If you have any constructive comments or suggestions please let us know by emailing the Parish Clerk at liz.green@minstead.gov.uk
WHAT'S ON IN MINSTEAD
| Sat 27th June | from 8.30 a.m. | Armed Forces Day - stall in support of "Help for Heroes" outside the Village Shop. See website for more information about this charity. |
| Wed 8th July | 3.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. | Grand Re-Opening of the Fenwick Hospital at Pikes Hill Lyndhurst by a member of the Fenwick family. Partake of a delicious home-made Cream Tea and enjoy beautiful music of the Edwardian Era. A contribution of £3 per person is all that is required. Any other donations to this most worthwhile charity will be gratefully received. |
| Sun 12th July | 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. | An afternoon of fun and games in aid of Charlotte's "I Believe I Can" Fund of Hope at Minstead House, School Lane. Live Music, Homemade Cakes and Sandwiches, Pimms and Beer Tent, Games and Prizes, Raffle, Plant Stand. For further details contact Isabel Morton 023 8081 3824 |
| Wed 15th July | tbc | Ragwort Pulling Day. |
| Sat 18th July | tbc | Study Centre Open Day |
| Tue 21st July | 7.30 p.m. | Minstead Players play reading at Keepers Cottage |
| Sat 5th Sept | 2.00 p.m. | Annual Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Show open to the public |
| Sun 6th Sept | tbc | Junior Minstead Annual Boar Race |
| Sat 10th Oct | tbc | Village Apple Day (details to follow) |
| Every Thursday | 10.00 a.m. | Mini Minstead in the Village Hall |
| Every Thursday | 9.30 a.m. | Rector James Bruce informal surgery - all welcome to drop in for a chat |
| Every Thursday | 12.30 p.m. | Minstead Lunch - a chance to meet fellow villagers for lunch at the Trusty Servant. Contact Nick on 8081 2651 or Isabel 8081 3144 |
| Every Friday | 6.00 - 6.30 p.m. | Parish Council Chairman and Vice Chairman usually available in the Trusty Servant |
Second Tuesday every month | 8.00 p.m. | History Society meeting in the Social Club |
| Second Wednesday every month | 8.00 p.m. | WOW (Women on Wednesdays) Meetings as on the noticeboard, usually in the Village Hall green Room |
| Second and fourth Thursday every month | 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. | Bell Ringers' practice |
Details of forthcoming events in the Village can also be seen on the Village Diary which is regularly updated and placed on the Parish Council Noticeboard. If you would like to join the growing number of people who receive this by email please send your email address to Cllr Alan Ferguson at alanandfionaf@btinternet.com. More details may also be seen on the Village Shop and Church Noticeboards.
GET FIT FOR SUMMER
New Forest District Council Health and Leisure centres are offering a special incentive to Get Fit For Summer programme which offers five weeks of summer fitness at a fantastic price of just £35. It includes unlimited use of the gym with a free gym induction, swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms and free access to a wide range of group exercise classes. Participants will also receive a Wellness key with their personal fitness programme recorded for ease of use. This offer started on 1st June and is available at Totton, Ringwood, Lymington, New Milton and Applemore Health and Leisure centres.
In addition, an extra bonus is available at the end of the five weeks when opting to continue the healthy lifestyle with a 12 month membership. Bonus choices include a free personal training session, 3 rounds of 18 hole golf at Dibden Golf Centre, a free month on a full yearly membership or a £40 voucher for centre-based activities or courses.
For further details and for an application form, go online at newforest.gov.uk/leisure or contact your nearest leisure centre on 0845 6590845.
FREE SWIMMING AT NFDC HEALTH AND LEISURE CENTRES
Free swimming is now available at all the NFDC health and leisure centres for the over 60s and under 17s in Totton, Ringwood, Applemore, New Milton and Lymington. To take part you must register at any of these centres or download a registration forms online and take it to your chosen centre. There is a registration fee of £2 (except for under 8s, Swim Direct members and new Club Active members) and a form of identification and proof of age will be required such as passport, birth certificate, bus pass or driving licence.
