Active Magazine // Stamford & Rutland // September 2021 by Active Magazine

Have a yoga retreat in the Lake District Meet the farmer growing hemp Why houseplants fit into your life Alwalton Hall; its history and what it is today Adopt don’t shop; rescue a pet ISSUE 106 | SEPTEMBER 2021

Who let the dogs out?

! E E R F

Enjoy our dogs’ issue

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 Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com Deputy editor Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com Art editor Matt Tarrant Contributors Will Hetherington, Jeremy Smithson-Beswick Advertisement Sales Director Lisa Chauhan lisa@theactivemag.com Production assistant Gary Curtis Accounts accounts@theactivemag.com Active magazine, Eventus Business Centre, Sunderland Road, Northfield Industrial Estate, Market Deeping, PE6 8FD If you have information about a club then please get in touch by emailing editor@theactivemag.com. If you would like to stock Active magazine please email distribution@theactivemag.com. Active magazine is published monthly 12 times per year. ISSN 2059-8513 Published by Triangle Publishing Ltd Printed by Warner’s of Bourne

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Disclaimer

Copyright (c) Triangle Publishing Ltd (TPL) 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from TPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of or its a liates isclaimer of iability Whilst every eﬀort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, TPL and its a liates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of the advertising material which they submit and for ensuring the material complies with applicable laws. and its a liates are are not responsible for any error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertisement and will not be liable for any damages arising from any use of products or services or any action or omissions taken in reliance on information or any statement contained in advertising material. Inclusion of any advertisement is not intended to endorse any view expressed, nor products or services oﬀered nor the organisations sponsoring the advertisement.

We’ve both been ‘all things dog.’ SUMMER SEEMS TO have disappeared; not just the weather but time as well. Children are back at school, nights are drawing in and the leaves are beginning to turn - how on earth did all that happen so quickly? Autumn days to me mean out with the dog enjoying the early morning mists. Many of us have welcomed a new canine friend during the last 18 months so we thought this month should be the dogs’ issue. I’ve been visiting dog rescue centres and have resisted coming home with a new friend being a great believer in the ‘adopt don’t shop’ adage. ate has been finding out about dog training and meeting dog walkers and we’ve both been ‘all things dog.’ Kate headed to the Lake District this month to enjoy a yoga retreat courtesy of Optimum You Yoga and it certainly seems to have done her the world of good; I’m tempted myself. I, on the other hand, have been sneaking around the countryside searching for hemp fields and yes it does smell very li e cannabis and no it does not make you high. Find out more about both in this issue. ot many of us are een on finances now ’m very good at putting my head in the sand when it comes to that sort of thing so it was very beneficial to find out why we might need an accountant in our manage your life series; Ellie at Bulley Davey was very enlightening. Enjoy the issue and make the most of the longer evenings, even if they are drawing in; and here’s hoping we get a long Indian summer! Mary - Editor FIND US ONLINE

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September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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I S S U E 10 6 / S P E T E M B E R 2021

Contents

ACTIVE LIFE 14 HEMPTASTIC!

Hemp is being grown locally under licence

18 YOGA RETREAT

Find your optimum you

23 INTERVIEW

Meet Stephanie Fenn from Maia Therapies

24 WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? We discover all things dog

42 ALWALTON HALL Its history and what is happening now

44 WILL’S WALK

This month Will is on the edge of the Fens

SERIES

40 MANAGE YOUR LIFE Money, money, money

ACTIVE BODY 49 LIVING WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE

ACTIVE SPORT 53 READERS’ CHALLENGES ARE BACK!

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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FORD PUMA MILD HYBRID

AT T. C . H A R R I S O N F O R D

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C O N TA C T U S V I A

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Model shown is All-New Puma ST-Line X mHEV 125PS 5 Door, Fuel economy mpg (1/100km) (Combined): 51.4 (5.5) *CO2 emissions 96-99g/km. Puma ST anticipated fuel efficiency from 6.0 l/100 km and CO2 emissions from 134 g/km NEDC (6.9 l/100 km and 155 g/km WLTP). Officially homologated fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions figures will be published closer to on-sale date. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend on a number on factors including the accessories fitted, variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. T. C. Harrison Group Limited, Milford House, Mill Street, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1HH acts as a credit broker in relation to financial products and not a lender. For customers requiring finance we can introduce you to a small number of carefully selected credit providers who may be able to offer you different finance products to suit your needs, subject to assessment of your personal circumstances. You are not obliged to use these finance products which may have different interest rates and charges. We do not charge a fee for our services but a lender we introduce will typically provide us with a commission for the work that we do, which is a percentage of the amount you borrow. The lenders we work with may pay commission at different rates and the amount of commission we receive from a lender does not affect the amount that you pay to that lender under your credit agreement. We are only able to offer finance products from the providers we work with. T. C. Harrison Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Reg. No. 312522

ActiveLife Who let the dogs out, enjoy our dog feature | Hemp is grown locally Baby and pregnancy massages | Houseplants, how to live with them Walk with Will | Manage your life, why you need an accountant? E D I T E D B Y M A RY B R E M N E R

Find your optimum you p18

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Active life

Park Life new residential development at arwell Mill offers par life at its best ombined with living on a la e residents who are mainly over are en oying the facilities li e-minded neighbours and the peace of living in the countryside en oying all that is on offer all year round he par sits along the iver ene and has its own private five acre la e so there are boat moorings and plenty of fishing he stunning grounds and facilities are ta en care of by par managers he premium properties on offer include some of the most lu urious in the art e change options are available and prices start at www.yarwellmill.co.uk 01780 782344

New care home for Stamford Care Home open day astor odge are ome in Splash ane astor is holding an open day on riday September from am - pm to celebrate the opening of their new home Castor Lodge Care Home is a new luxury residential and dementia care home opening in the beautiful village of astor a e a tour of the facilities sample the menus and meet the fantastic team of staﬀ uests are welcome at any time throughout the day S to conﬁrm your attendance www.countrycourtcare.com

rand iew are home has recently opened on the ngton oad in Stamford and it is the height of lu ury he -room home is set over three ﬂoors residential dementia care and nursing each with their own dining and communal seating areas here is a private dining room where residents can invite guests to oin them a bistro bar gym hair and beauty facilities and even a cinema verything has been thought of s well as permanent residential guests the home is available for respite care as well isitors are welcome and tours of the facilities are readily available. www.grandviewcarehome.co.uk

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Since opening its doors in May 2021, Stamford Botanics has been home to a diverse and ever changing collection of houseplants, pots and all things botanical. We believe that everyone should create their own indoor jungle, and we’re here to help make that happen. Make sure to visit us where you can discover an oasis full of greenery to make your own! 7 St Paul's St, Stamford, PE9 2BE t 01780 752 328 e hello@stamfordbotanics co.uk @stamfordbotanics

Christmas Menu

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Wild mushroom & chestnut soup Prawn cocktail Game terrine with port jelly ————— Roast ballotine of turkey, sage & onion stuffing, pigs in blankets, bread sauce, cranberry and pub gravy Venison haunch steak, butternut puree & red wine sauce Beetroot wellington with stilton sauce All served with roast potatoes, glazed carrots, honey roasted parsnips, sprouts and braised red cabbage. ————— Christmas sticky toffee pudding with brandy custard and rum & raisin ice cream Black forest pavlova Christmas cheese platter

2 courses £22, 3 courses £27

The Exeter Arms, Barrowden, 28 Main Street, Barrowden, Oakham LE15 8EQ www.exeterarmsbarrowden.co.uk info@exeterarmsbarrowden.co.uk

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Christmas menu must be requested at time of reservation not available Saturday Nights or Sunday Lunch time. Please make your server aware of any food allergies Reservations of more than 6 people will be subject to a 10% service charge.

Active life

What’s on...

Great things to see and do in the region Canoe2 are joining forces with the The Wildlife Trust for a bat spotting walk and paddle on September 3 and 10. Paddle across the lake and enjoy a peaceful early evening paddle on the River Nene. You’ll be met back at Rushden Lakes by Wildlife Trust experts just as the bats are starting to come out. You’ll then be taken on a guided walk of the Nature Reserve as dusk settles. Everyone will have the opportunity to use a bat detector which picks up the ultrasonic frequencies used by bats as they hunt. To book ring 01933 522223 or www.canoe2.co.uk

yddington film club is bac t ta es place on the first riday of every month in the illage all oors open at pm film starts at 7.30pm. Tickets available on the door. For listings and more info email katherinesenior@ btinternet.com Diary of an English Country Road is a new book by local photographer Ady Kerry. It shows the arrival of spring at Brooke Road in Oakham during six months in 2021. Available in Walker’s, Oakham or email adykerry. pictures@gmail.com

Ride and Stride takes place on September 11. All Rutland churches will be open so you can visit as many of them in one day as possible. Funds raised will go to the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust www.RutlandRideAndStride.org.uk Stamford Indoor Bowls club is holding a recruitment drive weekend on September 4 and 5 at its Exeter Gardens arena. Families are particularly encouraged to come along and have a go as it’s a great sport for them to play together, but individuals very welcome too. Everyone is welcome and sessions are free. www.stamfordindoorbowls.co.uk

ngton bee group are holding an event in the village hall on September 26 from 2.30-4.30pm so you can meet and learn more about the group - and join. It will include beekeeping demonstrations and equipment and lots more. Entry is free and there will be cake to enjoy. Local capella group Singing Harmony is back and looking for new members. This friendly and informal mixed choir meets in Melton Mowbray with many members coming from Oakham and surrounding villages. First session is Monday September 13, 7.30-9pm www.globalharmony.org.uk

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Active life

Houseplant Heaven Leonie from Stamford Botanics talks about houseplants IN THEIR NATURAL habitat houseplants would ﬂourish outside ut in our ritish climate we have to provide protection from the elements so welcome to the world of houseplants! lants can ma e any space loo good and using them inside can really help to transform an area rom windowsills of carefully arranged succulents to a statement plant framing a hallway the possibilities are endless nd there really is a plant for every space ringing plants into your home connects you with nature and caring for them can be uite therapeutic ust tending to a plant is proven to lift your mood and help reduce stress hat’s not to say everyone wants or has the time to tend to their plants han fully there are plenty of plants that thrive on neglect! Sansevierias lants uccas and olden othos are ust a few study by S has shown that houseplants help to improve the air we breathe by removing harmful to ins and releasing o ygen into the air he addition of greenery also aids productivity and creativity here really are no negatives to having plants in your home or o ce My shop is in one of Stamford’s oldest buildings We are always full to the brim ma e sure there is a plant for every budget and taste ranging from the downright wac y to the most ma estic of statement plants We also have plenty of tools and accessories too We oﬀer free local delivery of larger plants and no obligation design consultations op in and say hello Stamford Botanics, 7 St Paul’s St, Stamford, 01780 752328 Insta: @stamfordbotanics Email: hello@stamfordbotanics.co.uk

