The Bulletin | November 2023

Horse © Louis P Creative

November 2023

2003

2023

Charity of the year www.themudefordmag.co.uk

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Welcome to

TheYour local magazines Meet us on social media

Ants or Nats

There is a real feel of autumn in the air and as the nights draw in you may like to sit and do puzzles. There are always a couple in the magazine to occupy you. Or perhaps you’re a letter writer? If so, our address is Pulford Publicity, Dana House, Spinneys Lane, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9BZ. It’s always a treat to receive a letter. You can also while away your time interacting with us on social media. Feel free to ‘like’ us at https://www.facebook.com/MudefordMag There is always something new popping up on the page to bring a smile to your face.

Recipe: Curried Feta and Chickpea Pasties

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Getting to Hurst Castle

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If it’s news you like, then our news site is www.dorsetview.co.uk or ‘like’ us on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/dorsetview.news where short news bulletins are published regularly.

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Asian Hornet Invasion

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Puzzles

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Regent Centre Competition

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Stewarts Garden Centre

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The Christchurch Miscellany

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Short Story

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Charity of the Year Dorset Mind

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Hunstanton Lighthouse

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Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group

xx

Puzzle Solutions

xxii

Copper Beech Clinic

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Stunning Front Gardens

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Travel Counsellors

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Regent Centre Upcoming Events

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Book Reviews

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Priory Vets

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The Women’s Institute

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We look forward to connecting with you.

Holmsley South Airfield

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Ben Pulford, managing director

Red Arrows from Bournemouth Clifftop

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Editor: Janine Pulford

editorial@themudefordmag.co.uk 2003

Production: Ben Pulford

2023

Lead design: Louis Pulford •

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03 - 202

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01202 941468

Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

The Mudeford Mag does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication.

No part of this publication may be produced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher

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Sales: Simon Thornton, 01202 941470 simon@dorsetview.co.uk Design: Dexter Elliott www.pulfordpublicity.co.uk www.themudefordmag.co.uk

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ANTS or NATS

(Negative Automatic Thoughts)

Why we find them annoying and detrimental to our lives Did you know that the average human brain has approximately 3,000 thoughts per hour? And 90% of these are repetitive.

The bad news is, as humans, the majority of these are negative. They originally were designed to keep us safe and as cavemen who only survived by being on constant lookout for danger, learning to anticipate threat and avoiding it.

We now use our imagination to imagine potential threats and problems so that we can solve problems before they threaten us. However as ‘random thought generators’ our minds can now work against us.

Negative thinking can become an unhelpful habit and these repeating thoughts develop a neural pathway that becomes stronger with repetitive use.

For this reason, habits are very hard to break as the brain is inherently lazy and doesn’t like developing new pathways that require more energy.

Excessive negative thoughts cause chronic stress and can alter brain chemistry lowering ‘feel good’ chemicals. They can reduce the size of the intelligent brain whilst enlarging the fear centre, the amygdala.

Negative thinking can be divided into several patterns of thinking: 1. Black and white - using words such as ‘always’, ‘every’ and ‘never’ 2. Focusing on the negative and dismissing the positive 3. Mind reading and assuming what others are thinking 4. Labelling feelings so that if ‘we feel stupid’ in a situation we think ‘we are stupid’ 5. Being ruled by ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts’.

These need to be reframed for a more positive phrase ie, not ‘I should exercise more’ inferring that you don’t really want to but ‘it’s important to me that I exercise’ 6. Taking things personally 7. Blaming others.

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If we want to change how we think because we have identified our thinking patterns as unhelpful, we first need to capture our most common thoughts and challenge whether they are fact or fiction? When our minds convince us of something that isn’t true this is known as a cognitive distortion.

And then think, could we look at this situation in an alternative way? What advice would I give a friend who has this thought?

Once we have identified and challenged the unhelpful thought, we need to try and loosen ownership of it. We need to recognise that not every thought we have is interesting, important or even true, and we must learn to let these thoughts go…. or turn them into PETS (Positive Empowering Thoughts), reframing your negative thought into something more positive and probably more realistic. For example: I failed that exam. I’m useless and will never get a job.

Reframe to: I didn’t do as well as I hoped, but I’m going to work hard and do better next time.

Other ways of reducing unhelpful thought activity are meditation or mindfulness, helping to quieten the mind and master negative thought patterns.

Practising gratitude – being grateful – also reduces negativity and boosts feel-good brain chemicals and increases emotional resilience whilst reducing negative emotions.

Dr Armorel Wood, Private Counsellor.

Maple Tree Therapy. woodarmorel@gmail.com / 07765 915211

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How to recognise an Asian hornet (Vespa velutina)

They are slightly smaller than native European hornets, have yellow legs, an orange face and brown body with one yellow stripe.

Public urged to help fight Asian hornet invasion Bees need your help.

East Dorset Beekeeping Association and The British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) is calling on the public to help fight a major threat to honey bees and other pollinators - Asian hornets.

Numbers of the destructive insect rose rapidly in the summer and more have been detected in the UK this year than in the previous six years combined.

Their nests have already been found across the South of England including in Dorset and Hampshire.

BBKA chair, Diane Drinkwater said it was worrying that so many cases had been reported during the early stage of the Asian hornet season, which goes on into the autumn. She added: We must act now to stop them from getting established in this country. Reports from 12 | themudefordmag.co.uk

Europe and Jersey indicate that this is an exceptional year for Asian hornets with record numbers of queens and nests.

“We urge the public to join forces with beekeepers to protect our honey bees and other pollinators from this voracious predator.”

