Shrewsbury Lifestyle - Issue 45 by Stephan Callear

PRICELESS

SHREWSBURY LIFESTYLE LOCAL

SHOP LOCAL

HOUSE & HOME LOCAL NEWS EATING IN

“

Support Local Businesses...

What’s Inside? Local News, Recipes, Fashion, Motoring, Local Businesses & Services and Much, Much More...”

ONLINE ISSUE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 www.shrewsburylifestyle.co.uk

Contents

ISSUE 45 - SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2020 EDITION

10 LOCAL NEWS Shropshire Council will be working with partners over the coming weeks to monitor activity in Pubs across the county to ensure they are compliant with national COVID-19-secure guidance.

20 LOCAL NEWS Shropshire Council has bid for almost £2million of Government funding to help improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in the county.

26 HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL WHAT can you do to maintain a healthy cholesterol level?...Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK.

28 RECIPES For an extra special treat, step away from boring shop-bought pasta and try this simple, basic recipe for fresh homemade egg pasta...

34 FASHION TRENDS Suede fashion garments that will underline your individuality.

38 HOMESTYLE Small garden, maximum impact. The extra time at home has made Brits long for some extra outdoor space.

THE TEAM: Stephan Caear Director

Luke Smith

Sales Manager

Jasmine Bee Editor

48 MOTORING Motoring reviewer Syd Taylor test drives the Audi Q5 40 TDI quattro 190PS S Line S tronic...

Syd Taylor

Editorial Contributor

Eiln Caear

Editorial Contributor

01952 787786

TO FIND OUT ABOUT ADVERTISING YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEXT EDITION CALL:

DE Publications Limited are proud to support local businesses, although we do not accept responsibility for loss, damage or ommision by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork and editorial is accepted on condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Any reproduction of any material is forbidden without prior consent in writing from the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers.

FACEBOOK: DEPublicationsLimited | Twitter: @DEPublications

RECYCLE ME PLEASE

We offer A Rated High Security UPVC windows, UPVC & Composite Doors, Conservatories, Orangeries, Bi-Fold Doors, Fascias, Guttering and Soffits.

d! All Products are A+ Rate all-year-round. Enjoy your conser vatory

Supplied & Fitted!

rfect solution for your home.

m is the pe The Guardian Warm Roof syste

Stunning Designer Conservatories & Orangeries

No Gimmicks, No Salesmen and 20% off all pro ducts!

Telephone: 01952 677611

If you are thinking about a conservatory... A Guardian Warm-Roof option will give you the beautiful living space youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always wanted.

If you already have a conservatory... A Guardian Warm-Roof will transform your conservatory into a pleasant and homely environment.

ARENA, Bridge Street, Oakengates, Telford, TF2 6AH. VISIT OUR WEBSITE : www.arenaconservatories.co.uk Email: arenaconservatories@gmail.com

PCall the local company with the trusted reputation. No obligation, free quotations from the company director. P PVisit our showroom 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri + Saturday 10am-2pm

Shrewsbury Lifestyle - Issue 45

EDITOR’S LETTER September & October 2020 We have all been waiting for things to start to return to some sort of normality, and lots of businesses are ready to get back to work. It has been an exceptionally tough year for many businesses, and they are going to need our support now more than ever. Students are set to return to school and college, and for many students and parents it will be a worrying time. Is it safe? Will the children be able to catch up on the work that they have missed out on? What if there is an outbreak and the school has to lockdown? It is not going to be an easy time - but I am sure that there are lots of kids, and parents who can’t wait to get back in the classroom, and that includes mine!

I really can’t believe it is September already, where has the year gone? Mind you, I for one will not be sorry to see the back of 2020! What a year it has been so far, with floods back at the beginning of the year and lockdown since March - it has been a very tough time for so many. Now we are seeing glimmers of hope, with the easing of restrictions. People are able to venture out to the shops, eat out to help out and you are even able to pop to the pub for a pint again! Lot’s of our local facilities, and services are open again after months of being closed. Gyms and libraries are reopening, as well as swimming pools and play parks - which is greats news.

As we move in to autumn, I think we are all going to be watching carefully to see how things go. There is talk of second waves and the added worry of seasonal flu on top, which could see more people falling ill and even ending up in hospital. I think it is really important that we remain cautious, take care to follow the guidelines and stay safe and alert. Wear a mask when you can, socially distance as much as possible and keep the infection rates down - the last thing we want is for Telford to end up in local lockdown! Take care, and be kind to each other...

Cllr Eileen Callear

WWW.SHREWSBURYLIFESTYLE.CO.UK & WWW.HYPEMAGAZINE.CO.UK 6

Your local solicitors As an accident victim you may have the right to claim compensation.

www.martinkaye.co.uk

0800 975 6066

Your initial consultation is free of charge and without obligation, you can contact us on...

e:claims@martinkaye.co.uk

Photograph with the all new promotional Mini newly added to the fleet! To cope with the surge of enquires the company is receiving

Photograph keeping social distance: Alyson Davenport and Anthony Randall, Heritage Glass Group, Managing Director.

LOCAL NEWS Completion of £50,000 retirement independent living scheme development project Award winning family business Heritage Glass Group based in Shrewsbury has finished a major £50,000 refurbishment and improvement project at the Oswestry Road Retirement Scheme in Ellesmere. The Independent Living Scheme caters for people living in the 27 bungalows on the development, under the management of Alyson Davenport, Scheme Manager. The project involved the replacement of guttering and the installation of clad soffits and fascias. Anthony Randall, Managing Director for the Heritage Glass Group said: “I am proud to say that the original windows we installed 10 years ago under the guidance and expertise of my late father David are still providing a warm and comfortable living experience. And I am delighted to have completed this project that is another 21st anniversary success story, and one that continues his legacy to the customers he loved and served”. Alyson Davenport, Scheme Manager for Midland Heart, said: “As a housing provider with a nearly 100year history of working in the Midlands it’s really

important for us to shop locally, so it’s great that we have a top quality supplier like Heritage Glass right on our doorstep. “We’re delighted with the whole service we’ve received from Heritage, who we know are reliable from previous work they’ve done for us. The installation team were friendly and efficient, while the new products look fantastic and have really brightened up our residents’ homes.” Heritage Glass provides uPVC windows, doors and conservatories, warm roofs and fascias and soffits plus electric garage doors, secondary glazed units and timber and aluminium bi-fold doors and windows. Heritage showrooms are open 6 days a week for appointments and can be contacted on 01743 249243. They follow strict COVID-19 Government Guidelines.

Press Release from Shropshire County Council

Shropshire Council will be working with partners over the coming weeks to monitor activity in pubs across the county to ensure they are compliant with national COVID-19-secure guidance.

LOCAL NEWS Coronavirus: Increased monitoring of pubs across Shropshire... Shropshire Council will be working with partners over the coming weeks to monitor activity in pubs across the county to ensure they are compliant with national COVID-19-secure guidance. The council has received reports about non-compliant gatherings in pubs, which is a cause for concern. Nationally, there are increasing concerns about licensed premises failing to comply with COVID-19 guidance, the main issue being failure to observe social distancing both inside and outside premises.

committed to compliance and only want the best for their customers. “Council officers have adopted a proportionate and pragmatic approach to coronavirus-related enforcement, and this will continue. However, licensees do need to be aware that a failure to ensure a COVID-19-secure environment, or allowing customer behaviour to undermine public health measures, may lead to formal enforcement action. “New regulatory powers granted to councils means we can take action against licensed premises to bring about improvements if public safety is not being protected, which includes closing pubs who are non-compliant. ” Officers will be undertaking additional monitoring in conjunction with our partners over the coming weeks.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health said:

“I want to thank all pubs for their efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and ask that they continue to take their responsibilities seriously.”

“Whilst current data indicates the prevalence and transmission rate of coronavirus in Shropshire are low, it is clear from other parts of the country that this could very rapidly change. It is vital that both businesses and the public continue to take individual responsibility and follow public health guidance to keep everyone in Shropshire safe.”

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, place planning and regulatory services, said: “The health and safety of the public is our number one priority, and everyone has a responsibility to support our endeavours to achieve this. I must urge everyone to remember that coronavirus remains a serious risk to health.

Measures pubs should be taking include...

“I know that most people want to safely enjoy the social environment of our wonderful pubs and restaurants. We all need to play our part to stop the spread of the virus, so we’re asking people to check that the guidelines are being followed before they enter any premises.

Arranging indoor and outdoor seating and tables to keep people 2 metres apart (or one metre with additional protective measures, where 2 metres is not viable) Reducing the need for customers to queue and managing any queue, in line with social distancing requirements Encouraging customers to use hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter and exit the venue Putting up signs reminding people to socially distance and wash hands regularly.

“We know many people will have missed going out for a drink with their friends, but we are encouraging people to take it easy. You still need to keep on social distancing and washing your hands regularly. Pace yourself and know how you’re going to get home safely.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s trading standards and licensing operations manager, said:

“It is extremely important that we all continue to follow the Government’s guidance, particularly around 2-metre social distancing and other key public health measures.”

“We are here to support our pubs and bars during these challenging times. We also appreciate that most pubs are

Further information about how people can reduce the risk of spreading the virus is available at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus

EATING OUT! THE RETURN OF

As good as before, and Covid-secure... Prices 5 from ÂŁ4

nths for 2 mo nd a e coverag ork w rt a e fre . design..

