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The Big Trunk Trail will see over 30 dazzlingly designed elephant sculptures trumpet along a free art trail around Luton’s landmarks and public spaces from the 10 July for 13 weeks. This first-of-its-kind Bedfordshire spectacular is being brought to the town by Keech Hospice Care, the adult hospice for Luton and south Bedfordshire and the children’s hospice for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes. The fantastic, free, family-friendly, outdoor event is Keech’s way of saying thank you during their 30th anniversary year to everyone who has supported the hospice through the years. A collective name for elephants is a “memory” and the hospice hope that The Big Trunk Trail will bring
VISIT
THE
people together to remember loved ones whilst creating fantastic new memories. This FREE event has The Visit Britain “We’re good to go” COVID-19 stamp of approval and is a fantastic, fun and safe way to spend a few days together as a family outdoors this summer. Follow the herd and keep up with the latest developments at www.bigtrunktrail.co.uk and @BigTrunkTrail on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and the trail looks forward to seeing you as you #SpotTheHerd this summer!
BIG TRUNK T09 JRAIL uly - 7 Oct
ober
FUN ART TRAIL Y L I M A F E A FREND LUTON'S PARKS AND LANDMARKS AROU find out more
www.bigtrunktrail.co.uk
#jointheherd
@bigtrunktrail THE
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BIG
Brought to you by:
Wixams Retirement Village – Bistro/Coffee Bar Assistant You will be providing customer service in the Bistro, making coffees, refreshments and snacks, keeping the place clean and tidy and operating the till.
Barnardo’s – Independent Visitor After training and accreditation, you will be matched with a young person in a care placement and meet with them for a monthly outing or activity. Support for a 16 year old male of Kurdish Syrian heritage and a 15 year old girl of Pakistani heritage is currently wanted.
Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteers Week runs from 1 – 7 June each year, and this year is all about recognising the contribution volunteers make by saying ‘thank you’. CVS would like to thank all those who have come forward in the past year to contribute to their local community, whether running errands for neighbours who couldn’t get out, volunteering at testing and vaccination centres or supporting one of the many local groups and charities. 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
43 Bromham Road, Bedford Call 01234 354 366 or Email: volunteering@cvsbeds.org.uk www.cvsbeds.org.uk 6
Guide Dogs Herts, Beds and Essex Team – Social fundraising volunteer We are looking for friendly, sociable, organised and motivated individuals across Bedfordshire to join one of our local fundraising teams across the county and assist in promoting and taking part in a variety of activities in your local community to raise money for Guide Dogs.
Biggleswade District Scouts – District Chair You will use your strong communication skills to help a team of committed adult volunteers who make up an Executive Committee arrive at a good decision that will benefit young people.
Sight Concern Bedfordshire – Virtual Social Group Facilitator Get togethers using Zoom will continue to be a social option for visually impaired people in Bedfordshire – the facilitators welcome and support group members.
Marie Curie – Retail Volunteer Bedford We are looking for volunteers to help us sort through donations, pick out the best items and prepare and sell them to our customers.
CORONAVIRUS
“Getting tested is a really easy way to help keep my family and my workmates safe.” PRATIK, RETAIL ASSISTANT
Get free rapid tests, even if you don’t have symptoms. Around 1 in 3 people who have Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms and can spread it without knowing. Test regularly – twice a week.
REGULAR TESTING FOR SAFER WORKING IS HERE www.bedford.gov.uk/covid19
Fun on the farm Could this be one of our local best kept secrets? Located in Wilstead, and very much a working farm, is Herring Green Activity Farm & Bird of Prey Centre. We were lucky enough to be invited along for a fantastic family day out. There is so much to see and do here. There are lots of animals to meet, including alpacas, Shetland ponies, goats, sheep, and highland cows. My two also loved seeing all the different types of birds that are kept, from new-born owls to majestic eagles. Everyone receives a bag of animal food on arrival, to feed some of the animals. The great thing is, once you have finished feeding and seeing the animals and birds, you can let the children play in the different play areas. Restrictions are still in place, and I felt totally safe bringing my family here. As restrictions lift and we get back to some normality, more of the activities will be restored, such as tractor rides, animal meet and greets, flying displays, grooming the animals, and even stop for a coffee and cake in the tearoom. It is open to visitors all week; you just need to prebook on the website. Children under two are free. I recommend looking out for the toddler sessions during the week, which are such a good deal. They also have other experiences such as walking with alpacas and one to one bird of prey encounters. We had such a lovely day out, and we can’t wait to visit again soon! Follow us @mammas_house on Instagram for more great family days out. 8
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Must read books for June Whet your appetite with snapshots of summer holidays spent by the seaside, or perhaps immerse yourself in a gripping thriller – here are this month’s sumptuous book releases.
