Didsbury Community Index by Community Index

Didsbury

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community

July 2011

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Contents 4

MANCHESTER ATHENAEUM Needs new members

DIDSBURY & SOUTH MCR CAR SHOW Sunday 10th July

CHARITY GUITAR TRAIL Sunday 24th July

BARBAKAN DELICATESSEN Award winning Chorlton Deli

DIDSBURY TAG NEWS Save more, buy better, shop local

BOOK REVIEWS From Louise at Rumpus Toys

REVOLVE MCR Mobile Bicycle Repair Service

DIDSBURY DINNERS RECIPE Apple and Plum Crumble

LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Creating a resilient local economy

JULY IN YOUR GARDEN Katherine Watson

PUBLISHER

Community Index

EDITOR/ADVERTISING Lesley Swann

SUB-EDITOR Sam Paechter

Peter Gidman, Katherine Watson, Didsbury Dinners, Louise at Rumpus Manchester Athenaeum Carol Thompson

COVER PHOTOGRAPH Nick Holmes

Tel: Lesley 0787 589 5604 lesley@communityindex.co.uk www.communityindex.co.uk DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT EDITION 15th July 2011

Apple and plum crumble Nicola Scott, Co-coordinator, Abundance Manchester, www.abundancemanchester.wordpress.com

Serves 4–6

7. Spoon the apples and plums into an ovenproof

For the crumble 150g/5oz/1 cups organic plain flour 150g/5oz/1½ cups organic porridge oats 150g/5oz/¾ cup Fairtrade brown sugar 3 heaped tsp ground nutmeg 150g/5oz/ cup margarine cut into 2 cm (¾ inch) chunks

dish, then sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top. 8. Bake in the oven for 25–35 minutes until the

crumble turns golden brown. 9. Serve with soya cream, custard or yoghurt.

For the filling 700g/25oz cooking apples, cored, halved and cut into 1 cm (½ inch) thick pieces 300g/10½oz plums, stones removed, then quartered 100g/3½oz/½ cup Fairtrade brown sugar 1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon 2 heaped tsp allspice 5 tbsp/75ml cold water 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C

/350°F/gas mark 4. 2. Place the flour, oats, sugar

and nutmeg into a large bowl and mix well. a few chunks of margarine at a time and rub into the flour/oat mixture. Ensure you lift and sprinkle the flour/oats/ margarine up between your fingertips. rubbing until 4. Keep the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Set aside. 5. Place the apples in a saucepan with the sugar, cinnamon, allspice and 5 tbsp of cold water. the apples to 6. Bring steaming point over a high heat then lower the temperature to simmer the mixture for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. 3. Add

“A variation of the traditional crumble, this one was made with West Didsbury plums from our first picking of 2010! The sweet, soft fruit contrasts well with the tart apples.“

Recipes — Abundance Manchester

CONTRIBUTIONS

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Manchester Athenaeum Dramatic Society needs new members

The oldest dramatic society in the UK is looking for new members - both acting and backstage. Would you like to brush up your acting skills and have good fun at the same time? This small and friendly dramatic society is having three summer meetings including play readings and workshops to look at plays they are considering for next season. Everybody is invited to have a go and join in; these meetings are very informal and enjoyable (no charge, just 50p for a cuppa and towards hire of hall).

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view the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk

Didsbury and South Manchester Car Show Sunday 10th July

A sunny Sunday afternoon in Didsbury Park saw over one thousand people attending the only Manchester Car show last year. The show attracted over 80 cars. The cars came from endless leaflet posting at local car shows. The show is taking place again this year on Sunday July 10th 12-5pm and will be raising money for the Christies. Perhaps the greatest compliment paid last year was ‘How many years have you been holding this event? Our reply – ‘this is the first time’. A real tribute to the small, hardworking committee and you, the public. See you there!

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Alexander Technique Charity Guitar Trail 3 individual sessions and groups

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MSTAT www.alexanderteaching.co.uk ! 861 8848 mob 07796470163 The Burton Road Clinic Didsbury and Chequers Road Chorlton 10 week introductory course 20 Sept 1pm FallowďŹ eld 22 Sept 6.30 Chorlton

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! 445 8530! mob 07821470349 The Didsbury Holistic Centre and Lidgate Grove Didsbury! !

