News
Gosport Navy’s Hidden Heritage Unveiled
For one special day only, Gosport’s Royal Navy sites at Fort Blockhouse and HMS Sultan are opening their doors to their hidden heritage as part of a fundraising day to save HMS Alliance. On Saturday 3 March behind the scenes tours of Fort Rowner, Fort Grange, the submariner’s Memorial chapel, the Wyllie paintings of Fort Blockhouse, HMS Sultan’s aircraft hangar and Marine Engineering Museum will be available to the general public.
Chris Munns, Director at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “We are really delighted to have the support of HMS Sultan and Fort Blockhouse for this special mini navy open day in aid of Saving HMS Alliance.”“Visitors can do both sites in one day or pick and choose the tours they want to do”
HMS Dolphin was the home to the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service for most of the first 100years of the RN submarine service from 1904 – 1999. Now known as Fort Blockhouse, the hidden heritage tour will be led by a retired submariner and will include a visit to the Submarine Memorial Chapel, the 19th century ramparts and the Harold Wyllie paintings in the Officer’s Mess.
The HMS Sultan site has been home to all three branches of the armed forces. Visitors can see behind the scenes and hear the history of the Army, RAF and Navy on this fascinating site where submariners are trained today. Fort Rowner and Fort Grange were home to the Army from 1862 until the First World War and then became an airfield used for pilot training. After the war, the RAF developed the airfield further and it was used jointly with the Royal Navy. After the Second World War the Fleet Air Arm took charge until it was closed in 1956. HMS Sultan was then formed for training Royal Navy marine engineers.
The Saving HMS Alliance project which includes the conservation of HMS Alliance, the only surviving full scale British World War 2 era submarine in the UK that is open to the public, began work last autumn. The fundraising campaign has raised £6.1m to date which includes a £3.4m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund that was received last year. A further £400,000 is required to complete the project.
Tickets are £5 per person and children are free. Tickets must be booked in advance from the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. For more information call 023 92510 354 ext 240 or visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk
Chris Munns, Director at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “We are really delighted to have the support of HMS Sultan and Fort Blockhouse for this special mini navy open day in aid of Saving HMS Alliance.”“Visitors can do both sites in one day or pick and choose the tours they want to do”
HMS Dolphin was the home to the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service for most of the first 100years of the RN submarine service from 1904 – 1999. Now known as Fort Blockhouse, the hidden heritage tour will be led by a retired submariner and will include a visit to the Submarine Memorial Chapel, the 19th century ramparts and the Harold Wyllie paintings in the Officer’s Mess.
The HMS Sultan site has been home to all three branches of the armed forces. Visitors can see behind the scenes and hear the history of the Army, RAF and Navy on this fascinating site where submariners are trained today. Fort Rowner and Fort Grange were home to the Army from 1862 until the First World War and then became an airfield used for pilot training. After the war, the RAF developed the airfield further and it was used jointly with the Royal Navy. After the Second World War the Fleet Air Arm took charge until it was closed in 1956. HMS Sultan was then formed for training Royal Navy marine engineers.
The Saving HMS Alliance project which includes the conservation of HMS Alliance, the only surviving full scale British World War 2 era submarine in the UK that is open to the public, began work last autumn. The fundraising campaign has raised £6.1m to date which includes a £3.4m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund that was received last year. A further £400,000 is required to complete the project.
Tickets are £5 per person and children are free. Tickets must be booked in advance from the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. For more information call 023 92510 354 ext 240 or visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk
All Change at The New Forest Centre
With nearly thirty years of unstinting service to the New Forest Centre under his belt, Ednyfed Hudson Davies has stepped down from the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the New Forest Ninth Centenary Trust to take up the new role of President. After joining as a trustee in 1984 he went on to become Chairman in 1994, taking over from Maldwin Drummond.
Ednyfed Hudson Davies joined the Trust when the New Forest Centre was just an idea, and the land on which it now stands an area of wasteland attached to the car park in Lyndhurst. The Trust was formed specifically to commemorate the nine hundredth anniversary of the New Forest and as a result of significant fundraising a Museum and Visitor Centre was built and opened its doors in 1988.
Since then the Centre has undergone further change with a Museum redisplay, setting up of the Christopher Tower Reference Library and more recently the drawing up of a partnership agreement with the National Park Authority. Of his time in the Chair, Ednyfed Hudson Davies said “It has been a tremendous honour and source of great satisfaction to me personally, to have been part of the growth and development of the New Forest Centre. Its educational work is of paramount importance to the local community and visitors to the Forest. I am looking forward to assuming the role of President and to the challenges that lie ahead”. He then went on to pay tribute to his successor, Mary Montagu-Scott, saying that he knew he was leaving the future of the Centre in safe hands.
Mary Montagu-Scott has herself been a trustee for over twenty years and said of her new role, “I am delighted to accept this challenge and am looking forward to helping steer the future course of the Centre in these changing times”. She went on to outline the new Supporters Scheme being launched this year, explaining how it will help to ensure the continuation and growth of the Centre over the coming years. A presentation was made to Ednyfed Hudson Davies at the Volunteers Tea Party earlier this year and a cake cut in his honour.
Ednyfed Hudson Davies joined the Trust when the New Forest Centre was just an idea, and the land on which it now stands an area of wasteland attached to the car park in Lyndhurst. The Trust was formed specifically to commemorate the nine hundredth anniversary of the New Forest and as a result of significant fundraising a Museum and Visitor Centre was built and opened its doors in 1988.
Since then the Centre has undergone further change with a Museum redisplay, setting up of the Christopher Tower Reference Library and more recently the drawing up of a partnership agreement with the National Park Authority. Of his time in the Chair, Ednyfed Hudson Davies said “It has been a tremendous honour and source of great satisfaction to me personally, to have been part of the growth and development of the New Forest Centre. Its educational work is of paramount importance to the local community and visitors to the Forest. I am looking forward to assuming the role of President and to the challenges that lie ahead”. He then went on to pay tribute to his successor, Mary Montagu-Scott, saying that he knew he was leaving the future of the Centre in safe hands.
Mary Montagu-Scott has herself been a trustee for over twenty years and said of her new role, “I am delighted to accept this challenge and am looking forward to helping steer the future course of the Centre in these changing times”. She went on to outline the new Supporters Scheme being launched this year, explaining how it will help to ensure the continuation and growth of the Centre over the coming years. A presentation was made to Ednyfed Hudson Davies at the Volunteers Tea Party earlier this year and a cake cut in his honour.
Love the New Forest? Come to the National Park ‘Volunteer Fair’
People with a passion for the New Forest are invited to a Volunteer Fair showcasing the best of volunteering opportunities in the National Park.
This free event organised by the New Forest National Park Authority will be full of New Forest organisations with a vast range of opportunities and different ways to get involved in Forest life. There is a lot to do at the fair including; talks, quizzes about the New Forest, craft activities and ‘Get to know an OS map’ sessions.
Jim Mitchell, the New Forest National Park’s Interpretation Officer, said: ‘We want to celebrate the great work going on in the New Forest and encourage more people to get involved. ‘Volunteering is good for meeting new people, learning new skills, it can keep you fit and is a great way to make a real difference to the Forest. For anyone with an interest in the wildlife, landscape and heritage of the National Park, come along!’
Diane Hogarty volunteered with the National Park’s Coastal Heritage Project. She said: ‘Volunteering is educational, fun, friendly, exciting, inspirational and very interesting! I now look at the Forest with new eyes. I will definitely volunteer again!’
Organisations signed up to attend the Fair include the Forestry Commission, which are looking for new volunteer rangers, the National Trust, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Friends of New Forest Airfields, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ringwood and Fordingbridge Footpath Society, New Forest Transition, the New Forest Centre, Hampshire Conservation Volunteers, Hampshire Scouts and many more.
The New Forest National Park Authority will also be promoting its new project - 'New Forest remembers: untold stories of World War II'. Volunteers are needed to help record the stories of those who were in the New Forest, either living, stationed or evacuated, during World War II.
The Volunteer Fair will be held on Saturday 3 March from 10:30am–4pm at Lyndhurst Community Centre. For more information visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/volunteer-fair.
This free event organised by the New Forest National Park Authority will be full of New Forest organisations with a vast range of opportunities and different ways to get involved in Forest life. There is a lot to do at the fair including; talks, quizzes about the New Forest, craft activities and ‘Get to know an OS map’ sessions.
Jim Mitchell, the New Forest National Park’s Interpretation Officer, said: ‘We want to celebrate the great work going on in the New Forest and encourage more people to get involved. ‘Volunteering is good for meeting new people, learning new skills, it can keep you fit and is a great way to make a real difference to the Forest. For anyone with an interest in the wildlife, landscape and heritage of the National Park, come along!’
Diane Hogarty volunteered with the National Park’s Coastal Heritage Project. She said: ‘Volunteering is educational, fun, friendly, exciting, inspirational and very interesting! I now look at the Forest with new eyes. I will definitely volunteer again!’
Organisations signed up to attend the Fair include the Forestry Commission, which are looking for new volunteer rangers, the National Trust, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Friends of New Forest Airfields, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ringwood and Fordingbridge Footpath Society, New Forest Transition, the New Forest Centre, Hampshire Conservation Volunteers, Hampshire Scouts and many more.
The New Forest National Park Authority will also be promoting its new project - 'New Forest remembers: untold stories of World War II'. Volunteers are needed to help record the stories of those who were in the New Forest, either living, stationed or evacuated, during World War II.
The Volunteer Fair will be held on Saturday 3 March from 10:30am–4pm at Lyndhurst Community Centre. For more information visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/volunteer-fair.
Premature lamb wears a hand-knitted jumper
This little lamb needs a bit of extra help getting cosy in the icy February weather. The newborn Dorset Horn, born at Manor Farm, arrived a bit earlier than expected and farm staff feared she might suffer in the cold winter chill. But with the help of one of the farm’s volunteers, she is now the proud owner of a hand knitted woolly jumper.
The clever knitter, Hilary, used a knitting pattern for a Chihuahua dog coat to create the cosy masterpiece, which luckily fits baby Snowflake like a glove.
Snowflake, named for this week’s wintery weather, is the first lamb to arrive on the farm this year, marking the start of the busy lambing season which will continue right through to summer. She was one of a set of twins, but her sibling sadly didn’t make it. Fortunately Snowflake is getting stronger and healthier by the day, and is ready to meet visitors.
Manor Farm will be open throughout the February half term, 11th-19th February, 10am-4pm.
The clever knitter, Hilary, used a knitting pattern for a Chihuahua dog coat to create the cosy masterpiece, which luckily fits baby Snowflake like a glove.
Snowflake, named for this week’s wintery weather, is the first lamb to arrive on the farm this year, marking the start of the busy lambing season which will continue right through to summer. She was one of a set of twins, but her sibling sadly didn’t make it. Fortunately Snowflake is getting stronger and healthier by the day, and is ready to meet visitors.
Manor Farm will be open throughout the February half term, 11th-19th February, 10am-4pm.
Gentle giant restores Trust’s precious mire at Plaitford Common in the New Forest
A thirty tonne amphibious excavator, resting gently on floating pontoons, is restoring boggy land at Plaitford Common in the New Forest, with minimal impact on the precious landscape, which is owned by the National Trust.
The giant machine, put together by contractors on site, is working through three hectares (seven-and-a-half acres) of the mire, taking out birch and willow trees which have clogged up the system, preventing growth of natural bog species such as sundews, butterworts and bog myrtle and discouraging wildlife from damselflies and dragonflies, to water spiders, beetles and moths.
“This machine is so vast that it arrives in three lorry loads and takes three days, two men and a crane to assemble on the site,” said Dylan Everett, Countryside Operations Manager for National Trust New Forest.
“Yet when it moves across the common to work in the mire it only exerts one and a half pounds per square inch on the ground. You can barely see where it has been and it does no damage at all. It has a built in ‘burner’ so that the birch and willow we are removing are burnt in a secure container.
“The areas in which it works are virtually inaccessible because of the deep and boggy nature of the mire. This machine floats on the surface, cutting out the invasive species and grinding the stumps in one operation, so that there is very little, if any re-growth,” he said.
Bramshaw Common is home to several species of ground nesting birds. Rob West, Head Ranger with the Trust’s Countryside Team, is overseeing the operation at Plaitford.“We need to have the work finished by the end of the winter season, before the birds lay their eggs,” he said. “This machine takes about 10 days to clear a hectare, so the work will be done in time. Regeneration of the mire should take place quickly and naturally during the year.”
This area of Bramshaw Common, at Plaitford, supports some of the rarest mosses and lichens in Great Britain, including ‘reindeer moss’, a pale lichen, Cladonia rangiferina, so-called because it is a favourite food of reindeers in Scandinavian countries.
The giant machine, put together by contractors on site, is working through three hectares (seven-and-a-half acres) of the mire, taking out birch and willow trees which have clogged up the system, preventing growth of natural bog species such as sundews, butterworts and bog myrtle and discouraging wildlife from damselflies and dragonflies, to water spiders, beetles and moths.
“This machine is so vast that it arrives in three lorry loads and takes three days, two men and a crane to assemble on the site,” said Dylan Everett, Countryside Operations Manager for National Trust New Forest.
“Yet when it moves across the common to work in the mire it only exerts one and a half pounds per square inch on the ground. You can barely see where it has been and it does no damage at all. It has a built in ‘burner’ so that the birch and willow we are removing are burnt in a secure container.
“The areas in which it works are virtually inaccessible because of the deep and boggy nature of the mire. This machine floats on the surface, cutting out the invasive species and grinding the stumps in one operation, so that there is very little, if any re-growth,” he said.
Bramshaw Common is home to several species of ground nesting birds. Rob West, Head Ranger with the Trust’s Countryside Team, is overseeing the operation at Plaitford.“We need to have the work finished by the end of the winter season, before the birds lay their eggs,” he said. “This machine takes about 10 days to clear a hectare, so the work will be done in time. Regeneration of the mire should take place quickly and naturally during the year.”
This area of Bramshaw Common, at Plaitford, supports some of the rarest mosses and lichens in Great Britain, including ‘reindeer moss’, a pale lichen, Cladonia rangiferina, so-called because it is a favourite food of reindeers in Scandinavian countries.
New rare token of love discovered at Submarine Museum
A rare ladies submarine brooch has been discovered by staff at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire. This delicate brooch is thought to have been specially commissioned for a serving submarine officer to give to his sweetheart. Alongside other “tokens of love” made by submariners, the brooch will be on display and part of the family extra activities at the Museum during the Half Term Holidays from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 February.
The newly discovered brooch, dated 1909 is made of solid silver by Liberty’s and is reminiscent of a C class submarine. George Malcolmson, Archivist at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “I would think that this brooch is pretty unique probably ordered by a submarine officer for his wife or girlfriend, I have never seen another one like this. It is a remarkable piece of jewellery and I would love to know more about the story behind it”
It was common for submariners to make their own tokens of love for sweethearts on the long stretches of service on submarines. Often many such objects were made from silver spoons “borrowed” from the officer’s mess onboard a submarine.
The Submarine Museum will be displaying some of the best examples of love tokens made by submariners and the rare “Liberty” brooch during the Half Term Holidays from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 February. There will also be extra hands on family activities making Valentines cards and decorating love spoons on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of that week.
The Submarine Museum is open every day during the school holidays and a visit includes a tour onboard the only surviving WW2 walk through submarine in the UK, HMS Alliance. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354.
The newly discovered brooch, dated 1909 is made of solid silver by Liberty’s and is reminiscent of a C class submarine. George Malcolmson, Archivist at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “I would think that this brooch is pretty unique probably ordered by a submarine officer for his wife or girlfriend, I have never seen another one like this. It is a remarkable piece of jewellery and I would love to know more about the story behind it”
It was common for submariners to make their own tokens of love for sweethearts on the long stretches of service on submarines. Often many such objects were made from silver spoons “borrowed” from the officer’s mess onboard a submarine.
The Submarine Museum will be displaying some of the best examples of love tokens made by submariners and the rare “Liberty” brooch during the Half Term Holidays from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 February. There will also be extra hands on family activities making Valentines cards and decorating love spoons on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of that week.
The Submarine Museum is open every day during the school holidays and a visit includes a tour onboard the only surviving WW2 walk through submarine in the UK, HMS Alliance. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354.
February Fun with Peppa Pig and Friends at Paultons Park!
Paultons Park, home to the UK exclusive Peppa Pig World, will be opening the park gates on Sunday 12th February for the Half Term holidays. Staff at Paultons have been busily preparing the park since Christmas ready for welcoming guests and with over 60 wonderful rides included in the admission price, there’s something for everyone this February Half Term.
Peppa Pig and friends will also be entertaining families this February Half Term. Peppa Pig World is set in nearly 3 acres of Peppa themed fun, Peppa Pig world features 7 exciting rides including Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Flight, Peppa's Big Balloon Ride, George's Dinosaur Adventure, Grandpa's Little Train Ride. Guests can even ride in a 'cloud' around Windy Castle! Peppa Pig World also features a huge indoor play area, George's Spaceship Playzone and superb animated attractions. Peppa Pig World is home to Daddy Pig's Big Tummy café and Peppa's Toy Shop, the largest (and only!) dedicated Peppa Pig shop in the World!
Outside of Peppa Pig World the fun keeps on going. Guests will be able to enjoy great favourites such as the fabulous EDGE, Stinger Rollercoaster, Raging River Ride, the swirling Kontiki and not forgetting the awesome Cobra, Paultons biggest rollercoaster yet. Younger children will also adore the beautiful garden-themed Trekking Tractors, the Digger Ride, Jumping Jack and the Flying Frog rollercoaster.There’s also a chance to grab a sneak peak at the construction of Paultons thrilling hot new ride MAGMA.
Young adventurers will have to wait till Easter 2012 before exploring MAGMA's molten rock caverns and discovering the jurassic secret entombed below. Paultons will be open from 10am every day between Sunday 12th February to Monday 20th February.
The Park will then be open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays thereafter and daily after Friday 23rd March. For more information on visiting Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park and to book tickets online, please visit
www.peppapigworld.co.uk or www.paultonspark.co.uk
Peppa Pig and friends will also be entertaining families this February Half Term. Peppa Pig World is set in nearly 3 acres of Peppa themed fun, Peppa Pig world features 7 exciting rides including Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Flight, Peppa's Big Balloon Ride, George's Dinosaur Adventure, Grandpa's Little Train Ride. Guests can even ride in a 'cloud' around Windy Castle! Peppa Pig World also features a huge indoor play area, George's Spaceship Playzone and superb animated attractions. Peppa Pig World is home to Daddy Pig's Big Tummy café and Peppa's Toy Shop, the largest (and only!) dedicated Peppa Pig shop in the World!
Outside of Peppa Pig World the fun keeps on going. Guests will be able to enjoy great favourites such as the fabulous EDGE, Stinger Rollercoaster, Raging River Ride, the swirling Kontiki and not forgetting the awesome Cobra, Paultons biggest rollercoaster yet. Younger children will also adore the beautiful garden-themed Trekking Tractors, the Digger Ride, Jumping Jack and the Flying Frog rollercoaster.There’s also a chance to grab a sneak peak at the construction of Paultons thrilling hot new ride MAGMA.
Young adventurers will have to wait till Easter 2012 before exploring MAGMA's molten rock caverns and discovering the jurassic secret entombed below. Paultons will be open from 10am every day between Sunday 12th February to Monday 20th February.
The Park will then be open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays thereafter and daily after Friday 23rd March. For more information on visiting Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park and to book tickets online, please visit
www.peppapigworld.co.uk or www.paultonspark.co.uk
Trust Members perform 'facelift' on the Woodland Hawks & Owls Arena at The Hawk Conservancy
A group of Members from the Hawk Conservancy donated their time recently to give the Woodland Hawks & Owl Arena a bit of a make-over as part of the annual maintainence and improvement programme.
The work on the arena consisted of changing some of the static design features, including an old-fashioned farm implement. The seating area was rearranged and trees thinned out for better viewing. Old roping barriers and obsolete perches were removed, and improvements were made to the planting scheme and the pond.
Penny Smout, Chief Executive Officer, said "we are enormously grateful to our Members for their support and giving us their time to help improve the facilities at the Trust. There is such a great atmosphere of cameraderie when we hold our Members' Working Days and it's wonderful to see everyone pitching in and having fun. I hope that they share our sense of pride in looking at the arena and seeing a job well done!"
The work on the arena consisted of changing some of the static design features, including an old-fashioned farm implement. The seating area was rearranged and trees thinned out for better viewing. Old roping barriers and obsolete perches were removed, and improvements were made to the planting scheme and the pond.
Penny Smout, Chief Executive Officer, said "we are enormously grateful to our Members for their support and giving us their time to help improve the facilities at the Trust. There is such a great atmosphere of cameraderie when we hold our Members' Working Days and it's wonderful to see everyone pitching in and having fun. I hope that they share our sense of pride in looking at the arena and seeing a job well done!"
Apprentices learn from WW2 engineering at Royal Navy Submarine Museum
As Apprenticeship Week gets underway on 6 February, 80 EDF Nuclear second year apprentices have faced their biggest challenge to date by coming face to face with the engineering of HMS Alliance, the only surviving A Class WW2 era submarine left in the UK based at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire.
The apprentices through working alongside retired submariners based at the Submarine Museum have gone well beyond a standard engineering apprenticeship framework both in what the learners set out to achieve and the means through which they reach their goals.
The young apprentices of today have been carefully paired with the submariners to develop comprehensive maintenance schedules for various systems within the diesel powered submarine, HMS Alliance. This project is regarded as one of the best examples in the country of the rigour, scope and skill that form the very best modern vocational training in the UK.
Alex Khan, Managing Director for Babcock Education and Training: “Working in partnership with EDF Energy and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum enables us to train apprentices to a level that is exceptional. The HMS Alliance challenge is part of a number of activities that open up new avenues of learning above and beyond a standard apprenticeship - in technical training as well as team working, leadership and management. The skills that they have attained through this project will serve the learners and the power stations that they work for to meet immediate business needs and further challenges, long into the future."
Bill Sainsbury, Marketing Manager at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “This has been a great opportunity for our retired submariners to pass on their knowledge and skills from a past age.”
The students have studied HMS Alliance and looked at five engineering systems including propulsion, hydroplanes, snort and air circulation and two sets of torpedoes: conventional forward and “nuclear” aft. As HMS Alliance is typical of a diesel-electric boat (pre Nuclear), the apprentices who are embryonic nuclear professionals, simulated them for the purposes of introducing EDF safety regimes.
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire is home to HMS Alliance, Holland 1, the first Royal Navy submarine launched in 1901 and the X24 the only surviving British midget submarine from WW2. The museum is open to visitors. For more information on a visit to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354.
The apprentices through working alongside retired submariners based at the Submarine Museum have gone well beyond a standard engineering apprenticeship framework both in what the learners set out to achieve and the means through which they reach their goals.
The young apprentices of today have been carefully paired with the submariners to develop comprehensive maintenance schedules for various systems within the diesel powered submarine, HMS Alliance. This project is regarded as one of the best examples in the country of the rigour, scope and skill that form the very best modern vocational training in the UK.
Alex Khan, Managing Director for Babcock Education and Training: “Working in partnership with EDF Energy and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum enables us to train apprentices to a level that is exceptional. The HMS Alliance challenge is part of a number of activities that open up new avenues of learning above and beyond a standard apprenticeship - in technical training as well as team working, leadership and management. The skills that they have attained through this project will serve the learners and the power stations that they work for to meet immediate business needs and further challenges, long into the future."
Bill Sainsbury, Marketing Manager at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “This has been a great opportunity for our retired submariners to pass on their knowledge and skills from a past age.”
The students have studied HMS Alliance and looked at five engineering systems including propulsion, hydroplanes, snort and air circulation and two sets of torpedoes: conventional forward and “nuclear” aft. As HMS Alliance is typical of a diesel-electric boat (pre Nuclear), the apprentices who are embryonic nuclear professionals, simulated them for the purposes of introducing EDF safety regimes.
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire is home to HMS Alliance, Holland 1, the first Royal Navy submarine launched in 1901 and the X24 the only surviving British midget submarine from WW2. The museum is open to visitors. For more information on a visit to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354.
Here be Dragons – Half-term fun for all the family at Fort Nelson
Keep the kids out of mischief and mark the Chinese Year of the Dragon this February half-term by heading to the new-look Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson from February 13 to 19.
Home to the national collection of big guns, Britain’s oldest museum has lined up a special winter event – Dragon Tales – with plenty of fun for all the family.
The Dragon is the mightiest sign in the Chinese Zodiac and visitors can discover fine examples of the mythical beasts in the Royal Armouries’ collection, including a spectacular ‘dragon gun’ dating to the late 18th century and originating from Burma.
Half-term highlights include:
• Dragon’s Quest – Hunt for dragons in the Fort’s galleries. The challenge is to find them all, with a prize for the winner.
• Dragon Masks – Kids can make their own scary masks to take home.
• Dragon Tales – Story-telling sessions throughout the day (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only).• Craft activities.
• Sexton gun-firing – Thursday, Feb 16 and Friday, 17, at 12 noon and 2pm.
Admission and parking are free at this fully-restored Victorian fort – home to the national collection of big guns – although a small charge will apply to the mask making and craft activity sessions.
Royal Armouries’ Director Peter Armstrong said, ‘We are delighted to be going into 2012 with an exciting events package, offering low-cost entertainment during the school holidays. There’s something to appeal to everybody – from big guns to tunnels, and children’s trails to social history galleries.’
For full details of all these events – plus opening times - please visit www.royalarmouries.org
Standing high on Portsdown Hill near Fareham, Fort Nelson showcases one of the world’s finest collections of artillery and cannon, from across the ages and from all corners of the globe.
Last year, this unique heritage attraction underwent a £3.5m redevelopment to create a museum for the 21st century, supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Highlights include:
• A breathtaking new glass-sided gallery – The Voice of the Guns – showcasing some of the Royal Armouries’ most remarkable exhibits, including two sections of the infamous Iraqi Super Gun, two anti-aircraft guns used to defend the South Coast, and the Great Turkish Bombard dating to 1464.
