Dr Judy Benjamin is on a 550-mile journey from Land’s End to London to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s, and visited Colten Care’s dementia care home Linden House in Lymington

Things to do over Easter in and around Lymington...

Your guide to what’s on in Lymington, the New Forest and surrounding areas during the Easter holidays.

Updated April 2018

There are lots of exciting things happening in Lymington, New Milton, the New Forest and surrounding areas over the Easter weekend and throughout the Easter holidays! Here is a your lymington.com guide of things to do with the children. 

Take a look also at our Fun Days Out feature if you're looking to venture slightly further afield and also our Places to Visit section. For those having to juggle work with school holidays, take a look at Holiday Childcare and Activity Camps.

To see what's on day by day, take a look at our What's On section which details events in and around Lymington. Remember, if you're organising a local event then add your event in the Lymington.com calendar for free!

Remember to mention Lymington.com when you're out and about this Easter!

Get creative in Lymington and the New Forest!

• Priestlands School Easter Activities include The Guitar Experience on Wednesday 4th April, Animal Madness on Thursday 5th April and a Spring Art Activities Workshop on Friday 6th April.
• Graham Turner is holding a Pyrography Workshop on Tuesday 3rd April at Keyhaven Scout Hut, part of the Keyhaven Artists' Exhibition
• Follow the Easter Eggstravaganza trail around St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery from 3rd to 15th April, with Spring is in the Air craft sessions on 5th April and An Alternative Easter Activity on 11th April.
• New Forest Centre are holding a Children's Easter Craft Workshop on Saturday 31st March. There's also a free museum trail throughout the holidays.
• New Forest Centre is holding Family Discovery Days on 3rd, 5th, 10th and 12th April from 10am-4pm. New Forest themed trails, quizzes and craft activities for all the family. Suitable for all ages, donation for materials. Standard Museum entry (accompanied under 16s go free), no booking required.
• Spring is in the Air at St Barbe Museum. Flourishing family crafts on Thursday 5th April.
• Paddington 2 creative camp at Forest Arts on Thursday 12th April. An afternoon of arts and crafts inspired by the polite, kind hearted and much loved bear who has a knack of getting into trouble in the year of his 60th birthday! Age 4 - 11 (children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult)
• Little Flyers Preschool have an Easter Picture Hunt around Sway Village between 29th March and 13th April.

Films & Performances

• At the Malt Cinema in Lymington, Coco (PG) is showing on 31st March, 3rd, 4th, 5th April and Peter Rabbit (PG) is showing on 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th April.
• Older children studying Shakespeare may enjoy the live showing of Macbeth on Wednesday 4th April and 11th April.
• Forest Fables and Seaside Stories will delight little ones at Forest Arts on Sunday 8th April. 
• Paddington 2 is showing at Forest Arts on Wednesday 11th April, 11am and 2pm showings. 

Family days

• Visit Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum, Palace House, 
• At Buckler's Hard, join costumed characters on daily tours to discover what life was like in the 18th century and listen as they share tales from this once-thriving village where ships for Nelson’s Navy were built. Plus why not catch the river cruise for a tranquil trip down the Beaulieu River? 
• Hunt for Easter Eggs by canoe along the beautiful Beaulieu River with New Forest Activities. Booking essential, various dates.
• Paddle to Hurst Castle with the New Forest Paddle Sport Company. The tour starts from Keyhaven and involves approximately two hours Stand Up Paddle Boarding or Kayaking through the beautiful salt marshes to Hurst Castle. You don't need any previous paddling experence as all tuition is given on the day. Booking essential.
• Lots of fun to be had on Sunday 15th April at the Sea Water Baths with the Quacky Races in aid of Oakhaven Hospice!

