BedsLife January 2021

FREE JANUARY

2021

inside About Town….What’s new in Bedford Animal Magic – We look at two fantastic new animal themed businesses Marston Vale Forest new monthly article £25 Prize Crossword

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council news Past Goes Online with Bedfordshire Community Histories Bedfordshire Archives have relaunched their Community Archives as Community Histories.

Despite having to restrict services during the pandemic, Bedfordshire Archives is continuing to find new ways for communities to explore its wealth of historical records. This project has been put together by staff and volunteers and provides hundreds of web pages packed with information on the history of over 180 Bedfordshire towns, villages, and hamlets. Information ranges from general introductory accounts to histories of individual buildings and people.

To make it even easier to access this information, Bedfordshire Archives released a series of videos on their Facebook page (@bedfordshirearchives). to provide an introduction to Community Histories, how to get the most out of the information available there and how to help the project grow.

Visit the Bedfordshire Archives website at https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/

The Jobs Hub is open for business!

COVID-19 has caused many uncertainties in the job market, with people struggling to find employment and some looking to retrain to pursue new career paths, The Jobs Hub is available to all residents of Bedford Borough who would like support and guidance to help them.

Whether you are looking for work, training or business opportunities, the Jobs Hub team are available to help however they can. It is open to people of all ages and can help to find employment, training and apprenticeships. If you’re looking at creating a CV, or have already secured an interview, the Jobs Hub has careers advisors who can help you to maximise your chances of success through any application.

The Jobs Hub also supports businesses looking to hire new staff. If you’re an employer and have vacancies, the Jobs Hub can refer the right people for the jobs you’re looking to fill.

If you would like to speak with a careers advisor or book a telephone or face-to-face appointment you can contact The Jobs Hub on 01234 223510 or email the.jobshub@bedford.gov.uk. Information is also available online at www.bedford.gov.uk/ jobshub. You can sign-up to regular updates and bulletins on employment and training opportunities with the Jobs Hub Vacancy and Apprenticeship Bulletin. Visit www.bedford.gov. uk/stayconnected to sign-up.

100 Bikes donated to Key Workers Over 100 free bike donations have been made to NHS key workers from Sustrans and Bedford Borough Council.

Bikes have been donated from numerous different sources including Govia Thameslink, Bedfordshire Police and through several ‘Give your bike a new life’ events – where members of the public were invited to donate their unused bikes. Mechanics and 4

volunteers from Sustrans, alongside the Bedford Park Rotary Club, worked hard to ensure that all donated bikes were cleaned and repaired to ensure they were roadworthy.

Sustrans staff always require more bikes! If you have a bike you no longer use and would like to see it go to a good home, please contact bedford@sustrans.org.uk.

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MP COLUMN

views from

Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire

We enter the new year, a new dawn, with new hope.

As we put the anxieties and anguish of 2020 behind us, my resolutions are that the Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out efficiently and without controversy; that the economy bounces back strongly based on the energy and skills of our businesses; and that we get real progress on our environmental goals in the run up to the major conference, COP26, which the UK is chairing later in the year.

As I write this, the first Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are being distributed having received approval from our independent healthcare regulators. As the first country to have a clinically approved vaccine, and with 40 million initial doses of this vaccine already secured, we have a special responsibility to ensure distribution is safe, fair and trusted.

The NHS has decades of experience in delivering large-scale vaccination programmes, not least in delivering the flu vaccine programme each year.

They have made extensive preparations for the UK’s Covid-19 vaccine deployment programme and established vaccination centres in a national network of hospitals across the country to manage the logistical challenge of storing this vaccine at very low temperatures.

The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is the first of seven different vaccine candidates to gain regulatory approval in the UK and overall, the UK government has procured a total of 357 million doses. We have reason for hope.

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This has been an incredibly difficult year for many of our businesses. The response by our government has been recognised internationally as one of the most comprehensive and effective. Yet too many of our self-employed neighbours have struggled to find support and so it is right that the Chancellor announced a package of measures to support jobs and give businesses the confidence to grow.

The Chancellor set out his plan for jobs by giving additional support to people looking for work, especially young people, and by stimulating new job creation with more spending on infrastructure and housing. There is a new Jobs Retention Bonus, a new Kickstart Scheme which will directly pay employers to create new jobs for any 16 to 24-yearold at risk of long-term unemployment, and a doubling of work coaches in Jobcentres.

We have the tools to power through a year of strong recovery.

I have been following the Environment Bill through Parliament as it enshrines our hopes that our aspirations on biodiversity and climate change can work cooperatively with our national strategic priority to be able to feed our people.

