BedsLife Magazine April 2021 by BedsLife Magazine

FREE APRIL

2021

inside Spring Fashion from your Local Independents East West Rail: Be Fair to Bedford National Gardening Week The Great Outdoors £25 Prize Crossword

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to your new look BedsLife Magazine!

We have teamed up with OVL Magazine and, whilst we will be moving forward under the BedsLife brand, we have introduced some of the gorgeous lifestyle features and the quality and feel of OVL. There are many reasons to be cheerful this month with spring just around the corner and lockdown restrictions hopefully beginning to ease and, whilst Easter will be very different this year, we hope you find inspiration for some Easter Fun with the children in our monthly Mamma’s House blog. There are also some gorgeous items from our local independents on our spring Fashion pages. National Gardening Week, the country’s biggest annual celebration of gardening, also takes place in April and we bring you some top tips from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). There is also lots of information on how you can get involved with local community gardens and volunteering in our beautiful local parks. As always BedsLife Magazine would like to thank our advertisers without whom we would not have a publication. Please remember if you have enjoyed reading BedsLife and are looking for a tradesperson or service, we have a whole range of fantastic local businesses promoting themselves each month. We do hope you love your new BedsLife Magazine as much as we do.

Contents

Welcome

Council News

Richard Fuller MP

Mohammad Yasin MP

Volunteer Opportunities

Keech Hospice Care

Experts Tips for a Healthy Glow

Spring Style

Five Fab Books out in April

The Composing Cook Recipe – Greek Meatballs

East West Rail – Be Fair to Bedford

Mamma’s House

Marston Forest – Woodland Wildflowers

Prize Crossword

Film Reviews

The Great Outdoors

Acorn House

McCann’s Motors

National Gardening Week

Science

Bedford Town FC

Bedford Blues

Advertiser Index

Useful Local Resources

Last month’s Crossword Answers

Don’t forget to check out our website

www.bedslifemagazine.co.uk

for even more local articles and lots of interesting and helpful local information! LIKE our Facebook page BedsLife Magazine to keep up to date with events, offers and local businesses and services. FOLLOW us on @bedslife_magazine and @bedsLife DISCLAIMER

All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, BedsLife Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of the publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

The BedsLife Team MAY ISSUE DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL 3

council news Bedford Borough’s Summer of SEND In 2019 Bedford Borough Council, The Parent Carer Forum and BLMK CCG launched the SEND services website with Local Offer Live. The event included workshops, panel discussions, ‘speed dating’ style sessions with services, performances from local theatrical groups and even a magician. The innovative event was designed specifically for children and young people with special educational needs and their parents / carers.

For 2021, organisers have been hard at work, looking at the best way to engage with as many children, young people, parents and carers as possible in the Borough. The Summer of SEND will have a host of events, webinars, activities, training and much, much more. If you have any topic ideas or would like to put on an event and be part of Bedford Borough’s Summer of SEND, please get in touch FestivalOfSEND@Bedford.gov.uk.

Council consults on extending LibraryPlus to Kempston and Putnoe Libraries LibraryPlus provides a mixture of staffed hours as well as using technology to allow access to customers during unstaffed, self-service hours. During the selfservice hours, LibraryPlus customers can enter the libraries to browse the shelves, borrow and return items, use the computers, study and work. Extending LibraryPlus to Kempston and Putnoe would enable these libraries to be open for more hours overall, at more convenient times, whilst still providing core staffed hours where library users can speak to and get assistance from staff.

Find out more and have your say on this proposal at www.bedford.gov.uk/lpconsultation. You can also email consultingbedford@bedford. gov.uk or write to Consulting Bedford, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, MK42 9AP. Responses must be received by Friday 23 April 2021. These will then be considered by the Council’s Executive at a meeting later this year.

Bedford Borough Council introduces first School Street Bedford Borough Council have begun to pilot their School Street initiative around Cauldwell School. The project will create a safer, more pleasant environment in the area around the school and help to improve air quality. The School Street initiative introduces a pedestrian, cycle and scoot only zone at the start and end of the school day, during term-time. School Streets have been introduced all over the country since 2015, with the Department for Transport encouraging their use during the Covid-19 pandemic to support active travel and social distancing. 4

The effects of the scheme will be monitored until the end of the school year, when the council will consider implementing School Street projects in other areas if the pilot is successful. The School Street area is outlined by barriers, with support from school and council staff. Residents of Edward Road and blue badge holders will still be able to access the streets when the scheme is in action. Parents who have children at the school will be encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot instead of driving.

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The new Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Bill reforms sentencing to include whole-life orders for child killers; new powers to halt the automatic early release of offenders who pose a danger to the public and ending the halfway release of offenders sentenced for serious violent and sexual offences. The Bill promises to extend the law of trespass to give greater powers to remove illegal encampments that often disrupt town and country life and to increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage of a memorial from 3 months to 10 years. I am pleased to see that the Bill promotes policies that will better target underlying causes of crime such as mental health issues, alcohol or drug addiction. Locally, I have been working with our outstanding Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Bedfordshire, Kathryn Holloway, as she has seen through her commitment to ensure our force focuses on our rural communities and not just Luton.

Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire The government has introduced new legislation to deliver a fair justice system that aims to restore public confidence that crime doesn’t pay and to fulfil our manifesto commitment to give full support to the police and courts to cut crime and make our streets safer.

Kathryn introduced a dedicated rural crime team to tackle law breaking in the more remote areas of the county with the aid of drone technology to help patrol rural areas. Recently, the Conservative PCC was successful in her bid to gain bespoke funding from the Home Office, winning over £2m to target the criminal masterminds behind Organised Crime Groups across the county who trade in drugs, weapons and people which was fantastic news as Bedfordshire suffers unduly from the activities of the hateful groups. This latest funding takes the total funds in special grants won for Bedfordshire Police to £17.5m over the last three years and as she reaches the end of her term, I thank her for her efforts to bring more cash to fight serious crime. This builds on the government’s commitment to increase police officers – Bedfordshire Police has already welcomed an additional 54 officers since last year with recruiting continuing. By backing our police with the funding, powers and resources they need, this Conservative government is keeping the public and all our communities safe. As the current PCC term comes to an end, we will all have a chance to build on local and national efforts and elect a new Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire in elections on Thursday 6th May. I encourage you to exercise your vote.

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This falls way short of what is needed to get the UK on a recovery setting for what has been a catastrophic hit to the economy – the worst of any major economy because of the Government’s dreadful handling of the pandemic. The budget is concrete evidence that the Tory levelling up-agenda is nothing but empty words. There was no attempt to tackle the deep inequalities in society or recognise public sector workers – the very people that have got us through the pandemic. NHS funding will be cut in real terms with no attempt to recognise or help the traumatised workforce. The 1% pay rise is an insult and will do nothing to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis or plug the 100,000 NHS vacancies. The long-promised plans to fix social care are nowhere to be seen. There was also no mention of schools or teachers, or crime in the Budget or restoring Britain’s high streets. And most notably, not even a whisper of Brexit If ever we needed the Brexit dividend we were promised, it’s now!

Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford and Kempston The Chancellor delivered a spend now, tax later Budget to drag the UK economy out of the Covid-19 crisis with a short-term boost to business which might get us through the next months of the pandemic.

It turns out that the £350 million a week for the NHS is actually a £3.50 a week pay rise for nurses. Trade to the EU plummeted by 41% or £5.6 billion as Brexit border chaos sparked a slump in goods headed to the continent with a whopping 2.9% drop in GDP in January. The Brexit deal is so bad, and is causing so many problems for businesses and ordinary people, with friction at borders and the extra costs of non-tariff barriers and bureaucracy, that the Government doesn’t want to implement the deal it signed and has unilaterally granted itself a 6 month grace period for checks on goods which could land them once again in legal hot water. The Government had the opportunity to extend the transition period when we all understood the extent of the economic catastrophe caused by the pandemic, but the Prime Minister forged ahead and inflicted the double hit of Brexit and the pandemic on the nation. It is also a Budget that falls way short of what is needed to tackle climate change and is a lost opportunity to build a greener, fairer economy. This isn’t building back better, but a Government choosing to hit families up and down the country at the worst possible time with the triple hammer blow of council tax rises, cuts to Universal Credit in 6 months’ time and pay freezes. There was no levelling-up vision for the future in this paper-thin Budget and no long-term strategy on how we will rebuild the UK after the double impact of Covid and Brexit.

