Bury Edition June 2013 Issue 4

The quality lifestyle magazine for Bury St Edmundss

FREE MAGAZINE Issue 4

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JUNE 2013

Inside this issue...

NIGHTLIFE

St John’s

Street Fair MOTORING REVIEW

LOCAL

FAMILY ILY DAYS A OUT

FOOD

DRINK

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Newmarket 3 The Avenue, Newmarket CB8 9AA Tel. 01638 560778 Open from 10.30 – 5 Mon to Fri, 9 – 5 Sat Cambridge 297 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 3DF Tel. 01223 213266 Open from 9 – 5 Mon to Sat Bishop’s Stortford 48 Hockerill Street, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 2DW Tel. 01279 501642 Open from 10.30 – 5 Mon to Fri, 9 – 5 Sat

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* see in store for details

CONTENTS

JUNE 2013

Welcome

48 42 5 đ FIVE THINGS TO DO If you only do five things in Bury this month – make it these 6-9 đ NIGHTLIFE From club nights to comedy, we’ve got the low-down on after-hours fun 10-12 đ ARTS & CULTURE Bit of a culture vulture? Whet your whistle with these exciting arty goings-on in town 15 đ FAMILY Top kiddy friendly activities around the county this month 17 đ ST JOHN’S STREET FAIR Edition looks forward to the popular street party, finding out what’s in store this year 18-19 đ LISTINGS A comprehensive guide to events in Bury and the surrounding area this June 21 đ FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Think dads are impossible to buy for? Use our handy pressie guide for inspiration 22-23 đ FOOD NEWS Get your tummy rumbling with our roundup of gastronomic goings-on in Bury 25 đ REVIEW This month we pay a visit to Fornham All Saints’ hidden gem: The Organic Shop 27 đ FOOD COLUMN Salads don’t have to be dull. Alex Rushmer shows you how to add a little pizzazz 28-29 đ RECIPES Local lads and authors of digital recipe book Cook.Taste.Summer.Smile share a trio of seasonal delights 31 đ BUSINESS Andrew Cooper advises on making sure that your contracts make the grade

33 đ MONEY Andrew Sandford of St James’s Place Wealth Management gives you the needto-know facts on ISAs 35 đ INDIE OF THE MONTH In the spotlight this month, we pay a visit to Guildhall Dental Practice – who've been tending to local gnashers for 50 years 36-38 đ FASHION The editor rounds up her top style picks for men and women 41 đ INDIE PICKS Our favourite fashion pieces from local independent retailers 42-43 đ BEAUTY Charlotte and Daisy demonstrate how to 1ûƫ5+1.ƫ3 5ƫ0+ƫ/%('5ƫ/1))!.ƫ/'%*ƫ 45 đ WELLNESS Boost your wellbeing with guidance from the experts at The Self Centre 48-49 đ FIVE OF THE BEST Fancy a spot of pampering? Lucinda King rounds up Bury’s top beauty treatments 50-55 đ INTERIORS Conservatories are a popular and û+. (!ƫ3 5ƫ0+ƫ* ƫ5+1./!("ƫ)+.!ƫ space. Here’s what you need to know 59 đ GARDENS With the arrival of summer, now is the time to give your garden some TLC 60-61 đ MOTORING As MINI adds another addition to the clan, Sue Baker sizes it up against its siblings 65-66 đ PETS (!4ƫ 5(%!ƫ".+)ƫ /0# 0!ƫ !0/ƫ 2%/!/ƫ+*ƫ keeping your pets safe in the sun, while Scampers look at when and how to give your dog treats

With the arrival of June, it’s (finally!) summer and while I can’t guarantee that the weather is going to start behaving itself, I can promise a busy month for Bury. First up, and my pick of the month, is Suffolk Open Studios – an event that Bury Edition is a proud partner of. Taking place every weekend in June, this is your chance to take a peek into the inner sanctums of artists across the county, exploring their workspaces and studios, asking questions and, of course, admiring some breathtakingly brilliant artwork. There’s also the St John’s Street Fair on Saturday 22 June: a colourful celebration of community and all the lovely independent retailers which inhabit that charming corner of our town.

The local nightlife calendar is hotting up for summer as well, with the fantastic Forest Live series of concerts over at Thetford Forest (which this month sees visits from Blondie and Paloma Faith), and Newmarket Nights too, which will play host to some top acts including Simple Minds. There’s plenty more happening too, so grab a cuppa, have a read, and get planning. Enjoy the issue, and see you next month!

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR

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EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor Nicola Foley nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com 01223 499459

Alex Rushmer, Sian Townsend, Charlotte Griffiths, Sue Baker, Daisy Dickinson, Emily Brooks, Alex Wylie, Andrew Sandford, Simon Langley, Tim Sloane, Lucinda King, Alex Yandell, Edward Taylor, Catherine Carr

Features Editor Jennifer Shelton jennifershelton@bright-publishing.com 01223 499463 Sub Editor Lisa Clatworthy lisaclatworthy@bright-publishing.com Sub Editor Hannah Bealey hannahbealey@bright-publishing.com

ADVERTISING

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Designer Nicole Henson nicolehenson@bright-publishing.com 01223 499450

Senior Sales Executive Tim Sloane timsloane@bright-publishing.com 01223 499458

PUBLISHING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450

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BURY EDITION MAGAZINEƫđƫBright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ 01223 499450, 333ċ 1.5! %0%+*ċ +ċ1'ƫđƫAll rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not !ƫ.!,.+ 1 ! Čƫ%*ƫ3$+(!ƫ+.ƫ%*ƫ, .0Čƫ3%0$+10ƫ,.%+.ƫ,!.)%//%+*ƫ+"ƫ0$!ƫ,1 (%/$!./ċƫđƫ %!3/ƫ!4,.!//! ƫ%*ƫ0$%/ƫ) # 6%*!ƫ .!ƫ*+0ƫ*! !// .%(5ƫ0$+/!ƫ+"ƫ 1.5ƫ %0%+*ƫ+.ƫ .%#$0ƫ 1 (%/$%*#ƫ 0 Čƫ3$% $ƫ +ƫ*+0ƫ !,0ƫ *5ƫ(% %(%05ƫ"+.ƫ(+//ƫ+.ƫ ) #!ċƫđƫ 2!.5ƫ!û+.0ƫ$ /ƫ !!*ƫ) !ƫ0+ƫ!*/1.!ƫ ((ƫ%*"+.) 0%+*ƫ%/ƫ +..! 0ċƫđƫ 1.5ƫ %0%+*ƫ%/ƫ ƫ".!!ƫ,1 (% 0%+*ƫ0$ 0ƫ%/ƫ %/0.% 10! ƫ%*ƫ 1.5ƫ 0ƫ )1* /ƫ * ƫ0$!ƫ/1..+1* %*#ƫ .! ƫ

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Bury Edition | June 2013 | 3

NEWS

Things to do this month 1

2

Get your skates on!

Always great fun and a fantastic way of keeping fit, roller skating is experiencing something of a revival right now – and it’s definitely not just for kids. Liven up your week with ‘Skate Invaders’ over at Curve Motion, and you can roll around in classic rollerr disco style to your heart’s content.

Taking place every Wednesday night from 7 until 11pm, you can skate, boogie to music from across the decades d and d join j i in i with ith skate k t games. Entry is £6.95, skate hire is free and it’s for 18+ years only. www.curvemotion.com

3 Explore Depden farm shop If you haven’t ventured over to the lovely Depden Farm Shop yet, put it on your must-visit list for this month. Based at Rookery Farm since 2005, it was set up with a mission of bringing the best local food to local people and helping people learn new things, live well and tread lighter on the planet. In the farm shop you’ll find home-grown fruit and veg, home-made cakes, and lots of foodie delights from fantastic local producers, including beef from Riverside Beef, Butterworth’s teas and chutneys, and meat pies from The Pie Kitchen.

There’s also a host of special events lined up this month including their Birthday Bash on 15 June, a beginners gardening course on 19 June, an evening of wine appreciation on 20 June and a day dedicated to pig keeping and sausage making on 22 June. www.depden.com

4

Visit Bulldog Barns If you’re looking for something for your home, make a beeline for the treasure trove of loveliness that is Bulldog Barns on Thetford Road in Northwold, where you can spend a happy few hours rummaging through their huge collection of homewares and antique gifts.

With stock from 23 different retailers, there’s plenty of variety: from retro and upcycled furniture to jewellery, china, glassware and original paintings, plus a children’s department and an outdoor section. The stock changes weekly, so there’s always something new to discover – plus a funky coffee wagon for drinks and light bites if you need to refuel.

Go running A new running event organised

by Abbeycroft Leisure and St Edmundsbury Borough Council, in conjunction with Parkrun, is starting this month at Nowton Park. Making its debut on 29 June, the 5k timed run will take place every Saturday, and will be free and open to all. Suitable for everybody from new runners and parents with children in tow to those with more experience looking to improve their times, the runs will begin at 9am weekly. A coffee morning will take place afterwards at the park café. Participants can sign up online, and the event is also seeking volunteers to help out. www.parkrun.org.uk

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5 Enjoy some Blues on the Lawn Spend a lazy Sunday listening to Blues on the Lawn, taking place on the last Sunday of each month throughout the summer at Best Western Priory Hotel, Bury St Edmunds. As well as live music from a local blues outfit, they’ll be serving a barbecue buffet every month and drinks too (there’s an indoor bar in case it rains!). June’s event will take place on the 30th. There’s free parking, and tickets cost £10.

Call 01284 766181 to book. See www.prioryhotel.co.uk for more info.

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 5

JUNE

NIGHTLIFE

NEWMARKET NIGHTS You know that summer is well and truly here when the Newmarket Nights concerts begin their season of open-air live music events, offering a chance to get your gladrags on, have a flutter on the horses and then enjoy some top acts as night falls. So popular were the events last year that the organisers estimate around 100,000 people watched the shows across the course of the summer.

Hosted at Newmarket Racecourse, there will be seven concerts in total this year, kicking off this month with afternoon performances by both Lawson and The Saturdays at ‘Summer Saturday Live’ (8 June, adult tickets £29). Following that, iconic rockers Simple Minds will be doing their thing on 21 June, ahead of the release of their latest album Celebrate: The Greatest Hits +. The Scottish five piece will be playing hits from their extensive back catalogue including favourites like Don’t You (Forget About Me) and Alive and Kicking (adult tickets from £35). Rounding off the month with a riot of guilty-pleasure pop on 28 June will be the ‘Big Pop Party’ that sees boybands 5ive and Blue headlining alongside Liberty X (adult tickets from £33). www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk

GINGER BAKER JAZZ CONFUSION Renowned for his work with Cream and Blind Faith, and once voted ‘the musician least likely to survive the 60s’, Ginger Baker has proved everyone wrong by coming up with ever more impressive compositions, which he still plays live with his talented jazz quartet. Their music sits somewhere between fusion and African sounds, and he’s called in jazz giant Pee Wee Ellis to take up tenor sax. They’ll be playing a mix of original material and covers (by the likes of Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter and Sonny Rollins) at The Apex on 6 June, 8pm. Tickets are £18/£20. www.theapex.co.uk

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FOREST LIVE

NIGHTLIFE

In the beautiful setting of Thetford Forest you can catch some fantastic acts this month as part of Forest Live, an independent programme of concerts organised by the Forestry Commission. On Saturday 15 June, the legendary Blondie will pay a visit, and you can guarantee that they'll put on a show to remember. Having emerged from New York’s vibrant new wave scene in the 1970s, Blondie’s iconic sound and the striking looks of lead singer Debbie Harry earned the group millions of fans worldwide. Fusing rock, punk, disco, reggae and even a bit of hip hop, they racked up a stash of chart-toppers including Denis, Call Me, The Tide is High, Heart of Glass and many more – and they’re still going strong, producing new material to this day. Blondie will be joined by nineties favourites The Lightning Seeds (gates open at 6pm; tickets £36). Also up this month is captivating cockney songbird Paloma Faith, who plays on 14 June. Blending sassy pop and retro o soul, Faith’s debut album u Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? (released in 2009) catapulted her into the public eye. Since then, she’s been busily d building on her successes, releasing her second album Fall to Grace last year and appearing in numerous Hollywood films.

“I’m really excited about these shows,” said d Paloma, commenting on her Forest Live dates..

“It’s going to be a great experience so I hope you will be able to join me on my woodland adventure this summer!” Tickets are £32. www.forestry.gov.uk

The Lady Boys of Bangkok Leave your inhibitions at the door for this dazzling spectacle of dance, debauchery and diamante, brought to you by the fearless Lady Boys of Bangkok. Packed with chart hits and comedy routines, the Glamorous Amorous tour, coming our way on 5 June, is a cabaret celebration of all forms of entertainment, and a party night that’s been experienced by over a million people to date. It’s even been described as “one of the shows to see before you die”, by the British Theatre Guide. Tickets are £21.50; showtime 7.30pm (over 16's only). www.theapex.co.uk

Jazz Nights at The Fox Inn Sunday night is Jazz Night at boutique hotel and restaurant, The Fox Inn on Eastgate Street.

