Roundabout Ringwood - December 2022

Dear Residents,

December 2022! Here at Modern Magazines we have had a good year and are determined that 2023 will go well. We moved location this last year and are settled in new offices. Plus, we bought a new business too. It has been busy and pretty exciting really. There are always challenges and we have faced them head on. We have two new staff who are doing great. Beth, who has been our graphic designer for the past twelve months is going off to have her first baby! We can’t wait to meet him. Pippa has created a whole new magazine in Weymouth with us, and we are very glad she joined the team.

Mel has worked with us for over 13 years now! Julie is into her 10th year of working with us, and Steph is into her 2nd year. We are a fantastic team. Chris the distribution Manager stays chirpy cheerful and is a real asset too!

All of our loyal advertisers are doing well and really want to thank you for your calls, bookings and purchases.

In fact all of us at Modern Magazines Wish you a Wonderful Christmas. Relax, enjoy time with family, friends and colleagues or indeed take some time out on your own and go for a long walk and take in the scenery. Wishing you all the Very Best, Debbie, Stephen & the Gang!

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NOW and THEN

Article and photo kindly supplied by Mary Baldwin

Southend House, Hightown Road

windows, a large extension added on the righthand side and the roof raised. The house came with a considerable amount of farm land behind it which was later swallowed up by the railway station and yards. It also included farm land which is now the cemetery, Ringwood Junior School, College Road, Kingsfield, Woodstock Lane, Quomp and School Lane.

Very little has changed in the time between these two photographs of Southend House, except for the loss of the traditional street lamp and the addition of the cars now parked outside it.

This house has one of the longest continual recorded history of any private residence in Ringwood. Records held by Kings College Cambridge enabled me to trace its beginnings back to 1445, when Kings College was granted the rectorial properties and tithes of Ringwood by King Henry VI. Their survey of 1448 held in the college archives show that this ‘messuage’ (ie house) held by a Richard Harrys was part of this grant.

The house then would have probably been a simple timber-framed building with a thatched roof sloping low over the back, but it basically stood on the same site as it does today. In Elizabethan times the house probably gained its first staircase, fireplaces and upper rooms.

Another survey of 1768 identifies ‘one messuage commonly called Harris’s, now a well built brick house containing six rooms on a floor, with a yard, outbuildings and a large garden called Southend’. This unmistakably describes Southend House much as it stands today.

Sometime before 1768 the house had been faced with brick, given sash

In the late 18th century all this property was let by Kings College to a wealthy family named Clark. Its most well-known member was brewer William Clark, who when he died in 1841 left money to build the almshouses in the Quomp which still bear his name.

During the later 19th century the house was held by Stephen Ayles who was also a brewer; for many years ‘Ayles Ales’ was painted on the side wall. The ornate railings are reputed to have come from a Victorian yacht. In 1910 the house was let to corn-merchant Alexander Mintey, who later acquired the freehold from Kings College. It could be Mr. Mintey who added the fake ‘Tudor’ beams to the front of the building. The house remained owned by his descendants until it was sold around 2000, when its beautiful garden was sold off separately to become Yewtree Gardens.

Copyright © Mary Baldwin

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Sing When You’re Winning

Make no mistake, Gareth Malone is the national face (and bow tie) of choir singing. Through his television show, and its spin-offs, Malone has made the noble art of breaking into song cool again for everybody from shy school children to moody teenage boys, with emotionally charged and heart-warming explorations of how giving the vocal chords a workout can change lives for the better.

Returning recently in The Great Celebrity Bake Off and Celebrity MasterChef has given the choirmaster and presenter, 47 in November, an appetite for an alternative existence, even though his true passion is to exhale rather than inhale!

“I’ve never thought of it like that,” he laughs. “I’ve definitely enjoyed getting back into the reality TV side of things. I find it totally inspiring to see normal people do things that are

fantastically big and grand.

