Winter 2024 edition of Community News
As the festive season approaches, we invite you to cozy up with the Winter 2024 edition of Community News. It’s packed fuller than Santa’s sack! With school updates, local council news, a few words from our MP and insights from our community elves, there’s plenty here to make you feel as jolly as a Christmas pudding. Read on for a taste of what’s in the magazine or click to button to download the full magazine.
Our Winter 2024 Headline
We celebrate our sustainability champions as Repair Café Winchester has been awarded the prestigious BBC Solent ‘Make a Difference’ Green Award, in a heartening celebration of community, sustainability and collaboration.

News from the Community Centre

In her Letter from the Editor, Community News editor Ann Jury tells us that she has decided to step back from this role next spring. At the same time, she will also be handing over the reins of the Community Centre’s website and social media management. Are you, or do you know, someone who is curious and eager to keep our community informed? If you would be interested in taking on the editor position or managing the Community Centre’s digital platforms, take a look at the details here.
Connecting Our Community
In this Community News, we want to spotlight the value of sharing – not just information, but also the love and spirit of our vibrant community. As your local news source for Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery, we are proud to be a trusted resource that connects our readers with the heart of our community because we are passionate about making our neighbourhood a better place to live. We encourage you to share these stories with your friends and family, both near and far. If you receive a paper copy of Community News, consider leaving it in a common area or sharing it with a friend who might not have access. Our newsletter is also available online at bfobrca.org/community-news. Encourage your friends who live outside our distribution area to check it out and stay connected with what’s happening in our community.
Do you have a story or topic you’re passionate about? We welcome contributions from all residents. Your unique perspective can enrich our community dialogue and inspire others to share their experiences as well.
Parish and Government News
Parish Councils
Badger Farm Parish Council
In October, the Parish Council held a very successful ‘Meet the Councillors’ event. The evening was well attended and those that came thought it should be a regular event. The Parish Council has asked HCC highways to look at our parking problem, especially around the bottom of the estate in the Ashbarn Crescent area. The Bushfield development has not gone away, merely awaiting a more favourable local plan. The Parish is seeking a meeting with WCC officers to discuss continual complaints received regarding estate maintenance or rather the lack of it.
Finally, if you think you have some skills that could benefit the Parish, please think about becoming a Councillor.
Oliver’s Battery Parish Council
The results of the parking survey of the local shops and businesses were presented at the Parish Council meeting on 3 September. The scarecrows for the 5th Annual Scarecrow Competition were displayed between 25 October and 3 November. There were 22 (at the time of writing) weird and wonderful entries across the three categories of Family, Adult and Group. We are all now looking forward to the 6th Annual Christmas Event on Saturday 7 December, with the usual mulled wine, mince pies and carols.