The venue has gone to great lengths to create a relaxed, intimate jazz club atmosphere and showcases a range of up-and-coming acts, plus some more familiar local favourites, every week. Catch Verao there on 2 June, followed by guitar and piano duo Kayona on 9 June.

Performing on 16 June is Saxamazoo, a dynamic three-piece which utilise all manner of instruments from the saxophone to the banjo. Doors open at 7.15pm and entry is free. If you fancy dinner, a tempting, locally sourced home-cooked gastro menu is available from 5pm. www.thefoxinnbury.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

TONY KOFI Former member of Jazz Warriors, Tony Kofi will perform at the Unitarian Meeting House on 1 June, in an event hosted by The Devils Kitchen Collective. Expect lively, raw modern jazz from this master of his art, who combines strength and subtlety and comes highly commended by The Observer, which described his passion and control as ‘absorbing’. He’ll be performing with his Future Passed Trio. Starts 7pm; tickets £13 in advance, £7 under-18s. A traditional Ghanaian menu will also be served, alongside a range of award-winning ales. www.thedevilskitchencollective.com

Swinging at the Cotton Club On 15 June, be transported back to the roaring 20s at The Apex where the music was swingin’, the hemlines were rising and energetic new dance styles from the US were making waves.

The Jiving Lindy Hoppers and Hot Rhythm Orchestra invite you to join them at the heart of the dance revolution in 1920s New York in this action-packed show, bursting with great swing music and dancing. As well as fantastic dances, the troupe will be paying homage to the singers of the legendary Cotton Club, which produced stars such as Megs Etherington and Marlene Hill during the 20s and 30s. Starts 7.30pm; tickets £18-20. www.theapex.co.uk

Ladies Night at The Ivory Get the girls together for a night on the tiles as The Ivory kick-starts your weekend a day early. At the trendy town centre bar, Thursday night is Ladies Night, which means lots of great deals on cocktails and selected drinks, plus music to dance to from the 80s, 90s and today's charts. (The Ivory made it into our Five of the Best Cocktails feature last month – see www.buryedition.co.uk for details of their inspired tipples). And to make your night out even more special, you could also book out the Silver Suite Karaoke Room… It all kicks off at 7pm; grab your girls and go. www.ivoryburystedmunds.co.uk

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Rock, Paper, Scissors Eaterie and nightspot LP is hosting a unique club event all this month which will test your powers of concentration (or luck!). On Friday nights, the bar staff challenge you to a game of rock, paper, scissors, for a chance to get into the club for free and to win discounted drinks. If you win, you’ll be treated to house spirits and mixers for £2.50, or vodka/Jäger and an energy drink for £3. But if you lose, you’ll just have to have a great time while paying the regular prices. DJ Henmo will be on the decks from 11pm ’til 3am so bring along your dancing shoes for a night of fun. www.lp-bar.co.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE We explore the arts and culture scene in Bury St Edmunds, showcasing some of the many exciting exhibitions tists and events to look out for and projects taking place around the town, as well as highlighting the local artists

GALLERY HIGHWAYMANS June’s exhibition at Gallery Highwaymans takes us from quiet winter streets to the bright colours and excitement of the racetrack through a selection of the vibrant paintings of Rodney Bastable. Growing up outside Newmarket, horse racing has provided a lifetime’s worth of inspiration for Rodney, who focuses mostly on landscapes and counts Michelangelo and Turner amongst his favourite painters. He has exhibited regularly in specialist galleries, including the Royal Academy. This exhibition is entitled Lightworks, and runs until 16 June. www.thegalleryhighwaymans.co.uk

SUFFOLK OPEN STUDIOS South Coast Harbour

by Tom Lund-Lack

Every weekend in June, studios across Suffolk will be throwing open their doors and inviting you, the public, inside – not only to see a range of spectacular and diverse artwork, but witness how and where it’s created. More than 100 artists are taking part, with work on display including painting, printmaking, photography, textiles, sculpture, jewellery and lots more.

“Suffolk Open Studios exists to encourage public engagement with working artists,” says chairman Tom Lund-Lack. “Open Studios is a great opportunity for art lovers to meet and talk to artists, and then to be able to view preliminary work, sketchbooks, work in progress and the processes involved.

“Artists gain by being members of a great network which is organised, supportive and collaborative. As individuals, publicising and promoting work is difficult and expensive; SOS members benefit from marketing and publicity designed to bring the public to their studios. And of course there is the SOS website, where all members have a portfolio which they can manage directly.” www.suffolkopenstudios.org

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ARTS & CULTURE

THEATRE HIGHLIGHTS There’s lots to keep theatre lovers in Bury happy this month, kicking off with Sherlock Girls at the Theatre Royal, which ends its two-night run on 1 June (times online, £8-£13). Performed by local youth choir the Voice Squad Cadets, this upbeat new musical written

by Birgitta Kenyon follows the allsinging adventures of an intrepid group of female detectives. Also promising an energetic, music-filled evening at the Theatre Royal is For One Night Only!, a variety style showcase from E0.45 Productions which features song, dance and music acts (11 June, 7pm, £10).

Continuing the music theme over at Diss Corn Hall, this month you can enjoy an illuminating portrayal of one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, Maria Callas, on 6 June (7.30pm, £8/£9). Directed by Richard Digby Day, this captivating production

is based on interviews with ‘La Divina’ herself and stars Anna Korwin. Later this month at the same venue, the RoughCast Theatre Company will deliver a fast-paced, high-energy take on one of Shakespeare’s finest: Much Ado About Nothing (20 June, £7/£9).

If you fancy a bit more of the Bard, head over to the Guildhall from 12-15 June, where you can catch Bring Out Your Dead Productions’ take on The Two Gentlemen of Verona. A classic Shakespeare comedy, this play follows the story of Proteus and Valentine, whose friendship is challenged when they fall for the same woman. Expect plenty of laughs, a score full of Italian folk music, a bit of cross-dressing – and an incontinent dog (7.30pm, £8/£10).

Also at the Guildhall this month is Murder On The Second Floor, (7.30pm, £8/£10) from 27-29 June. Touting

itself as a ‘gloriously daft thriller’, this larger-than-life play, set in the roaring twenties, sees Mrs Armitage’s quiet, delightfully middle-class boarding house disintegrate into mayhem with the arrival of the charming Mr Hugh Bromilow – a man on a mission to win the heart of his beloved, via a bit of murder, suicide and dope trafficking.

For something rather different, the Apex will host a wild cabaret show on 5 June, courtesy of the Ladyboys of Bangkok. Fusing comedy, carnival and lots of sparkle, this show has now been seen by a staggering one million people across the globe (7.30pm, £21.50).

MOBILE CINEMA TOUR M T There’s an opportunity to catch free sscreenings of local archive films from the last 1100 years in Bury as part of the ‘Archive Alive’ ttour, by the Digital Heritage Project. This is not your average trip to the flicks: the films will y b be shown inside an authentic vintage 1960s mobile cinema – a ‘movie bus’ as they call it. m The tour will take in 17 locations around East T Anglia from 2-10 June, stopping at Cornhill A ((outside Superdrug) in Bury on 6 June at 3pm.

“The ‘Archive Alive’ tour is a great way to help spread the word about what a fantastic h

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resource archive film is,” said Jane Jarvis, Digital Heritage’s project manager. “With more of these unique images now available online, they can be viewed to enhance our understanding of our region and the way we used to live. We are looking forward to setting off to promote these great films and our new website via such a unique platform. We hope lots of people, of all ages, will come aboard and enjoy bringing the archive alive.” www.archivealive.org

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ARTS & CULTURE

SMITHS ROW There are two new shows opening this month at Smiths Row, both on display from 22 June until 17 August. Elin Høyland’s The Brothers is a series of arresting black and white images which observe the relationship between Harald and Mathias Ramen, two elderly brothers living in isolation on a farm in rural Norway. Taken over a period of six years, the photos offer an intimate insight into the austere world of the unmarried siblings, whose lives appear to belong in a bygone era.

The unsentimental, documentary style of The Brothers is characteristic of Høyland, who began her career as a photojournalist, but has begun to develop more insightful projects based on longerterm engagement with her subjects. “It was a privilege to meet and work with Harald and Mathias,” she says. “Whilst respecting their boundaries, I tried to explore the

possibilities of photographing them. They responded with honesty and generosity.”

Taking inspiration from the exhibition, there will be a Smiths Row Salon with a theme of ‘Subject and Place in Contemporary Art' on 11 July (6-8pm), offering an informal forum for artists, writers and other creatives to talk about issues relating to their practice. The discussion will be led by a panel including Matthew Shaul (head of programming and operations, University of Hertfordshire), Dr Philip Terry (director of creative writing at University of Essex), and artist Caroline Wright – the creator of Smiths Row’s other June show.

Wright will be exhibiting her film triptych On Tides and Fathoms, which takes the viewer on a journey around a beach hut, a shepherd’s hut and a lookout tower, around coastal Suffolk. “These three locations have eaten away at me for several years,” she says. “Nagged and pestered, annoyed and itched until the project Roaming offered the excuse to explore them further through capturing them on film, uncovering the stories they hold.”

Taking an approach akin to a conceptual archaeologist, Wright aims to uncover the past and present through resurrecting, enacting or undoing, using media as diverse as glass and gold. On 22 June, there will be a poetry reading by Martin Figura, who will be sharing excerpts from Arthur, a volume of poems commissioned by Caroline Wright to accompany her film On Tides and Fathoms (12.30pm). www.smithsrow.org

BACKSTAGE PAST The rich history of Bury’s Theatre Royal will be celebrated this month with Backstage Past: Access all Eras. Taking place between 5 June and 27 July, this event takes the form of an assortment of guided tours, installations and exhibitions, offering a peek into the fascinating life story of the theatre, from its Regency beginnings to present day. This unique interactive experience takes visitors on a journey that spans 200 years, with evocative period settings from different eras to marvel at, costumes to admire (and try on!), sounds of times gone by to listen to, and even smells to experience.

The tours take place Wednesdays to Sundays (see online for times) and are led by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides, who are brimming over with fascinating facts and stories. You can also explore at your own pace, visiting the Edwardian Bar, the Campaign office from the 1960s restoration and – if you’ve got little ones in tow – following Ginger Snap the theatre cat’s route, which has lots of games and quizzes along the way.

If you’re in need of refreshments after all that time-travelling, head to the Greene Room for an indulgent afternoon tea, complete with pretty vintage china.

Backstage Past will be open for exploring 10am-4pm, tickets £6 – concessions £3. www.theatreroyal.org

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FAMILY

FA MILY ZEBRA SCIENCE On 8 June, Zebra Science are launching a new class, Just For Girls, which is set to be the first of its kind in the UK. In many instances, women are still under-represented in science, both in education and in the workplace, yet there’s no reason why science should be considered a ‘boys’ subject’. Zebra Science wants to encourage girls to develop their interest in science by providing a supportive environment where they can discover new things in fun, hands-on classes.

The concept is new not just for Bury but for the whole country, and similar clubs have become hugely popular in the States, with research proving the advantage they offer for girls interested in science. Zebra Science Clubs are led by experienced science teachers and are educational, safe and fun. The sessions take place at Moyse's Hall and are suitable for ages 6-11 years. www.zebrascience.co.uk

DOWN

BEOWULF AND A dramatic re-enactment of the legend of Beowulf takes place at West Stow AngloSaxon Village this month, on 1 and 2 June.

Actually a long poem written some time between the 8th and 11th century, the story of Beowulf is a heroic tale full of monsters, kings and a dragon – and Beowulf is in fact a man, not a wolf, and the monster is a troll-like creature called Grendel. You’ll be able to see the story come to life at West Stow, where sword-wielding actors will dress up in AngloSaxon costumes to recreate the action, while cooking demonstrations and games also take place. The event takes place all day on both days from 10am-5pm. Normal admission fees apply. www.moyseshall.org

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Take a trip to Nowton Farm Shop to pick up some great local larder staples and see how the animals are getting on now that spring has sprung. Nowton Farm is home to pigs, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs and more, most of which are very happy to be petted. One of the farm’s biggest characters is Jake the sheep, who lives at Nowton with Purl, Tulip, Mac and Mable the pygmy goats. They’ve also got a new range of Hedgerow Cordials and Maynard House Orchard juices in stock, which make great summer drinks for all the family. www.nowtonfarmshop.co.uk

BODY ZORBING Ever thought how fun it would be to roll yourself up in bubble wrap and bounce around the room? At CurveMotion at the Lark Valley Business Park, you can do something even better! Body Zorbing is the latest craze to take over the UK, and involves getting into a huge, inflatable body suit and rolling around the room to your heart’s content. In the Zorb – which is a lot like a giant bouncy ball – kids will be completely protected, so they won’t hurt themselves (or anyone else!), meaning they can enjoy bumping into friends and playing games like skittles, tag, bulldog and football safely. A great birthday party idea, Body Zorbing takes place from 4-6.30pm on Mondays during term time, 5-6.30pm holiday time, and is suitable for ages 5+. www.curvemotion.com

RURAL PASTIMES The 22nd Rural Pastimes event takes place at Euston Park on 9 June. Started up as a fundraising event for the local church, it has grown into a large-scale family event featuring many elements of farm life, children’s attractions, food stalls and a flower festival. As in recent years, there’ll be three main rings at the show, where spectators will be entertained by parades of vintage tractors, classic and vintage cars, horse-drawn vehicles, heavy horses and demonstrations of sheepdog skills, falconry and ferreting.

