A Spring In Every Step!

Oh wow how energising has been this wonderful week of amazing spring weather! Stepping out with the dogs in the early morning across a birdsong filled forest has been a joy, further enhanced by the sight of the lapwings near the pond and the first newborn foals on spindly legs hurriedly seeking the protection of their mothers.

Today, the second day of May, is the first of the three day long BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair at Beaulieu. This is a fabulous treat of an opportunity to inspire your gardening year ahead by taking advantage of an abundance of gardening expertise and ideas: as well as Beautiful Borders, The Hillier Experience and stunning floral displays from top nurseries there are over 100 exhibitors. And exploration of the beautiful grounds of Beaulieu is included with entry!

If you're looking for somewhere special to step out to this lovely long Bank Holiday weekend Exbury Gardens are at their glorious most colourful best right now, and the beautiful Palais des Vaches art gallery also in Exbury is holding another of its lovely Open Weekends (tomorrow and Sunday), with accompanying laid back jazz. On Sunday the gardens of Walhampton School are open to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme. Take a scenic tour to view the open lawns, Italian Terrace, woodland glades, lakeside walks, Mercury pond and the magnificent views across to the Isle of Wight. Refreshments will be on offer, adults just £6 entry and children free of charge. Meanwhile at the Turfcutters Arms there's not only live music this evening but also on Sunday afternoon, when those enjoying a beer in the garden in the comfortable knowledge they don't have to work on Monday will be treated to blues style guitar playing singer Trev Varri, who has played with world class bands including Thin Lizzy, AC/DC and Dr Feelgood.

Stepping with a spring also of course involves our feet, those all-important long suffering entities which carry us everywhere! If you think yours might need a bit of a spring makeover, we are lucky in the New Forest to have a choice: in Lymington Paul Gray Podiatry and Chiropody holds clinics at Lymington Chiropractic on Fridays and Saturdays, whilst Chris and the team offer a full range of treatments at Forest Foot and Health in Cadnam, where orthotics to optimise sporting or work activities are increasingly popular - do get in touch if this is a sore subject!

Lots of new events have been added this week to our Events Calendar including  all the upcoming films and increasing number of exciting live screenings at the Malt Cinema; see Diary below for details of those.  And a shout out for next weekend's Sham Rocks Tribute Festival at Fawcetts Field New Milton in aid of Oakhaven Hospice - the music line up looks terrific!

Over the weekend lots of micro community gatherings will be taking place to commemorate VE Day 80 years on. Next Thursday 8 May on the anniversary of the momentous day which marked the formal end of the war in Europe after Germany's unconditional surrender, Colten Care is hosting VE Day gatherings in all its New Forest care homes (details below), where a good number of the residents witnessed VE Day itself. Although the war was to continue until August when Japan finally surrendered, those celebrating were probably optimistic that war on such a scale could never happen again, because why would anyone let it. 

On that note wishing you all a fun filled long weekend stepping out in spring!

Best wishes Jane
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VE DAY 80 YEARS ON

Step back in time for a memorable afternoon with Colten Care as they mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a classic Afternoon Tea in all of their New Forest homes: Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and Linden House in Lymington, Kingfishers in New Milton and Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst. .

Everyone is invited to join one of these tea parties and enjoy delicious homemade treats (the Colten Care chefs bake great cakes!) and chat in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. 

Quite a few of the residents remember VE Day as clearly as it were yesterday, so whether you just fancy a bit of reminiscence over a cuppa or maybe you would also like to make some new friends, do go along and join in to commemorate this historic occasion!

 which are on offer every weekend from now through until the end of October; also its Fundraising Dinner at the Mayflower on 15 May. 

And finally a word for Lymington's Loz Walters, currently fundraising for the RNLI as he pedals his way around the entire continent of Australia. We seem to have come full connecting circle back to Oz!

See upcoming events below and at https://www.lymington.com/lymington-events, and happy weekends everyone!

Best wishes Jane
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CONNECTIONS WITH OUR CANINES

The all-year-round, day-in-day-out companionship of and connection with our canines is the cause for celebration for the whole weekend of Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June at this year's Dogstival: the festival where we appreciate and treat our four-legged friends to some special fun! Taking place once again at Burley Park in its acres of wonderful space, this year's Dogstival as usual includes a whole bundle of entertainment including of course live music: from fantastic arena displays with shows to watch, to lots of ‘have a go’ activities to try, things to learn, toys to buy and delicious treats to taste. Brand new for 2025 there's also a Naturo Healthy Hound Kitchen with demos and cook-a-longs with your dog, including a sausage making machine. There's also a Dan the Hat Circus skills tent for kids, and you can even try stand up paddle boarding with your dog in the new SUP pool. It's time to get your tickets now!

Read the rest of this week's newsletter here

And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!

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