Cotswold Link (North Cotswolds) March April 2023

to the March - April issue

In this issue we look at the history and science behind the Spring Equinox (p6), the mental health issues affecting young people (p10) as well as how to grow fantastic peaches in your garden this Spring (p12).

There’s also a fascinating look at an innovative new treatment for hip and knee replacements (p8).

I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in May. Best wishes,

01609 777401

cotswoldlink.co.uk

Christine Campbell |

Christine Campbell | Editor

The Cotswold Sky

Welcome to the 2023 Spring Equinox

The 2023 Vernal or Spring Equinox welcomes the beginning of Spring. This year the Sun appears overhead on the equator on Monday 20th March at 9.24pm.

The complexities of how our ancestors worked out how to find this point in time is most interesting and not without its mishaps. They were aware the Earth rotated the Sun every 365 and one quarter of a day and this is the reason why we add an extra day (Feb 29th) every four years. If this was not done our calendar would slip out of synchronisation with the seasons. You will note from the diagram that as the Earth continues its journey towards the Summer Solstice on June 21st the Northern Hemisphere becomes more prominently visible to the Sun thus the days become more warmer and longer as we head towards the summer.

For more detailed information on the Vernal Equinox go to: www.weather.gov/cle/Seasons www.almanac.com

John Harris

New Service: Robotic Hip & Knee Surgery

MEET THE CONSULTANT

Mr Aslam is the leading MAKO Robotic Surgeon in Worcestershire, being one of a few Orthopaedic Surgeons in the UK currently performing this technique.

“My patients who have so far opted for this technique have seen great results. Their stay in hospital was shorter, recovery time quicker & they walked unaided within days. The implant positioning is very accurate and the preoperative planning is extremely useful”

Introducing Our New Robotic Hip and Knee Surgery

BEFORE SURGERY

It all begins with a CT scan of your joint that is used to generate a 3D virtual model of your unique anatomy. This virtual model is loaded into the Mako system software and is used to create your personalized pre-operative plan.

IN THE OPERATING ROOM

In the operating room, I will use Mako to assist in performing your surgery based on your personalized preoperative plan. The Mako system also allows me to make adjustments to your plan during surgery as needed. When I prepare the bone for the implant, the Mako system guides me within the pre-defined area and helps prevent me from moving outside the planned boundaries. This helps provide more accurate placement and alignment of your implant.

AFTER SURGERY

After surgery, my Medical Team and Physiotherapists will set goals with you to get you back on the move. They will closely monitor your condition and progress.

CAUSES OF YOUR HIP & KNEE PAIN

Your joints are involved in almost every activity you do. Movements such as walking, bending and turning require the use of your hip and knee joints. When the joint becomes diseased or injured, the resulting pain can severely limit your ability to move and work.

The hip and knees are amongst the largest joints in the body and are

central to nearly every routine activity. A smooth plastic like lining called cartilage covers the ends of the bones and prevents them from rubbing against each other allowing for flexible and nearly frictionless movement (Figure 1, right).

Cartilage also serves as a shock absorber, cushioning the bones from the forces between them. Finally, a soft tissue called synovium lines the joint and produces a lubricating synovial fluid that reduces friction and wear. Each patient is unique and can experience knee or hip pain for different reasons.

The main cause of hip/knee pain is osteoarthritis

This is sometimes called degenerative arthritis because it is a wearing out condition involving the breakdown and of cartilage and formation of bone spurs

(Figure 2, right). With osteoarthritis, the cushioning cartilage at the end of the femur may have worn down making walking painful as bones rub against bone. Once the bone ends are exposed the joints become more painful on weight bearing.

Another common cause of knee and hip pain is rheumatoid arthritis which is an inflammatory condition . Rheumatoid arthritis produces chemical changes in the lining of the joints or synovium that causes it to become thickened and inflamed. In turn the synovial fluid destroys the cartilage, the end result is cartilage loss pain and stiffness (Figure 2). Because the primary problem is the synovial inflammation this causes damage to multiple joints, including non weight bearing joints in the hands and feet.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN

There are so many issues affecting education today examples being:

Pupil Mental Health, Post Covid Recovery, Funding, School Discipline, Teacher Retention, Teacher unrest and even Teacher Mental Health, the list goes on.

Yet there has never been available the support we now have at our fingertips in the form of virtual instant communication by modern technology –unheard of decades ago. We can access charities and groups for advice and information. Each person will have their own priorities and my personal concern is that of the mental health of our children; the future generation.

It is only in recent years that mental health issues have been freely debated in public. Prior to this people “hid” behind their problems with feelings of guilt, being fearful that they were unusual in being the only one with such problems and not realising they were not alone.

The increasing trend in the Mental Health of Children

In a recent survey conducted by the NHS several alarming figures were found:

• 18% of children aged 7 to 16 and 22% of young people aged 17 to 24 had a probable mental disorder.

• 12.5% of 11 to 16 year old social media users

reported of being bullied online.

• Those with a probable mental disorder were less likely to report feeling safe online.

Bar Chart showing the increase in the mental health issues of children from 2017 to 2022

Sources of help and advice

The NHS report showed that parents seeked advice from a variety of sources these included in order:

• Education Services e.g. schools

• Health services e.g. local doctor

• Friends or family

• Online or telephone support

The Education services were generally the first port of call followed by the Health Services. Surprisingly not all referred their children to the Health Services. What is important is that if your child has Mental Health problems, seek advice preferably from your doctor.

