Activities during the year include a programme of talks and demonstrations, garden visits in the summer months, both locally and further afield.

 The Gardening Club holds its meetings in the Village Hall at Preston Candover in the heart of Hampshire’s beautiful Candover Valley about five miles north of Alresford.  Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7.30pm.

 Anyone interested in joining the club, should contact the Chairman, Rosemary Bligh at blighrosemary@hotmail.com

for details of current subscription rates and the programme for 2024.

 More information is also available on Facebook.

The Club is open to retired, or partially retired, men living in Alresford and its surrounding villages.  Currently, there are more than 40 members with an extensive range of business experience from accountants to engineers, journalist, judges and university professors.

Monthly lunches are lively gatherings of like-minded men, enjoying the good company of their peers and reminiscing about past exploits and business successes.

The Club meets on the third Monday of each month, currently at the Flower Pots, public house and restaurant in Cheriton where members enjoy a 45-minute talk/presentation, usually given by an outside speaker, but sometimes by a member with a keen interest in a particular subject.

 The pre-lunch talks and presentations cover a wide range of subjects and vary from general historical, military and social history, legal and justice dramas, vintage cars and new technical developments, to the latest manufacturing and business processes.

Alresford Probus was founded in 1984 by a group of local businessmen and retired military and naval officers, living in Alresford and the surrounding villages, led by Alex Hankin, a local JP and the proprietor of a substantial garage and motor sales and repair business in Alresford, and by Air Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle, a former Director of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence.

To learn more about Probus, and to see if it could be right for you, contact the Club by email to:‘info@alresfordprobus.co.uk’.

The bells at Preston Candover and Brown Candover and Northington churches will be silent this year from a serious lack of ringers! It is unlikely that bells will be rung again for normal services at any of the churches until new ringers can be recruited and trained.  Currently, there are only three ringers available and bell captain, Peter Willis, says he really needs a team of ten to cover the needs of all three churches.  Enthusiastic volunteers are urgently needed!

Anyone over the age 0f 18, with or without previous bell-ringing experience, will be greatly welcomed and training is available.  Children over 12 years of age will also be welcomed if they are accompanied by an adult. This is a great opportunity for all the family to be able to participate together in a new venture.

St Mary’s Church at Preston Candover has six bells, which are lighter than normal bells, and suitable for most people, even children, to ring. St John’s at Northington also has six bells, and St Peter’s at Brown Candover has five. Practice and training sessions are usually carried out at St Peter’s on a week-day evening.

Anyone living within easy reach of the Candover Valley who is interested in campanology should contact Bell Captain, Peter Willis, on 07776 101595 or by email to – CVR@Willispj.co.uk

Many of the organisations active in the Candover Valley and the surrounding area are listed below along with a wide range of places to visit, and activities to enjoy. There are many public footpaths giving you access to the countryside and its teeming wildlife which can be seen here.   

Many of the 2021  events  were cancelled or postponed, but plans are being advanced to resume activities this year.  Please check the relevant venues before planning any visits and for updates on their current activities and 2022 programmes.  

The Grange Festival, Northington: the 2022 programme is now available.   See more here.

Alresford agricultural show, Tichborne, Alresford: Saturday, 3 September 2022.  More information about the event this year and other activities can be found  here. 

The Vyne, Sherborne St John: National Trust:  The grounds and kiosk are open but the house is not open.  Booking is necessary for any visits.  Details here

Hinton Ampner House & Gardens, Cheriton, near Alresford: National Trust: More details here.

Candover Valley Gardening Club. More information here. 

The Grange, Northington: open to visit the grounds, and view the outside of the house.  Details here.

Hattingley Valley Winery, Upper Wield, near Alresford: Details of tours etc

Bombay Gin distillery, Laverstoke, Overton: Details of tours etc

Wolvesey Castle, medieval palace of the Bishops of Winchester until early 18th century. College Street, Winchester. Details here. 

Women’s Institute – Swarraton & Northington.  See more here.

