On Our Doorstep February 2022

Issue 88 February 2022

Date Night - Doug Hyde Framed £625

Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally

Visit your award winning gallery here in Baldock! www.gallery1066fineart.com

01462 896 164 6a Hitchin St Baldock SG7 6AE

Welcome Congratulations to those who have managed to stick to dry Jan and/or your New Years resolutions! There's certainly a few more joggers around the town and gyms are feeling busier again so it looks like the classic new year fitness motivation has kicked in. We're expecting to see lots of new faces at this year's Baldock Beast on 27th Feb. If you are taking part or going along to watch and support be sure to share your snaps with us to feature in our Gallery page in a future issue.

After a rather mild new year weekend, the weather has definitely started to take a chilly turn. Pleasantly the mornings are starting to get lighter, which is a welcome relief for all the early risers. The first post-5pm sunset is coming in the first week of Feb, after that the sun won't set before 5pm until almost November. Brighter days are coming!

January has definitely been a quieter month for most, with lots of Covid restrictions still in place. Our household headlines this month have included our youngest sitting her mock GCSE exams in preparation for the real thing this summer. I can confirm that the revision stress is contagious! Stay strong year 11 parents. A nice distraction was our granddaughter's first sleepover which led to a rather early start for us, thanks to some very cute cooing and raspberry blowing in the early hours of the morning.

Over the next few months more events will be popping up in town with the May festival kicking off the summer season, followed by the fabulous Big Lunch!

Hayley from Gallery 1066 supplied this month's front cover, a gorgeous Doug Hyde piece titled ‘Date Night’. Perfect timing for any romantics celebrating Valentine's Day. If you fancy treating the special one in your life, pop into the gallery and see the team, they have some beautiful pieces on display.

Paul & Jacqui info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or 07973 788418

Disclaimer All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however On Our Doorstep Baldock cannot take any responsibility for the content of adverts or services provided by the advertisers.

Reproduction on whole or in part of this publication without prior permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.

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Have you lost your job or want to change the direc on of your career because of Covid-19?

Start-up grants are available Baldock Futures Fund has developed a rela onship with the Stephen Boddey Start Up Fund. This fund is named a er the Architect Stephen Boddey who worked across the North Her ordshire area and died in 2020. The fund will help people start up their own business in Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin and Royston

and surrounding villages. The Hon Chair of the Baldock Futures Fund will sit on the grant decision making panel of the Stephen Boddey Start Up Fund for applica ons made by residents of Baldock, Ashwell , Bygrave, Clothall Village, Newnham, Hinxworth and Radwell.

Suppor ng people to set up their own business helps not only the individual and their family, but the town or village they live in. We know that local businesses

support chari es, sports and social clubs that thrive in the area and makes for a caring and pleasant place to live.

Neither the Baldock Futures Fund nor the Stephen Boddey Start Up Fund are affiliated to any poli cal party and work with all elected representa ves in the area to support local residents. Baldock's County Councillor Michael Muir has now donated £5000 to the Baldock Futures Fund, ring fenced for residents suffering as a result of Covid 19.

For further informa on contact Vivienne Reed (Hon Chair ) Baldock Futures Fund – Baldockcs0@gmail.com contact 07815308124.

Anthony Bidder (Founder)Stephen Boddey Stup Up Fund sbsf@adelphifund.co.uk

Friends of Baldock Green Spaces The Countryside & Rights of Way Service, North Herts Council and local volunteers have been extremely busy down at Ivel Springs.

Come and Se e our New F abric collec tions

The old mber board walk/bridge had ro ed away and had become unsafe. The team have built a new super strong framework from recycled plas c and decked with mber.

Fantas c use of materials.

Advertising from £20 per Issue info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally

www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk villages Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding

FEBRUARY

Raising awaren of what’s ess on & where to find things locally

of what’s on & where to find things locally

Issue 74 December 2020

www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk

Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and

2022

surrounding villages

5

Baldock Events Forum

Christmas seems so far away and we are now full steam into 2022; another year for Baldock to make the most of and demonstrate the wonderful sense of community that exists in this town of ours. Baldock truly is the small town with a big heart! I thought that as you se le into your February cornflakes (or whatever you do while you're reading our great magazine, On Our Doorstep) it would be good to reflect on Christmas past and what 2022 holds for us. There is much to look forward to!

We es mate that around 3,000 people a ended the Christmas Fayre over the two days, for a feast of Christmas fun.

Grateful thanks are due to Tara Geere and her team of fellow organisers, Katy & Stuart Ma hews and Alistair Willoughby, as well as the rest of our wonderful volunteers who put in a great deal of work for the people of Baldock.

Mark the dates of this year's BEF Christmas Fayre in your diaries – 2/3 December 2022; it's going to be be er than ever!

ALLSHEDS Ltd Timber buildings of Letchworth ANY SIZE TIMBER BUILDING MADE TO ORDER

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Next up we have the BEF Baldock Beast on 27th February 2022.

Well, the last two 'Beasts' were seriously affected by the weather; nevertheless, wind, rain and low temperatures failed to dissuade hundreds of enthusias c runners from running a challenging half marathon that is popular with serious and social runners alike. We organisers are also made of strong stuff and we're back again in 2022 to brave the February elements, to wave off and welcome back between 400 – 500 runners. At the me of wri ng, we already have over 100 entries, so if you want to tame the Beast, get your entry in quickly before we get to the cut off number!

