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Bedford Daycare Hospice 30th Anniversary Martin Lewis Column Jennie Bond – A Portrait of the Queen Queens Jubilee: Platinum Pomp The Queen in her own words Local Jubilee Events Prize Crossword What’s On Forest of Marston Vale – Orchids Gardening Last Months Crossword Answers
Contents
Community News
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Welcome
June 2022 is a big month for the UK, since we finally get to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over an extended Bank Holiday weekend. There are plenty of official events planned for our region as well as countless street and garden parties to attend. Let’s hope the weather holds up, although we have vivid memories of getting rained on heavily during the last jubilee celebrations! Did you know that June used to be the fourth month in the year? Before Julius Caesar came to power, the calendar year only had 10 months. In 46 BC he created the Julian calendar by adding two more months to the year, which made June the sixth month. June has some incredibly varied national days and observances, such as World Environment Day on 5th June, Bike Week and Child Safety Week from 6th to 12th June, and World Giraffe Day on 21st June!
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 www.dougdawson.co.uk
And if you’re looking for something a bit different, how about Open Farm Sunday on 12th June? This is a wonderful chance to showcase British farming, and if you can’t find a participating farm near you then you can always make a virtual visit! You can find more information at their website farmsunday.org. Not forgetting of course Father’s Day on 19th June. Many of our local businesses, attractions and restaurants have special Father’s Day offers so take a look through this month’s adverts and please try to support local businesses wherever possible.
Christa & The BedsLife Team
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JULY ISSUE DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE
community news Pizza Pop Up in Houghton Conquest
Housebuilder supports local ecology
Mulberry Homes has donated £250 to Herrings Green Activity Farm and Bird of Prey Centre in Wilstead to help support wildlife in the county.
Fold Me Close is a Maulden-based street food pizza company with an obsession with making the best dough. They bring together their own handmade 48-hour slow rise dough, with the finest local and Italian ingredients to produce seriously good pizza. Throughout the summer, Fold Me Close will be slinging their Neapolitan style pizza at Houghton Conquest Village Hall. After the first two sell-out Wednesdays in April and May, they have booked back in for the dates below from 5 to 8.30pm or until they sell out… so arrive early! Wednesday 15 and 29 June, 13 and 27 July, and 10 and 24 August. Follow @foldmeclose on Instagram and Facebook for weekly updates on new locations and pizza specials or to get in touch for event bookings. You can also find pots of their pizza dough at local farm shops – check out their socials for more details.
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Herrings Green Farm is home to one of the largest collections of birds of prey in the UK, including different species of owls, hawks, eagles and falcons. They educate visitors on the importance of conservation, as well as host displays for families to enjoy. Emma Gooden of Herrings Green Activity Farm and Bird of Prey Centre said: “With spring in the air, the birds are now starting to breed and in the next few months there will be lots of young mouths to feed. This money really will help in the feeding and housing costs for the babies of 2023.” This year, charities and public organisations local to Mulberry Homes’ developments are invited to apply to receive a one-off donation of £1 to £1,000. Each month, a judging panel will select a beneficiary to secure the requested funding. For more information or to apply visit www.mulberryhomes.co.uk
Celebration for carers Carers in Bedfordshire is hosting a walk with cream tea event on Wednesday 8 June at the Forest Centre at Marston Vale to celebrate Carers Week.
