Three Counties Now - March/April 2020

Three Counties

Now

AN ELEGANT TOUCH THE RISING COST OF CARE LUDLOW SPRING FESTIVAL MARCH-APRIL 2020 | ISSUE FIVE

PI C I’M K M FR E U EE P

See page five for more information

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HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD & DRINK • WALKS • HEALTH & BEAUTY • WHAT’S ON • COMPETITIONS

n 2 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

Three Counties

08

Now 12

14 MARCH - APRIL 2020 HOME & GARDEN 08

An Elegant Touch

12

Nature Notebook

16

HEALTH & BEAUTY 14

18

Mum’s the Word

GOLDEN YEARS 16

The Rising Cost of Dementia Care

LIVING HISTORY 18

The Scudamores of Kentchurch

26

EDUCATION 20

Is The Saturday Job Dead?

20

OUR EVENTS DIARY 24

What’s on?

26

Ludlow Spring Festival

THREE COUNTIES

NOW 01905 723011

nowmagazines.co.uk

EDITOR

DESIGN

CONTRIBUTORS

Dawn Pardoe PW Media & Publishing Ltd dawn@pw-media.co.uk

Paul Blyth paul@pw-media.co.uk

Daisy Bennett Heather Hurley Frances Weeks Alzheimer’s Society Hartlebury Castle Ludlow Castle Midlands Air Ambulance

ADVERTISING Emma Cox 01905 727902 emma@pw-media.co.uk

PW Media & Publishing Ltd Lower House, Whyle Lane, Pudleston, Nr Leominster Herefordshire, HR6 0RQ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without permission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictoral media for this publication are sent at owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PW Media & Publishing Ltd or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorial submissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope. DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, PW Media & Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. Please note that if you enter a competition in the Three Counties Now magazine t @ThreeCountiesNOW | G ThreeCountiesNOW | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 3 n your name and address may be forwarded to the host of said competition.

THE LATEST NEWS FROM YOUR AREA

MARK STEEL UK TOUR 2020

EVERY LITTLE THING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT Not long ago, it seemed highly unlikely the UK would vote to leave the EU. We had a reasonable opposition to the Tory Government, Donald Trump was a buffoon who surely wasn’t going to beat Hilary Clinton, and Mark was living the married suburban ideal. Since then, it’s all gone to absolute shit! But don’t worry, as Mark thinks Every Little Thing’s Gonna Be Alright.

Mark’s sell-out show Who Do I Think I Am revealed that his natural father was a world backgammon champion. Now the star of Radio 4’s Mark Steel’s in Town, and newspaper columnist of the year, Mark is back on the road with a new show that is guaranteed to make the world seem even more mental than it really is.

Mark has written and presented many series of Mark Steel’s In Town on BBC Radio 4 (new series out soon) and toured it live around the UK. He has presented the BAFTA-nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC2, and is a regular on BBC One’s Have I Got News For You and Radio 4’s The News Quiz. Mark has also appeared on BBC2’s QI and Room 101. He has written several acclaimed books, including Reasons To Be Cheerful and What’s Going On, and writes a weekly column for The Independent – for which he won Columnist of the Year at the Press Awards in 2015. n Mark regularly films his columns for The Independent, and they’re proving very popular indeed. You can find them here: www.independent.co.uk/author/mark-steel

THE REGAL TENBURY KEEPS

THE SHOW ON THE ROAD They have been working very hard to get back

We’re not yet sure how long it will be before

If you have tickets for any of the shows or films

up and running at the Regal following last floods

we’re able to resume our programme at the

in the coming weeks, someone from our box

in Tenbury Wells with the support of brilliant

Regal – but we’re determined that the show

office team will contact you soon. We may

volunteers, kind members of the public, the

must go on!

need to reschedule or cancel some – we’re

Town Clerk and all the service providers.

We’re talking to possible alternative venues

sorry and hope you’ll bear with us. Please do continue to get your tickets for shows in

The flooding damaged the chairs and

around Tenbury. We anticipate that Tenbury

floor in the auditorium, and the floor in the

High Ormiston Academy will rehome our

Function Room. The Regal is an old, listed

Theatre School and most of our live shows.

building, which means that some aspects of

We will be setting up a ‘pop up’ cinema on

The Regal is run as a charitable trust. If you would

the clean up and repair are more complex

Friday evenings throughout March in the

like to help us with a donation, we can accept

and will take longer.