To enter, just visit our website www.baldockeventsforum.org.uk/bado ckbeast and click on the sports System bu on.

We are excited to say that planning is well underway for the 37th Baldock Fes val!!

It will, as usual, start with the Baldock Beer Fes val on the 29th April and has been extended this year from 2 to 3 WEEKS! Finishing on the 22nd May, with the Street Fair You then have a two week rest (enjoy it) before…………

H.M. The Queen's Pla num Jubilee Big Lunch – 5 June 2022 The BEF is proud to be organising this year's Big Lunch to honour the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Celebra ons will be taking place across the country and Baldock will not be le out. Once again, we have the support of local suppliers including Chapman's butchers, Café Luna, Pixies, Dine Bangla, the White Lion and The Engine, who between them will provide a wide variety of unmissable food, guaranteed to provide an unsurpassable feast for every palate.

There will be games, music, face pain ng and the sun WILL be shining!

Dressing up is encouraged and the colours will be – (wait for it) Red, White & Blue! (Surprise!!). We also have it on good authority that there will be a special 'Royal' Cocktail mixed for the occasion and only available in Baldock…

If your street is not having it's own party, Baldock High Street will be the place to be!

SUNDAY 27TH

SHEDS SUMMER HOUSES GARDEN OFFICES WORKSHOPS POTTING SHEDS PLAYHOUSE LOG CABIN RE-ROOFING RE-FELTING SHED BASES FENCING GATES TAKE DOWN & DISPOSE OF OLD SHEDS

email allshedsandmore@yahoo.com Saunders Close, Green Lane, Letchworth

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Chiropodist

Karen Perry 'Custom Fit Supportive Orthotics’ Home Visits or Baldock Surgery

ACCSLtd

Window Cleaning 20 years experience Reliable and efficient Fully Insured & Uniformed staff

01462 629302 07970 406926 152 Hitchin Road, Stotfold

New To Exercise Or Well Into To Your Marathon Preparation?

If you have begun 2002 with a new exercise regime – well done! It might be going well or maybe it is faltering a bit due to using muscles groups you haven't exercised for a li le while. Some sessions of Sports Therapy can help you get back on track!

Sports Therapy focuses on the manipula on of so ssue using massage techniques. Sports Therapy deals with muscular and skeletal tension and is great for preven on and rehabilita on of injuries.

There are many benefits Ÿ Improves relaxa on Ÿ Decreases muscle tension Ÿ Increases the range of mo on Ÿ Scar ssue modelling Ÿ Improves posture Ÿ Reduces discomfort from DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) Sports Massage is not only for athletes, but can help lengthen and strengthen muscles which can help to prevent falls in later life, by improving flexibility in the foot, ankles, knees and hips.

As more planned events are set to go ahead in 2022, it is more important than ever to stay ac ve and injury free. Help and advice on how to become more ac ve, is always available here at Amber. Our best advice is start gently and build up and remember to have rest days to let your muscles recover.

Saturday and early evening appointments are available here in our Baldock clinic.

Keep ac ve!

The Amber Team 01462 490141

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Putting the Fun into Functional

New Honda HR-V E: HEV

By Tim Barnes-Clay - Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay Tim Barnes-Clay gets behind the wheel of the new Honda HR-V at its global media launch in Germany.

The HR-V is one of those vehicles that Honda could never work out what it wanted to be. It began life in the late 90s as something that looked like a Land Rover Discovery aimed at beachgoers.

Then it was relaunched as something that resembled a larger parent of the previous UFO-like Honda Civic.

But now it's had another overhaul and has returned in SUV form. Once again, it bears no resemblance to its predecessor.

Except, this me, it's much more appealing.

It is now a family-sized crossover SUV and comes with a decent amount of kit.

Elegance trim will get you 18-inch alloys, heated seats, keyless entry/start, a rear-view camera, and adap ve cruise control. Advance trim adds a heated steering wheel, automa c tailgate, and an air diffusion system, while Advance Style adds a wireless phone charger, twotone roof and LED lights.

If you're thinking, "I must have a diesel version", then you'll be disappointed. The op ons are petrol hybrid. And that‘s it.

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It is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that combines with two electric motors. So three sources of power, and the result is 131PS. That sound rather underwhelming, but 131 horses are s ll perfectly adequate for a family car.

What's more, the engine runs on something called the 'Atkinson cycle'.

That means it outputs less power but harnesses the electric motors in such a way as to make up for it, providing significant fuel savings. In fact, it'll manage a diesel-worthy 53.3mpg. The engine will run in all-electric mode, too – this is great for low-speed driving at rush hour.

It also has a Constant Variable Transmission. In simple terms, a CVT gearbox has only got one gear. But you don't need to worry about being stuck in 'first' all the me -the 'Variable' means it adjusts itself, so the same gear becomes the equivalent of second, third, fourth etc.). Moreover, the Honda achieves zero to 62mph in a respectable 10.6-seconds.

To drive, it's not bad at all. It is comfortable, effortless, and quite engaging, with a good feel through the steering. It does what you expect it to

with no nasty surprises. The handling is wholesome, too, with a decent amount of grip and li le body roll around the bends.

Like many hybrids and electric cars, the HR-V also includes regenera ve braking, so the energy generated under decelera on is re-harnessed and used to put some charge back into the ba eries.

This makes one-pedal driving a possibility because, when turned up fully, you don't need to use the brake to come to a stop.

