Welcome to bitternepark.info digest+
bitternepark.info has been delivering unique, local news in Southampton since 2005. Now, our regular email digest - published for around a decade - is moving to this Substack platform as digest+.
What is digest+?
As the name implies, digest+ will become the new home for our popular emailed roundup of stories, and will also feature previously unpublished and archive material from time to time.
This might include audio interviews with local figures, photos from around the area, and external links to stories published by others relevant to our area or topical issues.
Why are you charging?
While many of our general supporters kindly contribute every month to help run the bitternepark.info website and newsletter, the time and effort required to produce what is often a weekly email, as well new material for the bitternepark.info website itself, has grown. Rather than paywall our website, we’re transitioning to this digest+ subscription model to try to sustain our work and continue delivering what we know is popular.
How do your plans work?
We currently offer a Monthly rate, which is at the time of writing set for £3.50 for a limited period, with a free trial for 30 days.
We also offer an Annual rate, which perhaps contrary to your expectations, is actually higher pro rata. This is designed for those who wish to contribute a little more, and those who are already doing this monthly using our existing PayPal system or by bank transfer.
Finally, there’s a Premium Supporter option - for those able and willing to support us a little further from the outset. It’s a way of helping secure our work as we build this next stage, including recent investment in new tools and equipment to expand what we can offer.
There is also a Free plan (a Substack requirement), but to receive our digest+ email newsletter and additional content, you’ll need to be on a monthly tier or above. (If you live outside the UK please use the Free tier and we’ll update you on how to subscribe to other plans shortly - there’s more on this below).
If you already support us
If you're one of our generous supporters - whether through PayPal, direct debit, or a past contribution between the beginning of April 2024 and the end of May 2025 - thank you. To show our appreciation, we’re offering a free one-year subscription to digest+ for anyone who has supported us financially during that period, including qualifying advertisers.
To claim this, simply:
Subscribe to the monthy tier or above.
Fill out this short form with your details (we just need consent and basic info about your previous support) to request we upgrade you for a year.
At the end of the free year, you can continue your subscription to digest+ at the normal rate. If you prefer, you can cancel your existing PayPal or direct debit arrangement at that point - or keep it going if you’d like to support us in both ways. It’s entirely up to you.
What happens to the current digest newsletter?
The existing digest will likely shift to a monthly rhythm over time, and feature a lighter selection of material.
You can continue to receive the free digest, switch to digest+ for a more regular and expanded version (the aim is for roughly the same frequency as the current email newsletter), or subscribe to both - the choice is yours.
Why isn’t news free?
Running a local news website and email newsletter takes time, effort, and resources. Independent coverage requires more than just goodwill - it requires financial sustainability. Reader support is vital because voluntary subscriptions alone don’t always cover costs, and advertising revenue has declined across the media industry, especially with the dominance of platforms like Google and Facebook owner Meta.
That’s why we’re introducing digest+ - a way for readers to support our work while getting regular updates, plus occasional extras. The time invested in producing reliable local news doesn’t always translate into enough income to cover costs, but every subscription helps us continue publishing.
Thank you for your support.
Subscribe to get full access to digest+ on Substack and by email.
