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MY LOCAL TOWN
ELLESMERE INCORPORATING ST.MARTINS, WHITTINGTON, OVERTON, PENLEY AND COCKSHUTT FREE MAGAZINE www.iccheshireonline.co.uk follow the link for My Local Town
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To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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A big Hello and Welcome to the fourth issue of My Local Town Ellesmere Since our last issue, we have all had some pretty harsh unseasonal weather to contend with, but as I am writting this the sun is shinning and the sky is blue and there is a warm breeze - just what the doctor ordered! it certainly lifts the mood and puts a smile on the face. Again we have had a great response from local advertisers and public alike, but we do need more information on all those great organisations and groups that are such a vital part of our community, so please if you have any news you would like to pass on, or even just a great photo and caption, please send to me and we can include in future issues. Well with all this talk of credit crunches and
credit squeeze, it really is vital that we support our local business and services and keep our local towns vibrant and busy and in Issue 4 of My Local Town, we certainly have a large selection of those, offering great ideas of places to go and visit and things to do as well as fabulous ideas for the home and garden, lots to keep us all busy and active! Lets remember to support our local communities and lets keep it local with My Local Town
Best Wishes - Jill jill.bougen@cheshirenews.co.uk 01948 - 663135
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Battlefield 1403 The Whole Concept Our aim at Battlefield 1403 is to create a happy, relaxed and popular visitor destination where everyone feels welcome. This family business is part of a farm that produces beef and lamb on the site of the battle of Shrewsbury. We want visitors to become interested in our local producers and also to learn the story of the battle. We hope to take the stress out of shopping and make it an enjoyable experience. Enjoy the history, the cafe, the farm shop and butchery and the walk. Exhibition 1403 The visitor centre tells the story of the battle of Shrewsbury fought on 21st July 1403 between king Henry IV and a rebellious faction led by the Percy family. This battle marks one of the bloodiest conflicts ever to take place on British soil. The exhibition explains the facts as we know them and introduces additional fun facts for children. Exhibits on display include a full armoured “Sir Nicholas”, various weaponry, a longbow archer and other medieval artefacts. 4
Farm Shop & Butchery 1403 Our shop provides an outlet for a range of excellent foods which are sourced locally. They have low food miles, full traceability and great taste. Seasonality, freshness and high standards of production are important to us. Our team of experienced butchers can cut any meat to order and the daily display of trimmed, portioned, stuffed and prepared cuts is very impressive. Our chefs and butchers work together to produce a wide variety of homemade food for the shop including the Battlefield range of ready meals. Sparrow’s Cafe 1403 Meals, snacks and cakes are freshly prepared to order in our kitchen using ingredients from the shop and other local sources. Morning, lunch and afternoon menus give a variety of choice. There is also a children’s menu, again made in our kitchen using local ingredients. We offer a wide range of hot and cold drinks and are licensed to sell alcohol. Some of the meals served in the cafe can also be bought in the shop. Directions We are situated 3 miles north of Shrewsbury town centre on the A49 Whitchurch road, opposite the Halls livestock market.
Battlefield 1403 Upper Battlefield Shrewsbury SY4 3DB 01939 210905 www.battlefield1403.com
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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Mobile Phones / Seat Belts and SPEED!!!
2876 PCSO Emily Williams emily.williams2@nthwales.pnn.police.uk
2879 PCSO Jenna Owen jenna.owen@nthwales.pnn.police.uk
PC Luke Hughes luke.hughes@nthwales.pnn.police.uk
Contact Details T: 0845 607 1002 or 999 In an Emergency Overton Police Station Station Road Overton LL13 0EF Special Constabulary Divisional Officer: Dean Hewitt Section Officer: Maria Hewitt
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As I`m sure you are all aware legislation to increase the penalty for using a hand-held phone whilst driving came into force on 27 February 2007. The £30 fine was increased to £60 and three penalty points on your license. Penalty points can mean higher insurance costs. If you get six points within two years of passing your test, your license will be revoked and you will need to re-sit the test. If the case goes to court, you could risk a maximum fine of £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for the driver of a bus, coach, or heavy goods vehicle. A driver can also be prosecuted for using a hands-free device if you are not in proper control of your vehicle when using the device. The penalties are the same - £60 fine and three points on your license. Callers also play an important role in keeping the roads safe. If the person you are speaking to is driving, please terminate the call and arrange to speak to them later. In addition to this you are also required by law to wear a safety belt whilst driving or being a passenger in a vehicle; unless certain exemptions apply, the penalty for this is a £30 fine. Road safety is a priority concern in our area, being in a rural location means that you are much more likely to have an accident on rural roads and also suffer serious injury as a result. Unfortunately I`m sure you will all agree we see far to many people flaunting Mobile Phone and Safety belt laws and lets not even get started on speeding... Please if you are one of the guilty ones that’s “Just popping to the Shop” or “Just taking that quick call” please put the phone away and belt up before you are injured or you injure someone else, it is the intention to deal with all offenders by way of prosecution from hence forth... sorry to be all blunt about it, but “YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!”