It takes a li le me to get used to the system, but it does eventually feel a bit more natural. It isn't helped by the car automa cally changing back to a medium se ng a er a while, though.

What's more frustra ng is you can't change the car's se ngs on the move either. You must be stopped and even have it in Park before it lets you adjust anything. And, when you do want to amend something, you have to click through menu a er menu to get to what you want.

On the plus side, the interior looks good, with a simple, common-sense design. In addi on, there are three dials for the air condi oning system, meaning

Honda has resisted the tempta on to bury everything within the infotainment system. This is especially welcome given the car's se ngs are buried rather too deeply.

The touchscreen is up to scratch, although the graphics aren't excep onally sharp, and the system is a tad on the clunky side. However, we've used worse systems, and it does have the bonus of crea ng a WiFi hotspot within the car. Any wireless device can then connect to it, although you need to subscribe to a Vodafone data plan for the Honda to receive the internet.

Other clever tech includes a downloadable smartphone app to lock and unlock the car, which is a nice touch. Wireless Apple CarPlay is included, but you only get wired Android Auto.

There are plenty of plush materials inside, although you'll find quite a lot of thin plas cs, too. The seven-inch digital instrument display is informa ve, but, like the touchscreen, it could be sharper.

While the car is smaller than it appears in pictures, you s ll feel like you're driving a bigger vehicle as the driving posi on is high up. This also helps with front visibility, while the pillars are unobtrusive.

As for the rest of the HR-V's interior, the seats are comfortable, although the legroom and headroom in the back are a bit limited. In addi on, Honda includes its 'magic seats', which can be folded completely flat or li ed individually to maximise storage space.

319-litres of boot space is offered, expanding up to 1,305-litres with all three rear seats folded into the floor.

There is no Euro NCAP safety ra ng for the HR-V yet. However, Honda has a solid reputa on for safety, with lanekeep assist, collision avoidance and blind-spot monitoring among the features included as standard.

Overall, the new HR-V is a solid contender. Sure, it has got nothing to excite you par cularly, and it's not likely

to be suitable if you need loads of boot space. But what it is offering is a sensible, middle-of-the-road family car, combining decent handling and excellent fuel economy.

Think of the latest HR-V as a car that gives you a safe pair of hands behind the wheel.

Fast Facts Honda HR-V E: HEV (Advance trim) as tested: Ÿ Max speed: 106mph Ÿ 0-62 mph: 10.6 Ÿ Combined mpg: 53.3 mpg (all-electric figures TBC) Ÿ Engine layout: 1498cc four-cylinder petrol + electric. Ÿ Max. power (PS): 131 Ÿ CO2: 122g/km Ÿ Price: £29,210

UNIT 12 BONDOR BUSINESS CENTRE, LONDON ROAD, BALDOCK. SG76HP

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info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally

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FEBRUARY

Raising awareness of what’ to find s on & where things locally

of what’s on & where to find things locally

Issue 74 December 2020

www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.

Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and

2022

uk

surrounding villages

For all enquiries please contact us: DavidTimms@VirginMedia.com

07901602227/ 07759106803 01462 895506

Screen this months new releases

UNCHARTED

MOONFALL Out 4th February

Out 11th February

In Moonfall, a mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit and sends it hurtling on a collision course with Earth. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler, is convinced she has the key to saving us all, but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper and a conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman believe her.

This movie is the prequel to the video game. A young street-smart, Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) meets his wisecracking partner Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) for the first time on a treasure hunt that somehow involves Drake’s brother, Sam. They embark on a dangerous pursuit of “the greatest treasure never found” while also tracking clues that may lead to Nathan’s longlost brother.

Certificate PG

Certificate PG

Running Time 120 mins

Running Time 128 mins

16 Hurst Close Baldock, SG76TL

‘From

‘For all August 2021 your we arealterations, shutting the doors in Mansfield repairs andRoad and will be working from 1:1 sewing classes 16 Hurst Close, please phone/text Baldock SG7 6TL Appointments to book only’ Please call 07938509672 for more details and to book

FIREHEART

www.sewingbs.co.uk

DOG Out 11th February

Out 18th February

Sixteen-year-old Georgia Nolan dreams of being the world's first female firefighter. When a mysterious arsonist starts burning down Broadway, New York's firemen begin vanishing. Georgia's father is called out of retirement by the Mayor to lead the investigation into the disappearances. Desperate to help Georgia disguises herself as a young man and joins a small group of misfit firefighters trying to stop the arsonist.

Army Ranger Briggs (Channing Tatum) is given the task of transporting Lulu (a Belgian Malinois Military dog) down the Pacific Coast in time to catch the funeral of her deceased handler, Nuke. While Lulu and Riggs initially start off on the wrong foot, their cross-country journey brings them closer together and they start to form a true bond with one another as well as build a bridge of trust.

Certificate 18

Certificate PG

Running Time 92 mins

Running Time 90 mins Answer-phone on both numbers & will return all calls

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SIMPLE STEPS TO BOOST YOUR MEMORY Everyone has moments of forge ulness from me to me, especially when life gets busy. While this can be a completely normal occurrence, having a poor memory can be frustra ng.

Gene cs plays a role in memory loss, especially in serious neurological condi ons like Alzheimer's disease.

However, research has shown that diet and lifestyle have a major impact on memory too. A strong memory depends greatly on the health and vitality of your brain, so in order to improve your mental performance consider doing the following.