Let your customers know that you are open again Inform people about the services you are offering Let people know what measures you are taking to keep them safe from Covid-19

To advertise in our digital online edition please call: 01952 787786 or email: eileen@deltaecho.co.uk We will be boosting the magazines via paid for social media posts. To reach 20-25K local people...

D E PUBLICATIONS LTD

ROAD TRIP... Instagrammers Choose e Best UK Road Trip Destinations The secluded villages of Portmeirion, Polperro, and Chipping Campden are our most favourite spots for a road trip. The famous Atlantic Highway is home to the Instagrammable Tintagel Castle, Dark Hedges was used as a filming location in Game of Thrones and was voted as one of the most Instagrammable road trip destinations and Jedburgh Abbey in Scotland and Aysgarth Falls in England are also on the travel influencers’ list. As more holiday hotspots are being added to the UK’s list of quarantine countries, a road trip around the UK is the best option for Brits to enjoy a much-deserved summer break. Scenic natural views, castles and villages are the backdrops as we drive through the country, but which destinations are the most beautiful and worthy of the ‘gram? Interested in finding the most stunning destinations that can be visited by car, Click4reg Private Plates surveyed 1,200 travel Instagrammers to discover which areas of the UK they would most like to visit or have already visited for a photo to add to their feed!

THE HIGHLIGHTS: PORTMEIRION VILLAGE It’s hard to believe that this enchanting village is in the UK! The colour-washed buildings and its Italianate style make us feel like we are in a fairy tale! Location: Wales Route: The Coastal Way POLPERRO VILLAGE Polperro and its narrow streets and quaint cottages are breathtaking! The Harbour Entrance, a stunning building on the top of a mountain, is an extra Instagrammable spot in this village! Location: England Route: Weymouth to West Bay DARK HEDGES This beautiful and natural avenue of trees have been used as a filming location in Game of Thrones and is the perfect landscape to have on your Instagram feed! Location: Northern Ireland Route: Causeway Coastal TINTAGEL CASTLE The Atlantic Highway is one of the most famous road trip routes in England and hides the Tintagel Castle ruins that are part of King Arthur’s history. Location: England Route: The Atlantic Highway DURNESS The remote Durness is the most north-westerly point of Scotland. It’s not only surrounded by Scotland’s dramatic landscapes, but it’s also home to the Cocoa Mountain (known for its delicious chocolate) and Smoo Cave (famous for its amazing stairway and waterfall). Location: Scotland Route: North Coast 500

www.click4reg.co.uk

Luxury Caravan HOLIDAYS Availability & Rates EARLY BOOKING RATES 15% OFF! EASTER Mon 5th - Mon 12th April 2021 - BOOKED Mon 12th - Mon 19th April 2021 - £599 WHITSUN Mon 31st May - Mon 7th June 2021 - £799 SUMMER HOLIDAYS Mon 19th July - Mon 26th July 2021 - £899 Mon 26th July - Mon 2nd August 2021 - BOOKED Mon 2nd August - Mon 9th August 2021 - £949 Mon 9th August - Mon 16th August 2021 - £899 Mon 16th August - Mon 23rd August 2021 - £899 Mon 23rd August - Mon 30th August 2021 - £899 Mon 30th August - Mon 6th September 2021 - £899

Book now for Summer

2021 Dates selling fast!

Also available at oﬀ-peak times Call for prices or to check availability! Bookings run from Monday to Monday, or possibly Saturday to Saturday depending on availability. (check in from3pm check out by 11am) Non-refundable Booking Deposit of £250 Required Monthly payments available*

Call: 07912 504931 or email:blackrocksands@outlook.com

BRAND N WILLERBY SE EW ASONS MK2 (2021 MODE L)

SITED AT HAVEN GR EENACRES, NR PORTH MADOG, N ORTH WAL ES... 3 BEDROO MS, 2 TOIL ETS, F ULLY EQUIPPED KITCHEN, BUILT IN MICROWAV E, FRIDGE/F REEZER, CENTRAL H EATING, D OUBLE GLAZING & CLOSE TO THE BEACH (BLA CK ROCK SANDS)

7 NIGHTS IN AUGUST 2021 (FOR UP TO 6 PEOPLE)

FROM JUST £899 Around £1500** when you book with Haven direct.

CLEAR your space On a physical level, clutter attracts dust which can give you allergies, but on a psychological level, clutter irritates the mind. It reminds us of all the things we need to do, to fix, to finish, to start. Piles of stuff cause our energy to drop as subconsciously our minds worry about clearing them.

Simon Manthorpe, CEO of EOS Scientific - the UK's leading CBD oil testing service - has commented on the benefits of CBD to alleviate stress and anxiety as self-isolation is enforced:

CBD OIL for stress and anxiety... "During a period in which people many people are suffering from increased stress levels due to the impact of COVID-19, the effects on our mental health are unquestionable. Ideally, Britons who feel this nervousness and anxiety should have a remedy that can combat these ailments. With increased numbers of the population looking towards the use of holistic remedies for their health and wellbeing, we would recommend the calming remedies that CBD brings to alleviate the pressures felt during this time. The number of UK users of CBD oil has almost doubled in the last year, with many claiming the cannabis-based product to be a more natural and easily accessible way to manage their mental health. We are seeing increasing numbers of people turning to more alternative remedies, not just for their mental health but for a number of ailments which can include insomnia, psoriasis and eczema."

HEALING SANCTUARY

How can holistic remedies make your home a

Healing Sanctuary How can you make your house a home of healing as millions face a new lockdown? Tips and tricks for creating a calming sanctuary in the home. Simon Manthorpe, CEO of EOS Scientific, discusses potential of holistic remedies to ease anxiety and stress.

CABIN FEVER Although the period of lockdown is continually being eased, regionalised measures and working from home still mean that millions of Brits are enduring the effects of cabin fever. With many people are expressing financial and health worries, stress is rife across the nation. A study from the British Medical Association has warned that over half a million Brits will have developed life lasting mental health issues due to COVID. For people stuck in their houses, creating a calming sanctuary in the home could be an incredibly beneficial method of tackling such stresses and anxieties, and the use of holistic remedies can help with this. A few ideas to consider include:

BRING IN NATURE Flowers and plants are not only beautiful, they are soothing and enhance the serenity of your environment. Place fresh lavender in your bedroom, or plant jasmine and gardenia by your bedroom window so their scent filters into your room at night.

INTRODUCE ESSENTIAL OILS Certain scents like lavender, jasmine and geranium can be extremely soothing. Purchase an aromatherapy diffuser and good-quality oils.

INTRODUCE holistic remedies for stress

As more and more Brits express the desire to use holistic remedies - 24% in fact - these may be able to help alleviate some of the anxieties felt by those who are in self-isolation. CBD oil has become particularly prevalent in the UK and is easy to incorporate into the home. The compound can be found in such a variety of forms, from balms to oils to food products, making it a highly versatile option. HEALING SANCTUARY

Pumpkin Festival Can Go Ahead…

Co-owner of the farm, Anna Barton in the pumpkin field...

LOCAL NEWS Pumpkin Festival Can Go Ahead… Canalside Farm, near Stafford, were delighted to announce today, that their annual Pumpkin Festival will be going ahead this year. The festival, which has been running for the last three years, has proved to be the highlight of the farm’s calendar and the owners were both excited and relieved to be able to proceed. Co-owner of the farm, Anna Barton said: “In order for the pumpkins to be ready for October, we had to plant them in June, so we had to take a huge leap of faith, as at that time, we were still in lockdown and weren’t sure if we’d be able to go ahead. So we are over the moon that with a little re-organising and careful planning to ensure everyone’s safety, we will be able to run the festival this October.” Indeed their customer’s safety is at the top of the farm’s priority list and as a result, they are asking everyone to prebook a timed ticket, so that they can manage visitor numbers. Anna explains: “Normally our festival runs across the week of half-term and is very busy, but this year it will run across every weekend in October as well as half-term, so that the visitor numbers will be spread out. People will only be able to enter via timed tickets, which have to be pre-booked on our website, so we can keep a tight handle on the number of people that enter. All of the activities will be held outside at our pumpkin field, making it easy to social distance and our staff will be on hand at all times, to manage things.” The farm have also been running their PYO strawberries and raspberries across the Summer and have successfully managed to keep visitors a safe distance apart, and have had some great feedback from their customers.

Anna continues: “Although we’ve been operating our PYO for over 35 years, we only started growing pumpkins in 2017. We were delighted by the reaction we had in our first year, so planted even more pumpkins and are hoping for around 10,000 this year! Children love the ‘Pumpkin Patch’ and it allows them to see first-hand how this spectacular fruit is grown (yes pumpkins are a fruit not a vegetable!) They seem to really enjoy going into the field and picking their own pumpkin, and it’s a really safe, fun activity for everyone.” If you would like to attend the Pumpkin Festival it will run across every weekend in October, plus half-term, from 10am – 3pm. There will be a small charge of £2 per person (under 3’s are free) and tickets must be pre-booked via their website www.canalsidefarm.co.uk. Tickets will be released on the Wednesday for the following weekend. Canalside Farm, Shop and Outdoor Café are open every day from 9am to 4pm and are located in Great Haywood, just 6 miles outside Stafford. The Farm is situated just off the A51, between Stone and Rugeley or can be accessed via the A518 from Stafford, turning right to Great Haywood (postcode ST18 0RQ). For further information please telephone 01889 881747 or log onto the their website www.canalsidefarm.co.uk

Select Joinery (Telford) Ltd

QUALITY BESPOKE JOINERY, TRADITIONALLY HANDCRAFTED IN OUR WORKSHOP - CONSERVATORIES - ENTRANCE PORCHES - STAIRCASES - PATIO/FRENCH DOORS - SASH & TRADITIONAL WINDOWS, INTERNAL & EXTERNAL DOORS & FRAMES - FLOORING AND MUCH MORE...

