Worcestershire NOW - MAY 2021

Worcestershire

Now Audley Ellerslie Luxury Retirement Village, Great Malvern

See page 29 and visit www.audleyvillages.co.uk/now for more information

GET COMPOSTING RECRUITMENT FOR OLDER WORKERS APPLYING FOR STUDENT FINANCE MAY 2021 | ISSUE 206 t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 1 n

NEWS • HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD & DRINK • HEALTH & BEAUTY • GOLDEN YEARS • PUZZLES

n 2 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

Worcestershire

8

Now

18 16 MAY 2021 HOME & GARDEN 8

Spring Greens

14

Get Composting!

16

Painting Your Room

18

Reach For The Sky

20

Secondary Glazing in Listed Buildings

and Conservation Areas

22

Nature Notebook

22 24

GOLDEN YEARS 24

Good Recruitment For Older Workers

28

Thinking of Your Independence

EDUCATION 30

34

Applying For Student Finance

LIVING HISTORY 34

How County Soldiers Helped

Bring an End to the War in Europe

PUZZLES 36

30

Criss-Cross! Sudoku! Wordsearch!

WO RC E S T E R S H I R E

NOW 01905 723011

nowmagazines.co.uk PW Media & Publishing Ltd

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

ADVERTISING Rachel Seabright 01905 727900 rachel@pw-media.co.uk Lis Gardner Tel: 01905 727901 Email: lis@pw-media.co.uk

Kate Gilmartin Tel: 01905 727904 Email: kate@pw-media.co.uk

DESIGN Paul Blyth paul@pw-media.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Daisy Bennett Wendy Carter Botany Bay Nurseries

The Centre for Ageing Better Discover History The Downs Ludlow Assembly Rooms Midlands Air Ambulance Oddbox Midlands PTES Student Finance England TPG DisableAids Ltd Worcester County Council Wychavon Leisure

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 Worcestershire Now magazine t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | 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

A GRAND WAY TO SAVE LIVES IN

HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE As part of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s 30th anniversary celebrations, and due to a community fundraising shortfall over the last 12 months, the vitally important service is asking people across Herefordshire and Worcestershire to join in the fun and play its Lifesaving Lottery.

The local charity, which responds to an average of 31 lifesaving missions in Herefordshire and Worcestershire per week, has an established lottery scheme which boasts almost 69,000 members, 36 per cent of which reside in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. With chances for participants to play more than once, the current total of live numbers played on a weekly basis is in excess of 95,000, funding four out of ten critically important missions.

The scheme has increased in popularity over the last three years. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, the Lifesaving Lottery raised over £3.8 million** in 2020 funding 1,290 air ambulance and 2,580 critical care car lifesaving missions. This popular way to support the charity is enhanced because for a donation of £1 per, the supporter also has the opportunity to win prizes – either a jackpot cash prize of £1,000 or four prizes of £25.

Emma Gray, chief operating officer for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Its thanks to the kindness of local people, like the supporters of our Lifesaving Lottery, we are able to continue making critical care missions possible and saving lives across the Midlands. This year has been exceptionally challenging for us all, which is why we offer this additional way for support the charity, which is mutually beneficial as the supporter also has the chance to win money each week,

while helping to fund our extremely important pre-hospital service.” n

To find out how you can get involved and play the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity Lifesaving Lottery, please visit: midlandsairambulance.com/lottery

and

follow the organisation on social media.

For

full

terms

and

conditions,

visit:

midlandsairambulance.com/lottery

Secret Gardens of Ludlow Sunday 4th July 2021, 12noon - 6.00pm After the disappointment of having to cancel last year’s event owing to Covid, we are delighted once more to offer a selection of gardens, not normally open to the public, for Secret Gardens of Ludlow.

Ten delightful private gardens, all within walking distance of the town centre, will open their gates for this year’s popular fund raising event. Diverse in setting, style and size, the gardens range from an elegant courtyard to a meadow sweeping down to the river Teme, and everything in between. n 4 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

Breakfast, lunch, coffee, tea, early evening food and wine on sale at the sparkling new Bill’s kitchen, part of the newly refurbished Ludlow Assembly Rooms, it’s entrance now in Castle Square. Bill’s Kitchen is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm. Book for breakfast or early evening food and wine manager@billskitchenludlow.uk.

Lunch is first come first served. For menus visit www.billskitchen.uk

Rooms Box Office, 1 Mill Street, SY8 1AZ.

Tickets/map £10 gives entry to all gardens, available from early June at Ludlow Assembly

for meetings, workshops and a wide range of

01584 878141 or at the gardens on the day.

(The entrance to the box office is now in Castle Street).

Ludlow Assembly Rooms is an independent charity.

This lively arts and entertainment

centre offers a full and varied programme of streamed performances, live theatre, music, comedy and children’s events. community activities. n

Plus space

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 5 n

HERE & NOW

Survey local riverbanks this spring to help save endangered water voles Wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered

90% of the population was lost between the 1980s

their signs. To find out more and to take part in

Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers across

and 1990s alone - so they really need our help.

England, Scotland and Wales to search for

Due to lockdown last spring, we were unable to

the survey, visit www.ptes.org/watervoles

sightings and signs of water voles along local

survey water voles, meaning we now have a gap

riverbanks, canals and other inland waterways,

in our dataset. Finding out where water voles are

from the 15th April – 15th June 2021.

is crucial to their conservation, so now more than ever we need feet on the ground to help us look

Water voles used to be a familiar feature of Britain’s inland water networks, but loss of suitable habitat and the arrival of non-native American mink in the 1980s and 1990s drove them out of their former

for these adorable riverside residents to see how

riverbank and waterway homes, decimating them.

they’re faring.”