Eat less added sugar, too much has been linked to many health issues and

chronic diseases including cogni ve decline, it can lead to poor memory and reduced brain volume, par cularly in area of the brain that stores short-term memory.

Like all muscles in the body, your brain needs exercise to stay healthy, by se ng yourself challenges such as memorising words to a poem or a song, doing crosswords or Sudoku, brain training apps, you can give your brain a gentle push every day to work harder.

Try a Fish Oil Supplement which is rich in the omega-3 fa y acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) these fats are important for overall health and have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, reduce inflamma on, relieve stress and anxiety and slow mental decline.

Ea ng foods such as blueberries, red onions, aubergines, bananas, peas and broccoli can help to keep your brain healthy.

Take me for medita on or selfhypnosis, this prac ce may posi vely affect your health in many ways, it is relaxing and soothing, and has been found to reduce stress, pain, lower blood pressure and even improve memory, it has also shown to improve short-term memory in people of all ages, from people in their 20s to the elderly.

Get more sleep your brain needs to rest in order to func on well, and in many cases poor memory is linked to lack of good quality sleep. Aim for eight hours of sleep a night to ensure your brain has enough me to recharge.

Maintain a healthy weight is essen al for well-being and is one of the best ways to keep your body and mind in top condi on, obesity can actually cause changes to memoryassociated genes in the brain 14

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nega vely affec ng memory. A study of 50 people between the ages of 18 and 35 found that a higher body mass index was associated with significantly worse performance on memory tests, obesity is also associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Get Moving, research has shown that keeping ac ve boosts brainpower as exercise increases blood flow and delivers more oxygen to the vital organs, a study of 144 people aged 19 to 93 showed that a single bout of 15 minutes of moderate exercise led to improved cogni ve performance including memory across all ages.

There are many fun and simple ways to improve your memory, try adding a few of the above ps to your daily rou ne to boost your brain health .

Kim Holloway www.total-therapy.co.uk

Your Local Home Improvement Specialists

07572 532618 www.bb-carpentry.co.uk

4 Sun Street, Baldock. Sg7 6QA 2c St Francis Way, Shefford. Sg17 5DZ

IAN SIMPSON Carpentry and Joinery All aspects of carpentry work undertaken Kitchen, Bedrooms, Doors, Windows 25 years experience Free estimates Please call 01462 851695 or 07967162448 E-mail ij_simpson@hotmail.com

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BRAND NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN...

Based on the Woodside Industrial Park, Works Road in Letchworth Garden City.

Aqua Sensation are your local dealer for Ecowater Softeners and Harvey Water Softeners.

Products will lather better reducing cleaning costs and increasing bubbles!

With softened water, scale will slowly diminish, extending the lifespan of appliances

Helps keep your skin in tip-top condition by soothing it with softened water

Visit Aqua Sensation’s brand new premises, explore their showroom and find out what a water softener has to offer See working water softeners Try drinking soft water, filtered water reverse osmosis purified water Ÿ See and try a working Quooker tap that provides; cold water, hotwater, instant boiling water, chilled filtered, chilled filtered sparkling water Ÿ Ÿ

Pipes can descale over time andyour whole hot water system will become more efficient

01462 835693 I 07484 715770 info@aquasensation.co.uk I www.aquasensation.co.uk Unit 16 Woodside Industrial Park, Works Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 1LA

5 minutes with... ... Helen Celik from *Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a personal estate agent with a family that has always been involved with property one way or another. My husband is a painter and decorator. My Daughter works with landlords to transform their houses to achieve maximum returns. I worked for an Estate agent locally for 18 years and felt that I could offer so much more as an individual to my clients. TIME is what changes the dynamics when selling a property with me. I have the Time to spend with you discussing your needs and mescales and I look in depth on making sure we have a rela onship that is going to get you through to a completed sale. Did you know 1 in 3 proper es fell through in 2021? * When did you start the business?

I started my own business in June 2020 and I feel blessed in the fact that all of my sales over that period have been referrals and I can't tell you how happy that has made me feel. I absolutely love my job with a passion and hope that my clients feel my op mism in making their dreams happen. *What sets you apart from the tradi onal Estate agents?

I am not trying to get as many proper es to the market as possible my business is all about offering a more bespoke approach to selling and purchasing. I personally arrange viewings, nego ate all offers to achieve maximum sale price

for my client. Once an offer has been accepted, I take details of the whole chain so I can get further informa on from the solicitors at the bo om as this is where some mes the sale falls apart. Looking at the big picture gives me an informa ve overall performance of the chain progression that I can inform my clients on. *What services other do you offer?

I can carry out every part of the selling process, from organizing the professional photos, Floorplans, EPC's, videos and a drone when required. Surveys, Mortgage advice and solicitors all are free no obliga on quotes. I have known some of these businesses for years and have worked with them successfully in the past. I can even offer removal / storage services, and dressing of a property if required. *What’s the best way to contact you?

I am available on my personal mobile all day and up to 9pm in the evening for a discussion on any part of the sale or purchase if my client feels there maybe an issue or further inves ga on on a certain part of their sale or purchase that I can offer advice on. *Where are you based?

I have a home office where all the magic happens, but I am able to visit proper es within Herts/ Beds or the London area.

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Baldock Gardens I thought for a change. I would write a bit about commercial growing; specifically, the story of how systems have changed and how we now produce plants at our garden centre, the plants you buy.

