The West Wilts Magazine - June 2021

JUNE 2021 // ISSUE 135

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West Wilts The

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+ TAPAS RECIPES GARDEN TRENDS HAYNES MOTOR MUSEUM LACOCK PHOTOGRAPHY & MUCH MORE

FROME FESTIVAL 2 - 11 JULY

NEW HEAD CHEF AT WOOLLEY GRANGE

NEW FORMOSA SHOWROOM NOW OPEN IN HOLT

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contents Published by Wired Publishing Editor Lisa Rockliffe Contributors Fran Stevens, Phil Rockliffe, Neil Mortimer, Katie Thomson, Andy Diffey, Adam Jacot De Boinod Advertising Enquiries Andy Diffey e: andy@wired-publishing.co.uk t: 01225 807775 General Enquiries e: info@wired-publishing.co.uk t: 01225 807775 www.wired-publishing.co.uk Address 20 Azalea Drive, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 9GG This magazine is printed on paper sourced from sustainable forests.

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Front Cover: Little Owl © Luke Massey / 2020 Vision

June 2021 // issue 135

A

s I write, hope is mounting that restrictions will continue to be eased over the coming weeks. It is an incredibly exciting time, even if the last year has taught us to expect the unexpected.

It is so incredibly heartening to see events start to be planned in, diaries are slowly being filled and people are once again coming together. We are proud to play our part in spreading the word about some of the things that are set to return - Theatre Royal Bath has an incredibly line up planned for the rest of the year (p18), Frome Festival is set to return next month with a bang (p20) and alongside that Frome Open Art Trail is running again too!

As well as the return of much-missed events, our love of the natural world continues with the Wildlife Trust’s 30 Days Wild challenge - find out more about taking part from p42.

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42

Away from that we talk to the new chef at Woolley Grange Hotel Dean Westcar (p24) and head over to the stunning new Formosa showroom in Holt (p52).

That, and lots more besides, turn the page and enjoy!

Lisa Rockliffe, Editor Follow us on Twitter... @westwiltsmag Read online... westwiltsmag.co.uk

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in this issue...

Roundabout The House Formosa’s new showroom opens Stephen Graver

50 52 54

LEGAL & FINANCIAL Wansbroughs Goughs

57 58

HEALTH & WELLBEING Vitality Day Spa

61

LOCAL NEWS Hope Nature Centre Haynes Motor Museum Frome Open Art Trail Theatre Royal Bath Frome Festival

8 10 12 18 20

FOOD & DRINK Dean Westcar joins Woolley Grange Eat the Seasons Tapas recipes

24 26 27

FEATURES Garden Styles 30 Days Wild Challenge

32 42

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES That’s interesting...

62 Quiz, wordsearch & sudoku 64

HOUSE & HOME Axford Interiors

48

COMMENT The Last Word

BATH RUGBY 2 Bath players picked for The Lions 60

66

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 3

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local news

WYLYE VALLEY ARTS AT FFC

A

t Fairfield Farm College, the Practical Skills and Enterprise class has been a hub of creativity over the past few months, with a huge range of different arts and crafts projects taking place in readiness to show at the Wylye Valley Arts Trail. The event took place from 1 - 9 May, and featured a huge range of artists from all across Wiltshire and beyond.

The Café at Fairfield Farm College presented a showcase of work created by the students at Fairfield Farm College, alongside five other local artists.

got very creative and tried screen printing, and have even created their own paper. Shelley Hughes, Practical Skills and Enterprise tutor at Fairfield Farm College said, “It was fantastic to be able to host part of the Wylye

Valley Arts Trail, and so many people were very impressed with the amazing quality of the work that students produced”.

• ffc.ac.uk Students used a range of mediums in their artworks

Students who showcased their work used a wide range of mediums to create a variety of different artworks.

Some of these include more traditional methods such as painting and watercolour, but some students

NEW ARRIVALS AT HOPE NATURE CENTRE

H

ope Nature Centre has re-opened their gates after nearly 4 months of closure due to lockdown. “It’s been an amazing first few weeks, and we’re massively grateful to everyone who has come along and supported us since our re-opening” said David Gillingham, Commercial Manager at Hope Nature Centre. The Animal Park re-opened in April when restrictions were eased, and the Animal Park had a sell-out success for over 2 weeks, welcoming 1000’s of visitors through the gates to experience all the exciting new additions.

Alongside the completely re-modelled entrance area, there has been a major expansion to the Adventure Play Area, new enclosures and much more. There have been some new arrivals in

8 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

the Animal Park, including two adorable wallabies called Bubble and Squeak. The Café re-opened in May, meaning all of the facilities on site are now back open. The Café has also received a refurbishment and expansion, with new toilets and additional seating.

Wallabies Bubble & Squeak are new to the park

To ensure social distancing and the adherence of COVID-19 rules, the Animal Park are operating at a limited capacity, so if you’re planning a visit, it is highly advisable to pre-book your tickets online.

• hopenaturecentre.org.uk.

local news

FORMULA 1 AT HAYNES This summer race over to Haynes International Motor Museum to take in their brand new exhibition Williams F1.

H

aynes International Motor Museum has reopened with brand new exhibitions including the much anticipated ‘Williams F1: The Drivers and The Driven’.

The new Williams exhibition is a must for F1 fans

There are plenty of iconic Formula 1 cars to get close to, such as Nigel Mansell’s FW14 or ‘Red 5’, and the incredible history and excitement of the sport is told in a way that, no matter what your knowledge of F1 may be, there is something to learn and enjoy throughout.

A Museum spokesperson revealed, “There’s a new cinema space where you can discover the origins of

"There’s a new cinema space where you can discover the origins of Williams Racing and experience the track from the driver’s point of view."

Williams Racing and experience the track from the driver’s point of view. Also, if you’ve ever wondered what it takes for drivers to survive a crash, you can learn all about safety with the crashed remains of Pastor Maldonado’s F1 car.”

The 'Red Room'

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‘Williams F1: The Drivers and The Driven’ is one of many new spaces to explore during your visit. The story behind John Haynes OBE and his world-famous Haynes Manuals is revealed in ‘The Man, The Manuals and The Museum’, plus the popular Ferrari, ‘Red Room’ and ‘Dawn of Motoring’ exhibitions have brand new stories, facts and interactives

for the whole family to enjoy.

The Haynes International Motor Museum and Café 750 is open for visitors every day. Booking in advance is recommended as daily admission is strictly limited. Visit the website or call 01963 440804 for more information.

• himm.co.uk

local news

FROME OPEN ART TRAIL 3-11 JULY

O

ver a number of years the Frome Open Art Trail (which runs alongside Frome Festival) has grown in strength and reputation attracting many visitors who enjoy meeting and buying direct. Artists and makers show a diverse range of beautiful

arts and crafts, exhibiting from studios, homes and venues. There is affordable art including ceramics, paintings, textiles, photography, glass, and jewellery.

Frome supports student, emerging, self-employed and professional

artists – many of whom seriously struggled financially through the pandemic. The 2021 brochure has been distributed in Frome and its surrounds and can also be accessed via the website. It gives details of the artists taking part, with images, contact details and links.

The distinctive Art Trail logo is inspired by the Art Nouveau lamps around Frome. Their ornate pattern is a design by the Cockey family, who began by casting church bells in 1685. Frome had street gas lighting as early as 1831. The Listed lamps are unique to Frome’s rich history.

Follow the trail on social media @fromeopenarttrail or email fromeopenarttrail@gmail.com.

Kate Cochrane’s Aspens by the Coly

• frome-open-art-trail.co.uk

HILLY HELMET CHALLENGE RETURNS!

