If only it wasn’t incessantly raining I would be able to comment that Hampshire is a great place to be in July. This week has been New Forest Show, and a useful reminder of all that is beautiful in the Forest. Next week I am spending a day with the rangers, for what has become an annual summer recess update of all that is important environmentally in the Forest.
I am also looking forward to a visit to Thruxton this weekend, which will be part of this constituency after the recent boundary changes. There are always challenges when constituency boundaries are updated, and I am sure this time will be no different. However I am looking forward to spending a good chunk of this recess visiting all the villages which will form part of the new constituency.
The issue of dog attacks has again been in the news recently and I am spending a day next week with the Test Valley dog warden. That will be a great opportunity to hear about all the positive pro-active work that is going on locally, but nationally I cannot help but feel we need additional legislation to counter the rise of the XL bully dogs. I am firmly of the view that it is irresponsible owners who are the problem, rather than the dogs per se, but there is a serious issue with dogs being used as weapons, although not locally. That visit is on the same day as my poor Luna spaniel is off at Mainstone being spayed, there will be no irresponsible puppy breeding here!
