CotswoldXL Magazine Issue 17 by CotswoldXLmagazine

Welcome

A warm summer welcome to our July issue from everyone here at the CotswoldXL team.

Our Team

FOUNDER

Chris Brown

MAGAZINE COORDINATOR

Kim Raxter

EDITOR

Mide Carter

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Joshua Higham

DIGITAL CONSULTANT

Tobias Taylor

Get in Touch

If you would like any further information or would like to advertise in our next edition, please contact CotswoldXL on:

Office - 01386 700117 Sales - 07771 953669

©The CotswoldXL Magazine is published by CotswoldXL.com | All original words & images are the copyright of CotswoldXL and may not be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Advertisements submitted for inclusion should comply with ASA Code of Practice. Full terms & conditions and privacy statement can be seen at CotswoldXL.com/terms-of-service

CotswoldXL™ | Cotswold Select™ and the XL™ device are trademarks of CotswoldXL.com

PAGE 6

Things to do in the Cotswolds this Summer

See some of our top suggested things to do in the Cotswolds this summer.

PAGE 12

British Owls - The Barn Owl

Explore a deep dive into the majestic British owl, the barn owl.

PAGE 40

No Churn Orange and Basil Ice Cream

Enjoy this recipe for delicious no churn orange and basil ice cream

A Letter From The Editor.

The wheat fields are turning golden and the schools are out. The holiday season has begun, and the UK breathes a collective sigh of relief. July and August are a time when traditionally, many of us take a break abroad or in the UK, go on day trips or simply laze around the garden a little more than usual. It means these final summer months have a completely different rhythm than the rest of the year.

I like to create a reading list specifically for these months. It’s always light easy reading, I feel like nothing should be too taxing in July and August. I can quite happily laze in the garden all day. Even better if it’s with family or friends. There should also be a supply of satisfying treats on hand. If you turn to P40 You can find my recipe for no-churn orange and basil ice cream. I warn you, it’s very good and, as always, ridiculously easy. It’s an easy win if you want to impress someone with your cooking skills. I tend to make a batch of my rosemary shortbread too (last issue recipe), they go beautifully together.

If you’re looking for things to do this summer turn to P6 and ‘Things to do in the Cotswolds this Summer’ for some simple and easy ideas. We’ve popped in some inexpensive ideas too; summer doesn’t have to be about bankrupting everyone.

Find out about how rat poisons are threatening wildlife on P24 and learn all about beautiful Barn Owls on P12.

Have a really wonderful summertime and make sure you make time to do very little –it’s good for us.

As ever, if you have an interesting story or just want to share your business or way of life, we’d love to hear from you. Drop me an email via our contact details and we’ll be in touch.

Mide x

Things to do in the Cotswolds this Summer

HIRE ELECTRIC BIKES AND TAKE A TOUR

There’s nothing quite like exploring our beautiful region on a bike. An electric bike means you’ll keep going a little longer and probably go a little further too. You can hire one and see where the paths and roads take you, or hire one as part of a tour group that lets someone else do the hard work and lead the way.

Several companies are offering simple bike hire or additional tours too:

• Cotswold Electric Bike Tours (www.cotswoldelectricbiketours.co.uk)

• Cotswold eBikes (www.cotswoldebikes.co.uk)

• Cotswold Bike Hire (www.cotswoldbikehire.co.uk)

GO FLY A KITE

Harnessing the wind and sending a kite high into the sky is exhilarating. Many Cotswold commons and playing fields are ideal for kite flying on a windy day. But Minchinhampton Common, sitting above the Stroud Valley and Severn estuary, is a renowned and wellloved kite-flying spot. They even hold a kite-flying festival there in May. The common has been owned and managed by the National Trust since 1913 and is a beautiful place to visit, brimming with wildlife. There’s non-designated parking near the Minchinhampton reservoir.

BUY A PAIR OF BINOCULARS, CREATE A NATURE SPOT-SHEET AND OBSERVE OUR LOCAL WILDLIFE

This is a cross-generational, simple activity offering hours of pleasure for everyone. Turning your binoculars to the sky, trees or undergrowth can offer some delightful surprises. From beautiful birds of prey to a skulk of foxes playing together in a field, getting close to nature can be incredibly rewarding.

