In the Winter 2015 edition of community News Oliver’s Battery Pre-School celebrates a staff graduation with three members of staff achieving qualifications in childcare. Richard Barton, a parent and pre-school Trustee, and his father-in-law, Alex McWhirter, completed a sponsored bicycle ride around the New Forest. The sporting pair completed the 50-mile route which finished at the pre-school and raised almost £300 for a new building for the pre-school.

Winchester City Council is working in partnership with Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC) to deliver the Great Waste project which will run until March 2016. The Great Waste aims to challenge the way people see waste, encourage people to reduce their waste and encourage people to recycle more.

At the Oliver’s Battery WI recent Knit and Natter Group we were discussing why people joined the WI – a workplace WI for some and a chance to meet local people. We discussed the recent film Suffragette as well as catching up on family news. Overall it was decided that staying as a member was very different as you discover so much about the depth there is, especially the campaigning side and the many facets of the WI.

At the Wildlife Trusts Christmas Social you can share your own favourite top ten wildlife photos and/or sightings over a glass of mulled wine or soft drink and mince pies etc.

Oliver’s Battery Primary School were pleased to welcome Lianne Evans, Warrant Officer First Class Weapons Engineer on HMS Defender as part of our focus on British Values. She met with the Reception children and talked about being on a ship. They gave her a teddy to take with her. Teddy will then be emailing the children about experiences on board ship. Lianne also met with the Year 5 and Year 6 children to talk about life on board and her role in the Royal Navy.

Twenty children in Years 1 and 2 at Stanmore Primary School had a real treat earlier in the term when they were invited to Pilgrims School to see Chloe Inkpen in action. Chloe is the daughter of award winning author and illustrator Mick Inkpen, creator of the brilliant Kipper, Wibbly Pig, Threadbear and Penguin Small. Chloe now collaborates with her father on their picture book series about a little girl called Zoe and her big scruffy dog called Beans. Chloe’s talk about her books was very entertaining with lots of audience participation, hand actions, helping with drawings and making interesting noises!

Oliver’s Battery Parish Council discuss your responsibilities if you find Japanese Knotweed on your property.

The Oliver’s Battery Plan Questionnaire will be sent out in January so that it is not lost among all your Christmas cards! Getting a high response rate is so important so that the results really do reflect the views of the whole community.

Our local councillors are happy to see the reintroduction of evening buses along the number 5 route recently, something they have campaigned for over the last few months since the County Council funding was cut. The fight continues against new development at Pitt Vale.

In her feel-good tips Tracy reminds us that the festive season can be an uplifting time of year – stooping in the loft and extracting boxes of decorations, climbing ladders and carrying extra loads. As well as last minute garden cleanups, tree pruning, planting and bedding down for the winter. It is therefore really helpful to have the right kind of flexibility, strength and know-how to distribute loads.

Incredible Edible Winchester are a small group of enthusiastic gardeners, cooks and composters who love eating seasonal food and hate waste. We are keen to encourage other people to join in our fun and share the social, health and environmental benefits that growing plants provides. We all learn from each other about how to grow interesting and unusual food plants and then we share recipes.

MP Steve Brine discussed prison reform. It’s not about letting offenders out, throwing open the prison doors, but it is about slowing down the rate they are coming in. He believes it’s the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do and it will save us a fortune. He predicts this is going to be a big area of social reform in the next five years and is actively discussing ideas with Justice Secretary, Michael Gove.

Badger Farm Parish Council has been very busy over the last few months with much time taken up with planning issues. As you will probably be aware now there are No Permitted Development rights anywhere on Badger Farm. Although the Government has tried reducing planning red tape in some areas this does NOT apply to Badger Farm. Your Parish Councillors and City Councillors had a meeting with Winchester City Council Planning officials to confirm this position and check the facts. They were assured that the Planning Department take these matters very seriously and will enforce the local regulations. If you are told by a prospective builder that you do not need planning permission for a conservatory or extension to your home they are incorrect, you need planning permission for all such work. If you are unsure whether building works in your area have permission you can find out on the WCC Planning Portal or simply contact a Parish Councillor. The safest way to proceed is to check with WCC before you engage a builder or start any work.

In her Computer Corner, Ann is curling up with a good book on her smartphone and shares how you can do the same.

Nature Notes tell us that farming is now agribusiness, the large fields of monoculture providing little room for wildlife, and increasing planning applications for new housing on green field sites is worrying. However, there are two significant areas important for biodiversity and we have both in our two parishes, a network of hedgerows and a patchwork of domestic gardens.