Milford Conservation Volunteers Go Wild!

The Milford on Sea BioBlitz on Friday 7th June and Saturday 8th June. There will be a number of sessions over the two days that provide opportunities to go on a guided bird watch, take part in a mini-beast hunt, look out for moths and bats, have a go at pond dipping and experience a dawn chorus. By taking part you’ll experience nature close up, have fun, and understand why wildlife recording is so important.

Numbers for each session are limited so please call for more information and to book your place.


Friday 7th June

10.30am -12.00noon | Keyhaven Bird Watch and Walk. Call 01590 643400
4.30pm – 6.00pm | Mini beasts at Studland Meadow. Call 01590 644489
9.00pm – 11.00pm | Moths and bats at Sturt Pond. Call 01590 644316

Saturday 8th June
4.30am – 6.00am | Pleasure Grounds Dawn Chorus. Call 01590 643400
7.00am – 8.00am | Moth trap at Sturt Pond. Call 01590 644316
10.30am – 12.00noon | Pond dipping at Barnes Copse. Call 01590 644489

A “BioBlitz” is an event that engages local people with biodiversity, inviting them to get directly involved in surveying and monitoring local wildlife. During a BioBlitz event, specialists and members of the public work together to survey a natural space; identifying and recording as many species as possible over 24 hours. It’s a great opportunity to discover and understand the diversity of wildlife living on your doorstep.

Full details of how to join in with the BioBlitz can be found on the Milford Conservation Volunteers website at: www.milfordcv.org

Cubs Keep Busy

The lads in the Milford & Keyhaven Cubs continue to do good work and keep themselves busy with fun activities.

So far this Spring, led by Troop Leader, Mathew Cobb, they have had another visit to Hillyfield Rest Home for a games evening, and also to celebrate the 100 birthday of one of the residents.

They also had a trip to the New Forest Verderers Court where they had a brilliant talk from Head Agister Jonathan Gerrelli.

In the coming weeks, the Cubs will be taking part in a litter pick in the village, as well as their usual camping, hiking, shelter building, camp cooking and kayaking activities at Keyhaven.

Find out more about the New Forest Verderers Court: www.verderers.org.uk/court.html

Let’s Go Caving

My wife has received an invitation to a preview, before the official opening, of The Cave.

 

Her invitation originally said; ‘My wife and partner are invited to…..’, but the partner bit had been rather enthusiastically crossed out.

 

My wife denied having anything to do with the obliteration.

I waited until she went out, and after two hours of searching for every pen in the house, and then matching the ink to the scribble, I had to accept that she may be innocent on this occasion.

Fortunately I am not a sensitive soul, and I guess that Jon & Stacey's little baby Sam had been scribbling on it.

 

The Cave will be officially opening next Wednesday (8th May) and is the unique creation of Jon & Stacey Crouch. The new family owned Independent Wine Shop and Bar looks pretty exciting and I am sure will be worth calling into as soon as the doors open.

 

With their track record of building successful hospitality businesses in and around Milford on Sea, I having no doubt that Jon & Stacey, and new manager James Jewell, would love to see you, even if they have ‘forgotten’ to invite me to the preview.

 

Invited or not, I fully intend to gate crash, so watch this space to see what happens!

The Cave

2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH
Tel: 01590 642195
www.thecavemos.co.uk

The GREAT DINING BUS rolls into Milford

Milford on Sea have launched what is believed to be the first bus dining event in the UK.

 

The Great Dining Bus takes locals, holidaymakers and visitors on Dining Tours of the restaurants in Milford on Sea, with each tasty course being served in a different village restaurant.

 

Milford on Sea has become a 'foodie heaven', and when people see the dining options available, it is easy to see why the village is fast being recognised as the 'south coast destination for great dining'.

 

If you love food and great company, a lunch on the Great Dining Bus in Milford on Sea is for you. Simply book and ‘Jump On’ to enjoy each course in a different village restaurant.

 

Each Dining Tour gives people a great opportunity to experience fresh local ingredients and tasty creative dishes as the Milford on Sea village restaurants showcase their food offering and service. The village has a multi-award winning fish restaurant, French restaurant, cosmopolitan bistro, seafront British restaurant, and you can even enjoy authentic regional Indian & Thai food.

