Life in the Village - Avon & Severn Late Spring 2016 by Lisa Lambon

Life in the

lifeinthevillage.co.uk

Late Spirng 2016 FREE

AVON & SEVERN

Your Hair

Win!

Aveda Inspired Style with Graham West

One of Ten Pairs of Tickets to The Royal Three Counties Show

Cookery

And

Birlingham Asparagus With Chef Steve Waites

One of Ten Pairs of Tickets to The Stratford Home & Garden Show

Celebrating

And

The British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham

An Outdoor Drama Experience at The Roses Theatre

Meadow

BUTTERFLIES HO MES

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G ARDENS

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FO O D

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DRI NK

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WEL LBEI NG

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L EI SURE

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Contents Competitions & Vouchers

11 Competition: Royal Three Counties Show 25 Competition: Stratford Home & Garden Show 61 Competition: The Roses 62 Your Money Saving Vouchers

Local Life 9 Welcome 20 Rally By The River with Bob Holmes 22 Ashton under Hill Open Gardens 27 The Revival of Spetchley Park 29 Ultimate Agriculture with Ken Nottage 30 Ticks & Canine Babesiosis 37 Workable HR with Kirsten Cluer 40 Do Something Amazing with Helen Griffee 43 Raw Made Easy with Chris Brierley 45 Estate Planning with Paul Urmston 47 Eckington Flower Festival 51 Beckford Open Village 52 Asparagus Festival with Henry Prudden 56 Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day in Kemerton 58 Life in the Village on Twitter 65 Index

Enter our three new competitions online

Regulars 12 Wildlife: Meadow Jewels with Wendy Carter 19 Spring/Summer 2016 with Graham West 33 Pet Talk with Folly Gardens 35 Light + Longevity with John Lannen 39 Behind the Scenes with Caroline Lawrence 49 Letting Property with Anne Horton 55 Local Policing with Supt. Kevin Purcell 57 Birlingham Asparagus with Steve Waites

Front cover image: ÂŠ www.Shutterstock.com/ThitareeS This page, clockwise from top Ashton Open Gardens by Jo Brown; Common Blue Male Vicky Nyall via WWT, Sheep at the Royal Three Counties Show, Asparagus Crown by Angela Tidmarsh

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Half Page Landscape 132mm (w) x 95mm (h)

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lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk lifeinthevillage.co.uk Jasmine House Bredon’s Norton Glos GL20 7EZ Published five times a year, Life in the Village - Avon & Severn has a print run of 3,000 copies which are delivered free to homes in the following villages: Twyning, Bushley, Bushley Green, Church End, Hill End, Shuthonger, Longdon, Uckinghall, Hanley Swan, Ripple, Baughton, Besford, Defford, Earls Croome, Kinnersley, Naunton, Pirton, Strensham, Wadborough, Severn Stoke, Ryall, Holly Green, Drakes Broughton and relevant retail outlets between Tewkesbury and Upton upon Severn. It is one of a group of four publications including Life in the Village Bredon, Folly View & Cotswold Edge. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this magazine is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher. Whilst reasonable care is taken to ensure the veracity of information published, Life in the Village does not officially endorse any advertising material within this magazine. The content of each advert is the sole responsibility of each advertiser. Artwork is accepted on the strict understanding that there are no copyright issues. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without our prior written publisher. We reserve the right to refuse advertising.

Hello... … and welcome to a brand new edition. This issue, we’ve put local events at the heart of our magazine. From the spectacular Royal Three Counties Show which takes place against the backdrop of the Malvern Hills to the Stratford Home and Garden Show set on the banks of the River Avon, to the many village events taking place around Bredon Hill this summer, there’s every excuse for you to escape for a few hours and enjoy our beautiful landscape. As a result of generous sponsorship, we are able to bring you three fantastic competitions - ten pairs of tickets to both the Royal Three Counties Show and the Stratford Home and Garden Show plus a fabulous Outdoor Drama Experience from The Roses. Entering is easy so take a minute to enter your details online and you may be able to enjoy a day out with our compliments. Remember that you can access Life in the Village by visiting our website at www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk and joining us on twitter at www.twitter.com/@lisalambon. If you’re new to social media don’t worry about it being difficult or intrusive - you don’t even need to open an account or tweet yourself. Simply access our updates on your pc, tablet or mobile by visiting our website where you will find our twitter feed displayed on every page. Your next printed magazine will be with you from late June. Meanwhile, get yourself a drink, settle down for a while and let us inspire you. Until next time,

Life in the AVON & SEVERN

Publishing Editor Lisa Lambon

@LisaLambon

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WIN ONE OF 10 PAIRS OF TICKETS TO THE ROYAL THREE COUNTIES SHOW FRIDAY 17-SUNDAY 19 JUNE Will you be a lucky winner? It’s easy! Just visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk by Friday 3 June 2016 and enter your details as requested. DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE IN AGRICULTURE

Win one of 10 pairs of tickets to the Royal Three Counties Show, taking place at the Three Counties Showground this June. This landmark event in the agricultural calendar celebrates the rich heritage of British farming, alongside fine food and family entertainment. One of the country’s premier livestock and lifestyle events, features this year include:  The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery  A Grand Parade of the finest examples in Livestock  Championship Showjumping and Equestrian Village  Thrilling displays from the Parachute Regiment Freefall Team ‘The Red Devils’, dog agility, showjumping competitions, hot air balloons and much more  BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson  The Three Counties Food and Drink Pavilion  Smallholders and Alternative Livestock Enterprise Village  Unique shopping in the Country Living Village  The Country Pursuits Village. For full details or ticket information please call 01684 584900 or visit www.threecounties.co.uk/threecounties

HOW TO ENTER Just visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk by Friday 3 June 2016 and enter your details as requested. Ten lucky winners will each receive a pair of tickets, valid for any one of the three dates. Terms & Conditions: One entry per household. Competition closes Friday 3 June 2016. Winners will be notified by Friday 10 June 2016 and will receive their tickets by post. Judges’ decision is final and not redeemable for cash. No correspondence will be entered into. By entering this competition you agree to be contacted in future by Royal Three Counties Show and Life in the Village. Your information will not be shared with any third party. You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an email headed ‘Unsubscribe’ to unsubscribe@lifeinthevillage.co.uk.

www.threecounties.co.uk/threecounties

PHOTO: Meadow Brown Barry Green

MEADOW Jewels In the second feature of our series on butterflies, Wendy Carter of WWT introduces a range of meadow lovers to be found locally. 12

e’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful county! Since World War Two, England has lost around 97% of its wildflower-rich grasslands...gone are so many of the meadows painted with wildflowers and humming with insects. But we can be proud of the fact that right here in Worcestershire we’ve got almost 20% of those that remain. And they’re not just pretty to look at – meadows support

hundreds of butterflies, bees, moths and many other species of wildlife. So what butterfly beauties will you find if you head out into the countryside looking for wildflowers and meadows? Small Copper Beautiful things come in small packages and small coppers are no exception. With a wingspan of less than 3.5cm, this glamorous butterfly is enough to brighten anyone’s day. Unless,

PHOTO: Small Skipper Shirley Freeman

PHOTO: Small Copper Jon Hawkins

Common Blue Keeping with the small theme,

common blues definitely rival small coppers for appeal. Males are a bright, violet blue whereas females are brown with a dusting of blue close to the body and orange spots towards the edges of their wing. Their scientific name Polyommatus icarus is appropriate – these flutterers love being bathed in sunshine as much as the mythical Icarus who wanted to fly to the sun. Marbled White The best time to see captivating marbled white butterflies is early in the morning when their wings are open and they’re soaking up the sun’s first warmth. Marbled white caterpillars munch on many common grasses such as cock’s-foot, fescue or Yorkshire fog. However, rather than carefully laying their eggs on the

“

Common Blues, aptly named Polyommatus icarus love being bathed in sunshine as much as the mythical Icarus who wanted to fly to the sun.

“

that is, you’re another insect; male small coppers are highly territorial and can be aggressive. They have a habit of perching on flower-heads and launching themselves in pursuit of females or making threatening charges at butterflies and other insects before returning to favourite basking spots. That said, you can’t knock these active flutterers; if the weather is right they can have up to three broods in a year and will fly into October if it’s warm enough. The caterpillars nibble on sorrels or docks; if you live near grassy and flowery fields, try keeping some of your garden dandelions and you might attract some into your own spaces.

