Wokingham Local Magazine Issue 14 April 2023

GRAND RE-LAUNCH DAY

TUESDAY 25TH APRIL 9AM-5PM

AMAZING SAVINGS FOR ONE DAY ONLY

SCOOTERS l RISE AND RECLINING CHAIRS

POWERCHAIRS l BEDS l WHEELCHAIRS AND ROLLATORS

WIDE FITTING SHOES AND SLIPPERS

We always recommend trying before buying, that’s why we offer

I spend 5 minutes with local entrepreneur, Abbie Bell of new business ‘Click Style’ as she talks about ‘’knowing your worth, listening to your gut and instinct, and trusting yourself.’’ Our Easter traditions and food lead us to the very popular Bombay Story Indian Kitchen and to Denmark Street’s favourite family butchers, Stefan’s. At Stefan’s we say hi to a ‘not so new face’ but new owner, manager and butcher, Charlie, who now takes over the reigns. We wish him well, as our newest local entrepreneur to be supported by the team at Wokingham local. And, talking of team work, we recently launched our ‘Cocktail Chat’ social networking event which we held at Grasshopper Bar, and was just an amazing evening. A really big thank you to more than 40 business owners who joined us, and to all the Grasshopper and Chalk team. Your hospitality was fantastic, so much so that we will be back later this month. If you would like to join us, take a look at page 35 for our next event, sponsored by Pratts Pods Ltd of Elms Walk. Did you kow they are Berkshire’s only Apple certified independent tech repair provider? And, you receive genuine service with a smile from Rory and his team! Holme Grange Craft Village have lots going on over the Easter weekend, in addition to their usual eclectic mix of shops, crafting barns, cafe, and much more. It is a great family day out, and only 2 minutes from Town... with lots of free parking,

Eating, drinking and celebrating is something to be enjoyed this Easter, but we also have a fabulous ‘Health & Fitness’ feature, with Health and Wellness Centres in Crowthorne, Primelase, BoxBell Fit Training and the Lazy Frog, to get us all back in shape, with many treatments, for both our physical and mental health. Don’t forget to look after yourselves,

Wokingham Local Magazine, © 2022, Local Area Ltd. Reprinting any part appearing in this magazine is strictly forbidden except by permission of the publisher. All copyright of images/content remains that of its contributors. Every effort has been made to gain permission to publish copyright material. However, where efforts have been exhausted, we have published based on ‘Fair Use’ to comment factual based material whereby its use is not central or plays a significant part in the entire publication but to act as an aid for historical and educational purposes only. This publication is offered as a limited print run. The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are

Wokingham Local accepts all advertisements in good faith but is unable to accept any responsibility or liability for any of the services or products provided by advertisers and

with added WOW factor!

Professional Builder serving Reading, Wokingham & Berkshire

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Five Minutes With:

WL: What is Click Style?

AB: Click Style is a family run, local ecommerce business specialising in luxurious and stylish signature pieces for your home and business. We partner with some amazing designers who travel the world searching for the next must haves in homeware. The products we supply enable our customers access to high quality, competitive and stunning interior goods.

Click Style supplies furniture, artwork, lighting, rugs, mirrors, candles, vases, planters, faux flowers, gifts and accessories, gift cards and much much more. We have a number of Collections in our on-line shop, The Herringbone Gold, which creates a sophisticated feel to interiors. The Industrial Lighting Collection includes tripods and spotlights, which are heavily influenced by old fashioned designs, whilst also remaining current to interior trends. Named after a family member, The Layla Collection is a beautiful compilation of ceramics in a wide range of rich, bold and versatile tones across the colour palette spectrum. Many of our products are hand-made or hand-finished, creating unique pieces which stand them apart from the mass produced items found elsewhere.

We use a network of fast and professional parcel delivery companies and deliver free to GB mainland addresses. We also deliver to Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands & Islands.

Sustainability really does matter to us and we plant a tree for every sale. Click Style has planted well over two hundred trees already and our next goal is to reach 500. For every customer who signs up to our newsletter, we plant an additional tree. It feels good to help the environment and do something positive together.

WL: When did you know you wanted to become a business owner and entrepreneur?

AB: A few years back, we renovated a derelict Edwardian property in Finchampstead. When the time came to focus on the hugely exciting part of room interiors, along came the pandemic. With bricks and mortar stores being closed, we really struggled to source quality and exciting products online and identified a gap within the ecommerce market. Our backgrounds in senior international positions across several global blue chip companies have provided us with a multitude

Jacqui Priestley spends 5 Minutes with Abbie Bell of Click Style

of skills and business acumen, so we decided to go for it.

WL: Who is your biggest inspiration?

AB: IAnne Boden, CEO and Founder of Starling Bank is an inspirational woman whom I admire greatly. Anne’s backstory, diversifying and reinventing herself and her brilliant determination has made her incredibly successful and to my knowledge, the only female founded unicorn company within the UK.

I personally believe that challenges in both business and in life are really opportunities to grow, learn new skills, meet new people and I know that every problem has a solution. You sometimes have to hit a few brick walls before the solution is found, but every single wall teaches you a valuable lesson along your journey.

WL: What motivates you?

AB: If I don’t have a project, then I become demotivated so I fill my life up with lots of them. As silly as it sounds, my husband Damian and I have a saying “I did a thing” and we say it all the time when we have achieved a new project or learnt a new skill.

WL: What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

AB: Know your worth, listen to your gut instinct and above everything, trust yourself.

WL: What advice would you give to someone considering starting their own business?

AB: 100% go for it, but first have a solid business plan in place. Understand in detail your chosen market, your competitors and the demand. What are your customer demographics?

Talk to potential customers as part of your research. What is your brand and what makes you different, in other words what’s your unique selling point? How will you finance your business and what systems will you need to have in place? Gain advice from friends who you both trust and admire and who will be brutally honest with you. I took advice

from a number of friends across different sectors. Thank you Glenn Trouse who has such an amazing entrepreneurial brain, turning his hand from being a founding member of ebookers, to Grey Group EMEA and now has a portfolio of beautiful rental properties in Puglia, Italy www.pugliah.com I took huge inspiration from David and Lindsey Bailey, forever grateful to these guys, their achievements and ideas constantly amaze me. Harry Langham from A. Langham Builders has been amazing, my honest guide throughout our home renovation and Click Style’s journey so far.

Be open and inquisitive to learn new things. I am working with Andy Miller from StrainSense who is helping me learn about the use of AI within ecommerce. It’s mind blowing clever stuff. Share your knowledge, support other businesses and above all, use your passion, it’s infectious.