A Day at the Beach Hut: Stories and Recipes Inspired by Seaside Life by Veronica Henry (June 10th) A family enjoy their last holiday at a much-loved beach hut. The tide brings in an old face – and a new temptation – while a writer’s retreat is shaken up by a surprise arrival. The simple pleasures of the seaside compete with the Instagram dream, a couple’s future is turned upside down, and a celebratory evening takes a stormy turn. And as the sun sets, an unexpected romance is simmering... Escape to the coast with this delicious collection of short stories and beach-hut inspired recipes from Sunday Times bestselling author Veronica Henry the perfect summer treat! The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker (June 24th) Not for the faint-hearted, this chilling debut wastes no time in pulling the reader deep into its murky undertow. A taut and impeccably crafted page-turner about what propels one eight-year-old girl to commit an unspeakable act, and the tensely moving effect it has on the rest of her life, The First Day of Spring is not just about how neglect and loneliness can shape a child, but also how they can have a lasting impact even when that child becomes a mother herself.
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The Ugly Cry: A Memoir by Danielle Henderson (June 8th) Having firmly made a name for herself as a television writer (Maniac, Divorce and Dare Me), Danielle Henderson now turns her formidable talent to the memoir. Documenting a difficult childhood during which she grew up ‘black, weird, and overwhelmingly uncool in a mostly white neighbourhood in upstate New York’, Henderson uses wit and candour to delve into some important topics. Mostly though, it is a book about family and the fierce bond between a vulnerable child and her devoted grandmother. Hungry by Grace Dent (June 10th) The highly anticipated memoir from one of Britain’s bestloved food writers, Hungry is a joyous journey through Dent’s fascinating life. From growing up eating beige food to becoming a celebrated London gourmand, it is a personal story, but also everyone’s story – from cheese and pineapple hedgehogs and treats with your nan, to the exquisite joy of a chip butty covered in vinegar and too much salt in the school canteen on a grey day; this a poignant reminder of why food is such an integral part of our lives and our various cultures.
• p o h S • rn a e L • t a E Explore •
Play
taine, MK43 0PR re o M n to rs a M , e tr n Visit the Forest Ce
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MILKYS MUSIC MATTERS FOCUS ON UPCOMING BEDFORD GIGS If you are reading this page, then there is an extraordinarily strong chance that like me you’re badly missing the buzz that live music provides. The anticipation of hearing & eyeballing the new hype or maybe something recently unveiled to you through radio or even a returning favourite. What this provides is the opportunity to soundtrack an evening and shape memories, meet like-minded souls and maybe even tap a foot, pogo tigger bounce or flat out cut some rug. How have we coped? In Bedford we are blessed with an exceptionally fine music venue in Esquires and a collection of promoters who first and foremost are music loopy and forever searching for the perfect gig. Like all businesses affected by the pandemic Esquires has had a tough time, staff furloughed, over a year gone with zero income and a government roadmap that at first seemed to be built on sand. With strong leadership and the dedication of the supporting Esquires crew alongside an enthusiastically wellreceived Crowdfunder, hope does spring eternal. During the enforced downtime, a lot of work has been undertaken at the venue to upgrade the facilities and help to ensure the venue continues to be a firm staple of the national touring circuit.