• Exciting new galleries, telling the history of the Fort and the people and stories that shaped history.
• State-of-the-art education centre – allowing children to see the past spring to life in a historic setting, but harnessing the latest technology.
• Brand new visitor centre – including Cafe 1871, which is open to passers-by and walkers.
To find Fort Nelson, follow the brown Tourist signs from the M27.
For more information regarding the Royal Armouries – Britain’s oldest museum - visit: www.royalarmouries.org
www.royalarmouries.org/newsletter
www.twitter.com/royal_armouries
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leeds-United-Kingdom/Royal-Armouries/215812575369?ref=ts
Home to the national collection of big guns, Britain’s oldest museum has lined up a special winter event – Dragon Tales – with plenty of fun for all the family.
The Dragon is the mightiest sign in the Chinese Zodiac and visitors can discover fine examples of the mythical beasts in the Royal Armouries’ collection, including a spectacular ‘dragon gun’ dating to the late 18th century and originating from Burma.
Half-term highlights include:
• Dragon’s Quest – Hunt for dragons in the Fort’s galleries. The challenge is to find them all, with a prize for the winner.
• Dragon Masks – Kids can make their own scary masks to take home.
• Dragon Tales – Story-telling sessions throughout the day (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only).• Craft activities.
• Sexton gun-firing – Thursday, Feb 16 and Friday, 17, at 12 noon and 2pm.
Admission and parking are free at this fully-restored Victorian fort – home to the national collection of big guns – although a small charge will apply to the mask making and craft activity sessions.
Royal Armouries’ Director Peter Armstrong said, ‘We are delighted to be going into 2012 with an exciting events package, offering low-cost entertainment during the school holidays. There’s something to appeal to everybody – from big guns to tunnels, and children’s trails to social history galleries.’
For full details of all these events – plus opening times - please visit www.royalarmouries.org
Standing high on Portsdown Hill near Fareham, Fort Nelson showcases one of the world’s finest collections of artillery and cannon, from across the ages and from all corners of the globe.
Last year, this unique heritage attraction underwent a £3.5m redevelopment to create a museum for the 21st century, supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Highlights include:
• A breathtaking new glass-sided gallery – The Voice of the Guns – showcasing some of the Royal Armouries’ most remarkable exhibits, including two sections of the infamous Iraqi Super Gun, two anti-aircraft guns used to defend the South Coast, and the Great Turkish Bombard dating to 1464.
• Exciting new galleries, telling the history of the Fort and the people and stories that shaped history.
• State-of-the-art education centre – allowing children to see the past spring to life in a historic setting, but harnessing the latest technology.
• Brand new visitor centre – including Cafe 1871, which is open to passers-by and walkers.
To find Fort Nelson, follow the brown Tourist signs from the M27.
For more information regarding the Royal Armouries – Britain’s oldest museum - visit: www.royalarmouries.org
www.royalarmouries.org/newsletter
www.twitter.com/royal_armouries
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leeds-United-Kingdom/Royal-Armouries/215812575369?ref=ts
Charity Evening with Wayne ‘Hawaii 501’ Mardle and Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley at the Carisbrooke Arms in Gosport
Charity Evening in support of the Wessex Heartbeat charity.
An evening with Wayne ‘Hawaii 501’ Mardle and Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley at the Carisbrooke Arms in Gosport.
Date: Friday 10th February 2012
Time: Doors Open 6pm
Tickets: £15 each – strictly ticket only On Friday the 10th of February 2012
The Carisbrooke Arms, in Gosport, is proud to present an evening of entertainment with darts professionals Wayne 'Hawaii 501' Mardle and Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley. Both Wayne and Peter are known for being two of the most charismatic and popular players in the darting world. They will both take the stage and play exhibition darts throughout the evening. The event will be hosted by PDC marker MC Adie Mason.
Event organiser Marc Farrance said ‘We hope the evening will be entertaining and enjoyable for everybody, especially those of us who love our darts. What makes the event even more special is that we will be raising money for a very worthwhile charity, Wessex Heartbeat’.
The event will be in support of the Wessex Heartbeat charity (Registered Charity No.1116510). Established in 1992, Wessex Heartbeat is one of the region's major charities and exists to support the work of the Wessex Cardiac Centre (WCC), one of the UK's leading heart treatment centres. Tickets include entry to a prize/raffle draw, prizes include the chance to play against/with both Wayne Mardle and Peter Manley onstage. The event is supported by MSN Ltd. – Millennium Structured Networks, Voice and Data Communications through the Art of Connection. The event is the second organised at the Carisbrooke Arms by Gary Morris and Marc Farrance involving Wayne Mardle. The first event in 2009, in aid of the Debra Charity, was a huge success and raised over £600 for the charity.
Event organiser Gary Morris said ‘Wayne is thrilled to be back again this year. This time though there will be double the show, with both Wayne and Peter playing guests onstage and answering questions from the audience. MC Adie Mason will be bringing an impressive stage setup with full walk on music, so we hope to bring the popular atmosphere of the PDC to Gosport’.
Tickets are available now, from behind the bar, and are priced at £15.00 each. All profits from the event will be donated to the Wessex Heartbeat charity. Wayne Mardle added ‘I am delighted to be returning to the Carisbrooke Arms to raise money for Wessex Heartbeat’.
For more information, or if you would like to purchase tickets, please contact - Gary Morris 07557123611 or the Carisbrooke Arms direct on 01329 281893.
An evening with Wayne ‘Hawaii 501’ Mardle and Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley at the Carisbrooke Arms in Gosport.
Date: Friday 10th February 2012
Time: Doors Open 6pm
Tickets: £15 each – strictly ticket only On Friday the 10th of February 2012
The Carisbrooke Arms, in Gosport, is proud to present an evening of entertainment with darts professionals Wayne 'Hawaii 501' Mardle and Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley. Both Wayne and Peter are known for being two of the most charismatic and popular players in the darting world. They will both take the stage and play exhibition darts throughout the evening. The event will be hosted by PDC marker MC Adie Mason.
Event organiser Marc Farrance said ‘We hope the evening will be entertaining and enjoyable for everybody, especially those of us who love our darts. What makes the event even more special is that we will be raising money for a very worthwhile charity, Wessex Heartbeat’.
The event will be in support of the Wessex Heartbeat charity (Registered Charity No.1116510). Established in 1992, Wessex Heartbeat is one of the region's major charities and exists to support the work of the Wessex Cardiac Centre (WCC), one of the UK's leading heart treatment centres. Tickets include entry to a prize/raffle draw, prizes include the chance to play against/with both Wayne Mardle and Peter Manley onstage. The event is supported by MSN Ltd. – Millennium Structured Networks, Voice and Data Communications through the Art of Connection. The event is the second organised at the Carisbrooke Arms by Gary Morris and Marc Farrance involving Wayne Mardle. The first event in 2009, in aid of the Debra Charity, was a huge success and raised over £600 for the charity.
Event organiser Gary Morris said ‘Wayne is thrilled to be back again this year. This time though there will be double the show, with both Wayne and Peter playing guests onstage and answering questions from the audience. MC Adie Mason will be bringing an impressive stage setup with full walk on music, so we hope to bring the popular atmosphere of the PDC to Gosport’.
Tickets are available now, from behind the bar, and are priced at £15.00 each. All profits from the event will be donated to the Wessex Heartbeat charity. Wayne Mardle added ‘I am delighted to be returning to the Carisbrooke Arms to raise money for Wessex Heartbeat’.
For more information, or if you would like to purchase tickets, please contact - Gary Morris 07557123611 or the Carisbrooke Arms direct on 01329 281893.
Art springs to life at Mottisfont
Visitors to the National Trust’s Mottisfont will be able to explore how leading artists have looked at our lives over the last 100 years.
The latest exhibition in the art gallery at this beautiful property near Romsey, on show from Saturday 11 February – Sunday 6 May 2012, brings together a selection of fine 20th century works from both Southampton City Art Gallery and Mottisfont’s Derek Hill Collection.
Together they portray a slice of life – a cross-section of very different ways of picturing the world around us. The show is arranged around five main themes: people, places, work, leisure and war, and features paintings, drawings, prints and photographs by artists from Gaudier-Brzeska, Degas and Sickert to Hockney and Craig-Martin.
Mottisfont’s Louise Govier says, ‘In the year when the world’s eyes will be on Britain, this show asks: how have we seen ourselves? How have we pictured our lives over the last hundred years? Visitors will be able to discover stories of how we used to live, of love and loss, hope and bravery through 70 works by some of the most important British artists of the 20th Century, including rarely seen fragile works on paper’.
Family activities and a programme of short talks and workshops accompanies the exhibition. Children will be able to have fun while they hunt for clues in a trail around the gallery, make pictures of their own lives to take home or add to a collage in the galleries in the National Trust house.
The latest exhibition in the art gallery at this beautiful property near Romsey, on show from Saturday 11 February – Sunday 6 May 2012, brings together a selection of fine 20th century works from both Southampton City Art Gallery and Mottisfont’s Derek Hill Collection.
Together they portray a slice of life – a cross-section of very different ways of picturing the world around us. The show is arranged around five main themes: people, places, work, leisure and war, and features paintings, drawings, prints and photographs by artists from Gaudier-Brzeska, Degas and Sickert to Hockney and Craig-Martin.
Mottisfont’s Louise Govier says, ‘In the year when the world’s eyes will be on Britain, this show asks: how have we seen ourselves? How have we pictured our lives over the last hundred years? Visitors will be able to discover stories of how we used to live, of love and loss, hope and bravery through 70 works by some of the most important British artists of the 20th Century, including rarely seen fragile works on paper’.
Family activities and a programme of short talks and workshops accompanies the exhibition. Children will be able to have fun while they hunt for clues in a trail around the gallery, make pictures of their own lives to take home or add to a collage in the galleries in the National Trust house.
Never Before Seen Exhibits Arrive for James Bond Vehicle Exhibition at National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
The opening of an exciting new exhibition of 50 James Bond vehicles, which will be unveiled to the public on 17th January 2012, is now less than a month away. The exhibition, the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world, will showcase 50 of the best loved and most iconic James Bond vehicles in celebration of the 50th year of James Bond films. Bond in Motion will run from January to December 2012 at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
Among the vehicles now arriving for the exhibition are a number that have never before been seen in public. These include the Ford Mustang Mach 1 from Diamonds Are Forever, villain Zukovsky’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II from The World Is Not Enough and the vintage 1962 Rolls Royce, pushed into a lake by May Day and Zorin with Bond still inside, in A View to a Kill.
Other exhibits on public view for the first time include the ‘Burial-At-Sea Bed’ from You Only Live Twice, the Union Jack Parachute which villain Gustav Graves used when he landed on The Mall and the Surfboard with concealed weapons and ammunition, from Die Another Day. Also on display will be the Casino Royale Skyfleet S570 model, based on a Boeing 747, and original ‘Pig’ from The Living Daylights, used to smuggle Koskov across the border through the Siberian Pipe Line.
2012 also marks the 40th anniversary of Beaulieu’s world-famous National Motor Museum, a fitting year to be hosting a major new car exhibition with some of the most recognised vehicles from the Bond films.
Among the vehicles now arriving for the exhibition are a number that have never before been seen in public. These include the Ford Mustang Mach 1 from Diamonds Are Forever, villain Zukovsky’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II from The World Is Not Enough and the vintage 1962 Rolls Royce, pushed into a lake by May Day and Zorin with Bond still inside, in A View to a Kill.
Other exhibits on public view for the first time include the ‘Burial-At-Sea Bed’ from You Only Live Twice, the Union Jack Parachute which villain Gustav Graves used when he landed on The Mall and the Surfboard with concealed weapons and ammunition, from Die Another Day. Also on display will be the Casino Royale Skyfleet S570 model, based on a Boeing 747, and original ‘Pig’ from The Living Daylights, used to smuggle Koskov across the border through the Siberian Pipe Line.
2012 also marks the 40th anniversary of Beaulieu’s world-famous National Motor Museum, a fitting year to be hosting a major new car exhibition with some of the most recognised vehicles from the Bond films.
Exbury Gardens drop child entry charge for 2012!
Exbury Gardens drop child entry charge for 2012!
Children under 16 will be welcomed free of charge into award-winning Exbury Gardens in 2012. The New Forest Gardens, which won a ‘best in Britain’ accolade from tourist specialists Hudson’s Heritage in late 2011, open on Saturday 10 March.
“We know times are tough for families and we hope that by dropping the entrance charge for under-16s, more people will be able to enjoy this wonderful woodland garden which was created by my grandfather more than 90 years ago,” said Nicholas de Rothschild.
“We’re also offering those who visit before June 10th and buy tickets to ride the steam railway, free tickets to return to see the fabulous autumn colour,” he said.
Exbury offers 200 acres of woodland garden, bright in spring with the Rothschild Collection of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, rare trees and shrubs, along the banks of the Beaulieu River. The Gardens may be explored on foot or by chauffeur-driven buggy.
The steam railway, whose 10th anniversary was celebrated in 2011 with a visit from HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, runs through a specially created naturalistic garden. There is a charge for adults and children to ride the railway or to use the buggy.
“Her Majesty The Queen has always enjoyed her visits to Exbury, so we are planning to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 by making some new paths for visitors to explore,” said Nicholas de Rothschild”. “We are also issuing a new tree guide, written by John Anderson, our head gardener and some interesting weekly plant trails for visitors to explore.”
Children under 16 will be welcomed free of charge into award-winning Exbury Gardens in 2012. The New Forest Gardens, which won a ‘best in Britain’ accolade from tourist specialists Hudson’s Heritage in late 2011, open on Saturday 10 March.
“We know times are tough for families and we hope that by dropping the entrance charge for under-16s, more people will be able to enjoy this wonderful woodland garden which was created by my grandfather more than 90 years ago,” said Nicholas de Rothschild.
“We’re also offering those who visit before June 10th and buy tickets to ride the steam railway, free tickets to return to see the fabulous autumn colour,” he said.
Exbury offers 200 acres of woodland garden, bright in spring with the Rothschild Collection of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, rare trees and shrubs, along the banks of the Beaulieu River. The Gardens may be explored on foot or by chauffeur-driven buggy.
The steam railway, whose 10th anniversary was celebrated in 2011 with a visit from HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, runs through a specially created naturalistic garden. There is a charge for adults and children to ride the railway or to use the buggy.
“Her Majesty The Queen has always enjoyed her visits to Exbury, so we are planning to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 by making some new paths for visitors to explore,” said Nicholas de Rothschild”. “We are also issuing a new tree guide, written by John Anderson, our head gardener and some interesting weekly plant trails for visitors to explore.”
All aboard to see Santa at Exbury!
Father Christmas and a whole clutch of other colourful characters get the festive season off to a flying start at Exbury this weekend when the ever-popular Santa Specials steam through a wonderful winter garden.
And, just a week after Exbury Gardens were named winner of the prestigious Hudson’s Heritage national ‘Garden of the Year’ award, figures show that the Garden Railway has had its best year yet, carrying more than 63,000 passengers this season.
“We know the railway is popular and this is its tenth season,” said Leopold de Rothschild, whose family owns the 200-acre woodland Gardens in the New Forest. “We’re delighted that so many visitors enjoyed a ride on the train in the year we celebrated its 10th anniversary. Those passengers included Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, who helped us celebrate the anniversary,” he said.
The Santa Steam Specials take passengers on a trip through a garden filled with favourite Christmas characters. There’s a Nativity scene, the Ice Queen with her sleigh, snowmen, reindeer, while Exbury’s cast of animal characters are dressed in woolly hats and scarves. Christmas music plays and passengers can sing along with seasonal favourites, to bring the snowmen and reindeer magically to life.
Exbury Central Station is decorated with fresh greenery cut from the Gardens and families may follow the new Festive Trail that tells the story of many of the plants and trees.
Mother Christmas is on hand with chocolates for the children and there is hot punch and mince pies for the adults. Each child has a personal chat with Santa in his magical grotto and receives a present. Christmas gifts may be bought from the shop and plant centre.
Trigger the land train is on hand on a first-come, first-served basis to take visitors into the Gardens.
Mr Eddy’s restaurant will be open, selling delicious food, including warming soup and Christmas roasts.
Santa Specials are on December Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th and Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th. They are very popular and should be pre-booked by calling 023 8024 5750 daily between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Tickets are £15 for adults and children (ticket price includes entry to the Gardens and the children’s ticket includes a present from Santa) and £7 for under-threes, who will also receive a present.
Gardens-only tickets are available at normal entry prices on Santa Special days in December. They can be booked at the box office number or bought at the gate.
Please visit www.exbury.co.uk for more information.
And, just a week after Exbury Gardens were named winner of the prestigious Hudson’s Heritage national ‘Garden of the Year’ award, figures show that the Garden Railway has had its best year yet, carrying more than 63,000 passengers this season.
“We know the railway is popular and this is its tenth season,” said Leopold de Rothschild, whose family owns the 200-acre woodland Gardens in the New Forest. “We’re delighted that so many visitors enjoyed a ride on the train in the year we celebrated its 10th anniversary. Those passengers included Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, who helped us celebrate the anniversary,” he said.
The Santa Steam Specials take passengers on a trip through a garden filled with favourite Christmas characters. There’s a Nativity scene, the Ice Queen with her sleigh, snowmen, reindeer, while Exbury’s cast of animal characters are dressed in woolly hats and scarves. Christmas music plays and passengers can sing along with seasonal favourites, to bring the snowmen and reindeer magically to life.
Exbury Central Station is decorated with fresh greenery cut from the Gardens and families may follow the new Festive Trail that tells the story of many of the plants and trees.
Mother Christmas is on hand with chocolates for the children and there is hot punch and mince pies for the adults. Each child has a personal chat with Santa in his magical grotto and receives a present. Christmas gifts may be bought from the shop and plant centre.
Trigger the land train is on hand on a first-come, first-served basis to take visitors into the Gardens.
Mr Eddy’s restaurant will be open, selling delicious food, including warming soup and Christmas roasts.
Santa Specials are on December Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th and Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th. They are very popular and should be pre-booked by calling 023 8024 5750 daily between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Tickets are £15 for adults and children (ticket price includes entry to the Gardens and the children’s ticket includes a present from Santa) and £7 for under-threes, who will also receive a present.
Gardens-only tickets are available at normal entry prices on Santa Special days in December. They can be booked at the box office number or bought at the gate.
Please visit www.exbury.co.uk for more information.
Silver Award for Best Tourism Experience of the Year for New Forest Activities
In 2002, two young paddling enthusiasts decided to make it their mission to make Kayaking accessible for everyone to enjoy. Based from a shed on the Rivers edge they began to make their mark on the Beaulieu Estate, starting regular Kayaking tours for the public on the picturesque Beaulieu River Nature Reserve.
Nine years on this two hour Kayaking tour is widely renowned for the unique experience it offers visitors from far and wide. Whether it’s to learn the skill of Kayaking; enjoy an exciting and fun experience; or take a tranquil and relaxing tour exploring the wildlife on the Nature Reserve. This experience really does have something to offer just about anyone!
Not only highly recognised by its visitors as “the best part of the holiday in the New Forest” (Iain, August 2011), but we are proud to announce that the Kayaking experience has been awarded Silver for the Best Tourism Experience of the Year Award in the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2011.
This award recognises an experience that has grown over the last nine years. It has been nurtured and developed over time, taking on valuable feedback from customers to become one of the best tourist experiences in the South.During its nine years it’s not only the Kayaking experience that has developed; Directors Sam Sutton and Rich Pearsall have grown the founding company Liquid Logistics, creating from this the New Forest Activities Booking Centre. Born to run the bookings for all Liquid Logistics activities, as well as other fantastic activities and attractions throughout the New Forest, the Booking Centre has become a one-stop shop for visitors to the area.
With an ever growing team of Booking Centre staff and instructors, three permanent activity bases as well as mobile sites, and a range of activities including; Kayaking and Canoe River tours, Archery, Bike Hire, Guided Walks and the brand new and exciting Battlefield LIVE New Forest; the latest craze in Combat gaming. It is not hard to see that this award has gone to a deserving home.Director Sam Sutton says; “It’s amazing to see how much we’ve grown over the last nine years. We wanted to offer paddle sports to everyone, and our Kayaking experience has exceeded even our expectations for achieving this dream.” “We continually ask our customers for feedback on their experiences. We use this to develop our activities, and for which has allowed us to develop one of the best tourism experiences’ in the South. We use the same methods of development on all activities, and offer the same high standards across the board. The Kayaking was our founding activity, and we are very proud of the experience it offers.”
“To think a small, growing company like us could be finalists in an award with such nationally known names, and to walk away with Silver is a real achievement.”
If you would like to know more about New Forest Activities and the best tourism experience in the South, visit www.newforestactivities.co.uk, call 01590 612377 to talk to a member of the team, or visit the New Forest Activities Booking Centre on Beaulieu High Street, SO42 7YA.
Nine years on this two hour Kayaking tour is widely renowned for the unique experience it offers visitors from far and wide. Whether it’s to learn the skill of Kayaking; enjoy an exciting and fun experience; or take a tranquil and relaxing tour exploring the wildlife on the Nature Reserve. This experience really does have something to offer just about anyone!
Not only highly recognised by its visitors as “the best part of the holiday in the New Forest” (Iain, August 2011), but we are proud to announce that the Kayaking experience has been awarded Silver for the Best Tourism Experience of the Year Award in the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2011.
This award recognises an experience that has grown over the last nine years. It has been nurtured and developed over time, taking on valuable feedback from customers to become one of the best tourist experiences in the South.During its nine years it’s not only the Kayaking experience that has developed; Directors Sam Sutton and Rich Pearsall have grown the founding company Liquid Logistics, creating from this the New Forest Activities Booking Centre. Born to run the bookings for all Liquid Logistics activities, as well as other fantastic activities and attractions throughout the New Forest, the Booking Centre has become a one-stop shop for visitors to the area.
With an ever growing team of Booking Centre staff and instructors, three permanent activity bases as well as mobile sites, and a range of activities including; Kayaking and Canoe River tours, Archery, Bike Hire, Guided Walks and the brand new and exciting Battlefield LIVE New Forest; the latest craze in Combat gaming. It is not hard to see that this award has gone to a deserving home.Director Sam Sutton says; “It’s amazing to see how much we’ve grown over the last nine years. We wanted to offer paddle sports to everyone, and our Kayaking experience has exceeded even our expectations for achieving this dream.” “We continually ask our customers for feedback on their experiences. We use this to develop our activities, and for which has allowed us to develop one of the best tourism experiences’ in the South. We use the same methods of development on all activities, and offer the same high standards across the board. The Kayaking was our founding activity, and we are very proud of the experience it offers.”
“To think a small, growing company like us could be finalists in an award with such nationally known names, and to walk away with Silver is a real achievement.”
If you would like to know more about New Forest Activities and the best tourism experience in the South, visit www.newforestactivities.co.uk, call 01590 612377 to talk to a member of the team, or visit the New Forest Activities Booking Centre on Beaulieu High Street, SO42 7YA.
Exbury, in the New Forest, has been named the best garden to visit in the United Kingdom
Exbury, in the New Forest, has been named the best garden to visit in the United Kingdom. The prestigious national award, from leading guide-book publishers and tourist industry leaders, Hudson’s Heritage, was received today Thurs by Lionel de Rothschild, whose family owns the world-famous 200-acre woodland Gardens in the New Forest.
The inaugural Hudson’s Heritage Awards highlighted the 15 best visitor attractions in the British Isles. Judges included architectural and heritage champion, writer and photographer, Lady Lucinda Lambton and Norman Hudson, founder of the guidebook Hudson’s Historic Houses and Gardens and past member of the Nastional Trust Council.Exbury faced stiff competition but was recognized as the winner for the continuing maintenance and improvement of its historic Gardens, their visitor facilities and for its dedicated staff. Its contribution to horticultural science, knowledge and learning was another important factor. The award also recognizes Exbury’s role in conserving and propagating rare species of plants, as exemplified by head gardener John Anderson’s tough plant-hunting expedition to north-east India last year.
Lady Lucinda Lambton and Loyd Grossman, chef and television personality, presented the awards at a lunch-time ceremony at the Marriott Hotel in London’s Grosvenor Square.
The cup was received by Lionel de Rothschild and Exbury’s manager, Nigel Philpott.“I am delighted that the Gardens established by my grandfather more than 90 years ago are still thriving, giving great enjoyment to very many people and continuing the ethos of collecting, conserving, displaying and propagating plant species and varieties that may otherwise be endangered,” said Mr de Rothschild, whose family runs the Gardens. “This award has been earned by all our dedicated staff who continue to receive great praise from visitors for their knowledge, courtesy and helpfulness,” he said.
Exbury Gardens works closely with tourism partners locally and nationally, makes good-value promotional offers and uses its website to show visitors current flowering conditions, so that they can decide what they would like to see.“In these difficult economic times we have striven to give all our visitors the best possible value for money,” said Nigel Philpott.
Exbury’s Commercial and Marketing Manager. “We are very happy that our efforts have been recognized.”
The inaugural Hudson’s Heritage Awards highlighted the 15 best visitor attractions in the British Isles. Judges included architectural and heritage champion, writer and photographer, Lady Lucinda Lambton and Norman Hudson, founder of the guidebook Hudson’s Historic Houses and Gardens and past member of the Nastional Trust Council.Exbury faced stiff competition but was recognized as the winner for the continuing maintenance and improvement of its historic Gardens, their visitor facilities and for its dedicated staff. Its contribution to horticultural science, knowledge and learning was another important factor. The award also recognizes Exbury’s role in conserving and propagating rare species of plants, as exemplified by head gardener John Anderson’s tough plant-hunting expedition to north-east India last year.
Lady Lucinda Lambton and Loyd Grossman, chef and television personality, presented the awards at a lunch-time ceremony at the Marriott Hotel in London’s Grosvenor Square.
The cup was received by Lionel de Rothschild and Exbury’s manager, Nigel Philpott.“I am delighted that the Gardens established by my grandfather more than 90 years ago are still thriving, giving great enjoyment to very many people and continuing the ethos of collecting, conserving, displaying and propagating plant species and varieties that may otherwise be endangered,” said Mr de Rothschild, whose family runs the Gardens. “This award has been earned by all our dedicated staff who continue to receive great praise from visitors for their knowledge, courtesy and helpfulness,” he said.