WL: What do you like best about Wokingham?

AB: I love Wokingham. I was born and bred here and have come from generations of family living in this amazing town. Our wonderful town has been voted one of the best places to live in Berkshire. We have it all: countryside, amazing schools, great shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, sports facilities and travel networks.

WL: What do you do to relax?

AB: I love to garden and grow my own vegetables and flowers from seed. My home, garden and greenhouses are my happy places. I love to spend time with my husband and our children, to read, to learn and entertain friends.

WL: What is your future ambition?

AB: To keep being happy!

We are a new family run, local on-line shop selling luxurious and stylish signature pieces for your home and business.

Our online shop went live at the end of January 2023. It’s been an exciting whirlwind so far, making so many new connections with our customers, at Trade Shows, business and networking events and via our socials. We have received some amazing customer reviews and have almost tripled our product offerings since opening. Our online shop continues to evolve every day.

Sustainability matters to us and we are proud and excited to say we have now planted over 200 trees, edging closer to our ambitious goal of 500! We plant a tree for every sale and for anyone who signs up to our newsletter. Drop your email address into the link at the bottom of our homepage - www.clickstyle.co.uk

We are genuinely excited to see what the next few months bring.

With thanks, Abbie Bell, Click Style

Gemma McDonnell is a wellness-focussed interior designer specialising in creating calm and relaxing homes that help to support families needs and daily routines.

Empathetic to how clients live and feel in their homes, Gemma understands the effects spaces have on our thoughts and behaviours. She works to define and facilitate healthy habits with clients through attentive listening, mindful planning and a considered visual flow.

We all experience the same environment differently, so focus is placed on how your home makes you feel, rather than what it says about you to others. Neutral decor is timeless and restorative and a great way to bring peace to busy lives. Emphasis is placed on contrast, texture, balance and flow that allow the eyes to dance around the room rather than get fixated on one bold element.

Gemma works with a number of local professionals such as structural engineers, home organisers, Feng Shui consultants and audio-visual specialists for a breadth of ways to introduce wellbeing into her clients’ lives. From private homes to global office rollouts, Gemma has applied wellness design principles to create spaces that improve our quality of life and add to our overall happiness.

Whether you want to ensure you get the flow of your new space right before submitting plans, are desperate to get clear on the visual masterplan of your renovation before making key decisions, or want someone to oversee the implementation of your project so opportunities aren’t missed, get in touch for a free and friendly chat at whatever stage you’re at.

GMI would love to help you to live more mindfully, peacefully and beautifully.

Our customers have come to rely on us for being honest and knowledgeable in our field and we have a long list of domestic and commercial clients to show for it. If you want to find out more about what we can do for you, why not take a look at some examples of our work on our website www.thamesvalleyarborists.com

Whether you need us to remove a single tree, your whole back garden needs an overhaul or you have a commercial property which needs ongoing work, Thames Valley Arborists can help. Please feel free to contact us to book in for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced tree surgeons.

At Thames Valley Arborists we really do love what we do and we believe that our work reflects this passion. As well as being professional, fully qualified and of course insured, we’re also an incredibly friendly bunch.

“I can’t recommend this firm highly enough. Lewis is an absolute testament to the word ‘Professional’. The job was run with the utmost attention to even the finest of details. Every challenge was discussed, thought through, executed and overcome perfectly. It was an absolute pleasure dealing with L&E Leadwork and Roofing Services and I would encourage anyone in need to employ their services”

“Lewis and his team did the roofing on a large extension in Caversham- Felt and batten, tiling, leadwork. I only have good things to say: His quality of work is of the highest standard. His team are all friendly and polite. They all worked really hard to get the job done ahead of schedule. I would highly recommend L&E Leadwork”

At L&E Leadwork and Roofing Services our main priority is our quality of work. Having an expert in every aspect of roofing within our business, we pride ourselves in providing work of the highest standard. Whether it be a Pitched Roof, Flat Roof, Leadwork, Chimney repairs or small repairs, you can be confident in the knowledge that you have the very best specialist to under take your project. With over 15 years worth of knowledge and expertise we are justifiably proud of our reputation. We now offer solar panel installations, please get in touch for all the benefits of installing solar to your property.

WINDSOR CASTLE

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world – the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It’s still very much a working royal palace today, home to around 150 people. The castle is used regularly for ceremonial and state occasions, including state visits from overseas monarchs and presidents.

Some of the greatest treasures in the Royal Collection can be seen in the Castle’s magnificent State Apartments. The Royal Archives, the Royal Photograph Collection, the Print Room, and the Royal Library are all based here. Windsor Castle is also home to St George’s Chapel, the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter – the oldest order of chivalry in the world, founded by Edward III in 1348.

The Kings & Queens who shaped the Castle

William the Conqueror

William chose the site for Windsor Castle, high above the Thames and on the edge of a Saxon hunting ground. He began building around 1070, and 16 years later his castle was complete. It was originally built to secure the western approach to London, but easy access from the capital and proximity to a royal hunting forest recommended it early on as a royal residence.

Henry had domestic quarters within the castle by 1110, and his grandson Henry II replaced the outer timber fortifications with stone. Henry III continued the work, rebuilding many buildings and improving the royal apartments.

Henry I

State Rooms

The Grand Staircase

Edward III

100 years later Edward transformed Windsor from a military fortification to a gothic palace, spending £50,000 in the process. The gothic style of building with pointed arches has remained the predominant architectural style at Windsor for 800 years. His aim was to create one large palace which contained both the state apartments for official and ceremonial business, and the King and Queen’s own private apartments. The work continued after his death, into the reign of his grandson and successor Richard II.

The Tudors

The Tudors made relatively minor additions and alterations to the Castle but remain closely associated with Windsor – one of Britain bestknown Kings, Henry VIII (r.1509-1547), is buried in St George’s Chapel alongside his third and favourite wife Jane Seymour. By the reign of Elizabeth I many parts of the Castle were in need of repair and an extensive campaign of work was undertaken in the 1570s. The timber terrace (today the North Terrace), from which Henry VIII would practise shooting at targets and watch the hunt in the park below, was entirely renewed in stone, and a long gallery was built to provide the Queen with

a place to walk during inclement weather – this was incorporated into the Royal Library during the 19th century.

