Emery Down Phone Box

04/09/2026

Gardeners' Question Time from Minstead on R4 today (4/9) at 3pm, repeated on Sunday.

31/08/2026

This year’s Minstead Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Show is this Saturday! A show well worth visiting as it celebrates its 75th year. Held at Minstead Village Hall on 5th September 2026 it is a chance to display your produce and see what others have managed to grow in this year of extraordinary weather. Why not enter today? Classes for both adults and children.
This year’s posters are the winning designs from two of last year’s entries.
Here is a link to the Schedule:
https://minstead.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Minstead-Flower-Show-Schedule-2026-v2.pdf

29/08/2026

19/08/2026

Tickets are selling fast. Don’t miss out on participating in the recording of Radio4’s GARDENERS QUESTION TIME at Minstead Hall next Tuesday 25th August at 5pm. Tickets are only £4 - just use this QR code or visit https://www.ticketsource.com/minstead-flower-show5

18/08/2026

September sees popular speaker Peter Power present incredible tales of the lesser known characters of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during WW2. Agents ranged from Grand Prix racing drivers to code makers, pilots and deceivers. Their colourful stories all form part of perhaps the most extraordinary allied organisation ever to appear during WW2. Peter Power will highlight their tales of danger and sometimes treachery. Seats from https://nfhwa.org/events/

11/08/2026

⚠️ A31 AND NEW FOREST FIRE — TUESDAY 11 AUGUST UPDATE

The New Forest wildfire is reported to be under control, but it has not been extinguished. Firefighters are now entering their third day at the scene, with hotspots and flare-ups still being monitored by police drones.

Crews worked through another night, with seven fire engines and supporting vehicles remaining at the scene. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is planning a larger-scale attack today after a change in wind direction created further challenges.

More than 120 firefighters have been involved in tackling the fire, which has affected approximately one square kilometre of heathland—around 247 acres or 140 football pitches. A significant emergency-service presence is expected to remain for several days.

The five-mile water pipeline from Hightown Lake near Ringwood remains in operation, supplying approximately 1,300 litres of water per minute. Some hoses cross access points to local homes, so please do not drive over them.

🚧 A31 CLOSURE

The A31 remains closed in both directions until further notice:

• Westbound between M27 Junction 2 at Ower and the A338 at Ringwood
• Eastbound between the A338 at Ringwood and M27 Junction 1 at Cadnam

There is still no estimated reopening time. National Highways says significant repairs are required to the road surface, safety barrier and boundary fencing. These cannot begin until the area is declared safe.

🚗 OFFICIAL DIVERSION

National Highways is specifically asking motorists not to follow satnav routes through minor roads.

Westbound traffic should leave the M27 at Junction 2 and follow the A326, A35 through Ashurst, Lyndhurst and Christchurch, then the A3060 and A338 to rejoin the A31 at Ashley Heath.

Eastbound traffic should follow the same route in reverse via the A338, A3060, A35 and A326 before rejoining the M27 at Junction 2.

Please allow substantial extra time, ensure you have enough fuel and carry drinking water and essential medication during the hot weather. Observe local speed limits and watch carefully for free-roaming New Forest livestock.

Serious congestion and knock-on delays remain likely around Lyndhurst, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and surrounding Forest roads. Please travel only when necessary and avoid using narrow rural lanes as shortcuts.

🌳 AREA CLOSURES

Bratley View, Canadian Memorial and Bolderwood car parks remain closed and are unlikely to reopen this week. Please stay away from the affected area and keep gateways and gravel access tracks clear for emergency vehicles.

Anyone who abandoned a vehicle on the A31 should call police on 101, provide the registration number and quote incident reference INC-20260809-2000.

Thank you once again to everyone working in extremely difficult conditions to protect the New Forest. Please share this update with anyone planning to travel through the area today.

BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmq56755ve09t

Fire service: https://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/incident/a31-closed-following-vehicle-fire/

National Highways: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/roads-and-travel/live-travel-updates/travel-alerts/a31-hampshire-both-directions-fire-road-closed-between-m27-j2-and-a338/

09/07/2026

Mickey’s After School Club
St Michael’s is looking for an enthusiastic and reliable After School Leader for Mickey’s After School Club.
Are you confident and comfortable with providing a safe, happy and fun environment for children operating within St Michael’s church? The position is for 12 hours a week, split over five days, during term time. Salary is dependent on experience.
Closing date for applications: 5th August
Please contact Catherine Bowell to find out more:
[email protected]
07791 183931

03/07/2026

Can you help?
Emery Down & Bank Village Hall is soon to lose its bookings clerk who is retiring late July 26. The hall is an important and popular venue with strong links to the real Alice in Wonderland, so the Trustees are obviously keen to hopefully attract a new clerk soon.

The booking process is entirely online nowadays, so the job is to answer occasional calls from hirers (mobile phone provided), liaise with our treasurer, keep an eye on the overall process and update the Trustees at our occasional meetings. Also, a tidy up of the hall once a week - but this could easily be another person? The current post holder receives an allowance per month, adding up to over £1000 per year.

If anyone is interested in being part of our team to keep this popular hall thriving please let me know.

Many Thanks.

Peter Power [email protected]

Chairman of Trustees Emery Down & Bank Village Hall

Home The Emery Down and Bank Village Hall is available for hire for local events, group meetings or private parties. New (2018) kitchen Renovated (2018) floor Email: [email protected] Mill Lane, Emery Down, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7EB Telephone: 07938 712 538 Click here to find us on F...

01/07/2026

Taizé prayer is ecumenical and welcomes everyone. Come and be with us for Bible readings, silence, and simple singing in peaceful, candlelit surroundings. The gentle Taizé chants are easy to learn as they repeat the same few words. Just relax, listen, and reflect on what matters.
Sunday 5th July: a Thanksgiving for all God’s creation; with an expression of hope and concern for the future. The reflections in this Sunday’s prayer will be from ‘Anam Cara’ by John O’Donohue, and ‘Faith and Nature, our relationship with the natural world explored through sacred literature’.
The prayer lasts no longer than 45 minutes.

📷 Peter Power

Taizé prayer is ecumenical and welcomes everyone. Come and be with us for Bible readings, silence, and simple singing in peaceful, candlelit surroundings. The gentle Taizé chants are easy to learn as they repeat the same few words. Just relax, listen, and reflect on what matters.

Sunday 5th July: a Thanksgiving for all God’s creation; with an expression of hope and concern for the future. The reflections in this Sunday’s prayer will be from ‘Anam Cara’ by John O’Donohue, and ‘Faith and Nature, our relationship with the natural world explored through sacred literature’.

The prayer lasts no longer than 45 minutes.



📷 Peter Power