The Dever November 2022

Winner of the Autumn Photo Competition

Photograph by Merisa Serfontein

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

Sunday 6th Nov 2022

Warren Centre C.P. at 10:00am

Walk starts from The Tichborne Arms. SO24 0NA at 10.30am

Three years ago Adam introduced us to this local environmental project. He has kindly agreed to lead First-Sunday–in-the-Month walkers to view the progress. Will Cheriton Stream have suffered the drought like The Dever? Tichborne River Restoration Project —turning back time. Adam will guide us along the gin clear, newly meandering chalk stream. Pointing out, and explaining, how the partnership project has helped to restore priority habitat for some of our most threatened species. Along the way, explaining the story of how the project came about, the aims, lessons learnt and how the successes of the project are being monitored. Thanks to the Tichborne Estate for kindly allowing Adam to show the group through their meadows at the start of this 4 mile walk

Our nominated charity for donations in connection with this event is:

After exploring the flow of Cheriton Stream through the Tichborne Estate Adam will lead the group over the downs to loop back to the Pub. ETA 1.30pm

The Tichborne Arms has been totally renovated by new ownership. Check the website. It looks exciting www.tichbornearms.com

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Suggested donation of £5 per person - children free.

Adam will be assisted by Diana Aldam if you wish any local/ walk information.

If you can clean mud from your footware BEFORE the walk that would be very helpful.

Further details contact Adam Cave at: cavey252@yahoo.com

Dever Valley Contacts

Church Wardens

St. Mary the Virgin Micheldever

Jan Mason 01962 774362

Juliet Pattinson 01962 774399

Holy Trinity Wonston

Sarah Hobhouse 01962 760003

St Margaret's South Wonston

Melinda Samms 01962 761036

Roger Keys 01962 881718

St Mary & St Michael Stoke Charity

Ruth Guy 01962 760259

Websites

St Mary the Virgin www.stmarysmicheldever.co.uk

Holy Trinity www.wonstonchurch.co.uk

The Dever

Editor:

Peter O’Keefe

07515 339279

1 Canada Cottages, Overton Road, Micheldever Station, SO21 3AN.

Email: editor@thedever.org

Printing:

James Dixon and team

Annual Subscription January to December for 12 issues: £8.00; £15.00 by post.

Articles for December issue to be received by the editor before 15th November please. Articles printed in The Dever are accepted ‘as is’ and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial Team.

Subscriptions Enquiries & Distribution

Dever

A View From The Vicarage

I am writing this introduction to The Dever on a beautiful Sunday afternoon having just returned from the Harvest Festival at All Saints, East Strattonmy third Harvest Festival of the season. And, Harvest Festivals (services where we celebrate and give thanks to God for the harvest) have been taking place at all churches and in all communities across The Dever Benefice.

When we celebrate and give thanks for the harvest we are indeed giving thanks to God for our local farmers, farm workers and food producers on our arable, livestock and poultry farms. Farms that surround each and every community from Woodmancote to South Wonston to produce the food that nourishes us and sustains us physically. But as we gathered this year in brilliantly decorated churches and in fields, we did so when access to food has become a little more difficult for some and significantly difficult for others. The war in Ukraine has severed the supply of wheat and grain destined to feed the world’s poor – it is these people, already desperate, who are now living with the threat of starvation and destitution. And, closer to home as a result of the cost of living crisis, there will be family and friends, people whom we know and love, who will be making choices that they have never made before: how much food can we afford? Should I miss a meal to save money? Is it time

to ask for help from a food bank?

There will be people in our villages, yes, even in our beautiful villages, who will be asking themselves these questions. As a group of rural churches, we are determined that no meal should be missed by anyone in our community. As a result, each rural church will stock a limited supply of donated basics that can be accessed by those in most need (each church will advertise on its notice board when the church will be open for collections).

But harvest is not just about the food that nourishes us and the food that sustains us physically, it is about the food that nourishes us and sustains us spiritually. In John’s Gospel, Jesus makes clear that in addition to the food that sustains us in our earthly life, he ‘is the bread of life [and that] whoever come to me will never be hungry again [and] whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’.

So, as we celebrate and give God for the harvest at this time, we are called to ensure that all within our communities have enough food for nourishment and sustenance. And, as Christians, we are called to celebrate and give thanks to God for revealing himself in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the eternal harvest.

Rev’d Dr Robert Rees The Dever Benefice

News from Woodmancote & Popham

Since I last wrote a piece for this magazine, at the very beginning of September, such a lot seems to have happened. Most notably our dear Queen Elizabeth II passed away and the country was plunged into mourning her deep loss. So much has been written about that over the past two months, but these words I thought I’d share with you. It was just someone making a comment on the BBC website, but I thought his words summed up my thoughts entirely and were so true.

“How odd, for a 96-year-old to pass away and it still to be a shock. Yet the queen was performing her duties of State, seeing off the old PM and appointing the new one, just two days before she slipped away. If it had been a weeks - or months - long slow fade, confined to a hospital bed, there would have been no shock. So that’s why the inevitable comes, as if mischievously, with a tinge of “startlement.” It occurs to me that Elizabeth II would not have wanted it be any other way. As she slipped in rather suddenly and startlingly, so she slipped out.”

On 25th September St. James’ held Harvest Festival followed by a lunch, kindly hosted by Emily and Myles Bray at their house in Woodmancott.

