Country Child Spring 2021 by Country Child

COUNTRY CHILD Spring 2021

Your Local Free Family Magazine

Issue: 42

MUSICALITY The benefits of a musical education

POULTRY PETS 'Day in the Life' of a young chicken keeper

PROTECT THE FAMILY Family finances for life

READER REFLECTIONS Family friendships that last forever

PAWFECT PETAWAY

Local UK holiday destinations for all the family 1

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

11 July to 7 August 2021

From Creative Arts to Science, History and Culture to Life Skills and Wellbeing, Summer School offers learning experiences and entertainment for all ages. Request a brochure today and discover over 500 courses waiting for you. 01672 892388 | summerschool.co.uk 2

1ye0ars Welcome to Spring

ell we made it to 2021, but I can’t quite believe we are still on this Covid journey. These times are strange and we have all come so far and yet we have so much more to do to overcome. We will achieve it, that I do know. When we look back at what we have all accomplished, whether it be to stay safe, healthy, care for others, teach your children or work from home, maybe in some cases all of these; we have done so well. It is good to reflect or ponder for a moment and take a stock of the positives that seem hard to bring to the foreground. One reader felt compelled to share her thoughts and cherished family dynamic, please turn to page 21 to gain an insight on what we can be grateful for. One area of life that has certainly helped CC HQ cope with the lockdowns has to be our Friday night kitchen discos. There is something to be said about the healing powers of music. On page 16 and 17 Salisbury Cathedral School talks to us about the importance of a musical education. After we are all bedded in to this new world perhaps we could all do with some time to relax, unwind and remind ourselves of

what life was like before the virus. We are promised a summer of controlled freedom and we are so hopeful this will be the case. We have a round up of some local UK staycations that will soothe the soul, but most importantly, you can include your families prize possession - the dog. Check out pages 10 to 13 for the pawfect getaway and to celebrate National Pet Month in April. Once you‘ve booked your time off with your pet, perhaps it has you thinking about growing your nests, animal additions. We heard from our youngest contributor to date about how his love for keeping chickens can be one of the best hobbies going. Turn to page 25 to read his 'day in the life' account of chicken keeping. New offspring can be a costly time for any household, so our finance experts, St James's Place talk us through not only how to protect your family finances now but also for the future. It’s all there on page 23. If we had the option to spend our money on more entertainment and time out, we’d head to our events pages for some Spring ideas, but sadly this industry is still mainly closed until Summertime. So if you have an event planned in for this Summer, please share it with us online for free at countrychild.co.uk. We’d love to see our events pages bulging again. One main event for Spring has to be the beloved Mother’s Day celebrations, so turn to page 31 for some gift ideas to embellish our precious mums life and home. As ever we have included updates from the schools, local businesses and why not flick to the property page for some really envious open-plan living. Don’t forget if you have a business or local news update please get in touch, we are happy to support as much as we can. We look forward to hearing from you, but for now have a great Spring.

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Jo Leigh jo@countrychild.co.uk

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Matthew Cull

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Contributor Jeni Bell

Cover Photography by

Millie Pilkington

CONTRIBUTORS: Nate Greening, Lucy Clark, Jeni Bell, PetsPajamas, PharmaNord, St James's Place CREATIVE ARTWORK: Jo Vincent Illustrations and all-free-download.com

Fo ste Ne r H ed om ed es

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.

Lurcher SOS Sighthound Rescue

Lurcher SOS is a non profit charity dedicated to rescuing hounds from the UK, Europe and other countries from around the globe. We receive no funding and rely on the generous donations of our supporters and foster homes. Can you help us save more lost and lonely souls? If you can, please get in touch using our website

www.lurchersos.org.uk

Contents 15

Spring 2021 Country Child Loves Seasonal delights for Spring

Protect your Family Family finances for life

What's in Store Extreme Garden Makeovers

Poultry Pets A readers 'Day in the Life' perspective of chicken keeping

Pawfect Petaways UK Homestays for your family and your fur baby too

Reader Reflections A story of a family friendship to last forever

7 Family Ramblings - Novice writer Charlotte Blake is here again to share some thoughts. 9 What's in Store - Here is our garden inspiration wish list - The extreme version! 10, 11, 12 & 13 Pawfect Petaways - UK Homestays for your family and your fur baby too. 15 Country Child Loves - Editor's top seasonal selections. 16 & 17 Musicality - Why is a musical education so important? 18 & 19 Food Glorious Food - The Big Vitamin D Debate and a new podcast! 21 Reader Reflections - A story of a family friendship to last forever. 23 Protect the Family - Family finances for life. 25 Poultry Pets - A 'Day in the Life' viewpoint from a young chicken keeper. 27 The Great Outdoors - Who wants to go on a Spring Safari? 29 Window Shopping - Showcasing some of the best in open-plan living. 31 Interior Ideas - Mother's Day Inspiration. 33 Open for Business - Business news from your local area. 34 Top Marks - News from the local schools.