Charles II

During the English Civil War, the castle was frequently used by Oliver Cromwell as his headquarters and as a prison for captured royalist officers. When Charles II came to the throne in 1660, the year of the restoration of the monarchy, he was determined to reinstate Windsor as his principal palace out of town. He appointed the architect Hugh May to supervise the modernisation of the royal apartments, which became the grandest baroque state apartments in England. Charles II’s transformation of Windsor from military stronghold to opulent baroque palace was complete by 1683.

George III

The early Hanoverian monarchs followed William III in favouring Hampton Court and Kensington, and it was not until the reign of George III that Windsor became once again an important centre of court life. In the 18th century, under the direction of draughtsman John Yenn, George III gave several of the baroque state apartments on the north side of the quadrangle a neoclassical dressing. In 1796, the King appointed James Wyatt to transform the exterior of the buildings into a Gothic palace.

The Royal Kitchen

The Round Tower

George IV

George IV succeeded to the throne in 1820. Mindful of the symbolic importance of Windsor as a bastion of monarchy and the nation, he and his artistic adviser Sir Charles Long intended that the exterior of the castle should once more be given an imposing castle-like appearance. The heightening of Henry II’s Round Tower, the re-clothing of the exterior and the addition of towers and battlements cost nearly £300,000. Sadly, he was only able to enjoy his new castle for 18 months, as he died in June 1830, aged 67.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

George IV’s restoration of the castle was so comprehensive that little needed to be done by his successors. Queen Victoria spent the larger part of every year at Windsor. The Castle was visited by sovereigns, ambassadors and ministers from all over the world and was the setting for a series of splendid state visits by foreign monarchs. In Queen Victoria’s reign Windsor Castle enjoyed the position of principal palace of the British monarchy and focus of the British Empire, as well as nearly the whole of royal Europe.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth

When King George VI succeeded to the throne, he and Queen Elizabeth were already living at Royal Lodge in the Windsor Great Park.

During the Second World War pictures and works of art were evacuated for safe keeping. The King and Queen remained at Buckingham Palace at the time of the London bombardments, but joined Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at Windsor at evenings and weekends. The Princesses performed a pantomime every Christmas in the Waterloo Chamber.

The Windsor fire

The Castle survived the war unscathed, but was to suffer greatly 50 years later on 20 November 1992 when a fire broke out in Queen Victoria’s private chapel. The fire quickly engulfed the roof spaces, destroying the ceilings of St George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room, as well as gutting the private chapel, the State Dining Room and the Crimson Drawing Room in particular. The long process of repair and restoration began immediately, with The Duke of Edinburgh chairing the Restoration Committee. The most badly damaged areas, such as St George’s Hall, were redesigned in a modern gothic style, while the other parts were restored to the condition in which George IV had left them. The cost, £37million, was largely met from the proceeds of admissions to the Castle precincts and to Buckingham Palace, which was opened to the public for the first time in 1993. The work took five years to complete.

Winsor Castle at Christmas

Did you know..?

• The Castle grounds cover 52,609 square metres (13 acres).

• St George’s Hall is 55.5m long and 9m wide and can seat up to 162 for a State Banquet.

• 40 monarchs have called the Castle home.

• The motte on which the Round Tower sits is the oldest part of the Castle. The newest part is the Lantern Lobby in the State Apartments.

• The oldest glazed window in the Castle dates back to approximately 1236. It is thought to have been a wedding gift from King Henry III to his wife Eleanor of Provence.

• The Great Fire at Windsor started on 20 November 1992. It took 15 hours and 1.5million gallons of water to put it out. The fire damaged or destroyed 20% of the Castle area.

The Great Kitchen

• The Great Kitchen at Windsor is the oldest working kitchen in the country and has served 32 monarchs.

DAY EXCURSIONS

Picking up from a point near you

l Coastal Tours

l Theatres

l Gardens

l Lunch Drives

l Christmas Markets

l Historic Houses

And many more to choose from

• The Great Kitchen has 33 staff, 20 chefs and sous chefs, 3 pastry chefs and 10 porters.

• The clocks in the Great Kitchen are always five minutes fast to ensure that the food served to The Queen is never late.

• The whisk in the kitchen can hold up to 250 eggs at one time.

• Some 18,000 bottles of wine are kept in the cellar.

The Round Tower

• During the reign of George IV, the Round Tower was raised by some 30ft to improve the Castle’s skyline and to fit in with his romantic ideal of a Gothic castle.

• The Round Tower is not actually round – it has a square southern side. Foundations are more extensive on the south than on the north side.

For more information and to book a tour of Windsor Castle visit : https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle

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Easter is a time of year that is deeply connected with food traditions. We eat very specific foods only at this time of yearhave you ever wondered why?

Easter food traditions, from giving Easter eggs to eating hot cross buns, have been an important part of our Easter celebrations for years. But have you ever wondered why these Easter food traditions are so important this time of year? Is there a hidden deeper meaning why Easter lunch comprises of roast lamb and heaps of carrots? Many of our Easter food traditions, like dyeing eggs in bright colours, have been a part of Christianity for centuries. Others, like eating roast lamb or cured ham, are even older and can be traced back to Jewish Passover traditions or pagan springtime rituals.

FoodEaster Traditions

Chocolate Eggs

Symbolises: New life, rebirth, fertility, and the brightness of spring

Compared to many Easter traditions, several of which pre-date Christianity, chocolate eggs are relatively new. Eggs are an ancient symbol of fertility, but making them from chocolate originated in France and Germany in the early 1800s. By 1875, a certain Mr. Cadbury was making them. Originally they were dark chocolate, and some were solid, while others were filled with sweets like sugared almonds. In 1905, Cadbury Dairy Milk was born and the Easter egg market began to boom. Today they’re probably the most popular Easter food traditions and a symbol of Easter indulgence.

Hot Cross Buns

Symbolises: The cross on top symbolises the crucifixion, the spices may also symbolise spices used to embalm Jesus after the crucifixion

No one is quite sure where hot cross buns originated. The first literary reference to them is not until 1733 (from the rhyme ‘One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns’). But they were definitely eaten before then. It’s possible they originated in St Albans in the 12th Century when a monk made them on Good Friday to distribute to the poor. In the 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I banned them except at Easter, Christmas, and funerals because they were thought to have magical healing powers.

Carrots

Symbolises: Springtime, plenty and food for the Easter bunny

It’s probably not as common as leaving them out for reindeer at Christmas, but traditionally children would leave out carrots for the Easter bunny. It makes much more sense, too. Reindeer wouldn’t naturally eat carrotsbut bunnies definitely would. British carrots are available all year round, so it also makes a handy side dish for your Easter feast. And they’re not limited to savoury dishes. Carrot cake became popular during the Second World War, when sugar was rationed. In recent years, carrot cake with white frosting, decorated with mini eggs or little marzipan carrots, has become one of the most popular Easter food traditions.