PTES set up the National Water Vole Monitoring

conservationists find where water voles are living,

Programme in 2015 to help counter this, building

how their populations are changing each year,

To take part, individuals, ‘bubbles’ or households

on work previously carried out by the Vincent

and most importantly, where they are in most

are asked to select one of the 850 pre-selected

need of help.

sites close to their home, which can be found

Wildlife Trust.

online. If there isn’t a pre-selected site close by,

Henrietta continues: “Despite the shocking

PTES needs to build on the survey data gathered

new sites on a local waterway can be registered.

statistics, knowing the reasons behind the decline

since 2015 to create a long-term picture of how

Volunteers are asked to walk along the riverbank

means it’s in our power to reverse it. By restoring

water voles are faring, especially after having

looking for sightings of water voles, listening

bankside vegetation and connecting patches

to cancel last year’s spring survey season. The

out for the characteristic ‘plop’ as they enter

of existing habitat across the landscape, water

charity hopes that the positive relationship

the water, or spotting the signs they leave

voles can be successfully encouraged to return

people developed with nature during lockdown

behind, such as footprints, droppings, latrines

to our waterways. With the help of the public

will mean the public are keen to get involved and

or bankside burrows. Surveyors are also asked to

this spring, we hope to better understand where

help look for these endearing creatures, or their

record any sightings or signs of American mink

water voles are living so we can best protect

signs, this spring.

and otters, both predators of water voles.

them – and hopefully, one day they will become

Henrietta Pringle, Key Species Monitoring &

No previous experience is needed, as there are

a common sight on our riverbanks again.” n

Data Officer at PTES, explains: “Water voles are

detailed survey guidelines and online training

To find out more and to take part, visit:

Britain’s fastest declining mammal – a staggering

materials to help you identify water voles and

www.ptes.org/watervoles.

This survey, which is part of PTES’ National Water

Vole

Monitoring

Programme,

helps

ODDBOX ENTERS THE MIDLANDS WITH ‘ODD’ VEG BOX IN A BID TO SAVE OVER 35 THOUSAND TONNES OF FOOD WASTE BY 2025 Having already rescued nearly 14 thousand tonnes

from going to waste and 15 million kgs of carbon

favourite during Spring, and is the perfect

of food from being wasted, Oddbox is now

emissions would be avoided. That equates to the

example of a crop that needs a lot of care and

offering people in the Midlands the chance to join

amount of water that 19,454 people drink in their

attention. Over the two harvest months, there

its mission to fight food waste and climate change

lifetime and the equivalent to the emissions of

are many factors that could lead to waste. As

powering 3,581 homes all year.

the temperature rises the asparagus growth can

Oddbox,

which

rescues

and

delivers

the

accelerate and this is a crop which needs to be

delicious ‘too odd’ or ‘too many’ fruit and

On the expansion, Emilie Vanpoperinghe, Co-

vegetables

has

Founder and CEO of Oddbox, said: We’re

announced its expansion into the Midlands,

delighted to be expanding Oddbox into the

including Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester

Midlands, grow our community of people doing

and Worcester*. Oddbox has been operating its

good for the planet and support our growers by

weekly rescue missions in London and the South

rescuing delicious ‘odd’ fruit and veg from going

East for the last five years and has delivered

to waste. We’re committed to helping people

This is why we’re pleased to be a supply partner of

over two million boxes of ‘odd’ produce (aka

live more sustainably – widening our reach into

Oddbox. Better for us, as we’re paid for delicious

the stuff that’s ‘too big’, ‘too ugly’ or ‘wrong

the Midlands means we can have a greater

asparagus that we couldn’t sell otherwise. And

collective impact. Knowing that, according to

better for the planet, as we reduce food waste

the Drawdown Project, fighting food waste is the

along the way.

directly

from

growers,

colour’) during that time. Having already saved 13,790 tonnes of food from going to waste, the equivalent of how much food 29,977 people would eat in a year, Oddbox is expanding its delivery radius to an additional 1.5 million+ households across the Midlands.

If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions**, which is why the Oddbox mission to help reduce food waste at the farm level is so important. With the climate change crisis only becoming more and more urgent, signing up to Oddbox is a small action people in the Midlands can now take to join a growing community making a big impact. In fact, if every household in the new

number one solution to reverse the climate crisis, this gives us hope that, together, we will leave the planet in a better place for our children.

harvested when ready. Naturally this can lead to surplus product... On the other hand, some of the spears grow naturally with a curvature, some grow too thick and some too small for the specifications of the supermarkets.

With the expansion, Oddbox is also hiring five employees in new roles within the company in the Midlands and extending its partnership with

Beyond serving delicious fruit and veg to people

Birmingham-based Minor, Weir and Willis as

in the Midlands, allowing them to ‘eat good,

fresh produce suppliers and packers. Its delivery

do good and stay odd’, Oddbox is bringing a

partner G Allegro will also be hiring new local

boost to the region’s economy by partnering

drivers familiar with the area of expansion to

with local farms, packaging and delivery firms.

ensure for smooth delivery for customers.

Worcestershire-based asparagus grower Red Star Growers, is one of the local Oddbox suppliers who will be bringing its delicious asparagus directly to new Midlands customers.

People can join the Oddbox Midlands waiting list now to be the first in line, with delivery bookings live from the 28th April at www.oddbox.co.uk/ .

Join the Oddbox mission to ‘Eat good. Do good.

Oddbox radius signed up for one medium box,

Jon Newell, Account Manager at Red Star

Stay odd’ with boxes starting at £10.99 for up to

over 1 billion litres of water would be prevented

Growers, said: Asparagus is a British seasonal

nine varieties of fruit or veg. n

n 6 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

ANDREW ALEXANDER GARDEN DESIGN NDH Hort. (Pershore)

G LO AR W HERE & NOW DE M NS AIN A TE SP N EC AN IA CE LI TY

THREE TIMES ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEDAL WINNER Let me design your dream garden, tailored to your individual style, budget and needs.