Methodist church.

donations through our ticketing system. n

n 4 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

April, as we’re doing everything to keep these events coming to Tenbury.

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HERE & NOW

Making A Pledge Can Save A Life Midlands Air Ambulance Charity needs your help. The charity is encouraging people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to sign up to its ‘I Pledge’ campaign and make 2020 another successful year for the lifesaving service.

Emma Gray, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, explains: “We are asking people and businesses within the local communities we serve to pledge their ongoing commitment and support to help us save more lives in the future.”

There’s a wide range of activities and things you can do to pledge, such as:

• Volunteer at one of the charity’s shops • Make a donation – no matter how big or small, by visiting: midlandsairambulance. com/donatenow

• Attend a local charity event • Sign up to the charity’s weekly lifesaving lottery • Host a tea party • Participate in a sporting event

To get involved, it’s really easy, just write down how you plan to make a difference by supporting Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and email your pledge to: ipledge@ midlandsairambulance.com or you can tweet the charity, @MAA_Charity and ensure you use the hashtag #IPledge. Visit: midlandsairambulance.com/ipledge to find out more.

Without the support of the general public and local businesses from across the region, the vitally important pre-hospital care service of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity would

simply cease. Each year it costs in excess of £9 million to maintain the aircraft and land vehicles and the provision of a lifesaving service. Each air ambulance mission costs an average of £2,500 and each critical care car mission costs an average of £224.

The charity is responsible for funding and operating three air ambulances and two critical care cars serving the communities of six Midlands counties: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.

This constitutes the largest air ambulance operating region in the UK. n

For more information on Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and how to make the next Mission Possible, visit midlandsairambulance. com or follow the organisation on social media.

48 Hour WW1 Trench Event to be held at Park Hall Farm Re-enactment groups across the country are gearing up for a living weekend at Park Hall Farm’s WW1 trenches in Oswestry. Troops will be taking park in the 48 Hour Trench Experience from 20-22 March 2020. The trenches will be open to the public on the Saturday and Sunday of the event via guided tours.

The organisers will be using pyrotechnics throughout the weekend to bring the experience to life. There will be controlled black powder ground explosions and simulated gas attacks with smoke. Around twenty men will be hunkering down at the trenches for the entirety of the 48 hours, with two attendees from Belgium travelling over especially for the event. All of the troops will be armed with rifles and bayonets.

Organiser, Micah Dominic Parsons shared the motivation behind the event, he said, “The whole ethos of the event is to provide a unique insight and snapshot experience for those living in the trenches and for visitors, who will be able to appreciate what life was like for soldiers during the war.”

Steven Davies describes the point in history they will be re-visiting, “On the morning of the 13th October 1915, the 1/5th North Staffords (a territorial battalion formed from the men of the Potteries) began an assault on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, a heavily fortified section of the German Front Line near Loos.

The 1/5th suffered 500 casualties during the assault with only 200 men escaping unscathed. In the words of Private Sidney Richards, scribbling in his pocket diary on the evening of the 13th: ‘It was absolute hell with the lid off. Dying and wounded all over the place. I shall never forget this day...’

“Attendees will experience the days leading up to October 13th, 1915, with troops massing in the front line.

The event will be run authentically for 48 hours, with full trench routine, including stand to at sunup and sundown, rum rations, sentries, and much more. It will be a very enthralling weekend for everyone taking part.”

Guided tours will take place on the hour from 11am until 3pm on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March.

Due to the pyrotechnics involved, tour numbers will be limited. n

n 6 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

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HOME & GARDEN

A

l E n Our

t n a g e

h c u o T

o dro e b r you reat. n r t o tu ime re t d t e nte night a r a t n gu ps, n opule i t p a

to m in

to

n 8 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

into

HOME & GARDEN

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HOME & GARDEN Make a statement this spring, by turning your bedroom into a luxurious haven full of bold colours and decadent fabrics. We take a look at the ways to upgrade your room with a touch of elegance.