Fletcher Moss Gardens Near Didsbury Village, Manchester, M20 2SW Sunday 24th July, from 1.30pm

Over the last two years the Charity Guitar Trail has been held in Fletcher Moss Alpine Gardens. Acoustic guitarists perform in the gardens along a winding trail which the public stroll and enjoy themusic. The Trail raises money for Music in Hospitals a charity which provides musicians to play in care homes, hospices and hospitals. The event has been re-arranged for Sunday July 24th (Lets hope for better weather this time!). See you there! Ps You could win a guitar! If you would like to play, please contact us on: Peter: 07930 342 142 Sissy: 07928 447 150 Fez: 07882 405994 www.charityguitartrail.com

theburtonroadclinic OSTEOPATHY

Nicholas Vine & Carolyn Greenhalgh Registered Osteopaths Osteopaths treat back and neck pain and muscle and joint problems such as whiplash, sciatica and headaches. These problems may be caused by manual work, computer use or stress. Osteopathy can help with the mechanical effects of pregnancy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both during the pregnancy and afterwards, and with age related conditions and the pain of arthritis. We also treat sports injuries such as shoulder problems and knee problems, and injuries due to repetitive actions such as playing musical instruments. Appointments are available Monday to Saturday, including early mornings and evenings.

0161 446 2533 www.theburtonroadclinic.co.uk The Burton Road Clinic 121 Burton Road, Didsbury M20 1HZ please mention Community Index when responding to adverts

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ter Centra

Barbakan Delicatessen Barbakan represents independent retail at its best; part of the fabric of Chorlton and one of the finest continental bakeries in the UK. Established over 45 years ago, current owners Stefan and Joanna Najduch have spent the last 25 years making Barbakan the success it is today. The awards have stacked up and deservedly so; including ‘Best Food and Drink Outlet’ at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2009 and 2010, ‘Best Delicatessen in the UK’ at the Guild of Fine Foods in 2006 and have been runners up 3 times for ‘Best Independent Bakery’ at the prestigious British Bakery Awards.

The Deli Barbakan’s award winning delicatessen counter stocks traditional delights from all over Europe including Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain and customers come from far and wide knowing they will find that special ingredient they’re looking for. There’s a mouthwatering display of freshly prepared salads,

l Library

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quiches, spicy sausages, smoked hams, salamis, traditional pates, olives, English and continental cheeses. On the central isles you’ll find a wide range of pasta- including fresh pasta- jams, sauces and canned delicacies including delicious locally produced Chorlton honey.

bread its original authentic tasty crust. Over 50 different varieties are produced including Cheese, Bacon and Tomato Bread, Norlander Rye Bread, Margarita Olive Bread and of course the famous Chorlton Sourdough Bread.

If you’re stuck for a gift idea for a gourmet friend a Barbakan Food Hamper is a great option. Just choose what you’d like to put in and give them a budget they’ll do the rest! Job done.

The bakery also produces a fantastic range of cakes and pastries; including traditional Polish cheesecake, poppy seed cake and stollen as well as banana cake, American muffins, carrot cake and fruit cake.

The Bakery

Al Fresco

The extraordinarily energetic bakery with a team of no less than 12 Master Bakers works round the clock to produce the best bread you’ll ever taste.

Barbakan has recently expanded the outside dining terrace where you can enjoy coffee, tea, juice or a smoothie with your favourite snack from the deli or linger for longer over your lunch and watch the world go by.

Barbakan breads are made using traditional baking methods and authentic European recipes. Only the finest ingredients are used and the bakery gets through more than 9 tonnes of the highest grade Rank Hovis flour every week. Each loaf is individually hand moulded and baked on the sole of the oven – no tins are used and this is what gives the

On Saturdays the ‘Sausage Pan’ always attracts a crowd. One customer describes it as ‘The best hangover cure in Manchester!’

Service The staff provide the friendly and efficient service you’d expect to find, but there’s definitely something special about the atmosphere in Barbakan. With late night opening planned in the near future (Thursday and Friday evenings), why not give the supermarket a miss, cut out your Community Index discount voucher (see opposite) and give your taste buds a treat?

Barbakan Delicatessen

Award Winning Delicatessen, Continental Bakery and Specialist Cheese Merchants.

