The Dever May 2021

The

Dever

May 2021

80p

The Journal of the Upper Dever Valley

Easter Day Service at St Mary the Virgin, Micheldever

photograph by Simon Young

First-Sunday-in-the-Month - Fund Raising Walk.

Sunday 2nd May 2021

NO car share organised.

Make your own way to the start.

Walk sets off at 10:30am

Adrian Dixon, a long-time tenant farmer at Micheldever, will give us a tour of the land he works. Management of the land has evolved over time in response to modern research and social priorities. Health of the soil and effects on climate change have a major impact on farming techniques. The main driver is no longer Pounds Sterling per Acre of land.

Park in Manor Farm Yard WEST STRATTON SO21 3DR We will walk from here and visit much of the area marked in red on the map above. We will also see the route of the proposed new foot/cycleway along the site of the lakes (aka water treatment zone) Images courtesy of The Dever Society.

CHILDREN ARE MOST WELCOME - accompanied by an adult As is the tradition with First-Sunday walks, those who wish refreshment will meet up at a local hostelry. Yes folk! It’s allowed again. Today we will visit: Eta at pub 1.00pm. Contact in advance if you wish special arrangements.

Half Moon & Spread Eagle, Winchester Road, Micheldever.

SO21 3DG. www.halfmoonandspreadeagle.co.uk other info from: suebell0906@gmail.com

The

Dever

Contents Upper Dever Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 View from the Vicarage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 News from Woodmancote & Popham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Christian Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Barron Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Micheldever School News for May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Questor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Volunteers Sought For Greening Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 May Services – Upper Dever Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 News from St Mary the Virgin church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 From Our MP, Steve Brine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Micheldever & Stratton Pre School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Jackie’s County Corner for May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 City Councillors’ News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Confessions Of A Food Waste Campaigner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Micheldever Fete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Holy Dusters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 In the Garden – May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Upper Dever Church Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Forthcoming Events 2021-2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 May Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Hall Booking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Dever - May 2021 3

Upper Dever Contacts Priest in Charge

Ordinand Benefice Cordinator

Rev'd John Rennie

Dr Robert Rees Clare Fancourt

01962 760827

07590 909811 coordinator.upperdever@hotmail.com

Church Wardens

St. Mary the Virgin Micheldever Jan Mason 01962 774362 Juliet Pattinson 01962 774399 Holy Trinity Wonston Sarah Hobhouse 01962 760003 St Mary & St Michael Stoke Charity Ruth Guy 01962 760259

All Saints’ East Stratton Chris Hilling Ed Beckwith St James’ Hunton Campbell Dye St James’ Woodmancote Linda Albin Mary Wallis

Websites

01962 795134 01962 774918 01962 760001 01256 397616 01256 397271

St Mary the Virgin www.stmarysmicheldever.co.uk Holy Trinity www.wonstonchurch.co.uk Editor: Peter O’Keefe 07515 339279 1 Canada Cottages, Overton Road, Micheldever Station, SO21 3AN. Email: editor@thedever.org

The Dever Annual Subscription January to December for 12 issues: £8.00; £14.00 by post.

Articles for June issue to be received by the editor before 15th May please.

Articles printed in The Dever are accepted ‘as is’ and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial Team.

Printing: Richard Vellacott and team

Treasurer: Tony Patston

Subscriptions Enquiries & Distribution

Micheldever Maureen Allan Micheldever Station Andy Adams East of railway line Ann Hawkins West of railway line

07702 879865 01962 774363 01962 774956

01962 774516 01256 397429 07548 955374

Dever Advertiser Sales: email:

Editor: 4

East Stratton Olly Bramley Woodmancote Liz Hawkesworth External/Postal Caroline Knight

01962 795028

Amanda Forsey deveradvertiser@hotmail.com 01962 774115 07500 334393 Roger Forsey The Dever - May 2021

View from the Vicarage Power under control One of the subjects we tackled in our Lent series was humility.

We discovered it was not just a characteristic of Jesus himself but over and over again a feature of Jesus’ teaching imploring us to be humble and meek.

Meekness carries with it a sense of weakness that is not envied in today’s secular society.

However meekness defined as ‘power under control’ brings a new dimension to its understanding.

Jesus was a man but had the power of God within him and an angelic force about him. However, he didn’t seek to misuse that power but rather keep it under control, under wraps unless it was needed.

Sadly in these recent days we have been forcibly reminded of the abuse of power even in our schools. The allegations being made on social media are appalling and it has only been the death of Sarah Everard that has opened the flood gates and allowed the powerless and hitherto humiliated girls to speak up and be noted. What a terrible power struggle that has been.

May is the month when we remember how Jesus’ disciples were transformed from a powerless, fearful confused group of men

and women to became a powerful force. Not only were they able to converse in a wide variety of languages but also to reach out to others and to see their numbers increase by 3,000 in one day.

