Stamford Pride April 2020

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STAMFORD

PRIDE STAMFORD’S FINEST MAGAZINE

The Best Local Food Enjoying fresh asparagus from local farms...

Homes & Gardens in Spring

Bespoke home furnishings and fresh herbs...

Go Down to the Woods Today Spring walks and woodlands in and around Stamford...

£4.50

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WELCOME

here are many joyous things about life as the Editor of a county magazine. Anyone who has met me since we began producing Pride will know that I adore this job from the very bottom of my pencil case, from writing features to seeing our Pride (and joy) coming back from our printer each month.

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But easily the best thing about this job, is the way it brings the beauty of each season into sharp focus, and keeps one in mind of how a diverse county such as ours reinvents itself month by month.

This is of course a spring edition, so we’re enjoying hot cross buns from Hambleton Bakery, rediscovering the past at Lyddington Bede House and we’re back in the garden planting - and cooking with - some fresh herbs from Thistleton. We’ve a look at the area’s returning osprey population, we’re enjoying the county’s woodland’s and we’re attending the area’s finest black tie functions on our social pages too.

Finally, we’ve an exclusive interview with the area’s brand new and absolutely wonderful MP, Alicia Kearns. We loved hearing about life in Westminster - it’s a really interesting feature even for the less politically inclined!

Naturally we’re always looking for more of the same, so if you’ve an idea for a feature, or a forthcoming event, do email me... after all, yet another pleasure of my job is hearing from our readers!

Best wishes for a wonderful month!

Executive Editor rob@pridemagazines.co.uk 3

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147 CONTENTS

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NEWS & EVENTS

FOOD & DRINK

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NEWS The best ‘good news’ stories from across the area.

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WHAT’S ON The best April events from live music to theatre.

HOMES & GARDENS

HIGHLIGHTS

WELCOME HOME Paddock House, Nassington, a beautiful stone cottage.

SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL Use these fabrics and wallcoverings inspired by neutral tones and rich textures.

ALICIA KEARNS Loving her new role as parliamentary representative for Rutland & Melton.

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WOODLANDS An ever-changing

LADIES & GENTLEMEN

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LYDDINGTON BEDE HOUSE Has a fascinating history that ensure it’s well worth a visit this month.

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landscape where flora & fauna thrive.

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DINING OUT This month we visit Belvoir Castle’s Engine Yard.

ASPARAGUS St George’s Day means the beginning of local asparagus season, and an especially busy time for local farmer Josh Makey.

126 ANNA COUTURE Creating the perfect dress with a local wedding designer.

122 WEDDINGS Danielle & Chris celebrate the marriage at Exton Hall.

133 FASHION Mother of the Bride outfits from Veni Infantino.

139 COSMETICS Makeup and perfume.

THE HIGH LIFE 147 HIGH LIFE Sue Ryder Hospice Ice Ball.

154 MOTORS Porsche’s flagship Macan Turbo.

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THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE AREA READ PRIDE MAGAZINE

READ

FREE ONLINE

Pride Magazine is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, to high value homes in the county.

Our circulation is to properties in the top three council tax bands - homes which are predominantly worth over £300,000. This guarantees the magazine has an affluent readership commensurate with our content. In addition the magazine is also sold in supermarkets and newsagents including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, WHSmith, Tesco, Asda, Co-Op and Morrisons.

Our in-house distribution team also works hard to hand-deliver the magazine to selected hotels and restaurants, doctors, dentists, executive motor dealerships and golf clubs.

This helps to ensure we have a continued presence, right across our catchment area.

Our magazines also have more social media fans than any other local magazine, and we are available to read free of charge, online on your tablet, computer, laptop or mobile phone via our website and via the Readly and Issuu platforms.

If your business would benefit from being showcased to the wealthiest people in the area, please call our friendly sales team on 01529 469977.

To read the latest edition and all of our back editions online, free of charge, visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

THE PRIDE TEAM

By supplying editorial or advertising copy to Pride you accept in full the terms and conditions which can be found online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

In the event of an advert or editorial being published incorrectly, where Pride Magazines Ltd admits fault, we will include an advert of equivalent size, or equivalent sized editorial, free of charge to be used in a future edition, at our discretion.

This gesture is accepted as full compensation for the error(s) with no refunds available.

Selected images in our content may be sourced from www.shutterstock.com.

Managing Director: Julian Wilkinson.

Production Director: Ian Bagley.

Sales Director: Zoie Wilkinson.

Sales Manager: Charlotte Daubney.

Sales Supervisor: Cydney Dyson.

Executive Editor: Rob Davis.

Photographers: Dean Fisher, Jonathan Scrimshaw.

Illustrator: Jocelyn Lawman.

Features: Laurin Dempsey.

Customer Care Manager: Mandy Bray.

Web Developer: Joe Proctor.

Office Managers: Sue Bannister and Sinead Holland.

Sales Executives: Cassy Ayton, Emily Brown, Ruth Vinter, Grace Mumford, Sami Millard.

Pride Magazines Ltd., Elm Grange Studios, East Heckington, Boston, Lincs PE20 3QF

Tel: 01529 469977 Fax: 01529 469978 www.pridemagazines.co.uk | enquiries@pridemagazines.co.uk

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NEWS & EVENTS

“A Well-Deserved Compliment!”

RUTLAND’S MP RESPONDS TO CLAIM THAT FEW HAVE HEARD OF THE COUNTY! RUTLAND Where? Rutland!

It’s England’s smallest county!

For anyone who has found themselves in the position of having to explain where we are, Rutland’s new MP Alicia Kearns has the perfect riposte.

The new Westminster representative of the Rutland and Melton constituency has responded to a recent article in the Daily Telegraph which stated that ‘few people have ever heard of Rutland.’

“My response is that describing Rutland as one of the country’s best kept secrets is quite a well-deserved compliment!” Alicia said on Twitter.

The suggestion that Rutland is unknown is also questionable as the sector employs over 1,700 full time employees and 2,500,000 visitors, contributing around £135.6m to the economy each year.

Last year also saw coverage for the county in the Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph. Key events in the calender like the

NGS Guide Available CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME (OR RATHER, IN THE GARDEN) WITH THE 2020 NGS GUIDE OUT NOW

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Rutland Show, which takes place on 31st May this year and Birdfair in August attract 10,000 people and 25,000 people respectively.

n We meet Alicia Kearns in Westminster later in this edition for an exclusive interview about her new career. See later in this edition.

RUTLAND Coming to a weekend near you... the 2020 guide to the area’s best open gardens is now available!

The National Gardens Scheme has been opening gardens to raise money for nursing and caring charities since 1927.

By visiting a Rutland NGS garden opening this year you will be following in a great British and Rutland tradition.

Visiting a Rutland garden reveals the breath-taking variety of our county and provides a great day or afternoon out in Rutland’s glorious villages and countryside The National Gardens Scheme was also able

to donate over £3million to charities in 2019, from Macmillan, to Help the Hospices and the Carers’ Trust as well as Marie Curie, Parkinson’s, MS, Perennial and Horatio’s Garden.

Your admission fee for each garden, along with the tea and cake you enjoy and the plants you buy, will make a real difference to the life of someone who needs care and support with 80p in every pound going to the charity! n Visit www.ngs.org.uk or call 01483 211535 to obtain your copy of the NGS Yellow Book of open gardens in 2020.

KATHERINE OFFERS NEW POTTERY CLASSES

WHISSENDINE Local ceramicist and potter Katherine Staples is offering you the chance to go potty this spring with new pottery classes in Whissendine.

As Pride goes to press, she’s hosting her first courses which will teach novices how to hand-build ceramics, to use press moulds and to re-enact the famous scene in the film Ghost whilst throwing a pot on a wheel... Unchained Melody soundtrack optional.

“Art is such a fantastic outlet. Personally I’ve found working with clay very therapeutic and that’s what I want for my workshops,” says Katherine. “I want people to unleash their creativity, really use their imagination and get a boost from socialising and learning new skills.” n One-to-one and group tuition is available for more information see www.katherinestaples.com or call 07760 427758.

Enjoy Coffee at the Hayloft VIP OPENING NIGHT LAST MONTH SAW HUNTERS WELCOME CUSTOMERS TO NEW COFFEE SHOP...

Ready, get set, go... to Sigma Sports’ new Stamford store OAKHAM Great news for fans of fitness and those who welcome wellbeing. A new sports store is coming to Oakham this spring.

Sigma Sports will be setting up shop in the former Cavell’s unit on South Street, and will provide products and accessories for those who enjoy road cycling, mountain biking, triathlon and running.

As well as selling premium brands sports and lifestyle products the firm, which already has a branches in Surrey and London, will provide expert advice and will be a “Hub for the active outdoor community in the area,” according to the retailer. n See www.sigmasports.com.

STAMFORD Hunters Interiors has opened its new coffee shop adjacent to its newly refurbished interior design at Uffington.

Customers can enjoy either as a stand-alone visit or browse through the company’s collection of fabric and wallcoverings.

The new coffee shop is open daily 8.30am-4pm Monday to Saturday and seats around 20 people. In spring and summer there will be additional seating in summer outside.

Tea, coffee and homemade cakes and snacks are available with savoury items, soups and salads available in the upcoming weeks. n See our High Life pages later in this edition for our pictures from The Hayloft’s launch night.

£30,000 Raised

Go Potty in Spring

THE STAMFORD’S LADIES fundraising group has hosted its first major fundraising event, a winter ball, in aid of the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. The group of eight ladies held a ball at Greetham Valley and raised over £30,000 for the hospice. Look out for exclusive images from The Ice Ball later in this edition. n

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LOCAL

NEWS In Brief RUTLAND

MAKE YOUR FEELINGS KNOWN IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE COUNTRY...

Rutland County Council is looking for people who are passionate about the countryside to join a brand new Rutland Countryside Access Forum.

Countryside Access Forums are groups of volunteers who provide independent advice on ways to improve public access to land.

This can range from issues like public access to private land and disability routes, through to environmental initiatives and planning applications that affect parks and open spaces.

Rutland County Council has previously been part of a joint forum with South Lincolnshire but is now creating its own group, and so it is particularly interested to hear from farmers and landowners n For details call 01572 722577.

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CAWTHORPE, BOURNE Guide Price £875,000

A fine, substantial, traditional style dwelling in mellow yellow stone, stands overlooking south Lincolnshire's open fields and distant woods in the hamlet of Cawthorpe, just north of Bourne.

This five bedroomed house is exceptionally spacious and light, downstairs in particular.

The single storey entrance hall, providing a link between the old dovecote to the new building.

The capacious entrance hall leads to a cosy sitting room to the front and to a superb, open plan kitchen/diner/living room at the back. This triple aspect, L-shaped space benefits from three pairs of French doors onto the rear garden to the West, and two more pairs onto the central courtyard creating a fabulous living area and especially good for summer entertaining.

First floor accommodating the bedrooms, all double with their own bathrooms. The good sized garden is entirely enclosed by fencing, and some hedging, making it secure for dogs and young children. The location is excellent for schools, state and independent. Bourne, less than five minutes' away, has a good co-ed Grammar School, Witham-on-the-Hill is only ten minutes' away, there's Stamford Junior School, and Copthill, just east of Stamford. There are also great road and rail connections, with the A1 nearby, plus rail connections to London and the North from both Peterborough and Grantham.

Tel: +44(0)1780 750200 Email: stamford@fineandcounty.com

Tel: +44( 0)1572 335145 Email: rutland@fineandcounty.com

fineandcountry.com

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STILTON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE Guide Price £850,000

225 offices across Great Britain Plus 75 offices globally

Down a rural lane and standing in the most idyllic position is a charming country property, part thatched, part clay tiled, a superb mix of old and new, affording you all the benefits of both. Sitting centrally in a plot of just under four acres, Fenby Farm, complete with its own duck pond and excellent equestrian facilities, offers a sanctuary from the bustle of modern life. With panoramic views and space to roam, it provides everything you might need to fully embrace the comfort and romance of country living.

The original cottage, hundreds of years old, has been rescued and restored with great care and a meticulous eye for detail. A modern, brick and oak timbered addition, doubling the property’s footprint, has been built sympathetically to blend stylishly with its old counterpart. Across the gravelled drive, a separate larch-clad, clay tiled, fully insulated garage with electric doors has been built to a particularly high standard.

With two car bays, a gym area and storage downstairs, an exterior oak staircase leads to an ideal office or studio space, complete with kitchenette and shower room. For the equine enthusiast, Fenby Farm also benefits from a 20x40m manège, three large stables, a hay barn and tack room, all within a fully fenced yard that leads to two separate paddocks, and behind all this, a huge Dutch barn.

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NEW PRICE

Wymondham

£510,000

A spacious detached period property offering substantial family accommodation appointed to a high standard throughout and set in the heart of a highly regarded and picturesque village.

3 Reception Rooms, bespoke Kitchen, Utility, Clkrm, 4 Bedrooms, luxury En-suite Bathroom, Family Bathroom; parking, private Garden. Energy Rating: D.

Ayston

£495,000

An attractive stone-built semi-detached character property dating back to 1891 set on a large plot within Conservation Area of a picturesque hamlet just outside of the historic market town of Uppingham. 2 Reception Rooms, Kitchen/Diner, Clkrm, 4 Bedrooms, Bathroom; established Gardens, Outbuildings, Dbl Garage. Energy Rating: E.

NEW

Oakham

£495,000

Gretton

£475,000

Grade II listed stone built period three storey house with a wealth of inherent character and numerous features including Inglenook fireplace, exposed beams, flagstone floors and stone mullion windows, set in the town centre. 2 Rec. Rooms, Breakfast Kitchen, 2 Clkrms, 3 dbl Bedrooms, Bathroom, Attic Store; Parking, enclosed Garden. EPC Exempt.

Stunning semi-detached cottage retaining a wealth of period features, including stone mullioned windows, revealed stonework, exposed timbers and Inglenook fireplaces, and enjoying far-reaching views over the Welland Valley. Sitting Room, Dining Kitchen, Clkrm, 4 dbl Bedrooms, En-suite, Bathroom; Garage, parking, lovely landscaped gardens. Energy Rating: E.

Cottesmore

Uppingham

£395,000

Delightful new-built, detached stone cottage under thatched roof appointed to an exceptional standard and occupying an attractive plot enjoying views over open countryside to the front and village church to the rear. Sitting Room, Dining Kitchen, Utility, Clkrm/WC, 3 Bedrooms, En-suite Wet Room, Family Bathroom; 2 Parking Spaces, south-facing rear Garden. Energy Rating: B.

£390,000

Beautiful Victorian townhouse providing elegant, stylishly appointed accommodation arranged over three floors and retaining many original features. Open-plan Sitting Room and Dining Area, Breakfast Kitchen, Clkrm/Utility, 5 Bedrooms, Family Bathroom, separate small Shower Room; walled, hard-landscaped rear Garden with summerhouse. Energy Rating: F.

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Bespoke Property. Bespoke Advice.

A substantial detached residence set in the heart of a popular village with swimming pool and grounds of approximately two acres.

Attractive 5 bedroom detached house with stylish interiors, south facing garden and double garage set in an enviable village location within easy reach of transport links.

• Over 5,000 sq/ft of internal accommodation • Gated driveway leading into a dble open garage • Breakfast kitchen, drawing room & garden room • Separate dining room, study & utility/boot room • Principal bedroom suite, dressing room & en suite • Guest bedroom with own staircase & en suite

• Large breakfast kitchen and separate utility room • South facing Orangery with access to garden terrace • Sitting room with wood burning stove • Second sitting room/playroo /separate wine room/office • Master bedroom suite with dressing area and en suite bathroom

• Three further double bedrooms & cinema room • Family bathroom and separate shower room • Swimming pool with terrace and changing room • Grass tennis court, paddock and alfresco dining with bar/BBQ

GLATTON – GUIDE PRICE £1,550,000

• Vaulted guest bedroom suite • Three further bedrooms with family bathroom • Landscaped gardens, dbl garage & off-street parking • Edge of village location, extensive countryside views • Modern stone property recently refurbished throughout

NASSINGTON – GUIDE PRICE £795,000

An attractive Grade II listed stone built property in a village setting, set down a quiet lane with parking and a beautiful south westerly facing garden.

Four bedroom attached barn conversion, situated down a quiet lane in the popular conservation village of Tinwell.

• Located in the highly desirable village of Ketton • Grade II listed with views of the Church spire • Gated gravel driveway with mature borders • Beautiful gardens with large dining terrace • Entrance hall with cloakroom • Two reception rooms and study

• Popular village location next to Stamford • Kitchen with large utility and boot room • Dining room, sitting room and garden room • Entrance hall with WC and cloaks cupboard • Three double bedrooms and family bathroom • Principal bedroom with ensuite shower room

• Kitchen with utility and boot room • Two ground floor dbl bedrooms with en-suites • Principal bedroom suite with dressing room and ensuite • Additional double bedroom and large family bathroom

KETTON – GUIDE PRICE £750,000

• Beautiful garden with views over grazing land and church • Garage with access into the rear garden • Communal grounds to the front, including a duck pond • Potential for modernisation

TINWELL – GUIDE PRICE £750,000

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PROPERTY FINDERS

A Solution To Every Problem?

Finding your dream home and having your offer accepted is an exciting time for any homebuyer, but the road to exchanging contracts and completion can be long and difficult. Local property expert Kate Vincent discusses some of the challenges that buyers can face and how best to overcome them Many home buyers believe that finding the right property to buy, and negotiating an acceptable price, is the difficult part of the purchasing process, but for many this can be when the challenge really begins. As a property transaction progresses and legal enquiries are made and surveys are conducted, a wide range of unexpected hurdles can materialise which stand between you finding the perfect property and securing it with legal certainty.

Listed properties Acquiring a listed property offers challenges and attractions. The existence of a listing concerns some buyers, who are fearful that this will add significant restrictions and bureaucracy to any plans that they have to change a property. Of course, if you are looking to buy a listed building you need to appreciate that the restriction was put in place to protect the look and structure of the building so this needs to be respected. However, by taking time to understand how English Heritage work, by planning sympathetically and liaising closely with the local conservation officer, modern and innovative improvements can be built into the oldest of buildings.

Protected species The presence of a protected species of wildlife can be an unexpected challenge, particularly if you have plans to renovate. In some cases, the presence of these protected

Kate Vincent Garrington

species can jeopardise a deal, as the legal provisions are not to be taken lightly. However, do not despair if these creatures are found at your dream home or within its gardens. Specific measures can be undertaken by employing the services of necessary professionals, such as a specialist surveyor who will survey the property and make recommendations of how to mitigate the impact of your plans.

And finally…too much emotion Whilst buying and selling a property is essentially a business transaction, it is not only a major financial commitment, but also intensely personal. Emotions and personalities often come into play. Do remember that whilst your future home is a long-term commitment, the relationship with the seller is not. You are not buying a new best friend!

Historical paperwork It is not unusual for older properties to have some of their historical documentation missing. In these situations, it’s essential to take expert advice from your solicitor. Even though these situations often look like ‘deal breakers’ there are certainly ways to protect yourself against any nasty surprises at a later date. Always be very clear with your solicitor if you have any plans to develop the property you are buying as this may affect their advice to you.

Typically, around 30% of purchases fallthrough after an offer has been accepted however, amongst Garrington’s clients this number falls to around 12% as we are able to use our extensive property buying experience to help buyers successfully navigate the post offer minefield. Garrington can assist if you are considering buying a property and would value support overcoming the inevitable challenges associated with finding, negotiating and completing a purchase.

Overage Clauses Some sellers like to build in an ‘Overage Clause’ as a means of clawing back some of the financial gains a future owner will generate from developing part or all of the property or plot. It is therefore critical to gain a good understanding of the parameters of any such clauses early on in order to avoid unwelcome surprises at a later stage. Where possible negotiate these out of the contract at offer stage.

Garrington work on behalf of private and/or corporate clients who want to buy, rent or invest in property throughout the UK. They also provide a negotiation only and overseeing of sales service.

If you are thinking of moving this spring and would like further information on how Garrington can assist, contact Kate Vincent on 01780 408377. Email info@garrington.co.uk or visit www.garringtoneastmidlands.co.uk

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Offers Over £775,000

Guide Price £700,000

Holly House, Wymondham

Stoneleigh, Barsby

A high-quality, Brown & Jones built, five-bedroom detached property sitting in a quiet location within this popular Leicestershire village.