RENOVATION

We also do Renovations of Existing Staircases in Solid Oak Cladding with Spindles or Glass Balustrading for a fraction of the cost!

For a FREE Quotation Telephone:

Before

01952 249773

Or call in for professional, friendly advice at: Unit 23, Ketley Business Park, Waterloo Road, Ketley, Telford, TF1 5JD. Visit us online: www.selectjoinery.co.uk or email: sales@selectjoinery.com OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK: Mon-Fri : 8am till 5pm & Sat : 8am till 1pm

After

Press Release from Shropshire County Council

Coronavirus: News from our partners – GP practices are safe and have adapted to meet patient needs, say health bosses...

LOCAL NEWS Coronavirus: News from our partners – GP practices are safe and have adapted to meet patient needs, say health bosses... News from our partners Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and Telford & Wrekin CCG. GP practices are open for business and providing a variety of different appointments to meet your needs, say health bosses at Shropshire CCG and Telford and Wrekin CCG. During the pandemic, practices across the county have been adapting to news ways of working to prevent both patients and staff being put at risk of coronavirus. While online consultations, phone and video calls are being used in the first instance, if you need to be seen face-to-face by a healthcare professional, you will be offered an appointment when clinically appropriate. Online consultations are available across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin, and details are available on individual practice websites. An online consultation enables you to contact a GP or other healthcare professional over the Internet. It saves you waiting for an appointment or going to the GP practice. You can always call your practice directly or NHS 111 if you do not have access to the Internet. If a face-to-face appointment is necessary and you need to go to your practice, staff will look a little different. You can expect to see receptionists in masks and behind a clear screen, one-way routes through practices, as well as clinicians in full personal protective equipment (PPE). Social distancing measures are also being observed in waiting rooms and face masks will be needed if you attend the practice. This does not need to be a medical mask, just the same face covering as you would use in a supermarket.

Dr Julian Povey, Joint Chair of NHS Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin CCGs, said: “We know some of our patients may have concerns about being out and about, but we want to reassure everyone that GP practices are safe, having put in place robust infection prevention and control measures. “Practices are also providing a variety of different appointments to meet our patients’ needs and to ensure that they are kept as safe as possible. “Although we are still talking to our patients online or over the phone in the first instance, if anyone needs to be seen for a face-to-face appointment they will be seen.” Steve Ellis, Head of Primary Care at Shropshire CCG, said: “It is important that everyone continues to take care of their general health. If you have a medical concern you should not put off contacting your GP practice. “Please check individual practice websites for up-to-date information on booking an appointment, as this may vary slightly from practice to practice. “NHS 111 is also available – it is free to call from any landline or mobile and is open 24/7. Further medical advice is available at 111.nhs.uk.” For more information please visit either the Shropshire CCG website or the Telford and Wrekin CCG website.

SHOUT ABOUT? HAVE YOU GOT SOMETHING

Affordable advertising, with a focus on local... Prices from ÂŁ45 for 2 months coverage and free artwork design...

Let your customers know that you are open again Inform people about the products & services you are offering Let people know what measures you are taking to keep them safe from Covid-19

D E PUBLICATIONS LTD

Press Release from Shropshire County Council

Shropshire Council has bid for almost £2million of Government funding to help improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in the county.

LOCAL NEWS £2m bid submitted to improve cycling and walking facilities in Shropshire Shropshire Council has bid for almost £2million of Government funding to help improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in the county. An application for £1.929m has been submitted to the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, that aims to help councils create an environment that is safer for both walking and cycling. Shropshire Council has been provided with an indicative allocation of £414,000, but there is a competitive bidding process, and bids can be for more or less than the allocated amount. Four projects are included in the Shropshire bid: - Refresh all current cycle lanes. All current 1,800 miles of existing cycle lanes will receive additional cleaning, repainting, signs and, where required, improved surfaces. - Additional and improved cycle parking in all key towns – to be agreed with local councils and cycling groups. - Bicton to Shrewsbury Town Centre corridor. A three-metrewide shared cycle and pedestrian footpath, to link the park and ride site, hospital and the two new schools with the town centre. The bid also requests funding to redesign and refurbish Porthill Bridge to make it DDA-compliant and provide a continuation of the cycle routes. - Pedestrian/cycle bridge at Mile End, Oswestry. Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“Improved infrastructure for cycling and walking is a key government priority and this funding aims to help councils to create an environment that is safer for both walking and cycling. The time allowed to submit a funding bid was very tight – just 19 days – but we’ve submitted a strong and ambitious application, that far exceeds our allotted allocation and shows our determination to provide new and improved cycling and walking facilities in the county. We’ll now wait – with fingers firmly crossed – for an announcement. “In addition to the projects in the bid, we’ve also identified a number of other potential schemes and will submit further funding bids for these as and when extra funding becomes available.” An announcement about the funding bid is expected in midSeptember. Further information The Government’s aim is for cycling and walking to replace journeys previously made by public transport and help avoid overcrowding on public transport systems. Longer term, it is hoped to deliver significant health, environmental and congestion benefits. The intent of the scheme is modal shift in transport (cars, public transport to cycling or walking, rather than recreational cycling in our more scenic areas of the county. This is a key distinction).

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE OPEN! Welcome back

As good as before, and Covid-secure... Prices 5 from ÂŁ4

nths for 2 mo nd a e coverag ork w rt a e fre . design..

Let your customers know that you are open again Inform people about the services you are offering Let people know what measures you are taking to keep them safe from Covid-19

D E PUBLICATIONS LTD

Press Release from Shropshire County Council

Shropshire households urged to look out for important voter registration information

LOCAL NEWS Shropshire households urged to look out for important voter registration information Residents living in the Shropshire Council area will soon be receiving a letter or email asking them to check and update information that appears on the electoral register for their address. With local elections due to take place at Shropshire Council in May 2021, this is an important opportunity for people to make sure they can take part.

Voters are being encouraged to complete their online registration process by 28 August, but may, if they prefer call the council’s customer services team on 0345 678 9015.

The annual canvass ensures that the electoral register is kept up-to-date, identifying any residents who are not yet registered, so that they can be encouraged to do so. They would then be able take part in any future elections. National legislation requires that Shropshire Council must send out the forms annually at this time of year.

If people are not currently registered, their name will not appear in the messages send by the council. If they need to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/registerto-vote. Information can also be sent by post.

Claire Porter, electoral registration officer at Shropshire Council said:

“It’s really important that everyone who is entitled to vote, is able to do so. Making sure you provide the necessary information to your local authority when it is needed, will ensure the process runs smoothly. This is particularly helpful in the current public health situation, as it will help avoid the need for home visits from canvassers.

“It’s important that residents keep an eye out for messages from us, which this year for many people, will be in the form of an email, rather than a form through the post. “Electors should carefully follow the instructions contained in the voter registration message, so that we can make sure we have all the right details on the electoral register for every address in our area. “The email will contain a two-part security code and a link to a secure registration website. “This year’s canvass, which we have to carry out by law, is taking place during a challenging public health situation. We are working hard to ensure that we take account of public health guidelines, including the continued importance of social distancing.”

Melanie Davidson, head of support and improvement at the Electoral Commission, said:

“There’s lots of helpful information about registering to vote on our website.” People who have moved recently are particularly encouraged to look out for voter communications and check the details. Research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered, than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year. Residents with questions can call Shropshire Council on 0345 678 9015 or email registration@shropshire.gov.uk.

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

FREE ADVERT DESIGN Included Prices Â£45 from ths

on for 2 m e and g a r e v co k rtwor free a n... ig des

To advertise in our digital online editions please call: 01952 787786 or email: eileen@deltaecho.co.uk We will be boosting the magazines via paid for social media posts. To reach 20-25K local people...

D E PUBLICATIONS LTD

Press Release from Shropshire County Council

After a successful first archaeological dig in 2019, Shrewsbury Castle is set for a second dig season this September funded by the Castle Studies Trust.

LOCAL NEWS e dig team returns: Shrewsbury Castle set for second archaeological dig After a successful first archaeological dig in 2019, Shrewsbury Castle is set for a second dig season this September funded by the Castle Studies Trust. The 2020 dig will build on the success and answer questions that arose from the 2019 project. The team will excavate a trench on the grassed slope of the western rampart overlooking the drive close to the Great Hall.

this Grade 1 listed Norman site and answer some currently unanswered questions.”

This years’ dig will again be led by Dr Nigel Baker and is a partnership project between Shropshire Council, University Centre Shrewsbury, Shropshire Museums and the Castle Studies Trust.

“Last years’ excavation, the first ever at Shrewsbury Castle, was a huge success and only served to further the intrigue around the history of the site.