A

fter a year away, the awardwinning Hilly Helmet Challenge running event returns to Westburys’ Leighton Recreation centre on Wednesday 11 August. The scenic route heads out through a quiet lane before climbing up a bridleway to the Imber Range Path. Participants follow public rights of way offering spectacular views across Westbury and beyond towards the Avon Valley before looping back under an imposing avenue of Beech trees and dropping back down the bridleway to head back to the finish at the recreation centre where a warm supporting atmosphere (and unique pottery memento) greets every finisher.

helmet for a year after suffering a brain infection following a brain tumour removal. It is held to raise funds for a Brain Tumour Support charity, selling out each year it has been held and raising over £15,000 along the way. During a tough year for everyone last year, the charity looked set to miss out on the annual fundraiser until Robin was able to convert the event so participants were offered the chance to take part virtually.

Robin successfully gained support for event expenses from local businesses, most of whom have remained loyal to the event each year it has been held, along with many of those who take part. As well The 4(ish) mile event was created as prizes to first man and first woman

by Robin-Mark Schols based on his there is a special prize awarded to experience of having to wear a safety the participant wearing the best 12

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helmet (in the opinion of the judges)!

If you’re up for the challenge and can design some creative headgear, they’d love to see you this year.

Entry is available online and on the night but be warned, this event sells out fast, so don’t delay and sign up today to help Brain Tumour Support.

• www.entrycentral.com/ thehillyhelmetchallenge The Hilly Helmet raises funds for Brain Tumour Support

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary Saving stray & unwanted dogs since 1958

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary is a small independent animal rescue organisation.

We are a non-destruction sanctuary for abandoned and unwanted dogs.

Our dogs are all vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, neutered (if old enough), chipped, and looking for loving new homes

OPEN DAILY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (Office Hours: 10:00-12:30 & 14:00-16:30)

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary, Priory Rd, Ascot, Berks SL5 8RJ

01344 882689 | pineridgedogs@yahoo.co.uk Registered Charity Number 256728

local news

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS FOR TROWBRIDGE MUSEUM

T

rowbridge Museum closed in July 2018, making way for the ‘Onwards and Upwards’ project, the fantastic renovation and expansion of the museum supported

by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Trowbridge Town Council, The Friends of Trowbridge Museum and others. The museum has now doubled in size by expanding up into the empty floor of Grade II listed ‘Home Mills’, above the original museum’s footprint.

The new museum tells the story of Trowbridge, and reveals the heritage of its residents through new displays featuring never before seen objects and interactive activities for all ages.

In 2019 the redevelopment journey started with designers Smith and Jones, and architects, Architecton to bring Salter’s Home Mills back to life. The museum team have since watched on as Beard Construction made their plans a reality. They

have uncovered original gnarled brickwork that has survived mill fires, and sympathetically restored the mill windows, which have flooded the space with light and made way for the innovative displays.

At the heart of the redevelopment is the newly built Learning Hub, which will enable the Learning and Outreach team to continue their outreach work within the Trowbridge community. They will develop their work with schools, the Lifelong Learning programme, hold history and craft workshops, as well as history talks. With its improved facilities and larger space, the team will be able to increase their programme and reach even more of the community. The Hub will also serve as a meeting space, available for hire to the public.

The museum is also now the home of a brand new Research Library. The library will host over 1700 books, relating to the social history of Trowbridge and the development of the woollen cloth industry in the area. A unique resource that alongside an online database on the museum website, will ensure that the town and wider region’s heritage is available to everyone.

From Saturday 22 May the museum has been open for visitors to return and discover the new museum, as well as explore the brand new exhibition space and shop featuring Trowbridge Museum products, history and craft books, and a fantastic range of gifts.

The museum features never before seen objects and activities

• trowbridgemuseum.co.uk

The Off Road Driving Course is a great gift idea!

FATHER’S DAY FUN AT DRIVE-TECH

D

rive-Tech Ltd are Skid Control, Karting and 4x4 Off Road experts. Based at Castle Combe Circuit (within easy reach of the M4 & M5) their ultimate driving experiences will help you build individual skills, increase your confidence, improve your personal safety, raise your awareness and provide white knuckle tension, all at the same time!

Any motorsport fan would love pushing their driving skills to new limits and there are options for everyone aged 10 and over – perfect for entertaining the kids during the school break, but with Father’s Day coming up, a great gift too. Their gift vouchers, starting at just £40, are open dated and valid for 18 months. A great option for dads is a 4x4 Off Road Driving Course (starting at £149). You will drive a Land Rover Discovery and their highly skilled experts will show you just what these 4×4 vehicles are capable of. They will teach you how to tackle obstacles that would be impossible for any normal vehicle guaranteeing you a thrilling off-road adventure!

For more details see the website or call their team on 01249 783010.

• drivetechltd.co.uk THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 15

local news

STUDENT STORIES

FIONA TURNBULL from Lacock Photography tells us more about former pupil, and soon to be tutor, Jane Wiltshire.

H

aving run Lacock Photography for nearly a decade, we’ve had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people over the years.

Thousands of students have passed through our doors, coming to us for a myriad of reasons; some looking to get to grips with a new camera, others wanting to improve their photography for an upcoming holiday or are keen for a unique day out in a beautiful place like Lacock.

Occasionally a student’s interest transcends that of a hobbyist and a Lacock Photography workshop is a stepping stone towards becoming a professional photographer. This is a particularly rewarding part of running our training school and we take great pride in helping individuals achieve their ambitions. One such student was Jane Wiltshire, now Jane Wiltshire CPAGB, BPE1, whose remarkable eye for aesthetics, bolstered by her early interest in film photography and successful career as a graphic designer, gave her all the attributes necessary to become not only a great photographer, but a visual artist with a distinctive voice.

During lockdown, Jane, like many of us, had the luxury of spending more time than usual in her garden.

Inspired by the wildlife, Jane invested in a pop-up hide and embarked on

Jane's surreal photographs are available to buy on her Etsy shop

"Jane’s talent has also been recognised by the photography world and she has featured in Amateur Photographer magazine" an intriguing photography project: combining still lifes of manmade objects like colourful glass vases and hand painted backdrops juxtaposed with images of the garden birds. Jane applied her expert graphic design skills and understanding of colour to make her kingfishers, blue tits and chaffinches appear perfectly at home in their unreal settings. The beautifully surreal photographs soon captured the imagination of her social media following, and Jane is now selling prints and greetings cards on her Etsy shop ‘Still Life Through a Lens’ (@ stilllifethrualens), which is well worth a visit!

Jane’s talent has also been recognised by the photography

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world and she has featured in Amateur Photographer magazine, Cotswold Life, and won several awards including Bath Architecture Photographer of the Year in 2018 in the ‘After the Georgians’ category and a still life competition for Digital Camera magazine.

Returning to Lacock Photography as a photography tutor, we are so looking forward to her brand new still life workshop, the first of which is taking place this September. If you’d like to see more of Jane’s work, please check out her Instagram at @stilllifethroughalens and for more information about her still life workshop please visit our website.

• lacockphotography.com

AUGUST 2018

// ISSUE 108

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local news

LIGHTS UP! Theatre Royal Bath is set to make a blockbuster return with their 2021 programme...

T

heatre Royal Bath has announced a packed programme of drama, comedies, thrillers, musicals and a Christmas pantomime programmed for the year ahead. Danny Moar, Director of Theatre Royal Bath, said ahead of the Theatre's reopening last month.

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“I am delighted to be able to announce an exceptional range of shows for our Lights Up season.