A handsome red-brick village property with generous and characterful accommodation and a separate one-bedroom cottage all sitting within approx 1.7 acres.

Guide Price £635,000

Guide Price £575,000

Matinsley Place, Oakham

Old Brookside, Twyford

A beautifully appointed, four-bedroom, detached family home sitting on a corner plot with double garaging and south-west facing gardens.

A characterful and beautifully appointed red brick village home with expansive living accommodation, ample parking plus an annexe/business premises.

Offers Over £475,000

Guide Price £300,000

Maltings Road, Gretton

The Coach House, Burley on the Hill

A deceptively spacious and beautifully presented, three-bedroom, detached property set on a generous plot providing wonderful views over the Welland valley.

A Grade II listed, two-bedroom apartment sitting within this exclusive setting, in the grounds of Burley House.

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RUTLAND MP ALICIA KEARNS

Say Hello to Rutland’s New MP

ALICIA KEARNS The first day in a new job is always a pretty daunting prospect, but imagine walking into The House of Commons as one of the recent General Election’s intake of 106 new Conservative MPs. Imagine doing so, too, following the 27-year legacy of Sir Alan Duncan. Thankfully, Alicia Kearns is up to the challenge and is loving her new role as parliamentary representative for Rutland & Melton...

Words: Rob Davis. Lead Image: Jonathan Scrimshaw.

DO YOU REMEMBER your first day at school? A sprawling labyrinth of classrooms and corridors to negotiate; older kids all much more comfortable with the savoir-faire of timetables and lunch hall etiquette. Perhaps that’s what it’s like on your first day in the Commons. To know for sure, it’s worth having a chat with one of the newest members of the house, Alicia Kearns.

Foreign Office as the Counter-Daesh Unit. I’ve advised more than 70 governments on how to defeat ISIS and led interventions in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and across the world, also managing crisis responses during incidents from conflicts in the Middle East issues to prison riots to nuclear leaks in the UK. How did you become an MP?

When Sir Alan Duncan decided not to stand in the 2019 General Election, the Rutland & Melton Conservative Association needed a new MP; one to succeed a 27 year legacy of success in one of the 15 safest Tory seats in the UK. You’d have to be pretty brave to step into the role but as Alicia is finding, it’s worth the courage.

What was it like stepping into the Chamber for the first time?

It was indeed like your first day at school… but imagine going to school with the whole world watching you! I was one of 107 new Conservative MPs stepping into the Commons for the first time and with such a decisive victory nationally, and particularly in seats historically held by other parties, there was lots of attention on us. One of your first engagements is to make your maiden speech which should be about eight minutes long and should be about your constituency, your priorities and the work of your predecessor. That was nerve-racking!

In 2016 I decided that rather than being a civil servant I wanted to move into politics. Working in the civil service you’re apolitical, so to commit fully to party politics I left the service.

It takes around a year to become an MP candidate in the Conservative Party and we’re slightly different in terms of our processes, in that the party has a Parliamentary Assessment Board which assesses you in a process that’s about six hour long following your initial application.

You have to pass a number of ‘exams’ - written ones and also tests of leadership, motivational skills and public speaking.

Successful candidates go onto the Approved List of Parliamentary Candidates Register. When a seat in a constituency becomes vacant, the Local Conservative Association can invite a number of candidates from the list to a local interview and choose their preferred candidate to represent their constituency.

When did you start working in Westminster?

I graduated from Fitzwilliam College in 2009 with a degree in social and political sciences. I worked in crisis communications initially in the private sector then as a civil servant. I joined the MOD to lead the department’s response to the Scottish Referendum Campaign, and later the

That’s what happened when I stood in the 2017 General Election in the traditionally Labour-held London borough constituency of Mitcham & Morden in South London, and in November 2019 when I represented Rutland and Melton. >>

Main Image: Alicia Kearns became the Rutland and Melton Constituency’s new MP - on Friday 13th - back in December. So far she’s not experienced any bad luck, just a steep learning curve, Commons benches in need of a bit more padding and a few rogue mice running around her Westminster office!

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RUTLAND MP ALICIA KEARNS

What experiences did you have of the area?

My Great Grandfather was born in Oakham in Rutland, but I’d only ever spent time here on holiday with my husband and son.

Having discussed the next steps of my career with my husband we both knew that if I was going to represent an area, I would move there to fully commit to it, and my husband had always hoped I would get the chance to represent Rutland and Melton.

The fact that Rutland is such a great place to live made the decision to move to the constituency very easy.

I was invited to the Cattle Market in Melton on Friday 8th November 2019 along with two other candidates to be interviewed by 250 members of the local Association. Voting – and being told the result of that vote - takes place on the same day, so at least you’re not left in limbo, and very happily, I was chosen to represent the area.

What happened next?

Five days after selection I moved to Langham. I started campaigning in the best way I thought, which was to spend as much time as possible speaking to constituents.

I hadn’t met Sir Alan Duncan when I was selected. I didn’t want to come to the area with any preconceptions and thought it was better to hear directly from people on their own doorsteps. He has been good enough to lend me an ear since and he’s been really kind and respectful, offering me his experience and advice.

I spent about 10 hours a day speaking to people and the overriding issue of the election was obviously Brexit. Both those who voted to leave and those who wanted to remain just wanted to ‘get Brexit done.’ I’m delighted with the fact that we’ve delivered on that pledge.

How did it feel to walk into Parliament?

I’d been into Parliament a number of times, but this time it was different. Suddenly you feel the weight of responsibility on behalf of your family and your voters. As an MP you also have access to other parts of the estate and to the Chamber itself, and walking into the Commons really brings it all home and gives the place a totally different feel.

What happens as a new MP?

There’s no grace period. The Clerks of the House provide quite a long briefing on parliamentary etiquette, how the Chamber works and the ins and outs of parliamentary procedure. It’s by no means a comprehensive guide but enough to stop you embarrassing yourself at least.

There’s a New Member’s Reception Area in which the House and Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority brief you on things like payment of salary, security, IT equipment, and things like your car parking space. You’re also allocated a peg in the cloakroom… just like in school!

“I didn’t realise that running for Parliament was to be taken so literally… I really do have to run, at full when the Division Bells rings!”

Were the other priorities?

Yes, and interestingly those were varied across different areas of the constituency. In Melton for example, the provision of new GP services was a concern. In Rutland the farming community wanted a commitment that they would be supported in a post-Brexit economy.

Road safety was also a concern – especially the A1, A606, A607 and A52 routes. Rural crime was an important issue too, and so that set out my local priorities and gave me a really good idea of where my local commitments should be.

How did you feel on election night?

I didn’t quite believe it. The whole party had a stonking victory and I was delighted to win a majority of nearly 27,000 votes - 36,500 votes in total and a 62% share. I’ve always been cautious about polls and by 10pm I realised that it was definitely happening.

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Someone asked me if I’d come down from cloud nine… I think I was so cautious about keeping my expectations in check I hadn’t allowed myself to even get to cloud nine! I was exhausted, giddy, but delighted and perhaps a bit daunted too. And tired. Very tired, having been running entirely on adrenaline throughout the day!

All of that takes place on the Sunday, then you’ve just overnight to get adjusted before you start work on Monday morning!

Where in the parliamentary estate is your office?

Having started work on 13th December I didn’t get my office until late January, about the same time as my team joined me. I’ve two people in Westminster to help with correspondence and three more people who work part time to help in the constituency.

My Westminster office isn’t in the oldest part of the building, but it dates back to about 1888. It’s a nice old building but not gothic like the Palace of Westminster itself. I must have drawn a short straw because rather unfortunately it’s eight minutes exactly from the Commons. Someone has actually timed it and determined it’s as far away as it can be located whilst still leaving sufficient time to run to vote in the house when the division bell rings. I didn’t realise that running for Parliament was to be taken so literally… I really do have to run, at full pelt, to make it in time.

I’ve got a nice view of the Thames and I’m lucky to have a window, but the office is definitely not snazzy… there are lots of draughts, even more mice and the whole place is in a bit of a sorry state. >>

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RUTLAND MP ALICIA KEARNS

>> My colleague’s office, though, was the old photocopying room so we’re all in the same boat!

What’s it like in the Commons?

Smaller than it looks on TV and very austere with lots of gothic architecture. There’s a definite whiff of old wood covered in beeswax and aged leather. It’s a bit like the smell of the inside of a classic car, minus the petrol.

There are all sorts of funny traditions like bobbing… it’s faintly ridiculous but you have to bob up and down to try to get the Speaker’s attention. There’s all sorts of rituals and traditions.

It’s important to learn the constituency that each MP represents and to address them as ‘The Honourable’ or ‘The Right Honourable’ accordingly… it’s a faux pas to get it wrong.

It’s actually quite difficult to hear your name being called following a successful bob as microphones and speakers can be turned on and off and you almost don’t expect to be called to speak amid all the competition for the chance, though the speaker is phenomenally fair.

One other thing about the Commons is that the green leather seats are not very well padded. They’re incredibly uncomfortable, especially after sitting on them for hours… I’d advise anyone considering going into politics to bring a cushion!

Do you see much of the Prime Minister?

Yes, he works among us. But it becomes less surreal as time goes on.

The first time he was there in the voting lobby was quite strange but he’s very kind and makes conversation and acknowledges you when you walk past. Surprisingly, The House can be quite an egalitarian place and you can quite easily be sitting next to him during a tea break, in which case it’s probably wise to offer him one of the good biscuits. But though MPs refer to one another by on first name terms when we’re not in the Chamber, he remains the exception and is always referred to as Prime Minister.

What have been your experiences of speaking?

The maiden speech was quite daunting but I’m getting my feet under the table now and feeling more comfortable with speaking in the Chamber.

This week [3rd-7th Feb] I’ve successfully asked for the Prime Minister’s support for a new GP surgery in Oakham, called for a transparent food supply chain post-Brexit and about the importance of support for small and medium-sized food producers too.

What are your priorities now?

I’ve an office and a team now, so I can concentrate on maintaining a balance between representing constituents on issues like local healthcare, improvements to the A1 and ensuring our agricultural and food industries are supported post-Brexit, plus there are national and international issues to be involved in, like supporting the Foreign Office in its amazing work and ensuring they’re sufficiently focused and equipped.

This year will of course also see us securing a trade deal with the EU and ensure that we continue to negotiate a trade deal that works well for Britain and our European friends.

And away from work?

I’m really lucky as my husband Jon works in London so he joins me there with our son. Coming back to Rutland each week is real treat, and we’re having a lovely time exploring all of the great countryside, shops and restaurants around here.

I love both dogs and cats, and I’ve fostered cats for Battersea before but I don’t have any at the moment as it’s not practical given the hours I work, but perhaps in the future I’ll give a stray a home in Rutland… shame really; I could do with the talents of a good mouser in London to keep my office from being overrun with mice!

And finally, best and worst bits so far?

Best? Having the chance to spend time in Rutland and Melton, meeting real people and learning about what I need to do to help improve an already wonderful area. Worst? Nothing so far, it’s all been very positive. Although, you’re never far from a reminder that constituents come to an MP when they’ve nowhere else to turn and need help. That’s humbling, but it’s why I choose this career and its why as MPs we can never let down the people that have entrusted us with their votes. n See www.aliciakearns.com.

The Commons Touch: Life in The House...

Alicia Kearns is making herself at home in the Commons. Rebuilt following its partial destruction during the Blitz, it’s less ornate than before and less ornate than the House of Lords.

Redesigned at a cost of £2m in 1945 (the equivalent of £85m today) by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, it’s two floors high with three additional floors of offices above the chamber.

At the entrance to the Commons in the Members Lobby are statues of Churchill and David Lloyd George;

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Britain’s Prime Ministers, of course, during the First and Second World Wars. A wooden sign now cautions MPs not to touch the statues, the feet of which are now worn smooth from years of MPs touching each statue’s foot for good luck.

Margaret Thatcher is also honoured with statue, the only living person to be honoured in such a way whilst still alive.

The door to the commons is pitted and damaged from years of being bashed by the mace of Black Rod –

currently Sarah Clarke, the first woman to hold the position, more formally known as the Lady (or Gentleman) Usher of the Black Rod - who represents the Lords and has to knock three times on the door of the Commons to request permission from Parliament.

Black Rod has the door ceremonially slammed in his or her face, signifying the House of Common’s independence from the crown and by extension, the House of Lords. n

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ALICIA KEARNS MP

Career Timeline 2001 - 2006: Schooled at Impington Village College in Cambridgeshire.

2009: Graduated from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge with a degree in Social & Political Sciences.

2009 – 2013: Worked in communications in the private sector, then for the Civil Service.

2013 – 2014: Employed in the Ministry of Defence to coordinate the MOD’s case in the 2014 Scottish Referendum.

2014-2016: Worked in the Foreign Office in the Counter Daesh (ISIS) Unit and on Iraq and Syria.

2016: Alicia leaves Civil Service to enter politics.

June-August 2016: Volunteer work for three months on the island of Lesbos helping refugees land safely and supporting unaccompanied minors.

2016 – 2019: Independent consultant delivering counter-terrorism programmes for the Foreign Office, US Government, NATO and the EU. 2017: Stood for candidacy in the 2017 General Election in the constituency of Mitcham & Morden in Greater London.

Friday 8th November 2019: Attended an interview at the Cattle Market Melton’s Cattle Market with 250 members of the local Conservative Association who elected Alicia as their new MP, choosing her over two other candidates.

Friday 13th December 2019: Assumed office as MP of Rutland & Melton.

Monday 6th January 2020: Alicia gives her maiden speech in Parliament.

Monday 20th January 2020: Alicia moves into her Westminster office and her two new staff start join her to start work.

Wednesday 5th February 2020: Alicia asks for the Prime Minister’s support for new GP services in the area and reminds him that he’s always welcome in the constituency to enjoy a Melton Mowbray pork pie… a mischievous member of the house suggests that the PM would ‘Probably eat them all!’ and is rebuked by Mr Johnson and Alicia as ‘rude!’ n

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Proud to be hosting Design Talk: ‘Bernie de Le Cuona on natural fabrics and wellbeing’

The first of a number of exclusive events fundraising for important causes throughout 2020 De Le Cuona design talk: Thursday 30 April at 5:30pm Bubbles and Canapés upon arrival Tickets £45

EASTER WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP AND TABLETOP INSPIRATION Wednesday 25 March 2020 at 10:00am £35 to include materials, tuition and bijoux brunch Beautiful prizes in the ES Interiors Easter raffle

EXPERT CARE FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY Antenatal preparation classes for groups and couples.

Hypnobirthing tuition.

Postnatal support in the home.

Maternity Nursing.

Baby Massage.

Breast-feeding support.

‘Surrogate Granny’ Service.

CHILDREN’S EASTER CRAFT – DELICIOUSLY DECORATED DELIGHTS

Wednesday 8 April 2020 at 10:00am £25 to include materials, tuition and tasty treats Beautiful prizes for children in the ES Interiors Easter raffle TICKETS AVAILABLE TO BUY ONLINE AND INSTORE All events take place at Elizabeth Stanhope, 17a and 27 Mill Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6EA To book: email showroom@elizabethstanhope.co.uk Telephone 01572 722345 or online www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk

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STAMFORD & RUTLAND WOODLANDS

If You Go Down to the

WOODS

The woodland around Rutland and Stamford is an ever-changing landscape where flora and fauna thrive, animals live and people can go in order to get back to nature. Here, we’re revealing our favourite woods for those seeking to enjoy a spring walk...

Words: Laurin Dempsey.

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“Fineshade Woods on the border of Stamford is known for its population of red kites. It also has a regionally important population of adders and other reptiles as well as scarce breeding birds..”

BE AT PEACE among the trees and set your mind at ease as you explore this spring. Being around nature improves your mental and physical wellbeing, and spotting wildlife can also help you to become more mindful.

Fineshade Wood

Located on the border of Stamford and Northamptonshire, north of Corby in the Midlands, Fineshade Wood provides a picturesque setting for your next adventure.

With three walking trails, a family cycling trail, horse-riding trail, picnic area, café and play area, there’s something for everyone.

Dogs are especially welcome.

Fineshade is known for its population of red kites. It also has a regionally important population of adders and other reptiles as well as scarce breeding birds including nightingale, nightjar, woodcock, grasshopper warbler, tree pipit, marsh and willow tits.

Dormice have recently been recorded together with great crested and palmate newts.

The site has a caravan and motorhome park which is open from Easter to October.

The Dales Wood trail is a scenic woodland walk taking between one and two hours to complete, this three mile waymarked route starts at the top of the car park. The car park is close to the visitor centre where you can grab a cup of coffee before you leave, or tea and cake on your return.

Around each corner you turn you will find different types of trees, flowers and wildlife.

The start of the walk is particularly good for seeing bluebells and orchids in spring.

Other sections are bordered with gently trailing hazel, showing off their long catkins in spring 30

and hiding their round, brown nuts in autumn.

You will walk past gnarled, old oak trees and stately Scot’s Pine, together with many more species. Butterflies love the more open areas which catch the sun in summer.

There are some moderate hills in places.

However, most of the trail is on level ground, and all is surfaced. Although this trail is surfaced, the gradients and unevenness of the trail may make it difficult for a wheelchair or a pushchair.

If you wish, you can take a short detour to the wildlife hide, where you can view birds such as coal tit on the feeders or possibly deer on the lawn in the distance. You often see the greater spotted woodpecker in nearby trees.

The Smelters’ Walk is a short, circular family friendly walk, ideal for a first time visitor to Fineshade Woods, this trail is a great place to start your exploration.

If you are interested in history, you will pass through an area where iron was once smelted in the forest. Starting at the top of the car park, The Smelters’ Walk is a route suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, on level or gently sloping surfaced paths.

At two miles long, it is our shortest walk, all on surfaced paths and mainly level, with some very mild slopes in one or two areas. n >>

Above: Fineshade Woods is renowned for its population of Red Kites.

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WOODLANDS in the SPRING Local woodlands are a pleasure to visit all year round, however Spring is when you will see flowers bloom, bursts of colour, wildlife reawakening and the hive of activity.

Admire all the sights and sounds of this time of year with a springtime stroll around your favourite wood.

One of the most stunning spring highlights has got to be the bluebells that peep out from the ground, carpeting it in a magnificent sea of violet. Visit during April or May to see this springtime spectacle in all its glory.

Visit the woods before sunrise to experience the wonder of the dawn chorus. Listen out for the magical melodies sung by birds as they try to attract a mate.

Fresh spring greens are in abundance at this time of year, so why not head out to the woods and have a go at foraging. You can pick up a plethora of edible herbs and plants during springtime, including wild garlic, dandelion and hairy bittercress.

When spring arrives, the animals which spent their winters in a deep slumber begin to awake from hibernation.

Migrant birds arrive and burst into song, the buzz of bees can be heard once more and the woods become a hub of activity as mating season begins. You might even spot hares boxing in the fields close to the woods! n

Top/Left: Top Lodge at Fineshade Woods has a visitors’ centre and café.

Bottom/Left: We met this family enjoying a walk in Fineshade Woods.

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Managing forestry in Dole Woods.

Dole Woods, Thurlby...

Dole Woods consists mainly of oak standards with hazel coppice. There are also ash, field maple, wych elm and wild service tree. Both common and midland hawthorns can be seen in the understorey.

Bluebell, wood anemone and stitchwort are the most abundant species in the ground flora. Wood-sorrel, false brome, enchanter’s-nightshade, bugle, yellow archangel and sweet woodruff can also be seen.

Birds include great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper, whitethroat, blackcap and willow warbler.

Over 120 species of moth have been identified within the reserve. Management consists of bramble control, re-establishment of a coppice rotation and

maintenance of some permanent glades.

An extension to Dole Wood in 2005 was bought covering around 13 acres of woodland, grassland and disused railway.

Forestry Commission The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woodlands in the UK.

Like the existing nature reserve, which is leased from a local landowner, the new four acre woodland extension is ancient deciduous woodland of old coppice-with-standards and includes some fine specimens of small-leaved lime.

The grassland and disused railway are especially good for seeing nesting birds and many wildflowers. n

T O P T I P S F O R W O O D L A N D WA L K I N G n Check the weather the day before to prepare and check your route. n Wear walking boots or wellies and reflective clothing at dusk. n Check access/car parking and if there are any dog restrictions. n Prevent the spread of tree pests by cleaning off mud from footwear. n Take a first aid kit and a bottle of water. n If the walk takes you onto a road, stay in single file.

