Community Index Chorlton & Whalley Range March 2012 by Community Index

Chorlton & Whalley Range

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community

March 2012

view online at www.communityindex.co.uk Established since April 2008

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CONTENTS 4. Chorlton Meadows 6. Why Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t You... 8. Get Knitting 9. Clog Dancing in Chorlton 10. GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON 13. Book Reviews 16. How Green is Chorlton? 18. Litter Bugs Me 20. A Day with Amir 26. March in your Garden PUBLISHER

Community Index

EDITOR/ADVERTISING Lesley Swann

SUB-EDITOR/WEBSITE Sam Paechter

CONTRIBUTIONS

Andrew Simpson, Leon Horton, Chorlton Big Green Festival, Claire Hunt, Chorlton Bookshop, Carol Thompson, Nigel Rose, Peter Topping, Katherine Watson

COVER PHOTOGRAPH

Peter Topping www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk

DEADLINE FOR THE APRIL EDITION 12th March 2012

Chorlton Meadows

I value the meadows which is that stretch of land which runs back from the Mersey to the village. We used to walk our dog there and had picnics with the children when they were younger. I can still remember sitting on the mound near the Ivygreen entrance, revisiting the secret path beside the Brook and exploring the remnants of the old sewage works, not to mention looking at the cows in the field. It is a little reminder of that rural past which was Chorlton up to the last quarter of the 19th century. Step back another few decades to say 1841 and you would have been in a farming community. Back then how we farmed was a mixed picture. There were 490 acres given over to arable another 680 to pasture and 10 to woodland and contained in this mix were both orchards and market gardens.1 There were a few large farms but most of the land was cultivated by market gardeners farming less than 10 acres. Out by the Mersey and back across the flood plain much of the land was meadow as befits an area prone to flooding and this is what we now calls the Meadows. Almost 50% of Barlow Farm was either meadow or pasture land while James Higginbotham who 1

lived on the green but farmed out towards the river could count three quarters of his land as meadow. The sight of a Higginbotham walking his cows back down Hawthorn Lane on to the Green would have been a common one and one that is only just fading from living memory. Meadow land was not only a common enough feature here in the township but important to the way we farmed.2 Meadowland is grassland that is kept damp by the use of ditches called carriers worked by sluice gates fed from the Mersey. The skill is to keep the land fed with water up to an inch in depth through from October to January, for about fifteen to twenty days at a time before allowing the water to run off into the drainage ditches. The land must then be left to dry out for 5-6 days so that the air can get to the grass. The early watering took advantage of the autumnal floods which brought with them a mix of nutrients and silt which enriched the land. All this requires constant vigilance and Higginbotham the farmer on the Green would expect to visit his fields once every three or four days to see that the water was evenly distributed, and that there was

. Tithe schedule 1845

. There were 680 acres of meadow and pasture compared to 490 arable acres and 10 of woodland. Tithe schedule 1847 2

3 . Stephens, Henry, The Book of Farming 1852 William Blackwood & Sons Edinburgh & London, Google Books page 677, Google version page 696

no accumulation of weeds. This was not a task that could be entrusted to an unskilled manager, as the weather and time of year dictated the level of water that needed to flow from the irrigation ditches. And as the weather got colder it would be important to watch for a hard frost which if it were severe enough could turn the meadow into “one sheet of ice which will draw the grass into heaps which is very injurious to meadows.”3 Not that this stopped Alfred Higginbotham annually flooding one of his fields in the early 20th century to provide a skating ring for the village. Extract from Chorlton cum Hardy A Community Transformed by Andrew Simpson Photos: The Meadows circa 1900 from the collection of Rita Bishop, & cows on the field by David Bishop 2006 Andrew Simpson’s book Chorltoncum-Hardy A Community Transformed will be published in April 2012. Order your copy from Chorlton Bookshop. chorltonhistory.blogspot.com

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Why Don’t You....

… just switch off your television set, and go do something less boring instead?’ As a child of the seventies, I couldn’t for the life of me understand why a kids’ TV show was telling me to turn off the telly. I still can’t. It was a golden age: Play For Today, The Two Ronnies, Tom Baker as Doctor Who - there was so much more to watch. True, this prosperity was followed by bankruptcy, as we passed into the eighties (Sylvester McCoy as Doctor Who?); but to me it felt like a betrayal of just about everything I’d come to know and trust… But now, in this more-means-less thanks-for-nothing-Mr-Murdoch digital age, I get the idea; and it’s in the spirit of that idea that I’ve decided to give it up. Not forever, you understand - despite the shortcomings, I still believe in the potential of television, but I’m happy to abstain for a week (Yes, I know it doesn’t sound much, but to a man like me, a week without television is like a week in politics: a long time). The goggle box: that ubiquitous tragic lantern, vomiting forth

from the corner of every living room. Well, not every living room, but try convincing the programme makers of that. It’s as if they simply cannot accept we can survive without a daily fix of soporific drivel. But guess what? I’ve got friends who don’t let the cathode-ray tube impact on their lives. Sure, some of them favour equally mindnumbing distractions - computer games, Facebook, crotchet, etc - but on the other side, and I don’t mean ITV, some - get this – some, still gather in small groups and practice the ancient art of socialising. But then many of us, and by us I mean me, tune in to switch off; maybe catch up on what’s going down in Emmerdale (hey, I’m from Yorkshire, you’ve gotta allow me that one); which I guess is my roundabout way of saying I watch my fair share of soporific drivel. Now on with the show. Best Geordie accent: ‘Day one. Leon is feelin’ positive and motivated …’ OK, drop the accent. I’m not in the Big Brother house, but much like those lambs to the slaughter, I’m going into this thinking it isn’t going to hurt too much. Surely I’m not beyond redemption? I’ll get to grips with that Kundera novel, listen to Radio 4, and the living room could do with a fresh coat of paint. Day two, and the living room is looking good, the flat has never been so clean and The Unbearable Lightness of Being is really shaping up. This isn’t so bad, I tell myself. But it’s the evening that gets to me. Post-watershed blues. There’s only so much reading or radio a man can take. Ah, well. A hot bath and early to bed.