BBC Regional News Overton was featured on BBC Wales Tonight in March when PCSO Jenna Owen, leader of Wrexham Council Aled Roberts and Street Scene Engineer Kevin Edwards were filmed conducting an Environmental Audit in the village, this was broadcast on the evening of 31st March 2008 and
formed part of a Local Election story explaining how the borough Council now work with a number of agencies to identify community issues, broken street lights, poor road surfaces, missing signs etc, since starting these audits in mid 2007 I believe we have made a number of improvements across our area.
Crime With the weather now slowly improving we may be turning our attention to the garden, and you may be considering purchasing new equipment, including tower tools, mowers etc... Can I ask that if you do find yourself making such purchases can you make a note of the serial numbers and record details of make / model / colour. I ask this as power tools are often stolen from insecure or poorly secured garages, sheds and outbuildings and any information you can provide may aid its recovery.
Crime, Anti Social Behavior and Collisions : What happened in your area? Crime = 2 Anti Social = 1 Collisions = 1
Area Priorities As a community based policing team, I am keen that we deal with the issues that the community believe effect them the most, these don`t always match what the home office or police authority priorities, but are the issues that effect the community in which we all live and work and if we are able to deal with these then we improve the quality of life for all those involved , The current priorities area listed below.
Overton Ward Op Vardon: Pro- Active Operation set up to deal with Rural Crime and to encourage the reporting of suspicious incidents. Speed Enforcement: Operation to deal with vehicles exceeding the speed limit and/or driving dangerously in our remote villages. Environmental Audit: Partnership Initiative to enhance the environment that we live and work in. Littering and Dog Fowling: In particular in the High Street Overton and School Lane. The above priorities are updated regularly and if you are of the opinion that they do not accurately represent what is effecting your community please raise this at the next neighbourhood policing meeting, or contact one of the team.
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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Gallery & Gifts
Harrison Photography Local Art & Craft
Come and see our large range of Homemade Crafts, Art, Hand Blown Glass, Ceramics, Prints and Wood Turning Wedding & Portrait Photography For more information phone Annette on 07773 937461 or call into 2 Noble Street, Wem email: harrison@glh.demon.co.uk www.harrisonphotography.myphotos.cc
Show Jumping Classic & Country Fair A Great Family Day Out! 6th - 8th June 2008 Family attractions include: • Shopping Village • Fair Rides & Amusements • Dog Show • Fine Food Fair • Refreshments/Bar • Featuring Top International Riders • £18,000 Assura Group Grand Prix
• £40,000 Total Prize Fund • Classes from Novice to Grand Prix
Entry form and information at www.bolesworthclassic.com Bolesworth Lake Farm, Tattenhall, Chester CH3 9HL Tel: 01829 782210 Mob: 07789 372499 Email: info@bolesworth.com
Tradestand Enquiries: sarah@sarah-williams.com Admission £5 per car Gates open from 8am daily Supporting Catwalk Trust Admission £5 per car
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The Age Concern Day Centre at Oswestry is looking for a new person who will join the super bunch of volunteers who provide a lovely day out each Thursday for 16 or so elderly frail people. The person required is someone who can take on the role of Treasurer. There is not a huge amount of work involved in this, but obviously someone who can handle money, understands receipts and payments, and can balance the books at the end of the Day Centre Financial year is needed. It would be an advantage if the new person could attend the sessions some weeks (or come along for an hour or so), but it is not essential for them to be able to come each week. There is no pay offered for this job, but there would be a good deal of satisfaction and pleasure for the right person. COULD IT BE YOU? If you would like to find out more, please ring Gill Cartwright on 01948 665317
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“One of my responsibilities as a new ‘Steward’ for the Wem and Prees Green Methodist Circuit is to look at how we as members of our Churches can become more involved in our own small, and not so small communities. I am hoping to work with our Churches and their members to look at more and different uses for our buildings. Are you looking for a suitable venue in your village, town or community? Would you like somewhere to practise the Junior Brass Band regularly, or hold a small sewing or Art group? Could you start an Exercise class for the over 50’s or a ‘new Mums’ group? Perhaps a suitable place to hold regular events is not available, or is too expensive, or is cold, or unwelcoming? As a Methodist Church and Circuit we are hoping to be able to open our doors to local groups, to enable them to give something new a try. We have lovely Chapels in villages in Welshampton, Northwood, Bettisfield, Prees, Prees Green, Welsh End, Ellerdine and Coton, together with a large, and well used Church in Wem. I hope that we may be able to work as Christians in our local Churches, with our Communities, to see how we can offer our buildings (and ourselves) to local people. We don’t want our Churches to be used JUST ON SUNDAYS! They should be available every day of the week, daytime and evening, if needed and wanted. If you have an idea that you would like to talk about, I am happy to be the first link in the chain. With the support and encouragement of the local Church in YOUR area, perhaps there is something new just waiting to blossom! Do, please give me a ring! Gill Cartwright 01948 710481”
Our benefits officers can provide confidential advice and benefit checks. Home visits are available for the completion of benefits claim forms. We can assist where claims have been unsuccessful and represent at appeal tribunals. Attendance Allowance For those aged over sixty-five who require either help with personal care or supervision. To qualify you must have needed help for at least six months. Disability Living Allowance Very similar to Attendance Allowance, but for those where the need begins before they are sixty-five. Includes additional help for those with mobility difficulties. Neither Allowance is means tested. You may claim them regardless of income or capital.