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I’m not going to bang on about all the great bands and big names who have played at Esquires (ahem.. I am still trying to get Adele to fulfil the date she pulled out on with a sore throat all those years ago) but instead highlight some of the incredible acts we have managed to book for the rest of 2021. First off though, the venue will open with a series of socially distanced gigs before we return to a desperately required sense of normality from the 21st of June. Through August to December Esquires will host the absolute best of a wave of new hyped indie bands (Dream Wife, PVA, Yard Act, The Lounge Society, The Goa Express, Coach Party and TV Priest), some classic ‘vintage’ bands such as The Futureheads, British Sea Power, CUD, The Nightingales and Shonen Knife and still find room to accommodate the likes of The Dub Pistols, The Meteors, The Blockheads, Lee Scratch Perry, KatyJ Pearson, Tom Grennan and Emily Capell. Seriously, there are too many to list here and as if that wasn’t enough, a new one-day multi-stage annual festival (CEREMONY) will be launched on Saturday 17th July with sets from a dazzling array of the best emerging UK bands. We cannot wait to see you back at live music events in Bedford and after a year of staying in, it will soon be time to go out EVERY NIGHT. Keep music live, Milky.
SUPPORT THE BEDFORD LIVE SCENE – UPCOMING GIGS FOR YOUR DIARY Socially distanced shows at Esquires – check seetickets.com for availability as some are SOLD OUT. Wed 2nd June Thur 3rd June Fri 4th June Sat 5th June Wed 9th June Thu 10th June Fri 11th June Sat 13th June Tue 16th June
Tom Hingley (ex- Inspiral Carpets) Mark Chadwick (Levellers) Mark Chadwick (Levellers) Spike (Quireboys) SHAME (SOLD OUT) Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) The Smyths Don Letts – There and Black Again – Book tour
Restriction’s lift, let us get gigging!!! Mon 21st June Sarpa Salpa + Tom Lumley & the Brave Sat 3rd July Daft Funk LIVE + Hitman + Mass C Wed 7th July PVA + Lazarus Kane + Folly Group Fri 16th July The Smyths perform ‘Meat IS Murder’ & ‘The Queen Is Dead’ Sat 17th July CEREMONY #1 – multi-stage one day festival (Billy Nomates, Big Joanie, Pins, JOHN, Crows, Feet, Talk Show, Thyla, Lynks, Bleach Lab, Regressive Left, Grandmas House, Lowgirl) Fri 23rd July The Rifles (acoustic) Tue 27th July Squid (SOLD OUT) Fri 30th July Elijah Miller + many more Check listings at bedfordesquires.com for details or facebook.com/bedfordesquires Tickets available from Esquires, Slide Record Shop and online – seetickets.com
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£25
Bumper Prize Crossword Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before Friday 11th June Prize Crossword, BedsLife, 17 Foxbrook, Stevington, Bedfordshire MK43 7QY Last Months Crossword Winner – Latia Corbin, Wilstead
For last months answers please turn to P38
Across
1 Exhibit hall, studio (7) 5 An aqualung (5) 9 Uproariously funny (5-8) 10 Sweaters and cardigans (8) 11 Conform, comply (4) 12 Advertising (9) 16 Butt, remnant (4) 17 Crashed (8) 19 A pirate might bury one! (8,5)
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21 Brownish green (5) 22 Pursuing (7)
Down
2 In pain, hurting (6) 3 Source of illumination (5,4) 4 Cider With _____, novel by Laurie Lee (5) 6 Casual hat (3) 7 Slang for sausage (6) 8 Cloth, textile (6)
Tel:
11 Large flightless birds (9) 13 Imprison (4,2) 14 Complex carbohydrate (6) 15 English naval hero (6) 18 Blood-sucking worm (5) 20 Biblical ship built by Noah (3)
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BEDFORD PARK CONCERTS BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ART & INDUSTRY PRESENTS:
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
PLUS SUPPORTS
SATURDAY 31ST JULY
CELEBRATING
YEARS
SUNDAY 1ST AUGUST
In conjunction with Bedford Park Concerts we are offering an AMAZING giveaway of 2 pairs of tickets to EACH event! To be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets just email competitions@bedslifemagazine.co.uk with the name of the act you would love to see and you will be entered into our prize draw.
