BedsLife SOUTH Magazine April 2022

FREE

South edition

APRIL

2022

inside Community News Easter Fun What’s On £25 Prize Crossword

10,000 copies Delivered to Elstow, Shortstown, Wixams, Wilstead, Houghton Conquest, Stewartby, Marston Moretaine.

www.bedslifemagazine.co.uk

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 in less than a day from just £444! 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 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 value in that we offer our services at a price people can 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

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!

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Following COVID-19 Secure Guidelines

Contents

Community News

4&6

Beauty – Aesthetics

8

Mamma’s House

9

Easter Fun

12

What’s On

16

Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum

21

Forest of Marston Vale – Butterflies

24

Gardening

26

Useful Local Resources

28

Last Months Crossword Answers

30

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

ADVERTISING Christa: Tel 01234 962929 | 07827 015170 E: christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk DESIGN AND ARTWORK Doug Dawson Creative Ltd | www.dougdawson.co.uk 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.

South

editio

n

FR EE APRI L

2022

Welcome

Easter is just around the insid e corner (as are the school holidays!) although it feels like only yesterday the children went back to school. There are of course plenty of things happening this month aside from an excuse to eat lots of chocolate!

Did you know, for example, that 9th April is National Unicorn Day, and that 10th April is Siblings Day? Then we have Earth Day on 22nd April, which has been given added emphasis by recent events and media attention on climate change. The organisers are providing lots of information and free resources for young and old alike who want to become more involved in this vital subject (www.earthday.org).

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Finally, we would like to say massive congratulations to Rosanna Heasman, owner of The Store in Bedford, who won our online International Women’s Day competition. The Store in St Cuthbert’s Street in Bedford sells a range of staple foods loose and in bulk, as well as offering refills on cleaning liquids and shower products. Its aim is to have a positive impact on our local environment and community. Rosanna’s prize is an overnight stay for two at the beautiful Woodland Manor in Clapham who generously partnered with us to offer this fabulous prize.

Whatever the upcoming Easter break has in store for you, we hope you and your family get to spend some time together.

Until next time,

Christa & The BedsLife Team

MAY ISSUE DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 6TH APRIL 3

community news Makeover for Marston Vale Trains

Trains operating on the Marston Vale Line have been given an exciting new look thanks to the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership. A special vinyl has been installed on the outside of two of the trains to celebrate the 175th anniversary year of the line and promote Greensand Country, an area of special landscape character through which it runs.

The graphics were designed by Click Creative Ltd and installed by Stewart Signs Ltd and can be enjoyed by rail passengers and the local community alike for the next twelve months.

Elstow Soup and Natter A small friendly group meet at Elstow Abbey on Wednesday mornings from 10.45 until 12.30 to enjoy fellowship, coffee, soup and cakes. A communion service takes place at 11am for those who would like to participate.

The group celebrates birthdays, Easter and Christmas and everyone is welcome. If you would like to join their group just turn up or, if you would like further information, you can send an email to vicar@elstow-abbey.org.uk

Community Centre Open Day

The vinyls were funded by the Department for Transport Community Rail Development Fund, Greensand Country Landscape Partnership, East Midlands Railway and Marston Vale CRP. The vinyls were launched at Bletchley Station on 21 February at an event organised by Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership attended by representatives of the funders and Bedford – Bletchley Rail Users’ Association.

Stephen Sleight, Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Officer, said: “I am delighted Marston Vale CRP is one of the first in the country to design vinyls for the trains operating on its line. We are very proud of our upcycled former London Underground trains and these new liveries with their eye-catching design really help to provide further local identity and a sense of place. My thanks to all those who have funded the project and Abellio Group for their role in co-ordination.”

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A new community centre is to open in Marston Morteyne and will be available for hire from Saturday 9 April.

Residents and locals are invited to an open day on Saturday 2 April between 10am and 4pm when members of Marston Morteyne Parish Council will be on site to show visitors the facilities on offer.

