Meet Stamford’s luthier Blueberry wine anyone? Channel Island hopping Goodbye blisters, advice on buying the right walking footwear Meet some talented tailors ISSUE 99 | SEPTEMBER 2020
! E E R F
Winemaking in the Welland Valley
w w w .t h e a c t i ve m a g . c o m
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E DI TO R ’ S L E T T E R
Editor and Publisher ary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com Deputy editor ate axim kate@theactivemag.com Art editor
att Tarrant
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0 - 13
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“Their lives have been changed by what has happened but like the phoenix they are rising from the ashes.” THE SUMMER SEEMS to have flown by despite the Covid restrictions in fact the whole year has shot past despite it being almost a complete write off. September always means new beginnings and fresh starts to me with schools going back after the summer break and this year will have much more significance after such a long, unplanned break for many children. And September would of course normally have meant Burghley orse Trials. But life goes on and we caught up with some ladies who would normally have had stands at the three day event. Their lives have been changed by what has happened but like the phoenix they are rising from the ashes. This month has been all about wine for me. I ve had the pleasure of visiting Welland alley ineyard and talking to David Bates about his new career post retirement and then I headed over to utton Farm to find out about blueberry wine. Did you know that the town of ewark is one of the top places in the world to learn to make violins or did I until I met Stamford based luthier ibby Summers and then ate met guitar maker ac Booth, so we ve both had a musical month. ate s also been put through her paces visiting a newly re-opened gym and catching up with yoga teachers to find out all about their social distancing measures now that they can hold classes again. This summer many of us might not have been able to get away for our usual holiday. But just a short hop, skip and a jump from these shores are The Channel Islands where you can get plenty of late summer sunshine and enjoy island hopping it might not be The Greek Islands but they have a lot to offer. And here s hoping that despite the nights drawing in there s still plenty of late summer sunshine to enjoy. September is usually kind on the weather front fingers crossed) so make sure you keep getting out there topping up the vitamin D, be it on your bike or striding across the countryside aka Will and his walks.
Mary - ditor
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September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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I S S U E 9 9 / S E P T E M B E R 2020
Contents
ACTIVE LIFE 9 NEWS
Local news updates
13 GARDENING
Eco tips and how to make your fence boundaries less glaringly obvious
14 TRAVEL
Island hopping on the Channel Islands
19 TALENTED TAILORS
Covid has forced these talented tailors to rethink their businesses
26 WINEMAKING IN THE WELLAND VALLEY
14
Mary Bremner heads to a vineyard near Market Harborough
32
30 BLUEBERRY WINE
Lutton Farm have been making their excess blueberries into wine
32 INTERVIEW
Meet Stamford’s luthier
38 WILL’S WALKS
This month Will is enjoying splendid views of Rutland Water and Gunthorpe Hall
ACTIVE BODY 47 PELVIC FLOOR
Julie Colan discusses pelvic floor muscles
38
26
ACTIVE SPORT 50 BACK TOGETHER
Yoga classes have recommenced, we find out how they are coping
53 TRAIL RUN ROUTE
Bruce from Wild Dog Events recommends an easy trail run route
57 SPOTLIGHT ON FOOTBALL Find out more about the beautiful game
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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LEICESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL TRUST
Open Morning Saturday 10th October 9.30-12.30
e v i r Th Ages 3-11
Ages 10-18
Ages 4-16
All prospective parents please register on the Trust website:
www.leicestergrammar.org.uk/open-morning-2020
ActiveLife Winemaking in the Welland Valley | Upcycled shirts | Blueberry wine Say goodbye to blisters | Furtive fencing; gardening ideas | Walk with Will E DI T E D BY M A RY B R E M N E R
Meet Stamford’s luthier, Libby Summers p32 September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Market Harborough
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Active life
New Sports Centre opening to the public Padel tennis comes to Market Harborough MARKET HARBOROUGH SQUASH and racketball club is celebrating getting permission and help with funding from Harborough District Council for two new Padel tennis courts which will be located at their Fairfield Road site. adel tennis is a relatively new sport in the UK but played widely in Spain. It’s a cross between squash and tennis and is played on outside glass walled courts, and is fast paced, competitive and fun. To find out more and about joining the club email info@harboroughsquash.co.uk
THE NEW OUNDLE School Sports Centre is opening its doors to the public this October. The Centre hosts a range of facilities including a full 50m swimming pool, a 0 station fitness suite and an eight court multi-sport Sports all, dance studio with floor to ceiling mirrors, plus an additional flexible space which can be divided into four studios or one large hospitality space. A café area provided by locally-based Beans is available, serving hot and cold snacks and artisan coffee. The Sports Centre has been constructed primarily for Laxton Junior School and Oundle School, whilst also offering a range of membership options and access for the general public. It will open to all users from October, taking full consideration of Covid-19 guidance and safety. Initial activity will be offered on a pre-book and pre-pay basis and will include access to general swimming, fitness sessions, court hire and group exercises classes. Members of the public will be able to register online for a FREE Leisure Card which enables activities to be booked quickly and easily through the Sports Centre website, which is now open to pre-registrations. wwww.oundlesportscentre.co.uk
Become one of Maggie’s Mates A new home in Uppingham BUNNY AND CLARKE is a lovely new addition to Uppingham High Street having relocated from The Manor at Tur Langton. Selling a hand picked range of home accessories, gifts, a capsule collection of ladies clothing and jewellery, Anneli Clarke prides herself on offering something a little bit different to her customers. She has always wanted a high street shop so when the perfect location came up in ppingham, on the corner of High Street East and Orange Street, Anneli leapt at the chance. Opening during a global pandemic hasn t been easy, but with bags of energy, Anneli is certainly up to the challenge. All her products are available online too at www.bunnyandclarke.com.
MAGGIE AND HER owner Rachel Wolley are running a dog walking and day care business from the family farm in Carlby. Rachel is able to offer safe, secure surroundings to walk your dogs in. She will come to your house in her van and pick up your dogs and take them back to the farm for either an arena walk in a confined space where they can play with other dogs or walk them through the farm. Dogs are able to enjoy mingling with their mates, including aggie, and have a great time playing, getting lots of exercise and you know they are completely safe. Alternatively Rachel can go to your house to let out an elderly or incapacitated dog, as well as attend to puppies too. She is soon going to be able to offer dog daycare pick up and drop off included) when your pooch can spend a fun filled day out in a secure five acre open field with his friends under cover facilities available too. To find out more visit www.maggies-mates.co.uk
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Active life
RECIPE
Courgette and halloumi fritters with chilli honey drizzle
A
T THE MOMENT I am inundated with courgettes from the garden. They are a versatile and delicious vegetable able to be used in many different ways. Try these simple fritters, they are delicious, easy to make and perfect for brunch or a light lunch
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
• 2 courgettes, grated • 3/4 tsp sea salt 30g self raising flour • corn o r • 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds • s ro nd lack e er • s nel cho ed in lea es • 80g halloumi, grated • 2 eggs 1 spring onion finely sliced
• To make the drizzle, warm the honey with 2 tbsp water, add the chilli and lemon zest until bubbling and syrupy, takes about 3 minutes. • he ra ed co r e es in a sie e and s rinkle o er he sal ea e or in es hen s ee e o he li id he need o e as dr as ossi le ix the flours, sesame seeds and pepper in a bowl. Add the mint, halloumi and courgette and mix together. Beat in the eggs and add spring onion. Beat until you have a thick batter. • ea s oil in a lar e hea o o ed r in an dd s o a er o he an and a en Fr or a co le o in es hen i o er and cook n il olden rown • Drizzle with the chilli honey to serve.
FOR THE DRIZZLE • 2 tbsp honey • s chilli akes 1 lemon, finely grated
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Active life
ECO TIPS
Save your own seed Lizzie Davies helps you get ahead for next season by saving your own seed which is good for the environment and your pocket. Think of this as a ‘seed saving starter kit’, de-mystifying and simplifying the science of seeds which can be pretty complex. For more in-depth reading see https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/ seed-saving-guidelines
Harvesting Seed
• Choose healthy and vigorous plants. Look out for seeds after the plant has flowered, generally in the late summer/ autumn. • The seeds may be in a pod (bean), capsule (poppy) or fruit itself (tomato). • For vegetable plants if you still have the original seed packet check if the variety name has F1 on it as these are unlikely to produce plants like the original. • Leave seeds to mature and develop on the plant as long as possible and only remove if the weather is getting wet or frosty. Pull up the whole plant if possible or cut off the shoot.
GARDE NING
Furtive Fences Fences in a garden can be a bit of an eye sore and draw your attention for all the wrong reasons. Garden designer Teresa Kennedy offers solutions
Processing Seeds
There are two methods of processing depending on the plant: Dry Seeds - easy starters are coriander, rocket, lettuce, peas, beans, sunflowers and nigella and poppies. Either hang the whole plant upside down or spread in a tray using paper to catch the loose seeds. Peas and beans are ready when the pods rattle when shaken. Wet Seeds - easy starters are tomato, cucumber, squash/pumpkin and pepper. Scrape out the fleshy insides into a pot of water and separate the seeds from the flesh. ut the seeds into a sieve and rinse several times. Spread on a sheet of kitchen roll to dry in a cool place.
Seed Storage
Make sure seeds are thoroughly dried out then store in an airtight container in a cool, dry area. Avoid drafts and radiators. Seeds dried on kitchen roll can be sown straight into a seed tray next season. You can follow Lizzie on Instagram and Facebook @lizcatalpa
T
HERE IS NO doubt about it the boundaries to our personal outdoor space dominate the garden. They are the uprights which frame everything and in many gardens they are the first thing you see. Green traditional hedging of hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, twists of honeysuckle and dog rose are an absolute beauty for blurring the boundaries in a rural setting. But for the vast majority of us our boundary is fencing, and you either love it or hate it. Do you embrace it or hide it? Many people try to hide their fencing. A common trap to fall into is digging a parallel border around all sides of the boundary and planting beneath thinking this will detract from the fence. But it actually tends to accentuate the frame. Instead use flowing curves which pull the eye to the shape of the borders rather than the fence behind. Curved spaces allow for more detailed planting options which again will detract from the fence panels. If your planting is creative then your garden won t be defined by the fencing. Alternatively, embrace the structure. It’s an upright so a perfect place to extend your planting options to. You can spend as little or as much time as you like on vertical planting to achieve a new vantage point.