Create a nature spotting sheet and note down your finds along the way, making sure to record where and when you saw each animal. Also, get down what they were doing and how healthy they looked. It doesn’t matter if you see lots of the same animals, you’ll come away with a hands-on picture of the wildlife around you.

We like the Nikon PROSTAFF P3 Waterproof Binoculars 10 x 42 Green available at John Lewis for £129.

Stow-on-the-Wold, where a bloody Civil War battle took place

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN CIVIL WAR HISTORY

Two battles of the English Civil War of 16421651 took place in the Cotswolds. Just north of Bath, on 5th July 1643, the final stages of the Battle of Lansdown were fought as the Royalists tried to capture the cities of Bath and Bristol. The next was at Stow-onthe-Wold on the 21st March 1646, when a Royalist army marched through the town hoping to join up with the King in Oxford. A fierce Parliamentary Army met them and a truly blood battle ensued.

The Cotswolds were also strategically important, and you can walk in the footsteps of Oliver Cromwell and Charles I and their armies all over the region. Most notably there’s rich history in Bourton-on-theWater, Moreton-in-Marsh, Winchcombe and Broadway.

GO FOSSIL HUNTING

The Cotswolds are famous for having an abundance of fossils, many of them evidencing that the region was once deep under the sea. For adults and children alike, a fossil hunt is a fun and rousing day out.

Head over to any of these sites in the Cotswolds and close surrounding areas that have rich pickings for fossil-hunting fun:

• Cleeve Common – Southam, Cheltenham GL52 3NF

• Robinswood Hill – Reservoir Road, GL4 6SX

• Soudley Valley – Sutton Road, Cinderford, GL14 2TU

• Wainlode Cliff – Bishops Norton, Tewkesbury GL2 9LW

Alternatively, if you’re on a public footpath that happens to pass by a recently ploughed field, there’s a plethora of ‘Gryphaea’ or Devils Toenail’s to be found even on the edges. We see them most days when we walk the dog, it’s an easy win for an excited and curious child. Devils Toenail’s –abundant in the Cotswolds

Sudeley Castle from the air

VISIT A HISTORIC HOUSE

There’s no shortage of stunning historic houses to visit in the Cotswolds. Some properties are privately owned by individuals or organisations and the National Trust manages others. You can visit a house for an event, such as a classical concert, or simply for a day out to explore the house and grounds. Generally, there’s always a charge. However, a historic house and grounds can offer a chance for the whole family to explore and immerse themselves in history in a truly beautiful place.

Here’s a pick of our favourites:

• Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe

• Snowshill Manor, Snowshill

• Blenheim Palace, Woodstock

• Westonbirt House, Tetbury

• Owlpen Manor, near Uley

WORDS BY MIDE CARTER

COMMERICIAL & RESIDENTIAL GROUNDWORKS

LeBrun maintain the ideal balance: Large enough to handle expansive developer projects yet compact enough to undertake civil engineering tasks for domestic new builds or remedial works.

BRITISH OWLS

The Barn Owl

Owls evoke a sense of old magic, myth and mystery, peppering historical mythology and literature worldwide. They often appear as symbols of wisdom and good fortune but also as omens of death, evil and impending doom. With their haunting hoots, silent flight and nocturnal habits, whatever you believe, owls inspire wonder and awe. We’re privileged in the British Isles to have five resident species, four native – the Barn Owl, the Tawny Owl, the Long-eared Owl and the Short-eared Owl. Then the Little Owl was introduced in the 1800’s from mainland Europe. This month we’re looking at the beautiful Barn Owl.

THE BARN OWL

With their unmistakable white feathers and heart-shaped faces, it’s truly thrilling to catch sight of a Barn Owl. They have bright white underparts and mottled golden upperparts. They can often be confused with a Short-eared Owl when in flight. But a Short-eared Owl has glowing yellow eyes and is more heavily patterned. Like most owls and birds of prey, the female barn owls are larger than the males.

The Barn Owl also has a distinctive screech making them easy to identify.

WHAT DO THEY EAT?

Barn Owls are ardent hunters. They glide effortlessly over open grassland searching for voles, mice, shrews or rats. They easily catch their food due to their incredible long-distance vision, sensitive hearing and silent flight.