The bill helps us toward meeting our net-zero target by 2050 by including long-term legally binding targets on biodiversity, air quality, water and waste efficiency. The Prime Minister has an opportunity to call for further global action on tackling climate change at the international conference, COP26, which will be held in Glasgow later this year.

A New Year should always begin with our greatest hopes: this year perhaps even more so.

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MP COLUMN

views from

Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford and Kempston

The pandemic has exposed every weakness in our society, but it has also shown us that we can tackle and even solve the most persistent problems in our communities.

The Government has spent £700 million on tackling homelessness and rough sleeping this year. During the pandemic they were committed to ensuring that no one slept rough. It proved it was possible. Rough sleeping is not inevitable.

A recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that destitution rose by 54% between 2017 and 2019 and that 2.4 million people – including over half a million children – were experiencing “extreme hardship”, even before coronavirus hit the country. The impact of the pandemic on jobs is only going to make this worse so it’s imperative we ensure that these millions of families in hardship don’t end up without a roof over their head.

Before the pandemic, rough sleeping was a shameful sign of government failure. In the Eastern region alone, rough sleeping has soared by 122% since 2010.

In 2019, Bedford Borough Council opened the Somewhere Safe to Stay hub, a 24-hour town assessment centre and emergency night provision and have worked with charities such as the Kings Arms Project to work on a long-term homelessness strategy. Maintaining an “everyone in” approach and using safe hotel accommodation with 24-hour security with drug and alcohol triage clinics, the preventative and holistic strategy aims to tackle the root causes of homelessness, not just the acute need for shelter.

My work on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee (HCLG) has shown me that policies over the last decade such as slashing investment for affordable homes, cutting back housing benefit, reducing funding for homelessness services, and denying protection to private renters, combined with the disastrous reform of the welfare system has meant that the number of rough sleepers across the country has soared.

Homelessness is a complex problem, often associated with factors such as mental health problems and addiction but the reality is, any of us when faced with an unexpected life event like the loss of a job, a relationship breakdown or a longterm illness could soon find ourselves without a secure place to live.

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Last year the HCLG Committee launched an inquiry into the Impact of Coronavirus on homelessness and the private rented sector. Its findings will I hope shape policy on making real inroads into the housing crisis. This winter, charities are doing a great job keeping people off the streets so please support them if you can. Without the last resort of night shelters which have in many places been unavailable because of the pandemic, rough sleeping is more desperate than ever across the country and in the coming months is likely to get worse as an unemployment crisis looms.

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, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50sqft of 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 for 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.

- 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

every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, call Jamie free on 0808 301 9559 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford.

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VOLUNTEERING London Independent Visitors The Independent volunteer service run by Action for Children provides access for a child in care, to an adult with whom they can form a long-lasting friendship. You will be offering an opportunity for the child to experience new things as well as develop essential life skills such as communication and confidence. There’s an online recruitment and training session in Jan 2021 and volunteers are needed to support some young people in need based in Bedfordshire.

Tibbs Dementia Foundation Walking Group Volunteer Volunteers are needed to support a successful and thriving Walking Group which runs from Spring until Autumn. The role involves encouraging and supporting our service users, and helping to ensure a welcoming environment.

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Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering brings great rewards and we have opportunities for all.

View hundreds of options through our online facility where you can register as a volunteer and apply.

Search for this month’s featured roles by adding the name of the organisation into the keyword field on our on-line role search facility at cvsbeds.org.uk/volunteer

Volunteers will work alongside and build positive relationships with ex-offenders who may recently have been released from custody, fulfilling 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.

Recovery Code X Secretary Recovery Code X runs peer to peer support groups in Bedfordshire for those managing the effects of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A volunteer is wanted to take on the generic responsibilities of a trustee alongside the duties of a secretary including undertaking the administration and arrangements for committee meetings.

Airfield Volunteer Fire Service – Trustee The service at Old Warden Aerodrome provides fire protection and first-aid services to The Shuttleworth Collection. They are seeking trustees who can bring innovative ideas and enthusiasm to their award winning team.

English Regional Transport Association – Marketing Officer 43 Bromham Road, Bedford Call 01234 354 366 or Email: volunteering@cvsbeds.org.uk www.cvsbeds.org.uk 10

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About Town Bedford Town has recently welcomed the opening of two new local independent eateries at Riverside Bedford.

Naughty Pizza

Bridges Espresso Bar Bridges Espresso Bar is an independent, family run Espresso and Cocktail Bar newly opened by brother and sister Daniel Steele and Beckie Fry. Serving Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch and locally roasted Coffee with homemade cakes, the brother and sister duo are passionate about supporting the local community and showcasing local businesses.

