Dive into the vibrant Spring 2025 edition of Community News, where we bring you the latest updates and stories from our wonderful neighbourhood. From upcoming events at the Badger Farm Community Centre to heartwarming features on local initiatives like the We Are Still Us’ dementia support café, this edition is packed with inspiring tales and opportunities to get involved. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and explore what’s blossoming in our community this season!

Our Spring 2025 Headline

The Community Centre has had a makeover! The heart of our community just got a fresh new look! Our much-loved Community Centre has had some fantastic improvements, making it an even better space for local residents to enjoy.

News from the Community Centre

Our outgoing editor, Ann Jury, welcomes her replacement Emma Caulton. Emma will also bring her expertise and enthusiasm to managing our social media channels. Our website will be in safe hands too, as Emma teams up with IT consultant Rozmin Parpia, who will be generously volunteering her time to keep it updated and running smoothly.

Parish and Government News

Parish Councils

Oliver’s Battery Parish Council

Chair David Kirkby reports on the safety issues have arisen since parking restrictions in Oliver’s Battery were amended in 2018 and the steps that are being looked at to improve this. He also raises the issue of dog fouling and gives us an overview of the plans for devolution in Hampshire and the Solent.

The Parish Council events team has been busy organising Socials in our Locals and a community film evening as well as the fourth Oliver’s Battery Easter Egg Hunt which will be held on Easter Sunday 20 April 1pm–5pm.

Badger Farm Parish Council

As well as announcing his retirement from the Council, Chair John Godbold tells us about the plans to extend the toddlers play area on the Central Kickabout area and shares that there have been criminal damage attacks on the newly renovated bus stops.

Winchester City Council

Big changes are coming to local government that will make district councillors like myself an endangered species.

Councillor Adrian Brophy gives us a more personal view of the government’s devolution agenda, which is driving forward two major changes – devolution and local government reorganisation across England.

Hampshire County Council

Hampshire County Council plans to charge utility companies for disruptive roadworks. This aims to reduce delays on the county’s busiest roads during peak times. The council’s plans to build a state-of-the-art £50.5 million waste recycling plant based in Eastleigh will get underway later this year. The council has announced exciting plans to transform specialist education at three primary schools, significantly boosting support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Gosport, Eastleigh and Basingstoke.

In a separate article, Councillor Jan Warwick writes that Hampshire County Council has joined the Government’s fast-track Devolution Priority Programme, working with Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight to bring more local control over key services like education, transport, and health. A new Combined Authority will be led by an elected mayor from 2026, aiming to secure funding and drive collaboration across the region. Residents will soon be consulted on the plans. Additionally, Hampshire is set to propose a local government reorganisation, replacing the current two-tier system with unitary councils. As a result, the County Council elections have been postponed to allow focus on these changes, with full reorganisation expected by 2027 or 2028.

News from Westminster

Our MP Danny Chambers updates us on key issues, urging the government to stand firm with European allies in supporting Ukraine. He praises Winchester’s support for Ukrainian refugees and calls for long-term peace efforts. On local matters, he condemns the decade-long delay to Hampshire’s New Hospitals Programme, pushing for urgent investment in A&E, social care and maternity services. He also challenges the government to set clear targets for tackling child poverty.

As a member of the committee, he has been involved in shaping the Tobacco & Vapes Bill, aiming to improve public health. Locally, he continues visiting state schools, recently discussing vaping at Kings’ School. He values young people’s views and believes their voices should help shape parliamentary decisions.

Local Schools

Badger Farm Pre-school Playgroup

Returning after Christmas, the children have looked in detail at Number, Shape and Colour. They decided that they would like to build and make robots as the favourite story is currently The Robot with Nobot. This gave lots of learning opportunities, including a great shape walk around Badger Farm.

