Forest of Dean

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The Local

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APRIL 2016

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The Local

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Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies Gloucester – 46,000 copies Gloucestershire South – 41,000 copies Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies Cotswolds – 28,000 copies

Sara Sheperia Publication Manager – Forest of Dean

01242 541076 sara@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Editorial Lois Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Distribution Nik Chavda – 01242 500245 office@achda.co.uk

Production Alison Hambling alison@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Accounts Kerry Fell accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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Welcome to April ... We have a fantastic competition this month in which you could be the lucky winner of a £500 holiday gift card courtesy of The Local Answer! For more details and to find out how you can enter, see the centre pages. Take advantage of the glorious sunshine and get out and about in April. Why not forage for gorse in the countryside, or check out our What’s On section for some great entertainment including a the Chepstow Walking Festival, Ross Beerfest and Paws on Patrol! Alternatively, get out in the garden and follow Julia Smith’s tips on spring flowers, or if you’d prefer to take it easy, have a go at making this month’s cocktail – a Bloody Mary – and put your feet up.

Inside this month ... Food & Drink 4 Cocktail Time 4 Delicious Dishes 5 Wild Food Foraging 6 Education 9 Wildlife Matters 13 Parenting & Guardianship 15 What’s On 16 Win a £500 Holiday Gift Card! 18-19 Homes & Gardens 21 In the Garden 23 Interior Design 25 Gadgets & Gizmos 27 Sudoku 29 Word Search 30 Quick Crossword 32 Money Matters 33 Index, Competitions, Solutions 34 Competition on pages 18-19

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Page 3


Cocktail Time

Your local, friendly, helpful store with easy access and plenty of parking.

with Lois Kingscott

Bloody Mary The Bloody Mary is often called ‘the world’s most complex cocktail’ because of the vast number of ingredients it contains, and there are three different claims to who invented it. The first is a bartender from New York’s 21 Club named Henry Zbikiewicz, who supposedly invented the cocktail in the 1930s. The second, a frequent visitor of the 21 Club, is the comedian George Jessel. But the third comes from Fernand Petiot who claimed to have invented the Bloody Mary before the other two, in 1921, while working at the New York Bar in Paris – later known as Harry’s New York Bar. Petiot said that he adapted Jessel’s drink from being simply vodka and tomato juice by combining “four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of Worcestershire sauce”. He then added a dash of lemon juice, ice, vodka and tomato juice before shaking, straining and pouring. The cocktail’s name is associated with several historical figures – most prominently Queen Mary I of England, who gained the nickname due to the mass executions she carried out while attempting to re-establish Roman Catholicism in England. Ingredients: Ice; 50ml vodka; ½ lemon, juice only; 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce; 3 dashes Tabasco sauce; 150ml tomato juice; pinch salt and ground black pepper; celery and wedge of lime to garnish. Method: 1 Place the ice in a tall glass and add the vodka. 2 Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce and tomato juice. Stir well. 3 Season to your taste with salt and pepper, garnish with celery and lime wedge, and serve immediately.

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PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Why not have a Mocktail? For a non–alcoholic alternative, simply omit the vodka. Page 4

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Delicious Dishes with Helen Kingscott

Rhubarb panna cotta served with roasted rhubarb Tangy, light and creamy – a perfectly simple spring dessert Ingredients (serves 4): For the roasted rhubarb: 500g fresh rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces; 2 tbsp caster sugar; 4 tbsp apple juice For the panna cotta: 75g caster sugar; 150ml double cream; 2 gelatine leaves, soaked in a bowl of water until soft, squeezed dry; 300ml buttermilk. Method: 1 For the roasted rhubarb: preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas 6). Place the pieces of rhubarb onto a baking tray, sprinkle with sugar then drizzle over the apple juice. 2 Roast in the oven for 8-12 minutes, or until just tender. 3 Blend 125g of the roasted rhubarb in a food processor to make a purée. Keep back the remaining roasted rhubarb to garnish the panna cotta. 4 For the panna cotta: put the sugar and cream in a pan and gently simmer. Stir continuously until all of the sugar has dissolved. 5 Soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Squeeze out all excess water. Add the softened gelatine leaves to the sugar and cream mixture. Continue to simmer until they are dissolved. 6 Add the rhubarb purée to the pan and stir until well combined. Remove from the heat and put aside to cool slightly. 7 Add the buttermilk and stir until the mixture is combined.

8 Place four ramekins onto a baking tray. Split the panna cotta mixture between the ramekins and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or until set. 9 To serve, remove the panna cotta from the fridge. Briefly dip the base of each into a bowl of boiled water to loosen. Gently slide a knife around the edge of each ramekin and turn out into the centre of a serving plate. Spoon the remaining reserved rhubarb and juices around the edge of the serving plates.

