The District Council is making available £1m for ‘Community Infrastructure Levy’ (CIL) funds to be spent on local projects. These projects will help infrastructure to be delivered on projects local communities have highlighted. If you are a Parish Council I would ask that you pass this information on to your local school’s and community groups and work with them and encourage them to make a bid.
CIL can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure projects from large-scale transport and highways improvements to play areas and community buildings. Further information is available at: https://newforest.gov.uk/cilspend
If you would like to discuss any potential projects, please do reply to this email or call 023 8024 5345 (option 1)
As agreed as part of the authority’s wider waste strategy*, from April 2024, New Forest District Council (NFDC) will collect garden waste fortnightly using 240 litre wheeled bins. The bins are black with brown lids and offer double the capacity of the current garden waste bags.
Residents can sign up to join the new garden waste wheeled bin collection service online at newforest.gov.uk/gardenwaste
The cost of the new service is £65 for 12 months of fortnightly collections, plus a one-off £25 supply charge per bin. The annual fee is in line with the average price charged by all Hampshire councils.
Residents who sign up before 24 November 2023, 23.59pm will save £25 and are guaranteed to have their bin(s) delivered between January and March 2024, in time for when the new service starts.
Regardless of when residents join the service during the year, they will receive 12 months of garden waste collections. Households can apply for up to 5 bins.
As the service is changing, current garden waste customers, who would like to receive collections from April 2024, will need to join the new service.
The present garden waste collection year will continue for current customers up to 31 March 2024. Collections will stop after this date for any customers who do not join the new service.
The bags currently used for the garden waste collection service will no longer be collected from 1 April 2024.
Councillor Geoffrey Blunden, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability said “Our new waste and recycling strategy, and waste reduction plan, was approved in summer 2022. We are pleased to be moving forwards with changes to the garden waste collection service, which I believe will result in a modern, safe, and more efficient service for both residents and staff.
“I would like to thank all our garden waste customers who support us to recycle around 5,000 tonnes of garden waste every year. There are options for residents who are keen to recycle garden waste, from our charged-for collection service, to composting at home or taking garden waste to Hampshire County Council’s tips.”
More information about the garden waste collection service can be viewed online at newforest.gov.uk/gardenwaste
New Forest District Council (NFDC) is launching a new community energy programme in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and raise climate change awareness in the district.
The council is partnering with Community Energy South to deliver a two-year initiative that will support community groups in the New Forest to develop community-owned renewables, which will generate low-carbon heat and power and reduce energy use from the national grid.
New Forest District Council is supporting the creation of the community energy groups by providing Community Energy South with £100k in funding.
Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, NFDC Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: “This two-year partnership with Community Energy South ensures that we are continuing to support our district in reducing carbon emissions and improve energy security, while helping to raise awareness of the impact of locally led action on climate change, and aligns with our aims as council for the district to become net carbon zero by 2050.”“With this support from New Forest District Council and Community Energy South, our communities can build and invest in and benefit from their own renewable energy, and I encourage everyone to attend the launch event on Tuesday 18 July to find out more about how they can get involved in this fantastic new programme
Ollie Pendered, CEO of Community Energy South said: “We are very happy to be working with the New Forest District Council on this ambitious new programme. Communities in the New Forest have a fantastic track record of delivering community led action on sustainability and the environment and we hope to build on this work to support the development of a community energy group that can then develop community owned renewables. Community energy is a key component of our net zero aims, as well as building local energy resilience.” Residents can find out more about the project on the Community Energy South website at www.communityenergysouth.org
At the Cabinet meeting on 5 July 2023, New Forest District Council agreed the detailed plans for a new garden waste collection service using wheeled bins.
The council already has a garden waste service, with 21,000 customers. This is around 1 in every 4 households using the service.
The service collects garden waste from households once a fortnight and currently uses a reusable bag.
As agreed as part of the authority’s wider waste strategy*, from April 2024 the garden waste service will use a 240l wheeled bin. The bin will hold twice what the current bags hold. It will be a black wheeled bin with a brown lid.
The new service will have an annual charge of £65, plus a one-off charge of £25 for the supply of the bin. These charges are in line with the average price charged by all Hampshire councils
Residents wishing to join the new service will be invited to sign up for the new service in the autumn this year. And those that sign up then, will receive an early offer of no charge for the supply of the bin , a £25 saving.
Customers who join the service in the autumn will have their wheeled bins delivered between January and March 2024.
Information will be on the Council’s website at Newforest.gov.uk/gardenwaste
Share your memorable moment in nature and help create #OurNatureStory
The New Forest National Park is globally important for nature with many rare plants and animals.
Our beautiful landscapes and wildlife are under threat from the climate and nature emergencies, but uplifting and relatable messages of hope and joy are more likely to inspire people to take action to protect them.
Launching this World Environment Day (Monday 5 June), throughout June and July we’re calling for people to share their memorable moments in the outdoors – to build a picture of how people connect with nature, and what makes it special to them.
The best entries will be shown on the New Forest National Park Authority’s social media channels @newforestnpa and at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show in July, where you can also find out more about the New Forest’s Nature Story at the NPA marquee.
Everyone who submits a story will be entered into a prize draw on 31 July 2023 to win a £100 online voucher.
#OurNatureStory is a compilation of snippets, poems, words, films, pictures, photos and memories, all capturing YOUR special moment in nature.
Now’s your chance to show how nature leaves its imprint on you and share with others the beauty of the natural world.
Taking part is easy
Post your video/photo and text across Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook with the hashtag #OurNatureStory
Tag @NewForestNPA
Challenge three friends to share their nature story by tagging them in.
Perhaps you’d like to share an impactful memory from childhood, a fun experience with friends or a beautifully tranquil time alone.