Exbury Gardens works closely with tourism partners locally and nationally, makes good-value promotional offers and uses its website to show visitors current flowering conditions, so that they can decide what they would like to see.“In these difficult economic times we have striven to give all our visitors the best possible value for money,” said Nigel Philpott.
Exbury’s Commercial and Marketing Manager. “We are very happy that our efforts have been recognized.”
Interactive Nativity will be a highlight this Christmas at Manor Farm Country Park
Christmas is coming early at Manor Farm, as the popular Christmas Market returns for another year on Sunday 11th December 10am-5pm.
The farm will be filled with festive stalls selling locally produced crafts and produce. Whether you want to find some special gifts for the family or stock up on snacks ready for the festive season, there will be everything from handcrafted glassware and woodcrafts to homemade fudge and chutneys.
When you’ve finished browsing the stalls, enjoy the festive entertainment. Dress up in the interactive nativity, or treat the children to a pony ride through the fields. Visit Santa in his stable, or pop into the farmhouse kitchen to enjoy mulled wine and freshly baked mince pies with the farm’s Victorian costumed characters.
The farm will be filled with sound of Christmas as a brass band pipes out festive tunes and a choir performs some favourite carols. And if that puts you in a musical mood you can make your way to the farm’s St Bartholomew’s Church at 2.30pm to join in with a traditional carol service.
Marlene Norris, costumed character in the farmhouse, said “the farm has a brilliant atmosphere during the festive season, and it’s a really unique place do some Christmas shopping!”
Entry to the Christmas Market is charged at standard admission price, under 3s go free. Parking free. For more information visit www.hants.gov.uk/manorfarm or call 01489 787055
The farm will be filled with festive stalls selling locally produced crafts and produce. Whether you want to find some special gifts for the family or stock up on snacks ready for the festive season, there will be everything from handcrafted glassware and woodcrafts to homemade fudge and chutneys.
When you’ve finished browsing the stalls, enjoy the festive entertainment. Dress up in the interactive nativity, or treat the children to a pony ride through the fields. Visit Santa in his stable, or pop into the farmhouse kitchen to enjoy mulled wine and freshly baked mince pies with the farm’s Victorian costumed characters.
The farm will be filled with sound of Christmas as a brass band pipes out festive tunes and a choir performs some favourite carols. And if that puts you in a musical mood you can make your way to the farm’s St Bartholomew’s Church at 2.30pm to join in with a traditional carol service.
Marlene Norris, costumed character in the farmhouse, said “the farm has a brilliant atmosphere during the festive season, and it’s a really unique place do some Christmas shopping!”
Entry to the Christmas Market is charged at standard admission price, under 3s go free. Parking free. For more information visit www.hants.gov.uk/manorfarm or call 01489 787055
Christmas at Explosion!
Christmas at Explosion
Come and join us at Priddy’s Hard as we celebrate Christmas at Explosion.
In the run up to Christmas this year, the Museum will be FREE for Gosport Residents. That’s right, from the 17th of December right through until Christmas Eve, we will be completely free to all Gosport Residents. What’s more, why not get really into the spirit of the season and participate in one of our daily special events, all with a festive theme. (Residents must provide evidence of residency on arrival to enable free entry. A council tax or utility bill highlighting your Gosport address or Postcode will be sufficient.)
With Christmas card making, storytelling, Re-enactments and Music, everyday has a festive feel at Explosion.
Sunday 11th – Christmas Carol Concert in the Grand Magazine, Tickets £1.00, 3pm start. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Saturday 17th – Find the Reindeer / Christmas Card Making in the Coffee Shop.
Sunday 18th - Find the Reindeer / Christmas Card Making in the Coffee Shop.
Monday 19th – Christmas Carol and Dickens Characters populate Museum galleries.
Tuesday 20th – Find the Reindeer / Christmas Card Making in the Coffee Shop.
Wednesday 21st –Festival Players recreate a Victorian Christmas in the Magazine, and a Wartime Christmas in our Locker Room.
Thursday 22nd - Find the Reindeer / Christmas Card Making in the Coffee Shop. (plus a special visit from the Surestart Bus)
Friday 23rd – Find the Reindeer / Christmas Card Making in the Coffee Shop.
Saturday 24th – AM only – Presents with Santa in our special grotto.
Christmas at Explosion!
Christmas Festivities at Explosion!
This December, come and join us at Explosion, the Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy’s Hard, Gosport as we celebrate the magic of Christmas . Special festive highlights include a traditional Carol Concert in the eighteenth century gunpowder vault and a mixture of family activities in and around the main Museum.
Festive Fun begins on the 11th of December at 3pm when the Museum will host a traditional carol concert with the Gospel Phonics and St Johns Primary School Choir. Come along and enjoy mince pies and mulled wine in the Museum Coffee Shop, followed by Christmas Carols in the majestic setting of the Grand Magazine. Tickets include entry to the Museum from 2pm. (Tickets must be booked in advance as places are limited).
As a special gesture of seasonal goodwill, the Explosion Museum will be FREE for Gosport Residents from the 17th of December right through until Christmas Eve. Just bring along a council tax or utility bill with your Gosport address or Postcode to claim your free tickets. What’s more, why not get really into the spirit of the season and participate in one of our daily special events, all with a festive theme.
- Find the Reindeer - Can you locate Rudolf and his 8 cute companions within the Museum galleries? Find them all to save Christmas and help Santa deliver all his presents!
- Make a Christmas Card -Make your own unique Christmas Card in the Museum Coffee Shop using a range of different materials to make it extra special. Take it home to keep, or send to family or friends.
- Hunt the Dickens characters - Many well-known personalities from Dickens’s classicstories are visitingthe Museum this Christmas. Come along and meet Scrooge and his festive friends.
- Experience a Wartime Christmas - Take a trip back in time to a 1940s Gosport Yuletide with the Festival Players and find out what Christmas was like before Xbox and Nintendo!
Please note different activities are available each day so please see below for more information. The Museum will be open daily from the 17th of December up to and including Christmas Eve. From 17th to 23rd December the Museum will open at 10am and close at 4pm. On 24th December the Museum will close at 1.00 pm. More information on these and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk. Alternatively contact the Museum by phone on 023 9250 5600.
HMS Alliance selected as a sacred space for British classical composer
Thoroughbredmusic is proud to announce the next location for ambient modern composer and musician: Marvin Ayres’ “Sacred Spaces” project. It is HMS Alliance, the historic WW2 era submarine, based at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire,where Marvin and his sound engineer Alex Siddall will be composing and recording on Tuesday 6th December:
MARVIN AYRES - 'Sacred Spaces' Marvin Ayres’s latest project is 'Sacred Spaces'. The idea behind 'Sacred Spaces' is to use incongruous places for composition and performance and reawaken the inherent and/or dormant spirit residing in these unlikely locations. “Pilgrims in search of sonic beauty”. These include anything from derelict industrial sites to historical places of interest, (incorporating National Trust and English Heritage) and re-appropriating them for musical purposes.
'Sacred Spaces' is an ongoing and evolving project with recordings in different environments. The instruments will be randomly tuned to compliment the environments, an microphones will be used to pick up the full ambience of the spaces once excited by the cellos, violins and violas.
One element which will link all the locations will be the same series of notes which will be assembled to create one collective piece composed from the overtones, sustains and reverberations recorded in each environment.
The intention is to return to the museum and submarine at a later stage and exhibit “TRUE 3D” surround sound installations of the compositions that were inspired by, and recorded there with possible live performance as appropriate. To accompany these journeys, the project will be documented with a film diary.
Marvin Ayres is a British modern-classical composer, cellist, violinist, pianist and producer. He has composed and recorded a diverse selection of minimalist albums, incorporating spatial soundscapes and psycho-acoustics, in his “True 3D Surround Sound”, and latterly 5.1 Surround Sound Audio Wall of Waves Studio. Sound engineer Alex Siddall will assist Marvin on the project. Marvin’s latest work 'Harmogram Suite' is due for release in February 2012.
MARVIN AYRES - 'Sacred Spaces' Marvin Ayres’s latest project is 'Sacred Spaces'. The idea behind 'Sacred Spaces' is to use incongruous places for composition and performance and reawaken the inherent and/or dormant spirit residing in these unlikely locations. “Pilgrims in search of sonic beauty”. These include anything from derelict industrial sites to historical places of interest, (incorporating National Trust and English Heritage) and re-appropriating them for musical purposes.
'Sacred Spaces' is an ongoing and evolving project with recordings in different environments. The instruments will be randomly tuned to compliment the environments, an microphones will be used to pick up the full ambience of the spaces once excited by the cellos, violins and violas.
One element which will link all the locations will be the same series of notes which will be assembled to create one collective piece composed from the overtones, sustains and reverberations recorded in each environment.
The intention is to return to the museum and submarine at a later stage and exhibit “TRUE 3D” surround sound installations of the compositions that were inspired by, and recorded there with possible live performance as appropriate. To accompany these journeys, the project will be documented with a film diary.
Marvin Ayres is a British modern-classical composer, cellist, violinist, pianist and producer. He has composed and recorded a diverse selection of minimalist albums, incorporating spatial soundscapes and psycho-acoustics, in his “True 3D Surround Sound”, and latterly 5.1 Surround Sound Audio Wall of Waves Studio. Sound engineer Alex Siddall will assist Marvin on the project. Marvin’s latest work 'Harmogram Suite' is due for release in February 2012.
Recycling artists show gift ideas at Submarine Museum
Local recycling artist Julie Williams will be showing off her Christmas handcrafted gifts as part of the Trash to Treasure Christmas Craft Market at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, in Gosport, Hampshire on Saturday 26 November from 11am -3pm. Julie has been working on a year long project to use everyday rubbish to create beautiful works of art.
The Trash to Treasure Christmas Craft Market at the Submarine Museum will feature Julie’s handmade crafts and those from other local artists. Everything from fused glass jewellery, beaded and embroidered handbags, ceramic decorations and Christmas tree baubles, garden decorations, restored furniture and accessories for the home will be available. There will also be opportunities to have a go yourself with hands-on activities making paper and a Christmas craft challenge.
Every week for the last year, Julie has rifled through her bins and chosen something to transform from trash to treasure. Self imposed rules of not using the same rubbish item twice, not buying new materials in addition to the item of rubbish and making something that is useful, beautiful or both. Each Saturday she has uploaded photographs and instructions of that week’s project on her blog Recycle4Real.
Julie Williams said, “I wanted to set a personal challenge to see if I could use things that I found around the house that could be made into beautiful gifts”
The projects have been very varied from a bracelet made from sweetie wrappers and vases made from boiled polystyrene cups, to a mobile phone sock made from pillow stuffing and a small amount of wool fibre! Julie has used a variety of craft techniques and materials.
They have all been favourably received with followers from as far afield as the Philippines and New Zealand as well as Russia and the EU. Many people have sent messages of support and some have sent pictures of their own projects inspired by the challenge which is great!
Entrance to the Trash to Treasure Craft Market is free. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
The Trash to Treasure Christmas Craft Market at the Submarine Museum will feature Julie’s handmade crafts and those from other local artists. Everything from fused glass jewellery, beaded and embroidered handbags, ceramic decorations and Christmas tree baubles, garden decorations, restored furniture and accessories for the home will be available. There will also be opportunities to have a go yourself with hands-on activities making paper and a Christmas craft challenge.
Every week for the last year, Julie has rifled through her bins and chosen something to transform from trash to treasure. Self imposed rules of not using the same rubbish item twice, not buying new materials in addition to the item of rubbish and making something that is useful, beautiful or both. Each Saturday she has uploaded photographs and instructions of that week’s project on her blog Recycle4Real.
Julie Williams said, “I wanted to set a personal challenge to see if I could use things that I found around the house that could be made into beautiful gifts”
The projects have been very varied from a bracelet made from sweetie wrappers and vases made from boiled polystyrene cups, to a mobile phone sock made from pillow stuffing and a small amount of wool fibre! Julie has used a variety of craft techniques and materials.
They have all been favourably received with followers from as far afield as the Philippines and New Zealand as well as Russia and the EU. Many people have sent messages of support and some have sent pictures of their own projects inspired by the challenge which is great!
Entrance to the Trash to Treasure Craft Market is free. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
Paultons Feathered Friends receive their annual check up.
Over the past four weeks, a team of six livestock keepers have been counting and checking the health of over the two hundred birds at Paultons Park.
Every year, all of the one hundred different bird species have to go through strict health checks. These inspections are carried out in late autumn to avoid disturbing any of the birds’ breeding patterns. The livestock keepers rate each individual bird from 1 – 5 depending on their physical appearance and condition. Even the flamingos and ‘Bacon’ the Cockatoo, some of Paultons oldest residents of over thirty years, have to go through the checks. New birds are ringed and issued with health record cards to help livestock department with future health inspections. The feathers of some of the birds are sent away for additional DNA testing to determine gender.
Collecting this information about the birds is not only vital in making sure that all the birds are in good health but the information is also used to help research and identify matching pairs for breeding schemes.
Although a few of the birds have enjoyed a much needed pedicure, the livestock keepers are please to say that all of Paultons Park’s feathered livestock have been found in good health and condition.
Every year, all of the one hundred different bird species have to go through strict health checks. These inspections are carried out in late autumn to avoid disturbing any of the birds’ breeding patterns. The livestock keepers rate each individual bird from 1 – 5 depending on their physical appearance and condition. Even the flamingos and ‘Bacon’ the Cockatoo, some of Paultons oldest residents of over thirty years, have to go through the checks. New birds are ringed and issued with health record cards to help livestock department with future health inspections. The feathers of some of the birds are sent away for additional DNA testing to determine gender.
Collecting this information about the birds is not only vital in making sure that all the birds are in good health but the information is also used to help research and identify matching pairs for breeding schemes.
Although a few of the birds have enjoyed a much needed pedicure, the livestock keepers are please to say that all of Paultons Park’s feathered livestock have been found in good health and condition.
‘The Perfect Present for an Outdoor Lover‘
Give something special, a gift to remember.
And that’s where Go Ape come in. ‘The Perfect Present for an Outdoor Lover‘.
It’s the annual riddle: what to buy for someone who has everything? It could be a friend, colleague, relative or even you. Well, it’s an urban jungle out there, so you could do worse than helping them discover their inner ape.
The Go Ape! Experience voucher can be used on all four of their adventures:
The gift vouchers can be used on the Tree Top Adventure, Explorer Adventure, Forest Segways and Forest Biking and you can get your vouchers sent in the post so the lucky Gorilla will be able to open their bundle of fun. Or you can have them emailed (which is instant).
Buy online at goape.co.uk/gift
And that’s where Go Ape come in. ‘The Perfect Present for an Outdoor Lover‘.
It’s the annual riddle: what to buy for someone who has everything? It could be a friend, colleague, relative or even you. Well, it’s an urban jungle out there, so you could do worse than helping them discover their inner ape.
The Go Ape! Experience voucher can be used on all four of their adventures:
- The UK’s No.1 Tree Top Adventure (with 27 across the country. £30 per adult. £20 per 10 – 17 year old).
- Epic Forest Segways (with 3 locations UK wide. £25).
- Their Explorer Tree Top Adventure for the under 10′s (at Moors Valley Country Park. £15).
- Biking in the forest (at Black Park Country Park. £12 per adult. £8 per child).
The gift vouchers can be used on the Tree Top Adventure, Explorer Adventure, Forest Segways and Forest Biking and you can get your vouchers sent in the post so the lucky Gorilla will be able to open their bundle of fun. Or you can have them emailed (which is instant).
Buy online at goape.co.uk/gift
One man’s service remembered – From the Trenches of WWI to Battle under the Sea in WWII
A recent medal purchase by the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire has uncovered a story of gallantry and dedicated military service spanning two World Wars. The medals of George Weston which include the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) from WW1 from his time serving in the British Army also include the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal from WW2 when he served in the Royal Navy.
George Weston while serving as Private in the Royal Sussex Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions in rescuing wounded comrades at the battle of St Aubers Ridge in May 1915. He attended to many wounded under heavy fire and brought them back to the trench. He then carried back five wounded in succession from the advanced trench before he himself was wounded. George Weston would eventually serve with three different Army Regiments. On 21st March 1918 George was reported missing in action but turned up two days later wounded in the arm. After the WW1, George enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker and in a long career spanning twenty five years he spent three separate periods in the Royal Navy Submarine Service. He served on many different submarines including the ill fated HMS M2 and was awarded the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. During World War II he served on HMS Sea nymph. George Malcolmson, Archivist at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “We are delighted to have discovered the remarkable story of George Weston through his medals. It represents a fitting tribute to a gallant and dedicated man who served his country in both World Wars. The fact that he survived two of the most hazardous undertakings in military history is nothing short of miraculous”. “At this time of remembrance our thoughts turn to his many colleagues who were not so fortunate”. George Weston was born in Ashford, Kent in May 1897. His medals will be on display at the Submarine Museum from Friday 11 – Sunday 13 November. The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is the memorial to the Royal Navy submarine service. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
George Weston while serving as Private in the Royal Sussex Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions in rescuing wounded comrades at the battle of St Aubers Ridge in May 1915. He attended to many wounded under heavy fire and brought them back to the trench. He then carried back five wounded in succession from the advanced trench before he himself was wounded. George Weston would eventually serve with three different Army Regiments. On 21st March 1918 George was reported missing in action but turned up two days later wounded in the arm. After the WW1, George enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker and in a long career spanning twenty five years he spent three separate periods in the Royal Navy Submarine Service. He served on many different submarines including the ill fated HMS M2 and was awarded the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. During World War II he served on HMS Sea nymph. George Malcolmson, Archivist at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, “We are delighted to have discovered the remarkable story of George Weston through his medals. It represents a fitting tribute to a gallant and dedicated man who served his country in both World Wars. The fact that he survived two of the most hazardous undertakings in military history is nothing short of miraculous”. “At this time of remembrance our thoughts turn to his many colleagues who were not so fortunate”. George Weston was born in Ashford, Kent in May 1897. His medals will be on display at the Submarine Museum from Friday 11 – Sunday 13 November. The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is the memorial to the Royal Navy submarine service. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
Come and visit santa at his Grotto!
Longdown Activity Farm will be expecting a very special person again this Christmas. Enjoy a day at the Farm and then visit Santa who will be installed in his own special farmhouse in a magical farmyard grotto. Look out for his tractor sleigh loaded with presents for the children.
Don’t miss the Nativity scene with real live animals. A peaceful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
Santa will meet visitors between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 3rd December and Sunday 4th December and then daily from Saturday 10th December to Saturday 24th December inclusive. The Farm itself is open from 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Santa has introduced a magic ticket system, which means queuing is reduced. There is still no need to book, just turn up on the day.
All the usual farm activities will be taking place, including bottle-feeding baby goats and calves, handling small animals, and feeding the larger goats, ducks and pigs. There is a tearoom, gift shop and three different indoor play areas, so whatever the weather, it is a great place for all the family. Plus, why not visit the Farm Shop on the way out to stock up on delicious Christmas food – sourced from local producers.
All children visiting the Farm will have the chance to meet Santa, tell him what they would like for Christmas and receive a gift from him. Admission prices (including the gift from Santa) are: Children under 3 : £2.50, Child Season Ticket Holders : £2.50, Children 3 – 14 years : £6.75 and adults £7.75.
Longdown Activity Farm is just off the A35 between Lyndhurst and Southampton. For more details of prices and how to find us, have a look on our website :www.longdownfarm.co.uk or telephone 023 8029 2837.
Don’t miss the Nativity scene with real live animals. A peaceful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
Santa will meet visitors between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 3rd December and Sunday 4th December and then daily from Saturday 10th December to Saturday 24th December inclusive. The Farm itself is open from 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Santa has introduced a magic ticket system, which means queuing is reduced. There is still no need to book, just turn up on the day.
All the usual farm activities will be taking place, including bottle-feeding baby goats and calves, handling small animals, and feeding the larger goats, ducks and pigs. There is a tearoom, gift shop and three different indoor play areas, so whatever the weather, it is a great place for all the family. Plus, why not visit the Farm Shop on the way out to stock up on delicious Christmas food – sourced from local producers.
All children visiting the Farm will have the chance to meet Santa, tell him what they would like for Christmas and receive a gift from him. Admission prices (including the gift from Santa) are: Children under 3 : £2.50, Child Season Ticket Holders : £2.50, Children 3 – 14 years : £6.75 and adults £7.75.
Longdown Activity Farm is just off the A35 between Lyndhurst and Southampton. For more details of prices and how to find us, have a look on our website :www.longdownfarm.co.uk or telephone 023 8029 2837.
Remember Remember the SIXTH of November at Explosion!
This November, come and join us at Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport as we host an Explosive Fireworks Spectacular on Sunday the 6th of November. The display fires up at 7pm as the finale to a whole day of great, affordable fun for all the family, including everything from Guy Fawkes to Funfairs, Sparklers and Storytelling!
The Priddy's Hard site, once home to Royal Navy gunpowder magazines, will stage the fireworks display for the first time in 6 years. Events Manager Kerry Jarvie said, it's good to bring the Fireworks Spectacular back to Priddy's Hard and what better place to let off some big bangs over Gosport than Explosion! We hope the local residents will come and share the excitement and that we can make this a real community event.
The Museum grounds will be given a Victorian makeover as we welcome a period Funfair to our site. So come and enjoy all the fun of the fair at Explosion!
Your Fireworks Spectacular ticket will also include free admission to Explosion's award-winning museum galleries, some of which will contain a few themed surprises! Dare you visit Guy Fawkes, within his dark and mysterious cooperage?? Learn about the Gunpowder Plot, his famous plan to kill the King, and how he and his fellow conspirators even planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament!
Tickets for this event are available now. You can purchase them in advance by calling 023 9250 5600 ( £5.00 Adults, £2.50 Concessions, £12 Family Ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children).(Please note a small additional charge will apply to the fairground attractions).
Tickets are also available on the night (cash only). More information on this and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk.
Please note the event will only be cancelled in the event of exceptionally severe weather conditions.
The Priddy's Hard site, once home to Royal Navy gunpowder magazines, will stage the fireworks display for the first time in 6 years. Events Manager Kerry Jarvie said, it's good to bring the Fireworks Spectacular back to Priddy's Hard and what better place to let off some big bangs over Gosport than Explosion! We hope the local residents will come and share the excitement and that we can make this a real community event.
The Museum grounds will be given a Victorian makeover as we welcome a period Funfair to our site. So come and enjoy all the fun of the fair at Explosion!
Your Fireworks Spectacular ticket will also include free admission to Explosion's award-winning museum galleries, some of which will contain a few themed surprises! Dare you visit Guy Fawkes, within his dark and mysterious cooperage?? Learn about the Gunpowder Plot, his famous plan to kill the King, and how he and his fellow conspirators even planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament!
Tickets for this event are available now. You can purchase them in advance by calling 023 9250 5600 ( £5.00 Adults, £2.50 Concessions, £12 Family Ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children).(Please note a small additional charge will apply to the fairground attractions).
Tickets are also available on the night (cash only). More information on this and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk.
Please note the event will only be cancelled in the event of exceptionally severe weather conditions.
A True British Legend! Hampshire Butcher triumphs at British Sausage Week Awards 2011
Hampshire butcher A Turner & Sons has been awarded British Sausage Week‚‚ s ‚ National Brand of the Year‚‚ for their Best of British Sausage by rock legend and British Sausage Week 2011 ambassador, Noddy Holder.
This year, the competition received hundreds of entries. Aldershot independent butcher A Turner & Sons fought off 350 other entries in his category to receive their much deserved Golden Sausage Disc and a place in the British Sausage Week Hall of Fame.
Slade frontman, and true British legend, Noddy Holder led the search to find Britain‚‚ s Legendary Bangers. Commenting on A Turner & Sons winning sausage, Noddy said: ‚?ìThe standard of entries was incredibly high, with many sausages worthy of the title of legendary. However A Turner & Son‚‚ s Best of British Sausage stood out as something genuinely different. They very much deserve their prize and place in the British Sausage Week Hall of Fame.‚
Paul Turner of A Turner & Sons said: ‚?ìWe are so pleased to win. You always hope to win when you enter a competition, but for our entry to be crowned winner of the National Brand of the Year is just fantastic. We hope to now be able to expand the growth of our sausages from a regional to national audience, thus enabling us to raise more money for the Help for Heroes charity which is very prominent for us being based in Aldershot‚ . A Turner & Sons' Best of British Sausage brand has raised over £20,000 to date for Help for Heroes. Paul Turner is now negotiating with national supermarkets to stock his Best of British Sausages to continue the fundraising on a national scale. The Best of British Sausages are also in the running to supply the London 2012 Olympics.
Hampshire Fare Chairman Mike Wright added his praise: ‚?ìThis is a huge accolade for Hampshire Fare member A Turner & Son. Not only are they winning national recognition for producing a top quality sausage but they are doing so much to support Help for Heroes. Our Hampshire Fare members keep on winning national awards, reflecting the high quality of food and drink produced here in Hampshire, and we are proud to work with them.‚ A Turner & Sons is at 205 North Lane, Aldershot, tel 01252 322825 or you can find them on Facebook.
To celebrate British Sausage Week, which runs each year at the beginning of November, independent butchers, supermarkets, pubs and restaurants hosted events, special offers and menus. For those looking to enjoy sausages at home, the British Sausage Appreciation Society have launched their new recipe booklet, Legendary British Bangers Greatest Hits Remixed, which includes updates on classic sausage recipes, available to download at http://www.britishsausageweek.com
When shopping for your sausages, don‚‚ t forget to look out for quality assurance such as that identified by the Red Tractor Pork logo on pack. This ensures that your sausages have been produced to exacting quality control and welfare standards. That way of course you will also be supporting the very farmers who uphold them.
Visit www.britishsausageweek.com or the Love Pork Facebook Fan Page for recipes and further information about British Sausage Week. www.hampshirefare.co.uk
Last chance to see the late show at Exbury
The first week in November heralds the last chance to see the late explosion of autumn colour at Exbury Gardens in the New Forest.
