Local Life - West Lancashire - December 2015 by Local Life 247 Ltd

West Lancashire Edition

December 2015

Rachel is cooking up a

storm

WIN

a Christmas Hamper

WIN a fused glass bowl from Local News Food & Drink Jack’s Tracks On Your Plot What’s On Home Services... www.locallife247.co.uk

Waxing

Visit our online farm shop for all your fresh fruit and vegetables

every Mon, Weds & Friday* *Excluding PR4-6 postcode sector

in 24 field to door

15% OFF orders over £15.00

enter SPROUTS15 in the coupon box when placing your online order Only one voucher per customer Expiry date 31st December 2015

lyrical

nd so this is Christmas, and what have you done? Sorry for lapsing into a bit of John Lennon’s Happy Christmas there, but given the local link (see pages 8 and 9) and the time of year, I’m sure you’ll forgive me. Christmas is a time for reflection, about what the last 12 months has brought, and what the next year may or may not serve up. At that juncture, it’s another Lennon lyric which springs to mind: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Quite a philosopher was ‘our’ John, but then again he also said: “I am the egg-man, I am the walrus, goo goo ga-joob” . So, on balance, it’s probably best not to set too much store by what celebrities say... Joking aside, Christmas is perhaps the one time of year when we do a lot of thinking, which is no bad thing. We’re also in the mindset of setting goals, which can be a double-edged sword, mainly due to the targets being wholly unrealistic. For instance, I know that getting to the gym was never really going to happen. But every New Year, I resolved to do so, only to end up cheesed off with myself a few weeks later. This year, I cast it aside and resolved to get active some other way. I decided not to be specific and, hey presto, in summer I bought a bike. As a result, I’m healthier than I’ve been in 20 years. So if I can impart any sort of advice as we head into 2016, I’d say don’t be too hard on yourself. Much better to achieve a simple goal than fail miserably at an impossible one. And if you’re struggling, don’t forget you can always ask for Help...

Gores Farm, Narrow Lane, Aughton, L39 7HD

0800 0850 650

David Sudworth - Editor Local Life Media

@locallifemedia

In this issue Cooking up a

Win a fused glass

bowl

storm

Last posting dates for

Eating out

Christmas

guide

Win a

Jack’s Tracks

Christmas Hamper

Lightshaw

Regulars 20 Planning Matters 21 Class from the past 28 Puzzle Corner

Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB

41 What’s on 46 On Your Plot

Sections 6 Local News 30 Food & Drink 37 Leisure

46 Gardening 48 Home Services

Next issue - January 2016

Advertising deadline - Tuesday 1, December Published - Monday 4, January

Telephone: 01695 627 999 Publisher: Chris Pearce chrisp@locallife247.co.uk Sales: Lisa Jackson, Nicola Gray sales@locallife247.co.uk Editorial: David Sudworth westlancsnews@locallife247.co.uk Design: Peter Bretherton design@locallife247.co.uk Distribution: Sally Boon sallyb@locallife247.co.uk Accounts: Sam Garrahan 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. This edition will be edition is delivered via Royal Mail to every home in the L39 postcode district and also to the L40-6 postcode sector - that’s a total of 12,655 copies. The next edition will be delivered via Royal Mail to every home in the L40 postcode district and also to the PR4-6 and WN8-7 postcode sectors - that’s a total of 13,240 copies.

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.

£30 to empty green Taxpayers across West Lancashire may have to stump up £30 a year to have their green waste taken away by the council. The suggestion from West Lancashire Borough Council forms part of a wider consultation over plans to help save over £1m a year. Other suggestions include cutting funding to parish councils such as Bickerstaffe, Scarisbrick, Aughton and Halsall, operating Chapel Gallery “on a more commercial basis” and seeking funding from businesses for Ormskirk’s Christmas lights. In terms of internal council spend, there are plans to stop sending Christmas cards, cease sending

bin?

a representative to the Royal Garden Party, stop producing year books and diaries and stop presenting a commemorative jewel to outgoing Mayors when their term of office comes to an end. The potential closure of Park Pool was discussed in a report to councillors but it has not been carried forward for consultation. However, one decision already taken has been to agree a redundancy package for one of the council’s managing directors, Gill Rowe, who will leave the authority next year. Members of the public are being asked for their views on these plans up until January 1. Final decisions will be made at a meeting of Full Council in February. To have your say, visit www.westlancs.gov.uk

AUGHTON BLINDS & SHUTTERS (Formerly Cane & Table)

Over 30 Years Of Quality & Service

• FREE MEASURING & FITTING • FREE QUOTATIONS & HOME VISIT Call for a quote child safe

Tel: 01695 422947 • Mob: 07719 742984 www.aughtonblinds.co.uk Aughton Blinds

Lennon’s first Hard Day’s

Night

A Scarisbrick landmark which John Lennon begrudgingly helped to build as a teenager is set to be protected. Mill Brow Water Treatment Works, on Southport Road, is among a number of buildings and monuments which will be added to a Local List of culturally-important structures held by West Lancashire Borough Council. However, in an official report on the proposal, no reference is made to Lennon’s connection with Mill Brow - it simply refers to it as a “‘prominent 20th Century concrete modernist water treatment works.” Ex-Beatle Lennon worked as a labourer at the site, in July 1959. He got the job, which paid around £5 a week, thanks to an art school friend called Tony Carricker, whose dad was site foreman. Lennon’s

Vera Wang Collection

Order your Christmas pots and wreaths all made up fresh at the shop

Enjoy warmer shades on those colder days Telephone orders welcome and same day delivery, where possible, within a 15 mile radius. ...maybe a little more notice for weddings etc.

01744 885 363

National & International

29 Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8HE Open: Monday - Saturdays, 8.30am - 5.30pm www.wendysflowers.co.uk

aim was to save up enough money to buy a guitar, but apparently he hated the work so much that he wished the train from Liverpool to Ormskirk would crash. One friend said: “As the working day began at eight, John had to get up around five, which for a teenager who loved sleep and hated going to bed early was a constant problem. If John was late and missed his lift at Ormskirk, he’d have to make

further train changes to end up at Bescar Lane. From there he would trudge along country lanes to the building site. John hated every minute of it – he had no physical reserves at all.” Lennon was sacked after a month for burning a kettle. His employment card - which sold at auction for over £2,000 in 1999 - said he was “unsuitable.” Three years later, The Beatles stormed the charts with Love Me Do. He was murdered by deranged fan Mark Chapman in New York City 35 years ago this December.

Important landmarks Other structures set to be included on the Local List include: Coronation Memorial, Bold Lane, Aughton (pictured) Scarth Hill Pumping Station Holt Farmhouse, 273 Carr Moss Lane, Halsall Derby Chambers, Burscough Street/Derby Street Former Ormskirk Workhouse Union, building, Wigan Road Drummersdale Mission, Merscar Lane, Scarisbrick The Good Shepherd Mission, Smithy Lane, Scarisbrick

Goalie needed

More for Moor Street

A goalkeeper is needed to join Town Green FC’s under 12s girls’ team. They train on Wednesdays from 6pm-7.15pm at Winifred Lane Playing Fields in Aughton. For more information, call the manager Paul Dible on 07970 529455.