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Didsbury Tag News National independents day 4th July - your high st needs you! You can help celebrate diversity on the High St and support your local, independent retailers on the 4th July. Across the country, the public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local independent shop to keep the high street alive. With your Tagpassiton card you can not only show support, but save money at over 60 independent Didsbury businesses and also support a local charity, as any cards bought on the 4th July, whether on our website www.tagpassiton. com or from participating businesses, will have the whole profit element donated to a local charity. The Tagpassiton scheme has been designed to help community groups raise money; every £5 card bought from a charity, school or community group raises £2.50 for their cause. In Didsbury you can support Cavendish Rd Primary School, Broad Oak Primary School and Mencap (through the Co-op on Burton Road) by buying your cards from the school offices or in store. In addition Tagpassiton cards give you great savings time after time with fabulous independent traders in your local area. Didsbury, Chorlton, The Heatons, Levenshulme and Cheadle all have vibrant, independent businesses that are working together to encourage us to consider the community balance when we spend - so come along with a tagpassiton card in hand (or on key ring) and join in! Please visit our website www.tagpassiton.com for members and their offers and look out for our distinctive hand logo.

NEW OFFERS FOR CARDHOLDERS THIS MONTH INCLUDE: workshop towed by bicycle! Chief mechanic Dave set up the company after taking voluntary redundancy from his previous job, and looks forward to getting you rolling smoothly again! so no excuse to stop using our bikes.. He’s just a phone call away on 07939 062 600 A number you’ll want to keep with you at all times!

10% off at One Stop Parties and sister company fancydress247. com. Just pop along to Northernden to visit these Aladdin’s caves. Specialties include Double Bubble Balloons and Nappy Cakes made to order. Dawn and Joanne are passionate about what they do and are always sourcing and bringing their customers the latest goodies. From cards to big events and for great customer service they are well worth a trip up Palatine Road.

10% off a single bike service with mobile cycle repair Revolve MCR (15% off multiple bike deals or cycle surgeries). Revolve MCR are a new cycle repairs service, the difference being that they come to you with a mobile

Please see our website www. tagpassiton.com for details of these offers and many more. You can also keep up to date by following us on twitter @tagpassiton Here are a few of our valued longer standing Tagpassiton members and their generous offers. Our community is so lucky to have such a committed, varied, vibrant and interesting collection of independents.

Happy Birthday wishes to one of our original 10 scheme members for July. The Gentry Grooming Company has accurately been described as ‘like an old school barber’s shop with a modern vibe’ and Jon and his team have been putting the Great into British grooming in Didsbury now for 5 years, to the great satisfaction of all their customers. The Gentry Grooming Company offers 10% off to Tagpassiton cardholders.

11 provide a welcoming atmosphere all year round. The Alpine Tea Room offers 10% off to Tagpassiton cardholders.

Rumpus Toy Shop sells top quality children’s toys and gifts. Louise started out selling toys and books on Manchester’s Christmas markets and has now had a shop in Didsbury Village opposite the Post Office for 6 years. Rumpus stock a fantastic selection of children’s books and Louise and the girls spend many joyous hours selecting them. Louise tells us “We run a regular Saturday afternoon storytime session and our current favourite book is the hilarious ‘Hattie the Bad’ All are welcome to come and join the session. Rumpus Toy Shop offers 10% off purchases over £20 to Tagpassiton cardholders.

Wellington Garage offers 5% off or £5 off your MOT to Tagpassiton cardholders. Village Dry Cleaners (Chorlton) by appointment to the stars does Didsbury too. Only the best will do whenever Take That and other Arena artistes come to town. Dry cleaners of Distinction - in family tradition, Amir’s knowledge, expertise in preparation, and dedication ensures he’s the guru and can do what others can’t; especially in the exceptionally difficult fields of silk, vintage and wedding dresses. A family run business of 25 years standing in nearby Chorlton and a member of the Guild of Dry Cleaners and Launders with a handy delivery service to Didsbury too! The Village Dry Cleaners offers 10% off Dry cleaning to Tagpassiton cardholders. T&C’s apply.

The Alpine Tea Room is situated in The Croft, a large Victorian Villa in Fletcher Moss Park. This was once the home of botanist Robert Wood Williamson and his wife Emily who founded the ‘Plumage League, which then became the RSPB. It has been family run for 28 years. Opened by (the late) Jenny Martin, now staffed by her son and daughter Louis & Janine, with the help of her grandson Kane. They sell over 30 different teas and lovely home made cakes, baked locally, and

with Tim at 101. The garage used to be a coach house with stables and horseshoes are still being found whenever they dig. The family has a very long history in the area, as Tim’s granddad was a founder member of The Albert Club, West Didsbury. Wellington Garage is a thriving independent garage and gives a personal service you can trust.

