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ANSWER
APRIL 2017
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FOREST OF DEAN WISHING ALL OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY EASTER!
The The Lo Local c al
AN ANSWER SWER
Dean FForest orest ooff D ean – 222,000 2,000 ccopies opies Gloucester G loucester – 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies G loucestershire SSouth outh – 441,000 Gloucestershire 1,000 ccopies opies G loucestershire N orth – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire North CCheltenham heltenham – 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies CCotswolds otswolds – 228,000 8,000 ccopies opies M anaging Director Director Managing D Dave ave K Kingscott ingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
EEditorial ditorial & PProduction roduction LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott eeditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk ditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott
Welcome Welcome ttoo AApril pril ... ... Spring is finally here and now is the time to get out in the countryside and enjoy the beautiful plants bursting into life. S t e ve H a w l ey t a l ks u s t h r o u g h i d e n t i f y i n g W i l d G a r l i c i n ‘Wild Food Foraging’, while Julia Smith’s ‘In the Garden’ article explains how we can enjoy the beautiful nodding heads of bluebells in our own gardens. If your New Year ’s Resolutions haven’t quite gone according to plan, you may be looking to re-start your health and fitness regime now that spring has arrived. Matt Wagstaff gives his advice on how to shop better in order to support your health in ‘Looking Good, Feeling Great’. The Bird and Deer Park at Prinknash is hosting its annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Event this month, with face painters, refreshments and lots of excting activities for little ones! Our What’s On section is packed full of Easter activities and other events for the whole family to enjoy, so get out and about this April and enjoy all that spring has to offer!
H Helen elen R Robinson obinson
IInside nside tthis his month month ... ...
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Distribution D istribution JJulia ulia B Ball all – 001242 1242 5541075 41075 distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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T Telephone elephone 0 01242 1242 5 510500 10500 thelocalanswer thelocalanswer
Wild W ild FFood ood FForaging oraging CCocktail ocktail TTime ime Delicious Dish ish Delicious D Looking Good, Great ood, FFeeling eeling G reat Looking G Education Education Parenting Guardianship uardianship Parenting & G Wildlife Matters atters Wildlife M What’s On n What’s O TLA ravel TLA TTravel Holidays ravel Holidays & TTravel Homes Gardens Homes & G ardens In In the the Garden Garden Gadgets Gizmos Gadgets & G izmos Interior Design esign Interior D Save the Planet Planet Save the Word Word SSearch earch Quick Quick CCrossword rossword Sudoku Sudoku Money Matters Money M atters Index, Index , CCompetitions, ompetitions, SSolutions olutions
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W Wild ild F Food ood F Foraging oraging
Cocktail Cocktail T Time ime with w ith L Lois ois K Kingscott ingscott
w with ith S Steven teven Hawley Hawley
Wild Wild g garlic arlic I’m a very furry individual, I have been known to fatten up ahead of winter, and my mood in the mornings has often been described as grizzly. It’s probably no surprise then that whenever I catch a waft of Allium Ursinum while walking through woodland, I can’t help but spend a moment trying to track it down. Often referred to as Wild Garlic or Bear’s Garlic, due to the brown bear ’s appetite for this plant , it has been used throughout history as an ingredient in the kitchen and it’s easy to get creative with. I’m no chef, but I’m planning to experiment a little and see if I can use the leaves to make a Wild Garlic version of the Greek dish, stuffed vine leaves.
Flowers Flowers o off Wild Wild Garlic Garlic look look like like a ssparkler parkler o on nb bonfire onfire n night ight But be ever so careful when identifying this plant, as its appearance when young is very similar to the poisonous plant Lilly of the Valley which, if imbibed, can leave you in a very sorry state! The best way to identify Wild Garlic is to find mature plants, which start to have noticeable differences between its poisonous lookalike. Primarily, the flowers of Wild Garlic look like a sparkler on bonfire night , whereas Lily of the Valley has bell shaped flowers. Another good way to check if it’s the right plant is to crush the leaves with your fingers and smell for that garlic aroma. But make sure that the lingering smell of a previously correctly identified plant isn’t masking the lack of odour on subsequent identifications. My advice is to find the correct plant and harvest only from that source to reduce the risk of an accidental poisoning. But please please don’t pick any of the plant if you’re not 100% sure you’ve correctly identified it. If If you’re you’re not not 100% 100% sure sure that that w what hat you’re you’re ppicking icking iiss safe safe for for human consumption, consumption, don’t don’t pick pick it. it. If If you’re you’re prone prone to to food food human allergies, or or pregnant, pregnant, always always seek seek medical medical advice advice before before allergies, consuming anything anything fforaged oraged in in the the w ild. consuming wild. Page 4
W Whiskey hiskey SSour our The Whiskey Sour was first recorded in Jerry Thomas’ 1862 book ‘The Bartender’s Guide’, albeit being known for over a century prior. Back then, travel took forever, refrigeration was lacking and the concept of germs was unheard of. Sea travel was difficult – food and water would spoil over time, and water wasn’t considered safe due to the germs. Sailors suffered from scurvy, malnutrition and sea-sickness until an English bartender named Vice Admiral Edward Vernon mixed a few ingredients together to serve his crew. Within their rations sailors had lemons and limes to prevent scurvy and liquor for something to drink . The liquor, watered down with lemon juice, brought about an early version of the Sour. When brought to shore, this concept became popular and developed to the sour cocktail we now know. Egg white was added at a later stage as a creamy, frothy element to help the cocktail go down smoother and make it look better. This is sometimes called a Boston Sour. Ingredients: 60ml bourbon; 30ml lemon juice; 15ml simple Ingredients: syrup; egg white (optional); ice; maraschino cherry and orange slice to garnish. M ethod: Method: 1 Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake well then pour into a rocks glass over ice. 2 Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a slice of orange. 3 If using the egg white, dry shake (no ice) vigorously in a shaker to get it white and foamy. Then add ice and the other ingredients.
PLEASE PLEASE D DRINK RINK R RESPONSIBLY ESPONSIBLY W Why hy n not ot h have ave a M Mocktail? ocktail? For a non-alcoholic alternative, mix 25ml lime juice with 75ml Ginger Ale and pour over ice. Garnish with a wedge of lime.
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D Delicious elicious Dish Dish with w ith Helen Helen Kingscott Kingscott
A Apricot pricot CCrumble rumble CCake ake Ingredients Ingredients For For the the ccake: ake: 250g dried apricots; 175g soft butter; 175g golden caster sugar; 2 large eggs; 80g ground almonds; 175g self-raising flour; pinch of ground cinnamon; few drops of vanilla extract. FFor or the the ccrumble: rumble: 100g plain flour; 75g butter, cubed; 2 tbsp demerara sugar, plus extra for the top; 3 tbsp jumbo oats; 2 tbsp flaked almonds; pinch of ground cinnamon; icing sugar to finish. M ethod: Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan 140°C, gas mark 3) and line the base of a 22cm round tin with non-stick baking paper. Put the apricots in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat so they simmer gently for 20 minutes then turn off the heat and leave to cool for a little while. 2 To make the cake, beat the butter and sugar in a food processor for 5-7 minutes until light and pale. Break the eggs, beat them gently just to mix the yolks and whites and then add them gradually to the mix with the food
Always Always tthere here you need us iiff y ou n eed u s RE GLOUCESTERSHI
0 08457 8457 9 909090 09090 or or jjo@samaritans.org o@samaritans.org The Local Answer
A versatile versatile rrecipe ecipe tthat hat yyou ou ccan an bbake ake with with different different fruits fruits – nnext ext time time ttry ry plums plums or or pears, pears, bboth oth of of which which are are delicious delicious when when sserved erved w warm arm w with ith vvanilla anilla ccustard! ustard!