 Churches in the Candover Valley, benefice communion and other activities, More details here. - 

]]> http://candovervalley.org/2022/04/things-to-do-places-of-interest/feed/ 0 http://candovervalley.org/2021/12/candover-valleys-silent-bells/ http://candovervalley.org/2021/12/candover-valleys-silent-bells/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2021 14:42:52 +0000 http://candovervalley.org/?p=6441 read more →]]> Parishioners at the Candover Valley’s three principal churches will not be encouraged to attend Christmas services this year by the joyful sound of church bells echoing through the Valley.

The bells at Preston Candover and Brown Candover and Northington churches will be silent this year from a serious lack of ringers! It is unlikely that bells will be rung again for normal services at any of the churches until new ringers can be recruited and trained.  Currently, there are only three ringers available and bell captain, Peter Willis, says he really needs a team of ten to cover the needs of all three churches.  Enthusiastic volunteers are urgently needed!

Anyone over the age 0f 18, with or without previous bell-ringing experience, will be greatly welcomed and training is available.  Children over 12 years of age will also be welcomed if they are accompanied by an adult. This is a great opportunity for all the family to be able to participate together in a new venture.

St Mary’s Church at Preston Candover has six bells, which are lighter than normal bells, and suitable for most people, even children, to ring. St John’s at Northington also has six bells, and St Peter’s at Brown Candover has five. Practice and training sessions are usually carried out at St Peter’s on a week-day evening.

Anyone living within easy reach of the Candover Valley who is interested in campanology should contact Bell Captain, Peter Willis, on 07776 101595 or by email to – CVR@Willispj.co.uk

Preston Farms are seeking to develop a solar farm across the site, larger than 70 football fields,  with solar panels, which would include a substation compound and a number of transformer or battery storage containers distributed across the site.

The proposed site for the solar panels, capable of generating 28 megawatt of electricity, comprises three fields within gently sloping open countryside to the north-west of the village.  It is not likely to be visible from the village itself but may be seen from the recreation ground and other high ground to the south.

The site off Church Lane covers 116 acres in open country to the north-west of the village of Preston Candover on farm land owned by Lord and Lady Sainsbury.  The site is within the Candovers Parish Council area but the main impact of the development, if approved, will be in Preston Candover.

In a document circulated to local residents it is stated that construction and operating vehicles will be routed along the B3046 and use the existing farm access road to reach the site and “off-site cabling works are proposed which will run south-east to the point of connection.”

It is now confirmed that the ‘point of connection’ will be the electricity sub-station in Wield Road, next to the recreation ground. Initially, it was thought this would have a significant environmental impact on the village as it was planned to bring the cabling through the village, along Alresford Road (B3046) from the junction with Bugmore Lane, past the church and up Wield Road. See detailed location plan and site plan - 21_00280_ENSC-LOCATION_PLAN-5808809  and 21_00280_ENSC-SOLAR_PARK_LAYOUT-5808810

However, details of the proposed route for the overhead cabling have now been given. and it is currently planned to route the cabling to the west of the village across open fields and close to the southern boundary of the recreation ground and approach the sub-station along Wield Road from the south. See map here-Solar Farm power line route

Much detailed information about the development is contained in 55 documents and plans supporting the application, all of which can be viewed and downloaded from the planning section of the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s website.  The application number is 21/03398/FUL. See link here.  

Preliminary notice of Preston Farms’ plans were first revealed in an application submitted in January 2021 to Basingstoke planning officers for advice on screening options and a decision was issued on 15 February and published later.  The Landscape team at BDBC were concerned that the planned site for this solar farm covers an area of high-quality arable land and could require the clearance of several old hedges and have a major impact on the rural character of the area. This project introduces an industrial activity into an agricultural environment.  However, the Basingstoke planners decided not to ask for an Environmental Impact Assessment as part of the main application, despite the previously expressed concerns of the Landscape Team.

The landscape report says that the site currently comprises three agricultural fields lying within gently sloping open countryside to the north-west of Preston Candover.  A number of rights of way are within the vicinity of the site, including two adjacent to the site on the eastern and western boundaries. To the south of the proposed site lies Lilleys Copse and Chiltern Copse, both Ancient Woodlands and Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINC).

