CONGRATULATIONS: First time lucky for Dan Cleave, who gained top marks in Class C: Vegetable Gardens in this year’s 3 Villages competition. Congratulations also to others receiving first prizes – Debbie Foster for ‘Pots and Baskets’ and Julia Ayscough for Combined Vegetable and Flower Garden.

SHOWTIME: This weekend will see Ellisfield represented at both The Haymarket and The Anvil, on Friday and Saturday. Dariah Cooke joins ‘Live to Dance 2014’ which promises a journey through the decades, style and eras to dance and sing our way to the stars; raising money for Muffin’s Dream Foundation, a Basingstoke-based charity which aims to support children, young people and their families to cope with disability and live a happy life.

Basingstoke Festival of Choirs performance at The Anvil on Sunday is now officially sold out. This will be the first time Ellisfield’s ‘Belles of St Martins’ have participated.

SOLAR Park: More than 20 local residents attended Ellisfield’s Parish Council meeting last Monday to hear more about the plans for the proposed solar farm at Manor Farm and to ask questions/raise concerns.