In the late '60s, I worked in a production garden for a big house; I've written about it before, so I won't go over it again, but I wanted to tell how things have changed in that time.

Fifty-five years ago, I learned to grow vegetables, fruit and flowers in wooden greenhouses; These were constructed with wooden frames that were by necessity thick and chunky. The purlins and trusses were made of heavy-duty wood, all good for strength but not suitable for sunlight transmission. The trusses were very close; from memory, anything between 12 and 18 inches apart, so at times of the day and year, spring and autumn when the sun was low in the sky, the light entering the greenhouse would be drastically reduced.

As times moved on, the design of greenhouses changed, as did the materials they were made of. Aluminium came into everyday use, and the ability to extrude complex shapes made it very strong and thinner. Glass also changed, becoming lighter and more delicate; changes in the way it was made also increased the strength. Together, these allowed greenhouse designers to use fewer trusses in the roof, letting in more light.

At the same time the late '60s, polytunnels were being developed mainly with water pipes or similar bent into a curve, with inferior quality and low strength plastic being used. They were prone to total collapse if the crop weight became overly heavy or the wind strong.

As we got into the mid 70's development of greenhouses and polytunnels moved on at enormous speed. Greenhouses became taller lighter, brighter, and more robust with a higher percentage of glass to the framework; they also became expensive.

Polytunnels also moved on, becoming wider higher, and could be constructed in multi-bay configurations covering huge acreages just like their counterparts. Their secret was a special spring steel for the tubes, plating inside and out of the tubing

with a special coating, giving them years of life every bit as long as a greenhouse.

The covers used have also been improved; they are now multi-layered with all sorts of specialist screens that change the light allowed into the growing area. I will enlarge on that later.

From my point of view, polytunnels have taken the lead in the area I grow in as they are flexible in what I can grow, relatively inexpensive compared with greenhouses of the same size, and can be adapted very quickly for insulation, heating and ventilation.

The covers on tunnels can be anything from netting to clear plastic through to wholly opaque and insulated for growing mushrooms.

Polytunnels can extend the growing / harvesting season by up to six weeks at the start and end of the natural season.

It was discovered that different coloured netting or poly covers had a vast effect on controlling infestations of insects; this has become known as photoselective shading.

Some fruit and vegetable crops also produce slightly thicker skins helping to protect them against some diseases.

Very simply, the way it works is that the solar light reaching the cover or net is transformed from direct light into scattered light, which improves the light penetration into the canopy of the plants.

This technique or method was first developed in Isreal and then South Korea; it is now being used all over the world and is especially important in Europe.

Over the last decade, it has been found that not only does the cover affect the pest and disease control, but also the vigour. Red and grey appear to stimulate vigour, and blue reduces vigour.

In trials, it seems that crop fertility was reduced, but the yield is compensated for by the increase in fruit size. It also appears that in trials, black netting has a long term effect on yield, reducing it compared to other colours; who knew? It seems I have been doing it wrong along with the majority of allotment holders and gardeners - so black netting is out.

Plants use certain wavelengths of light called photosynthetically active radiation

or PAR. The higher the intensity, the higher the rate of photosynthesis per unit leaf area until the intensity gets so high that the leaves burn.

For years now, plastic covers have also been produced with a special coating to stop condensation from forming on the sheet. Making it run off prevents the drips from getting large enough to act like magnifying glasses intensifying the suns rays and burning the plants.

Those who know our garden centre will be aware that our covers are white and that this time of year ( January / February ), we occasionally get water dripping like rain.

What is happening is we do not have any heating on as we don't have any tender plants in, and condensation freezes onto the inside of the polythene if the frozen water thaws out quickly. So quickly that it cant run off by the process described earlier, it will drip like rain. We get rid of it by banging the tight plastic by hand, and this will cause it to shower off like a rainstorm, a great joke to be played on the unsuspecting staff member.

The white covers are for a particular reason; what they do is reduce early flowering and lengthen the sales period for our customers, allowing the plants to flower for you as soon as you get them home and planted out.

White covers are generally thicker than clear types and will last longer; I get between fifteen and eighteen years of life out of a cover before it needs replacing. A cover going is something most people would not like to experience; they generally split from end to end with a massive bang like a thunderous gunshot.

They are instantly useless, with no chance of repair, several hundreds of pounds gone in seconds, and days of work to replace.

So now you can use this information to decide on a greenhouse or a modern tunnel if you need a covered growing area.

Remember, I'm always around to ask if you need help deciding.

Enjoy your gardening.

Graham FEBRUARY

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Baldock Rotary Donates Near and Far Baldock Rotary, as a result of the generous response to its Father Christmas and Sleigh collec on, has been able to make a number of dona ons to deserving causes in both the local community and further afield.

Locally a number of community groups assisted Baldock Rotary with the Sleigh around the streets and as a result dona ons have been made to 1st Baldock, 2nd Baldock, 1st Ashwell Scout Groups, and also Baldock Guides, Baldock 41 Club and Bygrave Church.

Addi onally, dona ons have been made to Baldock Guides and Clothall Church to assist with building maintenance and Nigh ngale Community Garden to enable improved security in an effort to deter the spate of vandalism that has occurred recently.