Of course this was Pentecost and the fulfilment of a promise first made in Old Testament times and then affirmed by Jesus himself when he was preparing his disciples for his departure.

It was a key moment in the life of the church. No longer was the survival of the church dependent on human activity and enterprise but it was a spiritual work that only the Holy Spirit could prompt and inspire.

As we continue to see men’s and women’s lives transformed by the good news of Jesus we know this is the promised work of the Holy Spirit amongst us and still active after two millennia have passed.

As we remember the meekness of Jesus, the fear of the disciples and try to make sense of the power struggles in our schools let us be mindful of the power that came down at Pentecost and allow that power to be the driving force within our communities.

John Rennie 15.04.21

The Dever - May 2021 5

News from Woodmancote & Popham For the second year there was no Easter Service at St. James’ Woodmancott, instead we were invited to celebrate at St. Mary’s Church at Micheldever.

Easter Sunday was blessed with sunshine, but unfortunately I was one of the unlucky ones who had to work over the Easter period. However, I was told by our Church Wardens that Micheldever Churchyard looked so inviting, with all the chairs laid out, the daffodils in bloom and the cherry trees just about to blossom. Everyone sat in the fresh air to hear the Easter message delivered

by Rev’d John, communion could be taken in person and of course what joy to be able to sing the Easter hymns.

Meanwhile, the Easter bunny had been busy around Woodmancott and many were left little eggs on their gate. We also decorated by the gates of St. James’, as we had done the year before, so the Church looked very much alive and not in the least bit forgotten.

6

On 11th April we were able to hold the first service inside the Church since the beginning of November. Although still not allowed to sing (but wehummed), we were very lucky to have Celia Parkes to play for us and we wouldlike to thank her for once again stepping in at short notice.

It was so lovely to be able to venture once more inside the Church and maybe it won’t be too much longer before things are really back to “old” normal!

On the 16th May we are aiming to hold our Rogation Walk, starting at 3pm from St. James’ Church. It won’t be quite as other years and, due to social distancing, there won’t be a tractor and trailer for those who can’t walk too far, but it will be possible to drive the route and meet us at certain way points.

We hope to hold the traditional Rogation Walk tea half way round too, though numbers will have to be limited to maintain safety.

Jane

The Dever - May 2021

With every gift, we help people like Rose and stop this climate crisis In Kenya, extreme weather is making it harder and harder to survive. For communities fighting the climate crisis, every last drop matters and every last one of us can help them thrive.

The coronavirus pandemic has only increased the urgent need for families to access a reliable source of water.

The devastating climate crisis robs people of the water and food they need to live.

Rose walks for six hours to fetch water for her grandchildren. She tries hard to give them the kind of life she remembers from when she was a girl: when the rivers flowed with water and the crops bore fruit.

Rose and her grandchildren shouldn’t have to go hungry. A simple earth dam, built with the help of Christian Aid’s partners and your donations, could completely change her life. This Christian Aid Week, you can be one of the hundreds of thousands of our supporters who give, act and pray to stop this climate crisis driving people like Rose to hunger.

From envelope collections to walking 300,000 steps in May, Christian Aid Week brings people together as one community against global poverty and injustice.

This Christian Aid Week (10-16 May), please: • Give generously to help ensure people like Rose fight this climate crisis.

• Act as we call on the UK Prime Minister to lead the world with ambitious climate action that will also address inequality.

• Pray for a radical change of heart for politicians, and that as a global community we will care for our common home and for people living in poverty.

Together we stop this climate crisis.

Join us at www.caweek.org

The Dever - May 2021 7

Barron Close Winchester City Council has been investigating the development potential of land it owns adjacent to Barron Close, to help meet the identified need for affordable housing in the parish. The council has recently carried out some work to gauge the site suitability and capacity for a rural exception site that addresses not only the housing needs of the parish but also the climate emergency, which the council declared in 2019.

A local architect was commissioned to look at the capacity of the site suitable for the development of a highly energy efficient housing scheme. The council is committed to becoming a carbon neutral council by 2024, and is aiming for the wider district to be Unit Type

No

Int Area (sqm)

Total Area (sqm)

Parking per unit

2 Bed House (4P)

4

79

316

2

3 Bed House (5P)

5

93

465

2

Total Dwellings

9

781

18

Density Site Area: Density:

carbon neutral by 2030. The capacity investigations concluded that the site has the potential for 9 such homes, as shown in the capacity drawing, and is a basis on which a scheme can be developed.

Representatives of the parish council have agreed for this to be progressed to a scheme proposal which can then be presented to the community for their views through a consultation event.

Early planning comments have already been sought on the capacity drawing and the new homes team are working closely with colleagues to carry out further investigations on the site and appoint a design team. The team look forward to presenting a scheme proposal to the parish later in the year.

