Country Child Magazine, Autumn 16 Issue, Dorset and Somerset edition

COUNTRY CHILD Dorset/Somerset

Your Local FREE Family Magazine

Autumn '16/Issue 26

FIRST DAY NERVES

Helping little ones get settled at school

LIFE'S A BEACH

Discovering aquatic activities for all the family

DOCTOR DOCTOR Expert advice on family health

DAD'S THE WORD

Chris McGuire tells us about the surprise birth of his preterm baby

'LEFTIES' ARE ALRIGHT Helping your left-handed child fit in

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WHAT’S ON ■ SHOPPING ■ PROPERTY ■ SCHOOLS ■ FOOD ■ DIY ■ HEALTH

A very warm welcome to our world!

To step inside the Nursery and Pre-Prep at Clayesmore is to enter a wonderland for children. Nestling in their own, dedicated courtyard next to the Prep School on the main campus, they provide a wonderful learning environment for the school’s youngest pupils.

Clayesmo re Pre-Prep and Nurs ery

Lovely, spacious classrooms, alive with colour and art, welcome them every morning and they settle in to small classes, meaning teachers have the time to get to really nurture them as individuals.

Inspired teaching, with exciting projects for children to get their teeth into, coupled with creative and varied ways of learning, mean they have lots of fun while absorbing knowledge.

Next to the classrooms is a gorgeous little garden where the children love to dig the earth and plant things and, just along from that, is the“Beech Walk”, where they take part in the ever-popular Forest School, learning all about outdoor living and basic survival skills.

In addition to the normal curriculum, there are lots of exciting extra activities, taught by specialist teachers in dance, music, drama, swimming and sport, all made easier because they share the 62-acre Clayesmore site with the Prep and Senior Schools, so the Nursery and Pre-Prep children benefit from a host of amazing facilities. There’s a theatre, sports centre and pool, chapel and library and playing fields as far as the eye can see.

Opening hours extend to offering free before and after school care (8am-5.30pm) to help busy parents and keep children entertained with all sorts of things: tag rugby, dance, football, hockey, pottery, tennis, art, nature club… And don’t forget, Clayesmore may be an independent school but you can still use your free early education entitlement for under 5s and just top up the rest, accordingly.

We also run FREE ‘Bushy Tails’ play sessions for under 5s featuring Emma and her Magic Bag! Every Wednesday during term-time. 10.30am-12pm

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Call 01747 813155 • www.clayesmore.com

Clayesmore Advert for Country Child_210x297.indd 1

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Welcome to Autumn

ello and welcome to the Autumn issue of Country Child.

I’m delighted and excited to have taken over the role of Editor from Sarah and have thoroughly enjoyed compiling this issue with Jo; we feel it’s packed full of great content and, of course, hope you’re in agreement!

For those feeling somewhat daunted by the prospect of their children starting school this September, Rebecca Fletcher is on hand to offer some great advice to help make the whole experience as plain sailing as possible. In a similar vein, our regular Family Matters feature looks at the importance of friendships and what we as parents can do to try and encourage positive relationships between our children and their peers.

This issue we’ve welcomed mother of two, Hannah Woolven, to share the reasons behind her brave decision to quit her ‘comfy’ marketing career and follow her heart into the world of gardening. A really interesting and inspiring read!

We’d like to congratulate our guest writer, Chris McGuire, on recently becoming a father. He’s somehow found the time, in between nappy changes and…err, more nappy changes, to chart

PUBLISHER

Jo Leigh jo@countrychild.co.uk

his experience of fatherhood to date.

Here at Country Child, we’re always keen to encourage families to venture outside, whatever the weather. To that end, we’ve found some great water-based activities to enthral and entertain over the coming months. From kayaking and cable wakeboarding to canoeing and commando ropes, there’s something for everyone.

We’ve teamed up with GP Dr Alex Newman to launch our new Doctor Doctor page. In each issue of Country Child, Dr Newman will be answering questions on child-related ailments.

If you’ve a question you’d like to ask Dr Newman, please send us an email to info@countrychild.co.uk and we’ll put it to the Doctor!

Most excitingly, we have teamed up with Yippie Yo, to offer one lucky Country Child reader the chance of winning one of their fantastic off road buggies. Take a look on page 11 for more information on how to enter.

As always, you’ll find our regular items throughout the magazine, such as Kidzone, Bookworms, Inside Out, DIY Dad and our comprehensive pull out calendar. We’re always keen to hear from those of you with an interesting story to tell, so do drop me a line – editor@countrychild.co.uk if you’ve a scoop you’d like to share!

Of course, this is one of the most spectacular times of the year, with autumn colour soon to hit the hedgerows and trees.

We’d love to see your photos of this natural phenomenon and will put them up on our Facebook page!

In the meantime, I hope you all have a lovely autumn.

Meet the team...

EDITOR

Miranda Avis editor@countrychld.co.uk

Follow us @ countrychildmag www.facebook.com/ countrychildmagazine

Neither Country Child Limited (trading as Country Child Magazine) nor any of its predecessors, affiliated companies, directors or employees, shall be liable for the accuracy or reliability of any of the content (including advertisements) published in Country Child Magazine or other information accessed directly or indirectly from Country Child Magazine, nor shall they be liable for the quality of any products, information or other materials displayed, purchased or obtained by any consumer, as a result of an advertisement or any other information or offer in connection with the service or products. Country Child Limited shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions contained within any content (including advertisement) published in Country Child Magazine.

Advertising Team

Sarah Third sarah@countrychild.co.uk Joni Clowery joni@countrychild.co.uk

Feature Writer Rebecca Fletcher

Guest Writer Chris Mcguire

Cover and feature photography by

Millie Pilkington

CONTRIBUTORS - Orchard Park, Alix Austen, Tammy Hurst, Sandroyd School, Shillingstone C of E Primary School, Abigail Butt, Bob Fox, Lucy Saunders, Edward Pilkington, Dr Alex Newman, Hannah Woolven, Hannah Brookes, Michelle Purchase, YippieYo and of course DIY Dad! DISTRIBUTION - Joni Clowery, Sheree Creighton

Volunteering Volunteering for Home-Start Could you help make a difference for young families in your local area?

Could you help make a difference for for Home-Start Many parents need help, freindship, advice and support during those early year when children are

young young. Do you have 2-3 hours a weekfamilies to spare? in your local area? you difference forhelp,school parents needexc friendship, advice or support Our next Could 40 hour (1 help day amake weekaMany for 10 weeks holidays) young families in your localthose area? during earlySeptember. years when children are young.

Volunteering training course starts on Monday 26th Many 265072 parents need help, friendship, advice orwww.homestartwestdorset.co.uk support Door you have 2-3 a week to spare?

Contact 01305 for more information forhours Home-Start

during those early years when children are young.

Your experience as a parent canhelp help other parents. for Could you make a difference Do you have 2-3 hours a week to spare? young families in your local area?

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parents need help, friendship, advice or support Your experience as a parent can help other parents.Many during those early years when children are young.

Do you have 2-3 hours a week to spare?

Your experience as a parent can help other parents.

17:08

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REACH THE TOP AT KINGSWOOD! Outstanding academic results with 84% going onto Russell Group and 98% to university Rated ‘excellent’ in all areas of the 2015 Inspection Report Over 100 co-curricular activities available Reputation for sport and links with professional clubs Inspirational music, drama and creative arts Top quality boarding provision with superb pastoral care

Join us for Open Day: SIXTH FORM - Thursday 29 September, 6.30pm to 9.00pm PREP SCHOOL - Thursday 6 October, 9.30am to 12.00 noon SENIOR SCHOOL - Saturday 8 October, 9.00am to 12.00 noon

Book a place at www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk

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Contents 31

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Autumn 2016

Doctor Doctor Our new QnA session

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Inside Out Autumn Antics

Dad's the Word A journey into fatherhood

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Country Child Loves...

Our picks for the season

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Interior Ideas Designs for Vintage and Retro collectors

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What’s In Store Sensory and Science products

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7 Family Matters - Looking at the importance of childhood friendships.

10, 11 Life's a Beach - Discovering aquatic activities for all the family.

17 Garden Angel- One mum's story of getting her work/life balance right.

19 Food Glorious Food - Expert wine advice and food news.

21 'Lefties' are Alright - Helping your left handed child fit in.

23, 27 Inside Out - Places to go and things to do.

24, 25 Calendar Pull Out - What’s on this quarter.

26 Toddler Timetable - Library times and activities.

28 Kidzone - Readers pet, Comic strip and craft for kids.

29 Show and Tell - Live entertainment for the family.

33 Great Outdoors - Autumn colour with Miranda, gardening tips and products.

37 Window Shopping - Properties for the family.

40 Barefoot Challenge - Giving Africa's plight to walk a day in a childs life.

41 Bookworms -Book reviews from Sandroyd School 42. 43 Top Marks - News and updates from local schools.

44. 45 Open for Business - News and advice from the business community.

46 DIY Dad - Single handedly taking on the laying of a patio.

First Day Nerves Their first day at school

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Portraits of Generations

BELLAWEST

FINE ART PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

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for Nursery & Reception Friday 7th October 2016 at 10am To find out more, please call on 01202 883818

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An Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ and ISI ‘Excellent’ school in the heart of the Dorset countryside

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Family Matters

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here are few things more precious than friendship; providing a shoulder to cry on or a partner in crime, good friends help us get through the ups and the downs of life. Unlike family, we choose our mates and this process begins early on in our development.

Around the age of three, as children gain more of an awareness of themselves, friendships start to form. It’s at this stage that they begin learning how to interact outside the family; practicing taking turns and recognising and responding to other people’s actions and emotions.

Children learn a great deal from each other and love nothing more than comparing almost everything about themselves. Early on, friendship groups are fairly fluid and based largely on shared activities but by five or six, children are beginning to choose their companions by personality and shared interests.

As they get older, children get better at communicating and become able to see other people’s point of view, recognising more nuanced and subtle feelings, such as embarrassment or worry. Friendships stabilise and deepen and for a few years, at least, boys and girls pull apart socially.

Some children will form close, intense friendships while others prefer a looser set of playmates – there’s no right or wrong as long as your child has someone they are close to. Friends provide emotional support and give us our sense of self-worth so an inability to make friends as a child can be linked to emotional problems later on in life.

An inevitable part of your child’s growing social life will be exposure to peer pressure. This can start at an early age – witness how quickly playground crazes spread, from Diablos to Segways.

Groups of children exert powerful influences over each other, sharing dress codes and turns of phrase. The desire to

conform to the group reaches its peak Shaftesbury Academy in early adolescence. Practically, the strength in numbers provided by a gang www.tlwdance.co.uk of friends creates a safe context in which to practise independence and creates a BALLET fun environment for shopping and trips to the cinema.

New places now available It’s when children hit their teens that Pre-school 3yrs + parents worry most about the effects of Pre-Primary 4yrs + peer pressure – particularly regarding Primary 5yrs + anti-social behaviour. Our susceptibility Grades from 1 - 8 to the influence of others comes from our own levels of self-confidence: having the strength to do what you believe is right when your friends are doing otherwise is a big ask for anyone, let alone a teenager.

Encouragingly, research indicates that young people are more likely to keep each TAP DANCE other on the New 5years + straight and beginners class narrow than lead each other astray.

Technology plays an inevitable role in our children’s friendships.

Social media can intensify peer pressure and create overnight ‘crazes’ with ‘vines’ and ‘memes’ going viral. Friendships are increasingly conducted online, via Snapchat or Instagram, sometimes to the bemusement and frustration of parents.

We should be as welcoming as STREET Jazz possible to our children’s friends – like Age 6years + so many aspects of parenting, creating a supportive framework with open communication is the best way to ensure our children make good choices about who to spend their time with. While we may have a natural desire to protect them from harmful influences, our children’s choice of friends is an expression of their independence. Open disapproval is likely to be met with rebellion – after all, there’s www.tlwdance.co.uk nothing more alluring than forbidden fruit. Secure family relationships, wellinstilled values and good self-esteem will TLWdance@googlemail.com help children stay true to themselves.

...young people are more likely to keep each other on the straight and narrow than lead each other astray.

“

Friendship

TLW DANCE

07584340897

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Big Beautiful Bunting for Hire From the cosiest pub to the largest marquee, we have a beautiful range of bunting flags that promise the wow factor at your event.

Check out our range now on to find out what or call we can do for you!

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H A N F O R D traditionally modern OPEN MORNING 15TH OCTOBER

www.hanfordschool.co.uk or call Karen on 01258 860219

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What´s in Store 1

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Science and Sensory

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9 1. Eggs wall hanging, £50 berryred.co.uk  2. Veggie volts in a matchbox, £7.99 inamatchbox.com  3. Ever changing liquid, sensory floor tiles, £29.95 each glow.co.uk  4. The Hape Early Melodies Rainbox Xylophone, £11.39 amazon.co.uk  5. Little Blooming Wonder £41.69 olliandash.com.au  6. Poppy Pencil/Storage Box £7.90 kidsconcept.co.uk  7. Transforming Sphere, Rainbow, £18.99 totalsensory.co.uk  8. Mulit Sciences Child Mat, £141.92 ksl-living.fr  9. Aura Sensory Projector, £169 glow.co.uk 10. Alfred the Rainbow Caterpillar, £3.49 cheapdisabilityaids.co.uk  11. Playbulb Bluetooth Candle, £19.95 red5.co.uk  12. Interactive Music Trail, £2,250 totalsensory.co.uk 

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Life's A Beach PhotograPhy: Millie Pilkington

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean water-based activities need to dry up too.

