Page 34 • The HERALD • 2nd April 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v Luxury Chauffeured Car Hire for Special Occasions Smart, responsible and fully qualified driver available for: Weddings, Functions, Trips Out, Proms etc 07359 909981 for bookings or more information SPECIALISING IN HOUSE RENOVATIONS THE FITTING OF BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS CARPENTRY, GARAGE CONVERSIONS PATIOS AND GENERAL BUILDING Family-run business with over 30 years of experience Tel: 07774134992 w: southernhomedevelopments.co.uk Waterside Climate Action (WaterCAN) News from WaterCAN Philip omas from Waterside Cycling Action Group (WCAG) led a session on Active Travel in January, looking at developments both local and national. Active Travel England (ATE) was established by the government to promote walking, wheeling and cycling throughout England and since 2023 has been a statutory consultee on all planning applications for large scale developments to ensure that active travel provision is considered from the outset. In 2025 the government announced a £300 million grant to enable ATE to plan to deliver 3,500 miles of active travel networks linking schools, workplaces and transport hubs with the attendant bene ts of improved health via the reduction of emissions and air pollution. Research conducted in 2023 found that 49% of primary school children walked as their usual means of travel to school, which makes the recent announcement of Modeshi STARS Accreditation to Orchard Junior School for their active travel plan all the more welcome. Modeshi STARS is a national accreditation scheme, sponsored by Active Travel England, to support organisations in creating and delivering e ective travel plans that promote sustainable active travel. Well done, Orchard Along the way, led by Lee Attril from Surfers Against Sewage, members collected 2.7 kilos of litter from the beach. Still on the plastics theme, on 13th April 7pm, Lucie will be holding a session, at Lucie’s Place in Black eld, looking at the weird but not so wonderful world of plastics. On 12th May is a visit to e Noble Bee at Furzedown Farm, SO45 3ND for a tour, talk and honey tasting session, followed by a visit to the pop up shop. is will be an exciting opportunity to learn how Noble Bee balances the production of award winning honey and care of the environment. If you would like to join us please contact us at the email address below. e recent televised docudrama “Dirty Business” brought our attention back, if it ever le it, to the issues of sewage spills and water companies’ failures to curb spillages. At a local level, recent news of further spillages at Keyhaven and in the Itchen reinforced the point. By the time this issue goes to press several members will have attended water testing training organised by New Forest Water Watch, with that training being cascaded down to other members who are interested in undertaking testing at a local level. Following our update on community energy in the last issue, Community Energy New Forest are looking for an accountant to complete their team. ermal surveys have been continuing through the winter as part of the Heat project. For further information, news and updates visit: E-voice.org.uk/waterCAN, our Facebook or email: watercan2025@gmail.com Junior School! On 7th March members met at Calshot to learn about nurdles, as a prelude to a future wider nurdle hunting expedition. Led by Lucie Mann, the group looked at the world of nurdles, which are lentil sized plastic pellets used as raw materials for nearly all plastic products. They are the second largest source of primary plastic pollution, with an estimated 445,970 tonnes leaking into the marine environment annually via spills, shipping and poor industrial handling, acting as “toxic sponges” and attracting chemical pollutants in the water. WaterCAN’s youngest nurdle collector! Save The Date - Hythe Village Fete e planning is well underway for this year’s Hythe Village Fete which will take place on Monday 25th May. is annual community event is organised by e Handy Trust, Hythe and Dibden Cricket Club and Girlguiding Hythe and Beaulieu. e fete is a fun day out for local residents and raises funds for the three organisations, together with many charities and local groups who have fundraising stalls on the day.
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