Country Child Winter 2016 - Dorset and Somerset by Country Child

COUNTRY CHILD Dorset/Somerset

Your Local FREE Family Magazine

Winter '16/17-Iss:27

'AMBER'LIEVABLE TEETHING

Can Baltic amber really be a healing agent for teething babies?

SINGLE PARENT CLUB A new beginning for one mum-to-be

VILLAGE SCHOOLS

Sophie Pender-Cudlip celebrates these local institutions

PARK RUN 2017 Year Planner & Poster

The running craze for all of the family FREE

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

BBC's Mike Dilger goes 'wild' with his son Plan your year with our free wall planner aimed to keep busy parents organised. Your Local FREE Family Magazine

COUNTRY CHILD COUNTRY CHILD Your Local FREE Family Magazine

Plan your year with our free wall planner aimed to keep busy parents organised.

Free inSiDe th iS FRiS EE SUe

ssible and if you xt issue.

2017 Year Planner & Poster

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

A very warm welcome to our world!

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

Clayesmo re Pre-Prep and Nurs ery

Lovely, spacious classrooms, alive with colour and art, welcome them every morning and they settle in to small classes, meaning teachers have the time to get to really nurture them as individuals. Inspired teaching, with exciting projects for children to get their teeth into, coupled with creative and varied ways of learning, mean they have lots of fun while absorbing knowledge. Next to the classrooms is a gorgeous little garden where the children love to dig the earth and plant things and, just along from that, is the“Beech Walk”, where they take part in the ever-popular Forest School, learning all about outdoor living and basic survival skills. In addition to the normal curriculum, there are lots of exciting extra activities, taught by specialist teachers in dance, music, drama, swimming and sport, all made easier because they share the 62-acre Clayesmore site with the Prep and Senior Schools, so the Nursery and Pre-Prep children benefit from a host of amazing facilities. There’s a theatre, sports centre and pool, chapel and library and playing fields as far as the eye can see. Opening hours extend to offering free before and after school care to help busy parents and keep children entertained with all sorts of things: tag rugby, dance, football, hockey, pottery, tennis, art, nature club… And don’t forget, Clayesmore may be an independent school but you can still use your free early education entitlement for under 5s and just top up the rest, accordingly.

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

Call 01747 813155 • www.clayesmore.com

Clayesmore Advert for Country Child_210x297.indd 1

10/05/2016 15:30

Welcome to Winter

eason’s Greetings to our Country Child readers. I hope this issue finds you relaxed and ready for the forthcoming festive celebrations. I would love to be able to write that I’m fully prepared and organised but, no, that’s simply not the case. For yet another year running, I have a to-do list longer than my leg, let alone my arm and, if anything, it seems to be getting longer! But, surely Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if there wasn’t an element of last minute ‘headless chicken’ involved...right?! For those of you looking to take some time out from all of the planning, I hope you’ll enjoy thumbing through the pages of our winter mag; once again, Jo and I have had a lot of fun putting it together so switch the kettle on, put your feet up and take five! First up, I’m really excited to welcome TV presenter and writer, Mike Dilger, to the Country Child team. Head to our Great Outdoors page and you’ll see how Mike and his adorable son, Zachary, spend their free time together; he has some great ideas for the family to try out over the school holidays.

PUBLISHER

Jo Leigh jo@countrychild.co.uk

Those of you with young babies are likely to find Jo’s experiences with amber teething necklaces an interesting read; can something so natural really soothe painful gums? Turn to page 10 to find out more! We’re celebrating the role of the village school. Sophie PenderCudlip gives us a fascinating insight into just how important these educational establishments really are; not just for the pupils but for the wider communities, too. As the holidays approach, many of us are likely to be enduring long car journeys with our offspring...oh the joys! Fear not, car enthusiast Ryder Ryan is on hand to offer some tips for making the whole experience that little bit more bearable. Thank you, Ryder. I recently donned my running shoes and took part in Salisbury’s Park Run – a fabulous community event and something I’d really recommend to anyone looking to get fit. Turn to page 18 to see if I can entice you to do the same. As ever, we have our regular items for you to enjoy. The Doctor’s back! GP Alex Newman is on hand to answer some of your child-health related questions on page 31 – once again, some great advice from him. Our pull out calendar is full of enticing events taking place over the festive period, be sure to get them in the diary! Those of you still looking for present inspiration will find some great suggestions dotted throughout the magazine. On behalf of all of us here at Country Child, I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2017!

Meet the team...

EDITOR

Miranda Avis editor@countrychld.co.uk

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

Media Sales

Matthew Cull matthewcullmedia @gmail.com 07977 013348

Feature Writer

Sophie Pender Cudlip

Guest Writer Ryder Ryan

Cover and feature photography by

Millie Pilkington

CONTRIBUTORS - Alix Austen,Vicky Parkes, Mere C of E School, Chilmark and Fonthill Bishop Primary School, Bob Fox, Edward Pilkington, Angela Langford, Dr Alex Newman, Farnfields Solicitors, Alice Johnsen, Sophie Ambiguo, Rainy Day Box, Salisbury Playhouse, St Marys Catholic Primary School, Marnhull, Rob Barnes DISTRIBUTION - Matthew Cull and Sheree Creighton The Dorset Children's Foundation continue to be a lifeline to local children in need, helping to fund equipment, therapy and operations not covered by NHS funding.

Two Wimborne boys, Stanley Senior and Jakob Sales need your help in raising £10,000 to fund an operation. If you can help please email: leelasenior@me.com. For further details visit: www.facebook.com/stanleyshydrohouse or to donate: www.justgiving.com/stanleyshydrohouse OR www.facebook.com/TheDCFcharity

3 15:30

NOW OPEN

W E BELIEV E In making things properly. That simple is beautiful. And more than anything, that our homes should make us happy. Every day. What we don’t believe in is shortcuts. So every one of our kitchen cabinets is designed as a freestanding piece of furniture. It means it’s made as it should be from every angle. Even the back of a cabinet deserves to be beautiful. Suffolk kitchen by Neptune. Arundel oak dining table, £1,400. Keats pendant light, £74.

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20/10/2016 15:38:31

Contents 10 21

Winter '16/17

Great Outdoors BBC's Mike Dilger's passion for all things country, shared with son, Zachary

'Amber'lievable Teething Teething troubles?

Country Child Loves... Gifts for the family

Interior Ideas Furnishings of Fairies, Fantasy and Fiction

14 9

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s In Store Happy Baby Shower!

7 Family Matters - Looking at nurturing resilience in our children. 10 & 11 'Amber'lievable Teething - Teething tales and solutions. 13 Food Glorious Food - Expert Festive Food and Wine Pairing by Masterchef Finalist. 17 Single Parent Club - A new beginning for one mum-to-be. 23 & 27 Inside Out - Places to go and things to do. 24 & 25 Calendar Pull Out - Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on this quarter. 26 Toddler Timetable - Library times and activities. 29 Show and Tell - Live entertainment for the family, plus WIN Panto Tickets! 31 Doctor Doctor - The Doc is back to answer your family health-related questions. 37 Interior Ideas - Furnishings of Fairies, Fantasy and Fiction. 39 I.C.E - Ryder Ryan talks us through In Car Entertainment for families. 40 Kidzone - Comic strip and craft competition for kids and wordsearch. 41 Bookworms -Book reviews from Chilmark and Fonthill Bishop Primary School. 43 Top Marks - News and updates from local schools. 45 Open for Business - News and advice from the business community. 46 & 47 'Tis the Season - The New Nadder Centre and other innovative businesses.

Village Schools A celebration of these local institutions

Park Run The running craze for all of the family

23 Win Pant o tiCketS Page 29

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“Pastoral care is extraordinarily good” Tatler

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Family Matters W Nurturing resilience in our children e all want our children to succeed. However, there is growing evidence that the pressure to be the best – getting a string of A* grades, excelling at sports or racking up the most likes on Instagram – is having a detrimental effect on our children. Are they crumpling under the weight of our expectations as parents and as a society? In recent years, there has been a worrying increase in youth mental illness – with reported rates of depression, self-harm and eating disorders on the rise. Statistics show that the number of children and young people turning up in A&E with a psychiatric condition has more than doubled since 2009. While vulnerable children (such as those in care) are at greater risk, youngsters from socalled ‘normal’ backgrounds are also falling victim to conditions such as anxiety and depression. Schools emphasise the importance of achieving top results, as job opportunities for those who do not meet the grade dwindle in our globalised economy. Social media has created a new arena for competition and comparison, bombarding us with carefully created posts of ‘perfect’ lifestyles, bodies and relationships. For fragile teen egos, these unattainable images can increase feelings of inferiority and low self-esteem; we gawp at the lives of others and feel less and less satisfied with ourselves. However, as well as looking to external factors, maybe we as parents need to look at our own behaviour and the way we bring up our offspring. Rather than constantly seeking to push our children towards the next achievement, perhaps we owe it to them to focus more on fostering the resilience needed to get through life’s ups and downs. While some children are naturally tough and robust, upbringing

“

TLW DANCE

can certainly have an effect on how well Shaftesbury Academy our kids cope with what life throws at www.tlwdance.co.uk them. Headmistress of St. Paul’s Girls School, Clarissa Farr, has pointed to the rise of the ‘snowplough’ parent, who BALLET clears all obstacles from their children’s path in the quest for success. As a result, New places now available Pre-school 3yrs + their children are left over-protected and unable to cope when things don’t Pre-Primary 4yrs + go their way. These parents seem to see Primary 5yrs + their children’s accomplishments as an Grades from 1 - 8 indication of their own value, creating a heavy burden for their offspring. So, how should we go about raising children who can withstand the pressures of modern life? ▶ Give them the independence to do things for themselves TAP DANCE – that way, our kids New 5years + will learn to handle what life throws at beginners class them. ▶ Don’t solve all their problems for them. Instead, teach children to learn from their mistakes by asking how could they do it differently/better next time? Show empathy by listening to their troubles but resist the temptation to always provide compensation. Let them work it out. ▶ Demonstrate that failure isn’t a catastrophe and that your love and affection is unconditional, regardless of their achievements. Foster children’s coping skills so that when the chips are STREET Jazz down, they can respond in a way that Age 6years + minimizes harm to themselves and others. ▶ Praise your children for effort but remember good self-esteem does not come from constant (and, as a result, meaningless) praise. Children whose parents reward effort tend to be more open to taking on challenges, better at problem solving and more likely to believe they can improve themselves by www.tlwdance.co.uk working hard. ▶ Remember they are not you and you are not them. Don’t live vicariously through your children. TLWdance@googlemail.com ▶ Lead by example in dealing with your own setbacks and disappointments.

Social media has created a new arena for competition and comparison...

