The Swanage Oracle - April/May 2015

The Swanage

Oracle

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The independent directory of local businesses serving the residents of Swanage, Studland Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers & Ulwell

Delivered FREE to all homes & businesses in the BH19 area

April/May 2015

In this issue: Win a meal for two at the Bull & Boat Swanage Fish Festival Local Business Directory Dorset Wildlife Trust: Walk for Wildlife Volunteers in Purbeck Awarded Purbeck U3A Meetings Adventures of Nellie

Young fox at Durlston

Photo: Julian Sawyer www.purbeckfootprints.co.uk

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Telephone: 01202 621837

Bere Farm, Wareham Rd, Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, BH16 6ER

Come and experience our unique garden centre inside the Old Piggery at Bere Farm, Lytchett Matravers, where you can find anything from bedding plants, shrubs, perennials, specimen trees and more.

We have a fantastic collection of rare antique terracotta pots and a large selection of French gardenalia.

You can also visit our antique French furniture barns and treat yourself to a snack or lunch in the lovely Barn Café!

www.theoldpiggerygardencentre.co.uk 

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Swanage Oracle

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Introduction

The Swanage Edition 82

Oracle

Published by:

Stephen & Debbie Corney and Martin Budden at Purbeck Publications

Telephone: 01929 408080 Email: info@swanageoracle.co.uk

Copy deadline for the June/July 2015 edition: 8th May 2015

Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

The Swanage Oracle does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

Proud members of

Dear Residents and Business Owners of Swanage, Studland, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers and Ulwell!

Some of you will be receiving this magazine for the first time. Welcome to your local Swanage Oracle!

We now have a fantastic increase in circulation with the magazines delivered by Royal Mail to all homes and businesses in BH19. This publication is meant for use so please keep it by the phone, for a time of need. There is a handy index at the back of the booklet where you can easily find the trade or service you are looking for. There is also a prize wordsearch with a meal for two to be won. We look forward to receiving your entry. The Adventures of “Nellie�, the Purbeck Publications camper van, is one of our regular features, as well as lots of local data, events and of course our very important local trades people. They would love to hear from you, so please mention The Swanage Oracle when making any calls or enquiries. We love to hear that they are getting lots of calls from you! It makes all our work worth while. Keeping trade local helps the local economy significantly, which helps everyone. The Swanage Fish Festival will be happening in June and the organisers would love your support of this new, exciting event!

If you know of a club, society or local group that would like some extra help, or has an event coming up then please let me know. We can promote them for free.

I do hope you like the photo on the front? This wonderful little fox played with Julian, the photographer, for an hour! What fun he said he had.

If you have any suggestions for the magazines I would love to hear from you.

Wishing you all well!

Debbie & Stephen Corney Useful Numbers Local Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Swanage Hospital

101 08457 708090 0800 111999 01929 422282

01929 408080

Train Enquires Wilts & Dorset Bus Wessex Water Emerg.

Purbeck Distict Council

08457 484950 01983 827005 0845 600 4600 01929 556561

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INTERIORS

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We have a large amount of stock that contains motorcycle clothing, leathers and helmets, waterproofs and boots, gloves and trousers.

We also stock one piece suits and Kevlar jeans, soft luggage and rain covers. Come in today and check out our end of the line specials along with our excellent range of used clothing that is available.

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Swanage Oracle

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Community News

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Studland History Group Studland History Group began in March 2005 and meets in the Village Hall on the third Wednesday of the month, usually at 2.30pm. with occasional evening meetings. Its objectives are to research, disseminate, archive local history and to celebrate local history in the parish of Studland and related areas.

Monthly meetings usually take the form of a speaker on a fairly local topic, such as talks on the Bankes Estate, the history of the Ferry, Studland Residents and the Great War, Goathorn, A Forgotten Clayworking Community and audiovisual presentations of “In Praise of Dorset”, parts 1 to 4. Coffee mornings and exhibitions have been held and visits to Brownsea Castle, Round Island, Wytch Oilfield and Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum to name a few.

Annual membership is £17 payable in April and covers all meetings. Visitors

are very welcome and are charged £3.50 which includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

The April meeting on the 15th, is in the evening at 7pm. And Carlton Hobbs, one of the members, will be giving an illustrated talk “Larger Than Life, the amazing story of Mabel St Clair Stobart, nee Mabel Annie Boulton”. Mabel was a Studland resident who played a major role in Serbia in WW1. The talk looks beyond the well known legend of “The Lady of the Black Horse” to examine her many other talents and deeds and the people and places involved.

On Wednesday 20th May at 2.30pm, the speaker will be John Patrick, “A History of Swanage Pubs”.

For more information contact the Secretary, Joyce Meates on 01929 439245.

The Bankes Arms, Studland

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Community News

Volunteers Honoured at Annual Ceremony Purbeck’s ‘Volunteers of the Year’ have been thanked at a Council ceremony which has become an annual fixture in the District.

