Hitchin Aug 2020

VILLAGER The

Issue 27 - August 2020

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

In this issue Brits - We don’t mean what we say

A Summer Holiday on

Four Wheels Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Hitchin, Great and Little Wymondley, St Ippolyts, ur Charlton and surrounding areas Yo EE y

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Inside this issue...

The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby

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The Big Butterfly Count..........................................26 Wordsearch............................................................26 Green Tips: Commuter Cycling................................28 RSPCA Hertfordshire East News..............................31 Tech for ‘the new normal’.......................................34 Puzzle Page............................................................36 St Francis’ Children’s Society...................................39 The Villager Prize Crossword...................................42 Book Review: The Love of the Land........................44 Useful Numbers.....................................................47

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The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby.....................................4 Drinks: Sparklers and Spirits.....................................8 Brits: We don’t mean what we say.........................12 Wood Green can help pets and their owners..........15 A summer holiday on four wheels..........................16 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.................................19 New Season Wardrobe Workout.............................20 Hertfordshire Age UK.............................................23 Watery Delight.......................................................24

Watery Delight

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £25.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Kate McLelland, Trevor Langley, Nick Coffer, Jennie Billings, Pippa Greenwood, Sarah Davey and RSPCA

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Michael Charles Design and Artwork - Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460 www.design9marketing.co.uk

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History

By Kate McLelland

The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby Visit the Edinburgh Museum, situated on the city’s famous Royal Mile, and you’ll discover a wealth of beautiful objects, from exquisitely cut glassware to antique clocks and historic paintings.

Of all the lovely art and craft pieces, ancient documents and historical items to be found on display here, one glass case stands out: not for its fine objets d’art, but for its humble contents. The case contains a statue of a small dog, a collar and a feeding bowl, together with a few faded sepia photographs.

At nearby Candlemaker Row, you’ll find a drinking fountain topped by a statue of a dog that closely resembles the figure in the glass case. The inscription reads: “A tribute to the affectionate fidelity of Greyfriars Bobby. In 1858, this faithful dog followed the remains of his master to Greyfriars Churchyard and lingered near the spot until his death in 1872.”

Canine fame ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ was a Skye terrier who reputedly spent fourteen years guarding the grave of his

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owner, until he finally died in January 1972. Bobby owed his name to the graveyard of Greyfriars Kirk, where he became something of a local celebrity.

It’s reported that crowds would gather at the entrance of the graveyard almost daily, waiting for the one o’clock gun that Bobby took as his signal to leave the grave for his midday meal. Baroness Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts, President of the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, was so deeply moved by his story that she sought permission from the City Council to erect a public drinking fountain with a statue of Bobby mounted on top.

Since that time a novel has been written about Bobby’s life (‘Greyfriars Bobby’ by Eleanor Atkinson, published in 1912) and two films have celebrated his life: ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ (1961) and ‘The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby’ (2006).

How the legend began As you might expect of such a well-loved story, there are several different versions of Bobby’s life and some of the details have been called into question. The most generally accepted account

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claims that Bobby’s master was John Gray, a night watchman employed by Edinburgh City Police.

Legend has it that John adopted Bobby the Skye terrier to keep him company on the long, dark nights he spent patrolling the city and the two became inseparable friends and working partners. After several years walking the chilly streets of Edinburgh by night, John Gray’s health began to suffer. Records show he was treated for tuberculosis by the police surgeon and he finally died of the disease on 15th February 1858.

It wasn’t long before local people passing through Greyfriars Kirkyard noticed that John Gray’s dog appeared to have taken up residence beside his master’s grave, refusing to leave even in the worst of weather. The graveyard keeper tried to shoo Bobby away on a number of occasions, but the dog would always return. In the end the keeper gave up and created a small shelter, with a bed made of sacking, next to the grave.

Friends and supporters In 1867 a new by-law was passed, requiring all dogs in the city to be licenced. This rule, which decreed that all strays without licences should be promptly destroyed, created a dilemma with regard to Bobby (who had no master to buy his licence). At this point Sir William Chambers, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, stepped in. He paid for the licence and also provided the smart leather collar, inscribed “Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed”. This is the collar on display in the glass case at Edinburgh Museum.

Bobby could only be persuaded to leave his dead master’s graveside for the promise of food. William Dow – a friend of John Gray – would occasionally treat Bobby to a meal at a local coffee house where the two former friends used to meet. At other times Bobby’s meals were provided by a man called James Brown, who looked after the cemetery.

