Dyeing to show horticultural talent at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

Sparsholt College Group are exhibiting a Natural Dye Garden this year at the world famous flower show. It focuses on the amazing colours plants give us. Madder gives red, weld a yellow and indigo and woad are used for blue. These give the primary colours. Common kitchen items such as carrots, onions and walnuts also […]



BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair

Gardening gloves at the ready for the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2026 at Beaulieu

The BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair returns to beautiful Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 May. Whether you’re new to gardening or a seasoned grower, this vibrant day out has a host of horticultural highlights, plus delicious food and drink, and live music. From bulbs to pond plants, gardening gloves […]



Rare leopard lilies and orchids to headline spring colour as Exbury Gardens gears up for 2026 season and steam railway milestone

The UK’s finest collection of rare and colourful lachenalias, known as ‘leopard lilies’, will go on display at Exbury Gardens in Hampshire in March. Exbury is home to the country’s most comprehensive lachenalia collection, and along with an array of beautiful orchids, it will be on display in the Five Arrows Gallery within the gardens […]



Hampshire History Trust announces double‑bill Midweek Musings event: Adventures to the Southern Hemisphere

Hampshire History Trust has announced the second event in its 2026 Midweek Musings lecture series: Adventures to the Southern Hemisphere. Join highly sought-after speaker and Honorary Professor at the University of Winchester Ed Rochead and BAFTA award-winning broadcaster, TV presenter and historian Dan Snow for a night of remarkable journeys, bold exploration and unforgettable history. […]



Restoration race is on for World Land Speed Record breaker Sunbeam 1000hp as engineers discover damage in second engine

National Motor Museum engineers have discovered cracks in all four engine blocks, drop damage and camshafts glued by oil in the restoration of the second engine of World Land Speed Record breaker Sunbeam 1000hp. Dismantling the front engine has revealed more problems than expected in the latest stage of the restoration. Work follows the momentous […]



Enjoy unforgettable experiences with the world-famous Flying Scotsman at The Watercress Line

Steam enthusiasts and families alike will have the chance to make unforgettable memories with the world’s most famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman, when it comes to The Watercress Line in Hampshire this March. A thrilling programme of experiences will run throughout the event, giving visitors the chance to encounter a piece of living history and […]



SS Shieldhall

Go below decks on Steamship Shieldhall on their new experience days

2026 gives a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes and explore parts of Shieldhall that most visitors never get to see. There are new Below Decks Tours — a special off-season experience that takes you right into the heart of Britain’s largest working steamship, while directly supporting her future. Dates Each tour runs from […]



Buckler’s Hard takes centre stage on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain

Buckler’s Hard in the New Forest will take centre stage in an upcoming episode of Digging for Britain on BBC Two, airing on 21 January at 9pm. The programme will offer viewers a fascinating insight into the 18th-century shipbuilding village and the recent archaeological excavations carried out on its historic slipway. The Digging for Britain […]



Winter Woodland Lights at The Hawk Conservancy Trust

Illuminated owl flying display reimagined for higher highs

The Winter Woodland Lights event at the Hawk Conservancy Trust is a wonderful spectacle to start the year. Already established as a popular mood-enhancing event, ‘Winter Woodland Lights’ owl flying displays have been reimagined for their fifth year. The event is an immersive illuminated wildlife experience, perfect for the whole family. Organisers at the bird […]



A Palace House Christmas tells the magical story of pantomime at Beaulieu

The first A Palace House Christmas is now open for visits to Beaulieu with a 14ft pantomime dame, fantastical mummer creatures, life-size Pollock theatre and theatrical installations to tell the magical story of pantomime. The new event was opened by Lord Montagu and Charlotte Lloyd Webber, who created the festive masterpiece with Adrian Lillie and […]