Country Child Autumn 2019 by Country Child

COUNTRY CHILD Autumn 19

Your Local Free Family Magazine

Issue: 37

RAISING GIRLS

Expectations on parenting daughters

LET'S TALK

Overcoming a common speech disorder

IMAGINARY FRIENDS Saying 'hello' to ﬁctional friends

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Miranda and her family conquer Scotland’s ‘Route 500’

GREAT OUTDOORS BBC’s Mike Dilger on fungal foraging

WHAT’S ON ■ SHOPPING ■ HOME ■ SCHOOLS ■ FOOD ■ GARDEN ■ COMPETITIONS ■ HEALTH

Give your child the best possible start

Nursery

Nopwting acc2eyear olds

Set in an exquisite rural location, our self-contained purpose-built Nursery is surrounded by 62 acres to explore.

Opportunities to experience dance, music, drama, swimming and a multitude of sports.

Parents of children aged 3 and 4 eligible for government funding may use their 30 hours entitlement.

Weekly sessions in our private indoor heated pool helps to grow children’s water confidence. Our qualified swimming coaches ensure it is always great fun too!

Weekly sessions of Forest School set in our nearby beech wood. A focus on individual attention enabling children to develop and progress at their own pace in a safe and nurturing environment. We also run FREE ‘Bushy Tails’ play sessions for under 5s featuring Emma and her Magic Bag! Every Friday during term-time. 9.30am - 10.30am 2 Country Child Advertisement September 2017.indd 1

Delicious hot and healthy lunches to help energise growing bodies and minds. Before and after school care to help busy working families (8am - 6pm).

Call to book your personal visit

01747 812122 • www.clayesmore.com

14/12/2018 16:43

2018 16:43

Welcome to Autumn

elcome to the latest issue of Country Child. We can’t possibly ignore the fact that we have a rather snazzy new look about us! Yes, after much consideration and chats over cups of tea (and the odd glass of wine) we’ve decided to bite the bullet and go all out HANDBAG! Yes, we hope you like the new size of the Country Child mag as much as we do, and we hope that many handbags, man bags and rucksacks across the counties will be home to one of our mags over the coming weeks and months. If you’re looking for a chuckle into your Cheerios then why not start off with a read of Hanne B’s latest family shenanigans; as ever she and her kids are up to comic capers on page 7. I spent most of the Easter holidays travelling around Scotland’s north coast in a motorhome with my family. For those of you looking for an alternative family holiday, with a bit of adventure and stunning scenery thrown in for good measure, then have a read of my article on pages 16 and 17.

Parents of daughters will undoubtedly find Hannah Woolven’s article on raising girls an interesting read. Head to page 37 to see what Hannah has uncovered on the topic, as ever a fascinating read. Those with young children may be interested to read our piece on Imaginary Friends on page 11. Have you overheard conversations between your youngster and their fabricated friend and wondered what it’s all about? Perhaps we can shed some light for you. Across the country, lots of children will be starting out on their school adventure this term – good luck to them all. Parents of ‘new starters’ may find our Country Child Loves products on page 9 a help if you’re looking to buy a good luck gift to send them on their way… There’s no denying it, autumn is a stunning time of year – wherever you look, there’s a vibrancy of colours, a veritable feast for the eyes. But, Mike Dilger is encouraging us to look down this season and check out some of Mother Nature’s fascinating fungi – to learn more about the most interesting fungi on offer here in the UK, head to page 33 where Country Child’s own ‘fun guy’ will tell you all you need to know. As ever, we’ve a packed Calendar of Events for you. Diaries out, it’s time to plan a fun-filled autumn. Enjoy!

Meet the team... PUBLISHER

Jo Leigh jo@countrychild.co.uk

EDITOR

Miranda Avis miranda@countrychild.co.uk Follow us

@countrychildmag @countrychildmagazine @countrychildmag

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.

Media Sales Matthew Cull

matthew@ aroundtheclockmarketing.co.uk

Writer

Hannah Woolven

Writer

Hanne Bonczoszek

CONTRIBUTORS: Mike Dilger, Lee Keeling, Lucy Nicholas, Andrew Neal, St Mary's Shaftesbury, Forres Sandle Manor School, Claire Galloway and Rebekah Jones.

Cover and Feature Photography by

Millie Pilkington

CREATIVE ARTWORK: Hanne Bonczoszek, Jack Norris and Flora Pilkington DISTRIBUTION: Katherine Shean, Jessica Rowland, Jennifer Oakes, Geoff Humphries, Rick and Micky Poyser.

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Contents

Autumn 2019

Interior Ideas Natural and Biophilia

Raising Girls Expectations on parenting daughters

Food Glorious Food Subscription services and vegan treats

Country Child Loves Back to School picks for this season

Bookworms Reviews from children at a local school.

Off the Beaten Track Miranda and her family conquer Scotland’s ‘Route 500’

What's in Store Learning through Play

7 Family Frolics & Fiascos - Hanne B’s frolics and fiascos. What's On 9 Country Child Loves - Back to School picks for this season. Local and live 11 Imaginary Friends - Saying 'hello' to these fictional friends. entertainment 15 Let’s talk about Stuttering - Overcoming a common speech disorder. 16 & 17 Off the Beaten Track - Miranda and her family conquer Scotland’s ‘Route 500’. 19 What's On - Places To Go and Things To Do. 20 & 21 Calendar Pull-Out - What’s On this autumn season. 23 Prep is Key for Schooling - How to ensure you can pay for your young’s education. 25 Top Marks - All the news from the schools, plus Meet the Head interview. 27 Bookworms - Book reviews from children at a local school. 28 & 29 Don't Overlook Eye Care - A family optician’s perspective on children’s eyecare. 31 Food Glorious Food - Subscription services and vegan treats. 33 Great Outdoors - BBC’s Mike Dilger on fungal foraging. 34 Interior Ideas - The natural world and biophilia earth products. 35 Window Shopping - We find enticing abodes for a cool half a million pounds across the counties. 37 Raising Girls - Hannah Woolven takes a look at the expectations we have today when parenting our daughters. 38 Open For Business - Booming business news and the latest financial advice.

Jo Borthwick

Swimming Tuition

Quiet Pools • Focus on Water Safety • In Water Teachers • Small Classes • 1-2-1 Tuition • Tailored Adult Lessons Swim Float Swim Courses

It’s never too late to learn to swim. Whatever your age; if you’re a beginner, looking to improve your technique, training for aTriathalon or simply to get ﬁt, we can offer lessons tailored to your needs. We offer small adult groups (maximum 3) or 1-2-1 sessions in a warm and private pool. Mondays through to Fridays. Also offering PRE-SCHOOL sessions for your little baby sharks on Monday and Friday mornings from 9am.

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Your child at our heart Contact the Registrar on 01722 555300 admissions@salisburycathedralschool.co.uk www.salisburycathedralschool.com

CO-EDUCATIONAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN AGED 3-13

Family Frolics & Fiascos By Hanne B

“

Do leave the car, my dear! Jim is going right past yours anyway. And, he is picking up a bottle of Dubonnet from the Wine Merchants in town, so it’d be silly for you to drive, you see?” Lizzie’s voice chirps happily out through my phone. It is a lazy autumn Sunday and an afternoon in her garden, soaking up the last of the summer rays with a Gin and Dubonnet, the Queen Mother’s cocktail of choice, sounds like the icing on the cake. Lizzie and her husband, Jim, manage a large piece of land on the estate on the outskirts of town. Well, Jim oversees the land. Lizzie manages the house, the kids, the schedule of events, the budget and the chickens (as well as one can manage chickens, I guess!) “You absolutely must come! And bring the kids! They’ll love the new chicks, I’m sure!” Of course, I don’t need telling twice. I quickly pack up the kids; my daughter is squealing at the thought of seeing baby chicks whilst my son is trying his hardest to keep cool and conceal the fact that he is just as excited. Jim drops us in the drive where Lizzie is waving us welcome with a couple of Martini glasses already in hand. He sets off for work, and as he turns the wheel and the gravel begins to crunch beneath the weight of the Land Rover, Lizzie lets out a panicked shriek. He breaks immediately, realising the disaster he only just averted. His arm reaches out the open side window and in his hand; the bottle of Dubonnet. “Thank the Lord.” Says Lizzie with genuine relief. She adds a generous slush of Gin to each glass she serves, and we giggle like schoolgirls in the garden among the Begonias and the Dahlias, while the kids are having a fabulous time cuddling the chickens and playing hide and seek across the grounds.

