Country Child Autumn 2020

COUNTRY CHILD Autumn 2020

Your Local Free Family Magazine

Issue: 40

THE SANDWICH GENERATION The financial juggle for modern day families

WORKING PARENTS Is working from home the new normal?

TRIED AND TESTED Keeping an eye on them

JUST SAY YES A father and son journey

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

PREP SCHOOL FOR BOYS AGE 4-13

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1ye0ars Welcome to Autumn

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elebration time! We are in double digits! Where has 10 years gone? 10 years ago in the summer of 2010 a little Country Child was born and what a journey we have been on. This momentos year will be one never to forget as we see unprecedented new ways of existence and we feel, we as a country are doing really well. So well done to you all, parents, children, teachers, key workers and businesses. We all came together and overcame and we will continue to do so with the love and support of local communities.

No truer story told of grit and determination, to overcome all the odds on pages 10 and 11 from local dad Geoff Long who tells us all about his father and son trip around europe which has made it into the newly released book: 'The Book of Yes!'. A fabulous buy if you're looking for inspiration and encouragement.

As parents we've all recently been unsure of our next family chapter as our employment hangs in the balance. So is working from home the new norm? Can it give us a better

work life balance? On pages 28 to 31, we delve into the world of redundancy, working from home and how to return to work whilst looking after your family.

When juggling the family roles and responsibilities, finance always has a big role to play. Alongside our employment research, local wealth management company Peter Harding Practice explains the difficulties for the Sandwich Generation on pages 22 and 23. If you need help to find your way then this is sure to give you some great advice on which direction to take next.

In a world full of uncertainty we focus on our proud milestone and of the many lockdown birthdays also mildly celebrated over the last few months. Turn to page 9 to go big and bold with some great party ideas and pieces.

Perhaps consider one of our Country Child Loves items for a gift or present for a loved one on page 13. And don't miss the great competition to win a gorgeous Rupert and Pip yoga book and posters. Get your colouring pens at the ready and your best asana pose sketched down and email to win!

Another bundle to be won on pages 14 and 15 with food manufactures Piccolo, who have shared a lovely autumnal food recipe and explains how in lockdown we as parents became better chefs.

The Country Child household may dissagree however!

Many a recipe were tried and tested through the summer, some worked, many didn't. Then once the pots and pans were all washed up, time reverted to the children playing on their digital devices. So since the lockdown, has your children's screentime increased? If so, turn to page 20 and 21 to see if your child could do with a check up at the opticians.

Talking of things to do on the never ending parent list, the events scene looks to get back up and running. Now we are able to showcase some innovative outside entertainment, so flip to page 19 for some really exciting places to go and visit, especially for Halloween.

We hope you enjoy our modest but courageous issue for autumn 2020 and hope you all stay safe, but continue to be brave and look to support each other, especially our fellow independant businesses. Take care.

Meet the team...

Follow us

@countrychildmag @countrychildmagazine

PUBLISHER

Jo Leigh jo@countrychild.co.uk

Media Sales Matthew Cull

matthewcullmedia @gmail.com

Cover Photography by

Millie Pilkington

CONTRIBUTORS: Geoff Long, Karen Pumfrey, Noel McDermott, Lorna Carter-Blake, Joyce HutchinsonSarah Wison, Peter Harding and Jo Hudso.

CREATIVE ARTWORK: Jo Vincent Art and Illustrations

Who will you for?

Registered charity number 296645.

@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.

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Contents 28

Autumn 2020

13

Country Child Loves Our top picks!

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Working Parents What the future holds

What's in Store Birthday Bash Beauties

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The Sandwich Generation Financial advice and help

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Tried and Tested Is it time for an eye test?

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Just Say Yes Overcoming Challenges

Interior Ideas Down on the Farm

7 Family Ramblings - New writer Charlotte Blake joins us to share her family antics.

9 What's in Store - To celebrate your special day and our mighty milestone.

10 & 11 Just Say Yes - Local Dad Geoff Long shares his father and son journey.

13 Country Child Loves - Editor's best buys and picks for this season.

14 & 15 Food Glorious Food - Recipes galore and win a food prize bundle.

17 The Great Outdoors - Garden Games and sprouting pencils!

19 What's On - A guide to socially distanced entertainment.

20 & 21 Tried and Tested - Too much device time? Is it time for an eye test?

22 & 23 The Sandwich Generation - Financial advice and help.

25 Window Shopping - A selection of local stamp duty free stunners.

27 Interior Ideas - Down on the Farm.

28, 29, 30 & 31 Working Parents - Is working from home the new normal?

33 Open for Business - Business news from your local area.

34 Top Marks - News from the local schools.

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What's On Socially Distanced Entertinament

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Come and visit us this autumn!

To arrange a personal tour of the school site, email registrar@kes. hants.sch.uk. @kessouthampton

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

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

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

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

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

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Family Ramblings...

Written by Charlotte Blake

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very year that goes by, I try to convince myself a child's birthday party is an essential part of childhood.

Each year I forget about the blood, sweat and tears that goes in to organising simply putting a smile on my offspring's and his school chums faces. Blissfully ignoring but also completely more than aware of what is about to unfold, again!

Not to mention the days first challenge - organising and arranging perfectly the bountiful gifts and paraphernalia that comes along with dressing the morning birthday table. The day is either made or broken by this declaration of love.

Get it wrong and it could spell tears and tantrums. Maximum impact has to be achieved for those all important instafeeds for later life reminiscing. Why do we put ourselves through this? But we do, so let's move on to the days events.

"Can we get a bouncy castle this year or a bucking bronco? Pleeeaaasee!!!" said Henry expectantly.

"Listen darling, what's the theme? Give me a topic and we can work from there?"

I say.

This year he has chosen his 6th party to be a Star Wars affair with pin the tail on BB8, Darth Vadar pinata and the themed accompanied gift bags and tableware...

In my day that would have seen me through to the next birthday celebration, but oh no, there needs to be a show

stopper these days! However I'm pretty sure you can't get a bucking wookie or a bouncy starship enterprise!

"How about a secret mission/challenge to save the galaxy with games thrown in along the way, prizes too?!" I say hoping this will impress...

"Yeah OK, but can I win all the prizes.

It is my birthday...?" he said flippantly.

"Er No... I'm not sure that is quite in the spirit of the day Henry." I say, fingers crossed that has given him something to think about.