BREEDING

There’s no set breeding season for Barn Owls, they’ll often breed when food is abundant. This generally falls between March and August. As the name implies, Barn Owls like to nest in old barns or buildings, sometimes the hollows of trees. They prefer to build their nests on top of the debris from the year before and will lay around 4-6 eggs. They hatch after a month and fledge at approximately two months old.

WHERE TO SEE THEM

Barn Owls live across the British Isles and Ireland. Their numbers were in decline but there are positive signs of recovery. They live in open countryside and farmland; sometimes, you can see them on roadside verges if you’re lucky.

WORDS BY MIDE CARTER

With so many sole traders and electrical companies to choose from it can be difficult to find a reliable electrician in the Vale-ofEvesham and the Cotswolds.

Whatever your requirements we promise to be punctual, helpful and offer you a value for money quality service.

Domestic & Commercial electrical

• Fault Finding

• Fuse Board installation and replacement

• Electric Car Charge points (EV)

• Steel Containment

• Rewires

• Data cabling

• New and additional power point installation

• Smoke detection installation

• PAT testing

• Flood /Outdoor Lighting

• Domestic and Commercial Rewiring

• Landlord Certificates

• Electrical Testing and Reporting (EICR)

• Planned and re-active maintenance

• LED Lighting upgrades

• Single & 3-phase Commercial, Industrial & Domestic DID YOU KNOW?

Suppliers of new & used Groundcare machinery, service and parts throughout the West Midlands and Warwickshire.

WE ARE RECRUITING

Due to further expansion plans we have opportunities in the following roles:

Area Sales Manager

Sales Administrator

Parts Assistant and Counter Sales

Apprentice

Parts Assistant and Counter Sales

Service Technicians and Engineers

See our website for full details and job decriptions

& Curios 4PM

tors that take the time to eds of very reasonably itional setting. I am always th the beautiful Cotswolds time to visit Dunc’s Den 946

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence with Thomas Fox Landscaping!

From humble beginnings to a team of over 30 dedicated landscapers at the height of the season, we take pride in employing local talent and delivering exceptional results for both domestic and commercial projects.

With Grounds Maintenance Contracts for over 30 Parish Councils, our reputation for excellence speaks for itself across Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire.

Commercial Property & Estate Management contracts available

HOW TOXIC RAT POISON IS KILLING OUR WILDLIFE

Would

You Poison a Bird of Prey?

The prospect of a rat or mouse infestation in our homes, lofts or garages is enough to make many of us feel a sense of disgust and dread. It makes sense that, if we discover a potential problem, we call in the experts or take care of it ourselves with poison. But the trouble is this poison is indiscriminate and is killing our wildlife. From birds of prey to barn owls, many of us are unknowingly killing the birds and animals we love via an agonising death.

Rat poisons such as Brodifacoum are anticoagulants. The animals that ingest it bleed internally and often suffer a long agonising demise. If another animal eats that animal – such as an owl eating a mouse – it will also cause the death of that owl. The poison will remain in the owl meaning if another animal, such as a fox, dog or bird of prey scavenges on the carcass it will also die. It takes ingestion from 5 animals for the poison to dissipate. This means that as well as wildlife, a well-loved family dog could ingest the poison and die horribly.

Businesses play a role too. The rules and regulations around food production aggravate the problem. Regulations mean that there is sometimes an unnecessary overuse of poison whereby individuals such as farmers, for example, hope to prevent a problem before it’s established to ensure they keep food standard verifications and survive as a business. This is completely understandable, but the effects can ravage wildlife. Regulations around food production need revision to be fair and realistic meaning no one feels forced to over-use poison to keep their head above water.

Ironically, overuse now means rodents are developing an immunity to poisons. So, the rodent lives and the population grows whilst killing any animal that eats them. Essentially, in the long term, poisons are making the problem worse. It’s all utterly pointless. The legislation around rodent poisons needs to be changed to make it effective, less hysterical and less about short-term fixes that can cause long-term catastrophic problems.

On a personal level, there are things we can do to control vermin rather than use poison."

On a personal level, there are things we can do to control vermin rather than use poison. Firstly, it’s important to remember that most gardens will have a small population of rats and mice visiting and they cause no problems – it’s completely normal and part of nature. Inherent historical hysteria around rats and their links to the plague means culturally we still have extreme reactions when we see a rat. However, to give us peace of mind and prevent infestations there are things we can do to minimise their presence.

