The Connection Magazine - January/February 2022

the

c connection

Around Alcester, Bidford & the Villages January-February 2022 No. 153

magazine

NEW YEAR, NEW START Books to inspire a resolution

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

PLUS

Alcester Town Council Bidford Parish Council Neighbourhood Watch Community updates

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Useful phone numbers

Welcome

... to the January/February Connection

Happy new year! At the time of writing, we’re facing another uncertain winter of various infection control measures and I 01789 763060 think we had all anticipated that things would be a little more Alcester Health Centre 01789 763293 normal by 2022. I do hope that you managed to create some The Arrow Surgery 01789 773372 joy over the festive period and that the coming months ahead Bidford Health Centre are positive for you.

111 NHS Direct January is notoriously known for being the month of making 116 123 Samaritans changes. Getting rid of bad habits, creating resolutions, and generally trying to be “better”. In the craziness of the past Hospitals couple of years, my new year’s resolutions have changed.

01527 503030 They’re kinder. Less pressured. More accepting that we’re Redditch Hospital 01789 205831 all only human and that sometimes little changes, one step Stratford Hospital 01926 495321 at a time, can be fine too. If you’re wanting to be gentler on Warwick Hospital yourself, perhaps try setting a challenge to read a book a week/month. Or to make sure you get at least half an hour Emergency of quality play time with your children after school. Maybe 999 or 112 Emergency Services resolve to take a walk each day to gather your thoughts.

01789 444816 Our ‘Book’ column this edition has ideas for helping you with Alcester Police 08008 00151 BT Fault your fresh starts on page 8. Or you could make the step to 08004 04090 Electric Power Loss join one of the many wonderful community groups listed on pages 40-42.

08001 11999 Gas Emergency If you’ve been struggling with the excesses over Christmas and need additional support, turn to read our article on Others 0300 555 8171 Alcoholics Anonymous on page 17. And thank you to our Alcester Library 01789 773239 wonderful anonymous contributor for submitting this at what Bidford Library can be a difficult time of year for many people.

Citizens’ Advice Bureau 0844 855 2322 Should you be vowing to ditch the meat or at least cut back 07771 616189 Electrician in 2022, we have a tasty vegetarian tofu noodle soup recipe 01789 766750 for you (p.10). Or pick up some gardening tips on pages 18Funeral Services 01789 762450 20, should you be wishing to spend more of this year getting Locksmith 01789 766200 green-fingered.

Plumber/Heating 01789 270744 February is just around the corner and with it comes Plumber/Heating 01386 871777 Valentine’s Day. Who knows what the travel restrictions will Plumber/Heating 01789 262889 bring, but we’ve a few ideas for where to retreat with your Volunteer Drivers partner for a romantic getaway on our travel pages (p.32-33).

We’re going to sign off here and wish you all a fantastic Schools 01789 762285 couple of months. We know it can feel quite dreary at this Alcester Academy 01789 762494 time of year, but we hope our lovely Highland cow cover Alcester Grammar 01789 762888 model has put a smile on your face!

St Benedict’s High Bidford-on-Avon Primary 01789 773201 Until next time...

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March/April Copy Deadline: Monday 7th February

Facebook.com/theconnectionmag Twitter.com/connection_mag Connection circulation: 11,300 Editor: Amy James Phone 01789 453130 Email: info@connectionmags.co.uk www.connectionmags.co.uk Printed by Warwick Printing Ltd 01926 883355 Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication.

Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. The Connection Magazine does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – without the prior consent of the publisher.

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Give your New Year’s resolutions a helping hand…

Running Made Easy

The Book of Hopes

Jen Gale

Whether you’ve got your mind set on running a marathon this year, or you just want to complete Couch to 5K, this book could prove as invaluable as the right pair of trainers. Within its pages, you’ll nd plenty of tips, running plans and advice, mainly aimed at beginner runners.

Perhaps most importantly, however, you’ll also nd lots of motivational real-life stories of people who’ve used running to dramatically improve their lives.

This book brings together poems, short stories, essays and illustrations – all designed to ‘comfort, inspire and entertain’. It’s perfect for dipping into on a coffee break or when you’re in need of a moment of solace. While it’s aimed at children, there’s no reason why The Book of Hopes can’t be enjoyed just as much by adults. A beautiful book to give or receive.

The Wildlife Gardener

Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating

Everyday Cook

The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide Going green can feel pretty daunting, but this book sets out small steps we can all take to help combat climate change, reduce plastic and cut waste. It’s about making more conscious, informed choices – from small swaps that you’ll barely notice to more impactful life changes. There are no lectures, no guilt trips and no preaching – just relatable, easy-to-read advice and ideas.

Kate Bradbury

British wildlife has declined dramatically over the last few decades. Once common species, such as the hedgehog, are under threat. If you want to play a role in helping to reverse the decline, this book is a good starting point. It’s packed with practical tips on encouraging all manner of wildlife into your garden. You’ll nd stepby-step projects, ideas for plants and plenty of gorgeous photography. And you’ll also be taught how to identify some of your new garden visitors. .

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This is succh a light, refreshing soup and lowcarb too, thanks to the addition of vegetable noodles. You could also use kelp noodles or regular noodles instead.

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 14 minutes Serves: 4 • 1 medium courgette (or use 150g kelp noo odles or cooked regular noodles) • 1½ ½ tbsp olive oil • 45 50g rm tofu, drained and cut into 2cm cubes • 2 spring onions, nely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 600ml vegetable stock • 2 pak choi, roughly chopped • 150g shiitake mushrooms, sliced • 1 tbsp white miso paste • 2 tbsp tamari soy sauce • Handful of beansprouts To serve • 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds • 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves 1. Use a spiraliser to make long noodles from the courgette; alternatively use a swivel potato peeler to create long strips. Set aside.

If using kelp or regular noodles prepare according to instructions and drain well.