• Full standalone garden design available from design to construction • Low maintenance gardens a speciality • 3D freehand designs • Covering Herefordshire & Worcestershire • 20 years experience

T: 07968 371828 | E: aaoutdoors@live.co.uk | www.aaoutdoors.co.uk Find us on Facebook at Andrew Alexander Outdoors for an| extensive gallery of photos7 n t @WorcestershireNow G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk

HOME & GARDEN

s n e e r G g n i r p S

le

mp

si the

nd ic a t e esth me. a e o d E rysi ceful h PAG t n THE u R a o E e OV ED ith c and p w INU T , N e n CO en gre a sere g n hi te eryt u crea v e yo in self o help r u o t nd y life,

rou

Sur

Heritage Bathrooms - Victoria suite with fitted bath www.heritagebathrooms.com n 8 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

HOME & GARDEN

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 9 n

HOME & GARDEN

Beckworth Table Lamp (£95) pictured with Evie Mirror (Oval - Arriving in July) www.darlighting.co.uk/laura-ashley-lighting

Beautiful greens and bold

harmony, freshness and tranquility as well as

florals are everywhere this

nature and the outside world.

spring. No room in the house is spared from the serene green shades.

From pastel colours to deep emerald hues, there is nothing more calming than an element of nature seeping thrugh your

James Hare are a designer fabrics specialists for interior decoration and fashion fabric.

Their creative director, Saffron Hare, explains; “Green is an extremely calm, positive colour

home. Match that with some flashes of

as it stimulates thoughts of balance, growth

florals and you have the basis of the spring

and restoration in colour psychology. This

green trend.

colour immediately brings nature to mind

A fresh and serene home Green is considered the most restful color

and it’s such a refreshing way to bring the outdoors in.”

for the eye, and can bring about a feeling

The natural world

of calm and peacefulness to a home when

Bringing elements of the natural world inside

used in interior design. It symbolizes growth,

our homes, could be the way to bring a

n 10 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

sense of calm to your surroundings. Evoke the feeling of walking through a garden meadow and having the fresh sun on your face. Pair with yellows or pale pink tones to really brighten up your room. In its basic form, the trend cottagecore came about from people wanting to get back to a simple way of living and be at one with nature. Think open fields and pressed flowers and tea parties; a romantisiced version of how we can find joy in the simple things. Fox & Ivy at Tesco have a selection of elegantly designed dinner sets, transforming any room into a beautiful space. Their hummingbird teapot made from CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

HOME & GARDEN

n Innovative Design n Competitive Pricing n 40 years Experience n Free 3D Cad design Service n Professionally operated by caring tradesmen n Please check our customer reviews on our website n Every Contract Fully Project Managed

Lifetime Guarantee on installation work Contact Chris direct on 07791 661 347 E: chris@crgkitchens.co.uk

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Worcestershire

Now

If you would like to advertise in our next issue please contact our sales team.

Rachel Seabright

Lis Gardner

rachel@pw-media.co.uk

lis@pw-media.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727900

Tel: 01905 727901

Kate Gilmartin Tel: 01905 727904

kate@pw-media.co.uk

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 11 n

HOME & GARDEN Fine China with floral and silver design with matching tableware range available.

One of the best ways to create the feeling of being outside is to bring plants and flowers into your home. Pick flowers from your garden and place them in a vase to put on your window sill. Peonies and tulips are perfect to pick in May and come in a wondrous variety of colour to enhance your home. And as a bonus, plants inside the home freshen the air, filter out pollutants and release oxygen.

Don’t forget the detail The key is in the details when it comes to a fresh spring design. No matter what shade you decide to try, or how minimal you like your home, there are beautiful pieces that you can add to create the maximum effect.

Think hand drawn art, simple floral designs, hand embroidered cushions and blankets.

Boutique and bold Heritage Bathrooms have created a beautiful and timeless bathroom suite that exudes romantic opulence, full of deep greens and a wonderful floral masterpeice in their Painterly wallpaper from Ellie Cashman. Shown as the main image the whole aesthetic creates a

bathroom with a high-end boutique feel.Then you can add your own personal touches with flowers, accessories, candles and trinkets.

For a unique and vintage twist on the floral trend, Caroline Inchyra creates a range of unique and timeless fabrics and accessories inspired by antique fabrics. From the original archive inspired linens first released in 2012, the Inchyra range has grown to include pure Scottish wools alongside co-ordinating cushions, throws and lampshades. Her Dianthus / Vintage Duck Egg pattern (right) is an example of her fabulous collection.

If a bold green colour scheme feels a bit too daunting for you, you can always bring in element of green to a neutral pallette. A simple cushion or a piece of art hung on your wall to create that feeling of being outside.

Linen Vintage Colourway Duck Egg www.inchyra.com

The Laura Ashley Beckworth table lamp in Polished Nickel Lattice is a modern lamp base in a gorgeous lantern style. A slick, curved lattice in vintage polished nickel encasing a clear glass cylinder gives this table light a contemporary style that enhances any interior theme. n

By Daisy Bennett

Fox & Ivy Hummingbird Teapot, £12 www.tesco.com

How many parents are not installing safety equipment to prevent accidents occurring A new report by The Compensation Experts has questioned parents on the safety features they have and haven’t installed in their homes to help reduce accidents.

The % of parents not installing safety equipment around the home, and the potential hazards this can cause: The Compensation Experts questioned 1000 parents with children to reveal how many homes aren’t installing injury preventing equipment such as stair gates.

The below table reveals the percentage of parents who have not installed basic protection features around the home, as well as the hazards this can cause: Hob safeguard • 50% of parents have never installed a hob safeguard • 16% of parents state that their children have burnt themselves on a hob before Table corner guards • 42% of parents have never installed rubber table corner guards.

• 27% of parents state that their children have injured themselves by hitting their heads on table corners. n 12 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

Cupboard safety locks • 41% of parents have never installed cupboard safety locks • 13% of parents state that their children have accidentally consumed detergent pods Electrical plug socket guards • 40% of parents have never installed electrical plug socket guards • 13% of parents state that their children have injured themselves on electrical sockets before Stair gate • 37% of parents have never installed a stair gate • 33% of parents state that their children have injured themselves falling on the stairs Bed/crib barriers • 34% of parents have never installed bed/ crib barriers • 23% of parents state that their children have injured themselves falling from a bed or crib.

The most dangerous rooms in the house The survey of 1000 parents revealed that the most common room for an accident to occur is the living room, with 43% of parents stating their child has injured themselves in this room.