The most effective method is to remove what is attracting the animal in the first place. This typically includes food, shelter, and nesting sites. By doing this you make your garden less interesting to them.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE

• Clear up any food such as pet food, spilt bird food or fallen fruit

• Feed birds in hanging feeders, not on a flat table

• Trim trees and bushes so they don’t provide an easy route to the feeder

• Add a baffle to your feeder pole to stop rodents from climbing it

• Keep composting in a secure compost bin

• Place all refuse in your wheelie bins

• Tidy up any overgrown areas which might be providing shelter

• Store compost, logs, coal etc in sturdy sealable containers

If this doesn’t work, the next step is to take steps to deter the animals. To do this, you can offend their senses; taste, smell, hearing and sight.

Start with Taste – add peppery products to your bird food. The birds can’t taste it, but rodents don’t like it.

Then Smell – use commercial deterrent products such as ‘Squirrel Away’, ‘Scoot’ or ‘Keep off My Garden’.

Hearing – employ sonic deterrent devices or windchimes to create unpleasant sounds.

And lastly with Sight – use brightly coloured wind spinners or CDs hanging from string to give random movements to spook the rodents.

Keeping Rodents Out of Your Home

If you have concerns about rodents entering your home, there are also steps you can take. The most common entry points are where pipes enter your house or through broken air bricks. The pipe holes can be covered with metal plates or filled with wire wool or expanding foam. Your air bricks can be covered with metal mesh such as the purpose-made ‘Mouse Mesh’. If rodents are tunnelling in your garden, the most effective way to stop them is to put a paving slab down in the area. Alternatively, shingle are harder for them to burrow into. Keeping your rubbish in a secure metal bin, and your food in the fridge or covered by a solid, secure cover means rodents are less likely to be enticed inside by smells.

Together we can ensure the survival of the British wildlife we’re all so proud of.”

However, if you need help with a rodent problem, some companies offer a nonpoison approach, we recommend Humane Wildlife Solutions as a good first point of contact (details below). Together we can ensure the survival of the British wildlife we’re all so proud of.

Humane Wildlife Solutions www.humanewildlifesolutions.co.uk Tel: 07771 361 226

WESTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS

VISIT US TODAY..

Cotswold Automotive

Full range of services, ranging from Servicing to MOTs for all makes and Models.

Call us: 01386 841727

Cotswold Oak LTD

Bespoke construction, joinery & new house development services.

Call us: 01386 898086

Website: www.cotswoldoakltd.co.uk

Cotswold Raw Ltd

An independent, family run company, producing delicious and nutritious raw dog food.

Call us: 01386 426335

Website: https://www.cotswoldraw.com/

Alan Yates Motor Engineering

Vehicle servicing & repairs.

Call us: 01386 841233

Broadmark IT LTD

Computer equipment and related services to homes.

Call us: 01386 841900

Website: www.broadmark.co.uk

Butty Hut

Hot and cold sandwiches, breakfasts, snacks, hot and cold drinks.

Call us: 07800 905375

Camgraphic

Custom engraving and print in wood, acrylic for businesses.

Call us: 01386 849217

Website: woodensignskeyringsbadgestokens.co.uk

DS Blinds

Measuring, supply and fitting service. Quality exterior and interior blinds.

Call us: 07967 992368

eSX Productions

We’re an event production company offering hire & event production services for high impact business & private events.

Call us: 01386 896828

Website: https://esxproductions.co.uk/

George Willcox LTD

Suppliers of granite memorials.

Call us: 01386 840855

Website: www.willcoxgranite.co.uk

Granite Planet

Beautiful, bespoke worktops. We create and install quartz, granite and ultra compact surfaces.

Call us: 01386 840868

Website: www.graniteplanet.co.uk

Grinnall Carpets

Carpet tiles, vinyls, flotex, karndean, naturals, woods, laminates.

Call us: 07834 486687

Website: grinnallcarpets.co.uk

WESTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS

Grizzly Custom Vans

Custom Camper Conversions. Full or partial builds, Pop-tops, Carpet lining, Electrical installation, flooring and Cabinet installs and more…

Call Us: 07776 826268

Holden Garden Machinery

Garden machinery specialists.

Call us: 01386 841285

Website: www.holdengardenmachinery.co.uk

Interfab LTD

Interfab is one of the UK’s leading Corian® and solid surface fabricators.

