30 minute read
HEAR THE MUSIC
well known, Reconnect has been extolling the virtues of inspiring in young people a fascination, understanding and empathy for the natural world. Due to these turbulent times organising outdoor activities has been made more complicated, which is why Richard Scofield of Totnes’ Wild Embers has seen his team change how they usually run their forest school to meet government guidelines. Wild Embers has been running a successful holiday Forest School for the past three years. Richard founded the school in 2017 after he graduated from Dartington’s School for Social Entrepreneurs and completing his Level 3 Forest School Leader qualification at Bridgwater College. Richard, who also has 14 years experience working in care, support and intervention, has been running smaller groups with a maximum of 6 children (usually it is 8-10). The changes have meant Wild Embers are able continue their mission to hold a creative and safe outdoor space, where people can connect to nature, themselves and each other so they can boldly journey into life. Wild Embers are at present running their third round of Boys Fires. A project that was set up to support boys journeying through adolescence; this has been made possible by a strong group of local men volunteering their time and energy. Richard said: “Along with the holiday Forest School this summer Wild Embers ran an Outdoor Provision bringing nature connection and education, in partnership with Inspire Interventions, a Buckfastleigh based company who do amazing work supporting vulnerable young people across Devon. “Wild Embers is very excited to be starting its Outdoor Experimental Learning (OEL) days this autumn! We will be running these in collaboration with Cedarwood Montessori.” The Wild Embers boss is also proud to be launching their Outdoor Intervention Service this year that will bring Nature Connection and positive role modelling, using the Forest School ethos to inform these sessions supporting struggling young people. The Forest School has been well received with Kerry, a parent of one of the children saying: “Wild Embers was a wonderful experience for my child. He was ecstatically happy each time I collected him and felt so safe and included in the group. I felt very reassured leaving him with such warm, caring people too. We look forward to more Wild Embers in the near future (please!).” The team at Wild Embers is working hard to help build its growing network of volunteers, local connections and partnerships that will aid in delivering more Community Days, Men’s Fire Circles and the bigger vision. l Stay in touch and subscribe to their newsletter to find out the latest news at www.wildembers.org and join them in “putting the fire back into the heart of community.” CHRISTIAN Murison founder of The Black Bird Collective who organise local handcrafted alternative-music gigs tells us about finally putting on live music after lockdown. doing most. It’s what I’ve been doing for over 20 years. It’s in my blood. Music brings us all together and there is nothing in this world we need more than unity. So, what happened when I was forced to postpone and cancel shows back in March of this year when lockdown kicked in? No gigs, no festivals, no gatherings... An unplanned pause, one that gave me time to rest, reflect, recharge and rethink everything. After months of no live music, a glimmer of hope came in the form of an email from the team at Dartington asking if myself and my amazing friend and fellow live music promoter Katie Whitehouse could help curate a series of outdoor live gigs. We soon had four dates in August booked with amazing bands eager to play and The Great Lawn Sessions were born. Almost 5 months to the day after their last live gig, Harbottle and Jonas opened the Great Lawn Sessions at Dartington on Thursday August 6. Katie recalls “People sat, spellbound - on rugs and camping chairs - while Devon’s emerging folk stars the Harbottle & Jonas Trio played their unique mix of concertina, harmonium, banjo, stomp box, acoustic guitar, fiddle and cittern with their beautiful and closely intertwined vocal harmonies, telling stories in song from the demise of Hallsands to love in Liverpool.” Working alongside Katie Harbottle & Jonas Trio at the opening Great Lawn Sessions on August 6 photo by Rupert Davies
The Holly Ebony Band Great Lawn Sessions on September 3 photo by
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Forest school for young people
THE benefits of outdoor play are
Live music brings us all together