Finally, after fourteen years waiting patiently by his master’s grave, Greyfriars Bobby fell ill from cancer of the jaw. He died in 1872 but his fame continued to grow.

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Shaggy dog story?

The story of Greyfriars Bobby is a wonderful tale of canine loyalty and dedication, but like all good stories it has probably been embellished during the telling and re-telling. Dr Jay Bondeson, a historian and senior lecturer at Cardiff University, believes that the story was largely fabricated by the graveyard keeper James Brown, who received money from tourists eager to donate towards Bobby’s food. Dr Bondeson also believes that the original dog died in 1867 and was replaced by another Skye terrier.

Whatever the truth behind the legend may be, the story is typical of many accounts of animals that faithfully wait for their human owners, including a recent report of a loyal dog that waited in the lobby of China’s Taikang Hospital for more than three months after his elderly owner died from Covid-19. The tale of Greyfriars Bobby has warmed the hearts of visitors to Edinburgh for over 150 years and will no doubt continue to do so for many years to come.

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Food & Drink

Drinks: Sparklers and Spirits Prosecco is extremely popular and Pizzolato Organic Prosecco (11% vol) certainly does not disappoint. This impressive, sparkling production exudes a fine and persistent perlage, which pleases the nasal senses with fruits, including apples and pears, that follow on to the mouthfeel and palate sensation. I found this prosecco crisp and refreshing, being produced utilising 100% Glera grapes to great advantage.

Irresistible Cava (11.5% vol) is another most popular sparkling wine, that adorns many dining tables, constantly. Made by Castillo Perelada, renowned for excellent sparkling wines, this exclusive blend delivers a dry, refreshing experience that continues throughout – to the very last enjoyable drop! Grape: Macabeo.

Taittinger is very much recognised as one of the leading Champagne Houses. This family-owned and managed company (Founded 1734) produces outstanding, multi awardwinning Champagnes. The use of Chardonnay grapes is of great importance and results in exceptional Champagne productions, which are admired and appreciated by many.

Taittinger Brut Reserve (12.5% vol) is a favourite for Champagne lovers, worldwide. The bouquet and splendid perlage are just perfect and the balanced, superb mouthfeel follows, to complement. The palate’s sensation completes the experience with excellent depth and a most memorable finish.

For the spirits, I found Passion Fruit, Mango & Lime Flavoured Gin Limited Edition (40% vol) to suit my palate perfectly. The description on the bottle states ‘Zesty & Vibrant’ – I agree. Infused with the flavours of passion fruit, mango and lime, this 5-times distilled production has a splendid combination of tropical inclusions, with the lime citrus addition, balancing wonderfully.

Irresistible Pineapple Rum Spirit Drink (40% vol) has a good number of ‘devotees’, too. Produced using Dominican Republic rum and 8-year aged Barbados rum, this certainly ‘comes through’ with its tropical taste, evoking thoughts of paradise, with pineapples and sunshine. Happy Days!

I located these drinks at a Co-op store. The Co-op is dedicated and committed to Fair Trade, also. Expert advice is always available, which includes valuable information about pairing wines/drinks with foods, too. Excellent quality beverages include beers, wines and spirits, with several award winners amongst the ranges. If Co-op membership is of interest, then customers can enjoy rewards on selected products and purchases. www.coop.co.uk/products/wine www.coop.co.uk www.infofairtrade.net

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Cloudy2Clear, A Local Service With A Smile.

I think we can all agree that the sooner we see the back of 2020 and this dreadful corona virus the better. That said, there are also some heart warming positives that we can take out of this situation. It has often been said that we can only really get to know one another and realise what is truly important in times of crisis. I think few would argue that in this case what has proven to be important is local community spirit.

When talking to the Manager of Cloudy2Clear windows Stephen Moon it became clear that these values have been held dear for a number of years. Since starting the business some years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their core values of

supporting the local community by providing a service that saves the public money.

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the unit has failed. Stephen commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help again”.

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Special Report

Brits: We don’t mean what we say

By Kate McLelland

When a member of the online global community Reddit asked the question “NonBritish people of Reddit, what about Britain baffles you?” they received almost 40,000 comments in response. Here are five things about British culture that particularly puzzle non-Brits: 1. Sarcasm The British are famous for their sarcastic turn of phrase and a recent YouGov poll asked a group of Brits and a group of Americans to interpret the meaning of various well-known expressions and phrases. While most members of the British group took the expression “with the greatest respect” to have pretty much the opposite meaning, more than half of the American group took it at face value.