The charity will lead two short walks, leaving at 10am and 1pm, which will be followed by a cream tea. For anyone less able, there is a sensory garden onsite to enjoy before joining the rest of the group for the cream tea. Places are offered on a firstcome basis. Carers in Bedfordshire help unpaid carers of any age within the county by providing information, support and advice. They also hold social meet-ups for people living with dementia and their carers on the second Wednesday of the month at Manor Court in Banks Close, Marston Moretaine. The All Sorts Group incorporates reminiscence activities, games, speakers, singing and entertainment, with refreshments provided. For more information visit www.carersinbeds.org.uk
Plans for film and TV studios on former quarry
A former quarry pit in Stewartby could become a state-of-the-art film and television studio. Home of Production (HOP) wants to build production offices, workshops and screening rooms on the old Quest Pit site just outside Bedford. HOP said its proposal for the site also included a backlot, timber yard and storage facilities. It said the studio plan was “designed to be efficient and promote the wellbeing of cast and crew for each and every production”. 6
“On-site accommodation and creche, a rewilded water body, a central boulevard and canal will create a healthy and sustainable working environment,” a statement said. “The proposed world-class onsite facilities will also reduce reliance on deliveries and minimise impact on local roads.” HOP is seeking views from local people. Details of how residents can comment on the proposals are available at www.hopbedfordshire.co.uk
Marston Forest crowned best in county The Forest of Marston Vale has been voted the best country park in the county in the Eastlife 2022 Awards. The newly launched awards celebrate the independent businesses that make East Anglia a great place to live and visit. Winners are nominated by the regional magazine’s readers who then vote for the overall winners in each county. The Forest of Marston Vale is a Community Forest and a Charity, planting trees and using woodlands to make life better for the people and wildlife in the Marston Vale. The Charity’s flagship site, the Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park, is a mixture of woodland, meadows and lakes; at over 550 acres it includes a visitor centre and café, 5 miles of surfaced tracks, a network of footpaths and bridleways, and the wetlands nature reserve. Congratulations to everyone at the Forest on your well-deserved award!
Do you have some village news to share? Email jacqui@bedslifemagazine.co.uk Copy deadline for the July issue is 10th June.
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30th Anniversary
The opening of a new extension completed during lockdown, offers the opportunity for more people to experience the care and compassion that this fantastic setting has to offer. “We are really excited to be celebrating this anniversary”, continues Stephen. “It gives us an opportunity to look back and reflect on how far we have come and to thank all those who have contributed time, energy and funding to support our evolution”.
Founded in 1992 by former surgeon Donald Parsons and local businessman Clifton Ibbett, Bedford Daycare Hospice was created to meet the palliative care needs of adults with a lifelimiting illness in Bedfordshire. Now some 30 years later, the Hospice has provided individualised care to thousands of patients and their families. “We endeavour to enhance patients’ well-being and quality of life for however long the patient needs our care and support”, says the hospice General Manager, Stephen Murphy. There are still many people who fear the word hospice but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Hospice is a positive empowering environment with lots of fun and laughter, sometimes shared tears, where the focus is on living life to the full.
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In 2022, the daycare services include education programmes for specific conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Cancer and respiratory illnesses, complementary therapies, exercise sessions, counselling, bereavement and social support. As a small local charity, Bedford Daycare Hospice relies heavily on fundraising and volunteers which are vital to the work of the hospice. The Hospice needs additional patient drivers, van drivers, complementary therapists and volunteers for roles in-house and within one of five charity shops in the local area. The Hospice would also welcome the addition of new trustees to the board to help steer the direction of the hospice for future generations. For more details on roles available and opportunities to join the dedicated team at Bedford Daycare Hospice, please call on 01234 352015 or visit www.bedforddaycarehospice.org.uk
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CONSUMER
The Martin Lewis column
MONEY ON MY MIND...
He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert – a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers.
In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at haggling, and discusses whether it’s a dying art into which we need to breathe new life. We have a real aversion to haggling in this country – in fact, I would say we are some of the world’s worst hagglers. We’ve lost the bravado and confidence we once had to cut a deal, yet if you master haggling, and it is an artform, it’s fun and actually adds a layer of enjoyment to the process of buying and selling. Most people encounter haggling when it comes to their utilities and other service providers, and in simple terms, if you don’t haggle when it comes to renewing your broadband or TV package or mobile contract or car insurance or whatever it is, you are simply costing yourself money that could translate to a meal, or a deposit for a car, or a holiday. The first part of haggling where utilities are concerned is to get on price comparison sites in order to get a benchmark of what is available elsewhere, because that’s your target. Usually, these best offers will be in the form of ‘new customer’ initiatives, though as an existing customer who has already paid into the pot, why the hell should you not be qualifying for the same deals. At the end of the day, a lot of haggling comes down to being honest, forceful and confident, but also
charming and friendly. Explain your budget, explain the better deal being offered by another provider, or by your own provider to new customers, and make it clear you will leave unless something changes. Of course, many of us know those best deals come when, as an existing customer, you get put through to disconnections – it’s the point at which your provider is really just one step away from losing you for good, and it is those customer service agents who have the ability to get you a much better price. Ultimately, it is your negotiation here that will count, but if you don’t get the deal you think you deserve, my advice is to walk away. If you can negotiate a new deal, don’t get caught on a long agreement, and do remember to phone back to renegotiate again when any promotional period ends. Mostly, be charming, friendly and forceful, and enjoy the process of haggling!