Improvements to Ormskirk’s Moor Street ran over budget by £190,000, it has emerged. The scheme will now cost a total of £889,000 - and approval has been given for the extra funds to be made available. This includes £90,000 for “unforeseen, essential works” and “increased overhead costs.”

Phone box sold A telephone box in Bickerstaffe has been sold. The local parish council will now take charge of the box on Barrow Nook. A noticeboard will be put inside the box and discussions are underway as to whether it should be also used to house a community defibrillator.

Pool Hey Lane plan Scarisbrick’s unauthorised traveller site at Pool Hey Lane could be made permanent. An eight week consultation is expected to start on December 3 over the proposal. It comes after borough council officers ruled out creating new sites in Skelmersdale and Bickerstaffe/Aughton.

Joy for

Erin

Erin Howard was all smiles after scooping the Aughton’s Got Talent Cup. The presentation of the trophy, voted for by the public, rounded off a successful Aughton’s Got Talent 2015 competition which raised money for Macmillian Cancer Research. Other winners in the various categories included Jack Alistair, MillieMae, Stan Livingstone, Eleanor Rowlandson Louis Melvin, Marilla Dobson, and Katy Bonney. In the best band category, first place went to The Unchartered (Thomas Wharton, Ciaran Gaffney and Heath Campbell) who played songs by Nirvana, Joan Jett and Bruno Mars. Aughton’s Got Talent is an annual event organised by resident David Gallagher, of Moss Delph Lane.

Power to the people There’ll be more power to the people in Bickerstaffe following a £171,000 investment. Electricity North West are upgrading around two miles of overhead power lines and 60 electricity poles which have been supplying power to the area for more than 50 years. As part of the three-month project, engineers will also be installing around 300 special bird diverters to the overhead power lines to help protect birds. Adrian Rowley, head of secondary capital for Electricity North West, said: “This is great news for both our customers in

West Lancashire and the 30,000 swans and geese that migrate to the area every year. The network has served customers well since the 1960s but it’s essential we invest in the network to ensure a reliable power supply.” If customers have any queries about the project, they can call Electricity North West on 0800 195 4141 or follow @ElectricityNW on Twitter.

Uke can have a go... Ormskirk Ukulele Club is looking for new members The club meets weekly on Thursdays from 7.15pm to 9.45pm at Ormskirk Rugby Club, Green Lane. Everyone from complete beginners to experienced, of all ages, are welcome. For more information, call Martin on 01695 423767.

Free, no obligation discussion for all your bookkeeping needs Contact Petra on Telephone Mobile

Love

it!

hen it comes to the art of giving gifts to loved ones, inspiration and good taste make the difference between the recipient being thrilled to bits and facing a long wait in the returns queue at M&S.

The gorgeous Love It Gallery isn’t like other shops, it’s a virtual potpourri of giftware, home furnishings and art in an elegant and spacious setting. Headed up by the owners of Morpheus Glass, Stephanie O’Brien and Ian O’Brien, Love It Gallery is a welcome and imaginative addition to the North West’s world of retail.

For those of us hanging around the back of the queue when inspiration and good taste were given out, there’s a range of perfect Christmas gifts at Love It Gallery, which is based at the old Billinge Garden Centre site on Winstanley Road (near Winstanley College).

Morpheus Glass now supplies fused glass work to galleries, shops, interior designers, architects and independent traders both nationally and internationally, and Fused Glass artist Stephanie enjoys working with clients on a range of varied and exciting bespoke commission projects.

As you’d expect, Love It Gallery carries a beautiful, unique and original range of contemporary fused glass products from Morpheus Glass, but there’s so much more on display at the Gallery, including gifts, ceramics, hand-crafted jewellery, furnishings, bags and more from many talented UK designer/makers. Adjacent to the gallery is the inspirational splashback showrooms, where customers can see how fused glass splashbacks can make a stylish enhancement to a dream kitchen or bathroom. Coming soon to the site is the new Bag & Bean Café, where you can enjoy delicious coffee, yummy cakes and light lunches six days a week. With Christmas just round the corner, a trip to Love It Gallery is a must! Love It Gallery Winstanley Road, Billinge WN5 7XG 01695 624182 Opening hours are; Tuesday-Saturday 10-5pm Sundays 10.30am-4pm www.loveitgallery.co.uk www.morpheusglass.co.uk

Win a fused glass

bowl!

Here’s your chance to win a gorgeous hand crafted bowl from Morpheus Glass, one of the UK’s leading fused glass companies. This fused glass bowl, which would normally retail at £120, will be personally created for you; designed to suit your tastes and using colours chosen by you.

What is the name of the Billingebased gallery where Morpheus Glass exhibits their work?

Leading glass artist Stephanie O’Brien of Morpheus Glass uses a range of advanced glass techniques to create a unique and original range of contemporary glass products. Each piece of work is created using many different materials and design elements including coloured grains, metals, foils, silver and copper wire and also glass powders.

Only one entry per household. Entrants must be over 16

You can view the work of Morpheus Glass at their Love It Gallery, which is based on the site of the old Billinge Garden Centre on Winstanley Road in Billinge. To win the bowl simply visit our website www. locallife247.co.uk, click the ‘Enter our latest competition’ graphic and fill in your details along with the answer to this question;

The expiry date for this competition is Sunday 20th December 2015. years of age. The winners will be notified within 14 days of the closing date. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their immediate relatives are not eligible to enter this competition. Winners’ names will be published in the February 2016 issue of Local Life.

Ticket to

drive

West Lancs motorists who evade paying on-street parking fines by driving away while a warden is booking their vehicle are facing a clampdown. Highways chiefs at Lancashire County Council have now tightened up the rules, so that a ticket will be issued by post if the driver flees. A report to highways boss and West Lancs Cllr John

Fillis explained: “Where a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) has been unable to issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) to the vehicle, the county council is able to issue postal PCNs. The service has always taken a cautious approach on this matter and only issues postal PCNs where the PCN has already been printed but the CEO was unable to serve the notice. “Postal PCNs will (now) be issued, provided that the CEO has started the issuing process.” The changes have now been implemented and are active.

Are you thinking about getting the Christmas decorations out of the loft?

Let Access4Lofts make it SAFE and EASY for you! We supply and fit: • Loft Ladders & Loft Hatches • Boarding, Lighting & Insulation We guarantee: • Professional & Friendly Service • No Mess • 5 Year Full Parts & Labour Guarantee

CALL NOW TO BOOK YOUR FREE, NO OBLIGATION SURVEY & QUOTE www.access4lofts-preston.co.uk

email: access4lofts@aol.com

01772 811611

Gallery gets a lift

£2,000 raised

Chapel Gallery has been handed a £127,933 boost from the Arts Council England to make it accessible for all. The facility, on St Helens Road, Ormskirk, will have a new lift installed, and a new first-floor exhibition and events space, which in effect doubles the amount of room available in the old building.