“And I count myself in that – in cooking terms I am very normal, so to challenge myself and try to do something impressive, which is exactly what we ask of people with music, has been a nice shift.”

Malone is of course best renowned for his work with The Choir, and the associated biproduct, The Military Wives, whereby he recorded with widows of British soldiers who had served in Afghanistan. The idea became such a touchstone that it spawned a number one single, Wherever You Are.

“As a choirmaster you are only ever a guide,” he says. “You have the energy and the persuasion and the techniques to pull the very best out of people, but none of those things are actually what makes a project work – it is all about the people who stand up and sing.”

What’s fair to say is Malone’s success has been hard fought. There have been no booming PR campaigns, no ‘kiss and tells’, and he certainly never felt the need to stand up in front of Simon Cowell for approval.

Malone was anointed with an OBE from the late

Queen Elizabeth II in 2013, a remarkable recognition for his work. “I truly appreciate my work being referenced in this way, and it was a great honour.

“I view the Military Wives project as the peak of that, because the national impact was so great. Sometimes, you can affect the life of one person in a seemingly small way and that can be powerful, but there is something so universal about that too. And there was a whole generation of widows who no-one was really thinking about.

“And that’s the great power of music - it goes beyond words. People who hadn’t even seen the series found out about it. It was life-changing for them and for me.”

Gareth Malone, the choirmaster who championed the voices of everyday people.

TV presenter Megan

McCubbin welcomed as new President of HIWWT

The Springwatch presenter assumes the role alongside co-presenter Chris Packham who becomes a Vice President for the Trust.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has welcomed wildlife television presenter and conservationist Megan McCubbin as its new President.

The 27-year-old Springwatch star was confirmed as the Trust’s President at the charity’s recent annual general meeting on 5 November. McCubbin, who grew up in Hampshire, takes over from predecessor John Collman, who is retiring from the role after six years of service.

Naturalist and Springwatch co-presenter, Chris Packham, was also appointed as a Vice President for the Trust.

Rising television star McCubbin said: “I am over the moon to be the next President for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. “I have so much admiration for the fundamental work that the charity carries out - from the reintroduction of key species to their community conservation projects.

“At this critical time, we need all hands on deck to help protect wildlife and their habitats. I cannot wait to get stuck into my new role helping to protect the environment across the two counties.”

As well as presenting on the BBC’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch programmes, McCubbin

has recently co-authored her first book - Back to Nature: How to Love Life - and Save It – and is also a keen nature photographer. McCubbin’s popularity and enthusiasm for wildlife will help the Trust reach new audiences and inspire more people from a wider range of ages and backgrounds to get on nature’s side. The Trust is currently working towards its goals of inspiring at least one in four people to take action for nature, and to push for at least 30% of land and sea to be protected and restored for nature by 2030.

Debbie Tann, chief executive of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Megan on board as our new President.

“We’re currently facing immense pressures from the climate and nature crises, and Megan’s significant conservation and science communications experience will be crucial in helping us tip the balance in favour of nature’s recovery.”

New Forest-based Packham, who is McCubbin’s stepfather, added: “I am delighted to join the superb Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust as a Vice President.

“In our current climate and ecological emergency, organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts are essential, and I am delighted to be part of it.”

To find out more about the vital conservation work that Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is involved in, visit www.hiwwt.org.uk.

Photos: Top right, Hazel McCubbin Bottom left, Chris Packham

Stocking Fillers and Murder Mystery rillers

This month, four cracking reads for the busiest book-buying time of the year.

Grannysaurus is a roar-some picture book about unpredictable grannies, dinosaur discos and staying up late.

A boisterously funny new festive release from the duo, this is perfect for young dinosaur fans! Published by Harper Collins on December 8th

Never Give In: The 12 Commando Rules for Life by Scotty Mills

Pinch of Nom by Kate and Kay Allinson

The healthy eating phenomenon that is Pinch of Nom returns with another hundred scrumptious recipes – from fakeaways to desserts – that are both tantalising to the taste buds and good for the waistline.