Martin Lewis is the Founder and Chair of MoneySavingExpert.com. To join the 7.5 million people who get his free Money Tips weekly email, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip
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Jennie Bond worked as Royal Correspondent for the BBC throughout the Nineties, covering some of the happiest, most tragic and scandalous moments that have befallen the family in recent times. “At the heart of it, I am fan of royalty and a fan of the family unit,” she says. “The trials that the Royal Family have been through are really no different to our own, and that should reassure them as well as us. They are human beings, and fate doesn’t shine brighter on them, because the everyday gains and losses that are just part of being alive. “Ultimately, it is how you come back from the challenges that really matters – and the Queen has, over the past seven decades, truly shown herself to be the most resilient person possible.” Bond is certainly relieved our Head of State has styled and positioned herself with such a brand of quiet authority. “You could arguably look at almost everyone around the Queen and pick out faults and failings,” she says. “We’ve seen so many in recent years, to the extent we don’t need to name the culprits or the dealings. “Yet when you shine that light on the Queen it’s really difficult, at any point, to say, ‘you got that wrong’, or ‘this could have been done better’. “I think with Elizabeth we tend to take that for granted – we tend to just accept she is like that
without contemplating what sort of royal landscape we would have with someone less capable at the helm.” As far as privacy goes, the Queen values it, but respects the need to be visible and approachable. “Elizabeth is funny, charismatic, sharp as anything, but I think worn down at times by the sheer weight of what it is she has to do. It’s no easy task for someone in their nineties and no amount of wealth or privilege will compensate for what is an incredible commitment to her people,” says Bond. “I have had the honour of covering a lot of royal moments of great importance… moments in history I suppose – Princess Diana’s death, the Queen Mother’s death, the divorce of Charles and Diana. All those were very important moments I had to report on. But honestly, I think the jubilee celebrations and the pomp and pageantry is the most important. I know it signifies a simple anniversary – just a date in the calendar – but more than that it’s a way of looking back over the continued efforts of someone so brave and inspiring, and is the perfect way to say ‘thank you’ to a very special lady.”
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The Queen’s Jubilee: Platinum Pomp The Derby at Epsom Downs. The event itself is over 240 years old and has garnered a different winner every year, and is open only to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies who have qualified for the race in the months preceding it. It remains the race that offers the biggest prize pot in the British racing – over £1.1million.
The work that goes on behind the scenes to mark Jubilee celebrations, which begin on Thursday, June 2nd. Soldiers, horses, and musicians It all starts to come to fruition on the Thursday, as Trooping the Colour marks the Queen’s birthday celebrations. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together in the traditional Parade. This is the first Jubilee celebration in which women will be included in the regiment, so additional preparations have been made to ensure the influx of first-time participants. RAF fly-past The traditional RAF fly-past completes the parade. The routine will have been practised countless times, though contrary to popular belief, this isn’t just a privilege reserved for the Queen. In the lead-up to the event, local communities have been invited to apply for their own fly-pasts. Jubilee beacons A fortnight before the Jubilee, 1,500 Platinum Jubilee beacons will have been distributed across the UK. This lighting of beacons first took place in 1897 to mark
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and are a symbol of unity across towns, borders, countries, and continents. St Paul’s Cathedral On Friday, June 3rd, attention switches to the Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Public safety elements come to the fore here, with tens of thousands of well-wishers lining the streets around the Thames as the Queen and family members attend. The Derby A day of leisure follows on the Saturday as the Queen visits
10,000 charitable tickets In the evening, Elizabeth returns to London for a party at Buckingham Palace. In the months leading up to the event, which features music and drama celebrating some of the most significant cultural moments from The Queen’s seven-decade, over 10,000 tickets have been made available to charitable organisations. This has been two years in the planning. Street celebrations Finally, on Sunday, June 5th, communities across the UK are invited play out their own Platinum Jubilee street celebrations. Named The Big Lunch and launched in 2009, communities have been planning for months how they wish to mark the special day, with up over 1,500 applications made. 200 silk scarfs At the same time, the Platinum Jubilee Pageant sees artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers, and volunteers tell the story of the Queen’s 70-year reign. It includes a ‘River of Hope’ section comprised of 200 silk flags made by primary and secondary school children.