The fabulous hues of autumn, as trees and shrubs turn fiery crimson, butter-yellow and all shades in between, have been late arriving at the 200-acre Gardens this year. But now the woodland paths are displaying the glorious spectacle of hundreds of fiery red and stunning purple acers reflected in the ponds and the bright displays of deciduous azaleas and the fiery-stemmed dogwoods.
Exbury holds the Plant Heritage National Collections of Nyssa and Oxydendrum, which provide more colour hotspots as do the sweet gums or Liquidamber.
‚?ìExbury‚‚ s autumn blaze has been late arriving this year but it‚‚ s well on the way now,‚ said Nigel Philpott, commercial manager of the world-famous Rothschild Gardens.
‚?ìThose who want to enjoy it and the wonderful display of colourful berries must come soon, as we close for the season on November 6th for our short winter break,‚ he said.
More sparkling colour is provided in the Gardens‚‚ Five Arrows Gallery where the dazzling Rothschild ‚ jewel lilies‚‚ are displayed under special lighting to show off their glittering colours. Complementing the unusual lilies is an exhibition of Peter Thwaites ‚ wild autumn art‚‚ . Both shows will run until Exbury closes.
For more information please visit www.exbury.co.uk where fresh images of the changing autumn colour are displayed daily
Boost for rural economy as Hampshire Food Festival visitor numbers and spend increases
The 2011 Hampshire Food Festival, held throughout July, saw an increase in visitor numbers and total estimated spend, helping to boost Hampshire‚‚ s rural economy.
Organised by county food group Hampshire Fare, and backed by Hampshire County Council, the 2011 Hampshire Food Festival attracted over 221,000 visitors and generated an estimated £3.82 million of visitor spending. 93 different events were held throughout July‚‚ s Festival. These were hosted by 80 businesses and organisations across the county, ranging from farms, producer outlets, restaurants, pubs, hotels, libraries, town centres, country shows, vineyards, breweries, farm shops and independent stores.
The findings result from research undertaken by Hampshire Fare with individual Festival event organisers and visitors. The 2011 figures show a 2.45% growth in visitor numbers from 2010 (215,700 visitors) and a 10.7% growth in estimated visitor spending from last year‚‚ s £3.45 million.
The increase in visitor numbers and spend reflects a growing interest in farming and local produce, and Hampshire Fare remains the main source of information about Hampshire producers and outlets for local food.
Events at this year‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival included farm open days and walks; brewery, vineyard, orchard and lavender tours; celebratory lunches and dinners; butchery and fish filleting demos, cookery classes; jam, chocolate and cheese-making; milling and baking; cider pressing; trout and venison farming; foraging; beekeeping; cookery competitions; tastings and much more. The key criteria for participating businesses and organisations, and the Festival‚‚ s unique selling point is that every event must feature local food or drink in some way.
Headline chefs at this year‚‚ s Festival included Atul Kochhar, Antony Worrall Thompson and James Martin, as well as TV wine expert Olly Smith and vegetarian food writer Rose Elliot. James Martin generously gave his time to write the foreword for the Festival programme.
The research also indentified that visitors most enjoyed tasting local food and drink, supporting Hampshire food and drink businesses, meeting local producers, the celebration of local food and drink, discovering new places to eat in Hampshire and finding out where they could buy local food and drink.
Mike Wright, Hampshire Fare Chairman, said: ‚?ìThe Hampshire Food Festival is the county‚‚ s showcase of the food that is grown, reared and produced here, served up at an array of imaginative and individual events across the whole county. The Festival gives visitors the opportunity to ‚ see behind the scenes‚‚ at farms and producer outlets not usually open to the public, and to discover new places to enjoy local food that they may not have previously visited. We hope that this then encourages everyone to ‚ buy local‚‚ all year round.‚
The 2012 Hampshire Food Festival will run July 1-31. With the focus very much on ‚ Great Britain‚‚ in 2012, this is the ideal opportunity to be part of Hampshire‚‚ s celebration of local food and drink. If your business or organisation is in Hampshire and would like to share in the Festival‚‚ s success, makes sure you‚‚ re involved in next year‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival by contacting Sophie Boxall at Hampshire Fare on 01962 847098,
sophie.boxall@hants.gov.uk. More information is also at www.hampshirefare.co.uk.
The 2011 Hampshire Food Festival was supported by Hampshire County Council, together with Hampshire Fare‚‚ s Corporate Partners; Ecover, Festival Place, Fuller‚‚ s, leepeckGroup, Newsquest (Hampshire) Ltd, The Southern Co-operative, Wave 105 and Corporate Friends; National Trust and New Forest & Hampshire County Show.
Tour the Ramparts
The Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy‚‚ s Hard in Gosport is delighted to announce another special guided walk around the sites historic Ramparts. The tour of the Ramparts, an area not usually accessible to the public, will commence on Saturday 29th of October. The walk will begin at 1pm from the Museum Coffee Shop and will be led by local historian Terry Hinkley.
The Ramparts are part of the early fortifications erected around the town, as an extension of the defences of Portsmouth Harbour. The ‚ Gosport Lines‚‚ as they became known, were surrounded by dry moat areas. The walks will include this early history and look at how this area later became an important part of the Priddy‚‚ s Hard Ordnance supply depot.
The walks are NOT suitable for under 12‚‚ s, other children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are £2 per person and must be booked in advance, telephone 023 9250 5600 for more information. More information on this and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk.
Go Ape! branches out to younger adventurers
Moors Valley Country Park is first in the country to offer Go Ape! Explorer
Children as young as four can now take to the trees as never before following the opening of a new tree-top adventure from Go Ape! (at Moors Valley Country Park). A new ‚ explorers course‚‚ has been designed especially for families with younger children after Go Ape! reported a huge demand to open up its trees to younger adventurers.
Having seen 2.8 million people swing through its trees already, Go Ape! Explorer is expected to become a huge hit now that the whole family can unleash their inner ape.
The exciting tree-top adventure lasts just an hour and means anyone over a metre tall can now weave their way through a network of 20 looping obstacles five metres above the forest floor including the Spiders Web, Log Balance and Jungle Crossing before finishing on an awesome zip back on to solid ground.
Rebecca Mayhew, Co-Founder of Go Ape and mum to Phoebe (10) Patrick (8) and Jake (6) says: ‚?ìSince we brought Tree Top Adventure to the UK in 2002, 2.8 million people have swung through the trees bringing out their inner ape. We have been inundated with requests from families with children who would love to go but are under 10 or less than 1.4m. Now the whole family can live life more adventurously and enjoy a fun filled hour of canopy exploring. Our 'always connected' safety system on our revolutionary new 'Explorer course' is open to children from 1m tall, (the approximate height of a 4 year old). We can‚‚ t wait to see the looks on young faces as they take to trees."
Before taking to the trees, children will be harnessed up, firmly attached to the safety system and led up a tree top staircase to the central explorer platform. Here, instructors will be on hand to guide young visitors through the course.
Visitors invited to face their fears at Blue Reef Aquarium
Visitors to Portsmouth‚‚ s Blue Reef Aquarium will be able to enjoy some extremely close encounters with a variety of creepy creatures, revolting reptiles and fearsome fish as part of a special October Half Term event.
Running from October 22nd ‚‚ 30th, ‚ Venom! Face Your Fears‚‚ features some of the natural world‚‚ s scariest critters including rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas and deadly stonefish.
There will be daily Venom-themed tours and talk around the aquarium with interesting facts and quizzes and visitors will have the opportunity to test their nerve by daring to put their hand into mystery ‚ feely boxes‚‚ to try and identify what‚‚ s inside.
In addition to the daily activities there will be a series of special ‚ Meet the Creatures‚‚ sessions taking place from Monday, October 24th to Thursday, October 27th featuring guest appearances from some of the UK‚‚ s leading venomous animal experts.
Venom expert Chris Newman will be on site on October 24th and 26th providing a fascinating insight into venomous creatures with hugely entertaining talks and demonstrations aimed at visitors of all ages.
Based in Southampton, Chris was the first person to develop a technique to extract venom from live black widow spiders and is currently Chairman of the Federation of British Herpetologists.
On October 25th the ‚ Bugman‚‚ Martin Rapley will be bringing along a selection of giant insects and reptiles for carefully supervised handling sessions and on October 27th Ranger Stuart Short from AnimalMan Ltd will also be at the aquarium with his own collection of creepy crawlies, snakes and lizards.
In addition to all the venomous creatures Stuart will also be bringing down a number of cute furry mammals and birds of prey for his final talks‚‚ session at 3.45pm.
Blue Reef‚‚ s Jen Atkinson, who organised the event, said: ‚?ìTo have all three of these amazing experts here at the aquarium is fantastic and will provide visitors with some extraordinary animal encounters.
‚?ìThat, combined with all the other activities, talks, tours, quizzes and competitions, should make for a really unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages to enjoy,‚ she added.
Venom! Face Your Fears is at Portsmouth‚‚ s Blue Reef Aquarium from October 22nd - 30th with special guest appearances from venom expert Chris Newman, ‚ Bugman‚‚ Martin Rapley and Ranger Stuart Short on October 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th.
For more information please call 02392 875222.
For more information please call 02392 875222.
Seriously Spooky ’ Thrills and Chills at Fort Nelson this half-term
Prepare to be scared ‚‚ head to the Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson this October half-term for a host of Halloween horrors.
From ghoulish craft activities to frightening fancy dress - and ghostly story-telling to Horrible Hands on History ‚‚ the new-look museum has lined up a spooktacular programme to help beat the school holiday blues.
Kids can head to the Fort in Halloween costume and enjoy face-painting, pumpkin trails, make-and-take craft sessions, and spooky balloon sessions - with a touch of magic thrown in.
Events run from Monday, October 24, to Sunday, October 30 inclusive. Balloon-modelling sessions run as follows:
Monday (Oct 24) and Sunday (Oct 30) ‚‚ Izzy Wizzy Witch
Tuesday (Oct 25) and Friday (Oct 28) ‚‚ Nolan the Wizard
Wednesday (Oct 26) ‚‚ Count Von Tall
Thursday (Oct 27) ‚‚ Robbie the Wizard
Saturday (Oct 29) ‚‚ Guy Heathcote and his spooky juggling and Diablo ‚?ìdevil sticks‚ .
Museum entrance is free and visitors can explore the 19-acre Victorian Fort, complete with underground tunnels, daily gun firings and brand new galleries, showcasing the national collection of big guns. There‚‚ s also the chance to visit the newly-opened CafÉ © 1871, offering a variety of hot and cold meals including children‚‚ s lunch bags.
Museum director Peter Armstrong said, ‚?ìFort Nelson is a fantastically atmospheric place to stage our Halloween events, thanks to the underground tunnels and the fully-restored Victorian buildings. Some local people are even convinced we have a few resident ghosts.‚
Fort Nelson was officially relaunched in the summer, following a £3.5m redevelopment, supported by a grant of over £2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
With glass sides and high ceilings, the new Voice of the Guns gallery has guaranteed ‚?ìwow factor‚ and showcases 14 of the most famous exhibits, including two sections of the infamous Iraqi Super Gun, two anti-aircraft guns used to defend the South Coast, and the Great Turkish Bombard dating to 1464.
There are also social history galleries, exciting new interactives, and a state-of-the-art new education centre and visitor centre.
Built in the 1860s, the Portsdown Hill Fort is home to the national collection of artillery and historic cannon, with over 350 exhibits from all over the globe. The museum‚‚ s new galleries tell the fascinating stories of the objects, their history and the people who used them.
The collection originated at HM Tower of London and has been on display in Hampshire since 1995.
Charges apply for some Halloween events ‚‚ please visit www.royalarmouries.org for more details.
Ghost Walks at Explosion!
Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport is terrified to announce that its ghastly Ghost Walks are returning by popular demand! The Museum has five nerve-wracking walks planned for November 2011 on Wednesday 2nd November, Tuesday 8th November, Wednesday 16th November, Wednesday 23rd November and Wednesday 30th November, all beginning at 6.30pm from the dark and dingy crypt (otherwise known as the Museum Coffee Shop).
Those brave enough to join us will once again discover the fate of former workers in an eerie guided walk through the historic buildings of the Royal Navy‚‚ s former munitions stores at Priddy‚‚ s Hard. Led by Victorian coroner, Edgar Goble, those in attendance can expect mystery and spooky surprises as they take a twilight tour to areas that we dare not open to the general public.
Not suitable for those of a nervous disposition - MWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!
Ghost Walk tickets are available by calling 023 9250 5600 ( £5.00 per person, includes Tea and Coffee from 6.15pm). More information on these and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk. We advise that all tickets are purchased in advance due to increased popularity.
Dare you ride the Exbury Ghost Train?
It‚‚ s been called the number one Hallowe‚‚ en treat in the country. Those who dare climb aboard the Exbury Ghost Train, hosted by the ghostly and ghastly Napoleon Bone-aparte and his friend, terrible fanged Batty the Vampire, will be bombarded with terrible jokes and puns, ghosties and ghouls and strange happenings.
Then there are the spooky sights on the ride around the world-famous gardens, ghostly beings by the trackside and slightly scary happenings as the train passes through the dark tunnel on its way back to the safety of the station. But the spooks and scares are light-hearted and the Ghost Train is suitable for children of all ages.
If you‚‚ re school-age, it‚‚ s best to come in fancy dress because the weird staff on the station will hand out a goody bag to comfort you if events become too strange.
After a brush with all the things that go bump in the night and on the train, there‚‚ s time to follow a Hallowe‚‚ en trail round the Gardens, at their autumn best with flaming colours through the spectrum from brilliant scarlets and crimsons, to smouldering plum and orange.
You might even enjoy the spooky tree trail, leading to the Chinese Coffin Tree, the Ghost Tree and the Devil‚‚ s Walking Stick.
Colour inside, in the Five Arrows Gallery, is supplied by the glittering array of ‚ jewel lilies‚‚ , the Rothschild collection of tender Nerine sarniensis, which are offset by an exhibition of autumn paintings, by artist Peter Thwaites.
‚?ìAutumn is as magical at Exbury as spring, with wonderful colour and the hugely enjoyable Ghost Train,‚ said Nicholas de Rothschild whose family manages the 200 acre woodland Gardens.
Booking for the trains which run from Saturday 22nd October to Sunday 30th, is recommended. Please phone 023 8024 5750 to secure your seat.
Visit www.exbury.co.uk for details.
Spooky half-term happenings!
With another school holiday just around ‚ ®the corner, here is a quick round-up of Hampshire's Top Attractions Halloween highlights involving ghosts, ghouls and eerie fun. For more information, times and prices see the Events calendar
All aboard the Spinnaker Tower Ghost Ship!
22nd - 30th Oct
Join our skeleton crew for fun family entertainment and free pumpkin carving for children.
22nd - 30th Oct
Join our skeleton crew for fun family entertainment and free pumpkin carving for children.
Exbury Ghost Train at Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway
22nd -30th Oct
With skeletons, scarecrows and other ghoulish characters on route, dare you ride the Exbury Ghost Train?
Ghosts & Ghouls: Half-term Hauntings at Beaulieu
22nd - 30th Oct T
here is something strange in the neighbourhood at Beaulieu this half-term.
Half Term Fun at Explosion at Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower
22nd - 30th Oct
Visit Explosion during October half-term for fun and activities with a Trafalgar twist!
Halloween at Birdworld at Birdworld
22nd - 30th Oct
Feel your hair stand on end and a shiver down your spine as you walk through the creepy corridors of our unique Halloween Grotto.Themed shows, free craft activities and Halloween trail.
Halloween Festival at Marwell Wildlife
22nd - 30th Oct
Prepare to be spooked...Lose yourself in our eerie maze, enjoy creepy storytelling or carve your own pumpkin.
Halloween festival at Basing House
22nd - 30th Oct‚ ®
Prepare to be spooked...Meet a tarantula, lose yourself in our eerie maze, enjoy creepy storytelling or carve your own pumpkin.
Battlefield LIVE - Battle of the Dead at New Forest Activities Booking Centre
24th - 30th Oct
Calling all Zombies, Ghosts and Ghouls! Battlefield LIVE is commencing it's Battle of the Dead! Join us in your worse dress for the ultimate spook-tastic games!
Halloween in the New Forest at New Forest Activities Booking Centre‚ ®October
24th - 30th Oct‚ ®
Join New Forest Activities October half term week for a whole host of ghoulish Halloween activities including a spooky River Tour!
Autumn Half Term at Submarine Museum
27th - 30th Oct
Spooky Submarine Tours -Grab your torch and follow our ghostly guide on a spooky tour of WW2 era submarine HMS Alliance. Watch out for the scary bits!!
The Autumn Steam Spectacular at the Watercress Line
‚ ®28th - 30th Oct‚ ®
The Mid Hants Railway 'Watercress Line' will be staging a steam extravaganza bringing in the giants of steam to join the already impressive resident fleet of large steam locomotives.
Murder at Marwell Wildlife
29th Oct
Enjoy dinner and a fun-filled murder/mystery event at Marwell Hall.
Twilight Zone Fireworks at Beaulieu
29th Oct
Be wowed by the explosive and dynamic fireworks display, set to a Twilight Zone theme.
Fright night at Marwell Wildlife
30th Oct
Ghosts, ghouls and ghastly goings on at Marwell Hall. Are you tempted to meet our spirits?
Sunshine and steam at Exbury
The sun shone on more than 2500 visitors enjoying a spectacular ‚ Steam in the Gardens‚‚ weekend at Exbury.
More than 60 vintage steam vehicles rumbled down the Garden pathways which are blazing with autumn colour and paraded in a cavalcade of steam in front of Exbury House. Their owners were presented with commemorative plaques by Nicholas de Rothschild, whose family runs the world-famous New Forest Gardens.
Nigel Philpott, Exbury‚‚ s commercial and marketing manager, was delighted. ‚?ìAfter three years of rain and wind, it was wonderful to see this very English event blessed with fine weather. The Gardens are stunning with autumn colours, while the steam vehicles offered some wonderful photo opportunities for our visitors.‚
Exbury‚‚ s ‚ Festival of Autumn Colour‚‚ continues throughout October, with a new walking trail devised by head gardener, John Anderson.
Inside, the Rothschild collection of jewel lilies, Nerine sarniensis, can be viewed in the Five Arrows Gallery alongside the Wild Autumn Art of artist Peter Thwaites. The developing autumn colours can be seen on Exbury‚‚ s website.
The Gardens are open daily until Sunday 6 November. For more information, please visit www.exbury.co.uk
Blaze of colour inside and out at Exbury
The glittering petals of the Rothschild jewel lilies and the wild autumn art of Peter Thwaites combine in Exbury‚‚ s Five Arrows Gallery from this week to bring a colourful month-long show to the New Forest Gardens.
Artist Peter Thwaites finds the subjects for his watercolours of mushrooms and other fungi in the 200 acre Gardens and these will form the core of his exhibition with paintings of berries and other autumn subjects as well.
The Dorset-based watercolourist‚‚ s reputation for portraying fungi is such that he has been commissioned to illustrate guides and posters on the subject and to display work at the International Mycological Congress.
His work, alongside the sparkling hues of the famous Rothschild ‚ jewel lilies‚‚ (Nerine sarniensis), bred from plants first brought to Exbury in the 1920s by Lionel de Rothschild, brings a special ‚ wow factor‚‚ to this popular annual exhibition. The nerines, in colours ranging from dusky purple to scarlet and plummy red, to sugar pink, are displayed under lights so that their sparkling petals are thrown into sharp focus.
More colour blazes outside as acres of trees take on their fiery autumn hues throughout the 200 acre woodland Gardens.
October is the month when hundreds of acers, dogwoods, deciduous azaleas and other trees begin to flame crimson, orange, yellow and deep purple as the miles of pathways in the great woodland garden are made bright with carpets of fallen leaves.
All details may be found on www.exbury.co.uk.
‚?ìWherever you look in the Gardens at this time of the year, you‚‚ ll be rewarded with a brilliant show of colour,‚ said Nicholas de Rothschild, whose family runs the world-famous Gardens on the banks of the Beaulieu River in Hampshire.
The exhibition opens on September 27 and run until the Gardens close for the season on November 6.
Please go to www.exbury.co.uk for more details.
Lessons in Saving Submarines shared in new talk season
A new season of evening talks at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, in Gosport have been announced. The first talk on Thursday 22 September will be by Ian Clark, one of the UK‚‚ s leading engineering conservators who will be sharing lessons from past heritage engineering projects such as the award winning conservation of Holland 1, the Royal Navy‚‚ s very first submarine was conserved after being wrecked for 69 years.
Ian Clark is a fully elected member of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers. During his talk he will explore and examine the complex decisions that define a preservation strategy for saving historic engineering assets such as HMS Alliance, the WW2 era submarine based at the Submarine Museum which is shortly to undergo major conservation.
Ian Clark, said, ‚?ìThe decisions that became the keel blocks for the Holland 1 project, will resurface again for HMS Alliance, but they are far more complex‚
He started his career as a mechanical engineer in an independent industrial museum and in the late 1990‚‚ s led the project to restore Holland 1 as a submarine that visitors could experience and explore for themselves.
The Ian Clark talk is part of a new season of evening Third Thursday Talks at the Submarine Museum which start on Thursday 22 September. This season will also include a talk on the development of the submarine service in the interwar period and culminate with tales of derring- do by contemporary submariners by bestselling author Tim Clayton.
Tickets for this talk are £8 and can be bought by calling 023 92510 354 ext 241 or on the night at the Submarine Museum.
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is the memorial to the Royal Navy Submarine Service and all proceeds from the talk will go to support the Saving HMS Alliance campaign. Details for all events can be found online at www.submarine-museum.co.uk or by calling 023 92510354 ext 230.
Signed Submarine Events for Heritage Open Days
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport has just announced a full programme for the deaf community on Saturday 10 September as part of the national Heritage Open Days event. The Signalong choir will be performing in front of the only surviving WW2 era submarine HMS Alliance, followed by a British Signed Language tour of this historic submarine with a submariner.
Bill Sainsbury, Event Manager said, ‚?ìWe are really delighted to be welcoming the Signalong choir to the Submarine Museum. They will be signing to golden oldies that many of the submariners serving on HMS Alliance would have enjoyed‚
‚?ìSigned singing is a visual art form when BSL and Signed Supported English are combined with music. It is also a good way to bring deaf and hearing people together and helps to raise Deaf Awareness amongst the general public‚
The Signalong Choir are a signed singing group, made up of volunteers of all ages and walks of life, who enjoy meeting together to celebrate the beauty and importance of British Sign Language through song.
The BSL tour of HMS Alliance will be led by one of the museum‚‚ s submariner guides and interpreted by British Sign Language specialist Sarah Granger. A tour through HMS Alliance takes the visitors from the torpedo stores, through the accommodation spaces, into the control room and through the engine room.
Heritage Open Days on Saturday 10 September at the Submarine Museum also includes a new tour into Fort Blockhouse, previously known as HMS Dolphin. This will also be a submariner led tour from their point of view of the former home of the British submarine service which will include a visit to the submariner‚‚ s chapel and into the officer‚‚ s mess to see the Harold Wylie paintings and the rooms where Commanding officers would receive their secret orders.
HMS Alliance and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum is the memorial to the Royal Navy Submarine Service and are open every day throughout September and October.
New Forest on Film
As part of the New Forest at Minstead Official Fringe Programme, New Forest on Film will be staging an evening of archival footage at the Lyndhurst Community Centre on Wednesday 21 September. Focusing on the social history of the area from Forest Commoners to the Fawley Cat Cracker, the evening will take a broad look at life in the New Forest over the past few decades.
The evening will be hosted by Dr Manuel Hinge, a well known and local film maker who has put together footage of a mix of local scenes and events that are sure to bring back memories to some and to invoke a sense of nostalgia in others. In addition, Julian Lewis MP will be introducing early footage of the Schneider Trophy and signing copies of his new book ‚‚ Racing Ace: The Fights and Flights of 'Kink' Kinkead DSO DSC* DFC* .
As well as being a decorated war hero and brilliant pilot, Samuel Kink Kinkead was a leading racing ace who was selected for the international Schneider Trophy in Venice in 1927. Tragically he was killed aged just 31 in 1928 attempting to shatter the World Air Speed record. Julian Lewis MP has pieced together Kink‚‚ s extraordinary story of achievement during his short but eventful and glamorous life.
We hope you‚‚ ll join us for an evening‚‚ s entertainment, complete with interval refreshments and a prize draw. All proceeds go to the New Forest on Film Project and the New Forest Ninth Centenary Trust.
Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start
Tickets are £6 on the door or £5 if pre-booked or if a member of the New Forest Centre Friends by calling the office on 023 8028 3444 or emailing at office@newforestcentre.org.uk,
Mice Crew returns to Submarine!
The very first Royal Navy submarine, Holland 1 will be reunited with her mice crew as part of a family event - Captain Mouse on Thursday 25 August at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport. The mice themselves and other furry friends will be on show, alongside storytelling performances by one of England‚‚ s best known storytellers Red Phoenix and crafty activities making mouse mask workshop.
Three white mice were taken onto the first British submarine, Holland 1 to act as test for carbon monoxide. The first submariners did not have any other means to test for the highly poisonous gas when they were dived.
Jackie Edelman, Events Organiser said. "Families often find the presence of white mice on Holland 1 really intriguing. Now they can find out how important they were to members of the crew."
The magical tale of the three mice that lived on Holland 1 will also be told on the day by Red Phoenix who has created a special one off performance for the Captain Mouse event. On the day, families can also set off on our special mousy trail to find the mouse that left his life at sea to join the landlubbers, design a humane mousetrap and create their own mouse mask. Visitors will be able to handle the real mice, along with friends, Rat, the Guinea Pigs, the sizzling cockroaches and a white rabbit from 1.45 until 2.45p.m. All these creatures have sailed alongside the crew on various patrols.
