Pictures from todays Downton Cuckoo Fair. Including the Classic Car Show.

The post Downton Cuckoo Fair 2013 Pictures appeared first on iNew Forest.

• Sunday 5th May 2013 & Monday 6th May 2013. From 10am to 6pm.
• Adults £11.00 Oaps £10.00 Children £4.00 under 5s free
• Netley Marsh Showground

The post The Hampshire Country Fair 2013 appeared first on iNew Forest.

The Freshfields Festival

Saturday 17th August 2013 from 11am.

Tickets

500 early bird tickets for £9 are on sale at https://www.facebook.com/CPmicrogallery?ref=ts&fref=ts
They are on sale for cash at The Central Bar in New Milton and at Cookies Corner Sandwich Shop on the corner of Whitefield Road.
You can also purchase them online via paypal at www.cgnf.org.uk

Email gallery@culturapress.co.uk to find out more details.

The post Freshfields 2013 Date, Lineup & Tickets announced appeared first on iNew Forest.

Things may have been a little frosty in the Forest as of late, but rejoice, because spring is in the air. Time to celebrate springtime. To help you get into the spirit of the season, the New Forest Agricultural Show Society invite you and your family  to a ‘Street Party Themed Fair’ at their New Forest Spring Fair.

When: Sunday 5th May 2013 from 9am to 5pm and with music till 9pm.

Where: New Park, Brockenhurst.

Cost: FREE.

Highlights:

• Kid’s activities – face painting, bouncy castle, drum workshops and seed planting with New Forest Food Challenge.
• Music, food and drink – enjoy live music from the New Forest Plonkers, real ales and cider from Ringwood Brewery. Sample delicious regional fare and pick up some tasty treats to take home from the food stalls.
• Demonstrations and activities – ferret racing, gun dog display, dog show, gypsy peg making by New Forest Coppice Crafts, Lusitano Display from Patrick Kemp and Tetua and Morris Dancers.

A great teaser for for their summer spectacular; the main event of the New Forest Calendar, the New Forest Show at the end of July.

Learn more about the New Forest Spring Fair and their Home Crafts Competition. This competition is open to children and adults, entries close on Wednesday 1st May.

Further details can be obtained from their website www.newforestshow.co.uk

The post New Forest Spring Fair 2013 – A FREE family day out appeared first on iNew Forest.

In a statement on their website, UK Cycling Events said,

“Due to extreme weather the event center and parts of the course have been flooded. Sunday’s (14th April) Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive has unfortunately been POSTPONED. We are currently working on a rescheduled date for Saturday 1st June.

Riders who cannot make the re-scheduled date will also be given the option to transfer to three similar Wiggle Super Series events.

We will be in touch via e-mail over the next few days with further details.”

Early reports of today’s event are good, weather excepted.

• As we suspected no ponies or horses were hurt during the event.
• Some of the riders are aching though (and wet).
• Reports of a rain dance involving some cycle event critics can not be confirmed at this time.

View images from today’s New Forest Spring Sportive.

The post Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive Sunday event postponed appeared first on iNew Forest.

“National Parks welcome visitors and provide opportunities for everyone to experience, enjoy and learn about their special qualities. National Parks should also protect the people who live and work in them as well as the landscape and wildlife.”

- What is a National Park?

 

David Murray, a CNP transport campaigner, once said: “The New Forest National Park is a vital green lung in the south east of England, where people can get away from the ‘hustle and bustle’ and stresses of their modern lives.”

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.”
- Ernest Hemingway

 

 

 

What’s up, Doc?

As a nation we face serious health care issues. In the UK an estimated 60.8 per cent of adults and 31.1 per cent of children are overweight. If the bicycle were invented tomorrow, you might think it offered our salvation.

What’s up, Gov?

Norman Baker MP, the UK government minister for Transport is certainly encouraging people to cycle.

So why is Dr Julian Lewis, Tory MP for New Forest East writing to Mr Baker to try and curb New Forest Cycle Events like the Spring Sportive which starts on Saturday?