Volunteers, who do exceptional work for their local communities, received recognition and praise from Purbeck District Council Chairman, Councillor Bill Trite.

This year’s event was the seventh annual one to be hosted by the District Council.

Following the tradition of previous years, Councillor Trite and guests heard about the dedication, energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers who give so much to their communities.

After presenting each volunteer with a scroll as a mark of their achievement, Councillor Trite said: “I never fail to be impressed by what I hear at this ceremony. Listening to the volunteers’ citations is very humbling and brings home to us the extent of their work and commitment.

“Volunteers are essential to the quality of life in our towns and villages. They make a positive difference from which everyone benefits, often working unseen and unsung behind the scenes.

Those honoured here today also represent so many others, all of whom I’d like to thank on behalf of the Council.

“It’s a privilege to have been involved in the Volunteers of the Year scheme and

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to thank personally some of those who give so freely of their time and efforts.”

Eleven parishes and towns across the District nominated volunteers who were congratulated in front of more than 50 people. Councillor Trite concluded: “As external funding for local councils continues to decline, communities are inevitably becoming more reliant on our volunteers. That is the reality we face today.”

The volunteers were: Affpuddle and Turnerspuddle – Bladen Centenary Exhibition Group Bere Regis – Brenda House East Holme – Ruby Selby Lytchett Matravers – Graham Lee Lytchett Minster and Upton – Barbara Moulton Morden – The Ladies of the Car Boot Teas Swanage – Cancare Service Wareham St Martin – Sandford Scouts and Sandford Beavers Wareham – Stephen Welsh Wool – Sue Bartlett Worth Matravers – Patti Sandham

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National Trust News

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National Trust in Purbeck For the first time ever, more than £1 million passed through the tills of the National Trust’s Knoll Beach Café at Studland in the financial year just ended. It’s a fantastic success for a dedicated and hardworking team; not least because it means that after costs are deducted, around £240,000 is available to help fund our work in Purbeck.

However, to see just how important an achievement it really is we need to look at the bigger picture.

The National Trust is a charity dedicated to conserving special places so that everyone can enjoy them. The money we make from enterprises like the café, along with income from memberships, donations, beach huts and other sources, make that possible.

Each year, it costs us around £1 million to carry out our work in Purbeck alone ¬– and if we had the money, we could easily spend double that.

From protecting Corfe Castle to maintaining public access to the countryside, and nature conservation on a landscape scale, our work is varied, complex and demanding in terms of time and resources.

Quite simply, every penny counts.

Much of what we do goes unseen by most people but we still have to go on doing it: year after year, rain or shine, in good times and in bad. That’s what we mean by ‘forever, for everyone.’

This year, we are particularly focused on the coast to mark 50 years of the Neptune Coastal Campaign.

The National Trust owns

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hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline including gems like Studland, Old Harry and Dancing Ledge, but ownership comes with a price tag: £3,000 a year for each mile of coast.

That’s why a record breaking year at Knoll Beach Café is about more than ice cream sales, it’s about looking after our common heritage.

Den building was just one of the activities on offer when National Trust staff and volunteers gathered for our spring conference recently.

After learning about priorities for the year ahead, those attending had the chance to enjoy the Spring sunshine on Studland Beach.

There was pond dipping courtesy of the Cyril Diver Project, which is looking into the ecology of Studland, a coastal quiz, workshops and a fish-and-chip lunch.

The age limit for the National Trust’s successful 50 Things to do before you’re 11¾ was suspended for the day, and as well as den building there was wild art, walking barefoot and stone skimming to try.

Den building on Studland Beach Photo: National Trust

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Swanage Oracle

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Wildlife News

Talking about Wildlife...

Walk for wildlife this Spring This spring, Dorset Wildlife Trust is asking not just what we can do for wildlife, but what wildlife can do for us.

There are many mental and physical benefits to spending time outside, and for many of us, it is a luxury, and a great way to spend time with the family. That feeling of breathing in fresh air, or the achievement of climbing a hill to take in a stunning view (of which there are plenty of in Dorset), can’t be matched by any computer game or television show.

Statistics also show that we should be aiming to spend at least 30 minutes of good quality time outside, every day. This is a great habit to get children into especially, as the great outdoors still holds so much for them to learn about.

So this Easter if you’re looking for a challenge, something to do with the family outside, and a way to raise money for charity, with some beautiful coastal views along the way, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s (DWT) ‘Walk for Wildlife’ might be just the thing for you.

Walk for Wildlife has been running for over 10 years, and is one of the highlights in DWT’s year. This year, the walks start and finish at Leeson House, near Swanage. There are three to choose from, and for the first time there is a new 2 miles route suitable for families*, and lots of activities are also on offer at the start and finish, including face painting, a puppet show with the ‘Hand to mouth theatre’, and a special prize for the school with the most amount of walkers.

