Direct Local North Somerset Magazine June 2020

1st -June 7th April 20202020

NorthSomerset Somerset Edition North Edition

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Welcome to this months magazine, as we enter half way through the year what have you achieved so far? During lockdown it seems a lot of DIY work has been done in the garden and in the our homes that has probably been put off for years.

As summer approaches we will probably be spending more time than ever at home in our gardens with barbeques and sun bathing so why not make it the best it can be. However, if you’re like me and not a big fan of the sunshine, especially when is scorching hot outside then your inner sanctum that’s your home is going to be your best friend sat in front the TV with binge worthy box sets. Either way just enjoy the slower pace of life at the moment as before you know it we will be back to running around like headless chickens queuing up at shopping malls trying to get the best deals.

I suppose looking back on the lockdown we will all think how nice the simple life really is and want to return to the peace and quiet all over again without the Draconian lockdown measures and the dreaded virus that is Covid-19. On that note please stay alert this month and safe lives by not venturing out to the hot spots around Bristol to grab those rays.

This month..

5. Make your own mask 6. Your garden in June

The team EDITOR Michael Davies WEB DESIGNER Matthew Clarke ACCOUNTS Lisa Davies PROOF READER Elisabeth Davies Advertising sales Tel: 0117 3258029 Mobile: 07500 017236 Email: info@directlocalonline.com Distribution: Direct Local North Somerset edition reaches around 21,000 people each month with weekly updates to our Online interactive magazines Why not sign up on our website to receive our bigger and better weekly virtual magazine, full of local news events competitions and much more

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8. The Space Program Hits Bristol 11. Coffee, Walnut and Baileys Cake 13. 82 year old man 14. Horoscopes Jiune 17. Puzzles 18. Great Western Air Ambulance 23. Big Win £250

Issue 13 June 2020

Disclaimer The opinions expressed in Direct Local do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publisher or their agents. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included within this publication, the publisher takes no responsibility for errors or omissions in Direct Local.

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MAKING AND WEARING YOUR OWN CLOTH FACE MASK The Government is has now advised us that we should aim to wear a facemask or “face covering� as the government has dubbed them in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not possible with others that they do not normally meet up, for example on busses or in some shops.

Its recommended not to touch the front of the face-covering neither should you touch the part of the face-covering that has been in contact with your mouth and nose. Once you have removed it, make sure you clean any surfaces the face-coveringhave been in contact with.

You should wash your face-coverings as regularly as possible. You can pop it in with other laundry, using your normal detergent or use a specialist detugent if you wish like Dettol laundry cleaner.

Also when wearing a face covering, take care to tuck away any loose ends.

The easing of the rules for lockdown announced on Sunday only covers England, whilst Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sticking with more strict guidance of stay at home. Studies show that What you will need: homemade face-coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission. However face coverings are not 1. An old T-shirt that you do not want anymore going to help the wearer, but to protect against the (ideally small) transmission of the disease to others if you have it 2. Scissors any symptoms.

A face coverings are not the same as a face mask that surgeons have or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by thw NS or care industry and other workers. These supplies must continue to be reserved for those who need it most. Face-coverings shouldn’t be used by children under the age of two, or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly, for example primary age children unassisted, or those with respiratory conditions. However It is important to use face coverings properly and wash your hands before wearing one and taking them off.

The latest government advice is as follows A cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably. It can be as simple as a bandana tor scarf that ties behind your head. Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on and after taking it off and after use. You must avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth at all times and place used face masks in a plastic bag until you have an opportunity to wash them thoroughly.

1: Cut a straight line across the width of the T-shirt (front and back) approximately 20cm from the bottom of the T-shirt.

2: From a point 2cm below the top right-hand corner of the fabric, make a 15cm horizontal cut through both sides of the fabric that is parallel to the top of the rectangle.

3: Cut down towards the bottom of the fabric until you reach approximately 2cm above the bottom edge. From here, make another 15cm cut that runs parallel to the bottom of the fabric to make a rectangle that can be discarded.