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Campaign to Protect Rural England Bedfordshire – Membership Co-ordinator Volunteering with CPRE is a fantastic way to help us champion environmental issues such as the climate emergency, renewable energy, biodiversity and sustainable transport. With your support we can do even more! As our Membership contact you will have an essential role in communicating with members and encouraging new people to join and support our important work.

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Volunteering Opportunities

Many organisations are having to cut down on the activities that volunteers would normally engage in due to the pandemic. Others are busier than ever and not in a position to train new volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please register on our system and be patient as it may take a while for organisations to be able to accommodate you. The following organisations were actively seeking to fill these roles at the time of going to press. Search for any of this month’s featured roles by adding the name of the organisation into the keyword field on our Simply Connect opportunity search at cvsbeds.org.uk/volunteer

Volunteers will work alongside and build positive relationships with ex-offenders who may recently have been released from custody. They fulfill tasks that support the business of the bakery. Roles might be flexible or specific depending on the particular skills, experience and interests of the applicant.

Thomas Pocklington Trust – Bedfordshire Sight Loss Council Member Become a council member and make a difference by representing the voice of blind and partially sighted people under the six priority themes of education, employment, technology, health and social care, transport, sport and leisure. If you’re interested in gaining advocacy experience, and are a great communicator and confident with technology (or willing to learn), then don’t miss this opportunity to be an advocate from your own home! This role is for a blind or partially sighted person.

Transitions UK – Attain Volunteer Mentor Volunteer to offer support to young people on the Attain project through community-based mentoring. Support is aimed at making a positive and effective transition to a better life. We believe that good, supportive relationships are key to helping that happen.

YMCA Bedfordshire – Food4 Assistants This role is with the YMCA Bedfordshire social enterprise in Bedford that offers a free-to-use food distribution service. Your role will include assisting customers with picking items of food, helping with unloading and loading food, maintaining food hygiene standards and helping with creative displays.

43 Bromham Road, Bedford Call 01234 354 366 or Email: volunteering@cvsbeds.org.uk www.cvsbeds.org.uk 10

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Help, I think my brain has stopped working. When anxiety, stress or trauma creates unbearable overwhelm. Not many people understand the impact trauma, anxiety and stress can have on an individual or even understand what trauma is. Multiple traumas can affect our lives in different ways, requiring a multidisciplinary approach to support complete recovery. Bonita Ackerman du Preez is a trauma recovery therapist specialising in PTSD, trauma, anxiety, stress and grief and the Director of Future-edge Therapy. Trauma recovery therapy is different from traditional talk therapy as it is focussed on working directly with the subcortex which includes the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala and hippocampus – the parts of the brain deeply affected by trauma, stress and anxiety. These parts hold onto the sequencing of traumatic memories and must be deleted for a client to show progress.

Within my practice I use an ‘integrated therapy approach’ using a range of dynamic therapies and modalities that are tailored to each client. Firstly, we include somatic body work to bring anxiety levels down and I teach clients techniques to manage feelings and symptoms of anxiety. We then deal with the raw trauma memories, images and flashbacks. Often these form into PTSD or cPTSD and must be systematically broken down and reprocessed. This required an integrated trauma approach and includes Brainspotting, Rewind Therapy, EMDR, IEMT, Kinetic Shift, Quick Induction Hypnosis and Timeline Therapy to allow integration to happen after each treatment. This ‘toolkit’ of strategies helps clients return to and managing daily stresses, general overwhelm and move on with their life quickly. Tel: 07970 011 235 www.future-edgetherapy.co.uk

Future-edge Therapy are Bedfordshire’s top trauma specialists treating PTSD, trauma, grief, anxiety, stress, fears and phobia. We work face-to-face in our office based at Bedford Heights, Brickhill Road, Bedford, MK40 7PH.

We offer the following therapies: • Brainspotting • Kinetic Shift • Timeline Therapy • Hypnotherapy • Neuro-Linguistic Programming • Rewind Therapy • EMDR & Flash EMDR • IEMT To support women, Bonita has created The Anxiety Recovery School, a FREE Facebook group designed to support women who suffer from anxiety, stress and trauma. This positive group focusses on teaching techniques and strategies to deal with daily overwhelm and support each other, learn and grow together. Join the community NOW and search for The Anxiety Recovery School in Facebook.

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Keech Hospice Care launches first urgent appeal in their 30-year history

The charity provides free, specialist care for adults in Luton and south Bedfordshire, and children from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes living with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.

Keech Hospice Care, who celebrate 30 years of caring this year, are facing huge funding shortfalls as lockdown continues to have a devastating impact on the charity’s income.

Keech’s doctors and nurses continue to play a vital part in the coronavirus effort. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the NHS on the frontline and providing care for their patients, families, and friends both at the hospice and in people’s homes. Wearing full PPE and dealing with an unprecedented number of patients, it continues to be a challenging and exhausting environment for the team to care in. It costs Keech Hospice Care around £6 million a year to provide their specialist care for adults and children with life-limiting and terminal illnesses. Around 70% of that income is generated by supporters so with all 33 charity shops closed and fundraising events cancelled, the hospice is facing a funding gap of around £800,000. The charity has done everything they can to reduce costs, take advantage of government support and have raised funds virtually but, faced with a funding gap of around £800,000 as they plan for the year ahead, they’ve decided to take the difficult decision and ask the community who built the hospice 30 years ago to help keep Keech caring. If you can afford to give a gift today to help keep Keech caring, please donate at www.keech.org.uk/urgent or text KEECH on 70480 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message.

Charity no: 1035089 16

Every little helps and will ensure the charity continues making the difference when it matters the most to their patients and their families. Thank you.

Sharnbrook House Care Home is set in the picturesque village of Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire and we specialise in high-quality residential care. The team at Sharnbrook House are exceptional and wholly committed to providing the very best care. They are loving, caring, compassionate and have all been selected because they genuinely care and treat our residents with the respect and dignity that they deserve. Please call us on 01234 781294 to arrange a Virtual Viewing of Sharnbrook House to ensure you know it is the right home for you and your loved one. Or e-mail sharnbrook@greensleeves.org.uk for any other information or to request a brochure. Sharnbrook House, High Street, Sharnbook, Bedfordshire MK44 1PB Greensleeves Homes Trust is a registered charity in England & Wales No 1060478

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We are the voice for Parent Carers of children & young people 0-25yrs with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities in Bedford Borough. We feed back your views to Education, Health, Social Care and other departments that provide SEND services. We are passionate about improving services for our children & young people, we’ve all had diﬀerent experiences so we need to hear your views. We hold regular Coﬀee Mornings and other events for parents to come along, give their views and meet other parents. We also run training sessions for Parent Carers.

If you would like to ﬁnd out more or become a member please contact us or complete our online membership form: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ParentCarerMembershipFormBBPCF

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Are you or do you care for a child or young person aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and / or a Disability? Visit

for the latest information on accessing services, support and activities in Bedford Borough.

Our calendar for the first term of 2021 is below, you are welcome to book onto any of these free virtual events, please email us at communications@bbpcf.org.uk to book your place or call us 07943 524553 Thursday 15th April – 10am Health Update and Get Together Jo Drew (Designated Clinical Officer SEND Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group) will be joining us to give an update from the ‘Health’ perspective and take your questions. You are also welcome to join us for a general get together and chat. Monday 19th April – 10am Demand Avoidance Training Autism Bedfordshire will be delivering this training exclusively for members of the forum.

Monday 26th April – 10am CAMHS Get Together The CAMHS service will be joining us to give a brief update on their service and you will have the opportunity to ask them questions. Wednesday 28th April – 6.30pm SIBS Information Session This workshop is for parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities who want to know more about supporting siblings. It will give parents an insight into siblings’ needs and experiences and gives some ideas for giving siblings attention.