More than 1,000 beekeepers across the country are part of elite teams trained to provide emergency support to the National Bee Unit’s (NBU) hornet hunters.

Hornet sightings are filtered by the NBU, part of Defra, and teams of bee inspectors track hornets back to their nests, which are then destroyed.

Walkers are perfect to be eagle-eyed spotters of hornets, which may be devouring insects or feeding on fallen fruit or ivy flowers.

Just one Asian hornet can hunt down and eat 300 honeybees a day.

Their habit of hawking (hovering) outside the hive stops the bees from collecting nectar and pollen to feed themselves.

Europe suffers huge pollinator losses from this predator and it is feared if they get a foothold in the UK, honeybees and many other insects will be decimated here, too.

“They are the greatest threat to beekeeping since the Varroa mite was discovered more than 30 years ago,” said Diane.

It is important to take care not to approach or disturb a nest. Asian hornets are not generally aggressive towards people but an exception to this is when they perceive a threat to their nest.

People who suspect they have seen an Asian hornet should report it immediately using the phone app ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ or the online reporting form: https:// risc.brc.ac.uk/alert. php?species=asian_ hornet

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Coffee Break Time How to solve codeword Every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number.

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number.

To start you off we reveal the code for 3 letters.

Solutions on page xxii

How to solve Sudoku Fill the 9 × 9 grid with numbers so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3 × 3 subgrids that compose the grid contain all of the digits from 1 to 9.

Coffe Break Time sponosred by Louis P Creative

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Competition

An evening of high-energy entertainment you won’t want to miss IN CONJUCTION WITH PULFORD PUBLICITY, THE REGENT CENTRE IS DELIGHTED TO OFFER TWO TICKETS TO SEE THE CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS FOR ONE NIGHT OF SPECTACULAR LIVE MUSIC The Chicago Blues Brothers have put the band back together and are ‘Cruisin for a Bluesin’ taking you to the music capitals of the USA.

has rocked some of the most iconic venues around the globe with its unique take on the Legendary Blues Brothers.

This award-winning show will bring you the very best in Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Country and Motown with a few surprises and lots of lunacy thrown in for good measure.

Boasting a sensational live band, incredibly talented cast and stunning vocals you may well find yourself dancing in the aisles.

From The Savoy Theatre in London’s West End to the Madinat Theatre in Dubai this show

Appearing at the Regent Christchurch on Friday 19 January 2024 at 7.30pm. Tickets £29 each.

To enter the competition for your chance to win a pair of tickets to this show, simply find Sammy Seagull who is hidden somewhere inside this month’s magazine (excluding this page).

Email the page number where he appears and your contact details to competition@ themudefordmag.co.uk Closing date is Thursday 30 November 2023.

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Recipe

Curried Feta and Chickpea Pasties by Cooks&Co Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 20-25 minutes | Makes 6

Ingredients 1 tbsp oil • 1 onion, finely chopped • 1 tbsp medium curry powder • 75g frozen peas • 400g can Cooks&Co Chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 100g feta • 2 Cooks&Co Red Frenk Chillies, thinly sliced • 500g shortcrust pastry • 1 medium egg, beaten • 1 tsp black sesame seeds

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6.

2. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onion for 4-5 minutes. Add curry powder and cook for a one minute. Stir in the peas and chickpeas and cook for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a food processor, add 2-3 tbsp water and pulse to give a coarse texture, crumble in the feta and add the chillies, season to taste.

3. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and cut 6 x 18cm circles. Divide filling between the circles and brush the pastry edges with water, fold into a pastie shape, pressing the pastry edges to seal. Place on a baking tray, brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

Show off Your Culinary Skills!

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Hurst Castle, Hurst Point lighthouse and ferry landing seen from the spit

Getting to Hurst Castle Article and images by Tricia Hayne

At the end of a narrow spit that extends south-east from Milford on Sea, Hurst Castle sits in splendid isolation.

No traffic jams the entrance; no car park blots the view.

Today’s visitor, like those of yesteryear, has two choices – to approach by boat, or to brave the spit. Both have their appeal – getting to the castle is part of the adventure – though perhaps a little less so when the wind is up and the heavens open.

Every day in season (usually from Easter until the end of October), Hurst Marine operates a ferry to and from the castle. Usually the service is run by a series of little boats, each taking 12 passengers (and their dogs) on the trip up the Keyhaven River, but at peak times you may be aboard the much larger Solent Rose. Either way, it’s an attractive journey, passing numerous sailing and fishing boats moored along the centre of the channel, or negotiating the river themselves. viii | themudefordmag.co.uk

Birdlife, too, is prolific: a host of resident and migratory species are attracted to the marshes that open out on each side of the river.

Hardier visitors may take to the shingle spit on foot or, for those seriously into off-road cycling, on a bike. It’s a walk of around two miles from the nearest car park to the castle, but it’s well worth it. Even if the weather turns foul, there’s nothing like the prospect of shelter within the castle walls, and perhaps a hot drink at the café, to spur you on.

To one side, the views across the sea to the Needles at the western end of the Isle of Wight are outstanding. To the other, you’re looking across the marshes and creeks of the Keyhaven River towards the Solent. And if you’re incredibly lucky, you may spot a lone seal.

View from the castle across the marshes to the Keyhaven River

The Friends of Hurst Castle help to support the castle, which is owned by English Heritage. Our members are involved with everything from upkeep and displays to guided tours, litter picks and historical research. Why not join us? Members receive a regular newsletter, can take part in events such as our annual fish ’n’ chip cruise, and are entitled to free entry to the castle.