Enjoy more of the food you love. Never feel like you’re missing out, from all-day breakfasts to scrumptious desserts, with crowd-pleasing foody fests so satisfying and delicious you’d never guess they are also slimming-friendly.

Published by Pan Macmillan on December 8th

Grannysaurus

by David Walliams

Bursting with David Walliams’ anarchic sense of fun and blessed with Adam Stower’s vibrant illustrations,

A sudden downpour while Scotty Mills was walking down a street in South London sent him diving for cover into the nearest shop. It turned out to be a recruitment centre for the Royal Marines and, after a few minutes’ conversation while waiting for the rain to stop, Scotty was hooked and signed up to join the elite force. It changed his life and set him on a new direction that would end up with him leading the Marines on operations around the world, becoming an Olympic flag bearer in 2012 and dining at Buckingham Palace with the Queen and the royal family.

Scotty shares his lessons of performance and resilience with the reader, inviting them into the secrets of elite culture. His compelling story is one that combines tragedy with remarkable insight about the

Wild Women: A Collection of First-Hand Accounts from Female Explorers by Mariella Frostrup

A collection of the greatest women’s travel writing selected by journalist and presenter Mariella Frostrup.

From Constantinople to Crimea; from Antarctica to the Andesthroughout history, adventurous women have made epic, record-breaking journeys under perilous circumstances.

In curating this collection of first-hand accounts, broadcaster, writer and traveller Mariella Frostrup puts female explorers back on the map. Her selection includes explorers from the 1700s to the present day, from iconic heroines to lesser-known eccentrics, celebrating 300 years of wild women and their amazing adventures over land, sea and air. Published by Head of Zeus on December 8th

power of human inspiration. Published by Simon & Schuster on December 8th

Money on my mind... the Martin Lewis column

He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers.

In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at taking back control when creditors come calling.

I’ll come straight to the point this month - there is nothing more precious or valuable than our mental wellbeing, and there is no bill or invoice that should come before it.

I have worked with mental health charities and the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute to ensure people who find themselves in difficult situations are able to access not just financial assistance, but practical and emotional support too.

The truth is when people have existing mental health problems, the administration anxiety that comes with

bills, debt demands and ongoing financial commitments, can be very difficult to handle, to the point that they’re simply unable to deal with what’s in front of them. Even when in a good place mentally and financially, so many of us find processing everyday matters exhausting, so imagine the added difficulty when starting from a place of weakness.

Remember, we have the right to determine how we are approached and contacted by those we do business with. For some people receiving a text message informing them of something may represent a nightmare. For others, a text is the only way they wish to communicate; while some prefer to converse over the phone, or even face to face.

It’s essential we stand up and state our preferences, and organisations have to adhere

to these. That won’t necessarily mean the problem will go away… if you are behind on a bill, for instance; but it will bring back control to you and, from the outset, allow you to determine how you want to go about tackling a problem.

It was reported that 44% of people with mental health problems who fell behind on payments during the pandemic considered or attempted suicide; and if you macro that up to the UK population that would be two-and-a-half million people.

I’ll be honest and say that when I heard that figure, I didn’t find it surprising; but it does surprise and disappoint me that people still don’t feel they have the tools to fight back and retake control.

From recovery space to payment holidays, to freezes on interest or repayment plans, speak to your creditors in a way that is firm and fair, and you will likely get the result you want.

Understanding Investments: Reflecting

on a Challenging Year

As we come to the end of 2022, it’s certainly fair to say it’s been a challenge. Economically we have endured inflation levels not felt for 30 years and geo-politically the Russia-Ukraine war continues to create humanitarian hardships which would have been unimaginable in 2021. Good news has been in short supply!