You are welcome to book onto any of these free online events, please email us at communications@bbpcf.org.uk to book your place or call us 07943 524553

Expert tips for a healthy glow From plumping creams to intelligent make up, here are five tips on how to give yourself a more youthful complexion. Perfect your bedtime routine Regardless of whether or not you tend to wear make-up, it is always worth properly cleansing your skin before hitting the hay. Not only does this remove any dust, dirt and general impurities that may have built up, as well as prepping your skin for moisturiser, it is also a relaxing and soothing ritual to prepare your body and mind for bed. A fantastic multi-purpose product is Elemis Pro-collagen Cleansing balm. Loaded with hydrating ingredients such as starflower oil and padina pavonica, this luxurious balm melts into skin removing all makeup and dirt, smells divine and even comes with a cloth to wash it all off with. Exfoliate intelligently Say farewell to the harsh, drying scrubs of yore and hello to the kind of exfoliation that is so gentle, it can actually calm angry, clogged pores. For minimal fuss and maximum effect at a very reasonable price, 20

consider NIP+FAB Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads which are drenched in in resurfacing glycolic acid, soothing witch hazel and ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid. One quick wipe between cleansing and moisturising allows these ingredients to clear away dead skin cells and tighten pores, leaving you with fresh, glowing skin. Hydrate Hydrated skin equals youngerlooking skin, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day as well as investing in some super-nourishing skin products. Harnessing the potent power of grapes, Caudalie ResveratrolLift Firming Cashmere Cream is the kind of cult product that effortlessly combines science and nature to lessen the appearance of wrinkles AND boost collagen. Specifically aimed at mature skin, this dreamy cream is also vegan, boasting a low-carbon footprint to boot. Airbrush like a pro Foundations have come a long way since the thick, dry pastes of the past. In fact, some modern

formulas are so good it barely looks like you’re wearing make-up at all. Leading the charge is make-up artist maven Charlotte Tilbury whose Airbrush Flawless Foundation not only reduces wrinkles and boosts hydration, but leaves you with an immaculate complexion that lasts all day. Glow from within Despite our best intentions, it isn’t always possible to get eight hours of sleep, drink litres of water and eat a highly nutritious diet, which is why it’s worth investing in a good quality skin supplement. Boasting niacinamide, vitamins A, E and C, selenium and biotin, Votary Superglow Skin Nutrition Capsules are just one of many advanced beauty edibles that will help you become your most radiant you.

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We are a family friendly HCPC registered Podiatry clinic based in Harrold. Relocated to a bigger premises, after 19 years, as Mary Marsh Chiropody Clinic, in Irchester.

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Spring Style Long Sleeved 100% Combed Cotton T-Shirt, £40

Sneakers – new & exclusive drops weekly online and in store Dreamwear, 95 Harpur St, Bedford, MK40 2SY www.dreamwearldn.com

Pure Heart Boutique, Milton Ernest Garden Centre, MK44 1SH www.pureheartboutique.co.uk

Magic Stretch Camo Trousers various colours, £28

Dandelion Soft Knit Jumper various colours, £26

RM Williams Parson T-Shirt, £35

Schoffel Lyndon Fleece Gilet in Pomegranate, £139.95

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Embrace the new season with these top picks from your local independents

Coster Copenhagen White Cotton Blend Blouse, £99 Coster Copenhagen Quilted Rose Pink Voluminous Jacket, £109

Anorak, 13 The Arcade, Bedford MK40 1NS www.anorakshop.com

Barbour Epsom Gilet in Dandelion, £119 Crew Pique Striped Hooded Sweatshirt, £55

Claytons at Hatters, 532 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK41 0DX www.claytonsonline.co.uk

Kit Heath Blossom Petal Bloom Trio Rose Gold Earrings, £130

Kit Heath Blossom Petal Bloom Trio Rose Gold Necklace, £110

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April Chocolate Brown. Think, ‘if muted was to make a statement’. With beige and neutral shades already trending in 2021, chocolate brown is now having a moment of its own. Appropriately timed for Easter, this rich hue is big in both fashion and interior design. Complement with gold or silver accessories.

Shrek. The critically acclaimed Broadway production of Shrek the Musical hits Netflix UK on 1 April along with the franchise’s classic film series. But wait, an ogre on a What’s Hot list? Absolutely. A guaranteed hit for all the family.

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Takeaway Café Felmo’s is open Tues-Sun 9am-3.30 Pub garden open from 12th April everyday

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Five Fab Books Out In April

Whether you’re longing for a Parisian getaway or simply want to lose yourself in a slice of wartime London life, April’s book releases are sure to sate your literary appetite.

Other People’s Children by R.J. Hoffmann Touching on one of the most delicate subjects of human nature, this moving debut follows a young couple whose fertility problems lead to further heartache when a child they plan to adopt is reclaimed by its teenage mother. Exploring the complexities of a close family, they must make agonising decisions in the name of love. Published by Simon & Shuster on April 6 Paradise, Nevada by Dario Diofebi Steeped in the feverish neon wonder that is Las Vegas, 26

this heart-stopping tale has all the thrills you would expect from a high-stakes poker setting, with the surprising addition of depth and compassion for the four characters who are willing to risk everything for the ultimate slice of the American dream. Eloquent, comedic and bristling with energy from Diofebi, himself once a professional poker player. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing on April 6 Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau Detailing everything one would expect from a love story set in the City of Lights, including divine Parisian pastries, languid afternoons strolling through art galleries and, of course, stolen kisses in the shadow of the Tour Eiffel, this is the ideal read for anyone who is

longing for a continental getaway. Published by Delacorte Press on April 6 Instinct by Jason M. Hough New York Times bestselling author Jason M. Hough brings us this intriguing and heartstopping thriller which takes place in the kind of American backwater town where anything can happen, and does. It follows officer Mary Whittaker as she does her best to unravel several highly unusual incidents. It soon becomes clear that the townsfolk are losing their survival instincts and that Mary must fight to uncover the truth before she loses her own. Published by Skybound Books on April 6 The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin Set in August 1939 as London prepares for war when Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe, Grace Bennett’s realised dream of living in the city doesn’t quite meet up to her expectations as she finds her day-to-day life blighted by bombings, blackouts and bunkers. However, she quickly realises that her role as a humble bookseller may be just what the local community needs to find solace and light during a period where London was perpetually doused in darkness and death. Published by Hanover Square Press on March 2

Takeaway Café Felmo’s is open Tues-Sun 9am-3.30 We can’t wait to see you back at the Pub and Garden from April 12th Grange Road, Felmersham MK43 7EU

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The Composing Cook The Composing Cook

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH A TWIST

Once you’ve made my Greek Meatballs, there is no going back. In a traditional recipe you would use breadcrumbs but I have gone for Dorito’s instead. These are very tasty and very moreish.

In a large bowl add the beef & pork mince. Add the Doritos’s to a food processor and blitz to create breadcrumbs. Add to the mixing bowl with the beef & pork mince. Now add the potato, onion, garlic & parsley to the same food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Add this mixture to the large bowl also. Now add all the other ingredients, except the oil, into the large bowl and, using your hands, mix well together. Using your hands, divide the mixture to create between 36-38 patties. Roll each patty into a ball and squash each ball down gently to create an oval shape.

INGREDIENTS: 500g beef mince 250g pork mince 100g Doritos cool original flavour corn chips 1 (350g) large potato (unpeeled) 1 medium white onion peeled 3 cloves of garlic handful fresh parsley 1 tablespoon dried mint 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 large egg a good grinding of pepper oil for frying Makes 36-38 Meatballs 28

Fill a large frying pan with approximately ½ cm of oil and turn the gas on and warm the oil. Add between 6-8 meatballs in the pan and fry for about 2 minutes a side. You want them to be golden brown. Place on a plate with kitchen towel to soak up any excess oil.

LET’S TAKE THIS A STEP FURTHER: This is traditionally served with Greek chips, Greek feta salad, Greek tzatziki sauce. You can watch me make the Greek Meatballs and all the above accompaniments by visiting my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/TheComposingCook Never fear, I haven’t totally forgotten about Easter. If you visit my website (above), I have created a recipe video called “How To Make Roast Lamb Lasagne using leftovers from a Roast Dinner” which also uses any leftover veg and potatoes.

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East-West Rail: Be Fair to Bedford. Re-Consult. Get the Best Route. In January 2020, Grant Schapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, announced the preferred route for East West Rail between Bedford and Cambridge as a northern route from Bedford’s Midland station. Of all proposed routes being considered, the northern route’s departure from Bedford crosses through extensive and geographically difficult green belt land and as such is comparatively costly, technically difficult to build and is extensively damaging to the environment. Through recent Bedford Borough and local parish council meetings, residents in areas affected have expressed their extreme frustration at the lack of consultation carried out. Simply put, residents along the chosen northern route were unaware of the 2019 East West Rail public consultation process and were not contacted for their input. BFARe is a grassroots campaign comprised of Bedford Borough residents. Our vision is to secure a better route for the Bedford to East Coast Mainline section of East-West Railway. We would like the public consultation re-run in full so that a better route will be secured which has the lowest possible impact on the environment and on residents. BFARe supports the East-West Rail route link for Bedford Borough and the economic benefits this will bring. BFARe is petitioning for the original 2019 East-West Rail consultation to be re-run in full. We would like the re-consultation to be conducted with thorough notification to all households in all affected areas along each route corridor. We are requesting complete disclosure of comparative cost information and full disclosure of the freight use for each potential route. We also request that EWR consider alternative route options such as an in-out option at Bedford Midland to and from the south of Bedford. Finally, the BFARe campaign requests East West Rail fully publish a detailed re-calculation of all the assessment criteria and all cost calculations for the routes A-E before a final decision on the route corridor and alignment is made.

