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Fareham hosts virtual Christmas lights switch on event

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Fareham Borough Council

Fareham’s Christmas lights switch on was held virtually this year after the event was cancelled due to government restrictions surrounding coronavirus.

Whilst no public event was held this year, the Mayor of Fareham Councillor Pamela Bryant celebrated the switch on with a special video alongside Councillor Louise Clubley on the 23rd November. 

In the video, Cllr Bryant said that although many may be “disappointed” with the lack of usual festivities, she hopes “to spread a little festive cheer across the whole town by switching on the Christmas lights”.

Bryant recognized that “2020 has certainly been a different and difficult year for many of us due to the coronavirus pandemic” but invited those watching to join in on the 5 second countdown to her and Clubley switching on the lights. 

Fareham Borough Council’s website says that the lights “will stay on throughout December” so that “those visiting Fareham for essential purposes throughout the lockdown will be able to enjoy them”.

The Mayor finished the video by wishing everyone a very “Merry Christmas”. 

The annual Christmas lights switch on and Christmas market is usually a prime opportunity for commerce and festivity in Fareham.  

With both unable to go ahead due to social distancing restrictions, the events have been moved online. 

Fareham Borough Council are encouraging people to take a look at local businesses and stall holders on their virtual Christmas Market in order to continue their “festive shopping throughout December”. 

The online market offers a multitude of Christmas gifts, from jewelry to fantasy maps. 

There is also a range of catering traders offering hog roasts, Turkish sweets, crepes, and more. 

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Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2025 launches in Winchester

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Communities are encouraged to buy a poppy as this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is launched in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. 

Poppies are on sale across the country | Photo Credit: Kieran Tibbert

The annual fundraising campaign supports members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, personnel and their families. 

The Poppy Appeal remains the Legion’s biggest annual fundraiser.  

Last year, more than 32 million poppies were distributed across the UK, and about £51.4 million was raised in donations. 

Chris Hayward is managing the Poppy Appeal in North Hampshire & Winchester and said: “Wearing a poppy during Remembrance time shows that you care.” 

“It’s a national symbol, and it shows the armed forces community that you appreciate everything that they do.” 

She added: “For those who want to get involved, you can wear your poppy, donate to the Royal British Legion, Poppy Appeal, and also participate in the collections and volunteer as a collector.” 

Winchester will be recognising remembrance itself, with a service at the Cathedral on Sunday, 9th November, in addition to a service at Winchester Guildhall at 11 am on Armistice Day. 

The service will begin at 9:20 am and will include a procession from The Broadway to Winchester Cathedral, as well as wreath laying too. 

Donations from the campaign go towards services including mental health support, housing assistance and employment advice for veterans transitioning to civilian life. 

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or order poppies online, visit: britishlegion.org.uk/poppyappeal.  

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Winchester News Online

How the NHS can recommend gardening to improve metal health

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A panel of gardening experts answered the burning questions of Winchester gardeners at a Question Time style Q&A held at St Swithun’s School.

Questions ranged from what soil to use this time of year to why some types of plants aren’t flourishing in Winchester but, as the gardening event fell on World Mental Health Day, this posed another question: whether the two are connected?

Gardening is an example of a “nature-related activity”, which can be recommended by the NHS to improve mental wellbeing under a term called social prescribing.

The panel’s Charles Carr, head of Wholesale Nurseries at Hilliers, shared how he thinks gardening is beneficial to your mental health.

Charles described it as “relaxation” and “contacting with nature”.

He believes it is a very good way of “de-stressing and putting yourself into the moment”.

Attendees of the event also shared why they enjoy their hobby.

Neil Budd, a parent from the school and regular BBC Gardener’s Question Time listener, got into gardening as a young boy but now enjoys the “peace and quiet” that it provides from his children.

He wasn’t surprised to learn that nature-related activities like gardening can be recommended by the NHS, as he says it helps you relax as well as being a break away from work.

Former social worker, Roberta Brockman is an ex St Swithuns pupil who returned to the school for the Gardeners Q&A.

She emphasised how the hobby encourages people to join gardening clubs and enter shows, which can create new friendships for people later in life.

According to NHS England, more than 8,500 people were referred to a green social prescribing activity between April 2021 and March 2023 and findings showed improvements in mental health.

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Winchester News Online

Turning the page: Can young people fall Back in love with reading?

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When is the last time you picked up a book for the sake of your own enjoyment?

Once a beloved childhood pastime, reading books is now becoming more rare among young people.

An annual report by the National Literacy Trust found that reading rates among younger generations are plummeting every year.

The study found that the amount of young people aged eight to 18 who read for their own enjoyment has dropped to just 1 in 3.

This has resulted in a 36% decrease from when the study began taking place 20 years ago.

Professionals are growing concerned about young peoples comprehension skills, empathy levels, and their creativity, all attributes which are strongly connected to reading.

In an age of scrolling, streaming, and gaming, the appeal of a paperback no longer seems to compete with screens.

But in Winchester, community efforts are helping to spark that interest again.

Local children’s bookseller Jo works with schools to run author events and workshops to get stories back into young hands.

“Authors go in to schools and talk to the kids directly about their books and get them really engaged and I see that have such a great effect.”

As reading habits evolve, experts advise the goal isn’t to fight technology, it’s to find new ways to make stories matter again.

For reading to thrive like before, families, schools, and publishers will need to work together to make stories feel relevant and remind young people that reading is educational in more ways than one.

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