Country Child are here to help you plan your autumnal aqua adventures!

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day on the beach conjures up images of sand castles, ice creams, ‘sand’wiches and boogie boards; the perfect location for a family day out. But when summer draws to a close and the autumnal weather takes hold, splashing about in the British waves doesn’t have quite the same appeal as it did a month or so ago! But, of course, regardless of the time of year, the beach is still a fantastic place to explore. Rock pooling, long walks and a wintery game of rounders are just a few activities that can be enjoyed when the water is too chilly to dip a toe…!

However, for those who can’t bear the thought of being away from the water during the next few months, fear not, as Dorset will not disappoint. Indeed, this county is home to a host of water-based activities and, what’s more, they’re open all year round.

For those seeking a day of autumnal action, the Dorset Waterpark is the place to go. Overlooking Corfe Castle, this huge inflatable woodland waterpark will guarantee hours of fun for all of the family. Whilst the waterpark is suitable for children aged six and up, being a confident swimmer is paramount and all those partaking in the fun must be able to swim 50 metres. 70 metres of inflatable obstacles such as Gladiator Rings, Commando Ropes

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and Trampolines will vye for your attention, whilst inter-family competitions are sure to get pulses racing.

Families looking for a slightly more relaxing water-based experience need look no further than New Forest Activities (newforestactivities.co.uk). People of all ages can head out on a 90-minute canoe trip on the stunning Bealieu River - what better way to introducing youngsters to the water. With expert guides and plenty of wildlife to spot, this is a wonderful watery pastime to enjoy at any time of the year. Those with older children can take to the water in single seater kayaks and explore the fantastic Beaulieu River Nature Reserve. Over a two-hour period, expert guides will teach the basics of this addictive sport.

For the county’s thrill seekers, a day spent at the New Forest water park (newforestwaterpark.co.uk) will be money well spent. Here you can experience the thrill of cable wakeboarding, the first of its kind in the South. Having no wake to contend with helps fill beginners with confidence as they stand up for the first time on glassy flat water. Those new to the sport will learn to wakeboard across a 150m stretch of lake, whilst the more advanced can hone their skills and tricks year round.

Whilst having fun out on the water during the colder months may appeal to some, there are those of us who prefer to keep our feet tucked up in warm socks on terra firma, watching from the side lines. The Powerboat P1 ‘Grand Prix of the Sea’ is the fastest growing marine motorsport series in the world and the grand finale is taking place in Bournemouth on the 3rd and 4th September 2016. Races are held close to the shore meaning it’s an exciting opportunity to see these powerful boats in action. The event is free to watch with the beach or the pier offering the best viewing points.

So, whether it’s sea or shore, kayaks or cables, there’s so much out there to keep you and yours entertained over the next few months. Enjoy!

Here's your families chance to WIN a YippieYo Crossbuggy, worth £490, to get out and about with ease at the beach, festival or cross country.

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ippieYo offer parents freedom and exercise with young children, by providing a wider range of choice to spending time outside.

With busy family lifestyles, it's so easy to occupy the kids with an iPad, or the TV, but YippieYo aim to change that and encourage exercise; asking families to engage with nature and enjoy the freedom of being outside. Little legs will walk for a little while, but at some point they will need a rest while mum and dad walk a little further over and through the rough terrain. The YippieYo Crossbuggy could be

your answer to a scenrio such as this.

This new, completely safe and highquality off-road buggy for two children aged from one to six is specially designed for off-road usage away from paved roads. While parents can benefit from the immensely enhanced mobility compared to other pushchairs, children can also enjoy the “hop-on, hop-off” roadster feeling.

Some standard buggies, can reach their limits when pushed however the YippieYo when pulled can continue to take you over fields, along tracks, across stones, over sand and through shallow river beds. There would seem to be no limitations.

With an aluminium construction, a single axle, special suspension system and off road - no maintenance tyres, it is a great vehicle for active families and it's easy to collapse and fit in your car, with three easy steps.

Win!

The YippieYo is very light, weighing in at 12kg when it’s empty; carrying a maximum weight of 40kgs (including luggage) and can fit through all standard doorways. With five point safety harness system, solid disc wheels and guard elements on the armrests, safety and protection against wondering little fingers has all been thought through.

Creator Dr. Tanja Ripperger said: "When designing the YippieYo, we not only looked at creating a functional, purpose built vehicle, but we wanted it to be aesthetically pleasing; therefore we offer the ability to personalise your YippieYo Crossbuggy by having a wide range of colours to choose from. With the ample luggage space, the ease of manoeuvrability, the assurance of safety and the unique design; the YippieYo raises the bar on innovative kid transportation." yippieyo.com

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o enter this fantastic giveaway competition from YippieYo, just simply answer the following questions and email your answers to info@countrychild.co.uk by no later than the 7th October 2016.

1. How much does the YippieYo weigh?

2. How many children does the YippieYo fit?

TERMS & CONDITIONS: This draw is open to UK residents (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and residents of the Channel Islands aged 18 or over, excluding employees (and their immediate families) of YippieYo and Country Child Magazine, its agents and anyone else professionally connected with this promotion. No purchase necessary. The closing date for entries is 7th October 2016. One entry per family. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Entries deemed inappropriate, rude or abusive by the Promoter will not be entered into the prize draw. No responsibility can be taken for entries that are not seen or taken into account by the Promoter for technical reasons. The colour can be chosen by the winner. There are no further cash or other prize alternatives available in whole or in part. The prize will only be awarded directly to the winner. The winner will be selected at random and notified via Country Child. Should a winner not acknowledge receipt of their win within 7 days of receiving email notice of the prize, YippeeYo reserves the right to re-award the prize to a reserve winner selected at the same time. The Promoters’ decision in respect of winners is final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into in respect of the awarding of prizes. Owing to exceptional circumstances outside its reasonable control and only where circumstances make this unavoidable, the Promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the promotion or these terms and conditions at any stage but will always endeavour to minimize the effect to participants in order to avoid undue disappointment. Entries that do not comply with the Terms and Conditions or entrants found to be abusing the promotion in any way will have all their entries disqualified. By entering the promotion, entrants agree to be bound by, and are deemed to have read, understood and accepted, these Terms and Conditions.

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T H E S A N C T UA RY B E AU T Y RO O M S

8 A C H E A P S T R E E T, S H E R B O R N E , D O R S E T D T 9 3 P X TEL 01935 815085 WWW.THESANCTUARYSHERBORNE.CO.UK

Experience for yourself...

L E W E STO N SHERBORNE

Open Morning and Sixth Form Open Evening includes Pentathlon Academy Launch

Friday 7th October 10am and 5pm Co-educational Nursery and Junior Department All-girls Senior School and Sixth Form Day, flexi, weekly and full boarding packages available . Local transport available

L E W E STO N PENTATHLON GB ACADEMY

LEWESTON SCHOOL . SHERBORNE . www.leweston.co.uk . T: 01963 211 010

‘Gaudere Et Bene Facere – Rejoice And Do Well

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MYSTICAL MOMENTS

New local Dorset intiative, Emily Jolie launches these amazing mists. Various uses; from calming exciteable children to creating a relaxing atmosphere. £12.95 for 100ml bottle available at emily-jolie.com

FREE FALLING

WINGING IT

Tealights for the Autumn, great for early evenings in the garden or by the fire. £6.26 by MyHiddenPlace on dawanda.com

LIGHT UP LIGHT UP

This retro style light up sign is sure to add a touch of vintage glamour to any kitchen or dining room. Battery operated and money raised from the sale of this item will help support hospice care. £39.99 sueryder.org/shop

This pretty perspex pendant, in a range of colours and opacities is ideal for an understated outfit for Halloween. £15.81 by Neonpolka on dawanda.com

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL Just got cool! Multi-award winning and celebrity favourite back-pack brand MadPax launch new neon bubble designs ready for the new term. £65 .madpaxworld.com

IT'S A DOGS LIFE

With options to match your Farrow and Ball painted decor to your pets dog bed, these sustainable wood pieces will be well received by our faithful, fluffy family members. Three sizes from £260.00 charleychau.com

CELESTIAL CERAMICS

Solar system inspired pieces with celestial blasting bodies, galactic dust and stars in striking colours.

New from local iconic British brand Poole Pottery. Prices from £40.00 to £230.00 available from John Lewis and premium interior and gift retailers. For your nearest stockist visit poolepottery.co.uk

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First Day Nerves For most children the new school term is exciting but still a nervous undertaking.

Rebecca Fletcher talks us through the first day with her second child.

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iving with a soundtrack of sibling squabbles throughout the summer holidays, if you’d asked me if I’d be dreading the first day of the new school year, I’d have thought you were mad. Faced with two sets of uniform all laid out and shiny shoes ready for new owners however, I am beginning to wish I could turn the clock back.

I thought that I’d be more relaxed when it came to Poppy going off to ‘Big School’, after all I waved goodbye to Primrose three years ago. However, it has all felt rather momentous.

She is the last one. My lunchtime companion, afternoon helper, my ‘baby’ is going to school and the house will certainly seem a lot quieter.

Photography: Millie Pilkington

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Starting school is a huge leap into the unknown. So many new things to learn, routines to get to grips with, environments to negotiate and a whole lot of information to process. That’s not just for the children either. Moving from the womb-like cosiness of nursery to the rigours of the school day can seem just as much of a transition for you as it is for your child. What’s expected of you? What’s expected of your little one? Is my little one ready? Will other children be at the same stage? How will they cope?

Whether it’s your first or last child going to Big School, I’ve learned that keeping some useful tips in mind can really help things to run a little more smoothly.

Get to know the school

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time winding down as it’s the best way to get your child interested in reading for themselves. Ask them to help you tell the story through pictures and point to the words as you read.

hether it’s visiting your child’s new school, going to taster sessions or having a home visit, the more familiar the school staff and surroundings are to your little one, the easier it will be on their first day. Find out where they’ll need to hang their coat and where to pop their lunchbox if they have one. This will help with morning routines.

We all worry that our children will find it hard to manage without us but if you have concerns about separation anxiety or your child settling in well, then speak to your child’s new teacher. If there are tears when you say goodbye, rest assured they never last long.

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Becoming independent

D-day

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ocus on helping your child to learn some key life skills such as dressing and undressing by themselves, going to the loo unaided, washing hands and keeping track of their belongings. All these little things make it much easier for children to become more independent in a new environment.

Hit the books

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It’ll all be alright

n Primrose’s first morning, I popped a glittery treasure in her bag for good luck, telling her that all she had to do was think of it and remember Mummy was there with her. After her first week, she gave it back to me but the funny thing is, she still tucks it into her blazer when she has a test at school. Knowing that you’re cheering on from the sidelines is a real confidence boost for children.

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ave faith that all will be well. Send them off with smiles and cuddles – tell them you can’t wait to hear all about it at hometime and of course, don’t forget to pack the tissues.

Me? I shall be taking a deep breath and starting a new chapter all of my own. Just like Poppy, I’m nervous but quite excited about it too.

eading about someone else’s experience can really help to allay your own fears as well as those of your little one. Lauren Child’s I Am Too Absolutely Small for School with Charlie and Lola makes a great bedtime read in the run up to your child’s first day. The favourite in our house is Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

When it comes to navigating mums at the school gate, supporting learning at home, dealing with headlice and helping your child to make friends in the playground, Sarah Ebner’s The Starting School Survival Guide is a witty read with some thoughtful insights and tips for a safe passage for parents through the first year of school.

Be brave

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f you’re new to the school, find out what’s on for parents.

Going along to school functions is a great way to meet some of the other mums and dads. As the first weeks of settling in get underway, organise a couple of playdates with children from your child’s class. Getting to know people in the same boat will help you both settle in.

Avoid questions at home time

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emember that new routines and surroundings are exhausting so don’t be surprised if your child doesn’t appear very chatty at hometime. Hunger and tiredness usually kick in quickly so giving a rundown of the school day is the last thing on little minds. Wait until they’ve had a chance to relax.

Routines

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ticking to regular bedtimes will help combat that first term tiredness. Make reading books part of your night-

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Unlock your child’s potential

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Pippa Bealing BSc Hons, MSc, MSc, MBPsS  01747 859102 07717 723759 westcountrysen.com pippa@westcountrysen.com 31 Wincombe Business Centre, The Wincombe Park, Shaftesbury Dorset SP7 9QJ

PEACE OF MIND . . . . ...... MORE ....... ................. – ƒ”Â?Ƥ‡Ž†• ‘Ž‹…‹–‘”• ™‡ ƒŽ™ƒ›• ’—– ›‘—” ‹Â?–‡”‡•–• Ƥ”•–ǥ Â–ÂŠÂƒÂ–ÇŻÂ• ™Š› ™‡ Šƒ˜‡ „‡‡Â? ‹Â? „—•‹Â?॥ •‹Â?…‡ Í•Í?͚͗Ǥ

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16

Garden Angel

Hannah Woolven inspires us with her story on being a Marketer Mogul turned Garden Angel.