GARDE NING

Pond Life A pond in your garden can offer a home to many different creatures

QUATIC GARDENING CAN give your garden a whole new perspective s well as different plants it also provides a haven for wildlife and even has its own ecosystem ver the last century there has been a decline in the number of ponds across the countryside so creating an a uatic garden can help maintain some of our wildlife species robably one of the most well nown a uatic plants is the ymphaea the water lily) hey come in a range of colours and flower throughout the summer When planting water lilies ma e sure they are ept away from any splashing water such as fountains hey re uire little attention ust remove dead leaves and flowers during the growing season When planting it is important to use an a uatic bas et to contain the vigorous growth of the water lily lways use an a uatic compost and when placing in the water lower it gradually over a period of wee s to prevent the lily from rotting he water soldier Stratiotes aloides) is an o ygenating plant that spends much of the time underwater t also absorbs e cess

nutrients that can inhibit the growth of algae uring une to ugust the plants pop up to the surface and have white flowers ysimachia nummularia which is also nown as creeping enny will flower from une to September When planted in water its leaves will float but on the edge of the pond will ‘creep’ along the ground When choosing water plants ma e sure you have a good mi of o ygenating marginals and floating to provide good habitat in the different levels of water ot all of us have a garden that can incorporate a pond but you can create your own water garden in a buc et barrel or any watertight container nce you’ve created your water garden it is time to focus on the wildlife but you don’t need to introduce it to the garden they will find it themselves ewts frogs and toads will use the pond for breeding ou will also find damselflies dragonflies pond s aters snails and water beetles all ma ing their homes in the pond bove the water birds such as swallows and house martins will feed off the insects www.bosworthsgc.co.uk

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Hemptastic! Mary meets a farmer who is growing hemp under licence, but she can’t tell you where

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Active life

E ARE HEARING more and more about the benefits of CBD (cannabidiol) oil and it is gaining quite a strong following. But growing hemp is still very di cult to do in this country and it can only be grown under a licence granted by the ome ce which are few and far between. But one farming family in Lincolnshire has got one and is now growing 50 acres of hemp and producing their own CBD products on the farm as well. But because hemp is not viewed as an agricultural crop I can’t tell you exactly where it is grown as it has to be kept hidden - it’s all a bit cloak and dagger. Hemp and cannabis could be described as ‘cousins’ in the plant world. Both have similar attributes and in some ways qualities, but with one huge difference annabis ma es you high and contains THC, hemp does not. And this seems to be what many people, governments and businesses are finding it hard to get their heads around. So what on earth is going on? Why, if hemp is not an addictive, hallucinogenic drug are we not allowed to grow it? That is probably a question for the experts. Hemp contains no more than 0.2% (dry weight) of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the psychoactive substance found in cannabis so it does not affect anyone who uses it. Hemp is harmless and the cannabinoids it contains are believed to be beneficial to health Mike and Jackie Lamyman discovered CBD oil in 2017. They both have an interest in nutrition and gut health and Mike struggled to sleep so decided to try CBD oil, which helped. He also found that he recovered more quickly after exercising. Jackie had three children under three so found the CBD oil helped with stress and wellbeing and its anti inflammatory ualities helped her too so they both started taking it regularly. Jackie quickly realised that a lot of CBD products on the market were being mis-sold as the market was unregulated so you couldn’t guarantee you were actually buying what you thought. ‘You are putting this oil in your mouth so you need to know what is in it,’ she says.

‘Hemp and cannabis could be described as ‘cousins’ in the plant world. Both have similar attributes and in some ways qualities, but with one huge difference.‘ As a farmer Mike knows that hemp is a bio accumulator, i.e. it sucks up what is in the soil, both good and bad so has been used in some countries to clean up polluted land such as Chernobyl and Fukushima in Japan to absorb heavy metals and other chemical waste out of the soil. This is why provenance is so important which encouraged Mike and Jackie to apply for a licence to grow it themselves. ‘It’s an excellent break crop too,’ says Mike, ‘as it’s a great absorber of atmospheric carbon which is the main component of soil organic matter so it is brilliant for the environment and ﬁts in really well with our crop rotation as it helps to naturally improve the soil.’ They were granted a licence in and harvested their ﬁrst crop in t a similar time they were introduced to Jimmy Ward and Helena Barrett who have been involved in the hemp and CBD industry for over 20 years. Together they launched Crop-England to produce and sell a range of CBD oils and hemp based teas.

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Active life

‘CBD oil is often used as a preventative so enabling painkillers and anti inflammatories to be avoided.‘

But because the law is so rigid with regards to hemp, quite illogically they cannot use the CBD from their own crop but have to buy it elsewhere. What they can use is the hemp seed oil which they cold press on the farm and then mix with CBD oil which they buy from a UK-based wholesaler. Because they are producing their own hemp seed oil you know exactly what you are getting; the hemp is grown in a chemical and pesticide-free environment. They took me to see the crop and it does look remarkably similar to photos I’ve seen of cannabis plants, but very tall. The hemp has a very distinctive, strong smell. When I rubbed the heads between my hands it was sticky. It was probably just as well I wasn’t stopped by the police on the way home as the smell on my hands and clothes might have taken quite a lot of explaining… There is now a processing plant on the farm where the hemp seed oil is cold pressed and all the products are bottled and packaged and teabags made hey sell diﬀerent strength oils as well as a starter pac which is excellent for those new to CBD oil. A range of hemp based teas are also made here and skin care products will soon be available too, including a balm.

The Endocannabinoid system is a complex cell-signalling system within the body. It’s very complicated and not a huge amount is known about it but this system regulates sleep, mood, pain, reproduction and fertility, memory and appetite. As you get older the endocannabinoid levels in your body drop and CBD oil can help top it up. ‘CBD helps balance the body and helps your immune system,’ says Jimmy. And because of this many people are now turning to hemp, or the cannabidiol (CBD) extract. It is not classed as a medicine, and retailers are very careful to not market it as such, rather as a food supplement. But it does seem to have medicinal qualities. And some view it as a panacea for all ills t has been found to have anti inflammatory qualities. Many use it as a painkiller, others to help reduce anxiety and stress, others to aid sleep; it is believed to help with menopausal symptoms, acne and in some cases relieve cancer-related symptoms (but this is not always the case). Most of the people using CBD oil like that it is a natural product often viewing it as an alternative to over the counter or prescription pharmaceutical products. CBD oil is often used as a preventative so enabling pain illers and anti inflammatories to be avoided. And you know that if you are buying your CBD products from Crop England you are getting exactly what it says on the package. Hemp seed oil is even healthier than olive oil and can be used in salad dressing (but not for cooking). It is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and has the perfect ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3. The hemp oil and the CBD are reputedly good for dogs too, apparently they are very sensitive to it. It can’t be marketed as such but quite a few people swear by a couple of drops on the dog’s food to help with stiffness in older dogs. ‘It’s important you get the dose right,’ says Jimmy ‘for it to have an effect ur starter it helps with this as you can try all three strengths of the CBD oil over three weeks so you can identify the right strength and dose for you. You cannot overdose on it and it’s not addictive.’ I have been using the oil now for three weeks and it does seem to be helping with my sleep t wor s differently for everyone and sometimes it’s di cult to uantify e actly how it is helping but stop taking it and you’ll notice. I’ve decided to share it with the dog; a drop for him to help with any stiffness as he’s getting older and four or five drops for me to help with sleep. nd the last word must go to immy ‘ f you find the field you won’t get high, even if you smoke half of it, but you might get well.’ I think it’s probably best to buy the products direct rather than search incolnshire for the field though www.cropengland.co.uk

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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F I N D YO U R O P T I M U M YO U … What exactly is a yoga retreat all about? Kate was delighted to find out

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Yoga Retreat

HAVE ALWAYS wanted to go on a yoga retreat to see if I could learn how to feel calmer and less scattered in my thinking. A tall order! So I was delighted to be invited by husband and wife team Neil and Jenny from Optimum You Yoga Studio in Market Harborough to their Inspiration for Mind and Body retreat in the Lake District. I was a little nervous on my journey because, even though ’ve attended yoga classes on and off over the years I wouldn’t consider myself a regular. That didn’t matter. One of the many ‘take-away’ nuggets of wisdom of the weekend, and there were plenty, was that practising yoga is a ourney and everyone is on a different leg of that ourney here’s no benefit from comparing yourself to others ust concentrate on yourself, your body and your breath. Ah, the breath. This is the over-arching element to yoga. Breathing fully, deeply and with intent is what pushes the prana, or life force, around the body to make space for that energy to move into areas that need it. And to eliminate waste that isn’t required. As one of the yoga teachers observed: ‘We’ve all been breathing since the day we were born, but not many of us have got it right.’ Without breathing, yoga is just stretching. And a retreat is the perfect place to learn how to fully breathe. It’s also a chance to take time out for yourself away from the stresses of work and family and meet like-minded people who are also there to silence the busy internal chatter and learn how to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. And you have the whole weekend, with no time restraints or having to rush off after class Jenny and Neil ran Hotpod Yoga in Leicester for three years then created their new studio in Market Harborough ust a few months before the first loc down ot to be deterred, and because they both wholeheartedly practice what they preach, Jenny used the time positively to research beautiful locations for retreats they wanted to

“One of the many ‘take-away’ nuggets of wisdom of the weekend, and there were plenty, was that practising yoga is a journey and everyone is on a different leg of that journey.”

offer ‘We love what we do ’ enny told me ‘ nd we want to share the benefits of yoga and what we’ve learnt with others. Either daily in our studio or on retreat.’ They’d already run retreats in the UK and Koh Phanghan in Thailand where they collect you from the ferry and take care of you all week, introducing you to the island, its cuisine and, of course, a multitude of yoga practices. They have planned a whole range of retreats, and it’s best to look on their website for more details but so far they include a meditation retreat in November in the Peak District; a summer reset in June 2022 where the accommodation will be in luxury treehouses and converted barns in East Sussex. There’s a wild woman retreat in Wales in July and the next Thailand trip is booked for Spring 2023. There’s talk of a detox retreat early next year which will include juices and raw food and energetic yoga classes to get the prana flowing The food is provided by Yasmina Cherquaoui from Comptoir V, a plant based restaurant chain in London. She runs it with her brother and is gathering quite a following. I can see why! When you ask Yasmina what’s in each dish, she reels off a list of ingredients many of which haven’t even heard of. The key to her food is that it’s super healthy but pac ed full of taste from the different herbs and spices the raw elements that are in every dish to aid digestion, and the sheer inventiveness of her cooking. Hot favourites of the weekend were the lemon and coconut protein balls, the spiralised rainbow salads, the avocado and nut cheesecake and, of course, the restaurant’s signature dish of vegan dynamite shrimps made with Japanese konjac and sea kelp, lightly fried in tempura butter. We did laugh and say the weekend consisted of activities between food, but one central aim for Jenny and Neil is the idea of ‘holding space’ for their clients over the weekend and nourishing them in mind, body and spirit. I can safely say that is how I felt; very much nourished by the whole team, who each took their turn to impart their knowledge and kindness.