“The application site also lies within the Candover Valley Landscape Character Area as defined by the BDBC Landscape Assessment (June 2001). The site and its surrounding landscape display some of the key characteristics of this area, being a mix of agricultural fields with mature hedgerows and woodland copses, unified by shallow valley sides and possessing a generally unspoilt, quiet and rural character.

“Although the surrounding landscape does not have national designation, it is nevertheless considered that it possesses a distinctive quality with a quiet rural character that is sensitive to change. In view of the scale of the proposals and the extent of the area affected, it is considered that the cumulative effects on landscape character that could result from the development are potentially significant. Adjacent rights of way that run adjacent to and close to the site, are also likely to be significantly affected in visual amenity terms and this would be particularly evident during the months of the year when vegetation is not in full leaf,” say the landscape team.

“It is therefore considered that the effects of the proposals are likely to be significant and the impacts on the landscape character of the area, as well as visual amenity, would need to be suitably assessed. Further information regarding the size and scale of the proposed development along with information about ancillary equipment and fencing should also be submitted to enable the assessment of the impact.”

Natural England has also been consulted.  It is a non-departmental public body whose statutory purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations. It has concluded that on the information available to it at the time, that “there are potential likely significant effects on statutorily designated nature conservation sites or landscapes and further assessment is required”.  It says the proposed development is located within, or partly within, and has the potential for adverse effects on the designated nature conservation sites or designated landscapes of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

See planning opinion on landscape assessment - Solar Farm – screening opinion

See full application on BDBC website here: 

Application number 21/03398/FUL

BDBC site address – https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications

More information from BSR Energy is available here. 

The proposal for a 28 megawatt solar site is now in the final stages of development by Preston Farms and BSR Energy and it is proposed to submit a planning application next month to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for permission.

The site off Church Lane covers 116 acreas in open country to the north-west of the village of Preston Candover on farm land owned by Lord and Lady Sainsbury.  The site is within the Candovers Parish Council area but the main impact of the development, if approved, will be in Preston Candover.

In a document circulated to local residents it is stated that construction and operating vehicles will be routed along the B3046 and use the existing farm access road to reach the site and “off-site cabling works are proposed which will run south-east to the point of connection.”  It is assumed that the ‘point of connection’ is likely to be the electricity sub-station in Wield Road, next to the recreation ground. But no details of the potential route for the overhead cabling and the number and size of the supporting towers/poles have been given. This could have a significant environmental impact on the village.

Image courtesy of Google Earth Pro.
“Off-site cabling works are proposed which will run south-east to the point of connection.”

An application was submitted in January to planning officers for advice on screening options and a decision was issued on 15 February and has recently been published.  The Landscape team at BDBC were concerned that the planned site for this solar farm covers an area of high-quality arable land and could require the clearance of several old hedges and have a major impact on the rural character of the area. This project introduces an industrial activity into an agricultural environment.  However, the Basingstoke planners have decided not to ask for an Environmental Impact Assessment as part of the main application, despite the previously expressed concerns of the Landscape Team.

Basingstoke and Deane’s landscape team reviewed the proposals and recommended that an Environmental Impact Assessment is completed to address landscape issues, and that mitigation proposals should be prepared to address the impact on the visual amenity to users of the footpaths and the rights of way near the site.  The team has asked for cross sectional and detailed drawings, which show the height and scale of the solar panels in relation to the landscape, to assess the visibility from public rights of way.

The landscape report says that the site currently comprises three agricultural fields lying within gently sloping open countryside to the north-west of Preston Candover.  A number of rights of way are within the vicinity of the site, including two adjacent to the site on the eastern and western boundaries. To the south of the proposed site lies Lilleys Copse and Chiltern Copse, both Ancient Woodlands and Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINC).

“The application site also lies within the Candover Valley Landscape Character Area as defined by the BDBC Landscape Assessment (June 2001). The site and its surrounding landscape display some of the key characteristics of this area, being a mix of agricultural fields with mature hedgerows and woodland copses, unified by shallow valley sides and possessing a generally unspoilt, quiet and rural character.

