In the Winter 2014 edition, wishing you a Merry Christmas, we suggested ways to celebrate Christmas in Winchester. Stock up at the Christmas and Farmers’ markets. See Santa at the Watercress Line Santa Special or the Santa Fun Run. Enjoy the seasonal tours and the Live Nativity. Attend a Christmas service at the Cathedral or your local church. There’s something for everyone here at Christmas.

Oliver’s Battery WI won the Littleton & Harestock Show WI Competition for the first time in their 14 years.

The Community Agents Project looked for volunteers to help older people to stay informed, safe and independent in their homes.

Badger Farm Parish Council welcomed four new members. They report that the picnic table on Whiteshute Ridge had been very badly vandalized, that the road works should be completed and that the idea to turn Whiteshute Ridge into a nature reserve is taking shape.

Neighbourhood Watch make suggestions for home security precautions you can take in the winter months.

Oliver’s Battery Parish Council discuss their idea to create a Parish Plan and give details of what this will involve.

Our local councillors covered a range of issues including a need to increase road safety at the exit from Oliver’s Battery Road South onto Badger Farm Road. They raised their to be concerns about the future of the Hospital. The local bus services were again under threat with Oliver’s Battery No. 2 service to be cut to only three days a week. They continued to look at ways to improve the range of wildlife and increase the variety of plant species on Whiteshute Ridge. They assessed the effectiveness of the Leaf Sweeping and Estate Management contractors and they monitored the proposed Pitt Vale scheme.

Mel Andrews, PR Ambassador from Sainsbury’s visited Badger Farm PreSchool Playgroup to help present their order of Active Kids equipment to the children.

MP Steve Brine explained his position on the West Lothian Question and highlights some of his ongoing work is Parliament. Like the local councillors, he also discusses our local NHS and development at Pitt Vale.

Oliver’s Battery Pre-School explored Harvest, learning about the process of growing and gathering crops, and are now preparing for Christmas.

Winchester became the first city in Hampshire to launch a Dementia Friendly High Street. Everyone enjoyed a fantastic performance from ‘Singing for Wellbeing’ – a local singing group operating under ‘Winchester Live at Home scheme’ at The United Church.

Stanmore Primary School celebrated their annual Book Week with children dressing up as their favourite characters and with visits from author Ali Sparkes and poet James Carter. Years 3/4 visited Marwell Zoo, Year 5 visited Winchester Science Centre and a dragon visited Year 2!

Amanda Whatley, NHS Blood and Transplant‘s Donor Relations Co-ordinator in Hampshire highlighted the need for blood donors as the weather gets colder.

Ann’s Computer Corner shares ways that the internet can get you in the spirit of the season.

In Nature Notes we learned the three main hunting techniques of the buzzard and read about a bright yellow hairy caterpillar with a tuft of red tail hair!