“

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What´s in Store Baby Shower

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1. A Bird's Eye View Baby Pillow £15 postcardshome.co.uk  2. Organic Baby Knotted Hat by BellaOski £13.74 dawanda.com  3. Animal Parade Print, £19.00 papermash.co.uk  4. Becky and Lolo, Baby Music Boxes 'Sophie The Giraffe' £19.00 beckyandlolo.co.uk  5. Blue Knitted Hippo £16.50 tch.net  6. Happy Jackson, Baby Get This Mess Sorted Changing Mat £19.95 octer.co.uk  7. Happy Jackson, Born to be a Star Bib £10 johnlewis.com  8. Regatta Babby Quilt £75.00 postcardshome.co.uk  9. Baby Boy Journal £32 tch.net  10. Organic Baby Pram Shoes by BellaOski £18.90 dawanda.com  11. Pumpkin, Baby Comfort Blanket "Helge" £15.90 kidsconcept.co.uk  12. Baby Shower Garland Bunting £5.80 luckandluck.co.uk 

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Amberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;lievable Teething

Jo Leigh discovered Baltic amber on her travels and swears by their healing properties for teething babies. 10

Photography: Millie Pilkington

discovered and saw amber teething necklaces on children whilst on my travels around Scandinavia. My first thought was that these children looked adorable, adorned with these cute necklaces. My second thought was, ‘Would I put anything around the neck of a baby?’ I then found out why these parents were brave enough to try this infant jewellery and was impressed to find out that it was for medicinal purposes. After some research it came as no surprise to learn that the stones on the necklaces mainly originate from neighbouring Baltic countries and are widely known as an old folk remedy, said to offer a natural curative for pain relief and inflammation, as well as being an immune system booster. Could this really be true? Amber is essentially a fossilized tree resin and can date back to Neolithic times. Today, the stones are mined from dredging or diving to the sea bed and are picked by hand. The stones are then put through a process, which strips back the outer crust to reveal the amber we see today. The highest quality amber contains the best levels of healing component, Succinic Acid, which when worn next to and warmed by the skin, releases this natural chemical to provide an all-natural analgesic. When my first child was born, some five years ago and through his early teething stages, I found him to be irritable, hard to please and not at all easy to settle. I took advice from fellow mums, who all suggested the usual gels and granules, but this only seemed to work for a limited time. Drained and losing the battle, my husband and I remembered the children on our travels and opted to pop a teething necklace on him. Gulp! Not expecting too much from this reasonable online purchase, we battled on but after only 24 hours we found we had our fun, happy and cheeky chappy back. His temperament was less irritable, he was able to play and not be bothered by his teething. We were back in happy motherhood territory! All thanks to a necklace? I know it seems bonkers to think this can work, but in my experience with both of my children it has definitely reduced the level of their mood and their behaviour has improved. I also know how daunting it can seem to put a necklace around your baby’s neck (just writing that sentence gave me a shudder), however, as with anything, if dealt with sensibly, the risks are reduced. My one year old is rarely out of my sight or vision and for naps or during the night the necklace is removed and wrapped around her ankle. This ensures she maintains the warmth the amber needs being next to her skin. The industry does recognise the notion of a baby wearing a necklace as being somewhat terrifying for a parent to contemplate, so they now offer an alternative in the form of bracelets and anklets. I found the best results for me were when the amber is nearest to the affected area. Another safety factor to the products are that all products are strung with knots between the beads so that if the necklace brakes then the majority of beads are retained. Trading standards have also ensured that the clip is a quick release system to reduce the risk of choking. I have to admit that my children were used to having these necklaces from an early age so tend to ignore them most days. However, if you have a very inquisitive baby then the anklet or bracelet might work better for you. I always admire parents that have also opted to try this old folk remedy and I now see more children wearing them (mainly anklets). When I chose to opt for this method only five years ago, I was in the vast minority, in this country. I used to get some strange looks when I explained that it is advised to place the amber in the sun every so often to stimulate the properties. I did feel odd explaining myself, however I knew it worked for me. I have subsequently asked various mums who use both necklaces and anklets if they believe it works and 80% said they do agree it works. Most mums said that some days they have

forgotten to put the jewellery on and can’t understand why they have had a testing day with their child, to then realise the necklace is missing. Ok, it could be a complete placebo but if it makes mum less stressed, then in my book you’ve got a less stressed baby, too; so everyone wins. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a ‘one size fits all’ remedy and certainly when the teeth are cutting through, cuddles and Calpol come to the rescue. But, for an overall calmer disposition with your child when teething, I’d opt for Baltic amber, every time.

Bite Me! Y

ou may prefer to try some of these new teething products. Silicone products are the new big trend to hit the parenting radar. Bangles and necklaces that mum can wear, or rattles and teethers for babies, are just some of the options available. The other reason they are so popular is that they are dishwasher and steamer safe and certainly help speed up the cutting process. There are many new products out there to try. Here are some of our favourties from the Country Child team. The neckerchew, a new innovative way to merge the bib with a teether. Product range is growing fast to include comforters and blankets too. From £9.99 plus p&p. cheekychompers.com

My one year old loves mummy's necklace from nibbling. co.uk. The bright and engaging colours were a bit hit and also great if out and about to calm and entertain a teething baby. Other jewellery in this fantastic range are dummy clips, bangles, teethers and bracelets from £10 plus p&p. A Gummee Glove is great for early teethers particularly those aged 3-6 months who are unable to hold a teether. Also helps soak up dribble and reduces teethers dropping on floors. £13.99 plus p&p. gummee.life

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Food

GLORIOUS

Masterchef Finalist, Angela Langford's

Food

Guinea Fowl with Wild Mushrooms and Marsala – serves 4 Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 200gms button, chestnut or wild mushrooms, finely sliced 1 banana shallot (or small onion), finely diced 1 clove garlic, mashed to a paste 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme Salt, Pepper 4 x Guinea Fowl Skinless Breasts (if you can only get whole birds, remove the legs and confit these for another time and use the carcass to make a stock) 24 thin slices of pancetta

For the sauce 50gms each of unsalted butter and olive oil 200gms mixed wild mushrooms, cleaned of any grit. If you can’t get fresh you can use dried wild mushrooms soaked in water until rehydrated and some chestnut mushrooms. 1 clove garlic, mashed to a paste. 125ml glass of dry white wine 100ml dry masala 200ml good chicken stock (or use the carcass of the guinea fowl to make a stock) Sprig of thyme Salt, pepper Extra knob of butter to serve

eat the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan until the butter has melted. Add the mushrooms and season with salt, pepper and thyme. Adding the salt will release water from the mushrooms so cook until all the water has been released and has then evaporated. Remove from the pan and add the shallot, adding a little more oil and butter if needed. Cook over a medium heat until the shallots are transparent then stir in the garlic. Mix the mushroom & shallots together and leave to cool. Place the guinea fowl breasts between two sheets of cling film and using a rolling pin bash them until they are about a half of their original thickness. Lay a large piece of cling film on a work surface (big enough to take two breasts) and carefully stretch each pancetta slice a little and lay them on the cling film lengthways so they are slightly overlapping and season the pancetta with a little salt and pepper. You will need about 10 - 12 slices for two breasts. Place two guinea fowl breasts on top of the pancetta, making sure the breasts overlap each other with no gaps. You should have about 1 inch border of pancetta all the way around. Spread each pair of guinea fowl with plenty of your mushroom mix. Using the cling film to help you, roll the pancetta to form a really tight roulade/sausage shape. Twist the ends of the cling film and tie a knot at each end so you have a watertight roll. Then repeat this with a sheet of foil. Leave in the fridge for a couple of hours to firm up (you can prepare this a day or two in advance and keep it in the fridge). Heat a large saucepan of

water until the water reaches about 70 degrees (if you don’t have a thermometer, this will be barely simmering water). Add the guinea fowl sausages and poach for an hour until cooked, turning the rolls over from time to time to cook evenly. Remove from the water and keep warm until you are ready to serve. Meanwhile, make your sauce. Cut the mushrooms into similar sized pieces. Heat the butter and oil in a frying pan until foaming. Add the mushrooms to the pan with the salt, pepper and thyme. Fry them off for about 5 mins until the mushrooms are cooked then add the garlic and gently fry off for a minute until soft. Add the wine and let it evaporate a little then add the marsala and let some of the alcohol cook off. Then, add the chicken stock and bring to the boil then turn down to a simmer and reduce until the sauce is velvety and will coat the back of the spoon. Taste and adjust seasoning. If you are serving this immediately whisk in a knob of butter to give the sauce a lovely sheen. If not leave the sauce to cool and store in the fridge until you are ready. Reheat the sauce before serving and whisk the butter in at the end. To serve the guinea fowl, remove the foil and cling film. Heat a heavy based frying pan and add the guinea fowl to the pan (there’s no need for any butter or oil). Cook for a few minutes, turning regularly so that the pancetta takes on an even golden brown colour and is crispy. Carve slices and serve with the sauce and some parsnip puree or mash potato. angelalangford.com

Celebrity Chef visits Tops Day Nurseries

n Tuesday 4th October, multi-Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli visited Tops Day Nurseries to deliver a special cookery class and shared healthy eating tips with chefs within the 17 day nurseries that spread across the south coast. Tops recently launched new menus aimed to tackle health problems within young children from heart disease to diabetes and was brought to JeanChristophe's attention. Chefs from the nurseries were invited to watch a demonstration lead by Novelli showing how meals could be incorporated into the new low sugar menus.

Edward Pilkington's wine pairing choice:

iunea Fowl is always a bit of a treat to have so it is worth pushing the boat out a bit. Ideally a lighter style of red like a Pinot Noir is the perfect match. I have gone for a Red Burgundy from the slightly off the beaten track village of Corgoloin in the Cotes de Nuits. Domaine Gilles Jourdan is a great name to follow; it is tiny with only 5 hectares of vines many of which are aged between 70-80 years old. The cellars would fit into a double garage and the whole set up is proper old school Burgundy. Monsieur Jourdan’s Bourgone Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes 2014 is the wine to go for, and at £15.75 inc VAT is not too crazy a price for a quality Red Burgundy. The wine is soft but with good intensity and just as important as matching the food it is delicious without as well! corneyandbarrow.com

A Celebration of Village Schools Sophie Pender-Cudlip tells us why village schools are such an important part of rural life

hen we moved to the country many years ago the lady who sold us our cottage gave us some advice. She told us to use the village school. She was keen to emphasise the importance of village schools and how beneficial it was to a new family moving to the village. We took her advice and the benefits she was referring to soon became obvious. The first was how close the school was to our home. Apart from a bit of tractor traffic during harvest time, we were minutes away. In the summer months, families cycled and it wasn’t unusual to see a few ponies tied up outside the school gate. The other benefit was the size of the school. Village schools are small, with over 4,000 schools in the UK having fewer than 150 pupils and 1,400 schools with fewer than 75 children on the roll. Some local authorities have questioned the viability of some of these small schools resulting in them merging with other local schools or in some cases, closing. However, there is no doubt that small schools offer huge benefits to children who make good progress regardless of socioeconomic advantage. St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Marnhull has 50 children in the school with eight in pre-school, despite having a capacity of 175. St Mary’s is part of a multi-academy trust, which provides them

with support and eases the pressure on numbers. Headteacher, Charlotte Targett, says: “Due to small numbers and therefore classes of mixed ages, our school teaches using a ‘stage not age’ approach which benefits children of all abilities.” By being small, teachers are also able to have very close links with the families of children in their school. Charlotte Targett says: “The parents get to see and speak to teachers daily which means home and school links are strong.” Reception teachers often make home visits prior to children starting school to form a bigger picture of the child’s home life. In fact, I remember our head teacher personally collecting one little boy from his home every day when his mother was struggling, in order to keep him at school. North Dorset MP, Simon Hoare whose three daughters attend a village school in Marnhull, agrees that size is beneficial. “Drawing from a local tightly drawn catchment, teachers and support staff really know their pupils and their families. The thirst for learning and the energy to impart it are palpable.” Links with the community are also an integral part of village school life. In many schools, children attend the village church each week and form close links with the community with school trips to the nearby post office or fire station. Many parents volunteer to help in school with anything from reading and

“ I believe school should be a happy place in which pupils experience success and feel valued as individuals. Providing a creative, inclusive and happy learning environment for children is paramount; a place where laughter and fun goes hand in hand with teaching and learning.

