In the Spring 2015 edition:

Something’s stirring up in Oliver’s Battery, and it’s not just the snowdrops! It’s the Focus Group Discussions for the Oliver’s Battery Community Plan – the very first consultation exercise taking place in the run up to the public Launch Meeting of the Plan. The findings from all the groups, analysed by our market researcher, will be presented to the public at the Launch Meeting.

Winchester Country Market can help you in every way with Easter cards, gifts, cakes and jams plus fresh cut flowers and vegetables in season. They are holding a Taster Day where you will have the opportunity to taste and sample a wide range of homemade jams, marmalades’, pickles, cookies and other produce.

With the warmer weather most of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s upcoming meetings will be outdoors, but they will be meeting in the Community Centre in March when John Durnell, the Trust’s Head of Estate and Enterprise, will give an insight into the ever growing importance of the Trust’s nature reserves in the face of current increasing pressures and a look into the future prospects for the wildlife on our doorstep.

Give your input into the future of the two play areas in Badger Farm by completing the questionnaire in this edition of Community News.

Badger Farm Parish Council discuss bus passes, path maintenance and the Parish Lengthsman.

Oliver’s Battery WI are to hold a plant sale in May and a Craft Dabble Day in March. Members are enjoying the Book Group and the Knit & Natter sessions and are looking forward to a trip to Arundel later in the summer.

Our local councillors continue to be concerned about the Oliver’s Battery Road South/Badger Farm Road junction, following the accident in the autumn and are consulting actively with local residents and the highways department at the County Council. With the news that the local Hospitals Trust looks to be pushing forward with its plans for a new hospital near junction 7 on the M3 they have been out actively campaigning in the area. Local residents have again fought off the phone companies who applied to the Council once again to increase the height of the phone mast on Ridgeway from its current 10m to a proposed 15m.

Everyone is invited to celebrate the first day of spring at Oliver’s Battery Wildlife Area (next to the playground and recreation field) when the beautiful new signs will be unveiled. Oliver’s Battery Parish Council also discuss the safety of the junction of Badger Farm Road with Oliver’s Battery Road South. The Parish Council is currently in discussions with HCC regarding the transfer of ownership of the Battery open space to the Parish Council. The majority of the open space is a scheduled monument registered with English Heritage.

MP Steve Brine has made huge progress on the key issue of rail services. On-train wi-fi is now live; parking (car and bike) capacity at Winchester Station has been increased by some 20% thanks, partly, to the new decked car park; we have for the first time a footbridge with disabled access and we’ve confirmation that Winchester will be staffed until 11pm each night. Steve is now inside Government as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Police Minister.

Geoff Sharman, Chairman, Oliver’s Battery Community Centre Project Group, looks back at improvements made to Oliver’s Battery over the years. He explains the background of and the future steps needed for a proposed new project to replace St Mark’s Church and Hall with an improved building which could support expanded community use.

Oliver’s Battery Pre-School celebrated Christmas with a Nativity and a visit from Father Christmas. The new term sees the children looking at the topic of growth: baby animals, plants, human growth and even comparing feet! They have also been exploring the Chinese culture around the time of Chinese New Year.

Can Noah save the day or will global warming consign Winchester to a watery end…? is the question pupils at Stanmore Primary School have been asking in preparation for their performance for Rock Challenge. Year 3 and 4 enjoyed an action packed day out in Winchester, exploring the Cathedral and City Museum for Anglo-Saxon information while Year 2 children devised their very own pantomime, based on the classic tale, Cinderella.

In Ann’s Computer Corner, Ann discusses how you can create digital Memory Books to both capture and stimulate memories for family members with dementia.

In Nature Notes, Norma had the best count of birds for years, thirteen species, for the Big Garden Birdwatch. In early January an Oliver’s Battery reader had a lone fieldfare eating apples on his tree and wonders if it’s the same bird that has visited for the past few winters. Another reader recently spotted a red kite over her house in Badger Farm which is great news.