Local Life - St Helens & Prescot - Aug/Sep 2013 by Local Life 247 Ltd

St Helens & Prescot Edition

Aug/Sep 2013

Windle’s Wicked Witch

Jack’s Tracks visits Bickerstaffe Win A Wedding!

Photo: © Hege Johnsen | Dreamstime.com

Your Summer Bucket List

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Sod’s Law

In this issue

I don’t want to be typically British and moan about the weather but the heat and six months of pregnancy don’t go well together! Its sod’s law that the summer I am with child the weather decides to settle on a prolonged heat wave; puffy feet are not attractive! Here at Local Life HQ we have even been toying with the idea of getting back to our youth and buying a paddling pool.

10 Jay Tinker’s Recipe Page 20 Caring from the Air 23 Isobel Robey – Windle Witch 29 Saving Money with Martin Lewis 32 Jack’s Tracks visits Bickerstaffe 36 Summer Bucket List 38 Garden Diary 40 What’s On in the North West 42 Motoring 46 Puzzle Page 47 Home Services 49 Puzzle Page Solutions 50 Useful Numbers

With summer stretched out before us, we have been working hard to put together an issue that will have you occupied until the kids are back at school. I am pleased to announce that as of this issue Local Life has managed to bag some very coveted cooking time with Masterchef finalist Jay Tinker. Jay appeared in the popular show in 2012 and made it all the way to the finals – so you know he’s got the goods when it comes to cooking up a storm. Why not send in pictures of your attempts and see if they are good enough to make them on to our Twitter feed? For those of you who don’t want to be chained to the kitchen in this glorious weather; there is plenty more going on in this issue to get you out and about and enjoying the summer. Jack recently paid a visit to Bickerstaffe so make sure you catch up with his walk starting on p34, there’s a great feature on how to keep the kids entertained with a summer bucket list on p36 and the What’s On section is packed with ideas for great family days out. Anybody else out there who would like some free publicity for their community event be sure to let us know by e-mailing the details to editorial@locallife247. co.uk

Publisher: Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7XB T 01744 649 722

info@locallife247.co.uk W www.locallife247.co.uk

Editorial: Nicola Gray Sales: Julie Carroll Design & Production: Peter Bretherton Accounts & Distribution: Sally Boon

editorial@locallife247.co.uk sales@locallife247.co.uk design@locallife247.co.uk accounts@locallife247.co.uk

Local Life is published every month. The magazine will be distributed into the following edition areas on an alternate monthly basis. The St Helens and Prescot edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Rainhill, Eccleston, Prescot, Eccleston Park, Windle, Prescot Road and parts of Nutgrove and Sutton Heath. Copies are also available to pick up free from Tesco Extra Stores in Peasley Cross and Prescot.

See you next time,

The St Helens and Ashton edition is delivered to over 12,500 private home and businesses in Rainford, Billinge, Newton-le-Willows, Garswood, Crank, Kings Moss and parts of Ashton and Moss Bank. Copies are also available to pick up free from Tesco Stores in Haydock and Earlestown.

nicolag@locallife247.co.uk

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or 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 other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

Next issue - September

Advertising deadline - Wednesday 14 August Published - Thursday 30 August Local Life Media

@locallifemedia

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When you receive the new edition of Local Life - remember to recycle the old one.

Volunteers Wanted The Friends of St Helens Cemetery would like to hear from anybody that could spare their time and help out as a volunteer. This active group of volunteers are involved in the heritage, planning and day to day issues of the cemetery and crematorium. The group meet bi-monthly to discuss a wide range of issues concerning the cemetery and crematorium which includes preserving and maintaining the overall appearance of the cemetery grounds. The group help to plan several events each year to raise the profile of the beautiful grounds and historical heritage of the cemetery. Fund raising activities help to assist the group to provide services and amenities to the community. Heritage tours, family history days and the annual Christmas Tree of Remembrance Service are just some of the events and activities that the volunteers are involved in. A recent project was to provide a headstone for the thousands of children who are buried in the cemetery in public or pauper graves. This was the end work of a two year project which had been completed due to the generosity of local undertakers and stonemasons who provided headstones for several areas of the cemetery, which is the burial place for more than 65,000 people buried in pauper or public graves. The next event will be E TALO 11 CAwill 20which the popular Heritage Weekend Tour beGU held 9

FRIENDLY & HONESTE TALOGUE ADVICE EVER20Y11TCAIM EER CHAIRS STAIRLIFTS RS SCOOTERS RISER/RECLIN AIRS CHAI ELCH HEEL POWERCHAIRS WHE MOBILE ENGINEERS IC 9 G AIDS INSURANCE SERVICING LIVIN DAILY S BEDS LE STAB ADJU

FRIENDLY & HONESTE ADVICE EVERY TIM

EER CHAIRS STAIRLIFTS RS SCOOTERS RISER/RECLIN AIRS CHAI ELCH HEEL POWERCHAIRS WHE MOBILE ENGINEERS IC RANCE SERVICING INSU AIDS G LIVIN DAILY S ADJUSTABLE BEDS

TEL 0151 426 1239

www.aidestoliving.co.uk

99 WARRINGTON ROAD, PRESCOT, MERSEYSIDE, L34 5ST

on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September. If you can spare a few hours each month then please contact the group at hello@friendsofsthelenscemetery.co.uk or have look online at www.friendsofsthelenscemetery for more information.

School’s Out Bingo What better way to celebrate the end of the school year then with a game of picture bingo? Head down to Rainhill Library on Tuesday 23rd July and you and the kids can get involved and have a good old laugh with this unusual game of bingo! The session will take place from 3pm-4pm and guarantees fun for all the family; under 8’s must be accompanied by an adult. For more information please call the Library on 01744 677822.