Captain Mouse is a family event that is part of a summer holiday season of extra free activities that have taken place throughout August at the Submarine Museum in Gosport. The Museum is open every day and a visit includes a tour of the historic WWII era submarine - HMS Alliance with a submariner to hear his stories first hand about living beneath the waves. Visitors can also peer into the only surviving WW2 midget submarine, step inside the Royal Navy‚‚ s first submarine Holland 1 and play as pirates in the Skull and Crossbones exhibition. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
Warships and Wargames at Explosion!
The Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy‚‚ s Hard, Gosport has some great displays of Warships and Wargames planned for the bank holiday weekend of 27th and 28th of August 2011. Model makers and enthusiasts from all over the south will converge in the Museum Conference Hall and Grand Magazine in what is expected to be the Museum‚‚ s biggest ever display of Model Warships and War-games.
Come and join the Surface Warship Association for a displays of old and modern warships in the Conference Hall, including a chance to race remote controlled model boats on the Museum‚‚ s specially built Boating Pool! In addition, the Naval Wargames Society and its members will re-create many historic battles in miniature model form in the Grand Magazine.
Event Organiser, Marc Farrance, said ‚?ìWe are more excited about this year‚‚ s event than ever before and the range of models and related items on show is very impressive. We are delighted to welcome the Naval Wargames Society to Explosion and we are sure Warships and War-games will be a hit with all the family‚ .
The model warship exhibition and war-games displays are FREE with a valid Museum Ticket. For more information on the Museum please telephone 023 9250 5600 or visit www.explosion.org.uk.
Sponge-less Bob at Blue Reef Aquarium
A rare sponge crab has gone on display at Portsmouth‚‚ s Blue Reef Aquarium after being hauled up in the nets of a fisherman off the Isles of Scilly ‚‚ minus its sponge!
The bizarre-looking crustaceans get their name from the fact that they hold living sponges ‚‚ which they also cut to fit - on top of their shells as a way of camouflaging themselves from would-be predators.
However this particular specimen is currently without its spongy covering and aquarists are now adding a selection of different native sponge species to his display in the hope he will use them to decorate his bare shell.
Blue Reef‚‚ s Lindsay Holloway said: ‚?ìThey really are amazing creatures and it‚‚ s fantastic to have one of them on display here, even if he is lacking a sponge.
‚?ìApart from that he is in excellent condition and we are monitoring him in our quarantine area before he goes on show to the public.
‚?ìSponge Crabs have two pairs of modified legs tipped with needle-like pincers which they use to secure sponges which sit on their backs. They are quite adept at moving sponges over the whole of their body to enable them to hide.
‚?ìHowever, this means that they only have two pairs of legs to walk on so they tend to also use their front claws to assist them with walking.
‚?ìTheir bodies, claws and legs are completely covered in a thick furry 'felt' except for the tips of their claws which are a vivid 'rose pink'!‚ he added.
Sponge crabs are more commonly seen off the West coast of Africa or in the Mediterranean but in recent years their numbers have been increasing in British waters and the presence of juveniles would suggest they may now be permanent residents around our coasts.
In warmer waters the crabs have been found using the rubber soles of flip flops in place of living sponges.
Exbury celebrates 10 years of steam
‚ Black Beauty‚‚ was the appropriate title for the latest ‚ Iron Horse‚‚ to be named at Exbury, as a weekend of celebrations marked the tenth anniversary of the opening of the popular steam railway in the New Forest gardens.
Leopold de Rothschild, who was the motive force behind the popular railway that welcomed its 500,000th visitor earlier this year, named the new black engine, on loan from Exmoor Steam Railway, on Saturday morning.
Celebrations included a recreation of the inauguration of the railway when Exbury‚‚ s first engine, Rosemary, headed the train. On this occasion, ten years later, Exbury engines Naomi and Mariloo were also in full steam, together with guest locomotives Lorna Doone and Black Beauty.
Visitors rode behind rare ‚ quintuple-heading‚‚ runs, when all three Exbury engines together with Lorna Doone and Black Beauty lined up for journeys along the Rhododendron Line.
Steam layouts of all shapes and sizes, both on the tracks and in the roomy engine shed, provided memorable highlights as enthusiasts were able to enjoy imaginative layouts in the engine shed which included a Thomas the Tank Engine scenario from the Hampton Court Model Railway Society and a layout from the New Forest MRS featuring ‚ Moonhill Depot‚‚ , a diesel depot with a loco shed, a diesel refuelling point and more than 10 locos. Capturing lots of attention were a fictional 1950s ‚ Pennington Warren‚‚ terminus with mainly Western and Southern stock in both steam and diesel and Martin Davey‚‚ s original work of railway art.
The local branch of the National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS) created some eye-catching trackside displays to mark the occasion, including magnificent blue and gold (Rothschild family colours) arrangements on Exbury Central Station and a delightful garland for the 10th anniversary train.
‚?ìIt is hard to believe that our steam railway was opened ten years ago,‚ said Mr Leo, who enjoyed driving the engine over the weekend. Joining Mr Leo for an eve-of-event celebration were many of those responsible for overseeing the construction of the railway and its subsequent success, including close friends Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith, who designed the railway buildings, tunnel and platforms, and the Stirland Family, responsible for the track, engine and carriage design. The railway has carried over 530,000 visitors since 2001.
The anniversary celebrations were officially opened by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall earlier this year. The Prince drove in the driver‚‚ s cab alongside Mr Leo, thus following in his mother‚‚ s footsteps, as HM The Queen has twice ridden on the footplate, in May 2004 and May 2008.
30th Anniversary Celebration of HMS Alliance open to the public
The only surviving WW2 era submarine HMS Alliance is celebrating 30 years of being open to the public. A special Alliance Family Fun Day with local favourites Big Brother Soul will be held on Sunday 21stAugust to celebrate this anniversary in style. Other activities will include side show children‚‚ s games, a bouncy pirate ship, giant games and bar-b-que.
HMS Alliance opened to the public on 24 August 1981. At the time she was the first submarine to go on public display in the country. The scheme to put her on display took two years. Over two thousand people flocked to see HMS Alliance in her first opening week, and to date, over 1.5 million people have visited her.
Bob Mealings, Acting Director said, ‚?ìBack in 1981, HMS Alliance was the first submarine to go on public display in the country. The scheme to open her to the public took two years and was described at the time as a history making project.‚
‚?ìToday, we are only a few weeks away from starting another two year project to conserve and keep HMS Alliance open for future generations of visitors‚
HMS Alliance is the official memorial to the 5,300 men who fought and died in submarines and is now listed in the UK‚‚ s historic ship‚‚ s register, sitting alongside the Cutty Sark, the Mary Rose, and HMS Victory in the Core Collection list. She was designed during the war for service in the Middle East, and launched in 1945, as victory was achieved. She then began a distinguished 28 year career until she retired in 1972.
A recent £3.4 million grant from the Heritage Lottery fund and fundraising efforts from the Museum has meant that the £6.5 million conservation scheme to save HMS Alliance can begin this autumn, though there is just £480,000 left to raise to ensure the project can be completed. The Alliance Family Fun day will be a fundraising event with all profits going to the Saving HMS Alliance Appeal.
Tickets for the Alliance Family Fun day are £5 or free with a valid museum ticket and can be purchased on the day. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
Marwell Wildlife’s meerkat abseils down iconic tower on the South Coast
Marwell Wildlife‚‚ s charismatic animal character ‚ Chico the Meerkat‚‚ has abseiled more than 300 feet down Portsmouth‚‚ s iconic Spinnaker Tower.
Chico‚‚ s daring antics drew a crowd of people to Gunwharf Quays on Monday (August 8).
The handsome meerkat was raising vital funds for Marwell Wildlife, a charity dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and other natural resources.
Last month, Marwell Wildlife‚‚ s zoological park opened a brand new home for their meerkats offering excellent close up views of the animals.
And to celebrate the opening, Chico gave visitors to Portsmouth an excellent view as he made his way down the tower!
Marwell‚‚ s animal character Chico said: ‚?ìIt was a wonderful experience to abseil down the tower. My supporters definitely helped my nerves and it was all for a good cause- to help Marwell Wildlife‚‚ s conservation work.
‚?ìI will now go back to the park and enjoy a tasty mealworm to celebrate!‚
A spokesperson for Spinnaker Tower said: ‚?ìChico launched our week of abseiling at the Spinnaker Tower. The special event has proved hugely popular with the public and it is a once in a lifetime experience.
‚?ìI think onlookers were very surprised to see a meerkat abseiling!‚
You can follow Chico on twitter @Chicothemeerkat
This summer Marwell Wildlife has launched a competition to win an exclusive face to face with the meerkats.
We want the best pictures of Chico the meerkat on tour!
For more information visit www.flickr.com/groups/chicoontour/
Visiting engines join Exbury’s steam anniversary celebrations
Two engines from the Exmoor Steam Railway were craned into position at Exbury Gardens yesterday (Mon 8th August) ahead of this weekend‚‚ s celebrations for the Garden Railway‚‚ s tenth anniversary. Saturday and Sunday 13/14 August.
Whilst the engine Lorna Doone has made the journey to Exbury from Exmoor previously, this was the first outing for the Devon railway‚‚ s newest unnamed 2-6-2 tender locomotive, decked out in black in a new ‚ colonial‚‚ design. Both engines are on loan from their owner Trevor Stirland who has designed and built Exbury‚‚ s own engines, Rosemary, Naomi and Mariloo.
The new engine will be named by Mr Leopold de Rothschild, the instigator of the Exbury Railway, during Saturday‚‚ s celebrations. Her name plate will remain under wraps until the celebrations begin.
Over the weekend, both locomotives will be in steam, joined by Exbury‚‚ s own locomotive team of Rosemary, Naomi and Mariloo.
Teddy Bear Picnic at Birdworld
It was the day the teddy bears had their picnic at Birdworld and the park at Holt Pound in Farnham was heaving with small visitors clutching their furry friends.
On arrival visitors were greeted by a 10ft tall magician who provided all the children with balloon animals, swords and hats, followed by Bertie and Haribo Bear who greeted everyone with a cheeky smile and a friendly wave.
Throughout the day there were games, music and competitions with all children taking part receiving a small prize. The mascot tug of war was quite a sight to see as Pickles the Parrot took on the mighty Percy Penguin in the Birdworld ‚?ìTug of War competition‚ , supported by friends, Super Horse, Kenny the Kestrel and more- it was quite a sight to see. Free amusement rides and bouncy castles were all on hand to keep the children entertained, plus for a small charge, children could have their face painted and take a horse and cart ride.
There were 2 different shows, which the children loved, Crazee Hazee‚‚ s Magic Show in the morning followed by the Silly Scott Show in the afternoon. The highlight of the day was the teddy bear parade, which winners of best in category took home fantastic prizes of tickets to other leading tourist attractions.
Mums and dads were great sports and joined in all the fun and games, from hopping on one leg to flippery fun, which involved several attempts of waddling, like a penguin. Competitive streaks were at their best as there were more great prizes on offer.
Don‚‚ t miss the forthcoming event, Friendly Bug day on 10th August when children can meet some of our more creepy crawly residents, join in the arts and crafts and watch the Punch and Judy Show. Plus the Pirate Fun Day on August 24th, (those in fancy dress could win some great prizes) to the Minibeast Safari Day on August 31st.
For more details go to www.birdworld.co.uk or call us on 01420 22140
Inventor of the Modern Submarine comes back to life
Father of the submarine, John Philip Holland will be brought back to life at a special event on Thursday 11 August at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport that travels back in time 110 years to the birth of the submarine service. The event Edwardian Navy Day will feature a live performance of John Phillip Holland promoting his new submarine as well as traditional Edwardian summer activities for children such as Punch and Judy and making spoon puppets.
Jackie Edelman, Event Organiser said, ‚?ìWe hope to take our visitors back in time with a fun and exciting performance to the very first Royal Navy submarine and meet her inventor Phillip Holland to find out how this humble Irish teacher became the father of the submarine‚
John Philip Holland was born in Ireland in 1841and emigrated to America in 1873. His first successful submarine design was paid for by Irish nationalists seeking Ireland's liberation from Britain. The Royal Navy kept an eye on developments in other countries and by 1901, the Royal Navy‚‚ s first submarine; Holland 1 was launched in secret. Holland 1 is fully conserved and on display at the Submarine Museum.
Families visiting on Edwardian Navy Day can also be entertained as possibly John Holland may have been by shouting at Mr Punch in the traditional Punch and Judy show and making his own wooden sailor spoon puppet.
Edwardian Navy Day is a family event that is part of a summer holiday season of extra free activities being held every Thursday throughout August at the Submarine Museum in Gosport. The Museum is open every day and a visit includes a tour of the historic WWII era submarine - HMS Alliance with a submariner to hear his stories firsthand about living beneath the waves.
Visitors can also peer into the only surviving WW2 midget submarine, step insideHolland 1 and play as pirates in the Skull and Crossbones exhibition.
For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
The Bold and Beautiful Forest
Exhibition continues until 4 September 2011
Evelyn Bartlett‚‚ s paintings capture the very essence of the New Forest in a bold and graphic style. Indeed Evelyn trained as a graphic artist and for many years enjoyed a successful career as a graphic artist.
She now paints full-time from her home of the fringes of the Forest near the waterside town of Hythe. Many of her images are drawn from the twenty six miles of National Park coastline as well as Forest interiors.
Her signature style is one that has evolved over many years. After working in watercolour and pencil for many years, she has revived a style she developed, but only touched on, at college, using gouache. She states:
‚?ìThis way of translating a scene into simplified graphic shapes is very natural to me and it uses the strength of colour I am always striving for. Waterside themes are still my main inspiration, but I am also drawn to hills and forests‚
If you would like to see Evelyn‚‚ s paintings and prints, then drop into the New Forest Centre on any day of the week between 10am and 4.30pm.
Marwell’s meerkats have moved house!
Marwell Wildlife has opened a brand new home for meerkats which offers a unique insight into their complex world.
The meerkat groups moved in on Thursday and are busy exploring their new surroundings.
Visitors to the park can now enjoy excellent close-up views of the meerkats as they forage for food and dig tunnels in their new home.
Marc Fox, assistant section manager of carnivores said: ‚?ìOur two meerkat groups are settling in really well.
‚?ìThe new home has lots of rocks and branches to climb as well as heat pads to keep them warm on colder days.
‚?ìThe area is more than twice the size of their previous home allowing them lots of space to carry out their intriguing behaviours.‚
The meerkat home is being led by Marwell Wildlife‚‚ s Education team who are keen to offer the best outdoor learning opportunities for students.
Caramantha Wellstead, Head of Education at Marwell Wildlife said: ‚?ìObservation of real animals is one of the first hand experiences that Marwell offers and the new exhibit will be an excellent tool for students visiting the park.
‚?ìFor example, animal behaviour is a vital element of the KS3 science curriculum and Marwell Wildlife will offer the perfect environment for these students.
‚?ìMeerkats are not only charismatic and fun to watch but they also have fascinating complex social groups.‚
A series of special talks and feeds, including a daily talk at the meerkat home, will begin on Thursday (July 28).
To mark the opening of the new home Marwell Wildlife has launched a competition to win an exclusive face to face with the meerkats. We want the best pictures of Chico the meerkat on tour!
Here‚‚ s how to enter.‚ ®
1. Purchase your meerkat from the gift shop (get 25% off when wearing a meerkat mask downloaded from our website at the gift shop)‚ ®
2. Submit your best photos of Chico on tour (on holiday, in unusual places etc) on our dedicated Flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/chicoontour/
‚ ®3. Get your friends to 'Favourite' your images. The image with the most favourites wins!
‚ ®Terms and conditions apply.
For an insight into the life of a meerkat, follow Chico (most handsome meerkat in Hampshire) www.twitter.com/ChicotheMeerkat
Exbury celebrates 10 years of steam
Thomas the Tank Engine and friends will be there in miniature layout, along with a host of other classic, historic and fictional steam and diesel layouts, to pay tribute to the Exbury Garden Railway as it marks its tenth anniversary.
Celebrations on the weekend of August 13th and 14th include a recreation of the inaugural ‚ steaming‚‚ of the railway when Exbury‚‚ s first engine, Rosemary, headed the train. On this occasion, ten years later, engines Naomi and Mariloo will also be in full steam.
Visitors will have the chance to join an escorted party into the Summer Lane Garden to photograph rare ‚ triple-heading‚‚ runs, with all three Exbury engines in steam. It is hoped that visiting engines will be added to the lines at times, to create an even rarer spectacle for photographers and passengers alike.
Enthusiasts will enjoy the imaginative layouts in the engine shed which include a Thomas the Tank Engine scenario from the Hampton Court Model Railway Society and a layout from the New Forest MRS featuring ‚ Moonhill Depot‚‚ , a diesel depot with a loco shed, a diesel refuelling point and more than 10 locos on display.
Then there is the fictional 1950s ‚ Pennington Warren‚‚ terminus with mainly Western and Southern stock in both steam and diesel. Other layouts will be on display.
Artist Martin Davey celebrates the occasion with an original work in the Engine Shed while talented flower arrangers create memorable trackside displays for passengers to enjoy.
Free Rover upgrades, allowing several rides on the railway, will be available, subject to capacity, all weekend.
‚?ìIt is hard to believe that our steam railway was opened ten years ago,‚ said Mr Leopold de Rothschild at whose instigation the much beloved line was built and who often drives the engines himself.
‚?ìWe know that our visitors love the trains and are pleased that we have been able to add to the engines and carriages and offer special occasion rides as well as the journey through the garden that was specially designed for the railway.‚ .
‚?ìEarlier this year we welcomed our 500,000th passenger aboard and were happy to give her and her family a complimentary season ticket, so that they have been able to enjoy the railway and gardens many times since,‚ he said.
The railway anniversary celebrations were opened when their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, made a recent visit to Exbury. The Prince took the controls in the driver‚‚ s cab, following in the footsteps of his mother, Her Majesty the Queen, who has twice ridden the footplate in the past.
Exbury Gardens are open daily until Saturday November 6. More information on www.exbury.co.uk
Summer Activities and Events from Hampshire's Top Attractions
There are plenty of events and activities taking place this summer to keep the young and young at heart entertained Use the calendar on the events page to search for events by date to help you plan your visit.
Here is a summary of the action-packed fun on offer, to find out more, simply select the date of the event.
Victorian House Party at Beaulieu - July 16th - Sept 4th
Summer Kids Kayaking at New Forest Activities Booking Centre -July 27th - August 31st
Commando Family Action at Royal Marines Museum - July 28th - Sept 2nd
Summer holiday fun with meerkats at Marwell Wildlife - July 28th - September 4th
Summer Celebration at Staunton Country Park - July 30th -August 7th
Falconry Displays at Beaulieu - August 1st - August 31st
Summer Holidays Fun at Explosion at Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower - August 1st - August 31st
Under the Sea - In SEArch of Sea Creatures at the Spinnaker Tower at The Spinnaker Tower - August 1st - September 2nd
Kids Adventure Days at New Forest Activities Booking Centre August 2nd - September 1st
Pony Tuesdays at Longdown Activity Farm -August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th
Summer Kids Club at New Forest Activities Booking Centre - August 2nd - September 13th.
Summer Holidays at Submarine Museum - August 4th 2011 - September 1st
Day Out With Thomas at Watercress Line - August 6th 2011 - August 14th.
Children's Activities: Wild at White's at Gilbert White's House & Garden and The Oates Collection - August 8th - August 26th
Fun Farm Forage Quiz at Longdown Activity Farm August 8th - August 14th
Turn-up & Take-parts at Staunton Country Park - August 8th - August 14th
Children‚‚ s Summer Holiday Activities at Winchester Cathedral - August 9th - September 1st
Field to Fork at Staunton Country Park - August 9th - August 11th
Friendly Bug Day at Birdworld -August 10th
Edwardian Navy Day at Submarine Museum -August 11th
-New Forest Fuchsia Society Exhibition, Mr Eddy‚‚ s Restaurant at Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway -August 13th - August 14th
10th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, Exbury Gardens Railway at Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway - August 13th - August 14th
Go Ballistic at Royal Marines Museum - August 14th
Rudyard Kipling's ‚?ìThe Jungle Book‚ Theatre Production at Marwell Wildlife - August 14th - 27th August
Blooms & Bees at Staunton Country Park - August 15th - August 21st
Flower Power at Staunton Country Park -August 16th - August 18th
Join the Navy (Now and Then) at Submarine Museum -August 18th
Animal Rescue with the Team from Hampshire Fire and Rescue at Longdown Activity Farm - August 19th
HMS Alliance Family Fun Day at Submarine Museum -August 21st
Thornycroft Annual Meet at Milestones Museum -August 21st
Eco Rangers Week at Staunton Country Park -August 22nd - August 28th
Pirate Fun Day at Birdworld -August 24th
Models for Music at Winchester Cathedral - August 27th - September 1st
Warships and Wargames Weekend at Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower - August 27th - August 28th
Arts and Crafts Week with Special Guest Appearance from Local Cartoonist, Simon Chadwick at Longdown Activity Farm -August 29th - September 2nd
Supercar Start-up at Beaulieu - August 29th
Minibeast Safari Day at Birdworld - August 31st
Exbury’s head gardener on mission to re-discover ‚ lost hydrangeas
As the colourful Hydrangea Walk at Exbury Gardens in the New Forest bursts into full bloom, head gardener John Anderson has revealed that he is on a quest to re-discover forgotten varieties of the colourful plants.
Many of Exbury‚‚ s hydrangeas are the so-called ‚ Teller‚‚ series, lacecaps (Hydrangea macrophylla) bred in Switzerland for their bright colour. ‚ Teller‚‚ is the German word for ‚ plate‚‚ , describing the flat, plate-like flowerhead and each of the hybrids was named after a bird, such as ‚ robin‚‚ , ‚ redstart‚‚ , ‚ chaffinch‚‚ , ‚ nightingale‚‚ ‚ bullfinch‚‚ , ‚ dove‚‚ and ‚ peacock‚‚ .
The Teller hybrids line one side of Exbury‚‚ s long border showcasing these beautiful plants. John, who admires the clear strong colours and beautiful lacy flowerheads is seeking to add to the 18 or so hybrids already there.
‚?ìThere were around 25 hybrids and we would like to re-establish the full range here by finding ‚ lost‚‚ and forgotten hybrids,‚ he said. ‚?ìIt will be a few years before we can say for sure that we have the correct names for the ones we already grow.‚
‚?ìThey are particularly good plants, with strong stems and clear colours and I would not want them to be forgotten.‚
Exbury’s head gardener on mission to re-discover ‚ lost hydrangeas
As the colourful Hydrangea Walk at Exbury Gardens in the New Forest bursts into full bloom, head gardener John Anderson has revealed that he is on a quest to re-discover forgotten varieties of the colourful plants.
Many of Exbury‚‚ s hydrangeas are the so-called ‚ Teller‚‚ series, lacecaps (Hydrangea macrophylla) bred in Switzerland for their bright colour. ‚ Teller‚‚ is the German word for ‚ plate‚‚ , describing the flat, plate-like flowerhead and each of the hybrids was named after a bird, such as ‚ robin‚‚ , ‚ redstart‚‚ , ‚ chaffinch‚‚ , ‚ nightingale‚‚ ‚ bullfinch‚‚ , ‚ dove‚‚ and ‚ peacock‚‚ .
The Teller hybrids line one side of Exbury‚‚ s long border showcasing these beautiful plants. John, who admires the clear strong colours and beautiful lacy flowerheads is seeking to add to the 18 or so hybrids already there.
‚?ìThere were around 25 hybrids and we would like to re-establish the full range here by finding ‚ lost‚‚ and forgotten hybrids,‚ he said. ‚?ìIt will be a few years before we can say for sure that we have the correct names for the ones we already grow.‚
‚?ìThey are particularly good plants, with strong stems and clear colours and I would not want them to be forgotten.‚
Summer, Sea Creatures and ‚ Octonauts’ at Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower
The Spinnaker Tower will be playing host to rock pool residents from Southsea‚‚ s Blue Reef aquarium every Monday and Friday from 1 August to 2 September, with craft activities midweek and culminating in the appearance on 20 & 21 August of CBeebies‚‚ very own Captain Barnacles from the popular TV show and illustrated books ‚ The Octonauts‚‚ .
As part of the iconic tower‚‚ s ‚ In SEArch of Sea Creatures‚‚ summer-long event, ocean dwellers such as hermit crabs, starfish, shrimps, sea anemones and shellfish will be making star appearances, allowing visitors to experience close encounters as well as giving them an opportunity to touch some of the sturdier marine inhabitants!
The ‚ Rockpool Roadshows‚‚ , which are FREE with entry to the tower, will also include relics on display such as shark egg cases, sharks teeth and skeletons of small sea creatures and there will be opportunities to win prizes, take part in competitions and find out some fun fishy facts from the resident aquatic expert.
In addition, Captain Barnacles, leader of the Octonauts crew from the popular illustrated books and animated TV series, will be exploring the Spinnaker Tower at intervals throughout the weekend of 20 & 21 August, meeting and greeting guests. What‚‚ s more, visitors will have a chance to catch one of four daily interactive story-telling sessions taking place on the tower‚‚ s view decks.
Paul Mahy, commercial manager at the Spinnaker Tower, commented: ‚?ìThe summer activities will certainly put a smile on many young faces, especially the lively interactive Octonauts story sessions taken from the latest books, and with our pre-booking system, visitors can be fast-tracked straight to the action during what is bound to be a hugely popular event.‚
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10.00am to 6.00pm (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!‚ ®
Surprise Concert by Royal Yeomanry Band to Save Submarine
A surprise free concert by the City of London‚‚ s prestigious Royal Yeomanry Band has just been announced. It will take place at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport on Thursday 28 July from 12noon. The concert will be in aid of the Submarine Museum‚‚ s Saving HMS Alliance campaign that plans to restore the WW2 era submarine, the memorial to 5,300 submariners that have given their lives in service.
Bill Sainsbury, Event Manager said, ‚?ìWe are delighted that the Royal Yeomanry Band have chosen the Submarine Museum as a venue for one of their free concerts. It should be a great afternoon for our visitors‚
The band was formed in 1961 following the amalgamation of the Inns of Court Regiment (the Regiment of Lawyers) with the City of London Yeomanry and is still based in the City. They continue to style themselves on their heritage and still wear the ‚?ìrough rider‚ ceremonial uniform. The band are visiting the area and giving free public concerts across the South.