PHOTO: Common Blue male Karen Lloyd

relevant grass stem, females drop their eggs randomly onto the ground as they flit between the tall grasses. Look out for these chessboard-patterned flutterers throughout June and July, particularly on lilac coloured flowers like field scabious, thistles and knapweeds. Meadow Brown Despite their name, marbled whites belong to the ‘brown’ family of butterflies that also include the appropriately named meadow brown. This is one of our most common flutterers and, unlike the previous ones, will fly on cloudy days. Their dark colouring has often meant that they’ve been associated with mournfulness in art and literature, which is a shame because they’re a great sign of

grasslands and flowery plants – even willing to venture into your garden if their wildflowers have been cut. Small Skipper It was a little while before I realised that small skippers were butterflies and not moths. Unusually, for butterflies, they tend to hold their wings halfopen when resting. For a long time, their short, pig-like bodies and deep orange colour gave these dancing flutterers their earlier name of golden hog – perhaps not quite so attractive but rather charming, don’t you think! Precious local meadows The best meadows are the ones that haven’t been ploughed for 100 years or more or had

pesticides, fertilisers or other chemicals added to them; many of the plants are slow colonisers. Expect to see cowslips, knapweed, ox-eye daisy and yellow rattle together with a scattering of green-winged and common spotted orchids. Some of the best meadow nature reserves locally, supporting up to 30 species of butterfly, are Windmill Hill (North Littleton), parts of Hollybed Farm Meadows (Castlemorton), The Knapp and Papermill (Malvern) or Eades Meadow (Hanbury). But there are other places too, such as the re-created meadows at Croome, the hills of Bredon and the commons around Malvern, that also support healthy populations. Pay them a visit this spring and see what you can find.

PHOTO: Common Blue male Vicky Nall

PHOTO: Common Blue female Bob Coyle

PHOTO: Common Blue Peter Smith

PHOTO: Small Copper Wendy Carter

Find out more... To discover more local butterflies, please use our Species Explorer at www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/ species-a-z WWT Events include:  Tiddesley Wood 30th Annual Open Day, Sunday 1st May 10am-5pm. Enjoy craft stalls and entertainment in a beautiful woodland setting. Tiddesley Wood, Pershore, WR10 2AD.  Orchids, Butterflies and

Spring Woodland Wildlife, Saturday 7th May 10am - 1pm. A guided spring walk with a Conservation Officer.  Exploring the Knapp and Papermill Reserve, Sunday 8th May 10am - 1pm. A gentle guided walk with Peter Howell.  Lower Smite Farm Visit, Thursday 19th May 7pm 9:30pm including a talk and refreshments.  River Walk and Chapter Meadows, Wednesday 15th June 7pm - 9:30pm. Walk along

the river at Worcester led by Harry Green followed by fish and chips to restore you.  Butterfly Walk at Trench Wood, Saturday 16th July 2pm - 4:30pm with expert Peter Seal of Butterfly Conservation. Please note places are limited and booking is required. For full details of all events, costs, and to book your place please visit: www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/ whats-on

To find out more about Worcestershire’s wildlife, becoming a member, volunteering or our programme of events visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/whats-on Call us on 01905 754919 @WorcsWT 16

worcestershirewildlifetrust

WorcsWildlifeTrustUK1

PHOTO: Marbled White Wendy Carter

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Guide to the Nature Reserves of Worcestershire! When you join WWT before 30/06/16 & pay for your membership by Direct Debit. Call 01905 754919 & quote ‘Life in the Village.’

PHOTO: Marbled White Wendy Carter

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SPRING/SUMMER 2016 GRAHAM

Inspired by the warmth of the summer sun, the new spring/summer hair and make-up collection from Aveda is here. Fladbury based hairdresser Graham West explains more.

arm, rich and vibrant, inspired by the deep tones that only come with a summer sun, each look in Aveda’s new spring/summer collection is beautiful yet practical. The launch includes the return of some short hairstyles, a fresh new make-up collection called Indian Sunset plus a new range of hair colour products for brunettes, Full Spectrum Deep TM. Every Aveda hair colour is the result of custom-blending natural pigments and tones into a base, creating an individual shade to suit your skin tone. However, with the advent of new Full Spectrum DeepTM, we now have even more range in our palette, offering greater versatility and enabling us to give you longer lasting colour. This is particularly true for the more vibrant tones of violet, pink and red that complement all the denims, inky blues and steel hues that are currently fashionable. Twice a year, the team here visits the Aveda Lifestyle Salon &

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Spa, Covent Garden for an intensive two days of inspiration and training in the new collection. Last month, working with Aveda’s Creative Directors, we had fun recreating the looks from New York Fashion Week. It’s part of an ongoing programme of staff development in which we are constantly investing, enabling us to offer the latest techniques available in the industry. We’ve already been able to interpret what we’ve learnt into workable new looks for clients, tweaking colours to incorporate the new tones and cutting hair in fresh ways. If a new look appeals, be reassured that lots of clients visit the salon and ‘interview’ us before we touch their hair. Call today on 01386 860361 to book your complimentary consultation.

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Rally By The River

he Jowett Car Club is the oldest one make club in the world having been formed in 1923. The club has an international membership and is affiliated with clubs in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark. Each year the club holds an international rally at a different

location in the UK. This year, for our 51st rally, we have chosen the Gloucestershire/ Worcestershire border and we are pleased to be staging a static display of vehicles from the range in Upton upon Severn. Having just undergone major restoration work we hope to have the oldest known Javelin available for you to view. Our static display of cars and commercials will be open to the public, free of charge. We are pleased to be supporting the 25th anniversary of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity this year and representatives will also be attending with their â&#x20AC;&#x153;podâ&#x20AC;? and display unit.

PHOTOS Top: Jowett car Club members en route to Scotland 21st May 2008 - Bradford, Javelin, Kestrel and Javelin at rear. Top Left: Dr Isaac climbing Ebrington hill with wife and 6 children on the First Cotswold rally 30th October 1927. Middle Right: Jupiter in the Vale. Bottom: Kestrel doing wedding duty.

Rally by the River will take place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 28th May at The Sports Field, Upton upon Severn, WR8 0HW. For further details please contact Bob Holmes on 01684 593940 or email bobholmes251@hotmail.com Visit www.jowett.org

Bob Holmes, Rally Co-ordination and Membership Secretary of the Jowett Car Club, invites you to Upton upon Severn on Saturday 28th May for a rare chance to see Jowett cars from the early 1900's to 1954 on display for the day.

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Ashton under Hill

OPEN GARDENS

As featured in The English Garden

Villagers of Ashton under Hill have hosted an Open Gardens weekend for 38 years. Malcolm Nelson invites you to this year’s 90th Birthday event.

shton Open Gardens is an annual event, now in its 39th year. The village, on the lower slopes of Bredon Hill, in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is looking forward to welcoming around 1,000 visitors over the weekend of 11th and 12th June. Visitors will be able to enjoy 29 varied and colourful gardens, ranging from small cottage garden plots to larger landscaped grounds, some open for the first time. Happy and Glorious This year’s theme is Happy and Glorious, celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The gardens will echo the theme with some colourful displays and there 22

will also be an exhibition in St Barbara’s Church. Refreshments and Plant Sales Refreshments will be served from 12pm in the marquee at The Old Post House where visitors can rest and relax with a Ploughman’s lunch or cream tea and there will be sandwiches, tea and cakes in the village hall. Full meals will be served all day in the village pub, The Star, or visitors can bring their own refreshments and picnic in a designated picnic area. Ice creams will also be available. Quality plants will be for sale at keen prices from local nurseries along with craft goods. Sharing a love of Gardening In 2011, our event was the subject of a feature in The English Garden

PHOTOS: Jo Brown

magazine. Visitors came from all over the world, including Australia, America, Holland and Norway, as well as from many parts of the UK, all united by their love of gardening. In Ashton, you’ll see gardens designed and maintained by down-to-earth enthusiasts, facing all the familiar challenges of climate, location, soil, and of course pests! They're always happy to discuss their choice of plants and shrubs, their successes and their failures; they are also interested to hear about your own gardening experiences. Admission is still just £5 for adults which includes entry to all the gardens and attractions. Children under 16 are free. Free car and coach parking is included and there is a complimentary minibus service around the village. Gardens will be open from 1pm - 6pm each day.

or other organisation please contact us. Fundraising This popular annual event aims to raise funds for the community. In the past money raised has been donated to St Barbara’s church for repairs, the village community centre, the WI, The Guides and Bredon Hill Middle School Gardening Club. For more information please contact Malcolm Nelson marketing@ashtonopengardens.co.uk or 01386 881778. Find us with Sat Nav WR11 7SW. For full details and the most up to date information visit www.ashtonopengardens.co.uk

Group Discounts We are pleased to offer groups an advance booking rate of 20% off for a party of 10 or more. We also offer an added incentive on the Sunday of one free ticket if your booking is for more than 20 people. If you'd like to take advantage of our group rates for members of your club, society 23

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Home to one of the largest private collections of peonies in the country 30 acres of tranquil bliss nestled in the countryside Wide open spaces for families to roam and play

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WIN ONE OF TEN PAIRS OF TICKETS FOR THE STRATFORD-UPON-AVON HOME & GARDEN SHOW Tickets can be used on 15th, 16th or 17th July. Will you be one of ten lucky winners? It’s easy; just visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk and enter your details by Friday 17th June 2016. HANDPICKED & UNIQUE

The Stratford-upon-Avon Home & Garden Show, held on the banks of the River Avon, will showcase an eclectic mix of artisan designs & crafts, creative & unusual homewares, fabulous foods, beautiful plants, impressive garden buildings & exciting gardening accessories. Each year the Show supports a charity and for 2016 this will be Bliss, for babies born too soon, too sick or too small.