Discover nature

• Be a nature detective at Beaulieu. Throughout the school holidays, go on a nature hunt for natural treasure in the Beaulieu grounds, collect all the clues and complete the trail to pick up your nature detective bug prize. Look out for amazing tree carvings as you go, can you find the tree-top griffin, the magnificent green man or the many-headed serpent? If you tiptoe quietly down the Mill Pond Walk you might be able to spot the homes of the woodland fairies. Don't forget to look out for Mr Nature Detective as he drives around the grounds in his Jeep.
• At Priestlands on Wednesday 4th April: Spring in the Forest with the New Forest National Park's Education Officer.
• The New Forest Reptile Centre reopens on Good Friday 30th March for the summer season 10am - 4.30pm daily. Discover more about British reptiles and New Forest Reptile Centreamphibians and how they are being conserved in the New Forest. Specially created display enclosures allow you to study these animals in close-up. The only collection of all the native lizards, snakes, frogs and toads, including Britain's only venomous snake - the adder - and rarest lizard - the sand lizard. On 'Wild Wednesday 4th and 11th April there will be a quiz trail and making activities.
• Experience the seasons of the forest, on a discovery trail at Bolderwood. This 1 mile self-guided trail will take you through the woods and activities and challenges for all the family. Throughout the holidays.
• Learn about Bush Craft at the Countryside Education Trust on Tuesday 3rd April. Spend a day in the woods with your family getting back to basics and appreciating nature in beautiful surroundings.

• Lepe Country Park has an Holiday Trail throughout the school holidays. Pick up a trail card from the park office and return with the correct answers to claim your prize. There are also Bush Craft days on 3rd April, Early Morning Bird Walk on 5th April and Nature Detectives on 5th April, 

• Learn all about New Forest ponies at Wild about Ponies on Thursday 12th April 1-2pm at Bolton's Bench.
• Try the Easter Trail at Furzey Gardens in Minstead, explore the secrets of the gardens and receive an Easter treat if you complete it successfully. 

Sports and activities in and around Lymington

• Ballard School Easter Sports Camp is running from Monday 9th to Friday 13th April. A whole host of sports including netball, cricket, hockey, tennis, swimming, girls' rugby and multi-sports. Full and half day slots available. Children from year 3 to 11 (age 7 to 16)
• Ballard School Easter Gymnastics Camp is running from Monday 9th to Friday 13th April. 9am to midday. Age Kindergarten to year 6 (11 years).
• Have a go at kayaking or stand up paddleboarding - one hour taster sessions available throughout the holidays with the New Forest Paddle Sport Company.
• Lymington Tennis Club are holding tennis and fun sports camps every day from Monday 10th to Thursday 13th April and Tuesday 18th to Friday 21st April. 8.45am-4pm. 
• New Forest Hockey Club are running a hockey camp days on Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th and Friday 6th April on the astroturf at Lymington Health & Leisure. 9am-3.30pm for ages 7-15.
• Saturday 31st March and 7th April try the park run at Woodside Gardens.

Activity days near Lymington for children

• Ballard Easter Camps include Creative Nature Quest days Monday 9th April to Friday 13th April (9am-4pm daily) for children aged Kindergarten to year 6 (11 years).
• New Forest Activities are holding a Holiday Adventure Day in Hartford Woods on Thursday 5th April.
• Calshot have a range of Activity Days for the holidays - choose from skiing, snowboarding, track cycling, canoeing, archery, climbing, skiing and windsurfing - and much more! 
• Hengistbury Outdoor Centre have a range of multi-activity days and watersports courses available.
• Avon Tyrrell have fun days and half-days for children aged 5+. 

Do you know of any other interesting events or activities happening in and around Lymington and the New Forest during the school holidays? Suggest that they add their events to the Lymington.com Events Calendar! Contact us if you are the organiser and would like to be included in this article - here's how to add your event to the Lymington.com events calendar. 

If you'd like to find an event for a specific day take a look at our events calendar.

Every week the team at Lymington.com sends out a 'What's on' email to subscribers. Sign up for free today and keep up to speed on everything happening in and around Lymington and the New Forest area! 