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PhotograPhy: Miranda aViS

he concept of a guardian angel is prevalent across multiple theologies – the idea of an angel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group, kingdom, or country. Well I don’t know if it was my guardian angel speaking to me during a conference call at work one morning, or whether I had the devil in me, but certainly a growing feeling of unrest had been collecting itself within me for the previous few months, and catalysed a sudden, radical action that day. I resigned from my stable, comfortable, professional, part-time, flexible-working-houred, acceptable-in-the-playground, snazzy-clothes-wearing, maternity-leave-paying, sick-leavegranting, paid-holiday-giving, brain-stretching, award-winning B2B marketing agency job and decided to set up a business of my own. I would no longer be Hannah Woolven, Marketer, but would don gardening gloves and a pair of old boots to become Hannah Woolven, Garden Angel. Crazy? Er, yep. Little bit.

After having had my two children (now six and three years old), I’d gone back to work for the brilliant marketing agency I’d worked for before parenthood – but had taken a five-year gap in between. That’s right: Five… Long...Years. Those are precious years that I’d never trade for anything in the world, but, nonetheless, facing the working world again after that time out was tough. On the one hand, my mind felt expanded to new and bright horizons I’d never dreamed of before, with a new and fast-found knowledge of child development and psychology, a cavern of patience I never imagined I’d be able to cultivate, and mediation skills to put hostage negotiators to shame. On the other hand, it seemed to have shrivelled and dissolved into a sort of sleep-deprived, potty cleaning, dinner-making, routine-enslaved soup. So, at the time, I was grateful that anyone would be willing to employ me at all – and pretty sure I would need to keep a firm lid on the brain soup at all times, lest some accidentally dribbled out and showed me for what I really was: a stay-at-home mum at heart, playing dress up as a marketing professional.

Fast forward 18 months and you’ll find me, sitting on this conference call, acting for all the world a very convincing marketer. But it just didn’t feel right. I’d changed. And the work wasn’t coming into the agency in the right sized chunks for a 15 -hours-a-week, all hours of the night and day timetable. I began to feel like a drain on the brilliant small company that had done so much for me. And I so desperately wanted to do something that made me feel part of my local community – part of something real – where I could see direct return for my efforts, beyond the pay packet. I needed that sought-after thing that they talk about in surveys and in magazines and at careers fairs: job satisfaction.

How I landed on garden maintenance I couldn’t tell you.

Perhaps it was the experience of landscaping my own garden and working as a labourer for our builder to save costs. Perhaps it was the hours spent staring out of the window waiting for inspiration

and yearning for the feeling of the sun on my face rather than the unblinking computer screen. Perhaps it was that guardian angel.

But something possessed me to post a single, seemingly innocuous message on a local Facebook noticeboard: “Hello Pewsey! I'm thinking of setting myself up as a garden help this summer and just wanted to see if there is much interest?

Perfect for people who work full time and don't have the time/ energy to spend in the garden, or perhaps for people who are feeling their years and are ready for a break from all the kneeling and bending! Comment below please if you would be interested or tag someone who you think might be!”

Within half an hour I had 23 responses: “When can you start?”

“How much do you charge?” “Do you cover Burbage?” That evening I spoke to my husband and we decided it was a goer.

The next day I ordered a uniform and some insurance. At the weekend I invested in a petrol strimmer and registered as selfemployed with HMRC. And a fortnight later I was gardening for my first customer. Now, only five weeks down the line from that first fateful message, all my available hours are booked up for the foreseeable – and I’ve even taken on an extra job in the evening just because I liked the customers so much I simply had to squeeze them in.

Am I poorer financially? Yup. Am I dreading the day that I am too ill to work and I have to call my customers and tell them I can’t work that day – and suffer the financial consequences?

You betcha. Am I worried about the effect of Brexit on people’s pockets, and the knock-on effect for luxury services? Of course.

But every single day when I go to work, I go to work with a smile on my face – and I stay smiling while I tackle towers of brambles, I grin my way through entire gardens that seem to be made of nothing but ground elder and nettles, and I beam at every little piece of mother nature that I meet. And I call that a life worth living.

17

Take the pressure off order your party food from us email info@birdandcarter.co.uk or call 01722 744 177 for a quote

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Emma Farquhar Photography

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inspiring independent minds Follow us on

S U O I R GLO Food

It’s veg that works for everyone!

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iverford are inviting schools and nurseries to join their new school scheme, The Veg Pot, which was launched at the Bristol Food Connections Festival in Spring.

The Veg Pot (‘School pounds for Riverford potatoes’) is an easy way for schools and nurseries to raise funds through parents and, more importantly, introduce children to healthy organic eating as early as possible, so they know where their food comes from and how wonderful veg can be. In addition to all this, the farmers also offer classroom visits where children can learn about earthworms, farming and, of course, vegetables, in a fun and accessible way.

Riverford founder and self-confessed ‘veg nerd’ farmer Guy Watson says, “With the statistics on childhood obesity rising by the year, there is no better time to get children embracing the green stuff. We want to get as many families as possible living life on the veg like we do.”

The scheme is simple: each school registers for free, sends out information to parents and families, and the PTA receives £15 per family that becomes a Riverford veg box customer, once they’ve received their third delivery. A further £15 is paid per customer after 12 months. Families get beautiful organic veg and fruit delivered to their homes, and schools and nurseries get funds to spend on whatever they need for the children. Visit riverfordorganics.co.uk to find out how to register.

Pop along to the festival!

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iver Cottage willl host their first ever boutique, family-friendly music festival, at RC HQ on the 17-18 September 2016.

The farm will be buzzing with live music, sure to get you dancing in the fields. While River Cottage street food amongst others will make sure no-one goes hungry while enjoying the festivities.

For the little ones it will be a weekend of daring and discovery, puppet shows, building scrap instruments or Jitterbug circus in the baby big top. Reasonable ticket prices too! rivercottage.net/festival

Tips and recommendations from Edward Pilkington.

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eaves turning red, grapes being harvested, stews bubbling away.

Autumn is my favourite time of year.

Bar a late heatwave, the shorter days mean it’s time to start opening reds and forget about rosé for another year.

I tend to start using much more spiced, herby ingredients come autumn. And if you’ve got dinners full of flavour you better make sure your wines match up to them. But how can you make sure you’re buying the right wines? One easy way to explore new winemakers and styles is by looking for the region on the bottle. Most winemakers try to create wines with a certain style in order to receive badges of quality from regional bodies. It’s a bit like the difference between Stilton and “Blue cheese”, one is an exact style that has to taste a certain way while the other is kind of the same but probably won’t taste as good.

So where does this leave us with wine? As soon as autumn hits, I look to get reacquainted with French wine. It’s a country that often gets forgotten about in the search for new and novelty grape varieties but, especially in autumn, you can’t beat a good Cotes-du-Rhone in the south of France or SaintEmilion in Bordeaux. Both areas have incredibly strict quality control. If you see “Cotes-du-Rhone” or “Saint-Emilion” or indeed anything that looks like a place name on a bottle of French wine it means it’s had to pass a series of tough taste tests. It’s a mark of quality. Why do I always go back to these wines? It’s quite simple actually.

These wines are from areas of France where good food is incredibly important. I can almost taste the cassoulet as I write. Though these wines are made from different grape varieties, they both have a similar flavour profile: smooth and spicy.

I’d say the most important factor when it comes to food and wine matching is to experiment. And if you don’t manage to drink a whole bottle in one sitting, put the cork back on the bottle and put it in the fridge to slow oxidisation. Yes, even reds... corneyandbarrow.com

Food

Corney and Barrow's Autumn Reds

Quote “Country Child” to get a special autumn offer for CC readers only. edward. pilkington@corneyandbarrow.com or 01258 818 077

Reader Offer!

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Look on the Bright side!

Bright Sparks Day Nursery is based at Shillingstone School, Blandford.

Our children are happy to enter an exciting and inviting learning environment with diverse opportunities for each and every child in our care. 8.30am to 3.30pm term time, also part, full time and funded places available from 18 months.

Contact the manager on 01258 860498 and take a look at our website!

www.brightsparksdn.co.uk

“Best for Horsey Types” The Week 2016 Open Morning – Saturday 5th November

Please call to book your place.

A Co-Ed Boarding and Day School for children aged 3-13 Situated on the Dorset / Wiltshire border, just 2 hours from London

Tel: 01725 516264 • www.sandroyd.org 20

'Lefties' Are Alright

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Did you know that left handers are a rare species? Miranda reveals all...

recently read somewhere that 90% of the world’s population are right handed. I’ve always known that us ‘lefties’ (yes, I’m one of ‘em) are in the minority…but do lefthanders seriously make up just 10% of the world’s population; are we really that rare? In the animal kingdom, creatures considered to be in a minority are afforded a special status; protected, nurtured and encouraged to thrive. Should this not be the case for the left handers amongst us? I am, of course, being somewhat contrary yet quite how a child develops into a leftie has left scientists baffled for years. Many believe that the mother’s DNA plays a key role in her offspring’s rightie/leftie leaning, which is something that I can relate to as both of my boys are lefties, as is my mother and my sister, too.

I can’t say I particularly struggled growing up in a rightie’s world. At school, I remember feeling rather special when I was assigned my very own pair of green left-handed scissors. They accompanied me from class to class and, as labels go, they were a rather innocuous indicator of my dextrous persuasion. Nowadays, however, there’s a lot more out there to help children who may be struggling with their left-handedness. For example, my son enjoys using a special left-handed pencil; in theory the triangular tip encourages a good writing position and, provided it’s sharpened regularly, I think his handwriting improves when he’s using it. As children become interested in using computers for school work, parents can easily switch the settings to make the mouse or cursor more leftie friendly. For those with a musical interest, left handed

guitars are readily available. Equally so, there are plenty of online stores awash with leftie gizmo’s such as grips, smudge free pens and even books dedicated to the left-handed cause.

For parents with pre-school children eager to know whether their child will be left or right handed, keeping an eye on how they do certain actions can be an early indicator and, gradually over time, a definite picture will start to emerge. Watching what hand youngsters use to pick up food and reach for toys is often deemed a good place to start. It’s believed right-handers stir things in a clockwise direction whereas lefties stir counter clockwise – now that’s something to look out for when the kids are next stirring the cake mix!

As strange as it may seem, the right side of the brain not only controls the left side of our bodies, this half of our grey matter also determines certain leftie personality traits. Left handers tend to be emotional, imaginative, creative and musical whilst the right handers of the world lean towards maths, science and logic.

From personal experience, I have to say, I think there’s a lot of truth in this; my husband, a right handed medic, and I couldn’t be more different in so many ways; from our chosen career paths right down to who tells the best bedtime story at night – he’s all about car chases, car crushers and the universe whilst I’ll get lost in a world of talking rabbits, enormous strawberries and flying cakes…well, at least my left-handed, melodramatic, imaginative sons can see where I’m coming from…kind of!

Photography: Millie Pilkington

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LARMER TREE GARDENS OPEN Sunday—Thursday 11.00am to 4.30pm

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BE GOOD AT BEING YOURSELF

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Inside Out

H

ere are Country Child’s top three spooky themed places to explore this year: ■ Corfe Castle this year have a new family trail to find the ghosts and pumpkins around the castle, plus bring along your teddy to join in with the Teddy Zip Wire challenge (11am to 3pm). 25 Oct to 2 Nov ■ Studland has a sandy trail to discover from the 22nd to 30th Oct. £2 per child per trail. Seasonal crafts on offer as well.

■ Haynes Museum For the whole of half-term, ghosts and ghouls are invited into the museum. Dress up and you'll go free or have your face painted for the Ghostly Charlie Crow Treasure Trail.

Things to do Places to go

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o celebrate the 300th anniversary of Capability Brown's birth, a new exhibition is on display at Sherborne Castle. Drawing on evidence from the archives, the exhibition explains Brown’s impact and legacy on the garden, detailing the preliminary work to putting in the lake and designing the gardens, which remain largely unaltered today.

As an ambassador site to the national tercentenary festival, the exhibition on Capability Brown at the Castle can be seen during normal opening hours until the 30th October.

OR be in with a chance of winning one family ticket (admitting 2 adults and 4 children) into the Castle and Garden, ideal for a half term visit, by answering this question:

What was Capability Brown's profession?

A) Astronaut B) Landscape Gardener or C) Accountant

Answers are to be emailed with your name and address to info@countrychild.co.uk by no later than the 30th September 2016, where the winner will be randomly picked.

Visit: sherbornecastle.com for more information.