Arm yourself with hooks, shelves, wires, batons, mesh and decide on your planting type: is this a vertical veg garden or a screen of hanging plants? If you have the funds, green screen/fence panels are increasingly available, living or not. Go for the live option, unless you are looking for zero maintenance and year round effect. If giving yourself more plants to look after is going to be too time consuming don’t do it! I’m all for getting your outdoor space to work for you. Don’t turn it into an area that you feel overwhelmed by. On a recent project which involved installing new fencing the client chose to paint the panels, posts and gravel boards and treat the boundaries as walls; same as she would with her interiors. It made a perfect back drop for art work, shelving, lighting, mirrors, etc and is a brilliant way to bring the inside out. This kept the garden low maintenance and gave her the opportunity to switch things about and to change the backdrop by repainting the fence panels when she wanted to reflect the indoors. This was a perfect solution for her. Painting fence panels connects spaces and works really well in a courtyard or small town garden. www.viridisdesign.co.uk 07726 334501
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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TR AV E L
A hop, skip and a jump away We may not fancy a trip to the Continent just now but we can get plenty of sunshine, culture and gourmet delights closer to home on The Channel Islands. Ella Bramachari finds out more
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Active life
T
HIS SUMMER MOST of us haven’t had our customary trips to sunnier climbs to look forward to. But despair not, there are plenty of places to soak up the late summer sun within a stone’s throw of British shores; The Channel Islands. Nestled in the crooked elbow of France’s Cotentin Peninsula (about 20 miles from the beaches of ormandy) lies a tiny archipelago of five islands: Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and erm which are under a two hour flight away, or even better at the moment, less than five hours by ferry. isitors to the Channel Islands will find the late summer weather is gloriously warm yet feels comfortingly familiar. Airport greetings and street signs are French but the o cial language of the islands is nglish. The culture, architecture and atmosphere is best described as a charming combination of a Cornish seaside town crossed with a provincial French village. The Channel Islands are self-governing states that are a bit of a tax haven; 20% income tax and no inheritance, wealth, corporate or capital gains tax which attracts the wealthy resident. The Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey (which also includes the smaller islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm) are what is known as Crown Dependencies. They are not part of the UK or the but the ueen is the head of state and the Crown is responsible for the defence and international relations of the islands. On paper this might not mean much, but in practice the islands’ relative independence is brilliantly exemplified in their slightly nostalgic ‘British with a twist’ eccentricities. In Guernsey letter boxes are blue and across all the islands the £1 note is still in circulation. The islands have had a turbulent history. During WWII they were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by the Nazis. Winston Churchill’s early decision to demilitarise the islands left residents
defenceless to Germany which occupied from 1940-1945. The occupation was harsh both on residents, many of whom were shipped off to concentration camps or starved to death, and on the landscape of the islands. Hitler issued a personal directive that the islands be turned into an ‘impregnable fortress’. Many of the fortresses remain, and are well worth a visit. The islands are still considered to be one of the most fortified places in the world. And at the moment the fortress walls are still up due to Covid-19. If you travel to Guernsey then the 14 day quarantine period is unfortunately still in place at present (but check as things might have changed since writing this). Jersey is accepting tourists without quarantine if you have a negative test for coronavirus taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival. There is something for everyone on the islands ranging from watersports, to country walks, fine dining and designer shopping tax free). The smaller islands offer a more secluded get away. They are less populated, less touristy and boast amazing wildlife, beaches and countryside.
Jersey
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands at five miles long and nine wide, but so vibrant and full of variety that it feels much larger, with windswept coastlines, country lanes, cobbled streets and beach front bars. A flight to ersey will take you to the capital, St Helier. Big on things to do, but small enough to explore on foot in a day, St elier offers a snapshot of island life. njoy the designer shops on Kings Street, visit the infamous Central and Beresford Street Markets which sell a tantalising range of fresh produce grown or caught across Jersey. The markets have served the community for over 200 years and the buzzing chatter, bright colours and smell of the produce are timeless. You must pick up some Jersey
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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The best thing about all of these suggestions is they can all be done in a few short days. o car journey, or indeed bike ride, in ersey takes over an hour so you can pack a lot into a short trip.
Guernsey
Guernsey is the second largest of the islands. The vibrant capital, St eter s ort, has a fantastic dining and culinary scene with restaurants serving fresh seafood daily, including mouth-watering ormers, Guernsey s rare gastropod which can be found at low tide definitely worth a try. Guernsey has an abundance of green space dotted with diverse species of wildflowers. Any visitor must pack their picnic basket and head for the hills or cliffs, on either foot or bike for the most spectacular and scenic day out. With miles of cliff walks you will be spoilt for choice. Down at sea-level Guernsey boasts miles of beautiful bays, unspoilt white sand and pebble beaches. First on the list has to be Vazon beach, a sandy cove on the north western coast. It is about half a mile long, one of the biggest on the island, sheltered from the elements and a hot-spot for surfing with its own surf school offering lessons. The beaches are easily explorable by kayak, sailing boat, paddle board or on a tour. Away from the sand and sea there are a number of historical landmarks worth visiting. Guernsey is home to one of the smallest chapels in the world: The Little Chapel, built in 1 and only feet long and 4.5 feet wide is a miniature version of the famous grotto and basilica at Lourdes. potatoes or some of the island s rich and creamy milk. St elier has ama ing chefs and good quality restaurants. Try Bohemia Bar & Restaurant with a ichelin star and five Rosettes it serves freshly caught seafood, lobster is a particular favourite. Four miles outside the city visit the gorillas, bears and tropical birds at ersey s world-renowned conservation-themed oo. Referred to as the jewel in ersey s crown the Durrell s conservation centre is home to some of the world s most incredible and exotic creatures. The 32 acre park, adorned with valleys, woodland and plenty of fascinating creatures gives a fail-safe day of enchantment for all the family. One excellent way of exploring the fascinating, but dark past of the island is taking one of the ersey War Tours to find out more about the military heritage. These tours incorporate coastal fortresses and bunkers used by the Germans during the occupation and explore the underworld of war-time ersey. isit The Channel Islands ilitary museum housed in a German bunker which once formed part of itler s Atlantic wall
16
defences. The bunker is now home to a collection of military and civilian artefacts which tell the tale of the five-year German occupation. But there is much more than military history. The island is scattered with the ruins of beautiful medieval castles and fortresses including Elizabeth Castle, a windswept fortification built on an islet in the bay of St Aubin in 1551. Or Mont Orgueil Castle, which has towered over the fishing port of Gorey for more than 00 years. The tourist o ce in ersey can issue family passes for several heritage sites for a reduced price. For the more outdoorsy types ersey will not disappoint. There are fantastic walks along sheer cliff paths with spectacular views of the Channel as well as kite surfing, paddle boarding and kayaking. A number of small tour providers have canyoning, cliff jumping and exploration days for the whole family. Equipment can be hired and day trips booked from Absolute Adventures located in St Brelade s Bay. ersey has lots of hotels, self catering apartments and bed and breakfasts as well as plenty of campsites dotted across the island.
Alderney, Sark and Herm
The smallest islands, often described as the hidden gems of the Channel Islands are Alderney, Sark and erm. All come under Guernsey s governing umbrella. It s easy to island hop with ferries to and from all islands. They are wonderfully secluded with no crowds, no queues, no tra c erhaps the most unique thing about these islands is that they are truly dark at night as they do not have street lights, so perfect for star ga ing. Sark was declared the first dark sky island in the world. They are also amazing places for bird watching with lots of different species. Alderney hosts Britain s most southerly bird observatory. So there you have it, The Channel Islands, a little bit of something for everyone and almost on our doorstep. Don t lament a lost summer, hop on a ferry and make the most of these beautiful islands; they have a lot to offer. www.visitguernsey.com www.outdoorguernsey.gg www.jersey.com www.gov.je www.absoluteadventures.je
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Active life
“No car journey, or indeed bike ride, in Jersey takes over an hour so you can pack a lot into a short trip.�
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Active life
Quintessentially British Tweed has rather unfairly often been tarnished with a rather fuddy duddy brush, worn only by old farmers and the landed gentry. But that is not the case. It’s a beautiful, classic fabric; hard wearing and durable made from British wool that is today used to make beautiful timeless garments. And what’s more, tweed is British made, sustainable and traditional. We meet a couple of ladies, both of whose businesses have been affected by the cancellation of the country shows, including Burghley. But they design and make classic garments that will last generations.
Butler Stewart Anna Butler was brought up on a farm in Essex enjoying country life and its sports such as shooting and riding. But she had always had an interest in clothing, country clothing in particular which possibly reflects her genes. Anna has textiles in her family history. One of her ancestors was George Courtauld who manufactured fabric, clothing and artificial fibres who founded George Courtauld & Co and held the patent for viscose which is artificial silk. After her degree Anna spent many years working in the tailoring and shooting industry in ondon until she decided to combine her knowledge of the two. Anna has always wanted her own clothing company and in May 2015 bit the bullet, leaving her job and moving to Middleton, just outside Rockingham, to set up Butler Stewart. She specialises in exclusive clothing that is quintessentially British; country lifestyle clothing, much of it tweed and all excellent tailoring a refined British style offering tweed coats and jackets, shooting gear and lifestyle clothing and accessories for both sexes.
Anna designs everything herself with a view to offering long lasting, timeless and practical clothing that can be worn out in the field, in town and anywhere in between. Coats and jackets are fit for purpose, but also stylish. All fabrics used are British, tweed is sourced in orkshire or Scotland with much of the clothing, including jeans, many of the jackets and accessories made in the in the idlands. If it s not made in the , it s made in urope. Anna doesn’t have a shop, selling at shows and online. Many of the linings are made from viscose which ancestor George Courtauld patented back in 1 0 . Word has spread about the excellence of Anna’s clothing and her brand has really taken off being highly commended at the 01 Rural Business Awards. ormally you would find Anna at Burghley this month and at county shows throughout the country from March until September but of course that is not the case this year. ‘It’s been a huge blow not to be able to attend any shows as most of my business is done this way,’ says Anna. ‘I get to meet people and they get to see my brand. Burghley is always a big show, coming towards the end of the season. But some good has come out of it. Normally I am on the road for most of the summer away from home for weeks at a time. But this year I have been enjoying my garden and spending time with my daughter and was at home for her first birthday when I wasn’t expecting to be. I suppose every cloud has a silver lining. ‘My pieces are stylish but classic, made of hard wearing tweed and I like that a jacket can be handed down from generation to generation. This is the sort of clothing I am producing, renowned for its longevity and provenance,’ says Anna. www.butlerstewart.co.uk
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Active life
Wake up and smell the coffee Emma Brown, owner of Emma Brown Tweed had been doing very well over the last few years building a large client base selling British made tweed shooting clothing for women; and then Covid hit
E
MMA FROM PRESTON in Rutland attended the Game Fair every year to sell her women’s tweed clothing. ‘This show set me up for the year as I would get orders from old clients and meet new ones,’ says Emma. ‘But of course this year it hasn't happened.’ It has meant that Emma’s manufacturer in the UK has had to make her two employees redundant as not only Emma’s business has been affected by the pandemic, others have too so the manufacturer sadly couldn t afford to keep her staff on. The pandemic effectively destroyed my business but it also gave me time to reassess,’ says Emma. ‘A family illness meant I also had to refocus so I have decided to archive the Emma Brown Tweed name. I will still manufacture garments for my clients, old and new, as I owe it to them. They have looked after me and supported me over the years so I don't want to let them down. I will be running an appointment only system so it will be a very personal process. Many of my ladies struggle to find suitable country clothing elsewhere so I’m happy to carry on doing this.’ Now Emma has turned her attention elsewhere. She comes from a long line of fiercely independent female farmers. er grandmother farmed single handedly and passed these skills on to Emma who runs a smallholding where she raises pigs and has a small flock of ebridean sheep. But Emma has experienced herself the di culty women can meet in such a male dominated industry and it’s set her thinking. ‘My main passions in life are the countryside and farming,’ says Emma, ‘so I have decided to set up a business where I will only sell products produced by women. Womens’ roles on farms is often hugely underestimated and they are often the mainstay of the business, particularly on a family run farm, or are running the business themselves. y first product is coffee which will be marketed under my own brand and Girls, as will everything else I source and there are a few more in the pipeline at the moment.