Plus remember to like us on Facebook (Lymington Hampshire), Instagram (@lymingtondotcom) and Twitter (@lymingtondotcom)!

Happy Easter!

Top dog joins in thank-you celebrations at Lymington care home

Canine Partner, Mungo, helps to thank Linden House residents for charity donation.

Residents at Linden House in Lymington said hello to an ‘amazingly clever’ disability assistance dog that has transformed the life of a New Forest woman. Nine-year-old Mungo and his partner Barbara Houston visited Colten Care’s specialist dementia home, Linden House, to say thank-you for supporting the charity that brought the pair of them together. Dogs specially trained by Canine Partners live with disabled people. They perform essential tasks such as fetching food from the fridge, picking up dropped items, raising the alarm in an emergency and helping their partner get dressed and undressed.

Staff and residents at Linden House enjoy regular animal companionship themselves through visits from dogs and their handlers and decided to raise money for Canine Partners after hearing that the charity relies purely on donations. Fetes and cake stalls at the home raised more than £225 which was presented to Barbara and fellow volunteer Liz Downs.

Barbara, who lives in Bransgore and was matched with black Labrador Mungo seven years ago, said: “He’s an amazingly clever companion and has helped make me completely independent. My husband can go out when he likes and doesn’t have to worry about me being alone at home. Mungo also brings a smile to me when we are out for a walk because people talk to you when you have a dog with you. That’s really nice for people like me who use a wheelchair. I don’t think I could manage without Mungo now.”

Liz said Canine Partners had created more than 400 partnerships across the country but there were currently 180 people on the waiting list. She said the Linden House contribution would help feed a dog in training for a whole year, adding: “We are very grateful for every penny as it all helps towards our goal of making a real difference to people’s lives.”

Rose McGuirk, a member of the companionship team at Linden House, said: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed raising money for Canine Partners and welcoming Mungo was the icing on the cake. We actively encourage visits from friendly, well-behaved dogs like him. It just goes to show that living in a care home is no barrier to maintaining a love of dogs.”

The cheque presentation followed a live sing-along performance by New Forest-based singer and guitarist Nigel Revill.

As well as Canine Partners, residents and staff at Linden House have supported Children in Need, the Alzheimer’s Society and Oakhaven Hospice Trust through activities in the last year.

Family-owned Colten Care has a policy of enabling residents in all 20 of its homes to continue community links and help worthy causes of their choice.

Last month, Colten Care's Linden House was rated "Outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission. The inspection report on Linden House can be found at http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1228683337. For more information about the home, visit http://www.coltencare.co.uk/linden-house

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...

Proposed play equipment at Deneside Copse

Pick your top three pieces of playground equipment by 2nd April

Lymington and Pennington Town Council are currently carrying out a consultation with local children and residents as to which pieces of equipment they would like to see installed at Deneside Copse playground in Pennington.

The consultation runs from 12 March – 2 April and the Town Council would like to hear which top 3 pieces from the poster below they feel would be great in this location.

Make it yours!

Contact Lymington and Pennington Town Council by phone on 02380 285893 OR email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR advise via Facebook, giving your age and postcode.

Town Council Office • Town Hall • Avenue Road • Lymington • Hampshire • SO41 9ZG

www.LymingtonandPennington-tc.gov.uk t: 02380 285893    e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Friday friends connecting New Forest generations.

Brockenhurst Primary School and Woodpeckers care home share companionship and laughter.

Schoolchildren and nursing home residents in the New Forest are finding friendship together under a new initiative designed to bridge the generation gap.

Pupils from Brockenhurst Primary School have begun making weekly trips to nearby Woodpeckers care home to socialise with elderly residents, find out about their lives and share companionship and laughter.

The children, aged eight, nine and ten, are paired up with a ‘buddy’ resident each Friday, with the visitors and hosts taking turns to suggest a shared activity. Initial meetings have involved the traditional board game Snakes and Ladders and a crafts session on making greeting cards.

