North Somerset Direct Local Magazines May 2022

NORTH SOMERSET MAGAZINE

MAY 2022

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This Month..

The team Editor Michael Davies Journalist Lisa Davies Distribution coordinator Matthew Clarke

4. Wake the Tiger 6. Bristol Study 8. Walk this May 10. North Somerset is open 12. North Somerset Cricket Club 14. £22.4k 20. Landlords on boarding 22. Garden landscaping ideas 28. Bristol Businessman 33. Movie preview 36. Your garden

10 High Street, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 0DP Email: info@directlocalonline.com Website: www.directlocalbristol.co.uk

38. Horoscopes 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.

The content of Direct Local is not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. Please pass to a friend, recycle or compost. All adverts designed by Direct Local are the property of Direct Local please contact us if you wish to reprint them in other publications as a small release fee Is applied. Use of adverts designed by us will need written permission first.

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Regular editorials By: Andrea Sexton, Martin Powell Daren Bane Kayleigh Penny kierstan Lowe Corinna Ingram Susan Uzel David Hinksman Subscribe to Bristol Weekly Magazine via this QR code or visit www.directlocalbristol.co.uk

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Credit Andre Pattenden

The creators of the music festival Boomtown, are excited to announce Wake The Tiger presents the world’s first Amazement Park®.

Wake The Tiger is a brand new, fantastical experience coming to Bristol this summer.

The brainchild of a collection of creatives, it encompasses interactive environments and daring new experiences at the site in St Phillips, Bristol.

Opening in Summer 2022, the Amazement Park® is an interactive immersive art experience which provides an exciting alternative to the traditional art gallery.

Visitors will step through the secret portal into the amazing world of Meridia; a multilayered maze of immersive environments, secret passageways, hidden forests, temples, ice caves and mesmerising wonders.

Wake The Tiger will encourage visitors of all ages to leave no corner unturned, as they discover the stories and secrets of the four great Guilds in Meridia, and how they uncover the answers to their world’s greatest problems.

Graham MacVoy, Founder and Managing Director of Wake The Tiger, explains: 4

“This project is two years in the making and the result of decades of creative input from some of the best technologists, story-tellers and creative minds working across festivals and attractions in the UK. We are starting this new movement in our spiritual home of Bristol and can’t wait to be open this summer.”

Bristol was seen as the perfect place for the project, as a booming city, within easy reach of London, the Midlands, Cardiff and with two of the UK’s biggest international universities situated in the city. Additionally the city welcomes over 50% of all visitor trips in the South West, with over 16m visits in 2019. Wake The Tiger is perfectly positioned to capture the imagination of this significant visitor economy - especially as tourism in Britain is growing and predicted to be worth over £257 billion by 2025.

The Wake the Tiger team has an exemplary track record of creating and delivering incredible experiences, masterminding the sustained growth and success of the internationally-renowned Boomtown Festival, which has grown from 1,500 attendees to 70,000 in 10 years.

Over £1.5million of seed investment has already been secured from private investors bringing new jobs to enhance Bristol's creative sector. In April the team is launching its Crowdcube fundraiser to secure an additional £350,000 to launch this new and exciting tourist attraction. Wake The Tiger invites investors to join them as shareholders on this amazing journey and really become part of the story.

For more information visit: www.wakethetiger.com.

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Bristol study recruit numbers keep climbing One year after being relaunched following a Covid-forced suspension, researchers working on a major study into the factors affecting IVF treatment success have recruited their 350th participant.

The team, led by National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC) researchers at the University of Bristol, is looking to recruit a total of 1,500 women and their partners to take part in the project.

Funding for the BRIST-IVF study has been extended due to a year-long pause because of Covid and, with extra funding from the European Research Council, is now in place until November 2025. Researchers hope this will be enough time to recruit and work with the remaining participants.

Eligible patients are invited to take part by members of the team based at the clinic in Aztec West. Research midwives Naomi Mallinson and Annie Deacon and research nurse Ashleigh Promnitz are available to explain the nature of the project to interested patients. They also take height, weight and blood pressure measurements, and collect urine and blood or saliva samples, during one of their scheduled treatment appointments at BCRM. If study participants become pregnant, they and their partner are also invited to attend a pregnancy follow-up clinic at the University of Bristol and to take part in further follow-up after the birth of their baby. This part of the research aims to look at the longer-term health of women, their partners and children conceived via IVF or ICSI. Deborah Lawlor, Professor of Epidemiology at Bristol Medical School and the NIHR Bristol BRC Perinatal and Reproductive Health theme lead, who is leading the study, said: “IVF is increasingly common and successful live-birth rates have increased since it first started to be used in the 1970s. We can now expect at least one child in every UK primary school class to have been conceived by IVF.

