Solent View
NEW WATERFRONT HOMES FOR ALL AGES COMING AUTUMN 2026
•Collection of 61 new luxury apartments
•Tranquil seaside location by the Solent
•Ideal for seafarers and nature lovers
•HHomes for every generation
• Most apartments feature scenic water views
• Private outdoor balconies & terraces
• Set within 62 acres of Grade-II listed parkland with on-site amenities and events
For further information on Solent View apartments
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
& ting
If you thought April was good, I think May could be evenbetter!
The reason? It’s plant sale time! Yes, they’re all on! A favourite of mine is the annual Crescent Garden Plant Sale, which takes place this month. The weather has been booked, the tea and coffee supplies are stocked up, the cake recipes are compiled, and the plants are ready to be snapped up! You know the drill - head to the beautiful Crescent Garden, enjoy tea and cake, wander around and buy plants… the perfect Saturday sorted! Dates and details are inside.
You may want to read Rita’s article before you head to Crescent Garden. It’s about the Persian lilac. Seek it out while you’re there - you may smell it before you spot it!
I struggle to restrain myself when it comes to buying plants. I will inevitably leave The Fruit Basket with a couple each time I stock up on fruit, veg, and dates - have you tried their dates? Oh, and English strawberries are in!
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in my plant addiction, so to encourage us all, I’ve included other plant sales I’ve heard about. I’ve listed them in the events section.
I’m equally keen on cakes as I am plants! I made a sticky ginger cake - it was delicious, so I thought I’d share it with you. It hits the spot as an afternoon treat with your coffee and is equally perfect with an elevenses cup of tea.
The recipe is on page 10.
Another event that deserves a mention is the annual Picnic in the Park, organised by the Crofton Lions. You know the drill—head to Stubbington Recreation Ground armed with a picnic for an afternoon of fun! Enjoy all sorts of activities, from archery to Jonathan the Jester. There are even more activities this year! Details are inside.
More local events are listed inside. From bingo to dancing, there is something for everyone!
Need a spare key cut? Your tyre changed? Do your muscles need a massage, or does your roof need looking at? Our lovely local advertisers are here to help. From a head spa to fitness, plumbing to ponds, and everything in between - please let them know you found them in Choice Magazine!
Are you a local business looking for more customers? Book an advert in our next edition – we’d love to help, and you’ll love our prices!
Don’t forget, you can also read our online edition for even more local news and information. Visit stubbingtonchoice.com and subscribe to have it delivered straight to your inbox each month.
Have a marvellous May!
Consider this comfort in cake form!
This cake is perfectly sticky, with just the right strength of ginger. It’s very easy to make - and even easier to demolish!
Prep 5 min
Cook 1 hr 20 min, plus cooling time Makes 1 x 1kg loaf, to serve 8
Ingredients:
• 250g dates, pitted and roughly chopped
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 75g molasses
• 75g golden syrup
• 100g soft light brown sugar
• 80g rapeseed oil, plus extra for greasing
• 200g plain flour – gluten-free, if you like
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp fine sea salt
• 20g stem ginger in syrup, very finely diced, plus 2 tbsp of the syrup
Method
STICKY GINGER CAKE
Heat the oven to 190C (170C fan)/375F/gas 5, and grease and line a 1kg loaf tin with baking paper.
Put the dates and bicarb in a heatproof bowl, cover with 200ml just-boiled water and leave to soften for 10 minutes. Tip the dates and their soaking water into a blender (or leave them in the bowl and use a stick blender), add the molasses, golden syrup, sugar and oil, and blitz smooth.
In a second large bowl, combine the flour, spices, baking powder and salt, then fold in the pureed date mixture until the batter is well combined. Spoon into the prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Take the cake out of the oven and, while it’s still in the tin, brush the stem ginger syrup all over the top. Scatter over the chopped stem ginger, leave to cool completely, then remove from the tin, slice and serve.