4: To make the ties, cut open the edge of the 2 long strips of fabric. Unfold the main piece of fabric and place over the mouth and the nose. The 4 strips act as ties to hold the cloth face-covering in place and should be tied behind the head and around the neck.

6 to 7 inches Cut out

Cut strings

7 to 8 inches

Tie the strings around your neck and then around the top of your head like so.

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Your Garden In June

Come June, its pretty safe to say that the risk of frost is behind us – summer is on its way and it’s time to make sure the garden is in good shape for the summer months. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the garden is bursting into life. This makes June a particularly busy month for the green-fingered among us with lots of planting, pruning, maintenance and weeding to do done. All our hard work is sure to be worth the effort though as we sit back and admire the onset of summer in our garden.

Plant of the month: Rose

The essential gardening jobs for June

Plant baskets and containers Now the risk of morning frost has passed, its time to plant up your containers, hanging baskets and planters. If you already had them growing in the greenhouse, or hardening off outside during the day, then It’s now safe to move them out to their summer position – choosing a sunny spot will ensure you get the best from them. Trim any excess growth to maintain shape and deadhead regularly to encourage flower growth. Water at least once a day or more frequently when it’s hot dry and windy. Regular feeding – once per week in the summer – will also help your plants to thrive.

Mow lawns once a week The lawn will be growing fast now and will continue to do so throughout the summer, so a good weekly cut is essential to keep it looking neat and tidy. To make sure your lawn looks its best for summer, apply a spring fertiliser onto established lawns now.

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A good feed and a regular close cut will encourage extra growth making your lawn thick and lush.

Don’t forget to reduce cutting frequency and raise mower blades if we have a drought.

Why should you plant them?

Roses suit all kinds of gardens –they come in huge variety of colours, shapes and scents. They can be grown in beds, borders and containers and can be grown up walls, fences and trellis.

Care for your roses June is traditionally the month when roses are at their peak. You will need to keep an eye out for black spots and aphid attacks.

Both of these will need treating immediately to ensure that too much damage doesn’t occur.

Black spot is a serious disease for roses caused by a fungus which infects the leaves and reduces plant vigour, and should be treated at first sign of infection with a fungicide. Green fly are sapsucking creatures that can alter the growth of roses, also decreasing their vigour. Treat roses that are being attacked by aphids with an insecticide.

How should you plant them?

Roses grown in containers can be planted all year round – check the label when buying though as their preferred spot and conditions will vary depending on the type. Dig a hole roughly twice the size of the root ball to a spade’s depth, dig in a good quality compost and fork in a general fertiliser.

Deadhead any faded rose blooms to encourage fresh buds to grow and apply a rose fertiliser after the first flowering.

Plant the rose to the same depth as it was in the container, firm down and water well. Apply a rose fertiliser every spring for amazing displays of colour.

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THE SPACE PROGRAM HITS BRISTOL

Based in South Liberty Lane BS3, on the Freightliner site, we already have 40 containers on the ground – our full capacity will be over 200.

The Bristol South Space Program is now in launch mode…interesting timing I agree!!

A mix of 20ft x 8ft and 10ft x 8ft units provide the flexibility for most storage needs.

We decided to proceed with opening up this new storage centre despite the challenging economic times because we believe there are businesses out there that need our help. For example, people who may be worried about the security of their stock if their premises are vacant.

All our containers are at ground level meaning you can drive right up to your unit. No trollies or lifts to worry about.

A new addition to the Space Program family already hiring out secure, self-storage containers to a range of domestic and business customers at our depots over the West Country.

My name is Ian, and as the Mission Controller here in Bristol, my aim is to deliver exceptional service to all my new customers and make their experience a joy rather than a chore!

This is already happening in our other branches in Weston, Bridgewater, Swindon, Avonmouth & Tewkesbury.

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Our rates are fully inclusive of 24/7 access and CCTV, padlock and insurance on the contents of the unit up to a value of £20,000.