Interior Ideas Mother's Day Ideas for the home

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Family Ramblings... Written by Charlotte Blake

ife in lockdown has been a rather bitter and sweet experience. Having this time with the children has been the sweetest true blessing (she says with gritted teeth). Who would have ever thought that we would all be reliving our youth of schoolwork and deadlines. Vicariously reporting to teachers, handing in assignments and setting up an arts and craft corner to boot. I have to admit however at times it has been overwhelmingly bitter to juggle what seems like endless amounts of tasks, zoom lessons, all of which you need to double/ triple or more depending on how many children you have. The relentless requests for snacks, ipad time and drink refills, dog walks, three square meals a day, online shopping to name a few, has taken its toll. I have more grey hair now than ever and ashamedly I don't really care how I look. My self preservation took a back step for a while, whilst we got into our groove but I really must get a grip now. I think my children wonder where their business dressing mum who dropped them off at the school in the mornings, ready for

work in the corporate world has gone. Instead lies an au natural representation of a woman constantly half dressed from the waist up in smart leisure wear, pj's from the waist down, complemented with fluffy tan leather slippers, no make up (you can't see the detail on zoom right?) and a hair style that can only be described as birds nest chic. My appearance, we can work on (that's what cosmetics are for), but my children needed me and we have worked hard on some areas in my children's education. After having the rare and unique experience to help and nurture my kids through this time, I can now look back on it as being a really positive journey. I can hand on heart say that I know what my son's education needs are now, inside out and where he needs to work harder but also where he flourishes. My daughter is an independant soul and blossoming in her reading and writing and at times is hard to keep up with as she asks for more work - must be a girl thing! I think I could even call a parent/ teacher meeting at the end of Easter, to update their teacher on where my child is

in their education. I've also secretly been nominated 'Star of the Day' a few times too! How the tables have turned. My children are in fact inspiring me to just keep calm (mostlyish) and carry on. I only wish I had half of their resilience. Of course I know of others that have not embraced the education pressures out of choice and this again could be a positive growth mindset for parents and their children. A unique experience to look back on with fond memories of time shared and overcome. It has been tough on most and some even more so but whatever hand you have been dealt over this last year, remember this is a time in history that we are all battling through and whatever you have done, little or large - it is enough. You are doing a great job and we will get through this. Here's to a summer of hope and recovery. Charlotte Blake is a new writer on the scene, a frazzled mum of two children, her dog is her best friend and her husband is the biggest kid on the block. Which can all make for one thing many funny but also moving memories to share.

Your child at our heart Opportunity to

Time to

Nurture • Explain • Encourage

Take part • Succeed • Shine

Come and visit us...

Space to

Learn • Explore • be Happy

Connect with us

CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN AGED 3 TO 13 WWW.SALISBURYCATHEDRALSCHOOL.COM

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What´s in Store EXTREME Garden Inspiration

 1. The Discovery Woodland Treehouse encourages physical development as children climb and slide. Ideal for exploring the great outdoors and loving nature in your own garden. £399.99 plumplay.co.uk

 2. In-ground trampolines also open up a whole new world of trampoline games and exercises, incorporating the whole breadth of the garden rather than being confined just to the area within a trampoline enclosure. 14ft Capital Play InGround Trampoline Kit £975 toy-barn.co.uk

 4. At 1 metre high, this playcentre is enough to challenge children over 18 months, whilst allowing them to explore in a safe environment. Underneath the playcentre is colourful and vibrant fabric door which hides a secret den. The den is great for hide and seek, picnics, storytelling, and imaginative play. £249.99 plumplay.co.uk 5

 5. When you buy a 'Nice' Spa from local company Inspire Eden each purchase includes delivery (within 30 mile radius), connection to existing electrical point, cover lifter, steps, commissioning, chemical starter kit & a detailed handover pack on completion. If further electrical work or concrete base is needed, a site survey is required. Enquire for more details. Prices start rom £4775 inspire-eden.co.uk

EDITOR'S PICK

TIME FOR TEA

he Wild Womend Tea Club offer some great mindful and happiness tea boxes. The Happiness Tea blend is a refreshingly uplifting tea & is perfect to help relieve both stress & anxiety, whilst also supporting low mood (which tends to be worse in the morning). The lemongrass is also very beneficial for the mind and helps to reduce any anxiety as well as any morning bloating. The birch leaves and nettle are both great detoxifiers and wonderful for cleansing both your skin and system. The Lavender Dreams blend is a gorgeous blend of English herbs, with lavender and lemon balm to bring restfulness, ease anxiety and help promote sleep, whilst the rosemary calms a busy mind and helps you to ‘switch off ’. A really beneficial blend for those who have trouble nodding off!. Sounds bliss! £18 wildwomenteaclub.co.uk