To find out more, please contact our membership secretary, Tricia Hayne, on trjhayne@gmail.com

Looking north-west down the spit towards Milford on Sea

Errata We apologise for unintentionally rewriting history in the last edition, the result of a typographical error. The third paragraph should have read that Charles I was transported from Hurst Castle ‘to Windsor, and thence to London, where he was beheaded for high treason.’ themudefordmag.co.uk | ix

The Christchurch Miscellany

by Julie Ratcliffe “… we shall be collecting and recording the materials, out of which someday may grow that desirable thing – The History of Christchurch.”

Herbert Druitt A much-valued resource is The Christchurch Miscellany. The 624-page volume was published

by Herbert Druitt in 1932 and was a compilation of information that he wrote for the parish magazine. It became a rare volume so in 1996 Christchurch History Society (CHS) had further copies printed. It contains a wealth of names, places, and events in Christchurch’s history through the centuries, from details of the Priory’s history and architecture to local governance and much from the 18th and 19th centuries.

It includes churchwardens’ accounts, people, extracts from books about Christchurch, and Druitt’s own research. It is a treasure trove for historical research.

In the volume, Druitt recognises the Christchurch ‘pull’. ‘Christchurch is a place which most strongly appeals to the affection and interest not only of its natives but also those who have chosen it as their home.’

I can include myself in the latter group. He stresses the importance of recording memories. Not only of the natural world but social history, local customs, and sports. ‘Who knows of the game of fives played against the North Porch?’’ he asks. (Imagine that happening now!)

Druitt urges photographers to record present history by taking photographs around Christchurch ‘whether it be the work of nature or of man.’ x | themudefordmag.co.uk

Fortunately, being picturesque, Christchurch attracts photographers, however, what about the ordinary, the everyday? The CHS archive is always adding items and has a range of books and documents that have, since Druitt’s time, recorded the town’s history. I’m certain Druitt would have loved to see how his legacy has been supplemented. For example, there is an extensive archive donated by the estate of photographer and local historian, Allen White, from early in the 20th century. With demolitions and redevelopments, images of times past are valued not only for research but for families retracing their ancestors’ footsteps. Council minutes, electoral registers, business directories, and newspaper archives are resources that the CHS voluntary archivists can research to answer the queries that come into the North Porch Room.

There is a copy of The Christchurch Miscellany for reference and a copy available for loan in the Druitt Library. Why not pop in and take a look?

Upcoming Talk: 7 November – The Puddle Villages in October – Stuart Judd, producer and director, Country Ways and Coastal Ways Films Details of talks and membership: www.historychristchurch.org

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Short

Story

ELEPHANTS DON`T HAVE RED EYES

by Helena Howton

Emma and Luke were sitting crosslegged on the floor, heads close together, sharing a secret. She giggled and hung her arm about his neck.

Her white, short, flared skirt and T-shirt were boldly striped with black.

Her shoes were white, contrasting with the dark tan on her bare legs; the tan of a foreign holiday.

Luke was in bright colours. Red, blue and green, pushing sparkle into his pale complexion. His chestnut eyes shone from under a thatch of wavy hair, the sort of hair that made you want to ruffle it with your fingers. Emma`s was blonde, straight as a plumb line, down past her shoulders.

Today it hung loose and shimmered in the sunlight. Her eyes were a hot Mediterranean blue, twinkling like the sea.

So where’s Daisy? Thought Bess scratching her head. Luke and Daisy were inseparable, twined like a knot, never letting anyone between. Where was Daisy?

Bess looked around the room that bubbled with the chatter of budding artists, but Daisy’s smiling face, so gently framed with long brown hair was nowhere to be seen. Bess looked back at Emma and Luke who linked arms and xii | themudefordmag.co.uk

stood up unaware she was listening.

“What do you want to do, Emma?”

Luke asked in a serious voice.

She smiled and her gaze darted through the window to the large weeping willow in the garden with a bench underneath it.

“We could go outside when nobody`s looking,” she said quietly.

“Hmm,” he gave a frown. “Not yet.

Let’s paint each other a picture.” He took her hand and led her to the art easels.

They picked up their brushes. Luke stood deep in thought. It was easy to imagine him dressed in a beret tweaking a long, thin moustache between his slender fingers; he had that French impressionist look about him. After a minute he stepped forwards and dragged a long line of blue down his paper, adding yellow and swirling them together creating murky green.

Emma was busy making sweeping curves using red and grey. He stole a glance at her picture; she stole a glance at his.

“Yours looks funny,” she said shaking her hair.

“So does yours,” he answered, dabbing his brush artistically and standing back to admire the result.

There was a knock at the window,

a smiling face, a slam of the door and the thump of heavy footsteps as Daisy came in. She didn’t walk, she ran, absorbing her surroundings, arriving breathless. Luke looked around straight into Daisy`s orange brown eyes.

She couldn’t hide a spark of jealousy and said loudly, “What are you doing, Luke?” as she shoved her hands into the pockets of her blue denims.

His eyes didn`t move. “Just painting,” he said casually. “Why don’t you do one?”

She pulled up an easel and pushed it between Luke and Emma. Reaching out she took the pot of red paint from Emma’s hand. “I need that,” she said.

“No, Daisy,” gasped Bess, stepping forwards, but Daisy pretended not to hear.

“It`s mine,” said Emma making a grab, but Daisy wasn`t going to let go. Then quick as she could and before Emma had chance to stop her, she plucked the grey pot too and exchanged it for her orange one.

“Here you are, Luke,” she said handing the grey pot over, “This one’s for you.”