One Reddit member, shocked at the way her British boyfriend spoke to his family members, wailed: “They’re so rude to each other. FOR FUN.” 2. British nosh Food is also an area that causes misunderstanding and controversy. Watching The Great British Bake Off, American Britt Rivera was shocked to find that a Yorkshire pudding wasn’t actually a pudding, tweeting “Yorkshire pudding is a little bread bowl, not a yogurt-like dessert?”

With the exception of Australia and New Zealand, Britain is one of very few places where Marmite is actually enjoyed. Reddit users have conducted their own opinion poll on the famous spread, with one Slovenian contributor commenting: “I remember my first experience with Marmite was so terrible. Someone brought that thing to our house and I tried it with a spoon ... so disgusting!!”

3. UK accents According to the British Library, we have almost eighty different accents and dialects in the British Isles, so perhaps it’s not surprising that this was another frustration for overseas Reddit users. “So many accents. People fifteen minutes away having another accent,” one moaned.

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4. Our love of tea Responding to Reddit’s “What about Britain baffles you?” challenge, another user stormed “Your obsession with tea!”

Writing for The Week magazine, American author and journalist Jessica Pan describes how she sensed growing resentment amongst her English colleagues after regularly refusing their offers of tea: “I might as well have said ‘I do not want to be part of your society’ or ‘Your tea is gross and so are you.’ That’s because in Britain, I soon learned, rejecting a cup of tea is like rejecting a gesture of friendship.”

5. Our many names The many different names we use to describe our island nation has also caused a good deal of confusion, with some overseas observers unsure whether to call us Great Britain, the British Isles, the British Islands, the United Kingdom or just plain old Britain. To confuse things even further, the UK’s official name is the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’.

During our long and colourful history, British people have absorbed the best bits from several different cultures, so perhaps it’s not surprising that such a melting pot of habits and customs continues to cause bewilderment. It’s clear that our culture is seen by others as eccentric, weird, confusing – even a tad annoying – but it’s equally clear that we Brits have no intention of changing our ways for anyone.

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Local News

Wood Green can help pets and their owners Wood Green, The Animals Charity can support people at every step of the pet ownership journey. From choosing the right pets and getting them settled to ongoing care and, where necessary, giving up a pet, their friendly team is available.

At an unprecedented time in our lives, these services are needed more than ever. Pets have been impacted by lockdown in a number of ways – disruptions to daily routines, financial challenges and spurring more people than ever to welcome a new pet into their home.

Indeed, many people saw lockdown as an opportunity to get a puppy. These dogs will soon be reaching adolescence and some of them will have missed key life lessons like socialising with other dogs and people, being left at home alone and attending training classes. Wood Green’s team of Behaviour & Training Specialists provide free advice to pet owners facing difficulty with a puppy, or any other pet.

Whatever circumstances pet owners find themselves in, be it work or financial pressures, health, or simply not having enough time to dedicate to a pet, Wood Green can help. The charity’s services have been a lifeline to vulnerable pets over the past few months, delivering essential supplies such as pet food safely to their doors.

Life can be unpredictable and some owners may no longer be able to look after their pets. Whatever the reason, Wood Green will listen, advise and, if someone needs to hand over their pet, will take the animal into their care to find them a loving new home.

Talk to Wood Green’s team on 0300 303 9333 or visit www.woodgreen.org.uk

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Special Report

A summer holiday –

on four wheels Renting a camper van or motorhome for your summer break is a truly different experience. Clearly it’s much smaller, but the ‘Wendy house’ feel is a lot of fun and being able to visit a number of places without packing and unpacking every time is a joy.

SMALL - VW and small camper vans look cool and are easy to get around in. They are small inside though and don’t have toilet facilities. They work well in good weather and for a couple of nights, but much longer than that and you’ll be longing for a bit of social distancing!

If that’s all your budget will stretch to and there are more than two of you, make sure you get an awning for extra storage and living space.

MEDIUM - A camper van is a van which has been converted to a living space. Being a van they have big doors at the side and back, meaning you can get more of a view and let the fresh air in. They are generally easy to drive and park and are ‘Tardis-like’ inside – you won’t believe how much can be squeezed in.

LARGE - A motorhome is usually built on a van chassis, but the living space is purpose-built so it’s wider, taller and has more space for storage and facilities. On the downside, they only have a narrow single door in the living space so there’s more of a definition between inside and outside.

CARAVAN - Caravans are inexpensive because there’s no motor but of course you’ll need a tow bar on your car, which you might not be so keen to do if you are just trying the experience for the first time. Driving and manoeuvring them takes a bit of practice too.