DRESSING UP

RED NOSE DAY

ed Nose Day is back on Friday 19th March and hopes to bring the UK together (although we may still be apart) through laughter and helping others, showing just how powerful humour can be through the toughest of times. The new and improved Red Noses, are now 100% plastic free and plantbased, made from a by-product of sugarcane called Bagasse. There’s 10 woodland characters to find in your local Sainsbury’s stores, sainsburys. co.uk and on comicrelief.com/shop now, and online at argos.co.uk Plus there are lots of ways to get involved if you can. To find out more, and for covid-safe fundraising ideas visit comicrelief.com/rednoseday

he new Sherpa Pompom Bunny Dress-Up Cape and Headdress has a tactile exterior, making it adorably soft and cuddly. The headdress features whiskers and floppy ears, meaning that everyone can pretend they’re the most magical bunny of all. £50 merimeri.co.uk

POWERFUL POSITIVITY

e all know how powerful positive affirmations can be for changing how we think about ourselves and it’s no different for kids. In fact, the earlier you start the better! Confidence Cards for Kids is a deck of 52 bright and brilliant cards, each featuring a positive affirmation, which can be displayed anywhere in your home. See your child’s confidence levels soar with the kind statements and mood-boosting mantras on these sunny and uplifting cards as this collection of inspiring pick-me-ups empowers your child to feel ready for anything. Or another member of your family for that matter. £12.99 from the 11 March 2021 summerdale.com

Advertisement Feature

Musicality Salisbury Cathedral School explore the many benefits of a musical education

ave you heard about the school in special measures that chose to increase the amount of music in the curriculum instead of pursuing extra academic studies? It’s a happy tale that ends with a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating and the school, which serves a deprived and densely populated community, being in the top 10% of schools nationally for positive pupil progress. Look back to 2010 and the Feversham Primary Academy in Bradford was in special measures, struggling to find and keep pupils and battling low staff morale. The Head refers to the decision to tackle the problem with music, drama and arts as ‘brave’ and ‘a big risk’. A risk worth taking it turns out as not only have results improved across the school but so has attendance which now sits at 98%. In fact, attendance rose steadily as the amount of music taught in the school increased. All pupils now have about 6 hours of music a week (a minimum of two hours). ‘I’m not surprised the pupils (at Feversham Primary Academy) progressed so much,’ says Susie Lamb, Salisbury Cathedral School (SCS) Head of Music. ‘Music makes you feel better, whether it’s your favourite pop song on the radio or playing a piece on the piano. I always say: you don’t sing when you’re sad and happy children learn better.’ The Feversham Academy story acts as a wonderful reminder that the beautiful music that beats in the heart of our school is much more valuable to our children’s development than we often appreciate. Here at SCS, we learn spellings with song, times tables with rhythm and generally ensure music is for everyone every day. And why do we do that? Obviously, it makes learning fun, but it’s also well proven that the more music the better when it comes to improving academics.

In essence, music makes your brain grow. Neuroscientists around the world have proven this across many research papers investigating different age groups and the over-arching conclusion is that continued exposure to music improves cognitive abilities. Whilst the positive effect of musical education is occasionally hyped – the so-called ‘Mozart’ effect – it is equally physically proven by neurological measurements such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or EEG (electroencephalography). Starting with our youngest children, aged between 3 and 6, research has shown that taking early music classes leads to an increase in vocabulary, pre-reading skills and singing ability beyond what could be attributed to normal development. Furthermore, a correlation between singing ability and language skills has also been highlighted. All great news for the enthusiastic participants of our Bright Beginnings toddler group. Neuroscientists at the University of Southern California (USC) also concluded that music instruction appears to accelerate brain development in young children. What’s more this was particularly in the areas of the brain responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception and reading skills. Studies with slightly older children, of primary school age, bear similar conclusions. For example, The University of Amsterdam conducted a longitudinal study of 147 primary aged children over two and a half years. The goal was to examine whether structured music lessons can affect executive subfunctions of the brain that may underlie academic achievement. The results positively proved the children who received music lessons had significant cognitive improvements compared to all other children in the study.

A more recent study (results published Oct 2020) targeting older children, aged 10-13 in Chile, also reports that learning to play a musical instrument is good for the brain. Working with 40 children, the neuroscientists introduced musical instrument lessons, plus at least two hours practise each week and regular time spent playing in an orchestra or ensemble, to half the children. The other half had no musical training outside of the school curriculum. In the final assessments the musically trained children had better attention and memory recall. They also had greater activation in the brain regions related to attention control and auditory encoding which are executive brain functions known to be associated with improved reading, higher resilience, greater creativity and a better quality of life. ‘Here at SCS a lot of our children participate in music – singing or instrumental lessons – before school meaning their brains are fired up and very receptive to learning,’ explains Susie Lamb. ‘Every pupil has at least one timetabled class music lesson each week, around 90% learn an instrument (or two), all regularly sing within other subject lessons like French and Science as well as in chapel and our