The dig will take place from 1 to 18 September and will allow for social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures to be in place to keep the dig team, staff and visitors safe. Shrewsbury Castle reopened after being closed during lockdown on 25 July 2020. The Castle grounds will remain open to visitors to witness history being uncovered and ask the team questions from a safe distance. In 2019, 4,500 people visited the Castle and were actively engaged with the dig team. Dr Nigel Baker, said: “Last years’ dig was a great success revealing the hidden history of the castle that we could only have dreamt of and it gave us the appetite to find out more. We’re delighted to be coming back. “Shrewsbury Castle still remains little explored yet is one of the most historically significant sites in the UK. We hope this years’ dig will help us further develop our understanding of

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for culture, leisure, waste and communications, said:

“It was touch and go as to whether COVID-19 would scupper plans for a second dig this year but I’m thrilled that the team are able to safely return. “I’d like to thank the Castle Studies Trust for providing further funding for the exploration of Shrewsbury Castle. Professor Tim Jenkins, Head of Group (Arts & Humanities) at University Centre Shrewsbury, said: “Dr Capper and I are delighted that University Centre Shrewsbury students are, once again, able to assist in exploring one of the county’s most significant historical landmarks and deepen our understanding of Shrewsbury’s rich and unique architectural unique heritage.” Jeremy Cunnington of the Castle Studies Trust, said: “The Castle Studies Trust is delighted to support the excavations at Shrewsbury Castle for a second year following last year’s exciting discoveries. As one of the most important fortresses in the Welsh Marches as well as the least understood we are really looking forward to seeing what Nigel and his team discover this year.

FULL DESIGN SERVICE DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL SERVICE

STAIRCASES

STRUCTURAL STEELWORK

RAILINGS, BALUSTRADES, BALCONIES & HANDRAILS

Steel Design Fabrications have a vast experience in the design, manufacture, supply and fitting of an extensive range of gates and railing types.

AUTOMATED STEEL GATES

Steel Design Fabrications Ltd are a family run business. Our team of conscientious and experienced craftsmen will design, fabricate and install unique ironwork, all of which are manufactured to the highest possible standard using the very best quality materials available in todays market place, the latest techniques and equipment for the cold forming of metal and the combined expertise of of over 100 years of our workshop staﬀ. We have been servicing both commercial and domestic markets. We supply a comprehensive range of Steel Staircases Fire escape systems, gates, railings, balustrades, balconies and handrails.

The company also provide a complete design service where we will undertake complete management of the site by organising the brickwork and groundwork before finishing the project by fitting the gates, railing etc, giving you peace of mind that you are getting a complete professional job from start to finish. There are 100’s of designs to choose from. The website shows just a small selection of the more popular designs. Other areas we specialise in are security grilles, dog enclosures, motorcycle and camping type trailers. small selection of the more popular designs. Other areas we specialise in are security grilles & dog enclosures.

Telephone: 01939 210246 or 07793 633853 Or Visit Our Website For More Information WWW.STEELDESIGNFABRICATIONS.CO.UK Painsbrook Lane, Hadnall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 4BA

MOBILE WELDING

WHAT can I do to maintain a healthy cholesterol level?... The cholesterol we eat in food has little impact on the level of cholesterol in our blood. Making some simple changes to your lifestyle can help reduce your cholesterol.

Reduce the amount of fatty foods you eat Saturated fat increases the amount of “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood. Saturated fat is found in foods, such as meat pies, sausages, cakes, biscuits, butter, lard, hard cheeses (e.g. cheddar), and foods containing palm or coconut oils. Replace foods that are high in saturated fat with foods containing unsaturated fats such as, olive oil, rapeseed oil, nuts, seeds and oily fish (e.g. salmon and mackerel). Aim for at least one portion of oily fish each week.

Eat more ﬁbre High fibre foods can reduce your risk of heart disease and help lower the amount of “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood. Good sources of fibre include fruit and vegetables (eat at least five portions every day), brown rice, wholemeal bread, oats, beans and pulses.

Get active Aim to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise (e.g. brisk walking, swimming or cycling) or any activity which gets your heart beating faster. Active people have increased levels of “good” HDL cholesterol meaning their bodies are good at removing the “bad” LDL cholesterol away from the arteries.

STOP smoking... Smoking reduces the levels of “good” HDL cholesterol in your blood and this can result in higher levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol. If you would like to stop smoking, you can get help from your GP or the NHS Stop Smoking Service.

HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL

Tips for

healthy cholesterol Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK Keeping a check on Cholesterol... Cholesterol travels around the body in our blood and it is present in our cells. We all need some cholesterol to stay healthy, but high levels of cholesterol can increase our risk of heart disease. Nearly half of all adults in the UK are estimated to have high levels of cholesterol in their blood. Many people are unaware that their cholesterol is high because there are usually no symptoms. In this healthy heart tip, we explain what cholesterol is and we provide some tips for keeping your cholesterol levels healthy.

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fatty substance made in the liver and it is present in foods, such as eggs, liver and prawns. Cholesterol is needed in the cells of our body. It helps to make vitamin D and some hormones which keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Cholesterol also helps our digestive system process the fats we eat. Having too much cholesterol in your blood can lead to a build-up in your arteries, which puts you at a higher risk of having a heart attack.

ere are two main types of cholesterol... Low density lipoprotein (LDL) more commonly known as “bad cholesterol” and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) more commonly known as “good cholesterol”. Too much “bad” LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. The role of “good” HDL cholesterol is to transport excess cholesterol back to the liver. Therefore, it is important that you have enough “good” HDL cholesterol and not too much “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood.

REDUCE

TAKE

your alcohol intake...

a test...

It is recommended that men and women avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol each week. Information on alcohol units can be found on the OneYou website: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/drink-less/knowyour-alcohol-units/

It is recommended that adults over the age of 40, or anyone at high risk of heart disease should get their cholesterol levels checked. Speak to your GP. There are usually no symptoms so, unless you get a test, you may be unaware of your risk of developing heart disease. 27

LET’S EAT. For an extra special treat, step away from boring shop-bought pasta and try this simple, basic recipe for fresh homemade egg pasta... Everything tastes better when it’s made with love, and this basic recipe for fresh egg pasta is deﬁnitely no exception. Take some eggs and ﬂour and mix it together, with a sprinkling of love to make your own perfect pasta.

RECIPES

Method...

1) Pop the flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and crack the eggs into it. Beat the eggs with a fork until smooth. Using your fingertips, mix the eggs with the flour, just a little at a time, until it is all combined.

2) Knead together – this is where you add the love, as it takes a bit of work to bind it together to give you one smooth lump of dough. Once you have your dough, you need to knead it with your hands - this develops the gluten in the flour, and prevents your pasta being flabby and soft when you cook it, instead of springy and al dente. There’s no secret to good kneading. You just have to bash, pull, squash and stretch the dough with your hands - over, and over again It’s hard work, but pretty satisfying too. When your pasta feels smooth and silky instead of rough and floury- you’re done! The dough needs to be wrapped in cling film and popped in the fridge to sit for at least 30 minutes before rolling.

THE INGREDIENTS Makes enough for 6 Preparation time: 60 minutes Diﬃculty Level: Easy enough 6 Large Free-Range Eggs 600g Tipo '00' Flour 5) Now work it through all the settings - widest down to narrowest, dusting both sides of the pasta with a little ﬂour every time you run it through.

6) Tidy the sheet of pasta, fold the pasta in half lengthways, then in half again, then in half again once more until you've got a square of dough. Feed it through the machine at the widest setting and again down through the settings for one last time, you should end up with a lovely rectangular sheet of dough with straight sides - just like a real Italian! 7) Whether you're rolling by hand or by machine you'll need to know when to stop. If you're making pasta like tagliatelle or lasagne you'll need to roll the pasta down to about the thickness of a beer mat; if you're making a stuﬀed pasta like ravioli, you'll need to roll it down thinner - where you can see your hand or lines of print through it.

How to roll your pasta:

3) If you have a pasta machine, then great but don’t worry if you haven’t - it's not the end of the world. A good long rolling pin is what you would ﬁnd in most Italian kitchens anyway! The aim is to get the pasta thin enough to work with. It's not easy to get a lump of dough rolled out in one piece, so I just roll a few smaller pieces instead.

8) Once you've rolled your pasta the way you want it, you need to shape or cut it straight away. Pasta dries much quicker than you think, so whatever recipe you're doing, don't leave it more than a minute or two before cutting or shaping it. You can lay it over a damp clean tea towel which will stop it from drying out - if you need longer!

4) If you are using a machine to roll your pasta, make sure it's clamped firmly to a clean work surface before you start. Dust your work surface with some Tipo ‘00’ flour, take a piece of pasta dough (about the size of a grapefruit) and push it out flat with your fingers. Set the pasta machine at its widest setting- and roll the lump of pasta dough through it. Lightly dust with flour if it sticks. Take the machine down a setting and roll the dough through again. Fold in half, and pop it back through again on the widest setting. Repeat six times. It might seem like a lot of work but you'll feel the difference, and you will end up with smooth, silky pasta which will be amazing!

Making your own fresh egg pasta may seem like a lot of work, but once you try it, you will not want to go back to packet pasta ever again! RECIPES

EDUCATION... Ten tips for nurturing emotional wellbeing in the home e new school year will soon be with us: make sure youngsters feel calm about what lies ahead. Former teacher Catherine Lynch of education resources and lesson-planning experts PlanBee has ten tips.

As families struggle to deal with the fall-out from exams chaos, don’t forget that younger children also need support with their mental health – this year of all years. Although they’re still on holiday, they may have worries about the new school year in September. While this is usually an exciting – if slightly scary – time for young children, this year will be like no other. Schools have made enormous eﬀorts to give children – especially those who are moving on to ‘big’ school – a sense of celebration and achievement, there is no doubt that the lengthy absence from school has made everything diﬀerent. Children are out of the habit of formal learning, they probably haven’t had one-to-one contact with teachers, they may have lost contact with many of the friends. And if that wasn’t enough, the know the new school year will mean social-distancing, ‘bubbles’. and a host of changes to their learning environment. This summer is the time to work on developing good mental health practices at home in order to help you children feel calm and prepared for what lies ahead. Here are 10 easy ways to do it.