processor on slow. Fold in the ground almonds, flour, cinnamon and the vanilla extract. Scrape into the lined tin and smooth the surface. 3 To make the crumble topping, blitz the flour with the butter to crumbs in a food processor (or rub them together using your fingertips). Tip the topping into a bowl, add the demerara sugar, oats and flaked almonds and mix lightly.. Next, add a few drops of water. Shake the bowl a little – or run a fork through the mixture – so t h a t s o m e o f t h e c r u m b s s t i c k to g e t h e r l i k e s m a l l pebbles. This will give a more interesting mix of textures. 4 Drain the apricots, then roughly chop them and scatter on top of the cake mixture in the tin, followed by the c r u m b l e t o p p i n g . F i n i s h by s p r i n k l i n g a p i n c h o f cinnamon and a little more demerara sugar on top of the crumble. Bake the cake for about an hour, checking for doneness with a skewer. Remove the cake from the oven and set aside. Dust with a little icing sugar and slice as required. Once baked, the cake will keep well for a couple of days.
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L Looking ooking Good, Good, Feeling Feeling Great Great with w ith Matt Matt W Wagstaff agstaff
Shop Shop better better ttoo support support your your hhealth ealth Food shopping is often thought of as the monotonous job at the start of the week – the same dull routine of trawling the aisles not quite knowing what to go for this week . This often leads to over spending on food that doesn’t quite fit the healthy diet you want to follow, or products that end up lingering at the back of the fridge until the rot sets in! Breaking down this routine can be the first step in creating healthier d i e t a r y h a b i t s, s to p p i n g t h e temptation to buy and consume unhealthy products that don’t do anything for your health and fitness goals. Follow some simple steps to get the most out of your shop, thereby increasing your health!
P Plan lan a ahead head P l a n n i n g i s v i t a l i n s u st a i n i n g a healthy diet. Be sure to create a list o f a l l fo o d s , d r i n k s a n d i n g re d i e n t s y o u a r e g o i n g to n e e d f o r t h e coming week . Where possible, attempt to mix this up each week – different fruit and vegetables each week , for example. Having a
shopping list reduces the risk of grabbing any unwanted, potentially unhealthy snacks, but allowing yourself one ‘naughty’ product each t i m e t o h a ve p e r h a p s o n t h e weekend or after a particularly hard workout is perfectly fine to sustain motivation.
Break tthrough Break hrough tthe he marketing m arketing jjargon argon M a n y p ro d u c t s m a r k e t t h e m s e l ve s as being healthy, using jargon or perhaps unsound research to back up their claims. Be wise to this by doing your own research and having a read of the nutrients on the back . Be sure to note how many grams per portion are listed – some products show very small, unlikely serving sizes to appear more healthy than they a c t u a l l y a r e. A l s o b e c a re f u l o f products suggesting reduced fat or gluten free, as these are often laden w i t h s u g a r to i m p ro v e t a s t e . I n a d d i t i o n , s u g a r i n g re d i e n t s a r e n o t always labelled ‘sugar’ – words such as fructose or sucrose can be used, and are simple sugar molecules.
Use your U se y our ffreezer reezer effectively e ffectively Your freezer can be used very efficiently, helping preserve good food, and reducing the need for you to ‘pop’ to the shop every other day. Buying vegetables frozen can prevent wastage – if performed quickly after picking, the freezing process is suggested to maintain the nutrient content within foods. Meat a n d f i s h c a n b e b o u g h t f re s h a n d frozen at home. Take them out of the freezer the night before you intend to u s e t h e m – t h i s a l l ow s t i m e f o r them to thaw for ease of different cooking methods you may use.
M Meal eal d days ays As mentioned above, planning ahead is key in keeping a healthy diet . Having specific meal days can be effective in keeping a balanced, variable diet, especially for families. For example, have a fish-based dish on a Monday and Friday, such as grilled salmon and new potatoes, or have a healthy curry day on a Wednesday, such as a Thai green curry with lots of vegetables. Slow cookers can also be effective, saving cooking time and often increasing t h e a m o u n t o f m i c ro n u t r i e n t s (vitamins and minerals) that keep during the slower cooking process. The Local Answer
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Education Education with w ith John John B Beales eales
W Writing riting a CV CV Translated from Latin and meaning ‘course of life’, a Curriculum Vitae, (abbreviated to CV, but also known as a personal resume), is a summary o f yo u r q u a l i f i c a t i o n s, s k i l l s, experience, interests and career o b j e c t i ve s . I t i s l i k e l y t o b e t h e means by which you first introduce yourself to a prospective employer. Firstly, it needs to be clear and concise. It must also be tailored to the role you are applying for, so it m ay we l l b e t h a t y o u h a ve t o produce several slightly different versions to ensure your application covers the skills and qualifications required by the person specification in the job advert.
FFocus ocus o on nq qualifications, ualifications, sskills kills a and nd p personal ersonal a achievements chievements For a first full-time job application, you may have no relevant employment experience so your CV should focus on qualifications, skills and personal a c h i e ve m e n t s . However, if you have had a part-time job, completed work experience or done voluntary work then do include it , even if it was not in the same
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work sector. This is the o p p o r t u n i t y to s h o w t h a t yo u u n d e r s t a n d the world of work and t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s fo r punctuality, application, wo r k i n g a s p a r t o f a team, completing assigned tasks and a whole raft of the person specification, and any other positives. o t h e r s t h a t yo u t h i n k t h a t a re relevant . Be specific – rather than B Briefly riefly d describe escribe y your our saying ‘I have good communication ccareer areer a aims ims skills’, give examples such as having You don’t need to put ‘CV of …’ at written for a school newspaper or the top of your document , but do newsletter, speaking at an assembly, include it in the file name of the making presentations or examples electronic version(s) you create. The from experience. d o c u m e n t s h o u l d s t a r t w i t h yo u r IIllustrate llustrate y your our adaptability adaptability name, full address, a contact and nd u usefulness sefulness iin naw work ork te l e p h o n e n u m b e r a n d e - m a i l a environment e nvironment address. Next , have a short Personal After that, list work experience and Summary in which you describe your describe activities you have done qualifications, skills, attributes and that are relevant to the job you are career aims in a couple of sentences. applying for, or which otherwise After that , list your main illustrate your adaptability and achievements, both in and out of usefulness in a work environment. s c h o o l . T h i s m i g h t i n c l u d e wo r k List all of your qualifications, with experience, non-academic awards the highest level first, along with the and participation in sport. re s u l t s . I f yo u a r e s t i l l s t u d y i n g fo r Then focus on the skills required in qualifications, make sure this is clear. Wr i te a s h o r t s e c t i o n o n yo u r p e r s o n a l i n te r e s t s , f o c u s i n g o n h o b b i es s u c h a s s p o r t , m u s i c , practical skills and relevant activities. If any of these have resulted in an award, mention that here. F i n i s h o f f by p ro v i d i n g t h e n a m e and contact details of two people who can provide a reference (normally the head of year at school, y o u r t u to r o r s o m e o n e w h o y o u have worked for if you’ve had a partt i m e j o b ) . R e m e m b e r to a s k t h e p e r s o n f i r s t t h o u g h to e n s u re t h ey are willing to provide a reference. A CV builder is accessible via nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ home. Create an account and go to the ‘Help to get a job’ section.