2973_APLB_XX_

Beds sed) (disu

Notes

ess tercr

Wa

3 Visitors Spaces Provided

0.27Ha 33 d/Ha

Key Plan

18 17 16 15

3

4

V3 V2 V1

9

5

10

3

8

1

2BH m 79sq 4P

3BH 93sqm 5P

3BH 93sqm 5P

3BH 93sqm 5P

2BH m 79sq 4P

Issue

Date

Notes

D

P01 20/07/20 First issue P02 13.08.20 Parking arrangement amended

3BH m 93sq 5P

W P

6

2BH m 79sq 4P

6 4 2

2BH m 79sq 4P

1

3BH m 93sq 5P

7

12 11

14 13

8 58

9

O RR

BA LO NC

3d

oo terl Wa ttages Co

53

Drawing

CAPACITY STUDY OPTION 1

SE

ch S Chur

Winchester County Council Barron Close

Scale

1:500

@ A3

Job nº_Originator_Volume_Level_Type_Role_Number

10

13

treet

4

2973_APLB_XX_XX_SK_A_8001

Suitability_Status

S1 Information

3a

Micheldever Store

14 © ArchitecturePLB – do not scale (except for Planning purposes)

Plum Cottage

50 Southwark Street London SE1 1UN Telephone 020 7940 1888

House

RC

VE

DE

S LO

www.architectureplb.com

SOUTHBROOK

Post

For CDM information refer to the ArchitecturePLB Hazard Eliminati Residual Risk Register. Notes on this drawing refer only to items w Residual Risk can be clearly linked to a specific item. As recomme HSE's 'Industry Guidance for Designers' document, notes do not in risk information which must be considered by the relevant contracto

16

2

E

8

Project

The Dever - May 2021

St Thomas Street Winchester SO23 9HD Telephone 01962 842 2

Micheldever School News for May All of us at Micheldever Primary School hope that everyone has had a restful (albeit cold) Easter break and are enjoying the spring season we are in now. We are very pleased to be back at school and are looking forwards to the coming term and all the learning that we will be doing.

We are delighted to have all children back at school again. This term our children in Year R/1 will be learning about plants and minibeasts as they look to discover what has been growing at our allotment and in our planters.

Children in Year 1/2 will be becoming news reporters and will be learning how to report on different events as they set up their own TV station. Year 3/4 returned on the first day back as archaeologists to begin their discovery of the Egyptians and Year 5/6 have begun to learn about the Olympics and how they have evolved from those begun by the ancient Greeks. We look forward to sharing and showing you our work this term – please read on for more details!

Normally, May would find our Year 6 children busy revising for their SATs exams but with the cancellation of exams nationally this year, they are instead busy preparing for life in secondary school, demonstrating their best writing, reading and maths possible whilst also getting excited for their residential trip which will be happening at the start of June. As a school, we have been delighted with the arrival of new sports equipment.

The football goals and mini basketball posts have been a big success and, at

the time of writing, we are awaiting the installation of a traversing climbing wall. To all who have donated anything to the school to make these possible, we would like to offer a very big thank you.

We have had to slightly delay the start of the work in our front playground but look forward to this being done as well.

We are aware that schools have had to have very closed doors over the past year and are saddened that this has meant that we have not been able to be as open to our community as we would like to. We hope that you have enjoyed seeing some things on our website but we would very much like to be able to open our doors to all to be able to share what we have been doing. To this end, and following the government guidelines in place at the time, we are hoping to have a community open afternoon at the end of the academic year in July, where we will be able to show work that the children have done and give many of you the opportunity to come and visit the school. We will share more information nearer the time but hope that you can mark the 20th July in your diary as the date we aim to do this.

Mr T. Johnston, Acting Head, Micheldever Primary School, 01962 774213

The Dever - May 2021 9

The Questor The Wild Gospel..… …..Back on the Road After spending some time in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas split up.

Barnabas went back to Cyprus and Paul set off on another missionary journey, this time taking a guy called Silas – and, of course, Dr Luke who was recording what went on – a kind of first century blog!

They started off by visiting some of the churches that they had started during the first missionary journey so they could encourage them. At Lystra he met a young Christian called Timothy and decided to take him along with him – he was to become a significant member of Paul’s team in due course.

As they travelled further west, it seems that Paul’s and God’s agendas diverged.

Paul had intended to go west into the province of Asia and then north into the province of Bithynia. But Luke tells us that the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t allow them to – it’s frustrating that he doesn’t tell us how that happened! So they travelled to Troas on the coast where Paul had a dream one night in which he saw a man in Macedonia begging him to go to visit them.

Paul didn’t waste any time, he and his companions got ready immediately and sailed across to Macedonia. They landed at Samothrace and then travelled on to Neapolis and then to Philippi – a Roman colony and the leading city in that region.

