Hampshire Live – Featuring Whitchurch, North Hampshire’s Hidden Gem

Hampshire Live – Featuring Whitchurch, North Hampshire’s Hidden Gem

Following a successful campaign in 2015, Whitchurch became the first town in Hampshire to be invited to become a Walkers are Welcome accredited town having met the six key criteria for membership to this national tourism network of towns and villages.  In June, Whitchurch welcomed visitors participating in the widely promoted North Wessex Downs 50th anniversary Walking Festival, from Salisbury, Pewsey, Marlborough, Savernake, Hungerford, Newbury, Wooton Rivers and Great Bedwyn and…..   It seems our hard work is paying off; an extract from Hampshire Live’s feature article promoting all that is great about Whitchurch, Hampshire’s smallest town….

“The winding two-mile walk with riverside views that explores the history of Hampshire’s smallest town. From silk mills to listed buildings, the small town has a fascinating history. The warm weather and brilliant sunshine mean it is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore all that Hampshire has to offer. From beaches to outdoor cinemas to New Forest walks, there is plenty to do. But the little known areas of Hampshire are worth a visit, too. With the accolade of being Hampshire’s smallest town, it would be easy to assume there is not a lot to do in Whitchurch – particularly when compared to the hustle and bustle of major shopping towns and cities in the county. But what it lacks in high street retail names, it makes up for in charm and historical interest. With quaint cottages and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is a picture-perfect town. There is a wealth of history to explore, and the beautiful scenery combined with ancient tales makes Whitchurch well worth a visit”. The Whitchurch Association, team Walkers are Welcome and the Whitchurch Conservation Group are delighted that their hard work over the past seven years in raising the profile of Whitchurch and beautiful North Hampshire is now paying dividends for the town and the local tourism economy. You can read the full article hereFind out about the Whitchurch Heritage Trail here        

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909 Bar Bistro Introduce a New Summer Takeaway Service

909 Bar Bistro Introduce a New Summer Takeaway Service

909 Bar & Bistro are delighted to announce that from the 19th July we will be intoducing a new collection menu; you can collect anytime during our kitchen opening times, Monday to Sunday, day or night. Just call us on 01256 541780 (phone line managed from noon)

Website and online table bookings for bistro & cocktails : https://www.909barbistro.co.uk

Email: reservations@909barbistro.co.uk 

909 Bar Bistro 5 Newbury St Whitchurch RG28 7DW

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Community Litter Pick Monday 12th September – volunteers needed.

Community Litter Pick Monday 12th September – volunteers needed.

Community Litter Pick – volunteers needed.

Please meet in the Bell Street car park (by the bins next to the Doctors’ Surgery) at 10.15 for registration, a quick briefing, and a start at 10.30.

As usual: • Please dress for the weather, and wear stout shoes and gloves. • Wash hands thoroughly after the session. • I have some litter picking sticks but, if you have one yourself, please bring it. I will supply sacks. • If possible, litter bags should be brought back to the meeting point so that I can put them in the (locked) B&DBC litter bins.

If you are interested in joining in on Monday, please let me know. Many thanks and best wishes Barry tel: 017836 678340

   

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Interested in Playing Badmington? Whitchurch Centre Badminton Club 2022-23 Season

Interested in Playing Badmington? Whitchurch Centre Badminton Club 2022-23 Season

Whitchurch Centre Badminton Club

Whitchurch residents with an interest in playing badminton may know that club badminton is played at Testbourne School Sports Hall.  The new season starts on 8th September 2022 and will run to the end of April 2023.

Membership is open to players at improver level and upwards, though not currently to juniors (under sixteen). Our annual subscription is excellent value with the average session costing less than a pint of beer!  The subscription includes membership of Badminton England for insurance and insight into the sport and is pro-rated for those joining in mid-season.

Club night is every Thursday from 8pm to 10pm with all four courts in the hall available. Teams are entered into the Basingstoke League.

For further details please contact the club secretary, Tom Forsey, on 07717 883032 or turn up one evening. There is an option to experience a number of club nights as a visitor prior to joining as a full member.

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Furlock Holmes Animal Care – Family Fun Day & Dog Show 4th September

Furlock Holmes Animal Care – Family Fun Day & Dog Show 4th September

Save the date for the 6th annual Family Fun Day & Dog Show at Furlock Holmes Animal Rescue – 4th September 12pm to 4pm.

We’re changing things a little this year and holding our own BBQ, alongside the normal ice cream van, inflatable obstacle course, dog show, games and so much more!

We also have a lottery license this year so raffle tickets will be going on sale shortly.

Admission: Adults £1      Kids go Free.

Dogs on a lead are welcome.

This fundraiser raises vital funds for our animals and couldn’t be more needed!

Thank you! Fun Dog Show – Part of the Family Fun Day 4th September from 2pm Who’s excited for our dog show? After the success of last year, we can’t wait to see your pooches back again!

Rosettes for top 3 in each class.