Roast Lamb

Symbolises: Purity and goodness, and also Jesus’ sacrifice

Long before Easter was a Christian tradition, the lamb was the main meal of the Jewish Passover. This usually falls around Easter so when Christianity was born, converting Jews brought the tradition along. It’s neat too since Jesus is the ‘Lamb of God’ and he sacrificed himself at Easter.

Cooked Ham

Symbolises: Feasting

There’s no deeper meaning here - in some parts of Northern Europe ham was the meat that was most readily available at this time of year, so it became the Easter tradition.

Spring celebrations to celebrate new seasons and rebirth predate Christianity, and eating ham at this time probably does too. There is evidence people were eating it in Germany as early as the sixth century. In America it’s now the most popular choice for Easter Sunday lunch.

Boiled Eggs

Symbolises: Fertility, the tomb of the resurrection and, when dyed red, the blood of Christ

Decorating eggs is an ancient craft. Early Christians used to paint chicken eggs red to symbolise Christ on the cross. Over the years it has become an Easter food tradition to paint emptied eggs as a fun Easter craft for kids, and hang them on trees for decoration. More recently, cracking the eggs open has come to represent the opening of Jesus’ tomb after the resurrection, which is why it’s common to eat hard or soft boiled eggs on Easter morning. In the North of England, egg jarping is a traditional Easter game that involves knocking the pointed end of a hard boiled egg agains opponents eggs. The last egg to crack is the winner.

Pea, Mint

Slow Roast Leg of Lamb

Slow roasted, melt-in-your-mouth lamb. Start by taking the joint out of the fridge and bringing it up to room temperature before putting in the oven - 30 minutes should do the trick. Eat with roast potatoes and mint sauce for a traditional Easter Sunday lunch or dinner.

Ingredients:

For the lamb

1.8kg leg of lamb

Small sprigs rosemary

A few garlic cloves, left whole Salt and pepper

For the gravy

2 tbsp plain flour

200ml red wine

1 tsp redcurrant jelly

300ml stock

For the mint sauce

Large handful fresh mint, leaves chopped

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

Method:

Prep time: 10 min, Cooking time: 4h Preheat oven to 150°C/Gas 2. Prepare the lamb

Step 1: Cut several slits in the skin of the lamb, just large enough to poke in a clove of garlic and a small piece of rosemary in each. Season the lamb well with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Place the prepared lamb in a snug fitting roasting pan and cover with foil. Roast for 3½ hours, basting every 30 minutes. Remove the foil and roast for another 30 minutes to brown the skin a little.

Step 3: Slow roasting doesn’t require the meat to be rested at the end as it will be very tender and will shred apart with a fork.

For the gravy

Once the lamb is removed from the pan, skim off most of the fat from the remaining juices. Place the pan on the hob and stir in the flour. Stir for a couple of minutes to cook the flour. Add the wine and redcurrant jelly. Stir for 1 minute, then add the stock. Simmer for a few minutes.

For the mint sauce

Put the mint in a heatproof bowl with the sugar and 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Leave to cool, then stir in the white wine vinegar. Leave to steep for an hour or so if you can.

Stefan’s Butchers has been at the heart of Wokingham for many years, being a modern interpretation of a traditional High Street butchers, sourcing its produce locally, sustainably and responsibly.

It is now under new management of Charlie Costard who is a familiar face as has worked at Stefan’s for several years and now takes over as the proud owner and butcher along with his experienced team. Charlie welcomes customers, old and new, and is ‘as passionate about food as you are’.

Call in to Stefan’s Butchers at no 4 Denmark Street in the centre of Wokingham for inspiration as to what cut of meat to choose, and Charlie can offer advice as to the best way to cook it, and even recommend something you may have not tried before.

Charlie aims to source only local free range meat from British farms meaning the journey from farm to plate is both sustainable and environmentally aware.

Stefan’s vast range of sausages are handmade on site, from traditional to unusual classics and are all gluten and dairy free. The wide selection of meats are available to be prepared ‘anyway you like it’, so if you like leaner pork chops, larger sirloin steaks or butterflied and marinated legs of lamb, just ask for it. There are ‘pies to die for’ and the larder shelves are filled with patés, rillettes, local free range eggs, local honey and seasonings.

ORDERS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Open Tues to Sat, Charlie looks forward to welcoming you to Stefan’s Butchers and your advance orders can be placed here - 0118 9794981 info@stefansbutchers.com

Brilliant Broccoli

In search of a recipe using frozen broccoli florets? This incredibly simple Roasted Frozen Broccoli is your answer!

Enjoy it plain or choose from one of five seasoning ideas for an easy, healthy side dish. This roasted frozen broccoli recipe will show you just how delicious frozen vegetables can be! If you typically don’t like their taste or fear their potential sogginess, roasting is the way to go. Frozen veggies get much more caramelized and have a better texture when you cook them in the oven. Plus, there are many seasonings which go so well with roasted broccoli.

HOW TO ROAST FROZEN BROCCOLI: Spread out florets, straight from the bag, on a lined baking sheet. Toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 20, stir, roast for another 10. BOOM. This recipe solves a whole lot of problems that people face when cooking and eating veggies.

SEASONING IDEAS: Here are a few ways to spice up roasted broccoli, so you can have fun eating healthy greens. Most of these combos use pantry ingredients or other items you may have on hand:

Orange juice + butter + red pepper flakes: This one sounds weird but it’s REALLY good. While the broccoli is roasting, melt down a 2:1 ratio of butter to OJ in a saucepan with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Toss the broccoli in this before eating. Add some orange zest if you have it.

Lemon zest + garlic powder + lemon juice (to finish): Sprinkle garlic powder and zest from ½ lemon on the broccoli florets before roasting. Squeeze lemon juice on top before serving.

Curry powder + raisins: Sprinkle curry powder, salt, and pepper on the broccoli before roasting. A few minutes before they’re finished cooking, add some raisins to the tray so that they warm up with the broccoli.

Honey + sriracha + soy sauce: For a sweet and spicy kick, mix together 1 tablespoon each of honey and sriracha with 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Add a dash of garlic powder or squeeze of lime juice if you have it on hand. Toss the broccoli in this sauce before serving.

Blue cheese + dates: Oh, you fancy, huh? After the broccoli is finished cooking, remove it from the oven and push the florets together in the center of the tray. Sprinkle blue cheese and sliced dates on top. Put this under the broiler for a couple minutes until the cheese is melted.