Prescot Carnival

Free Publicity!

Prescot Carnival needs your help! The town council is on the lookout for more community involvement in this year’s event. The carnival will take place on Sunday 1st September from 12pm-4pm on Brown’s Field off Carr Lane and Wood Lane and will include the usual funfair, stalls, games and family entertainment.

If you want the crowds to come along to your next community group event, school fair or charity fundraiser, email the details to Local Life. Not only can we publish the event free in our four magazines in Wigan, St Helens, Chorley and West Lancashire, but we can also tweet about your event to our 1200+ followers on Twitter!

The carnival will also be reviving a much-loved tradition by having a walking parade as well for 2013; this will be led by the Mayor of Prescot and is scheduled to start at the Cables Retail Park at 11.30am and arrive at Browns Field by 12 noon to officially open the carnival. If you are part of a community group who would like to join the parade, the town council would love to hear from you – for more information please call 0151 443 4796 or e-mail enquiries@prescot-tc.gov.uk.

Email us the details of the event (what, where, when, why, who for, how much) along with a name and contact number and anything else you want to tell our readers. The earlier you can provide the information, the better the job we can do, so don’t delay – email us today editorial@locallife247.co.uk.

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Recycling

...the easy way! If you live in St Helens you will soon enjoy an easier and more efficient way to recycle - as the Council prepares to move all collections on to the same day each week. Starting in September, your recycling containers will be collected weekly, with the brown landfill bin and green garden waste bin alternating each week. Alongside this, to help boost recycling, residents can now pre-order new, free, food waste caddies for all food waste. Kitchen and kerbside caddies can be filled with raw or cooked food waste - from scraps and peelings to leftover and out-of-date items. The recycling of food waste will help prevent unnecessary landfill taking place. This cuts the production of harmful greenhouse gases and significantly reduces the waste in the brown landfill bin.

But residents can start to boost their recycling straight away! Just check that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got all the recycling containers that you need. You can easily order a replacement pink bag, blue bag, or black box for free by visiting www.sthelens.gov.uk/containers or telephoning 01744 676789. Also, look out for the friendly recycling team who will be attending and holding information events across the borough. For more information about the recycling changes or to order your containers please call 01744 676789, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/recycling.You can also keep up to date by liking them on Facebook, www.facebook. com/sthelensrecycle and following them on Twitter @ sthelensrecycle

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making it easier to recycle in St.Helens To help boost recycling rates, from this September, we are going to collect food waste weekly alongside the rest of your recycling. To be prepared you can pre-order a free Kitchen and Kerbside Caddy, along with bio-degradable bags to line the Caddy.

Free t pre-o o rder!

You can put any raw, or cooked food waste in your Caddy.

Pre-order your Kitchen & Kerbside Caddy now by telephoning 01744 676789, or, order online at: www.sthelens.gov.uk/containers

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Blundells Hill Golf Club & T h e Fo u r W i n d s R e s t a u r a n t

More than just a golf club… Blundells Lane, Rainhill, L35 6NA

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Woman of the Year! Local businesswoman Louise Gillespie won the Merseyside Woman of the Year Award recently. Women in Business North West hosts the annual awards and their mission is to celebrate women’s achievements, to reward the best of the best, and leave a legacy for the next generation of business women. Louise is a well-known business woman in the area, she is currently Practice Manager of local solicitors Mackrell and Thomas and in 2010 she set up as a sole trader in a business specialising in selling costume jewellery. Jessie’s Jewels has gone from strength to strength and she has numerous stands at spas, hairdressers and beauty salons across the North West. Louise beat off some stiff competition to become the

eleventh Woman of the Year at an award ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool on Friday 28th of June. Keep up the good work Louise!

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Recipe - by Jay Tinker

Pear Tarte Tatin Served with ice-cream Ingredients • Dessert Pears

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Tour of Britain Returns

Italian Food Market

The UK’s biggest cycle race will be returning to Knowsley this September; this year’s race will be in Knowsley for stage three of the tour on Tuesday 17th September. If you want to take in the spectacular finish of the third stage then get yourself down to Knowsley Safari Park and set up camp! If you can’t bag yourself a seat at the finish line then there will be plenty of space around the 10-mile route – the individual time trial will take the cyclists through Prescot, Longview and onto Knowsley itself via Knowsley Lane.

If you fancy a visit to St Helens Town centre on Wednesday 24th July you are sure to get a real taste of Italy as the popular food market makes a welcome return to Church Square. The market will include an array of mouth-watering stalls bringing all the wonderful tastes of Italy right to your doorstep. Browse delicious foods such as, salami, flavoured breads, nougats, biscuits, nuts, olives and much more – it’s making me hungry just writing about it!

The return half of the stage comes back through the grounds of Knowsley Park before the final kilometre within the grounds of the Safari Park. For more information about the route or how you can volunteer to help out during the race please have a look online at www.thetour.co.uk.

Dressed in striking red, white and green stalls and decorated with flags, this attractive and vibrant market will be tantalising taste buds until Saturday 27th July, so you make sure you take a trip down there. Admission to the market is free and it will be open from 9am-5pm each day – for more information please call 01744 675492.

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Prescot Tours Prescot Parish Church is already gearing up for this year’s Heritage Open Days event in September with their tour dates already in place. St Mary’s Church on Church Street in Prescot is one of Merseyside’s finest churches with a long and varied history. The church was once the mother church of 15 townships covering 58 square miles; until the mid-19th century the vast area covered Eccleston, Parr, Rainford, Rainhill, Sutton, Windle, Whiston, Prescot, Bold, Cronton, Cuerdley, Ditton, Penketh, Great Sankey and Widnes.

14th September from 11.00-3pm and Sunday 15th September from13pm. Admission will be free, with tours taking place at half past the hour – and all children under 16 must have adult supervision.