To read our research, follow our progress and join the campaign, please visit the web site: www.BFARe.org.uk and register your interest.

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Eggcellent fun: Activities for the Easter holiday We’ve had our fair share of trying to entertain the kids this year. But, with most children having been back at school for a few weeks now, why not make the most of the break together. Of course, for us, there’ll be lots of chocolate Easter egg hunting involved. But if you’re stuck for ideas on other things to do, why not try some of these.

1. Go fly a kite! Kids love flying kites and seeing them soar through the air. You could let your child choose one or get creative and make one. Either way, once they master how to keep it up in the air, it’s the best feeling all round. If your little one is too small to hold a kite, make a smaller one they can pull along in the air behind them. 2. Sow sunflower seeds. Now is a great time to plant sunflower seeds. They are a really easy flower to grow and grow quickly enough for little ones to see the results of their nurturing. They just need a warm, sunny spot on a windowsill to start them off. 3. Enjoy a walk – there are some lovely places in our beautiful town. Why not head out for some fresh air, go on a bear hunt in your local woods, go nature spotting or take a treasure map with you, and tick things off as you see them. 4. Camp out in the garden. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to go anywhere for a little while. But why not bring the fun home and sleep under the stars in your garden in a tent with a sleeping bag. If it gets cold outside, you can always retreat into the comfort of the living room.

Take a look at @mammas_house on Instagram for how to make a bird feeder. 32

5. Make a bird feeder. Encourage birds into the garden using items you might already have at home for crafting, such as milk bottles and juice cartons.

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Woodland wildflowers to spot in

springtime

Take a walk into your nearest local woodland during spring and you’ll start to see the woodland floor reawakening with new growth and colour.

The pretty wood anemone is one of the first wildflowers to bloom in March, taking advantage of warmer temperatures and the light streaming in through the leafless canopy above. The star-like flower is held on thin stems above deep green leaves. When the sun shines, the delicate blooms open fully. Look closely and you’ll see an explosion of golden yellow stamens in the centre, surrounded by pure white petals that are often tinged with pink. If the weather turns cloudy or the rain arrives, the flowers will close up. According to folklore, fairies would jump inside the flower and close it up to shelter from the rain! Wood anemones spread very slowly, so if you discover them growing in a woodland you could be standing in a very special habitat: ancient woodland. In England, ancient woodland is classed as an area that has been wooded since 1600. Ancient woodlands cover only 2.4 per cent of the UK, and because they have been left relatively undisturbed by humans, they are home to a huge range of wildlife, from insects that rely on decaying wood to specialist woodland bird species. The delicate wood sorrel is another wildflower of ancient woodlands, flowering a little later than the wood anemone in April. Look for it growing within cushions of moss on fallen logs. The small white flowers are veined with pink, while the vibrant green leaves are trefoil shaped, comprising three heart-shaped leaflets. A favourite of wild food foragers, the leaves have a refreshing citrus taste and are said to be good for quenching a thirst while out walking. Wild garlic is another staple on the forager’s calendar – its long, smooth leaves being a tasty addition to salads or the base for a wild pesto.

It grows in abundance on the the floors of damp, shady woodlands and in spring its pungent, garlicky scent is unmistakeable. A member of the onion family, its attractive starry flowers appear in rounded clusters from around April and like wood anemone, the presence of wild garlic indicates an ancient woodland habitat. As well as providing a bountiful source of wild food for us, wild garlic is also valuable for pollinating insects, including bees and hoverflies. As spring marches on, and the early woodland flowers begin to die back, other blooms start to take centre stage. From late April, beautiful seas of bluebells will begin to carpet the woodland floor, filling the air with a sweet, subtle scent. Although the bluebell is familiar to everyone and needs no introduction, it is really worth crouching down and taking a really close look at these stunning little flowers. In each nodding bell you’ll see many nuances of colour from blue to deep violet. Bluebells are slow to colonise a woodland – it can take more than five years for a seed to grow into a bulb. As a result of their slow growth, the presence of drifts of bluebells is again an

indicator that an area has been wooded for hundreds of years. Growing in amongst bluebells, you’ll often encounter other wildflowers which add a splash of colour to the spring palette. The blooms of red campion bring a vivid pink which contrasts beautifully with the violet-blue haze of bluebells. As well as being attractive to our eyes, red campion is a favoured nectar source of many insects including the orange-tip butterfly and the longer-tongued bumblebees, who are able to reach down into its long-tubed flowers. After what feels like a long winter, it is a treat for all the senses to head into a woodland and see the bare branches gradually becoming greener and new life and colour emerging on the forest floor. This spring, make sure you immerse yourself in this sensual spectacle and fully appreciate all that a woodland in springtime has to offer! Important: Please remember when out exploring our woodlands to stick to the footpaths, as trampling on a wildflower can damage its leaves and seriously affect its chances of survival. Also, if out foraging, make sure you gather responsibly and only consume if you are 100 per cent sure of a plant’s identity. 37

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Across

1. Gracefully thin (7) 5. Body space between the thorax and pelvis (7) 9. Plural; a living organism (7) 10. Common rock; very hard, granular (7) 11. Natural inclination or tendency to something (5) 12. Having many houses, offices, factories (9) 13. Small, delicate (6) 14. Lockable metal rings (8) 16. Landing space used by helicopters (8) 19. Point equally distant from every point on the circumference (6) 22. Motherhood (9) 24. An instrument that measures, gives a visual display of an amount or level (5) 26. Dessert; deep fried pastry tubes filled with cream (7) 27. Plural; terrestrial annelid worm (7) 28. Dishcloth (7) 29. Core fortified area of a city, usually built in a high place (7)

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Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before Friday 9th April Prize Crossword, BedsLife, 17 Foxbrook, Stevington, Bedfordshire MK43 7QY Last Months Crossword Winner – Angela Street, Houghton Conquest For last months answers please turn to P70

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ig b e e r h t t a k o A lo new releases

Coming 2 America As sequels go, a gap of 33 years isn’t insignificant. But that’s how long it’s taken Eddie Murphy – famous for Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor, Doctor Dolittle, Holy Man and others – to reprise his iconic character Prince Akeem, who enchanted audiences way back in 1988 as the African Prince Akeem dropped into New York City in pursuit of a wife. Naturally the story has moved on a generation and in this reworking our main man is returning to the states to groom his son into becoming the new Crown Prince. Coming 2 America is a movie that flows nicely, with co-stars Arsenio Hall (Akeem’s advisor Semmi) and James Earl Jones (as his father) leading the line. It’s cheeky, pseudo-cultural, edgy fun, and is a perfect spring feelgood flick. The only regret is that so few will be able to see this at the cinema… America ain’t what it used to be! 40

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Nicolas Cage, playing himself, accepts the offer to attend a billionaire fan’s birthday bash, inadvertently working as a CIA agent. The party host is a drug kingpin and he becomes ensconced in the movie industry as the intelligence service look to put a case together to nail the super-criminal. What develops is a rather engaging, absorbing, original take on a pretty standard concept and Cage is, well, Cage. In many ways it’s like an episode of Ricky Gervais’s Extras without the insults. In support, Pedro Pascal and Tiffany Haddish are great foils in a casting that works well. It may be too early to suggest this is a triumphant return to form, but against a landscape of precious few releases, it will garner more attention than it would have otherwise received, and for Cage that’s probably well deserved.

Godzilla v Kong The superhero smackdown, released in cinemas and streamed through HBO, has everything you would expect of the genre – CGI at every turn, a combative plot, a colossal budget, and implausible outcomes. Alexander Skarsgard, Millie Bobby Brown and Rebecca Hill star in director Adam Wingard’s repositioning of these two giants; with Godzilla, who previously saved the world (on more than one occasion) striking out at Kong and all those who protect him. The battle rages hard and long, and the mechanics are magnificent. Ultimately though, you are left with the feeling that while these two ogres fight for supremacy, us humans are mere pawns in the battle; a rather insignificant pimple on the backside of civilisation… just don’t tell that to the financiers behind this $200m colossus, who are most likely already licking their wounds.