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Parenting P arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta Smart Smart
Dyslexia Dyslexia aand nd iits ts eeffects ffects oonn llearning earning Are you concerned about your child’s progress at school? Or even a p a r t n e r w h o st i l l st r u g g l es w i t h reading and writing? You may have thought about dyslexia before but not known what to do about it. Dyslexia affects five main areas of learning: reading, spelling, writing, concentration and memory. With reading, for example, there may be difficulty reading short words such as ‘one’, ‘any’, ‘know’, ‘why’, etc or a struggle breaking down words and sounding them out. They may skip or miss out words – begin by m a k i n g a n o t e a n d p ay c l o s e attention to their strengths as well as their weaknesses. For example, i f yo u r c h i l d h a s a s t ro n g imagination, they may enjoy using mnemonics to aid spelling.
R Regular egular p practice ractice iiss n needed eeded sentence structure. Remember – information against is fun for the brain, which actually hates lists, but always make learning fun! tto ob build uild cconfidence onfidence Many children struggle with loves colour, texture, smell and
As you continue to support learning, there are many things to consider. Check out ‘The English Alphabetic Code’ to support the learning of sounds and letters. Regular practice is needed in s p e l l i n g , u s i n g a l l m et h o d s of visualisation, breaking words down i n to s e g m e n t s , a n d u s i n g t h e i m a g i n a t i o n to s e e t h e u n u s u a l s h a p e s w i t h i n wo rd s . T h i s w i l l support memory and build confidence, and the younger you begin regular reading and spelling games, the less stressful this vital practice will become. To help with writing as a clear communication tool, encourage the child to speak clearly, ensuring words are pronounced correctly. Then build small stories, including a noun and a verb in each sentence, providing gentle building blocks of communication. Active reading of lively text will help vocabulary and Page 10
memory, so embracing memory training techniques is invaluable. Assure your child that everyone is d i f f e re n t a n d we u s u a l l y h ave n o idea what goes on in someone else’s head. They should not feel i n a d e q u a te b e c a u s e t h e y r e q u i r e d i f fe r e n t t o o l s i n o r d e r t o f e e l confident in communication.
A visual visual map map for for m memorising emorising llists ists o off iitems tems Creating a ‘memory story’ of crazy characters included in a list of information can provide the visual map for memorising lists of items. For more complex information, a ‘memory palace’ can be utilised – using a known place (home for example) and setting the items to remember against common items in the home, from the front door t h ro u g h to t h e k i tc h e n . U s i n g familiar objects to anchor the new www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
taste.
M Moving, oving, jjumping umping a and nd d ancing ccan an a ll a id rrecall ecall dancing all aid Personally, I recommend using the b o d y to a i d m e m o r y – m o v i n g , jumping and dancing can al l aid re c a l l , a s c a n l i s t e n i n g to m u s i c , using a certain song to remember certain information – great for older k i d s d o i n g h o m ewo r k . S u d d e n l y that YouTube addiction can be put to good use! In summary, your child is perfect just as they are, and they will rely on you to reinforce this fact lovingly. Remind them often that everyone i s d i f fe r e n t a n d t a k e s a d i f f e re n t path in life. Some of the world’s greatest minds were dyslexic so maybe, just maybe, this isn’t so m u c h o f a p ro b l e m a s a S U P E R look at P OW E R ! H ave a www.beatingdyslexia.com for more information. The Local Answer
Need Need h help elp ffinding inding tthe he rright ight mortgage mor tgage ffor or yyou? ou? proper ty can be the biggest decision made in our lives – so it’s al to receive impar tial advice from competent and qualified professionals. Whether you’re a first time buyer, looking to remor tgage, purchase a second home or release equity for retirement income –
WE W EC CAN AN H HELP ELP Y YOU! OU! At Brunswick Homeloans we guarantee reliable mor tgage advice appropriate to your individual circumstances and requirements.
How H Ho w little little w will ill yyou ou b be ec charged harged ffor or a advice? dvice? Our fee is up to a maximum of £295 dependent on circumstances. If a fee does apply, you will nor mally save this money within the first 2 months of your improved re-mor tgage payments.
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Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters
w with ith Jenny Jenny S Stevens tevens o off Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Wildlife Wildlife Trust Trust
TThe he D Dawn awn CChorus horus Spring is showing every which way you look and, if you listen carefully, you’ll hear it too. Woodland and garden birds are getting louder and louder, and the best time to hear the cacophony of chirps and tweets is first thing in the morning – otherwise known as the Dawn Chorus. This spectacular symphony is at its best this time of year, when our feathered friends are fighting to be heard over one another. The majority of t h e n o i s e i s m a d e u p of m a l e voices, and the reason they get up so early is that it’s the best time to warn other males away from their patch (and potential mates). The steadfast plan is to sing earlier and louder than the competition; find a female and build a nest , ready for breeding season.
G Get et u up p eearly, arly, g get et ooutside utside aand nd eenjoy njoy tthis his sseasonal easonal d delight elight To recognise the effort that goes into rehearsing and performing such a show each year, International Dawn Chorus Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. Reportedly started in t h e 1 9 8 0 s by b i r d e n t h u s i a s t a n d b r o a d c a s t e r C h r i s B a i n e s, t h e campaign encourages people all over the world to get up early, get outside, The Local Answer
and make the most of this seasonal delight. You can do this at home or find an event dedicated to the cause, usually headed up by an expert who’ll single out the great tits from the blue tits or the willow warblers from the chiffchaffs. Either way, expect to set yo u r a l a r m fo r a ro u n d 4 a m i f yo u want to catch the highlights.
twitters. The varied tones of the blackbird are melodic and enjoyable – t h ey o f t e n g i ve t h e d i s t i n c t i m p re ss i o n t h a t t h ey m i g h t j u s t b e improvising. Head into woodland and you’ll hear all of these birds and more. The very YYou ou m might ight sstart tart tto o rrecognise ecognise aptly named chiffchaff is kind enough rrhythms hythms aand nd ttunes unes t o s h o u t i t s n a m e a t yo u w h e n ev e r If you’re new to bird calls, once you given the opportunity. The great listen out for individual voices, you spotted woodpecker ‘kip’s in-between might start to recognise rhythms and the familiar hammering of wood. tunes that are sung frequently in your Don’t Don’t m miss iss tthe he jjoyful oyful patch. Some are more distinctive than celebration celebration others. Favourites include the ‘cheerThe willow warbler sings a beautiful up-cheerily-cheerily ’ of the robin – sweet, rich and strong to the ear, and song, and some say it sounds as the culprit is usually sat on a low though it glides down a waterfall as it branch nearby, to give a helping hand sings, the notes lulling and swaying in a downward scale. Last but not with identification. The ‘tea-cher, tea-cher’ is instantly least , the nuthatch’s distinctive recognisable as the garden regular, ‘TWEEP’s usually echo around great tit . While the ‘tsee, tsee, ch, branches before you catch sight of the churrrr ’ of a blue tit can be a little pastel blue-grey and orange-pink trickier to pull out straight away. For bodies, scooting skilfully up and down one of our smallest birds, the wren the trunks of trees. Don’t miss the joys of the Dawn has a mighty powerful set of pipes, putting many a larger bird to shame Chorus this year, wherever you with its long and loud churrs and choose to celebrate them.