“

Rob Barnes. Head at Wylye Valley Primary School.

lifeguard duty to digging over the vegetable patch or helping to build the outdoor classroom. PTFAs are a valuable and essential part of the school and enable parents to take an active part in providing those all-important ‘extras’. I recall our PTFA enthusiastically raising money for dining tables so the children didn’t have to eat in their classrooms. Cake sales and community events were organised, all culminating in an auction in a nearby barn which raised all the funds. Similarly, a few years later they raised an impressive amount once again, this time to refurbish the school swimming pool. Huge emphasis is made on kindness in village schools. Motcombe Primary’s motto of ‘faith, friendship, learning and laughter,’ underpins everything they do. Headteacher, Rhiannon Tidby, says that along every corridor, in every classroom and play area, children can be seen caring and supporting each other whilst striving to be the best they can. “We pride ourselves on preparing our children for the next stage in their school life, both morally and academically.” Children at St Gregory’s Marnhull are given roles such as peer group mediators in the playground with the prime responsibility for checking children are happy and have someone to play with. For many children, life-long friendships are made at their

primary school. Growing up in the same community and sharing experiences in the village help form close, life long bonds with other children. My daughter met her closest friend in the village pre-school and despite moving on to different schools later on, they remain firm friends today. Mother of three, Holly Charles, says her youngest Toby, 7, loves his village school, Wardour Catholic Primary. She says the children are “happy” have “good manners, kind hearts and the time to play and have fun.” Toby adds, “Everyone is really kind to each other. I love the teachers and my friends.” It is vital that these small rural schools are protected, supported and celebrated not only for their educational achievements but for their importance in bringing communities together. Simon Hoare, MP, says village schools are a “community hub” and “play a key role in holding villages together and keeping them desirable to live in.” He says he will continue pressing for “fair funding for rural schools as well as recognition of rural sparsity. Success in both will help underpin the long term future of these vital assets of community value.” Therefore, looking back, I must thank the lady who sold us our cottage for her sound advice. To be part of a village school is a privilege and a very special part of village life.

Come and see what we can offer you and your child

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Pre-School 3 - 11years A warm, friendly primary school that welcomes children from all faiths and none.

Parent Testimonials "A great school in a beautiful location. My children love it and thrive on the happy, friendly atmosphere and high quality teaching". “A school that prides itself on supporting its pupils academic needs whilst ensuring pupils are also caring and thoughtful individuals with an awareness of the needs of others.”

Old Mill Lane, Marnhull, DT10 1JX 01258 820417 16

www.stmarymarnhull.dorset.sch.uk

Single Parents Club A new beginning for one local mum-to-be.

“ Farnfields Family Lawyer, Jonathan Harvey comments: dopting a positive attitude is crucial for this mum-to-be and it has clearly helped her so far, and will continue to help her in the coming months. She is likely to have more dealings with her husband as he may want to be a part of his daughter's life, and therefore maintaining a good relationship with him is beneficial to all parties. The Court would certainly want the father to have contact with his daughter. Mum-to-be can hopefully agree contact arrangements with her husband or she could consider mediation to try and resolve any issues, which is a proven cost effective alternative to proceedings in Court. Being able to afford increased expenses, our mum-to-be should use the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), the Government scheme which assesses maintenance payable for a child under a formula, which can be accessed on their website gov.uk/calculate-your-childmaintenance. Seeing what the online calculator shows often leads parents to agree the maintenance for a child which is then paid voluntarily and not through the CMS.

“

Life Coach, Alice Johnsen comments: am so humbled and impressed by reading this mum-to-be's example which is one many of us can learn from and follow. She has turned an unwanted and unexpected situation into a journey on which she is growing and living – not just surviving. What would I say to this amazing woman? Well, keep on as you are – you're doing so very, very well. However, you are human and you will have moments when you feel it is all falling in. That's OK. It's to be expected, especially considering the mixture of hormones and emotions you will be experiencing. Don't fight these feelings, rather let yourself fall down occasionally and rest awhile. You will find lots of family members and friends will offer help. I would advise having to hand a list of ways in which people can help. Be really specific, be bold and just ask. It doesn't matter what it is, the point is, don't be afraid to ask for specific help. My final thought is this. You have a huge mountain to climb and you are already over half way there. Don't set yourself huge goals that, when not reached, will depress you and wear you down. Set yourself small targets and rejoice when you and your daughter achieve them. You will be amazing!

“

n March this year I was in a very happy place. My husband and I had just returned from a wonderful holiday to find we were expecting our first child. However, within eight weeks of this moment, my whole world had been torn apart when I discovered that my husband was having an affair. I tried my hardest to forgive him but after a couple of weeks I finally reached my limit and decided we needed to separate. What’s the first thing you do when you’re on your own at 19 weeks pregnant? Whip your wedding ring off and order yourself a beautiful new piece of jewellery? Well that’s what I did anyway. I have no idea why but I just felt that I needed a new start…and it certainly helped. Since that moment, it has taken me some time to come to terms with the whole ‘single parent to be’ label. Initially, I felt embarrassed; what would people think of me? I then moved on to total denial and the hope that my husband would come running back to me – although, I knew in my heart that a reconciliation was out of the question. Finally, I have reached a place of contentment and empowerment, and I am really enjoying it. I have a good job, a great support network and I am very independent. It’s now just me and my beautiful baby girl who is due just before Christmas. As it stands, I have very little contact with my husband; the wedding photos have been removed from the house and in their place are beautiful pictures and inspirational quotes. The garden and house have all been rearranged (with a lot of help from my wonderful family) and the nursery is ready to welcome my new arrival. It all feels like the very best of a new start. There are things that I had to contemplate; who will be there at the birth? And, how will I afford everything? When you are trying for a baby, you don’t consider you will ever have to make all of these major decisions on your own. My ‘perfect family’ is now not going to happen; the vision I had of us welcoming our baby girl into the world together is no more, but I am OK with that. I am surrounded by the most amazing friends and family and I know I can do this. It’s such a good feeling to know that you are a strong and independent person and can come out of the most awful situation smiling and looking forward to the future. I feel that there is nothing I cannot do now – it might not be easy but I have never been more determined. I have a long way until I am over the events of the past year but I have my beautiful baby to concentrate on and remind me that there is so much to look forward to. How I am going to pay the bills remains a mystery to me but I am sure I will work that out nearer the time!! I still have low moments where I feel utterly alone but they last seconds before I realise that this could not be further from the truth. This baby is going to be surrounded by my friends and family making sure that we are both ok along the way – and we will be. We will be amazing!

Park Run Parkrun has become a popular event for many people, with organised runs taking place all over the country. Miranda heads to the Salisbury Parkrun to find out more.

few weeks ago, I met up with a friend for coffee. Once we had discussed the usual topics of conversation such as our children, the latest television series that we were glued to, pipe-dream holiday destinations and, more realistically, how soon Christmas would be upon us, our chat turned to the topic of exercise. Or, to be more precise, I lamented (in between bites of a sumptuous brownie) that fitting exercise into my life these days was proving rather tricky. “You see, I’ve so little time” I sighed. “It’s either first thing in the morning, before the children wake up, which would pretty much make going to bed at night a waste of time, or in the evening when, let’s face it, a glass of Mr Malbec and a roaring log fire is far more tempting than any shiny piece of exercise equipment.” I suppose I was expecting a comforting nod in agreement from my friend, a reassuring squeeze on my arm followed by something like; “I know, Miranda, but that’s just the way it is at the moment.” Had that been her response, I would have happily sunk my teeth into the

remaining bite of brownie, safe in the knowledge that there was little I could do to rectify my exercise hiatus. What I wasn’t expecting from her, however, was a solution. “Easy!” she declared, “Come to Parkrun in Salisbury on Saturday!” Parkrun? Now, I’d heard friends talk of this event in the past but I knew very little about it and I instinctively started to think of a reason that would prevent me from joining; “Ah, I would have loved to” I said, “But I’ll have the baby with me on Saturday morning.” This, as it turned out, was not a problem; “Bring her with you; plenty of mums run or walk with buggies. Bring a dog too, if you like!” Well, what could I say? I went home and promptly registered on the Parkrun website. Saturday arrived, as did the rain. Armed with my waterproof jacket and a rain cover for the buggy, I was all set. The Salisbury Parkrun takes place at Churchill Gardens every Saturday morning at 9am, over a 5K course. I arrived in time to hear a quick introductory talk by one of the organisers and then all 300 of us running that morning snaked our way down to the start. I immediately felt at home; it’s such a lovely, relaxed and all-inclusive atmosphere. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities were chatting and laughing together, happy to be outside on an autumnal Saturday, doing something beneficial. Runners who, like me, wanted to run at a more leisurely pace were encouraged to keep to the right hand side of the route, thus allowing the more serious in the group to be able to overtake on the left with a clear view. At every corner, it seemed, there were wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers ready to cheer us all on with whistles, high-fives and a round of applause. Having someone

encourage you as you feel yourself beginning to flag really does do wonders for the soul. To that end, I should say a BIG thank you to all of the volunteers who stood there with unwavering smiles in the pouring rain that Saturday! At one point I found myself running alongside 6-year-old Reuben who was taking part in his sixth parkrun with his father, Kevin. “Reuben started off by doing a mix of walking and running around the course but he’s now able to run the whole way!” Kevin tells me as we complete the second of three laps. Looking around me, I’m amazed by the sheer number of children taking part – what a great way this is for families to kick start the weekend together. And, my friend was right, this event really is open to everyone; four-legged as well two! Plenty of happy dogs on leads were bounding alongside their owners, not a bead of sweat in sight! Every runner has their own reason for doing Parkrun. Some, like me, want to get back into fitness after having a baby whilst others enjoy being part of something sociable and healthy. Sarah Church, a mum of one, has recently been given the all clear following a fight against breast cancer. For her, Parkrun has given her the confidence to get back out running; “I started off really slowly but bit by bit, week after week, my times have improved. I bump into friends as I go around and have even made new here friends too. I’d wholeheartedly encourage others out there to take part, it’s a fantastic thing to do!” Well, I couldn’t agree more. Regardless of ability, this is a friendly, fun and free activity that welcomes everyone. As I crossed the finish line, I peered through the buggy’s rain cover to see a sound asleep baby. Well, at least one of us was feeling rested!

hildren from 4 to 14 can take part in a new regular weekly junior parkrun at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest near Ringwood. The park's first junior parkrun launched in November and is kicked off at 9am following a circular route through the forest, every Sunday morning. Moors Valley held its first parkrun nearly a year ago and in that time more than 190 volunteers have helped almost 3000 different runners, ranging in age from four years old to almost 80, to take part. Such has been the popularity of the Moors Valley parkrun that local organisers believe the new junior parkrun, where all participants are under 14 years of age, will emulate its success. Miranda took part in a standard parkrun which is a timed leisure run covering a distance of 5km, this new junior parkrun covers 2km, is easier for youngsters who might find the longer distance too demanding, and designed so they can experience the thrill of running by themselves with no adults. Children can also be accompanied by parents or guardians if preferred, but can only cross the line by themselves. Junior parkruns are open to all, free and easy to join and take place in a safe and secure environment overseen by experienced DBS-checked volunteers. Moors Valley junior parkrun event director Joanne Weston said, “The Moors Valley parkrun has been a huge success and, thanks to major support from LV=, East Dorset District Councillor, Mike Dyer’s discretionary fund; Oasis Fun, and Moors Valley Country Park we are thrilled to be able to offer this new event tailored specifically to youngsters