A group of singing health workers from West Lancashire have thanked the public for helping them raise over £2,000 for charity. Pic ‘n’ Mix, made up of Heather Gawne, Simon Taylor, Suzanne Gawne, Jenny Armstrong, Charlotte Taylor and Gary Simpson, held two concerts recently at the Aughton Institute and the Burscough British Legion, where the money was raised for Queenscourt Hospice.

Free check ups Folk aged 40-74 in West Lancashire are being urged to take advantage of a free health check with their GP. The Stay healthy for The Ones You Love campaign encourages people to ask their doctor for a free health check and to attend if they are invited for an appointment. It’s aimed at people aged 40 to 74 without a pre-existing medical condition. If any underlying symptoms are diagnosed, advice and support will be given to help people lower their risk of developing a disabling – but preventable – vascular disease. Visit lancashire.gov.uk/health

Gary said: “We are just a group of friends who love to get together and sing for good causes and we have personal reasons to be very grateful for the wonderful work that Queenscourt Hospice does. We’re delighted that we managed to raise so much for them and hope to raise even more by staging similar events in the near future. We hope that many more will put on their dancing shoes and come along.”

• Supply • Fit • Repair

Call us today for a FREE on site quotation

TEL 01744 883 511 www.garagedoorsnw.com

16 Standish Drive Rainford St Helens WA11 8JY

Planning Matters

buildings (ref: 2015/0722/OUT). A decision is due soon.

Aughton

Scarisbrick

Site Of Former 12 Springfield Road: Erection of detached dwelling with integral garage following demolition of vacant industrial buildings (ref: 2015/1086/FUL) A decision is due soon.

Land adjacent 3 to 13 Southport Road: Erection of 49 new residential units (ref: 2014/1160/FUL). A decision is due soon.

Bickerstaffe Security Surveillance Systems, Graveyard Lane: Extension to workshop and first floor offices (ref: 2015/1123/FUL) A decision is due soon. Downholland Ship Inn, Rosemary Lane: Proposed single storey side kitchen extension to public house (ref: 2015/1037/FUL) A decision is due soon. Halsall The Willows, New Cut Lane: Outline application for five, four bedroom detached dwellings following the demolition of The Willows and associated out

Ormskirk Edge Hill University: Campus extension and erection of 168 bed student accomodation (ref: 2015/1047/FUL). A decision is due soon. The Fat Olive, 8 St Helens Road: Change of use from restaurant to student accommodation (ref: 2015/1044/COU). A decision is due soon. Shoe Zone, 26 Aughton Street: Conversion of first floor of existing shop to 9-bed student HMO including new extension at first floor rear (ref: 2015/0900/FUL). A decision is due soon. For more information on these plans, visit www. westlancs.gov.uk

Class from the

past

This month’s Class from the Past is from St Bede’s, Ormskirk, in the 1990s. Most on here would be in their mid-30s by now - do you recognise someone? Remember, if you have a photo you’d be willing to

share, contact David Sudworth today by emailing westlancsnews@locallife247.co.uk - please put the name of the school and then ‘Class From The Past’ in the subject heading.

Could your bathroom benefit from a Touch of Magic We supply and fit:

Tragic

Magic

• UPVC Ceilings (no more maintenance) • Flooring: Vinyl, Tile and UPVC • Shower Cubicles and UPVC Wet Wall (no more mouldy tile grout) • Bath Panels, Taps and Showers • Tile and Grout Cleaning, Sealing and New Precision Silicone

to ‘its former glory’ We can restore your bathroom brand new bathroom! at a fraction of the price of a “The bathrooms now look better than when they were first done over 13 years ago.” (Mrs Gannon, March 2014)

Call now for further information

01695 228021 0800 803 0990 www.TotalBathroomRestoration.co.uk

Free publicity for YOU! Are you in a local community group? Do you want to publicise a talk, school fair or charity fundraiser? If so, get in touch with us today! Local Life is distributed to over 100,000 homes across Wigan, St Helens, Chorley and West Lancashire. Each edition is crammed with stories for local events, and your group could be appearing in our next edition. The types of events we publicise are as follows: - Charity fundraising events - Local school, church or community fairs - Amateur concerts or performances by community groups - Talks which are open to the public - Pleas from community groups or associations for new members - We’re also on the look out for old school photographs, street scenes from yesterday and want to hear from you if your group is celebrating a special milestone. Simply contact our Editor David Sudworth with the details - what, where, when, why, who for, how much - 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 – contact David today by emailing him directly at editorial@locallife247.co.uk

Are you looking to have your carpets cleaned?

Our dry cleaning method leaves your carpets Dry Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

CLEAN, FRESH, DRY and ready for IMMEDIATE use.

Call Jason to arrange a free quotation

Limited Offer!

www.zerodrytime.com

Get your main room cleaned & get a 2nd room or hall/stairs cleaned FREE!

0800 180 4520

Choir’s

invite

Aughton Male Voice Choir is inviting prospective new members to a recruitment evening. The choir, which started in 1984, rehearses weekly at Aughton Village Hall and in their 30-plus years have raised tens of thousands for charity. Tony Boyson, from the choir said: “Over the years, as with all choirs, attracting new members has not been easy, although in the last two years we have increased our membership from 45 to 65. Our musical director Andrew Lord and accompanist, Joanne Fairclough, have introduced different ranges of music and worked hard on the dynamics and choir performance. We aim to perform at least 16 concerts per year and estimate that annually we help various mainly local charities and organisations raise between £7,000-£10,000 per annum.

Road closure A back road out of Ormskirk road will be temporarily shut between Monday, November 30, and Friday, December 11. There will be no access to Sandy Lane from its junction with Dark Lane. Instead, there will be a a diversion via Lathom Lane. The closure has been sanctioned so utility works can be carried out.

“Next September, we are hoping to perform in Germany and Holland.” The recruitment evening is on Monday, February 1, from 7.30pm at Aughton Village Hall, Winifred Lane. Visit www.aughtonmvc.co.uk for more info.

Cloud Chiropody

‘‘w a lk on a ir ’’ • General & Diabetic footcare in the comfort of your own home • Nail Care, Ingrowing Toe Nails, Corn & Callus removal • Areas covered: Ormskirk, Aughton, Burscough, Maghull, Lydiate, Skelmersdale and surrounding areas Call Gemma now to make an appointment:

07810 546 226 Cloud 9 Chiropody Mobile Chiropody Service BSc (Hons) Podiatrist

Competition

Win a

Christmas Hamper O

ur popular Christmas hamper competition is back and this year, one lucky reader in Ormskirk and Aughton will win a luxury Christmas Hamper! This Christmas hamper will be filled to the brim with luxury produce, much of it locally sourced. Most of our food is from the Food Hall at Derby House in Wrightington. The Food Hall at Derby House in Wrightington carries a great range of tasty local and regional produce, particularly in the run up to Christmas. The finished contents of the hamper was still being finalised as we went to press, but we can tell you that each hamper will include Christmas cake, chocolates, mince pies, cheese, shortbread, wine, real ale, nuts, sweets and lots more besides. The goods are packaged in an attractive and sturdy wicker basket, and expertly wrapped in cellophane and ribbons. Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not a foodie, these hampers would make a wonderful present for someone special in your life. To win one of these hampers simply visit our website (www. locallife247.co.uk), click on the competition graphic, complete your contact details and tell us the name of the Lancashire village where Derby House is located.