Camilla Frederick - Hunger

CLUSTER COLLECTION

T

D

orchester Literary Festival is back from their successful launch last year and this year aims to be even bigger and better, bringing you acclaimed authors that will enlighten, amaze and entertain you. Dorchester's coastal setting have inspired many of Britain’s best-loved writers, including Thomas Hardy, T E Lawrence, Ian McEwan and the festivals patron Tracy Chevalier. Our pick of the extensive and exciting programme would be to join Rachel Bright the 'Love Monster picture book writer, illustrator, and printmaker for a story and craft session.

FREE and suitable for children under five, their parents and carers. 19th to 23rd October. To reserve a space book online via the website at: dorchesterliteraryfestival.com

he Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle event running 17th September to 2nd October will include work and focal pieces which helped win gold and best artisan garden awards for Sarah Eberle’s Mekong Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year. This year the event have formed a triangle cluster with two other nearby venues in East Mendip, all showing a range of work from large sculptural pieces in a beautiful garden, monumental ceramic vessels inspired by China to imaginative illustrations and emotive portraiture.

Reclaimed materials, the natural landscape and inspiration from foreign places are some of the themes running through all work on display. FREE event. mies.ink

A Wild Ride!

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ising with a monstrous roar, the fire burning beneath like a nuclear explosion, a pocket of air drifting into the realms of the atmosphere. This is not an action movie; this is the spectacular scene that you could be witnessing at Longleat’s very own Sky Safari. From the 16th to the 18th September, the sky will be littered with wildlife as over 50 balloons will make their ascension from the park estate. Simulating the vast array of creatures at the park, the balloons will be present in a diverse multitude of shapes and sizes beyond the imagination- not to mention Longleat’s coveted ‘Flying Lion’. Furthermore, the sound waves will be resonating on Saturday the 17th as music and lights will truly bring the event to life. This is an occasion not to be missed. Usual entry price applies, book online at longleat.co.uk/whats-on/sky-safari

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OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

PULL OUT EVENT GUIDE MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

1 End of the Road Festival, Larmer Tree Great Dorset Steam Fair

2 Great Dorset Steam Fair Marwells Zany Zebra's

3 Bridport Hat Festival Poole Thai Festival Lyme Regis Food Rocks Festival Weymouth Water Fest Great Dorset Steam Fr

4 Poole Thai Festival Story Telling, Corfe Castle Weymouth Water Fest Great Dorset Steam Fair

5 Marwells 6 Dream Zany Zebra's Machines, An American Poole Quay Story, Claverton Manor

7 Marwells Zany Zebra's

8 Bestival, I.O.W Marwells Zany Zebra's

9 Bestival, I.O.W Swanage Folk Festival Brownsea Island Camp Weekend

10 Bestival, I.O.W Glow in the Park, Longleat Swanage Folk Festival Sturminster Newton Cheese Fest Flower Show, Allendale Ctr, Wimborne

11 Red Bull Cliff Diving, Pembrokshire, Wales Swanage Folk Festival Sturminster Newton Cheese Fest

12 Bestival, I.O.W Marwells Zany Zebra's

13 Dream Machines, Poole Quay

14 Marwells Zany Zebra's Marwells Zany Zebra's

15 b-side Festival, Portland Speed to the West, Dorset Museum

16 Sky Safari Longleat London Shooting Show Poole Blues Fest

17 The Great Somerset Night Walk, Yeovil River Cottage Festival Lyme Regis Arts Festival Tank 100, Bovington Tank Museum

18 Sky Safari Longleat Lyme Regis Arts Festival Classic cars on the prom at Bournemouth

19 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival

20 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival

21 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival

22 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival

23 Knighton House Snapshot Morning Lyme Regis Arts Festival

24 Farleigh School Open Morning Tokyo World, Bristol Lyme Regis Arts Festival Story Telling, Corfe Castle Milton Abbey Open Day Falconry at Montacute Hs

25 Holnest Country Fayre Somerset Festival of Transport, Wincanton Wessex Heavy Horse Show and Country Fayre

26 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival An American Story, Claverton Manor

27 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival Dream Machines, Poole Quay

28 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival

29 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival Kingswood Sixth Form Open Day, Bath

30 Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival Lyme Regis Arts Festival

1 Oct Vintage and Retro Fair, Wells Montacute House Park Run Shaftesbury Carnival Family Arts Day, Hauser and Wirth, Bruton Knighton House Activity Open Day

2 Oct Bubble Rush, Taunton Somerset Open Studios, Mendip Triangle Lyme Regis Arts Festival Grandparents Day, Falmer Palmers Pottery Parlour Saturday Studio

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

3

4 Dream Machines, Poole Quay Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island

5 Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island An American Story, Claverton Manor

6 Kingswood Prep Open Day, Bath Autumn Steam Gala, Swanage

7 Dumpton Open Morning St Marys Open Morning Leweston Open Morning and Sixth Form Eve

8 Chafyn Grove Open Day Tank Mod, Bovington Tank Museum Gillingham Carnival Kingswood Senior School Open Day, Bath Knighton House Snapshot Morning

9 Studland Apple Day Autumn Steam Gala, Swanage Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island Pottery Parlour Saturday Studio

10 Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island An American Story, Claverton Manor

11 Dream Machines, Poole Quay Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island

12 Truffle Hunting Experience, English Truffles.co.uk Sherborne Literary Festival

13 Sherborne Literary Festival Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island

14 Port Regis Open Morning St Francis Open Morning Sherborne Literary Festival

15 Hanford Open Morning Stoke Sub Hamdon Table Top Sale Mum2Mum Market, Bridgwater Bruton School Open Morning

16 Open Garden for NGS, Frankham Farm Stourhead Craft Fair Sherborne Literary Festival

17 Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island

18 Dream Machines, Poole Quay Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island

19 Dorchester Literary Festival Red Squirrel Walk at Brownsea Island Gangsta Granny, Playhouse, W-S-M

20 Dorchester Literary Festival Kicking and Screaming, Salisbury Playhouse

21 The Baby Show, Olympia Dorchester Literary Festival Kicking and Screaming, Salisbury

22 The Baby Show, Olympia Dorchester Literary Festival Family Apple Picking, Glasonbury Tor, Model Railway Show, Taunton Stourhead Apple Day

23 The Baby Show, Olympia Wellbeing Expo, Cheese and Grain Dorchester Literary Festival Family Apple Picking, Glasonbury Tor

24 HALF TERM Tanks in Action, Bovington Tank Museum Barrington Court Creepy Creatures Show Haunted Haynes Week, Haynes Museum Halloween family Fun, Falmer Palmers Kingston Lacy, Celebrating Autumn

25 HALF TERM Barrington Court Creepy Creatures Show Haunted Haynes Week, Haynes Museum Halloween family Fun, Falmer Palmers Kingston Lacy, Celebrating Autumn Halloween at Corfe Castle Pottery Parlour Clay Days

26 HALF TERM Tanks in Action, Bovington Tank Museum Lytes Cary Manor Halloween Trail Haunted Haynes Week, Haynes Museum Halloween family Fun, Falmer Palmers Kingston Lacy, Celebrating Autumn

27 HALF TERM Dinosaur Hunt, Dorchester King Tuts Treasure Hunt, Dorchester Haunted Haynes Week, Haynes Museum Halloween family Fun, Falmer Palmers Pottery Parlour Clay Days

28 HALF TERM Tanks in Action, Bovington Tank Museum King Tuts Treasure Hunt, Dorchester Lytes Cary Manor Halloween Trail Halloween family Fun, Falmer Palmers

29 Museum in Motion, Haynes Motor Museum King Tuts Treasure Hunt, Dorchester Lytes Cary Manor Halloween Trail Hardy's Cottage Apple Day, Bockhampton Haunted Haynes Week, Haynes Museum Kingston Lacy, Celebrating Autumn Halloween at Corfe Castle Studland Halloween Week

30 Dinosaur Hunt, Dorchester Lytes Cary Manor Halloween Trail Haunted Haynes Week, Haynes Museum Kingston Lacy, Celebrating Autumn Halloween at Corfe Castle Halloween Themed Open Cockpit Day, Helicopter Museum, Weston Super Mare

24

CALENDAR AUTUMN 2016 TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

31 Oct Kingston Lacy, Celebrating Autumn Halloween at Corfe Castle

1 Halloween at Corfe Castle Dream Machines, Poole Quay

2 Jake Bugg, O2 Bournemouth Halloween at Corfe Castle

3 Priests House, Dress to Impress Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle

4 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle St Marys Open Morning

5 Pop Up Bee Shack Shop, Holwell Sandroyd Open Morning Milton Abbey Open Day Emperors New Clothes, Poole

6 Grandma's Attic Antiques Fair, Highcliffe Castle Bridport Literary Festival

7 Burnham on Sea Guy Fawkes Carnival Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester

8 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Bridport Literary Festival

9 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Priests House, Dress to Impress

10 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester

11 Family Nature Trail Break, Dunster Bridport Literary Festival Priests House, Dress to Impress

12 Family Nature Trail Break, Dunster Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester Bridport Literary Festival

13 Family Nature Trail Break, Dunster Christmas Wonderland Market Lighthouse Poole

14 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester

15 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Dream Machines, Poole Quay

16 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Priests House, Dress to Impress

17 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester

18 Wells Carnival Charter Fair Variety Performance with Pudsey, Verwood

19 The Rural Christmas Living Show, Kings Hall School, Taunton Poole Christmas Market

20 Christmas Charity Fair, Highcliffe Castle Christmas at Marwell Pottery Parlour Saturday Studio

21 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester Christmas at Marwell

22 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Dream Machines, Poole Quay Christmas at Marwell

23 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester Christmas at Marwell

24 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Christmas at Marwell Priests House, Dress to Impress

25 Christmas at Marwell Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester

26 Christmas Craft Fair, Horton Cross Santas Winter Wonderland, Stewarts GC, Broomhill Swanage Santa Specials, Railway, Dorset Christmas Fair, Christmas at Marwell, Wimbourne Lights Switch on

27 Great Reindeer Hunt, Teddy Museum, Dorchester Christmas at Marwell Pottery Parlour Saturday Studio Santa Steam Fest, Avon Valley Railway Weymouth Christmas Market

28 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle

29 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle

30 Lantern Glow at Corfe Castle

NOVEMBER

MONDAY

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Toddler Timetable Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

9.30-10.30 Baby Gym, Motcombe Park Sports Centre

9.30-11 Tummies, Tiddlers and Toddlers, St George’s Primary School, Bourton

9.30-11.30 Little Rascals Durweston Village Hall

9.30-11.25 Toddler Workshop, Chalke Valley School of Dance, Shaftesbury 9.30-11.00 Stay & Play, Tisbury Children’s Centre 9.45-11.30 Tiddlers & Toddlers, Lecture Hall, Mere

l a i c e p S

9-11.30 Stower Vale Baby & 9.30-11 Sandroyd Pre Prep Toddlers, Stower Provost School Parent and Toddler Group Hall

l

A v i st

Thursday

Friday

9-11 Leweston Pre-Prep, Parent & Toddler Group and Toddler Tunes

9-11 Little Preppers Parent and Toddler Group, Sherborne Pre-Prep

9.30-11.30 Marnhull Baby & Toddlers, Marnhull Village Hall

9.15-11.15 Bumps, Babes & Bigs Parent & Toddler Grp, Okeford Fitzpaine Sch Hall

9.30-11.30 Pimperne B&T Group, 9.30-11.30 Jigsaw Toddler Group, Sturminster Newton Village Hall 9.30-11.00 Stay and Play at Methodist Church Ludwell Primary School

Fe

9.30-11.30 Piddle Valley Tiddlers, First School, TT 9.00 - 10.30 Scarecrows

9.30-11.30 Play and learn, Mere Children’s Centre

10.00 - 12.00 Outdoor Play Dorchester Children’s Ctr

9.30-11.30 Little Cherubs Group, St Mary’s School Room, Gillingham 10-11.15 Knighton House

9.30-11.30 Baby & Toddlers, Pre School toddler group School, Baby & Toddler 9.30-12 Bumps and Babes, Tisbury Child Okeford Community Cheselbourne Vlillage school Group Children’s Centre Centre 10-11 Emma & The Magic 10-11 Time Together Castle 10-12 North Cadbury Toddler Bag Music Class, Shaftesbury Cary Primary School Toddler Workshop Shaftesbury Arts Centre toddlerworkshop.co.uk

Grp, Village Hall

Arts Centre

9.30-11 Sandroyd Pre Prep Swim & Play Baby, Toddler & Parent Session 9.30-11 Stay and Play Crossway, Dorch Child Ctr 9.30-11.30 Jigsaw Toddler Group, Sturminster Newton Methodist Church 9.30-10.30 Baby Gym, Motcombe Park Sports Ct

10am Munchkins at Buckhorn Weston Village Hall 9.30 Pre School Music, Just Dance, Wincanton.