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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Chester Kia (Carr & Griffiths) Milton Green, Chester 01829 770554 • www.carandgriffiths.co.uk
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Open Day at Ellesmere College Nestled in rural North Shropshire, there is a 7 to 18 co-educational school that, whilst focusing attention on the academic achievement of each individual pupil, is also proud of its sporting reputation. With a wellestablished rugby heritage and with former international players, including Bill Beaumont and Martin Keyworth as former pupils, Ellesmere College has over the last five years been further developing rugby talent through its Rugby Academy. Well over half of the current Under 15 Shropshire rugby team are Ellesmere College pupils and two 1st team players have recently played in the Under 18 Wales team. The School also enjoys representation at county, regional and national level for a wide range of sports including tennis, netball, hockey and shooting. Last year the Ellesmere College Tennis Academy was established and already has pupils with national LTA ratings. The next development will be the introduction of an elite swimming programme, to be launched after half-term and plans are already in place to launch a cricket academy.
and re-design its existing 9-hole golf course. However, an Ellesmere College education is not only about academic and sports achievement but also gaining life skills, such as teamwork, sports leadership, life-saving and first-aid. Integral in the curriculum throughout the School is an activities programme that encompasses numerous skills, and there are development opportunities that can lead to nationally recognised qualifications. Diving is being added to the current long list this summer. Families interested to learn more about the opportunities and exciting developments at the School for academic as well as sporting achievement, are very welcome to join pupils, their families, staff and former pupils at the forthcoming Open Day on: Sunday 18th May, between 2pm and 4pm.
With a steady increase in pupil numbers over the last five years, sports facilities in particular have been stretched. For this reason the School has recently purchased a further 74 acres, doubling the size of its grounds to 144 acres. This will create the opportunity for the school to have more playing fields and, in the longer term, to move 10
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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this is the time to think interior design... We are all aware of the credit Squeeze and its effects on the mortgage availablity, and believe it or not, this is the time to think interior design. If you have a house to sell, does it present well? Gill Mcclure of The Wow Factor in Ellesmere, with 30 years of experience, can for a small fee, give you advice on how to give your home the edge over others on the market - sometimes at very little cost. The fee is deductable from further work you might like her to do. You may decide to stay put and wait for
more favourable times, in which case maybe now is the time to give your home a face lift. This could just be a few cushions on the sofas, new blinds or curtains, or an extension to give yourself more space. Whichever path you choose, Gill is the person to talk to. She has a wealth of experience in all aspects of interior design both domestic and commercial, and is happy to take on jobs from the very small to the very large. Come into the showroom or make the phone call — you won’t regret it.
give your home the
WOW FACTOR Soft Furnishing (Domestic & Commercial) to create that special ambience ❙ ❙ ❙ ❙ ❙ ❙ ❙
Blinds Shutters Curtains Wallpaper Rugs Cushions Wide range of fabrics
❙ Interior design service available ❙ 30 years experience ❙ Free consultation
Please mention MY LOCAL TOWN when responding to adverts
THE WOW FACTOR 3 Wharf Road Ellesmere t: 01691 622416 m: 07969 379 759 OPEN tues- fri 10am-4pm sat 9am-1pm 11
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Paving & Flooring Centres
on many items NOW is the time to contact us
Y
GREAT OFFERS
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Undoubtedly the widest choice in the area
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40 additional new products on display
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Indian Sandstone from £16.00 sq/m
◆
Interior Flooring Showroom now open
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Free delivery throughout the area on full packs.