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Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley

An extensive selection of Cantonese, Szechuan & Thai dishes

Gorse I’m sat on the sofa in my thermals with a rolled up piece of tissue lodged up each nostril. I’ve been kicked out of bed by my wife because – allow me to paraphrase for the younger readers amongst you – my persistent whimpering is causing her to seriously consider the benefits of a lifetime in jail! Even my dog has given up on me and remained in the warm, quiet bedroom. My only comfort is the eerie blue glow from the TV, which has been warning me of its inability to find signal for the last hour. A part of me knows I should get up and turn it off, but I take some comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one functioning incorrectly. My feverish melancholy is hardened by the knowledge that I’m quickly running out of hot herbal refreshments.

When gorse is out of flower, kissing is out of fashion Because the last week of the month is always a gentle reminder that I’m only one pay cheque away from financial ruin, I quickly write off the thought of a shopping trip in the morning to replenish my tea supplies and instead turn my attention to a gorse bush I spotted about an hour’s walk from home. It’s said that when gorse is out of flower, kissing is out of fashion, so you can usually be sure to get a good crop of the delicate yellow petals most of the year. They can be used to garnish a salad, or an unopened flower bud can be pickled and used in the same way as you would a caper. But always partial to a hot beverage, I prefer to just steep a couple of flower heads in a mug of hot water before slurping noisily in plenty of company. I mean, what good is being poorly if you can’t take every opportunity to announce it to the world? If you’re not 100% sure that the plant you’re picking is safe for human consumption, don’t pick it. If you’re prone to food allergies, or pregnant, always seek medical advice before consuming anything foraged in the wild. Page 6

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Staunton Garden Centre Tel: 01452 840612

Gloucestershire Come and see our SPRING offers! Attract the bees and butterflies to your garden

These lovely cottage Garden Plants

4 for £12 1L Alpines

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75 Varieties to choose Also see our from this lovely range of vegetable flowering range plants!

Hanging Baskets Bring your hanging baskets now to be refilled

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www.stauntongardencentre.co.uk Staunton Garden Centre, Staunton Cross, Ledbury Road, Staunton, Glos GL19 3QA


Education

with Mark Newman of UCAS

You’re hired! The benefits of being a real-life apprentice In recent years apprenticeships have grown in popularity and are offered at a number of levels from level 2 (GCSE level) to level 7 (masters level), allowing students to choose from numerous paths via a mixture of A levels, diplomas and apprenticeships. Young people can choose the path which suits their study style, personality, circumstances and their pockets – the most important thing is that they reach their full potential by whatever route is best for them. With 150,000 opportunities available in more than 170 industries, and 1,500 different job roles nationwide, and from large national companies to small local ones, there’s never been a better time to become an apprentice.

1 You’ll earn while you learn

4 You could go on to university You’ll receive a wage and paid holiday. Depending on the employer, learning will either be on a one day a week basis, or in blocks of several days, and either in the workplace or at a local college.

Once you complete your apprenticeship you may be able to go in to permanent work with your current employer, look at other jobs or go into higher education.

2 You’ll gain work experience

5 You could do a fee-free degree

technical subjects, which can lead to a full undergraduate degree as part of the apprenticeship. You work and study for a degree, while the government and your employer pay your fees. Check out the National Apprenticeships Service at – www.findapprenticeship. service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch or the UCAS Progress search tool www.ucasprogress.com/search to look for apprenticeships in Gloucestershire.

Each week you’ll be working alongside Degree apprenticeships are a new type experienced staff, while gaining job- of higher apprenticeship in a range of specific skills and earning a wage. This means you can develop your Case Study – Steven Cant at Xograph Healthcare knowledge and skills quickly. Your employer will also provide you with Stonehouse-based medical equip- Gloucestershire College’s Gloucester practical experience so you can put ment company, Xograph Healthcare, Campus. that investing in He said: “My apprenticeship has your new skills to the test – what better believes apprenticeship training will help it given me so much confidence. I am way to prepare for full-time work? achieve its ambition for growth, and very happy to contribute to 3 You’ll receive a says its Gloucestershire College discussions both at college and apprentice has “made a huge during development meetings at qualification work. I have gained At the end of the apprenticeship you’ll difference” to the business. 23-year-old Steven Cant from and enjoyed the use receive a qualification such as NVQ, HNC, BTEC or City and Guilds award. All Stonehouse is an Apprentice of 3D drawing and of these are national, recognised Production/Development Engineer at feel this is the path I qualifications that will look great on Xograph, alongside studying for his wish to follow for HNC in Mechanical Engineering at my future career.” your CV.

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Wildlife Matters with John Bromley

Slimy old slugs and snails For many people April is a time of planting seeds and buying young plants for the garden. Unfortunately, garden pests such as snugs and snails, who just love their spring greens in the form of juicy young seedlings, will magically appear from nowhere to ravage your garden. In the UK there are 30 slug species but 95% live underground and are rarely seen, whilst only four species really cause any damage to plants. There are about 110 snail species but again very few live in gardens and only small numbers cause problems.