Importantly, we have devised a way to complete any paperwork online, so in these challenging times, we can fully observe the government’s social distancing guidelines to keep both you and our team members safe.

I am here 8.30am – 5.30pm Mon-Fri to help in any way I can.

Give me a call on 0117 290 0408 for a chat – my first 10 customers will be able to take advantage of our special ‘launch’ offer.

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Marie Curie’s famous fundraising campaign goes virtual to recover devastated fundraising income Marie Curie’s famous Blooming Great Tea Party is going virtual this year and the charity needs Bristolian tea party hosts more than ever before to make up for the devastating effect the coronavirus crisis has had on the charity’s income.

The end of life charity is calling on you to throw a Blooming Virtual Tea Party from home this summer.

While staying indoors is the new normal, throwing a virtual tea party is a fun way to stay connected to the ones you love during this time and a great way to support nurses working on the frontline of the crisis.

“I’ve met their nurses before. They are inspiring, kind, caring and loving people who are currently caring for people at the end of their lives and keeping people out of hospital, helping the NHS cope with the Coronavirus crisis. Every last crumb of the money you raise will help people at the end of their lives. So please join me by raising a cuppa, and some money, in your lounge or garden for the Marie Curie Nurses on the front line”.

Natalie Garland, Marie Curie South West Fundraising Manager said: “Our Blooming Great Tea Party looks a little different this year but I think everyone needs an excuse to meet up with their friends and family – online of course – and check in on the people they love. If you can do that while raising some money for Marie Curie, then your generous donations will enable us to help even more people at the end of their lives get the care they need in this time of uncertainty.

“We rely on the support of the amazing public to ensure our nurses can keep caring for people. And while the coronavirus crisis has badly impacted our fundraising events, we hope by going virtual we’ll be able to raise the vital funds we need to keep supporting people in our communities across our region.”

In people’s homes across the South West the charity is caring for people with terminal illnesses, as well as people with Covid-19, and is protecting the NHS by keeping patients away from hospital.

However, as the charity has stepped up its support for the nation, its fundraising income has been devastated by the impact of lockdown measures – it had to cancel its Great Daffodil Appeal in March and closed all its charity shops shortly after (including shops in Whitchurch and on Gloucester Road).

That is why the charity and its celebrity ambassador, Mel Giedroyc, are encouraging everyone to download Zoom, Skype or Houseparty and connect with friends and family while raising some money at the same time.

Cake lover and tea party extraordinaire, Mel Giedroyc says: “You can bake it, fake it, brew it or stew it – whatever your cup of tea, Marie Curie’s Blooming Great Tea Party is going ‘virtual’ this year and it’s a simple way to keep in touch with your chums, while raising money for a wonderful cause, which, I think you’ll agree, we all need right now".

“Marie Curie needs to raise a massive £2.5million each week to care for the tens of thousands of people who need its nursing and hospice care. This year, the amazing nurses and frontline staff need you more than ever, as the fundraising events they rely 10on have all been cancelled.

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To register as a Blooming Virtual Tea Party host visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty or call 0800 716 146 for you fundraising pack full of hints, tips, recipes and fundraising ideas.

Stuck for recipe ideas? You can find plenty of nspiration on the Marie Curie website or why not try out this Coffee, Walnut and Baileys cake recipe kindly provided by Marie Curie South West Community Fundraiser Lynda Thomas.

Coffee, Walnut Method: and Baileys cake Cake: 8oz butter or soft margarine 8oz caster sugar 8oz self-raising flour 4 eggs 1 tsp baking powder 1 tablespoon coffee essence 2oz chopped walnuts Filling: Âź pt fresh double cream And a good dash of baileys Topping: Glace icing made with approx. 4oz icing sugar and approx. 2 tablespoons of coffee essence Truffles and flaked almonds

Grease two 8� sandwich tins and line the base of each with greased baking parchment.

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the flour, baking powder and then eggs and coffee essence. Mix together and then add the chopped walnuts.

Divide into two tins and bake for 25 mins on 180 oC/ Fan 160 oC/Gas 4 until well risen and golden brown.

