A comment on Mims' activities through the week, and the latest news from Parliament.
Spring has sprung! And in the coming weeks and months many of us will be getting into our wellies and walking boots, spending time enjoying and exploring the outdoors.
I regularly write about the environment around us and I am proud of the green fields, chalk streams and ancient woodland that surrounds us. I know that, while my constituents recognise the need for homes, they also value our green spaces and the need to protect the local environments - not only for our own enjoyment but also for the enjoyment of future generations and the wildlife that relies upon it. It is my job as Eastleigh’s MP to ensure that the Government is listening – particularly when others might not be. It is with this in mind that I campaigned to protect ancient woodland - some older than our churches and cathedrals – that are under threat as a result of thoughtless planning decisions. I have served as the Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ancient Woodland and Veteran Trees, and I am delighted that the Prime Minister has announced the highest ever level of protection for ancient woodland. This was welcomed by the Woodland Trust, and I hope that it will also be welcomed by many of those reading this column.
Some of the people that I know will be getting out and about this month are the volunteers for Marie Curie, selling their Daffodil Pins to raise funds for Marie Curie, a household name for the palliative care that they deliver, and the support that they provide to those living with cancer.
That said, I was delighted to temporarily swap my daffodil for a ‘Wear a Hat Day’ badge in support of Brain Tumour Research last week. I am proud that the Solent is a hub for advancements in science, particularly in cancer research, with cancer experts at University Hospital Southampton selected by NHS England as one of only 16 centres in the country to perform some of the most advanced and specialist forms of treatment for brain tumours, and the University of Portsmouth being one of four UK Centres of Excellence for brain tumour research. The ‘Wear a Hat Day’ campaign calls on leading cancer research charities and the Government to invest more money into brain tumour research, supporting the work of experts at centres like Southampton, and it was great to be able to recognise the importance of their work.
Last Thursday people around the globe celebrated International Women’s Day. Throughout my time as Eastleigh’s MP, I have had the pleasure of meeting truly inspirational women and girls– from the business owners I met on Small Business Saturday to the winners and nominees at the 1st Hampshire Women Awards in November.
It is absolutely right to celebrate the women who underpin our community as carers, teachers, business leaders and landladies – and in many other roles.
Equally impressive were the inspirational sports men and women that I met on Friday evening when I presented awards to members of the Multi Sports Club at Crestwood Community School. This amazing charity offers opportunities for young people with disabilities to try out a variety of different sports and activities, with appropriate levels of support. As someone passionate about ensuring that participation in sport is available to everybody, it was a real honour to be asked along and I would like to thank all of those involved.
Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s piece. I’ll continue to put all of my updates onto my website and on social media, and as always, I look forward to keeping you updated via this local column.