The garden’s natural vacuum cleaner

munching their way through fallen and rotting plant debris, fungi and other garden rubbish. They are also food for a host of other wildlife mentioned above. So rather than reaching for the poison, why not look at better and safer ways of managing them? The first thing to bear in mind is that they need moisture, which is why they mostly appear in wet weather and at night. Dehydration will kill them so they spend daytime hours hiding in cool damp places around the garden. Working with these molluscs is one option. Planting extra seeds or seedlings to allow for a few losses will still leave your garden looking lovely. Allowing plants to grow a bit bigger before planting out will enable them to survive otherwise fatal leaf and stem attacks.

So before you rush for the slug pellets take a moment to look around your neighbourhood – how many gardens can you see? Imagine the impact if every garden becomes a toxic zone full of poisoned slugs and snails, which in turn will poison frogs, toads, hedgehogs, blackbirds, thrushes, beetles and all the other Anywhere cool and damp wildlife that feed on them. will be a haven for them Slugs and snails do actually serve Creating a mollusc friendly area a useful purpose. They are the will quickly attract them. A paving garden’s natural vacuum cleaner, slab put down, a sack of leaves composting in a corner, a stack of flowerpots, an

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area of dense plant growth – basically, anywhere cool and damp will be a haven for them. By controlling where slugs and snails will be you then create options. Collect them daily and relocate them or humanely destroy them, or feed them bran, which ironically leaves them bloated and ‘sluggish’ making them easy prey for their predators. Alternatively you could make or buy a beer-trap so at least they drown happy!

Control them – it’s so much better than harming our already hard-hit wildlife The other option is to make your garden unappealing to them. Remembering they eat debris and like cool damp places, simply remove these attractive areas from your garden. Keep the soil free of fallen plant debris and other rubbish – even large pebbles provide cool damp shelter. Put down a mulch of wood chippings, scatter broken eggshells or spread coffee grounds around vulnerable plants. If you have a lot of potted plants, raise the pots onto stands to keep the lovely cover-providing bases off the ground. By exploring your garden in detail and learning where to find molluscs you will soon be able to control them, which is so much better than harming our already hard-hit wildlife.

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Page 13



Parenting & Guardianship with Roberta Smart

Give children freedom to play One of the most important things we can give to our children is the freedom to play. We must never underestimate the importance of play in the development of healthy children – mentally, physically and emotionally. In fact, it is so important it has been recognised by the United Nations High commission for Human Rights as a right of every child. 75% of brain development happens between birth and early 20s, and play develops both gross and fine motor skills. I remember my child’s Reception teacher explaining that a lack of gross motor skills would impinge on his ability to write and manage his hands. So throwing and catching, climbing, and sports will, strangely, help your child to write, draw and sew in later life!

self discipline, which is a vital part of coping with a busy modern life. Over-scheduling children your therefore can lead to problems in later life, rather than giving them the edge as many parents are led to believe. Pretend play develops empathy in children – the ability to imagine how someone else may feel – which enhances a child’s compassion and tolerance for difference in later life. Beginning with playing with dolls and leading to ‘playing schools’ or playing ‘mums and dads’ gives a voice to characters and the opportunity to try on a different identity.

Get involved

Creativity Play stimulates imagination and creativity – vital not only for artistic expression, but also for problem solving and innovation in adult life. The ability to imagine ‘what if’ stems from a creative brain, well fed in childhood. Good to know, as we are growing the adults and problem solvers of the future! Play also develops executive brain function – your child’s ability to manage their emotions, social situations and apply self control and

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So how can parents support their child in learning through play? Through ‘free play’, which is mainly unstructured and without cost, offering children the ability to mix with others, find a partner for their ideas and navigate their way through the various personalities they meet in other children. “Children don’t need toys, they need things to play with”. Offering the building blocks of play – cardboard boxes, dressing up materials, a ‘making box’ full of recyclables for art and building projects – will ensure children are stimulated and able to achieve their ideas, raising self esteem. Of course the best thing you can do is play with your child, which not only entertains them but enhances

the emotional bonds and trust between you, as well as lowering stress hormones in both you and your child, creating a safe, fun place to be and in turn a healthy, happy family. In the modern age of overwhelming reliance on technology, the decision to simply grab a few bedsheets and make a tent under the table, or play a game of ‘Snap’ on the carpet on a rainy afternoon, will offer a much needed respite – a calmer environment in which everyone can relax a little, laugh a lot and enjoy each others’ company.

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What’s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit. 25 MARCH – 10 APRIL THE GIANT DUCK HUNT

A group of giant ducks will be landing at Slimbridge this Easter holidays, can your family spot them all? Pick up an activity sheet on arrival then set off on a fun hunt which will take you all round the grounds. Spot them all and receive a yummy treat on your return. While you are on the hunt keep an eye out for ducklings, handfeed some geese and go to hear an otter talk. 9.30am – 5pm. Price included in normal admission. 01453 891223. events.slimbridge@wwt.org.uk. WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. GL2 7BT. THE BIG BATSFORD CHICKEN HUNT!

