30th October 2025 • The HERALD • Page 73 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v VAUXTECH LOCAL GARAGE Tel: 023 8086 9496 Unit 5, New Forest Enterprise Centre, Totton, Southampton SO40 9LA LOCAL GARAGE EST 30 YEARS • Servicing & Repairs • MOT’s (arranged) • Brakes • Clutches • Tyres • Air Conditioning • Collection & Delivery Locally Friendly & Reliable Onsite Café Facilities All Makes & Models nature. This vital work is no longer affordable given rising prices and visitor numbers. Charging for car parking will play an important role in us being able to continue to look after this precious landscape. We know how much the New Forest is valued by the local community so those who come here often will be able to benefit from highly discounted parking by becoming a Forestry England member. Everyone paying to park will be making a valued contribution in helping to look after this special place for all to enjoy.” Local organisations identified the need New Parking Charges Will Help Fund Vital Work To Care For The New Forest to increase funding to manage the New Forest in a Recreational Management Strategy created in 2019. is set out several ways to manage the impact of the huge numbers of people spending time here, including by introducing charging for some facilities. Forestry England charges for parking at forests throughout the country. e New Forest will now join these, with the money raised helping to fund their vital work to care for the nation’s forests. Parking charges could begin in spring 2026, subject to the appropriate consents. Continued from page 72 Friends of King Alfred Buses Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) collect, restore and preserve buses and coaches that were once in the eet of Winchester’s independent familyowned local bus service, King Alfred Motor Services, which existed from 1915 – 1973, each proudly carrying the statue of King Alfred on their anks. Since 1981 they have collected every single surviving vehicle from the King Alfred eet – 16 single and doubledeckers preserved for future generations. Every year the buses are used to give free rides from Winchester Broadway on New Year’s Day, the rst bank holiday in May and the national Heritage Open Days in September. FoKAB is entirely volunteer run and exist purely on donations; they need to raise £75,000 a year to cover their standing costs including accommodation for the eet, maintenance and insurance. At the moment FoKAB are trying to raise £500,000 to restore their very special, unique 1950 Leyland Olympic which was the rst under oor-engined bus in Hampshire, which was very badly damaged in a re at the end of 2023. If you would like to help FoKAB by making a donation towards the upkeep of this special eet please visit: kingalfredbuses.org.uk for more information. LYNTON AND BARNSTAPLE RAILWAY Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (RCTS) and Mid Hants Railway, Solent Branch meetings are held in association with Mid Hants Railway – Southampton and Waterside Group. Meetings are held at Junction Church (formerly Eastleigh Railway Institute), 2 Romsey Road Eastleigh SO50 9FE and commence at 7.30pm. e room, on the rst oor (sorry no disabled access), is usually open from 7pm. A bar is available for refreshments. eir next meeting is on Wednesday 19th November for ‘Lynton and Barnstaple Railway’ from 7.30pm-10pm. A donation of £3 is usual to help with the costs of the speaker and room hire. Non-members are very welcome at their meetings. Further details can be obtained from John Godfrey on: 07850 220009 or email: solent@rcts.org.uk BIRD AWARE SOLENT Ashurst & District Ladies Probus are a very friendly group of Ladies and would love to see you. ey meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month at e Happy Cheese, Ashurst at 11am. ey have a speaker every month on a great variety of topics and a erwards most of the members stay for a lunch and general chat. eir next meeting is Thursday 20th November for a talk about Bird Aware Solent. Followed on Thursday 18th December for their Christmas Lunch. ey would love you to go along, it’s a lovely way to spend the morning, with some interesting, informative speakers. If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Marian Quantrell, Treasurer on: 023 8029 2381 or: 07849 410323.
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