All women and their partners who are undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment at the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) are eligible to take part. The aim of the project is to identify factors that play a part in whether IVF treatment is successful or not.

Amanda Jefferys, medical director at BCRM, said: “In choosing to allow the researchers to access certain information about their pregnancies, patients who are undergoing IVF or ICSI fertility treatments at our clinic are providing valuable data which will hopefully enable the BRIST-IVF team to identify factors which might improve the chances of such treatments having a successful outcome for couples who pursue the same path in future.”

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“We are really grateful for the time and effort that couples have given so far to support this study. The research from it will help us to understand what can help IVF lead to a successful live birth.

“The follow-up at our university clinic will mean that we can compare how pregnancy progresses, and children conceived by IVF grow and develop in comparison to a group of similar age from the Children of the children of the 90s study.

“This will be one of the first studies of its type to have this important comparison group where parents and the children are followed with identical measures for both those conceived by IVF, from BRIST-IVF and those who are who are not conceived by IVF.” Taking part in the BRIST-IVF study If you are a patient about to undergo IVF or ICSI treatment at the BCRM, you are eligible to take part in the BRIST-IVF study. Find out more about taking part.

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WALK

THIS MAY

It’s time to get walkin for National Walking Month!

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MAY IN NATIONAL WALKING MONTH You may not realise it, but May is National Walking Month and now the evenings are lighter for longer, this makes it the perfect time to get outside, and get walking. Walking has a whole host of different health benefits that you can use to motivate you to introduce walking into your daily lives.

WALKING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART Your heart is responsible for pumping the oxygen and blood around your body and keeping all the other organs working. So we think you’ll agree that it’s important to keep it in tip top condition! Walking not only strengthens your heart but reduces the risk of heart disease and strokes. In fact a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day is said to reduce your risk of a stroke by 27%. If this wasn’t enough, it also reduces bad levels of cholesterol and increases the levels of good cholesterol too!

WALKING HELPS YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT If you are new to exercise, or maybe trying to lose weight gradually in order to keep it off, then walking is a great form of exercise for you. If you walk at around 2mph for 30 minutes then you will burn around 75 calories, and if you increase this to 4mph this will rise to around 150 calories. 20 minutes of walking a day will burn an incredible 7lbs of body fat a year.

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YOU CAN LOWER YOUR RISK OF DEMENTIA An older person who walks six or more miles a week is less likely to have problems such as dementia. This is because walking has been proven to prevent your brain from shrinking.

WALKING GIVES YOU ENERGY There are times when you feel more lethargic than others, and if you find yourself in this zone then a walk could do you good. It boosts your circulation and increases the oxygen supply is around your body, which in turn will keep you feeling alert and awake.

IT’S A FULL BODY WORKOUT Many muscles in your body are activated during walking including; calves, glutes, hamstrings, quads and abdominals, so give it a try and give your legs, bums and tum a workout.

INCREASE YOUR VITAMIN D INTAKE Here in the UK there are lots of people who are deficient in Vitamin D, the best way to increase your levels of Vitamin D is to get outside in the sunshine. Vitamin D is good for your bone health, as well as your immune system, which is why it is important to try and increase the levels in your body.

WALKING MAKES YOU HAPPY In the same way walking can help you feel energised, it is also great for making you feel happy. A brisk walk can be just as beneficial as taking an antidepressant, and can be a great helping hand if you are suffering from depression, anxiety or feeling stressed.

These are just some of the reasons why you should try to work in more walking to your daily routine. Whether you walk at lunchtime, or start your day with a walk, why not try it and feel the benefits for yourself.

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North Somerset is open and ready to do business

North Somerset Council has launched two new brochures aimed at businesses to boost the area’s economy and support its ambitions to develop trade and industry.

