April visit to an organic farm

Nineteen of us on a perfect Spring day, warm with hardly a cloud in the sky met up at Vernham Dean Box Farm, Andover. We were greeted by the farm owner who gave us a good grounding on organic farming with its 3 year cycle and in regenerating the land with grass and clover. The changing over of animals each year to lessen the number of parasites that are species dependant. We then went to see where the lambing ewes were kept and the cattle ready to go to market. Then David Sullivan the speaker from last year who gave us "Life time as a shepherd and a story teller" told us about the background of who worked where. finally on cue a lamb gave birth to two just before we left. David showed us the way to the local pub where a cream tea was waiting for us. Very nice day's outing.

March visit to the Geothermal Heating Co

Split into two groups one listened to Bill Clark who told us of the development of Southampton's sustainable energy scheme which celebrated its 21st year. Hot water was found at 1,800 meters and at a temperature of 76degrees centigrade. Although thought not to be viable the City Council stepped in and with Utilicom now supply most of the major developments in the City Centre. The other group were shown around the current generator a ships engine which produce heat and electricity. The geothermal aspect is out of commission until next year when it will get a one million pound pump.
We were then given a drink and a biscuit which was much appreciated.

13th Oct Giddings sawmills visit

On Tuesday fourteen Questers had a most enjoyable visit to Giddings Sawmill, first we were shown a stack of about eight hundred tonnes of Softwood logs. This was about the amount they would use in 4 (four) days.
The logs all 4 metres long were taken by a grab vehicle costing £250,000 to the start of the process, they were lifted into a high shoot, to be de-barked, from there a conveyor belt took them along to the computer controlled sawing benches. The computer decided how to cut each log to maximise output, having travelled through the saw, the next stage is to sort out the eight different piles to drop them into. this was absolutely amazing, 1" boards, 2x2 ,3x2,4x2 and many other sizes all put without the help of a human hand into the correct piles. The next operation was to send the right size pieces to the correct customer's requirements, now they are cut to length and banded ready for shipment.
For every tonne of log coming into the mill, exactly a tonne of products go out,be it timber planks, wood chips, sawdust an even the bark it is all used. Nothing is wasted, proving this to be a very environmentally friendly operation. Bob Giddings who showed us around is extremely proud to be helping to save the resources for the generations to come.

Hamptworth Lodge

Twentyfive of us went to Hamptworth Lodge on a beautifully sunny morning to be greeted by our host with refreshing tea/coffee and biscuits and a tour of the house that took 2 hours to complete. We then spent some time in the garden with its water feature and well laid out lawns. There was even an original archery range laid out as a sunken garden surrounded by a yew hedge. Hamptworth has been home to the Anderson family for just under 200 years.This privately owned Estate sits in 3,000 acres of mixed woodland and farmland on the Northern Edge of the New Forest National Park.
In the middle of the Estate lies Hamptworth Lodge, a Jacobean style Manor House surrounded by magnificent gardens and wonderful parkland.

Very rarely open to the public, the Estate plays host to a variety of events throughout the year and in addition is home to the New Forest Farm Shop, Hamptworth Falconry and Hamptworth Gundogs.

Ringwood Brewery visit 28th May

The visit went very well, twenty two I believe attended.
Our guide was a very competent young lady who carried
out her duties with enthusiasm and a-plomb. I actually
learned some thing that evening. We were accommodated
handsomely in the Breweries Bar and I believe every body
enjoyed that. Later in the evening we ate at the Inn on the Furlong
the meal made more enjoyable by our previous tipple at the brewery
Dave

Questers trip to Fawley Power Station on April the 30th

Visit to King John's hunting lodge