The new community building boasts a multi-purpose area with a state-of-the-art Boflex sprung floor, ideal for the badminton, table tennis, gymnastics and dance, as well as plenty of space to cater for functions and events. Contact clerk@marstonmoreteyne-pc.gov.uk for availability.

Family Fun in Stewartby Works Completed at Shocott Spring

Stewartby Club is holding a family Easter party on Sunday 17 April from 2.30 until 5.30pm.

Head to the popular venue in Stewartby Road to enjoy a disco and party games with food available to purchase.

Tickets are £3 per child and are available now from the bar www.stewartbyclub.com

Wixams Holiday Club

Christ the Word Church is offering free holiday clubs from 4 to 6 April for families living or attending school in Wixams.

The Search & Rescue Holiday Club, which runs from 10am until 12 noon, is suitable for children aged 4-10 years while Ignite takes place from 2-4pm and is for young people in school years 6,7,8 and 9.

Thinning works have now been completed at Shocott Spring, the community woodland between Shortstown and Cotton End which is part of The Forest of Marston Vale.

Thinning is an important part of site management as it provides more light and space for the slower growing trees to flourish, building a stronger and healthier woodland. The light also encourages ground flora to establish and grow, increasing the woodlands value for wildlife and biodiversity.

Branches from the felled trees have been left on the woodland floor. This may look messy to visitors, but dead and decaying wood is an important part of a woodland habitat. The branches will provide some protection for germinating plants from grazing animals, like deer and rabbits.

The work may look quite drastic because of the rapid change in the appearance of the woodland, but plants will grow quickly, and wildlife will reestablish as this woodland moves into its next phase of maturity.

If you love Shocott Spring, you can help look after it by becoming a Friend of the Forest. Visit www.marstonvale.org/friends to find out more.

Both clubs offer games, crafts, quizzes, prizes, competitions, bible stories and songs about Jesus in Lakeview Village Hall.

Christ the Word Church is an independent evangelical church. To register for the holiday clubs, go to www.christthewordwixams.org.uk Do you have some village news to share?

Email jacqui@bedslifemagazine.co.uk Copy deadline for the May issue is 8 April 6

MISSING

Shadow hasn’t been seen since Thursday 3 March She may have got in a van and travelled into another area of Bedford. She has very distinctive long white eye whiskers on her right side and black on her left.

If you notice a new black and white cat in your area please call

07827 015170

It’s Skincare But Not As You Know It

and massages, medispas are also licensed to perform procedures that at one time could only be found in cosmetic surgeons’ clinics, such as Botox, microdermabrasion, laser hair removal and chemical peels.

Most people think of medical aesthetics as being purely for the reduction, reversal, or other treatments to minimise the signs of aging such as wrinkles, age spots, or loose and sagging skin.

But it can also refer to treatments related to dermatological conditions or defects such as acne, prominent birthmarks, or skin tags, and can also include treatments intended to disguise or diminish the evidence of surgical procedures.

Medical aesthetics can also combat areas such as the treatment of excess fat or cellulite, stretch marks, or other skin damage caused by obesity or rapid weight loss. There are even treatments to diminish or erase the appearance of scars, spider veins and other issues such as varicose veins, excessive sweating, and skin discolouration.

For the last two years we have largely been urged to work from home, and many of us found our grooming regimes changing as a result. The absence of a daily commute and early starts means we have been paying more attention to our skincare.

This in turn has led to a surge in demand for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures such as “medical aesthetics” which are rapidly becoming increasingly accepted as an integral part of a beauty and wellbeing programme for both men and women.

Nearly a quarter of people are more interested in aesthetic treatments than they were before the pandemic. Nine out of ten cosmetic procedures in the UK are now non-surgical and online searches for “aesthetic treatments” and “tweakments” grew by 50% from January 2020 to July 2021.

