Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally
Issue 89 March 2022
Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages
Welcome Welcome to the March issue! Usually we'd start by saying something along the lines of 'we hope you all survived the Feb half term with the kids' but this year we just hope you all made it through storm Eunice relatively unscathed! We managed to squeeze in a short half term break with the children, not realising that we would have to fly back into Luton in the middle of a storm.There were some rather entertaining pictures and videos flying around the internet of people trying to fight off the windy weather, hopefully most of you managed to keep your trampolines and other garden furniture firmly on the ground! We're writing this welcome note in the last week of February so we don't yet know if the weather has lightened up but we hope that the legendary Baldock Beast manages to go ahead on the 27th – although you will know by the time you're reading this. March starts off with Pancake Day on the first, a little later than usual, thanks to Easter falling on 17th April this year. I honestly can't remember the last time Shrove Tuesday wasn't in February! And finishing the month we have Mother's Day, always a great opportunity to shop local and look for gift ideas on your doorstep. Afternoon Tea at Tapps is always a popular choice and comes highly recommended, or treat her to
something nice from Palma & Stone. Thank you to everyone that sends on their photos for the gallery page. When you're flicking through this Gallery page you’ll see that the magazine went off on its travels to watch the cricket with David from Sunshine Gardens. Our granddaughter was also snapped enjoying her copy. Only 5 months old but clearly she has great taste. We love seeing your photos and are always on the lookout for images for the next issue so please keep sharing them with us!
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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Baldock Events Forum March heralds the beginning of Spring (honestly) and at the BEF we are really excited about the community events we have planned for the town this Spring/Summer. As the evenings get lighter and warmer, we have a package of happenings in the High Street to tempt Baldockians away from their central hea ng and out into the balmy season that awaits in the town. We have not only been planning events; the BEF is a community organisa on run by volunteers and oner of our main aims is to help those who are less fortunate and in need. As well as dona ng £100 to Feed Up, Warm Up from the Christmas Fayre, the Baldock Events Forum con nues to support local chari es, dona ng £1,500 to the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust. In addi on to delivering a great
programme of community events to the town, we have also donated almost £5,000 to local chari es in the past two years. Street Food Heroes return to Baldock High Street a er an absence that has been much too long. Street Food stalls will be set up in the High Street on the third Friday of each month, star ng on 15th April. The diversity of food on offer will, as usual, be amazing, with quality food at very reasonable prices. H.M. The Queen's Pla num Jubilee Big Lunch – 5 June 2022 Don't forget the special Big Lunch we are planning which will be in Baldock High Street on Sunday 5 June. There will be games, music, face pain ng and the sun WILL be shining! Dressing up is encouraged and we are hoping to have a special 'Royal' Cocktail mixed for the occasion and only available in Baldock… Tickets will be on sale soon, so keep an eye out and get yours early. If your street is not having its own party, Baldock High Street will be the place to be!
BEF Cycle Challenge – September 2022 Join around 250 cyclists at the 9th Annual Baldock Cycle Challenge. There are two loops you can cover, totalling just over 50 miles through Baldock and surrounding villages. A lovely ride through the Her ordshire countryside. St Mary's PTA Community Fireworks – 6 November 2022 This will be the 3rd event organised by St Mary's PTA, led by their indefa gable Chair, Emma Rowe. Last years event a racted 2,000 people and this year we aim to increase that number. With fireworks organised by the experienced pyrotechnician, Graham Tapp, this event will certainly go with a Bang (ouch)! Thank you to the people of Baldock for suppor ng us; Baldock really is the small town with a big heart! Jim McNally- Chair Baldock Events Forum
with over 35 years experience
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from strength to strength The Hitchin U'15's girls rugby team have gone from strength to strength this season, but why are we featuring them in a Baldock magazine?? The team is highly represented by a con ngent of girls from Baldock including the captain, Niamh Wa s. Niamh has played rugby since the age of 9 and has been with Hitchin since she turned 11. More recently she has encouraged fellow Knights Templar pupils, Olivia Presland, Eden Baxter, Natasha Roberts and Hannah Stacey to join the team, who are all showing good skill and physicality in their game play. Hitchin are in a strong area for rugby, local rivals Welwyn have bred many players that now represent England, while Old Albanians from St. Albans and Fullerians from Wa ord are both feeder clubs to the Saracens set up and offer fierce compe on. Under the watchful eye of Head Coach, Chris Wa s another Baldock resident the team this season entered
the Na onal cup. The Hitchin girls topped out their group in the pool stages bea ng their local rivals to move through to the la er stages. They made it to the final 16 of the compe on and narrowly lost out on a top 8 spot to a strong Guilford side with the last kick of the game. Chris told us, “The girls trained exceedingly hard for their cup run, on Tuesday's and Sunday's, as well as giving up their Friday nights for addi onal sessions to improve their skills. They are a ght knit group from across our local area.
