v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v 8th January 2026 • The HERALD • Page 67 FOOD FOR THOUGHT e Parish of Dibden has a novel way of raising much-needed funds for their partner parish in Rwanda – a Parish Cookbook! Devised and compiled by parishioner Pippa Brown, the Parish of Dibden Cookbook brings together a range of dishes from starters and light bites to vegetarian and vegan, meat, poultry and sh, desserts, and cakes. Many dishes have an international feel, while others are traditionally English, to ensure there is a variety of recipes to choose from. Pippa says: “Hospitality is a big part of the life of our parish, either in church or at home, and it’s been a joy putting this selection of food together, along with hearing the stories people told about their family recipes! We’re looking forward to a visit next year from Rev’d Bosco, the minister over there in Maranyundo, and to hear how these funds raised are helping rebuild their church in Nyamata.” e Cookbook is sold in aid of the Dibden PCC Rwanda Mission Fund. An initial print run of 400 has been produced and the wire-bound book priced at £5 has 64 pages, with full-colour photo illustrations for each section. To buy a copy contact the Church o ce in St Andrew’s, call: 023 8084 3204 or email: o ce@ dibdenchurches.org e Waterside Food Project, part of the New Forest Aquaponics CIC family of projects, host a FREE Community Cook Up every Thursday 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Black eld Baptist Church on Hampton Lane. Surplus food from supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste is collected by volunteers and used to cook tasty meals. Go along for some tasty food and great company, everyone is welcome. e Waterside Food Project aims to reduce food waste across the Waterside and also runs Lucie’s Place in Black eld and the Community Fridge in Hythe Library. For more information please visit: www. facebook.com/Watersidefoodproject Free Community Cook Ups Cookbook Raises Rwanda Funds WaterCAN’s year ended on a seasonably wet note which focussed our attention on action during 2026. Gill Hickman from New Forest Friends of the Earth gave a presentation on their work on water testing, which resulted in E. coli being found in the Lymington river and their work with Southern Water to help resolve the problem. e nal part of the presentation focussed on how we might replicate their work on this side of the Forest and the plans we needed to have in place to allow this. Sixteen volunteers have already signed up, with a view to starting training in the early part of the year. Additional volunteers welcome, via WaterCAN contact details below. Our third skipload of aluminium has been emptied, and thanks once again to all those groups and organisations contributing. A reminder that collection boxes are available at Hythe Parish Hall, Black eld Baptist Church, Fawley football and rugby clubs and Lucie’s place in Black eld. Alternatively, contact us to arrange pickup. Every can counts, as they say. Despite 2025 being in line to be the second or third hottest of all time, and despite the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit reporting that the 2025 harvest in England was second worst on record, signs of progress are being noted in a wide range of areas. e hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic was the smallest and shortest lived since 2019 according to European scientists, who described the nding as a “reassuring sign” of the layer’s recovery. A chance discovery that seismology can help in assessing soil quality, which in turn can help farmers achieve high and rising yields with minimal environmental impact has the potential to have a huge impact on farming. Dame Kelly with volunteers at Brockenhurst Parkrun Several of our members have been involved in developing community energy schemes, which have recently been boosted by wider developments: the move to clear the grid to allow schemes calculated most likely to o er clean power more quickly; a boost in donations to the campaign for local supply rights, which could be further enhanced by progress on the Local Electricity Bill. And nally, following last issue’s news of Gang Warily Junior Parkrun’s rst anniversary, on 6th December Brockenhurst Parkrun, in which Hardley Runners have been heavily involved over the last 12 years, welcomed athletics royalty in the still in racing shape form of Dame Kelly Holmes, double gold medal winner in the 800 and 1500 metres at the Athens Olympics in 2004, the only woman ever to have achieved this feat. is was Brockenhurst’s 553rd event, with 18,192 runners having completed the run, supported by 870 volunteers. Like the junior edition it’s fun, free and friendly. Just register on parkrun. org.uk For more information, and updates, visit:E-voice. org.uk/WaterCAN, or our Facebook page, or email: watercan2025@gmail.com Waterside Climate Action Network (WaterCAN) Update from WaterCAN Strawberry Fields Celebrates 45 Years Selling Christmas Trees A third-generation New Forest family business that sells Christmas trees marked its 45th consecutive season by giving away free hot drinks to customers at weekends. Strawberry Fields Christmas Tree Farm in Lymington near Boldre teamed up with Green Bean Co ee which provides barista co ee and deluxe hot chocolate from its converted horse box. e festive tree business was launched by Albert and Henry Cooper in 1979, with 1980 being its rst festive season. It is now run by Albert’s grandsons Billy and Charlie Cooper who have turned the site into a Christmas wonderland. Billy said: “When my grandfather and his brother set up the business they grew their own trees, but soon demand was too much. We are now supplied by two British sustainable farms, we have Nordmann Fir, the Norway Spruce and the Fraser Fir. This year to mark our 45th Christmas we decided to give hot drinks away at weekends (Left to Right) Charlie Cooper and Billy Cooper as a thank you to our customers, many of whose families have been buying from us since we started. It’s our belief that for many families buying a Christmas tree is a tradition - it’s not just a purchase, it’s an experience. And we want to make it the best experience we can. Our father Michael is still very much involved with the business and we have customers who visit us on the Brockenhurst to Lymington Road just to chat to him.” RAILWAYS OF SOUTH WALES Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (RCTS) and Mid Hants Railway, Solent Branch meetings are held in association with Mid Hants Railway – Southampton and Waterside Group. Meetings are held at Junction Church (formerly Eastleigh Railway Institute), 2 Romsey Road Eastleigh SO50 9FE and commence at 7.30pm. e room, on the rst oor (sorry no disabled access), is usually open from 7pm. A bar is available for refreshments. eir next meeting is on Wednesday 21st January for their Branch AGM, 6.30pm-7.30pm, followed by Railways of South Wales, 7.30pm-10pm. A donation of £3 is usual to help with the costs of the speaker and room hire. Non-members are very welcome at their meetings. Further details can be obtained from John Godfrey on: 07850 220009 or email: solent@rcts.org.uk Copythorne Parish History Society meets on the 4th Thursday of each month, in the main Copythorne Parish Hall at 7.30pm and welcomes anyone who wishes to go along. Entry is £2 per person. eir next meeting is on Thursday 22nd January their AGM and ‘Hospital Sunday’ by Clare Mills. For more information please contact Clare on: 023 8081 2167 or email: anniesapp@hotmail.com AGM and Hospital Sunday
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=