This concert will be a free event however entrance to the museum and HMS Alliance is by ticket only. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
Extreme Explosions at Explosion!
Explosion, Museum of Naval Firepower, at Priddy‚‚ s Hard, Gosport has some great activities planned for the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of July 2011. Bring the family and join us for a weekend of fun and science, including Rockets, Torpedoes, and of course Extreme Explosions!
There‚‚ s plenty to do throughout the day, with lots of ‚ hands on‚‚ activities for all the family, including: -
‚ Build your own Torpedo from everyday junk to test in our special pond.
‚ Demolish our target with fruit and veg fired from a mini-trebuchet. (It‚‚ s a bit like a catapult!)
‚ Compete to sink each other‚‚ s ‚ battleship‚‚ as the traditional game takes on a giant size, chemical twist.
‚ Can you crack the safe? Use Water Bombs to demolish our purpose built polystyrene wall safe.
‚ Balloon Bloodhounds ‚‚ Can you design a balloon powered super car to travel at high speeds?
‚ Build a Rocket with the team from Action Stations in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
‚ Stick your fingers in your ears as the always-popular Wavy Navy fire the Museum‚‚ s big gun.
‚ And many more activities involving missiles, rockets and Explosions!!!
So for an unforgettable start to the Summer Holidays and a weekend of bangs and laughter, come and take part in ‚ Extreme Explosions‚‚ at Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower. Your ticket will also include free admission to Explosion‚‚ s award-winning galleries.
Tickets for this event can be purchased by telephone, dial 023 92 505600. 10% discount available for tickets purchased in advance, or full price on the gate (cash only). Family Ticket £20.00 (2 adults and upto 3 children). More information on this and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk.
This Summer Will Be Unforgettable!
Remember when the BIG Ticket gave you the Historic Dockyard and two extra great museums for just £2 more? You Will!
Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard this summer (11th July ‚‚ 4th September) could be getting more than they bargained for, as for just £2 more, they can also visit the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower, plus Waterbus transfers are included!
The Big Ticket will enable the story of the Royal Navy and its importance to Portsmouth Harbour to be told in one coherent journey for one great price. The tickets can be purchased at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard visitor centre and are valid for a year, so even though this special price is only available this summer, the benefits can be enjoyed right through to the next!
Jacquie Shaw, Head of Communications at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard said: ‚?ìThis ticket offers exceptional value for money and time ‚‚ it‚‚ s a great way for locals to get acquainted ‚‚ or reacquainted - with the museums across the water in Gosport; it enhances the naval story associated with all these great attractions; it‚‚ s a real boost for the waterbus service across the harbour and it‚‚ s a brilliant offer for those visiting the city over the holiday period.‚
Ask anyone to name the most famous warships in the world and Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860 are sure to feature. Their appeal endures because of the graphic and moving stories associated with them; being the favourite of Henry VIII; the victor at the Battle of Trafalgar and never firing a shot in anger during 10 long years of sea domination.
But it‚‚ s more than that. It‚‚ s the social history about life onboard and in the wider society; the bravery and heroism of generations of serving personnel and their families and their compelling stories; the technology that meant Britain led the world and the anecdotes which have fashioned our language for centuries.
Add the National Museum of the Royal Navy; interactive Action Stations where visitors can fly a helicopter or climb the UK‚‚ s tallest indoor climbing tower; a Harbour Tour that brings passengers up close and personal with modern Royal Navy warships and shows why Portsmouth remains one of the world‚‚ s most important harbours; the Dockyard Apprentice and the Trafalgar Sail exhibitions; then it‚‚ s clear why Portsmouth Historic Dockyard often appears as people‚‚ s favourite museum!
Tourists can discover some of the Royal Navy‚‚ s most powerful and secret weapons ‚‚ past, present and future ‚‚ at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Visitors can go onboard the only surviving WWII era submarine - HMS Alliance with a veteran submariner to hear his stories about living beneath the waves.
At the MOD‚‚ s formerly secret weapon‚‚ s store, now Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower, visitors can get up close to massive guns, mines, missiles, depth charges, explosives and other Royal Navy hardware from the days of sail to the modern age.
The ticket price includes Waterbus travel between the three attractions. A continuous service runs throughout the day with the boat leaving Portsmouth Historic Dockyard every hour, calling first at Explosion! (15 minutes) then the Submarine Museum (15 minutes) and finally Gunwharf Quays (15 minutes) before returning to the Dockyard (10-15 minutes). Travellers must show their ticket but don‚‚ t need to book, they can leave and rejoin the boat as they wish, depending on how long they want to spend at each stop.
The Big Ticket prices are as follows:
Adult (16-59 years of age): £23.50
Senior (60+ years of age): £20.35
Student (Full time + ID): £20.35
Child (5-15 years of age): £17.80
Family (Max 2 adults / seniors, 3 children): £64.15
Full Terms and Conditions and visiting information is available on www.historicdockyard.co.uk/bigticket
or call 023 9283 9766
Birdworld's Furry Friends
Wednesday the 3rd of August is the day the teddy bears have their picnic at Birdworld and the launch of the tourist attractions summer events calendar. Children can enjoy all the events at no extra charge as it is all included in their admission price.
Throughout the day there will be games, music and competitions with all children taking part receiving a gift. Free amusement rides and bouncy castles all on hand to keep the children entertained, plus two very magical shows not to be missed. The highlight of the day is the annual teddy bear parade, which winners of best categories will take home a fantastic prize. So be sure to bring your bear to enter.
Forthcoming events include, Friendly Bug day on 10th August when children can meet some of our more creepy crawly residents, join in the arts and crafts and watch the Punch and Judy Show. Plus Pirate Fun Day on August 24th, (those in fancy dress could win some great prizes) and our the Minibeast Safari Day on August 31st.
For more details go to www.birdworld.co.uk or call us on 01420 22140
Teenagers ‚ Create and Cook’ winning menu
Year 9 pupils of Robert May‚‚ s School in Odiham, Steph Carter and Kitty Chevallier, have won this year‚‚ s Create & Cook Hampshire schools competition run in conjunction with July‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival, for their two course menu inspired by local produce.
Create and Cook is an innovative cookery competition aimed at secondary school pupils aged 12-14 years across Hampshire. With 120 recipes entered into the competition this year from over 25 Hampshire secondary schools, it was Kitty and Steph‚‚ s menu and skill that most impressed the judges. Their winning dishes were a courgette and goat‚‚ s cheese twice-baked soufflÉ © with basil custard, followed by gingersnap baskets with strawberry and vanilla cream.
‚?ìKitty and Steph‚‚ s attention to detail was very impressive‚ enthused Min Raisman from fit2cook food education which runs the Create and Cook competition. ‚?ìThey had grown their own courgettes, basil, potatoes and salad on their allotment, used local goat‚‚ s cheese and they had even made their own strawberry jam for their coulis. Local ingredients is what Create and Cook is all about and Kitty and Steph‚‚ s dishes were packed full of fantastic local flavours.‚
The competition, now in its third year, was devised by Andy Mackenzie, Executive Chef at Lainston House Hotel near Winchester and fit2cook food education, and is sponsored by The Southern Co-operative. The competition aims to engage and inspire young cooks to design creative menus using food that has been sourced locally. The final, held at Newlyns Cookery School near Hook, was between four pairs of pupils: Steph and Kitty, Lucy Miles and Seb Ward of Thornden School in Chandler‚‚ s Ford Sophie Harris and Danielle Carpenter of Bitterne Park School in Southampton, plus Pippa Robinson and Kathryn Peer of Swanmore College of Technology in Bishop's Waltham.
Min added: ‚?ìThere was a strong line up of dishes cooked to perfection including home grown tomato and basil soup with cheese breadsticks, courgette and Lyburn Cheese tartlet, risotto with River Test trout and watercress pesto, raspberry meringue pie and redcurrant burst. The finalists cooked to an incredibly high standard with serious thought to sourcing local produce, and amazing attention to detail‚ .
Winners Kitty and Steph were thrilled to be presented with the fit2cook pestle and mortar Trophy and a cheque for £700 for the food technology department at their school. ‚?ìWe knew it had all gone well but we thought any one of the finalists could have won‚?ì said enthusiastic young cook Kitty. ‚?ìWe have put so much hard work into this and it‚‚ s lovely that it has paid off‚ explained Steph. Kitty and Steph also win a masterclass with Andy Mackenzie, Executive Chef at Lainston House Hotel, who said: ‚?ìI am really keen to encourage young cooks to develop their passion for food and look forward to welcoming Kitty and Steph into my kitchen to inspire them further.‚
All the Create and Cook finalists‚‚ recipes can be downloaded www.fit2cook.co.uk along with an interview with the winners.
The Create and Cook competition is sponsored by The Southern Co-operative and supported by Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Fare, Hampshire Farmers‚‚ Markets and Newlyns Farm Cookery School.
Autumn new tour and Anniversary celebrations for first submarine
Autumn events at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, in Gosport have been announced. The programme includes a brand new submariners tour into Fort Blockhouse, the former home of the submarine service, a celebration of the first submarine captains love of the Banjo and a new programme of evening talks.
Bill Sainsbury, Event Manager said, ‚?ìThis autumn, we are delighted to be sharing more of the unknown and fascinating stories of the submarine service with the public‚
A new tour into Fort Blockhouse, previously known as HMS Dolphin is being organised as part of the national event Heritage Open Days on Saturday 10 September. This will be a submariner led tour from their point of view of the former home of the British submarine service which will include a visit to the submariner‚‚ s chapel and into the officer‚‚ s mess to see the Harold Wylie paintings and the rooms where Commanding officers would receive their secret orders.
October is the 110th anniversary of the launch of the very first Royal Navy submarine Holland 1 and the beginning of the submarine service. The first submarine commander Arnold Forster was known for his love of the banjo, so to celebrate on Sunday 2nd October, the museum will be holding an afternoon of Banjo and Ukulele music which will feature leading Banjo musicians of today.
The Holland 1 celebrations continue and will be the subject of the first of a new season of evening Third Thursday Talks. On Thursday 22 September Ian Clark, one of the UK‚‚ s leading engineering conservationists will be outlining how a rusty submarine can be saved. This season will also include a talk on the development of the submarine service in the interwar period and culminate with tales of derring-do by contemporary submariners by bestselling author Jim
HMS Alliance and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum is the memorial to the Royal Navy Submarine Service and are open every day throughout September and October. Details for all events can be found online at www.submarine-museum.co.uk or by calling 023 92510354 ext 230.
Lymington Trio of Crab wins Fuller’s Hampshire Dish of the Year competition
A Trio of Crab created by Head Chef Christian Rivron of the Fisherman‚‚ s Rest in Lymington won the 2011 Fuller‚‚ s Hampshire Dish of the Year competition, held in conjunction with this year‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival.
Earlier this summer, chefs at nineteen Fuller‚‚ s pubs across Hampshire had to devise a Hampshire ‚ special‚‚ dish for the competition and their pub menu, using locally sourced ingredients to showcase the best of Hampshire‚‚ s food. The four finalists: Red Lion at Chalton, Pilgrim Inn at Marchwood, Fisherman's Rest at Lymington and Oak Inn at Lyndhurst then competed against each other live at the final held at July‚‚ s Gunwharf Quays Food & Real Ale Festival. Judges at the final included representatives from Hampshire‚‚ s media, Fuller‚‚ s and county food group Hampshire Fare, organisers of the Hampshire Food Festival (July 1-31).
Christian sources crab and shellfish for the pub menu on an almost daily basis from S&J Shellfish, a New Forest Marque business located only two miles away from the pub. His Trio of Crab made good use of the whole crab with nothing wasted: it included potted crab using the white meat seasoned with tarragon, chives and dill, a spiced crab bisque using stock from the crab carcass with addition of fennel, coriander and simple Indian spices, and a crab taramsalata made using the brown meat. The dish was garnished with watercress and samphire, which Christian described as ‚?ìgiving the dish the salt and pepper seasoning it needed‚ and served with bread sourced from nearby bakery Jennings in Lymington.
Christian, who used to run a cookery school for Fishworks, and who has been Head Chef at the Fisherman‚‚ s Rest since October 2010, said; ‚?ìI didn‚‚ t expect to win as I thought the dish was too simple for the competition. However it shows that good food speaks for itself and with this winning combination it was exciting to come first. The dish is really popular here on the menu. I also hope that it will inspire people with confidence to cook shellfish at home.
Susie Carter from Hampshire Fare, one of the judges at the final, said: "The quality of the winning Trio of Crab was excellent - the perfect dish for a summer's lunch by the sea. It was great to see the chef making the most of an iconic local ingredient."
Christian added: ‚?ìI am really keen to promote the use of good ingredients and real cooking. I am always on the lookout for great locally sourced ingredients to use where I can as I want to get peoples‚‚ taste buds going. Buying locally also helps businesses to promote each other, so it makes sense to work together.‚ Christian added that he will keep the Trio of Crab on the menu at the Fisherman‚‚ s Rest for as long as it stays popular, and is in season!
The Fisherman‚‚ s Rest is in All Saints Road, Lymington, telephone 01590 678 931. Find out more about local food and drink at www.hampshirefare.co.uk. Fuller‚‚ s is a Corporate Partner of Hampshire Fare. www.fullers.co.uk.
Tour the Ramparts
The Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy‚‚ s Hard in Gosport is delighted to announce two special guided walks around the sites historic Ramparts. The tours of the Ramparts, an area not usually accessible to the public, will commence on Saturday 9th of July and Saturday 6th of August. Both walks begin at 1pm from the Museum Coffee Shop and will be led by local historian Terry Hinkley.
The Ramparts are part of the early fortifications erected around the town, as an extension of the defences of Portsmouth Harbour. The ‚ Gosport Lines‚‚ as they became known, were surrounded by dry moat areas. The walks will include this early history and look at how this area later became an important part of the Priddy‚‚ s Hard Ordnance supply depot.
In addition, walkers will also get a chance to meet the Priddy‚‚ s Hard goats, whose herd of fifteen have been brought in to help clear the site of vegetation.
The walks are NOT suitable for under 12‚‚ s, other children must be accompanied by an adult. Sensible footwear must be worn as the ramparts contain livestock. Tickets are FREE but must be booked in advance, telephone 023 9250 5600 for more information. More information on this and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk.
Hope for the Arabian Oryx
One of Marwell Wildlife‚‚ s most majestic animals, the Arabian Oryx, has been ‚ brought back from the brink of extinction‚‚ thanks to the work of dedicated conservationists.
Successful captive breeding programmes and re-introduction efforts mean the species has finally qualified for a move from the Endangered category to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Marwell Wildlife, based in Hampshire, is home to the only breeding group of Arabian Oryx in the UK.
Just last month, the park celebrated the birth of a female Arabian Oryx called Akilah.
Ian Goodwin of Marwell Wildlife is the manager of the European studbook and co-ordinator of the breeding programme.
Ian, who took control of the studbook three years ago, said it was ‚ good news‚‚ and the hard work must continue.
He added: ‚?ìThere is still a lot of work to be done, especially in Europe. ‚?ìMarwell will continue to work hard to make this population thrive and encourage other collections to work with the species.‚
‚?ìOur animals here, which are the only breeding group in the UK, are an important insurance policy for the future of the Arabian Oryx.
‚?ìThis Summer, Marwell will take on a further two females, forming the only group of Arabian Oryx in the whole of the UK.‚
The Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx), is a species of antelope found only on the Arabian Peninsula.
They are impressive creatures that are brilliantly adapted to life in the desert and can go without water for weeks on end.
The species was hunted for many years causing it to become extinct.
For more information about the Red List news release see the IUCN website at www.iucn.org
And for more details about the conservation work of Marwell visit www.marwell.org.uk
A feast of local produce launches July’s Hampshire Food Festival
Key Hampshire businesses, media and organisations toasted the success of this year‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival, which runs from July 1-31, at a prestigious launch held at Chewton Glen in the New Forest last night (Wednesday 29 June).
As well as canapÉ ©s created by Chewton Glen‚‚ s Executive Chef Luke Matthews showcasing locally sourced ingredients from Hampshire Fare producers across the county, around 75 guests were treated to a feast of tastings including Hampshire cheeses, chocolates, buffalo icecream and biltong, lavender foods and local beer, wines, apple juices and water. Guests were also joined by four buffalo calves from Laverstoke Park Farm on the lawns of the hotel, a first for Chewton Glen!
The Hampshire Food Festival is organised by county food group Hampshire Fare and backed by Hampshire County Council. Last year, over 215,700 people visited Hampshire Food Festival events. Hampshire Fare Chairman Mike Wright said: ‚?ìJuly‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival is Hampshire Fare‚‚ s showcase event to celebrate the local food and farming industry. Around 80 businesses and organisations are taking part this year, hosting over 90 different events across the county, bringing together food lovers and the people that produce, grow, rear, serve and sell Hampshire‚‚ s wonderful food and drink‚ .
Chewton Glen‚‚ s Managing Director Andrew Stembridge said: ‚?ìWe were delighted to host the launch of the 2011 Hampshire Food Festival at Chewton Glen especially as Hampshire Fare celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. This wonderful event highlights the diverse and abundant range of fresh ingredients that are produced in Hampshire, and Hampshire Fare has organised a tremendous programme of events, which the whole county should be very proud of. Chewton Glen has always been synonymous with great locally produced food and drink, and the start of this year‚‚ s Festival coincides perfectly with the launch of our new restaurant Vetiver‚ .
Andrew added: ‚?ìAs well as celebrating the continued success of The Hampshire Food Festival, the launch was cause for further celebration as both Chewton Glen and The Hampshire Food Festival collected Gold Awards at the 2010 Beautiful South Awards‚ .
Visit any of the 90+ events during this year‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival, and tell Hampshire Fare about your experience, and you have the chance to win a luxury overnight spa break at Chewton Glen for two people including dinner in the new Vetiver restaurant. Simply complete the short online feedback survey at www.hampshirefare.co.uk by August 7th to be entered into this free prize draw.
Visit www.hampshirefare.co.uk for details of all Hampshire Food Festival events, or call 01962 846509 for a free Festival programme to be posted to you.
The Hampshire Food Festival is also supported by Hampshire Fare‚‚ s Corporate Partners: Ecover, Festival Place, Fuller‚‚ s, leepeckGroup, Newsquest, The Southern Co-operative and Wave 105 and Corporate Friends: The National Trust and New Forest & Hampshire County Show.
Coatis enjoy some Wimbledon-style enrichment
Rain may stop play at Wimbledon this week, but Marwell Wildlife‚‚ s new arrivals are letting nothing get in their way.
Unlike visitors to Centre Court, these baby ring-tailed coatis weren‚‚ t tucking into strawberries and cream, but were enjoying some tasty meal worms stuffed inside tennis balls.
The tennis balls were just one of the latest forms of animal enrichment at the park in Hampshire.
Gordon Campbell, curator at Marwell Wildlife said: ‚?ìCoatis are opportunist when it comes to food so they have to develop into quick and dexterous adults.
‚?ìThis enrichment allows them to practice chasing prey and develop their digging skills.‚
Marwell currently has 11 adult coatis and five babies which were born in April and May.
Coati facts:
- Coatis are omnivorous and primarily eat fruit and invertebrates.
- They are double-jointed and their ankles can rotate beyond 180 ?which means they can descend trees head first!
- They search for fruit in trees and use their snouts to poke through crevices to find prey on the ground.
- Coatis produce soft whining sounds, but alarm calls are different, consisting of loud woofs and clicks.
Justin Time for lots of fun!
Paultons Theme Park are delighted to announce that by popular demand the one and only Justin Fletcher (star of Cbeebies Something Special and Gigglebiz) will be returning to Paultons for a weekend of fun, laughter and song!
As Justin‚‚ s visit to the Park last year was such a resounding success, this year he will be appearing for two days on the weekend of Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July and he is looking forward to entertaining friends old and new with two fantastic family shows each day at 1.30pmand 3.30pm. There‚‚ s no need to book and normal admission rates apply.
There will also be an opportunity to visit the fabulous new and UK exclusive Peppa Pig World.
Set in nearly 3 acres of fully themed fun, this amazing new world features 7 new and exciting rides including Miss Rabbit‚‚ s Helicopter Flight, Peppa‚‚ s Big Balloon Ride, George‚‚ s Dinosaur Adventure, Grandpa‚‚ s Little Train Ride and you can even ride in a ‚ cloud‚‚ around Windy Castle! Peppa Pig World also features a large indoor play area, George‚‚ s Spaceship
Playzone plus there‚‚ s Daddy Pig‚‚ s Big Tummy cafÉ © and Peppa‚‚ s Toy Shop, the largest (and only!) dedicated Peppa Pig shop in the World!
Paultons is the theme park for families with more than 60 different rides and attractions included in the admission price, with big rides, small rides, play areas, entertainments, a museum, a huge variety of exotic birds and animals, all set within 140 acres of beautiful parkland, Paultons really is way too much fun for one day! www.paultonspark.co.uk
Summer days at Exbury
Shady walks, waterside picnics and an exciting holiday trail combine to make Exbury Gardens the perfect place for a summer‚‚ s day out.
There are more than 20 miles of pathways through the 200-acre woodland gardens on the banks of the Beaulieu River in the New Forest. If that sounds too energetic, visitors may hop on a chauffeur-driven buggy with a knowledgeable guide who will show off Exbury‚‚ s hidden treasures and tell interesting stories of the past.
The Steam Railway, which this year celebrates 10 years of train rides, gives a new view of Exbury through the naturalistic Summer Lane Garden.
There‚‚ s a mature hydrangea walk with thousands of colourful blooms, an exotic garden and impressive herbaceous borders.
The summer months at Exbury bring riverside walks and the chance to picnic next to ponds full of giant carp and golden orfe, while dragonflies swoop overhead, or enjoy cream teas and ice-cream in the Tennis Court Tea Gardens. Art shows run in the Five Arrows Gallery while there‚‚ s fun for children with the summer holiday trail starting at the end of July.
Although the popular annual Tea Festival due to be held on the last weekend in July has been postponed, entrance to Exbury will still be half-price on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st July, as planned and there will be a tea trail through the Gardens.
Later come the celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the steam railway with visiting engines, models and miniatures and special train rides on August 13th and 14th. On the same weekend the New Forest Fuchsia Society holds its colourful annual display in Mr Eddy‚‚ s restaurant.
It wouldn‚‚ t be summer without open-air theatre and Chapterhouse perform everyone‚‚ s favourite, A Midsummer Night‚‚ s Dream, in the Gardens on August 27th. Tickets from 023 8024 5750. Grounds open at 6.30pm for picnics.
Throughout the summer, until early September, the Five Arrows Gallery plays host to an exciting art show mounted by local artists. The Look Twice show will be manned and artists will be on hand to answer questions and give demonstrations.
The New Forest Tour Bus will call at Exbury eight times daily between Saturday June 25 and Sunday September 18. All New Forest Tour passengers paying to enter the Gardens will receive a free train ticket on production of their receipt.
Visitors can buy an Exbury Experience ticket (£14 adults or £7 for children) which combines Gardens entrance with a ride on the Steam Railway, a Buggy Tour, Tree Trail guide and discount vouchers for the gift shop, plant centre and Restaurant.
For more information please visit: www.exbury.co.uk or call 023 8089 1203.
Feast the Seasons at the Spinnaker Tower
For the first time, Portsmouth‚‚ s Spinnaker Tower will be inviting guests to a VIP evening on 16 July 2011 from 7pm to 11pm when they will be treated to an exclusive evening of fabulous food and drink, sparkling conversation and spectacular panoramic sunset views.
The tower‚‚ s Feast the Seasons sky high dining experience consists of a four course set menu, showcasing a selection of delicious, seasonal and locally sourced food*, served in a unique venue and perfect for any special occasion.
For just £49.00 per person, the evening will include sparkling Bellini on arrival, a mouth-watering menu and a buzzing atmosphere as you take in the breathtaking views. At 100m above one of the busiest harbours in the world, this is a dining experience that no restaurant can match.
Paul Mahy, Commercial Manager at the Spinnaker Tower, commented: ‚?ìAt our Feast the Seasons event, guests will be able to enjoy the best sunset views for miles around. As the diners enjoy their high quality meal, the South Coast will transform into a sea of glittering lights before their eyes. It‚‚ s going to be a really special evening and an amazing dining experience.‚ ‚ ®
To reserve your place call 02392 730 473 or email hospitality@spinnakerower.co.uk. Please note that exclusive tables are available for parties of 10, whilst smaller groups may be seated on larger social tables with other guests.
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!‚ ®
*Locally sourced wherever possible
Thrill Seekers Invited to the Ultimate Abseil at Spinnaker Tower
Soaring 170 metres high the Spinnaker Tower can be daunting at the best of times, but now the famous attraction is opening its doors and inviting thrill seekers to take the ultimate challenge of abseiling down the national icon. From Monday 8th ‚‚ Sunday 14th August individuals can pre-book the opportunity to abseil down the Tower and experience the ultimate thrill for the first time.
Paul Mahy, Commercial Manager at the Spinnaker Tower, commented, ‚?ìWe‚‚ ve held abseil events for charities before, but this is the very first time we‚‚ ve opened it up to the general public. We‚‚ ve been listening to our visitors and increasingly many of them have been telling us they would love the opportunity to abseil down the Tower. It‚‚ s not every day that an opportunity like this comes up and we‚‚ re thrilled to be offering people such an amazing abseil experience. There are quite a few abseiling events out there but not many that start at 300 feet, and it will be interesting to see how many people are up for the challenge.‚
Abseiling is becoming an ever increasing popular past time with more and more people looking for an extreme activity. Indeed, Portsmouth is no stranger to famous abseilers with Doris Long setting a World Record last year, when she descended from the top of Millgate House at the age of 96 years and 11 days, the oldest officially recorded abseiler.