BEDFORD PARK CONCERTS BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ART & INDUSTRY PRESENTS:
PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
PLUS SUPPORTS
SATURDAY 31ST JULY
CELEBRATING
YEARS
SUNDAY 1ST AUGUST
Winners will be chosen at random and entrants must be 18 years or over. Entrants can only win tickets to one event. Competition closes Monday 14th June 2021
What’sOn SWING DANCE LESSONS FRIDAY JUNE 4TH, 11TH & 18TH 2PM-3PM Sharnbrook Village Hall Bubbled, partners only during June To book please visit www.swingdancers.co.uk
BABY + CHILDREN MARKET SATURDAY 5TH JUNE 10AM -2PM The Olde Watermill Shipping Village, Barton Mill Lane off Faldo road, Barton-Le-Clay MK45 4RF Nearly new table top sale. Lots of great bargains, baby and children’s clothing, toys, nursery items and much more. Free admission SUNDAY STROLL SUNDAY 6TH JUNE 10.30AM – 12.30PM Forest of Marston Vale, Station road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PR Free but donations welcome. A guided social walk led by our Volunteers around the Millennium Country Park. We’ll be using surfaced paths so the walk is suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. Meet at 10.30am outside the Forest Centre. Walk approx. 2 hours. SUMMER WILDLIFE WALK SATURDAY 12TH JUNE 9.30AM Forest of Marston Vale, Station road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PR A guided walk around the Millennium Country Park to spot and identify some of the amazing wildlife that we see at this time of year. Tickets £4 . To book please call Tel 01234 767037 MIND, BODY + SPIRIT SUNDAY 13TH JUNE 10AM – 4PM The Olde Watermill Shopping Village, Barton Mill Lane off Faldo road, Barton-Le-Clay MK45 4RF Over 20 stalls of Mind, Body and Spirit stalls for you to peruse. Reiki, Candles, Jewellery, Tarot and more.
Countrywear
NEW SPRING/SUMMER
fashion available in store and online!
RUN + REGGAE NIGHT SATURDAY 19TH JUNE FROM 7PM The Bedford Arms, Souldrop West Indian themed food + drinks - Live reggae music Tickets £10. Tel 01234 781384 WARDEN ABBEY VINEYARD TOURS TUESDAY 22ND JUNE 11AM & 2PM SUNDAY 27TH JUNE 11AM & 2PM An opportunity to tour the vineyard, learn about the history, the vines and after the tour taste the wines. Strictly advance bookings only. Visit www.wardenvineyard.org.uk 18
www.lodgeway-countrywear.co.uk
01462 816122 OPEN: TUES-SAT 10:00am-4:30pm Chicksands, Shefford, Beds SG17 5QB
Bedford Daycare Hospice Caring for people with life-limiting illnesses
URGENTLY NEEDED!
Unwanted items in good condition for our shops at:
WE CO AND D LLECT EL FURN IVER ITURE
20 LONDON ROAD, BEDFORD ORD Tel: 01234 481296 211 BEDFORD ROAD, KEMPSTON Tel: 01234 481285
• WARDROBES • DRAWERS • BEDS • SOFAS • • LADIES FASHION • MENS WEAR • TOYS • • KIDS WEAR • ELECTRICALS • BRIC A BRAC •
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Can You Help? If you can support our Hospice by helping at either of our shops, please contact us on the above numbers - Thank You BEDFORD DAYCARE HOSPICE, 3 Linden Road, Bedford MK40 2DD
When the opportunity arose to set up a Grooming Salon, we jumped at the chance, however… We didn’t want your common or garden, conveyer belt type salon. The idea of a doggy spa came to us when we realised that we wanted pooches to have a more relaxed, not rushed experience, exactly like a human spa… We all know how much we love to relax in a spa environment! All of our products are vegan friendly and of the highest quality to ensure the best possible pamper! As well as a typical wash and clip, we also offer facials, luxury pawdicures, conditioning Mud Masques, homemade organic sugar scrub, massages and lots of play time. One of our packages even offers a woodland walk before the pampering even begins and includes lunch with a nap! We decided to specialise in puppy styling as we believe the first groom to be the most important of a dogs’ life! Get this wrong… and the pup could be traumatized and fearful by any visit to a groomer or vet. Get this right… and the pup looks forward to visiting the spa for poochy kisses and cuddles. This gives the pawrents complete peace of mind and they can look forward to a life of stress free grooming. In the spa, we strive to create a calming and relaxing environment at all times. We have luxury diffusers with pooch friendly oils and 20
lavender calming sprays for our more nervous guests! We also play soothing spa music during the visit to make all dogs feel at ease! So, if you would like your dog to have a fabulous grooming experience, please call us on 01525862866. https://pawsgalore.store/ paws4supplies@gmail.com Maulden Garden Centre