Your entry MUST be with us by Sunday 13th December, and the lucky winner will receive their hamper on the weekend of 19/20 December 2015. Crossword Competition Rules Only one entry per household. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. The winners will be notified within 14 days of the closing date. Local Life 247 Ltd cannot accept responsibility for entries that are delayed. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd or their immediate relatives are not eligible to enter this competition.

Good luck to all who enter - and a Happy Christmas to all!

Puzzle

corner

Guess where? Wordsearch Sudoku 6

3 8

4 1

9 3

Yuletide fun

1 6

Answers are on page 47 of this magazine

Carols Snowflake Turkey Presents Elves Bells

Tinsel Sleigh Snowman Cards Frankincense Mistletoe

Reindeer Yule Santa Noel Holly

Food & Drink

Cooking up a

storm By Jeananne Craig

he sun didn’t always shine during Rachel Allen’s recent road trip along Ireland’s stunning Atlantic coast, but the chef and writer insists that was all part of the charm. “When the weather wasn’t great, it was wild and dramatic and windy. We had a couple of boat trips that did more than clear out the cobwebs,” says Allen, who spent a month journeying along the rugged western terrain from Ballymaloe in County Cork to the rugged headlands of Donegal. She visited numerous foodie locations along the route - and each stop-off forms a chapter in her new book, Coast, which is packed full of recipes inspired by her ‘culinary odyssey’. There was Sneem village in Kerry, where she met black pudding-producing butchers; Galway City, to stock

up on farmhouse cheese, and Rathmullan House in County Donegal, where Allen sampled some locallybrewed Kinnegar beer. “The characters you meet along the way and their passion is just wonderful,” says the author and TV presenter, who teaches at the acclaimed Ballymaloe Cookery School. “I also learnt how to free-dive for crabs and went snorkelling, looking at different seaweeds. I was constantly learning.” Allen believes Ireland’s gastronomic output in recent years has helped reverse the opinion that it houses a “nation of potato and cabbage eaters”. Want to try one of Allen’s tasty recipes at home? Here are two from Coast...

Coast: Recipes Inspired By Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Coast by Rachel Allen is published by Harper NonFiction, priced £25 (eBook £12.99). Available now

Irish onion

with blue cheese toasts

soup

Method

Serves 4 as a starter Ingredients 25g butter 600g onions, peeled and cut into 5mm thick slices Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1L chicken or beef stock 150ml double or regular cream For the Blue Cheese Toasts: 8 x 1cm thick slices of baguette, white yeast bread or sourdough 75g blue cheese, crumbled

Melt the butter in a saucepan large enough to take the onions. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper and stir. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for one-and-a-quarter to one-and-a-half hours, until the onions are very deep golden brown. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to stir the onions and scrape the bottom of the saucepan every few minutes while cooking. When the onions have caramelised, add the stock and bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the cream, bring to a simmer and season to taste again with salt and pepper, then take off the heat. When ready to serve, preheat the grill, then toast the bread on both sides and cut into smaller pieces, about 4cm. Pour the hot soup into heatproof bowls and top with the toasted bread. Crumble the blue cheese over the top, place the bowls under the hot grill and cook for one to two minutes until bubbling.

Taste test

Sooty’s clean

sweep by David Sudworth

lot of garden centres now see having a cafe as integral to their business. However, standards in terms of decor and, most importantly, quality of food varies widely.Sooty’s Plants on the Tarleton Bypass is the latest to add eating facilities, with a new venture called Sweep’s Cafe. The purpose-built, wood-clad cafe is bright and airy. Even on a fairly grey day, it brings in plenty of natural light. We got there at lunch time to find Sweep’s doing brisk trade, unusual given it is such a new addition. For starters, Lisa and I both had the homemade vegetable soup, which came complete with a wedge of bloomer bread and butter. Soup isn’t difficult to make, but it never ceases to amaze just how many places

make a right pig’s ear of something so simple. Sweep’s veg soup was a hearty concoction involving broccoli, red peppers and carrots, to name a few. It was also seasoned very well, so no need to do my usual trick of reaching for the condiments. For the main meals, I decided that, as it is the festive season, I’d quite like the turkey, stuffing and cranberry baguette with roast potatoes and gravy. A strange combination it may seem, but it was the perfect hybrid for someone who didn’t want to walk round on a full stomach for the rest of the day. Lisa, who is aiming to shed a few pounds for New Year, decided on the chicken and ham salad. But this wasn’t your average, measly wafer-thin meat and rabbit food which passes for a salad in many places. No sir, this was hand-carved, succulent flesh nestled on a bed on fresh greens, with small, accompanying pots of homemade potato salad and coleslaw. Both meals were, in themselves, generous in portion sizes but we couldn’t leave without trying some of

One can see how this local pairing of a garden centre/cafe setting could also prove well-matched. Sooty’s is already known for its good selection of garden items - and now with this new cafe, I wouldn’t bet against them making it a clean sweep...

the delectable cakes on display. I’ve always been a fan of cheesecake since I figured out, aged about six that it stands to sense that if I like cheese, and if I like cake, then I will by default like cheesecake. But there are some horribly, sickly ones out there which almost hollow out your teeth the second they pass the lips. Sweep’s cherry cheesecake was finely balanced between being rich, but light. Lisa, who seemed to have momentarily forgotten her single-minded pursuit for super slinkiness, ordered the giant white chocolate and caramel gateau. This was a three-layer sponge which again failed to fall into the ‘heavy as a brick’ trap, unlike so many other deserts. A special mention must also go to the hot chocolate, which came in a very quirky cup which aped a battered soup can. Heads turned at neighbouring tables upon its appearance, but such rubbernecking comes with the territory when you spend the best part of an hour photographing your food!

113a Southport New Road, Tarleton, PR4 6HX 01772 812540 www.sootysplants.co.uk

Eating out

guide Rigby’s Coffee Shop

rigby’s Coffee Shop

Enjoy a trip out to Pimbo Garden Centre and tuck into a wide selection of delicious home cooked, locally sourced, food served seven days a week at Rigby’s Coffee Shop. 01695 622601 Pimbo Garden Centre, 32 Pimbo Lane, Up Holland, WN8 9QQ pimbogardencentre.co.uk

Plantation Restaurant

The Corner House

Now Open! From wholesome breakfasts and a delicious lunchtime menu to traditional Lancastrian afternoon teas, the new Plantation Restaurant at Warbreck Garden Centre is the place to go. 01695 722960 Lyelake Lane, Lathom, L40 6JW warbreckgardencentre.co.uk

Fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere - perfect for any special occasion or a casual get together. Our traditional menu sources local produce. See our website for special offers. 01257 451400 9, Wood Lane, Wrightington Bar, Wigan, WN6 9SE cornerhousewrightington.co.uk