10-11.30 Monkey Doodle, Magic Bag 10-12 Motcombe Toddlers, Wylye Village Hall, Wylye 10-12 Toddler Group, 10-12 Toddler Stay and Motcombe Memorial Hall 10-11 Messy Play, Youth Centre, play, Shaftesbury Child Ctr 10.15-10.45 Rhyme Times, Batcombe Jubilee Village Hall Sturminster Newton 10-2 Wildside Explorers Gillingham Library 10.30-11.30 Baby and 9.30-10.15 Emma & The Forest School, Shaftesbury 10-11.30am, Little Wrigglers Toddler Rhyme and Story Magic Bag, St Andrew’s (TT only) 10-11.30 Toddler Time, Congregational Church Stalbridge Primary School, Fontmell Climb Aboard, West Stour Time, Wincanton Library 10.15-10.45 Library Gets 10-12 Evercreatures, Evercreech 10.30-11.15 Library Gets 11-12 Mini Movers at Lively, Gillingham Library 11.30-12.15 Pre-School Village Hall Lively at Sherborne Library Tisbury Sports Centre Ballet, TLW Dance 2-2.45 Tiny Tots Gymnastics, 10-12 Caterpillars Parent & Shaftesbury Toddler Workshop 2-3pm Bumps and Tisbury Leisure Ctr Toddler Group, Fovant Rainbow BabiesMere Children’s 2-3.30 Stay n Play, Community Shaftesbury Arts Centre Centre 2.30-3 Rhyme-time, toddlerworkshop.co.uk Centre Kids Pre School, Bruton Shaftesbury Library 10.30-12 Sunny Hill Prep Toddler 2-2.30 Rhyme Time, 2.30-3pm Story & Rhyme 2.15-2.45 Rhyme Time, Group, Bruton Blandford Library Time at Milborne Port Warminster Library 2-3.30 Little Squirrels, Hazlegrove Library

Library

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Blandford Dorchester Gillingham

10am-6.30pm 10am-5.30pm 10am-1pm

9.30am-5pm 9.30am-7pm 9.30am-6.30pm

Closed 9.30am-1pm Closed

9.30am-6.30pm 9.30am-5.30pm 9.30am-5pm

9.30am-4pm 9am-4pm 9.30am-4pm

Mere Milborne Port

10am-7pm Closed

9.30am-1pm Closed

9.30am-5pm Closed

Shaftesbury

10am-5pm

9.30am-5pm 9.30am-1pm 2-5.30pm 9.30am-5pm

Closed

9.30am-6.30pm

Stalbridge

2-5pm

12am-12.30pm

3.30pm-6.30pm

Sherborne

10am-7pm

10am-12.30pm 2-5.00pm 9.30am-1.30pm

9.30am-1pm 9.30am-7pm 9.30am6.30pm 9.30am-5pm 9.30am-1pm 2-5.30pm 9.30am12.30pm 2-5.00pm

Closed

9.30am-7pm

Sturminster Newton Tisbury

9.30am-12.30pm

2-5pm

Closed

2-5pm 5.30-7.30pm 9.30-1.30pm 2.30-5pm

Closed

10am-1pm

9.30-1.30pm 2.30-5pm

9.30am-1.30pm 2.30-5pm

10am-6.30pm 10am-7pm

9.30am-1pm 9.30am-5pm

Closed 9am-12.30pm

Wincanton Wimborne Warminster

26

10.30-12.00 Bushy Tails at

10-11 Music & Muessy play Clayesmore feat Emma and her Zeals village Church

9.30am5.30pm 9.30am-12.30pm 2-5pm 2-6.30pm Closed 2-5pm 5.30-7.30pm Closed 9.30am1.30pm 2.30-6.30pm 9.30am-6.30pm 9.30am-5pm 9.30am-7pm 9.30am-5pm

9.30am-1pm 9.30am12.30pm 9.30am-1pm 9.30am12.30pm 9.30am-4pm 9am-12.30pm Closed 9.30am-1pm 9.30am-4pm 9.30am-4pm

money raised through events such as the Bubble Rush. 1 in 3 people will need the support of St. Margaret’s Hospice in their lifetime, and the hospice cares for over 3,200 people each year. The support we receive at events like the Bubble Rush is hugely appreciated and helps the hospice continue to make each day count for patients and families affected by a life-limiting illness across Somerset.”

For more information and to book your place at the Bubble Rush, please visit www.st-margaretshospice.org.uk.

Oh Baby!

Inside Out I'm forever blowing bubbles!

F

ollowing the success of their Great Somerset Colour Run in May, St. Margaret’s Hospice has announced that they have added an exciting new event to their 2016 events calendar... The Bubble Rush!

Held on October 2nd 2016, this event will see Longrun Meadow, Taunton, come alive in a burst of colourful bubbles. Participants tackle a 5k course through four coloured bubble stations alongside manned, high powered canons blowing out 30 cubic metres a minute of frothy milkshake bubbles.

St. Margaret’s Events Project Leader, Sonia Bateman, said “We are really excited to bring this brand new event to Taunton. It’s the perfect event for families and there’ll be entertainment throughout the day, so even those who aren’t taking part in the course can join in the fun."

Tickets are £25 for an adult, and £15 for a child, and include a t-shirt, medal and goody bag. st-margarets-hospice.org.uk.

Be Your Own Hero, Wellbeing Expo, Somerset

T

he first expo of it's kind in Somerset. ‘Be Your Own Hero’, Wellbeing Expo is set to bring practical life skills to everyone. With the 'Pay It Forward' scheme which allows you to expand your heart and purchase a heavily discounted ticket for someone else in the community. For every bought and donated ticket, a ticket wall will be next to the ticket office at the Cheese and Grain. Anyone - no questions asked - can take a posted note and exchange it at the ticket office for a real ticket.

The theme of ‘Be Your Own Hero’ encourages every single person to champion their own wellness including others. Whether you are starting from scratch and keen to expand your mind and body in new ways, or fully embracing health and wellness but ready to add something new into the mix, the Wellbeing Expo Somerset will give you a flavour of what’s out there right now to help you become the best and most healthy version of yourself. 23rd Oct. To find out more on this new event and scheme contact cheeseandgrain.com

Things to do Places to go

F

rom the 21st to 23rd October the biggest pregnancy and parenting event of the year, the Baby Show will be returning to Olympia, London.

The Show is the must-attend event for mums and dads-to-be and new parents, with over 200 exhibitors showcasing all the latest essentials for your new arrival, plus a stage programme jam packed with fashion shows and informative talks by renowned baby care experts as the journey into parenthood, for new or second or even third time mums and dads, is a truly exciting and memorable time; a whirlwind of discovery, learning and experiences so you’re bound to have dozens of questions.

As many of the major baby retailers are there, there are plenty of opportunities to try before you buy and get exclusive access to amazing discounts! Shopped till you’ve dropped? The Baby Show offers a free Collect-by-Car service so you don’t need to worry about carrying lots of bags around for the day. For tickets and early bird booking hree of the area's best firework displays for 2016, discounts visit: thebabyshow.co.uk as chosen by the Country Child team.

T

BANG!

29th Oct: To movie themed music this is one of the largest shows in the south. Beaulieu also extends the fun with a range of entertainment for the whole family. Dare to dress up and you could win a prize for the best dressed!

5th Nov: Lyme Regis Bay is the place to be on bonfire night. Join the crowds of he ultimate nighttime neon fun event people who warm themselves for families & friends to dance, walk, by the bonfire on the beach, jog or run around. Voyage through the year after year! six glow zones within the wildlife park at Longleat, presenting electrifying light shows, 5th Nov: As popular as ever energising beats and top it all off with a and you'll always get a great foam and powder paint blast zone. Fun for seat from anywhere in the all the family at any age. A popular event area. 8.00pm, Poole Quay, so book quickly. Held on Saturday 19th (entertainment from 5.00pm) September. glowinthepark.co.uk/uk

GLOW IN THE PARK

T

27

E N O Z ID

K

A

TRY THIS!

s the leaves fall, get collecting and have a go at making a natural and really useful leaf bowl. Use it to store pens, pencils, stickers, rubbers, letters, in fact absolutely anything!

DIY LEAF BOWL

➤ A balloon ➤ Leaves, not brittle or dry, just fallen are ideal. ➤ A bowl ➤ Scissors ➤ Paint/Glue Brush ➤ UPVC Glue/Varnish ideally Modge Podge tart by collecting your leaves of any variety and cut any stems very short, then blow your balloon up to the size of the bowl you require, tie it up and pop into the bowl to hold in place. Brush glue on both sides of the leaf and place on top, repeat from top to bottom. Double layer the bottom for durability, then leave to harden. Once hard, pop balloon, remove and your bowl is ready to use. instructables.com

S

28

Pets Corner Name: Teacup Owner: Dylan, Age 6 Breed: Albino Pygmy Hedgehog Age: Two years old Party Tricks: Escaping, Spinning her wheel, floating on her back in a ball.

Favourite food: Meal worms but doesn't like egg.

Do you have a pet that you would like to proudly show off in Country Child?

If so send in your photo with the above information on your pet to info@ countrychild.co.uk and we'll get as many or your animals published as possible!

Little brothers worship their big sisters, colour William and Kate in to brighten them up!

Send your amazing colouring in, into us at info@countrychild.co.uk

Show and Tell Gangsta Granny in da house!

T

his is not your usual fairytale; this is the ultimate action comedy. The Playhouse Theatre in WesternSuper-Mare will be home to a pantomime so intriguing you will not be able to look away.

Based on the hilarious children’s novel by David Walliams, this is the story of a not so normal grandparent. You will be taken on the exhilarating journey of a diamond thief, as the values of family are represented in a unique way, guaranteed to make you laugh.

The shows will take place between the 19th and 22nd of October, with tickets costing £15.50 per child this will certainly be an unforgettable night of entertainment.

Forget Cinderella, Gangsta Granny is the new sensation. theplayhouse.co.uk

A

s part of the Family Arts Festival in October, storyteller Danyah Miller brings to life an enchanting tale by Michael Morpurgo.

Children Gracie and Daniel have been forbidden to go near the mysterious and seemingly dangerous Birdman. But messages and clues intrigue them and they begin to unravel the Birdmans secrets, the villagers fears and learn why the whales came to the island.

Suitable for 7+. Tickets £15.75 Lighthouse, Poole. 25 and 26 Oct. familyartsfestival.com/ event/7565

A guide to local live entertainment

T

LW Dance Studios in Shaftesbury are set to produce a full length classical ballet of The Nutcracker with a little twist! The ballet will be held at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton on the 17th and 18th December.

There will be a matinee and evening performance on both days, and tickets are available from the 1st of October from both TLW Dance Studios or from The Exchange. stur-exchange.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01258 475137.

This will be a great family show for Christmas time and is the perfect introduction to ballet for younger audience members. They may even be keen to join them on stage.

If your child is interested in dance contact Tiffany on 07584 340897

Playhouse Performances

T

here are a wide range of family productions in the lead up to and during the October half term for 2016 at Salisbury Playhouse. Here are our favourites: Kicking and Screaming looks at how the world becomes a different place when a baby arrives. How do our priorities shift when we become parents? How do we adjust – and what happens if we don’t? This honest, funny and touching show for those aged 14 and over tells the story of two couples whose lives change forever. For the first time there will be a baby-friendly matinee (22 Oct only) where parents can bring babes in arms aged 18 months or younger. 20-22 Oct. Shh… Bang!, is a special dance theatre-performance for those aged 3 and over where they can journey through a world filled with boings, whooshes and tick-tocks. 24 Oct. Zombie-rella and Blood Red Hood - 25 Oct and Grannylocks and The Monstrous Duckling - 26 Oct. Joseph Coelho unravels familiar fairytales to create fresh contemporary classics in two enchanting performances of Fairytales Gone Bad. Perfect for those aged 3 plus.

The Owl and the Pussycat’s Treasury of Nonsense presents Lear’s most loved poems in a delightfully predictable way using clowning, puppetry and magical music. 29 Oct The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop Number one bestselling author and broadcaster Clare Balding talks about her inspirational stories to mark the publication of her first children’s book. 24 Sept. salisburyplayhouse.com

I

n the wake of its successful Junior Choir, Salisbury Cathedral is launching a new Youth Choir lead by Ian Wicks, Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral School.

The Salisbury Cathedral Youth Choir will be a free, four-part community choir, open to all youngsters aged between 13 and 18, without having to take an audition. The new choir’s leader, Ian Wicks, has run the Junior Choir successfully for nine years, with the choir taking part in last year’s highly successful Magna Cantata and BBC Wiltshire’s Carols in the Cathedral, an annual broadcast event. Rehearsals for the Youth Choir will be every Tuesday from 18.00-19.00 in the Cathedral School’s music room.

Those wishing to join just need to turn up and register at the first rehearsal, which takes place at 18.00 on Tuesday 13th September at Salisbury Cathedral School.

The 46 strong Junior Choir is also recruiting again as some of the older singers move on to secondary school. The Salisbury Cathedral Junior choir is led by Susie Lamb, who has 20 years of experience working with children both as a music teacher and a choral director. Susie runs choirs at Salisbury Cathedral School and Woodlands Primary as well as singing herself, with the Cathedral Chamber Choir and Sarum Voices.