Individuals can choose to simply do the abseil itself or use it as an opportunity to raise money for a charity of their choice with places costing just £75 each (participants must be aged 18 or over). Abseils will take place at 20 minute intervals from 9.00am ‚‚ 6.00pm during the week long event. For further information or to book a place please call (02392) 857520 and choose option 3.
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!
Veterans celebrate at Exbury Petal Fall weekend
Members of the Exbury Veterans Association held their annual service at the Anchor Memorial at Exbury in early June. The weekend closest to D-Day is always marked by the Association, who lay a wreath at the Arromanches Memorial at the south-western tip of the Gardens, overlooking the Beaulieu River. Veterans from the war and post war years when Exbury House was requisitioned by the Admiralty as Stone Frigate HMS Mastodon, and was a preparation centre for D-Day, met current Navy staff.
They also admired the colourful ‚ Petal Fall‚‚ collage which reflected those war-time years, remembering the important role played by Wrens (the Women‚‚ s Royal Naval Service) in the conflict. The centre-piece of the collage made from fallen petals by visiting children, overseen by local members of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS), showed the Wrens‚‚ cap badge.
Marion Loveland, former Wren and Secretary of the Veterans Association, was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Exbury President Nicholas de Rothschild at a lunch in Mr Eddy‚‚ s Restaurant.
Jazz Party for all at Gosport’s Big Day Out
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport is getting ready to host an afternoon of jazz to celebrate Gosport‚‚ s Big Day Out on Sunday 12 June between 12 noon and 4pm. Chris Walker, one of the South‚‚ s leading jazz artists will be headlining with his Old Thumper Dixie 5 on the waterfront at the museum alongside the historic World War 2 era submarine ‚‚ HMS Alliance.
Bill Sainsbury, event organiser said, ‚?ìGosport‚‚ s Big Day Out has grown into a fabulous day out for all generations and we are really pleased to be joining in with the celebrations with the fantastic sounds of Old Thumper Dixie 5‚
‚?ìHMS Alliance was commissioned in 1947 so the music will fit perfectly with the atmosphere that this historic submarine evokes‚
Old Thumper Dixie 5 are made up of members of The Chris Walker Swingtet who love to explore and play many of the famous and much loved tunes from the jazz era of the 1930s and 40s. They will be playing acoustically on the jetty at the Submarine Museum. Gosport Big Day Out on Sunday June 12 is now in its fourth year and has become a major fixture in the Gosport calendar with thousands of local residents enjoying what the Borough has to offer.
Jazz on the Jetty at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum is a free event however entrance to the museum and HMS Alliance is by ticket only. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 240.
Meet the Marines ’ FREE Family Event
Sunday 5th June 10am to 5pm the Royal Marines Museum will host a free event in the grounds of the Museum called ‚ Meet the Marines‚‚ . This event will give the public the opportunity to meet the Royal Marines Commando Display team who are trained specialists in unarmed combat, helicopter and building abseils, high aerial slides and qualified supervisors of a hi tech rock climbing tower simulators.
The Royal Marines Commando Display team will be running multiple demonstrations during the day of both unarmed combat and zip wire displays. There will also be activities for all the family including Commando Fit, where kids young and old can test out their fitness on our assault course, Royal Marines uniforms to try on and craft activities taking place throughout the day. There‚‚ s no better way to spend the last day of half term.
For over three centuries the Royal Marines have displayed heroism, daring and professionalism in combat, and now it‚‚ s your chance to see them in action for one day only at the Royal Marines Museum.
The Royal Marines Museum will be open to visitors to allow them to explore the fascinating history of the Royal Marines. Visitors can take a walk through history from 1664 and learn about the lives of the extraordinary people who have become Royal Marines. Follow a recruit through training and on to deployment around the world, then creep through the jungle, marvel at the medal collection and take a trip down memory lane in our WW2 home front kitchen. Although the event is free, normal admission prices apply to visit the museum.
For more details on the event go to www.meetthemarines.co.uk
Half term Treasure Hunt and Kite Making at the Submarine Museum
Families have lots of activities to choose from at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport this half term. Children can hunt for pirate treasure and make their own kite as well on go onboard two submarines.
The hunt is on! Every day throughout the half term holidays, families will be given a treasure map and clues which will take them around the Submarine Museum in the hope of finding the treasure at the end. They can also dress up as a pirate and play on the pirate ship in the popular Skull & Crossbones exhibition.
Kites were used in the early submarines from the 1900‚‚ s and through WW1 by the Royal Navy to fly radio aerials, so on Thursday 2 June families will be able to make their own kites and explore the Royal Navy‚‚ s very first submarine Holland 1.
Bill Sainsbury, Marketing Manager of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, ‚?ìThere are always lots for children to enjoy here. Kite making and treasure hunting will be an added bonus!‚
The Portsmouth waterbus will also be running, linking the Submarine Museum with neighbouring attractions Explosion and Gunwharf Quays. Discounted entry tickets of up to half price entry to both museums can be bought with a waterbus ticket from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is open every day. Visitors can go onboard a WWII submarine - HMS Alliance with a veteran submariner to hear his stories about living beneath the waves, peer into the only surviving WW2 midget submarine and step inside the Royal Navy‚‚ s first submarine Holland 1.
For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354.
Blue Reef in bid to convert selachophobes*
*(people with a fear of sharks)
Staff at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth are putting the finishing touches to their week-long ‚‚ PR campaign‚‚ to try and change the public perception of the much-misunderstood shark.
The aquarium will be hosting ‚ Shark Week‚‚ from May 28th - June 5th with the hope of converting young people into shark lovers rather than shark haters.
On Bank Holiday Monday palaeontologist Neil Morris, who specialises in prehistoric shark species will be on site giving a series of fun and informative talks about the evolution of the oceans‚‚ ultimate predators.
And they have another secret weapon in the shape of Dotty their giant zebra shark which has just laid a huge egg-case.
Zebra sharks get their name from the striped patterns they have as juveniles, however as they develop into adults these stripes change into spots ‚‚ hence their other common name: leopard shark.
When fully grown these graceful sharks can reach lengths in excess of the 3.5 metres, almost half of which is made up by their extraordinary tails.
Blue Reef‚‚ s Jenna MacFarlane said: ‚?ìZebra sharks are definitely one of the most elegant shark species. Their huge tails and streamlined bodies allow them to glide effortlessly through the water ‚‚ they‚‚ re a great advert for sharks in general
‚?ìWe don‚‚ t think that Dottie‚‚ s egg will hatch but we‚‚ re still not certain so have put it in a special nursery display alongside our horn shark eggs where it can be monitored for any signs of development,‚ she added.
Using a mixture of exhibitions, entertaining talks, feeding demonstrations and fun activities, Shark Week aims to dispel many of the popular misconceptions of sharks as mindless man-eaters by showing the facts behind the fiction.
As well as coming face to face with living members of the shark family ranging from native dogfish to zebra sharks, visitors to the aquarium will also be able to visit the ‚ Shark Nursery‚‚ - home to egg-cases, or mermaid‚‚ s purses, and newly-hatched baby sharks.
There will also be quizzes and competitions and displays by the Shark Trust - a UK shark conservation group along with other information on what we can all do to help save sharks.
‚?ìWe‚‚ re hoping that the combination of babies, fun quizzes and our own shark workshops will help to provide our visitors with a different view of these much-maligned predators,‚ added Jenna.
Sharks first appeared in our seas 350 million years ago - that‚‚ s a 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Today there are over 350 different species from the 18cm spined pygmy shark to the 18-metre whale shark.
British waters are visited by around 30 different species - including the world‚‚ s second large
Half Term Activities at Explosion!
Explosion, Museum of Naval Firepower, at Priddy‚‚ s Hard, Gosport has many activities planned for the upcoming half term school holiday period. Families visiting the Museum can participate in a variety of extra activities including T-shirt making and Toy Mice hunting. There will even be live gun firings and living history re-enactments. The Museum, open everyday from now until the end of October, will host the following activities between the 28th of May and 5th of June unless otherwise stated.
If you‚‚ re feeling creative, then why not drop into our T-shirt design workshop and create your very own T-Shirt design using fabric pens. In addition, draw your own illustration on a postcard, of the wonderful sites on view from our Harbourside CafÉ ©. Address it to yourself or a relative and we will post it for you. All materials are provided as part of the activity and you can take your designed shirt/postcard home with you to keep. Tickets cost £3 per child but do not include access to the Museum. This drop in activity runs from 11am until 4pm throughout the week.
Children visiting the Museum can now participate in a new activity within our galleries ‚‚ HUNT THE MICE! Several Toy Mice have invaded the site and are hiding around the Museum. There are twelve in total, and are younger visitors are being encouraged to help us find them. They could be anywhere, hiding in our Coffee Shop, in the Grand Magazine or even in the torpedoes gallery. We must find them quickly, before they eat all our cheese!! If you would like to take part in this activity, simply ask for a activity form on your arrival at the Museum. This activity is FREE with a valid Museum ticket.
Visitors to the Museum can now play several traditional board games, but this time with a big difference! Each of the games is in giant scale, and you can even become the counters! Games include Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, Jamenga (all complete with giant dice!) Board Games on the green is a FREE activity to Museum and site visitors. At least one board game will be positioned on the green each day. Instructions for play are also provided.
Finally, there will be Living History Displays by the ‚ Wavy Navy‚‚ re-enactment team on Sat 28‚‚ Mon 30 May. Live Firings of the 4.7in Gun will occur throughout the daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. The Wavy Navy will also host special Small Arms object handling sessions in the Museum.
Kids go free at Exbury’s petal fall
Exbury‚‚ s ‚ petal fall‚‚ weekend in early June sees children welcomed free into the Gardens where they have a chance to help make a fantastic colourful collage to mark the end of one flowering season and the beginning of another.
On the last weekend of half-term, June 4 and 5, all children will be given a large envelope so that they can collect fallen flowers to make a picture under the direction of flower arranging experts. This year‚‚ s theme will mark the 10th anniversary of the Exbury Gardens Railway.
"Our rhododendrons and azaleas flower in all sorts of fantastic colours" said John Anderson, Exbury's head gardener. ‚?ìEvery year as they fall, we ask children to come in to help collect the blooms and petals.‚
Each child who collects petals for the collage, which will be put together on Saturday and Sunday, near the plant centre, will receive free seeds and a sweet treat. They can also offer their favourite ghost joke, for a chance to win tickets for Exbury's popular Ghost Train at Hallowe‚‚ en.
Petal Fall weekend marks the traditional end of Exbury's high season and the beginning of flowering in herbaceous beds, the exotic Sundial Garden and Summer Lane Garden. "Just because the rhododendron season is drawing to a close, doesn‚‚ t mean that there's nothing to see at Exbury," said John. "The woodland walks and views are as lovely as ever and we have some fabulous herbaceous beds, the exotic sundial garden, ponds, a bog garden and many surprises at every twist and turn of the paths. Visitors who take a ride on the train will also enjoy Summer Lane Garden which will be nearing its best in early June."
And there are activities for all children throughout half term week, when local members of the National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS) will help young people make their own flower sculpture to take home. The NAFAS workshops are free to all children buying a ticket into the Gardens and don‚‚ t need to be booked.
Anyone who buys an entry tickets and rides on the Garden Railway up to June 5, will receive a free ticket to see the fabulous autumn colour in September and October.
For more information please visit www.exbury.co.uk
In SEArch of Treasure at the Spinnaker Tower PLUS kids for a QUID this May Half Term
Visitors to the popular Spinnaker Tower will be treated to an array of activities this half term (28th May ‚‚ 5th June ), as the attraction continues its Year of the Sea theme with ‚ In SEArch of Treasure‚‚ . Holiday highlights include Captain Spinnybeard‚‚ s treasure trail with a winning prize of tickets to see the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film, as well as an opportunity for guests to write a ‚ message in a bottle‚‚ that will be held in safekeeping for ten years!
Best of all, kids will get in just £1 this Half Term when accompanied by a full paying adult during half term!
Kids will be challenged to ‚ Find Captain Spinnybeard‚‚ s Fleet‚‚ of ships located at various points throughout the attraction. Each vessel will incorporate a letter that will combine with all the other letters to spell out the fleet‚‚ s destination. All correct entries will be entered into a prize draw to win a family ticket to see On Stranger Tides which was released on the 18th May.
The tower will also be creating its very own ‚ time capsule‚‚ in the form of a large bottle in which visitors will be invited to put messages of what they treasure most or what they can see from the tower. The bottle will then be stored away for safekeeping at the iconic tower until May 2021 when it will be opened to reveal people‚‚ s insights ten years after they were first penned.
In addition, visitors will be able to enjoy a warm cuppa or refreshing drink and snacks at the recently opened CafÉ © in the Clouds whilst settling down to read one of Charles Dickens short stories, the topical ‚ A Message from the Sea‚‚ .
Paul Mahy, Commercial Manager at the Spinnaker Tower, commented: ‚?ìOur treasure themed holiday period should be great fun for the whole family and it will be especially interesting to open up the ‚ time capsule bottle‚‚ in ten years to see what people value most about the tower and in general.‚
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!‚ ®
Royal couple to visit Exbury Gardens
Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall will visit Exbury Gardens in the New Forest next week to mark the tenth anniversary of the steam railway.
The Royal couple will tour the world-renowned 200-acre woodland Gardens, owned and run by the Rothschild family, and meet some long-serving members of staff together with local school children, who will have made collages with colourful flowers. HRH The Prince of Wales will unveil a plaque at Exbury Central Station before taking the footplate for a 20 minute journey along the Rhododendron Line.
Leopold de Rothschild, whose father, Lionel, established the Gardens more than 90 years ago, said he was delighted that Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were continuing the tradition of Royal visits to Exbury.
‚?ìWe look forward very much to welcoming their Royal Highnesses and we‚‚ re especially pleased that they are coming here to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Garden Railway,‚ he said.
Mr de Rothschild, a railway enthusiast since boyhood, commissioned and helped design the popular steam railway which runs through the northern part of the Gardens, allowing visitors a scenic ride.
‚?ìHer Majesty the Queen named our latest locomotive and has enjoyed a ride on the railway on two occasions,‚ he said. ‚?ìI hope we can offer Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall a happy and interesting visit.‚
The Royal couple will visit Exbury on Thursday, May 26.
Star Signs
On Sunday, 22 May the INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium will be aiding deaf and hard of hearing visitors‚‚ enjoyment by using subtitles and sign language on some of their planetarium shows. There will also be space themed activities which require no verbal instruction. Visitors can make and launch a water rocket or view the sun through a solar telescope, a safe way to view the sun.
Dr Jenny Shipway, Planetarium Manager said, "We‚‚ ve specially adapted our popular live 'Flight through the Universe' show to include both subtitles and signing. This will be a great opportunity for adults wanting to see the planetarium at its best. We‚‚ ve also subtitled our favourite family film show ‚?ìAstronaut‚ . On top of this there are free drop-in activities for all our visitors with sign-language interpreters to help with any enquires."
Activities are free after paying admission to the Science Centre, with planetarium shows at our normal add-on rate of £2.20. The live shows will be at 11:30am and 2:30pm, with ‚ Astronaut‚‚ at 1:30pm. INTECH is open from 10am to 4pm. More details can be found on www.intech-uk.com
A Run to Remember
From 15th to 21st May 2011 a team of runners from The Royal British Legion Riders Branch, will be partaking in 7 x 13k runs throughout the country, covering each of the seven regions of the Royal British Legion to raise money for the Poppy Appeal. On Friday 20th May the penultimate leg of the race will start at midday at the Royal Marines Museum in Southsea.
There are number of British Legion branch members, who regularly take part in middle distance running events to promote the work of the Royal British Legion and to raise funds for The Poppy Appeal. So the Royal British Legion Rider Branch thought they would try something a little longer, 90k over 7 days.
Why 90k? 2011 is the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion, hence 90k for 90. The idea was dreamed up one day, with the intention of it being done as a solo challenge. However as support for the idea grew more people offered to join Ray, the team captain in his challenge. The valuable backing offered by the runners and support team has made the event something the participants are extremely proud to be a part of and hope that along the way they can raise a large amount for the Poppy Appeal.
The core team of runners is made up of Ray Collins (Team Captain), Ian Jarvis (Branch Chairman), Dai Charles, Colin Hanson, Nigel Locke and Karen Riggs. The support team is made up of John Hardman (Driver, Medic and Team Physiotherapy), Dave Gibson (Driver), Mark Keeling (Web Design) and Jackie Collins (Merchandise).
The Royal Marines Museum is proud to be the starting point of the penultimate leg of this fantastic fundraising activity and wish all the runners best of luck over the course of their seven day challenge.
For further information visit www.rblr.co.uk/90kfor90 Tel: 07702470250
Museums at Night
The Royal Marines Museum will be running two events in support of Culture 24‚‚ s Museum at Night initiative. On Friday 13th May visitors to the museum can become a Marine for the night and go ‚ Under the Cover of Darkness‚‚ exploring the museum by torch light, and on Saturday 14th May watch selected short films at the ‚ Future Shorts ONE‚‚ screening evening.
Under the Cover of darkness runs from 6-9pm on Friday 13th May. Normally the museum is well lit, but for one night we turn out all the lights and open for a special family event. This is no torch lighttour. Tonight you will be operating under Cover of Darkness, Royal Marines style. No matter how young or old, we‚‚ ll take you through real Royal Marines night exercises in the museum galleries.
‚ ®While that‚‚ s happening, the bigger kids might prefer to spend a little time with one of our curators who will take you to see parts of the collection that never normally see the light. Normal admission prices apply.
Future Shorts ONE short film screening takes place on Saturday 14th May at 7:30pm at the Royal Marines Museum. This event is part of the largest simultaneous short film event in the world, breaking boundaries, borders and conventions to connect a global audience to the world's best film makers. Many of the short films being screened have won esteemed prizes at the world‚‚ s most prestigious festivals, including the Oscars, Cannes, Bafta, Claremont-Ferrant and others. This event is FREE to attend and is suitable for over 18s.
For more details on these events click here
The penguins are coming!
Birdworld are busy putting the finishing touches to Penguin Beach, home to their new colony of 30 African Penguins. By recreating their habitat of Robben Island South Africa, Birdworld's Penguin Beach will make the penguins feel at home and allow you to encounter these amazing birds at close quarters.
Arriving on the quayside visitors will have views over the harbour to the penguins on the beach, then stroll along the boardwalk and see the penguins up close from one of the hides or viewing areas, which lead out through the nesting grounds.
Feeding will take place daily, but for the ultimate African Penguin encounter visitors can join the bird keepers yourself and help them feed the penguins.
Penguin Beach is due to open in time for half term and alongside Birdworld‚‚ s popular Farm Fun week this makes it a fantastic time to visit.
For more information about all of Birdworld‚‚ s attractions, visit www.birdworld.co.uk.
Blue Skies and Black Warnings
Saturday 7 May to Thursday 2 June 2011
The history of the Royal Observer Corps is both fascinating and awe inspiring. Run entirely by volunteers, its main role until the advent of the nuclear age and the ‚ Cold War‚‚ was to identify aircraft and track and report their movements to the RAF. Its later role was to pinpoint nuclear explosions and to warn of approaching nuclear radiation. It was a ‚ Home Front‚‚ organisation to which men and women from all walks of life volunteered their time, from school boys to housewives, retired personnel to working tradesmen. This exhibition looks at the human stories as well as the historical ‚ facts‚‚ behind the history of its organisation, focusing on its activity and involvement in the local area.
There‚‚ ll be ROC activities for the family on half term Discovery Day on Tues 31 May.
Festival Place toasts ongoing partnership with Hampshire Fare
Basingstoke‚‚ s Festival Place Food Festival (July 16th & 17th) is a key event during this year‚‚ s county-wide Hampshire Food Festival, and is a positive outcome of the ongoing corporate partnership between county food group Hampshire Fare and one of the south‚‚ s leading shopping centres.
This is the third year that Festival Place in Basingstoke has renewed its sponsorship of Hampshire Fare, which organises the Hampshire Food Festival (July 1-31). ‚?ìWe‚‚ re delighted to be working with Hampshire Fare again this year,‚ said Theresa Chapman, Festival Place Events Manager. ‚?ìIt allows us to demonstrate our support for local producers and work with some very interesting and knowledgeable people. The partnership also provides us with an additional and very effective way to spread the word about our own Festival Place Food Festival which takes place in July every year as part of the wider Hampshire Food Festival‚ .
This year celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson will be at the free Festival Place Food Festival on both Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July, showing how easy it is to cook simple seasonal dishes using locally sourced ingredients. Joining Antony is wine expert and Mail on Sunday wine writer Olly Smith, who also presents Channel 4‚‚ s Secret Supper Club. Olly enthused: ‚?ìI couldn‚‚ t be more delighted to take part in The Hampshire Food Festival. Bringing together local food producers and the local community is just glorious. Cheers!‚ .
Chairman of Hampshire Fare Mike Wright added: ‚?ìFestival Place is a dynamic corporate partner of Hampshire Fare and we value greatly their ongoing sponsorship support. Their enthusiasm for creating high profile events for The Hampshire Food Festival is boundless, with the added bonus that many 1000‚‚ s of people can enjoy a terrific free day out with the focus on local food!‚
The winners of the Festival Place Grand Charity Cook-off to be held the previous weekend on Saturday 9th July between teams from our Armed Forces, Basingstoke Street Pastors, Hampshire Fire Brigade and Hampshire Constabulary will also join Antony Worrall Thompson on Saturday 16th July. Festival Place is also hosting a Cooking Masterclass on Friday evening 15th July, and there will be plenty of entertainment and activities for all the family as well as some great competitions to look out for on www.festivalplace.co.uk.
The Hampshire Food Festival runs across Hampshire with over 90 different events from July 1st-31st. Full details of all Hampshire Food Festival events are on www.hampshirefare.co.uk, and free Festival programmes will be widely available across Hampshire from mid May.
In addition to Festival Place, Hampshire Fare‚‚ s Corporate Partners include Ecover, Fuller‚‚ s, leepeckGroup, Newsquest Hampshire, The Southern Co-operative, Wave 105 and Corporate Friends The National Trust and New Forest & Hampshire County Show. Hampshire Fare is also supported by Hampshire County Council.
Spinnaker Tower turned into Wonderland
The Spinnaker Tower launched it‚‚ s new ‚ High Tea‚‚ offer at CafÉ © in the Clouds with a Mad Hatter‚‚ s Tea Party photo shoot on Thursday 21st April.
In the weeks before the photo shoot, the Spinnaker Tower ran a ‚ Search for Alice‚‚ competition to find someone special to play the famous tea party guest. Molly Stevenson, aged 7, was picked at random from several ‚ wannabe Alices‚‚ who entered the tower‚‚ s ‚ Search for Alice‚‚ competition and joined the Mad Hatter and other characters for tea and cake on View Deck 2 ‚‚ having been whisked not down, but up the rabbit hole by the White Rabbit in the Spinnaker Tower‚‚ s high speed internal lift!
‚ High tea‚‚ at the tower is set to be an exclusive experience, with guests offered a reserved window-side table and able to choose from a traditional selection of premium sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and treats from the patisserie (to book, call 02392 857520).
Win a culinary break with Ecover & Hampshire Fare!
To celebrate it‚‚ s ongoing corporate partnership with county food group Hampshire Fare, international company Ecover is offering a luxury prize draw competition to win a culinary break at one of Hampshire‚‚ s top hotels and cookery schools.
Ecover stands today as a leading brand of effective, ecological cleaning products. Emma Bennetts, Ecover UK Brand Manager said: "This is the 4th year of Ecover‚‚ s corporate partnership with county food group Hampshire Fare, and we are proud to continue our support of their work, in particular, for the forthcoming Hampshire Food Festival in July. The role that Hampshire Fare‚‚ s plays in championing food, drink and craft businesses that contribute to a thriving rural economy of Hampshire reflects Ecover‚‚ s commitment to sustainable living for all‚ .
To celebrate the partnership renewal, Ecover has joined forces with Hampshire Fare members Tylney Hall Hotel and Newlyns Cookery School near Hook to offer a luxury prize draw in conjunction with this year‚‚ s Hampshire Food Festival throughout July. The prize includes an overnight stay for two people at 4* Tylney Hall Hotel with dinner and full English breakfast, plus a hands-on cookery day at nearby Newlyns Cookery School. Ecover will also arrange for the winner‚‚ s home to be cleaned using Ecover products so the winner can enjoy the break even more!
Emma Higgens, Director of Hampshire Fare and owner of Newlyns Cookery School said: ‚?ìHampshire Fare is proud to champion local, and equally proud that distinguished national and international companies such as Ecover want to be associated with the work it does, including the award-winning Hampshire Food Festival‚ . Both Tylney Hall and Newlyns are hosting Hampshire Food Festival events this July, and Ecover will also be at a number of events.
The Hampshire Food Festival was the South of England Enterprise Award winner at The 2010 Countryside Alliance Awards and Gold award winner at The 2010 Beautiful South Awards. Tylney Hall won a Silver Award for Outstanding Customer Service in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011 and Newlyns won ‚ Rising Star of England‚‚ at the FARMA 2011 National Farm Retail Awards.
Pick up a free Hampshire Food Festival programme for more information, or visit http://www.ecover.com/competitions to enter the free prize draw by 31st July. To find out more about the award-winning Hampshire Food Festival, which runs across Hampshire from July 1st-31st, visit www.hampshirefare.co.uk.
In addition to Ecover, Hampshire Fare‚‚ s Corporate Partners include Festival Place, Fuller‚‚ s, leepeckGroup, Newsquest Hampshire, The Southern Co-operative, Wave 105 and Corporate Friends The National Trust and New Forest & Hampshire County Show. Hampshire Fare is also supported by Hampshire County Council.
First Royal Navy submarine gets top award
Sub originally deemed ‚ underhand, unfair and damned un-English‚‚ joins the ranks of UK‚‚ s engineering greats.
Holland One, the first operational Royal Navy submarine, received a prestigious Engineering Heritage Award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers today (Wednesday 4 May).
The submarine joined the world‚‚ s first rail locomotive, the Thames Barrier and Bletchley Park‚‚ s Bombe code-breaking machine on the list of award winners, which celebrates Britain‚‚ s greatest engineering feats.