2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan and add the tofu. Sauté for 5 minutes over a medium-high heat until the tofu is lightly golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Heat the remaining oil in a pan and sauté the spring onion and garlic for 1–2 minutes over a medium heat. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Add the pak choi and mushrooms and simmer for 5 minutes until the pak choi has wilted. Stir in the miso paste, tamari soy sauce, beansprouts, tofu and courgette (or other) noodles and stir briey.

Turn off fff the heat and allow the soup to sit for 1–2 minutes to allow the noodles to soften.

4. Ladle the soup into bowls and scatter over the sesame seeds and coriander to serve.

Nutrition per serving: 176kcal, fat 10.6g (of which saturates 3g), carbohydrates 5.4g (of which sugars 3.7g), protein 14.5g

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3 Smart Online Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses in 2022 - Amy Arthur at onefoursix (Digital Marketing Agency in Northampton and Warwickshire) Whether you’re planning to start a business or you’re in the process of building one, o it is important to develop a marketing strategy that prioritises a strong online o presence.

Since the pandemic, the amount of people researching local businesses online o has grown to a whopping 97%. This means that it is important to have a str trong online presence to ensure your business is visible to potential customers on the th platform which they spend the most time on.

However, growing your small business in the digital landscape isn’t easy. Between defining your target audience, promoting your services, and getting your brand’s message out there, it can be very overwhelming to new and existing business owners.

On top of that, throw developing a marketing strategy into the mix, and it might seem like you’re trying to learn a foreign language!

How However, with the right strategies in place, you can get on the fast track to growing brand awareness aw and earning ROI.

50% off small businesses don’t have a dedicated marketiing strategy.

A small business marketing strategy not only help ps you to increase consistent brand awareness to your target audience, but also develops a pipeline of qualified leads that could turn into sales. With the right dig gital tactics in place, you can scale your small business marketing efforts to earn you urself more customers in your local area.

Before you get started, it is important to define the following. The answers will determine exactly where you want to be marke eting your business.

• Who are you trying to target, and where do they ey operate?

• What is your budget?

• Do you have the specialisms in house to manage any specific strategies?

• How can you define exactly where a customer has c come from?

Here are some strategies that can help small businesses e hile s earn high ROI. Whil some of it might simply be trial and error, dedicating time and d budget tto your marketing will pay off in sales and brand reputation.

SEO - SEO stands for ‘search engine optimisation’ and refers to where you sit in the search rankings when a user searches for your type of business. When done right, SEO can push you to the top of any Google search, getting you traffic from already interested users and possible leads.

Things you can do to improve your SEO: • Create a Google My Business account and keep it up to date.

• Request Google reviews from your customers (as many as possible!).

• Optimise your website with a keyword and supporting keywords, ensure it is quick, secure and mobile responsive.

• Create original content through blogs or videos and might • Focusing on getting high-quality backlinks (this can be tough going go need to be outsourced) Good SEO can take time to have an impact. However when itt does, it can provide you with regular traffic and leads. In addition to the above it is vitally important d and built well. that you not only have a website, but your website is designed platforms are Social Media - Social media for a small business is a must-have. These T omers daily. fantastic for reaching a larger audience and engaging with custo The average user spends 3 hours a day on social media. While it may seem i every intimidating at first, it’s essential not to spread yourself too thin and join platform. Instead, focus on your target audience.

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What platform do they sp pend the most time on? What type of content do they e the biggest impact? enjoy? How can you make The reason our customerrs use us to manage their social platforms is usually down lack of time, and not knowing what to post. to one of two reasons; la nd block out time in your diary to plan and schedule your social If this is you, try an pos posts.

You can use a social scheduling tool such as Hootsuite or MeetEdgar (Facebook and Instagram actually allow you to schedule direct on their platforms now). If content creation is the issue; break your content into different topics (aka testimonials, case studies, tips...) and check out what your competition are posting.

Ad Campaigns - Ad campaigns (whether they are social ads or Google ads) allows small businesses to display ads when consumers search for certain keywords in a search engine or have specific interests or search behaviours. While it can lead to an expensive bidding war, local markets are often less competitive and the PPC (pay per click) model helps you keep a regulated budget.

Google and Facebook have 2 very different ad platforms. Google generally operate a ‘pay-per-click’ model. For those who don’t know how pay-per-click advertising works, you bid on certain keywords—like “digital marketing agency” or “social media management”, and create ads around those phrases. Advertising platforms will then use an algorithm to display your ads in the search engine result pages (SERP) based on factors such as keyword relevance and landing page quality. You will then have to pay every time someone clicks on your ad.

Facebook (and Instagram) on the other hand displays your ad to users who like certain interests, or have specific demographics or search behaviours (ever wondered why you see ads on Facebook for similar products to what you have just searched for?). You can also target users with ads who have already visited your website or who have been a customer of yours before.

Ad campaigns are a great way of instantly getting your target audience to your website.

JOIN OUR SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING WORKSHOP 2nd February on Zoom at 2pm Lasting for around an hour and totally free, our team of digital marketing experts will take you through some of the key things you should be doing online to market your business. Including a Q&A session.

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DISCOVER

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Your visual guide to businesses, products & services from Alcester, Bidford & the surrounding villages.

Tilly Rose Beauty Boutique, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4BG | 01789 778349

The Village Cafe, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4BQ | 01789 772726

Bonners Jewellers, Alcester B49 5AP | 01789 763715

Contemporary Coverings, Alcester B49 5DA | 01789 400050

Outdoor Adventurer, Honeybourne WR11 7QB | outdooradventurer.co.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous

0800 917 7650 www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

SCAN HERE FOR LOCAL MEETINGS

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ALL ENQUIRIES ARE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE /theconnectionmag @connection_mag 16 connectionmags.co.uk

A New Year Lifeline with Alcoholics Anonymous...

Written by an anonymous contributor.