While they were there, they followed their usual practice of going to the place of 10

prayer and preaching the Message of Jesus to whoever would listen. On one occasion, they met a slave girl who had the ability to predict the future – and she earned a lot of money for her owners by telling people’s fortune. She began to follow Paul and his companions shouting “These men are servants of the most high God, and they are telling you the way to be saved” She kept this up for days until Paul couldn’t stand it any longer so he commanded the spirit, which was the source of her gift, in the name of Jesus to come out of her – and it did. But that meant that she could no longer tell fortunes. Her owners were furious because they had now lost a significant source of income. So they dragged Paul and Silas into the market place to face the authorities, accusing them of advocating customs which were contrary to Roman law. When the crowd joined in, the magistrates were persuaded and ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.

After they had been severely flogged, Paul and Silas were thrown into prison and the jailer told to guard them carefully. So he put them in the inner The Dever - May 2021

cell and fastened their feet in stocks.

Around midnight, they were praying and singing hymns when a violent earthquake shook the prison to its foundations. All the prison doors flew open and the prisoners’ chains became loose. When he saw this, the jailer drew his sword to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted to him that they were still there so he put his sword away and took Paul and Silas to his own house. There he washed their wounds and gave them a meal. Paul then told them the Message of Jesus and the jailer and his family were all baptised. Paul and Silas returned to their cell for the rest of the night.

In the morning, the magistrates instructed the jailer to set Paul and Silas free. But Paul said that the

magistrates should come and escort them out personally because they had had them beaten without trial, even though they were Roman citizens.

The magistrates were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens and did as they requested.

Then Paul and Silas left the city.

In spite of the horrendous experiences of his first journey – when he was beaten almost to death – Paul is up for another journey. And, after yet another severe beating, he keeps going. Again, as with Peter’s imprisonment, God intervenes.

First he prevents Paul following his own route and then he breaks him and Silas out of jail. Such power is formidable. God will not be stopped.

Next month: On to Greece

Volunteers Sought For Greening Campaign Sadly last month’s plea for volunteers to assist with the Greening Campaign did not elicit a single response from residents. The Parish Councillors already give up their time, without remuneration, for the benefit of the community but cannot run the Greening Campaign without community support.

More information on the scheme can be found at www.greening-campaign.org It seeks to encourage households to make carbon savings through a series of challenges. In order to participate in the scheme the community needs to carry out the following steps: • Hold a public meeting • Publicise the scheme in the community • Deliver a Challenge card to each household

• Hold a launch event • After an agreed period, collect the Challenge cards • Communicate the CO2 saved to the community As noted last month, we need a small steering committee of residents to assist in the launch of the scheme. It is not anticipated that it would take a lot of your time and meetings would, for the time being, be held virtually. If you would be interested in attending a short virtual meeting to find out more please contact the Clerk (as below).

The Parish Council can be contacted via Jocelyn, the Clerk, micheldeverpc@hotmail.co.uk or 01794 368951

The Dever - May 2021 11

May Services – Upper Dever Valley May 2nd 10.00 am

11.00 am

6.00 pm

May 9th 10.00 am

11.00 am

St Mary the Virgin – Micheldever

St Mary & St Michael –Stoke Charity Holy Trinity – Wonston

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Family Communion Rev’d Neil Britton Morning Prayer Campbell Dye Rogation Service James Gray/Rev’d John Rennie

St Mary the Virgin – Micheldever Holy Trinity - Wonston St James – Woodmancote

Whit Sunday

Online Service (Zoom & speaker)

May 30th 10.00 am

10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

Holy Trinity - Wonston

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 23rd 10.00 am

St Mary & St Michael – Stoke Charity

Family Communion Ruth Guy/Rev’d John Rennie Morning Prayer Peter Russell

May 16th 10.00 am

11.00 am

3.00 pm

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Morning Prayer Roland Guy Family Communion with Baptism Rev’d John Rennie Evening Prayer Rob Rees

(the link will be available nearer the time)

Trinity Sunday

Morning Prayer Ruth/Roland Guy Family Service Campbell Dye Family Communion & Baptism Rev’d John Rennie Holy Communion Rev’d Neil Britton

St Mary the Virgin – Micheldever St James – Hunton All Saints – East Stratton Holy Trinity – Wonston

For details of how to access online services, please contact the Parish Co-ordinator, email: coordinator.upperdever@hotmail.com

12

The Dever - May 2021

Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin May 2nd 10.00 am

Sides-duty Readers

David Evans David Findley Louise Keys

May 16th 10.00 am

Sides-duty Reader

Jan Hallam & Olly Bramley Helen Symes Vivienne Vellacott

News from St Mary the Virgin church At the Annual Parish Church Council Meeting on Tuesday 20 April gratitude to a faithful God was expressed; our God who has sustained us through the challenges of the past year. A common theme was how the community had come together to support each other during the pandemic, particularly in support of those facing hardship.