Entry: £2 per class or 3 for £5

All proceeds in aid of Furlock Holmes Animal Rescue

Furlock Holmes Animal Rescue, 1 Soutfield Farm Cottages, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch RG28 7JL

Email: enquiries@furlockholmes.uk

Telephone: 01256 973727

Website: http://www.furlockholmes.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/furlockholmesanimalcare

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Showcasing Whitchurch – North Hampshire’s Hidden Gem

Showcasing Whitchurch – North Hampshire’s Hidden Gem

Showcasing Whitchurch on Test, North Hampshire’s Hidden Gem and the Southern Gateway to the North Wessex Downs AONB

Whitchurch Association trustees would like to thank Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and former borough Cllr. Lucie Maitland for the generous £500 grant for the design and purchase of 2 double sided tourism pop up banners.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words; the team at Whitchurch, Hampshire are hoping their fabulous new double-sided banners will prove this correct.

Since achieving Walkers are Welcome accreditation in 2015, showcasing and promoting Whitchurch and North Hampshire to a wider audience has been an important part of the ongoing tourism development work (place shaping) being undertaken in the town. The borough Local Plan update currently underway, has presented the perfect opportunity to provide input to the Plan’s rural policies and develop a destination management plan for the town and with the recent publication of the Government’s Landscapes Review, the work locally has gained a new momentum.

Discover somewhere new in 2022…. Discover Whitchurch, Hampshire.

Commenting on the new publicity material, Jackie Browne, co-ordinator for the town’s Walkers are Welcome tourism accreditation said, ‘there’s more to Hampshire than the New Forest, the north of the county has so much to offer, not least walking and cycling without the crowds; these banners will help ‘sell’ that message at events within and outside the county and hopefully encourage more visitors to come and explore the fabulous North Wessex Downs and the valleys of the chalk streams”.

   

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Save the Date – Overton Scarecrow Festival & Family Fun Weekend 15th – 17th July

Save the Date – Overton Scarecrow Festival & Family Fun Weekend 15th – 17th July

Overton Scarecrow Festival & Family Fun Weekend 15th – 17th July

The annual fancy dress Wheelbarrow Race is on Friday  15th at 7.15 pm /evening taking in the village drinking establishments, finishing at Bridge Street Recreation Ground where there will be refreshments, music and kid’s attractions. The Grand Festival Fete will be on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th at Bridge Street from noon to approx 5pm. There is different  entertainment, stalls attractions both days. Saturday evening Bridge Street is the venue for Scarecrow Rocks live music. There is a fun dog show on Sunday 17th.

More details nearer the time.

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North Wessex Downs AONB 50th Anniversary Walking Festival – 11th – 26th June…. Bookings are now live…

North Wessex Downs AONB 50th Anniversary Walking Festival – 11th – 26th June…. Bookings are now live…

North Wessex Downs AONB 50th Anniversary Walking Festival  11th – 26th June…. Bookings are now live…

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a truly special place, protected for you.

From remote, rolling downland to picture postcard villages the North Wessex Downs are truly special. Undoubtedly among Britain’s most beautiful landscapes, they are somewhere to be treasured, protected and enjoyed. Straddling four counties and often unheralded, this is an area united by a single factor – chalk.

With 28 walks on offer across the length and breadth of the North Wessex Downs our festival is a celebration of the stunning landscapes, gorgeous scenery and top-class walking country that the AONB has to offer.

We have opportunities for you to seek out wildlife, history or culture, visit a farm, follow an accessible trail, picnic with the family, improve your navigation skills or simply to soak up the views from the top of the downs.

Many of the walks are free.

Join our knowledgeable and welcoming guides to discover more as they bring alive some of their favourite places in the North Wessex Downs.

Find the perfect walk for you by either scrolling through the list in ‘List View’ or using the map.  Reserve your tickets by following this link

We look forward to seeing you!

 

 

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The Good Festival (formerly Hampshire Garden Festival) Returns to Bere Mill 25th – 26th June

The Good Festival (formerly Hampshire Garden Festival) Returns to Bere Mill 25th – 26th June

The Good Festival (formerly Hampshire Country & Garden Festival) will once again return to Bere Mill for 2022

The Festival, which supports the Hampshire Medical Fund, promotes all that is great about Hampshire, from food and drink suppliers to music, workshops and demonstrations, plant experts and nurseries.

Whether you are an avid gardener or a family looking for a wholesome day out this is the event for you. Good Festival is looking to raise a mighty £200,000 to purchase a state of the art AI (artificial intelligence) machine for intervention radiology. This machine allows minimally invasive, image guided procedures to target tumour ablation treatments in the abdominal regions (lungs, kidneys & liver). With only two of these machines in the entire UK, this machine would be cutting edge technology in cancer treatment for The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Full details are available via the event website…….  Good Festival Tickets

TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE UNLESS THE EVENT IS UNABLE TO GO AHEAD

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Walkers are Welcome – Community Spring Litter Clean Up Commences 10th March

Walkers are Welcome – Community Spring Litter Clean Up Commences 10th March

Whitchurch Walkers are Welcome are commencing their community spring litter-picking sessions this Thursday morning 10th March 10.00 am to 11.30 am.

As usual:

We will meet up at the Bell Street car park (please be prompt for a 10.00 am start), and litter bags should be brought back to that point if possible so that bags can be put into the (locked) B&DBC litter bins. Please dress for the weather, and wear stout shoes and gloves. Wash hands thoroughly after the session. Please continue to observe social distancing. We have some litter picking sticks but, if you have one yourself, please bring it.  We will supply sacks.

If you are interested in joining in on Thursday, please let us know so that we can confirm the arrangements and provide any updated information. Contact, Barry Carter barryjcarter99@gmail.com

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