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It’s estimated that cycling through woodland burns over 550 calories each hour.

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Leicestershire Woods

Rockingham Forest (Wakerley Great Wood) Discover the historic ancient woodland near Rockingham Castle (above) that contains rich and diverse archaeological remains, near Corby.

There are numerous informal trails and paths along the forest roads and tracks, some are surfaced, but some are not.

The car park is set amongst majestic larch and includes a large grassed area for games and picnicking. n

Rockingham Forest (Southey Wood)

Yew Tree Avenue...

Bourne Woods

The fascinating yet tranquil Yew Tree Avenue at Clipsham is over 200 years old, consisting of over 150 clipped Yew Trees in all manner of unusual shapes.

Bourne Wood is a 400 acre area of beautiful ancient woodland situated on the outskirts of the town that was once part of the primeval forest of Brunswald.

Once the carriage driveway to Clipsham Hall, the Avenue, which costs nothing to visit, is now a pleasant place to sit and perhaps enjoy a picnic in the summer.

Many wildlife can be seen in the woods, including deer and Eastern gray squirrels, and there is an abundance of woodland plants. There are many tracks and areas for the public to explore including two large ponds, hidden deep in the woods.

Burley and Rushpit Woods...

A 161.2 hectare (398 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in the parish of Burley, east of Oakham. These woods on upper Lias Clay have many over-mature trees and considerable dead wood.

The dominant tree is oak in most of the forest, giving way to ash in the remainder.

The lichens are of regional importance, and the invertebrates include one Red Data Book and five nationally scarce species.

Great Merrible Wood

The reserve lies in the Eye Brook Valley 4 km south-west of Uppingham. The wood, which covers 12 ha, is owned by the Trust and is part of the Eye Brook Valley Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest.

It has a wonderful show of bluebells in spring.

The wood also has vast numbers of badgers, foxes, deer and small mammals. >>

Above: Clipsham’s 200 year old Yew Tree Avenue is managed by a registered charity which raises money to have the 150 trees clipped every few years. January saw work completed for the first time since 2010.

This is one of the few woods close to Peterborough with easy access. It is a conifer plantation with such exotic trees as Giant Fir, Western Hemlock and Lawson Cypress to mention but a few.

The wood is well worth a visit as there are woodland walks and the trees are of mixed ages with stands of mature trees, some deciduous and a good ground cover in places as well.

Good for bird watching. n

Launde Big Wood The reserves are situated between Launde and Loddington, in east Leicestershire. Launde Big Wood can be seen in the distance to the west, while the Park Wood to the east, is partially hidden by a tall hedge.

Walk along the public rights of way and enter the woods through the gates at their entrance.

Launde Big Wood covers 42 ha and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, while Launde Park Wood extends over 57 ha.

Both are ancient woodlands and were leased by the Trust in 1997 from the Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance for a period of 350 years. n

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Boardwalks and Thorpe Meadows

The Boardwalks Local Nature Reserve is a hidden gem in the heart of Peterborough.

It lies along the north side of the River Nene close to Peterborough’s city centre and has a network of ponds, meadows and woodland.

The site lies on former industrial land and it was created in the mid 1980s, when most of the ponds were dug and additional trees were planted.

It was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1991 and as a County Wildlife Site due to its distinct vegetation mosaic, amphibian populations and a water beetle assemblage of county importance.

The site currently contains an interesting habitat mosaic including over 25 ponds of various sizes, varied vegetation structure, wet and tussocky grassland, scrub and wet woodland.

The location within a major wildlife corridor adds further to its ecological value and the

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Boardwalks also forms part of the Nene Valley Nature Improvement Area.

Thorpe Wood

A beautiful ancient woodland consists of a canopy of oak and ash with hazel and field maple below.

The northern section is actively managed by traditional coppicing with baskets weaved around the stools to stop deer and rabbits grazing on them.

The ground flora is diverse with lots of wood anemones and a spectacular display of bluebells. The heavy clay soils provide the necessary ground conditions for ramsons, or wild garlic, to thrive - with its distinctive smell.

There are a number of very large mature oaks, which provide an excellent home for a range of invertebrates. Woodpeckers can be frequently heard tapping in the summer. n

The heavy clay soils of Thorpe Wood provide the necessary conditions for wild garlic to thrive...

Below: Ferry Bridge over the River Nene, part of the Thorpe Meadows nature reserve.

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1. Oak: The most abundant UK tree species, with over 167,000 hectares of oak trees in the UK. There are 600 species of oak.

4. Sitka Spruce A large, coniferous, evergreen tree growing to almost 100m tall and is the largest species of spruce.

The Sitka accounts for around half of commercial forests, with 80,000 hectares in the UK.

6. Beech: Known as the queen of British trees, as it is one of our most popular trees. A beech tree can live for hundreds of years, and there are 72,000 hectares across the UK in total.

8. Scots Pine: Living up to 700 years, scots pine is the only species native to the UK. Mature trees grow up to 35m. 61,000 hectares in the UK..

2. Ash: Growing in most parts of the world, the ash tree has between 45 and 65 species. The leaves appear late in Spring and cover 123,000 UK hectares.

SPOTTING THE UK’S TOP 10 TREES Here we’ve compiled a top 10 of the UK’s most common tree species according how many thousands of hectares appear in the UK’s woodlands...

Words: Laurin Dempsey.

9. Hawthorn: The original hedgerow tree, hawthorns often form large areas of scrub.

Often used as a sign that spring is turning into summer when it blooms. 57,000 hectares in the UK.

3. Birch: Usually grown near lakes rivers, there are 60 different species of birch that grow in temperature climate around the world.

11 of the 60 species are listed as endangered, but the UK has 96,000 hectares of Birch.

5. Sycamore: With over 75,000 hectares of sycamore trees in the UK, these broadleaf trees can grow to 35m and live for up to 400 years.

7. Hazel: One of the smallest native tree species, hazel grows more like a shrub than a tree, only growing to approx 20ft.

There are 65,000 hectares in the UK.

10. Willow: There are around 400 species of willows worldwide and have the lowest hectare coverage in our top ten, at 41,000, as most willows are very short lived. n Source: Forestry Commission 2019.

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Truly Independent Financial Planning • Efficient Portfolio’s Charlie Reading • Author of The Dream Retirement

Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail In this day and age, we all understand how to positively impact our health.

If we want to live long and fruitful lives, we curb our cravings for cigarettes and alcohol, eat balanced diets and make sure we keep as active as we can. And, if something does go wrong, we seek medical help. In short: we don’t gamble with our health.

S

O WHY IS IT that we are looking after our bodies for the future but not our finances? We’re not prepared to take a punt on our health but seem to be unconsciously spinning the wheel of fortune on our future financial security.

There is an old military adage that says, ‘prior preparation prevents poor performance’. If you want to succeed- whether you are taking an exam or climbing Everest - you put in the work beforehand to make sure that you are set up for success. This principle can be related to my first analogy of health - many of us all put in place the building blocks now, to make sure we can live long, and comfortable lives and retain the capability to enjoy our favourite pastimes. But having the health and wellbeing is only one piece of the puzzle: you might be able to physically take part in the things you love, but will you be able to afford that lifestyle?

When I talk about the future, I often refer to retirement. In my mind, retirement is not about growing old and giving up. For me, retirement doesn’t hold the connotations of something grey and bleak, it’s the antithesis of that. Retirement is like a sparkling light on the horizon, full of hope and opportunities.

My retirement will be full of excitement and adventure, where I will conquer mountains, dive to the depths of the oceans, and travel the world, embracing the diverse cultures that our wonderful planet has to offer. I’ll spend time watching my grandkids grow and share my experiences with them and the generations to come. I’m going to live life to the full and love every moment of it. And with sensible planning, I am hoping money won’t be a concern.

But I know that my version, or rather vision, of retirement is not

A lot of people I talk to don’t think that they will ever be able to afford to retire, and even more are just so perplexed by the financial landscape that they simply close their eyes and pray for the best. But avoidance is not the answer. Amid this chaos, you need to find some clarity and start to think about your future, not run away from it. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

If you want to build your wealth and protect your future, financial planning needs to be your weapon of choice. If you are concerned that you haven’t started to financially prepare for your future, we would be delighted to talk you through your options and see how we can help. n To book your fee introductory call with one of our expert financial planners, please call 01572 898060 or email hello@efficientportfolio.co.uk

You might be able to “ physically take part in the things you love, but will you be able to afford that lifestyle? ...

”

shared by everyone. For millions, retirement is a scary prospect, full of uncertainty, worry and apprehension. Aside from global uncertainty, it’s important to remember that we are living in a time where the aging population is becoming an increasing problem. In 2015, the population in the UK alone hit 65.1 million, the largest ever on record; in 2017, 17.8% of the populous is aged over 65 years old. With so many people to support, how can the State Pension provide more than a pittance? How will pensioners survive?

Charlie Reading created Efficient Portfolio to offer entirely independent financial advice and helping people clarify and realise their dreams and goals through financial planning.

Call 01572 898060, see www.efficientportfolio.co.uk or visit Portfolian House, 30 Melton Road, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AY

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EVENTS

What’s On...

LEICESTERSHIRE

THURSDAY 28th APRIL  SATURDAY 2nd MAY

UPPINGHAM

WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL  SATURDAY 4th APRIL

MAGGIE MAY Maggie and Gordon first met in 1971 dancing to the sound of Rod Stewart. Now in their sixties, and still very much in love, Maggie is feeling foggy; some days, the songs are all she can remember.

An extraordinary play about an ordinary family who are balancing the challenges of daily life whilst living with dementia. A heartfelt story of hope by award winning playwright Frances Poet, with love, laughter and music.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF AT UPPINGHAM THEATRE Rutland Musical Theatre is proud to present the poignant and hugely popular Fiddler on the Roof. Set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905 the story centres on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions.

With an ever relevant message, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ remains a firm favourite, and includes well known numbers such as Matchmaker Matchmaker, If I were a Rich Man, To Life and Sunrise Sunset.

n The Curve Theatre, Leicester, tickets £10-£22, call 0116 242 3595 or see curveonline.co.uk.

EASTON

FRIDAY 10th APRIL

EASTON WALLED GARDENS: NGS

n 7.30pm, 2.30 matinée Saturday, £14-£16 ticket, call 01572 820820 or see rutlandmusicaltheatre.co.uk.

Mozart’s Don Giovanni A CELEBRATION OF A POWERFUL MAN WITH A DARK SIDE, AND OF QUALITY OPERA AT ONE OF THE AREA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTY ESTATES, NEVILL HOLT...

MELTON MOWBRAY

WEDNESDAY 24th JUNE  WEDNESDAY 1st JULY

NEVILL HOLT OPERA PRESENTS DON GIOVANNI This year’s Summer opera festival at Nevill Holt Opera will comprise of two productions; Verdi’s heartbreaking La traviata and Mozart’s fascinating Don Giovanni.

Only a few tickets remain for La traviata, so be quick if you want to secure them and enjoy a quality performance in the RIBA-winning new theatre. n Nevill Holt, Market Harborough LE16 8EG. For tickers call 0115 846 7777 or see nevillholtopera.co.uk.

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A 400-year-old, restored, 12 acre garden on the border of Rutland. Home to snowdrops, sweet peas, roses and meadows. The tearoom serves delicious light lunches and cream teas and there is a well-stocked gift shop and plants for sale. Highlights include a turf maze, swing, yew tunnel and bird hide. n 11am - 4pm, £7.70/adult, NG33 5AP, call 01476 530063, or see www.ngs.org.uk.

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Send your press releases and events to: the Features Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

OAKHAM

PETERBOROUGH

THURSDAY 9th  MONDAY 13th APRIL

FRIDAY 10th APRIL  SATURDAY 11th APRIL

CRAFT LAGER, ALE & GIN FESTIVAL 20 craft ales and lagers in both cask and keg, as part of a four day festival, with live music and great food served all weekend. Over 20 craft lagers all on tap and hand pull and 50 Gins all weekend.

OAKHAM

THURSDAY 9th APRIL  MONDAY 13th APRIL

JAMES RICHARDS CIRCUS IN OAKHAM James Richards Circus is a family orientated all human production aiming to bring affordable, live entertainment direct to your doorstep.

Contemporary Circus is a beautiful genre, physical theatre meets dance in a most

n Grainstore Brewery Oakham, call 01572 770065 or see www.grainstorebrewery.com.

challenging, daring and spectacular form. Every show gives you something different.

Just some of the elements you can expect to see throughout include fast-paced juggling, incredible acrobatics, slick silks, high wires, Chinese poles, breath-taking balance acts and so much more, admission £9/adults. n Rutland Showground LE15 6US. See www.rutlandshowground.com.

Lord Burghley at 500 Lecture: Climb the Roman Staircase JENNIFER ALEXANDER’S LECTURE ‘SYMBOLS, SECRETS AND STONEMASONS’ PROVIDES NEW INSIGHTS...

LEICESTERSHIRE

SATURDAY 18th APRIL

MADAMA BUTTERFLY Puccini tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl. Include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love Duet. n DeMontfort Hall, £7,30pm, tickets £21-£38, call 0116 233 3111 or see www.demontforthall.co.uk.

STAMFORD

FRIDAY 24th APRIL

SYMBOLS, SECRETS AND STONEMASONS: NEW INSIGHTS ON THE ROMAN STAIR AT BURGHLEY HOUSE This month sees Dr Jennifer Alexander exploring The Roman Staircase of Burghley House as part of the stately home’s series of lectures celebrating William Cecil, his life and legacy.

Symbols, Secrets and Stonemasons promises new insights into the Roman Stair at Burghley to fascinate those with an interest in history and

THE FESTIVAL OF ANTIQUES Incredibly popular Friday and Saturday Fair – with over 2000 stalls – Peterborough Festival of Antiques is a genuine must-visit event for all antique and vintage enthusiasts.

Hosted within four permanent buildings and several acres of outdoor pitches at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, the ‘Festival of Antiques’ is a huge event which has something for everyone – from antique furniture, jewellery, ceramics, glass, silver, architectural salvage, fine art, vintage and much more. n From 8.45am, tickets £5, call 01733 363500 or see www.eastofenglandarena.com

architecture. Jennifer’s lecture will take place in the Great Hall, with drinks in the Orangery from 6pm and the lecture from 7pm.

An Associate Professor at The University of Warwick, Jennifer studied Art History at the University of East Anglia and archaeology at Nottingham University. She has taught in undergraduate and adult education departments of various universities and worked as a consultant archaeologist on medieval and early-modern sites. n Tickets £22, call 01780 752451 or see www.burghley.co.uk.

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EVENTS

Send your press releases and events to: the Features Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

Just Dogs in Peterborough FROM THE SCRAPPIEST TERRIER TO THE LIVELIEST SPANIEL OR THE MOST LOYAL LABRADOR, IF YOU LOVE DOGS, YOU’LL LOVE JUST DOGS...

PETERBOROUGH

FRIDAY 10th JULY  SUNDAY 12th JULY

JUST DOGS... LIVE! Waggy tails and wet noses... what’s not to love? Whether your idea of the perfect pooch is a scrappy terrier, a lively spaniel or a loyal lab, Man (and Woman’s) Best Friend is celebrated at the East of England Showground this summer as Just Dogs Live takes place near Peterborough.

It’s a great day out whether you’ve two legs or four, with trade stands, dog shows, obedience and demonstrations combining to create a weekend of great entertainment.

Central to the event, the East of England Championship Dog Show has been running since the early 1960s as a championship show and is a proud part of the East of England Agricultural Society’s history. Last year saw over 9,600 entries with Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s dog show heats concentating on Gundog & Utility, Toys, Hounds & Terriers and Working & Pastoral breeds respectively.

Also at Just Dogs Live is the Fun Dog Show with classes for child handlers, best rescue story, best breed and non-pedigree, waggiest tail, cleverest trick and so on.

Also at the event is the College of Animal Welfare Advice & Grooming hosting demonstrations and talks concerning general health, coat care and breed-specific grooming regime advice.

Just Dogs will also feature live Flyball competitions with have-a-go sessions.

Over 10,000 visitors - plus their dogs - are expected to attend Just Dogs, and of course, there are plenty of sponsors’ stalls and trade stands to find the perfect present for your pooch. n Based at Peterborough’s East of England Showground, PE2 6XE. Call 01733 363500 or see www.justdogslive.co.uk.

KILWORTH

SUNDAY 5th APRIL

THE COMPETE BUDDY HOLLY STORY When Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in 1959 aged just 22 he was already a star.

Today he is a Kilworth legend, whose life will be celebrated in Leicestershire the month at one of the area’s finest country house hotels!

Buddy Holly’s songs are all-time classics, and no one does them better than Spencer J who has perfected the Buddy Holly look as well as the sound.

This upbeat show features all the legendary hits, Peggy Sue; That’ll Be the Day; Oh Boy and Heartbeat. n £69/person inc three course dinner.

Arrival 6.30pm, call 01858 881939 or see kilworthhouse.co.uk.

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LYDDINGTON BEDE HOUSE

LYDDINGTON’S

BEDE HOUSE English Heritage-owned, Grade I listed and a scheduled monument of archaeological significance. Lyddington Bede House reopens in April and has a fascinating history that ensures it’s well worth a visit this month...

Words: Laurin Dempsey. Images: Jonathan Scrimshaw.

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LYDDINGTON BEDE HOUSE

SET BESIDE THE CHURCH OF ST ANDREW in the picturesque ironstone village of Lyddington, Bede House began life as the medieval wing of a palace belonging to the Bishops of Lincoln.

Bishops’ palaces were high status domestic residences providing luxury accommodation for the bishops and lodgings for their large retinues; although some were little more than country houses, others were a setting for great works of architecture and displays of decoration.

Bishops’ palaces were usually set within an enclosure, sometimes moated, containing a range of buildings, often of stone, including a hall or halls, chapels, lodgings and a gatehouse, often arranged around a courtyard or courtyards.

By 1600 Lyddinton’s Bishop’ palace had passed to Sir Thomas Cecil, son of Queen Elizabeth’s chief minister, who converted it into an almshouse for 12 poor ‘bedesmen’ over 30 years old and two women (over 45), all free of lunacy, leprosy or the French pox.

Visitors can wander through the bedesmen’s accommodation, with their tiny windows and fireplaces, and view the former Bishops’ Great Chamber on the first floor, with their beautifully carved ceiling cornices.

The bishop’s palace at Lyddington survives well in the form of both standing remains and buried features. A considerable accumulation of archaeological deposits indi-

The Village of Lyddington

Lyddington is home to around 400 people and is located two miles south of Uppingham.

Bede House was used as a hospital until as recently as 1930.

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The Church of

ST ANDREW WHY DOES THE CHURCH OF ST ANDREW HAVE JARS SET INTO ITS WALLS? The parish church of St Andrew at Lyddington stands beside the remains of a medieval palace owned by the powerful Bishops of Lincoln of which is now owned by English Heritage and is seen as being important for this reason. The earliest church here existed by the late 12th century, but the current building is mostly 14th and 15th century.

The church of course had close ties with the Bishop’s Palace and this imposing large church is a result of this close association. The oldest parts of the present church dates from the 14th century and were probably started by Bishop Burghersh, these being the chancel and west tower.

If you look high on the walls of the chancel, you will see acoustic jars (now minus their necks) set into the thickness of the wall.

Above: Founded in the 12th century, Lyddington Bede House is a medieval Grade I listed building managed by English Heritage.

Left: The Cecil family owned the property and in 1600, Thomas Cecil, First Earl of Exeter converted it into an almshouse for 12 poor bedesmen.

cates that remains of the medieval and post-medieval periods have been overlain, rather than destroyed by, later activity; part excavation has demonstrated a high level of survival for below ground remains while leaving the majority of deposits undisturbed.

Structural, artefactual and ecofactual material, including organic material preserved by waterlogging, are thus likely to survive intact, preserving valuable evidence for social, religious, domestic and economic activity on the site. The remains of the Bishops’ palaces across the UK are associated with a variety of other features from across the landscape, The present Bedehouse and surrounding walls are in the care of the Secretary of State; these structures are included in the building’s status as a scheduled monument.

These were installed on the theory that they would improve the acoustics. Another odd feature in the chancel are the communion rails, which completely surround the communion table.

Bishop Alnwick claimed to have rebuilt the nave a century later.

