THE Ropley Pram Race returns on Monday, May 27.

The annual event has been run most years since the mid-1960s, originally taking in the three village pubs, now all demolished or converted to other uses.

The action starts from the Recreation Ground, from 10am. There will also be stalls including a plant sale from members of Ropley Horticultural Society.

OLD Alresford Village Fair will be held on Saturday June 15 between 1-4pm on The Green.

There will be the traditional attractions, such as a dog show, tombola, bouncy castle, duck race and model boats as well as free vintage bus rides to and from Alresford.

 

THE next Antiques Fair in Alresford will be on Saturday June 15 in the community centre on West Street.

Further events are planned for Saturday August 17 and Saturday October 26.

The fair runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

ALRESFORD Bowling Club is looking for new members. The 65-strong club on Sun Lane is holding a bingo night on June 29 with a fish and chip supper.

For more information email alresford.bowls@gmail.com or see the website alresfordbowling club.org.uk.

ALRESFORD Town Council has two vacancies for councillors. The authority had a stall at the watercress festival on Sunday to promote its work and encourage community-minded volunteers to come forward.

WRITER Tom Moorhouse will be speaking in Alresford next month on the threat to the nation’s rivers.
He is the author of Elegy For a River, Whiskers Claws and Conservation’s Last Hope. 
The book charts 11 years spent studying endangered and invasive species. 
In this talk, Tom will share his insights into the water vole, and explore what the future might look like for our rivers.
Tom spent more than 20 years working for the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University, and is now an independent researcher.
His research began with single species conservation issues, including water voles, signal crayfish and hedgehogs, and moved onto methods for reducing global demand for wildlife products. 
He is the author of Elegy for a River and Ghosts in the Hedgerow, as well as children’s books like The Rising and The River Singers.
The event is at John Pearson Hall at St John’s church on June 4 at 7pm. It is part of the Tales from the Riverbank Literature Festival - a celebration of how rivers inspire creativity. 
This festival is a collaboration between the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme and Hampshire Library Service.
Tickets are free and available from www.eventbrite.co.uk.

BUILDING work on the new estate off Sun Lane in Alresford is getting underway with preparations for the initial construction of a new access off the A31 bypass.
Fencing has been erected, tree stumps have been removed and earthworks created at the southern part of the site.
A community helpline has been set up by the main contractor Taylor Wimpey, 0800 689 5209, email info@alresfordmeadows.co.uk or see website alresfordmeadows.co.uk.

SATURDAY June 8 will see people taking part in the Alresford Big Help Out.
It is part of a national initiative from June 7-9 to encourage people to volunteer to carry out work to make their home towns and villages nicer places to live and work.
Alresford Pigs, Rotary, town council and town trust have been co-ordinating ideas.

CHILDREN are being encouraged to enter a poetry competition inspired by local chalk streams. Tales from the Riverbank poetry competition is aimed at 7- to 18-year-olds with prizes to a value of £75. 
Winning entries will be included in a commemorative booklet. It is part of the Watercress and Winterbournes project organised by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
The closing date is July 31. For more details see hiwwt.org.uk/tales.


FLOODING alerts remain in place in the Alresford area.
The Environment Agency has flood alerts in place in Bishop’s Sutton, Bramdean, Cheriton, Old Alresford and the Candovers.
It says cellars will still be affected and there could be impacts on septic tanks.
The agency says groundwater is high but falling very slowly.

SEND us local news of community events from the Alresford area. The patch stretches from the Candovers to Kilmeston and Tichborne to West Meon. 
Email newsdesk@hampshire
chronicle.co.uk or call 01962 861860 (choose option 1).