Choice Magazine - Gosport & Lee on the Solent - April edition
Stately Apartments by the SeaOne and Two Bedroom Apartments
Located in Alverstoke on the South Hampshire Coast, Royal Haslar is one of Britain’s landmark buildings.
Built in 1753, the Grade II-listed former naval hospital is part of the very fabric of our nation. Assured its place in history, it is now protected for the future. Reborn as a luxury waterfront residential village offering outstanding period architecture and well-appointed, modern apartments.
Welcome to Royal Haslar - your sanctuary by the sea. Call today and book a private viewing of the coastal and parkland show apartments.
For detailed floor plans, apartment specifications, video tours and to register for the Royal Haslar newsletter, with latest updates and local news, visit the website:
3 3 3 3 3 3
e rh u
w u
ir a p e r & ce n a n inte a M
3 3 3 3 3 3 t
l A v
l l o y f l nth o 6 M y nt a r r a w s ’ er tur c a f u n a M ing m m a gr o pr & ting i t F : h t i dw r a d n a l
l mp o C a ex g in r a e h e v i s en eh r mp o C
em r x a w y r a ent
s n o ati in m i G T only from ar r e pe £35 REMOVAL WAX
team” “faantastic f tombsandallen.com com tombsandallen reception@ ourse r y fo
lf! f AI E profession y “extremely oday t t ppointmen n a k a Boo t ospor , G oad e R tok , S uildings d B tlan or 5 P ttentive” y a “ver al” t e a nlin r o o 751 8 3 25 3 9 02 on com tombsandallen s Genes yTr H1J O12 , P 751 8 3 25 3 9 02
Whether you follow the astrological or meteorological calendar it is official, spring is here! It’s my favourite month as it’s my birthday month! I’m always grateful to have made another year. And grateful to have an excuse for extra cake and fizz; always fizz!
Has your forsythia finished flowering? If so, give it a prune. Fancy delicious smelling sweet peas this summer? Get sowing your seeds in the ground now! You may find our gardening guide helpful this month with the weather warming up and the Easter holiday weekend giving us a few more days in the garden!
You know I’m a sucker for a cookie! I went on the hunt for an Easter biscuit recipe and found one from my favourite Meera Sodha. See page 6 for a lovely, chocolate alternative for this sugar laden time of year!
After a year hiatus the Alverstoke Garden Walkabout is back for 2025! The good weather has been booked and the list of gardens compiled! Wander around beautiful local gardens whilst raising funds for the Parish Centre. All the details of when and how to visit are inside.
It’s Easter which means Easter Egg Hunts! We’ve mentioned three in the What’s On listing. You’ll also hear about the local live jazz, an art lecture,
table top sale and more! Check out page 28. Shore Leave Haslar open mornings allow for watching the seasonal changes throughout the year in beautiful surroundings with tea and cake. The date of the next open day is inside.
Spring allows for reset and a fresh start and newness. Whether for you that means a new exercise regime, self care, a new home, new windows, getting jobs done, a new haircut, a new wardrobe in every sense, then we have lovely local advertisers to help!
Cleavers are the thing for a fresh start this spring, check out Louise Courtney’s article inside all about it!
Inside you’ll also find great offers, sudoku, more great advertisers, local news and much more!
ARE
YOU A LOCAL BUSINESS?
Let us pound the streets and get your advert through 11,000 homes a month and sent out to our growing number of subscribers too! Get in touch! Details below.
Have a good April. Good luck to everyone participating in the Gosport Golden Mile! I’ll be in the garden planting up the sweet peas and eating cookies!
See you next month with details about the annual Crescent Garden Plant Sale!
Darren Harris is a skilled, reliable and professional carpenter and joiner based in Gosport offering a wide range of carpentry services for your home or business. The options are pretty endless but to give you an idea of the most popular services a list is below:
■ bannisters
■
■ bespoke furniture
■ windows
OAT, SPICE & CURRANT COOKIES
An Easter recipe with not a hint of chocolate!
To make 16 you’ll need:
• 180g wholegrain spelt flour
• 50g rolled porridge oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ½ tsp flaky sea salt, crumbled
• 100g currants
• 2 tsp chai or mixed spice
• 50g dark brown soft sugar
• 100g golden syrup
• 120ml cold-pressed rapeseed oil
Method
Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6 and line a couple of large trays with baking paper.
