It's Beautiful Winter 2020

free issue 16 winter 2020

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2021 2021 is on us!

2021 is on us!

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Want to move home but worried about finances?

Want to move finances?

That’s why we’vehome createdbut theworried mortgageabout paid offer Wantwhy towe move home worried finances? meaning will pay you but up £600 aabout month for That’s we’ve created theto mortgage paid offer 12 months* to you peace meaning wewe’ve willgive pay yousome up £600ofa mind. month for That’s why created thetomortgage paid offer 12 months* to give you some peace of mind. meaning we will pay you up to £600 a month for Why not book an appointment to visit us today to 12 months* give youdedicated some peace of us mind. find out our team?

Why notmore booktofrom an appointment to sales visit today to Why not bookfrom an appointment to sales visit us today to find out more our dedicated team? find out more from our dedicated sales team?

For more information please callinformation 01785 788 312 or For more search Bovis Homes please callinformation 01785 788Mercia 312 or For more search Bovis Homes please call 01785 788 Mercia 312 or search Bovis Homes Mercia

Mortgage Paid for 12 months offer is available on selected homes only, not in conjunction with any other offer. Paid as a cash lump sum upon legal completion and calculated as the cash equivalent of monthly mortgage repayments of 600GBP per month for the period of 12 months from legal completion. Cash lump sum capped at a maximum of 3% of the purchase price, subject to lender’s criteria, qualification and acceptance of cash incentives. Not applicable to second homeowners or investor purchasers. We reserve the right to withdraw the incentive at any time without prior notice. ^Flooring where indicated is provided from Mortgage Paid for 12 months offer is available on selected homes only, not in conjunction with any other offer. Paid as a cash lump sum upon legal completion and calculated as the cash equivalent of monthly our standard range unless otherwise specified. Photograph depicts a typical Bovis Home exterior/interior. Elevation may differ to that shown. Internal images may include optional upgrades at an additional cost. Price & mortgage repayments of 600GBP per month for the period of 12 months from legal completion. Cash lump sum capped at a maximum of 3% of the purchase price, subject to lender’s criteria, qualification and availability correct at time of going to print/broadcast. Not available on investor purchases or Home Reach scheme. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR acceptance of cashforincentives.

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2 | It’s beautiful

Welcome

Back into the unknown, we have

Contents Beauty Gifts........................................ 5

spent some time this season hunting

Bathing ritual..................................... 9

for things to keep us all occupied at

Fashion - Bargain hunting............... 10

home. Read about some interesting pet facts on page 33 or meet our

Feature - Kelda Wood...................... 12

regular columnist Dr Middleton, who

Fashion - Let’s feel the love.............. 14

gives us some things to think about

Property - Interiors............................ 17

around acne.

Home - books.................................... 22

Baking, garden time and shopping are hot on the list but in the

Interiors - Regal red.......................... 23

background, schooling continues and

Gardening........................................ 26

lots of business are still open across

Food and drink................................. 27

the county, whether it’s for products

Pets................................................... 33

or services. Don’t forget to support your community and shop local where you can.

We hope you are all safe and well.

Education......................................... 34 Books - for a spare five minutes ...... 43 Objects of desire............................... 44 Health............................................... 45

Victoria McKenna EDITOR

Birds in pictures................................ 48 Motoring........................................... 50

free issue 16 winter 2020

It’s Beautiful

7 Lower Brook Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2HG Telephone: 07986 293294

Joint Managing Directors David Lee-Birch david@oswestrylife.co.uk Tracy Leonard tracy@oswestrylife.co.uk Editor Victoria Jane McKenna victoria@oswestrylife.co.uk Production Designer Aileen Selkirk aileen@oswestrylife.co.uk Advertising info@itsbeautiful.co.uk Editorial info@itsbeautiful.co.uk

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Hair by Royston Blythe Support your local hair and beauty businesses when they re-open.

gardening O b j e c t s

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www.itsbeautiful.co.uk It’s Beautiful is published by DTS Media. The views expressed within this publication do not necessarily reflect those of DTS Media. The reproduction of any material in this magazine is forbidden without the written consent of the publisher. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, DTS Media can in no way accept liability for omissions or incorrect insertions or any consequences arising from use of this publication

© DTS Media Ltd. 2021 Printed by Stephens & George - When you have finished with this publication please recycle.

It’s beautiful | 3

4 | It’s beautiful

We are proud to be able to offer patients a safe and private medical environment in which to undergo a range of aesthetics treatments.

We are medical specialists in the treatment of:

• Fine lines and wrinkles

• Loss of facial volume (due to ageing,

weight loss, medical condition or surgery) • Facial asymmetry

• General facial aesthetics concerns

Whether you’re buying for a lover or a best friend, if you need some inspiration just keep reading…

Torn between flowers and make-up? Why not send both? Little Betty’s Gifts create stunning bouquets using artificial flowers interwoven with cosmetics, such as nail varnishes, eye palettes and lipsticks. the bouquet comes in a personalised hatbox and really does have the wow factor. Other bouquets are also available, including ones with scarves, brooches, candles or baby clothes.

I’ve bought four as gifts so far, and expect to buy many more in the future.

The bouquets cost from £28 plus postage. Search for Little Betty’s Gifts on www.etsy.com.

Looking for a small gift for an eco-conscious other half? nuddy bars are plastic-free, vegan and cruelty-free, but they’re also super-moisturising and come in fun packaging. According to the twenty-eight-year-old founder, she wants to make soap cool again.

If you’re buying a Nuddy bar as a Valentine’s gift, go for the coconut Moisturising Soap Bar, £4.95. It smells delicious, leaves skin soft and strokeable and the box should get your message across – ‘totally coco-nUTS for your body’. See www.nuddy.co.uk.

Want to save money on top brands? Like supporting charity? Beauty and the Breast (www.beautyandthebreast.co.uk) lets you do both. Sign up as a member (from £5 a month) to save up to 40% on brands such as Beauty Lab, Jessica and Mii. 100% of the profits from each membership goes to Breast Cancer Haven. the spongellé Flowers make cute gifts. they’re a body wash and skin buffer in one – perfect for travelling (remember that?) Each ‘flower’ costs £10 for members or £12.50 for non-members. Last-minute shopping panic? Just send a digital gift card. It’s valid for a year and can be sent on whatever date you choose. simples.

Perfume tends to be well received, but is usually rather pricey. If you don’t fancy taking out a loan to buy a decent bottle, or picking up a cheap looking one endorsed by a B-list celebrity, try La Librairie’s neroli Divine. A 100ml bottle costs just £25 from boots (www. boots.com), but looks (and most importantly smells) at least three times the price. It’s a fresh, light fragrance with floral jasmine and orange blossom, warmed by vanillalike tonka beans. truly divine.

If you’re sending a gift to someone who’s going through a challenging situation, try not Another Bunch of flowers (www.notanotherbunchofflowers.com). They have gifts for every occasion, from care packages for people with cancer to ‘thinking of you’ gift sets. Choose one of the pre-packaged sets or build your own. You’ll find everything from hospital stay essentials and cancer-friendly beanie hats to bath and shower oils, candles, skin balms and motivational chocolate.

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NEW

NETTATOXIN® | ABEETOXIN® | P.P.M® |BEE VENOM MASK BY DEBORAH MITCHELL® |HEAVEN BY DEBORAH MITCHELL®|DEBORAH MITCHELL®

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VEGAN

NETTLE VENOM

A N T I -A G E I N G C R E A M

&

NET TLE VENOM VEGAN FACIAL

HEAVEN HARNESSES THE POWER OF NATURE Royal facialist Deborah Mitchell unveils her latest innovation: the first vegan-friendly anti-ageing facial that uses nettle venom.

Deborah Mitchell’s world famous ABEETOXIN® Bee Venom Masks have been a favourite of her royal and celebrity clients since their launch more than ten years ago.

But the brand’s founder Deborah Mitchell has always wanted to create a Vegan-friendly version that would rival the amazing powers of the original.

“I said to myself years ago, if I could discover a way to capture nature’s power to create the perfect veganfriendly anti-ageing cream & facial I knew I’d be so happy. Well guess what?

I am so happy!”

SO HOW DOES IT WORK? The venom of the nettle causes a similar reaction to that of bees when they sting – the skin goes into rapid repair on first contact. The nettle sting makes the skin tingle before your own Serotonin gets to work to heal blemishes and redness leaving you with a lifted, more radiant complexion.

With regular use, the skin continues this healing action, smoothing lines and soothing as it does so. The power comes from the skin’s own re-building system to tighten, firm and renew.

INTRODUCING: NETTLE VENOM ANTI-AGEING CREAM & FACIAL Containing her powerful NETTATOXIN®, Deborah has created her latest skincare essential using the carefully extracted sting of the common British nettle.

She has kept this newly patented ingredient a very carefully guarded secret, working tirelessly to create the most impressive vegan anti-ageing product and treatment on the market.

No patch test is required – the Nettle Venom Anti-Ageing Cream has not been tested on animals and doesn’t contain any animal derivatives. It is 100% Vegan and there are no contra-indications.

Nettle Venom Vegan Facial appointments are available at the Heaven salon in Shifnal.

If you can’t get into the salon, buy yours online at:

W W W. H E AVE N S K I N CA R E .CO M

To book your Nettle Venom Vegan Facial please call: Heaven Salon & Spa: 01952 461888 or HO: 01952 462505/463574 EMAIL: salon@heavenskincare.com Address: 13a Market Pl, Shifnal TF11 9AU

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A bathing ritual fit for a queen

By Lesley Greenwood I absolutely love taking a long hot soak in the bathtub. It’s a ritual that has been taking place for millennia.

As you know it was popular with the ancient Egyptians, if you were wealthy enough. Queen Cleopatra was reported to bathe in ass’s milk!

Well, there’s a shortage of that where I live, however that doesn’t stop me having a long hot soak.

A nightly bathing ritual is something I am really relishing at the moment. the short cold days of january and the long dark evenings provide us with an opportunity to take our time and languish in some soapy hot water.

The benefits of bathing are well researched and enormously beneficial to both our mental and physical well-being.

Ten reasons to take a hot bath or shower • • • • • • • • • •

Lowers blood sugar. fall asleep faster Lowers blood pressure relieves muscle tension Have cleaner, healthier skin Moisturises our skin Improves blood circulation Helps relieve cold/flu symptoms Gives you time to think creatively Helps us feel better about ourselves

there are numerous soaps, bath salts and oils on the market to pour into your hot bathing tub. I personally really love the traditional liquids from radox and the benefits of using and bathing in epsom salts are also numerous.

Benefits of Epsom salt baths •

• • • • •

•

Soothes the skin. Epsom salt bathwater can soften rough, dry skin, and exfoliate dead skin cells. reduce soreness and pain reduce stress Promote foot health Draw out splinters full of magnesium which helps contribute to a healthy immune system.

Whilst bathing, light one of your fragrant candles, with a soothing aroma such as lavender, which promotes sleep and relaxation.

I like taking my time over my bathing routine. I know we all just took a quick shower as time was of short supply for many with a hectic lifestyle. However, now we have plenty of time use it wisely and spend it on self-care. Self-care is so important especially now, as we need all of our inner strength to cope with this virus and keep ourselves uplifted, healthy and strong.

Here are my ultimate bathing ritual steps...

You may not get time for all of these every day but try and follow a few, and days where you do have time, indulge.

• •

• • •

Pour bath salts and bubbles into warm water.

Whilst running the bathwater dry brush your body with a soft natural bristle body brush.

Light a fragrant candle, dim the bathroom lights.

