🌟 Salty Chips Titbits – May Edition! 🌊🌼
✅ Longer, lighter evenings that seem to stretch forever 🌅✨
✅ Layers optional… sunglasses essential 😎☀️
✅ Coastlines buzzing with life and early summer energy 🌿🌊
May rolls in with a little more warmth and a lot more confidence 💛. The days feel fuller now – brighter mornings, golden evenings and that unmistakable sense that we’ve stepped into the early rhythm of summer. Along the shore, everything feels alive again: boats drifting by ⛵, seabirds calling overhead 🕊️ and the tide bringing in a fresh mix of coastal treasures 🐚.
There’s an ease to May that’s hard to beat. The breeze is softer, the sun a little stronger and the days seem to invite you to stay out just that bit longer 🌤️. Whether it’s a wander along the water, a catch-up over coffee or simply sitting and watching the light shift across the Solent, it’s a month for being present and enjoying the moment.
So grab that takeaway coffee ☕, find your favourite sunny spot 🌼 and tuck into May’s salty scoop with us… 🍟🌿✨
🌊⚓ Gosport Marine Festival 2026
📅 Saturday 16th May 2026
🎟 FREE entry – no booking required
A brilliant, family-friendly day celebrating Gosport’s rich marine heritage, culture and community spirit. Running for over 10 years, this much-loved annual event invites you to get involved, get on the water and enjoy everything the waterfront has to offer.
🕘 What’s On
🎉 Opening Ceremony & Parade
🕤 9:30am – Millennium Timespace
🎪 Activities & Stalls
🕙 10am – 4pm
🎶 Music, Food & Drink
🕚 11am – 9pm
🌿 Highlights Across the Day
📍 Walpole Park South (Start Here – Registration Tent)
• Have-a-go activities: archery 🏹, axe throwing 🪓, climbing tower 🧗
• Collect your wristband for water activities
📍 Cockle Pond (Boating Lake)
• Kayaking 🚣♂️, paddleboarding 🏄, sailing ⛵
• Walk-up sessions with instructors & safety equipment provided
📍 Trinity Green
• Market stalls, maritime charities & careers advice
📍 Millennium Timespace
• Live music 🎶, food 🍔 and drink 🍻 (until 9pm)
📍 Haslar Marina
• Open day, harbour trips & vessel visits 🚤
• Free accessible sailing & powerboating experiences
🗺️ Heritage Trail
Explore six fascinating locations uncovering Gosport’s maritime past with stories, clues and creative surprises
🎤 ‘Tales from the Sea’ Shanty Festival
• 15 groups, 100+ performers across 5 locations
ℹ️ Good to Know
👨👩👧👦 Under 18s need adult consent for activities
🚶♂️ No pre-booking needed – just turn up and enjoy
🚗 Parking: Walpole Park Car Park (PO12 1HP)
🚶♀️ 5-minute walk from ferry, High Street & bus station
🚲 Walking or cycling recommended
🙌 Get Involved
The festival is looking for:
🤝 Volunteers – help with activities, logistics or event planning
💼 Sponsors – support the event and keep it free for the community
📧 Volunteer: chair@gosportmarinefestival.co.uk
📧 Sponsorship: office@portsmouthharbourmarine.org.uk
A fantastic way to spend a spring day by the water — active, lively and full of coastal energy 🌊☀️
🌿🎨 Art in the Garden 2026 – Little Forest Land Art
📅 Saturday 23 May – Saturday 6 June 2026
(Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)
🕐 10am – 4pm (weekdays) | 10am – 5pm (weekends)
📍 Evergreen, Trampers Lane, North Boarhunt, Fareham, Hampshire PO17 6BU
We’re excited to be returning to Evergreen for our second year as part of Art in the Garden – an established annual open studio event held in early summer.
Set within a wild meadow and winding woodland paths, this open-air exhibition showcases site-specific installations and beautifully crafted artwork in a truly relaxed, natural setting. Now in its 12th year, the event attracts a loyal following — whether you’re looking to purchase something special for your home or garden, or simply wander, explore and feel inspired.
✨ What to expect:
• 20+ exhibiting artists and makers
• Quality crafts for home and garden
• Little Forest Competition finalists & land artists
• Craft workshops
• Free entry
• On-site parking
• Card payments available
⚠️ Please note:
• Strictly no dogs (except guide dogs)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
For a glimpse of previous work and updates, visit:
📸 Instagram – @littleforestlandart
A wonderful way to spend a late-spring day 🌸🌳✨
🌿🐦 Friends of Crescent Gardens – Weekly Green Team
📅 Every Wednesday morning
📍 Crescent Garden, Crescent Road, Alverstoke, PO12 2BB
A thriving community group keeping this beautiful Regency garden at the heart of local life 🌼. The Friends meet weekly to maintain the garden alongside Gosport Borough Council – and the results speak for themselves, with multiple Green Flag and Green Heritage Awards 🏆🌿.
Fancy getting involved? Volunteer gardeners meet every Wednesday morning, with coffee and a chat at 11am ☕
📧 Contact Elaine Martin: chairman@alverstokecrescentgarden.co.uk
Until next time…
Step into May’s warmth 🌿☀️, soak up those golden evenings 🌅 and savour the season in full bloom 🌸💚. Whether it’s garden wandering 🌺, seaside strolls 🌊 or simply a quiet pause in the sunshine ☀️, make the most of it all.
Here’s to longer days, softer light and the gentle rhythm of early summer unfolding 🌿✨
— Kim
Salty Chips Titbits 🍟🐟✨