You may have heard of an Easter Egg hunt, now find the chickens that laid

them! They’re all hiding in the Arboretum – simply mark their locations on the map provided to win a prize! The chicken hunt costs £2.50 per child, plus Arboretum admission fee (children must be accompanied by an adult). No need to book, just turn up and enjoy! Visit www.batsarb.co.uk for details. Batsford Arboretum, Batsford, near Moreton-inMarsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD. 25 MARCH – 7 MAY MAMMA MIA

Join the ultimate feel-good party at Mamma Mia!, the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical! Set on a Greek island paradise, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! Various dates and times. 0844 871 3012. For more details visit atgtickets.com/venues/bristolhippodrome. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ.

3 & 23 APRIL CHELTENHAM CROQUET CLUB Try Croquet at Cheltenham Croquet Club, Old Bath Road. Taster Days from 10am3pm. All you need are flat soled shoes and a shower proof top. Just turn up or book your slot on 01242 512933 or email klimseabright@gmail.com. 4 APRIL BIG HERO 6 An action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. From 1pm join Art Playground in the theatre foyer for super hero craft activities before the film starts at 2pm. Tickets £7. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 6-10 APRIL CHEPSTOW WALKING FESTIVAL

A great selection of walks in the Lower Wye Valley – suitable for most abilities. If you are interested in wildlife, history, geology or stargazing, check out the walks at www.walksinchepstow.co.uk and book your place (essential as places are limited). £5 per walk or £10 Supersaver ticket (as many walks as you like). Transport cost for linear walks included in the price. 01291 641856.

Vol unt eer wit h us a nd do som ethi ng a ma zi ng! If you have a few hours to spare each week, why not become an RDA Volunteer? No experience needed – we’ll train you on the job. For anyone with more experience, have you ever thought of teaching? Find out more on our website or give us a call, join us for a coffee and see our wonderful work.

• Call 01242 584420 to speak to Claire or Debbie • Visit www.cotswoldrda.org.uk Cotswold • Email info@cotswoldrda.org.uk Jackie Brutton Riding Centre, Prestbury Park Racecourse, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 4SH

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It’s what you can do that counts

Riding for the Disabled Association

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16 APRIL VINEYARD TOUR WITH CHEESE AND WINE TASTING Enjoy a vineyard tour with cheese and wine tasting at Ancre Hill Estates. Go behind the scenes to learn all about how award winning winning wine is produced. After the tour, we will head to the Cellar Door for a fabulous tutored wine tasting and cheese tasting. £45. 1.45–5pm. 01600 714152. Ancre Hill Vineyard, Monmouth, NP25 5HS. CHELTENHAM’S 2ND VEGAN FAIR Fantastic range of stalls – all things vegan – food stalls, clothing, books, make up, animal rights stalls, animal charities, and talks throughout the day. Entry fee is donation only. 10am-4pm. St. Andrews Church, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham. 17 APRIL VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: SWAN LAKE One of the best known love stories, performed by the ever popular Vienna Festival Ballet; lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars and the glorious music from Tchaikovsky make this a night not to be missed. Swan Lake is the most popular ballet in the world, capturing the full range of human emotions like no other – from hope to despair, from terror to tenderness, from melancholy to ecstasy. 5pm. £19 (£18,

children £14). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 19 APRIL FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD

Based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy, this is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love, as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.

21-24 APRIL THE COTSWOLD ART & ANTIQUE DEALER’S FAIR The very best of each discipline will be represented, including furniture, pictures, silver, sculpture, bronze, carpets and textiles, jewellery, English and Oriental ceramics, garden ornaments and statuary, as well as other decorative items. All works are for sale. Prices range from £100 – £100,000+. 10am – 5.30pm daily. Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, OX20 1PP. 22 APRIL THE EAGLES TRIBUTE NIGHT Come with us on a journey starting in the early 1970s where ‘The Eagles Songbook’ will first perform the band’s early hits including ‘Lyin Eyes’, ‘Take it Easy’, ‘Desperado’ and many more! £15 per adult including a two course dinner. Over 18s only. Meal served at 7.30pm, band starts at 9pm. 01594 560400. Whitemead Forest Park, Parkend, Lydney GL15 4LA WE’LL GATHER LILACS – THE MUSIC OF IVOR NOVELLO An evening of Novello nostalgia, all those wonderful melodies from Glamorous Night, Perchance to Dream, The Dancing Years and King’s Rhapsody. Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham. 7.30pm Tickets £17.50. Booking: 0844 576 2210 or www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk.

Come and see, feed and stroke our beautiful fallow deer, our wonderful collections of peacocks, waterfowl, pheasants and the amusing pygmy goats ... all very tame and will feed from your hand!

NEW VISITOR CENTRE OPEN!

Give your child a magical birthday party in our beautiful gypsy caravan!

Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm • 01452 812727 • www.thebirdpark.com The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8EX The Local Answer

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WIN A £500 HO


LIDAY GIFT CARD courtesy of

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ANSWER

It’s easy to enter our draw... How many copies of The Local Answer are distributed in Gloucestershire every month? For your chance to win a £500 Thomas Cook Gift Card to use on a UK or foreign getaway, send your answer to the above question, along with your name, address (including postcode) and telephone number to ‘TLA Getaway’, The Local Answer, 1 Ullenwood Court, Cheltenham, GL53 9QS. Alternatively, enter via email by sending your answer and details to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Getaway’ in the subject line. Closing date: Monday 11th April 2016. In addition to our usual competition rules, by entering you agree to have your name and photograph featured in our next issue and online should you win.