1. Relationships are important: create a nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and safe. While the need may be innate, the skill of developing and maintaining connections is learned. You can create this environment at home by working as a team, sharing responsibilities and making sure everyone’s efforts are appreciated. Think about ways your family is looking out for each other and remember showing appreciation and keeping the lines of dialogue open consistently will help your children learn these skills.

EDUCATION

6. Read stories Spend time together and lose yourselves in a good book. Act out stories and make up your own narratives. Use your imagination or add props. Let books take you where you cannot physically go. 7. Keep some structure in the day is does not mean you need to timetable every second. For example, agree times that you will come together as a family. Agree a time that is for quiet activities, work, going outdoors. If your family is anything like mine, you may ﬁnd the daily structure seems to centre around food!

2. Adjust your expectations We are in a very strange time. Our worlds have been turned upside down and almost everything we knew to be true has changed. Adults and children alike have been affected by changes to their lives and as a result things we used to be able to cope with might feel like huge mountains to climb. We all have something called a window of tolerance. If your window is smaller than usual at the moment, go easy on yourself and take the pressure off. Allow yourself and your children to be less productive than normal, and give yourselves time to process what you are feeling.

3. Allow everyone to have a voice It is absolutely normal to want to feel in control and to hold on tightly to the things we can control. Whether your child breaks down over the wrong-colour socks or something else, see what practical choices you can give them to help them feel they have some control. Depending on their age, give them a few carefully selected choices to choose from or have an open discussion about the options available. If transitions are hard for your child, focus on what is happening when the current activity ends, give them time warnings, or a timer if they are old enough.

4. Be playful and have fun Play fosters creativity, collaboration and problem solving, all of which are important for good mental health. Playing is a fantastic way to develop relationships and resilience. It also releases feel-good hormones. Children (and adults) learn through play. Children often explore areas they are finding challenging through their play. Role plays are a great example of this.

8. Encourage curiosity Take your children outside and follow their lead, see what they have questions about and research the answers together. Go on ‘I spy challenge walks’, find out how exercise changes their heart rate, have timed races, explore shadows, find mini-beasts, classify animals, identify plants and identify birds. e list is endless. ese do not have to be structured planned activities, go outside and develop observational skills and see where the time takes you. 9. Give your child a safe space they can go to See if you can create a den or something similar for your child to play in, and retreat to when they want to be alone. 10. Make time for family time Designate time each week where there are no screens and no distractions. Use this time to work on something together. is might be building a den, cooking, painting, crafting, going on a walk. It doesn’t matter what the activity is; the important thing is to spend some quality stress-free time connected, doing something together. Success has different guises: have a day where you forget about the end goal and the focus is on being together.

5. Create an atmosphere where all feelings are allowed Name feelings and emotions as they arise. This gives children and adults the language to describe how they are feeling. Set aside a calm time to talk about feelings. You could show your children Emoticon Emotions Cards or Photo Emotions Cards and ask them to pick one to explore. Talk about the physical sensations the emotion has for each of you. Talk about times you felt it or characters in books, films or tv shows experienced it. Discuss what happened before, during and after the emotion was felt. Is there a better way the character could have reacted? What led up to the crisis point? Help children to give their feelings an appropriate outlet. Put boundaries in place around behaviours to keep everyone safe and develop strategies to help reinforce those boundaries. For example, you are allowed to feel happy, angry or sad, you are not allowed to break things or hit.

TEN TIPS FOR NURTURING EMOTIONAL WELLBEING IN THE HOME By Catherine Lynch

EDUCATION

TIPS FOR choosing an ottoman... Find the right shape for your room Round or oval is more informal, a square works well as a side table and a rectangular shape is ideal for a longer room or as a centre to a seating area. Choose a colour that ties the room together A neutral colour, like oatmeal or grey, will complement any décor scheme, while an accent colour such as pale or royal blue can be matched with cushions and accessories. Make sure it has some interest Texture, buttoning and studded detailing all add to the luxury vibe and ensure that your ottoman deserves to take centre stage in the living room.

Clever combinations If you’re struggling to think of what to display, take inspiration from the following four groups: Natural – try a small plant (real or faux), a wooden bowl or platter (see our feather platter), stone apples and pears, pine cone candle holders etc. Think rustic, vintage, wooden and stone. Practical – add drinks coasters, games or cards and boxes to hide remotes or laptops. Coffee table books or magazines look great stacked in piles of three or five, the largest at the bottom, smallest on top. Scented – Use flowers, reed diffusers or scented candles to add ambiance and fragrance to your room. Try a single candle or add three in different heights and shapes for best effect. Structural – choose a rock, crystal, object of art or a sculpture that will give a structural dimension to your display.

AND finally... And finally, you can always drape a throw over your ottoman (link to one of our throws here) in a harmonising colour and texture. This looks especially inviting and cosy in the colder months. Happy styling… Visit: www.laresidenceinteriors.co.uk

INDOOR SPACES

the

ottoman empire Originating from the Ottoman Empire when they cushioned seated sultans and their palace courtiers, ottomans are very much on the rise in British homes. If you haven’t yet been captivated by their versatile charms, prepare to be won over. Read our definitive guide to the ottoman and how to style it and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one… Ottomans are brilliant multi-taskers. They can be used as a coffee table, an extra chair, or a decorative footstool for a sofa, as well as offering extra space-saving storage underneath.When beautifully upholstered and padded, they add luxurious comfort and a softer, more relaxed feel than a hard-surfaced coffee table. They can be used to add an accent colour or blend in neutrally with your décor; they can be styled with trays and accessories to serve as a focal point and provide the central hub of a seating area. They’re also ideal for a bedroom where there’s not quite enough room for a chaise or sofa.

OTTOMANS IN DEMAND Sarah, co-founder at LRI, has seen a real upsurge in demand for ottomans over the past 18 months or so. “Our upholstered ottomans have always been popular,” she explains, “but sales, particularly of our large Petit Royale upholstered ottomans, have really taken off recently. “That’s one of the reasons we decided to add a grey velvet to our linen upholstered collection last year, and now we’ve extended the range to include a lovely soft pale blue velvet and a royal blue velvet, which have just arrived in the showroom this week. They look amazing in the new colours, and have really given the showroom a summery lift.” “I’m a huge fan of the ottoman and we have one of the linen Petit Royales in our living room at home. I love accessorizing it with different trays, flowers and scented candles and the shelf underneath is really handy for…”

ADDING a tray...

A tray is not only decorative but a practical necessity for your upholstered ottoman as it’s somewhere solid and level to put drinks and display your favourite accessories. Consider the size - You might prefer one large tray or a couple of smaller ones (one that could stay put with accessories on it and one for drinks, for example. Just make sure trays have handles so they can be moved easily. Mix colours and textures. As an ottoman is soft, you could go for wooden, metallic, mirrored or glass trays for contrast. INDOOR SPACES

A TWIST OF BLUE... This pretty Floral Button Through Dress - £45, from Joe Browns is really great teamed with this Studded Saddle Bag - £30 and blue Sundown Suede Slouch Boots £80.

SEASON Essential... This suede biker jacket by Abbey Clancy x Lipsy is my season essential - £60. Wear it with a pretty floral dress or jeans and a tee.

THE STYLE GUIDE

the

style guide Suede fashion garments that will underline your individuality. is fabric is thick, warm and great for creating new looks and clothing combinations. Suede is reminiscent of the past, but you can still have fun with it.

SUEDE HEAD... It’s one of the longest-lasting trends, which had remained stable for the past few seasons, and it’s not going anywhere soon. Neutral outfits are easy to put together and look great on just about anyone. Choose from a sandy-colored suits with a turtleneck, or a boilersuit or suede/leather skirt. Don’t be afraid to experiment with lots of shades of this neutral tone – try sand, camel, or even buff. The combinations are endless, and it is a timeless option for any closet. As one of the most prominent color combinations of the season, neutral tones - with an added blue twist is a fantastic choice. It combines some of the hottest hues of the last few months and puts an interesting spin on it. Choose from a sleek brown suit with a bright blue bag, or rock a monochrome ensemble in the colorful shade and add a pair of classic leather pumps. It’s a stunning option for anyone and is very versatile. Below: Fascinating Ankle Boots - I love these classic Autumnal boots from Joe Browns, which come with a distinctive twist. Striking blue piping and beautiful decorative buttons pop against lush tan microsuede for a pretty finish. Complete with a functional side zip fastening for ease.

CLASSIC

TURN

Autumn boots...

Down...

These classic Autumnal boots from Joe Browns £50, with Perfect for the seasonal change, these suede turnstriking blue piping and beautiful decorative buttons pop down boots from Bon Prix will look gorgeous with against lush tan microsuede for a pretty finish. a midi dress or jeans. £37.99 THE STYLE GUIDE

STAY HOME... Small garden, maximum impact. With a new survey revealing home-movers are prioritising bigger gardens, it would seem that the extra time at home has made Brits long for some extra outdoor space. According to Rightmove, bigger gardens are becoming

1. A Clutter Free Zone Just because your garden is small, doesn’t mean everything in it has to be too. One very large pot will add more impact than lots of small ones because it will stop the space feeling cluttered. A bigger pot will also house more plants, so you can mix and match with ﬂowers and herbs that complement each other and your overall colour scheme. Fill the garden with an eclectic mix of tiny pots and ornaments, and it will soon look busy and feel smaller. is also applies to garden furniture and features – one large furniture set, or garden ornament is far more eﬀective than a collection.

even more of a priority on buyers and renters wish lists. However, if you aren’t looking to move but simply improve, the experts at the UK’s leading garden centre, Dobbies, have put together some clever tips and tricks to make the most of the space you have. Helping households across the country to make the most of every corner of their garden, with a varied instore and online range, Outdoor Living Buyer Lynsey Abbott, shares six ideas to create maximum impact in small gardens...