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What’s W hat’s O On n TThe he LLocal ocal A Answer nswer EEvent vent Listings Listings are are ccompiled ompiled and and presented preesented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support of of many many contributors. contributors. Wee re W recommend ecommend yyou ou uuse se tthe he ccontact ontact ddetails etails pprovided rovided to to check check event event information information uupdates pdates pprior rior ttoo pplanning lanning yyour our vvisit. isit. 11-2 -2 APRIL APRIL ORCHARD STREET FOOD & CRAFT MARKET Lovers of fine food and unique artisan products are in for a treat at the Orchard Street Food and Craft Market. The popular monthly markets which will be taking place at Gloucester Quays until November, showcasing the finest food and drink local producers have to offer. Saturday 10am6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Gloucester Quays, St Ann Way GL1 5SF. 01452 338933. APRIL 2 APRIL CHELTENHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SPRING SHOW
Come and see the wonderful display of spring flowering plants at the Cheltenham Horticultural Society’s 75th annual spring show. There will be stalls selling crafts and plants, many of which are not available in garden centres and supermarkets. Refreshments available. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham, GL52 3JE. cheltenhamhorticultural.co.uk 6 APRIL APRIL NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: TWELFTH NIGHT A joyous new production with Tamsin Greig as a transformed Malvolia, in a twist
on Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identity. A ship is wrecked on the rocks. Viola is washed ashore but her twin brother Sebastian is lost. Determined to survive on her own, she steps out to explore a new land. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 7 APRIL APRIL THE BEACH BOYS STORY
8-23 8-23 APRIL APRIL DUSTY’S GIANT DUCK HUNT
A group of GIANT ducks will be landing at Slimbridge this Easter holidays with our very own Dusty Duck – can your family find them all? Pick up an activity sheet on arrival then set off on a fun hunt which takes you all round the grounds. Included in admission price. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. 01453 891900. THE BIG BATSFORD CHICKEN HUNT! The fabulous five-piece Beach Boys Band reproduce the trademark orchestral arrangements and intricate vocals of America’s greatest pop group live on stage. Ride the wave of adrenaline and nostalgia from surf to sun and from hit to hit, including ‘God Only Knows’, ‘I Get Around’, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, ‘Fun Fun Fun’ and more. 7.30pm. £17 (£15). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 8-9 APRIL APRIL 8-9 SHIPTON QUILTERS EXHIBITION Rendcomb College, Rendcomb, Cirencester GL7 7HA . Saturday 8th 10am-5pm, Sunday 9th 10am-4pm. Entry £4, U16s free. Quilt displays, demonstrations, traders, sales table, raffle. Refreshments and parking available. Shiptonquiltgroup@gmail.com
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You may have heard of an Easter Egg hunt – now find the chickens that laid them hiding at Batsford! Simply mark their locations on the map provided to win a prize! £2.50 per child (plus entrance fee). All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book , just turn up and enjoy! www.batsarb.co.uk. Batsford Arboretum, nr Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9AD.
Vinyl Records WANTED LOCA LOCAL CAL BUYER PAYS PAY PA AYS YS CA CASH ASH FOR AS YOUR UNWANTED RECORDS YOUR U NWANTED R ECORDS
Most LPs, EPs & singles from the 1960s/70s/80s/90s considered. Especially large or small collections of Heavy Rock, Psych & Prog Rock, Punk & 90s Britpop.
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e-mail: e -mail: w willowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk illowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk 01242 0 1242 7 702947 02947 or or 0 07785 7785 5 515987 15987
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88-23 -23 APRIL APRIL EGGCELLENT EASTER ADVENTURE AT AT GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL Do you know what happened on the very first Easter Day? Explore this amazing building with your friends and family to find the answer. This new Easter Trail can be collected from a Cathedral Welcomer and is absolutely FREE to enjoy. When you have completed the trail visit the shop and claim a tiny egg! Gloucester Cathedral, College Green, GL1 2LX. 01452 768928. gloucestercathedral.org.uk EASTER TRAIL
Come to Over Farm during the Easter holidays to take part in our children’s Easter trail – fun for all the family! The trail will take you on a short walk around the farm so look out for our friendly animals and don’t forget your wellies! Over Farm Market, Over, Gloucester GL2 8DB. 01452 341510.
9 APRIL APRIL OPENING EVENT AT BERKLEY King Henry VIII, Queen Ann Boleyn and their courtiers welcome visitors back to the Castle for the 2017 season. Watch Medieval Falconry Displays on our Lower Lawns, and meet our falconer and his wonderful birds of prey. Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. 110-17 0 -17 APRIL APRIL EASTER EGG HUNT
1133 APRIL APRIL BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETERS For quarter of a century, this breathtaking show has rock ’n’ rolled audiences across the globe from Cardiff to California, Barking to Bangkok and Swindon to Sweden and is guaranteed to have everyone singing along to the music and dancing in the aisles. £14 (£12). 7.30pm. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. 14-17 APRIL APRIL 14-17 EASTER DRAGONS
Easter wouldn’t be Easter without an Easter Egg Hunt! Come and search for eggs all over our magical woods at Puzzlewood. High up the trees or perhaps down in our mossy gulleys. Find them all and complete the puzzle to win a small prize. No need to book , just come along. Puzzlewood, PerryGrove Road, Coleford GL16 8QB. 01594 833187.
Our incredible Dragon puppeteers will be here all over the Easter weekend – enjoy dragon tales, join a dragon procession and get up close and personal with the baby dragons Call into our Arts and Crafts room and make something special to take home, or take part in our Jester Dragon Hunt. Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com
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Excludes Fairground Rides & Over Farm Attractions. Children aged 2-14 only (you may have to queue at busy periods)
OVER FARM HENRY’S EASTER ADVENTURE Including:
Easter Activities Tractor Rides Quad Train Food & Drink Open: SAT 8th to MON 17th April
Some of England’s Biggest and Best Bouncy Castles and Inflatables
Strictly NO Over-14s allowed on equipment
Please note we have limited capacity – first come, first served
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1166 APRIL APRIL MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY
Come and join the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party event at Prinknash Bird and Deer Park this Easter! The main marquee will be open all day. Barbecue food, face painting and the activities tent are included in the price on this ‘Mad Day’. Children in fancy dress costumes will be admitted for half price! The Bird and Deer Park , Prinknash, Cranham GL4 8EX. www.thebirdpark.com. 01452 812727. ANTIQUES AND VINTAGE FAIR Pick up a bargain while browsing stalls with antiques, vintage, memorabilia and collectables. Live music, crafts and great food and drink. Free Parking. Free Entry. Taurus Crafts, The Old Park Park , Lydney GL15 6BU. 01594 844841. EASTER JOUST
The rumours are true! Jousting returns to Sudeley this Easter Sunday! The Cavalry of Heroes will be providing family friendly entertainment with high energy skilled performances. Watch and cheer as your favourite knights take on the joust of their lives! A magical blend of theatre and horsemanship! 10am. Included in admission price. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 01242 604244. 1177 APRIL APRIL EASTER ON THE GWR
Join the easter celebrations on one of the GWR ‘Easter Eggspress’ specials! Climb aboard at either Cheltenham Racecourse or Toddington Station for this ‘eggsellent’ event, meet the Easter Bunny, take part in fun Easter activities and win prizes. For info visit www.gwsr.com or call 01242 621405.
