The
ISSUE 6
MAY 2014
WOKING
Journal
COMMENT Is your eco-conscience conscious?
FLOWER POWER Your wardrobe in bloom
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The
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WOKING Journa l
MAY 2014 CONTENTS
WHAT’S ON?
11 6
TREND: spring florals
12 Horsell Garden Safari
HOW ECO-CONSCIOUS ARE YOU?
8
14 News Edit 16 Puzzles 18 Recipe: Jacqueline Wise
NEXT MONTH...
We get inspired by Wimbledon in our Summer Sports Special!
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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
I
n the ever-increasing bustle of everyday life, it’s inevitable that nature’s humble power is somewhat overlooked. Whether it’s contemplating saving the planet, pondering sustainable farming or simply getting round to tending a garden, ecological issues are head-scratchingly intricate.
LILY © JULIA FROST at The Lightbox this month
So this month, we’ve taken the brave step to face our natural surroundings head-on in a bit of an eco-special. In our Comment section we consider the presence of an eco-conscience, and if it’s truly compatible with the stress of 21st century living. Our new monthly Trend page brings you pieces from the local high-street’s spring-inspired collections, to inject a little flower power into your home. Plus, there’s an article on the upcoming Horsell Garden Safari, as well as our monthly Events round-up and News Edit. Why not take our May issue into the garden, and soak up a little mother nature whilst doing the crossword? Enormous thanks as ever to our lovely local advertisers.
Sophie & Nile We’d love to hear your comments and responses to our issue: editorial@wokingjournal.co.uk
TO ADVERTISE IN THE WOKING JOURNAL, PLEASE CALL NILE ON: 07507 645757
5
OUT SECTION & ABOUT
MAY
We present our pick of the best in local events this month
PSST! SEASONS COFFEE SHOP in St Johns - winner of Ethical and Sustainable Supplier of the Year is opening a new Deli Shop this month. Check their website for details: seasonsstjohns.co.uk
THE WOKING BIKEATHON 11 MAY
JULIA FROST: STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY THE LIGHTBOX UNTIL 11 MAY
Lily © Julia Frost
An array of beautiful still life creations by the late Royal Photographic Society fellow - who sadly passed away in 2013 - continues this month at The Lightbox’s Art Fund Prize Gallery. The rich and colourful scenes of flora and plants in Julia Frost’s work are painstakingly constructed with stunning attention to detail, resulting in gloriously vivid prints. What’s more, all works featured in the exhibition are for sale, with all proceeds going to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Free Admission, Donations Welcome; thelightbox.org.uk
The annual Woking Rotary Bikeathon is back this May, with a welcome addition of a Kids’ Bikeathon too. The fun ride is the perfect opportunity to get the family outdoors and raise money for some of Woking’s brilliant local charities, including the Sam Beare Hospice, The White Lodge Centre and Crossroads Care Surrey. wokingbikeathon.co.uk
DON’T FORGET! On 22nd May, it’s your chance to vote in the European Parliamentary and Borough Elections. Visit woking.gov.uk for details 6
© Leukemia & Lymphoma Research
OUT SECTION & ABOUT
MALEFICENT
IN CINEMAS 30 MAY Angelina Jolie stars in the untold story behind Disney’s Sleeping Beauty in this brilliantly dark fantasy thriller. The film traces Meleficent’s transformation from beautiful fairy into a fearsome villainess, and the conflict that threatens to destroy her forest kingdom. Placing an irrevocable curse on the infant Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning), as Maleficent rises to become the Mistress of All Evil, she comes to realise that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the kingdom - and perhaps her own happiness as well. Frank Connor © Disney Enterprises, Inc.
RHUBARB FESTIVAL
Wisley is continuing its fascination with all things rhubarb this May, with its Taste of Wisley Rhubarb Festival running until the end of the month. Sample some delicious new sweet and savoury dishes as well as tasty homemade jam. For true rhubarb devotees, you can reserve brunch in the restaurant and even nab some scrummy recipes to take home. Adults £17.50, children £9.50 (plus normal garden admission)
TREE HUGGERS TRAIL
Bring out your inner tree-hugger at Wisley’s Tree Huggers Trail. From 23rd May, visitors are invited to follow the new trail around the garden and create their very own tree-spotting guide. Simply find your tree of choice, sketch its leaves, and jot down a few notes about its height and age. With stickers to be won, this is an odyssey for kids and eco-warriors alike!
RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, GU23 6QB, 0845 260 9000; rhs.org.uk/wisley
May
AT WISLEY
Voted Britain’s Favourite Garden in last year’s BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards, kids and adults alike will love the range of exciting events taking place in the stunning surrounds of Wisley this month.
<<<
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COMMENT
I
t’s three o’clock in the morning on a dank, rainy Thursday, and I’m facing my selfinflicted deadline head-on. The premise of this week’s Comment debate was to investigate our society’s eco-conscience, and consider how effectively we preserve the world we live in. Secretly, I’ve always considered myself a bit of an eco-warrior. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 7 years, I don’t drive, and frequently bend people’s ears about the perils of nuclear power plants. But as I sit here in the darkness, my smug self-conviction is starting to wane. I’ve sat down to commence this month’s research numerous times, but aside from a couple of hastily-read articles and half-skimmed lists, my research bank is shamefully empty. Which begs the question: if I haven’t had time to do a bit of rough research, could I really dedicate myself to being a polished eco-warrior? Because as it turns out, maintaining an ecoconscience is a terrifyingly lengthy affair. From ensuring your home runs on renewable energy and fretting about deforestation, to panicking about air miles and protecting pandas, it’s an allconsuming issue on an intimidating global scale. I suppose what’s really needed is a 21st century approach to modern ecological issues, because standing outside in the rain with a sad-looking banner is no-one’s idea of a good time. I’d love to believe that I could take on the world’s problems, but considering that I can’t find a couple of hours to scrape together some statistics, I don’t think I’ll be donning my Superwoman cape any
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Is your ecotime soon. So instead of taking on the world, here are 5 ideas for improving your own ecoconscience on a manageable scale: 1. Embrace the Internet It’s not only home to a wealth of research (or so I’m told by people who don’t shirk their journalistic responsibilities), but it’s a fantastic platform to make your voice heard. Write, blog, or even vlog if you’re a true 21st century techie. 2. Vote Voting for a political party whose ecological ideas are harmonious with your own is a tensecond way to safeguard our planet’s future. 3. Recycle We generate 177 million tonnes of waste in England, but worse still is the heinous amount of methane it produces. Take a little time and get to know your bins. 4. Ditch the car 20% of car journeys are less than 1 mile. Pop on some trainers and grab your bike – it’ll be a quicker, cheaper and healthier journey. 5. Buy local produce Reduce your air-miles and support local vendors in one fell swoop. Sure, changing the world is a bit of a tall order, but making a small change to your family’s routine isn’t. An enormous part of preserving our planet’s future is about educating children and ensuring we cultivate their inner ecoconsciences. Whether it’s whisking them off to a local fruit and veg vendor or pestering them to turn off the lights, take a moment to improve your small-scale eco habits, and the world will surely be a better place for it.
COMMENT
-conscience
I
conscious?
t happens more than you might think. You wake up in the middle of the night, perspiring, bleary-eyed, crippled with guilt. The filament in your bedside lamp is blaring white-hot. It’s been doing so since you fell asleep and that was hours ago. Out there somewhere, a polar bear is weeping. The ice caps are melting into a slushy wasteland. Seas will rise. Food prices will soar. There will be fighting anarchy in the street. Facts and figures heralding the doom of our species race across your mind like ticker tape.
Number of undernourished people in the world right now: 891,741,065. Tons of food wasted around the world today: 270,307. 31 million football fields of rainforest cut down each year. You toss and turn, contemplating the enormity of the universe: “How many Albert Halls would it take to fill the hole in the Ozone layer?” But inevitably, Google provides inadequate answers to your questions. So you curl up tighter than ever. You flick the switch and go back to sleep. Fear not. The good news is that you’re not alone. The fact is that modern life makes it so easy to be ludicrously wasteful. I leave lights on and TVs blaring on a daily basis. I’m not proud of it, but hey – it’s not easy being green, right? Since when
did everything come shrouded in plastic, moved over land and sea from far-flung sweatshops in Asia for our selfish enjoyment? With such depressing statistics on offer about the way the world is heading, it’s a wonder we get out of bed in the morning. Living ethically comes down to one’s own guilt-management. Knowing that something destined for the landfill has been repurposed and reinvigorated with a new and meaningful role – be it secondhand furniture from your local Freecycle group or resurrecting a long-forsaken tub of leftovers - feels pretty darn special. Eating food in spite of its questionable covering of mould, or drinking milk past the sell-by-date is to the 21st century what the punk movement was to the 70s. So-called ‘Freegans’ who fill their fridges with the contents of supermarket bins reap a double victory – living off the back of our consumerist lifestyles without being beholden to it. It’s living off the land for the modern age. But if you can’t do the big things, the small things matter just as much, so long as they make you happy. Making the very best use of things that we buy is above and beyond the greatest way of making small changes to the way we live. Not everyone can go to the extremes of ethical living – but those who feel good about their lives will surely sleep the most soundly at night.