If television is the new opiate of the people, then the third day is as close to withdrawal as it gets - the cold turkey of boredom. What to do? I find myself staring at the blank screen. My own reflection seems to beckon me: turn on, tune in, drop - No! Go out!. A walk. I like walking. Walking is good. And us Yorkshire folk, we don’t feel the cold like mere mortals. An hour or so later, and I stumble home through a perishing wind - mortally cold, and with the unbearable darkness of being a man who would sell his own grandmother for a peek at the schedules. It occurs to me, not for the first time, that no one would be any the wiser if I accidentally hit the on-switch whilst dusting. Days four and five prove a different kettle of satellite dish. A proverbial sun is shining, there’s a spring in my step, a tune to be whistled, and all those little jobs round the flat are getting done. I’ve even replaced the spent light bulb in the hallway. But there’s a downside. I’ve started talking to myself. Well, not so much talking, as arguing - and invariably losing the argument. Sometimes I just can‘t get on with myself. At this point, I’d like to take back everything I’ve ever said about Radio 4. It’s a godsend, a lifeline; a glass to the wall of the outside world, without which I think I would go quite mad. Play For Today is alive and well and living on the wireless (showing my age again), not to mention some of the finest fresh comedies and excellent documentaries. Day six: Saturday, payday - oh, the blessed relief. I escape the newly painted walls, studiously avoid any pubs where the

7 football might be showing and spend the day socialising with friends. After measuring the day in pints, I stagger home and find, to my horror, not one but two television sets looming blearily at me from the corner. Double telly vision! I’m giving serious consideration to taking up knitting, when all of a sudden… … I wake up next morning on the sofa. With a hangover. Which, in my world, means it’s Sunday, the seventh day - the day of rest and omnibus repeats. It’s always darkest before dawn, and the temptation here is almost overwhelming. I mean, it’s Sunday - Zulu is probably on. And who would know? I would, that’s who. And it’d be just like me to fall at the last hurdle. So, no, not this time. That damned clock can tick all it likes, can punctuate my self-inflicted pain sixty times a minute, but I’m not going to succumb. I spend the day dozing

fitfully under my duvet, a wet flannel clamped to my brow, only emerging to answer nature’s call.

will tell you: ‘I only put the telly on for a bit of company’ (just how old am I?).

The longest day turns slowly into night. The clock heaves past the eleventh hour and on towards midnight. I count the minutes, the seconds… Anticipating an end to my suffering, I dig out the remote, watch the clock labour into Monday, hit the on-switch, wait for the little red light, and trawl gleefully through forty-odd channels. And guess what? There’s nothing on.

Postscript. I haven’t a clue if that week back in December will have any lasting effect. I’m still a viewer, but one with a more discerning hold over the remote control, and I’ve no idea what’s happening in the Dales (Psst! Don’t tell anyone, but I do really). If my experience is anything to go by however; who knows, in the future I just might find I no longer need to pay the licence fee.

‘The Palace of Varieties,’ the late, great Dennis Potter once called it, ‘a window on the world.’ But these days that window can seem like so much double glazing. We don’t need television, it needs us; like a crutch, it’s useless without the injured party. And if we didn’t pay for it, they wouldn’t make it. Then again, I live on my own, and as many a solitary character

Now there’s a thought.

Leon Horton Leon has tried life without meat (Dec 2011 edition) and now TV. What next? Suggest a challenge by emailing leon@ communityindex.co.uk

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GET KNITTING for Chorlton’s Big Green Festival!

The theme for the festival this year is the World in Chorlton. With your help, we’d like to create a big green display representing both our local and global connections.

What we’d like you to make:

If you have relatives and friends in other parts of the country or the rest of the world A rectangle (either knitted or if you’d - it would be great to get them involved prefer, cut out a piece of fabric) too. Maybe they could make their flag? 100mm x 150mm (A6 ish) Ask them to send their creations to us. 150mm x 210mm (A5 ish) Please put them in an envelope along with 210mm x 300mm (A4 ish) your contact details and email address. (these are approximate sizes - it Then, take them to one of the local drop doesn’t have to be exact!) off points listed below. Decorate it (using embroidery/ We’ll start putting them all together! stitching/felt/appliqué) with your green If you have any spare wool you’d like to message, image, maybe your name donate, we’d love that too so we can make or your street name. more on the day of the festival. If you are part of a community group or a Chorlton’s Big Green Festival local independent business - why not decorate your rectangle with your logo and Saturday 31st March 2012 St Clements Church, Chorlton a big green Chorlton message? www.greenchorlton.co.uk Twitter @biggreenfest

World in Chorlton

KNITS

Take your creation to:

Monkey Puzzle Toys (opposite Unicorn), Battery Park, Chorlton Wholefoods on Beech Road, Busy Bee Toy Shop, Chorlton Crafts & Gifts in Chorlton Precinct Or post to C/O Tagpassiton, 792 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, M20 6UG Or bring them along to the festival on Saturday 31st March

7 9

Clog Dancing in Chorlton By Claire Hunt

Just over a year ago, clog dancing hit our screens when BBC Radio 3 presenter, Charles Hazlewood, took a 140-strong flash mob of cloggers out onto the streets of Newcastle, resulting in great delight amongst the unsuspecting shoppers and a hugely popular TV programme. Now, residents of Manchester are being given the opportunity to take part in the revival of this traditional Lancashire dance form, in the back room of the Beech Inn in Chorlton. Fortnightly classes are starting up on Saturday mornings, commencing on 25th February. The classes have grown out of the ‘songs and tunes’ sessions at the Beech, an informal folk club which, since starting out some 4 years ago, has grown from strength to strength. The sessions provide a platform for mostly (but not exclusively) traditional English folk music in the locality and a ceilidh band of 30! The tutor for the clog dancing classes, Liz Calderbank, first danced at the Beech 2 years

ago to mark the 1st and 2nd anniversaries of this lively and well attended group. Liz is an experienced clog dancer. Starting out on her career at just 6 years of age, she has performed in front of thousands as part of the ‘St. Mary’s Oswaldtwistle Clog Dancers’, including on the arena stage at Sidmouth International Folk Festival. She comes from a family steeped in the folk traditions of old Lancashire. Her father Sid is a specialist in the dialect and song of the county, and she often performs as an accompaniment to his talks. Clog dancing has a long history in the north of England. It is thought that its roots go back to the 15th century, when wooden footwear may have been introduced (leather ‘uppers’ soon holding sway). However, it seems largely to have taken off in its present form during the 19th century, at the height of the industrial revolution, when it developed in the Lancashire cotton mills (and photo © Robert Phillips

other industrial areas), where wooden-soled clogs were the standard footwear and the workers tapped their feet to the rhythm of the machines. By the end of the 19th century it had become a popular music hall act with Charlie Chaplin one of its most famous practitioners. It is a percussive dance form (somewhat similar to ‘tap’) using mainly the feet and not the upper body. The Lancashire tradition generally uses the flat of the foot and the toe movement is especially predominant. Beginners’ Solo Lancashire Clog Dancing Classes commence at the Beech, Chorlton on Saturday 25th February 2012 Time: 10am-12 noon Frequency: fortnightly Price: £5 per session Places are limited to 15 (initially) and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Clogs are not needed! Participants just need to wear hard-soled flat shoes (not trainers). Contact: Les Jones (organiser of the ‘songs and tunes’ sessions at the Beech) 0161 881 9503 / 07824364602 jonesthefolk@yahoo.co.uk ‘Manchester Clogging’ on Facebook www.facebook.com/ groups/237066313035119 ‘Songs and Tunes at the Beech’ on Facebook www.facebook.com/ groups/285466650899

GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON I came to Manchester in 1970 at the tender age of 21 after a 4 year Art and Design Course, to pursue a career in Advertising. There were not many jobs in that field in my home town and I was ready to see the world! I was “Born and Bred” as they say in Preston, which as any Prestonian will tell you is the friendliest place in the North West of England. I had looked at other places to live in the Manchester area but soon saw that Chorlton fit the bill. It was home from home, the locals talked to each other and when it came to entertainment every one of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs all joined in. Just like Preston it had local shops that carried local products sold by local people. As for the entertainment, many a Friday night was spent upstairs in the Lloyds Hotel singing and drinking, with Elsie on the piano and Sid on the drums and a whole set of people singing the Joe Brown version of I’ll See you in my Dreams. Although Chorlton has changed somewhat in the last 42 years the ethos and the manner of the Chorltonians seems to have remained the same. We still seem to hold the core values whether it is campaigning for rights to use our green areas or fighting to keep the local shops open. I remember the important stuff when I was 21 was making sure the pubs all kept Cask Beer and the local Greengrocer kept trading, in that order. It’s at that time I met local historian Andrew Simpson, not in the Greengrocers of course. Then came CB Radio. It was the late 70s when I was introduced to what at the time was the most innovative communications methods ever devised. With a

range of 2 miles it meant that you were in direct contact with all your friends and it was absolutely free. I joined and later became President of the Chorlton Breakers and discovered just how many like minded people of my age there were in Chorlton. Together with my best friend and wife Linda we have brought up 3 fine Children. We made friends with other parents and watched our Children grow into young adults each one with there own Chorlton Values. The Children have now left home (The youngest is away at Uni for 3 years) and there is a lot more space for me to spread out, which brings me to what I am doing now. Due to accidentally getting Colon Cancer in 2005 at the age of 56 I was forced to re-evaluate. Up until then I had led a very active life and was heavily involved in coaching Judo both to children and at one time on a national level to the British Paralympics visually impaired squad. All that changed. I tried to get back into a working environment but I had been left with the aftermath of a Cancer

Peter Topping removal operation so I decided I would not be beaten and would retire! When you retire it gives you a licence to try other things and it doesn’t matter if they don’t work out. That’s my philosophy anyway. I have always enjoyed producing art and having been influenced by the boldness of shapes and vivid colours painted by the Manchester artist Liam Spencer, I decided to start Painting from Pictures. I worked on various themes, portraits, scenes, steam engines, and then came the Beech Road Festival which reminded me of what Chorlton was all about…and I needed to paint it. I got to work on the pubs bars and streets bubbling with Chorlton revellers. Then came the iconic buildings, the library and the Lych Gate. Most of them have their paintings somewhere on show on the premises. When I met up again with my old pal Andrew Simpson and we soon decided that we would collaborate on all things Chorlton. I would supply the paintings and he would tell the stories. It was then that I had

11 the idea to capture a moment in time in the history of Chorlton. Everyday an old shop would close and a new one would open. I was determined in the space of 2 years that I would paint Chorlton as it is now. I have progressed from individual buildings to whole rows of shops and am currently working towards a series of paintings depicting Chorlton now, which I have been invited to show at St Clements in the Big Green Festival together with a selection of GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON cups which will be for sale. Another of my collaborators is a local photographer Rachael Magowan who is helping me with a project to paint the social life inside our local pubs and bars, adding to the story of Chorlton at this moment in time As well as having the individual paintings on display in situ local

retailers have been kind enough to accommodate me and I have mini exhibitions at Foster’s Cycles, Truth Hairdressers and The Battery Park Juice Bar and of course my “Hallway Gallery”. My involvement with computers as a means of communication came in handy when my eldest son was touring the world and it became necessary to join Facebook to keep up with him. I soon found that Facebook could be a valuable tool to share the artwork I was creating. I found that although there are Facebook sites based in Chorlton none of them seemed to celebrate how people felt about it and so I started the group GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON. Besides the usual exchange of information and ideas this soon attracted local people with local products to sell. I discovered Handymen, Pet Walkers, and Gardeners etc all populating the site. It was then that I thought about using Facebook pages to promote the local businesses. What if there was an iNeed site? Somewhere that you could

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go to find a local Plumber for example, not just any Plumber but one that had been recently recommended by other local people. This led to an idea for a web based “Hub” site with buttons that led to individual Facebook Group pages… iNeed a Café, iNeed a Bar, iNeed a Pet Shop, iNeed a Joiner you get the idea. Once each page has been set up and the front end has a web button linking to it then just like any other Facebook Group it runs itself, it’s free and it‘s for Chorlton people. Yet again like the early social events and the CB Radio days, through Paintings from Pictures and the Facebook links. I have met up with more people who are GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON. www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk peter@paintingsfrompictures. co.uk Facebook: Paintings from Pictures Telephone 07521 557888 iNeed logo and GLAD TO BE IN CHORLTON © copyright Peter Topping 2011

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My Challenge Eddie (Chorlton) & JP (Withington) of JP & Brimelow are running the Wilmslow half marathon on 25th March 2012 in aid of St Ann's Hospice. We've set a target of £3,000 that we feel is a fair figure with three months to raise the money for a local independent charity in Greater Manchester. For every completed sale till 31st March, JP & Brimelow are donating £25 to the fund. If you’d like to sponsor Eddie and JP, please go to their just giving page at:

www.justgiving.com/eddieandjp If you’re thinking of moving this spring, call Eddie and the team on 0161 882 2233.

My Charity St Ann's Hospice St Ann’s Hospice provides care and support to people with life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers. "I will never forget the total focus on my Mum and her family - nothing was too much trouble". All the services provided are free of charge and St Ann’s need to raise £16,000 each day to provide these. www.sah.org.uk www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk/charity

430 Barlow Moor Rd Chorlton M21 8AD @jpandbrimelow

SALES: 0161 882 2233 chorlton@jpbrimelow.co.uk

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Offices also in Didsbury 0161 448 0622 & Withington 0161 445 9700

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Book Reviews from Chorlton Bookshop The Kindest Thing

The Hare with the Amber Eyes

Cath Stainclffe

Edmund DeWaal

Manchester based writer Cath Stainclffe has produced a novel which is not only well written but leaves the reader asking “What would I do?” Perhaps better known for her crime fiction, this book deals with the huge moral issues surrounding assisted suicide or so called “mercy killings”. Neil and Deborah fell passionately in love at University and are still together 30 years later when Neil receives devastating news about his health. Diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease, Neil begins to rely more and more on Deborah, eventually asking her to help him die. What follows is the story of the aftermath of such a devastating and ultimately illegal act. This would be a really good book group suggestion with so many topics raised. The added bonus to this story is that it’s set in and around Manchester with many mentions of familiar places. I’m really looking forward to reading Cath Staincliffe’s latest book “Witness”.