Wellington Garage in Withington is celebrating its 50th year in the Crawshaw family. Taken over by Ken in 1961 (who became a mechanic instead of a dentist due to the war) it has been run by son Tim now for over 14 years. One of Ken’s old customers is still

Chorlton Wholefoods. When George retired 7 years ago Anna and Mike wanted this shop but the timing was not quite right (babies!). So this year, after such a long wait for their dream shop, when it came up in October 2010, they jumped in to provide an authentic wholefood shop with an apothecary that the community would cherish. They live by the motto of ‘be healthy, look after yourself and have fun; wholefood is for everyone’ Their delightful oasis is the epitome of ‘slow shopping’; they want their customers to feel the warmth and calm and be happy to wander at leisure, sit down, have a chat and take the time to sign their friends book. Deliveries of organic veg boxes is a service they provide to Didsbury too. (You might recognise Mike from his time as manager at MacLeod Bradley) Chorlton Wholefoods offer 10% off orders over £10 to Tagpassiton cardholders

12 CONGRATULATIONS

DIDSBURY FESTIVAL

In the monthly prize draw for registered card holders congratulations go to Lucy Allison who won a £20 gift voucher to spend at Funk Boutique. Nikki has a wonderful selection of Bags, jewellery and accessories and with a motto of ‘Indulge-InspireInsist’ and famous for a range of eco-bags (the only stockist outside London -Marie Claire) the choice will be a very hard, but lovely one to make.

Thank you to everyone who supported us at the Didsbury Festival. Nikki at Funk Boutique, Jon at Gentry Grooming, Steve at Social Circle, Louise at Rumpus, Sarah at Belly Button and Sarah and Leon at Feel Creative deserve a special mention for their generous donations of prizes for the Raffle we ran to raise funds for Didsbury Festival. We shared a stall with Lesley from Community Index who did a fantastic job of helping to sell Tag cards. Shafiq from Fresh Save provided strawberries and berries at an extremely reasonable price

Don’t forget to register your cards for entry into the next draws!

for us to give away and Busy Bee (Chorlton) loaned us the HUGE Pirate. We raised £120 on the day for Festival funds.

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Book Reviews

by Louise at Rumpus Toys

twist. This witty book contains the 3 essential elements of a great picture book: appealing illustrations, good writing and ability to entertain children and the adults who have to read the story again and again! Recommended for 3 to 6 year olds, and all grown ups! Available from Rumpus

Tanglewreck By Jeanette Winterson Published by Bloomsbury £6.99

Hattie The Bad By Jane Devlin and Joe Berger Published by Puffin £5.99 Hattie was bad. Really bad. When I say bad, I don’t just mean forget-to-tidy-her-room, reading-comics-after-bedtime kind of bad. No, she was so bad, no-one was allowed to play with her. But it’s no fun being bad on your own, is it? So, she becomes Hattie the Good. Good Hattie tidies her room and goes to bed early. But nobody likes a goodytwo shoes now, do they? The story ends with a laugh out loud

In a house called Tanglewreck lives a girl called Silver and her guardian Mrs Rokabye. Unbeknown to Silver there is family treasure in the form of a seventeenth-century watch called the Timekeeper, and this treasure holds the key to the mysterious and frightening changes in time. When Silver goes on the run to try and protect herself and the Timekeeper, a remarkable and compelling adventure unfolds. This book is brilliantly written and structured. She has simplified her style to produce a compelling story for young

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readers. I would pitch this for children from about the age of 10 through to about 13. The younger readers may enjoy it more if you read it with them, the language is not too difficult but they really have to keep their wits about them to follow the complexities of the plot. A truly excellent read. Suitable for 10 to 13 year olds Available from Rumpus

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Revolve MCR Mobile bicycle repair service Revolve MCR is a new mobile cycle repair service operating in the city centre and south Manchester. The aim is to provide the best bicycle repairs and servicing around, whilst working in an ethically and environmentally sound way, and offering good value for money. We bumped into the owner and mechanic David Trainor outside Unicorn Grocery in Chorlton a couple of weeks ago, and he very happily agreed to speak to us.

