to enter the competition, email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by midnight on Saturday 1st July 2017.

JoJo Maman Bebe opening in Lymington 23 June 2017

Exciting new arrival will delight those with new arrivals!

In 1993 when fashion choices for expectant mothers were hard to find, Laura Tenison, Founder of JoJo Maman Bébé decided a revolution in maternity fashion was needed. So, from beginning as a one woman start up, Laura worked tirelessly to bring JoJo Maman Bébé to life. Inspiration from Laura’s time living in Brittany, France, can still be seen in the nautical designs and 25 years on, there are now 80 JoJo stores across the UK and Ireland, with many more in the pipeline.

JoJo’s latest boutique is opening on Friday 23rd June at 127-128 High Street, Lymington

There will be lots of exciting activity to celebrate the opening of the new shop - JoJo will be giving away goody bags to the first 100 customers who spend in store on the day and will also be giving away hop along bunny balloons throughout the opening weekend.

Lymington’s thriving town centre is the perfect spot for parents to enjoy visiting this lovely store, complete with facilities including a baby changing room and customer WC, nursing chair and children’s colouring corner. There is also a gorgeous maternity section where pregnant customers are welcome to take their time trying on the exclusive maternity range and take advantage of the free maternity bra fitting. JoJo’s store teams are given in-depth training at the head office and understand the needs of pregnant women and new parents. 

The team at JoJo Lymington are looking forward to seeing you in store soon!

JoJo Maman Bébé
127-128 High Street
Lymington
Hampshire
SO41 9AQ
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

A care home in Lymington where you can continue to live independently...

... in a beautiful environment, eating delicious meals (you don’t have to make yourself), doing the things you did before which you still want to do, making new friends and trying new activities...

It really is time to reconsider previously held assumptions about care home living, many fostered upon us by the media. The negatives don’t apply to modern professionally run care homes like Colten Care’s, and a visit to Court Lodge in Lymington reinforced so many of the positives that we must share them with you in case you’re considering – perhaps dreading – taking what seems such a final step.

Court Lodge Residential Care Home Lymington

Put simply, this is a home from home, run and managed by a lovely team of professional friendly staff, and the emphasis is totally upon you, your needs, and how you want to live your life. Some of it is hard to explain in words and really has to be experienced which is why it can be so valuable to take a short break and experience it for yourself. But even a short visit will enable you to get a sense of this lovely home and what it might be like to live there. 

A haven of tranquility and a leisurely and leafy home from home

The building is a quadrangle with a lovely feeling of indoors and outdoors mingling together: the main rooms on the ground floor and the well appointed single bedrooms above look out on to a beautiful leafy central courtyard garden bursting with greenery and colour, with plenty of seating in both sun and shade.

Residents are actively encouraged to maintain their previous interests and live as independently as they wish thanks to the support of a remarkable team of professional staff. Everybody lives together in peaceful harmony coming together for meals and activities they wish to share but living independently.

Close to Woodside Gardens and a comfortable walk from the centre of Lymington

Court Lodge is situated in a quiet residential area off Ridgeway Lane close to Woodside Gardens and a comfortable walk from Lymington town centre, the Quay and the Marinas – and it really does feel close to all the facilities and amenities of Lymington.

Open doors yet feels very private, safe and secure 

The building was carefully modernised from a private residence and from the moment you set foot in the door has a welcoming and homely feel. Greeted by Home Manager Sam and her team you feel distinctly at home and nothing seems too much trouble. On the day we visited Activities Coordinator Julia welcomed us with an enormous smile and immediately whisked us off on a tour of the home greeting residents as we met them along the way.

A happy and relaxed atmosphere

From the moment you step inside Court Lodge you get a sense of the bonding between staff and residents. Even in a heatwave in the middle of a power cut which had affected the local area everybody seemed chilled! Hot lunch had been calmly switched to sandwiches and a generator had already arrived and was being set up.

Colten Care’s longest serving employee Margaret celebrated her 70th birthday recently.

This YouTube film shows Margaret a few years ago talking about how she loves her job, which includes chatting with residents who stay in their rooms brightening their days while she cleans and tidies for them! 

Do whatever you want to do

A day at Court Lodge can be as similar as a day in your own home as you want it to be. And whatever you used to enjoying doing when you lived in your own home, you can continue to do if you wish.

A typical day begins with getting up at whatever time suits you with a choice of breakfast to suit your mood and appetite in bed, pyjamas, or dressed for the day in the dining room enjoying the view out to the beautiful garden.