23 APRIL THE MERSEY BEATLES

Like the original Fab Four, Cavern Club favourites, The Mersey Beatles are Liverpool lads born and bred. They perform the best music ever made with the spontaneity, energy, excitement and respect which this fantastic music deserves, including Love Me Do, Let It Be, Beatlemania & Pepperland. 8pm. £16.50. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 24 APRIL FOREST ACTIVITIES FESTIVAL 2016 Everything from mountain biking, rugby and archery to Segway taster sessions along with bush craft, cookery and photography. Live music and food and drink from the region’s best exhibitors. Dogs welcome to the festival as well as the dog show. Adult £3, under 18s £2, under 5s free. Free parking. 10am-5pm. The Speech House Hotel grounds, GL16 7EL. forestactivitiesfestival.co.uk. 25 APRIL BLUNDERBUS: THE OWL WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK Plop is a baby Barn Owl. He has big round eyes and very knackety knees. Plop is exactly the same as every barn owl, except for one thing… he is AFRAID of the DARK. Join him as he journeys into the night-time world of campfires, fireworks, and moonlit adventures. With an irresistible blend of live music, puppetry and storytelling, this funny, gentle and reassuring tale is written especially for small people aged 3-7 and grown-ups who sleep with the big light on! 3yrs+. 10.30am. £10 (£8, family £32). The Bacon

Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 28-30 APRIL WUTHERING HEIGHTS BY CHARLES VANCE Wychwood Players embrace the power, pain and torment of Heathcliff and Cathy’s heart breaking relationship. 7.30pm at New Beaconsfield Hall Shipton under Wychwood. Box office opens 11th April. Tickets £8.50. 07817426305 or wychwoodplayersboxoffice@yahoo.co.uk 29 APRIL – 15 MAY WYE VALLEY RIVER FESTIVAL Bringing a series of innovative, intriguing and spectacular events to locations along a 60-mile stretch of the River Wye. Environmentalists, artists and communities will come together for themed events including fire and flame, riverside revelry, performances and arts installations. 30 APRIL DAY OUT WITH THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends at Dean Forest Railway. Ride on a real steam engine and shake hands with the Fat Controller. From 10.45am. Adult £14, child £8 (2-16yrs), family £42 (2 adults, 2 children). Admission includes unlimited travel on Daisy and The Big Steam Train, face painting, storytelling and much more. 01594 845840. Dean Forest Railway, Norchard, Lydney GL15 4ET. 30 APRIL – 1 MAY ROSS BEERFEST

The third annual Ross on Wye Beer and Cider Festival. Live music, over 30 beers and ciders, BBQ and free parking. Noon till

ANTIQUES WANTED

We Buy 1800-1970’s single items, collections or complete house contents including: Old leather suit cases, Postcards, Dolls, Trains, Toys, Dinkys, Corgi, Match Box, Sporting items, Copper, Brass, China, Silver, Clocks, Watches, Boxes, Treen, Cutlery, Tapestries, Ephemera, Fountain Pens, Medals, Badges, Small furniture Please ask for a detailed list of items we buy Telephone: 01452 770409 evenings or Email ross.milne2012@btinternet.com WATERLANE GL6 7PL We travel to anywhere in the UK Page 20

late. £5 entry. Rope Walk, Ross on Wye HR9 7BU. www.rossbeerfest.org. 3 MAY WOMAN IN GOLD

The remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann, starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting The Lady in Gold. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 7 MAY PAWS ON PATROL

Paws on Patrol in Gloucester Park from 12 noon. Displays from Police Dogs, The Quack Pack, LG Agility and Ali Magic. Free to enter novelty dog show, lots of stalls and fun activities. Free entry. See www.safergloucester.co.uk. 13 MAY RHYTHYM & BLUES NIGHT Enjoy a martini cocktail reception followed by a divine three course dinner, with the serenading sounds of our five piece live Rhythm & Blues band, then dance the night away with music provided by the DJ. £38 per person. Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane, GL4 8ED. 01452 632632.

VINYL RECORDS VINYL WANTED

Local buyer pays cash for your unwanted LP’s, EP’s & 45’s. Most 60’s, 70’s, 80’s & 90’s records considered, large or small collections. Prog, Psych, Punk, Heavy Rock, Britpop & New Wave especially wanted e-mail lists to: willowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk 01242 702947 or 07785 515987

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The Local Answer


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NOW OPEN NEWLY REFURBISHED SHOP Stocking large seeds, tools, bird feeders, bird seeds and other garden essentials.