two weekly assemblies. We usually run 20 ensembles and we’ve managed to keep at least one ensemble per bubble in our pared back COVID-safe timetable. It’s fair to say we breathe music in this school.’ She continues, ‘Obviously, the benefits of learning an instrument go beyond academic improvements. The pupils at SCS also build self-confidence through a programme of regular informal concerts that celebrate all levels of musical accomplishments. We recognise the effort and the bravery behind every performance be it a grade 8 masterpiece or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Friendships are also born and strengthened in the fun environment of our choirs and ensembles. And, the very best outcome in my mind, is that music is for life not just for childhood.’ So, next time you hear one of our choirs singing, or the beat of a drum lesson, trumpets blaring or violin scales floating across the skies above the school take a minute to remember we are all building our brains as well as learning a life skill, having fun and being mindful. We are so lucky to learn together in a school dedicated to (multi-tasking) musical education. salisburycathedralschool.com

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Food

GLORIOUS Food

Vitamin D Debate

he effectiveness of vitamin D is now being recognised by both national and devolved governments in the UK. Some scientific advisers are now suggesting that a national provision of vitamin D could be used to help reduce infections or hospitalisations. However, will vitamin D be used to help ease the burden of viral infections while vaccines are rolled out across the country? A National Deficiency While the NHS recommends that additional vitamin D supplements should be used between October and early March due to limited sunlight hours, in 2020 the public health body has suggested that the vitamins should be used year-round as a consequence of lockdowns and limited outdoor time. A deficiency in vitamin D is an attributing cause of rickets, especially among children. A study also found that COVID-19 patients are almost twice as likely to be deficient in vitamin D. There is not yet enough evidence that vitamin D can prevent coronavirus. But, with little to no side effects involved in taking the supplement, could its use be a tentative win for public health? Concurrent Trials The quick development of vaccines for COVID-19 has been hailed by medical professionals, the latest Oxford

Grow Cook Eat Arrange

vaccines demonstrate up to 90 per cent efficacy. However, studies continue to explore how vitamin D can help to alleviate symptoms and reduce recovery time. Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties. This means it may provide assistance to the body’s immune response to respiratory illnesses. Lung damage as a result of the coronavirus can an inflammatory cytokine storm. Essentially, an overwhelming inflammation caused by your body’s immune system releasing proteins. The inflammation can cause serious illness or be fatal. There are suggestions that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory effects will alleviate this condition. Meanwhile, Queen Mary University continues its randomised clinical trial. They are testing whether the implementation of a test-and-treat approach which will correct insufficient levels of vitamin D will result in reduced risk or severity of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections. The trial is supported by pharmaceutical company, Pharma Nord, and NHS trust charity, Barts Charity. Their support highlights the potential effectiveness of vitamin D against respiratory illnesses, particularly among older generations. However, until this can be proven for the general public, vitamin D supplements or vitamin D rich foods may be of use to help the recovering population.

pharmanord.co.uk

arah Raven, along with colleague and friend Arthur Parkinson, has launched the first three episodes in her brand-new podcast series, ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange’. The podcast launch is bolstered with a bonus ‘Gardening Glossary’ episode, giving less experienced gardeners a whistlestop tour of the basic principles and concepts of gardening, ahead of following the series. Sarah said: “Growing produce, both food and flowers, is the part of gardening I most enjoy. I love to cook straight forward garden-picked food with the minimal amount of ingredients and palaver but the greatest amount of taste! " The weekly ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange’ podcast aims to engage gardeners of all ages and levels of experience. sarahraven.com/podcast.

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Reader Reflections

Lucy Clark reflects on how life has a way of teaching us more than we realise.

ast year has no doubt been a year which has taught us all valuable life lessons. A year where finding little positives amongst the doom and gloom has been what has kept us positive. Rob Perry (86) lives on a beautiful farm in the quiet village of North Brewham. After working hard on the farm his entire life he raised a family with the love of his life, Betty. Not to be mistaken, Rob has led an exciting life, travelling the world with the British fishing team and catching some record fish. Nowadays he enjoys the peace of the farm surrounded by his family. One of those family members is his great granddaughter, Matilda Clark (3) who lives across the field from her ‘farm granddad ‘and has found a valuable companion in Rob. I guess this might have something to do with the huge jar of marshmallows which sits beside granddad’s chair; kept stocked up awaiting Matilda’s visit. Grateful for the extra days off this year, we were blessed with being able to spend more time together outside. A popular outdoor activity we enjoy as a family is beating and shooting and 2021 opened a window for Matilda and her great grandfather to make memories together whilst partaking on these days out. With his keen eye, impeccable shot and great sense of humour, Rob has made a fond name for himself in the country field scene. Not only has this extra time together brought lovely memories, it has also taught the two generations valuable lessons about each other. Lesson number 1: How to be a survivor. Never underestimate a 3 year olds ability to pick up on the characters of others around them. It takes a warrior to suffer heartbreak in their life and still remain strong for their family. Being able to go through such an event and still make the time to be silly with Matilda, to hear her giggle, may seem minute to some but it has shown that girl just how strong her great grandfather is, and if he can survive the hardest times, so can she.