WHERE TO STAY - During the day you can stop in many open car parks near beaches and in forested areas. Wild camping – where you just park up and stay overnight – isn’t encouraged even if you have your own toilet facilities. Rather you should aim for one of these options:

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The Caravan and Motorhome Club has an extensive network of club sites, see www.caravanclub.co.uk.

The smaller Camping and Caravanning Club offers a good selection of sites.

See www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk.

Britstop (britstop.com) is a guide you have to buy (£31.60) and it lists stays at farm shops, country pubs, vineyards and many other interesting venues.

However, many are likely to still be closed this summer.

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENING? As it’s likely to be a while before public venues are fully open, entertainment on your new holiday theme will resonate: • ‘Vanlifer’ Jenelle Eliana has a huge following on YouTube. She lives in her van with a pet snake!

• Book: How to Live in a Van and Travel.

• Into the Wild is a moving film based on a true story of a young man who attempted to live independently in the wilds of Alaska.

• Back on YouTube, watching van reviews and people doing self-build conversions may inspire you to make motorhoming a permanent fixture in your life.

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Food & Drink

Cod wrapped in prosciutto served on Skordalia Serves 4 people

I love Weekend Kitchen guests who are proud of their food heritage. One such guest is former Masterchef contestant Theo Michaels from Harpenden. He takes pride to a new level though – mention any dish to him, from anywhere in the world, and he will make a case that it originated in Greece! The funny thing is, it’s always such a compelling case too! His lovely new book, “Orexi!”, is chock full of modern Greek recipes and this delicious fish dish from his book was a big hit when he made it on my programme recently. Simple flavours, cooked well, and served on a Greek version of mashed potato. Delicious.

Ingredients 750g Cod Loin 8 slices prosciutto 30g chopped parsley 1 lemon, quartered Small handful Greek basil, ripped ½ cup Kalamata olives Juice of ¼ lemon 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 6 ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced Seasoning ½ clove garlic, thinly sliced Pinch chili

1. Lay out a sheet of greaseproof paper and lay the pieces of ham side by side, slightly overlapping about same length as the fish. Place the fish on the top third of the sheet of ham.

2. Lay out the tomatoes along the top of the cod, followed by the garlic, parsley, basil, olives, chili flakes, seasoning and drizzle of olive oil. Once done, wrap the fish.

3. Lift the short side of the sheet of ham up and over the fish then roll the whole thing until the fish is fully enclosed. Don’t worry about the ends being open.

4. Lightly oil the outside of the fish parcel using your hands and place seam-side down onto a hot skillet or griddle. Cook for 5 minutes then turn over and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.

5. Place on a chopping board and slice into thick steaks, finish with a squeeze of lemon.

Ingredients for the skordalia: 300g white potatoes 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 100ml olive oil Few drops lemon juice

1. Peel and cut the potatoes and cook in salted boiling water until ‘fork’ done.

2. Drain and steam dry for a few minutes before mashing.

3. Add the garlic and continue mashing adding the olive oil in batches.

Once the potatoes are thoroughly mashed, use a hand whisk to beat them as you add the rest of the olive oil.

4. Season with a few very generous pinches of salt, a few drops of lemon juice, and whisk through a pinch or two of the finely chopped parsley.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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House of Colour

New Season Wardrobe Workout New options are appearing in the shops for the new season ahead and you may be considering adding a few new options. Before you do have a good look at what you already have. You may have had time recently to declutter but it might be worth taking a closer look to see what we really need, where are the gaps and how your lifestyle might be changing.

Before starting: Get out your colour wallet and style workbook, clothing personality notes and wardrobe words (if you have them) and make sure you are familiar with the colours, styles, shapes and patterns that work for you. Then go through each item and consider the following: When did you last wear it? - if it was more than 2 years ago or you really can’t remember, can you bring it back into your life perhaps by wearing it in a different way? Could an alteration make a real difference to how often you wear it? Could you add different buttons to ‘lift’ the item? Is this still relevant for your lifestyle now? Are you waiting to lose weight… (it’s probably not going to help if it just sits there reminding you. Time to move it on.)

Mark it out of 10? 10s are new or nearly new items that tick all your boxes. If you get down to 5/6 marks then it might be time to start wearing it for gardening (something else we can do).

Check for colour – If you’ve been analysed and have a wallet use it to ensure it’s right colours don’t need to match exactly, just blend and harmonise with your palette - use your seasonal words and cards to help.

Most of us can’t wear black successfully (contrary to popular belief it’s not slimming as it’s the most dominant colour in the palette and will draw the eye).