Naughty Pizza is an independent, family owned pizzeria. Their mission is to deliver a contemporary, gourmet pizza experience to satisfy even the most demanding taste buds. They pay big attention to their product quality and most of their highest quality ingredients are imported directly from Italy.

Daniel Steele and Beckie Fry commented, “It has taken a couple of years to get to this point and be able to open Bridges Espresso Bar to the public but we are happy to be trading and to be part of the Riverside Bedford development.

All pizzas are cooked in the spectacular oven Esposito Forni, hand crafted by the best artisans in Italy, “Naughty Nelly” travelled to Bedford all the way from Lazio region.

Naughty Pizza’a journey in Bedford area started with Mobi Pizzeria – their mobile pizza catering business which some of you might know already.

Bart Misztal from Naughty Pizza said, “Our main business is supplying high-quality pizza ovens, but we decided to put our experiences and skills together to make outstanding Italian pizzas.

“The idea for a Naughty Pizza was born five years ago but the team were waiting for the perfect location in Bedford. When we saw Riverside setting, it was the one! This is our fourth outlet in the UK and we hope there will be many more.”

Unit 2b, Merchant place, Riverside square MK40 1AR Bedford, UK Mon – Thu 17-22 | Fri – Sun 12-22 01234 975444 www.naughty.pizza/ 12

“We have used local companies to fit-out the premises and source local based products and produce for our food and drinks. Supporting local businesses is becoming ever more important and we welcome the great feedback we have had so far from customers since trading and look forward to operating alongside the other great independent and national businesses at Riverside.”

The Pavilion, Riverside Square, Bedford. MK40 1AR Tel 01234 419555 www.bridgesespressobar.co.uk/

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book review

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY

by Rachel Joyce

Retirement is meant to be relaxing, isn’t it? You do what you love doing and enjoy yourself. But what if you suddenly receive a letter out of the blue? A woman who worked in your office many years ago has cancer and is dying. She just wants you to know.

This touches you for reasons you can’t quite explain, so you write her a note to say that you are sorry to hear that. Putting on your coat and your yacht shoes you leave with the note. Your destination? The post box. Just as far as the end of the road.

And so, starts Harold Fry’s extraordinary journey: 627 miles in 87 days. With no plan, other than to reach Queenie, he sets off on a journey of faith. Scribbling on the note he tells her to wait for him. This debut novel from radio and TV writer, Rachel Joyce, will take you on a gentle journey with Harold and the various people he meets along the way. Totally unprepared for what he will encounter, his faith in positive thinking keeps him going as he learns more about his life and relationships with his wife and son.

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Local Authors Looking for something new to add to your reading list?

Below we hear from some of our very own home grown authors about their new releases.

Daisy Watson I was born and bred in Bedford, UK, where I still reside today, along with my husband and two naughty West Highland Terriers.

As it has been for so many, this year has been a struggle for me. Whilst being out of a job during the pandemic I felt at my lowest mentally. I knew I needed to get positive thoughts back in my life and my creative juices flowing, but felt uninspired.

I decided to write a piece about the best years of my life as a sort of therapy and it transpired into a book which I have since published.

My love for nostalgia and pop culture, combined with my experience in content writing inspired me to take up writing.

The A-Z of Nostalgia 90’s and Early 00’s edition is perfect for anyone who lived through and loved the craziness of the 90’s/00’s. This encyclopedia style book takes a humorous look back on everything from toys to fashion, music to school days and everything in-between.

Available to purchase in paperback or Kindle from Amazon. Website is www.daisywatson.com

Stevington Writers Originally formed in 2017, Stevington Writers is a Creative Writing Group whose aim is to encourage local aspiring writers, of all ages, to develop ideas into published work. We are also affiliated with the National Writing Project.

As daily life morphed into a horror movie, Stevington Writers dug deep into the magic of imagination. With reality stranger than fiction, what else could a group of writers do during the unbelievable events of 2020 than turn to poetry and storytelling?

As a group of local Bedfordshire writers who meet in Stevington, we have created an

anthology of our work under the title of Let’s Imagine. Our members, motivated by their desire to express their personal experiences in poetry and short stories, and, given the 2020 pandemic, provide a beacon of hope about how much can be achieved as a group even during social isolation and the current climate of fear.

The book is available to purchase now for £5.00 (+ p&p where appropriate), with profits going to Bedford Foodbank, a lifeline for people in crisis. www.stevington.org.uk/writers/ 15

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HEALTH & BEAUTY Natural healing for people and animals, promoting deep relaxation alongside emotional and physical healing All Things Reiki is a home based clinic that provides a caring professional service.