The North Somerset Growth and Investment Prospectus sets out a roadmap to support economic renewal, with plans to create greater prosperity and quality of life in the area. The Weston-super-Mare Enterprise Area Prospectus outlines opportunities for investment and employment growth in this location.

Councillor Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy at North Somerset Council, said: “North Somerset is proud to be home to a diverse range of businesses which are leaders in their field, but we’re committed to develop an even stronger local economy.

“We want to support businesses to create more jobs in the area and these prospectuses set out our vision: encouraging inward and local investment to deliver economic growth that is green, digital and people-centred.

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“Like any investment prospectus, they showcase development and infrastructure opportunities but they also paint the whole picture of North Somerset and all we have to offer. I really believe that we provide a major opportunity for businesses.”

The two prospectuses can be found on the council’s business-facing website, In North Somerset (https://innorthsomerset.co.uk): North Somerset Growth and Investment Prospectus (https://innorthsomerset.co.uk/ NSGrowthandInwardInvestment) Weston-super-Mare Enterprise Area Prospectus (https://innorthsomerset.co.uk/WsMEnterpriseArea).

Businesses looking for more information about investment opportunities in North Somerset should email North Somerset Council’s economic development team at business@n-somerset.gov. uk.

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LAW FIRM CONTINUES LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH CRICKET CLUB

Bristol-based Clarke Willmott LLP has renewed its partnership with Somerset County Cricket Club (SCCC).

Caroline Herbert, commercial director for SCCC, added: “Our relationship with Clarke Willmott is one of the Club’s longest standing partnerships and everyone associated with Having provided the Club with legal advice for Somerset County Cricket Club is delighted over 30 years, the firm will remain as SCCC’s that this is set to continue.

Preferred Legal Partner.

“Over the years, we have developed an The firm, which has offices across the UK, outstanding working relationship with Clarke will also continue as members of the Willmott, and in particular the staff of the successful LBW (Leading Businesses in Taunton office, and long may this continue. the West) Business Club and will also be a We look forward to partnering with them matchday sponsor during the LV= Insurance again in what will hopefully be a successful County Championship season. season for everyone associated with Somerset County Cricket Club.”

Chris Thorne, partner and head of Clarke Willmott’s Taunton office, commented: “FolClarke Willmott LLP is a national firm of solowing what has been another challenging licitors providing a full range of legal services year for the Club and the country as a whole, for businesses and individuals. Working we are delighted to have again renewed closely with clients, they provide legal advice our longstanding partnership with Somerset and tailored solutions whilst also investing County Cricket Club and are very pleased to time and energy into developing strong client remain as their preferred legal partner. relationships.

“The Club remains at the heart of our community and the chance for people to engage with first class sport right on our own doorstep this summer will continue to be a welcome distraction as we look forward to what we hope will be the beginning of a return to some degree of normality.

“Having spent a day sitting in the sunshine enjoying the pre-season warm up against Gloucestershire, I can recommend the restorative qualities of watching cricket as an antidote to all that has been going on around us.”

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Clarke Willmott offices can also be found in Birmingham, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.

For more information visit www.clarkewillmott. com

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£22.4k grants support Bristol community projects Four Bristol community projects are celebrating after receiving a share of over £22.4k project funding.

Sovereign Housing Association, working with not-for-profit digital fundraising platform The Good Exchange, gave grants to Meadow Vale Community Association, arts-focused Studio Meraki and creativeShift, and the GoldenOldies Charity.

All awarded projects had to focus on growing community impact.

The Golden-Oldies Charity, fondly known as “Goldies”, delivers fun daytime social Sing&Smile community groups, supporting health, wellbeing and independent living by combating loneliness and isolation with older adults.

Founder Grenville Jones said: “We were absolutely delighted to receive funding from Sovereign Housing via The Good Exchange.

We have many plans for 2022, including relaunching many of our popular social sing-along groups that had to stop with COVID, but also to launch many more new groups across B&NES, North Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

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“We look forward to working in partnership with Sovereign Housing, offering their residents opportunities for fun and friendship, engaging in local community-based activities over the coming month.”

Rachel Peters, Community Development Officer for Sovereign, commented: "Our themes were community cohesion and growth and it has been great to support so many grassroots and resident-led projects that focus on bringing people back together and will make a real impact in our communities.”