Leaving our soon to be 6 year old to think about our conversation, I set about making space treasure hunts, clues, decorations, prizes, games - you name it I made it. It all looked so great, if I do say so myself.

The day arrived and we were ready for our party guests, who were really just excited to be in apres school territory. I looked at our little guests eagerly awaiting what was in store and yes unashamedly I did make a point of showing the children all that had been created and I felt a lack of appreciation but it wasn't about my artistry, so we went on to explain the games that lay ahead. A few moments later we had some dazed and confused faces who must have thought: 'What was this military coo of games and organised chaos?'

We pressed on regardless and am pleased to report all went well with

most party members covertly receiving a treat or prize of some kind with Henry proudly presenting each one with great enthusiasm.

The change of behaviour towards the gift giving was a surprise, so I whispered "See, it's nice to receive gifts but even nicer to give them..."

"Yes, I'm going to be so popular!"

I did not have the energy or heart to burst his bubble, we all have to learn somewhere. That life lesson can wait for a few more years.

After a surprisingly successful but exhausting few hours of full on fun, we still had half an hour before parents came to pick up their brood, so we set about the clearing and throwing away and I managed to catch a glimpse of the boys happily running around the garden, free from rules and regulation.

The thought crossed my mind 'I wonder if I should have just let them dictate the time spent together next year?'

Maybe something to consider or am I just looking for a reason to take a year off?

I've got a year to decide...

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 all can ony make for one thing, many funny and also moving memories to share.

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1ye0ars

What´s in Store

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Let's Celebrate!

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EDITOR'S PICK 3 5 4

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 1. Rose Gold Party Balloon Bouquet £6.99 candleandcake.co.uk  2. Jungle Party Masks, Panda £5 shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk  3. Sharky and George Party Planners and Events Company. Enquire for prices. sharkyandgeorge.com  4. Easter Floral Paper Party Plates Buckets Napkins And Cups £1 Per Pack poundland.co.uk  5. Party Champions Plates - £4.25 Party Champions Boot Shaped Napkins - £5.00 Party Champions Candles - £4.25 Party Champions Table Cover - £5.75 talkingtables.co.uk  6. Rex London Party Pinata Sydney The Sloth Portrait £14.95 rexlondon.com  7. Plastic free and eco-friendly Trickster Party Bags £6 thepaperpartybagshop.com  8. Aqua Butterfly Party Bag £5 ellajames.co.uk  9. Uni Chalk markers £2.99 uniball.co.uk  10. Harry Potter Party Table Set £9.99 partypieces.co.uk  11. Plastic Free Party Bag Fillers Various from £1.20 thepaperpartybagshop.com  12. Large Floral Birthday Banner Hire £15 bigbeautifulbunting.co.uk 

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Just Say Yes!

ILLUSTRATION: JO VINCENT ART AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Local Dad Geoff Long explains why he had to get in involved with the charity initiative - The Biggest Book of Yes. Be inspired by his journey and others, you may find you have more in common than you would have ever imagined.

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o you ever get that feeling that life is getting busier and busier? Of being bombarded with information, facts and questions from every angle and through a multitude of communication channels? Updates from schools, questions from the kids, offers from companies, not to mention a tsunami of blogs, images and memes from the plethora of social media platforms. All of this on top of the everyday tasks of shopping, managing family squabbles and earning a living.

So often I find myself working flat-out to wade through all of this and I’ve noticed it’s easy to get caught in a place where dealing with the ‘admin’ starts to consume the majority of my time. It detracts from where my focus should be, looking for ways to incorporate rewarding experiences into mine and my family’s life.

The constant challenge of keeping things interesting is an approach that has permeated my life to a greater or lesser extent, sometimes I’ve failed spectacularly and other times it’s lead me to embark on some life-changing adventures.

What is important to me is that I keep reflecting on where I am, whether I’m stuck in a rut and what changes, whether big or small, I can make to bring

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things back to a better balance.

I’ve recently been involved in contributing to a book called The Biggest Book of Yes – a compilation of 49 stories from head editor and author Jon Doolan and other different authors who've written about their own challenges and ways that they said ‘YES!’ to life. The stories cover everything from getting up 2 hours earlier every day, to epic overland trips across the Himalayas, and it brings together an amazing collection of personal accounts of how individuals have shifted things in pursuit of a more fulfilling life.

This has created an incredible book that makes for an amazingly emotive, entertaining and inspirational read. It’s also all for charity, raising money for the Teddington Trust, with ALL proceeds from the book going to help those with the genetic condition Xeroderma Pigmentosum which causes extreme sensitivity to sunlight and UV radiation. It's been 6 months in the making, with a fantastic volunteer team of authors, artists and editors, pulling out all of the stops to create one of the most inspirational collections of adventure stories you'll ever read – includingstories from parents who have embraced the challenge of pursuing adventures with their children.

“ ....Finally, if I ever need reminding why this is all so important, I recall the last line of Mary Oliver’s poem The Summer’s Day; “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”....

“

I wrote Chapter 25: Go Daddy! - about being a single Dad, and a bike-packing trip my son Josh and I took around Jersey together when he was 5 years old. I speak of the stigma I felt of being a single parent (whether real or self-imposed) and how I’ve always tried to take him, and now my new partner plus 2 year old, on adventures big and small wherever possible. I’m a great advocate of engaging and empowering kids to realise their potential.

Getting them to tackle things that they don’t realise they can manage until you show them it’s possible. The selfconfidence this develops in them transfers to all aspects of their lives and is great for building a trusting relationship.

I’m keen to emphasize that any changes we might make or challenges we undertake don’t need to be heroic. For a kid who is used to grabbing a tablet at every opportunity - going for a bike ride somewhere new, climbing a hill or camping out in the garden, can mean the world to them and seem like an awesome adventure. I also think it’s important to acknowledge that they don’t all need to be raring successes. Sometimes it’s the times you get lost, breakdown or end up doing something completely different than you planned that make for the most memorable experiences. The phrase “we’ll look back and laugh...”

springs to mind!

It’s also important to say that these experiences are more than just a temporary distraction. Whilst in the short term they will help to take our minds off immediate issues we are facing, they also provide a perspective and vital space that allows for some reflection, a chance to calm a little, breathe and hopefully deal with the more everyday tasks in a better way once we’re back in the thick of it.

So if you’re looking for inspiration and motivation, The Biggest Book of Yes is a treasure trove of ideas from people who have taken big and small steps to reclaim something they were missing in their day-to-day lives. We can find all kinds of reasons to avoid doing something different finances, kids, perceived ability, time, age, the weather...