Whip cream until stands in soft peaks, gently mix in Baileys.

When sponge is cold remove from tins and sandwich together with the cream mixture.

For topping mix icing sugar with coffee essence to make a spreadable icing, make sure it is not too runny. Spread over the top of the cake and decorate with truffles and flaked almonds.

Enjoy!

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82-year-old Martin Pollard describes his long-standing role as ‘dream job' Wyke Farms, the UK's largest independent cheese producer, and producer of renewable energy, celebrates one of its longest standing employee's 33 years' service this month.

Martin Pollard joined Wyke Farms in May 1987 as a ‘South West Sales Rep', tasked with developing sales in the area through wholesalers and food services, including schools and colleges. In a pre-Internet era, Martin would source sales potential in his local library using the Yellow Pages and out in the field by ‘van spotting'. He also targeted dairies who still had milk floats and offered farm visits generously so as many people as possible could come to Wyke Farms to experience the cheese making first-hand. His ‘wholesale' and ‘school' business increased and many of the contacts he made all those years ago are maintained today: "Most of my wholesalers are good friends, we support each other," says Martin.

"Times and methods have changed; I no longer need to drive so much but relationships are still at the heart of what I do," he continues.

During Martin's time at Wyke Farms, his daughter Sarah also joined the team. This is not unusual for the company where many generations of the same family can be found; 15% of the Wyke Farms work force also have a relative working in the business and over one third of employees (34%) have been with the company for over 10 years. At 82 years old, Martin has no plans of retiring and this month secured his 10,000th cheese order. He will be officially celebrating his success with Wyke Farms after social distancing measures are relaxed.

"When we interviewed Martin, it took me less than five minutes to decide he was the one for us! An exceptional salesperson, and a fine man to boot," said John Clothier, Chairman, Wyke Farms.

Wyke Farms' cheese and butter is made with the milk from their cows grazing the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills in the centre of the Cheddar making region in Somerset.

Wyke Farms products are available in selected Lidl stores and in South West UK ASDA, CO-OP and Tesco stores. All products are available online at: www.wykefarms.com/shop

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JUNE HOROSCOPES

Aquarius Jan 20-Feb 18 If you are missing your social life at present, remember this will not last forever. Use this time wisely, and step back and do a review of different areas of your life. This could mean you will find a new project or interest, Or decide to do a good clear out. It could be beneficial to you to follow your intuition, and to also try and take note of it.

Keywords. Review, and intuition Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 It seems very likely that you are feeling a little pulled in several directions at present.

Stop and take a breather, and allow your mind to drift and see if this helps you to find some clarity, to help you decide your next move. You may find you are putting off something that if you put your mind to, you will find a new energy for yourself, and something to be proud of.

Keywords clarity and inspiration Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19 You may be struggling a bit as you may be feeling stuck.If at all possible, try and relax into being more flexible, and sensitive to yourself and others Needs. If things are getting to you a little, remember everything changes and renewal will be on its way, you may find some new opportunities in the near future.

Keywords sensitivity and flexibility Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 You may have moments of feeling a little fraught, and sometimes a little overwhelmed.

For you at this time, it may be helpful to try and keep a balance in your life, and allow yourself some loving kindness. You have many close friends and family, and you are all very supportive to each other. Remember, you have an amazing inner strength, and you can face things that you don’t always think you can.

Keywords balance and inner strength Gemini May 21 - June 20 You may be feeling a little frustrated at not being able to do some of the things you really want to do right now. Take a deep breath, and allow yourself a little you time, to allow yourself to calm down, and help you see things more clearly. You have amazing quality of endurance, and inner strength.

As well as a great and creative imagination.

This could be a time for putting that creativity into motion.

Keywords. Balance, clarity and creativity Cancer June 21 - July 22 If you feel that you have decisions to make, a bit like standing at a crossroads. This could be a good time to look at the situation, or problem that you have been keeping on the back burner.