“Is it a quantity surveyor? No! It’s Bicycle Repair Man!” Dave set up Revolve MCR at the beginning of this year after taking voluntary redundancy from his previous career as a quantity surveyor. He had known for years that he would rather be working in the bicycle industry, but only when compulsory redundancy loomed large did he actually take the plunge to set up Revolve. He wanted to start a business which

he could take pride in and enjoy every day and so far Revolve has fulfilled his ambition. The basic model for Revolve is simple – fill a trailer with tools and bike parts, and tow it (by bicycle, of course!) to wherever it’s needed. If you think this sounds remarkably similar to Monty Python’s Bicycle Repair Man (youtube it if you haven’t seen it), Dave wouldn’t argue. He has yet to don a lycra one-piece and cloak, though says he will consider it if

demand is high. Revolve will do almost any work, from punctures at the side of the road to race preparation and wheel-building, whether for mountain bikers or road racers. Revolve has about as little environmental impact as any business you can think of, and by default uses and supplies ‘Green Oil’ oils and greases, which are 100% petrochemical free and are made from naturally occurring oils and plant extracts. We asked Dave about his favourite bikes to work on: “I love them all! It’s lovely to work on top class road race or mountain bikes – I still get excited about the beautifully designed and engineered components you find on silly-money bikes - but the most satisfying bikes are “every-day” bikes that lead a hard life; bikes that do a car’s job, and get ridden

15 He worked building bikes at Stif performance mountain bikes in Leeds, and spent all his spare time riding or working on his own and his friends’ bikes. These days he divides his limited spare time Dave’s own bike addiction started between mountain biking and relatively sedate as child, and during his touring, though his teenage years “See stag-do last year he tried how he uses a comprised of a ride his hand at from Manchester to spanner to tighten cross country Amsterdam and back mountain that nut!” again (details of the bike racing, return journey are vague, road riding and and may involve a train from Hull touring (with his tent, sleeping to Manchester!). He now lives in a bag and everything else on his back!) before settling into several terraced house so has had to limit his bike collection – Dave and his years of what today is called wife Lyndsay have “only” seven freeride – basically playing out bikes between them, including on mountain bikes – interspersed with the occasional downhill race. mountain, touring and a 1950s day-in, day-out by a dedicated owner who relies on it as their primary means of transport. They are quite often owned by the people who are most pleased to find we exist as a business; when their bike breaks they don’t have a car to take it to a bike shop with!”

tandem. Revolve MCR will be be put on hold over winter this year due to a delayed honeymoon trip – Lindsay and Dave are starting in New Zealand at the rugby World Cup, and working their way home through South East Asia and much of India – mainly, of course, by bike. Should you need your bike servicing in the meantime, you can contact Dave on 07939 062 600 or find the website at www.revolvemcr.com.

Revolve MCR 07939 062 600

www.revolvemcr.com 15

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Didsbury Dinners Recipe

Apple & Plum Crumble - Nicola Scott, Co-ordinator, Abundance Manchester

• Place the flour, oats, sugar and nutmeg into a Serves 4–6 large bowl and mix well. For the crumble • Add a few chunks of margarine at a time and rub 150g/5oz organic plain flour into the flour/oat mixture. Ensure you lift and 150g/5oz organic porridge oats sprinkle the flour/oats/margarine up between 150g/5oz Fairtrade brown sugar your fingertips. 3 heaped tsp ground nutmeg • Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Set aside. 150g/5oz margarine cut into 2 cm (¾ inch) chunks • Place the apples in a saucepan with the sugar, nce Manchester, www.abundancemanchester.wordpress.com For the filling cinnamon, allspice and 5 tbsp of cold water. 700g/25oz cooking apples, cored, halved and cut • Bring the apples to steaming point over a high into 1 cm 7. (½ Spoon inch) the thick pieces apples and plums into an ovenproof heat then lower the temperature to simmer the 300g/10½oz plums, quartered dish, thenstones sprinkleremoved, the crumblethen mixture over the mixture for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. top. 100g/3½oz Fairtrade brown sugar • Spoon the apples and plums into an ovenproof n flour 8. Bake in the oven for 25–35 minutes until the 1 heaped tsp crumble groundturns cinnamon dish, then sprinkle the crumble mixture over the dge oats golden brown. top. allspice n sugar2 heaped tsp with soya cream, custard or yoghurt. 9. Serve • Bake in the oven for 25–35 minutes until the 5 tbsp/75ml cold water nto 2 cm (¾ crumble turns golden brown. “A variation of the traditional crumble, • Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. this one was made with West Didsbury • Serve with soya cream, custard or yoghurt. plums from our first picking of 2010! The sweet, fruit contrasts well withthis one was made with West Didsbury plums from “A variation of thesoft traditional crumble, d, halved and the tart apples.“ our first picking of 2010! The sweet, soft fruit contrasts well with the tart apples.”

crumble

Recipes — Abundance Manchester

Every year hundreds of fruit trees in Manchester go unpicked. This is because people don’t notice them, can’t physically harvest them or there is just to much fruit at one time. Abundance is a team of volunteers who help harvest city fruit. They redistribute the surplus fruit to the local community on a non-profit basis. For further details or to get involved visit: www.abundancemanchester.wordpress.com

Didsbury Dinners is an 80-page A4 glossy paperback packed full of recipes from local residents and groups. Buy your copy for just £6.99 from The Albert Club and Didsbury Civic Society. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards promoting local food sustainability. didsburydinners@yahoo.co.uk

Recipe reproduced from Didsbury Dinners: The Low-Carbon Community Cookbook, with kind permission from the editor Amanda Woodvine.