Call us: 01386 858100

Website: www.interfab.co.uk

John Russell digger Hire

Professional Digger Hire & Groundworks Services for The Cotswolds and The Vale of Evesham.

Call us: 07813167190

Website: https://www.groundworksdiggerhire.

Joinery Classics

Bespoke furniture and joinery manufacture for high end domestic and corporate interiors.

Call us: 01386 841888

Website: www.jccreed.co.uk

KDE Partnership

Quality electricians offering bespoke services.

Call us: 01386 578404

Website: www.kdepartnership.co.uk

KL Evesham

Timber and associated product supplier.

Call us: 01299 252921

Website: www.klevesham.com

L and J Rider Training

Motorcycle and scooter tuition.

Call us: 01386 840588

Website: ljridertraining.co.uk

PFH Fabs Ltd

Welding and manufacture of fabricated metal products.

Call us: 07977 849622

Outdoor Adventurer PHX Security

Outdoor goods from hiking and camping to snowboarding and climbing.

Call us: 01386 841899

Website: outdooradventurer.co.uk

Professional security services for both commercial and domestic customers.

Call us: 01386 841982

Website: www.phxsecurity.co.uk

R Christie Picture Framer

Classic and contemporary picture framing, gilding, and frame restoration services.

Call us: 01386 841177

Website: www.richardframemaker.uk

R Rodgers Motor Engineers

Motor engineer specialists.

Call us: 01386 840981

Realm Engineering

Produce replica cars and manufacture specialist car parts.

Call us: 01386 849116

Website: realmengineering.com

A traditional barber with professional service.

Call us: 07825 047677

Website: secretbarber.com

Secret Barber Spacemaster

Manufactures a whole range of products designed to protect doors and windows.

Call us: 01386 848852

Whitsun Motorsport Ltd

Vintage and historic motorsport specialist.

Call us: 07584 433722

Email: info@whitsunmotorsport.com

Worktops on Avon Ltd

Your replacement worktop specialist in Warwickshire and the cotswolds.

Call us: 07935 329582

Website: https://www.worktopsonavon.co.uk/

No Churn Orange and Basil Ice Cream

Ice cream is delicious at any time of year but during the warmer months, it’s particularly satisfying. It both cools you down and gives you a satisfying hit of sweetness. But it’s not just about the sweet hit for me – I want ice cream that has full, fresh flavours. The cheap synthetic stuff pumped full of air won’t do it for me.

This is where homemade ice cream comes into its own. You can play with the flavours and create something really impressive, fresh and tasty. This no-churn orange and basil recipe means you don’t need an ice cream maker and, as ever with me, it’s ridiculously easy. This is a recipe you’ll come back to again and again; it’s a simple way to impress guests or feel like you’re giving your family a really special, fresh home-made treat.

Ingredients

• 500ml double cream

• 100ml condensed milk

• 3 fresh oranges cut into 1 cm chunks and separated from the juice

• Zest from 1 orange

• Small handful of finely chopped basil leaves

• 1 tbsp spoon lemon juice

Method

STEP 1

Pour the double cream into a bowl and whip with an electric mixer until the cream forms peaks.

STEP 2

Add all the other ingredients – the condensed milk, orange, zest, lemon juice and basil and mix really well.

STEP 3

Place in a container, then cut out a piece of greaseproof paper to fit the top. Place it on top of the mixture, pushing it gently so it sticks to the top. This is to prevent ice crystals forming.

STEP 4

Freeze for about 6 hours before serving. Remove from the fridge about 15 minutes before you’re ready to dish up.

DRIVEWAYS, PATHWAYS AND ROADS

FARM SHOP COFFEE SHOP AND

OPENING HOURS

FARM SHOP : Tues - Sat 8:30am - 5pm Coffee Shop : Tues - Sat 8:30am - 4pm

CLOSED : Sunday & Mond

Locally grown seasonal vegetables from our own Washbrook Farm.

Fresh fruit and locally sourced produce.

Home-made

Gluten-Free,

CotswoldXL Digital Business Directory

The CotswoldXL online business directory is your go-to guide for some of best local services on offer throughout the Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham. We have made it easy for you to select and connect with some of the best local trades in the area. TURN TO NEXT PAGE TO