Recipe from Anna Jones annajones.co.uk
If you stroll along terrace walk in Crescent Garden, towards the eastern end you will see a bush with an open and graceful growth habit, covered in clusters of soft hued violet to lavender coloured flowers with a wonderful perfume. This bush is Syringa laciniata or Persian lilac. It is sometimes also referred to as cut leaf lilac as its leaves are far smaller than those of the common lilac and sometimes divided into such a deeply lobed shape that they almost look like leaflets. None of the leaves on our bush are divided in this way, but they do form a graceful network which, when the bush is in full bloom, can hardly be seen beneath the flowers. It belongs to the family Oleaceae, which includes, besides lilac, olives jasmine and privet.
S. laciniata is almost certainly a cross between S. vulgaris from S.E. Europe and S. protolacniata from Western China. The hybrid is sterile, so no fruits form and, ofcourse, there will be no seedlings growing round it. It was first scientifically described in the seventeenth
Crescent Garden
century as from Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan where it has been cultivated since ancient times. Not surprisingly, it enjoys a warm climate and does best in sunshine rather than shady areas. It is doing well in Crescent Garden in a patch of sunlight between the bay trees along terrace walk. It is also happy in dry soil, which is very much what it gets at the top of the bank where it is in Crescent Garden. It is a hardy plant and lives many years in all sorts of conditions, so, although it looks delicate it is strong and enduring, being resistant to mildew and other pests. The flowers produce copious nectar and pollen; a feast for pollinators drawn to it by the attractive perfume.
So, a small bush very attractive in many ways. Why not grow one in your own garden. Meanwhile, come and enjoy the one growing in Crescent Garden.
Rita Rundle alverstokecrescentgarden.co.uk Crescent Garden, Crescent Road, Alverstoke
Plant Sale
10AM-4PM SAT 16TH MAY
CRESCENT GARDEN, CRESCENT RD, ALVERSTOKE
You’ll find flowering plants, seedlings, vegetable plants, herbs and houseplants too. Plus gardenalia, books and pots! Plus pots of tea served in china cups, coffee and homemade cake.
Nash, our Centre Manager doing diagnostic work Jake our Apprentice
CROFTON GARDENING CLUB
Monday May 18th Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington
Members can enjoy a Fish and Chip Supper and a quiz. All for £8.
TITCHFIELD VILLAGE FAYRE Sunday 3rd May
CROFTON WI 2nd Wednesday of each month
2pm Baptist Church, Jay Close, Stubbington For further info please call either 01329 664573 or 01329 664864. Visitors warmly welcomed.
EVENTS AT THE GOLDEN BOWLER
122 Stubbington Lane, Stubbington.
Bingo 13th & 27th May
Meat Raffle every Friday 9.30pm.
Quiz 6th & 20th May 8:30pm Folk Night 21st May 8pm
QUIZ EVENING
Saturday 9th May 7pm Parish Centre, Holy Rood Church, Stubbington. Held by FOCOC
Tickets at £2 each to include tea, coffee, and biscuits, are available from the Parish Office (01329 661154) or Sue Johnson.
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 Service. 18th May 10am-12pm Open for visitors/private prayer.
Local Events
THE REPAIR CAFE AT ST FAITH’S PARISH CENTRE
Victoria Square, Lee on the Solent
9th May 11am-2.30pm
Bring your broken items to have them fixed on the spot with the help of voluntary repair experts. Book in advance. Message on FB, mail@repaircafegosport.co.uk or leave a message at: 023 9298 3802.
STUBBINGTON STITCH AND KNIT GROUP
Meet Fridays 2-4pm Foster Room, next to Holyrood Church. (Not Good Friday.) We make goods to sell at our sales, to raise funds for the local Hampshire charities we support.. Our next sales are:
9th May 9.30am-12pm Stubbington Library Cash only please.
St Columba's Church 10am-12pm on the last Saturday of each month. Craft items and lovely gift for all ages. Please feel free to come and browse. Thanks to all who have donated wool, material and other items, which helps us to produce these items. For more information, please ring Chris on 07970 826044.
STUBBINGTON VILLAGE W.I.
Meet second Thursday of each month, at new venue Baptist Church, Jay Close, off Cuckoo Lane at 7.15pm A very active group who get involved in a variety of activities. We have a waitllist please ring Chris on 07970 826044.
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT
Visit stubbingtonchoice.com and head to the ‘submit an event’ button from the menu.