Further afield Baldock Rotary has made interna onal dona ons of ShelterBoxes to Hai , seedballs to Kenya (charcoal coated balls containing tree seeds for reforesta on) and just before Christmas a devasta ng typhoon hit the Philippines, which resulted in

680,000 people being le homeless. In response to this disaster Baldock Rotary again donated ShelterBoxes. Further informa on about the wider Rotary aid provided can be found on the Cebu Rotary Facebook page and the ShelterBox Facebook page or website.

Baldock Rotary is also looking to a ract new members, so if you are the type of person who is able to “give something back” to the Community, we would love to hear from you. If you are interested in any aspect of what Rotary has to offer, please contact us on our website, address below, or contact our Membership Secretary, Paul Redwood, tel. no. 07999 350990, e-mail paul49redwood@gmail.com Rotarian - Paul Lucke

If you or your community ac vity has a project that would benefit from support from Baldock Rotary, please let us know by sending an e-mail to our Community Services Chairman, John Wright at jfw123@internet.com

with over 35 years experience

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2022

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LOSE BldLETS WEIGHT TOGETHER re Pressu in Cats

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High blood pressure or hypertension is common in older cats It is usually found as a complica on of other underlying medical condi ons such as Kidney disease. In fact regular blood pressure checks are now recommended.

The things to look out for in low and high blood pressure are:Low Blood Pressure Lethargy, weakness, confusion, excessive urina on, fain ng or collapse, increased thirst and also pale or white gums.

High Blood Pressure Nosebleeds, behavioural changes, blindness, seizures, weakness and disorienta on.

If your cat is behaving strangely or out of character and shows any of the above symptoms, then you should see a Vet as soon as possible. If your cat is diagnosed with blood pressure (Hypertension)your cat will require an assessment to see what medica on or tests are required. Measuring blood pressure doesn't take long and is completely pain free and most cats tolerate it well.

If you need more advise ring Royston Vet Centre on 01763 242221 or Baldock Vet Centre on 01462 895579

“Get ts your Ca d'' checke

FEBRUARY

2022

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PP

HOLIDAYS 1 Mar Sidmouth & South Devon 14 Mar Warner’s Studley Castle 20 Mar North Devon 23 Mar Kent Spring Gardens 27 Mar Cornwall Spring Tour 28 Mar Bournemouth 3 Apr Brighton at Leisure 4 Apr Torquay & The English Riviera 8 Apr Keukenhof – Dutch Bulb Fields 15 Apr Winchester in the Peaks 15 Apr Easter in the Peaks 20 Apr Harrogate Flower Show 2022 22 Apr Mystery Tour 25 Apr Warner’s Cricket St. Thomas 4 May Cornwall 4 May Killarney & The Ring of Kerry 8 May Scotland in Miniature 15 May Lakes & Borders 16 May Warner’s Bembridge IOW 19 May London Overnight Theatre Break 22 May Shropshire & the Severn Valley 22 May Yorkshire SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE HOLIDAYS

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2022

5 days 5 days 6 days 3 days 6 days 5 days 5 days 5 days 4 days 4 days 4 days 3 days 3 days 5 days 6 days 7 days 6 days 5 days 5 days 2 days 5 days 5 days

£395 £525 £545 £285 £515 £425 £395 £385 £485 £375 £360 £280 £250 £495 £550 £760 £695 £545 £525 £140 £495 £495

Where the heart is At some point last year, I decided that my house was too big and that I needed to downsize. Baldock has always been where my heart is, so I began the whole rigmarole of applying to the council. A gazillion forms later they gave me the ok and I started dreaming of a pre y li le bungalow with roses round the door and a picket fence. Somewhere to mosey away my hours when I finally end working life at about eighty. I might even take up a hobby and s ck to it.

Rebuild my library of proper books.

Start a campaign, keep Christmas in December springs to mind. I know it's a far stretch from the reality of it all, but a girl can dream can't she. Anyway, as normal, my dreams have had to be shelved due to stuff and I'm here for a li le while longer.

I will miss this house, for the past twelve years, it's been home, I've watched as my kids grew to be semi responsible adults here. I've grieved as they moved out one by one, then grieved as they moved back in one by one, then cheered when they finally made up their minds and moved out. I never got the posh dining room that I always wanted (that stuff again) but on the whole it's been good to us.

I've lived in many houses but only really considered four of them to be my home. Two childhood homes in Baldock, the house I raised my small kids in and this one. I don't know if its just me, but leaving my childhood home wasn't a big thing, I never really le it, I just moved out. I think I was so full of the excitement of what the future held that I didn't give leaving a second thought. Besides it wasn't a biggy, no

skip hiring to rid myself of the paraphernalia that you hang on to because you might need it. No furniture to move, I just packed up a few bags and was gone. It was always there for me to go back to if my fridge was empty or the washing machine broke down.

The house I raised my li le ones in was a wrench to leave, that hurt so much.

This was my home; I had made it, literally built half of it with my bare hands. The saddest thing was that I couldn't take the kids growth chart with me, there was a li le spot hidden behind the kitchen door that was where each year on their birthday, I would measure them and score a mark on the wall with the date. It was the only part of the house that was le untouched for seventeen years. When I le , I said goodbye to each room and closed each door behind me as I went. A few years later we moved into this house, and I came to realise that houses are not homes, they are just bricks and mortar enclosers where we build or lives. It's the memories that make it a home, and these you take with you wherever you go. I have very fond memories of that house and they came with me to my new house, which in turn became my home. And when I finally get my rose covered bungalow in Baldock, the memories that I have built in this house will be added to those of the past and come with me to my new home.