On the tour of this only Grade 1 listed building in the borough, you will be able to take in the magnificent Jacobean ceiling and panelling, altar rails, the Saxon Font and interesting wall plaques. The times for visiting are Friday 13th September from12.00-3pm, Saturday

For more information please visit the church website at www. prescotchurch.merseyworld.com

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Classic Cars The Phoenix Clock Face Classic Car Club will be hosting their annual car show and community day on Saturday 24th August. The club will be holding is its display at the Clock Face Pub in St Helens from 11am-3pm. There will be lots of family fun to be enjoyed on the day with games, stalls and a raffle. Food and drink will be available all day with prizes to be won for the best car entries. For insurance purposes only cars entered will be allowed on the display area, so any car owner wishing to display their car must fill in an application form. For more details or to request an entry form please contact Rob on 07535 979272, Dave on 01744 637052 or e-mail davidjones66@blueyonder.co.uk.

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Cameo Play Group If your bundles of joy could do with letting off some steam why not take them along to the Cameo playgroup at St Ann’s Millennium Centre on View Road in Rainhill. The group meets every Wednesday morning from 9.15am-11.15am for some early learning, craft work, painting and artwork. You can meet a friendly mum or dad for a bit of grown-up conversation and grandparents are welcome too. Tea, coffee, juice and biscuits are provided; for further details please the Millennium Centre on 0151 493 9350.

Reading Activists Do you have someone at home aged between 11-19 years looking to increase their volunteering hours? If your child would like to gain skills to put on their CV

and have a chance to organise events, plan budgets and meet new people why not send them along to the reading activists group based at St Helens library? The group meets every Wednesday at 4pm so if you or your child would like to find out more please contact Jane Rimmer on 01744 677573.

St Ann’s Fundraising St Ann’s Millennium Centre will be hosting one of their fundraising events to raise much needed funds for the centre on Friday 20th September. You will be treated to live entertainment from the Grand National Chorus Barbershop singers from 7.30pm. Tickets are now on sale and will cost £6, with proceeds going towards the church funds and the Millennium Centre. For more information or to book your tickets please contact the Millennium Centre on 0151 493 9350.

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St Helens Legends

Cathedral Abseil

The HoneyRose Foundation will be hosting a St Helens Legends Nights on Friday 26th July at Larkins Restaurant on Crab Street. The evening will be hosted by veteran Andy Reid, boxer Martin Murray, comedian Dave Twentyman and local businessman Bert Bourchier. The event will include a delicious two-course meal followed by an evening of entertaining anecdotes told by the local heroes and celebrities. Tickets cost £25 per person and proceeds will go towards the HoneyRose Foundation – for more information or to book your place please call 01744 451919 or e-mail james@ honeyrosefoundation.org.uk.

The Children’s Society Charity is on the lookout for brave members of the public to help them raise some sponsorship money for their latest event. The challenge should you wish to accept it is a 150ft abseil down the historic Liverpool Cathedral on Saturday 3rd August. The sponsorship money raised will go towards helping vulnerable children in the community; no experience is necessary as a team of experienced professionals will be on hand. All that is required from you is a £50 registration fee, a minimum sponsorship of £200 and a head for heights. For more information please contact Hannah on 07538 439573 or e-mail hannah.noble@ childrenssociety.org.uk.

Summer Beer Festival The Bier Palace is doing its bit for charity and raising funds for the Willowbrook Hospice by holding its first ever beer festival. The Summer Beer Festival will take place from Friday 26th until Sunday 28th July at the bar on Westfield Street in St Helens. This is a great chance to enjoy some fantastic beer as well as raise funds for an important cause; with 20 real ales and ciders, as well as draft beers, bottled beers, food and music you can’t really go wrong! Admission to the Beer Festival is free, so while away a summer afternoon with good beer, great food and free entertainment – for more information please contact Julia at Julia@bierpalace.com

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Superfunk Roller Disco Transport yourself back to the 80’s with the latest roller disco at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park. Back by popular demand, you will be able to get your leg warmers out and strap on your roller skates on Saturday 27th July. You can take the whole family down between 2pm-4pm and 5pm-7pm and this is suitable for all ages; or you can make a night of it and plump for the adult roller disco from 7.30pm-9.30pm complete with licensed bar. The cost is just £6 per person and this includes the hire of skates – tickets can be purchased by calling 0151 443 2200.

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Rainhill Heritage Event After a bumper turn out at the 2012 heritage event in Rainhill, The Civic Society will be celebrating the history of the village again this year! Members of the Society and local residents will come together on Saturday 21st September at the Victoria Hotel in the centre of the village to enjoy the annual festivities. Members of the Society will be on hand between 10am-4pm to promote the work of the Society and talk to people about Rainhillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarkable history; and weather permitting short guided walks will be on offer to point out local landmarks, and displays of Rainhillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Past. The Civic Society is also appealing to local residents to see if they have any photographs of Rainhill in the past or memories that you may be able to share with them. Also on offer will be the new Civic Society calendar for 2014, and in the afternoon the presentation will be made to the winners of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rainhill in Bloom

Competition. The event is free and everyone is welcome, for more information please have look online at www. rainhill-civic-society.org.uk.