There will also be a bouncy castle and other fairground attractions, while local traders will be setting up stalls to sell their wares. Tickets are £9 for adults (£3 under 12s, under 5s go free) and proceeds go to St Nicholas Hospice Care (10am-6pm). www.eustonruralpastimes.org.uk

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 15

LOCAL LIFE

WORDS JENNIFER SHELTON

ST JOHN’S STREET FAIR

Putting one of Bury’s most treasured streets back on the map is the aim of the annual St John’s Street Fair, which returns for more fun on 22 June

22 June

ne of Bury’s best best-loved loved streets will be buzzing with music, entertainment and more on 22 June for the St John’s Street Fair. This historic corner of the town is known for its excellent range of independent shops and businesses – from jewellery shops to cafés – and retailers will be taking to the street with their wares, offering food and drink tastings for local shoppers. On top of that, there will be street entertainment, magicians, face painting, and performances from the Bury Youth Choir, plus a petting zoo.

René van den Oort, founder of Beautiful Beers in St John’s Street, helped establish the annual fair, which is now in its 13th year. “The main aim was to get all the traders working together to promote the street,” he explains.

“We’ve had a number of comments from local people saying they hadn’t noticed the street or hadn’t been for a while… it’s perhaps a bit harder to reach now, with the new centre, and the town’s become a bit split up. So we’re encouraging people to walk around a bit, spend a bit more time in Bury St Edmunds and shop locally; the majority of shops in St John’s

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Street are independent traders. We want to put St John’s Street back on the map.

“We’ve got about 65 independent shops taking part,” adds René, “and there’ll be some great entertainment laid on.”

Beautiful Beers, which set up shop in St John’s Street two years ago, will also have a stand, where they’ll be offering tastings of their range of real ales. “We specialise in Belgian beers,” says René, “but we also have German and Dutch beers, beers from the States and a good selection of locally brewed beers as well.

“I’m Dutch myself, and you get lots of this type of shop on the continent, whereas here it’s not as common to have a shop just for beer. A very interesting beer we’ve got coming in, which has just been launched, is the Trooper beer, created by Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden,” he reveals. “It’s a real ale in a bottle; a nice, easy drinking bitter. Bruce is actually a publican and really into his ales. It’s got a great-looking label as well.”

The Fair will run the length of St John’s Street, with traders and entertainers setting up from around 10am on Saturday 22 June.

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LISTINGS

WHAT’S ON A round-up of events in and around Bury St Edmunds for June

1-29 June 49&RISING Time: 10am-5pm Location: The Apex Price: Free Description: A multimedia exhibition by different artists, held at the venue’s contemporary art gallery, exploring ideas of the human body and expresses thoughtful and individual responses to the world around them. theapex.co.uk

1 June MARCH HARE COLLECTIVE Time: 10am-4.30pm Location: The Apex Price: Free Description: See a range of beautiful, locally-made arts and crafts and maybe pick up a purchase or two. theapex.co.uk

THORINGTON CHURCH EXHIBITION Time: 11am-5pm Location: St Peter’s Church Price: Free Description: Tenth annual art exhibition and paintings sale; refreshments will be available too. suffolktouristguide.com

TUDOR KENTWELL

LADY BOYS OF BANGKOK Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £21.50 Description: Comedy, diamantés and fabulous choreography make up the Glamorous Amorous show by The Lady Boys of Bangkok, who’ll be livening up your evening on 5 June. theapex.co.uk

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5 June - 27July BACKSTAGE PAST EXPLORE Time: 10am (& 1pm – 21 July) Location: Theatre Royal Price: £4/£6 Description: Step backstage – and back in time – in this tour of Bury’s beautiful Georgian theatre. Learn its stories and discover which stars have trodden the boards across the years. theatreroyal.org

6 June

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WEEKENDS THROUGHOUT

Time: 11am-5pm Location: Kentwell Hall Price: £11.85-£18 Description: The UK’s largest Tudor event gets underway at Kentwell Hall this month. Taking place every weekend in June, it includes massive battle re-enactments, traditional music, dancing and even Tudor food, as the residents of Kentwell Hall turn back the clocks and party like it’s 1559. www.kentwell.co.uk

GINGER BAKER JAZZ CONFUSION Time: 8pm Location: The Apex Price: £18-£20 Description: Once voted ‘the musician least likely to survive the 60s’, Ginger Baker is still blasting out his jazz sound along with his formidable funk and jazz quartet. theapex.co.uk

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7 June

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JOSIENNE CLARKE & BEN WALKER Time: 7.45pm doors Location: The Milkmaid Folk Arts Centre Price: £8/£10 Description: This classically trained duo play a mixed set of traditional and original songs.

Support from Bernard Hoskin. milkmaidmusic.co.uk

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY! Time: 7pm Location: Theatre Royal Price: £10 Description: The energetic performers from E0.45 Productions showcase the best of their work from the past year; with music, drama and dance. theatreroyal.org

9 June

GEORGIAN BURY WALK Time: 2pm Location: Tourist Information Centre Price: £10 Description: Enjoy a walk through Bury and learn all about its Georgian history. Ends at the Regency House Hotel for tea and scones. visit-burystedmunds.co.uk

FAT CAT COMEDY CLUB Time: 7pm doors Location: The Apex Price: £10 Description: Rising stars, familiar faces… Fat Cat Comedy Club is one of the biggest comedy clubs in the region, and it reappears at the Apex every month. fatcatcomedyclub.com

15 June

BRITISH CYCLING EVENT

Time: 9am-5pm Location: Elveden Price: £16 Description: A competitive road cycling event starting at the Estate.

Closing date for entries 2 June.

Another race takes place on 29 June (closing date 23 June). elveden.com

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LISTINGS

IIMAGES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

T Lady Boys of Bangkok are bringing their show to town this The m month for something a bit humorous and a bit different; Kentwell Hall party like it’s 1559 throughout June, and you can visit the H E Elveden Estate for steak and seafood night on 22 June.

15 June SWINGING AT THE COTTON CLUB Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £18/£20 Description: The Jiving Lindy Hoppers and Hot Rhythm Orchestra will be taking you back to 1920s New York in this action-packed show bursting with great swing music and dancing. theapex.co.uk

15 June CRAFT AND GIFT FAIR Time: 10am-4.30pm Location: The Apex Price: Free Description: Explore an array of stalls offering a selection of unique gifts and handmade crafts at The Apex. Refreshments will be available. theapex.co.uk

16 June THE MANFREDS Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £19.50 Description: The jazz and blues band, with original frontman Paul Jones, perform a selection of hits plus tracks from the acclaimed album, The Five Faces of Manfred Mann, being re-released as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. theapex.co.uk

21 and 28 June

CELTIC FIDDLE FESTIVAL Time: 8pm Location: The Apex Price: £14/£16 Price: Various Description: Called “three of the finest folk violinists anywhere” by The Washington Post, Celtic Fiddle Festival celebrates the violin in all its variations. They’ve played soldout tours around the world and perform with humour and skill. theapex.co.uk

21 June LOCAL ARTISTS’ NIGHT Time: 8pm Location: The Milkmaid Folk Arts Centre Price: £2/£3 Description: Come and try out your material in front of a live crowd. Be ready with three to five songs, tunes or poems. Email stevemilkmaid@gmail.com for a spot. Or just enjoy the music! milkmaidmusic.co.uk

VEGETABLE WALK & MEAL Time: 6.30-9.30pm Location: Harvey’s Garden Plants Price: £38.95 Description: See what veg is being grown at the nursery, then enjoy wine, canapés and a meal in the award-winning Orchard Room, with dishes using vegetables grown on-site. harveysgardenplants.co.uk

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JUNE

FLOWER ARRANGING Time: 10am-12pm Location: Elveden Estate Price: £19.95 Description: Sallie demonstrates two flower designs before you have a go yourself. Equipment is included, and if you want to try it out again at home there’s an opportunity to buy all the equipment and flowers you will need. www.elveden.com

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Time: All day JUNE Location: Various Price: £5 from Tourist Information Centre Description: More than 30 gardens in the town will be open to the public in aid of St Nicholas Hospice. Come and see what’s growing next door or in the next street from you, and pick up some ideas for your own garden. buryinbloom.org.uk

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22 June STEAK AND SEAFOOD NIGHT Time: 7pm Location: Elveden Estate Price: £32.95 Description: Enjoy a threecourse dinner with Rat Packstyle live music. Steak or seafood – you choose. elveden.com

29 June

21 HIDDEN GARDENS OF BURY ST EDMUNDS

ST EDMUNDSBURY MALE VOICE CHOIR Time: 7.30pm Location: The Apex Price: £10/£25 Description: The choir performs a Gala Concert for their 25th year with popular young soprano, Laura Wright, who has sung for The Queen and been appointed England Rugby’s first official anthem singer. theapex.co.uk

BURYSOUND UNPLUGGED Time: 4pm Location: The Apex Price: Free Description: East Anglia’s battle of the bands gets going on 21 June – and this time it’s unplugged. Local up-andcoming acoustic acts, aged under 23, will perform in the Coffee Bar. theapex.co.uk

GIFFORDS HALL FOOD & DRINK DAY Time: 10am-6pm Location: Giffords Hall Vineyard Price: £4.50/free for kids Description: From seafood to salamis, sweets to sauces, and a bit of Punch & Judy for the kids; don't miss a fun family day out. giffordshall.co.uk

29 June ARMED FORCES DAY Time: 11am-6pm Location: Abbey Gardens Price: Free Description: Step back in time with entertainment, stalls and vintage bric-a-brac from the wartime era. Proceeds go to armed forces charities. armedforcesday.org.uk

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 19

FATHER'S DAY

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Forg boring socks, treat your Forget dad to one of these quirky gifts

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7 1) FATHER’S DAY PERSONALISED L COMIC BOOK SIGN BY DELIGHTFUL LIVING £39 NOT ON THE HIGH STREET.COM 2) ‘SUPER DAD’ PERSONALISED PRINT

BY JUST FOR YOU £25 NOT ON THE HIGH STREET.COM 3) MONTEZUMA’S FATHER’S DAY TO GO CHOCOLATE NUTS 130G £5 JOHN LEWIS 4) VINTAGE LETTER TILE ‘DADDY COOL’ RETRO CARD £3.50 ELLIE ELLIE 5) SKAGEN BLACK GENTS TITANIUM WATCH £129 TC2 6) BBQ TOOLS BY ESSCHERT’S GARDEN £35 JOHN LEWIS 7) PENCIL CUFFLINKS BY PAUL SMITH £65 SIX WHITING STREET 8) WHO’S THE DADDY? 5 PUZZLE SET £7 SAINSBURY’S 9) GUNNER’S DAUGHTER SPIRIT £35 (BOXED 50CL BOTTLE) THE OLD CANNON BREWERY 10) GUITAR CLOCKS WALL £12.99 & ALARM £7.99 THE CONTEMPORARY HOME

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Bury Edition | June 2013 | 21

FOOD

FOOD NEWS

A monthly round-up of gastronomic goings-on in Bury and the surrounding area

Wine tasting evening Winemaker and ‘wine scientist’ Jamie Saint has an evening of wine appreciation planned for 12 June. At the Active Business Centre on St Andrews Street South, he will present eight wines from the McGuigan portfolio – a sophisticated, award-winning collection from Neil McGuigan, who has just won International Winemaker of the Year for the third time in four years. Taking place from 7.45-9.45pm, you’ll learn about the origins and creative process behind the wines, as well as tasting and discussing each one. Tickets costs £22 per person, and are available from Grape Sense on 01359 270318. www.grapesense.com

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Farmers’ market The pretty town of Lavenham hosts a superb farmers’ market on the fourth Sunday of every month at the Village Hall, which sees around 30 of Suffolk’s finest showcasing their wares.

So well regarded is this event that it was awarded the title of ‘Best Market in Suffolk’ at the 2012 Suffolk Food & Drink Awards.

Pay a visit and you’ll find some of our area’s best artisan producers under one roof – with everything from fruit and vegetables to local wine and freshly baked bread on offer.

Regulars include Long Melford & Lavenham Game Meats, The Chocolate Planet, Mrs

Bennett’s Pickles & Chutneys and Sparling & Faiers Bakery. The best part: whatever you buy will have been grown, baked, brewed or butchered by the person selling it to you, so you can find out all about your bounty’s provenance and ask questions too.

There’s also a child-friendly café which serves homemade soup and baked goods like quiches and cakes, plus top-notch coffee and even a ‘Farmer’s Breakfast’ if you’re up early.