In a heatproof bowl, combine the spelt flour, rolled oats, baking powder, bicarb, sea salt, currants and chai spice, and whisk to mix well.
Put the sugar, syrup and oil in a small saucepan, set it over a low heat, cook until the mixture comes to a boil, then take off the heat. Pour into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until everything comes together into a dough.
Roll into balls the size of a ping-pong ball and weighing about 40g each, and place on the baking sheets spaced about 10cm apart –there’s no need to flatten them. Bake for 12 minutes, or until golden in the centre and starting to crisp to a golden brown at the edges.
Remove and leave to cool on the sheets – these cookies regain their integrity when they cool, so they need a bit of a rest before eating.
APRIL IN CRESCENT GARDEN
Spanish Gorse, Genista hispanica, is a hardy plant which thrives on neglect, in poor soil, dry conditions and plenty of sunshine. In Crescent Garden it has been planted alongside terrace walk under the trees, so it has all the conditions it needs except not quite as much sunshine as it would like. It is quite a prickly plant, like all types of gorse and several were planted in this position to try and prevent dogs, children and even some adults from walking down from terrace walk on to the grass in places not meant to be paths at all. Each plant could eventually grow into quite a large bush as much as 90cms (3ft) high with a spread of about 150cms (5ft) and so will form an effective barrier. Unfortunately it is a plant which does not cope well with root disturbance and, therefore, must be planted when very small and in this condition some were trampled before they had a chance to establish and grow. There are several, however, which have survived and are growing well.
The stems are spiny, but they also bear soft slightly hairy leaves which drop in the winter. In
spring and early summer it bears bright yellow pea shaped flowers like those on the common gorse Ulex europeaus, but rather smaller. So look out for the flowers at this time of year; they add a patch of sunshine under the trees. They have a delicate fragrance which attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Like all the pea family the roots fix gaseous nitrogen into compounds which plants can use and thus help to fertilise the soil. The deep and fibrous roots also prevent soil erosion, so a perfect plant for a dry, sunny, infertile bank where it will thrive on total neglect. In fact, given too rich a soil to live in it will not produce many flowers.
It is native to the Mediterranean area, mainly northern Spain and southern France, but has naturalised in several other countries and, in fact has become invasive in countries where conditions suit it too well like Australia, New Zealand and California where it is treated as a noxious weed. In traditional Spanish culture, however, it is associated with the feast of St. John on June 26th. Use is made of the flowers to make a tea and they can be infused into honey to make a sweet treat. In Andalusia flowers are used to flavour a special bread, pan de gachas.
Parts of the plant have been used medicinally, especially in respiratory infections and skin conditions. Further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of these remedies.
So, a delightful plant, resistant to diseases and pests and perfect to grow on top of a dry, sunny bank. Why not try some in your garden?
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8am-5pm Friday: 8am-4pm unitrimplastics.co.uk
DECORATIVE FOUNTAINSCAPES
Ideal for front gardens as statement pieces, or for smaller rear gardens where you want the sound of water without the footprint that a pond requires. There are a multitude of fountain designs to choose from and the configurations are endless. These are also really good for attracting birds to drink and wash.
ECOSYSTEM POND
PONDL
Ideal for and stre a hidden water is
Ideal for people wanting to enjoy it as a fishpond, and/or to use it as a recreation pond if the space allows, where your family sit and relax in the summer, but still enjoy the visual of a beautiful natural looking pond all year round. This is the oppos swimming pool which remains a covered over rectangle for most of the year with our English weather! Using the Ecosystem basis for natural chemical free filtration, underwater jets and larger wetland filtration systems can be incorporated to ensure and circulation. Waterfalls, streams and decorative fountainscape elements can be incorporated into the pond to suit your s ultimate outdoor living lifestyle.
I can also create and incorporate Rainwater Harvesting systems to use with any of the water features mentioned. All ponds and water features will periodically lose water due to evaporation, splash and wind. Manual top up is the simplest solution but requires regular checking for levels. Creating an underground water reservoir from collected rainwater for your feature to draw upon is the most environmentally friendly way
Contact Craig to arrange a consultation and design visit: 07787 562490
All other landscaping, pond cleaning and garden maintenance also carried out.