Much too soon Jim turns up once again, having changed into his squash gear and I realise this is our lift back. This time the kids are not quite so ready to get in the car. I notice in particular that my son looks very serious and is holding on to his coat with a considerable amount of concentration. Not wishing to make Jim late for is squash session, I hurry the kids in the car. My son continues to look stern as we stop at a farm a little further down the road. “Budge up” Jim says to the kids in his kindest voice as his squash partner opens the passenger door. “No!” Mortified by his rudeness, I send my son my best “You’d better young man, or there’ll be hell to pay” look. His expression changes, subtly, yet clearly, like the one on the face of the guilty butler when Poirot calls him out. As he budges, he squeezes his coat, and two little chicks pop out from each pocket. They begin to flap their tiny little wings. One does her business on my daughter’s leg and my son – very poorly – hides a snigger. “Goodness! I know to look out for the fox stealing my chickens, but not the houseguests!” Jim is just as bad at hiding his laugh as my son. “I am so sorry” I stammer as I feel my cheeks flush. The squash partner on the back seat is in hysterics. “Well!” He says. “Guess we’ll be missing this squash session then?” I reach across from the front, desperate to catch the flapping chicks as he continues; “You’ll have to drive these two little ones home now. And, to be fair, you’d probably have lost anyway, Jimmy-boy.” Hanne Bonczoszek is a local author whose first Children’s book ‘Esther’s Invisible Grandma’ is available via facebook.com/invisiblegrandma. Hanne lives in Salisbury with her husband, her two children and a Cockapoo named Enzo.

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L O O H C S O BACK T HAPPY SAMMIES

CHILDS PLAY

ream away with Samonite's new Happy Sammies Backpacks. The new lifestyle collection of adorable and cuddly bags and Uprights come in a variety of cute animal characters. Rabbit Rosie, Fox William, Teddy Bear and Kitty Cat will keep your kids company while going to school, especially for the first time! Samsonite, Happy Sammies Backpack S, Fox William. Priced at £32 Available from samsonite.co.uk

rinking from the Kambukka Lagoon bottle is quite literally child’s play. Little munchkins can play all day while sipping from their water bottles. The spout lid enables an easy drinking experience and thanks to the cute designs, kids will be super proud of their newest gadget. Quickly cleaning the Lagoon for a new day full of adventures? Just put it in the dishwasher! £15.95 kambukka.com

RUNNING CLUB

ow the kids are back to school, get yourself a new pair of running trainers for the after school drop off fitness regime. The new Hupana Flow trainer from performance footwear Hoke One One gives enhanced cushioning and inherent stability, and are designed to meet the running, walking and fitness needs of a wide variety of users. Low-profile and responsive, with a rubberised EVA midsole and outsole, it features an engineered knit upper and extra eyelets for different lacing and fit options. Additionally, Hoka introduces a new version in the Hupana Wool, as well as wide options in all Hupana models for this season. £100. Available from deckers.com

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Stroud School, Romsey King Edward VI Preparatory School Independent day school for ages 3 - 13

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Imaginary Friends

Can fictional friends help us to better understand our children?

hey come in all shapes and sizes, many have peculiar names and most get up to lots of mischief, but if you’re concerned that your child’s Imaginary Friend could be having a detrimental effect on their development, you really needn’t worry. Our children’s friendly fabrications are considered by many as a wonderful, and totally normal part, of early childhood. In fact, by the age of 7 more than 65% of children will have had an Imaginary Friend at some point, with eldest or only children being the most likely to favour an invisible companion. Imaginary Friends tend to make an appearance when a child hits the 2 ½ year mark. At this point in their lives, imaginations are hitting an all new high (dreams become that much more vivid and the tales they tell become increasingly fantastical) and their interest and intrigue in the world around them is really beginning to soar – so, how nice to have a little companion to share it all with! Young children who choose to create an invisible friend out of a teddy or a toy baby tend to adopt a parental relationship; carrying, dressing, feeding and changing them – and admonishing them when they step out of line! Whilst those who create an Imaginary Friend enjoy a more egalitarian bond. Look a little deeper and the benefits of an Imaginary Friend are really rather encouraging. A child who spends several hours a day chatting away with their special chum has the perfect outlet for practising their fledging social and verbal skills; indeed, complex sentence structures can be tried and tested without anybody questioning or expressing confusion at what they’re talking about! Children’s imaginations can run wild; making up stories and dabbling in role play whilst revelling in this newfound friendship. All of these important life skills are being learnt in the comfort of the child’s own home, somewhere they

feel secure and able to express themselves unequivocally. Imaginary Friends can help our children to deal with everyday events, such as moving house or going to the doctor, which may have the potential to cause some level of anxiety. Children can often use their Imaginary Friend as a vehicle by which to convey their own insecurities and worries, “Mindi doesn’t like moving house. She finds it scary.” As parents, we are encouraged to talk to our children about their Imaginary Friend and show an interest in the union. Asking how the Imaginary Friend feels about a certain scenario may help to shine a light on the inner workings of your child’s mind and the way they approach and deal with different situations. It’s important to note, however, that whilst we should show an interest and support our children’s fabricated friends, our offspring should be held responsible for their actions. For example, if a child tries to lay blame at his/her Imaginary Friend’s door for not tidying away the toys, it is our role to make it clear that it’s not the Imaginary Friend’s job to tidy. Being quite certain that the Imaginary Friend is not the child’s scape goat needs to be made clear early on! Perhaps encouraging for some, according to the experts, children who choose to have an Imaginary Friend in their lives are fully aware that these companions are purely figments of their imaginations. As registered psychologist Kimberly Eckert explains “Creating and sustaining an imaginary friendship is a sophisticated cognitive skill. Kids can separate what’s real life and what’s fantasy life. They know it’s pretend play.” And, in the grand scheme of things, these fictional friends are there for such a short part of our children’s lives, let’s embrace the stories and the anecdotes before the ‘Invisibles’ pack their bags and leave our homes for good, in search of the next little person looking for a friend to play with.

PhotograPhy: Millie Pilkington CreatiVe iMagery: flora Pilkington

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What´s in Store

Learning Through Play

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9 14:16

1. This Petit Collage floor puzzle promotes hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills, as well as being very enjoyable to put together. £15 hurnandhurn.com  2. Baby To Love Learning cubes are illustrated with 3D animals, fruits, shapes and numbers patterns. £19.95 babytolove.co.uk  3. Make Your Own Space Age Solar System Kit £9.95 rexlondon.com  4. BRIO Play & Learn Musical Caterpillar helps your child’s senses and understanding of cause and effect, through music £34.99 brio.uk  5. Inventions and experiments at your fingertips with Hape's Science Experiment Toolbox - Junior Inventor £39.95 wickeduncle.co.uk  6. Teach your baby the ABCs with the Petit Pehr Hi Alphabet ABC Quilted Nursery Blanket £59.95 flyjesse.co.uk  7. Easyread Time Teacher Past & To Wall Clock is an ideal first clock to help children learn to tell the time at home. £24.95 easyreadtimeteacher.com  8. Cell-fie Education Build your own Bluetooth Speaker: STEM inspired activity for kids from £19.95 amazon.co.uk  9. High voltage fun experiment that keeps on giving with this Potato Clock. £12 nationaltrust.org.uk  10. Packed full of benefits this kit helps develop fine motor skills, science and math skills, visual-spatial skills, and reasoning and concept development skills. Robot Engineer £49.95 thamesandkosmos.co.uk  11. The Beehive Toys Activity Cube helps develop fine motor skills and problem solving skills £17.99 babystepschildrensboutique.com  13

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Let’s talk about Stuttering Lucy Nicholas is a renowned private speech and language therapist who has been helping families and their children overcome a common speech disorder - stammering. Lucy tells us how the Lidcombe Programme could help your children too.

stutter or stammer is more common than most parents think and covers a wide range of severity too; from debilitating impediments to barely noticible symptons. Overall the speech disorder prevents fluid oral communication and is mainly more common in four times as many boys than girls. The impact of such a development in children can effect a child's function and emotional wellbeing, and in some cases creating anxiety and fear of social situations. So what do you do if you notice a stammer developing? The first task is to acknowledge the development and speak out. "My child has started stammering!” As a speech and language therapist this is a line I hear often and as a parent it is a really scary thing to have to say to anyone. Initially, my advice would be to contact your GP and get your child referred to a speech and language therapist. This can take some time, so alternatively a private therapist could be an option. When choosing a private therapist, ensure the therapist has training in non – fluency/stammering as this is quite a specific area of knowledge. In my experience, the Lidcombe training Programme is a necessary therapy tool. The Lidcombe programme is designed to help parents work with their child under the guidance of a therapist, which in turn helps them improve their child’s fluency of speech. You will be helping your child to become fluent – whether it is at a single word level, two word level or short phrases. Your child will begin to see that they can be fluent at least some of the time during their day. The programme can be designed specifically for your child, which is great.

The therapist will refer to the nonfluency/stammer as a ‘bump’ with ‘bumpy’ talking. A child can relate to this as they will have walked or been driven over bumpy roads, eaten bumpy/ lumpy foods etc. Please do not worry about talking about the bumpy talking with your child. It is much better to talk about it than pretend it is not happening as your child may be wondering what is wrong with them. ‘Why is no-one talking about my bumpy talking?’ My top tip is to try to catch your facial expression in a mirror when you are listening to your child speak. You may be surprised at what your face is doing – looking shocked, anxious, worried, frightened even. This is what your child will be looking at when they are speaking. It will be reflected in their faces and may worry them more. It is really important to try and relax your facial expression and look calm. I hope this helps you or your family to take the next step in your child's speech journey. Good Luck!