The Church looked amazing adorned with beautiful flowers, vegetables and fruit. We are so lucky to have such a talented village to help decorate the Church.

The Church was packed and it was a fine Autumn day. Rev. Rob took the Service – he reminded us how fortunate we are to have so much food when so many people are

not so lucky. Especially remembering the people in Ukraine and also how the war is affecting developing countries whose food supply mainly comes from Ukraine. This was also mentioned by Nick Allen in the Harvest report and, of course, so was the weather! This year though it wasn’t the rain but the very dry Summer. Nick said that while it has been very difficult for livestock farmers, the yields from winter wheat have been surprisingly good. Lunch was a joyous affair and everyone contributed by providing a dish. Special thanks to Nick Greenwood who cooked and provided both the Gammon and Salmon.

With the raffle and an unexpected auction prize which really bolstered our fund raising, we had a very successful day. Even more than that, it was a lovely afternoon spent with friends and neighbours in a beautiful English country garden…. perfect.

Don’t forget our All Souls Service at 6pm on 30th October when we gather together to remember loved ones who have passed away. In November there is a service of Holy Communion at 6pm on Sunday 20th.

Jane.

Wednesday 2nd November 12.30pm at Northbrook Hall

Two course lunch for £4.50

If you need a lift or have not been before, please give me a call Tricia Patston on 795028

Micheldever Parish Council Notice of Meeting

Wednesday 2nd November

The Warren Centre 7.30pm

This will be a full face to face meeting of the Parish Council and residents will be welcome to attend . There will be an opportunity for questions from the public at around 8 .00pm

www.micheldeverparish.org.uk

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

Wonston Community Café

After a break in August the Community Café returned in September raising funds for the RNLI. We were lucky with the weather again and most of our visitors enjoyed their coffee and cake outside in the sunshine. As well as our many regular visitors, this month the Worthies WI walking group joined us for the first time. A fantastic £230 was raised, after costs, from sales of coffee and delicious homemade cakes. In addition, Maggie and Pam, fundraising volunteers for the RNLI, raised £412 from sales of goods and Christmas cards. A brilliant result for the charity, and many thanks to all who bought gifts. Our next Community Café will be at the Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney, 9.30am–12 noon on Wednesday 16th November when we will be raising funds for Canine Partners, a registered charity that transforms the lives of people with physical disabilities by partnering them with assistance dogs. The amazing dogs bring a greater

independence and quality of life to their partners, offering security, companionship, and practical help with everyday household tasks. These life-changing dogs also provide psychological and social benefits including increased independence, confidence, social interaction and self-esteem.

We are a cash only café, last orders

11.45am, lots of free parking. Donations to our monthly nominated charity are always welcome. Our next dates are as follows:

16th November Canine Partners

21st December Myeloma UK

Janis Kinnell

Micheldever Village Store

I hope that I can keep you updated on how things are progressing with the village store. First and foremost, I want to thank the community for the wonderful welcome we have had, I, my business partner Sushi, my mother-in-law Sabena and my sister-in-law Basha feel so at home here already and we all look forward to developing the store that you want and need.

There are several things going through the official processes at present.

We are nearly there with our licence to sell alcohol.

Items for celebrations will be on the shelves shortly–cards, gifts, chocolates and more.

By the time you read this we should be able to serve a range of fresh coffee.

Our early days have been a little

challenging as we get our staffing right between Micheldever and our store in Winchester. This should have been resolved by the time you read this.

Every day we get a clearer understanding of the wishes and needs of the community and we are focusing on serving those wishes and needs.

I am conscious that we need to be better at getting things on social media and we will be addressing this.

Soon there will be a sign on the roadside verge so that the presence of the store is clearer.

For me and my family, it is a privilege to have the store in Micheldever and we look forward to the future accordingly.

Rajeev

Micheldever Harvest Supper

After a break of several years, it was good to once again share a harvest supper with our friends and new acquaintances.

The evening was a great success and attended by around 40 people. Several local residents had helped to decorate the hall and prepare a superb supper and dessert, with a bar of course, enjoyed within a very cosy and friendly atmosphere. The evening closed with some light entertainment which was the perfect ending.

This will now be an annual event, when we will share our community spirit with good food, and fellowship.

The event raised approximately £350 which is a brilliant effort considering this event was the first time for a while and we look forward to a larger attendance year on year.

A huge thank you to all who worked so hard to help make the harvest supper such an enjoyable time for us all.

Maurelle and Olly.

Community Pantry

The Winchester Community Food and Clothing pantries are a vital community organisation based in Winnall, Winchester. Set up in 2020 it enables local community members to get ‘more for less’ when it comes to a food shop. The pantry aims to help and encourage individuals and families that need a little bit of support during these tough times. This winter the pantries would like to help as many households as they can. Anyone is welcome to become a member and there is no criteria for joining. In 2022 the clothing pantry was opened and has become well used, providing school uniform and warm coats within the community.

The food pantry stocks fresh, frozen and general long life produce but relies on donations to be able to offer this invaluable service which helps so many households.

During this winter the pantries are looking for donations to be able to support as many local households as possible. The items that we are hoping to be donated are…..

Tinned produce–eg soups, beans, chickpeas, custard, rice pudding.

