Weekly What's On Friday 3 July 2026
Festival Time
And so on it goes, this amazing summer; with another heatwave on the way hopefully we're all getting acclimatised, because it looks like this might be the future for summers to come, too.
Next weekend Friday 10 - Sunday 12 July it's the long anticipated and excitedly awaited Lymington Seafood Festival, celebrating its 10th birthday in Bath Road Park: a weekend packed with incredible seafood, live music, chef demos, cooking classes, drinks talks and festival fun! It'll be full of foodie entertainment with top local chefs, live music with 15 of the best bands the organisers could find, and new for this year the Shaken & Stirred Drinks Stage hosting local craft brewers, wine masterclasses and cocktail making fun. Reusable festival cups will be on sale for £1.50, with all profits going to support the Lymington RNLI which is this year's chosen charity. Opening times are Friday 12.30-9pm, Saturday 11-9pm, Sunday 11-6pm. Get your tickets now and see you there!
New Forest Escapes and 'Being a B Corp'
Lymington-based, award-winning holiday cottage rental business New Forest Escapes is proud to have been awarded 'B Corp' certification. Cleaning up on the beach is only a small part of what's involved in this...
...to earn it, a business has to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency - in short, be genuinely committed to doing good, not just doing well. For New Forest Escapes this means doing business the right way, from the cottage owners it works with and the suppliers it chooses, to the causes closest to the team's heart.
In practice, it means first being an accredited Living Wage employer, ensuring every member of the team is paid fairly. Also, actively supporting local charities and community causes, including the New Forest National Park and local wildlife organisations.
Property owners are encouraged to adopt greener practices and Owner Guides for Greener Homes have been created, which cover why sustainability matters, how to set up and run properties more responsibly, and a Quick Wins list for owners. This includes tips on using natural cleaning products, composting, gardening for biodiversity and educating guests about the local environment.
Waste is taken seriously, including increasing recycling from the properties the team manages. They're trialling new guest signage to encourage responsible waste habits, without compromising the guest experience.
Read more about B Corp: what it means in practice for New Forest Escapes, and why it's a good thing to support B Corp Companies!
DOING GOOD, CLOSER TO HOME: MORE ABOUT B CORP
The Power of Music - and a Crew
Pupils from across Durlston School recently came together to share their incredible talents, and performing to a huge and appreciative crowd have raised a whopping £4,153 for charity.
The music event included acts from each year group, individuals, a community choir, staff and music scholars. The entertainment ranged from high energy routines, to moving vocal performances as well as instrumental pieces performed by some of the many bands and ensembles offered at Durlston, including Samba, recorders and orchestra.
The pupil ‘Crew’ took a lead in every aspect from advertising, scheduling, sound and merchandising. Throughout the event pupils set up charity stalls offering games, raffles and homemade trinkets, all helping to raise funds for their four chosen charities: Alopecia UK, Amelia’s Rainbow, WWF, and Southampton Hospitals Charity. All in all a wonderful celebration of creativity, confidence, and community spirit!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DURLSTON SCHOOL!
Local History and Upcoming Events
Did you know that in WWII the 'Lumberjills' swung seven-pound axes, felled huge trees by hand, drove tractors and worked in dangerous sawmills? After the war they were largely forgotten but a new exhibition at the New Forest Heritage Centre which opens today and runs to 17 August, honours the Women’s Timber Corps, known as the Lumberjills, who supplied Britain with vital timber during the Second World War.
Meanwhile at East Boldre Village Hall whose long history dates back to 1918 as part of the Royal Flying Corps training airfield during WWI, the extensions and renovations are nearly complete. Nearly £20,000 has been raised so far in the current crowdfunding appeal to finish the interior, a final £15,000 is needed and donations however small will make a difference. There will be a viewing day on Saturday 18 July to which all will be welcome.
Tomorrow is your last chance to view the St Barbe Open 2026 and it's Simply Land Rover at Beaulieu; this weekend there's also live music in multiple venues, a Tudor-Tastic Weekend at Hurst Castle, and much more.
So read on, and don't forget that there are always many more upcoming events and activities in the full Events Calendar. Have great weekends, everyone!
Best wishes Jane
Read the rest of this week's newsletter here
And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!
Opt to receive Weekly What's On e-newsletter
Never miss out! Weekly What's On is sent out as an e-newsletter weekly on Friday mornings, click here to receive it direct to your inbox week in and week out, and never miss out on What's On and Coming Up!