Remember that when we hang onto things like storing up too many things in a house, so can the mind can become cluttered. So take a step back and look at the situation or problem from different angles. Once you have Rrealised or released this, you may well find opportunities coming your way.

Keywords. Realisation, action and opportunities 14

Leo July 23 - Aug 22 Your emotions may be feeling a little in a tangle at the moment, if this is the case spend some time and think of all the positive things that you have, and begin to plan for things that you want to do in the future. If this is difficult for you, try and get outside and be with nature, she always has something wonderful to give us. Maybe take a camera and take some beautiful photos, or maybe see if you get inspiration to write poetry, or something new and wonderful. Things will begin to move forward,, and new things and opportunities will be here again keywords. Positivity, planning and new interests.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22 This may be time to look round and gather not just your thoughts, but possibly things that are in wrong places, or that need to be dealt with.

Giving things a CleanSweep both in the practical, and in the mind, can be very beneficial.

Follow your intuition, and you will find this Will help to renew your own energy, and positivity, for your surroundings and for yourself.

Keywords. Clearing, positivity and intuition Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22 This could be a good time to review a few things that are on your mind, to see what needs weeding out and what can be brought in without too many major adjustments. This could bring a lot of new and interesting things into your life, And may bring you Some renewed inspiration. if you find some things quite difficult, remember you have a strong Character that can carry you through most difficulties.

Keywords. Review, redo, and renew Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 You always seem to be on the go, and have a little time for yourself. If you can, try and find a small space in your day to review and reflect on your day, and plans for the future. You like to try and help people, sometimes you can be a little forceful in your comments,, if you can, be more sensitive for your own feelings as well as those of others.

Flexibility can sometimes be a good thing to, as long as it doesn’t mean you straight from your own values.

Keywords. You time, flexibility and sensitivity Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 This seems to be a time of collecting and\or reviewing. It may literally be a time to gather your thoughts, as much as anything else. Try and keep calmness and balance, and use this time for clearing your environment, and keeping your mind clear of negative thoughts. There will soon be some opportunities coming your way.

Keywords. Gathering, clearing, and new opportunities Capricorn Dec 22 0 Jan 19 This could be a time for new ideas or projects, especially if you are feeling a bit stressed due to our current circumstances. Give yourself some you time, and reflect on things that may need some nurturing. This could be your home environment, or relationships.

Keywords nurturing and renewal

Thank Cod for Fish and Chips!

Following the resounding success of last year’s National Fish and Chip Day, and in response to the Government’s recent announcements, we are absolutely delighted to say that our celebration of the nation’s favourite dish will go ahead in 2020, but a little later than planned ‪on Friday 4th September!

As well as being one of the most popular awareness days of the year, we want National Fish and Chip Day this year to be even more special as we say a very big thank you to this amazing industry who are at the centre of every community, and who have, when able to do so safely, adapted to keep us fed, and when that wasn’t possible have kept us all safe by remaining closed at great sacrifice to their business. All of them have shown great resilience throughout lockdown.

So let's make National Fish and Chip Day 2020 the best yet as we bring together everyone involved in creating this iconic British dish; from Fish & Chip shops, pub chains, restaurants, retailers, to the fishermen and farmers who provide the sustainable and natural ingredients needed to create this family favourite.

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Last year National Fish and Chip Day was a day like no other, with everyone talking about the nation's favourite dish from first thing in the morning until late at night! People across the country came together to celebrate their love of fish and chips. Shops reported their highest footfall of the year…even higher than Good Friday in many cases. 62 million people would have seen, heard or read about National Fish and Chip Day and our hashtag was #1 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook from 8am until 8pm. This is the biggest food awareness day of the year and we would be delighted to help you generate some fabulous content.

More information to follow but in the meantime, call Jo on 07734 050238 or email jo@risecommunications.co.uk or Sarah on 07786 261934 sarah@ risecommunications.co.uk if you would like to discuss feature ideas.