Winchester City Council
The Winchester district is a comparatively green, clean and healthy part of the county but poor air quality is an invisible problem that’s still affecting the health of residents. Thanks to new technologies and targeted policies, we’ve seen air quality improving over years, but there are still areas of real concern. Cllr Adrian Brophy shares Winchester City Council‘s fresh thinking for fresher air.
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council has formally responded to the government’s proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. These changes could significantly increase the number of homes they need to provide locally, and they’ve raised several key concerns. As many of you know, the past year has brought record storms and significant flooding across our communities. To help everyone prepare for potential flooding, the Flood and Water Management team has created a Community Toolkit. This month, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet made some important decisions aimed at reducing costs while keeping essential services intact. Many residents participated in the consultation on proposed savings.
News from Westminster
The number one priority of our new MP, Danny Chambers, has been to fight for our local A&E and consultant-led maternity services. At Prime Minister’s Questions, he challenged Keir Starmer and the new Labour government to guarantee the future of our local health services. Danny has also been listening to health and social care workers across the constituency. In advance of the Autumn Budget, alongside his Liberal Democrat colleagues, Danny called for a rescue package to boost NHS spending, invest in infrastructure, support public health and roll out free personal care.
Finally, I’m pleased to announce my new team in Winchester is now fully up and running and they’ve already been making a huge difference listening to constituents and helping them with their concerns. If you have any problems or issues, please contact me on danny.chambers.mp@parliament.uk. My team and I will do our best to help.
Local Schools
Badger Farm Pre-school Playgroup
Badger Farm Pre-school Playgroup had a busy start to the new academic year and a big welcome to all the new families. They celebrated harvest festival, collecting donations from the children that resulted in a trip to Sainsbury’s where the children had great fun putting everything into the food bank boxes. Thank you to Mel for helping! The topic of transport enabled all the children to have visits to the car park and local bus stops to collect data for a traffic survey.
Oliver’s Battery Primary and Nursery School
The school held a very successful Open Afternoon in September. Visitors were given a tour of the school and grounds by the wonderful Year 6 pupils. The Mayor who was very impressed with the school and grounds and equally impressed with the knowledgeable Year 6! The children have been very busy with the edible garden and even exhibited some of produce at the St Cross Garden Society Fayre in September. Year 6 completed their Bikeability Course at the beginning of term. They learnt about maintenance of their bikes as well as road safety. They all thoroughly enjoyed learning and all received a certificate and badge for their efforts.
St. Peter’s Primary School and Little Fishes Pre-school
This autumn term saw St Peter’s School take up the role of a Lead Primary School for Music in Hampshire. St Peter’s has a long-established tradition of music, believing that music is a powerful tool that impacts children’s wider development. At St Peter’s, music is an important part of the spiritual experience for children, along with supporting well-being and emotional health.One of the highlights of the school year is our annual summer production. Last year the children performed ‘The Lion King’, with four performances and two main casts, and every child taking to the stage as singers, actors, dancers or in the chorus.
The children at Little Fishes are settling in and starting to make new friends. They are learning where to find the toys and developing favourite activities. Each child has a ‘special adult’, known as a Key Person. The Key Person plays a crucial role in settling the child and building trusting relationships with parents.
Stanmore Primary School
At Stanmore Primary School, their BEST values – Belonging, Excellence, Support and Trust – are at the heart of the school. One of the ways in which they spot potential is by getting to know the children, finding out what interests them and is likely to motivate them to be successful. Many of the children have a fascination for wildlife and ecology. This half term they have worked with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Their successful choir recently participated in the Winchester University Graduation Ceremony held at Winchester Cathedral. This year, children had an inspiring tour of the cathedral. They were delighted to have their photo taken with ‘Diver Bill’ – a statue of William Walker, the diver famous for shoring up the Southern and Eastern sides of Winchester Cathedral and a significant figure in their Year 2 history project.

Local Organisations and Clubs
Nature, Environmental and Sustainability Groups
Winchester Local Volunteers of the Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust
This autumn saw a very successful start to the new season, beginning with a bird walk at Fishlake Meadows nature reserve in Romsey managed by the Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust. Nicola Wheeler, project officer for the Trust, came to the first indoor meeting at Badger Farm Community Centre to tell members about the exciting Isle of Wight Beaver Recovery Project. There will now be a break from the indoor meetings until February when members and non-members alike will be warmly welcomed to the talks. Details of all upcoming events are on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Trust website at hiwwt.org.uk/events.
Winchester Gardening Club
The lovely autumn colours have largely disappeared except for a few very late flowers that are still hanging on and providing welcome spots of colour in the borders. Have you had time to put your garden to bed for the winter? When you need a change from gardening jobs and would welcome some inspiration for next year’s season, please remember that that Winchester Gardening Club enjoys welcoming visitors to our monthly meetings. Upcoming topics include More colour, less work, Beauty and the beasts and Big ideas for small spaces.
Sustainable Oliver’s Battery
In light of the postponement of Cycle Winchester’s Mass Ride and to mark the end of Green Week, residents of Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery organised a family-friendly, community bike ride on Saturday, 28 September. Just over 30 people joined the ride, mostly local families with children. It was a fun event, which underscored the benefits of cycling but highlighted the need for our local authorities to take real action to ensure there are safe cycle routes in this area, especially for children.
Other Groups
Oliver’s Battery Brownies
This term has simply flown by! Did you see our ‘Very Hungry Caterpillar and Friends’ scarecrow competition entry outside St Mark’s Church in Half Term? The girls had a great time upcycling, reusing and recycling items brought in from home. The group are busy planning for 2025 – so far they have another visit booked from Natalie from The Priory Hair Lounge, Charlotte is coming to talk to the girls about Christian Aid and Helen will be back with an update on Asha India.