The last 20 months have been tough on everyone. Here at AA we saw an increase of at least 1/3 to our phone lines during 2020 and the pandemic. With Christmas and New Year behind us and a fresh new year ahead, many might be wanting to seek help after the festive period was ruined by excessive drinking.

AA normally sees an increase in individuals reaching out for help with their drinking problem as the run up to the festive period, and over Christmas/ New Year, is particularly hard on the problem drinker. With social gatherings, Christmas parties, adverts and shops all geared around drinking, many struggle with their addiction.

The season of family, friends and loved ones all getting together to celebrate might be a hard pill to swallow for the alcoholic, who is no longer a part of the festive celebrations due to their drinking habits.

Before the pandemic, AA met for

in-person meetings in church/ village halls, where the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Since the pandemic, AA has turned to online meetings, and in the last year some physical meetings have reopened, adhering to COVID restrictions.

AA runs 7 days a weeks, 52 weeks a year. We do not close, especially now with online meetings, and you can attend an online AA meeting anywhere in the world 24hrs a day. AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience and strength, and hope that with each other they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Alcohol does not discriminate and neither does AA. We will welcome you with open arms; we will guide you on what has helped us to give up alcohol and how to create a wonderful, different life for your future.

We currently have 33 physical meetings weekly across Coventry and Warwickshire.

However, there are hundreds of meetings across the UK weekly, online via our website.

AA is the only thing that has worked for me in the fight against my illness of alcoholism.

I joined AA in Dec 2011 and I have never looked back. The fellowship of AA saved my life back then and continues to save my life on a daily basis.

So if you or anyone you know has a problem with alcohol please contact us. AA is free, confidential and available to anyone who is worried about their drinking.

GET IN TOUCH: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk National helpline: 0800 9177 650 Regional helpline: 02476 612211 Email: help@aamail.org

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17

Winter Heather

Joy in the winter garden The start of a new year often represents fresh hopes for good things to come. It is therefore the perfect time to review your patch of outdoor space to ensure it will provide pleasure – even in January.

Look through your windows to the garden, should you be lucky enough to have one. Does it ll you with joy? There’s no reason why it shouldn’t continue to excite you in winter if you concentrate on both structure and colour. It really needs to sparkle, with or without frost. You need either strong structural design that looks stunning at any time of year, or a wonderful array of rainbow shades, punctuated by architectural forms. But how can you achieve this?

Planting a rainbow Aim to provide something that ts into the chart of the seven visible spectrum colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

Almost certainly, you will already have some green – but do you realise how many different shades of green exist? Of course, there are several hundred and you don’t need to replicate them all! The secret of good greens is to have one shade set off against another – dark and light is the classic combination to create impact.

How about having some ornamental grasses such as Carex ‘Ice Dance’, a sedge that creates a light, bright mound, in front of a dark green evergreen hedge, a holly or a conifer? You can play with greens all year round, but January is the month they can really bring the show alive.

Continued on page 20

18 connectionmags.co.uk

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19

Reds for the winter garden Think about stems and bark as well as owers, foliage and berries. There is a feast of red opportunity to warm up the month. The ery stems of Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ or Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ will set the border ablaze, particularly if you prune down your cornus in late winter or very early spring so that the new growth is pleasingly vertical. The bark of Prunus serrula, or Tibetan cherry, with its rich mahogany shine, can look stunning against a backdrop of dark green hedging or the brown leaves of winter beech. Lower to the ground you might consider heuchera such as H. ‘Forever Red’ or H. ‘Paprika’. Then we have rhododendrons, some of which can be adorned with a blousy show of scarlet this month. Select the early-owering R. ‘Lee’s Scarlet’ or R. ‘Nobleanum Coccineum’ for some January cheer. Don’t forget those redowering evergreen camellias too – their winter owers stand out like beacons against the dark green foliage.

Create orange and yellow sunshine in the garden Pop a few ornamental grasses into your borders or pots and January will glow. The low, mounded form of Anemanthele lessoniana is a great little plant for providing year-round joy. If you have the space, clumps of tall miscanthus with its warm, yellow-orange stems and seed heads will look stunning in January, providing both structure and colour. Choose an orange-stemmed cornus for vertical accent and dot these plants around your garden in repeated forms to bring the picture together. If you have space under shrubs and bare January trees, plant Eranthis hyemalis, the winter aconite. It will create a spreading, golden carpet provided you give it a semi-shady spot. Then for a magnicently structural statement, Mahonia ‘Winter Sun’ is hard to beat. It produces bright yellow, scented owers at the darkest time of year and is a great plant for brightening a dull corner.

Prunus Saaerrula

Beat the winter blues with garden blue, indigo and violet Once again, versatile grasses can t the bill.

Blue fescue is an evergreen grass that can create winter blues that you’ll welcome, rather than a downward mood swing! There are plenty of conifers with steely-blue foliage to provide structure and colour, including Juniperus ‘Blue Star’, a low, spreading, sculptural plant that will provide weed-suppressing groundcover too.

Evergreen Pittosporums such as P. ‘Wrinkled Blue’ are happy to be pruned into sculptural ball shapes to provide mounded, soft shapes, and the evergreen Eucalyptus gunnii with its striking juvenile leaves can also be clipped every year so that it retains a shrub form with blue young leaf colour. For an indigo or violet hue, consider the conifer Cryptomeria japonica, which turns a pleasing shade of purple in winter. Evergreen heucheras can provide low mounds of purple foliage to line your paths and provide a safe haven for garden wildlife.

Your winter garden is likely to be viewed through glass for much of this month, so help it to come alive with colour!

By Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

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Answers on page 46

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In recent months, with new car production badly affected by a shortage of components – namely due to limited supplies of semiconductors, which are used in everything from reversing cameras to safety assistance systems – buyers are ocking to used cars like never before.