Events for Carers from Carers in Bedfordshire Are you a carer? A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. To join any of our events listed please book in advance. To do so visit www.carersinbeds.org.uk and go to the What’s On page to book online, or email events@carersinbeds.org.uk or call Dawn on 07772 231183 (Mon – Thurs). All these events are on Zoom. If you sign up, we will send you the joining details nearer the time of the event. Mindfulness Course for Carers (via Zoom) Thursday 8th April 2.00pm - 3.00pm (For 8 consecutive weeks) For carers and former carers An explanation of what mindfulness is, how it is beneficial followed by an introduction to different techniques.

Understanding Stress (via Zoom) Monday 12th April 7:00pm - 8:30pm or Tuesday 13th April 3:00pm - 4:30pm For carers, the person they care for and former carers How to identify triggers of stress and ways of coping with it. Managing Challenging Behaviour with Primary School Age Children (6-week course via Zoom) Tuesday 13th, 20th, 27th April and 4th, 11th and 18th May 6:00pm - 7:00pm Aimed towards parent carers but open to all Based on the Manchester Model of Challenging Behaviour for Primary School Aged Children, this 6-week course aims to promote positive relationships, attachment and pro-social behaviour through sensitive responding. Managing Worries and Improving Self-esteem Wednesday 28th April 6.30pm - 8.00pm Young adult carers 18 - 30 years old A talk with young adult carers about managing their worries and improving their self-esteem.

The Great Outdoors

Wildlife around the World Big Cats in the Masai Mara Greg Coyne, Wildlife Photographer 42

I have so many images from my trips to the Mara in Kenya over the years, that I have taken the decision to feature these over a few editions. This first instalment focusses on the big cats of the Mara and their young. The beauty of being in the Mara is that you never know what you may see, with every bend in the road throwing up the possibility of a totally unique experience. For me, the real excitement is seeing the young cubs interacting with their parents. Some parents are very tolerant of their youngsters while others are not, especially the fathers. There are three main well-known big cats in the Mara - the leopard, the cheetah and, of course, the lion. I have included images of all three, along with details about what was happening at the time. The leopard pictured in the tree is called Fig. When we saw her on our first game drive, she was with her youngster feeding on an old kill. However, there was a pride of lions not far away and on the lookout for food. On hearing the lions approaching, Fig and her daughter split up and Fig climbed the tree as fast as she could. As you can see from the prickles in the tree, her branch was not the most comfortable of hideouts. But the lions moved past, digging out a warthog from its hole instead, and Fig and her cub were safe. Cheetahs and leopards rarely win in a fight with a lion.

There are three main wellknown big cats in the Mara - the leopard, the cheetah and, of course, the lion. We came across the two young lion cubs, playing with each other, late one afternoon. A lioness will stay close to her cubs but young cubs often roam a short distance to play, which is always great fun to watch. We must have watched these two cubs from our jeep for an hour or more. Cheetahs and their cubs really are something special. While lions are tolerant yet wary of safari jeeps and leopards are very elusive when they see or hear a jeep, cheetahs are almost attracted to them. They like to take advantage of the shade they produce and sometimes they will jump onto the jeep, using it as a vantage point to see out over the plains of the Mara. Cheetahs have even been known to jump into the jeep to get a better view and, as long as you stay calm and relaxed, they will have no interest in you. It is, however, difficult to stay calm and relaxed when you are so close to these beautiful yet very wild animals. If you would like to see more images from the Mara please check out my website gregcoynephotography. co.uk or my Facebook Page Greg Coyne Photography. I am hoping to return to the Mara in 2021, once the Covid situation is resolved and we can travel again.

You can now make appointments online! Book an appointment with a vet or nurse via our website Visit our website or Facebook page. acornhousevets.com/online-appointments

Acorn House Veterinary Hospital Linnet Way, Brickhill, Bedford MK41 7HN

Tel: 01234 261839 www.acornhousevets.com Register online today. Online Appts Ad Beds Local AW_2019_A.indd 1

04/03/2019 11:06

Lockdown is easing what does this mean for veterinary practices?

Veterinary practices have remained open throughout lockdown to provide essential veterinary services. To support the “stay at home” and social distancing messages, veterinary practices have been offering video or telephone consultations as an alternative to on-site appointments where appropriate; and have been asked to delay elective procedures where it is safe to do so.

Procedures available Veterinary practices will be permitted to offer all usual procedures after 12th April if it is safe to do so. The exact timing and arrangements for this will vary from practice to practice. Check your veterinary practice’s website and Facebook page for details.

Social distancing Clients should continue to wear a mask and sanitise their hands when entering veterinary practices. Social distancing is important for the safety of staff and clients. Practices are also keen to avoid veterinary staff having to isolate after contact with clients who later test positive for COVID as this could have serious implications for a practice being able to provide essential veterinary care. For this reason, it is likely that your veterinary surgeon will continue to take your pet into the consulting room without you for the time being. At Acorn House we will continue

with our “meet and greet” receptionist who will check you in from the car park. Clients may wait inside their cars or underneath our purpose-built wooden gazebo. At the end of the appointment, one client may enter the well-ventilated reception area to collect medication and make future appointments.

Remote consultations Video or telephone consultations will remain an option if clients prefer – there can be advantages beyond social distancing, such as not getting stuck in traffic and pets being more relaxed in their own environments.

Why is it so busy? Veterinary practices have been under the same pressures of other businesses trying to manage services in less efficient, socially-distanced ways and work around staff members having to self-isolate or shield. Pet ownership has increased significantly during lockdown, so every veterinary practice is looking after a greater number of pets than this time last year! Acorn House has expanded the veterinary team with two additional experienced veterinary surgeons so that we can continue to provide our usual high standard of veterinary care to our increasing client base.

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Home Counties Loft Ladders, Quality You Can Trust! These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Home Counties Loft Ladders come in. The company, based locally, o ffers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50sqft o f boarding and a light - all fully fitted in less than a day from just £355! But it’s not just the affordability of the package that makes Home Counties Loft Ladders stand out, as manager Jamie Oakley explains: ‘Our

watchwords are Quality, Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use f or all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen, so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and v alue in that we offer our services at a price people c an afford.

- that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles. At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for

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McCann’s Motors Does Safety Sell? Richard McCann looks at how popularity and safety are not always the same…

Since most of us didn’t have anywhere to go last year, it’s little wonder that not many people chose to buy a new car. Sales were down 30 percent. Yet there were still 1,631,064 new cars delivered to their lucky owners. Considering lockdown this is a remarkably robust performance, aided no doubt by dealerships that rapidly shifted to offering a ‘click-and-collect’ service for buyers who needed a new car when the manufacturers’ sites were closed. It’s also interesting that electric cars and plug-in hybrids sales have risen significantly, now

taking more than 10% of the UK car market. So where did the money go? Which cars sprinted to the front to take the gold medal and which were left back in the changing room? 1) Ford Fiesta (49,174 sold) 2) Vauxhall Corsa (46,439 sold) 3) Volkswagen Golf (43,109 sold) 4) Ford Focus (39,372 sold) 5) Mercedes-Benz A-Class (37,608 sold) 6) Nissan Qashqai (33,972 sold) 7) MINI Hatch (31,233 sold) 8) Volkswagen Polo (26,965 sold) 9) Ford Puma (26,294 sold) 10) Volvo XC40 (25,023 sold)

ASTON MARTIN BACK ON THE GRID I was pleased to be invited to the launch of ‘our own’ Aston Martin’s new Formula 1 car, marking the return of the constructor to the grid after 61 years away! Following the rebranding of the Racing Point team over the winter, Aston Martin launched the AMR21, resplendent in a striking shade of British Racing Green – although sadly not the same as their iconic ‘60s hue. The move into F1 is the keystone of a bold plan to revive the flagging fortunes of the company and turn it into a sporting and commercial brand to rival Ferrari. Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel made his first public appearance with the team at the event following his winter move from Ferrari, joining new team-mate Lance Stroll, son of the team’s money-man Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll. The team is realistic, focussing on being a consistent points scorer rather than expecting to win the Championship. There are new rules this year so they could be in with a good chance – let’s hope so!