May is a month that feels full of life. The days are longer, flowers begin to bloom, and there’s a sense that something new is growing all around us. It’s a season that invites us to pause, breathe, and reflect on what really matters.
At Shoreline Christian Church, this time of year reminds us of the hope we find in God, a hope that speaks of new beginnings, fresh starts, and life that can grow even in unexpected places. As Christians, that hope is rooted in Jesus. His life and teaching centre on love, grace, and the idea that no one is beyond a new beginning. Whether someone has a strong faith, a few questions, or no particular beliefs at all, we believe those themes are something everyone can connect with.
We’re a small, friendly church that meets every Sunday at 10:15am at the Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington Lane, Stubbington, PO14 2PP. Our gatherings are relaxed and informal, with time to reflect, pray, and sing together, followed of course, by tea, coffee, and good conversation.
But church life doesn’t stop on Sundays. During the week, smaller groups meet across the area, sometimes in homes, sometimes out and about. These are simple, welcoming spaces where people can talk about life, study
CHURCH
the Bible, share encouragement, and support one another through both the highs and the lows.
For children, we run Wavemakers, a fun and engaging group that meets every Thursday during term time from 5:00–6:15pm. It’s open to children in school years 2 to 6 and is a great place to make friends, have fun, and explore stories and ideas in a relaxed and creative way. We know that for many people, church can feel unfamiliar or even a little daunting. Our aim is simply to be a place where people can come as they are, no pressure, no expectations, just an open invitation.
This May, as the world around us grows and changes, perhaps it’s also an opportunity to think about what might be growing in our own lives. Where do we find hope? What helps us keep going? And who do we share life with along the way?
We believe God meets people in ordinary moments, in conversations, in community, and even in quiet reflections on a sunny day.
If you’re curious, new, or just looking for connection, you’d be very welcome to come and see what we’re about. You can also find us online at shorelinechristianchurch.com
Picnic in the Park
SUNDAY 28TH JUNE 12-4.30PM
RECREATION GROUND
How’s your garden looking? May is a wonderful time for the garden, there is lots of colour, everything is growing, so much is blooming! I’m enjoying pottering in the garden. Here’s a guide of what to do right now.
Around the garden
• Sow perennials
• Sow some fast-growing annuals to fill in gaps that may appear later in the season.
• Direct sow zinnias.
• Tie in sweet peas
• Put supports in place for clumps of perennials that are prone to flopping, such as top-heavy peonies or phlox
• Trim early-flowering clematis once they have finished flowering.
• Trim topiary regularly to promote bushy growth and keep it looking neat
• Prune spring shrubs, such as forsythia and chaenomeles, after flowering to keep them compact
• Pinch out the shoot tips of bedding plants and young annual
• Check lilies and fritillaries for scarlet lily beetles
In the Garden
DURING MAY
In the greenhouse and on the veg patch
• Cover soft fruit plants with netting to protect from birds.
• Continue successional sowing of salad
• Companion sow basil, next to tomato seedlings to help draw white fly away from the fruit.
• Keep mint roots under control by lifting and dividing, or alternatively grow in pots.
• Thin out your carrots and protect crops from carrot fly by covering
• Transplant tomatoes into growing bags or large pots
• Tie the stems of indoor tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines to canes as they grow
• Continue successional sowing of salads, radishes, beetroots, carrots and peas, to ensure a continuous harvest
• Plant out half-hardy annuals, or direct sow eg. French beans, carrots, sweetcorn, squash and pumpkins.
• Sow sweetcorn in deep pots
TOP TIP: Stop your cut tulips from drooping by simply pushing a needle through the stem just below the head.
Grinding
Shrubs:
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! Browse our unique handmade crafts: Cards & gift boxesJewellery (repairs possible)- Bags & make-up bags - Painting Kits - Resin items - Cushions & embroidered items - Fresh plants & vegetables (seasonal). Come support your local makers and find something special every week!
BISHOPS WALTHAM GARDENING CLUB ANNUAL PLANT SALE Sat 9th May 10am-4pm. Albany Road Allotment SHop, Bishops Waltham SO32 1BY. Great plants at great prices, drinks, homemade cakes, and plenty of gardening chatter. Do come along and support this wonderful village gardening club charity.