Is your favourite nature moment outdoors in a quiet winter landscape? Or in spring amid riotous birdsong? Could you share a line about nature in the summertime? Or a memorable autumn stroll?
It could be the fleeting chance of seeing a rare species for the first time, or watching the sun set over a heather-purple heathland on a dog walk. Your memorable moment in nature could be on land, water or coast, and anywhere in the world – not just the New Forest National Park.
Prof. Gavin Parker, New Forest National Park Authority Chair, said: ‘It’s well-documented how being in the outdoors has a positive effect on our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Through stories, rather than through facts and figures, people are likely to be inspired to take action for the environment. Stories are everywhere – they feature in most conversations, and according to research by Stanford University, “Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone”.
‘We hope people will help create an uplifting collection of nature moments and stories that we can all be inspired by, to help us connect with and care for our natural world.’
You can share your memorable moment in nature in just one line – or more if you’d prefer. Top Tips
Hold your phone vertically when you’re filming
Try to keep your video clip to around 30 seconds
It could be just you talking, a voiceover over some shots of a place, or a mixture of both
You don’t have to film in the place you’re mentioning
Or post a photo with some text about your nature story.
#OurNatureStory
About the New Forest National Park Authority
Protect – Enjoy – Prosper
The New Forest National Park Authority’s statutory purposes are to: -Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park – Protect. -Promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities – Enjoy.
We also have a duty to: Seek to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities within the Park – Prosper.
The New Forest National Park was designated in March 2005. Its unique landscape has been shaped over the centuries by grazing ponies, cattle and pigs which roam free. Majestic woodlands, rare heathland and a spectacular coastline provide fabulous opportunities for quiet recreation, enjoyment and discovery.
Election of Councillors to Woodgreen Parish Council Number of Parish Councillors to be elected in Woodgreen is Seven
Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer, Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA on any day after the date of this notice, on Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm (excluding bank holidays) but no later than 4pm on Tuesday, 4 April 2023.
Nomination papers may be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer, Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA, during the times stated above.
If any election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday, 4 May 2023
Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on Monday, 17 April 2023. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes and amendments or cancellations of proxy votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA by 5pm on Tuesday, 18 April 2023.
Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Tuesday, 25 April 2023. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-idvoter-authority-certificate
New applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA by 5pm on Tuesday, 25 April 2023.
Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA by 5pm on Thursday, 4 May 2023.
Dated: Monday, 20 March 2023 Kate Ryan – Returning Officer
New Forest District Council (NFDC) has announced the budget for capital spend on projects and initiatives for 2023/24 to 2025/26 at their Cabinet meeting (1 February 2023).
The proposals for £139 million capital spend over the 3-year period 2023/24 – 2025/26 will ensure investment in housing, and the long-term efficiency of essential council services.
The £139 million (to March 2026) will include council housing maintenance (£28 million), new council housing including purchases and council-led developments (£45 million), a new operational depot facility (£7 million), updated vehicles (£11 million), commercial and residential property (£22 million), new waste strategy containers (£5 million), and coastal protection schemes (£7 million).
As well as the £139 million, £92,000 has been set aside for community grants in 2023/2024, an increase from last year’s funding. These grants are awarded to local groups and organisations who are providing essential community services. Council vehicles reaching the end of their useful life will also be updated as part of the financial plans.
Cllr Jeremy Heron, portfolio holder for finance, investment, and corporate services, said: “This financial planning aims to protect and maintain the crucial services we provide for residents; to create efficiency, savings and enable income generation to safeguard important services and assets across the district, for now and into the long term.”
NFDC Christmas and New Year recycling and rubbish collections
Most household recycling and rubbish collections in the New Forest district will go ahead as usual over the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
There will be some changes to collections:
Clear recycling sacks and black rubbish sacks
Collections due on Monday 26 December 2022 will be collected on Monday 2 January 2023. New Forest District Council (NFDC) will collect extra recycling and rubbish from affected households on Monday 2 January 2023.
Glass box
Collections due on Monday 26 December 2022 will be collected on Saturday 31 December 2022.
Garden waste
There will be no garden waste collections between Monday 26 December 2022 and Friday 6 January 2023. Garden waste collections will resume as usual from Monday 9 January 2023.
All other collection days will stay the same.
Reusing and recycling Christmas waste
NFDC are reminding residents to add empty aerosols, plastic bottles, tins, cans, card and paper to their clear recycling sacks. If not reused, greeting cards and plain brown gift wrap can be added to clear recycling sacks, but any embellishments such as ribbons or sticky tape need to be removed first. The majority of gift wrap is not suitable for recycling in Hampshire as it contains a mixture of plastic and foil.
Christmas tree recycling
NFDC’s Christmas tree recycling drop-off points are returning from Saturday 31 December 2022 to Sunday 15 January 2023.
Residents can drop their real Christmas trees off at selected sites across the district, and the council will recycle the trees by chipping them to create mulch. The mulch will be used locally.
Last year, over 6,000 Christmas trees were dropped off at the sites for recycling.
Fordingbridge
A338 Slip Road Car Park
SP6 1AW
Ringwood
Furlong Long Stay Car Park – follow signs to designated area
BH24 1AT
Residents are asked to remove decorations from trees before taking it to a drop-off point. Trees must be left in designated fenced bays only and placed at the back to avoid blocking the entrance for others. Trees left in car parks and other locations not designated for Christmas tree recycling, will be counted as fly-tipping.
Customers who subscribe to NFDC’s garden waste collection service can recycle real Christmas trees under 6ft, as long as trees are chopped up to fit in garden waste sacks, and to not exceed the 20kg weight limit for sacks.
Residents can read more information online at newforest.gov.uk/christmasrecycling.