SHOW ATTRACTIONS

 Home & Crafts Marquee: 80 quality stands, wide aisles  Garden & Outdoor Living Stands: over 80 stands with beautiful plants, garden buildings, tools and accessories  Food Court & Cookery Theatre: 30 food stands and a theatre with live, chef demonstrations throughout the day  Rural Crafts Marquee: engaging and entertaining demonstrations  Local Craft Market: showcasing local craft makers  The Toot Vintage Tearooms: quintessential English cream teas  Live Demonstration Theatre: demo’s of gardening & crafts  Delicious Food: quality world food and drink in abundance  Kids’ Entertainment: face painting, games and Disney characters.

HOW TO ENTER

Just visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk and enter your details as requested by Friday 17th June. The winners will be notified by Friday 24th June 2016 and tickets sent out by post. Terms & Conditions: One entry per household. Prize not redeemable for cash. Judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. By entering this competition you agree to be contacted by Life in the Village and Stratford Home & Garden Show in future. Your information will not be shared with any third party. You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing unsubscribe@lifeinthevillage.co.uk.

www.stratfordhomeandgardenshow.co.uk

DESIGN FOR FLOWERS Tewkesbury Garden Centre Creating Beautiful Flowers For Your Special Day       

Bridal & Bridesmaid Bouquets Buttonholes & Corsages Mother of the Bride Church Flowers Table Decorations Wedding Flowers? Helium Balloons We offer a friendly, expert Event Management wholesale supply service to help you achieve the Wholesale Supply best results at home. Top quality blooms & Call Russell Banks floristry supplies to order 01684 296680 with 2-3 days’ notice

DIY

Call 01684 290288 maria@designforflowers.co.uk Mythe. A38 Worcester Rd, Tewkesbury GL20 6EB

Picture Scene

PICTURE FRAMERS

Japanese Dining

 Prints & Paintings  Photographs  Needlework Specialists  Re-framing

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Visit www.picturescene.co.uk 26

selection of delicious food using local ingredients prepared by Tokyo trained chef Nana Hirayama  Japanese Master Class Private cookery lesson incl. meal, max. 4 people, lasting approx. 4 hrs, £35pp  Monthly Supper Club 3 course seasonal meal Call Nana on

01386 641578 07717 298207 @NanasFoodsJapan

www.nanasfoods.co.uk

10% off until 30/6/16

Charity Promotion

2 for 1* Adult Entry

Until 30 Oct 2016 Please see voucher on Offer Pages. *Excl. Plant Fairs & Events

The Revival

...of Spetchley Park

n the last twelve months the historic gardens at Spetchley Park have enjoyed one of the biggest revivals in their 400 year history. The garden lake has been completely restored, the old cart sheds have been converted into a heritage centre and the parkland has been returned to its 19th century contours. The revival project, still ongoing, has cost £1.4m and has been generously funded by a number of sponsors. It means that, more than ever before, Spetchley really is a garden for all seasons, worthy of a visit. Spring sees our spectacular daffodils then during May, our magnificent peony collection will come into its own. In June, we

will welcome back our 19th century Sovereign Coach which is being conserved by Fairbourne Coaches in Kent. It is one of only 20 such coaches in the country and will be on display for all our visitors to see. By July, the roses and huge herbaceous borders will bring fresh fragrance and vibrancy to the garden. If a glass of wine and a light lunch or afternoon tea sounds appealing then you can pause on your way around the gardens to enjoy our delightful refurbished tea room with its wonderful, cosy atmosphere and idyllic location. Complete your visit in our new Welcome Centre where you can browse a range of tempting garden themed gifts and souvenirs. You will also find a

WORDS: Henry Berkeley varied selection of seasonal plants within our Plant Sales area, perfect for providing a lasting memento of your visit. Be sure to save the date of August 13/14th when 800 military re-enactors will descend on Spetchley for our “History comes Alive” weekend. We are also running several smaller events throughout the summer. Spetchley Park Gardens is open Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays until 30th September. Visit our website to sign up to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. This summer, enjoy 2 for 1 adult entry using the voucher on the Offer Pages in this magazine or at www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk

Call 01905 345106 @SpetchleyPark SpetchleyParkGardens

www.spetchleygardens.co.uk

Chiropractic Can Help Back Pain  Neck Issues  Pain, Discomfort, Stiffness in Joints Migraine Headaches  Arthritic Pain  Minor Sports Injuries The gentle nature of the McTimoney method makes it especially suitable for people of all ages including young babies, pregnant women and the elderly. BUPA, AXA, PPP & all other major insurers registered.

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The Acupuncture Clinic

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Park Farm Cottage, Kemerton Tewkesbury, GL20 7HZ

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ULTIMATE

Advance Tickets booked before 31 May 16 Quote code LITV16

...agriculture

We caught up with Ken Nottage, Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Three Counties Show which takes place on 17-19 June 2016. What can we expect at the Royal Three Counties Show? The Show is one of the country’s premier livestock and lifestyle events where the finest in farming come together to celebrate our rich British heritage, alongside fine food and family entertainment, all set against the Malvern Hills. What’s new for 2016? We’re thrilled to have The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery performing in the Main Arena each day, offering the only opportunity to see the Troop outside of London. This awe inspiring spectacle involves teams of six horses each pulling First World War-era field guns used to fire an earth shattering salute, most often seen at state occasions. For the first time ever, both The Beef Burke Trophy and The Dairy Burke Trophy will be hosted here and supermodels of the sheep world will take to the ‘wool walk’ in a Fashion Show. BBC Countryfile presenter Adam

Henson will share his expert farming knowledge. Learn, take part and be inspired in our new Sports Village with Quidditch lessons and matches, lacrosse and more. Visit our Entrepreneur Area and Smallholders Village hosting all things great and small, from bees and honey to alpacas and goats, poultry and rabbits, plus the new Village Show. Can we still rely on the old favourites? Yes, our traditional events are always popular. Enjoy The Grand Parade of Livestock, parachute displays, showjumping competitions, dog agility, hot air balloons and extreme falconry, all with expert commentary. Sample fine food in the food and drink pavilion, take in the orchid show and find unique gifts and homewares in the Country Living Village. We promise a packed day of education, inspiration and entertainment for all the family. Plus get 10% off advance tickets by quoting code LITV16.

Advance tickets are now on sale. For full details and to buy tickets please: Call 01684 584900 Visit www.threecounties.co.uk/threecounties Company Promotion

Chris Packham & Professor Chris Wall collect ticks in Harlow, Essex.

Dermacentor Tick, found Harlow, Essex.

Ticks & Canine Babesiosis Scientists at the University of Bristol conducting the Big Tick Project are currently analysing 1000s of ticks collected by veterinary practices as part of MSD Animal Health’s Big Tick Project. Recent confirmed cases of Babesia canis in four dogs in Essex that had not travelled abroad, have increased the need for surveillance of tick-borne disease in the UK.

aunched last year by Chris Packham, the Big Tick Project has become the largestever veterinary study of ticks and tick-borne disease in the UK, if not worldwide. In addition to the potential for tick mapping and greater understanding about what is perceived to be a rise in the risks to dogs and people from Lyme Disease, the emergence in four dogs in Essex of babesiosis, a life-threatening disease transmitted to dogs by infected ticks usually found in Europe, has highlighted the need for a major investigation on the scale of the Big Tick Project, says Professor Wall. “The recent Babesia cases in Essex are of huge significance. The fact that we now appear to have established populations of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus acting as vectors of the introduced pathogen Babesia

canis is a new and important development and a major concern for animal health.” Dog owner Hollie Wilson’s French holiday turned into a nightmare when Olive, a pointer, was bitten by a tick. Within days, Olive’s condition had deteriorated and it was clear that she was becoming seriously unwell. On arrival back in the UK, the Wilson’s rushed their dog to their vet and after extensive tests, canine babesiosis, suspected by the vet on duty that day who had seen the disease in her native Poland, was confirmed. Hollie says: “Her gums were completely white and she was anaemic. The race was on to find the recommended drug treatment and there was a lot of ringing round before she could finally be treated. I can honestly say without all the help from our vets, Olive would not be here

today. It was due to their persistence in finding she had babesiosis and how Olive was treated so quickly, that she has made a full recovery. Back then, I probably wasn't aware so much of the risks of tick-borne disease and was probably a bit naive as to where these risks were found. However I am most definitely aware of the dangers carried by ticks now! I think my message is to talk to your vet and find a tick treatment that is effective for your dog and ensure you use it on a regular basis as you never know which tick is infected.” Symptoms of Babesia Canis can range from mild to severe and include lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, anaemia, pale gums, an enlarged abdomen, weight loss jaundice. If your dog has or had ticks and you are concerned for its health please contact a vet immediately.