Local high streets have seen the arrival of medical spas (or “medispas”) that are appeasing our newfound appetite for medical aesthetics. Among the traditional spa pick-me-ups on offer such as facials

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With the majority of aesthetic treatments being more than “skin deep”, anyone offering such services in the UK requires extensive training. Health Education England (HEE) published a report in 2016 aimed at redefining the standard of training that practitioners should undertake before they can carry out aesthetic procedures. The industry is regulated by collaboration between several cosmetic associations and overseen by two independent bodies: the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) and the Cosmetic Practitioners’ Standards Authority (CPSA).

If you are thinking of taking advantage of the many advances in medical aesthetics, please do your homework and check out the practitioner’s qualifications, experience, and insurance by following these five simple steps: 1. Check they are registered with a regulatory body like the GMC, NMC or DMC 2. Check they are registered with a secondary regulatory body like the CQC or Save Face 3. Look for certificates for training and qualifications 4. Check for evidence they are up to date with the latest procedures, training, and products 5. Confirm their clinic is insured and the products and equipment they use are licensed and genuine About the Author: Helen Say is a freelance copywriter and blogger www.cblservices.co.uk

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We are the voice for Parent Carers of children & young people 025yrs 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, events and training sessions for parents to come along, give their views, meet other parents and to empower your to advocate for your child. If you would like to find out more or become a member please contact us or complete our online membership form by scanning this QR code or using this link : www.bbpcf.co.uk/contact

communications@bbpcf.org.uk

www.bbpcf.co.uk

07943 524553

Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum (BBPCF) work in co-production with Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire CCG to improve services for children age 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

We represent the whole community and all areas of SEND from Dyslexia, ADHD and Autism to Profound and Multiple Disabilities. If you are a Parent Carer of a child with any additional needs, whether they are diagnosed or not, you are welcome to become a member of the forum Contact | Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum (bbpcf.co.uk). As a member we need to hear about how local services are working for your child and any issues you encounter, we need feedback on lived experiences. We then pick up any themes and feed this back at the various meetings we attend with all of the local services. We can also signpost Parent Carers who can help support them.

We also provide free training for parent carers on a huge variety of subjects to empower you as a parent carer and we arrange regular get togethers with local services to discuss what the services offer and to enable parents to talk directly to them and ask any questions they may have. We always arrange these get togethers and training based on recent feedback from parent carers and what they are telling us are their burning issues. If you’d like to become a member to keep informed about what we do please complete our membership form www.bbpcf.co.uk/contact

‘Thank you for all your support, Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum have really help me understand what is happening and where to get the right support.’

A quote from a parent carer

BBPCF run an annual survey for our members and most recently had over 500 responses from Parent Carers in Bedford Borough. The survey covers all of the areas of support children with SEND should receive and we find out what is and isn’t working at the moment based on lived experiences. The results of the Annual Survey that we carried out at the end of 2021 have now been published as an ‘Outcomes Report’ and hightlights the current main areas of concern and it forms what we will be prioritising for the year ahead.

You can see a copy of our Outcomes Report 2021 on our website www.bbpcf.co.uk/reports 11

EASTER FUN EASTER ADVENTURE QUEST AT WREST PARK SATURDAY 2 – THURSDAY 21 APRIL 10AM – 5PM WREST PARK, SILSOE, BEDFORDSHIRE MK45 4HS

Only £3 per trail (No booking needed).

Keep an eye out for even more exciting things to come... stanwicklakes.org.uk/whats-on/ CHOCOLATE AND DAIRY FREE CHOCOLATE EGG DECORATING MONDAY 4 – THURSDAY 14 APRIL (VARIOUS SESSIONS) FROSTS GARDEN CENTRE ATV WILLINGTON, SANDY RD, WILLINGTON, BEDFORD MK44 3QP

Explore the site to hunt for clues and challenges and discover traditional Easter games like egg rolling and the egg and spoon race. Track down the Easter eggs and you’ll be rewarded with a chocolate treat and an adventurer’s certificate. The quest costs just £1.50, which you can pay when you arrive at the site. This is in addition to the normal ticket price.