Chamberlain Plant Centre Family run business spanning over 100 years

We sell and grow all our own bedding plants. HANGING BASKETS & Spring, Summer, autumn or winter, any time of the year we CONTAINERS make our own hanging baskets and pots. Especially for the summer we can also make hanging baskets to order. Any size, big or small, with moss or liners, any colour or specific plants that you would like, we can make for you. We can even make something up for you while you wait. Open Monday-Saturday 9.30-5, Sunday 10-4

Ledbury Road, Newent, Gloucestershire GL18 1DL 01531 822581

www.chamberlainplantcentre.com

GREAT WEEKEND HIRE OPTIONS

Cultivator £25

Small Digger £90

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Cherry picker hire available with free site surveys

Massive range of sale items including

and

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In The Garden with Julia Smith

Green green grass As daffodils finish flowering the faded flowerheads can be removed. The small daffodils which are being grown to naturalise can be left to form seedheads. Don’t cut off the foliage as it needs at least six weeks dying to replenish the bulb underneath so it can flower the following year. Moreover, don’t tie it up in strange bundles with elastic bands, as this can damage the leaves. This could be a good time to buy winter flowering trees and shrubs whose price may be reduced in garden centres – giving you a good show next winter. This is also a good time to plant evergreens into wellprepared soil with a balanced fertilizer added. Make sure you keep plants that have been sown in them well-watered during the baskets will have become pot-bound summer if it is dry. and need dividing and repotting with Reinstall pumps and filters ordinary garden soil (not rich compost which will contribute to the Now is also a good time to reinstall growth of algae) and top dressed pumps and filters in your pond that with grit to keep the soil in place. have been kept out of the frost since If you have a pond that gets autumn. Some of the marginal several hours of full sun a day you should consider growing water lilies. They like still water with no fountains or waterfalls and have large leaves that spread over the surface of the water, creating shade, which reduces algal growth. The flowers come in lots of colours and even sometimes have a scent as well.

mown don’t apply weedkiller for two or three days. Don’t compost the clippings that have been treated with weedkiller. However, I personally don’t mind seeing a lawn containing daisies and other flowers and life is easier if you learn to love them!

Keep a look out for red lily beetles Keep a look out for the red lily beetles on newly emerging lily shoots. Pick them off and squash them and, if you want, use a systemic spray like Provado Ultimate Bug Killer to keep them safe for up to six weeks.

Encourage the grass to grow Begin feeding the lawn in April when growth starts again. Apply a proprietary spring/summer lawn fertiliser in two applications. It should be high in nitrogen to encourage the grass to grow nice and green. If you need to apply a weedkiller on the grass apply it two or three weeks later when everything is growing strongly. Don’t mow for two or three days after applying, and if you have

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Page 23


interior needs Luxurious Curtains and Soft Furnishings ◆ Curtains

Frrseoneal

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Eastern Avenue, Gloucester GL4 3BU (Next to The Weavers Shop opposite PC World)

www.interiorneeds.co.uk


Interior Design with Caron Burrows

The home office The way we work is changing. As technology improves, more and more of us are embracing the opportunity to work from home. Alternatively, to have a dedicated space where bills and emails can be dealt with and crafting can take place is becoming increasingly popular.

Where

task light placed on your desk or attached to the wall provides extra light for close work.

Window treatments A blind is a good idea to help with glare. Venetian blinds are a good choice as they can be tilted at differing levels, and also come in many colours and finishes to blend with your chosen or existing colour scheme.

Not everyone is blessed with a spare room that can be turned into a home office, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the dream of having a dedicated work space – you just need a bit of imagination. Perhaps you have an alcove that isn’t being used, a spot under the stairs, or an area within the kitchen that can be transformed into a Colour work space? An office doesn’t have to If you are using the corner of an existing room, try to integrate your be huge, so anywhere will do. colour choices to avoid the office area Lighting standing out like a sore thumb. The Natural light has many benefits when colour blue is believed to encourage positioning your laptop or computer intellect, while yellow stimulates screen – the last thing you want is glare thinking and orange triggers creativity affecting your vision. Choose a good – these are all common choices for general light that will match your office or study environments. existing decor. A dimmer switch will also help you regulate the light Seating strength and is adjustable throughout Your choice of seating is the most the day depending on natural light. A important and should be chosen

carefully. Comfort is paramount to support and protect your back, especially when you’re spending long periods of time sat at your desk. There are many choices available that can be purchased from charity shops and DIY outlets, as well as specialist shops. Fit your seat into your chosen colour scheme with cushions that will also help support your back and provide comfort for long days at the office.

Desk Let your imagination run wild when choosing a desk – it does not have to be the conventional desk that we all relate to in an office environment. A kitchen table, leftover kitchen worktops fitted to the wall, a vintage find in a charity shop – the list is endless.

Walls/storage Make the walls work hard. Blackboard paint is a wonderful thing and is a popular choice of mine – not only is it fun, it also means you can keep updating the wall with notes. You can also use clipboards in a new way by fixing them to the wall – this is a fantastic method to display ideas, memos and photos. By using labelled boxes you’ll keep all your documents easily to hand, meaning you can work in an orderly and organised manner. Empty coffee jars are a great up-cycle – use for pens, pencils and paint brushes.