Clearly, the year has been unique. Many traditional church activities had not been possible but the ministry was maintained through virtual services both on Zoom and YouTube, supplemented by occasional outdoor services.

The finances of the parish church have held up well despite the reduced circumstances to generate income.

The generosity of our regular supporters has been much appreciated.

However, our church along with many other churches in the diocese face a challenging financial future.

The church, which is a stunning asset for the village, is increasingly in need of ever more expensive TLC. More regular givers would be very welcome. The external integrity of the church fabric is being addressed with much of the cost being met by a substantial grant secured by Juliet Pattinson, our church warden.

Despite the restrictions we have enjoyed an online Alpha course across the churches, followed by a Lent course and a Bible course. Bible Studies continue in our village and family services are beginning again. New life is returning!

In conclusion, the ministry in the parish has continued to play a valued role in the lives of many parishioners, as is the aspiration for the coming year. The church itself is a wonderful village asset and needs your continued support, whether spiritually, financially or both.

The Dever - May 2021 13

From Our MP, Steve Brine We have, in recent weeks, announced details of almost three thousand organisations being offered grants and loans to help the culture and heritage sector reopen Steve at the Railway Inn, Winchester and recover from Covid.

As a member of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport of science centres in educating Select Committee, I have taken a very school children in STEM subjects. close interest in the Culture Recovery We are fortunate to have Winchester Fund (worth some £1.57 billion of Science Centre locally which has been public money) but as our constituency focussing on education 5-12 year olds MP, I’ve watched it like a hawk! since 1986, giving almost 4000 children Last month, in tranche two of the the opportunity to have informal science fund, some £1.8m in further grants were activities in the past year. Winchester awarded to our area including Winchester Science Centre plans to reopen on Cathedral, Theatre Royal, Integr8 Dance, Saturday 22nd May and I hope their Mid Hants Watercress Line Railway, main customer base – organised schools Unit 12 in Winnall and the very special trips – will flock back trusting they can Railway Inn down in Winchester. do so safely. The science saviour of the Working with the Live Music Trust I have next pandemic may just be among them. taken special interest in this one because You can watch back my roadmap speech these grassroots music venues are the very at www.stevebrine.com/roadmapintolaw heart of our world-beating music industry. and STEM education remarks here I realise for some it may sound trivial www.stevebrine.com/sciencecentres to spend such vast sums of money on Finally, if you need a lift in difficult theatres and ‘fun’ but we have taken the times, here’s a story of hope over fear and view from the start that we must have a the power of prayer. During Lockdown strong society to return to post-pandemic. 2.0, some very good friends of Susie and And, of course, tens of thousands of I suffered a hammer blow. Andy suffered freelancers rely on the creative industries an agricultural accident at work which for a living so it matters and I am left him clinging to life. His injuries were proud we’ve stood with the sector. so severe we prepared for the worse.

Secondly, and as well as speaking in His wife Helen, and their friends at the key vote to put the ‘roadmap’ out of Hope Church, formed a prayer circle and Covid into law, I have been speaking in what happened next was truly remarkable.

Parliament recently about the importance Watch their amazing 7-minute 14

The Dever - May 2021

short‑film which tells the story but, be warned, it will make you cry. Search ‘andy kittow hope story’ via Google.

Much more, and daily updates from me, please ‘follow’ www.fb.com/SteveBrineMP Steve Brine MP for Winchester & Dever Valley

Micheldever & Stratton Pre School Thinking of Family What a sad day it has been for the Royal family and for the country too.

Whilst we are all on our Easter holidays, we have seen how devastating the loss of a family member can bring and how important family are, especially with the events over the last year with the pandemic. Therefore, our next term’s topic will be focused on our families, wider families in society and what family means to others. We are so lucky to have our own preschool family and every child and their family members who are with us, are a part of our family and this is something we truly value.

Last term we looked at Spring, celebrating having our Rugby Tots and our dance lessons with Ms Laura. We also can say that our children and our staff have learnt a new dance routine to 9 – 5

by Dolly Parton; what great movers and shakers we are. We were also lucky to have some amazing weather, which means that we were able to get out and about to see for ourselves the best signs of Spring life.

We even found a queen bee and offered her a flower for nectar; she was really pleased. We were lucky too, to find some Spring flowers which we added to our learning within preschool. The children really did enjoy all the Easter activities and we did too; such as our Easter baking, Easter egg making, Easter cards and our Easter egg hunt too; what fun we had!

We do have some availability at the moment so if you would like or know someone who is looking for a small family feel run community preschool, please do get in touch. We pride ourselves on our motto that ‘Every Child Matters & Every Child Counts’. Please contact our pre-school leader Mrs. Nicola Rae at leader.micheldeverpreschool@gmail.com

The Dever - May 2021 15

Jackie’s County Corner for May Phew! Lockdown eases a little as I write this!

I hope you are all well enough to enjoy it.