And whilst many things might influence what we can do, none of them need stop us.

Finally, if I ever need reminding why this is all so important, I recall the last line of Mary Oliver’s poem The Summer’s Day; “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

You can buy The Biggest Book of Yes at amazon.co.uk

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WIN A COPY

LETS GO ECO

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ollowing on from their first book called 'Rupert and Pip’s Yoga Adventures: Triumphing the Bullies!’,, 'Lets Go Eco!' is part of the same ‘Yoga Adventures’ series, and follows the same style of Yoga and Mindfulness, with a similar format and design, but with its own unique ECO theme: Appreciation and wonder of the planet.

Told with a rhyming story, the book can be read as a standalone story and/or used for its very own unique bespoke Yoga sequence - in this case, the ‘Wisdom Sequence’. Parents can join in too!

Ideal for 3 to 8 years. £8.99 rupertandpipyoga.com WIN WIN WIN: To win a copy and 2 yoga posters from Rupert and Pip, simply submit a drawing of your favourite Yoga pose to: hello@rupertandpipyoga.com (There are 2 categories under 7 and 7 to 12 - there will be runner up prizes too! Deadline: 1st November 2020)

BEING KIND

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n uplifting and beautifully designed book that shows young readers how small acts of kindness have the power to change the world. In this follow-up to her 2018 book Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave, award-winning author and illustrator Jessica Hische takes young readers on a new, extraordinary journey that encourages them to be helpful, patient, gentle, honest and, above all, kind. This book shows children how each small act of kindness has the potential to change the world – or at least someone’s day – for the better. Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind, a unique book that is a reminder to all readers, young and old, that the smallest kind gesture can make the biggest difference. £6.99, 2-5 years triggerpublishing,com

EDITOR'S PICK

EASY AS... A, B, C

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Hampshire based lady Katie Carrick-Buchanan has just launched Flora & Fauna. Supplying beautiful new collections of mounted and framed Alphabet Botanical Prints and personalised originals, ideal as a perfect childs christening present or gift for any person - any age. Prices from £25. floraandfauna.uk

TONIEBOX

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he Toniebox (£62.95) is an intuitive speaker system that is revolutionising story time for children thanks to its lack of screens and complicated controls. It is an easy, fun and interactive way for three to eight year olds to play their favourite stories and songs – simply place a Tonie on top of the box and the audio content related to that Tonie will begin to play.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the iconic children’s book Guess How Much I Love You, where the Little and Big Nutbrown Hares discover love is not an easy thing to measure! Children will love listening to this much-loved classic whilst actively learning.

Each Tonie has a character and the Guess How Much I Love You Tonie is priced at £14.99. Tonies and Tonieboxes are available from John Lewis, Selfridges, Amazon, selected toy retailers/bookshops and via the tonies® website tonies.com.

Editors Comment: The quality and clarity is state of the art and the design is very innovative. Children will love placing the tonie on top to listen to new stories. A sure fire hit for young children!

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Food

GLOR IO

Spooktacular Sausages

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o help create the perfect socialy distanced Halloween party for your little monsters try these hot dog recipes from good old Ye Olde Oak, it’s so simple to do and looks great too! They are sure to be a frighteningly firm family favourite.

The Mummy Dogs

Witchy Fingers

3 Ye Olde Oak Classic hot dogs - 3 hot dog buns - Ketchup

Spider Dogs

Gently heat hot dogs for 5 minutes.

Once warm use a knife to cut a fingernail and knuckles into each hot dog. Add the hot dogs to the buns and add ketchup at the base of each one for a real quick trick or treat.

1 tin of Ye Olde Oak classic hot dogs - Small potatoes

1 tin of Ye Olde Oak Classic hot dogs - Pack ready puff pastry - Tomato Sauce - 1 medium egg Gently heat hot dogs for 5 minutes.

Roll out your puff pastry and slice into thin strips. Wrap the pastry around each hot dog, leaving some gaps to create the bandage look Googly eyes are optional and tomato sauce is recommended for the gruesome effect.

Empty hot dogs, including brine, into a sauce pan and heat gently for about 5 minutes. Cut the hot dogs in half, then slice into thin strips.

Boil or mash potatoes, shaping them into small round potato balls. Stick each slice of hot dog into the sides of the potatoes, creating the spiders legs. You can also add eyes using any ingredients, veg, herbs, even cheese!

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R IOUS

Food

Confident Cooks

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esearch carried out by Piccolo, one of the UK’s fastest growing premium baby and toddler food brands, shows that in the end, parents found cooking for and feeding their little ones easier during lockdown because they had more time to plan and cook.

In turn, their babies were more open to trying new foods; in fact, 68% have been feeding their little ones more fruit and veg during lockdown – with broccoli as the go-to green! In fact, 78% of those who said their cooking habits had changed said they’ll carry on cooking more once lockdown is fully lifted because of the nutritional benefits they reap.

The impact of Covid on all aspects of our lives are evident – from sleeping to shopping and working – and how we cook and feed our children is no exception. 46% of parents said, pre-Covid, they found it tough finding time to prepare healthy meals in a Baby Centre Report Food and Nutrition Study 2019. This is an extremely interesting change in direction, as pre-Covid, we were mostly focused on shaping the future and progressing Here's how to win a bundle of goodies from – however what we’re seeing now is a true return to more traditional, Picccolo! Simply email the age of your child to us: sustainable values with this huge increase in home cooking and shopping info@countrychild.co.uk by the 15th October 2020 locally.

Editor's decision is final. Subject to dietary requirements Cat Gazzoli, Piccolo founder, says: “As a mum myself, I know I found it challenging cooking three meals a day for my family. We want to continue supporting parents as best we can to encourage a more nutritious approach to feeding their little ones.”

At Piccolo, they believe that home cooking and trying a variety of tastes and textures is all part of the experience. They also believe in the importance of cooking and eating together as a family around the dinner table, so are hoping to support parents in their efforts to cook at home more with their organic cooking range and host of baby food recipes.

Piccolo's research found that lots of parents prefer to batch-cook and freeze to save on time, this will be especially important as we return to work and factor in time for commuting and socialising. Piccolo also discovered that 41% of parents find it difficult coming up with new ideas for their babies; simple and healthy recipes are a priority, as well as recipes to try out with the kids. Here is one example below...