Lesson number 2: All problems have solutions. In today’s world, with all the despair, children have had to learn how to be resilient. To keep going and keep learning through all the gloom and along the way build a library of little lessons, which instead of being taught in skills, are being taught by family at home: Laying the table, tying shoelaces, or in the case of Matilda and her great grandfather, knowing left from right. After numerous times appearing in the farm yard with her wellingtons on the wrong feet, Rob decided to take matters into his own hands. He pulled a marker pen (permanent may I add) from his man-shed and said to Matilda “now you will always remember which foot is your right foot”. Matilda looked down to find a large X written on her right sparkly boot. To my surprise there was no scream-storm that her wellies were ruined, instead they became her favourite pair of boots and she never forgot her left from her right foot again. Which leads me to Lesson Number 3: You never stop learning. Being 83 years apart, these two generations have built a relationship on lessons which they can teach each other. I am sure it has been a rather long time since Granddad Perry played eye-spy for the good part of an hour, or put pen to paper to draw a picture. The presence of Matilda has enabled the silliness and play to enter my granddad’s life again and has added laughter to the room. After all, there is nothing so irresistibly contagious as laughter. It might not stop the rain but it has allowed us to keep going. The concluding lesson which is never more apparent than when watching my Grandfather and daughter together; Life is too short. So take more pictures, be silly and have fun. Spend time with the people who make you laugh and make you feel loved because in the end you will only regret the relationships you didn’t have and the decisions you waited too long to make.

Advertisement Feature

Protect Your Family How to ensure you don't leave your family with an avoidable tax bill.

aking the right steps now can shield your loved ones from tax and help ensure your money goes where you want it to go after you die. In the last tax year (2019/20), bereaved families paid some £5.2 billion in Inheritance Tax (IHT)1. However, while many people are aware of strategies that can reduce their IHT liability, such as gifting, they may be less aware of how some employee perks – including workplace pensions and death-in-service benefits (whereby a nominated beneficiary receives a lump sum if you die while in service with your employer) – could be storing up problems for their families in the future. Death-in-service benefits or pensions that are paid as a lump sum to a beneficiary after the death of the benefit holder will form part of that beneficiary’s estate – and IHT may become payable. Currently, IHT is charged at a rate of 40% on the portion of the estate over a £325,000 threshold, or up to £500,000 if it includes a family home that is being passed on to children or grandchildren. However, transfers between spouses and civil partners are tax-free.

The problem can, however, be avoided with the use of an asset preservation trust (APT). APTs are designed for the purpose of holding death-in-service and pension death benefits in such a way as to have the funds accessible to your beneficiaries while keeping them outside their estate for IHT purposes. The trust can be set up easily a financial adviser, but you will also have to appoint two trustees who will be responsible for the distribution of your money after you have died. You will also need to inform your employer of your arrangements with an ‘expression of wishes’ form. This will ensure that money is paid into the APT rather than to the estate.

The benefits of an APT go far beyond IHT mitigation and need not be the preserve of wealthier families. If, for example, you have children from a previous relationship/marriage and are worried about what will happen to your wealth if one of your beneficiaries divorces, or you are concerned about their ability to manage their finances, an APT provides more control over how and

when your money is distributed, and to whom. Holding money in an APT can also be helpful if your beneficiary needs care later in life. As the funds in the APT are held outside their estate, they won’t affect eligibility for any means-tested local authority care. With an APT, the distribution of your estate is controlled by your chosen trustees, who will make decisions based on your instructions. Reviews would be recommended following events such as marriage, divorce or the birth of grandchildren.

Peter Harding Wealth Management will be able to help you throughout the process. As a form of discretionary trust, an ATP may be subject to certain tax charges – but these can often be offset by the benefits. They will also be able to advise you if the trust becomes unnecessary – for example, when you have retired and death-in-service benefits are no longer relevant, or when your tax position has changed. If you are interested in how an APT can save your family tax or help you control your wealth, please just ask and we can walk you through the process. Contact Peter Harding Wealth Management today for a no obligation meeting on 01747 855554 or email peterhardingwm.co.uk We are here to help. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances. Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 1HMRC, Inheritance Tax Statistics 2019-20, July 2020. Peter Harding Wealth Management 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 sjp.co.uk/products. Peter Harding Wealth Management is a trading name of Peter Harding Practice Ltd.

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Poultry Pets Our youngest ever contributor Nathaniel Greening gives Country Child his day-inthe-life run down of being a keen and avid chicken keeper.

first got interested in chicken keeping about two years ago. We had a really beautiful Buff Orpington at school and I really liked helping to feed her and collecting the eggs (and then baking with them). Then after studying a few books about chicken keeping, I got three of my own for my eleventh birthday. Although I wanted a Buff Orpington, they don’t lay so well as they get broody quite a lot, so I got hybrid varieties (two Lohmann Browns and one British Back Tail), which are really good egg layers. I have to get up early in the morning to let them out of their coop, and to feed them. I give them a mix of layers mash and layers pellets, as this contains all the nutrients they need for good egg production. They also need fresh water every day (even twice a day in summer).