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2211 APRIL APRIL ALICE IN WONDERLAND Join Alice on a magical adventure as she tumbles into Wonderland! Guided by the White Rabbit, Alice meets astonishing characters, including the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and those mischievous twins, Tweedledum and Tweedledee. From £17. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. 2222 APRIL APRIL HANSEL AND GRETEL Two children go on a journey of bravery and discovery to an enchanted forest, where all is not quite as it seems... Will Hansel and Gretel be able to use their wisdom, love for their family and, above all, courage, to fend off the Wicked Witch and find their way home? From £7.50. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. 23 APRIL APRIL 23 FOREST ACTIVITIES FESTIVAL A wealth of indoor and outdoor pursuits to try, live music from local musicians, a selection of food and drink from the region’s best producers and a fun dog show. 10am-5pm. Adults £5, under 18s £2, under 5s free. The Speech House Hotel Grounds, Speech House Road, GL16 7EL . ST GEORGE’S DAY
See authentic sword fighting displays, get to know our knights and the weapons they used in this unique ‘myth busting’ event. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 25 28 M MAY AY 25 APRIL APRIL – 28 SELECT FESTIVAL Miserden Nursery will be hosting the SIT Select Sculpture Festival. Work from five leading artists will be on display in the nursery borders, as well as in our beautiful period glasshouses. Miserden Nursery, Miserden, Stroud GL6 7JA . 01285 821638. www.miserdennursery.co.uk 26 26 APRIL APRIL RSC LIVE: JULIUS CAESER Season Director Angus Jackson steers the thrilling action in Shakespeare’s epic political tragedy, as the race to claim the empire spirals out of control. Caesar returns from war, all-conquering, but mutiny is rumbling through the corridors of power. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.
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2266 APRIL APRIL – 1 M MAY AY CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL
The Jazz Festival’s party atmosphere takes over Cheltenham’s picturesque Montpellier Gardens, as the town fills with music. Check out a workshop, sample some scrumptious street food; try a tipple from the on-site bars, and see some of the best talent in the jazz world, from the well-known to the yet-to-be-discovered! cheltenhamfestivals.com. 01242 850270 227-30 7-30 APRIL APRIL SPRING GRAND SALE Come to the exclusive homes and gardens sale in a luxurious marquee with quality restaurant selling furniture for indoors and outdoors, decorative accessories, gifts and some fashion items. There is also a food hall. For more information including opening times and ticket purchasing, visit www.ukgrandsales.co.uk. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 29 APRIL APRIL – 1 M 29 MAY AY ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH, CHURCHDOWN 10.30am–5.30pm. There will be Floral Displays by the St Bartholomew’s and St Andrew’s flower arrangers. Light refreshment, art work displays, plant sale, car parking available. 28th April 6.30 8.30pm pre-view ticketed evening (£5) with cheese and wine. Tickets from St Andrew’ss Church office. DAY OUT WITH THOMAS
Sir Topham says “Your ticket covers the whole day and there is nothing else to pay!” Doors open 9.30am and there is so much to see and do! Activities include unlimited travel on the steam train to Parkend, story-telling trip all the way to Lydney Junction in Daisy the Diesel, face painting, bouncy castles, a competition quiz with prizes and so much more! For full details including prices, visit deanforestrailway.co.uk. Dean Forest Railway, Forest Road, Lydney GL15 4ET.
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3300 APRIL APRIL WILD BOAR FESTIVAL A celebration of one aspect that makes the Forest of Dean unique. The aim is to “Celebrate & Educate”! The day includes a Wild Boar Treasure Hunt, a cooking demonstration, food and drink talks, market stalls and much more! £5pp or £20 for family ticket (up to 3 children). Hillside Brewery, Holly Bush Farm, Ross Road, Longhope GL17 0NG. 01452 830222. BERKELY JOUSTING Knights on Horseback and Jousting from ‘The Cavalry of Heroes’. Jousting displays and saddle stunts. Meet our valiant knights and their steeds, and have your photograph taken with them. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 4 MAY MAY COCKTAIL AND CASINO NIGHT
Dress up in your finest party attire for a Casino Royale themed evening and have a go at the roulette and blackjack tables.
You’ll be given a voucher to get you started and whoever ends the night with the most fun money is awarded a bottle of bubbly! We’ll also be mixing up some luscious cocktails with enticing flavours! £20. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. 7 MAY MAY GLOUCESTER DOCKS DRAGON BOAT R RA ACE
The Dragon Boat Regatta Race returns to Gloucester Docks where several teams will battle it out in decorative 40 -foot long boats. A fun day out for all the family, with several exciting prizes up for grabs. Gloucester Docks, GL1 2EH. 01452 724144. 13 13 MAY MAY BIRD WATCH MORNING Celebrate the great variety of birds breeding at Slimbridge and search for migrants on a guided tour of the reserve with a warden. £15.95 (includes tea/coffee and bacon roll/scrambled egg). Advance bookings only. 01453 891223. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT.
13-14 MAY 13-14 MAY REALLY WILD WEEKEND
Get up close to new spring life at Slimbridge. Meet lots of young animals and their families and find out more about how new life bursts into spring. Sessions last an hour and include a fun interactive talk in our Cinema before getting the chance to see species up close. £5.50 for members. Non-members can buy a special day pass, which includes admission to a Really Wild session. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. 01453 891900. 19 19 MAY MAY MURDER MYSSTERY Experience what it’ss like to be a detective in our nail biting murder mystery event. Includes entertainment, delicious 3 course meal and disco. £29.95pp. Hallmark Hotel, Robinswood Lodge, Matson Lane, Gloucester GL4 6EA . 0330 028 3408.
Upcoming Upcoming EEvents vents att B a Bowden owden H Hall all H Hotel otel
Murder Mystery F Friday riday 2 23rd 3rd JJune une 2017 2017 The year is 1937. Mopton Brayside Public School is holding its Grand Dinner at the end of another fine academic year. This year, however, has been slightly different with the sudden and unexpected death of the Deputy Head, Mr James Crabtree, the Maths Master.
3 course dinner and a thrilling Murder Mystery only £34 per
person. Bed and Breakfast £70 per room.
Afternoon Tea £15 per person Enjoy a selection of fing sandwiches, cakes and scones with clotted crea and strawberry jam. Served with tea and coff £20 per person with a £22 per person with a glass of Champagne
M Mercure ercure B Bowden owden H Hall all H Hotel otel • Bondend Bondend Lane Lane • Upton Upton St St Leonards Leonards • Gloucester Gloucester • GL4 GL4 8ED 8ED www.mercuregloucester.co.uk ww.mercuregloucester.co.uk e events@mercuregloucester.co.uk vents@mercuregloucester.co.uk 0 01452 1452 255 255 012 012 w The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 17
Easter at The Bird
Mad ad Hatter’s atte s Tea ea Party a ty
The Bird Park’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Event on the 16th April has become a must do event for Easter and this year is no exception, with face painters at hand and a beautifully themed marquee for customers to use. Bring your own picnic or purchase hot food from the barbecue and enjoy the magical surroundings of the Mad Hatter’s Marquee. The activities area will be available and children in faancy dress will be admitted for half price! The birds and deer are all quite used to seeing Alice and her friends around the park on these event days so be sure to look out for them and take some photos! The ticket price includes admission to the Park, use of the Mad Hatter’s Marquee and activities tent, and face painting. Food will be available at an additional charge. Call us on 01452 812727 or book online. The Mad Hatter’s Marquee can also be hired for children’s birthday parties for up to 25 children.