Woodpeckers Home Manager Katie Whiteside said: “The children’s visits have quickly become a hugely valued highlight of the week for many of our residents. The smiles and laughter light up each Friday. In this age of so much computer screen time, it’s such a joy to see children playing board games they might not have known existed in years gone by.”

Teacher Justina Hudson said: “This is a great way for our children to learn the skills to be around the older generation, especially if they have little or no contact with a grandparent themselves. Already, they look forward to the Friday trips as a fun learning experience and the chance to spend time with people who typically have fascinating stories to tell about their long lives.”

Woodpeckers’ link with Brockenhurst Primary is one of the aspects of care singled out for praise by sector regulator the Care Quality Commission. In a recent report rating Woodpeckers as Outstanding, inspectors wrote: “The schoolchildren’s weekly visits raise the morale of people living at the home and are a way of recognising and responding to people's needs for social interaction and mental stimulation.”

The link with Brockenhurst Primary is one part of Colten Care’s wider commitment to provide inter-generational companionship for residents. Across its 19 other homes in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex, the family-owned provider is developing similar links with schools, Scout groups and other community organisations.

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...

An Outstanding hat-trick for Colten Care

Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst has become the third Colten Care home in less than a year to gain an official ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Inspectors from care industry regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has awarded their highest grade to Woodpeckers, Colten Care's residential home in Brockenhurst, praising its ‘exceptionally personalised’ care and declaring its service especially ‘effective, responsive and well-led’.

The hat-trick follows Outstanding ratings for two of Colten Care’s other New Forest homes, Linden House in Lymington and Kingfishers in New Milton.

“Having three homes rated Outstanding in successive inspections really does put us among the country’s very top providers registered for nursing care," said Mark Aitchison, Colten Care Chief Executive.“With all 20 of our homes rated Outstanding or Good, we can justifiably lay claim to being in a different class from many other private sector operators. Fifteen per cent of our homes are Outstanding against an industry average of less than two per cent and, locally, three out of our five New Forest homes are Outstanding.”

“It’s particularly gratifying as we are achieving this independent recognition while investing in nursing at a time when others are turning away from it due to recruitment challenges and higher costs. We are committed to nursing and will continue on our journey of improvement.”

Tributes to the Outstanding Woodpeckers team

Mark joined Woodpeckers residents, relatives and staff at a party to celebrate the home’s success. Presenting the Outstanding certificate, Mark said: “You should all be especially proud that Woodpeckers is the first Colten home to be rated Outstanding across three separate lines of enquiry: being effective, responsive and well-led. That’s a huge triumph involving a great many people.”

Among those attending the party was resident Elspeth Shepherd, who said: “This really is a lovely home and I’m very proud to live here.”

New Home Manager Katie Whiteside recently took over from Janie Pearman who at the time of the intensive, two-day inspection was the registered manager for both Woodpeckers and its sister home in Lymington, Belmore Lodge.

“I pay tribute to Janie and the whole team for this fantastic achievement," said Katie. "We always promote best practice and an open and transparent culture for the benefit of our residents and their families, and we’re thrilled that the inspectors recognise this.”

Janie said: “I am really proud to have led the Woodpeckers team to this Outstanding rating. It reflects the consistently positive feedback we receive from residents, their families and health professionals.”

The 26-page Woodpeckers report praised Colten Care’s ‘one-team’ approach, stating: “Staff understand the needs of people and support them in an exceptionally personalised way. We saw that care was provided respectfully and sensitively, taking into account people's different needs. The impact this had on people was outstanding and had resulted in them living an active life with choice evident throughout.”

Woodpeckers Chef David Jaques made a summer fruit sponge cake baked specially for the CQC Outstanding party. The three-tiered cake, topped with three chocolate stars, was inspired by Woodpeckers becoming the third Colten Care home to receive an Outstanding rating and the first to be Outstanding across three separate lines of enquiry.