If you would like any further information, you can contact Lucy on  07876 551622 or via her website lucynicholas.com Her team of therapists work with children who have difficulty with their speech sounds, language, working memory and more.

Off the Beaten Track Miranda tells us about her family’s road trip around Scotland’s North Coast 500. You might like to try it for yourself.

ur boys, aged 9 and 6, really like motorhomes. In fact, I’d go as far as saying they are completely and utterly obsessed by them. Should we pass one whilst driving down the motorway, then “LOOK! MOTORHOME!” is excitedly screeched from the back seats, quickly followed by the make, model and various other titbits of information they’ve acquired over the years. Now, you may ask where this unbridled passion for motorhomes stems from and I’ll admit that, quite unwittingly, it was me. I picked up a second-hand toy for a couple of pounds from the village fête about five years ago and there the love affair began. In the years since, we’ve bought every LEGO campervan, motorhome and camping set going, we’ve even exhausted the shelves of motorhome memorabilia and yet the love goes on…. and on….and on. So, when I met up with a friend in Salisbury not so long ago and she regaled me with her family’s recent trip to Scotland to drive the North Coast 500 in a motorhome, she had my full attention. The more she talked, the more interested I became; mountains, beaches, dolphins, highland cattle, castles, seafood – let’s just say, it sounded right up my street. My husband took very little convincing and within a few days, the flights were booked (Bristol – Inverness) for a week at Easter. Next? To find a motorhome that would fit the five of us…comfortably! After much trawling and various phone calls, I was recommended Out There Campers outtherecampers.co.uk who are based just outside of Inverness. From the outset, they couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating (I’ve read so many horror stories about dodgy motorhome rentals that I was definitely nervous) and we instantly felt in safe hands. I recommend them unreservedly. Now, the route. The North Coast 500, as the name suggests, covers 500 miles (or there abouts) of the northern most part of Scotland, starting and ending in Inverness. Whether you choose to go clockwise or anticlockwise is a personal decision, we decided on the former because it meant we’d experience the dramatic scenery of the west coast early on in the trip – something we thought the children would appreciate. I ordered the official NC500 map on Ebay and started to plan our route. There are various guide books you can buy but I have to say I found Trip Advisor to be absolutely brilliant. I trawled through 16 every.single.comment on their website and

made notes of all the campsites and places to visit that had received consistently good reviews. Yes, it was time consuming but it was SO worth it as the route we devised and the campsites we stayed in turned out to be top notch! On arrival into Inverness airport, we were met by Brian from Out There Campers who shuttled us and our luggage back to their HQ. We were then united with the Big Kicks Cruiser, our home for the forthcoming week. After a very thorough introduction where we were shown how to empty the grey water (that’s water from the shower and washing up etc) change the gas, empty the chemical toilet (it’s really not bad at all!!) work the cooker, heat the water etc etc, the time came for us to buckle up and head off. My husband was the nominated driver for the week and I was chief navigator. So, with map in hand, we headed to the huge Tesco store in Inverness and did a really big shop for the week. We’d been told that this was a good move as the further north you go, the more sporadic the shops and petrol stations become. Our first night was spent on the Moray Firth at Fortrose Bay Campsite, about 20 minutes outside of Inverness. We wanted to spend a night here because this is smack bang in the centre of dolphin territory. We parked up on our pitch and looked right out to sea, it was quite simply stunning. I have to admit, listening to the lapping waves on that first night was really rather special and we were all asleep within minutes of turning out the light. Did we see dolphins? Yes! As we enjoyed a chilly al-fresco breakfast the next morning! On day two, we opted to stray a little from the ‘conventional’ NC500 route in order to take in the beauty of Loch Ness. It was so worth it! The children were enthralled by the tale of Nessy and were sure they’d spotted him at least ten times within the first few minutes. The loch is huge, I had no idea. It contains more water than all the lakes, rivers and reservoirs in the whole of England and Wales combined. The weather was glorious and we stopped on several occasions to take photos and drink in the view. I’d definitely factor this into your route should you ever consider a similar trip. Onwards we drove. And the scenery just got more and more spectacular; at every turn I was requesting a photo stop! We opted to drive the Bealach na Ba road over to the west coast. It’s said to be one of the most breath-taking roads in the world, but with several hair pin bends,

lots of motorhome drivers opt to take a less risky route. We stopped and chatted with some motor bikers, travelling in the opposite direction from us, who assured us it was a quiet day and that we should bite the bullet. I’m so glad we did! It was unbelievable scenery, like nothing I’ve ever experienced. And, fortunately, we didn’t have to reverse once! If you’re driving the NC500 in a week, you need to get your head around the fact that the majority of the day is spent driving. However, due to the nature of the bendy, often single-track roads, you travel at a relaxed, leisurely pace and the old adage ‘enjoy the journey’ couldn’t be more apt. Onwards we travelled. All three children loved their on-the-road adventure; by day they’d sit around the dining table chatting and playing with LEGO as we ate up the miles. And, when we stopped, the two boys gladly helped with the various tasks associated with a motorhome holiday. We felt so far away from the hum drum of normal life and I loved the fact that I rarely had mobile phone signal – an enforced break from social media is something we can all do with sometimes! Despite travelling at Easter, I was surprised by just how cold it was. Fortunately, we’d packed for all weathers (a real must, I’d been advised, when visiting Scotland!) and we didn’t encounter a single drop of rain in the whole week we were there – bonus. But we did need hats and my North Face coat was rarely off when I stepped outside the motorhome. Planning ahead is key. Once I’d conﬁrmed the route, I booked our accommodation (see grey box on right) well in advance as I’d been told the campsites can get booked well in advance. And, as a result, we had no trouble staying in our favoured places. So, if you’re looking for an adventure, off the beaten track, surrounded by Mother Nature at her very best then I can highly recommend you consider taking the leap and driving the NC500 in a motorhome. Yes, you’re living in a small space with your entire family for a week, yes you have to be organised as space is limited and no, you’ll not get much of an evening once the kids are in bed. BUT, you’ll make more memories than you can imagine. And you’ll come home being even more grateful for your own bed than ever before. And you and your kids will remember the trip for years to come. Go for it!

Night 1. Fortrose Campsite, Moray Firth Night 2. Applecross Campsite Night 3. Big Sands Campsite, Gairloch Night 4. Clachtoll Beach Campsite Night 5. Durness Campsite Night 6. Dunnet Bay Campsite Night 7. Brora Campsite

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100 Years Strong

arlborough LitFest aims to promote a love of books and reading to its younger audience and this year’s children’s line-up is more packed than ever, with a host of headlining children’s authors including Cressida Cowell (pictured below), David Baddiel (above) and illustrator, Chris Riddell, as well as events and new outreach programmes to cater for all ages at this year’s 10th Anniversary Festival. Free Under 5s Storytelling returns for another rome's Annual Carnival Processsion is year at Marlborough Library – join in for 30 a spectacle of creative costumes and minutes of stories and laughter on Friday 27 illuminations. Community members September at 10.30am. Older brothers and both young and old take to the streets sisters are welcome too! to entertain you with magic, dance Every year, LitFest is proud to offer free events and theatrical performances. The day with popular authors for invited local processsion kicks 2019 off at 2.30pm and sets Saturday 12 October 10am-4pm schools. Since its launch in 2010 the Festival has you up for the evening's antics from 7pm. reached more than 3,500 children with these Celebrating21Bournemouth's growththeduring September. To download route author talks. This year John Dougherty, poet and visit: fromecarnival.org.uk the as a destination for health, author of Stinkbomb and Ketchup Face, will19th be century Credit: Steve Creffield Photography. entertaining children from local primary schools. leisure, the arts & sciences All local primary schools are invited to enter Exhibits include period the annual competition with prizes kindly donated by Haine & Smith Opticians. A few costumes, medical history, lucky schools will have the added bonus of images & models being of able to choose books up to £200 in value for Bournemouth architecture, their school library. In addition to free events for schools in and around town. smugglers & local the notables, For the full festival programme and tickets poachers, children's games, visit marlboroughlitfest.org

Carnival Crusaders

Victorian Heritage Day

music boxes & themed refreshments

Bournemouth Pier Approach 1890

A National Heritage

ournemouth Natural Science Society and Museum host a Victorian Heritage Day this season, showcasing exhibits with period costumes, medial history, images and models of local architecture, nobles, smugglers, poachers, games and themed refreshments. Go along to celebrate Bournemouth's growth during the 19th century as a destination for health, leisure, arts and science. 12 October 10am - 4pm. bnss.org.uk