GEAR

et the

up to the age of 14. Ensuring that both parkruns and junior parkruns are as accessible as possible is a key policy for the parkrun organisation. Specialist volunteer guides are being recruited to assist runners with physical or mental disabilities and locally, Chris Archibold, the Moors Valley parkrun event director, is training to be the mental health ambassador based at the Park. Anyone interested in having the support of a volunteer parkrun guide can email the volunteers at moorsvalleyhelpers@ parkrun.com Clare Gronow, Team Leader at Moors Valley said, “Since parkrun began at Moors Valley we have held over 40 events and averaged 241 runners each week; a really exceptional result. In fact on one occasion we had four Olympic athletes taking part including 2 Beijing medallists! junior parkrun will build on that success to give local children a great opportunity to have a break from screen-time and be part of a group enjoying active, healthy fun outdoors in a safe environment.” The parkrun movement is non-profit making and once established, events are run by volunteers. The movement began in London in 2004 with 13 runners. Today over 1m people take part in parkruns at more than 400 locations throughout the UK. Globally, 2.7 million people are registered as parkrun participants. Register at parkrun.org.uk/register and obtain a membership barcode to get free entry to any parkrun anywhere in the UK or for more Junior Parkrun at Moors Valley go to moors-valley.co.uk or call the Rangers on  01425 471721. Jabees Btwin Wireless Earbuds £79.99 from kavson.co.uk

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Inside Out

n February 14th The Salisbury Museum are offering an exciting day for all of the family to enjoy during half term. The theme is Lego Art and there will be various drop in workshops throughout the day. The aim is to build a life-size version of John Constable’s painting of Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, 1831 in Lego! They will need all the help they can get and it is a brilliant way to learn a bit of history in...and a creative for the children way. It will run from 10am to 4:30pm Pottery Painting and no booking is required. Normal & Styling Soap apply. admission fees for the museum Adult £8, Child £4, Under 5's go free. salisburymuseum.org.uk

Things to do Places to go

christmas fair

Larmer Tree

JOIN US IN ickAstart your festive FESTIVE CELEBRATION season with the OF CRAFTS, FOOD & MUSIC Christmas Fair at Gardens ENTRANCE FEEfrom INCLUDES FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER Larmer Tree the 4th-6th December. It DRINK F REE W ELCOME 6PM 9PM will open from 6pm-9pm ADULTS: £4 SATURDAY 5TH & SUNDAY 6TH on Friday and 10am-4pm SENIORS: £3 10AM - 4PM Saturday and Sunday. ThereFREE CHILDREN will be a variety of musical www.larmertree.co.uk 01 0172 5 5 169 71 performances spreading across the weekend. The Abbey Primary School from Shaftesbury perform on he Winter Steam Festival is the Friday evening and The a real treat for train lovers. Stour Valley Stompers make Travelling through the British an appearance on Saturday countryside on a traditional steam afternoon. On Sunday The engine that will take you on a Wilton & District Brass journey through time with the Band will be perfoming in carriages dating back to the 1950s. the morning, followed by There will be a buffet car on most Mark James & The Tisbury of the trains and the Turntable Café Community Choir in the at Minehead will be open along with afternoon. There will also be the Buffer Stop Shop and Café at pottery painting going on Bishops Lydeard. It is suitable for all throughout the weekend with ages, with children under five able to the help of Elm House Studio. travel free. Ticket prices cost: Adult The entrance fee for adults is £19.00, Senior £17.00, Child £9.50, £4 and for seniors £3. The fee Family £47.00. If you book at least also includes a free welcome seven days in advance the tickets will drink! Children enter for free. be 10% less. 29 and 30 December. larmertree.co.uk steamheritage.co.uk

Countdown to Christmas

hristmas wouldn’t be the same without Santa Specials and fairytales, and Moors Valley’s magical woodland setting provides the perfect backdrop for a really special day out, so why not start your Christmas countdown by booking a festive treat for the whole family to look forward to? Santa Special trains steam past the lake en route to Santa’s railway grotto from 1pm to 3.30pm on 10, 11, 17 and 18 December. You’ll also need to book for the family Christmas show in the Visitor Centre. The Elves and the Shoemaker brings together fairytales old and new with a little bit of magic as the shoemaker’s shop is visited by Prince Charming, Puss in Boots and the Wicked Witch of the West. You can also find out how to make a glass slipper on 20 and 21 December. Outside in the Park there’s even more festive family fun. From 2 December you can follow the elves into the woods on a quest to find the perfect tree for Santa. This self-guided trail helps you find out more about all the trees at Moors Valley along the way. Later in December, on 10 and 11, you can join Santa on his Hunt for the Magical Golden Pine Cones, whilst a family Christmas quiz trail, from Boxing Day to 1 January 2017, will test your knowledge of 2016 and throw in fun festive questions to keep little ones entertained along the way. Whatever the time of year Moors Valley Country Park and Forest near Ringwood is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy some quality family time. moors-valley.co.uk

he Christmas Room at The Great House in Kilver Court Designer Village is one of the most magical rooms full of festive delights. Nordic, Vintage, Kitsch and Woodland themes bursting full of festiveness… find your perfect Christmas story and style. Here you’ll find all that glitters is gold, silver and bronze! Iridescent hummingbirds, nutcracker soldiers and hand blown Egyptian glass baubles are just part of the magic you can discover inside. Why not make a visit to Kilver Court; it's the perfect place for children to choose a few decorations this year. kilvercourt.com

DECEMBER

PULL OUT EVENT GUIDE MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

29 Nov Turquaz Clearance Sale, Milbourne St Andrew

30 Nov Turquaz Clearance Sale, Milbourne St Andrew

1 Poole Schools Music Association Concert, Lighthouse Poole

2 Maximum Rhythm & Blues Lighthouse, Poole Georgian Christmas at Mompesson House

3 New Forest Christmas Fair A Very Vintage Christmas, Salisbury Guildhall Made in Bristol Gift Fair Christmas Mini Wreaths at Lorton

4 New Forest Christmas Fair Wessex Youth Orchestra: Winter in Wessex, Lighthouse Poole Georgian Christmas at Mompesson House

5 Georgian Christmas at Mompesson House

6 Celebrate! (Sarah L Goy), Lighthouse Poole until 3rd Jan

7 Aladdin, Lighthouse Poole 19th Christmas Tree Festival, Bridport

8 Snow Play, Lighthouse Poole 19th Christmas Tree Festival, Bridport

9 Swanage Beach Huts Pop Up Shops Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

10 Christmas Grotto, Orchard Park Made in Bristol Gift Fair Santa Specials, Moors Valley Audience with Father Christmas, Forde Abbey

11 Christmas Grotto, Orchard Park Made in Bristol Gift Fair Giant Snow Globe, Wilton Village

12 A Night before Christtmas, Salisbury Playhouse

13 Georgian Christmas at Mompesson House

14 Celebrate! (Sarah L Goy), Lighthouse Poole until 3rd Jan 19th Christmas Tree Festival, Bridport

15 A Night before Christtmas, Salisbury Playhouse

16 Tranter Dewey's Christmas party, Hardy's Cottage, Dorchester

17 Christmas Roller Disco, Just Dance Studios Santa Specials, Moors Valley 19th Christmas Tree Festival, Bridport TLW Dance's The Nutcracker, Exchange, Stur M

18 Meet Santa's Reindeers, Wilton Shopping Village Jimmy Carr, Lighthouse Poole Santa Specials, Moors Valley

19 Celebrate! (Sarah L Goy), Lighthouse Poole until 3rd Jan

20 Snow Play, Lighthouse Poole Deer Feeding at Dyrham Park, Bath

21 Ice rink at Wilton Shopping Village Stonehenge Midwinter Archaeology Walk

22 Snow Play, Lighthouse Poole Countryside Health Bike Ride, Kingston Lacy

23 A Night before Christtmas, Salisbury Playhouse

24 Ice rink at Wilton Shopping Village Kilver Court Christmas Room Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

25 MERRY

26 Celebrate! (Sarah L Goy), Lighthouse Poole until 3rd Jan

27 Aladdin, Lighthouse Poole Ice rink at Wilton Shopping Village

28 Christmas Quiz Moors Valley A Night before Christtmas, Salisbury Playhouse

29 Christmas Quiz Moors Valley Winter Steam Festival Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

30 Christmas Quiz Moors Valley Winter Steam Festival Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

31 Christmas Quiz Moors Valley Ice rink at Wilton Shopping Village A Lantern of Light. Montacute House Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

1 JAN Christmas Quiz Moors Valley Stourhead New Year's Day Walk Ice rink at Wilton Shopping Village A Lantern of Light. Montacute House

Bunnies CChild ad SNOW x 3

14/11/2011

28 Nov Turquaz Clearance Sale, Milbourne St Andrew (01747)

JANUARY

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CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

2 Aladdin, Lighthouse PooleThe Great Reindeer Hunt The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorcheste Ice rink at Wilton Shopping Village

3 Celebrate! (Sarah L Goy), Lighthouse Poole until 3rd Jan Dorset Forest School FridaysThe Great Reindeer Hunt The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorcheste

4The Great Reindeer Hunt The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester Frome Roller Disco Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

5 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth Winter Tours of Stourhead House Frome Country Market Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

6 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth Winter Tours of Stourhead House Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

7 Winter Tours of Stourhead House Aladdin, Salisbury Playhouse

8 Bridport Food Market New years' ramble (with refreshment!) Bath Skyline, National Trust

9 Winter Tours of Stourhead House Closing Date for Leweston Scholarships on 16th

10 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth

11 Winter Tours of Stourhead House Frome Roller Disco

12 Winter Tours of Stourhead House Frome Country Market

13 Winter Tours of Stourhead House

14 Truffle Hunting Experience Day Poole Harbour Bird Boats Wassailing, Avalon Orchard, Galstonbury Tor

15 Bridport Food Market Salisbury Epiphany Procession Mindfulness Walk, Prior Park, Bath

16 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth

17 Winter Tours of Stourhead House

18 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth Frome Roller Disco

19 Winter Tours of Stourhead House Frome Country Market

20 Winter Tours of Stourhead House

21 Winter Tours of Stourhead House Adventure Travel Show, Olympia, London

22 Bridport Food Market Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr Adventure Travel Show, Olympia, London

23 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

24 Alice in Wonderland, Octagon, Yeovil Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

25 Alice in Wonderland, Octagon, Yeovil Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

26 Alice in Wonderland, Octagon, Yeovil Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

27 Alice in Wonderland, Octagon, Yeovil Barn Dance Piddle Valley First School

28 Alice in Wonderland, Octagon, Yeovil Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr Ronnie Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All Stars, Exchange Stuminster Newton

29 Bridport Food Market Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

30 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth

31 Open Morning, Hazlegrove Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth

CALENDAR WINTER 2016 TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

1 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

2 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr Frome Country Market

3 Winter Tours of Stourhead House

4 Open Morning, 5 Bridport Food Hazlegrove Ali Baba Market and the Forty Thieves, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

6 7+ Academic Scholarship Entry Hazlegrove

7 Dorset Forest School Fridays

8 Frome Roller Disco

9 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth Frome Country Market

10 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth Snowdrop Festival Shaftesbury

11 Upton Wood Volunteer Day, Poole Bournemouth Model Railway Exhibition Half-Term at Corfe Castle

12 Upton Wood Volunteer Day, Poole Bridport Food Market Champers and Hampers, Studland

13 Ice Skating at The Bic Bournemouth Forest School, Dyrham Park, Bath

14 Lego Art, Salisbury Museum Clay Days at Pottery Parlour

15 BSO Tea Dance Dance from the Musicals, Just Dance Studios Poole Harbour Bird Boats

16 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017 'Guys and Dolls' Buckland Newton Half-Term at Corfe Castle Clay Days at Pottery Parlour

17 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017 'Guys and Dolls' Buckland Newton Valentine Pudding Night, Shaftesbury Arts Ctr

18 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017 'Guys and Dolls'Buckland Newton Half-Term at Corfe Castle

