Letters to the editor

Thank you so much to all those who have written over the past two months and shared stories and pictures with us here at Shire. Reading your letters really does brighten our day so do keep them coming and get in touch on any topic you like, with pictures when you have them. Just email us at editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk

If you haven’t been able to get out and grab your own copy of Shire, don’t panic. As always we have a supply of previous issues we’re happy to send out. Let us know if you’ve missed an edition and we can pop it in the post to you. Just send an SAE for £1.60 to Shire Magazine, PO Box 276, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 1FR.

Maybe receiving a copy as soon as it is out would be easier for you. Why not subscribe to Shire and we’ll send each new issue straight to your door? See page 56 for details.

Keep in touch – we love hearing from our readers across the patch!

Monkey business

I wanted to share some good news to put a smile on your readers’ faces as a baby cotton-top tamarin has been born at Chester Zoo. The photos are too cute! These miniature monkeys are one of the world’s most endangered primates, with only 2,000 left in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade.

The little one weighs just 40g and is 10cm tall, so it’s too tiny to determine its gender at the moment. The baby will be carried by both parents for the next six months, but it’s dad Leo who’s been doing that job so far, handing over to mum Treat for feeds.

In order to help save the species we only recently started pairing them at the zoo again. This is the fi rst cotton-top tamarin to be born at Chester Zoo in 22 years and we’re overjoyed.

Siobhan Ward, Primate Keeper at Chester Zoo

The new arrival – so adorable!

New business owners at Trading Space

Trading spaces

I’d like to tell readers about a great new and vibrant retail unit that is breathing life into Aberystwyth town centre. The Trading Space on Great Darkgate Street welcomes independent entrepreneurs and sustainable, ethical start-ups by giving them a place to sell their wares, from arts and crafts to gifts, food and drink and more. They also have access to free training, business advice and resources including IT equipment and marketing support.

Part of Antur Cymru’s New Skills New Start programme, it gives vital experience in growing a business, which has a knock-on e ect for the economy and town centre growth. It’s brilliant – thanks to all for being part of the scheme.

Project Manager Julie Morgan

READER FEEDBACK

What a great read and a lovely bright and cheery publication – so much more enjoyable to read than any of the newspapers at present.

Joy Rogers

I wanted to pass on my thanks for getting a copy of your magazine to my elderly mother every time. She can’t get out and really appreciates it being delivered.

Anon

Picked up your Shire mag from Sainsbury’s in Neston. Great publication, will look out for future editions.

Bernard Rose

So impressed with this magazine – can’t really believe it’s free, but I’m not complaining!

Jen Symmonds

Cancer care at Carden

Living with cancer is something that many of us will face at some point in our lives, a ecting not only the person diagnosed but also those closest to them. This has certainly been the case for many of us at Carden Park. I’m therefore delighted to announce our partnership with Amanda Winwood, founder of SpaFest, to launch SpaFest Gives Back, a nurturing and supportive wellness day for people in our community going through treatment for cancer and their guests.

SpaFest will take place on 14th June at the Carden Park Estate, Cheshire and we have 40 tickets for two available. The event is a partnership with SpaFest and Carden Park, supported by the British Beauty Council, SATCC (Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care) and UKSA (UK Spa Association) to spearhead and innovate change. Our guests can look forward to trying products and therapies from leading spa brands such as Gharieni, Made for Life Organics, Murad and Therapy Teas from Camellia’s Tea House, with a goody bag of products to take home. Guests will also be able to have a 20-minute taster sessions of Touch Therapy provided by Carden Park and Made for Life Touch Therapy specialists. And in our deep meditative sleep area, people will be able to experience 20-minute taster sessions of the new Circadian Rhythm Reset Ritual combining Gharieni’s new concept bed and Made for Life Organics.

To apply for tickets please visit the Spafest website spa-fest.com/spafest-gives-back/. Tickets cost £25 each, which is a special discounted price for the event. There is also the option of the Twilight spa event with life coaching, which costs £45 per person. We are honoured to be the location for the fi rst ever SpaFest Gives Back event and are very much looking forward to meeting our guests and giving them a wonderful nurturing and supportive wellness day to remember at Carden Park.

Emma Pridding, Spa Director, Carden Park Hotel

The tranquil setting for the fi rst SpaFest Gives Back

COMING NEXT ISSUE

By the time your next issue of Shire Magazine hits the shelves we will be in the middle of the summer season – and no matter what that brings, whether rain or shine, you know we’ll have a packed publication to keep you entertained. So make sure you grab your July and August copy and get set for summer!

PICK UP THE NEXT ISSUE AT THE SUPERMARKET FROM JULY 1ST

SUMMER FUN

However you plan to fill your sunny days, we’ll have all the best of Shire to share with you – from days out around the patch to special places to visit, whether it’s along our stunning coastlines or in the heart of the countryside. Make the most of the weather and take some time out to enjoy our incredible region, with your favourite magazine to give you the lowdown on what to do where.

Another top local chef will be sharing a favourite recipe and we’ll have tasty avours, wine advice, beer news and a chat with one of our amazing producers in a fabulous food and drink section. Whether you’re planning a picnic or betting on barbecue weather, Shire’s on hand to make sure your summer dining is truly delicious.

Booked up

We speak to another local author who has been putting pen to paper and now made it into print, as well as bringing you writers who use our region as their inspiration for stories and sagas of all varieties. Our friends from Lingham’s booksellers in Heswall will have some suggestions as well – so all in all, we’ve got your holiday reading covered!

Garden glories

With owers in full bloom and gardens green and glorious, we’ll be featuring some horticultural treats for you to visit over the summer. Whether you want to wander serene around a stately home or haggle and barter at plant fairs, we’ll keep you posted about gardening greats and ower festivals going on across the Shire patch.

SNAP TO IT

Our photography competition will be back with a whole new theme to challenge you – and if you’ve entered this time, make sure you grab a copy to see if you’ve made it into print. Alongside the photos we’ll have a full arts section as always, including a round-up of exhibitions to inspire you to aim high with your creative endeavours.

GRUB’S UP! GREAT GETAWAYS

We’ll be continuing our round-up of the best holiday parks, canal boats and even motorhome hire. It’s not too late to grab a summer break, thanks to our holiday guide.

Whether it’s the latest look for the beach or a fresh way to fashion your home, our style team will have all the latest design ideas and top trends to keep you up to date with what’s hot in clothes, beauty and interiors.

YOUR TOWN We’ll take a look at the mini city of St Asaph and the Wirral town of Heswall as we continue our journey around some of the beautiful locations on our doorstep.

We’ll all be out and about as usual, doing our best to watch as many shows and get to as many events as we can, so we can report back and give you a feel for the local entertainment scene.

Summer styles

SHOW REVIEWS

DON’T FORGET… Don’t go anywhere until you’ve checked our What’s On guide for July and August. With the long school holidays looming, you’ll want to keep the next issue of Shire close to hand with its 50-page guide to all the events and activities across the region.

GET IN TOUCH

Shire wants to hear from you!

1. Tell us about your upcoming events

We work in advance, so June 1st is the deadline to let us know about events for our July/August 2022 issue.

2. Share your reader stories

Have you got an extraordinary or exciting story to tell? We would love to share it with our readers. Send us an email and don’t forget to include a picture or two!

3. Contribute to one of our pages

Send all your submissions and pictures by email to editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk or call 01691 661270. You can also get in touch via social media – just search for ‘Shire Magazine’ on Facebook or Instagram.