Bedford girls school who all get on really well, which makes for a stronger team. It's a great result to make it to the final 16, but next year we're aiming to go further. For now we are just looking forward to the rest of the season and our end of year tour”. Girls Rugby at Hitchin starts at under 11's, there are great numbers at u14's, u'16's and u'18's, with many of our girls represen ng Her ordshire County and the Saracens Centre of Excellence. Training is on a Tuesday at 18:30 if there are any girls out there looking to get involved get in contact via our website
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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 surrounding villages
UNIT 12 BONDOR BUSINESS CENTRE, LONDON ROAD, BALDOCK. SG76HP
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Listen, Dance & Learn to Drum! Ashwell Music Fes val Celebra ng a cornucopia of contemporary and tradi onal music, from folk and jazz to classical and pop, Ashwell Music Fes val is set for a lively May! Now in its 67th year, this historic village presents visitors with an eclec c, interna onal programme from Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd May 2022. Home-grown talent is equally represented, including musicians from the village itself. Whether you like to listen, dance or join in yourself, there are performances and workshops right for you — whatever your age. Said Chair of Ashwell Music Fes val, Tracy Young: 'Our fes val aims to raise money for the Church tower, but it's about so much more than that. It's about community coming together,
welcoming performers and visitors and celebra ng the joy of music together.' Catalan, Swedish, Italian and Sco sh musicians join UK and local talent, including Dave Rance's Rockin' Chair Jazz Band and Ashwell-based singer/songwriter and pianist, Craig Maddox. There are events for every pocket: you can channel your inner Keith Moon at a drumming workshop for all ages (£5) or dance all the way Back to the 80s (£20). The fes val starts and closes with song and music in the historic St Mary's Church. A bar will be available in St.Mary's Church, and food will be available at the evening concerts from BB Pizza and Dario's Fish & Chips. For more details, full cket prices and bookings go to the website at ashwellmusicfes val.org.uk.
SAVE THE RIVER IVEL The Upper River Ivel (one of only 250 chalk steams that remain in the world) was in full flow at Radwell's Iron Bridge in the mid 1980s. In 2019 the Ivel was DRY at the Iron Bridge! Today Ivel Springs is DRY which means the Upper Ivel chalk stream is DYING because Affinity Water are taking too much water from here! Help support the fight to reduce water abstrac on and restore the Upper Ivel visit revivel.org, join the fight, follow us on social media, spread the word!
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FEAR OF FLYING 'Summer is just around the corner and as the world is star ng to open up again we are star ng to think about our holidays but for many people it causes anxiety as fear of flying is one of the most common phobias, with an es mated one in 10 people experiencing flight anxiety. To those who do not suffer from anxiety, this may seem like an irra onal fear. But, our mind will create feelings of anxiety when it believes we are in danger. Protec ng us is the primary func on of our subconscious mind, so if something is seen as a threat, ac ons will be taken. Fear of flying is on the increase, fuelled by high profile plane crashes and terrorist a acks.
It may not be ra onal – studies have shown that more people are hurt falling out of bed each year than from flying – but it's a phobia that can nevertheless ruin a holiday and business trips not taken. Despite flying being proven to be one of the safest ways to travel, the fear s ll grips much of the popula on. While sta s cally, flying is safer than driving a car or crossing a road, it is a fear that can interfere with daily life. Fear of flying can affect anyone regardless of age, status, gender and intelligence. Here are my top ten ps for the fearful flier. 1. Don't conceal it. Tell the flight a endant when you board that you may need support during the flight 2. Treat the turbulence like bumps in the road. Don't tense up or fight it, but instead, let your body sway with the aircra movements. 3. At check-in, ask for a seat at the very front of the cabin as possible. Turbulence is usually much greater in the back of the aircra .
4. Keep distracted. Watch the movie, read a book or do a crossword puzzle. Do anything that keeps your mind occupied and not dwelling on morbid possibili es. 5. A popular treatment method for fear of flying is hypnotherapy, which works to connect with the unconscious. It aims to change our thoughts and behaviours associated with flying, making it a more posi ve experience. Re-evalua ng the reac on our unconscious mind creates can o en help us to regain control over a fear and feel more at ease when anxious feelings arise. 6. Avoid coffee or other caffeine products as an overly hyper state of mind will only exacerbate your anxiety. But drink other liquids, as dehydra on only contributes to the fear process. 7. Listen to peaceful and calming 10
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music. Your mind tends to wander and hear sounds that either don't exist or are perfectly normal flight noises. 8. The rubber band technique. Wear a rubber band around your wrist and if you feel yourself becoming agitated, snap the rubber band against your skin. Apparently, the pain is a reality bite, and takes the mind off the turbulence. 9. Avoid gory details. When an air disaster does occur, avoid the graphic details and overplay in the news media. It is important to be informed, but too much is too much. 10. Breathe deeply as o en as you can, and remember that the sick bag in front of you can be used as an an hyperven la ng device as well. Relax and enjoy your holiday this year. Kim Holloway www.total-therapy.co.uk
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15 Mar Hever Castle – Dazzling Daffodils 16 Mar Ideal Home Show – Olympia 19 Mar Sewing for Pleasure 3 in 1 Ticket 20 Mar Classical Spectacular 22 Mar Kensington Palace 23 Mar The Lion King – Lyceum – Matinee 26 Mar Houses of Parliament Audio Tour 4 Apr RHS Wisley Gardens 5 Apr Black Country Living Museum 13 Apr Kew Gardens & Palace 14 Apr Bletchley Park 15 Apr Highclere Castle 15/24Apr W Bros. Making of Harry Potter 27 Apr Hampton Court- Tulipmania 27 Apr Norfolk Broads Paddle Steamer 29 Apr Stamford Mkt & Rutland Tea Cruise 3 May Horse drawn Boat Trip 11 May Stowe House & Gardens 13 May East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens 14 May National Memorial Arboretum 5 Jun Tower of London – Moat Walk 12 Jun Tower of London inc Moat Walk
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Screen this months new releases
Ali & Ava
THE BATMAN Out 4th March
Out 18th March
Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. The lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens. When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends Batman on an investigation into the underworld.