So Many Shows

heatre Royal Winchester has a host of family shows this autumn, that children of all ages will enjoy, kicking off with the stage adaptation of the best-selling children's classic, Dear Zoo. Next is One Small Step which sees two inventive actors using household items to dress-up as astronauts and make spaceships to tell the story of the Space Race, to be the first to land on the Moon. Fans of popular children's author, Julia Donaldson, will enjoy the live version of The Scarecrows' Wedding about two scarecrows due to get married until the devilish Reginald Rake tries to take the groom's place. Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, The Witch and The Warthog, will herself take to the stage to share her beloved stories. Then ballet lovers of all ages will revel in Vienna Festival Ballet's stunning renditions of the well-known fairy-tale, Snow White and classic, The Nutcracker. More dance follows with The Little Prince who leaves his asteroid to explore the baﬄing world of grown-ups. There is more live music and puppetry from Lily & The Albatross, Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs then finally, there is magic from Britain's Got Talent finalist, Ben Hart - a show that all generations will adore. For more on any of the above shows visit: theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk

19 Invalid's Walk, now and then

bnss.org.uk

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

WHAT'S ON EVENT GUIDE

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY 1 Hampshire Country Sports Day

2 Drawing 101, WHSoA, Stockbridge

3 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

4 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Gillingham Walking Festival

5 Gillingham Walking Festival Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

6 Dear Zoo, Winchester Theatre Royal Gillingham Walking Festival The Return of Friday Lates, Roth Bar, Bruton

7 VERVE Festival Cholderton

8 VERVE Festival Swindon Railway Festival Salisbury Car Fest Swanage Folk Festival Dorset County Show Nothe Fort Artillery Weekend Petfest, Christchurch

9 Chafyn Grove Open Morning Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

10 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

12 Horrible Histories Pirates: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

13 Sky Safari, Longleat Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure Southampton Boat Show

14 Open Weekend The Watercress Line Medieval games Corfe Castle Kayak, Fish, Forage & Feast, Old Harry Rocks Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival The Romsey Show

15 Street Beach Party Bournemouth Chalk Grassland Wildflower ID, Combe Bissett Horatio's Garden Salisbury National Garden Scheme Open Day Medieval games Corfe Castle

16 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Southampton Boat Show

17 Crispin School Open Morning Southampton Boat Show

18 The Moon and Stonehenge with Professor Clive Ruggles Southampton Boat Show

19 Bruton School for Girls Open Evening Wellbeing by the Lakes Festival, Dorchester

20 Owls by Moonlight, Hawk Conservancy Firefly Outdoor Cinema, Brownsea Island Parent Talks at St Marys Shaftesbury

21 Salisbury Cathedral School Open Day Autumn foraging walk Avebury and Fairy Weekend Medieval games Corfe Castle Stone Carving at Corfe Castle Dauntsey Academy's Scarecrow Trail

22 Avebury Fairy Weekend A Victorian Christmas, Mompesson House Bird Ringing at Blakehill, Farm, Swindon Medieval games Corfe Castle Dauntsey Academy's Scarecrow Trail

23 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Stock Gaylard House Public Opening

24 Leweston Open Day Stock Gaylard House Public Opening

25 Stock Gaylard House Public Opening Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

26 Stock Gaylard House Public Opening Marlborough LitFest

27 Living by the Seasons, Tylney Hall Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival Owls by Moonlight, Hawk Conservancy

28 Sandroyd Open Morning Sherborne Prep School Open Morning Marlborough LitFest Mini Chef's (age 6-10) at Vaughan's Cookery School Wiltshire Game and Country Fair, Bowood House

29 One Small Step, Theatre Royal Winchester Marlborough LitFest Wiltshire Game and Country Fair, Bowood House Salisbury Food and Drink Festival

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

30 Red Squirrel Walks Brownsea Island

1 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

2 Crispin School Open Morning and Evening Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

3 Red Squirrel Walks Brownsea Island Honey Bees and Hives talks at Kingston Lacy

4 St Mary's Shaftesbury Open Mornng Swanage Blues Festival Oktoberfest Poole

5 Hanford Open Day Port Regis Open Morning Chafyn Grove Open Morning 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', Lights Andover

6 Red Squirrel Walks Brownsea Island Swanage Blues Festival Bournemouth Marathon Festival

7 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Mere Literary Festival

8 Snow White, Theatre Royal Winchester Red Squirrel Walks Brownsea Island

9 The Nutcracker, Theatre Royal Winchester Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure Mere Literary Festival

10 Crispin School Open Morning Happy Halloween at Paultons Park

11 Shaftesbury Oktoberfest Happy Halloween at Paultons Park Mere Literary Festival Parent Talks at St Marys Shaftesbury

12 All Hallows Open Morning Kayak, Fish, Forage & Feast, Old Harry Rocks Shaftesbury Oktoberfest

13 New Scientist Live Excel London. The World's Greatest Science Festival Lily and the Albatross, Theatre Royal Winchester Bowood House Duathlon

14 Red Squirrel Walks Brownsea Island

15 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Happy Halloween at Paultons Park

16 Stroud School Open Day Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure

17 Red Squirrel Walks Brownsea Island Happy Halloween at Paultons Park

18 Salisbury Literary Festival Purbeck Film Festival Wimborne Oktoberfest Ocean Film Festival, Poole

19 Salisbury Literary Festival Purbeck Film Festival Wimborne Oktoberfest Teachers' Open Day, Knoll Gardens

20 Salisbury Literary Festival Purbeck Film Festival Happy Halloween at Paultons Park

21 Festival of Grasses, Knoll Gardens Red Squirrel Walks Brownsea Island

22 Old Harry Rocks Kayak Adventure Happy Halloween at Paultons Park

23 Halloween Tale at Cheddar Gorge & Caves Purbeck Film Festival Sherborne Literary Festival

24 Halloween Tale at Cheddar Gorge & Caves Purbeck Film Festival Sherborne Literary Festival

25 Fantastic Fireworks, Longleat Halloween at Wookey Hole Seashore Ramble, Poole Sherborne Literary Festival

26 Mini Chef's (age 6-10) at Vaughan's Cookery School Freaky Down Farm, Finkley, Andover Sherborne Int Film Festival

27 Larmer Tree Spookatcular Toy Barn Maize Maze, Sherborne until 2 Nov. Pumpkins at Roves Farm Sherborne Int Film Festival Superslam Wrestling, Bournemouth

28 The Great British Autumn, Longleat The Little Prince Theatre Royal Winchester

29 Fang-tastic Halloween, Farmer Palmer's Halloween at Wookey Hole

30 The Great British Autumn, Longleat Halloween at Wookey Hole Pumpkins at Roves Farm Bug Bonanza Whitchurch Silk Mill

31 Halloween Make & Take Whitchurch Silk Mill Naturally Nocturnal, Somerset Rural Life Museum

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Charlie's Annual Barn Dance Littleton & Harestock Show Glow in the Park: Longleat Bridport Hat Festival Dorset County Show Frome Speakeasy Festival Alresford Show Classical Concert: Soft Cascading Harps, St Marys School Shaftesbury

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CALENDAR AUTUMN 2019 TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Abbot

Slater Estate Agents

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

1 The Great British Autumn, Longleat The Gruffalo, The Witch and The Warthog Theatre Royal Winchester

2 The Great British Autumn, Longleat Christchurch Fireworks Halloween at Wookey Hole Dark Valley Half and 10k, Ringwood

3 The Great British Autumn, Longleat Halloween Tale at Cheddar Gorge & Caves

8 Parent Talks at St Marys Shaftesbury

9 The Lion King, Bristol Hippodrome Festival of Light, Longleat Winchester Bonfire and Fireworks Bath Vegan Winter Festival

10 Festival of Light, Longleat SCWPCA Autumn Bronze Medal Show, Sparsholt 17 Ben Hart, Theatre Royal Winchester Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market until 22 Dec

st,

4 Horrible Histories Pirates: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

5 Leweston Open Day Horrible Histories Pirates: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

11 Festival of Light, Longleat

13 The Lion King, 12 Festival of Light, Bristol Hippodrome Longleat Horrible Histories Pirates: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

14 Festival of Light, Longleat St Francis School Christmas Fair

15 Festival of Light, Longleat Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

16 Sandroyd Open The Poole 5k, 10k and kids 1.5k Mini MoRunner

18 The Lion King, Bristol Hippodrome

19 Festival of Light, Longleat Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

20 Festival of Light, Longleat Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

21 The Lion King, Bristol Hippodrome

22 All Hallows Open Morning Marlborough's Christmas Lights

24 A Victorian 23 A Victorian Christmas, Mompesson Christmas, House The BKP Romsey Mompesson House Winter Carnival Procession

25 A Victorian Christmas, Mompesson House Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

26 A Victorian Christmas, Mompesson House Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

27 A Victorian Christmas, Mompesson House Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

28 A Victorian Christmas, Mompesson House Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

29 Finkley Down Farm - Magical Christmas begins! Wine Festival Winchester Christmas at Stourhead Starts The Victorian Christmas Festival Portsmouth

30 A Victorian Christmas, Mompesson House Mini Chef's (age 6-10) at Vaughan's Cookery School Bugs and Buds toddler club Knoll Gardens

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ail

7 The Lion 6 Horrible King, Bristol Histories Pirates: Portsmouth Historic Hippodrome Dockyard

d's l

NOVEMBER

MONDAY

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Tour Morning Come & explore all that we offer

30 October - 9.30am and 11am £5 Ages 1-3 years (Accompanying adult is included in the ticket price, older siblings welcome)

30 October - 10am ages 8-12 and 1.30pm £13.50 Ages 5-7 years (Must be accompanied by an adult - included in ticket price)

Interactive Storytelling Workshop 31 October - 9.30am and 11am £5.50 Ages 2-5 years (Must be accompanied by an adult (included in the ticket price), older siblings welcome.)