Treatments available: Reiki Reflexology with reiki Hand and foot massage with reiki Facial acupressure with reiki All animals are treated in the comfort of their own home.

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Be kind to yourself We can be our own harshest critics. As parents we are on a brand new journey, simply trying our best and often learning along the way. It’s true we don’t always get it right, but we don’t always get it completely wrong either. Next time rather than being self critical, don’t judge yourself, imagine you are a friend, what would you say to your friend in that moment? Be your own friend.

Let go A new year is a great time to have a declutter. It’s ok to let go of things that no longer make you feel good about yourself or bring you contentment. This could be clothes, objects and (let’s say it) people too. It’s not about falling out, but it’s ok to let go. With objects, we can often feel like we want to keep them because they hold a memory, but actually we hold the memory, not the object, so if it feels right, declutter.

Make time for your self Happy New Year. The start of a new year brings promise for change and improvement, no matter how big or small. You might set a goal to save more this year, or eat healthier. But what I love is that it’s the start of a fresh chapter, and a chance to pursue new goals and dreams.

It’s no secret that parenting can be tough. So if you are setting resolutions, go easy on yourself. I’ve put together some suggestions for resolutions as parents going into the new year.

This can be so hard when you have children. You may even feel guilty for taking time out away from your family. However, we need to find time for ourselves in order to give our best, in each part of our lives. Remember: you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Say no to feeling guilty Whether you are feeling guilty for taking time out for yourself, letting the kids watch way too much T.V. during this pandemic, or for saying no. Remember to give yourself a break, you are doing your best and you got this!

Be present Make a point of choosing some regular time where you give your children undivided attention and play with them. Get rid of distractions and put your phone away, let them choose an activity, and just take the time to really be present with them.

Apologise to your child As parents and adults we sometimes get it wrong. By apologising to your child you are leading by example. You are teaching them that we sometimes make mistakes and it’s good to mend relationships when we have done wrong.

Make new family traditions This is one of my favourites. I love finding new things to do together, it’s a great way of finding new ways to bond. Whether it’s pancakes on a Saturday, long summer walks or something you do once a year. Find something you can all be involved in, big or small.

For more follow @mammas_house on Instagram

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The Composing Cook The Composing Cook

GREEK CHICKEN GYROS Now that Christmas and new year are over and we’ve all eaten way too much, January is all about watching the calories, right? Sorry, what was that?

“Stuff that, bring on more amazing dishes!!!”

Oh alright then, if you insist.

My Greek Chicken Gyros is so easy to do and tasty, I guarantee, once you’ve made it, you will be adding it to your repertoire.

TO SERVE

Flat bread of your choice Shop bought tzatziki dip/sauce Cut the chicken into strips and place into a bowl.

To the bowl, add all the other ingredients for the Chicken Gyros and mix it well with your hands.

At this stage it is ready to be cooked, but it is best left for at least one hour to marinade or, if you have the patience, overnight.

Preheat a deepish frying pan, no need to add oil, and fry the Chicken Gyro mix until it has turned golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.

Serve this in the flat bread with shop bought Greek Tzatziki dip.

FOR THE GREEK CHICKEN GYROS 1kg skinless & boneless chicken thighs 3 garlic cloves crushed 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 3 pinches crushed chilli flakes 1 ½ tablespoons dried thyme 1 teaspoon salt 1 ½ tablespoons dried oregano 1 ½ tablespoons ground coriander 80ml vegetable oil Juice of ½ lemon 1 teaspoon cider/white wine vinegar a good grinding of pepper Serves 4-6 20

LET’S TAKE THIS A STEP FURTHER:

This is traditionally served with Greek chips, Greek Feta salad, and homemade Greek Tzatziki sauce.

You can watch me making this recipe and many others by visiting my YouTube channel, The Composing Cook. All you have to do is go to: www.youtube.com and in the search engine type: The Composing Cook, and there you will find me.

Once you have found my channel, I have actually created a playlist called: Greek Chicken Gyros Quadrilogy, so all you have to do is click on that, sit back, relax and salivate.

If you have any leftover Christmas Turkey, you can always use it here instead of the chicken. Follow the above recipe, but just cook it for less time.

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what’s on Please ensure to check with organisers before attending any events in case of any changes or cancellations

rky at in

The Quarry Theatre at St Luke’s

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The Pilgrim’s Progress

Screenings Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th January 2.30pm

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Based on John Bunyan’s epic masterpiece, THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS is one of the most popular books of all time, and one of the most important stories of our faith! An epic journey, faithfully adapted to modern-day.