Ali, an exuberant music enthusiast and landlord, is struggling to keep his recent separation from his wife a secret from his family. Ava is a middle-aged teaching assistant with a large and close-knit family, whose latest grandchild has just been born. When a chance encounter unites them, Ali and Ava begin a tentative friendship formed around their shared love of music that quickly blossoms into an unexpected romance.
Certificate PG
Certificate 15
Running Time 173 mins
Running Time 95 mins
16 Hurst Close Baldock, SG76TL
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Out 18th March
Out 25th March
Elite spy Orson Fortune must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds. Reluctantly teamed up with some of the world's best operatives, Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood's biggest movie star, Danny Francesco, to help them on their globe-trotting mission to save the world
Needing money to cover his wife's medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank. However, when their getaway goes wrong, the desperate thieves hijack an ambulance that's carrying a severely wounded cop and an EMT worker. Caught in a high-speed chase, the two siblings must figure out a way to outrun the law while keeping their hostages alive.
Certificate 18
Certificate 18
Running Time 120 mins
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Running Time 136 mins Answer-phone on both numbers & will return all calls
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Happy 5th Birthday Henry Clark
From everyone in your family
Happy
40 Birthday th
COLIN HOWELL
Lots of Love Emma, Henry & Jake x
28th MARCH
Happy Birthday Mum
LAWN CUTTING HEDGE CUTTING LANDSCAPING PATIOS
13th March
Love Jude & Matt xx
2518thToday March Holly Calver Happy
60 Birthday th
DAVID ARCHER Lots of Archer, Simmonds & Fletcher family 14
31ST MARCH
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2022
ASHWELL
ROGERSONS REMOVALS
WESTON
It's a hard life sometimes It's a real slog not being a morning person, I don't think all of you folk that are up at dawns crack, with your sunny disposi ons and bouncy natures are aware of just how difficult it is for us to face that amount of energy before 3 doses of caffeine and a couple of wellplaced swear words. Last week my fridge freezer died, it was a long and drawn-out process. As my luck would have it, I had just stocked up with the first massive shop a er Christmas, so that was a waste to start with. We woke up one morning to the sound of the appliance beeping in a fit of panic as the life oozed out of it. A er seeking some advice from the very friendly and very efficient Seba shop on the Jackmans, I was told that it needed a good defrost. This would take at least three days. So, we hoofed our rather large and heavy item into the back garden (I say we, and freely admit that I played no part in it), and there it stood, like some weird monument to food preserva on un l Sunday a ernoon when we hauled it back in again (there's that we again) and plugged it back in. With hope in our hearts, it buzzed and beeped and ever so slowly, cooled its ardor to the required temperature. I can't tell you how happy this made me. It's sad I know that the resurrec on of a household appliance brought so much joy to me but the prospect of paying out three hundred squid did not sit well. I then went shopping and replaced the items that were spoiled. Three days later we awake to the sound of a forlorn beeping, and the smell of warm cheese and bacon. It was then we knew the jig
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was up. Digging deep into our pockets, we set about ordering a brand-new device that would keep my cheese and wine cold and not beep at us first thing in the morning. On Thursday night I received an email telling me that I was very lucky as I was one of the first deliveries for the next day, it would be with us between seven and eleven. I contented myself with this news by knowing that I was never first for anything at it would arrive about midday. On the dot of seven, Eddie leapt from my bed in a fit of the loudest barking and howling I have ever heard, this caused the rest of the household to fly out of our rooms with confused expressions. Freezer! we shouted and plunged down the stairs towards the front door. Realizing that I was semi naked, I stopped myself short and asked the guys to hang on a bit, ran back up the stairs (thank heavens for frosted glass, those poor men), dressed and pulled myself together. Then came the furniture removal to get the new one in and the old one out. Sofas and chairs were thrown asunder and of course I knocked my coffee off the table in the ensuing scurry. The delivery guys departed, and I surveyed the wreckage of my living room. Eddie is a hairy and molty dog, so every me you move any furniture, a whole warren of dust bunnies race from under cover and proceed to hold a rave as they dance about the floor. Buy seven-thirty I had the room swept, the furniture back and my posh new fridge freezer in place.vThe rest of the household returned to their pits as though nothing had happened whilst I hooked up an
intravenous drip of strong coffee. A er a while in recovery, I went shopping for the third me. In case that wasn't enough for you dear readers to understand fully the plight of us not morning people, perhaps this will help. Sunday night was grandkids sleep over night, sounds great doesn't it. It was, but what follows Sunday night? Oh yes, Monday morning, The scourge of any decent not morning person. At six am my nearly four-yearold grandson bounds into my bedroom with the energy of a Greyhound on race day. “Ninny, what's that light? Ninny, why do you have a clock, Ninny, where's Eddie, I love Eddie. Poppy, come and see Eddie. Look at my hand Ninny. I'm ge ng in bed with you and Eddie, isn't your bed bouncy Ninny.” I spent the morning hooked up to the coffee machine and weeping silently into my cornflakes before going to work for some well-earned rest. Thankfully, my colleagues know me well enough, and a wide berth was given before lunch me.