“Lights Up” is the announcement made backstage to the acting company and production staff by stage management indicating that the play is about to begin

or resume. They are two words that have been uttered literally thousands of times in the long history of our theatre, and they seem particularly apt now as we prepare to invite audience members to take to their seats once again at the Theatre Royal Bath. We know theatregoers are looking forward to

local news Copenhagen, starring Philip Arditti, Haydn Gwynne and Malcolm Sinclair; David Mamet's riveting Oleanna, starring Jonathan Slinger and Rosie Sheehy which returns to the Ustinov Studio prior to a West

The pizazz of the West End comes to Bath in the form of hit musicals Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s phenomenal smash hit musical about Henry VIII’s wives, SIX, returns

"Drama highlights in the season include a visit by one of the world's greatest actors, Ralph Fiennes, in the world premiere stage adaptation of T.S.Eliot's masterpiece, Four Quartets" End run; A Splinter of Ice, a new play

by Ben Brown, about the friendship between Graham Greene and Kim Philby starring Oliver Ford Davies and Stephen Boxer, and Ronald Harwood's evocative portrait of backstage life, The Dresser, starring Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly.

Thrillers range from Susan Hill's hugely acclaimed ghost story, The Woman in Black to a new adaptation of Peter James' Looking Good Dead starring Adam Woodyatt and Dan Brown's exhilarating blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code.

SIX will be coming to Theatre Royal Bath

coming back and we can’t wait to get going.”

Drama highlights in the season include a visit by one of the world's greatest actors, Ralph Fiennes, in the world premiere stage adaptation of T.S.Eliot's masterpiece, Four Quartets; Michael Frayn's multi award-winning

A wealth of comedy includes three equally hilarious productions from the UK's favourite farceurs, Mischief - The Play That Goes Wrong, Groan Ups and Magic Goes Wrong; Noël Coward's classic gem Private Lives, starring Nigel Havers and Patricia Hodge; a new stage version of the much-loved sitcom The Good Life; Told by an Idiot's acclaimed story of the most famous comedy double act that nearly was, Charlie and Stan; London Classic Theatre brings Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular, a comic tour-de-force which fuses a potent mix of farce and black comedy; locally-based, awardwinning New Old Friends perform their latest comedy thriller, Crimes, Camera, Action, and the return of one of the biggest comedy hits ever, The Play What I Wrote.

to the Theatre Royal after enjoying huge success on its first visit in Spring 2020. Traditional family pantomime returns for Christmas when Bath favourite Jon Monie stars in the best loved pantomime of them all, Cinderella.

The Ustinov Studio is presenting a vibrant Visiting Company Season of comedy, dance and drama; The Egg theatre's much feted Egg Assembly presents an exciting range of summer schools, and students from Bath Theatre Academy showcase their work both on stage and online.

Tickets for all shows in the Theatre Royal Bath’s Lights Up season can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online via the website.

• theatreroyal.org.uk Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly in The Dresser

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 19

local news Reginald D Hunter

FROME FESTIVAL RETURNS The 20th anniversary of Frome Festival sees the event come back with a Star-Lit Programme!

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 21

local news The Lightning Seeds will open the festival

opera and dance performances popping up, "flash mob" style, in the town centre on both Festival Saturdays. On Saturday the 10th, in Victoria Park, a free and fabulous Turkish extravaganza ‘Chalguh Chengi’ featuring singing, dancing, veils, swords, drums and multiple instruments, will appear courtesy of Arts Council England.

As usual, there will also be the Art Trail and the highly popular Hidden Gardens where hundreds of visitors, often from far afield, descend on the private gardens of Frome residents.

T

he Frome Festival returns this year for its 20th Anniversary special between 2 & 11 July, with an array of outdoor events and another host of star-performers. Following last year's Coronavirus cancellation, the organisers have put together a programme which virtually guarantees an exciting and Covidsafe 10-day extravaganza.

Creative Director Martin Dimery explains: "We decided to run a number of live performances on

"If all goes to plan, The Lightning Seeds will open the Festival at the Cheese and Grain on Friday 2 July."

The Ecos Amphitheatre will host performances

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the Ecos Amphitheatre, next door to the Merlin Theatre on the Frome College site. We will be installing a large roof over the stage to ensure performers are kept dry. Audiences may have to brave the elements, but it hasn't stopped Glastonbury!

Included in the Ecos /Merlin programme are performance by top class rock, jazz and fusion artists like Jonny and the Baptists, The Fabulous Red Diesel, Sonic Silents and Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra along with cult comedians Paul Foot and George Egg. The Silk Mill studios in Vicarage Street is also hosting outdoor events in their courtyard with some terrific musical names including Ian Ballamy and John Law. A new venue to the Frome Festival, Marston Park (an elegant glamping site), will be opening its gates to day and evening visitors, presenting a wide variety of musical artists performing under a canopied bar, or around a camp fire, overlooking the spectacular surrounding scenery between Frome and Tytherington.

The Festival will also host some wonderful free entertainment around town with intervention

No Frome Festival would be complete without its star names: The Government's Covid "road map" suggests all indoor venues will be able to open to capacity audiences by 21 June, just in time for the 2 July opening. If all goes to plan, The Lightning Seeds will open the The Fabulous Red Diesel

Aswad

local news Paul Foot

Rob Heron

Festival at the Cheese and Grain on Friday 2 July. They are best known for the hits ‘Life of Riley," "Marvellous’ and of course, the England football theme: ‘Three Lions’. " As the Euros will be reaching their climax, this could be the most fabulous ‘postlockdown party’, said Martin Dimery.

Also scheduled at the Cheese and Grain are the highly popular British Reggae group, Aswad.

This year's big comedy name is the great Reginald D Hunter, the American- born star of stand up and many TV programmes, who will appear at the Memorial Theatre on Friday 9 July. Look out also for the well-known comedy songwriter Mitch Benn and popular poet and performer John Hegley, both at the Masonic Hall.

The Festival will host a number of exhibitions. This year's Rook Lane Arts exhibition will

Mitch Benn

celebrate 20 years of the Frome Festival, with art work, memorabilia and film footage featuring some of the amazing acts and events since its inception in 2001. If you want to know more about the background of the festival and all the great names we've attracted over the years, then please go to the exhibition.

amongst ten of the top festivals in the UK this year. Who are we to argue?”

Tickets will soon be available from the hosting theatre or hall. All other tickets will be available from the Festival Box Office at the Cheese and Grain. In the event of further Coronavirus restrictions, some events may be cancelled or will play to reduced capacity, in which case, full refunds will be made from the point of purchase.

The Guardian recently featured the Frome Festival For tickets see the main festival website and cheeseandgain.com, and for updates follow the festival on fb.com/fromefestival • fromefestival.co.uk

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 23

food & drink

NEW HEAD CHEF AT WOOLLEY GRANGE DEAN WESTCAR, a former Head Chef at Restaurant Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park, is now heading up the kitchen brigade at Woolley Grange.

W

oolley Grange Hotel has recently welcomed a new Head Chef Dean Westcar, formerly Head Chef at Restaurant Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park. Dean was born and raised in South Africa. He enjoyed cooking as a child and, after moving to England aged fourteen, took a full time job in catering as soon as he left school.

Dean has won a number of prestigious awards throughout his career: South West Professional Chef of the Year in 2014, BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals semifinalist in 2015, the Acorn Award in 2017 (awarded to 30 leading lights of the industry aged under 30) and finalist of the Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year competition in 2017.

He has some exciting plans for the food at Woolley Grange: "I have a real passion for local, homegrown, simple unpretentious food. We are very fortunate to have the walled kitchen garden which provides an abundance of freshly grown fruit and vegetables in season plus a range of really good local food producers and suppliers. I have been working on new menus and am particularly excited to introduce the new Market Menu. This menu will change two or three times a week capitalising on what's in season in our walled garden, from our local butcher and fishmonger and from other local artisan food businesses. We will also retain our

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Dean is the new Head Chef at Woolley Grange Hotel

“We are very fortunate to have the walled kitchen garden which provides an abundance of freshly grown fruit and vegetables in season” Orangery menu offering perennial family favourites, beautifully cooked and well presented.