Some of the frescoes from the preceding centuries of Catholic England, obliterated at The Reformation in the 1530s and 40s, by Cromwell and Cranmer during the reigns of Henry VIII & Edward VI, have recently been revealed, including one thought to be Edward the Confessor (1042- 1066). n

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English Heritage “The present Bede House represents only a fragment of the former bishop’s palace, the larger part of which survives as a series of buried deposits identified by part archaeological excavation...”

Top/Right: Lyddington Bede House is situated next to Lyddington’s Church of St Andrew.

Above: Designated a scheduled monument for its archeological importance, Lyddington Bede House was awarded its Grade I status in 1955.

Find Out More: Lyddington Bede House is based on Blue Coat Lane, Lyddington, Uppingham LE15 9LZ. Call 0370 333 1181 or see www.english-heritage.org.uk for more information.

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English Heritage was formed in 1983. It has 1.34 million members and manages 400 sites across the UK. With revenues of £74.5m, It employs 2,699 and relies on 1,872 volunteers.

All other standing buildings, walls and fences are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.

Lyddington Bede House is a stone built structure of rectangular plan situated on the north west side of the churchyard of St Andrews.

- now English Heritage - and it was subsequently restored. From small beginnings towards the end of the 19th century, the charity’s collection of historic places now managed by English Heritage has grown to over 400, inspired by a determination to put England’s heritage ahead of private interest.

Aligned north east to south west, it is constructed of coursed ironstone with white limestone dressings and ashlar additions, and dates principally from the 14th to 16th centuries. In the main part of the building are three internal storeys: on the ground floor is a large central chamber with a smaller chamber at each end, all later subdivided by timber-studded partitions to form 13 smaller rooms with fireplaces; on the upper floor are three chambers corresponding to those below, of which the one at the north eastern end is subdivided into two smaller rooms.

English Heritage protect an internationally important collection of historic sites and artefacts which span six millennia, from the ancient past to the present day including palaces, houses, hill figures, castles, abbeys, industrial sites, Roman forts and even deserted medieval villages. People are increasingly looking for experiences that bring history to life in an engaging way and nothing beats standing on the spot where history happened.

The present Bede House represents only a fragment of the former palace; the larger part of which survives as a series of buried deposits identified by part archaeological excavation. In 1954 Lyddington Bede House passed into the care of the Ministry of Works

Caring for these places and their collections with the generous support of many donors, is the cornerstone of everything English Heritage does and enables them to continue.

As a registered charity, they are governed by a board of trustees who take responsibility for allowing the public to discover local history at sites like Lyddington Bede House. n

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DINING OUT AT THE FUEL TANK

Dining Fit for

THE DUKE Words: Rob Davis.

Images: Jonathan Scrimshaw.

If it’s good enough for the Duke, it’s good enough for the Editor!

This month Rob Davis enjoys the fine hospitality of The Engine Yard’s Fuel Tank at Belvoir Castle...

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DINING OUT - THE ENGINE YARD

Ladies and gentlemen; the sun. A sphere of hot plasma 15 million kilometres away, 330,000 times heavier than earth and four and a half billion years old. It’s burning away at a balmy 5,600°c on the surface and some 15,000,000°c in the middle.

But what’s even more remarkable than mere numbers can convey is that, right now, it’s actually out. It’s shining on us. I’m almost getting a tan merely thinking about its warm radiant loveliness caressing my pale and interesting, winter-shrivelled form.

So neither delay nor pontificate, nor filibuster or procrastinate. Spring is here and for now at least the sun is shining. Quick smart, get out and enjoy it… and your first place to visit this season by Editorial proclamation is Belvoir Castle’s Engine Yard development, and its restaurant, The Fuel Tank.

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The Engine Yard opened in late 2018 on land which previously housed 20-tonnes of beam engine previously used to pump water to Belvoir Castle, the 450ft Grade I ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland.

In 2014 the site was cleared and over the next few years, the Duchess’s plans to create an artisan shopping village were realised.

The investment cost £2.5m and now it comprises around 25 retailers. There’s a small but brilliant garden centre, The Idle Mole; gunsmith Roland Watson, interiors store Margo & Plum; plus health and beauty centre Belvoir Casa, jewellers, luxury goods for ladies, jewellery, a chocolatier, loose tea and coffee merchant Cherizena, and probably the best deli in the area in the form of the sublime Country Victualler.

Open seven days, it’s the perfect place to lay waste to a Saturday or a Sunday when you want to go somewhere and do something but have no specific ideas. So, if the sun’s out and you don’t want to waste the day doing nothing, visit The Engine Yard.

The Fuel Tank is at the heart of the whole site. On the ground floor there’s The Balloon Bar with its quirky hot air balloon-inspired decor, poser tables and velvet banquette seating for those enjoying artisan gins, cocktails and live music on selected evenings from bands like Moonshine; think hipsters, doing folk and jazz.

The upper two floors are dedicated to The Fuel Tank, which is exactly where we met Chris Ansell, who, having prorogued evening dining during February has now

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“Happily the Belvoir Estate is very good at providing game in particular, but a wealth of other ingredients too...” redesigned the menus of the place for an evening relaunch on 13th March, as Pride is published.

Chris has a really diverse remit at Belvoir, involved in overseeing The Fuel Tank as well as catering for Belvoir Castle’s shooting parties and weddings.

“The Fuel Tank has been trading for just over a year now and that has given us the ability to evaluate what people want from us,” says Chris. “We’ve been delighted by the feedback that we’ve received from our diners and we can now take that on board

and change the menu to ensure we’re reflecting our audience.”

“From this month The Balloon Bar will offer small plates and grazing options, sociable menu options for people to enjoy with our artisan gins, craft ales and our list of carefully chosen wines.”

“That leaves the Fuel Tank to provide really good lunchtime dining like sandwiches, platters and salads during the daytime service and upmarket bistro food in the evening.”

“We’re launching a new menu towards the end of March which will provide dishes like

MEET THE CHEF CHRIS ANSELL Chris Ansell has worked for a number of the area’s Michelin-starred restaurants, from Hambleton Hall to The Olive Branch and Langar Hall. He joined Belvoir Castle because his ‘food heaven’ is game... well, he’s certainly in the right place! n

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DINING OUT - THE ENGINE YARD

on the MENU FROM THE EVENING MENU AT THE ENGINE YARD’S FUEL TANK Starters Homemade Pate served with mixed leaves, chutney and toasted Bloomsbury bread £7.95.

Fillet of Sea Trout with a lemon & dill dressing £5.95.

Main Courses Baked Fillet of Hake with Cod Casserole of mixed beans & chorizo £13.95.

Dukes Beer Battered Fish & Chips, homemade tartare sauce, minted mushy peas £12.95.

Spring Lamb, Vegetable & Pearl Barley Broth £12.95.

confit duck leg, moules marinieres and our herb gnocchi dish. We’re aiming for around eight key dishes and want to offer these in a format that can be served in smaller portions for grazing or lighter dining, or in more main course sized portions.”

“It’s important to us that we make our dishes available during both daytime and evening service, and that we ensure the quality and provenance of dishes are just as high throughout our menus, day or night.”

“One of the nicest aspects of working on the Belvoir Estate is the huge number of locally

OPEN FOR FOOD Monday - Thursday: 9.30am - 5pm Friday - Saturday: 9.30am - 9pm Sunday: 9.30am - 4pm.

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sourced ingredients we can work with.

The obvious example is game from the estate from September to January, but farms on estate also provide some really delicious beef and lamb.”

“We’re using these alongside pork pies from Dickinson & Morris pork pies and Melton Mowbray Charcuterie. In addition we’re working with Grasmere Farm who supply our pork and Melton Cheeseboard.”

“We’re currently designing the menus and want to incorporate a map on the front page showing where our ingredients are sourced from to really champion local ingredients.

Even our selection of drinks include Belvoir cordials and presses and Belvoir branded ales and ciders.”

The Fuel Tank is truly unique and we love its ability to offer a daytime and evening dining experience that’s absolutely exceptional. The fact that it can also offer a great day out as part of the overall Engine Yard experience means we’re confident that the whole place will shine brighter than ever year after year. n

Pan Fried Supreme of Churchill Farm Chicken, crushed new potatoes, asparagus, lemon crème fraiche £12.50.

Herb Gnocchi, wilted spinach, roast butternut squash, mascarpone & Parmesan £12.95.

Desserts Strawberry tart served with clotted cream ice cream £5.95.

Apple & Cinnamon Crumble with clotted cream ice cream £5.95.

NB: Featured dishes are subject to change.

n The Fuel Tank is based at Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle NG32 1PA. Call 01476 247059 or see www.engineyardfueltank.co.uk.

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MARCH/APRIL MENU STARTERS Our chef’s soup of the day with Griffin bread £6 Seared scallops, with a hint of apple & ginger butterscotch £8.50 Smoked duck salad, truffle, rocket & fig £7.50 Chargrilled halloumi, sun blush tomatoes, olives & raspberry balsamic £6.50 Breast of wood pigeon, risotto fritter, pancetta & truffle £8

MAINS 8oz sirloin steak, pub chips, grill garnish & watercress £19.95 Rack of lamb, minted croquette, salt bake parsnip with red wine & rosemary £17.95 Loin of Irnham Estate venison, baby vegetables, roasted beetroot & a blackberry and port jus £16.95 Breast of chicken, smokey bacon risotto, spring greens, Madeira & truffle £15.95

Chef's catch of the day (please ask for availability) Linguini with broccoli, pine nuts & rocket, finished with crème fraîche & basil £15.95 Sweet potato and lentil curry, steamed rice, mint raita & a popadom £14.95

DESSERTS Citrus cheesecake, Passionfruit and raspberry £6.50 Pear and almond tart, butterscotch ice cream and praline crumb £6.50 Vanilla and tonka bean panacotta, cherry soup and apple crisp £6.50 Chocolate ganache, pistachio, honeycomb and blood orange sorbet £6.50 Chefs homemade ice creams and sorbets £6.50 Griffin cheeseboard, a selection of chutney and crackers £8 Please ask for other dietary requirements.

15 BULBY ROAD, IRNHAM, NR GRANTHAM NG33 4JG 01476 550201 | griffininn@irnhamhall.co.uk | www.thegriffinirnham.co.uk

Look forward to seeing you at The Griffin Inn Irnham 57

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LOCAL ASPARAGUS

Cheers for

SPEARS St George’s Day means the beginning of local asparagus season, and an especially busy time for local farmer Josh Makey...

Words: Rob Davis. Images: Jonathan Scrimshaw.

Three cheers for asparagus spears - Rutland farmer Josh Makey supplies the county’s best restaurants with local asparagus.

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Naturally it would be wrong of Josh not to sample his own crop, so we joined him at the family’s Rutland Water Golf Club, where chef made good use of some early crop! Asparagus in pancetta!

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LOCAL ASPARAGUS

“St George’s Day marks the beginning of the asparagus season... and a busy few weeks for Josh Makey...”

THE GENTLY UNDULATING FIELDS around Rutland Water will soon see spears of asparagus making an appearance like little soldiers, then the flickering of fern-like greenery.

And on our local restaurant menus, you can expect to see many a proud boast of local as paragus topped with duck eggs, flanking local lamb or served simply with hollandaise or lemon.

St George’s Day marks the beginning of the asparagus season... and a busy few weeks for Josh Makey. The Manton farmer has land adjacent to the reservoir on which he grows arable crops including Gwilym asparagus in the seven or eight week season, and strawberries later in the year.

The crop is planted as a crown and one crown should yield a crop for about 10 years. The soils around Rutland are ideal for growing asparagus. It’s very much a crop that thrives in sandy free-draining soils rather than the claggier heavier clay- or siltbased alluvial soils of the fens in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire or Lincolnshire. It take around three years to be able to harvest the

first asparagus crop after planting, but once it’s in the ground, the crop is no slouch, in fact in ideal conditions, warm and dry, with decent draining soil, the crop can grow a whopping ten inches in a 24 hour period!

Green asparagus is most common, but purple asparagus has a slightly stronger flavour. All asparagus is rich in vitamins and great for the digestive system... and by reputation, a potent aphrodisiac! White asparagus is grown underground, deprived of the ability to colour up with chlorophyll hence the lack of green hue. It requires peeling before consumption and is generally much thinner.

Jersey series is the most common variety, with Jersey Knight especially vigorous in its growth and Jersey Giant a litle thicker.

Harvesting the crop is perhaps one of the reasons that asparagus is one of the more expensive vegetables, with little automation of the job possible because of the delicacy of the product and the short nature of the season making machinery a poor investment. >> 61

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Growing & Enjoying

ASPARAGUS LOCAL ASPARAGUS REMAINS A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PLEASURES OF SEASONAL FOOD PRODUCTION n St George’s Day is the official start of the British asparagus season.

At other times in the year imports are from as far away as China, which produces 7.35m tonnes; Peru, which produces 375,000 tonnes and Mexico which produces 120,000 tonnes.

The UK isn’t even in the top ten for worldwide production! n The UK currently produces 5,300 tonnes of production, with a wholesale value of around £30m. UK asparagus farming employs around 4,362 harvesters and packers. n A week of hot weather in May can result in 5% of the UK crop (265 tonnes; £1.5m) being ruined due to temporary oversupply.

>> Consequently spears are cut manually in an operation that’s quite labour intensive for an 600-acre arable farm which grows crops with greater mechanisation such as wheat, barley, and Josh’s rapeseed oil, produced from his 150 acre crop.

Harvesting asparagus is a matter of taste and personal judgment, but of course, our recommendation is to harvest it young.

A few experiments with a sharp paring knife will quickly demonstrate to the beginner when this stage has arrived. Cut neatly and cut deep.

If the base of the spear feels gritty as one cuts, this is a sure sign that the stem has got tough and pithy. Ripe stems should cut like butter. It helps to use a sharp knife with a sickle-shaped blade.

Special asparagus knifes can be found in some garden supply shops. Whilst the season may be short, asparagus remains one of the most versatile vegetables. Roast it with Parmesan and garlic or lemony bread62

“Asparagus is one of those vegetables which puts the joy of seasonality back on the table...” crumbs; toss with dressing, almonds, and goat cheese; garnish with fava beans, lemon zest, and toasted almonds; or mix in risotto with fresh spring peas, parsley, and Parmesan.

Alternatively, you can simply steam it and season with butter or olive oil, garlic, pepper, and Parmesan or shredded Gruyere for an easy side dish.

However you enjoy it, though, asparagus is one of those vegetables which puts the joy of seasonality back on the table.

If you’re going to enjoy it, don’t bother with internationally grown varieties... enjoy the time and work that Josh and the family have invested in their Rutland crop. n

n The local asparagus season lasts just seven or eight weeks. n Asparagus is native to western Asia, and dates back to 3000BC. The earliest asparagus recipe appears in third-century AD Apicius’s De re Coquinaria, Book III. n By 1469 asparagus was cultivated in French monasteries, and came to the UK around a hundred years later. n Asparagus can be blanched, boiled, steamed, grilled barbecued or roasted. It’s best enjoyed with lemon and hollandaise and free range eggs.

Find Out More: Josh Makey is a Rutland farmer of asparagus, call 07989 585723 or email rutlandwaterasparagus@outlook.com for details of local stockists.

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HOT CROSS BUNS FOR EASTER

ONE A PENNY, TWO A PENNY

HOT CROSS BUNS The Hot Cross Bun isn’t just a sweet treat, because according to superstition it is also the bringer of good luck...

Words: Laurin Dempsey. Images: Hambleton Bakery.

IS THERE ANYTHING more satisfying than butter melting on a warmly toasted Hot Cross Bun? Seen as a symbol of Easter along with chocolate eggs, chicks and daffodils, this spiced sweet bun made with currants or raisins, is marked with a cross on the top, and traditionally eaten on Good Friday. However, they are now sold and enjoyed throughout the year.

Remarkably, just one supermarket, Tesco, sell over 70,000,000 hot cross buns during Easter weekend alone and Waitrose last year reported sales increase of 40% compared to 2018.

Different parts of the Hot Cross Bun have a certain meaning, the cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices inside signify the spices used to embalm him at his burial.

Rich with history, there seems to be several stories about the origin of Hot Cross Buns.

These may go back as far as the 12th century.

According to the story, an Anglican monk baked the buns and marked them with a cross in honour of Good Friday. Over time they gained popularity, and eventually became a symbol of

The supermarket has 13 different varieties from lemon and lovage to elderflower versions and the more traditional version. More locally artisan bakeries in the county will also enjoy a healthy surge in business this month, hopefully a trend which will continue beyond easter.

Hambleton Bakery

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“Good Friday always remains the most popular day, there’s always a high demand and we can’t seem to make enough!”

“I believe strongly in seasonal baking, this makes the events that the foods are related too even more special.”

All Hot Cross Buns produced at Hambleton are made with local free-range eggs and milk from from farms down the road, and this remains another important mark of

There are also more than a few stories that indicate Hot Cross Buns were baked on Good Friday for superstitious reasons. One tale states that buns baked on this day and hung from the rafters of a home would ward off evil spirits in the coming year.

Another talks of these buns protecting sailors from shipwreck, while off at sea. Yet another version mentions that sharing the bun with a loved one guarantees friendship in the coming year.

Whatever the truth of it, we know for certain that crossed buns were eaten by the Saxons to honour Eostre, celebrated in April, whose name, according to the Venerable Bede, is the origin of the word Easter.

The eating of Hot Cross Buns marks the end of Lent, this year 26th February - 9th April, as they are made with dairy products which are forbidden during this period. Traditional buns are most commonly eaten hot or toasted.

Hambleton Bakery, an award winning regional bakery, with shops in Oakham, Stamford, Market Harborough, Oundle and West Bridgford, produce Hot Cross Buns seasonally each year. It is often the case that bakeries do not produce Hot Cross Buns due to them being labour intensive.

But speaking to Head Baker, Julian Carter, we discovered that this is a tradition they have been following for a number of years.

Easter weekend. Traditionally eaten on Good Friday to commemorate the Crucifixion, Hot Cross Buns found an enemy in Elizabeth I, who, in 1592, finding too much Popery in their popularity, banned their consumption except on specific holidays. The embargo was eventually lifted and, by the 1700s, sweet, spicy, fruity buns were sold on the streets of towns and cities with the familiar cry of ‘one a penny, two a penny’ (a penny bought you a large bun or two small ones).

quality for Julian and his Hambleton team.

“We ensure our buns remain traditional and we definitely do not scrimp on the number of currants, raisins and sultanas that we use.”

“We soak these fruits in cold tea overnight before producing the buns the next day, adds Julian.”

Last year Hambleton Bakery produced a huge amount of Hot Cross Buns... over 6,880 to be precise! n

Supermarkets now are getting more and more inventive in terms of flavours, shapes and sizes, with varieties like chocolate, cheese, brioche and sourdough hitting the shelves, but a straw poll in the Pride office leads us to believe that many prefer their hot cross bun as god (or their Pagan gods) intended. Smother yours in real butter, brew a very large pot of tea and enjoy the zesty, citrus and spice taste that makes this Easter staple a really satisfying experience! n Julian Carter heads up Hambleton Bakery which has shops in Hambleton, Stamford, Oundle, Harborough and West Bridgeford. See www.hambleton bakery.co.uk or call 01572 812995.

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In the KITCHEN This month local egg producer Fairburns suggests a wonderful way to take advantage of their high-welfare free-range eggs to create a delicious treat for Easter!

MELTING CREME EGG CHOCOLATE PUDDINGS Preparation time: 15 minutes. Baking time: 15-20 minutes. Serves Four.

Ingredients: 100g butter, plus extra for greasing • 2 tsp cocoa powder, plus extra to dust 100g good quality dark chocolate • 2 Fairburn’s British Blue eggs • 100g caster sugar 2 tbsp plain flour • 4 Cadbury crème eggs • fresh berries, to serve • cream, to serve Preheat the oven to 180°C/355°F/Gas mark 4.

Grease 4 ramekins with a little butter. Tip a little cocoa powder into each ramekin, turning to coat the inside completely, and then tap and tip out the excess powder.

In a bowl, melt the butter with the chocolate in a microwave, taking care not to let it overheat.

Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and the sugar together until pale, thick and nearly doubled in volume (if you lift the whisk out of the bowl, the mixture should

form a faint ribbon trail). Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture, followed by the sieved flour and the remaining 2 tsp of sieved cocoa powder. Spoon a heaped spoonful of the mixture into the prepared ramekins.