The Covid-19 helpline remains open: the details are below As I visit you in different communities, I see more and more packages on the doorstep. This has a good and bad effect: these packages bring the things we need to our homes, but more delivery lorries are on the roads, with tight schedules, maybe travelling a little faster than they should, buying online risks the future of our high streets and the mountain of cardboard generated has to be recycled.

I know that residents in the area are suffering from a greater influx of very large lorries in their villages. We all want to see more card recycled, but the cumulative effect of all these lorry movements has a huge effect on the local community. The closing date for the North Winchester Farm application is the 7th May. See my website for more details Rural children have had different experiences of ‘school at home’ .

Now they are back to school, school transport for rural children is essential to reduce the need to use private cars which cause pollution and congestion. I really hope we can reinstate free buses for reception age children again.

Access to fast enough broadband and enough devices to support working parents and children has been a challenge too, and I’ve been working with local

16

Community Fibre Partnerships in several communities to unlock the funding for faster broadband in the future: (search Broadband on my website.)

The County’s flooding alleviation schemes continue. Extensive flood alleviation works are continuing on Overton Road, Micheldever Station, followed by the other routes under the A303 to Laverstoke and Thruxton. These three ‘flood-spots’ cause real problems for residents and I’m pleased that more in depth work is being carried now.

The consultation on the Local Plan has closed but there are more opportunities to comment as the Plan progresses. At each stage, the plan becomes more specific for each community. To register for updates, go to www.localplan.winchester.gov.uk The County Council is up for election in its entirety on the 6th May. I really do hope to be back to write the June edition of County Corner!

Cllr Jackie Porter, County Council’s Covid-19 helpline 0333 370 4000 www.jackieporter.co.uk 07973 696 085, Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk 01962 791054

The Dever - May 2021

City Councillors’ News The Council’s new Sport and Leisure Park at Bar End is nearly complete and should start being used in the next few weeks, just as other indoor sports facilities begin to open up again. With a large sports hall, several studios, a huge gym and 4 pools, including a 50m pool that will normally operate as two separate facilities, and a hydrotherapy pool, the new centre will offer many new leisure and fitness opportunities. I hope that you will be able to benefit from this large investment of public monies.

Many hundreds of people have responded to the public consultation on the City Council’s Strategic Issues and Priorities document. This document does not allocate sites for development but will set down the approach for those allocations. The next stage will be for the Council to agree the preferred option and then to start allocating land for development. This should start in June.

We were pleased that the Government has allocated several significant grants to some of the artistic performance organisations and venues in and around Winchester. Funding from the Culture

Stephen

Cllr Stephen Godfrey 119 Downs Road South Wonston SO21 3EH Tel: 01962 884477 sgodfrey@winchester.gov.uk

Caroline

Recovery Fund has gone to the Theatre Royal, The Railway Inn, Hampshire Cultural Trust and several other groups.

We hope that this will help this important sector to recover from the pandemic lockdowns. Government financial support is still available for qualifying businesses through Winchester City Council. Contact one of us for details.

Local elections will go ahead this year on 6th May 2021. You will be able to vote in elections for a County Councillor, a City Councillor and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Voting in person will take place in the normal polling stations from 7am until 10pm on election day.

Following the Government decision not to extend the period allowing councils to meet online from 7th May 2021, Parish Councils are soon to start meeting face-to-face again.

Micheldever PC will meet online on Wednesday 5th May; Wonston PC and South Wonston PC are yet to announce their plans. Please look at their websites for details. All City Councillors are available for you to contact at any time.

Cllr Caroline Horrill Wheatlands Woodman Lane Sparsholt SO21 3SH Tel: 01962 776844 chorrill@winchester.gov.uk

Patrick

Cllr Patrick Cunningham The Corner House North Drive Littleton SO22 6QA Tel: 07866 367897 pcunningham@winchester.gov.uk

The Dever - May 2021 17

Confessions Of A Food Waste Campaigner Sam Watts, Chair of WinACC’s Food Action Group Reflecting on a week long campaign as part of the inaugural #FoodWasteActionWeek at the beginning of March, I am amazed at how easy it should be to reduce food waste, especially in the home. It sounds simple enough – measure portions, freeze leftovers/batch cook and the most obvious is to plan your meals so you only buy what you need. This is the advice that I heartily promoted as part of the Incredible Edible Winchester campaign. So, I am really embarrassed to have to confess that I am the worst when it comes to meal planning, and I rarely take a shopping list when I go shopping.

But does that mean I waste lots of food? No, I don’t. What it does mean, is that for the couple of days before I do my big shop, I simply eat what I have in the fridge and freezer, like a supper meze. Yes, I sometimes have weird combinations or end up eating variations of chilli for 3 days (because I also forgot to freeze it in smaller portions) but that works for me. Meal planning isn’t the only way to reduce food waste.