Dog owner Hollie Wilson & Olive

How to detect ticks After walks you should regularly check your dog for ticks. Unfortunately, ticks can be hard to spot as before they are engorged, they can be just 1mm and will stay hidden in a long coat. Once engorged, they can swell to the size of a pea. Check your pets’ skin on its head first (around the mouth and ears, behind ears and on its neck), then work your way down its forelegs and the rest of its body, searching for lumps on the skin surface. If you find a lump: • Part the hair and look at it more closely (with the help of a magnifying glass, if necessary) • The place where the tick attaches may or may not be painful and there may be skin swelling. It is distinguished from other skin swellings and growths because close scrutiny can reveal

the tick’s legs at skin level. What to do if you find a tick When attempting to remove a tick avoid handling the parasite directly. Wear gloves and dispose of ticks hygienically so they cannot re-attach themselves or lay eggs. If you find a tick on your pet’s skin: • The aim is to remove the whole tick, including its mouthparts without squeezing the tick's body • Use a specially designed hook or scoop with a narrow slot that traps the tick's mouthparts • Slide the hook under the tick at skin level so as to grip the head of the tick, ensure that the hook is not entangled • Scoop out the tick – rotating the hook around the tick's head may help dislodge the mouthparts before removal  Flush the tick down the

lavatory (or sink - with hot water)  Do not attempt to burn, cut or pull the tick off with your fingers  Buy a tick removal tool and keep it in your pet first-aid box  If in doubt, take your pet to the vet. How to protect your dog To reduce the risk associated with ticks on dogs, veterinary surgeons have innovative and convenient treatments that are only available on prescription. The options available to protect dogs against ticks include spotons, sprays, collars and oral chewable formulations. Dog owners wanting to take part in the Big Tick Project, get a tick check for their dog, or find out more can visit www.bigtickproject.co.uk 31

1-day Painting Workshop with Sam

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Original Art - Commissions - Cards A fun, experiential day of learning on a 1:1 or small group basis. I’ll share how I create my artwork across four key lessons: Inspiration,Techniques, Materials & Art Challenge.You’ll create a painting to take home. 10am-4pm incl. materials, lunch & drinks £130. Please contact me to arrange your date. Gift Vouchers available.

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Building all kinds of ponds & water features from the smallest garden focal point to an entire lake... PLEASE CALL TODAY FOR ADVICE Having trained at Pershore College 20 years ago, been awarded an RHS Chelsea Gold Medal and undertaken many projects, both domestic and commercial, I oﬀer a complete design service from a new patio, pergola or fence to a comprehensive garden makeover. I only construct one project at a time and will always be on site myself. Whatever the size or scope of your project, call today for your FREE Consultation.

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FOLLY GARDENS

Pet Talk NEW! Keyhole Neutering

Keyhole neutering is now an option for your dog explains vet Joe Binfield, of Folly Gardens, Tewkesbury and NEW! Keyhole Neutering Bishop’s Cleeve.

Proud Winners of 2014 Veterinary Practice Front-Of-House Award for our Bishop’s Cleeve Clinic!

olly

Gardens is one of the first clinics in the area to offer your pet the option of keyhole surgery. Laparoscopic (or keyhole) has been the preferred option for many forms of human surgery for some years now. It can be useful for taking biopsies, performing exploratory surgery to assist diagnosis, or conducting treatment itself and is less invasive than open surgery. For neutering dogs too, the technique of making two or three very small access ports and using a high resolution camera with specialist equipment to safely remove the reproductive organs is much less invasive than open surgery. Patient pain is reduced, wounds are smaller, recoveries are quicker and your pet is happier. We advise that all female

Company Promotion

cats and dogs are neutered unless you intend to breed from them. The benefits from neutering are preventing potentially fatal womb infections which can be seen in up to 25% of entire (not spayed) dogs. As well as preventing unwanted pregnancies neutering greatly reduces mammary (breast) cancers, particularly when done before the second season. Both female and male dogs can be neutered from six months old, cats from four months. By investing in the latest surgical techniques and training, we can ensure that the procedure is minimally invasive with minimal discomfort and the speediest recovery possible. To find out more about neutering in general and keyhole surgery in particular please contact us on 01684 292244 or 01242 679880. Wishing you and your pet well.

Joe

Talk to us a about the options for your dog

All Consultations By Appointment Walton Cardiff & Bishop’s Cleeve Monday - Friday 8.00 - 6.30 Saturday 8.30 - 12.30 Free Nurse Clinics & Pet Advice

12 Columbine Rd, Walton Cardiff 01684 292244 Tewkesbury, GL20 7SP No.1 Folly Gardens, Barton Road Tewkesbury, GL20 5QP 2 Church Road Bishop’s Cleeve GL52 8LR

As Above

01242 679880

Folly Gardens Vets info@follygardens.com

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Light +

Longevity

With all the benefits of a conservatory but the advantage that you can situate it anywhere, a stand alone, double glazed, glass garden building from L&L with Nordic Garden Buildings, offers an ideal place to relax on a summer evening suggests Director, John Lannen. 34

or most of us summer means warmth, light and a chance to enjoy some time outdoors with friends and family. If you love that feeling of relaxing outside with the sun on your shoulders, but lack just the right spot for a conservatory, a stand alone Nordic Garden Building gives you the chance to enjoy more of that wonderful summer feeling. Sheltered from the

breeze and the chill of the night, it will enable you to relax in your garden more often, socialise later into the evening, and sit outside on days when it would otherwise be that bit too cold. The idea of a summerhouse is nothing new but what is new is our ability to build them from modern, thermally efficient double glazed units, creating a useful, sophisticated building with multiple benefits.

Company Promotion

A glazed structure has a number of practical advantages over wood. The cost of timber is constantly rising so, surprisingly, glass is now often comparable in price. It’s also stronger, more permanent, and far more secure. Each building comes with multipoint door and window locks and our guarantee. Unlike timber structures, they need no annual maintenance. Nordic Garden Buildings are supplied to us by a Welsh company that has been manufacturing products from UPVc for 40 years. Their range

We’re very pleased… wonderful service from start to finish. Mr & Mrs B, Kemerton

was launched in Europe where they have been tested in extreme weather conditions and proven to be robust. Nordic Garden Buildings come in six colour options and a range of sizes. With a choice of styles available for the glass, brickwork, roofing and flooring, you can create a unique structure to suit your needs. The addition of insulation, automatic air

vents, roof vents, windows and air View displays conditioning will at our showroom ensure a comfortable + temperature all year at Tewkesbury Garden Centre round. Heating can be added using an electric fan heater, under floor heating or a wood burning stove. Installation is easy and will take our skilled team just one or two days. You don’t even need planning permission, just a suitable patio or deck. Furnish it to your taste with a table and chairs, blinds, cushions and candlelight and you will have a wonderful, stylish space in which to relax, all summer long. For 35 years, L&L Installations have developed an unrivalled reputation as one of Gloucestershire’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of glazed upvc, aluminium and timber. As a family company, the L&L team firmly believe in delivering incredibly high quality products and impeccable service, at an affordable price. Why not visit our impressive showroom in Tewkesbury, including an outdoor display of glass buildings and plenty of customer parking; you can talk to us about the options for your home and experience our extensive range of products. Call us today on 01684 295038 to discover our latest offers and arrange your appointment.

Quality + Service       

Windows & Doors Conservatories Porches Bifold doors Secondary glazing Double glazing repairs Garden Buildings

01684 295038 sales@ll-installations.co.uk www.ll-installations.co.uk

Showroom: Red Lane, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5BQ Open Monday - Thursday: 8:30-17:00, Fridays: 8:30-16:00 and Saturdays: 09:00-13:00

Like to be Included?