Not only do we have a Holistic Spa, we also have a pet supply store that sells everything from dog accessories, for example collars/leads/beds/ dog bowls/toys/grooming products to raw, fresh and dry food. We even have doggy ice cream and pigs ears! If your pooch loves swimming in swamps, we have a self dog wash that you don’t have to book… just pop in and get soapy! 21
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The importance of the
humble hedgerow The Forest of Marston Vale will be taking part in National Hedgerow Week celebrations from 29 May - 6 June 2021 – see marstonvale.org for details The hedgerow is a quintessential part of the British landscape. Their origins go all the way back to the Bronze Age, when early farmers cleared woodland to make space for livestock and crops. Remnants of woodland were left around the edges of land to enclose animals and protect crops, and some of these ancient hedgerows still exist today. Some hedgerows also formed naturally, when shrubs and trees gained a foothold on the unfarmed edges of cultivated land or in the damp, stony places that couldn’t be farmed. 24
Many more hedgerows were planted to mark boundaries following the Enclosure Acts which began in the 17th century. It’s estimated that there are almost 250,000 miles of ‘managed’ hedgerows in the UK, but we are losing thousands of miles each year to development, agriculture and a lack of management. This is an alarming statistic for a number of reasons. A hedgerow is so much more than a simple field boundary. These green borders are a literal lifeline for wildlife, offering shelter, living accommodation and food within often inhospitable land surrounding them. They are the connecting links between larger habitats, such as woodlands, enabling wildlife to move from one place to another. Hedgerows, particularly those that have been around for a while, can support a huge variety
of wildlife. Look closely along the length of an old hedgerow and you’ll likely see many woody species thickly entwined together – such as hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle, holly, dog rose and crab apple. Scrambling through the woody growth you might discover wild honeysuckle, prickly bramble and ivy, with taller trees overtopping it like oak, field maple and beech. At the base of the hedge, thriving in the shelter it provides, you’ll often find an abundance of wildflowers such as bluebells, red campion, stitchwort and frothy cow parsley. Many birds nest within the woody fortress of the hedge, enjoying the dense protection it provides. According to the RSPB, at least 30 bird species nest in hedgerows, including whitethroats, linnets, yellowhammers, dunnocks and song thrushes. Some 1,500 insect species have been recorded in species-rich hedgerows, from beetles that shelter in the tussocky undergrowth beneath the hedge to butterflies and moths that rely on them for food and breeding places. Many mammals too depend on hedgerows for survival. The concentration of insects around hedgerows make them perfect hunting grounds for bats, and it is also known that they use hedges as a navigation aid as they travel through the landscape. Bats use echolocation to find their way, sending out sound waves and listening for their return as they bounce off objects in the landscape. In an otherwise open landscape such as farmland, the presence of hedgerows ensures they can find their way back to their roosting sites.
It is not only wildlife that benefits from our hedgerows – they are an increasingly important tool in fighting the climate emergency. In addition to tree-planting, expanding our hedgerow network will help to absorb more atmospheric carbon, as well as protecting soils from erosion and filtering out pollution particles in the air that we breathe. Looking after, or ‘managing’ our hedgerows, is crucial if we are to support the wildlife that depends on them. If unmanaged, they will become thinner at the base, losing the dense, protected structure that is valued by so many species. Hedges that have become ‘gappy’ at the bottom can be rejuvenated by hedge laying. This is a traditional country skill that involves partially cutting through the woody stems at the base of the hedge, bending them and intertwining them, filling in any gaps and encouraging new growth. There are many organisations offering advice on hedgerow management for wildlife, and a good starting point is Hedgelink (www.hedgelink.org.uk/).