“Thank you, Daisy,” he replied wielding his brush. With great thought he painted some thick grey lines across his picture.

“Luke,” said Daisy, curiously, as she loaded her brush with red.

“What are you painting?”

He grinned a special grin, the one he kept for Daisy and said, “An animal.

Here, you can have the grey back now.”

She took the pot with a smile and looked intently at his picture tilting her head. “It looks like an elephant,” she said. “I like elephants. I`m going to paint one as well,” and she

made a big red eye on her paper.

Emma looked annoyed, glancing from grey to red, but dabbling in appeasement with orange. Bess knew what was going through her mind.

Suddenly the door opened and there was a mad scramble creating a useful distraction, but Daisy, Luke and Emma stayed behind.

“I`ve finished now,” said Daisy taking a final look at her masterpiece.

“So have I,” said Luke examining her picture as he walked by. “What`s that?” he pointed to the large red dot.

“That`s my elephant`s eye,” replied Daisy.

“I didn`t know elephants had red eyes,” he said.

“Oh, yes they do,” she said authoritatively. “Shall we go now?”

“Okay,” said Luke rubbing his chin then, without giving Emma a second thought, he left with Daisy at his side.

Emma waited until they left the room. First she picked up the pot of red paint, then the grey one, she replaced them in her tray, then she took her brush, loaded it with grey paint and walked deliberately to Daisy`s painting.

“No, Emma,” Bess shook her head.

“But elephants don`t have red eyes,” Emma looked hurt.

“Daisy`s elephants do.”

Emma huffed a sigh, replaced the brush on her easel, patted the grey and red pots with satisfaction and ran outside.

Bess smiled as she unpegged the three paintings and hung them up to dry.

Helping at pre-school was such a delight, a real melting pot of ingredients, all neatly wrapped in innocence, yet clearly giving an insight of things to come.

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Charity of the Year

The link between fundraising and wellbeing As the seasons change, so can our mental wellbeing and it is important to look after and care for it. Fundraising can be a great way to improve your wellbeing both physically and mentally.

Doing something positive for others can also give you a personal boost.

Knowing that your hard work will help so many people can be a great motivation to complete a challenge or hold an event to raise donations for charity. You’ll also feel a real sense of accomplishment for achieving your goals and helping your local community.

The ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ is a proven method to follow for managing mental health in everyday life, and fundraising can be worked into this. The five proven steps are ‘Connect’, ‘Get Active’, ‘Take Notice’, ‘Learn’ and ‘Giving.’

Here’s how the fundraising can be incorporated: Connect: fundraise with a family member, friend or a colleague. This can help you raise more money, keep you accountable – and you’ll have more fun along the way.

Get active: why not take part in an organized challenge? Dorset Mind offers a variety of challenges to suit all abilities – from walking, jogging or running in the Ultra Challenges to the wheelchair category and 1km category for children in the Bournemouth Bay Run. xiv | themudefordmag.co.uk

Take notice: whatever you’re training for, from a skydive to a challenge, notice your surroundings and how you feel whilst you’re doing it. You should find your wellbeing improves.

Learn: fundraising is a skill and whilst you’re setting up your event or challenge, you’ll learn how to do it. We can fully support you during your journey and help you with fundraising ideas.

Give back: if you fundraise for us, you’re helping us make a life-changing difference to local people’s mental health, so thank you.

Dorset Mind has some exciting events coming up next year. We are challenge partners for the Jurassic Coast Challenge and the Bournemouth Bay Run in 2024, which provide active ways to fundraise for Dorset Mind.

However, if that is not for you, head to our website – dorsetmind.uk – and see what other ways you can #JoinOurMovement!

There’s more about the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ here: https:// bit.ly/5WaystoWellbeing Find out about upcoming fundraising opportunities here: https://bit.ly/DMFundraise4Us

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Hunstanton Lighthouse So as we progress southwards down the east coast on our lighthouse tour of England and Wales we now come to the Wash, which is a large rectangular estuary.

Ships needed to enter the Wash to transit via the Lynn Deeps to reach the estuary of the River Nene and then to travel to the ports of Sutton Bridge and Wisbech.

To help mariners find the safe entrance to the Wash at night, a light at Hunstanton was initially provided by the lights in St Edmunds Chapel and, then later in 1663, merchants and ship-owners of Boston and Lynn sought permission to erect a light or lights at St Edmund’s Point. In November 1663, a warrant was issued by Charles II to John Knight, permitting him to build a light or lights upon Hunston-Cliffe or Chappel lands and to maintain them by levying dues on passing ships.

The first lights were a pair of stone towers, which functioned as leading lights. These towers were completed in 1665 at a cost of over £200. The front light of the pair was candlelit but the rear light had a coal brazier.

Mariners reported that the lights were of a great benefit.

In 1710, it was reported that the lighthouses were decayed and in want of repair. In that same year, John Knight’s niece and her husband, James Everard, were granted the right to collect the lighthouse dues for the period of the next 50 years. Substantial repairs were then undertaken. In 1750, the front light was taken out of commission but remained xviii | themudefordmag.co.uk

standing as a day mark until 1794. In 1776 the rear light was destroyed by fire. It was however replaced by a wooden structure 33ft high with a base diameter 11ft (3.4m) and tapering to 8ft (2.4m) at the top. The light was then 85ft (26m) above mean sea level. The lantern room was square shaped, glazed to seaward and contained an innovative lighting array of parabolic reflectors and oil lamps.