Care from the Air Is it a bird, is it a plane? No it’s the North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) and their bright yellow chopper has been caring for local people since 1999. You may not know a lot about the NWAA and hopefully you won’t ever need their services in your lifetime; but with two helicopters they fly life-saving missions seven days a week, 365 days a year. On average the helicopters and their crew are deployed five times a day, with this number rising to ten during the summer months. The doctors and paramedics on board provide rapid treatment, hospital transfers, and ultimately, give the gift of time to patients across the entire North West region each year. Since it launched in 1999, the charity has flown over 11,000 missions across the region. It costs in excess of £4.2 million per year to maintain the aircraft and with almost no central government funding they rely on the generosity of their supporters. The NWAA has recently launched a new appeal for local volunteers to help at the family fun events throughout this summer. The Charity is not only seeking donations but would now like to hear from local volunteers to help raise awareness of their work and raise vital funds for its service at a variety of events up and down the region. The new recruits will act as ambassadors for the charity on the day, supported by North West Air Ambulance

Charity staff. The North West Air Ambulance Charity is looking for volunteers for the following events this summer: • Saturday July 13th & Sunday July 14th - The Aviation Show at Manchester Airport • Sunday August 25th - Ormskirk Motorfest Anyone interested in becoming part of the NWAA team this summer or if you would like to make a donation can visit www.nwaa.net/volunteer or to find out more, please contact Wendy Askew on 0800 587 4570 or email wendy.askew@nwaa.net

So far the NWAA have completed 606 missions this year Nick Roberts rescued in 2010: “I had a torn aorta which was bleeding into the cavity where my lung should have been. I urgently needed transferring to Wythenshaw Hospital for treatment. Luckily the air ambulance came to my aid; they managed to get me to hospital in less than 10 minutes.” Stephen Summerscales rescued in 2011: “I’ll forever be grateful to the North West Air Ambulance crew. Without their skill and commitment, and if I’d have been transferred by land ambulance, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Family Summer Get creative this summer with a little help from the Prescot Museum and their free weekly craft sessions! Take the kids down to the Prescot Museum on Aspinall Street and join in the fun on the 1st Saturday of every month with some exciting activities – all materials will be included and there’s no need to book. The next session will be held on Saturday 3rd August so drop in between 12.30pm-3pm. With the summer holiday looming , you can keep the kids busy every Monday afternoon from 1pm-4pm. Make it Mondays are all about making things…you guessed it – on a Monday! You will get the chance to work with one of the Museum’s artists who will provide all the materials. Starting from this Monday (22nd July) the sessions will run for 5 weeks. For more information about any of the activities please contact Tina Ball on 0151 443 5617 or e-mail tina.ball@knowsley.gov.uk.

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Family Fun Day There will be fun for all the family in Victoria Park off City Road on Tuesday 30th July between 12pm-4pm, this celebratory event is being held as part of the £4 million restoration of the popular park. The family day is aimed at children and family groups and there will be lots of activities for everyone to enjoy including, a climbing wall, archery, crazy golf, children’s craft tent, inflatable assault course, face painting and a visit from Reefs Reptiles. For more information about the day please contact Barry Fleetwood on 01744 676131 or 07968 616641.

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Windle’s Wicked Witch

Isobel Robey Many of us have witnessed, or been part of, an argument at a big family gathering. The potent mix of sunshine, drink, dodgy vol-au-vents and the ‘rellies’ brings out the worst in us, and long standing family feuds have a habit of rearing their ugly heads at such gatherings. Rewind to the 17th Century then, where such a family fall out in Windle led to Isobel Robey being branded a witch by the husband of her God-daughter – an accusation that led to Isobel being hanged from the gallows until she was dead.

Of the 18 alleged witches tried that day, Isobel was one of ten defendants found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to be hanged by the neck until she was dead. After being allowed a last drink at the Golden Lion Inn, which still stands on Moor Lane in Lancaster, they were hanged on the moor above the town and Windle’s Wicked Witch was no more. So, next time you get worse for wear at a family gathering and you’re tempted to get embroiled in an argument with your nearest and dearest, just remember the fate of Isobel Robey and sober up before you get into bother!

Isobel was said to live in a cottage, since demolished, on Crank Road near Windle Island. The cottage was reportedly the hub of her evil doings from where she tormented her neighbours. The main accuser of Isobel was Peter Chaddock, the husband of her god-daughter. After a fierce argument with Isobel, Mr Chaddock alleged that he had been struck down with physical pain and fully attributed this to Isobel and her witchcraft. Although she was reputedly feared within the village, with local residents turning away from her in the street, it seems Isobel’s worst crimes were begging for milk and speaking her mind; hardly the work of a woman on a broom. Evidence against her included a statement from Margaret Lyon, who said that Isobel had boasted that Peter Chaddock would never recover until he begged for forgiveness. Isobel was listed for trial with the Pendle and Samlesbury witches at Lancaster Castle, and was tried and hanged on the same day - on the 20th August 1612, exactly 401 years ago. She was charged only in general terms with “felonious exercising and using devilish and wicked arts”.

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Producers’ Market

St Helens U3A

If you’re looking to guarantee the freshness of your food, why not bypass the supermarket giants and buy local instead? The monthly Prescot Producers’ Market is a great way to stock up on great regional produce of the highest quality and it won’t break the bank! The market takes place on the first Saturday of each month from 9am-2pm; and the next market will take place on Saturday 3rd August on Eccleston Street in the town centre. For more information about the market or if you are a local business and want to get involved please call 0151 443 4499.

The St Helens branch of the U3A will be holding an information day on Wednesday 11th September between 10.15am-12.30pm. The aim of the day is to showcase their fascinating learning and interest groups, and members will be present to meet and greet and to give you a taster of what the U3A is all about. There will also be representatives on hand during the day to assist and answer any queries you may have regarding services in the St Helens area. So, whether you are a seasoned U3A member or someone who is looking to join, make sure you get down to Langtree Park stadium in St Helens and have a look around.

