Magnificent May
The Boys Are Out
Or they very soon will be! From next Monday 11 May, twenty five magnificent stallions will be dropped off at various locations across the forest. They will then be left to their own devices to roam freely for one of the most important six weeks of the year for New Forest ponies: the breeding season.
The girls will be very pleased to welcome these powerful boys into their midst and will allow themselves to be herded into big groups, much bigger than we normally see together. Everyone will be very excited, a lot of the time - and jealousy amongst the mares will spark easily. Spotting a gleaming stallion on the forest is always a special moment but be aware that the gangs can move very fast, so keep your distance and if you want to take photos use your zoom! Also when driving be prepared that at any moment a large number of ponies could suddenly cross the road at speed in front of you.
Click here to see the names and areas of the 2026 stallions. Pictured above is Knavesash Gold Fever, who this year will be frequenting East End and environs.
Twenty Four Hours, One Hundred and Seven Kilometres
and Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Pounds
Congratulations to the 24-hour walkers from Scott Bailey Solicitors! Last weekend five members of the team took on the Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge - a demanding non-stop 107 kilometres route across varied and often uneven coastal terrain around the entire island, including finding the way in the dark through the night. It is the kind of challenge that tests far more than physical endurance - a large dose of mental dexterity and determination is also required!
The motivation was to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and between them Ben, Katie, Holly, Joseph and Benjamin are extremely pleased to have raised the magnificent total of over £4,550. The funds will go towards supporting individuals and families affected by cancer, helping to provide practical, emotional, and financial support at some of the most difficult times in people’s lives.
MORE ABOUT THE ULTRA CHALLENGE!
Calling Budding Masterchefs for the Big Careys Cook Off!
Once again Lymington Seafood Festival and Careys Manor Hotel have teamed up to find the best local amateur chef! Last year's Big Careys Cook Off finals were one of the highlights of the festival with crowds cheering on the eight budding chefs in the festival cookery school.
If you fancy having a go this year, all you have to do is send in pictures of your best kitchen creations; 8 finalists will be selected and guest judges led by Cambium’s head chef Dylan James will whittle down the winners at the grand final on Saturday 11 July.
The champion chef will not only scoop the Big Careys Cook Off trophy but also win:
An overnight stay for two at Careys Manor in an Oakwood Garden room and...
Dinner at Cambium, the fine dining restaurant at Cambium
A bottle of Hattingley Valley Classic Cuvee
A three-piece Flint & Flame Pro Series chef’s knife set
A prize pot worth over £850!
Entries are now open and close at midnight on Sunday 24 May, which should give everyone lots of time to perfect and send in a picture of their signature dish, either via the festival website or by emailing
News and Events Update
It's already only two weeks until the start of summer half term and several events have been added this week to the Events Calendar including May Half Term at Beaulieu and May Half-Term Family Fun at Hurst Castle.
Meanwhile, today there are two school open mornings, at Walhampton School and Ballard School.
This weekend, a special mention for:
Tomorrow evening's concert at St Saviour's in Brockenhurst: Brockenhurst Choral Society Concert - John Rutter Requiem
Sunday's Wedding Open Day at Careys Manor
In the natural world it's been a magnificent week for the birds, with International Dawn Chorus Day last Sunday and continuing fabulous birdsong all this week especially at dawn and dusk: what a joy! The CET Dawn Bird Walk at Needs Ore on Monday was well worth getting up at 4.45 am, especially as the birds had already begun singing to help me wake up. Then this morning I've been watching wonderful clips of Sir David Attenborough's animal encounters through the decades. A great big Happy 100th Birthday today, to the magnificent Sir David!
Wishing you all Magnificent May weekends,
Best wishes Jane
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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