In 1788, James Everard sold his patent to Samuel Lane, the Collector of Customs at the port of Lynn. However, 40 years later, Hunstanton remained one of the last five lighthouses to be remaining in private hands. Legislation in 1836 empowered the Corporation of Trinity House to purchase the Hunstanton lighthouse. Work commenced promptly on replacing the lighthouse with a new tower designed by James Walker and built by William Candler of Lynn. The new light was first lit on 3 September 1840.

The new light was a cylindrical brick tower, painted white and 63ft (19m) high so the elevation of the light was 109ft (33m) above mean sea level. It was lit by a three-wick

oil lamp and, together with a Second Order catadioptric lens designed by J Cookson & Co, gave it a range of 16 nautical miles. In 1844, a red sector was introduced to indicate the location of the Roaring Middle Shoal. In 1883 the light was altered to display as a group occulting light where the light was eclipsed twice for two seconds every 30 seconds.

Sadly, the light was decommissioned in 1921 and the keepers left for the last time. To compensate for the loss of this light, improvements were made to the light on the Inner Dowsing Lightvessel.

Keith Morton Association of Lighthouse Keepers

alkhurst@gmail.com

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CHOG offers some fabulous free walks and talks for members.

Non-members are very welcome at a minimal cost of £2.

If you would like to come along, please contact Richard. cordery.rc@gmail.com More information about the walks and joining CHOG is available on the website CHOG.org.uk OUTDOOR MEETINGS Saturday 18 November 9am-midday Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes – walking along the sea wall to the lagoons looking for waders, ducks and wildfowl along the Solent. Meet at the Keyhaven Long Stay Car Park opposite The Gun Inn, near the toilet block. Car park payment by card, cash or RingGo App. There is some limited free car parking along the road.

RingGo location 2588. Parking is £4 for 4 hours, which should be plenty of time as the aim is to get back to the car park by noon.

Grid Reference Finder SZ 306915 what3words kinds.optimists.devalued Shown as “Keyhaven Amenity Car Park” on GoogleMaps Saturday 16 December 9am-midday Hengistbury Head – meet opposite the Visitor Centre on the rise overlooking the Harbour.

Grid Reference Finder SZ166911 Parking at Hengistbury Head Car Park (charges apply) or free parking at the Solent Meads Golf Course in the first 2 rows nearest the road.

There will be a pause for a refreshment break during the walk so please feel free to bring some seasonal nibbles and drinks.

INDOOR MEETINGS Each meeting will take place from 7.30pm9pm at St Nicholas’ Church Hall, The Broadway, Hengistbury Head, BH6 4EP. Entry is free for CHOG members and £2 for non-members. Refreshments will be available at each meeting (50p). xx | themudefordmag.co.uk

Wednesday, 8 November The Insects found in the Christchurch Harbour Area – Robin Harley. Robin, who is the countryside officer for conservation at BCP Council, will talk about the abundant insects including butterflies, dragonflies and moths that can be found in and around Christchurch Harbour and Stanpit Marsh. The talk will be illustrated with photographs taken locally by himself and other local photographers.

Wednesday, 13 December The Return of Breeding Ospreys to Poole Harbour – Brittany Maxted. The charity, Birds of Poole Harbour, initiated a project with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to return the osprey to Poole Harbour in 2017.

In 2022 a pair raised two chicks for the first time in 180 years. In 2023 three chicks have been raised. Brittany Maxted runs the osprey project for the charity and oversees the reintroduction team. This will be a really exciting talk with lots of recent developments.

Wednesday, 10 January The Birds and Wildlife of the New Forest – Marcus Ward. Marcus, an experienced speaker from Wild New Forest, will give a fully illustrated talk about the birds and wildlife of the New Forest. The talk will also include an overview of their current projects and topical New Forest conservation issues.

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Puzzle

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solutions

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Baby Teeth: are they important?

Dr Ella Aslani DDS Stockholm Copper Beech Clinic, Christchurch Parenting is a series of memorable milestones, including teething. When baby’s smile transitions from toothless to tooth-filled it is time to consider ways of keeping these teeth healthy.

Babies have a full set of primary teeth embedded in their jaws when they are born.

The first baby teeth normally arrive between six months to one year. The two lower front teeth are first ones to arrive followed by the two top front teeth. The adjacent teeth usually come afterwards. The first molars erupt followed by canines and finally the last molars. This will make the total count 20.

Baby teeth fulfill several crucial roles in the child’s development, including helping the baby chew, smile and speak.

Baby teeth are holding spaces in the jaw for the permanent teeth that are growing beneath the gums. If a primary tooth gets accidentally knocked out or removed due to tooth decay, it cannot longer preserve the space for an adult tooth. This issue can lead to shifting of teeth or crowding in the child’s permanent teeth causing the child to have braces later.

Steps for keeping your child’s teeth healthy

Differences between adult and baby teeth • A full set of baby teeth totals 20 teeth, whereas adults have 32 permanent teeth.

• Tooth enamel is the protective layer of the teeth. Baby teeth have a thinner enamel. This makes baby teeth more prone to tooth decay.

• They are naturally whiter than adult teeth.

• Baby teeth are softer which makes them susceptible to wear from grinding or acidic foods.

• Tooth decay is the most common chronic health problem seen in children. 23% of all kids will get cavities before their fifth birthday.

• Decayed baby teeth may need to be taken out by the dentist, which can be a painful and frightening experience.

• A bright, shining smile gives a child confidence too — an essential part of making friends, getting along in school and enjoying life.

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NO bottles in bed. Putting your child to sleep with a bottle allows the sugars found in formula and breast milk to linger on teeth causing tooth decay (baby bottle tooth decay).