Investments have fallen due to rising interest rates and the expectation of a global recession. Interest rates have risen, initially to cool consumer demand early in 2022, and subsequently for the central banks to bring inflation down. The challenge for the central banks is that demand has cooled due to higher food prices and higher energy prices leaving the consumer with less disposable income and yet these have nothing to do with interest rates and all to do with Russia’s war. By raising interest rates the central banks make it more expensive for those with mortgages and for indebted businesses, further cooling demand. If taken too far this creates or deepens a recession.

This year both share prices and bond prices have fallen, which is a rare occurrence (usually bonds are seen as a safe haven and perform well when share prices fall). It is highly likely property prices will fall or at the very least “cool” (property tends to react more slowly due to its relative illiquidity).

So what should an investor do, and are there any glimmers of good news on the horizon? Yes and no!

Share and bond prices are forward looking, ie they tend to move 6 to 9 months in advance of events. So by the time we hear good news on the economy, they are likely to have already risen in anticipation. If interest rates don’t need to go up as high as is currently predicted, and as soon as inflation is seen to be falling, sentiment will change. In our experience that can happen quickly, just as sentiment soured quickly. So things will get better and high quality investments will recover (they always do), but what no-one knows is exactly when. Three months, six monthly, another year? This is why we, and other experienced investors, avoid trying to “time the market” (selling wholesale

and then buying back wholesale). The chances of getting the timing right in one direction is hard, let alone twice. This doesn’t mean your investment managers should be sitting idle. They should have already been making changes to the balance of your portfolio as events have unfolded, to help mitigate the falls and control the ongoing portfolio risk.

Howard Goodship

So our advice to our clients is patience. High quality investments will go back up in value and likely reach new highs in the future. Adding new investment money during times of distress has historically been a profitable thing to do and offers the opportunity for better than average returns going forward, albeit there are no guarantees. For clients who require security and liquidity, cash is now paying between 2% and 4.5% depending on how long you are prepared to fix the rate (and limit access). That’s the best rates for 14 years.

In closing, may we take the opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable Christmas. In these difficult times it’s important to remember what is most important and offer help and support to our families and loved ones. Just as the COVID pandemic brought out an incredible sense of community spirit, we suspect the cost of living crisis may do the same with more support for local charities such as food banks and those supporting the lonely elderly in our communities.

Best wishes for 2023.

Howard, Stewart, Maggie and Harry. Howard Goodship is an Independent Financial Adviser with Lonsdale Wealth Management, 5 Fridays Court, Ringwood. Tel: 01425 208490 www.lonsdaleservices.co.uk

The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested. The contents of this article are for information purposes only and do not constitute individual advice.

Will it be Jingle Bells or Silent Night?

Hearing well allows you to enjoy and be involved in the special moments that Christmas brings. It’s not too late to improve your hearing before the carols start.

Simon and Heather Cowell are the owners of family run 2County Hearing based in Verwood, Dorset. “Between us we have over 20 years experience in the hearing care industry and being independent means we can offer hearing solutions from all the world’s leading manufacturers.

Our services include safe, gentle, ear wax removal which has seen a signi cant increase in demand now

that most GP surgeries are no longer able to provide the service.

Our hearing tests are FREE and, in many cases, we can offer a ‘try before you buy’ option on hearing aids. This allows you time to evaluate the bene ts in your own environment before deciding whether the time is right for you to take action on your hearing loss.

In addition to our comfortable consulting room we are happy to provide a home visit service for those who nd travel dif cult.

Whatever your hearing problems are, please get in touch, we will be very happy to help.”

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner returns to the subject of sustainability, both in terms of what we make our homes with, and what we place inside them.

To me, the relationship between making things and sustainability is essential, and I fear, as Western society, we’ve lost touch with the value of made things… with the value of raw materials, of the energy required. I don’t just mean fossil fuel energy, but also the human energy that goes into the process.

I’m very struck by seeing people producing lighting out of bits of recycled industrial stuff, or those who can put together and sell furniture they’ve handcrafted in small workshops all over the country.