Ready Steady Grow! Is exactly what your child will do when you sign them up for the play group at St Ann’s Primary School on View Road in Rainhill. The group meets every Wednesday from 1pm-2.30pm at the school and is suitable for children aged 0-3 years. There is a whole host of activities your little one can get involved with from toys and activities to songs and stories, as well as meeting people and making new friends. To join all you need to do is bring 2 forms of ID along with a proof of name and address – for more information please contact the school office on 0151 426 5869 or e-mail stannsce@ sthelens.org.uk

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Craft & Food Market Inglenook Farm will be holding an artisan Craft and Food Market on Sunday 11th August from 10am-3pm. You will find a wide variety of stunning local crafts, fine foods, vintage items and much more. You can spend a lovely afternoon browsing the stalls and craft displays in the quaint Victorian courtyard. There is also lots of fun for all the family including animals, fresh food and coffee – entrance and parking is free so make sure you get down to the Farm on the Rainford bypass. For more information please contact 01744 886812 or e-mail sarah@inglenook-farm.co.uk

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Money Saving - by Martin Lewis

Energy The increased demand for fuel during a harsh Spring has pumped up wholesale gas and electricity prices. Some pundits predict another energy price hike round towards the end of year, hoicking prices by 10% - a high burden that would leave many choosing between heating and eating. So even if the sun’s shining, there’s never been a more important time to sort your energy bills. Here are my need-to-knows: 1. Ensure no price hikes for TWO winters and save. EDF has launched a new tariff that can provide welcome respite for many. Do a comparison and it may not come top, so many will miss it. Yet it’s certainly one to consider. The EDF Blue Feb 2015 fix (my.edfenergy.com/gaselectricity/blue-plus-price-promise) will save someone with typical bills on a standard dual fuel tariff £200 a year. Crucially, it lets you lock in the rate, guaranteeing no price hikes for 22 months. 2. Join my free Cheap Energy Club Switching tariff to save is crucial. The problem is that most deals only last a year or two, then you’re bumped back onto costly standard tariffs. To fight back, I’ve set up www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub. It

compares to check you’re on the cheapest tariff. Then each month it does a background comparison to see if you’re still on the cheapest tariff and will alert you when you need to move again. 3. Direct debit is 5%-10% cheaper If possible, pay by fixed MONTHLY direct debit for a discount. Though always do regular meter readings for accuracy as your bill is estimated. As energy usage is seasonal, you will find yourself in credit in summer and debit in winter. If you find you’re too heavily in credit, you can get a chunk of the amount you’ve overpaid back before arranging for a lower direct debit. 4. Mythbusting—is it cheaper to leave the heating on low all day? This is a common urban myth, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Yet you save energy, and therefore money by only having the heating on when it’s required. Using a timer is best, as your thermostat is designed to turn your heating system on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set it. 5. Green Deal– is it worth it? The Green Deal’s designed to let you pay for energy– efficient home improvements such as under floor heating, double glazing, efficient boilers, loft and solid wall insulation from the ‘savings’ you make on energy bills. It can be a boon for many, though you may need to pay for an inspection first. If you’re going to do it, do it as soon as possible, as millions of pounds of cashback is available to first adopters.

Each month, Martin will be writing a feature for Local Life - advising our readers how to save thousands of pounds every year! Don’t miss it! Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, is an award-winning campaigning TV & radio presenter, newspaper columnist and a best-selling author. An ultra-specialised journalist, focusing on cutting bills without cutting back, he runs and founded the UK’s biggest money site, www.moneysavingexpert.com with 13 million monthly users.

Get Martin’s FREE tips and money-off vouchers emailed directly to you each week by signing up to www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips

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Willowbrook Challenge Willowbrook Hospice are challenging you to push yourself to the limit and raise money to help care for local people. The Hospice needs your support now more than ever so all that remains to be asked is, what challenge will you take? The events team have organised a whole host of fundraising events throughout the year including a sky dive, an abseil, night golf and a fire walk. The next event is Extremity – have you got what it takes to raise some money? The Hospice are looking for teams of four to take the challenge of Extremity – you will complete varied tasks including mental challenges, physical endurance activities, team building and a challenging assault course. This event will take place on Saturday 14th September at Active Adventures in Liverpool, starting at 8am, the

entry fee is £25 per team plus sponsorship. For more information please call the events team on 01744 453798 or e-mail events@willowbrookhospice.org.uk.

Whiston Ladies Guild The Whiston Central Ladies Guild is on the lookout for like-minded ladies who would love to get involved and join their busy group. The Guild meets every Wednesday at the Robert Foulkes Centre on Brook Street in Whiston from 7.15-9.15 pm. The ladies enjoy a packed schedule throughout the year and the rest of 2013 is no different, with fourteen talks on various topics, a summer outing, sit down keep fit nights and arts and craft evenings still to come! New members are always welcome and anyone interested in joining should contact Paula on 0151 426 7421 or email paula_prescott@btopenworld.com for more details.

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Jack’s Tracks

Bickerstaffe & Scarth Hill

This month’s walk is just shy of 6 miles, starting out from the Stanley Gate car park, passing through the village of Bickerstaffe and up over Scarth Hill, on what is mostly quiet country lanes and farmland. Apart from the pub where you start out from, there isn’t anywhere on route to stop for refreshments, so do carry water and snacks to keep you going until you return to the Stanley Gate, where you can rest your legs and enjoy a good meal. On the walk, there is one point to bear in mind. At the far end of Bickerstaffe Plantation, there is a very narrow wooden bridge (a plank basically) crossing the brook. If this bothers you, then bypass the woods by walking

straight to the A506, then turn left along it until picking up the route again. This alternative route is marked in orange on the map.