How important is ecology to you? Send us your thoughts at: editorial@wokingjournal.co.uk
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TREND
It’s Spring Marks & Spencer Sofa 61 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3EB; marksandspencer.com
In our new page, we display our favourite pieces from the local area.You might not be able to find them in Woking, but rest assured they’re little more than a stone’s throw or a quick click away. This month, we’re frolicking in florals and revelling in nature.
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Radley Bag yourself a summer beauty with this coral tote from Radley. £199, House of Fraser, 105-111 High Street , Guildford; radley.co.uk
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1. Bright Daisies Quilted MakeUp Bag £16, Cath Kidston 4-18 Chertsey Street, Guildford; cathkidston.com 2. Flower Alice Band £19, Accessorize, Peacocks Shopping Centre, Woking; uk.accessorize.com 3. Floral Plimsolls £20; asos.com 4. Cakes In Bloom by Peggy Porschen £25, Waterstones, Peacocks Shopping Centre, Woking; waterstones.com - Published 22 May by Quadrille 5. Cream Floral Strap Watch £25, Oasis, Debenhams, Peacocks Shopping Centre, Woking; oasis-stores.com
FEATURE
r e w o l f
POWER
FEELING GREEN-FINGERED? WE CATCH UP WITH WOKING’S RESIDENT HORTICULTURALISTS AHEAD OF THE 12TH ANNUAL HORSELL GARDEN SAFARI In our eco-special edition, we thought it would be impossible to overlook the twelfth annual Horsell Garden Safari in June. Sure enough, it’s that time of year when Horsell’s green-thumbed residents throw open their gates and display the fruits of their gardening labours. Each garden will be marked by coloured balloons, and range from petite tucked-away courtyards to grand open spaces, so there’s sure to be something to tickle your fancy. With plenty of horticultural variety and local treasures to be discovered, it’s guaranteed to be an interesting and friendly weekend – perfect fodder to inspire your own gardens this summer! To help guide intrepid safari explorers, a schedule can be purchased to display exactly where each beautiful Horsell garden can be found. Last year, 26 gardens took part in the showcase, and organisers hope to hit a similar target this year. That’s a whole lot to see in just one day, so we recommend setting aside the weekend and absorbing as much as possible. 12
If the gardens aren’t enough to tempt you, then the promise of old-fashioned lemonade, tea and cakes just might. There will also be plants for sale, alongside scrumptious jams and preserves – the perfect accompaniment to a little weekend home-baking. What’s more, the money raised from the event will go towards the refurbishment of Horsell Village Hall, so it’s a great way to support the local community whilst celebrating the very best gardens that Horsell has to offer. If you feel inspired to give your own garden a little extra love, whether it’s tending to a pesky patch in the corner or a complete renovation, then make sure you peruse this issue for our trusted local gardeners.
Fingers crossed for plenty of sunshine and a memorable weekend! The Horsell Garden Safari will take place on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June. Schedules are available to purchase for £7 from Needle and Thread or Spar on Horsell High Street. Children can attend for free.
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tweets
Bulgogi ... Proper Korean in depths of Woking industrial estate.
@getsurrey A petition calling for help to find a #Woking music venue will be submitted to @wokingcouncil. Where should it be?
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Exhibit at the
#Woking Food & Drink Festival,
@SurreyHeritage Concert on 8 May at Christ Church Woking to commemorate 70th anniversary of death of writer & suffragette Ethel Smyth.