So, now I’ve made my confession, why am I still so passionate that food waste is taken seriously when it comes to climate change? Food production, when you consider the farming, transport, processing etc, equates to 26% of all CO2 (equivalent) emissions and uses 50% of the world habitable land (source: ourworldindata.org/environmentalimpacts-of-food) yet almost 30% of food produced is not eaten. There are a variety of reasons why this food is not eaten, but 18

I am going to focus on the bit that we can all change; food waste from the home.

The average UK family throws away £60 of edible food a month (Source:WRAP– Food-surplus-and-waste-in-the-UK key-facts-Jan-2020.pdf) and on a worldwide scale food waste equates to the same amount of emissions as 3 times that of aviation emissions.

Most of you reading this blog are thinking, well I’m really careful, I don’t throw away that much food. So, I challenge you to really look at what you do throw away. And do you throw it in the black bin, or are you able to compost it? Could some of the things you throw away, actually be eaten? Do you “complEAT”? Do you peel veg, or do you just give it a good wash, and eat the skin? Think of all the time you’d save and all that extra fibre you’d consume if you didn’t peel potatoes, carrots and parsnips, or saved those broccoli stalks for soup. I’d never heard of “complEAT” before the #LoveFoodHateWaste campaign; I just thought I was a time effective cook (aka lazy) Now I’m on my soapbox, we need to change how we talk about food waste; we need to separate edible food from non-edible food. Non-edible food is those bits that we truly can’t eat, and we should look at effective ways to compost this (maybe for a later blog), but edible food should never be called food waste.

If we could reduce edible food waste, the United Nation estimates there would be enough food for 2 million people (source: The Dever - May 2021

www.fao.org/home/en). We all sometimes buy too much, plans change or our garden/allotment produces a glut, I would implore you to consider ways to share that surplus with your friends, neighbours or community food hubs. Incredible Edible Winchester is helping promote food sharing apps such as OLIO, neighbourly or TooGoodtoGo, for people to share surplus food, and the Winchester Food Partnership has created a #shareoursurplus directory.

Some of you may say that sharing a few surplus apples from your tree isn’t going to fix climate change, and I’m not saying it will. But, changing the way we think will. Food is relatively inexpensive, and we can sometimes forget that sometimes wasting the cheapest things has the biggest environmental impact.

Rethinking food, and it’s value will

contribute to larger behavioural change and will help people take more difficult decisions e.g reducing the amount of meat and dairy, that does have a significant impact on climate change, but I’ll leave sustainable food choices for another day.

I hope I’ve given you some “food for thought” and you’ll accept the challenge of looking at what food goes in your bin, and rethinking our necessity to peel everything.

If you’d like to find out more there are lots of local groups working together. Incredible Edible Winchester, Winchester Food Partnership, LEAF Alresford, Smart Living Hampshire, are all looking for people to join, celebrate and promote ways in which we can reduce our environmental footprint and help promote the impact food has when it comes to the #climateemergency

Micheldever Fete The Micheldever fete will be taking place on the 17th July on the Lord Rank Playing Field at 1pm and is open to all. It is normally a lovely sunny day with lots of fun for all members of the community.

The Committee running the fete this year is running low on members and are looking out for some local individuals who would like to join in with the

preparations. If you are new to the village or looking for a fresh short term challenge and would like to help out please do contact me. My email is louisekeys7@ gmail.com or tel: 774326. Our first meeting is on the 12th May by Zoom.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Louise Keys–Fete Committee chair.

Holy Dusters St Mary the Virgin Mowing & Path Sweeping

Simon Hughes, Roger Forsey, David Findley

St James’ Flowers and Cleaning

Gillie Ballard, Karen Taylor

The Dever - May 2021 19

In the Garden – May Writing this article in mid April, we are having a wonderful spell of sunshine but with frosty mornings which rather delays the planting out of spring vegetables and bedding plants.

But the big wild cherry tree is bursting into blossom, much to the delight of pigeons which are feasting on the buds at the top but hopefully leaving the lower branches for our annual cherry feast.

The cock pheasant struts around the garden with his 3 wives and the occasional hare can be seen lolloping across the fields.

Jobs to do once the risk of frost has gone: Ή Plant out half hardy annuals and summer bedding plants Ή Earth up potatoes Ή Sow succession crops such as salad leaves Ή Plant out courgettes, squash and other tender vegs such as runner beans Ή Keep hoeing weeds

Ή Feed container plants every 2 weeks Ή Spray roses for aphid and black spot Ή Provide canes to support lily stems, shoots of delphiniums and other perennials Ή Prune early spring flowering shrubs as they fade Ή The “Chelsea Chop” is usually carried out around the end of May when the Chelsea Flower show takes place, but it has been postponed this year.

However this method of shortening some or all of various herbaceous plants by up to a half makes them flower a little later with smaller stockier blooms – I always do it to my sedums.