According to the Daily Echo the MP’s letter accuses some of the riders of flouting the Highway Code and also cites two near misses involving cyclists and Forest animals.

“Newspapers are unable, seemingly to discriminate between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilisation.”
- George Bernard Shaw

Cycling in the New Forest; an inconvenient truth?

I have read some very ill informed comments, and articles recently regarding New Forest cycling and in particular sportive events that I want to help clear up some popular misconceptions.

1. A sportive is not a race. This is an endurance cycling event. It is not a dashing gallop. There are no winners. There is no sprint finish. Sportive riders are not hanging on for dear life with white knuckles. Faces are normally relaxed and smiling. Perhaps Dr Lewis is confusing sportives with a point to point race?
2. Cyclists do not break New Forest speed limits. The average speed of a sportive rider is 15 mph. The fastest might reach a heady 17 mph. Bicycle technology has not evolved that much from 100 years ago even with the latest carbon fibre machines. I have never seen a cyclist break the speed limit in the New Forest. No cyclist can get close to the velocity of even a thirty year old Land Rover Defender towing an event horse in a box behind it. A cyclist is no match for a petroleum powered machine.
3. Cyclists do not kill ponies. Commoners need not worry about cyclists. All ponies and livestock killed on The Forest’s roads since records began has been by powered vehicles. Several cyclists died here last year as a result of car accidents in the forest. 65 ponies also died last year in the forest after being struck by cars. Not one pony has been killed by a cyclist. Ever.
4. Cyclists are not the only people who wear bright colours in The Forest. Horse riders often wear fluorescent coloured bibs too. It is thought that horses and ponies are largely colour blind any way. Horse riders and cyclists wear bright colours for the same reason; so that they may be seen by faster moving traffic. I am no Gok Wan. I wouldn’t be hired as a fashion consultant. So to me I see no real difference between a scarlet red hunt jacket or a cyclist’s attire. I wouldn’t wear either on a night out.
5. New Forest sportive riders will not impede the emergency services. Cyclists out of any road using group know just how valuable our emergency services are. They will inform each other of approaching vehicles anyway. So any vehicle with blue flashing lights and a siren will easily make their way past any cyclists. Bicycles are narrower than cars.
6. A licence will not make the New Forest any safer. All of the drivers of cars which have killed not only ponies but also people in the Forest have had or should have driving licences. A licence does not guarantee anything. It did not stop their vehicles from killing pony nor human. A permit or licence to hold a cycle event is just introducing unwarranted bureaucracy. In fact, with today’s modern technology who could stop a group of cyclists who use their smart phones to meet up and ride around the forest? Their iPhones will record their timekeeping just as well as any timing chip they are given to use on a sportive. They would also save the entrance money too. This is just one reason why we need to encourage well organised cycling events. We all know the route and the time.
7. Wearing lycra is not a crime. Ok our friend Gok Wan might disagree. Some New Forest residents believe cyclists are lemmings for wearing the stuff too. Some cyclists believe them also. However no one gets hurt. A cyclist wears it because it is light, comfortable on a long journey, does not chaff and is easy to wash. Oh and because Mr Wiggins choses to wear it too on his bike might encourage some MAMILs. Lycra will not kill ponies too.
8. A Sportive will not stop you driving in the Forest. They might slow you down in certain sections. But no more than a tractor would. So, just accept the fact that the cyclist has as much right or more than you to be on the road. The slow speed might give you an opportunity to enjoy the scenery.
9. A Sportive will not harm your business. The events are all held at the weekend so shouldn’t cause much disruption to businesses or commuters.
10. The Forest can easily support large events. The New Forest Show attracts over 20 times more people than even the largest sportive. No one is suggesting that we should stop these popular events are they?
11. The cyclists are not in one huge peloton. The riders are released in small groups over a period of 2 and a half hours. No starting gun is fired, No flag or whistle blown. Cyclists roll out in a nice relaxed manner.
12. It is not illegal for cyclists to ride two abreast. Many horse riders do so as well. In some cases the riders will do so to stop vehicles from trying to overtake where it might not be safe to do so. Cyclists, and especially so in a sportive, will alert each other of approaching vehicles and will try and let the vehicles pass as soon as possible.