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The 6 mile and 13 mile routes both take in the rugged scenery of the Purbeck coastline, with a good chance of seeing puffins, dolphins and gannets out at sea, whilst the coastal path should provide opportunities to spot peregrine falcons and ravens, as we as newly arrive migrants such as wheatear and swallows.

We are also asking those taking part to raise some money for Dorset Wildlife Trust through sponsorship – this is a great way for us to continue helping wildlife in Dorset, and for participants to feel they are giving something back to wildlife, whilst burning some calories at the same time!

For more information, and to book online, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ walkforwildlife, or phone 01305 264620.

*Please note that none of the routes are suitable for pushchairs

By Sally Welbourn

Walking the Jurassic Coast Photo: Dorset Wildlife Trust

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Swanage Oracle

Community News

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Purbeck Workshop - ‘craft therapy’ for those with or caring for cancer Sinead Feeney and her family live in Wool in Dorset. She and her husband Paul (both radiographers in the Dorset area) set up a non-profit making charity called the ‘Purbeck Workshop’ in a small, industrial unit in Wool to enable people suffering with cancer and their families to come together to do some ‘craft therapy’, free of charge. Volunteers from all over the county - and some further afield - come to the workshop to teach all manner of different crafts. The idea is that through doing some kind of craft - knitting, watercolour painting, woodworking, photography, flower arranging and even learning about Astronomy, people can momentarily escape their fears of cancer.

The reason why she and Paul set up the workshop is because they had nothing in their area where they could go, to talk with, and be with other young families going through the same thing; you see, Paul was diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome just over 2 years ago. Lynch Syndrome is an inherited genetic condition that predisposes people to aggressive forms of cancer; generally the younger you are the more virulent it becomes and survival rates are much lower - Steven Sutton’s cancer was caused by this same hereditary condition. With a young son (Nicholas aged just 2 years old) and Sinead was pregnant with Eva, the diagnosis was an obvious shock, especially as they knew of no one in the family who had this inherited condition.

Paul was only 33 when he was diagnosed and had various forms of chemotherapy treatment throughout 2013 to treat bowel cancer.

Seemingly successful, the tumour had shrunk significantly and the spread appeared to have been halted. Unfortunately, due to the genetic condition, in February 2014 the cancer breached the abdominal cavity and spread.

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Aged just 35, Paul sadly passed away on 23 November 2014, one week before the Workshop was due to open on 30 November. Sinead went ahead with the opening ceremony days before Paul’s funeral later that week.

Since then, with the help of her friends, family and array of wonderful people, Sinead continues to lay on craft and other events (coffee mornings, walks and days trips) for those touched by cancer, whilst also balancing 3 days a week at the hospital as well as looking after her two children, now 4 and 22 months.

All of the groups and activities are provided free of charge and are all available to anyone affected by cancer:- patients, carers and family members alike.

The workshop has a website, Twitter feed and a Facebook presence... and great coffee too!

Website: www.purbeckworkshop.org Twitter: @purbeckworkshop Facebook: facebook.com/purbeckworkshop Before

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Local financial advice firm Strategic Solutions wins major business award

For a free consultation contact:

Allan Cruse FPFS MCSI Cert CII (MP&ER) Chartered Financial Planner Chartered Wealth Manager

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Strategic Solutions is a trading style of Strategic Solutions Financial Services which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Number 525733. Principals: Jefferson Fawcett, Giles Wellington, Kevin Forbes, Allan Cruse

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Mortgage Advice including Equity Release.

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Retirement Planning including SIPPS, Drawdown & Annuities

Independent Financial Advice given at the highest level.

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Protection including Key Person & Business Protection

Strategic Solutions!

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Inheritance Tax Planning & Estate Planning

Professional Adviser Firm of the Year Award for the South West goes to...

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Wealth Management Savings & Investments

that this philosophy has been recognised by the judges and we will continue to work hard to help our clients reach their financial potential both through their working life and in retirement. I would like to thank all of our staff, clients and Incisive Media for their support.”

Strategic Solutions can be contacted on 01929 408114 or via email at allan.cruse@ssfs.co.uk

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Local chartered independent financial advice firm Strategic Solutions has been awarded the prestigious title of Professional Adviser Firm of the Year for the South West.

Hundreds of firms were judged on a number of aspects including professional qualifications, business growth and commitment to the profession. Only those companies that met the stringent evaluation criteria made the final list.

Allan Cruse, one of four principal partners of Strategic Solutions, said: “We place our clients’ needs at the heart of everything we do and are fully committed to providing exceptional service and well considered educated advice at all times. I feel extremely proud

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Community News

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Purbeck U3A Meetings

Thursday 23 April, Harman’s Cross Village Hall 1000 - 1200 noon “The Army in Dorset” - an informative talk by Lt. Col. Ken Davies, accompanied by Charlie his dog!