Immerse into the foaming bubbles. read a book or just close your eyes and dream that you’re on a caribbean island.

•

Give yourself a good scrub with some lovely soap or cleansing cream. this is also a good time to use body scrub or exfoliator.

• After a long soak remove yourself and pat dry with a warm fluffy towel.

• Massage yourself all over with a good thick body cream or body oil, also coat your face in your favourite cream and massage, I use the www.hayoumethod.com • Clean pyjamas are a must after a lovely bath!

• Lie in a quiet, dark and warm place in a semi supine position to mediate and realign the spine and spinal fluid for 17 minutes, at least.

• Try www.alexandertechnique. com - I shall be writing more about my.alexandertechnique meditation in my next article.

• Pour yourself your favourite drink and smile.

All this takes me about an hour and a half and I usually bath around 8pm in the evening after supper.

If you follow my steps then grab yourself a lovely drink, (mine’s currently a turmeric latte made with oatmilk), then read your book, I promise you, you will drop off into a deep sleep before 10.30pm!

Meanwhile take care, keep going, stay safe stay at home, everything passes eventually.

Lesley greenwood BSc(hons) Psychology, MSc Clinical Science Contact Lesley for private counselling and life mentoring www.psychologytoday.com/ profile/412570 It’s beautiful

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Roman Black Tapered Leg Joggers £28, www.romanoriginals.co.uk 10 | It’s beautiful

Bargain

HUNTING Victoria jaNE McKenna

With us being in and out of lockdowns, there are a lot of sales on. So, what will you be looking for? Did you spot some pieces last month that your wardrobe needs?

Now is the time to look.

If you’re a canny shopper, you may find pieces that last throughout the year. Go for classic styles such as trench coats, flower patterns and seasonal colours that will see you through the next 12 months. Here are some sound examples of pieces that are on trend now, but will stand the test of time.

Tu, Mustard Ponte Soft Knit Blazer £20, tuclothing. sainsburys.co.uk

Classics

Tu, Berry Red Corduroy Shirt £18, tuclothing. sainsburys.co.uk

Cream faux leather midi skirt £49, www.sonderstudio.co.uk

Yellow duster coat £79, www.sonderstudio.co.uk

M&S Collection Coat £79, www.marksandspencer.com

Seasons Pink star tassel top £49, www.sonderstudio.co.uk

Tu, grey tapered leg jeans £18, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk

Tallulah Mini Dress £275, phoebe-grace.co.uk

M&S Collection Cardigan £35, www.marksandspencer.com

It’s beautiful | 11

Shropshire’s Kelda Wood receives MBE Kelda Wood, from Shrewsbury, was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honour List 2021.

An accident in 2002 left Kelda with a leg injury that ended her dreams of becoming an Olympic horse rider.

After rebuilding her confidence, Kelda changed her focus and eventually retrained as an outdoor instructor.

In 2010 she launched the charity Climbing Out to help young people who have been through life changing mental or physical trauma. The 5-day outdoor activity programme offers funded places to enable participants to rebuild their confidence, self-esteem and motivation.

Kelda has represented Great Britain as a member of the GB Para-canoe squad and was selected as a member of the Adaptive Grand Slam Team climbing Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America. In January 2017 she became the first recorded adaptive female to summit the mountain.

In December 2018, Kelda set off to row solo across the Atlantic with the aim of inspiring others, raising awareness about mental and physical trauma, and raising funds for Climbing Out. Each day she rowed for a different young person, saying, “It was never about me, I wanted to reach people.” 76 days later, Kelda had rowed 3,500 nautical miles, becoming the first para-rower to solo row the Atlantic. She raised over £50,000 for Climbing Out in the process. Her charity’s motto is, ‘It’s not about saying I can’t, it’s about saying how can I?’ “There are many people who have played a part in my journey, but there are four in particular who stand out as being fundamental in shaping my path. They have nurtured, mentored and supported me and I feel this MBE isn’t a reward for the things I’ve done - it’s a reward for 12 | It’s beautiful

them - for giving me the opportunities that have brought me to this point. So, I’d like to say a big thank you to Marc Woods, Jo Hampton, Dave Bunting and Martin Hewitt”, said Kelda.

“I would also like to dedicate this honour to my Dad, who sadly died just 11 weeks before I found out about the MBE. He was always very quiet and reserved, but he really showed me how to be the person I wanted to be. I would have loved for him to know I received an MBE and I hope it would have made him proud.”

Kelda is now taking her ground-breaking programme virtual, with a series of workshops aimed at enhancing mental wellbeing and resilience. The aim of the fully funded workshops is to widen the scope of the charity by offering mental resilience support to as many people as possible.

Due to the pandemic, the workshops, which are being sponsored by law firm Lanyon Bowdler, will be available on the Zoom video app, and will see Kelda sharing mental resilience tools for the benefit of those taking part.

Kelda said, “I felt it was important to carry on the work we are doing with Climbing Out and Zoom workshops are the best alternative we can use during these difficult times.

“Mental wellbeing and resilience are important for everyone but can be particularly significant for people who are trying to come to terms with mental or physical challenges.”

Amanda Jones, of Lanyon Bowdler, said, “Kelda is an inspiration and has helped so many people for more than 10 years since she founded her wonderful Climbing Out charity. The workshops are a clever adaptation of the work carried out by Climbing Out and I am sure will be of great benefit for all those taking part.”

For more information about the workshops, email Kelda keldawood@climbingout.org.uk For more information on Climbing Out visit climbingout.org.uk.

YOGA GROW THROUGH INTENT

Yoga by Ruth is for everyone!

Using a wonderful mix of Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga, our aim is to help you enjoy, develop and grow your yoga practise, working holistically on both the mind and body.

Whether you have previously practised yoga or are a complete beginner, these sessions are designed to grow your knowledge, passion, strength and practise...whilst having fun!

Weekly zoom classes are available and practical sessions will be held weekly at Tern Hill Hall (Covid restrictions apply)

For more information or to book a session, head to @yogabyruth on Facebook and Instagram

It’s beautiful | 13

Let's feel the

Victoria jaNE McKENNa

This year, our Valentine’s Day is a home-based event. You can still enjoy a romantic meal and if the children are with you, they can hear your love story and maybe they will want to help create a lovely meal for you and your partner. So, what will you wear?

It’s going to be important to make an effort to show yourself some love. It’s an evening to feel good about, so choose a nice outfit to keep the spark going. Here are some suggestions.

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Ladies

Clockwise from above Mesh Court Heels £38, www.next.co.uk Dress £32, www.dorothyperkins.com Light Wash Denim Jeans £26.99, www.mandco.com Cerise Skirt £35, www.dancingleopard.co.uk Matalan Star Blouse £12.50, www.matalan.co.uk Freya Silk Camisole £45 (was £150) in Navy or Pearl, www.victoriajanemckenna.com

Gents

Clockwise from top left Rocky Funnel Knit £45, www.joebrowns.co.uk Blue Linen Shirt £19.99, www.tkmaxx.com Khaki Super Soft Jeans £18, www.tesco.com Red Spotted Silk Tie £9.99, www.tkmaxx.com Morale Brown Boots £120, www.dunelondon.com

It’s beautiful | 15

D & G Stone Services Ltd has been trading since 2005. Our staff together accumulate over 35 years of experience in the trade.

We offer a friendly, professional and bespoke service including n Interior and Exterior Masonry n Kitchen Work surfaces n Fireplaces n Hearths and Fire surrounds n Bathroom Vanity tops and Bath surrounds n House names n Table tops We have a huge portfolio of products that we have fabricated in our time. If you have a specific requirement please do ask when enquiring, as we’ll try our best to accomodate most requests.

Our service is professional and thorough from the initial enquiry right through to the finished product.

Please do get in touch today, where one of the team will create you a personalised estimate setting out details of the work you are considering, along with a break down of the costs.

D & G Stone Services Ltd Unit 1a Shrewsbury Road Craven Arms Shropshire SY7 9QG Tel: 01588 673 688 Email: dgstones@btconnect.com

Bringing the beauty of natural stone into your home and garden 16 | It’s beautiful

Interiors by Stephanie Dhillon

Monochrome Home

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A monochromatic scheme is a fool proof way to have a timeless and classic interior look. It adds depth and interest within the limit of only two tones, and it’s so easy to add further colour should you miss it. Mixing the tones up with creamier whites and charcoal blacks can warm up the scheme and stop it looking flat, meaning you can make your monochrome home anything from soft and minimal to dramatic and elegant, simply by working with textures and contrasts.

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1. Nordal Bookcase £419.99, from Wayfair www.wayfair.co.uk; 2. Beal Mirror £320, from Sweatpea & Willow www.sweatpeaandwillow.com; 3. County Check Black Runner £35.99, from Carpetright www.carpetright.co.uk; 4. Melissa Selmin Marble - Monochrome Art Print £35, from Lime Lace www.limelace.co.uk; 5. Dog Tooth (Front) Cushion £40, from Vintage Cushions www.vintagecushions.com; 6. Astoria Grand - Era David Bust £132.99, from Wayfair www.wayfair.co.uk

It’s beautiful | 17

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1. Nordal Bookcase £419.99, from Wayfair www.wayfair.co.uk; 2. Beal Mirror £320, from Sweatpea & Willow www.sweatpeaandwillow.com; 3. County Check Black Runner £35.99, from Carpetright www.carpetright.co.uk; 4. Melissa Selmin Marble - Monochrome Art Print £35, from Lime Lace www.limelace.co.uk; 5. Dog Tooth (Front) Cushion £40, from Vintage Cushions www.vintagecushions.com; 6. Astoria Grand - Era David Bust £132.99, from Wayfair www.wayfair.co.uk

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UP TO

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Over 20 beautiful kitchens and bathrooms on display and hundreds more to choose from, plus an amazing 3D planning service.

Maesbury Road, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 8HA T: 01691 672596 www.tgkitchensandbathrooms.co.uk Open: Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm, Sat 8:00am-12:00pm, Sun Closed Credit is subject to status and affordability. Terms and conditions apply. TG Builders Merchants Ltd, Wood Lane, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 0HY (register No. 825759) is a credit broker and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Credit provided by Hitachi Personal Finance, a trading style of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register no. 704348).

Made to Measure Curtains & Roman Blinds Roller, Venetian & Vertical Blinds Measuring & Fitting Service Shutters & Awnings Curtain Poles & Tracks Wallpaper & Paint

20 | It’s beautiful

Motorised blind specialists

100 Castle Street, Oswestry 01691 680111 shop@lewisandholmes.co.uk

Property

Next years on us – step into 2021 with a new home and your mortgage paid Bovis Homes offers a range of stylish and spacious homes to suit both first time buyers and those looking to move up the ladder and purchase a second home. With plenty of options to choose from including bungalows, townhouses, terraced and larger detached homes there’s something for couples and families alike; at affordable prices and with the option for taking some of the stress out of buying a new home.

Designs favour open-plan kitchen and dining rooms and selected homes offer a downstairs utility room and optional study or snug spaces; ideal for the new trends of working from home. The larger properties, such as the five-bedroom Birch, offer features like bi-fold doors out to the garden, kitchen islands and double en-suites.

If you want something smaller then there are three-bedroom detached homes in the range, like the Spruce, that also offer downstairs WC and utility area as well as ensuite features. The Spruce makes a great small family home with modern

designs, spacious entrance hall and large bedrooms.

Selected homes in the range include appliances such as integrated fridge freezers, Bosch double ovens and integrated dishwashers. There are many other features included in the new range such as turfed lawns as standard, front porch lighting, built-inwardrobes and two years customer care warranty in addition to the NHBC Buildmark cover.

