We have another busy month ahead with activities to suit all.

Monthly Meeting Monday 13th February

This month Brockenhurst WI Celebrate our 105th Birthday! This is going to be a fun and interactive session. We will be having a social as well with cake and Prosecco. 

The craft group will be engaging us in activities to give you ideas of how you can enter the Group Show for several of the categories from the Schedule. Hopefully, you will have time to have a go at a couple of different activities on the night.

There will flower arranging activity for the April Shower category – using a Child’s Wellie – up to size 13

If you would like to take part in this, please bring: 

• Secateurs
• Foliage
• A few flowers – artificial or fresh 
• A thin container suitable to go inside the child’s wellie – size up to a 13   – Elaine found that a jar had previously containing Black Olives that fits inside of the wellie that she has.  Any container that can contain water will be suitable.
• A child’s wellie boot (if you would like to enter this category in the Group Show, but not essential at this stage).

If you would like to have a go at decorating an egg,  Mel and Evelyn will be leading a session on how to do this.

To take part, please bring:

• Hard boiled egg  or a plastic, polystyrene or wooden egg

• A Pritt stick
• Scissors
• Needles and cotton
• Ruler
• Pencil

There will be ideas for the Reuse, recycle and redesign section. Carole and Ann H will be giving you ideas and leading activities. A Pritt Stick would be useful for this.

Gina and Anne N will be giving you ideas for the Easter Bonnet category. Please bring Scissors, needle and thread for this activity.

If you just want to watch the demonstrations that is absolutely fine.

Darts

The Darts team practice at The Foresters most Thursday mornings at 11am. There may not be a session on Thursday 9th, but there should be sessions on forthcoming Thursday mornings.Why not try something new, un and social! Our darts sessions are also an opportunity to make friends, have a drink and enjoy a laugh. New members welcome! Contact us for more details.

Pancake Race

It will soon pancake time again! The Brockenhurst annual Pancake Race will take place on Tuesday 21st February 3.30pm in Brookley Road.  This is a fun social event with many ages taking part and we need a team to take part in the walking race.  If anyone is interested in taking part please sign on the board at Monday’s meeting. If you don’t fancy taking, why not come and cheer our team on!

Lunch Club

Christine K has organised a lunch at on Monday 20th February at 12.30pm at The Filly Inn. There will be sign-up sheets at our monthly meeting on 13th February. Please see Christine K is you have any questions.

Walk

Julie has arranged a walk on Thursday 17th February at 2pm 11am from Beechern Woods car park off the Rhinefield Road in Brockenhurst. We will walk for one to two mile miles and will walk at gentle pace to suit all. The paths can be wet or muddy, so please wear appropriate footwear for all eventualities. Please sign up at Monday’s meeting or contact us with any questions or if you sign up but then can’t make it on the day. Thank you

Craft Group

With the Group Show approaching the craft group have meetings the following meeting planned:

Friday 10th February 2023 2pm Craft Group Session at Ann H’s house. All welcome. Please contact us for more information and for the location. Please bring an egg (either hard boiled or wooden/polystyrene.

Friday 17th February 2023 2pm Craft Group Session at Carole’s house. All welcome. Please contact us for more information and for the location. Ideas for our Group Show entry.

Friday 24th February 2023 2pm Craft Group Session at Carole’s house. All welcome. Please contact us for more information and for the location.

Evelyn and Carol are keen to encourage members to enter the Group Craft Show.  Please see Evelyn at the meeting if you are interested – the craft group are very knowledgeable and will give guidance if you have a query re your entry.  So give it a go – only £1.00 entry fee (please give it to Evelyn). You can read about the categories for the Group Show here.

Contact us for more information and for the locations.

Ukraine

Rita is running bandage making sessions on Wednesday mornings from 10am-12 noon (with a prompt finish on 8th). Rita would welcome your help and donations of cotton or polycotton sheets. Please bring them to the meeting or contact us.

Janice is continuing with her “Hats off for Ukraine” campaign , so please bring any warm socks, hats, gloves and scarfs to our meetings.

You can donate other items. Because of the lack of power in Ukraine, torches are especially needed. A list can be found at https://www.newforestforukraine.co.uk/requireddonations

Or you can read about the generator appeal to buy and send generators to Ukraine. Read about this here and donate at here.

Forthcoming News and Events

On March 4th at Brockenhurst Village Hall there is a “Making Space for Nature, Eco Gardening Event from 11 am – 3pm.  There will be lots of gardening ideas and a seed swap. A donation of a cake for the refreshment stall would be very welcome!  See Britta for further information.

25th March sees the 73rd Brockenhurst Group Craft Show. We are asking our members to consider taking part in this event. You don’t need to be a member of the craft group to take part and we know that many of you do a variety of crafts and cooking at home and have many talents that you hide under a bushel!

Please do have a look here at the categories that you can enter here and do ask Evelyn, Carole or any member of thwe Craft Group if you have any questions.

lYou will need to let Evelyn know what categories you would like to enter. It cost £1 and this covers you for multiple entries. Entries need to be taken to Evelyn’s house on Thursday 23rd March and she will take them to the show on Friday so they are ready for judging.

It is not about entering a prize-winning entry, although this would be a piece of (Simnel) cake for many of you! It is about taking part. Each entry gets points towards the overall cups. Last year we came second overall, lets see if we can get the top spot this year!

The event itself is well worth a visit on Saturday 25th March from 10.30am. As well as viewing all the entries, you can buy a cuppa and cakes and there is also a raffle with great prize hampers. The event will be held at Mary Magdalene Church Hall. Church Lane, New Milton BH25 6QL

We hope to see you and your entries there!