You can take on the quest every day of the school holidays. With eggs, chocolate, and old-fashioned fun, it’s the perfect way to get out and about in history this Easter. Book online and save! english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wrest-park/ events/ EASTER EGG TRAIL SATURDAY 2 APRIL UNTIL MONDAY 18 APRIL 9AM – 4PM STANWICK LAKES, NORTHANTS NN9 6GY

Join us at Stanwick Lakes over the Easter weekend to take part in our exciting Easter egg trail to win a chocolatey treat. Yummy!

Easter Egg Trail at Stanwick Lakes.

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Each child will receive their very own chocolate Easter egg to decorate with sweeties. This will then be wrapped in beautiful packaging; the perfect Easter treat. Finished off with a glass of squash and storytime with a meet & greet with the Easter Bunny! frostsgroup.digitickets.co.uk/eventtickets/39733?catID=39528& EASTER AT THE FOREST OF MARSTON VALE SPRING WILDLIFE CRAFTS AND ACTIVITY TRAIL TUESDAY 5 – SUNDAY 10 APRIL 11AM – 2.30PM

The promise of springtime has some of the animals that live in the woodland very excited, and they’ve all come to see what is going on at Millennium Country

Park! We’ve hidden lots of our furry and feathered friends in the Sensory Garden – can you find them all, and win a prize?

EASTER AT HERRINGS GREEN ACTIVITY CENTRE FRIDAY 15 – MONDAY 18 APRIL HERRING GREEN FARM COTTON END ROAD, BEDFORD MK45 3DT

EASTER CRAFTS – PAINT AN EASTER EGG DECORATION TUESDAY 12 APRIL 11AM – 2PM Get crafty this Easter season and make your own wooden egg decoration at the Forest Centre! We provide the paint and the egg decoration, so you can just let your imagination run wild with fantastic designs! Ticket includes all materials for crafting, and the decoration to take home at the end of the session.

EASTER MAGIC SHOW FRIDAY 15 APRIL & SATURDAY 16 APRIL THE OLDE WATERMILL, BARTON MILL LANE, OFF FALDO ROAD, BARTON LE CLAY MK45 4RF

Pop along for a packed program or events for the whole family with a giant Easter Egg hunt daily. Plus opening this Easter is the Baby Farm. Meet the newborn lambs, goat kids and other spring babies. The perfect way to spend Easter.

The Easter bunny will also be out and about during the course of the weekend to meet the children. birdsofpreycentre.co.uk/product-category/ easter-2022/ EASTER BUNNY FLY-IN AND EGG HUNT SUNDAY 17 & MONDAY 18 APRIL SHUTTLEWORTH, OLD WARDEN PARK, BIGGLESWADE SG18 9DT

Krisgar and Tricky Teddy are back for their Easter Magic Show here at The Olde Watermill Shopping Village! Come and join them for a fun packed 30 minute show full of magical antics and lots of laughter. oldewatermill.co.uk EASTER EGG HUNT ACTIVITY TRAIL FRIDAY 15 – MONDAY 18 APRIL 11AM – 2.30PM The Easter bunny has lots of energy and is feeling very mischievous! He has been whizzing around the Sensory Garden hiding lots of Easter eggs – we can’t get them back until the puzzle is solved! Can you help us find the clues and deliver the special message to get the eggs back before Easter runs out?

Look to the sky at around 11:00 to watch the Easter Bunny make fly in and make an entrance! Don’t forget to get up close to the runway! Follow the Easter Bunny into The Swiss Garden and see how many Eggs you can collect. Once you have collected all the Easter Eggs you can carry, take them to The Discovery Hub to collect your Easter Egg from The Easter Bunny. shuttleworth.org/product/easterbunnyflyin/

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WHAT’S ON BEDFORD ART SOCIETY MEETING FRIDAY 1 APRIL 7.15 FOR 7.30 START Tony Jackson will talk about the work of the Glasgow School of Art, the Glasgow Boys and later works produced in Glasgow.