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Yoga Retreat ltogether we did seven different yoga classes We started with a restorative session on the riday night to settle us after fraught ourneys hen a vinyasa class to wa e us up on the Saturday morning o-one was ever made to feel obliged to ta e part in all or any of the activities so if am was too early we could easily have stayed in bed didn’t want to miss a thing so was up far more brightly than usual enny and ate their guest teacher) are nowledgeable about all things yoga and throughout each class they drip fed us with wise observations tried to imprint on my brain opefully some of them will have gone in and if not only need to attend the wee ly classes bac at home and ’m sure regular e posure to them will allow these pearls to seep in and stay Some classes are still online so are easily accessible from home fter the morning class and brea fast we had a group session each day with eil who is a motivational life coach for corporate and private clients his was so inspiring because not only do you get eil’s e perience but you can carry on the group discussions all over the wee end nd that was one of the wonders of the retreat how much fun is to be had getting to now complete strangers although many had come with friends or as couples) and hearing their stories s eil said ‘we’re all storytellers and that’s how we learn ’ We spent one evening toasting marshmallows around the fire after a yin yoga class which was a fun way to come together as a group Scotty another life coach friend and local to the area too us on a hi e into the woods above oniston a e primarily to en oy the view and fresh air but en route he had us slowing down through different tas s and narrowing our focus to fully ta e in what was right there around us instead of rushing along with a single-minded purpose s he says ‘normally the solution to our problems is there in front of us if we choose to loo rather li e a doc leaf will be somewhere in the vicinity of a clump of nettles ’ oing on retreat allows you to try things you’d never normally do be that paddleboarding and la e swimming or learning alternate nostril breathing or e periencing a sound bath combined with yoga nidra ying in the yoga studio wrapped in a blan et with a deeply resonating singing bowl vibrating on my stomach is one e perience ’ll

never forget nother was the hai yoga massage given to me by ac ui a local a es’ yoga teacher and artist She used her body to perform yoga on me pushing my body into stretches ’d resist on my own chec ing in all the time for any discomfort he ‘chec ing in’ process was a constant during the wee end We were encouraged during our asanas to chec for tension in the eyebrows do you realise how often we frown ) in the aw teeth and shoulders n the first evening was about to ta e a paracetamol to get rid of a tension headache ow ridiculous! fter an hour and a half of yoga listening to enny’s melodious voice my headache had completely disappeared hree days later wo e up to find was lying longer in bed iterally longer my body seemed to have stretched felt taller stronger and fitter ’d been shown what my body was capable of ’d held poses far longer than before ’d been introduced to different yoga practices ’d been enlightened by many discussions during and after the coaching sessions and ’d made friends n the ourney home made a conscious choice to raise my chest and ‘heart space’ so my internal organs had more room to do their obs and ept coming bac to my breath breathing freely for the first time in a long while We all need a reset and a chance to shift our thin ing ma ing choices about what we want more or less of in life now after this wee end want to eat more healthily and definitely to ta e regular yoga classes lso to concentrate on my breathing particularly when stressed and to go on annual retreat he problem is places are boo ing up fast For more details visit www.optimumyouyoga.com www.absolutebusinesscoaching.co.uk

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Active life

Baby bumps and babies Stephanie Fenn is running massage classes for babies and mums as well as doing pregnancy massages; Mary finds out more

ABY MASSAGE CLASSES are the perfect way for new mothers and babies to bond. Mothers are able to spend one-on-one time with their baby and gain confidence through nurturing touch he babies love it and being in a class with other new mothers is a great way to meet people have a chat compare notes and gain confidence particularly if you are a first time mum ut you’re not ust gaining confidence yourself baby massage is beneficial for the baby. It helps with co-ordination, balance, colic relief and neurological development t’s incredible that such simple movements should be so beneficial but they are and someone who knows why they are is Stephanie Fenn. Steph owner of Maia herapies has recently started baby massage classes in Stamford as well as eterborough and also offers pregnancy massages and Swedish and aromatherapy ones too. Steph went to Stamford igh School ualified as a midwife five years ago and wor s in the S She’s the perfect person to run these classes full of fun chatty very capable nowledgeable friendly and welcoming She will inspire you with confidence ‘ love being a midwife but do not get to spend as much time with the new mothers as would li e ’ve always been interested in massage and its beneficial effects and in the bac of my mind ’ve always had this plan to train as a masseuse ‘ uring the loc downs obviously was still wor ing flat out but decided to bite the bullet and do the training Why wait ’d saved some money and had the time as obviously no one could go anywhere was luc y as was able to do hands on training as well as practice on my bubbles and was ama ed at how much loved it studied the internationally recognised IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage) and am the only person locally to have that ualification here were a few stumbling bloc s along the way because of restrictions but ualified and set up my practice earlier this year, in April.

‘I love being a midwife but do not get to spend as much time with the new mothers as I would like.’

‘ love being my own boss and being able to spend more time with clients ut am also still a practising midwife so I get the best of both worlds. Steph the midwife at work and Steph the masseuse out of it oing massages and the baby massage classes are good for me too here’s no pressure and wor in a rela ed environment and ’m beneﬁtting from the essential oils too!’ Since ovid we have all become more aware of our physical and mental health and

realised that we have not been investing in it We’d go and spend money on ma e up beauty treatments or drin s but viewed a massage as a lu ury his than fully has now changed and many of us now realise the benefits of massage not ust for our physical health but mental health as well nd if you’re pregnant massage can really help ‘ love massaging pregnant ladies ’ says Steph ‘ t’s lovely to do something nice for someone and to now they’ll get a good night’s sleep after my massage ’ Steph uses a special pregnancy aromatherapy oil, which a lot of the non pregnant like as well! Steph is available for massages pregnancy and non pregnancy throughout the wee and her baby massage classes run over a course of five wee s o find out more visit www.maiatherapies1.wixsite.com or @maia_therapies on Instagram

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Who let the dogs out? Dog ownership has risen dramatically in the last 18 months, mainly due to lockdowns and people having more time on their hands. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? MANY OF US are dog lovers and owners and gain great pleasure from our four legged friends. Here at Active we have three dogs. Mary’s Midge and Kate’s two, Knibbs and Mae. And Mary seems to accumulate quite a few house guests along the way as her daughters’ dogs are frequent visitors. Thankfully they all rub along quite happily, curling up together and enjoying walks, which is just as well. There’s nothing better than sitting with the dog keeping your feet warm or in Midge’s case sharing the sofa with you. And to be a dog owner means that you have to get out every day into the fresh air, whatever the weather to give them some exercise. This isn’t always the most enjoyable job when it’s pouring with rain and in a howling gale but you always feel better afterwards and there really is nothing better than heading out with the dog for a good long walk; you always have company, fresh air and exercise.. But there’s much more to owning a dog than just giving it a bowl of food every day and taking it for a walk. You need to look after your canine friend; its health, behaviour and social skills are all your responsibility So read on to find out more about being a responsible dog owner; starting with finding one in the first place

24 September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Who let the dogs out?

Adopt, don’t shop Thousands of dogs are abandoned every year. Mary meets Gyll Mauchline from Three Counties Dog Rescue which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year THE LURCHER THAT is lying on my feet I rescued as a pup over 10 years ago. He has been my constant companion and is a loving and loyal friend, if a bit of a Diva. I often look at him and think what if? If I hadn’t received that phone call from someone who knew I’d always wanted a Lurcher and could act quickly, he would have been destroyed along with the rest of his litter; it doesn’t bear thinking about. He joined me and my two border terriers, one of whom was also rescued, and my rehomed cats. It’s a very sad truth that many dogs end up in rescue kennels, virtually always through no fault of their own. Some situations are very sad such as the death of the owner, divorce or separation or a new landlord is not amenable to a pet. Other situations such as a new baby or change of job/ hours or a change in lifestyle are other reasons for pets to end up homeless. And then there are of course cases of unspeakable cruelty, abandonment or strays. Gyll Mauchline has seen it all, and then some. She’s been rescuing dogs for over 40 years, 31 of them based at Bourne. In the last two years the charity has been able to buy the kennels they’ve been based at and been able to introduce boarding for dogs and cats which they run alongside the rescue. The extra funding from boarding fees is fed back into the charity. And it needs the money. It costs £200,000 a year to run and rehome over 300 dogs as well as many, many cats. When I visited they had 52 dogs in residence and 14 cats all needing new homes. Dogs in Gyll’s care come in all shapes and sizes, age and health. Some will be quickly adopted whilst others might

Picking a puppy Some of us want a pedigree pup. If that is the case make sure you pick your breeder wisely, and do your research. Carla from Brimbleway Beagles gives us some tips

be in the kennels for a long time, mainly due to medical or behavioural issues; even just their size can be a deterrent. Long term foster carers are also needed as some animals need quite complex medical help which the charity undertakes to fund. If you wish to adopt a dog you always have to make an appointment to visit the site in Bourne. Gyll and her team will want to meet every member of your household (including other dogs) and will visit your home as well to make sure you have suitable fencing if required. And every dog adopted must be going to live inside. ‘I will often suggest a dog to families, particularly if they have young children. Once a dog has been chosen and we’ve done all the checks it goes out for a pre-adoption period of two or three weeks. We are always on the end of the phone if there are any problems, but there rarely is as we have usually matched correctly. Then the dog will be adopted and the new owner pays a fee of £150. Every dog we send out is neutered inoculated wormed and ﬂea treated.’ So a happy ending usually awaits every waif and stray that Gyll takes in; and long may that continue. Volunteers are always welcome either to help walk the dogs or in the charity shop, foster carers too. To find out more visit www.threecountiesdogrescue.org

THANKS TO THE global pandemic, demand for puppies has been high. And because of this it’s not just experienced breeders who are having litters. So be wary. Dogs are being paired with no thought about health, temperament or pedigree. Health testing? What’s that? And you’re getting charged ridiculous amounts for these puppies. If you’re looking, do your homewor ﬁrst he ennel lub is a good place to start. It gives sound advice as well as the names of trusted and experienced breeders, most of whom are dedicated to their breed

and very knowledgeable. Research what health tests should be done and speak to the breeders. Ask questions. No reputable breeder will mind any number of questions, or you going to meet them. Don’t expect to go and pick up a puppy tomorrow as breeders will probably have a waiting list. But trust me, a healthy and happy puppy from someone with a wealth of knowledge is worth the wait. Never buy from an unknown source. And if something doesn’t feel right, it might be best to walk away.