Stanley Gate to Bickerstaffe Plantation Leaving the car park, cross the A570, turn to your left and walk to the traffic lights. At the junction turn right into Liverpool Road and continue walking for about 130 yards to where you’ll see a public footpath sign is on the opposite side of the road. Cross over the road and take the path through the field and then take a right towards the old windmill. When you reach the main road turn left and keep going until you come to the Holy Trinity church in Bickerstaffe. From the church you go directly across the road, continuing round the corner and down Hall Lane for about 330 yards, passing the school and the entrance to Hall Farm. You will eventually come to a lane on your right. As you go down the lane you’ll pass the Keepers Cottage on your left. Keep going down the lane; you’ll soon see the footbridge that you’re aiming for that crosses the M58. You go along the left hand side of the hedgerow, over the bridge, following the path down, across Bickerstaffe Brook on to the end of Long lane. If you’d like to avoid the narrow plank bridge at the far end of the woods, take the alternative route (shown in orange on the map) up the lane and left onto the A506. Bickerstaffe Plantation to Scarth Hill From the lane, take the footpath opposite the fenced off area, that leads into the woods. After about 120 yards you’ll see a path to your left. Follow it over the brook and continue on down through the woods. The path gets quite vague in places, but it’s obvious enough for you to follow until emerging at the plank bridge. Having bravely negotiated the plank, make your way through the long grass and continue along the right hand side of the field toward the A506. On reaching the main road, cross over and turn left. You then continue along the road for about 180 yards until reaching the footpath sign on your right.

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Water Tower Built around 1974, the water tower at Scarth Hill has a water capacity of around 400,000 gallons and replaced the previous ‘pepperpot’ tower of 112,000 gallons, built in 1879. As soon as the new tower came into service the old one was demolished. The nearby pump house, built on the site of an old windmill, still stands, but has been sold and converted into homes. Turning right walk up the left hand side of the hedgerow, then at the end of the first field switch to the right hand side of the hedgerow and continue up towards the woods. On reaching the woods, cross back to the other side of the hedgerow and continue

along the side of the woods until reaching Grave yard Lane. If it’s a clear day, stop for a moment, look to the southwest, and try to pick out some of the landmarks in the centre of Liverpool. On Grave yard Lane you go right and walk all the way up the lane until reaching Long Lane. You turn left onto Long Lane, walk for about 100 yards, then at the footpath sign take the track on your right up the hill. Ahead of you, and sitting at the top of the climb is Croppers Farm, situated on the junction of Croppers Lane and Poppy Lane. Passing the farm, you carry straight on up Poppy Lane towards the water tower. The lane joins Scarth Hill Lane before emerging at the A570. You go right along the main road for about 50 yards. Here, you cross the main road and take the public foot path that appears to lead down a private driveway. Just a few metres into the driveway the footpath turns off to the right. You’ll find the grass here is quite long, but it soon thins out as you reach the highest point of the walk. Scarth Hill to Stanley Gate As you continue along the path, go down past the side of Delph Farm and along the grassy track until

emerging on to Whiteley’s Lane. Now you go right and stay on Whiteley’s Lane for about 650 yards, until reaching the sharp left hand bend. You leave the road here, taking the track on the right. Follow this to the first hedgerow on the right, then, keeping to the left of the hedgerow go right along the public footpath. At the end of the hedgerow you cross the wooden footbridge and continue along the track, across the field towards the left of the woods (Alcock’s Plantation) ahead of you. Passing the woods you go slightly to your left and follow the right hand side of the hedgerow until reaching the main road. The pavement is on the other side of the road, so cross over and go left, following the road back to the Stanley Gate. There, cross back to your starting point. Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or 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 other cause.

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Summer Bucket List

30 fun things to do with the kids during the summer holidays! The summer holidays are nearly upon us; six glorious weeks stretched out in front of us and let me guess no ideas on how to keep the kids entertained. I bet you can hear the echoes of ‘I’m bored’ already! But, spare a thought for the

kiddywinkles, being stuck at home every day can get really boring so here are thirty ideas for summer activities that won’t break the bank. Have a look at our summer checklist and see how many you can get through.

Make a scrapbook

Host a sleepover

Make ice cream sandwiches

Get the kids to tidy their rooms and sell the surplus stuff at the Chalon Way Car Boot

Make a bird feeder and wait for the local birds to stop by and check it out

Swim - see how many laps you can swim in a row. Keep practicing and then see how many you can do by the end of the summer

Go up to Clock Face Country Park, climb a tree and roll down a really big hill

Pitch a tent in the garden and spend the night camping out

Build a den in Mill Woods near Eccleston

10.

Run around in the rain - this shouldn’t be too difficult with our weather!

11.

Fly a kite

12.

Catch a fish with a net

13.

Go on a really long bike ride down the Sankey Canal

14.

Make a mud pie

15.

Make a daisy chain

16.

Play pooh-sticks in Windle Brook

17.

Empty out the loose change jar, catch a train to Southport and spend an hour on the Penny Falls machines in the amusement arcades

18.

Go to Sandhill Strawberry Farm pick-your-own (near Rainhill Stoops) pick some blackcurrants or gooseberries and make a pie or crumble for tea

19.

Go star gazing

20.

Hunt for bugs

21.

Take your camera round all the local sights and make a local calendar

22.

Go on a nature walk at night

23.

Visit Speke Hall and take some photographs of the gardens

24.

Take binoculars or a telescope up Pex Hill on a clear day and point out the sights

25.

Find a geocache – you can read more about it at www.geocaching.com

26.

Find a maize maze – find the nearest one at www.maize-maze.com

27.

Catch the train to Liverpool and visit the World Museum

28.

Create some art with things you find on your nature walk

29.

Toast some marshmallows on a campfire

30.