Outside the home you’ll find we’ve included plenty of shared open spaces for you to enjoy, play areas and walkways to enjoy nature and most homes will be overlooking these areas or be just a short walk away. Some of our new developments also include a Hedgehog Highway in your fence as part of the new plans to help these declining creatures and encouraging them back into to the local habitat.

All the homes across the Mercia region now include the option to have the first year’s mortgage paid with our regional offer. That means we’ll

pay you £600 a month towards your mortgage for 12 months if you reserve a home this season. This means that you can rest assured that for 2021 buying a new home isn’t as far out of reach as you think.

Discover your new home from just £239,995 at a development in Shropshire, Staffordshire or the West Midlands or search Bovis Homes Mercia to find out more.

You can also book an appointment to look around our show-homes and speak to a member of the sales team from 10am to 5pm by visiting our website at bovishomes.co.uk. Please note the mortgage paid option is not available on shared ownership homes.

It’s beautiful | 21

Home

read your way to a beautiful home Spring is traditionally the time to clean, refresh and beautify your home.

If you’re not sure where to start, take inspiration from one of this month’s books.

Homebody – JOANNA GAINES Whether you’re decorating your first home or just want to refresh a room, it’s always a good idea to seek a bit of inspiration. But ultimately, you don’t want a show house; you want a home that reflects your personality. In Homebody, Joanna gaines explains how to do just that. she talks the reader through different design styles, gives solutions to common problems (e.g. small dark rooms) and goes through what to consider for every room in the house. And, of course, there are plenty of photos to lust over too.

the easy life – LYNSEY CROMBIE Most of us don’t have ‘cleaning the toilet’ or ‘sorting the cupboard of doom’ at the top of a list of favourite things to do on a sunday. so why not leave the scrubbing for a bit and curl up with a book instead? The Easy Life will teach you tried and tested methods for a cleaner, more organised home. The focus is on time and energy-saving hacks. There are checklists, handy hints and plenty of down-to-earth advice.

Clean & Green

– NANCY BIRTWHISTLE

Whether you’re trying to be a bit greener this year or just fancy having fewer chemicals around your home, this book could prove invaluable. It’s packed with recipes for DIY cleaning products along with tips on everything from laundry to super-easy oven cleaning.

(Who knew chopped up ivy leaves could be used to clean clothes?)

simplicity at Home

– YUMIKO SEKINE WITH JENNY WAPNER

If you yearn for a simpler life, this book might be a good place to start. It offers advice for creating a calmer, minimalistic home by following Japanese traditions. There are also meal recipes and guidance on everything from mending ceramics using ‘kintsugi’ to patchworking and selecting plants. A must for fans of Japanese culture.

the Declutter Challenge

– CASSANDRA AARSSEN

As Cassandara says, ‘How do you create a home that makes you feel calm and happy instead of super-stressed and a little ragey?’ The answer? Declutter. Unlike other decluttering books, this one doesn’t just focus on the ‘how’, it also helps you to take a good look at the ‘why’, and deal with emotional baggage as well as physical clutter.

wild at Home

– HILTON CARTER

If you struggle to keep a succulent alive, are bored to death with peace lilies or want to know how to arrange houseplants for maximum impact, this is the book for you. The photos alone are enough to send you running for the garden centre. As well as bags of inspiration, you’ll also find practical advice on everything from taking cuttings to dealing with common pests and problems.

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Interiors by Stephanie Dhillon

Regal red Get Inspired by the rich layered interiors from the latest dramas to grace our screens.

The Crown, Bridgerton and many other old favs, are set in stunning stately homes where the decor is not only awe inspiring but original too. And since many of us have smaller proportions in our homes to work with here are some scaled down ideas. Focusing on dark rich tones accompanied by just the right amount of gilding will keep it sophisticated and romantic without being ostentatious.

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1. Pooky Triple Besidem Wall Light £221, Pooky www.pooky.com; 2. Round Stitchy Roses Rug £269 by Bold Monkey from Cuckooland www.cukooland.com; 3. Antique Brass & Glass Cabinet £564, from Rose and Grey www.roseandgrey.co.uk; 4. Golden Wall Decor Poster £9.95, from Desenio www.desenio.com; 5. Night Blue Pale Gold Glass Jar £30, from Ella James www.ellajames.co.uk; 6. Lali Large Sideboard, Mid Grey & Mahogany Red £799 from MADE.COM www.made.com

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6 1. Pendlebury Desk, Walnut & Royal Blue £599, from MADE.COM www.made.com; 2. Costellini Velvet Ottoman - Rioja £250, from OKA UK www.oka.com; 3. Andante Wall Mirror £35, from Sweetpea & Willow www.sweetpeaandwillow.com; 4. Red and Blue Velvet Ikat Cushion £55, from My Little Wish www.mylittlewish.com; 5. Gold Pink Parrot Candelabra £42, from Audenza www.audenza.com; 6. Saturday Loveseat In Claret Cotton Matt Velvet £1190 from Sofa.com www.sofa.com

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Gardening

With the seed-sowing season upon us in earnest, now is the time to buy seeds from your local garden centre or a reputable online UK seed supplier. At the same time buy some seed-sowing or multipurpose compost and some small seed trays and get sowing!

Heated propagators are not essential, but they will dramatically increase the range of plants you can grow. If you do use one, remove the seedlings when they appear then grow them on somewhere with plenty of natural light and, often, a fair degree of warmth.

A common problem is algae covering the surface of the compost when you sow slow-germinating seeds. Using a freshly opened bag of compost and mains water reduces the chance of algae getting into the seed tray, and make sure your watering can is really clean. A thin layer of vermiculite on the surface of the compost can also help.

Seeds come in an amazing array of shapes and sizes. Tiny seeds like begonias and lobelias must be more thinly spread or a congested thicket of seedlings competing for light, food, water and space that is more prone to diseases will result. Buy yourself some fine horticultural silver sand, make sure it is thoroughly dry and then mix the seed from the packet in about half a teaspoonful of sand before you sow.

Play sand used in children’s sand pits works well too.

I always recommend sowing seed into compost before you wet it and then, once the seeds have been 26 | It’s beautiful

sown, water the seed tray or pot by standing it in the sink or in a tray of water, with the water about 1cm in depth. This will allow the moisture to be taken up without disturbing the seeds’ position.

Prick seedlings out when they are large enough to handle, but take care. Wait until there are the two seed leaves (larger, chunkier and differently shaped from the true seedling leaves) plus a pair of true seedling leaves. With tiny seedlings I tend to transplant or prick them out in blocks, gently easing them apart slightly as I pop them into their new compost. Make sure the compost is moist but not saturated to minimise root damage. Use a small dibber (or a pencil) to carefully ease the roots out, handling the top part of the seedling by the seed leaves, never by the stem.

Make sure you put the seedlings into their new home immediately and water them in from the base, so that the compost and its moisture are in close contact with the fine roots.

At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa’ system.

Food and Drink

Quick and Easy Recipes Easy Pizza

Recipe courtesy of www.bbcgoodfood.com

If you’re avoiding going out too much or shielding, you can still have delicious pizza without the need for a pizza counter! This is a quick and easy one ideal to make with the kids too. Add your favourite toppings.

Ingredients For the base: 300g strong bread flour 1 tsp instant yeast (from a sachet or a tub) 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling For the tomato sauce: 100ml passata handful fresh basil or 1 tsp dried 1 garlic clove, crushed For the topping: 125g ball mozzarella, sliced handful grated or shaved parmesan (or vegetarian alternative) handful of cherry tomatoes, halved

Method Make the base: Put the flour into a large bowl, then stir in the yeast and salt.

Make a well, pour in 200ml warm water and the olive oil and bring together with a wooden spoon until you have a soft, fairly wet dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until smooth. Cover with a tea towel and set aside. You can leave the dough to rise if you like, but it’s not essential for a thin crust.

Make the sauce: Mix the passata, basil and crushed garlic together, then season to taste. Leave to stand at room temperature while you get on with shaping the base.

Roll out the dough: if you’ve let the dough rise, give it a quick knead, then split into two balls. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into large rounds, about 25cm across. The dough needs to be very thin as it will rise in the oven. Lift the rounds onto two floured baking sheets.

Heat the oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 8. Put another baking sheet or an upturned baking tray in the oven on the top shelf. Smooth sauce over bases with the back of a spoon. Scatter with cheese and tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and season. Put one pizza, still on its baking sheet, on top of the preheated sheet or tray. Bake for 8-10 mins until crisp. Serve with a little more olive oil, and basil leaves if using. Repeat step for remaining pizza.

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Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse Herb and Garlic Baked Chicken Recipe courtesy of www.heartuk.org.uk

This nutritious meal is great if you’re looking for a light meal that is both healthy and enticing. It’s simple but gives you a colourful plate. Serves 4. ingredients 4 skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of all fat A handful of chopped herbs such as tarragon, sage, parsley 3 garlic cloves crushed Oil and water spray 600-650g stir fried vegetables (choose from onions, peppers, mushrooms, shredded cabbage, lightly boiled vegetable batons, canned kidney beans) Method Combine the garlic and herbs together. Make 3-4 shallow cuts in the chicken breasts and stuff with the garlic and herb mixture.

Spray a baking tray with the oil and water. Add the chicken and spray again.

Lightly cover with foil to stop it burning or drying out in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes at 200C/400F/Gas 6 or until the juices run clear when a skewer is poked into the chicken.

Lightly coat a frying pan with oil and water spray. Heat the pan, add the vegetables and cook for a few minutes until tender. Serve with the chicken.

Berry Iced Yogurt Recipe courtesy of www.womanandhome.com

Dairy free, gluten free and low sugar.

This serves 8 and is much lighter than ice cream. Just freeze overnight and you can surprise the family!

Ingredients 160g can coconut cream 375ml (13fl oz) coconut milk yogurt 3tbsp icing sugar 300g (10oz) mixed frozen berries Method Whisk the coconut cream, yogurt and icing sugar together until smooth. Stir in the berries and crush them slightly.

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Turn into a container and freeze until firm, preferably overnight. Allow to soften at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

A lovely dessert for a Valentines evening meal and one that everyone will love at any other time! Serves six people and takes a total of 15 minutes from start to finish. Replace cream with low-fat crème fraiche or fromage frais for a reduced fat version!

Recipe courtesy of www.tesco.com Ingredients 40g butter 150g plain dark chocolate 150g marshmallows 1 orange 2 tbsp boiled water 150ml double cream, softly whipped 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional) Method Put the butter, chocolate and marshmallows in a heatproof bowl, set over a pan of simmering water (but the bottom of the bowl not touching the water). Heat for 5 mins to soften.

Meanwhile, cut 6 tiny wedges from the orange, then finely grate the zest from the remaining orange. Add the boiled water and grated orange zest to the chocolate mixture; heat and stir together for about 5 mins until everything is properly melted (the marshmallows tend to take longer than the chocolate).

Remove the bowl from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.

Fold the cream and vanilla, if using, into the chocolate mixture and stir until the mixture is well combined. Pour and spoon into 6 glasses or cups and allow to cool completely. Decorate with the orange wedges to serve.

Recipes

sUPERFOOD BUDDHA BOWL Recipe Courtesy of Cath Mills, The 1:1 Diet serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Calories: 200kcals steps: 2 IngREDIEnTs 200g canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained spray oil A pinch of chilli powder or smoked paprika 100g courgette 1 small red pepper, deseeded and cut into strips 20g sun-blush tomatoes, cut into thin strips A handful of baby spinach leaves 25g sprouting seeds, e.g. alfalfa, mung beans 60g fat-free cottage cheese sea salt and freshly ground black pepper seedy lemon dressing: 2 tbsp fat-free vinaigrette dressing Grated zest and juice of ½ lemon 1 tsp poppy seeds METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6.

