THINGS

Editor photograph by TBM

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate on the present moment.” This Buddhist mantra has infiltrated our psyche this month. Take livestreaming, a term now on everyone’s lips because it has given us a new form of learning and entertainment in real time. But it is actually any good and is it here to stay? Millie Bruce-Watt poses the questions to Lindsay Barker and Luke John Emmett on page 22.

Experiencing the moment is also a good perspective on foraging – finding berries in the hedgerow and mushrooms in a woodland is engrossing and grounding. And yet foraging also takes us back to our ancestors to whom the natural rhythms of the countryside were a way of life. Simon Horsford questions Rob Gould on page 38 about his foraging activities and how many rewards this has for children, so many of whom have now lost contact with the natural environment.

Eating an egg, especially if it’s just been boiled, is another in-the-present joy. And not only do we have three recipes with eggs for you, including hot cross buns, but we have a long line of eggs to keep Easter in your hearts, from the mammoth ostrich egg to the olivesized quail egg, and in the middle the Burford Brown with its more accessible size and its dense golden yolk, all courtesy of Clarence Court – see page 32.

Here I break the mantra of not dwelling in the past. And that’s because we have a very soft spot for it. Millie Bruce-Watt has proved this firmly with her research on Pulteney Bridge on page 50. This iconic bridge is one of the most photographed architectural features in Bath, and she finds out just how it came about and who was involved, including architect John Adam, who in fact came to the (Pulteney) bridge party quite late.

Resolutely continuing to dwell in the past, Gerie Herbert puts Shakespeare on trial on page 26. Not everyone loves the Bard, you see, but it’s a hard thing to admit to. Gerie, however, suggests there’s always a way to make Shakespeare talk to you, and reading his sonnets from end to end is not necessarily one of them.

Mick Ringham also joins us this month and he’s looking back too, on page 28, at the Pavilion and its rock performers in the roaring sixties and seventies when he used to play cards with the Bee Gees and chat to Robert Plant before Led Zeppelin was a thing.

Melissa Blease also talks to Ben Mortimer of food wholesaler Lovejoys on page 36 about managing their business in lockdown and looking to the future. And we get very chilled on page 68 as we recommend living in the moment and making sure our interiors make us very comfortable there.

We are also unapologetically dreaming of the future this month, one where you can browse in shops, where restaurants are open, festivals happen, and when we can enjoy holidays again –and on the latter, why not start with exploring the lakes of the south west and Burgh Island (see pages 42 and 44)? Have faith, it’s all to come.

Emma Clegg Editor

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

“With only four of its kind in the world, Pulteney Bridge sits in fine company with Florence’s Ponte Vecchio, Venice’s Rialto Bridge and Erfurt’s Krämerbrücke in Germany”

SEE OUR PULTENEY BRIDGE FEATURE ON PAGE 50

HAPPY SYLVANIAN FAMILIES

Clearly weddings are back. Bath photographer Joe Short has released photographs of an exclusive wedding that happened recently in his back garden. Tabitha and Jonathan were married surrounded by crowds of friends and family. It was all possible because the happy couple were not humans but members of the Sylvanian Families franchise. Joe, who captured private photographs of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018, was commissioned by his nine-year-old daughter Juno. He spent the wedding day lying in the garden, working out how to get the best angles of the couple. The reception was in a grand (miniature) marquee and the first dance

was to The Time of My Life from the film Dirty Dancing. See page 13 for our

interview with Joe.

joeshortweddingphotography.com

5

things to do this April

TOAST Renewal is launching on 26 April

Repair

British lifestyle brand TOAST will be launching an in-store repair service from 26 April called TOAST Renewal. TOAST honours the importance of timeless design using quality, long-lasting materials in a conscious approach to increase the longevity of their garments and reduce waste. This free repair service gives customers access to in-house repair experts across the UK. Customers can bring any TOAST garment into store for repair, regardless of when or where they bought it. www.toa.st

The Easter Bunny trail is running from 2–5 April

Hunt

This Easter, the American Museum & Gardens is offering a free Easter Bunny trail with chocolatey treats. From Good Friday to Easter Monday you’ll be able to follow poems and clues that will take you on an exploration throughout the museum’s spectacular grounds to see if you can spot an Easter Bunny hiding, playing, sunbathing, or even swimming.

All trail adventurers will receive a free chocolate bunny, or an allergen friendly alternative. Takeaway lunches, drinks and chocolate-dipped shortbread chicks and bunnies, as well as Easter biscuits will be available from the Garden Café.

Dogs on leads are welcome. There are social distancing markers in place and hand sanitiser stations are located throughout the grounds.

Opening times are 10am–5pm each day. Normal admission applies, and under 5's go free. americanmuseum.org

Explore

After a 12-month delay, The Urban Garden will finally open its gates to the public at 9.30am on 2 April on the Bath & North East Somerset Council nursery site in Royal the Urban Garden Victoria Park. Selling high-quality plants opens on 2 April and innovative garden products, such as Bag for Life compost and serve-yourself bird seed, the new garden centre is attempting to lead the way on reducing single-use plastics, while helping to address mental health issues.