Now, to me, something matters more than popularity or performance. More than economy. Surely what matters most when we take our precious loved-ones on today’s busy roads is SAFETY? So who makes the safest cars? It’s not easy to sort this out from all the stats out there. Safety can be measured in many ways. But to me, as good a test as any is to measure the lowest percentage of fatalities in accidents. There are actually nine models which consistently have the lowest fatality rate. According to

the IIHS, which analyses crash data and tests cars that rate is fewer than 6 driver deaths per 1-million registered vehicles (adjusted for fewer than 1-million vehicles.) Those are: • Audi A4 AWD • Honda Odyssey • Kia Sorrento 2WD • Lexus RX350 AWD • Mercedes GL-Class AWD • Subaru Legacy AWD • Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD • Toyota Sequoia 4WD • Volvo XC90 AWD On the flip side of that, there’s also a list of what some people debatably call the ‘least safe’ cars. The rate for those is 46 driver deaths per million registered vehicles or nearly eight times more dangerous than the safer cars listed above. Those are: • Kia Rio • Nissan Versa Sedan & Hatchback

• Hyundai Accent (2-door & 4-door) • Chevrolet Aveo • Chevrolet Camaro • Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4WD • Honda Civic • Ford Focus • Nissan Cube Before you all start shouting, yes I’m sure there will be opinions in strong disagreement – for example smaller, cheaper cars may be more likely to be bought by young, inexperienced drivers, who in turn are perhaps more likely to get in a serious accident. As for the appearance on the list of the giant Chevy, who knows? Perhaps a big 4x4 imparts a misplaced sense of invulnerability? Either way, it’s an interesting topic for discussion…

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National Gardening Week The country’s biggest annual celebration of gardening will take place from Monday 26 April to Sunday 2 May 2021. The event is run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and has grown in popularity every year with National Gardening Week seeing thousands of people sharing their ‘passion for plants’ around the country and talking about what they’ve grown on social media. National Gardening Week is the nation’s biggest celebration of gardening and raises awareness of the difference that gardens and gardening can make to the lives of everyone in the UK. It inspires more people, particularly the next generation of gardeners, to experience the joy of growing and create beautiful green spaces.

TOP TIPS FROM NATIONAL GARDENING WEEK • Fill containers including window-boxes and hanging baskets with flowers. They might need protection on frosty nights still to come in exposed gardens and northern areas. If plants can’t be bought locally or online – quick-growing calendula, cosmos, nasturtiums and zinnias are especially rewarding to sow next year. • Salads are especially welcome; sow lettuces, radishes and salad onions indoors during cold weather. Even if you only have patio containers or tubs on balconies, masses of tasty fresh salad can be grown. Lettuces can be snipped when they are small seedlings and go on to produce another crop. • Consider leaving at least some unmown next year. The array of flowers that will grow and insects that use the long grass is surprising. • Try your hand at home composting. Simply stack waste material, ideally 50:50 soft green material such as grass trimmings and vegetable scraps with denser stuff – pulled up plants, cardboard and scrunched up newspaper work well. Aim for a 1m cube or more, ideally in a bin, for the best results. • Help worms by covering the soil around plants with compost, straw, wood or bark chips (mulching) and hoe only shallowly to be rid of weeds. • Early May is the ideal time to sow annual flowers including wildflowers. To prepare the ground next year, remove weeds with the shallowest hoeing, water the border and the following day sow seeds in short rows so they can be easily weeded before they get too big. • Plant ‘bulbs’ such as dahlias and gladioli for easy late summer colour • Put plants such as heleniums, phlox and sedum in your borders in the spring, make sure there are supports to prevent them from flopping after summer rain.

COMMUNITY GARDENS

If you do not have a garden of your own or you are looking to connect and socialise with other likeminded keen gardeners, we have put together a list of local community gardens and projects you can get involved with. Treewell Farm, Moggerhanger Grow your own fruit and vegetables within Treewell’s stunning walled garden and accompanying Victorian glasshouse! In exchange for your hard work, you get to keep what you produce and share with your fellow Treewellers. Sessions are flexible. They currently have two florists and a few chefs who are community gardeners and will be running a various workshops. Follow on Instagram or Facebook @Treewellfarm for further information or Email customerservice@treewellfarm.com Tel: 07736 573982 www.treewellfarm.com The Yard CIC – Elstow A new social enterprise set up to provide rural and sustainable work experience to ASD and SEN students/young adults, at their new allotment. The Yard is about learning and sharing skills, from growing veg, to social media, to planning to team building. If you are a local business or a school with SEN students and are looking for work experience, please send them an email hello@theyardelstow.org.uk or to volunteer call Tel 07950 651817. Abbey Fields Gardening Group Abbey Fields community have joined forces to carry out a variety of greenspace projects including planting an orchard, bulb planting, roundabout maintenance, and brook clearances. If you are a local resident and/ or looking for a friendly, pro-active and passionate gardening group to join, then get in touch by emailing hkonstan@ntlworld.com

VOLUNTEERING IN PARKS

Whether you have half an hour to spare or more, there are lots of ways you can volunteer in Bedford’s parks and open spaces. No experience necessary and all training will be provided.

Priory Country Park Volunteers The group meets one Sunday a month. Weekend volunteers are set group tasks, but volunteers are also welcome every Monday and Thursday to join in with the Park Warden. Tel 01234 718012 or email pcp@bedford.gov.uk Friends of Harrold-Odell Country Park The Friends work with the Rangers of the Park and Bedford Borough Council to help maintain and improve the site for both visitors and wildlife. Tel 01234 720016 or email hocp@bedford.gov.uk Bedford Park Volunteers The volunteer group meets at 10.00 am on the first Sunday of every month at the Bandstand in the Park, and works for 2 hours. The group undertakes a variety of functions including a responsibility for the upkeep of the central beds and the maintenance of the community herb garden in front of East Lodge. Email: hdarbon@ntlworld.com Friends of Putnoe Wood and Mowsbury Hillfort The Friends of Putnoe Wood and Mowsbury Hillfort help to safeguard the future of Putnoe Wood and Mowsbury Hillfort. The Friends meet every Wednesday from 1.30pm to 4pm for their weekly tasks. Membership is free. Email contact@ putnoemowsburyfriends.org.uk www.putnoemowsburyfriends.org.uk Bromham Conservation Group The group undertake voluntary tasks including coppicing trees, cutting back pathways, wildflower meadows, building nesting areas, clearing brooks and looking after the Community Orchard. They generally organise 3 sessions a month from 10am – 12.30pm and anytime that can be given is greatly appreciated. Email bcg@peterargyle.plus.com Friends of Hill Rise Nature Reserve Hill Rise is a beautiful Community Green Flag Local Nature Reserve owned by Bedford Borough Council and jointly managed by local volunteers and the Council. Despite its small size, the reserve is able to support a great variety of wildlife and there is always something to see at any time of the year. Email Shalaine and Peter at info@hillrisenaturereserve.org.uk

Gardening Service

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Science Did you know? Stelios Mores

FUEL FOR THE SUN

The holy grail of energy research has been the reproduction of conditions present in the Sun. It is the process which fuels most main sequence stars in our galaxy and therefore the myriads of galaxies which populate the Universe. It is the cleanest means of generating energy known and relies on hydrogen, the most plentiful element which emanates throughout the Universe. The conditions which prevail on stars give rise to the conversion of mass into energy as determined by Einstein’s famous equation E = mc2. The process responsible for this is known as fusion, whereby two (or sometimes more) particles combine to form a number of particles which are overall lighter than the original particles which had come together to combine. A mass deficit exists and appears as energy (heat, light, etc). The advantage of this process is that the c2 part of Einstein’s equation is a very large number (ie. 89,875,517,873,681,760) which is

EGGHEAD

Researchers at the Villanova University in the US discovered that when it comes to head injuries, peoples’ heads and eggs have a lot more in common than we think. Their studies have shown how the similarities between the way in which eggs respond to sudden shocks, turns and jolts is similar to those experienced by the human skull and the brain within. The soft yolk, which is surrounded by the egg white, resembles the way in which the brain is protected by the thin layer of cerebrospinal fluid. Using the egg as a way of simulating the brain and an everyday egg scrambler, which rotates and vibrates an egg and is capable of scrambling it within its shell, the researchers subjected an egg to various translational (ie. moving in a straight line) and rotational (ie. spinning) sudden impacts, 58

varying their severity and replicating conditions often encountered during sporting injuries. It is known that such shocks temporarily deform the brain, damaging the delicate neural networks in their wake, which sometimes results in serious and detrimental outcomes for the individual involved. The outcome of their findings was somewhat unexpected, as the effects of rotational forces were shown to be significantly more serious than those of translational impact. This was determined to be due to the way centrifugal forces push the yolk outwards initially creating a pressure within the egg white which compresses the yolk. Once the rotational force is removed, the yolk expands outwards as this pressure is removed. This sounds painful for an egg, let alone a brain, and explains why certain head injuries which appear to be low impact are in fact far more serious than initially thought. Eggheads beware!