Julian May, Head of Collaborative Funding for The Good Exchange, added: “We are delighted that Sovereign was able to use The Good Exchange platform to help find, shortlist and distribute grants to a number of charities across Bristol. The focus on supporting projects that deliver impact and engagement across communities has become even more important as we move into the COVID-recovery period.”

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8 great places to live in Bristol To discover the best places to live in Bristol we asked the city’s residents! This provides verified insights on some of the city’s best new developments. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy new builds, Bristol has some outstanding options. This list will provide you with some great ideas based on the thoughts of the people who live there.

Is Bristol a good place to live?

There’s a reason why our great city regularly tops the charts in happiness and satisfaction over majority of the UK. It manages to combine the bustle of city life with more tranquil, low-key lifestyle elements.

Bristol is the eighth-largest city in the UK, plus it’s a creative and multicultural metropolis. From the gorgeous Georgian terraces of Clifton and Redland to the edgier streets of Bedminster and Stokes Croft, Bristol has something for everyone.

Bristol’s historic docks are now home to a thriving collection of restaurants, galleries, bars and museums. The Matthew and S.S. Great Britain are also major visitor attractions, to many people along with Brunel’s spectacular suspension bridge that crosses the Avon Gorge.

Is Bristol expensive to live in?

Bristol is one of the most expensive Culturally Bristol is a gold mine. The beauty of cities in the United Kingdom. It regularly our Georgian streets and imposing outpaces the nation’s average property prices architecture of major public institutions of on £260,230, and our restaurants, nightlife separate Bristol from the UK’s more bland and other key expense metrics follow suit. cities. Bristol’s rich history comes to life too, in our outstanding universities, which are among While Bristol is expensive overall, there are the best in the United kingdom. more affordable areas in our diverse city.

Similarly, it’s not hard to find low-cost, but Also theres no shortage of beauty in our parks high-quality, alternatives for entertainment, and green spaces, and the gorgeous dining and leisure activities. Plus, Bristol Cotswolds are right on your doorstep. offers a wide range of cultural attractions that are free to visit too.

Bristol is also the second safest major city in the UK, even despite our rapid growth that’s New homes in Bristol fuelled by its excellent transport links and Bristol University and the University of the booming job prospects in everything from West of England (UWE) ensure that demand entrepreneurial startups to big tech firms. for new homes in Bristol is always high. The aerospace industry provides a major Is Bristol the best place to live in the UK? economical stand piont to the area, with BAE, Bristol was voted the UK’s happiest city Rolls Royce and Airbus all located in Filton. according to a study conducted in 2019. In addition, the west country city regularly tops So, let’s check out Bristol’s top 10 new polls of the UK’s best places to live. developments. These rankings are based entirely on the scores we have provided and reviewers, nothing else.

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1. Box Makers Yard, BS2

5. Frenchay Gardens, BS16

2. Redcliffe Quarter, BS1

6. Wapping Wharf, BS1

3. Hawkins & George, BS1

7. Canons Gate Rental Only, BS1

4. Park Farm, BS35

8. Paintworks Apartments, BS4

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12 Words and Phrases That Only Make Sense to Bristolians

Me lover

Meaning: My darling, my dear, mate. This is a term of endearment and can be used for your family member, friends, acquaintances, random strangers.

Gert

Meaning: A way of putting emphasis on something; used in the same way as ‘really’ or ‘very

Drive Meaning: No, this isn’t referring to something you do with a car. Or the award-winning Ryan Gosling film. This is actually what the locals in Bristol use when they’re thanking bus drivers and taxi drivers.

Lush

Mint

Babber

Proper

Meaning: Very, very nice. Something that is pleasing to one’s eye. ) Meaning: Another term of endearment meaning baby, babe, love. You get the picture.

How to use: “Alright me babber?”

Innit

Meaning: Isn’t it just. Used a lot at the end of sentences or in response to something.

Brizzle

Meaning: Bristol.

Jason Donervan

Meaning: Only the very best chip van in the whole of Bristol. Where you go after a night on the Triangle (see three points above).

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Meaning: A word that means really, really great.

Meaning: Again, this is used to describe something that’s really good and pleasing to the local Bristolian.

Where's it to?

Meaning: Where is it?

