Choice Magazine for Stubbington & Hill Head - February edition
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& ting
The way to my heart can definitely be with chocolate! I’m always thrilled when I hear how good it is for you. I was very happy when I listened to Dr Sam Watts’ words, in which he says cacao is a true superfood that scientific evidence shows can optimise human health in many different ways; top three benefits include helping you look younger, it helps you feel happier and improves heart health. He advocates eating cacao or good quality dark chocolate every day. One healthy thing I can definitely stick too!
If you’re wanting to win the heart of someone special or keep the heart of someone special healthy, then this months recipe goes a little way to do that! It’s by the one of my favourite Meera Sodha for her Chocolate Miso Brownies. It uses that all important, good quality dark chocolate. You’ll find it on page 10.
This recipe for me doubles up as a celebratory cake. Yes, it’s our birthday! We’ve been circulating this magazine locally for 18 years. I’d like to thank you all for all the love and support you have given us over the last 18 years! Here’s to the next 18!
If wellbeing is important to you don’t forget that a visit to Wildside Health just down the road in Titchfield could benefit you. Everything good for you all in one place. Their advert is on page 4.
Lots of local events listed inside from comedy and fairs, to WI meetings and gardening clubs. If you’d like an event advertised please get in touch. Details are below.
It’s sow seed time, although make sure they’re undercover. And it’s go crazy and buy too many summer flowering bulb time! All the details on what to do now in the garden is on page 23.
Rita’s article this month is all about the Cedar of Lebanon. The oldest one in Britain was planted in 1646 and it is still there! Another fascinating read. You’ll find it on page 14.
Are you a local business? Want more customers? Book an advert in the next edition, get in touch! We’d love to help! You’ll love our prices!
Wishing you a fabulous February! See you next month!
Editor
*Offer based on first enrolment. New members only. Not valid with any other offer.
Valid until 28th February 2026.
Zoom Workouts
Sometimes only a brownie will do. Meera Sodha described these as ‘dense and fudgy’ and they are just that. They aren’t too sweet and are super easy to make. You really can’t go wrong with making these.
Makes 16
You’ll need:
• 4 ½ tbsp milled chia seeds
• 150g flavourless coconut oil*
• 250g dark chocolate (85%), broken into small pieces
• 350g light brown muscovado sugar
• 120g plain flour
• 3 ½ tbsp white miso (shiro miso)
• 1 tsp flaky sea salt**
Method
Heat the oven to 190°C (180°C fan)/390°F/gas 6, and line a 20cm x 22cm square tin with greaseproof paper. In a small bowl, mix the milled chia seeds with 270ml water and set aside.
Put the coconut oil and broken chocolate into a medium-sized saucepan, and set over a low heat. Stir occasionally until melted, then mix in the sugar, flour and miso, and crumble in the salt flakes. Finally, stir in the soaked and bloomed chia seeds, then pour into the lined tin and gently shake to distribute evenly.
Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 45 minutes, then remove. The brownies might still be a bit wobbly in the middle, but they will soon settle down as they cool and be deliciously fudgy. Leave to cool completely, then cut into 16 squares.
Find everything Meera Sodha at meerasodha.com
*Make sure you use flavourless coconut oil, unless you actually want to add a coconut flavour
**I added half the amount of salt in the mixture and sprinkled the other half on top.
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The Cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani, is native to the Eastern Mediterranean countries; Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, where it thrives in well drained soils on north and west facing slopes enjoying warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The example in Crescent Garden dominates the far end of the western lawn, spreading widely and creating dense shade. It was almost certainly planted when the garden was established in 1830 so is nearly 200 years old; a mere baby compared with the age that some cedars reach. The first Lebanon cedars in Britain were introduced in 1638 by Edward Pocock who had worked in Syria. On his return to Britain he was given the living of Childrey near Wantage, where he planted a cedar in the rectory garden in 1646, which is still therethe oldest Cedrus libani in Britain. Another very old one is in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, planted by Capability Brown in the 1760s. This one has become famous as it starred in the Harry Potter film “The Order of the Phoenix”. Cedrus libani became a very popular tree to ornament the lawns of a stately homes and many fine examples can be seen when visiting such places. They have also been planted in public parks and always make a dramatic statement in the landscape.