Check for style - having thoroughly perused your style notes, does this item hit the right note and tick all the boxes it needs to? If not, can you make it work with some accessories? Are you comfortable in it?

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Do you love it? – or as the de-cluttering expert, Marie Kondo might put it, does it spark joy?

We should love what we wear. If you’re keeping something ‘just because…(you spent money on it or had to for an occasion, fill in the blank) but you actually don’t love it, let it go.

Having less is more – While it may feel concerning to have much less in our wardrobe we don’t actually need that much. Items that are right (colour and style) can be mixed and matched with the others creating an efficient wardrobe with items that work hard for us. Less also means we actually see our clothes more easily and are more likely to wear what we have!

Find a new home for anything that doesn’t shape up.

Once you know what you are keeping. Put it all back in an order that works for you. Here’s a suggestion: Sort it by when and what you wear it for. Create separate sections for your work clothes, hanging out at home (keep these handy), going out and “going out out” (even if this means getting dressed up to go into the kitchen at the moment!)

Sort each section by item. Keep the same type of item together on the rail, eg jackets, trousers, tops etc. It is easier to find what you want and you are more likely to mix and match your items creating different outfits.

Sort each item by colour. Wardrobes look at lot less like jumble sales if you apply some structure to your colours. A way that works is to think “rainbow”. You won’t necessarily have all of these in your season but it’s a good place to start.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Local News

How local businesses are helping a local charity!

COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on Age UK Hertfordshire’s services. They are a local charity that supports over 10,000 older people each year, to alleviate loneliness and isolation, tackle poverty and build resilience within communities across Hertfordshire.

“It’s been an incredibly busy and challenging few months for Age UK Hertfordshire. We’ve had to swiftly restructure our services and develop new ways of working to ensure that we continue to support the most vulnerable older people in Hertfordshire,” says their Director of Operations, Mark Hanna.

“In the initial weeks of COVID-19 our focus was on ensuring that our most vulnerable clients had food, support and any essential practical assistance. In April alone, our Information & Advice line received nearly 5,000 enquiries - and we’ve continued to be extremely busy. Many of our clients already felt socially isolated and lonely, and the COVID-19 lockdown has accentuated that feeling so we need to do all we can to ensure we are here if they need us.”

Deborah Paniagua, the charities’ CEO agrees, “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of people in Hertfordshire – donating everything from food to face masks for our food parcels and ‘comfort bags’ and from jigsaws to jotters for our ‘activity packs’.

Local businesses have been donating too, including The Haberdashery in Hitchin. They provided a mountain of yarn and knitting needles to add to our comfort parcels.”

Owner of The Haberdashery, Kim Keeping, said “I love the work that Age UK Hertfordshire do and we might all need their services one day. We may be lucky enough to have our partner still with us but many are not that fortunate, so to do the smallest thing to help a big cause feels great. By sourcing yarn and needles to help older people in our community keep occupied during this weird time puts a massive smile on my face.”

Age UK Hertfordshire would like to thank everybody who has helped them continue helping older people throughout this time.

Deborah Paniagua adds, “We’ve been really delighted and humbled by the support from the local community. This is such a difficult time for everyone – but particularly for our older, vulnerable clients.

We really need your support to help them.”

They still need more help – They’re fundraising to cover the costs of the parcels, packages and changes they are having to make to their services.

Details of this can be found on their website www.ageuk.org.uk/hertfordshire or by emailing communications@ageukherts.org.uk

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23

Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

Watery Delight A pond is a great long-term addition to a garden but plan it before you start digging!

Where to put a pond? Keep clear of deciduous trees; their leaves clog up the pond and cause methane gas to be released as they rot, which can be lethal to fish and pond wildlife. Conversely, extremely sunny, hot spots will increase the likelihood of pond algae problems.

Choose a level site to minimise the amount of soil that needs to be shifted to create it.

How to choose a liner. There are three main types of pond liner: a pre-formed rigid liner (mid-price but shapes are limited); plastic available by the metre (cheap but may only last three or four years); and butyl (costly, but lasts around 30 years, and allows and any size and shape you require).

What shape? Create a simple shape to use less butyl liner and underlay, and make it easier to install.

Always use underlay as this dramatically reduces the risk of leaks due to liner damage. Either buy it or use old carpet underlay for flexible liners, while plenty of sand works well for rigid liners.

What size? A larger pond is generally easier to maintain and should be at least 45cm (18in) deep to minimise algae and to maximise the range of plants you can grow.

