Hyde War Memorial Parish Hall
After a six-week £100,000 refurbishment Hyde War Memorial Parish Hall officially reopened on Blissford Hill in the north of the National Park in September 2023.
It was built in 1983 to replace the original Nissen hut that was on the site. As part of the new look hall, the flooring and chairs have now been updated and thanks to £19,350 from the New Forest National Park Authority’s Sustainable Communities Fund, a new heating system has been installed plus energy saving LED lighting to help reduce annual running costs.
Fundraiser for Hyde Memorial Parish Hall Lindsey Whitehead said: ‘This is a real hub for the community with over 300 people using the facility each week. The local school come and use it for their P.E. through to the older people and the vulnerable. It’s a chance to meet others.’
Treasurer, Marie Anne Richardson said: ‘The Sustainable Communities Fund enabled us to put in a new renewable energy heating system and low energy lighting. It made a huge, huge difference.’
The village hall team next plans to use an SCF micro grant of up to £150 to install wildlife boxes outside and an insect habitat to encourage young people living nearby to take an active interest in the biodiversity around the hall and the New Forest.
