Good Luck Land Rover BAR from your supporters in lymington!

Lymington will be supporting Sir Ben and the team, which includes Lymington locals Matt and Ed, throughout the America's Cup

Tomorrow we see the start of the qualifying stage for the 2017 America’s Cup where Sir Ben Ainslie’s team Land Rover BAR will be striving to qualify for the America’s Cup match which begins on 17th June.

Lymington holds Sir Ben close to its heart, along with local team members Matt Cornwell and Ed Powys. Ben moved to Lymington with his family in 1996 and was given freedom of Lymington in 2013 following his fourth Olympic gold medal in the London 2012 Olympics. Matt Cornwell grew up in Lymington and was keen member of 9th Lymington Sea Scouts, spending as much time in boats as he could on the Lymington River. Ed Powys also grew up locally and has fond memories of sailing (and capsizing!) at Salterns Sailing Club as a child.

Find out more about the Land Rover BAR team.

About the America's Cup 

The America's Cup is named after the schooner America, which in 1851 won a race around the Isle of Wight from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, watched by Queen Victoria.

The trophy was originally known as the £100 cup, and its first winners donated the trophy to be a "perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations".

America's Cup matches now take place every 4 years.

Competitors in the 2017 35th America's Cup Qualifiers will race in 15m yachts with 23m high solid wing instead of sails. These can power the boats to over three times the speed of the prevailing wind.

The catamarans' hulls carry manually deployed dagger boards, which bend through 90 degrees to form a hydrofoil. At speeds of around 14 knots this creates enough lift to raise the boat out of the water which dramatically increases its speed by reducing drag.

How the competition works

The Qualifiers are the first stage of a fairly complicated process. 

All six teams – Britain, Japan, USA (Oracle Team USA take part for practice purposes and because the winners of the qualifiers begin the America’s Cup match with a one-point advantage), Sweden, New Zealand, France – must compete in a double round-robin of match races, in which each team races the others twice.

The bottom-placed team are then eliminated and four challenger teams remain.

They will contest semi-finals and a final to see which boat gets to take on Oracle in next month’s America's Cup match.

You can follow up to the minute news on the official America's Cup Twitter feed HERE 

And the Land Rover BAR live blog HERE 

BBC Timings HERE  - it's on Channel BT Sport - try 115

The start has already been postponed because of high winds forecast but we believe the groupings and the order to be as follows.

Round robin 1

Race 1: USA vs France
Race 2: Sweden vs Japan
Race 3: France vs NZ
Race 4: GBR vs Sweden

Race 5: NZ vs France
Race 6: GBR vs Japan
Race 7: Sweden vs France
Race 8: USA vs GBR

Race 9: Japan vs NZ
Race 10: USA vs Sweden
Race 11: NZ vs GBR
Race 12: Japan vs USA

Race 13: GBR vs France
Race 14: Sweden vs NZ
Race 15: France vs Japan

Round robin 2

Race 1: NZ vs Sweden
Race 2: France vs USA
Race 3: Sweden vs GBR

Race 4: Japan vs France
Race 5: GBR vs NZ
Race 6: USA vs Japan
Race 7: France vs GBR

Race 8: NZ vs Japan
Race 9: Sweden vs USA
Race 10: NZ vs France
Race 11: Japan vs Sweden

Race 12: USA vs NZ
Race 13: Japan vs GBR
Race 14: France vs Sweden
Race 15: GBR vs USA

Good luck Land Rover BAR! #BringTheCupHome

New Official Verderer for the New Forest

Lord Manners takes the helM as Official Verderer

The New Forest Verderers have welcomed a new leader following the retirement of Dominic May, who has held the post for the past six years. The new Official Verderer is former solicitor Lord 'Willie' Manners, who is following in his father’s footsteps.

Speaking at the monthly Court of Verderers in Lyndhurst he said: “My first task is to say how honoured I am to have been chosen. Starting out in a post such as this, one often feels that one is standing on the shoulders of giants. However, it is my hope and intention to serve the Forest to the best of my ability and be a worthy successor to those giants. At the last court many fulsome tributes were rightly paid to my predecessor. Since I was appointed in March, Dominic has given me an enormous amount of his time and his knowledge to ensure that I hit the ground running and for that I am extremely grateful.”