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Home Sale Network members are Cartusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preferred estate agency for corporate relocations. This gives the estate agency for corporate relocations. This gives the sale or let of your home national coverage to those sale or let of your home national coverage to those looking to relocate. looking to relocate.

Lettings Lettings

JP&&Brimelow Brimelow offer a specialist department in all JP offer a specialist lettingletting department in all ourcovered covered areas provide a tailored professional our areas andand provide a tailored professional service second to none. We provide a let only service service second to none. We provide a let only service andalso also more popular letmanaged and managed all and thethe more popular let and service,service, all handled byby ARLA qualified staff staff to give peace handled ARLA qualified toyou give you peace ofofmind that your valuable assetasset is in the care mind that your valuable is in theofcare of professionals. professionals. As ofof ourour service, we provide dedicated property Aspart part service, we provide dedicated property management andand accounts departments to ensure your management accounts departments to ensure your let smoothly throughout itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; term. letruns runs smoothly throughout itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; term. Our services department basedbased in the Didsbury Ourproperty property services department in the Didsbury office are also on hand to deal with any maintenance, office are also on hand to deal with any maintenance, repair works, refurbishment or general building work, all repair works, refurbishment or general building work, all completed by our full time and experienced workforce at completed by our full time and experienced workforce at competitive prices.

competitive prices.

748a Wilmslow Rd Didsbury M20 2DW @jpandbrimelow

SALES: 0161 448 0622 didsbury@jpbrimelow.co.uk

LETTINGS: 0161 445 2300 lettings@jpbrimelow.co.uk

www.jpbrimelow.co.uk

Local and Independent Over the past century, our economy has changed a lot. The world has become ‘smaller’ and more inter-linked, and the products and services we buy every day reflect this. Take shopping. In a single day we will use and consume products from countries all over the world, many of which will have been mass-produced by large multinational firms, transported thousands of miles, and sold through outlets present all over

the globe. When we do stumble upon a British-made item, it’s likely to have been produced at the other end of the country, road freighted to a depot somewhere else, and finally sold back to us by a (inter)national supermarket with a hiked up price and (in the case of food) considerably less fresh than it started out! These patterns of ‘globalisation’ now shape life as we know it, but it’s increasingly clear that they do damage too.

To the environment, to local communities, and to the people who produce the products we consume. But there is an alternative, and the focus is shifting towards sustainable development that strengthens local economies. But what does it mean? Why is it a good idea? And how can we do it here in Didsbury and further afield? Choosing to use locally owned and independent businesses keeps more control in the hands of local people, and it also ‘multiplies’ the effect that money spent has on the local area. A study conducted by NEF demonstrated that every £1 spent with a local supplier was worth £1.76 to the local economy, but only 36p if it was spent with (inter)national firms. It makes sense to spend our money in a way that benefits our locality instead of developers and shareholders. We are lucky. In our area there is a pretty good mixture of small and medium sized independent businesses.

;^cY jh dc

association of town centre management

Often, very little of the money we spend day to day actually remains to benefit our local area, because even if we are, in a physical sense, spending our money close to home, much is siphoned off to the shareholders and managers of the chains and multinationals that now dominate our economy. Our local economies should be under our control, and they should work for real well-being rather than just financial wealth. A resilient economy is one in which economic activity is based around many small and medium-sized businesses

19 instead of concentrated between fewer and fewer mega-corporations, where local people have some control over local economic activity, where there is space and opportunity for local entrepreneurship and where local people (rather than, say, shareholders or developers) benefit from local economic ‘growth’. It’s about supporting both local produce (and producers), locally owned shops, services and businesses. Building strong local economies doesn’t mean that every community would be entirely self-reliant; it just means getting a balance between trade and local production by diversifying economic activity and shortening the distance between producers and consumers wherever possible.