Nicky
Advertising from £20 per Issue info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally
Raising awaren of what’s ess on & where to find things locally
www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk villages
of what’s on & where to find things locally
Issue 74 December 2020
www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk
Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages
Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding
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2022
of what’s on & where to find things locally
Issue 74 December 2020
www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.
Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and
uk
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Go Big or Go Home
The New Volkswagen Mul van
By Tim Barnes-Clay - Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay The Volkswagen Mul van has been designed from the ground up to be a minibus. But this gives the vehicle an advantage. Whereas the standard van-to-peoplecarrier conversions can't always offer wholesale changes to the interior, VW has been able to design this from a clean sheet, enabling it to focus on usability and drivability. Based on the same pla orm as a Tiguan, the Mul van replaces the outgoing, popular Caravelle, which remains on sale for the moment but will eventually be withdrawn. It looks modern yet somehow retro, with my test vehicle being silver on top and metallic orange on the bo om – as if donning its cap to the classic bi-coloured Campervan. Interes ngly for a van, there is no diesel on offer yet (although one is expected soon). So, for the moment, there are two petrols – a 1.5-litre producing 136PS and a 2.0-litre producing 207PS. Both are seven-speed automa cs. But what's even more noteworthy is the addi on of the eHybrid. This houses an electric motor connected to a 1.4-litre petrol engine and produces a combined 218PS via a sixspeed automa c.
The lower-powered petrol engine doesn't cut the mustard, although the higher-powered 2.0-litre unit has a decent amount of kick to it. You can expect to only get around 30mpg with a full load of passengers, though. The eHybrid is the one to go for. It manages a claimed 31 miles in all-electric mode, can comfortably do 70mph without needing the engine, and VW claims it will achieve 157mpg in hybrid mode. It only takes three-and-a-half hours to charge up from a 3.7kW wall box, too. If you are likely to be driving about around town centres, slow airport roads and through stop-start traffic, then the effortless accelera on of the eHybrid will make things easier. Admi edly, the hybrid's engine sounds a bit thrashy when pushed, but the fuel savings make up for it. The shi from the electric motor to the engine is smooth, too. Furthermore, VW has made the Mul van as aerodynamically efficient as possible to help with fuel savings and limit wind noise. The VW feels rela vely effortless to drive as the steering is very light. It does ghten up a bit as you go quicker, but this hardly makes it handle well, and
there's a lot of bus-like lean in the corners, as you'd expect. Inside, there is a premium feel. All the seats are comfortable – and all passengers get USB-C charging points. Furthermore, there are numerous op ons available to fit a centre console and tables if you can make do with losing one or two seats. In terms of prac cality, you will struggle to do be er. Even with the three rows of seats in place, there is 469-litres of room in the standard Mul van (763-litres in the long-wheelbase version). But this figure extends towards 4,000-litres if you were to take all the seats out.
Fast Facts Volkswagen Mul van eHybrid: Ÿ Max speed: 118mph Ÿ 0-62 mph: 11.6 Ÿ Combined mpg: 156.9 mpg (31 allŸ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
electric range) Engine layout: 1400cc four-cylinder petrol + electric. Max. power (PS): 218 CO2: TBC Price: £55,000
Baldock Gardens By Graham Tapp
Last month I wrote a little about the commercial use of specialist plastics in horticulture and how different types can be used to modify how light can be used to encourage growth or, in fact, slow it down as we do in our nursery to lengthen sales times for different plants. This made me think I should write about the use of artificial lighting to do the same but indoors, in your house. Artificial lighting used to be extremely expensive and used by the very rich or in large commercial production. Now anyone can afford to buy it and use it; small units come with all of the instructions needed to grow a wide range of plants from house plants through to salads and vegetables for eating. Some of the cheaper systems use small strip lights with a choice of red or blue light tubes. Blue light is used to stimulate growth, and red is essential for development as well as flower production so you would need a mix of both. The length of time the lights are turned on for is every bit as important as the type of equipment, intensity of light and colour. Don't forget you are simulating a different time of the year to what you are actually in, so you will require a more extended day length and also a lengthening day time. Some of the more expensive systems have all of this covered, with the use of special timers and the use of LED lights, so the mix of light and frequency is controlled for you. A wide range of crops or plants is now available for you to grow all year round, including some of the more "special" exotic plants. (Just saying). Along with a new lighting system, you might also like to use a hydroponic system to grow your plants; this will do away with substrates like compost or soil. A cleaner system that works by the plant roots being submerged in a liquid solution containing all of the feed