Play in a Day 1 November - 10am - 3pm £17 Ages 7-11 years

Saturday 28th September 2019 10am - 12 noon Informal group tours & meet the staff Opportunities for children to join fun activities For details & to register:

West Street, Andover SP10 1AH www.thelights.org.uk - 01264 368368

www.sherborneprep.org/tours

Prep is Key for Schooling

Photography: Millie Pilkington for St Mary's Shaftesbury

Benjamin Franklin once said “…by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Local solicitor Andrew Neal talks to Country Child about safe guarding school fees.

t must surely be every parent's and/or relative's goal to provide the best education for their young. The focus may inevitably be on school fee affordability, but it is important, as well, to consider the legal consequences of arrangements that may arise. Below are three events which can easily be prepared for, but often get overlooked or ignored. Tax and life events - Not only does the affordability need to be considered from a financial planning point, but the tax and control implications should be planned for as well. In addition, it is often grandparents who assist with school fees. Practical consideration such as: who to gift to, when and how, should all be on an agenda. In terms of whom to gift to, do they gift a sizeable sum if there is a risk of divorce? Would a trust paying school fees directly to the school or paying monies to the children be other possible solutions? If the school fees are paid to the school directly, what would occur if the school in question ceases to operate, merges with another or it is simply not the right environment for that child? All these things need to be planned for. Loss of capacity - something worth planning for. If school fees are to be funded from investments in a sole name, what would be done if that person loses capacity? A carefully drafted Lasting Power of Attorney, dealing with property and financial affairs, could so easily assist with such a scenario. A Lasting Power of Attorney may not be the only element to consider, in that it would be worth planning as to how investments are held going forwards or whether there are financial products available to reduce the impact of such a scenario arising.

Death - something that nobody likes to talk about, but a plan for the inevitable is key. The situation of leaving no Will means reliance on the law (known as the intestacy provisions). This can lead to unexpected difficulties where a couple is married, and even greater difficulties if co-habiting. For example, the intestacy provisions may well lead to adverse and unwanted tax consequences and wealth passing to children before they barely finish senior school. Although there are mechanisms within the law to alleviate such issues, they are costly, time consuming and can potentially lead to bereaved children taking other family members to court, to seek court approval for amendments. The key consideration must therefore be a Will that would deal with such a terrible event and allow for children to receive the appropriate support and continuity that would be so desired. If nothing else, who would look after the children, if both parents die? A well drafted Will can easily avoid such consequences arising. There is no doubt that control, taxation and costs are key to any planning, but failing to make any plan could have detrimental consequences for scenarios that can arise, which are generally likely to have significant impact on any family. The above should not be taken as advice and is generic. Advice should be tailored to an individual situation and it would be strongly recommended that such advice is sought on any of the above. Andrew Neal is a Private Client Solicitor and Member (Partner) of Godwins Solicitors LLP. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is ‘notable practitioner’ in the current Chambers High Net Worth Guide.

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www.fivesquaremotors.boschauto.co.uk For MOTs - www.motshaftesbury.co.uk

TURNPIKE Kennels And Cattery Call Jackie on 01749 881609 for more information and to arrange a visit. All Hallows is an independent day & boarding school for boys & girls aged 3 to 13, mid-way between Bath, Bruton and Frome.

* Safe & happy environment for your pets. * Doggy daycare available. * Four secure grass exercise areas for dogs. * All vaccinations, including kennel cough must be in-date.

* Special dietary needs catered for on request. * Viewing always encouraged. * Prices inclusive of pet’s bed, bedding, food, heating, insurance and VAT.

TEL 01747 854768 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8.30AM - 11AM / 3PM - 6PM

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Positive Panda

Marks Little Troopers

ocal teacher Shaula Maitland is an experienced Early Years and Primary Teacher with a degree in Education and Psychology. She has practiced meditation for many years and has run meditation sessions for adults. Understanding the importance for a positive mindset, Shaula has branched into the world of writing fun meditation books for children. The aim of her book Positive Panda is to arm children with a calm moment in a very busy world. The character Panda introduces children to meditation with a rhyming story, helps them to relax with breathing exercises and visualisations, before sharing twelve inspiring and uplifting journeys. Each one focuses on important positive attitudes such as self-belief, perseverance, independence and curiosity “This is a lovely book! There is a growing evidence base that suggests that mindfulness meditation has a positive impact on children’s social and emotional wellbeing as well as aspects of cognitive functioning. The ‘peace pauses’ also offer children the opportunity to engage in the meditation at their own pace and the recommendation to explore the meditations afterwards is an important addition in monitoring the impact for the child,” comments Dr Emily Crichton, Chartered Educational Psychologist and Managing Director of Educational Psychology for Everyone Ltd. Positive Panda is ideal for 4 years plus. amazon.co.uk

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

tudents from Kiwi Primary School in Bulford, Wiltshire have become the first in the UK to try a new Military Child Wellbeing Course launched by military children’s charity, Little Troopers. The primary school course is the first of its kind in the UK, created by a group of experts, alongside Little Troopers founder: army veteran and military parent, Louise Fetigan. Uniquely designed to encourage children in the military community to explore the unique and varying challenges they may experience while their parents are in the armed forces. Susan Raeburn, headteacher at Kiwi School, comments: "At school we see first-hand the impact that military life sometimes has on children when they are separated from their parents or are moving home, so a course like this enables us to prepare children for these more challenging times in advance rather than just responding reactively." The course can be delivered to small groups of children ranging from 6 -11 years and is just as relevant to schools with two service children and to those with 100 plus. The comprehensive pack features all the resources needed for the child-friendly, interactive course, which is made up of seven sessions. Topics covered include how to cope with separation, deployment, house moves and living abroad, as well as the personal themes of belonging, identity and mindfulness. Any profits from the course will go back into the fund. To purchase a pack as a parent or school visit littletroopers.net

MEET THE HEAD Mr Jody Wells Forres Sandle Manor School, Hampshire How long have you been at the school?

I joined Forres Sandle Manor School nine years ago as Deputy Head, and took over as Headmaster in Spring 2019.

What is the ethos of your school?

We set out to ensure our children are given the time, space and encouragement to achieve this through a holistic approach to education that respects the views, values and traditions of all its pupils in an environment of total care.

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

We hope that pupils are suitably prepared to go on and reach their potential once they’ve left us. We aspire to enthuse our children to be ambitious for themselves and strive to find what inspires and motivates them whilst developing the best possible human qualities of kindness and love.

What do you find most rewarding about teaching?

The magic of when a pupil has achieved something they couldn’t do previously by perseverance will never tire on me. These moments may often be small and perhaps insignificant but if they’re nurtured successfully, they’re often the cornerstone in helping children to derive a lifelong love of learning.

What are your own hobbies and interests?

I’m a keen golfer, surfer and a Leicester Tigers fan…although performance could be improved all round!

What does the future hold for you and your school?

We’ve just completed a full curriculum review, and from September we’re excited to be providing a new academic provision. There will be a greater flexibility to our teaching resources and greater focus on the development of FSM’s ‘Learning Powers’, which focus on the softer skills such as resilience, leadership and communication. A new Saturday enrichment programme also begins, and even further ahead is developments to the School buildings, boarding and cooking facilities for pupils.