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Done To Death,

By Jove!

Saturday 30th January 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm) Created & performed

by Gavin Robertson & Nicholas Collett Comic clichés from the Great British Detective genre – Lords and ladies, shady servants, secrets, motives and cunning detective-work abound in this genre-busting farcical comedy from the Masters of inventive silliness! That’s if the two of them can get through the play at all without losing the plot. Literally.

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CluedUpp Games presents Bedford Witchcraft & Wizardry Saturday January 23rd Grab your wands and don your cloaks as you hit the streets of Bedford on Saturday the 23rd of January 2021.

This spell-binding outdoor adventure game will take your team on a mysterious and magical journey across town. Work with your team-mates to crack the clues, solve the puzzles and save the realm. Will you be able to solve the mystery in time?

Tickets now available: www.cluedupp.com/prod.../bedfordwitchcraft-wizardry

Bedford Esquires Noasis

Saturday January 16th 8pm – 11pm Oasis tribute band and guests LIVE This show always sells out!

Tickets £12

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60A Bromham Road Bedford, MK40 2QG www.bedfordesquires.co.uk

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Where do bugs go When we think about wildlife in autumn and winter it’s often migrating birds and hibernating mammals that come to mind, but what about bugs – what happens to them throughout the colder months? We’ve put together some info on what happens to a couple of garden visitors you might have been missing…

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One bug that hibernates is the ladybird. As a cold-blooded insect they need external heat to stay alive. As the temperatures drop in late autumn and aphids (their main food source) disappear, ladybirds will hibernate. They often gather in groups – sometimes thousands – to see the winter through, preferring sheltered, moist spots where the temperature is likely to stay above freezing. Ladybirds emit a pheromone or scent which deters predators and helps them to attract a mate, but also helps them communicate to others when they’ve found a suitable hibernation spot. While hibernating they live off their fat reserves but still need to stay hydrated, so absorb moisture from around them. If their sleeping spot is too dry, they can die from dehydration.

Some species of butterfly also hibernate or overwinter, including Comma, Brimstone, Peacocks, Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshell. The other 50+ UK species spend winter in other forms: as an egg, caterpillar or pupa.

Peacocks, Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshells often overwinter in buildings. They seek out areas that are dark and damp, so you might find them in sheds, garages or old disused buildings like pillboxes. The Red Admiral doesn’t become fully dormant in winter but will ‘wake’ on cold sunny days, and sometimes take to flight. Central heating can be a problem for these butterflies, as it can confuse them and they may wake too early thinking spring has arrived. This is an

issue, as there is no nectar for them to feed on and they will die. If you find a butterfly in your house in winter, the best thing to do is to gently catch it and re-locate it to a damp, cold spot, where it will hopefully settle and re-enter a dormant state.

Most bumblebees and honeybees die in autumn/ winter. In late summer the queen will lay eggs – and the next generation of queens and males are born. The new queens mate and build up their fat reserves by feeding on nectar and pollen, then hibernate underground (the males die off). As the temperature warms in spring, the queens emerge from hibernation to find a suitable nest site, where they’ll lay their eggs to produce female worker bees. Wasps also follow the same pattern, with only the queens hibernating to survive the winter.

Dragonflies and damselflies only live in their adult form for a few weeks during the summer.

After mating the females lay eggs in or near water, and these hatch into larvae or nymphs. The nymphs don’t have wings and remain in the water feeding voraciously, growing and moulting. The moulting process involves shedding their skin, up to 14 times. The nymphs climb out of the water for their final moult, from which they emerge as an adult dragonfly or damselfly.

So although action does die down for the autumn and winter period, these well-loved critters will return and fill our gardens and ponds with activity once again!

The Forest of Marston Vale Trust is a Registered Charity No 1069229, whose mission is planting trees and using woodlands to make life better for people and wildlife in the Marston Vale.

You can stay in touch with news from the Forest of Marston Vale on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or by signing up to the newsletter at www.marstonvale.org 25

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SERVICES

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Regular daily or weekly visits to suit your needs. A variety of payment methods including monthly invoicing.

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27

Girlguiding

Bedfordshire County Shares Fabulous News

Girlguiding in Bedfordshire County has been busy, throughout lockdown, holding virtual meetings with girls or sending them activity packs. Fun and engaging badges and challenges have continued to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of our young members during this challenging time. With activities such as virtual Act of Remembrance at St Andrew’s church, Virtual Halloween Parties and Virtual Sleepovers. Some of our parents and leaders have expressed how they have felt

Although some units are not meeting ‘normally’ yet, we do still want to allow more girls (Rainbows aged 5–7, Brownies aged 7–10, Guides aged 10-14 and Rangers aged 14-18) to experience all of the fun and friendship that our active units have to offer. To do this we need more volunteers. Girlguiding offers a range of flexible volunteering opportunities to enable girls and young women to grow in confidence and discover their full potential in a safe, girl-only space.