Packaged goods–pasta, rice, noodles, porridge oats

Toiletries and oral care products

Clothing–gloves, hats, scarves (new or used but in good condition)

All items must be in date and unopened. The Micheldever Stores will have a donation box at the store and the items will be picked up regularly, (no perishables please). Alternatively items can be dropped direct to the pantry.

Unit12

Winnall Valley Road

Winnall, Winchester, SO23 0LD

The pantries also welcome volunteers to help run the service on a day to day basis, with di fferent roles available.

For any questions please email CCP@unit-12.com or visit the website

www.unit-12.org

Fly Tipping

I am full time in this role and deal with all reported fly tipping incidents in the whole of the Winchester District area. This includes allocating the appropriate jobs to our contractors for clearance (on public land) and investigating all incidents where there is a lead to an offender (on both public and private land).

With specific regard to private land, I will work with landowners where evidence of an offender is identified. Where there is a defendant and Court proceedings are pending, a compensation order request can be put to the Courts for clearance costs incurred by landowners.

The best way to report a fly tipping incident is on the WCC website using the ‘Your Winchester’ system. The fly tipping report form on the website is the most effective way of reporting all incidents and is the system that is used to instruct the contractors. We are all aware that the mapping system at present is poor and this will be improved.

There are 3 ways that evidence of an offender in a fly tipping incident can be identified. Firstly, where the offence is witnessed by a member of the public. This may be with or without the use of an offending vehicle. Secondly, where evidence is found within fly tipped waste, having been inspected by landowners, general public, contractors or investigating Officers. Thirdly, where images of the offence are captured on a camera system (privately owned or Council deployed).

Witnessed cases:

Do …

• make a note of the registration number and keep the piece of paper or mobile phone entry

• keep hidden from view as far as practicable, with or without a mobile phone

• take 3 or 4 photos of the dumped waste after the incident has occurred, with at least one photo being from a wider angle i.e. not all close-ups

Do not …

• try to stop the offence from occurring

• follow or pursue offending vehicles

• put yourself at risk or place yourself in danger of harm in any way

Evidence found within a fly tip:

Do …

• take photos of names and addresses on envelopes / packaging labels, making sure the images are readable and not blurred

• take 3 or 4 photos of the dumped waste, with at least one photo being from a wider angle i.e. not all close-ups

Do not …

• remove any items or evidence from the fly tip

Private cameras:

Do …

• save the images on your phone, CCTV system or other camera system

• take 3 or 4 screenshots of the captured images from the video, in case the video images are corrupted

• take 3 or 4 still photos of the dumped waste, with at least one photo being from a wider angle i.e. not all close-ups

Do not …

• arrange for clearance of the dumped waste until still photos of the waste are taken

Gary Brown

Fly Tipping Officer

Winchester City Council

Recipe of the Month

I have been enjoying some chats with Rajeev in Micheldever Village Shop about the Indian food I enjoy cooking (and eating!). He is very helpful and knowledgeable and also able to provide all the ingredients I need. We thought it would be a great idea to include a ‘recipe of the month’ slot in the Dever Magazine, with an emphasis in these challenging times on low-cost, filling meals. We hope it will also encourage people to pop into the shop to buy the ingredients and give the recipes a try. Please do feel free to suggest your own favourite recipes!

Autumn Pilau with Aubergines, Tomatoes and Chickpeas

This is from Meera Sodha’s book ‘Fresh India’. She describes this as ‘an excellent dish for a cold autumn day, which always hits the spot.’

Serves 4

250g basmati rice

rapeseed oil

3 medium aubergines (cut into 1 cm slices)

50g unsalted butter

1 large onion, thinly sliced

5 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 tin of chopped tomatoes

1 tin of chickpeas

1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 1/3 teaspoon chilli powder

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

375 ml vegetable stock

Wash the rice in a few changes of cold water until the water runs clear, then leave to soak.

Meanwhile, put 4 tablespoons of oil into a large frying pan over a medium to high heat. When hot, add a small batch of the aubergines, enough to lay on the bottom of the pan without crowding. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until soft, collapsing and nicely browned on the outside, turning every couple of minutes. Transfer to a plate, then fry the rest, adding more oil per batch.

In the same pan, melt the butter, add the onion and fry for around 8 minutes. Remove a tablespoon of onion to scatter over the top of the rice later. Add the garlic to the pan, fry for a couple of minutes, then add the tomatoes. Cook for around 5 minutes, until the tomatoes are softened then add the cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, cloves, chilli powder and salt. Stir well, then add the chickpeas and the aubergines. Cook for a couple of minutes then take it off the heat.

Pour the vegetable stock into a deep saucepan with a tight fitting lid. Drain the rice, add to the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Cook for 2 minutes then cover with the lid, turn the heat right down and simmer for 10 minutes or until tender. Turn the heat off and let the rice steam through for 5 minutes. Fluff up the rice using a fork, before folding in the aubergines and chickpeas. Mix well and heat together for a couple of minutes, then take off the heat.

Transfer to a serving dish, scatter over the reserved onion and serve with a cooling dollop of yoghurt and a little pickle on the side.

Bon Appetit!

Alison

“Having

Chris & Lionel from Romsey

WinACC has been taking action on the climate crisis since 2008. This project is completely independent of installers and is to help local homeowners find out how they can make their homes more energy efficient.