Lord Manners, 60, is married with four children and lives at North Ripley, near Bransgore. His father was Official Verderer in the 1980s, when the Verderers helped defeat a highly controversial Private Member’s Bill that would have resulted in a Lyndhurst bypass. The scheme aimed to ease the gridlock that occurs in the area but conservationists said the proposed new road would have a devastating impact on the countryside and forest surrounding the town.

The Verderers Court is a statutory body set up under the New Forest act of 1877.  It is the last remnant of the old form of Forest Government which was at one time found in many parts of the Country.  The Verderers regulate and adminster the commoning system (the exercise of common rights such as grazing ponies) in the Forest.  They also have wide responsibilities in respect of development control and conservation.  The present Court consists of 10 Verderers.  5 are elected by the Commoners (people with common rights) and the other 5 are appointed, one each by DEFRA, the Forestry Commission, the National Park Authority and the Countryside Agency.  The Official Verderer is chairman of the Court and is appointed by the Queen.

Find out more about the Verderers and the New Forest 'System.'

CURIOUS ARTS FESTIVAL AND CODA MUSIC TRUST ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

Local festival to support innovative music charity over the next three years.

Curious Arts Festival has announced a three year partnership with local music charity Coda Music Trust, which will see the festival supporting the charity until 2019.

Coda Music Trust is an award-winning, innovative charity, based on the Dorset/Hampshire border, which uses music as a tool for personal and social change, often tackling issues of social deprivation, isolation, ill-health and disability.

Curious, which returns to the New Forest for a 4th year from July 21-23rd, is an eclectic boutique festival now firmly on the culturally-minded festival-goer’s calendar given its creative programming spanning music, literature, comedy and thought-provoking inspirational events.

The line-up includes music, comedy, literature and a packed children’s programme, with music headliners Tom Odell and Izzy Bizu, literary headliners Dave Eggers, Lemn Sissay and Joanna Trollope and comedy from Ed Byrne, Simon Evans and Paul Tonkinson among many others.

Find out more about the Curious Arts Festival 2017.

After meeting with Coda Music Trust, the festival organisers were impressed with the breadth and quality of the charity’s work in the local community and committed to supporting Coda with an investment of £5,000 over three years. This will be match funded by Arts Council England.

As part of the programming for children and families at the festival, Coda will be delivering a ‘Curious About Songwriting’ workshop and a Kid’s Ukulele Club.

“As Curious puts down roots with our fourth year in Hampshire, we are delighted to support this wonderful local charity,” commented Rory Steel, Director of Curious Arts Festival. “We were impressed by the quality of the work Coda delivers locally and its determination to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the community. We are excited about building on this partnership in coming years. Please do consider making a contribution to this great cause if you're attending the festival.”

Phil Hallett, CEO of Coda Music Trust said “We are absolutely delighted that Curious Arts Festival has chosen to support us in this way. We are particularly excited about developing this partnership further and look forward to working closely with Curious over the coming months and years.”

Curious Arts Festival is the first corporate organisation to commit to Coda’s recently launched fundraising campaign “Coda In The Community” with its investment of £5,000, which will be match-funded by the Arts Council, effectively doubling the contribution.

To find out more about Coda Music Trust visit the website www.coda.org.uk or contact Coda on 01425 276161 or via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Curious Arts Festival takes place at Pylewell Park in the New Forest from 21st – 23rd July. Find out more at www.curiousartsfestival.com

100 Years of MusicALS at Lymington Carnival

Headline sponsor, Colten Care, set for a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious day!

Organisers of this summer’s Lymington Carnival and Fete have welcomed a boost to their ‘centenary of music’ theme from the headline sponsor. Colten Care is supporting the popular community day, run by the Lions Club of Lymington and Brockenhurst, for the fourth year running.

100 Years of Musicals

This year’s Carnival theme of 100 Years of Musicals prompted Colten team members, residents and families to reflect on their own favourite all-time musicals. The obvious choice was the 1964 Disney classic, Mary Poppins. Residents, relatives and staff at Colten Care will be dressing up as characters from the much loved film.

Carnival Launch at Belmore Lodge in Lymington

At an evening launch party at Belmore Lodge care home in Milford Road, resident Mary Young - sharing Mary Poppins’ first name - said she was looking forward to dressing up as the unorthodox nanny and meeting any Dick Van Dyke-style Berts.

Lions Club President Ian Duncan said: “We chose 100 Years of Music to help celebrate the Lions’ centenary this year. We’re thrilled that Colten Care, our headline sponsors once again, are getting into the spirit with their Mary Poppins theme. It’s all shaping up to be a superb community event.”