“They really have made such a difference and enabled the girls to still see each other, have fun, interact and do activities together. These leaders have put huge smiles on these girls’ faces every week of lockdown” – Moya, Rainbow Mum

More volunteers are needed in Bedfordshire County, we are calling on residents of these and surrounding areas to give a little of their time to support local girls and young women to enjoy exciting activities, as well as acquire new skills and experiences themselves. Whether you are new to the area or have lived here all your life Girlguiding is a fabulous way to make new friends and we look forward to hearing from you.

“As you heard Flossie is going to sleep all week.

She really enjoys this, you MUST organise another sleepover!!” – Rainbow Parent “I live alone, am the lone leader for my Brownie unit and am a frontline nurse. I am having weekly Brownie Zoom meetings and girls’ parents have taken to messaging me to make sure I’m ok. Numerous virtual sisters, now friends from Facebook, have kept me laughing and supported.”

– Jacqueline, Brownie Leader 28

To volunteer visit: https://go.girlguiding.org. uk/join-us/join-as-volunteer/

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Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before Friday 15th January Prize Crossword, BedsLife, 17 Foxbrook, Stevington, Bedfordshire MK43 7QY

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ACROSS 7 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 19 21

Rubbery, flexible (7) Application, employment (5) Well known (5) Compress, contract (7) Large flightless bird (3) Slowly get rid off (8) Moaners (8) Vat, bucket (3) _______ Banderas, actor (7) Gone ____, circulated rapidly over the internet (5) 22 Most important person (5) 23 Sir Ranulph _______, Polar explorer (7)

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SERVICES

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Bedford RSPB Local Group The Committee would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and relaxing New Year, and hope that we will be meeting face to face in the not-too-distant future.

Due to these uncertain times and the everchanging Coronavirus restrictions, we are unable to commit to a date when we can resume our monthly meetings, but as soon as these are relaxed, group members will be contacted by email with more up to date news, otherwise please check our website www.rspb.o rg.uk/groups/bedford for updates on resumption of our field trips and talks.

Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust The Committee would like to wish all our members and friends ‘A Very Happy New Year’.

In these unusual times we have obviously been unable to hold our programme of events but we assure you that as soon as circumstances allow we will organise walks and talks where we look forward to meeting and welcoming you back. When this is possible all details will be available either by email, on the website www.wildlifebcn.org or in local magazines. In the meantime we wish you well and hope that you continue to enjoy all the local wildlife we are lucky to have.

We hope you are all keeping safe and well and had a good Christmas.

EDEN TREE SPECIALISTS

All aspects of tree and hedge works carried out including pruning, crown reductions, removal and felling, stump grinding and planting Local Family Operated Business £10m Public Liability Insurance Courteous and Professional Staff Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors TPO and Conservation Area Applications

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Looking for free pet advice?

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www.edentreespecialists.co.uk info@edentreespecialists.co.uk To find out more, please call 0300 303 9333 or email pet.support@woodgreen.org.uk

35 33

Animal magic

Pawmaster Dog Centre Pawmaster Dog Centre is the brainchild of dog lovers Anthony and Shana. It is a fun place for dogs to socialise and play in a safe, fully enclosed area, while their owners have a hot drink. They came up with the idea as they have dogs that don’t like being walked in the rain and there is no other facility like it anywhere.

Pawmaster is based in Kemspton Rural and your pooch can enjoy a multitude of activities including a swimming pool, ball pit, sand pit and even a puppy play area for just £5 for 1 hour and must be booked and paid for in advance. They will be holding separate meets for large breeds, small/ medium breeds and puppies. There will also be socialisation session for tiny pups ( those that have had their jabs up to 8 months).

The name Pawmaster comes from Anthony’s Uncle David and Aunt Terri’s coach business Tour:master, they both sadly passed away within months of each other so the couple wanted to do something to honour them as they were both also dog lovers.

So in a nut shell ,Pawmaster is a doggy playcentre where dogs can play safely and their owners can have a hot drink which certainly beats mud cold and rain!

To get in touch and keep up to date you can join the Pawmaster Dog Centre on Facebook or email pawmasterdogcentre@gmail.com

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Bedford Cat Cafe

Animal magic

Bedford Cat Cafe is a small family run business, jointly owned and run by mother and daughter, Paula and Willow Mayes. They are self confessed crazy cat ladies and having kept cats for many years know that being around cats is fantastic for both physical and mental wellbeing.