If you are interested in joining either choirs, please contact Abigail Bray on scjc@salcath.co.uk or 07929 769311.

29

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Dad's the Word

This issue's guest writer Chris McGuire speaks of his journey into fatherhood so far and finds his son Samuel is totally unable to keep to schedules.

S

o it’s happened. I’m now a father. Me. I have a son called Samuel and I’m his dad. It’s been a bit hard to get my head around, which is strange as I had nine months to get used to the idea. Actually, just under eight months; Samuel came five and a half weeks early.

I thought I had the whole ‘birth thing’ planned. My partner had gestational diabetes, so the doctors helpfully announced the date he would be induced. Perfect. Sorted. Booked into the calendar. Done. I had a clear two months to get all those final jobs sorted: paint his room, get up to date with Game of Thrones – that type of thing. As it turned out, Samuel wasn’t completely ‘on board’ with this schedule.

Sam’s mum was away from home when her waters broke. I’d decided – as we had plenty of time – to get the bathroom refitted.

This meant she was at her parents’ house, away from the dust and chaos, when the big moment happened. A phone call, in the early hours, telling me to get to the hospital heralded the end of my perfect plan. Couldn’t we just un-break the waters and go back to my schedule? Apparently not.

Soon we were in the labour ward, and like it or not, the baby was coming early. Let’s face it, dads during labour are a bit of a spare part. There’s only so much hand holding one person can do.

I’d planned to get around this by creating roles for myself: ‘Chief DJ’ was to be the main element – I was going to make a track list of all my partner’s favourite songs. Something light for early labour, more up tempo numbers for the pushing. I’d also planned to provide drinks, mood lighting and DVDs. But none of that happened. I just became a rather sweaty sometime hand holder.

The labour came to an impasse when my big headed boy just wouldn’t come out, a Caesarean section was needed. I was handed some scrubs by the midwife. She looked at my six foot five frame and told me “this is the largest size they come in”. I looked like a clown, wearing an ill-fitting mask, low-slung surgical trousers that threatened to fall to my ankles and shoe covers that refused to go anywhere near my size 15 feet. Add to that, as I’m terrified of blood, my partner was comforting me – not the other way around. “Just look at my face and breathe” she said.

With Sam’s arrival, I went from spare part to only half of what was needed. He was struggling to breathe and his mum was on the surgeon’s table. My two most precious people were vulnerable and travelling in opposite directions. Who should I be with? I chose Samuel. I’ve never been so scared as when I watched my little boy gasp for air. Yet, the medical staff were amazing and it wasn’t long before Sam was breathing with the help of a machine and placed inside an incubator.

It turned out that Samuel, although thankfully healthy, had some further development to do and wouldn’t be leaving hospital any time soon. At least, I consoled myself, this would allow time to sort out the house ready for Sam and my partner’s return. I was about to be a dad in the Neonatal unit, but that’s another story. @MCguireSki

31

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Holiday clubs available

“We could not have wished for a better start to school life for both our children” Jo – Parent

The Orchard, Knighton House School, Durweston, Dorset DT11 0PY Call 01258 452065 or email admissions@knightonhouse.co.uk www.knightonhouse.co.uk

32

KHS Orchard postcard_v1.indd 1

19/07/2016 12:06

The Great Outdoors Autumn Colour: Have you ever found yourself asking how autumn colour happens?

Miranda has been investigating…

PhotograPhy: Millie Pilkington

I

t’s often with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to summer; this the season of balmy evenings, freshly cut grass and beautiful morning birdsong. But, as ever, the clock ticks on and autumn soon arrives...and what a stunning sequel to summer this season is.

In Britain, we think of ‘Fall’ as the American version of the word ‘Autumn’ but this isn’t actually the case. ‘Fall’ was, in fact, used in England up until the 17th century; a shortening of the phrase ‘fall of the leaf.’ The word Autumn entered the English language from the French 'automne' and didn't become common usage until the 18th century.

The word ‘Autumn’ conjures up a host of images; from roaring log fires and warming stews to intricately carved pumpkins and, of course, the phenomenon that is Mother Nature’s beautiful autumn colour. It’s easy to see why this time of year is so popular with artists and poets alike.

But how does the magical autumn colour come to fruition?

During the summer months, leaves are hard at work turning water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose, a process known as photosynthesis, which literally means ‘putting together with light.’ A chemical found in leaves, known as chlorophyll, not only does a great job at helping this process along but it also gives the plants their green colour.

However, as summer draws to a close and the days begin to shorten, the trees start to prepare for the cold months ahead. The

Thinking Ahead!

B

reduction in sunlight means that photosynthesis is no longer possible so the trees batten down the hatches and live off the food they stored during the summer months. As this happens, the green chlorophyll disappears from their leaves and other colours that have been in the leaves all along, like yellow and orange, start to emerge. It’s just that up until now they have been hidden by the green chlorophyll. Brown hues, made from waste left in the leaves, start to join the party as do bright reds and purples.

In some trees, glucose becomes trapped in the leaves at the end of the summer and a combination of cool nights and winter sun turn it into a beautiful, deep red colour. It’s this heady mix of colours that gives us the treat that is autumn colour.

Now, catching the trees at the just the right time can be a bit and miss but, if you time it right, it’s a real sight to behold – Mother Nature really knows how to impress!

The experts from Orchard Park share their wisdom.

ulbs are the plant world’s clever way of going from one year to the next, and all the new bulbs that will flower in the next year have now arrived at the garden centre. There is a huge range and they can be planted now (although tulips are best planted in November).

Planting bulbs in autumn is a magical thing with the bulb producing roots through the winter then sending up green shoots in spring, followed by flowers that welcome back the sun and the new growing season. There are lots to choose from and they present very few problems, which is good news for novice and young gardeners. Pick a sunny spot in the garden and dig out any perennial weeds. Then make small holes with a trowel or a bulb planter and as a general rule plant the bulb quite deeply - in fact in a hole approximately 4 times the height of the bulb. Top Tip! Planting bulbs in bowls is even simpler; choose a shallow bowl put some gravel or broken pots in the bottom then a special bulb compost. Then plant the bulbs either the same sort or a combination of bulb varieties that will flower in sequence. To make a bulb planter that will last over several weeks, use a deep pot and plant in layers with the later flowering bulbs such as tulips, near the bottom.

Finally there are bulbs that have been specially treated or ‘prepared’ to flower early and can be brought indoors to flower for Christmas. Hyacinths and Narcissus ‘Paperwhite’ are the classic examples and generally need about 10-12 weeks from planting to flower. They need to start off slowly and can be planted then placed in a cool dark shed, kept moist, until the shoots develop. Then a couple of weeks before you want them to flower bring them into room temperature. orchardpark.biz

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10% OFF

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33

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WINDOW SHOPPING Country Child seeks out properties for the water babies....

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Sherborne, Dorset £895,000

An 18th century four bedroom home on the river with fishing rights, all set within approximately one acre of grounds, gardens, summerhouse, garages, parking and paddock. Additional guest house on the grounds could provide visitor, grandparent or au pair residence, however you may wish to generate an income?

knightfrank.com

Ibberton, Dorset £750,000

With half an acre of landscaped grounds to play on, families will be well equipped here with stable block and heated swimming pool. A modernized Edwardian property, sympathetically extended and fitted with stylish contemporary, yet comfortable accommodation.

abbotandslater.co.uk

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eliable, local and experienced with a specialist team...... let Williams and White relocate you and your possessions to your new home with minimal stress and outstanding customer care.

* Full pack removals. * Piano moves. * Overseas export. * Flexible service and relocation packages to suit your needs. www.williamsandwhite.co.uk

info@williamsandwhite.co.uk 01380 501693 07938 871783 37

The Fontmell Clinic MEDICAL & LASER TREATMENTS

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ini

Dr Geoff Lewis MB, BS.MRCGP Mrs Shin Tolfree RGN BTC Laser Ageing skin, age spots and sun damage Dermal fillers, Chemical Peels Injections for fine lines, wrinkles and excessive sweating Permanent hair removal Acne and facial redness Thread veins Birth marks

Private We also offer a wide range Effective of additional health services Professional from Private Medicals to Ovarian & Prostatic 01747 812718 www.fontmellclinic.co.uk Cancer Screening.

West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0PS

Maxwell Steer teaches piano in Tisbury

… from beginners to scholarship winners, with a varied approach that suits the needs of each young pianist.

07891 550849

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LEADING THE WAY Allow us to introduce Mr Mortimer, our Headmaster.

His passion for education is only matched by his love of sport – a keen rower, he’s twice rowed the Atlantic.

At Warminster we don’t only choose the best teachers to educate our pupils – we choose the most interesting ones.

From Special Constables to mountaineers, our diverse interests and passions spur us on to do things a little differently.

Individually, we are diverse in our interests, driven in our passions and determined to work together to do things a little differently. If you are too, then get in touch.

www.warminsterschool.org.uk admissions@warminsterschool.org.uk 01985 210160

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WS056_Leading_CountryChild_Ad_April_v2.indd 1

10/05/2016 15:22

Doctor Doctor Country Child has teamed up with GP Dr Alex Newman to answer some common child health related questions.

Q. My four-year-old child has been given an inhaler for being wheezy, does it mean they have asthma?

P robably not. Asthma is tricky to diagnose in small children; lots of children have episodes of wheezing associated with upper respiratory tract infections but relatively few go on to get the label of ‘asthma’. A blue (salbutamol) inhaler is often given as a trial to see if it is helpful. If the problem doesn’t go away it’s worth discussing again with your GP.

Q. My baby vomits a lot after feeds, does he have reflux/what is reflux?

I t can be completely normal. The muscles at the top of babies’ stomachs are not very well developed and so it is easy for feeds to come back up. This is called reflux. Often parents are concerned about it but if your baby is putting on weight well and has no other problems it doesn’t usually require any treatment.

Q. My baby has horrible nappy rash, what should I be doing?

Not worrying! It’s unlikely to be doing any harm, most babies have problems with this at some time. Regular nappy changes with a good barrier cream applied at every change is the best way forward. Mentanium stains everything yellow but works brilliantly.

Occasionally there can be infection with fungus, or more rarely bacteria. This is worth considering if a week or so of the above is not getting you anywhere or it is getting rapidly worse.

Q. My four year old doesn't poo!

onstipation in young children is really common, however the range of normal C stool habit is wide too. If at age 4 they are going less than every other day that would be worth taking advice on. The mainstay of managing is both behavioural support, for example star charts and rewards for time spent on the toilet, and diet and fluid modification, most commonly with a need to increase fluid intake. If these don’t help then it might be worth discussing with your GP about short term use of laxative medications.

Q. My child has had a cough at night for ages, should I be worried?

Children can have really persistent nocturnal coughs for what feels like ages after fairly mild upper respiratory tract infections (colds), it’s not unusual for them to take up to 3-4 weeks to settle. If it is not causing them any bother then, apart from waking you up, there is no reason to be concerned.

Occasionally, a night time cough can be a presenting feature of asthma, in this case usually the cough persist for longer than this or is not associated with a recent infection, in which case discuss it with your GP.

Q. My child has a squint, what should I do?

B efore 3 months of age, children commonly have intermittent squints and this is normal. If the squint is always there, or still noticeable after this age then it needs looking at. The reason for this is that it is important that both eyes work together to allow normal binocular vision to develop. There usually isn’t an underlying cause for concern and is treated with a patch or glasses that are worn until the vision corrects itself. Rarely there can also be other significant causes for squints but these are usually picked up early in the assessment process.

Your optician is often the best place to start.

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Barefoot Challenge Jo Leigh keeps seeing parents and children in school walking around with no shoes on??! She found out more from the charity, Barefoot Challenge, and what it is all about!

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ind your shoes, we’re going to be late for school” is the normal call at 8.30am on a Monday morning in the Loden household.

But there wasn’t such a call on Monday 27th June. That morning, Joshua (9) and Emily (6) kicked off their shoes and went barefoot for an entire week as part of Giving Africa’s Barefoot Challenge. They walked their usual route to school, down footpaths and across stiles, through horse fields and across roads, with nothing on their feet at all.

When asked what inspired them, Joshua said that he wanted to go barefoot to think about how the children in Africa have to walk to school barefoot.

“I wanted to raise money for Giving Africa so that the children don’t have to be barefoot and can go to school like I do. The best bit about being barefoot was not wasting time having to put on socks – I miss it a little bit.” Joshua wouldn’t allow anyone to tell him to put shoes on, even when he was told to wear shoes while playing rugby with the risk of being trodden on by studs! “If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it properly” he added. Joshua also decided to donate £5 of his pocket money to Giving Africa – this is in addition to Joshua and Emily contributing their pocket money to sponsor a girl and boy called Sara and Michel. Emily commented “I didn’t like the walk on the path to school as it was a bit prickly and I wanted a piggy back then. However I loved being able to dip my feet in the stream at the end of the day.”

