Upcoming events, things to do and businesses to support in Lymington and the New Forest
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New Beginnings
Good morning after an exceptionally wet and disruptive week and a long, dark, wet month. The end has surely to be in sight and so the beginning of more positive times. And snowdrops hold a deep and enduring meaning, symbolising new beginnings, hope, rebirth, and the capacity to triumph over challenges. As one of the first flowers to herald the arrival of spring, they're not just a sign of the changing seasons but also a beacon of positivity. (Read more here.)
The Snowdrop, by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Many, many welcomes,
February fair-maid!
Ever as of old time,
Solitary firstling,
Coming in the cold time,
Prophet of the gay time,
Prophet of the May time,
Prophet of the roses,
Many, many welcomes,
February fair-maid!
New Exhibitions for a New Season
A fabulous new exhibition has just opened at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery: Kurt Jackson: Lymington River. Kurt Jackson is one of Britain’s leading contemporary artists, and the exhibition features some sixty paintings tracing the river’s journey from its beginnings in the heart of the New Forest to the crowded waters of the Solent shore. Jackson’s atmospheric work captures the river’s changing character and moods as weather and seasons change.
This lovely exhibition will run until 14 March, and then...
Witch/Craft from 21 March, will explore changing attitudes to witches and witchcraft from the 17th century to today. Anne Jackson’s powerful tapestries draw on trial records, historic imagery and symbolism to reflect on persecution, prejudice and the stories of the last women hanged for witchcraft in England. Alongside this, Sara Hannant will present collaborative photographic portraits of modern witches. Working with covens in the New Forest and London, her images reveal how contemporary practitioners define their identity, live their beliefs, and contribute to modern culture. Sounds intriguing!
New Season at Home for Hattie
Rising British sailor Hattie Rogers has returned to Lymington to mount her 2026 high-performance foiling campaign. With multiple World, European and National titles in the Moth, Switch and WASZP foiling dinghy classes, she has now set her sights on being selected for the British Women’s America’s Cup squad for the 38th America’s Cup.
Hattie began sailing at Salterns Sailing Club and progressed through the Wednesday Junior Sailing Programme at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Her grandfather founded Jeremy Rogers Limited, renowned for building the iconic Contessa yachts and now run by her father Simon, while her uncle, Nick Rogers, is a double Olympic silver medallist.
A reminder if any were needed, of Lymington's deep sailing heritage! Photo credit: Jason Ludlow Photography
New Show for a New Season
Next week the Lymington Players will present the next of their brilliant productions at the Lymington Centre. 'I'll Leave It To You', Noel Coward’s 100 year old comedy of inheritance and upper-middle class idleness, promises some relatively 'adult' entertainment at the Malt Theatre from next Monday 2 until Saturday 7 February at 7:30pm. The bar will be open prior to the production and also in the interval. Book seats now to avoid disappointment!
New Way to Report Potholes
Nobody needs telling how many potholes lethal to tyres and cyclists now riddle our local roads, and there is an increasing amount of unhappiness on social media about what seems to be an ever-exacerbating situation, plus the lack of compensation for expensive repairs. So what can possibly be positive about this state of affairs?!
Well, National Pothole Day 2026 - yes it really exists - was earlier this month and information was published by the BBC about the management of potholes, which varies from region to region along with responsibility, repair times and levels of investment. Here in the New Forest potholes can be reported online to Hampshire County Council, which said it fixed 32,419 potholes in 2024/25 and that potholes and other defects are prioritised based on risk and road category, with the most serious issues addressed first - but with no specific set target timescales for inspection or repair.
There is now another way to report potholes which is leading to faster repairs in some instances. Fix My Street is an independent website, built by the charity mySociety, to make it easier to report problems in local communities. Let's all try it!
New Roles
Oakhaven Care is recruiting Care Assistants in the Lymington, New Milton and south New Forest areas. Click here to find out more and apply.
New Life
And finally, fantastic news about Maisy Mansbridge, the teenager who suffered multiple bleeds on the brain after falling from her pony at the Boxing Day Point to Point, and had been in a weeks-long induced coma in Southampton Hospital. 'New Life' sounds a bit dramatic, but Maisy is now making a remarkable recovery, speaking clearly and starting to walk again. Her farmer dad Lee who recently sold some of his cattle to raise funds for her care, is in awe and wants to thank "so, so many people for all of their support, kind words, actions and general kindness." More here.
Have good weekends everyone, and roll on February!
Best wishes Jane
Read the rest of this week's newsletter here
And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!
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