Sometimes, if their eggshells become a bit weak, I give them ground oyster shells. It’s also good to give them some garlic once in a while as this keeps intestinal worms at bay. They do love a treat too though, especially any leftover corn on the cob, rice, peas, spaghetti and they love sunflower seeds. They are housed in a wooden chicken coop and run made by Caccoon, which is a good size for three birds. I have to clean them out once a week. They used to be free range all day but they were ruining the garden, so they’re only allowed out in the afternoons and evenings now. My mum shuts them away every night as there are a few foxes and badgers about that would like a bit of chicken for dinner. They’re really sweet and very sociable, they love to follow me around the

garden. It’s really funny to see them chasing after each other round the garden when one of them has a treat, like a piece of baguette, it’s like watching a game of tag. They’re also funny when they spot anyone with shoelaces as they think they’re worms so start trying to guzzle them up. They’re really clever too because they put themselves to bed when it starts to go dark in the evening. One day last summer, I heard a really loud noise coming from the garden, and when I went out to see what the fuss was, I saw one of the chickens was having a set-to with a passing pheasant. They really are hilarious! If your thinking of getting chickens perhaps chat to your local farm shop.

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The Great Outdoors Jeni Bell brings us her seasonal suggestions to get the family outside on an intrepid Spring Safari!

e all know those first signs of Spring; colour returning to the landscape, lambs leaping about the countryside, and the first shy heads of flowers blooming. So what better way to welcome the season than by taking the family out in search of bluebells and bird song. Here are a few things to keep watch for as you head out on your own Spring Safari.

Butterflies and bees are a bonus Spring Safari spot. Enticed out by milder weather, these pollinators seek out spring flowers as a food source. So you might even be lucky enough to encounter the bright wing-spots of an orange tip butterfly, or hear the buzz of a freshly awoken bumble bee.

Spring isn’t spring without flowers. Snowdrops appear as early as January, bright bursts of yellow daffodils arrive in late February, and white carpets of wild garlic bloom in woodlands from April until June. Of course, there’s also the welcomed sight of bluebells to enjoy in April as well. Exbury Gardens in the New Forest is a fantastic location for finding flowers, but a walk around your local area can be just as productive. The birds are busy preparing for the arrival of little ones, so you’re likely to encounter them with a beak-full of food or sticks for their nests. Keep watch in your own back garden or plan a trip to the local Wildlife Trust reserve for a whole host of species. If you’re really keen, then an early morning outing to discover the dawn chorus is a must. Plenty of robins, blackbirds, song thrushes and other characters defending their territories and attracting mates with beautiful, bursting birdsong.

This gelatinous form is definitely a favourite find. Although it’s not just ponds and lakes that are home to this squidgy subject. Tractor ruts, big puddles, and ditches are also great places to check for it on your spring outings. Remember to be careful near water. Of course, these are just a few examples of spring signs. Once you get out and look for them, you’ll find there are plenty more. Why not start a nature journal of your discoveries? Include dates and descriptions so that next Spring you’ll have something to compare them to. Just don’t let the season pass you by; pull on your wellies and get the family outdoors to explore your local area for its signs of Spring.

Jeni is a nature writer inspired by British wildlife. Through her writing she hopes to inspire others to seek out their own wild sights. seekingwildsights.co.uk

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WINDOW SHOPPING Country Child seek out properties with substantial open-plan family living spaces.

Trowbridge, Wiltshire

£950,000 Oak House is a luxury contemporary home designed by the award-winning architect Ian Payne with excellent specifications and versatile accommodation. Located in the popular Wiltshire village of Southwick bordering the Country Park with stunning wildlife views. The property offers generous accommodation, circa 4000sqft, with a bright and open-plan living area opening onto a generous terrace on the first floor. The flexible accommodation within Oak House lends itself to being a five-bedroom property with the entertaining space in the basement fitted for a gym, sauna, games room and fully equipped cinema. EPC rating C