A fabulous trend in the past couple of decades has been the

encouraging of home production creation –

everything from picture frames to jewellery – and how the internet has given these people a platform that is truly global.

When you meet someone who has made something in their workshop, you get the opportunity to sample their passion, influences, their own inspiration for doing what they do.

People talk a lot about sustainability using words like carbon and energy consumption – all that technical stuff – yet sustainability also comes in the form of the value of the objects we place inside our homes too.

After all, we are five times less likely to

throw away something we have made compared to something we have bought.

It’s also true that the longer we have something the less likely we are to bin itthere are records from the Seventies that I’ve still got; there’s a belt I’ve had all my life. We’ve all got stuff we love that we don’t want to let go of!

Sure enough, when we see our friends we talk about these things, we share the stories. I can bore people into infinity talking about my belt, or my old leather chair, and that’s the exciting thing: stuff as it gets older, gets better; it attracts more stories.

What I’m saying is we need to continue to keep creating homes that are rich in their fabric, but that are filed with things of value as well, so that we can share those stories with people, make friends, and embed ourselves into a community. That to me is actually a big part of what sustainability is about.

Have Yourself a Very Eco-Christmas

It may be the ultimate consumer holiday, but Christmas doesn’t have to cost the earth – in either sense of the phrase.

The festive season is expensive and wasteful, and most of us will reference calming things down in the following year.

Yet that may not be totally necessary – not least if all the joy of Christmas can be experienced in a way that is good for the soul, the wallet, and the environment.

Here are five ways to go about achieving that:

1.

Re-deck the halls

One of the best things about Christmas decorations is that they are reusable, though there are still ways to make them even more sustainable.

Choose wooden over plastic ones, purchase them from local craft fairs rather than supermarkets, and invest in baubles and ornaments that are of a decent quality so they can be reused for years afterwards. In time you will have a sizeable collection of

unique trinkets that tell your family’s own Christmas tale.

2. Tree-t yourself

If you’re planning on buying a new one for this Christmas perhaps consider either a pre-loved fake one, or a potted real tree that’s designed to last beyond the festive season. Even better, you can now rent trees that can be replanted in January, helping cut back on the seven million that are dumped each year.

3.

Invent an advent

What if you provided your loved ones with advent calendars that were not only personalised, but also more environmentally friendly?

Online marketplace Etsy sells wooden calendars that are personalised and can be refilled every year. Or you can make your own out of old fabric, leftover cardboard boxes or even just envelopes with craft activities in.

4.

Wrap resourcefully

In a world that is becoming wiser and more sustainable, it is easier than ever to buy

wrapping paper that is either recycled, or easier to recycle –which means no glossy finish or glitter, I’m afraid.

Another option is using old newspapers, magazines or comics; or investing in cotton wrapping cloths, which are fast becoming a trend and will look stunning under the tree.

5. Feast mindfully

It’s easy to go overboard when it comes to Christmas dinner, but why not save yourself the hassle and stick to the basics.

Firstly, only make enough food for the number of people you have coming (though Christmas leftovers can be sublime!). Secondly, buy produce as locally as possible to save on food air miles. And finally, avoid purchasing products that feel festive but are actually not very popular… cheese footballs, I’m looking at you.

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

Daichi drove us all the way to Anglesey, that wonderful island off the north coast of Wales, for a family break! How exciting, a week away after a very busy summer working in our new Ice-Cream parlour, Wafflicious in Weymouth. What is funny is that we could not get away… As soon as we opened the doors of the parlour that Friday, ready to show Chris how to use the till, so he could help Emma while we were away, we had wonderful customers wanting waffles, ice-creams, sundaes and milkshakes. Then to top it all we had a Birthday party unexpectedly arrive! A family of seven, as Harry the young boy of nine had enjoyed his waffle so much two days earlier, he could not wait to come back for his treat. Four hours late in setting off, but we were very happy and all smiles as we really do love what we do in the parlour. We arrived on Anglesey at 1am in the morning. We had stopped a couple of times en route of course as we gave up being ‘on time’ and decided to make the most of the journey together. Turning a situation around to one’s advantage can be a game in itself. We were meeting Stephen’s dad and sister and knew it would now be the following day before we would catch up with them. The first day was a little damp, but not wet enough to stop us going out for a walk. The old Menai, iconic bridge was closed just before we arrived. I love this bridge and remember fifty years ago, (oh my goodness – really!) my dad calling out