OPEN DOORS

24 September 10am 5 November 10am

We are determined

A Co-educational Diamond Model School Flexi, weekly and full boarding Daily buses across Dorset and Somerset

01963 211015 | www.leweston.co.uk | admissions@leweston.dorset.sch.uk

STUNNING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

 www.hesterphoto.co.uk  hester@hesterphoto.co.uk  07977 267 847

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BOOKWORMS

St Mary's Shaftesbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset

anyone who is looking for a great read, although the use of language is slightly complex so I would suggest it to a higher age group (10 and over). Overall, I absolutely loved it, it was a real page turner. Sophia F Year 7

he joy of reading for pleasure is one of the greatest gifts which can be bestowed upon a child. There are countless studies which show the positive effects of reading for pleasure on academic attainment, but the benefits go far beyond such quantitative measures and stretch throughout a person’s life. Reading has been shown to increase wellbeing in addition to increasing our understanding of our own identity, improving empathy and giving us an insight into the world view of others. Interestingly, the benefits of reading are more likely to be felt when reading takes place through free choice. The library at St Mary’s Shaftesbury plays a central part in school life and underpins a love of reading across the whole school community. Staff and girls across all year groups participate in lunchtime book clubs, author visits, creative writing workshops, book awards, quizzes, competitions, dress up days and so much more which creates a culture of reading for all. As Walt Disney said, “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” Miss Min Edmonds - Librarian St Mary's Shaftesbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 9LP 01747 857102 stmshaftesbury.uk

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte I really enjoyed Wuthering Heights, it was dark and mysterious in a way that made you want to read it forever. Each character had their own completely different personality which really added to the excitement and mystery of the story. I would definitely recommend it to

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo This story is very gripping and interesting and it will have you hooked from the start. In Ketterdam the dark alleys and dingy streets turn into a place for secrets and trade. Kaz is the only one who understands this and he is given the opportunity to go on a great adventure, but he has to find a crew first… It is an adventure but also dark, funny and mystical. I recommend it because the story is unusual and told from the perspective of many different characters. Tomasine H-J Year 8 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen I love the storyline of Pride and Prejudice - it doesn’t seem like a book written in the Regency era. My favourite character is Mrs Bennet, because she is always getting on your nerves and making you laugh. Jane Austen uses a mix of romance and comedy. I’ve read it repeatedly and enjoyed it as much every time. Anna F-W Year 7 The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson I love this book because I have never read anything like it. It is about a house which has chicken legs, which is an unusual thought. The main character, Marinka, has very confused emotions throughout the book which makes it a lot more interesting. I would definitely recommend the book to younger readers, e.g. 10-12 year olds. I love how the book was simple so the storyline was easily followed! Frankie H Year 8

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare This book follows the story of Clary, a girl who lives in Brooklyn, New York. When she witnesses a murder in a nightclub, her life begins to change and she is thrust into the world of angels and "shadowhunters” - an elite group of half-angel, half-human beings that rid the world of demons. Clary must join forces with these shadow hunters if she has any chance of surviving the monsters that pursue her. I love this book, because of the endless adventure and beautiful imagery that the author creates. Madeleine H, Year 9 The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon As soon as I picked up this book, I couldn't stop reading it. It tells the story of two completely different people brought together through a series of coincidences over a life changing 12 hours. I love this book because it brings together love, hope, race, and philosophy. I would recommend this book for secondary students and upwards. Annie H Year 7 The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald I felt really passionate about this book, as it was so beautifully written. All of the characters seemed so realistic and the plot was incredible. The protagonist, Florence Green, is a great character who is determined to open a bookshop in a small town despite opposition from the locals. I would rate it 10/10. Bibi C Year 7 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak A hauntingly tragic and beautifully written book, The Book Thief takes us back to the dark days of the Second World War. The main character, Liesel Meminger, finds ways to fit in

her new home and cope with the darkness around her through the power of words and reading. It is a very lifelike book in which we can find new friends and expand our reading vocabulary. I would really recommend it to anyone, book lover or not. Alice H Year 8 Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Set far into the future, disaster has struck the world and the Reestablishment has taken over. Juliette is untouchable. She has been declared insane and put in an asylum but when mystery boy Adam walks into her cell, everything changes. I love this book because of how dynamic it is and because of the amazing plot twists. IBK Year 8 The Wind Singer by William Nicholson The Wind Singer is an exciting story set in an alternate universe which explores ideas of hierarchy in a group of people as well as the importance of exams in society. When Kestrel Hath dares to rebel, her whole family suffers as a result. It is the first book in the Wind on Fire trilogy and I really recommend it to all ages but specifically Year 7+. Rosie R M Year 9

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.

Don't

Overlook Eye Care

An independent, family opticianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective on childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyecare.

s a busy mum of two, I understand how frantic most family schedules are these days, so it is perhaps unsurprising that children’s eyecare sometimes falls down the priority list, especially if they show no outward symptoms and aren’t struggling with school work. This has been reaffirmed by recent research in which 78% of parents polled were unaware that the NHS recommends that children have their children’s eyes tested during their reception school year (age 4-5). That being the case, I thought it would probably be worth providing a reminder of some of the facts relevant to children’s eyecare: Some eye conditions do not display any signs or symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to take your child for a sight test. Signs which may show there is a problem with a child’s sight include: • An eye appearing to drift inwards or outwards • Difﬁculty concentrating • Behavioural problems • Headaches • Sitting too close to the television • Frequent eye rubbing. With the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) in place, all reception children should be offered a vision and hearing screening because NHS guidelines recommend that all children are screened for vision and hearing in their first year at school. If required, an NHS optical voucher can be issued by the optometrist which can be used towards the cost of spectacles or contact lenses. Changes that can help you to look after your child’s eyes: • Get them outdoors (!!) – regular play and exercise can help with eye health and reduce the development of myopia (shortsightedness). Studies show two hours of outdoor activity a day is ideal for healthy eyes. • Make sure they eat healthily and drink enough fluids. • Protect their eyes from the sun – never let them look directly into the sun and make sure they always wear good-quality sunglasses with the ‘CE’ quality mark which ensures the correct level of UV protection. • Using night settings on screens if your device has them, may help children sleep by reducing the amount of blue light given off by the screen during night-time hours • Make sure digital devices are turned off at least an hour before bedtime. • Book your child in for a sight test every two years from the age of three, or more often if your optometrist recommends it. Children’s eye examinations aren’t the same as those conducted for adults; most parents worry that their child will have to know the alphabet however this is not the case! Your optometrist will use specially designed charts that use shapes and pictures alongside other diagnostic techniques

to check your child’s eyes. It is also important to ensure that the child is relaxed so optometrists are trained in techniques to make your child feel at ease in the testing room and specialise in making the whole experience fun. Whilst being told by your optometrist that your child needs to wear glasses will probably be unwelcome news, it is important to remember that some children need a visual correction to help their vision develop and, in those cases, delayed diagnosis could result in worse eyesight into adulthood. I often see children who are disappointed that they have good eyesight as, given the wide range of attractive frames available these days, wearing spectacles does not have the stigma it once did and is now seen as trendy. Reassuringly, lens technology has also progressed to a point where children’s frames can be fitted with lenses that, apart from being virtually indestructible, are also light weight (for their delicate, developing noses) and have UV protection ‘built in’. It is also worth bearing in mind that many children are able to wear contact lenses from an earlier age than you might expect; this is particularly helpful for children who take part in regular sports activities. Your optician will be able to teach your child in easy-to-remember steps how to wear and care for their contact lenses; this process is massively rewarding to optical practitioners due to the transformative effect it can have on the child, both in terms of their outward confidence and their freedom to take on new challenges. There is plenty of choice on the high street but it is worth considering an optician for your family that will provide continuity of care as your children grow and that can therefore recommend the best possible service and products to meet their personal circumstances. Claire Galloway is the resident Optometrist at the Dorchester practice of Friths Opticians - a family run, Dorset and Somerset based group of independent opticians that provide the full range of optical and audiology services including child friendly eye examinations and a wide range of eyewear designed for active children frithsopticians.co.uk or 01305 264922.

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Food

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ittle Tummy is the UK’s first direct to consumer baby food subscription service and was founded last year by Nadine Hellmann who has previous experience with food subscription start-ups. She was surprised and shocked to discover that most baby foods found on supermarkets shelves were older than any baby she knew. Nadine teamed up with Dr Sophie Niedermaier-Patramani (a private and NHS pediatrician) and set out to develop a brand that introduced babies to fresh, authentic tasting foods without sacrificing any of the natural nutrients, fresh taste or authentic texture, as well as being hugely time saving. Here's more of the benefits:  Little Tummy uses a unique cold pressure processing method (High pressure processed – HPP) that locks in natural nutrients, ensuring the preservation of essential vitamins, fresh taste and texture of its product.  Little Tummy meals are never heat treated.  Every ingredient has a purpose and is nutrient dense – there are no fillers, preservatives, everything is as you would prepare it at home.  Little Tummy meals are mainly based on vegetables such as broccoli or kale and therefore help to develop infants bitter taste receptors. Most competitors disguise these bitter flavours using high fruit content. Studies show that the early

Food

introduction of bitter tastes can increase the preferences of such foods later on.  Subscription service ensures pediatrician developed, fresh meals delivered to the doorstep.  All products are free from allergens. There are four recipes to choose from: Green Finger (Kale & Apple) - Brain Food (Chickpea, Cauliflower, Kale) - Muscle Meals (Red Lentils, Mango, Sweet Potato) and My first breakfast (Apple & Oats) Founder and CEO Nadine Hellmann says: “At Little Tummy, we believe parents and babies deserve a fresh and truly healthy alternative. Almost all baby food pouches - organic or not – have to be cooked with extreme heat to make them shelfstable for up to 2 years which leave them lacking fresh vitamins, flavours and natural textures. In the UK meal subscription services are rapidly increasing in popularity, providing fresh, organic, healthy food direct to consumers.” Little Tummy also exists as a platform to support parents through the weaning process and subscription service starts from £20.00 for a week’s supply of meals. What's not to love! Subscribe at littletummy.co

Life is Sweet

spotlight on two tasty treats that are both Vegan friendly and fab healthy alternatives for little people.... Oh and grown ups too! Enjoy! chocolate was founded by Hampshire resident Chris Crutchley due to his debilitating food intolerances. Having not eaten any chocolate for 15 years and alternatives not hitting the spot, he created a recipe based on just three ingredients cacao powder, cacao butter and coconut sugar. Just £4.99 for a box of filled buttons. Visit joyofenjoy.com for full range.