Handle pacifiers, spoons and cups with care. Bacteria that cause tooth decay can easily move from mouth to mouth. Avoid putting a pacifier in your mouth and then giving it to your child, or tasting your baby’s food before offering them a bite from the same spoon.

Cleanse little mouths after each meal. Develop a healthy routine of brushing baby’s teeth with small amount of fluoride toothpaste twice per day as soon as the first teeth have erupted.

Introduce a cup around your child’s first birthday. Milk, breast milk and formula can be given at mealtimes, but fill your child’s cup with plain water in between.

Skip sugary drinks Fruit juice, squash and sweetened drinks aren’t good for a little one’s teeth. In fact, juice for babies under 12 months is not recommended. After that, limit juices and mix them with water (half-water, half-juice is best).

Limit sticky fruits and treats. Sticky foods that promote tooth decay include raisins and other dried fruits, snack bars with honey or molasses.

Try to limit these foods in your child’s diet.

Make water the family drink of choice. Regular tap water, which usually contains fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel, is the healthiest drink for your child’s teeth.

Making cavity prevention a family priority. Kids learn from the adults around them. That’s why parents should take excellent care of their own teeth.

Baby teeth start shedding at six to seven years of age and continue until 13. At this age most children have transitioned to adult teeth.

At Copper Beech clinic we are keen to see young children from the age of one on a regular basis.

We could provide appropriate advice to parents and spot potential risk factors/problems early avoiding traumatic experience for young children in a dental setting. This will allow children to grow up with healthy teeth for their entire life.

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STUNNING FRONT GARDENS Give your front garden an exciting new look and break up any large expanses of gravel by creating an eye-catching feature comprising of vertical sleepers, drifts of pebbles and a carefully selected range of plants.

Plant selection is important especially if watering and maintenance is an issue so go for tough, drought resistant plants. For structural evergreen plants you could go for Abelia, ceanothus, pittosporum or Nandina Domestica.

Whilst lavender and Perovskia look good for summer flowers and sedum for an autumn splash.

If you are looking for some design inspiration to create an exciting new garden then contact Colin T: 01425 655038 M: 07925 166767 W: www.ckgardendesign.co.uk xxvi | themudefordmag.co.uk

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- advertisement feature -

Explore Canada and Alaska by rail and sea with

Regent and Rocky Mountaineer The Regent and Rocky Mountaineer® Experience is something very special indeed – a rare occasion to discover the spectacular beauty of Canada and Alaska by both rail and sea.

Calgary | Calgary to Banff | Banff | Banff to Kamloops | Kamloops to Vancouver | Vancouver Boarding of Alaskan cruise | Cruising the Inside Passage | Ketchikan | Juneau | Skagway | Icy Strait (Hoonah) | Cruising the Hubbard Glacier | Seward You’ll start your journey of a lifetime with a six-night pre-cruise land programme aboard the world-renowned Rocky Mountaineer® rail experience, journeying through the iconic Canadian Rockies with their lush forests, tundra and turquoise lakes.

From there, you’ll join the crew of the Explorer® and set sail through a striking glacial region with mountain peaks, evergreen hillsides and dramatic shorelines. Seven Seas’ Included & Unlimited Shore Excursions will ensure you have full immersion in the local landscapes and culture.

In between the train and the ship, you’ll get the chance to see the sights in Vancouver and North Shore, including vibrant Chinatown, historic Gastown, Granville Island, Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

This is a truly amazing trip, for which availability is limited, so secure your suite today. xxviii | themudefordmag.co.uk

What’s included in the 6-night Pre-Cruise Package?

• One night in Calgary at the Fairmont Pallier, or similar, on a B&B basis • A sightseeing tour to Banff, including Banff Gondola tickets • Two nights at the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, or similar, on a B&B basis • A sightseeing tour of Yoho National Park, including lunch • Two days’ GoldLeaf Service® aboard the Rocky Mountaineer®, with breakfast, lunch and drinks included • A night in Kamloops Hotel by Rocky Mountaineer® • Two nights at the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver, or similar, on a B&B basis • A tour of Vancouver and North Shore including Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge • All transfers where applicable • Luggage-handling where available •

Some meals during your trip

The Rocky Mountaineer® rail journey takes in breath-taking sites including the legendary Spiral Tunnels, the Continental Divide and awe-inspiring mountain passes and canyons, which you can soak up from your two-level glass-domed carriage, along with five-star dining.

The journey is available from May to September, with the latter month offering the breath-taking sight of the forests and the mountains being transformed by their autumn colours and even the first snow of the season.

Your Alaskan Cruise This part of your holiday starts with a journey through the Inside Passage — a series of waterways that meander through some of the world’s most stunning natural landscapes. Your first ports of call are charming Ketchikan, with its lively Alaska Native culture and delicious seafood, and Juneau, known for the Mendenhall Glacier and for humpback whales, orcas, bears and more.

Next up is Skagway, where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Klondike Gold Rush era and ride the historic narrowgauge White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, taking in views of Bridal Veil Falls and the peaks of Inspiration Point. In Icy Strait you can ride a gondola up Hoonah Mountain and venture deep into the remote Spasski River Valley to look for grizzly bears.

Cruising Hubbard Glacier, watch shards of shimmering blue ice crack before your eyes before concluding your cruise in the lovely harbour of Seward with its brightly painted wood-framed houses and soaring cliffs looming over Resurrection Bay. I have cruised several times with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, if you would like to know more or make a booking, please contact me.