The most dangerous rooms in the home, based on accidents are:

Living room - 42% Garden - 37% Bedroom - 32% Kitchen - 30% Hallway - 24% Bathroom - 21% Garage - 13% Injury Prevention Top Tips Cupboard safety locks: These inexpensive plastic locks will prevent children from opening cupboards and trapping their fingers.

Hob safeguard: Place childproof covers on oven hobs and stoves to prevent nasty burns.

Electric plug sockets guard: Keep all electrical cables out of reach and insert plastic socket covers to prevent your child touching electrical outlets.

Rubber corner guard: Childproof all sharp corner edges with rubber corner guards to prevent head bumps and injuries to the eye.

Baby gate: A baby gate is an efficient way to stop children getting into a room on their own. A baby gate will allow you to rest easy, knowing that your child is safe.

Full information at: the-compensationexperts.co.uk/hidden-household-dangers/

HOME & GARDEN

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Spa Decorators Limited, based in Droitwich Spa was established in 1993 and has serviced the local community for over 25 years.

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t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 13 n

HOME & GARDEN

Get Composting!

Approximately, only 1 in 4 households composts their green waste, yet around 40% of the average waste bin could be composted. Along with other garden waste, this could provide a garden with its own free, organic growing material! If you fancy producing your very own nutrient-rich compost at the same time as being sustainable, then this is definitely worth a go! Worcestershire County Council offer subsidised compost bins from £15.00 to start you on your composting journey. air, makes it better at holding on to water

What is compost?

Compost

up

of

and stops it from eroding away; so, it’s great

such

as

to add to the soil in the borders and pots in

fruit, vegetables, leaves, twigs and grass

your garden. It also works well to feed your

that has broken down in the presence of

lawn, as well as fruit bushes and trees.

organic

is

made

matter

-

air, so it is called aerobic decomposition.

The breakdown of the materials is carried out by millions of bacteria, fungi and microscopic organisms, as well as ants, worms and other ‘minibeasts’. One gram of compost can be home to millions of microscopic creatures!

Why compost?

Each compost bin diverts 150kg of waste a year, creating free, top quality compost at the same time. Emissions from trucks and processing are also reduced and it means less peat compost is being purchased. In the UK, more than 24 million wheelbarrows of peat are used every year. Extracting peat destroys wildlife habitats and releases thousands of tonnes of CO2, something we

Where to put the bin The perfect position for a compost bin is ideally in a semi-shaded position on bare earth, but it doesn’t have to be. It is best if water can drain away, but small creatures can get in from underground.

How to Compost The golden rule is to get the right balance of “greens” (which are nitrogen-rich, moist and rot down very quickly) and “browns” (which are carbon-rich but take longer to break down on their own). Get this right

it, provides structure and airflow as well as helping to absorb excessive moisture.

Which bin?

There are many different types of compost bin and “hot” bins which compost all food waste. The standard “dalek” bin is the most popular and is subsidised by Worcestershire County Council via Get Composting at www.getcomposting.com.

For more information on composting and the types of bins available please visit www.letswasteless.com or for more indepth advice Garden Organic have lots of information at www.gardenorganic.org.uk n Content produced by Elisabeth Johnston Let’s Waste Less in Worcestershire Volunteer

and you don’t even need to turn it to add air. If you add too much green or food waste, the contents of your compost bin could become slimy and smelly. Mixing browns to

really need to stop doing in a climate crisis.

“GREENS”

“BROWNS”

AVOID

DEFINITELY NOT

Making compost is a closed loop cycle: you

Grass clippings

Straw

Meat

Crisp packets

are the waste producer, processor and user;

Plant trimmings

Pine needles

Fish

Plastic bags

in other words, you turn your waste into

Weed stalks and leaves

Wood chips

Cooked food

Any plastic

something else which you can then use.

(not roots or seeds)

Autumn Leaves

Bread

Milk or juice cartons

Raw fruit and veg scraps

Wood prunings

Bones

Cling film

Each year tonnes of home compostable

Crushed eggshells

Torn cardboard

Pasta

Glass

waste are disposed of in residents’ bins, or

Hair

Sawdust

Liquids (custard, gravy

Metal

even worse, the recycling bins, which can

Poultry manure

Shredded or scrunched

etc.)

Cat and dog poo

Flower and plant

paper

Dairy products

Nappies

remains

Paper towels

Thick woody material

Coke and ash

contaminate a whole load. This is a waste of a good resource and of taxpayers’ and councils’ money.

Uses of compost It improves the soil in your garden by adding n 14 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

Egg boxes

Diseased plants

Straw based manure

Perennial weeds

Vegetarian pet bedding

Weed seed heads

Coffee grounds (loose) and tea bags (not plastic)

Receipts

HOME & GARDEN

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 15 n

HOME & GARDEN

Painting Your Room Are you looking to change up the colour of your room this spring? We give you the five steps to help you try and create that professional look at home.

1. Prepare your room Once you have chosen the perfect colour for your room, you’ll need to prepare to protect your room from damage to the furniture and floor. There is nothing worse than doing a beautiful job to your walls then realising your brand new sofa now has an interesting green splodge on the arm. For starters, wear old clothes including a hat to protect yourself and your hair from having a brand new hair colour. Make sure all furniture that can be moved easily is removed from the room that you are painting, and anything else covered fully with old sheets. If there are any imperfections on the walls, they will need to be filled in before you start any painting. You can use a filler or a putty to smooth out any lumps and bumps and let it dry completely.

The space needs to be well ventilated or if the fumes are particularly strong, it is advised to wear a meask.

2. Apply tape Painters tape is key in order for you to not get any mess on surfaces that you don’t want painted. It forms a barrier and is a guide to where you want the paint to go up to. The tape needs to be pressed down firmly to prevent bleed through. No matter how neat you feel you are with a paintbrush, there will n 16 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

always be paint where you don’t want it if you don’t use tape. It is important to use the right tape as some are specifically made for textured surfaces.

completely dry, sand down any lumps,

3. Prime and paint ceiling Always start with the ceiling first. Use latex primer to help seal the wall and prevent the spread of mold. Use a roller to spread the primer acroos the ceiling. When the primer is completely dry, it is then time to start applying the paint . Use a paintbrush to cut in the edges where the ceiling meets the wall, allowing for full coverage that the roller might not reach. Load the paint try regularly and work in a grid-like pattern to ensure an even coat, varying the direction to avoid overlaping marks. Don’t roll directly over your head and make sure any splatters are wiped with a damp cloth.