Then there are lots of activities and outings organised by the staff in which you’re welcome to take part if you’d like to. Many new arrivals make new friends with people they’ve just met and take up new activities together. Some of the men especially like to sit together at lunch and chat about those subjects which have always interested them. But if you prefer to take yourself out alone or with other friends or relatives on foot or wheels that’s fine too. And if you prefer to stay in your room that’s fine too. It’s all about you spending your time in the way you like best.

Live the life you want to live

Before he moved to Court Lodge, John swam daily at the Leisure Centre – which became conveniently just a short walk from his “new” home so he was able to continue as if nothing had changed!

Joan had always wanted to go on a balloon ride and with Julia’s help was able to realise her dream. She had also been a keen cyclist and fancied getting on a bike when Colten Care homes were raising money for Children in Need – so aged well over 100 she duly did her stint on the exercise bike.

If you’re a sailor, or a golfer, or a bird spotter, whatever your calling if you want to keep on doing it, you can! And if you want to do something but mobility issues are making it harder than it used to be, the staff will do their utmost to make it happen – often it’s simply a case of providing a little support.

As Sam says: “We hope our residents will stay as independent as possible for as long as possible! Whatever you like to do at home you should be able to just carry on doing here. If you don’t want to get up until 11 that’s fine by us. If you want to eat in the middle of the night you can – there’s always somebody on hand to get you a snack or a sandwich.”

Stay local and close to your friends

If you’ve been living in or near Lymington for some time and have lots of local friends but know the time has come, Court Lodge is about as close to your own home in spirit as you could get, but with none of the chores!

Leave loneliness behind and make new friends

It’s often a wonderful discovery that the loneliness and tedium of living alone become history when you move to Court Lodge.

Try before you buy

Moving out of your own home is an enormous decision, it would be nice to test it!

A short stay at Court Lodge is the ideal way to see what it’s like to live there, and whether you like it. Two separate ladies recently came for a two weeks short stay, one stayed for six weeks and the other for eight! Both are now planning to move in long term. Another lady had a short respite stay at Court Lodge: three times her daughter came to collect her, each time  she declared said she wanted to stay longer!

Take a look at the Court Lodge website and if you’d like to visit just contact Sam!

And more information can be found by clicking on the links below:

More about Court Lodge 

Short breaks and respite at Colten Care homesShort breaks and respite at Colten Care homes 

Local Colten Care homes

Celebrate Bastille Day with french regional menus in the new forest

Le Blaireau Bar & Bistro will be a Brexit-free zone this summer

With a special celebration planned for Bastille Day, head chef Jean-Raymond Dijoux, has also launched monthly seasonal menus celebrating the most famous regional French cuisines.

The relaxed, quirky, Brockenhurst bistro in the grounds of Careys Manor & SenSpa, with a quirky interior inspired by Paris street café culture, will be celebrating Bastille Day with a three-course Bastille Day menu, accompanied by a traditional French accordionist for £29.95 per person.

Bastille Day on 14 July, Quatorze Juillet, is the highlight of the French events calendar. In 1789, troops stormed the Bastille, the medieval fortress and prison in Paris, marking the turning point in the French Revolution.

During June, the stunning, sophisticated Loire Valley is the focus region – and a speciality dessert, Nougat de Tours is a highlight on the menu this month. Contrary to its name it is not a nougat but a cake filled with confit fruits and an almond meringue, macaron-style mix. Goat’s cheese is hugely popular and the small cylindrical shaped Crottin de Chavignol is served warm with lardons and tomato salad.

In July, Francophiles will be equally impressed – with the Nouvelle Aquitaine region being the focus. In August diners have Région d’Occitanie to look forward to.
The changing dishes on the regional menus can be seen at www.careysmanor.com and all can be paired with regional wines such as Sauvignon Blac, Val de Loire, L’Abbaye (Loire Valley), Cote de Provence Rose (Provence) or Merlot Cabernet Organit Duberny (Rousillon and Languedoc) from Le Blaireau’s all-French wine list. Designed to offer a trip around France, these wines will introduce diners to different classic and regional French wines.

Find out more about Le Blaireau

Themed menus for the rest of 2017 are as follows:

July – Région de la Nouvelle Aquitaine

August – Région d’Occitanie - Midi Pyrénées-Languedoc

September – Région de Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur

October – Région d’Auvergne-Rhône Alpes

November – Région de Bourgogne-Franche Comté and Beaujolais Nouveau

December - Allo Allo Christmas Celebrations

Twelfth Night Al Fresco Theatre 

Part of Artisans by the River, theatre company "Rain or Shine"

‘Al fresco’ theatre this summer – come ‘Rain or Shine’

Professional theatre company Rain or Shine, hailed by ‘The Stage’ as “one of the best companies touring open air theatre" are set to delight family audiences once again this summer with their production of Shakespeare’s cross-gartered and hilarious cross-dressing comedy Twelfth Night, as they ‘transport’ you to a land where nothing is quite what it seems.