How to view the CQC report

The inspection report on Linden House can be found at http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-136880434.

Janie Pearman, Home Manager at the time of the Woodpeckers inspection, receives the Outstanding CQC certificate from Mark Aitchison, Colten Care Chief Executive.For more information about the home, visit http://coltencare.co.uk/woodpeckers

Find out more about Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst.

Linden House residents become fundraisers!

Oakhaven Hospice praises residents with dementia for ‘phenomenal’ fundraising 

Still playing an active role in their community...

We're pleased to report on yet another example of how people living in care homes can still be involved in what's going on in the community.  For many residents of  Colten Care's Linden House in Lymington, this is the  community of which they were previously active members.   Now that they need to be looked after they have not only gained a new "family" comprising the team of amazing care and support staff within the home, they can also still feel that they ARE a part of that community.  At the same time they're making new friends within the safety, comfort and warmth of their new home.  You could call it a win win win.   And we should. 

Sale of home made cards and pictures raises funds for Oakhaven Hospice

Residents at Linden House care sold greeting cards and pictures they made in arts sessions, as part of a fundraising drive for Oakhaven Hospice Trust.  They and fellow Colten residents at nearby Court Lodge were enabled to put the items on sale at ‘winter wonderland’ community craft markets held at both homes. Together the events raised more than £580 for Oakhaven.

Living with dementia no barrier to playing their part

Meeting residents from the homes at a celebratory tea party and cheque presentation in Linden House, Oakhaven Community Fundraiser Jill West described the fundraising as ‘phenomenal’. Jill said: “It’s inspiring, humbling and amazing to think that people living with dementia have been helped to put that to one side, have fun with arts and crafts, and do their bit to support our work in the community. I can’t thank them and Colten Care enough.”

An active role helps maintain community links

Colten Care actively enables residents in all its 20 care homes to participate in fundraising activities for charities they and staff members nominate.  The policy is designed as a way of helping worthy causes while maintaining residents’ community links.

Linden House Home Manager Lynne Petty said: “Oakhaven does fantastic work for people who have cancer and other life-threatening conditions and we know they rely on donations for a large part of their funding. The winter wonderland events here and at Court Lodge were an ideal way to raise money to help.”

As well as the arts and crafts made by residents, the events featured traders’ stalls and raffles with prizes kindly donated by local businesses. 

About Colten Care

With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is an award-winning family-owned care home company. It has 20 quality care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services spanning residential, nursing and dementia care. Colten Care is determined to set the highest standards in all aspects of care of the older person. Colten Care is also committed to raising money for charitable causes. In the past year, residents and team members have raised more than £40,000 for charity. 

Linden House is a specialist dementia care home recently rated Outstanding by the care industry regulator the Care Quality Commission 

Court Lodge is a non-dementia "home from home" residential and nursing home in beautiful grounds near Woodside Park Lymington

Durlston Court young join Colten Care elderly 

New Forest partnership between young and old - each to benefit from the other

A pair of leaders in different fields in the New Forest have proved that age is no barrier to learning and making friends! 

A partnership between Durlston Court School and Colten Care's Kingfishers Care Home

Durlston Court, an independent school in New Milton, Hampshire, is partnering with nearby Kingfishers Care Home,  to give children the chance to socialise with elderly residents and learn a thing or two in the process.

Or put the other way around, Colten Care's Kingfishers is giving its elderly residents a chance for some welcome young company - to enliven and energise them and keep them in touch with what's going on in the world of youth today!

Weekly visits to the home see reception-year pupils meet and share learning experiences with residents, finding out about their lives, enjoying companionship and discussing topics of interest.

The initiative caps a hugely successful few months for both the school and home after they each gained the highest possible ratings from their respective inspecting bodies.

Durlston Court School - excellent 

Durlston Court School was rated ‘excellent’ in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.  Which is not surprising to us - it's set in such a beautiful setting, the staff are s so positive and friendly, and the children so well mannered and interested!