This prize winning book is a fascinating read. It focuses on the Ephrussi family throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. At the heart of the story are a set of 264 Netsuke figures. These Japanese figures have an amazing journey which reflects the fortunes of this well connected Jewish banking family. At the height of their social powers the family have connections with the social elite from Paris to Vienna. Although many records were destroyed in the Second World War, the author is able to visit many locations and find direct links to his family history. At one point the author admits he is torn as to which direction to take his book in,he seems to be making startling discoveries at every turn. What he has produced is a lovingly edited family history with added snippets of art history thrown in for good measure.

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Socks Nick Sharratt Elizabeth Lindsay If anything can be relied upon to grab the attention of little readers, it’s the combination of a vivid visuals, a sense of ridiculous and a silly rhyme. Plus the mention of underwear. Made to that very recipe, Pants! by Nick Sharratt and Giles Andreae, has become a modern classic. Now Sharratt’s teamed up with co-writer Lindsay to bring us this glimpse into Sockland.With a rallying cry of ‘Sockywockydoodah!’ we meet a whole host of vivid sock animals, from sockerels to sockodiles. And just guess what Goldisocks has instead of hair? Containing, as you can see, more sock puns than you can shake a stick – or indeed a sock – at, with a stream of bold illustrations in Sharratt’s signature style, this is a refreshingly simple, hyper-colourful blast. Suggested reading age 0-4 years old.

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Love your Chorlton

Independents Help us raise funds, make a difference and enjoy great savings with your Chorlton Shop Local and Independent TAG! Scheme. Discover a huge number of independent gems in Chorlton and beyond. See all the members and their offers at:

Chorlton Wholefoods 5% off for spends over £10

www.tagpassiton.com Cards can be bought online at most TAG! outlets for a token £5.

On the Corner Free Tea/Coffee for spends over £6

Buy a TAG! card through the Big Green Festival website www.greenchorlton. org.uk and the whole £5 will be donated to the Festival.

Celebrations 10% off

Better still come along to the festival on Saturday 31st March We're also raising funds with a raffle and tickets are £1. To see a list of all the fabulous prizes to be won, take a peak at the raffle page too.

www.greenchorlton.org.uk

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to advertise call Lesley: 0787 589 5604 lesley@communityindex.co.uk

How Green is Chorlton? Nigel Rose, chairperson of Green Chorlton and Co-ordinator of Chorlton Refurb writes about a newly funded project in Chorlton to help residents make their houses warmer and less wasteful. Every year thousands of people attend Chorlton Big Green Festival (it’s on Saturday March 31st this year). There’s lots of interest in “green issues” :renewable energy, local and organic food, cycling, green finance, recycling, re-use, repair. It seems like there’s a green angle to practically everything but just how green is Chorlton really? The answer is not very, not yet. There are two basic factors that undermine the attempts by local Chorlton people to become greener. The first is wealth; Chorlton is richer, on average, than most other areas of Manchester. There is a fairly direct correlation between wealth, and resource and energy use. Unless richer people simply choose to stick their money under their mattress and leave it to moulder, anything that they spend it on will use some resources and energy, even sticking it in a bank. The second factor is the size, form and age of housing in Chorlton. Generally the older

the house and the bigger it is the more energy it takes to heat. As the graph below shows Chorlton has far older housing than the national average. 45% of Chorlton houses were built before 1919 and over 75% before 1944. They were built at a time when much of the heating was provided by coal fires and a good draught was needed. Coal was plentiful and cheap, those living in the larger houses had servants to lay and tend the fires, and no-one was worried about global warming.

going way beyond cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and draught-stripping (available free/very cheap from www. getmetoasty.com), but how will people know what to do for their particular house, how much it will cost and what difference it will make?

The age of the houses means that about 60% are solid-walled. This means that there is no gap or only a small one between the inner and outer external walls. This is the worst kind of wall to have as it can’t be filled with insulation, leaks heat like crazy and of course there’s lots more wall in older properties because ceiling heights are higher. Most people know about the problems of single-glazed windows but overall walls generally leak a lot more heat than windows.

The first job is to create a map of properties in Chorlton identifying typical houses using archive maps and a street survey. Then 20 free comprehensive assessments of houses that are typical of Chorlton are going to be carried out. Each household will receive a detailed report of what can be done to make their house more energy efficient and warmer, and the costs and benefits. These reports will be published on the Chorlton Refurb website (Chorltonrefurb.net) to act as an inspiration for other households to take action.

Finally the most energy efficient form of house is a mid-terrace as it has fewer external walls. As you’ve probably guessed Chorlton has much greater numbers of detached and semis than most urban areas, more than 50%. Something has to be done if Chorlton truly wants to be green, and if people want to keep warm without paying a fortune in bills. A large number of houses in Chorlton need a thorough makeover,

Green Chorlton in alliance with Chorlton Refurb has received a grant from Dept of Energy and Climate Change to help people in Chorlton discover what needs to be done.

The assessments will include an air-tightness test to find out the rate at which warm air is being lost and being replaced by cold air. They’ll also be a thermal imaging survey which identifies the holes and gaps where the air is leaking out. If you would like to apply for a free assessment then please contact info@ chorltonrefurb.net. There will be a public meeting on Thursday March 22nd at St Clements Church on Edge Lane, (7pm, refreshments/stalls, 7.30 presentations/discussion). The meeting will: present the results of the mapping and assessments; have householders

17 talking about what they’ve done and the difference it’s made; give warmth and energy efficiency advice; and include the latest news about the Governments Green Deal to fund energy efficiency improvements. Additionally Chorlton Refurb is going to be offering reduced price thermal imaging surveys to people who come to the public meeting.

Chorltonrefurb.net for more news about the project and about what you can do in your homes to make them warmer and waste less energy.