Put the chickpeas in a bowl and spray lightly with oil. toss with the chilli or smoked paprika and some sea salt. spread them out on a baking tray and roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes, turning once or twice, until crisp and golden brown. cut the courgette into long thin strips with a potato peeler.

Lightly spray a ridged griddle pan with oil and cook the courgette and red pepper over a medium to high heat for 3–4 minutes, turning once or twice, until just tender and nicely striped.

Make the dressing: whisk all the ingredients together until blended. take 2 serving bowls and arrange the rainbow of roasted chickpeas, griddled vegetables, sun-blush tomatoes, spinach, sprouted seeds and cottage cheese in attractive piles in each of the bowls. Grind some black pepper over the top and drizzle with the dressing. serve immediately.

Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day became a romantic holiday in the eighteenth century, where couples were encouraged to express their love for each other by exchanging flowers, confectionary and greeting cards. It is thought that Valentine’s Day occurs on February 14th each year to align with the “Lovebirds” of early springtime.

Valentine’s Day 2021 is set to be very different to all the others with the UK’s lockdown measures. Luckily, Edinburgh Gin have their limited edition Valentine’s gin to make being stuck inside on the most romantic day of the year slightly more bearable. the gin has a slightly citrus flavour, with lemon balm, lemongrass and chamomile making up some of the components. Delicate rose and hibiscus flower notes also flow through this gin, making it incredibly moreish and the perfect base for a special Valentine’s cocktail. “the First Kiss” is a cocktail recommended by Edinburgh Gin distillery, and for ease we have detailed the recipe below. We are sure that your Valentine will be completely love struck if you present them with this velvety tipple!

The First Kiss

Ingredients 35ml Valentine’s Edinburgh Gin 15ml Edinburgh Gin’s Raspberry Liqueur 60ml pineapple juice Method 1. Add the gin, liqueur and pineapple juice to a shaker with ice.

2. Shake, then double-strain into a coupe glass.

3. Garnish with a fresh raspberry.

The Oak Inn, Oswestry tel 01691 659 254 It’s beautiful

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meet

Taco Cartel Lowell Lloyd and Tom Wilson founded Taco Cartel during the second lockdown of the pandemic. It was an idea that had been gestating for a while and they finally decided to take the plunge and get it off the ground – very lucky for us! Having both worked in restaurants in the past and keen cooks, they wanted to create a business that centred around Mexican street food and that uses the best ingredients from local suppliers.

The name is a cheeky take on street food carts and of course the cartels of Mexico, although they’re a thoroughly law-abiding cartel! They are currently based at Brooks on the Corner in Church Street, Oswestry and operate on Friday and Saturday nights. They will be looking to expand their range soon but, in the meantime, they have a big focus on reducing their waste as close to zero as they

can through using all leftovers ingredients.

Lowell said, “The food we make reflects our love of Mexican cuisine and our desire to use the best and most sustainable ingredients.

Our meat for instance is free range and comes from Treflach farm, which practices sustainable agriculture.

“The food is a fusion of Mexican and the best of British. So, we have true classics like fish tacos and chilli bowls, as well as much more local and seasonally informed dishes that mix Mexican flavours with British produce. Try our pan-roasted pheasant taco served with mole (a rich fruit and nut-based sauce) and tortilla bread sauce.”

This all sounds delicious, so here are some of Lowell and Tom’s favourites from the menu to try if you fancy a Friday or Saturday night treat this weekend.

Taco of the Week: Chilli Bowl Side (Vegan option available) Or Chilli Loaded Fries Recommended: for an evening meal either a taco or burrito with a side (or two, depending on appetite) should suffice.

To try a variety of offerings: Taco platter (four mini tacos of your choosing), Triple-Cooked Fries, Corn Elote Taco Cartel use four different varieties of Mexican chillies in the sauce to give it an incredible depth of flavour! So, it would be silly not to give it a go. They also have vegan cheese on offer.

Customers can find a link to the ordering system via the website www.tacocartel.uk or Facebook page @tacocartel Follow on Instagram @tacocartel 30 | It’s beautiful

Images courtesy of Planet Doughnut.

Treats for my sweet!

During lockdown, we’ve noticed that doughnuts have become a delicious treat available for delivery to your door! But these aren’t just any doughnuts, these are Planet Doughnuts.

Available for delivery through some regional takeaway food apps, Planet Doughnut has been able to offer doorstep deliveries in towns where a shop is nearby. Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Telford are currently serviced by the apps but to be sure, check the website.

Visiting the Facebook page, there are now stockists of the doughnuts so if you’re local to those shops, you’re in for a treat. There are now stockists in Market Drayton, Ludlow, Mold, Nr Oswestry, Lymm to name a few.

They are now also offering deliveries of the ‘Planet D Six Pack’ to other areas in the North West and West Midlands on specific days of the week.

So, if you have family members who are in need of cheering up, this may very well do the trick. Be sure to check the website for the areas and delivery days.

So, that sorts out the deliveries, but what about the menu! Let’s take a look at what’s included in the delivery boxes and what our personal favourites are.

The Planet D Six Pack Box

Jammie D – Strawberry icing, biscuit crumb, fruit jam middle, Jammy Dodger biscuit. *Biscuit Lovers* Malteaser Crunchie Mashup – Malteaser/ honeycomb bits, milk chocolate. *Chocolate Bar Lovers* Lemon Cheesecake – Cream cheese, lemon cream, biscuit crumb, Sicilian lemon icing. *Cheesecake Lovers* Salted Caramel Galaxy – Salted caramel icing, toffee filling, sprinkles, galaxy bar. *Caramel Lovers*

Kinderella – White chocolate icing, white and milk chocolate shavings, Kinderella hazelnut sauce middle, Kinder Hippo or Bar. *Kinder Chocolate Lovers* Count Wiscoff - White chocolate icing, Biscoff crumb, caramel cream middle, Biscoff biscuit, white chocolate drizzle. *Biscoff Lovers*

January Vegan Box

Jammie Dodger, Chocolate Brownie, Count Wiscoff, Cookies n Cream, Chocolate Orange, Lemon Filled.

Our favourites so far – Which one are you?

Pudding Favourite: Sticky Toffee Pudding – Caramel icing, toffee sponge cake crumb, caramel sauce middle, toffee drizzle.

Mint Obsessed: The Minty One – Mint icing, Aero crumb, Aero Bubbles, chocolate cream middle.

So Jammy: Jam Filled – Strawberry icing, icing sugar, fruit jam middle.

Golden Oldie (who remembers?): Gold Bar – Vanilla icing, crushed Gold Bar, toffee sauce middle, Gold Bar. Decorate Your Own – Classic or Vegan This one is definitely a full-on family experience and the kids will love it. You’ll receive six fresh doughnuts, icings and a selection of toppings to make your own bespoke doughnut. Straight to your door, this has great appeal. Lots of colour and sweeties and chocolate and caramel for us please! What do you think?

Keep up to date with the latest doughnuts, stockists and delivery options by visiting their Facebook page Planet Doughnut or website www.planet-doughnut.co.uk Contact where allergies apply.

Planet Doughnut, 24 Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury

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the dogs that sniff out sickness We are all accustomed to the idea of police tracker dogs searching for hidden drugs or explosives, sniffing out evidence at a murder scene or following the trail of a missing person. But what if a dog could use its remarkable sense of smell for another purpose, such as detecting disease within the human body? The idea sounds like something out of a science-fiction novel, but for some time dogs have been used to detect and warn against all kinds of medical conditions.

So finely tuned are these dogs’ ultra-sensitive noses that they are capable of picking up trace odours that are the equivalent of dropping a teaspoon of sugar into two Olympic-sized swimming pools. The charity Medical Detection Dogs (MDD), based in Milton Keynes, is at the forefront of research into medical sniffer dogs, and MDD’s researchers already have animals capable of spotting the scent of malaria, cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, however, attention has turned to whether the dogs would be able to detect traces of coronavirus on skin and clothing.

covid detectives

“When we have a particular disease or condition our odour changes, and a dog is able to detect this odour and, when trained, to tell us about it,” explained the charity’s chief Executive Dr Claire Guest, speaking recently to ITV news.

It turns out that the coronavirus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic has its own distinctive chemical signature that can be detected by carefully trained sniffer dogs.

MDD currently has several dogs in Covid training and Dr Guest comments that “The study is moving forwards very well and the signs are all really positive.” One dog in particular has shown a remarkable ability to detect the coronavirus odour, unfailingly pointing it out on each test.

After eight weeks in the laboratory during the first phase of training, the dogs will move on to use their newly learned skill in real-life situations.

The charity, which has been working with the London School of Tropical Medicine and Durham University, ultimately hopes that the scheme can be expanded. the plan is to station dogs in places such as testing centres and airports, where they will be able to screen up to 250 people per hour.

the secrets of the canine nose

Dogs owe their extraordinary sense of smell to the complex structure inside their noses. Whereas a human has around five million scent receptors, dogs have over 300 million. Specialised bones in the dog’s nasal cavity create more space for these scent receptor cells, and the part of the brain that processes scents is particularly large in a dog. this gives them an incredible ability not just to pick out single odours, but to detect subtle differences within a complex group of scents. this ability, when combined with dogs’ intelligence and willingness to learn, makes them the best biosensors known to man. clearly there is huge potential to develop this area of medicine and the results speak for themselves: dogs are able to pick out blood samples from people with cancer with almost 97 percent accuracy. Let’s hope that this fascinating field of research continues to receive the funding and support it so richly deserves.

Pet VACCInes Dogs and cats are just as prone as humans to picking up viruses, albeit different ones to us! This means that vaccinations and boosters are essential part of caring for your pet.

For cats

core vaccinations include one for feline parvovirus and others to prevent cat flu. As with people, flu can spread rapidly and has many different strains, which means that it will never be completely wiped out. A cat flu vaccine – given from around eight weeks of age – will boost immunity. A booster vaccine should be given a year later.

For Dogs

there are many diseases that dogs should be vaccinated against. However, most vaccines are combined, and the

schedule starts when the puppy is about six weeks old.

A Lyme disease jab should be given to adult dogs once a year, particularly if you walk in grassy or woodland areas.

will this Hurt?

Pets are generally given an injection underneath the skin at the scruff of the neck. Dogs’ kennel cough vaccine is usually administered as a nasal spray, however. the single-use disposable needle is very sharp and shouldn’t trouble your dog or cat too much.

Don’t Forget!

Make a note in your diary to get these shots done regularly. It’s part of the cost of owning a pet and of course prevention is so much better – and cheaper – than cure.

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Education

Nursery re-develops during lockdown Little Pixies is a privately owned Children’s Day nursery in a lovely rural setting at Kinton Nr Nesscliffe.

Run by Sarah Felkin and her team since 2011. Welcoming children from 12 weeks to pre-school age, 51 weeks of the year, Little Pixies is a unique setting that is hugely passionate about providing the highest quality of childcare based on individual needs. At the heart of the nursery is the belief that having access to outdoor play every day is essential to the health and wellbeing of children, which is why there is a large garden with plenty of grass to run around on.

2020 has been a difficult year for all businesses, Sarah took the tough decision to close the nursery doors at the beginning of the pandemic due to the lack of demand from key worker children needing to attend the setting.