Piccolo Organic makes healthy (and very tasty) baby meals, cooking products and snacks to help you get the balance right every day. The brand is partnered with City Harvest and Little Village, and gives 10% of its profits to charity. Available in all major retailers and its online store. mylittlepiccolo.com

WIN

SAUCE: Handful of fresh oregano or flat-leaf parsley, chopped to serve 1 small red onion, finely chopped 1 large garlic clove, crushed 50g natural yogurt, plus extra to serve 50g breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon dried oregano salt & pepper olive oil 4 tbsp 25g pine nuts, toasted

LAMB MEATBALLS IN A FETA & TOMATO BAKE

This one bake dish is great to make in advance and is a mediteraneanstyle crowd pleaser. Serve with couscous, quinoa or crusty bread and a salad or cooked beans and peas.

Preparation: 20 minutes | Cooking: 1 hour | Suitable from 12 months and the whole family

1 x 500g box of pasata Bread, couscous or cooked quinoa to serve 200g block of feta 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes 100ml vegetable stock 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes 2 tablespoons runny honey 1 tablespoon fresh or dried oregano MEATBALLS: 500g lamb mince

Mix all the meatball ingredients with lots of freshly ground black pepper and a big pinch of salt. Roll into 10-12 fat meatballs and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge. Heat the oven to 170C/fan 150C/Gas 3.

Put the olive oil in a frying pan and, in batches, brown the meatballs well on all sides, then scoop out onto a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain off the oil. Safety discard of any the remaining oil in the pan and add the chopped tomatoes, pasata, vegetable stock to the frying pan and bring to the boil, scraping up all the meaty bits. Transfer to a deep baking dish or oven tray. Stir in, cinnamon, chilli flakes, honey and oregano, and some seasoning. Sit the meatballs in the sauce, then cover the whole dish with foil. Bake for 1 hour. Turn the heat up to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Remove the foil and break over the feta in chunks, then put back in the oven for 15 minutes. When it’s ready, scatter with parsley, sprinkle with pine nuts and pop on a little yogurt.

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Fi Boyle Garden Landscape Design & Consultancy

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The Great Outdoors Sarah Wilson, contributor at GardeningEtc.com, the home of outdoor living, shares some easy and all year round garden ideas for all the family numbers while seeing them change, while older kids can learn about finding North and how we move around the sun. All you need is the sun to pop out from between the clouds. There are lots of ways to make a sundial, including drawing round your shadow from the same point at different times during the day. But the easiest way is to buy a kit.

T

hese garden ideas for kids will give you plenty of inspiration for the weekends, through the half terms and beyond.

CREATE A GARDEN DEN Children love to make dens in the house and creating a garden hideaway is a fun thing to do too. Don’t make it too easy for them though. Instead, encourage your children to use their imaginations to come up with ideas for how they want their den to look. String up a sturdy line or rope between the branches of adjacent trees or use bamboo canes to make a simple wigwam frame. Drape over an old sheet, throw or blanket. If you have a waterproof groundsheet from camping use this to line the inside of the den before piling on a duvet, throws and cushions to make a super snug space.

ORGANISE AN OUTDOOR TREASURE HUNT Getting out in the garden can be educational. Choose a nature-themed treasure hunt and kids will learn to identify things in their natural environment. Try theming the hunt – searching for bees, bugs and identifying leaves and flowers, or a checklist of sensory experiences such as cloud watching, smelling scented flowers, listening for birdsong and walking barefoot in the grass. Don’t make it too easy as it’s more fun if the riddle is hard to solve. The prize at the end could be a jam jar filled with coins or a bag of loot from the pound shop.

CONSTRUCT A SUNDIAL This activity is good for all age groups from four years up. Little ones will learn

flowers should then be arranged between two sheets of non-stick baking paper.

Alternatively a neat trick is to slip flowers inside coffee filter papers. Always make sure the flowers and foliage don’t overlap when arranging them. Insert into a large book and pile more books on top to add weight. In two weeks your flowers should be ready.

BUILD A BIRD FEEDER Attract more birds to your patch with a simple building project kids will love.

Bird feeders should be placed in a quiet and sheltered spot but they can also be attached to a window with suction pads.

Seeing them feed up close becomes a more personal experience for children. The RSPB recommend seeds, suet and peanuts for blue tits and sunflower hearts for finches.

BUILD A BUG SANCTUARY Choose a dark corner of the garden to build a haven with lots of nooks and crannies for insects to hide in. Help your children look for twigs, leaves, moss and bark. If you have any broken terracotta pots, bricks, old roof tiles or logs add them to the mix to provide plenty of cool damp places for bugs to hide in. Check out local skips for old pallets too, as these make an ideal base for building up layers.

If you want something a little more swish and you’re handy with a drill use wood to create a set of hollow interconnecting shapes you can then fill.

Build up layers of wood, bricks and logs, pushing moss and leaves into holes and spaces to create retreats. A cordless drill is ideal for drilling tunnels into logs.

PRESS FLOWERS FOR CRAFT PROJECTS Encourage children to find seasonal flowers in the garden that can be kept and used later for decorative art and craft projects such as cards, journals and framed pictures. Make sure they pick the flowers on a dry day after the morning dew has evaporated as the blooms need to be dry.

Trim off any stamens to avoid the petals getting stained and keep some leaves on the stem for a more natural look. The

Check this out!

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t’s the world’s first and only patented plantable pencil that grows into vegetables, flowers and herbs when you’ve finished using them.

Instead of throwing them out when they become too small to use, just plant the Sprout Pencils into soil, and water – the capsule cleverly dissolves and will sprout into anything from cherry tomato plants, sage and basil, to carnations and sunflowers. It’s a great way of demonstrating sustainability and encouraging children to think about recycling, innovation in natural materials and the environment. From £9.95 sproutworld.com

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28/01/2020 15:13

Country Show

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hose who love the countryside will be delighted to hear that the much loved Hampshire Country Sports Day, will be going ahead at Bereleigh Estate, East Meon, near Petersfield, on Sunday 13th September. The event, run in aid of the Countryside Alliance, will have a full programme of events, held in the large open spaces of the beautiful grounds at Bereleigh Estate where visitors can enjoy the attractions in the open air, with plenty of room for social distancing.