Bold colours Don’t be afraid to add some colour into your bedroom. Deep blues and greens can add drama to your room without it being too over-the-top colourful. Stick to one colour scheme and build from that foundation. Iliv Interior Textiles have thoughtful, beautiful and unique fabric designs to inspire you to create stunning interiors. Like the Cotswold Prussian fabric, pick out the bold colours and run with it. By adding accents of browns and yellows to compliment the deep hues, you can brighten up the space.

Experiment with different fabrics If bold colours aren’t your thing, mix different fabrics and textures throughout the room to add depth and style to your bedroom. From lush velvet to faux fur, bold brass decor to simple elegant wood finishings, there is a multitude of ways to feel luxurious without comprimising on style. Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive soft feel. Choose the Orbit accent chair in blue.

Invitingly deep seated, with curved, velvet covered arms that invite touch. With hardwood in the frame, and slim hardwood legs, the accent chair is made to last. Add comfort and glamour with a faux fur made from 100% acrylic, ideal for adding a luxurious feel to your home.

A perfect addition to bedrooms, the deep and shaggy pile offers a super-soft warming effect, especially on hard-flooring.

A popular textile throughout interior design, silk is a natural fiber known for its luster, shine, strength, and durability.

Fox & Ivy Cushions, From £12 www.tesco.com

Don’t forget the walls

rows of plumped up cushions, varying in size

Go for wallpaper with bold prints and

and texture. Again go for high end fabrics;

different textures. Available in a variety of

silk, faux fur and velvet.

colours, Club Damask by Eijffinger (shown at the top of the page) is a large scale damask design printed on a foil wallpaper, resulting in a stunning wallpaper with a wow factor. For an added dramatic effect, try adding large mirrors to your wall to open up a room. Place them opposite a window to instantly make

Fabulous furniture Boutique hotel-style furniture immediately instils contemporary and modern bedrooms with a luxurious presence. Avoid highly detailed and complex designs and instead aim for simple elegance through softly balanced frames and straightforward colour combinations.

Silk is the epitome of luxury due to its soft touch, and elegant appearance. You may not want however to cover all your furnishings in this luxurious fabric, instead, use it sparingly in cushions, headboards, drapes or curtains.

the room seem bigger than it actually is.

Just Fabrics, one of the leading independent designer fabric retailers in the country has a huge selection fabrics for curtains, upholstery, cushions. Their range of range of velvet or velour and chenille fabrics are great for adding a touch of luxury to your interiors.

Velvet fabrics make fantastic upholstery fabrics for a sophisticated look. Visit them online at www.justfabrics.co.uk or visit one of their fabric shops and warehouses in Burford or Cheltenham.

with a shiny glass or crystal finish, to really add

Pavillion Broadway has a range of luxury

elegance to your bedroom.

bedroom furniture in all shapes and styles,

n 10 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

Light it up Add a statement pendant light or a sleek metallic floor lamp for a simple luxurious look. Be bold and choose an unusual shape

Pillows pillows and pillows When you see perfectly designed luxury hotel rooms, there are always more than enough pillows on the bed, piled high to to sink into after a long day. In your own home however, it may not be practical to have layers upon layers of pillows strewn across your bed.

Instead, go for a two or maybe even three

Layering simplistic furniture pieces with defined features across a richly coloured backdrop evokes feelings of an opulent and luxurious night-time retreat.

offering a selection of individual pieces and designer bedroom furniture sets to create your desired interior look. Their Theodore Alexander Bedside Chest Eli in Polished Nickel is a perfect example of how to get the polished luxury look by using a simple colour in an elegant design. n

By Daisy Bennett

HOME & GARDEN

Three Counties

Now

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NATURE NOTEBOOK

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker © Stefan Johansson

Natural Solutions to the Climate Crisis Tree planting is now widely regarded as part of a solution to the climate crisis with local and national governments now setting targets for the number of trees to be planted.

Herefordshire’s landscape has around 15% tree cover and many, including Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, believe this should be far higher – closer to 30%. This would have significant benefits for storing carbon, for our native wildlife and for people as woodlands are, of course, wonderful places to visit.