Place a creme egg on top of the mixture in each ramekin, lying them on their side and top with the remaining mixture. Bake the puddings in the oven for about 15-20 minutes until just set. Turn out and serve immediately with fresh berries and cream. n

Text: Rachel Green for Fairburns Eggs, www.fairburnseggs.co.uk.

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This delicious chocolate liqueur is ideal for Easter...!

Wine of the Month

Our friends at Hotel Chocolat have crafted this cocoa treat for Easter

Auvigue Le Clos, Pouilly-Fuissé, Burgundy, France, 75cl / 13.5% / £26.99

Move over Easter Eggs and bring on the chocolate liqueur. Stamford’s Hotel Chocolat is our go-to chocolatier for delicious premium cocoa deliciousness, and they’ve excelled themselves with this blend of vodka spirit, cream and 70% cocoa chocolate. This delicious drink is clean, contemporary and ideal in front of the fire if April proves a little chilly. We’ll also throw in a recommendation for the company’s Everything Sleekster, which, at £22.95, provides 27 different truffles across the company’s range of milk, dark and white flavours. n £25/ 50cl / 15% ABV

The Wine Cellar THERE ARE NO APRIL FOOLS THIS MONTH... JUST THREE LIGHT, EASY DRINKING REDS, A CHOCOLATE TREAT AND A WINE TO ENJOY WITH YOUR SPRING PUDDING. DELICIOUS! ALL THINGS LIGHT & BEAUTIFUL: A trio of easy drinking Pinot Noir wines...

1. St Romain Vieilles Vignes Rouge, Girardin Pere et Fils is a Pinot Noir wine from Burgundy that’s as well-rounded with black fruit with a hint of spice. £23.49 / 75cl / 13% ABV.

2. This oddity is a Pinot Noir from...

Norfolk! Enjoy it ahead of British Wine Week next month. Full of strawberry and red berry, with a hint of vanilla. Perfect for both a roast lunch and your dessert course afterwards too. £18 / 75cl / 12%.

3.Clos Tavannes is a premium burgundy that’s brilliant red in colour, with a rich spicy and complex nose with wild berries and a real elegance on the palate. Pinot Noir at its best. £49 /75cl / 13% ABV.

The grapes used for this beautiful white burgundy come from 45-year-old vines.

This south-facing plot produces a wine of extraordinary intensity, which is aged for one year in oak to give it a creamy texture and complexity.

A beautifully balanced Chardonnay, it’s available exclusively at Waitrose and pairs beautifully with a Sunday lunch of pork or spring lamb, as well as seafood. n

An April Treat that’s Perfect for Puddings...!

If you’re rounding off Sunday lunch with a lovely crumble, a fruit pie or even something that’s chocolatey and in deliciously keeping with easter, we’ve the perfect dessert wine for you. Pricey, but worth the premium, Château Nairac Barsac is a Grand Cru Classé pudding wine with marzipan, buttered toast and marmalade flavours complemented by a dash of orange rind, this is utter decadence.

The perfect way to round off a meal before the warmer weather arrives. £45 / 75cl / 13%

n Our featured wines are available from

the best local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary from those stated.

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HOMES & INTERIORS

STONE IN

LOVE

WITH YOU A beautiful stone cottage with the convenience and low-maintenance characteristics of a modern property. You’ll be stone in love with this month’s featured family home, based in Nassington...

Words: Rob Davis.

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A traditional looking property with a modern heart, offering space for a growing family and the sheer joy of village life. It’s safe to say that Paddock House was just what owners the Robertsons were looking for when they purchased it four years ago.

Such is the family’s love for England’s smallest county that the family aren’t planning to move too far, but they are looking to build their own house and to move closer to local schools ready for when their 10-month old son begins his education.

“One of the best selling points for us,” says the owner, “Is the combination of modern interiors but a really traditional looking exterior.”

Top: The couple opened up the orangery of their home to give it an open plan feel.

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“The house was built in the 1990s out of a lovely traditional stone which is reclaimed, so we reckon it will look better year after year.”

“Even though it’s fairly modern, when we moved to the property we embarked on a complete renovation, knocking through walls, reconfiguring the ground floor and creating an extension. We also ended up rewiring and replumbing the place as part of work installing new a kitchen and bathrooms.”

“So in that sense the house is modern and maintenance-free, but it’s also got lots of character. It’s set in a plot that’s around a quarter of an acre in size and surrounded by a traditional dry stone wall. My wife worked in London so the house is positioned somewhere that makes would make commuting easier for someone who wants to work in the city and wake up in the countryside at the weekend.”

“The house is modern and maintenance-free, but it’s also got lots of character, which is a great combination!”

Paddock House is arranged over two floors and whilst it has a traditional style, it’s deceptively modern and spacious inside with a dining kitchen that allows the family to keep an eye on their son whilst cooking, plus an orangery for soaking up the sun, a lounge and a separate family room too.

The family room is probably better described as the ‘mum and dad’ room, though, as it also has its own wine room, too!

On the first floor there’s a master suite with dressing room and bathroom, with a second

en suite equipped bedroom and three further bedrooms too. A separate utility room and a double garage both ensure the family has plenty of space to store family clutter.

“When we purchased the house is was quite tired looking and the garden was a bit overgrown, so we hacked back the garden to create a nice area of grass which is lush and green, but still low-maintenance.”

“We’ve a lovely black lab called Darcy, so it’s somewhere for him to run around as well as an enclosed spare for our son to play in too.”

“We moved the kitchen from the north side of the house to the south which means the living kitchen has plenty of natural light, and we made the orangery more of an open plan arrangement by joining it on to the kitchen diner and at the same time we installed a wood burner to make it cosier all through in the cooler months.”

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“We’ve introduced a raised area in the garden too. Again, that’s to make the most of the light, the views and to ensure the space can be used as much as possible throughout the spring and summer months.”

“Elsewhere we’ve tried to ensure we use really good quality fixtures and fittings which are easy to keep clean and strong enough to withstand family life. Personally I think I’m really lucky as my wife especially has a fantastic eye for how a home should look. I give her full credit to the fact that our home looks so nice, but we’re really practical people too, so we’ve designed the house with family life in mind.”

“Beyond the borders of the property there are undisturbed views and the village is brilliant for having lots of lovely walks in the Above: The kitchen has Corian solid surfaces and integrated appliances as well as underfloor heating.

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vicinity, with fields and forests all around it.

It’s really great to get some fresh air with the family and we’re looking forward to spring dog walks this month.”

“After that, I’m afraid we’ll have to bid farewell to the place, which will be really sad.

I think if we could pick the place up and move it north a bit, closer to our family who live right at the top of Rutland we’d do so.”

“As it stands, though, we’ve decided to embark on a new adventure, designing and building our own place. It’s the first time we’ve done that and we’re looking forward to it with cautious optimism. If we can create a house even half as nice as this, we’ll be delighted!” n

PADDOCK HOUSE, NASSINGTON NEAR STAMFORD Location: Stamford eight miles; Peterborough 10 miles; Fotheringhay two miles.

Style: Modern family home renovated by current owners set in around a quarter of an acre.

Bedrooms: Five with two en suites and family bathroom.

Receptions: Four, currently arranged as living kitchen, sitting room, family room and orangery.

Other Features: Underfloor heating, utility, wine room.

Guide Price: £795,000 Find Out More: King West, St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DE. Call 01780 484520 or see www.kingwest.co.uk. n

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HERITAGE WINDOW SPECIALISTS ENHANCE THE STYLE, VALUE AND APPEARANCE OF YOUR HOME WITH THE VERY LATEST ALUMINIUM, WOOD OR UPVC FLUSH CASEMENT BESPOKE WINDOWS & DOORS. UNRIVALLED QUALITY & SPECIFICATION, MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY CRAFTSMEN.

Call our friendly team on 0115 855 6010

hello@hardwickwindows.co.uk • www.hardwickwindows.co.uk VISIT OUR SHOWROOM BY APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

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QKS KITCHENS

KITCHENS TRENDS from

QKS STAMFORD Creating quality kitchens that are as stylish or as colourful as the families who will spend time in them is a speciality for Stamford’s QKS... whether you’re seeking an understated colour or something more unique, the firm has the kitchen for you...

From white or cream, to all the colours of the rainbow, no matter what look you’re seeking to achieve, Stamford’s QKS has the kitchen for you... or rather, the firm will design it, especially for you.

Many people are too timid to venture too far from the classic cream or white kitchen, but the adventurous at heart - those individuals seeking something a little unique - QKS has kitchens in every conceivable shade.

“People are individuals,” says Malcolm Brandwood, “Families are even more so.

And a kitchen, well, it should reflect that.”

“We’ve very deliberately decided to occupy a particular spot in the kitchen market that allows us to offer really good value kitchens - not cheap enough to sacrifice quality, but not at a price point that will see our clients paying unnecessarily for a brand name.”

“We’ve had a presence in the area as kitchen designers for around 40 years, and we think we’ve designed and installed over 10,000 kitchens for locals.... what’s even more remarkable though is that no two have ever been the same!”

“We’ve ready to assemble, factory built and completely hand-built kitchens, and can work in modern and traditional homes.”

Above: Copper handles add a little panache to QKS’s two-tone anthracite and cream Inset kitchen.

Right: A cheerful, modern twist on a classic Shaker, with limestone and heather tones.

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“A good kitchen should wrap around the way you live, and reflect whether you use your kitchen for cooking, for entertaining, working from home, or for all of the above at once.” >> “We work with budgets from £4,000 for smaller kitchens or utility rooms to £60,000 for luxury farmhouse kitchens. The design of your room is a crucial step in making sure your space works for you practically as well as looking good aesthetically, so we believe that should be a collaborative process, not just an exercise in fitting cabinets into spaces.”

“A good kitchen should wrap around the way to live, and reflect whether you use your kitchen for cooking; for entertaining; for working from home; for negotiating the travails of family life... or for all of the above, all at once.”

“Intelligent design makes it easy to live with your kitchen and ensures that together we’ve addressed all of the practicalities like storage that ensures everything is tidy and accessible, decent spaces to work free from clutter and spaces for time-saving appliances.”

“Simple considerations like ensuring plenty of light, plenty of power points, easy-clean surfaces and unobtrusive technology will help your kitchen to run smoothly, which in turn helps family life to run smoothly too.”

“Our ranges include designs from Sheraton and Chippendale as well as our own hand-made bespoke cabinets, appliances from Bosch, Siemens & Neff or sinks from Franke and we provide state-of-the-art engineered work surfaces like Corian and Silestone which will last a lifetime, in addition to traditional timber, quartz and marble.”

“Project managing your installation means we can coordinate trades from builders to electrical, plumbing and gas specialists to decorators, tilers and flooring contractors.

The burden of organisation is on us which means you simply have to enjoy a fast, fuss-free and stressless installation.”

“Your kitchen is the costliest room in your home to change. That’s why your kitchen design and installation has to be right first time. It’s also why we know our 10,0001st customer will be as happy as all those who have come before them!” n 80

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KITCHENS

Find Out More: For more information and a no-pressureselling guaranteed discussion about your kitchen, visit QKS Kitchens at The Maltings, Barnack Rd, Stamford PE9 2NA, call 01780 756514 or see www.qksstamford.co.uk.

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Crystal Clear Things could not last as economic disaster struck in the 2000s; the fortunes of this great factory were again hit. An insolvency and wind up order occurred in 2009 of the owners Waterford Wedgwood closed and although a site relocated to The Mall in Waterford, much of what has recently been produced was done so in Europe from the Czech Republic, to Hungary and Germany.

The company has encompassed a great tradition and a number of star designers From John Hill himself to Jasper Conran. Any number of buildings from Windsor Castle to the Kennedy Center can boast Waterford commissions and umpteen sporting trophies from the Ashes cricket crystal vase to the former World Hurdle at Cheltenham showcase the work of this great factory in their awards. The second hand market remains very strong at auction proving quality and a good name will always lead the way. This can be summed up by our buyers who want Waterford crystal rather than just crystal. n

Find Out More: Craig Bewick is an antiques specialist with Golding, Young & Mawer: The Bourne Auction Rooms, Spalding Road, Bourne PE10 9LE, 01778 422686; The Grantham Auction Rooms, Old Wharf Road, Grantham NG31 7AA, 01476 565118; The Stamford Valuation Office, The George Mews, Station Road, Stamford PE9 2LB, 01780 751666 or The Lincoln Auction Rooms, Thos Mawer House Station Road, North Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 3QY, 01522 524984. Alternatively, see www.goldingyoung.com.

Japanese Bronze Koro

Sold For £25,000

The name Waterford Crystal is synonymous with style and quality and highlights the old collectable adage that a name certainly sells an item.

The glassware market is perhaps not as buoyant as it once was, certainly for modern crystal; ornaments are not displayed as much as they once were and buyers turn their noses up at drinking glasses which ‘won’t go into the dishwasher’. This has hit auction sales of almost every British and Irish manufacturer of fine crystal, except the mighty Waterford, a hallmark for class, quality and the finest craftsmanship.

The history of Irish glass on any commercial level begins in County Tyrone, with the opening of their first glassworks in around 1771. This in turn would not be possible were it not for the prowess of George Ravenscroft who in around 1676 developed early lead crystal.

George and William Penrose were the co founders of the original Waterford Crystal works in 1783 and their master craftsman John Hill through supreme ability to polish and cut glass to the highest level had them firmly on the map by around 1785.

The history of the firm has been a rollercoaster of fame or famine and its fortunes acts a barometer of the financial situation of the times.

By 1851 the company ceased and for 100 years the great name became dormant. After the depression years of the 1930s and post World War II the Czech immigrant Charles Bacik rekindled the factory and with the help of Miroslav Havel brought skilled glass makers from Europe in to produce yet again crystal of the highest order.

The factory was taken over by The Irish Glass Bottle Company and went from strength to strength with its undoubted heyday being the 1960s where they provided the many new department stores directly across the world.

Regulated by RICS The hallmark of a professional auction house offering executor & private client advice & services for valuation, auction sale & property clearance.

The hallmark of a professional auction house offering executor client advice & The Grantham Auction Rooms The Bourne Auction Rooms The Lincoln Auction Rooms & private services for valuation, auction sale &01522 property clearance 01476 565118 01778 422686 524984

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FULL DESIGN SERVICE, ALL MANAGED UNDER ONE ROOF

• Contemporary, modern, traditional & handmade bespoke kitchens • Affordable, quality kitchens and the latest designs on display • Over 60 appliances on show • Review our recent jobs on our website www.qksstamford.co.uk or visit our Facebook page • 25 large room settings in our extensive showroom The best quality, best value and best service from a company fitting kitchens since 1981

THE AREA’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT KITCHEN SHOWROOM The Maltings, Barnack Road, Stamford PE9 2NA T: 01780 756514 or 755855

E: sales@qksstamford.co.uk

www.qksstamford.co.uk

Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. Sat, 9am-3pm, closed all day Sunday

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HOME STYLING

Providing a Better Way to

SELL YOUR HOME From home staging and valuations to accompanying viewings, Mr and Mrs Clarke’s Vicky Floros has a proven legacy of achieving higher prices, and faster house sales. So, if you’re looking to sell your home, take advantage of her experience and skill this year...

EVERY HOME IS UNIQUE; a lasting fingerprint of the family that resides within it. Home staging and interior styling is an integral part of making your home sell faster and for the price that it is truly worth. To achieve this is an art and it requires a lot of thoughtful consideration.

The person uniquely doing this, as a stylist and property agent combined, is Vicky Floros, a Partner with Mr and Mrs Clarke estate agency here in Stamford. Vicky can not only sell your home, but she also offers a unique service to all her clients that makes their homes feel special to potential buyers.

“I was living in London for the last 11 years where I was the Creative Director of my own theatrical events company. We were known for our meticulous detail in terms of our set design, which is the part of the job I gravitated to the most, and I wanted to take that focus over to my spare time passion which is interior design.”

“Event production involves long hours, often through the night on site. We designed several galas for A-list clients like Veuve Clicquot and Save the Children which required a certain amount of blood, sweat and tears... and with a baby on the way it was clear I had to change the work life balance. We visited Stamford often over the years to see friends and each time fell more in love with it. With the commute to London being so easy, one summer day we thought ‘why not give it a go?’

Back home, (Vicky is originally from Toronto and spent time living in Los Angeles) staging and getting a property picture-perfect for sale is integral to the process, this is what drew Vicky to approach Mr and Mrs Clarke. It was obvious by their online aesthetic that they were the type of agency she could get on board with. Their attention to detail is undeniable and the way they present their homes looks more like something out of a design magazine. >> 85

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H O M E

>> Vicky contacted Mr and Mrs Clarke to enquire about joining their team of stylists and as it happened was presented with a unique opportunity to join them as a Partner and take over the Stamford and Rutland territory as an agent and designer. Having renovated and sold her own properties, she realised her skill set transferred perfectly.

“There is nothing like a first impression, we all know this, so why would it be any different when advertising your home?” Vicky feels quite strongly that the current status quo in how homes are being marketed is not good enough and she has made it her personal mission to change the way that the industry as a whole, deals with the entire buying and selling process.

“As someone who has purchased properties, I have always been let down by the impersonal and dishonest service I’ve received.”

“Not to mention the way homes are presented on the property portals, some images are really disappointing. It might be good to practice Hemmablind (the Swedish term of being ‘blind to flaws of the home’) when you are living there yourself but when someone

S T YL I N G

comes to look around they certainly won’t be!

This is, after all, the biggest transaction most of us will ever make in our lives, it’s so important to have the right representation both for the seller and the buyer”.

Vicky spends a lot of her time out and about, sourcing props for her photoshoots and meeting the local business owners, something she says she loves doing.

“I’m so impressed by Stamford’s fierce independent business scene and even more impressed by the fact that most of them are run by women! The shops here are lovely, the antiques are amazing, so it’s great to have all this right at my doorstep for styling and staging.”

Marketing a property means investing time and effort in its presentation. A recent study by Zoopla, showed that for every pound spent on property staging, the return is between five and seven pounds back.

“Styling my clients’ homes and preparing them for the photoshoot is a service I love to provide, and one that I am deeply passionate about, knowing it makes a huge difference to the success of selling that home and the overall price at the end.” n

HOME STYLING tips from VICKY Our curiosity is definitely piqued and so we wanted some top tips from the expert herself, so Vicky has kindly let us in on some of her trade secrets... n Freshen Things Up: A fresh lick of paint makes everywhere feel new, bright and loved. n Kerb Appeal: Your home needs to be looking sharp from the start.

It’s that first impression thing again.

Little jobs make a huge difference like neatening the edges to paths, mowing the lawn, planting some bulbs, or hanging some plants.

Get the bins out of sight and clean your windows. The goal is to get people excited and interested right away. n De-clutter: This can not be over-emphasised. A cluttered home reduces the sense of space and makes it feel personal to the current owner.

This also means you must take down personal photos, something often overlooked but very important. n Put on a Show: Fresh flowers, scented candles, fresh coffee, baking bread (no fish!) etc… are all really useful tools to set the tone. n Leave it to the Pros: List your home with an agent who will plan this all for you. I’m confident that we are probably the only people out there offering this full service.

“It is important to make your home look and feel like a place a potential buyer can see themselves living in.

I like to help people with this, as I know it can be overwhelming and almost impossible for most to look at their own space objectively.”

Find Out More: If you are thinking about making a move, have a chat with Vicky Floros, the home staging expert and estate agent operating across Stamford and Rutland.

Call 0330 111 9766 or see www.mrandmrsclarke.com. Instagram @vickyfloros.

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“For viewings I want to create the perfect atmosphere so I make sure every room is set and the ambience is just right. The whole process is often emotional, for the seller and for the buyer, I always present a home to reflect the same love I would show my own… it’s really that simple.”

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Barefoot Sunday Living is based in Rutland Garden Village at Ashwell near Oakham.

Owner Katey Lester has carefully curated a collection of home and lifestyle goodies that are a breath of fresh air and not to be found anywhere else in Rutland.

We think she has a really good eye!

This exciting new shopping experience is just the beginning of her plans for the whole Rutland Garden Village site and we can’t wait to see what she does next...

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HOMES & INTERIORS

Cotton Bag Breton chic woven in 100% natural cotton £17.99.

Soy Candle Aery citrus tonic lime candle; lime, bergamot & mandarin £25.

Seagrass Bowl Nala decorative bowl to use or hang on a wall, £39.99.