19 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017 Bridport Food Market Winter Tree ID walks, Dyrham Park, Bath

20 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017

21 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017

22 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017

23 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017

24 Purbeck Literary Festival 2017 Barn Dance Piddle Valley First School

26 Bridport Food Market Winter Tree ID walks, Dyrham Park, Bath

27 11+ Academic Scholarship Entry Hazlegrove

FEBRUARY

MONDAY

Toddler Timetable Monday

Tuesday

9.30-10.30 Baby Gym, Motcombe Park Sports Centre

Wednesday

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

9.30-11 Sandroyd Pre Prep 9.30-11.30 Toddler Parent and Toddler Group Workshop, Shaftesbury Arts Centre 9.30-11.30 Jigsaw Toddler toddlerworkshop.co.uk Group, Sturminster Newton Methodist Church 9.30-11.00 Stay & Play, Tisbury Children’s Centre 9.30-11.30 Piddle Valley Tiddlers, First School, TT 9.45-11.30 Tiddlers & Toddlers, Lecture Hall, 9.30-11.30 Toddler Mere Workshop Shaftesbury Arts 9.30-11.30 Baby & Centre toddlerworkshop. Toddlers, Child Okeford co.uk Community Centre 9.00 - 10.30 Scarecrows 10-11.30 Monkey Doodle, Pre School toddler group Wylye Village Hall, Wylye Cheselbourne Vlillage school 10.15-10.45 Rhyme Times, 10-11 Emma & The Magic Gillingham Library Bag Music Class, Shaftesbury Arts Centre 10-11.30 Toddler Time, Climb Aboard, West Stour 10-11 Music & Messy play Zeals Village Church 11.30-12.15 Pre-School Ballet, TLW Dance 10-12 Toddler Group, Shaftesbury Batcombe Jubilee Village Hall 2-3.30 Stay n Play, 10.30-11.30 Baby and Community Kids Pre School, Toddler Rhyme and Story Bruton Time, Wincanton Library 2.15-2.45 Rhyme Time, 10.30-11.15 Library Gets Warminster Library Lively at Sherborne Library 2-2.30 Rhyme Time, Blandford Library

Friday

Toddler Tunes

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

9.15-11.15 Bumps, Babes & 9.30-11.30 Marnhull Baby & Toddlers, Marnhull Village Hall Bigs Parent & Toddler Group,

9-11.30 Stower Vale Baby & Toddlers, Stower Provost School Hall

9.30-11.00 Stay and Play at Ludwell Primary School

9.30-11.30 Pimperne B&T Group, Village Hall

10.00 - 12.00 Outdoor Play Dorchester Children’s Centre

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

Okeford Fitzpaine Sch Hall

9.30-11 Sandroyd Pre Prep Swim & Play Baby, Toddler & Parent Session 9.30-11 Stay and Play

10-11.15 Knighton House Crossway, Dorch Child Centre School, Baby & Toddler Group

9.30-11.30 Little Cherubs Group, St Mary’s School Room, Gillingham

10-11 Time Together Castle Cary Primary School

9.30-12 Bumps and Babes, Tisbury Children’s Centre

9.30-11.30 Jigsaw Toddler Group, Sturminster Newton Methodist Church

10am Munchkins at Buckhorn 9.30-10.30 Baby Gym,

10-12 North Cadbury Toddler Group, Weston Village Hall Village Hall

Motcombe Park Sport Centre

10-12 Motcombe Toddlers,

9.30 Pre School Music, Just Dance, Wincanton.

10-11 Messy Play, Youth Centre, Sturminster Newton

10-2 Wildside Explorers Forest School, Shaftesbury (TT only)

10-12 North Barrow P& T Grp, Village Hall

10-11.30am, Little Wrigglers Congregational Church Stalbridge

10.15-10.45 Library Gets Lively, Gillingham Library

10-12 Evercreatures, Evercreech Village Hall

2-2.45 Tiny Tots Gymnastics, Tisbury Leisure Centre

9.30-10.15 Emma & The Magic Bag, St Andrew’s Primary School, Fontmell

10-12 Caterpillars Parent & Toddler Group, Fovant Rainbow Centre

2.30-3 Rhyme-time, Shaftesbury Library

11-12 Mini Movers at Tisbury Sports Centre

10.30-12.00 Bushy Tails at Clayesmore Motcombe Memorial Hall featuring Emma and her Magic Bag

10.30-12 Sunny Hill Prep Toddler Group, Bruton

10-12 Toddler Stay and play, Shaftesbury Child Centre

2-3pm Bumps and BabiesMere Children’s Centre

2-3.30 Squirrels P&T Group Hazlegrove 4-4.30 Dinky Tennis, Pythouse Club

2.30-3pm Story & Rhyme Time at Milborne Port Library

Library

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Blandford Dorchester Gillingham

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

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

Closed 9.30am-1pm Closed

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

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

Mere Milborne Port

10am-7pm Closed

9.30am-1pm Closed

9.30am-5pm Closed

Shaftesbury

10am-5pm

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

Closed

9.30am-6.30pm

Stalbridge

2-5pm

12am-12.30pm

3.30pm-6.30pm

Sherborne

10am-7pm

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

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

Closed

9.30am-7pm

Sturminster Newton Tisbury

9.30am-12.30pm

2-5pm

Closed

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

Closed

10am-1pm

9.30-1.30pm 2.30-5pm

9.30am-1.30pm 2.30-5pm

10am-6.30pm 10am-7pm

9.30am-1pm 9.30am-5pm

Closed 9am-12.30pm

Wincanton Wimborne Warminster

l a i c e p S

9.30-11.30 Little Rascals Durweston Village Hall

l A v i

t s e F

Thursday

9-11.30 Messy Church Toddler Group, 9-11 Leweston Pre-Prep, Child Okeford Com Centre Parent & Toddler Group and

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

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

Inside Out Christmas Crafted to Perfection

housands of visitors are expected to attend The Made in Bristol Gift Fair which is a free event, now in its eighth year. The fair is a one-stopshop, filling the majestic foyer of Colston Hall with more than 200 stalls of hand-crafted gifts, perfect for those looking for unique and original Christmas gifts. The Fair is organised by local entrepreneur and founder of Made in Bristol Bryony Morgan and features a collection of well-known designers, including local favourites such as Bristol illustrators Hannah Broadway and Susan Taylor, alongside new talent such as jeweller Ceri Victoria Wills. Bryony Morgan says: “The Made in Bristol Gift Fair is a firm favourite in the Christmas calendar and each year builds on its growing reputation and success. For 2016, we are working with a huge range of quality makers and are joined by new, up and coming designers to provide a diverse and exciting celebration of creative talent, all brought together under one roof.” The Fair offers a sustainable way to shop, with customers able to meet the makers, learn first-hand about the creative process, discover the latest trends and directly support the local creative economy. Visitors can also make a day of it, with the adjacent Colston Street Bar and Kitchen and the new Beerd bar and pizzeria, both run by Bath Ales, providing the perfect refreshment stop. 10 and 11 December. handmadeinbristol.co.uk

Ho Ho Ho!

here's lots on at Wilton Shopping Village this festive season starting with a Giant Snow Globe experience on the 10 and 11 Dec. Then two of Santa's reindeer, elves and the big man himself on 17 and 18 Dec. Dont forget your camera to get a shot for the memory box! wiltonshoppingvillage

Things to do Places to go

Naughty Naughty!

An Audience with Father Christmas

hristmas at Forde Abbey is a magical time of year so share in the joy and wonder of the season with a very special ‘Audience with Father Christmas.’ Join him by the fireside in the Great Hall and be entertained with stories of Christmas merriment and mirth. He’ll be sharing his favourite festive nibbles with you and might also have a very special present if you’ve been good. With a very warm welcome from Father Christmas why not take the whole family for a day to remember as you deck the halls with boughs of holly and much more besides! An ‘Audience with Father Christmas’ lasts approximately 50 minutes and younger visitors will receive a very special present after the show. 10th December Performances at: 11am, 2pm Tickets: Adult £8, Child £10 to include garden entry. fordeabbey.co.uk

he Naughty Christmas tree does not want to be decorated and would instead rather play silly games, like hide and seek. This makes it very difficult for Mrs Butterworth to complete her task of getting the tree ready in time for Christmas. Mrs Butterworth will need to ask children to help her. But as soon as Mrs Butterworth’s back is turned, off goes the naughty Christmas tree to hide again. The Naughty Christmas Tree will be at the Larmer Tree Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December 2016. larmertree.co.uk

he show celebrates its 21st year and will take place at London’s Olympia on 21-22 January 2017. This is a chance to immerse yourself in a weekend of adventure travel inspiration and discover off the beaten track travel experiences with the biggest collection of specialist travel operators under one roof. Listen to over 100 FREE Talks in 4 theatres from explorers, industry experts, guide book writers and expedition leaders who will help you uncover your perfect adventure. General show tickets £8 in advance under 16s are free! Weekend tickets are £12 in advance adventureshow.com

LEADING THE WAY Allow us to introduce Mr Mortimer, our Headmaster. His passion for education is only matched by his love of sport – a keen rower, he’s twice rowed the Atlantic. At Warminster we don’t only choose the best teachers to educate our pupils – we choose the most interesting ones. From Special Constables to mountaineers, our diverse interests and passions spur us on to do things a little differently. Individually, we are diverse in our interests, driven in our passions and determined to work together to do things a little differently. If you are too, then get in touch.

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

WS056_Leading_CountryChild_Ad_April_v2.indd 1

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10/05/2016 15:22

Snow Play

Show and Tell

veryone is guaranteed a white Christmas in this snowy, spectacular show! Snow Play is a showdown between Winter and Spring over who gets to stay and who has to go away. Help Mr Green against Mr White in this highly interactive smash-hit London production. You get to make a giant snowman, cover a whole house in snow and have a super snowball fight! 6 to 24 Dec. lighthousepoole.co.uk

A guide to local live entertainment

alisbury Playhouse is presenting a brand new musical adaptation of the classic tale of Christmas Eve excitement, The Night Before Christmas, which runs in The Salberg from Monday 5 to Saturday 31 December 2016. salisburyplayhouse.com.

Christmas Concerts

ick off Christmas with the Lighthouse, Poole's fun-packed concerts for all the family, featuring Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Last Night of the Christmas Proms (14 Dec), The Snowman (17 Dec) Celebration of Christmas Carols (20 Dec)providing a range of seasonal classics old and new, all wrapped up with a sprinkling of magic and sparkle from the best of West End and Broadway musicals. You can join The Snowman and James on their magical journey through the winter sky in a special screening of the festive classic on the large screen, accompanied by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Paired with Paddington Bear’s First Concert, narrated by special guest Pui Fan Lee from CBeebies, this is the perfect way for the whole family to join together and begin the holidays. then immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit in a wonderful display of all the best-loved traditional favourite carols including ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing’ and many more. lighthousepoole.co.uk

C h r i s t m a s Fa i r

Larmer Treee TOLLARD RD ROYAL AL, SALISBURY RY Y, SP5 5PY PY Y Activities for Children include…

Pottery Painting

courtesy of Elm House Studio

on Saturday performances by

The Naughty Christmas Tree check the website for timings

Friday ay 2nd 2 nd n d December D ecem De m r 6pm m-9 9pm pm Saturday a y 3rd 3 r d & Sunday S u n d a 4th th 10am m - 4pm m

Adults Adult ttss - £4 £4.oo £ 4.o o oo SSeniors enio o rs - £ £3.oo £3 3.o oo Under U nder 112’ 2’ss - FFree ree

includes free welcome drink nk

Win a FaMily tiCket!

trip to the pantomime is a treat for countless families – audiences are transported into a magical fairytale world, rooting for the hero and heroine, laughing along with the Dame and booing the baddie. This year’s Aladdin sees the writer, director and choreographer behind last year’s stunning Cinderella return to take Salisbury on a magic carpet ride that will delight young and old. Journey with them to China and join Aladdin, Widow Twankey and the Genie as they take us on a wild adventure to defeat the evil magician Abanazar, with plenty of laughs along the way. Aladdin runs in the Main House at Salisbury Playhouse from 3 Dec 2016 to 7 Jan 2017. To book tickets visit: salisburyplayhouse.com OR way not try to win some a ticket for four people?