multiplied by the amount of mass converted to give the amount of energy produced. To put this in context, the annual global energy usage is around 580 quadrillion Joules (ie. 580,000,000,000,000,000J) and to generate this through fusion would require no more than 6.5kg of material. The attraction of such a solution to our energy requirements is plain to see. So, in an attempt to do this in a controlled fashion, physicists have to recreate the conditions present on a star in a contained manner. A feat which to date has proved elusive due to the technical challenges that this poses. That is not to say that progress has not been made and, in fact, the most promising approach has been a device known as the Tokamak. A Tokamak consists of a giant doughnut shaped enclosure within which particles can be accelerated to relativistic speeds (ie. approaching the speed of light) before being smashed into one another. This is done using extremely powerful electromagnets requiring superconducting coils to enable them to attain the required magnetic strength, as well as potential differences (ie. high voltages), which drive these particles forward and in reverse. Both magnetic flux and voltage potentials are varied in complex manners to accelerate the particles whilst containing them within the doughnut enclosure. This is extremely crucial as the energy generated by the fusion reaction means that the plasma (ie. the high energy particles within the doughnut structure) reaches millions of degrees Celsius, a temperature

that would melt and/or burn anything which it comes into contact with. A burst of energy from a laser is often used to assist the fusion process but, up to now, the fusion process has never reached a level whereby it is self-sustaining and produces more energy overall. The only example of fusion selfsustaining and generating copious amounts of energy for a brief period of time is during the explosion of a hydrogen bomb, which can hardly be considered to be a controlled process or well-intended. One of the main constraints which impacts the Tokamak technology is a reliance on tritium as a fuel source, which is the rarest radioisotope of hydrogen containing two extra neutrons in its nucleus. The problem becomes more apparent when one realises that the entire world supply of tritium currently stands at no more than a meagre twenty kilograms (20kg) which, by our calculations, would give the world about three years’ worth of energy. In response to this conundrum, researchers at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility have started to work on a programme of experiments aimed at manufacturing tritium and deuterium (the more common radioisotope of hydrogen). During this work programme the JET scientists will study the behaviour of tritium (and its lighter sibling deuterium) in preparation for the ITER experiments which are scheduled for 2025 and which promise to replicate the self-sustaining energy generating conditions that fuel the Sun.

LITTLE EINSTEIN’S CORNER – FLOATING THE EGGHEAD

For this experiment you will need a large bowl, 6 heaped tablespoons of salt (dishwasher salt is good enough), an egg, an indelible pen or two and some water. Begin by drawing your egghead’s face using your pens.

Fill the bowl with water to about ¾ full. Place the egg in it and watch it sink. Remove the egg from the bowl and gradually add the salt, mixing it until it dissolves. Now place the egg back into the bowl. It should now be floating. If it does not you may need to add some more salt. The reason the egg now floats is because the water has become much more dense with the salt dissolved in it and so it can lift the egg to the surface. 59

Bedford Town

Football Club

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Next season will see exciting developments for Bedford Town’s youth teams as two new facilities will be fully utilised for the first time. Younger Eagles have already enjoyed the use of exclusive facilities at Fiona Way, off Norse Road in Bedford, but now the older teams will also have their own home with the superb facilities at Kings field. Kings Field is located on the Great Ouse Way between Biddenham, Bromham and Clapham and will be the new home for Bedford Town’s youth development sides from under 12 and above. The youth teams will be able to enjoy the facilities that include a pavilion with a small function room, kitchen, and possible bar. These will also be open for community use in due course. Youth Chairman Dennis O’Meara, along with the late David Taylor, worked tirelessly to get both Fiona Way and Kings Field leases secured, he said, “We are delighted to have finally secured these fantastic facilities for the Football Club. I am sure David will be smiling down on us with pride as to how far we have come with his help and support along the way. It is another positive step forward that will provide the necessary foundation from which to grow the Youth Section and support our drive for continuous improvement. More information about Eagles youth teams can be found at: www.bedfordtownfc-youthdevelopment.com.

MOBILE: 07760 821221 EMAIL: INFO@MHALLSELECTRICAL.CO.UK

Bedford Blues would like to place on record its thanks to our wonderful #BluesFamily who have smashed through our Crowdfunding target as we return to Championship action. Raising over £75,000 online through the platform, and an additional £25,000 privately, we are delighted to announce an incredible total of £100,000 has been secured from our supporters!

The Complete Roofing Specialists

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ROOFING

This figure will go a long way to covering the additional costs incurred for COVID testing, protocols and operational costs to compete in this season’s shortened competition. As an additional thank you on behalf of the club, everyone who has donated to the Crowdfunder will have their name embossed into the background of next season’s playing jerseys for the 2021/22 campaign. We have always known that the Blues Family are the best and most generous supporters in the Championship, and this has again highlighted the power of the Bedford community in demonstrating why you are the envy of the rest of the league.

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We urge supporters to take advantage of live streaming all Bedford Blues matches this season, as we plan to emerge stronger from this challenging past 12 months and enter our 135th year as the town’s Club with our fans right behind us. www.bedfordrugby.co.uk

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Garden Sevices/Supplies Bryan Johnson Landscapes Eden Tree Specialists K H Garden Services MJ Nicholson Prestige Lawns TPI Garden Services Whites ES Ltd Garden Machinery

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Mechanic Two Wheels or More

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Roofing/Roofing Merchants

Laundry & Ironing Services Bubbles Laundrette

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Kitchen Doors Dream Doors

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Property Maintenance

Horse Riding Tinsleys Riding School

Artistry Property Agents Home Move

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Upholstery 39 64 50 64

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Used Car Buyers Paul Jones Cars

Plasterer CM Plastering

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Pet Supplies Thumpers Pet Supplies

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CLOCK SALES & REPAIRS

Clock Repairs • Clock Sales Call Michael:

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FRENCH TUITION

Learn French at home

New members are welcome to join French daytime and evening classes on Zoom. Individual lessons are also available. Please see the website or call for details.

Thea Hughes BA (Hons) MA

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OLD CLOCKS WANTED FOR PARTS

DECORATING SERVICES

DAVID LOWER DECORATING SERVICES Interior & Exterior Decorating Local – Bedford based Over 40 years experience Competitive Rates Discounts for Senior Citizens

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COLOURS PROFESSIONAL Painter & Decorator based in Great Barford City & Guilds Level 2 No job too big or too small

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DOG WALKING SERVICE

FURNITURE RESTORATION ANTIQUE & MODERN FURNITURE REPAIR AND RESTORATION IN BEDFORDSHIRE

RESTORERS OF ANTIQUE & MODERN FURNITURE. FRENCH POLISHING. French Polishing&•MODERN Kitchen FURNITURE. Worktop Sand & Re-oil RESTORERS OF ANTIQUE FRENCH POLISHING. HAYDN CLARKE Desk Leathers Supplied & Fitted • On-Site French Polishing HAYDN CLARKE Work Insurance, Fire & Flood work TEL:Undertaken 01923 252738 MOBILE: 07958 710979 59 TEL: ELSTOW KEMPSTON, BEDS. MK428HH Collection & Delivery 01923ROAD, 252738 MOBILE: 07958 710979

E-MAIL: HCRESTORATIONS@SKY.COM WWW.HCRESTORATIONS.CO.UK 59Haydn ELSTOW ROAD, KEMPSTON, BEDS. MK428HH Call on 01234 851 624 or 07958 710 979 E-MAIL: HCRESTORATIONS@SKY.COM WWW.HCRESTORATIONS.CO.UK hcrestorations@sky.com • www.hcrestorations.co.uk

GARAGE DOORS

ALMOND GARAGE DOORS LTD  Bedford & Milton Keynes  New Sales & Installations  Existing Doors Automated  Spare Parts 01234 828953

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K H Garden Services

• All garden maintenance undertaken • Grass cutting, hedge cutting etc • Regular maintenance and contract work • Reliable, professional, friendly service • Locally based company - Fully insured

Contact: 07708 594746

HANDYMAN SERVICES

GARDENING SERVICES

T J Odd-Job Services

General House & Garden Maintenance Give me a call, see if I can help you Tony Joslin T: 01234 218923 M: 07761 561131 E: tjoddjobs@yahoo.com