BRINGING people together to enjoy live music and each other’s company is what I love Craig Whyte Whitehouse on these shows has been amazing and we’ve been working closely with Dartington to fine tune everything about these outdoor gigs as we’ve gone along. There is plenty of space on the lawn for people to space themselves out as much as they need to, the bar is open and delicious menus are dreamed up by the team at the White Hart and served from 6pm. Every event has been very well attended and locals have given some great feedback: “It was a magical event, impeccably organised, by people whose concern is to rescue the arts where possible for the benefit of others.” Katie explained: “The next step for local live music will be to move back indoors. There are clear guidelines for indoor gigs; the main problem going forwards is of course that operating with a limited capacity means that artists, technicians and everyone involved in the live music industry is receiving less money, after a long stretch of little to no income.” Katie: “I’m excited to see how it goes. We’ve all missed live music so much. It’s such an important part of our community, it’s been a joy to help bring it back, alongside Christian. We plan to do everything we can to keep this going and build it until it’s thriving again.” l Christian Murison runs The Black Bird Collective, who have also started putting on live bands outdoors at The New Lion Brewery at Shinners Bridge, Webbers Yard, Dartington. l Katie Whitehouse runs FromtheWhitehouse and has also started organising live indoor gigs for the first time in months at the fabulous Ashburton Arts Centre. l Check out www.blackbirdcollective. co.uk and www.fromthewhitehouse. com and for the Great Lawn Sessions and more events at Dartington see
https://www.dartington.org/whats-on/
Exhibition of moor and river art
ARTWORKS Gallery, in South “I enjoy the portability (and flexibility) Brent, is to host an exhibition of a concertina sketchbook - working of paintings by Sue Ifould, simply in pencil or ink. I also like to who lives in the village, and takes work more messily with charcoal, her inspiration from the nearby paint and crayon on different types moors and coast. A while ago now Sue Ifould ‘blew-in’ from the flat lands of East Anglia. She likes it here in South Brent and has noticed little roots are nosing through the red Devon earth. Sue told us: “I love to draw and paint, write and play the sax and to walk on the moor and by the river. “I’m lucky enough to live in a beautiful place. All I have to do is get out and start walking and and sizes of paper. I want to capture the energy and the spirit of a place. I arrive home with a stack of work and mull it over - sometimes developing these raw ideas through collage. “I love the immediacy of working in watercolour - it’s such an absorbing challenge. But then I also like to experiment on larger pieces of work - working freely and using a variety of media.” l The exhibition, ‘Sing to the Land’ immerse myself in the outdoors. – paintings of moor and river, opens This exhibition at artworks includes on September 29 and runs to October paintings inspired by lockdown 25. Artworks is open Tuesday to rambles by the river in Penstave Saturday 10am – 2pm, other times by Copse and a little further afield up appointment. Phone 01364 649424 on the moor. sue@ifould.co.uk
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ORGANICGARDENING OUR gardening expert JOA GROWER offers advice for many you who have been growing veg for the first time.
Protect your soil with green manure
WELL we have had a to use, just scatter the seed quite very different year this thick over the surface and then year what with the gently rake approx. 3cm of soil pandemic. But for some of you over the seed. You may need to probably one of the best growing put up a few bird scarers (old years you may have had in a CDs or foil trays dangling from long time and for some of you, bamboo canes works well). Cut your first experience of vegetable the rye grass down to the ground growing, so in late winter welcome to you. or early spring Now is your last chance to lift any maincrop potatoes that are still in the ground. Store these in hessian or paper sacks, ensuring you don’t keep any damaged ones as and add to the compost bin. The roots can then be dug into the soil. Leave the bed at least a month before sowing any seeds into it. But it will be okay to plant larger things in. they will rot and Get planting also cause the winter brassicas rest to rot as well. All autumn leeks Creative bird scarers (cabbages) now before October should be pulled and used before is out. Firm them in really well as any hard frosts arrive as they they don’t like to be blown about are not as hardy as winter leeks. in the wind. Taller varieties such Squashes and pumpkins should be as brussels sprouts, broccoli and gathered and stored somewhere kales may even need a cane to dry to be used throughout the support them. Broad beans can winter. Carry on picking any also be sown now direct into the spinach and chards that you may ground or started off in pots or still have, and kale that will also seed trays. These will be ready now be ready. to harvest in the late spring. The You will now probably have lots of empty spaces. Rather than leaving them empty why not sow some green manures? Green manures play an important role in sustainable annual crops and advantage of an Autumn sowing is that the beans will be ready slightly earlier and the tips of the plants are that bit tougher that Blackfly (which they are prone to) tend to leave them alone! increase soil fertility. There are lots Growers Organics is now closed to chose from Clovers, Vetches for the winter, but we will reopen and Tares but the one we tend mid February 2021 for a new to use at Growers Organics is growing season. A big thank you Rye grain, its cheap, easy to get to all our customers and looking hold of (your local health food forward to seeing you all again shop will probably stock it), easy next year.
