26th January 2023 • The HERALD • Page 43 v THE HERALD - ENCOURAGING LOCAL ENTERPRISE v OUT & ABOUT Longdown Activity Farm will be opening the farm gates ready for the new season from February half-term. Go along and join them for a fantastic day out with the whole family. A daily schedule of farming activities includes kid goat and calf bottle-feeding, duck feeding, and meeting small animals such as baby chicks, rabbits, and guinea pigs in the brilliant Animal Encounter Barn. ere are lots of other friendly animals to see around the farm including cows, alpacas, pygmy goats, donkeys and ponies, pigs, ducks, chickens, and geese, plus lots of babies, large and small. ere is always lots of playtime fun to be had at the farm and they are very excited to announce the opening of their all-inclusive outdoor play area, featuring an accessible swing for wheelchair users, as well as other fun activities. If theweather takes a turn, the Piglets Play Barn is a large undercover area tted with numerous interactive activities and piggy-themed fun from oor to ceiling, which will have your children squealing with delight. ere are plenty of other playtime favourites, including the Pitchfork and Putt crazy golf course*, trampolines, ride-on toy tractors, go-karts, diggers*, and Go Quackers duck race. e tearoom and kiosk, serving drinks and snacks, has outdoor seating and a limited amount of covered seating nearby. ere is also a gi shop, nappy changing and quiet room. Longdown Activity Farm is proud to o er a changing room facility complete with an adult-sized changing bed and li ing hoist for visitors with assisted needs. Also onsite is e Longdown Farm Shop which has a large range of delicious locally sourced produce, and the Chicken Shack is stocked with plenty of poultry feed and equipment. ere is no charge to visit the Farm Shop, which is open to visitors and non-visitors of the Activity Farm. Longdown Activity Farm will be opening the farm gates for the 2023 season from Saturday 11th February, every day until 29th October, and then on selected days through November and December. Why not buy a fantastic value season ticket so that you can visit throughout the season? All visits (including season ticket holders) must be booked in advance, for more information or to book tickets please visit: longdownfarm. co.uk *Small extra charge Farming Fun for Half Term Calf feeding at Longdown Activity Farm Marina of the Year win for Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour recently won Marina of the Year in the prestigious British Yachting Awards 2022, with the Beaulieu River marina voted as the best place for sailors to call home. Receiving the greatest number of votes from a shortlist of six leading marinas, the top accolade recognises Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour as the marina that provides the warmest welcome and the best facilities and services for sailors, and highlights it as a must-visit sailing destination. Harbour Master Wendy Stowe collected the award at the awards ceremony hosted by the Royal ames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, London, which celebrated the very best of the sailing industry. Wendy said: “We are thrilled to have won this award, and it’s a great reflection of the hard work and dedication of the whole marina team, as well as our upgraded facilities and increased range of services on offer. Marina of the Year is so highly sought-after in the industry; it’s a real honour to have won.” Celebrating the best that the sailing world has to o er, the British Yachting Awards are the only sailing awards to be voted for entirely by sailors, with the Marina of the Year award honouring the marinas which go above and beyond in their o ering to the sailing community. As a jewel of the south coast and with a busy social calendar, Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour is a favourite with mooring holders and visiting sailors alike. e award is a great source of pride to the friendly and helpful marina team, who are dedicated to providing the best customer experience. e award follows Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour Marina Assistant, John Selman, receiving Marina Employee of the Year 2022 as part of e Yacht Harbour Association’s Marina of the Year Awards. Following its 50th anniversary celebrations last year, and a whole host of upgrades and improvements as part of its recent £2m redevelopment, the marina is looking to the future as it enters the next chapter of its history. With rst-class facilities, further upgrades to the marina and its infrastructure have been taking place last year, all helping to improve the services o ered to customers. e Beaulieu River is one of the few privately owned rivers in the world and the custodianship of the Montagu family has protected it for over four centuries, maintaining its unique natural charm and protecting its unique habitats and species. For more information please visit: beaulieuriver.co.uk Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour team receiving Marina of the Year award New Forest (East) Probus Club News e New Forest (East) Probus Club held their December meeting on 15th December at the Dibden Golf Club. President Henley welcomed 24members to the 404th meeting of the Club, and advised he had received the best wishes from the one surviving founder member of the club, now aged 93 Apologies were received from5members and no exceptions were taken to the nancial report. e planned excursion to Salisbury Christmas Market had to be abandoned. Planned activities are: 27th January - Co ee morning at Montys in Beaulieu; 27th April - Presidents Lunch at Le Chateau; February - Tea at Otter Garden Centre (date to be announced) and Visit to ExxonMobil Petrochemical plant has yet to be con rmed with Exxon. Although Probus Clubs do not normally support speci c charities, mention was made by one member that warm clothing and any generators are urgently needed for the Ukraine appeal. e nearest collection point is in Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu. e Speaker’s Secretary has yet to con rm the Speaker for the January meeting. e business part of the meeting concluded with a traditional Christmas lunch and a ra e for two bottles of Whiskey. Member Ken gave an amusing talk on his experience as the Honorary Counsel in Le Havre, in addition to his service with Lloyds Maritime Surveyors. His assignment originated from a Cricket match between Southampton and Le Havre when two additional players were required. e Counselship originated in 1849 and became honorary in 1981, and was normally for a period between 5 to 10 years. Ken gave a brief overview of the: procedures, documentation and responsibilities of the position. Typical incidents and problems experienced during his tenure were: Liaising with families due to death/hospitalisation; Advising travellers who had been robbed or lost possessions, but not funding their return; Representing the Crown on formal and memorial occasions. Liaising with the Ferry Captains on suspect/ disruptive passengers, Meeting with Her Majesty the Queen several times Many of the personnel he saw seemed to have originated from an unorthodox background.
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