Janie Pearman, Home Manager and Colten Care’s parade leader at last year’s sport-themed Carnival, said: “The Carnival is a fantastic community event that creates a real buzz. We all enjoy preparing for it by making costumes and decorations to wear on the day. This year it will be a case of ‘spit spot, off we go’ and ‘the job’s a game’ as Dame Julie Andrews said so memorably in the film.”

Janie added: “We do our very best to provide our residents with a high quality of life. For some, personal circumstances mean that it can be difficult to go out and experience community events such as the Carnival. The chance to participate with our support and care at every stage is part of our ongoing commitment to enable residents to continue doing and enjoying the activities they love.”

On Carnival day, Sunday, 16th July, Colten Care minibuses will call at Court Lodge, Linden House and Belmore Lodge in Lymington, plus Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, to collect residents. Meanwhile, those who simply want to watch the procession will have exclusive use of a raised verge by the Town Hall so they can sit in comfort, sample cakes and refreshments, and view the proceedings close up.

Other guests attending the launch evening at Belmore Lodge included Cllr Anne Corbridge, Deputy Mayor of Lymington, and James Brushwood of the Lymington Sports Association, hosts of the Carnival fete.

Click here to watch a short film of Colten Care residents and staff at last year’s Lymington Carnival

Click here for more information on this year’s Carnival

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...

TOWN COUNCIL MATTERS

Lymington And Pennington Town Council

Introduction

The aim of every Town Council is to work towards improving community well being and providing better services at a local level. Their activities fall into three main categories: representing the local community; delivering services to meet local needs; striving to improve quality of life and community well being.

Lymington and Pennington Town Council serves approximately 15,000 local residents across both Lymington and Pennington. 

Through an extensive range of discretionary powers it provides and maintains a variety of important and visible local services including open spaces, play areas, sports and other facilities, allotments and some events.

Please visit http://lymington.com/lymington-pennington-town-council to read all about the activities, responsibilities of Lymington and Pennington Town Council.

Lymington and Pennington Town Council: Meet your Councillors

The Councillors of Lymington and Pennington Town Council are democratically elected to represent the electors in the town. Their main aim is to work together to serve the community and bring local issues to the attention of the council and help it make decisions on behalf of the local community. Find out more...

Lymington and Pennington Town Council Responsibilities 

The aim of our Town Council is to work towards improving community well being and providing better services at a local level. Their activities fall into three main categories: representing the local community; delivering services to meet local needs; striving to improve quality of life and community well being. Find out more...

Lymington Charter Market: every Saturday come rain or shine!

Lymington has a traditional charter market which dates from the 1250s. The market takes place along the length of the High Street every Saturday throughout the year from 8am to 4pm and is far the largest street market in the New Forest area; with a great deal of history behind it is nowadays a special experience for New Forest visitors to enjoy. Find out more... 

Work out your mind and your body in Lymington!

Lymington and Pennington Town Council have now completed two table tennis tables in Woodside Gardens, adjacent to the Outdoor Gym and a chess table and chairs in Bath Road park. Find out more...

Lymington Sports Ground Pavilion opened by Mayor

Lymington Sports Ground Pavilion was officially opened on the 22nd September by the Town Mayor, Barry Dunning, with representatives from both Lymington Town Football Club and Lymington Cricket Club in attendance. Read more...

Get Fit for Free at Lymington's new Outdoor Gym

A new Outdoor Gym has been installed in Woodside Gardens and is now open for all to use free of charge. Lymington and Pennington Town Council have invested just under £20,000 in the project, led by Cllr Peter Allen. Find out more...

A new playground for Pennington

The newly refurbished playground on Pennington Common unofficially opened on the 25th August, just before the Bank Holiday weekend. The Town Council invested £65,000 in a complete overhall of the play park, which gets the thumbs up from local children. Find out more...

Petanque every Tuesday

Players meet on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm at the Petanque Court, Emsworth Road, Lymington SO41 3SE. Newcomers are welcome and can be supplied with all the kit required. A social session takes place each Thursday from 6pm. If you would like to get involved, you are welcome to turn up at 2pm on Tuesdays or call Chris on 01202 425063 or 07968 486762 for more information. It is free for anyone to use during daylight hours. 

Lymington and Pennington decorated in South & South East In Bloom Awards 2017

This summer, Lymington and Pennington did 'blooming' well by achieving coveted awards in 'South and South East In Bloom 2017. Pennington Common was awarded Open Space of the Year Award! Read more...