SALLY PULLEN TRAVEL COUNSELLOR T 01202 375150 M 07929626156 E sally.pullen@travelcounsellors.com W www.travelcounsellors.com/sally.pullen themudefordmag.co.uk | xxix

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UPCOMING EVENTS

LIVE ON STAGE ELO Again Thu 2 Nov: 19:30 ELO AGAIN are back with their stunning ‘Re-Discovery Tour’, celebrating the truly universal music of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra.

RHYTHM OF THE DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Sun 5 Nov: 19:30 Join us on this festive journey and let the magic of Christmas begin with all your favourite festive songs being performed live by world class musicians, star vocalists and world champion dancers.

SWING UNLIMITED: WE’LL MEET AGAIN Sun 12 Nov: 19:30 We’ll Meet Again commemorates Remembrance with a very special concert at the Regent by the fabulous 17-piece Swing Unlimited Big Band.

HELLO AGAIN: THE NEIL DIAMOND SONGBOOK Thu 16 Nov: 19:30 Using evocative imagery, video and narration to enhance the magic, this acclaimed production will take you on a musical journey through Neil Diamond’s glittering 50-year career.

MAGICAL MOZART BY CANDLELIGHT Fri 17 Nov: 19:30 With beautiful settings, costumes, lighting and of course candles, the European baroque ensemble and world-class opera singers transport you back to the past.

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THE REGENT HIGH ST, CHRISTCHURCH (01202) 499199 www.theregent.co.uk

CINEMA HIGHLIGHTS THE GREAT ESCAPER 27 Oct – 15 Nov Michael Caine stars as Bernard Jordan as he escapes from his care home to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France.

DALILAND (15) 3 – 6 Nov In 1973, a young gallery assistant goes on a wild adventure behind the scenes as he helps the aging genius Salvador Dali (Ben Kingsley) prepare for a big show in New York.

THE MIRACLE CLUB (12A) 3 – 15 Nov Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney star as three women from Ballygar who have just one dream to taste freedom: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes.

THE OLD OAK (15) 10 – 15 Nov New film from Ken Loach. When a group of Syrian refugees move into a ex-mining village in Northeast England, tensions are high and the future of the village, and it’s last remaining pub, are in doubt.

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON 19 – 23 Nov Based on the best-selling book, Martin Scorsese’s new film is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror..

To see our upcoming film titles, please visit our website www.theregent.co.uk or pick up a film list in-person on your next visit.

All information is correct at the time of publication.

Please see our website for the latest information www.theregent.co.uk

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Book Reviews

The Goodbye Cat: Uplifting Tales of Wise Cats and Their Humans

by Hiro Arikawa Paperback £10.99 Published 12 October From the million-copy bestselling author of The Travelling Cat Chronicles come seven new tales of feline companionship. A needy kitten rescued from the recycling bin teaches a new father how to parent his own human baby; an elderly cat hatches a plan to pass into the next world as a spirit so that he and his owner may be together forever; a colony of wild cats on a holiday island shows a young boy not to stand in nature’s way; a family is perplexed by their cat’s devotion to their charismatic but uncaring father; a woman curses how her cat constantly visits her at night.

Bursting with empathy and love, The Goodbye Cat explores the unstoppable cycle of life as we see how the steadiness and devotion of a well-loved cat never lets us down.

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’s Christmas Shenanigans An Italian Christmas: Festive Tales for La Dolce Vita Hardback £12.99 Published 5th October Buon Natale! These literary treats are filled with ancient churches, trains whistling through the countryside, steaming tureens, plates piled high with pasta, High Mass, dashed hopes, golden crucifixes, flowing wine, shimmering gifts and plenty of style. In this collection, classic works

by Boccaccio and Pirandello intertwine with more recent stories from writers like Anna Maria Ortese, Natalia Ginzburg and Nobel laureate Grazia Deledda to bring together the greatest festive tales from the land of enchantment.

Bursting with family chaos, carols and yuletide cheer, An Italian Christmas showcases stories that put the passionate, fiery side of the festive period back into Christmas.

by Alex T Smith Hardback £15.99 (our price £12.99) Published 5 October From the bestselling author of other festive favourites, comes a retelling of children’s Christmas classic The Nutcracker – a Christmas Story. The Mouse King is up to sneaky shenanigans. The night before Christmas, he steals the key to the Kingdom of Sweets and sets out to cause mayhem.

Clara and Fritz Strudel, and their new friend the Nutcracker, are the only ones who can stop him. But when a magical curse is put on Fritz, it’s a race against time to make it to the Kingdom of Sweets and find the Sugar Plum Fairy, the only one who can break the spell. Can the adventurers stop the Mouse King’s naughty plan and save Fritz, before it’s too late? With colour illustrations and a festively foiled cover, this is the perfect gift for any child at Christmas.

Why not pop into the shop to have a browse, pick up a Christmas Books catalogue and see lots of great Christmas present ideas for adults and children, as well as jigsaws, cards, advent calendars and gifts? Or you can contact 01202 418403, email sales@bh6booksandhome.co.uk or visit social media @bh6booksandhome to place orders and discover all that is on to offer at BH6 Books and Home, 69 Southbourne Grove, BH6 3QU. themudefordmag.co.uk | 53

10 years of Jess the vet!

In a world where vets are leaving the profession at a rate of knots, I never expected that I would still be in my first job 10 years later. In that time...

• We shrank our clients! When I started at Priory, we still treated horses and farm animals and while I enjoyed roaming around the forest, I was not disappointed when Priory decided to concentrate on small animals as it meant I could focus on cardiology.