The
Queen in her own words
Quiet, impeccably mannered, but always addressing with poise and precision, what Queen Elizabeth II says is always worth hearing.
Serving her country Upon the Queen’s coronation, she declared herself fully at the service of the nation she was serving, as have all Monarchs coming to the throne. While the words are regularly spoken, the intensity with which they were said perhaps should have given some indication that Elizabeth truly was giving herself over to the nation, a fact that has been borne out in the 70 years that have followed. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Struggles Taking strength from all around her, the Queen has never professed to have all the answers. “I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”
The Queen and Diana The idea that the Queen was in some way unapproving of Diana is one that has permeated the popular press and, it might be said, has left an indelible stain on the reputation of both. Yet many biographers have noted that the relationship between the two was excellent, even after the break-up of Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles.
Family Bringing the royals back to a status where people can empathise and share in the joys and pain of the family unit, is something Elizabeth has excelled in.
“No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her.
Contrition Finally, the Queen has not only had to reference and apologise for events that occurred long before she was born.
“She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her – for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”
“Like all best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.”
“To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.” 17
LOCAL JUBILEE EVENTS HM THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATION THURSDAY 2 JUNE 2PM TO 5PM. Best Crown Competition, Best cake competition. Raffle, music, children’s entertainer, £1 BBQ or bring your own picnic. Free and open to all Christ the King Parish Hall, Harrowden Road, Bedford, MK42 0SP For information call Sue on 07977 569053 QUEENS JUBILEE VINTAGE TEA PARTY AT COLMWORTH GOLF CLUB FRIDAY 3 JUNE 1.30PM Come along and enjoy scrummy cakes and refreshments at Colmworth Golf Club. Open to all – not just golfers! Enjoy listenening to Miss Alex Jones Vintage Jazz singer from 2pm No tickets needed – just come and enjoy our homemade cakes and live music. Tables can be reserved in advance (deposit required) – call 01234 378181 New Road, Colmworth MK44 2AP QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATION AT OAKLEY SOCIAL CLUB FRIDAY 3 JUNE 12 NOON – 6PM Enjoy a pre-packaged picnic basket from OSSC and / or a BBQ on our field whilst listening to Simon Gutteridge perform live. There will be plenty of activities for kids and adults alike and fancy dress is encouraged! Book your picnic now by messaging us on Facebook or email steward@oakleyssc.com Church Lane, Oakley MK43 7RJ STEWARTBY QUEEN’S JUBILEE PICNIC SUNDAY 5 JUNE 12PM – 4PM The Parish Council invite all the community to come together to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. Bring your own picnic, Live music and dancing, Licenced Bar, Afternoon Tea Stall, Bouncy Castle, Kids Games and more. The Sports Field, Park Crescent, Stewartby, MK43 9NQ 18
JUBILEE GARDEN PARTY AT WOODLAND MANOR HOTEL SUNDAY 5 JUNE THE PARTY STARTS AT 1.30PM, WITH FOOD SERVED AT 2PM, AND LAST ORDERS AT THE BAR AT 6PM. Is there a better way to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee that a traditional English Garden Party in the grounds of the 18th century Manor House Hotel? Traditional Afternoon Tea will be served and includes a variety of home baked cakes and scones, homemade sandwiches, classic tea from the Manor and fresh coffee, you can also enjoy a range of garden games and music throughout the event. Booking is essential, and full payment at the time of booking. If you would like