Thursday 23 May, Harman’s Cross Village Hall 1000 - 1200 noon “My Life on The Royal Yacht Britannia” - an illustrated talk by Mike Crankshaw Thursday 25 June, Harman’s Cross Village Hall 1000 - 1200 noon “The International Space Station” - find out all about it with Bill Coombes All very welcome - just turn up!

The Purbeck University of the Third Age (U3A) is a registered charity. Find more information at: www.purbecku3a.org.uk.

Purbeck Railway Circle Friday 10th April 2015

“Integrating with the National Network”.

A presentation by Frank Roberts.

Friday 8th May 2015 “The Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line, Past & Present”.

A presentation by Dave Waldren from the Mid Hants Railway.

Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross. 7.00 for 7.30pm.

EVERYONE WELCOME. For more information please phone 01929 554765.

01929 408080

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2014 has been another amazing year for NGPS and its customers.

We have helped hundreds more homeowners overcome their fear of rising ENERGY BILLS. We have won yet another prestigious Installer Award for the South West.

And we want to help even more Dorset homeowners like you...

Solar Electricity

Follow us on

A Solar Photovoltaic Panel System has never been more affordable.

While still qualifying for a 20 year government grant in the form of the Feed in Tariff (FIT).

Prices have reached their lowest point as manufacturing requirements cap further reductions.

To take advantage of a 50% reduction in electricity costs and government payments before they run out, the time is right to end the misery of energy price rises and reap a 10-12% return on your investment.

Enphase Micro Inverters as Standard on all NGPS Systems A breakthrough in solar technology has seen the use of Enphase Energy UK micro inverters increase in recent years.

With a 25 year warranty, Enphase micro inverters are our preferred solution for optimised energy generation to speed up payback on your solar energy investment.

Looked at solar before? Enphase is the answer for small roofs and those prone to shading or dust.

Do you generate excess Energy from existing Solar Panels?

For just £375 we will fit an i-Boost to your system, diverting excess energy into the generation of FREE hot water.

Renewable Energy Heating & Hot Water With the launch of the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive RHI grant, payable over 7 years, there has never been a better time to replace your boiler with renewable energy options such as Air Source, Ground Source or Biomass Heating. These highly efficient systems will outlive a traditional boiler several times and offer the most intuitive and highly efficient solution for 24/7 heat and hot water.

Solar Thermal Install one of the oldest renewable energy systems in the UK - Solar Thermal, for nine months FREE Hot Water.

Why customer’s have put their trust in us for over 20 years We provide local support. We operate under strict code of conduct for the electrical & renewable energy industry.

We have a Technical team, not salesman. We do not cold call. We don’t sell on the day or take deposits. You receive a quote in the post and pay at the end of your installation. We do not use Contractors, our installation teams are all employed and have been with the company for several years. We sit on a government advisory panel.

CONTACT US TODAY We offer no nonsense advice - and an end to rising energy bills.

For an appointment call 01202 736812 You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain!

Swanage Oracle

Cover Photographer

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Purbeck Footprints: Introducing Julian Sawyer

I set up Purbeck Footprints a few years ago as a way of sharing the natural beauty and abundant wildlife to be found in this part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site.

The Isle of Purbeck has some of the finest walks and views in the country and it is my privilege to bring them to you through pictures, guided walks and talks. Every season in this spectacular part of Dorset is different and the constantly changing landscape and wildlife offer an inspiring panorama for the photographer.

Feel free to browse through the photographs on my website www.purbeckfootprints.co.uk, or follow Purbeck Footprints on Facebook and Twitter to keep tabs on what I’m up to.

Julian Sawyer Purbeck Footprints

Grand Plant Sale

in the Main Hall Swanage United Reformed Church

Saturday 2nd May 2015 from 10am £1 entrance to include your first cuppa!

Bedding & house plants, vegetables, refreshments, cake stall, garden tools & pots.

All proceeds split equally between the work of Brother Jon in Uganda and church funds.

01929 408080

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Carpet & Flooring Specialists • Hardwood & Laminate Flooring • Carpet & Carpet Tiles • Wood Sanding & Restoration • Home selection service • Free quotes and advice Come and visit our showroom to see the ranges for yourself 1 Manor Park, 35 Willis Way, Poole, Dorset, BH15 3SZ Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri

Tel: 01202 672222 Web: www.pnfl.co.uk Email: info@pnfl.co.uk

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Adventures of Nellie

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The Adventures of Nellie The Purbeck Publications Camper Van “Nellie” is the Purbeck Publications camper van. Named because of her elephantine size and the fact she is a Nissan Elgrand, a rather old one at that.