• We went high tech! A massive influence on the way we work now is the technology and equipment. At my interview, I remember asking if Priory had an ultrasound machine, as if the answer might be no!

Now it is routine. We have two, and a whole range of equipment including digital x-ray, endoscopes and a laparoscopic kit for keyhole surgery.

• We became great GP vets! When I qualified there was a heavy emphasis on specialist training but I quickly decided that referral practice was not for me. I enjoy the relationships I have with my clients, seeing and supporting them and their pets through their lives. I gained a certificate in small animal cardiology in 2017 and became an advanced practitioner in 2018. Being able to offer heart murmur and arrhythmia investigations “in-house” has improved the welfare for these pets who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to this care. We have several members in our team with further qualifications in specialist areas including ophthalmology, dermatology, surgical, emergency and critical care and dentistry.

lives. We suddenly had to find a whole new way of working to keep our staff and clients safe while treating patients. Screens went up, hand-gel and face-masks became a daily accessory and clients were asked to wait outside. Going down to one vet and one nurse each day, seeing emergencies only and working through hundreds of medication requests seems like a distant nightmare now but we survived, thanks to the dedication of our team and the understanding of our clients.

• Covid left the UK with 3.2 million more pets and a shortage of veterinary staff. Fortunately, Priory managed to expand our team as well as adding a consult room at Highcliffe!

We’ve been able to offer support to clients with their first pet with puppy life-skills and confidence clinics run by one of our RVNs. • What a decade! As you can see, there have been a lot of developments that have allowed Priory Vet Group to adapt to the changes within the profession and stay at the forefront of first opinion veterinary care. However, the things that make me proudest to work at Priory are the things that haven’t changed so much - the supportive team, our lovely clients who trust us with their pets, and our independent status which enables us to practice with the traditional values that made me want to be a vet in the first place!

• Our nurses got even better! 10 years ago, veterinary nurses at Priory were mainly involved with performing anaesthetics and looking after inpatients but were rarely seen outside of the prep room. Over the years, our nursing team and their role has grown considerably. You may also meet them in consults, offering dedicated clinics on weight, nutrition, behaviour, diabetes, cardiology, dentistry and geriatric conditions as well as helping with vaccinations and post-op checks.

• We survived a pandemic! When Boris told us all to stay at home to save lives, it wasn’t just human

01202 484466 | office@prioryvetgroup.com | www.prioryvetgroup.com Priory Vet Group, 59 Purewell, Christchurch, Dorset. BH23 1EN 54 | themudefordmag.co.uk

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The Women’s Institute (WI) The Women’s Institute is an organisation boasting over 200,000 women members. It has long since shed the persona of “Jam and Jerusalem”. There are many courses available nationwide and locally in the various counties to take advantage of.

Many members are campaigners on items of national interest and can be a force to be reckoned with.

The WI Groups vary in size according to their areas, some in small villages and others in large towns, yet all with the same ethos: friendship for women and support for everyone, looking after each other and enjoying many and varied activities.

My own WI is a small group taking place in the afternoon at the Bransgore Village Hall, meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. We enjoy tea/coffee out, have outings each month, a book club, walks etc. Why not come along and meet us you will not regret it and we will make you very welcome?

June Richards, Thorney Hill & Bransgore WI Tel 01425 672183/Margaret Greenhaugh 01425 673762

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Holmsley South Airfield

To the North East of Bransgore you will find three campsites; havens of peace and tranquility for hundreds of holidaymakers each year.

However, just over 80 years ago, an airfield was being quickly built here to accommodate RAF Coastal Command Wellingtons of 547 Sqdn and USAAF 8th Airforce Liberator aircraft to patrol the Eastern Atlantic, protecting convoys bound for the UK. This role was subsequently taken over by 58 and 502 Sqdns of the RAF. The airfield consisted of three converging runways between 4,100 and 5,910 feet long. Remnants of these runways can still be found on the Caravan and Motorhome Club and Holmsley Campsites.

Early in 1943, the airfield was also used by Halifaxes of 295 Sqdn and Horsa gliders of

the Glider Pilot Regiment, who practised long-distance towing in preparation for towing 30 Horsas 1,300 miles to North Africa in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.

Coastal Command vacated the airfield in January 1944 to make room for 2nd Tactical Airforce fighter squadrons. In March RCAF Spitfires arrived, then in April No 121 Wing RAF with rocket-equipped Typhoons took over. The aircraft of 174, 175 and 245 squadrons were then employed in attacks on targets in Northern France ahead of D-day. Joining them for a short period were intruder Mosquitos of 418 Sqdn RCAF. Following D-day, the Typhoons moved to France.

They were replaced by 129 Sqdn and Polish 306 and 315 Sqdns, flying Mustang fighters.

However, they were quickly redeployed to Kent to intercept

V1 flying bombs and were replaced by Marauder bombers of the 9th USAAF who flew missions over France before moving there themselves.

Finally, in the autumn of 1944 it became a Transport Command base housing 167 and 246 Sqdns who were flying Warwick, Liberator, York, Halifax and Skymaster aircraft ferrying troops and freight to Europe, the Middle East and Far East destinations.

Flying ceased in 1946 and the site’s communal buildings were converted by Christchurch Town Council into desperately needed temporary accommodation for residents. Some metal-skinned Nissen huts were also used for housing and the area became known as ‘Tintown’, with the last residents leaving in 1960.

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Wow! Red Arrows from Bournemouth clifftop

by Steve Hogan (Sony mirrorless camera, 400mm lens). © southcoastphotography60

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