'The coffee from both countries is from women-run co-operatives so they are supporting a whole community through their coffee growing'
The coffee comes from either Sumatra or eru, and icaragua soon. The coffee from both countries is from women-run cooperatives so they are supporting a whole community through their coffee growing. I will either sell online or from farm shops. ‘There are many inspirational women in the farming world, close to home and worldwide, and I want to sell their products and introduce them to everyone. All my products are Fairtrade and organically produced. What I am particularly proud of is that as well as supporting women in their businesses I am introducing some delicious products to people.’ www.land-girls.co.uk
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Active life
Re-imagined, re-purposed, re-shirted With years of experience in fashion buying and merchandising, Sam Smith from Market Harborough has turned from fast fashion to upcycling preloved white shirts, golf vests and tennis dresses. Kate Maxim went to find out more
H
AVING TRAINED AS a shoe designer at Leicester Polytechnic Sam Smith decided to go into the buying and merchandising side of fashion. There weren’t many shoe design jobs in Leicester in the early 90s as the British Shoe Corporation had started to close down with work going overseas so she decided to play to her strengths. As a chatty, friendly person who was good at maths she won a place on the Marks & Spencer graduate scheme, moved to London and started a career as a buyer. From there she went to the Arcadia group which owned Dorothy Perkins and Topshop and then moved to Oasis and helped set up the brand Coast. She moved back to the area when she married her husband Chris who wanted to start a shop fitting business up here and worked for George at Asda in Lutterworth
for five years. Then after a stint at Tesco she swapped from the buying side to the supply side for BHM Knitwear in Fleckney. 'The Leicester area is well known for textiles, particularly knitwear and hosiery and having worked on the buying side for so long I understood the language and knew what all the buyers were looking for. It was great but then last October I was made redundant,' Sam said. She didn’t let this blow deter her for too long and when, shortly after Christmas there were rumblings about a strange virus in China she realised that most of the companies she’d ever worked for have been China-based in some form. 'No stock was coming out of China and I thought there’s no way anyone is going to employ me now; I’ve got to think of something to do on my own.' Having applied to be a volunteer at the local
Oxfam shop in Market Harborough she did a few sessions before lockdown and 'I saw all these shirts coming in, worn perhaps three or four times, in great condition, and all I could think was, what a waste because they landfill all the clothes after a while. Dress shirts and plain white shirts, with nothing wrong with them and I thought they could be amazing if they had a bit of TLC. They had a good few parties in them yet.' She remembered when all the boys in the 1980s used to have shirts with a funky back to them and spotted her niche. 'I bought some back from the Oxfam shop and had a tweak and a test and thought, I could definitely do this, so I set up my company ReShirted. I always try and buy from Oxfam first because I think it s important to give back to a charity but people have also been bringing me their old shirts saying they’re
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Active life 'I make shirts with a slimmer fit for women. And I’ve done some in club colours for Stoneygate Rugby Club; they’re a great idea for schools or teams.' not going to wear it again, can I customise it for them? 'I ask them to tell me what their hobby or passion is or, if it’s a gift, what the recipient's passion is and then I order fabric from different small designers all over urope and SA who print small amounts individually for me. It could be pheasants for someone who is into shooting. Or rugby balls, racehorses, tractors, potting sheds, wellingtons or batik. Anything at all. I may ask them to change the colour, and then I send the design to the customer to check they re happy with it. At the moment I ve just been doing backs but I can also put coloured sleeves in. If someone has their own fabric Sam could use that too. She likes to experiment and when she was on the Melton Road in Leicester and someone was throwing out a load of Indian saris she knew the fabrics would look great for both men and women. 'I make shirts with a slimmer fit for women. And I ve done some in club colours for Stoneygate Rugby Club; they’re a great idea for schools or teams.' Sam is adamant there is something wrong with the principle of buying a dress for £3. ou can t find fabric that costs 3, not even in a charity shop. I don’t want fast fashion. It’s about upcycling and we should just buy once, she says. I ve got stuff in my wardrobe I ve had for years and I rotate things and roll them out wherever I think is appropriate. At the moment there are no fashion trends, it’s about your lifestyle and how you want to be perceived and it s not gender specific any more. “I follow some bloggers on Instagram who bought a lot of dead stock from early on in the season which has missed its selling time and they ve upcycled it into some really funky tops. veryone is being a bit more entrepreneurial and I don t think we d have got here if it wasn t for Covid we d have just carried on consuming.' Sam is also making tennis dresses and golf shirts with wicking fabric on the back. And, of course, facemasks. She loves giving new life to old items and making individual garments to reflect the wearer s personality. As she points out 'I don’t want to get into mass production, you won’t see a person wearing the same item as the one you ve got on.' For more information and prices follow Sam on Instagram at re_shirted
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THE WINEMAKER IN THE WELLAND VA L L E Y What do you do when you retire? Fulfil a lifelong ambition to create your own vineyard is what David Bates did. Mary Bremner meets him
26 September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Welland Valley Vineyard
V
INEYARDS IN ENGLAND are popping up all over the place particularly in Sussex and Kent. And they are attracting attention from the big champagne houses who are buying up land in those counties to create their own offshoots from France. erhaps it s to avoid tariffs post Brexit or maybe to combat global warming. Champagnes need a cool climate to produce high quality sparkling wine. And that is just what David Bates from Welland alley ineyard is doing not in ent or Sussex but just outside arket arborough in arston Trussell. I first heard about David s wine when I was in Waitrose in Stamford, perusing the wine, when a debonair elderly gentleman came and stood next to me and recommended David’s wine. He told me it was on offer which it was), said it was delicious and proceeded to start emptying the shelf, handing me a bottle before he took the lot. Never one to turn a recommendation down I took it from him, stuck it in the fridge and enjoyed sharing it with my family when we went away for a weekend. The gentleman was right, it s delicious. David has had a lifelong passion for making wine starting in the early 1970s on his allotment in Leicester. He made wine from rhubarb and other fruit before planting his own vines visiting France and Germany frequently and a vineyard was always our first port of call. Once you start making wine you get the bug and it s di cult to get rid of. Winemaking gets in the blood. This lifelong passion became more of a life changer when he decided he wanted
‘This lifelong passion became more of a life changer when he decided he wanted to take early retirement and create a vineyard’
to take early retirement and create a vineyard so started looking for a piece of land to escape to. This was easier said than done, explains David. I was only going to be on a small scale so needed a small plot of land on a south facing slope, so was competing with the horsey brigade who were after the same sort of acreage.’ But in 1 1 he found his spot, 1/ acres just outside Marston Trussell with the suitably south facing slope. South facing is obvious to maximise the sunlight. Sloping is again to maximise sunlight but also to combat frosts and helps with free draining as this is what grapes need. Then he just had to find a house he has a very patient wife At this stage David was still working full time as a solicitor so in his free time started planting the vines. He’d manage two or three rows a year and it really was a labour of love, with evenings and weekends spent tending to, planting and nurturing his vines. It takes four or five years for a vine to become mature enough to produce enough grapes to make a good amount of wine, longer than that for sparkling. So David persevered, planting and nurturing, buying all the winemaking equipment, purchasing a railway wagon to put it in and then erecting more buildings. By 000 David was making enough wine to sell in quantity and had got it in to Waitrose. ow was the time to retire and start the really hard work to fulfil his lifelong ambition. David s 1/ acres of vines produce between 1-3,000 bottles a year depending on the harvest. And of course harvest is completely dependent on weather, particularly late frosts. This year hasn t been kind as the very early, hot spring encouraged growth and then the late frosts in May as low as - scuppered it, just at the vital flowering time. This means that probably a third of the crop will be lost. This is where the sloping ground helps. Apparently frost settles at the bottom of hills so the vines at the top of the slope were less affected. A sloping site helps the owner hedge their bets and David has never lost a whole crop, thankfully.
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David grows 1 different varieties of grape, some originating from the Champagne region in France and northern Germany. inot noir, pinot blanc and Bacchus are the three most well known. And he makes red, ros , white and sparkling wine. is Welland alley Steeplechase quality sparkling wine is an award winner and his best seller and I know why, it s delicious. ines are relatively easy to grow and thrive in this country. But they need a lot of attention. Anyone who has grown a vine will know that they grow at a rapid rate. So for the first three months of the year starting in late December David, with the help of his friend ohn who volunteers once a week, is winter pruning. This involves cutting away % of the previous year s growth. They do this five days a week when it s not raining. And throughout this period David is also making the wine. At the end of the winter pruning period David starts bottling the wine before he has to start pruning again. From uly onwards, until the end of August, it s summer pruning time. This is when the vines grow at a rapid rate. runing is vital then as the grapes need sunlight to help them mature and ripen and, most importantly, to keep disease at bay. owdery mildew is the nastiest of the diseases and thrives under an overgrown canopy under the leaves in damp conditions hence the summer pruning. As harvest gets closer the grapes are exposed to more sunlight. The vines aren t organic but David is very careful what he puts on them. othing is sprayed on them that would make me not
want to drink the wine myself. arvest usually starts in the first week of October and carries on for about three weeks as different grape varieties mature at different rates. We never have problems getting pickers for the harvest, says David. Friends and family join us. The weather is always good as we never pick in the wet, and they get a good meal every day and a free bottle so it s quite a social occasion. At the end of each harvest day the grapes are crushed and pressed and the juice is then put into a tank to settle. In the old days this would have involved treading the grapes. These days it s all done by modern, clean, stainless steel machines which David has on site. The grape juice is then put in to the fermentation tank, yeast added and then David works his magic. The grape juice is moved from one tank to another until fermentation is finished, which takes until Christmas. The juice is moved from tank to tank to leave the sediment behind. In each new tank it gets clearer until it s all done by Christmas. It s then left to settle from
‘Vines are relatively easy to grow and thrive in this country. But they need a lot of attention.’
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Welland Valley Vineyard
January to March, whilst David is winter pruning, then bottled in June; he can do 2-300 bottles a day. So from harvest to bottling it takes about nine months. Then allow another two or three months and it’s ready to sell. David has designed all the labels himself and named the wines after local areas and events around Market Harborough. But that s just still wine. Sparkling is a different story and takes a minimum of three years to get to market. This is because you have to make the base wine first then bottle it in a pressurised champagne bottle adding more yeast and sugar so the carbon dioxide what makes the fi ) is kept in. This is called being ‘on the lees’ and the bottles need to be disgorged to get the sediment out. This is done by turning the bottles, ’remuage’ as the French call it. David doesn’t do this at Marston Trussel but sends his bottles to another vineyard where they have a machine to do it; in the old days of course this would have been done by hand. English wine is becoming very popular, more so every year. And David has been rushed off his feet during lockdown. ‘People are supporting local vineyards. The wine is good quality and I think they like the idea of buying from a local supplier. Air and road miles are reduced so the wine we produce is much more environmentally friendly.’ English wine is lighter drinking than some heavy southern European wines and particularly good with food. It is usually lower in alcohol being 11 or 12% rather than up to 14. This is because of the lack of sun. The sun gives the grapes a higher sugar content which makes the alcohol.
So where can we buy the wine? David keeps it very local. It’s in Waitrose, but only in our area. Stamford, Oundle, Market Harborough and into Northamptonshire including, most recently, Daventry. Otherwise you can buy it in the local farm shops in and around Market Harborough or you can come to the vineyard to buy it. David delivers to all retail outlets; he really is very busy and retirement does not appear to have slowed him down. As well as the weather David has to fight off rabbits, deer, birds, badgers and wasps, all of which are very fond of grapes. ‘The perfect year for me would be a hard winter, sunny spring with no late frosts, plenty of rain in early summer and then a hot and dry September and October; not much to ask for I know,’ he says with a big smile. ‘But thankfully I’ve never lost a crop and always had something to harvest. Grapes like sun, warmth and rain; warmth being the most important.’ Welland Valley Vineyard is not the farthest north in England, there are vineyards as far up as North Yorkshire. But the vast majority are in the southern half of the country, only 6% of vineyards are up here. You can come to the vineyard and see for yourself as David runs tours and tastings. They used to be for up to 20 people, but are now only for eight. Whilst on the tour take note of the orchards. David also makes cider, but that’s another story. www.welland-valley-vineyard.com
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B LU E B E R RY WINE A N YON E? We’ve all come across rhubarb wine, possibly gooseberry and parsnip, but blueberry? Mary Bremner discovers a wine made from a superfood, and the berries are grown right on our doorstep.