She used the eight weeks of closure to develop and improve the setting ready to reopen at the end of May. Previous to the pandemic, plans were in place to expand into next door and develop a new room to become

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a pre-school space and a larger office space. So Sarah took a huge risk and went ahead with the developments and made significant investment to ensure the longevity and improvement of the nursery. A lot of time has been spent planning the layouts and requirements of each space keeping the children’s needs at the centre of everything.

The garden has also been further developed with lots of interesting areas for the children to explore. Obviously with the virus impacting the day to day routines and regulations having changed, by going ahead with the expansion it has enabled the nursery to become totally safe and compliant without the need to mix room bubbles – keeping the children and also staff safe and giving parents more peace of mind during this tricky period of time.

It was wonderful to see all the families coming back, much more quickly than anyone could have imagined once Little Pixies opened its doors again in May. The new Elves room has totally come into its own and is enjoyed by all the of the pre-school children allowing

them to become more independent and prepare for starting school, whist still very much learning through play.

This has enabled the toddlers (Sprites) to have their own dedicated room, which has been developed to ensure the children have a free-flowing space in which to learn, play and gain more independence whilst being supported with all of their needs. The baby room (Imps) now has doubled in size, this large open planned room has areas for the very youngest children to explore but also a wider space for when they become more adventurous. With each of the three rooms being large, light and airy it makes for wonderful inviting, creative spaces for the children to enjoy.

Continual investment in technology has meant that the launch of the new website was able to happen in November and the online journal Tapestry has been introduced – this is key in keeping parents more up to date with their child’s learning journey. Parent partnership is paramount, even more so now as the contact at nursery has to be limited. Little Pixies strive to continually share information through Tapestry and support learning and development at home. Parents are encouraged to share photos and snippets from home life, activities and events outside of nursery.

An open door policy has always been in place however currently visits can be arranged by appointment for evenings or weekends, alternatively virtually if required.

S a ra h w

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with Children’s Author and Illustrator Sarah Parkinson.

I don’t know about you but I’m hoping for warmer and less troubling times to arrive with the springtime blossoms, but until then we must get through this frost. Maybe that bit of warmth can be felt earlier when the kids spot springing happy lambs! Here’s a few facts you might not know about our fleecy friends…

Did you know?

- Sheep have rectangular pupils in their eyes? As they are animals that tend to be chased these eyes help them to see more of what’s around them.

- Sheep that are carrying extra weight can’t get up if they end up on their backs!

Once they fall they are called ‘cast sheep’ and need help getting back on their feet.

Poor sheep!

- Can you guess how an Australian sheep called Chris broke a world record? He was discovered with fleece so overgrown that once sheared he was a massive 41kg lighter, the same as 2 big bags of potatoes!

Let’s draw a lamb… [tutorial]

The kids might be feeling the pressure in ways they might not even know themselves, so a creative outlet is a brilliant way to get them to relax and free themselves of anything troubling their minds at the moment.

My kids LIVE workshops are back for as long as I am able to do them on Wednesdays at 11am on my Facebook page (@sparkyauthor).

Over on my website at www.SparkyAuthor. com you will find resources of all my articles to date and links to all my tutorials.

Send me your kid’s art on Facebook (@sparkyauthor), Instagram(@sparkauthor) or email sarah@ sparkyauthor.com It’s beautiful | 35

top tips to start or refresh your CV With things changing so quickly at the moment, you may be looking for some part time work or having to find a brand-new role. It’s important to know how to showcase what you can bring to the table for the job you are applying for. so here are some top tips to help you along with your CV. Alter your cV to suit each job role you apply for. No two job descriptions are the same and so your cV needs to reflect that.

With multiple applicants per job, employers want to make quick decisions, so help them see your best points quickly. Keep your cV to two pages maximum.

Make sure you include a personal statement at the top of your cV. A paragraph will do and show why you will be good for the job. this also helps the reader of your cV, join the dots.

Cover letter – even if it’s a part-time job, always provide a cover letter with your cV via post or email. If warranted, it’s also a good idea to include a short list or table listing your skills that are relevant for the job application.

Always read the job description and relate your cV to the employer’s requirements. show how you meet those requirements with short examples. A maximum of 6 is enough.

Use a good-looking template (free examples in MS Word) or create your own and make sure the font is easy to read.

Don’t forget to include your name, town and contact details (phone, email) at the top of your CV. Your prospective employer needs to know how to get in touch. some good sources for reference on the internet if you need guidance are: www.totaljobs.com www.monster.co.uk www.reed.co.uk

The first step to a bright future Boys and Girls 4–13 Years

CONTACT:

E: admissions@birchfieldschool.co.uk T: 01902 372534 Birchfield School Harriot’s Hayes Lane Wolverhampton, WV7 3AF

Please book a Personal personalTour tour Callcall to to arrange

Registered Charity No. 528420

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Ellesmere College Open for Individual Tours for entry into:

Sixth Form: Yrs 12 - 13 Middle School: Yrs 9 - 11 Lower School: Yrs 3 - 8 Pre-Book an Individual Guided Tour and come and find out more about 'Life at Ellesmere'.

Book now with our Admissions Team on:

+44 (0)1691 626 510 • www.ellesmere.com Ellesmere College, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 9AB, UK

@ellesmerecoll

/EllesmereColl

ellesmere_college

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school raises £30,000 for severn Hospice

A shropshire school raised an incredible £30,000 for the severn Hospice in time for Christmas. Wrekin College pulled out all the stops to reach the impressive fundraising figure with a Teachers’ Got Talent event, bumper raffle and a festive non-uniform day.

Also included in the total was a fantastic £7,000 donation from The friends of Wrekin College.

It comes after a year of fundraising which has included numerous events organised by both pupils and staff. the school agreed to nominate the shropshire charity as its fundraising beneficiary for 2020 in tribute to former headmaster’s wife Joan Griffiths who passed away in 2019 and was cared for by the hospice.

Headmaster tim Firth said he was immensely proud of the Wrekin college community who had really taken this charity campaign to their hearts in 2020.

“Pupils, staff and all our families supported our charity campaign this year with tremendous efforts to raise what is a substantial amount of money,” added Mr Firth.

“I could not be more delighted that we reached our target and our end of term events included presenting this cheque to representatives of the severn Hospice in time for christmas.

“It is all the more poignant to have been able to do

this in such a challenging year for all and particularly to help an organisation who has seen their fundraising events impacted by the pandemic.

“We know as a community first hand what amazing work the severn Hospice carries out in shropshire and how vital it is to families across the county. It was a privilege to have been able to support its team in this way.”

Mr firth said the school had tried to bring together pupils and staff in positive events throughout this last week of term. carol services in various year bubbles had been held together with the Teachers Got Talent event which helped to boost the total raised for the severn Hospice.

Below: Severn Hospice gratefully receiving their cheque for £30,000 with representatives from Wrekin College.

WREKIN: TOGETHER WE ALL ADD UP TO

GREAT OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 20TH MARCH For more information and to book your appointment time visit our website:

www.wrekincollege.com

Independent co-educational day and boarding school 11-18 Wellington, Shropshire TF1 3BH

Full, weekly and flexi boarding available.

For further information please contact our admissions team:

Wellington, Shropshire, TF1 3BH

01952 265603 • admissions@wrekincollege.com • www.wrekincollege.com Registered Charity No. 528417

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Performance Coaching for pupils Face2Face Performance Academy continues to offer performance coaching to pupils from across the region.

The Academy which opened in 2017 has continued throughout the pandemic to offer performing arts classes via Zoom, and their bespoke ‘Lessons at Home’ webpage. students attend the academy from all over the region, including places as far as newtown and Chester.

Academy Manager and Head Coach, Michael Jenkins, said, “It is really important that we continue to offer creative classes to our students, especially during the current lockdown.

“Exploring creativity and developing performance skills is so important. these skills will no doubt assist our students throughout the pandemic and later in their lives. It has been wonderful to see our students enjoying catching up with their friends at the academy.

It is clear that they love being part of the vibrant community.”

The Academy which is based at the Holroyd community theatre, Weston rhyn, has paused tuition fees whilst the classes and workshops are online.

Michael added, “Our tuition fees are very affordable, and we offer scholarships throughout the year to support families. However, during the cOVID pandemic, we felt that offering our classes and workshops for free was, and is, the right thing to do.

“I believe that every young person should be able to access excellent arts education.”

In the Summer Term, the Academy welcomed workshops from seasoned West end professionals including Christina Modestou, an original cast member of Six, sasha Wareham, leading lady in 9 to 5 the musical and direct from The rSC’s Matilda, Kane Oliver Parry.

Academy student Maisie said, “being part of Face2Face is amazing.

I have loved the online sessions, especially the West end workshops.

It is invaluable to receive feedback from industry professionals.

“I would recommend joining to anybody interested in pursuing a career in the arts.”

our tuition fees are very affordable, and we offer scholarships throughout the year to support families.

However, during the CoVID pandemic, we felt that offering our classes and workshops for free was, and is, the right thing to do.

The sessions take place each friday in term time from 6 pm - 8.30 pm. For more information, or to sign up for the academy visit www. moretonhall.org/moreton-in-thecommunity/face2face It’s beautiful

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Live nature lessons

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for primary school pupils

UK outdoor education charity the Field studies Council, is helping to brighten up home-schooling for primary pupils and their parents with a new and exciting programme of live nature lessons. starting on 2 February, the #PrimarynatureLive programme will encourage children to get outside and explore their local wildlife, learn about the environment and discover the secrets to building an outdoor shelter.

There will be five lessons in total and all sessions will be broadcast on the fSC YouTube channel at 10.30am and run for approximately 40 minutes.

The schedule includes:

wHAt to Do on A wALK

TUEsDAY, FEBRUARY 2 An informative session featuring activities to do on a family walk. the team at fSC flatford Mill, Suffolk will teach children how to identify trees and figure out their height in a fun way. they will introduce them to the ‘meet a tree’ game and provide details of an immersive ‘sit spot’ activity.

If unable to get out to a woodland, tutors will demonstrate how to create a piece of natural art at home.

BriLLiAnt BirDS

THURsDAY, FEBRUARY 4 tutors from Fsc juniper Hall, surrey will lead a lesson all about garden birds. the session will help children identify the key characteristics of the most common garden birds so they can spot which one is which. there will also be a chance for pupils to create their own bird feeder. For those without a garden, children will still be able to take part in the activities.

A PeeP At PonDS

TUEsDAY, FEBRUARY 9 this live lesson will take place from the grounds of Fsc Preston Montford, Shropshire and will teach children how to pond dip and identify different water creatures.

Don’t live near a pond? fSC tutors will demonstrate how to make a mini pond to attract wildlife into their own outdoor spaces.

wiLD SKiLLS (shelters and traps) THURsDAY, FEBRUARY 11 children will meet the team at Fsc rhyd-y-Creuau, north Wales. They will

be showing children how to build their very own outdoor shelter and how to catch creepy crawlies in the garden.

More tHinGS to Do on A wALK

TUEsDAY, FEBRUARY 23 children will enjoy meeting tutors from fSC Slapton Ley, Devon. The team will be sharing fun activities to do on family walks including making smelly potions, playing colour match games and learning about natural camouflage. They’ll be looking out for signs of spring and comparing findings to lesson one. If children can’t get to a woodland, tutors will be demonstrating how to make a frozen decoration out of natural materials.

These lessons are aimed at KS1 and Ks2 primary pupils and follow on from the successful #fieldworkLive programme of lessons which were delivered by Fsc tutors during the first national lockdown.