To celebrate Dean's arrival Woolley Grange has just launched a new Sunday lunch offer. This delicious menu features 2 courses for £25 My experience has taught me how (add an extra course for only £6), to produce well curated, local dishes a special children's Sunday lunch to a high standard, but also how for £15 plus and, for those in need, to host ‘chef's table’ style meals. I one hour of free childcare in their want to bring the same ethos to Ofsted registered crèche for children Woolley, ensuring the whole team from 12 weeks up to 8 years old. is knowledgeable and passionate The childcare must be pre-booked about our food and that I get out when booking lunch and is subject of the kitchen regularly to talk to to space availability. Sample Sunday our guests. It is really important to lunch menus can be seen on the Eat me that I get to know our locals page of the website. and regulars and understand more about what it is they are enjoying To book a Sunday lunch please call on our menus and where we can 01225 864705. improve and expand. I look forward to meeting you all."

• woolleygrangehotel.co.uk

food & drink

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 25

food & drink

seasons eat the

Keeping you in the know as to what is coming into season each month is NEIL MORTIMER from Lovejoys Wholesale...

O

ur local pubs, cafes and restaurants have been really well supported during lockdown with takeaways and outside seating. We are now well into sitting indoors again and life is feeling a lot more normal. Can I make a plea that you continue to try to eat out regularly to support these businesses as they recover from an incredibly difficult year.

Many of them source their local, seasonal produce from us so you are also helping local producers and growers and the local economy, while not having to cook for yourself!

This month we look forward to the early carrot season. It is of course everyone’s favourite vegetable with children being told that

their parents were told by their grandparents to eat them so they would be able to see in the dark!

(This story was due to the vitamins in them which keeps eyesight healthy I suspect).

a container, not in the open ground or before you know it you will find it taking over the whole herb garden!

There are different flavour mint plants available so ask for advice at your local garden centre.

These days they are not always orange! They come in many colours and sizes. Although all UK winter veg has now come to an end we can look forward to new season beetroot, which is also available in different colours. There is also a plentiful supply of local lettuce, radish, spring onions, rhubarb, spring greens, new potatoes and asparagus.

If you are an expert at foraging you could look for chickweed, I always thought it was a weed but have only recently discovered it is related to quinoa and it has cleansing and healing properties. The tender leaves can go into salads or be used as a pesto to liven up fish or chicken. Another plant which I always regarded as a weed is fat hen. It tastes similar to spinach and can be cooked in the same way. We now find that what we have always thought of as weeds in between our vegetables! Win win, happy days!

If you can grow your own veg in an allotment garden or even just a gro bag outside the back door, you will be seeing some results by now. Early new potatoes will be ready to harvest around the end of July, anyone with grandchildren or children will know the joy on their faces when they dig them up.

Neil neil@lovejoyswholesale.com

Peas and carrots must be kept @lovejoysuk watered (so they don’t get too dry) @lovejoysuk and be sure to weed around them too. If you grow your own fresh herbs • lovejoyswholesale.com remember to always put your mint in

“Can I make a plea that you continue to try to eat out regularly to support these businesses as they recover from an incredibly difficult year.”

26 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

As usual email me with any questions if you have them.

recipes

TALKING TAPAS

In the coming months we will hopefully be able to entertain family and friends once again. Tapas is a great option for al fresco get togethers - here are some mouthwatering options courtesy of FRAN STEVENS, aka The Food Wife.

PAPRIKA & LEMON CHICKEN Serves 3-4 as tapas

At the weekend my sister came to stay and having been out for tapas on Friday evening with some mummy-friends, I felt inspired to play around with some flavours and came up with a few small dishes. It was a great success and my sister and Mr FW declared them definitely blog-worthy, so here goes.

✃

This is the first of my tapas dishes.

Juicy and flavoursome, this easy marinade perks up chicken breasts and is a great addition to a tapas meal. By allowing the meat to

marinate for an hour or two, the citrus and spice permeate the flesh and you are left with succulent pieces of chicken that can be simply grilled or cooked on the barbecue.

These would also be a great filling for a wrap or to jazz up a salad.

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1½ tsp smoked paprika Zest of an unwaxed lemon Juice of ½ a lemon Pinch of salt and pepper

1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped 2 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces Method Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and cover with clingfilm/ beeswax wrap. Leave to marinate for at least an hour in the fridge.

Remove from the fridge 20 minutes before you are ready to cook.

Cook under a hot grill, turning once, for a couple of minutes each side until cooked through.

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 27

recipes clingfilm/beeswax wrap and leave to marinate in the fridge for an hour.

Cook in a hot pan for a minute or two, stirring occasionally, until just cooked through. Once cooked, squeeze over the lemon juice.

Madeira Glazed Chorizo Tapas Serves 3-4 as tapas

(sort of) patatas bravas When it comes to tapas, patatas bravas is a staple. This is a bastardised version but still really good. It’s less oily than normal and the spicy sauce is simple. I’m not going to lie, I couldn’t stop eating it… like I say, it could serve six, but we (mainly me) polished it off between three of us!

Ingredients 500g new potatoes 2 tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 heaped tsp paprika 2 roasted red peppers, finely diced Parsley, finely chopped Method Cook the potatoes in cold salted water, bring to the boil and then simmer until a knife can easily pass through them. Drain the potatoes and slice in half.

Serves 3-6 as tapas

Heat the oil in a frying pan on a medium-high heat and add the halved potatoes, allowing to sizzle and crisp for a couple of minutes.

Add the crushed garlic, paprika and chopped peppers, and turn over the potatoes and continue to cook for a couple more minutes. Scatter the dish with some fresh parsley before serving.

gambas pil pil Serves 3-4 as tapas

A tapas feast is not complete (in my humble opinion) without Gambas Pil Pil. In a restaurant these are always swimming in olive oil, beautifully pungent with the garlic and chilli. I have been restrained on the oil front, but by all means add more, I was just thinking of the calories!

Two ingredients and yet this is such a hit. It’s so simple but it does exactly what you want it to. I don’t think I can say anything else, other than try it!

Ingredients 150g chorizo (the dried kind, sweet or spicy as you wish) 3 tbsp Madeira Method Peel the dry skin from the chorizo and slice in to rounds 1cm thick.

Heat a small pan (medium heat) and place the chorizo flat, covering the base, ensuring none are overlapping.

Within a minute or so the oils from the chorizo will start to ooze out and after a couple of minutes the chorizo will be nicely bronzed on one side.

Flip each piece over and then add the Madeira. Cook for a few more minutes, until the chorizo is bronzed on both sides, the Madeira has reduced and you are left with glazed pieces of heaven. The oil is pretty good to dip bread in too…

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1-2 red chillies, finely chopped 150g raw king prawns, peeled, de-veined and scored down the back with a sharp knife Juice of half a lemon

28 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

✃

Method Combine all ingredients (except the lemon juice) in a bowl. Cover with

✃

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STYLISH SPACES

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Tanso 2 Seater Sofa, £2015, casefurniture.com

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Recycled Wool Waterproof Picnic Blanket in Stewart Muted Blue Tartan, £70, tartanblanketco.com

Large Moroccan Solar Lantern, £29.99, lights4fun.co.uk

gardens

10 Warm White LED Ultimate Flex Festoon Lights, £59.99, lights4fun.co.uk

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Bistro Patio Set, £120, cielshopinteriors.com

Seaton Lightweight Steel Fire Pit With Grate, £279.99, gardenesque.com

Pair of Hampstead Armchairs, £600, fikiliving.com THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 33

gardens

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Solar Decorative Metal Lanterns, £29, ellajames.co.uk

Complete Outdoor Kitchen, £1200, firepitsuk.co.uk 34 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

Charcoal Grey Art Deco Geometric Print Outdoor Cushion, £14.99, beanbagbazaar.co.uk

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gardens

PRIVATE WALLED GARDEN TOURS

Bowood House & Gardens reopened its doors to visitors last month and also commenced its private garden tours.