(see our main ad and contact details on the inside back cover)
01978 710000
☎Useful Numbers
Crime Stoppers Missing People National Drugs Helpline Alchoholics Anonymous Age Concern NHS Direct NHS Stop Smoking Servive Samaritans Citizens Advice Bureau Manchester Airport John Lennon Airport Birmingham International Airport National Rail Enquiries Ellesmere Town Council 12
0800 555 111 0500 700 700 0800 776 600 0845 769 7555 020 8765 7200 0845 4647 0800 169 0 169 08457 90 90 90 08444 991100 0161 489 3000 0870 129 8484 0121 767 5511 0845 748 4950 01691 622689
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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MY LOCAL TOWN ELLESMERE
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Here comes the summer! As we approach the summer our thoughts start to turn towards our gardens. What could be nicer than enjoying a warm summer evening outside with family or friends? Our gardens should suit the way we live our lives, whether the priority is practical, aesthetic or environmental the garden should ideally retain sympathy with our needs as individuals, our earth and our landscape. When we think of garden design we should not always feel that we have to think ‘on a grand scale’. We all know how much pleasure can be gleaned for example from a new photograph or picture displayed in our home, bringing a space to life. Relatively small changes can similarly make a huge difference to the enjoyment of our gardens. Many of us find that we have problem areas which we simply cannot seem to improve, and they can spoil our satisfaction with the rest of our garden. Why worry when there is help at hand? There are design solutions available for even the smallest of areas, to help you to get the most enjoyment out of your garden. A small water feature perhaps, a group of attractive pots, a single feature shrub? Simple changes may be all that is required. A little help with general maintenance can also reveal the true beauty of your garden. Sometimes there may be no real need to make any changes at all. Bringing colour into our lives... At this time of year we should never underestimate the power of bulbs. How uplifting is the sunshine yellow of the narcissi emerging from a dull, neglected winter border? Try the dwarf variety ‘Rip van Winkle’ for a double bloom, resistant to high winds. How stunning is the deep crimson Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’ or ‘Red Wing’ with its shredded edge, offering welcome splashes of red or orange, heralding the forthcoming summer. For something a little softer try Tulipa ‘Mount Tacoma’, this double late tulip produces long lasting flowers of dazzling purity. Remember, there are bulbs for all seasons. Tender or exotic bulbs, or tubers such as Cannas can be planted now to take a starring role in the summer border. Plant 60cm apart according to their expected size. Whereas spring bulbs make the greatest impact massed in large colonies or naturalised drifts, summer bulbs and tubers look more effective in small, strategic groups. Plant
Before
After
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them now to provide local colourful highlights and rectify any midsummer gaps. If space is at a premium why not plant into pots, there are a huge array of planters on the market and lilies for example can look and smell stunning, brightening up even the dullest corner. Plant halfway down a 25-30cm container. Choose varieties such as ‘Sterling Star’, ‘Pink Perfection’ or hybrids like ‘Star Gazer’. Pots can be placed within border planting to offer a splash of colour or scent against evergreen shrubs or hedges. A good deal of the bulbs seen in flower at this time of year should be planted in the autumn but for many the flowering season will extend into summer so it’s well worth planning ahead. A stunning favourite, Fritillaria meleagris (purple ‘checked’ flowers) are perfect for a rock garden, Hyacinthus look beautiful in a wild garden and the white variety Hyacinthus orientalis offer white, powerfully-scented flowers. These are just some examples of how to brighten up a previously forgotten space. So, if your garden is letting you down, there is help at hand. As your local landscape design consultancy we offer you the opportunity to meet a team of professionals who will listen carefully to your wishes, and work with you to create a wonderful outdoor environment, where planting and hard landscaping is designed to suit the way you live your life. Whether the solution is an entirely new design, a make-over of an existing border or even a few hours’ help with an awkward space? We can offer the following solutions; • Design consultation- entire gardens or individual areas. • Scale plan drawings • Construction • Planting • Decking • Lighting • Water features • Individual or regular garden maintenance Talk to us today and find out how to get the most from your garden. Call Carol Powell (Prof.Dip.GD) on 01978 780965 0r 07708 420771 Enjoy the summer! N.W.Powell Building • Landscape • Design Mr and Mrs Gurden 5 Heron Brook, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 1VE
Trust us to create your perfect outdoor space
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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Information for young people
Find your way with the Prince’s Trust What’s stopping you?
Find your way with The Prince’s Trust
❚ No money?
❚ Take Control
❚ No support?
❚ Achieve your goals
❚ Be independent ❚ Live your dreams
❚ No confidence? Then find your way with The Prince’s Trust. If you are 14-30, unemployed, have been in trouble with the police, are in or leaving care, or have no qualifications, The Prince’s Trust could help you move on with your life. We can help you in lots of ways.
Development Awards About the Programme Cash awards to help young people to access education, training and employment We offer: ❚ Grants of between £50 and £500 for individuals
Are you: ❚ 16+25 and need a boost? You could join our Team - a free 12-week programme which offers you new challenges and will help you build confidence, learn new skills and gain qualifications. ❚ 18-30 and got an idea for a business, but can’t raise the cash you need from anywhere else? We could give you funding and support to become your own boss. ❚ 14-25 and want to get back into education, training or work? A development award - money and support could be the answer. ❚ 14-30, part of a group, and have an idea for a community project, but don’t have the funds to make it happen? We could give you a group award - money, advice and support - to turn your idea into action.