30 September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Lutton Farm
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HE LONG FAMILY have farmed at Lutton on the edge of Oundle in Northamptonshire since 1960. Initially it was a mixed arable and stock farm with just three hectares of PYO fruit. But this all changed in 1991 when the two sons Stephen and James returned from college and travelling and converted the farm to a commercial soft fruit farm supplying premium supermarkets. Today the farm has over 70 hectares of soft fruit. Blackberries, strawberries and raspberries were the staple fruits with blueberries being introduced in 2006; the ongs being one of the first blueberry growers in the country, now growing 45 hectares of them. Blueberries are not native to the UK so it was a brave decision to introduce them but Stephen was inspired by a trip to Poland. They are grown at Lutton Farm under cover in polytunnels as they need to be protected from the frost and wind. The bushes are planted in bags or pots in a specially concocted substrate recipe made by Stephen who is now an expert in the field. It takes two years for a shrub to be mature enough to pick fruit and they are still picking from bushes that are 13 or 14 years old. Bumble bees are the most productive type of bee for pollinating the blueberry bushes, so vital in fact that the farm brings more in and keeps them in hives. The honey bee is more attracted to crops such as oilseed rape and the shape of the blueberry flower suits the bumble bee. They land on the flower and vibrate it to get at the pollen.
“There has been lots of support for the wine and people really like it” All the work done to the blueberry bushes is by hand including weeding, pruning in January and February - and harvest which starts in mid June and runs through until September. The harvest takes so long because each bush will be picked up to three times during the season and they have different varieties for early, mid and late season picking. Up to 600 tonnes of blueberries are picked each season. Every day they are graded for size and softness and packed to head to Waitrose and Marks and Spencer supermarkets. But of course the supermarkets only want the top quality, large, firm blueberries and however successful you are at growing them there are bound to be smaller berries that don’t quite make the cut, up to 20% of the crop. So what do you do with them? Make them into wine of course! The Americans and Canadians, where blueberries are commonly grown have long made blueberry wine. And Stephen on his travels came across this and decided to have a go himself. Rachael Templeton was employed as Development Manager and her role is to run the wine-side of the business, which is now up and running. Initially they experimented by freezing the blueberries and then sent them down to a winemaker in Ledbury who made them into wine. The berries were pressed in November 2018 and then a small batch of blueberry wine and blueberry ice wine was bottled in 2019. These were successfully sold at local food events and markets. It proved popular and there was a high demand. In September 2019 Rachael and Stephen started experimenting with fresh blueberries and decided to scale up and introduce a new wine to the range. They sent 28 tonnes of surplus blueberries to the winery which has produced 15,000 bottles. There are now three wines to chose from, all marketed under the Blue Aurora name which refers to a variety of blueberry as well as light. Dusk is a medium dry rosé made in exactly the same way as a traditional white grape wine. Midnight is a more full bodied red, again made in the same way as a red grape wine. Each bottle of Dusk and Midnight is made using 1.5kg of blueberries. The sweet Ice wine is made by pressing frozen blueberries and uses 2kg of blueberries per bottle. So you are drinking wine stuffed full of those antioxidants that nutritionists are always raving about. The Ice wine is excellent mixed with sparkling wine as well as drunk on its own, chilled. Like English wines the Blue Aurora wines are light with a lower alcohol content, 10 or 11% which people seem to really like, and are particularly good with food. ‘There has been lots of support for the wine and people really like it, says Rachael, we are finding tremendous demand for local produce these days which is excellent.’ Rachael has been busy sorting out labels with the illustration drawn by local artist Katie Cardew and now she is ready to start marketing her wines. The plan is for them to be sold in local farm shops around the area, online and from the farm shop onsite. Also look out for the wine in local hotels and restaurants. It’s delicious and remember you re benefitting from all those antioxidants too. www.blueaurorawine.co.uk or Instagram @blueaurorawine
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Active life
Libby the Luthier Newark School of Violin Making opened in the 1970s and is one of the best places in the world to study if you want to be a violin maker, and that is just what Stamford’s Libby Summers has done. Mary Bremner meets her
L
IBBY WAS BROUGHT up in Stamford before moving to Surrey. She has played the violin since she was 11 and started to teach it in 1998, and has done so ever since. A creative and crafty person, Libby was (and still is) a keen knitter and was persuaded by friends with craft businesses to sell her products so set up a knitwear business making bags, blankets and hot water bottles. So successful was the business that she got a contract with John Lewis making luxury hot water bottles packaged in beautiful bespoke boxes, designed and made by Libby. But she unwisely put all her eggs in one basket and when she lost the John Lewis contract she had to change her business. Undeterred Libby turned to yarns importing her own brand of alpaca wool from Peru. ‘I was supporting the local shepherds in Peru buying from them.’ In her first year she sold out of all her yarns so bought even more the following year. Life then took a change of direction with Libby returning to her roots to live once again in Stamford but still keeping the Libby Summers lifestyle website which is still active. She carried on teaching the violin
throughout this period and ‘found the violin making course in Newark. I’ve always had an interest in violins (obviously) and love making things. So my craft side and the musical one came together to combine to learn to make violins. ‘Unfortunately I had absolutely no woodwork skills but applied anyway and got accepted. I started the course in 2016 and finished it this year. During the four years Libby worked throughout supporting her family by continuing to teach the violin. Last year, whilst still at college, she set up her business Stamford Strings Limited. She buys, sells, restores, repairs and makes violins and business was booming until the Covid lockdown. ‘It was a great time to set up the business because as I was still at college I was able to get advice from my tutors if I needed it. I also made excellent contacts and have been asked to sell many of my colleagues’ and fellow students’ instruments. Many students just want to make the instruments and aren’t interested in selling them whilst I enjoy that side of it too. I love connecting an instrument with a player; probably down to the teacher
in me. So it means that many violin and cello makers are asking me to sell their instruments for them.’ As well as buying and selling instruments Libby is repairing instruments, restringing and often redoing the set up. Most of her customers are schools, local orchestras and professional musicians. This side of her business, at the moment, has temporarily disappeared but is showing slow signs of revival thankfully and word of mouth means Libby is gaining a good reputation particularly with the set ups of an instrument. Italy and the city of Cremona has been the centre for violin making since the 16th century. It was home to the renowned Antonio Stradivari who, of course, is the world renowned luthier who made the Stradivarius violins. Many of these still survive today despite being made in the late 17th, early 18th century, his oldest surviving one being made in 1666. Stradivarius violins regularly sell for over a million pounds today with one making almost £10 million in 2011. Cremona is also home to another one of those four best violin making schools in the world. A luthier is someone who makes violins,
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Active life
cellos, violas, lutes and guitars which is interesting as making a guitar is completely different to a violin much less carving of the wood is involved as guitars don t have curves, whilst the other instruments do. So many luthiers will describe themselves as violin makers to emphasise the difference. Back to our Stamford based luthier ibby who has now made 3 1/2 violins as well as a cello. It took me 1/ weeks to make one violin working on it every day from am to .30pm. It is now in the white, ie unvarnished. This violin will be judged in September for the culmination of her college course. It s been di cult for ibby and her cohorts as obviously the college was shut down due to Covid. We had to make our violins at home on our own photographing every stage so that our tutors could see what we were doing. It s been tricky not having the support of my fellow students or tutors, but nothing could be done about it. And really disappointingly we did not have our graduation ceremony in une which is a massive day with the judging and professional musicians coming and trying out our instruments. Some are sold on the day and the string quartet that plays in the evening pick some of the students instruments to play that night. It s such a pity for us as this is the way we are noticed. A violin is made of maple and spruce with much of the wood being sourced in eastern urope. Any old maple tree won t do though. There are specialist tree growers who produce wood that is very close and straight grained. It is then seasoned over a number of years before being sold to the luthiers. To make an instrument takes hours of specialised, skilled and intricate woodwork. I was taught extremely well. I was the least experienced with regards to woodwork but my tutors were incredibly patient with me. I have always had an eye for detail and my first year tutor was an absolute perfectionist who taught me really well. And perfection it needs to be as some of the wood on a violin is carved to be only . mm thick in places. This delicate woodwork takes skill and precision. The tone of a violin is the great secret and what makes an instrument saleable. ibby says it s to do with wood choice, internal volume and measurement, the sound holes and the external set up. But it all gets very technical and the tone is the great secret, says ibby, we all wish we knew how Stradivari did it
“It took me 5 1/2 weeks to make one violin working on it every day from 8am to 6.30pm.”
Interestingly the violin which Libby made for her final college course is based on a Stradivarius. All students had to copy one. ibby s first violin was sold to one of her students and the second one is also for sale. It seems sad to sell such a work of art but violin making is a commercial enterprise. And I loved seeing my student use my instrument. Once the body of the machine is made the set up is next. And ibby is convinced that this is the most important part of an instrument. ou can transform a fairly ordinary instrument with a good set up and this is what I love. I m excited to help young people make their instrument sound so much better by improving the set up on it. I m doing quite a lot of this. The set up is the finger board made of ebony), strings and bridge. The finger board needs to be very smooth. The tiniest difference in the set up can improve the sound dramatically. What I haven t mentioned is the sound post which is vital for the sound coming out of the instrument. It is fitted inside the instrument and takes a lot of skill. It s not glued in place so needs checking quite often, which ibby will do as part of a service. The vibration of the string travels through the bridge, down through the sound post and then bounces off the back of the instrument and out of the sound holes, thus creating the note. One of the favourite parts of ibby s work is the restoration of old instruments. I love it when someone brings me a violin they have found in the attic. Repairing it and replacing the set up is incredibly satisfying. Buying a violin can be complicated. It needs to fit you and the weight of it is vital. I always look at the length of people s arms and fingers particularly the little finger) to judge the right instrument for them, says ibby. eck length is not as important as I can help with that but limb length is vital. And the weight of an instrument needs to be taken into consideration as well. Do not buy an instrument online as you will have no idea if it fits you or not. It needs to be fitted to you. But we still haven t finished the violin yet. ow the physical work is done and the instrument is in the white it needs to be
varnished. And this is what can take a lot of time, and more patience you need a lot of that if you re a luthier. First of all the wood needs to be aged. In hot countries and if you have the time) you would leave it outside for the sun to do the work for you. But ibby has a UV light which she shines on the wood in an enclosed cupboard, seeing as the is not quite so reliable as Cremona for its sunshine hours. This can take at least a week for the wood to dry out and get darker. Once this has been done the violin maker will then put on a ground which protects the wood from the varnish. ach luthier has their own secret recipe for their ground as this is what can determine the tone and vibration of the wood. And then it is time for the varnish which can either be oil or spirit based. Oil takes longer to dry so patience is needed again) but by now it s obvious that patience and skill are needed throughout the process - and at least five coats will be applied, sometimes up to a do en. Different pigments can be added to determine the final colour of the wood. Top tip, spirit varnish chips more easily so if you are clumsy go for oil. ow that you have the finished product, how do you look after it Cover your instrument in a pure silk scarf and keep it in a case, says ibby. And keep it at a good temperature. It s vital that the humidity is correct. I have a dehumidifier here to keep the air dry. Whenever you play it wipe it down after you ve used it to keep the dust off. Instruments benefit from being serviced and this again is where ibby comes in. She s been kept busy servicing and repairing instruments. So busy that she still hasn t had time to finish that fourth violin yet. String instruments are beautiful, delicate creations made by a skilled, highly trained craftsman or woman in ibby s case) At only . mm thick in places they are incredibly easy to damage as the owner of the cello that is currently in ibby s workshop will testify. It was accidentally knocked over ibby to the rescue www.stamfordstrings.co.uk www.libbysummers.co.uk
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Guitar guru First violins, now guitars. Who knew we had so many talented luthiers locally? Kate Maxim finds out more
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Peter Mason Photography
NOTHER LOCAL LUTHIER in the area is ac Booth. e graduated with his BSc ons) in usical Instruments from the ondon etropolitan niversity in 01 and has gone on to set up his guitar making business ac Booth Guitars in Great aston. Inspired to play the guitar by his father at the age of six, ac has been playing with friends and family in bands for years, and now he s concentrating on producing music electronically. With a keen interest in sculpture, he initially planned to do an art degree, and did a foundation course, but then he discovered the course at ondon et. I thought it was the perfect way to mix art, sculpture and music, ac says. After running for over 100 years, the course has unfortunately now closed, due to funding issues, so in his last year ac and his seven fellow trainees had the workshops to themselves. This gave him plenty of space to learn his trade. In the first year he made a travel guitar which looks a bit like a cricket bat. In the second year he went on to build a parlour guitar which is a small acoustic based on an early Washburn guitar from the late 1 00s. Since graduating ac has made five acoustic and two electric guitars, with one telecaster, a Fender copy now being played by his cousin ouis in the band asy ife. I prefer making acoustics as there s a lot more craftsmanship involved. lectrics are almost a solid chunk of wood with some electronics. With acoustics, a little tweak
makes a big difference, so by experimenting with the bracing, for example, you can change the whole tone. ost guitars are factory made, which is why the handmade guitar world is so small. A 100 guitar from a music shop is great for learning on, says ac. But once you improve, you ll want to upgrade. roper enthusiasts, like professional players or people who are well into it and have some spending money often want a handmade guitar. As ac is at the beginning of his career, his guitars start at 1, 00 for a basic model and it takes around 100 hours to make one. I ll get quicker as I get better and buy more kit. At the moment I m doing it all the traditional way using band saws, chisels and hand planes. Because of deforestation, many traditional woods from countries like Bra il have been banned, so guitar makers are now using Indian or exican rosewood cocobolo) for the back and sides as it s really dense and
helps the sound to resonate. The top of the guitar is usually a softwood like spruce or cedar as it can be planed very thin. ac has a selection of moulds and templates, mostly based on the iconic artin design, but some he s adjusted at the waist so they re easier to hold. is customers are usually very specific in what they want but he also likes to experiment with the design. If they want a sound port in the side so they can hear better when they re playing, I ll add it, and I like to incorporate detailing like abalone or mother of pearl. They come in tiny squares which is fiddly but they have a nice shine, with great colours. A large part of ac s time is taken up with set ups and repairs. Set ups may involve improving the height of the strings so it s easier to press down on the frets. ou really want to feel a guitar before you buy but if you do buy online I can sort out the height of the strings and the playability. I ve also done a few restorations on old instruments which is fun to do. y favourite part of the process is stringing up the guitar to see what it sounds like. If it s underbuilt there s a chance of it exploding when you string it up, thankfully that s never happened to me. It s great when it plays nicely right from the beginning and hopefully I ll get more precise the more I do. ac would have been exhibiting at various guitar shows this year but with Covid-1 that s been impossible. The silver lining is that he s been able to spend more time making his guitars, and as more people have been learning instruments during lockdown, he s had more requests to make handmade guitars and repair old ones. www.zdbguitars.com
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W I L L’ S W A L K
Manton and Brooke Views of Rutland Water, a medieval manor, beautiful little Brooke, a minor stately home and a good pub to finish make this a fine walk. By Will Hetherington. Images: Will Hetherington
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There are nice views of Rutland Water from the high point of this walk near Martinsthorpe.