needed for optimal growth and is a bit more scientific than just using compost and some feed every now and then. Hydroponic systems like lighting can range from the inexpensive do it yourself approach to an all bells and whistles system. They can control water temperature, Ph, nutrient status, and fluid levels as some plants cant withstand having their roots submerged all of the time. While taking up a bit of room in your house, these systems make an exciting centrepiece and a good conversation starter and, if nothing else, good fun. I have had good results with both systems growing strawberries in gutters and flowers under lights. The lights were excellent, but by now, old technology; they were high-pressure metal halide lamps that produced enormous amounts of heat along with significantly bright light. Too much exposure could cause a skin burn, so we had to be very careful when working with them or turn them off. Metal halide lamps are costly to run, consuming huge amounts of electricity. The old joke was that if you had your electricity meter in the living room, you wouldn't need the heating on as it would be so hot. Good crops to grow indoors with this system would be, Lettuce, Spinach, Strawberries, Bell Peppers, Chillies, Herbs, Radishes, Cucumbers, and even Tomatoes. The temperature needs to be kept between 15 and 27 degrees centigrade for the best results. There are variations on the typical hydroponic system, such as the Nutrient film technique; this is where the water holding the nutrients is pumped into the growing tray for a short period to cover the plant's roots. The water can then be drained off or pumped back into the holding chamber; this is the most popular system as it is the best for growing salads and herbs. Interestingly a modification can be
developed so that the holding chamber can be a fish tank. How it works is that you feed the fish, they defecate, creating waste that becomes the plant food, it is pumped into the growing tray providing nutrients for the plants then back into the fish tank. Some people farm the fish to eat; this would be the larger systems not suited to being in the house. The smaller systems include a decorative glass tank with pet fish and a few plants, probably house plants. Back to basics, if the actual month you are living in at the time is February, you will be experiencing an average day length of 10.05 hours. If you want your plants to produce flowers or an edible crop, you will need to trick them into thinking it's a different time of the year, say July; then you will have to lengthen the time to 16.15 hours. August would be 14.41 hours, and September would be 12.44 hours. But be aware you cant trick an immature plant into cropping. You will have to coax it along a bit, slowly raising the temperature and extending the day length. With many plants, an extending day length will produce growth and will need reducing day length to produce a crop; this is a significantly simplified explanation of how it works. If you want to give it a go, I suggest doing some research into the plants you want to grow and what you want to achieve. A cost analysis will be a good idea to see if your return on investment is affordable as this equipment is not cheap. Remember growing super exotic plants on a large scale may lead to a helicopter circling overhead and a visit from the authorities.
Graham
Tapps, The Baldock Garden Centre
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2022
Rotary Club Seeks New Gardens for ‘Open Gardens’ Event in May As part of the Baldock Fes val in May, the Rotary Club of Baldock will once again be sponsoring and organising the very popular Open Gardens event. As is tradi onal, it will be held on the a ernoon of the Fes val on Sunday, 15th May and we ask gardens to be open between 1.00pm and 5.00pm. Our Open Gardens are a mix of gardens some of which are open for the first me and others that have opened previously. This always gives people a choice of which gardens to visit. In order to provide an even wider choice of new gardens to visit we would like to give people the opportunity to volunteer to open their gardens. Your garden doesn’t have to be; a show garden – there are no prizes at
stake a large garden – small can be just as interes ng pris ne – weeds have a habit of appearing overnight! However, it does have to be a safe environment. Baldock residents are always interested in the Open Gardens event and ideas and comments (always posi ve) are shared on the day. However, with greater publicity the event is beginning to a ract visitors from further afield. All gardens are marshalled throughout the a ernoon by Members or Friends of Rotary who take responsibility for checking ckets and suppor ng the garden owner. In previous years people have responded to this request and found it an enjoyable experience. If you are interested in opening your garden and would like to volunteer or would like more informa on about the event please contact Janet Hammond, telephone number 01462-894603 or e-mail janet.hammond4@b nternet.com. Rotarian Thomas Odd
Well 2022 started for us with an amazing talk in January by Barbara Doherty MBE, the President of Isabel Hospice on the history of the hospice movement. Although some of us (me) found it very moving, it was also incredibly inspiring. The work that our hospices do is just awesome. Our March mee ng is a li le less intense and will be a social evening with Bingo and silliness (and wine and cake no doubt). If you'd like to join us to see if our WI is right for you, we meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7.30 pm at the United Reform Church on Whitehorse Street. Feel free to contact Lucy Eaglen on 07538 241375 with any queries etc.
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Ashwell at Home 2022 - 'A Day of Wellbeing' - Sunday 8th May 11am-5pm Ashwell at Home is an annual event held in the village of Ashwell in north Herts, when this historic village welcomes visitors from near and far for a whole day of entertainment for all the family.
The theme for 2022 is 'A Day of Wellbeing' and there will be a wide range of open gardens, free workshops for adults and children, live music and entertainment around the village, talks, displays and guided walks, Morris dancing, funfair, lunches & teas and much more. Entry by programme: £8 adults (under 18s free with accompanying paying adult) available on the day at the event, or £7 in advance from the link on our website www. cketsource.co.uk/ashwel lathome
Free parking. All proceeds to Ashwell Museum, Church and School. Loca on: Ashwell is in North Her ordshire, near Junc on 10 of the A1(M). Ashwell, Her ordshire SG7 5NY 22
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2022
What are Lasting Powers of Attorney?
