BASINGSTOKE Horticultural Society: Meets at Kempshott Village Hall on Monday, at 7.30pm. The speaker at this meeting is Ray Broughton and his subject is “Easy Plants for Difficult Places”. For more information, call Sheila on 01256 322104 – please use the answerphone.

WORK parties: The local conservations groups continue to hold their regular work parties – for more information visit olddownandbeggarwood.org.uk for Old Down and Beggarwood, kempshottconservationgroup.org.uk for Kempshott.

The Fuzzy Drove Conservation Group is consulting with the community and details of progress can be found at fuzzydrove.co.uk. Details of the work being carried out by Friends of Stratton Park are available at friendsofstrattonpark.org.uk.

ADVANCE notification: On Sunday and Monday, May 3 and 4, The Rotary Club of Basingstoke will be holding a Family Festival at the Rugby Club, Down Grange from 10am each day. Admission is £4 per adult and £1 per child (over six years).