Stroud District by The Local Answer

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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LLOCAL OCAL BIGGEST M AGAZINE MAGAZINE JJUNE UNE 22021 021

STROUD S TROUD D DISTRICT ISTRICT WIN WIN TICKETS TICKETS TTO OC COTSWOLD OTSWOLD FFARM ARM PARK! PARK! SEE SEE CENTRE CENTRE PAGES PAGES

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S troud D istrict: 41,000 41,000 copies copies Stroud District: G loucester: 46,000 46,000 ccopies opies Gloucester: C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 copies copies Cheltenham: C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: N orth G loucestershire: 20,000 20,000 ccopies opies North Gloucestershire:

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June’s winning cover photo: Lizzie Rimmer

W elcome Welcome ttoo JJune une As the country starts to open up with further easing of restrictions, many of you will be looking forward to getting out and supporting the local businesses that are now able to reopen. Whether it’s a pub, restaurant, visitor attraction, health and beauty business, sports facility or a local event, they’ll all be grateful of a visit from you. Please remember to adhere to current guidelines, but do your bit to support your local community and enjoy getting out and about again! To give you a headstart, we are giving you the chance to win family tickets for Cotswold Farm Park! After more than a year of restrictions, this is your opportunity to win a fun family day out at one of the county’s favourite attractions. For more details of how to enter, see the centre pages. Don’t forget about Father’s Day on Sunday 20th June – Qwerty Beer Box are offering a special discount on their Craft Beer Hamper, which could be the perfect present for your dad.

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Contacts C ontacts DIRECTOR MANAGING MANAGING DIRECTOR Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk MARKETING & EDITORIAL EDITORIAL MARKETING Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS Rob Kingscott (01242 541071) accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ADVERTISING ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: info@thelocalanswer.co.uk LEAFLET LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

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FFood o o d & ddrink r i n k vendors ve n do rs • FFun u n ddog o g show sh o w SSmall m a l l business b us i ne s s & ccharity h a r i t y sstalls t alls FFun u n ffor o r all a l l the t h e ffamily! am i l y ! C a l l 01386 882288 f o r mo ree de t a i l s

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Delicious Delicious Dish Dish with w ith H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott

Roasted Roasted vegetable vegetable quiche quiche B alance tthis his iindulgent ndulgent q uiche Balance quiche with a fresh fresh ssalad, a l a d, a nd e njoy tthe he with and enjoy leftovers for for llunch unch tthe he n ext d ay! leftovers next day!

IIngredients: ngredients: 2 small red onions; 1 red pepper; 1 yellow pepper; 200g baby courgettes; 5 large eggs; 300ml double cream; 200g Gruyère cheese, grated; 2-3 tbsp olive oil; 225g plain flour; 175g cold butter, cubed.

M Method: ethod: 1 To make the pastry, put the flour and cubed butter into a food processor and whizz until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add one egg and one tablespoon of cold water and mix until combined. 2 Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and line a 25cm (10in) round loose-bottomed flan tin. Prick the base with a fork then chill in the fridge for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C/gas 4). 3 Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and paper, then return to the oven for 15 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and set aside. 4 Increase the oven temperature to 200°C (fan 180°C/gas 6). 5 De-seed and slice the peppers, peel the onions and slice into wedges, and halve the

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courgettes length ways. Pop them on a large baking tray, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway through. Whisk together the cream, eggs and half of the cheese, adding a little more seasoning. Put the other half of the grated cheese into the base of the pastry case then arrange the vegetables on the top. Pour over the cream mixture. Reduce the oven temperature to 180°C (fan 160°C/gas 4) and cook the quiche for 25-30 minutes until set and golden brown. Serve warm with new potatoes and a fresh salad.

