Ipswich24 May 2023

What’s on at the Felixstowe Spa this May

entertainment on the coast

Felixstowe’s Spa Pavilion Theatre recently unveiled their new-look outdoor Terrace complete with newly-laid ‘turf’, and planters spilling over with flowers, this seafront sun-trap couldn’t be more inviting!

The benches and cushioned sofas are the perfect place to relax with drinks or ice cream, and watch the world go by. All food from The Terrace menu is served in takeaway boxes, so can be enjoyed in the Spa’s outdoor seating area, or taken away. There’s also an extensive menu served in the

upstairs Lounge, for those who prefer a sit-down meal at a window table with panoramic sea views.

The month of May is expected to be very busy at The Spa. On Sunday 7th May, the Felixstowe Car Rally will see the prom packed with people, so The Lounge and Terrace will be open for food all day.

The following Saturday (13th May), Showaddywaddy themselves will be performing on the Spa stage! Their 50th Anniversary show will be dynamic and uplifting, featuring all their greatest hits, many of which reached number one in the pop charts across Europe. So, book now, to hear all your favourites performed live!

On Saturday 20th May, it’s ‘MJ: The Legacy –Starring CJ’. This is an exceptionally authentic, world class Tribute to Michael Jackson, which presents you with an immersive theatrical experience – complete with stunning effects and choreography from start to finish.

Tickets for all shows are available from the Spa Box Office: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-4pm in person or by calling 01394 284962. You can also select and book seats online, 24/7, at www.fxspa.co.uk

For another way to support the Spa and enjoy the panoramic sea views, their café, bars & restaurant are now open from 9am to 5pm every day. Ice

reservation advised on 01394 336336. You can follow the Spa Pavilion on Facebook/ Instagram, for all the latest news and show updates. Alternatively, you can sign up to their email newsletter at www.fxspa.co.uk

INSIDE THIS MONTH MAY

Events Diary

A feast of fun at VW Festival

n Alive & V-Dubbin Festival will be at Haughley Park, Suffolk from Thursday 8th until Sun 11th June 2023.

Alive & V-Dubbin Festival is an affordable family friendly Volkswagen Festival were everyone is welcome with loads to do for all the family.

With car displays and competitions on the Friday, Anything Goes vehicle display on the Saturday and Show & Shine on Sunday there is so much to get those petrol heads excited.

Have a rummage Autojumble or take a look at Bike Show & Shine from the Norfolk Suffolk Retro Riderz.

There will be three Music Areas with something to suit all tastes on the Main Stage, Acoustic Stage or BugBeats DJ Tent.

There is plenty to keep the children entertained too in the Kids Zone. Face painting, bouncy castles, a tot’s tent and even a Lego tent, there is so much to do it will be hard to know where to start.

Fancy trying something different? Then have a go at Archery or Axe Throwing, or why not try Body Zorb or a DJ Workshop?

If you prefer a slower pace then there’s the Charge & Chill Area, take a woodland walk or maybe do one of the craft workshops. And, with beer tents and quality food stalls you won’t go hungry either as you browse the great trade stands. Day tickets are available or why not make a whole weekend of it with three-night camping tickets and Bell Tent hire available. There’s so much going on for the whole family, so put the date in your diary and Alive & V-Dubbin look forward to seeing you there… For more information visit www.aliveandvdubbin.co.uk

Advanced priced tickets are on sale until 31st May.

There will be plenty of day tickets, and camping in quieter and general areas will be available on the gate.

The Suffolk Show THE COUNTY’S BIGGEST DAY OUT

The Suffolk Show, will be opening its gates to thousands of visitors on Wednesday 31st May and Thursday 1st June. With new Show Director John Taylor at the helm, this year’s event is set to be bursting with exciting attractions, new displays and free activities for the whole family to enjoy.

The Suffolk Show will be hosting a huge celebration of all that makes our county great – including rare breed animals, action-packed sports, mighty military and fantastic food. Last year the Suffolk Show returned to a recordbreaking crowd of over 97,000 visitors, roaring back after a two-year break during the Covid pandemic.