What are Las ng Powers of A orney and why you should make them sooner rather than later… If you've never heard of a Las ng Power of A orney (or LPA), you're not alone. Or you may be familiar with the term, but have decided it's not relevant to you. Few of us want to think about what might happen if we lost our mental capacity, but the sta s cs of people living with demen a in the UK are sobering (the Alzheimer's Society predict over one million people by 2025)! An LPA is a legal tool which means you can appoint someone you trust to help you make decisions about your finances when you are no longer able to do so. Most LPAs are used in this way, by people suffering from
Alzheimer's or demen a, but they may be needed sooner if you were suddenly involved in an accident or suffered a stroke. An LPA must be made when you are fit and well. Once mental capacity has been lost, it's too late and then it's up to a rela ve to apply to act on your behalf - this involves a lengthy, o en costly court process. The crea on of an LPA is as important as crea ng your Will and without these legal tools in place, you and your family may be le in a very vulnerable situa on. Las ng Power of A orney for Finance & Property - Everyone should make a Finance & Property LPA when they are young to act almost as an insurance policy. But don't be frightened that se ng up an LPA equals losing financial control. It may never be needed, or it may only be needed many years later. Everyone should have the reassurance of knowing that whatever happens, their family will be able to help pay their bills or access money for their care. Las ng Power of A orney for Health & Welfare - As well as an LPA for financial
and property related ma ers, there is also an LPA document which covers your health and welfare. You can use a Health & Welfare LPA to appoint people you would trust to speak to medical professionals on your behalf if you were to ill to do that yourself. Without an LPA in place medical prac oners do not have to listen to family members! Two quite different LPAs – and both could be needed if you became unwell. You will find more informa on about these par cularly important documents on our website www.arkpowers.com We can take the stress away from making LPAs by comple ng the paperwork on your behalf. For a no obliga on chat please do get in touch – email info@arkpowers.com or call 01428746977. 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
MARCH
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 surrounding villages
2022
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Compliant with Government guidance on managing the risk of Covid-19
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Dental Hygiene For Pets
M. 07884 430741 E. claire@goodridgeaccountants.co.uk W. www.goodridgeaccountants.co.uk
Our beloved pets use their mouths for a lot everyday; ea ng, playing, and exploring and tas ng their surroundings. This means without regular dental cleaning, their teeth will begin to harbour bacteria. Over 80% of dogs over the age of three have ac ve dental disease, so it is important to begin dental cleaning from an early age to prevent this from happening. Common signs of poor dental hygiene is smelly breath, brown tartar build up on teeth or drooling.
Dental care is also very important in our small furies! Our smaller pets have teeth that are con nuously growing, and so need to be fed the correct diet in order to keep these healthy. If not these teeth may become overgrown, which is really painful and can prevent them from chewing properly. If you require more informa on regarding dental hygiene then please contact Royston on 01763 242221 or Baldock on 01462 895579.
‘Keep ts your pe smiling'
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5 minutes with...
... Karen Perry from Chiropodist
*Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a Registered Chiropodist trea ng feet and related issues for the past 25 years. I qualified as a Chiropodist a er my son was born - previously working in sales and marke ng in the packaging industry. This change enabled part- me working before my baby a ended school, be closer to home and have more control over my working hours. I naively thought being self-employed would mean I worked only when convenient to me, but the reality is that self-employment means working when our services are required and being flexible to pa ent's needs. Through being reliable and providing a professional service, I was working full- me when my son started at Hartsfield. I really do try to treat pa ents how I would like to be treated – that goes for us all, in every situa on surely? *Chiropodist or Podiatrist? There are 2 tles associated with professional foot-care which are Chiropodist and Podiatrist. My qualifica on allows me to use either tle but, as many people have no idea what a Podiatrist does, and most people at least know that a Chiropodist deals with feet, I choose to be known as a Chiropodist! I have had a few calls from people wan ng me to fix their back spasms but that is due to job tles being mis-read so I direct them to a Chiropractor who is definitely more able to help their back than me.
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to make an appointment or for a free consultation call Jacqui
07973 788418 01462 640307
baldock I letchworth I stevenage I stotfold 26
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*Who uses your service: I treat anyone with feet other the very young who are best treated by specialists! The bo om line is that our feet change in size, shape and func on throughout our lives and at any stage can bring us problems. It's o en very difficult to see what's giving us trouble on our far-away feet. We mostly deal with our own feet maintenance but many issues can make self-treatment difficult – nail and joint shape changes, Arthri s, eyesight deteriora on, foot shape altera ons, injury, joint replacement, health condi ons such as Diabetes/Circula on damage and weight-gain all mean it is advisable to seek help from a professional who sits with good access the feet, safely deals with problems while recommending ways to keep comfortable for as long as possible. The majority of pa ents require help with nail management and problems in or on their skin – skin is our biggest organ but this miraculous body barrier easily becomes damaged, needing help to be intact and flexible to ward off many environmental pressures. *Why would I need a Chiropodist? Soreness and discomfort on our feet/toes are the primary reason. The structural arches in our feet change over the years which result in wider and/or longer feet, o en accompanied by toe distor ons – we rarely realize this change happens. My own feet have expanded from a neat size 5 to a 7! Do check foot-size every me shoes are purchased and buy the larger size if one foot is comfortable and the other ght as we normally have one foot slightly larger than the other. Some foot-related problems may be one-offs but once a problem has started (such as corns or nail distor ons) many pa ents find a regular appointment to 'manage' the problem keeps them comfortable. Problems are frequently direct results of wearing the wrong footwear for our foot shape – if I have a square shaped-foot I need to always wear a square-shaped style of footwear, and if I don't the only person to suffer is myself. There are no prizes for having painful feet. *Where are you based: For the past 20 years I have worked at The Wyndham Centre, Pinnocks Lane, Baldock on Tuesdays and Fridays. I also offer local home visits and visit Nursing/Care Homes working Monday to Friday. (a girl has to have me trimming roses rather than toenails). *Final thoughts: Please be kind to your fabulous feet and yourself. Seek help before a discomfort becomes a crisis – skin soreness/thickening, nail injury, foreign object punctures can quickly deteriorate as foot problems rarely resolve without proper help. In order to ensure we only use properly qualified prac oners, everyone in the U.K. is advised to use medical professionals registered with the HCPC (The Health and Care Professions Council) – a quick search of the HCPC will ensure anyone providing a medical service is appropriately qualified.