A Spring Style Edit with

BAREFOOT

SUNDAY Create a stylish, relaxed ‘Hamptons’ vibe with soft furnishings, accessories, furniture and lifestyle products to pamper yourself, or to give the gift of wellbeing to your loved ones.

It’s all at Barefoot Sunday, located in Rutland Garden Village...

Bamboo Wall Lantern Oriental style lamp for a shot of instant Eastern promise, £85.

Cork Thistle Placemat From Cornish brand Liga, placemat £3.80, coaster £2.

Visit Barefoot Sunday at The Courtyard, Rutland Garden Village, Ashwell, near Oakham LE15 7QN. Call 01572 335800 or see www.barefootsunday.co.uk

Nailberry Polish The finest breathable brand we’ve found, £14.50/15ml.

Cotton Throw With diamond pattern in blue, 160x130cm, £19.99.

Teapot & Mug Earthenware tea pot in storm, £29; Naomi stoneware mug in blue £5.

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JACKSON BUILDBASE

The Stylish Way to

SCRUB UP WELL Bathrooms are no longer pokey spaces in which to wash and brush up. They’re mini-spas in their own right; places for both ladies and gentlemen to set out their lotions and potions, and enjoy an invigorating shower or a long relaxing soak in the tub...

Words: Rob Davis.

Your bathroom is perhaps one of the most challenging rooms in your home to redesign... not to mention one of the most important as well!

“It’s really important to get both the design and installation of your bathroom right first time,” says Stamford based Jackson Buildbase’s Suzy Heffernan.

“There are practical considerations of being watertight, easy to clean, resistant to steam and being safe, with non-slip surfaces, but these days there’s far more clutter - bottles and skincare products - to store too, so more so than ever before, it’s important to incorporate practical storage too, and to make your bathroom beautiful, as well as practical.”

“A good bathroom designer is worth their weight in gold for this reason, and it’s a difference between investing in a space you’ll be happy with for a couple of decades, or one that you’ll become tired or frustrated with sooner than you should.”

“Historically bathrooms have been rather compact spaces, but a trend to create larger, more luxurious status has yielded spaces which provide more creative potential.”

“Bathrooms, en suites and cloakrooms don’t need to be large spaces to be stylish. Many of our chosen partners - Utopia, Laura Ashley and Matki - have some really good solutions for smaller en suites and cloakrooms.”

“But with more space to play with the options for bathroom design these days are limitless. Wood and stone influences are bringing texture to bathrooms, and imaginative flashes of metallic copper or nickel into your bathroom alongside grand freestanding baths, cabinetry and wisely-chosen flooring and tiling.”

“It’s possible to create a space that looks and feels luxurious but remains practical, easy to clean and streamlined. We’ve around 26 bathroom settings as examples in our Stamford design studios but our remit is to create a bathroom that’s totally unique to every one of our clients.”

“We work with budgets from £1,000 to £10,000, we offer finance, and we provide advice on reputable tradespeople, but to us, creating a combination of a great looking space that also works well for our clients is the ultimate goal, one that we’ve the all necessary experience and flair to achieve.” n

Find Out More: For a free, no obligation, pressure-selling free discussion about your bathroom, en suite or cloakroom project, visit Jackson Buildbase, Radcliffe Road, Stamford PE9 1AP. Alternatively call 01780 764782 or see www.buildbase.co.uk

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Peterborough’s Premier Kitchen Design & Installation Specialists...

Papyrus Road, Peterborough PE4 5BH JUST ALONG FROM THE BMW & AUDI MOTOR DEALERSHIPS

01733 894422 | www.pdakitchens.co.uk

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HOME FURNISHINGS

Shift Into

NEUTRAL April means brighter days, and you can make the most of the longer days by letting natural light in your home using these fabrics and wallcoverings inspired by neutral tones and rich textures...

Image: Paloma from Harlequin, wallpaper is Orlena in rose gold, chaise in Lucette fabric, cushions in Cadencia and Lucielle.

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Each of our wallcovering and fabrics brands are stocked by local interior designers who can create bespoke furnishings for your home...

Left: Prestigious textiles Gatsby, chair in Boudoir. Cushions in Deco and Rosecliff.

Above: New for spring 2020 is Clarke and Clarke’s Metalli.

Throw in Oro ivory/gold, and Maddox.

Top/Right, Right: De Le Cuona’s 100% linen Vintage Canvas and scatter cushions with contrast piping from the firm’s Maverick II collection.

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Above: Morris and Co’s Pure Bachelor bed linen.

Top/Right: Casamance’s Maupiti fabric.

Above/Right: De Le Cuona’s Bracken linens from the firm’s new Maverick II collection.

Right: Zoffany Birds wallpaper.

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Local Suppliers...

All Things House, 0333 210 7288, www.allthingshouse.co.uk.

Corner Farm, 01778 561333, www.cornerfarminteriors.co.uk.

Delcor Interiors, Stamford 01780 762579 www.delcor.co.uk.

Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors, Oakham 01572 722345 www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk.

Furleys, Rutland 01572 755539 www.furleys.co.uk.

H Works, Stamford 01780 754605 www.hworksdesign.co.uk.

Hunters Interiors, Uffington, Stamford PE9 4TD, 01780 757946 huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk.

Lumison Lighting, Oakham, 01572 724600 www.lumisonlighting.co.uk.

Sarah Harding Interiors, Uppingham, 01572 823389 www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk. n

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THE HERB NURSERY

Heaven

SCENT Whether you’re a gardener or a chef, you’ll appreciate the variety, appearance, scent and flavour of herbs. And if you’re seeking to curate the perfect herb garden there’s really only one place to visit.

One of the UK’s most knowledgeable and well-stocked specialist nurseries is, by happy coincidence, right on our doorstep!

Words: Rob Davis.

I’d like to share a theory with you.

Well, I say a theory, it’s more a philosophy. I contend that design is art with a purpose. A piece of art hanging on the wall is pleasant enough, but it isn’t exactly useful beyond its aesthetic qualities.

Equally, the most prolific of herbs like mint and lavender will spread most quickly to fill awkward gaps in border.

Gardening pedants will argue that lavender isn’t a herb because its stem is woody, and in fairness they’re correct, technically; its officially designated as a flowering perennial.

Something designed well, that also proves practical too, and performs its intended duties flawlessly is, to Images: Jonathan One of the happiest characteristics Scrimshaw. my mind, of greater value than any of herbs, then, is their ability to take sculpture or canvas. And I think that’s why pride of place in small gardens, large garI have such affection for herbs in the garden. dens, productive gardens or nearly maintained show gardens.

Getting Your Growing Going Whilst gaudy blooms are pretty, they also serve no purpose and demand constant attention and dead-heading. Herbs, on the other hand, are simple to grow, with most happy enough when well-watered and given the opportunity to drain freely. Whilst a little recreational pruning doesn’t hurt, if you’re using them assiduously, it really shouldn’t prove necessary.

Whilst an expansive herb garden is a luxury, herbs can also prove very happy indeed in the smallest of pots or troughs near your boot room or on a kitchen windowsill if they’re protected from full sunshine.

What to Plant

The commercial herb market is worth over £68m a year, and one of the UK’s largest commercial growers is right on our doorstep, near Stamford.

Lincolnshire Herbs does what it says on the tin but on a massive scale - their operation is robotised and covers 20 hectares, with automated systems for sowing, growing, climate control and irrigation.

Any idea of the most popular common herb purchased in the UK? believe it or not, it’s coriander, by quite a significant margin.

Commonly used in pan-Asian dishes, it >>

Right: Christine Bench has worked alongside husband Peter for over 40 years to curate their specialist herb nursery near Grantham.

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T H E

>> accounts for around 20% of all herbs purchased in supermarkets by consumers.

The next most popular herbs are parsley with flat leaf and curly parsley counted together - then mint, basil, rosemary and chives.

You can sow seeds indoors from January until well into May, and from about March onwards, outdoors if we’re enjoying a relatively mild spring.

Later in the summer, take cuttings of mint, rosemary or sage and you’ll be able to get a head start on next year’s growing.

To plant out young plants after hardening them off, make sure your soil is fine and well-broken up, then handle your youngsters via their leaves and root balls to avoid damaging delicate stems. The root ball should be just below the service and at least initially you should keep the plants wellwatered as they tend to drink moisture from the ground voraciously.

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H E R B

N U R S E RY

Annual or biennial herbs include basil, coriander, parsley and dill, whilst oregano, thyme, rosemary and mint are perennials.

There’s a huge number of cultivars for each different herb, hence the importance of consulting an expert like Christine Bench of Thistleton’s Herb Nursery.

The Bench Family

The Bench family moved to the site in 1976, originally intending to set up as a self-sufficient smallholding. Arthur and Nancy Bench had no working capital but they did have four acres of pasture land and a family who were keen to be involved.

The family kept goats, geese, ducks and chickens, and sold produce at the farm gate to fund greenhouses and equipment. Nancy had a keen interest in herbs and gradually the family began to specialise. By the time son Peter returned from horticultural college, the family was quite knowledgeable. >>

YOU CAN SOW SEEDS INDOORS UNTIL WELL INTO MAY AND FROM ABOUT MARCH OUTDOORS IF SPRING IS RELATIVELY MILD...

Below: The Herb Nursery has over 450 different herbs and in excess of 1,500 varieties.

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“Pick fresh herbs, crush or wring them out to break them open to make the most of their flavour...”

Top: Christine’s work is closely supervised by a furry friend.

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>> Peter and Christine Bench now run the business which is not so much a nursery as a library of all thing herbaceous.

At the last count the nursery had 450 different herbs and 1,500 varieties. The family now sells at specialist herb and produce markets and to specialist landscapers and gardeners.

Using Herbs

Of course, whilst it’s nice to have pretty herbs growing in your containers and borders, and whilst it’s a profound pleasure to enjoy the scent of herbs on a warm day, the whole point of herbs is being able to use them in your cooking.

Indeed, the original purpose of herbs in cooking was to disguise spoiled meat prior to refrigeration. Thankfully, herbs these days can just be cut for pleasure and flavour.

Herbs elevate dishes to a whole other level.

Woody herbs like rosemary and thyme are too tough to be eaten raw, as opposed to soft herbs like basil, coriander and parsley.

Pick fresh herbs, crush or wring them out to break them open, and use them to infuse their flavours into oil for cooking. Finally, use sharp knives to ensure herbs are cut clearly instead of being bruised and blackened. n

Find Out More: The Herb Nursery at Thistleton was created a little over 40 years ago near Stamford. With over 1,500 varieties of herbs, it gives the sweet scent of satisfaction for gardeners and cooks alike. Open seven days, visit Thistleton, LE15 7RE, call 01572 767658 or see www.herbnursery.co.uk. n

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Making the most of your garden by creating new “living rooms� for your relaxation & pleasure.

We offer a full design across your entire garden, through to upgrading a bed or part of your outdoor space.

You get the garden you want, an investment in your property and improved well-being through the pleasure of your enhanced outdoor living areas and plants.

Call Soo on 07545 007323 for an initial chat.

Email soo@soospectorgardens.co.uk See our portfolio of work and client testimonials at www.soospectorgardens.co.uk

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RTC GROUNDCARE

YOUR OWN PERSONAL

ROBOT GARDENER How will you be spending the summer? Relaxing in the garden, with a copy of Pride to read and a G& T in your hand...? Or sweating behind a noisy lawnmower, spitting out stray bits of grass clippings and inhaling fumes? With your own personal robot slave you can work smart, not hard... or better still, just not work at all! Here, we’ve asked Tom Calton of RTC Groundcare to guide us through common questions...

It all sounds a bit futuristic?

Do they need supervising?

What about security?

No, they’re well-priced, more convenient, better for the environment and more importantly... they just work. Perhaps our biggest task is to convince people that despite sounding like a gimmick, robot lawnmowers are in fact a purchase that’s grounded in common scense, not science fiction.

No. They’re completely automatic, including recharging. You can specify them to cut during daylight hours or through the night.

There’s no need to empty them, or switch them on and off. At any time, though, if you want to ‘check up’ on your robot, a smartphone app will let you investigate where it is and check its status.

Because they’re designed to live outside permanently and be left alone when you go to work, they’ve been designed with security in mind. Each mower comes with a unique pin number and when it’s lifted up, the alarm sounds, quietly at first, then gradually louder, and the machine won’t work again until the pin is entered.

So how do they work?

When we install your robot lawnmower we use a machine to hide a boundary wire underground, around the perimeter of your lawn and any borders, ponds, patios, etc.

This lets the machine know where it can and can’t go. We also install a docking station, a sort of dog kennel for your robot with an electrical supply. The robot will work its way around your garden systematically, returning whenever it needs to recharge.

How to they know where to go?

The machines ‘practise’ their route and refine it over time, building up a map of your garden, permanent obstacles and so on.

You can override it manually and specify where and when it operates, but most owners just let them get on with the job.

What about emptying the grassbox?

There’s no grassbox. Instead of waiting for your grass to grow then cutting it in one go, these machines are out permanently - or at least regularly - constantly ‘nibbling’ away.

Think of it as cutting your lawn ‘little and often’ instead of in one go every week.

Because the machine is only nibbling away at little bits of grass, the pieces are small enough to be fed back into your lawn, which means as your lawn is being cut, it’s also being fed.

What about safety?

All robot mowers are equipped with sensors which stop the blades when they encounter an unexpected object. The blades are set into the body of the mower with plenty of space between the cutting deck and the body of the machine. The machines also stop if they’re touched or tipped up. If the machine bumped into your foot, for example, it would immediately stop the blades and turn around.

What happens when it rains?

Most automowers can work in light rain.

They’re well protected against the weather but you can ask the machine to only work in dry conditions if you prefer.

How noisy are they?

They operate at 58 decibels. An electric hover mower or walk-behind petrol mower operates at 80 decibels, and a ride-on mower makes about 90 decibels of noise. In real terms, they’re about as loud as the conversation in a typical office or a humming refrigerator.

In fact, they’re so quiet that most people let them run throughout the night and cut the lawn whilst they sleep.

What about slopes?

All mowers can handle slopes of up to 22°, whilst all wheel drive articulating models can handle 35° slopes.

In addition, each mower is paired to its own docking station, and will only work from that charging base unless paired to a new one by a dealer. Finally, the machines can be remotely ‘red listed’ as stolen property, rendering a stolen automower inoperative.

Are they expensive?

No. We stock Husqvarna mowers. They’re not the cheapest on the market but they are the longest-established robot mower brand, and thus their technology and quality has been proven and refined over a longer period.

Models start from £800 for a machine with a working area of 600m2, and rise to £4,599 for a model suitable for 3,500m2. Some models feature four wheel drive, and superior GPS-aided navigation. Oh and headlights!

They’re priced to compete directly against ride-on mowers with an ability to cut a similar area but with autonomous operation, no emptying, plus no petrol to spill and no fumes.

What should I do next?

Contact us for a no obligation, no-pressureselling chat. We can talk through any questions you might have, give you a live demonstration and see if the technology is right for you! n

Find Out More: RTC Groundcare is based at Arnwood Centre, Newark Road, Peterborough PE1 5YH. Call 01733 810695 for free, no obligation advice or visit www.peterboroughlawnmowers.co.uk.

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RUTLAND’S OSPREYS

Bird the

on

Wing...

Next year represents the 20th anniversary of the reintroduction of ospreys into the area at Rutland Water. This month will see conservationists and birdwatchers alike keenly watching the skies around the reservoir as the county’s own osprey population return to their summer home...

Words: Laurin Dempsey.

ACCORDING TO THE SAYING there’s nothing so pretty as a bird on the wing. That’s certainly the case with Rutland’s osprey population. The species’ practical extinction across the UK was a source of concern for conservationists and so, 20 years ago, plans were made to reintroduce the population to the UK at Rutland Water.

The osprey project, headed up by Tim Appleton and Tim Mackerill, was a huge success and today, birdwatchers in Rutland and Stamford can enjoy a real treat as its indigenous population of ospreys return to the county in late March and April until September, when they’re once again migrate to West Africa.

The first breeding took place in 2001. 170 young ospreys have since fledged from nests in the Rutland area, of which there are now eight. Of the eight nests currently in use by osprey pairs, one is actually on the Rutland Water Nature Reserve and it’s viewable by the public.

This nest can be seen from Waderscrape and Shallow Water hides on the Lyndon Nature Reserve, and also on live CCTV in the Lyndon Visitor Centre, attracting over 760,000 hits on the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust’s webcam each year.

A male osprey has a wingspan of 147-166cm and are often 56-60cm in length and 1,400g in weight. They have dark brown upperparts and cream underparts and have distinctive dark ‘highwayman’s mask’ around the eyes. A female osprey has a wingspan of 154-170cm and are often 57-62cm in length and 1,600g in weight. They look similar to a male but often have a heavily marked breastband. Juveniles are similar to adults but are lighter brown in colour with pale edges to feathers. Full adult plumage develops by the age of eighteen months.

Osprey mainly eat live fish and catch food by hovering over the water, although sometimes they are able to use a perch from which to sight their prey. They dive into the water with wings swept back, thrusting their talons forward at the last minute to grab the fish from below the surface. >> 112

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Ospreys were introduced to Rutland in 2001 where the birds have fledged chicks ever since.

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>> Adults are successful about once every four dives, but it takes juveniles many more attempts before they are successful. At Rutland Water the typical prey species are Trout and Roach but Ospreys will catch and eat any type of fresh or saltwater fish.

A young Osprey spends the first seven or eight weeks of its life confined within the nest (or eyrie); a huge pile of sticks lined with moss, bark and grass. It will be fed primarily by the female, who tears pieces from a fish and passes them into the nest cup. At two weeks old the youngsters can move around the nest and after a month they are very active preening and exercising their wings.

Gradually the wing-flapping increases until they are able to lift a little off the nest, called ‘helicoptering’ and then take their hesitant first flight.

For at least two weeks after fledging, the young Ospreys return to their nest for food brought in by their parents. Usually the young stay in the area, close to the nest site, as they improve their skill in the air, before they then begin to make attempts to catch a fish for themselves.

Experienced adult birds leave West Africa and head north to their breeding areas again in March. However, younger birds may not reappear at the sites from which they fledge for several years.

Some Ospreys will return when they are two years old, but do not usually begin to breed until they are three to five years old.

Often a pair will build a nest and establish a territory in their first year together and will return to breed the following year.

Ospreys, especially the males, usually return to breed in the area in which they fledged.

The birds can live to be 15-20 years old.

The oldest known osprey was just over 25 years old and

Right: Tim Mackrill (pictured) and Tim Appleton introduced Ospreys to Rutland Water in 2001.

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RUTLAND’S OSPREYS

“Ospreys can live to be 15-20 years old.

The oldest known osprey was just over 25 years old and during their lifetime, the migratory birds can rack up over 160,000 miles of travel...” during their lifetime, the migratory birds can rack up over 160,000 miles of travel.

Experienced, older birds usually arrive back in the nesting area first. Established pairs nearly always return to their previous nest sites. As new pairs establish, they must find new sites when they arrive after migration.

It is also often difficult to find a suitable natural site to hold the nest.

Rutland Water is an ideal location for the birds as their nests are often over a metre wide and usually within 3-5 kilometres of water, preferred sites often have an open area around the nest, for easy access when landing.

Flat-topped trees are the most likely natural sites, but Ospreys take readily to man-made structures, such as pylons, as well as artificial nests like those in the county.

When raising chicks, both adults participate in the long incubation process. The female takes the major role and the male provides

her with food and defends the nest from any potential predators. Until the chicks fledge, the female stays on or close to the nest site.

After the young have fledged she joins the male in bringing food back to the nest site.

March 23rd - 27th represents World Osprey Week, and in Rutland, the LRWT team will try to attract the next generation of conservationists to the water, trying to better 2019’s figure of 3,000 young people who were introduced to birds.

Rutland’s star attraction is Maya, who has been at the water since 2009 who has raised over 20 chicks in the county with her enigmatically named partners ‘33’ and ‘5R.’ Enjoying an Osprey Cruise is one of the best ways to enjoy the birds, setting sail on the Rutland Belle and enjoying either an afternoon or a dawn cruise. Binoculars are recommended... but appreciation for these incredible birds is mandatory! n See www.ospreys.org.uk for information.

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YOUR FOREVER HOME SHOULDN’T TAKE AN ETERNITY BUILDING YOUR OWN HOME SHOULD BE EXCITING, BUT WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL INPUT IT CAN TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE, AS STUDIO 11 ARCHITECTURE EXPLAINS

The popularity of television shows such as Grand Designs, Other People’s Houses and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces may be inspirational, but they tend to overlook a crucial point – that building your forever home can actually take forever without the experience and expertise of professional project management.