Oliver’s Battery Primary and Nursery School

Oliver’s Battery Primary and Nursery School continues to uphold its values of being Ready, Respectful, and Safe, as confirmed by a successful Ofsted inspection in January. Highlights so far this year include taking part in the Hampshire Hedgerow Project, exciting trips for various year groups, and Year 6 preparing for their SATs. The school’s gardening volunteers are helping children grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers, while Forest School sessions provide hands-on outdoor learning. Looking ahead, the PTA’s Annual Summer Fair on Saturday 12 July promises fun for all with stalls, games, and food.

St. Peter’s Primary School and Little Fishes Pre-school

St Peter’s Catholic School offers a wide range of extra-curricular clubs, supporting teamwork, creativity, and well-being. Sports, dance, drama, music and mindfulness activities help children stay active and confident, while academic clubs like Writing, Coding and a reading-inspired Craft club extend learning in fun ways. These clubs enrich school life and nurture key skills for the future.

The cold weather in December gave many of the children at Little Fishes their first experience of snow. Their smiling faces show how much they enjoyed making mini snowmen, learning how to dress for the weather, making snowy pictures and looking after the birds in the garden by providing them with extra food. Many of the children love watching for the birds that visit and are starting to identify them correctly.

Stanmore Primary School

Stanmore Primary is celebrating a ‘GOOD’ OFSTED rating in all areas, with inspectors praising its strong community, happy atmosphere, and high expectations for pupils. The school’s vision, Be the best that you can be, is evident in pupils’ achievements, behaviour, and motivation. Strong local partnerships support aspirational learning, from popular chess sessions with Winchester College to musical enrichment with Hampshire Music Education Hub and Winchester Cathedral.

Local Organisations and Clubs

Nature, Environmental and Sustainability Groups

Repair Café Winchester

Spring brings exciting milestones for The Repair Cafe Winchester as they proudly celebrate our 2nd anniversary this April. Since their founding, we have been dedicated to fostering sustainability, reducing waste and creating a warm, welcoming space for all members of the community.

Winchester Local Volunteers of the Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s indoor events season concludes on 10 April with a talk at Badger Farm Community Centre where ecologist Harry Munt will explore the concepts of ‘rewilding’ and ‘symbiosis’ and how individuals can contribute to nature’s recovery. The spring and summer programme includes guided walks along Whiteshute Ridge (8 May) and Flexford Nature Reserve (15 May), as well as visits to Hockley Meadows farm (11 June) and Lockerley Estate (1 July) to learn more about regenerative farming and wildlife-friendly land management.

Winchester Gardening Club

As gardens burst into life with spring flowers and fresh greenery, gardeners look forward to a colourful summer and homegrown produce. The local gardening club meets on the second Wednesday of each month, featuring expert talks, friendly competitions, and plenty of conversation. Upcoming topics include summer-flowering plants, year-round vegetable growing, hostas and Bhutan’s rare plants. Additionally, the Annual Plant Sale will take place on 10 May at Badger Farm Community Centre, offering homegrown flower and vegetable plants, as well as homemade cakes.

Sustainable Oliver’s Battery

Every Friday morning, the Oliver’s Battery School Badger Farm Bike Bus sees children cycling to school together in a fun and safe environment. Started by parents in early 2024, it quickly expanded to two routes and is now part of a growing network of five bike buses in Winchester. Around 20 children – nearly 10% of the school – regularly take part, enjoying exercise, fresh air and a great start to the day. The bike bus has also become a valued community activity, bringing families and volunteers together. Families interested in joining can contact hello@cyclewinchester.org.uk.

Other Groups

Oliver’s Battery Brownies

Brownies and Rainbows at St Mark’s have had a fantastic start to 2025, focusing on community and sustainability. Highlights include crafting with recycled materials, learning German, exploring charities like Asha and Christian Aid and a fun hairstyling session. Next up is a recycling-themed fashion show, with participants earning a Swish challenge badge. Their donation hamper for Northbrook Ward was well received – thank you to all who contributed! Next term, they’ll be out and about, so give them a wave if you see them.