HEDGE MAINTENANCE
Advice from the Wild Life trust is that hedges should be cut in winter, ideally in early February. Hedge maintenance should be avoided between March and July when birds may be nesting as it is illegal to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird. It is also best to avoid the autumn as many bushes are in fruit providing valuable food for birds. As fruit is usually borne on last year's growth it is better to cut hedges only every other year. Alternatively, cut one side one year and the other side the next.
GOOD NEIGHBOUR AWARDS
Do you know someone who makes a difference in your community and especially to you? Would you like to nominate them for an award?
The Good Neighbour Awards, introduced five years ago, give you the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and reward the support of volunteers and neighbours who provide you with that 'bit of help' to stay independent at home.
It's often the small things, such as getting to and from the shops, collecting prescriptions, or keeping the garden tidy that can become increasingly difficult. Maybe you know someone, an individual or a local voluntary group, who helps make these tasks easier. This is your chance to say thank you to them!
Click on the HCC website to find out more. The closing date for nominations is Friday 26th June.
CRIME REDUCTION
Everyone in the Community is asked to play a part in helping to combat this trend by passing on information, particularly about things that are out of the ordinary. If you see a crime actually being carried out or life is in danger you should dial 999 immediately. Otherwise you should ring 0845 045 45 45 for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police, contact our Neighbourhood Watch coordinator (Sue Cole tel 8081 3391), or call Crimestoppers, the charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111. Any information about suspicious persons or vehicles, or something that is odd or unusual can be very helpful either in preventing a crime taking place or in providing a key part of a bigger picture.
For the May Crime Report for Minstead and advice on how to reduce theft from cars click on Crime Reduction in the menu.
HELP WITH TRANSPORT
- NEW FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL'S CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL SCHEME
Residents over the age of 60, or those of any age who meet certain disability or mobility criteria, can take advantage of free travel on local buses and obtain local travel vouchers or a disabled rail warrant. If you would like further information, to find out if you qualify or to obtain an application form ring 01590 646126 or look at: www.newforest.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5557.
Many may already be aware of the HCC's Taxi-Share scheme that replaced part of the Bus Service 31/31A route through Fritham, Nomansland, Brook and Minstead to Totton. Residents in these areas can book a taxi to Totton Shopping precinct arriving at 9.45 a.m. and returning at 1.15 p.m. This service connects with the 30/31 bus into Southampton. The Service is available on Tuesdays and Fridays and costs £4 single and £5.50 return and Farepass will be accepted. To find out more and to book call 0845 602 4135 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- BUS SERVICE TO NEW MILTON
Community First operates a "Call and Go" weekly bus service from Lyndhurst to New Milton every Thursday. Given sufficient warning it will be able to collect people from Minstead, though due to its popularity it is very much a question of booking early to avoid disappointment. In the longer term Community First is considering whether to provide a Minstead service to Totton. To find out more, for fares and to make a booking ring 0845 602 4326.
Lyndhurst Neighbourcare serves Bank, Brook, Emery Down, Lyndhurst, Minstead and the surrounding villages. It is a voluntary organisation that offers assistance to those local residents who, through age or infirmity, or any other reason, are in need. It is able to drive people to medical appointments, or help with shopping etc. If you need help, ring the Voicemail number 0845 0945 818.
- CONCESSIONARY FARES FOR YOUNG PERSONS
The NFDC also operates a voucher scheme for those aged between 14 and 18. On completion of the relevant form and provision of proof of age the Council supply a book of vouchers to the value of £40 annually which can be used on buses and even taxis. For further details see the NFDC website.
- FURTHER PASSENGER TRANSPORT INFORMATION
Further information about Passenger Transport can be found on the HCC website.
ALICE IN LYNDHURST
Information about Alice in Lyndhurst can be seen on the Lyndhurst Parish Council website. The festival programme can now also be accessed.