Tips from Lynsey Abbott Outdoor Living Buyer at Dobbies Garden Centres

2. Small but perfectly formed for relaxation Do you often wish you had an extra room in the house to shut the door on household chores, or to unwind after work with some screen-free relaxation time? Just because your garden is small, doesn’t mean it isn’t perfectly formed just for this. Create your very own relaxation or reading zone, with a single piece of outdoor furniture. A garden daybed, snuggle armchair or single hanging egg chair are all ideal options and can be layered up with outdoor cushions for extra comfort (or borrow some from the living room!). Hang outdoor lights or place solar stakes around the border of the furniture to create a cosy snug you can curl up in on a summers evening – your very own slice of garden bliss!

3. Colour it in

MOROCCAN MOOD

By Dobbies Using bright ﬂoor tiles, colourful patterned fabrics and opulent velvet, creates a vibrant Moroccan feel to your outdoor space. Add some terracotta pots and an outdoor rug to ﬁnish the look.

Stay Home

One of the most cost-effective ways to instantly transform a space is to paint the fence. Neutral colours like whites or creams will lift a dull area and create a sense of space. Perfect for shady gardens, plants and flowers will pop against a white backdrop. If you have a south-facing plot, avoid using bright white shades as it will be blinding. If you want your outdoor space to be somewhere in your home you can have a little more fun and experiment with colour, a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t do this, but stick to a colour theme to avoid it looking busy. Bright colours will give an invigorating, party feel. If you are choosing a brighter shade as a backdrop, choose light-coloured accessories or furniture in materials like natural wood or white metal.

4. Seeing double Hang garden mirrors to create the illusion of space, they are a great way to create a focal point and make the overall space feel bigger. Use one large mirror against a backwall or fence, or place smaller mirrors in clever spots, such behind a flower bed - the mirror image tricks the mind into thinking that there is more of the garden to see, effectively doubling the amount of blooms on display! Position near a seating or dining area as when using the space in the evening, the mirrors will highlight the warmth of lighting and candles.

6.Space saving trees

5. Grow up Making use of vertical space is the best way to expand a small garden and add another dimension and layer of interest. Save on ground space by planting up. If you want to fill gardens with colour without cluttering up patios or decking, hanging baskets are the perfect solution. Match your plants colour theme for a display with impact and place them near the house by the backdoor or use multiple baskets and place along the side of fences. A quick colour fix of easy to prune blooms, you will save using ground space for flower beds. ese are also a great solution for balconies. A living wall is easy to install and maintain and can be made as big or small as you like, perfect for a small space. Creating a super stylish backdrop, they can also be used to grow herbs, adding a lovely fragrant scent with Rosemary and yme.

Small trees are perfect for tight spaces and they can help to create privacy if your garden is overlooked. One of the best space saving trees is an Espalier fruit tree. Planted flat against a wall or fence, they not only look stylish and produce delicious fruit, but are also easy to maintain once planned. You will be rewarded with blossom in spring, followed by tasty fruit from August to October. All 68 stores across the UK are now open, adhering to strict social distancing rules. To browse the full online range or find your nearest Dobbies store, visit Dobbies.com.

Visit: www.dobbies.com Stay Home

RESTORE fading hair colour - Sage & Black Tea... If your hair salon bills are getting on top of you, why not turn to a more natural and cheaper alternative? When those pesky greys begin to appear, Sage could be the answer - this common herb helps restore bright colour back to graying hair, when used in a paste or ointment. Alternatively, Black Tea provides an excellent natural rinse for darker hair that has started to fade, due to its staining abilities. Pop the kettle on and brew up a strong batch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but remember to let it cool before applying to your hair!

Relieve an upset stomach - Catnip & Korean Mint For fast relief of an upset stomach, a variety of mint leaf could be just the ticket. Loved by cats everywhere, Catnip (or Catmint) is also working wonders for humans too, as it can be used to help treat unwanted gas, stomach aches and migraines. Another plant that offers relief for an upset stomach is Korean Mint. The versatile plant also used to help fight colds and flu.

Fight infection - Red clover & Navajo Tea Herbal remedies have been used to fight infection for centuries and still stand the test of time today. Before pharmacies were readily available, Red Clover was used in teas and ointments to treat coughs, colds and skin irritations. Meanwhile, Native Americans used Navajo Tea for centuries as a quick relief of urine infections and for a general health kick.

REPEL unwanted critters - Mint & Basil Mint and Basil can be used to keep creepy crawlies at unwanted pests at bay. Mint is known to repel lots of insects including mosquitoes due to its strong smell â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it can even keep mice away. Another great insect repellent is Basil, which can be planted around doors and windows to keep bugs from entering.

PLANT POWER

To find out more about Serenata Flowers, visit: www.serenataflowers.

.com

plant power 16 Plants To Improve Health And Wellbeing WHILE THE health benefits of plant-based diets are well documented, new research uncovers the lesser-known uses of the nature around us. e UK’s leading online florist, Serenata Flowers, has identified 16 plants that are more than just a pretty face, as they possess qualities that can actually improve our wellbeing, health and happiness: Reduce anxiety - Snake Plant & Lavender

Mental health is a big topic of discussion at the moment and it’s important to take time for self-care. An easy way to improve your mood and help reduce anxiety is to fill your home with plants. Lavender is known for its stressrelieving qualities – it slows down the heart rate and lowers blood pressure to greatly reduce stress. This is why its scent can often be found in lotions and sprays. Snake Plant is also believed to reduce anxiety, improve respiratory problems and cure the symptoms of a headache.

Help you sleep - Aloe Vera & Jasmine

Not getting enough sleep can have a huge impact on many aspects of life, from our health to our work abilities to our social lives. Whether you struggle to drift off or are easily disturbed in the night, keeping a potted Aloe Vera plant beside your bed could help you see the night through, as it produces oxygen at night to combat insomnia and improve overall sleep quality. Jasmine flower is also believed to reduce anxiety levels which in turn will help you drift off to sleep, and the gentle scent will keep you in a deep sleep throughout the night.

Increase productivity - Bamboo Palm & Golden Pothos

Having plants in the office has been found to increase worker productivity by 15%*[1]. Not only are they found to reduce stress and fatigue whilst aiding memory retention, they also regulate humidity and reduce carbon dioxide, both of which help employees remain energised. Bamboo Palm is known for its ability to fight indoor air pollution, promoting clear-thinking and easy breathing. Another top office plant is Golden Pothos which removes air toxins and absorbs unpleasant smells – the perfect plant to keep by the office fridge!

CLEAN the air - Rubber Plant & Peace lily

Removing harmful toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene will keep both you and your home happy and healthy. Rubber Plant and Peace Lilies are both incredibly effective at purifying the air around you. Rubber Plants are great for removing harmful toxins, particularly formaldehyde, and these plants become more efficient at cleaning the air as time goes on. Peace Lilies are also believed to improve air quality by as much as 60 per cent and true to their name, bring with them a sense of peace and relaxation. PLANT POWER

BOOK WORMS e Diet-Whisperer: Doctors’ New Book a Blueprint to Permanent, Fad-Free Free Weight Loss Dr Paul Barrington Chell and Dr Monique HopeRoss’s ‘e Diet-Whisperer: e Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss’ cuts through the endless swamp of misinformation and “fad diets” to help people understand why the world faces an unprecedented obesity epidemic, why common weight loss methods are ﬂawed at their core, and what readers can do to shed the pounds for good. Based on the latest science, the book puts readers in control for a new life of vitality. Dr Paul Barrington Chell and Dr Monique Hope-Ross are steadfast in their conviction that all diets eventually fail, and the model of “eat less and exercise more” is a nonsense that will not cure the obesity pandemic. Chell and Hope-Ross are eye surgeons who, after 50 years’ combined experience treating patients with serious eye disease associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, made the switch to prevention doctors. In their new book, ‘The Diet-Whisperer: The Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss’, the duo exposes why the body is built to resist typical dieting and weight loss methods, and how a combination of fat adaptation, fat storage hormone control and intermittent fasting and can help anyone finally lose the weight they’ve been trying to shed for years, and keep it off for good. Synopsis: Have you ever wanted to lose weight and become healthier? Wondered why diets always work for a while, then fail? And wanted a permanent solution for you or your loved ones? These and many other questions are answered clearly by two senior doctors, Dr Paul Barrington Chell and Dr Monique Hope-Ross. In the diet-whisperer, they reveal how fat storage hormones are not only driving weight gain, but many other conditions that make us physically and mentally unwell. Modern life has caused a conflict within our bodies. This conflict is causing us to become overweight and unwell. The diet-whisperer shows you how to make your fat storage hormones work for you, rather than against you. You will choose your target weight, lose fat quickly, and keep it off forever. When you start the whisperer plan, you will be in control. In joining the whisperer family, you will be able to help yourself and your loved ones too. “Monique and I have been alarmed over the past few years at how the obesity epidemic has snowballed out of control,” explains Dr Chell. “In fact, predictions are that by 2035, the US will spend 50% of its GDP on healthcare, with similar figures expected here in the UK. We want to educate people the right way. In the first part of the book, we take a deep dive into what macronutrients are, how they operate and