Joa’s A-Z of Organic Gardening
S is for Soil. Soil is made up of topsoil, subsoil, clay and bedrock. Topsoil contains earthworms and many essential micro-organisms and as this slowly gets stripped away by constant weeding and harvesting you would be left with lifeless, sticky mess with poor drainage. To stop this from happening we need to add bulky organic material such as well rotted manure, garden or purchased compost and leafmould back in to the soil. In nature leaves, annual weeds and wild animal droppings do this naturally!
T is for Time. This is something that most people feel they never have enough of. And they would be right! As there is always something to do on the veggie plot and even more so with an organic vegetable garden or allotment. Usually weeding and lots of it (no weed killers for us). Gardening is very time consuming but I think you would agree it can be so very rewarding especially when you return home with all your lovely produce.
Reconnect’s Organic Gardening column is written by Joa Grower of Growers Organics. Visit www.growersorganics.com for the online shop, or call 01752 881180.
Surveying the land and its wildlife as Sharpham’s rewilding project begins
ANIMALS and plants on the Sharpham Estate near Totnes have been measured, counted and filmed this year – to build a picture of what the land is like before a rewilding project starts. Sharpham Wild for People is a £177k National Lottery Heritage Fund project developed by the charity The Sharpham Trust, which operates the Estate. The project will turn 50 acres of farmland alongside the River Dart on the Estate back to nature, whilst offering people the chance to learn about & experience the process through events and volunteering. But as the project begins, the partners in the project need to see what is happening now – so that they can measure the progress of their rewilding efforts. Ambios Ltd, a company based on the Estate providing nature conservation training, is partnering The Trust in the project. Ambios employees and students carry out activities including mapping the biodiversity of the land and species and habitat identification. These activities have produced findings that tell the story of what the land earmarked for rewilding is like in Spring/Summer 2020: l 30 farmland bird species were recorded, including three species on the British Trust for Ornithology’s UK Red List for birds increasingly at risk of extinction in Britain: song thrush, herring gull and linnet. Birds on the Amber list were also registered at Sharpham – the dunnock & the swift. l 7 different bats were recorded, including our most common, the Pipistrelle, and some of the UK’s rarest bats, the Greater Horseshoes – which hear through their U-shaped noses and are known to forage for food on The Sharpham Estate. l 10 different common butterflies were counted, including Meadow Browns the Peacock & Green-Veined Whites, feeding in hedgerow habitats and dense vegetation. l The hedges & edges of the rewilding land are varied and include broadleaved woodland, plantation woodland, willow, scrub, reedbed and saltmarsh, providing a rich biodiversity. l Grassland surveys show that the land to be rewilded is not as affected by the use of chemicals and intensive agriculture as first thought, making it more favourable for rewilding. The findings are contained in baseline reports that will be used to chart developments against as Sharpham Wild for People progresses. How the land was measured The baseline reports were prepared by supervised trainees at Ambios – including one paid for by the National Lottery Heritage Fund award. Wildlife survey skills are a cornerstone of many careers in nature conservation. From April to June, they surveyed the 50 acres of farmland to be rewilded, working at different times of the day to identify & record species of plant and animal. “Being able to identify stuff is really important,” said Jack Skuse, Ambios Director. “It gives us base-line information to which we can compare future findings. In preparing these reports for us, the trainees are learning the disciplines of wildlife survey work that are the bread & butter of the conservation world.” The land has also been photographed and filmed from above, with drone footage by Devon film-makers Fresh Ground Films. “We’re going to be collecting a visual record of the land so that we can see how it develops over time – that’s going to be really fascinating to see,” said Jack. The current picture and future hopes The land to be rewilded is home to some species of plants and animals but that biodiversity can be significantly increased, says Ambios Director Simon Roper. “We have the potential here to reverse some of the declines we are seeing elsewhere,” he said. “We have a good base from which to start. Our future hope is that we will now see a dramatic increase in both species abundance – actual numbers of individuals - and diversity – the range of species present. Further repeat surveys with new trainees will give us this information. Time will tell. “For example, as we move to become organic with no pesticides being used, we should see an increase in the insect populations found in the dung produced by our livestock – more dung beetles means more potential food for Horseshoe bats. It’s a wonderful illustration of the interconnected world of nature,” he added. Reconnect will keep you updated on the rewilding project as it progresses. l Find out more about Sharpham Wild for People at www. sharphamtrust.org/outdoors/wildfor-people l Ambios Ltd is organisation based at Lower Sharpham Farm on the Sharpham Estate running conservation training schemes which help people develop new skills and understanding about the heritage and biodiversity there. www.ambios.net l The National Lottery Heritage Fund inspires, leads and resources the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future www.heritagefund.org.uk