As our tree is fairly old its trunk has forked into several large erect branches and this shape, together with its rough and scaly bark make it a very tempting object to climb, which young people are sometimes seen to do. It also makes a sheltered, attractive place for birds and small animals to nest. The branches spread out
Crescent Garden
FEBRUARY
horizontally from the trunk with northernmost branches hanging over the road and the southern branches mingling with the nearby beech tree. There are large cones to be seen on the tree at the moment. They are over a year old having started their development in September 2024. Every September the tree produces tiny female cones and male cones two inches long and full of pollen, which spreads, not only over the female cones to start their development into the large seed bearing cones, but also over everything around the tree, including the cars parked in Crescent Road.
The cedar of Lebanon has been the stuff of legends, stories and religions for many centuries. The first mention came in the legends of Gilgamesh, who was a hero in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, written in the 2nd millennium BC. He travelled to a cedar forest to kill its guardian. Early versions of the story place the forest in Iran, but later Babylonian versions have the cedars in Lebanon. The cultivation of the Lebanon Cedar dates back at least 3,200years, when the Hittite Empire established the tree in Turkey where it did not occur naturally. Over the centuries, cedar wood was exploited by Phoenicians, Egyptians, Israelites and many others. The Phoenicians used the cedars for their merchant fleets and the timber was used to make them “the first sea trading nation in the world”. The Egyptians used cedar resin for the mummification process. The Cedar of Lebanon is also often mentioned in the Old Testament in the Bible. Hebrew priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark in the
treatment of leprosy. Solomon used cedar timber in the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah used the Lebanon Cedar as an example of loftiness as a metaphor for the pride of the world and Psalm 92:12 says “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”.
The Lebanon cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon and appears on the middle of their flag, on their coat of arms and is the logo of Middle East Airlines, which is Lebanon’s national airline. Time, along with the exploitation of the wood and the effects of climate change, has led to a decrease in the number of cedars in Lebanon. The remaining trees survive in mountainous regions, particularly on the slopes of Mount Makmel that tower over the Kadisha Valley, where a group of trees known as the ‘Cedars of God’ are found at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres (6,600ft). In 1998, the Cedars of God were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and the site is rigorously protected. Various attempts have been made
over the years to conserve the Lebanon cedars, the first by the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, who created an imperial forest and marked it with inscribed boundary stones, two of which are in a museum in Beirut. Such conservation and replanting efforts continue in much of the eastern Mediterranean area. In Turkey over 50 million young cedars are planted annually.
Much of the decimation of the cedar population has occurred because it is such a wonderful wood. It is prized for its fine grain, attractive yellow colour and fragrance. It is very durable and not attacked by insects, so is used for furniture making, construction and handicrafts. Cedar resin and cedar oil are also extracted from the wood and the cones.
So, a remarkable tree, with a long association with humankind.
Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Monday 9th Feb 7.30pm HMS Victory - what's going on? - speaker Tony Noon. Monday 9th March 7.30pm The Fareham Area Clay products industry - Pottery, bricks, chimney pots and more 1760 to 1960 - speaker Martin Percival
Guests are welcome for a £5 admission charge - pay cash on the night. Annual membership fee £15 pp. For info www.shhhs.co.uk
LEE PLAYERS – DIRTY BUSINESS
20th & 21st March. Doors 7pm, curtain 7:30pm. Crofton Hall Theatre, Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington. Tickets, £10, from 01329662128 or the community centre or on the door on the night… The local council is making cuts and redundancies so the workers are worried. What devious plans do the office cleaners have to keep their jobs? Don’t miss this brilliant comedy by Derek Webb.
ST EDMUNDS (CROFTON OLD CHURCH) Services 9.30am every Sunday. 1st & 3rd Sun Holy Communion (BCP). 2nd & 4th Sun Morning Service. Coffee is served after the Morning Services and the 5th Sunday Service. 18th Feb 10am-12pm Open for visitors/private prayer.
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT
Visit stubbingtonchoice.com and head to the ‘submit an event’ button from the menu.