OGGS® launch a new 9 pack of mini cupcakes; each cake is under 99kcal and entirely ethical from plant to plate. Like the rest of the OGGS® range, these mini cupcakes are completely egg and dairy free and baked using OGGS® Aquafaba, an all-plant liquid egg substitute made from chickpea water. Perfect for a children's tea party, the cakes are scrummy and light with less added sugar than a standard cake. No part of any animal is used in the creation of the OGGS® range and each cake is made with the future of the planet, animals and people in mind. The packaging itself is sustainably sourced with 100% recycled plastic which is fully recyclable, and even if it ends up in landfill is completely biodegradable. Available at Sainsbury's and specialist retailers. £4.25. loveoggs.com Go on… treat yourself!

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The Great Outdoors With Wild Man and all round fungi Mike Dilger, who this season is offering up some fungal foraging.

f you consider the game of golf to be ‘a good walk spoiled’, then the opposite must be said of any autumnal stroll - particularly when you can throw a spot of fungal foraging into the mix. With leaf colour a riot at this time of year too, it can sometimes be difficult to remember to look down as well as up, but autumn should not just be the season when trees take centre stage, as forgetting fungi would be a big mistake. It is understandable, however, why fungi are not as celebrated as the superficially more charismatic birds, mammals and trees - they’re a difficult group to get your head around. Out of sight - and mind - for most of the year, from winter to summer is when most fungi quietly conduct their subterranean business. Spreading out through the soil in the form of nebulous mats called mycelia, this is when they garner nutrients from both the surrounding soils and through clever associations with the roots of neighbouring trees. With the earth still warm after a summer baking, but the weather still sufficiently mild and crucially damp, it is not until autumn that most fungi will finally make an appearance above ground when their fruiting bodies belatedly burst through the soil. The two words mushrooms and toadstools are frequently interchangeable, but generally speaking, most consider the former to be edible while the latter are poisonous. For those keen on a free mushroom stir-fry however it cannot be emphasised enough that you must seek the advice of an expert mycologist for a definitive identification before heading to the kitchen. Perhaps it’s better (and certainly safer) to enjoy them in situ. So why not take a moment to admire the simple and yet stunning architecture of fruiting fungi in all their glory. Here are six of the best to look out for this autumn:

Of all the different ink caps in Britain, none is taller or more distinct than the ‘shaggy’ species. Also called lawyer’s wig, these distinctive toadstools can pop up almost anywhere in the west country. But to see them at their best you have to catch them early, as once the spores have been released, the fungus quickly dissolves into an unappetising black mush.

Immediately recognisable by its phallic shape and foul odour, the common stinkhorn is a very memorable fungus. Common in woods and gardens, they first appear above ground as ‘witches’ eggs’ before the tall, cold and slimy fruiting structures rise in impudent fashion from the leaf litter. With a smell resembling that of carrion, the fruiting body dupes any attracted insects into inadvertently carrying away its spores.

Memorable for its large size and fabulous taste, the cep or penny bun is a highly prized ingredient in many of the finest kitchens. The fruiting body has a large brown cap reaching

covered in distinctive short spines or conical up to 30cm across, that sits atop a tree warts all over their surface, which rub off as trunk-like stem, resulting in some specimens the fungi age. When finally mature, a preweighing over 2kg. Like all the bolete fungi, formed hole opens up, from which the spores the cep has sponge-like tubes extending will escape as and when the fungus is either downwards from its cap, rather than more compressed by touch or falling raindrops. typical gills, and from which the spores will ultimately drop before being whisked away in the air current. Prior to the days of political correctness this fungus which commonly grows Surely the world’s most recognisable from dead wood, was originally called ‘Jew’s toadstool, the red and white of Santa’s coat ear’. This pejorative name is thought to have may in fact owe more to this fungus than derived from ‘Judas’s ear’, as Judas supposedly the famous advertising campaign of a wellhung himself from elder, which is also the known fizzy drink back in the 1920’s. With fungus’s commonest host tree. Gelatinous, hallucinatory properties, the Shaami tribe of rubbery and with a velvety feel, these dateLapland found that you could still become brown coloured fungi do indeed have more inebriated by drinking the urine of someone than a passing resemblance to that of a who had eaten a fly agaric, hence the origin human ear. of the phrase ‘getting pissed’. It’s also believed that reindeer have managed to fly after FUNGI DIARY DATE! consuming the toadstools too! Catch the season's Fungi Foray on

Growing in fields, gardens and woodland edges, the common puffball fruiting body is pear-shaped, but rarely grows to more than 3 or 4 cm across. The fruiting bodies are also

Brownsea Island led by experts from the Dorset Fungus Group. Enjoy the boat ride over, some mushrooms on toast and a cuppa at the cafe too. All included for £25 adults and £12.50 for children. Various dates: dorsetfungusgroup.com

Interior

IDEAS Natural World

here are so many health benefits to getting out and about in the 'Natural World' and autumn is an ideal time to bring the great outdoors indoors. Natural materials and botanical inspired prints within our interiors are showing no signs of letting up. Here is one piece of furniture which not only caught my eye but got me wishing I was a little girl all over again! These colourful and stackable 'Alma' children's chairs designed by Javier Mariscal for the Me Too Range by Magis are not only ingenious and eye catching but scream design classic from every angle and since Javier's great speciality is drawing, his approach to any commission is an artistic one. The ribbing of the back rest, although structurally necessary, has been beautifully and thought provokingly designed to represent trailing tree branches adorned with a plethora of birds and the injection moulded fibre glass boosted polypropylene structure makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Finally, if all that wasn't enough, it's available in four fabulous colours representing the seasons: Green (spring) Orange (summer) Brown (autumn) White (winter). The only question left to ask is 'Which season are you?' Rebekah Jones ombreinteriordesign.com

 Magis Alma Chair with branches of a tree in the backrest. Comes in four colours that best represent the different seasons. £39. sofurniture.co.uk  Ada 3 Glass with marble effect Pendant Ceiling Light £210 johnlewis.com  Oak Embrace Coffee Table £325 limelace.co.uk  Lion Wall Decor £59 beaumonde.co.uk  Kaleb Easy Fit Pendant lightshade £119 darlighting.co.uk  Polar Bear Side Table £135 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk  Artichoke Green Tea Light £20  ladida-andover.com  Lorena Canals Leaf Cushion £35 amara.com  TOKKI coffee table £550 habitat.co.uk  Villa Nova Lily Pad Rug £175 sweetpeaandwillow.com Tropical Palm Tea Towel £4.95 rexlondon.com  Hummingbird Tropical Wallpaper Nacy £10.95pm cultfurniture.com

EXPERT PICK

WINDOW SHOPPING Country Child pick out some enticing family abodes across the counties for a cool half a million pounds.

Henstridge, Somerset £500,000

There is so much going on here. This five double bedroom property boasts a dramatic exposed brickwork hallway leading to open stairwell over three floors. The spacious kitchen is opened up with vaulted orangerie that over looks the garden patio and lawns. The external driveway and double garage will ensure that the whole property caters for your family's needs for many years to come.

lodestoneproperty.co.uk

Andover, Hampshire £500,00

Barford St Martin, Wiltshire £495,000

This quintissential three bedroomed chocolate box cottage is set for a family life. Not only are the ceiling heights ideal for Dad but the cottage is set in a plot of about 0.25 acres of walled gardens with vegtable plot, substantial area of lawn with fruit trees to the rear. This really is the good life. PLUS full planning permission has been granted for a two storey and single storey extensions to the rear!

hwwhite.co.uk

Sturminster Newton, Dorset £500,000

Set in an exclusive cul de sac location of just five homes, this five bedroom detached family house is well planned and well proportioned. A generous kitchen/breakfast room plus three receptions rooms and five bedrooms, driveway parking, garage and an enclosed rear garden, all close to local facilites, will grow with you as your family grows too.

A detached family home with flexible accommodation, garden with countryside views to the rear, swimming pool, plus an additional 1.25 acre field. The property would allow any new family owners to really put there mark on the home as it has scope to improve the facilities to your own standard.

brockenhurst.info

symondsandsampson.co.uk

Interior design… it’s about as personal as it gets.