At Bedford Cat CafĂŠ you can come and relax with a book, a hot drink and freshly prepared food and enjoy a cuddle from one of their lovely cats.

Paula and Willow are huge advocates of cat adoption and rehoming, which is why it was so important to them to work with a cat charity.

They also want to promote overlooked cats, these are the cats that are considered less adoptable, often due to age or disability as they have two disabled kitties at home.

All the cats living at Bedford Cat Cafe will be from their partnership charity and some will be more overlooked cats. They will not be available for adoption from the cafe as they are providing them with their forever home.

Bedford Cat Cafe staff have completed lots of cat related training and they hold an Animal Welfare Licence as the welfare of their cats is of the highest priority to them. There are rules in place for those visiting and a no under 6s age policy, all of which are to keep the cats safe and happy.

87 High Street MK40 1NE Bedford Email bedfordcatcafe@gmail.com https://bedfordcatcafe.wixsite.com/catcafe 35

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

The use of technology in veterinary practice

One of the nice things about a traditional, local, veterinary practice is that it provides a very personal and hands-on service. However, the COVID pandemic has accelerated the development of technology which can assist with social distancing, improve client convenience and reduce pet stress.

Online booking

If your pet requires urgent attention, or you are not exactly sure what type of appointment or service you require, it is always best to telephone a member of the friendly Reception team to help out. For routine appointments, many clients find the online booking option to be more convenient. The Acorn House online booking system is available 24 hours a day on the practice website and allows clients to search for available appointments by preferred vet, date and time.

Other online services

New client registrations and repeat medication requests may also be made online. This service allows clients to contact the practice at the time that suits them best and the practice receives a permanent written record of each request.

Video consultations

Acorn House has access to a remote consulting platform so that video consultations may be carried out. A thorough physical examination is usually recommended for any new problem or investigation, but video consultations can be very useful for patient follow-up and post-operative checks. This option allows the vet to observe pets nicely relaxed in their home environment and avoids the need for clients and patients to endure a stressful drive across town for every check-up.

On site equipment

Behind the scenes, Acorn House has invested in the newest clinical technology, such as digital Xray, ultrasound, and laparascopic equipment (for keyhole surgery). This allows the practice to offer a high level of care and wide range of procedures for our patients. Diagnostic images can also be readily shared with our specialist colleagues at the Royal Veterinary College, if collaboration is required for unusual or challenging cases.

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The winter garden If I say ‘winter garden’ what do you imagine?

A stately home? Evergreen shrubs? Topiary maybe?

It dawned on me a few years ago when I was out walking the dog on a frosty morning that winter gardens are really all about the light.

From late autumn through the winter there is a pink-gold low slanting light in the morning and afternoon which makes frost and raindrops sparkle, casts interesting shadows and makes everything look magical.

Watch your garden throughout the day from the rooms where you see it best. Watch where and when the sunlight falls and plan accordingly.

Grasses look beautiful when they are covered in frost and backlit. The red or yellow winter stems of Cornus (or dogwood) however seem to glow when winter sunshine illuminates them directly.

Most suburban houses have smaller gardens, easily visible from the house so it’s important to choose plants which look good in more than one season.

As well as shrubs with good stem colour, look for smaller trees with pretty bark. There are plenty of small Japanese Maples which can be grown in tubs. If you have a little more space a silver birch can look stunning, or even my

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favourite, the paper-bark maple, Acer griseum, which is a slow-growing small tree, pretty all year round with crimson leaves in the autumn then a characteristic chestnut bark which peels naturally to reveal bright orange red bark underneath.

Look for plants with architectural shapes such as one of the sculptural eryngiums (sea holly), salvias or sedums. All look beautiful in the summer and autumn but gain a second lease of life when covered with frosted cobwebs.

Plants like these will make you want to get out in your garden even in winter, so add a little scent with a winter jasmine or a sarcococca confusa (Christmas box) which has tiny white highly scented flowers. These late flowering plants provide a source of nectar for early pollinators.

I no longer tidy my flower beds. I leave piles of fallen leaves and debris in beds to provide shelter for wildlife. The leaves rot down in the end which is good for the soil too. But I do spend time neatening the edge of the lawn and sharpening the edges of my borders. It’s amazing how much smarter my garden looks with minimal effort.

I wish you a Happy New Year and happy gardening.

By Rachael Leverton

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Guttering Problems?

