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Welcome to Edition 39 of Tails of the New Forest. We’ve donkeys, soap boxes, a host of opportunities for our members and a round-up of the pre and post-Easter goings on.
What’s coming up?
Donkey Derby – Help out at their biggest event yet!
The Eling and Testwood Donkey Derby, taking place on Eling Rec in Totton on Saturday 17th May is only two weeks away! It is jointly organised by 4th Eling Sea Scouts and 5th Testwood Scouts and this year is the biggest event yet!
With stalls, games, donkey races and an entertainment arena, plus activities, we need lots of people to help us make it happen. If you can help us on the day, or the day before to set-up, let us know through the form below (the sooner the better for all our stress levels)!
The young people from both groups can be found out and about in the weekends running up to the event selling programmes too. They are the tickets into the event and as well as being cheaper in advance, allow you to jump the queue on the day too:
District Expedition is go!
The District Expedition for Scouts and Explorers has been launched.
The booking form opened on the 14th April – limited spaces are available, so book early to avoid disappointment. If the event is over subscribed, there will be a filtering process.
Great Tower Lake District 2025
October half term
Saturday 25th October – Saturday 1st November 2025
A week of walking, activities, exploring and fun, staying at Great Tower lodges on Lake Windermere. Open to Scouts and Explorers.
Cost £325, covering transport, indoor accommodation, food and activities during the week including caving.
Everyone will require suitable equipment for hill walking in the Lake District. The three training days leading up to the expedition need to be attended; Saturday 28th June, Sunday 21st September and Sunday 5th October.
Save the Date: St. George’s Day as a District
Save the Date: our first New Forest District St George’s Day Parade is pencilled in for Sunday 26th April 2026.
More details will follow in the near future as to the format the day will take, but a huge thank you to everyone that has fed into these discussions to find a way we can celebrate together.
District Soap Box Derby – prepare your carts!
Don’t forget the Soap Box Derby, now in its new place in the calendar, is happening at Netley Marsh Church Hall field on Sunday 13th July from 1pm.
Please find attached the entry pack for this years Soap Box Derby below, and hopefully this year we will the first time Squirrels attending.
Start times for each section will be announced a little nearer the event, but we have more parking this year so we would like to encourage families to come along and stay for the afternoon to cheer on their groups teams in all sections. We will have refreshments available for a donation, a group of Explorers catering to raise funds for their Malawi trip and there will also be an ice cream van on site.
Reminders, opportunities and notices
Finding our future lead volunteers
Hampshire Scouts have announced their first future leaders workshop. As Scouts, we’re always on the lookout for the next generation of leaders, inspirers and motivators. If you think you might be interested in a Group, District or County Lead Volunteer position one day, or hold a role away from weekly section meetings, sign up on the Hampshire Scout website.
It takes place at Base 2000, Basingstoke on Saturday 10th May 2025, 10am-4pm. Link for more information and to Signup
Safety Training Reminder
A reminder that all volunteers must complete the new Growing Roots: Safety Learning by July 2025.
This essential training ensures we continue providing safe Scouting experiences for all. If you haven’t done so already, please complete it as soon as possible — it’s vital that everyone takes part. Find full details on the Scouts website.
Harry’s Island: Meet-and-greeters wanted
As has been previously mentioned, Tony Parker has decided to step back from being Campsite Warden at Harry’s Island at the end of this season. We are fortunate to already have a couple of adults who have volunteered to assist with all the admin.
We are now looking to build of small team of enthusiastic volunteers who can help deal with the welcoming of users and then check the premises afterwards.
The more members we have on the “Meet and greet” team, the less pressure there will be on individuals to attend regularly. We will develop further both initial access & completion of use check sheets to help.
Are you interested?
Do you have some spare time every so often?
Would you like to meet other users to welcome to the New Forest and the use of the site?
Please contact Robin Mair through the email [email protected].
Young Leaders update
Save the Date: the Young Leader learning weekend, run by the District at Lyndhurst, will be happening again on the 20th-21st September 2025.
They’ll cover Modules B-J with optional Module K covering skills of leadership, games, skills, youth voice, inclusion and First Aid. Sign-up closer to the time through the Hampshire Young Leaders sign-ups.
Plus, in case you missed it, Toby Floyd is now our new front person for the YL Scheme – contact him through the dedicated email for YLs, which you can find on the YL page on the website.
Join HSX for Climbing and Walking in June in the Peak District
Sign-ups are now open for HSX’s Peak District Climbing Weekend (20–22 June)! Whether you’re up for traditional climbing on iconic gritstone or exploring the Pennine Way, this is a weekend not to be missed. They’ll be camping, and all food and transport are included in the £85 trip cost (£65 for drivers/instructors).
🚗 Depart: Friday evening from Ferny Crofts, Eastleigh Train Station, or Tesco Winnall
🎒 Kit: List available on OSM
📅 Sign-up deadline: Friday 6 June
📩 To register or ask questions, email [email protected]
Get the Malawi Badge
In the summer 2025, a group of Expeditioners will be going to Malawi ‘the heart of Africa’, with the goal of aiding the community. All money raised from this badge will go towards community projects and resources for the people living in Malawi.
To earn this badge, simply learn about Malawi, and raise money for the project. Register and find out more at the Hampshire Scouts website.
What’s been happening?
Check out what we’ve heard from around the district below, and do let us know your news by email.
Partnering up with Go Outdoors
The mega outdoors retailer Go Outdoors is a partner of the Scouts, sponsoring the Nights and Hikes Away Stages Activity Badges, and offering discounts for our young people and volunteers. But they also offer kit talks, so our Scouts know what to pack and how to use it for their adventures. Beavers at Testwood visited the new store recently:
Back on the Water
Happy Days are back for our Sea Scouts, with both Eling and Sandleheath returning to the water for new adventures:
Fun-filled term for Fordingbridge Scouts
How did Fordingbridge Scouts spend some of their recent evenings? Find out the inside story from them:
Stanley’s Own band wows at St. George’s Day
The Stanley’s Own Scout and Guide Band were out in force recently for a St. George’s Day celebration with their group:
Plus, they unveiled their new leadership:
Testwood searching for volunteers for Tuesday Beavers
The Tuesday Beaver colony at 5th Testwood is urgently looking for new volunteers. Find out more and help out in the post below:
Remember you can stay up to date with what’s going on on our Facebook page (/newforestscouts) or Instagram (@newforestscouts). Plus if you’re a volunteer you can be part of the Facebook group for members too. Do remember to share your stories with us throughout the month so we can share them directly and keep having great Scouting adventures.
Robin and Kevin.
Send your news and items for the next edition of Tails at the end of May before the 25th to [email protected].