She takes us out and about and we have fun telling you where we have been and hopefully give you some ideas of where to go and what to do along our beautiful English coast and the countryside. When it is warmer she takes us camping!

Last month Nellie was ready for a break.

After all it was half term and Hayden, our 11 year old son was off school, so what better excuse than to ‘get away’ for a few days. We live in such a gorgeous area it was difficult to choose where to go. Nellie eventually decided to take us to the New Forest for a slightly longer trip, to the Shorefield Country Park near Milford on Sea. As the weather is a bit unpredictable, and still a bit on the chilly side, we booked a small chalet with heating and Nellie parked herself proudly outside. I have to say that Nellie did well, the chalet was really good value for money and just what we needed for a few days off.

Stephen & Hayden with Nellie at our chalet

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Nellie arriving at Shorefield Country Park There are some rather grand looking log cabins as well as impressive caravans on site with hot tubs outside, so maybe we will try one of those next time? Anyway what we had was perfect for what we wanted. We did arrive a bit early, all very keen to have our time off, so Nellie and her whistling kettle provided us with a lovely cuppa, while we waited for the keys to our ‘weekend escape’. Of course Hayden was very excited about the pool, so once we were settled in and bags were unpacked, (were we really only staying for a few days??) off we set for the leisure facilities.

While Hayden practiced his hand stands at the deep end and generally glided around like I will never be able to do, I had a relaxed steam bath, sauna and jacuzzi. Much more fun… at least at 50! A caravan park from this viewpoint is ideal - it caters for all ages.

What I liked about this park is the setting.

Located in a wonderful forest of trees, much wildlife, (I am sure we saw a woodpecker) and fields, yet the sea is literally ten minutes walk away. Saturday

23 was glorious with blue skies and those well known English fleecy white clouds.

Love it. We marched off for the coast, doing a short Geocache enroute. The ‘treasure’ this time was tiny and Stephen was the winner, finding it very well hidden in a bench.

Once we got to the sea there was a large banner warning us not to swim. Though it was sunny it was still a little chilly, so that made me smile. I then looked more closely at the banner and was fascinated by the iron sea defences that were very dangerously placed under the water at this time. That got me thinking about our coast line.

This beach is full of pebbles and the waves were crashing vociferously onto them.

If you close your eyes it is really quite dramatic. There is in fact a lot of work having to be done due to erosion, moving landscapes and these old sea defences.

I discovered that the rock in this area is softer than that near Old Harry Rocks and there is a whole Shoreline Management Plan to help preserve our coastline all the way from Hurst Spit at Milford on Sea to Durlston Head, including the bays in Poole and Bournemouth. It is all quite an undertaking! It is surprising really what we take for granted.

No Swimming?? I was so looking forward...

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The vociferous waves crashing on the shore The whole concept got me thinking about old times, the future and life in general, but that is a bit deep for the Adventures of Nellie! We had a whale of a time, not literally as we were not allowed to swim, throwing stones in the water, running enthusiastically away from the waves as they thundered towards us. Hayden got pretty wet and thought that was hysterical. He couldn’t stop laughing.

There are many beach huts along this stretch and some are delightfully painted while others are quite dilapidated. From what I read there is a whole question over these English Seaside getaways and their safety in this area. I certainly would be sorry to see them go. One local artist was collecting smooth pebbles for her next project, coming down from her little wooden hideaway onto the beach with her bucket. How exiting.

Finally we made it... to the café! It was perfect especially as there is a park for the children. “Needles Eye Café” it is called, obviously due to its stunning views of the coast and indeed The Needles on the Isle of Wight. After a good lunch, rest and relaxation, we set off back to the chalet and Nellie waiting patiently for us. We didn’t get to Hurst Castle and will have to save that for another trip. The fresh air, walk and wonderful views were just what we needed. What an amazing place we live in. Where will Nellie go next?

By Debbie Corney

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Money Saving Tips

Martin

LEWIS Debt For those with existing debts there are record deals available right now to let you cut the cost and save £100s or £1,000s.

Yet as the old adage goes, banks are companies that’d lend you an umbrella when the sun shines and ask for it back when it rains. So getting cheaper credit when in debt is tricky – however I have developed credit card eligibility checkers which can help you check what debt cutting cards you’re able to get before you apply. If you can lower the interest cost, then more of your repayment clears the actual debt, not just services the interest – meaning you’ll be debt-free far quicker. So here are the key debt cost cutting need to knows…

I make no apology for saying…. stop borrowing. If you're struggling, borrowing to make ends meet just elongates the problem - making it even costlier and more difficult. The tips below will help, but if you keep adding to the debt nothing will fix it. So take a deep breath, do a budget and examine all your spending to see if you can cut back.

Best buys are only best if you can get them. While there are many great rates on offer, you need to pass a credit score to get them, and many fail at that hurdle. Worse still when you apply it leaves a footprint on your file and lots of those in a short space of time can hit your future credit worthiness. I've given evidence to Parliament on this 'anti-shopping around' system - little's been done.