It's a horrible feeling when you owe more money than you have coming in and cannot afford to buy the essen als such as food, household goods, fuel and clothes. We have lived through a pandemic which has caused financial chaos in some areas of the economy, especially in the entertainment, tourist and hospitality industry. There has been evidence of a ripple effect for people
who have businesses which support these industries and have also suffered financially since March 2020. The Baldock Futures Fund not only gives out hardship grants for the essen als in life but works with other organisa ons to try and work out a package of support tailored to your circumstances. We also work in partnership with the Stephen Boddey Fund which considers Start Up Grants for people wan ng to
take their working life in another direc on. There are many reasons why people have made this decision and it can never be under es mated that it is a brave one. It helps if you have people who believe in you and will help you financially. Please contact either the Vivienne Reed (Hon Chair ) Baldock Futures Fund – Baldockcs0@gmail.com contact 07815308124. Anthony Bidder (Founder)Stephen Boddey Stup Up Fund sbsf@adelphifund.co.uk
TAPPS Weekend roles with in our fast paced & friendly tearoom. Email louise.tapp@tappsgardencentre .org
Chiropodist
Karen Perry 'Custom Fit Supportive Orthotics’ Home Visits or Baldock Surgery
ACCSLtd
March jewellery clinics at the Baldock Community Centre are 9th & 23rd from 11-2
Window Cleaning 20 years experience Reliable and efficient Fully Insured & Uniformed staff
01462 629302 07970 406926 152 Hitchin Road, Stotfold
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Baldock Rotary has taken the first steps to set up a Satellite Club, which would operate alongside the traditional club. The aims of a Satellite Club are to attract younger members and have greater diversity and inclusivity. Also it would be a club where the new members will decide when, where and how often the Satellite Club meets. Two meetings have already been held with potential new members and things look promising. We now need to extend that interest. So if you are the type of person who is in a position to “give something back” to the Community, we would love to hear from you. Our activities and aims can be summarised as; Fundraising for charitable causes Support for the local Community Aid for international disasters Protecting the Environment Make new friends and have fun If you are interested in being part of this new venture please contact our Membership Secretary, Paul Redwood, tel. no. 07999 350990, e-mail paul49redwood@gmail.com.
All Boiler Maintenance, Serving & Repairs
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“We Are Open” "We are delighted to announce that the Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre is back open a er some necessary refurbishment work to our Gallery and main hall. Our volunteers are busy with the opening of an exhibi on by the New Horizon Tex le Group which features a fantas c selec on of contemporary tex le work. The Gallery is open every Wednesday and Saturday 11am - 3pm. The exhibi on runs un l the 14th May. We have a full schedule for the year for our popular History in the A ernoon talks, full details of which can be found on our websitewww.bahc.co.uk On Friday 11th March at 2.30pm we have 'My Madagascar Missionary Grandfather' by Jane Havercro , on Friday 8th April we have 'Tradi onal Treasures' by Barry Goodman, and on the 13th May we have 'Verdi, the man of stone' which details the life of the great Italian composer complete with live music by Laura Valen ne and accompaniment by Margaret Johnson. Don't forget that at the talks we always serve free tea and cake! Film@BAHC also started in February
with the Black Widow, which was very well received. We have been awarded a grant to update our screen and sound equipment which will greatly enhance the film experience. We are excited to get the new kit up and running and hope this will be possible by early Summer. Our film nights are set up in cafe style and we have a licenced bar for you to enjoy some drinks while watching the film. We'd love for you to join us at our next film, 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard', showing on the 18th March at 7.30pm. On April 22nd we will be showing 'The Disappearance at Cli on Hill'. For all films you can pay on the door or book in advance via our website www.bahc.co.uk Aside from the above we also have new ballet classes running every Monday aimed specifically at young children. Full details can be found on our website or by contac ng the teacher directly at lucinda.stanley1904@gmail.com The commi ee are working hard on
developing a full events programme for the year, and have several planned as part of the May Baldock Fes val. We would also very much welcome ideas from you about what you would like to see at the Arts & Heritage Centre. All ideas appreciated! Please share them by emailing laura@bahc.co.uk.
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VEHICLE GRAPHICS
GET NOTICED Adding car and van graphics to your vehicle will help increase your businesses visibility and give you a free advertising platform while driving around.