Which is your favourite?

WE NOW DELIVER order FROM US

DIRECTLY

We are so excited to now be able to offer our customers home delivery! To confirm, it will be our food, straight from our kitchen to your door, in the very safe hands of our delivery teams. Order through our website, available seven days a week. Home delivery starts from 6pm, pre orders available. Experience the ‘Bombay Story Difference’ from the comfort of your home - we hope you enjoy it. Terms and conditions can be found on our website, or just give us a call.

SCAN HERE TO ORDER

BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH AVAILABLE seven DAYS A WEEK

Holme Grange Craft Village is a hidden gem in the heart of the countryside, just 2 minutes from Wokingham Town Centre, offering a unique shopping experience. With independent traders and artisan crafters working in a collection of converted barns, visitors can browse in a relaxed environment. Offering a wide range of products, as well as numerous workshops and classes, there is also a fabulous coffee house in an historic barn opening onto a beautiful enclosed courtyard where you can sit and relax while you enjoy your refreshment. With activities to keep the kids entertained and special events running throughout the year, including the ever popular weekend craft markets, and with lots of free carparking, including designated disabled parking and toilet and baby changing facilities Holme Grange really is a ‘destination’ waiting to be discovered.

Including... Aquatic Addiction, sourcing the latest in both saltwater and freshwater aquatic supplies, Arissa Beauty & Aesthetics - an award winning beauty salon chain, Gilded Hair is a unique one-off boutique hair salon, and to relax and unwind, you are welcomed at Sarvanga Yoga Sanctuary. Then Berkshire Rugs which brings a touch of Eastern

promise to Holme Grange Craft Village, with a range of authentic Persian rugs to suit every style of home. R Young Art Gallery and their picture framing service is newly opened, and Blooming Roots which is a mother and daughter floristry business, catering for all your floral needs including weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events. And, who can resist a couple of free tasting samples at The Tasting Barn - this shop is your destination for wine, gin, and local craft beer and cider! The Brickies LEGO Play Centre provides budding builders with a truly unique and immersive experience that is designed to promote imagination and creativity for LEGO loving child aged 5 – 11 years old, and for all age groups Enchanting Glass Designs is a fantastic fused glass shop and studio. In the shop you will find many different types of glass work including, fused glass jewellery, pictures, art and splashbacks as well as sand blasted work, stunning mirrors and some beautiful art work. In the studio there are many different courses ranging from beginners to advanced classes. Why not unleash your sewing superpower at Sewisfaction? A fresh and modern fabric and sewing studio, whose aim is to make sewing and dressmaking fun and accessible to everyone. Why not book onto one of their classes or workshops to learn a new skill or brush up your sewing techniques? While you enjoy drinks and a tasty breakfast or lunch at the Chocolate Café why not pop your pooch into Fairy Tails, run by Sophie, which is an independent dog grooming business. All this, and so much more...

In the Spotlight this issue we have...

QUENCH BOOKSHOPS

Pop in and see the wide range of books in store at Quench, including a fantastic array of children’s books, and of course, Bibles. We also sell cards and inspirational gifts for all occasions including christenings, confirmations, first communions and baptisms. Wrapping paper and gift bags are also available.

Call: 0118 9776715

wokingham@quenchshops.com

https://www.quenchshops.com

HOLME GRANGE EASTER CRAFT MARKET

Over the Easter weekend The Craft Market takes over the paddock, bringing together independent artisans, makers, businesses and so much more...

8th April 10am-3pm

Next dates:

Sat 13th & Sun 14th May

Sat 10 & Sun 11th June

LALA’S LADIES FASHION BOUTIQUE

A variety of luxury affordable clothing suitable for all ages and budgets –new stock in weekly to keep it fresh and different. As well as our top selling regular pieces, new products are sourced from London fashion events. A large range of handbags from clutches and shoppers to weekend bags, and our very popular reversible bags. Our giftware range includes candles, soaps from “The English Soap Company”, jewellery, purses, scarves, pens, stationery and our fantastic wrap bracelets.

Call: 07738 639077 lalasboutique1@hotmail.com

NEEDLES AND PINS

Needles and Pins is a small family-run dressmaking business including alterations, dressmaking and men’s tailoring. Made-to-measure is an affordable and individual option that allows you to create that perfect outfit for any occasion. Meet with us for a no-obligation chat about what you have in mind. Any ideas can be incorporated into the perfect design and we are happy to advise on styles and detail.

Call:

POTTERY PALS

The perfect treat for all the family. Whatever your age or artistic ability, you can design and create something unique to treasure forever. Our team are always on hand to help. There’s something for everyone to paint from novelty items to useful mugs, plates, bowls and vases. Our main studio seats 24 and upstairs we have a party rooma great place for birthday parties, celebrations and group activities such as team-building events, Hen parties, Brownies, etc.

Call: 0118 979 4006 info@potterypals.co.uk

https://potterypals.co.uk

THOMAS WILLIAM JEWELLERY

Specialists in bespoke jewellery, we offer a high end, local manufacture and repair service, with an eye for detail and a guarantee on all pieces. A hasslefree experience, your journey begins with a free consultation to discuss your requirements, working within your budget to craft your designs to perfection, or bring your beloved antique pieces back to life. With over 10 years experience Thomas William Jewellery is the vision of Tom Murphy, an ambitious and aspiring master goldsmith who offers a service of bespoke jewellery design specialising in one-off pieces, engagement rings and wedding bands produced in Silver, Gold, Platinum and Palladium tailor-made for you.

Call: 0118 977 2727 tom@thomaswilliamjewellery.com https://www.thomaswilliamjewellery.com

cocktail chat

WOKINGHAM LOCAL with

Cocktails & Chat

Local business owners, supporters and contributors to Wokingham

Local magazine are meeting -

Thursday 27th April 6pm to 8pm

GRASSHOPPER COCKTAIL BAR

Rose Street, Wokingham

Complimentary fizz & canapés upon arrival.

You are welcome to join us, there are a limited number of tickets available to book at www.wokinghamlocal.co.uk/events Tickets cost £10 each, plus VAT.

Guest Speakers

Fun & friendly networking

Do you really need TO WRITE A WILL?

The simple answer to this question is if you own at least one thing and have at least one person you love, then it’s important you write a Will.