E

ntered through a ‘secret’ door, Lord and Lady Lansdowne’s private four-acre walled garden is made up of four distinct one-acre squares comprising formal borders, a picking garden, glass houses and a working kitchen garden packed with fruit and vegetables. New for 2021 is a series of guided tours by Head Gardener, David Glass. Focusing on late spring flowers, roses and the herbaceous borders, respectively, his first tour took place on 18 May with more to come on 15 June and 13 July. David has worked at Bowood for the past 13 years, so his 90-minute guided tours (for a maximum 12 people) will be packed with incredible insight and also let you put your gardening questions to him.

The already well-established Private Walled Garden Tours, led by Bowood’s team of garden guides, have also returned with monthly midweek dates available from now through to autumn.

More details, including timings and ticket pricing for Private Walled Garden Tours and the new Head

The garden comprises of four one acre squares

38 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

Enjoy a tour of Lord and Lady Lansdowne's Private Walled Garden

"New for 2021 is a series of guided tours by Head Gardener David Glass."

Gardener Tours, can be found on the website.

• The guided tours begin at 10.45am and the ticket price of £23.75 per person also includes admission to the House & Gardens. Alternatively, private groups of some 10 visitors can plan their own midweek date with Bowood.

• All guided tours must be booked in advance by contacting the Estate Office on 01249 812102 or via email: houseandgardens@bowood.org Garden lovers visiting in early June can also head to the Woodland Garden to catch the end of this year's display; the season's annual curtain call comes as the late-flowering ‘Marchioness of

Lansdowne’ emerges in its gentle pink - standing out once other plants have had their run. There are plenty more events planned at Bowood over the coming months too, including triathlons, balloon racees and a performance of David Walliams' Mr Stink. See the website for further information.

• bowood.org

UPCOMING EVENTS Bowood Triathlon: 26 & 27 June Great Balloon Race: 2-4 July Giffords Circus: 15 - 19 July Classic Ibiza: 23 & 24 July Mr Stink by David Walliams: 21 August Summer Screens Open Air Cinema: 1, 2 & 3 September Outlaw Triathlon: 12 September

...keep safe and well

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gardens

GARDEN JOBS

Here are some of the top jobs to be getting on with in the garden this month...

1. Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds. Do this on a dry day so the weeds dry out on the surface of the soil.

2. Be water-wise, especially in drought-affected areas. Gather rainwater in butts, even those connected to a greenhouse or shed can collect surprisingly large amounts of water. It's easy to do, better for your plants and it's free!

Half hardy annuals like cosmos can be planted out

Collect rain water wherever you can

watered well or they could bolt in hot, dry conditions.

with large flowers are most likely to require support.

5. Position summer hanging baskets and containers outside.

The last frosts are over so even tender plants can be planted out into their final positions.

9. Prune many spring-flowering shrubs. Deciduous shrubs that flower in late winter, spring and early summer need annual pruning to encourage strong, healthy shoots and improve flowering. See the RHS website for species specific pruning advice.

6. Mow lawns at least once a week. Growth should be at its best so regular mowing will produce a beautiful dense turf. If conditions are dry then growth will slow but continue to mow at least every 10 to 14 days to control coarse grasses and seed heads.

Pinch out tomato side shoots

3. Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes. This ensures the plant's energy goges into the growth of the main stem and cordens, and not into creating unproductive vegetation.

4. Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes. The hungry gap is over! Ensure repeat sowings to keep the supplies coming throughout the summer. Vegetables are thirsty plants so ensure they are 40 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

7. Plant out summer bedding.

It's time to plant out half hardy annuals you have grown from seed or bought from garden centres/ nurseries for a hit of summer colour.

8. Stake tall or floppy plants.

Perennials in borders often put on strong lush growth that makes them vulnerable to collapse, especially after heavy rain or strong winds.

Staking them early will give a more natural look. Tall plants and hybrids

10. Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch.

Greenhouses, whether of glass or plastic, can overheat in sunny weather. Plants can be protected from excess heat by shading and ventilation.

Stake any perennials prone to flopping over

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Little Owl © Luke Massey / 2020 Vision

wildlife

42 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

wildlife

going wild Now in its 5th year, the WILDLIFE TRUST'S 30 Days Wild campaign challenges you to complete 30 simple, fun and exciting Random Acts of Wildness every day in June...

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 43

© Chris Lawrence

wildlife

S

Take up the 30 Days Wild challenge and complete a Random Act of Wildness every day in June

The 30 Days Wild annual challenge from The Wildlife Trusts has had more than a million participants to date – a record 650,000 people took part in 2020 alone. Every year, people sign up to do a ‘random act of wildness’ every day for 30 days in June. Popular activities include listening to birdsong, taking wildlife photographs and planting seeds.

30 Days Wild is proven to boost your health, happiness and sense of connection to nature.

New for 2021 the Wildlife Trusts – a movement of 46 nature charities 44 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

across the UK – is asking everyone to kick-start their own challenge with a Big Wild Breakfast outdoors on 1 June and then keep life wild for the whole month.

The Wildlife Trusts invite everyone to see how much wildlife they can spot in just 30 minutes – it’s a breakfast bio-blitz!

REGISTER TO TAKE PART IN 30 DAYS WILD & GET A FREE: • Big Wild Breakfast nature ‘bingo’ placemat to download • Bundle of educational & fun resources • Top technical tips from wildlife webcam experts • Details on how to record your breakfast bio-blitz nature spots • Wildlife guides, how-to guides, a fun quiz event & much more If you sign up for 30 Days Wild they send you free activities to try.

There’s a pack of wild ideas with

options for schools, care homes and businesses to take part too.

Thousands of people share top tips and inspiration via the 30 Days Wild Facebook and Twitter communities; you can share your daily Random Acts of Wildness photos and wild places using the hashtag #30DaysWild on social media.

• wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild You could go on a nature hike...

© David Tipling / 2020 Vision

tart your day the wild way on Tuesday 1 June with butterflies, bagels, worms, waffles, toads and toast for the UK’s biggest nature challenge – 30 Days Wild! The Wildlife Trusts invite the nation to join the Big Wild Breakfast, a new, outdoor, celebration to kickstart the UK’s most popular nature extravaganza – 30 Days Wild.

© David Tipling / 2020 Vision

wildlife

© Matthew Roberts

TOP WILDLIFE TIPS FROM MONTY DON

RANDOM ACTS OF WILDNESS IDEAS • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Exercise outdoors Follow a bee Make an insect hotel Plant some wildflower seeds Sketch something from nature Attempt a plastic free day Go on a bug hunt Listen to some birdsong Get up early and watch the sunrise Stay up late and stargaze Go on a nature hike Identify a wildflower Walk barefoot Do some wildlife photography

• Watch a wildlife camera (wildlifetrusts.org/webcams) • Go pond dipping • Go on a mini litter pick • Hug a tree • Do a bark rub picture • Go to the beach • Splash in a puddle • Lie on the grass and look out for shapes in the clouds • Do a birdwatch & count how many different birds you see • Read a wildlife-inspired story, blog or poem • Have a picnic!

"The 30 Days Wild annual challenge from The Wildlife Trusts has had more than a million participants to date – a record 650,000 people took part in 2020 alone."