GREEN ROOFING SPECIALIST sedum, wildflower and grass •PITCHED ROOFING - slate, clay & concrete tiles •E.P.D.M. flat roofing • Metal and U.P.V.C. guttering • Repairs & maintenence • Free quotes Call Jake Tidy 07775 038 905 • 0161 861 9796 208 Brantingham Rd•Chorlton•Manchester• M21 0TX www.eskroofing.com info@eskroofing.com

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Litter Bugs Me by Leon Horton

I don’t have much time for intolerant people - in fact, I hate them - but if there’s one thing guaranteed to make me join their embittered ranks it’s litter. The other week, in broad daylight, I saw a schoolgirl (and no, I’m not pinning the problem on teenagers) toss aside a takeaway carton less than a metre from a bin. And how did I deal with this blatant disregard for the environment? Did I berate her in front of her friends? No. I was outnumbered, five to one, and teenagers can be vicious when cornered. Did I set her an example by picking up the litter myself? To my shame, I did not. Rather, I made the all too common excuse - so often the assumption of the ‘litterati’ themselves - that it was someone else’s problem. And if that angers you, I’m glad. If it makes you want to get out there and do something about it, all the better. Because whilst our streets receive a regular if less than comprehensive cleaning service, Chorlton Meadows - a piece of the countryside on our doorsteps - isn’t nearly so fortunate. Now I’m sure you’re familiar with the old adage

concerning your own doorstep; but take a walk on the nature reserve and you’ll be disgusted by the amount of human detritus accumulating there: disposable nappies, plastic bags, crisp packets, cigarette cartons, items too insalubrious to mention in this magazine… all pale into insignificance next to the biggest culprit of all - alcohol. In the space of half-a-mile I counted fifty two empty bottles and cans. I don’t want to stop people enjoying themselves (that’s the government’s job), and if folk choose to drink alcohol in the great outdoors that’s their own affair - but what the irresponsible few leave behind today, we all pay for tomorrow. According to a recent Keep Britain Tidy survey, littering, including fly tipping, costs the taxpayer almost one billion a year; and who wants that? So incensed was I about this problem, I contacted Dave Bishop at Friends of Chorlton Meadows to find out what, if anything, was being done to counteract it. He told me: ‘Since Trafford [Council] drastically reduced funding to the Mersey Valley Joint Committee, circa 2006,

their wardens no longer do any work there. Manchester have also whittled away their funding, and the Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service (MVCWS) is a shadow of its former self. The maintenance team do go litter picking, but they also have to contract out their services to other authorities in order to pay their way. If you are as concerned about this as we are, please complain long and hard to the Council.’ And so we should, all of us. It only takes a quick email or letter to your local councillor/MP, and if we all shout loud enough - who knows? They might even listen. But that’s not all we can do. Whilst the Friends of Chorlton Meadows wasn’t formed to deal with littering, they care enough to organise litter picking days. The next one will be held on Sunday 25th March, 10.30am. Meet at Ivy Green car park on Bookburn Road (opposite the Bowling Green Pub). Please do come along. I’ll be there. If nothing else, you can admonish me for failing to reprimand that schoolgirl.

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read the latest issue online at www.communityindex.co.uk

A Day with Amir at Village Dry Cleaners A good dry cleaners makes it look easy to us customers but a good dry cleaners is not always easy to find. I assumed they have a magic machine which can restore my dress (which has had at least one good night out with perhaps a glass or two of merlot) to its former glory. I asked Amir, who owns Village Dry Cleaners in Chorlton, to explain the magic to me.

The story so far It started in autumn 1982 when Amir’s Parents decided to open a dry cleaners in Chorlton. He was 12 years old and by age 15 he was helping out with the business. “I used to stand by my dad and watch him as he explained about materials, the chemicals and how he identified stains and what to look for”. In the years since leaving school and college Amir worked as the manager and when his parents decided to retire in 2008 he took over the Village dry cleaners. “I decided to focus on and highlight what we are really good at – which is wedding gowns, vintage wear and silk care”. He has also invested in new technology which is at the forefront of the dry cleaning industry. This is not

only good at cleaning but is also environmentally friendly.

The secret behind the magic So I asked him what happens to my dress when I enter his shop. He explained his process: Firstly my dress is checked and logged into their computer with my unique ID; the garment is then checked for stains with Amir who then treats the stains. The process he uses for this is dependent on many different factors: firstly, he identifies the type of stain and, taking into account the type of material, decides which if any chemicals can be used. Chemicals alone will not remove stains, they need different elements to create the right chemical reaction required to lift and remove the stains - they are sonic, air, water and steam which are introduced to break down the stain. After this process it is put inside a dry cleaning machine. Now I saw this machine and it is very BIG, about 2 metres high and 3 meters long. The process takes about 75mins and involves the garments going on a cleaning dip cycle in solvent and then the drying process. Amir tells me his machine has a carbon recovery unit - this is the

environmentally friendly part of his machine. “This process filters off the majority of the solvent particles left in the drum of the machine after the dry cycle, before releasing the clean and dry clothes”. They have many special finishing tables with various pads and with the aid of steam, vacuum and air they create the magic of the perfect finish to make my dress look like new. “All items are constantly being checked and, if necessary, returned to be either re-cleaned or re-pressed so that every garment is perfect”.

What does the future hold for Village Dry Cleaners? Amir is always looking to the future and aims to make Village Dry Cleaners the best in the North West. His latest purchase is a new machine that kills bacteria and eliminates all odours. “This machine can remove smoke, including fire and flood damaged garments without using chemicals or water”. He will soon be investing in another dry cleaning machine for ‘F’ cleaning items. He is also starting a pick-up and delivery service in places of work with 2 visits per week. You don’t have to take my word for it, just look at the reviews to see how good Village Dry Cleaners are: www.qype.co.uk www.bview.co.uk www.villagedrycleaners.com If you get a chance you should check out his web site for some very handy hints on removing stains. He is also very happy to give advice and help to his customers in whatever way he can.

13 19 9

Village Dry cleaners

Specialist Dry Cleaners Est:Over 25 years Wedding Dress Specialist

Established in 1982, a family run business where you can trust us when handling your garments... • Curtain Cleaning • Duvet Cleaning: Single £10 Double £15 • Ironing Services • Repairs & Alterations • Stain Removal • Same Day Service • Evening Dress & Wedding Dress Specialist

“What can I say about Village Dry Cleaners? Just excellent! Amir, who owns the business, goes above and beyond what is expected and I can whole heartedly recommend his services. I run a vintage inspired bridal boutique in the heart of West Didsbury. As we stock highend dresses with sometimes challenging silks and fabrics to clean, we’re always amazed at how Amir manages to spruce up our dresses. I recommend his services to all our brides. He’s truly excellent at what he does and is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to fabric – the best dry cleaners in the north, without a doubt!” Nikki Graeme Owner, The White Closet, Didsbury

LATE NIGHT OPENING

Pick-up & Delivery Service

Call: 0161 860 4451 or visit: www.villagedrycleaners.com

Special Offer

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OPEN

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38 Manchester Rd,call Chorlton, M21 Tel: 0161 860 4451 to advertise Lesley: 0787 589 5604 9PH lesley@communityindex.co.uk