News from Micheldever C of E Primary School ~ November

We have certainly been busy at the school! The end of September brought a longawaited OFSTED inspection to the school. Whilst we are unable at the time of writing to share the outcome of the report, I can say that I am very proud of everyone linked with the school. Children excelled through the inspection and the staff were able to demonstrate all their hard work over the two days the inspectors were with us. The report is due to be made public around the middle of November – please do have a read of it either via ours, or OFSTEDs websites. Children have continued to work incredibly either side of the inspection. A highlight for us this past term was our excellent Harvest Celebration service at the church. Pine class (Year 1/2) did an excellent job in leading us through the service and we were particularly proud of Oak class (R/1) who performed a song after, for many of them, only 5 weeks at school. We are gearing up to take part in a tag rugby competition which Hawthorn (our Year 6 class) will be representing the school at.

Our children have thoroughly enjoyed earning house points for a variety of positive things this term and seeing them collectively gather up – a bit like in Harry Potter! We have been working really hard to learn our golden rules this term and have been focusing on a different one each week. Our favourites include ‘We are Kind’ where we have thought about the book Wonder and ‘We can Let it go,’ which inspires us to break out into Frozen singing! Our second open morning for prospective parents is on the 22nd November at 9:30am. We would really like to meet you and you child if you are considering coming to Micheldever school in September 2023. Please contact the school office on 01962774213 or adminoffice@micheldever. hants.sch.uk if you are thinking of coming.

Mr T. Johnston, Headteacher, Micheldever Primary School, 01962 774213

The Dever Singers’

Christmas Cooncert

A varied programme of festive music

Saturday 10th December 2022 at 7.30pm

St. Margaret’s church, South Wonston &

Sunday 11th December 2022 at 6.00pm

St. Mary the Virgin Church, Micheldever

No Entry Charge

Retiring collection for Church funds

Church Services for The Dever Benefice

November 6th Twenty First Sunday after Trinity

10.00 am Morning Prayer with Baptisms St Mary the Virgin–Micheldever

Rev’d Rob Rees & Rev’d Paul Bradish

10.00 am Morning Prayer St Margaret’s–South Wonston

John Walsh

10.00 am Morning Prayer St James–Hunton

Campbell Dye

11.00 am Holy Communion Holy Trinity–Wonston

Rev’d Neil Britton

November 13th Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity

10.00 am Remembrance St Margaret's–South Wonston

Roger Keys / Melinda Samms

10.00 am Remembrance Family Service

Ruth Guy

St Mary & St Michael–Stoke Charity

10.50 am Remembrance St Mary the Virgin–Micheldever

Richard Vellacott

10.50 am Remembrance All Saints–East Stratton

Rev’d Rob Rees

10.45am Remembrance at Sutton Scotney Memorial followed by Service at 11.15

Rev’d Helen O’Sullivan Holy Trinity–Wonston

November 20th Christ the King

10.00 am Holy Communion St Mary the Virgin–Micheldever

Rev’d Rob Rees

10.00 am Praise Service St Margaret’s–South Wonston

Mary Cleal

10.00 am Holy Communion Holy Trinity–Wonston

tbc

6.00 pm Holy Communion St James–Woodmancote

Rev’d Rob Rees

November 27th 1st Sunday of Advent

10.00 am Holy Communion St Margaret’s–South Wonston

Rev’d Neil Britton

11.00 am Morning Prayer Holy Trinity–Wonston

Rev’d Helen O’Sullivan

6.00 pm Evensong St Mary & St Michael–Stoke Charity

Roland Guy

December 4th 2nd Sunday of Advent

10.00

10.00

10.00

Rev’d Rob Rees

Keys

Rev’d Neil Britton

11.00 am Morning Prayer Holy Trinity–Wonston

Roland Guy

For further information, please contact the Parish Coordinator, email: coordinator upperdever@hotmail com

Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday

This year Remembrance Day is on Friday 11 November and the Remembrance Service on Sunday 13 November.

Remembrance Day. There will be a short service at the Micheldever War Memorial on Remembrance Day, Friday 11th November. Those wishing to attend should assemble at the War Memorial for 1050 hours, in order for the Service to start at the right moment for the sounding of the last Post at 1100 hours, followed by the two minute silence and Reveille. After Reveille there will be an opportunity for the laying of wreaths should anyone wish to do so.

Remembrance Sunday. The Service of Remembrance will be held in St Mary the Virgin church, Micheldever, on Sunday 13th November. The service will commence at 1050 hours and those attending are asked to be seated in good time for the start of the service. All are welcome, regardless of

faith or otherwise, as this is a celebration and appreciation of all those who have lost their lives in the service of this country. The Royal British Legion. Preceding this is the annual Poppy Collection to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. The Legion helps both veterans and serving service personal facing trauma and hardship. There will be a door to door collection and static sites around the locality, such as in the Village Store, the Half Moon and Spread Eagle, The Dove and Micheldever Tyres during the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Day. If you are able, please have some cash to hand for the collections.

Parish Council News

Parking on Pavements

Whilst not illegal outside London, the Highway Code makes it clear that cars should not be parked partially or wholly on pavements. Parking on the pavement can obstruct pedestrians, pushchairs and wheelchair users and is extremely dangerous when they are forced onto the road in order to navigate around a vehicle.

This is of particular concern in Micheldever Station where the Speed Indication Device, as noted last month, has recorded average speeds in excess of 30mph. Please could we urge residents and their visitors not to obstruct the pavements with their vehicles. The benefit of complying with this request is that vehicles parked in the road act as a traffic calming measure and aid in reducing average speeds.