Kingfishers Care Home - outstanding 

Whilst Kingfishers Care Home, run by family-owned Colten Care,  had gained an ‘outstanding’ rating from care sector regulator the CQC - along with other Colten Care homes in the New Forest including Linden House in Lymington .

To kick off the series of visits, Kingfishers residents first welcomed pupils for a super hero-themed afternoon of fun.

Kingfishers Home Manager Beata Brzozowska said: “Intergenerational activities like this are so valuable. Seeing our residents interact with these four and five-year-olds is such a joyful experience. It brings out the best in everyone.”

Gilly Smith, Head of Durlston’s Pre-Prep Department, said: “The visits are full of smiles, stories and songs and we’re seeing the beginnings of some very special friendships.”

The link with Durlston is one part of Colten Care’s wider commitment to providing companionship for residents.

Across its 19 other homes in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex, the family-owned care home provider is developing similar links with schools and other community organisations.

Watch the film of the Durlston pupils’ first trip to Kingfishers here - it's great!

This is such a lovely potential win win for old and young alike, we hope that many more such initiatives are fostered...

Contact details (click links below)

Colten Care Homes   "Colten Care is a family-owned care home operator established for over 30 years. We design, build, own and run care homes across the South of England, each with individual character and consistently high standards of comfort. Our well trained teams set the very highest standards of residential, nursing and dementia care including in-house catering and activities."

Kingfishers Care Home New Milton  "There’s a holiday feeling about Kingfishers, only half a mile from beaches, in easy reach of the shops and facilities of New Milton, while the New Forest is a short drive just beyond the town. The home sits in a residential area, popular for active retirement. It has a bright and refreshing ambience, alongside a sense of continuity with the lively life of the area. Kingfishers provides both residential and nursing care."

Durlston Court School "We develop happy, confident and successful children who flourish in an inspiring and nurturing environment. Excellence, integrity and challenge are fostered as core values of the Durlston Family. Our children are prepared to face challenges and to fully engage and thrive in the world of today and tomorrow."

February Half Term in and around Lymington.

A guide to what’s on in Lymington and the New Forest during half term.

Here is a your guide of things to do with the children in and around Lymington and the New Forest. Take a look also at our Fun Days Out feature if you're looking to venture slightly further afield. For those having to juggle work with school holidays, we have information about Holiday Childcare and Activity Camps.

To see what's on day by day, take a look at our Events Calendar which details events in and around the New Forest and Lymington area. Remember, if you're organising a local event then add your event in the Lymington.com calendar for free! (see How to add your event).

Things to do in and around Lymington

• Kick start half term with a visit to JoJo Maman Bébé in Lymington who have 3 special days of offers 8th - 10th February!
• The Malt Cinema at The Lymington Centre will be showing Early Man (PG) (PG) Monday 12th - Friday 16th February at 11am. Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle (12A) will be showing on Tuesday 13th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17th at 7.15pm and Wednesday 14th at 2.30pm.
  
• A live broadcast of RSC's Twelfth Night (12A) will be shown at The Malt Cinema on Wednesday 14th at 7pm.
• It's Hands On Half Term at Beaulieu. See the National Motor Museum's dazzling new display, The Luxury of Motoring and enjoy a taste of the finer things in life! Discover life above and below stairs, pick up a hands on half term pass book and collect a stamp at each activity station. Try on a monk's habit, get hands on in the Palace House Victorian Kitchen and get your hands on an array of motoring artefacts - plus loads more for a great day out!
• Learn about World War II - The Home Front at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, with a family activities to reflect the current exhibition, The Art of World War ll: John Noot Collection. From Saturday 10th - Sunday 18th February.
• Jack and the Beans Talk, ideal for families with children aged 3-7 years, will be at Forest Arts on Tuesday 13th February - two showings (see Events Calendar for full details)
• Lymington Library will have the Tuesday Rhyme Time and Thursday Toddler Time as usual.
• Experience a museum at night at the Red House Museum in Christchurch on Wednesday 14th February.
• Relax at a children's yoga workshop at the Natural Health Hub on Thursday 15th February.
• Remember Tuesday is Pancake Day! How do you eat your pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? Discover here recipes including gluten free.