This month’s date for your diary is 23 June, and the event runs from 10am until 1.30pm. www.suffolkmarketevents.co.uk

CULINARY MASTERCLASS AT THE SWAN

Learn some cookery skills with the head chef at Lavenham’s beautiful 15th century hotel on 27 June. After the success of their al fresco dining themed event last month, June’s programme is centered on that most delightfully English of traditions: afternoon tea. The day kicks off with coffee and homemade biscuits at 10.30am, then you’ll be treated to a private cookery class, with lots of tips and recipes to take home. More importantly, you’ll be able to eat what you make, as the lesson is followed by a two-course lunch with wine. The price for the day is £35.95. www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk

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FOOD

STEAK AND SEAFOOD NIGHT If you’re looking for a really good steak night in the local area, you’ll be glad to hear that Elveden Estate, near Thetford, is hosting a three-course dining event dedicated to steak – or seafood if you’re not a red meat fan.

As well as great food prepared by the expert team using locally, responsibly sourced ingredients, many of which come from the estate itself, you’ll be treated to live Rat Pack-esque music, so you can be serenaded by the sounds of Sinatra, Martin and more as you enjoy your meal. For the main event choose from Estate rib-eye and sirloin steak, rainbow trout and sea bass, or vegetable risotto, and a similarly scrumptious-sounding selection of starters and desserts.

The Steak and Seafood Night takes place on 22 June at 7pm in The Courtyard; tickets are £32.95. www.elveden.com

NOWTON FARM VEG BOX If you’re struggling to get your five-a-day, Nowton Farm Shop in Bury have a hasslefree, practical and delicious solution. The farm shop, situated just south of the town centre, stocks a range of locally sourced, seasonal produce and has come up with an ingenious ‘Veg Box’ scheme. Just give them a call (or drop by and visit), and let them know what you’d like, after which they’ll make up a dedicated vegetable hamper which can be delivered straight to your doorstep, either regularly or as a one-off. Their Veg Boxes start at £20 and there’s no delivery charge for boxes going out to the Bury area. www.nowtonfarmshop.co.uk

Good Food at Highwaymans Foodies rejoice: art gallery and guest house the Gallery Highwaymans is launching a series of ‘Good Food’ evenings this month. The first event, on 7 June, boasts a menu packed with delicious French-inspired dishes including French onion soup, chicken liver parfait and salmon and prawns with crème fraiche to start, and boeuf bourguignon or homemade mushroom ravioli for the main course. The desserts, which include raspberry tartlet with

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crème patisserie and warm apple tart tatin, sound equally delightful.

You’ll finish with an East Anglian cheeseboard, coffee and chocolate. Continuing the French theme on 8 June will be a menu that includes fish soup with croutons, goats cheese and ratatouille millefeuille, and tarte au citron. The dinners are priced at £25 per head and include half a bottle of wine per person. www.thegalleryhighwaymans.co.uk

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 23

EATING OUT

REVIEW BY SIAN TOWNSEND

Review

THE ORGANIC SHOP, CAFÉ & BISTRO A taste of the good life awaits at this hidden gem in Fornham All Saints, says Sian Townsend S VILLAGE STORES GO, The Organic Shop is a veritable treasure trove. Head along during the day and you will find a mini supermarket, stacked high with everything you need for a weekly shop. The shop incorporates Fornham Fine Foods so there’s everything from wine, meat and vegetables to household and beauty products in the shop – all organic and totally traceable. Take a trip out the back and the café serves a great selection of sandwiches, soups and cakes – the ideal spot for a coffee and a catchup over some fine organic food and drink.

Come evening this little store has even more up its sleeve, because three days a week (Thursday to Saturday) the café transforms into a charming evening bistro with a menu that’s over 95% organic and incorporates seasonal wild food to delicious effect.

This quaint spot is owned by Peter Scopes, a local so passionate about organic food and farming that he wanted a place to show people just how good it is. Peter firmly believes that you are what you eat and so it makes sense to eat food that is free from chemicals and has been produced in the best possible way. You can even visit his ten-acre wildlife and organic garden at Woodbridge to find out more if you get the bug.

Talking of talented gents, John Jones is in charge of the kitchen; he used to work at Stanton's Leaping Hare, so definitely knows his stuff. He’s devised a menu that is seasonal, fresh and shows off the quality of the produce.

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Suppliers are key; meat comes from Harveys organic butchers in Norwich where all meat is locally sourced and certified organic, and there's beer from Samuel Smith’s, a Stamford-based brewer who does things the old-fashioned way and won’t touch anything unnatural to produce his brews. Or you could select a tipple from Castello de Tassarolo, a biodynamic wine producer from Italy which uses heavy horses for the manual work and shuns machines and synthetic fertilisers. Much of the wine on the list is low in sulphur, one of the main causes of a hangover – good to know when you order that second glass.

The standout dish on our weekday visit was the belly of pork and tenderloin with dauphinoise potatoes and caramelised apricots.

Too many pork dishes promise a hearty feast, but all too often show up heavy, overloaded with herbs and too dependant on apple sauce to lift the meat. Not this one though; the tang of apricot and the light but creamy potatoes perfectly enhanced the sweetness of the meat.

The dish revealed a chef who has truly thought about the dish and how the elements marry to produce something superb.

Starters also went down well, with the

marinated venison with pine nut pesto coming in a close second to the pork. It came served rare so the meat could do the talking, and beautifully presented with seasonal leaves and croutons. Salmon, cod and leek fishcakes were hearty and full of flavour and complemented by the best sweet chilli sauce I’ve tasted in a long time. Dishes like these perfectly showed off the organic difference: simple but well thought out to allow the quality ingredients to shine through.

We punted on a sticky toffee pudding for dessert, enticed by the promise of caffe latte ice cream to mix with the toffee sauce. The pud itself was soft and gooey and the ice cream I will yearn for, for some time to come. It made a wonderfully decadent end to our meal.

The bistro’s friendly feel and corker of a menu made it one of those wonderful gems you sometimes stumble across but head back to time and time again. Luckily you don’t have to do any searching to find this spot, in fact now you know, I’d recommend a drive into the Suffolk countryside for a visit – pronto.

The Organic Shop Ltd, Church Cottage, Fornham All Saints, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6JW, 01284 717175, theorganicshopltd.co.uk

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 25

FOOD

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER

SALAD DAYS here are few dishes whose name can be said with as much derision as ‘salad’. It’s a word that can be chewed up and spat out like a limp and bitter lettuce leaf and leave a similar look on one’s face. There is an insipidity to it, an inherent blandness, a dull get-out clause of a dish that tries to make the most of ingredients either past their best or so out of season that they are unlikely ever to reach a peak of freshness. An old chef’s joke goes along the lines of a menu item described only as ‘Summer Salad’, because it comprised ‘summer this and summer that’.

Sigh. You don’t make friends with salad, at least according to the great philosopher Homer (Simpson).

Perhaps it is because as a nation we do salads so badly. In the unlikely event of a salad Olympics we would languish at the foot of the medal table. Entrants from France, Italy and Palestine would be celebrating victories. Even the United States might bother the medal table, although some, me included, find their over-reliance on rich dressings cloying. Leaves deserve better than to be a circuitous diversion on the route to obesity. A punchy, garlicky

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Images courtesy of Waitrose

Cast your limp lettuce leaves and uninspiring ingredients aside, id says Alex Rushmer. Executed well, salad can be a flavour explosion

At its leafy core, salad construction should use the best produce at the very peak of its freshness vinaigrette, a zippy, spicy yoghurt dressing or even just a slew of olive oil and plenty of lemon juice can, in the right hands, enliven even the dullest bowl of leaves and veggies.

Four centuries ago we were the undisputed champions of the salad.

Salmagundi, comprising cured meats, cold cuts, fruits, vegetables, fish, leaves, eggs and numerous other sundries, was a veritable showstopper of a dish at 17th century banquets. Now, however, a frisée aux lardons or simple insalata caprese is far more accessible, providing you have access to the right ingredients of course. And that is what it all boils down to, what salad construction really should be at its leafy core: using the best produce at the very peak of its freshness and making use of the triple assault of fat, acid and salt to partner and amplify the ingredients themselves, rather than suffocating them in a heavy dressing.

That happy trio is one that has many variations depending on your ultimate goal.

Bacon can often be the provider of not just a delicious richness but also a salty flavour punch. Blue cheese can perform the same function, as can a few boquerone anchovies, olives or sundried tomatoes. Of course, richness should be tempered with acidity – traditionally vinegar, but citrus works equally well as shown to spectacular effect in the Thai classic som tam where the saltiness of fish sauce and dried shrimp is tempered with plenty of lime juice.

Sweetness is often missed in salads and can add a pleasing contrasting flavour note – palm sugar, fruit or honey all work well.

Texture is the final component and one that is often neglected but easily rectified: toasted nuts, seeds or croutons made from stale bread tossed with oil and dried in the oven can add a much-needed crunch. Of course, good olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of crunchy sea salt will do the job, but a little imagination and experimentation are the key to a happy salad daze.

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 27

EATING IN

WORDS ALEX YANDELL IMAGES EDWARD TAYLOR

RECIPES This month, we take a trio of delicious summery dishes from digital recipe book, Cook. Taste. Summer. Smile.

Serves

4 Cook. Taste.

Summer. Smile.

Available for iPad (scan QR code) www.cooktastesmile.co.uk www.facebook.com/cook tastesmile Twitter: @cook tastesmile

Spinach and goat’s cheese stuffed portobello mushrooms This bold, flavour-packed starter offers an exciting new twist on the classic ‘spinach and goat’s cheese’ combination. You can prepare the dish in advance up to step 9 so you don’t need to worry about any last-minute stress or tight timings

Step-by-step guide 1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 8.

2. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and season them with some salt and black pepper.

3. Fry the garlic in the butter and 1tbsp oil for 30 seconds over a medium heat.

4. Add the spinach and stir until wilted.

Drain well in a colander, pressing out all the juice.

5. Spread 1tbsp sundried tomato paste onto the underside of each mushroom.

6. Use half the goat’s cheese to crumble over the mushrooms.

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7. Divide the spinach between the mushrooms and then place it over the goat’s cheese.

8. Use the rest of the goat’s cheese to press on top of each mushroom.

9. Sprinkle each mushroom with parmesan, and a twist of black pepper. Drizzle over the remaining oil.

10. Bake the mushrooms for 12-14 minutes, until tender, and the topping is golden brown.

11. Sprinkle with the chives and serve with crusty bread to soak up the juices.

Ingred ients 4 very large or 8 smaller portobello mushrooms (if you cannot find these, use field mushrooms instead) 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30g butter 2 large cloves of garlic, finely diced 300g fresh spinach, washed 4tbsp sundried tomato paste 200g crumbly goat’s cheese 6tbsp parmesan, grated 1tbsp chives, finely chopped 1 crusty French baguette, sliced Sea salt and black pepper

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EATING IN

King prawn, mango and avocado salad A light, refreshing and healthy Asian-inspired salad packed with protein and omega 3. If you want a slightly more substantial main course, serve the salad with rice noodles tossed in a little sesame oil and soy sauce

Ingred ients For the salad 400g raw king prawns, peeled 2 ripe avocados, stoned, quartered and thinly sliced 1 ripe mango, stoned and thinly sliced (optional 2tbsp fresh coriander, roughly chopped) For the dressing 5tbsp lime juice 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced 1.5tbsp dark brown sugar 1tsp fish sauce 3tbsp groundnut or sunflower oil

Step-by-step guide 1. Heat a griddle pan over a high heat.

2. Griddle the prawns until just cooked through (about three minutes).

3. For the dressing, mix the lime juice, chilli, sugar, fish sauce and oil in a bowl.

4. Keep mixing until the sugar has fully dissolved.

5. Just before serving, divide the avocado, mango and prawns between four bowls.

6. Drizzle over the dressing. Sprinkle with chopped coriander if desired.

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Vanilla panna cotta with raspberry coulis A creamy, smooth panna cotta that looks and tastes stunning – but is amazingly simple to make

Ingredients For the panna cotta 375ml whole milk 375ml double cream 40g caster sugar 1 vanilla pod (including scraped-out seeds) 5 gelatin leaves For the coulis 200g raspberries (fresh or frozen) 40g icing sugar 20g unsalted butter

Step-by-step guide 1. For the coulis, put the raspberries and icing sugar in a pan and heat gently until broken down.

2. Stir in the butter then blend and sieve to remove the seeds.

3. For the panna cotta, soak the gelatin leaves in a bowl of cold water for about five minutes.

4. Put the milk, cream, sugar and whole vanilla pod into a medium pan. Gently bring to a simmer.

5. Once simmering, remove the vanilla pod and take the pan off the heat.

6. Squeeze the water out of the gelatin leaves and stir them into the pan until they have dissolved.

7. Allow to cool a little, then spoon the mixture into glasses, leaving space for the coulis to be poured over.

8. Once cool, refrigerate for one or two hours until set.

9. Once set, pour in the coulis, then refrigerate for another hour or so before serving.

10. When serving, keep the glasses upright, as the coulis does not set but remains runny.

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 29

BUSINESS

BURY BUSINESS Are your contracts up to scratch?

Buy Local Week

am often asked to advise businesses on new contracts they are negotiating between themselves and new or existing clients, suppliers or business partners. This frequently occurs in the later stages of negotiations, when the contract has been agreed or nearly agreed. Many of these contracts accurately set out the basic terms of the deal reached, but they also often have unintended consequences or are unintentionally unfavourable to the other party involved.

