HOW CHARMING?…

WE CAN DO BETTER : WILL YOU HELP? Every year presents a new challenge for ground nesting birds in the New Forest. There is a real danger that we will lose many species, including lapwings and curlews. The start of March will see protections in place to try and minimise disturbance during the critical breeding…

ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST? Here is a picture that I call “Politicians’ Waffle”. I know that this flies in the face of all the public health messaging that we get about the dangers of poor diet and obesity – but then again, mental health is important too and I do think that the occasional treat…

FREEPORT BID There is a paper going before Cabinet members of New Forest District Council this week, recommending that the Council support an application to Government to award Freeport Status to an area around here that includes Southampton docks, The Waterside, Southampton Airport and a 45 acre industrial estate called Dunsbury Park at Havant. I…

BEWARE OF BRIDGE DANGER There are reports of young people throwing things off the redundant footbridge that goes over the M271 motorway at Redbridge. The footbridge has been blocked off for years but a Councillor colleague has checked the situation and found that they have damaged part of the fencing and are accessing the bridge…

WATCHING BIRDS, WATCHING ME I spent a happy hour on the allotment today. It didn’t do much. I often get distracted by nature all around me. Today, it was mainly the fault of these two characters, Malcolm Magpie and Kevin Kestrel. Maybe they were both hoping I would disturb a mouse or a vole…..