with delight that we were now on Anglesey! This bridge was opened in 1826 and was the first modern suspension bridge in the world apparently and initially made for cattle traffic as this was Anglesey’s main source of income. This one bridge reduced the time from Anglesey to London by nine hours! Did you know that this bridge is also mentioned by Lewis Carroll in “Through the Looking Glass”, chapter eight? The wind was quite strong that day and my legs did turn to jelly I have to say, when taking some photos looking out to sea across the Menai Straits. Fantastic views but not necessarily for the faint heated. In fact Rachel did wait patiently at the entrance with her lovely dog, Lottie.

Penmon Point in Llangoed, near Puffin Island was day number two. Again, I love this area and it brought back many memories of past days as a child climbing on the rocks and watching the puffins swirling around. This time of year there were none at all and in fact there are now only eight pairs of breeding puffins here. Unfortunately, rats, which swam from a shipwreck in 1816 reduced the size of the colony, from over 50,000 puffins to what they are today. By 1971 there were an estimated 500,000 rodents on the island. Incredible! In 1999 they were removed totally, and the sea birds are slowly coming back. Let’s hope they fully recover and we once again see swirls of ‘grunting’, mating puffins! It is such a great sound.

The Menai Suspension Bridge

Day three was a walk around Maelog Lake. What is fascinating here is that the sea is receding in this area and there are sand dunes inland. The sand dunes actually blocked off the water, which was once part of the sea. After years of fresh water entering, the lake became a freshwater lake and is no longer salty. Though we did not test it ourselves, the bevy of swans bobbing with their heads under the water pretending to be ostriches, seemed to be enjoying it. A meal at Oyster Catcher with fish and chips all round was highly enjoyed… even by Lottie the dog! For the afternoon I had a total trip down memory lane, and we drove to Trearddur Bay. I have spent many a holiday fishing on the rocks there and caught some good mackerel with Dad. The small bays further along were full of memories of rubber dinghies and swimming in cold water. Fun though! The following day we drove to Bodnant Gardens on the mainland. It may not be spring but the reds and yellows of the trees were just delightful. The house is still privately owned by the McLaren family. In 1948 Henry McLaren persuaded the National Trust to take over the running of the gardens which was only their second acquisition after Hidcote Gardens in Gloucestershire. It was a lovely day with afternoon tea in the grounds. After that a visit to Great Orme, the limestone headland on the other side of LLandudno and a trip on the tramway which opened in 1902! The weather

coming back up was hailstones, so a hot chocolate in the café at the top was well deserved. The views would have been magnificent… if it wasn’t raining… We enjoyed ourselves anyway, as we always do. The rest of the holiday was equally interesting with a trip to the Anglesey Transport Museum where there are over a hundred British vehicles from the 1920s! There is even a Hawker Hunter Jet to see… and, oh yes and the breakfast in the café was good too. Following that was a trip to Newborough Warren with the endearing Medieval church, St Eglwys Cwyfan, that gets cut off with the tide and is known as the “Little Church in the Sea”. The Rivals, a group of hills stand majestically opposite and were enshrouded with clouds, blowing around. Beaumaris Gaol created in 1829 was a place I remember well as a child. Visiting only of course. The story of the man hanged in 1862 who always professed his innocence and subsequently cursed the clock, which did not work until very recently. The treadwheel used as a punishment and in most gaols did not have a purpose but here it created running water for the sinks and toilets. It is a very atmospheric place. All in all we did a lot! We also ate, drank, had a swim in the pool as well as a game of air hockey, bar billiards and pool. We came home for a rest! Daichi drove us through the Llanberis Pass and Snowdonia on the way back. This is just awe inspiring. We stopped at the beautiful Swallow Falls where we had fun taking artistic photos of the rushing water. Holidays are definitely about having family fun and we certainly did that. Where will Daichi take us next I wonder…