Fireworks

As Bonfire Night approaches please show consideration by advising neighbours with thatched roofs or pets if you intend to use fireworks in your garden. If a thatched roof does ignite the results are rapid and devastating. Neighbours may wish to remain at home to mitigate such a risk or to comfort pets.

Vandalism at the Lord Rank

Glass has been broken in the bus shelter and at the pavilion, damage has also been caused or attempted in the newly refurbished play area. It is really disheartening to see such mindless destruction and for the Parish Council to continually be using funds for repairs which could otherwise be allocated towards new projects.

If you are aware of any disturbances at the Lord Rank please report these to the Police on 101 or via the 101 on-line service.

Dog Fouling

Now that the darker evenings are here please take precautions to ensure that you know where your dog has fouled and can clear up after them. Keep a dog on their lead until they have conducted their business and consider taking a torch with you.

It is an offence to allow your dog to foul in a public area. It is also offensive to other users, dangerous to children and not fair on responsible dog owners who often end up clearing up additional mess to avoid all dog owners being penalised.

Jocelyn, the Clerk, can be contacted via micheldeverpc@hotmail.co.uk or on 01794 368951 (office hours if possible please).

Dever Valley 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 Margaret's South Wonston SO21 3EW diver.guises.tarred

St Mary the Virgin Micheldever SO21 3DA sprays.serenade.gripes

St Mary and St Michael Stoke Charity SO21 3PG evaded.avoid.lyricist

Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin

November 6th

10.00 am Sides-duty Georgie Balmain and Jan Mason

Reader Georgie Balmain

November 13th

6.00 pm Sides-duty Juliet Pattinson and Jan Mason

Readers From the Parish

November 20th

10.00 am Sides-duty Olly Bramly and Alison Vaissiere

Readers Helen Symes and Tricia Patston

Holy Dusters

St Mary the Virgin

Week beginning Monday; 31st Tricia & Charlotte

7th Sue & Gail

14th Olive & Eleanor

St James

Flowers and Cleaning Jane Milsome and Linda Albin

City Councillors’ News

Proposals for changes to the Local Plan have finally been published. This is the first version of the new Local Plan that includes the proposed development policies and the proposed allocation of sites for new development. There are some significant changes in the policies that have come forward as a surprise to us. Some changes are welcome, others cause concern:

• Energy efficiency. New homes will need to be built with no fossil fuels used for heating or cooking and must operate at net zero carbon. Developers may find this target hard to deliver initially.

• Water efficiency. New and refurbished homes will have to manage the use of water very carefully. This will need external assessors that will add costs for smaller schemes.

• Sustainable Travel. New homes that generate extra demand for travel will need to contribute to public transport schemes. In rural areas, it is hard to see how this can be used to

improve local travel arrangements.

• Affordable Housing. More flexibility in the amount of affordable housing is proposed, with a lower % required on brownfield land. Of the affordable homes built on a site, 65% must be for rent and 25% must be “First Homes” (always to be sold at 25% below the market price).

Proposals for new development site allocations were also published. These include 900 new homes at Sir John Moore Barracks, but without any of the safeguards to the rural character of Littleton that the Parish Council are demanding. Despite rejection by South Wonston Parish Council, allocations for 63 new homes have been made in the village, including sites near Chaucer Close and West Hill Road North. We will continue to object to developments in the countryside like these. Please have your say on the proposed changes to the Local Plan during the consultation that runs from 2nd November to 14th December 2022 – details on the City Council website.

You can contact your City Councillors at any time or you can catch us at any of the Parish Council meetings. None of our Parish Councils meet during August. Their next meetings are on:

Micheldever PC Wednesday 2nd November

Wonston PC Wednesday 9th November

South Wonston PC Monday 14th November

Stephen

Cllr Stephen Godfrey

119 Downs Road

South Wonston

SO21 3EH

Tel: 01962 884477

sgodfrey@winchester.gov.uk

The Warren Centre.

Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney.

South Wonston Pavilion. All meetings start at 7.30pm.

Caroline

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 Gruffalo is in Micheldever Station

What a busy first term it has been; the children have been so busy we have not had time to stop. This term we have been

list for some days, so if you would like to join the family, please do get in touch.

Next term is always going to be busy with the run up to the Christmas Term. It is always one of our favourite terms as it’s full of fun, festivity and bright twinkling lights.

If you feel that you would like to be a part of our preschool family and join us on our Hygge journey we do have some availability at the moment and would love to welcome you all. So if you would like or know someone

looking at the story ‘The Gruffalo’, a much well loved family story that is worth a read to every child, no matter how old.

The children have been undertaking lots of activities, from making Gruffalo crumble, to creating the characters, to role playing in our Gruffalo role play corner. There is never a dull moment at preschool when you are with your preschool family.

We have also been so lucky to have football sessions once a fortnight with a qualified training coach. The children have absolutely loved it and it’s so exciting seeing how engaged they are during these sessions too. We are very grateful to Mark, our deputy’s husband, who has given up his time to teach the children some new skills.

We have also welcomed some new children and a new staff member; we are so lucky to expand our preschool family with new members. We are now running a waiting

Jackie’s County Corner for November

I hope this Autumn finds you well, and maybe even as active as these runners at the Rotary Clarendon Marathon! It was fun to be just one of the hundreds of volunteers supporting nearly 1000 runners taking part. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in your community, including being a School Governor. If you are interested, please contact me.

