Weekly What's On Friday 26 June 2026
Summer Family Fun
Hello, and hoping you've been coping with this week's heat. The good news is that there’s lots of lovely leafy shade in the beautiful gardens of Oakhaven Hospice, where tomorrow’s Family Fun Day is set to take place. This very special annual occasion is one of Oakhaven’s most important fundraising events of the year, requiring finely orchestrated planning and involving very many volunteers!
All are welcome to this year's Pirate themed day - especially if you dress to the occasion - and there should be something for everyone to enjoy. Stalls will include the grand raffle, delicious homemade cakes, splat the rat, inflatables and games, beautiful plants, bubble show, a caricaturist, animal petting zoo, bottle tombola and crafts. There will be pizza, plenty of snacks, a fizz and Pimms tent, a traditional tearoom, a sweet stall and ice creams, and much more including Sea Shanty singers.
With only a small proportion of the hospice's costs funded by government sources, every pound raised at the Fun Day makes a difference, helping Oakhaven to continue providing exceptional care, comfort and support to patients facing end of life and their loved ones, both within the hospice itself and out in the New Forest, Totton and Waterside community. Entrance is just £2 for adults, £1 per child (under 2's free).
Diary Date: Summer Spectacular!
This summery week feels like the moment to highlight the Summer Spectacular on Sunday 2 August: a day of entertainment, activities and community spirit with something for all ages, hosted by Lymington and Pennington Town Council in Woodside Park, free to attend and with free parking too. This year's big attraction is live jousting on horseback with The Knights of Royal England, bringing the excitement, colour and spectacle of medieval tournament action for all to enjoy. (See live jousting in action here!) There will also be falconry displays offering a close up look at magnificent birds of prey, ferret racing, a Skate Jam where riders can show off their skills, and a brand new Arts and Crafts Village showcasing handmade work from talented artists and makers.
The traditional huge car show (there's plenty of space in the park!) will as ever draw the enthusiasts, and families can also enjoy the popular dog show, sports day races and a variety of activities designed to get people involved. Live music will help create a festival atmosphere, while local charities and emergency services will be on hand to meet visitors and share information about their work. With fun fair attractions, food & drink and plenty to see and do, Summer Spectacular promises a full day of fun, creativity and summer celebration. Diarise it now!
Balmy Balmer Lawn Part Two!
Brilliant Fundraising for the New Forest Trust
Something we haven't previously mentioned about the Balmer Lawn is the hotel's fundraising on behalf of the New Forest Trust. It takes place quietly in the background by inviting staying guests to add a modest £1 donation to their bill when they check out. Over the last 15 years these small, voluntary contributions from thousands of visitors have accumulated into an extraordinary sum of just under £50,000 raised for this very special conservation charity, with the money used to fund vital environmental, wildlife, and community projects across the New Forest.
The New Forest Trust, a registered charity established in 2003, is dedicated to securing the future of the New Forest by funding conservation, education, and the preservation of traditional commoning practices. Its core aims are:
- Conservation & Protection: Preserving the natural beauty, flora, and fauna, as well as caring for the commoning livestock
- Education & Research: Promoting public understanding of the forest environment and the centuries-old tradition of commoning
The funds raised at Balmer Lawn have actively supported several critical initiatives, including:
- Reflective Collars: Funding night-visible collars for free-roaming ponies and cattle to reduce tragic road accidents.
- Commoners’ Salt Lick Project: Providing salt bins away from unfenced roads to dissuade livestock from licking road grit during winter months.
- BVD Vaccinations: Funding vital Bovine Viral Diarrhea vaccinations for forest-run cows, dramatically reducing cattle illness and improving the live birth rate.
- Pine Marten Research: Supporting DNA analysis of droppings to study and protect the newly established pine marten population in the Forest.
Alison and Chris Wilson who own the Balmer Lawn Hotel are immensely proud of the ongoing partnership and "to be supporting a charity that gives back to the fabulous environment in which we live and operate our business. The charity gives us the opportunity to educate our guests about the unique environment that is the New Forest." The hotel and the Trust also extend their heartfelt thanks to every guest whose £1 donation has made a lasting, positive impact on preserving the New Forest for future generations.
What a lovely win win! And now a reminder that we locals can enjoy the spa and/or a lazy lunch at the Lodge, any time!
Leafy Lime Wood
Featuring Lime Wood Hotel and Herb House Spa
Lime Wood is a luxurious country house hotel and spa which sits within its own expansive and beautiful grounds in the heart of the New Forest near Lyndhurst, just 11 miles from Lymington. It's laid-back luxury at its best – the perfect secluded hideaway escape to enjoy lunch, dinner or afternoon tea, a special occasion, a relaxing day at the luxurious Herb House spa, a perfect wedding venue and honeymoon destination or a relaxed but refined business meeting.
Chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder do the cooking, pulling together both of their much-admired signature styles to create Hartnett Holder & Co, the hotel’s relaxed and stylish Italian restaurant. Both Angela and Luke are famed for their informal, grounded style of cooking, their respect for local produce and the much loved Italian approach to eating - with plenty of sharing dishes included.
Designed over three levels, Lime Wood’s Herb House Spa has a Sauna and indoor Hydro Pool with stunning forest views, a Mud House, a steaming outdoor Hot Pool, eight spacious single treatment rooms and two magnificent double treatment rooms, a state of the art rooftop gym with the very latest Technogym equipment, a 16 metre ozone treated indoor lap pool with glass doors overlooking the garden and a workout studio offering an extensive range of fitness classes. Inspired by its forest surroundings, the spa is designed to instil a sense of calm, well-being and serenity.
Throughout the year Lime Wood also hosts a series of events, experiences and retreats as part of its 'Re-Root' series: from panel talks to woodland walks, each event is designed to help us reconnect with nature and support wellbeing, creativity, and personal growth. Keep an eye out below for upcoming events including next Tuesday's evening with breathwork specialist Jamie Clements, which will explore the intersection of science, breath and human experience in 'Science Meets Soul: Bridging Biology, Breath & Being'!
LOVELY LIME WOOD - FIND OUT MORE!
Other News and Upcoming Events...
First an update about New Forest for Ukraine. Since the outbreak of the war, unbelievably more than 4 years ago, the Lymington based, all-volunteer-led charity has shipped hundreds of tonnes of aid, including medical supplies, mobility equipment, clothing, bedding, generators, hygiene products, and essential items for families affected by the conflict. Current needs include financial support towards transport costs, donations of suitable humanitarian aid, and volunteers to help sort and prepare items at their Hub. Local businesses can support them too: details here!
And then a word about last week's New Forest Business Show at the New Forest Showground, which fortunately managed to beat the extreme of the heat and during which over 1,000 business people came together in mutually supportive spirit to connect and celebrate the strength of our local economy. Big appreciation to all the volunteers from the New Forest Business Partnership who gave so generously of their time to make it happen; buoyed with its success, plans are already being made for next year's Show.
This weekend's other events include:
- Tomorrow's Sailing Club Open Day at Lymington Town Sailing Club
- Sunday's Voices for Hospice Choir - "Songs by the River" - a beautiful lunchtime and afternoon concert with acapella group Segalula, with all funds raised going to local hospices including Oakhaven
- Simply French and National Austin Seven Rally at Beaulieu both on Sunday at Beaulieu and
- Sunday's Countryside Workshop: Introduction to Sheep Keeping
Read on for other upcoming events and don't forget that there are always many more in the full Events Calendar. And happy weekends, everyone!
Best wishes Jane
Read the rest of this week's newsletter here
And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!
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