Weekly What's On Friday 16 October 2026
Hurrah* for Hurst
Growing up in Hordle in another era, being taught the basics of dinghy sailing in cadets on Keyhaven River (capsizing in March before anyone had wetsuits, and who else remembers Brigadier Hope); in my 20s on weekend visits home learning to windsurf in Mount Lake, waterskiing & trapezing in the Solent close to Hurst Spit; later with my own children landing at Hurst in a variety of boats for picnics, bbqs, swimming and general fun ... With its fabulous views in all directions, Hurst has always been one of my favourite places in the whole wide world. And nowadays one of life's pleasures on a sunny autumn morning is a brisk walk from the crabbing bridge to the end of the spit and back.
As half term for some lucky children begins from today (for most it's next weekend), beginning tomorrow 17 October through to 1 November we are all invited to Halloween at Hurst Castle: 'muster your courage and experience Halloween at our 480-year-old fearsome fortress. Dare to brave the Maze and solve the Royal Trail! From 24 October - 1 November enjoy creepy crafts, too. Take the phantom ferry from Keyhaven, departing every 20-30 mins from 10am, for a horrifyingly fun day out this half-term!'
*Can also be spelt Hoorah, Hooray, Hurray, or apparently Hooah, Oorah, Hooyah or even Huzzah
And Hooray for Half Term
For next week as well as Halloween at Hurst Castle there's a Funseekers! October Half-Term Holiday Camp at Walhampton (19-30 October): one for younger adventurers and one for older explorers!
From 23-29 October Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom will be screening at the Malt Cinema: families are warmly invited to join Shaun, Bitzer and the rest of the gang as mysterious happenings on Mossy Bottom Farm lead to a woolly adventure full of mischief, mayhem and plenty of laughs. This is a film which little ones and grown-ups can enjoy together, right here in Lymington.
From 24 Octover-1 November there's daily fun with Half Term at Beaulieu: 'Explore the Beaulieu attraction along our brand-new trail as you uncover a fascinating folklore tale, collect enchanting herbs, and make magical potions! Plus, listen to spooky stories in Palace House and see fantastic displays around the attraction, including Driven: Britain's Motoring Story inside the National Motor Museum, and Disney and Pixar’s Cars 20th anniversary display.'
Between 24 October and 1 November there's a Halloween Pumpkin Trail at the Montagu Arms and as usual at this time of year there's lots of spooky fun to be had on land and water with New Forest Activities.
At Exbury there's lots on offer including Creepy Crafts Family Workshops, Pumpkin Carving, Gruesome Garden Trail and Halloween Ghost Train: The Curse of the Haunted Circus!
On Friday 30 October which is almost exactly the witching night, there's a Kids Halloween Party at the Turfcutters Arms!
Plus lots more at https://lymington.com/events: there really should be something for everyone this October half-term!
Friends of St Thomas Church and Upcoming Events
The Friends of St Thomas Church was formed as a Registered Charity in 2016. Its remit was to reach the wider community: including everyone who values the church architecturally and historically, and those who choose it for an occasional family event. The role of the Friends is to raise funds for 'restoration, preservation, repair, maintenance, improvement and beautification' - of both the church itself and the 'monuments, fittings, fixtures, stained glass, furniture, ornaments and chattels in the church and churchyard belonging to the Church'. That is a very tall order - but one to which the Friends rise!
Money is raised mainly through the wonderful annual Christmas Tree Festival which takes place this year Thursday 26-Saturday 28 November, when the church will become a winter wonderland of beautiful lit Christmas trees, each sponsored and decorated by a different business, charity or other organisation. (If you'd like to sponsor a tree, please click the link and contact the Friends.)Also upcoming are:
Saturday 24 October: Artisan Pre-Christmas Market
More than 20 high-quality Artisan exhibitors will fill St Thomas church on Saturday, 24 October between 9 am and 3.30 pm. This is the first time the Friends have held their Artisan Market within the church itself. Some of their popular regular Artisans will be in attendance plus an array of new discoveries - all displaying their hand-made items. So it will be a good time for some pre-Christmas browsing and buying. Refreshments available and live background music provided by local musicians.
(While in Lymington for Saturday's markets on 24 October, do also pay a visit to the Table Top Sale at Lymington Community Centre!)
Tuesday 27 October: Friends of St Thomas Church Lymington AGM and Talk
Artificial Intelligence and what it means for all of us. An illustrated talk by Dr Alan Whitfield who has spent the past eight years deeply involved in the development and application of AI and is therefore perfectly positioned to explain the promise and risk of this new technology. Enjoy a glass of wine and have a go in the bottle raffle!
Capture Autumn in a Wreath...
...and add a little autumn creativity to your day! The Autumn Wreath Making Workshops at Balmer Lawn Hotel promise a relaxed morning or afternoon in The Lodge, joining Jacqui from Dream Floristry who brings over 40 years of experience, to create our own autumn wreaths using natural and dried materials, with optional spooky touches for Halloween. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided.
This two-hour workshop includes everything we need to make a wreath to take home, plus tea, coffee and a slice of our chef’s cake of the day. We're invited to bring friends or family or simply come along ourselves, for a creative morning or afternoon in the New Forest!
WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS AT BALMER LAWN HOTEL
Yet More Retirement Apartments?
The Lymington Society has asked me to share with you its petition against the development of yet another retirement complex in Lymington. 'Lymington is facing an unsustainable imbalance in its local housing market. Our town is being systematically overdeveloped with age-restricted and retirement complexes, many of which remain unfilled, while young families, key workers, and local first-time buyers are completely priced out of the area due to a severe shortage of affordable, standard residential housing.'
A plan has been submitted for a huge block of 52 retirement flats to replace just 3 family houses in Southampton Road. The objections cited by the petition include:
- Loss of Family Housing: The demolition of existing residential properties removes vital standard housing stock that cannot easily be replaced.
- Lack of Demonstrated Need: Lymington already features a significant surplus of retirement accommodation; building more does not serve the actual strategic housing needs of our community.
- Strain on Local Infrastructure: Increasing the density of senior housing puts a disproportionate and unsustainable strain on our already stretched local healthcare services and GP surgeries.
- Character and Traffic: The scale of the proposed block threatens the character of this key gateway into Lymington and will exacerbate existing traffic and parking issues on the busy Southampton Road corridor.
One of many supporter voices for the petition which may resonate says: 'I don’t understand the logic of building more luxury retirement homes when they can’t even sell the ones that have already been built, plus it is more important to build homes for the up and coming generations who will build a better future for this country.'
If you're willing to add your name click here! (If you'd like to see/refer to the Society's own detailed objection to the application, please contact The Lymington Society for a copy...)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Start Half Term Without a Bang!
As both Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night approach, we are invited to 'Start Half Term Without a Bang': a novel new style of celebration which should please both the ghoul lovers and the firework haters! The first ever Lymington Laser Spectacular will take place at Boldre Memorial Hall & Recreation Ground next Friday 23 October, with one ticket covering two laser shows at 6pm and 8pm.
In just over a week's time the clocks go back, meaning that day will break an hour earlier next Sunday morning - although most of us will be taking advantage of the extra hour in bed. On the other hand darkness will descend an hour earlier too, and from then on it's downhill all the way to the shortest day of the year! So, my note to self for this weekend and next week is to take the final opportunities to enjoy as many evening sunset dog walks as possible!
Best wishes Jane
PS Stop Press, nearly forgot: the 2 weeks long 2026 New Forest Walking Festival also starts tomorrow! Some of the walks are already fully booked so click the link now if you fancy one of these!
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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