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| Twinning Logo |
The Association is now in its sixteenth year and is one of the
largest groups in Lyndhurst and one of the most successful Twinning
Associations in the New Forest.
Our twin village, La Chevrolière, has just under 5000
inhabitants and is situated in the Loire-Atlantique, some 15
km southwest of the city of Nantes.
It is a prosperous area of
sunshine, vines (Muscadet is best known), market gardening and
light industries. Perhaps La Chevrolière’s chief
claim to fame results from its proximity to the Lac de Grand-Lieu.
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| One of the largest lakes in France |
This
is one of the largest lakes in France – 4000 hectares
in summer and 6300 hectares in winter – and is a major
site for naturalists and more particularly, ornithologists. Most
importantly, however, the people are friendly, hospitable and
welcoming.
The aim of the Twinning Association is to foster friendship
between people of all ages and backgrounds. Sporting, cultural
and social activities are part of our regular visits.
Twinning
visits are much more than just a holiday abroad. We seek to provide
an opportunity for families and individuals to make regular visits
to a particular part of France, and, by experiencing at first-hand
life in a French household, to gain a better appreciation of
different attitudes and ways of doing things.
Speaking a little
French is helpful but not at all essential, and many firm friendships
have come about over the last fifteen years.
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| Twinning Association Cake |
A twinning visit is made every year; we visit and receive alternately.
This year our visit to La Chevrolière
celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the Twinning Association.
Over 50 local people
spent a long weekend in France and were superbly entertained
by a welcoming cocktail and buffet, a boat trip on the lake,
a visit to a magnificent theme park, a gala luncheon, an evening
of dancing and music and a commemorative release of pigeons.
We took with us a whole Stilton cheese (over
8 kg) – just
to demonstrate to our French friends that they don’t have
all the best produce – as well as a three-tier cake, expertly
decorated with the Association’s logo. |