Hedgerows are vital for dormice too. These nocturnal mammals spend their lives climbing among the branches of trees and hedges, rarely coming down to the ground. Following their winter hibernation, they emerge in May to feast on hawthorn pollen and honeysuckle nectar, often venturing into dense hedgerows to find these delicacies. Summer breeding nests can be created in the dense, knotted branches near to the base of a hedge, and sustenance is sought from caterpillars, aphids and then juicy blackberries as the year progresses in autumn. 25
NGS Summer
Open Gardens
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,600 exceptional private gardens in England and Wales, and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake. As well as raising money for charity they are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. Whilst their core beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute, they also support charities doing amazing work in gardens and health and grant bursaries to help community gardening projects. Here are some of the beautiful private gardens that you can visit locally this year.
22 Elmsdale Road
Bedford, Bedfordshire Saturday 5th June 12pm - 5pm Sunday 6th June 12pm - 5pm Topiary garden greets visitors before they enter a genuine Japanese Feng Shui garden including bonsai. Large collection of Japanese plants, Koi pond, lily pond and a Japanese Tea House. The garden was created from scratch by the owners about 20 years ago and has many interesting features including Japanese lanterns and the Kneeling Archer terracotta soldier from China. Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
Bedford Heights
Bedford, Bedfordshire Saturday 5th June 10am - 2pm Originally built by Texas Instruments, a Texan theme runs throughout the building and gardens. The entrance simulates an arroyo or dry riverbed, and is filled with succulents and cacti, plus a mixture of grasses and herbaceous plants, many of which are Texan natives. There are also 3 courtyard gardens, where less hardy plants thrive in the frost-free environment. Gardens designed by Graham A Pavey. Light refreshments in The Graze Bistro. Pre-booking required. Adult: £5.00
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192 Kimbolton Road Bedford, Bedfordshire Saturday 12th June 2pm - 5pm Saturday 11th September 2pm - 5pm
A third of an acre cottage garden specialising in many varieties of roses. There are also vegetable and soft fruit patches and an orchard. The garden includes over 90 roses. Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
1a St Augustine’s Road
Royal Oak Cottage
Kempston Rural, Bedford, Bedfordshire Sunday 13th June 12pm - 5pm Sunday 18th July 12pm - 5:30pm ¾ acre garden created on the land of an old beer house, with wildlife in mind. There are old orchard trees, herbaceous beds, a small oriental garden and a vegetable plot. A blue and white border surrounds an old renovated piggery building. Agapanthus and blue hydrangeas are a patio speciality. Shallow ponds support newts and other amphibians. The wildflower meadow is Austrian scythed in August. Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
Bedford, Bedfordshire Saturday 7th August 12pm - 4:30pm A colourful town garden with herbaceous borders, climbers, a greenhouse and pond. Planted in cottage garden style with traditional flowers, the borders overflow with late summer annuals and perennials including salvias and rudbeckia. The pretty terrace next to the house is lined with ferns and hostas. The owners also make home-made chutneys and preserves which can be purchased on the day. Home-made teas. Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
Howbury Hall Garden
4 St Andrews Road
Bedford, Bedfordshire Saturday 10th July 10am - 4pm An elegant, multi-functional urban garden set within a semi-formal layout featuring clipped beech hedges softened by colourful shrubs and perennials and a rose pergola. Focal points have been created to be enjoyed from both within the garden as well from the house. Adult: £3.50 Child: Free
Renhold, Bedford, Bedfordshire Sunday 12th September 2pm - 5pm A late Victorian garden designed with mature trees, sweeping lawns and herbaceous borders. The large walled garden is a working garden, where one half is dedicated to growing a large variety of vegetables whilst the other is run as a cut flower business. In the woodland area, walking towards the large pond, the outside of a disused ice house can be seen. Adult: £5.00 Child: Free Pre-booking to all open garden events is essential. For more information visit www.ngs.org.uk
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Are you fed up with clutter? Do you need more storage space? Well the answer could literally be under your own roof!
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For many home owners, the loft is an underutilised area because it can be difficult and dangerous to reach. Bedford based loft ladder installer Access4Lofts (whose slogan is ‘creating space the easy way’) can change all that, often in less than a day! Access4Lofts provides a free survey and quote service so you can find out what is achievable with your loft area. The majority of properties have an access hatch to the space in the loft. Access4Lofts create space the easy and affordable way. They can supply and install a new loft hatch and a safe, sturdy aluminium loft ladder in your home in just one day! That means that your dark and dismal roof space suddenly becomes a useful storage area for all that family clutter.