It’s having a huge knock-on effect on the prices of used cars too – especially on the models with long waiting times for a brand-new version. In fact, recent data from automotive analysts Cap HPI showed that values rose by 20.3 per cent in a ve month period, with some cars jumping in value by nearly 50 per cent in that time.

It means that used cars are now pricier than they’ve ever been. However, there is still a range of models that continue to offer great value for money. Here are the used car bargains still available.

BMW X3 M Competition BMW’s M division is best known for its sports saloons like the M3 and M5, but these days the brand’s sporty SUVs play an equally important part. Take the X3 M Competition, for example, the brand’s entry-level M model in the SUV lineup – though with its 503bhp twin turbo 3.0-litre engine under the bonnet, it’s far from basic in terms of performance.

If you wanted a new model it would set you back an eye-watering £83,000 (and that’s before you’ve chosen any optional extras). But by looking at used versions instead you can save a considerable chunk of money. We found a 2020 car with just 5,000 miles on the clock for £60,000, which is a vast saving off the original list price.

Continued on page 28...

Vauxhall Astra Though Vauxhall’s Astra might not be the most aspirational car in its class, that has never harmed its popularity. And it’s this that works to its advantage if you’re looking for a bargain, as with the huge choice of models available, it helps to guarantee you a great deal on a used example.

So while the soon-to-be-replaced Astra might cost you £20,000 new, by looking at nearlynew versions you can quite easily save yourself well in excess of £5,000. We spotted a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock for just £13,495 – you’d struggle to nd a new city car for that price. While it’s often overlooked, the Astra is still good to drive, looks good and has a practical interior that is ideal for families.

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27

Volkswagen Arteon Sometimes the best trick to nding a used car bargain is to choose a car that ies under the radar, and one great example is the Volkswagen Arteon. It’s the brand’s most ‘executive’ model these days, yet despite its striking design it’s often cast aside by buyers who favour a more premium badge.

Audi e-tron Due to the increased popularity of electric cars, it often means bargains are quite rare. One exception to that rule is the Audi e-tron – the brand’s agship SUV – which, despite its highquality, tech-laden interior and comfortable drive isn’t holding its value quite as well as you might expect.

By doing so they’re missing out on its rened driving experience, upmarket interior and efcient engines, though. However, you can use this to your benet, as a 2020 car in highspec R-Line trim with low miles is available from around £26,000 – an almost ridiculous £13,000 less than the list price of a new example. So, while used car values might be rising at a silly rate, there are most certainly still bargains that can be had.

But that just makes it a terric used buy, especially as a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock can be had for £45,000 – a huge £15,000 saving on what you’d pay for a brand-new model. Just be aware that this applies to the ‘50’ model with the smaller battery option, which only allows for an electric range of around 200 miles.

Mercedes SL While Mercedes might be gearing up to launch its new ‘SL’ as its convertible agship, its recently axed predecessor is well worth your attention. Though more old-school in its character, this glamorous drop-top is still dripping in class, with a punchy engine that would prove effortless on the long-distance trips this Mercedes is meant for.

Though no longer available to buy new, before its production run ended a factory-fresh version would have set you back upwards of £80,000. But today, you could expect to nd a one-year-old example with just a few thousand miles on the clock for around £65,000. Granted, that’s still a lot of money, but a very generous saving off the original asking price.

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29

BACK OF THE NET I don’t like this time of year. It gets light too late, dark too early and it’s too cold and wet for too long. I think that’s covered it.

Let’s also throw in the fact, as this is a footie column, that too many pundits seem to delight in informing us that ‘the team at the foot of the table at Christmas always gets relegated’.

Now that’s just not being kind to those supporters whose team is the one in that position. I’ve been that fan and it’s given me a good excuse for too many years to bite my nails. However, we all know that Norwich City is a yoyo side (sorry all you Nor-folk) and as they went up last season, so they must go down this season. It pains me to say that as I like Dean Smith and he seems to have had a positive effect since joining Norwich but it’s really not looking good for them just yet.

Who goes with them is not so clear at the moment but in my opinion it’s looking like Newcastle and Watford. Burnley are used to flirting with the drop and it would seem that the law of averages has to work against them soon, but their goal difference is not as bad as the others and I believe that tilts the scales in their favour.

At the other end it’s a straight fight between the usual three but as they are all so far away I’m sure there are too few fans on our patch to warrant a mention of their names ;) I’ve not had a rant about VAR for some time. I do not understand why so many errors are still being made. Mini rant over.

And finally a mention for the first £100 million player. Jack Grealish has made Villa a small fortune but he hasn’t yet lit up the Etihad Stadium. It can often take a few months to get used to a new style of play and I can’t see him being the big name at Man City that he was at Villa but at least he should soon have a few winners medals to show for his move.

Till next time...

Back of the net!

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With Valentine’s Day in the air, what better time to think about treating the one you love to a romantic getaway?

Spending quality time with your lover is important. Whether you’re dating, going steady, or in your ftieth year of marriage, ditching the daily routine and escaping to somewhere outstanding is vital for keeping romance alive.

From luxurious spa weekends to glamping beneath a canopy of stars, there are countless ways to spark up romance – some predictable, and others less so. Whether you’re looking for a short break in the UK or a longer escape further aeld, we’ve got you covered with these ve romantic getaway ideas, guaranteed to add a little spice to your love life.

Spa weekend When it comes to rest, relaxation and romance, nothing compares to an indulgent spa break in a dreamy locale. Although there are plenty of sun-soaked spa locations to jet off to (Bali and the Maldives, we’re thinking of you) the great thing about this type of break is that there’s probably a luxury spa within driving distance of you too.

How does spending the day enjoying one another’s company in a bubbling Jacuzzi sound? Add a couples’ massage, luxurious facilities and ne dining into the mix, and you have the romantic getaway of dreams.