Go on a Jack’s Tracks and explore the local countryside

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Garden Diary - by Angie Barker

The National Gardens Scheme Do you know, Hubby does have a lot to put up with and he never complains but recently, when I announced that I wanted to see if our garden was good enough to be accepted into the National Gardens Scheme, I could see he was a little crest fallen. He must have been thinking, oh lord she will be spending even more time in the garden now – and what if the garden doesn’t make the grade – will she start re-designing the garden from scratch – and how much will that cost! Well, the morning of the NGS visit I was very nervous. One of the criterions for acceptance is that your garden

Award Winner

must hold 45 minutes of interest. My garden is not a large one by any means, it is nestled in the middle of a modern housing estate, was this really something that the NGS were looking for? Well Hubby needn’t have worried because I was delighted when the officials from the NGS who came to inspect the garden accepted it into the scheme. For those of you who don’t know, the NGS is an organisation which encourages privately owned gardens to open to the public on certain days throughout the year. A small admission fee is charged and cups of tea are sold and all monies collected go to charity. Have a look on their website – www.ngs.org. uk – to see if there are any gardens open near you – it is a fantastic way of picking up ideas from ordinary gardeners, as opposed to swanky show gardens. So if you’ve ever wondered what my garden looks like, next year (around the end of June) you can come along and see it for yourselves. In the meantime, this photo taken on the day the NGS visited in June gives you a little preview. Hubby by the way is much relieved – but he knows that come next June he will, as ever, have a lot to put up with.

Angie is a qualified award-winning garden designer who will plan your garden to your needs from start to finish, supplying reputable contractors and the ideal plants.

Call Angie now for your free consultation! Author: Angie Barker Dip GD (Inst GD) BA (Hons) Garden Design For All Seasons Tel: 01942 522 405 Mob: 07857 008 383 www.angiebarker.co.uk

Award Winner

Competition Winners The lucky winners of our competition to win family tickets for Farmer Ted’s Farm Park were Phillip Cook (pictured with Grandson Ethan) from Knowsley Park Lane in Prescot, Elaine Hamilton from Springfield Lane in Eccleston and Brian Thompson from Deepdale Drive in Rainhill.

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What’s On in the North West Green Fayre at Beacon Park

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

The Green Fayre at Beacon Park near Up Holland is West Lancashire’s premier countryside event, celebrating the great outdoors and countryside life. Don’t miss demonstrations in a variety of woodland crafts including, chainsaw carving, willow weaving, basket making and hooping. The show arena will also include sheepdog trials, Viking battles and birds of prey displays. A music marquee houses a variety of folk and traditional music performers.

The North’s greatest garden party has lots of fresh ideas for visitors. Check out the Great British Allotment area, or if ornamental plants are more your thing, head to the Floral Marquee to find a huge choice from some of the UK’s top nurseries. Don’t miss some fascinating show garden designs. Ladies Day returns by popular demand on Friday 26th July.

When: Cost: Details: Where:

Sat 20th July & Sun 21st July (11am-5pm) Free 01695 622794 WN8 7RU

Speke Hall Vintage Festival Travel back in time at Speke Hall near Liverpool this summer! Back by popular demand, this is your chance to see beautiful veteran, vintage and classic vehicles on display, chat with their owners, and visit the amazing Vintage Market for timeless bargains. You can chill out to the retro sound of live performers and enjoy delicious food cooked on site at the Festival. When: Cost: Details: Where:

Sat 20th July & Sun 21st July (11am-5pm) Free www.nationaltrust.org.uk.speke-hall L24 1XD

When: Cost: Details: Where:

Thur 25th July – Sun 28th July £23.50 www.rhs.org.uk WA16 6QN

Knowsley Flower Show The Knowsley Flower Show celebrates their 15th year! The Floral Marquee will be a blaze of colour and scent, and this year they have classes suitable for anyone, every age and capability including some special classes for children and young people themed around their crystal anniversary. Also new for 2013 is a Food for Thought area sponsored by Love Food Hate Waste with lots of advice on healthier eating and free recipe giveaways and lots of tips on how not to waste food.

Aintree Hot Air Balloon Festival The event will feature a fantastic array of Hot Air Balloons of various shapes and sizes. There is a giant funfair, helicopter rides, licensed bar, and the event would also feature a special Glow Night on the Saturday, where the balloons light up to a choreographed musical display. There’s also a full program of family orientated entertainment, including mini circus performances, with clowns, jugglers and magic.

When: Sun 4th Aug (11am-5pm) Cost: Free Details: 0151-443 5749 www.knowsleyflowershow.com Where: L16 3NA

Family Fun Raceday Haydock Park’s fabulous family fun race day returns in the summer holidays and this year’s theme is ‘Under The Sea’. Join them for an action-packed family day out not just with fantastic racing, but with FREE children’s activities ranging from face-painting to bouncy castles, craft workshops to funfair rides ... but best of all it’s FREE for children 17 and under, accompanied by a paying adult. Sat 20th Jul & Sun 21st Jul (Sat 12noon-10pm – Sun 12noon-6pm) Cost: £3 (children under 1.2 meters free) Details: 0161 6220555 Where: L9 5AS When:

When: Thur 8th Aug (gates open at 12.10pm) Cost: £32.40 Details: 01942 402624 www.haydock-park.co.uk Where: WA12 0HQ

Blackpool Air Show

Southport Town & Country Fair

Blackpool Air Display is a magnificent seaside air display for all the family. Every year sees bigger and better displays as crowds gather along Blackpool’s Golden Mile. From the Spitfire to the ultra-modern Typhoon there is something for everyone and the Blackpool Air Show. The main action takes place between Promenade Point and South Pier.