Food & Drink Index

16 14

Cafe life 1 Battery Park 615a Wilbraham Road M21 9AN, 860 0754 2 Beech Road Cafe 52, Beech Road M21 9EG, 283 7751 3 The Chorlton Eatery 565 Barlow Moor Road, M21 8AE, 860 0200 4 Crema Cafe 111 Manchester Road, M21 9PG, 07931 864084 5 Jam Street Cafe 209 Upper Chorlton Road M16 0BH, 881 9944 6 On The Corner 93 Beech Road M21 9EQ, 881 4841 7 Sweet Tooth Cupcakery 9a Oswald Road M21 9LP, 07855 765355 8 Tea Hive

53 Manchester Road M21 9PW

Specialist 9 Barbakan Delicatessen 67-71 Manchester Rd M21 9PW, 881 7053 10 Bitter Sweet 103 Manchester Road 10a Chorlton Wholefoods 64 Beech Road, M21 9EG 11 Coffee N Chocolates 514 Wilbraham Road M21 9AW 12 Craftelicious 127 Oswald Road M21 9GE, 860 4814 13 Epicerie Ludo 46 Beech Road M21 9EG, 300 2582 14 Frost W H Butchers 12-14 The Square M21 9AQ, 881 8172 15 Hickson and Black’s 559A Barlow Moor Road M21 8AN, 881 2001

16 North Star Delicatessen 418 Wilbraham Rd M21 0SD, 862 0133

31 Chorlton Irish Club 17 High Lane M21 9DJ, 881 2898

47 Nectar Bistro 404 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AD, 861 9300

17 Oasis Ice-Cream Parlour 109 Manchester Road M21 9GA

32 Coriander 279 Barlow Moor Road M21 7GH, 881 7750

48 The Nip and Tipple 197 Upper Chorlton Road M16 0BH, 860 7330

33 Croma 498-500 Wilbraham Road M21 9AP, 881 1117

49 Nook 535 Wilbraham Road M21 0UE, 882 0700

34 Dulcimer 567 Wilbraham Rd M21 0AE, 860 0044

50 Oddest 414-416 Wilbraham Road M21 0SD, 860 7515

35 Electrik 559, Wilbraham Rd M21 0AE, 8619558

51 Panicos 418 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AD, 861 0613

20 Asian Fusion 489-491 Barlow Moor Road, M21 8AG, 881 7200

36 Escape 370 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AZ, 8629911

52 Parlour 66 Beech Road M4 1LE, 881 4871

21 Azad Manzil 493-495 Barlow Moor Road, M21 8AG, 881 1021

37 Gallery 537-539 Wilbraham Road M21 9LD, 860 6660

53 Pi 99 Manchester Road M21 9GA, 882 0000

22 The Bar 533 Wilbraham Road M21 0UE, 861 7576

38 The Hillary Step 199 Upper Chorlton Road M16 0BH, 881 1978

54 Proof 30A Manchester Road M21 9PH, 862 9333

23 Bar 480 480 Wilbraham Road M21 9AS, 861 9558

39 Horse & Jockey 9 Chorlton Green M21 9HS

55 Saray 609 Wilbraham Rd M21 9AN, 881 8292

24 Bar San Juan 56 Beech Road M21 9EG

40 Hot Spot 372 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AZ, 881 6881

56 Sedge Lynn 21a Manchester Road M21 9PN, 860 0141

25 Beech 79 Beech Rd M21 9EQ, 881 4912

41 Juan Sanchez 366 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AZ, 862 0267

57 The Spread Eagle 526-528 Wilbraham Road M21 9LD, 861 0385

26 Beer House 57 Manchester Rd M21 9PW, 861 8378

42 Lead Station 99 Beech Road M21 9EQ, 881 5559

58 Thai Spice 66a Beech Road M21 9EG, 881 0400

27 Beggar’s Bush 48 Beech Road M21 9EQ, 861 7393

43 Lloyds Hotel 617 Wilbraham Road M21 9AN, 286 0693

59 Trevor Arms 133/5 Beech Road M21 9EQ

28 Bowling Green 1 Brookburn Road M21 9ES, 860 2800

44 Leo’s 356 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AZ, 861 9092

60 Turkish Delight Ltd 573 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AE, 881 0503

29 Charango 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, M21 0BQ 881 8596

45 Mezzaluna 1st Floor, 613 Wilbraham Rd M21 9AN, 861 8880

61 The Whalley 2 Withington Road M16 8AA, 232 7159

46 Mint 478 Wilbraham Road M21 9AS, 881 9130

62 Yakisoba 360 Barlow Moor Road M21 8AZ, 862 0888

18 Out of the Blue 484 Wilbraham Road M21 9AS, 881 8353 19 Unicorn Grocery 89 Albany Rd M21 0BN

Restaurant/Bar

30 Chorlton Cricket Club Ellesmere Road M21 0SG, 0783 3735729

Tea Hive have a rang treats to spoil your 15 Chris

Food & Drink Map 5 CHE LTE NHA MR D KEN 4 S’TO NR D

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Barbakan Delicatessen NEW OPENING TIMES

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CLOSED SUNDAYS Winners of the Craft Bakery Business Award 2011

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www.barbakan-deli.co.uk to advertise call Lesley: 0787 589 5604 lesley@communityindex.co.uk

A home to creating, eating and fun for all ages!

• Pottery Painting • Parties, Hen Do’s, Baby Showers • Crepes & Luxury Cakes

• Decopatch • Team Building • Freshly Ground Coffee & Loose Leaf Teas

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127 Oswald Rd, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9GE

March in your Garden With the mild winter we’ve had - early daffs and camellias flowering in January - we might be pulling on our wellies, itching to get out into the garden in March to pull-up and put in various bits and bobs that will promise a carpet of colour come July. Whilst it is certainly true that there’s more light and the soil temperature will be shifting northwards both of which will encourage plants to start growing again, March is also

by Katherine Watson

quite temperamental weather wise and too-early sowing and planting might be unwise. But we’ve never really worried about a bit of bad weather int’ North, neither have we shied away from a ‘bung-em-in’ attitude to seeds and plants – within reason. So you could try sowing some hardy annuals this month – wildflower mixes for example, and you could have a go at dividing some hardy perennials. A general forking over of the soil and application of a good general fertiliser will also replenish the depleted nutrient reserves and give plants a really good start to the growing year. You could also mount an argument for planting gladiolus corms at the end of the month and into April – blousy, camp, retro - gladdies will offer you just a touch of Dame Edna-chic. They are as easy as tulips to grow and there are lots of varieties from the frilly pastels if you want

to go really camp retro to the darker, sophisticated varieties used by garden designers at such prestigious events as the Chelsea Flower Show. Look out for the snappily titled variety: Gladiolus communis subsp.byzantinus for a lovely, more specialised red version. Other dark varieties include ‘Espresso’; ‘Plum Tart’ and ‘Zoro’. You might want to try an operatic ‘Peter Pears’ or a butch ‘Old Spice’, and sowing the corms in succession – i.e. a few days apart – will give you a longer flowering season possums. It could be advisable to lift the corms for the winter but that’s a bit fiddly so leave them in and see what happens next year – a general mulch in autumn should give them enough protection.

