You know all about The Park don’t you? OK, maybe not. It’s run by New Forest Community Media, a not-for-profit and volunteer-led organisation which was launched in March 2007 to provide an Internet news and pod-casting service. It’s currently run from their nerve centre in Brock and provides music and local interest stuff. If you’re worried about hearing nothing but sea shanties and a capella folk sung by bearded men in Fair Isle jumpers, don’t worry the music is contemporary veering a little towards the easy listening. As I type this they have played Shaggy, Madonna, the Pointer Sisters and Snow Patrol. I’m not saying that’s a representative sample, but it does suggest it’s pretty unlikely they’ll feature Megadeth in their regular scheduling.

Anyway, the point in mentioning any of this is that they have just been granted a licence to broadcast by Ofcom. The normal persons version of this is they get to send their programs over the airways as well as online, thus giving the New Forest an easily accessible community broadcaster. Good news in my book.

Cat Lake, Managing Editor for NFCM, said: “This is a great reward after two-and-a-half years of hard work.  This licence will enable us to operate a full FM radio service serving the New Forest which brings local communities together. ” Seeing as one of the charms of the New Forest, the many small communities also creates one of it’s biggest problems, viz communication, The Park looks to be a good fit. What’s more having talked with some of the Park people, I have not doubt that their concern to promote community interaction within the Forest is entirely genuine.

If you need proof that it’s A Good Thing, then the fact that the leaders of both Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council agree has to lend credence being as how their respective organisations normally agree on so many things…. they were even at the opening of the station together. But regardless of whether you live in the area, or are one of the numerous visitors to this site contemplating a move here, go to the listen again section of the website and check out some of the guests from the breakfast show. It’ll be informative and who knows, you might even learn something you didn’t know.

The Park’s strapline is “Community radio for the New Forest” and to quote a famous philosopher, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

I may have one too many spam filters governing what I can and can’t read. I don’t recall making a conscious decision that a piece of software should decide who can or can’t email me, but that’s how it turns out. Being techie I have quite a lot of emails to deal with and a somewhat convoluted method of obtaining them. Comes from having a number of different gizmos that I need to read email on I suppose. I now understand what they mean by the bleeding edge of technology.

Incidentally, did you know that the word Spam comes from squishing Spiced and Ham together? Anyway I digress. The compacted pork filter in question prevented me from being contacted by a jolly nice fellow called David about a site he runs at www.milfordonsea.org It probably won’t surprise you to know that it is focused on Milford on Sea. What you might not know is that he does it for fun. Not my idea of an enjoyable use of discretionary time, but if you want to know about Milford, then you’ll be glad it is Davids.

Well that’s what I thought any how. Turns out I’m selling him short. The To Do section gives the game away. Right next to the Things to do in Milford button is Things to do in Lymington! I have to say there wasn’t anything there I didn’t already know about, but then it would have been very embarrassing if there was wouldn’t it? It also covers other areas and includes an extremely comprehensive where to eat in Lymington, Milford etc. All in all it is an absolute gold mine of local information which you really should take a look at if you live in the area or want to live in the area.

Speaking of wanting to live in the area, I have had numerous requests for the straight dope on living in Lymington, no idea why. I caught on pretty quickly and have produced a short summary of salient points which I am happy to send to anyone who would like it. Just get in touch.