Adjust the pond levels at the edges before laying edging material. Edges must fit snugly in the hole to reduce the chances of damage – pack dry sand or garden soil into any gaps.

Large, rounded stones at the pond edge help animals to climb out and help disguise liner edges, plus

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reduce the amount of soil accidentally entering the pond.

Have a gently sloping beach at one edge to allow hedgehogs, birds and other non-aquatic creatures to drink and bathe, and get out easily if they fall in.

Build in some ‘shelves’ at the sides, wide enough to hold pots or pond baskets to allow for aquatics and marginals (bog-loving plants) needing shallower water.

A pond should be filled with rain water, but mains water can be used if allowed to stand for a week or so before adding plants or fish.

What to plant? Buy healthy and hardy pond and marginal plants that are able to withstand winter temperatures. Check the depth of water they require and how big they’ll grow.

Make it safe. Make sure that you explain the potential dangers of ponds to children, and consider waiting a year or so if they are too small to understand.

Avoid steep, straight sides and have a graduated exit so it’s easy to get out of should someone or something fall in.

Consider fitting a strong galvanised metal mesh over the entire surface. It must be strong enough to bear a child’s weight, with a small mesh size that small feet cannot go through.

A small fence around the pond can be clothed with climbers or painted, and can be removed once children are older.

Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.

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Time of Year

The Big Butterfly Count Friday 17th July to Sunday 9th August

During lockdown while trying to engage my children in schoolwork I discovered that there is a society called Butterfly Conservation. They have organised a nationwide butterfly count every year since 2010.

Butterflies are good indicators of the health of our environment because they react very quickly to change in their environment. This makes them excellent biodiversity indicators. The survey counts butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK, which assists in identifying trends in species. This helps Butterfly Conservation plan how to protect butterflies and understand the effect of climate change.

To take part you need to sit in your garden, a park, a wood or forest, or your school field for 15 minutes on a bright sunny day and simply count the butterflies you see. July and August are when most butterflies are at the adult stage of their lifecycle, and hopefully there is more sunshine, so they are more likely to be seen. Count the maximum number of each species that you can see from your vantage point at a single time. So if you see three Peacock butterflies on the same bush at the same time record it as 3, but if you only see one on a bush at a time then record it as 1, even if you saw one on several occasions. This is so that you don’t count the same butterfly more than once. You can also count while on a walk. Simply add up the number of each butterfly species that you see during the 15 minutes.

You can submit separate records for different dates at the same place, and for different places that you visit during the counting period. Even if you don’t see any butterflies or moths your count is still useful.

For more information visit www.bigbutterflycount.org Download identification apps for Android or IOS - search for Big Butterfly Count.

By Sarah Davey

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Environment

Green Tips: Commuter Cycling UK transport secretary Grant Shapps announced a £2 billion plan in May to boost cycling.

Clearly, the ongoing need for social distancing is part of this drive, but cleaner air, better health and less time wasted in traffic are of great benefit to us all and the environment. Here are a couple of ideas which might make you seriously consider a bike as your commuter vehicle of choice.

An electric bike looks like a normal bike, and can use cycle paths, but when you come to a hill the motor kicks in and gives you an extra push. You still have to peddle, but it’ll save that extra exertion that has you arriving at work red-faced and sweaty.

Tubeless (puncture-proof) tyres will transform your cycling. These have a special sealant inside which sets on exposure to air. Should you pick up a puncture – that’s a hole not a gash – the escaping air forces the liquid to the surface and seals the hole. Nine times out of ten you won’t even be aware of it.

You might be one of the lucky few who has showers at work. If you don’t, slow down for the last five minutes of your ride so that you are already cool when you stop.

Get insured! That’s your bike against theft, you against injury, and pedestrians and car owners against you having a T&G131x93AdvertReady.pdf 07/06/2015 13:34:43 mishap on your journey.

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Pets

RSPCA Hertfordshire East News

We hope all our readers are safe and well during this trying period.

By the time you read this, hopefully our charity shop at 19 Churchyard, Hitchin SG5 1HP will be open for business as usual, our dedicated team of volunteers and staff will have returned, and where you will be able to find good quality items at bargain prices.

The Branch Trustees took the opportunity during the lockdown to give the shop a makeover, giving it a boutique feel about it. The shop floor was cleared of everything, so that the walls, doors and window frames could be painted and the floor professionally cleaned. The shop is now bright, friendlier and organised. A variety of new, colourful summer clothes now hang on the rails, with new stock on the shelves, including accessories, bric-abrac, children’s’ toys, books and jewellery for you to bag a bargain or two.