Gates open at 9.30am and the main ring events start at 10am, with the main programme running until 17.30. Entry costs: £13 for adults; under 16s go free. Please note tickets will be limited and are available by online pre-purchase. hampshirecountrysportsday.co.uk

What's On Some socially distanced entertainment

Tiger Day

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his September the Marine Conservation Society will run its annual Great British Beach Clean for a week of citizen science from 18 – 25th September 2020, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The charity is calling for more organisers than ever to adopt a 100 metre stretch of beach to clean and carry out a litter survey.

The Great British Beach Clean is more than just litter picking - people become citizen scientists and carry out a litter survey, recording what they find on the beaches to help show a national and international picture of the most common forms of litter. The Marine Conservation Society uses this data to call for policy change, tackling ocean pollution at its source.

During last year’s Great British Beach Clean weekend, citizen scientists across the UK collected over 500 litter items per 100m of beach, with nearly 11,000 volunteers taking part. 18th to 25th September mcsuk.org

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ith Part One of WW2: War Stories, a brand new exhibition, opening for 2020 at the The Tank Museum, don't miss the second day of tanks and the like at Tiger Day 14 on 19th September. aultons Park, the 10th best The first in august was a huge amusement park in the world success with a range of 'COVID as awarded by Tripadvisor, has safe' measures in place. announced the return of its popular Booking is essential so to family event, Happy Halloween, guarantee your tickets go to: with spooky fun to be had at Peppa tankmuseum.org Pig World with Peppa and friends Due to limited capacities as a result of COVID-19, all visits to Paultons Park are required to be pre-booked online. From 15th October to 2nd November 2020 paultonspark.co.uk

Hallow's Eve

Beach Clean

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Tall Trees

ighthouse, Poole launch an exciting programme of shows this October. Social distancing means that available seats will have at least a one-metre clear radius around and one show to look out for is Tall Trees: Shackleton. A joyful and gentle show about an adventurous dog who takes advantage of an open gate to break out of his routine. Saturday 17 October. 11am, 2pm. lighthousepoole.co.uk

Suggestions on this page are in line with social distancing rules applicable at the time of going to press. They may change so please check before travelling.

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Tried and Tested With 'screen-time' having increased for some children over the summer and lockdown, we check what the signs are for getting our childrens eye's tested.

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arents are being urged to get their children’s eyes checked after data from a national opticians reveals that 42 per cent of the under 16s they have seen over the last five years have required glasses or contact lenses.

Encouraged more so now after long periods on devices in lockdown.

Failure to address vision problems or eye health issues as early as possible can lead to difficulties developing key abilities such as spatial awareness, motor skills, sensory development, communication and social skills. It can also affect education and learning at school or college.

Although young children may struggle to articulate if they’re having problems with their eyes, here is a useful checklist of some warning signs that parents and carers can look out for.

Royston Bayfield, founder and managing director of Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, said: “We’ve seen thousands of under 16s across our growing

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D oes your child regularly rub their eyes or squint?

D o they close one eye or try to obscure their vision on purpose when reading or looking at objects?

H ave they increasingly complained that their eyes hurt, especially when using screens or reading?

D o they suffer from headaches or find it difficult to pay attention and focus when you’re interacting with them?

D o they sit very close to the TV or hold screens or books very close to their face?

H ave they suddenly started to try and avoid doing things like writing, homework or reading?

Are they confused when reading, writing, drawing or carrying out other activities?

Are they more sensitive to light than usual, or find that their eyes are watering excessively?

number practices across the UK over the last five years, and our internal data shows over 40% of these needed glasses or contact lenses. Often parents don’t realise there is a problem, and although there are some signs to look out for, we’d always advise getting a proper eye examination – particularly as many will have missed their routine appointments due to the lockdown. It’s not just vision that can be an issue, there are other health conditions that can be identified through thorough eye tests.”

Eye examinations at nationwide opticians are available for free on the NHS for under-16s or anyone aged between 16 and 18 and in full-time education. At Bayfields, the trained optometrists examine overall eye health, as well as vision. bayfieldsopticians.com

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The Sandwich Generation Peter Harding Wealth Management shows us how to ensure a safe financial future for yourself, your parents and your children during the coronavirus pandemic

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embers of the sandwich generation, those individuals in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are bringing up their own children while also providing care for their parents, face increased financial strain in the best of times. Pulled in different directions, they are also trying to save for their own retirement during a critical period in their working life.

In the current coronavirus crisis, the sandwich generation is facing additional challenges, with the pandemic impacting jobs, businesses, schools and home life.

It’s the perfect storm of financial, emotional and time pressure. You might be in a senior role at work and have to juggle management responsibilities with the challenge of working from home. Or you might have been furloughed from your current role and face the prospect of a cut in income. Added to this, there are concerns about the performance of your pension and other investments given recent stock market falls.

So, amid this perfect storm, what can members of the sandwich generation do?

A financial adviser can help to work out your priorities and put a plan in place to build wealth for the future. In the meantime, here are some tips on how to support your parents and your children – while also taking care of yourself.

How to help your parents Whether your ageing parents live with you, by themselves or in a care home, this is an anxious time. Whilst money is never an easy topic to talk about, having a conversation will allow you to plan for this period of uncertainty more effectively.

Do you have a clear understanding of your parents’ assets, income sources, living expenses and debts? Do they have life insurance or long-term care insurance? Are they claiming all the benefits they are entitled to?

Involving a financial adviser at this point can remove emotion from the equation and restrict the discussion to the facts and figures – for example, if you need to adjust your financial plan due to a change in circumstances caused

by the coronavirus crisis.

Talk to your parents about financial scams in order to help prevent them from falling victim to online or telephone fraud. Keep in regular contact (via phone or digitally) and make sure they’re aware that you’re happy to discuss any money concerns that they may have.

And though it is a difficult subject, it’s important to check that your parents’ affairs are in order. Will creation and legacy planning will be front of mind for many people during this time of uncertainty, and it’s worth taking a look to make sure everything is up to date.

Also note whether they’ve specified who can legally take control of their finances should they become unable to make decisions on their own.

How to help your children Whether your children are younger and home from school, or older and back living at home after their university has closed, or they have been laid off from their job, they will likely need increased emotional – and possibly financial – support.

Thinking about money as a family, rather than each generation trying to manage alone, is a great place to start, and has the added benefit of introducing younger generations to financial planning.

Ask yourself: what are you currently paying for childcare or schooling? Are you saving for a child’s education, or to help with a first-home purchase? Are loans and gifts to your children being structured in the most flexible or taxefficient way?