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Community Noticeboard Fairs & Markets Farmers Market and Craft Fair Horse & Jockey, Chorlton Green. Last Saturday of every month 11–5pm www.horseandjockey chorlton.com Manchester Street Market 3rd Saturday of the month outside Chorlton Library. Pop-up Vintage Fair Vintage homeware, clothing & handmade crafts. Every Saturday 12-5pm at The Beech, 72 Beech Rd, Chorlton chorltonvintagefair@ gmail.com

Clubs, Societies & Groups Chorlton Aikido Club Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm St Ninians, Wilbraham Rd www.lancashireaikikai.org Tel: 861 8456 Community Allotment and Apiary, Scott Avenue Allotment (alley entrance by the bridge near to Leisure Centre) Sat 11am, Sun 2pm 07973139068 07521500223 uk.groups.yahoo.com/ group/grow_for_it/ Chorlton Bridge Club Christine Blackburn Tel: 225 8854 www.bridge webs.com/chorlton Chorlton Good Neighbours 881 2925 goodneighbours@ btconnect.com Manchester Flower Lovers’ Guild First Monday of the month for flower demonstations. Refreshmenst at 7.15 for 7.30 start. Visitors welcome £5 St Werburghs Church Hall, Chorlton M21 0TJ

Anne 881 6591, flowersnorthwest.net Friends of Alexandra Park 226 7525 www.friends ofalexandrapark.org.uk Friends of Chorlton Meadows 881 6276 www.friendsofchorlton meadows.blogspot.com Function/Meeting Rooms Do you need a cheap local place for a meeting or gathering? Rooms available for up to 25 people. From £10/Hour Shakespeare House Community Centre Whalley Range M16 8NR, 823205 admin@r-squared.org.uk Transition Chorlton Ways to encourage a more sustainable future in Chorlton. 1st Thursday of each month at the Lloyds Hotel from 7.30pm 50+Social Group Arts/Walking/Holidays Lila:lilawaiz@tiscali.co.uk 2261214

Health & Fitness Capoeira – Cordao De Ouro Tuesdays 7-9 (All levels), Saturdays 11-12 (Kids) The Edge Theatre, M21 9JG, www.cdonw.co.uk Chorlton Leisure Centre www.manchestersport andleisure.org, 861 0790 The Yoga Rooms Thursday 10-11.15am Drop-in Yoga (all levels) Friday 10-11am Drop-in Pilates (all levels) Full Programme at www. theyogarooms.co.uk Zumba, Yoga for pregnancy, Irish music, Salsa, Irish Dancing and Pilates The Irish Club, High Lane, 881 2898 www. chorltonirishclub.co.uk

Pilates Classes drop in £6 Mon 5.30pm, 6.35pm, 7.40pm, Wed 1pm Thurs 9.35pm St Clements Church Tues 5.30pm, 6.45pm, 8pm St Johns School Beginners workshops Studio classes and 1-1 on the reformer, Cadillac & chair Sarah 07776196504 www. energyflowfitness.co.uk

Arts & Crafts Battyandgorgeous Live Life More Creatively Saturday, 24th March 1-5pm £44/£40 www.batty andgorgeous.com Beetlefelt Craft Workshops Textile Club Tuesdays Weaving Workshop Wednesdays Sewing Surgery Thursdays other workshops inc. Mosaic Heart, Felt Table Mat, Seamless Felt Purse Carol Mowl Tel: 881 6309 www.beetlefelt.co.uk Chorlton Reading Group Once a month in the meeting room behind Chorlton library 7.30pm All welcome 881 1813 chorltonreadersgroup@ gmail.com Creative Corner Café inclusiveartsresources @gmail.com 14 Milton Grove, Whalley Range, M16 0BP 07745 855399 Drum & Percussion Group Playing Brazilian and Cuban rhythms. Thursday evenings 7-9pm St. Margarets Church, Whalley Range

Sue 226 4311 The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre Full programme of theatre, music and art classes including: The Edge Youth Theatre Dance — ages 11-16 Saturdays 11–12pm £5 Theatre Club 5-8 year olds — Mondays 4-5pm £5 Out On The Edge (LGBT Theatre) A brand new theatre group for LGBT 16 to 25 year olds. Mondays 7-9pm £5 Manchester Rd, Chorlton Tel: 282 9776 Full programme online www.watersedgearts.com Ministry of Craft Clothing Alterations Sat 10th March Introduction to Digital Phototography Thurs 15th March Cupcake Decorating Sat 17th March Pick’n Mix Jewellery Making Sat 17th March 07850 894 752, www. ministryofcraft.co.uk Mosaic Therapy Thurs 7.15-8.45pm Chorlton Central Church M21 8BF 2012 Courses: Mosaic Yourself Potty Hulme Community Garden Centre Mosaic flowerpot March & June Roman Mosaics for Beginners Victoria Baths Manchester July Mosaic Masterpieces at Norton Priory Museum & Gardens May & June Final Details traceycartledge. wordpress.com/ workshops-classes-andcourses Tracey 860 0387 www. traceycartledge.co.uk

email your community notices to: lesley@communityindex.co.uk Rubbish Revamped The Lavender Mousevaark 15th March 7-9.00pm £13.00 Stress Release Sock Bunny 5th April 7-9pm www.rubbishrevamped. org.uk South Manchester Camera Club Club Meets Monday nights at 8pm Didsbury Methodist Church M20 5LR www.smcc.org.uk Pottery Corner 34 Beech Road M21 9EL 882 0010

Music & Entertainment Charango DJS Every Friday and Saturday night 10pm-late. 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton 881 8596 charango-chorlton.co.uk Chorlton Film Institute Troll Hunter Thurs 15th March Doors Open 8.10pm Film starts 8.30pm Entrance £5 St Clements Church Chorlton Folk Club Thursdays 9pm Ellesmere Rd Cricket Club Dulcimer DJs every Friday & Saturday and live acts from around the

world every week www. dulcimer-bar.co.uk Folk Songs and Tunes at The Beech If you enjoy folk songs and tunes even older than the Beech. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays for Songs 2nd & 4th for Tunes. Beech Road, Chorlton, M21 9EG Home on the Range Everything from punk, funk to classic house. last Friday of every Month The Carlton Club, Whalley Range www.carltonclub.org.uk Horse & Jockey Quiz Night Every Sunday (except Bank Holidays), from 8pm. 9 Chorlton Green M21 9HS www.horseandjockey chorlton.com Oddest Bar 414-416 Wilbraham Road Chorlton. Mooch down to Oddest every Friday & Saturday to find our fab DJs sifting through the vinyl 11pm-1.30am 860 7515 www.oddbar. co.uk/oddest

