THIS year's Old Alresford Village Fair returns on Saturday June 17, 1pm to 4pm.

Free vintage bus rides from and back to Alresford to the event on the village green.

There will be plants, a grand draw, tombola, dog show, duck race, model boats, sideshows and the famous children’s Tug o War! Cakes, teas, licenced bar and BBQ too.

Organisers promise fun for all of the family and your dog! Please take cash.

 

PLANNERS at the South Downs National Park are considering a plan for a holiday let at a cottage on the village green in Cheriton.

They have received an application for Virginia Cottage, Alresford Road.

Under planning approval given in 2005 an annexe was allowed but would be part of the main property.

Agents Witcher Crawford told the planners: "Our client would like to be able to offer this for use as short-term holiday let for periods not exceeding six months of the year.

"It is important to note that the client wishes this to remain as a singular address."

 

THE newly restored St Peter’s Church in Ropley will be filled with flowers over the Coronation weekend, as part of the village celebrations for the crowning of King Charles III.

The festival will open with a special Preview reception with fizz and canapés on the eve of the Coronation May 5 and continue over the rest of the weekend, Saturday to Monday, May 6-8.

Visitors are invited to appreciate the spectacular floral arrangements – all with a royal link – and enjoy the new community space that the Church now offers.

Rev Clare Welham, Vicar of St Peter’s, said: "We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to St Peter’s for this Flower Festival. We are sure they will enjoy this opportunity to experience our fantastic new building decorated in a very special way.”

The Festival will also include a Coronation Celebration Service at 4pm on Sunday May 7 which will feature the Ropley Coronation Choir singing the new Coronation anthem The mountains shall bring peace as part of the nationwide ‘Sing for the King’.

St Peter's has been restored following the devastating fire in 2014 and reopened last August.

Tickets for the preview with fizz and canapés at 6.30pm on Friday May 5, are £20 per person and must be purchased in advance. https://www.stpetersropleyvenue.org.uk/buy-tickets.

 

THE garden of Bramdean House in Bramdean will be open as part of the National Garden Scheme on Sunday June 25, 11.30am-4pm and Sunday September 10, 1-3.30pm.

Tickets are £6, children free. Assistance dogs only.

The five-acre garden is well-known for its mirror image herbaceous borders.

Parking is across the A272 in the field opposite.

 

ANOTHER reminder about the Alresford Duck Race on Sunday June 18 from 12-5pm in the garden of Weir House.
There will be a race every 30 minutes from 1pm. Organised by the Alresford Pigs Association, there will also be a barbecue, teas and cakes, face painting, ice cream and live music. All proceeds will go to local charitable causes.
Meanwhile, the Pigs are always on the lookout for volunteers to help on the day of the Alresford Show, which this year will be on Saturday, September 2.
The Pigs co-ordinate more than 200 volunteers to set up and run all the car parks and ticket stations – and to act as safety stewards on the day. The team is run by Chris Lillywhite who is also one of the directors/trustees of the show.


SUNDAY, May 21, is this year’s date for the Alresford Watercress Festival.
The town centre will be taken over in a celebration of the local crop. It attracts thousands of visitors to the town with several streets closed to traffic.  
There will be street markets, food and drink stalls, cookery demonstrations with world class chefs, the Hampshire Farmers Market and a Kids Zone featuring falcon displays and circus skills.
The Watercress Eating Championship takes place at 3pm on the main stage.
The festival opens at 10am until 4pm. It is a not-for-profit enterprise raising money for many local groups and charities.

 

SEND local news from the Alresford area to newsdesk@hampshirechronicle.co.uk.
The patch stretches from the Candovers to Kilmeston and Tichborne to West Meon.