Bemmie

Meaning: Bedminster, an area south of the river in Bristol.

in partnership with North Somerset Council

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This is the term we use for new business – signing up new landlords, uploading all their documents and certificates onto our system, ensuring that both they and their properties are compliant, dealing with the documentation and compliance surrounding any existing tenancies and signing and agreeing our terms and our agency contract.

It sounds simple – just a few signatures, what can be complicated about that?

However, it’s an important process and forms the basis upon which both sides understand each other. It can all happen very quickly, where everyone is motivated towards speed, but it’s significance should not be overlooked or understated.

We will be looking at two things here, when we are onboarding landlords– compliance and business plan. In terms of compliance, we like to break this down into 3 areas (i) Compliant landlord (ICO, Insurances, Mortgage type etc.) (ii) Property Compliance (certification, HHSRS, any licensing requirements, risk assessments etc.) (iii) Tenant and Tenancy compliance.

In terms of business plan, it’s here that we look at any overarching concepts, projects, desires, or plans, which affect your property or portfolio. Two great and recent examples of this are of two individual landlords, who are lovely landlord clients of ours.

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The first is a property investor who had an absolute HMO nightmare. He is a portfolio landlord, who had stopped investing in HMOs because “they just aren’t worth the hassle…when you equate the time, stress, and extra maintenance, they just don’t make sense.” He passed the management of his remaining HMOs over to us, from another agent and we were able to make some adjustments for him.

We re-modelled some of the rooms; filled his empty rooms, thereby correcting his void situation; found the problem tenants and served the correct eviction notices and replaced them with good quality tenants; hired a cleaner; set up effective working relationships with the tenants and managed the properties correctly. It wasn’t an easy or “painless” process, but it turned a nightmare situation around, into a positive (both in terms of stress, anxiety and cashflow) situation. Just recently, the investor in question has come back to us, to discuss other HMOs that he is looking to develop, as he now has confidence in the model again.

The second example is of a landlord, with a flat in the centre of Bristol, who wants to use it for himself and his family for part of the year. We were able to discuss his plans and look at different tenant types and how this might work for him.

The message here is, to speak to your agent as early as you can because that way, they can add real value. Our portfolio landlords often come to us at the planning stage, and this is great, because here we can discuss design, layout, refurb and tenant type with them. We can look at design that differentiates and adds real value and help avoid costly mistakes and use our knowledge and experience to help future proof their assets.

• It's also crucial to remember that the onboarding process is not just about information that your agent needs – it’s about you, your property, and the service you want!

We spoke earlier about your business plan and lettings should be the cornerstone of that plan. The onboarding stage is a fact-finding mission for you too and a great chance to ask those all-important questions: • • • • • • • • • • What’s their process for ensuring your property won’t be underlet? Do they send out a standard notice every year and “stick their fingers in the air” or are they more data driven? This is important because, on average, when we take on management, we usually increase the rent roll by 12% •

Tenant retention – what are their stats and averages here? The national average is 9 months, ours is 14 – they should have this figure to hand because it means that they are tracking it and using it as a key metric, as we are.

•

Management costs – how do they deal with maintenance? We try, wherever possible, to fix maintenance issues over the phone, to save landlords money and have videos for tenants on standard issues.

•

Ask them about their inspection process – how regular? How long do they take? What are they looking for?

Do they encourage tenants to be present? This is really important because a 5-minute inspection that just checks that the house is still standing, is not going to protect you or your tenants.

•

Quiz them about compliance and regulations (there are 178 pieces of these) and how proactive are they about this pivotal area of lettings?

•

And last, but probably the most important, do you feel that they have the skills, knowledge and experience to be your lettings partner? Are they a friendly face that will field your tenant calls and collect your rent or do they also understand the importance of compliance, have the ability to manage your properties and your tenants safely and effectively and will be proactive in keeping you abreast of the ever-changing legislation and advising, in good time, accordingly? This part of the process is your opportunity to find out – not only is the letting agent onboarding you – you are also onboarding them!

Be proactive, ask the questions and make sure that you come away feeling happy and content with the answers. We love talking property and lettings and when we hear landlords say, “I have a few questions…” it is music to our ears and we always respond with “fire away, ask us anything, we are an open book.” A good, local, agent is worth their weight in gold and should have the answers to your questions at their fingertips.

The onboarding process should be a two-way process - get it right and enjoy all that comes with having an experienced and knowledgeable lettings partner, who is every bit as invested in your success as you are!

