Page 28 • The HERALD • 5th January 2023 v WE’VE BEEN YOUR LOCAL SINCE 1994 v Chris Hopkins Painting, Decorating, Carpentry, Tiling Free Estimates Photographs & references available on request Telephone: 023 8081 5210 Mobile: 07986 806277 TRU-FLOW PLUMBING SERVICES For all your Domestic Plumbing, Tiling, Painting and Decorating Requirements • Fully Insured • Discounts for Senior Citizens Please Contact Andy Tel: 023 8087 0145 • Mobile: 07962 590089 Enjoy Winter at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve Winter is a great time to visit Testwood Lakes, near Totton, as a range of birds return for the winter a er a very long journey. Hampshire IOW Wildlife Trust sta and volunteers will be giving families a warm welcome and there is plenty of fun to be had for children of all ages. For children aged 1.5-5 years there are weekly Forest School sessions on Monday mornings 9.30am-11.30am. Families can book ahead for a 6 week term (£39) and children can cook on a camp re, use tools to make things from wood and play in nature. Every last Saturday of the month 10am-12noon families are invited for a Wildlife Tots session themed around a story with some exploring and cra ing outside. Wildlife Tots is aimed at 2-5 years and cost £5 a session. For even younger ones (0-2 years) there is a weekly Nature Tots and Babies session every Tuesday Nature Tots and Babies cost £4 a session. For older ones every last Saturday of the month there are activities for 5-15 years with Wildlife Watch, 2pm-4pm and Wildlife Rangers for 12-18 years, 2pm-4pm. Young people can learn more about wildlife and take part in activities to help wildlife such as making a bird box or taking part in a conservation task with tools. ere are opportunities to see wildlife through bird watching and pond dipping activities. Adult accompaniment is essential for Wildlife Watch but not Wildlife Rangers, and the cost is £5 per session. Parking is available at the Education Centre. Please ignore the rst building and car park on the right and follow the green signs up to the Education Centre. To nd out more and book please visit: www.hiwwt. org.uk/events, visit Facebook: Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve and Education Centre or email: testwoodlakes@hiwwt.org.uk Children releasing a bug morning 10.30am-12noon. ere are buggy walks, cra s, sensory play and songs for tots and babies. Thousands of Pounds Worth of Gift Cards for Local Food Banks Local food banks which are supported by customers at co-operative stores and funeral branches recieved an extra boost this winter with £40,000 worth of gi cards. Southern Co-op, which supports more than 70 food banks with collection points, sent out 4,000 community gi cards worth £10 each to help families and individuals a ected by the cost of living increases. A further £25,000 was donated to Neighbourly’s Warm Communities Fund – set up to provide ‘needsled’ micro-grants to charities and community groups providing ‘warm banks’, food donations and low-costto-prepare food items. According to Neighbourly, a network representing over 22,000 local charities and good causes, 65% of these causes have a seen a drop in nancial donations yet the average annual energy bill for community charities is expected to rise by 119% from £7,600 to £16,700. Gemma Lacey, Southern Co-op’s Director Sustainability and Communications, said: “This winter will be especially hard for so many people in our local communities. On top of that, the local causes that people rely on for help, are also facing serious difficulties. We hope this targeted support will help make a difference alongside our in store food banks which provide the opportunity for those who are able, to donate products to support their local community. It is times like these when the community co-operative spirit is essential as we all come together to do what we can.” Community gi cards were sent to more than 70 food banks supported by Southern Co-op’s Co-operative Food and Funeralcare branches including Lyndhurst Food Bank, Romsey Foodbank and Southampton City Mission. It is hoped that the gi cards will allow people the opportunity to select their own products and possibly a small treat for the season. Food bank donation e gi cards are on top of the food bank donations made by store and funeral branch customers every day. From January to September 2022, customers and members have donated 11,388kg of goods equating to approximately 4,783 meals. Funding for Healthier and More Inclusive local causes is available via Southern Co-op. To nd out more about other donations and support available to local causes via Southern Co-op, visit: southern.coop/howwe-do-it/community. Combat the January blues and join the team at Lepe Country Park every Friday morning, in e Lookout, for their Cra y Café. Running 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th January from 9.30am until 11.30am. Take your knitting, crochet, sewing or even your sketching and sit with like-minded people for an hour or two in e Lookout, every Friday morning in January. Drop-in session, no need to book, free parking for an adult at all times. Refreshments are available to purchase from e Lookout. If you would like further information, please email: lepe.enquiries@hants.gov.uk or call: 023 8089 9108 between 10am and 4pm. CRAFTY CAFÉ AT LEPE attendees. Suitable for young or old. Children to be accompanied by Soup & Sweet at Trinity Church, Hazel Farm Road, Totton, SO40 8WU takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 12.30pm to 2pm. For £4 per person you can have soup with a bread roll followed by a sweet and a tea or co ee. Very good value in congenial company – they hope to see you there! Soup & Sweet
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