WIN a family ticket to see Aladdin in January! To enter simply email info@countrychild.co.uk, your answer the following question by the 20th December 2016.

Q. What is the name of the Evil Magician in the show?

T&C's: One family ticket (admits 4 persons) for the 5.30pm performance on Wednesday 4 January 2017. Please note this would not be transferable to another date. Not open to Playhouse or Publisher emplooyees.

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Gaudere Et Bene Facere ~ Rejoice And Do Well

Doctor

GP Dr Alex Newman answers more of your childs health-related questions Q. My child has an ingrowing toe nail, what should I do?

The key to getting these better is not digging around! The inflamed edge of the nail needs to be allowed to grow out beyond the end of the toe and then cut straight. It will be sore for a couple of weeks but the need for the much more painful toe nail surgery is often not necessary. Occasionally, the toe can become infected whilst the nail grows out; this shows itself as pus, more inflammation and more pain. Again, this doesn't always need treatment and often will settle with some careful salt water soaks. Of course, if it is getting worse or the redness is spreading, a trip to your GP is advised.

Q. Diabetes runs in my family, should I be worried about my children? There are broadly two types of diabetes, imaginatively they are called Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 is common, it tends to affect middle age and older people who, generally, have less healthy lifestyles. Conversely, Type 1 is rare - affecting about 1 in 5000 children under 15. Type 1 is quite difficult to predict; most cases come from people with no family history of diabetes, but it does seem to be more common in families who have a history of Type 1 diabetes. Avoiding developing Type 2 diabetes in later life is all about adopting a healthy lifestyle. However, there are ethnic groups that seem to be innately at higher risk. Diabetes UK is a great source of more information www.diabetes.org.uk

Q. My child keeps getting tonsillitis, what should I do? You do not need to see a doctor every time your child has a sore throat, if they are well and the pain goes within a couple of days, it is best managed with paracetamol, fluids and rest. If the child is unwell or the pain isn't getting better, it might be worth seeing a doctor for an assessment. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just about having pus on your tonsils; there are a number of factors that will determine the advice your GP gives you. Antibiotics are not usually the holy grail! If your child gets a lot of episodes that require treatment from a doctor, usually over 7 in a year, then sometimes having their tonsils removed may help.

Q. I've been told a birth mark is a Strawberry Naevus. What does this mean? This is a common type of birthmark, affecting about 1 in 10 births. These birthmarks are made up of lots of tiny blood vessels just under the skin. They come up quite quickly in the first few weeks of life and then fade as children get older; over half by the time children start school and almost all by aged 10. The only time these cause medical concern if is they are very large or if they get in the way of a child's visual field, in which case they are treated by laser or surgery, or a combination of both.

Q. There is 'Molluscum' at nursery, what should I do? Molluscum is a really common rash, caused by a virus, that mostly affects children before school age. It is spread through both indirect and direct contact but it is difficult to predict who will pick it up and who wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t; much like veruccas. Individual lumps go over the course of a couple of months but the outcrops can last for up to a couple of years. They tend not to scar and don't cause any bother to the child so are best left well alone. There are various caustic lotions and potions that all claim to help, but personally I have never recommended treating them.

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The Great Outdoors When it comes to planning a winter’s day out with the family, Miranda recommends a visit to your local nature reserve.

hilst Mother Nature tends to take things easy in the winter months, that doesn’t mean this time of year is devoid of interesting things to look out for. Every season brings something unique and exciting to nature’s table and a wintery walk around your local nature reserve will not disappoint! Nature reserves are protected areas of importance for all kinds of wildlife, flora and fauna and, what’s more, here in the south we’ve lots of reserves vying for our attention; from coastal headlands and ancient woodlands to rich wetlands, heaths and moors. For those of us with potential twitchers in the family, a visit to a wetland reserve this winter is a great way of garnering a lifelong interest in our feathered friends. Radipole Lake, for example, in the heart of Weymouth is a superb place to while away an afternoon. Specially created trails, wildlife explorer packs for young adventurers and, at this time of year, an abundance of Bitterns, Pied Wagtails and Gulls all await your visit. Pack some pens and paper and have a go sketching the birdlife you spot! (rspb.org.uk) For families with children who love all things ‘dinosaur’ a trip to Dorset’s Jurassic coast this Christmas holidays is likely to be well received! Durlston Country Park and National Nature reserve offers something for everyone; from stunning views out over the ancient limestone sea cliffs to the fossil rich beaches below. Whatever the weather, this really is an explorer’s paradise where youngsters can let off steam and where imaginations can run wild. Be sure to take a pair of binoculars, you may just spot a pod of friendly dolphins frolicking in the water! During term time, Carymoor Environmental Centre in Castle Cary is a fantastic place for a school visit. Why? Because this is a beautiful nature reserve with a real difference. Carymoor sits on top of a landfill site; thousands of tonnes of household waste have been capped in a metre-thick layer of clay onto which a rich and thriving wildlife habitat has been created. Pupils are encouraged to get involved in hands-on activities such as waste and recycling, sustainability, global citizenship, bush craft and more. The 100 acre reserve is now home to reed beds, meadow grassland, woodland and scrub. During the Christmas holidays, families can take advantage of all that this amazing centre has to offer by

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heading along to one of the Family Fun Days, details of which can be found on the website; carymoor.org.uk. Becoming a member of your local wildlife trust is a great way of keeping up to date on events and activities in your area. Take a look at the wildlife trust’s website to find out more;wildlifetrusts.org

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The Great Outdoors continues...



or any parent intent on coaxing their child out to enjoy the Great British countryside, winter can seem the most difficult ‘sell’ of all the seasons. Whilst this time of year is undoubtedly quieter from a wildlife point of view, those that do take the plunge on a cold and frosty day will still be rewarded with plenty to see and do.

Feed the ducks

reaDer oFFer!

‘Welly’ good idea!

purred into action by his twin sons’ cries about freezing feet in traditional wellies at lambing time, sheep farmer Simon Wood, 54, set about finding a solution to the problem. He set up The Warm Welly Company to sell children’s wellies lined with neoprene – the insulating material that keeps scuba divers warm in freezing water. ‘I was amazed no one sold neoprene lined wellies for children as they have been available for adults for years’ said Simon who runs The Warm Welly Company with his wife Clair. 'Initially we stocked children’s sizes 6-2, but as demand grew we have extended our range to accommodate older children (and some mothers!) and now we go up to size 5 with a choice of colours and finishes.' The wellies are also handmade from natural rubber exclusively for The Warm Welly Company and have hand stitched leather effect edging at the top of the boot with a reflective pull on/hanging loop offering a good quality insulated welly for children at an affordable price. Prices range from £15 to £25 depending on sizes and Country Child has a discount code for all readers! Visit warmwellies.co.uk to order yours today.

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oxwild is a wildlife gift box company, which sells monthly gift box subscriptions which make an ideal gift for a nature or garden lover. The boxes are designed to encourage wildlife into the garden and also supports wildlife charities in the UK. In the Wildlife Box you will find bird & wildlife seed blends, bird feeder, wildlife habitat and seeds to attract birds and wildlife into your garden. Available in 1, 3 and 6 month packages. From £12.50 per month + £3 p&p boxwild.com

Any local pond or lake should be brimming with waterfowl at this time of year. Male Mallards should be easy to spot with their bottlegreen heads, but it is the speckled brown females that do all the quacking. While all the ducks and swans will happily take bread, providing them with grain from a reputable source will be much better for them.

Listen out for Foxes

Now is the season when the fox will make its presence known, as the male, or dog fox, desperately seeks out a vixen with the aim of passing his genes on to the next generation. Urban Foxes can often be seen as they ghost in and out of car headlamps and streetlights, but they can also be very vocal at this time of the year too. The Vixen’s scream is blood-curdling and can cut through the still air of a quiet winter’s night.

Search for hibernating butterflies

Butterflies in winter? You can’t be serious! Well, while it is true that many of our butterflies do pass the coldest season as either eggs, caterpillars or larvae, a small select group will hibernate from the first to last frosts as adults. Perhaps the easiest one to find is the Small Tortoiseshell, which has a penchant for quiet corners of garages and garden sheds.

Visit a Starling roost at dusk

A big winter Starling roost is surely one of our greatest spectacles. Gathering to roost after a day spent grubbing around in pastures, the Starlings come together for safety in numbers, to keep warm and exchange information about the best places to feed. The crescendo of the evening’s entertainment arrives when the flock twists and turns in the air, before then descending to their reed-‘bed’, just like iron filings to a magnet.

Watch the sun rise and set on the same day

A day close to the winter solstice of December 21st will ensure that you don’t have to get out of bed too early or retire too late to accomplish this simple and yet rewarding mission. Checking out the forecast the day before will also help you pick a day with clear skies in order to enjoy the spectacle of the sun rising in the east before finally setting in the west.

Track down some Mistletoe

As many plants simply shut up shop in winter, the coldest season is the time for plants like Mistletoe to shine. It is only when the leaves fall from the trees of Apple, Lime, Hawthorn or Poplar, that the golden-green globes of this partly parasitic plant suddenly become fully revealed. Guilty of stealing nutrients from their hosts via their embedded roots, Mistletoe can also be sexed, as it is only the female clumps which bear the berries. Catch a snowflake on your tongue Despite the southern half of Britain seeing less snow you should always be ready in case the white stuff starts to fall. Snowflakes examined through a microscope are six-sided ice crystals with no two looking alike, however they quickly turn back to liquid upon contact with a warm human tongue! Mike Dilger is a Naturalist, Writer and Presenter and perhaps best known as the Wild Man from The One Show. While realising he can ‘take a horse to water but not necessarily make it drink’, he is determined that his three year old son Zachary should have the opportunity to enjoy a childhood much like his own, whose formative years revolved around spending every possible minute ‘messing around’ outside.

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Festive Furnishings  Fantasia Chandelier, pretty light with sequins, pearls and beads £260.00 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk  Tinker Bell Enchanted Castle Glass Bauble, Disneyland Paris £13.00 disneystore.co.uk  Frosted Eucalyptus Light Up Wreath £45.00 tch.net

H azlegrove P re -P reP We want your children to have the education you wish you could have had...

Mornings in the classroom are all about learning core academic skills with inspiring teachers. Afternoons are packed full of fun activities developing creativity and co-ordination, led by specialist teachers. Visitors are always welcome during term times. Just call us to make an appointment or come along to one of our Open Mornings and see for yourself.