Isobel Pollock, Deputy President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Chair of the Heritage Committee, said: ‚?ìHolland One‚‚ s remarkable story can easily overshadow the fact that this was the vessel that dragged the Royal Navy into the modern era.
‚?ìWith this award we want to not only recognise Holland One‚‚ s pivotal role in changing naval warfare forever, but also pay tribute to the tremendous restoration job that has saved this crucial part of British heritage for future generations.‚
Launched in 1901, Holland One was commissioned despite the Royal Navy‚‚ s traditional mistrust of submarine warfare. Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson, then Controller of the Navy, described it as ‚?ìunderhand, unfair and damned un-English‚ .
However in 1900 the Royal Navy secretly placed an order with submarine pioneer John Philip Holland. Ironically, Holland had originally received the financial backing needed to develop his submarines from the Irish Fenian Society, who wanted to use the vessels to carry out hit and run terrorist attacks on the Royal Navy.
Holland‚‚ s great technological innovation was marrying the internal combustion engine with the electric motor and electric battery, all in one hydro-dynamic machine. This would set the standard for submarines across the world for decades to come.
After Holland One‚‚ s secret launch a year later, the boat had 12 years of experimental service before being decommissioned in 1913. However while being towed to the scrap yard it hit stormy weather and sank.
It remained at the bottom of the Channel for 68 years before the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, working with Navy mine sweepers, discovered and salvaged the wreck in 1981.
Vice Admiral Sir Tim McClement, chairman of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said: ‚?ìWe are delighted to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the challenges that were faced by the very first Royal Navy submariners in Holland One and later by the heritage team which rescued and preserved her for posterity here at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.‚
Holland One is now on permanent public display at the Museum, keeping this vital piece of Britain‚‚ s engineering and military heritage alive for future generations.
Climb the stairs and take the vital statistics challenge
The 170 metre high Spinnaker Tower will be opening up its stairs for visitors on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th May, offering them the chance to burn off their Easter egg calories and take part in the Vital Statistics Challenge. As they climb the 570 steps, visitors will be able to improve their vital statistics whist they learn about the Tower‚‚ s fascinating vital statistics! At the top, as well as admiring the breath-taking panoramic views, there will be one final challenge and the opportunity to win one of two free family annual passes.
During the two day period, the Spinnaker Tower‚‚ s internal lift will be closed for routine works, so the attraction is opening up the stairs, offering the Vital Statistics Challenge as a fun but exhilarating alternative. Visitors will have the opportunity to climb up and down the steps to the view decks, with View Deck 1 situated at 100 meters high. Along the route leading up the stairwell will be fascinating facts about the Tower‚‚ s vital statistics displayed ‚‚ such as, did you know the Tower can flex up to 15cm in either direction in high winds? Or that it is built on 84 piles driven into the sea bed, the longest of which is the height of Nelson‚‚ s Column!
On the view decks there will be Vital Statistics Challenge quiz sheets for visitors to see how many of the statistics they‚‚ ve remembered. All correct entries will go into a prize draw, offering them the chance to win one of two family annual passes* to the Spinnaker Tower, each worth £75.
Paul Mahy, Commercial Manager of the Spinnaker Tower said: ‚?ìWe apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during the lift closure, but would like to offer our guests the opportunity to walk up the stairs and take part in our fun challenge. The stairs are not ordinarily available to the public and offer an unusual and exciting experience in itself.‚
The internal lift will be closed for routine replacement of serviceable parts, regularly carried out during the life cycle of any lift. The internal lift at the Tower is made by Kone and is one of the
manufacturer‚‚ s busiest lifts in the UK, having carried over 2 million visitors to the top of the Tower since it opened.
2.
The Spinnaker Tower and stair walk (with the Vital Statistics Challenge) will be open from 10am ‚‚ 6pm on 4th and 5th May. There will be a reduced admission price of £6 for adults with FREE admission for children! Visitors will need to be able bodied and able to climb the 570 stairs to the view decks. This usually takes only 15 ‚‚ 20 minutes, but depends upon the individual.
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to find out more!
*A family annual pass is valid for two adults and two children or one adult and three children. It is worth £75 and entitles a family to free admission to the Spinnaker Tower for a full calendar year, along with a host of discounts and other benefits.‚ ®
Museums at Night ’ A New crew for HMS Alliance
A new crew for HMS Alliance has been recruited for a 24 hour marathon to help raise money to save the WW2 era submarine that is under threat from severe decay. From 6.30pm on Friday 13th to 6pm on Saturday 14th May, thirty willing EDF Energy apprentices from VT Flagship, part of Babcock International Group, will live, eat, sleep and work on the WW2 submarine based at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport. Visitors will be able to see the real life crew in action on Friday 13th May as part of the Museums at Night event and again during normal museum opening hours on the Saturday.
Bob Mealings, Acting Director at the Submarine Museum said, ‚?ìThis will be a great opportunity for all to understand firsthand what it is must have been like to live and work on a WW2 submarine.
We really are very grateful to VT Flagship for taking up this challenge in support of the saving HMS Alliance Appeal‚
The EDF Energy year two apprentices will be split into two groups that will each work in 4 hour shifts as submariners had to around the clock, keeping watch, cleaning and maintaining the submarine and cooking their meals. They will also have to cope with some unexpected scenarios such as diving procedures, a first aid incident and eat typical WW2 food such as spam sandwiches.
Wayne Jackson, EDF Energy Project Manager said, ‚?ìThe Submarine Museum support the EDF Energy Apprentice Programme in allowing the apprentices to take over the Museum for a period in January each year when the students use the site to complete their apprentice programme.
Engineering apprentices are used to facing exacting challenges but this will stay with them all their lives. As well as drawing on the technical and life skills that are part of their training, they will be learning much more about how important such things can be in extreme situations.
It will be a tremendous lesson in life and in history, as well in engineering.‚
Ian Williams, EDF Energy Apprentice Manager said, ‚?ìThis is an opportunity for the students to give something back to the Museum for all the superb help that they have had from the museum and its staff. This event (which is supported throughout EDF Energy‚‚ s Nuclear Stations) culminates a series of fundraising initiatives within the VT Flagship Academy.‚
HMS Alliance is listed in the UK‚‚ s historic ship‚‚ s register, sitting alongside the Cutty Sark, the Mary Rose, and HMS Victory in the Core Collection list, and she is the only remaining WW II submarine in the UK that‚‚ s open to the public. HRH Prince William of Wales is the Royal Patron of the HMS Alliance Appeal that aims to raise the £6.5 million that the conservation work is budgeted to cost. Over £5.8 million in funds and pledges has now been raised, including £3 million pledged by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The apprentices can be sponsored for their efforts by visiting www.justgiving.com/EDF-energyapprentices. The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is open every day. Visitors can go onboard a WWII submarine - HMS Alliance with a veteran submariner to hear his stories about living beneath the waves, peer into the only surviving WW2 midget submarine and step inside the Royal Navy‚‚ s first submarine Holland 1. For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354 ext 244.
Museum Archive wins Lottery Support
The Royal Marines Museum has been awarded £50,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to transform its archive and the way it can be used. The new archive system will allow visitors easy access to the Museum‚‚ s extensive archive and transform the ability for people to research their Royal Marine ancestors
The money will be used to pay for a brand new archive storage system enabling the Museum‚‚ s extensive archives to be stored in a much more effective way. Some of the items include a huge archive of Landing Craft plans numbering over 4,000 items alone.
The scheme will also pay for new computers and specialist software to enable people to find items in the archive, or information contained within it, much more quickly. The October 2011 special exhibition ‚ Terms of Service‚‚ will also use aspects of the archive to illustrate unusual aspects of serving in the Royal Marines over the years. The exhibition will introduce people to the archive and ways in which they can use archive material, both at the Museum and elsewhere. A linked programme with schools is also planned.
Ian Maine, Royal Marines Museum Curator explains ‚ This award will really transform the way people can use our important archive here, enabling them to find out more for themselves. The archive will also use a number of Volunteers in cataloguing, and conserving items in the collection here‚‚ .
The implementation of the archive storage system will use volunteers in cataloguing and conserving items in the collection.
It is anticipated that work on the scheme will be fully complete by next April.
Spinnaker Tower to be turned into Wonderland as its search for Alice ends!
The Spinnaker Tower has found an Alice to play the starring role in its‚‚ Mad Hatter‚‚ s photo shoot on Thursday 21st April. Molly Stevenson, aged 7, was picked at random from several ‚ wannabe Alices‚‚ who entered the tower‚‚ s ‚ Search for Alice‚‚ competition and will be playing the famous character for the snap shots on View Deck Two.
The Mad Hatter‚‚ s photo shoot is to launch the tower‚‚ s brand new ‚ High Tea‚‚ offer in its‚‚ recently opened CafÉ © In the Clouds. ‚ High tea‚‚ at the tower is set to be an exclusive experience, with guests offered a reserved window-side table and able to choose from a traditional selection of premium sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and treats from the patisserie (to book, call 02392 857520).
On Thursday 21st April visitors to the Tower will be welcomed into the internal high speed lift and in true Wonderland style they will be whisked not down, but up the rabbit hole by a white rabbit! At the top on View Deck Two they will find ‚ tea party‚‚ style decorations, and for a short while during the photo shoot, the Mad Hatter himself will make an appearance. The sky high cafÉ © will also be offering colourful cup cakes to visitors as well as the usual high quality teas and coffees.
Paul Mahy, Commercial Manager at the Spinnaker Tower, commented: ‚?ìIt‚‚ s going to be a thoroughly fun experience for Molly and I‚‚ m sure she will really enjoy being in the limelight with our Mad Hatter!‚
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!‚ ®
Exbury rhodos win top RHS prizes
As the early spring sunshine brings out a spectacular display at Exbury Gardens, famous Rothschild rhododendrons took top prizes at the main Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) show at the weekend.
Exbury, in competition with world-famous Cornish gardens, won three of the five prestigious cups at the show, held at the RHS garden at Rosemoor in Devon.
They were the Lionel de Rothschild Cup for the best six species rhododendrons, the Crosfield Cup for three different hybrids bred at the garden entering them and the Roza Stevenson Challenge Cup for sprays of rhododendrons.
‚?ìThe wins were all the more special because we were up against stiff competition from other great gardens, such as Trewithen, Caerhays and Trelissick, all in Cornwall,‚ said John Anderson, Exbury‚‚ s head gardener. ‚?ìWe were delighted to compete against them all, especially Trelissick which belongs to the National Trust who haven‚‚ t traditionally entered these competitions,‚ he said.
John and his colleague, deputy head gardener Linda Runnacles, cut the winning blooms from Exbury where they may be seen now by visitors to the award-winning 200-acre woodland Gardens which are managed by the Rothschild family.
‚?ìI‚‚ ve never known the Gardens looking this tremendous so early in the year,‚ said John. ‚?ìThe bluebells are coming out, rhododendrons and azaleas are in colour and Exbury will be spectacular at Easter and all through May,‚ he said.
All paying visitors to the Gardens who also buy a ticket for the steam railway up to June 5 will receive a free return ticket to enjoy the autumn colours between September 1 ‚‚ October 21.
Would-be visitors may see the developing colour at Exbury by visiting the website (see below), where dozens of images showing current flowering conditions are updated weekly.
Exbury Gardens are open daily until November 6th. For more information please visit www.exbury.co.uk
Month-long Hampshire Food Festival showcases local food and farming
Loosen your belt in readiness for Hampshire’s month-long celebration of local food and farming this July! Farmers, producers, restaurants, pubs, cookery schools, attractions and town centres showcase the best of local food and drink during The Hampshire Food Festival which runs July 1st-31st.
Held at numerous venues across the county, The Hampshire Food Festival celebrates the food and drink produced, reared and grown in the county with over 90 different events: farm open days and walks; brewery, vineyard, orchard and lavender tours; celebratory lunches and dinners; butchery and fish filleting demos, cookery classes; jam, chocolate and cheese-making; milling and baking; cider pressing; trout and venison farming; foraging; beekeeping; cookery competitions; tastings and much more.
Antony Worrall Thompson will be cooking simple dishes using Hampshire produce alongside wine expert and TV presenter Olly Smith at The Festival Place Food Event in Basingstoke over the weekend of 16th and 17th July. Atul Kochhar and his Executive Chef Jitin Joshi create an Indian barbecue on the terrace of Vatika overlooking Wickham Vineyard (9th July), and Vatika also hosts a clay pigeon shoot and game dinner (23rd July). Laverstoke Park Farm hosts the Field to Fork Show incorporating the National BBQ Championships (July 30th and 31st). Vegetarian food writer Rose Elliot will be demonstrating seasonal dishes at Winchester Discovery Centre (15th July). Pylewell Food & Drink Festival near Lymington includes a line-up of 10 top Hampshire and London chefs (July 23rd & 24th). The New Forest Show (26-28th July) showcases everything agricultural and is a great family day out.
The Hampshire Food Festival, now in its 11th year, is organised by county food group Hampshire Fare and attracted over 215,700 people in 2010. The Festival’s success has been recognised with a Gold award at The 2010 Beautiful South Awards organised by Tourism South East and it was the winner of the South of England Enterprise category in The 2010 Countryside Alliance Awards.
James Martin has given his support to this year’s Hampshire Food Festival by writing the programme foreword. James said: ‚?ìDo take part in this year’s Hampshire Food Festival to meet the local producers, explore the countryside and enjoy the best of Hampshire’s food and drink. I have lived and worked in Hampshire for the past 17 years and I am passionate about the amazing diversity of produce the county has to offer... one thing’s for sure, if its great food you’re after, then join in the Hampshire Food Festival!‚
Everyone who takes part in this year’s Hampshire Food Festival also has the chance to win a luxury spa break with dinner at the fabulous 5* Chewton Glen in the New Forest.
Download the free Hampshire Food Festival programme (from mid-May) at www.hampshirefare.co.uk, where you can also sign up to receive Hampshire Fare’s newsletter for your chance to win fabulous foodie prizes from luxury hotel stays in Hampshire, local food-themed experiences, gourmet meals and hampers.
The Hampshire Food Festival is supported by Hampshire County Council, and Hampshire Fare’s Corporate Partners: Ecover, Festival Place, Fuller’s, leepeckGroup, Newsquest, The Southern Co-operative and Wave 105 and Corporate Friends: The National Trust and New Forest Show.
Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills sees spots at Marwell Wildlife
Southampton-born BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills officially opened Marwell Wildlife’s latest development, Savannah Tracks, the new home for its three cheetahs today (Friday 8 April).
Scott was thrilled to help the keepers feed Marwell’s three cheetahs, Turkus, Juba and Suki, commenting: ‚?ìI’m delighted to be here to open Savannah Tracks. I used to visit Marwell frequently when a child so was really pleased to be asked back.‚
The cheetahs were out exploring their new terrain and showing off their spots to Scott. With various resting spots including large boulders and shady areas to relax, Savannah Tracks is double the size of their previous home and mimics the conditions found in the cheetah’s natural habitat of the open savannah in Africa. Visitors to the zoological park can now watch the cheetahs from a new wooden walkway, which meanders through Savannah Tracks, leading up to an undercover viewing platform.
Scott, a keen runner, was also put through his paces by children from Fair Oak Infant School on Marwell’s specially built cheetah running track. The track, along with lots of other fun children’s activities will be open during the upcoming Easter holidays.
Savannah Tracks was only possible due to Marwell’s generous supporters who donated to SPRINT, the conservation charity’s cheetah campaign. This funding also enables Marwell to continue its cheetah conservation work in Africa which includes: tracking wild cheetahs to better understand their movements and working with farmers and local communities in Zimbabwe, plus researching cheetah populations in Kenya and Niger.
Loss of natural habitat to persecution and illegal trapping are just a few of the many problems which threaten the continued survival of wild cheetahs. With less than 10,000 in the wild, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists the species as vulnerable.
Queen’s Harbour Master Gives Seal of Approval to New ‚ High Spy’ Interactive Ship Finder
The iconic Spinnaker Tower is launching its very own ‚ High Spy’ interactive vessel locator just in time for the Easter holidays (9th to 25th April), and the Queen’s Harbour Master in Portsmouth, Commander Nigel Hare [pictured with Jenny Swatridge, Marketing Manager at the Tower], has given it his ‚ seal of approval’.
For the first time ever, the question ‚?ìWhat ships can you see in the harbour?‚ will be answered as visitors to the popular attraction have access to a live electronic map showing the positions of ships and other vessels located in the Solent and Portsmouth harbour.
The touch-screen visual display unit will be located on one of the View Decks and visitors will be able to identify details by pressing coloured icons representing vessels within approximately 23 miles of the Tower. Information available can include the name of the craft, its type, size, call sign, destination and estimated time of arrival (ETA), details which are entered remotely by a member of the ships crew. Its direction and speed are also taken directly from the vessels navigation system and some will include a picture.
Vessels that can be spotted from the 170m high tower include search and rescue craft, military vessels, cargo ships, fishing vessels, cruise ships, tankers, pleasure craft, passenger vessels, sailing ships, and even coastguard helicopters, as well as landmarks such as land stations, buoys, and other miscellaneous structures.
Commander Hare commented: ‚?ìTo be able to view one of the busiest harbours in the world from such a fantastic vantage point and then, at the touch of a button, identify the vessels you can see is an exciting prospect for people. In my role as Queen’s Harbour Master I have access to this electronic information on a daily basis and I hope that, for visitors to the Spinnaker Tower, it will add a whole new element to their experience.‚
The new ship locator is the first stage of the tower’s wider three year development plan that is currently underway which also includes the introduction of FREE audio guides for every visitor. Thousands of pounds of investment are being ploughed into the visitor attraction over the next three years in order to update and reinvigorate the offer, details of which will be revealed at a later date.
In addition, the tower is also launching its very own ‚ Passport to Portsmouth’ whereby visitors can use their tower entrance ticket to gain fantastic offers and discounts at a number of other leading attractions and restaurants in the Portsmouth & Gosport area. See www.spinnakertower.co.uk for full details, terms and conditions.
Whilst the ‚ High Spy’ ship finder launches this Easter, visitors will also discover Easter themed activities throughout the holidays in the form of an egg hunt and Easter Quiz Trail.
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!
WHAT AN Eggs-ample
The Early baby boom at Birdworld started with all things fluffy and cute. Spring lambs, pygmy goats, bunnies and chicks have all been born at the Jenny Wren Farm at Birdworld ready for the Easter holidays and Birdworld’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt on 19th April.
Add to this a hundred or so chickens, bantams and ducks and it is clear the birds and animals have been busy! With so many new mouths to feed, the keepers will be busy too!
Percy the Penguin will be at the park to meet your little ones on the Easter Egg Hunt with a special treat, then join in the fun and games of the hunt which will take you all around the park, (all successful participants will be rewarded). For more details of the Annual Easter Egg Hunt call 01420 22140 or go to our website www.birdworld.co.uk
Trucks & Troops at Beaulieu
Visit Beaulieu from the 28th ’ 30th May for Trucks & Troops, a show celebrating the development of military transport, combat vehicles and soldiering through the ages.
This year’s show will celebrate the Home Front, the civilians left at home supporting the war effort. The Blitz Buddies will be putting on a homefront wartime fundraising party and there will be wartime cookery demonstrations.
Over 200 military vehicles will be on display, everything from push-bikes to armoured and tracked vehicles, ranging from pre WWll to the Gulf War. Living History Groups, including the Vietnam war group, Rolling Thunder will be wearing uniforms and equipment corresponding to the vehicles on display, re-creating camps and situations in which they would have lived and served.
On the Beaulieu Arena, watch a range of activities including parades of vehicles, live action from Rolling Thunder, a Royal Marine Cadet Field Gun display and marching bands. Take time to walk around the militaria stalls with goods for sale from a gas mask to a Jeep!
Activities for younger visitors include a Commando Assault Course, Model Boat Pond and Model Tank Village. They can also dress up and take part in a patrol with real soldiers from the modern British Army.
Admission includes the whole Beaulieu attractions including the National Motor Museum and World of Top Gear, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. Not to be missed is the Secret Army Exhibition which tells the story of wartime Beaulieu and the training of secret agents to work with the Resistance in occupied Europe during WWll.
The show is open from 10am each day with plenty of free parking. For more information telephone 01590 612345, or visit: www.beaulieuevents.co.uk
Spinnaker Tower launches a Passport to Portsmouth
The Spinnaker Tower has teamed up with a number of other visitor attractions and restaurants across the city to launch their ‚ Passport to Portsmouth’. The initiative sees any visitors to the iconic Tower who keep their receipts as proof of admission, receive a whole host of discounts across the Portsmouth & Gosport area which could amount to over £100 in savings!
Commenting, Commercial Manager for Spinnaker Tower said, ‚?ìWe appreciate the tough economic times that we are all experiencing and by launching The Passport to Portsmouth we hope we can help add value to a fun filled day out in the region. The discounts are applicable throughout the year so we hope that our visitors can enjoy the most of these fantastic savings. By working together with a number of partners we hope that more people can enjoy what this great city has to offer at a more cost friendly and affordable price.‚
Varying levels of discounts and savings can be made at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Explosion ’ the Museum of Naval Firepower, The D-Day Museum, the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum, the Royal Marines Museum, Blue Reef Aquarium, Pyramids Centre, Onboard, Hover Travel, Giraffe Restaurant, and Frankie & Benny’s. Full details and terms & conditions can be found at www.spinnakertower.co.uk .
The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day). See www.spinnakertower.co.uk or call 02392 857520 to book in advance or to find out more!
Pirates, Games, Boats and Gardens this Easter at t
This Easter, visitors to the Royal Navy Submarine in Gosport, Hampshire can dress up a pirate, cruise across Portsmouth Harbour, keep a submarine at depth and make a garden.
New interactive games, family events and the ever popular Skull & Crossbones exhibition are all part of a visit to the family museum.‚ ‚New science games include an escape challenge, where the skill is to help a model submariner escape from under the water and a driving submarine challenge where the test is to maintain the submarine at a certain depth. For families with younger children, the popular Skull & Crossbones exhibition has been extended till October and allows families to play together, dress up as pirates, climb on board a pirate ship and set sail for buried treasure. Children can also make their own Octopus’s Garden at special drop in family workshops every Thursday of the holidays from 11am.‚ ‚
Bill Sainsbury, Marketing Manager of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, ‚?ìOur submariners are looking forward to a busy time this Easter, giving guided tours of HMS Alliance and trying out the new games in the science gallery‚ ‚ ‚The Portsmouth waterbus will be starting up again to link the Submarine Museum with neighbouring attractions Explosion and Gunwharf Quays. Discounted entry tickets of up to half price entry to both museums can be bought with a waterbus ticket from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is open every day. Visitors can go onboard a WWII submarine - HMS Alliance with a veteran submariner to hear his stories about living beneath the waves, peer into the only surviving WW2 midget submarine and step inside the Royal Navy’s first submarine Holland 1.
For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354.
New interactive games, family events and the ever popular Skull & Crossbones exhibition are all part of a visit to the family museum.‚ ‚New science games include an escape challenge, where the skill is to help a model submariner escape from under the water and a driving submarine challenge where the test is to maintain the submarine at a certain depth. For families with younger children, the popular Skull & Crossbones exhibition has been extended till October and allows families to play together, dress up as pirates, climb on board a pirate ship and set sail for buried treasure. Children can also make their own Octopus’s Garden at special drop in family workshops every Thursday of the holidays from 11am.‚ ‚
Bill Sainsbury, Marketing Manager of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum said, ‚?ìOur submariners are looking forward to a busy time this Easter, giving guided tours of HMS Alliance and trying out the new games in the science gallery‚ ‚ ‚The Portsmouth waterbus will be starting up again to link the Submarine Museum with neighbouring attractions Explosion and Gunwharf Quays. Discounted entry tickets of up to half price entry to both museums can be bought with a waterbus ticket from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is open every day. Visitors can go onboard a WWII submarine - HMS Alliance with a veteran submariner to hear his stories about living beneath the waves, peer into the only surviving WW2 midget submarine and step inside the Royal Navy’s first submarine Holland 1.
For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk or call 023 92510354.
Exbury's Ken is face of British Tourism
Exbury railway guard Ken Andrews has been chosen as one of the faces of British Tourism.
As Exbury Gardens open for the season and British Tourism Week gets underway, Ken, wearing his guard's cap and blowing a whistle, features on the poster that can be seen across the country to promote tourist attractions. This year Exbury celebrates the 10th anniversary of the steam railway which has proved so popular with visitors.
"We’re delighted that Ken’s face is displayed on this poster," said Mr Leopold de Rothschild, steam enthusiast and the motive force behind the railway.
‚"The Government recognises that tourism is Britain's fifth biggest industry and is worth £115 billion a year to the UK economy. To add value to our own visitor experience and enjoyment of Exbury this season, we are offering a free return ticket to see the autumn colours, for all paying visitors to the Gardens and Steam Railway between 19 March ’ 5 June.
"It’s especially appropriate as we celebrate ten years of steam and welcome our 500,000th passenger on the railway," he said.
‚Exbury Gardens open on Saturday March 19th for the season and it is anticipated that the 500,000th passenger will step aboard during that weekend.
For more information please visit www.exbury.co.uk
As Exbury Gardens open for the season and British Tourism Week gets underway, Ken, wearing his guard's cap and blowing a whistle, features on the poster that can be seen across the country to promote tourist attractions. This year Exbury celebrates the 10th anniversary of the steam railway which has proved so popular with visitors.
"We’re delighted that Ken’s face is displayed on this poster," said Mr Leopold de Rothschild, steam enthusiast and the motive force behind the railway.
‚"The Government recognises that tourism is Britain's fifth biggest industry and is worth £115 billion a year to the UK economy. To add value to our own visitor experience and enjoyment of Exbury this season, we are offering a free return ticket to see the autumn colours, for all paying visitors to the Gardens and Steam Railway between 19 March ’ 5 June.
"It’s especially appropriate as we celebrate ten years of steam and welcome our 500,000th passenger on the railway," he said.
‚Exbury Gardens open on Saturday March 19th for the season and it is anticipated that the 500,000th passenger will step aboard during that weekend.
For more information please visit www.exbury.co.uk
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