 

The Great Dining Bus is perfect as a treat, for spending time with friends, special celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, or just a great excuse to enjoy a unique dining experience whilst savouring great food in excellent restaurants.

 

In addition to the Great Dining Bus (37.50pp), there is also a Strolling Dining Tour (£32pp), and a Spice Tour (£24pp). These other two tours give people the choice to walk the short distances between courses, for a different type of dining experience. The village is fortunate to have many of the restaurants close to the village green which enables people to take a leisurely stroll between courses.

 

Milford on Sea also has much more to offer; being blessed with a spectacular coastline, quaint seaside village & great places to stay, eat & shop. To go with our excellent restaurants, pubs & cafés, the village also has B&B's, hotels, self-catering, caravans & camping, in fact something to suit every taste and budget.

 

The Great Dining Bus is also encouraging people to come and ‘Stay & Dine’, making Milford on Sea a ‘destination for foodies’.

 

The Dining Tours run on a regular basis throughout the year, and dates are already available from June 2013 through to April 2014. (See Tour Dates here)  The courses each restaurant serves changes each time. Dining Vouchers make a great gift ith difference, and would be excellent for birthdays, celebrations, or just a great way to say thank you.  After all, who doesn't love a great meal and company!  the Dining Vouchers can be found on the Great Dining Bus website.

 

The Great Dining Bus tickets can be purchased in two ways:

Online at: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk

In cash from: The Community Centre Box Office, Sea Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PH  or from:

The Cave, 2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH.

 

Jump on board, this really is a trip worth taking!

 

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About the Great Dining Bus

 

The Great Dining Bus first ran very successfully at MoS Food Week in 2012, and the Food Week team has now launched the Great Dining Bus as a regular and permanent event in the Milford on Sea village calendar. Around 16 Dining Tours will run in the next 12 months.

 

The Great Dining Bus team will be promoting this significantly locally and also looking for national exposure, as the concept is so unique.

 

On the Great Dining Bus, diners will enjoy a different course in a selection of Milford on Sea restaurants, where each restaurant will delight in showcasing a taste of their food offering and service.

 

If you have any queries at all, please contact: info@greatdiningbus.co.uk

To find out more please visit: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk - www.ticketsource.co.uk/greatdiningbus

Pizza's Go Chocolate

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Hollands of Milford, our local village supermarket is now selling Chocolate Pizza. (Yes, really!)

 

The pizzas are made in Milford on Sea by Pippa's Chocolate Pizzas, and Paul & Maureen are now stocking them for those with large or small sweet teeth.

 

The Chocolate Pizzas have a Belgian chocolate base mixed with marshmallow and biscuit. This is then topped with 3 choices of toppings, from a list of dozens of delicious and naughty options. (I think I am dribbling.)

 

I think I might be trying these soon, but I will have to hide in the car park to eat it, as if my wife found out she would plan some painful retribution for me. She might even force me to eat devil vegetables like brocolli and sprouts.

 

Pippa’s Chocolate Pizzas were on Radio Wave 105 on Thursday 25th April 2013. They were helping to raise money for Clic Sargent on the 'Cash for Kids Day', and DJ Simon Clarke entered into a challenge to eat a 12 inch chocolate pizza.

 

Paul is a big supporter of local produce, and loves to find products from local artisan producer that he can stock in addition to his vast range of everyday and delicatessen items. they even now have fresh samosas made in Lymington, chutneys and sauces from Spice & Easy, and fresh and delicious cakes from Elmsleigh, all made in Milford on Sea.

 

What could be better than buying produce that has only moved yards rather than miles, and at the same time supporting someone who is making produce in the village.

 

Paul is always keen to extend his range of local foods, so if you know anyone who would like him to sell their produce, please just let him know.

 Hollands of Milford
49 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG
Tel: 01590 641882
www.hollandsmos.co.uk

Lord Montagu at La Perle

The team at La Perle had the pleasure of meeting Lord Montagu recently, when he came to dine at the chic Milford on Sea French restaurant.

Interestingly, Beaulieu is twinned with a beautiful French village called Hautvillers in Champagne, and that village is also the birthplace of Lionel, head chef & owner at La Perle.

 

Before moving to the UK, Lionel himself came to Beaulieu on a visit as a child more then 20 years ago.