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‘The charity offers a bespoke service for every situation and is able to support owners so they can hopefully keep their pet with them.’

26 September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Who let the dogs out?

The perfect match I must not get a dog, I must not get a dog, I must not get a dog… Mary visits Wood Green with one aim, ‘I must not get a dog’

WOOD GREEN, THE Animals Charity was founded in 1924 by a Miss Louisa Snow, who wanted to help the large number of dogs and cats that were being turned out on to the streets after WWl. And of course it started in Wood Green in north London. Today the main site is at Godmanchester near Huntingdon, and has been since the s t covers acres with pet accommodation o ces exercise areas, a veterinary surgery and everything else you can think of to cope with the 3,500 animals that are rehomed every year: dogs, cats and small animals including rats, rabbits, hamsters and mice. And don’t forget the chickens, including some quite vocal cockerels. Wood reen is first and foremost about helping pets and that does not necessarily mean rehoming them; that is very much a last resort he charity offers a bespo e service for every situation and is able to support owners so they can hopefully keep their pet with them. Wood Green is split into several different departments which wor together to get the best outcome for each pet. The Community Support team deal with Outreach and Education. They work with schools to educate the future generations of pet owners, and support current pet owners in need of a helping hand. Wood Green will help with medical bills and even food bills for a few months if necessary. This team, run by Chris Bennett, will also liaise with housing associations and landlords. Some will approach Chris saying an owner needs help, whilst in other circumstances the Outreach team will work with landlords to persuade them that an owner will be better off eeping their pet. Often vulnerable, a pet can be a great comfort to many owners and help with their physical and mental health. he team of ehaviour and raining Specialists offer free expert advice to pet owners – which is particularly popular for pooches. Virtually all dogs, however well behaved they are as puppies, turn into tricky adolescents that push the boundaries. This is where Wood Green can help. ‘Talk to us early so we can offer advice and help with training rather than leave it too late and then your pet needs rehoming,’ says atalie Wells from Wood reen he charity offers puppy training courses as well as adult dog training courses and these are available for anyone to do, and they are great value for money. Circumstances change and owners sometimes can no longer offer their pet the care it needs even with Wood Green’s help. This could be because of divorce, bereavement, health, having to move or a change in financial circumstances ets are in good hands in Wood Green’s care teams, which some of you will have seen on the hannel programme ‘ he og ouse’ that’s filmed at their centre. The show is all about matching people with dogs, which is exactly what the charity does well. You might recognise the Welcome Centre from the programme and Natalie

Wells, the centre’s manager, oversees matching prospective owners with a pet. And it really is like on the programme, almost like a dating agency but the needs of the pet are always put first ime and patience is what is needed from a new owner as well as fle ibility to help a new animal settle in, and of course love. Thousands of people apply each year for a pet and it is certainly altruistic to want to rescue an animal rather than buy one. But it isn’t always easy. Remember that any animal that needs rehoming has gone through some sort of turbulence to be in the situation they are in, and this can be reflected in their behaviour Wood reen are aware of this and behavioural specialists work with every dog (and many cats) that comes through the centre. This work will continue with the new owner as well and help and advice is always available. On average a dog will be rehomed within 4-6 weeks, but not always; one poor Rottweiler cross was with them for 15 months. And there’s no rush, a dog will not go to a new owner until the charity feels they are ready and can cope. ets at Wood reen get the very best care but some dogs and cats do not cope well in a kennel or cattery environment. For a previously rather spoilt pooch used to sleeping on its owner’s bed every night, or a stray cat who has been fending for themselves, the upheaval can be traumatic. Around half the pets are fostered in temporary loving homes until they are matched with a new owner, especially pregnant cats, and dogs who need ongoing training in a home environment. Wood Green are always looking for foster carers and are keen to recruit from our area so do get in touch. They have a courier service for taking pets back to Wood Green so it is not necessary to be able to drive. And they are always looking for volunteers to help in the shops as well, our nearest one is eterborough And I stuck to my guns and did not come back with a dog. The Lurcher sitting on my feet that I rescued as a puppy and his companion, a rescued Labrador are quite enough at the moment… Wood Green receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of supporters to enable its work. To find out more or to donate to Wood Green, visit www.woodgreen.org.uk or call the team on 0300 303 9333.

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Who let the dogs out?

Grub’s up You’ve chosen your dog, you’ve brought the little bundle of joy home, and now you want to know how to give it the best chance to grow and thrive nutritionally

course, buy your dog food from a supermar et and there are specific ranges for puppies adults and older dogs. But we’re very fortunate to have independent pet suppliers in the area whose main aim is to offer one-to-one advice and a range of ood uality food that is complete with a balance of protein, fat and Omega 3 and 6 oils, plus essential fatty acids. ulie ollins is the nutritional advisor at og ield in arringworth She suggests that complete dog food gives your pet full nutritional support to maintain its development throughout its life. ‘Every dog needs its own path mapped out with their food for health, exercise routines and age. Like humans, no dog’s diet is the same. Dietary support is needed as early as a puppy, with intolerances appearing through weaning or, later in life with hay-fever symptoms or inhaled allergens here are a number of different issues that can arise and that is why we offer hour nutritional support here is no shame in needing simple advice about what is best to feed your dog. We all do, it’s not easy.’ hey offer high protein and fats recipes for nourishment grain free recipes for intolerances, and low protein recipes for senior or dietary re uirements ulie went on to say that they ‘do offer different recipes for different aged dogs however we only advise a change of food if the health of the dog re uires it his comes down to e ercise limitations lifestyle changes or advice from a vet. ‘Many dogs nowadays have sensitivities, and this can be for a number of different reasons o dog is the same so we examine every dog’s food intake, its environment, its exercise and behaviours to give us a rough idea of what the dog is eating. Through a process of elimination we study all these areas to find out what has caused these sensitivities in the first place ’

Often people own just one dog or possibly two to keep each other company. But there are owners and, of course, breeders who have many more animals to feed. ‘Just because you have a pack of dogs,’ says Julie, ‘doesn’t mean the nutritional value has to be low. We make it our job to ma e it affordable ’ As an independent supplier they have built up relationships with many dog owners, locally and online and they know how invaluable personal advice is, particularly in the early days hey offer free puppy pac s to all breeders, or anybody that has a registered litter. They include a range of puppy goodies and a off voucher for the first bag of puppy food delivered to the door free of charge. hey also offer a three tier saving scheme irst buy two bags and get off Secondly a ennel scheme minimum order of si bags you can mi and match and receive off each bag lus once a customer is a ennel Schemer they’re entitled to off all e uipment orders when they call and order over the phone. And trade accounts come with even larger discounts across the full product range which includes leads, canvas dummies, game bags, drying coats to training vests, gilets and headwear. And then, of course, there’s the treats. What dog doesn’t like a treat? And what could be nicer to chew on than a pig’s ear or dried buffalo s in or even a large ostrich bone Visit www.dogandfield.co.uk or phone the team on 01572 729707 for a friendly chat.

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Who let the dogs out?

Raw hide Another option is to go raw. Many dogs are benefitting from this type of feeding style WE KNOW THAT dogs are carnivores (they eat meat and bone) so according to Carla Laughton from Betsy’s Raw Food, it’s no real surprise that more and more dog owners are feeding their furry friends a raw diet. ‘You’ll probably spot a raw-fed dog a mile away, because they’re the ones with the super shiny coats, clean and healthy teeth, and teeny tiny poops! ‘And whilst there are many raw feeding styles, we follow the 80:10:10 version which means our complimentary meals are made up of 80% muscle meat, bone and offal ut you don’t ust have to stop at meat because dogs love raw eggs, fresh fruit and cooked vegetables alongside an array of herbs which will have a multitude of benefits eeding all these components together will achieve a balanced diet over time. ‘It’s really simple, the frozen food is stored in your freezer, which you simply defrost in the fridge. A calculator is available on the website, free to use, if you need to work out how much to feed a day. Plus a starter guide will help you get going. ‘ he beauty of raw is it offers variety and te ture Faced with a bowl of raw beef, with some steamed broccoli and kale, plus a dash of rosemary? If I were a dog, I’d go for that!’ www.betsysrawfood.com

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Who let the dogs out?