“If your self-build project is working to a tight budget and timescale, it can be really tempting to take on some of that work yourself,” says managing director Kris Baxter of Studio 11 Architecture. “However, the problem is that

building your dream home isn’t something you can rely on Google and a few friends for.”

You may have planning permission and plenty of ideas, but research and resourcing is a lot more complex than many people think, and issues relating to health and safety, building regulations, insurance, manufacturing delays and supplier contracts can not only slow the whole project down - it can stop it getting off the ground in the first place.

“Handing those responsibilities over to a specialist architectural design company may mean you have to compromise on that luxurious

marble worktop for your kitchen,” says associate Johnathon Gower, “but it can actually be the difference between you getting a kitchen at all.”

Studio 11 Architecture offers a complete design and management service that includes everything from initial conceptual drawings and realistic costings to land surveys, structural engineering, and contract administration.

“Building your own home can be one of the most exciting experiences of your life,” says Kris Baxter, “but without some professional input and some experience in how to avoid problems before they arrive, it can quite easily turn into a nightmare.”

With a proven track record of successful selfbuild projects across Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, Studio 11 Architecture can maximise your budget to truly stunning effect (and deliver it on time), ensuring all work is fully compliant with all planning permissions, building regulations, all legal requirements, and any site restrictions related to conservation areas.

For more details and a free consultation about how Studio 11 Architecture can project manage your forever home, contact us today using the details below. n

Lincoln Studio: The Sparkhouse, Enterprise @ Lincoln Building, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS. Call 01522 275039.

Email design@studio11architecture.co.uk or see www.studio11architecture.co.uk.

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John Shone is Rutland’s dry stone waller, currently training others to learn his craft to ensure the skill doesn’t disappear.

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DRY STONE WALLING

Rutland’s & Stamford’s

ROCK STAR If you treasure the unique look that the countryside around Rutland and Stamford has, you’ll probably appreciate the time and skill that goes into preserving features like hand-made dry stone walls. John Shone is passing on skills to future wallers...

Words: Laurin Dempsey. Images: Jonathan Scrimshaw.

IF YOU’VE A DRY STONE WALL, John Shone will be your rock. A rock star, in fact. Such is his love for the Rutland countryside that he’s working hard to ensure the skills of dry stone walling remain alive and well in the area, passing on his knowledge to a new generation of craftspeople. John is a traditional craftsman in this art and lives in Ashwell, the owner of Rutland Willows, working on both willow weaving and creating or repairing walls, describing the latter as ‘wildlife hotels.’

“You find all sorts of wildlife living in these walls and it is lovely to see as much nature as I do,” he says. “The most exciting part of repairing a dry stone wall is finding ‘scar money’ in the footing… although this has only happened twice in my career. This penny would be a token gesture by the individual who built it to pay for ‘scar on the landscape,’ as the stone was quarried.”

“I believe that as I have only found a penny twice in my career it has more to do with the idea that if it was a good employer the money would remain, however if they were a bad employer, it would ‘disappear!’”

John’s first experience of building a dry stone wall was at the age of 14 with his grandfather, who was in the trade. “I returned to it at a later stage in life because leaving school after WWII there was no money in the county for this type of craft, and so I trained as a gardener.”

“After suffering with health issues, in the year 2000, I decided to go self-employed and when I returned to dry stone walling our

business, Rutland Willows, wasn’t yet established… although I was also doing bits of walling within the gardening trade and was something I never entirely moved away from.”

Why a dry stone wall over brick? Well, quite aside from the aesthetic appeal, and the heritage, John explained that dry stone walls also last a lot longer than brick.

“Many walls we repair are between 140 and 160 years old,” he ways. “And I think they’re stronger and more attractive to the eye.

They look better as they age in my opinion, like cheese, wine or gentlemen!”

Dry stone walls have no mortar and rely solely on their unique construction method and the careful selection of stones for their stability. “When you lay a stone, that stone should never slope inwards,” says John. “It should either be flat or it should fall outwards.

The middle of the wall should be filled with stone and stone only; no other material.”

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DRY STONE WALLING

Right: John retired from the business this year leaving daughter Louise to take over but happily he’s still training others in the craft of dry stone walling, an essential skill if we’re to retain the look and feel of the Rutland and Stamford countryside. John’s teaching is carried out at Rutland Water for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust

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dry stone walling alongside that most simple but effective of devices, a string line. Stones are shaped with a walling axe and a chipping hammer… specific tools for the job.

Each area has its own basic stone combination, but the principle stays the same. For Rutland and Stamford the basic stone used is a mixture of limestone and ironstone, whereas in Cheshire and on the Shropshire borders where John was born, for example, the vernacular is a combination of sandstone, slate and granite.

“Our work consists of 75% repairs, and the remaining 25% is the construction of new dry stone walls,” says John. Should you require brand new stone, there are several quarries in the area that you can obtain some from. Alternatively, if you need old, weathered stone, it can be sourced from a number of local reclamation yards.

“Most repairs that we complete are in conservation areas and these require only old stone to keep their style and look

original. Second hand stone is much dearer than freshly quarried material.”

One characteristic of dry stone walling is the necessity that it should expand and contract with the weather… if concrete caps are laid on top, the technique can prove problematic as caps cannot expand outwards which results in the wall falling down.

“We occasionally have to go out in all manner of undesirable weather to repair walls… mercifully though, it’s not advisable to make repairs in snow or frost.”

Health and safety is naturally paramount in this day and age, but interestingly, John says he doesn’t wear gloves. “You need to feel at the back of the wall to know the size of stone required in order to stop any rocking.”

“Your wall should have ‘through stones’ running from one side to the other. There is a standard (a trade secret!) as to where they go and if you go to repair an old fallen down wall you can determine the height by the width of the footing.

John’s work has taken him across the UK as his skills are increasingly rare and sought after. The furthest he’s travelled to work is North Yorkshire to build a large horseshoe shaped wall which enabled people to sit behind in the summer and take in the views of County Durham on a high bank.

John feels that retaining the continuity of Rutland and Stamford’s appearance, it’s essential that traditional skills like dry stone walling are retained.

The craftsman retired from the business in January and John’s daughter Louise, who joined the business in 2006, has now taken over from her father. Johns continues to train his apprentice though, and wants to make sure that the traditional skills of the dry stone waller endure so that the look and feel of the countryside can be retained for centuries to come… after all, without the necessary skill to preserve the look of the area, we’ll be stuck between a rock… and a hard place. n For more information call 01572 720741 or see www.rutlandwillows.co.uk.

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WEDDINGS

Getting On Like a HOUSE ON FIRE After intending to meet at a local fire station, and getting on like a ‘house on fire’ who knew after just one blind date that Danielle and Chris would be spending their lives together!

Photographer: Gina Fernandes Photography, www.ginafernandesphotography.co.uk.

For most of us, going on a blind date can give you a mixture of emotions... apprehension as well as excitement! Luckily for Danielle and Chris, once they got over the first mishap of Chris thinking Danielle had stood him up, they never had to date again!

“We were meant to meet outside the fire station in Oakham where Chris was to pick me up and take for me a drink. Unfortunately I went to the wrong car park and Chris thought I had stood him up!”

WEDDING SUPPLIERS DANIELLE AND CHRIS SANDERS

“When we started planning our wedding in May 2018, Chris expressed how he’d love to get married at Exton as the village means so much to him given that his father grew up there. We booked a viewing at Exton Park and at the church... I was just totally blown away by its beauty!”

“My father runs his own vintage car business so I knew quite a bit about weddings and venues and after seeing how much it meant to Chris and his family, along with falling in love with the place, we were sold!”

For all brides, wedding dress shopping is exciting but it’s often hard to find the ‘perfect’ dress within your budget. Danielle was no different and after going to a dozen shops and seeing many she liked but were out of budget, she was on the verge of giving up.

“I decided I would visit Bridal Reloved Leicester, as I had convinced myself it was a ‘kind to the planet’ option (as well as being kind to our budget). I met Mel, who was the most lovely wedding dress specialist and she threw me in a wild card with the dress I ended up choosing.”

“When we did finally meet each other we got on like a house on fire and had our first date, instead, at The White Horse, Empingham, where we were chatting for hours to the point they had to pretty much throw us out.

That was during the May bank holiday.”

Chris is a builder from Oakham and Daniell is a personal trainer and owner of a performing arts business from Leicester. The couple have now been together for three years. Chris proposed to Danielle after just over a year during a walk along Whitby Pier.

“We have since got a Labrador puppy together and called him Whitby.”

“Once we had the venue and church booked, we were able to take our time over the next year to plan the rest of our wedding. After all, weddings are expensive, even if you try to remain realistic.”

“It was very simple, with an elegant neckline and not, in fact, lace! I put it on and instantly knew that I could do the following three things with ease: sit down, hug people and dance!”

Wedding Photographer: Gina Fernandes Photography, ginafernandesphotography.co.uk.

Reception Venue: Exton Estate, 01572 812208, extonpark.co.uk.

Marquee: Events & Tents 01780 408298, eventsandtents.co.uk.

Wedding Dress: Bridal Reloved, 01305 251808, bridalreloved.co.uk.

Wedding Catering: Fiona Herbert, 01636 812434, fionaherbertcatering.co.uk.

Wedding Transport: Mr Wedding Cars, 0116 2434300, mrvintagecars.co.uk. n

“Exton Hall is absolutely stunning. It is so beautifully landscaped and gave our guests the freedom to roam around and enjoy the nature during the drinks reception after the service and before the photographs.”

“Our marquee was provided by Events & Tents and we couldn’t fault them. They started erecting our marquee on the Tuesday, allowing us to feel totally in control of how the décor was taking shape.”

“We were able to decorate with our home-made bunting, table runners and name places and it meant by the time we had our wedding rehearsal on the Friday, we were all done.” >> 123

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- WEDDINGS -

“We didn’t have a cake made, but instead invited all our guests to take part in the ‘Sanders Wedding Bake Off...’ we were inundated with cake!” >> “Our caterers, Fiona Herberts, ran an incredibly tight ship and we’ve heard nothing but compliments about their professionalism, quality of food and service from the day.”

“Nisha our florist was so accommodating and made me feel totally relaxed about how she would work around us on the day.

Gina our photographer was also incredible.

We both felt 100% comfortable with her and she has captured the day to perfection.

She has got such a vibrant personality and we feel we have made a friend for life!”

“We didn’t have a cake made, but instead invited all our guests to take part in the ‘Sanders Wedding Bake Off ’ and we were inundated with cake – it was absolutely amazing!”

“One of my most memorable moments was the drive to the church with my mum and dad. He has driven many brides to the church but never one of his children. It was a moment I will treasure forever.”

“We took a drive up to (and around) Scotland straight after the wedding – calling into the Lake District, then we went on a mini break to Iceland a few weeks later over New Year.”

“Our advice to other couples getting married would be to ask family and friends for help and don’t break the bank trying to show off to anyone, be realistic with your numbers and enjoy the food that you are paying for!” n 124

Photographer: Gina Fernandes Photography, www.ginafernandesphotography.co.uk.

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THE WEDDING DRESS DESIGNER

HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT

WEDDING DRESS Finding the perfect wedding dress is tricky... so it should come as no surprise that many brides prefer to work with couturiers like Stamford’s Anna D’Amato... who enjoys creating beautiful dresses with hints of the 1930s using plenty of beautiful fabrics, embellishments and overlays!

Words: Laurin Dempsey. Images: Jonathan Scrimshaw.

style you desire. Then of course, think about how much you will have to purchase the dream dress. From experience Anna states that you should budget between £1,000£2,000. It shocks most brides that she can work with such an affordable budget even when a dress is bespoke.

YOUR WEDDING DRESS serves as a reminder for that special day; the day of your dreams.

It’s the dress that captures the beauty of the bride for all guests to see as she walks down the aisle. Brides can spend a lot of time trying to find their perfect dress, sometimes with fruitless results. So instead of hunting high and low, why not enlist a couturier like Stamford’s Anna D’Amato to create a one-off, totally uniqe dress instead?

Anna is a luxury clothing designer, from Stamford who came to the area in 2014 after relocating from London having enjoyed a 15 year career in costume for films and TV and designed costumes for box office hits such as Star Wars and Phantom of the Opera. Anna was also the seamstress for Madonna’s stage performances for two years. It was after this spell in tinsel town, in 2002 that Anna first entered the world of bridal design as she missed making her own pieces and instead wanted to produce unique gowns and bespoke items from her home studio.

Anna Couture Boutique in Stamford arrived first in 2017 offering special occasion wear for the mother of the bride. An exciting opportunity arose for Anna when the owner of Chanticleer, bridal boutique, in Cheltenham retired and she was able to buy the business and rebrand. This is when Anna Couture Brides, now located opposite The George Hotel in Stamford, opened in 2018.

If it wasn’t for Anna’s best friend however and one of those ‘fate’ moments, Anna may 126

not have ended up in the lucky position she now sees herself in.

Anna’s best friend had asked her to make her wedding dress and together they went to The National Wedding Show for inspiration whereupon they came across bridal designers.

“Anna you could do this, I could see you here!” enthused Anna’s best friend and after a moment or two of consideration Anna had signed up to the next show in London and had to produce a collection in a few months! From then on Anna’s name grew and everything slotted into place.

“The whole process of choosing your wedding dress should be magical, and whether this is couture or non-couture, you want to feel special and come out with the right dress for you.”

Anna advises that when you first become engaged, there are two things to think about first of all when choosing your dress; style and budget. Look on websites, through magazines and brochures to look at different style dresses and start thinking about the

Secondly, it is important that you make appointments within dress shops for consultations and to try on the styles of dresses that you have seen to see if they suit you – you will be surprised at how different your dress can end up compared to your original thoughts!

Anna’s most popular dress is a 1930s inspired long-sleeved gown and it’s entirely unique, a design you won’t find in magazines.

Popular styles currently seem to be a simple backless design or the ever popular ballgown princess look.

The ideal amount of time to leave to find your dream wedding dress for most bridal shops is one-two years. This allows for them to order in your dress in the correct size and for alterations to be made. As Anna designs and alters her dresses herself in the shop, this time scale can be shortened to a year, or even just 6 months in advance!

If you find your dream dress but not in the colour that you are hoping for, dress designers should be able to incorporate different materials or colours. No colour scheme or theme is too outrageous! For bridal shops, white and ivory still remain by far the most popular shades to choose. >>

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“I generally recommend that brides have three fittings for their dress prior to the wedding...”

Right: Anna worked as a costume designer for the film industry before falling in love with bridal couture.

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>> “White often takes top place but Ivory is slowly creeping up there,” says Anna.

“But the weight of your wedding dress is also something just as important to take into consideration. For example, if you are marrying abroad or in high summer, brides often don’t want a heavy or tight dress as this will enable them to feel freer and more comfortable as you will be in it for a long period of time. Boho style is always great for warmer weather.”

Using a professional dress designer will ensure you’re able to select your fabrics to ensure that you’re happy with the feel of your dress. This will be tailored to you and your movements throughout the day. Dress shops however are often limited to the options they have available in their dresses.

It is advisable to have at least three dress fittings, and then as many more as you feel are needed afterwards. For Anna, the first appointment is the one in which she will take measurements, the second appointment is for what she calls calico toile where a bride will see the pattern of her dress and see this on their body silhouette. At the third appointment, you see the final design.

At your dress fittings all dress shops and designers suggest that you wear similar underwear to that which you will be wearing on the day. This is important to ensure that you are comfortable, and that everything sits where it should!

Also, if you can, wear lighter colour underwear to prevent any darker colours showing through. Anna also advises not wearing a full face of make-up when first trying on styles of dresses to prevent stains and damaging the dresses, but you can to go back to your chosen dress for a fitting after you have had a make-up trial. It’s also important to consider how you will wear your hair on your wedding day as this can often alter

the style of dress you choose and also shoes for the length.

Veils remain popular - especially the fuller and longer length styles - however hair vines are also becoming more in trend. There are also options available, and if like most women you don’t like your arms, options like sleeves and jackets can help.

Again, it’s important to consider where and when you will be getting married, as if it is a hot day, you may want a little more of your body on show. Anna would like to tell all brides, though, that: “On your wedding day, no one is looking at your arms but the stunning dress and smile on your face... so please just be happy and confident!” n

Find Out More: Anna D’Amato is a couturier specialising in wedding dresses, designing unique gowns perfect for all special occasions under her own brand, Chanticleer.

Visit her on High Street St Martin’s, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2LF. Call 01780 762614 or see www.houseofannacouture.co.uk. n

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WEDDINGS

FLOWER POWER Use blooms to best effect at your wedding.

We’ve 10 blooming brilliant tips to show you how!

Images: Interflora, to find a local florist see www.interflora.co.uk 1. Flower Arch: There’s nothing quite like a floral arch to make your wedding feel extra special; whether you have it placed over the aisle, adorning the entrance to the church or in pride of place at your reception.

2. Your Cake: Incorporating flowers into your cake is a great way of bringing colour into a traditionally white cake.

3. Unique Foliage: It’s a nice idea to incorporate unusual foliage from thistles in winter or succulent or gently scented herbs into your wedding flowers.

4. Buttonholes: A staple for the groomsmen, boutonniere to give them their proper name should carry through the colour scheme from the rest of your wedding.

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5. Strong Colours: Wedding flowers needn’t be pastels - strong colours can work brilliantly!

6. Hand-Tied Posy: Tight or loose, a hand-tied posy is more convenient than a trailing bouquet.

7. Pomander: Pomanders are arranged around a core of flower foam. Ideal, too, for flower girls.

8. Table Runner: A beautiful way to decorate your top table with your chosen wedding colour.

9. Flower Wall: A luxurious wall installation made entirely of flowers is a gorgeous backdrop for your cake table, or any other place you’d like to draw attention to.

10. Centrepieces: Tight spheres of flowers in a single colour can look neat and unobtrusive. n

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Floral Tips for Your Wedding... n Don’t leave it too late to book. Good florists get booked way in advance. Sometimes two years... so you can never be too early!

n Do send your florist lots of inspiration photos; it’s one of the best ways of making sure we all share the same idea.

n Do try and leave some of the creative decisions to your florist.

They know what works well together and what’s in season so you can end up getting much better value and much fuller arrangements if you allow them some flexibility.

n Don’t overstretch yourself on the day of the wedding. Florists can deliver everything to you so you don’t have the worry of forgetting to collect your flowers.

n Don’t set your heart on particular blooms until you find out if they’re in season or not!

If flowers are not available during a month in the UK, they may prove expensive.

n Do go and visit a local florist during the season you’ll be getting married in so you can see in real life which blooms are available (It’s much better than looking at photos!)

Tips courtesy of Stamford Flowers, 01780 757225, stamfordflowers.co.uk.

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HERE COMES THE

MOTHER

of the BRIDE This month we team up with Veni Infantino in helping to provide you with flattering and luxurious outfits to help you feel even happier and prouder to be Mother of the Bride...

This Page: Knee-length ruffled dress with bateau neckline and three quarter sleeves in navy and ivory.

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Stone & black Jacquard, tea length, A-Line dress with beaded cowl neckline and three quarter sleeves.

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Black and cream, knee length dress with a high cowl neckline and three quarter length sleeves.

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- FASHION -

Top/Left: White chiffon and crépe tea-length dress with lace appliqué. Top/Right: Navy and white dress in chiffon and crépe.

Bottom/Left: Black and cream dress in Mikado fabric with bateau neckline. Bottom/Right: Ivory and blush tea-length dress with three quarter sleeves. n

Matching hats and fascinators are available, for local stockists see www.ronaldjoyce.com.

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“We specialise in helping people improve their quality of life after a life changing neurological diagnosis” SANDRO GATILLO Neuro Physiotherapist & Rehabilitation Director

WE TREAT THE FOLLOWING CASES:

WE DO THE FOLLOWING:

• Stroke • Brian Injury • Parkinson’s Disease • Multiple Sclerosis • Spinal Cord Injury • Motor Neurone Disease • Any type of Chronic Pain

• Mobility Rehabilitation • Hand and Arm Rehabilitation • Chronic Pain Management • Life Coaching

ALL IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

Enquiries: 07899 880224 / 01733 229565 • info@SGNP.net www.SGNP.net / www.neuro-physio.net

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SPRING BEAUTY

April in Neutrals THIS MONTH WE’VE ALL THINGS LIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL WITH SOME PASTEL SHADES THAT ARE JUST PERFECT FOR SPRING

1. A Fresh & Floral Scent from Dior, Perfect for Spring...

Fresh and floral, Dior’s In Joy eau de parfum bursts with a charming blend of fragrances.