This popular event moves to a new home at the Leisure Lakes in Mere Brow. Attractions include the 360 bicycle stunt team, horse carriage driving, a shopping mall, craft marquee, sheepdog displays, duck herding, children’s entertainment and a bouncy castle. Also for the children there will be a bee, worm and reptile house, donkey rides and you can even enter your own dog into the daily shows at 1pm. Sat 24th - Mon 26th August (10am-5pm) Adult £5, Senior £4.50, Child £1 Family Ticket £12 (2 Adults, 3 Children) Details: 01704 212734 www.garden-festivals.com Where: PR4 6JX When: Cost:

Lytham Proms Festival Weekend Photo © G Lee

When: Cost: Details: Where:

Mon 12th August Free www.visitblackpool.com FY1 5BD

Southport Flower Show Located in Victoria Park, the Southport Flower Show features stunning show gardens, the finest flower and vegetable displays, specialist foods and books, celebrity guests and much more. Every day there is something new happening, from talks and lectures to cookery presentations in the kitchen. The main arena entertainment brings you jousting medieval knights and free flying birds of prey, dog displays and the fun of what happens when sheepdogs meet Indian Runner ducks. Don’t miss it!

When: Thur 15th Aug – Sun 18th Aug Cost: £16-£21 Details: 01704 547147 www.southportflowershow.co.uk Where: PR8 2BZ

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This is the biggest musical and cultural event in the town – the event is held on Lytham Green, next to the iconic windmill. Over the course of the weekend you can enjoy live performances from Jason Donovan, Tony Hadley, Russell Watson, Rita Ora and Conor Maynard. When: Cost: Details: Where:

Fri 2nd Aug – Sun 4th Aug £32.50 - £40 0844 888 9991 FY8 1LW

The Garstang Show This is the 198th Garstang Show this year, with 15,000 visitors expected it’s set to be a fantastic day out for the whole family, with entertainment for all ages and tastes. There will be a number of free events for children, as well as the popular horticultural & agricultural exhibits. The Galloping Acrobatics are booked for this year, so come and see all manner of trickery on horseback!

When: Cost: Details: Where:

Sat 3rd Aug Children £2, Adults £12, Family Ticket £28 07967 313346 PR3 1JS

Test Drive - by Andy Enright

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED...

The original version of the fourth generation Nissan Micra supermini singularly failed to hit the spot. That model has had some hefty revisions to bring it up to scratch. With slicker exterior styling, a much-improved interior, more equipment and better value for money, Nissan’s latest MK4 Micra has turned over a new leaf and has quietly morphed into a wholly respectable supermini. Originally launched in the early Eighties, the MK2 Micra became the very first Japanese model to win the European Car of the Year award. Nissan decided to build the car in Britain and style the MK2 and MK3 models with a daring flair that perfectly suited an ever-more image-conscious small car market. That’s been less the case though, with the Micra MK4, which arrived here at the very end of 2010. Out-sourced for build in India, the original MK4 model

was cheap. The problem was that it rather felt it too and, as a result, sales were disappointing and lagged behind Nissan’s Qashqai, Juke and Note models. By 2013, it was clear that this design didn’t just need a refresh - it needed a root and branch re-think. Of all the aspects of the original version, the one that probably needed the least work was the way it drove. It was always good fun to drive and its light weight gave it some pretty nimble reflexes. The latest model doesn’t change a whole lot here, instead just tuning the details. The big draw remains the DIG-S engine and this is really the model you need to be targeting. The heart of the Micra DIG-S is a direct injection engine teamed with a supercharger - hence the car’s name: Direct Injection Gasoline-Supercharger. Although it has clearly been designed to cap emissions and fuel consumption, the lightweight, low-friction 1,198cc three-cylinder unit produces the power expected from a conventional 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. With 98PS on tap, it’ll get to 60mph in less than

11 seconds and feels quicker. A five-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard but there’s also the option of a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) automatic which makes town driving easier. You can also buy the Micra with an 80PS 1.2-litre normally aspirated engine should you wish to save around £1,500 model for model. There’s no diesel option.

Prices haven’t changed much, which means you’ll pay somewhere in the £10,000 to £15,000 bracket. The Micra has been designed to be one of the safest small cars around, with ESP stability control fitted as standard alongside ABS brakes and six airbags. The interior also now benefits from dash-mounted AUX-in and USB slots linked to all audio units, while a 12v socket has

The Micra’s most obvious changes are to the exterior. The entire ‘face’ has changed with a redesigned grille re-establishing a stronger link to Nissan’s corporate look with the familiar circular badge ‘held’ within a chromed extended V-shaped motif. The bonnet, wings, headlamps and front bumper are also changed. And where fitted, the front fog lamps have been given a bit more prominence with chrome edging. The rear features a re-sculpted bumper, LED tail lamps and a panel at the bottom of the tailgate. The fresher look is complemented by different 15 and 16-inch alloy wheel designs.

been added, allowing mobile phones or MP3 players to be recharged on the move with ease. There’s also the availability of Parking Slot Measurement and Rear Parking Sensors. PSM measures parking slots and alerts the driver as to whether the Micra can be safely parked in the space or not.

The interior has come in for a rethink too, with the instrument graphics ahead of the driver improved for greater clarity, while there’s a totally new centre console with restyled air vents. Gloss black finish on the centre console and a silver look to the gear selector finisher combine with retextured door armrests and better quality seat and door pad fabrics. Storage space elsewhere in the cabin is generous with no shortage of pockets, boxes and cubbies.

The big question is whether these changes are enough. Buyer behaviour can be a tough thing to change and it will be hard to divert customers from their Fiestas and Corsas. The Micra’s chances won’t be transformed overnight but this is now a car you could recommend to somebody who doesn’t want to follow the crowd. I think Nissan would call that a result.

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Nissan has demonstrated that you don’t need to go to the expense of shelling out for a hybrid or even for a modern turbodiesel engine. The DIG-S will manage 95g/km, which means a free road fund licence. Fuel economy is similarly excellent with a manual Visia model returning an astonishing 68.9mpg.

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