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I.C.E In Car Entertainment How to keep the kids entertained in the car by RyderCar

here are four words used in the English language that when placed in a certain order and said out loud, particularly by children, send shivers down any parent’s spine… “Are we there yet?!” Recent research from the Highways Agency suggested that it generally takes 2 hours and 23 minutes into a long drive for these words to be spoken (personally I would suggest it is much sooner than this!) and 14 minutes later, arguments start to break out! It seems that these days, a lot of ‘modern children’ very sadly have a far lower level of imagination than yesteryears and I suspect this is largely due to the number of gadget’s now available in our modern world that ‘help’ to pass the time. However, when these said gadgets find their way into motor cars as I.C.E. (In Car Entertainment) the argument against them can change somewhat! As parents, we will usually try to look for the quickest route to reducing our rising blood pressure and for some time now, vehicle manufacturers and various after-market suppliers have cottoned on to this fact. History shows that in September 1965, Ford introduced factory-installed eight-track players and in the early 1970’s the compact cassette player arrived. By the 1980’s we had CD players and by the 1990’s, I.C.E. was considered to be all about the number of amplifiers you could get into a car to run the multitude of speakers (and sub woofers) you had. In the Noughties it was all about the Road Map retiring and the arrival of satellite navigation and today, it seems, the number of options are endless! Land Rover, for example, offer a quite brilliant option called Dual View Touchscreen which, by using opposite facing pixels, allows the front passenger to watch a movie (or digital TV of course!) using their own headset while the driver gets the ‘normal’ view of the satellite navigation map, all from the same screen! Meanwhile, in the second row of seats, utilising the Rear Entertainment Pack, the 2nd row passengers can watch two individual screens placed into the front seat headrests and if joined by a 3rd individual who would rather prefer to watch Peppa Pig over Harry Potter, one can install a rear facing armrest screen. Then, for the two poor individuals who have to sit in the 6th and 7th seats in the boot, a roof mounted screen can be installed to keep them happy although they would have to agree to watch the same content (shame!) The vehicle’s cabin would be so quiet, there would be serious danger of the driver falling asleep! Even the good ol’ Satellite Navigation screen is not just a route planner anymore. Many manufacturers offer additional features via this unit like Online Entertainment (music streaming which is then stored on the car’s hard drive for future playing) Online Services (basically a home computer for you to access the internet) Remote Services (this allows various vehicle-related functions such as locking and unlocking the car to be operated remotely) a Concierge Service where you push a button and are immediately connected to a call centre agent who acts as your “personal assistant” on the road. These options are not cheap though; Land Rover charge £1,555 for their 8” screens in the headrests or £2,590 if you require a larger 10” one!

If your vehicle came devoid of any factory installed ‘entertainment options’ then there are plenty of other choices available. You could mount digital Tablets (charged using the now common place USB charging points situated around the vehicle’s cabin) onto specific brackets for example, which then attach to the car’s headrests poles and pre-downloaded material can be watched to your hearts content. An American company called Rosen offer very impressive quality screens, which allow sources to be played either by an ‘old fashioned’ integrated DVD player or via USB, MP3, HDMI or streamed via a smartphone. You pay for this privilege though, so unsurprisingly ‘Far Eastern’ companies have got in on the act and offer basic headrest screens that pacify most viewers for half the cost… they just don’t look as pretty! I know some people who install strict rules with regard to the use of any entertainment in a car, like the journey having to be more than 30 mins or not being used on the school run or only for holidays. This is probably a good thing to ensure we do actually still talk to each other now and again! But, surely any gadget that can ensure a driver doesn’t have to hear those ‘four words’ must be a good thing, no?! You can remove your headphones now… we’ve arrived! For more information visit rydercar.com

Photography: Millie Pilkington

E N ZO

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What a mischievious sister! Do you really think daddy forgot? No! Send your amazing colouring into us at info@countrychild.co.uk

h no it's raining! That means, no park, no bike ride or playing in the garden. But wait, don't worry The Rainy Day Box is here.

Did you know a Rainy Day Box are activity boxes that can be delivered straight to you door, each month with a different seasonal adventure inside, aimed for 3-8 year olds. Everthing you need is inside to get creative and play for an exciting activity time on a rainy day (or not)! And there's no need for batteries as these packs are powered by you! Inside you'll ﬁnd a variety of exciting themed activities (not just arts & crafts), a minimum of 3 fun activities, separately packaged within the box, Bonus recycling task, prize chart, reward sticker, their famous ‘everlasting glue tube’, easy to follow instruction sheet with pictures and art brush. rainydaybox.co.uk

ountry Child has teamed up with the Rainy Day Company to give one lucky reader the chance to win a whole year's subscription worth £80! All you need to do is simply email your name and address to: info@ countrychild.co.uk. The winner will be drawn at random on the 1st January 2017. T's&C's apply.

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BOOKWORMS Chilmark and Fonthill, Wiltshire feeling to make it really interesting. My favourite part of the book is when Philip spreads the treacle to sooth the beans!

ur historic Church of England village school was founded in 1860. It has expanded over recent decades to become a unique spacious primary school. Our school places the child at the centre of what we do; we teach our curriculum to develop each child’s unique strengths and needs. We aim to provide all children with every possible opportunity to develop their individual potential by participating fully in curricular and extra-curricular activities, and working in close partnership with parents. We offer an active, practical approach to learning; endeavouring to provide a variety of educational experiences; trips, workshops, Science Days, visiting theatre groups, charity and whole-school theme days. We offer a wide range of afterschool clubs. We have an active team of Friends, who organize exciting fundraising events for the school. Weekly newsletters are published and together with our regularly updated website, we aim to keep families fully involved in life at our school. Chilmark and Fonthill Bishop Church of England Primary School 01722 716348 or 01722 716487 admin@ chilmarkfonthillbishop.wilts.sch.uk

The Circus of Adventure – Enid Blyton Harry Riggs Age 10 This book really catches the mind. What’s more it makes you go into another world with Jack, Kiki the parrot and all their friends on their fantastic adventures. When they save people’s lives the author, Enid Blyton really emphasises all the dramatic moments. She uses lots of adjectives and describes every

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling Monty Franklin Age 8 This is a very interesting book. Some parts are mysterious, some are adventurous, the rest just plain amazing. It’s about a boy, born by wizard and witch parents. He goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. I think everyone would like to read it because it is marvellous, exciting, interesting and spectacular!

and that makes it very enjoyable. I enjoyed this book from the very first moment I started reading it. Horrible Science: Blood, Bones and Body Bits – Nick Arnold Oliver Riggs Age 8 I like this book because it is very funny and my favourite picture was a sleepy chicken. I think people should read this book because it would make your brain bigger, so if you were in a science lesson it would be easier to learn. It makes science really interesting and fun and everyone should read it.

Awful Auntie – David Walliams Benjamin Walters Age 10 Awful Auntie by David Walliams is one of the most gripping, emotional and simply ingenious books I have ever read. My favourite part is where Soot, the ghost of an old chimney sweep, gets chased up the chimney by the Aunt’s owl, Wagner. It is very funny, addictive and impossible to put down. This book is absolutely fabulous for old and young readers. The pictures are great and the characters are even better. I would recommend it to everybody.

An Elephant in the Garden – Michael Morpurgo Lucy Fry Age 10 I liked an Elephant in the Garden because is so descriptive, exciting and written deeply from the heart. It is so emotional and you get to know Marlene the elephant, and Elizabeth, Karli and their mother and their personalities very quickly. When something happens to the characters you get worried because you get to know them so well, you have to read on. You get so involved in the book that you can’t put it down and you can’t stop reading. This book makes you smile, cry and laugh. I love it!

Kensuke’s Kingdom – Michael Morpurgo Zachary Cottle Age 10 Kensuke’s Kingdom is a very good book all about a boy called Michael who goes sailing, falls over board and gets washed up on an island. Then he wakes up next to a man, Kensuke who becomes his friend forever. The boy and Kensuke save monkeys and make big beacons and much much more. The book is very happy and very sad too,

Kaspar Prince of Cats – Michael Morpurgo Hannah Walters Age 8 This is an awesome book about a black cat called Kaspar who is living in a hotel with a Princess when Johnny first meets him. Kaspar goes on a boat and Johnny becomes the ship’s boy. Johnny then finds Kaspar on the boat and feels sorry for him so he keeps him. This book is sad and happy, I wanted to cry and laugh at the

same time. I thought that when they get back to England at the end of the book the little ship’s boy would keep Kaspar forever. The Cursed Child – Jack Thorne & JK Rowling Tallulah Denton Age 10 The Cursed Child is a play being made into a book. What I really liked about it is that you couldn’t stop reading it. Every page you turned left you on the edge of your seat. Although it is the type of book your friend would spoil for you! I also thought it took away a few aspects of the magic – especially the time turner. It is full of adventure, sadness and so much magic. My sister said, “I’ve never been a big fan of Harry Potter but this book is truly amazing”. The Twits – Roald Dahl Sophie Crosier Age 10 Firstly I like this book because it’s very funny. It is about a horrible couple called Mr and Mrs Twit who live in a house with no windows in it. They like to play lots of tricks on each other. My favourite bit is when the Twits eat spaghetti with worms. I also thought the monkeys and the birds were really funny too. It is very easy to read to little children and they will really enjoy it. Splat the Cat – Rob Scotton Georgia Cottle – Age 8 I think that what happens in this story probably happens to lots of children in life. It is all about Splat the Cat’s first day at school. I think that the story is AMAZING! If you like black cats and school then this is the book for you. I think it is really funny. I read this book to a younger girl at my school, and she could not stop laughing when I read it to her, and she said she loved it.

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Ask the expert Ten things no one tells you about divorce The breakdown of a marriage is a stressful and emotional time in anyone’s life. It becomes even more complicated when children, property and other assets are involved. Below are some things you may not know about divorce and ways to ease the stress. 1. Many people think you can divorce because of ‘irreconcilable differences’. Sadly, you still have to give a reason but even a fault-based divorce can be eased through discussion and compromise.

5. Honesty is the only policy. You are required to be full and frank about your finances. Trying to ‘cheat’ the system won’t work and will cost you more in the long run. Judges are very aware of ways of ‘hiding’ assets.

2. You cannot make an application to Court without first exploring the option of Mediation. Courts are also not how you may picture them from TV or films. They are often crowded, noisy and stressful – not the nicest place to resolve your family issues.

6. Financial claims do not end on Decree Absolute (the order that ends your marriage). Claims can sometimes be made years after your divorce.

3. Judges are not there to decide who is nice or nasty in the divorce process. Courts won’t penalise marital misconducts, i.e. an affair. Behaviour has to be extremely bad to be taken into account. 4. There is no such thing as ‘his’ or ‘hers’ in divorce. All assets are looked upon as marital assets unless proven otherwise.