The impact of the coronavirus may change the answers to these questions, and a financial adviser can help you identify what to prioritise and how to adapt to current circumstances if needed – while still saving for the future.

Pensions and Junior ISAs are great opportunities to give children a financial head start, and it’s worth contributing even in times of volatility. In the Budget in March, the annual allowance for a Junior ISA was more than doubled to £9,000. A parent or guardian must set up the Junior ISA, but anyone can

pay into it, and there is no tax to pay on any income or gains. And even small contributions into a child or young person’s pension can make a big difference over the long term.

How to help yourself Remember, to continue caring for your children and your parents, you need to take care of yourself.

It can be tempting to try to predict the future, or react to events as they happen. Talking to a financial adviser can help you make a financial plan in a calm, rational way, rather than reacting to news stories or your own emotions.

Putting the right plan in place will allow greater opportunities to build wealth over time – fulfilling your retirement plans while still supporting other generations.

If you can, continue contributing to your own pension and savings.

Sacrificing saving today could result in financial strain tomorrow. In addition, life insurance and financial protection are relevant now more than ever – we may not like to think about death, serious illness and long-term sickness, but they’re especially important if others rely on you financially.

Use your time in lockdown to give your budget a spring clean. Are there monthly costs that you could eliminate or reduce? Are you using available tax breaks? You may even find there is an opportunity to make the most of a fall in share prices and invest for the future.

When markets have dropped, it can be a good time to save and invest. It may seem counterintuitive, but you are buying cheap stocks.

Look after you and yours. If you have any questions or concerns about intergenerational financial planning, just ask a financial adviser. They’re there to help.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Peter Harding Wealth Management on 01747 855554 or email peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk

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As more people work from home, the need for dedicated workspace is overtaking commuter requirements. The new Elan homes in Castle Cary, Somerset balance both. The Weavers Field development on Station Road includes generously proportioned four-bedroom homes and buying a home with an extra bedroom could be used as an office. Plus when you need to physically be in work, the local station is within a two-minute drive or a 10-minute walk.

Shaftesbury, Dorset £500,000

This extended five bedroom detached modern house presented in exceptional order offers brilliant levels of accommodation arranged over three floors, Internally, the property offers an entrance hall, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, sitting room with access to the sun terrace and mezzanine floor, five bedrooms with two of them being en suite including a wonderful master as well as a further family bathroom.

 elan-homes.co.uk/developments/weavers-field

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£450,000

Whitchurch, Hampshire £495,000

Constructed of local rubble stone, the Georgian double fronted façade brims with classical symmetry in this four bedroom character home. A two-storey converted barn in the driveway entrance, utilised as office space has a separately metered electricity supply, telecom and night storage heating, easily adaptable as storage or ancillary accommodation, subject to planning consents.

This extended 5-bedroom property offers great accommodation with various rooms for a home office Additionally, there's a formal dressing room on the first floor (originally a bedroom) a smart bathroom and the main bedroom has an ensuite.

Downstairs, there's a spacious living room, study and a spacious kitchen/ breakfast room with utility room. Outside is a walled garden and a garage.

Templecombe Somerset

ruralview.co.uk

brockenhurst.info

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Working Parents Is working from home the new normal? Here we talk to various professionals about parents working from home, redundancy, finding a job and how we as parents can return to the workplace.

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hat a year 2020 has been so far! Covid 19 has certainly turned the working world upside down in the past five months. At the beginning of the crisis prior to lockdown a lot of businesses were already getting set for their workforce where possible to work from home. Weeks prior to lockdown they were setting policies in place, checking health and safety and providing their staff with the necessary equipment to perform their duties from home. Their processes were already tried and tested by the time Boris made his announcement on 23rd March 2020.

So where did that action take various industries and where has it left our economy? Karen Pumfrey, a local Recruitment Consultant shares the impact it has had for some of her clients.

"Manufacturing remained strong for the companies that were producing products for the medical industry. We saw a lot of local companies change their production processes to manufacture equipment to help aid covid treatment. New processes were turned around within short timescales and it was truly amazing how these businesses did all they could to support the pandemic and continued to fully employ their staff. On the clerical side, a lot of businesses fully embraced the working from home set up, which allowed many parents to stay at home with their families and are now looking to continue into 2021 as this may well be a permanent fixture.

Our clients has proved the benefits to working from home and in some companies has seen productivity improve, not to mention the reduction

in overheads. Businesses who were sceptical of the inititaive have been overwhelmed by its success and opens up an exciting new world especially for working parents who have the added juggle of childcare.

It has however taken its toll on many parents and with the schools being closed, the additional home schooling has for some been very stressful. Alot of companies are supportive but for some employers it has not been an option so returning to the office to carry out their duties has been essential. Returning to work needs to be a well thought out process and every opportunity to accommoodate working from the office in the mornings and from home in the afternoons, for example, can all be negotiated. We have also seen in some industries utilising holiday allowance to be broken down into hours rather than

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orna Carter-Blake, MD of a local business training centre, DA Training and Consultancy, says however "Redundancy numbers are rising and their speed will accelerate once the furlough scheme ends. Measures need to be put in place now to support those people so they don’t have to wait an agonisingly long time to receive benefits. I expect the number of people in self-employment to rise sharply, as the jobs just won’t be there for them. So

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oel McDermott is a Psychotherapist with over 25 years’ experience in health, social care, and education and reports "As the government’s furlough scheme comes to an end, many businesses are looking at their staff returning to work in the forthcoming months.

It is vital that employers support the emotional wellbeing of their staff and working parents postpandemic and employees and employers alike must be aware that this is for the long run and long-term strategies are needed. There are many questions for HR managers to answer during this time in regard to working conditions, phased return and reasonable adaptations for staff returning who may have been ill, those who have suffered a bereavement of a loved one to the pandemic or are experiencing mental health issues as a result of the crisis. Many workers will be extremely anxious about being in the workplace or travelling there. Organisations must continue their support for physical and mental health and its current thinking about remote and flexible working.

half or full days so achieving flexibility around their children.

Now the schools are re-opening parents being able to work from could offer families a new flexibility to do the school runs without interfering with your working hours and giving you a greater work life balance. Some say this has produced a more productive workforce, Zoom and Teams meetings are now the way forward and can be used widely from recruiting to business meetings.

As the industrial, property and IT/cyber sectors grow and can not operate working from home, it is still too early to say for sure if working from home will be the new normal."