❚ Personal assessment and action planning from a Prince’s Trust employee or volunteer ❚ On going support and monitoring Past awards have included helping young people to gain computing skills, purchasing tools needed to start a job and produce a portfolio to present at interviews. How does it help young people? Participants can: ❚ Receive a cash award to help them undertake education or training or enhance their ability to gain employment. ❚ Gain increased confidence and self-esteem ❚ Overcome significant barriers within a short space of time ❚ Learn new skills and acquire new knowledge Who is Eligible Young people aged 14 - 25 who: ❚ Are part of The Trust’s four target groups ❚ Have clear education, training or work related goals Please note that most programmes operate in the majority of areas, although there are some variations. Some regions and countries also offer programmes that may not be featured here - please contact your local office for up to date information.
Tel: 01939 235449 or email Shropshire@princes-trust.org.uk or call free 0800 842 842 16
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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D J Price
to u A es icesd e r P erv es Lt S l
Timber & Fencing Supplies
Large stocks on a wide range of fencing materials at low prices
&
rsa a C PAS
• PANELS • CONCRETE POSTS • SAWN POSTS AND RAILS • ROUND AND HALF ROUND POSTS AND RAILS • SHEDS • BARK • GATES AND FITTINGS
A R Chambers, B W Ruscoe & V T Lines Es
ta can offer you... 30 blishe yea d ✩ new and used carsales rs ✩ servicing ✩ petrol & diesel vehicles ✩ tyres ✩ exhausts ✩ mot testing class IV vehicles ✩ petrol, diesel or lpg
supply and erect or supply only delivered to your door
The Compound, Wem Industrial Estate, Soulton Road, Wem, SY4 5SD
ring 01948-840228 fax 01948-841539
www.preesautos.co.uk preesautoservices@hotmail.co.uk
★
Call Dave or John on 01939 235720
THE PERFECT CHOICE
STARBRITE For Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Fascias and Gutters WINDOWS EST. 1990 Family firm
Insist on internally beaded for better security • Free No Pressure Quotation • 70mm Grade A Profile • Internally Beaded • High Security Locks (Police Specification door locks) • Choice of Colours • The most attractive window and door system on the market Visit the website: www.starbrite-windows.co.uk
Whitchurch 1 Bark Hill 01948 666394 Please mention MY LOCAL TOWN when responding to adverts
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Succumb to Scandi Style There’s so much more to Scandinavian style than flat-pack furniture and its attendant stress. While Swedish giant Ikea has long dominated the mass market with its winning combination of top class design and rock bottom prices, the growing popularity of the look has now brought a host of other smaller companies to the UK, offering people even more opportunity not only to interpret the look in their own homes but in a more individual way. Companies who’ve recently come to the UK include inspirational Finnish fabric makers Marimekko through to Iittala, which offers a treasure trove of Finnish glassware and accessories. Scandinavia’s style is inspired partly by its seasons as interior designer, Gail Abbott explains: “In the far northern countries of Scandinavia, the clear summer light is one of the dominant features of the landscape. Forests, lakes and mountains are bathed in its clarity, and for half the year the sun hardly sets below the horizon. “People make the most of the outdoors while they can, for the winter means long dark days when light is low and short- lived. Because of this, light is a quality that is highly valued.” So the fundamental principles of the Scandinavian look are - light-reflective white painted walls, modest window treatments designed to avoid blocking the light and a basically uncluttered feel. They work together to create a smooth blend of the contemporary and the timeless, which can suit any home and isn’t expensive to achieve. But while pale walls and white surfaces give an authentic feel to a room, acres of white could be cold and unappealing in our hard Northern light, so the use of an accent colour adds individuality, interest and warmth. Traditionally, those colours are sourced from the rich palette of the outdoors to provide an uplifting contrast. Gail, author of a new beautifully illustrated book, Living with Light, which shows how to recreate all the home-transforming elements of the style says: “Outside in winter red berries, a dark green pine tree, or a clear blue sky provide relief from the acres of whiteness and so those colours are reflected indoors in Scandinavian rooms. “Red and blue are characteristic colours but any vivid tones, used with restraint, will inject a 18
touch of drama. Blue and white are as fresh and easy to live with as a summer’s day. In countries where the warm months are short, homeowners like to make the interiors of their house as delightful as a walk outside, and there’s nothing like the combination of sky blue and brilliant white to evoke the wide-open spaces of the Scandinavian countryside.” If you’re yearning for ‘Scandi-style’ follow Gail’s guide to the look. Gail says: “Getting light into rooms instantly improves them - particularly in our often sunshine-starved Northern hemisphere homes and there are plenty of ways to do that without spending a lot of money. Used well, also, all these elements will combine to make a room appear bigger than it actually is.” To create ‘Scandi style’ opt for simple, clutterfree rooms with white walls and painted or pale coloured floors and white-covered furniture. Pale furnishing fabrics on furniture needn’t be impractical as long as they’re loose and in washable fabrics. Dress windows simply to allow light to filter through, or use white-painted shutters - both treatments work well. Windows should have simple dressings which allow the light to filter through. Sheer white curtains or a voile blind can be a discreet way to maintain seclusion without losing light. White butter muslin, cotton lawn and fine veiling can be made into unstructured blinds and unlined curtains. Symmetry is key to achieving the ordered, calm restful atmosphere that’s so characteristic of these rooms and it’s an easy technique to emulate. A couple of painted wooden chairs might be arranged either side of a bureau, mirrors double each other, and decorative accessories like candlesticks are always displayed in pairs.