T The he Bird Bird and and Deer Deer Park, Park, Prinknash, Prinknash, Cranham, Cranham, Gloucester Gloucester GL4 GL4 8EX 8EX • O
d & Deer Park What’s on at the V isitor Centre Centre Visitor
The Bird Park’s new Visitor Centre has been a real hit since it opened in 2015. With the beautiful balconies looking over the reindeer enclosure, where else could you enjoy a cappuccino and a tasty treat with family and friends? It’s comfortable with a relaxed atmosphere and a lovely gift shop for you to browse at your leisure.
Gypsy G ypsy Caravan Caravan
The Bird Park also has the charming Gypsy Caravan that can be hired for both children’s and adult bir thday parties for a maximum of 12 children and 4 adults.
It is a beautiful place to spend a special family day or gathering with a difference! Catering can be included in the hire price for all events booked in advance. For more details visit our website – www.thebirdpark.com.
Opening Opening times: times: 10am-5pm 10am-5pm daily daily • 01452 01452 812727 812727 • www.thebirdpark.com www..thebirdpark.com
For more information on all holidays and trips:
la a www.newmarketholidays.co.uk www.newmarketholidays.co.uk/laa
0330 0 330 1 160 60 7 7938 938 LAAA QUOTE
Canada – The Rockies Rockies Niagara Falls Falls to Niagara 14 days from £2129pp Flying direct from London Gatwick in September & October 2017 From sparkling Vancouverr, through the majestic Rockies, and via historic eastern cities to Niagara’s tumult . TTour our highlights highlights Visit Vancouver,, Jasper, Lake Louise, Ottawa, Toronto, Québec City and Montréal Travel along the dramatic Icefields Parkway to Banff Visit Lake Louise, set against stunning Victoria Glacier Gaze in awe at tumultuous Niagara Falls Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager 12 nights’ room only touring hotel accommodation, return flights and transfers For full itinerary or to book visit
www.newmarketholidays.co.uk/laa17320
A AIR IR H HOLIDAYS OLIDAYS & B BREAKS REAKS • COACH COACH & RAIL RAIL BREAKS BREAKS • THEATRE, THEATRE, S SPORTS PORTS & EVENTS EVENTS FFAMILY AMILY FFUN UN B BREAKS REAKS • C CRUISING RUISING • R ROCK, OCK , POP POP & LIVE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT FOR FULL DETAILS ON ALL HOLIDAYS & TRIPS VISIT w www.newmarket.travel ww.newmarket.travel/llaa aa
Buckingham Palace Palace & Gardens Gardens 2 days from £145pp Departing August-September 2017 Take a guided tour of one of the world’s most enchanting hidden gardens. TTour our highlights highlights Admission to Buckingham Palace, ‘Royal Gifts’ Exhibition and a guided Buckingham Palace Garden Tour ‘Royal London’ sightseeing tour Visit to Royal Windsor One night’s bed and continental breakfast in a three-star hotel in the Heathrow/Slough area Coach travel from the local area Escorted by a friendly tour manager For full itinerary or to book visit
www.newmarketholidays.co.uk/llaa16702 aa16702 These holidays are organised and operated by Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd. ABTA V7812. ATOL protected 2325. Subject to availability. Single supplements apply. Standard phone charges.
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Holidays H olidays & T Travel ravel w with ith A Al lH Hidden idden
W Waltz altz iinto nto V Vienna ienna Vienna is a classic weekend or week’s destination that is also a great day out if you’re holidaying elsewhere in Austria or even down the Danube in Slovakia… Its 09:00. You’ve caught one of the city’s ‘Park and Rides’ into the centre (don’t even think about trying to park in central Vienna), disembarked from t h e h yd r o fo i l o r a r r i ve d a t W i e n Hauptbahnhof. Here are some suggestions for a day in Waltz City.. Start with coffee and Sachertorte. The famous venues are Hotel Sacher Wien or Demel, but they can be a bit ‘touristy’. Instead, try Konditerai Heiner on Wollzeite near the cathedral, or Café Votiv. Then buy some delicious Mozartkugeln (‘Balls’) for later…
CCity ity w walks alks a and nd rromantic omantic ccarriage arriage rrides ides You love city walks? Vienna has lots, i n c l u d i n g s t ro l l s t h r o u g h B u r g g a r t e n , Heldenplatz and other parks flanking the Innenstrasse. You could hire a traditional Fiaker (horse-drawn carriage) for an hour – bring a bottle of s p a r k l i n g S e k t M a t h ä i to s h a r e w i t h someone special! You could also enjoy The Local Answer
a ro m a n t i c s t ro l l by t h e D o n a u k a n a l and admire the stunning graffiti art before reaching the famous Prater Park and testing your head for heights on the Wiener Reisenrad – the 65m big wheel made famous in 1949’s ‘The Third Man’. By the way, the Third Man M u s e u m o n P r e ss g a s s e 2 5 i s a l s o worth visiting. If heights aren’t your thing, the popular Zeiss Planetarium is nearby.
Other great family entertainments near central Vienna include the Haus des Meeres (Aqua Terra Zoo), the food and vintage stalls of the Naschmarkt, and the Schönbrunn Palace – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. All this exploring is sure to build your appetite, and Vienna has a great range of places to eat at every price. The city can be pricy, and there are tourist traps, but be reassured that at the time of writing, TripAdvisor’s top rated restaurant was the ‘one -€’ Schactelwirt on Jugendgasse 5. As we always say, TripAdvisor is your friend and rarely disappoints.
History History o orr ccafé afé ssociety? ociety? Vienna shouldn’t disappoint either. Whether you overdose on history, see the famous dancing Lippizaner horses (book very early!) or join café society in the footsteps of famous Viennese such as Johan Strauss and Sigmund Freud, we’re sure you’ll have a (‘Mozart’) ball! As you board your train, return to your car or catch the hydrofoil back to Bratislava, we’re sure you’ll already be planning a longer visit – we did!
To advertise call 01242 510500
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IIn nT The he Garden Garden with w ith JJulia ulia Smith Smith
Aq quintessentially uintessentially English English experience experience N ow t h e G o l d Cu p i s b e h i n d u s t h e time will really start to fly by! April is a b u sy o l d m o n t h , b u t s o m u c h depends on the weather. The garden centre is full of small p l u g p l a n t s i n a l l s o r t s of e n t i c i n g colours, and buying bedding plants as plugs is a very good way to do it. If t h ey a re ve r y s m a l l t h ey w i l l n e e d p o t t i n g i n to s l i g h t l y l a rg e r p o t s to g r ow o n a b i t b e f o r e y o u t h i n k o f putting them out . Don’t just plant them straight out in the garden, as t h ey a re u s e d to a f r o s t f re e environment in the nursery and will need to be kept in a cold greenhouse or conservatory for another 3 or so weeks to acclimatise. This will also ensure they won’t be zapped by the frost, which still can come in April.