From sprawling country house hotels cradled by beautifully tended gardens to townhouses with ancient thermal spas, there’s a romantic spa weekend to suit every taste and budget too.

Glamping Is there anything more romantic than cuddling up with the one you love in a cosy cabin next to a crackling re? We think not!

That’s why, when it comes to romantic breaks, glamping is certainly top of the list. It’s a broad term, with thousands of ‘glamping’ breaks cropping up all over the world in recent years. However, glamping is loosely dened as a holiday that allows you to experience nature, without having to pack your camping gear.

From yurts in the Swiss mountains to log cabins deep in Canada’s Banff National Park, not to mention tipis, bell tents and hideaways at home too, there’s no better way to reconnect with Mother Nature.

City break When we think of romantic city breaks, cruising along the Seine in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower may be one of the rst things that spring to mind. But Paris isn’t the only city that promises tales of beauty, love and romance.

Rome is famous for its romantic opera, ballet and quaint, hidden cafes, while Venice’s gondola rides amidst historic palazzos are hard to beat. You can even book a serenade for you and your lover! Amsterdam’s dreamy canals and charming pavement cafes also put it high on the list – and that’s just in Europe.

Set your sights a little further, and you and your beloved could be soaking up the old-world charm of Canada’s Quebec City, or cosying up beneath the cherry blossoms of Japan’s most romantic city, Kyoto.

32 connectionmags.co.uk

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Island retreat For many of us, nothing says romance like sinking your toes into a soft, sandy beach – ideally with a cocktail in hand. And while the likes of Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Maldives certainly promise the honeymoon of dreams, there’s plenty of budgetfriendly islands to escape to on a budget too.

From the remote mountainous terrain of Scotland’s Isle of Skye to the unspoilt beauty of Cornwall’s Scilly Isles, the UK is home to thousands of islands, big and small. So, whether you’re seeking outstanding scenery for watching the sunset or beautiful beaches for blustery coastal walks, the island you call home has all the necessary ingredients for your next romantic getaway.

Vineyard stays Culturally, wine has long been an important part of celebrating romance. From anniversary dinners to your wedding day, it’s no secret that a glass of vino makes everything feel a little bit more special. So, if you and your partner share a love for wine and the ner things in life, an intimate vineyard stay should denitely be on your radar when planning your next romantic getaway.

The region of Tuscany in Italy is synonymous with ne dining, with its lush hillside vineyards, winetasting tours and sustainable approach to food. However, you could even nd your dream vineyard holiday closer to home. The UK is home to dozens of estates, ranging from North Yorkshire to Kent, offering accommodation, wine tours, foodie experiences – and more.

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33

NEIGHBOURHOOD N EIGHBOURHOOD WATCH WATCH A ALCESTER LCESTER It could be you! Lottery fraud reports reach highest levels in two years.

New data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, reveals almost £1 million has been lost to lottery fraud in the past seven months.

What is lottery fraud?

Criminals will contact unsuspecting victims informing them they have won a lottery or prize draw. The victim is then informed that they will need to pay an advance fee in order to receive their winnings. In reality, the winnings are non-existent and it is an attempt to steal the victim’s money, personal or financial information. Action Fraud has received 629 reports of lottery fraud in a matter of months.

Fraudsters use gift cards as a form of payment as they can be easily redeemed and sold on. These criminals don’t need the physical card to redeem the value and instead get victims to share the serial code on the back of the card with them.

In some instances, victims reported being asked for personal and financial information in order to obtain their alleged winnings.

Action Fraud advises that the public follow the advice of the ‘Take Five to Stop Fraud’ campaign to keep themselves safe from fraud. (Google it.)

Stop! Unsolicited offers of large sums of money in return for a small upfront payment should always raise a red flag. Taking a moment to stop and think

before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

Challenge! Could it be fake? Remember, you can’t win a prize in a competition you didn’t enter. It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect!: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Online charity fraud over the past year Data from Action Fraud reveals that £1.6m of the public’s money was lost to online charity fraud over the past year.

The fraud captured by this data includes requests for donations for non-existent charities and the fraudulent collection of funds for genuine charities.

Members of the public must make some simple checks before giving to charity to make sure their donations reach the intended recipient. These include: check the charity name and its registration number on the Charity Commission website to find out whether the charity is registered and committed to excellent fundraising. Look out for the Fundraising Badge on charity marketing materials – when people see it, they can have confidence in a charity’s fundraising. Ask questions about the cause – if people are still unsure about giving, they should always ask for more information. Legitimate causes will be happy to respond.

Communicating with the Police: Emergencies and active crime, call 999.

The Police non emergency number: 101 to be used to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

101 diverts to your local Police. Calls cost 15p per call, (landlines and mobiles).

Alcester Police South Safer Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Team email: alcestersouth.snt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk SGT 1685 David Ebbs david.ebbs@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PC 1672 Rob Davies robert.davies4@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PCSO 6327 Carolyn Davis carolyn.davis1@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PCSO 6111 Gary Johnson-Jones gary.johnson-jones@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk Alcester Office 01789 444816.

Always report an active crime on 999. Nonemergency calls on 101. Online reporting

services are also available on our website: https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/ Facebook - Alcester Police Twitter - @AlcesterCops Instagram - southwarwickshiresnts Call Crimestoppers anonymously with information about crime on 0800 555 111.

Crimestoppers is a charity that will pass on information to police without revealing any details of the caller.

Contact Warwickshire Trading Standards 01926 414040 to report a suspect rogue trader. General advice on scams and rogue traders contact 0845 4040 506.

You can also report a fraud or cyber crime to Action Fraud on: 0300 123 2040 or visit www. actionfraud.police.uk.

For more information about Neighbourhood Watch Alcester please contact nhwalcester@ gmail.com or telephone Dorrie Manders on 01789 762999.