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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PINE LODGE
T Y R E S E RV I CweE Sdo Best at what
ES AR IC
ND OU
ST B E PR
TYRES
185 65 HR15 ......................................................£25.00 195 50 VR15 .....................................................£25.00 195 60 HR15 ......................................................£25.00 165 70 X13 ........................................................£25.00 BEST P
EXHAUSTS middle & back
ND OU
PART WORN From only £10.00 ANY SIZES
PLENTY OF PARKING LONDON ROAD (A41), HIGHER HEATH, SY13 2JA
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CES AR RI
FORD KA.............................................................£45.00 CORSA................................................................£35.00 VAUXHALL VECTRA 2.0,1.8+2.5 ........................£55.00 ROVER 214.........................................................£40.00
01948 841626
✓ FREE FITTING ON BATTERIES ✓ TRACKING £15.00 ✓ PUNCTURE REPAIR WHILE YOU WAIT ✓ SERVICING AVAILABLE ✓ Oil & Filter major credit cards taken
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday 10am-2pm
PLUMB ‘N’ TILE room Complete Bath e ic Fitting Serv mbing ■ General Plu ations etc Repairs / Alter Of Wall & ■ All Types Floor Tiling
■
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Also: Lawn Mowing Hedge Cutting Strimming
Contact Neil 01948 710566 07968 136473
LOFT LADDERS make use of your loft Members of the loft, ladder installers association of Great Britain
LOFT LADDERS, LIGHTS & SWITCH PLUS 50 - 100 SQ FT OF FLOORING from as little as £239 which INCLUDES our loft storage pack being fitted by our installers in less than a day... NO MESS, NO FUSS
storage problems?
LOFT LADDERS, LIGHTS, FLOORING, HATCHES all installed separately if required
We can create extra storage space
Now installing
Roof Windows
Tel/Fax: 01270 624 576 Mob: 07971 676 953
w w w. c h e s h i r e l o f t s . c o . u k *Our company complies with all current government electrical regulations
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MY LOCAL TOWN ELLESMERE
Can’t Colour - Won’t Colour IF THERE is one thing guaranteed to reduce people to a gibbering indecisive wreck, it’s a paint chart. Faced with lyrical but baffling names like Subtle Ivory, Jasmine Mist, or Both Barrels (the latter’s green in case you were wondering) I retreat defeated and stagger away with cans of boring magnolia yet again. It’s comforting to realise that the nation’s with me and drowning in complete ‘colour confusion’ too. We’re stubbornly defying the designers and interiors experts urging us that colour is back in fashion and a must-have for homes, and resolutely sticking to what we know - bland and neutral. New Dulux research reveals that one in four homes in the UK have a neutral or ‘noncolour’ scheme, and the use of those shades has doubled over the last 10 years. Around 55% of householders are choosing to live in homes decorated in creams and whites even though nearly half of us actually regard them as “boring, non colours”. It’s partly because we’re so unused to living without sight of a bright shade or hue that we’re too nervous to change, according to Louise Smith, colour expert for Dulux. She says: “The longer you live in bland rooms the harder it is to visualise them any other way - it’s almost like colour phobia has set in for many people.” There’s another reason - we’re apparently letting our heads (and bank balances) rule our decor hearts. We’re worried that using colour or worse making mistakes with it - will make our homes less of an investment, which is of particular concern in current, tricky economic times. 20
Louise says: “The British have had a decade of TV programmes encouraging and telling them to keep their homes ‘neutral’ as the best way to get a quick and easy sale. “That’s helped to make people increasingly frightened to express their own personalities through decoration, because subconsciously they’re viewing their homes as a commodity or potential sale.” But in reality, many of us would secretly love to splash colour around, and take a spin on a rainbow colour wheel. The paint company’s research also revealed that only 4% of people believe cream or off-white reflects their true personality, while 38% of us yearn to use blue, and 32% would love to blush pink or even paint the town red. Louise says: “It’s sad that people feel they cannot express themselves with colour at home. After all, they’d never dream of dressing in the same colour clothes day-after-day and yet they’ve imposed a uniform of neutrals on their rooms.” She advises those with an eye on a sale or rental: “Take the colour plunge. If it’s well-used, colour actually makes a home more attractive and memorable to a prospective buyer who’s probably viewing a seemingly endless number of cream- decorated homes.” Embracing colour, whether you want to make your property appeal to a buyer or simply enjoy your own space, could be a good move. Stafford Cliff, author of a new book, The Way We Live In Colour, points out: “Colours affect our emotions and our moods and are a positive way of improving our well-being in our home, and making a space more enjoyable to live in.” So it’s high time to beat that phobia with the help of our experts. Break free from a dull, colourless life...