Meets every second Monday of the month at Copperfields Café in Chorlton opposite the post office 7.30pm Lesley 882 0848 Email: cafespirit@live.com

www.chorltoncivic. blogspot.com

Coffee and Craft Mornings at Chorlton Good Neighbours. Meet friends and have a coffee, with arts and crafts group. Thursday’s 10-11.30am Wilbraham St, Ninian’s Church 881 2925 www.cgncg.org.uk

wr4wildlife.wordpress. com

LGBT Parents Group 636 7507, 07970 298 559 New Family Social UK charity for LGBT adopters, foster carers and their children. Meets every two months in south Manchester. newfamilysocial.co.uk Rainbow Families 07903 397 108 rainbowfamilies@ hotmail.com

www.chorlton.fetch.it www.sochorlton. wordpress.com www.whalleyrange.org

Useful Numbers Allotments Manager 226 3322 Bus, Train & Tram 228 7811 Chorlton Library 227 3700 Citizens Advice 0870 126 4094 Environment on Call 954 9000 Electricity 0800 195 4141 Gas Emergency 0800 111 999 Manchester City Council 234 5000 www.manchester.gov.uk

St. Clements Fellowship Contact Barbara Burns on 0161 881 5912 or Ida Bradshaw on 0161 861 7158 for information.

Social & Support Groups

Local Websites

Chorlton Anxiety Group 226 3871

www.beechroadm21. co.uk

Café Spirit

www.chorlton.co.uk

National Rail Enquiries nationalrail.co.uk 08457 48 49 50 Police – non emergency 872 5050 Samaritans 236 8000 Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service 905 1100

The Chorlton Handyman City & Guilds multi skilled Tradesman

Carpentry • Joinery • Electrical • Plumbing Kitchens • Fencing • Built in Furniture • Decks Gates • Shelves • Locks • Hardware

call Nick

0777 852 3088

Domestic & Commercial Small works always welcome

Public Liability Insurance Environmentally Aware

evolve joinery Wooden & UPVC windows

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS

Internal & external doors Engineered & solid wood floors Stud partition & plasterboard work All aspects of internal joinery Decking & fencing

• • • • • •

FAST DRYING SYSTEM FREE STAIN & ODOUR REMOVAL STAINGUARD PROTECTION 10% RETIRED PERSONS DISCOUNT ALL WORK IS FULLY INSURED ALL FURNITURE MOVED BY OPERATIVE

We are a local company based in Chorlton

High quality work

Fully trained to NCCA standards

for a competitive price For a free quote contact Pete

07947 242 339 0161 427 9317

Ring or email for a FREE ESTIMATE

07742 369 231

evolvejoinery@yahoo.com

or leave a message on 0161 881 4822 contact@pro-fresh.co.uk www.pro-fresh.co.uk

M Duffin Property Repairs Chimneys Pointing Roofs Gutters

Free Estimates

0161 789 6640 07944 729 608

Business Index Arts & Crafts

Furniture & Joinery

Basic Sewing Skills & Patchwork Craftelicious

7 25

DLE Enterprises Evolve Joinery

5 30

Best Cellars Joseph Durkin

15 11

Acorn Gardening Fat Grass Green Designs Space

13 26 26 19

Building & Maintenance Carpet Cleaning Profresh

Chimney Sweep

Acorn Chimney Sweeping Service

Village Dry Cleaner

Chorlton Electric

Dry Cleaner Electrician

Estate Agents JP & Brimelow

Food & Drink A J Adams Barbakan Delicatessen Hotspot Saray Tea Hive

Gardens

Gas Engineer Chorlton Gas

Handyman/woman Chorlton Handyman

12 17 24 27 32 25

Music Lessons Dominic Kearne, Guitar/Songwriting

Painting & Decorating

Carol Smith Georgina Cullen HMC Painters & Decorators Nina West

Pest Control

7 29 2 15 5

Prompt Pest Control Services

Pugsville Hotel Top Cat Services & Alpha Dog Walking

2 2

Petcare

Plumbers

BG Plumbing Select Plumbing & Heating

Roofer

Esk Roofing M Duffin

Shopping

31 15 17 30

Chorlton Tagpassiton

Home on the Range

AJR Therapy Jason Howdon, Hypnotherapy Sue Fleming, Alexander Technique

19 27 27

Social Group/Events Therapy, Healing & Health

Tiles/Tiling

Alberti Pavimenti

Monkey Puzzle Toys

Toys & Games

Please note: Community Index accepts no responsibility for transactions entered into or work undertaken by any of the businesses advertising in the Index or any loss, harm or damage arising from using any of the products & services listed.

 

Chorlton Gas Ltd Domestic Central Heating and Gas Engineers

Service, installation and breakdown repair on all makes of: Boilers Fires

Job No big o to mall or s

Cookers Unvented Hot Water Cylinders Solar Thermal fully qualified • fully insured Gas Safe registered • friendly and reliable • local references available Central heating power flushing service available

Call Kevin for a no obligation quote

07722 731 801

B.G. PLUMBING

EXPERIENCED

local plumber Bathrooms and tiling Blockages and leaks Pipework alterations

GAVIN HOWARD mobile: 07969 605321 email: howard.bgplumbing@gmail.com 87 Haig Road, Stretford, M32 0DP

WRAS approved, cert no. 28518

SARAY CAFÉ BAR AND RESTAURANT

FULLY LICENSED

609 Wilbraham Road • Chorlton • M21 9AN

www.saraycafebar.co.uk

Taste of Anatolia

0161 881 8292

We are pleased to offer you the very best of Turkish Cuisine, in our family run restaurant in Chorlton. We take great care and pride in serving top quality, authentic food from our eclectic menu. Our Chefs have a long-standing reputation for tender meat, succulent chicken dishes, fresh fish and a great selection of vegetable dishes. We also offer a huge selection of freshly prepared and flavoursome mezzes along with an extensive wine list.



20% Discount on our TAKEAWAY MENU

FREE

BOTTLE OF HOUSE WINE

Sunday to Thursday with a 3 course meal for 2* *offer valid until 31st March 2012

Mother’s Day Sunday 18th March

£19.95 3 course meal *choose from the whole menu

2 courses ONLY

£9.95

3 courses ONLY

£11.95

12-7pm Sun-Thurs 12-6pm Fri-Sat

Call 0161 881 8292 to book your table