Advertise

here £48 + VAT

Call 01695 627999

Infusions Café Bistro Infusions is a family run Café Bistro, serving fresh, cooked to order food, using locally sourced products whenever possible. Visit our website or Facebook page to see an up to date menu. 4, Orrell Lane, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0SQ 01704 893356 www.infusionscafebistro.com

The Stocks Tavern Warmest and friendliest of welcomes with award winning chef Mike Heap, who uses only the finest, freshest, local ingredients to ensure you leave completely satisfied. 01257 462874 16, Alder Lane, Parbold, WN8 7NN thestockstavern.co.uk

Brookes Bistro A stylish and contemporary venue serving great bistro style food. Home cooked food & cakes. Full English Breakfast and Breakfast Menu Served all day every day. Delicious Sunday Lunches. 01695 581557 Brookside Living, Aughton Street, Ormskirk, L39 3BH

Shaw Hill

Quattro’s

A unique relaxed restaurant and bar with great food, events and dining. Using high quality locally sourced produce to create the ultimate dining experience whatever the occasion. Menus start from £12.95 Whittle Le Woods, Chorley, PR6 - 7PP 01257 269221 shaw-hill.co.uk

A family run Italian restaurant situated on the Rainford By-pass at Bickerstaffe. Being just off the slip road of the M58 makes this an ideal location for meeting friends and business lunches. 01695 720800 54 Rainford Road, Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk L39 0HF quattros.co.uk

The Blue Mallard Michelin Guide 2015:- “Beside the towpath you’ll find a restored Victorian wharf filled with small artisan businesses and this unfussy first floor restaurant. Cooking is fresh, local and flavoursome, with a modern edge; the set menu offers great value.” Burscough Wharf, L40 5RZ 01704 893 954

Tastebuds Delicious homecooked food using local and seasonal produce. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or high tea in our restaurant or outside on the decking overlooking the boats. Home made cakes and scones baked daily - delicious ! Fettler’s Wharf Marina 20 Station Road, Rufford, L40 1TB 01704 822 888

Advertise

here £30 + VAT

Call 01695 627999

The Cricketers In elegant yet cosy surroundings near Ormskirk centre, you can enjoy simple pub classics or a range of innovative daily specials. Famed for its delicious selection of Lancashire Tapas. Fantastic value set menu every Sunday. 01695 571123 24 Chapel St, Ormskirk L39 4QF thecricketers-ormskirk.co.uk

Irish cream liqueur baked

cheesecake Method Preheat the oven to 170C/Gas mark 3.

Put the base of a round 25.5cm (10in) spring-form cake tin upside down into the tin and secure the clasp. Put the biscuits in the bowl of a food processor (or in a plastic bag) and whiz (or bash with a rolling pin) until they reach the consistency of coarse breadcrumbs. Tip out into a bowl, add the melted butter and cream and stir to combine. Press firmly into the bottom of the tin to create an even layer and flatten the top. Place on a baking tray, just in case any mixture leaks onto the floor of the oven while the cheesecake is cooking.

Serves 8 Ingredients For the base: 300g dark chocolate digestive biscuits 50g unsalted butter, melted 2tbsp double or regular cream

Put the cream cheese, sugar and eggs in a large bowl and whisk well to combine and get rid of any lumps in the cream cheese. Mix in the coffee and liqueur and pour into the tin on the tray. Place the tray in the oven and cook for 35 minutes or until almost set. There should still be a thick wobble when you give the cheesecake a little shake. Turn off the oven but leave the cheesecake inside to sit for 30 minutes, then remove and leave to cool in the tin.

100ml strong coffee

To remove the cheesecake from the tin, run a small sharp knife around the side of the cake, carefully unclip the tin and, with the help of a palette knife, slide the cheesecake off the base onto a serving plate (it should slide off easily because you have turned the base upside down).

100ml Irish cream liqueur

Cut into slices to serve.

For the top: 500g full fat cream cheese 150g caster sugar 4 eggs

sponsored by

Dover Lock &

Lightshaw by David Sudworth

ou can’t make a omlette without cracking a few eggs. So if the new High Speed Rail (HS2) line goes ahead, expect a fair few shells to be cast aside for what some say is for the national good. Sadly though, it’s not only foodstuffs which are likely to be affected; in this part of Wigan it would cut through designated green areas and be close to at least two Grade II listed buildings. So there is a sense of ‘enjoy it while you can’ about part of this walk. We parked up in a small layby just off Warrington Road (WN2 5XY). Although cars are allowed on it, do ensure you don’t block the bus stop, which according to the signage, is used for school buses only.

From here, we headed south-eastwards down Crankwood Road. I always get a bit nervous when venturing down roads which, to all intents and purposes, look like private drives or tracks. The signage on the gate at the entrance to Lee Lane Farm indicates that while it is a private road, walkers are welcome. As we carry on, past Chadwick’s Farm, the formal path turns into a woodland path but soon, after dodging the overhanging vegetation, we find ourselves on the adopted part of Crankwood Road. At this point, we pass through this hamlet with only really a handful of houses to its name. A bit of open countryside and some

the horses were too busy feasting on the luscious pasture to give us the time of day. From here we picked up the pace and headed over Gerrard’s Bridge, which allowed us access over the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. At this point, there is the option of simply picking up the towpath back towards the starting point, but we decided to venture further south. Around two minutes in, there is a clearing on the right hand side where you get a lovely view across South Lancashire.

grand houses later and we find ourselves, again, at another small clutch of properties. Opposite the junction in Montreal Street/Durban Street, there’s a signposted public footpath on the right, down the side of the farm.

It wasn’t long before we found ourselves on disused railway banking which now acts as a public footpath. Back in its day, this used to be part of the Wigan Junction Railway, which was constructed in 1876 and allowed a connection between Glazebook in Warrington with the old Wigan Central Station. It was closed in 1964 to passengers and in 1968 to

Regular readers will know I’m a bit nervous of animals at the best of times, but this path is quite narrow so with horses on one side and cows on the other, I was a little trepidatious. There was no need to fear though as the cows, resting in the mid afternoon sun, barely batted an eyelid while

By poplar demand Lightshaw Meadows is home to the rare Black Poplar tree. During the 1900s, many of them died in the Wigan area due to air pollution. Although action was taken, they are now under threat from a scab disease common in poplar trees. Those at Lightshaw’s Copse Field are taken from root cuttings from mature trees in Cheshire , and have been DNA fingerprinted to ensure they are the correct type. This is because poplars often hybrise and it can be difficult to tell them apart.