to attend, or would like further information, please contact 01234 363281 or email reception@woodlandmanorhotel.co.uk Green Lane, Clapham, Bedford MK41 6EP BROMHAM PLATINUM JUBILEE PICNIC PARTY SUNDAY 5 JUNE 11AM Celebration service and Jubilee picnic party with free bouncy castles, games, glitter tattoos, music and more.Free event but bring your own chairs and picnic.Bromham Village Hall Playing Field, Bromham, MK43 8JP. For more info visit www.bromham.org QUEENS JUBILEE TEA PARTY AT BEDFORD GUILD HOUSE FRIDAY 10 JUNE 2PM Bedford Guild House cordially invite you to get dressed up and join them to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. They will be having an afternoon tea with entertainment and lots and lots of fun! Call 01234 352038 to book today 56 Harpur Street, Bedford MK40 2QT
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WHAT’S ON
STORYTELLING WITH GRANDMA MO WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE WORKSHOPS START AT 11:15AM, 12:45PM AND 2:15PM Listen to Grandma Mo’s story in the galleries, then make seedling pots and plant your own sunflowers. Suitable for 3 to 7 year olds. £3.05 per child Book online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044 – line open Monday to Friday 11am-3pm. www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Book_Online/ Book_Online.aspx BEDFORD ART SOCIETY MEETING FRIDAY 3 JUNE 7.15PM FOR 7.30PM START Jill Buckingham will be painting a portrait in soft pastels. All her life an artist, Jill has been “enthused, touched and excited by nature and humanity”. Jill is here to share that enthusiasm and excitement with you through her wealth of experience in art and her art as a lifestyle. Entry free for members, £5 for visitors. Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact Jean Paterson on 01234 307210 www.bedsartsociety.co.uk SHAKESPEARE IN THE RUINS – TWELFTH NIGHT AT ELSTOW ABBEY FRIDAY 3 JUNE 7PM (DOORS OPEN 6PM) The Three Inch Fools present Twelfth Night. 5 actors, music and mischief. Outdoor performance Please bring picnic, chairs and appropriate clothing Elstow Abbey, 6 Abbey Close, Elstow MK42 9XT For tickets visit www.threeinchfools.com BEDFORD FLORAL ART SOCIETY TUESDAY 7 JUNE AT 7.30PM We welcome Gill McGregor with her floral demonstration entitled ‘Platinum Panache’. Visitors welcome £7 Addison Centre, Addison Howard Park Bedford Road, Bedford MK42 8PN www.bedfordfloralartsociety.co.uk 22
WOMEN-ONLY WALK AT THE LODGE SATURDAY 11 JUNE 7PM-8.30PM Join us for a women-only guided walk at The Lodge, taking in seasonal sights and sounds. The walk will be led by some of our female RSPB volunteers, who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm for nature. This is an adult-only walk. Please be aware the walk will be over uneven terrain and is not suitable for wheelchair users. If you have mobility issues, please contact us before purchasing a ticket. Please meet in the picnic area. For tickets visit www.events.rspb.org.uk/events/ BEDFORD FLEA, AFFORDABLE ART & LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET SUNDAY 12 JUNE 10AM – 3PM
Local Produce section; grown-not-flown seasonal flowers, sheep cheese & milk, freshly baked bread, savoury goodies & sauces, Indian food, Bedfordshire brewed cider & distilled gin, free-from cakes and doughnuts. Doctor’s House will also be there with their Refill Station and locally made artisan body care and candles too! The Affordable Art section will be filled with a dozen local artists of varying disciplines. The Flea section will be FULL with the best antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, second hand vinyl and all the treasures you never knew you needed! St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SQ BEDFORD URBAN SKETCHERS JUNE SKETCH CRAWL SUNDAY 12 JUNE 11AM – 1.30PM MEET OUTSIDE THE CORN EXCHANGE ENTRANCE A chance to sketch the delights of our town centre market square – choose the bustling market and practice your people skills, the antiques and collectables of the Flea section, the artists