P Plant lant o ornamental rnamental g grasses rasses T h i s i s a l s o a g o o d t i m e to p l a n t ornamental grasses in free-draining sandy soil, but if your soil doesn’t sound like this you can add plenty of The Local Answer
g r i t t o c l a y s o i l s t o i m p r ove t h e drainage. Alternatively, create a raised bed with bricks or sleepers to aid drainage.
CCascading ascading h hummocks ummocks o off v vividly ividly sstriped triped b bright right y yellow ellow a and nd g green reen foliage foliage Some grasses look great in pots, like the Japanese Hakonachloa macra ‘Alboaurea’, which is an eye-catching small ornamental grass, forming c a s c a d i n g h u m m o c ks o f v i v i d l y s t r i p e d b r i g h t y e l l ow a n d g r e e n foliage. The narrow leaves keep their colour throughout the season, although it loses its leaves in winter, and often when the plant is grown in full sun it develops a reddish tinge. However, I prefer it grown in shade to keep the yellowy-green colour. A wood full of the beautiful nodding heads and scent of bluebells i s a q u i n te s s e n t i a l l y E n g l i s h experience and they will be coming
out this month. Unfortunately, they are under threat from the Spanish bluebell, which is grown in gardens as it was considered more decorative than its English cousin. How to tell them apart? Well, the English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) has scented flowers borne on one side of the stem, the anthers are creamcoloured and unequal and the flower spike is nodding.
EEnjoy njoy tthe he ffragrance ragrance o off your o your own wn b bluebell luebell patch patch The Spanish bluebel l (H.hispanica) has unscented flowers borne on all sides of the stem. It has blue equal anthers and an upright flower spike. S o t a k e c a re w i t h w h a t y o u p l a n t – under no circumstances harvest any from the wild! Instead, source English bluebells from reputable retailers and you too could enjoy the fragrance of your own little bluebell patch.
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Gadgets G adgets & G Gizmos izmos with with Laura Laura N Nicklin icklin
pring iin n yyour Put P ut a sspring our sstep tep tthis his EEaster aster For the parents, this month will i n c l u d e h i d i n g E a s te r e g g s i n t h e g a rd e n f o r t h e k i d s ’ m o r n i n g e g g h u n t , w h i l s t t h e re s t o f u s s i m p l y take advantage of the celebrations by stuffing our own faces with chocolate. For the stronger-willed people, March 1st marked the b e g i n n i n g o f Le n t , w h i c h i s a chance to give up indulgences for six we e ks – h ow m a n y of you have stuck to your good intentions so far?! However, if yo u d o fe e l l i k e treating yourself – or s o m e o n e e l s e – h e re are some gadget ideas to consider (no chocolate included)…
H Hungry ungry B Bunny unny N Night ight LLight ight – £ £3.95 3.95 If you’re a parent and w o r r i e d a b o u t yo u r k i d s h av i n g a m a n i c sugar rush, then you could always swap out the chocolate e g g s fo r t h i s p re c i o u s little b u n n y ( e q u i p p e d w i t h h i s c a r ro t ) . This year, children can get a real-life visit from the Easter Bunny in the form of the adorable Hungry Bunny Night Light. With an LED night light, this cotton-tailed little guy comes w i t h t h re e L R 4 4 b u t t o n b a t t e r i e s included. At only £3.95, this is the perfect little something to get kids excited for Easter ’s arrival, or an excuse for the adults to embrace the Easter festivities. The Local Answer
SSamsung amsung R R6 6 O Omnidirectional mnidirectional W Wireless ireless B Bluetooth luetooth W Wi-Fi i-Fi M Multiroom ultiroom SSpeaker, peaker, W White hite – £ £279.00 279.00 Keeping with the Easter theme is the egg- shaped S amsung R6 Omnidirectional Wireless Bluetooth Wi-Fi Multiroom Speaker. Though it’s no chocolate egg, the sleek speaker does have a b a t te r y l i f e o f ov e r 6 hours, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, and a clever Multiroom link that lets you control what music you play f ro m a n y w h e r e i n t h e house. Its 360 degree sound i s a s p e c i a l a d d i t i o n f ro m Samsung, who believe that the egg shape also helps the R6 spread its sound eve n l y t h ro u g h o u t yo u r home. As well as looking very st y l i s h , the R6 has practicality as a small portable speaker that does exactly what it says on the tin. It ’ll certainly last l o n g e r t h a n a ny e d i b l e Easter Eggs you have lying about.
tech gear such as cables, plugs, flash drives, USB cables and smart phones, as well as other essential items including first aid kits, make up and your passport if you’re planning to jet away.. The cases are w e l l - p a d d e d t o p ro te c t y o u r valuables and their varying sizes make storage even easier. Save yourself from the stress of tangled up cables and being unable to dig out whatever gizmo it is you’re searching for, so you can have more time to relax .
B BUBM UBM G Gadgets adgets CCase ase – £ £23.99 23.99 If you’re looking to escape the theme eggs and b u n n i es altogether, and are instead hoping to use the Easter break as a chance to get away, then you’ll be wanting some decent storage for your gadgets. Made of heavy-duty, durable and waterproof nylon, this 3-piece gadgets case is suitable for storing
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interior needs
Luxurious curtains and stylish blinds...
014 52 52 2 4 22 es@interiorneeds.co.uk
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•C urtains & fabrics fabrics Curtains •T Tracks racks & poles poles • IInterior nterior shutters shutters Awnings •A wnings Wallpaper •W allpaper
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Opening T aturday 1 0am – 5 pm Opening Times: imes: T Tuesday uesday – S Saturday 10am 5pm Open Mondays Mondays b ya ppointment o nly Open by appointment only
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Interior Interior Design Design with w ith Maddie Maddie Simpson Simpson
LLight ight uup p yyour our h home ome Lighting is a crucial part of i n te r i o r d es i g n and something there should be p l e n t y of i n o u r h o m es. A p o p u l a r t h e m e i n i n te r i o r design is the use of fairy l i g h t s o r st r i n g l i g h t s. However, fairy lights do not j u s t n e e d to b e s t r u n g o u t along a surface or wrapped around a mirror. Try to be a little creative – put some in a jar and pop t h e m a ro u n d y o u r ro o m , giving it a Peter Pan theme. W h y n o t c l i p s o m e p h o to s to your lights or even spell something out on the wall u s i n g t h e m ? T h e re a r e s o many things you can try, so you can’t really go wrong!
R Recycle ecycle e everyday veryday iitems tems ffrom rom tthe he h home ome tto o ccreate reate b beautiful eautiful llight ight ccreations reations Getting artistic with lighting can be fun as well as cost effective. I had t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to s e e a l i g h t s exhibition recently and it was a truly beautiful experience. Something that really took me by surprise was the beautiful loofah lamp shades that were hanging from the ceiling. The creativity I saw in them sparked an idea – why can’t we just use
• Fill a clear bottle most of the way with vegetable oil • Fill the rest of the bottle with water, leaving an inch at the top for the ‘eruption’ • Add a few drops of food colouring – any colour you like, but maybe choose one that fits with the theme of the room in which you’ll be using the lamp • Add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into the flask and watch your lava lamp erupt! • Hey-presto! We’re back in the 70s. You’d need to continue adding bicarbonate of soda for your homemade lava everyday items from the home and lamp to keep reacting, but it’s a fun recycle them to create beautiful light experiment to try. creations? U Use se llight ight tto oa add dd a sspecial pecial Take a newspaper for example, or ttouch ouch tto oy your our h home ome musical sheets. All you need to do is print your collage onto tracing paper, Lighting is a brilliant way to add a wrap your paper on the outside of special touch to your home, so being the lampshade and tape into place. able to make it personal will make The possibilities are endless, but you love your home even more. being able to create something so personal to you is what is exciting about ‘DIY-ing’ your home.