GOOD news for fans of foraging, Sharpham Trust’s resident forager has her first book out. Brigit-Anna McNeill, who leads nature-connection retreats and foraging days on the Sharpham Estate, has penned Bloom & Thrive. The book helps people to understand and experience the benefits that plants give us. Wild for People aerial of Sharpham Estate taken by drone, students on grassland survey, Ellie Parker & student on Ambios butterfly count in August, and Meadow Brown butterfly on land to be
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The Kitchen Table order online
The Kitchen Table, adapting for Covid now has a pantry shop at their kitchen unit open Mon - Fri 10 - 3 and a Persian inspired takeaway open for hot food collection Thurs & Fri 5-8.30 To order the takeaway please visit the website
Sharpham Trust forager’s book
rewilded at The Sharpham Trust, Her book is an extension of her outdoor work and is aimed at people at the beginning of a relationship with plants, flowers and herbs. Brigit-Anna said: “Bloom & Thrive is for the person yearning for a connection with the power of nature and a different way to care for themselves that is more at one with the natural world.” embrace the way of folk medicine - for health, for fun and for life. All over the world, plant stories have been whispered and spoken from heart to ear to heart, and used to support, care and comfort….But this knowledge has faded, no longer being passed on through families and generations. “I believe, however, that more and She adds: “This book is an invitation more people are searching for to see again the beauty of the wild. simple, natural ways to care for To reconnect with the plants that and support their well-being, both once were our medicines and to physically and mentally. And that is notice the weeds and the tiny flowers where this book comes in.” growing so strongly yet tenderly in the hedgerows, gardens, forests and riversides, from the cracks in the concrete, beside the roads; growing, blooming and thriving, offering remedy and recovery.” There are chapters on using plants to help with focus, energy, good skin, sleep, happiness and first aid. She combines recipes too and instructions on making easy home herbal tinctures, oils and balms. Brigit-Anna’s knowledge includes a good deal of health and safety, with warnings about plants that could have bad consequences if picked and eaten. l Bloom & Thrive is out on Penguin-Random House books and will be stocked in the library within Sharpham House and is also available from major bookstores. It can be ordered from Totnes independent bookstore Arcturus “I want to inspire you to revive the Books on 01803 864363 and medicine of the common people, to mail@arcturusbooks.co.uk
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Author’s charitable mission
REGULAR readers will be familiar Rachel Bolton, she has featured in Reconnect before as a remote healer of people and animals. Now Rachel has added another string to her bow as a children’s author. Rachel said: “I was inspired to start writing this book when my son was very young, and he is now 17! “The book has evolved over the years, but a few months ago I felt moved to self publish Sam And The Magic Tree and to donate half the profits to charities. It took a leap of faith as I have never published a book, but I believe the message conveyed is now more important than ever. We all need to become consciously aware of the importance of loving Mother Earth as it is essential for the future of everybody and everything.” Rachel has set herself a mission to sell a million copies of her self published book and donate 50% of the profits to charities including the Tree Nation, Whale & Dolphin Conservation, Forgotten Women, Water Aid, Hope For Life, International Animal Rescue and smaller animal rescue centres. Rachel said: “My resolve to sell one million books goes hand in hand with a saying that has been with me for some time: Many drops make a mighty lake. So with one book at a time, my book will be a voice for nature. I trust the charities of my choice, help Mother Earth, those who live upon her and within her.” Sam And The Magic Tree is for children and adults and set in a beautiful land called Amazonia which has suffered an ecological and emotional demise after being invaded by the Mopheads. Seigfreid, the dwarf from underground crystal caves and friends who live upon the land devise a plan to restore love and light to their world. There are encounters with walking and talking trees, inter-dimensional unicorns, Primrose the fairy, and much more. Find out how love and light are so important for the health and wellbeing of everyone and everything. l To buy a copy and read a thousand word excerpt visit rachelbolton.life/sam-and-the-magic-tree/
A tribute to Mel Lamb
REGULAR contributor and Write to Freedom founder CASPAR WALSH remembers the life of Mel Lamb.