Entry is free for members. £5 for visitors For information contact Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford, MK41 8EB Jean Paterson 01234 307210 or www.bedsartsociety.co.uk.

EARLY SPRING MIGRANTS BIRD WALK SATURDAY 2 APRIL 8AM – 11AM

A guided walk led by our team of expert Volunteers. spotting the visiting spring migrants of the Millennium Country Park, like willow warblers, wheatears, chiff chaffs and winchats. Bring your own binoculars if you have them, but don’t worry if not as we have spares. No dogs are allowed on this walk, as we’ll be visiting the Wetlands Nature Reserve. Please dress for the weather and make sure you wear sturdy footwear.

Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine, MK43 0PR

EAGLE GALLERY EXHIBITION – RETROSPECTIVE MARK CHENG 1930 – 2021 2 APRIL – 9 APRIL MON TO SAT 10.30AM – 5PM In aid of charity 20 St Peter’s Street, Bedford MK40 2NN

BEDFORD FLORAL ART SOCIETY TUESDAY 5 APRIL 7.30PM A Floral Demonstration by Vicky Hease entitled “The Missing Years – part 2” Visitors welcome £7 The Addison Centre, Kempston, Addison Howard Park, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8PN www.bedfordfloralartsociety.co.uk

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ST PAUL’S CONCERT SERIES TUESDAY 5 APRIL 1PM – THE GOLDENTONES, CAPPELLA QUINTET TUESDAY 5 APRIL 7.30PM – RACHMANINOFF’S ALL NIGHT VIGIL (70 TO 80 MINUTES LENGTH OF PROGRAMME) SUNG BY CANTAMUS CHAMBER CHOIR Tickets: £10, on the door. ** A retiring collection will be taken in aid of humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. ** Saturday 9 12 noon – Organ recital with Charles Wooler St Paul’s Church, Bedford (St Paul’s Square, Bedford, MK40 1SQ)

BEDFORD REPAIR CAFÉ SATURDAY 9 APRIL 11AM – 3PM If you’ve got broken clothes, electricals, toys and household items that need repairing, why not get it checked out and see if it can be fixed for free?

The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford MK40 3DE

TRACKPLAY AT BEDFORD ATHLETICS STADIUM THURSDAY 14 APRIL 9.30AM – 4PM A day of fun for the kids in the holidays. With over 100 feet of train track and lots of different trains and carriages to choose from, your kids will have a never to forget experience. Having a GIANT THOMAS Train track to play with will provide fun and fantastic memories for your children. Different time slots to suit all, with limited places at each one to ensure everyone has plenty of space to play.

Barkers Lane, Bedford MK41 9SB www.trackplay.co.uk/events/bedford DINOSAUR ADVENTURE LIVE AT THE BEDFORD CORN EXCHANGE MONDAY 18 APRIL 2022 11.30AM, 2PM & 4PM Join the intrepid Dinosaur Adventurers as they journey to a world of living, breathing, life-like Dinosaurs. Walk with them through the Jurassic era on an unforgettable interactive experience as they introduce you to some of the most incredible species ever to have lived on Earth. Feel the excitement of meeting real life-like Dinosaurs face-to-face and hearing the tremendous roar of a T-Rex. Learn their history and even feed them but watch out – you could be on the menu.

This awe-inspiring show captivates both young and young at heart, immersing audiences in an enthralling & realistic world of Dinosaurs. bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/dinosauradventure-live/ BEDFORD RSPB LOCAL GROUP INDOOR MEETING THURSDAY 21 APRIL 7.30PM AIMING TO FINISH BY 9.30PM We are pleased to announce our first indoor meeting since the Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.