The Individuals/Family pack

"Preserving our wildlife starts at home. Gardens are not just the easiest way to watch a huge and fascinating range of wildlife but also desperately important in providing habitats for species that are otherwise under threat.

Monty Don © Marsha Arnold

...or maybe try pond dipping

Making our gardens wildlifefriendly is easy and fun - and makes a huge difference. The three most important things everyone can do are: • Stop using any insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, slug pellets or sprays. Instead of - fruitlessly - trying to kill so-called ‘pests’ encourage predators such as blackbirds, frogs and hedgehogs into your garden and they will do the work for you.

• Create plenty of cover. This includes long grass for insects and small mammals; climbers, shrubs, hedges and trees for nesting birds and piles of leaves, logs and bug ‘hotels’ for insects.

• Add some water to your garden. It does not have to be big or grand to make a huge difference. Just a small pond with marginal planting to provide cover, a shallow ‘beach’ for easy access and some stones and perhaps an old log in the water to perch on.

Dragonflies, frogs, bats and birds will love it - and so will you."

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 45

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house & home

MAKING SPACES WORK LARA WILLMORE from Axford Interiors has over 15 years in the interior design industry, working in and around West Wilts for almost ten years. Here she discusses how the pandemic has changed the way we need to use our homes...

L

ockdown has changed the way we see our homes.

Making our homes appealing and inviting places to be is more important now than ever. With restrictions easing, many companies are still encouraging working from home to some degree and in turn we have had an increase in people contacting us to discuss home offices for flexible working.

Work spaces are moving from a temporary dining table space to a more permanent location in the home. Aside from assisting with the feel of the room, ie making changes to wall colours and layouts, we have also been finding solutions to window dressings. Common issues of light glare on computer screens or privacy with roadside windows can be resolved with privacy blinds diffusing the light, or other options such as blinds that pull up from the bottom to still allow light in at the top, or shutters in their various forms.

Having more time at home has also given people the opportunity to consider the changes they would like to make in their homes in other areas. Our design consultancy service offers a free initial chat with a designer to work out how you can make the changes to suit your budget and taste. Often something as simple as changing a colour palette can really impact on how you use or feel in a room – not only making the space more practical but also making it a place you enjoy more. When your home reflects you you will want to go home to it.

48 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

Work spaces are being made a more permanent feature in the home

"Our design consultancy service offers a free initial chat with a designer to work out how you can make the changes to suit your budget and taste."

If you have a project in mind, or a problem area you are having trouble resolving, give us a call on 07749 707056 or email interiors@axfordgroup.com to see how we can help. You can also keep an eye out on our social media channels @axfordinteriors and @axfordlandscapes.

• axfordinteriors.com

Lara has 15 years' interior design experience

house & home

ROUNDABOUT THE HOUSE FIONA LEACH has recently opened a new pre-loved interiors store in the centre of Bradford on Avon.

A

Bradford on Avon shopkeeper who started selling preloved children’s clothes more than three decades ago has just taken over her fourth shop in the historic town.

Fiona Leach started Roundabout in Bath and expanded into ladieswear creating Second Hand Rose, but road layout changes in the city meant the business was no longer viable, so she decided to relocate a few miles down the road in Bradford on Avon.

It turned out to be a fortuitous move. Second Hand Rose expanded and Fiona and her sister Katie decided to open another shop with new clothing and accessories – which they named after their late mother Heather. The success of this second shop spurred Fiona on to open a man cave – Alfred’s – a clothing and men’s accessories shop run by her son Edward.

“After 33 years in the preloved business we find we have many followers who came in with their mums and now have a family of their own! I believe the reason business is booming is because recycling is now on trend ; when we started it was more or less unheard of.” says Fiona.

Whilst most people were struggling with lockdown Fiona decided to go a step further and opened her fourth shop Roundabout the House, selling new and preloved interiors.

The shop is situated on Market Street, right next door to Second Hand Rose.

"I believe the reason business is booming is because recycling is now on trend ; when we started it was more or less unheard of" Fiona Leach

Inside Roundabout the House

50 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

Roundabout the House & Second Hand Rose on Market Street

“Bradford on Avon is a very child, dog and old people friendly little town. There is always something for everyone with parks, canals, historic buildings, great restaurants and pubs and independent shops.

Parking is easy too! We are open 7 days a week and accept items for sale without an appointment

so customers can come in at any time. We sell items on a 50/50 commission.”

• secondhandroseroundabout.co.uk Heather's on Coppice Hill

And Alfred's second hand men's store

P

PROUD INDEPENDENT RETAILERS IN BRADFORD ON AVON

Roundabout the House

Second Hand Rose

Our newest store selling a great mix of new and pre-loved interior goods.

A fantastic selection of pre-loved, top end high street ladies and children’s clothing and accessories.

Market Street, Bradford on Avon BA15 1LN Tel: 01225 867707 Open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1LN Tel: 01225 867707 Open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

Heather’s

An independent retail boutique selling ladies fashions and accessories.

Coppice Hill, Bradford on Avon BA15 1JT Tel: 01225 863478 Open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

Pre-loved men’s clothing including top designer brands 37 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon BA15 1JX Tel: 01225 684688 Open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

www.secondhandroseroundabout.co.uk • fionaroundabout@gmail.com • f

house & home

NEW LOOK

Formosa has just opened a stunning new 1900sq ft showroom in Holt, between Bradford on Avon and Melksham...

L

ast month Formosa opened the doors to its brand new showroom in Holt. Their newly renovated 176sq m (almost 1900sq ft) site is beautifully laid out to best showcase their range of top quality kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, with 20 hand-picked kitchen and bathroom displays in situ.

Formosa offers a full design, supply and installation service with a friendly, knowledgable and personal approach. Owner Natasha Allin and her right hand man Nick Coombes can guide you through the process of designing and creating the room of your dreams from start to finish.

Between them they have more than 50 years' industry experience and share a passion for design. Natasha says, “I simply love helping clients design new spaces. Good design is about so much more than picking new cupboards and handles, it’s about how you need a space to work for you and your family.

It’s about storage, access, safety, convenience and aesthetics.

"Both Nick and I have worked on hundreds of homes and are always up for a challenge! We can help ensure a large space feels intimate or a smaller space feels generous. We can also help with older, sometimes awkward, properties and are equally at home with contemporary and traditional designs. Whatever you are looking for, helped by the latest in CAD design software, we can guide you seamlessly through your project.”

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Formosa is now offering bathrooms and bedrooms as well as kitchens

“Good design is about so much more than picking new cupboards and handles, it’s about how you need a space to work for you and your family.”

Formosa work with top brands like Crown Imperial, Crown Lifestyle and System Six (which includes Quantum, Aluma and Elegance). All of these companies are based, and manufacture their kitchens, in the UK. When it comes to bathrooms they stock Ideal Standard, Villeroy & Boch Express, Novellini shower enclosures and baths, Adamsez baths, HIB bathroom units, mirrors, cabinets and accessories, Aquallo and Booth & Co brassware. They can also help with flooring, stocking both Karndean vinyl flooring and Villeroy & Boch tiles. They also have a great working relationship with fellow Holt company Pietra Wood & Stone. You’ll find examples of all these companies’ ranges on display, and they also have a large range of samples to help with those all important finishing details.

Nick adds, “The new showroom is not only a great place to get inspiration for your project, but it’s also really practical. The showroom is packed full of options to help you envisage what your room will look like and we also have a dedicated area where we can compare fixtures and finishes.

With free parking outside and the coffee machine always on, it’s a great, no pressure environment that takes the stress out of taking on an important project.”

To find out more pop into the showroom for a browse (it's open Tuesday to Saturday) or call on 01225 308541. Their new website is currently under construction so find them on Facebook for the latest updates too.