At the moment our economy feels more like a leaky bucket. In pour wages, salaries, pensions and etc, but most of it pours straight back out again, through chain stores, supermarkets and multinationals.

at: Insitu 252 Chester Rd Hulme M15 4EX

“Yet every outpouring is a potential local livelihood, local business, training opportunity. “Plugging the leaks”, as the New Economics Foundation calls it, has huge potential for economic regeneration, as well as for making communities more resilient in increasingly uncertain times.” Rob Hopkins (Transition Network)

www.planetvintagegirl.com

Tel: 07989 406 858

furniture & accessories

vintage & retro

Picture a £1 coin. Every time that £1 changes hands within a community it means an income

for a local person. The more times it changes hands, the better for that community. This is what the New Economics Foundation (NEF) term the ‘multiplier efect’; in that re-spending money locally ‘multiplies’ the local value of that money.

So, what can we do? On 4th July 2011 across the country, the public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local, independent shop to keep the high street alive. Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail have teamed up with independent retailers and trade associations around the country to encourage the public to celebrate diversity on the high street and support their local, independent retailers This is a great initiative, but let’s extend this single item on one day to the rest of July. Or, even better, lets change our spending habits for good.

• Complete window treatment design service, including FREE measuring • Curtains, hand stitched with range of headings, borders or trimmings • Roman Blinds • Bespoke Fabric Pelmets, Shaped or Straight • Soft Furnishings

To discuss design ideas call Joanne

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

July In Your Garden

Katherine Watson

Geranium. Most of us will be very A. major ‘Rubra’ – a lovely deep Last month I picked up a red version. Another that has familiar with the common variety gardening book by the once been flowering for a month or (endressii), with its small pink renowned advocate of cottage so is Acillea ‘Summerwine’ – flat flowers and colonising habits and gardening, Margery Fish called red flowerheads in profusion the stand-out ‘Johnson’s Blue’. ‘An All the Year Garden’ (1958). atop cotton-lavender foliage, But another variety, Geranium In a chapter entitled ‘They go looking strangely at home with phaeum, is also a ‘good doer’ on Blooming’, Fish recommends some purple Sedums and Stachys particularly in shade, where its a range of perennials that have byzantina (silver lambs ears). purple/black flowers come in a long season of flowering and My Gay Feather (Liatris spicata) feathery profusions from early rather charmingly counters that has just come into it’s own and summer and continue for many whilst short lived plants such as will last for a long time with weeks if dead-headed. Another Delphiniums, Lupins and Poppies candle-like, pink fluffy flower stalwart for the cottage border are invaluable as spectacular heads and keeping the backbone is the Penstemon. As with many punctuations in urban flower of the border together, the of these perennials, there are beds, “…it is nice to meet old phlox is doing what it always lots of varieties, giving a range of friends who have no office hours does – providing solid texture and flower and foliage colour across and feel that their job is to go on colour. So whilst not necessarily the pink, purple, white spectrum producing flowers so long as the • and Back, Neck & Joint Pains • Back, Neck & Joint Pains these the divas of the border, as well as some reds and blues. sun shines there is a vestige good-tempered perennials almost Popular varieties include ‘Sour of warmth in the air…” There • Sports Injuries • Sports Injuries without fail provide a chorus of Grapes’ and ‘Alice Hindley’. I are many perennials that provide harmonious colour when we need have two varieties of Astrantia weeks of•flowering interest but Ergonomic Assessments • Ergonomic Assessments it most. that have been flowering in my for the sake of brevity I have Deep that Tissue Massagegarden now for over a month • Deep Tissue Massage chosen a•handful would Katherine Watson, – the very standard but not-toparticularly suit a cottage garden Fat Grass Garden Designs • Podiatry • Podiatry be-overlooked A.major with light scheme. Top of any list must white/pink starry flowers and surely be an old friend, the

Village Physio

• Pregnancy Massage & Pilates

• Nutritionist

& Sports Injury Clinic

Tel: 0161 448 7844 3 Warburton St, Didsbury Village, M20 6WA

didsburyphysio@btinternet.com www.didsburyphysio.co.uk

Village Physio & Sports Injury Clinic • Back, Neck & Joint Pains

• Ergonomic Assessments

• Sports Injuries • Podiatry

• Deep Tissue Massage

• Pregnancy Massage & Pilates didsburyphysio@btinternet.com

www.didsburyphysio.co.uk

• Nutritionist

Tel: 0161 448 7844 3 Warburton St, Didsbury Village, M20 6WA

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

DEVINE

KITCHENS Design Service Available A new kitchen can add both character and wealth to any home, and here at Devine Kitchens we have the expertise and knowledge to advise you on the best use of space, lighting, fixtures and fittings to help create that dream kitchen into a reality. We have established an excellent reputation over the years for our high qulaity of workmanship and customer focus, all backed up with the various testimonials from our many satisfied clients. We have over 20 years of experience with high quality workmanship fitting kitchens that will inspire. We have a vast range of kitchens from the classic styled kitchens, or the more contemporary designs.