Call 07968 04 34 24
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Are Achy Joints Stopping You From Exercising? As the weather warms, many of us are tempted, even excited, to start ge ng out and about more. For some, this may prove challenging, especially if they have painful, aching and s ff joints due to osteoarthri s. Osteoarthri s (OA) is a very common condi on and is the most common form of arthri s, affec ng approximately 240 million people worldwide. OA is a naturally occurring process and is usually described as "wear and tear" on the joints. Due to the stress placed on our joints during everyday life we begin to get wearing of the car lage (so ssue which cushions our joints) which causes bony growths, swelling, redness, pain and s ffness. OA can also occur following surgery or an injury. Typical approaches include losing weight, taking pain relief medica on, star ng a structured exercise program or having surgery. But there are other op ons you can consider for example: Our Osteopaths can help with OA using a
variety of techniques to help improve the mobility of joints and reduce the tension in the surrounding areas, to help you to perform your daily ac vi es with more ease. They may also give you advice and exercises to do at home. If you have arthri s in the feet or ankles, a Podiatrist may be able to help you walk with less pain and s ffness by providing you with custom-made insoles to improve foot func on and reduce the loads on the affected joints. Acupuncture, both medical or tradi onal, have been used as an effec ve treatment for pain and inflamma on for centuries, including that associated with arthri s, without the side-effects or concerns associated with most pain relief medica on. If you or someone you know suffers with osteoarthri s or any other joint pain, please feel free to get in touch. Our team of friendly and experienced team are here to help. The Amber Team - 01462 490141
Sunshine Gardens is celebra ng 30 years in business! In that me, we have maintained and landscaped thousands of gardens across North Herts and Bedfordshire. It all started in 1992 when I was working in insurance. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend lots of me with my children during the day and s ll have a bit of free me that I was keen to fill. At the me we had a 100 garden in Baldock and I loved maintaining it and spending me outdoors. A lightbulb moment later and I thought why not work on other gardens too? Back then there was no internet so the only way to get our name out there was by placing adverts in the local paper, Yellow Pages and Thompsons Directories.
Our eagerly an cipated first job came in and off I tro ed to assess the work. It was to dig up a small apple tree stump and roots - easy job (or so I thought)! The quote of £25 was accepted and I got to work the very next day with my home DIY tools. It was June and scorching hot but 5 hours later I managed to cut away the last of the roots. 5 hours! I thought it would be a couple of hours work at most - welcome to the real world of professional gardening, Dave. A rough start but it didn't put me off and I soon realised there was more to this gardening lark than I first thought.
The adverts were working and soon I had a steady stream of accepted quotes and began to build a team. One of our earlier landscaping projects was for The Her ordshire Football Associa on in Letchworth Garden City. They had built a new stand, clubhouse and changing rooms and wanted their frontage completely landscaped to complement their new facili es. A er plan ng an impressive 100 hawthorn hedge along the perimeter, we commissioned bespoke double entry metal gates and finished the beau ful new lawn with eyecatching shrubs and trees to complete the project. That was 25 years ago and to this day I s ll get a buzz seeing it every me I go past. The years have flown by since those early days and we've had some highs and lows on the way. We have met some wonderful customers and grown the business to a strong team of experts made up of 7 gardeners and 2 landscapers who love their job and pride themselves on impeccable quality standards. Our incredible office team keep us all in check and make sure the business runs smoothly. Between us we maintain over 300 clients' gardens/grounds (residen al and commercial) on a regular basis. We are proud to be one of the longest standing and most trusted garden maintenance and landscaping companies in the area. Years ago, I made it our mission to be reliable and dependable, if we say we're coming to give you a quote or carry out a job, we'll be there.
You are just one call or email away from si ng back, relaxing, and le ng us do all your hard work for you, so you can enjoy a gorgeous garden at the weekend. As well as garden maintenance, we also carry out one off dy-ups. We love tackling garden nightmares and ge ng your outdoor space back into shape so you can make the most of it. Now is the best me to book your visit in readiness for Spring and Summer. Just Google “Sunshine Gardens Baldock” and see our 50+ 5star reviews and tes monials for your peace of mind. Book early as we are already fully booked un l the end of April/May 2022. Contact us for a free wri en quota on which will be sent to you within 48 hours.
The teams are ready and raring to go in 2022. To help celebrate our 30th year in business, we are offering the first 10 new clients 12 months of garden maintenance for the price 9! Call us on 01462 262200 or email office@sunshinegardensbaldock.co.uk Here's to another 30 years!
Dave
Please see our usual advert on page 2
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March Gallery
Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Letchworth v Datchworth local derby - Les Wilsher
Little Rosa enjoying the February issue
Couple of hungry buzzards in Radwell - Kim Wardle
Adonis blue buttery taken on Royston heath - Linda Parcell
Postcard perfect, River Ivel at Radwell - Matthew Bartlett Beautiful sunset on drive home - Soe Harrington
Dave Hammond enjoying the cricket overseas
Graham Tomlinson
Young pup Maverick enjoy the local countryside
Loading up the sugar beet - James Dearman
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 01462 892458
Baldock Surgery
Dentist Victoria Place Dental Surgery
01763 313869
Emergency Utilities 0800 111 999 0800 7838838
Gas Emergency Electric power cut
Hospitals Lister Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 EMERGENCY HEALTH
01438 314333 01707 328111 111
Library Baldock Library
0300 123 4049
Police 01707 354000
Police
Schools Knights Templar Hartseld St Johns St Marys Infants St Marys Juniors Brandles
01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 01462 892156 01462 892189
Travel 08701 201088 03457 484950 0870 6082608
Arriva Buses National Rail Enquires National Bus line
Vets Baldock Veterinary Centre
01462 895579
Nurseries 01462 892172 01462 896322 07736 124327
Weston Way Nursery Merry Go Round Peanuts Preschool
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
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01462 491149
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