LESS WATERFALL
people wanting the impressive visual and sound of a waterfall am, but without the want for fish or pond maintenance. Using n water reservoir to give the illusion of disappearing water, the then pumped back up to the start of the waterfall to recirculate.
All water features can be enhanced with lighting to ensure 24 hour enjoyment of them.
y and friends can swim or site to a standard garden m Pond philosophy as the the highest water quality space and budget, for the
LOOPY RUN WITH GOSPORT ROAD RUNNERS
One of the club’s midweek training sessions is called a ‘Loopy Run’. It is led by a club coach and allows for the fastest and slowest runners to run as one group with everyone running at a pace that they are comfortable with.
The faster runners will run ahead of the group for approximately two hundred metres and then return to join the back of the slower runners and that sequence keeps repeating itself so at the end of a run, a fast runner could have doubled or trebled the distance of the slower runner but everyone in the group has had a good training run, whatever their ability.
Being with other club members can help you to feel safer and more comfortable when out on a run, especially if you’re running when it’s dark or you’re in an area that you’re not familiar with. It’s harder to get lost if you’re with a group and even if you do take a wrong turn, you have each other to figure out how to find your way. And if someone in the group gets injured or ill, there’s always someone there to help.
By running with others, you will become part
of a community and experience a sense of belonging. You will start to make friends and develop connections with people. When you share struggle, friendships develop quickly. You spend a lot of time with people on runs, you end up trying harder and talk about things that you may not touch on so easily outside of the run. People share their world and you get to hear about their lives, listen to stories and share jokes. On a group run you have entertainment as well as inspiration!
On Sunday 2nd March we had some great fun taking part in a Treasure Hunt in the area surrounding the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Park, Fareham.To reach each clue we had to use the ‘what3words’ App on a mobile phone. We split up into groups of five members in each group and only when we found a clue would we know the ‘what3words’ to proceed to the next one.
With the recent wet weather there was quite a bit of mud on the route but that all adds to the fun! There were very welcome hot drinks and cake at the end, great camaraderie and a couple of hours of hilarity.
For more information see our website: gosportroadrunners.org.uk
W L S
Do you have important legal documents in place to protect your interests and make life easier for you and your family, whatever the future brings?
If you have received a diagnosis of dementia, or are concerned about becoming ill and unable to cope with paying your bills, wouldn’t it be helpful for a family member to be able to step in and deal with your finances? If your family member needed to make decisions for you, instead of just acting on your instructions, they would need your formal written authority to do this.
Formal authority can be given by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney. This document will allow your family member to take over managing your money, either temporarily or long term.
You can also create a Lasting Power of Attorney which allows your family member to make decisions for you about medical treatment, if you are unable for any reason to make your own decisions. This is not the same as an Advance Decision, which is a document which sets out your decision to refuse medical treatment in the future, under specific conditions.
If you are caring for an elderly relative, or are likely to be doing so in the future, a Lasting Power of Attorney will mean that you can provide the support your relative needs and access services on their behalf, without the difficulties, stress and resistance you would otherwise encounter.
Having a Will gives you peace of mind that your money, property and personal possessions will be going to the people you have chosen to benefit. An out of date Will can cause problems within the family or mean that a chosen beneficiary receives nothing.
If you have any unanswered questions about Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney, Christine will be pleased to help, so do please get in touch for a free, no obligation, chat.
Call Christine Davies Solicitor on 07860 772274 or email: christine@winterbornelegal.co.uk
Christine is a Fully Accredited Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a Dementia Friend. Christine will visit you in your own home and aims to provide a warm personal touch to every meeting.