“My experience enables fitting the ladder and converting the access hatch, in double-quick time the space is accessible and I leave no mess behind” explains Jamie Proudfoot, Access4Lofts Bedford. For extra peace of mind, Access4Lofts is an approved Which? Trusted Trader which means they have been assessed by Which? and passed their stringent checks. For added confidence, they also have full public liability insurance, are DBS checked, and all work carried out comes with a Lifetime Guarantee. To find out how Access4Lofts can create more space for you and your family or to book a free survey and quote visit www.access4lofts.co.uk/bedford or call 01234 815230. You can also find them on Facebook @ access4loftsbedford.
Call Jamie to book a FREE survey & quotation
01234 815230
LET’S GET WILD Turn your garden into a veritable paradise for the birds and the bees by creating a wildflower meadow. Simple, environmentally beneficial and stunningly beautiful. Not only is it easy to create your own little wildflower meadow, it’s also fast, meaning that any patch of land you have bare can be germinated in a matter of months. That means you could be gazing out over a carpet of poppies, cornflowers, daisies, cowslips and bluebells as summer draws to a close. Perennial flowers will flourish in uncultivated soil, whereas cornfield flowers will do better in richer earth. You can buy ready-mixed seeds which will be tailored to certain variables such as soil containing heavy clay, boggy land by the pond’s edge, or even seeds that are specifically combined to provide the maximum nourishment to bees – such pollinators include Sunflower, Borage, Evening Primrose and Corn Marigold. Make sure you thoroughly weed the soil before scattering your seeds - you need 1g per square metre of pure wildflower seeds and 5g per square metre of grass and wildflower meadow seeds – and ensure the earth remains consistently moist thereafter.
MUST-HAVE WILDFLOWERS FOR YOUR GARDEN Forget-me-not This lovely lilac biennial bloom not only adds a spray of colour to your lawn, but it also attracts various pollinators, and its leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of several moth species bringing an abundance of insect life to your garden.
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Hemp Agrimony This noble native perennial looks rather striking when grown amid other more colourful wildflower varieties. Preferring the shade, it grows tall and untamed and provides a delectable nectar for butterflies. Ox-eye Daisies Tall and gracious, these white and yellow beauties are easy to grow – they thrive in the sun – though they can also overwhelm a plot if not kept in check. Cornflowers Cornflowers bring a touch of exotic elegance to your flowerbed. Surprisingly hardy, they flower from late spring into brilliant white flowers with deep purple stamens that bees, unsurprisingly, find irresistible. Common Knapweed Though some may view it as a pest, this nonetheless brings its own rugged loveliness to your wildflower crop and also will provide food for birds if seed heads are left over winter. Honeysuckle With its vibrant white, pink and yellow petals and unusually long tendrils, one might be forgiven for thinking this a flower from another planet, but this fragrant bloom is as British and as iconic as they come. Foxgloves Bright, abundant and beautiful with its tubular purple flowers, these are ideal for the back of your miniature flower meadow as they grow tall and regal attracting many a bumblebee.
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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
BEDFORDSHIRE WELLBEING SERVICE
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
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
MINDBLMK
Mental health and emotional wellbeing service for children and young people
Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.
01525 863924 www.chumscharity.org
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 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/
MENCAP (BEDFORD) 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
SUE RYDER ST JOHN’S HOSPICE A specialist palliative care and treatment centre providing hospice care for people facing a frightening, lifechanging diagnosis. Tel 01767 642412 | www.sueryder.org
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
MAY PRIZE CROSSWORD
Answers
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Home Counties Loft Ladders, Quality You Can Trust! These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Home Counties Loft Ladders come in. The company, based locally, 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. Our business relies on referrals and we get a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers
Need more storage space?
INSTALL A LOFT LADDER AND USE YOUR LOFT! STARTER PACKAGE: Aluminium loft ladder, light plus 50 sqft boarding, fully fitted in less than a day from £355
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