5. Paint the walls

4. Prime and sand walls Primer for your walls is essential especially if you want to go from a dark to a light colour. Cut in with your paintbrush around the corners of your room and then pour the primer paint into a paint tray. Start painting the primer in 3x3ft sections, working top to bottom, one section at a time until the area is covered. Try to cover as much as you can while the primer is still wet, overlapping areas of wet primer. When the primer is

bumps and ridges. This will ensure for a smooth finish when painting the walls. Wipe the wall clean.

When all the preparatory work has been done, it’s time to grab your painting tools.

Make sure you have enough paint for two coats, start painting one wall at a time. You’ll find that the coats will have a smoother finish if you take each wall at a time. Work your roller in V or W shapes , working back and forth to give the best coverage. Blend the sections as you go give an even finish.

Be sure to have a mixing tool on hand to stir your paint if it has been sitting around for a long time as paint left to stand will affect the colour and finish. n

HOME & GARDEN

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 17 n

HOME & GARDEN

Reach For The Sky With Climbing Plants Climbing plants are a great addition to any garden.

Use climbers to add interest to bare fences and walls. A covering of beautiful flowers tumbling over an archway, pergola or gateway adds a real feeling of romance and a hint of mystery.

Clematis are quite thirsty plants so give them plenty of water, especially while they are establishing. It is also a good idea to feed them with either a specialist Clematis feed, or you can use a rose or general flowering shrub food.

There are many climbing plants to choose from and the garden centre has a great selection in at this time of year.

When you are locating your Clematis remember it will need to be trained up a support using clips or ties at regular intervals until it is established, this will minimize damage to the stems and will help it find its own way.

Much-loved flowering climbers include Clematis, Honeysuckle, Wisteria, Jasmine and Hydrangea Petiolaris.

Clematis are very versatile. They come in an array of stunning colours and there are varieties for every location in the garden, even including shady spots. Clematis are most commonly deciduous plants which lose their leaves in the winter, but you will find evergreen varieties too, providing all year round colour.

A much requested species of Clematis in the garden centre is Montana, or the Mountain Clematis. This is a deciduous variety which will grow happily in full-sun or partial shade, producing masses of small pink or white flowers in late spring.

Wisteria likes a sunny spot and is perfect growing against a south-facing wall. If your garden is not in full sun it will still grow well but may not produce quite as many flowers.

For the best results make sure you give your Wisteria plenty of water and feed it in spring.

Another firm favourite type of climbing plant is Lonicera, or Honeysuckle. Once again, there are many varieties of Honeysuckle to choose from, including deciduous and evergreen varieties. They will produce masses of gorgeous scented flowers which are followed by brightly coloured berries.

Honeysuckle likes a well-drained soil in a sunny spot, but it will grow in partial shade.

Just like Clematis it needs a trellis or frame to climb up and will need the help of ties or clips to secure it. Honeysuckle can look sensational growing up a tall obelisk or over an archway, providing a lovely fragrance and a splash of seasonal colour.

There are lots of other varieties of climbing plants for every garden.

Ivy is the traditional choice and needs no training, it is a self-clinging climber that will grip to most surfaces, easily finding its own way.

There are lovely climbing and rambling varieties of Roses that will grow to quite a height over a trellis or framework and produce an abundance of the prettiest flowers with a delicate fragrance too.

Whether you are looking to create colour across an arch or pergola, or simply cover the side of a plain shed, you can’t go wrong with climbing plants. n

Clematis is happy in most types of soil as long as it is well-drained, it does not like sitting in water-logged soil. It likes its roots to be kept cool too, so if it planted in a sunny spot it is a good idea to cover the roots with bark, gravel or even decorative stones. n 18 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

Well-known for its weeping cascades of mauve, pink or white blossom, Wisteria is a free-growing favourite that looks stunning. It is fast growing and requires some pruning to keep it in good order, ideally giving it a trim twice a year. It can sound daunting but it is very satisfying and well worth the effort.

Botany Bay Nurseries, Garden Centre & Café Edgioake Lane, Astwood Bank, Redditch. B96 6BG 01527 893885 www.botany-bay.co.uk Find us on Facebook & Instagram

HOME & GARDEN

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 19 n

HOME & GARDEN

Secondary Glazing in Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

Many older properties in rural locations suffer from draughts and heat loss through their ageing windows. Homeowners want to keep their original windows as they keep the charm and appearance of heritage buildings whether they are large, country properties or town centre cottages.

Replacing such windows with uPVC units while reducing heat loss, detracts from the character of the property and may not be permitted in buildings with listed status or in conservation areas.

n 20 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

Secondary glazing is an independent window installed on the room side of existing windows - the original windows remain in position in their unaltered form.

Lansec specialise in installing bespoke secondary glazing in such properties achieving all the thermal benefits of plastic replacements. They are also efficient in reducing outside noise more effectively than double glazing.

Lansec M.D. Dave Priscott says, “We install secondary glazing which match any existing

windows including hinged units, vertical sliding ‘sash’ and arched windows. We care about maintaining the appearance of the original window so our secondary glazing units perfectly match the host window making it barely noticeable from either inside or outside.”

If you suffer from heat loss or outside noise, it’s worth contacting Lansec for a secondary glazing quote – it may not cost as much as you think. n

HOME & GARDEN

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 21 n

NATURE NOTEBOOK

Broad-bodied Chaser © Gail Hampshire

Dragon Spotting If you’re lucky enough to have a pond in your garden or local area, why not go dragon spotting...

As spring warms up there can be few nicer things to do than whiling away an afternoon alongside a pond. There’s something relaxing about sitting by water and if you’re visited by dragons, so much the better. Dragonflies have a long lineage, with fossils indicating their presence as long ago as 250million years! The largest in the fossil record was about the size of a sparrowhawk but today’s UK dragons top the charts with just a 10cm wingspan. As April turns to May you’re likely to bump into a broad-bodied chaser or two.