KEEP UP TO DATE Herefordshire Wildlife Trust @HerefordshireWT t HerefordshireWT G www.herefordshirewt.org w

However, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust is keen to ensure that all trees planted in the county are the right trees – in the right places, with a plan for their after care for their whole life. It is important to pick native tree species that have a local provenance rather than trees grown in nurseries overseas that are shipped to the UK. Equally important is the planting site. The Trust’s Estates Manager James Hitchcock advises: “it’s really important that trees are not planted on land that already benefits wildlife and is already storing carbon – for example, wetlands lock up 1.9 tonnes of carbon per acre. Wildflower meadows, permanent pastures and Commons are also all hugely important ecologically and it’s vital these are preserved within our landscapes.”

The Trust advises instead to focus on increasing the numbers of hedgerow, orchard and parkland trees.

When it comes to establishing a new woodland, farmland, especially field edges or fields where soil organic matter is very depleted is suggested as a good site. The Trust also promotes natural regeneration. This means allowing land to naturally revert to woodland as seeds colonise uncultivated ground. This is a slower process than planting saplings but is a cheap, low carbon option with less need for aftercare.

n 12 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

The Trust’s Chief Executive Helen Stace says: “It’s fantastic that so many people are now interested in tree establishment and new woodland creation and this is great news for wildlife. Where planting can be most effective is where it helps to connect existing woodlands within the landscape. So, planting trees within sight of an existing woodland, planting hedgerows between woodlands and allowing existing woods to widen out or extend. This means that woodland wildlife can move over wider areas to find food and shelter and to breed and this results in stable, and growing, populations. We’re planning events to help the public make decisions on where to plant and have just launched our Trees and Climate Change policy. Anyone interested should get in touch.”

Wildlife that will particularly benefit from increased woodland that is actively managed in the county includes many small woodland birds. The British Trust for Ornithology states that: “Woodland species such as Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Tit have shown... serious declines (more than 80%) since 1970.” Our woodland wildflowers such as bluebell, primrose, lily-of-the-valley, violets and honeysuckle will also benefit along with the butterflies which thrive in woodland glades but are facing severe declines: pearl-bordered and silver-washed fritillaries, purple hairstreak and wood white. n Find out more: www.herefordshirewt.org/treeplanting

NATURE NOTEBOOK

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MOTHER’S DAY

Mum's the Word

Pick out something special for your mum this Mother’s Day, Sunday March 22nd MAMA’S MOMENTS BIRTHING ESSENTIALS - £20 MILANI PREP & BRIGHTEN ROSE FACE OIL - £20 Rose Face Oil is an indulgent custom blend of Vitamin C, Sunflower, Apricot Kernel, Sweet Almond, and Crambe Abyssinica Oils designed to brighten, balance your skin, and reduce the signs of aging. www.boots.com

Wherever you plan to give birth there will always be those ‘go-to’ essentials that you will want to grab just as you need them.The Natural Birthing Company have brought together a selection of our products that we feel would really support you in a natural way during your birthing journey. www.naturalbirthingcompany.com

LUXE GARDENIA £20 A perfume inspired by bountiful, beautiful and blossoming floral bouquets.

Containing 90% naturally derived ingredients and a vegetable derived alcohol base. www.yardleylondon.co.uk

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DAVINA STEEL BAKING KITS From £2.49 Perfect for mums following gluten-free diets who struggle to find tasty bread and cake alternatives, Davina Steel’s easy-to-make mixes are a simple way to make yummy, homemade scones and focaccia when you’re short on time or lack the confidence to prepare a recipe from scratch. www.davinasteel.com

n 14 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

MOTHER’S DAY

BAMBU CANDLES Worcestershire

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We use only 100% natural eco soy wax, natural wicks and the finest fragrances that are all cruelty free and paraben free.

Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

www.bambucandles.co.uk

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GOLDEN YEARS

T

D f o t s

o C ing

s i R he

a i t n eme

e r Ca

y ar b e o s s o et t increa s s es nd mili idla a f M n st We ssure o n i e ts cos e as pr e r a d tia c t deca n e x Dem ver ne o 66%

The total cost of dementia care in the West Midlands is set to almost double over the next decade, putting those affected by the condition under increasing pressure.