MEMORY CHOIR AT CROFTON COMMUNITY
CENTRE Tues 12th May & 9th June. 2.30-3.30pm a singing session for people affected by dementia, stroke survivors and people with Parkinsons. We also welcome anyone who is socially isolated.
SHORE LEAVE HASLAR MEMORIAL GARDEN Wednesday 13th May 11am-1pm. Free entry, donations gratefully accepted. Crafts, plants, produce for sale. Homemade cake and drinks. Walk around the peaceful garden. Please park in main Haslar site.
Local Events
ALVERSTOKE GARDEN WALKABOUT
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June Get the date in the diary - full details next month!
SPITHEAD ARTS MONTHLY LECTURE
26th May 7pm. Bay House School, Gosport. The empty chair in contemporary art by Angela Findlay. Everyone welcome. Guests £7 per lecture, £1 for students. Annual subscriptions £50pp. www.spitheadarts.co.uk
INTERNATIONAL FOLK/CIRCLE DANCING
May 5th, 19th 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
STUBBINGTON BELLES WI 2nd Monday of the month Crofton Club, Titchfield Rd, Stubbington 1.30-3.30pm. Small, friendly group, varied programme of speakers and demonstrations, lunch club and coffee morning. Looking to try something new? Why not come along stubbingtonbellessec@hampshirewi.org.uk
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB Monthly lunch 12pm Lee-on-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
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
Picnic in the Park
Sunday 28th June 12noon - 4.30pm
Stubbington Recreation Ground
Hi, I’m Vicki, the Children’s Team Leader here at Holy Rood, Crofton Parish. It’s been great getting to know some of you already, and I’m looking forward to meeting many more of youdo say hello if you see me!
In the Bible, Jesus gives us the perfect example of how to live. He welcomed those on the margins, challenged injustice, and made time for anyone eager to learn more about their heavenly Father. Again and again, Jesus showed that every person is valued and loved, across the generations. In a time when children were often seen as unimportant and even scolded for coming to hear his teaching, Jesus did the opposite. He rebuked those who tried to turn them away and said, “Let the children come to me”, reminding us that faith like a child is something to be embraced, not overlooked.
There is so much we can learn from children; their wonder, their honesty, their openness and trust. We see it in the questions they ask, the joy they bring and the way they respond to stories about Jesus. With children making up about a quarter of our congregation on an average Sunday morning at Holy Rood we celebrate this and seek to create a place where children feel valued and included as an important part of our community.
Each Sunday morning, we have a Wrigglers room (for 0–2 year olds), a Scramblers room (3–4 year olds), and a Crofton United room for those at primary school. It is a space that helps them to explore faith in fun, creative and
Meet Vicky
engaging ways. From crafts and storytelling to games and discussion, our aim is to provide an atmosphere that makes each child feel welcome and gives them an opportunity to get to know Jesus for themselves. There are also various events for those over 11 each week too.
We also run First Steps, a weekly term-time baby and toddler group for parents and carers in the community to drop in on a Wednesday morning from 9:30am to 11am. Here, you can meet new friends with similarly aged children, enjoy free play with lots of toys and books, take part in snack and story time, and sing songs together.
For families with primary-aged children, there are the popular Family Fun Days throughout the year (Easter, summer, harvest, and Christmas). Here, you can enjoy a range of free-flow activities, including crafts, a tech zone, building zone, glamour zone, and baby zone, as well as, of course, refreshments. So do look out for upcoming dates.
Supporting children means supporting families too. Whether you are new to the area, exploring church for the first time, or looking for a welcoming community, we would love to meet you. Do follow us on Facebook for regular updates or visit our website. Feel free to give the office a call if you have any questions, or just pop in when you’re passing!
Vicki
Children’s Team Leader
Holy Rood, Crofton Parish croftonparish.org.uk
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
Elkins Motors, 99b Mays Lane, Stubbington PO14 2ED Locks Heath Garage, 212 Hunts Pond Road, Locks Heath PO14 4PG
CUSTOMS
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.)
