Herald - Issue 425

Page 46 • The HERALD • 23rd June 2022 v THE HERALD - INDEPENDENT AND PROUD OF IT v ANIMAL MAGIC Mobile Microchipping Service Friendly and professional service, in the comfort of your own home. Cheaper than your local vet. Call 07727 155219 THANK YOU FROM BARRY’S FARM! Barry and his team of volunteers from his farm on Frost Lane in Hythe would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has bought one of their cards. Painted by local artist and volunteer at Barry’s Farm, Chris Jones, the cards featuring the animals are still on sale from the Herald O ce for £2 (cash only) and Chris is planning to paint more cards for sale later in the year. All the pro ts from the card sales goes towards the care of the animals and birds and has contributed to the purchase of sacks of dried food and bales of straw and hay. ey also wanted to thank everyone for their contributions of paving stones to place in and around the new donkey shelters. ey had more than enough so the donkeys now have a dry oor and a ‘patio’ at the front of their shelter! The donkeys enjoying their new stable Join the Wildlife- Planting Revolution Hampshire housebuilder, Barratt Homes, and the RSPB are calling for local people to join the wildlife-planting revolution as a survey reveals three quarters of people are now doing at least something in their gardens to help wildlife. Foxgloves or create a mini- meadow – just let parts of your lawn grow for a few months and be rewarded with dri s of clovers and other meadow owers. For more suggestions, tips, and inspiration on how to give planting a go and join the wildlife- planting revolution visit : rspb.org.uk/ NatureOnYourDoorstep or barratthomes.co.uk e YouGov survey, commissioned by the RSPB and made possible by Barratt Developments, found that 30% of those asked were trying a fair amount to help their animal friends within their outside space, 19% were trying a lot, and 26% were trying a little. What’s more, the wide range of ways that people are already gardening with wildlife in mind was highlighted. Over two in ve of the people surveyed (43%) consider how a plant can bene t pollinators when choosing what to grow in their garden; just under a quarter (24%) leave areas of grass to grow long for nature; and nearly half of people feed birds (49%). With many previously familiar garden species in decline, planting for wildlife in gardens and outdoor spaces presents a fantastic opportunity to help these struggling creatures. Starling numbers have fallen by two-thirds in Britain since the mid-1970s, for example, with populations of half of our bumblebee species falling, and hedgehog numbers crashing from 30 million to an estimated one million since the 1950s across England, Wales, and Scotland. Adrian omas, the RSPB’s wildlife gardening expert, said: “I’m thrilled to hear how many people are now taking steps to help wildlife in their gardens and outdoor spaces. It feels like a movement is underway in which people are recognising that our gardens can be wonderful, shared spaces for us and for wildlife, to the benefit of all.” Jon Green, Barratt Homes Managing Director, Southampton Division, said: “It’s great to see more and more people taking the plunge and prioritising wildlife in their gardens. This is one of the reasons why we work with the RSPB to give homeowners guidance on how best to do this. Such simple things as leaving grass long and installing bird feeders can make a big difference to local wildlife.” For anybody wanting to get started, here are ve wildlife-friendly, easy-growing plants to include in your outside space: Sun owers, Corn eld annuals, Lavender, Starling perched on garden fence. Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) LOCAL CHARITY RAISES AWARENESS OF HIDDEN DISABILITIES A local charity for people with learning disabilities has joined a global scheme to raise awareness of people with hidden disabilities. Minstead Trust supports more than 220 people with learning disabilities along the south coast and has recently become a member of the Hidden Disabilities Sun ower Scheme. Minstead Trust supports people to live in their own homes and to learn new skills at day opportunities services from the New Forest to Portsmouth. e Trust also runs several social enterprises and many of the people who are supported to work in them have hidden disabilities and o en face barriers in their daily lives, including a lack of understanding and negative attitudes. Jay Powell, Director of Social Enterprises at Minstead Trust, said: “We are dedicated to raising awareness of invisible disabilities with our customers, suppliers and the people we support. Our team are also proud to be wearing their I Support Sunflower lanyards and have enjoyed the online training that the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower team provide, which supports us to make our environments accessible and safe. The training also supports our team with skills to recognise where people may need extra time or active listening to offer customer service excellence.” Paul White, CEO, Hidden Disabilities Sun ower, said: “We are delighted that Minstead Trust have joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network to support people with non-visible disabilities. Minstead Trust is a fantastic social enterprise offering training and employment experience to people who have learning disabilities. The value in the provision they provide is immeasurable. Staff and visitors will also gain an understanding of non-visible disabilities and therefore be able to react to Sunflower wearers with kindness, patience and understanding.” Find out more about Minstead Trust at minsteadtrust. org.uk and Hidden Disabilities Sun ower at hiddendisabilitiesstore.com Hidden Disabilities at Furzey Gardens The Sunflower is a globally r e c o g n i s e d symbol for non- visible disabilities including autism, chronic pain, and learning di culties as well as mental health c o n d i t i o n s , mobility, speech i mp a i r m e n t s , and sensory loss such as sight loss, hearing loss, or deafness. Ashurst WI is an active and growing institute, where members can look forward to an interesting programme of talks and events throughout the year; at the next meeting which takes place on Wednesday 13th July is a talk by Maurice and Molly Bennett titled ‘Stained Glass – A look through my window’. Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm at St Joseph, 16 Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst SO40 7 DU. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more details telephone Kathryn on 023 8029 3638. Stained Glass