Difficulty rating THE ROUTE
ACTIVE INFO In medieval times Gunthorpe had a population of hundreds, before the plague which swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351 wiped out the inhabitants. Now with just 10 houses it is one of the smallest inhabited hamlets in Rutland.
If you want to finish in the orse & ockey at anton then you should be able to find somewhere on a verge to leave the car for a couple of hours. The path goes west from the busy junction of the A 003 Oakham to ppingham road and the anton turn, so take care crossing the road and within half a mile you will come to the medieval settlement of artinsthorpe, which is now just one building undergoing renovation. There was a whole village here in medieval times and then 300 years later the arl of Denbigh built his grand country retreat, artinsthorpe ouse here in the early 1 00s. By 1 the house had been demolished and now the single building that is Old all Farm occupies a prominent hilltop position and makes for a good landmark on this walk. After artinsthorpe continue west along the acmillan Way which becomes an established farm track. Go past America odge on your left, enjoying the views to the south, and you will eventually come to a crossroads. From here you could carry on straight ahead to include Braunston-inRutland if you want a longer walk, but I turned right to take the peaceful country road as it descends into Brooke for about 00 metres. Take time to enjoy the tranquility of this immaculate piece of rural ngland. When you arrive in Brooke turn right and keep to the right hand side of the tiny church and you will soon leave one of Rutland s smallest and prettiest little settlements behind. ou are now in the Gwash valley and it s almost a straight line east all the way to anton, with some more splendid views of Gunthorpe all to the north. Along the way you will go through a series of undulating arable fields and wild meadows and then cross the A 003 again. ou will soon come out just beneath the orse & ockey on the Rutland Water circuit.
Beautiful little Brooke is packed with idyllic country cottages.
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Essential information WHERE TO PARK Anywhere safe and considerate in Manton. DISTANCE AND TIME Four and a half miles/an hour and a half. HIGHLIGHTS Medieval Martinsthorpe, grand Gunthorpe Hall, beautiful Brooke and views of Rutland Water. LOWLIGHTS Crossing the busy A6003 twice.
If you have to walk on a road then why not make it a quiet, tree-lined country avenue?
The Horse & Jockey at Manton is a thriving pub on the Rutland Water circuit.
There are glorious views of Gunthorpe Hall to the north for a lot of this walk.
REFRESHMENTS The Horse & Jockey at Manton. DIFFICULTY RATING Two paws. There are a few stiles but it’s pretty easy underfoot. THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE There are often some livestock around Martinsthorpe and there isn’t too much access to fresh water unless you take a diversion in Brooke and go down to the Gwash to the left of the church. For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.
September 2020 / the activemag.com
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Goodbye blisters With more and more people enjoying the great outdoors we turned to the experts at Tallington Lakes Pro Shop to answer your questions about buying the right footwear
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Active life I haven’t done a lot of walking at all in the past but during lockdown I started to explore the local countryside a bit more. Could you recommend a walking or trail shoe for footpaths in the local area in inclement weather? I don’t think my trainers are going to last much longer. One of the most important features to look out for in a walking shoe is the GORE-TEX liner (or equivalent). This enables your foot to breathe freely, allowing moisture to escape while at the same time ensuring moisture doesn’t get in. A good sole with plenty of grip, for example a Vibram or Michelin, means you can feel confident stepping out in all weather: ice, rain or mud, you will have a stable base. A mid high boot is a great compromise between a boot and a shoe, for example the Salomon X Ultra 3, the Scarpa Terra or the Altberg Malham if you’re after a traditional looking boot. These boots provide more support around the ankle joint without the high cut protection needed for more adventurous hikes. They also offer better cover from the great British weather than a walking trainer would.
I do quite a lot of dog walking but prefer not to wear a walking boot or welly if possible because I find them cumbersome. Could you tell me what to look for in a year-round walking shoe?
A good quality walking shoe will protect your feet throughout the year. During the summer months a breathable shoe is important to ensure your feet don’t sweat too much, which can lead to a soggy sock and blisters. Through the winter you will want a waterproof shoe, especially if you’re walking through wet grassy areas. A GORE-TEX liner (or equivalent) again is a must. Lastly you will need a good quality sole that will be suitable for tarmac footpaths as well as fields. ou need a suitable grip when it s wet or icy and a Vibram or Michelin sole is perfect for this. If you wanted a shoe that will offer the support of a walking boot but without the bulk then the ON Cloudrock is perfect as it is so lightweight and allows you to roll through your foot with ease. They really are like walking on clouds and definitely worth a try.
A good quality walking shoe will protect your feet throughout the year. I like to walk a lot (including weekends in the Peak District, Yorkshire etc) and I would like to buy a new pair of proper walking boots. Could you please advise me on the most important elements to look for in my new purchase and how much I should realistically be looking to spend?
As an experienced walker, and walking in what can sometimes be uncertain terrain we would certainly recommend you invest in a high ankle walking boot. This ensures more protection is given around your ankle joint reducing the risk of twisting or rolling over as you walk. Due to the uncertain terrain where you are walking, especially with the renowned British weather, ensuring the boot has a good sole, such as Michelin or Vibram, will mean you have great grip on hard pack, loose, wet or icy terrain. ou will want a boot that offers great waterproofing and breathability, again GORE-TEX (or equivalent) is the perfect membrane for this. We’d recommend a Superfeet Trailblazer comfort insole as this will support the arch of your foot to stop any pronation, supination or collapsing of your arch. This will mean your foot will tire less keeping you going for longer. Finally when it comes to socks, a good quality pair of walking socks will help with comfort and moisture management. Within our range our synthetic boots start at £150 while our leather, more traditional boots (some are handmade) are up to £240. The price shouldn’t be your focus point, however, because it is more important to get the right fit so you are less likely to experience pain or blisters.
Our two daughters (10 and 12 years old) really love walking with us but I don’t want to keep spending a lot of money on new walking footwear as their feet keep growing. Will they be OK in their trainers for the moment or are there some low budget alternatives?
Obviously it depends upon the terrain you are walking on and the length of the walk, but even so because your children’s feet are still growing, they are still changing and forming. So although it may be tempting to save money on walking boots and buy trainers instead they don t offer the support
and protection that a pair of walking boots will. Ultimately this can lead to damage which can last a lifetime. ou ll be pleasantly surprised that some brands have affordable children’s boots like the Scarpa Terra Kids at £80. Would you buy a low budget pair for yourself? If not, why wouldn’t you treat your children’s feet the same?
Can you recommend a particular type of sock to best avoid blisters? Everybody talks about merino wool but I have also heard bamboo socks are good? It’s not necessarily what the sock is made of that makes the difference - it s how they fit. A poor fitting sock, whatever it is made of, will give you blisters. Look for ones specifically made for your left and right feet and with a heel cup. Some socks also come with an arch support. At Tallington Lakes we recommend Falke and Stance socks. They are tried and tested and we feel they offer great cushioning and support where it’s needed, ensuring a great snug fit. erino wool is great to have in a sock because depending on the ‘weight’ of the yarn it will keep your feet warm while wicking away moisture. Bamboo yarn is similar to cotton yarn in its properties so it can hold the moisture, which can rub but, if mixed with other yarns it can work in socks. We have found merino or synthetic fibres work the best to give good temperature regulation and comfort.
How should I care for my leather walking boots to get the best out of them for many years?
After each use, especially when it is wet and muddy, you should give them a rinse in fresh water to get all the mud and dirt off before leaving them to dry. DO NOT let them dry near a fire or radiator. Instead stuff them with old newspaper and allow them to dry slowly. Drying too quickly will ruin the leather. Over time you will need to add waterproofing wax to the leather. We recommend I WA waterproofing wax for leather. This ensures your feet stay dry and your boots stay breathable. www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com
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Soft on the body, gentle on the earth Cooling Bamboo Underwear Essentials Boody creates affordable luxury by crafting everyday essentials and underwear from viscose derived from bamboo. The result is a silky smooth base layer that keeps you cool and comfortable with seam-free stretch. The bamboo fabric maintains its shape and is great for sensitive skin. Bamboo fibres are naturally smooth and round with no sharp spurs to irritate skin. Try the silky touch of the products for yourself.
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Auberge Monday is returning in September!
Launde Abbey
Open daily for morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea
Cyclists and walkers very welcome Why not start your walk or ride at Launde then reward yourself with a delicious lunch at the end?