Join us from ÂŁ135+VAT per year

Call Today 01684 773135

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www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk 36

Company Promotion

Workable HR

Kirsten Cluer introduces Cluer HR Solutions.

f you run a small business, employ people and have all the issues that come with that, but can't justify employing an 'in-house' HR professional, we can help. Guiding small businesses through the challenges of employment, we provide everything you need to fully manage and support your people and grow your business. Our work is firmly rooted in the belief that your people are your most important asset. We'll guide and support you in competing with larger employers by helping you recruit the best staff; get the best from them and retain them in your business. It starts with an on site HR Health Check which enables us to assess your existing policies, make recommendations to ensure

that you are fully compliant with current law, and put together a suite of bespoke documents including employee handbooks and contract templates, to support you. Our suggestions will include initiatives to increase your competitive advantage, optimise staff morale and much more – from the nice-to-have to the essentials. Long term, we will provide telephone support when you are faced with any unexpected issue, need advice on employment law, good HR practice or rates of remuneration so that the likelihood of any damaging employee disputes is minimised. Ours is a professional, pragmatic but also very ‘human’ approach. To talk about your HR needs please call us on 01386 751 740.

Guiding businesses through the challenges of employment and helping them to grow through their people. Meet the team...

Liz

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Call on 01386 751 740 www.cluerhrsolutions.co.uk

Stockton’s Courtyard, Overbury, Tewkesbury GL20 7NT

thinking about advertising with us?

It’s the ideal way to raise your business profile locally. With three sister m a g a z i n e s , Life in the Village - Bredon, Folly View and Cotswold Edge - you could reach up to 12,800 homes & businesses in the villages around Pershore, Evesham, Broadway, Tewkesbury & Upton upon Severn. To find out more contact Lisa on:

Lisa 01684 773135

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Little Red Hood & 3 LRiding ittle Pigs 11 June

La Boheme 26 May

Rob Beckett 4 June

Chas & Dave 16 July English String Orchestra 22 May

Cate Cody Trio 24 May

Behind The Scenes...

Coffee & Slice of Cake for £2.50 at Cotteswold Coffee Ends 30/06/16

With Caroline Lawrence from The Roses in Tewkesbury A question I’m often asked is why The Roses doesn’t show films at the same time as the big multiplexes. Any cross-platform arts centre like The Roses will have several strands to their programme, from live events through to film, workshops and regular classes. In our case, these strands are all programmed by different people, with them all operating on different timescales – live shows can be booked anything up to two years in advance, but films can only be confirmed just before each brochure goes to print. As editor of The Roses’ season brochure, it’s my responsibility to make sure that everything that needs to be included is done so accurately, put on sale and carefully

cross checked several times against all other events in the programme. Needless to say, it’s a complicated process making sure everyone knows the dates they have available to book, and to ensure constant communication between departments so that there are no overlaps or double bookings. So why can’t we show films on their release date? The answer is an historical one that dates back to the time when huge 35mm film reels were delivered to each cinema to be loaded onto the projector. Quite simply, the bigger cinemas got first priority on these, as they are able to show many more screenings. The smaller cinemas with only one screen, like ours, had to wait until the multiplexes were finished, and only then could the reels be sent on. Nowadays films are digital, and are loaded from a hard drive or E-transfer onto a digital projector.

In theory, every cinema could show new films. However, partly as a legacy from the 35mm days, but also in the interests of maximising the revenue for each film, distributors usually insist on a minimum booking of 7 days in the first few weeks, and this is something we cannot do with a shared auditorium. As I write, I have just finished the first half of the July – September brochure. The live events are all confirmed, the exhibitions booked and the workshops planned. However I, like everyone else, will need to wait a little longer to find out what films I’ll be able to see at The Roses past June. To see what’s on at The Roses, visit www.rosestheatre.org

Contact The Roses’ Box Office on 01684 295074 or visit www.rosestheatre.org 39

Do Something AMAZING

hallenges are not only good fun and provide a strong sense of personal achievement, they are a great way to raise money too. The fundraising team at St Richard’s Hospice have come up with a range of brilliant trips and experiences, in the UK and overseas, over different durations and endurance levels so there should be something to suit everyone. This year, why not take on the ultimate personal challenge and do something amazing? Challenges include:  Worcester Full & Half Marathon Run Sun 8th May £26 unaffiliated, £24 club members. Now in its fifth year, this popular event has dug its running shoes firmly into the running calendar. Starting from Sixways Stadium, the route

heads east from the City on quiet winding country lanes and takes in some of the stunning Worcestershire countryside. www.tempoevents.co.uk/ running/worcester-marathon/ worcester-marathon.php  Group Skydiving days, Sun 19th June & Sun 4th September Admin. fee £70 + pledge to raise £500. Always wanted to skydive? Imagine leaping out of a plane at 10,000+ feet, free-falling at 120mph. before being expertly steered to the ground with a controlled landing in front of your friends and family at the drop zone. Group jump days take place at Hinton Airfield, Brackley, Northants.  Bristol Nightrider Sat 25/Sun 26 June. New for 2016! Admin fee £39 + pledge to raise £195. Similar to the London and

WORDS: Helen Griffee

Liverpool Nightrider events, the circular 100km route will take in many iconic highlights along the way, including the Old City Docks, the streets of the Old Town and the famous Corn Exchange as well as the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Full support, back up and regular break stops are provided throughout the night and a well-earned breakfast and medal at the finish line.  Paddle, Plod & Pedal Sun 26th June 2016. Pledge to raise £150 per person or £1,500 per team of 8-10. This popular and gruelling team challenge is not to be underestimated! This is a full day, competitive endurance event (but not a race!) starting with a paddle from Pershore to Tewkesbury, a walk from Tewkesbury to Kempsey and then a cycle back to Pershore for a well-earned drink with your

PHOTOS Left to Right: Malvern Hills Walk, Worcester Marathon, Chris Wilds & Sky Diving

supporters and friends. Open to teams and individuals, this 12 hour challenge is hard work but a lot of fun! Other events include:  Bewdley to Malvern Worcestershire Way Walk 31 miles June 2016, 1 day.  London - Surrey Pru Ride July 2016, I day.  Leicester Group Wing-Walking Day August 2016  Various Coast to Coast Cycle Rides August 2016, 4 days.  Worcester Waterways Walk, 6, 11 or 21 mile walk August 2016  Lake District 24 Peak Challenge Walk September 2016, 3 days.  London - Paris Cycle July 2016. 5 days.  Zambezi Rafting Challenge September 2016, 8 days.  Kilimanjaro - Ngorongoro Crater Cycle October 2016, 8

Sarah’s Dive For Dad Please support Chiropractor Sarah Booth (nee Smith) of Back on Track when she sky dives 10,000ft for St Richard’s in memory of her dad this June. Visit: www.justgiving.com/ Sarah-Booth123

days.  Lapland The Husky Trail March 2017, 8 days For full details of events and challenges please visit www.strichards.org.uk or call Jodi Brandwood on 01905 763963 or email jbrandwood@strichards.org.uk St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with lifethreatening illnesses and supports their families. Each year the hospice team supports over 2,600 patients and family members in Worcestershire with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Patients are cared for in Day Hospice, the 17-bed In-patient Unit or in their own homes by a specialist professional team as well as many trained volunteers.

In the In-patient Unit, specialist staff are on hand 24 hours a day to manage patients’ symptoms and, if appropriate, patients may spend the last few days of life in comfort and dignity. St Richard’s is an independent charity and is grateful for all donations to help it to continue its work. For more information please visit www.strichards.org.uk

REG. CHARITY NO 515668

Have you heard what people are saying about us?

“I get so much business from the magazines because they reach precisely the audience I need to communicate with. You can see the energy and enthusiasm that goes into them in the finished product." Sarah Jane Smith

BACK ON TRACK, CHIROPRACTIC

“Thank you for the PDF of the usual high standard. We get lots of them downloaded from our website.”

Bill Alloway, Volunteer Website Administrator NATIONAL TRUST COUGHTON COURT

“Your magazines do a really good job for us.” If you’d like more business, locally, why not give us a call? We create high quality, relevant, exclusive content for use across multiple platforms - print, digital and social media - making it easy for you to communicate, whatever your message. We have a proven history of generating growth for a wide range of local organizations since 2005.

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Robert Stern, CARSMETIX

“The advert is working well for me. Thanks for doing a great job.” ADRIAN RADBOURNE PROPERTY SERVICES

“I got my copy of The Cotswold Edge yesterday and it looks amazing! I’ve already had a couple of responses. Thank you for your great work.’