Joshua and Emily joined hundreds of people going barefoot for 24 hours or more to launch the Barefoot Challenge year. Money raised by Britons doing a range of everyday, extraordinary or bizarre activities without shoes and socks will support children’s education in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Currently one in three children in Africa do not receive

a quality education; it’s a tragedy that the charity Giving Africa wants to help fix. The money raised will go towards giving children an environment where it is possible to learn. This includes easing overcrowding and temperatures that can hit over 40 degrees centigrade, rectifying a total lack of basic resources and improving the quality and relevance of education.

Another noticable supporter is the 'Barefoot Landlord' of the Lunar Hare and The Plough pubs in Andover, Hampshire. Allen Watts is going one step further by challenging himself to walk for a year with no shoes or socks. Allen says: 'It struck a chord with me that the children in Africa walk miles to get an education, if they are lucky enough to even get the opportunity to get taught.

Hopefully I can raise enough money to not only give the children shoes but also a chance at a better life with the priviledge we have in this country of an education.'

A spokespersonfor the charity sais: "Going barefoot makes you stop and take note of what is important in your life too. It is fun, healthy for your feet and most importantly connects you with the children you are helping."

You can support the charities in various different ways from texting BAREFOOT to 70660 to donate £5 to Giving Africa or you can sponsor a child for £18.75 a month which can give a child and Bethel School access to life changing education and health care. Or join the Help our Food Programme which costs just £85 to give a child a meal every day for a year.

Sign up to thegivingmachine.co.uk and visit the givingafrica.org.uk to spread the word!

Join in the with the Barefoot Challenge at barefootchallenge.org.uk and please send in your efforts to Country Child on our social media sites at facebook. com/countrychildmagazine or Twitter and Instagram @countrychildmag.

BOOKWORMS Sandroyd School, Salisbury, Wiltshire Minas Tirith.

It is a witty and exciting book of betrail, friendship and loyalty.

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t Sandroyd, we work hard to foster a love of reading in our students, providing young Sandroydians with the opportunity to enter new worlds and travel into the realms of imagination through an exciting range of literature.

Reading for pleasure is an important part of our curriculum; from personal reading within school and the boarding houses, to library lessons, whole school reading periods and the Breakfast Book Club.

Students come to the library for a timetabled session every week and are welcome to visit before, during and after school. It is always open.

The library offers a range of fiction texts for all ages and is stocked with a selection of non-fiction to support learning and feed students’ interests. In addition, it is also home to a set of tablets on which students may research and peruse electronic texts, as well as a selection of newspapers and magazines.

Our part-time librarian and dedicated Year 7 Library Assistants are on hand to help with any queries and recommendations, not to mention the wealth of reading experience amongst the Sandroydian staff.

We also have a specific library area of fiction and non-fiction books designed for the junior children. It is an exciting and stimulating environment offering books that appeal to all tastes.

The Junior Reading Challenge inspires children to read, collect points, certificates and rewards.

Alistair Speers, Headmaster, Rushmore,Tollard Royal, SP5 5QD sandroyd.org

The Lord of the Rings

By J.R.R Tolkien I have immensely enjoyed this book as it is full of never-ending brilliance and fun. It follows the story of Bilbo’s heir Frodo who is trying to destroy the ring of Sauron. It is also about Aragorn, son of Arathorn, returning to

By Ivo AkersDouglas Year 4 How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell It is about a Viking boy called Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. He and ten other Viking boys are trying to pass the dragon initiation programme in order to become full members of the Hairy Hooligan tribe. The test has three parts, first catch your own dragon and second train it. Then the boys have to prove they have trained their dragons at initiation day on Thor‘sday (Thursday). I really liked this book because it was gripping and funny. It had some good jokes.

By Jeevan Macro, Year 4 Silver Snaffles by Primrose Cumming This book belonged to my grandmother – she loved it and so did my mother and now I really like the book because of the way it includes horses and ponies. The children in the book consists of Jenny who is the main character and Peter who comes in halfway through the book. Mr. Pymmington is the owner of Tattles who shows Jenny the extraordinary riding school.

The ponies consists of Cock Robin who teaches Jenny to walk and trot, Paul who teaches Jenny too canter, Shannon who teaches her too jump and Dragon who along with Cock Robin goes through the fog to the land of the people who have no horse sense with Jenny and Peter so that they can rescue Pippin.

This book inspires you to start riding or if you have a pony, jump on it and go for a spin. It also

makes you think “How did she do it? What inspired her?”. You can learn a lot from Silver Snaffles because the way the ponies explain everything from how to ride to what not to do and how to treat a pony or horse. There is also a bit of humour in it that just helps to make it a very special book. It also has a lot of things that jump out at from round a corner or bits that have you suspended in mid-air where you don’t know what will happen next.

I LOVE THE BOOK!!!!

By Hubert Johnsen, Year 5 The BFG by Roald Dahl There is a little girl called Sophie who meets a giant.

She thinks the giant is trying to eat her but actually he is trying to take her away because she saw him.

There are some nasty giants who eat people so the BFG tries to keep Sophie safe.

This book is really good because I like the way the Giant’s speech is written as it uses lots of made up words. I can’t wait to see the movie of it this summer.

By Amelia Blomfield, Year 2 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games is without doubt an amazing book and film.

It is part of the Hunger Games trilogy entitled The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mocking Jay all written by Suzanne Collins.

The Hunger Games is a live TV show for the people of the capital.

One boy and one girl from each district are picked at random to not just survive in a massive arena but fight to the death for the entertainment of people living within the capital.

The winner gets glory for him/her and their district and the losers get death. I think the Hunger Games is a great book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes suspense and action.

By Edward Fuller, Year 6

The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson The wonderful tale of the Secret of Platform 13 is an adventurous and imaginative story about something called a gump.

Meet Odge Gribble a hag, Cornelius a wizard, Gurkintrude a fey and an invisible giant that lurks behind the rest.....

They are on a mission to find the King and Queen's lost baby son. It was harder than they thought as they entered a world they couldn't possibly imagine.........

I really enjoyed this book and I would give it a five star rating!

By Tatiana Welchman, Year 5 Witch Wars by Sibéal Pounder Witch Wars isn’t just one book, it’s a series of three.

The fourth book is out in October 2016. The main character is a girl called Tiga Whicabin. In the first novel Tiga thinks she is a normal girl until Fran, the pushy fairy, comes along.

She puts Tiga Whicabin’s name in the air, swaps all of the letters around and guess what it says? I AM A BIG WITCH! I really think it’s an amazing series of books because at the end of the third book it leaves you on a real cliffhanger, the way the story is told is gripping.

I recommend it for eight year olds and above. I rate it 10 out of 10.

By Rebekka Hurley, Year 3.

Be A Bookworm This page provides an opportunity for local schools to promote themselves through their pupils' book reviews.

If you would like us to feature your school, please email info@countrychild.co.uk for further details.

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TOP

Marks

Village, primary, pre prep, private or state we want to know your school news, email: info@countrychild.co.uk

St Mary's Story so far...

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here are exciting new developments at St Mary’s School, Shaftesbury. The school, is rarely seen by the wider community as it is tucked down a long, winding drive. This is set to change, however, when the school begins running swimming lessons and offering membership to the pool, both of which will be open to the public, from September.

There are also concerts being held in the Campion Hall, part of the bespoke Music building at St Mary’s, during the 2016-2017 season. These will be classical concerts, one of piano duet music and the other featuring an oboe soloist. In order to share the schools passion for music with all young people, under 18s can attend the concerts for free. Adults will be charged £5.

Finally, as well as a brand new uniform for all girls, there are going to be two brand new year groups at St Mary’s from September and welcome Years 5 and 6 back to the school. This cohort will be known as Lower Three and the school is excited about younger girls enjoying the bespoke classrooms and facilities available to the students.

The flourishing community at St Mary’s is going from strength to strength!

'Children are confident' at Bright Sparks

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right Sparks Nursery, Shillingstone has been graded ‘Good’ in all areas of development and are able to take 2, 3 and 4 year funded children, they also cater for children from 18 months to school age and are open term time.

Ofsted said: ‘Children are confident, display high levels of selfesteem and feel emotionally secure. Staff have a strong drive to improve the nursery and promote good outcomes for children’ The Ofsted inspector saw that partnerships with parents are good and the liaison between home and the nursery helps to ensure that all the children’s needs were met. The children are happy and settle quickly into a welcoming environment. Activities are planned to help develop the children’s skills and close gaps in their learning. The staff always work very hard to ensure that the children are offered the best early years education and work closely with Shillingstone school to ensure that the children are ready to transfer when they reach school age.

MEET THE HEAD Jane Whitehouse-Sharpe Shillingstone CE VA Primary School

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ow long have you been at the school?

I first came to Shillingstone CE VA Primary School as a Senior Teacher in April 2005. In September 2010, I took over as headtacher. My first term as headteacher was very busy, as we moved from our old Victorian school building at one end of the village to a brand new, purpose built school at the other end of the village.

What is the ethos of your school?

When you walk through the door of our school, you will know immediately that it is a caring and inclusive school where everybody feels welcome. We all work as a team; children, parents, staff and governors to ensure that every child flourishes.

Our motto is: ‘Growing Together. Together we learn. ‘

How do you ensure that every child meets their full potential?

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We believe that if children are engaged and enthused in school, they will learn! We encourage children to challenge themselves and to make as much progress as possible and not to be afraid of making mistakes! We provide a wide range of opportunities, including lunch and after school clubs, to encourage children to develop their personal talents. Our annual talent show is always a treat to watch! This year we had children sharing talents including dance, playing instruments, singing, drama and sharing a sporting talent!

What do you find most rewarding about teaching?

Being able to teach children is a privilege and I try to get back into the class to teach as often as possible! It is about having the opportunity to support and nurture children in taking their next steps in learning and watching them accomplish something for the first time. I never tire of watching a child’s sense of achievement!

What are your own hobbies and interests?

I have a keen interest in travelling and visiting new countries and cultures. I am a keen sailor and regularly sail my dinghy on the Dorset coast. I also enjoy walking, particularly with my husband and our dog.

What does the future hold for you and your school?

This is a very exciting time for our school, particularly in terms of the development of our school curriculum, to meet the requirements of the new National Curriculum. We have a fantastic school library in the heart of our school, which we will be developing over the next year, to ensure that our children have a good, broad range of reading resources to support their learning.

We also have plans in the pipeline to develop a spiritual garden in our school grounds. We hope that this will allow children to develop a sense of awe and wonder for the world around them.

We really hope that when our children leave the school, it is with happy memories and an enthusiasm for future learning!

A Cut Above

News In Brief  Chafyn Grove Gardening Club raise over £450 for charity  Superb Scholarship results for both Hazlegrove and Knighton House 

New Music School in Full Swing!

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his academic year starts at Dumpton School, Wimborne, with the new Music School in full swing. The recently opened Recital Room has already hosted some magical concerts and performances, including Old Dumptonian and BBC Young Musician of the Year finalist Polly Bartlett and Old Dumpton virtuoso guitarist Will McNicol. Gospel supremo and TV presenter Ken Burton also ran a series of workshops last term, while another highlight was the Nursery and Reception Summer Concert!

The new performance space has already inspired all 340 children at Dumpton, aged 2-13, to stand up and perform in public, building confidence and self-belief from an early age. The school has recently purchased 12 brand new pianos, including two ‘Baby Grands’ – with a team of 12 peripatetic music teachers led by Director of Music Sue Watkiss, over 200 children have weekly lessons, and are given the opportunity to perform in 50+ music assemblies and concerts through the year. Another busy term awaits for Dumpton School!

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ily Ryder, 13 who at school has always been described as “the girl with the very long hair ” – decided that the time had come to cut her hair to a more manageable length (not surprising as it was waist length!). This was a big decision for her as she has been growing it most of her life so Lily decided to make the cut really worthwhile.

The hair cut took place at Knighton House School in front of an audience of her class, who cheered her on. One of the classrooms was transformed into a Salon where MEDUSA, the fabulous independent Hair Salon and Apothecary in Dorchester, generously came with a hair stylist to cut Lily’s hair.

The hair itself has been donated to THE LITTLE PRINCESS TRUST, a Charity that provides real hair wigs to boys and girls across the UK and Ireland, who have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment. Lily has also used her haircut to fundraise for THE TEENAGE CANCER TRUST. Seven young people are diagnosed with Cancer every day in the UK. That’s a hard-hitting fact that shocked Lily and so she has chosen to support this charity that helps people her own age facing such difficult times. Lily has already raised over £1500 and you can still support her if you can. Please make a donation at the Just Giving page justgiving.com/fundraising/Lily-Ryder or justgiving.com

British Title Secured! Hazlegrove pupils wow audiences with “The Britz!”

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elissa Rogers, aged 8, this Summer secured the British Junior Kick Boxing title and qualified to represent Great Britain in the World Championships to be held in October.

Melissa, who trains regularly at Yeovilbased Panthers Martial Arts Academy, travelled to West Bromwich in the Midlands where she took part in the WFMC (World Fightsport & Martial Arts) World Championship qualifiers, winning what was only her second ever competition fight.

