What's New - MAPG News
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 16th April
From 6.30 pm
at the Laverstock Village Hall, Park Road, Laverstock SP1 1RQ
You are invited to join us from 6.30 for wine and nibbles. The business of the meeting will begin at 7pm. Agenda will include the Chair’s address, election of Officers, reports on our work and on the past year’s activities.
Click on the links below to download information
Guest speaker: Time Team’s Phil Harding
Salisbury resident Dr Phil Harding has been a professional archaeologist since 1971 and a member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists since 1985. In 2006 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London, and in 2008 was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton. He currently works for Wessex Archaeology, which is one of the biggest archaeological practices
in the country.
Phil became a familiar face on the Channel 4 television series Time Team. He is an acknowledged expert on flint-knapping. Since 2015, Phil has been an archaeological supervisor for the veteran support charity Waterloo Uncovered, which conducts archaeology on the battlefield of Waterloo alongside veterans and serving personnel.
Our Winter 2025 Newsletter has been distributed to members and is available by clicking on the image.
MAPG Joins Neighbourhood Watch
MAPG has set up a local neighbourhood watch scheme. To find out more, and to join, please click on the logo.
MAPG Litter Pick - Saturday 8th March, 2025
Join us for our next MAPG Litter Pick on Saturday 8th March at 10.00 am.. Volunteers will be provided with high-viz jackets, litter pickers and large black bags.
For more information, or to register, please contact Julie on jupe.eastaugh@btinternet.com
The Milfordian 2024 is here
We are in the process of delivering this year's Milfordian to all our members.
To open a copy, click on the picture of the front cover.
Many thanks to local businesses who have supported MAPG by placing ads in the Milfordian. Without their help, this magazine would not have been possible, and the work that we do could not have been so thorough or sustained. Thank you.
MAPG in Campaign Mode
I doubt there can be anyone in Milford and Laverstock who has not braved the flood water on Milford Mill Road or had their patience severely tested by the malfunctioning of lights by the bridge.
MAPG’s campaign to resolve or at least alleviate the problem of flooding on Milford Mill Road is longstanding and will continue to be pressed forward with determination and vigour.
In the meantime, the traffic lights have been re-sited and the timings adjusted. Special thanks to Tony Goddard for his detailed positional map which helped us enormously.
See the Salisbury Journal article here
A lorry negotiates the flood water on Milford Mill Road
Otter Sighting Delights Milford Residents:
Captured on Camera Near Medieval Milford Bridge
MILFORD, 5th December, 2023 - An elusive otter was recently caught on camera near the medieval Milford Bridge. The footage was captured by local resident Alan Crooks as he crossed the historic bridge.
The otter's appearance can be attributed to our ongoing efforts to enhance the ecological health of the River Bourne. Recent initiatives included cutting back overgrown foliage, reinstating berms, and removing debris to improve the water flow in the area.
This work has created an ideal environment for the otter to thrive, turning that section of the Bourne into a perfect spot for the playful creature to feed and explore.
MAPG has been active in promoting environmental conservation and biodiversity in the region and we are hopeful that the otter's presence is a sign of a thriving and sustainable ecosystem in the heart of Milford.
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Cheese and Wine Evening
Held on Saturday, November 25th, our Cheese and Wine Evening marked a triumphant celebration of community and fundraising success. With 50 enthusiastic attendees, the village hall transformed into a lively hub of camaraderie, fostering a delightful atmosphere throughout the event. The gastronomic journey featured five distinct cheeses sourced from around the British Isles. These were paired with four complementary wines, A tabletop quiz added an extra layer of enjoyment, testing participants' knowledge of wines, beers, and festive beverages. The pinnacle of the evening's entertainment, however, was the enchanting performance by Laura and Ame, whose wonderful singing infused the atmosphere with cheer and Christmas spirit. The evening also featured a raffle, with attendees having the chance to win fantastic prizes generously donated by committee members and local businesses. Notable contributions included items from Hair at 46, Parkwood gym, and Audi. We look forward to future events that continue to strengthen our community bonds and contribute to the success of MAPG's initiatives.
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Return to the River’ Saturday October 28th 2024.
Volunteers met on the Medieval bridge on Milford Mill Road for our third annual ‘clean-up’. We removed excessive weed from the River Bourne, thinned out the choking vegetation on the ‘island’, restored the recycled wood berms on the banksides, cut back the green approaches to the river – and disposed of the bottles and other litter dumped in the river.
The MAPG Summer Garden Party
With a weather warning of moderate wind, and the threat of rain, we quickly took down our array of gazebos and moved the venue indoors, thanks to the generosity of Nick and Susie. With a delicious afternoon tea and plenty of Pimms, we still had a lovely time.
A break in the weather allowed us to wander through a couple of the pretty gardens that back on to the River Bourne.
'Can we do this more often?' was a question asked by many. I feel sure it will become an annual event.
2023 Walk Through Time 3: The Cathedral Close
Undeterred by the inclement weather, over 20 people joined our 2023 ‘Walk Through Time 3 – The Cathedral Close’. Starting at the North Gate, David guided us down the West Walk providing us with fascinating historical facts as well as pointing out interesting architectural features.
John Waddington kindly conducted a private tour of the Medieval Hall where we were treated to coffee and biscuits.
Full details of the walk can be found here