• formosakbb.co.uk

house & home

There are 10 bathroom and 10 kitchen displays All the kitchens Formosa supply are UK manufactured

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 53

house & home

HOW NATURE CAN REALLY NURTURE STEPHEN GRAVER has been constructing beautiful interiors for over 30 years. Now, the company is bringing its renowned expertise and craftsmanship to your outside spaces too.

T

he link between nature and its impact on wellbeing is nothing new. In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture started a national “forest bathing” program, called Shinrin (forest) Yoku (bathing). The phrase has since been adopted as a general term for immersing yourself in nature and letting your senses soak up the atmosphere.

54 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

No surprise then that after undergoing the restrictions of the past year, the world is now opening up and celebrating the true value of the outdoors and its benefits to both our mental and physical health. May saw the RHS’s annual celebration of National Gardening Week and

Mental Health Awareness week, which this year focused on nature.

Extensive research shows the health benefits that being outside can bring. Including, a reduction in stress, an improvement in mood and fatigue reduction. It also proved that

"Every project is underpinned by outstanding craftsmanship from conception to completion"

house & home Visit Stephen Graver's studio and be inspired by what can be done with your space

and exciting ways once they start to work with his team of expert craftsmen in their award -winning studio and showroom.

Stephen Graver’s trademark is exceptional quality design and delivery of outstanding interior projects. From handmade kitchens and bathrooms, awe-inspiring garden rooms that merge your inside and outside space, beautiful bespoke home offices to full home renovations. Every project is underpinned by outstanding craftsmanship from conception to completion and backed by exceptional customer service that has kept clients returning again and again for over 30 years.

The majority of their clients come from recommendation and a visit to their unique countryside studio in makes it clear to see why.

Garden rooms don’t need planning permission, can be used all year round and built totally bespoke to your specification. If it’s something you’re considering, get in touch for an initial discussion in their awardwinning showroom.

• stephengraver.com

interacting with nature can calm the mind and that phytoncide exposure, particularly in dense forest, from trees can actually increase immunity.

Letting nature in to your living space can make a huge difference to wellbeing and mindfulness. Stephen Graver has been working with a number of clients over the past year on bringing garden rooms and outdoor living spaces to life, either for entertaining spaces, outdoor eating spaces, gyms, seating areas, bedrooms and offices. This is also the

beauty of these spaces, they can be so multi-functional and often change their use with the hours of the day, such as a quiet space to meditate in the morning to a vibrant space to welcome guests for a barbecue in the evening. They really can be designed to suit individual needs and tastes.

Based in the very pretty village of Steeple Ashton, Stephen Graver has seen a change in how receptive clients are at using the space available to them in more innovative THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 55

legal & financial

A DECLARATION OF TRUST COULD PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND FOR COHABITING COUPLES

T

om Britten, an Associate in the Private Client team at Wansbroughs Solicitors considers how cohabiting couples might benefit from a Declaration of Trust.

With the number of cohabiting couples growing faster than married couples and lone parent families, many cohabitees are still unaware of the limited legal protection available to them if their relationship were to breakdown.

One way to be clear about the extent of each cohabitee’s interest in the family home is to prepare a Declaration of Trust. This document

confirms the proportions in which two or more individuals own a Tom Britten

property and can reflect how the parties would like the net sale proceeds to be split, should the relationship breakdown.

Nobody likes to plan for failure.

However, a Declaration of Trust is a good way of ensuring that all cohabitees’ interests are protected and may help to avoid the potentially significant costs associated with a dispute if a relationship breaks down.

For more information please get in touch with us via email at wealth@wansbroughs.com.

• wansbroughs.com

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 57

legal & financial

NOBODY CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE BUT EVERYONE CAN PLAN FOR IT...

H

ave you spoken to your loved ones about Wills or Powers of Attorney? The nationally accredited Private Client team at Goughs Solicitors is here to support you.

Over lockdown, face to face conversations with loved ones were sadly very limited. So we understand that planning ahead - thinking about your future, and your families - was put on hold. But if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that the future is incredibly unpredictable and has a way of creeping up on us. Whilst we can’t do anything to change that, we can plan for it and be prepared for whatever it might send our way.

Trying to plan your legal affairs and finances for later life can include

58 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

minimising your Inheritance Tax liability, sorting out pre-paid funeral plans, setting up trusts for your family and protecting assets for future generations through a Will.

circumstances and views on life.

Nonetheless, the best advice is to plan early and have the right practical advice.

Goughs Solicitors has branches throughout Wiltshire and are happy to conduct face to face meetings at a safe distance. As well as later-life planning, the Private Client Team at Goughs Solicitors also offer expertise in the creation of wills, instructing lasting powers of attorney, the Goughs can provide specialist advice, administration of estates, tax whether it’s to help navigate the planning, trusts and deputyships. complex and sometimes daunting issues of care costs and choosing To make your appointment with a care home or understanding the Goughs Solicitors please call legal issues around Wills, Trusts 01380 726913 or head to the and Lasting Powers of Attorney. website for further information.

The strategy will be different for • goughs.co.uk each family, due to your unique Appointing Attorneys to manage your financial affairs and to make health and welfare decisions on your behalf by Lasting Powers of Attorney is also an important part of the process.

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bath rugby

TWO BATH PLAYERS IN THE LIONS SQUAD Bath Rugby will have at least two British & Irish Lions touring South Africa this summer.

A

nthony Watson and Taulupe Faletau have been named in the 2021 British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer.

The Bath duo were included amongst the 37-man squad announced by Warren Gatland last month. The 2021 tour will mark Watson’s second outing with the British & Irish Lions, having started each of the three Test matches Faletau will be going on his against New Zealand in 2017. A third Lions tour member of the senior leadership team at Bath Rugby, with 52 England “Bath and Wales Number 8 Faletau will go caps to his name, Watson has on his third tour with the Lions” appeared over 120 times for the Blue, event and meet professional players Black and White since joining in 2013. before departing for South Africa. from Bath Rugby.

The first test match takes place in Cape Town on Saturday 27 July. All Bath and Wales Number 8 Faletau The events are designed to provide Lions tour matches will be shown will go on his third tour with the young players with a chance to play live on Sky Sports.

Lions, following his debut for the competitive fixtures in a format that tourists in the 2013 final Test against is appropriate for their ages and THE LAND ROVER Australia; a game which saw the PREMIERSHIP RUGBY stage of development, all within Lions secure their first series win CUP IS BACK the spirit of rugby’s core values of since 1997.

On the Saturday 19 June, Bath Rugby teamwork, respect, enjoyment, will host their 13th Land Rover discipline and sportsmanship.

The Lions play a friendly against Premiership Rugby Cup at North Japan on 26 June at Murrayfield Dorset RFC for the first time.

Organisers expect the tournament to Anthony Watson fill up quickly, so get in touch as soon The under-11 and under-12 as you can. For more information grassroots rugby festival is part of a or to register your team, email series of nationwide events which community@bathrugby.com. provide aspiring young players the opportunity to play in a competitive • bathrugby.com

2020/2021 FIXTURES All Gallager Premiership fixtures will be shown live on BT Sport until full crowds are allowed to return.

TV 28 May 14:00 A Harlequins GP TV 5 Jun 14:00 A Gloucester Rugby GP TV 12 Jun 15:00 H Northampton Saints GP 60 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

health & wellbeing

THE WANDERLUST COLLECTION AT VITALITY DAY SPA

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any of us are experiencing wanderlust at the moment, heightened by the pandemic restricting our freedom of movement. At Vitality Day Spa they wanted to bring some adventures to life and create an opportunity to immerse yourself in exotic delights without having to leave Bradford on Avon. As such they’ve created a series of treatments that allow you to drift away to foreign climes.