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Page 25


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The Local Answer


Gadgets & Gizmos with Dan Wood

A great range of home security options Yale HSA6400 Series It’s true but sad to say that you only need to make your home look less appealing to any potential intruder than your neighbour and you should never take home security for granted – ask any victim of burglary. Expensive installations by specialist engineers are history. The Yale HSA6400 series comes in one tidy box with everything you need for self set up. The entire system is wireless and battery powered, including the external siren box. The standard package comes with a siren box, one dummy box, two PIR sensors and two door/window contacts as well as control panel. The telecommunicating version will also phone you if the alarm is activated, up to a maximum of three telephone numbers, so you’ll always know if the alarm is set off! Batteries last for roughly 18 months to two years and you can add up to 20 devices to the system so you have complete control over the extent and range of your set up. I found this very simple to install, easy to maintain and hassle free. The yellow Yale siren boxes can be seen from a distance and for an average price of £150, I can’t

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recommend this alarm system enough. You can even buy more complex versions, which include remote smartphone app operated CCTV PIR sensors so you can see inside your home if the alarm is triggered while you are away! Generally, Yale offer a great range of home security options from alarms to home CCTV and smart locks. I recommended this system to

relatives following a burglary next door last month and since then all three properties in the row have installed the Yale HSA6400.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10” Tablets are increasing in popularity and I recently bought the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10”. Available in black or white and costing around £250 it offers excellent sound quality with speakers inbuilt either side, a slim housing, wide vibrant screen and the ability to increase storage via the inbuilt micro SD tray at the top. 1280 x 800 pixels, 1.2GHz and a 10 hour battery life mean not a day goes by without it being used or played on. Be careful though if you buy one or already have one – the rear plastic casing is slippery on cold hands and can be easily dropped by accident. The tablet is tough though – I dropped mine screen-down onto tiles a month ago having let it slip and there isn’t a single scratch or mark on it and it works perfectly.

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 27


C C O

Making Carpet Affordable

WE WON’T BE BEATEN ON PRICE DISCOUNT CARPET WAREHOUSE SAME DAY TAKEAWAY ALDI TOYS R US

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Rectory Fields, Rudford, Gloucestershire GL2 8DT

Tel: 01452 668005/01453 297010/01285 238089 www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk Company registration: 090645563

Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.

THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ... Your local family business

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Page 29


WORD SEARCH D M Q W N R C Q H V D N K P J S E N W G Q Q B K

G X M A K L T U X A F W Z H F E E U G L J R W U

Y E U F A W N A W V W F A O A R W L G F I W D F

J E H S C C J T H D A H R T B D Y E I O I G M Q

K O S W O W T A C C E S S O R I E S L T V H H V

L I O I L O F T R O P J N G M S U M S L X Y X O

C A Q S I K J Y B F G W U R W L N A T E E E Y F

G J I K N U V A F E Y Y J A I I H E Y J A R T U

F A N C M M O A G A L C L P U J X R L Q H L Y Z

A E R S R S H X N L S A W H R H O T I I J O A F

D M U M L E P L I F D H G E H Y B S S D W P I A

R D B V E N M C H J Q S I R N E K N T V T Q D J

Fashion ACCESSORIES BEACHWEAR COLLECTION COMMERCIAL DESIGNER CHIC CLASSIC CLOTHING FAD

FASHIONABLE GARMENT INDUSTRY JEWELLERY MAINSTREAM MANNEQUIN MEDIA MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER

PORTFOLIO STYLIST SUIT TAILORED TEXTILES VINTAGE VOGUE

E M L X V N W M T V A E N O A N I I V E Q Y E J

L Q B A U Z T Q O K E R I C N D F A M A D Q M Z

V I N T A G E Y L C E T H S F A Q M A H D X J D

C A L L Q J L R C D C W Y W U J B L N X E J Y A

Z S N Y F R O N O E E K E J W Y Q L N R T R V R

F B W O U R G M L A P H N U L Z I K E Q T B Z I

£10 OFF!

T D P S H L T L R U T Q V O T I F E Q S B S U M

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T I U B F C I G Y P O T T V U R V D I Q N W Q D

ecoclean

T H B O U B T S E V B F B P G W N B N G L C U D

ltd

D E S I G N E R N T Q B P X X I E S F U V G Y W

D M X Q L G N T H B X Y J D E R O L I A T H B T

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CARE & CLEANING

USING CODE JL25

07804 610105 01452 898247 www.ecocleancarpet.co.uk hello@ecocleancarpet.co.uk

Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page. Page 30

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ADVERTISEMENT

Cloudy2Clear Windows – Service With A Smile!

It’s been a crazy few months for Cloudy2Clear Windows. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames – has grown rapidly as homeowners take advantage of their services. Managing Director Paul Spiller feels that it’s all about service: “Our product is simple. If your double glazing is misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just

The Local Answer

about saving people money, although that obviously helps. “Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.”