Tel: 0161 291 9680

www.devinekitchens.co.uk

karl hutton

bespoke joinery ltd handmade furniture in solid wood

Select Plumbing & Heating Central Heating Installation Power Flushing Servicing & Repairs Gas Cooker & Fire Installations Landlord Safety Certificates All types of Plumbing Work Fully Tiled Bathrooms Contact Tony Goss 0161 865 6657 07973 908 592

Gas Safe

Registered No. 196842

Acorn CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICES Call John 0161 445 3650

specialist in: • fitted shelving • bookcases • libraries • studies

open fires, boilers Agas, multi-fuel stoves birds nests removed

• alcove cupboards • hand built kitchens • loft conversions

07989 891581

0161 860 4848

www.karlhutton.co.uk

NACS member www.acornchimneysweepingservices.co.uk

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

Business Index Fostering & Adoption

Building & Maintenance Broadoak Preservation Devine Building & Maintenance

6 2

Carpet Cleaning Profresh

Chimney Sweep Acorn Chimney Sweeping services

23 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.

Caritas Care

Furniture & Joinery Karl Hutton Bespoke Joinery Ltd

Fat Grass Garden Design

Gardens

Gas Engineer

Select Plumbing & Heating

Handyman

Dry Cleaners

Village Dry Cleaners

Electrician

Andrew Maunsell

JP & Brimelow

Didsbury Good Neighbours

Devine Floorsanding

Estate Agent Fayre

Floors

Food & Drink

Barbakan Delicatessen

Didsbury Handyman

Homes & Interiors

22 13

Jomo Intereriors Northwest Sunblinds www.planetvintagegirl.com

19 12 19

Devine Kitchens

Social Circle

Kitchens Leisure

Osteopathy Burton Road Clinic

Physiotherapy Village Physio

Kieranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quality Plastering

Select Plumbing & Heating

Plastering Plumbers Roofer

M Duffin

Shopping

Tagpassiton Didsbury

Alexander Technique

Therapy & Healing Window Cleaner

Didsbury Window Cleaning

Useful Numbers Council

Gas Emergency 0800 111 999

Manchester City Council 234 5000

GMPTE 0870 6082 608

www.manchester.gov.uk

Bus, Train & Tram 228 7811

Environment on Call 954 9000

Rail Enquiries 0845 7484 950

Didsbury Library 227 3755

NHS Direct 0845 4647

Friends of Didsbury Park www.friendsofdidsburypark.co.uk

Police - non emergency 872 5050

Friends of Fletcher Moss Park Alan Hill 445 1535

Local Councillors Didsbury East Andrew Simcock cllr.a.simcock@manchester.gov.uk

Andrew Taylor cllr.a.taylor@manchester.gov.uk

David Sandiford cllr.d.sandiford@manchester.gov.uk

Local Councillors Didsbury West Mark Clayton cllr.m.clayton@manchester.gov.uk

Graham Shaw cllr.g.shaw@manchester.gov.uk

David Ellison cllr.d.ellison@manchester.gov.uk

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Samaritans 236 8000

www.samaritans.org

Community Didsbury Amateur Dramatics www.celestaplayers.co.uk Didsbury Civic Society www.didsburycivicsociety.org.uk Didsbury Cricket Club http://didsburyccsports.co.uk Didsbury Good Neighbours www.didsburygoodneighbours.com Marie Greenhalgh 07749 504298 Didsbury Over 50s Group 247 2323

Services

Didsbury Village East Residents Association www.dvera.co.uk Didsbury Village Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute www.didsburyvillagewi.co.uk

Friends of Marie Louise Gardens www.marielouisegardens.org.uk Oxfam Didsbury 434 5380 South Manchester Camera Club www.smcc.org.uk West Didsbury Residents Association www.westdidsbury.org.uk Pam Siddons 445 5406 West Didsbury Society for Writers Jane Woolley 957 1663 DIDSBURY ON THE WEB http://didsbury.fetch.it/

Citizens Advice 0870 126 4094

please mention Community Index when responding to adverts