The health and safety of our customers and staff are important to us, so we will allow only two customers in at one time. There are 2 metre distancing tapes on the floor, a sanitizing station provided for customers, a sneeze guard on the counter and a one-way system implemented. Our staff will use sanitizing gel, wear gloves and masks for their (and customers) protection. Payment is by credit card only.

If you have had a clear out during the lockdown, we are in desperate need of your donations. They can be dropped off on Tuesdays and Fridays only to allow quarantine measures. Lack of storage prevents us from accepting donations every day.

We hope you will return and admire our efforts. We would not exist without your continued support to fund the treatment of sick and abused animals.

If you would like to volunteer in the shop or as a fosterer, home visitor, helping with local events or on our Committee, thrashing out fund raising ideas, highlighting awareness of what the RSCPA Herts.

East Branch does for local animals, we would love to hear from you. Please contact the Branch Office telephone number below or pop into our charity shop to pick up a Volunteer Application Form. It is rewarding and fulfilling work when you can spare as much time as you want, knowing you are making a difference to distressed animals.

In the event of an emergency or cruelty, please call 0300 1234 999 Branch Office: 01462 672278 Why not follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/hertfordshireeastbranch or on our website:www.rspca-hertfordshireeast.org.uk

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Technology

Tech for ‘the new normal’ 5.

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Lockdowns may be largely lifted but we’re going back to a very different world at work and at school: many more of us are working from home at least some of the time, and school pupils and college students are getting used to doing more online learning.

That can be a challenge, because when most of us bought the things we have in our homes we weren’t thinking about using them for work – so for example dining tables may be great for chatting with family or friends, but they’re not ideal for long periods on a laptop.

If you or others in your household are going to be spending longer periods working, especially on computers, comfort isn’t just nice: it’s essential. Spending too much time with poor posture or awkward working spaces can be bad for your health, as it increases the risk of physical stresses and strains. In some cases that can lead

to painful repetitive strain injuries.

The good news is that you don’t need to do much to make your working or studying environment safe. It’s all about right angles: when you sit, your back should be straight, your feet flat on the ground (or on a footrest) and your body at right angles, so your forearms and your thighs should be horizontal and your back, upper arms and calves vertical. If you can afford it, invest in a good quality chair with back support and a decently padded or sprung base – your back and bum will thank you for it in the long term – and if you get one with wheels, invest in a floor protector too. Wheels can do serious damage to carpets and laminate flooring.

1 A powerful laptop with a clear, large screen is essential.

Techradar calls the 14-inch Acer Swift 3 “the best budget laptop in the world.”

Acer Swift 3, £533, Amazon UK

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2 No space? No problem. An unobtrusive corner desk gives you space to work without taking up too much room in your room.

Loft Living Corner Office Desk, £100, Argos 3 When the days start to shorten you’ll need a quality light to illuminate your work area. The Anglepoise is a design classic and uses energy-saving LED bulbs.

Anglepoise Type 75, £175, John Lewis 4 Office chairs don’t need to look like office chairs: this chair from IKEA comes in an attractive and easy-to-clean white, so it doesn’t make your room look like a meeting room.

JÄRVFJÄLLET chair, £150, IKEA 5 If your Wi-Fi is slow, the culprit is probably the router: if it’s an older one or came with your broadband service, it probably isn’t the fastest.

TP-Link Archer C50 Router, £32.99, Amazon

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

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WINDOW REPAIRS

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Local News

Louise and Jake became parents with the help of St. Francis’ Children’s Society. Here, they reflect on their adoption journey.

We’d been together some time when we started trying for a family, but it just wasn’t happening naturally. After one failed IVF attempt, we decided to adopt.

Following an initial meeting with a social worker, we attended four days of Preparation Training. We learnt about the children awaiting adoption, child development and the ongoing support offered.

We then began ‘homestudy’, which was nerve-wracking at times but so important. It gave us a real insight into adoption, and helped us to understand what kind of parents we might be.

After we were approved, the matching process began. It was exciting, heart-wrenching and nerve-wracking all at once. It’s not about finding the perfect child, it’s about giving a child the best chance in life with the best possible parent for them.

Eventually, we were matched with three year old Jasmine. We first met her at her foster carer’s home. She was vivacious, loud, strong. We had no idea what we had let ourselves in for!

After two weeks of introductions, our daughter came home to live with us.

There have undeniably been many challenges over the years. When behavioural issues arise, we have to explore the root cause and help her through those emotions.