So to fight back on my site we’ve built a free eligibility calculator – which tells you which cards you’re most likely to be accepted for. Just as importantly it does this without leaving a footprint on your file that lenders can see – so you can home in on the right one, minimising applications. To try it go to www.MoneySavingExpert.com/eligibility.

Shift credit or store card debt to 35mth 0%. A balance transfer’s where you get a new credit card that repays debts on the old credit or store card(s) for you, so you owe it instead at a lower rate.

The longest 0% deals for those new to the card company now last nearly three years (a year ago they were 30 months), but as with many things in life longest isn't always best. Aim for the lowest fee card, ensuring you've enough time to clear it. Top picks and golden rules at www.mse.me/ balancetransfers.

Shift your overdraft to 0% too. Debit cards can be debt cards too - if you're in your overdraft it's often more costly than credit cards, especially if you bust your limit. So there are two ways to get out of this. a) Switch to a 0% overdraft: Top bank for customer service www.firstdirect.com offers a £250 0% overdraft (you

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must pay-in £1,000/month) and for accepted new switchers a free £100 - which should help reduce the overdraft straight away. For some www.nationwide.co.uk 0% overdraft may be bigger, but it's only for a year and is 50p/day after. b) Shift it to a 0% 'money transfer' credit card. A few balance transfer cards also let newbies 'money transfer'. This is where it pays a lump sum into your bank account, which can then clear your overdraft so you owe it instead. Top pick is www.mbna.co.uk which gives 24 months 0% money transfers for a one off 2.2% fee (though it's 22.9% rep APR after the 0% ends). Yet be careful, follow the balance transfer rules above and for more picks and full step-by-step help see www.mse.me/moneytransfers.

Can you cut the cost of existing loans? It's complex, as you need to factor in that most loans charge up to two months' interest to repay them early.

- Who should try? Those who can get a substantially lower APR loan (eg, more than a fifth off, so from 10% to 8%), and have a while left to repay. Full options in www.mse.me/ cheaploans.

- How much can I save? Someone who is 2 years through a 5 year 12% loan for £5,000, paying it off with a 4.9% loan, could save around £1,000.

Don't pay all debts equally - attack the highest APR. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, including overdrafts, in order of APRs. Focus all spare cash to clear the highest APR one as it grows fastest, and just pay the min on the others. Once that's clear, move to the next highest.

I've never seen a debt crisis that isn't solvable - don't give up hope. The solutions above are for cutting debt costs. Yet for some, it's much worse than that. Do any of these apply to you...

- You can't meet even just the minimum monthly payments.

- You have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year's salary.

- You have sleepless nights or serious depression/anxiety over your debts.

If so then you're likely in a debt crisis and that means the solution you need is totally different. The most important thing I can tell you is I've never seen a debt crisis that isn't solvable. It may not always be quick or easy, but there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The first step is to go for free, one-on-one debt counselling help from www.adviceguide.org.uk, www.stepchange.org, www.nationaldebtline.org or, if you're struggling emotionally too www.capuk.org.

@MoneySavingExpert

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P U O S R E W O H S L I R P A

EGGS CHICK BONNET APRIL FOOLS DAY SUMMER TIME APRIL SHOWERS GOOD FRIDAY EASTER CHOCOLATE BUNNY

This month, the prize is a meal for two at the Bull & Boat in Swanage, so please complete this page by 8th May and send to: April/May Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Swanage Oracle, Address: ______________________ 1 Moorlands Rise, ______________________ West Moors, ______________________ Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone: ______________________

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Community News

The Swanage Food Bank A food bank in Swanage? Do we really need one?

Well, Swanage is no different from the majority of communities where the need not only exists but is also increasing. Any one of us can find ourselves in straitened circumstances, facing the stark reality of not knowing where the next meal will come from. The situation becomes even more desperate when there are family dependents.

This is where a food bank can provide short-term assistance to tide someone over an immediate food shortage.

Since the Swanage Food Bank began in November 2013, it has been able to help more and more people. The Salvation Army, rightly known for its sterling social work, has been issuing food parcels for some years on an informal basis. However, the need has grown and likewise the work, which now actively involves the family of local churches. The Food Bank has become a team effort, supported by Churches Together in Swanage and District (CTSD), as well as by local community groups and residents, as awareness its existence has increased. No one wants to think of people living in our town going hungry while there is plenty that can be shared.

How does the Food Bank operate?

It is located at the Salvation Army

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and run by a team of volunteers.

It works closely with a number of agencies that issue vouchers to their clients. A voucher entitles the client to supplies from the Food Bank, once a quick phone call has been made from agency to the Food Bank to arrange a time when a food parcel can be collected.