By Debbie Corney

Autumnal colours at Bodnant Gardens

Daichi visits Beaumaris Gaol

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses how our gardens can become carbon sinks.

We know how effective plants are at drawing CO2 out of the atmosphere. That means that while our gardens are wonderful spaces for our sensual pleasure, they brilliantly counteract global warming and our fight against climate change. In other words, they become ‘carbon sinks’.

I was recently asked how our green spaces might change if the planet continues to hot up. Certainly, I am not a climate change denier, but I think for our own peace of mind we need to keep things realistic, and it’s not as if within 50 years we’re going to be growing bananas in Northumberland or anything like that!

What we can of course do in the short-term is style and

shape garden space to ensure we help the planet as much as we can. After all, the most basic way to

prevent greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere (and warming up the climate) is by growing plants. And as gardeners, that’s what we do!

The best way to achieve this is by growing native plants. Non-native varieties can really take hold of a space, requiring harmful chemicals to control them, and leading to them being pulled up, exposing soil and releasing carbon.

We can also compost – it’s a great way of stopping carbon getting out in the first place.

It’s for this same reason that turning over soil is actually bad for your garden. Not only does it interrupt nature’s ability to let your earth matter settle into an organised pattern that benefits both plants and the creatures living in the soil, but turning over, or tilling, releases more carbon.

Beyond this, we can be more environmentally friendly by using organic fertilisers; and never be afraid to let your outdoor space ‘go wild’. Rustic gardens are the ultimate lowcarbon spaces, and that makes sense, because wild areas such as forests, wetlands and mangroves are the very best at protecting against the risks posed by climate change.

carbon

The same applies to mulching, too. When you consider that over 80% of the carbon in your garden is released from the soil, by adding a layer of wood bark chippings, for instance, you are holding the carbon in the soil.

As ever, our gardens hold within them the power not just to transform our own lives, but the welfare of the planet too, and that is why we love them so much.

Top Tip

Don’t expect perfection. Remember that trees are naturally wonky and flawed. Be sure not to over stir the cake mix; you want it light and airy.

Nigella Lawson’s Yule Log

Ingredients

(serves 12)

For the cake

• 6 large eggs (separated)

• 150 grams caster sugar

• 50 grams cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 5 teaspoons icing sugar (to decorate)

For the icing

• 175 grams dark chocolate (chopped)

• 250 grams icing sugar

• 225 grams soft butter

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

No one does Christmas like Nigella, which is why this glorious yule log is the ideal centrepiece for your festive lunch.

Introduction Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/gas mark 4/350ºF. In a large, clean bowl whisk the egg whites until thick and peaking, then, still whisking, sprinkle in 50g / ¼ cup of the caster sugar and continue whisking until the whites are holding their peaks but not dry. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks and the remaining caster sugar until the mixture is moussy, pale and thick. Add the vanilla extract, sieve the cocoa powder over, then fold both in. Finally, gently fold in the egg whites.

2. Line a Swiss roll tin with baking parchment, leaving a generous overhang at the ends and sides, and folding the parchment into the corners to

help the paper stay anchored. Pour in the cake mixture and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Let the cake cool a little before turning it out onto another piece of baking parchment. If you dust this piece of parchment with a little icing sugar it may help with preventing sticking, but don’t worry too much as any tears or dents will be covered by icing later. Cover loosely with a clean tea towel.