Now you all know of my love of all things Letchworth Rugby Club, you know I have a really so spot and loyalty to my rugby family, so I just wanted to spend a li le me telling you just how great they are. They have suffered as

we all have over the passed two years, but over the past half season, they have gone from strength to strength. I don't want to put the kibosh on it, but the first team are having an amazing season under the guidance of a really great coaching team. Our seconds and thirds are busy rebuilding a er players' wives found that husbands can be more use at home on a Saturday. I must have been single too long, I can't think of a be er place for the hubby than out of the house, but there we go! The younger members of the club are now moving up to the senior levels and thoroughly enjoying rolling around in the mud with the opposi ons twenty stone prop. But the ladies, Oh! What a success story they are, if you remember they only formed two years ago but already they are playing league games. They have a reputa on of pu ng the boys in their place when it comes to the social side of rugby and are turning out to be a force to be reckoned with both on and off the pitch.

Those of you ladies that are looking for a fun way to offload and get fit, should come and join them, they keep asking me but at my age I'll take the social side over anything physical thank you very much. These sisters thought they couldn't, but they absolutely could and did. They are excep onally friendly and very welcoming, as we all are at the club. Come join us.

Nicky

07572 532618 www.bb-carpentry.co.uk FEBRUARY

2022

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Happy Birthday

Arthur Chadwick

1

Love Mummy & Daddy xx

LAWN CUTTING HEDGE CUTTING LANDSCAPING PATIOS

Lots of Love Mummy, Nanna and Grandad XX ST

HAPPY 1 BIRTHDAY to our darling

Nancy We have had the best year with you.

All our love, Mummy, Daddy, Sid and Bluebell xxx ASHWELL

Happy 6th Birthday

Oscar Willoughby

ROGERSONS REMOVALS

17th February

lots of love from your Baldock family x

lene P ry From all of your Baldock Friends

11th February 26

FEBRUARY

2022

WESTON

Charity Fitness Event Raises Over £1000!

Emma Lovelock (owner of The Pilates Corner) first met the charity Cancer Hair Care in 2010, when she was going through Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. “The support they gave me was so valuable. They offered advice, support, and knowledge when everything was so scary. Personally, for me losing my hair as a 30-year-old woman was more overwhelming than losing my breast”.

Jasmin Julia Gupta, founder of the Charity is an amazing woman with a heart of gold and her gentle yet confident approach to all things in this sensi ve area is perfectly pitched.

We've all had a tough couple of years because of lockdowns and Emma felt that with the new studio in Baldock experiencing such growth over the last few months, now was a brilliant opportunity to be able to give something back.

With the generosity of many local businesses dona ng raffle prizes including Tesco, Café Luna, Palma & Stone, The Red Door, Hair FX Barbers, Amber Health, Scissors, Scarle 's, Sophia Rose florist, Vintage Co, Chapmans Butchers, Baldock Tyres, Wild Ivy, Dizis and Force Submission MMA Academy, we raised £900 in raffle cket sales alone. Along with dona ons we are currently si ng above £1000 which is so much more than we'd imagined we'd raise at this event.

If you'd like to donate to the event there's s ll me; visit our JustGiving page at h ps:// nyurl.com/TPCJG Anyone that donates is welcome to join us at the Pilates Corner for a 14 day free trail.

Drop us a message at info@thepilatescorner.co.uk Visit www.cancerhaircare.co.uk for more details about the charity.

SUNDAY 27TH

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2022

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HAIR at HOME STYLE cut & blow dry wet cut blow dry child cut

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to make an appointment or for a free consultation call Jacqui

Ballet Classes for Adults & Teens at two venues in Baldock

07973 788418 01462 640307

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28

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2022

“THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR A CUPPA AND A CHAT” In a bid to power through the cold winter months, Samaritans of North Herts & Stevenage will be at Stevenage and Hitchin railway sta ons, to encourage people to share a cuppa and a catch-up with someone they care about for Brew Monday, supported by Network Rail and the wider rail industry.

Whilst the third Monday in January is some mes referred to as “the most difficult day of the year”, the charity is highligh ng that there's no such thing as “Blue Monday”, as people can feel a range of emo ons on any day of the year. Although winter is thought to be one of the harder seasons, with dark days and frosty nights, Samaritans volunteers hear similar concerns all year round from those that contact the charity. The main concerns include mental health and illness (46%), family (34%) and loneliness (28%)*.

So, to ensure nobody struggles alone – on Brew Monday or any other day – Samaritans is reminding everyone to check in on friends, family and colleagues. It doesn't need to be a

Monday or a cup of tea – it's about connec ng and really listening to each other.

Volunteers from Samaritans of North Herts & Stevenage will be joined by sta on staff at Stevenage railway sta on from 10am to 4pm on Monday 17 January, and at Hitchin railway sta on from 7.30am to 9.45am on Thursday 20 January. They will be offering teabags and talking to passengers about the importance of reaching out and providing listening ps.

Branch Director Ilsa Haw n said: “We're really looking forward to being at Stevenage and Hitchin railway sta ons to talk to passengers and are so thankful to the rail industry for their support. As we enter another winter in these difficult mes, we are encouraging people to look out for their family, friends and work colleagues and be that listening ear that they might just need. It doesn't ma er if you join us on Monday morning or Thursday night, or if you're drinking lemonade, black coffee or apple juice. If you're sharing a

cup of something and listening, you're making a difference to someone's day.”