 

La Perle are also delighted to have recently received a recommendation in the Sunday Telegraph on 19th March 2013. The article read: "With its chic monochrome décor, laid-back vibe (you can pop in for just a main course and glass of wine for £10), and fantastic French cooking, this bistro is a local hit. Try scallops with beurre noisette (£18.95)" I am sure this will once again raise the already high profile of this delightful French bistro in Milford on Sea.

 

It is difficult to choose when to go to dine in La Perle, as the menus are always great and excellent value.  In particular, Wednesday evenings now require early booking for their half of Lymington Lobster or Half Roast Chicken & a glass of wine for £19.95/£13.95. Both are served with Frites & Salad. You can even choose for your lobster cooked one of three ways; Thermidor, Cold or with Garlic Butter.

 

Tuesday Night they have Moules, Frites & a glass of wine for only £14.95. Choose your Moules cooked one of three ways; Mariniere style, Bacon & Tomato or Mouclade style.

 

Hampshire steaks are also served daily, and at £10pp the tasty lunchtime prix fixe menu is hard to beat. Tres bon!

 

So much to choose from, so it is up to you!

 

La Perle

60 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD
www.laperlemilford.co.uk

 

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The Marine are running a tasty offer of 'Fish & Chips Weekends' with free pint of beer or glass of house wine with your meal at £9.75. Why not pop in on a Friday & Saturday between 6pm to 9pm.

The Marine
Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PY
www.themarinemos.co.uk

 

Verveine has a New Look

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Always creating magic with food, David Wykes has now also had a brand new website built, which showcases the extraordinary delights on a plate he serves. It also features their traditional village fishmongers, and much more.....

 

Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant continues to receive rave reviews, including articles in The Independent and Sunday Telegraph. It is no great surprise that David (Chef/proprietor), has been voted Hampshire Chef of the Year in 2011 & 2012 to go with the other major awards they have won in the past two years.

 

Verveine has also received a No.1 accolade for food from the Harden's Guide, which is the highest mark this respected national guide gives. I suggest it is only a matter of time before they get a lot more national recognition in a big way.

 

If you haven't yet eaten in Verveine their two course lunch is amazing value at just £14.95.  The a'la carte menu is of course more, but worth every penny if you love exciting, creative food, and of course fish!

 

Should you be one of the people that uses (or understands!) Twitter, David does regular tweets and you can 'get in his nest' or whatever it is Twitterer's do, by visiting his website, or clicking here.

 

To take a look at Verveine's new website please visit; www.verveine.co.uk

 

Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant
98 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QE
Tel: 01590 642176
info@verveine.co.uk
www.verveine.co.uk

 

New at Clubhouse at HCSC

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The new clubhouse at Hurst Castle Sailing club is now complete and being used by the members.

The impressive new building was built by our renowned village builders, Adcroft Building & Renovation. Another splendid project, yet again enhancing our village.

The formal opening ceremony will be on Saturday May 11th at 17.00 hours, (5pm to landlubbers!), when a plaque commemorating the occasion will be unveiled.

In keeping with the club's our self help ethos, three of their most long standing members, who have contributed a great deal to the fund raising over the years, will perform the ceremony for us.

The Lookout Platform is particulary impressive to watch the boats at play.

 To see more of the building as it came together, please click here.


STOP PRESS....  Up to date news about Hurst Castle SC opening is that Pippa Wilson. Olympic Gold medallist will cut the ribbon for the club.

Hurst Castle Sailing Club
HCSC Clubhouse, Keyhaven, SO41 0TR | www.hcsc.org.uk

South Lawn goes Bespoke

South Lawn Hotel in Milford on Sea now has new owners, Bespoke Hotels.

Looking at the groups website they have some very impressive hotels and seem to like buildings with character. South Lawn certainly fit that brief.

We hear that significant refurbishments are underway and planned, these will be done whilst the hotel remains open. With a bit of luck, this brave investment in these troubled times, could be an exciting development for the village.

Will be watching how this re-design progresses with great interest, perhaps we will have another fine restaurant coming our way in the month's to come!

www.bespokehotels.com
www.bespokehotels.com/southlawnhotel
 

Tasty Sweet Dreams

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Having originated from Milford on Sea, Hannah Middlewick (formerly Chamberlain) now runs a charming local business called Sweet Dream Events.