For job opportunities or how Karen could help diversify your workforce contact her team via the website: personnelselections.com

the Government shouldn’t just be focused on getting people back into conventional jobs but also help them to set up on their own. A big part of what we do for businesses is provide redundancy support and training, and in the past fortnight we have got considerably busier in that area."

For help with redundancy or training contact Lorna or a member of her team at datc.co.uk

A families economic insecurity is rife at the moment with many people not knowing if they have a job to return to and this anxiety is heightened by news reports of world economic collapse. The government has signalled how seriously it takes all of this with work stimulus packages but fear of loss of work has significant negative mental health impacts, as well as actual unemployment.

Our ability to manage the anxiety produced by these multiple uncertainties is compounded by the experience of having been through the lockdown of the pandemic. We are usually able to deal with a specific crisis that is time limited when we have a period of time to recuperate emotionally and psychologically, but this is not what we are faced with.

We are faced with a situation in which there is no time to reflect and recover but we are straight into the next level of the crisis with a potential for this to go on for some time. Each new phase of the pandemic crisis wears us down psychologically, challenging our resilience and the ability to bounce back.”

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Here Psychotherapist Noel McDermott provides tips for workers and businesses on how to cope with some of the challenges of returning to work.

• Accept these are challenging times and change your lifestyle accordingly.

• Adopt mentally wealthy approaches to life by ensuring core health strategies in place - good sleep hygiene, eating healthily, exercise, strong support networks, giving up or reducing almost to zero alcohol.

• Understanding signs of emotional struggle and when to ask for help: bad sleep patterns, appetite changes, losing interest in activities and friends, losing temper a lot, not being able to stop worrying, developing a sense of dread about life or the future, excessive tiredness, increased drinking, relationship struggles.

• Be aware this is for the long run, this isn’t over quickly, long term strategies are needed.

Advice on how to cope with your feelings of increased anxiety • Take a deep breath and practice having faith in the future, tell yourself it will all be ok in the end and if it’s not ok at the moment it’s not the end.

• Telling yourself positive internal stories reduces stress significantly.

• Helping others helps ourselves. Make time in your day whether on the way to or from work or in the workplace to do something kind/helpful for someone else.

• Take a challenging situation and find deeper meaning from it; moving into the bigger picture to explain our challenges to ourselves as purposeful reduces fear and depression.

• Make attachments to beliefs and ideas that express something more transpersonal, whether that is traditional spiritual or religious beliefs or believing in the power of love or nature is not important but having a sense that something bigger is at play is helpful in developing a growth mindset.

• Put the oxygen mask on yourself (not just the face mask) as if you are not meeting your own needs you will not meet any other needs. These basic needs are self-care, regular exercise, sleep/rest, hydration, social and emotional support.

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How Businesses Can Support Employee Wellbeing • Develop a pandemic mental health return to work curriculum.

• Use this opportunity to re-evaluate in house mental health services.

• Create a culture of openness around mental health problems.

• Develop asset based mental health approaches to retain staff.

Noel McDermott is the founder and CEO of three organisations, Psychotherapy and Consultancy Ltd, Sober Help Ltd and Mental Health Works Ltd. Noel’s company offer at-home mental health care and will source, identify and co-ordinate personalised care teams for the individual. They have recently launched a range of online therapy resources in order to help clients access help without leaving home, find them here: noelmcdermott.net/group-therapy/

1. Show you can adapt as the situation does The pandemic has proven that anything can happen. Emphasise any skills that prove you can adapt and work under constrained situations and you’ll stand a much better chance at landing a job.

Using relevant work experience to draw links with the current climate will also raise this chance further.

2. A clear and concise CV is vital Hiring managers will likely be sifting through CVs even faster than usual, so initial appearances mean everything - how a CV appears is just as important as the information it provides. Keep your CV concise with a mix of formats and the important information obvious - this visual balance will mean the reader focuses on what matters the most: your credentials.

3. Be visible and shout about your achievements Make it easy for potential employers to find out more about you by creating a professional online profile; one easy way to do this is by via LinkedIn. Regularly update it by showcasing the latest research as well as personal achievements – shouting about your success is a sure-fire way to grab someone’s attention, especially if it’s in refreshing ways like promo videos, collaborations and more.

4. Highlight relevant work experience The pub landlord recalled that he received applications from former stewards, restaurant managers and more. To snatch a job from experienced applicants, first and foremost highlight the skills you have that will transfer directly to the job at hand. This way, you could trump impressive candidates that don’t fit the role as well as you do.

5. Avoid bloating buzzwords Contrary to popular belief, cutting down on bloat words doesn’t make your CV less interesting. CVs should be tailored to each job, using only the relevant skills for the application. Research each vacancy beforehand to handpick the best skills to target and jumpstart you higher up in the list.

6. Include a professional summary To grab attention from the get-go, start with a professional summary: a concise overview of you and your talents. Doing this means the hirer has everything they need in a clearly worded package, which they can request to expand on if necessary.

7. Network network network!

Most job applications are now online, but that doesn’t mean you have to rely on this. Also known as the Hidden Job Market, some research suggests as many as 70% of jobs aren’t posted online. So if you excel in word-of-mouth to secure a job, keep practicing this alongside online applications.

For more CV and job hunting advice check out resume.io

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OPEN for Business

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS Somerset's Yeo Valley has topped the list as the nation’s favourite organic brand for the second year in a row in the Good Housekeeping 2020 Food Awards.

Congratulations to Hannah and her team who launched Herbs & Wild cafe under canvas at Wilton Shopping Village. Paultons Park, the home of Peppa Pig World, has been named

by Tripadvisor as the 10th best-rated amusement park in the world and the fourth best in Europe.The Angel & Blue Pig, Lymington now offer a Click-&-Collect service.

A Fine Heritage

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ith only 7% of shoppers saying they have "complete faith" in the current protective measures put in place by retailers, and with masks now compulsory in shops, local company Heritage Fine Foods (based in Coate Wiltshire) has extended their delivery areas further across the South West region. This will provide more customers with an alternative option of being able to buy fresh, locally produced fruit and veg along with meat, dairy and other household groceries and help eliminate the worry for those that are still not ready to venture out.

Heritage Fine Foods combines the modern-day convenience of online ordering with the friendly, at-yourdoor service of days gone by which has, since lockdown, proved invaluable for local residents. Along with the convenience of not having to drive to the supermarket, queue or walk the aisles wearing a mask with your grocery list, Heritage Fine Foods provides a first class customer service, with fantastic, freshly sourced local produce.