Simon Ward, fSC Head of Group (East), said interest in the Fsc’s last programme of live lessons was remarkable with more than 370,000 pupils worldwide tuning in to take part.

He said: “We wanted to continue to offer our support to pupils, parents and teachers who are all working extremely hard at home in challenging circumstances. “there are plenty of activities which the children will find fun and many of them can be enjoyed by the whole family.

“We’re confident they will prove just as popular as the first programme of lessons we delivered last year and we’re really looking forward to delivering them.” each lesson is accompanied with a set of resources, worksheets and how-to-guides.

Parents, teachers and children can receive these in advance of the lessons. To find out more and to sign up for the resources, visit www.field-studies-council.org/ primarynaturelive/. To ask a question or request a shout out for a school email questions@field-studiescouncil.org. to access the Fsc Youtube channel visit www.youtube.com/ user/fieldStudiescouncil It’s beautiful

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Kerry Boffey of ALIN

Kickstart your career during the pandemic The Kickstart programme was recently launched by the Government as a way of boosting job opportunities for out-of-work 16 to 24 year-olds.

The Adult Learning Improvement network (ALIn), based at Longdon on Tern in Telford, is a gateway for Kickstart which has submitted applications to provide jobs for more than 160 young people so far.

ALIn, launched in 2003, provides up-to-date bespoke consultancy support and training across all industries and jumped at the chance to become a leader in the UK Kickstart Jobs Scheme as a Gateway organisation - the official link for Kickstart between businesses and shropshire jobcentres.

Kerry Boffey, director of ALIn, with over 20 years in further and higher education and training said, “the Kickstart scheme is a game changer for so many young people. Could you imagine being a school-leaver or a graduate and being on Universal Credit during the pandemic? They could not feel any further away from a career or employment. It could break many people before they even started experiencing working life.

“However, the Kickstart will give them the chance to learn invaluable skills and that will help them to progress into a career, full time work or further education at the end of the six months. It could be the start of a job for life or a stepping-stone into an industry they would not have otherwise had the chance to consider.

“For employers it isn’t about being able to offer them a job at the end but giving them the best opportunity here and now. “those six months could be life changing for a young person - they may be inspired by the MD to follow in his or her footsteps; they may leave with customer service skills they didn’t have before; marketing skills; It skills they could utilise in another business or a cV and interview skills and confidence they wouldn’t have had otherwise.” ben Vaughan, shropshire employer manager at Oswestry jobcentre Plus, said: “job centre Plus’s younger jobseekers aged between 16 and 24 have so 42

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much to offer, and the Kickstart scheme will see new roles created in many exciting sectors including digital marketing and social media.”

Mrs Boffey said businesses, regardless of size or type of industry could utilise the Kickstart scheme. she said the levels of redundancies in the younger age range were increasing.

“Many young people have high levels of competency in their digital ability and digital skills so a lot of the roles we are working on with employers focus on the digital world, about raising online profile and social media awareness. “the experience means the young person at the end of the Kickstart programme will have recently been employed and will have repositioned themselves in the order of who comes next which is why it’s a great programme.”

Firms signing up for the scheme will have salary, pension contribution and National Insurance contributions of the applicant funded by the Government and Mrs Boffey said ALIn’s involvement would be different to other gateway organisations.

“We would do a pre-assessment interview online and then forward the candidate we think is right for the employer, saving employers valuable time and increasing success of the scheme. We will also feedback to the Kickstarter to help them succeed next time. “every month the successful applicant will get a session of training, we find out how they are doing and towards the end of the six months we do an extra assessment over and above what DWP is asking for.

“We will then make sure they have a very accurate cV ready for their next career move. We are very much about support all the way through.” businesses wanting to get involved can get more information from ALIn at https://alin.org.uk/kickstart/ or email Kickstart@alin.org.uk

Books to dip into

Sometimes we just can’t face a whole novel or autobiography.

With these books, you can dip in and out whenever you have a spare five minutes.

Back to nature: How to Love Life and Save It – CHRIS PACKHAM AND MEGAN MCCUBBIN

Whether you’re an avid nature lover and wondering how to stop the catastrophic decline in biodiversity, or you’re feeling disconnected from the wild and want to reap the benefits of it once again, this is a great book to help you. There are lots of interesting titbits to digest over a coffee (ever wondered how trees communicate?) and plenty of ideas for how to take action.

Dear nHs: 100 Stories to Say Thank You – ADAM KAY Adam Kay brings us a series of essays and musings from a range of household names, from Malala Yousafzai to Dame Julie Walters and Johnny Vegas. Each tale is about how the nHs has stepped in to help the writer. There’s a story of a suspected heart attack that turned out to be trapped wind, several about household accidents (often involving kitchen knives) and plenty of sentimental stories to boot. Plus, all profits go to charity.

encounters: A Photographic Journey – LEVISON WOOD Award-winning reportage photographer Levison Wood has travelled to more than 100 countries over the last ten years. Encounters brings together 140 of his images, along with text about each one. You’ll meet a young shepherd girl in Ethiopia, resourceful teenagers in the Congo, stranded nomads, fishermen in Yemen and families surviving in war-torn regions.

the repair shop: Tales from the Workshop of Dreams If you love the TV series about expert craftspeople restoring much loved family heirlooms, you won’t want to miss the accompanying book. It goes into more detail about some of the most interesting items shown in the series, from a rusty miner’s helmet to a circus performer’s dress. It’s the book version of a mug of tea and hot buttered crumpet.

toksvig’s Almanac 2021 – SANDI TOKSVIG Fancy ‘An Eclectic Meander Through the Historical Year’? The main focus is on women that have been all but forgotten. There’s Begum samru – an Indian dancer who led an army of mercenaries, Ida B. Wells – an activist and suffragist who co-founded the largest civil rights organisation in the United states, and Annette Kellerman, whose stunts including diving from 60 feet into a pool of crocodiles. There are also poems, trivia and other fascinating snippets.

sapiens: A Graphic Novel – YUVAL NOAH HARARI ET AL. The original sapiens is fascinating, but there’s an awful lot of information to take in. If you’re interested in the origin of humans, but want something a little easier to digest, try this instead. It’s the first volume in a graphic-novel adaptation of the global bestseller.

Full-colour illustrations and straightforward text take the reader on a journey from the very birth of humankind. It’s absorbing, suitable for older children as well as adults and has a good spattering of humour throughout.

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Objects of Desire Personal Care

More important than ever, here are some crucial items we could all do with at the moment, that might make our daily lives easier.

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HEALTH Dr Paul Middleton

Vital Amines Millions of people take vital amines everyday – now we call them vitamins. The vitamin industry is worth billions of pounds and generally, if you eat a balanced diet, you do not need these extra pills. However, there are exceptions – and vitamin D is one of them. About 1 in 5 of British people are vitamin D deficient. “But I get lots of sunshine” I hear you say and you’d be right – your skin is an amazing structure and it actually makes vitamin D in sunlight. But, if you are reading this, then you probably live in the UK and, unfortunately, at this latitude, the sun is only strong enough to help our skin do this from about May to October. That’s British weather for you! so, what does vitamin D do? Surprisingly we are still our title today comes discovering what vitamins actually from the wonderfully do. Our title today named Dr Cazimir comes from funk, who was a the wonderfully Polish biochemist, named Dr Funk, who was a Polish and first described biochemist, and vitamins just over a first described century ago. vitamins just over a century ago. We now know how important vitamin D is for bone growth and strength but it also seems to play a part in our immunity. Patients with low vitamin D levels seem to be more susceptible to severe covid infection, so much so that the Government is planning to send vitamin D supplements to vulnerable people. current NHs advice is for all of us to take a supplement, particularly during the winter months.

International advice on how much to take varies, but in the UK, it is 10micrograms or 400iu (international units) per day. Shop around: the profit margin on vitamins is high and you should not have to pay large sums for these pills. some people do make the mistake of thinking that if a little of something is good for you then lots of it is even better. taking too much of a vitamin can cause problems.

Always follow the dosage advice.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

winter warmers

January and February are renowned for being the coldest months of the British winter, but apart from the hard frosts and beautiful clear skies or even snow, what else do we need to look out for?

Many people feel the effects of the winter with poor circulation, numb extremities and even chilblains. there are a few simple home herbal solutions for one to try.

To increase the circulation to the fingers and toes; warm it all up with spices such as Ginger, Chilli, Cayenne, fenugreek or Cinnamon. consuming more of these and even the humble black pepper on food can be a help, if used regularly. the likes of curry, chilli con carne, stir fry with ginger and garlic are all beneficial. The hotter and spicier the better, although it is not a competition!

Add cinnamon to morning porridge or cereal for extra warmth (cinnamon helps with diabetes too).

Old fashioned mustard powder in hand or foot baths are still very useful, just add a good dessert spoon to the water, with some essential oils like Geranium, ginger, black pepper or Peppermint.

Soak for 20 mins along with some Epsom salt and it may make a big difference to poor circulation in the extremities.

After this, a healing cream, such as calendula can be very soothing and healing, particularly on chilblains, which can become very painful. Apply up to three times daily for full effects Vitamin e as a supplement can help too, this helps blood become less viscous, thus better able to travel down small vessels!

When there is snow on the ground or a hard frost, it is tempting to stay inside to avoid the hazards, such as slipping, but you must keep moving! exercise is most important to the circulation. Move your body: run up the stairs, Yoga, on the spot running, Pilates or a skipping rope, every bit will help you. try anything, every bit is a small help and it all adds up!

Pop in for more specific advice.

Louise Idoux MSc. MNIMH Member of the national Institute of Medical Herbalists, Oswestry Herbarium, tel 01691 656934

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A Vulgar Disease Coping with acne

Harry’s Mum came into his bedroom. That was not usually a good sign. “It’s about your sister” she said. That wasn’t a good sign either. Harry and his 16 year old sister had what you might call a “love-hate” relationship – they loved to hate each other!

“She has some spots and is very sensitive about them” Mum continued “I don’t want you teasing her about them. You will probably get them too, and worse, so I want you to think about this a bit”. “Why has she got spots?” Harry asked.

“It’s called acne”, she replied as she was leaving.

Harry googled acne. Its full name was Acne Vulgaris. “My sister has a vulgar disease”, he smiled. “I bet it’s one of those Greek things again”.

Actually, it turned out the first bit was Greek and the second Latin, from the Romans. Vulgaris meant common - so she was both common and vulgar – what a laugh he thought. Acne was Greek and seemed to mean mountain peak. “I must look out for my sister’s snow-capped spots”, he thought.

However his Mum was right: 9 out of 10 kids got it: more than 600 million people in the world.

“Wow” he said out loud. “I’m definitely going to get this too”. The spots were also called Comedones, which meant something like worms in the skin which did not sound good. Somehow he was going to have the A to E of skin diseases: Acne, Boils, Comedones, Dermatitis and Eczema”. I hope it doesn’t go all the way to Z”, he thought. Then it talked about white heads, black heads, nodules, cysts, blind spots (could spots have eyes and see, he thought scarily) and a whole load of the usual medical gobbledegook words. Apparently, your skin made an oil called sebum (the internet told him how to say this: “see bum!” Who’d have thought that?) I bet it wasn’t the Greeks this time, he thought. Turns out it was the Romans again – he’d been told the Romans were a bit crude.

It wasn’t all bad though. Most kids got it mildly, most grew out of it by age 20 (although that seemed a lifetime away to Harry) and most could

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Dr Paul Middleton control it with simple treatments. Perhaps acne wasn’t too vulgar after all. Apparently he would need to wash his face twice a day with lukewarm water and the same soap he had for his eczema.