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A And nd w with ith a m maximum aximum o off 2 n non-conflicting on-conflicting lleaflets eaflets d delivered elivered with with e each ach ccopy opy o of The T he L Local ocal A Answer nswer m magazine, agazine, you you will will receive receive ffantastic antastic e exposure xposure ffor or yyour our a advertising. dvertising

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AFTER The Local Answer

Mirror Mirror Mirror Mirror on on tthe he Wall Wall w with ith V Val al S Starr tarr

A ffake ake tan tan is is a safe safe tan tan After such a lengthy lockdown, most of us are relishing the summer weather and spending much more time outdoors. Holidays are more likely to be spent in the UK owing to travel restrictions, so fingers crossed it will be a good summer. In the UK, people often think that even on a hot day, the sun is weaker than when we are basking somewhere abroad. This is a big mistake! From approximately April through to September, the sun in the UK is just as damaging to our skin. I always recall my dermatologist saying “as long as there is sunshine I will always be busy”. Now that’s something to think about.

A Application pplication Preparation is an essential step before applying any fake tan products; it’s key for a successful look. Thoroughly exfoliate all the areas to which you will be applying your products – particularly elbows, knees, hands and feet to avoid where you might have a skin bui up. Products tend accumulate in those area A mitt or a glove can hel you to avoid any staining on the hands, but make sure you wash them thoroughly after any application just in case especially between the fingers.

Tan T an accelerators accelerators Tan accelerators are often applied daily several weeks before sun exposure to help with obtaining a better and longer lasting tan It is important to note The Local Answer

they do not contain an SPF (sun protection factor) so you still need to apply sun protection. Elemis, Ultrasun and Gatineau all offer tan accelerators.

Fake F ake ttan an The demand for good quality fake tanning products we can use at home has increased enormously. The days of the ghastly orange streaky shades that rub off on our clothes and bedding is thankfully a thing of the past, as well as the horrible smell that came with it. Gatineau Golden Glow Gradual Tan is applied to dry skin and will give you a natural looking, sun-kissed glow. When you are satisfied with the result you can just top up when required. Elemis has a similar product. Tan Luxe is the new kid on the block, stealing a lot of thunder with its extensive range. This includes drops you can dd to your regular face or y creams, creating a om-made tan – the re drops, the deeper he colour. I like it as he content is super ydrating, unlike some which dry out the skin. A less well-known brand that launched a ake tan last year is Lucy Bee. Their products re vegan, cruelty-free nd palm-oil free, adhering to their ethos of ethical beauty. The tan has a tr opica l frag rance and is enriched with essential nutrients to hydrate and nourish your skin. To advertise call 01242 510500

S Sun un p protection rotection No matter which fake tanning product you choose, they won’t offer the sun protection you need to be safe. You must still apply SPF generously, especially to areas often overlooked like eyes, tips of the nose and ears, bald spots and lips – basically wherever skin is exposed. My favourite brand is Ultrasun. The entire range has an SPF to suit every age group, is a once a day application which is rare, and comes in sprays, liquids and creams to suit your preference. Their UVA SPF has a high factor, which works hard to protect you against the most damaging UVA rays. Ultrasun Face SPF 50+ is a winner in my book. It might cost a little more than your standard protection, but you only need it once a day and it also acts like a moisturiser. Allow 15 minutes for your skin to fully absorb (this goes for all SPF applications). You will still get a tan, but a safe one. Page 

Quick Crossword 1

ACROSS 1 Infuriate 5 Shed tears 7 Filter 8 Long story 9 Mosquito bite irritation 10 Fossil resin 11 Apple, ... Smith 13 Dull 14 Ferocious 18 Partition 21 Current units 22 Dog breed 24 Move on knees 25 Relinquish (territory) 26 Dress-up toy

27 Velocity 28 Requests, ... for 29 Takes place after DOWN 1 Flags 2 Anew 3 Short prose piece 4 Small stones 5 More peculiar 6 Parcel 12 Scold repeatedly 15 Without purpose 16 Infected sore 17 Encloses in shell 19 Reminder 20 Sewing spikes 22 Knife part 23 Assistants

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Money Money Matters Matters w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off Andorran Andorran

S Super-greed uper-greed A few weeks ago, the ‘Big Six’ Premier League football clubs angered most of their fans and those members of the public who are remotely interested in the sport by announcing the formation of a European Super League. Put aside the obvious jokes about the identity of the ‘Big Six’, it was another example of those with power and money trying to bully their smaller counterparts and make the rich even richer. It didn’t last long and will almost certainly never happen in the way it was envisaged, but the message from the rich is clear – there’s no such thing as too much money. Professional golf was threatening a similar move too and, whilst it attracted a lot less publicity and emotional backlash, it too was symptomatic of the same issue – greed.

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There’s T here’s a tthin hin lline ine b between etween g greed reed and a nd m making aking m money oney The line between greed and making money is a fine one. It compares to the line that comes between brave and stupid. The same action can b e s e e n b y o n e p e r s o n a s b r a ve r y a n d b y t h e next as stupidity; capitalism or greed, it’s an identical argument. In many walks of life, market forces prevent matters getting out of hand by placing competitive pressures in the way of flagrant overcharging. But in a world where those pressures exist only to inflate already swollen coffers, it seems the rich don’t care about anyone other than themselves. All of those football fans are ordinary people like you or me. We shouldn’t be surprised at the attitude taken by the ‘Big Six’, as we come across it in our daily lives, trying to deal with the big banks, utility companies, mobile phone providers etc. Despite all their promotional promises, we are just a number and, if we don’t like it, we are sufficiently unimportant that we can be cast aside. I’m so glad I work in an environment where we all care about the clients we serve and the job that we do. Page 10

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P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart

Respecting Respecting boundaries boundaries As the country opens up again and summer is in full swing, we are all filled with so many mixed emotions: excitement to get out and meet people again, definitely, but also certain trepidation after begin separated for so long. Will we remember how to socialise? How close can we get? What if others are more cautious than us, will we upset them?

“ “What What a are re y you ou ccomfortable omfortable w with?” ith?” One thing is for certain, the world we are emerging into will never be the same and there are some fundamental differences which need to be addressed: the foremost of which is obviously ‘What are y o u c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h? ’ I t h i n k this will be the next ‘Hi, how are you?’ opener in everyday situations. Some people are desperate to get back to hugging and yet others will want to keep a distance for the foreseeable future. I know we are navigating this issue as my Improv Group takes to the stage again

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this month. Some members are highly cautious, whilst others are desperate to get up close and personal, so a lot of our prep work included navigating safe spaces for everyone. I would recommend being willing to ask the question and most importantly accept whatever answer you are given: this is not a time for talking people around, debating or getting offended if someone has a different perspective to you. Many people want to keep masks in order to feel safe – so respect that without comment.

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Still others hate them and can’t wait to leave them behind – again, respect their wishes. I think the classic phrase right now is ’stay in your lane’ and communicate clearly what you want and need.

Enjoy E njoy summer summer after after so so llong ong sshut hut a away way Then, it’s time to have fun. Meet up with family you have not seen in months, finally get to hold those ‘lockdown babies’ you have only seen in pictures or on video calls, and share your love once again. Hopefully we can travel, see a bit of the country if not the world, and actively enjoy summer after so long shut away. One final word, for those living alone without families, remember that you are seen, heard and valued, and simply making eye contact and smiling on the street will open up doors for you. Why not start being ‘that person who talks to strangers’ and give yourself the gift of connection too! Until next month, stay safe and remember your sunscreen! Page 11

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are per per month. month. Please note: prices P lease n ote: p rices llisted isted are FREE ARTWORK SERVICE F REE A RTWORK CREATION CREATION S ERVICE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE “So far within the first month of advertising with The Local Answer I’ve already received a lot of business. It’s been a really good investment and has already paid for itself several times over – I look forward to the months ahead.” W Will ill H Hinde inde G Garden arden M Maintenance aintenance

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*Terms & Conditions: 25% Discount applies to 6 or 12 month bookings for Eighth, Quarter, Half or Full Pages only. Offer open to companies based within the Stroud District. Discounted rates apply to the Stroud District edition only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Book before 10th June if you wish to appear in the July magazine.

Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden

S Seeking eeking S Shetland’s hetland’s Big Big Five Five After a short ferry ride and dri ve from Lerwick, we’re picnicking on salmon-stuffed Shetland bannocks and bags of Shetland Fudge Company’s ‘Puffin Poo’, overlooking the channel between Bressay and remote Noss. For year s, we’ve unsuccessfully stak ed out wrack-strewn Voe foreshores at sunset to spot Shetland’s famously shy otter s. Today, just a few mouthfuls into lunch, we didn’t expect to see the sleek creature now cavorting before us. Forget reaching for cameras; that would instantly break the spell. Sometimes, just watching beats photography. For the first time, we’ve hit Shetland’s wildlife jackpot!

Aw wildlife ildlife paradise paradise Thinking about Africa’s Big Five game animals (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and Cape buffalo) got me pondering the equi valents for Shetland – a much closer, more accessible destination for uncertain postlockdown times.

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Maybe you’ve visited this remark able archipelago with its relaxed Nordic ambiance, or followed its wildlife through Simon King’s books and wildlife documentaries? Either way, you will know Shetland is a wildlife paradise. We have tick ed many of Shetland’s wildlife highlights off our list during more than a decade of visits. As Shetland regular s, patience, luck and local tip offs have allowed us to see elusive otters and orcas. Depending on the season – we’ve always visited between June and August – puffins, arguably Shetland’s ornithological poster child, are an easier find. To get up close and per sonal, just visit Sumburgh Head in early August before they fly back out to sea. Then there are the tiny storm petrels that we helped catch, weigh, tag and release on one memorable night. Or their antithesis, the powerful, dive-bombing skuas – bonxies – that aggressi vely top Shetland’s food chain. To advertise call 01242 510500

Always A lways rready eady tto o ssurprise urprise These are just for starter s. From inquisiti ve seals – or maybe even a mythical selkie – to Mousa’s ground-nesting Arctic terns, Shetland wildlife always has a surprise in store. Lik e the pilot whale that surfaced, amid its breath’s pungent odour, beside us one tranquil evening off Trondra. Maybe you will cross your finger s for a serendipitous wildlife encounter? Or perhaps – here’s an insider tip – you’ll seek help from local guides such as Richard Shucksmith or Brydon Thomason? Either way, spotting any of Shetland’s Big Fi ve is the crowning glory to enjoying its scenery, white-sand beaches, delicious cuisine and famously warm welcome. Really, who needs the Maasai Mara or Serengeti when a picnic, a sunny day on Bressay and your private otter show lie just a few hour s north of Gloucestershire! Page 1

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Don’t Don’t look look until until you’ve you’ve finished! finished! S Solutions olutions oon n ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ ppage. age. Page 14

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Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga

You Y ou are are what what you you eat eat – even even o on n rest rest days! days! Some of the most common reasons people train or work out is to lose weight, get stronger or fitter, or to achieve some sort of personal challenge or performance goal – to run a marathon, climb a mountain, swim the Channel. While not necessarily a goal of training, the physiological reason we work out is to build muscle. This ramps up our metabolism (resulting in fat loss), increases our movement efficiency, strength and power (resulting in improved performance) and optimises cardiovascular endurance capacity (increasing fitness and bringing additional health benefits). For anyone who wants a trimmer physique, six pack abs, improved performance or physical and mental health, engaging in an appropriate, progressive training program and using the right training methods is necessary to move toward your fitness goal.

M Make ake ssure ure y you’re ou’re e eating ating tthe he rright ight ffoods oods The ‘icing on the cake’ when it comes to fitness and exercise, is making sure you’re eating the right foods. Typically, this involves planning what we eat on training days to support our workouts. For example, pre-workout nutrition/supplements ensure the body has enough fuel to support the increase in physical activity, while post-workout nutrition is also important as it plays a vital role in muscle recovery and growth. One area of diet and nutrition that is sometimes overlooked is The Local Answer

what to eat on rest days. I love reading about ‘cheat days’ and ‘cheat meals’ and how these are justified or endorsed. You see, muscle recovery doesn’t only occur on workout days – muscle growth and repair continue to take place up to 48 hours post-workout; so continuing to eat the right foods to support this process ensures the muscles have the nutrients they need for optimal development. It’s also well-documented that nutrition plays an important role in reducing training-related muscle soreness, as uptake of the right nutrients helps to regulate the body’s inflammatory response. Key to getting your recovery nutrition right is determining what your ‘rest day’ calorie intake should be. Some people intuitively reduce their calorie intake on non-training days, however, the answer lies in the intended training goal. If muscle growth is a goal of your training, your recovery day

meals need to provide the same caloric intake as your training days. However, if you have a weight-loss focus, reducing your calories slightly on rest days can be beneficial.

Calories C alories can can be be lowered lowered on o n rrecovery ecovery days days The body still needs nutrients to aid in recovery, but as long as your body’s overall nutritional requirements are met (maintaining health, sustaining exercise routines and goals, and aiding muscle recovery) then calories can be lowered slightly on recovery days. What about ‘cheat meals’? While maintaining caloric intake to sustain your energy requirements, muscle recovery and overall health is an important element of exercise nutrition, we are only human. If you want the odd comfort meal or less healthy treat, that’s OK! Just make sure to stay within your caloric intake range and get back to eating ‘healthier’, whole foods as soon as possible.

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D Distributors istributors Required Required To join our waiting list for the following areas: Berkeley • Bisley • Brimscombe • Cashes Green ynch • Kings Stanley Frampton • France Ly Kingswood • Leonard Stanley Minchinhampton • Stroud Centre • Uplands Woodchester • Woodmancote Wotton-under-Edge Please email distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk with your name, postal address, telephone number and date of birth. A member of our team will respond with more information. Please do not call the office – our staff are only returning to work part-time, so may not always be available to take your call. Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perfform the duties.

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Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken

Iw was as wrong wrong about about my my car... car... for for the the most most part part This was always going to be an interesting review – and possibly one that costs me a lot. You see, I currently drive a Renault Captur. Not the most exciting car, and in fairness one that I’ll be switching fairly soon, but when I took out the PCP on it, we were torn between this and a similarly priced Ford EcoSport. Reviewing the EcoSport therefore means that I may be proved wrong in my preference for the Captur, so there really is a lot riding on this. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. At least partly. Before I go into why I was wrong (this time) I’ll talk about the Ford itself. I’m never all that sure where these small SUV type cars are aimed – bigger than a Fiesta, smaller than a Focus, but taller at the same time…

It It a achieved chieved w what hat Ford Ford often often delivers delivers There’s clearly a market for them, and Ford is particularly adept at finding niches in the market and exploiting them really quite well, so I’ve decided not to worry too much about where it sits in the line up, rather just take it at face value and see what it’s like. In short, it’s really quite impressive. Yes, it’s powered by a 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, but Ford has always managed to get a lot out of these small engines, and while it’s not what you’d call fast, it’s nippy enough and, paired with the 6-speed manual gearbox, it achieved what Ford often delivers. It was, for want of a better word, eager. And a lot more The Local Answer

fun than a small engined car such as this should be. If the engine and gearbox are a winner, and in this they are, then usually it’ll take a big faux pas from the engineering team to mess something up. Perhaps, given its ride height, the downside would be body roll in the corners? Nope. Pretty stable all things considered, and without excessive power to contend with, there were no real surprises. I remember driving a Scenic for the first time and almost feeling seasick on roundabouts. The interior was perfectly acceptable too – not too luxurious, but for £24k, you’re not going to get swathes of leather and inset aluminium. That said, I certainly had no complaints, and nothing felt particularly cheap. I had one issue, which is actually quite embarrassing, and probably more a reflection on me than the car. It took me far longer than it should have To advertise call 01242 510500

to figure out how to open the boot.

A ttrio rio o off iissues ssues Yep, I got stumped by one of the most simple actions, and all because I forgot that the EcoSport has a side opening boot and therefore the ‘handle’ was disguised in the light cluster. But the odd opening mechanism wasn’t the only downside to the boot, in fact it was part of a trio of issues. The second was that being a side-opener, you need to leave a good amount of space to fully open the boot. And thirdly, the boot space wasn’t fantastic, which in itself was my saving grace. Because while we both preferred the EcoSport to my Captur, the French model does win on practicality and an expandable boot thanks to a sliding rear seating mechanism. But on interior, performance, looks and literally everything else, the EcoSport wins. Which means I lose. Page 1

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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith

L Let’s et’s hope hope for for a sunny sunny ssummer ummer Ah June, the month with the longest days of the year, strawberries and cream, the start of Wimbledon, cricket, festivals and outdoor living. Your garden will be looking wonderful now after all the care and attention you have been lavishing on it over the past months so make sure you take time to enjoy it! The fertiliser in container plants potting compost is usually used up within six weeks, so when you are potting them on, add some slowrelease granules or make sure you give them a liquid feed every week or two whilst they are actively growing. This will make them flower much better than they would otherwise.

E Every very g garden arden n needs eeds a P Peony eony p plant lant June is a good month for seeing Peonies at their best. They are one of the oldest cultivated flowers (the Chinese have used their roots in medicine for over 1,500 years!) and every garden is better for

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having one or more of these gorgeous plants. There is a rich palette of red to choose from, going from pale pink to crimson. I love the leaves as they push through the soil in April/May, unfurling slowly with such promise to come. There are even scented beauties to be had like the ‘ D u c h e s s e d e N e m o ur s ’ . T h e y like to be left alone once planted and need a well-drained soil in full sun, although they can tolerate a little shade. If the weather is warm you can move your indoor cacti outside to a bright but sheltered place. They will benefit from the extra sunlight and fresh air – think of it like a holiday for them! They will need watering at least once a week, as they are probably in a small pot. To encourage the deveTo advertise call 01242 510500

lopment of flowers, feed fortnightly with a weak liquid highpotash fertiliser like tomato feed. Don’t panic if your apple trees shed a lot of little fruits at this time of year. It is the ‘June drop’ and they get rid of excess fruit to enable them to ripen and better grow the remaining fruit.

G Grow row p peppers eppers in in the the ssunniest unniest p part art o off y your our g greenhouse reenhouse If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse, plant peppers and aubergines in large pots or grow bags in the sunniest part of it. Otherwise, you can try them in a couple more weeks in a sheltered bright spot in the garden. Some sunny years they may be fine, but if the summer is poor they will need the extra warmth of the greenhouse to fruit or they’ll never perform as well as their greenhouse friends! Page 25

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Country C ountr y ccottage ottage sstyle tyle At this time of year our thoughts naturally turn to summer holidays. As more of us than ever are holidaying in the UK, it’s not surprising that nostalgic rural style has emerged as a key lockdown look. “Cottagecore”, as it’s known in the online world, is Tik-Tok’s top interiors trend of 2021. Follow my tips to help you create an on-trend English country style feel for your home.

1 1.. T The he ssimple imple llife ife Cottagecore reflects a new appreciation of the simple pleasures of life; walks in the countryside, the smell of woodsmoke and fresh flowers. Whether you are an urban or country dweller, it’s not difficult to bring a natural feel to your home. Think stripped and waxed wood floors, soft earthy paint colours and beautiful old rugs. A popular Instagram neutral is pink, the colour of old plaster. Accessorise with plants in simple terracotta pots you’ve painted yourself and handpicked flowers arranged in jugs.

Image: Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics

2. 2. Buy Buy vintage vintage Sustainability underpins this look. Mix reclaimed and upcycled furniture with new pieces for a contemporary rustic vibe. Wander around small antique shops and markets when on holiday, become a regular browser on eBay and at your local charity furniture shop. Search out solid furniture made from natural materials that age well. Look for odd pieces of old china that you can mix and match. You’ll be amazed what bargains you can find. I recently snapped up some beautiful old botanical prints for just a few pounds, I was thrilled.

3.. A 3 Add dd ssome ome ffloral loral cchic hic

Image: C&R/Jamie Scott Long Photography

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Florals are another key element. Look for vintage style prints in muted hues or interesting patterns in contemporary colours. Be inspired by nature and don’t be afraid to mix and match – maximalism won’t look out of place. I discovered the company Cabbages and Roses years ago – their beautiful vintage inspired fabrics and wallpapers are

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loved by Cottagecore queen Paula Sutton (follow her on Instagram @hillhousevintage). For more inspiration check out Vanessa Arbuthnot Fabrics.

4.. A cosy 4 cosy corner corner This style is all about recreating the safe and comforting feel of an old cottage in your home, but you don’t have to live in the country to make it work. A comfy chair, a vintage floor lamp, some overfilled bookshelves and an oriental style rug is all it takes to create your own cottage-style cosy nook to relax in.

5.. Craft 5 Craft it it yourself yourself Over the past year we’ve all learnt to slow down, appreciate the natural world and enjoy the good life. It’s the perfect time to take up a new hobby. Joining an online flower arranging course was the best investment I made last year, and my daughter took up pottery. Whether it be needlework, upholstery or up-cycling furniture, there will always be a place for your own handcrafted piece in your new country style home.

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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin

Cool C ool o off ff this this summer summer Summer is officially here, and that means sunshine, barbecues and plenty of Pimm’s. But it’s not just all sunbathing and cocktails – this can also be a good excuse to treat yourself to some nifty new gadgets that could make life just that bit better. So, why not check out some of the latest gizmos on the market and see which ones can help make this the best t!

trying to perfectly position your camera to snap that selfie – this gizmo has been updated to meet your needs in that department! Please note, the Instax Square Film is sold separately.

Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Megaboom M egaboom 3 John Lewis: £149.99 In case the name of this portable wireless speaker didn’t give it away, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 packs a mighty punch when it comes to highquality, 360 degree sound. Simply use your mobile phone to control the speaker and appreciate its 45 metre range. It even comes in an array of colours to suit your aesthetic, from Ultraviolet Purple to Lagoon Blue to Unicorn (pictured). This speaker is also built to withstand water and dust (it can be submerged in up to one metre of water for half an

F Fujifilm ujifilm IInstax nstax C Camera amera John Lewis: £119.99 Instant cameras were once thought of as retro, but they’ve made a big comeback as more millennials appreciate the old school aesthetic of printed square photos. Thanks to this cute instant camera from Fujifilm, you can take highquality photos to capture your precious summer memories (and match your aesthetic). However, there’s also a nice twist to this camera, as it includes a handy selfie mode activated by a simple twist of the lens. Don’t worry about The Local Answer

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hour) and is even ‘shockproof’, in case you suffer from butter fingers. Enjoy up to 20 hours of uninterrupted music as you settle in for a long summer.

D Dyson yson P Pure ure C CoolMe oolMe F Fan an Boots: £299 Not only does this Dyson fan cool you down during the midst of a summer heat wave, but it a l s o p ur i f i es y o u r ai r ! C r e at e d to improve air quality, the Dyson Pure CoolMe Fan – the first personal purifier from Dyson – p r oj e c t s cl e a n , fi l t e r ed a i r t ha t removes 99.95% of allergens and pollutants. Thanks to its sealed filter, this fan traps any harmful gases, ensuring your home is clean and fresh. Adjust the airflow however you like thanks to the different modes, and ensure that the summer heat doesn’t stop you from getting a good night’s sleep! You can set the fan’s sleep timer to help you keep cool as you try and get your eight hours of kip. Page 2

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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams

Am more ore e ethical thical w wardrobe ardrobe As the retail world starts to open up, it can be tempting to rush out and just buy any old clothes that don’t have elasticated waists or fall into the pyjama category after a year of being at home. There are ways to buy and wear more ethically though, so try to avoid fast fashion and think about these ideas instead.

B Buy uy ssecond-hand econd-hand High-street shops have reopened but don’t forget that means so have charity shops! Over the last year many people have been focusing on clearing out their unworn clothes, and there have been weight gains and weight losses so the charity shops are stocked full. I think the old stereotypes of them being stuffed with moth eaten items from long ago days have gone now, but just in case you’re still wary, you can find some amazing bargains, designer items at a fraction of the cost, high street labels and even clothes with tags on that have never been worn! Stock can vary between shops so it’s worth taking some time to check out those in your area – some have children’s

clothes as well, some only take high end items, etc. You will soon discover your favourites! It can also be really fun to check out charity shops if you are away somewhere new, especially in very affluent areas as this is where you tend to find the designer items, if that’s what you like.

Ethical E thical ffashion ashion Believe it or not, there are ethical clothing companies! Know The Origin is a good place to look as they only stock brands that adhere to strict guidelines in fair wages and factory safety standards after being shocked at the horrific factory collapse in India that killed so many. A quick online search with the terms ‘ethical fashion’ and ‘sustainable fashion’ will throw up lots of results that you may never have heard of.

IIndependent ndependent b businesses usinesses Look for small home makers. Not only are you helping to support someone and their family directly, in my experience the clothes are often of a far superior quality, the fabric

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choices are better, you don’t get things like twisted seams, and they wash well, meaning you will get many more wears out of them and be able to pass them on too. You can also have more of a say in design and have some garments made-to-measure, which means a much better fit. Find them on social media or at local craft fairs and markets.

C Clothes lothes sswap wap Why not join an online swap or sell group – there are many targeted at different styles of clothing. Following guidelines, look at how you could set up a clothes swap with friends too. Something at the back of your wardrobe that you never wear could be exactly what your friend has been looking for and you then have the potential to swap it for something that you really like. This is an affordable way to update your look as it’s all swaps and no postage costs if you live close enough to drop off the items! Have fun finding fashion items that are less expensive for your pocket and the planet.

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IIndex ndex o off A Advertisers dvertisers BUILDING SERVICES SERVICES EEVENTS VENTS & ATTRACTIONS ATTRACTIONS BUILDING 21 Cotswold Farm Park 18-19 A1 Roofing 22 Vale Wildlife Open Day 4 Arco Renovations 20 VRXPerience 16 C&G Paving Dykes Builders 22 FOOD FOOD & DRINK DRINK Home Care Roofing 20 Qwerty Beer Box 4 Marshalls Driveways 22 HEALTH HEALTH & BEAUTY BEAUTY RoofCure 247 20 Be Well Gloucestershire 6 RS Cladding 21 WB Home Improvements 21 PROPERTY PROPERTY CLEANING LEANING S SERVICES ERVICES Pegasus 2 C 24 The Property Centre 36 Earthclean Extra Level Pro Cleaning 22 HOMES HOMES & GARDENS GARDENS FFURNISHING URNISHING & BATHROOMS B ATHROOMS APPLIANCES A PPLIANCES AHM Installations 24 Bella’s Interiors 24 Lifestyle Bathrooms 6 Dream Doors 26 28 Severn Vale 4 & 35 Interior Needs

GARDEN G ARDEN S SERVICES ERVICES 24 Lawn Doc HANDYMAN HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVICES Your Way Home Help 24 H HEATING EATING & PLUMBING PLUMBING M.J. Harris Domestic Repairs 23 PAINTING P AINTING & DECORATING DECORATING Jacob’s Painting 24 TV & A ERIAL TV AERIAL 1st Choice Aerials 22 WINDOWS, DOORS W INDOWS, D OORS & C ONSERVATORIES CONSERVATORIES Albany Windows 14 & 33 Clearway Windows 32 Garolla 30 Misty to Clear 30

PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES S ERVICES ANIMAL ANIMAL & PET PET SERVICES SERVICES SwimDogs 10 FUNERAL FUNERAL SERVICES SERVICES Family Tree Funerals 8-9 HOUSE CLEARANCE CLEARANCE HOUSE Yes to Mess 21 M OTORING S ERVICES MOTORING SERVICES Bridgend Garage 16 P UBLISHING PUBLISHING Lois Kingscott 10 SERVICES REMOVAL REMOVAL SERVICES Littttle White Van Man 24 S KIP HIRE HIRE & RECYCLING RECYCLING SKIP Stevens Recycling 21

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