New Lease Of Life

That fabulous long spell of fine weather has surely given everyone a new lease of life and put a positive spring in our steps! And read here about last night's 'Full Worm Moon' which thanks to the Total Lunar Eclipse became this morning's 'Blood Moon' - all pretty special!

Above is just one of very many glorious new fabric colourways and designs which you will find in Lymington's New Forest Interiors this spring. This fabulous little treasure trove of soft furnishings (in Queen Street nearly opposite Waitrose) is full of new ideas for the season - as you'll see from the gorgeous window which changes frequently and the vast range of designer books within. If your home could do with an injection of a new lease of life in one or more rooms, owner Jo will help you translate your embryonic ideas into beautiful new curtains, blinds, upholstery, cushions, floorings and carpets! Click here!

There's certainly a new lease of life at Exbury Gardens which is opening up right now for the season - including a long forgotten area dating back to the time when Exbury was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in the Second World War, which is being restored and reopened to the public as part of celebrations to mark Exbury's 70th anniversary. If you click this link you can scroll down and see in one place all the many and varied events right through to September which have been added by Exbury this week to the Events Calendar. 

It's a very new lease of life for Lymington Town Sailing Club (LTSC), where within 24 hours of celebrating International Women’s Day, the club was electing, voting in and celebrating its first ever Lady Commodore. Heather Chipperfield is the first woman to take the helm in the club’s 79-year history. (At the club's recent AGM, three other women were also voted into the nine roles on the Executive Committee.) Other new initiatives at LTSC include the ability for members to rent club boats, which makes it feasible to try before you buy or even not have to own a boat at all! The club's Open Day is coming up on Saturday 29 March - a perfect opportunity to find out more.

"The decision isn't yet made, it's worth the fight." Thanks to Mayor Jack Davies who recently successfully galvanised the saving of the tips, there is now a petition available against the proposed merger of the New Forest with Southampton and Eastleigh into a new unitary authority. Click here if you'd like to sign. Meanwhile New Forest District Council has made public its own views on the proposed changes. "We are clear that proposals for local government in our area must build on our strengths, not force us into an artificial structure that does not reflect our local identity." You can read NFDC Leader Cllr Jill Cleary's full statement here. 

Whilst bringing local matters to your attention here's the New Forest National Park Local Plan Review 2025 - 2043, upon which you can have your say until 18 March here.

Congratulations to the three New Forest hotels named among the top 100 places to stay in the UK for 2025 by The Times and The Sunday Times! Click the links for details of New Park Manor in Brockenhurst, Chewton Glen in New Milton and Lime Wood Hotel in Lyndhurst. 

If you've been contemplating joining the Lymington Society, its AGM takes place this evening at the Lymington Centre with refreshments from 6.30; it's free to attend including an illustrated talk by Professor Tony King. Perhaps this could be the moment to take on a new lease of Lymington life!

Tomorrow is your last chance to see the stunning Shorelines/Skylines Exhibition at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery before the gallery makes way for the St Barbe Open 2025 which opens next weekend.

Stop press announcement though for the opening on Monday of Designing Discworld: a new exhibition of artist Paul Kidby’s illustrations for Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series of books, which Chapel Stores East Boldre is hosting in conjunction with St Barbe.

And the nature and climate festival New Forest Awakening Festival is running throughout the whole of March - more than 50 Forest partners are offering expert wildlife walks and talks, litter picks, film screenings and behind-the-scenes tours. There’s also a chance to join New Forest National Park Authority staff to learn more about New Forest ponies, the area's special qualities, trees, the role of a ranger and much more.

And now read below about solicitor Emily's new lease of life at Scott Bailey Solicitors!

Happy Weekends Everyone.

Best wishes Jane
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read the rest of this week's newsletter here

And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!

Opt to receive Weekly What's On e-newsletter

Never miss out! Weekly What's On is sent out as an e-newsletter weekly on Friday mornings, click here to receive it direct to your inbox week in and week out, and never miss out on What's On and Coming Up!

Click here to sign up!