Discover Nature!

• New for 7-10 year olds at the Countryside Education Trust: Eagle Owls! Thursday 15th February. Get involved in a real conservation project, in conjunction with Natural England, painting decoy terns to help to attract Common Terns back to Gull Island.
• Try Winter Paddling with New Forest Activities. Explore the stunning Beaulieu River nature reserve by boat.
• Explore Lepe Country Park with a half term trail, available 10am-3pm all week, plus Bird Box Bonanza on Tuesday 13th and Bush Craft on Thursday 15th.
• The New Forest National Park authority will be at Lymington Library with their Mission Explore on Thursday 15th February

Get creative!

• Get building at Construction Club at Lymington Library on Saturday 10th and 17th February.
• Make a card and gift for someone you love at All Loved Up at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery on Wednesday 14th February.
• Family craft sessions at the Red House Museum in Christchurch on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 15th February.
• Learn about the New Forest and get hands on with crafts a Family Discovery Day at the New Forest Centre: Tuesday 13th and Thursday 15th Febuary.
• Create your own fairy tale story to perform, write and sing at the Forest Arts Creative Camp on Thursday 15th February. Then decorate a plant pot and grow a magic bean – you’re ready for your own adventure!
• Aged 7-11? Interested in drama? Love to Perform? Get involved in a one day, high impact theatre devising challenge with Forest Forge Theatre Company on Thursday 15th February.

Get active!

• Ballard School is hosting sporting excellence clinics in Rugby, Hockey, Netball and Football for 10-14 year olds with a passion for sport on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th February. Book by 9th Feb for early bird rate!
• Join Park Run at Woodside Gardens, every Saturday at 9am! Get fit as a family!
• Make use of our local facilities, including tennis courts, table tennis tables and outdoor gym at Woodside, plus the chess/draughts table at Bath Road Park.
• Lymington Tennis Club are once again running half term tennis camps, mornings and full days, Monday-Friday.

Do you know of any other interesting events or activities happening in and around Lymington this half term? Contact us so that we can add to our list!

If you'd like to find an event for a specific day take a look at our events calendar.

Hope you have a great half term!

Updated 7 Feb 2018

Three weeks after the storm

Hardy residents of East Boldre rebuild their homes following mini tornado

17 January 2018

3 weeks after the mini tornado which hit national as well as local headlines, battered and bruised East Boldre is soldiering on.  Repairs have begun in earnest, notwithstanding the frustrations some are experiencing in dealing with insurance companies.  Not for nothing did East Boldre originally grow up as a squatters village along the Beaulieu Rails -  today's inhabitants are still a hardy lot!

Miraculously nobody was injured following the sudden freak wind which struck the heart of the village at 8 am on 29 December, although the trail of devastation was unprecedented.  A large section of the roof of the Village Hall was ripped off and extensive damage was suffered by East Boldre Garage including its buildings and all the vehicles on the forecourt.  (Fortunately the owners have the skills to repair the bodywork of the cars not actually written off.)  Several families have had to move out of their homes which had been deemed unsafe following the collapse of chimney stacks and the loss of roof tiles and corner sections of buildings.

The wind dubbed the "twister" was accompanied by a weird sound which some likened to that of a jet engine, and which was heard by villagers in their homes quite a distance from where the main damage took place.

It was all quite terrifying for the horses at the end of the lane down which much of the ripped debris flew and in whose fields it landed. At the same time a whole line of old oaks which marked the field boundary came crashing down along with the horses’ own home – their brand field shelter. The horses are still jittery when they hear a loud noise but last seen were contentedly munching their hay.  Life goes on...