Ken Mortimer, Managing Director noted “Over the pandemic we saw our normal stream of sales to restaurants and food outlets suddenly dry up, we had to act quickly to save the business, we reignited our home delivery service (5 a day) as well as set up a drive through contactless service at the farm. These orders ensured we did not need to furlough any staff and we have now in fact increased our workforce. We are really keen for people to continue to buy from us and experience the fresh, local produce we offer, something we are really passionate about”.

Kay Mortimer, Operations Director added “We pride ourselves on amazing customer service and it has been heartwarming to see our online community grow and share the food they have been making, sometimes with ingredients they have never tried before. There are so many benefits to becoming a customer with Heritage, our produce helps local farmers and growers, cuts food miles and is value for money, we can also supply products you won’t always see in the supermarket”.

If you are a local business they can also supply fruit boxes and other key essentials for your workforce, great for motivating staff and promoting wellness.

For more information about Heritage Fine Food services please see: heritagefinefoods.co.uk

Tin and Tonic

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ew Hampshire-based Tin & Tonic is a bespoke mobile drinks bar for weddings, parties and events specialising in locally sourced gin served with premium tonics and garnishes, signature proseccos and artisan Somerset cider.

Launched through a recent redundancy circumstance Tin & Tonic founder Jo Hudson and family said: “As lockdown has eased and small events are allowed we have seen huge demand for our 1982 Rice Beaufort horsebox which has been lovingly restored and converted into a bespoke bar.

Our range of speciality spirits, cocktails and mocktails, as well as family-produced Old Jollop cider will turn even the smallest socially distanced garden party or gathering of friends in to a very special celebration. We have a passion for perfection and particularly where it comes to cocktails and ensuring that we tailor our events to the exact requirements of the host and their guests. Our specially sourced range of locally sourced artisan gins and prosecco make the most perfect Negroni, passion fruit fizz and a martini of which even James Bond would be proud."

For bookings and enquiries go to tinandtonic.co.uk

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TOP

Marks

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

A Bryanston Community Comes Together

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early 500 children in remote rural areas of Cambodia and Myanmar are now receiving an education for the first time thanks to the fundraising success of last year’s Charities Day organised by the Head Boy and Head Girl of Bryanston School in Dorset. No less than £54,000 was raised for United World Schools and, following an intensive construction and planning programme, both schools are now fully operational and full of enthusiastic youngsters who previously had no access to any form of schooling.

Working closely with local communities and tribal groups, the charity’s new school in Phnom Ro Eli in Cambodia is the only one in the area and is now providing an education for 235 young pupils from five surrounding village communities. Close community engagement has also featured prominently in the success of the charity’s school at Shay Kin in the Shan state in the east of Myanmar. Providing an education in a country with over 100 different ethnic groups and languages is extremely challenging, but the Shay Kin school is the now the charity’s largest in Myanmar as a result of a significant new extension funded by Bryanston’s Charities Day. “When we began our fundraising drive, we were determined to help make a difference to the lives of young people in some of the most remote and deprived areas of the world,” says Cameron Robertson who was Head Boy at Bryanston 2018-19. “Having exceeded even our most optimistic target, we are absolutely delighted that our efforts have resulted in such important facilities that now lie at the very heart of the local communities – even more so given the extreme challenges posed by the current Coronavirus pandemic.”

With little or no healthcare provision in such remote rural areas, both schools are also playing a central role in helping to raise awareness and minimise the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Once the current global pandemic is over, Cam and Zey are hoping to join other pupils and senior staff from Bryanston on a visit to Cambodia and Myanmar to meet local United World Schools’ representatives as well as pupils and teaching staff at the schools in Phnom Ro Eli and Shay Kin.

Results Day!

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espite the Covid-19 upheaval and controversial grading process this summer, Sixth Formers all over the counties have had many exceptional achievements. Well done to all students whatever your results, it has been an extraordinary year.

Kind Edward VI School Head, Mr Neal Parker, comments: ‘I can only express my admiration at the achievements of our outgoing Upper Sixth. They have been subject to the most extraordinary pressures and unprecedented challenges, but their results reflect their dedication and hard work over two years of A Level study.

Whilst we are all desperately sad that this year group was not able to demonstrate their learning and knowledge by sitting the exams, nonetheless they deserve heartfelt congratulations on some outstanding results. That over 56% of the results given at KES are at the highest possible level of A* or A grade; and that about 83% have received a B grade or better, is testament to the dedication of our King Edward’s pupils and teachers alike. These results are fully deserved by every student! This brilliant year group now leaves us with our warmest wishes for the future.’

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Judith Fremont-Barnes, Head of Milton Abbey School, said: "The Class of 2020 have achieved an excellent set of results! There are also some really exciting and hardwon individual triumphs among today's results and we are very proud of every one of our students. We are also deeply grateful for the dedication and expertise of their teachers and pastoral staff, who have supported them so well through their courses of study. They are off to courses as diverse as Pharmacology at the University of Bristol, War Studies at Hull, Film Making at Leeds Beckett, Farm Management at the Royal Agricultural University and Art at Manchester. We wish them every happiness and success."

Godolphin School Head, Emma Hattersley, remarked “These students have shown great fortitude, especially over the past six months. It is only right now that their diligence and sheer hard graft over the last two years is recognised by the examination boards, enabling them to move on to the next stage of their lives with confidence.

This was a bright year group so I am pleased that in the main, their efforts have been rewarded, although I do have concerns as to how some of the grades have been calculated.

Now is a time for calmness and student support as we work through the statistics and understand the implications for each individual. I am immensely proud of them all.”

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PHWM-A4Adverts_2020-V2_Layout 1 04/05/2020 08:57 Page 1

PROTECTING THOSE THAT MATTER We know that family is the most important thing in your life. So it’s good to know that, with the right advice, protecting your loved ones should the unthinkable happen can be easy – as well as immensely reassuring.

We offer a friendly and approachable service backed by the strength and security of a FTSE 100 company, St. James’s Place Wealth Management. And being local means we’re here whenever you need us. Together we can identify your protection needs, introduce you to the full range of options, and most importantly, create a tailored solution specifically for you.

We can’t prevent the unexpected from happening, but we can help you be fully prepared to face the future if it does.

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

30 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

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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.