Our Plat du Jour on Monday evenings offers you the chance to enjoy a 3 course meal and we will offer something different to excite your taste buds & rid you of those Monday blues! Please book in advance.
only £17.45
Visit our website for maps and routes at www.laundeabbey.org.uk Launde Abbey, East Norton, Leicestershire LE7 9XB T: 01572 717254 I E: info@launde.org.uk Charity No: 1140918
Eat with us... to SUPPORT US 01858 452286
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ActiveBody E DI T E D BY K AT E M A X I M
Stretch v strength To stretch or not to stretch, that is the question. Physio Sarah Babbs explains why strengthening might be more effective than stretching at times
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TRETCHING IS PROBABLY the one thing about which I get asked more than anything. Should I stretch Will it do me good/harm I ve been told I must stretch/mustn t stretch. ow should I stretch etc. And there is no easy answer. Stretching is certainly used in many disciplines and many swear by it as a preventative, supplementary, or purely because it feels good. There are many types of stretching active, passive, static, dynamic. All have their place. There has been an enormous amount of research into all of these and ideas over the years have changed about their importance. Active stretching is when we stretch ourselves. eaning forward with the leg out in front to stretch the hamstrings, and can be static, ie once in the stretch position we hold it for a count of 10 before releasing. Or we might lean in and out of the stretch repeatedly. We can add a muscle contraction to that, pressing the heel into the floor by contracting the hamstrings, before releasing the tension. Then we are often able to stretch further afterwards. This is an example of a technique known as hold/relax stretching or to use the name coined in the 1 0s, roprioceptive euromuscular Facilitation F). assive stretching is done to us by another person or piece of equipment. This might be a band around the foot, leg up in the air and using the band to pull the leg higher. assive stretching is often used in and after hospital where someone may have skin contractions following a burn. ery
interestingly a study published last month in The Journal of Physiology found that a specific programme of 1 weeks of passive stretching helped improve blood flow in the lower legs and upper arms. This has implications in improving the vascular health of those who are less mobile, and also may improve and prevent some vascular disease such as stroke and heart disease. It appears that stretching, contrary to popular belief, does not actually elongate the muscles and tendons. It is more that we train our bodies to change what stretch we can tolerate. That said, studies have shown that if we repeatedly stretch we can improve our flexibility. ost of us have spent time stretching to reach our toes, only to find that when we stop the stretching routine our feet soon seem to be further away again. Those who can get their hands to the ground are often genetically gifted, perfect for the gymnasts and ballet dancers. Some are hypermobile or over stretchy and this can actually cause problems with joint pain, so strength training is of value here. A reason to stretch is to lose the feeling of tightness after sport or running. I am often asked about the use of foam rollers. I m not a particular fan, there is no evidence to suggest they have any impact in the long term but I wouldn t stop someone if they felt
it helped them. The ITB or iliotibial band is the classic structure many people worry about. This is a strap of fascia connecting muscles from the buttock to the knee and part of the pelvis stabilising mechanism. ost people who struggle with a tight ITB do not have adequate strength in the muscles around the pelvis, in particular the gluteal muscles. Rather than rolling or stretching I d recommend strengthening these muscles so that the ITB is not taking strain when running. So what should we do Is stretching helpful Sometimes there is shown to be a reduction in power after static stretches, obviously not ideal if we are about to try for a record running pace, but this does tend to be found more in elite athletes rather than the general population. The rest of us would be better loading up the muscle with some strength training. This has been shown to improve the muscle fibres and make us less sensitive to the feeling of tightness. So if you love to stretch do so but don t push too far and make sure you are doing the strengthening work that is of even more benefit too. 01780 480889 or 07780 900201
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Kicking joint pain into touch Gary Trickett gives us the rundown on how to reduce inflammation of the joints
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UMMER AS WE know it, with its trips to far-flung destinations and the continent might be on hold, but that doesn t mean we can t enjoy the sunshine here in the . For many of us that will mean dusting off the pedals and hitting the cycle paths, days out at the beach and walks in the park, or simply pottering in the garden. It s more important than ever to stay healthy and fit. hysical activity brings with it enormous health benefits but for those of us with some form of arthritis - an estimated 0% gardening and other such activities may not be as enjoyable as they once were. Arthritis is somewhat of an umbrella term and literally means inflammation of the joints. As you grow older your body is often unable to replace new cartilage to counteract any loss, allowing insu ciently cushioned bones to rub together causing inflammation, pain and stiffness. xcessive sporting wear and tear, through running or cycling for example, can accelerate this process, and some forms of arthritis are hereditary. The good news is there are measures you can take to help reduce pain and stiffness. Diet is important. ating less of the foods that can increase inflammation and lots more of the anti-inflammatory foods that can help to reduce it, can help. Reduce your intake of coffee, alcohol, fi y drinks and foods made from refined white flour and white sugar as these foods are known to promote unhealthy levels of inflammation. Do eat lots of oily fish or plant oils, nuts and seeds, and plenty of fresh vegetables and berries. They are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that can help to reduce inflammation and our spiky friend the pineapple is worth singling out as it contains
an anti-inflammatory en yme called bromelain. Replace refined foods with brown rice, millet, barley, quinoa or buckwheat. These foods can be eaten in their whole form, or try the pastas, noodles, breads and crackers made from them in place of your usual choices. Anti-inflammatories can also help. Devil s Claw for example, or arpagophytum, a plant only found in the alahari Desert of South Africa, has been used for many years to help reduce rheumatic, muscle and joint pain. Studies suggest that long-term use of Devil s Claw is not only safe but may lead to improvements in those with chronic lower back pain. A ogel s Atrosan Devil s Claw tablets may be used as a rheumatism product for the relief of joint and muscular pain in adults and the elderly. Turmeric is also lauded for its antiinflammatory potential. ative to Southeast Asia, it looks a lot like an orange version of its plant-cousin ginger, and like ginger, has been used in Asian cuisine and as a medicinal herb for centuries. The subject of
ongoing research, turmeric owes its purported health-promoting properties to a chemical compound called curcumin, which is well-documented for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action in the body. Curcumin is thought to slow down the inflammatory pathways if used in the treatment of conditions such as arthritis, and in clinical trials has been found to be effective for relieving pain and swelling in people with osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. For topical relief from inflammation you may wish to try a gel containing arnica. Arnica is well-known for its homeopathic use for bumps and bruises but the fresh arnica herb can also be very effective when applied topically. It can inhibit one of the main triggers of inflammation helping to relieve muscular aches, pain and stiffness, sprains and swelling after injury and can also help with osteoarthritis of the knee, rheumatism, fibromyalgia and RSI. Simply apply -10 cm gently to the affected area two to four times a day. Do not use internally or on broken, cut or irritated skin. Finally, stay active. Regular, gentle exercise will help you maintain a healthy weight, which in turn lessens the stress you place on joints, helping to improve the pain of arthritis. For further advice, visit Gary and his team at Healthy Route, 18 Silver Street, Leicester or call 0116 253 9097.
Physical activity brings with it enormous health benefits but for those of us with some form of arthritis - an estimated 20% - gardening and other such activities may not be as enjoyable as they once were. 46 September 2020 / the activemag.com
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ActiveBody
Incontinence doesn’t discriminate Julie Colan, the founder of Secret Whispers, talks about how common leakage issues are, the misconceptions, associated taboos and how she has seen a rise in it during lockdown
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ET’S TALK ABOUT something embarrassing shall we? Does a little wee escape when you laugh, sneeze, cough, jump, or run? Is this now your new normal? It doesn’t have to be. As women (and men) we are pretty uneducated on the importance of our pelvic floor, the structure of it and why doing egels pelvic floor exercises) is so important. nfortunately, for most women the first time they hear the words egels and prolapse is when they have a problem. This is why I am so passionate about campaigning for ational elvic Floor Awareness because most weak pelvic floor issues could be avoided with education and doing egels. p to 0% of women in the have a prolapse. owever, this figure is likely to be a lot higher because many women are fearful of seeking help or advice due to the associated shame. The physical, psychological and social wellbeing impact for women who suffer with weak pelvic floor conditions, and their families, is heart-breaking and could be avoided. Because of the propaganda adverts from certain pad companies which portray leaks as “little oops moments” many women believe that bladder leaks after childbirth are normal and even to be expected. This is most definitely not the case. Incontinence is very common but it is not normal and if left untreated will only get worse. our pelvic floor is a muscle like any other and needs to be exercised. Think of your pelvic floor as a hammock that holds up your bowel, bladder and uterus. When it weakens and/or becomes damaged (for various reasons) it can no longer support these organs which drop out of place, known as pelvic organ prolapse (POP). These organs push into the walls of the vaginal canal and can eventually bulge outside of the vagina, causing major distress as well as pain. Some of the signs of POP are: a bulging sensation in the vagina, tampons push out, pain/pressure in the vagina and/or rectum, urinary and faecal incontinence, back/pelvic pain, painful intercourse and bowel incontinence. It’s worth noting that a lot of women and men who suffer from back and hip pain may find they actually have pelvic floor issues. our pelvic floor is key to your core strength and needs to be strong. Yes, childbirth is a leading factor associated with POP, as is being overweight and constipation, due to the associated bowel straining. Menopause can be a contributory factor as well due to the reduction of oestrogen levels at this time.
As women (and men) we are pretty uneducated on the importance of our pelvic floor, the structure of it and why doing Kegels (pelvic floor exercises) is so important.
en have a pelvic floor too and can suffer in the same way as women; dribbles, leakage and erectile dysfunction are some of the problems they face. There are two types of egels, slow and fast and are exactly the same for men and women. Imagine holding in wind and urine at the same time - hold that contraction for up to 10 seconds and release for three seconds, repeat 10 times. Then do 10 fast egels. Aim to do these twice a day. Studies have shown that even the majority of women who are told how to do an effective egel exercise struggle to get it right. This is where our Secret Whispers egel Weights kit can help as it teaches women to feel how to do them correctly. Our egel weights are just like a dumbbell for your pelvic floor and include a six step programme, which is doctor, physio and mum recommended. During lockdown we saw a rise in the number of customers who suddenly found themselves with leakage and prolapse issues. They had taken up running and IIT classes with no thought about their pelvic floor well why would they o one has told them otherwise). Running and jumping puts increased pressure on the pelvic floor. Imagine it s like a trampoline holding up your pelvic floor organs. If it’s weak, it’s bouncing up and down with your pelvic organs inside and getting weaker, which can lead to leakage and prolapse issues. So, please, do your egels www.secretwhispers.co.uk
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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The gyms are open Finally, we are being allowed back to the gym; for some, this is the news they’ve long been waiting for. Kate Maxim finds out more
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ORGET BEING ABLE to go shopping, to the pub or out for a meal, many people have been waiting months for the news that gyms can re-open. Starved of the equipment and regular classes, we have all been coming up with our own exercise routines, be it taking up running or cycling during lockdown, following celebrities on YouTube or signing up with local instructors for Zoom fitness classes. But now the gyms are open and providing they follow safety guidelines and all the hygiene and socially distancing measures are fully in place - there is no reason not to get back there. Not only is exercise crucial for physical health and reducing weight, it’s also an important factor in improving mental health, something that many are struggling with at the moment. Anything to help improve stress levels has got to be a good thing. Before lockdown I would meet a merry band of women from my village in a friend’s kitchen for a twice weekly workout with local personal trainer Cathy Dunn (www. tonefromhome.co.uk) And then Covid hit. Since then we’ve been doing the classes online over Zoom which is great. But there’s nothing like the real thing, meeting in person and pushing yourself to your limit with no hiding in the corner on the screen! And that’s what I’ve been hearing from gym owners all over the county. eople have been flocking back.
expert on nutrition. Both know their stuff inside out. They think group classes and personal training sessions are more motivational than coming in alone and using equipment. As Darren says, “you’re more accountable if you’ve booked a class, you meet your friends, and you improve.” Elevate Fitness had only been open a month before Covid-19 forced the doors to close. It is fitted out with the most up to date equipment with loads of different weights, including the biggest kettle bells I’ve ever seen, weighted balls, sleds, pivot bars and ropes. You name it, they have it. During lockdown they ran free online fitness classes via Facebook and in the final stages they did
a couple of weeks of classes outside the gym. Now they’re back inside and raring to go. But some people are still a bit reticent and want the online classes to continue so they can still train at home. Darren and Dan are very happy to do that but will now be charging for the online classes. There is temperature scanning as you arrive and plenty of hand sanitiser. Members are asked to arrive only five minutes before classes start and not bring loads of stuff with them. All bookings are done online to minimise contact. Obviously nowhere is immune to the coronavirus but the fact that everything at this gym is so brand spanking new gave me a lot of confidence in terms of
Elevate Fitness
Darren (Foxy) Fox from Elevate Fitness in Peterborough is an ex professional rugby player having played for Northampton Saints, Cambridge Rugby Club and Bedford Blues. Business partner Dan is a martial arts guru who has represented GB and is also an
“Dan and Darren cater for all abilities: a complete beginner; a 50-60 year old who wants to keep fit for life, or an up and coming athlete who wants to push themselves.” 48 September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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hygiene, and this is something that most gyms are striving for now. In the gym they ve marked out one metre grids on the floor and reduced class si es to no more than ten. embers pick the equipment they want, use it all the way through the session, then wipe it down at the end with sanitiser. And then it s cleaned again afterwards by the team. I watched the end of a class and noticed some people are more meticulous than others so you d hope to come after someone who would clean it as well as you would.