freight as part of Dr Richard Beeching’s infamous cull of rail lines. Having pondered on what types of thunderous locomotives made their way down this very path years ago, we find ourselves at Slag Lane. Turn right and within a few yards we take another right down the path leading to Apple Tree Stables Equestrian Centre. This is where the walk does test your skills of awareness. This is primarily a private site, Critchley House, with a public footpath running through it. The signage is of the homemade variety which is great in one respect, but you do have to wonder why there are no official waymarkers. I suspect this is why perhaps this part of the route feels as if it’s not used very often; certainly the vegetation is much denser here. That said, having been left to its own devices, there are plenty of wild plants growing. Once you’ve ploughed your way through, you start noticing signage for the Lightshaw Meadows project. Managed by the Wildlife Trust, the Meadows is a very sensitive site for wildlife and part of it is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It was once home to a hive of coal mining activity from the 19th to mid-20th Century, leaving large voids underground. This ground has since collapsed and become flooded, creating the landscape we see today. The Copse field is also

home to a species of tree called The Black Poplar, which is now under threat. Around 10 minutes later, we go past Lightshaw Hall, one of the Grade II listed building mentioned earlier. The hall dates from the 16th Century and at one point was surrounded by a moat. It was among the first in Wigan to be listed, with it being granted the honour in 1966. Once at the end of this path, we found ourselves, very briefly, on the A573 Wigan Road before turning right onto yet another disused line heading towards the canal towpath. This line was one of the very many mineral tracks in the area which transported coal from the old Garswood Hall Colliery, where the Three Sisters Racing Track is today. From here, it’s pretty much a straight line to the canal, and another one to Dover Lock, where you leave the towpath at Aye Bridge Road. The Dover Lock pub awaits thirsty or hungry walkers, but for us time was of the essence so we simply walked right, across the bridge, and back to the car. I was surprised this walk was 5.1 miles (10,682 steps according to my smartphone app). It’s not a route which can be done wholly on a bicycle as some of the paths are narrow and/or muddy in part. However, if you’re just getting into walking or even a seasoned pro, this is a cracking little trek which takes you to an area which only really the locals know about. And if HS2 becomes a reality in the next few years, it’s likely there will be little time left to enjoy unencumbered access to a peaceful and delightful part of Wigan.

Dover

Park

dR oo kw an Cr

Lan

d oa

ad ge R o

rid Aye B

Crankwood He

roo

Lee d

Crankwood Ro

Live

rpo

ol C ana

Lightshaw Hall Wigan R oad

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.

Plank Lane Draw Bridge e

Slag Lan

Pennington Flash

Events & Leisure

What’s

Manchester Christmas Markets

Justin Moorhouse

Until Monday, December 21

The ex-Phoenix Nights star is back at Edge Hill Univeristy with his brand new stand-up show for Destiny Calling. Tickets £15/ £14 concessions £5. Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/artscentre/

Spread across the city centre, the Christmas Markets are all located within roughly a quarter of a mile of each other and accessible to all. Albert Square is open 10am to 9pm daily. Other sites: 10am to 7.30pm (8pm in December). Bars open until 9pm on all sites. Visit www.manchester.gov.uk

Thursday, November 26

Ormskirk Lights Switch On Friday, November 27 Free event from 4.30pm onwards in Ormskirk town centre. Entertainment will preceed the grand switch on around 6pm.

Aughton Street, Ormskirk, L39 3BP

Grassington Dickensian Festival Saturday, December 5, 12 & 19 For three Saturdays before Christmas between 11am-5pm, Grassington travels back in time for the annual Dickensian Festival. Visitors are treated to a glorious array of sights, tastes and smells from a bygone era. The village is adorned in Christmas lights, the square and streets come alive with a traditional market with shopkeepers and villagers dressed in Victorian costume. Visitors can revel in delight at the musicians, dancers, street entertainers and exhibitions of traditional country crafts. The Park and Ride at Threshfield Quarry costs £10 per car. The postcode (for sat nav users) is BD23 5PA. For all enquiries please contact the Dickensian Co-ordinator on dickensian@grassington.uk.com

Tel: 01695 581557

Christmas Day Menu

Homemade Cream of Veg Soup with roll & butter or Homemade Chicken Liver Pâté with Red Currant Jelly ********** Traditional Roast Norfolk Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce Roast & New Potatoes, Fresh Veg & Thick Rich Gravy. or Roasted Vegetable Wellington, Roast & New Potatoes & Fresh Veg (v) ********** Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce or Homemade Apple Pie with Custard or Cream

3 courses

£35.00 non-resident; £32.00 resident; £16.00 child Bookings only - Deposit of £10 per head required Full Bar Available Available for parties of 2 to 40 Christmas Crackers, Hats, etc provided.

Rove Friday, November 27 Aughton Village Hall, on Winifred Lane, is hosting this show by Fergus Evans and tells the story in words and live folk music of a man’s search for his roots and family history. Tickets are £7 each and available from Sue Watkinson on 01695 422423. Hot drinks are included and will be served in the interval.

Duran Duran Friday, November 27 British music legends Duran Duran start the UK leg of their Paper Gods tour at Manchester Arena. It’s now 33 years since their classic hit Rio hit the radio. To date they’ve sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and the British quartet are still making music and going strong. Their new album, titled Paper Gods, had their highest chart debut in 22 years. Enjoy their classic hits such as Hungry Like The Wolf, Girls on Film and The Wild Boys as well as their more recent material Tickets from £39.37 via www.eventim.co.uk

Christmas Lantern Parade Friday, November 27 Tatton Park welcome Father Christmas and his Reindeers during a beautiful lantern parade. Enjoy the glow and atmosphere of this wonderful welcome. Light his route with your own lanterns as he makes his way through the twilight parkland to Tatton’s festive stableyard. Please take along any unwanted toys to donate to the Manchester Children’s Hospital. Starts at 6pm. Free entry. For further information about the lantern parade please call Bridget Roberts on 01625 374405.

Christmas Fair Saturday, November 28 Tombola, Christmas goods, cake stall and Father Christmas available at Four Lane Ends Mission, Skelmersdale Road, Bickerstaffe, from 2pm.

The Snowman Thursday, December 10 This Christmas, The Snowman is coming to The Blackpool Tower Ballroom! The timeless film will be shown on a large screen accompanied by a live, professional orchestra. Tickets £17.50 for adults, £11.50 for children or £51 for a family of four. Starts at 7pm and finishes at 8.30pm. Visit www. theblackpooltower.com/event/1327/

Hidden Heritage Monday, November 30 Ormskirk Historical Society lecture with Heather Davies on the hidden treasures in Lancashire’s museums and their conservation. Entry is £3, or free for students. Starts at 7.30pm at Four Lane Ends Mission, Skelmersdale Road, Bickerstaffe.

Ebook Taster Sessions Tuesday, December 1 Update your IT skills with this free session from 2pm-4pm at Tarleton Library, Mark Square. Call into the library to book your place.

Robin Hood & Babes In The Wood Wednesday, December 2-Sunday, December 6 The Pleasure Folk Amateur Musical Society presents the panto at Ormskirk Civic Hall, Southport Road. Performances at 7.30pm each apart from the Sunday (when it will be at 2.30pm) and there’s a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm as well as the 7.30pm

show. Tickets £9 and £7 via 01695 580755, the Civic Hall and www.pleasurefolk.co.uk

Rufford Lights Switch On Wednesday, December 2 Tarleton Brass Band will be playing carols when Rufford Village Society hosts the switch on of the Christmas tree lights at 7pm near Rufford Pharmacy, at the junction of Church Road and A59. There will be refreshments in the church hall afterwards, and a grand raffle.