Nana Hirayama, NANA’S FOOD JAPAN

RAW made easy Cotswold RAW complete diet for healthy dogs brings you the convenience of a processed food with all the health benefits of a fresh and varied raw diet suggests Chris Brierley. What is a RAW diet for a dog? Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARFTM) diets are an increasingly popular and convenient way to keep your dog in the best possible condition. Dogs are carnivores and the structure of their teeth, jaws and

digestive system is anatomically designed to deal with natural prey. Based on fresh foods such as raw meat and bones, seasonal vegetables and natural supplements, a BARFTM diet is designed to replicate your dog’s ancestral preferences. Why feed RAW? Commercial, dried pet foods were invented for the convenience of humans. The high temperature processing cooks off the lion’s share of a meal’s nutritional value, destroying not only the aromas and ‘taste notes’ but the equally important minerals, vitamins and amino acids. Cotswold RAW complete meals provide all the benefits of a natural, speciesappropriate diet, delivered to your door in easy-to-handle sausages or mince form. Available in a variety of flavours, they are naturally high in

Join the Cotswold RAW Feeding Club for discounts & local offers. Full details online proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids and natural enzymes. This style of feeding has been linked to an improvement in general health, with the visible signs of healthy teeth, gums and skin, better digestion, balanced temperament and firmer, less odorous stools. How do I feed RAW? Our complete meals will come to you frozen in quality packaging. The only thing you need to think about is defrosting. Our convenient meals will then keep in the refrigerator for 48-72 hours. As a guide, adult dogs should be fed 2-3% of their bodyweight each day. Cotswold RAW is brimming with fresh, human-grade raw meat such as beef flank and lamb loin, locally sourced seasonal vegetables, free range eggs and natural minerals combining great taste, nutritional depth and traceability.

A Cotswold RAW diet guarantees:  Quality ingredients  No filler, no grain

 No artificial additives or preservatives  No high temperature processing

To find out more visit www.cotswoldraw.com or call us on 01386 426 335 Cotswold RAW Ltd, Malvern House, Badsey, WR11 7EJ Company Promotion

ESTATE PLANNING Estate planning is complex but by planning ahead you can control and limit the effect that Inheritance Tax can have for your family in the future. suggests Independent Financial Advisor Paul Urmston.

n theory it’s simple: to avoid any Inheritance Tax (IHT) you need to ensure that on death, the value of your estate is less than the available nil rate band, which from the 2017/18 tax year will also includes the new residence band that is being introduced. In reality however, it’s not quite so easy because you don’t know when you are going to die, you don’t know how much money you’re going to need and you have to make provision for your partner and any dependants. Why Choose an Independent Financial Advisor? Independent research suggests that independence is a deciding factor when it comes to choosing a financial advisor. Being independent means that an IFA can advise from right across the market unlike a restricted adviser, who will, as the name suggests be ’restricted’ to limited types of products or providers. 2plan wealth management is absolutely committed to independence and prides itself on transparency. 2plan wealth management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It is entered on the Financial Service Register (www.fca.org.uk) under reference 461598. Registered office: 2plan wealth management Ltd, 3rd Floor, Bridgewater Place, Water Lane, Leeds, LS11 5BZ. Registered in England Number: 05998270. VAT Registered: 107831677

Did You Know? Estate planning is about trying to find compromises between the simple theory and the awkward reality, made the more difficult by a range of antiavoidance provisions. It often needs a holistic approach – for example, your retirement planning may have consequences for your eventual IHT liability. The tools of estate planning include:  A carefully drafted, up-to-date will as the cornerstone.  Lifetime gifts. These are favourably treated under the IHT rules, particularly outright gifts.  Trusts. These offer a way of controlling gifts by interposing a third party, the trustees, between you and your beneficiaries. You can choose the trustees and can

It’s important to regularly review your pension arrangements. For free Guides on Financial Advice or Investments & Savings call 01905 421196 or visit my website

be one yourself, if you wish.  Exemptions. Giving small gifts regularly can help whittle down your taxable estate.  Pension arrangements - these are about much more than just providing a retirement income.  Life Policies. If planning cannot eliminate all of the potential IHT liability on your estate – and usually it will not – then life assurance can be a valuable backstop. If you need advice on how best to manage your assets and investments for a better financial future please call 01905 421196 to arrange an initial meeting at my expense.

Contact Paul on

07738 121636 01905 421196

www.paulurmston.2plan.com

email : paul.urmston@2plan.com Company Promotion

Would you like to get paid to keep fit?

We are looking for mature adult distributors to join our growing team on a self-employed basis. We enjoy working with people who are:  Reliable, honest and polite  Fit and healthy with a practical disposition  Like walking and being in the countryside

 Have a few hours spare, five times a year  Want flexible, part time hours to suit  Can drive and have their own car*

Villages currently available: Severn Stoke, Kinnersley & Besford, Throckmorton We also hold a waiting list for other villages and sometimes need cover for holidays or sickness so please contact us if you are interested *If driving, you will need business insurance which is free from many insurers Please contact Lisa on

01684 773135

e-mail: lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk

@LisaLambon

www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk

Eckington Flower Festival & Open Gardens Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 2016

FREE

Photos: David Bainbridge

cup of tea for every coach passenger See voucher on Offer Pages

Eckington villagers invite you for a day out in support of Holy Trinity church.

ur lovely village lies near the river Avon, nestled under Bredon Hill, halfway between Tewkesbury and Pershore. We have two pubs and a shop and there are walks down to the river where there’s a wharf and picnic area. In the centre of the village, guarded by a huge cedar, lies Holy Trinity church which will, in the third weekend of June, host a beautiful flower display, reflecting the theme ‘hobbies and pastimes.’ The entire church will

be transformed into a microworld of flowers; a delight for all the senses. In addition to the flower festival, there will be a variety of entertainment on offer including live music, plant, book and toy stalls, and children’s activities. Around 30 gardens of varying sizes and designs will also be open. Some are only small but beautifully crafted, others have amazing views or a real wow factor. Each year some villagers create novel garden decorations

Weekend Admission Adults £5 Children Free 01386 751698 www.eckington.info

so you can challenge yourself to spot them as you wander by. Refreshments will be available at several venues including light meals, homemade cakes, a pudding parlour (all freshly baked) and a barbeque. A free circular minibus will be available to transport you from site to site. Eckington village lies on the B4080 between Pershore and Tewkesbury. Find us with the postcode WR10 3AN. For the most up to date information please visit www.eckington.info

10am - 6pm Sat 18th & Sun 19th June Free Car Parks - Coaches Welcome 47

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Friday May 13th 5:30 - 6:30

Friday Sep 16th 5:30 - 6:30

Saturday Jun 18th 4:30 - 5:30

Saturday Nov 12th 4:30 - 5:30

What is all this? The Mustard Seed is a pop-up café running four 1-hour sessions for families. Come and join us for snacks, crafts, games, drama, singing and stories! It’s free, but donations are welcome. Organised by St. Giles Church with help from Holy Trinity Tewkesbury.

Bredon Village Hall, Main Road, GL20 7QN For more info call 01684 772664 or 01684 772818

LETTING property

The local rental marketing is thriving but can you really be sure that you will secure tenants if you become a landlord? Anne Horton, Manager of the Tewkesbury CGT office explains.

thing I often get asked by prospective Landlords is "Who rents all of these properties?" The answer is….people from all walks of life. They include:  Young people who are just setting up their first home.  Couples who would love to buy but have so far found it impossible to save the deposit for a mortgage.  People who are moving into the area who would like to get a feel for the county before they commit to buy.  Professionals who are relocating with their job.  People who are selling their property and do not wish to forgo their sale whilst they find a home to buy (of course, renting also puts them in a much better position to negotiate).

 Families returning from abroad.  Retired couples who sell their properties and rent rather than have the responsibilities that come with owning your own house. Often their pensions will cover the rent. We used to say the optimum buy to let property was a two bed house with parking and a garden and if it could be two double bedrooms then that gave the flexibility for the property to be let to a couple, a young family or two sharers. However, the young couples who used to rent have now often got children and this sector has grown in number, so the three bed rental market is now as strong as the two bed. The rental market is currently very buoyant and like most local estate agents, we are always looking for new landlords with

fresh properties to fulfill the demands of the many tenants on our database. If buy to let is something you are considering, we are more than happy to offer advice informally about buying rental property, preparing it for the market and meeting your legal responsibilities. Our friendly team are trained, experienced and ARLA regulated professionals who can help you achieve the best return on your investment, and provide a level of support to suit your circumstances. Call me on 01684 850350 to find out more about your options including rent guarantee and legal protection for peace of mind.