Gym fitness
Training one-to-one helps to enforce the correct distancing measures, and focuses the mind on what you personally need to achieve to get back in shape post lockdown. Small classes also allow the trainer to assess fitness levels and help members avoid injury. It s not just about muscle fitness but also the state of tendons, joints and ligaments. As very few
people are at their usual fitness levels because of lockdown they need to reduce the amount of reps and weights they do to start with. Dan and Darren cater for all abilities: a complete beginner a 0- 0 year old who wants to keep fit for life, or an up and coming athlete who wants to push themselves. They concentrate on improving mobility and functional strength. I decided to put my money where my mouth was and signed up for a T session with Darren. It started with lots of warm up exercises moving on to movements to activate all the muscles. We did different types of squats, bear crawls, crab crawls, lifting legs over imaginary hurdles I ve forgotten the rest Darren is very keen on counteractive movements so if you push something, next minute he ll get you pulling a piece of equipment, and he always incorporates rotational work. The idea is to use all your muscles to build core strength and stability. We did a lot of explosive work throwing kg balls against the wall sideways and backwards. Then stepping up onto a cushion thrusting a 10kg ball above my head. I used to be strong having had three kids under two years old to carry around, but now I ve lost a lot of muscle mass in my arms. aving Darren tell you what to do, how many reps
and demonstrating the correct technique is invaluable he was particularly good at improving my technique with the kettle bell. e has some clients doing T sessions five days a week, others once. It just depends on what you want to get out of it. We then moved on to the sled to build upper body strength. I pulled and pushed it the length of the gym in different ways and finished with a weighted pivot bar to activate the waist. I was shattered afterwards, having got slower and slower particularly with the sled there was no half-hearted hiding in the corner of a oom screen here. But it felt great to be back training for real. Whether you re following your own routine using the equipment at your local gym and cleaning each station as you move round, or signing up for a personalised fitness class, you do have to be sensible and follow the guidelines. But the benefits should outweigh the di culties. Currently there are two classes per day at levate Fitness during the week and that will increase to four at .30 and am and .1 and .30 pm. Saturday classes are at am and Sundays 10am. unchtime classes will resume when they can open the showers again. www.elevatefitnessuk.com
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Back together, just a little further apart It’s not just the gyms reopening, yoga studios have flung open their doors too. Kate Maxim talks to Jenny Liu from Optimum You Yoga in Market Harborough and Marcus Parr from Stamford Yoga
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ENNY LIU AND husband Neil got the keys to their new studio just off St Mary’s Road in Market Harborough last summer and spent months renovating it into a bright, airy, welcoming space to hold their yoga classes. Just eleven weeks later Covid-19 forced them to close. Thankfully there was a silver lining to the lockdown – the arrival of their baby girl and unexpected enforced time in a small family bubble. ‘That was lovely,’ says Jenny, ‘we’re a new family, and feeling very positive and fully present. And now we’re so excited to be back in the studio, teaching classes.’
They started slowly with a reduced timetable in August but from September they’re back up to a full list with a range of new classes limited to nine people, and they’re adding three more teachers to their team. High standards of cleanliness have always been paramount to make sure their customers feel safe and relaxed, but now even more hygiene procedures are in place. Students are encouraged to minimise the number of belongings they bring in and store them in the changing area. The teachers place mats down two metres apart and then customers place their own mats on top. You
can still borrow mats and yoga blocks but yoga straps and blankets have been put away for the time being. Everyone is asked to use the disinfectant to clean the equipment afterwards and then the teachers deep clean everything used in the class and rotate it on the shelves. There is a proper community feel to the studio, with many customers taking a range of classes through the week, normally sipping herbal tea afterwards and catching up with fellow classmates. Unfortunately the tea is on the back burner for the moment, but an alternative way to build those close relationships often formed through yoga practice is to join Neil and Jenny on one of their three-night retreats. Last year they took a group to oh ha gan, an island just off Thailand. This year they’re taking a group of up to 16 people to Arundel in West Sussex to help people maintain the balance, sense of peace and stillness they may have found during lockdown rather than rushing back to the old way of living busy lifestyles. There will be twice daily yoga practices, life coaching and well-being workshops, and meals cooked by a nutritionist. If you want to give the yoga a miss Jenny and Neil make sure they choose areas with fantastic walks and places to explore. We find that people really bond on these retreats and make new friendships, which they can continue when they’re back at home in the studio.’ Next year’s retreat in March is in the Lake District. www.optimumyouyoga.com
‘There is a proper community feel to the studio, with many customers taking a range of classes through the week, normally sipping herbal tea afterwards’ 50 September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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‘I must admit laying on your back in a yoga pose and taking in the vastness of the sky above gives a different perspective on your everyday life.’ A few miles away Marcus Parr from Stamford Yoga has also been very busy during and since lockdown. His original studio, which he established in 2000, is based at his parents’ house in Castor. During lockdown he held his classes outside there and the volume of students passing through has been quite an eye opener, particularly to his parents! ‘Many of my students have fallen in love with breathing in the fresh air and watching nature,’ says Marcus, ‘particularly the vast array of birds and the inquisitive cats! They’ve found yoga outdoors a very spiritual experience. I must admit laying on your back in a yoga pose and taking in the vastness of the sky above gives a different perspective on your everyday life.’ Marcus intends to run these into September alongside the studio classes, or for as long as the weather remains friendly. ‘There have been some challenging moments when it’s been windy or raining hard or, at
the other end of the scale, extremely hot. I invested in gazebos and these have proved very worthwhile to practice under if needed. Many students want to stay outside as long as possible, either because they love the outdoors or because they are still wary of being inside because they are vulnerable to the coronavirus, due to health issues themselves or because of somebody they live with.’ Online videos helped saved the business during lockdown. They gave students a chance to hold onto routine and a glimpse of normality and there are still over 100 titles available for those who aren’t ready to come back inside. But for those raring to get back Marcus has put in some stringent new practices. The whole building on Broad Street is cleaned professionally daily, a 2m social distancing rule is in place in the common parts and a one way system. Only one person at a time is allowed in the locker room, and
in the studio itself protective screens are placed between the mats and adhere to the 1m plus rule. There is a quarantine tub for any studio mat or prop that a student uses, although they are strongly encouraged to bring their own. Classes are limited to nine and windows are opened during classes to keep the air flowing through. As with Optimum You Yoga, Marcus now only teaches verbally and doesn’t do any hands on adjustments. Classes have gone well so far as everybody gets used to the new normal. Things are not exactly the same, and may not be for some time, but as Marcus says, ‘we have to compromise at the moment, but to be honest we can’t complain as we are just grateful to be back teaching again in the studio. We are one of many businesses that has had to adapt in order to survive.’ www.stamfordyoga.co.uk
September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Trail Run Fun | Spotlight on football Elevate fitness | The roundup
ActiveSport Barrowden START / FINISH
Wakerley
Yarwell Harringworth King’s Cliffe
Laxton
Nassington Blatherwycke
Bulwick
Fotheringhay Southwick
On your bike! This month Gary Waterfall and Richard Mackintosh get together to ride a 30 mile route with 1,500ft of climb and some amazing scenery, starting and finishing in Barrowden.
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EAVE BARROWDEN AND head toward Wakerley and enjoy an easy warm up before the hill out of the village gets the heart going. Join the A43 heading towards Corby for a short while and then turn left to ing s Cliffe riding past the very pretty lake at Blatherwycke. Through ing s Cliffe, then right and up the hill past the war memorial. Spare a thought here as 80 years ago The Battle of Britain was taking place, which lasted several months. Turn right before Wansford and then make the most of the long, leisurely stretch through Fotheringhay and Cotterstock before turning right to Southwick as it’s pretty much uphill all the way home from now.
Cotterstock Tansor Glapthorn
There’s a long incline across the busy A43 through Laxton. New Lodge Farm on the crossroads has an excellent cafe so if you want a quick pit stop to rehydrate and refuel pop in. Then enjoy the downhill into Harringworth; I never tire of looking at the viaduct. Take one final right to double back under the viaduct and tackle the last hill before the long flat straight to end up for a well-earned drink at The Exeter Arms back in Barrowden. There’s lots of space outside for socially compliant seating and good food, and they’re a friendly bunch. http://www.strava.com/ routes/2722852551924077024
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Trail Run Fun Bruce Donald from Wild Dog Events suggests a trail run route this month and is breaking us in gently with a five mile fairly flat route.
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RAIL RUNNING CAN be a combination of running and hiking, depending on the route. It usually takes place on any unpaved surface, normally footpaths and bridleways, and can involve steep gradients. It’s a great way to enjoy the countryside at a slightly faster pace than walking
Oundle - Cotterstock Lock - Ashton
The starting point is from the historic market town of Oundle on the river Nene. Parking is available at The Riverside pub or at the Oundle Wharf, but make sure you take some money to reward yourself with a drink in the Tap and Kitchen at the end of your run.