Alcester is a relatively crime free area. We work together to keep it that way

34 connectionmags.co.uk

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The ways in which we protect our homes have changed. From CCTV systems to good old-fashioned burglar alarms, the list of home security gadgets is endless. But just how safe is your home?

Last year there were more than 260,000 cases of home burglary in the UK, the majority of which were conducted by amateur thieves.

Statistics show that your home is ve times more likely to be targeted if no visible security measures are in place.

How do I know if my home is secure?

With an understanding of basic theft prevention and an assessment of your property’s security, you will be in a better position than most to know if security improvements are needed.

Keep valuables out of sight Removing valuables from an outside viewpoint gives thieves no reason to target your property.

This includes car keys, smart devices, bags and jewellery. Even the packaging of expensive items shouldn’t be left outside as this acts as an advertisement to criminals.

Check for vulnerable entry points Forcing entry to a doorway is the most common tactic for burglars to enter your property. Ensure all entrance points are secured with suitable locking mechanisms.

Windowless doors with a minimum of two locks are best.

Keep sheds and garages secure Thieves will often enter a rear garden to obtain tools from a shed or garage. Never give an intruder the opportunity to use your own belongings against you.

Under lock and key – over 70% of home intruders gain access to properties by entering the front door. Always ensure it remains locked, along with all other entrances and windows.

Let there be light – outdoor lighting on timers or infrared motion sensors are a lowcost solution for deterring would-be intruders.

Make sure you focus on dimly lit areas, which are hotspots for attacks.

Smile for the camera – an alternative option to a CCTV system is a wireless doorbell camera. Burglars tend to knock on the front door before entering a property, to check if anyone is at home. With a door camera you will naturally deter intruders and be able to see who is knocking via your smart device.

Home and away – the longer a house is uninhabited the more vulnerable it becomes. Use automatic lighting and timers for internal electronic devices to come on in the evenings, to give the illusion that your house remains occupied.

Play it safe – with a simple safe box your goods stand a better chance of remaining in your home. Fixing your safe securely in place in a hidden spot is the tried and tested method for preventing thieves escaping with your valuables.

Think like a thief Attempt to gain access to your own home without using a key. Understanding your home’s weaknesses will help you to understand what improvements are needed.

Don’t make it easy for them If you lose your house keys, replace the locks immediately. You should never leave house keys under the doormat or owerpot; this is the rst place intruders will check.

To advertise please call 01789 453130 or email info@connectionmags.co.uk

35

Alcester Town Council JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2022

Alcester welcomes Winter Wanderland again Alcester Town Council is delighted to announce that Window Wanderland will take place in 2022 for the third year running.

Last year there were 28 excellent entries and the competition was won by an ‘Underwater’ entry.

This time, the event will run from 15 to 22 January 2022. Judging will take place on the evening of 22 January conducted by the Mayor and Consort who will award a prize to their choice of best window. Entries can be made via the website www.windowwanderland.com/event/ alcester-2022/. If you don’t want to be a ‘Window Maker’ you can just download the map from the website and be a ‘Window Wanderer’ and enjoy an evening stroll admiring the entries.

Christmas Fayre Greig Hall

Welcome back Alcester and the Greig Hall!

For the first time in a decade the hall was opened to the public- for a Christmas Fayre.

Events included 30 ‘crafters’ selling their

36 connectionmags.co.uk

goods; Santa’s Grotto; hot food and drinks; live entertainment and much, much more.

Over 600 people attended- all having a marvellous time. Same again next year?...

YES!

Town Council Meetings

Following removal of COVID restrictions, Council meetings are now being held in person at Globe House with the exception of Planning Committee meetings which will continue as an advisory committee using Zoom.

Please note Community Care and Community Facilities Committees meet bimonthly. All meetings commence at 7pm.

Full Council Meetings: Tuesdays 4 January & 1 February Community Facilities: Tuesday 18 January Presidium: Tuesdays 25 January & 22 February Community Care: Tuesday 15 February Planning Committee: Mondays 10 & 31 January & 21 February All Town Council meetings remain open to the public.

Agendas are published on the Town Council website: www.alcester-tc.gov.uk and copies can be viewed on the council notice boards.

Alcester Town Council Contact Details:

The Town Council offices are open Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm.

If you have an enquiry for the Town Council, please phone 01789 766084 or email clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk and we will repond as soon as we can.

Alcester Town Council offices: Globe House, Priory Road, Alcester B49 5DZ Tel: 01789 766084 Town Clerk - Vanessa Lowe: clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk Planning & Communication - Sarah Duran: administration@alcester-tc.gov.uk Community Care - Jenny Theobald: office@alcester-tc.gov.uk Facilities - Jan Rowlatt: reception@alcester-tc.gov.uk Health & Wellbeing - Wendy Sherwood: info@alcester-tc.gov.uk Further information can be found on our social media pages: www.facebook.com/alcester www.twitter.com/AlcesterTown

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37

Bidford on Avon Parish Council in the County of Warwickshire

BIDFORD RURAL CINEMA Due to the continued COVID situation and current guideline, we feel it is not possible to foresee what the circumstances will be in the new year. We will restart as soon as it is safe to do so and will update the website accordingly as well as the noticeboards.

YOUR VILLAGE, YOUR CHOICE a new Your Village, Your Voice Working Group has been formed and it will be recruiting volunteers from all those that ticked the box.

Terms of Reference were approved by Council at its December meeting and it is hoped that things will really kick off in the new year.

A dedicated, Your Village, Your Voice site is available on the Parish Council website, where you will find all the information regarding this new, important, project to address the recreational facilities of the village. https:// bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk/your-village-yourvoice/ QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE The Parish Council has already started planting trees to commemorate this momentous event: •

32 x trees in the Queens Platinum Jubilee Copse, Millers Bank, Broom.

Whips to follow

•

9 x trees in Dugdale Sportsfield.

Whips to follow.

•

Working in partnership with Warwickshire County Council to plant trees on the Queens Jubilee Garden, St Laurence Way.