His sister had long hair and used makeup – neither one of his problems. Eating less sweets and chocolates might be though, he considered.

It turned out he was still a bit young to get acne yet. Boys got it usually after the age of 14 and girls a couple of years earlier. It could happen on your face and back and even your chest. Some kids seemed to have fun squeezing the spots: you could even make them ping on the mirror it said! That was something to look forward to!

Then he discovered that doing that could leave permanent scars on your face so maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all. His sister had been stressed about school, or the lack of it. Mum said she had some important exams this year. Stress seemed to make acne worse. “Perhaps I could help?” he thought, surprising himself! He looked up treatments for acne: the chemist could help with various lotions and creams that usually worked and, if not, the GP had other treatments that seemed very effective too.

“I’ll print this out and leave it in her room”.

At tea he sat opposite his sister. “Hi sis” he said. His mother instantly turned to look at him. “Mum told me you had some spots”.

His mother glared at him. “I can hardly seem them – noone would ever notice”.

His mother almost fainted.

Perhaps it was more love than hate after all.

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All Ears for New Venture

Kate Haining, a registered Nurse working as an ENT Specialist, recently set up her business, Sister Kate, because it was apparent there was a need for ear care services within Shropshire and the surrounding communities. With a lot of GP Practices unable to provide these services, Kate felt it was the right time to start the business.

With over 20 year’s experience working for the NHS, Kate has been working in the Shropshire community and on hospital wards. This has seen her based in the ENT Department at the Oswestry Health Centre, for the last five years.

Build-up of ear wax can cause numerous issues for people including risk of infection, loss of balance and loss of hearing. This can leave individuals feeling isolated.

The services Kate provides are known as Micro Suction and Irrigation.

Micro suction is the most modern, advanced, safest, and pain-free form of ear wax removal. The procedure is carried out with a high-grade surgical microscope to illuminate the ear and magnify the canal and ear drum. Ear Irrigation is where water pressure is controlled in order to remove ear wax depending on the amount of wax and the sensitivity of the patient.

Kate says, “Our primary aim is to get ear wax removed safely, with no risk of infection and for our clients to leave extremely happy with hearing restored and any discomfort removed. Our COVID-19 prevention measures also ensure that it will remain as safe as possible to continue to ease any discomfort

for our clients. Our clientele ranges from teenagers all the way through to pensioners.”

With a clinic on the Measbury Road Industrial Estate, Sister Kate is also fully mobile providing services across Shropshire and the surrounding areas.

For more information, visit www.sister-kate.co.uk, message via Facebook or Instagram pages.

Call directly on 07793 145 437.

Ear Wax Trouble?

Sister Kate can help Sister Kate specialises in micro suction and irrigation treatments to help patients remove excessive ear wax that is causing a blockage that has resulted in hearing loss or is causing unpleasant feelings in the ear.

Ear Wax Irrigation Service The cost for this procedure is £30.00* Microsuction Ear Wax Service The cost for this procedure is £60.00* *Please note that it is the same cost for one or both ears

Please email, call or visit the website to book today:

Tel: 07793 145 437 Email: kate@sister-kate.co.uk Website: www.sister-kate.co.uk Unit 8-10, Glovers Meadow Business Park, Glovers Meadows Road, Maesbury Road Industrial Estate, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8NH It’s beautiful | 47

The beauty of birds through the lens of Graham Mitchell

February is a great month to watch our winter resident birds. With the ground often frozen and the lack of natural food the birds must travel further to seek out their daily meal.

We’ll see more birds in gardens now, especially if we are growing berried shrubs such as cotoneaster and putting regular food and water out for them. If we are really lucky, we will get more unusual visitors, perhaps a Waxwing or Redpoll. Living in the centre of town, with a tiny courtyard I have the usual visitors, but they are still enjoyable to watch.

To get my twitcher-fix, I must go out and find the birds. Many people comment that I must be patient, waiting in a hide or motionless in the undergrowth. I am afraid I am not. I photograph ‘on-hoof’, just watching for that tiny movement or distant shape.

With the lack of foliage and their constant search for food, we have a better chance of seeing our common birds in the open. During the summer I rarely have time to photograph a 48 | It’s beautiful

wren, just see a glimpse or hear its wonderful melodic song. But in winter there is less undergrowth for them to hide in and I can get some photos.

For a serious bird photographer, a long telephoto is a must. I use a 600mm lens. It is heavy but it means I can get up close. As the birds are usually moving, I don’t have time to make adjustments, so I set up the camera for centre spot focussing and metering. No time to worry about straight horizons. I deal with details on post-camera editing, along with dodging and burning to improve exposure. If I am close enough, I always try to focus on the eye.

A bird in flight is the most challenging. Too far away and the camera will try and focus elsewhere.

Too close and it is very difficult to keep the subject in the viewfinder.

As I am only interested in the main subject, I use spot metering. This helps with photos taken against the light, but only if I am close enough.

Shooting in RAW also helps if I need

to do much work on the computer.

The RAW format keeps a lot more image information which can be lost on JPG compression.

This page main picture: a pair of Mandarin ducks; above: a goldfinch Facing page: 1 buzzard; 2 wren; 3 a cormorant; 4 close up of a heron; 5 hooper swans; 6 pochard; 7 red kite; 8 a bit of a battle between two swans; 9 robin; 10 heron in flight;

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Charming it may be, but Ted Welford finds the Fiat 500’s age has now got the better of it.

What is it?

As recognisable and as loved as a Mini or Land rover Defender, the 500 was fiat’s icon throughout a big part of the twentieth century until 1975, followed by a revival of the model in 2007. that reincarnation was a hit and Fiat still sells 400,000 of these city cars every year, despite a multitude of rivals.

What’s new?

This year saw the introduction of a new electric 500.

It looks similar to the petrol car but is rather different underneath, and should be yet another hit as it’ll be one of the cheapest EVs around thanks to a sub£20,000 starting price.

There is also fiat’s new 500 Hybrid. It’s not a full hybrid, but rather a petrol engine with a small electric motor, battery and belt-integrated startergenerator that improves efficiency and aims to allow for a smoother drive. So does it succeed?

What’s under the bonnet?

If you want a manual 500, the only option is this new mild-hybrid petrol, with automatic models using the 1.2-litre unit that fiat has been using for years.

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With just 69bhp, 0-60mph takes 13.6 seconds, but around town it’s more than up to the task. A six-speed manual gearbox is also a pleasant surprise for a car of this size.

The mild-hybrid system is also noticeable with the regenerative braking when you take your foot off the accelerator, though the engine can ‘switch off’ while coasting in order to improve fuel economy.

What’s it like to drive?

It’s in urban areas where the Fiat excels. It bucks the trend of city cars growing in size, as at 3.5m-long it remains tiny and an absolute doddle to park, helped by great visibility. the steering is also brilliantly light, and even gets a ‘city’ mode to make it even lighter.

But elsewhere the 500 shows both its age and its flaws. The ride quality is poor while the driving position leaves a lot to be desired – you feel like you sit on the car, rather than in it. refinement is also poor, even by city-car standards. next to rivals like the Volkswagen Up!, it’s well behind the pace.

How does it look?

It’s likely buyers choose the fiat 500 because of the way it looks. And with its scope for personalisation, bubble-like shape and cool retro-inspired design, it offers bags of charm and appeal in this respect. A range of trim and liveries add to the appeal.

Facts at a glance Model as tested: fiat 500 Hybrid Lounge Price: £14,750 Engine: 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol Power: 69bhp Torque: 90nm Max speed: 104mph 0-60mph: 13.6 seconds MPG: 53.3mpg Emissions: 119g/km

What’s the spec like?

It’s more impressive just how fresh the 500 looks considering it’s been around since 2007 in its current guise – the only real design changes in that time being some new lights at the front and rear, fresh alloy wheel designs and updated bumpers. some subtle ‘Hybrid’ badging is also fitted as part of this update, however.

Prices for the fiat 500 start from £13,020 and for that you get a Pop-spec car. It’s not especially wellequipped but gains air conditioning, a DAb radio and a speed limiter. But our choice is the £14,750 Lounge model, which adds a touchscreen, leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors and a glass roof.

Prices rise through to £17,150 for the top-spec Launch Edition, which includes satellite navigation, 16-inch alloy wheels and special seats made from recycled materials. but at that price, you can buy a far more accomplished supermini.

What’s it like inside?

Verdict

the interior also has charm – not least with the cool colour-matched dashboard, which is a particular highlight. there’s a clear instrument cluster, with an optional seven-inch TfT display in the middle.

A seven-inch touchscreen is also fitted, and while not the best system you can get today, it’s simple to use and gains Apple carPlay and Android Auto. A panoramic glass roof is also a nice touch. but the colourful dash and technology can only go so far with the fiat 500, as other areas feel especially cheap, with hard and scratchy plastics littering the cabin. It’s also small even by city-car standards, with a dinky 185-litre boot and compromised rear space.

It’s a testament to the 500’s cool retro design, easy-to-drive nature and quirky interior that this fiat continues to be as popular as it is. Used around the city it’s really quite appealing, and the Hybrid system has added greater efficiency to the package – meaning it will be very cheap to run. but none of these traits can hide some glaring weaknesses of the 500, which are really just down to its ageing design. Its poor driving experience away from town and cheap cabin make it fall off the pace of rivals, and given it’s not especially cheap, it means this Fiat – as charming as it is – is tough to recommend. consider the electric model instead…

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Great gadgets from simple trackers to tthe smartest smartwatches One of the simplest and cheapest exercise trackers is the pedometer, which tells you how many steps you’ve walked in a given period. There are lots of them around for very little money: for example, the Omron Walking style One step Counter, a pocket-sized digital pedometer, is around £16.

However, if you’d like to track more than just steps you’ll need to look at a dedicated fitness tracker. these aren’t necessarily much more expensive – you can get Huawei’s attractive and effective Huawei Band 4 for less than £30 – but they’re more useful, as they typically add heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, calories burned and other key data. some also offer sleep tracking.

Although they’re battery-powered they usually last much longer than smartwatches, typically going for over a week between charges and not needing long to recharge. there are versions designed for kids, too, such as the Fitbit Ace, which track activity but not calories.

The next step up from fitness trackers is the smart watch. Apple’s watch is the market leader here, but it’s also one of the most expensive, and you can get good smartwatches such as the Samsung Galaxy (£159) or the Huawei GT2e (£99) for a lot less. These devices offer a wider range of fitness tracking features and usually connect to your smartphone to share data with your health and/or fitness apps.

In many cases the line between fitness trackers is blurred. For example, the Fitbit Versa Lite is a smartwatch, but really it’s a super-powered fitness tracker and unlike more expensive devices you can’t install your own apps. the latest generation of the Apple Watch is really impressive, both as a smartwatch and as a fitness tracker. It isn’t cheap – the latest model, the Series 6, starts at £379 – but the more affordable Apple Watch SE starts at £269.

The older Apple Watch Series 3 is £199, although we think the se is more capable and worth paying slightly more for.