Christine Davies Solicitor
51-53 HIGH STREET LEE ON THE SOLENT program 1:1 Personal underwate the on training private a prefer simply or acilitie e f provid to im e a W Aqu and Hydrotherapy
ab & aims your on based mes fo aqua-classes or treadmill r swimming for environment diff mobility with those for s wate warm our in a-Exercise vailable. e a ar ilities rehabilitation. & fitness r currents, swim the using conditions health iculties, spa. Jacuzzi and pool r a l ailable - C w av a classes no oup aqu Small gr T with:help an m c tea Massage & iropractic r Ch u ain t p oin migraines & eadaches pain arm k & ec injuries Sports sciatica & ain k p ac il C ti Chi l G Th with egistered l for details R B N H J O uncCo Chiropractic neralGe he
HIDDEN TREASURES HIDDEN TREASURES
We urgently require your broken and unwanted gold, jewellery and antiques. Any amount, any condition- top CASH prices paid!
PRE 1947 COINS (SILVER) WANTED
WANTED gold - silver - jewellery of all kinds medals (any militaria) - cuff links - studs - tie pins pocket watches - wrist watches antiques - moorcroft - clarice cliff - old postcards
WANTED - rolex, breitling, omega etc
Please call in to see us. Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm. Alternatively, call to arrange a home appointment TELEPHONE: 023 9255 3428 MOBILE: 07767 304495
IN THE GARDEN
• Pick off horrid lily beetles that start to emerge
• Sow grass seed to fill gaps in the lawn
• Divide clumps of hardy perennials
• Prune forsythia once it finishes flowering
• Plant summer bulbs and dahlia tubers
• Trim & tidy wall-trained winter jasmine
• Sow sweet peas directly outside
• Pinch out fuschias
• Sow sunflowers outside
• Sow hardy annuals
• Tie in climbing and rambling roses
• Start sowing perennials
• Top dress containers with fresh compost
GREENHOUSE
• Open doors and vents on warm days
• Sow herbs
• Pot on tomatoes and plant cucumbers
• Give the greenhouse a good clean
VEG PLOT
• Thin out leek seedlings
• Thin carrot seedlings
• Harvest asparagus spears when they’re no more than 18 cm tall
• Pick off faded and yellowing leaves from Brussels sprouts to stop disease spreading
• Order late-fruiting strawberry plants
• Give your fruit a feed to boost crops
• Water in dry weather
• Plant asparagus and artichokes
We’re looking for enthusiastic, motivated deliverers to join our team. 4 hours once a month. You must have your own vehicle. Call 023 9250 2222 or fill out the form online at gosportchoice.com join the team!
Sat 7th & Sun 8th June
ALVERSTOKE GARDEN WALKABOUT
Alverstoke residents will be opening their gardens to raise money for the Alverstoke Parish Centre Regeneration Fund*.
The Mayor of Gosport will open the event at 1pm on Sat 7th June at the Parish Centre, where refreshments will be available.
Some of the gardens have views across the Solent, one has a model steam railway running during the weekend, and another has a pirate ship for the children to explore.
Entry is by programme which costs £10 per adult (free admission for accompanied children) and is valid for both days. It has a stylised map, lists the gardens, their accessibility, whether they are dog friendly, selling plants or refreshments.
Advance tickets from Alverstoke Post Office, Alverstoke Village Hardware, and Queen’s Parade News, Privett Road, Gosport.
Tickets on the day on sale at the Parish Centre, Green Road, Alverstoke PO12 2ET (12-5pm), and from participating gardens.
The Garden Walkabout has now contributed over £30,000 towards the £570,000 raised for the building fund. To date we have constructed a new car park and installed solar power for the Parish Centre. We have still to build an Annexe and extend and refurbish the current building.
*registered charity name: St Mary’s Alverstoke PCC – APCRP, no 1130178.
Sat 7th & Sun 8th
June 1-5pm
Adult - £10, accompanied children free Price covers both days
ADVANCE TICKETS
from Alverstoke Post Office, Alverstoke Village Hardware and Queen’s Parade News, Privett Road
TICKETS ON THE DAY
From 12.00 at the Parish Centre, Green Road, PO122ET and participating gardens
Sponsors
All proceeds to Alverstoke Parish Centre Regeneration Project
Registered Charity Name - St Mary’s Alverstoke PCC No. 1130178
EASTER FUN DAY
18th April 12-1.30pm, 1.30-3pm, 3-4pm, 4.30-6pm. Children's Easter Trail around the Park starting off from the Alverbank followed by Street Food, Bouncy Castle & Easter Fun! Tickets £3 per child for Easter Trail. Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Friends of Stanley Park.