•

Procured 105 whips that it has donated to the Bidford on Avon Platinum Jubilee Event and they will be planted in a years’ time around the village.

PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY - BIDFORD EAST WARD A vacancy has arisen following the resignation of one of the Councillor representing Bidford East Ward. The official notice’s 14 days finish on 22nd December and, in the event there is no call for an election, the Parish Council will proceed to co-opt.

If you are interested in joining the hard working, forward looking Parish Council, please contact the Clerk on 07718 628925 or email info@ bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk for information and the application form.

PARISH COUNCIL OFFICE Due to COVID, things are very fluid at present with the guidelines changing continuously.

38 connectionmags.co.uk

Depending on these, the Clerk may be working from home but is contactable on her mobile 07718 628925 or by email info@bidfordonavonpc.gov.uk. If you need an appointment to see her, this can be arranged.

COVID As we are all well aware, it has not gone away and a new, very transmissible variant, has now reached us. Please make sure you, your family and friends/neighbours keep safe.

Please attend your vaccination call or attend one of the free clinics to make sure you are fully vaccinated, including the booster if applicable to you.If you need help, please contact the Clerk (who is also a Community COVID Champion) who will try to give you guidance.

MEETINGS • Planning Consultative Committee Meeting: Monday 10 January & 14 February, 7.30pm.

• Parish Council Meeting: Monday 24 January & 28 February at 7.30pm.

All meetings, which are open to the public, are held at the Parish Council Meeting Room, Bramley Way, B50 4QG (unless stated otherwise). It is at these meetings that decisions that directly affect our village and our local community are made – so be part of it and come and see it happens.

BIDFORD EMAIL INFORMATION Want to know what is happening in the village every week? Sign up by emailing the Clerk at info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk and your name will be added to the Weekly email Information list and you will receive an email regarding upcoming events and notices.

SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook - Bidford on Avon Twitter - @Bidford_PC. Instagram - bidfordpc PARISH COUNCIL CONTACTS Clerk to the Parish Council – Mrs. Elisabeth Uggerløse.

Tel No. 07718 628 925 Email: info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk Website: www.bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk.

A list of Parish Councillors can be found online: bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk/councillors.htm

Elisabeth Uggerlose - Clerk to the Parish Council

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OPENING HOURS:

Free Quotations and Advice Call Pete on 01789 764118 or 07761 348755

Monday-Friday: 9am - 4pm Saturday: 9am - 3pm DOG FRIENDLY Follow @bidfordvillagecafe on Facebook & Instagram.

www.chartel.co.uk pete@chartel.co.uk

Bidford Pharmacy 17 High Street, Bidford-on-Avon, B50 4BQ e: bidford.pharmacy@numarknet.com w: bidfordpharmacy.co.uk t: 01789 772433

Providing NHS services

Serving the local community for nearly 40 years.

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Follow Bidford Pharmacy on Facebook for news & updates.

You can visit the pharmacy at: 17 High Street, Bidford-on-Avon n, B50 4BQ HI

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Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm | Saturday: 9am - 1pm | Sunday: Closed

To advertise please call 01789 453130 or email info@connectionmags.co.uk

39

community events & what’s on...

To publicise any community events, email info@connectionmags.co.uk by 8th of February.

Broom WI

6th January: Games Evening & Beetle Drive.

3rd February: Chernobyl...

Past, Present & Future presented by Sarah Westmacott.

Both meetings will be held in Broom Village Hall commencing at 7.30 pm.

Salford Priors Ladies Group Wednesday 12th January, 'History of Johnson's Coaches'. Wednesday 9th February, AGM. Contact Barbara McIlwaine on 01789 778392 for details.

Alcester WI

We have really enjoyed our autumn meetings and now have our winter programme organised.

On January 13th we are looking back to the "good old days" - the 1960s! We shall be hearing part 2 of the fascinating story of Mary Quant. No prizes for coming in a mini skirt!

On February 10th we are hopefully planning to go on holiday with Johnsons Coaches.

Something to really look forward to and to plan for.

Both meetings start at 7.30 pm and will be held at Malt Mill lane Community Centre.

We wish all members and their friends a happy and healthy 2022 and look forward to seeing them at meetings.

Bidford on Avon WI On Thursday November 11th we held our AGM to elect a new committee. It was very pleasing to see that all of our members had renewed their subscription in April, in spite of it having been a difficult year with a lot less meetings than usual.

In addition to the AGM we had a Fun Auction with members donating items to be sold and the money raised going towards paying for our celebration in December of 90 years of Bidford on Avon WI. This celebration should have been held in March but because of COVID restrictions it had to be delayed.

We shall start the new year on January 13th at our new home, Church Hall, Church Street, Bidford on Avon, B50 4DA. Our speaker for that evening will be Andrew Taylor. His talk will be ‘Trying to get it right. A life in journalism ‘ . We are always pleased to welcome visitors and we have an interesting and varied programme planned for 2022. If you would like more information please phone Elizabeth on 01789 778887 or Pauline on 01789 773390.

40 connectionmags.co.uk

Cookhill Garden Club

On Wednesday 19th January at 7.30pm, the Club has a talk by Derek Bull on 'The Reluctant Gardener' with plenty of tips on making gardening easier. Non members are always welcome. Wednesday 16th February at 7.30pm, the Club has a talk by Carol Smithson on 'Perennial Geraniums: May to November'.

Non members are welcome. Details from 01527 894317 or website www.cookhillgarden.club.

Bidford Gardening Society

Thursday 20th January, 'Bees! - solitary, bumble and honeybee life cycles and needs', by Jo Worthy-Jones.

Thursday 17th February, 'Winter into spring', by Julie Richie. All meetings are held in The Crawford Memorial Hall, Bidford, 7.45pm for 8.00pm start.

Further details on www.Bidfordgardens.com.