40 Book Worms

About e Authors: Dr Paul Barrington Chell MB ChB FRCOphth DO(RCSI) Dr Monique Hope-Ross MB ChB BAO FRCP FRCS FRCOphth DO Paul and Monique went to medical school in Birmingham UK and University College Dublin respectively. Following their residencies and early careers in general medicine and surgery, both specialised in Ophthalmic Surgery, where they met as junior doctors. ey were married in 1995. ey held fellowships at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, New York. Paul was appointed consultant ophthalmic surgeon to Worcester Eye Infirmary in 1996, where the team gained national recognition as a “Beacon Site” for excellence in cataract surgery in 2000. He specialised in corneal transplant surgery, and for many years performed all transplant surgery for the whole of Worcestershire and surrounding counties. Monique was appointed to the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital in 1993, where she also held the post of honorary senior lecturer at the university of Birmingham, UK. She specialised in diseases of the retina. Between them they spent 20 years as head of departments. ey both retired from ophthalmic surgery in 2016, to pursue their desire to work in the field of preventative nutrition, recognising the severity of the obesity pandemic. ey have five university degrees, are diplomates of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Ireland and are Fellows of four Royal Medical Colleges in the United Kingdom. ey have each delivered over 100 invited scientific lectures and have written many book chapters. ey have over 100 scientific publications, abstracts and communications to their names. ey have both been scientific reviewers for international scientific journals. For the past 10 years they have delivered invited lectures on nutrition, health and wellness. Paul and Monique have been Trustees to many charities and were elected Presidents of five national and international learned medical societies. Outside of work they are both keen skiers. ey started doing triathlons in their fifties. Paul did his first Olympic distance triathlon in 2016, at the age of 55, and Monique her first IronMan 140.6 in 2019 at the age of 59. how each impacts our body. We also take a look at how our fat storage hormones work, before a bold exposé’ of how fifty years of misinformation has gotten the world fat. I know it’s blunt, but it’s true.” Continuing, “The second half of the book is full of practical advice that will help readers lose 12kg in 12 weeks and keep it off for the rest of their lives. The weight loss methods we teach are in line with the body’s natural processes, and allow for quick and permanent changes. We literally walk readers through each day of the twelve weeks with advice, diagrams, charts and other inspiration. It’s going to change their lives!” ‘The Diet-Whisperer: The Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss’ is available now: https://amzn.to/30g3RPY.

PUZZLE TIME...

Quick Crossword & Easy Sudoku Perfect for CoďŹ&#x20AC;ee Breaks! Clues Across

r Just fo fun...

easy

Answers & Solutions are available on our websites: www.telfordlifestyle.co.uk www.shrewsburylifestyle.co.uk www.reviewlocalmagazines.co.uk www.hypemagazine.co.uk

SUDOKU

There is just one simple rule in Sudoku. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box.

1. Horrify (5) 4. Plant juice (3) 6. Wine flask (6) 9. Slight disagreement (16) 11. New word (9) 12. Percolation (7) 13. Duct (7) 14. Colonised again (9) 15. Non-toll roads in USA (8) 17. Trespasser (8) 21. Whirlpool (9) 24. Repentance (7) 27. West Indian island chain (7) 28. Beginning again (9) 29. Motorbike rider (7,9) 30. Polecat (6) 31. Narrow beam (3) 32. Behindhand (5)

Clues Down

1. Calendar (7) 2. Musical work with rural inspiration (9) 3. English cathedral city (7) 4. Particularly (9) 5. Date-stamp on a letter (8) 6. Vehicle frame (7) 7. Breed of dog (3,6) 8. Type of pigeon (7) 10. Hearth guard (6) 15. Household (6) 16. Reveller (9) 18. Timidly (9) 19. Short pistol (9) 20. Unfit (8) 22. Recluse (7) 23. Old British soldier (7) 25. Mildest (7) 26. Keenly (7)

CROSSWORD & SUDOKU

The Fantasy Spherical Fire Pit centrepiece for Halloween party £ 1599

ave a Spooky good time this Halloween Season with Logi fire pits. Logi’s Firepits are perfect for the Halloween season, something to match your lit-up pumpkins.

The days are getting longer and the evenings colder and we have the best thing to keep you warm. Light one of our firepits, get cosy and toast some marshmallows with your kids just in time for Halloween! Or get together with friends and family to celebrate the spooky season and have your very own bonfire. It is the perfect centrepiece for any party to keep everyone warm but most importantly to wow your guests. We have a variety of gorgeous pieces in our collection, they will keep you warm and look absolutely beautiful in your garden all year round. But the Halloween season is the best time to snatch one up for yourself and for the family to enjoy together! It is a magical thing to light up the fire and watch as the designs come to life casting shadows all around you so you can really get into the spirit of Halloween! Scare the spooks away with one of Logi’s firepits and get cosy during the most frightful time of the year! www.logifirepits.com

42 Home Edit

The Africa Spherical Fire Pit - centrepiece for Halloween party £1599

Press Release from Shropshire County Council

Shropshire Council is to launch a new service to enable people to more easily access support from the council and its partner organisations.

LOCAL NEWS New ‘Shropshire Local’ service will help people more easily access local support Shropshire Council is to launch a new service to enable people to more easily access support from the council and its partner organisations. ‘Shropshire Local’ will be available from September, in the former Disney Store in Shrewsbury’s Darwin Shopping Centre. It’s hoped that having a town centre presence will help people to more easily access the support on offer from the council and its partners, and improve the way that the council engages with local residents. At the Shropshire Local unit staff will be able to engage with the community to understand their changing priorities and needs, to establish how they might better access services provided by Shropshire Council and its partners. If it proves to be successful it’s hoped that similar Shropshire Local units will open in other towns in the future. Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for organisational transformation and digital infrastructure, said: “We’re very pleased to announce the opening of what we hope will be the first of many Shropshire Local points around the county.

“This is a new approach to help make the council more accessible to local people and to make it easier for people to find out more about local support services. “In the past people have been able to visit libraries for information and advice and we know many people have found this to be helpful. Shropshire Local will provide a dedicated and comprehensive service – initially in Shrewsbury – six days a week, with staff on hand to help and support people who need information and advice about local services. “This first Shropshire Local unit in Shrewsbury is especially important as people are no longer able to visit Shirehall for advice and information. It will therefore provide them with a place they can visit for the help and support that they need.”

Quality Internal & External Timber Doors

ALL FOR ONLY Â£1199 T: 01952 610795 or 01952 620003 E: classicfasteners@hotmail.co.uk

OPEN:

A CHOICE OF 12 DIFFERENT DESIGNS AVAILABLE

Mon to Fri: 8am - 5pm & Sat: 10am - 3pm

The Door Store @ Classic fasteners (Est. 1991)

Units 6&7, Redland Industrial Estate, Off Station Hill, Oakengates, Telford, TF2 9JX

ning Using a e l C le Mobi am & NO Chemicals! Ste y ronmentally r D Powerful, Envi rvice

ing Se Friendly Clean all Businesses Sm & For Homes

Dry STEAM DEMON

ns y (Inc. Leather), Ove er st ol ph U , ts pe ar C Indoor: ies (Inside & Out) or at rv se on C s, an Outdoor: Cars, Carav

.uk o .c n o m e d m a e t s y www.dr ation quote

, no oblig e e r f a r o f e e l l l ca 07780 610680 / 1 5 5 7 5 6 0 3 16 0 FIND US ON FACEBOOK

AND finally... Keep a schedule... This is my final tip and the key to getting your book moving and ultimately finished, and ultimately boils down to consistency. It is easy to write when you feel like writing, but you must set yourself a realistic and achievable schedule, which sets aside some time every week for you to write, even if you don’t feel like it. You won’t always be feeling energised and inspired to write, and even if you only manage a single paragraph or some editing in your allotted time, this is still progress. Stick to the schedule and you’ll have a much greater chance of finishing your book. While people all over the world continue to social distance, StoryTerrace introduces the ‘Tell Your Life Story’ questionnaire to allow those looking to document their story to complete the first step of StoryTerrace’s memoir-writing process for free to give people an opportunity to reflect on their own journeys through life. The link to the questionnaire can be found here: https://storyterrace.com/freequestionnaire

The questionnaire is free to complete, and the questions facilitate a deeply introspective look at the user’s own life. Regardless of whether users choose to continue on with the service, the completed questionnaire will be sent to the user so they can hold on to their personal stories. StoryTerrace believes that coronavirus confinement may help us rediscover the virtues of being together and sharing stories, and that this societal pause could be the opportunity we need to put pen to paper, and document our most memorable experiences. Rutger Bruining, CEO of biography-writing service StoryTerrace, has built a company on helping people to write their life stories, biographies and memoirs. Rutger and his team of professional writers have documented over a thousand life stories across the UK and US - now Rutger shares his tips for getting started on writing your book, and discusses how StoryTerrace’s writers can help. “The idea of writing an entire book, while very exciting, represents a daunting task which many who have the desire to write a book do not believe they can overcome, and therefore never start. I think this is a great shame – if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time with StoryTerrace, it’s that every single one of us has an incredible story to tell. At StoryTerrace, we have worked with over a thousand people to tell their life stories – some of these people have not written a word and have no desire to write themselves, others come to us with half-finished drafts with dozens of pages already written. No matter the situation, we match our customers with the right ghost-writer, who can help them create and finish the story of their lives.