“What country, friends, is this?” Have you ever found yourself in yourself in a strange place, surrounded by strange people, taking extraordinary measures to find your way? That’s the situation Viola finds herself in when, shipwrecked and separated from her brother, she sets foot upon Illyria’s sandy shore. Lost and alone, she disguises herself as a man and sets forth.

Before long, chaos ensues as mistaken identity, love, pride and alcohol set a host of much loved characters on a series of hilarious adventures. Hopeless romantics, drunken knights, a pompous steward and fools galore abound in one of Mr. William Shakespeare’s most celebrated comedies. “If music be the food of love, play on!”

Sure to delight family audiences from 6 to 96, this is an ideal choice for an outdoor theatrical event, bringing classical theatre into the heart of local communities and here in Lymington for our delectation this weekend.

The performance takes place at Bath Road Recreation Ground, Lymington on Sunday 4th June starting from 5.00 pm, as part of the ‘Artisans by the River’ festival.

As the artisans pack up for home, a roving theatre company comes out to play!  We are privileged to host ‘Rain or Shine Theatre Company’ a highly experienced travelling theatre. From 5pm they set up to bring you a regular favourite of delightful comedic Shakespeare - “Twelfth Night” as the sun sets.

Bring your own picnic, picnic blankets and refreshments – although we will have a couple of refreshment vans on site, just-in-case!

Tickets for this event are available from Maxwell Hamilton, Lymington or from St Barbe information centre or directly phone 03306 600541

Tickets at the gate too...

Bring picnics, rugs and low backed seats

Audiences are requested to bring along low-backed seating or rugs, and a picnic to maximise their enjoyment of the al fresco performances. Full details of the tour and venues can be found on the Rain or Shine website.

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT ORCHESTRA TO CLOSE CURIOUS ARTS FESTIVAL 

007 HEAVEN -  ICONIC JAMES BOND SONGS AND THEMES 

Don't miss the closing event of this year's  Weekend Festival on Sunday 23 July - yet another fantastic act!

The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra  will be closing this year’s Curious Arts Festival with a sensational evening celebrating over 50 thrilling years of iconic songs and themes from films about everyone’s favourite secret service agent – 007!

This will be a night of 007 Heaven featuring musical highlights from some of the best Bond films ever such as ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Licence to Kill’, ‘You Only Live Twice’, ‘Diamonds are Forever’, Live and Let Die’, ‘Goldeneye’, ‘From Russia with Love’, ‘Skyfall’, ‘Casino Royale’ and many more.

It will take place in the Gorse Tent on Sunday 23rd July – approximate start time 7.15pm.

Free concert for festival ticket holders

This concert is free to all festival ticket holders as part of a packed programme to delight and enthrall.

This is the CURIOUS Arts Festival!

Back for a fourth year this cultural, creative, curious boutique festival for all family features comedy, music and a packed children’s programme. With life drawing, midnight bat walks and cocktail masterclasses, snail racing, poetry workshops, pop-up fine dining and even a cricket match no other festival offers anything like this dreamy, fun, eccentric and ultimately inimitable weekend.

For more details see main article here

Summary of Highlights

Highlights on the music stage include the best of UK singer songwriter talent headlined by Tom Odell and Brit Critics Choice Award winner Izzy Bizu. This year’s Curious comedy offer will see Mock The Week’s hilarious Ed Byrne join Radio 4 regular Simon Evans, Paul Tonkinson, and Curious comedy favorites the lightening-quick sketch group The Noise Next Door amongst others.

The literary line up stars an unparalleled list of the most talked about and awarded authors of 2017 including legendary writer, film-maker and publisher Dave Eggers, prolific contemporary novelist Joanna Trollope, award winning journalist Lynn Barber and prize winners Eimear McBride (A GIRL IS A HALF FORMED THING, Bailey Prize) and Keggie Carew (DADLAND, Costa Award) to mention a few.

The kids programme promises a Jabberwocky Hunt, comedy from Howard Read, Breath of Life Puppetry workshops, Story Cures for children from Ella Berthoud and a series of events for budding writers and photographers with The Week Junior.

The festival takes place from 21st – 23rd July 2017.

How to get your tickets

Tickets are on sale at www.curiousartsfestival.com. Tickets are priced at £128 weekend adult, £300 weekend family, £23 weekend child (5-13), £55 day adult, £20 day child (5-13).

Camping is FREE and extensive GLAMPING options are also available.

www.curiousartsfestival

For more details see main article here