A magical musical steam train ride to see Santa, through a winter landscape filled with story-book characters, has become part of the family Christmas fun at Exbury Gardens in the New Forest. Entrance to the world-renowned Gardens may be enjoyed by everyone who buys a ride on the Santa Special, while the Christmas Trail through the woodland walks is something the whole family can explore together. “Our steam train ride to see Santa is an...

SCA Group is delighted to have reached the final four in the Guardian Social Enterprise Awards 2011. SCA, which offers not-for-profit health and social care services across the south, entered a three-minute film for the awards. It shows Chief Executive Maria Mills talking about the impact SCA’s services have on customers and about SCA’s plans for the future. The film will be shown at the Guardian Social Enterprise conference in London...

“Anyone who thinks adoption is second best has got it totally wrong,” said Carole from the New Forest. “It’s as wonderful as giving birth to your own child,” added Carole who is proud mum to five year old Bea and says it’s the best decision she and her husband Andy ever made. Carole and Andy are helping Hampshire County Council raise awareness to adoption in Adoption Week. The County Council is especially keen to hear from...

A party of students will be heading off for a life-changing trip to Africa next year and it’s ExxonMobil who are helping to wish them bon voyage. Twenty students from Totton College have raised hundreds of pounds each towards the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kenya. But the first and last legs of the two-week adventure, the journeys to and from the airport, have been paid for by Esso Petroleum and ExxonMobil Chemical at the Fawley refinery...

The action is set to be explosive when Totton Health and Leisure opens its doors for a special event on November 5. People of all ages are invited to visit the popular centre, in Water Lane, Totton, for a fun-packed open day and charity fundraiser, from 9am to 4pm. Join the Zumbathon party – a three hour dance spectacular featuring the centre’s most energetic instructors, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK. There will be...

When the clocks go back on October 30, why not use the extra hour to help transform someone’s life by showing them the wonders of the web? Race Online 2012 encourages Britain’s 30 million internet users to ‘Give an Hour’ to help a friend, family member or neighbour to take their first steps online. ‘Go ON Give an Hour’ campaign runs from October 22 to November 12 and aims to encourage and support the UK to become a networked...

Lock up your bikes and other valuable possessions – or risk losing them to thieves. That’s the message being given by the Safer New Forest Partnership in a bid to crack down on opportunist crime in the district. “Whether it’s your bike left unsecured outside a shop for five minutes, your car door left unlocked on your driveway or your handbag left unzipped as you shop, thieves are keen to take advantage of these opportunities,”...

New Forest youngsters are asked to think of their elderly and vulnerable neighbours this Halloween by not going out trick or treating. The Safer New Forest Partnership advises children and their parents to remember that some householders do not wish to participate in Halloween activities and may feel intimidated by groups of people calling at their doors. Cllr Jill Cleary, portfolio holder for housing and communities, said: “Some...

In the last 24 hours there have been three incidents reported involving vehicles in Totton. At some time between 5pm on October 10 and 7.50am on October 12, a BMW 320 parked in Lydlynch Road was damaged at the window seal. At some time between 9.30pm on October 10 and 8am on October 11, a Ford Fiesta parked in Lydlynch Road was damaged at the window seal and door seal of the front passenger door, and at the lock on the driver’s...

SCA Group has reached the final of the National Dementia Care Awards 2011 for its dementia respite service at Fenwick2 in Lyndhurst. Dementia Respite Services Manager Elena Prieto-Ruiz has reached the final shortlist in the Best Dementia Care Manager in a Community Setting category. She will attend a grand awards event on November 2 in Liverpool, where the winner will be announced. The respite day care service allows people with...