Often contracts have been prepared against a background of trust, particularly when the businesses have worked together for a number of years previously. Many businesses, not unreasonably, take the approach that if the contract sets out the basics, then it is okay. Businesses do not always ask ‘what if’ something creates issues in the future. There is a natural tendency to assume that if nothing has gone wrong previously, nothing will cause problems down the line, and important contracts are entered into without obtaining professional advice. In the long term, it may well be that no issues arise. However, one factor which most business owners do not consider when entering into contracts is the effect that their terms may have on their future plans.

Many business owners have an exit plan.

They may want to sell their company in the

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medium term, either to retire or move on to a new venture. When the time comes to sell up, the potential buyer will take time to scrutinise the major contracts held. In these straitened times, buyers are being increasingly careful; if the major contracts are unfavourable in any way, that will cause the potential buyer a matter of concern that could deter them.

Although you may have dealt with a particular supplier for the past ten years and know that you can trust them, the potential buyer may have never dealt with them and therefore may not have the same level of trust. If your contract with a key supplier is significant to your business but is unclear or onerous, that may reduce the overall value of your entire business in the eyes of the buyer.

Entertain the possibility that several of your key contracts follow this pattern, and that buyer may be put off altogether.

Unfortunately I have seen a great number of deals collapse because the contracts of the target business weren’t up to scratch, even though the current owner was perfectly happy with them. So simply put, if you want to maximise the value of your business tomorrow, you must consider the long-term effect of key contracts you sign today.

If you need any further advice, contact Andrew Cooper, a solicitor at Greene & Greene Solicitors on 01284 717511 or andrewcooper@greene-greene.com.

Many local residents find themselves frustrated – and perhaps a little sad – at the amount of local independent high street shops and services that are closing down each month. But this month you can show your support for our high street with Buy Local Week, which runs 3-9 June.

“We have distinctive and wonderful independent shops and businesses in our town,” says Miriam Watson from The Best of Bury St Edmunds, which champions recommended independent businesses here for the benefit of residents and businesses alike.

“We shouldn’t take them for granted. ‘Buy Local’ reminds us that they need the support of both residents and local policy makers. We need to learn from other areas that have bucked the trend of empty shops and declining parades. With everyone committed to supporting local businesses, combined with a loyal, active community, we can do the same.”

Want to get involved? Head over to www.thebestof.co.uk/burystedmunds to pledge your support – you’ll also automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a shopping spree. Every day during Buy Local Week, five supporters will win £100 to spend at select local businesses.

Business owners wishing to display a Buy Local window sticker or find out more should contact The Best of Bury St Edmunds on 01284 750829.

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 31

MONEY

YOUR ISA ALLOWANCE:

A WASTED

OPPORTUNITY? This month, Andrew Sandford of St. James’s Place Wealth Management gives you the need-to-know facts on ISAs N THE CURRENT CLIMATE of low interest rates, low economic growth and modest but persistent inflation, savers and investors need to make the most of every opportunity to maximise the returns on their money.

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) represent just such an opportunity.

There are two types of ISA: Cash ISAs, which are savings accounts where the interest is paid tax-free, and Stocks & Shares ISAs, which allow investment into a wider range of stock market and other financial instruments. The attraction of a Stocks & Shares ISA is that both income and capital gains attract no further tax liability. There are restrictions on how much can be invested in each type. The full annual allowance, £11,520 this tax year, can be invested in a Stocks & Shares ISA, but only half the allowance, £5,760, can be saved in a Cash ISA, although the balance of the allowance can still be invested in a Stocks & Shares ISA. Of course, the favourable tax treatment given to ISAs is subject to changes in legislation and may not necessarily be maintained in the future.

Over £390 billion has been invested across all ISA types since their launch. Cash ISAs represented 49% of all ISAs opened in the first year. Yet, despite interest rates remaining at record lows, Cash ISAs accounted for a huge 80% of total applications in the tax year 2011/12, reflecting the increased risk aversion prompted by the recent financial crisis. As a result, over 16.5 million people hold a total of £200 billion in Cash ISAs (HMRC, September 2012).

But there is a sting in the tail. The squeeze on savers from record low interest rates is also being felt by those with Cash ISAs. Figures from the Bank of England in December 2012 showed that the average Cash ISA rate is just 0.89%, and the interest rate on the best-buy Cash ISA has fallen

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below 3% for the first time since 1999.

Furthermore, only five Cash ISAs out of 253 available pay a rate that beats inflation (Moneyfacts, March 2013).

The reality is that the tax benefits provided

by ISAs are best maximised by investing for the long-term in assets capable of achieving capital growth and rising income. The likelihood is that interest rates will remain very low for a number of years and savers cannot be sure that their Cash ISA account is achieving a better rate than a standard deposit account.

Against that backdrop, whilst cash is the right home for money that might be needed in the short-term, ISA allowances might be better utilised by investing in a diversified portfolio of assets that have the scope to deliver higher levels of income and long-term capital gains whilst making the most of the tax freedom on returns. Of course, investors need to bear in mind that the value of a Stocks & Shares ISA may fall as well as rise, and it does not provide the security of capital associated with a Cash ISA. It is also possible to get back less than the amount invested.

As well as considering the best use of this and future ISA allowances, those who have built up significant ISA funds might be able to improve the returns. Often people do not review their ISA portfolio strategy enough.

How are investment managers performing? Is the fund choice still right for them? Can they improve the income-generating potential of their ISA portfolio? Are they happy with the service they’re receiving?

A review of an ISA portfolio by an experienced wealth manager can ensure that it is appropriately structured and diversified to help achieve immediate or future financial goals. ISAs should be a cornerstone of financial planning, but it is also important to consider them in the context of an overall investment strategy and to ensure that an ISA portfolio can be adjusted easily to cater for changing needs.

Andrew Sandford of St. James’s Place Wealth Management. Telephone 01359 256033; email andrew.sandford@sjpp.co.uk or visit www.andrewsandford.co.uk for more information.

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 33

NEWS

WORDS JENNIFER SHELTON

Independent of the Month

GUILDHALL DENTAL This month, Jennifer Shelton pops along to Guildhall Dental, where the friendly staff have been making Bury's smile that bit brighter for more than half a century OU MAY ALREADY BE FAMILIAR with Guildhall Dental; they’ve been tending the gnashers of Bury St Edmunds for over 50 years, after all. Recently, the local dentists made an investment in the future and moved to a larger, purpose-built building in the town centre, promising to keep our smiles sparkling for generations to come.

“We’d reached the point where we’d outgrown our Georgian building in Guildhall Street and needed somewhere new to continue providing the best care for our customers. 95 per cent of our new customers come to us through recommendation,” says Bryan Colborn, one of the partners, who has worked at the practice since 1989.

“Our patients are key, so we asked them what they wanted from the new premises and almost all wanted us to stay in town. We’ve also extended our opening hours to 8.30am Monday-Saturday, and we work late on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It means people can come in before work or on their way home – that’s what I like to do if I’ve got any kind of appointment, so we thought others would find that helpful too. The feedback on the new surgery has been great. We offer lots more treatments now; we have a specialist who does implants, a specialist oral surgeon and an orthodontist, plus four hygienists. It’s been a great first three months.”

A trip to the dentist isn’t most people’s idea of a fun day out – something that Bryan knows better than most. As such, he makes it his aim to ensure patients are comfortable and trust him to do a fantastic job while making the experience as non-stressful as possible.

“One of the biggest challenges of the job is overcoming people’s perceptions,” he admits.

“I had a patient who could hardly get through the door, she was so apprehensive. We’ve just finished an intensive course of treatment; we got her out of trouble, but she was so nervous that she’d shake and had to put headphones in so she couldn’t hear. Last week we finished and she sent me a card saying thank you for the work we’d done and for reducing the stress of it for her too.”

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Ironically, Bryan himself was afraid of dentists for a long time, too. “My school dentist horrified me,” he explains. “I must have only been about ten and he had a dreadful manner… It really put me off, and my father has a dental phobia and only goes when he’s in pain, so I can understand why patients can be apprehensive.”

A career as a dentist might have seemed unlikely, but in fact it put Bryan in the path of a much better dentist who inspired him to take up the career. “I remember thinking that there must be a better way of doing it, and eventually found a great dentist in Sunderland, where I lived, who was really inspiring. I talked to him about becoming a dentist, and he said to make sure I became the best dentist I could.

So I got my qualifications and he gave me a whole bag of textbooks and instruments, wished me the best and sent me on my way.”

Bryan worked in London before joining Guildhall Dental, and now runs the company along with John Hare and Paul Carr. “Most people who come to work here stay for a long time and often retire here, which is nice for our patients as they get to see the same people. It lets you build up a good rapport. I’ve got a lot of families who I see regularly: I’ve been here so long that some have come here in nappies and now they’re at university. I feel really old!

I think it’s true that if you look after them well as children, patients won’t develop that fear of dentists and you’ll have set them on the

right path for life. And yes, we still hand out stickers – not lollies though!”

Bryan clearly loves his job, though he’s had his fair share of dramatic moments. “Hockey injuries are the worst,” he says. “I had a patient who lost five teeth at once through getting a hockey ball in the mouth. We rebuilt them, and he still plays hockey to this day– but with a mouthguard now.”

He concludes: “We give guidance to help prevent problems, so the X-rays and check-ups we offer are the real cornerstones of what we do and mean people are less likely to need anything drastic being done down the line.

Patients can do some really simple things to keep their teeth in good health. The most important thing is to spend some time on your teeth. I use an electric toothbrush for two minutes then floss for one – I’ve got to practise what I preach!” www.guildhalldental.com

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 35

FASHION

SS13 Burberry

WORDS NICOLA FOLEY

Blue ruled the runways this season, from electric at Michael Kors through to powdery hues at Jonathan Saunders and bold brights at Burberry. Universally flattering, this is an easy colour trend to experiment with and there are plenty of options, from this gorgeous Topshop satchel to an eye-catching ombre pleated skirt from Primark.

EDGE PAINT SATCHEL £28 TOPSHOP OMBRE PLEATED MAXI SKIRT £14 PRIMARK

MIDI SKIRT WITH PLEATS £28 ASOS

ON AND ON WEDGE £60 OFFICE

SUMMER METALLICS METALLIC PLEAT CAMI £14 TOPSHOP

LUCA LACE-UPS £69 DUNE SHINY MESSENGER BAG WITH FRINGES £25.99 ZARA

METALLIC JACKET £325 HOUSE OF FRASER

SS13 Burberry

FOIL BONDED LACE SKATER DRESS £60 TOPSHOP

It might not sound like an ideal summer fabric but there’s nothing heavy about this season’s take on this trend. Metallics were everywhere on the SS13 catwalks, featuring heavily at the Burberry and Jonathan Saunders shows in particular.

There is a multitude of ways to work this trend, from slinky pencil skirts to holographic jackets and shimmering brogues. Hey presto: instant glamour.

ASOS MASCOT FLAT SHOES £32 ASOS 36 | Bury Edition | June 2013

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FASHION

AZTEC

AQUA AZTEC BEADED CLUTCH BAG £35 EAST

This is a trend that’s been bubbling away for a while, but with its vibrant colourways and wanderlusty vibe, it’s absolutely perfect for high summer. Go full on with this funky fluoro zebra bodycon number from Primark, or jazz up a plain tee with this beautiful Aztec-inspired scarf from La Redoute.

TRIBAL AZTEC PRINT TOP £12.99 PILOT

AZTEC PRINTED SCARF £17 LA REDOUTE

TEMPA AZTEC MOCASSINS £32 TOPSHOP

AZTEC EMBELLISHED MINI SKIRT £68 TOPSHOP

FLUORO ZEBRA BODYCON DRESS £10 AZTEC CUT-OUT BANGLE £2 PRIMARK

FASHION

EARN YOUR STRIPES FRENCH CONNECTION STRIPE T-SHIRT NOW £16 ASOS

Stripes are a perennial style staple, and this season they were out in force on the catwalks. From classic and pinstripe, to regatta and humbug, designers including Tommy Hilfiger, Nicole Farhi and Acne showed a dizzying array of stripes of all colours. Channel classic Jean Paul Gaultier in this Topman tee, or inject a splash of colour with a bright and breezy Farah striped shirt.

NAUTICAL STRIPE SWEATSHIRT £29.95 LANDS END

NAUTICAL SHORTS £20 ASOS

FARAH SHORTSLEEVED SHIRT £55 HOUSE OF FRASER WHITE AND BLUE BRETON STRIPE T-SHIRT £16 TOPMAN

STRIPED SHORTS £80 HOUSE OF FRASER

Mix BLACK LEATHER LOOK POCKET T-SHIRT £16 TOPMAN

BLUE SUEDE DE HARRINGTON ON JACKET £130 TOPMAN AN

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The classic jersey T-shirt was shunned by designers this spring, in favour of some rather more unusual materials and styles. Hermès opted for leather, Prada for berry hued linen and Dolce & Gabbana for a seriously oversized version of the classic white tee. Update your wardrobe with with th Zara’s Zar ara’ a’ss su suede overshirt in burn bu burnt rntt or rn o orange, a Topman’s leat le athe the herr panelled T-shirt leather or a patterned p linen shir sh ir from Next. shirt D Do Don’t n forget to think outsid de the box when it outside the colour too – comes to th we rate gre green and purple.