This month we had a stark warning from the County about the state of the finances at HCC, given to us in preparation for the Council tax budget in December. They expect a £200m per annum deficit by 2025/26, even having made £640m per annum savings since 2008. (The budget for 2022/23 is £2.4 billion)

Inflation isn’t just a problem for us at home: the social care of adults and children is increasingly expensive and the costs of building new projects and maintaining older ones are rapidly increasing, in many cases by up to 40%. When I first became a County Councillor, approx. 1/3 of the income had to be generated locally, the remainder came from Government. Now the position is more than reversed and after a period of nil and lower council tax increase limits, and a restriction on the social care levy, the potential income has been forcibly reduced. There is a new trend to ask councils to bid against each other for a limited pot, which results in extensive consultations, and maybe no outcome. Unfortunately, Hampshire’s bid for ‘Bus Back better’ was unsuccessful so there is no budget to transform buses as hoped.

Capital programmes must be limited to those which maintain safe environments.

This does not give us much hope on starting new capital programmes, but I am pleased that certain capital programme outlines last month are expected to be going ahead. You can read more at www.hants.gov.uk/ News/12072022toughestbudget Road maintenance

Drainage: I have reported several drainage issues in the division; the gully cleanser is travelling round at present: if you have drains that need clearing, please report on www.hants.gov.uk/ transport/roadmaintenance

You can see local road works that might affect you one day, one week or longer on www.one.network

Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust: Hospital rebuild

I am the only member on the County’s JHOSC committee who actually lives in the catchment of the HHFT hospitals! This Joint Scrutiny Committee (with Southampton) is looking at the redevelopment of the hospital complex. On the last day of September, we heard that new hospital plans cannot be finalised until the Treasury agree the budgets for the 40 new hospitals. Only then can they consult on the site and services there.

About 17% of the inpatients are remaining in hospital because there is nowhere to send them, created by the difficult backlog of finding social care. Meanwhile HHFT

run ‘virtual wards’ which support the 9 in 10 of patients who go in for elective operations, and go home on the same day!

After delays outside HHFT’s control, it is now expected the site will be up and running by late 2030.

M3 Junction 9

The consultation of the new design for this junction is currently underway before National Highways seek a Development Consent Order over the winter. Go to national highways and search ‘M3 Junction 9’

The A33 option in the new design is much better, but local residents are expressing concern about the longer walk/cyclepath alongside the A34. This design will add to the UK’s carbon budget, but should reduce

queues on south and north in busy periods.

I want to see a Construction Management Plan which would reassure me and other councillors of the free running of local roads during the three years of construction: I await this before giving tacit approval to the scheme. Construction completion is now due in late 2027.

The news of HRH Queen Elizabeth’s death and King Charles III accession may mean that you missed the County Corner in October: it is published on my website www.jackieporter.co.uk .

You can contact me by email: Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk or phone 07973 696 085

Cllr Jackie Porter

Greening Micheldever Parish

Three members of Micheldever Parish Council attended a mini conference held at the Hampshire County Council offices in Winchester on the 19th October to discover more about Phase 2 of the Greening Campaign. Peter O’Keefe, Andy Adams, and Paul Brown who are leading the Greening Micheldever Parish initiative joined in the round-table discussion groups to learn from the organisers and from the experiences of other groups who are also taking part in supporting their communities in taking action to mitigate the effects of Climate Change.

Sometimes it feels like such a big problem that what we might do as individuals won’t make any significant difference. But we are not alone. There are now around 40 groups in Hampshire who are part of the Greening campaign and who have the support of the County Council, Winchester City Council and your MP Steve Brine.

The speaker for retrofitting described a recent visit to a group from a village of around 40 properties when asked how many had roof insulation only 2 said they had.

We were told it costs approximately £450 to properly insulate the roof space of an average house. It would then take only 2-3 years to payback the same amount saved on electricity bills. The Government is giving £400 to homes through electricity bills over the winter months. What might you use that money for? P. O’K

From Our MP Steve Brine

Thinking back to this Summer, there was only one story in town – the urgent need to help households and businesses with eyewatering energy bills expected this Winter. Every news bulletin screamed for action and my inbox was full of constituents, understandably, asking what help might be available.

Then, in the first few days of September – before the world changed and we lost our beloved late Queen – the new Prime Minister announced the single biggest Government intervention in peacetime in the form of the Energy Price Guarantee.

To recap for a moment, the global rising cost of energy–caused in part by the war in Ukraine–created unprecedented price rises for Winchester residents. Energy bills were due to rise by £6,500 so direct support measures had to be announced by the government.

As a result typical households in the Dever Valley will save £1,000 per year on their energy bills for two years which is ON TOP OF the £400 cash grant towards your domestic energy bill this autumn. This comes in six instalments over the next six months and will either be paid directly (as cash) into your bank account or credited to your electricity bill. That depends on your supplier but, to be clear, you do not need to take ANY ACTION to receive either but sensible energy saving measures are never a bad idea and there’s lots of help out there

to advise on ways to do that in your home. Furthermore, a £300 one-off cost-of living payment is on its way to pensioners who receive the Winter Fuel Payment. When we announced this help, we promised something equivalent for nondomestic properties and I spent time in the constituency talking to businesses, charities, schools and hospitals to ensure I could feed their need for help into Ministers. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme quickly followed (we announced as soon as we could after the period of national mourning was over) giving a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices worth up to half the price of expected energy prices this winter. I know this will be a great help locally.