North Herts & Stevenage residents can also organise tea par es, bake-offs and events this Brew Monday, and help Samaritans of North Herts & Stevenage volunteers con nue be there for anyone who needs a listening ear, by raising vital funds for Samaritans.

To donate and find out other ways you can support Samaritans of North Herts & Stevenage, please visit samaritans.org/hitchin. Alterna vely, you can donate by text: text SAMARITANS 3 to 70460 to donate £3.

Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message, and you'll be op ng in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you'd like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marke ng communica ons, text SAMARITANSNOINFO 3 to 70460.

Join the conversa on on social media using #BrewMonday, and why not donate while you're there? You could help save a life. For more informa on, visit Samaritans.org/BrewMonday

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2022

CHINA HERE WE COME Covid has hit may people in different ways, but for us it has stopped us from embarking on a trip of a life me, to walk the Great Wall of China with Girl Guiding in October 2019. This trip has been postponed twice and with the pandemic we have had to come up with more inven ve ways to fundraise.

The trip is back on Yippee ! and has been rescheduled for 15 October 2022 and so we need to complete our Fundraising task of £5200 each.

We are over halfway to our goal and thus need to keep fundraising over the coming months. Our next two events will be a Quiz night at Knight Templar school on Friday 18th March 2022 and a 2nd hand book sale at Tapps Garden centre the next day on Saturday 19th March 10 l 3pm. Please contact Lisa Pa erson for Quiz details and applica on forms.

Plus we are always looking for more books!

If you would like to know more about Girl Guiding in the Baldock please email lisa.gascoine@b nternet.com Thank you again Lisa Pa erson and Kathryn Dixon 1st Baldock Brownies.

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COPY DEADLINE for the March issue is 10th February

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2022

31

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2022

Sport Is A Way Of Life For the first me in 2 years, our children St Mary's have been able to take part in PE indoors. This has provided them with much needed gymnas cs lessons. Every class has really enjoyed ge ng the apparatus out and exploring them. We've seen some amazing rolls, balances and travels, as well as many other aspects of gymnas cs being learned.

In the next month, the light will slowly begin to appear again a er school. I have taken the opportunity to get us as many different spor ng

events as possible. We have plenty ofyear 4, 5 & 6 football matches for both boys and girls. We've got the Her ordshire Cross Country final, a dodgeball tournament, netball tournaments and much more, all before Easter!

At St Mary's, sport is a way of life.

Sco Hagland PE Coordinator

Ever wanted to adore the London galleries and experience the beau ful world of art?

It turns out it's already here on your doorstep… Gallery 1066 situated on Hitchin Street in Baldock is nestled up a cobbled mews, offering 3000 sq. over two contemporary floors. Exhibi ng acclaimed ar sts such as Mr. Brainwash, Fabian Perez, Craig Alan, Dan Pearce and many other sought-a er and admired ar sts.

Find out for yourself and experience leading UK and Int'l ar sts with a mul award winning service from your local gallery.

Hayley and her team welcome everyone with open arms and you don't have to have a depth of knowledge about art to feel welcomed and relaxed.

Voted best art gallery in London and the South-East of England and most recently achieving their gold standard 5-star Feefo review service, it's clear whatever your needs are you'll be sure to experience the above and beyond when you step into this fabulous space.

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February Gallery

Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Young Jake turned 8 the other day,Marsh Detailing found out they decided to surprised him with a ride out in the Lamborghini!

Taken by 13year old Ellie Tasker

Baldock’s Run Talk Run team, who meet every Tuesday 9.30am start outside pixies. Come and join this friendly group on our 5k run at talking pace .

Crisp morning for Fords walk over at Weston - Eva Ashby

Young pup Maverick enjoy the local countryside Ten month old Nancy, enjoying her copy of On Our Doorstep - Philippa Beck-Evans Baldock’s Walk Talk Walk Group - Sarah Bassett

Sarah Bassett

The Baldock Station cat

Useful numbers Advice Citizen’s Advice Bureau Trading Standards Advice Samaritans

03444 111444 0300 300 8136 116 123

Councils North Hertfordshire District

01462 474000

Doctors Baldock Surgery

01462 892458

Dentist Victoria Place Dental Surgery

01763 313869

Emergency Utilities Gas Emergency Electric power cut

0800 111 999 0800 7838838

Hospitals Lister Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 EMERGENCY HEALTH

01438 314333 01707 328111 111

Library Baldock Library

0300 123 4049

Police Police

01707 354000

Schools Knights Templar Hartseld St Johns St Marys Infants St Marys Juniors Brandles

01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 01462 892156 01462 892189

Travel Arriva Buses National Rail Enquires National Bus line

08701 201088 03457 484950 0870 6082608

Vets Baldock Veterinary Centre

01462 895579

Nurseries Weston Way Nursery Merry Go Round Peanuts Preschool

01462 892172 01462 896322 07736 124327

Play Groups Magic Moments Merry Go Round

07709 618434 01462 896322

Plumbers Maben PE James

07949 120911 07816 586777

Window & Door repairs JML Windows Repairs Warrens Windows

01438 906300 01462 261401

Travel Agent Amenity Holidays Ltd

07452 832840

Locksmith Lock and Glaze

01462 338676

Mobile Hair Dresser Hair By Jacqui

07973 788418

Funeral Directors Shires - CPJ Field Baldock

01462 491149

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2022

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