LINEN SHIRT £25 NEXT

9 ZARA SUEDE OVERSHIRT £16

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NKUKU SHOPPER £95 SCARLET SHOES

OLIVIA BURTON WATCH £62 JAVELIN

INDIES FO R H E R

Fancy giving your wardrobe a spruce up for summer? Here's our top style selections from Bury's independent retailers

GRENSON SHOES £175 SIX WHITING STREET

DR. DENIM SKINNY JEANS £45 SIX WHITING STREET

DOLLY ROCK N ROLLER DRESS BBS £52.50 SUNRISE DIRECT

FLY 53 TOOKIE SHIRT £40 SUNRISE DIRECT

PART TWO ‘JESSI SCARF’ £46.75 PAUL STEPHENS

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FLY 53 DITLEY T-SHIRT £25 SUNRISE DIRECT

FOR HIM

FASHION

SEBAGO DOCKSIDE SHOES, £110 SIX WHITING STREET

Bury Edition | June 2013 013 | 41

BEAUTY

WORDS DAISY DICKINSON & CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

This month Daisy and Charlotte have scrubbed, polished and hydrated their way to the best tips for getting your skin summer ready Image courtesy of F&F at Tesco

CLARINS ONE-STEP EXFOLIATING CLEANSER £20 BOOTS

BOBBI BROWN BUFFING GRAINS £24.30 JOHN LEWIS

SO FRESH SO CLEAN Before you can think about building your golden glow, it’s important to prep your skin. We love the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser by Liz Earle, a plant-based cleanser with a two-phase action that swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make-up. Follow with the warmed muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and hey presto: cleansed, soft and radiant skin. Finish with Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic, a floralscented, non-drying toner. Our top tip is to keep this one in the fridge for an icy blast of toning goodness.

Next up, let the exfoliating commence!

We love Sanctuary’s Salt Scrub for a rich and luxurious exfoliating experience. For the face, opt for Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, which polishes away impurities and blocked pores.

Feeling creative? Bobbi Brown’s Buffing Grains are a fun way to mix your own exfoliator by combining it with your favourite cleanser.

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LIZ EARLE INSTANT BOOST SKIN TONIC FROM £5.50 UK.LIZEARLE.COM

LIZ EARLE HOT CLOTH CLEANSER FROM £3.25 UK.LIZEARLE.COM SANCTUARY SALT SCRUB £11.50 BOOTS

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Images courtesy of Miss Selfridge

BEAUTY

SIMPLE STEPS TO SKIN SUCCESS

COLOUR CALMING For those who suffer from any redness or rosacea, summer’s heat can be particularly problematic. Skinshop.co.uk offers a range of hard-working but gentle products containing caper extract, like this silky smooth Kalme Cream Cleanser (from £14.95) and Kalme Day Defence Cream with SPF 25 (£19.95). Need a little extra coverage?

Try Smashbox’s Colour Corrector Primer (£25, Boots) to counteract discoloration and even out your skin tone.

GO FOR GLOW! For a little faux colour to warm you up before the sunshine, Dermalogica’s Sheer Tint SPF 15 (£24.07, www.skincareexpress.co.uk) offers a natural glow while protecting from harmful rays, and also has a luxuriously soft finish. For a burst of bronze, try Glow Job by Soap & Glory (£9, Boots) – a two-in-one moisturising lotion and temporary self-tanner with micro ‘Bronzeburst Beads’ that ‘pop’ when you massage them in, leaving you looking subtly sun-kissed.

For an all-over glow and the ultimate in luxury, Soleil de la Mer The Face And Body Gradual Tan from Crème de la Mer (£65, John Lewis) absorbs quickly for an even, perfectly natural-looking glow with no telltale biscuit smell. We also love the classic bronzed colour achieved by using Fake Bake’s products (from £18, www. feelunique.com) or any of the range by St Tropez (from £9.99, Boots). Don’t forget to keep your palms free of the giveaway orange tide lines by using a tanning mitt – we found bargain mitts in Primark for just £2 each.

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BE A BEACH BUM Before hitting the beach in that brand new bikini, many look to brighten and firm any potential wobbly bits. Dr Ceuticals Bottom Lift & Tone (£19.99, Boots) claims that after 28 days skin is up to 39 per cent firmer and appears 24 per cent tighter.

While we’re pretty sure actual exercise has to take place to truly tone derrières, after around a month of use, skin is softer and smoother with a more toned appearance. No bum deal!

The range also offers a Tummy Tone cream for a svelte and shapely silhouette.

Image courtesy of Accessorize

If you’re still not too sure about your beauty regime, ask the experts or seek out a kit. It’s a good idea to pop by a spa or beauty salon to talk about what they’d recommend, where they can take a close look at your skin. Kitwise, we love Clinique’s easy to use three-step products that’ll cleanse, tone and moisturise – or for preparing summer skin, Dermalogica’s Intensive Moisture Balance (£41.34 for 100ml, www.skincareexpress.co.uk) quenches thirsty skin with a non-greasy appearance. If you want to opt for a natural catch-all solution, Dr Hauschka’s Daily Face Care Kit (£17.95, www. drhauschka.co.uk) comes with everything to support the skin’s natural moisture level.

Bury Edition | May 2013 | 43

WELLNESS

WORDS CAROLE BAKER

WELLBEING WISDOM Carole Baker, director and yoga teacher at The Self Centre, delves into complementary therapies, demonstrating that sometimes drugs and surgery aren’t the only options n a previous life, I was a rep for a pharmaceutical company and I thought the only option for illness or disease was drugs or surgery. Twenty years on, I see things a little differently. I have learned that the human body has an amazing capacity to heal itself, if we just give it the right conditions and show it some love.

Recent scientific research has yielded some surprising results in relation to the profound effects that complementary remedies and mind and body exercises can have on various medical conditions.

Some believe that the reason findings like these don’t necessarily become common knowledge is down to the considerable influence that large pharmaceutical companies have over what our GPs prescribe for us. Me? I firmly believe that one day very soon we will be able to see a prescription written for things like yoga, pilates, tai chi and meditation, along with some of the therapies listed below. The more we all start to demand a bit of choice and variety in our healthcare system, the healthier we will all become.

ZINC FOR COLDS A new review has found that if you take zinc regularly you can reduce your risk of catching a cold, and if you start taking it when the cold catches you, you will beat it quicker. The new meta analysis (published by the Cochrane Library) includes 15 randomised controlled trials totalling over 1,300 participants. It was found that zinc supplements significantly reduce both symptoms and severity of illness. Zinc boosts your immune system, preventing the virus from taking hold in your body. Lozenges or tablets are available (dosage varies according to age) or alternatively, oysters, roasted pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate are also good sources!

TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS In a meta analysis of seven studies, researchers from the George Institute in Sydney, Australia, discovered that tai chi relieves pain better than other exercises and health plans among arthritis sufferers

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(Arthritis & Rheumatism, 2009). Tai chi teaches you to move all the joints of the body in their natural range of movement, building muscle strength and increasing bone density too. The Eastern philosophies also believe it improves the energy flow in the body, particularly increasing joint mobility for arthritis suffers. Anyone can practise tai chi and modifications can be made for older people if needed.

MEDITATION AND HEART ATTACK RISK Meditation can halve your risk of a heart attack and stroke by reducing blood pressure, thickening of the arteries and cholesterol, as discovered in a study from the American Heart Association (2009). Meditation teaches you the importance of slow, deep breathing and allows you to switch off your chattering mind. Recent scientific trials have shown that a breathing rate of five breaths per minute can reduce blood pressure and resting heart rate and allows the body to go into a relaxation response mode. Fast, shallow breathing does the opposite and increases blood pressure and overall strain on the heart. We know that stress influences the heart – but meditation teaches you how to deal with stress and prevent it affecting you.

YOGA FOR BACK PAIN Teachers from BWY (British Wheel of Yoga) led a group of 156 patients with chronic lower back pain and taught them 12 weeks of yoga, which was then compared with a control group who had received conventional treatments from a GP. After the trial, the yoga group had more improvement than the non-yoga group (see the Annals of Internal Medicine November 2011).

In the yoga world there is a saying: ‘you are only as young as your spine’, and this sentiment is integral to every movement we make. A lot of back issues are caused by too much sitting and too little movement.

Forward bends release compression in the lower back, hip openers target the piriformis muscle (which when tight can cause sciatica) and twists unlock deep-seated tensions within the musculature of the spine. There are hundreds of different postures in yoga with many specifically designed to heal chronic lower back pain.

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 45

A friendly and welcoming practice where your care is our priority

Our brand new purpose built premises allows us to provide the very best standard of dental care available.

St. Andrews Street South, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 3PH

www.guildhalldental.com email: reception@guildhalldental.com

Tel: 01284 755631

FIVE OF THE BEST

WORDS LUCINDA KING

Five of the best...

The summer is here, holidays are booked, and the wedding and racing seasons are in full swing. So now’s the ideal time to explore the very best beauty treatments in Bury

SK CLINIC & SPA PRESCRIPTIVE FACIAL £50 Housed within an iconic Grade II listed chapel on Northgate Street is SK Clinic & Spa, a haven of relaxation, pampering and wellbeing. One of this boutique day spa’s award-winning signature treatments is the Pevonia prescriptive facial – a 60-minute treatment, suitable for men and women. “At SK Clinic & Spa, we place great emphasis on the importance of prescriptive skincare in achieving the best possible results,” says marketing manager Danielle Wye. “Skin type, lifestyle and client needs are all taken into account to ensure the most suitable products and techniques are used to achieve long-term, visible results.”

Before your first prescriptive facial, you will receive a complimentary skin scan and analysis to help identify your skin type, as well as any problem areas. From this, your therapist will tailor the products to use during the treatment, take the right steps to remedy any underlying issues and get you on a fast track to a beautiful, healthy complexion.

What’s more, you’ll receive valuable advice as to how to continue to care for your skin at home. www.skclinic.co.uk | 01284 748470

C&B BEAUTIFUL C BIO SCULPTURE GEL OVERLAYS £25 B Whether you want to complete an outfit for a special W occasion with a fabulous nail colour, or for your o ffeet to look gorgeous in your sandals on holiday, tthe bio sculpture gel overlays for your talons at C&B Beautiful are the perfect summer treatment.

C A Available in clear, coloured or French polish, the overlays last approximately two to three weeks and, as co-owner Caroline Grimes explains, “they dry instantly, so there is no risk of smudging” – sounds like the holy grail of nail polish to us!

A real hidden gem, situated within the historic medieval grid on Whiting Street, C&B Beautiful offers a warm, friendly and welcoming environment for you to enjoy a range of treatments.

As well as an extensive menu of manicures and pedicures – including gel and acrylic extensions, Minx nails and nail art in lots of designs – the beauty salon offers electrolysis and waxing, massage, alternative therapies and tanning. www.candb-beautiful.co.uk | 01284 747077

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FIVE OF THE BEST

SUFFOLK MEDICAL CLINIC WRINKLE-REDUCING INJECTIONS FROM £230 Opened last year to meet the demand for aesthetic practice in the town, the Suffolk Medical Clinic on Hatter Street has already gained quite a following in Bury St Edmunds. Wrinkle-reducing injections are the Suffolk Medical Clinic’s most popular treatment. Each time we laugh, smile, frown or make just about any expression, our facial muscles contract and cause wrinkles. After years of making these expressions, the wear and tear on our faces starts to become noticeable and the lines become permanent.

Virtually painless, wrinkle-reducing injections reduce facial lines – the most visible signs of ageing – and leave you looking subtly younger and fresher.

Even better, the treatment keeps skin wrinkle-free for around four months before gradually wearing off.

This time of year is a great time to start wrinkle-reducing injections.

Every summer we squint in the sunshine, making our wrinkles worse.

One treatment of injections before the summer will prevent the overuse of facial muscles, making you look more youthful, while also preventing deeper wrinkles from forming. www.suffolkmedicalclinic.co.uk | 01787 211000

CLARICE HOUSE

PURE ELEMENTS AT THE SELF CENTRE

UNIVERSAL CONTOUR WRAP £62

HOPI EAR CANDLE WITH NECK & SHOULDER MASSAGE £47 Are you looking for a relaxing and de-stressing treatment that also provides health benefits and soothes ailments? Look no further than Pure Elements at the Self Centre, situated in the Moreton Hall area of Bury St Edmunds.

The Hopi Ear Candle treatment and massage couples alternative medicine with pure relaxation. Recommended for treating earache, tinnitus and sinus congestion, auricular candles extract earwax, bacteria and impurities from the ear canal. “Even the brain stands to benefit,” explains The Self Centre owner, Carole Baker.

“Candling can be a very spiritual and meditative experience too.

Many clients praise the treatment for alleviating everyday stresses and simple headaches.” A light neck and shoulder massage, with Dermalogica’s blend of essential oilss for either stress relief or uplifting benefits, completes this treatment. www.the-self-centre.co.uk | 01284 769090

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On the south-western edge of Bury St Edmunds, nestled in a picturesque woodland setting, stands a spectacular neoJacobean mansion, home to Clarice House Health Club and Spa. Whether a salon regular, a day spa guest or a newcomer, you’re guaranteed to be seduced by the pure luxury of this idyllic retreat on every visit.