The Swanage Food Bank is one of a number of community support groups fully endorsed by CTSD. Other groups include Besom, Communicare, C.A.P. (Christians Against Poverty ~ debt counselling), the Swanage Depression Self-help Group and Impact (helping young people in the town). Through all these initiatives, the churches are working together to demonstrate the love of God in our community, through faith in action.

Ann Davis

(on behalf of The Swanage Food Bank)

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Can a garden be both beautiful and There are many different types of artificial low maintenance? longer. grasses available, from luxuriously soft, 37mm Gardens offer a natural escape. A haven from the pressures of life – it is a precious outdoor space that people relax and enjoy themselves in.

However, “I love my garden, but not the work!” is a common complaint amongst householders.

For some people life is just too busy to fit those precious gardening hours into a hectic weekly schedule. For others, whilst passionate about gardening, find that keeping on top of the mowing is getting too much.

Despite the work, most people are clear about one thing, they do not want to give up their patch of green. So what are the options for a beautiful but low maintenance outdoor space?

Some people opt for a quick and easy fix - paving over their gardens and disguising the concrete surface with pots and planters. This is not ideal, as rainwater has nowhere to go, possibly leading to flooding issues.

One more affordable and increasingly popular option is artificial grass. Artificial turf provides the perfect lawn without the mowing, mud and maintenance hassle of natural grass. Importantly, most of the artificial grasses are pet and childfriendly. Front lawn installations are just as popular as back lawns. Artificial grass can give a property instant ‘kerb appeal’ – looking tidy and well-kept all year round. According to locally based artificial grass installers Green Scheme Solutions Ltd, maintenance is minimal and an annual spruce up is all that is usually required.

Latest manufacturing technologies mean that modern fake grasses are very realistic with brown thatch woven into the root zone. Colours have changed from bright greens to more naturallooking olive shades (several different coloured yarns are used to give a realistic finished look).

The best grasses use ‘shaped fibres’ - the individual blades of grass are stronger by design which means that the lawns look great for

Swanage Oracle

pile heights for an immaculate looking garden, to more affordable and hard wearing grasses with shorter pile heights.

Given the wide range and styles of grasses available, it is particularly important to get some expert advice to ensure you get a product which matches your needs. As with paint pot samples, good looking grass samples do not necessarily give you the lawn you want.

Artificial grass is an ideal choice for people wanting to enjoy their garden whilst cutting down on their maintenance workload. Local resident Nick White is very enthusiastic about his new artificial lawn: “What’s great is that rather than constantly working on the garden, I can spend quality time in the garden playing with the kids. Even our Old English sheepdog loves the new lawn.”

ARTIFICIAL GRASS = PERFECT LAWN!

BEFORE

AFTER

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CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE info@greenschemeltd.co.uk www.greenschemegrass.com

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Community News

Communicare Swanage Communicare has been providing services to the people of Swanage and District for over 30 years.

It provides a range of services through carefully selected volunteers. We provide support to meet many needs.

Communicare is affiliated to the Churches Together in Swanage and District but offers services to all the people of our area – Swanage, Studland, Langton Matravers, Worth Matravers, Kingston, Harman’s Cross and Corfe Castle.

Communicare is governed by a Committee of Church representatives and led by a Director, a Treasurer and a Secretary, none of whom receive remuneration. As an organisation we depend completely on donations from individuals and local organisations to cover our day to day “running costs”. Within this context, if you require transport of any kind we will ask for a contribution towards expenses of 40p per mile (minimum charge locally

of £2), which goes to the driver to cover his expenses.

If you would like to enquire about the availability of any of the services available, or any other requirement, then please contact one of the Link people whose telephone numbers are listed below:07531 811375 01929 480932 01929 423587 01929 427576 01929 761273 01929 423612 Please note that as volunteers these people may not always be available and you may have to try more than one number. Their task is to link your need with one of our volunteer staff who provide the services. They will let you know who will be contacting you to provide the service you have requested. There is also a new website: www.swanageforyou.co.uk

BIG BOOK BONANZA

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SATURDAY 11 APRIL 9.30 till 1.00pm

BIG BOOK BONANZA at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue, Swanage. Entry is free and the books are FREE too!! Come and help yourself to some great books - fact, fiction and allsorts and at the same time, buy some breakfast or cake and coffee at our community café!

Everybody welcome... and don’t go away empty handed!

01929 408080

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Doors-Windows-Locks Glass repairs & Sealed units replaced uPVC & Timber Windows & Doors supplied & fitted uPVC Fascia - Soffits - Gutters installed Locks Opened - Replaced - Upgraded Window restrictors & Child locks fitted Handles - Hinges - Letter Boxes Seals & Gaskets Replaced Snapped keys extracted      

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4112 A&D Yard Tipping AD 128x90mm Outlined.indd 1

Swanage Oracle

Tel: 01929 481496 Mobile: 07796 237351 Email: landerrmi@gmail.com FENSA - MTC - CRB checked

26/01/2015 11:06

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Index of advertisers

Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Oracle...