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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MY LOCAL TOWN ELLESMERE
FOURWAYS SELF DRIVE first for local
car & van rental
• • • • • •
Local car and ven rental Competitive prices and quality service Short and long term hires Special weekend and Bank holiday rates available Retail and corporate business welcome Nationwide corporate service available Email: info@fvsd.co.uk Web: www.fvsd.co.uk Tel: 01948 842026 Compass House, Shrewsbury Road, Prees, Whitchurch SY13 2DJ
✱ ✱ Fionas Cafe • Outside Catering • No Job too Small • We can also arrange for you: marquees, bars, toilets etc
FPL
DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPING Block Paving Concreting tarmacadam fencing etc fully insured
Please phone 01939 235700 01948 880996
✱
01270 898398 or 07789 751282
Please mention MY LOCAL TOWN when responding to adverts
sured Advice As
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MY LOCAL TOWN ELLESMERE
Flawless Finish MADONNA has come under fire from critics after posing for her 10th cover of Vanity Fair. Tongues are wagging that the airbrushing elves have got a little over-enthusiastic with the 49-year-old singer’s impressive picture spread in a recent edition. For celebrities and supermodels, achieving a flawless look can be easy with the help of a flattering wave of the magic airbrush wand. But for the rest of us mere mortals, simply getting our foundation just right can be a beauty battle. “Foundation is the surest way I know to get the look of smooth, flawless skin,” says international make-up artist Bobbi Brown. “Many women think foundation is all about heavy, mask-like makeup, but it’s not. There are so many great formulas to choose from and you can wear it as little or often as you need.” Before rummaging through your make-up bag and tools, the first crucial step to achieving a flawless face is choosing the right foundation. And that isn’t always easy. Girl’s Aloud member Nicola Roberts felt there was such a gap in the market for make-up targeted at fair-skinned girls she created her own range, Dainty Doll, launching April 18. Nicola says: “I’ve always wanted to do this line of make-up for fair skin, not just a normal make-up line, but specifically for people with the issue of not being able to find make-up for their skin colour - to enhance their colour, rather than cover it up because there’s nothing out there.” From porcelain white to black skin, Bobbi has this easy check for choosing the right shade: “The best way to get a flawless finish is to make sure you find your perfect shade. Do this by swatching a few shades on the side of your face and check the colours in natural daylight. The shade that disappears is the right one.” If you want to do the job properly, some simple preparation on your face before applying foundation will give your face make-up a smoother finish and extra staying power. The process will be more time consuming, but so worth it. “Prepping your face before applying foundation
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is the best way to ensure a flawless finish,” says Bobbi. “Cleanse your face daily with a creamy cleanser that rinses off with water, like an exfoliating face wash. This will gently slough off dead surface skin cells to smooth and even your skin texture. “Follow with a rich moisturiser that absorbs completely into your skin to prime it for perfect make-up application.” Foundation blunders are all too common. Most women have been found guilty of the dreaded two-tone chin syndrome at least once in their life. Put mistakes in the past with Bobbi’s top tips for applying foundation like a professional. 1. Apply foundation directly onto the face - dot it all over - and use fingers or a disposable makeup sponge to blend it in. 2. Apply to the entire face, or just in spots that need a little coverage or evening out. 3. Do not apply foundation to your neck. The shade of your face and your neck should be the same if you’ve chosen the correct foundation shade. 4. If you have oily skin use an oil-control lotion in your T- zone before applying, and using a puff, apply an oil-free powder on top of your foundation. 5. For those with combination skin, use an oilcontrol lotion on the parts that are oily, and moisturiser on drier areas, before applying foundation. So how do you know if you’ve achieved that elusive flawless finish? “The right foundation should make you look like you’re not wearing any - just like you naturally have even, perfect skin,” Bobbi advises. “Over the years as a working make-up artist, I’ve learned that yellow-toned foundation, not pinkish, looks the most natural on all skin tones.” If you’re thinking of investing in a new foundation, go for one which suits your skin tone and lifestyle. “Choose the formula that best fits your skin’s needs and your personal preferences,” Bobbi recommends. “You will probably need one shade for the winter and a slightly darker one for the spring and summer. Liquid foundations tend to be lightweight with sheer coverage and cream formulas are a little heavier with more coverage.”
To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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MY LOCAL TOWN ELLESMERE
Maelor Farm & Garden formerly Springfield Supplies
Unit 38, Penley Industrial Estate, Penley, Wrexham LL13 0LQ Tel: 01948 830839 Fax: 01948 830838
Welcome to our new shop, we stock a wide range of Farm Supplies, DIY, Garden Machinery, Morris Lubricants & much more. Pet Food Hamster / Rabbit Guinea Pig Budgie / Cockatiel & Aviary Feed Dog / Cat Dr John / Omega
WILD BIRD FEED Pressure Washers from £49.99 inc Vat Ideal for paths, drives & patios
Animal Feed Chicken Food & Shavings Horse Feed Red Mills / Baileys / Dengie
Multi Purpose Compost 75lt 4 for £10
Hedge Trimmers
Countax Ride on Tractor Chipper Shredder
Clothing
Grow Bags Large 2 for £3.00
Footwear Body warmers Overalls
Chimenea Plants Shrubs Pots/Planted
Batteries for tractors, cars & motorbikes
Decorative Bark Chip 100 lte
and much much more!!!