But don’t do it if the weather is dry.

Finally, enjoy your garden, and visit others where allowed.

Lastly make a note of our annual Plant and cake sale in St Mary’s churchyard on 27 May. Hope to see you all there! CK

Upper Dever Church Locations All Saints East Stratton SO21 3XA _________ ruffling.upstarts.disposing Holy Trinity Wonston SO21 3LS_______________ grub.dove.unpacked St James Hunton SO21 3PX _____________ lingering.dwistract.improve St James Woodmancote SO21 3BL ____________ scatters.helper.rating St Mary the Virgin Micheldever SO21 3DA _____ sprays.serenade.gripes St Mary and St Michael Stoke Charity SO21 3PG ___evaded.avoid.lyricist

20

The Dever - May 2021

Forthcoming Events 2021-2022

7

6 3 7 2 6 3

Ellis Run First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc Micheldever Parish Council–tbc St Mary’s Church Fête - Lord Rank Playing Field.

Micheldever Parish Council - tbc Safari Supper - tbc.

Micheldever Parish Council - tbc Micheldever Parish Council - tbc Table Top Sale - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council - tbc Celebrating Micheldever Station 2020+1 - The Warren Centre - tbc 1

7 4 2 6

6 5 8 9 6

Sudoku 1 8 1

5 9

(Medium) 5 2 4

Daily Sudoku: Sat 13-Mar-2021

hard

April Solution

4 1 3 2 6 9 7 5 8 5 8 7 4 1 2 3 9 6 1 4 2 3 9 6 5 8 7 6 7 8 3

3 2 6 9

9 4 1 5

7 9 5 6

5 8 2 4

Daily Sudoku: Sat 13-Mar-2021

8 1 3 7

1 6 4 8

2 3 7 1

4 5 9 2 hard

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

2 7 6 8 3 5 9 4 1 9 5 8 1 7 4 2 6 3

5

1 2 2 3 1 4 3 6 2 3 6 3 5 7 9 4 7 4 9 2 6 4 1 8 3 4

Daily Sudoku: Tue 13-Apr-2021

7

8

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

9 4

Micheldever Parish Council - tbc First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc Peter Pan 2 (MVG summer Panto) - tbc

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

June 2nd 7.30 pm 6th 10.30 am 16th-20th July 3rd & 4th 4th 10.30 am 7th 7.30 pm 17th 2.00 pm September 1st 7.30 pm 11th 7.30 pm October 6th 7.30 pm November 3rd 7.30 pm 27th 1.00pm December 1st 7.30 pm May 8th 11.30 am 3

medium

http://www.dailysudoku.com/ The Dever - May 2021 21

May Diary 2nd 10.30 am 5th 7.30 pm 10th -16th 27th 10.30 am

First Sunday in the Month Walk - Manor Farm yard - see page 2 Micheldever Parish Council - details below Christian Aid Week Plant & Cake Sale - St Mary the Virgin churchyard.

Hall Booking East Stratton Village Hall Northbrook Hall The Warren Centre

01962 774517, 07731 952705, info@thewarrencentre.co.uk

Please Remember to Check That Events Are Taking Place Before Venturing Out Mobile Post Office Wednesday morning 9.30 – 10.30 Lord Rank Car Park (please note: times may vary slightly)

www.micheldeverparish.org.uk Parish Council Matters–Planning Applications, Meetings–Agendas, Dates & Minutes, Newsletters, Parish Assembly and more.

The next Micheldever Parish Council meeting will be

Wednesday 5th May Meeting Link–https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89662669263 Dial-In–0203 481 5237 Meeting ID: 896 6266 9263

COVID19 Information - March 17th Update The latest information for Micheldever Parish, including live links to local services.

Visit www.micheldeverparish.org.uk and select COVID19 Information button on home page.

22

The Dever - May 2021

ST MARY’S PLANT & CAKE SALE THURSDAY 27th MAY 10.30AM TO MIDDAY ST MARY’S CHURCHYARD MICHELDEVER Please observe social distancing

n 2 a P r e t

Micheldever Variety Group Summer Panto

e P

e! l y St o c s e r f l A

Written by Chris Egan

The Boy Who Never Grew Up But Everyone Else Did

Tickets on sale soon

JUNE 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th

‘I pray to God that the rainfall will become normal’ The climate crisis robs Rose of what she needs to survive: a reliable source of water.

Together we can help ensure people like Rose have the water they need to live.

Give and pray with us this Christian Aid Week.

Join us:

Look out for the Christian Aid Week envelope inside this magazine Please give generously, and return it to your local Christian Aid collector at the address on the envelope No envelope? - give online at www.caweek.org Thank-you

Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. Eng and Wales charity no. 1105851 Scot charity no. SC039150 Company no. 5171525 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no.

20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid November 2020 J204142 Photos: Christian Aid/Adam Finch