The Universal Contour Wrap is the ultimate body contouring treatment with real results and instant weight loss – even after just one treatment! For noticeably firmer arms, smoother legs, a defined waist and lifted derrière, indulge in this therapeutic body wrap. “It’s the best quick-fix inch-loss body treatment on the market,” says Gill Hardy of Universal Contour Wrap. “Not only is it scientifically proven, it’s guaranteed to work! Clients lose at least six inches from their silhouette and many lose much more. You will feel slimmer, your skin will be smoother and you will look and feel great.”

This treatment’s sophisticated wrapping technique has been developed to reduce unwelcome bloating and sculpt the body, so lie back, relax and dream of that summer dress or bikini fitting like a dream. For further inch loss, a course of three Universal Contour Wrap treatments is available at a 20% discount – you can also enhance that new svelte figure further with any of Clarice House’s luxurious body scrub treatments. www.claricehouse.co.uk | 01284 705550

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 49

INTERIORS

ORIGINAL FRENCH PINOLEUM BLINDS IN ANTIQUE LINEN Around £150/m2 including fitting, from Appeal Home Shading (08009 755757; www.appealshading.com)

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INTERIORS

WORDS EMILY BROOKS

Frame

the view

A conservatory or orangery adds space, light and character to your home – but it also needs careful thought when it comes to the design and planning side

A

survey announced last month

by Anglian Home Improvements found that one in four households is considering installing a conservatory, and it’s easy to see why. Get it right and you can add to your home’s footprint, introduce bags of natural light and create a lovely focal point to the exterior of your house. Get it wrong, though, and you could end up with something that’s visually jarring with what you’ve already got, and might not even be useable all year round.

“One of the most common statements we hear about old, incorrectly specified conservatories is ‘It’s too hot in summer and freezing in winter’,” says Jeremy Procter from Frames Conservatories Direct (01284 700456; www.fcd-home.co.uk). “Thankfully, glass technology has moved on greatly.” The wider availability of hi-tech, high-performance glass – products that keep in warmth in winter and protect from the sun’s heat in summer – means that what used to be regarded as seasonal space can now be used all year round, whether

it’s used as a dining room, home office or traditional sitting area.

Hi-tech glass can’t quite do all the work, though. If you’re planning a new conservatory from scratch, orientation is really important too: a south-facing room is still likely to overheat in summer. Restrictions on the layout of your home and garden might mean that there’s really only one obvious place to extend, but if you have a choice, avoid the obvious suntraps, and you might want to think about when you’re likely to use the room (opt for a west-facing conservatory if you think you’ll use it for early-evening sundowners, or east-facing for sunny breakfasts).

Simon Langley, owner of Langleys Conservatories & Windows Ltd (01284 760345; www.langleysconservatories.co.uk), says that the first thing he asks customers is: “What do you want to use it for?” A big question is whether you want your new room to be a ‘true’ conservatory – that is, separated from the main house by an external-quality door – or directly leading from the rest of the house.

TUSCANY GREY KABU THREE-PIECE SUITE £1,425, Candle & Blue (01284 765522; www.candleandblue.co.uk)

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Bury Edition | June 2013 | 51

INTERIORS

OCTAGONAL CONSERVATORY CONVERSION Conservatories from £25,000, Timber Windows (08456 527300; www.timberwindows.com)

“If you want to open up the room and make it open-plan, it then becomes governed

by Building Control, because of the potential extra heat lost,” explains Simon. “This can have a direct effect on the design of what you’re going to build.” Using a company like Langleys, which does everything in-house, from sorting any planning issues to making sure building regulations’ approval is granted, can go a long way to providing peace of mind (Langleys can also fit new windows and a solid roof on an existing conservatory to make it more useable).

On the planning side, adding a conservatory is generally considered as ‘permitted development’ – that is, not requiring special planning consent, although there are many caveats regarding size etc. There will also be extra rules to abide by for listed buildings, or homes in conservation areas. For the most up-to-date information, the government’s Planning Portal (www.planningportal.gov. uk) has a downloadable mini guide to what’s permitted and what’s not.

The absence of planning consent needed (for the majority of cases) also means that you have a free hand in choosing a design you like. Selecting a material for the framing part of the building is down to budget, your own aesthetic preference and how much upkeep you’re prepared to do on it. At the least expensive end of the spectrum, uPVC is still really popular: it's maintenance-free, it can fit in well if your house already has uPVC windows, and its availability in kit form means that it’s the safest option for DIY-ers. “uPVC has come

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such a long way – and I say that as a carpenter by trade,” says Simon Langley. “Compared to 20 years ago, the windows are more than twice as efficient; the frames are much more aesthetically pleasing, with sculpted edges and no huge gaskets; and all you need to do is wash it down and oil the windows.”

Jeremy Procter says that Frames Conservatories Direct “can supply high-end uPVC which is manufactured to mimic the aesthetics of timber while providing the benefit of being maintenance-free. It can be any colour, with or without woodgrain texture.”

The company also works with real wood and aluminium, each, again, having its pros and cons. Timber conservatories cover an incredibly broad spectrum, with higher-end products offering less maintenance and a longer lifespan. Conservatories from Timber Windows (08456 527300; www.timberwindows. com), for example, are pre-painted in the factory so there’s no need to paint them in situ, and are made from engineered hardwood – a more durable option than regular timber.

“Engineered timber is made from layers of wood that are laminated together, with the grains going in opposite directions, to help CAPE WEST CHAIR

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Absence of planning consent needed means you have a free hand in choosing your design

BRICK-BUILT ORANGERY £31,000, Frames Conservatories Direct (01284 700456; www. fcd-home.co.uk)

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Langleys Conservatories and Windows

Letting the Sun Shine In House extensions Traditional Conservatories in UPVc and Timber Tiled roof conservatories Highly energy efficient windows and doors up to and including ‘A’ rated Roofline products including fascia boarding and guttering Composite doors General building projects Consumer Protection Association benefits, including deposit registration, insurance backed guarantee and 13 years of consumer surveys. Visit www.langleysconservatories.co.uk to see how well we score!

Some examples of Langleys expert builds

To speak to Simon and find out more about the services Langleys can taylor to meet your needs, call us on

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www.langleysconservatories.co.uk Email enquiries@ enquiries@langleysconservatories.co.uk

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INTERIORS

eliminate warping and twisting,” says Timber Windows’ technical manager Shaun Crane.

“The outside of the roof has an aluminium capping that’s powder coated, so it never needs any maintenance.” An all-aluminium frame, meanwhile, is a great choice for creating slim-profile, minimal, modern conservatories that include the maximum possible amount of glass.

Shaun says that the conservatory is currently losing ground to the orangery, which has more masonry, and therefore a more robust appearance. “I think it’s because they feel like more of a permanent addition to your property, not something that’s been bolted onto the back of the house,” he says.

It also makes it easier to confirm to those allimportant building regulations – less space allocated to glazing means more space for highly insulated walls. “Orangeries are very aspirational at the moment, but they tend to be higher in price and to be honest they do not suit all situations – a modern three-bed semi would look a bit odd with a Georgianstyle lantern-roofed orangery,” says Jeremy at Frames Conservatories Direct. In response, the company has come up with a unique ‘hybrid’ style with the look of a conservatory but which includes some high-quality details such as concealed guttering.

If you find that the shape of your garden or the orientation of your house makes neither a conservatory or orangery possible, you can always use the space at the bottom of your plot for a garden ‘pod’ or something more substantial, which can be used as an office or simply as additional reception space. The price of these mostly contemporary little buildings is coming down, with many firms offering ‘affordable’ alternatives: Hilton Garden Studios (08000 434822; www.hiltongardenstudios. com) has launched a more budget-friendly range, for example, with prices from £7,495, which includes flooring and lighting, making it very competitive compared to a conservatory.

The Gastropod from Garden Spaces (08453 879387; www.gardenspaces.co.uk) costs from £7,100 – its cedar cladding blends beautifully with garden foliage.

Fixtures and fittings for any space that receives a lot of light – yes, even if it has hitech glass – require thought. Protection from fading is the biggest issue, and with so much outdoor furniture now having an ‘indoor’ look, such as chunky all-weather rattan, going for an outdoor product is a safe bet, with the added bonus that you can drag it inside. Otherwise, avoid standard upholstery and furniture made from delicate timber such as mahogany, which will fade, and stick to hard materials such as iron, wicker, willow or Lloyd Loom (a tightly

54 | Bury Edition | June 2013

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woven paper). You can temper this hardness LYRA ROCKING CHAIR £350, Habitat with lots of indoor plants, plus inexpensive soft (08444 991111; furnishings such as rugs and cushions that you www.habitat.co.uk) don’t mind replacing. Cane furniture is having a major resurgence on the high street this year, especially anything that channels a curvy 1970s vibe, and now comes in bright hits of colour, like the Lyra range from Habitat (08444 991111; www.habitat.co.uk).

Shading is another way to make a conservatory a more comfortable place, and blinds often need to be designed bespoke to fit into all those awkward corners, such as in the roof space. “We are seeing more demand pleated and roller blinds (with fewer wires) are for energy saving products, and roof blinds popular. Creams, white and soft pastels are are a most effective way of doing this – 70% still the most popular colours.” As blinds have of heat comes in or out of the conservatory a reputation for looking untidy, maybe go for roof,” says Richard Hussey from Appeal Home vertical ones for a neater look that’s easy to Shading (08009 755757; www.appealshading. precision-control for more or less shade, or com). The firm’s Alu-Pleat and Solar R give look for systems with cords that hide away to 85% heat reflection. “As for colours and the side so you don’t end up with an untidy fabrics, the demand is still for the ‘classical’ wall of dangling string. look, ie. pinoleum. For a more modern look,

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CASE STUDY

INTERIORS

Simon Langley of local company Langleys Conservatories & Windows takes us through one of their recent projects: a tiled-roof summer room with hardwood frames

The biggest advantage on having a solid-roofed structure is that you are able to open this new room up to the house Langleys were asked to build a room that would look good on the property, allowing a lot of light into the room whilst also having the thermal properties enjoyed by a more traditional extension. Having a solid roof – as opposed to a translucent conservatory-styled roof – meant the structure would be classed as an extension to the house and therefore we needed to build it with the approval of the local authority Building Control.

In order to be able to do this, a design had to be prepared with detailed drawings and specification, which was then submitted to the local authority to confirm it complied with all building regulations. This is a service we offer in-house, along with planning permission applications. The biggest advantage in having a solid-roofed structure built and approved by Building Control, over a traditional glass-roofed conservatory (that in most instances is not governed by Building Control) is that you are able to open this new room up to the house, without a set of externally rated doors between the new room and the house.

As heat loss is an important issue these days, opening the house up to any new structure is strictly regulated. In most instances a traditional glass-roofed conservatory will not meet the minimum requirements and consequently the

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thermal break needs to be well maintained between the new room and the house.

Having a tiled roof means that the loads involved are substantially greater than those of a conservatory, which meant the weight of the roof had to be supported independently of the windows and door frame. As such we had to design and source a bespoke steel substructure, attached directly to the footings, supporting a portal lintel and roof brace. Once this steelwork was in place, the timber roof was built by hand and tied into the existing timber roof.

We then insulated the roof space with high-specification specialist sheeting, allowing us to build a vaulted ceiling inside. This high ceiling makes the room feel a lot bigger and the angled ceiling helps to throw reflected light around the space, making it feel lighter as well. Natural slate was fitted to the outside of the new roof as well as a large proportion of the existing roof. In this instance, we supplied and installed bespoke hardwood frames, which we then stained. The frames were glazed with high-performance sealed units. As well as working in hardwood we also have a large range of uPVC frames that we've installed into many similar structures.

We then added the final touches by plastering the room internally and finishing the floor with ceramic tiles.

Call Langleys for further information on 01284 760345, or visit www.langleysconservatories.co.uk

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 55

GARDENS

WORDS CATHERINE CARR

Get your garden summer ready

Now is the time to start prepping your garden for the warmer weather ahead. Catherine Carr shows you how

OLD BULBS Lots of gardens still have fading spring flowers in borders and tubs. Once they’ve died, it’s tempting to snip off the green stems to ‘tidy up’. Don’t! The leaves are nature’s way of collecting goodness and energy for the bulb under the soil, recharging it for next year’s display. If you must, snip off the dead blooms carefully.

If you want to lift the bulbs, this should be done once the leaves have died back.

Gently separate them and store the bulbs somewhere cool and dry.

HEDGES At this time of year, my thoughts turn to drinking wine in the garden on warm evenings. In order to find space to drink said wine, I usually have to hack back the overgrown shrubs and hedges around the patio. Before you follow suit, spare a thought

for the birds that are busier than ever making nests for their babies – in hedges just like yours. Before you go crazy with the shears, watch for a day or two, then have a peek. If the coast is clear, chop away.

LAWNS They are amazing things. We English are dotty about them, and after a few months of worrying whether mine would survive the snow, frost, sleet and rain, it has done what it always does, and emerged unscathed.