HEATING SERVICES

WHITES ES LTD

Domestic & Commercial Garden Machinery College Farm, Lovell Road, Oakley, MK43 7RX 01234 826066 in info@whites-online.co.uk www.whites-online.co.uk www.whites-online.co.uk Tel: 01234 826066 College Farm, Lovell Road, Oakley, Bedford, MK43 7RX Sales, Service, Parts, Repair & Hire Briggs & Stratton Service Centre

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MECHANIC

Motorbike mechanic Rushden based with 25 years of experience Servicing, diagnostics, customisations Cars welcome too. For friendly and professional advice Honest service and reasonable rates. www.facebook.com/toowheelsormore 07737 489949

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MEDAL FRAMING

SPEECH THERAPY

R&M DUCHEMINS • Medal framing and medal mounting. • Full size and miniature • Regimental gifts, British replica replacement Army, RAF, medals. Royal Navy & Merchant. Tel: 01234 268738 Mobile: 07877 242408 www.duchemins.co.uk

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

• Roofing repairs or renewal • Facia/gutter cleaning and repair • Chimney/wall stone or brick repointing • Roof window installation • Any other ladder related work Local friendly service, happy to help in an emergency. Contact: Ashley Tel: 07851121782 Email: midgardpm@outlook.com

VEHICLE HIRE

• Self Drive Hire • Contract Rental • Financial Lease • Large Fleet of Standard • Refrigerated • Specialised Vehicles

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BEDSLIFE APP You can now read your favourite local community and lifestyle magazine on the go. Just search ‘BedsLife’ in the Google Play or Apple App Store and read your free digital copy every month

WEBSITE We are delighted to announce our new website, live in April! You can find lots of useful local information all in one place including interesting articles, local clubs and groups, what’s on calendar, local business directory and lots of useful resources. Visit www.bedslifemagazine.co.uk and don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter for information, competitions and offers straight to your inbox.

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS BedsLife and BedsLife SOUTH are hand delivered to an unrivalled 47,000 homes in Bedford and the surrounding villages. Get in touch now to see how we can help your business grow – Our readers are your potential customers!

Melchbourne Swineshead

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Milton Ernest Pavenham

Carlton & Chellington

Ravensden Oakley

Clapham

Stevington Turvey

Great Barford

Bromham

Blunham Biddenham

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Kempston Rural

Bedford

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Email advertising@bedslifemagazine.co.uk or call Christa on Tel 07827 015170 or Donna on Tel 07796 082836

Stagsden

UsefulResources ACCESS BEDFORD Works with the D/deaf and hard of hearing community to make Bedford Borough more accessible. They also have a facebook social group for Deaf people living in and around Bedford

BEDFORDSHIRE RURAL COMMUNITIES CHARITY Delivering a wide range of rural development and community projects. Tel 01234 838771 www.bedsrcc.org.uk

Tel 07376 262 873 www.accessbedford.org.uk

AGE UK BEDFORDSHIRE Local organisation solely devoted to the welfare of the over 50’s in Bedfordshire.

Offers a range of free and confidential talking therapies and specialist support to help you feel better.

Tel 01234 360510 www.ageuk.org.uk/bedfordshire

Tel 01234 880400 www.bedfordshirewellbeingservice.nhs.uk

AUTISM BEDFORDSHIRE Independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and their families across Bedfordshire.. Tel 01234 350704 www.autismbedfordshire.net BEDFORD BOROUGH LOCAL OFFER A place where parents and young people with Special Educational Needs and or disabilities can find clubs, activities and services to support them and their families Here you will find details of upcoming events, clubs and services available in the Borough of Bedford. www.localoffer.bedford.gov.uk

BEDFORD DAYCARE HOSPICE Provides individualised holistic care to patients suffering with a life-limiting condition from the point of diagnosis through treatment to remission or palliative care. Tel 01234 352 015 www.bedforddaycarehospice.org.uk

BEDFORDSHIRE WELLBEING SERVICE

BEDFORD WOMEN’S CENTRE Supporting women in the community who may have experienced Domestic Abuse or want more information about healthy relationships. Tel 01234 316801 www.bedfordwomenscentre.org.uk

BOLD Supporting and advocating for people with a learning disability and challenging behaviours. Tel 01234 352899 www.bo4ld.org.uk

CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE Local charity helping unpaid carers of all ages and backgrounds to cope with the stresses of their caring role. Tel 0300 111 1919 www.carersinbeds.org.uk

CATS PROTECTION Tel 0345 260 2505 www.cats.org.uk/bedford

CHUMS

MENCAP (BEDFORD)

Mental health and emotional wellbeing service for children and young people 01525 863924 www.chumscharity.org

A voluntary organisation operating in Bedford and surrounding areas supporting individuals with a learning disability and their families. Tel 07973 859940 www.bedfordmencap.org.uk

CITIZENS ADVICE An independent charitable organisation that helps people resolve their problems by providing information and advice. 0Tel 01234 867944 www.bedfordcab.org.uk

MINDBLMK Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing. Tel 0300 330 0648 www.mind-blmk.org.uk

COMMUNITY VOLUNTARY SERVICE BEDFORDSHIRE (CVS ) Support for voluntary and community sector organisations in Bedfordshire. Tel 01234 354366 www.cvsbeds.org.uk

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS THERAPY CENTRE BEDS & NORTHANTS Provides help, support and therapy for those with MS in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. Tel 01234 325781 www.mscentrebedsandnorthants.com

FACES (FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S EARLYHELP SERVICES)

OPEN DOOR Charity providing FREE and confidential counselling

local independent charity offering practical and emotional support to families under stress.

to young people aged 13 – 25.

01234 270601 www.facesbedford.org

Tel 01234 360388 www.bedfordopendoor.org.uk

FAMILIES FIRST BEDFORDSHIRE 01234 341977 www.familiesfirstbedfordshire.org.uk

FRIENDS FOR LIFE A local charity working to address the social isolation of residents in Bedford’s care homes Tel 07460 575410 www.friendsforlifebedford.org.uk

ROAD VICTIMS TRUST Offers a range of free support services to residents of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire who have been affected by fatal road collisions. Tel 01234 843345 www.rvtrust.org.uk

SMILEY CLUB (PART OF BEDFORD MENCAP) Provides a fun social club for boys and girls from 9 to 18 who have learning disabilities. Tel 07798 762 808

MEN AS VICTIMS Group support is provided for men who have experienced domestic abuse in a safe, therapeutic environment. This service is for male victims living in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire or Luton. Tel 01234 341977 www.bedsdv.org.uk/get-help/men-as-victims/

THE JOBS HUB Provides an all age careers advice and employment support service for people that live in and around Bedford. Tel 01234 223510 www.bedfordjobshub.co.uk 69

MARCH PRIZE CROSSWORD

Answers

James Mellor Creative

Bespoke Cartoons & Corporate Copywriting for publications, websites, social media, presentations and conferences www.jamesmellorcreative.com @jamesdfmellor 70

The Will Writing Company Mayfair House 11 Lurke Street Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 01234 964911

Free Will & Testament The Will Writing Company is celebrating its 22nd Year in business and is offering a free Will & Testament (joint or single) to all readers. If you have been meaning to make a Will, now is your chance to take advantage of this exclusive offer and give you and your loved ones peace of mind. By making a Will, you decide who takes care of your children and who inherits your estate. Storage facility optional.

To take advantage of this offer and book an appointment or for further information please call n the above number between the hours of 9:00am-5:30pm Monday to Friday.

OFFER ENDS 30th April 2021

FREE WILL VOUCHER

This voucher entitles you to a FREE Mirror Will (normal cost £125) or a FREE Single Will (normal cost £85)

Valid until 30th April 2021 The Will Writing Company

Mayfair House, 11 Lurke Street, Bedford, Beds, MK40 3HZ

Tel 01234 964911

Email:enquiries@thewillwritingco.co.uk

Terms and Conditions. Office and telephone appointments available. This voucher can not be exchanged for cash – The voucher must be produced at your appointment.

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“I really liked the fact that they were a local community run business” Janet Beard All glazing backed by our

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Love Your Home - Protect Your Windows - Save Money

BedsLife Magazine April 2021

Articles inside

Last month’s Crossword Answers

Useful Local Resources

Bedford Town FC

Bedford Blues

National Gardening Week

McCann’s Motors

The Great Outdoors

Marston Forest – Woodland Wildfl owers

Film Reviews

Prize Crossword

Mamma’s House

Five Fab Books out in April

Experts Tips for a Healthy Glow

The Composing Cook Recipe – Greek Meatballs

Keech Hospice Care

Mohammad Yasin MP

Council News

Richard Fuller MP

East West Rail – Be Fair to Bedford 3