Sit and stay! Now you’ve got the feeding sorted out, it’s time to get down to training. Kate talked to Lily Woodford from Chilternlily Dog Training about the best way to start WE’VE ALL SEEN people being pulled along by their dogs, and none of them look like they’re having much fun. Surely a well trained dog is better for both pet and owner? It was the ﬁrst uestion as ed ily ‘ he more time and eﬀort you put into your dog the easier life will be for both of you,’ she told me. ‘But training doesn’t have to be dull or strict. The important thing is to make it fun!’ Lily grew up with a pack of nine dogs. Her mother is a dog groomer and Lily has always enjoyed picking up and beating on local shoots, so she knew she wanted to work with animals. After a two-year foundation degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and a BA in Animal Management she went on to become a manager at a kennels in Oxfordshire, then operations manager at the Dog’s Trust in Loughborough. But she always dreamed of becoming a dog trainer, and she’s found the ideal spot to do it on a farm just outside Fotheringhay, near Oundle. She runs group puppy, gundog and agility training classes, and one-to-one sessions for all three plus obedience classes. ‘Some new owners are nervous when they bring their puppy home, so I’ll go out to see them and give them reassurance on things like house training and play biting. Then as soon as they’ve had all their vaccines, they can start puppy training. It’s good for socialisation and for the puppy to learn to focus on their owner. One problem many people encounter is their dog is too keen to engage with other dogs on their walks and doesn’t focus on its owner. We can easily work on that. ‘Many people come to me every two to three weeks, but the practice they put in at home in between counts too. Training is not just about sitting, staying and recall. It’s actually what you do in your own environment that’s important. Also have they got enough food, water and a comfy place to sleep? You have to watch your dog like a hawk to learn what they’re trying to communicate and why.’ A perfect example of this is that my three-year-old cocker Mae is a jumper. She jumps up at my legs all the time which can be very annoying. Most of the time I just push her down, but she keeps at it. ‘She’s excited to see you and wants to come up to your level,’ Lily told me. ‘The key is being consistent and using positive rewards – either treats

or praise – to change her behaviour; pushing her down or raising your knee won’t work long term.’ With Lily’s help I identified the split second warning she always gives before she jumps up so in that exact moment I need to tell her to sit then reward her with a treat. ‘Dogs are that bit harder to train when they’re older as they’ve had more time to practice behaviours. But all dogs can be trained. It’s a good idea to know your breeds before you get a dog so you can work out if you’ll meet their needs. It’s no good buying a collie if you’re not an active person; you’d be better off with a greyhound because after a ten minute blast outdoors they’re very happy to curl up next to you all day on the sofa.’ ily also teaches agility and has a field of obstacles including tunnels, tyres and ramps for the dogs to practice on. ‘It really helps with steadiness, recall and focus because you have to do each obstacle together. And it’s such a great bonding experience. But most of all, it’s fun.’ Lily competes with her working cocker Spider. They’re currently just one win away from Grade 6 and are a perfect example of how to work in tune with each other, looking for each other’s cues and enjoying the results of learning good behaviour. For full details visit www.chilternlily.co.uk

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I was really nervous about feeding raw as I’d never done it before. I spoke to Betsy’s and received some great advice. The calculator on the website is a life saver! Betsy’s has chunks of meat, the labelling is clear, the packaging is awesome and we love that it’s compostable. We love Betsy’s.

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fetch yo u r f ir s t o rder

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ystria

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Who let the dogs out?

pools ‘ eople who wor long hours even if they’re wor ing from home want to now their dogs are being well cared for and entertained during the day f they can’t provide that themselves they now we can ’ said achel ‘ nd some clients like to know they can have a regular day out to go shopping for appointments or to meet their friends without worrying about the dog ’ Dogs must be socialised and they are kept on a long lunge line for the first time to see how they behave ccording to achel ‘ f ust one dog is unsociable it affects the whole group We do find that certain breeds stic together and play around in groups; spaniels and dachshunds in particular t’s li e a gang of friends having fun together ’ www.maggies-mates.co.uk

Doggy day care Sometimes we just can’t be there for our animals, so we have to ask the professionals. Kate met two dog carers who are trusted with beloved pets RACHEL WOOLLEY GREW up on her family farm near Carlby outside Stamford and worked in the livery yard so was always able to have her cockapoo Maggie with her during the day. It was only when she went to work elsewhere that she realised dog owners had a need for dog sitting and walking services. Rachel thought on her feet and decided to repurpose one of the farm fields into first a dog wal ing area and now a doggy day care nursery he dog wal ing field is used by achel and her team of walkers who collect up to nine dogs in a specially adapted van and e ercise them throwing balls playing games or simply letting them e plore the field hey cannot get out over or through the very tall fences so it gives dog owners complete peace of mind. Or people can pay an hourly rate to hire the field to wal their dogs themselves his is particularly popular with the elderly or physically challenged as there are places to sit and watch your dog run around ‘ eople even bring picnics and meet their friends ’ said Rachel. And now Rachel has a brand new doggy day care nursery on site here are two nurseries which are spacious bright and airy with heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. And plenty of sleeping areas for when the dogs want a lie down! here’s access to another enclosed field with toys agility poles and paddling

THIRTY MILES SOUTH west Fran Cheshire runs Grrs 2 urrs at he Manor in ur angton another dog wal ing and sitting service hey also cater for clients who for various reasons can’t wal their dogs themselves be it because of ill health appointments or because they’re busy wor ing ‘We always wal directly from the customer’s property we don’t transport the dogs ’ said ran ‘We try to incorporate a mi ture of paths and par s to allow the dog to en oy lots of diﬀerent areas Some customers use us for set days and times whereas others as us to visit multiple times a day he dogs really loo forward to us coming we brea their day up ’ Wal s usually ta e from minutes to an hour but can be tailored to the customer’s needs ran and her staﬀ only wal dogs together from the same household so there’s rarely a problem with socialisation. ‘We provide day sitting for dogs who can’t be left at home alone and we provide holiday cover too t can be ust for one night or up to two wee s ’ t’s not ust dogs ran caters for either some cats need interaction. ‘We might only visit for 15 minutes but some cats li e multiple visits throughout the day too!’ www.grrs2purrs.co.uk

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A beautiful sanctuary for a beautiful you

call 01733 391166 or visit alwaltonhall.com A full range of pamper treatments, hair salon, great food and relaxation, all under one roof. Discover Alwalton Hall’s treatments and pamper experiences for women, men, couples and groups.

Who let the dogs out

Anyone for a trim? Dog groomers are busier than ever. Kate wonders why they’re so popular so asks Fran Cheshire from Grrs 2 Purrs in Tur Langton W S ’S whole range of haircuts for dogs there’s the lion cut which is ust li e it sounds r the teddy bear cut which is supposed to ma e them loo cute and cuddly ut most dogs ust have a natural groom where they are washed blasted and combed which helps get rid of dead hair and stops it from moulting as much t also eeps the dog smelling clean and fresh nd isn’t that what it’s all about? wners have their dogs groomed for a variety of reasons often ust to ma e them loo more appealing and to protect the carpets but mostly to improve their health Whilst the dog is being groomed it is also being chec ed for things li e embedded grass seeds in the paw pads and s in and cuts which can become infected hey also have their nails clipped and ears chec ed and pluc ed and e cess hair cut away from their eyes ‘Many health issues can be detected early ’ said ran ‘ nd this could potentially save money on vet bills ’ rooming also helps to prevent dogs overheating Matting of the fur can cause some s in conditions and pull on the animal’s s in and become painful Methods used to remove the e cess fur varies depending on the type of dog and its coat some are cut using clippers or scissors whilst others li e border terriers with wiry coats are hand stripped ‘We’d probably only need to hand strip twice a year ’ said

‘Owners have their dogs groomed for a variety of reasons; often just to make them look more appealing and to protect the carpets, but mostly to improve their health.’

ran whereas we’d recommend a coc apoo would come appro imately every si to eight wee s ’ wondered if most dogs li ed being groomed or if they had many problems with dogs who absolutely hated it ‘ he earlier they come to us the better as they get used to the environment We offer a free first groom for puppies under si months providing they’ve had both vaccinations and they come in for a very basic groom and trim n the rare occasion we have a dog that doesn’t en oy a visit we wor very closely with the owners in helping the dog get used to us We can have the dog in on visits to get them used to being in the salon and to socialise with other dogs r we can wor on things li e clipping nails building up the time in the salon and doing a few bits e tra each time f a dog is very nervous we can bring it in early before the start of the day when there’s not many people around We never give up on a dog whatever its issues we’ll always wor with the owners to resolve the dog’s an iety ‘ hat situation is very few and far between though ’ said ran ‘Most dogs love coming into the salon and seeing the staff and li ewise we welcome any e cuse for a cuddle ’ www.grrs2purrs.co.uk

Dry dogs easily... ONCE YOU’VE PAMPERED your pooch, you won’t want him getting wet and cold after a walk. So you could wrap him up in a double layered towelling drying coat made by uff and umble whose warehouse is in a ham Simply put on and fasten and leave it on until the dog is completely dry his way there’s no messy piles of towels smelly dogs or bac brea ing rubbing down his limited edition teal slate drying coat has been made to support the ogs on the Streets harity with from every coat sold going to help dogs loved by the homeless hey are offering off this coat until the end of ovember with the code www.ruffandtumbledogcoats.com/products/dots-limitededition

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DELIVERING CARE IN STAMFORD AND BOURNE

We are a local care provider who support our customers with independent living whilst remaining in their own home Each care package is tailor made following an assessment to suit the needs and wishes of our customers SERVICES AVAILABLE

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Flour & Fern is a bespoke cake design business based out of Tugby, specializing in celebration cakes and cupcakes for all occasions. Not only do we create imaginative and beautiful cakes, but we have an exciting range of traybakes and pastries available to pre-order. To pre-order your celebration cakes, please contact us through: Email: flourandferncakes@gmail.com Phone: 07827 619 590 @flourandferncakes

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Who let the dogs out? Ruffwear Float Coat Wave Orange Life Jacket Specifically designed for dogs who love the water and adventures with their owners, be it aya ing rafting boating surfing or paddle boarding. This keeps your pooch safe and buoyant in the water and caters for canines of all shapes and sizes. The life jacket has a perfectly positioned handle enabling you to lift your dog out of the water, it also features a lead clip in point as well as a reflective trim to enhance visibility in poor light conditions. Price: £94.95 from www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com

Dexas MudBuster Dog Paw Cleaner

Dog & Field Endurance24 Salmon and Potato

This quickly defeats dirty feet! It provides a quick and thorough cleaning of a dog’s muddy paws... before they track it into your car or all over the house. Price: From £9.99 from www.innerwolf.co.uk

The Dog & Field Endurance24 is made with hypoallergenic ingredients and is free from wheat and gluten. A complete dog food that is suitable for any breed but specially formulated for those with intolerance or sensitivity to wheat products. Price: £29.99 per 12kg from www.dogandfield.co.uk

Pet Products We’ve found some local suppliers

The Original Clone® Realistic Dog Training Dummies – Set of 3 1lb pheasant, 1/2lb partridge & 100g snipe dummies. Add game bird realism to your training. Price: £24.99 from www.dogandfield.co.uk

My Family pet tags ID tags in a range of fonts and either single or double-sided. They come in all shapes and styles from plain to crystalencrusted. And can be paired with the My Family collars and leads. Price: From £4 from www.grrs2purrs.co.uk

Betsy’s Yummy Beef This follows the 80:10:10 formula and is available in both 500g and 1kg compostable tub sizes. Price: 500g - £2.40 /1kg - £4.25 from www.betsysrawfood.com

Will’s Walks, 21 rambles around Stamford and Rutland Now you’ve got a dog you need to know where to walk it. This book is perfect for local inspiration. Split into three sections ranging from up to an hour walks to well over two, there’s something for everyone and every walk has a pooch perspective too. Price £7.95 from www.theactivemag.com or many local shops including Walker’s Stamford and Oakham