Oliver’s Battery WI

Oliver’s Battery WI meets monthly at St Mark’s Church Hall for talks, crafts, and entertainment. Highlights include a music travel talk in March, a birthday celebration in April, and May’s Annual Meeting. Members are also getting ready for the May Bank Holiday Plant & Produce Sale.

NCT Winchester

The Winchester NCT Nearly New Sale returns to Badger Farm Community Centre on Sunday 11 May 2025. Offering thousands of quality-checked baby and child items at great prices, the sale is cashless and neatly organised for easy shopping. Sellers can declutter and raise funds for NCT, while buyers support local parents and services. Run entirely by volunteers, it’s a fantastic community event –seller spaces fill fast, so register early!

Neighbourhood Watch

We’re very happy to welcome Neighbourhood Watch back to the pages of Community News. Neighbourhood Watch has promoted security, safety, and community awareness in the UK since 1982, covering crime prevention, cybercrime, and local initiatives. In this edition, Penny Ferguson, Joint Co-ordinator KLWD Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, re-introduces us to NW and the evolution of her group. In future editions, she plans to share information on aspects such as communication with the police, dealing with anti-social behaviour, and loneliness and vulnerability in the community.

General Articles for Spring 2025

Yew Hill nature reserve update

Volunteers have worked hard this winter to manage the area, clearing overgrown paths and banksides – more than the grazing Shetland sheep could handle! Sixteen of these friendly sheep from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust are now on the reserve, but sadly, one was injured by an off-lead dog. Dog owners are urged to respect signs and keep dogs out while the sheep are present. As spring arrives, we hope for a good summer to boost butterfly numbers. Thanks to all who help protect this special wildlife haven at Yew Hill.

Wishing you well

Beetroot is a nutrient-rich, low-cost food packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support digestion, reduce inflammation, and boost energy. It is available in various forms, from pickled slices to fermented slaw, and can be easily incorporated into meals. A simple way to enjoy it is roasted—scrub and chop beetroots, toss with red wine vinegar, thyme, and water, then roast until tender. For more beetroot inspiration, try Jamie Oliver’s roasted beetroot recipes.

Visit a Heat Pump Dot Com

Have you thought about switching to an air source heat pump for your home heating? What would it be like? Is it noisy or quiet? Does it look ugly or sleek and modern? Does it really work? Even when it snows? What is the installation process like? Well you could probably find some answers online. But here’s a better idea. At visitaheatpump.com you can book a visit to someone who has a heat pump already, like local heat-pump owner Matthew Gunton.

Carefree cruise ship holidays?

Most of us now realise that flying makes climate change more serious and hopefully consider this in making travel plans. So surely keeping out of the air must be better? Not necessarily. Brian Shorter explains the environmental impacts of taking a cruise.

Tech Talk

With Windows 10 support ending on 14 October, it’s time to say goodbye to old PCs before they turn into security nightmares. But don’t just shove them in a cupboard—wipe them clean first! Ann Jury shares an easy step-by-step guide using Windows Reset (no actual baths required) and an optional deep clean with CCleaner. Once it’s sparkling inside, why not donate it to Jamie’s Computers? They’ll recycle it responsibly and put it to good use. A fresh start for you, and a meaningful farewell for your trusty old machine!

Nature Notes

Despite a wet and stormy start to the year, signs of spring are emerging. Birds are beginning to sing more boldly as they search for mates, with Robins, Chaffinches, and Wrens among the first to be heard. Hazel catkins sway in the breeze, while Snowdrops, Crocuses, and Primroses offer an early feast for awakening Bumblebee queens. Frogs and Toads are also stirring, their calls filling the night air as they gather to breed. As winter fades, nature slowly comes back to life, promising brighter days ahead.

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We hope you enjoyed reading the Spring 2025 edition of Community News. If you have a community contribution for the next edition or would like to advertise with us, please get in touch with Emma Caulton, Community News Editor, at bfobrca.cnews@gmail.com. The editorial deadline for the next issue is Friday 4 July 2025.

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