Now it needs some serious attention. At this time of year, lawns need cutting weekly. If you’ve been a bit lazy, mow it regularly over the next few weeks and cut it a little shorter each time. While lawns are hardy things, they don’t much like radical restyles.

TUBS, BASKETS AND BEDDING By this time of year, I will have already thrashed the credit card at least once in the garden centre. A bit of instant gardening in March perks both me and the garden up.

Stuffing patio pots with a jumble of flowers is a trick I repeat in early summer too – when I feel I need colour, fast. Now the weather has warmed up, you can think about investing in summer annuals to liven up your beds in the same way. Just remember to dig a bigger hole than you think you need to, use some compost for the roots and water in well. A few minutes’ research on what will flourish in the conditions you have in your garden will pay dividends all summer long.

Courtesy of John Lewis

nd so it begins: the sun is shining and life has returned to the garden. One day the tangled, bare branches look as though an old mattress has sprung its springs in the flower beds: the next buds are almost bursting before your eyes. In our backyards, there is something new to be noticed almost hourly, but much as I love pottering and spotting what’s new, I’m also aware that there are a few jobs to be done to keep the garden looking tip top for the summer and beyond.

WATER Before the sun reaches its peak, (and if you have any energy left from all that wine drinking and weeding), it may be a good time to think about water. A water butt, plumbed into the down pipe from your roof, (or even your shed roof) will yield a surprising amount. Buying the butt and installing it is really scant effort for a huge reward. Plus, there is nothing that will make you feel more virtuous on a summer evening than watering your newly planted pots and beds with free, harvested rainwater.

WEEDING It goes without saying that if your plants and flowers are growing like crazy, then the weeds are too. As I’m lazy by nature, I never set out to ‘do some weeding’. It’s a daunting thought which makes me feel immediately exhausted. Instead, I keep a hoe handy, and do the odd bit here and there. Likewise, if I’m planting, or doing some staking, I will grub about for a few minutes, plucking out the weeds nearby. Little and often is better than just putting it off, and off, and off…

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Bury Edition | June 2013 | 59

MOTORING WORDS SUE BAKER

MINI family 50 years since the first MINI, yet another addition to the clan is due this spring. Sue Baker sizes it up against its siblings t’s hard to believe that it is over half a century since the original MINI burst onto the motoring scene, that little ten-foot pocket rocket that captured the hearts of drivers around the world. It is also amazing to realise that it is 12 years since the modern MINI, the phoenix brand owned by BMW and given capital letters to differentiate it from the iconic original, made its debut and endeared itself to a whole new generation of car buyers.

What is even more remarkable is what a runaway success the born-again MINI has been. Its sales are phenomenal: some 300,000 annually across the globe, and more than 50,000 of them here in Britain.

Plant Oxford, where the cars are made, is booming. Last month it celebrated its 100th anniversary of car making, and later this year the next generation of all-new MINI will go into production there. Meanwhile the MINI family has been growing rapidly.

60 | Bury Edition | June 2013

New on the roads this spring is the seventh member of the clan, the MINI Paceman. It’s a bit of an oddball, with Marmite looks, which even its makers readily acknowledge by candidly describing the Paceman as ‘design with bite’. The Paceman is a Coupé variation of the Countryman, which is itself hardly a pretty car with its pumped-up styling, like a MINI hatch on steroids, but even so enjoys surprising popularity. One in three out of the total MINI sales is now a Countryman, which suggests that the similarly bulbous but slightly more streamlined Paceman should also do pretty well.

What distinguishes all the MINI range, just like their smaller ancestors in their own day, is what fun the cars are to drive. You feel so in touch with the road and so much in harmony with the car as it tackles a twisty country lane with gusto. In any of the MINI range, the car clings onto the corners like a tenacious limpet and despatches

tight bends with flair. Grip the wheel, press the accelerator, feel the way the car communicates as you drive, and smile.

While the original Mini launched way back in 1959 was a relatively cheap little runabout, a ten-foot long box on wheels with limited creature comforts, its modern descendant certainly isn’t. At least two feet longer and bigger all round, today’s MINI is a prestige model in a compact package.

Prices start from just under £12,000 for a MINI Hatch First, the base model of the family. It has a 1.6-litre petrol engine, a

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MOTORING

109mph top speed, acceleration to 62mph in 13.2 seconds, a combined fuel figure of 52.3mpg and its CO2 figure is 27g/km.

High up the list for driver satisfaction in the Hatch range is the MINI Cooper S, with clingy cornering and a 0-62mph time of just seven seconds. Cooper S prices start from £18,180 for the petrol car, and there is also a diesel-engined Cooper SD. Topping the Hatch line-up is the John Cooper Works model, honouring the man who was famed as an ace at racing and tuning original MINIs way back when.

Back in 2001, when the modern MINI first appeared, there was only one version and it was the predecessor of the current Hatch.

Now there are six more. The MINI Clubman is the closest the range has to an estate car, and it is a bit of an oddity, with its pair of vertical doors at the rear, one door at the kerbside, and two doors on the driver’s side – with the second one a rearwardopening door for backseat passengers, who annoyingly have to enter the car where traffic whistles past them. It works out better for left-hand drive versions of the car in foreign markets, obviously. Prices for the Clubman are from around £900 more than the equivalent Hatch.

Then there is the Convertible, which is essentially a MINI Hatch with its steel top replaced by a fabric roof. It looks glamorous with the roof down and is breezy good fun to drive, but it’s a nightmare to see out of when the hood is up, and tricky to park with very little rearward vision. The thick hood with only a tiny rear screen makes manoeuvring difficult. If one of these takes

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Press the accelerator, feel the way the car communicates and smile your fancy, though, expect to pay around £2,200 more than the Hatch which has the same engine.

Then there is the Coupé. This is another variant of the ubiquitous Hatch, with its roof chopped back into a raffish slope. It looks really cute and has more luggage room than you would expect from the shape of it, but it’s only a two-seater. Prices start from £16,640. There is also a droptop Roadster version of the Coupé, with a fabric roof replacing that ski-slope steel lid.

Prices start from around £1,120 above the equivalent model in the Coupé range.

So that tots up to five different versions of MINI, which brings us back to where we started: the Countryman and the new Paceman. Who would have imagined, just over a decade ago with the millennium still relatively fresh in the rear-view mirror, that the new MINI would have grown into a family of seven come 2013. Some people feel that BMW is maybe stretching the brand a bit far, but their decision is certainly vindicated in sales success.

What next for MINI? Come the autumn, there will be a new one as a successor to the current Hatch, and the amazing story of Britain’s favourite small cars will roll on into another new era. If only Sir Alec Issigonis, who designed the 1959 original, were still alive to see what a 21st century dynasty his creation eventually spawned.

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 61

PETS

Treat time?

This month, the experts from Scampers Natural Pet Store look at the potential minefield of treating your dogs, advising on what, when and how to go about it e all love to treat our dogs, and as well as them thoroughly enjoying it, it’s a tried, tested and very effective way of rewarding good behaviour or saying ‘well done’ for learning a new trick. We may also use treats to help keep our pets’ teeth clean or simply as something to chew on. More often than not though, it’s just because we love them!

But it can sometimes be a case of too much of a good thing. In fact, obesity and dental problems in dogs are very often the result of ‘over-treating’ – coupled with a lack of understanding about proper diet and the need for good nutrition.

Sugary, poor quality, cereal-based treats and biscuits are one of the biggest culprits, and a major issue for canine health. Often these treats are packaged like doggy sweets, cleverly marketed and sold by big companies in supermarkets and pet shop chains. We all know we shouldn’t give our children snacks full of colourants, preservatives, food waste, salt and sugar, so we should definitely think twice about giving them to our dogs as well.

Reading and understanding the labels on food and treats is vital. At Scampers we put all the ingredients of our packaged products on the shelves – but we’re unique in that respect, so you need to put the legwork in to learning the jargon and making sure you’re in a position to make an informed choice.

We understand that giving snacks and treats in moderation is part of the loving relationship we all have with our pets, but you need to consider the rest of your pet’s diet when doling these out, and adjust the rest of the food intake where appropriate.

Remember also that a treat needn’t be packed full of sugar and calories – healthy treats can be just as tasty and they’re actually good for your animals too. Aim for natural treats that contain no derivatives, preservatives, colourants, sugar or salt.

Grouping treats together into different

categories can help you understand when and how to feed them to your dog. First of all, there are functional treats, such as chews and bones, which are great for dental care.

Our dogs also love tucking into things like hearts, kidneys, liver and raw meaty bones, which you can now buy from our store (Natures Menu has just brought out a fabulous selection), but deer antlers are becoming a firm favourite too: they are 100 per cent natural and chewing on something like this also releases endorphins and even serves as a form of exercise for your pet (try Farm Food Antlers®).

Perhaps you’re training a puppy? In which case you’ll need some tasty, easy-to-store treats for instant rewards. We recommend Barker & Barker, who make a great range of low fat, natural doggie snacks – their liver treats are especially good. If you just want to tell your pooch you love him, try Hungry Hector's gourmet natural treats

including the Doggie Oggie Cornish Pasty and Scrummy Mackerel Flapjacks, all of which are fresh, packed full of goodness and recommended by vets. You might also like to try Betty Miller’s wholesome dog biscuits, which even come in gluten-free and lower-calorie versions, as well as the Whiffy Dog Treats, which contain peppermint and charcoal to reduce bad breath and flatulence!

For out-and-out indulgence, check out Billy + Margot, a company which Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden chose to invest in on the TV show. They make gourmet treats including special doggie ice cream (a great ‘lick’ for summer).

Best of all, company founder Marie Sawle is a trained nutritionist, so while the treats are delicious, they are also good for your dog too.

Giving snacks and treats in moderation is part of the loving relationship you have with your dog, but consider the rest of their diet too BURYEDITION.CO.UK

Bury Edition | June 2013 | 65

PETS

WORDS ALEX WYLIE

SUMMER HAZARDS We all love summer, but it can cause our beloved pets a host of problems.

Alex Wylie from Eastgate Vets offers some essential seasonal advice ith the arrival of summer, our lucky pets will be out and about more often. We all love the long, warm days but it’s important to be aware of some seasonal risks to our pets’ health. Most can be avoided with a little forethought and planning so that summer can be safe as well as fun!

ADDER BITES After a long hibernation, these reptiles are as desperate for sunshine as we are. The snake’s venom can cause vomiting, collapse, bleeding disorders, skin sloughing and organ failure. Any dog suspected of being bitten should see a vet urgently. Adders are found in the forest and on heathland so walk in these places at cooler times of the day and use well-trodden, popular paths.

GRASS SEEDS These barbed seeds can pierce through skin and migrate into other parts of the body (most commonly between the toes).

They can also enter ears, causing pain and rupturing eardrums. The scariest place for a seed to enter is an airway as it may create an abscess in the lung. We suggest clipping the fur from fluffy paws and around ears and combing hairy dogs after each walk. Some owners even put a headband over their dog’s ears so that grass seeds can’t get in.

TICKS These small parasites lurk in the summer grass and can spread Lyme disease. This

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illness causes a skin rash, flu-type symptoms and arthritis in people and shifting lameness and fever in dogs. Many products are available to either repel or kill ticks. It is crucial to remove a tick as soon as possible and not to leave the mouth parts attached.

A special ‘tick hook’ should be used, as other methods (such as covering them with Vaseline or pulling them off) can result in the tick injecting more nasties into the bloodstream of your pet.

HEAT STROKE Cars can be death traps. Never leave your pet in a car in hot weather – the heat can literally cook their organs. Make sure fresh water is always available and avoid exercising your dog at hot times of the day.

You must be especially cautious if your dog is overweight, has a medical condition or has conformation issues that affect breathing.

SKIN CANCER Just like us, our pets are susceptible to cancer due to sun damage. Pets with white areas of fur, especially on the ears, face and nose, are most at risk. Dogs and cats who lie with their pink bellies up to the sun are also in danger. High factor sunscreen should be applied to these regions in summer.

FLY STRIKE Rabbits commonly suffer with this condition.

Flies lay eggs, which then become maggots.

Rabbits’ rear ends must be checked twice daily in warm weather and products

applied to prevent fly strike. Any pet that is debilitated or cannot groom smelly regions is at risk and sadly we see this easily preventable condition in dogs and cats too.

LILIES Popular in gardens and vases, these beautiful flowers are highly toxic to cats.

Even a small amount of the pollen, if ingested, can be deadly. Cats grooming themselves can lick pollen off their coats.

The water that lilies are kept in is also toxic, as are all parts of the plant, including the leaves. It is imperative that cats are not allowed anywhere near lilies.

BARBECUES Dogs love barbies as much as we do and will sniff around at your feet waiting for a morsel of succulent food to drop to the ground.

It is crucial that you keep them away from dangerous things such as fatty food (causes pancreatitis), tin foil (which can block intestines) and skewers.

HEDGEHOGS Finally, a mention about our wildlife. Be careful when mowing the lawn or lighting fires as hedgehogs are often hiding away out of sight and can suffer horrific injuries at the hands of man.

Enjoy the time you spend with your pets this summer. For information about keeping them healthy in warmer weather contact the team at www.facebook.com/eastgatevets.

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