Lisa Holden Principal - Head of Family Law

7. The law expects parties to reach agreement over the arrangements for children and the amount of maintenance paid. The Court won’t get involved unless there is a specific application. 8. Only a small part of your history is relevant to Family Court Proceedings. However, using Mediation or collaborative ways to resolve your issues allows you to talk about

Talk to our team today or find out more at

everything, even how you will deal with future family events, weddings, graduations, etc. 9. Lawyers do not want to make a bad situation worse by increasing hostilities. The best way to achieve that is by negotiation and compromise. 10. It can be a positive experience. Whilst never easy to end a marriage, it can be empowering and help you move on with your life. The team at Blanchards Bailey is here to provide expert advice on all family matters. If you want to talk about any matter, contact us today. lisa.holden@blanchardsbailey.co.uk

01258 488216

www.blanchardsbailey.co.uk

TOP News In Brief  Knighton House unveils new boarding facilities.  Leehurst Swan complete the modernisation of the science labs  Clayesmore’s new biomass heating system is now up and running  St Mary’s wins three major Awards in Dorset Arts Prize

Marks

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

Sexeians Meet HRH Prince William at Tusk Charity Event

Sixth Former raises £7,000 for charity.

harlotte Brumby, Warminster School Sixth Former, hosted a Gala Dinner for 100 guests in aid of Walking With The Wounded. Charlotte, was inspired to organise and host the event after meeting Edward Parker, Co-Founder & CEO of the charity last year. The Gala Dinner, was held at Warminster School’s Thomas Arnold Hall where Guest of Honour, Edward Parker spoke about the necessity to continue to generate awareness for those in real need even after conflicts are over and personally thanked Charlotte for organising the event saying, “I am deeply grateful to Charlotte and all those who helped her, particularly recent addition Warminster School, for her outstanding to the Port Regis efforts raising money for WWTW. Without Forest School is an Iron the commitment and generosity of people Age Round House which was built by Tim like Charlotte, we couldn’t provide the Hyde, a Master Thatcher, who is also a Port much needed services to those who have Regis parent. Started as a project in 2015 struggled the most since leaving the Armed as an extra-curricular activity at the school Forces.” called Forest Scouts, the children have had The evening raised a staggering full involvement including collecting all of the £7,000 which could put ten individuals hazel and willow from the school grounds. through Head Start, their Mental Health They are delighted with the end result and Programme or it could fund three First Step feel proud to have something so original bursaries, which provides grants to gain situated within its grounds. skills or education. Well done Charlotte!

next generation of conservationists from Sexey’s School in Bruton, Somerset met with the Duke of Cambridge, HRH Prince William to discuss the plight of endangered species in light of the illegal trade in ivory. Tusk promotes education, supports communities and helps protect wildlife such as elephants and rhinos through conservation work and sustainability projects throughout Africa. Prince William said: 'I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild. I fear we will not know what we have lost until it has gone.' The ivory trade is estimated to be worth up to £15 billion each year and is responsible for decimating populations of elephant, rhino and many other lesser known species. Sexey’s Head Master, Irfan Latif said, “It has been a great privilege and honour to accompany this group to attend the Tusk charity’s ‘Time for Change’ event. We have heard HRH Prince William, alongside other patrons, speak passionately on conservation and how current and future generations must act now to protect and preserve endangered species from dying out.”

Forest Fun

Photo: PreSS aSSoCiation

MEET THE HEAD Mrs Catriona Williamson Mere School, Warminster, Wiltshire

ow long have you been at the school?

It is hard to believe that I have been at Mere School for 16 years. Time flies when you are having fun! There have been many changes over that time and every year presents us new challenges to keep us motivated.

hat is the ethos of the school?

‘We enjoy, we learn, we achieve.’ Mere School is a place where the whole school community work together to ensure every pupil achieves their personal best.

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

Every child is treated as an individual and through our combined knowledge of the children in our care we provide a relevant, exciting curriculum for our learners. This curriculum is adjusted for those who find learning difficult or easy – children who are

motivated by their learning make good progress.

hat do you find most rewarding about teaching?

Making a difference to a child’s life. As teachers we are in a privileged position – there is nothing more special than contributing to a child’s future.

W W

hat are your hobbies and interests?

My family and my home with some sport, music and cooking as well!

hat does the future hold for you and your school?

When I took up the post here I never imagined that I would stay for so long. I thoroughly enjoy working with the staff, governors, children and parents, supporting other local schools and running the Wiltshire Head Teacher forum. I have no plans to move on. The children at Mere are very special and I am continually driven to provide the best possible, all-round education for them.

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NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS Kilver Court launch new Whistles, Penelope Chilvers and Sophie Conran Brands. - Free Range Accountants have expanded and have opened the doors to their new premises at Harvest Court in Shepton Mallet. - Dorset Wine Shop have been shortlisted for Best Small Independent Wine Retailer in the Decanter Retailer of the Year Awards 2016. - Hambledons Estate Agents open new branch in Sturminster Newton. - Wilton Kitchens & Designs relaunch with premier partners Neptune by their side. - Little Hen House relaunch their Devizes shop with new business Liz Gaule joining the team. - Artsreach organisation given boost by Dorset law firm Blanchards Bailey

New Specialist Teacher Give me some Space We're on the Move ith over ver the last 12 years Jo Dale has

21 years of teaching experience, Catherine Bernard worked heavily in the Learning Support department at Chafyn Grove, Salisbury after obtaining specialist accrediation whilst starting out at Appleford School, Wiltshire. Catherine's children have now all flown the nest, which enables her to set up her own facility to offer specialist tuition in a range of manners from assessing a childs capabilities, literacy, intellectual profiling, processing abilities, working memory, concentration skills spelling, reading accuracy, phonic knowledge and comprehension skills. Catherine says "I am passionate about helping each child to reach their potential and grow in self-confidence, and while I don't believe in a 'magic button' that suddenly makes everything easy for the struggling child, I do believe in the solid grounding of phonics and literacy skills. My pupils matter to me enormously and building a relationship of mutual trust is most important in our journey together." cbspecialistteaching.co.uk

worked as an executive coach and consultant with clients big and small, UK and internationally in pretty much every sector imaginable and we’re excited to announce she’s now opened a coaching clinic, based at The Space in Shaftesbury. “Leadership is a life skill and any chance you get to develop it should be grabbed with both hands, but that’s easier said than done. Life and work fight for time, we can easily get drowned by too much to do and too much peripheral noise and sometimes we need time to step back, regroup and get asked a few insightful questions to get back on the right track and move forward with ease. That’s what the coaching clinic is all about. The luxury of 45, confidential minutes focused on you. With expert guidance from me.” authenticleadership.net/exec-coachingthe-space/

Millie Pilkington unveils her new digital platform, check it out at: milliepilkington.co.uk

uliet Stallwood Cakes & Biscuits is due to move to Chaldicott Barns in Semley. At the new barn bakery, she will be able to start running workshops alongside the normal bespoke biscuit and cake making, and as well as occasional pop up shops at seasonal times. Keep a look out!

MORE! MORE!! tagecoach Performing Arts School in

Blandford can now expand and will be running classes for 4/5 years olds in addition to the classes for 6 - 18 year olds they already run in Blandford. "We are very excited to offer the little ones classes after Christmas and enrolement starts now. They have an hour and a half of singing, dance and drama on Saturday afternoons to have fun and learn at the same time.' says the Principal Di Waterman.

Bruton's Selfish Mother

elfish Mother opens its first bricks and mortar shop, ‘The FMLY Store’ in Bruton, Somerset this Winter 2016. The FMLY Store will be a unique lifestyle store for - as the name suggests - the whole family. Showcasing Selfish Mother’s range of #GoodTees alongside independent lifestyle and homewear brands, the store will also run weekly creative workshops and inspiring events for all ages. This will be a space to shop and gather for like-minded orset based law firm Blanchards creatives whether they are age 5, 35, 55 or Bailey has announced it has re85! thefmlystore.com tained its prestigious Investors in People (IiP) accreditation for the 12th year running. Following a lengthy assessment by IiP, evidence was gathered through one to one employee interviews resulting in the achievement of Investors in People accreditation, further cementing Blanchards Bailey’s ethos of putting people first. blanchardsbailey.co.uk

Legal 500 Recognition

'Tis the Season

To celebrate the village of Tisbury in Wiltshire...

ust moments from the south west central transport vein that is the A303, is the village of Tisbury, one of Wiltshire's best kept secrets and the largest settlement in the Nadder Valley. This must be why this village is growing in stature and development. Not only does the area have over 2000 years worth of history full of 12th century parish churches, an ancient 4000 year yew tree, a Grade 1 listed tithe barn now the stunning new Messums gallery and museum but the parents of Ruyard Kipling are buried here. What more could the area possibly offer I here you say? The location is ideally situated for access to the tri borders (Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset) meaning living here and commuting to Bath, Bristol, London and Salisbury is easy with trunk roads, mortorways and a main line railway direct into Paddington station. Living here would be a delight as nearby local attractions come in the form of Stourhead Estate, Old Wardour Castle and Shaftesbury's Gold Hill, not to mention the neighbouring countryside with Fonthill and Pytouse Estates on your doorstep too. If you're thinking of moving to the area then perhaps a visit to nearby Chilmark to one of the areas top estate agents, Rural View would be advantageous. Rural View is an independent agent with a great reputation and has been working in the Tisbury area for some nine years now and act for sellers and landlords not only in South Wilts but into North Dorset and South Somerset as well. Two years ago they won the Estas Award for the Best Agent in Wiltshire. Director Charlie Graham muses "We liken ourselves to a good local delicatessen: handling a quality product with expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm…and the personal service that goes with it." ruralview.co.uk The village centre has an abundance of retail outlets and services, more than ten villages together could provide, with a tasty delicatessan that eminates the best foodie aromas all the way down the High Street, where opposite you'll find one of the newest

Nadder Centre Fitness offer, Tisbury No admin fee to pay with this flyer. Save £10 on sign up!

Simply bring the advert with you, show to reception staff and get your first month half price when taking out a Life Zone or Fitness Zone membership! Terms and conditions apply. Offer ends 31 January 2016. Why not come in after Christmas, have a look around and take advantage of this great offer. www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-nadder Email naddercentre@wiltshire.gov.uk, phone 01747 871141 naddercentre

@naddercentre

Photo: Big Bang PiZZa CoMPany oUtSiDe MeSSUMS gallery additions to the centre, The Beckford Bottle, the spin off wine shop from the popular Beckford Arms in Fonthill Bishop. The mood and setting within the shop is perfect to buy a selections of wine but perhaps relax, unwind and sample the wares in their cosy seating areas. One for when the kids are on a sleepover though... The biggest development locally has to be the new Nadder Centre, which from first impressions is quite literally a sight to behold. The Nadder Centre is now equipped to offer a fantastic community facility for Tisbury and the surrounding villages, which provides leisure provisions, a library, business units, Tisbury Pre-school and Children’s Centre and rooms for the Police. A state of the art fitness suite overlooks the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, providing a scenic and inspiring place to exercise, whilst there are a number of multi-activity rooms including a community events hall with superb lighting and sound systems. The library includes an interactive children’s area, perfect for the children of Tisbury Pre-School whose experience is enhanced by brand new indoor and outdoor areas. Local start-up businesses will now be attracted to the affordable office spaces and the centre offers all the other sports and leisure facilities you would expect including a brand new sports hall. Great value, flexible leisure memberships are available and locals are encouraged to go and have a look around. Don't forget to take your offer coupon on this page to save £10 on sign up! Show your support by following them on social media @naddercentre. In many villages you will find striving businesses that all support the community and the area around, and the Tisbury Business Assocation do it well. Here we met Marcus Deyes from the Big Bang Pizza Company who told us about his mobile wood fired pizza business that serves freshly cooked pizza outside The Benett Arms and Shaftesbury Town Hall from spring through to autumn, as well as at festivals, parties and weddings. Marcus said "We do lots of big birthdays. At a recent 40th one guest kept coming back for more. He worked for one of the big high-street pizza restaurant chains – and I’m naming no names – but he kept saying, 'We can’t make them like this, they are just so good.” He liked them so such, he finished off three full size 12” pizzas." Good ingredients from local producers, a great team, attention to detail and perhaps some family genes are the reason for the success. Marcus' family are all chefs and farmers and his Swiss grandmother, was one of the first female students at the internationally renowned Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. The Big Bang Pizza Company can be booked for weddings and parties. “We change the way we serve depending on the kind of event,” explains Marcus. “For weddings we make sure we fit in with the colours and themes, and for a children’s party, we get the kids involved – they make the dough, put the toppings they want on and put the pizza in the wood fired oven to watch it cook. They can’t believe it cooks in under 1 minute…it’s like magic to a child.” bigbangpizza.co.uk

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A wealth of expertise on your doorstep We provide an experienced wealth management service and offer specialist advice in a wide range of areas including: • Investment planning

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For further details contact us on: Email: peterhardingwm@sjpp.co.uk

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