Parbold Late Night Christmas Shopping Thursday, December 3 Held from 6pm-9.30pm in the village. Enjoy complimentary drinks and nibbles while you browse around local shops.

Monastery to Museum Friday, December 4 West Lancashire Archaeological Society talk by Lynn Smith, senior keeper at Norton Priory. It starts at 7.45 pm in New Church House, Ormskirk Parish Church. Visitors are welcome. Admission is £3. Further information can be obtained from the Honorary Secretary on 01704 532846 or via gee. griffiths@yahoo.co.uk

Aughton Street, Ormskirk, L39 3BP

Tel: 01695 581557

Christmas Meal Menu

3 courses for £12.95 Bookings only - Deposit of £2.95 per head required Full Bar Available Available for parties of 2 to 40 Christmas Crackers, Hats, etc provided.

Available Tuesday 1st December to Tuesday 22nd December.

Bickerstaffe Walk Saturday, December 5 Aughton Action Walkers event from Aughton Village Hall, Winifred Lane at 1pm. Walks and refreshments are free but a small donation for Queenscourt Hospice would be appreciated No need to book, just turn up. The leaders, Mark and Julia, can be contacted on actionwalkers@gmail.com

Festive Fair Saturday, December 5. Held from 11am–2pm at Parbold Village Hall. The Green. Lots of stalls selling jewellery, toys, speciality cheeses, painted stones and woodcrafts.All proceeds raised will go the Hut-on-the-Hill – home to all of Parbold’s Guiding and Scouting units.

Paddy McGuinness Saturday, December 5 One of the country’s best-loved and most popular comedians Paddy McGuinness has announced a brand new UK tour for 2015 & 2016. The star of Phoenix Nights and ITV’s Take Me Out will return to his performing roots, with his first stand-up comedy tour since 2011. Held at Preston Guild Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets from £35 via www. prestonguildhall.com

Thoughts on Christmas Wednesday, December 9 Talk by Stephen Cookson from 12.30pm at Hesketh Bank Christian Centre, Moss Lane. Call 01772 816727 for more details.

Bob Cratchit - Retired Thursday, December 10-Saturday, December 12 Mock Victorial panto performed by Aughton & Ormskirk U3A Musical Theatre Group at Ormskirk Civic Hall. Curtain up is at 7.30pm and tickets are £8 for adults and £4 for children via 01695 579 742 to book or pay at the door.

Roy Wood’s Rock & Roll Band Big Christmas Party Friday, December 11 What better way to party during the festive season than the man who wrote and sang Wizzard’s 1973 hit I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday? Having written more than thirty UK to 30 chart singles Roy Wood is without doubt a true British song writing legend. Held at Warrington’s Parr Hall from 8pm. Tickets are £20 via www.pyramidparrhall.com

Promote your event

here! Reach an estimated 75,000 readers in West Lancs Ad prices start from £30 + VAT Call 01695 627 999 for details

Cinderella with Torvill & Dean Saturday, December 5, to Sunday, January 3 Torvill & Dean make their pantomime debut as the Fairy Godparents at Manchester’s Opera House, and will be wowing audiences with their amazing routines. They will be joined on stage by Wicked star Liam Doyle as Prince Charming with his loyal sidekick, funny-man Samuel Holmes. Stand-up comedian and actor Andre Vincent will play the smitten Buttons with the beautiful Eloise Davies in the title role alongside the best boo-able ‘Uglies’ in pantoland Tim Hudson and Dave Lynn as her nasty stepsisters. Usually two performances a day, at 1pm and 5pm, and tickets are priced from £11.90 upwards via www.atgtickets.com

Christmas Coffee Morning Saturday December 12, Mawdesley Methodist Church from 10am to noon 12:30pm in the schoolroom. Refreshments, singing with the children from St Peter’s school, tombola, crafts, decorations, raffle and carol singing.

urners atering C Services

* Weddings * Conferences * Corporate Days * Birthdays

Domestic & Commercial events catered for.

Every occasion individually designed for you.

For more details email: turnerscatering@gmail.com 07903859759

Candlelit Carol Service Spirit of Christmas Wednesday, December 23 Christmas begins at home as Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s gathers its family of musicians. There’ll be classic carols and seasonal readings from Classic FM’s John Suchet while folk star Kathryn Tickell brings the timeless magic of the Northumbrian pipes to the sound of the Phil’s choruses and full orchestra. Starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost from £18-£43 via www.liverpoolphil.com

Dick Whittington Saturday, December 12 - Sunday, January 3 Live at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, starring Starring Sally Lindsay and Eric Potts (Coronation Street), Radio City’s Leanne Campbell, City Talk’s Pete Price as Alderman Fitzwarren and Kurtis Stacey (Emmerdale) in the title role of Dick Whittington. Tickets from £10 upwards via www.atgtickets.com

Flower Power Wednesday, December 16 Talk by Alan Foxall and hosted by Parbold, Newburgh and District Garden Society. Starts at 8pm at Parbold WI Hall, The Common. Visitors welcome. Call David Pennington on 01704 821984.

Craft and Chat Wednesday, December 16 Held at Hesketh Bank Christian Centre, Moss Lane, from 10am-noon. Entry is £1 and all are welcome.

Thursday, December 24 With Rev Melvyn Kelly and the Kingsford Singers at Mawdesley Methodist Church, starting at 7pm.

First Farmers Friday, January 8 West Lancashire Archaeological Society annual general meeting will take place, immediately following by a talk from Professor Douglas Baird on the first farmers of Central Anatolia, Boucuklu and the antecedents of Catalhoyuk. It starts at 7.45 pm in New Church House, Ormskirk Parish Church. Admission is £3. For further information, contact 01704 532846 or email gee.griffiths@yahoo.co.uk

Les Liaisons Dangereuses Thursday, January 28 National Theatre Live broadcast from Edge Hill’s Arts Centre. Running time 210 mins. Tickets £12, £10 for concessions or £5 for Edge Hill students. Book via 01695 584480.

