BedsLife SOUTH Magazine April 2021

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South edition

APRIL

2021

inside Film Reviews National Gardening Week McCann’s Motors £25 Prize Crossword

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Volunteer Opportunities 6 Mamma’s House 8 Film Reviews 12 The Composing Cook Recipe – Greek Meatballs 14 Marston Forest – Woodland Wildflowers 16 Prize Crossword 18 Pets – Happy Hammies 20 McCann’s Motors 22 Gardening – Seeding for Summer 24 National Gardening Week 26 Useful Local Resources 28

Contents

Community News 4

Last month’s crossword answers 30

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Community news Houghton Conquest There are exciting plans for the Sports Field in Houghton Conquest. Due to a Government tree planting initiative, it has been decided that a Community Orchard will be planted on the area of land adjacent to the rear of Cherry Close. The Forest of Marston Vale will be providing assorted fruit trees and it is hoped that children from the school will be involved in the planting and maintenance of the site as well as enjoying the fruit from the trees.There is also funding set aside for the provision of outdoor static exercise equipment which will be installed on the Sports Field and the children’s play area. It is hoped these will provide a facility for as wide a range of villagers as possible.

Wixams Academy Wixams Academy are delighted to share that they are looking at the possibility of opening a Sixth Form in the near future. To help them prepare for this, and to present findings to the board, they have put together a short online survey for the local community to complete. You can find a link to the survey on their Facebook page @wixamsacademy

Marston Moreteyne The Parish Council has recently awarded a grant to Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership to go towards a Captain Sir Tom Moore commemorative bench to be located at Millbrook Station. The tribute will be to recognise both his achievement in raising over £32 million for NHS Charities and the sacrifice of all those who lost their lives fighting in the First and Second World Wars and subsequent conflicts.

The commemorative bench will be in addition to the poetry plaque, also in honour of Sir Captain Tom Moore, which has pride of place at the station.

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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 6

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7

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.

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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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9

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?

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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

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!

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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.

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13

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 14

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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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.

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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.

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£25

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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)

Down

1. Skin covering head, not face (5) 2. Article expressing editor’s opinion (9) 3. Most loved or cherished (7) 4. Save from a dangerous situation (6) 5. Letters and symbols represent numbers and quantities (7) 6. Water or other liquid to run out, past tense (7) 7. Female domestic servant (5) 8. Joseph ____ MP from 1832-1856 (5) 14 A covering for the head (3) 15. Not affected or used (9) 17. Sport, moving through an area, including jumping and climbing (7) 18. Quickly and illicitly took something (7) 20. Tense, nervous, superlative adjective (7) 21. Regularly repeating cycles (6) 22. Mouldy, musty (5) 23. Plural; A musical sound with reference to its pitch (5) 25. Wooden frame holding artist’s work (5)

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19

HAPPY HAMMIES Is the humble hamster the most underrated pet of them all?

The hamster is perhaps the most underrated pet out there. Entertaining, sociable and cute, it offers so much yet, as our quickfire guide below proves, demands so little.

Cost Hamsters are cheap to buy. They can generally be picked up for around £10 each, and will quickly adapt to their new surroundings.

Cleanliness Hamsters love to groom and keep themselves clean, and will very quickly begin to mark out their cage, with a designated corner for their toilet.

Independent Both Russian and Syrian hamsters tend to live by themselves, as they will invariably begin to fight when put together. Both though is they love to be handled by people, however and are great entertainment either up close or at a distance.

Storing food Hamsters are fanatical about careful storage of food, meaning if you are away for a night or two, your hamster will have ample food to see it through.

Life expectancy Hamsters have a modest lifespan of between two and three years. That’s a small commitment to a friendly, livewire existence, but protects against an animal still hanging around when kids have flown the nest.

Interaction Kids can build some really early and valuable pet interactions when charged with looking after a hamster, as well understanding the responsibilities of having a pet.

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Exercise The sight of a hamster relentlessly spinning on its wheel is a common one; and while this is an excellent way for them to burn off all those honey treats, the classic hamster wheel is actually now thought to be detrimental to spinal health; hence a new ‘flying saucer’ design is becoming much more popular now.

Hamsters also love zipping about in their cages, scaling assault courses and clinging to the sides in taking in the world around them.

Genetics There is perhaps one startling downside to hamsters, and that’s their genetics. Whether it’s an inherent exposure to biological issues or as a result of rushed, sometimes careless breeding practices, the humble hamster is not the sturdiest specimen when it comes to internal health.

Many are renowned for getting pneumonia, while heart disease is an all too common cause of death due to a genetic predisposition that means weakened heart muscles cannot efficiently pump blood.

Doing our best to keep hamsters in good health means giving them a good supply of fresh and dried food, with plentiful changes of water and regular cleaning of their cage. If we do that, we give them the best chance of a happy, active healthy life, to the delight of kids and adults.

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21

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

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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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What you should be planting now to ensure maximum spray for the summer.

Now is the time to start sowing seeds if your cherished outdoor space is to flourish in the summer months.

Cosmos The beauty of cosmos is not just the beautiful, delicate multi-coloured foliage that radiates away from long stems, nor the fact this low-maintenance plant will reach full maturity in two months and hang around for the lion’s share of the summer.

Instead, perhaps its greatest attribute is the rich, spiky, complex foliage that accompanies it just a couple of inches below. This can look stunning in itself, and will quickly fill unsightly, patchy or earthy areas of beds.

Sweet pea Sweet peas need to be sown by April and should be placed deep into pots or modules so their ranging roots can be left to produce a perfect flower. And when that arrives, so too has summer, with flourishing curtains of colour spilling out of long stalks and clinging to any nearby supports.

Keep them well watered and use a high potash fertiliser when flower buds arrive; plus the more you pluck these delicately scented flowers, the quicker they’ll grow.

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Petunia A favourite as far as bedding plants to, petunias offer colour, detail and durability all wrapped together.

They’ll be present until late autumn, and are just as good in hanging baskets for the way they elegantly roll over the sides of containers.

From single and double blooms, to checked, veined, single-colour or striped, they have a fine essence that lifts and refreshes.

Lupins One of the fast-growing perennials, lupins should produce flowers in their first year, and placing them in a sheltered position in the garden will ward off most enemies.

If you get the look right, these tall, cone-like buildings of flower will amaze and enchant, as well as providing a wonderful base for ladybirds and bumble bees.

California poppy This is a gorgeous cup-shaped flower that offers rich shades of red, orange and yellow. It won’t hang around for long but will be with you from May through to early July, and can be best preserved in full sun.

By late summer, this tender flower will lose some of its resilience, but the story doesn’t end there. Simply pick your remaining poppies and add to food, either direct into a salad or as a garnish.

Lobelia Lobelias are the edging borders plant of choice, and will grow in full sun or partial shade, with tall spikes give way to dark, bright red flowers. They’ll last well into the frosty parts of early winter, so if you’re looking for colour, variety – they come in upright and bushy varieties – plus longevity, the ‘cardinal flower’ should be on your list.

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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.

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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

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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

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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 29

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