3. To make the icing, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl suspended over a pan of simmering water, then let it cool. Put the icing sugar into a processor and blitz to remove lumps, add the butter and process until smooth. Add the cooled, melted chocolate and

the tablespoon of vanilla extract and pulse again to make a smooth icing.

4. Sit the flat chocolate cake on a large piece of baking parchment. Trim the edges of the Swiss roll. Spread some of the icing thinly over the sponge, going right out to the edges. Start rolling from the long side facing you, taking care to get a tight roll from the beginning, and roll up to the other side. Pressing against the parchment, rather than the tender cake, makes this easier.

5. Spread the yule log with the remaining icing, covering the cut-o ends. Create a wood-like texture by marking along the length of the log with a skewer or sharp knife and finish with a dusting of icing sugar.

Ringwood/Fordingbridge Police Stations 101

Police, Fire & AmbulanceEmergency 999

Crimestoppers 0800 55 51 11 Gas - Emergency 0800 111 999

British Transport Police 0800 40 50 40 Southern ElectricityEmergency 08000 72 72 82

Community Centres

Water - Bournemouth Water 01202 59 00 59

Greyfriars- Ringwood 01425 472613 - Southern –leaks 0800 820 999

Avonway - Fordingbridge 01425 652706

Local

Councils & Agencies

New Forest District Council 023 8028 5000

Ringwood Town Council 01425 473883

Fordingbridge Town Council 01425 654134

Sewerage–Southern-emergency 0330 303 0368

- Wessex 0345 600 4600

BT Faultline 0800 800 151

Information

Ringwood & Fordingbridge Libraries 0300 555 1387

Hampshire County Council 0845 603 56 38 Citizens Advice Bureau - New Forest 03444 111 306 Environment Agency 0800 80 70 60 Visitor Information -Ringwood 02380 282 269

Floodline (warnings& advice) 0345 988 11 88 -Fordingbridge 01425 654560

Ringwood Foodbank 01425 600 134

Hospitals

Bournemouth A&E 01202 70 41 69

Community First New Forest 01425 482773

Travel

National Express Coaches 0871 781 81 81

NHS Non-Emergency 111 Bournemouth Airport 01202 36 40 00

Bournemouth Hospital 01202 30 36 26 Southampton Airport 0844 481 7777

Christchurch Hospital 01202 48 63 61 Traveline (Bus, Coach, Ferry & Rail) 0871 200 22 33

Fordingbridge Hospital 01425 65 22 55 AA (Automobile Association) 0800 88 77 66

Poole Hospital 01202 66 55 11 RAC (Royal Automobile Club) 0333 2000 999

Salisbury Hospital 01722 33 62 62

Wilts & Dorset Bus Enquiries 01202 33 84 20

Southampton Hospital 02380 77 72 22 National Rail Enquiries 0345 748 49 50

Helplines

Samaritans 01202 551 999 Childline 0800 11 11

Drinkline 0300 123 1110 NSPCC 0808 800 50 00

Lifeline-NFDC Community Alarms 02380 28 54 53 National Drugs Helpline 0800 77 66 00 National Debtline 0808 808 40 00 Age Concern 0800 328 7154

Rspca - Ashley Heath 0300 123 0749 Seniorline 0808 800 65 65

AL-anon(10am-10pm)year round 0207 403 08 88

Community Legal Advice Direct 0345 345 43 45

Alcoholics Anonymous 24 hours: 0845 769 75 55 Hampshire Families 0796 2272 931

Sun: 10-1

Boots, FERNDOWN 01202 871841

Trickets Cross Mon - Fri: 9-7, Sat: 8.30-1, 2-5.30, Sun: 10-4

Ringwood Foodbank

The Wesley Centre, Christchurch Road, Ringwood. 01425 600134 Mon, Wed, Fri,11.30am—1.30pm www.ringwood.foodbank.org.uk