The New Forest has always been a popular destination. There is so much on offer here and the lure of the forest and the beaches ensure that each season there is a steady stream of visitors.

In recent years a number of hotels have opened, more restaurants have sprung up and the area is becoming a gastronomic gem of a place. Chewton Glen are planning to build some tree houses, we hope to start building the five extra bedrooms in the winter of 2010, Limewood continues to host celebrity weddings, so who knows who you may bump into along Lyndhurst High Street…. Think Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum, Noel Gallagher, Chris Evans, Paul Weller and many more celebs besides. We are very fortunate to live in such a lovely area, but we are sometimes guilty of taking it for granted….. when I was a little girl the idea of living by the sea seemed so exciting. Now I do live by the sea and yet I hardly ever go to the beach and if I do, it’s in the winter when the wind is raw and the coastline seems wild and savage.

The forest is about so much more than merely beautiful scenery, lovely walks and lots of ponies. We have great visitor attractions too; Beaulieu is only a short distance away, Peppa Pig at Paultons Park is very close by….. what a fun day out that is. Exbury Gardens are glorious and there are a whole host of walks, cycle paths and nice pubs to enjoy along the route. The New Forest show in July is a great day out too, with Romané still laughing about the dancing sheep show…. Really I kid you not, dancing sheep!

Thus it is no wonder that during the summer months the M3/M27 are so busy with streams of traffic wending their way towards the forest and the South coast. As locals we complain about the traffic jams and the tourists all stopping to admire the ponies, but actually it is lovely to have so many appreciative visitors, who so enjoy what is on offer…. if they stay at Hotel TerraVina that makes us even happier!

OBE Investiture update… we have a date for GB’s investiture in October, at Windsor Castle- I’m off to choose a hat… and shoes… and bag… and dress… And coat and…

Till next week

Nx