Tonight we go to North Africa for a ‘Moroccan Experience’ With Richard Pople who has been a birder for many years & has travelled extensively throughout the UK & around the world. Suitable for Experts and Novices, RSPB membership not essential.

Entrance fee, group members £1 Guest £2 annual group membership £5 under 18s enter Free.

Facilities, including refreshments, are at ground level and there is secure parking.

Meet at ARA club, Manton Lane Bedford MK41 7PF

AFTERNOON VINTAGE TEA FRIDAY 22 APRIL 2PM TO 4PM. ENTRY £3 Includes tea, home-made cake and friendship For information call Myriam on 07590 558275 Christ the King Parish Hall, Harrowden Road, Bedford, MK42 0SP

38TH HARROLD PIT RUN SATURDAY 23 APRIL The event encompasses 5 races from a short kids race up to a fully marshalled 3 mile race around the village of Harrold and the surrounding countryside.

Fun-runners, fancydressers and serious PB hunters alike all mix in at the start line in front of The Village Green. Raising money for local causes.

Online registration visit https://register.enthuse. com/ps/event/HarroldPitRun2022 Registration on the day – Friday night between 6 – 8pm, or Saturday Morning 10am-12pm at the Harrold Centre MK43 7BH

ST GEORGE’S DAY FESTIVAL AT WREST PARK SATURDAY 23 AND SUNDAY 24 APRIL Celebrate our green and pleasant land and immerse yourself in the story of England at the biggest, most action-packed St George’s Day celebration in the country. Enjoy a weekend of shows, battles, games, performances and activities culminating in England’s most legendary battle. Cheer on gallant St George as he mounts his mighty steed and takes on his fiery green nemesis in the ultimate, dramatic show down.

So join Wrest Park as they demonstrate everything quintessentially English and celebrate England’s legendary patron saint. englishheritage.seetickets.com/tour/wrest-park GHOST HUNT AT MOOT HALL SATURDAY 23 – SUNDAY 24 APRIL 2022 7.30PM – 00.30AM Come a long to this event and enjoy using a whole range of ghost hunting equipment!

There will a number of seances and then you’ll get the chance to use the equipment in your own time.

Snacks and drinks will be available all night.

Ghostlygatherings.co.uk POETRY FOR PARKINSON’S COFFEE MORNING SATURDAY 30 APRIL 10AM – 12.30PM £5 entry includes tea, coffee, cake and the opportunity to listen to local poet, Liz Houghton.

All proceeds to Parkinson’s Wilstead Village Hall, Cotton End Rd, Wilstead MK45 3BX

BedsLife Magazine cannot be held responsible for any event changes, amends or cancellations. Please ensure to check ahead before attending.

To list an event in our May issue please email christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk by Friday 8th April. Priority will be given to non-profit events.

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Bedford Daycare Hospice Caring for people with life-limiting illnesses

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Blackthorns Sun Club Get in touch to learn more about naturism for all the family and arrange a visit to see for yourself just how relaxing it is, nestled within 15 acres of semi-ancient woodland just a few miles from Bedford.

We are happy to welcome those new to naturism and show you how easy it is to enjoy its freedom.

Become a member of a great club that offers relaxation, sun lawns, outdoor heated pool, sports, social events and endless fun for all the family!

Electric hook-ups for caravans & tents.