selling their creations, or even the food and drinks producers. Or, turn out and face the county hall, the newly regenerated high street or even the Corn Exchange. There is a rich collection of architecture from across the centuries to be sketched! We welcome all ages, backgrounds and artistic abilities. This is not a taught class, but, we all encourage and learn from each other. Please bring your own materials. BOLNHURST VINTAGE & COUNTRY FAYRE SATURDAY 18 AND SUNDAY 19 JUNE
includes Raffle & Refreshments Biddenham Village Hall, Biddenham MK40 4BJ www.biddenhamgardenersassociation.org.uk AFTERNOON VINTAGE TEA FRIDAY 24 JUNE 2PM TO 4PM Entry £4 Includes tea, home-made cake and friendship For information call Myriam on 07590 558275 Christ the King Parish Hall,Harrowden Road, Bedford, MK42 0SP CHOIR CONCERT AT ST MARKS BRICKHILL SATURDAY 25 JUNE 3PM U3a Harmony are delighted to announce our Summer Concert 2022 Expect old songs, folk songs, show songs and of course a sing-a-long Free admission (donations welcome) The Best Tea Ladies in the County will be in attendance! Glorious raffle prizes!! St Marks Church, Calder Rise, Brickhill MK41 7UY
Vintage vehicles, local craft stands, arena events and much more. Supporting local Bedfordshire Charities. Adults £7, OAP’s £5, 10-16 Years £5, Under 10 Free Family 2xAdult & 2x10-16: £22 FRIENDS OF BEDFORD CEMETERY GUIDED TREE WALK SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2.15PM – MEET AT THE CHAPEL 10 MINS BEFORE THE START Join Jo Roberts from Marston Vale forest and discover some of our wonderful veteran trees which have been bought here from all corners of the world. The walk will last approx. 1.5 hours All walks are free but a small contribution to the Friends would be appreciated. Refreshments available at the end of the walk for a small charge. www.fosterhillroadcemetery.co.uk BIDDENHAM GARDENERS ASSOCIATION TUESDAY 21 JUNE 2020 AT 7.30PM “A portrait of a Victorian Garden” By Russell Bowes Visitors very welcome Admission £5 per meeting for non-members –
OPEN GARDENS, CHURCH END, BIDDENHAM SUNDAY 26 JUNE 2PM-5PM Explore the wide variety of gardens in Church End, Biddenham MK40 4AR. Afternoon teas, home-made cakes and plant stall. Tickets just £5 per person for all gardens that are open, available on the day from the Church Barn. Children under 12 free. For more information, email churchendgardens@gmail.com. In aid of The Friends of St James, Biddenham.
FOR MORE WHAT’S ON EVENTS VISIT WWW.BEDSLIFEMAGAZINE.CO.UK 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 July issue please email christa@bedslifemagazine.co.uk by Friday 10th June. Priority will be given to non profit events.
Orchids
The orchids that people most often encounter in the UK are those gracing the shelves of supermarkets and garden centres – bold, brightly coloured specimens such as Phalaenopsis, which are native to South Asia but are now extremely popular in British homes. And although you might not find anything quite as showy as the tropical species we grow as house plants, you might be surprised to learn that you can discover many different orchids in the British countryside too. A total of 52 different species are native to the UK, and almost 30 of these have been recorded in Bedfordshire. One of these – the bee orchid – has even been crowned the county’s official flower.
© Tony Crofts
As the name suggests, part of the flower (the lip) of this stunning species resembles a bee. The function of this mimicry – which even extends to the scent of the flower – is to tempt a male bee to ‘mate’ with it, accumulating pollen in the process, which is then transferred when it visits another bee orchid. However, the strategy is ineffective here in the UK as the bee species it is designed to attract does not live here. As such, bee orchids in this country self-pollinate in order to reproduce.