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THE FORCE, EXTERMINATE AND F.A.B. WILL SEE US THROUGH LOCKDOWN As you’d probably expect, again this month we’re doing things a little differently. Cinema doors sadly are still closed, but things are slowly improving, and luckily there’s plenty of binge-worthy entertainment to watch at home.

The Empire Strikes Back

Here we’ll highlight the top TV and films available on a range of streaming services.

Last month saw two Star Wars movies – Revenge of the Sith and The Empire Strikes Back – celebrate major birthdays. That’s why now is the perfect time to delve into The Mandalorian on Disney Plus. An 8-part series set between the events of Episode VI and VII, it follows a lone bounty hunter journeying from planet to planet in the hopes of protecting a vital asset.

Meanwhile, over on Netflix, the long-awaited TV adaptation of Snowpiercer arrives. Set in the far future where humanity must keep moving to survive a frozen Earth, the lower classes will only stay satiated for so long. Then The Lovebirds has recently started streaming, following a romantic couple’s attempt to track down a murderer.

Don’t discount the joys both Brit Box and Amazon Prime bring either. The former features old-school English classics like Doctor Who and Thunderbirds, while Prime is stacked with original TV shows like Upload and New Amsterdam to check out.

The sun might be shining, but there’s plenty of boxsets set to encourage you to stay safe and at home. The month of June needn’t be a month of moan.

Article by Aaron Potter

Thunderbirds

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Snowpiercer

Sudoku Puzzles

Word Search PROTECTIVE RUTHLESS SCATTERED SILENT SQUALID STRONG

BUSTLING CEASELESS CRAZY CURIOUS CURVED DEBONAIR

DELIRIOUS DIZZY EASY EQUABLE FURTIVE GRANDIOSE

GROTESQUE HYSTERICAL MAD MILITARY MODERN NUMBERLESS

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD Here are this weeks 3 puzzles to test your number crunching skills ranging from easy to medium and hard.

Click the download symbol below to download our puzzles and competitions to your phone or computer and complete at your own leisure.

Print it or write directly on the PDF its up to you.

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Great Western Air Ambulance Charity to receive one-off government funding in response to COVID-19 Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) welcome today’s announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care that Air Ambulances UK are set to receive £6 million of funding to be distributed amongst the UK’s 22 air ambulance charities, in response to COVID-19.

It is yet to be confirmed how much GWAAC and each of the air ambulances will receive, but the funding comes as part of £22 million which is being awarded to health and care charities to allow them to continue providing vital support to their communities during the pandemic.

Despite the lockdown, GWAAC’s Specialist Paramedics and Critical Care Doctors have continued to work on the frontline, stepping up and adapting their lifesaving service to support their NHS colleagues in the fight against COVID-19.

The crew have been attending to COVID-19 patients as part of their normal day-to-day service, adapting their work to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed to remain safe. The charity is also providing Specialist Paramedics to work on a 24/7 Trauma Advice Line to support land crews and ease the strain on the NHS, and previously provided Specialist Paramedics and ventilators to assist with inter-hospital transfers for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Like all air ambulance charities across the UK, GWAAC are not funded by the NHS, and receive no day-to-day funding from the Government, relying on vital charitable donations to raise the £4 million a year needed to remain operational.

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Anna Perry, CEO of GWAAC, says: “Although it is unlikely that the money we receive from this pot of funding will cover the shortfall we are expecting in income this year, it will make a huge difference to us being able to continue providing our lifesaving service to those in need, allowing us to be more resilient in these uncertain times. We look forward to receiving further details over how the funding will be allocated.”

Due to COVID-19, many fundraising events and campaigns have had to be cancelled or postponed, having a significant impact on income for charities across the UK. This announcement comes at a time when funding is needed more than ever to ensure that Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, who have seen their number of call-outs start to rise again, can continue providing their vital services.

Anna continued: “We are eternally grateful to have such a generous and supportive community that recognise the invaluable service our crew are continuing to provide on the frontline of this pandemic. We are proud to be supporting our NHS colleagues in the fight against this virus, and we couldn’t do this without them.”