SHORE LEAVE HASLAR MEMORIAL GARDEN OPEN DAY
Haslar Road, Gosport. Weds 9th April 11am-1pm. Free entry, donations gratefully accepted. Crafts, plants, produce for sale. Homemade cake and drinks. Walk around the peaceful garden. Please park in main Haslar site. Free entry. Donations gratefully received.
CATS PROTECTION AT GOSPORT MARKET
Saturday 26th April 8am-3.30pm High Street, Gosport Cat-themed merchandise, nearly-new goods, jigsaws and a variety of craft items.
SPITHEAD
ARTS - ARTS APPRECIATION
SOCIETY LECTURE Bay House School, Gosport. Tuesday 22nd April 7pm.
The Green Man in English Churches. Imogen Corrigan. Visitors are welcome to attend at a cost of £7 per lecture or £1.00 for students. More details at spitheadarts.co.uk
SEA SHANTY EVENING
Alverstoke Parish Centre Sat 26th April Doors 6.45pm Live sea shanty performance by Spinnaker Shanty. Fish & chips supper. BYO drinks. Tickets £15 from Alverstoke Post Office or Queen's Parade News.
FRIENDS OF STANLEY PARK
Litter pick first Sunday of the month 10-11am Meet in The Alverbank Hotel car park. We provide pickers, bags, gloves and smiles!
TABLE TOP SALE ALVERSTOKE PARISH CENTRE
Saturday 12th April 10am-3pm
For info and to book a table burleycroft6@gmail.com
EASTER EGG HUNT
Saturday 19th April 2025 2pm-4pm
Nicholson Gardens, Carlton Road, Gosport PO12 1JU
Enjoy an Easter Egg hunt & Easter craft - £3 per child. Tea, coffee & home made cakes available to buy. All welcome!
EASTER EGG HUNT - STUBBINGTON ARK
16th-19th April 2025 11am-3pm
Hunt out the rabbit/chick themed questions £1 per entry. All entries are entered in to a draw to win an Easter hamper. Sweet treat Chari-Tea trailer. Ark car park sale. Have fun on our pony cycles (weather permitting).
CHARITY PLANT SALE
Saturday 26th April 9.30am-4pm
Held at 66 Catisfield Road, PO15 5LY
GOSPORT JAZZ CLUB -
APRIL
Rugby Club, Dolphin Cres, Gos, PO12 2HE
9th John Maddocks’ Jazzmen 23rd Kevin Grenfell’s Jazz Giants 8-10.30pm M £10 G £12 - gosportjazz.org.uk
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB
Meet for a monthly social lunch at Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club. Followed by a presentation of interest by a member or an invited guest. For retired and Semi-retired professional/businessmen. If you miss the camaraderie and social connection of the workplace come along to a trial meeting before joining? New members welcome. 07508711299 or email: morton.wouter@gmail.com
MENOPAUSE TOGETHER GOSPORT
Every first Saturday of the month 10am-12noon Methodist Church, Soke Road, Gosport & Every third Wednesday of the month 6-7.30pm at Lee Hub 14 High St, Lee-on-the-Solent PO13 9BZ
A local support group for others struggling with this journey of menopause. Find our group and page on Facebook - Menopause Together Gosport
GOSPORT GOLDEN MILE
FIND MORE ‘WHAT’S ON’ INSIDE!
Easter Monday 21st April 2025 Visit www.gosportrotary.co.uk for more info.