A lot of people assume that writing a Will is only required when you’re old or if you’re wealthy. However, reasons to write a Will could include:

l Having children

l Owning a property

l Being a business owner

l Inheritance Tax Planning

Reasons to review your Will could include:

l Having a child

l Purchasing a property

l Marriage/Divorce

l Receiving Inheritance.

If I am married or in a civil partnership, do I really need a Will? Doesn’t my spouse just inherit my estate?

It is a common misunderstanding that if you die without a Will, your spouse or civil partner is

entitled to everything. This is incorrect. Someone without a Will is deemed by the law to have died ‘intestate.’ This means your estate must be distributed quite specifically, in accordance with the law. Depending on your circumstances it may not all go to your surviving partner.

The intestacy rules

If you do not have any children and you are married or in a civil partnership, your spouse will indeed inherit your entire estate if you die without a will.

However, if you do have children, your partner is entitled to the first £270,000 and your personal belongings, but anything in excess of this amount is divided into two. They will receive 50% of the remainder and the other 50% will be split equally between your children.

Appointing Legal Guardians for minor children

It is important for parents with children under the age of 18 to understand the need to consider appointing a Legal Guardian within their Will. This person/s will be responsible for the children should anything they die before their children attain the age of 18. If there isn’t a nominated Legal Guardian then ultimately a court will determine who is responsible and this may not be who you would’ve chosen. Interestingly nobody tells you this when you become a parent.

Joint assets

If you have a joint bank account, this will automatically pass to the surviving owner upon your death, however, property you buy with a spouse is a different matter – it depends how it was purchased originally.

There are two ways to own a property with someone else, known as ‘joint tenants’ and ‘tenants in common.’ If you are joint tenants, the property passes automatically to the survivor upon the first death, outside the terms of any Will. Tenants in common own a specific share of the property, which means your portion can be left to whomever you choose in a Will. Alternatively, it

will be distributed according to the intestacy rules and your circumstances would determine whether your partner received the entire share.

So, in answer to your original question, yes, we would advise you to make a Will, even if you are married or in a civil partnership. It is relatively quick and inexpensive to do and will allow you to choose who benefits from your estate. If you want to leave everything to your partner, you can do so!

Without a Will, your loved ones are likely to face a much more time consuming and potentially expensive legal process, at a time when they are also dealing with their grief. By planning ahead and making your wishes clear, you can spare them some of this heartache. Soteria Planning can support you with this process every step of the way.

When was the last time you reviewed your Will? Is it still on your list of things to do?

MORE NATURE is BETTER FOR ALL OF US !

Today, nature in Britain is in serious trouble. More than half of our species are in decline and 15% is threatened with extinction.

We’ve already hunted all of our top predators to extinction. Native woodlands cover a mere 6% of our land. Life has been torn from our seas to meet unsustainable demand. Conservation has worked hard for decades, with passion and dedication, to

save wildlife. But it’s time to move beyond saving certain species and patches of nature. Rewilding takes a big picture approach, aiming to restore the wider natural processes that support life (for example, grazing, flooding, natural woodland regeneration). It complements existing conservation work and those sectors seeking a better way forward for nature including regenerative farming, marine protection, low impact silviculture, nature tourism and so on.

Nature is a part of us. It’s our life support system: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the energy that sustains us. We can’t live

without it. All plant and animal species play a role. When they disappear, when we disturb natural processes, our life support system starts to stutter and fail. Climate chaos and the species extinction crisis are two catastrophic examples. They are symptoms of our disconnection from nature, the result of actions over centuries that have, unwittingly

but sometimes knowingly, undermined our very ability to survive. If we thought we could unshackle ourselves from the source of life, we can’t. We thrive only if nature thrives.

Rewilding is an attempt to reconnect and reset, to reverse species extinction and to help nature flourish on a large scale. It is a chance to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Our lives depend on behaving differently and embracing nature. We must think big and act wild.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF REWILDING?

REWILDING draws down carbon from the atmosphere. We calculate that restoring and protecting native woodland, peatbogs, heaths and species-rich grasslands over a total of six million hectares could sequester 47 million tonnes of CO2 per year. This is more than a tenth of current UK greenhouse gas emissions.

REWILDING helps wildlife adapt to climate change. Rewilding key areas and connecting them up through a mosaic of nature-rich habitats will allow wildlife to move and habitats to adapt as climate zones shift north. This has the potential to save a significant number of species from climate driven decline or extinction.

REWILDING reverses biodiversity loss, and marks a change in direction, moving from continued managed decline to restoring the abundance of Britain’s wildlife and its missing species. We know nature will bounce back on land and in seas, rivers and lakes, but only if we take the right actions to help it.

REWILDING supports diversified economic opportunities and has the potential to help rural and coastal communities prosper through nature-based enterprises, production and employment opportunities. This won’t just happen but will take imagination and coordinated local action to realise.

REWILDING improves our health and wellbeing because more nature is better for all of us, providing us with clean water, flood defences, food, healthy soils, breathable air, and good health. It’s important that we work to ensure everyone has access to wilder nature, even in our urban areas.

BRITISH FALCONS

by Sadie Shepherd, Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre Kestrel

Whether it’s hovering on the side of the road, swooping over waterways or watching them through a webcam on the top of a cathedral, British Falcons command our love and respect. They truly have some of the most extreme hunting skills and abilities of all British Birds of Prey.

In Berkshire we are privileged to have 3 of the 4 native Falcons spread across our wonderful diverse habitats. They all share the swept back wing with pointed tips, with most catching food on the wing.

The Hobby, a summer visitor from Africa, found hunting over woodlands and bodies of water for large insects, catching them on the wing. With wonderful rust red ‘trousers’ and

a strikingly striped waistcoat these birds are properly dressed raptors.

The Kestrel, holding a spot in our childhood hearts as the first bird of prey many of us learn to recognise hovering perfectly in the air over motorway verges and rough grassland. The hover, teamed with their phenomenal ultraviolet vision which can spot urine, is used to hang above before dropping in on unsuspecting small mammals. The loss of habitat and a decline in insects have all contributed to the Kestrels decline and are listed as an Amber Conservation status.

Our largest and fasted (reaching speeds of up to 240mph) falcon with a dramatic history which

includes egg collecting, a ‘Destruction of Peregrine Falcon’ Order (set to protect homing pigeons used as messengers in WW2) and then DDT, is the Peregrine Falcon. It has however survived to become one of our widest spread raptors including living in cities and towns. Pigeons are their favourite food however urban birds have been known to eat a wide range of bird species, even using street lighting to hunt 24 hours a day which dramatically improves chick survival.