As their name suggests, broad-bodied chasers are quite stocky dragonflies with broad, flattened abdomens and each of the lattice-like four wings has a dark patch at the base where they meet the body. Unlike some species of wildlife, it’s easy to identify the males from the females and doing so allows you a glimpse into their behaviour. Females are a bright golden yellow and the males, although they’re yellow when they emerge, turn a dusty pale blue with two pairs of yellow spots on the side. This blue colouring is actually made up of tiny particles of fat that are arranged on the body like roof tiles; over time the colour rubs off and reveals more of the

KEEP UP TO DATE Worcestershire Wildlife Trust @WorcsWT t worcestershirewildlifetrust G worcswildlifetrust.co.uk w

yellow underneath. Once you’ve spotted males and females, keep a look out for their different behaviour – females will stroke the water with their tail in order to lay eggs whilst a male may hover nearby to guard her from other males.

n 22 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

Broad-bodied chasers are often one of the first dragonflies to colonise newly dug ponds. These pioneers of new habitats can complete the full lifecycle within twelve months (it takes some species three years or more) and the larvae, which normally live partially buried in silt at the bottom of the waterbody, can even tolerate some drying out of the pond.

If you’ve got a garden pond, or you’re able to ask permission of someone who does, why not sink a stick or two around the edges to help watch these delightful insects. Not only will this help the nymphs to emerge from the water but it provides a perfect perch from which the adults can hunt…and offers you the perfect spot to watch and photograph them.

We know that broad-bodied chasers favour ponds and small lakes but we’d love to know more about where they’re found across Worcestershire – are they more or less common than we think? You can help us with this. By completing our short online form (www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wildlife-sightings) and submitting a picture (a quick snapshot will do) as well as information about where you saw it, how many you saw and what the habitat was like, you’ll help us to know more about these magnificent flying hunters.

Are garden ponds even more important for dragons than we thought? n To report your sighting of a broad-bodied chaser, visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wildlife-sightings

NATURE NOTEBOOK

Worcestershire

Now

If you would like to advertise in our next issue please contact our sales team.

Rachel Seabright

Lis Gardner

Kate Gilmartin

Tel: 01905 727900 Email: rachel@pw-media.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727901 Email: lis@pw-media.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727904 Email: kate@pw-media.co.uk

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 23 n

GOLDEN YEARS

Good Recruitment

For Older Workers

50 years after Sir Ian McKellen first played the role of Hamlet, he is set to take up the part once again when theatres reopen this summer. The production has been cast ‘age, colour and gender-blind’, benefiting actors and audiences alike. The aim of having the best person for the role whatever their age is just as worthy an aim in the workplace as it is on the stage.

Unfortunately, we know that just as with actors, older workers get typecast and pigeonholed in certain roles, and too often don’t get cast at all.

People in their 50s and 60s do not think that recruitment is working for them In the toughest job market in recent memory this really matters. The Centre for Aging Better in thier latest research, ‘Too much experience’, shows that a third of people in their 50s and 60s feel their age disadvantages them in applying for jobs, higher than any other age group.

were put off work altogether or went into

sexism, were also more likely to endorse

early retirement. Most alarmingly, 43% said

‘succession-based ageism’ – the idea that

it had affected their health and wellbeing,

older people should step aside to improve

and more than two thirds (68%) said it had

younger people’s job opportunities.

And this doesn’t only affect people for one role or one job, this has long standing impacts long after a rejection letter is sent. The nationally representative survey found that of people aged 50-69 who had experienced age discrimination in recruitment, a third (33%) felt stuck in insecure work and two thirds (64%) were financially less well of. Three quarters (76%) were put off applying for jobs and a third n 24 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

undermined their confidence.

Older workers may be there because they

The relationship between age and inclusion

have been there a long time, but they aren’t

is a complex one. Employers look around the

often hired there. Not everyone who is older

office, or the shop floor, (or these days the

at work is senior. Many people do not make

Zoom gallery view) and they see plenty of

it to the top, or even off the bottom with

people of different ages. They also see lots

research showing that older workers are

of people who are older than average at the

more likely to be stuck in low pay for longer.

top of the organisation. If they see barriers to inclusion at workplace there are other factors that feel much more pressing.

Applying for a job when you’re younger feels like an opportunity, applying for a job when you’re older feels like a risk. It feels

A

study

published

in

the

American

like a risk because with any change comes

Psychological Association found that people

uncertainty. People have something to lose

who were most likely to oppose ‘injustices

and responsibilities to keep – mortgages,

and inequality in society’, and who were most likely to disapprove of racism and

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

GOLDEN YEARS

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Now

If you would like to advertise in our next issue please contact our sales team.

Rachel Seabright

Lis Gardner

rachel@pw-media.co.uk

lis@pw-media.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727900

Tel: 01905 727901

Kate Gilmartin Tel: 01905 727905

kate@pw-media.co.uk

Pavement Scooters | Road Legal Scooters | Powerchairs Wheelchairs | Rise Chairs | Stairlifts | Walking Aids | Bathing Aids

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 25 n

GOLDEN YEARS

less than half the rate of people in their 30s

and having a less diverse workforce all have

and 40s. This results in a lack of job mobility

business costs. In terms of the bottom line,

and people being stuck in jobs that become

a poor hire at middle-management level is

unsustainable.

estimated to cost a business over £130,000 to resolve. As employers try to recover these

Changing our thinking

are costs they can’t afford.

about changing jobs

dependents, parents to care for, reputations to uphold, a working identity to maintain, security in working routines, patterns and conditions. On top of all those perceived risks of change, people shouldn’t also need to look over their shoulder and wonder how other people will judge them because of their age.

