Page 50 • The HERALD • 16th November 2023 v FOR GOOD ADVICE, ASK YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v ANIMAL MAGIC Members of the New Forest local group of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are holding a eld trip on Wednesday 22nd November, from 10am to 1pm, to the Lower Test (SU 361 140). Meet by the Salmon Leap public house, with street parking nearby. For further information please email: NewForestGroup@RSPB.org.uk or visit the group’s website: group.rspb.org.uk/newforest/ ose taking part in eld trips should wear suitable dull coloured clothing and sturdy footwear. Non-members are currently charged £5 per eld trip or indoor meeting. OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE RSPB ere are lots of articles written about younger children and dogs but what about teenagers and dogs? Quizzes and star charts or too many instructions are more likely to provoke eye rolling then enthusiasm but investing in their relationship with puppy is just as important. Asking your teen to take the puppy for a walk might seem like a bonding opportunity but it’s asking a lot of them both. However brilliantly your teen interacts with pup at home, out on a walk there it’s not just about managing the pup, it’s about managing the environment and other people too. Successful walks with a puppy involve being able to anticipate events and respond to them. To notice the dog approaching on the same side of the road and cross over to give both dogs space, to be observant when puppy’s body language is saying they are a bit apprehensive. To avoid areas where friends might congregate because will friends listen when the puppy is asking for space. To engage with the puppy, not their phone! e ability to predict events and consequences has nothing to do with capability or even how sensible they are, it’s a developmental stage. Teenagers’ brains are undergoing rapid change. e brain develops from back to front, they think with their amygdala (the part responsible for ght or ight), adults use their prefrontal cortex (the rational, thinking part). Because the connections to the rational part of the brain are still under development, teenagers think with the emotional, ght or ight part of the brain. is means they nd it harder to focus, they take more risks, they’re more impulsive especially when peer pressure is factored in and behaviour is more likely to be led by emotion than reasoning. e good news is that there are lots of things they can do at home that will protect and bene t their relationship with the puppy: • Let pup out for wee when they get in from school • Scatter or hide meals or treats in the garden to nd • Use your daily routines to get them involved in training: “Whenever you let puppy out the door, please can you wait for a sit rst” • Get them to check out Kikopup or Zak George on YouTube for reward based trick training tips – let’s face it, they don’t like taking instruction from you! e more positive experiences pup has with your teen, the more they will seek them out. It’s also always best that puppy is viewed as a family member. Giving a puppy as a present is a 12 year or more commitment for the recipient – most teens don’t know what they’re doing tomorrow, they’re not ready to be a parent! For more tips and advice visit www. littlerascalsdogcoaching.co.uk Or if you need help now contact me at rachel@littlerascalsdogcoaching.co.uk DOGS AND TEENS by Rachel Clark, Little Rascals Dog Coaching Girl with dog (image by Freepik) An Update from Waterside Climate Action Network (WaterCAN) An extremely lively and informative talk by John Trim on ‘A Year in the Vegetable Garden’ was warmly received by a full house at Hythe Community Centre on the 12th October. Some of us have already taken his advice on planting garlic in October (with plenty of potash!), and will be consuming seasonal root vegetables over the next few weeks. e talk also raised some interest in the subject of veganism which, with its avoidance of dairy and meat products, has the potential to make a huge impact on climate change as well as personal health. The Government’s Climate Change Committee recommends a 20% reduction in meat and dairy consumption by 2050. From a health perspective, studies have shown that, overall, vegans appear to be slimmer, have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol, and a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. e food is also extremely tasty. (Try the Seashells vegan menu!). However, it’s also important to note that in order to combat a possible de ciency in proteins, vitamins B12 and D, and omega 3 fatty acids, a balanced diet including tofu, tempeh, beans, chick peas, lentils, seeds, nuts, along with cereals containing B12 and nutritional yeast is followed. ere is an excellent article covering all aspects of vegan nutrition available on: bant.org.uk/veganism -and-the-quest-for optimum -nutrition. Alternatively, Plant Based Health Professionals UK have launched a podcast ‘In A Nutshell’ run by 2 GPs, Dr Daisy Lund and Dr Clare Day. Available on Spotify or Apple, Google or Amazon podcasts. As well as healthcare advice it also has meal suggestions. WaterCAN’s next open meeting will be held on 8th January at Hythe Community Centre when Lucie Mann will be leading a discussion on “A Regenerative Culturewhat does it mean and how can the Waterside embrace it?” is promises to be a lively and challenging session. Lucie is the regenerative lead at New Forest Aquaponics CIC, and will be exploring the concept of regenerative culture in her talk. Please bring your ideas and thoughts on what you believe this means and the changes you would like to see in the culture of the Waterside. New Forest Aquaponics CIC runs many community projects in the Waterside and this will be an opportunity to nd out more about them and understand how they link together. On 12th February, Philip omas from our local cycling group will be leading a session on ‘Active Travel’, looking at the importance of opening up transport routes to encourage more active and less environmentally damaging travel. Hythe Community Centre 7pm to 9pm. All welcome. e Community Centre cafe will be open for refreshments on both occasions. WaterCAN’s tips an eco-friendly Christmas: • Buy locally as far as possible; • Avoid plastic wherever possible; • Use recyclable wrapping paper: • For workplace secret Santas, why not introduce a charity shop purchases only rule? We’d like to make this a regular feature, and would welcome readers’ views and tips to share, please contact: Watercan2024@gmail.com, or join in the general debate on our Facebook page. Check out our website for a wide range of further information at e-voices.org.uk/WaterCAN. And nally, thanks to e Glen public house for their extremely welcome support for us. Langley WI’s next meeting is on Tuesday 21st November for a Cartoon Workshop with Simon Chadwick. Take A4 paper and a pencil. Followed on Tuesday 19th December for a Christmas Quiz and Supper. Forestside WI Group will meet on Tuesday 5th January at Colbury Memorial Hall, SO40 7EL, for a New Year Event. e WI o ers women the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and campaign on wideranging issues. Langley WI meets every third Tuesday at their new venue of Jubilee Hall, Fawley, SO45 1DF at 7.30pm. Email: langleypres@hampshirewi.org.uk or check out their website at: www.hampshirewi.org.uk/wi-page/ langley-wi CARTOON WORKSHOP
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