OPENING TIMES Mon - Fri: 8.30 Sat: 8.30 - - 5.30 12.30
Fence Panels • Wicket Fencing • Gates • Gravel Boards • Timber • Decking Please mention MY LOCAL TOWN when responding to adverts
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Shady customers Hanging baskets are a sure-fire way of adding a mass of colour and texture to the outside of your home - but what if your patio is north-facing? How are you going to make a dull shady area sizzle with colour? Many gardeners avoid placing hanging baskets in shade, but there are some plants that will do well without direct sun and still provide a splash of colour where it is needed. The most obvious bedding plants which can withstand shade are Busy Lizzies, which you can plant successfully in wire hanging baskets, planted not just on the surface of the basket but also in slits in the liner around the sides. Trailing varieties of Busy Lizzies including ‘Spellbound’ are now available, to provide your shady spot with a ball of colour all summer. Alternatively, if you want an ideal specimen in the centre of your basket go for one of the New Guinea Busy Lizzies, which are larger and more leafy but produce fantastic blooms in a wealth of colours. But while most bedding requires some direct sunlight, you can create wonderful hanging baskets from plants which provide contrasting foliage and texture. Mix leafy plants including begonias and hostas with spiky grasses and flowing ferns for an eyecatching contrast.
well as a trailing filler, its white flowers contrasting well with the daisy-like lilac flowers of brachyscome. Whatever you choose, remember that hanging baskets can dry out easily in shade, just as they do in sun. Make sure when planting that you add waterretaining granules and slow-release fertiliser to the compost and choose a liner that’s going to retain the moisture well, such as an old woolly jumper. While moss looks natural, it doesn’t do much for retaining water. There have been times when I’ve just used polythene, with holes cut around the sides for drainage but not at the bottom. It doesn’t look pretty at first, but once the plants have taken hold, you can’t see it anyway. You will still find that in the height of summer you may have to water the basket on a daily basis, whether in sun or shade. For the moment, plant up the baskets by balancing the basket on top of a bucket, so you can move the basket around and plant up the sides without it toppling and damaging the plants. The planted baskets will need to be brought inside during cold snaps and at night until all danger of frost has passed.
There are some fuchsias which will do well in the shade, including F. ‘Eva Boerg’, whose trailing stems of deep rose-coloured flowers cascade beautifully over a large pot, or the popular ‘Swingtime’, which is ideal for a hanging basket, producing large red and white flowers. Some heuchera are also perfect for adding dramatic leaf contrast to a basket. H. ‘Color Dream’, for instance, has scalloped leaves patterned with purple and in the summer the leaves develop a red edge. It likes some cool shade and its silvery sheen adds lustre to a dull scene. One of my hanging baskets is in shade at the front of my house and I find that bacopa works
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To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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domestic appliance repairs
MY LOCAL TOWN ELLESMERE
Kynastons of Wem
Washing machines, dryers, cookers etc... Please telephone
01939 233070 07970 777618 your local repair specialist with over 30 years experience
33 High Street Wem 01939 237845
Tailored solutions for the digital age... • TV sales, rental & repair service
Church Street, Prees 01948 840272 5 High Street, Whitchurch 01948 662228
• Expert installation services (including plasma & LCD) • Aerial & satellite installations • Authorised Sky Digital dealer • Freeview sales & installations Fully accredited electrical contracting service Comprehensive installation & testing packages
Domestic appliance sales & delivery All leading brands at competitve prices
w w w. p r i n c e s t v. c o . u k s a l e s @ p r i n c e s t v. c o . u k Please mention MY LOCAL TOWN when responding to adverts
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To advertise in MY LOCAL TOWN call Jill on 01948 663135
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MY LOCAL TOWN ELLESMERE
GREAT OFFERS On Selected circles & octagons (while stocks last)
An Inspiration Interior Flooring
Paving and Flooring Showroom NOW OPEN for beautiful homes & Gardens ■
Buy direct from the manufacturer ■ Friendly service to trade & public ■ Authentic reproduction flagstones ■ Natural stone: sandstone, limestone, slate, granite, marble & tavertine ■ Specialists in paving & flooring for traditional character homes ■ 100+ products displayed in graden settings
Westminster Stone Shaws Estate, Sodylt Near Ellesmere Shropshire SY12 9EL Tel: 01978 710000 Just off the B5069 midway between St Martins & Overton on Dee
The biggest selection in Shropshire, N.Wales & Cheshire!
w w w. we s t m i n s t e r s t o n e . c o m Please mention MY LOCAL TOWN when responding to adverts
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