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Money, money, money E YOU R AG

LI F E

MAN

Accountancy is dull and boring; fact. Mary met Ellie from Bulley Davey and found that to be completely untrue

ONEY, FINANCES, TAX, investments; there’s no getting away from it, they are a fact of adult life. And however much some of us hate the thought of it all and put our heads in the sand it’s not going to go away Money admin and financial planning needs to be faced up to and a friendly accountant can make it all a lot easier if you go to them for advice. They could even save you money - or help you avoid having to pay more tax than you need to. So employing an accountant could be money well spent. If you are running your own business, be it as a large limited company, a sole trader or freelance it’s a wise move to employ an accountant. They will make sure your tax return is submitted on time, that you are paying the right amount of tax, you are claiming the correct tax deductibles and, if a limited company, will get your accounts to company house on time. So that is the mundane side of life that every accountant needs to do (although they don’t find it so) and it eeps those of us with businesses out of trouble. But there is so much more to an accountant than that. A company such as Bulley Davey, which was established in and has ten o ces around our area staff and numerous departments is able to keep up to date with all that is going on in the financial world nd this means they can offer business owners and individuals extensive professional financial advice hey offer bespoke advice and services with specialist teams in tax planning, business recovery, wealth management and much, much more. They can work with businesses and individuals and virtually everything is done in-house which makes it a lot easier for clients. They know what grants and loans are available and during Covid times this has been invaluable. They can help you with financial planning and ta advice which can save the business and you personally,

‘Being an accountant is really interesting,’ says Ellie. ‘Once you build a relationship with a client and they trust you we can really help.'

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MANAGE YOUR LIFE

thousands. Inheritance tax, capital gains tax, VAT; all of these can be planned for with the correct advice. And this, according to trainee accountant at Bulley Davey, Ellie Hall, is what makes accountancy interesting. ‘Yes we do the normal kind of things, tax returns, etc but it’s the added support available that is often overlooked, or people are even unaware of,’ she says. ‘And this is what I really enjoy. Advising small businesses that are start ups, helping them with cashflow and financial planning to help drive revenue and profits can be really rewarding ur advisory service offering help with the day to day running of a business can be invaluable to some people. Many of our customers are obviously e perts in their own fields but need financial help and advice his is what accountants do and there’s a lot more to the job than people see.’ It’s not just businesses that need an accountant. Tax returns can be complicated and many of us have to do one every year. You can do them yourself but unless you know what is tax deductible, particularly if you have investments, property and/or pensions you may well be paying far too

much tax, and none of us want to do that! ‘ a can be a minefield ’ says llie ‘ f you use an accountant you know that your return will be right and there won’t be any comeback. Sometimes it’s sensible to pay to have that peace of mind.’ Ellie wanted to be an accountant because, ‘ was always interested in the financial industry but knew I didn’t want to be sat behind a desk all day and realised that by being an accountant I would be able to see clients. I spend more of my time out of the o ce than in which is perfect for me think, historically, the role of an accountant might have been more boring but these days it is very much an advisory role as well, which I love.’ Ellie is specialising in agriculture so enjoys visiting the farms to see her clients and often advises about diversification subsidies, grants and succession planning.

She decided to join Bulley Davey as a trainee straight after her A levels and is now an AAT after three years. She is studying for her ACCA (Chartered) which will probably take her another 2 - 2 1/2 years so her total training will have been five years graduate would be e empt from the first level of training but it would take them just as long to qualify. ‘Being an accountant is really interesting,’ says Ellie. ‘Once you build a relationship with a client and they trust you we can really help. We get to look at the bigger picture and it’s really satisfying to know that you are really helping a business grow or that you are helping someone with complicated financial planning ’ Not dull at all then, vital for many of us and definitely money well spent www.bulleydavey.co.uk

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Treatments and tranquility Alwalton Hall near Peterborough is now a wonderful wellness centre, but it has an illustrious past. Mary visits and finds out more

LWALTON HALL IN the village of Alwalton is tucked away in Church Street and you’d never know it was there. Up a drive surrounded by acres of gardens it really is a secret hideaway, but minutes from the A1 so incredibly convenient to get to. And of course, just outside Peterborough. The house has a long and interesting history and has been added to extensively over the years. The land it is built on dates back 900 years. Alwalton Hall started out as Alwalton House and has a long history with the Fitzwilliam family. It is believed that the red brick part of the house is the earliest part, built by the 4th Earl Fitzwilliam around 1780. This earl took the extra name of Wentworth after inheriting the vast estates in or shire of a maternal uncle is son the fifth earl added the large limestone extension and renamed the house Alwalton Hall. This earl died at Wentworth-Woodhouse in Yorkshire in 1857. Since being extended the hall seems to have been used as a grace and favour residence for junior members of the Fitzwilliam family or rented out to wealthy gentlemen for short periods. This continued for many years until in 1922 it was sold to a Joseph Stephenson who appears to have lived there until WWII. In 1948 another well known name became the new owner, Frank Perkins of the Perkins Engines Group which he founded in Peterborough in 1932. He subsequently died at the Hall in 1957 aged 78. By this time his company, which he started with four other men, employed 7,000 people. There’s not much mention of many owners after that until 2004 when Brian and Maggie Jones bought it. They lived in it as a family home and brought their five children up here When the children had grown up and fled the nest Maggie and Brian decided it was time to share the house with other people. ‘It’s a beautiful house and we were rattling around in it,’ says Maggie. ‘ nitially we thought about a wedding venue but that did not fit in with planning regulations so we settled on a wellness centre and opened it in 2017.’ Maggie and Brian still live in part of the house.

Neither of them had any experience in the beauty sector but Maggie knew the strengths of the house. ‘The plan is that people come here to not do much; relax and connect with each other. Enjoy the house, the grounds and the tranquility. There’s no rushing here, you come to switch off ’ And that’s just what I did when I visited them. They had kindly invited me to come and have a massage with a facial, wash and blow dry (as in 2018 they opened a hair salon) and then afternoon tea. Well you don’t say no to an offer li e that! The house is stunning and sitting in one of the reception rooms it is easy to imagine you are an 18th century visitor - although I’d like to have been the resident! ll non invasive beauty treatments are on offer here and if you have a treatment you are then welcome to spend as long as you like enjoying the house and the grounds. Very cleverly guests hardly see each other so you do feel that you are in the house alone Maggie eeps numbers low and guests are always in different parts of the house. They are excellent hosts too. If you want fussing over, you’ll get that but if you really do want some peace and quiet and to curl up in a corner with your book, you are very welcome to do that too nd in the winter the fires are lit so now e actly where ’d be. he treatment rooms are upstairs and named after different countries and decorated accordingly. Rooms are spacious and comfortable and there is a suite of rooms for couples and friends wanting to have treatments together ifferent treatment pac ages are available. Alwalton use Decleor products which are natural and non invasive and after my facial I really could see a noticeable improvement. I looked brighter and well rested with the skin around my eyes looking tighter; which is a win, win situation for me. Before the facial I had a back massage as part of the treatment which is one of the best I’ve ever had. Firm and strong, it really did reduce the knots in my shoulders and neck; thank you. After that I left the main house and headed to the stables for a wash and blow dry. This hair salon is separate from the wellness centre so can be used by

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Active life

‘The plan is that people come here to not do much; relax and connect with each other. Enjoy the house, the grounds and the tranquility. There’s no rushing here, you come to switch off.’ non visitors too, and it’s popular. Three hairdressers work from here and there are ﬁve therapists in the wellness centre In 2019 Maggie and Brian opened another salon in Cambridge which oﬀers similar treatments to those at lwalton the rooms there are themed around the four elements he business is very much still a family concern aughter ate wor s with Maggie mainly based at ambridge rian is behind the scenes doing much of the paperwor and ate’s partner en is the chef gardener and chief bottle washer as he designed the treatment rooms and seems to be able to turn his hand to anything! f you want delicious home coo ed locally sourced food you will certainly get it at lwalton all en coo s the lunches and afternoon teas as well as elevenses and brunch ou can’t eat here unless you’ve had a treatment and recommend you do My afternoon tea was fabulous erfectly made including open sandwiches scones and clotted cream and ca es to die for and far too much for me to eat so

left with a very nicely bo ed doggy bag But before I left I wandered around the grounds. There’s over four acres including a vegetable garden en does most of the gardening so we en oyed a chat about weeds and thistles and what he was growing in the vegetable garden all of which comes through his itchen here was plenty of space to sit and en oy the peace and tran uility a summer house to eat in when the weather was inclement and seating to en oy well away from anyone else again perfect surroundings to rela in ’ll deﬁnitely be going bac www.alwaltonhall.com

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W I L L’ S W A L K

Thurlby, Lound & Toft This scenic route on the Fenland edge offers great views and peaceful walking. By Will Hetherington

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Will’s Walks

This Fenland edge route offers superb views to the east.

Difficulty rating

THE ROUTE

I parked at the northern end of Northorpe Lane in Thurlby near the junction with Wood Lane. From here the path goes west down a driveway initially and past a few houses and small fenced off paddoc s before going through a narrow strip of woodland. After the woodland you will almost immediately see the right turn to ta e you on the path across the fields heading northwest. The path is clearly marked with some very new and sturdy wooden bridges over the irrigation dykes. Keep following the signs for about a kilometre and you will start to head uphill. Don’t forget to turn round and enjoy the view when you are near the top. On a clear day you will be able to see out to Spalding and beyond. It might only be 50 metres above sea level but that’s enough. After you have enjoyed the view you will soon come to the A6121 main road from Stamford to Bourne. Take care crossing here and you will immediately find yourself on a peaceful tree-lined country lane running down into Lound, a tiny but picturesque hamlet. When you reach the next junction go straight over and follow the increasingly remote lane until it peters out and you find yourself bac in the fields After you cross the East Glen River the path turns right and gradually curves uphill around to the left along the inside of the field boundary offering some more good views of Toft golf course to the south east. After a short while you will enter some established woodland and here you need to keep left and head south (ignoring the path to the west). You will soon emerge from the woodland to follow a field boundary hedge on your left After the hedge cuts away at 90 ACTIVE INFO degrees to the left keep going in a The East Glen river rises near straight line for another 100 metres or Ropsley to the north and flows south so and there is a left turn in the middle through Edenham and continues of the field t’s not signposted so if you through Toft underneath the Grade II listed bridge built in the early 1800s. miss it don’t worry; just make sure you Eventually it joins the West Glen turn left when you get to the other side River at Wilsthorpe to form the of the field ither way you need to River Glen. make sure you are on the clearly cut and marked path heading east from here back towards Toft and past Moxon’s Hollow. The path goes downhill through three more fields before reaching the A6121 again. Turn left here and take great care crossing the hump back bridge where the road narrows. Stay on the pavement by the roadside as it heads through Toft around the right hand bend. At the end of the village on the left hand turn on the main road at the bottom of the hill turn right towards Thurlby. This quiet road goes gradually uphill with the golf course on the right and past Roundhills Lodge on the left. After one kilometre at the junction you will see the footpath heading left down the side of a commercial premises. Take this path through the bushes and you will soon come out directly above Thurlby on the top of Swallow Hill with a good view of Thurlby below. Head straight downhill and you will be back where you started in no time.