Offset with a touch of saltiness, juicy peach and jasmine sambac notes reveal a ripe, brightening quality.

Let the refreshingly unique scent take you away with its compelling amalgamation of accords, from ylang ylang to peaches and fleur de sel to put one in mind of a trip to the seaside. £90 / 100ml.

5. Here Comes the Sunshine...

Sisley Phyto-Touche sun glow powder is a creamy powder that provides a unique sensory experience, for a tailor-made tan.

Its ‘wave’ design comprises two golden beige shades to tailor your tan however you like and a blush shade to add freshness and radiance.

Natural, golden shades to sculpt the face. Easy to apply, extremely soft and light texture. Blends with no overloading or streaking. £79 / 11g.

2. Skin Perfect by Dior...

Dior’s Forever Undercover foundation is an ultra-fluid, 24-hour, water-based foundation offers full coverage that combines maximum complexion control with a natural matte finish that is kiss-proof, touch-proof and life-proof, Perfect for all-day wear, £34 / 40ml.

3. Perfect Pigments...

Tom Ford’s Bare Peach lip colour utilises soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter and camomilla flower oil create an ultra-creamy texture with an incredibly smooth application, £40 / 13ml.

6. A Duo of Nail Colour from Be Your...

Double Up on your peach powers and meet Be Your’s two juicy scented shades mixed in a cream, long wear formulation to flatter and sweeten your nails.

‘Hot Fuzz’ is a perky and bright, ‘Peach Tease’ a warm and velvety nude. Both have a long wear promise. £15 / 2 x 14ml

4. A Brush with Style...

Guerlain’s Foundation Brush offers easy, quick foundation application and a beautiful, natural finish thanks to its unique 360° brush head. Simply dab a few drops of foundation onto the face and blend outwards, for a streak-free, even complexion, £36.

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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MATERNITY SERVICES

Midwife Sarah, supporting

MUM & BABY Traditionally spring means new life. But for former midwife turned freelance maternity services provider Sarah Bodily, helping mums, dads and their new babies is an all year round vocation...

Words: Rob Davis. Images: Jonathan Scrimshaw.

to running a vacuum round or walking the dog. Sometimes it’s just about company and not leaving a new mum feeling isolated.

Basically I can do the things you’d ask a trusted granny to do!”

Is there anything more magical than a new born baby, and that special moment when mum and baby get to enjoy that first cuddle?

Beyond the obvious joy though, it can be a time of great concern, a time when any support is welcome. That’s where former midwife turned freelance maternity services provider Sarah Bodily comes in, supporting and helping her mums-to-be, their babies and their families too.

“Knowing the issues which can often cause new parents anxiety I have created a breast feeding support service, provided at home, to help mothers to successfully breast feed their babies. This ensures both mother and baby receive the health benefits of breast feeding and experience the enhanced bonding.”

“Your partner, and your own mum can both be an enormous source of support during a pregnancy and afterwards,” says Sarah.

“But the help and reassurance I can offer parents-to-be comes from the knowledge and experience accumulated over 30 years of working as a midwife and maternity nurse.”

“No pregnancy is the same, no birth is the same. There’s no such thing as a “normal” birth, and so providing bespoke care is at the heart of everything I do. I am fully qualified for all the services provided, DBS checked, insured and hold a paediatric first aid certificate to ensure parents feel themselves and their baby are safe in my care.”

“My individual one-to-one antenatal course is completely tailored to parents needs, and delivered at a time to suit in their own home.

Starting at just £25/hour, they cover induction of labour, labour and birth including advice on water birth, pain relief, feeding and baby care. These sessions are also provided in group sessions at a weekend.”

“I hold a Diploma in Hypnobirthing and I offer a hypnobirthing course that promotes confidence, calmness, a sense of control and

deep relaxation. The techniques have been proven to reduce the amount of pain relief used, shorten labour and provide a calmer birth. This is particularly useful for a first pregnancy or following a previous difficult pregnancy or birth.”

“It is not just during pregnancy where I can offer support. One of the things I’ve noticed during my career is that there’s an understandable emphasis on care of mum during and immediately after the birth, particularly in the first week or so.”

“But sometimes when mum and baby are then left alone, perhaps when dad goes back to work, she may feel a bit overwhelmed.

That’s why I also offer a ‘surrogate granny’ service. It is especially welcome if your new baby’s grandparents live some distance away or the people in your support network work during the week.”

“Sometimes new mums need a little support, from feeding babies whilst mum enjoys a rest,

“I hold a Diploma in Teaching Baby Massage and run monthly courses. Baby massage is good for promoting sleep, coordination, strength and growth in babies.”

“It helps symptoms of wind, colic and teething and promotes relaxation and bonding. Baby massage has been proven to reduce the incidence of postnatal depression too. So good for mums and babies” “I have a Maternity Nurse qualification and can stay in a parent’s home for 24 hours a day up to six days a week or just stay 12 hours overnight to help with feeds and settling on an occasional or block booking.

I am responsible for baby laundry, making feeds (if required) and all baby care during my stay.”

“I think that if I had to summarise the help I offer my mums it’s in providing the expertise and professionalism you’d expect from a midwife or maternity nurse, but with the warmth and support you’d expect from a relative or a really good friend, someone there for you during what is sometimes an uncertain, but always a very special time.” n

Find Out More: Sarah Bodily is a qualified midwife and maternity nurse with 30 years experience who provides bespoke antenatal and postnatal care for mums across the area. For more information on her services, call 01780 410777 or 07795 998419, or see sarahsmaternityservices.co.uk.

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Sarah with new mum Helen Knights and baby Olivia.

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The Importance of Dementia Awareness It’s a condition that is having an increasing effect on an ever-older population.

This month we look at the importance of Information Sessions that Catherine Ferguson, a Dementia Friends Champion, can provide...

As a greater number of people live longer into older age than ever before; new challenges for an ageing population become more prevalent. The number of people with dementia in the UK is forecast by the Alzheimer’s Society to increase to over a million by 2021 and over two million by 2051.

Not only does the increasing prevalence make it incumbent for the medical and care professions to identify and support those with the condition, but the public as a whole.

Oakham Grange Residential and Nursing Home, will open this spring and its General Manager, Catherine Ferguson, who is also a Dementia Friends Champion on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society, wants to decrease the misconception of Dementia and help to raise awareness and support within companies and organisations in and around Rutland by offering a free information session to community groups and companies.

“People can have dementia and not realise,” says Catherine. “It is a condition that often leaves an individual feeling very confused and scared.”

“You can be diagnosed as young as 20 but is more prevalent as you get older with one in 14 people over 65 likely to have Dementia.”

“Imagine your brain as a wall of fairy lights, these start to flicker with some turning on and off throughout certain periods of the day – this described the affects Dementia can have.

There will be good and bad days, and periods which are better than others.”

“Your memory and perception are two of the main areas to suffer - although everyone diagnosed is different. Your feelings however remain the same and we need to promote happy and comforting thoughts.”

Find Out More: Catherine is pictured third left with newly trained Dementia Friends proudly wearing their badges.

“It is common for someone to believe they are living at a much younger time of their life as this is all they remember. It is so important to be aware, seek support and to help an individual with Dementia.”

“By keeping things simple and not too busy, giving people time to answer, speaking clearer and making adjustments to maintain independence we can make all the difference.”

“Not only is this a tough time for the individual but for loved ones too; a grieving process for a person you once knew but may not be the same anymore.” That’s when compassionate support and help like the information sessions we offer are invaluable.” n Opening in spring 2020, Oakham Grange will be based on Wheatfield Way, Oakham.

To find out how you can arrange a free Dementia support session call Catherine on 01572 332211 or see www.ardale.co.uk or www.dementiafriends.co.uk

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THIS MONTH: SUPPORTING SUE RYDER HOSPICE AT THE ICE BALL IN GREETHAM...

To feature your event call 01529 469977. Our magazines are free to read online, so you can share the magazine with your friends. Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

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Stamford Ladies Support Sue Ryder

The Ice Ball 2020 STAMFORD LADIES is a fundraising group established in January 2019 by Julie Gay, Sarah-Jane McKevitt and seven other ladies to raise money for the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice following the death of one of Julie’s closest friends.

The group recently organised The Ice Ball for 240 local ladies.

It was held at Greetham Valley Golf Club and included fizz on arrival, a three-course meal, an auction plus a special appearance by X Factor finalist, Nicole Lawrence.

The group has also raised several thousand pounds through dinner parties and a cake sale, but The Ice Ball was their most ambitious fundraising event yet.

Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice currently looks after around 500 people - 55 Stamfordians in the last two years alone.

Although this care is provided to the patients and their families for free, the annual cost of running the hospice is £3.4million.

More than two-thirds of this must be fund-raised. n Photos: Rob Davis.

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The Grand Opening of the

Hayloft at Hunters STAMFORD’S HUNTERS INTERIORS recently invited locals to the official opening of their Hayloft Coffee Shop adjacent to the company’s interior design studio at Cophill Farm near Uffington.

The Hayloft will be open between 8.30am-4pm each day except Sunday and will seat 20 people indoors with additional outdoor seating available throughout the Summer months. Serving mainly tea, coffee and soft drinks along with cake and snacks for the initial opening, there will be savoury items, soups and salads available in the upcoming weeks.

All providers are local with Carrara at Market Harborough providing Coffee, InfiniTeas at Stamford providing Tea, plus Hambleton Bakery providing cake and savoury treats and Fine Food Stamford providing soups and salads.

You can experience Hayloft both as a stand-alone coffee shop or experiencing the best of interior design at Hunters too. n

Photos: Rob Davis.

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Hambleton Hall hosts

Nevill Holt Opera LOVE IS A REBELLIOUS BIRD, cautioned the eponymous Carman in Bizet’s opera. Habanera is one of opera’s most recognisable arias and one of the most recognisable companies for performances of some of the greatest operas in this area is Nevill Holt Opera, based in Leicestershire.

Each year at Hambleton Hall, an audience of around 50 diners enjoy a preview of Nevill Holt’s festival of opera in June and July which this year includes Verdi’s La Traviata, and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

A performance of arias from two of the company’s young stars takes place during a Champagne and canapé reception prior to dinner. This year, performances included L’Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle.

Tickets are on sale now for performances at Nevill Holt, from 10th-14th June for La Traviata and 24th June to 1st July for Don Giovanni. See www.nevillholtopera.co.uk. n Photos: Rob Davis.

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MOTORS

SEE RED IN A TRUE

SPORTS SUV It’s the sensible sports car for our county. Porsche’s flagship Macan Turbo has performance and luxury in abundence, whilst offering a very sensible five seats, decent boot and good ground clearance for negotiating our broken road surfaces...

Words: Rob Davis.

IF RECENT COLD WEATHER has given way to spring, you can be sure that potholes aren’t far behind the thaw. Water seeping into cracked road surfaces, freezing, then expanding is the leading cause of nefarious wheel ravaging pot holes all over the UK. And in our part of the world, the need to pull onto grass verges to let other drivers pass on narrow country lanes, plus all those lumpy bumpy roads means a bit of extra ground clearance is a welcome feature of 4x4s, as well as a good reason to avoid sports cars.

But if you’re a keen driver, rejoice at the thought of a car which blends a decent practical ride height with engaging handling.

Porsche has created the practically perfect sports car for our county; the Macan.

And now, there’s a Turbo flagship which provides all of the performance and feel of a sports car plus five seats, a good-sized boot, good ground clearance and all wheel drive for dispatching the odd off-road challenge.

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What’s even better than its 2.9 litre V6 petrol engine and its 440ps of power, or its 550nm torque, though, is the availability of the Macan Turbo in this absolutely beautiful shade of Porsche Carmine red... very nice.

You can also specify a pea green Mamba Green Metallic shade or wheels painted to match the colour of your chosen paint shade... should you wish to look like a teenage driver who has embarked on dubious aftermarket modifications to their car.

With the 60mph dash over and done with in 4.3 seconds - less than that if you specify the Sport Plus package - and a top speed of 167mph, it’s as rapid as a Porsche 911 Carerra. And despite being a bit longer, wider and being equipped with four wheel drive too, the Macan offers identical fuel economy and it’s £14,000 cheaper.

OK, so the 911 is a pure sports car, and it’s Porsche’s halo model, but still, the Macan offers spectacular value for money. >>

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Four by Roar: All Wheel Drive performance cars...

Aston Martin DBX £158,000: If the thought of Porsche creating an off-road vehicle surprised you, the news that Aston Martin has deviated from its usual GT models to create its own four door, four wheel drive vehicle will most probably leave you feeling faint. But here it is, all 4.0V8 twin turbo of it. 60mph is reached in 4.5 seconds, top speed is 181mph and it has 542bhp of power. Fuel economy is a weak point at just 19mpg, and despite its seemingly small dimension it’s wider and 20cm longer than a Range Rover Sport! n

Maserati Levante Trofeo £124,900: An exotic brand, and a bit of a left-field choice among a sea of AMG and Range Rover Sports. Lots of natural leathers and shimmering veneers to choose from but only one engine choice in the Trofeo flagship; it’s a 3.8 litre V8 that’s good for 572bhp, 60mph in 3.9 seconds and 188mph flat out on a track. Traction is excellent, and the Levante will appeal to keen drivers but arguably more modest models in the range have just as much appeal as an exotic sports SUV. n

>> The newer version of the Macan flagship offers 40ps more power than its predecessor, better dynamics thanks to an extensively revamped chassis and better connectivity with an all new Porsche Communication Management setup.

At £68,530 the Macan may still be a heck of a lot of money for what is roughly the size of a Discovery Sport, but at the price of a Range Rover Sport, but offering that 911-rivalling performance as well as Porsche handling, in a package that easier to park in town gives the Macan a value all of its own.

Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition £86,685: The larger Range Rover Sport is looking a little older and more conservative next its smaller style-oriented sibling, the Velar. Despite the fact that its design cues - like flush door handles - are halo-ing down other models in company’s lineup, the Velar is still the loveliest looking Range Rover, hence our recommendation here over the larger Sport model.

Despite a long and silly name, this flagship offers ludicrous performance from its lovely 5.0V8 engine. n

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Standard equipment is decent, too, with 18way electrically adjustable seats, leather, a Bose stereo and navigation all fitted. You’ll need to find extra, though, for adaptive

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“With amazing pace, handling finesse and a decent ride, Macan is the practical sports car that’s a pleasure to drive and own...” cruise control, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging and a heated front windscreen... even heated seats and a rear view camera are optional, which seems a little grubby for a car flirting with a £70,000 asking price.

Still, above all the reason for spending money on a Porsche is for its ability to deliver an engaging drive. And in the case of the Macan and its larger Cayenne sibling, to do so in a practical form too... and in that respect the Macan is a real superstar.

The steering is as good as you could ever expect from an electric setup, and though optional ceramic brakes are available, the standard ones are just great. Optional air suspension is worth the money on our patchy roads, but the flat and composed way the car deals with A-road speeds is nothing short of revolutionary.

Speed, finesse, luxury and character, with a healthy dose of practicality thrown in, Macan is the sports car you’ll be happy to live with and to drive every single day. n

PORSCHE MACAN TURBO Price: £68,530 (available now).

Drivetrain: 2.9 litre V6 petrol engine, seven speed automatic with all wheel drive transmission.

Performance: 0-62 mph: 4.3 seconds.

Top Speed: 167mph.

Economy: 23.5mpg (combined).

Equipment: Bose hi-fi, 18-way electric seats, navigation. n 157

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MOTORS

A Vision of the Future MERCEDES BENZ’S VISION OF THE FUTURE EXPRESSED IN ITS AVTR CONCEPT CAR...

MERCEDES BENZ It’s a vision of the future from Mercedes Benz! What you’ve looking at is Vision Avtr - Advanced Vehicle Transformation.

“Instead of a conventional steering wheel, the multifunctional control element in the center console allows human and machine to merge,” says the German firm. “By placing the hand on the control unit, the interior comes to life and

the vehicle recognises the driver by his or her heartbeat and breathing.”

The car is designed to resemble an animal with 33 ‘bionic flaps’ on the rear deck which ‘ripple’ to give feedback for the driver.

It’s powered by an organic recycled battery, and is upholstered in vegan leather with a floor made from Karuun (rattan) wood. n

New Venue for UK Show BRITISH MOTOR SHOW LIVE RETURNS TO UK FOR 2020...

The 1969 Motor Show at Earl’s Court. Morris; Austin; Rambler; remember them?

Firm favourite as Merc E-Class looks to favour company car drivers...

MERCEDES BENZ With more company car drivers than ever before, Mercedes is preparing to release its facelifted 2020 E-Class saloon and estate and is determined to provide the perfect executive express for discerning company buyers.

The fifth generation of Mercedes’s mid-sized executive has greater autonomous driving capabilities, plus 2.0 48v mild hybrid models and plug-in versions to provide low company car tax. n

MOTOR SHOW It’s a sad indictment of our failure to look after the British motor industry, but the British International Motor Show returns for 2020 after a period of absence. The show had been held between 1903 and 2008 initially at the NEC then London’s ExCel, but ceased following 2010’s financial crisis. The London Motor Show filled the gap in 2018, but this year for the first time since 2008 the UK will once again have a national motor show, to be held at the Farnborough International Expo Center from Thursday 20th – Sunday 23rd August.

Over 50,000 motoring enthusiasts are expected to attend the event. n

MOTORING

NEWS In Brief CAR COLOURS

50 SHADES OF GREY AS TOP 10 CAR COLOURS IN 2019 ARE REVEALED...

The results are in and once again the UK motoring colour of choice is... grey.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed that throughout 2019, grey and black were the favourite shades of customers choosing their new car.

A grey shade was specified by 22.6% of car buyers, accounting for a total of 521,273 registrations.

Following in second place was black, with a 20.2% market share and 466,756 registrations.

Here’s the list of the top 10 car colour in full: 1. Grey: 22.6% 521,273 registrations.

2. Black: 20.2% 466,756 registrations.

3. White: 17.9% 414,403 registrations.

4. Blue: 16.2 373,728 registrations.

5. Red: 9.8% 226,501 registrations.

6. Silver: 8.7% 201,008 registrations.

7. Orange: 1.1% 27,723 registrations.

8. Green: 0.7% 16,718 registrations.

9. Bronze: 0.3% 6,595 registrations.

10. Yellow: 0.3% 6,566 registrations. n 159

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PRIDE MARKETING

Legally compliant and fully insured, our drone pilots are now available for your business.

HIRE OUR PROFESSIONAL

PHOTOGRAPHERS

In the era of digital marketing, having a selection of high quality photographs at your fingertips is the way to ensure you can show off your business at its best...

A picture tells a thousand words. It’s a cliché, but one that has never been more applicable. In a media-rich age, you can only create good advertising material, brochures, websites and social media posts if you have high quality images.

Whether you need shots of your products, your people or your premises, having the use of one of our photographers will allow you to show off your business with a selection of full-resolution pictures instantly available to you when you need them.

The quality of Pride Magazines is also dependent on great photography and therefore great photographers. That’s why we’re always asked by clients if our images are available for purchase and why, as a natural consequence, we’re now making our photographers available for hire.

Our photographers can also create video too, ideal for your website and social media, with voiceover and editing techniques to create professional 4k video footage.

There’s no substitute for the technical expertise, creative flair and professional equipment that our photographers have, and for that reason, having the use of our photographers for a half day or full day photo shoot at your business will provide a totally bespoke service aimed at providing you with high quality, copyright free images.

We’ve a range of packages available starting at less than £500 including shooting and editing time. It’s never been more important to have good quality images of your business, and that’s why we’re making sure it’s never been easier to get access to great photography.

Call us now for a no obligation discussion of your needs and we’ll help to ensure your business is presented in the best light... both literally and metaphorically too!

Find Out More: Pride Magazines is now offering ground or aerial photography & videography, 3D Virtual Tours, bespoke websites plus design and print for businesses like yours. To discuss your requirements call 01529 469977 and don’t forget to take a Virtual Tour of our offices at www.pridemagazines.co.uk. n

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The Directory To advertise here call our friendly team on 01529 469977

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