Local Events
FOCOC - TEA, CAKE AND RUMMIKUB
2pm Wednesday 18th February at Holy Rood Church Centre.
FOCOC (Friends of Crofton Old Church) invites you to tea, cake & RUMMIKUB. Tickets at £5 each available from the Church Centre or from Sue Johnson (01329 665164).
STUBBINGTON STITCH AND KNIT GROUP
Meet Fridays 2-4pm Foster Room, next to Holyrood Church. We meet to make garments and craft items, which we sell to raise funds for local Hampshire charities. Our next sales are: 14th Feb 9.30am-12.pm Stubbington Library You’ll find good craft items and gifts for all ages, and many knitted garments.
Thanks for all the donations we have received, if you wish to bring donations to the Library , when they are open, they will pass them onto us. Alternatively, you could bring them to the Foster Room on a Friday afternoon. For more information, please ring Chris on 07970 826044.
STUBBINGTON LIBRARY FAIR
Every Friday 9:30-11:30am
Come along and enjoy a wonderful selection of home-baked cakes, jams, and chutneys from our talented local cooks!
-Cushions & embroidered items -Fresh plants & vegetables (seasonal) Come support your local makers and find something special every week!
Do you have important legal documents in place to protect your interests and make life easier for you and your family, whatever the future brings?
If you have received a diagnosis of dementia, or are concerned about becoming ill and unable to cope with paying your bills, wouldn’t it be helpful for a family member to be able to step in and deal with your finances? If your family member needed to make decisions for you, instead of just acting on your instructions, they would need your formal written authority to do this.
Formal authority can be given by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney. This document will allow your family member to take over managing your money, either temporarily or long term.
You can also create a Lasting Power of Attorney which allows your family member to make decisions for you about medical treatment, if you are unable for any reason to make your own decisions. This is not the same as an Advance Decision, which is a document which sets out your decision to refuse medical treatment in the future, under specific conditions.
If you are caring for an elderly relative, or are likely to be doing so in the future, a Lasting Power of Attorney will mean that you can provide the support your relative needs and access services on their behalf, without the difficulties, stress and resistance you would otherwise encounter.
Having a Will gives you peace of mind that your money, property and personal possessions will be going to the people you have chosen to benefit. An out of date Will can cause problems within the family or mean that a chosen beneficiary receives nothing.
If you have any unanswered questions about Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney, Christine will be pleased to help, so do please get in touch for a free, no obligation, chat.
Call Christine Davies Solicitor on 07860 772274 or email: christine@winterbornelegal.co.uk
Christine is a Fully Accredited Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a Dementia Friend. Christine will visit you in your own home and aims to provide a warm personal touch to every meeting.
Christine Davies Solicitor
Now is the time to order dahlias, gladioli & other summer flowering bulbs. May I suggest remembering you will have to plant all these when they arrive! Talking from someone who always gets carried away and overexcited go easy!
What we can be doing in the garden now:
Around the garden
• If there is a dry spell (here’s hoping!) water containers
• Plant your hyacinths that you’ve had indoors outdoors!
• Prune your clematis
• Prune your shrubs and trees
• Plant snowdrops in the green and divide any larger congested clumps you have in your garden.
• Prepare plant supports ready to be put in place soon.
• Cut back wisteria side shoots to three buds from the base, to encourage abundant flowers in spring
• Start your dahlia tubers into growth if you have them
In the Garden
DURING FEBRUARY
• Finish pruning fruit trees and bushes
In the greenhouse and on the veg patch
• Prune autumn raspberries
• Sow tomatoes, globe artichokes, radish, leeks, onions, broad beans, hardy peas, spinach, herbs and carrots under cover.
• Sow annuals such as cosmos, dahlias, lobelia, nasturtiums
• Sow sweet peas
• Pot on and pinch out autumn-sown sweet peas to encourage side shoots to form
• Cut back overwintered fuchsias
• Order your potatoes or chit them if you have them
House plants
• Water sparingly.
• Accept some leaf drop. You haven’t failed as plant parent! It's normal for some leaves to yellow or drop as plants conserve energy.
• Hold off repotting. Try and hang on until spring. We’re getting there!