Gillingham, Dorset £895,000

A superb contemporary barn conversion which has incredible light and spacious accommodation and was built to take full advantage of the views offered by the location. There is a useful utility room great for boots or dogs after a long walk in the surrounding countryside. The specification includes a variety of mod cons from air source heating system, MVHR heat recovery system and aluminium frame windows. EPC rating TBC

 yopa.co.uk

Wells, Somerset £750,000

A four double bedroom contemporary home with substantial living accommodation, large gardens and presented in an immaculate condition. Located at the rear of the house is a substantial open-plan kitchen/dining/ living area, an incredible room with two sets of bi-folding doors which open out to the patio and large gardens beyond. EPC rating D

cooperandtanner.co.uk

lodestoneproperty.co.uk

Alton, Hampshire £699,950 Newly built with an impressive frontage and double integrated garage, it is clear that the Henley is a substantial executive home of space and style. Step inside and you won't be disappointed, with a stunning kitchen / dining / family area stretching the full width of the property and forming the heart of your home. EPC rating TBC

redrow.co.uk

Interior

IDEAS Mother's Day

 Mother's Day Floral Bath Salts, with Rose Petals £1 poundland.co.uk  The Pompomorium Handpainted, pom pom filled, personalised initial frame. £35 andsotoshop.co.uk  Long lasting pink wildflower small dried flower bouquet. £19.99 insideouthome.co.uk  Mini Pom Pom Basket - Peach £20  postcardshome.co.uk  Artisan wooden tea box. £13. kinfolkdecor.co.uk  Mum Tin £1 poundland.co.uk

 Reusable Bamboo Coffee Cup. £17 wearthlondon.com  Pastel Figure No1 Poster £14.95 desenio.com  Personalised Love Mum Mini Plant Pot £14.99 dobbies.com  Beautify Rose Gold Gin Glasses. £19.99 beautify.com  Wife Mum Boss 11oz Ceramic Mug £7.99 artylicious.co.uk  Dorset's own Lucy’s Farm, I Love Ewe Maaaa Mother's Day Candles £15 lucysfarm.co.uk

OPEN for Business

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS Wyke Farms, the UK's largest independent cheese producers and producers of renewable energy, today announce the completion of their new export ‘centre of excellence' based in Wincanton, Somerset. Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm launch new nursery called Brambles Outdoor Nursery. Hampshire's The British Craft House received recognition in the multi-achievements of women that have proved critical to society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hampshire based BASE Bordon Innovation Centre launches space company! Dorset Tea announced the launch of its new fully sustainable packaging.

GnT? Yes please!

aving developed 12 years of expertise in the industry designing bespoke interiors for private homes and yachts in the UK and abroad, Gemma Tuersley felt that 2020 was the year to launch her own design studio in Wiltshire. And what a year 2020 was! But despite the challenges Gemma Tuersley Interiors has been busy and well equipped to work from a distance and, as and when site visits are necessary, all procedures are in place to ensure the safety for all. Creating adaptable living spaces that support work, home schooling and relaxation is the design challenge of the new year, and one that undoubtedly benefits from the expertise of an empathetic interior designer. As a working mother of two small children,

Gemma fully understands how a home must function for all the family and takes time to listen and understand her clients’ lifestyles. Beginning by getting to know all the members of a household (pets included of course!), Delivering creative floor plan and layout solutions to maximise space, drafting professional lighting schemes, curating furniture, sourcing fabrics, advising on colour and room styling are just some of the many skills that Gemma’s clients call upon. ‘It’s a real privilege of my work to see the impact that redesigning a space can have,’ Gemma explains, ‘often, simple design tweaks can make a big impact on the day to day enjoyment of our homes and ultimately, the quality of time that we spend together.’ Whilst always keeping her clients contemporary needs at the fore, Gemma also has an eye to the future, ‘As a parent, I am mindful of the legacy that interior design has for the next generation, whether that is specifying certain materials or when planning a layout. This sustainable approach which takes into account people’s wellbeing is evolving as a really exciting part of interior design nowadays.’ If your seeking interior design help, Gemma and her efficient, approachable team are able to help. gemmatuersley.co.uk

Meals from TEALS

EALS is a new eco-destination farm shop at the North/South Cadbury Junction of the A303 in Somerset just down the road from Hazelgrove Prep School, built during lockdown. This highly sustainable project employed new and innovative techniques, using mostly local businesses and suppliers. The result is a highly energy efficient, and attractive building which blends into the landscape, and provides a shopping space which complies with new social distancing regulations. Visitor's can expect to enjoy a colourful food-market selling sustainably sourced local products from groceries, fresh fruit and veg, meat and cheese, fresh bread, delicious take-away food, to gifts all under one roof. Powered by renewable energy the team are putting in eight electric car charging points at Easter. It is said to be the first low plastic, fuel-free stop on the A303 route and is pending B Corp status. Founders Ash and Nick Sinfield are steadfast in their commitment to sustainability. Nick said: “It’s our mission to make a positive contribution to the region and this begins with the building itself." The duo have invested in high quality solar panels and technology to meet their energy requirements and taken care to preserve wildlife corridors, re-used soil from

foundations to create new habitats, planted hundreds of trees and sown metres of meadow as well as fields to grass. They also aim to minimise single use plastic, both in store and in their supply chain, the packaging is almost all fully recyclable. They are early adopters of innovative, next generation materials and wish to work with carefully chosen farmers and suppliers, with strong ethics who care for the planet. TEALS certainly offer an uplifting environment where customers can shop for locally and carefully sourced groceries whilst caring for the planet. You can even get a coffee to drink while you do your weekly shop and then take a pre-prepared “kitchen supper” home with you. Visit the team to explore for yourself: 1 Orchard Lane, South Cadbury, BA22 7FS teals.co.uk Open 7 days a week.