Oliver’s Battery WI
Oliver’s Battery WI (OBWI) members have been busy recently with the Winchester Half Marathon (marshalling), our scarecrow entry as well as the usual Monday meetings. Our next Monday meetings are a House of Colour talk, with demonstration, on 18 November and the Christmas Social, Quiz and Bring & Share Buffet on 16 December. The first meeting in 2025 will be on 20 January.
NCT Winchester
On Sunday 13 October, the Winchester & District branch of the NCT held their most successful Nearly New Sale since restarting after the pandemic. Over 300 shoppers snapped up top-quality baby and children’s clothes, toys and equipment, saving money on high street prices, as well as shopping in a more sustainable way. Nearly £8000 worth of items were sold, raising vital funds for the NCT. Hundreds of people were involved in making the event a huge success, from the sellers who registered and the shoppers who queued patiently for bargains, to the small organising committee and the fabulous team of over 30 friendly volunteers who helped on the day to set up and run the sale.
General Articles for Winter 2024
Citizens Advice
Ally Chatterley, Operations Manager at Citizens Advice Winchester District, gives advice on changes to the Winter Fuel Payment and how to access it.
Smartphone Free Childhood
In recent months, a group of concerned parents in our neighbourhood has joined the national Smartphone Free Childhood movement, which promotes the safe use of devices and encourages parents to consider ‘simple phone’ options for their children. The hope is to create a healthier environment for children in an increasingly screen-dominated world. By advocating for thoughtful policies and alternatives to smartphones, parents aim to equip their children with the tools needed to thrive both academically and socially.
For more information on the Smartphone Free Childhood movement in Winchester, visit smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk.
Swish: Sustainable Fashion
As the Christmas party season approaches, it’s the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with sustainable party wear! We invite you to join Sustainable Oliver’s Battery on 22 November for an exciting Swish Evening. This unique clothes swapping event offers a fun and eco-friendly way to find new outfits while making a positive impact on the environment.
Wishing you well
There are many free health apps which you can download from your favourite app store. Amanda Turner shares information about some of her favourites.
Chilly or Cosy Winter?
Would you like a more comfortable home? Would you like to save money on your heating bills? Heat loss in homes is mainly due to cold draughts and lack of insulation. So, it makes sense to look at the fabric of your home to see where it loses heat.

Clare Shorter explains the benefits of energy efficiency and shares advice about bills, grants, etc.
Echoes through time
In the annals of English history, Alfred the Great stands as a towering figure, his name forever linked with the city of Winchester. Yet, as we walk the ancient streets of this historic capital, do we ever pause to consider the woman who stood beside him? Do we even know her name? Ealhswith, Alfred’s wife, remains a shadowy figure in the tapestry of Anglo-Saxon history. While her husband’s legacy echoes loudly through the centuries, her own story is often reduced to whispers. Yet, her connection to Winchester is as profound as it is overlooked.
Next time you walk through our historic streets, stop and reflect. We remember Alfred, but let’s not forget his wife, the queen who supported him, whose life was entwined with this city. Winchester’s legacy is not just that of kings and cathedrals; it is also the story of women like Ealhswith, quietly shaping the course of history. She’s part of our heritage. It’s time we remembered her name.
Tech Talk
In 2011, I bought a smart TV. I was so excited by it – it had so many gizmos. Over the years, one by one, those gizmos disappeared until all that was left was iPlayer, Prime and Netflix. But, until recently, the TV itself worked fine – it was just dumber.
All smart gadgets have a life that’s not determined by how long the hardware lasts, but for how long the manufacturers support the software. In April 2024, the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act came into force. It’s a big step forward for the safety of smart devices like TVs, speakers and cameras, requiring companies that make or sell these products to follow specific rules to keep them secure. Ann Jury offers advice on gift ourselves and our loved ones the best possible smart home experience if you’re considering a smart gadget for Christmas. By choosing wisely, we can ensure our homes are not just smart but safe and secure. So, as you sip on hot cocoa and bask in the glow of festive lights, remember that a sprinkle of seasonal wisdom can go a long way in making your Christmas merry and bright.

Nature Notes
It is late October and so far the year has been very wet. Many of our native butterflies and insects have struggled through lack of food and cold weather. Wendy Bramall has, however, seen a few Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma butterflies, all of which will find a dry place in a shed or garage to hibernate in until spring. We are fortunate here on the outskirts of the city to encounter many forms of wildlife. Some of the areas are managed to help them and others are left to grow wild – sometimes through neglect. One of the birds that has taken advantage is the barn owl, which can often be seen at dusk.

We hope you enjoyed reading the Winter 2024 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 Ann Jury, Community News Editor, at bfobrca.cnews@gmail.com. The editorial deadline for the next issue is Friday 7 March 2025.
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