“Although the surrounding landscape does not have national designation, it is nevertheless considered that it possesses a distinctive quality with a quiet rural character that is sensitive to change. In view of the scale of the proposals and the extent of the area affected, it is considered that the cumulative effects on landscape character that could result from the development are potentially significant. Adjacent rights of way that run adjacent to and close to the site, are also likely to be significantly affected in visual amenity terms and this would be particularly evident during the months of the year when vegetation is not in full leaf,” say the landscape team.

Preston Farms are seeking to develop a solar farm across the site with solar panels, which would include a substation compound and a number of transformer or battery storage containers distributed across the site. The information on these structures has not been detailed and there is no other information on any other equipment required ie: security cameras or fencing around the site. The height and size of the structures has also not been submitted.

“All of this information is required to establish the impact on the landscape character and any visual impacts the proposed solar site may have, “says the landscape team.

“It is therefore considered that the effects of the proposals are likely to be significant and the impacts on the landscape character of the area, as well as visual amenity, would need to be suitably assessed. Further information regarding the size and scale of the proposed development along with information about ancillary equipment and fencing should also be submitted to enable the assessment of the impact.”

Natural England has also been consulted.  It is a non-departmental public body whose statutory purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations. It has concluded that on the information available to it at the time, that “there are potential likely significant effects on statutorily designated nature conservation sites or landscapes and further assessment is required”.  It says the proposed development is located within, or partly within, and has the potential for adverse effects on the designated nature conservation sites or designated landscapes of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

See detailed location plan and site plan - 21_00280_ENSC-LOCATION_PLAN-5808809  and 21_00280_ENSC-SOLAR_PARK_LAYOUT-5808810

See planning opinion on landscape assessment - Solar Farm – screening opinion

See full application on BDBC website here

Application number 21/00280/ENSC

BDBC site address – https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications

More information from BSR Energy is available here. 

See here for the map -

https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/plannedmaintenance#list-works

Many of the organisations active in the Candover Valley and the surrounding area are listed below along with a wide range of places to visit, and activities to enjoy. There are many public footpaths giving you access to the countryside and its teeming wildlife which can be seen here.  

Many of the 2021  events  were cancelled or postponed, but plans are being advanced to resume activities this year.  Please check the relevant venues before planning any visits and for updates on their current activities and 2022 programmes.  

The Grange Festival, Northington: the 2022 programme is now available.   See more here.

Alresford agricultural show, Tichborne, Alresford: Saturday, 3 September 2022.  More information about the event this year and other activities can be found  here. 

The Vyne, Sherborne St John: National Trust:  The grounds and kiosk and the house are now open.  Booking may be necessary for any visits.  Details here

Hinton Ampner House & Gardens, Cheriton, near Alresford: National Trust: More details here.

Candover Valley Gardening Club. More information here. 

The Grange, Northington: open to visit the grounds, and view the outside of the house.  Details here.

Hattingley Valley Winery, Upper Wield, near Alresford: Details of tours etc

Bombay Gin distillery, Laverstoke, Overton: Details of tours etc

Wolvesey Castle, medieval palace of the Bishops of Winchester until early 18th century. College Street, Winchester. Details here. 

Women’s Institute – Swarraton & Northington.  See more here.

 Churches in the Candover Valley, benefice communion and other activities, More details here. - 

As the prospect of more heavy rain across Hampshire during the past week failed to materialise, the UK government’s flood alert service has scaled back on its warning of potential groundwater flooding in the Candovers and Old Alresford.  In a statement published yesterday it says  that in Preston Candover the ground water level is just stabilising, but in Old Alresford the level has started to fall.  It says that for the next 10 days the weather should remain fairly dry, but at the lower end of Preston Candover village, the need to pump water from cellars will continue throughout this time.  But a decrease in level is also expected in Preston Candover although the rate of fall will be very slow.

See the full text of the statement - Flood information flooding in the Candovers 24-2-21

But water levels in the Chilton pond and in the Candover stream remain high.  Such a pity it is not allowed to hold the Duck Race this year.