Mamma Mia! Lymington's Italia Festival was HOT!

Thousands visited Lymington's Italia Festival on Sunday 2nd July and basked in glorious sunshine as they admired the Ferraris and sampled the delicious offerings at the Italian market. Find out more...

Lymington's Historic Seawater Baths

Lymington's Sea Water Baths, in Bath Road, is the oldest open air natural swimming pool in the UK. Dating back to 1833 the baths have historically gained national interest for their health giving waters and natural mud minerals. Today, young and old still swim in the waters and enjoy the stunning location with views over to the Isle of Wight. Find out more...

 Learn more about the history of the Lymington Seawater Baths

The Contact details for the Town Council office are:

Lymington and Pennington Town Council, Town Council Office, Town Hall, Avenue Road, Lymington, SO41 9ZG.

Tel. 02380 285893

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Therapies, Classes and Talks At The Natural Health Hub

New complementary health centre opening in Lymington this May

Exciting news!

A new complementary health centre is now open, just off the High Street in Lymington. The Natural Health Hub will offer a wide range of therapies, classes and talks with the common goal of providing and promoting natural health for women, children and babies.

Classes include: hatha yoga, power yoga, tai chi, pilates and meditation. For mums and babies, pregnancy massage and yoga, plus baby massage courses. And for older folk and those who need a gentler, more spiritual class, yoga gold.

Free talk on Tuesday 9th May: Springclean your gut flora for a whole new you!

A full range of complementary treatments and therapies

The Hub will offer a full range of complementary treatments including: Bach Flower therapy, counselling/psychotherapy, ear candling, life retuning, forgiveness and empowerment coaching, food intolerance testing, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage (aromatherapy, clinical, deep tissue, hot stone, sports), Neal’s Yard facials, reflexology, reiki, scar treatment and TMJ work.

'The Hub will be dedicated to the health, happiness and empowerment of women, and committed to helping families bring up children as naturally as possible,’ says the owner, homeopath Sue Leach. ‘Our aim is to establish a centre of excellence in complementary therapies where high-calibre practitioners gather together and collaborate, a welcoming place for everyone to come for advice and holistic healing – physical, emotional or spiritual.’

Talks and workshops

The Hub will also be hosting a full programme of talks and workshops, the initial round of which will include:

• Monday lunchclub: pop in for advice from our natural health advisors over healthy nibbles, all free of charge
• Our body rehab challenge to slough off winter and get you on top form for spring
• Homeopathy for beginners: four weekly evening classes
• Mum and baby relaxation workshop
• Cultivate your green fingers gardening workshop
• Reiki refresher days
• Ayurvedic food workshop
• Breathing workshop: learn how to breath properly
• Money mindfulness coaching
• Road to self-love workshop

The Natural Health Hub

The Natural Health Hub is at 87b High Street, Lymington S041 9AN on 2 May 2017. Tucked behind Lymington High Street, along the passageway behind Halifax and Dogs Trust, in the white building on the right in the courtyard at the far end. Please be considerate of neighbours as you enter and leave the building.

To book appointments and classes, call 01590 670955 or go to www.TheNaturalHealthHub.co.uk for the online booking system. Or pop in any time from 2 May, opening hours will be Monday to Saturday 10-5pm.

The Natural Health Hub
87b High Street*
Lymington SO41 9AN

01590 670955

* Tucked behind Lymington High Street, along the passageway behind Halifax and Dogs Trust, white building on the right in the courtyard at the far end

Winning the Roux Scholarship changed the life of local Head chef

Matt Tomkinson of the montagu arms reflects on his achievement

Who will be the 34th Roux scholar?

This week a young chef will hear the life-changing news that they are to become the 34th Roux Scholar. They will join an elite band of young British chefs who have fought their way through three rounds of competition to gain one of the culinary world’s greatest prizes – one that opens the door to a glittering career and a lifelong opportunity to learn more about their art.

New Forest chef Matt Tomkinson knows exactly how the winner will feel because, in 2005, it was him receiving the accolade. 

“It changes how you see the industry and how the industry sees you,” said Matt. “Essentially you win the Roux Scholarship and you have a year where lots of things happen which is part of the prize; you spend three months in a 3* restaurant which, nowadays, could be anywhere in the world.

Matt, who is head chef at the Montagu Arms Hotel, went to New York, visited a coffee roasting factory, Champagne makers and met suppliers.