Cloudy2Clear service Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, and Paul is finding that his approach is a major factor in his success. “The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount

To advertise call 01242 510500

of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated.” So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Paul a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

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Quick Crossword 1

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DOWN 1 Appeals board 2 Accustomed 3 Coal vein 4 Australian gemstone 5 Announces 6 Wealthy 10 Ledger entry 11 Satirical routines 13 Plague 14 Chafes 16 Stops momentarily 18 Give up 19 Leg joint 20 Flows away

For details please telephone Sara on

23

The Local

© Lovatts Puzzles

Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.

01242

ANSWER 541076

Abbey Group, Units 23/24, Neptune Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FB

www.abbeybusinessequipment.com

The Abbey Business Lounge at Gloucester Rugby’s Kingsholm Stadium sponsored by Gloucestershire’s leading business solutions provider

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The Local Answer


HOME CARE ROOFING & BUILDING

FOR ALL YOUR PROPERTY NEEDS

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Money Matters with Roger Downes of Andorran

Would you believe it? Regular readers of this column will be familiar with my view that big is certainly not beautiful, as I champion the cause of small and medium sized businesses. So it was with gaping mouth that I read statistics recently on some of the very biggest organisations on the planet. Top of the lot, the biggest corporation (as the Americans like to call them) in the world is Alphabet. Who? I hear you cry. Well, it’s the ultimate parent company of Google, amongst others. Ah, makes more sense now. At the start of this year its £379 billion valuation saw it overtake Apple at the top of the tree, with Microsoft lagging behind at number three. You can see the connection as to market sector very easily. In the UK there are a range of industries in the top ten, with banks, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and oil companies all doubly represented. Royal Dutch Shell (do they only add Royal into the name to make us think they are from these parts?) top the list and have done so for some time, but they are only a fraction of the size of the USbased high tech companies.

An uncaring, dispassionate attitude towards customers

Your Local Independent Family Oil Company

Heating Oils Agricultural Fuels Local Service Competitive Prices

Forest of Dean 01594 825130 Caldicot 01291 422 656

www.estuaryoils.com The Local Answer

Sadly I am not privy to the list of biggest companies ranked by the amount of tax that they pay in the UK, which would make interesting reading when you consider some of the stories circulating about the world’s new number one force. The presence of HSBC and Lloyds in the UK top ten, with Santander, Barclays and RBS all hot on their heels, serves to confirm my long-held view that the banks are in it for their shareholders not for their long-suffering customers. Even my own profession doesn’t escape the plague of over-exaggerated size. Last year PricewaterhouseCoopers rose to the summit of the accountancy world in terms of fees charged – a staggering £24.3 million for doing accounts and tax returns! Not really – they are essentially consultants rather than accountants these days, but their annual turnover is still phenomenal. What’s the key to their success? Monopoly. Not the board game (although this is the source of its name), but control over the markets in which they operate and what appears to be an uncaring, dispassionate attitude to customer service, because as soon as one customer leaves, another three come along. Rant over – see you next month when I will look at some of the key issues arising from the Chancellor’s recent Budget.

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Page 33


Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK

Roses Country Garden Centre 7 8 6 Staunton Garden Centre 20 5 Vinyl Records 7 HOMES & GARDENS 4 BATHROOMS Severn Vale Bathrooms 29 & 35 BUILDING SERVICES 17 BE Rudman 21 Glos Build 2 16 Home Care Roofing & Building 33 Marshalls Driveways 29 R. Richards & Son 21 12 CLEANING SERVICES Ecoclean 30 20 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES 22 Gloucester Carpet Outlet 28 22 Interior Needs 24 4 Just Fabrics 26

Blue Orchid Corner Cupboard Inn So Thai Wiltshire Farm Foods

WHAT’S ON EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS The Bird & Deer Park

INFORMATION Cotswold RDA

PROPERTY Norton Park

RETAIL Antiques Wanted Chamberlain Plant Centre Ermin Plant Hire Farm & Country Store

GARDENING SERVICES Adrian Gibbs Challenge Fencing Handylink HEATING & PLUMBING Estuary Oils WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows Cloudy 2 Clear

RECRUITMENT & TRAINING 11 21 Klifestyles 29 GRAPHIC DESIGN 29 Chiswell Creative 34 MOTORING SERVICES 33 ETB Tyres 11 36 31

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CARE SERVICES Barnwood Trust 10 Glos County Council Fostering 14 Lifelink 11 Samaritans 33 COMPUTER SERVICES Abbey Group 32

If you don’t see the goods or services you provide listed here – take advantage and

BE THE FIRST! To advertise telephone:

01242 510500

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T D P S H L T L R U T Q V O T I F E Q S B S U M

K C U D L N O C I H C K W P O E U R U K B P W Z

T I U B F C I G Y P O T T V U R V D I Q N W Q D

T H B O U B T S E V B F B P G W N B N G L C U D

D E S I G N E R N T Q B P X X I E S F U V G Y W

D M X Q L G N T H B X Y J D E R O L I A T H B T

COMPETITION RULES 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is

not regarded as proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party.

BOOKING DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE – Thursday 14th April 2016

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The Local Answer




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