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Garden landscaping ideas how to plan and create your perfect garden Re-designing your garden is an exciting prospect. Do you wish you had somewhere to sit, relax, entertain or let the children play?

Maybe you are just a little bored and want a garden design that is more colourful, varied or maintenance friendly. Garden landscaping is the ideal way to craft an attractive space to grow plants that give you a beautiful environment and design a practical layout that allows you to use your garden how you want.

But where do you start? Take a look at our answers to common garden landscaping questions; whether its planning and budgeting, resourcing and building or aesthetic planting, our guide holds the key to the garden landscaping design of your dreams.

How do I start my garden design?

Landscaping ideas start with good research.

Take inspiration by visiting garden centres, public gardens, annual garden shows, even other people’s houses to get a feel of what is to your taste. Take into account your garden size and think about what you need your garden to do for you. Then, take to the drawing board to sketch your ideas and make mood boards from magazines and Pinterest of your dream garden landscape.

Elements to consider when first planning garden landscaping ideas Walls and boundaries Hedges and fences Paths and patios

Next consider your plot. Look at the size and shape and take into consideration the direction if faces, the style of your house it will be framing and the surrounding area. Achieving balance is a strong aspect of good garden design; pay equal attention to all areas and remember that plants and shrubs will change size and shape throughout the seasons.

Do you prefer formal or informal gardens?

Formal gardens tend to be tidy and geometric with lots of straight lines and clipped hedges, whereas informal gardens are made up of organic curves and planting is much more relaxed.

Soften a sloping garden with grass steps If your garden is on different levels but you’re not keen on hard landscaping severely breaking things up take inspiration from this garden we saw in North Bristol. Instead of incorporating stone steps, They used grass treads, integrating them into the existing lawn to connect the lower patio to the small sun terrace above. Creating a softer approach to the flow, seamlessly journeying from one space to the other.

Pave the way The trend for creating garden zones is hugely popular, meaning the need for having a garden path is great. A link that unites the different areas is not only highly practical, it can also be visually appealing as this example demonstrates. Without a pathway you’ll soon find that you tread an unsightly channel into the lawn – which will ruin all your hard work with the overall garden aesthetic.

Zoning areas (dining, playing, shading)

While the best time to redesign your space is in winter when plants are dormant, looking at it in summer gives you the chance to really understand how you use the space. Or if you just want to add new surfaces, you can do so now and reap the rewards this summer.

Planting: trees, shrubs, pots

Either way enjoys your garden

Lawns Water features

Lighting Out-buildings 22

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Dementia advice from the experts

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Peach & rosé sangria Method

Ingredients

Slice the peaches into thick wedges

2 large peaches Shiraz Rosé 100ml white rum 50ml orange liqueur 1 lime, cut into wedges 3 mint sprigs Ice

Arrange on a griddle pan over a high heat Cook for 3-4 mins, until lightly charred Put half the slices in a blender, along with 200ml of the Rosé and blend until smooth Strain through a sieve, pressing down with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible Pour the remaining 550ml rosé into a tall jug before adding the peach mixture, along with 100ml white rum, 50ml orange liqueur, the remaining peach wedges, 1 lime, cut into wedges, 3 mint sprigs and plenty of ice Stir well before serving *2.1 alcohol units per glass

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Bristol businessman with history of homelessness gives back through donation scheme Less than ten years ago Martin O’Rourke was homeless and sleeping rough around the city of Bristol.

But after building up his own company from scratch, the now successful businessman has vowed to help others in the same situation by fundraising for a local homelessness charity.

Reflecting on the harsh realities of homelessness, Martin said: “Homelessness was very upsetting and confusing because you haven’t got a home to go to. Through the day you don’t know what to do with yourself apart from trying to find the next place to set up for the night. All you think about is having a roof over your head, warm shower, a nice cosy bed and a home cooked dinner.”

Martin’s recovery story has been nothing short of extraordinary. He founded his waste collection company Martin’s Waste Solutions in 2014 by purchasing his first van with a loan. Since then the business has expanded to operate six vans and now employs a team of sixteen. The company conducts domestic and business waste removal services across an ever-expanding list of towns and regions across the South West, including Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Gloucester, Cirencester, Stroud and Cheltenham, in counting.