“It’s like an ongoing, semi-official club because you keep visiting and learning, I’ve been to Tuscany, Japan and most recently San Francisco,” he explained.

The Roux Scholarship was set up by the Roux brothers, Albert and Michel, 33 years ago to advance the cause of British gastronomy which was not highly regarded at the time.

When the annual contest is announced, entrants are asked to compose a recipe for a dish to serve four people including what Matt describes as ‘quite humble ingredients’. From around 100 or so entrants the recipes are whittled down to 20 contestants who are invited to come and cook their recipes at two venues.

“There’s always a box of mystery ingredients, usually for the dessert, and you have to use a minimum of 50% of each one although you are allowed to disregard one ingredient,” explained Matt.

The final contest takes place between six national finalists at a London venue who are given a meal to cook in front of judges who, in Matt’s contest, included Gary Rhodes and Rick Stein.

“It’s not to do with which restaurant you come from but it’s more a genuine test of a chef’s ability,” admitted Matt. “You could be asked to cook a stew or perhaps a braise, but it’s totally about the cooking.”

He entered the competition once before, got to the national finals and enjoyed the experience so much, he returned the next year when he won.

“I had absolutely no idea that would happen and so, when they told me, I’m sorry to say I said a very rude word!” he shared. That moment was 12 years ago but the impact of being a Roux Scholar will, he says, remain throughout his career and has certainly shaped his time at the Montagu Arms.

“It’s an experience that stays with you forever."

Find contact details for the Terrace Restaurant at the Montagu Arms Hotel

Excellent water quality ratings for New Forest and Milford beaches

Visitors to our local beaches are enjoying water of the very highest quality according to a nationwide scientific study. The two main beaches along the New Forest National Park's 26 miles of coastline, Calshot and Lepe, have both been rated 'excellent' for water quality, and so too have the beaches at Milford-on-Sea, Barton-on-Sea and Highcliffe.

The ratings were part of a national survey of 413 beaches and lakes nationwide, undertaken by the Environment Agency. It found that the quality of water at England's beaches is the best on record, with 98.5% passing tough standards. 

Check the water quality at every bathing beach in England

Paul Walton, Head of Environment and Rural Economy at the New Forest National Park Authority, said: "The New Forest is rightly famous for its free roaming animals, ancient woodland and wide open heathlands. However the National Park’s coastline is just as special, both as habitat for rare wading birds and a place for visitors to enjoy the sea.

So the news that the water at Lepe and Calshot is of the very highest order is very welcome. It shows that if we all do our bit to care for the Forest it can have really positive results."

The excellent water quality at the New Forest’s beaches is set against a backdrop of huge improvements in water quality nationally. In the early 1990s only 28 per cent of bathing waters met the top water quality standards; now 93% are rated excellent and good.

The number of bathing waters rated ‘excellent’ has increased by 5.9% since 2015 and five bathing waters have met or exceeded the minimum standards for the first time.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, said: "England’s bathing waters are enjoyed by millions of people every year, which is why I am delighted the water quality at our beaches and lakes is better than at any time since before the Industrial Revolution. This year more than 93% of bathing waters were rated excellent and good, but we’re not complacent – we’ll keep working to improve our environment and make sure it’s protected for future generations."

Milford-on-Sea beach

Water quality: excellent

Milford-on-Sea beach is mostly shingle with a concrete sea wall and timber groynes and some sand at the waters edge in places. At the top of the beach is a coastal path, backed by the coast road and the town of Milford-on-Sea. There are three main carparks: Hurst Road, Paddy's Gap and Hordle Cliff (both along Cliff Road towards Barton-on-Sea). Refreshments available at Hurst Road carpark with the Needles Eye Café (plus children's playground) and with a kiosk café at Hordle Cliff carpark.

Barton-on-Sea Beach

Water quality: excellent

The shingle beach at Barton-on-Sea has rock groynes and a steep slope, flattening to shallow sandy flats that are exposed when the tide retreats. There are relatively stable paths along the beach which is backed by 30 metre high clay cliffs. Parking along Marine Road. Refreshments available at the Beachcomber Café.

Highcliffe Beach

Water quality: excellent

The shingle beach at Highcliffe has numerous groynes and a moderate slope, flattening to shallow sandy flats that are exposed when the tide retreats. Behind the beach are cliffs and a shoreline promenade which provides access to the town and to the coast road at the top of the cliff. Parking at the end of Waterford Road. Refreshments at the Cliffhanger Café.