MEL Lamb’s life was lived on the edge of the known world. She was a no holds barred, non stop warrior of the high moor, protecting the planet and all the people that came into her fierce, big hearted orbit. She never stopped, rarely rested and found it hard to put her needs first. It took some years to realise how much the High Heathercombe retreat centre was Mel and Mel was Heathercombe. They evolved together in a tangled web of activity, growth, change and wild, wild weather. Over the many years Mel was custodian of this of stunning site and the landscape it nestles in, she was incredibly focussed and dedicated. The success and profile of High Heathercombe today is largely born out of her passion and commitment. She rarely spoke of her many achievements. Her endless worry and grief was for the pain and loss she saw throughout the world. Heathercombe was an expression of the love and passion she felt as a protector of the landscape and all beings from all walks of life. So much of the healing that unfolded at Heathercombe over the years, for myself and the many we have worked with, leave us in debt to her generosity and vision. A vision that flowered into thousands of transformed lives over her time as manager of High Heathercombe. Made possible by the compassion and generosity of the Pike family who own the surrounding land and deeply support the work. I’m hoping and praying Mel’s legacy will live on. In her typical, quiet way, Mel championed
Write to Freedom from its first incarnation working with young men in the prison system right through to our current work with mixed gender, addiction recovery. I’m beginning to realise now, just how much she loved and championed what we do. The last time we spoke was in June 2020 when she told me about her illness. She sounded tired but strong. Determined at last, as Mary Oliver wrote, ‘to save the only life she could save.’ It was a real shock to hear how quickly she went. And it hit me how much my experience of Heathercombe, the experience of all our participants and staff over so many years, are connected root and branch to the life force of Mel Lamb. I choose to believe that she’s out there in the elements, the landscape and the abundant life of the high moor. I have faith and love in the legacy of her work, in the spirit of her being, her ferocious, mother bear love for all the souls who have stood on the Heathercombe veranda looking out across the stunning landscape. Who choose to believe, as Mel did, that change, healing and reconciliation are possible for all beings, in this world and the next. Melanie Lamb. High Heathercombe Centre Manager. Born 1965 died 13th July 2020. l Caspar is founder of the award-winning addiction and trauma recovery charity, Write to Freedom. www.writetofreedom.org.uk
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The gift aid emergency relief campaign
SPARE a thought for charities loss of income if the average was who face an unprecedented applied to the sector as a whole. drop in fundraising income The proposed two-year Gift Aid caused by the Covid19 crisis. Dame Emergency Relief increase will help Hannah Rogers Trust has added ease the biggest financial crisis the their name to the growing list of sector has ever faced. supporters calling for a temporary increase in Gift Aid. The change would mean that a £100 donation from a UK taxpayer Backed by hundreds of charities, would increase to £133.33 for the a boost in Gift Aid could mean up charity once Gift Aid had been to an additional £450m to help claimed. This compares to £125.00 charities continue their vital work as is currently the case. As a result, – a true lifeline when the services the Gift Aid claimed on every they provide have never been more eligible donation would increase needed. by one-third, up from the current Research shows that charities are on one-quarter. average having to plan for a 24% l To find out more, please visit the loss to their total income for the year Gift Aid Emergency Relief campaign ahead that would mean a £12.4bn page https://bit.ly/32CljPE
Beautiful song and eco clothing range
THESE days we all know that cheap clothing has a hidden cost to the environment and to workers that we can no longer ignore. We know we need to make purchasing choices that help support new more ethical fashion producing methods and change the clothing industry for the better. Totnes is home to Natural Earth Eco Clothing a new eco clothing label which is taking a lighter footstep on the Earth. The new label founded by designer H. Louise Ashley have unveiled their first collection called Heather and Jasmine that features clothing for ‘the way we want to live and to help support bettering the clothing industry’. The new label is also set to help make its small contribution towards encouraging an upturn in British Garment Production, supporting and promoting a revival in small scale skilled garment making. Skills that have dwindled,due to the decline of the British Clothing Manufacturing Industry. Natural Earth Eco Clothing is connected to a small local hub of makers, pattern cutters and teachers encouraging cottage style making, networking and support for sewers, makers and designers. Natural Earth Eco Clothing use fabrics that support sustainable agriculture helping to reduce the toxic chemical load being put into the environment by using organic or low impact fabrics without synthetic fibres causing plastic micro fibres being released and ending up in oceans and food chain. All the garments are Made in Britain. Founder and designer H. Louise Ashley previously worked as a designer but left the clothing industry some years ago setting up Natural Earth Eco Clothing with a commitment to helping establish a clothing
NOVEMBER will see social enterprises take over Plymouth (and the internet) for the Social Enterprise City Festival 2020.
Plymouth was the flagship Social Enterprise City as part of the Places programme from SEUK seven years ago and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network (PSEN) travel across the UK and Europe to speak at conferences about the incredible community working to create a kinder, fairer way of doing business in the city.
You may be wondering what social enterprise industry that we can all be really be proud of, instead of an industry that is one the most polluting industries on the planet. Changing a reputation of poor pay and poor conditions for the majority of its workers. Louise said: “I love designing clothing, I love making eco clothing that helps support a better ethos for clothes production. “At Natural Earth Eco Clothing we believe in the Slow Fashion Ethos, using eco fabrics along with supporting small scale ethical production making in this country. We love to bring you great designs that not only take a lighter ethical footprint on the earth but also offer to you beautiful clothes you’ll love to wear.” Her new range consists of over thirty pieces, and the chance to make purchasing choices that are ethical as well as buying clothes that are beautiful and on trend to wear. Louise is also singer song writer for Loula Lain - you can see her new song - Beautiful at youtube.com/ watch?v=M1rZAF4EIjk and her other songs can be found on Bandcamp. l For more information visit www. naturalearthecoclothing.com or email hello@
Health crisis won’t deter social enterprise network
naturalearthecoclothing.com is, simply put – social enterprise is business with Jessica said: “The theme this year follows on from a social conscience. A way of doing business last year’s impressive youth action for the climate, that allows entrepreneurs and organizations to recognizing the potential and power of young give back to the community and causes that are people to rebuild our economy in a fairer, more important to them, working for a purpose not just inclusive and compassionate way. The festival is a profit. For the past ten years PSEN has hosted very much in the planning stages still but we can a festival celebrating these amazing businesses. absolutely expect online seminars with inspiring What started as a half -day event in 2010 is now speakers, practical sessions for young people on one of the UK’s leading weeklong celebrations of making their business visions reality, think-tank’s ethical business. on how to support up and coming entrepreneurs, Jessica Holliland, Communications and Membership Manager at PSEN said: “Last year’s 10th annual event was the biggest yet. social enterprises showing us how they make it work and we’re pretty sure there will be a quiz squeezed in there somewhere too! It focussed on the Climate emergency and how “PSEN believe in collaboration and communication, social enterprises could lead the way to a more they believe that working together we can create a environmentally conscious way of doing business. future for Plymouth, and the UK, where business and Working together, entrepreneurs and organizations community can work together to become a stronger, held 28 events all over Plymouth – from quiz nights healthier place to live and work. They believe that to conferences, casual to corporate. With a unified the future of business is social.” aim - to help raise the public understanding of l You can find out more about the festival, learn social enterprise in your high street and to support about running a social enterprise and host your the enterprises working hard to make Plymouth a own event for the festival on their website at www. more caring place to do business.” plymsocent.org.uk. This year obviously faces a different set of l The festival is run as a free event in the city and challenges in light of the current health crisis and relies on the generosity of sponsors and the hard uncertain social guidelines but PSEN aren’t letting work of volunteers to make it happen. If you are that stop them. They are planning a blend of online interested in supporting the festival financially or and face-to-face events, running from November otherwise then the team would love to hear from you. 16 to coincide with Social Enterprise day 2020. You can reach them via hello@plymsocent.org.uk.
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The 5 minute guide to a better website
YOUR website is your shop window, more so in these times of increasing online interactions. But, how often do you stop to take a look in your window as if you were standing in your client’s shoes? Our own Wellbeing editor Kate Philbin gives you her five minute guide to having a better website. Kate said: “I look at a lot of websites and it surprises me how many of them don’t actually tell you what you really want to know. If you’ve got five minutes today, take a look at your own website and ask yourself a few questions.” Kate suggests answering the following five questions and improve the website experience you offer your clients. l Does it clearly explain on the home page what I/we do? l Is it easy for people to contact me if they want to? l Have I told them everything they need to know – where I practice, the things I can help with, how much I charge? l How does my website compare with my competitors’ websites? l Have I used language that a nonspecialist would understand? Have I explained acronyms and avoided jargon? For advice about your website and help with content visit www.cafecopywriter.com