Alcester & District Men's Probus

Alcester Mens Probus is a group of retired business men meeting on the 4th Wednesday of the month for lunch followed by a guest speaker. Meetings are at Kings Court Hotel, Alcester 12:15 for 12:30. New members welcome. Full details of membership are available by email: david@hancox1971.co.uk.

Alcester Flower Club

We are planning to start meeting again on Monday 7th February, which will be our AGM. For information please contact Marian Buchanan 01789 400868 or Wendy Beesley 01789 762865.

Alcester u3a We welcome new members to our monthly meetings

on the first Tuesday of the month at the Eric Payne Community Centre off St Faith’s Road, Alcester.

Meetings start at 2.30pm. Members also have the option of joining a number of interest groups. For more information see our website https://u3asites.org.uk/ alcester/home or contact our Membership secretary, Lyn Pickering (membership.u3a.alcester@gmail.com or 01527 453628).

Alcester Ladies Probus Club

Best Wishes to all Members, keep safe and well.

Contact: Hon.Sec. Cynthia Hill: 01789 763446.

Bidford Darby & Joan

We meet at Westholme Court, Westholme Road, Bidford, every Thursday from 2pm. Come and join us.

Bidford Community Group - Jolly Teapot

Bidford on Avon Community Group hold a get together each Thursday 9.30 to 11.30 am. You are welcome to join us at Crawford memorial Hall.

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What we do & why we do it!

These are the events we managed to hold in 2021

Attended Oversley Green Scarecrow Competition, Ran Big Breakfasts at Alcester & Bidford, took part in Christmas Lights switch-on & Christmas Fayre at Alcester.

And this is why we do them! Recent donations to:-

Alcester Dementia Day Care . Bidford Dementia Group . Alcester First Responders . GAGA . Alcester Scouts . Alcester Food Bank .

Alcester Depot Youth Club . Bidford Banner Group . Global Sight Solutions . Royal British Legion . ABLE . Alcester Community Xmas lunch fund . Malt Mill Lane Residents Xmas lunch fund .

Take a look at our NEW website to see what we have planned for next year! www.alcesterbidfordrotary.co.uk Dates for the diary, Big Breakfasts: Bidford on 5 March & Alcester on 12 March Thanks as usual to the hard work of all our members, friends & volunteers. Why not come and join us?

For more information please email alcesterbidfordrotary@gmail.com To advertise please call 01789 453130 or email info@connectionmags.co.uk

41

community events & what’s on...

Alcester Cafe Alcester Cafe is running a Befriending phone, checking carers and people with dementia. They also have two Zoom groups, one for carers and another for a KIT (Keeping in Touch) group. Contact Carole on 01789 488088 for more information.

Bingo at Bidford Bowling Club

Sudoku solutions (see page 6)

Easy grid

Come and join us on Friday nights. Eyes down 7 pm.

Licensed bar at popular prices.

Alcester & District Local History Society www.alcesterhistory.org.uk Contact Alan Godfrey 01789 765385.

Bidford History Society

Not so easy grid

www.bidfordhistory.org.uk

Alcester Town Hall alcestertownhall.org.uk Details of more events can be found as they are updated on alcester-tc.gov.uk and bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk websites.

Alcester Grammar School Sundays 4pm - 5pm January 30th - 10 weeks £5 per session (or £40 for 10)

JAN 2022

Ages 9 to 12

Y SAOSCO E NEJNOJYOA I ACLI A L E VEEVNEIN NIGN O EK T ET G FOCFRCI CRKI C A NADNFDU F NU N

Enquiries : girlscricket@arpcc.org.uk

42 connectionmags.co.uk

Alcester & Ragley Park Cricket Club APRCC_Womens

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R e g is t e r y o u r i n te r e s t v i a em a i l Register your interest via email l a d i e s @a r p c c .o r g . u k

ladies@arpcc.org.uk

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New year, new home

“Your days, your loudest laughter and deepest loves are still ahead of you”

Make your move this year. Don’t miss out!

Buy from £317,000 | Rent from £1,710pcm* Our village is ready for you.

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01789 867 233 | greatalnepark.co.uk *Monthly rental payments do not include utility bills and service charges. These fees are paid separately.

Puzzle Page Answers on page 46.

Each word to be three letters or more (but no plurals), and all must contain the central letter. There’s at least one word which uses all of the letters.

PICTOGRAMS

Each of these pictures represent a well-known phrase 3 Words

Target: Excellent: 20 or more words Good: 16 words Fair: 12 words

♂♂ BEHAFING

T

2 Words

F_RST OF APR_L

I

W N E R

5 Words

OBYORK

Quick Crossword 1

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44 connectionmags.co.uk

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Across 1 King’s title (7) 5 Herb (5) 8 Sprays water (9) 9 Curved line (3) 10 Sword (5) 12 Remote military camp (7) 13 Incendiary guns (13) 15 Highest noble rank (7) 17 Tests (5) 19 Concerned with the environment (3) 20 Raised area (9) 22 Give up (5) 23 Wandered (7) Down 1 Disguises (5) 2 Glass container (3) 3 genuine, honest (7) 4 Colourful small birds (13) 5 Hat (5) 6 E.g.EastEnders (4,5) 7 Finds (7) 11 Region in space (5,4) 13 Nervous (7) 14 Outside (4-3) 16 fear (5) 18 Church council (5)

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Down: 1 Masks, 2 Jar, 3 Sincere, 4 Yellowhammers, 5 Beret, 6 Soap opera, 7 Locates, 11 Black hole, 13 Fidgety, 14 Open-air, 16 Dread, 18 Synod, 21 Ivy.

Kids Puzzle Answer (left to right)

Red square - 1 4 5 4; Blue square - 3 1 2 4 Green square - 2 4 0 3 Mitchell the monkey is saying, ‘May I have a banana sandwich?’

A river A towel A hole

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