Highcliffe Castle Beach

Water quality: excellent

Highcliffe Castle has a sand and shingle beach, approximately one kilometre wide, backed by woodland covered cliffs. Parking at Highcliffe Castle is pay-and-display. Follow the zig-zag path down the cliffs to the beach. Refreshments available at Highcliffe Castle café.

Lepe Beach

Water quality: excellent

Lepe beach, part of Lepe Country Park, is a mixture of sand and shingle, sloping down to a sandy area that extends out for some distance at low tide.

Calshot Beach

Water quality: excellent

Calshot beach is part of a shingle spit on the Hampshire coast which extends westward into the southern end of Southampton Water. The beach in mostly shingle with some sand. It is backed by beach huts and offers views over the Solent to Isle of Wight. There are some short wooden groynes at the top of the beach which then slopes down to a shingle and sand shelf which extends out for some distance on low tides, and affords plenty of shallow water at mid tides. The beach is popular with water sports enthusiasts. 

9 November 2016 

New Forest Open Art Competition 2017 is now open!

Submission due by 2nd and 3rd July to New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst.

With its stunning landscape, picture postcard views and magnificent wildlife, the New Forest is an environment like no other.  So if you are an artist and enjoy capturing the beauty of this unique area, why not enter the New Forest Open Art Competition?

The competition is run in partnership by the New Forest Centre and New Forest National Park Authority with sponsorship from ExxonMobil at the Fawley Refinery.

There are four prizes on offer:

• 1st Prize: £500
• 2nd Prize: £300
• 3rd Prize: £100
• People's Prize: £100 

The work submitted must be of or about the New Forest National Park. Paintings, drawings, prints (not reproductions), photography, textiles, craftwork and mixed media created since July 2013 are all eligible provided they meet the display and size criteria (included with the competition entry form).

Artists may submit a maximum of three pieces and the submission days for the competition are 2 and 3 July between 10am and 4pm at the New Forest Centre. Further details and the entry form can be downloaded below.

DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM AND FURTHER DETAILS

All artwork shortlisted by a panel of judges will be included in the New Forest Open Art Exhibition which will take place at the New Forest Centre Gallery from 15 July to 7 October 2017.

Last year's winner was Teresa Rogers from Redlynch with her painting 'Autumn Trees', pictured below. Teresa Rogers’ mixed media painting beat 210 other entries to win first prize in the annual contest.

“Forget-Me-Not Appeal” launched by Oakhaven

Oakhaven Hospice have launched a “Forget-Me-Not Appeal” in celebration of reaching their 25th Anniversary. Beautiful, hand-crafted, limited edition ceramic Forget-Me-Nots will create a sea of 1,000 flowers in the hospice gardens in May. Made by the one of the companies who were responsible for the spectacular ceramic poppies at the Tower of London in 2014, the Forget-Me-Nots can be purchased in memory of a loved one.

Barbara Wildgoose from Barton-on-Sea was the first person to purchase one of the beautiful flowers. “What a lovely idea the Forget-Me-Not flower is. The care that my husband, Geoff, received from Oakhaven was just outstanding and I wanted to buy one in his memory but also to help this wonderful local charity”. Now an Oakhaven volunteer, Barbara said that “the friendship and support she had received from Oakhaven since his death had been invaluable”.

“Our aim is to replicate the poppy display in London by creating a sea of flowers in our beautiful gardens at the Hospice to honour people’s special memories as we commence our 25th Anniversary celebrations," shared Penny Marriage from the Oakhaven fundraising team. "You will be able to view the flowers during the week of the 29th April to the 6th May. A special afternoon Cream Tea on Sunday 7th May will launch our 25th Anniversary celebrations to the back drop of the sea of Forget-Me-Nots."

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A FORGET-ME-NOT OR BOOK A CREAM TEA

More events to mark Oakhaven Hospice’s 25th Anniversary will be announced through the year. Oakhaven supports not only at the Hospice but also out in the community. Services are always free of charge. The charity supports over 200 patients weekly both in the hospice and out in the community through a mix of services which include Day Hospice, Oakhaven at Home, Community Nursing, input at Lymington New Forest Hospital, Bereavement Counselling and the In-Patient Unit.

It costs £4 million per annum to run Oakhaven's services of which just 10% is funded by the NHS. For the remainder, Oakhaven is wholly reliant on donations and their own fundraising initiatives.