Why cycle events are good for the Forest

I have written before about my great experiences riding in New Forest sportives. They have been truly great events for me on a personal level. I felt such a wonderful sense of achievement completing them and have fond memories of the camaraderie with the other riders. Cycling has had a positive effect on my health and in particular my waist measurement. I strongly encourage New Forest residents to have a go. There are many great cycling events in the Forest to choose from. Do it for your health, or do it for charity. I bet if you do, you will be hooked!

It’s good for business

For some of us, our home in the New Forest is our only one. Obviously in some places of the Forest a large percentage of houses are second homes for wealthy people. There is nothing wrong with that per se. There is also a lot of percentage of retired people in The New Forest also. One of the few industries we have in the Forest are leisure and tourism.

“Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I have hope for the human race.”
- H.G. Wells

I have been speaking with lots of bed and breakfast owners recently. All are telling me that bookings are down over recent years. They really do need large events to help bring visitors into the area, events like the Beaulieu Autojumble, which drew 38,352 visitors in 2012 or the crown jewel of The New Forest’s calendar; The New Forest Show which attracted 95,000 people, including her Majesty the Queen last year. Tourism is one of The New Forest’s largest industries. And so it should be.

Forest ever after

In the long term, how will The New Forest survive if Britain does not perceive any value to it? With land becoming even more precious, surely we have to do all we can to show the value in keeping the New Forest as it is? We need to show how precious our green lungs are. We need to encourage people to enjoy these open spaces. We need our children to get truly excited about nature. The younger generation need to learn to appreciate the great outdoors. If they don’t care about the forest, then I fear for it. We all want to see ponies wander freely across our beloved Forest forever.

Unite for the forest

By promoting a good positive image of the New Forest, to the whole nation, the British people will always remember and see the value in retaining it. We need as many people from all walks of life to stand up and shout out just how remarkable and important the New Forest is. We need walkers, horse and pony riders, campers, dog walkers, hotel and b&b guests to join hands and all get behind and proudly tell the world about the magic of our beautiful National Park. Anything else would not do our beloved Forest justice. We need cyclists to help spread this message too.

UK sportive events are now even venturing abroad. These cyclists as a group have a lot of disposable income. They spend a lot of money on their sport. Why don’t we help them spend it here? Why don’t we get behind not only cyclists but triathletes too? These sports should be encouraged for the good health of the nation but also for places like the New Forest where these events can be held. This is also a massive growth industry. It is a not just a business opportunity for the Forest, it is necessary for it’s very survival over the decades and centuries to come.

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

We do need some rules

A cyclist should: “never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends”
- Highway Code Rule #66

Cyclists should obey the highway code. By encouraging well run and organised rides, like the Spring Sportive events then we know all riders can be identified by a number. If a cyclist does something stupid, then there is a chance of bringing him or her to justice. By forcing these rides underground and creating “flash mob sportive” rides, we will lose any such accountability. I accept that sportive events are not perfect; what event appeals to every one of us?

Slow for cyclists as well as ponies

I personally have no interest in riding ponies or horses. My partner loves nothing more than riding a New Forest pony, in the New Forest. We live and let live. We both can see the value in each of our chosen pursuits. Sportive events do have a lot going for them. Especially in The New Forest. We have one of Britain’s best. Let’s keep it that way. We should be proud of them.

“I thought of that while riding my bicycle.”

- Einstein (in reference to the Theory of Relativity)

I could cite a couple of near misses I have had whilst cycling in The New Forest. Namely at the dreaded ‘pinch points’. I don’t think they slow drivers much. It seems the ones in Burley Street are always being replaced. Dr Lewis, if you truly want to make the Forest safer; you could make these cycle friendly.

“Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.”
- H.G. Wells

The post The truth about New Forest cycling events appeared first on iNew Forest.

The appeal was published in the Bournemouth Echo:

In a press conference at Ringwood Fire Station, where 16-year-old Jade was a part of the Ringwood Young Firefighters’ Association, mum Sharon said:

“To lose Jade the way we did is what’s hardest to bear.

“For a driver to cause Jade’s accident and then driving away leaving her alone in the road is almost too difficult to believe.

“To that driver I would say, please, please come forward and contact the police.

“You must be finding this hard to live with, especially if you have children on your own.

“To anyone else who knows this driver, or knows where the car might be, please contact the police as soon as possible.”

A reward of £1,000 was offered by Crimestoppers on Friday and Ringwood based company, Churchill Retirement Living, is offering a reward of £4,000 for information leading to the arrest and charge of an offender.

Police say they cannot be sure about the colour of the Volvo XC90 but appeal to anyone who sees a Volvo XC90 with damage to the front to contact Dorset Police on 01202 222222.

Balloon Tribute to Jade

Jade’s friends are planning to release pink and white helium balloons in a tribute to the young firefighter at Carvers Recreation Ground, Ringwood on Saturday 9th March 2013 at 6pm.

Jade’s Charity Collection

A charity collection will also be held with all money going towards a charity chosen by Jade’s family..

Scooter Rally for Jade

There is also a proposed scooter ride taking place on Saturday with hundreds of scooter riders from clubs all over the south coast expected to attend.

Help make the A31 safer

Ringwood Town Council are trying to make the section of A31 which runs through Ringwood safer. Jade’s death is the latest of many accidents which have occurred at this lethal stretch of road.

MP Desmond Swaine has slammed the Highways Agency’s response to the town council’s proposals. “The council’s proposals are very measured, sensible and inexpensive contribution, given that there are longer term plans for the road further down the line.

“The most critical of these, to my mind, is to reduce the speed limit to 50mph from Picket Post to Ringwood, and it was very frustrating to have the Highways Agency tell us there weren’t enough accidents to make it viable.

If you would like to help push through safety improvements to this part of the A31, you could write to:

The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, Ministry of Transport, Great Minister House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR.

The post £5000 reward to find hit & run driver appeared first on iNew Forest.

Both articles quote Anita Sibley who is described as a “New Forest Enthusiast” and is “most concerned” about the Wiggle New Forest Spring Sportive adding that: “These huge events are putting local residents’ lives in danger”. Mrs Sibley runs the Vizzit New Forest website which bizarrely did promote the larger Wiggle New Forest 100 sportive rides held in October 2012 as well as some other cycling events. I am not sure why Mrs Sibley has had a change of heart regarding these cycle rides but she certainly seems to have a bee in her bonnet regarding them now. She tweeted:

’13th/14th April 4000 CYLISTS on #newforest roads.Take pictures with dates and times of any incidents and send to your Parish Councillors.’.

Confessions of this New Forest cyclist

I have a confession to make; I am a keen cyclist. I enjoy cycling through the New Forest. I have even ridden several Sportives here. I have never heard of nor seen cyclists putting lives in danger. The only lives that are put in any sort of danger are the cyclists own. Cycles offer no protection against much heavier vehicles. A cyclist was killed earlier this year in the forest when he was involved in a collision with a car. Cyclists are not the most dangerous thing in the New Forest. Cars and vans are the biggest killers. They regularly kill ponies and even cattle. Don’t get me wrong, I drive too. I love cars. But when I moved to the forest five years ago I was astounded at how fast people drive around here. Anyone could have an accident hitting a pony, or a deer. These accidents can happen through no real fault. These are wild animals after all. But, I have never heard of a cyclist killing a donkey, pony or cow. I almost ran over an Adder once on my bike, but I was probably in more danger from his fangs when he pulled his head back to strike, than my slippery friend was. However I have nearly come close to running over dogs, whose owners did not have them under control or on a lead. Maybe they get a perverse thrill of watching their canine pal chasing cyclists?

The argument that emergency services could be held up by these cyclists is just plain nonsense and not based in the real world. Cyclists, are not enclosed in like car drivers. They will quickly move out of the way of ambulances or fire engines. After all, we know that if anyone is at danger it is us cyclists. If you drive in the New Forest please slow down for horses but also please also slow down for cyclists and other smaller vehicles too. Please pass wide, give us a chance.

Why so much cycle hate in the New Forest?

I really don’t know why people like Mrs Sibley hate these “lycra clad lemmings” (her words) so much. I am sure we have all been held up by cyclists now and again. But at the same time we all get held up by livestock and horse riders on the forest’s roads too. Should we ban them too?

I would really like to learn why some people do hate cyclists. If you dislike cyclists in the New Forest please leave a comment below. Please educate this cyclist.

The post Cycling event puts lives in danger appeared first on iNew Forest.

Presents:

Brass in Burley

Date:
Saturday 6th April at 7.30 pm

Location:
Burley Village Hall
Pound Lane BH24 4EB

Cost:
Tickets £5 on the door

Refreshments available

Please call 01202 877515 or 01425 473542 for further information

The post Brass in Burley appeared first on iNew Forest.

Launch Offer £30 Discount

To help us celebrate the launch, throughout the month of February, we are offering a huge £30 off the yearly listing price. This offer will not be repeated after February so be sure to sign up soon and have a whole years exposure at a discounted rate. Please enter discount code WEB13 into the sign up form.

The reason behind the website

After receiving lots of enquiries here on iNewForest from B&B owners wanting to sign up on this site, we felt that if we allowed iNewForest to become a business, it would detract from the whole idea behind iNewForest. We originally started it to share our photographs and our experiences of the wonderful natural surroundings in the New Forest National Park. iNewForest is very precious to us and was never intended to become a commercial project.

We therefore decided to build a bespoke website focusing directly on bed and breakfast accommodation.
Our B&B directory has been two years in the making, with many setbacks and decision making during this time. Only now do we feel we are ready to proceed and have created the site with both the B&B owner and B&B guest in mind.

What you will find on the website

We have created an ‘example’ B&B to show owners exactly what they will get upon signing up including a selection of images, text, features icons, full contact details including an email & website link together with a Google map and Google street view map to show visitors where the B&B is located.

Going the extra mile

We have worked hard to create new ways for visitors to find bed and breakfasts in the New Forest. Using ideas up to now not found on any current New Forest focused bed and breakfast directory. Our maps and street views help the visitor really find the right B&B.

Find B&Bs by facilities and features

Visitors can find and filter bed and breakfasts by facilities.

Children welcome, Cycle hire/Cycle Friendly, Disabled facilities, Dog friendly, DVD, En-suite bathroom, Evening meals, Fishing, Gay/Lesbian friendly, Golf, Licensed, Non smoking, Parking, Pony trekking horse riding, Swimming pool, Tea/coffee making, Tennis, TV, Walkers welcome, Wi-Fi.

Find B&Bs by village

B&B’s are also categorised by their town or village page as well as on the large Google map and main B&B list page.

Ashurst, Bashley, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Burley, Cadnam, Christchurch, Dibden, Dibden Purlieu, Emery Down, Fordingbridge, Highcliffe, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Milford on Sea, Minstead, New Milton, Ringwood, Sway, Totton, Winsor.

On our homepage, there are four images. B&B’s who are signed up to our directory will show here on a rotating system to give every B&B a chance of being displayed.

The future

We are extremely confident that over the coming months the B&B directory will take off and will soon be bristling with some great B&Bs. We are no strangers to internet marketing with over 15 years experience in web development and design and almost 10 years on Google Adwords marketing. Up until very recently we were working full time for iChauffeur, you only have to do a search for the hugely competitive terms “London Chauffeur” or “Rolls-Royce Chauffeur” to see how effective our expertise is. We are delighted now to be focusing our attention purely in the New Forest, so we hope to be able to share some exciting new developments soon.

Give it a try

If you own an accommodation establishment in the New Forest or surrounding areas, please take a look around our directory website. We are also always open to suggestions from B&B owners and will be working hard throughout the life of the website to make improvements to benefit the website user in any way we can.

Please visit the website for details about the £30 discount offer and to sign up.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new venture.
Susan Senior

The post The New Forest Bed and Breakfast Directory appeared first on iNew Forest.