At our first meeting of the 2025 we had 3 guests joining our members. Ours speaker was Sandy Shore. Sandy is a New Forest Keeper, working for Forestry England. Sandy was born and brought up in Brockenhurst and has been a New Forest Keeper for about 10 years. She is the Forestry England’s only female Keeper in 940 years! Sandy embodies ‘living your dreams’ as a guardian of the Forest and feels that her role is a lifestyle and not a job.

Sandy is also a Commoner and turns out ponies, cattle and pigs.

Sandy told us that ‘New Forest Keepers’ were first mentioned in the Doomsday Book in 1086.

Sandy explained that the role of the New Forest Keeper encompasses Habitat Conservation, which includes species monitoring – fungi, fauna and flora (including wild gladioli), raptors, bats, reptiles and ground nesting birds. Sandy told us about the importance of staying on tracks and have dogs (especially when walking dogs) to help ground nesting birds in spring. We are lucky to have Curlews, Lapwings and Nightjars in the New Forest and they build nests and raise their young on the ground around woodland edges and on the open heathland areas of the Forest. This makes it especially important to avoid accidentally damaging eggs or startling parents causing them to flee their nests and leave eggs and chicks exposed to predators. You can read more here.

We learnt that each New Forest Keeper has a working dog that plays an important part in the role of a keeper.

Sandy explained how Education is an important and varied part of her job as is the ‘Protection of the New Forest’.

Sandy urged us to call 999 is we are ever unfortunate enough to have an accident involving an animal as there is a humane dispatch team that can be called upon if needed.

Sandy informed us that Forestry England have a 24 hour help line. The number is 0300 067 4600. Or office hours, you can call the office in Lyndhurst on 0300 067 4601

Our members asked lots of questions showing how much this wonderful place we live in means to our members and the interest in Sandy’s talk.

We had 3 Birthday girls.

We had our raffle run by Maureen and April..

Our Competition of the Month in aid of ACWW. We had joint winners of Issy and Esther.

Liz conducted the business part of the meeting with notices. A survey is going to be sent out to members for their choice of Resolution for 2025-2026 from the four shown here. Responses need to be in by 1st February so we can collate them and send them to Hampshire WI. Alternatively, email your choice here.

There were also sign-up sheets for lunch, walk and skittles.

Julie and Kim thanks members for entering the Group Show and for all the hard work i helping us to win the overall cup.

Julie asked members to sign a letter to our MP asking for his stance on our current campaign of Dental Health Matters and getting more NHS dentists. You can read more about the campaign here.

Rita talked about ‘Bandage Making for Ukraine’ and asked for helpers to sew and roll bandages. New Forest for Ukraine informed us that Total bandages now produced by all helpers exceeds an amazing 24000! 

Our next meeting is our 107th Birthday and is for members only.

Our next meeting for guests and visitors will be on Monday March 10^th 2025  with speaker Bridget Eastman  on Becoming an artist in later life (principally in weaving and felt making as she explores a contemporary art kind of approach). At Brockenhurst Village Hall – arrival from 7pm for a 7.30pm start.