Grinding
Shrubs:
Email: mjquigleybuilders@gmail.com
www.mjquigleybuilders.co.uk
STUBBINGTON VILLAGE W.I.
Venue change. From 12th February, we meet 7.15pm. at Baptist Church Hall, Jays Close, off Cuckoo Lane, second Thursday of the month
This change is to accommodate our rising membership, over the past year. We have interesting speakers and demonstrations along with a range of sub groups, such as a Natter Knit and Stitch group, games morning, a craft group, quiz nights, and a book club. Plenty of things to keep us occupied and interested. There is also a lunch club and outings arranged when appropriate. If you would like more information, pleas contact Chris on 076970 826044.
CROFTON WI 2nd Wednesday of each month
2-4pm Baptist Church, Jay Close, Stubbington We are a very active and friendly group and new members and visitors are more than welcome.
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB Monthly lunch at Leeon-the-Solent Golf Club. Are you a retired gentleman, missing social contact? Come to a trial meeting. New members welcome 07508711299 morton.wouter@gmail.com
CROFTON GARDENING CLUB MONTHLY TALK
16th Feb 7.30pm. Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane
Tea and coffee are available and there will be a raffle and plants for sale. Members are welcome to bring a Flower of the Month for our competition. Visitors are welcome.
Local Events
SPITHEAD ARTS MONTHLY LECTURES
24th Feb 7pm. Bay House School, Gosport. Masterpieces of 20th Century Photography. Lecture by Barry Venning. Everyone welcome. Guests £7 per lecture, £1 for students. Annual subscriptions £50pp. www.spitheadarts.co.uk
STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD WI 25th February 2pm. Baptist Church, Jay Close, Cuckoo Lane. Our speaker will be Bronda Drosset on "Tales from Downton Abbey". We have a monthly Lunch Club in addition to a Book Club, outings, theatre trips, picnics, Summer and Christmas lunches. We are a very friendly group and visitors are always warmly welcomed, so if you wish to make new friends, come along and try us out! You will be met and looked after by one of our friendly greeters, who will introduce you to other Members. Visitors can come to two meetings before deciding to join.
INTERNATIONAL FOLK/CIRCLE DANCING
February 10th, 24th 10am-12noon, RC Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington. No Partner required & all dances are taught. New members welcome. £7 Contact Bob & Mary 01329 609589, 07748009838 neal.bob61@gmail.com.
GOSPORT JAZZ CLUB - FEBRUARY
Gosport RFC, Dolphin Crescent, Gosport 8-10.30pm 11th Feb Andrew Clancy Quartet & Friends 25th February Otis B Driftwood G/NM £12 book early gosportjazz.org.uk NM £12
HIDDEN TREASURES HIDDEN TREASURES
51-53 HIGH STREET LEE ON THE SOLENT
We urgently require your broken and unwanted gold, jewellery and antiques.
Any amount, any condition- top CASH prices paid!
PRE 1947 COINS (SILVER) WANTED
WANTED gold - silver - jewellery of all kinds medals (any militaria) - cuff links - studs - tie pins pocket watches - wrist watches antiques - moorcroft - clarice cliff - old postcards
WANTED - rolex, breitling, omega etc
Please call in to see us. Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm. Alternatively, call to arrange a home appointment
TELEPHONE: 023 9255 3428 MOBILE: 07767 304495
HVR GARAGES
With 3 sites in the local area, all of our Garages are high ranking members of ‘The Good Garage Scheme’ and ‘Checkatrade’. Our Garages
MOTs | Servicing | Repairs
All Makes and Models catered for.
Solent Airport MOTs, Unit il1-3, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX
Specialists in VW’s, we also cover many other makes and models in the full or part conversion of camper vans, kombi vans and caddy’s. We manufacture and design custom built camper interiors for Volkswagens and other makes.
Full
&
Part Conversions
VW Transporters, Campers, Kombi’s and Caddy’s
HVR Customs, Unit il3-4, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX
CARS AND VANS ALWAYS IN STOCK FOR SALE!
Specialising in transporters and small low mileage cars. (The cars are ideal for first time drivers.)