But there have been so many positives too, and we love seeing her thrive. We would do it all again in a heartbeat.

We are three now and love being a family. Learn more at www.sfcs.org.uk

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Crossword Solution for The Villager July Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Christina Giddings from Sandy

July’s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th August 2020 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Cut short (4) 3 Adversary (8) 9 Error (7) 10 Board game (5) 11 Very eager (12) 13 Informal (6) 15 Small piece of food (6) 17 Books giving meanings of words (12) 20 Relating to the moon (5) 21 Absence of sound (7) 22 Moving very fast (8) 23 Spheres (4) Down 1 Business (8) 2 Start of (5) 4 Written in rhyme (6) 5 Now and then (12) 6 Protect the eyes (7) 7 Throw (4) 8 Produced (12) 12 Small bunches or groups (8) 14 Physics or chemistry (7) 16 Untie (6) 18 Lying within (5) 19 Add to (4)

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Automated Gate Systems & Ancillary Components Remote Access Intercoms Commercial Automated Barriers Swing & Sliding Gate Automation

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43

Books

For The Love of the Land

A Cook Book to Celebrate British Farmers and their Food If we are able to take any positives from the devastation the coronavirus pandemic has caused, perhaps the way it has given some families a chance to reconnect and take stock of the things that are important to them, is something to cheer.

Families used to rushing from pillar to post and grabbing meals on the go have been able to take time to cook and share meals together in a way they had perhaps forgotten.

It has given some of us a new appreciation of what the food shop staff, delivery drivers, butchers, bakers, farmers and deli owners do to help us put great food on our table.

So, For The Love of the Land, celebrating the stories and recipes of some of the UK’s finest farmers, is a timely release from cook book specialists Meze Publishing.

Compiled by Jenny Jefferies, herself the wife of an arable farmer, the farms featured here cover the length and breadth of the UK, and see farmers specialising in a diverse array of produce; from game, pork, lamb, beef, cheese and dairy to the more unusual such as lavender, chillies and edible flowers.

Among those to feature are Michelin-starred chef and Great British Menu regular Tommy Banks, who grew up on a farm in Yorkshire, award-winners Daylesford Organic Farming and dairy farmer, Katie Lowe, also known as the The Female Farmer.

Meanwhile the range of recipes is mouth-watering; and often quintessentially British; from Blackbrook Beef Bolognese from a traditional lowland farm in Leicestershire, Reestit Mutton Soup by two sisters who run their family farm on Shetland and Pheasant and Asparagus Bake from a family run game shoot in Cambridgeshire.

Jenny Jefferies, who compiled the book, commented: “After marrying my husband, John, I discovered the wonderful, challenging and sometimes isolating world of farming. I never

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before quite appreciated where our food came from so it’s been a real privilege to speak with the farmers within this book; they are truly the backbone of our country.

They nurture and provide for us; putting food on our table for us to enjoy, so let’s give thanks and praise for all the hard work that they do.

“This book has become a labour of love and I hope this collection of stories and of the farmers’ favourite recipes is simply enjoyed for its food, provenance and for the sharing of good and positive stories. This is a celebration of British farming – enjoy!”

For many farming families like Jenny and John, working the land and raising livestock is a true labour of love, and what they produce is the backbone of the country’s food and drink.The dishes in this book make the most of local and seasonal ingredients, creating delicious meals, puddings and bakes that anyone can cook up at home.

Alongside that, members of these families have told the stories of their livelihoods: from losing sheep in snowstorms to stoking enthusiasm in the next generation, their honesty and passion is an inspiration and an education.

As the landscape of British farming changes, we need to support high-quality food production and understand how farmers can work in harmony with nature to make our eating habits more sustainable.

Whether you’re country born and bred or have never donned a pair of wellies, discover the food and stories in this book to help to put British farming back on the map and at the centre of your table.

Published by Meze Publishing, July 14, 2020 For the Love of the Land is a 224-page hardback and retails at £22. It will be available to purchase from Amazon, bookshops including Waterstones and online from www.mezepublishing.co.uk

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Property Maintenance

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Alcoholics Anonymous....................... 0845 769 7555 Al-Anon family Groups....................... 0800 008 6811 Anglian Water.................................... 08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital................................. 01234 355122 Lister Hospital..................................... 01438 314333 Benefits for people with Disabilities..... 0800 882 200 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue............. 01438 729041 Carers Line......................................... 0808 808 7777 ChildLine................................................... 0800 1111 Citizens Advice................................... 0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers...................................... 0800 555 111

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