Martin and his team have now come up with a scheme through which his company donates £1 to St Mungo’s for every waste collection it makes in an effort to support others who find themselves sleeping rough in the South West.

Martin said: “We chose St Mungo’s because they are a well-known homelessness charity in Bristol. I love what they do, including looking for people on the streets and offering them accommodation, giving people opportunities to get out of the situation they are in.

The main thing is they give people a second chance and a helping hand.”

To date, the company has already donated more than £600 to St Mungo’s and is set to exceed its target of £5,000 within a year. The company also have ideas about how they might work alongside St Mungo’s in the future to provide training and employment opportunities for people recovering from homelessness.

St Mungo’s fundraising lead for the region, Lamorna Hooker, said: “We are really grateful to Martin and the team for coming up with such a fantastic fundraising idea that will really make a difference to the lives of people recovering from homelessness.

Martin’s personal story shows us that recovery and success after homelessness are possible, and his drive to help others who are going through similar struggles to those he has experienced in the past is truly admirable.

We’re excited to see this local business going from strength to strength and are humbled that they have chosen to include St Mungo’s as part of that journey.”

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Luxury granola

Ingredients

Method

2 tbsp flavourless oil such as sunflower or vegetable 2 tbsp honey 80g Oats 20g puffed rice 1tbsp Linseed/ flax seed 1tbsp desiccated coconut 1tbsp pumpkin seeds 1tbsp Chopped mixed nuts ½ tbsp sesame seeds 2 tbsp raisins

Pre-heat oven to 220C/ Fan 200C Heat a frying pan on a medium heat with the oil and honey until hot.

Add the oats, nuts and seeds and stir to coat.

Transfer to a lined oven tray and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden and nuts are toasted.

Removing off heat and transferring to a piece of greaseproof paper.

Leave to cool, then add the raisins and puffed rice. Transfer to an airtight container if storing.

Best consumed within 2 weeks. If a little soft after storing, preheat the oven to 190/ fan170C, place on a baking tray and bake for 4-5 minutes to get the crispness back.

Delicious on yogurt!

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CINEMAPREVIEW REVIEW THE MOVIE DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA From award-winning creator Julian Fellowes comes the motion picture event DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA. The much-anticipated cinematic return of the global phenomenon reunites the beloved cast as they go on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the Dowager Co untess’ newly inherited villa.

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Take a break and try to solve theses puzzles Here are this months puzzles designed to test your mental skills during your lunch break or after tea.

Good luck!

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

EXTREME

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Your Garden In May

Your garden in May Spring is well under way now. The spring bulbs are fading and the herbaceous border is growing in leaps and bounds. The May days are longer and warmer and the risk of frost should have gone by now. The idea of getting out in the garden during the fine weather and ‘ticking things off the list’ becomes much more appealing. Spring flowering bulbs and plants will need clearing in preparation for summer bedding, and its promise of colour to come. But don’t get overwhelmed by those seemingly endless list of gardening jobs – here are our three most important…

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Plant summer bedding May is the month to get your summer bedding started in borders and containers. If planting borders lift out old plants run a fork through the soil and add a good fertilizer before replanting summer plants.

Try to fill pots and containers in the position they are going to stay – they can become heavy when filled! Water retaining crystals will help to reduce the amount of watering and keep the compost moist during warmer periods. Don’t forget to feed with fertiliser during flowering period.

Prune evergreen hedges and spring flowering shrubs There’s no better time to give evergreen hedges a trim to get them looking neat and tidy. Smaller hedges can be tackled with a pair of shears, but you may need a hedge trimmer for larger bushes. Prune any shrubs that flowered in spring as soon as they have finished flowering. Broom, forsythia and ribes all need pruning now.

Remove around a third of the oldest flowering stems – this will make the plant look better and encourage new growth to create a good display next year. Be sure to check large shrubs and hedges for nesting birds before you start chopping!

Plant out young veg Marrow, courgette and sweetcorn are all ready to be sown in the greenhouse. The likes of brussel sprouts, kale, peas and swede should be okay covered outside.

If you have already grown tomatoes, move them outside to harden them off. Keep them outside during the day and bring them back inside at night for two weeks to acclimatize them.

If you have potatoes that are starting to emerge, pull a few inches of earth around the plant with a rake to give the plant more soil to grow.