The latest figures for the West Midlands estimate care costs will rise from their current level of £3,376,000 to £5,297,000 in 2030, an increase of 66%.

The shocking prediction highlights calls by Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity, for immediate social care investment to be a key pillar of the Government’s forthcoming Spring Budget on 11 March.

The figures, calculated by the London School of Economics and Political Science, combine costs to the NHS, social care and the value of unpaid care provided by family members.

Worryingly, across England it is estimated that around 60% of social care costs are typically met by people living with dementia and their families because they do not qualify for state support.

As part of its on-going Fix Dementia Care campaign, Alzheimer’s Society is demanding urgent investment, backing calls for £8bn in extra funding for adult social care in England by 2020/21. n 16 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

The charity estimates at least £2.65bn of that amount could be spent on care for people living with dementia to improve the devastating financial and emotional impact they and their families face when accessing care.

Kumbi Mandinyenya, Alzheimer’s Society’s Area Manager for the Midlands said: “The social care system is unfair and unfit for people living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society is campaigning to end this injustice.

“We are calling on the Government to commit to £8 billion in immediate funding to bring care to an acceptable level, as well as a clear timetable for long-term reform that provides a fairer system and ensures access to quality care.

“For far too long, families have been privately struggling to care for their loved ones with dementia, left to pick up the pieces of a social care system that’s coming apart at the seams. This can’t go on any longer. The Government must live up to its promise to fix dementia care.”

Across England, care costs are predicted to rise from their current level of £29.4bn to £50.4bn by 2030, an increase of more than 70%.

At the same time, the number of people living

with dementia across the UK is expected to rise from around 850,000 to 1.2m by 2030.

The report predicts that as our population ages, a higher proportion of people with dementia will have higher care needs for longer, driving up the average amount spent on care.

Previous research by Alzheimer’s Society has shown that someone with dementia will typically have to spend £100,000 on their care. Many are forced to sell their homes to pay for it.

Alzheimer’s Society is calling for dementia care to be funded like other public services, such as the NHS and education, where the cost is shared across society, protecting individuals and their families from the devastating costs of specialist dementia care.

Today, the charity releases a hard-hitting animated film telling the story of one family’s financial plight to get the care their loved one with dementia needs. You can view it by visiting www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7dh3rHlB0&feature=youtu.be n To find out more about Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign, and to write to your MP asking them to take action, visit alzheimers.org.uk/FixBudget

GOLDEN YEARS

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LIVING HISTORY

The Scudamores of Kentchurch The Scudamores of Kentchurch and Holme Lacy tells a fascinating story of two different branches of the Scudamores, a prominent and important Herefordshire family – one branch domiciled in the shadow of the Welsh borders in the Monnow valley and the other in the Wye valley. some strong and flamboyant, others quiet and reflective, but the women have formerly been overlooked, even though they too played an important role.

Stories from the past include the marriage of Sir John Scudamore of Kentchurch to Alice, the daughter and heir of Owain Glyndwr, the Welsh freedom fighter who led serious uprisings along the Welsh borders during the late 1300s and early 1400s. This placed Sir John in an awkward political position, as he was an opponent of Glyndwr but held Welsh sympathies so was stripped of all official offices. After his last raid, Glyndwr sought shelter at his daughter’s home at Kentchurch, although his final resting place is still unknown.

Similar to Jack of Kent, many legendry stories surround them, such as Glyndwr’s escapes from being captured by shoeing his horse back-to-front to stop him from being followed.

It is said that Glyndwr’s spirit haunts the tower, since referred to as ‘Glyndwr’s Tower’.

The

senior

family

of

the

eleventh century still resides at Kentchurch Court, whereas the Holme Lacy branch of the fourteenth century ran out of heirs and resources by the end of the nineteenth century. The two contrasting families reflect their own personalities and characteristics, with the more liberal, quiet and home-keeping family at Kentchurch becoming overshadowed n 18 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

by the prominence of the ambitious and powerful ones at Holme Lacy.