GWAAC provides the critical care and air ambulance service to 2.1 million people across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. Their crew bring the skills and equipment of a hospital to the scene of the most critically ill or injured across the region, providing lifesaving treatment where it’s needed the most.

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The Lockdown Landlords of Bristol Despite Government regulations that have been in place since the 26 March 2020, when in-person viewings were made illegal, Bristol buy to let landlords have during that time been chomping at the bit to build their property empire by looking at buying additional properties for their Bristol buy to let portfolio. There are plenty of investors who think nothing of legally committing to buying a property ‘off plan’ before it’s built – yet over the last few weeks, it has become the norm in the second-hand Bristol property market and they have now stolen a march and bagged some property bargains.

Normally, the face-to-face viewing is step one of the second-hand house buying process .. yet now it’s becoming the ‘new normal’ that some Bristol agents are carrying out semi-professional video viewings or 360-degree video tours. Even homeowners are getting in on the act and managing a Facetime or Zoom video viewing by walking around their house with their mobile phone. Yet the Government announced on Wednesday, 13th May 2020 that the Estate & Letting Agency industry could reopen meaning people could view houses, visit agents and move home be they tenants, buyers, landlords or home-sellers. This is all subject to general and specific social distancing rules, specific hygiene regulations and suitable PPE being used.

What has been happening in the last few weeks in the Bristol property market?

The average time between sale agreed and exchange/completion of contracts on a house sale (i.e. the keys and monies get sorted) is 17 to 19 weeks, which means buying today would mean you wouldn’t be getting your hands on the property until late September or October at the earliest. Spring is the time when most properties come onto the market, yet as one would expect, the number of Bristol properties coming onto the market has been somewhat reduced since lockdown as ..

239 Bristol properties have been put up for sale in the last month This reduction in supply of new properties coming onto the market combined with this pent-up demand from both Bristol landlords and the ‘Boris-Bounce’ could in fact be good news for the Bristol property market, let me explain…

Rightmove stated that people going to their website initially dropped by 40% at the start of lockdown, yet now has recovered, with a near doubling of people searching for properties with gardens (for both sales and renting).

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For many Bristol buy to let landlords (and in fact Bristol homebuyers) now is the very best time to do research into the Bristol property market. All the portals have access to 25 years of property sales with pictures, so you can compare and contrast what has happened to various different property types around Bristol to spot those under-priced bargains, meaning you can get moving quickly after lockdown.

Rather than feeling trapped or powerless, this time can be used fruitfully by Bristol buyers and Bristol sellers to get their ducks in a row One of the biggest barriers in April was mortgage lending. In the early days of the pandemic, most mortgage lenders removed many of their best deals and enormously restricted their capacity.

Currently, though, we are seeing a revitalisation in the mortgage market. In May, with many mortgage products becoming accessible again for borrowers, and with many mortgage companies integrating more digital processes (including Virtual Surveyor Mortgage Valuations in some cases) the mortgage market now has plenty of options available to those who are keen to obtain borrowing.

There is no doubt the Bristol housing market got off to a sturdy start in 2020. With Brexit at least partly resolved, the ‘Boris-Bounce’ was starting to take off. With Bristol house prices being robust and rental demand was high, the Bristol property market was already in a good place to deal with the subsequent Covid-19 issue. I know there are a few doom mongers in the National Press spouting about a massive crash in the UK property market.

There is a natural tendency for newspapers to latch onto the worst-case scenario in any economic forecast. Who can forget the country received similar projections in the lead-up to the 2016 Brexit vote with HMRC itself stating that UK house values would drop by at least 10% in the first 12 months should the UK vote for Brexit and 20% in two years! With the rollercoaster of the stock market in recent months, investing one’s money into good old-fashioned bricks and mortar has started to seem a good place again.

Buying a property for investment means you have a tangible asset, something you can touch and feel (and understand). The returns from investing in property come from both capital appreciation and income from the rent, and yes whilst property values can go up as well as down, successful buy to let landlords are inclined to take a long-term view on their property investments.