Flower Power

rom a little Dorset village comes a wonderful community initiative supported by the Blackmore Vale Partnership. The Fontmell Magna village alongside the Partnership have enlisted the help of over 50 volunteers to create The Fontmell Friendship Garden, which is primarily growing flowers for you to cut and enjoy. Spokesperson for the initiatve, Sian Highnam said "We have 25 villagers growing seeds, 9 members of the art group painting plant identification plaques for the garden, the craft group making bunting, the local school growing sunflowers and wildflowers and many many more helping to fill the raised beds with donated soil and mulch, or assembling wooden tubs, or promising to dead head plants and tend the garden. There is a real buzz being generated and it is heartwarming to see the tangible benefits of the project already in the community." The idea of a cut garden came from the group as they recognised the benefits of being outdoors for well being and general health and will aim to bring people together, cutting flowers to bring a bit of joy and colour to these tough days. Their local social prescribing team are always looking for opportunities to support the health and well being of their patients in creative ways. Gardens provide opportunities for socialising, exercise and enjoyment, which will help loneliness and isolation. It has never been more crucial in these times to establish important links to look after

ourselves and each other. The Garden intends to have a manageable area with six raised beds measuring 10 foot by four foot, which will provide flowers to cut from May until the first frosts. The flowers are there to be enjoyed by the community and are encouraging villagers to plant seeds and seedlings, and to cut flowers for your own enjoyment. There are many local firms on board supporting but the initiative is happy to hear from more, plus more volunteers too. To enrole please contact Sian Highnam on email garden.fmvh@mail.com

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Marks

Train and Gain

ing Edward VI School, Southampton, is to become the vaccine training centre for the St John Ambulance. King Edward’s is providing its facilities for the use of St John Ambulance, as they train hundreds of volunteers to carry out vaccinations in Southampton and surrounding areas. The Head of King Edward VI School, Mr Parker, said in a statement: “We all know that getting the vaccine out to those in need most is a tremendous logistical exercise. It needs huge numbers of trained volunteers to carry out the vaccinations, at an unprecedented scale and speed. St John Ambulance will be playing a critical role in this endeavour and we are delighted to offer our assistance.” While the school is the oldest in Southampton, with a long and distinguished history stretching back over 460 years, King Edward’s is also a vibrant and modern institution and in the first Lockdown, the DT department supplied PPE to Southampton Children’s Hospital and Hedge End Medical Centre.

Art Accolades

eehurst Swan pupils have come first in two categories and runners up in another two in the ISA south west regional art competition! Maddy (Year 11) won the Key Stage 3 and 4 sketchbook category with an array of colourful and intricate drawings exploring the theme of contrast. The competition judge commented, "This is a wonderful collection of artwork, cuttings, and notes – it shows a strong sense of drawing ability and I love the fact that every time you look at it, your eye finds something new to explore. Well done Maddy!" Maddy is a Leehurst Swan art scholar and consistently creates exceptional pieces of work. Mrs Gimenez, GCSE art teacher remarked, "Maddy is a very talented artist and success in

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

Time for a Change

inchester College has announced a new vision and significant programme of change for the school. The Governing Body is confident that the changes will enable the school to continue its unique approach to education, based on values which have endured for centuries. The changes include: Increasing access, the admission of girls and day pupils into the Sixth Form, a growth in the school’s bursary provision, with the initial objective of a 25% increase, to 150 pupils by 2024 and an expansion of the school’s online learning provision to provide greater opportunities for collaboration with the maintained sector. In addition to modernising what the school teaches and developing the school site. Headmaster, Dr Tim Hands, said: “This announcement is the product of discussions over many years and I am delighted to take them forward. Our founder, William of Wykeham, was a philanthropist and visionary who revolutionised education, and it’s his tradition of looking ahead that we seek to continue.”

the ISA art competition is a wonderful way to celebrate the work she has been producing." Amelia (Year 8) topped the Key Stage 3, 3D art category with her ceramic piece entitled "The Art Cupboard Comes to Life!" The competition judge commented, "I really like the sense of humour and fun in this piece of artwork. It shows great skill and imagination and brought a smile to my face. Well done!" Mr Liversage, Head of Art said, "This is fully deserved. Amelia works so well in art and in this piece, she has really found her voice." Luke (Year 9) and Lois (last year’s Year 11) took second spot in their categories, Key Stage 3 2D art and Key Stage 4 textiles, respectively. Luke’s 2D piece is a print, entitled Creative Hands, which shows how we can use our hands creatively, in this case using hand-bells. Lois’ large textile piece was inspired by ripples on the surface of water. It is made from fabric using batik, hand painting and machine embroidery techniques.

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