Create An Income From Letting Visit our website, call on 01684 850350 or pop into our office at 3 Church Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5PA for free advice on becoming a landlord.

www.cgtlettings.co.uk Company Promotion

do you have an event to promote

...then why not use Life in the Village Avon & Severn. As well as advertising we offer Leaflet Design, Print & Drop. With three sister magazines, Life in the Village Bredon, Folly View and Cotswold Edge you can reach up to 12,800 potential customers in the villages between P e r s h o r e , E v e sh a m , B r o a d w a y , Tewkesbury and Upton upon Severn. To find out more contact Lisa on:

Lisa 01684 773135

lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk

20% off

& One Free Ticket for groups of 20+ pre-booked by 28/5/16

BECKFORD OPEN VILLAGE WEEKEND Beckford residents invite you to enjoy a traditional village event and raise funds for the upkeep of an historic Bredon Hill Church.

eckford is holding an Open Village weekend this year on Saturday 4th and 5th June when many lovely gardens will be open for you to enjoy. The extraordinarily beautiful 12th century Church of St John the Baptist will be decorated with flowers and the churchyard will be on display in all its splendour. There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy refreshments; choose from afternoon teas, a barbecue, home made cakes, ice creams and a champagne bar. Or perhaps stay a while and enjoy all of these.....? Other attractions throughout the weekend include a superb plant sale, steam engines, a

stunning model church, classic cars and Vintage Airstream caravan, vintage radio collection, local crafts sale, historic photo exhibition, tombola, tennis and croquet. There is the opportunity to visit Beckford Nature Reserve, and for the first time the beautiful and historic Chapel House will be open at Beckford Hall. (A small additional charge will be made for this attraction). The ticket price is £5 (under 16's free) and this provides admission to the sixteen open gardens and access to all the attractions. Parking is free. Funds raised will go toward the upkeep of our beautiful church. For more details please visit us at www.opengardens.co.uk

Saturday 4 June 1-6pm Sunday 5 June 1-6pm               

Open Gardens Historic Church Plant sale Steam engines Model church Classic cars Vintage airstream caravan Vintage radio collection Historic photo exhibition Barbecue Tombola Tennis Croquet Beckford Nature Reserve and much more…

01386 882002 or 01684 772237 www.opengardens.co.uk 51

The British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham 23 April - 21 June 2016

Celebrating the world’s finest ‘gras.’ Numerous events and activities will take place across the Vale of Evesham during the next two months to honour the growing, harvesting and eating of this sumptuous delicacy.

his year the Vale of Evesham will be going asparamad once again with numerous events taking place throughout the area providing the opportunity to taste, buy, cook and learn about one of the nation’s most sought after delicacies. The festivities kick off with The Great English Asparagus Run on St George’s Day and will continue, in a variety of forms until 21 June. Asparagus Auctions The famous Asparagus Auctions take place at the award winning Fleece Inn, a National Trust property in Bretforton, on Sunday 29 May and 5 June. Always a popular ritual, these auctions see hundreds gather in

the courtyard to bid for the season’s largest, freshest local asparagus. The event has attracted media coverage including BBC’s Countryfile and Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip. The Fleece Inn provides a heart warming venue for all visitors throughout the entire asparagus season. Bank Holiday Monday 30 May: Asparagus Family Fun Day The Fleece, Bretforton hosts vintage fairground attractions, food, music and entertainment for all the family. Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 June: Asparafest A boutique festival providing an A-Z of weekend entertainment

will take place on the weekend of the 4 and 5 June at Ashdown Farm near Badsey, with a mix of magical music, the freshest of food, fascinating farm and country crafts, barrels of beer and awesome asparagus! The festival will also include appearances from the WorldFamous Asparamancer, Gus and the Asparafairy, plus asparagus eating competitions, recipe competitions and the crowning of the asparagus king and queen! Wednesday 11 & 18 May: Asparabus Coach Tours 2016 welcomes back the Dudley’s Coaches Asparabus Tours delivering you a value for money “Asparagus Experience” around the Vale of Evesham

WORDS: Henry Prudden PHOTOS: Angela Tidmarsh

Tours come complete with an asparaguide to provide you with an entertaining insight into this majestic green vegetable. Contact Dudleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coaches on 01386 792206 to book your seat. Friday 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sunday 21 June National Morris Weekend, Evesham Celebrating a local pastime with a national competition attracting Morris dancers and sides from across the UK competing on the Evesham River Bank for the highly prized Evesham stick. Real ale and music make for a fun weekend filled with free entertainment. For more details call 01386 565373 or visit: www.britishasparagusfestival.org www.visitwychavon.com www.asparafest.co.uk

The British Asparagus Festival @AsparagusFest 53

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POLICING

South Worcestershire With Policing Commander for South Worcestershire, Superintendent Kevin Purcell.

s we enter the time of year when more and more people start to holiday and spend more time away from home we would encourage you to ask your neighbours to help you keep your property looking occupied. Some things are easy, like asking your neighbours to park one of their cars or vehicles on your drive, setting lights on timers, or asking a neighbour to open or close curtains for you. If you are going on holiday it’s best not to announce on social media via a photo and description of the whole family in sunnier climates that you are away for two weeks and the house is empty. You’d be amazed how much it happens, some people even posting a few weeks before they go, displaying photographic evidence of all the lovely items in their house, for anyone to see. If you do use social media it maybe worth restricting the settings to just your friends. That's the people you are friends with, not the 600 people that you vaguely know, who can share with thousands more through their own account settings. On a separate topic, but staying with the subject of

security, every year, tens of thousands of pounds worth of horse equipment is stolen across our region. The unfortunate reality is that trailers, tack, and even horses themselves often disappear without trace. Warwickshire Horsewatch and West Mercia Horsewatch were set up to work in partnership with Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police to prevent, reduce, and detect equine-related crime by connecting all owners and riders so that information can be communicated quickly and efficiently. We also run tack marking and tack sale events. The Mounted Volunteers scheme, a partnership between Warwickshire Police, Moreton Morrell College, and the British Horse Society, was successfully launched in August 2015. Mounted volunteers are now being trained by the police to observe, report and feedback any local concerns whilst on their usual hack. The concept is simple – when out riding the volunteers, who wear high visibility jackets, report any suspicious activity to police by phone. With their elevated positions on horseback, they have a unique vantage point and can spot many things that someone walking or in a vehicle might not be able to see.

Volunteers are fast becoming the 'eyes and ears' of our local rural communities. By working closely with the police, our volunteers provide intelligence and information to help combat crime. If you are interested in becoming part of this initiative locally, please let us know by dropping me an email kevin.purcell@westmercia .pnn.police.uk . Find our more at westmerciahorsewatch.co.uk

Get In Touch... Contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101 or dial 999 in an emergency. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to report information anonymously. Visit our website and use our easy postcode finder to keep up with news relevant to you www.westmercia.police.uk Follow us on twitter @SuptKevPurcell @PershoreCops @EveshamCops @MalvernCops

Plant Sale! Courtesy of Kemerton Gardening Club

Father’s Day in Kemerton WORDS: Chris Atwell

ollowing the huge success of last year’s event, the village of Kemerton is again opening a number of its lovely gardens to the public on Father’s Day. All of the gardens open to the public are located in the lower part of the village close to the parish church of St. Nicholas which will also be the venue for a concert by the Rough Diamonds Choir, renowned for their inspired performances of joyous music from around the world. Gardens open include Kemerton Court which features a fabulous walled garden where fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers flourish in perfect harmony. Next door, Upper Court is in a beautiful position with stunning views to a large ornamental lake. Just around the

corner lies Old Manor, a lovely example of a 17th century timber -framed building with extensive charming gardens running down to a stream that adults and children will love to explore. On a smaller scale, but giving great scope for ideas, gardens will be open at Ryeclose, Rectory Farm Cottage, Digger’s Cottage. Ryeclose will also be the venue for delicious home-made cakes and refreshments plus a Plant Sale held by Kemerton Gardening Club with a wide selection of locally grown hardy border plants, shrubs and colourful annuals available. Other attractions include childrens’ activities area and a raffle. The Crown will also be serving Father’s Day lunches. The event is organized by Friends of St. Nicholas’ Church and proceeds will go towards essential maintenance of this beautiful building.