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NEWS EDIT
PRINCE GEORGE
GOING UP
GOING DOWN
The world’s most beloved baby has successfully wooed Australia. It’s all in the cheeks.
VICTORIA COREN
She’s made history by becoming the first twotime winner of one of poker’s most prestigious tournaments, bagging herself a tidy £391,932 in the process. Not bad for a week in San Remo…
RUNNING
As marathon season gets underway, it’s time to embrace the infectious running bug once more.
THE AGE OF BRITAIN’S YOUNGEST PARENTS They’re 12. Seriously.
Image Credits: Getty Images, Hasegawa Takashi via Flickr,
DAVID MOYES
It’s been something of a bad month for the shamed Man-United manager, whose marching orders supposedly reached the headlines before reaching him. Ouch.
Every month we take a peek at what’s climbing the ranks and who’s taking a tumble, in our essential guide of what’s hot and what’s not...
LENT
Bye-bye soul-crushing restraint. Hello chocolate bunnies…
The
WOKING Journa l
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MAY 25th
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PUZZLES
Puzzles Check our
website for April’s
SUDOKU
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A C R O S S
1. Rational (10) 6. Outline, plan (5) 8. Retiring host of The Late Show, surname (9) 9. Object, thing (4) 10. Commotion (5) 12. Very, mega (4) 14. Develop (6) 18. Eight-armed mollusc (7) 20. Pronoun for people (3) 22. Belonging to me (2)
23. Smallest particle (4) 24. Occasionally (9) 26. Atomic number 78 (8) 27. Launch, fling (8) 30. Completely removed (10) 33. Morning acronym (2) 34. Consumed (3) 36. Destroy, ruin (9) 37. Sing music to someone (8)
CROSSWORD
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D O W N 1. Ludicrous (10) 2. Hottest season (6) 3. Character, personality (6) 4. Bag of gas; birthday decoration (7) 5. American Visa acronym (4) 6. Fantasy (5) 7. Wafer, shaving (5) 11. Untruth (3) 13. Guess, predict (8) 15. Environmentally friendly, green (3)
17. Place for exercise (3) 19. Basic (6) 20. Stinging insect (4) 21. Tex-Mex wrap (6) 22. Statue, building (8) 25. Indonesian island (4) 27. Pandemonium (5) 28. President of Russia (5) 29. Commerce (5) 31. Plunge (4) 32. Money in hand (4) 35. Alternatively (2) 17
FOOD & DRINK
Lemon and Elderflower Buttercream Sponge Cake JACQUELINE WISE Local Cordon Bleu chef and events caterer shares her recipe of the month... This month I want to share one of my favourite cake recipes; a delicious fruity and floral sponge full of flavour. This is a really easy bake so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to give it a try - your friends and family will be impressed!
1 Preheat oven to 180 degrees, grease and line
two 7 inch round cake tins. Cream 200g butter, sugar and zest of 2 lemons with electric mixer, add eggs and mix.
2 Add 2 tbsp elderflower cordial and flour, mix
until just combined. Split the batter between the two cake tins, bake for 20 minutes or until risen and golden brown.
3 Combine juice of one lemon and one table
spoon elderflower cordial, brush on to hot cakes. Leave to sink in for 5 minutes then remove cakes from tin and cool on a wire rack.
4 Using mixer on a slow speed combine 50g
butter, 2 tbsp elderflower cordial, and juice one lemon with 200g icing sugar, add a little water if needed so icing is spreadable consistency.
5 Spread the butter icing onto one half of the
sponge (use a hot pallet knife to make this easier) and place the other half on top. Dust with icing sugar and serve.
INGREDIENTS 2 Lemons 6 tbsp Elderflower Cordial 4 Free Range Eggs 250g Softened butter 200g Self-Raising Flour 200g Caster Sugar 200g Icing Sugar 250g Fondant Icing (optional) 50g Apricot Jam Option: Instead of dusting with icing sugar, cover in fondant. Roll out the fondant icing to 11inch circle, heat the jam in a pan with a splash of water, whisk until smooth. Brush all over cake. Carefully place icing over cake and firm down, cut off excess icing, decorate with fresh elderflower and ribbon. WWW.JACQUELINEWISECHEF.CO.UK Follow Jacqueline on Twitter @Jacquelinewise1 or Facebook Jacqueline Wise Chef
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Š George Hodan