There is growing evidence that gardening and horticulture are powerful ways to improve your health and wellbeing and as a social enterprise, the project already offers a free City and Guilds training programme for people with mental health issues and other life challenges. The Urban Garden works in collaboration with Bath charity, Grow for Life, and B&NES. theurbangarden.org.uk

Admire

Martin Elphick’s exhibition at 44AD Gallery contrasts a selection of pre-Covid bronzes and other vibrant sculptures, designed to impress the viewer, with a roomful of small clay objects fired in a humble garden incinerator during the lockdown. His work is always varied but this exhibition changes mood radically, becoming more restrained and contemplative with his adaptation of traditional methods and materials. The book of the show details the background to each development, including the workings of the artistic brain. Topical, and interesting on many levels. Ambition and the Transitional Objects runs from 17–28 April at 44AD gallery. Private view appointments available from 17–21 April. 44AD.net Ambition and the Transitional Objects runs from 17–28 April

Enjoy

Innox Market, the monthly street market held at Innox Mills, Trowbridge, will return on 18 April from 10am–4pm, offering a mix of artisan products, street food, local produce and vintage clothing. Organised by the Innox Mills site owners in partnership with The Anonymous Travelling Market, the events will be held in the historic buildings at Innox Mills, where visitors will be entertained by live music while they browse the stalls. This includes the Grade II-listed Innox Mills building, the former dye house, brewery and cloth factory along the riverside, which date back to the 19th century. Social distancing measures will be in place to protect visitors and stallholders, including a one-way system. innoxmills.co.uk ■

The cityist

THE BUZZ THE BUZZ

HIGH STREET MAKEOVER

An exciting project to breathe new life into vacant shops and buildings in high streets across Bath and North East Somerset has been awarded £500,000 from the West of England Combined Authority’s Recovery Fund.

The Vacant Units Action Project will see empty properties in Bath used for creative projects and pop-up businesses, with satellite projects in Keynsham and Midsomer Norton to follow across a two-year programme.

The council is also set to refresh Milsom Street in Bath ahead of the reopening of non-essential shops and the reintroduction of outdoor dining on 12 April. newsroom.bathnes.gov.uk

RED LORRY, YELLOW LOLLY

This new exhibition by Bath local Andy Goodman is characterised by a series of graphic prints. Using fine line and bright colours, each print is underpinned by everyday phrases and language and has a general tone of lightheartedness. The work includes a series called Bristol Faces where Andy has used a selection of the region’s familiar buildings as a graphic image of a recognisable face.

Andy has always been inspired by the west country, and since moving to Bath has become increasingly inspired and focused on his work through proximity to the countryside.

The Red Lorry, Yellow Lolly exhibition is in the main atrium of Bristol’s Southmead Hospital, and limited edition prints are available from Andy’s website. fivebargatestore.myshopify.com

My BATH

Bath resident Pearl Parkin, who is eight, set herself the challenge of dressing up as a different famous character every day during homelearning to raise funds for Save the Children. Each outfit was crafted from materials found around Pearl’s home. Pearl wanted to raise £1,000 in time for her return to school at the beginning of March. Incredibly, her total currently exceeds £8,000...

Where did the dressing up idea come from?

The idea started when I decided to dress up one morning as a French girl, and then the next morning as an explorer. It was really fun and my family enjoyed seeing the photos on Facebook so we decided to dress up every day as a way to raise money. I really wanted to raise money for other children so that’s why I chose the charity, Save the Children.

How did you decide who to dress up as?

My family helped me decide who to dress up as everymorning –we would think about our favourite films, artists and pop stars.

Was it really hard creating a new outfit each day?

It was always very crazy but always fun. My brotherwould help me make all the costumes and my mum would help with the hair and make-up.

Which outfits were your favourites?

I really loved dressing up as Lady Gaga, Anne-Marie and Billie Eilish the most as they’re my favourite pop stars.

Which of your characters do you most admire?

I really love Little Mix and Anne-Marie, but I also admire women like Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks and Greta Thunberg who did amazing things.

What are you most looking forward to doing when we’re out of lockdown?

I can’t wait to go to Creams Café and Claires Accessories when everything starts to reopen in Bath.

What favourite places in Bath are you missing?

In normal times, I really like to visit the Fashion Museum and Victoria Park skate park.

What are your favourite subjects at school?

I really like maths and reading at school and I’d like to be a vet, a scientist or a pop star when I grow up.

How did you find learning virtually from home?

My dad has been a great teacher at home and it’s been really fun –and I’ve really enjoyed dressing up! ■

justgiving.com/fundraising/pearl-dressing-up; instagram.com/pearldressingup

Pearl as Lady Gaga