From Oundle Wharf turn right over the North Bridge and join the Nene way footpath that takes you along the river Nene. The footpath is a well-used path that meanders alongside the river offering you some great opportunities to enjoy the local birds and wildlife. Make sure you look behind you to enjoy the view of Oundle and the 210-foot spire of St Peter’s Church which is the tallest spire in Northamptonshire. Cross over the river at the Cotterstock Lock and follow the path till you reach the road. Turn right along the road for a few hundred metres and take the right fork. At the first house on the left take the public bridleway heading along the only small OS maps reference: OS Explorer 227
incline towards the A605. Take care crossing the A605 and keep following the bridleway, which is just to the right of the house and the big tree. After ¾ of mile turn right onto the Roman Road and you are now back on the Nene Way. Take care as you approach the Rifle Range. If there are red flags flying it means they are shooting so you will have to turn around and follow your footsteps back to the start. If there are no red flags continue to follow the Roman Road through a small wooded area and into the village of Ashton. Ashton is a beautiful little country village that was rebuilt in the 1900s by the Rothschild family for the estate workers. It also used to host the World Conker Championship on the lawns of The Chequered Skipper pub. Take the right fork when leaving the village and follow the pathway to the road. Turn right on the road for a very short distance then cross over and follow the Nene Way Riverside Walk which leads you between the buildings. Using the two footbridges cross over the river and turn right to follow the river back to the North Bridge where you started the run. www.wilddogevents.com
September 2020 / theactivemag.com 53
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Team sports are at long last being played again, or at least being thought about with relish. Jeremy Smithson-Beswick tells us more
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VER THE PAST few months there’s been much to report about our local sportspeople’s fine charity work and news now reaches me of a sterling effort by two of Oakham Rugby Club s sons, ames Beanland and Ben Turnbull. Beany and Bully s Rugby Club Bike Tour takes place on August 30th or judgment day as they ve christened it) for the att ampson Foundation surely one of the most worthy causes around and close to the heart of any rugby player. Starting at :30 in the morning, over the course of the next twelve hours they will be cycling to eighteen rugby grounds across eicestershire, a total of 1 0 miles and a climb of ,000 feet. That would be impressive enough but both ames and Ben are inexperienced cyclists, only taking it up during lockdown as a substitute for rugby. This means they ve had to dedicate themselves to a rigorous training schedule to make it possible. Friends and family have already chipped in with 1, 00 and the boys would like to reach 3,000 so please support them if you can. I know how generous the rugby family can be. https:// www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ beanyandbully
Although remiership Rugby restarted in mid-August there is still no date for the commencement of the community game but at least the RF recently announced the Return Roadmap has moved from hase B to C, allowing non-contact games and training with up to ten players per side. Also, the initial fixtures have been decided, albeit with no date attached. Stamford are set to open with a home fixture against ong Buckby, Oakham will host arket Bosworth and the derbies will be the third and seventh matches of the campaign. There has been no decision to date whether the coming season will involve promotion and relegation, but all our local sides are busily getting ready nevertheless. Oaks, for example, is looking for volunteers to help with redecoration of the changing rooms as part of their atWest Rugby Force weekend on / September. If interested please contact clubhouse oakhamrfc.com
eanwhile, eicester Tigers continue to shu e the pack in search of a winning hand after a season to forget last term. Although anu Tuilagi will be playing for Sale, Steve Borthwick may turn out to be an inspired choice as head coach and the arrival of Aled Walters as head of physical performance fresh from getting the Springboks into world cup winning condition should also pay dividends. There s also a new attack coach in the form of iwi Rob Taylor. Borthwick went for youth in their first fixture against xeter and thirteen of the squad were academy graduates. e said They know eicester, they love representing eicester and I think that something that has come across very strong is how much these players want to make our supporters very proud of this team . Geordan urphy remains as Director of Rugby and echoed Borthwick commenting We have a group of players and coaches committed to the club and the hard work
‘Starting at 5:30 in the morning, over the course of the next twelve hours they will be cycling to eighteen rugby grounds across Leicestershire’ 54 September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Although Manu Tuilagi will be playing for Sale, Steve Borthwick may turn out to be an inspired choice as head coach and the arrival of Aled Walters as head of physical performance should also pay dividends.
ahead. It’s a new look squad which has led to a tighter, hungrier group and a positive, excited atmosphere”. Oakham CC finally played their inaugural match in the Leicestershire Group 3 league on the th of August a visit to Barkby. ever having reached these di y heights before there must have been some trepidation beforehand but they showed how welldeserved last season’s promotion was with a relatively straightforward victory within overs. Shaun Morris was the star bowler returning figures of for 1 , but seasoned observer and groundsman Malcolm Rawlings is even more excited about a youngster that s recently started with them, Joe Johnson. Just sixteen he’s described as a batsman with a classic style as befits the son of someone who played for imbabwe and had stints in county cricket at both Hampshire and Leicestershire. Dad Neil is currently Director of Cricket at Oakham School. Joe’s one to watch as an Old Oakhamian, Stuart Broad, takes another wicket against Pakistan as I write. In contrast to Oakham, Bourne had a torrid time against Grantham. Skipper Courtney ruger decided to bat first but was to rue that call as they were dismissed for only 1 with their opponents then reaching
that total with ease. etton had more luck in the Rutland League against a Spalding side that had its eyes firmly on the future with around half the side being fourteen or under. Ollie Dring – who is at Stamford School – was one of them and will be cursing his luck at being out lbw on 3. Well played nevertheless. It s a time of change at etton, as leading light and first team captain not to say partial financier) Rob itas has left the club over what seems to be a dispute on their future direction. Chairman Dave Walpole commented that “certain agreements were not adhered to and added that they now had “a committee all pulling in the same direction”. However, he was gracious enough to say that the influx of players with Robin had been “a vital shot in the arm” back in
01 when the club was not in good shape and wished him well for the future. They are hopeful that most, if not all, of itas s recruits will remain with them and as for the player himself, no doubt another local club somewhere will snap him up. Stamford Daniels had a very satisfactory warm up game at home against Peterborough nited. aving lost the same fixture 0- last season this time they restricted the eague 1 side to a single goal despite going behind as early as the fifteenth minute, putting a broad grin onto manager Graham Drury s face. e ll have been pleased too by the signing of -year-old left back Connor Bartle from Grantham Town who knows what it’s like to win the Northern Premier League and will add quality to the side.
Meet superfood skincare expert Lisa Armitage Use it or Lose it, keep your brain and body active
Second helpings, a group helping reduce food waste
Winter walks with Will
Meet superfood skincare expert Lisa Armitage We try out a ‘god pod’
Meet the founders of WildDog Events
Find out about social prescribing
Meet fly fishing guide Nick Dunn
Brentingby Gin, the local company foraging for botanicals ISSUE 92 | FEBRUARY 2020
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Will walks in South Africa
We try out a ‘god pod’
Find out about girls’ and women’s cricket at Leicestershire CC
Are diamonds a girl’s best friend? We find out more about gem stones
Bourne has a new running club Meet Tom Bourne, director of sport at Uppingham Community College ISSUE 91 | JANUARY 2020
Find out about girls’ and women’s cricket at Leicestershire CC
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Orbea Gain: E.Bike in disguise Tugby Orchards, Tugby, LE7 9WE I 0116 259 8063 I www.cafe-ventoux.cc By bike follow the Route 64 Cycle way
Cafe Ventoux is now a grocery store supplying local produce including fruit and veg, dairy and a selection of meats. We are also making our own bread, pies, special occasion cakes and much more. We have an extensive home made take away menu too - Wednesday is international cuisine night, Thursday is curry night followed on Friday and Saturday with our homemade pizza and burger menu. If you would like to pre order for collection please just give us a call during opening hours. OPENING HOURS Monday - Wednesday 9-1pm Thursday - Friday 9 - 1pm and 5 - 8pm (takeaway) Saturday 9-2 and 5 - 8pm (takeaway) Sunday 9-2
GEORGE HALLS CYCLE CENTRE 10-12 Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leics, LE16 9HE. 01858 465507 www.georgehallscycles.co.uk georgehallscycle@aol.com
ACTIVE RUTLAND We’re now spending more time at home, which is why staying physically active and looking after your wellbeing is more important than ever. There are many ways that we can remain active in our homes and outside in your local area, whilst following social distancing guidelines. There are lots of local instructors, clubs and organisations delivering virtual classes to help you stay active at home. Visit www.activerutland.org.uk/activeathome to see what local online classes you can get involved in, including fitness, dance and pilates. It’s the perfect time to stay connected with regular sessions or to try something new.
ActiveSport
Spotlight on Football Stu Spencer, manager of Market Harborough Football Club men’s first team explains the rules and history of the beautiful game
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HE GAME OF Association Football or Soccer is rooted in medieval ball games and public school games. The game that we know today originated from mid-1 th century efforts amongst local clubs to standardise the various rules that existed at that time. This culminated in the formation of The Football Association in England in 1863. The drafted rules allowed teams to play each other without dispute and specifically banned the handling of the ball (other than goalkeepers). The laws laid down by the FA had immediate effect and She eld FC and ottingham now otts County) played an annual fixture under the FA code. As more teams joined through the 1860s the sport veered away from the public schools’ origins and became a game played with round balls and teams of 11 players, just like it is today. Whilst some of the rules set out have evolved over time, in particular the offside rule that, in simple terms has changed to try and provide more benefit to the attacking team, many rules remain standardised and unchanged.
Main features
Kick-Off: the game is started by the blowing of a whistle based on a coin toss between captains and referee. The winner of the toss chooses either for their team to kick off or chooses the end they wish to play from. Free-Kick: this is due to a foul by the opposing team which results in a free kick or pass with nobody on the opposing team allowed within 10 yards of where the free kick is to be taken from.
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Goal-Kick: a kick taken inside the 6 yard box of a goalkeeper’s area when the attacking team has had the final touch of the ball before it exits the field of play behind the goal and between the corner flags.
defending team (including goalkeeper) between the attacking player and the goal when a pass is made. In the case of players being level, this counts in favour of the attacking team.
Corner: a kick that takes place for the attacking team in a quadrant in the corner of the pitch when the defending team has had the final touch of the ball before it exits the field of play behind the goal, between the corner flags.
A proposal was made in 1871 to create a challenge cup now known as the FA Cup) which was first played in 1 . At this stage there was no league system; this was established in 1888 with 12 clubs. These 12 clubs would later become the league's founder members. The reason for a league system was concern that teams exiting the FA Cup early could be without a match for almost a year. This would mean heavy financial loss and supporters would possibly move on to support other teams. Another key development was the game turning professional in 1885. This evolved into the Premier League, three football leagues below this, then a National League that is practically full time. Then there is a non-league structure that consists of lots of leagues and sub-divisions. Teams are promoted, stay in the same league or are relegated each season depending on their performance. www.harboroughtownfc.org
Throw-in: a throw taken from behind the head down the length of the pitch by a team member when the opposing side has had the last touch of the ball before it exits the field of play. Penalty: a free shot at goal taken from 12 yards out within the goalkeeper’s penalty area when the defending team have committed a foul against the attacking team within the 18 yard box. All players except the penalty taker and defending goalkeeper must be outside the area. Offside: the current rule is that to be offside there has to be less than two players of the
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This third generation Cloudflyer is built for distance, recovery and performance with a forked cloud outsole, increased breathability and 3D moulded heel. PRICE £140 FROM www.speedhub.co.uk
2. Burgon & Ball Long Handled Bulb Planter
With gorgeous spring bulbs in abundance ready to be planted now, make life easier and quicker with this long handled planter. PRICE £34.99 FROM www. wellandvalegardeninspirations.co.uk
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3. Superfeet Women’s Trailblazer Comfort Insoles
The Superfeet shape personalises the boot to your foot to deliver exceptional comfort and improves support and stability when walking/hiking. PRICE £39.99 FROM www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com
4. Turmeric-based ‘shot’
The range consists of three flavours: Raw Turmeric & Ginger, Raw Turmeric & Beetroot and Original Raw Turmeric made of 100% fresh, cold-pressed ingredients (including ginger root, watermelon, pineapple, pomegranate and black pepper), without the use of added-sugar, fruit juices or preservatives. Boosts vitality. PRICE From £31.50 per box of 14 FROM www.theturmeric.co
5. Kimberley Jacket
A tailored fitted jacket in powder blue tweed with a single button front creating an emphasised waist. It is trimmed with a light grey under collar felt, light grey alcantara suede jetted pockets and metal detailed front and cuff buttons. PRICE £297.50 FROM www.butlerstewart.co.uk
Kit Bag Lots of useful ideas for September
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6. Altberg Keld Nabuk Brown Walking Boots
In a wider fit, the vibram soles and Tri-Flex midsoles promise fantastic grip to all terrains, and a Sympatex lining keeps moisture out of the boot. PRICE £199.99 FROM www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com
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58 September 2020 / theactivemag.com
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Your Family, Your Visit, Your Way Stamford Junior School
Stamford School
Stamford High School
(Boys and Girls 2-11)
(Boys 11-18)
(Girls 11-18)
Open Day 10 October 2020
Open Day 3 October 2020
Open Day 3 October 2020
Discovery Mornings 22 September 2020 & 17 November 2020
Discovery Mornings 17 September 2020 & 12 November 2020
Discovery Mornings 16 September 2020 & 11 November 2020
Personal and virtual tours can be organised to suit your family. All events are subject to circumstance and government advice, and will follow a strict hygiene and social distancing regime.
Contact the admissions team on 01780 750311 or visit stamfordschools.org.uk/visitus