Minstead eNewsletter 4th August 2021

Upcoming events

21st August Village Fete on the Green 
4th September - Minstead Flower Show 
See below for Church Services

For the latest visit https://minstead.org.uk/
and

Village Fete 

Please can you assist with any of the following requests for help with the Fete on 21st August: 

Books, good quality DVD’s and CD’s can be delivered to Steve Cattell’s house: 2 Congleton Close.
Any donations for the Tombola can be left at Jo Vardy's house: 2 Compton Cottages.

 All Saints’ is organising and running the teas, refreshments and rest area.  If you’re able to help with the refreshments, they are looking for volunteers to bake in advance as well as helping on the day.  Please contact Sylvia Dibben 023 8081 2967.  

NHS COVID Pass

An NHS COVID Pass shows your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination details or test results. This is your COVID-19 status. 

The government is encouraging venues and events where large numbers of people are likely to gather and mix with people from outside their households for prolonged periods, to make use of
the pass. You may be asked to show your NHS COVID pass to travel abroad , or at events and venues in England asking for proof of your COVID-19 status. To get a digital version:

download the NHS App (this is different to the NHS Covid App) click HERE or use the online NHS COVID Pass service click HERE

For how to get a paper version (vaccination status only) click HERE

At the end of September, the government plans to make full vaccination a condition of entry to high-risk settings where large crowds gather and interact, and that proof of a negative test will no longer be sufficient.
 

                              Self Isolation

From 16 August, if you have had both doses of the coronavirus vaccine or are under 18 years of age, you will no longer need to self-isolate if you are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
Those not fully vaccinated will still need to isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and everyone will still have to isolate if they test positive, to protect themselves and others.

The NHS COVID-19 app will update later this month in line with the new guidance on self-isolation for close contacts. Read the self-isolation guidance by clicking HERE

The government is introducing exemptions from isolation for some workers. Certain criteria will have to be met, and safeguards will be put in place, such as a testing. Get latest information and find out what to do if you, or someone you employ, is required to self-isolate HERE 

Your Future New Forest – Draft Partnership Plan

Work has begun to progress the next version of the Partnership Plan. The New Forest National Park Authority, on behalf of the partners, has produced a draft of the Plan and you are invited to have your say during our consultation period, which ends on 3 September 2021. To do so please Click HERE

Like the Partnership Plan 2015-2020 the draft Partnership Plan 2021-2026 (to view Click HERE) and the consultation have been prepared by the key organisations who will share responsibility for delivering the aims and objectives of the new Plan.

The draft represents an important step in the development of the next National Park Partnership Plan. It is an invitation to all with an interest in the future of the New Forest National Park to help shape how we work together for this unique and special landscape and to support the communities that sustain it in the coming years.

Our collective experience of the pandemic has made us realise just how much we rely on the natural environment for our health and wellbeing. Like all national parks, the New Forest National Park has provided a vital space for respite and recovery. In turn, this has increased focus on the importance of the natural world and ensuring that the landscape and the nature it supports is sustained for future generations. Many agree that now is the time to redouble our efforts to tackle the huge twin challenges of our age – the decline of nature and the fundamentally connected threat of the climate crisis.

We would strongly urge everyone to get involved and take time to complete the survey.
 

Drowning Prevention 

 World Drowning Prevention Day took place on 25th July and there have been many tragedies reported in the news over recent weeks. Here the NFDC looks after 40 miles of coastline in the New Forest and at the beaches and all along this coastline you will find public rescue equipment (lifebuoys, attached to floating line) as well as information about your location and local hazards, as well as RNLI and coastguard information. 

The safety equipment is there for your welfare, so please only use this equipment for its intended purpose – unfortunately they are often vandalised, removed or misused.
This equipment is checked on a regular basis, but if you see any missing or damaged please report it - customer.services@nfdc.gov.uk

In an emergency at the coast you should dial 999 and ask for the coastguard. Check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks. Find out how to keep you and your loved ones safe with the RNLI Click HERE

Ragwort

July/August have traditionally been the months when a concerted Ragwort pull throughout the Parish has taken place.
This year we observe that there is so little about that we don’t need the usual effort, so please if you see ragwort would you pull it (use gloves &/or wash hands after) and put it in your black sacks (but not your garden waste sacks) for Refuse collection.  Don’t pull the other ‘worts as there are several out there but they are not harmful.
We have observed some ragwort in the smaller of the Glebe Fields and hope to arrange with the landowners for that to be pulled before it goes to seed.

Minstead Village Hall

As you may have seen, your Hall is undergoing major external re-furbishment and replacement of the ancient black cedar cladding with new Western Red Cedar left to “weather” naturally.  This new cladding looks great now and will eventually be a classic silvery grey colour and will, we expect, keep the hall weather tight for the next 100 years. We see this as our legacy to the Village into the next century. 
Phase 1 is now complete, Phase 2 (all the rest) should start at the end of August.

Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, whilst removing the old cladding we have uncovered very large amounts of structural rot, decay and previous repairs all of which have, of course, had to be replaced.  This additional work has so far doubled the cost of this project and seriously depleted our financial reserves.

To continue this essential and visionary work we have sought grants from numerous bodies, and now must also seek financial support from you our parishioners, villagers, visitors and Hall users.  Please would you all consider how you might be willing and able to contribute to this need, and let any one of the Hall Committee or Trustees know by email individually or to Committee@minsteadhall.co.uk, phone, post (Village Hall Post Code is SO43 7FX) or any means you chose. 

The Village will Thank You for your support.

Parish Councillor - Informal “Surgery"

Starting on Friday 13th August, one or more of your Parish Councillors will once again be available for informal contact and discussion at the Minstead Social Club on Friday evenings from 6-6.30pm.
If you have matters about which you wish to ask, of which you think the PC should be aware, of general Parish interest, or for which you seek our advice please pop in.

Beat Report

Click HERE for the July's Beat Report

Get ready for summer

From trying new activities and sports, to visiting new places and gaining new skills, there’s so much to enjoy this summer.There are some ideas for reading, creativity, heritage, sport and nature on the Rediscover Summer website Click HERE 

If you are out and about close to home in the New Forest, please follow the New Forest Code:

keep your distance from the animals – don’t feed or touch them take home litter and dog waste no fires or barbecues keep dogs under control, and don’t let dogs approach or chase any animals park only in car parks no wild camping stick to the permitted cycle tracks drive with care – animals on the road help wildlife by keeping to the main tracks

NFDC are working with Forestry England, the National Park Authority, and Go New Forest to make sure visitors to the area enjoy their visit while also caring for this special place. A joint action plan underway includes:

increased patrols with a focus on visitor hotspots close monitoring of levels and types of littering more litter collections providing key information to visitors increased and more prominent signage a ban on BBQs.

NFDC are taking action to reduce litter and, to make it easier for people to do the right thing and take their rubbish home, there are free rubbish bag dispensers at coastal areas known to be litter hotspots. Look out for the large ‘Crabby’ signs at Barton on Sea, Milford on Sea, Calshot, Hordle Cliff beach and Naish beach. Doing this last year reduced littering by 10 tonnes during August, saving around £10k in clean-up costs. 
 

ALL SAINTS CHURCH Services and news for remainder of August:     Sun 8th, 6pm Evensong. Sun 15th, 11am Holy Communion. Sun 22nd, 9.30am Funday Sunday. Sun 29th, 11am Morning Worship.   You are always welcome at any service in the Benefice.  Details of services at all 3 churches are on the Benefice website.     All Saints’ church is open daily from 8am until late afternoon, for private prayer.  Remember that you can visit the Lychgate at All Saints’ to write names and thoughts on a wooden roundel and hang them there as a prayer.  Information at the lychgate.     More information on the Benefice Click HERE Get in touch via the website or by ringing 023 8028 3175   YouTube Channel: NEW FOREST BENEFICE  Facebook page: “All Saints’ Church, Minstead.”  As well as “Church of England in Lyndhurst, Emery Down and Minstead”.        Shop Opening Hours continue to be 10am-4pm every day! Business at the Shop continues to flourish thanks to our fantastic volunteers who enjoy serving you and will always give you a warm welcome. The Shop Committee agreed that we should take a cautious approach to the removal of legal restrictions from 19th July.  For the time being, we shall keep things exactly as they are with volunteers continuing to wear face coverings and the table and screens in place. Only one customer or one bubble will be allowed into the Shop at any one time and will be asked to wear face coverings.  We believe that our volunteers will be more comfortable with these arrangements for the time being. We shall of course continue to serve delicious hot drinks, home made cakes, a range of essential items as well as a great selection of delicious and attractive locally sourced items! LOCAL VEGETABLE BOXES – PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW Working in collaboration with the Minstead Trust, we are providing weekly vegetable boxes with a range of fresh, home grown, seasonal vegetables. Once ordered, these can be collected from the shop on a Friday morning. The cost per box will be £8.00. As there will be a limited number, they will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you are interested in placing an order please contact janepownall@hotmail.co.uk. LOCALLY MADE CUSHIONS These are a new line which we think you will like. There is a sheet in the window showing the various designs, do enquire in the shop if you are interested. VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED Everyone who has volunteered has said how much they have enjoyed working in the Shop and that it’s such a rewarding and sociable thing to do.  They all do a fantastic job but even they need a break, especially now holidays have become a more realistic prospect!  So, we are always looking for more people in the community who are interested in becoming a volunteer.  If you or anyone you know wants to find out more please get in touch with any of the Committee Members (see website), download an application form from the Shop’s website or collect one from the Shop next time you call in.  We provide full on the job training and it need not take more than 2-3 hours a week. For further updates and to read about new products you can follow the Shop on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and visit the Shop Website