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Apple Watch sE This is the current mid-range Apple Watch and it’s effectively a cut-down version of the range-topping Series 6. It’s packed with fitness features. £269, Apple.com sigma ROX 7.0 Cycle Computer If you prefer pedalling to pounding pavements, Sigma’s GPS cycle computer can track your performance on every ride and deliver every conceivable kind of statistic. £59, Wiggle.co.uk

Omron Walking style One 2.0 step Counter This pocket-sized device contains the same kind of 3D accelerometer sensor you’ll find in smartphones, enabling you to track your steps, kilometres and miles. £15.99, Argos.co.uk Fitbit Inspire HR This Fitbit is cheap but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in features. It has a workout monitor and heart rate sensing as well as step and calorie counting, and it syncs nicely with Fitbit’s phone app. £59, Fitbit.com

Honor Band 5 smart Fitness Tracker A fully featured fitness tracker for under £30? That’s what this little marvel from Honor delivers. It’s a great little device available in a range of colours. £29.99, Amazon.co.uk

Profile

High Sheriff: A Year of Lockdown Dean Harris had four years to plan for the role of High Sheriff of Shropshire – but nothing could have prepared her for the year she would experience.

Instead of joining friends, family and dignitaries at Shrewsbury Justice Centre for the legal ceremony which would mark the start of her year in office, Dean found herself sat in front of her computer at home for the first ever virtual ceremony.

It was April 2020, and the UK was less than two weeks into the first national lockdown put in place in an attempt to combat Covid-19.

She explains, “I’ve always thought I was tenacious, and this year has been a real test of that – I was determined not to simply sit at home and wait until I was able to host events, welcome visitors to the county, and visit organisations. Instead, like so many of us, I had to adapt to working virtually; and with the benefit of hindsight, I’m glad I did, as Covid restrictions have lasted far longer than I (or any of us) had hoped.”

Dean had chosen to focus on domestic abuse, addiction, and child poverty and deprivation as her three key causes: determined to raise public awareness and understanding of these issues which are often hidden and have many misconceptions associated with them.

In a bid to counteract the worsening of all three issues as a result of the pandemic, Dean has been busy arranging virtual training sessions, setting up hardship funds for pupils, linking companies and charities together, thanking people, partnering with Aico to support the building of a ground-breaking family contact centre, and much more. When restrictions were relaxed during the summer, she toured the county to meet organisations, businesses, council staff and individuals in Shropshire’s towns.

She says, “The role is the oldest office in the UK aside from the monarch, and I am very respectful of its 1,100year history and traditions

- at the same time I wanted to ensure the relevance of the role is maintained in today’s world. With most of the ceremonial elements of the role unexpectedly removed in 2020, it’s really brought into focus what it’s all about: making a positive contribution to the county, and supporting and encouraging the judiciary, emergency services, voluntary sector, crown, and faith groups, to name just a few.

“In the last 1,100 years, High Sheriffs have been through the Great Plague, Norman Conquest, two World Wars and many other events which would have forced them to adapt. This year will also go down in history – it has highlighted how technology can be utilised for greater reach which I hope will enable the role to continue and flourish for many years to come.

“It’s been an absolute honour and privilege to serve as High Sheriff of Shropshire, I have thoroughly enjoyed it and feel I’ve been able to efficiently use my time, and make best use of virtual working to reach even more people than I could have visited in person. I may have missed out on the ceremonial aspects of the role like Royal visits, award presentations, and hosting a charity ball – but I have learned so much.

“I now understand so much more about how the charity and voluntary sector operates, how local government works, who is who in the county, and what Shropshire truly has to offer.

“I’ve also certainly become far more knowledgeable about the world of social media and PR too (with the help of Zen Communications) – using digital platforms and traditional media to educate, inform and update.

“Many have commiserated that it must have been terrible to be High Sheriff this year, but I have a different view: in this crisis, I am fortunate to have had the opportunity and platform to help make a positive difference and encourage others to get involved with the impactful and vital activities happening in Shropshire to help those who are vulnerable and to improve our wonderful county.”

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International Women’s Day

The role of women in business across the Marches will be celebrated at a special online event to m

The Marches Growth Hub, businesswoman Hollie Whittles and the Federation of Small Businesses have teamed up to organise the annual high-profile event on March 8.

If you are not familiar with the Marches Growth Hub Shropshire, it is a collaboration between Shropshire Council and The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and provides free support to all Shropshire businesses.

The Marches area includes Shropshire, Telford, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The online event – which gets under way at 10am, will include inspirational talks from a host of keynote speakers as well as networking opportunities. If you are a business owner or thinking about taking the plunge, this will be your opportunity for some inspiration, advice and tips across a range of expertise.

Networking online has become ever increasingly important during the lockdowns as we are limited to zoom calls and expanding our businesses through the use of social media marketing and an online presence.

Marches Growth Hub Shropshire Manager Emma Chapman said it was the third year of the annual celebration – and the first time it had been extended to cover the whole of the Marches.

Emma said, “After nearly a year of the Covid-19 pandemic, we thought it was more important than ever to bring together businesswomen from across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to celebrate this very special day.

“We have lined up an exceptional selection of women who will talk about their own experiences of breaking 54 | It’s beautiful

down barriers in their careers and be able to pass on some of that knowledge to help others.

“This is a must-attend event for any woman in business in the Marches as well as being a fantastic celebration of the contribution women make to the economy and success of the region.”

Hollie, FSB area lead for Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Tech Director for Telford-based Purple Frog Systems, is among the star speakers who will be sharing their stories and top tips from their areas of expertise.

“This is always a highlight in my calendar, and I’m delighted that so many inspirational businesswomen and friends have agreed to speak. This is the third year running that we’ve organised this sell-out event and whilst we can’t meet in person this year, it will still be lots of fun online.”

Speakers include Trudie Adcock, Global Enterprise Learning Director for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, broadcaster, presenter and TEDx speaker Merisha Stevenson, the CEO and founder of the KogoPAY Group Dr Narisa Chauvidul-Aw, Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Chair Mandy Thorn and Chief Executive Gill Hamer and Tracy Darke, Assistant Director for Economy and Place at Shropshire Council.

International social media and marketing speaker Teresa Heath-Wareing, the founder of Digital Women and SocialDay UK Lucy Hall and the FSB’s Deputy Head of English Regions Linsey Luke complete the impressive line-up.

The event – which has sold out in both its previous years – costs £10.

y Event

mark International Women’s Day this year.

Pictured: The speakers for the event

The Marches Growth Hub: Backed by the UK Government, the Business Support Helpline provides free, impartial business support and signposting services to businesses in England. Give them a call today on freephone 0800 998 1098.

The 38 Local Enterprise Partnership led Growth Hubs across England bring together and simplify access to national and local business support. Supported by Government, Growth Hubs ensure that no matter the size, sector or maturity of a business they provide locally tailored business support and advice to direct businesses to the most appropriate organisations to assist with their specific requests.

For more information and tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ international-womens-day-2021-celebrating-shropshire-women-inbusiness-tickets-126852821203

We have lined up an exceptional selection of women who will talk about their own experiences of breaking down barriers in their careers

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Adapting to the new normal during Covid-19 restrictions We are all having to adapt to the “new normal” during the Covid-19 restrictions, and lawyers at Lanyon Bowdler Brian Evans are reassuring their clients that help is always available.

During the latest national lockdown, the law firm’s offices in Oswestry are open for appointments only, and anyone requiring legal assistance is being asked to get in touch by phone, email or via the website in the first instance.

Managing partner, Brian Evans, said people’s safety was the most important priority, but by embracing technology, lawyers could still provide support even in the strictest lockdown.

He said: “The pandemic has actually meant we have been very busy in a number of areas, with businesses and individuals needing to grapple with a range of new legal issues.

“Specialists in our employment team have been working closely with businesses assisting them with the

intricacies of the furlough scheme and other Government support packages.

“And our family team has been busy helping separated parents deal with the complicated, and often emotionally difficult, arrangements regarding their children during these lockdowns.

“It’s important to stress that we are all here to help, whether at the end of a telephone or on a video call, and where the situation requires, we can still arrange face-to-face meetings with strict safety measures in place.

“We would be grateful if you could use our letterbox to drop off documents and avoid entering the building unless you have a pre-arranged appointment.

“This pandemic has been, and continues to be, extremely challenging for all of us and we will continue to go above and beyond to ensure our clients have access to the legal support they need.”

For more information and advice, visit the Lanyon Bowdler website at www.lblaw.co.uk or call 01691 652241.

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Roden Hall boasts a number of ways for residents to enjoy their leisure time, such as: afternoon tea at Berringtons Café, enjoying a tipple at the The Golden Oak Pub, getting a hair cut at The Salon or enjoying a performance in the theatre and cinema room. A range of activities are also offered, designed to appeal to current interests and encourage participation in new ones. An enticing selection of meals are prepared by our dedicated in-house catering team. Our tempting menus change daily and cater for all dietary and health requirements.

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With stunning views of the rural surroundings. Located just outside the village of Forden with a pub within walking distance and just 5 minutes from the market town of Welshpool. The Stanley Albion is 42ft x 20ft and offers entrance hall, lounge, dining room, kitchen, utility room, bathroom, two double bedrooms and one en-suite, there is parking and gardens backing onto open pasture land.

• PART EXCHANGE SCHEME AVAILABLE • ALL HOMES ARE BRAND NEW WITH A 10 YEAR WARRANTY • THE PARK IS A SECURE GATED SITE WITH CCTV Viewings can be arranged by calling 01938 580768 People are welcome to turn up to look around without appointments

website: www.m-d.co.uk email: info@m-d.co.uk Address: Tavern Park, Forden, Near Welshpool, SY21 8NN

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PuZZle PAGe

Keep your mind occupied during your coffee break.

suDoKu easy

each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

suDoKu Hard

CrYPtIC CrossworD: DOWn 1. Opener going round in circles (9) 2. High spots of an Asian tour, no doubt (9) 3. Musician in small room is fi rst trumpet (7) 4. Her husband is late (5)

SoLUtionS

5. Inert compound used in gunpowder (5) 6. Supply free verse (5) 10. Shed light (5) 11. China April once smashed (9) 12. About to say again and again (9) 15. A unit is exchanged in this country (7) 18. first of a series of letters from Athens (5) 19. Look around poles in order to understand (5) 20. White House up north (5)

CROssWORD: Across – 3 Crow’s-nest; 7 Olive; 8 Laudatory; 9 Kraal; 10 Sweeper; 13 Class; 14 Taint; 16 Uncut; 17 Wassail; 21 Idler; 22 Spineless; 23 Idiot; 24 Caledonia.

Down – 1 Corkscrew; 2 Himalayas; 3 Cellist; 4 Widow; 5 nitre; 6 Serve; 10 Spill; 11 Porcelain; 12 reiterate; 15 Tunisia; 18 Alpha; 19 Sense; 20 Igloo.

ACROss 3. Look out for high tar content! (5-4) 7. Girl returned the bad ball (5) 8. Praiseworthy double turn by a politician (9) 9. Old boat upended by gangster in settlement (5) 10. footballer, one prepared to use a brush perhaps (7) 13. Grade for many a girl (5) 14. Colloquially speaking, it isn’t an infection (5) 16. Such a jewel has not been reduced in price (5) 17. Cry for donkey kept at festive occasion (7) 21. Loafer left in dire trouble (5) 22. Weak and unsupported at the back (9) 23. Before one I had to return the fool (5) 24. replace a nice load in ancient land (9)

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Charles Faraday is a family run business, with over 20 years experience in the shutter, blind and interior design industry. Based in Shropshire, we cover the West Midlands area and further afield. We have a wealth of experience, dealing with commercial and domestic projects and take pride in our service and reputation, that is why we can guarantee all of our products.

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Quality Shutters & Blinds

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Phone: 01952 551220 Email: office@charlesfaraday.co.uk Web: www.charlesfaraday.co.uk Charles Faraday is a family run business, with over 20 years experience in the interior design industry. Based in Shropshire, we cover the West Midlands area and further afield. We have a wealth of experience, dealing with commercial and domestic projects.

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