Unlike the domestic help, this is initially only until end of March but I will be lobbying to see it scaled back for big firms –I don’t believe Amazon need the help even if they received it initially in the need to get help out there fast – and focused on small business in particular from the Spring.

There are still, however, gaps and as I write I am still pressing Ministers for clarity on how this help will achieve

Steve Brine MP - Micheldever Primary School

equivalence for park home owners, others who pay their rent and bills to one landlord and to those who are ‘off grid’ because at present they’re not getting the same help as everyone else and that’s not fair.

Finally, after several years of parent and staff concern about the school, I was thrilled to visit Micheldever Primary School recently

and hear from Headteacher, Tom Johnston, how it’s been transformed. Micheldever is a very happy school these days and the recent Ofsted visit was recognition indeed of a new era in the village. Well done everyone.

Steve Brine

MP for Winchester & Dever Valley

www.stevebrine.com

Open Morning

22nd November - 9.30am

For more information, or to book an alternative date, please contact - T: 01962 774213 or adminoffice@micheldever.hants.sch.uk

Outstanding SIAMS Inspection 2018

“The supportive and nurturing environment enables all pupils to thrive at Micheldever.”

‘Pupils are recognised as unique individuals and the school ensures that the curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of the pupils in their care so that they are able to achieve well in all areas. ‘

Our Values: Love, Hope, Trust, Forgiveness

Growing,Learning & SucceedingTogether

MICHELDEVER C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL

Your Organic Garden in November

November is the ideal month to start making plans for next year. Be ruthless with plants that performed badly; remove and replace with a better variety. Make notes of all your good ideas, ready for next year.

Don’t be too efficient during your final tidy up of the year. Provide over-wintering nooks and crannies for our helpful garden creatures such as hedgehogs, toads and ladybirds. Leave tufty grasses, small log heaps and piles of leaves to keep them safe until next spring. They’ll reward you by being on hand to control early pests.

Soil matters

Keep off wet soil in all parts of the garden to avoid compacting and damaging the structure. If you absolutely have to walk on it in the wet, stand on a plank to spread your weight. This is especially important for clay soil.

Protect bare soil during the winter months. Use autumn leaves as a mulch (cover) during winter weather. Don’t worry if there are fungi growing in the leaves; they won’t harm your plants.

Refresh your knowledge about soil care by reading Managing your Soil.

Don’t stop weeding. Hoe off/pull out any annual weeds, and dig out perennial ones that are revealed. Compost green foliage, but not seed heads nor perennial weed roots. Continue to collect fallen autumn leaves and pile them, keeping them damp, in large bin bags or heaps, to make leaf mould.

Composting

Avoid bonfires. If the compost bin is still overflowing, just store excess material in bags until the heap subsides enough for more to be piled in.

Leaves with blotches are safe to compost as their diseases are generally air-borne

and composting will break it all down. However, never add plant roots with soil-borne diseases such as Brassica club-root and onion white rot. Their spores will survive the composting process.

Give the heap a turn to aerate and stimulate the composting processes.

Check its consistency – if too dry add wet materials like nettles and green weed foliage and water them in. If too wet, add scrumpled junk mail, cardboard and small twigs which are good high-carbon materials and will aerate the heap.

Wood-waste needs to be composted until it’s thoroughly broken down, black and crumbly. Soaking large piles of shreddings with nettle tea will speed up the process. Alternatively, use fresh shreddings as path-coverings to keep feet mud-free in wet weather. Sharing the hire-costs of a shredder with neighbours is an economical way of dealing with piles of prunings.

Worm bins that are to remain outside need to be well-insulated to help the worms survive winter conditions. Reduce feeding in cold weather, as the worms will not consume very much at this time.

Vegetables

Check your leeks for ‘bolting’ (flowering). There is no way to stop this process so harvest the plants as soon as possible. You will still get a usable proportion of leek around the sturdy flower stem.

Net brassica plants (kale, sprouts, broccoli etc) against pigeons if you haven’t already done so. Pigeons become an increasing problem as the weather gets colder.

Lift and store all remaining root crops still in the ground such as carrots, swede, beetroot and turnips.

Fruit

Continue to plant new trees and bushes supplied as ‘bare rootstock’.

See Planting fruit trees and bushes

Clear competitive growth (weeds and grass) from around fruit trees. Grass in particular is very greedy, and can reduce cropping and may even kill young trees. Allow a square metre of clear soil for each tree. Mulch to suppress re-growth.

Herbs

Clear away and compost dying foliage and stems

Dig up and destroy mint plants affected by rust. Replace next year with new, clean plants

Check rosemary plants regularly for rosemary beetle. Remove and destroy adults and larvae on sight

Harvest any lingering seeds and let them dry thoroughly before storing

Pot up some chives to keep them growing a bit longer. They can sometimes produce growth throughout the winter in a cold greenhouse Flowers

Continue to save the last few seeds from late-flowering plants.

Cut rust-affected hollyhocks down to the ground.

Remove all black-spot infected leaves from roses, and from the ground surrounding them. Prune out stems showing black spot.