Tel. 07759971899 membership@blackthorns.org.uk pro@blackthorns.org.uk

To advertise with us, please contact christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk

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£25

Prize Crossword Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before Friday 8th April Prize Crossword, BedsLife, 17 Foxbrook, Stevington, Bedfordshire MK43 7QY Last Months Crossword Winner – Celia Lai, Houghton Conquest For last months answers please turn to P30

Across

19 Stomach medicine, Milk of ________ (8) 22 Pledge, promise (9) 23 Age, generation (3) 24 Heavy duty power tool for masonry (6,5)

12 14 16

Down

1 9 10 11

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Injured by extreme cold (11) Sprite, little demon (3) Decorate with fine needlework (9) Where the monarch sits in the theatre (5,3) Words of a book (4) Mention, point out (6) Mythical aquatic Scottish creature! (6) Timber post on a sailing ship (4)

Name:

Address:

2 Settle a debt (5) 3 Baby plant (8)

Tel:

4 Ground-dwelling monkey with a red bottom! (6) 5 Jog, lope (4) 6 Monotonous, perpetual (7) 7 Reflection (6, 5) 8 Squander, waste (7, 4) 13 Dasher, Dancer and Rudolph (8) 15 Eyelash-enhancing make-up (7) 17 Incident, affair (6) 20 Take illegally (5) 21 Tropical tree (4)

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23

Beautiful

butterflies The sight of a butterfly is sure to put a smile on your face. These delicate, fluttering creatures bring beauty and colour into our lives, and are synonymous with sunshine and bright, warm days.

A butterfly’s colourful wings play an important role in their survival. The insects are seen as tasty morsels by a variety of predators, and their vibrant colours act as a deterrent, signalling to hunters that they are potentially toxic.

Patterns also act as a warning. Butterflies such as the peacock butterfly have large circular ‘eyepatches’ on their wings, which help to fool a potential attacker into thinking they are face-to-face with an altogether different creature.

Butterfly wings are actually made up of hundreds of thousands of tiny scales, arranged like roof tiles. Butterflies are cold-blooded, and their scales help them

24

to regulate temperature by absorbing heat, as well as improving their aerodynamic efficiency. If a butterfly is handled, these fragile structures can become dislodged (you may see a fine dust on your fingers) so it’s best to avoid touching their wings at all costs.

There are 59 species of butterfly in the UK, and many of these can be seen around Bedfordshire – in woodlands, meadows, heathlands and of course, your garden or local park.

As the weather starts to become warmer, one of the first species you might encounter is the brimstone butterfly. Brimstone are one of the longest-living British butterflies, surviving for around a year. They hibernate as adults in woodlands, concealing themselves in evergreen foliage until the temperature rises enough for them to emerge. They are fairly large, and very distinctive. Males are lemonyellow, while females are greenish-white.

If you want to attract brimstone butterflies to your garden, plant a few buckthorn or alder buckthorn – they make great hedges! These are the only two food plants of the caterpillar, so after mating in spring, the females will seek out these plants to lay their eggs on. Look on the underside of leaves for the eggs. After hatching, the caterpillars munch their way through a few leaves before pupating and emerging as adults during autumn, to begin the cycle again.

Another ‘early-bird’ butterfly to look out for is the orange-tip butterfly, usually on the wing from late March. As the name suggests, the white wings of the males are tipped with bright orange. Females are not quite as pretty, with grey-black wingtips. While the butterfly is at rest, you’ll be able to see an intricate green pattern on the underside of its wings.

There are

59

species of butterf ly in the UK, and many of these can be seen around Bedfordshire They sometimes visit gardens, and you’ll often encounter in woodlands, meadows and hedgerows. They lay their eggs on garlic mustard and hedge mustard. Consuming the leaves of these plants apparently gives the caterpillars a foul, mustard taste – another effective predator deterrent!

By the time winter arrives, the caterpillars have pupated and spend winter as a chrysalis, which gives them a head start over other butterflies that spend winter as caterpillars or eggs.

If you’re heading out for a walk at one of our woodland sites on a sunny spring day, another species that you could encounter is the speckled wood butterfly. This active butterfly sports chocolatey-brown wings with creamy yellow spots and eye spots. It frequents sun-dappled glades and pathways through woodlands, and you’ll often see it basking on bramble leaves in the sunshine.