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SERVICES

EDEN TREE SPECIALISTS

All aspects of tree and hedge works carried out including pruning, crown reductions, removal and felling, stump grinding and planting Local Family Operated Business ÂŁ10m Public Liability Insurance Courteous and Professional Staff Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors TPO and Conservation Area Applications

01234 960796 www.edentreespecialists.co.uk info@edentreespecialists.co.uk

40

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The Yard (Elstow) The Yard (Elstow) cic is a new social enterprise, based in Elstow. Our aim is to be able to provide rural and sustainable work experience to ASD and SEN students/young adults, at out new allotment.

Our allotment currently looks like a field, with the help of volunteers and our awesome students, we will be able to grow some wonderful fruit and veg, which the students can either take home and cook with or we may look at having a little stall and sell our produce.

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 us an email hello@theyardelstow.org.uk

We are also asking any local rural businesses to come and meet us and share some of their skills that they have in what they make and sell. We will also be talking to local businesses who are looking for apprentices or have vacancies that our students can apply for.

We will also be looking for volunteers, whether that’s working on the allotment, or helping with funding ideas or coordinating volunteers, I would love to hear from you.

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Bedford Town

Football Club

Just like November, December has been a month of limited competitive action for the Eagles, with the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central in a state of limbo, until its deemed safe and viable for matches to resume.

Friendly matches have been played in December against Peterborough Sports, resulting in a 4-4 draw and Cambridge City a 2-1 win.

By far the most interest post lockdown has been in the FA Trophy where Bedford have enjoyed one of their best runs in recent years. A hard-fought first round proper win at Southern League Premier side Biggleswade Town, saw the Eagles came out top in a penalty shootout after a goalless stalemate in regular time.

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The win is down to a penalty saved by new signing Alex Street. The shot stopper comes with the reputation as one of the best keepers in nonleague football after a lengthy career at Kings Lynn. Ironically, he will have faced his former team in the third round of the Trophy if Bedford were able to overcome the behind closed doors trip to Alfreton Town in round two.

With further concessions by the Government in tier three areas its hoped that league matches will have resumed before Christmas. A full schedule of rearranged matches are planned for the new year, which will mean games on most Saturdays and Tuesdays throughout January and February.

The latest match information can always be found on Bedford Town’s official website at www.bedfordeagles.net.

book review

New Bedford Blues Home and Away jerseys launched

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY

Bedford Blues are delighted to reveal their brand new home and away kits for the proposed 2021 Championship season.

by Rachel Joyce

Shefford quarter page advert_ppl.pdf

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Retirement is meant to be relaxing, isn’t it? You do what you love doing and enjoy yourself. But what if you suddenly receive a letter out of the blue? A woman who worked in your office many years ago has cancer and is dying. She just wants you to know.

This touches you for reasons you can’t quite explain, so you write her a note to say that you are sorry to hear that. Putting on your coat and your yacht shoes you leave with the note. Your destination? The post box. Just as far as the end of the road.

NDYHC SHEFFORD&SA

And so, starts Harold Fry’s extraordinary journey: 627 miles in 87 days. With no plan, other than to reach Queenie, he sets off on a journey of faith. Scribbling on the note he tells her to wait for him. This debut novel from radio and TV writer, Rachel Joyce, will take you on a gentle journey with Harold To find out more about playing, and the various people he meets along the junior hockey camps, coaching orwill way.

Totally unprepared for what he umpiring opportunities please contact encounter, his faith inthen positive thinking keeps Jade at jade.gravell@yahoo.co.uk him going as he learns more about his life and or visit www.sheffordandsandy.com relationships with his wife and son.

The new shirts go #backtothefuture with a design 10:12 uniquely inspired by the last time Gilbert produced the club’s kit nearly 15 years ago.

19/07/2020

Earlier this year, Bedford Blues were pleased to re-join forces with Gilbert Rugby in a long-term partnership and become the only Championship club linked to the most recognisable brand in rugby, sharing the values of history and heritage.

The new Blues home shirt remains a familiar concept, a mainly navy or Oxford Blue, this time with thin sky or Cambridge Blue hoops. The away jersey is a reverse of the home shirt, with both strips designed to give a modern edge to our traditional past.

The most striking addition to this season’s design is 50 supporter names on the bottom panel of both jerseys having taken advantage of the ‘Put your name on the Shirt’ initiative.

Due to our most recent COVID-19 risk management plan, the Club Shop at Goldington Road will remain closed to the public, orders can only be placed online. However, collection can be requested and pre-arranged. Head to https://shop.bedfordrugby.co.uk/ to order.

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45

DECEMBER PRIZE CROSSWORD

Answers

DECEMBER PRIZE CROSSWORD

Answers

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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.

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Valid until 31st January 2021 The Will Writing Company

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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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