It’s safe to say that our hands, feet, shoulders and neck get worked hard day in and day out. These tend to be the areas of our body that we neglect the most yet we rely heavily upon them. At Vitality Day Spa they can help you change that with their Alpine Glade treatment.

Suitable for both men and women (it’s just one of a number of great treatments that would make an ideal Father’s Day treat), Alpine Glade is a 30-minute treatment that will soften and soothe calloused hands, repair and revitalise sore, tired feet, and loosen and liberate tight, twisted, tense muscles. A brief but thoroughly effective treatment that will make you feel like a breath of fresh, crisp, mountain air. Incorporating the significant healing powers of lavender, wild mint and tea tree, Alpine Glade replenishes mental exhaustion, toughened skin and fatigued muscles.

This relaxing, cooling and refreshing treatment will transport your mind to a breath-taking, scenic mountainside, surrounded by lush green hilltops,

The Wanderlust collection will transport you to foreign climes

and flowing, pure, mineral rich streams. All for just £48.

To book call 01225 309356. The spa is open 7 days a week. For a full treatment menu you can also visit their Facebook page facebook.com/ vitalityrelaxationanddayspa.

• vitalitydayspa.co.uk

V I TA LI T Y DAY S PA A sanctuary of relaxation in Bradford On Avon

Vitality Relaxation & Day Spa provides 5* luxury treatments and therapies in a tranquil and welcoming environment, at affordable prices.

Only 100% natural and cruelty free products are stocked and used in the spa, and they are sourced from a local company.

*****IDEAL FATHER’S DAY GIF T***** ALPINE GLADE - a 30 minute treatment costing £48

Lie back, relax and enjoy this cooling, refreshing treatment that will transport your mind to a breathtaking, scenic mountainside, surrounded by lush green hilltops and pure, mineral rich, streams.

FULL TREATMENT MENU & DESCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE IN THE SPA & ON OUR

f PAGE

NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

01225 309356 • vitalitydayspa.co.uk • book@vitalitydayspa.co.uk • 8 Market St, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1LH THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE 61

puzzles

THAT’S INTERESTING...

Each month ADAM JACOT DE BOINOD, former researcher from ‘QI’ and author of The Meaning of Tingo, poses a vocabulary quiz from our local Wiltshire dialect.

CAN YOU GUESS THE CORRECT DEFINITION? 1. PEART a) impertinent b) tawny, yellow tinged with red c) furious, maddened

2. LOPPETTY

3. BOARD a) a spade’s depth in digging b) to scold, upbraid c) a roommate

62 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

a) being chubby and somewhat squat b) tetchy c) stimulating, fattening

FRENCH CRICKET Scholars argue over the origin of the word cricket. A mention of a bat and ball game called “criquet” in a village of the Pas-de-Calais occurs in a French manuscript of 1478 and the word “criquet” itself is an old French word meaning “post” or “wicket”. It’s rather fun to create the local vocabulary for the intricacies of the game.

‘Silly mid-wicket’ becomes “milieu de la foule” or and ‘square leg’ is ‘angle droite’. “Large” might be umpire’s shout to accompany his outstretched arms. “Canard” (duck) would be how the scorer would indicate the batsman’s cheap dismissal and “comment est cela?” would surely be for the bowler shouting “howzat”? Although the words remain generally English, un guichet is a wicket, un batteur est éliminé (batsman out), capté is caught and sa zone sûre is his crease. Not to mention the umpire suggesting “jambe devant guichet” for leg before wicket!

ANSWERS 1A, 2B, 3B, 4C

a) thin and lanky b) weak, out of sorts c) said of someone walking alone with their head held low

4. PROOFEY

Peter Wilkinson

M.Inst.Ch.P

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puzzles

TEA BREAK TEASERS What/who is missing from the grid?

CURRY WORDSEARCH

BALTI BHUNA BIRYANI DHANSAK DOPIAZA

JALFREZI KORMA MADRAS MAKHANI METHI

PATHIA PHAAL ROGAN JOSH TIKKA MASALA VINDALOO

WIN A £20 iTUNES VOUCHER! SUDOKU

EASY

Email your answers to these trivia questions to comp@wired-publishing.co.uk by 23.06.2021 to be in with a chance of winning a £20 iTunes voucher. Good luck!

Q1: What does Dopiaza mean?

Q2: Which region of India does Vindaloo come from?

LAST MONTH’S SOLUTIONS Wordsearch missing word: MOLE Quiz answers 1: Mustelids.

2: The Badger.

3: A holt.

4: Nocturnal.

5: The Stranglers.

64 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

Q3: From which fruit is Amchoor made?

Q4: There are two common colours of cardamom what are they?

Q5: What is the English equivalent of Atta flour?

Be sure to include your contact details so we can get in touch with you if you are our winner!

We have been trading in Wiltshire for 20 years, and are specialists in writing Wills, advising on Trusts and helping with Probate.

Lasting Power of Attorney

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A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives somebody of your choice the power to deal with your financial affairs if for any physical or mental reason you were unable to. It is the only document which gives this power but you can only complete one while in good health, so you need to act as soon as possible.

We are currently offering appointments at your home, via telephone and from our Bath office. To make an appointment please call:

01225 400060

Head Office: Redbridge House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3EW www.wtponline.co.uk | david@wtponline.co.uk | 01225 400060

last word

S

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER (AS LONG AS IT’S NOT 60)

ince the last time I sat down to commit my thoughts to paper regarding anything I find slightly interesting, the only thing of note that has happened, if you disregard the ‘C’ word, is that I have had a birthday.

It wasn’t a traditional milestone, I

a particular time on a particular day which makes you the age you are. It’s nice if people think you look younger than you are and perhaps not so great if they think you look older than you are but it doesn’t actually change anything.

Coming to realise though that you are nearer 60 than 50 has sort of

“Getting older has, honestly, never bothered me in slightest before, there is nothing you can do about it. You are the age you are.” have long since passed 21 and can, genuinely, no longer remember it. Not because I had partaken of too many beverages at The Rose & Crown in Trowbridge (my chosen hostelry of the time), although I’m sure I had a ‘few’, but just because it is so bloomin’ long ago. It’s 35 years ago… I’ll say that again…it’s thirtyfive years ago. For those of you that are mathematically challenged that means on 2 May 2021 I celebrated - if that’s the right word - my 56th birthday. This particular number means that I am nearer 60 to 50, although technically I guess I was nearer 60 the day after my 55th birthday, but who’s counting?!

Getting older has, honestly, never bothered me in slightest before, there is nothing you can do about it. You are the age you are. You might look 41 and actually be 21 or look 21 and be 41 but it doesn’t change the fact you were born at 66 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

knocked me sideways a little bit. 60 is old isn’t it? Unless of course 60 is the new 40 and life begins at that point. If it does (I have my doubts) it will be at a much slower pace than previous ages. I’m also fairly sure at some point 50 was the new 40 so I’m not entirely sure who to believe.

I have a few more grey hairs than I did but I don’t have too many signs of getting older. I still run a decent amount and cycle a bit.

If I get injured, which thankfully isn’t that often, it does take a little longer to recover but that’s to be expected I think. One of the more obvious ways that age seems to have manifested itself in my life is my sleeping habits. I am now very ready for bed and a book at 9.30pm at the latest. I might be able to stretch to 10pm if we are watching a particularly good episode of The Repair Shop on

BBC iPlayer and Steve - mechanical genius that he is - has a spectacular clockwork mouse, or similar, he has fixed up and has to do the big reveal to the person who brought it in. Other than that I am usually asleep pretty early and am up and about by around 5am latest and that’s without help from two young children who rarely show themselves until 6am-ish.

Getting older is inevitable I know I just never expected it would happen to me!!!

Phil Rockliffe