Rear
CLEAVERS: THE ULTIMATE SPRING TONIC
‘Sticky willy’, ‘goose grass’, ‘catch weed’ and ‘beggar lace’, are just some of the colloquial names for the common hedgerow perennial called Cleavers (Galium aperine). You will recognise this common plant for its long sticky, clingy and bristly foliage and troublesome sticky seed balls (that I seem to spend hours brushing out of my cockapoo’s furry coat!). Often found growing alongside stinging nettle, this plant can form part of an effective spring cleansing regime given its lymphatic, diuretic and kidney and liver supporting properties. Cleavers is a water mover, supporting the flow of lymph and stimulating the kidneys. For this reason, it is considered as a drying herb as it moves water and fluid through the lymphatic system and out through the kidneys, and it also has a mild laxative effect. Therefore, if you take cleavers as part of a spring cleanse, you also need to make
sure you have adequate fluid intake. Alongside its water and blood moving properties, it is also toning, astringent, antiseptic and antiinflammatory helping to strengthen and stimulate the immune system. Taken internally, it is a traditional remedy for chronic skin disorders including acne, eczema, urticaria and psoriasis. Also, thanks to its lymphatic properties, it is an affective remedy for swollen glands, glandular fever, breast tenderness, swollen ankles, and recurrent tonsilitis. Topically an ointment made with cleavers can be used to treat ulcers. Also, Cleavers infused oil can be massage into sore breasts and swollen glands.
Cleavers is a good diuretic herb to use in cases of urinary infections, renal gravel and kidney stones. It can also lower blood pressure through its diuretic effects and helps to relieve osteoarthritis. It combines well with other supportive herbs such as horsetail, and shepherd’s purse in equal parts for treating urinary infections, bleeding and chronic cystitis and can be used over an extended period of time to soothe and tone an irritated bladder (Tayler, 2021). It can also be used with Marigold (Calendula off.) to support conditions where there is a lot of congestion or infection (heavy and swollen tissue).
You can gather the upper parts in early spring when shoots are small and before it goes to seed. It is best taken as a fresh hot or a cold overnight infusion. Chop the upper parts of the plant and leave to infuse in cold water overnight. Strain and drink in the morning. You can follow this regime for 3-4 weeks in early Spring when the shoots are young and small, and the effects are slightly weaker (as it can be mild laxative too!). The plant becomes stronger as Spring progresses, but you will become more
accustomed to the cleansing effects. If used as part of a Spring cleanse, you can combine it with nettle tops and chickweed in a tasty soup, and by cutting out rich fatty food and improving fluid intake it will assist in clearing an overloaded lymph system. Following an illness or use of medication, if taken over a few weeks, Cleavers will help to build up stamina and strength and reduce the effects of any previous medications.
Energetically, Cleavers is slightly bitter and hot, and encourages new energy and motivation to have a good declutter both physically and emotionally. Fostering a new lease of life, it helps to raise vitality and turn cold wet dampness into new growth. So, if you would like to clear away the old and stale, follow new directions and try new things, Cleavers may well be the plant for you! Ruled by the moon,
Cleavers represents tenacity and can represent the “calm sea at twilight” (Brooke, 1992), the time of calm and thoughtfulness before renewed activity. Great for those beginning a new phase of life, to take stock of what has passed and to review and assimilate before moving forward. The ultimate spring herb!
Louise Courtney wildsidehealth.co.uk
References
Brooke, E. (1992). A Woman’s Book of Herbs. Aeon Books.
Taylor, S. (2021). The Humoral Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Western Energetic System of Health, Lifestyle and Herbs (Aeon Books).
HVR CUSTOMS
Specialists in VW’s, we also cover many other makes and models in the full or part conversion of camper vans, kombi vans and caddy’s. We manufacture and design custom built camper interiors for Volkswagens and other makes.
Full & Part Conversions
VW Transporters, Campers, Kombi’s and Caddy’s
0333 3585 999 (Option 3)
HVR Customs, Unit il3-4, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX
CARS AND VANS ALWAYS IN STOCK FOR SALE!
Specialising in transporters and small low mileage cars. (The cars are ideal for first time drivers.)
£435,000
SPACIOUS, EXTENDED 3 BED SEMI. DRIVE. GARDEN WORKSHOP/ OFFICE.
£410,000 SPACIOUS THREE BED APARTMENT. TOP FLOOR BALCONY. SOLENT & IOW VIEWS.
£299,000 SPACIOUS THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN PERIOD BUILDING OVERLOOKING CHURCH.
£465,000 EXT 4 BED DET HOUSE IN SOUGHT AFTER LOCATION. NO CHAIN .SOUTHERLY GARDEN. GARAGE.
£250,000 MARINA & LAKE VIEWS WITH THIS TWO BEDROOM PROPERTY. REFURBISHMENT REQUIRED.