© Mark King
This exotic-looking species can be found in many different places – in grasslands, woods, road verges and railway embankments. Occasionally they’ve even been known to pop up in gardens. Peak flowering time is June. Among the first to orchids to flower are the early-purples around April. Found in a variety of habitats including grassland, woodland and road verges, the early purple orchid is larger than the bee orchid, growing to around 40cm in height. The deep magenta flowers are arranged in a cluster of up to 50 around the stem, and the glossy leaves are covered in dark purple blotches. Another distinguishable feature of the early purple orchid is its scent. When they first appear, the flowers give off a sweet fragrance, but after fertilisation the scent is more akin to urine! Far more pleasant to the nostrils is the chalk fragrant orchid, a species which has a sweet vanilla scent that intensifies towards dusk in order to attract nightflying moths. Chalk fragrant orchids begin flowering around mid-May, and normally grow to around 40cm. Up to 200 pinky-purple flowers form in a cylinder shape around the stem. As the season progresses our most widespread orchid, the common spotted, starts to bloom. Easier to find than most other species, you can see it flowering in many different places – on grasslands, in woodlands, roadside verges, hedgerows, old quarries and marshes – between May and August.
The flowers are arranged in tight clusters and come in a range of colours from white to pink and through to magenta. All have distinctive darker purple markings on their three-lobed lips and the leaves are also spotted with purple. Although relatively common – for an orchid at least – finding one of these flowers is still a magical experience. Look closely and you can’t help but be won over by their beauty. Not all British orchids have colourful, exquisite flowers though. One very interesting exception is the bird’s nest orchid – an extremely rare species that grows in shady woodland. This orchid does not use sunlight to produce energy through photosynthesis as it lacks chlorophyll – the substance that makes our plants green. Instead it relies on its host for nutrients, living parasitically on the roots of trees. Food is stored in the tangle
of roots that gives the plant its name. The flower of this orchid is very distinctive – a rather sicklylooking beige due to the lack of chlorophyll. Another of the less showy varieties of orchid – which is also much more widespread– is the common twayblade. It grows in woods, grassy places and scrubland, but is sometimes overlooked because of its rather inconspicuous green and yellow flowers. Despite growing up to 75cm in height, this orchid is sometimes missed because it blends in so well to its surroundings. Do let us know about any orchids you find while out exploring the Forest of Marston Vale, and tempting as it may be, please don’t pick the flowers. Orchids look their best out in the wild, and many are legally protected so you could be breaking the law.
Gardening Tips and Advice from
Flaming June is with us already. It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was scraping ice from my car windscreen. Traditionally, the 6th of June heralds the arrival of warmer weather with June 2019 being the hottest on record. ‘Flaming June’ is also a beautiful painting by Sir Frederick Leighton. Timely then for an economical tip on watering your shrubs, especially with soaring living costs worrying us all. For us gardeners, this means sustaining our gardens with frugal use of water. As the weather gets hotter and drier, make a ‘trickle hose’ to water your shrubs and trees. Just punch holes in a length of old hose pipe, thread it through your shrubs at the roots, and leave running for a short while each evening; just long enough to enjoy a gin and tonic while you admire your garden. Remember that the bedding plants you put out last month will need watering too. They have not yet anchored themselves to your soil and will deteriorate if they become too dry.
THE G
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The Potting Shed of the Gentleman Gardener
NTLEM GE
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If you have a greenhouse, the final potting of your chrysanthemums should be completed, along with your cyclamen and hydrangea cuttings. Here’s a tip: if you want blue hydrangeas, use John Innes number 1 potting compost and add no lime. Don’t forget to lift your tulips and dry them before storing them, tie in your blackberries and loganberries, top dress your cucumbers and broad beans, and thin your grapes. For a better grape harvest, when they are bunching the size of peas, cut a third off. You’ll be pleased you did later in the year. I was at my nursery grower the other day and the topic came round to old, forgotten flower names. Who remembers gillyflower (now carnation) eglantine, sweetbrier, French willow, love-in-amist, soapwort, meadowsweet, sweet Cicely? It made me quite nostalgic. Remember, gardening adds years to your life and life to your years. So, with my tools cleaned and my potting shed door locked, I wish you enjoyment from your gardens, whether window box, cottage, or castle. The Gentleman Gardener
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