Don’t put all this infected material in your own compost heap, use a local council green waste bin for professional composting. Keeping it all healthy

Fungal spores and many pest-pupae

over-winter in the soil at the base of plants, ready for action once spring arrives and growth begins again. Remove (and

compost) old mulches in all areas of the garden, and lightly dig around the base of plants to expose pests to predators (birds love grubs!) and winter weather. Remove mouldering foliage to the compost heap, but avoid disturbing large piles of leaves now. Beneficial creatures will be hibernating in their shelter. Hang fatballs and bird feeders around the garden. Birds coming in to feed will also enjoy feasting on overwintering aphids and other pests. Scrub pots and seed trays before stacking away, to get rid of any lingering pests and diseases. Keep watch for pests still active and squish them off.

In the greenhouse, grease staging legs with fruit tree grease to stop vine weevil adults from climbing up to lay eggs in any over-wintering plants in pots. Clear away any leftover debris from summer sowing/planting. This will reduce the number of over-wintering pests, but retain spiders (useful predators) in corners.

Organic lawn care

Your lawn is full of plants, not just grass, all of which need care. This is the month to spike the ground to open it up, and brush or lightly rake in a soil conditioner such as mature leafmould, or composted green-waste. Suitable products, labelled ‘soil conditioner’, are also available in garden centres. Either use a garden fork for spiking, or hire a machine for the purpose. No chemicals needed, just elbow-grease! If you take good care of your grass, then problems like compaction (which can generate moss), and thatch, will be less of a problem.

Sayings & Excerpts

Collected over the years by Dorothy Knight who died in 2015 aged 100. Grandmothers. A grandmother is a woman who has no children of her own, so she loves the boys and girls of other people.

Grandmothers have nothing to do, they only have to be there.

If they take you for a walk, they go slowly past beautiful leaves and caterpillars. They never say come along quickly or hurry up for goodness sake.

They are usually fat but not too fat to tie up our shoelaces.

They wear spectacles and sometime take out their teeth.

They can answer every question, for instance why dogs hate cats and why God isn’t married.

When they read to us, they do not leave out anything. They do not mind if it is always the same story.

Everyone should have a grandmother, especially those who haven’t got a telly.

Grandmothers are the only grown ups who always have time. (Composition written by a boy of 8 in a Camberwell school some years ago)

Forthcoming Events 2022 & 2023

December

7th 7 30pm Micheldever Parish Council – East Stratton Hall

10th 7 .30pm Dever Singers Christmas Concert – St . Margaret’s church, South Wonston

11th 7 30pm Dever Singers Christmas Concert – St Mary the Virgin church

14th 12 .30pm Micheldever Village Christmas Lunch – Northbrook Hall

2023

January

4th 7 .30pm Micheldever Parish Council – East Stratton Hall

25th-29th 7 30pm The Snow Queen pantomime – Northbrook Hall

February

1st 7 30pm Micheldever Parish Council – The Warren Centre

March

1st 7 .30pm Micheldever Parish Council – East Stratton Hall

April

5th 7 .30pm Micheldever Parish Council – Northbrook Hall

19th 7 .30pm Parish Assembly – Northbrook Hall

May

3rd 7 .30pm Micheldever Parish Council – The Warren Centre

June 7th 7 .30pm Micheldever Parish Council – East Stratton Hall

July

5th 7 30pm Micheldever Parish Council – Northbrook Hall

September 6th 7 30pm Micheldever Parish Council – The Warren Centre

October

4th 7 30pm Micheldever Parish Council – East Stratton Hall

November 1st 7 30pm Micheldever Parish Council – Northbrook Hall

Hall Booking

East Stratton Hall 01962 774517, Northbrook Hall 07731 952705, The Warren Centre visit www .thewarrencentre .co .uk/hire

November Diary

2nd 12 30pm Micheldever Village Lunch – Northbrook Hall

2nd 7.30pm Micheldever Parish Council – The Warren Centre

4th 9 .00am Table Top Sale – Northbrook Hall

6th 10 .00am First Sunday in the Month Fund Raising Walk – The Warren Centre

19th 9 00am Christmas Fayre – The Warren Centre

22nd 9 30am Open Morning – Micheldever C of E Primary School

Mobile Post Office

Wednesday morning 9.30 – 10.30 Lord Rank Car Park (please note: times may vary slightly)

Regular Dates and Times – Weekly

SUNDAYS Church Services Details on centre pages

TUESDAYS 8.00–9.00 pm Circuit Training by Toppe from T Fit Training, Micheldever School Hall. contact Jane 07919 018877

WEDNESDAYS 9.30–10.30 am Mobile Post Office, Lord Rank Car Park, Micheldever 9.00–10.00 am Body Control Pilates–Micheldever Village Hall. contact Fredricka Brooks, 07979 254895

THURSDAYS 8.00–10.00 pm Dever Singers Rehearsal–Micheldever or South Wonston churches . contact, ruthironton@gmail.com

FRIDAYS 2.00–4.00 pm Community Library, Northbrook Hall

Nowwith Santa in His Grotto

Nowwith Nigel’s Woodfired Pizzas

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

In Aid of Your Local Pre‑School

Saturday 19th November 12 noon - 5 pm

The Warren Centre

Andover Road, Micheldever Station, SO21 3AR

Fun for all the Family, with Artisan Crafts, Gifts, Cake Stall, Refreshments, Children’s Entertainment, Tombola, & Raffle.

Christmas Tree Lights Switched on at 4pm

Come and support your community, at your hall.