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ACTIVE RUTLAND

Auberge Monday continues in September! 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.

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START/ FINISH

The paths around Thurlby are clear and the wooden footbridges are new.

Essential information WHERE TO PARK Anywhere safe and convenient along Northorpe Lane in Thurlby or in Northorpe. DISTANCE AND TIME Five and a half miles/two hours. HIGHLIGHTS Long reaching views to the east, quiet little Lound and well-marked and clear paths around Thurlby. LOWLIGHTS Take care crossing the hump back bridge at Toft on the A6121. REFRESHMENTS The Six Bells at Witham and The Horseshoe in Thurlby. DIFFICULTY RATING Two paws. It might be more than five miles but there are very few stiles and it’s pretty good going under foot for the majority of the way round. THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE Two crossings of the East Glen river and very little livestock make this a good option for the dogs.

The quiet country lane leading into Lound.

The woodland between Lound and Toft.

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.

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Living with Parkinson’s Katherine Fletcher, Research Communications Manager at Parkinson’s UK gives us the full facts about this condition

ARKINSON’S IS THE fastest growing neurological condition in the world and currently there is no cure. Parkinson’s UK estimates that there are approximately 145,000 people living with the condition in the UK, and that 1 in 37 people alive today will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in their lifetime lthough it predominantly affects older people younger people can get it too. It develops when brain cells that are responsible for producing a vital chemical called dopamine die over time. The brain uses dopamine to send messages to help control and coordinate movement. With the loss of these cells, the brain can’t make enough dopamine, causing symptoms of Parkinson’s to appear. The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s - tremor, slowness of movement and stiffness - may be familiar to some and these are all common early signs of the condition. However, there are actually more than 40 symptoms that have been associated with the condition, which affects everyone differently esser nown symptoms include anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep problems, memory issues, pain and hallucinations ow ar inson’s affects someone can change from day to day, even from hour to hour.

We don’t yet know exactly why people get Parkinson’s, but researchers think it’s a combination of age, genetic and environmental factors esearchers are wor ing hard to find ways to protect precious dopamine-producing cells, which could lead to better treatments and a cure for the condition. Parkinson’s tends to develop gradually and it can be a number of months, or even years before symptoms arise. If you are concerned that you, or someone you know, may have Parkinson’s, the best thing to do is to talk to a GP or healthcare professional, as they can refer you to a specialist if your symptoms need further investigation. While there is no cure there are different treatments therapies and support available to help manage the condition. Medication is the main way in which people with Parkinson’s can help manage their symptoms, alongside therapies such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. For many people with Parkinson’s, exercise can also be as important as medication for helping to manage the condition. We know that 2.5 hours of exercise a week can slow the progression of symptoms. The important thing to remember is that there is no one-si e-fits-all approach, so individuals should explore what kind of physical activity works best for them. If medication and therapies no longer help to control symptoms, some people with Parkinson’s may be suitable for deep brain stimulation (DBS) - the main type of surgery used in the management of ar inson’s n S very fine wires are carefully inserted into the brain to electrically stimulate particular groups of brain cells involved in controlling movement to adjust their activity and help to control symptoms his can be turned on and off through the use of a pacemaker-like device. Although DBS does not stop Parkinson’s from progressing it can be effective at improving motor symptoms li e tremor and involuntary movements. ar inson’s is here for everyone affected by ar inson’s and our ultimate goal is to find a cure o achieve this we invest in promising research, increasing our understanding of the cause of the condition and accelerating the development and testing of new treatments. The charity also provides vital services to help people get the information and support they need when they need it iving with Parkinson’s can feel overwhelming, but support like our online community and local groups are a great way to connect with others living with the condition, family members, friends and carers. For information and support, visit www.parkinsons.org.uk. You can also call Parkinson’s UK’s free, confidential helpline: 0808 800 0303.

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Shake, rattle and roll A diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease can be a shattering moment. But physiotherapists are here to help. Sarah Babbs explains

ARKINSON’S DISEASE (PD) is a progressive neurological condition caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain which secretes dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease this causes an alteration to how movement happens. This can present as a tremor at rest, nown as pill rolling di culties initiating movement and a slowness in movements such as walking or rising from a chair. Blinking, smiling or arm swinging when walking, unconscious activities in most people, often lessen. Muscle rigidity is common and can limit the range of movement in the limbs and occasionally cause pain. There are approximately 140,000 people with PD in the UK, most of whom are over Men are more li ely to be affected and there appears to be a genetic factor in some cases. Studies show that people with PD can be 30% less active than their healthy contemporaries by the time a diagnosis is made. This can often be because of loss of confidence as well as di culties with movement sufferers often have low mood and poor sleep which can contribute to a slowing of the pace of life. It used to be fairly common for people with PD to be told to rest to manage their dopamine levels. This was completely wrong advice, and movement and exercise, we now know, help to slow the disease as well as help manage stress and anxiety associated with the condition. Evidence suggests that increasing exercise to 2.5 hours a week can slow the progression of symptoms. This exercise can range from dancing to going to the gym and weight training, Pilates to chair based activities. Working with a physiotherapist would begin with listening to how the patient is

currently affected ne can never assume what people are thinking and often people have fears which they may find di cult to share. Then comes assessment of movement, balance fle ibility strength and endurance Making sure there is good understanding of the condition and its management is the first part of any physiotherapy session as education is always key. As the disease progresses physiotherapists will help develop strategies to compensate for loss of function cues, and improve attention span. hysiotherapy-led e ercise can offset Parkinsonian symptoms, minimising deterioration of strength, endurance, fle ibility and balance reating a programme that suits the person is vital. Using walking poles can improve someone’s balance, rhythm and stride on their daily wal We may find strategies to help around the golf course. thers prefer to wor in a class setting li e ilates or ai hi Warming up with a dance before the class, may be the best way to enjoy it. I know of people who enjoy the intensity of a spinning class finding as the class progresses, movement improves. Some especially those with stiffer muscles may benefit from a particular stretching exercise done at home or as part of a yoga class improving pain and general movement. Music is a wonderful companion to those with PD. It is not fully understood why but music can be incredibly freeing. There are many videos on social media of people with

quite a high level of movement rigidity, dancing beautifully to music. There is wonderful work done by the Dance for PD® group and these techniques have been taken on by the English National Ballet amongst others. The classes begin with seated exercise and progress to standing and moving around the room. I highly recommend accessing these. You can attend in person or use their online facilities. Another superb set up, started in Australia and available in many places in the UK, is PD Warriors. This programme has four pillars - exercise, education, community and behaviour change. Understanding that empowering oneself with support from others ‘when you are struggling and to celebrate your wins on the other days’ is hugely powerful. Boxing - not an obvious choice - but the rhythm of movement can have a very transformational and sometimes long-lasting eﬀect o ing particularly helps with strength, coordination, better walking and posture through improved core strength, as well as improved balance and agility. All of these help improve conﬁdence too so are worth giving it a go. Although Parkinson’s Disease can feel like a sentence at diagnosis, there really are many options to support and make that journey a very much better one for everyone. To contact Sarah ring 07780 900201

September 2021 / theactivemag.com

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Cycle route | Training for the marathon | Local roundup

ActiveSport From Champagne to Norfolk CELIA DE BLASI and 37 other cyclists will be cycling 560km in four days from Champagne to Croxton in Norfolk on September 8-11 to raise money for the charity Ferblanc and hope to raise over £100,000. Ferblanc supports neurological research, which is anything related to the brain including Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, paralysis etc. www.uk.virginmoneygiving. com/CeliaDeBlasi

Welland Valley Tri Club to swim England’s longest lake TWENTY MEMBERS OF Welland Valley Triathlon club are pushing themselves to the extreme by aiming to swim the entire length of Lake Windermere. The 10.5 mile swim will see them start at Fell Foot Park at the south of the lake, swimming north to Water Head in Ambleside. At 66.7 metres at its deepest point, the 17 solo swimmers and one relay team, will be expected to take on food and water whilst in the lake and will be supported by experienced open water swim event providers, Swim Your Swim, in safety boats and kayaks. Darren Thoirs, of WVTri, said: ‘Swimming Lake Windermere is an awesome challenge and our ﬁrst organised marathon swim as a club. Everyone is working hard to increase their training each week, focusing on perfecting fuelling methods and looking forward to an amazing experience in the beautiful Lake District.’

The swimmers have also chosen to support The Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance Service through fundraising. Donations from family and friends are on course to reach over £1,000. As a friendly and welcoming triathlon club of all standards, W i oﬀer training help and support for all levels of ability. If you’re interested in joining or would like further information then visit www.wvtri.com www.justgiving.com/ WVTriSwimLakeWindermere

Cycling for Pepper’s ALI AND STEVE Gorman are cycling the 2,034km National Cycle Route 1 from the Shetlands to Dover to raise money for local mental health organisation, Pepper’s - A Safe Place. The Whissendine couple, who both retired from teaching last year, hope to complete the ride over a three week period during August. The route follows the eastern part of Scotland and England and is less well known than the Land’s End to John O’ Groats route which the pair have cycled previously. The ride will be a particular challenge for Ali, who 18 months ago could not get out of bed unaided. A diagnosis of n lyosing Spondylitus inflammatory arthritis of the spine led to her being put on medication and exercises that 18 months later mean she is much more mobile and more pain free. Pepper’s - A Safe Place provides regular drop-in sessions for people to look after their mental health and reconnect with the community hey offer a friendly welcome peer support, a chance to relax, have fun and meet others. They also offer a drop-in session for parents with young ids or babies and can support the community on a 1:1 basis through their Friendship Project. There’s never any shortage of tea, coffee biscuits or welcoming volunteers If you would like to support Ali and Steve in their challenge for Pepper’s please donate via their Just Giving link www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cycleforpeppers?utm_ term=M2Q8qzj4Z

September 2021 / theactivemag.com 53

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ARK AT GREAT Casterton’s Stamford Garden centre, or leave the car with the great car wash service to get it cleaned while you ride. Join the busy road through Great Casterton but then take a right, then immediate left to join the wonderfully quiet road leading up the hill to Pickworth. he ﬁrst half of the ride is mostly uphill until you get to Cottesmore, but then it’s downhill all the way home, the perfect combination. After Pickworth turn right as the road ends and pass through pretty Holywell before turning left at the crossroads toward Clipsham.