Strictly Come Dancing Tour Tuesday, February 2 An arena tour of the hit BBC1 show at Liverpool Echo Arena. As with the TV version, the show will pit celebrity dancers and their partners against the judges. Audiences at each venue will then be able to vote live from their seats via text message. Tickets for two shows, one in the morning and again in the evening, via http://prideofmanchester.seetickets. com

On Your Plot

Scarves at the December is perhaps the one month where, in the build up to Christmas with roaring fires and shorter days, even the hardiest of gardeners may struggle to get out there and do the necessary for their plots. December often means hard frosts and you need to harvest your winter cabbages, celery and cauliflowers this month. Parsnips and swedes are pretty hardy so if you are a bit over-run with your crop you can keep these in the ground until you need them. If bad weather is forecast then keep some straw handy to cover them over and stop the ground from freezing them in. Make sure that you check your stored crops for any sign of disease and remove any that look problematic. If the ground isn’t too sticky then this is also a great time to get out your hoe and work between your vegetable crops. Look out for any plants which might have been lifted by frost and press them gently back into the ground. Keep an eye on your Brussels too - these should be starting now so try cooking them in different ways in your meals before the ‘big day’ (adding a spot of garlic can make all the difference) until you find something suitable to go with the bird. You don’t just have to eat them on Christmas Day you know! Be mindful of any snowfall this month or in future weeks and help out your plants and shrubs as best you can by brushing off any settled snow. This helps to prevent any damage with branches breaking under the weight. Just make sure you if you have small children they don’t take this as an opportunity to flick snow everywhere otherwise your quiet gardening time could suddenly turn into an impromptu snowball fight! Birds at this time of the year need all the help they

ready can get too. There are some great plants that you can introduce to help them as well as popping out the traditional feeders. These include hawthorn, holly, beriberi and indeed your holly can double up as a craft project for indoor decorations over the festive season. If you are planting these types of shrubs for our feathered friends then do try and put them somewhere quiet in the garden where the birds won’t be frightened off. Sit back at your window and watch them feed contentedly whilst you enjoy the view. Why not get out a few gardening books, grab a cup of tea and imagine how you’d like your garden to look next summer? More or less vegetables? Bigger shrubs, more colour? Whatever you choose, pat yourself on the back for all the hard work you’ve done this year and think how green your fingers really could be!

Jobs for December

• Continue collecting falling leaves and put the m in a leaf mould cage rea dy for next year. • Take hardwood cutting s of soft fruit. • Cover your compost bins • Pop some more manur e into your digging effo rts. • Keep an eye on any slugs trying to get at you r potatoes • Keep your bird feeder s topped up, especially if there is ground frost or snowfall. • Keep mice away from your harvested produce. • Cut back any creepe rs that have become a bit excitable during the yea r.

AC U F TU N

E TH MA

All Aspects Of Tree Work RFS Certified Tree Surgeons Garden Tree & Hedge Specialist TPO Application, Tree Planting Fully Insured. NPTC Certified All Pruning To BS3998 WLBC Approved Arboricultural Contractor

DIR ER

T FROM

• • • • • • •

Do you need a Tree Surgeon?

Sheds Log Cabins Workshops Wendy Houses Summer Houses Free delivery Free 100% pressure treated Free erection

See our show sites at;

Trebaron Garden Centre Southworth Road, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0BS Telephone: 01925 220858 Lady Green Garden Centre Ince Blundell, Nr Formby, L38 1QB Telephone: 0151 929 2800 Head Office 10 Greenhey Place, Skelmersdale WN8 9SA Telephone: 01695 51442

Call now for your free quote

01704 822 403 07841 508 288

Puzzle

Rufford

www.solidsheds.com

solutions

The photograph on page 28 is of Church Street, Ormskirk

Home Services

Decorators, plumbers, builders...

Suffering from poor reception? SK Installations are accredited experts in Aerial & Satellite work We also install wall mount TV’s, phone extensions, home entertainment systems & CCTV

Fast response and quality work guaranteed!

Tel: 01704 89 40 89

www.sk-installationsltd.co.uk

• High pressure water jetting

Digital Aerials fully fitted from just

£59!

Call now for a FREE, no obligation quote!

07817 807 960 / 01257 453 133

www.qualitv.co.uk

• Drains unblocked

• Gullies & Interceptors emptied

• Drains traced

• Septic tanks emptied • CCTV drain surveys • Wincan Reporting

• Site drain surveys

FREEPHONE - 03333 202189 www.cj-lyon.co.uk email – info@cj-lyon.co.uk

Need an Upholsterer? Upholstery & Re-Upholstery Services Curtains & Blinds supplied and fitted Contract polishing

Willco Interior Furnishings

07826 599 599 Domestic & commercial work welcomed

Based in Appley Bridge

Reflect Valets Professional Car Care

Mobile - Fully Insured Wide range of services available

Call Simon on 07540 741 853 www.reflectvalets.com

Say “NO” to wet carpets! Dry Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Our unique dry cleaning method leaves your CARPETS clean, DRY and READY FOR IMMEDIATE USE.

www.boutiquedomesticservices.co.uk

Deep cleans and sanitises You will our Fully insured Dry Cleaning System! Safe for children and pets FREE Stain Guard on all carpets Specialists in leather and Family run business upholstery suites

Call Jason to arrange a free quotation

0800 180 4520 www.zerodrytime.com

CLEANING LAUNDRY IRONING • Quick Turnaround • Town Centre Location

(main bypass ideal for drop offs)

• Competetive Rates (lowest prices around)

• Collection, Delivery Service Available

sAfIsfACtION GUARANtEED Domestic cleaning Oven cleaning Carpet cleaning Ironing service Dry cleaning

01257 806 134 07739 754 432 www.dreamcleanswigan.co.uk NEW SHOP: 3, Station Road, Parbold, WN8 7NU OPEN: Monday to Saturday, 9:30am - 5pm

www.boutiquedomesticservi ces.co.uk 3 Church House, Park Road, Ormskirk. L39 3AJ

Advertise

here

Advertise your business in this section for £30 + VAT a month For more information please phone

01695 627 999

General Building & Maintenance Work • General Joinery • Fascias, Gutters, Roofing • Plastering & Texture Rendering • Double Glazing • Flagging Driveways & Patios Check out my 5 Star reviews at www.traderregister.org.uk Call Paul for a free quotation on

01695 578495 or 07944 550268 www.precisionbuildingservices.org.uk

HEATING & PLUMBING ENERGY EFFICIENT HEATING SOLUTIONS Biomass and Oil Heating Specialist Biomass Boilers offer an alternative source of heating to provide warmth and hot water for any property. Honeywell connect specialist. Evo control systems repaired and fitted. We also provide a central heating repairs service to both domestic and business clients. • Grant Oil Boilers - 5 year warranty.

CALL NOW FOR A FREE QUOTE 0800 924 7037 / 0788 099 3847 Info@wolfheating.co.uk www.wolfheating.co.uk

Taylor Made Taylor Made Handyman The complete A to Z of Home Improvements

Contact:

Darren Taylor

01704 840 373 07791 291 743

Inside and Out

Full Public Liability Insurance.

From Cleaning Gutters to Full House Refurbishments / Buy to Lets

Experienced, Local and Honest.

Automatic Gates Installation • Service • Repair Telephone

07768 314 082

‘We love the jobs you hate’

or 01257 795 242

Does your home need extending or adapting?

ELECTRIC GATE REPAIR

• Bedroom and shower room extensions • Seamlessly add space to your home

HYBRO LIMITED SPECIALISTS IN HOME EXTENSIONS

email: hybro.ltd@aol.com

01695 581 489

Shevington El ect ri cal S er v ic e s L td NAPIT part ‘P’ registered JIB Approved Technician 31 Years Experience

Local. Honest & Reliable Domestic Industrial & Commercial

Covering all North West Areas.

Call: 0800 6446100 or 07904 127663 www.shevington-electrical-services.co.uk

All Makes Installed, Repaired & Serviced Local Family Business We can even automate your existing gates Telephone:

01704 543311 / 07870 586307