SUCCEED

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BRUTON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS ON SUNNY HILL

OPEN EVENING Thursday 19th September, 6pm to 8pm Tour the school departments and meet the staff and students.

To book a place please contact: www.ombreinteriordesign.com rebekah@ombreinteriordesign.com 07733 106 545

admissions@brutonschool.co.uk • 01749 814400 • www.brutonschool.co.uk Day and boarding school for girls aged 7-18 Day school for girls and boys aged 2-7

H A N F O R D DIGITAL MEDIA COUNTRY CHILD

‘QUESTION TIME’ AT HANFORD

With our proven track record for our print platform, we step further into the digital arena with a new website to provide more ways to connect to our Country Child audience. Please get in touch to find out more on the exciting new online editorial, brand and promotional opportunities.

Promotional prices start from JUST £15 a season! Independent boarding and day prep school for girls aged 7 to 13

Open Morning Saturday 5th October

traditionally modern hanfordschool.co.uk or call Karen on 01258 860219 36

Contact Matthew Cull on

07794 447105

or email us at info@countrychild.co.uk

Why not join us on our social media channels too... @countrychildmag

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st Raising Girls in the 21 Century st

From Rebel Girls to Women in Science: Hannah Woolven takes a look at the expectations we have today when parenting our daughters

nly this morning, I saw a video flash up on my social media of a four year old girl defiantly explaining why Princess Jasmine shouldn't wait for Aladdin to rescue her: “Jasmine needs to go and see the world by herself! You don't need a boy to take you!” the sassy preschooler adamantly maintains. It's one teeny drop of a women's lib tiddler amongst a veritable online feminist ocean, and it is enough to make me wonder, yet again: what am I doing to make sure my daughter knows she doesn't need to wait to be rescued? That she can just go out there and see the world by herself? With a smorgasbord of books for “rebel girls”, books about “Women in Science” and “Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World”, books with names like “Strong is the New Pretty” and “F is for Feminist”, it seems there is plenty of opportunity to ensure our girls have strong female role models in mind as they grow up. But what are the messages we are giving our daughters day in, day out? What are the moment-by-moment, insidious, unconscious little mannerisms, habits and deeply held beliefs that we are accidentally feeding into their mindsets? I thought back to my own parents, and their fixed ideas about job roles. Mum in charge of cooking and cleaning; Dad in charge of fixing things and putting the bins out. I recalled my father in law commenting yesterday that it was his turn to cook the dinner, and what a turn up for the books that would have been as a youngster: his working class father would no sooner have stepped into his kitchen in Sydenham to prepare a meal back in the 1940s, than he would have donned a feather boa and danced the can-can through the streets. I wondered: how did that background impact my choices as a woman? I got to thinking about the kind of examples my husband and I are setting for our children. “Why does Daddy never cook the dinner?” my son had asked recently. “Well,” I wondered how to phrase this, “he gets back from work too late so we work as a team: I do the cooking, Daddy does other jobs”, I plumped for. And it's true, but my feminist side was cringing a little as I realised that, simply down to an issue of timetabling, I was potentially still feeding into the old stereotype my father in law had referred to, 80 years later. With that, and this article, in mind, I asked my own nine year old daughter: what does a parent need to do to raise a girl? Here is her list: ❤ Make sure she knows you love her. ❤ Set boundaries – she needs to know what is ok and what is not ok. ❤ Let her know that she can tell you any worries. ❤ HUGS! ❤ Make sure she knows there is no such thing as a “boy game”. Let her play football. ❤ Inspire her. ❤ Read together. I realised as she was talking, that most of these were relevant to boys and girls – and so I asked her: was there anything that needed to be done especially for girls? “Not really,” was the answer. And maybe that is just the best feminist result of all: we raise them equally. We let them know they are loved and that we are hear to listen to their worries. We set boundaries. We inspire them, we read together. We let them know they can play whichever game they like. And as she made her list, and explained why she thought each thing was important, I thought to myself: well, maybe my husband and I haven't done such a terrible job raising our 21st century girl after all.

PhotograPhy: Millie Pilkington

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

OPEN for Business MONEY Using aMATTERS Family

Discretionary Trust

any people are looking for ways to make financial provision for their children and grandchildren in later life. Junior ISAs can be used or investments made into designated accounts but the child will have full access to the funds once they turn 18, so there is no guarantee that money intended for university costs or a first house deposit is actually used for those purposes. An option which can be used to make a gift immediately while maintaining longterm control is to create a discretionary trust, with the children and grandchildren as beneficiaries. The creator of the trust can also be a trustee and, if the terms of the trust give a wide discretion as to when payments are made to beneficiaries, the trustees can determine when and to whom payments are made. To be effective for tax, it is important that a lifetime trust cannot benefit the creator of the trust or their spouse. Making a gift into a discretionary trust is a chargeable lifetime transfer for Inheritance Tax purposes, but as long as no transfers have been made in the previous 7 years, no Inheritance Tax will be immediately payable on gifts into trust of up to £325,000. Using a trust does come with a number of administrative requirements. In addition to the initial trust deed which should be completed by a solicitor, the trust will have to pay tax on any income and capital gains and is likely to need to be registered with HM Revenue & Customs. There may also be Inheritance Tax charges on every 10year anniversary and when capital is paid out of the trust. In order to make best use of the available tax allowances, we would recommend instructing a tax adviser for all but the simplest trusts.

This is only general advice and should not be relied upon; for speciﬁc advice tailored to your personal circumstances please contact: Lee Keeling at Andrews and Palmer, The Square, Gillingham, SP8 4AR Tel: 01747 823147 andpal.co.uk Lee@andpal.co.uk

C H A R T E R E D A C C O U N TA N T S

The Waterside Holiday Park and Spa, Dorset has received a Gold Award from VisitEngland - Hampshire based The Princess and The Pickle create eco-friendly greeting cards, prints and now a clothing range just received a business boost from Retail Entrepreneur Theo Paphitis for its Teemill a recyclable circular tee business - The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company have been noticed for their excellency in cheese making by being shortlisted in two categories of the Great British Food Awards

Pumpkin Play

umpkin Play is a brand new baby and toddler events business created by a local Dorset Mum. Bethany Carter from Dorchester says: “As a self-employed working parent with a baby, I found that many of the groups and activities I wanted to attend clashed with my working hours, and my partner was excluded because he worked full time during the week. We would have loved to be able to attend local sensory play events at the weekend with our baby, so I made the decision to host them myself! We were already doing lots of sensory play activities at home and receiving a positive response to our setups on Facebook and Instagram. Over the last 12 months, I have invested a lot of time and energy into learning the skills required to host these weekend events. It’s a great opportunity for parents and their children to play in a multi-sensory environment filled with a variety of activities to encourage fun, stimulation,

and the development of fine and gross motor skills. It’s also a lovely way to bond with your child, and they will love to see parents getting stuck in too.” Event dates and venues can be fouud at pumpkinplay.co.uk Places are limited and booking via EventBrite is essential.

Wild Women Do...

ild Coworking has been launched by young entrepreneur Jess Hellens. Wild is currently based in a space at Frome’s recently renovated, vibrant Town Hall with room for 8-10 women hot-desking at one time. More than just a desk, one of the reasons Wild has been launched is to provide a respite from the kitchen table - to tackle the isolation experienced amongst freelancers and other women who work from home. Inspired by The Wing, the first hotdesking, women-only space famously

based in New York’s Flat Iron building, Wild has a future vision to build a large space with added services. Plans for the future will include childcare options and space for breastfeeding/pumping. Starting small, the aim is to develop a space for Wild’s already-growing community; somewhere female founders can expand their teams into larger office space and, although the hot-desking will remain for women only, the larger spaces will be designed to be mix gendered. Their flexibility of modern working requirements mean that there are a number of different membership options available, ranging from Full Time Wild, Sometimes Wild and Virtually Wild as well as drop-in hot-desking. Prices start at £5 a day and most Wild memberships also includes the community networking evenings where Jess and invited speakers share and lead discussions around some of the most pertinent issues facing women in business. Contact wildcoworking.com to get involved in this exciting new initiative.

Y T I L QUA

? E T I S B

A R O F G N I K O O L

E W

Working in partnership with

PHWM-HeadStart-CountryChild_210x297mm_Layout 1 01/07/2019 10:47 Page 1

GIVE YOU R CHILDREN A HEAD START Everyone wants the best for their children and, with a little forward planning, it is possible to give them a bright future and first-class education. Whether you are considering tax-efficient ways to save for, spread the cost of, or protect funds set aside for school fees, we can help you plan by providing you with a range of financial solutions and investment options to help your loved ones on life’s journey. Contact us for further information. The value of an investment with St. Jame’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

PETER HARDING WEALTH MANAGEMENT Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

36 Haven Road, Canford Cliffs, Dorset BH13 7LP Tel: 01202 830730 40 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JG Tel: 01747 855554 9 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3PU Tel: 01935 315315 Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.peterhardingwm.co.uk

The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the title ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd.