Change of Seasons

Over recent months we have experienced a significant growth in active membership which has enabled us to take on some demanding tasks set for us by Eastleigh Borough Council and Hamble Parish Council. With the seasonal end of scrub clearance on Hamble Common we have turned to preparing those areas of the Common fenced off for cattle grazing. The cattle make a major contribution to maintaining the historic Common but they bring responsibilities. Last year's influx were notably larger than their predecessors and some of them made successful attempts to break out from their penned areas. Once out they were far from easy to catch and in preparation for this year's arrival the fences needed to be heightened and strengthened. In fairness the Eastleigh Borough team are fence erecting experts and took this on but we were responsible for the removal and disposal of the old fencing which in its own way was very labour intensive and demanding. This task is now complete and we await the arrival of the cattle confident but with some trepidation!

Hamble Parish's Ground Team have given us a variety of tasks, perhaps the most visible one is preparing Hamble's Waterfront for the arrival of Summer visitors. Flower beds have been weeded and tired plants replaced. The seating on the Waterfront is heavily used and will deteriorate without timely maintainance. This involves sanding down the surfaces and applying varnish. The iconic circular oak seat requires special attention as its shape is a challenge but the results are well worth it.

Recently we were invited to attend the Annual Parish Assembly and were delighted to be awarded this year's Hamble Community Group Award. It was humbling as there were many other groups on the shortlist and all of them had a strong case for the award. Hamble is fortunate that there are so many volunteer groups who work tirelessly to maintain Hamble, its residents and its environs. On this note please keep up the pressure to stop the application to extract gravel from the airfield which will make the groups efforts futile.