WRITE A BOOK

How to

write a book... e time spent in lockdown in the past six months has left millions of Brits with a significant increase in their time at home to reflect on their life goals and ambitions – a major one of these for many is to finally write the book they have always wanted to. Whether that be the next great novel or a record of their own lives. During this time StoryTerrace, a professional biography writing service, has seen a significant increase in the number of people wanting to write their own life story. Following this, StoryTerrace has put together their tips for writers and offers a free questionnaire to help people get started on their life story.

WRITE WITH PASSION This is the first tip, and the most important. There is no fun in writing about a subject which doesn’t interest you for a school essay, never mind several hundred pages. Very few people have an exact idea of what they want to write when they begin, and the plot, theme and content will likely evolve as you write. But passion is what will keep your ideas fresh and unique, and will get you to that finish line. Stuck for somewhere to start? Your own life story, or the story of your parents, might be the best place to look! Over at thousand people have done just that and documented their life stories with StoryTerrace.

BUILD AN OUTLINE Again, your book is likely to fluctuate, transform and evolve as you write. But it is very difficult to finish an entire book with no clear pathway – you need to have a good idea of where you’re going. Devising a solid foundation and structure will help you fill in the gaps and help you to progress when you hit a writer’s block.

BREAK your book down into small bite sizes

The idea of sitting down to write hundreds of pages in a few sittings is not only unrealistic but takes the joy out of writing. Your book is a huge collection of sentences, paragraphs and chapters – write in small chunks, with consistency, and before you know it you’ll have hundreds of pages drafted. Slow and steady really does win the race. WRITE A BOOK

Just Drive...

The Basics

Model: Audi Q5 40 TDI quattro 190PS S Line S tronic. Price: £42,150 Engine: 190 PS 4 cylinder diesel engine Pictures: Audi

A philosopher friend holds the view that beauty resides not in the eyes of the beholder but in the rariﬁed realm of objective truth. His reasoning is convoluted and I shall spare you a full exegesis. e short version maintains that because you can argue about beauty there is, therefore, no argument against the assertion that beauty is not subjective. No. Don't go away scratching your head. is preamble serves to establish two key facts: the Audi Q5 diesel 4wd tiptronic does indeed occupy real space in the real world and that it's assertive elegance amounts to pure motoring beauty. Anyone who thinks diﬀerently is free to enrol in my philosopher friends academy and spend long winter evenings seeking for the light of reason. As for me, I take to the road and allow this astonishingly sophisticated SUV to banish sophistries. ere is no argument. is is one of the most impressive motor cars I have driven. Because we live in a world of divided opinion one can't help but be aware that motoring today has it's detractors and that SUV's in particular are regarded with suspicion; if not in some quarters downright hostility on account, perhaps, of their unashamed air of entitlement. But the best never comes cheap. And what a dull world it would be were hard work to be denied due reward. Take local wellness guru Serena Belton. Having built up her business from scratch over a decade of dedication, Serena has spread the gospel of health, efficiency and gladness throughout her customer base. In her line of work she needs to get about; frequently travelling long distances in her zeal to spread the 'wellness' word. She needs a new car. Not just a workhorse but a prestigious vehicle commensurate with her status as a successful business woman. And why not? She was eager to grasp the opportunity of forming an acquaintance with the Q5. "I like that!" were her first words on seeing it. She went on to say why. This was a car that radiated confidence. One glance is sufficient to tell you it delivers a powerful punch. It sits on the road as though resting on a platform of poised dexterity, ready to flex the finesse of true pedigree and stylish competence once the gears are set in motion. It looks big but not brutish, classy not flashy, efficient not effusive. Powered by the 190 PS 4 cylinder 190 PS diesel engine, this 4wd SUV features the advanced dual clutch, Tiptronic automatic seven speed transmission -

Motoring Review

Audi Q5 40 a feature guaranteed to go down well with Serena who admires smooth and rapid (Up to 135mph) progress and the good economy of around 40 plus mpg overall. It's responsibly engineered and meets strict environmental requirements without compromising the integrity of the design concept. Here is a 'go anywhere' large car that offers the performance and handling of a sporty junior sibling. As drivers will discover to their delight, there is no SUV on the market that delivers a motoring experience so refined and so confidence inspiring as that encountered at the wheel of the Q5. You will want to do as we did and take the twisty road through North Wales simply to relish the responsiveness of the sophisticated chassis. Yes, you can adjust the car's dynamics at the touch of a button and computerised wizardry fine tunes settings according to taste. To my shame I discovered Serena was more tech savvy than I could ever hope to be. Her eyes lit up at the possibilities. She loves to

TDI quattro 190PS S Line S tronic.

exercise control over her own destiny so I asked myself 'Why struggle when I can 'serenely go with the flow?' To be brutally self critical the Q5 is so advanced that even such as I am relegated to the status of uncomprehending caveman. At least I convinced myself that my competence as a driver was not in question. But then as I tackled with vigour a succession of tight bends on the road to Ruthin - feeling proud of my advanced car control - the thought did strike me that it was a matter of debate regarding who was doing the driving. When Serena cooed that I was a smooth driver my head began to swell. But I feared, indeed, that her praise was more properly due to the rarefied excellence of the Audi Q5. Does it go without saying that driver and passenger comfort in the cabin belongs to the category labelled luxurious with such features as heated nappa leather seats? Serena thought so. I sensed that she was becoming pensive though as we neared the

coast. Cruising along the sea front at Rhyl we were blessed with bright sunlight. Across the water the sentinel shape of the wind farm monoliths seemed to send a semaphore message of hope. It was as though the curtains were drawn back on a new tomorrow. We, in the Q5 answering the need for responsible motoring - but not at the expense of comfort and elegance. They, the gaunt windmills of sustainability, turning out power but at the expense of a clear view to the horizon. The thought was as suggestive as it was perplexing. Certainly one to trouble my philosopher friend. Serena too was in a thoughtful mood. We parked and looked for a spot of lunch. However, Serena paused in the car park. There was a furrow in her brow. She gazed at the Q5. "A car like this" she said, "Is not cheap at ÂŁ42,150. But I've reached the stage in life where I don't do cheap. As a businesswoman in the field of wellbeing I have brought confidence and comfort to people from all walks of life. That in itself is reward enough. It

By Syd Taylor Motoring Reviewer

would be unrealistic, however, to deny that money too comes with success. One deserves the fruits of ones labour. In short, whatever the Q5, costs it's certainly worth it. And I am in the fortunate position of being able to pay a premium for a car that expresses my philosophy perfectly. "How so?" I asked. "The Q5 represents for me, nothing less than WELLNESS ON WHEELS." Already I was making a note to reserve that phrase for future use. After all, I couldn't put it better myself. 'Wellness on wheels.' That's the objective truth about this object lesson in sophisticated car design.

Motoring Review

Princess Royal Hospital in Telford

Support for alliance to help our hospital trust out of special measures

LOCAL NEWS Support for alliance to help our hospital trust out of special measures Telford & Wrekin Council has welcomed a new improvement alliance offering support to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) which is in special measures. From 1 September, the leading teaching hospital University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), rated Outstanding by the Care Quality for Leadership by the Care Quality Commission, will provide targeted support to improve services at SaTH.

to the public and keeps its local services. It mustn’t be allowed to become an extension of Birmingham.

SaTH’s Chair, Ben Reid is stepping down and is being replaced by Dr Catriona McMahon who has been a NonExecutive Director and Senior Independent Director at UHB since 2014.

Councillor Shaun Davies, Telford & Wrekin Council Leader, added: “We should use this as an opportunity to pause and review the ‘Future Fit’ reconfiguration of hospital services which would see a downgrade of Telford’s Accident and Emergency Centre as it currently stands and the moving of the consultant-led Women & Children’s Centre to Shrewsbury.

Councillor Andy Burford, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “I welcome this new alliance. It is an arrangement we had long called for. “It is important that SaTH takes full advantage of the expertise to be offered by UHB for the ultimate benefit of their patients here in Telford and Wrekin, as well as the rest of Shropshire and mid Wales. “It must begin with getting the basics right and must lead to the best possible healthcare, which is what SaTH’s patients deserve. “Although UHB will be offering its expertise, it is important that SaTH does retain its independence and accountability

“We will be monitoring performance and I look forward to seeing significant improvements as a result of this alliance.”

“We should look to use the investment, in the form of a government loan, to get high quality care in both of SaTH’s hospitals, in Telford and Shrewsbury. It is also important to invest in high quality community care to help prevent hospital admissions in the first place; something not addressed in the ‘Future Fit’ plans. “Dr McMahon’s appointment as Chair of SaTH makes her the third Chair in less than four years. I’ll be asking for an urgent meeting with her and look forward to working with her. “Staff, patients and our community deserve the best possible healthcare and that’s what everyone should work for. That’s what we want.”

YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE BACK!

HAIRDRESSERS... THANK GOODNESS

Affordable advertising, with a focus on local... Prices from ÂŁ45 for 2 months coverage and free artwork design...

Let your customers know that you are open again Inform people about the products & services you are offering Let people know what measures you are taking to keep them safe from Covid-19

D E PUBLICATIONS LTD

WELCOME BACK! WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE MISSED YOU...

Get your business back on track... Prices from ÂŁ45 for 2 months coverage and free artwork design...

Let your customers know that you are open again Inform people about the services you are offering Let people know what measures you are taking to keep them safe from Covid-19

D E PUBLICATIONS LTD