Males are fiercely territorial, and if another strays into its patch it will rise and the pair will spiral through the air until one becomes exhausted. The intruder is almost always the loser – butterflies get their energy from warm sunlight, so the attacker will already have lost heat and depleted his energy stores while flying to his sunbathing rival!

25

Gardening Tips and Advice from

The Potting Shed of the Gentleman Gardener April already: a jumble of spring and summer.

Whether a cottage garden or castle grounds, the love, attention and care we show our gardens will reward us as the growing year rolls on.

Get ready for Wimbledon early and plant your strawberries. They’ll be ripe and juicy in time for the tournament from 27 June to 10 July.

Love your salad days? Plant delicious mustard and rocket throughout the spring. If the ground is still a bit chilly, garden fleece will help protect them.

Sow hardy annuals such as nasturtium, calendula and poppies, and remember to plant taller plants behind shorter ones, just like your old school class photo.

It’s not too early to start preparing your hanging baskets, which will be the envy of your neighbour’s.

I’ve already started. Add slow-release fertiliser and water-retaining crystals and your baskets will bloom all through the season. Hanging baskets take the eye away from ground colour and add design balance to your garden.

26

Lawns now need regular mowing. Keep your edges neatly trimmed. If you do this fairly frequently, before the grass gets too long, there’s no need to pick up the edge clippings. They will soon wither and die and mix with the soil.

Now is the time to plant asparagus crowns. The ground must be well prepared by deep digging and generous manuring. It’s best to plant one-year-old crowns, and the new plants should not be cropped until they have been in the ground for two years. I like my asparagus pan fried, covered in butter, for three minutes. Remove the lid and turn up the heat for three minutes more, then season and drizzle lemon juice over them.

Enjoy your gardens and, as the days get longer, try to spend as much time as you can out there.

The Gentleman Gardener

\

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We are a local Family run business with over 20 years experience so you're in good hands.

For a free brochure or to book a no obligation survey, please visit our website.

FREE PHONE: 08000 141 911 EMAIL: SERVICE@ARGENTSINSTALLATIONS.CO.UK WEBSITE: ARGENTSINSTALLATIONS.CO.UK To advertise with us, please contact christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk

27

USEFUL RESOURCES

BEDFORDSHIRE RURAL COMMUNITIES CHARITY Delivering a wide range of rural development and community projects.

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 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.

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

AUTISM BEDFORDSHIRE Independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and their families across Bedfordshire.

Tel 01234 838771 www.bedsrcc.org.uk

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

Tel 01234 880400 www.bedfordshirewellbeingservice.nhs.uk

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

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

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

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

CITIZENS ADVICE

MINDBLMK

An independent charitable organisation that helps people resolve their problems by providing information and advice.

Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.

Tel 01234 867944 www.bedfordcab.org.uk

COMMUNITY VOLUNTARY SERVICE BEDFORDSHIRE (CVS ) Support for voluntary and community sector organisations in Bedfordshire.

Tel 01234 354366 www.cvsbeds.org.uk

Tel 0300 330 0648 www.mind-blmk.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 EARLY-HELP SERVICES) local independent charity offering practical and emotional support to families under stress.

01234 270601 www.facesbedford.org

OPEN DOOR Charity providing FREE and confidential counselling to young people aged 13 – 25.

Tel 01234 360388 www.bedfordopendoor.org.uk

ROAD VICTIMS TRUST FAMILIES FIRST BEDFORDSHIRE 01234 341977 www.familiesfirstbedfordshire.org.uk

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

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

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/

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

SUE RYDER ST JOHN’S HOSPICE A specialist palliative care and treatment centre providing hospice care for people facing a frightening, life-changing diagnosis.

Tel 01767 642412 | www.sueryder.org

THE JOBS HUB MENCAP (BEDFORD) A voluntary organisation operating in Bedford and surrounding areas supporting individuals with a learning disability and their families.

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

Tel 07973 859940 www.bedfordmencap.org.uk 29

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