A quarter of over 50s in the survey said they had wanted to move jobs, but felt unable to do so because of their age. It is little wonder then that only 0.23% of people over the age of 50 voluntarily move jobs each quarter –

n 26 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

We need opportunities to change jobs no

The Centre have found steps that employers

matter our age, whether to progress, take on

can take to reduce age-bias in recruitment

new challenges, or balance work with other

– considering where they are placing jobs,

needs. People need to move, up, down or

considering whether ‘cultural fit’ means more

sideways based on where they are in their

‘people like us’, using structured interviews

life or their career, but they are often stuck

and processes, and collecting and analysing

because they are seen as too experienced,

the age profile of applicants and recruits. We

set in their ways, or lacking potential.

want to work with employers and recruiters

With more of us living a ‘hundred year life’

to make these work in practice.

it is in all or our interests to make sure that

Many jobs have been lost, others are in

we can move and change jobs free of bias at

limbo. The worst may still be to come but

any point of our working lives. Age bias can

with half of UK employers planning to

affect anyone. The research has found that

recruit this year, we need to make sure that

even applicants in their 20s had been told

we hire back better, for everyone, whatever

that they were ‘too old’ for a role.

their age. n

Time is of the essence for

By Patrick Thomson The Centre for Ageing Better is a charitable foundation, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. Their vision is a society where everyone enjoys later life.

employers and recruits alike Getting

recruitment

right

matters

to

employers as well. Missing out on the best candidate, failing to represent customers

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 27 n

GOLDEN YEARS

Thinking of Your Independence It goes without saying that this winter has been a challenge for many of us and now that hope is on the horizon of better times, we all start to think and dream about what the warmer months may hold for us.

Meeting friends and family is

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the environment which you are likely to use

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your scooter, be that the local shops or even

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We have an extensive range of product to

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From all the team stay safe. n

Our team of assessors are working with

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We offer full bespoke assessments, completely free and with a guarantee of no obligation to

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n 28 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 29 n

EDUCATION

Applying For Student Finance New and returning full time undergraduate students in England should apply online now for their 21/22 academic year’s finance. This academic year, the Student Loans Company (SLC) has funded over 1 million students and anticipates an increase in applications for academic year 21/22. submit

university you are going to, you should apply

• Provide your supporting evidence online -

before

online now at studentfinance.campaign.gov.

To make an application you will need to

for

uk/ Select the course you are most likely to

create an online account and you may be

new students and 25 June for continuing

do and you can update the application later

asked to provide evidence to support your

students) to be confident of having their

if required.

application so don’t forget to submit any

Students their the

should

applications deadline

(21

May

funding in place before their studies start: studentfinance.campaign.gov.uk/

To help students apply we have put together

•

Have

your

important

documents

to hand when applying - Have your National Insurance Number, passport and bank

the following tips for students, their parents

details to hand before you start your

and sponsors.

application as you will be asked for this information as you apply. If you don’t have a

• Apply even if you don’t have a confirmed

bank account in your own name you should

place at university - Even if you don’t know

set one up. You will need it so we can pay

what course you are doing or even which

you your money.

n 30 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

evidence you are asked for. All evidence apart from some forms of ID or residency evidence can be submitted digitally via your online account. We can’t process your application until we have all the evidence we need.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

EDUCATION

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 31 n

EDUCATION

upload it directly from your online account: sfengland.slc.co.uk/currentyearincome

• Understand how much funding you could be entitled to - You can apply for Tuition Fee Loans to cover your fees and Maintenance Loans to help with living costs. Use the student finance calculator to find out how much you could be entitled to www.gov.uk/ student-finance-calculator.

• Find out if you could be eligible for extra support - Extra funding may be available if you have a disability or a child or adult dependant who relies on you financially. www.gov.uk/student-finance/ extra-help

• Keep your contact details up to date – we • Tell us if your household income has

a Current Year Income (CYI) assessment. A

may need to get in touch with you throughout

changed – If you have applied for a

CYI can only be requested once you have

the year with important information, so make

Maintenance Loan based on household

submitted

sure you keep your contact details up to date

income, then your sponsor - usually your

sponsor has also submitted their household

parents or partner- will be asked to provide

income for the 19-20 tax year to support

details of their household income for the

your application too. To do this, visit the

previous tax year. For 21/22 academic year

following link to download a digital version

social media

applications, that’s the 19-20 tax year. If

of the form which will be available once

Students can stay up-to-date with all the latest

your sponsor expects their income to drop

the 20-21 tax year starts in early April,

student finance information by following

by 15% or more, it is possible to request

once you have filled it in you can then

SFE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. n

your

application

ACROSS 4. Samba 10. Rysa Bay 11. Interim 13. Barcode 14. Endless 15. Speak 17. Stonechat 18. Bletchley 22. Springfield 26. Handle 27. Locate 28. Standby 29. Chance 31. Insect 32.

Everlasting 37. Astronaut 39. Blueberry 40. Sable 41. Friends 42. Attempt 43. Plane 44. Schools 45. Bonanza 46. Brief

CRISS-CROSS: DOWN 1. Dynasty 2. Dancing 3. Landscape 5. Accept 6. Baobab 7. Uninstall 8. Healthy 9. Hipster 15. Sagittarius 16. Klein Bottle 19. Agendas 20. Check 21. Inlay 22. Slice 23. Doing 24. Paper 25. Depth 30. Evansdale 31. Invention 33. Ostrich 34. Freedom 35. Renewal 36. Trapeze

ANSWERS

n 32 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

and

your

on your online account.

• Follow Student Finance England (SFE) on

EDUCATION

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 33 n

LIVING HISTORY

Members of the ‘1st Worcs’ in a Normandy field -1944

How County Soldiers Helped Bring an End to the War in Europe In the summer of 2016 we all enjoyed International Travel and walked the streets without a face covering to meet friends for a Coffee! It was also the year when ‘Discover History’ went on a pilgrimage to follow the route of the Worcestershire Regiments, through Normandy, in the days after D Day in 1944.

Today the Normandy countryside is beautiful. As many of the soldiers said in 1944, the countryside was not dissimilar to parts of Worcestershire.

Especially the small picturesque villages and bountiful Orchards. However when you look closer you will always find well-manicured Commonwealth War Cemeteries, solid concrete gun emplacements and churches pock-marked from the heavy fighting.

People

will

always

commemorate

and

remember the D Day landings on June 6th 1944. However the Battle for Normandy went on for weeks and saw some vicious fighting that took the lives of many people - both Combatants and Civilians alike.

Caen was an objective for D Day itself.

The beautiful Medieval Cathedral lay in ruins and was liberated months later than originally planned! n 34 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

The 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment landed at Ver sur Mer on June 22nd 1944. The County Infantry Regiment had a long and proud history dating back to 1694.

actions was at Mouen, at the end of June. The Divisional Commander - General Thomas, praised the Regiment afterwards, saying it was ‘one of the slickest attacks of the whole war.’

Local Gunners from the 179th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery also landed at about the same time. During the battles for Hill 112, these gunners supported their own County Infantry Regiment.

Meanwhile the Yeomanry from Worcestershire supported the airborne troops in a rather stagnant battle area around Ranville and Breville. Their role in supporting the paratroopers was extremely important, as airborne forces were usually lightly armed and equipped.

We must also remember the Queens Own Worcestershire Yeomanry too. After riding into battle during the Great War, they had become the 53rd Air Landing Light Regiment, Royal Artillery. 211 Battery landed by glider, with the famous 6th Airborne Division, in the early hours of D Day. The other Batteries landed by Landing Craft in the days that followed.

The Worcestershire Regiment fought their way inland, through battle scarred farmland and ruinous villages. One of their most famous

The Worcestershire Regiment was heavily involved in the Battles for Hill 112 throughout the long hot summer. By the end of July, these men had seen the most vicious fighting since the actual beach landings back in June.

The Second World War in Europe would last for almost another year and by the end of it memorials would list the names of the dead and missing in their thousands.

LIVING HISTORY Bayeux War Cemetary

When Lockdown eases please do visit the Worcestershire Soldier Galleries in the City Museum and Art Gallery in Worcester. Maybe take a few minutes to reflect on those events, at your nearest War Memorial and maybe sit for a short while in St Georges Chapel inside the beautiful Worcester Cathedral.

Just as the war affected the County in the Second World War, Covid-19 has had a devastating impact too! Just as the war came to an end in 1944, one day soon, we will reflecting on the events that took place in these more recent times.

Please support our Heritage by visiting the vast array of fantastic Museums our County has. Please support the veteran community by buying a poppy on what will hopefully be a more normal Remembrance period in November 2021. n

By Paul Harding Discover History Facebook and YouTube - Discover History Instagram and Twitter -DiscoverHISTPH www.discover-history.co.uk

Discover History is an award winning education and Living History Performance Company based in Worcester. They specialise in the local history of Worcestershire and deliver school workshops and history days, living history performances and talks cross Britain. Their popular walking tours of Worcester will resume after Lockdown at the end of March 2021.

Members of the 53rd Airlanding Light Regiment RA - 1944

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 35 n

Puzzles

CRISS-CROSS

If you get stuck, the answers can be found on page 32 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

10

8

9

11 12

14

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5 letter words ACTOR BRIEF CHECK DEPTH DOING INLAY PAPER PLANE SABLE SAMBA SLICE SPEAK

6 letter words ACCEPT BAOBAB BLONDE CHANCE HANDLE INSECT LOCATE TAILOR

n 36 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

7 letter words AGENDAS ATTEMPT BARCODE BONANZA DANCING DYNASTY ENDLESS FREEDOM FRIENDS HEALTHY HIPSTER INTERIM

OSTRICH RENEWAL RYSA BAY SCHOOLS STANDBY TRAPEZE 9 letter words ASTRONAUT BLETCHLEY BLUEBERRY EVANSDALE INVENTION

LANDSCAPE STONECHAT UNINSTALL 11 letter words EVERYLASTING KLEIN BOTTLE SAGITTARIUS SPRINGFIELD

OUTDOOR POOL IS MAKING A SPLASH THIS SUMMER

Each year thousands flood from

Seb Parker, Lido Manager said: “we are

surrounding areas and some

unbelievably excited to get the lido back

from further afield to enjoy a day

open again after another tough start to the

out with the family at Droitwich Spa Lido. With

year. We open on 1st May, thanks to the

it’s 40m brine-based outdoor pool, it’s not like

support given by Wychavon council and the

swimming in an indoor pool, you’ll feel like

local communities around us, like Friends Of

you’re at the beach.

Droitwich Spa Lido”

The lido team have been working hard to

“We are encouraging everybody to follow the

make all the necessary preparations to reopen

swim england guidelines which recommend

on Saturday 1st May, including new covid

coming beach ready & only using the showers

safety procedures and developing their online

for the minimum amount of time required, to

booking system to allow a quick and easy entry.

ensure that we all stay safe.”

There will be daytime family sessions & early bird sessions available. All sessions will require registering and pre booking online at www.riversfitness.co.uk.

Entry is only £7 per adult and £5 per child. It’s great value for a 2 hour swim and after your session, we highly recommend enjoying a coffee from Little Al’s cafe and a walk round the lido park. n Looking to book a swim or find out more about the lido, by going to www.riversfitness.co.uk/droitwich-spa-lido.

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Worcestershire

Now

If you would like to advertise in our next issue please contact our sales team.

Rachel Seabright

Lis Gardner

rachel@pw-media.co.uk

lis@pw-media.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727900

Tel: 01905 727901

Kate Gilmartin Tel: 01905 727904

kate@pw-media.co.uk

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 37 n

Puzzles

SUDOKU - EVIL

If you get stuck, the answers can be found on page 32 1

8 6

6

1 7

7 8

4 8

8

3

1

9

3 9

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1

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1 9

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7 9

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2 9

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1 3

Find and cross out all the listed words.

The words may go horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and backwards.

4

5

8

2

2 6 6

8

WORD SEARCH

6

2

3 1

7

8 3

S

F

L

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n 38 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021

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Refurbished Showrooms and New Stressless Studio

35 Friar Street, Worcester, WR1 2NA Open: Tues-Sat 9.30am-5pm Mon by appointment only

01905 613515

www.insitufurniture.co.uk

t @WorcestershireNow | G Worcestershire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 39 n

n 40 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 206 | May 2021