Enjoy your garden!

Looking good this month...Geranium Why should you plant them?

Geraniums make popular bedding plants – either in the garden or in pots and hanging baskets. They thrive outdoors in the summer but are also great for using a houseplant.

They look good planted in a group in a flowerbed all by themselves or mixed in with other annuals – the perfect plant for any spot that calls for a splash of colour throughout the season.

How should you plant them?

Geraniums need to be grown in well draining soil or if planting in pots a good quality free draining compost. They should be located in a bright spot in the garden that gets plenty of sunshine. Soil should be allowed to dry between watering to avoid root rot.

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HOROSCOPES 38

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20

With things going on at present, you may be feeling quite down.

Remember you are not the only one feeling this way. This could be a good time to reflect and try new hobbies, maybe read a book you have never picked up. When communicating with others, they may be feeling similar so bring your sensitive side with you.

Use some of this time for yourself, and remember not to be too hard on yourself or others.

Keywords new things and sensitivity

Someone new may need your help and support, but you may have a few things of your own to deal with right now, if so try and just be flexible and sensitive in regard to speaking to this person. This could be a good time to have a reflect on those practical things as well as some of those inner turmoils we sometimes have, and see what things would help to sort them out, to ring back your balance.

Keywords for stop sensitivity and balance

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Through the challenges we have at the moment, you may be finding it hard to keep calm and in balance.

Maybe take time to give yourself a breather, and try and see things in another light. It may be an idea to start thinking of new ideas and projects to begin at this time, that you could continue when things begin to ease.

Keywords. Re-view and re-new

Although it may seem a struggle at times, there will be some new changes for you, and a sudden realisation will dawn on you. This realisation maybe something you need to explain to someone and this should clear the air if there were some difficulties.

Remember also to be kind to yourself, and stay calm, Maybe read that book you’ve been putting off, I try a new recipe, find something new.

Keywords. Realisation and communication

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

Cancer June 21 - July 22

We are all facing obstacles at the moment, and staying in touch with your loved ones and friends is important, but remember there are many ways now through ordinary phones and modern technologies.

Remember to use your intuition at this time, as it seems to be very important to follow your inner guidance.

Keywords intuition and communication

There could be some new ideas for projects, and this could be a new interest a project or something totally new.

Communication is something very valuable in general, but even more so now. Stay in touch with people who are important to you, and also give yourself that time, to read the book you have been putting off, or something you have not finished.

Do you line keywords communication, and projects

Leo July 23 - Aug 22

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

We are in trying times at present, and things can sometimes seem bigger than they actually are. Keep lines of communication open with your friends and family, there are many ways And technologies as well as good old fashioned phones. Maybe take some time to sort a few things out in your home environment, or at least have a think of new ideas and things you can change, refresh, or find new interests.

Keywords. Communication and changes

If you have things you need to change, it may be a good idea to do so round now. Although actually socialising together with people is not viable at the moment, through different technology it is possible to still have some sort of social life. If all else fails the good old telephone is as good as anything.

Relationships mean very much to you more so at the moment but stay in touch with people in the safest ways possible.

Keywords. Relationships and communication.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

We are well into spring, if you haven’t already done some clearing it could be a good time now to do so. If you have a tendency to overdo things, or take too much on, remember to slow down at times and give yourself a breather and try and bring some calming balance back into your life.

Keywords clearing, balance, and new things.

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22 Trying to keep balance in your life at the moment isn’t easy, with all these strange challenges.Relationships are important to you even more now,It is just important to find other ways to stay in touch with people. Try and find new interests, and try to keep calmness and balance in your life.

Keywords communication and balance

There may be things you really don’t want to deal with but it is best if you do it especially at this time. If you can do some clearing, in which ever areas you feel needed most, it would then be an idea to step back metaphorically speaking, and review situations, and things you are thinking of changing.

Keywords deal with things and overview

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19 It seems as though balance in fairness are important to you at this time. There does seem to be quite a few things in the way and as well it’s all the challenges we are all facing there may be some personal ones for you. Keep the lines of communication open and try to find ways to change things in your life to make things easier.

Keywords balance and changes

Forecasted by Marie Hayward Disclaimer This zodiac is for entertainment purposes only please do not take the predictions seriously Marie take no responsibility for your actions

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