We cant leave out telling you about the wonderful Merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey, often found in the south of England over winter but prefers coastal areas and therefore rarely seen in Berkshire. Currently listed as Red Conservation Status.

To learn more about British Falcons, please do visit Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre. Open to the public Tuesday –Sundays, no booking required. 07812 171709. feathersandfur.co.uk

Peregrine

Kestrel Peregrine

How to keep a Healthy Mind Healthy Body in a

There are many ways to cultivate a healthy mind and a healthy body and enjoy the benefits that come with a positive relationship between the two. Here are 6 habits you can incorporate into your daily routine:

1. Meditate

Meditation has been around for as long as 3000 years. Fairly recently, scientists have been discovering its countless health benefits. As you meditate, you focus your attention inward to induce a state of deep relaxation. The best thing about meditation is that there are hundreds of different approaches to it. There is not a universally accepted meditation, which means you can try techniques that meet your needs. You can choose from mindfulness meditation, love and kindness meditation, and breathing meditation among many others.

2. Exercise regularly

We all know that exercising and keeping physically fit is hard work, especially when we try to make time for it in our busy schedules. If you haven’t been physically active for a long while or are not looking forward to it, you can start small. Short walks, office exercises, cycling, or swimming can be good ways to give your body the level of activity it needs. Remember to consult an expert if you have a pre-existing health condition or haven’t been active in a while.

3. Foster creativity

Intuitively, we know that creativity is good for us. Many times, our creative passions bring joy to our life. But, have you ever wondered if science has something to say about the benefits of creative behaviors? Being creative is a crucial part of our lives. In fact, creativity improves brain function, mental health, and physical health by making you happier, boosting your immune system, making you smarter, and much more.

Activities such as expressive writing also seem to help with chronic pain management. People dealing with this condition had improved pain control plus pain decline after writing down their angry feelings for over 9 weeks, according to a study. If you are craving creativity, try activities such as music engagement, visual arts therapy, movement-based creative expression, and expressive writing.

4. Follow a healthy diet

There is no doubt about it: food is the most important factor that can directly affect your health. Whenever you eat something that has gone bad, your stomach aches or you feel nauseous. When food acts as a poison, it causes inflammation, which alters the balance of hormones, nutrients, and neurotransmitters. Ultimately, this affects your body’s ability to manage and heal from stress or illness.

Think about sugar, for example. High sugar consumption results in blood sugar fluctuations, provoking anxiety, headaches, irritability, mood

swings, and even increased depression. It is also linked to decreased intake of essential nutrients associated with obesity, diabetes, inflammatory disease, and joint pain. This is why it is extremely crucial to choose food that is beneficial for your body. Greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, and sprouts are excellent options as they are packed with phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients. Try to eat at least one complementary raw meal per day.

5. Connect with others

Throughout your life, your relationships have an impact on your well-being. How many times have you felt amazing after catching up with a friend you haven’t seen for a long time? Overall, social

connection generates positive feedback on social, emotional, and physical well-being.

Scientific findings have even speculated that an act of intimacy such as hugging can have amazing benefits. Hugging boosts your oxytocin levels (the love hormone), increases serotonin (elevates mood and creates happiness), and strengthens the immune system and your self-esteem. Only a few seconds of love is enough to put you in a positive mood and boost your well-being.

6. Focus on the bright side

From time to time, somebody tells you to “look at the bright side”. This phrase holds more power than you might think. There are plenty of reasons to start cultivating optimistic and affirmative thoughts and minimizing negative self-talk. For example, a positive mindset has been associated with many health benefits such as lower rates of depression, greater resistance to the common colds, better cardiovascular health, and enhanced coping skills

during times of hardships. It is unclear why people who engage in positive thinking get to experience health benefits. One hypothesis is that having an optimistic outlook allows you to manage stressful situations, which, in turn, reduces harmful physical and mental health effects.

Create the habit of a Healthy Body and a Healthy Mind today

A Healthy Body is equivalent to a Healthy Mind. For a long time, humanity has seen the mind and the body as two separate entities. Nowadays, we know that a positive relationship between the two of them gives us a powered immune system, more energy, and better stress management. All you need to do to experience these perks and change your life for the better is exercise, foster creativity, embrace human connections, follow a healthy diet, focus on the positive, and meditate.

Start your life-changing journey today!

STOKES FARM

BINFIELD ROAD RG40 5PR

l Classes to suit all from HIIt, kettlebells, turbobox to strength & conditioning.

l Classes run from as early as 6.15am to 8.15pm

l Open gym available to do your own thing!

l Outdoor training in the Summer months

l Monthly membership (no join up or cancellation fee) or PAYG! GRAB A FREE TRIAL WEEK VIA OUR WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT, OR POP IN FOR A CHAT.

THE CORONATION ANTHEM

The King has commissioned Andrew LloydWebber to write his Coronation Anthem in what the composer hopes will “reflect the joyful occasion”. Lord Lloyd-Webber’s anthem is one of 12 new pieces of music selected personally by King Charles for his Coronation ceremony on May 6.

The newly commissioned pieces will showcase talent from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, while the range of styles and performers will blend tradition, heritage and ceremony in a showcase of “inclusivity and diversity”. Lord Lloyd-Webber, a long-time favourite of the Royal family, said that his anthem will include words adapted from Psalm 98, a hymn describing God’s redemption of Israel and the rejoicing that will ensue. It is understood that Lord Lloyd-Webber felt the psalm to be appropriate for a national moment of joy and celebration and that it would

mean something to everyone

The impresario has scored it for the Westminster Abbey choir and organ, the ceremonial brass and orchestra. The award-winning composer, known for hit musicals such as The Phantom Of The Opera, wrote and performed for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 as well as at her Platinum Jubilee concert in June last year.

The King’s choice of music for the ceremony also includes nods to the Commonwealth and to Wales, the latter of which he has a long-standing and deeply held affiliation with as the former Prince of Wales.

One of the liturgical sections of the ceremony will be performed in Welsh as well as English and Alis Huws, the Official Royal Harpist, will perform in recognition of the monarch’s strong ties with the country.

The King has also asked for Greek Orthodox music to be played in the service in tribute to his late father, the Duke of Edinburgh, to be performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble.

Six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission have been created by British composers for the event, whose styles include classical, sacred, film, television and musical theatre.

The Coronation of King Charles IIIpart 2 of our 3 part series.

