Weekly What's On Friday 4 September 2026
Wonderful Weddings!
As I type this message it seems the seasons are already mingling, the warmth of summer lingering whilst the winds of autumn are already reminding us of its imminence. Aah and now a deluge too! It feels an appropriate moment to include a special feature on weddings in the New Forest, which whatever the season and its attendant weather have so much to offer including spring bluebells, summer golden evenings, autumn glowing with copper tones, and winter's frost-kissed landscapes. Stunning natural scenery plus historic venues create an unhurried atmosphere and the perfect setting for making magical memories.
In fact the weather this coming weekend looks set very fair which is good news for all this weekend's events about which more below. And this coming Sunday 6 September offers the chance to explore Careys Manor Hotel as your potential choice of wedding venue, at its September Wedding Open Day. This former hunting lodge and manor house is rich in history and provides a suitably atmospheric destination to delight the guests.
From 12pm–4pm on Sunday you are invited to come along and explore the beautiful manor house, meet the wedding team and trusted suppliers, enjoy a complimentary glass of prosecco and receive a complimentary SenSpa product. No appointment is required, although if you would prefer a set time you can make a personal appointment.
New couples who place a provisional booking on the day can also enter the 'Golden Envelope Lucky Dip' for the chance to win one of up to 12 special wedding prizes, including a £500 evening bar tab, spa packages and complimentary accommodation.
WEDDING OPEN DAY AT CAREYS MANOR
And then there's the Balmer Lawn Hotel: surrounded by open woodlands, wild ponies, and landscaped grounds, offering incredible photo backdrops in every season. There's a dedicated outdoor ceremony pavilion for magical woodland-style vows, and flexible Indoor spaces including two classic, recently refurbished indoor suites.
Discover why this is one of the New Forest’s most iconic wedding venues, at Balmer Lawn's upcoming Wedding Showcase event on Sunday 20 September, from 11am - 3pm.
The beautifully styled spaces will be set for both ceremony and reception inspiration, giving you the chance to explore the hotel exactly as it could look on your special day. Meet the expert wedding team, chat through ideas, and connect with the hotel's trusted, handpicked suppliers who can help bring your vision to life.
Each showcase is relaxed and informal, offering the perfect opportunity to gather inspiration, ask questions, and begin shaping your wedding with confidence.
WEDDING SHOWCASE AT BALMER LAWN
An Evening to Celebrate Life!
This year, força - strength against cancer celebrates 15 years of supporting people across Hampshire and Dorset affected by cancer. Inspired by a friend's journey of living with cancer over the past 15 years, força has grown from a simple idea into a charity that helps hundreds of people every year to live well with and beyond cancer.
On Thursday 1st October you are invited to join the charity for a special celebration at Lymington Town Sailing Club, with drinks from 7 pm, as they mark this milestone and celebrate the incredible community that has made it possible.
The evening will include a relaxed and engaging conversation with local experts in nutrition, fitness, rehabilitation and healthy living, sharing practical insights into wellbeing for all of us. Most importantly, it will be a chance to celebrate, connect with friends old and new, and raise a glass to 15 years of strength, support and hope.
Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis. Every donation helps força continue supporting people living with cancer across our local community. Places are limited, so we encourage you to book early.
AN EVENING TO CELEBRATE LIFE - BOOK HERE
Alzheimer's Encouragement: Keep Going
In some upbeat encouragement for local people who are adjusting to a diagnosis of dementia, Dr Judy Benjamin, from Virginia, USA, was welcomed last week by residents, families and staff at Colten Care’s dementia care home Linden House.
Dr Judy is currently walking from Land’s End to London, raising awareness of Alzheimer’s and opening up conversations around brain health, prevention, early intervention and lifestyle. The former medical anthropologist was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 67, having previously watched her mother live with the disease for 20 years. Following her own diagnosis, Judy made significant changes to her diet and lifestyle and went on to become an advocate for greater awareness around cognitive health. She is now well into her 80's and going strong; having previously walked the 2,790-mile width of the USA she is undertaking this latest challenge to share her experience and a message of hope.
Do click the link to read more, including what Dr Judy has to say about how she keeps going.
Other Local News
Congratulations...
Congratulations and very best wishes to highly regarded Daily Echo journalist Chris Yandell, who is retiring after 50 years in the profession. He joined the Daily Echo in 1994 and has been specialising in court cases, major planning applications and issues affecting the New Forest ever since. Read the story in the Daily Echo itself, here.
Congratulations too to the winners in this year's New Forest National Park Awards, which celebrate individuals who help preserve the landscape, culture, and community of the New Forest. They include Farming and Nature Champion Richard Channell, who has worked at Newtown Park Estate near Lymington for almost 30 years. Under his stewardship, the estate has seen significant improvements for wildlife, soil health and habitat creation; the judges particularly praised the lasting legacy he has created through hedge-lined wildflower meadows, new woodlands and nesting habitat for birds. Read about all the award winners here.
Adapting to Change...
Local organisations involved in the response to the recent New Forest wildfire which affected more than 100 hectares of internationally important heathland and closed the A31 for several weeks, are working together on the longer-term recovery of the impacted areas, businesses and communities. After the heroic efforts by the firefighters, the focus has moved to looking at what actions can be taken to support the affected communities, businesses, and landscape and ensure future resilience to prolonged droughts and wildfires. Read the full article on the New Forest District Council website here.
And Other Upcoming Events
Next weekend at 4pm on Saturday 12 September, Dan Snow (MBE) TV presenter, historian and author, will re-open East Boldre Village Hall following its extensive refurbishment. This will be a huge milestone following the gargantuan effort by the committee who spearheaded the project, raised the funds from a number of sources including crowdfunding, and managed the entire process. Following the vandalism which set the project back both timewise and financially, a good deal of the final work was carried out by volunteer members of the local community. The new hall, which will make possible a far greater range of entertainments and activities, is stunning. All are invited to take a look whilst listening to Dan and enjoying the scones and strawberries (while stocks last!), and bookings are now being taken for late September onwards.
Tomorrow (Saturday 5 September) there's a Lucky Dip Day at New Forest Hospital Radio - all are invited to join the team during its 12 hours of live broadcasting (9am-9pm) from the studio in Lymington hospital. Pop in and visit the studio, make a request or have a go at being a DJ. Or listen from home www.nfhradio.org.uk and join in the fun, games and a few surprises on Lucky Dip Day!
This coming Sunday 6 September is the final Summer Sip & Graze at the Montagu Arms. From 1-4pm, guests can enjoy a two-course menu and 90 minutes of unlimited selected wines, cocktails, mocktails and bottled beer, accompanied by live soul, pop and rock music from Fern Barnes. A lazy lunch naturally turns into lingering conversation, as late summer morphs into early autumn. Lovely!
As lawns begin to turn green once more, on Sunday as part of the National Garden Scheme the gardens will be open at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst. Originally a large family house, the building is now a Colten Care nursing home where many of the residents have enjoyed gardening throughout their lives, sometimes as a passion, sometimes as a hobby, and occasionally as a chore! The aim is to keep that interest alive with a vibrant, colourful, and stimulating garden space. All are cordially invited...
Next Thursday, topically after all this week's talk of the Bayeux Tapestry, there's an illustrated talk at the Community Centre about an important part of Normandy's own history: The Normandy Landings. Surprise was essential and secrecy in the planning paramount, in June 1944...
And finally a big reminder for this weekend's (all day Saturday and Sunday) Free Family Weekend of Music, Crafts and Storytelling at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery which we featured in full last week: click here to re-read!
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!