Accountants Ward Goodman.................................................... 7 Aerials BMC Digital Services............................................. 7 Animal Feed & Accessories Crawfords Feed..................................................... 7 Bars & Restaurants Bull & Boat........................................................... 1 Bathrooms C+C Plumbing & Bathrooms................................. 13 Ivamy Designs....................................................... 3 Jon Parry Interiors................................................ 5 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds......................................................... 3 Carpenters Total Woodwork - Peter Albin............................... 9 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners No 1 Carpet Cleaning............................................ 3 Carpets & Flooring Peter Newman Flooring........................................ 21 Community News Adventures of Nellie............................................. 22 Big Book Bonanza................................................. 28 Dorset Wildlife Trust: Walking for Wildlife............... 14 Martin Lewis: Debt............................................... 18 National Trust in Purbeck..................................... 12 Purbeck Footprints............................................... 20 Purbeck Railway Circle......................................... 18 Purbeck U3A......................................................... 18 Purbeck Volunteers Awarded............................... 10 Purbeck Workshop................................................ 16 Studland History Group........................................ 6 Swanage Communicare........................................ 28 Swanage Fish Festival........................................... 8 Swanage Food Bank............................................. 26 Swanage Town Twinning: Murder Mystery.......... 20 Swanage United Reform Church: Plant Sale......... 20 Computer Services AJV Computing..................................................... 29 Whizzbits.............................................................. 29

Ward Goodman.................................................... 7 Fruit & Veg Deliverers Crawfords Feed..................................................... 7 Garage Doors Skandoor............................................................... 9 Garden Centres The Old Piggery.................................................... 2 Garden Services Green Scheme....................................................... 27 T D Landscaping & Fencing................................... 5 Health & Care Bournemouth Careline......................................... 13 Insurance Brokers Coversure Insurance............................................. 31 Kitchens Ivamy Designs....................................................... 3 Jon Parry Interiors................................................ 5 Motorcycling Clothing & Accessories Biker’s Yard........................................................... 5 Oven Cleaning David Chalmers.................................................... 5 Plumbers C+C Plumbing....................................................... 13 Gasways Heating.................................................. 21 Heatwise............................................................... 15 Property Maintenance Total Woodwork - Peter Albin............................... 9 Puzzles & Competitions Prize Wordsearch.................................................. 25 Removals Bournemouth Removals....................................... 28 Renewable Energy Solutions Nick Good Property Services................................. 19 Retirement Living Shore House.......................................................... 11 Skip Hire A&D Skips............................................................. 29

Domestic Cleaning David Chalmers.................................................... 9

Taxis DMB Cars.............................................................. 15

Driveways Resin Drives.......................................................... 32

Tool & Plant Hire Sydenhams........................................................... 2

Financial Services Strategic Solutions - Allan Cruse........................... 17

Windows & Doors Doors-Windows-Locks.......................................... 29

01929 408080

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Coversure Insurance Services Poole is your friendly local insurance broker.

We can provide you with; • • • • •

Car and Home Insurance Landlords Insurance Van and Fleet Insurance Liability Insurance Professional Indemnity Cover

as well as much more� Call Coversure Poole today on

0800 223 0060 www.coversure.co.uk/poole Coversure Insurance Services (Poole), 96 Ashley Road, Poole, BH14 9BN S & J Palmer Ltd t/as Coversure Insurance Services (Poole) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Ref: 626656.

Swanage Oracle

Hi, I’m John Palmer and I own and run Coversure Poole.

Call me for a quote:

01202 929 141

johnpa@coversure.co.uk

John Palmer

COME TAKE A LOOK AROUND OUR BIGGEST INDOOR / OUTDOOR SHOWROOM

GET A FREE PATH OR PATIO OR WE WILL PAY YOUR VAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A RESIN DRIVE

WHY SHOULD YOU INSTALL A RESIN DRIVE? That’s simple; our product naturally drains water through the finished surface which means no more puddles.

It is also resistant to frost attack, hence giving it all round better traction for tyres and making it better for walking on. Last but not least its up to 10 times more eco friendly than concrete. And don’t forget, we have a great colour range to choose from to give it your personal touch!

NE W OR TRY OUR STEM Y S Y A OVERL quite stretch to

doesn’t y not try If your budget install then wh ive Dr sin Re erlay a full Ov e tiv ec r cost eff it our new supe ber below or vis m nu e th ll Ca System? e. or find out m our website to

PATIO, PATHS & DRIVEWAY SPECIALISTS

Phone today for your free quotation…

0800 007 5733 Visit our website to learn more & find our showrooms…

www.resindrives.co.uk

The Swanage Oracle

1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR