37 minute read

GARDENS Christmas trees at Rutland’s

BRANCHING OUT

For the Ellis family, this time of year is exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure. The family’s North Luffenham Christmas tree plantation is expected to see more than 5,000 excited families turn up over the next couple of weeks to secure their homes’ festive centrepiece. This month we ‘spruce’ ourselves up ready ‘fir’ Christmas in Rutland…

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Words: Rob Davis.

“WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP, our parents didn’t put their Christmas tree up until Christmas Eve,” says Gill. “They still wait until December 24th today!” The rest of us don’t. Most of Rutland, in fact, descend upon Gill’s family’s Christmas tree farm over the last weekend in November or at least the very first few days of December to choose, take home and decorate their tree. There are, in fact, about 20,000 households in Rutland, and if Digby Farm sells over 5,000 trees each year, we reckon that means roughly a quarter of people in the county take their tree home from the plantation; most by the beginning of December. That explains why Gill and the rest of her family are completely exhausted by the time Christmas rolls around. It was Gill’s grandfather who founded the farm as a mixed operation, yielding beef, cereals and so on. In 1986 though her parents, John and Helen Ellis, decided to focus exclusively on growing Christmas trees. They’re a long rotation crop so it wasn’t until some years later – about 1991 – that the family was able to sell their first trees, but soon locals began to return to the farm year after year for the annual ritual of choosing their festive centrepiece. “We sold them via wholesalers initially but gradually moved away from that because we found that we could provide a more personal service and fresher trees by selling direct to the public… and people were turning up at the farm keen to buy directly from us anyway, so we were happy to oblige.” “The farm covers about 150 acres in total and we’ve 70 acres of trees. They grow about a foot each year as a rule but we’ve several different varieties, each of which have slightly different characteristics.” >>

“The Norway Spruce is the traditional, slightly spiky tree with its short needles and wonderful ‘Christmas tree’ scent. And despite their reputation hold their needles just as well as the Nordmann Fir when cut fresh and kept in water. The Nordmann Fir are popular with softer deep green needles but with little scent. They take longer to grow though, hence they also command a slight premium in terms of cost.” “Ultimately, though, Christmas trees are a really personal thing, certainly in terms of their size, shape and colour. The average size is six to eight foot but in Rutland, where we’ve properties with lovely high ceilings, there’s a market for larger trees so we tend to have ones up to 12 foot in height, which are also chosen by places like schools or churches.” “Our largest trees used to top out at about 30 feet, which were humongous, but we’ve scaled that back because the logistics of dealing with trees that tall are just too difficult.” “We have to plant many more than the 5,000 trees we sell each year not least because the rabbits consider them quite a delicacy! Unfortunately, rabbits aren’t the only problem, either. It may not seem like it, but there’s far too little rain in our part of the world, and over the years we’ve seen fewer frosts which are necessary to ensure really strong growth.”

Above/Right: North Luffenham’s Digby Farm will sell around 5,000 trees during the festive season... we reckon that works out about one tree each for a quarter of Rutland’s homes!

“We also have to leave fields fallow or plant crops like grass to get the nutrients back into them and use fertilisers to ensure minerals like nitrogen and magnesium – essential for photosynthesis – are present in the soil.” “We manage the different areas of the farm to ensure a mix of taller trees and shorter ones in the same fields, to ensure our younger trees are protected from the wind by the older, taller more established ones.” It’s all hands to the saws at this time of year for Gill, her sisters Katherine & Felicity and their brother Richard. The third generation of the Ellis family are also involved; six grandchildren from the ages of 12 to 23. The farm has its own Christmas shop too, stocking the usual baubles, lights and homemade wreathes. Trees are cut daily in the really busy weeks. “We like our trees to be cut as close to the point of purchase as possible,” says Gill. “For one thing we don’t have the storage space to properly display trees for several days worth of customers, but more to the point, a fresher tree will look better for longer. The largest retailers, like supermarkets or garden centres, can be supplied with trees which are cut as early as October. That means, quite incredibly, your Christmas tree could already be a couple of months old when it comes into your house.” “Local retailers have shorter delivery times but I don’t think there’s anywhere that provides trees as fresh as ours, which is reflected on how nice they continue to look throughout the season and how well they retain their needles.”

“Some people think that an artificial tree one that can be used year after year - is a better option for the environment, preventing a tree being cut down each year. But in fact, an eight foot natural Christmas tree will have had at least eight years of growth on our farm, an operation which we make as sustainable as possible.” “As a family we have a bit of a unique relationship with Christmas trees. When Christmas finally comes around we greet it with a mixture of pleasure and exhaustion. But this year in particular we all need a bit of festive spirit and there’s nothing quite like bringing a really lovely tree home and spending time decorating it as a family.” “Hopefully we bring a lot of Christmas cheer into our customers’ homes and into their lives.” n

Where better to showcase Liz and Tamsin’s wreath than on the door of Oakham’s Yule House?

Create Your Own FESTIVE WREATH

This month Oakham florist Liz Leaper is swapping floral foam and wire for lights, camera and action as she hosts an online demonstration to show how easy it is to create your own table centrepiece or wreath for the festive season... a great activity to enjoy during lockdown! Here, we’re enjoying a sneak preview!

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

“I’M NOT ONE OF THOSE GARDENERS who likes their plot to look really neat and manicured,” says Liz Leaper of Oakham’s Pollen. “I like the natural look, and one of the nicest things about my garden is there are a few shaded, mossy parts and some nice tall overgrown hedges.”

If your garden has also acquired a natural look during the cooler months, take heart in the knowledge that all that moss and those hedges can now yield much of the material you need to create your own wreath.

“It takes about 30 minutes to create a wreath once you’ve gathered in your material,” says Liz. Obtaining a degree in horticulture at the University of Nottingham, Liz later worked as a teacher before leaving the profession to take over her floristry business, Pollen, nine years ago, relocating to its current High Street premises in 2017.

Making your Wreath “We’re using a copper wreath ring to create this example, and sell these rings for just £3 for a 16” diameter one. Anywhere between 12” and 16” are the most popular sizes. The other secret to creating your wreath, though, is binding wire… so be sure to pick some up! Again, this is cheap, and available at from most florists.”

Creating our traditional wreath with Liz was her right hand woman Tamsin, who made a base with reel wire, onto which she placed ’sausages of moss’ by circling a continuous loop of wire around the ring, keeping the wire on the reel and giving it a tight pull after each loop.

Sphagnum moss is actually protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and is a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. So, whilst you can use material from your own garden, it’s illegal to pillage it from other outdoor spaces… do bear that in mind!

Sphagnum moss is often farmed deliberately to sell on to the horticulture industry, renowned for its ability to retain water and so for its usefulness in helping to maintain floral arrangements... Liz is happy to sell a small bag of the stuff to customers.

Incorporating Your Material “Next, we bind in the foliage. Material that works best is waxy foliage like Cupressus, Yew, Eucalyptus, Bay or Spruce. Once you’ve gone around the perimeter of the wreath, you should have a decent tight ring of moss into which you can secure your other foliage, working work with your largest pieces of greenery first.”

“Here we’ve chosen to incorporate not just holly but Nordmann and Scotch Pine, Christmas tree material, some larch branches, a type of tree with lovely long strands of cones. Ours also had some with nice textured lichen on, plus some bracken for it’s lovely golden colour. We’re also using eucalyptus and some alder cones. It’s best to use larger pieces on the outside of the wreath to ensure you leave as much of the inner ring clear.”

“We completed the wreath with a bow, using wire-edged ribbon to keep its shape.”

A Christmas Table Centrepiece Our wreath complete, Liz tied wire at the rear to enable it to be hung on the door and then began work on our next Christmas floristry project, her table centrepiece.

“We’ve a copper coloured bowl here and with the addition of Oasis flower foam it can be used as the basis for a festive table decoration. Flower foam can be purchased from most florists or wholesalers and can be cut to shape to suit your container.” >>

>> “Soaking it enables it to securely hold water to keep cut flowers fresh. Liz suggests wiring the candle to hold it secure, or using a storm lantern or vase to hold the candle as several types of foliage used are high in oils which can be highly flammable, especially once dried. Over the floral foam we’re using moss once again, for texture.”

“Once you’ve the base for your arrangement it’s then a case of incorporating foliage first, then your more decorative elements.”

“We’re using Scotch Pine and eucalyptus, and we’re decorating with Hypericum, Astrantia, Eryngium and Wax Flower which also has a gentle lemon scent.”

“We’ve added spray roses which are the most expensive element of the whole arrangement and contribute to the overall lilac and mauve highlight colour, but there’s so much scope in terms of the colours and types of flowers or foliage you incorporate.” “Simply wire each element in or insert flower stalks directly into the foam. You can rely solely on floral elements or, as we’ve done here, incorporate elements like our star shapes which have been cut out from the bark of a birch tree.”

A Little Extra Help... “If you want to have a go then we are here to help with enthusiasm and expertise and creative ideas.”

“Go to our online video on our website and we can put together a box of everything you will need to be collected in store or we’re happy to post it to locals.”

“It’s such a lovely activity if you are isolating or missing normal activities due to lockdown. We’d love to see how you get on! We hope to host a series of workshops to be advertised soon. The important thing to remember is that the whole venture is supposed to be fun and creative!” n

“IT’S SO MUCH EASIER THAN MOST PEOPLE REALISE TO CREATE YOUR OWN WREATH AND CENTREPIECES!”

Find Out More: Liz Leaper and Tamsin Haywood-Bowler are based at Pollen on Oakham’s High Street. This month they will host live floral demonstrations online, which will be free to view. For more information see www.pollenfloristry.co.uk or call 01572 724404.

With floral foam, floristry wire and foliage foraged from your garden, you can make a festive centrepiece for your Christmas table in less than 20 minutes.

Let’s Talk TURKEY

According to the political maxim, turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. If they did, though, they’d certainly vote to spend their lives on Cuckoo Farm near Ketton. It’s the home of Pat and Henry Taylor and their son and daughter in law, Roland and Rebecca, and at this time of year, there’s no other family with whom we’d talk turkey…

Words: Rob Davis.

IF YOU’RE A TURKEY, the thought of Christmas is probably enough to chill you to your giblets. The best you can hope for is a happy home and a life of comfort until the inevitable. Happily, Cuckoo Farm’s birds are either cheerfully resigned or at least blissfully unaware of their festive destiny. They’re happy birds, greeting Pat Taylor and I as we approach them for a photo rather than running away. Good job; they can run at up to 25mph, which is significantly faster than the average editor.

“Merry Christmas!” declares Pat Taylor to her flock of turkeys. The ‘birds gobble a cheerful greeting back, “They’ll reply to anything you say,” she adds, and she’s right. It’s a little bit of dark-ish humour but Pat, her right-hand-woman Felicity, and the Taylor family have a profound respect for their birds and absolutely insist on the very highest standards of animal welfare. This is farming at its very best and it shows not just in the product but in the happy nature of the birds themselves. If I were a turkey, this is where I’d want to be.

Henry VIII was the first monarch to consume turkey for Christmas, after explorer William Strickland first brought the birds back from the New World in the mid-1500s. Prior to that goose, boar or pheasant were the festive meals of choice in this country –probably all three, at once, in a bap knowing Henry’s voracious appetites. Turkey consumption was popularised in the Victorian era and especially in Dickens’ Christmas Carol in 1843.

During the festive season over half of households consume turkey for Christmas lunch, which results in a demand for 10,000,000 of the birds. A further 10% say they’d prefer beef, and thereafter chicken, a vegetarian alternative or goose are the next most popular options, followed by gammon and pork. The demand for turkey is massive; perhaps a bit too massive. Sadly, in an era of intensive farming, few birds enjoy the pampered lifestyle of the flock in front of us, but it shows in the quality and flavour of the meat. And what better peace of mind could you wish for, when carving Christmas Day lunch, than the reassurance that the food on your table has been farmed to the highest standards of welfare?

This year turkey producers across the country are facing uncertainty. The average bird is purchased for the table at 7.5kg. Larger birds are bred to accommodate those whopping Christmas lunches which feature many family members crowded around the table and poor mum perched on a stool. However, with the rule of six applicable at time of writing, the demand for smaller birds is likely to be greater this year, and that could leave larger birds less desirable.

“Farming with high volumes of production is a fact of life today,” says Pat. “Supermarkets are catering for a market, and that’s fine. Not everybody will be able to afford our free range, organic birds, which tend to be twice the price of average supermarket turkeys.”

Pat and husband Henry are assisted by Felicity on their 115-acre mixed farm. Pat is originally from Yorkshire and comes from farming stock but worked in IT before, they made the move to Rutland 25 years ago, attracted by lovely scenery and the ability to pursue their dream of rearing livestock and poultry in a traditional way, concentrating on quality, not volume.

Back in the early to mid-1990s, terms like organic and free-range were less well known, but today, there’s no excuse for not at least considering the welfare of the animals we eat, and shopping accordingly, even when on a budget. >>

>> Cuckoo Farm has been raising turkeys since 2000, and their turkeys graze over about 15 acres of organic pasture. They are fed an organic ration and on oats grown organically on the farm.

Pat’s turkeys sell for £17.95/kilo, compared to about £5.50/kilo for a free-range turkey according to prices from a quick search on the internet site of a well-known national supermarket chain.

The price reflects the higher cost of organic rations, and the longer rearing period, as well as the higher manual processing costs.

The farm breeds Norfolk Black, Cambridge Bronze, Slate Blue plus Bourbon Red and Narragansett heritage breeds.

How to tell a male turkey - a stag - from the female? Well, despite both genders having a wattle (the fleshy growth on the neck) but only males have the snood (the dangly appendage which hangs down their nose). When a male turkey becomes amorous, his wattle and snood become bright red. That certainly brightens up an otherwise dull March, which is when the birds are separated into their breeding groups.

Hatching of chicks, called ‘poults,’ takes place from May through to mid-June, and the birds enjoy a very happy life grazing close to the River Chater around ancient willow trees from about six weeks of age.

Cuckoo Farm hatches poults from eggs laid by their breeding flock after mating naturally and the majority are sold and delivered nationwide to other rearers.

This is in contrast to commercial breeding practice where artificial insemination is necessary because the modern turkey has been bred to have an oversized breast and short legs which renders the stags incapable of mating naturally.

Other welfare issues because of this selective breeding process can lead to leg problems as the birds grow too rapidly and their legs are

“When a male turkey becomes amorous, his wattle and snood become bright red. That sight certainly brightens up an otherwise dull March...”

not strong enough to support their body weight. Large groups of birds in confined spaces often resort to feather-pecking and require beak trimming. None of these problems occur in a more humane farming operation.

Licensed to process their birds on site, each of Cuckoo Farm’s birds are humanely dispatched, one by one. This is distinct from the ‘crate to shackle’ process of the production line used in large commercial abattoirs.

The Rutland farm’s birds are all dry-plucked which improves the keeping quality. They are then hung for three weeks, which improves tenderness and flavour, too.

Hung meat loses weight and is another reason commercial birds are not hung. The slower growing heritage birds’ musculature has a finer texture and is given time to develop flavour. That’s why, once you have eaten a heritage turkey you don’t want to eat a commercial bird ever again. “Our birds are dressed with the utmost care and attention,” says Pat. “The wing tips are plucked, the giblets are carefully packed and the leg sinews are drawn, all of which results in a better product; moist and full of flavour.”

Whilst turkeys are the mainstay of Pat and Henry’s operation, they also have about 150 sheep and 60 fallow deer for lamb and venison, as well as geese & cockerels, so if turkey isnt to your taste this season, there’s plenty of other meat which has equally high welfare standards. As for Pat, well, this year she’ll be cooking a traditional turkey lunch for the family - usually one with a ‘cosmetic flaw’ as all of the ‘perfect’ birds are likely to be sold.

Despite a level of demand, the family have no desire to expand the operation at the expense of the standards of welfare they value so much and have, instead, created a glamping site on the farm.

“Our birds are definitely not tame animals, but we value their health and well-being a great deal. We wanted to raise them in a traditional way not just for welfare’s sake, but to produce the very best tasting poultry we possibly can. Many of our customers have been with us since we started and it’s great to see them and hear their news when they come to see us each Christmas!”

n Pat and Henry’s farming operation is Rutland Organics; see 01780 722009 or call www.rutlandorganics.co.uk.

The Best Things COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT!

For this month’s bride Becky Adams, the best things come to those who wait. Having married fiancé Warren before the era of lockdown, her advice to anyone planning a wedding is to look forward to a 2021 in which weddings can once again take place, and enjoy every minute of your wedding planning!

Photographer: Lee Daniels, 07738 255683, www.leedanielsphotography.com.

Love and comedy both have something in common. Timing. Timing is everything, both in the respect that a chance meeting at precisely the right moment in time can lead to a lifetime of love and in the sense that the best things in life are worth waiting for.

The couple are both from Peterborough and married - before lockdown could mess up couples’ plans - at Exton’s Barnsdale Lodge.

Becky met handsome Warren one night in a local pub, and if either had decided to drink up and go home early or give that night out a miss, they wouldn’t have met... right place; right time.

A proposal did take a little longer but that’s OK; the best things come to those who wait, although Becky was rather more patient than her son, Xavier.

“We drive past our local church often, and every time he asks ‘are you going to marry daddy in that church?’”

One morning when Becky was getting ready, Xavier wandered into the bedroom and proposed on behalf of Warren, presenting her with an engagement ring. Becky’s heart melted and when Warren appeared round the door smiling, she was thrilled!

“Most people look for their wedding dress of their venue first but actually the choice of photographer was our first decision... and it was an easy one.”

“Lee was a friend of a friend and had photographed our best man’s wedding. His photos are amazing so we contacted him immediately... even before we’d set a date.”

WEDDING SUPPLIERS

BECKY & WARREN ADAMS

Wedding Venue: Priory Church, Deeping St James, www.dsj.org.uk. Reception Venue: Barnsdale Lodge, Exton, 01572 724678, www.barnsdalelodge.co.uk. Groomsmens’ Suits: Formal Affair, Bretton, 01733 260930, www.aformalaffair.co.uk. Photographer: Lee Daniels, 07738 255683, www.leedanielsphotography.com. Camper Van: Arrive Vintage, 01778 344716, www.arrivevintage.com. Florist: Twigs & Bows, 01733 565600, www.twiggsandbows.co.uk. n “Our local Deeping St. James Priory Church is a really beautiful building so we wanted to marry there, but we were struggling to find a reception venue that one of our friends hadn’t chosen already.”

“We went through a phase in our lives when all of our friends were marrying, and they all picked lovely reception venues.”

“I wanted to host a reception somewhere my friends and family hasn’t seen or been to before, but we also looked a Barnsdale Lodge and whilst we’d been to a wedding there before, it was just too nice to pass up. It was just what I was looking for in the sense that the room and the bar were both in the same barn so nobody would be apart, and we could decorate it on the day before the wedding to make it our own.”

“The next thing I chose was my wedding shoes. Most brides design their outfit around their dress, but I’m a bit of a shoe-aholic!”

“I chose my dress after visiting The Wedding Room and opted for something completely different to what I expected, an A-line gown with lace shoulders and overlay.”

“The groomsmen, our Best Man, two ushers and Xavier - our page boy - chose their suits from Bretton’s Formal Affair, and opted for a silver grey and pale pink highlight colour which we carried through to the rest of the wedding.”

“Our flowers were designed by Fletton’s Twigs & Bows, and our cake was made by a family friend with six tiers and handmade sugarcraft flowers. It was beautiful!” >>

“I remember my dad standing with me at the entrance to the church and saying ‘don’t cry!’and then it was a bit of a blur!”

>> “We also hired a Volkswagen Camper which looked lovely against the backdrop of Barnsdale Lodge and appeared in several of the photos. Barnsdale Lodge were great both leading up to the wedding and on the day.”

“The whole wedding day goes so quickly. I remember my dad standing with me at the entrance to the church and saying ‘don’t cry!’ and then it was a bit of a blur!”

“I’m really glad Lee captured so many amazing photos. He was incredible to work with; so calm and unobtrusive.”

“We went on a honeymoon to Mexico afterwards, which was really lovely and so relaxing. It was unusual to be away from Xavier and our daughter Violet for that long, but it allowed us to reflect on the day.”

“Warren and I were really glad that our children were part of our day and that we made sure we spent some time together, otherwise you could quite easily spend your entire wedding day without actually seeing each other throughout the day!”

“We had some lovely people to work with and we’re lucky that we had family and friends around us to celebrate the day with us. Sadly not all brides can say that at the moment with the current rules limiting the number of people at wedding, but what we can say from our experience is that it’s the people closest to you who want to be with you and want to make sure your day is the happiest of your life!” n 104

BLACK to BASICS

This month we’re proving that eight goes into six as we showcase a stylish range of chic black dresses from Phase Eight, ideal for festive celebrations with up to six people...

This Page: Trina Rose midi dress from Phase Eight, sizes 6-16, £110.

Star shimmer wrap dress, sizes 8-18, £99.

Venus shimmer dress, sizes 8-18, £89.

Top/Left: Adamina stud knit dress, size 8-18, £130. Top/Right: Sofianne sequin fringe dress, size 8-18, £130. Bottom/Left: Jacinta floral foil dress, sizes 8-18, £99. Bottom/Right: Glynis sequin knitted wrap dress, sizes 8-18, £130. For local stockists see www.phase-eight.com.

A Shining Star for your LITTLE ANGELS

For Lucy Lewin and her early years childcare providers at Little Angels in Uppingham, the nursery’s 10th anniversary was a little different than expected. Happily though, the team have used 2020 as an opportunity to restructure the way they deliver childcare to provide more continuity for children and better communication for parents…

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

LUCY LEWIN HAD A VISION FOR 2020. It was to be the 10th anniversary of the nursery and a chance to unveil a restructuring of the rooms in which children are cared for, to provide greater continuity of contact, and an even happier environment for her Little Angels.

The presence of Covid has precluded this being a normal year, but it has also meant that only now are the successes of Lucy and the team’s changes becoming visible.

“Traditionally day nurseries are structured according to age,” says Lucy. “It’s very much an industry standard, a practice that’s seldom questioned; different rooms for nonmobile babies, toddlers, two to three-year olds and pre-school children.”

“But we’ve been carefully assessing our children to gain a deeper understanding of the journey that they take and we realised there was another way to structure our care. We’ve created, instead, an environment for non-mobile babies with a three children to one adult ratio; a room for full-time children who attend for more than 35 hours a week; a room for those who attend during term times and one for children who attend for fewer than 35 hours a week.”

“The rationale is to ensure children have a continuity of peers around them, which helps foster a sense of security, and to combine the ages of the children a little to ensure that older children can have a positive influence on their younger peers.” Lucy has a BSc (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Studies and she is an Associate Trainer for the Day Nursery Association.

She is also an advisor for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on early years policy. Hence Lucy is at the forefront of providing exceptional childcare and currently has over 150 children on her own nursery’s register.

“We implemented the new system in January, just prior to our 10th anniversary –and it was a huge success. The difference in the children is remarkable, it’s working so well. Covid, of course, presents its own unique circumstances this year, but one or two of the changes we’ve implemented have had really positive effects.”

“To facilitate social distancing, we installed a video access system on the door, which goes against the philosophy that we’ve always had that parents are welcome to come into the nursery environment. In fact it’s ensured that the children are more able to come into or to leave the nursery without the ‘stress’ of transitioning from parent care to nursery care.”

“With a requirement to ensure social distancing, though, we feared that parents would have less contact with us as a nursery and so we also invested in an iPad for each member of staff and set up a Microsoft Teams-based system whereby parents could receive pictures and electronic updates on their children throughout the day. It’s a system that provides the opportunity to see images and videos of their children’s activities and they can use the system to communicate with us too.”

“It’s provided more efficient, more regular and generally better communication between us and our children’s parents, and has at the same time provided an internal platform for us to share policy documents, our Operations Manual and other notices with our 16 employees.”

“So whilst Covid has been real source of disruption it has also enabled us to implement systems which mean we’re better able to communicate both internally and with parents, and to improve even further the care that we can offer our children.”

“The whole team has taken to the new systems really well and they remain absolutely brilliant. I put that down to a happy, secure work environment, ongoing professional development, and graduate led teams which are encouraged to reflect on their practice for continual self-improvement.”

“2020 has been a challenge but I can think of no better outcome for our 10th anniversary year than building on our remit to provide flexible, versatile and really high-quality care for children from six weeks old right up to the age of 11. We’re a stimulating, fun, loving and learning-rich environment, but perhaps the best compliment I could pay Little Angels is that if I were a parent, rather than the nursery’s founder, I’d be very happy indeed for my children to be here!” n

Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh...

THIS MONTH OUR COSMETICS PAGE COMES BEARING GIFTS OF GOLD, FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH, WHICH WE THINK YOU’LL AGREE IS NICER THAN THE USUAL BOX OF CHOCOLATES AND GIFT CARD

1. All that glitters is a gold gift set from Estèe Lauder

Estèe Lauder’s Christmas offering has been 10,000 hours in the making, according to the PR blurb. That’s how long it takes to curate the ‘rare power’ of the Black Diamond Truffle Extract used in the Transformative Energy Eye Cream and Energy Creme. Along with a gold eye wand and its jewellery case the set is available at good makeup counters now. £245.

5. Frankincense facial cleansing from Sisley...

Sisley’s Gentle Cleansing Gel is a daily treat for your face, with a foaming formula that generates a rich lather to cleanse and purify the skin right down to the pores, with impurities and excess sebum removed for a really refreshed complexion. Making use of frankincense, it’s non-comedogenic and soap-free, £67 / 120ml.

2. Gold standard...

Tom Ford presents gold standard eye colour, courtesy of this new quad in its deco style packaging. This long-wearing, ultra-pigmented compact has four complementary shades providing a luxurious finish and delivering incredible shade fidelity as well as outstanding adhesion, £75.

3. Chantecaille mask...

Fine ingredients are used to create Chantecaille’s Gold Recovery Mask including 24ct gold and silk extracts. This luxurious cream features a probiotic and provides more toned, firmer looking skin, and a glowing complexion overnight, £208 / 50ml.

4. Hermès fragrance...

Hermès presents this fragrance from its Hermessence range. Its emotional state is one of fresh and delicate fragrance, thanks to myrrh and wild rose, £291 / 200ml.

6. The Myrrh the Merrier with AA...

Aromatherapy Associates’s myrrh candle promises to transform your home into a sanctuary of peace and tranquility. Aromatherapy Associates’s Relax Candle, is exquisite with its West Indian bay and myrrh essential oils, £48 / 200g.

n All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, please note that prices stated are RRP and may vary according to retailer.

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Scents of Occasion

PERFUME IS ALWAYS A FAVOURITE FOR THOSE SEEKING TO GIVE A SCENT-SATIONAL CHRISTMAS GIFT. THESE ARE OUR TOP LUXURY FRAGRANCES FOR CHRISTMAS 2020...

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1. Sensual Jasmine: Lancôme Idôle EDP, 50ml, £75. 2. Freesia, Rose: Maison Margiela Replica EDT, 100ml, £98. 3. Patchouli: Lancôme La Vie Est Belle EDP, 50ml, £66.50. 4. Orange & Jasmine Coco Mademoiselle EDP, 50ml, £85.50. 5. Raspberry & Roses: Flower by Kenzo EDT, 50ml, £55. 6. Bergamot & Vetiver: Acqua di Parma EDC, 50ml, £80. 7. Rose & Sandalwood: Kilian Roses On Ice EDP, 50ml, £165. 8. Oriental, Woody: Tobacco Mandarin EDP, 50ml, £235. 9. Citrus and Jasmine: LV California Dream EDP, 50ml, £200. 10. Vanilla & Flowers: Armani, My Way EDP, 50ml, £75.50. 11. Frangipani & Patchouli: Loewe Ibiza EDT, 50ml, £70. 12. Freesia & Rose: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP, 50ml, £76. 13. Floral: Jo Malone Fig & Lotus Flower EDC, 100ml, £100. 14. Raspberry: Dior Absolutely Blooming EDP, 50ml, £77.50. n

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Working Hard FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Bulley Davey’s Stamford team – headed up by Keir Warwick – don’t just work hard to win your business, they work hard for your business...

SOME ACCOUNTANTS are like magicians. One minute they’re there, and the next... they’ve disappeared, with the swirl of a cloak, like some elaborate stage routine. A really good trick, though, would be to read your mind... or at least, very nearly read your mind; being able to anticipate your needs before you even realise you have them and being able to provide services proactively, not reactively. It’s one of the three guiding philosophies of good practice that the Stamford-based team at Bulley Davey – Keir Warwick, Simon Baker and Rebecca Coles – are keen to maintain.

Proactivity... For their first trick, Bulley Davey’s team keep a close eye on your business and anticipate your needs in a business climate that has been especially inconstant this year. “In accountancy, it’s short-sighted to only look back,” says the firm’s Simon Baker. “We pride ourselves on using knowledge of your present circumstances to provide future direction. Looking at a company’s structure and its accounts allows us to spot opportunities or practices that our clients may not know exist, yielding suggestions for growth and greater profitability. Part of being proactive, too, is to encourage security through strategies like contingency planning.” “This year has presented a unique set of circumstances. It would be misleading to suggest that businesses could have planned for or avoided any fallout from Covid-19. But a business which has good contingency planning practices – as a good accountancy practices would advocate – has extra peace of mind amid the inevitable dips and waves that effect every business at some point.”

“As a proactive practice we’ve spent this year contacting clients and updating them on the latest news – and implications – of changing rules pertaining to furlough or Covid-specific loan and grant programmes for instance.”

“Having an accountancy firm which contacts you proactively, when something relevant to your business occurs, instead of waiting for you to ask a question, means you’re better placed to achieve the best advice and a greater degree of contact with what should be a key business resource and that can be instrumental in helping ensure long lasting financial success for your business.”

Versatility... For their second trick, Bulley Davey can pull out of the hat a range of experts who can offer specialist advice on anything from tax to auditing, to payroll, plus wills & trusts matters and wealth management. “Having so many experts in-house means we have the breadth of expertise and the resources to call on for detailed advice. We can offer the best of both worlds in the sense that we can offer general, ongoing, proactive advice, but also seek advice from elsewhere in the company when necessary.”

Continuity... And for Bulley Davey’s big finale, Rebecca Coles praises the firm’s sense of continuity: “We work in small groups to ensure that there’s always at least one person in that team who is here, available - not ‘out of the office,’ or ‘on annual leave’ - and will still be familiar with your circumstances.” As well as a traditional model for delivering accountancy services with a sense of proactivity, Bulley Davey this year also launched its Virtual Finance Officer (VFO) service. It’s ‘virtual’ not in the sense of being via video or phone, but in the respect of serving as a potential replacement or supplement for in-house staff. Services can include, the usually sub-accountancy firm day-to-day tasks of bookkeeping, and accounts, but without having dedicated staff on your payroll. Not only does this facilitate the potential saving of a full-time salary, but having an experienced member of the Bulley Davey team covering the role ensures your accounts are right first time which can save time and money during end of quarter or end of year accounts and for VAT returns, for example. “This has undoubtedly been a year of unprecedented disruption for businesses and sadly we fear there’s more fallout to come,” says Bulley Davey’s Stamford Director Keir Warwick. “That’s why having an accountancy firm that can serve as a real partner – proactive, concerned about your business and diligent – can really be a good asset.” n

Find Out More: Bulley Davey has offices in Stamford, Peterborough and seven other locations. With 4,000 regular clients, the company employs 120 people and was established in 1935. For more on the company’s range of accountancy and wealth management services, call 01733 569494 or see www.bulleydavey.co.uk.

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