£1,246 per month Is the average gross profit from a Bristol terraced/town house To give you an example of the current buy to let returns, the average Bristol terraced/town house sells for £302,000. By taking the ‘The Mortgage Works’ BTL 5-year fixed rate of 1.64%, with £3,640 in up-front fees, a 20-year repayment mortgage would cost you £890 per month or interest only mortgage would only cost £249 per month .. considering the average rent for a terraced/town house in Bristol is £1,495 per month .. even before management, tax, maintenance and other associated costs, that’s a decent gross profit (the £1,246 gross profit is an illustrative example using the interest only mortgage and the capital element would need repaying at the end of the term).

Isn’t it funny the newspapers aren’t latching on to some reports to say the property market might go in the other direction? Remember – bad news sells newspapers!

So, should you wait to buy your Bristol buy to let investment?

Before you buy consider factors like the strength of your financial future, your credit score, the current state of the property market and even more importantly, the state of the mortgage market. Look at the current interest rates, they have never been so low and deliberate the experts’ opinions and just as equally your own opinions as to whether Bristol property values are on the rise, will stay the same or are likely to fall. Interest rates are at record lows, meaning borrowing money is cheap money now, so it may be a good time to buy, as you will pay a reduced cost for the pleasure of borrowing money to buy that investment.

Yet, if you waited and Bristol property values are on the decline, it may be a good idea to wait, as you could end up getting a better deal on the same type of home, yet if that happens, access to the cheap finance might dry up (meaning you could save some of the purchase price, but the cost of borrowing could go up). It can be very hard to accurately predict what interest rates or property values will do, so these shouldn’t be deciding factors – but they are worth considering.

So, what will happen to the Bristol (and UK) property market?

To be honest – nobody knows. What I do know is the Swine Flu in 2009 caused some volatility in the UK property market, but the market stabilised within months. Even in disaster scenarios such as the current one, property remains comparatively stable and will continue to be one of the best places to invest in.

Yes, we could see unemployment rise in the next 6 months (yet the Furlough Scheme has been extended until the autumn) and historically, it has been proved house price falls are not caused by high unemployment; yes GDP will drop drastically because of lockdown yet it could bounce back like it has in China; yes, the number of property transactions will drop, yet that will only really effect the pockets of Bristol removal people, Bristol solicitors & estate agents and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in lost stamp duty receipts; yes there is £82bn worth of property sales on ice during this lockdown (some of which might not complete) .. it’s all ifs, buts and maybes.

Calamity changes things: with every predicament, humanity shifts to become more productive – it’s the way it’s always been The national debt at the end of the Napoleonic Wars of 1815 in today’s money was an eye watering £4,421,000,000,000 (£4.42 trillion) and today even with the eye watering borrowing to fund Covid-19, it stands at £1,821.3 trillion – we have been here before and we came out stronger.

The Bank of England failed in 1825, yet we recovered stronger; the Great Depression of the 1930’s cut the Stock Market by 90%, yet we recovered; WW2 took national debt to 200% of GDP like it had in the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800’s – yet we recovered; the oil crisis quadrupled oil prices in the 1970’s – and we ca me back …. The list goes on with Hyper-inflation in the 1970s of 25%, mass unemployment in the 1980’s, Black Monday in 1987, Dot-com bubble in 2001 and the credit crunch in 2008/9. With every economic crisis, the long-term effects of them make people look at their decision making differently.

The simple fact is for decades, demand for homes has outstripped supply – hence why property values have remained so robust. People are living longer (71.1 years in 1960 and 81.1 years nowadays), the mass exodus of EU nationals has not taken place since Brexit and the birth rate has increased by 9.1% since the Millennium which means since 2000, the country has needed at least 240,000 households per year to satisfy the demand. On average, we have only built 150,000 households a year, meaning we have a shortfall of 90,000 households each year for 20 years .. a true shortfall of 1.8m households .. and until we start building anything over that 240,000 requirement … demand will always outstrip supply – and we all know what happens to prices when that happens!

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