TThrowback hrowback tto o tthe he 7 70s 0s a and nd ccreate reate y your our own own lava lava lamp lamp I t h a s b e e n r u m o u r e d l a te l y t h a t the 70s style is coming back into fashion in the interior design world. Don’t panic! The 70s may be returning, but hopefully we can all f o r g e t a b o u t t h e o f fe n s i ve l y patterned wallpapers that took over the world and focus on other parts of the decade, which were actually pretty great . Take lava lamps for example – they were fun, weren’t t h ey ? M a k i n g o n e i s a l s o n o t a s difficult as you may think – have a go yourself...
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Save S ave t the he P Planet lanet with w ith A Annabel nnabel L Laughton aughton
Take Take ttime ime tto o de-clutter de-clutter It ’s April, and we can finally feel w i n t e r i s b e h i n d u s a n d w e h ave some brighter days ahead. It’s a great opportunity to take some time to declutter. Having too much stuff is one of the scourges of our modern lives, and now we can even pay people to rid our houses of all the items we’ve already paid to acquire! But don’t do that, de-clutter your home yourself. You might wonder why decluttering is a green issue. Well, if everyone in the world lived like we do in the UK , we’d need three planets. A part of that difference comes from the sheer amount of products we buy, which all contain natural resources (like oil, p l a n t s, wo o d o r m e t a l s ) a n d h av e contributed to climate change and o t h e r e n v i ro n m e n t a l p ro b l e m s through their production, packaging and transport . And while stuff is s i t t i n g t h e re u n u s e d , n o b o d y i s benefiting – it’s a lose lose. The point of decluttering is not just to achieve a more spacious, airy and pleasant home, it ’s to unlock the potential in all those unloved things.
I t a l s o p re ve n t s wasteful duplicate p u rc h a s e s . H ow m a n y t i m e s h av e you unearthed a f o r g o t te n i te m i d e n t i c a l to o n e you recently bought? So here are my boxes nearby – for ‘resell/charity shop’, ‘keep’, ‘mend’ and ‘chuck’ (by top tips for your April clear out. which I mean, recycle). If it ’s a 1 1.. D Decide ecide tthe he sscale cale o off tthe he wrench to get rid of some things, add o operation peration a n o t h e r o n e – ‘ re v i e w ’ . A f te r o n e If you’re like me, you’ll suddenly get month, go and check that box – a zeal for decluttering and start anything you’ve forgotten about, get tackling several rooms at once, rid of. Someone else will love it more. skimming off the easy things then 3 3.. Don’t Don’t b buy uy m more! ore! m ov i n g o n w h e n t h e d e c i s i o n s g e t Too many attempts to clear stuff start tough, leaving a trail of destruction with buying more stuff! By all means everywhere you go. Stop! Decide on get some new hangers or drawer one area – be it a shelf, a wardrobe or a whole room – and don’t stray dividers or even furniture if that will outside that area until everything is help you – but only after you’ve sifted through everything and know exactly looking spick and span. what you need.
2 2.. B Be eh honest onest w with ith yyourself ourself
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Pick up each item and think honestly d duplicating uplicating about whether you will use it enough i f you’re constantly buying black to warrant keeping it . Have four skirts, soap, lightbulbs or gift wrap, forgetting you already had some, something’s gone wrong. You need to think about the first place you would look for these items, and store them there.
5 5.. Take Take pride pride in in your your a achievements chievements There’s a real satisfaction to be had with the final stage of this process, whether it’s mending a torn dress and hanging it back up in your wardrobe for spring, or handing a bag of items to one of our wonderful charity shops for the next person to love. Don’t neglect this final stage – this is where you reap the rewards of all your labours. Happy decluttering! The Local Answer
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Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
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Not Not m much uch ooff a bbudget? udget? The new Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, delivered his first, and the nation’s last, Spring Budget last month. For those hoping for giveaways, there were none of significance; on the other hand, those worried about measures that might cost you money needn’t have fretted. It really wasn’t much of a Budget. There were, however, a couple of interesting sub-plots. It’s really difficult at present for the Chancellor to plan for the next few years. He knows he needs to address the country ’s deficit – estimated at a staggering £130,000 per household – but he has no idea what the financial impact of triggering Article 50 and the UK subsequently leaving the EU will be. How can he? He has no idea as to what the terms of our exit will be as there have been no serious negotiations.
The The biggest biggest cchange hange tto oo our ur ttaxation axation system system iin nag generation eneration As with every Chancellor in recent times, Mr Hammond announced a series of consultations over the summer on a variety of fiscal matters. He will have time to digest the results before he presents his first Autumn Budget in November this year. I suspect we will see a lot more measures introduced at that time. But it’s perhaps a couple of the consultations that are already in motion on which the greater focus will be in the coming months. Labelled ‘the death of the tax return’ by former Chancellor, George Osborne, a couple of years ago, the introduction of ‘Making Tax Digital’ in April 2018 is set to be the biggest change to our taxation system in a generation – certainly since the introduction of selfassessment in 1997. There will be a lot more to bring you on this subject in the coming months. Most people in my profession, including me, are concerned that it is being rushed through by the Treasury, b u t , i n t h e m a i n , M r H a m m o n d i s n o t b a c k i n g d ow n . Watch this space.
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The second ongoing consultation is into the alleged disparities between taxation of the employed and selfemployed. Currently self-employed people, including those who operate through their own limited companies, enjoy greater tax breaks than employed people. The government seems intent on narrowing that gap, with the Chancellor announcing (and subsequently changing his mind on) increased national insurance for the selfemployed and an increase in tax on dividends for those operating through a private limited company. However, he seems to have overlooked completely the risks taken by the self-employed, with the measures that he announced flying in the face of the government ’s intention to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit. It may not have been much of a Budget , but there’s plenty going on in the tax world!
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IIndex ndex o of fA Advertisers dvertisers FFOOD OOD & D DRINK RINK Cafe Rene Tiger’s Eye
RETAIL R ETAIL 6 Assured Mobility 6 Vinyl Records
WHAT’S W HAT’S O ON N CLUBS CLUBS & SSPORTS PORTS Shipton Golf Course 15 EEVENTS VENTS & A ATTRACTIONS TTRACTIONS Bowden Hall 17 Inflatable Theme Park 15 The Bird & Deer Park 18-19
H HEALTHY EALTHY & B BEAUTY EAUTY Healthy Feet
P PROPERTY ROPERTY Brunswick Homeloans
H HOMES OMES & G GARDENS ARDENS
FFURNISHING URNISHING & A APPLIANCES PPLIANCES 26 8 Interior Needs WINDOWS INDOWS & D DOORS OORS 14 W Albany Windows 2 Cloudy2Clear 31
BATHROOMS BATHROOMS Severn Vale Bathrooms 33 & 35 BUILDING BUILDING SSERVICES ERVICES A1 Roofing & Contractors 22 GlosBuild 24 LS Contractors Ltd 22 5 Marshalls Driveways 22 R. Richards & Son 22 11 Resindrives.co.uk 36
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