Wokingham In Need is a registered charity (1166111) its primary aim is to improve the lives of the homeless, vulnerable and those in need within Wokingham Borough and beyond. The charity responds directly or acts as a catalyst in working with other bodies. Founded in 2015 the charity is supported by a Board of Trustees and dedicated group of volunteers (no paid employees).

In an affluent Borough, such as ours, why are there still people in need?

Wokingham is often considered an affluent area but it is not immune to the difficulties caused by financial, medical or mental health problems. The pandemic also had a tremendous affect on people’s life’s and we all live and think in a different way because of it and the way it affected us as individuals.

Is the solution purely one of finance?

Sadly, even though important you just cannot throw money at this situation you have to find out where the problem arose. In many cases problems begin with health and mental health problems - these definitely play a role here as does the misuse of drugs and alcohol to try and find a solution to a problem (in many cases not the fault of the person affected,purely circumstances). So, we have developed and have supplied Mental Health workshops to children, adults with learning disabilities and older people and drug and alcohol

misuse workshops. Utilising experience from other sources (Circus Scene and DrugFAM) we work together so we can make a difference. Wokingham In Need fund all the workshops and the team have the necessary knowledge to fulfil workshops.

How do you raise money?

We hold regular fundraising events; Jazz Concerts, Talent Shows and more. For example, we are working with Clasp and have supported/sponsored a Talent Show at The Whitty Theatre this March. We also join with Rotary Clubs for fundraising activities, and we reach out for grants for specific projects. We have several projects at the moment some being:

• Royal Berkshire Hospital – Supplying comfort bags filled with toiletries, eye masks,

Jacqui Priestley meets Susan Jackson and aks the questionWho and What are Wokingham In Need as a charitable organisation?

dementia bands, toys for the children’s ward, headphones for the ICU unit and assisting a Junior Ambassadors project. We have a team of volunteers sewers called The Creative Nightingales, they are amazing and produced 2500 theatre gowns during the pandemic.

• Wokingham Hospital – a brand new Sensory Garden. This is following on from the success of The Sensory Garden at The Acorn Centre on Woosehill where we raised over £34K

• Care Homes and Schools – Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Misuse workshops

• Care Homes – Entertainment Afternoons –these are proving very popular

• Adults with Learning Disabilities –arranging entertainment and workshops

How many volunteers does it require to keep a charitable trust such as Wokingham in Need functioning?

Wokingham in Need are a strong team. We have a Board of Trustees and committee that consist of ten people but also have friends of WIN who we call on for specific events. Plus our amazing Creative Nightingales.

What other charities are you involved in?

WIN work closely with many charities to help us in our ongoing commitments and to achieve our aim– if we work together our voices are even louder and we can make a difference. We also have many regular sponsors, the main one being Prospect Estate Agents who have been with us right from the beginning.

What is your main focus in 2023 and what do you feel the charity can achieve?

Our main focus is to help those in need in all areas and the sky is the limit. We have several projects that we are committed to this year and ongoing and we will continue to support in everyway we can.

Once we give a commitment, we keep to that. A major commitment is to the Wokingham Drop In Centre that WIN put in to Wokingham in 2015, alongside the refurbished kitchen and shower room that we completed earlier this year. This is based at the Salvation Army in Wokingham. We assist with this service on a regular basis providing funding, food and clothing when a requested. We are also supporting Café Refresh, a Friendship Café that is held at the Salvation Army on a regular basis to prevent loneliness and we support the Friendship Alliance scheme myself being an Ambassador.

What do you like best about Wokingham?

People are willing to listen and work together to achieve a goal.

Who gives you inspiration?

My team,supporters and the people we have helped – a smile makes all the difference.

Email: Wokinghaminneed@gmail.com

To donate online please visit our Facebook page @wokinghaminneed or send a cheque made payable to Wokingham in Need to Prospect Estate Agency 12-14 Broad Street RG40 1AB

As Creative Mojo franchisees, we see first hand how activities of any kind have positive impacts on care home residents. We offer all-inclusive art and craft activities for the elderly, adults with learning and physical disabilities and mental health concerns, specialising in working with people with dementia in Care Homes and within wider community groups.

Our activity sessions are not only fun, interactive, beneficial, therapeutic and stimulating. They are person centered, user friendly and are adapted to suit service users of all abilities, and fit within social prescribing, wellbeing and mindfulness criteria, helping towards improving mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of the participants. We don’t “just paint”, we engage the residents, get them chatting about the themes we are doing, they have choices of colours, art mediums and projects. We supply reference photos to give inspiration and everything else that is needed to complete each project. It is so inspiring to see how residents look forward to each visit and to see their reactions once the artwork is put together and displayed in their care home at the end of each activity. My favourite reaction being “who painted that?”

We invite care homes, dementia cafes and community groups to get in touch if they would like to book a session with us. If you have a family member or loved one in a care home and would like to sponsor a session for the residents, we have gift certificates.

Hourly and live-in homecare in Reading & Wokingham

Walfinch is a family-run and owned private home care business operating across the UK. We are a National brand providing the highest level of quality, compassionate hourly at-home care.

The Walfinch name is therefore well-known and trusted. Our local Reading and Wokingham branch is on hand to provide you with personalised hourly care in your area, as and when you need it.

Call us today: 01182 290 500

We can arrange visiting home care from as little as 1 hour per week.

We provide care for a range of specialist conditions to enable elderly and vulnerable people to continue living independently at home.

Every Walfinch caregiver is DBS checked and required to complete our industry-leading training course so you can be sure of the highest quality care in Reading, Wokingham and beyond. Many people find that the daily demands of life and running a household can become more strenuous as they age or experience ill-health. Having a friendly, compassionate and expertly-trained carer can help reduce stress and discomfort, taking the pressure off so you can enjoy life and live as you wish in your own home.

I run my service around a family including two school-age daughters, aided by Care Manager Jo Clifton and the care team. My business background helps me run an efficient and customer-focussed service, and as a mum, I understand what sensitive, personalised care involves. I have a degree in marketing and communications and experience as a sales manager from my native Morocco, plus a degree in business management earned in the UK. Time working in a Starbucks coffee shop, where I rose from the counter to supervisor and then manager, gave me great customer service skills that I use today.

After I had my children I wanted a business of my own, which I could run around my family. I chose to get into homecare with Walfinch because it means combining service to my local community, with my business and marketing skills. I’m looking forward to building a successful and growing homecare service in Wokingham and Reading, and promoting our service to become the first choice in the area for any kind of homecare.

Whatever your care needs, or questions about care, call us first.

Ghizlane Tadili is your Walfinch contact for all types of homecare in Reading and Wokingham.