Sunday 19th June 2-5pm  Afternoon Tea with delicious home-made cakes, served at Ryeclose.  St. Nicholas’ Church Joyous World Music 3-4pm  Flower Displays  Children’s Activities including face painting  Gardens Open Kemerton Court, Upper Court, Rectory Farm Cottage, Ryeclose, Digger’s Cottage and Old Manor.  Plant Sale with Kemerton Gardening Club at Ryeclose. Wide range of locally grown plants & gardening paraphanelia  Raffle Ticket + Guide £2 Children & Parking Free Find us with Satnav GL20 8JZ

BIRLINGHAM ASPARAGUS with Deep Fried Poached Egg, Pancetta & Balsamic Vinegar

Working in tandem with local growers, Chef Steve Waites creates seasonal recipes for diners at Belle House, Pershore. This perennial favourite is perfect as a starter, lunch or supper dish. INGREDIENTS 7 spears of asparagus 1 poached egg (trimmed) Pancetta Flour, egg and breadcrumbs – for the egg Aged Balsamic Oil for deep frying Salt Red vein sorrel or other micro herbs

Serves 1

METHOD  Poach the egg for 3-4 minutes for a soft yolk. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and keep to one side (no need to keep warm).  Saute the pancetta, cut into lardons, in its own fat.  Poach the asparagus in boiling water, salt and butter for 4 minutes or until tender.  Place the asparagus on a plate and cover to keep warm.  Dry the egg and carefully coat the egg first in flour, (shaking off the excess), then in beaten egg, then in bread crumbs (we use panko).  Deep fry until golden and crispy.  Serve the deep fried poached egg on top of the asparagus with the warm pancetta.  Drizzle with 12-year-old balsamic vinegar.  Garnish with red vein sorrel or other micro herbs. Belle House, Restaurant & Bar, Bridge Street, Pershore, WR10 1AJ. Visit www.belle-house.co.uk 57

Life in the Village

...in print, online, on twitter Our four magazines, website and twitter updates offer you a slice of country life, locally. Great Gardening Accounts

ith almost 4,000 of us now interacting, being a member of our twitter community is a great way to keep connected. Our daily updates will keep you abreast of local events, business, special offers, nature and wildlife - in fact, anything linked to country living, locally. During the summer months, keep your feed crammed with inspiring images by following some of the UK’s best gardeners. Here are a few of our favourite gardening accounts:  @The_RHS The world’s leading gardening charity dedicated to sharing the best in gardening. @TheMontyDon Eloquent musings from writer, broadcaster and lead presenter of Gardener’s World and his faithful assistant @montysdognigel @daviddomoney Practical updates on anything and everything to do with horticulture from the TV presenter and columnist.  @NGSOpen Gardens Find a garden

open for charity near you with their useful search facility. See local accounts @Glosngs and @WorcsNgs  @PershoreCollege 60 years of excellence and event news from the home of horticulture.  @BristolBotanicGdn University garden telling stories of plant evolution with gorgeous photography.  @TeleGardening News and advice from The Telegraph gardening team.  @LonelyBouquet A guerrilla campaign for flower fanatics, intended to make people’s days brighter, one flower at a time.

Visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk for daily updates via twitter on:    

Local events Country living Rural issues Local producers

   

Local business Nature & Wildlife Photography And much more...

Photos we share: Below ‘Hunting Barn Owl’ by Adam Tatlow. View more at www.cotswoldkeeperphotography.com

Visit us online for…

Daily updates on local events, products and services, country living, rural issues, nature and wildlife, travel, competitions, recipes, photography & more. www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk

Join us on twitter. It’s easy:  Go to www.twitter.com/signup  Enter your name, email and a password  Select a username  Click Create my account  Then, to follow, search for @lisalambon  Click Follow… all done!

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inc London’s oldest Catholic church and the dazzling interiors of Leighton House.

Wednesday 25th May 2016 Tickets £45 Travel included. For more information and tickets contact the LINC Office. Phone 0300 422 4422 or email linc@glos.nhs.uk Registered Charity number 1078183

Win!

An Outdoor Drama Experience To celebrate The Roses’ summer Shakespeare season, The Roses in Tewkesbury is offering two lucky readers an exclusive prize that will include the following: •

A pair of tickets to see Madcap Theatre’s outdoor production of Much Ado About Nothing on the afternoon of Sunday 24 July

•

A pair of tickets to see GB Theatre Company’s outdoor production of Romeo And Juliet on the evening of Thursday 4 August

•

A complimentary bottle of bubbly to enjoy at either one of the performances

Last summer, whilst The Roses was closed for refurbishment, a series of events were held in alternative venues around the town, including films at The Watson Hall and outdoor drama productions in Tewkesbury’s Victoria Gardens. The latter proved so successful that a second summer season of outdoor drama has been announced, to tie in with the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death. See The Roses’ July September brochure for full information.

How To Enter To enter, visit www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk and complete the details on the entry form. Alternatively, send a postcard to Shakespeare Competition, The Roses, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5NX. You must include your name, address and telephone number. Closing date Friday 24 June. Winners will be contacted by Tuesday 28 June. Terms and Conditions Subject to availability. One entry per household. By entering this competition you agree to be contacted by Life in the Village and The Roses in the future. You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an email to unsubscribe@lifeinthevillage.co.uk and stating the competition you entered.

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*Advance tickets priced from £16 for Three Counties Members, £18 for adults and £5 for children. Quote code LITV16. Ends 31/05/16. For full details call 01684 584900 or visit www.threecounties.co.uk/threecounties

ROYAL THREE COUNTIES SHOW

Plus 8 Seater Round Picnic Table £215 inc. VAT Ends 30/6/16 or whilst stocks last.

Life in the

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PRESSURE TREATED PICNIC BENCHES FROM £105+VAT

Compare our prices: Softwood Sleepers 8'x8"x4"£14 +VAT. New Oak 8'x8"x4"£20+VAT Ends 30/6/16 or whilst stocks last. The Old Sawmill, Evesham Rd, Toddington Glos GL54 5DF 01242 620 000 www.cotswoldvalesupplies.co.uk

COTSWOLD & VALE SUPPLIES

20% OFF YOUR FIRST CLEAN OR IRON

20% OFF FOR GROUPS OF 10+ & FREE TICKET FOR 20+*

Ends 30/6/16.

Life in the

COTSWOLD & VALE SUPPLIES

*20% off advance group bookings of 10+ on Sat 11 or Sun 12 June. Plus one free ticket for groups of 20+ on Sun 12 June. Contact Malcolm Nelson 01386 881778 marketing@ashtonopengardens.co.uk www.ashtonopengardens.co.uk

BREDON HILL CLEANING SERVICES

ASHTON UNDER HILL OPEN GARDENS

A FULL PAGE ADVERT FREE WHEN YOU BOOK A FULL PAGE ANNUAL PACKAGE*

10% OFF FABRICS & WALLPAPERS*

Life in the

07894 241168 or 01684 438741 hristina@bredonhillcleaningservices.co.uk www.bredonhillcleaningservices.co.uk

*to a maximum discount value of £250.00. Quote Life in the Village. Ends 30/6/2016

*New Customers only - ends 30/6/16. Not valid with other offers. 01684 773135 /07776 340736 lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk

Mill Farm, Stanford Bridge, Worcs WR6 6SP 01886 853336 or 07495 835194 www.willowandwells.co.uk info@willowandwells.co.uk

LIFE IN THE VILLAGE

WILLOW & WELLS ENGLAND

COFFEE & CAKE £2.50 AT COTTESWOLD COFFEE

FREE CUP OF TEA FOR EVERY COACH PASSENGER

Ends 30/6/16. Terms & Conditions apply. Sun Street, Tewkesbury Glos GL20 5NX 01684 295074 www.rosestheatre.org

The ROSES, TEWKESBURY

Life in the

The Old Sawmill, Evesham Rd, Toddington Glos GL54 5DF 01242 620 000 www.cotswoldvalesupplies.co.uk

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GARDEN SLEEPERS FROM £14+VAT

Free cup of tea for all coach passengers at our Flower Festival & Open Gardens weekend 10am - 6pm Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June. Call 01386 751698 www.eckington.info

ECKINGTON OPEN GARDENS

Offers are one way to grow your business but we have lots of others ways to help... 01684 773135 lisa@lifeinthevillage.co.uk www.lifeinthevillage.co.uk 63

Winchcombe Flowers

Gifts and Flowers for the Home & Garden Stockists of: LSA Glassware Parlane Giftware PTMD Ceramics East of India Quality Silk Flowers Zulu Baskets Greetings Cards Bunting For Hire & Sale

Creating Beautiful Flowers For 20 Years Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-3

01242 602920 High St Winchcombe GL54 5LJ

www.winchcombeflowers.co.uk 64

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Rediscover Your Local Garden Centre

EW!

Extended display of Eden Halls Greenhouses New display of Nordic Garden Buildings from L&L Veg Trugs & Grow Your Own essentials Luxury Alexander Rose furniture for outdoors and in New range of Fiskars lighweight tools

Discover a New Cooking Lifestyle with Weber® Weber® is not just about barbecuing but about cooking amazing food outdoors and having fun. Built for charcoal, electric and gas, with rotisserie and wok options, they offer superb quality and durability. Plus New! Smokey Mountain Cookers

Buy One & Get One FREE

Any Cream Tea Mon-Fri 3-4.30pm Valid until 30th June 2016 One per person

Brookes’ Greengrocer Open all day Thursday & Friday + Sat morning - FREE parking Mon-Sat 9-4.30, Sun 10-3. Booking essential for Sunday Lunch, Open Bank Holiday Mondays FREE Wi Fi, Ample Parking & Child Friendly Facilities

Call us on 01684 293103

www.tewkesburygardencentre.com

T e w k e s b u ry G a r d e n C e n T r e, w o r C e s T e r r d , M y T h e , T e w k e s b u ry G L 20 6 e b lifeinthevillage.co.uk

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@LisaLambon

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01684 773135