Kire Antoski, who trained Melissa, told how she had demonstrated superb control within the fight. He said, "Halfway through the fight her opponent was getting tearful and you could see she was giving up hope. I advised Melissa to continue the fight and win the points, but to keep the strikes very light so that her opponent would have the confidence to finish rather than withdrawing. It was fantastic to witness the control she was able to summon up and she really demonstrated the skill she has learned when executing the moves. I am so proud of her."

H

azlegrove Year 8 children wowed audiences with their final production “The Britz!” – a celebration of 400 years of British Theatre from Shakespeare to the current day.

Somewhat different to the traditional musical productions of the past, “The Britz!” gave so many children the opportunity to share in the limelight without being limited by the number of roles available. The individual performances given by the children, whether spoken or sung, were quite stunning and the delight with which they executed the expertly choreographed songs was plain to see. To achieve such a high level of performance within two weeks of sitting their Common Entrance Exams is amazing.

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or hosts, Clayesmore School, The Blackmore Vale Festival in the Field saw over 230 musicians take to the stage as part of the BBC Ten Pieces Project, the aim of which is to bring music to the very heart of schools. They performed four orchestral arrangements: Mars, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Habanera from Carmen and Mambo. Work on these pieces began in February and involved young people of both primary and secondary age from a number of local schools. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra musicians assisted during rehearsals, bringing their professionalism and a wealth of experience and offering a guiding hand. The day itself saw a stream of visitors approaching the marquee at the school, so much so that, by the time the festival began, it was standing room only. Conductor, Jon James, led the young people, along with their music teachers, members of the local community and his colleagues from the BSO, in an exquisite finale concert, with professional drumline, Box 9, offering several invigorating touches. An afternoon of such magnitude and scope would not have been possible without the generous donations of its sponsors and organiser, Sian Highnam.

A first of its kind

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Breathe, and relax...

OPEN for Business MONEY National MATTERS Insurance Contributions

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ational Insurance Contributions (NICs) are important because they count towards benefits such as bereavement allowance, maternity allowance and perhaps most importantly the state pension.

You need 30 qualifying years of NIC contributions or credits to receive the full state pension, so it is important to ensure that you keep your record up to date. If you are employed and earn over £155 a week, class 1 NICs will automatically be deducted from your salary each month. If you earn between £112 and £155 a week, no deductions will be made but you will still earn a full qualifying year.

If you are self-employed, from this year you are no longer required to pay any NICs in advance; they are calculated based on your tax return and collected with your annual income tax.

If you aren't currently working and are caring for your children, you are still eligible for qualifying contribution years, however you need to be careful because your NIC record is only updated correctly where you are registered for child benefit. If you are not entitled to child benefit (because your partner earns over £60,000) then it is important that you still register but then stop the payments; this should be sufficient to keep your NIC record up to date.

If you aren't sure how many years qualifying years you currently have, you are able to request a state pension forecast from the gov.uk website.

This is only general advice and should not be relied upon; for specific advice tailored to your personal circumstances please contact: Tammy Hurst Andrews and Palmer The Square, Gillingham, SP8 4AR Tel: 01747 823147 andpal.co.uk C H A R T E R E D A C C O U N TA N T S

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E

mily and her husband, Jason, made the big decision to leave Canada in early 2015 and then spent the following five months waiting for visas, jobs, and a new home to manifest.

Later in the year of 2015, they had found a new home and new job. Although the journey had taken it's toll and one night whilst a debate raged, she recognized she was poles apart in the debate, and thought to herself: "If only we had some sort of magical spray to just clear the air, take a deep breath and move on." Orginally the idea was to create a "Marriage Mist" for such moments, but it became the inspiration for the new Emily Jolie, Botanical Wellbeing collection.

Having identified a lack of natural sprays designed to 'enhance the environment', Emily quickly went into visualising a new range of 'clean' air freshners, the intentions being to make the moment something better. Emily says: "I figured that people want to sleep better, have more positive thoughts, give up bad habits, put their children to bed peacefully and, most importantly to always remember how important love is."

As featured in our 'Country Child Loves' article and tested by the Country Child team, we can say these sprays are fabulous. Each have tips and advice on how best they work. The mist is fine, so will last a while and thus are great value for money from only £12.95 per 100ml bottle. Created in Shaftesbury and available from emily-jolie.com

Curtain Call for New CEO and Producer

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orest Forge Theatre Company has announced the appointment of Sharon Lawless as its new CEO and Creative Producer following the departure in April of Artistic Director, Kirstie Davis.

Sharon joins Forest Forge in this newly created role from Reading Rep, where she was Executive Director and also previously worked for two of the south’s flagship producing theatres; the Salisbury Playhouse and the Nuffield Theatre where she was Community Producer for over 10 years.

At Forest Forge, Sharon will be responsible for establishing the Ringwood theatre space as a new cultural hub for the region, engaging, supporting and creating new partnerships with local artists across all art forms, as well as producing new work at the venue and on tour. She will also expand Forest Forge’s extensive creative learning and outreach work, developing new community projects across the south-west Lawless originally trained as an actor at Rose Bruford College, toured in TIE and community theatre companies throughout the UK and Vienna, and Recently completed an MA in Cultural and Arts Management at the University of Winchester, graduating in 2014.

Forest Forge Chair Dr Miranda Whitehead commented:“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Sharon Lawless to Forest Forge Theatre Company. Sharon has huge experience of local and national arts provision and her connection with Forest Forge goes back to 1994 when she raised the funding to secure our permanent base in Ringwood. We are sure that she is just the person to take the company forward in this new and very exciting phase of our community development.”

Sharon Lawless remarked: “It’s really exciting to be returning to Forest Forge especially as the theatre company celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. I’m delighted to be entrusted with continuing the theatre company’s legacy and help to develop our Ringwood home into a vibrant arts venue that all the New Forest community can experience. I’m keen to bring new work to our local audiences, support new writing and develop partnerships with local artists as well as continue to take Forest Forge’s work out on tour across the south and beyond.”

Hurrah for Home-Start!

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amily support scheme Home-Start West Dorset is celebrating, with 17 new home-visiting volunteers trained and ready to offer their allocated families a helping hand, a listening ear, and the caring friendship that can make all the difference when things get tough.

As Senior Organiser Helen Horsley explains; "Home-Start supports families with at least one under-five who face a variety of challenges; two or three hours a week of volunteer home-visiting can help them make changes, and give them some valuable quality time."

Home-Start always needs more volunteers, so if you’re a parent with time to give, why not apply? Volunteers join up for many reasons: young mother-of-three Emily from West Dorset says she feels blessed, and wants to share her good fortune with others; Alice, now enjoying retirement in Dorchester, says she loves children, Couldand you make difference homemaking a chat,help and hopes to put heralife’s experience to good for use; Anna, who travelled the world and worked in orphanage area? before settling in young families ina Romanian your local Sherborne, says she’s keen to make a difference closer to home.

Home-Start also welcomes generalfriendship, help – Weymouth-based the scenes’ Many parents need help, advice‘behind or support volunteer Kit says "It’s only too easy when there’s so much doom and gloom during those early years when children are young.in the media to feel powerless. But making the decision to volunteer is a really positive step; and Do becoming of a 2-3 caringhours and well-run organisation like Home-Start West youpart have a week to spare?

Dorset makes you feel good too… I can recommend it!"

For more information homestartwestdorset.co.uk or other call 01305 265072 Your experience as a parent can help parents.

Volunteering for Home-Start

New Home Tutor launches in Dorset

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eth Sadler has lived in Shaftesbury since she was five years old, attending Clayesmore School where she excelled in German, English, and Latin at A level. She then went on to study German & Linguistics at Exeter College, Oxford University and has just graduated this year with a 2.1 (BA Hons.).

Whilst Beth is set to do a Masters degree she will be tutoring students, parents and travellers, in the interim.

Between school and University, Beth took a year out to go to Germany where she worked as a ‘Praktikantin’ in a school for disabled and chronically ill children near Heidelberg (the Stephen-Hawking-Schule), helping with English teaching and supervising the students. During her year abroad, a compulsory aspect of a language degree was to work in two German schools, this time working as an English teaching assistant. During her time in Germany, she also privately tutored German students in English as a foreign language, something she had originally started in the UK. Currently Beth can offer English tutoring at any level of schooling as well as help with extended projects or similar. Beginner level or those learning German at school (any level) although Latin is to common entrance/KS3 level only. Contact Beth on 07511 669335 for more information

Practical training courses for people working in property, housing or maintenance.

Our next 40 hour training course starts on: Monday 26th September 9:30am - 2:00pm

Nuts and Bolts Training deliver a wide range of one day training courses in basic construction related skills; legislation and regulation, customer service Contact us for further information on and personal development

(Runs 1 day a week for 10 weeks excluding school holidays)

01305 265072 or via

Courses include: www.homestartwestdorset.co.uk * Introduction to building construction * Damp and condensation in buildings * Plumbing and drainage in domestic properties * A guide to HHSRS * CDM regulations 2015 * Understanding energy efficiency

* * * * * *

Excellence in customer service Conflict management Planning and holding successful meetings Sales skills Selection and recruitment Equality and diversity

All our training is delivered by industry specialists with a high level of technical expertise

To discuss how we can help with your training requirements call Julie or Steven on 0333 355 4165

www.nutsandboltstraining.co.uk info@nutsandboltstraining.co.uk

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DIY Dad Lays a Sandstone Patio

I

t seems the DIY Dad projects not only grow in quantity but in grandeur, too. I pride myself on doing a pretty half decent “respectable” job, but as a design engineer I always find myself overthinking it. And this next challenge was no exception.

The necessity to stop everyone bringing the garden into the house was getting a bit too much for the household to cope with and after four years of making do, the time to lay a patio had arrived.

We started by getting the usual quotes in from local tradesmen and all came back with a lengthy wait for availability (summer was on the very near horizon) and a hefty price tag to boot, but we felt if we wanted a patio that not only looked professional but would also stand the test of time, we should leave this one with the experts. Then I remembered; I over ‘engineer everything’… I can do this!

After useful chats with various tradesmen, I began to do my research; you tube videos a plenty and a chat with Father over a tipple gave me more than I needed. In fact, maybe a little too much. Advice from friends, colleagues and family varied greatly, with some insisting upon 4ft deep footings whilst others warned that stone on sand was the only way to lay.

Ok I decided to probably think for myself and make my own judgement calls. Many online suppliers can provide a great stone price, but when you then look into the delivery cost and vat added on, the price escalated. The best compromise we found was a local independent patio store. They were brilliant. Taking into account our patio measurements, their helpful and fancy patio planner worked out exactly how many paving stones we needed.

No wastage; we like that!

We also bought our scalpings, sand and stones from them and everything was delivered in a matter of days. Quicker than any online service we found, plus we were supporting a local independent family run firm – something we always prefer to do, if we can!

So, after digging up the garden by hand and redistributing the soil around every inch of the garden (no skip cost...) we flattened out the ground with an electrical whacker plate, which we rented from a local franchised hire store. Surprisingly good value. This excavation created the flat base for two tons of scalpings, again levelled out with the whacker plate to a height of two inches with a gradual decent for drainage (1 inch to every 1.5 metres, equating to 1 degree gradient).

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We were then in a position to mix the mortar to a 10 part shovel sand mix to half a bag of 15kg cement, as suggested by our helpful patio store advisors. We started out mixing by hand but soon realised the mix was not certain to be thorough enough and therefore not guaranteed to set the stones firmly in place (also very slow and exhausting), so again our local hire shop stepped in with a great deal on a cement mixer and transformer (if required) within 24 hours. Great service again.

Ok, mix ready and our designed plan in hand, we decided that a dry lay of one/two rows would be wise. All looked good so we started to lay the mortar then the stones on top, one by one. There was no rocket science here, although ensuring you are 150mm under the damp course membrane is essential and that the stones are laid to the accuracy of a spirit level, then you’re off and running. The gradient is set underneath with the scalpings, however once mortar is on top you do need to check the gradient as you go. It is also advised to use a rubber mallet to level out and set the stones (along with a good old size ten boot)!

We decided that we'd like to be a bit different with our design and rather than a plain square or rectangle patio we would angle off the garden, which essentially creates a pathway to the garage (Man Shed I think the term is nowadays) and I'll confess, it also saved me having to prep and lay another third of the patio in the garden. Everyone wins.

Due to this design idea, I would need to cut the stone at the required angle, therefore a fairly inexpensive angle grinder was bought and, as advised and required with sandstone, a diamond blade was necessary to do the cutting. I was surprised at how both performed; the blade cut through the stone like butter and made the process simple. The angle to cut was pre-measured by fixing a string line from both corners flush with the top of the stone and then using a rule, marking along the string. It worked pretty well.

As we had no edging to our patio, we wanted the patio to flow into the grass and this worked fine and makes cutting the lawn a smooth movement too. You may however want edging.

Since we laid the patio, we've had the best weather and have enjoyed many nights with friends and family; BBQ's and socialising. I have needed to unwind, enjoy and proudly show of my work. After all, this was a four-week project (weather dependent), consisting of evenings and weekends! Hugely pleased and one that will last, I'm sure. It is over engineered after all.

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