Page 48 • The HERALD • 8th January 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v KIDS ZONE Orchard Junior School Supporting Baby Necessities Each year, Orchard Junior’s School Council selects a charity to support in the lead up to Christmas. In 2025 they voted to support Southampton-based charity, Baby Necessities. is charity seeks to support families in and around Southampton, who need an extra hand to provide babies and young children with the necessities they need. Pupils, families and carers at Orchard generously donated a wide range of items to the baby bank, including: nappies, baby milk and essential toiletries. ree Year 6 members of the School Council enjoyed meeting Lindsay Hawkins, a volunteer for the charity, and presenting her with the school’s donations. Members of the School Council with Lindsay Hawkins from Baby Necessities DICTIONARY 4 LIFE Rotarian Craig Webber with the pupils and staff at Waterside Primary School It was a pleasure for Hythe & Waterside Rotary to be invited to an assembly in November at Waterside Primary School to see the children being presented with their dictionaries. Hythe & Waterside Rotary have been providing primary school children with their personal dictionaries for many years now and always receive great feedback from the pupils, their parents and teachers. e “Rotary Dictionary 4 Life project” is a local and nationwide initiative where Rotary clubs provide dictionaries, typically to year 4 students, to promote literacy and a love of reading. Illuminated Owl Flying Display Reimagined For Higher Highs Already established as a popular January mood-enhancing event, ‘Winter Woodland Lights’ owl ying displays at the Hawk Conservancy Trust are being reimagined for their h year and promise to be the UK’s most immersive illuminated wildlife experience. Organisers at the bird of prey visitor centre near Andover, are busy building on the popularity of past years to create an even more stunning spectacle in the heart of nature. ere will be new special sound, light and even dramatic weather e ects ensuring the 13-night run of displays is unlike any other winter illuminations experience. “We’re combining low-flying owl encounters, beautifully-lit woodland, atmospheric music, storytelling and special effects like never before,” said Tom Morath, Deputy Head of Living Collection for the Hawk Conservancy Trust and creative lead for the Winter Woodland Lights event. “The whole team, including our cast of stunning owls is coming together to create a memorable experience that we hope will deepen the appreciation of the natural world in return for warming hearts and brightening moods in the midst of winter darkness.” Ticket sales for the event generate vital income for the Trust’s conservation and research work as a bird of prey charity, running and assisting with numerous projects across the UK and overseas. ese can range from population monitoring and support for various UK species to conserving Great Grey Owl with guests vultures facing extinction in Africa. As a result, anyone booking a visit to Winter Woodland Lights is bene tting the natural world as well as giving themselves a mid-winter treat. Available dates run from Friday 16th January to Sunday 1st February and can be booked online at: www.hawkconservancy.org or by calling: 01264 773850. Totton and District Probus Club e Totton and District branch of Probus meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at the Colbury Church Rooms in Deerleap Lane in Ashurst with the exception of August and December. e Totton and District branch of Probus is one of the few Probus Clubs in the country to welcome both ladies and gentlemen as members. Probus Clubs are for retired people to join and enjoy monthly meetings and meet with like-minded people to chat and exchange their tales and stories. e Club have a friendly atmosphere, and involve members with the activities. Monthly meetings start at 11am with a social get-together, when tea/co ee is served. is is followed by an enjoyable three-course lunch prepared by their experienced chef and an informative talk, nishing about 3pm. Additional activities between the main meetings have been introduced, where members visit local garden centres or places of interest for morning co ee, and stay for lunch if they choose. Now following on from an interesting, well-attended year, they are busy preparing for this year with a selection of speakers, and local visits being arranged. Anyone who is looking to spend a pleasant few hours in good company, to enjoy a very nice meal and interesting talks, please contact Tony Greenham on: 023 8086 7882, or email: tonyandpatg@gmail.com for full details. Visitors are welcome, with no obligation to become members. MARCHWOOD VETERANS BREAKFAST CLUB Are you a Service member of the Armed Forces, a Veteran or family member of someone Serving? If so, 17 Port & Maritime Regiment RLC would like to welcome you to their monthly Breakfast Club which is open to all current and ex-Military Services, all Ranks, all ages and families. e aim is to come together as an Armed Forces Family, catch up with friends, help social interaction and mental health, talk about current and past experiences, support towards housing (SFA’s and Social), Resettlement support for Civilian life, job networking and general wellbeing advice. Go along and enjoy a full English Breakfast at a very small cost of £7 with unlimited free brews at St Georges’ Restaurant, 17 Port & Maritime Regiment RLC, McMullen Barracks, Cracknore Hard Lane, Marchwood, SO40 4ZG, on the fourth Saturday of the Month between 10am and 12noon, the next Breakfast Club is on Saturday 24th January. All persons attending will need to book into the Guard Room on arrival and will require photographic ID. You will then be directed to St Georges.
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