Although this book is primarily about the Scudamores, it has been written as a local history, introducing people and places set against a background of both national and local events that occurred in Kentchurch and Holme Lacy throughout many turbulent and intriguing times. The Scudamores have produced many male characters of fame, fortune and failure,

At Holme Lacy, it was during 1632 that Sir John 1st Viscount Scudamore started to show an interest in producing cider, as shown in the accounts. Entries include a carriage for six hogsheads of cider to London, bringing one and a half dozen bottles from London, two and a half dozen of quart bottles, one and a half dozen of pint bottles, six dozen corks and a lock for the cider house door. The cider house or cellar was situated in the park where water was available from nearby springs. Sir John is credited with introducing the Redstreak apple, originally called the Scudamore-crab, which he grafted and propagated to produce such a fine cider that its reputation reached London where Charles I is reported to have preferred cider to the best wines. Sir John was one of the first to bottle cider, as the process of making bottles from strong dark glass had just been invented

by Sir Kenelm Digby in the Forest of Dean. The bottles were stopped with corks and when the cork was drawn the drinker was regaled with the delightful nose of the Redstreak cider. n The Scudamores of Kentchurch and Holme Lacy

by Heather Hurley Logaston Press 2019 £12.95 www.logastonpress.co.uk

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EDUCATION

Is The Saturday Job Dead?

The number of teenagers doing Saturday jobs has halved in two decades, a study from The Resolution Foundation finds.

That turning

young away

people from

are

‘earning

while learning’, the think tank suggests that: The proportion of teenagers with Saturday jobs has almost halved over the past two decades as youngsters turn away from “earning while learning” to focus on their studies, a report has found. The employment rate of 16- to 17-year-olds with weekend jobs has plummeted from 48 per cent in 1997-99 to 25 per cent in 2017-19, according to research from the Resolution Foundation think tank.

The traditional Saturday job is dying as teenagers are now more likely to focus on their school and college work rather than n 20 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

juggle employment with studying, the report suggests. Even among the 16- to 17-yearolds with a part-time job, the average weekly hours for these school pupils have fallen from nine to eight in the past 20 years.

college students with a job. Undergraduates

Overall, around one in 12 (8 per cent) workingage adults in the UK – the equivalent of 3.4 million adults – have never worked a day in their lives, which is a 52 per cent increase since 1998. Laura Gardiner, research director at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The rising number of people who have never had a paid job has been driven by the death of the teenage Saturday job and a wider turn away from earning while learning.”

lives at a later age than previous generations,

There has also been a fall in university and

www.resolutionfoundation.org

aged between 18 and 19 are 25 per cent less likely to be in work than they were in the early 2000s. Ms Gardiner added: “With young people today expected to end their working it’s understandable that they want to start their working lives at a later age too.

“But this lack of work experience can create longer-term problems, particularly if they hit other life milestones like motherhood or illhealth before their careers have got off the ground.” n For more information on this report visit

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n 22 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

EDUCATION

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What's On

MARCH Monday 16th Spring Racing Hereford Racecourse, Roman Rd, Hereford. Our Monday afternoon Spring racing is set to take place on the 16th of March! Why not come down to our racecourse and see what we have to offer this Spring. There is plenty of room in our Rusty Bridge Restaurant for you to treat yourself or others. You will have your table for the duration of the raceday and have your food when you please, whether it is when gates open or throughout racing, we can provide great food and service for you! Is there a special occasion coming up in the family or at work? There are lots of boxes at Hereford Racecourse and there are still some available! Tickets from £15.

Friday 20th Whisky Tasting Tanners Wines, Hereford, 4 St Peters Square, Hereford. The world of whisky is a wonderful and fascinating one so let’s put a selection to the test and explain a little bit about the variations and differences that make each unique. If whisky is your drink of choice or you’d like to discover a new favourite, learning something of how it’s made along the way, this is the tasting for you.

6.30pm-9pm. Price: £25

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd Wild Basket Making Course Moreton Wood, Ullingswick, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 3JQ. Wild basket making course is a 2 day course that takes place in Moreton Wood – a beautiful Herefordshire woodland managed for wildlife and conservation. The course involves learning about the natural materials growing wild that can be used for basket weaving.