Note the dramatic increase in the 17 to 19 years age group from 2021 to 2022

Further research has been carried out by a number of institutions and Sir Peter Lampl the founder and chair of the Sutton Trust who carried out a joint research project with University College London stated, with reference to Covid and Mental Health “… the after effects are far from over for our country’s youngsters”

John Harris

A Passion for Peaches!

When we rented a house in the South of France one summer, there was a peach tree in the garden and the owner invited us to help ourselves. We have never eaten so many sweet, ripe peaches. Nothing in the supermarkets here has ever compared to those fat globes of nectar.

A few years ago, I discovered that it was possible to grow peaches in this country too, with a few caveats. In the far South it’s possible to grow them against a south, or south-west-facing wall. Further up the country we need the help of a conservatory or a large greenhouse. If you have that south-facing wall or conservatory and would like to have a go at growing peaches (and who wouldn’t?) read on.

‘Peregrine’ is a white-fleshed peach quite well-suited to the English climate (the above warnings notwithstanding) though generally best grown under cover. ‘Rochester’ is a very reliable yellow variety that gives good harvests of large fruits in August. It also has the advantage of being a late bloomer, making it less susceptible to frost damage. If space is limited, which it often is in a conservatory, choose a plant grafted on to dwarf rootstock. Peaches are best grown as a fan. Fasten horizontal wires to the wall at 30cm intervals to allow the stems to be tied in and spaced out evenly. The plant should be positioned about 25cm from the wall with branches sloped towards it, and if planted directly into the soil, this should be enriched

with well-rotted manure or compost. If planted into a pot, make it as large and deep as the space will allow. When the flowers appear, cover the plant with a light fleece at night to protect the blossom. Because of the lack of natural pollinators early in the year you can help things a long by using a long dry paintbrush to dust pollen from one flower to another. Then water the plant regularly and feed with tomato food through the summer to keep it healthy. Prune any branches that grow out away from the wall, and also remove any that overcrowd the framework. Cut some old and fruited lateral shoots out each year to allow new ones to take their place. Happy gardening.

Accomodation

B Simply Rooms: p7

Bathrooms

Country Bathrooms: p3

HPR Services: p5

Builders & Contractors

Calarel Developments: p5

Country Roofing & Building: p15

DTN Oxford: p13

Feldon Builders: p16

Mitre Oak: p16

North Cotswold Builder: p12

Rooflight Company: p3

Phil Dadge: p9

Thomas Contracting: p12

Wychwood oak Frames: p4

Children’s Services

Cotswold Tutor: p10

Clearances

Coln Clearances: p12

Oxfordshire Clearances: p2

Education

Cotswold Tutor: p10

Elderly Services

Hearing & Mobility Store: p11

Windrush Care: p10

Electrical Services

P Wheeler Electrical: p4

Flooring

Country Tiles and Flooring: p3

Framing

Witney Framing: p7

Fuel

Cotswold Petrolium: p15

Furniture

Amanda Hanley By Design: p1

Graham Lane Furniture: p14

Hilltop Joinery: p2

Hooper Joinery: p14

Phil Dadge: p14

Gardening & Outdoors

A R Lewis Tree Care: p13

Avant Garden p12

Coln Clearances: p12

DP Gardening Services: p12

DTN Oxford: p13

Mower Medic: p13

Stockwell Davies Tree

Contractors: p13

Thomas Contracting: p12

Tom Negus Tree Care: p13

WHC Hire: p13

Gifts

Alain Rouveure Galleries: p7

SOTA Gallery: p7

Witney Framing: p7

Healthcare & Wellbeing

Bourton Podiatry Clinic: p11

Cotswold Deep Tissue Massage: p11

Cotswolds Foot Clinic: p11

Cotswold Physio Rooms: p7

Paul Brookes Foot Health: p11

Runnerbean: p6

Worcestershire Knee & Hip Clinic: p8-9

Hearing Aids

Hearing & Mobility Store: p11

Home & Interiors

Alain Rouveure Galleries: p7

Amanda Hanley By Design: p1

Country Bathrooms: p3

Country House Curtains: p1

Country Tiles and Flooring: p3

Hilltop Joinery: p2

Paul Dadge: p3

SOTA Gallery: p7

Witney Framing: p7

Locksmiths

Just Carpentry & Locks: p4

Motoring

Cotswold Garage: p15

Painters & Decorators

Cotswold Wallpaper

Hanging & Decor: p5

J & D Painting & Decorating: p4

Paul Dadge: p3

Phil Dadge: p14

WB Property

Maintenance: p13

Plumbers

HPR Services: p5

MPN Plumbing: p4

Property Maintenance

Coln Clearances: p12

Country Roofing & Building: p15

Dovecote Property: p2

DTN Oxford: p13

Hilltop Joinery: p2

Hooper Joinery: p14

Just Carpentry & Locks: p4

MJ Harris Domestic Repairs: p2

Mossinator: p1

Phil Dadge: p14

WB Property Maintenance: p13

Removals

Coln Clearances: p12

Oxfordshire Clearances: p2

WB Property Maintenance: p13

Repairs

MJ Harris Domestic Repairs: p2

Sports & Leisure

Cotswold Riding: p6

Private Yoga: p6

Runnerbean: p6

Tattoo Clinic

Cotswold Ink: p6

Tree Surgery

A R Lewis Tree Care: p13

Stockwell Davies Tree Contractors: p13

Tom Negus Tree Care: p13

Tuition

Cotswold Tutor: p10

Windows

RJB Window Restoration: p15

Rissingtons Local History Society

Friday 24th March 2023 @7.30pm

Australian Flying Corps in the Cotswolds

in

talk by Bill King. Their training was based in the Cotswolds, many young lives were lost during training accidents.