Past The Olive Branch and on to Stretton where you cross over both roundabouts and under the A1 to Thistleton. You can cut it short here and save six miles by turning left to Greetham – watch out though as the road is quite busy. Otherwise, turn left once through Thistleton to Market Overton which is a great place to stop for a mid-ride ice cream. Then turn left to Cottesmore and then past Hambleton Bakery where the temptation will be strong to stop for any of Julian’s food. Turn left again at

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the top of the hill and then enjoy a lovely six mile coast back into Great Casterton. This is one of my favourite routes; undulating quiet roads with perfect stunning Lincolnshire and Rutland scenery. Back at Stamford Garden Centre the sausage bap gets my vote. But all the food (and beer!) is highly recommended. https://www.strava.com/ routes/2853261208170008088 Or scan the QR code for this month’s route.

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It’s been an exciting and successful end to the season for Oakham’s cricketers and the football season is well under way. Jeremy Smithson-Beswick tells us more

T’S BEEN A red-letter month for Oakham’s cricketers, which saw them crowned as Leicestershire’s Twenty20 Champions. Having beaten Kibworth in the semi-final of the competition they faced Rothley Park for the title, doubtless with confidence running high having defeated the same side the previous day in the premier league. Cameron Flowers and Alex Anthony gave Oaks a solid start and, when Flowers was joined at the crease by Charlie Hurley, scoring became rapid – Hurley’s half century coming from just 26 balls faced. A competitive total of 212 resulted and Oakham’s bowlers soon had Rothley in trouble. They will have been relieved to see star batsman Anish Patel depart early, and a further three wickets fell shortly thereafter. fifth wic et stand by hil ac ett and Chris Yates steadied the ship but that shaky start meant that overs were at such a premium that Rothley just ran out of time, finishing on As well as the title, the result meant that Oaks progressed to the dizzy heights of the regional round that took place a couple of weeks later in Wokingham, and they deserve immense credit for reaching the final of that too. They were eventually well beaten by Slough but there’s no disgrace in that - it would have been a real giant killing feat to have won. Indeed, one of the opposition players is rumoured to be on £900 a match, a figure that would eep a ham’s side in beer for much of the season. Before we move on from the cricket, it would be remiss not to mention in dispatches two bowling performances. Bourne’s Brandon Diplock with six wickets against Bracebridge Heath and Ketton Sports’ Mat ird with a five for

Uppingham’s Rutland Tennis Academy have been in touch to invite new players along. Their Andrew James explains the club is looking to grow and would welcome enquiries from anyone over twelve of all ability levels. A free coaching session and involvement in their twice-weekly social tennis days are both on oﬀer to help you decide whether you’d like to commit to full membership. rutlandtennis@gmail.com is the contact. If Oakham’s more convenient for you, I know you’re guaranteed a warm welcome at that club too. membershipsecretary236@gmail.com for them. And Stamford’s is stamfordtennis. membership@gmail.com where you’ll ﬁnd another warm welcome.

Another organisation with a reputation for welcoming new visitors is Rutland Polo Club, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this season. A beautiful setting and an exciting, action-packed sport – what’s not to like? As they say on their website ‘visitors are very welcome at our Club to come along and spectate, enjoy the thrilling polo action and bring along a picnic or take advantage of our clubhouse refreshments.’ So, check out their latest covid guidelines and turn out to support them – I bet you’ll have a cracking time. Deepings Swimming Club continues to thrive, although at time of writing it’s unclear how the closure of Deepings Leisure Centre

Image: John Rowley

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ActiveSport

due to health and safety concerns will affect them. It’s possible that the closure may be permanent and the planned new-build replacement centre is still at the design stage, so these are uncertain times n the final meet of the season, The Swim England Summer Festival in Nottingham, they clocked up eight medal-position finishes with -yearold Sadie Hunter and veteran (one year older) olly offe to the fore The two, described as friendly rivals by their coaches, had set club records in the

m butterfly the wee before and in that event at the meeting they came first and second, Sadie edging it over Holly by just fifteen hundredths of a second ncredibly that was twice the gap between them in the m as they finished second and third Seventeen-year-old Olivia Hunter (Sadie’s sister) won both m and m in the same event for the older age group. Coach Lynn hapman said ‘We now have two wee s off for summer and then return for the season eager for more improvements and more success in the pool.’ Let’s hope they’re able to find a way to eep to that plan in spite of the centre closure. More sad news comes from Ketton FC who’ve had to withdraw from the men’s Peterborough League due to lack of player availability. Although the Ladies and Veterans sides will continue, a statement from the club said everyone there was ‘devastated’ by the move, which was forced on them despite their best efforts Happier times, I’m glad to say, prevail over in Market Harborough where Town opened with a perfect record of played three, won three. Manager Mitch Austin will be delighted with that, particularly knocking

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Rothwell Corinthians out of the FA Cup, a team they have history with. Stamford AFC will have been disappointed to lose their opening fi ture to Ilkeston Town although it’s fair to say that a mi ture of in uries and other issues with availability is making life challenging for boss Graham Drury. They did bounce back in the following fi ture however with a win away to Soham Town Rangers, Jack uffy with a brace As the rugby season draws ever nearer Stamford have launched a recruitment search for a Head Coach for their Women’s side. The club say, ‘We’re looking for someone who has the England Rugby Coaching Award (or is willing to earn one) has previous e perience of coaching, is knowledgeable about the game and committed to fair play confident approachable and good with people’. It’s a paid role so if this sounds like you details can be found on their website. Over at Welford Road, Tigers have announced a tie-up with Nottingham Rugby that means the e isting relationship that goes back many years is now formalised. It will include shared registration of players and doubtless ottingham will benefit from younger Tigers players on the performance pathway needing game time and e perience he o cial announcement says ‘ he agreement will see the Premiership Rugby and Championship clubs linked through a unique performance partnership which includes co-operation on coaching resources, education and programme alignment, training and playing opportunities for players, and pathway integration’.

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Time is running out This month, with less than a month to go to the start of the London Marathon, can we call ourselves runners? John and Andy like to think so!

OW THE DISTRACTIONS of the awe-inspiring Team GB Olympic performances have come and gone (and wasn’t that so lovely to watch?), it’s time to ask ourselves, as a duo of non-runners: have we turned a corner? Surely when running suddenly doesn’t seem as arduous an activity that it once did or when you have a nagging feeling that you have missed a run, that must mean we have shifted from being non-runners to runners? Admittedly while our long runs are still not that long, at least not to an actual proper runner, we did manage 16km last Saturday. That’s about 10 miles in old money. Amazingly, while we expected to be crippled by aching limbs, blisters and other associated man injuries, the next day we both felt surprisingly dapper. Maybe that was the sedative eﬀect of the beer we drank to congratulate ourselves after completing such an awesome distance. We had no choice but to drink beer following the run as we scheduled ‘bucket waving’ in Stamford’s ﬁnest pubs for our Macmillan cause. There’s something oddly relaxing about settling into the start of a ‘long run.’ First there’s the abandonment of everything else that would normally happen in a two-hourplus window of a typical busy weekend. No taxi duties, shopping, tidying, lawn mowing or other miscellaneous chores. Also, no telephone calls, emails, WhatsApp messages. Instead, there is the steady call out of the kilometres passing via our trusty Strava app on the Apple Watch and the thwack, thwack, thwack of our feet. Sometimes you strain to receive the news of yet another kilometre milestone passed,

Use it or Lose it, keep your brain and body active

Second helpings, a group helping reduce food waste

Winter walks with Will

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 fly fishing guide Nick Dunn

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those who have been diagnosed with cancer have to go through, deciding unanimously our running suffering was nothing in comparison and we marvelled at the selfless devotion and support provided by Macmillan to those who need it. We finished our long run deciding that some direct action fundraising was called for so we descended onto the streets of Stamford and were warmly welcomed by many kind-hearted folks who chose to drop a lot of cash into the green buckets we were waving. Perhaps this was because they took sympathy on an unlikely pair of nonrunners/runners (you decide) or they just wished to show how much they care for a worthwhile cause – we raised £220 that evening, so thank you. The weeks to go to D-day, October 3rd, can now be counted on one hand. Our total funds raised now stands at over £800! We will be out and about collecting again in Stamford over the coming weeks, so please do help if you can. Or if you miss us, catch us at the Fox and Hounds, Castle Bytham from 3pm, on September 11 for what promises to be an amazing afternoon/evening of entertainment. Or click the virgin money link. Follow our progress via JP Marathon Man on Facebook. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JohnPridgeon

Meet superfood skincare expert Lisa Armitage

Meet the founders of WildDog Events

Find out about social prescribing Meet Tom Bourne, director of sport at Uppingham Community College ISSUE 91 | JANUARY 2020

only to then be reminded by some simple mental arithmetic about how many kilometres remain. Those who have the app will know it also calls out your total time, and that feels like an achievement. But then it tells you how ‘fast’ or ‘slowly’ you completed the last kilometre. As this last metric wasn’t motivational for us we decided it must have been programmed for people who care about such things. Clearly it couldn’t be intended for the more casual runner as it didn’t seem to bring us any joy. Then there’s having the time to compare notes on which bits of which limbs are aching, are the aches chronic vs acute? Remember this is a proper man-fest of pain and suffering! One thing we did readily agree on was each time we approached any slight incline we had to decide whether it was an ‘undulation’ (keep running) or an ‘actual proper hill’ (walk it out, hurrah!) We never defined any criteria for ‘hill’ but were very quick, perhaps too quick, to agree with each other when one was declared; unanimous agreement. With all the distractions of everyday life safely banished there’s time to properly appreciate the stunning views and beauty of the gentle rolling countryside which we are lucky enough to train in. That alone must make us runners. We had plenty of time to reflect on what

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Active Magazine // Stamford & Rutland // September 2021

Articles inside

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?

ALWALTON HALL

LIVING WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE

INTERVIEW

YOGA RETREAT

WILL’S WALK

HEMPTASTIC