After a friendly lunch, on June 20 members of Milford Probus Club and visitors - always welcome - will learn about the prospects for geothermal energy.

Speaker Peter Clutterbuck has a Cambridge degree in engineering and has had a career in energy projects around the world. He is driven now by the challenge of replacing fossil fuels - hydrocarbons - with low carbon energy.

Oil and gas have high carbon emissions. Wind and solar power are developing fast but are dependent on weather. Hydro has limited suitable sites. Nuclear is expensive, has long lead times and public safety concerns, though small modular reactors could be promising.

Geothermal energy suffers no such problems. It operates all the time and could have enormous potential across the globe as the earth is hot at depth everywhere. While drilling costs remain high, however, hot and shallow sites are best, and such ‘hot spots’ are being exploited in 32 countries. At just one per cent of today’s global energy mix, there is great potential, as Peter will explain.

Milford Probus Club is for retired and semi-retired business and professional men and women who enjoy comradeship, informative talks and wider activities. If you are interested, visit www.milfordprobus.com or book lunch - the Monday before - with Miranda O’Brien at [email protected] or on 01483 423398.

The club’s activities include organised outings and enjoyable walks, ending in a fine pub. Established in 1999, it has welcomed women members since 2016 and now has a female president. Prospective members are invited to join lunches as paying guests while considering membership.

The North Hampshire National Trust Centre is the local branch of the National Trust. It provides monthly lectures through the winter and monthly visits to places of interest through the summer.

At its annual general meeting in April, the programme of visits was presented and discussed. In May members will be going to Hever Castle in Kent – the 14th-century castle which was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.

In June the outing will be to Kew Gardens. Founded in 1759, these sumptuous gardens remain at the forefront of plant and fungal science and are hugely important for their conservation programmes.

In July the branch has a double event. It starts at Beale Wildlife Park, the home of a wide variety of uncommon and endearing species. In the afternoon members will visit the nearby Basildon Park House, a fine 18th-century dwelling with a chequered past.

In August the branch will have a cream tea, and in September there is a tour of The Wakes, Gilbert White’s home in Selborne.

Membership of the North Hampshire National Trust Centre costs £8 per year for individuals and £13 for couples. Visit https://nhntc.com for more information and to join.

The 1st Hindhead Scouts launched a new Beaver colony at the end of February.

A spokesperson said: “We're excited to have Beavers again, and super grateful to our local community for fundraising not only for a new flag and pole for the Beavers, but also for the Cubs and Scouts too. We have space for a few more Beavers and Cubs as well.”

Sponsors include St Edmund’s School, Huntington and Langham Estate, Rardley Motors in Grayshott and JAM School of Motoring in Beacon Hill.

Alton Art Society members attended an excellent watercolour painting workshop on April 26.

The artist was Jonathan Newey, who taught the artists how to paint a landscape. Sixteen members attended, and although they all painted the same scene using only four colours, there were very marked differences. This was also a good exercise in colour mixing.

During the day Bretta Raines of Alton Lions Club presented the society with a cheque for £250 to buy a canvas and other art equipment to be used at the Chawton House celebration of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.

During the day on May 26 adult visitors will have the chance to help paint a very large canvas, and children will be able to paint on a large picture. This event was also held last year and the finished painting is in Esquires coffee shop in the town.

Alton Art Society is a very friendly one and welcomes all budding artists of any level. It has some lovely events coming up this year to celebrate its centenary. Visit its website for more details.

Jackie Dimmock spent 29 years in Hampshire Constabulary from 1982 to 2011 and went to Alton WI with her talk The Good, The Bad and the Downright Funny.

It was mainly about her career on the Isle of Wight as a police officer. She had members laughing in their seats with her stories and anecdotes as well as some nods to the wise around the audience of things they could relate to.

Her talk was supported by quilted panels, which she had made herself. A thoroughly interesting and amusing evening was enjoyed by all.

Frensham and Dockenfield Horticultural Society held its annual spring show on March 29.

Sarah Squire from Squires Garden Centre presented the prizes at the Marindin Hall in Frensham Road.

After a long period of wet and cold weather the society was worried that little would be shown at the end of March, but a few days of sunshine towards the end of the month meant flowers were in full bloom, including daffodils, hellebores and camellias, while in the vegetable category the rhubarb impressed.

Ancillary classes such as home industries and photography are becoming ever more popular at the society. Simon Claiden, the photography judge, commented on the high standard of the entries, especially from the juniors. Twelve-year-old Huxley Atkin’s close-up picture of a daffodil flower won both the adult and junior categories.

Prize winners were as follows: Darling Cup, exhibit of highest merit in the show – Dan Bosence; Huitfeltd Cup, winner of floral arrangements – Alison Bosence; Frensham Spring Cup, best daffodils – Sue Green; Diver Cup, highest points total for flowers, shrubs, potted plants and vegetables – joint winners Alison Bosence and Caroline Plant; Wood Cup, best exhibit in shrubs classes – joint winners Alison Bosence and Caroline Plant; Barnes Cup, highest points total in home industries – Penny Hearn; Peattie Cup, best photograph – Janet Caiger; Denne Cup, highest points by a junior – Huxley Atkin; Pat Mattin Cup, best floral exhibit by a junior – Lily Easton; Most entries – Caroline Plant; People’s Choice Award – Sharon Miller.

At the same time as the spring show the society hosted the Surrey Horticultural Federation Inter-Village Floral Arrangement competition between gardening clubs.

This year the theme was ‘Spring Reflections’. Entries came from Frensham, Thursley, Churt, Grayshott, Headley and Elstead, with Headley declared the winners by floral arrangements judge Elizabeth Barralet.

Having completed a most enjoyable day of walking from Portchester Castle to Droxford on Mary’s Crescent in mid-April, a week later Petersfield Ramblers rendezvoused at Buriton Pond for part two of the Downland exploration of medieval churches dedicated to St Mary.

Thirteen walkers were up for the 14-mile challenge. The route led them along the north side of Droxford church, past the Mill House and its water race, under a bridge and back on to the Meon Valley Trail.

After almost two miles of easy walking on the trail, they met the point where the South Downs Way crossed their path. Here they joined the South Downs Way to head due east to Old Winchester Hill. Open views across fields spread north and south as the climb became steeper. A stunning patch of cowslips, protected by orange fencing, caught their eyes; unexpected was the electric shock.

After four miles of walking they reached the trig point on breezy Old Winchester Hill at 650 feet, surrounded by the impressive earthworks of an ancient hilltop fort. Here they rested with coffee and delicious home-made brownies.

Reinvigorated they descended gently, first along the South Downs Way and then the Monarch’s Way. A short stretch of road walking led to an exceptionally steep slope down a field full of Friesian cows. There followed a clear diagonal footpath across a large field.

After two miles of relatively flat rambling across rough ground and then between fields, the course turned north alongside the burial ground of the Sustainability Centre. En route they saw more banks of cowslips, clumps of white nettles, bands of wild garlic and even the occasional gorse bush in full flower – but most beautiful were the swathes of bluebells exuding a heady bouquet.

After lunch at the Sustainability Centre the journey used the South Downs Way for the rest of the day. There were architectural trees and colourful beech trees.

Entering Queen Elizabeth Country Park high on Butser Hill, they descended with care to the A3, dipping beneath the road via the underpass to the visitor centre. With two miles to go several walkers bought half-price lemon drizzle cake before trudging up and over the hill in the park then relishing the descent past the old chalk pits to Buriton Pond.