The Village Voice Dec 18 Jan 19

UPDATES FROM THE COUNTY….. Towards the end of a fruitful year!
In August, I wrote about my hopes for setting
up a Men’s Shed in the area. Just under 70
gentlemen from Milford, Hordle, Tiptoe and
New Milton turned up for our public meeting in
September and a smaller group are now
forming a Shed Committee. Another group are
meeting each week socially for a ‘Friday Natter’
at a local pub. Potential Shed sites are being
systematically assessed, but we still need that
one great idea to come to fruition, so if you can
help, get in touch. I’m confident we will shortly
get our local Men’s Shed and I’d like to thank
the Shedders for being so enthusiastic about
the project. If you’d like to get involved, it’s not
too late, just email or phone me, contact details
below.
Another plea. Hampshire County Council are
continually looking for families to adopt or
foster children.
highlight this issue here. If you have ever
considered fostering or adopting, Hampshire’s
Children’s Services teams would love to hear
from you. Find out more on 0300 555 1384 or
at https://www.hants.gov.uk/
socialcareandhealth/adoptionandfostering
I have really enjoyed the opportunities to study
the birds and wildlife of the area with the
Milford Conservation Volunteers this year. In
summer, I found myself on a ‘moth watch’ in
the meadow off Pless Road, which was a
fascinating evening, sat around a large bulb in
the dark. Not so fascinating were the insect
bites I discovered I’d gained, through my
clothes, the next morning. But a small price to
pay for a great learning experience on a balmy
evening with good company. In October, I
joined Keith Metcalf on a boat trip to observe
the winter-returning birds on the saltmarshes.
This was wonderful - other than me making my
way, as the flyer had said, to Hurst Castle
Pontoon, along the spit, early on a foggy and
drizzly morning - to find the pontoon in
question was at Keyhaven! I was never so
pleased to see a boat as when Keith and crew
turned up to collect me from Hurst. Thank you,
Keith - I continue to live and learn!
This is the last issue of Village Voice before
2019, so I shall take this early opportunity to
wish you a very merry Christmas and a healthy,
happy and prosperous New Year. Let’s hope it
will be a good one. It should certainly be an
interesting year politically, with Brexit in
March!
Kind regards, Fran
Hampshire has hundreds of children desperate
for loving homes, either on a temporary or
permanent basis. As a member of the Children
& Young People’s Committee, I’d like to
Cllr Fran Carpenter
Hampshire County Councillor for
Milford, Everton & Keyhaven.
01425 614665 / 07867 502624
fran.carpenter@hants.gov.uk
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