You will learn how to harvest and prepare a variety of materials and then makeyour own beautiful and unique basket with them. Price: £150

Sunday 29th Family Open Days Broomy Hill, Herefordshire, HR4 0LJ. Open day in steam: Whatever your reasons for visiting the Waterworks Museum – Hereford, there is so much more to see than just big engines and industrial heritage, we have something to offer all visitors including family groups with children. The Waterworks Museum traces the history of drinking water from the cave-dwellers up to the present day through wonderful working engines, superb display panels, guidebooks and films and the knowledge shared by the Museum’s volunteers. During family open days at The Waterworks Museum visitors can interact with full-size devices for lifting, pumping, moving and filtering water which have been used down the generations. In a totally safe environment children can have immense fun and learn at the same time the difficulties of obtaining water in days gone by. Free admission for under 16s. 12-4pm.

Saturday 21st Leominster Medieval Pageant Leominster Priory Church, 24 Church St, Leominster.

Leominster Medieval Pageant is based around Owain Glyndwr and the Welsh War of Independence.

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his success at the nearby battle of Pilleth. In 1405 his combined Welsh and French army marched across Herefordshire intending to do battle with Henry IV at Great Witley in Worcestershire. The armies took up battle positions daily and viewed each other from a mile without any major action for eight days.

Glyndwr withdrew at nightfall passing through Leominster back into Wales. Inside the Priory there will be reenactors and craft stalls. There will also be a skirmish in the Priory grounds. The re-enactors will put on displays and demonstrations. There will be an opportunity to have a go at longbow archery and see replica medieval ‘hand-gonnes’ in use, weather permitting. There will be medieval dance and music.

Throughout the day hot food and refreshments will be available. www.leominstertourism.co.uk

APRIL Thursday 2nd Hellens – A History in Stitches An open afternoon at Hellens Manor in Much Marcle, near Ledbury. In 2017 a team of dedicated Arts Society volunteers began a new, exciting project at Hellens. This crewelwork embroidery illustrates the story of Hellens Manor from before the Norman conquest to the present day and spans almost 10 metres. See the historic research, evolution of the design and how the project is progressing. This is part of a rich history of Heritage Volunteers conservation work and original textiles created at Hellens over the past 21 years. Tour of the Manor House available at 2pm (Adult £9.50, Conc. £8). www.hellensmanor.com

Saturday 4th Ledbury Poetry Festival: Poetry Slam The Courtyard Centre for the Arts, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR. Enjoy a head-spinning cocktail of potent poetry and spirited performances, topped off with a twist of wit and a tasty competitive edge!

Bard-tenders Elvis McGonagall and Sara-Jane Arbury call the shots as a bevy of fine wordsmiths pour out vintage verse in a bid to gain prize points.

Each poet is marked on three categories – the quality of their writing, the quality of their performance and the warmth of the audience response. Ecstatic cheering and Mexican waves ensures that topnotch poetry receives top scores! For a free place to take part as a slammer, please contact Sara-Jane - sjarbury@gmail.com. www.courtyard.org.uk.

Botanical Watercolour with Helen Haywood Birches Farm Nature Reserve, Nr Kington, HR5 3EY. 10.30am-4pm. A workshop with the wonderful botanical artist Helen Haywood.

Helen has exhibited at the Kew Gardens Gallery and her work was included in A New Flowering: 1000 Years of Botanical Art exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum. Now living in Herefordshire, in 2017 she had a solo show at Studio 54 Gallery in Kington: The Art of Helen Haywood. Cost: £55 – booking: www.herefordshirewt.org

Saturday 4th - Sunday 19th Gruffalo Easter Trail Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum, Dinmore Hill, Nr Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0PY. 10am – 4pm. Start your journey at the Visitors Centre by buying your trail guide. This will show you how to collect your clues, spotting birds’ eggs along

the way. Once you’ve answered the mystery birdrelated question you can collect your prize back at the Visitors Centre. For children aged 3+. Cost: £4

Tuesday 7th Adventure Club!

Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum, Dinmore Hill, Nr Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0PY. 9am-4pm. Seasonally inspired adventures in the woods! The day includes campfire cooking, fire lighting, den building, use of tools, games, seasonal crafts and more! For children aged 7-11 only. Booking Essential. Also taking place on Tuesday 14th Cost: £17 / £22 – booking: www.queenswoodandbodenhamlake.org

Tuesday 7th – Saturday 18th (Closed 10th-13th) Children’s School Holiday Pottery Sessions are fabulous, themed, workshops that take place every school break at Eastnor Pottery. An ideal opportunity for aspiring young potters to work with professional, ceramic artists. Experience ‘hands on’ real clay with an exciting variety of making techniques. A different theme every time includes either a go on the potter’s wheel or work with coloured slips. The 1½hr sessions take place throughout the day and are designed to suit either 4-8yrs and 9-12yrs. Small friendly groups ensure maximum attention from our experienced team of potters, always on hand to guide and offer advice.

Big emphasis on having fun and learning via enjoyment. Your child’s clay masterpiece will need to dry thoroughly before it can be fired. Collection times will be issued on the day of the workshop.

Cost £20 per child. Price includes all materials and firing costs. Booking essential: admin@ eastnorpottery.co.uk. Tel: 01531 633886

Tuesday 21st Nature Tots!

Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum, Dinmore Hill, Nr Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0PY. 1pm-2.30pm. Outdoor nature inspired childled play and adventures for under 5’s. Come and play in the woodland, learn some fun forest crafts and explore your imagination! We’ll be finding out who lives in the woodland, making up stories, creating homes for creatures and forest folk, as well learning woodland crafts and cooking snacks on the fire. Also taking place on 28th April, 5th May, 12th May and 19th May. Cost: £20 for all 5 sessions, plus £10 for 5x parking permit.

Wednesday 29th Spring Plant Fair Broxwood Court, Pembridges, HR6 9JJ. 10.30am4pm. Join us for a special day out in the beautiful Broxwood Court gardens. Specialist nurseries, plantsmen and makers of garden related products will inspire those who wish to find unusual, interesting plants early in the season. Delicious homemade refreshments all day. Demonstrations and a chance to win some great prizes in the lucky dip/raffle. Cash and cheque books will be needed for payment. All proceeds will support The Cart Shed, (Reg Charity No 1167802), that uses woodland and horticulture to work with adults and young people experiencing an emotional imbalance in their lives. The Cart Shed was awarded the Queen’s Award in 2017. Entrance: £5. www.thecartshed.co.uk/garden_fair

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Emma Cox Tel: 01905 727902 Email: emma@pw-media.co.uk

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Competition SPRING FESTIVAL GIVES MORE, MORE, MORE The 2020 Ludlow Spring Festival at Ludlow Castle promises to be a real corker - bringing together the very best regional beer, food, music, plus gorgeous classic cars in the form of the Marches Transport Festival.

This is a beer festival and so much more, with over 200 glorious ales from more than 60 local brewers available to taste over the weekend.

For those not so keen on beer, don’t worry there will also be ciders, perry, gins, liqueurs and local wine.

There will also be plenty of artisan food producers too, so don’t wait till the September Festival to stock up on your favourite products.

It’s a great chance to meet producers, hear

LUDLOW SPRING FESTIVAL

about their story and learn why they make their products.

favourites sell out quickly, so the Friday preview is an opportunity not to be missed.

As always, the beer and food are accompanied by a wealth of great music - from jazz and blues, to Latin and folk. There’s also The Marches Transport Festival where you can see all sorts of classic cars – from pre-war gems right through to modern day classics of the 70’s and 80’s.

We have Early Bird and Pre Festival discounts available this year – visit our website for more details: www.ludlowspringfestival.co.uk

This year’s Ludlow Spring Festival runs 16th17th May – and there’s also a special preview evening on Friday 15th May (5pm-9pm) when visitors can ‘Meet the Brewer’. It’s a unique opportunity to talk to brewers about their beers and sample the full selection. With prizes handed out early in the weekend,

See you there! n 2020 OPENING TIMES: Friday 15th May - Meet the Brewer preview night - 5pm to 9pm Saturday 16th May - 10am to 9pm Sunday 17th May - 10am to 5pm To be in with a chance to win one of six pairs of Adult Any Day tickets to Ludlow Spring Festival at Ludlow Castle please visit the Three Counties Now Facebook page.

WWW.LUDLOWSPRINGFESTIVAL.CO.UK

Visit the Three Counties Now Facebook page for details on how to enter! n 26 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020

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n 28 | Three Counties Now | Issue Three | March - April 2020