At Sweet Dream Events, Hannah organises all kinds of events, and whether a wedding, children’s party, birthday, corporate event, hen party, or just an excuse for a get together, everyone gets personal attention and a day to remember.

Sweet Dream Events will take on an event from start to finish, and Hannah believes that your event should be a reflection of your personality, so, she takes the time to get to know you and your style.

Her personal service shines through whether designing and dressing a special day, to providing anything from a vintage tea party to sweet & dessert tables and tuck shops.

Hannah’s mum & dad still live in the village, and her brother, Tom runs Adcroft Build & Renovation, a village business that has worked across the south coast for several decades, and has become synonymous with a very high quality of workmanship and a strong attention to detail.

On Sunday, 16th June from 10am to 4pm, Hannah is organising a free to enter Garden Party in aid of Macmillan Nurses. The Garden Party will be held in in the gardens of Langtry House, Lymington Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QN.

Hannah will be styling and decorating the garden into a beautiful summer fete extravaganza, and aims to provide a relaxed environment where families can spend the day drinking tea & pimm’s, eating cake, sitting on the lawn listening to music, and enjoying the variety of local stalls whilst watching children playing games.

 

Everyone one is invited, so please go along. You can also see how the event is progressing and what will be there by clicking here.

Sweet Dream Events
hannah@sweetdreamevents.co.uk
Tel: 01202 428097|07999 223473
www.sweetdreamevents.co.uk

Adcroft Build & RenovationTom Chamberlain
01590 644351|07990 547591
www.adcroftbuild.co.uk

 

Sean Cracks Marathon

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Our local assistant solicitor at Hugh Whitlock Solicitors, Sean Reeves, has taken a break from the office and organising a number of Milford on Sea events, to recently complete the London Marathon.  Thanks of course in no small part to my unique training advice.

 

As you will see from the pictures, Sean did not listen to all I taught him, as it appears that he has actually decided to run all of the way. He also ignored all of the bus routes and underground lines that I had meticulously planned for him to complete the course without sweating.

 

However, my personalised training programme kicked in a bit later, as you can see in picture two. I always say that the energy taken in drinking a pint of beer in 30 seconds is equivilent to a two mile run.  I am unable explain why the girl next to him is playing patience, but I expect that Sean may have been attempting to talk to her.

 

Sean completed the London Marathon in a respectable time of 4 hours 29 mins.  Whilst not quite the time he had trained for, no one had anticipated that it would be such a glorious day, after many hours of winter training around the zero mark.

 

Sean recalls that he hit 'the wall' at around 15 miles, and just after 26 miles he hit the bar.

 

Sean said: "My feet suffered an awful lot in the heat and I could feel every step, but I completed it which was the main thing. The crowds were amazing I have never had so many people scream and shout my name (it is estimated that there was in excess of 850,000 in the crowds!) they certainly kept me going when I was at the low points of the race."

 

You can see more of Sean's marathon pictures by clicking here and typing 'reeves' and then select 'Virgin London Marathon 2013'.

 

Having got the running bug, Sean's next challenge is the New Forest Marathon, shortly followed by the Bournemouth Marathon. He has also just entered the ballot for next years' London Marathon. (That is a lot of training beer to drink in the coming months.)

 

Finally, Sean wants to say a big thank you everyone who kindly sponsored him to raise in excess of £3,300 for charity. The money is being donated for Spinal Research (281325) and if you would like to add any more to his total, please click here.

 

 

Big Beach Clean Up

Join the fight against marine litter by taking part in the MCS Big Beach Clean-up this Saturday.

Over 110 beaches across the UK and Ireland are going to see volunteers coming together to do a beach clean and litter survey which will highlight the issues of beach litter around our coastlines.

The Milford on Sea beach clean and survey will last a couple of hours, leaving the rest of the day free for you to enjoy the beach. Everyone welcome.

What to bring: Water, Gloves and Suitable clothing.

Beach leader: Lymington M&S store team

Additional information: The beach clean will start at 2pm, so please arrive a few minutes beforehand.

Meeting place: In the car park next to the Milford on Sea Parish Council Bowling Green

Register here: www.mcsuk.org/foreverfish/details.php?beach=Milford-on-Sea or just turn up on the day.