This year, farming and agriculture will be at the heart of the Show, aiming to shine a light on the county’s pivotal role in growing and harvesting food. At every entrance, visitors will be greeted with mighty farm machinery, futuristic robot technology and examples of modern farming, with a chance to see the enormous pea viner machines in action in the Farming Live Area. Elsewhere, visitors can meet the animals in the Farm Discovery Zone, sample local produce and watch live chef demonstrations in the Adnams

Food and Drink Experience, get the adrenaline pumping in the Sports Zone, try interactive games in the Military Zone, feel inspired in the Glasswells Flower and Garden Show, and shop ‘til you drop on Dummett Copp Fifth Avenue. There are 12 competition rings around the 300acre Suffolk Show site, each with a packed schedule of entertainment. Highlights this year include the Shetland Pony Grand National and hilarious Mascot Derby in the President’s Ring, meanwhile in the Collins Grand Ring, RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and the Red Devils Army Parachute Display Team expect to be dropping in to wow the crowds once again on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

John Taylor, the new Suffolk Show Director, said, “The Suffolk Show offers something really special – it’s a chance to shout about all the brilliant things happening in every corner of our county, and to be proud of our farming tradition, growing food for the nation.

“We appreciate that people are counting the pennies this year and are looking for highquality, action-packed activities that will keep the whole family entertained all day. That’s why we’re pleased to retain the same early-bird ticket price as last year, under 15s once again go free, our car parks are free, and we’re proud to offer hundreds of things to see and do for free once you’re through the gates.

“I’m thrilled to be taking the reins as Show Director this year, and the team and I are very excited to mark 100 days until gates open once more at Trinity Park in Ipswich. We’re all working hard to put on a fantastic Show and we can’t wait to welcome visitors.”

This year, early-bird tickets are held at 2022 prices (£28.50 per adult) while young people aged 15 to 18 are £9.50 and children under 15 go free. Parking is also free again this year. Tickets are always cheapest online, for more information or to book now visit: www.suffolkshow.co.uk/ buytickets.

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

Ipswich Croquet Club (ICC) has moved to its brand new purpose built facility in Bucklesham Road, IP10 0AA (what3words /// waitress.escorting.landlords.) and is actively recruiting new members.

Croquet is one of the few sports of genuine equality – age, gender and background. It is a sport of tactics and accuracy rather than physical strength which makes it ideal for the whole family. As an outdoor activity it is highly rated as good for both physical and mental wellbeing. Croquet can be played either socially or competitively with great enjoyment so why not give it a go. ICC holds free taster sessions between 10am and 12pm on Saturdays. A club member is on hand to welcome and instruct if needed.

All equipment is provided however players must provide their own flatsoled shoes. No heels are allowed on the courts.

Contact: croquetclub.ipswich@gmail.com

Website: www.ipswichcroquetclub.com

What’s On in May at Stonham Barns Park

Take a visit to Stonham Barns Park during May where you will find something for the whole family to enjoy.

Events in the showground include Stonham Motorcycle Show on Sunday 7th for motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere. Sunday 14th Spring Break Hot Rods & Custom Kulture for everyone with an interest in rods, bikes, yanks and ‘kustom kulture’. Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st enjoy the Steam & Vintage Show, with a gathering of historic traction engines, steam rollers, tractors, plus lots more. Friday 26th to Sunday 29th, a weekend of Ska, Skins & Scooters bringing you the best bands on the scooter scene along with 100’s of scooters from around the country.

In The Aspal Theatre, The Barn and Legends Bar there is live music from Mister Pink, Logan Paul Murphy and Jive Aces plus open mic afternoons and Bandeoke.

Every Sunday Stonham Car Boot, see if you can find a bargain. Then every Thursday take your bike along to Stonham Bike Nights. Other activities include the Owl Sanctuary which has over 90 birds of prey, meerkats and red squirrels. Teapot Pottery with beautiful handcrafted teapots for sale or spend a few hours painting your own. The Golf Park which has a variety of golfing activities. Fishing lakes. Retail village with over 40 shops and businesses selling gifts, crafts, books, pictures & frames, paddle

boards, crystals, clothes, toys, furniture, hair & beauty treatments, homewares, and lots more. You will also find a post office and a convenience store.

park. You can choose to take your own tent, caravan, or motorhome, hire a fully furnished luxury bell tent, a cosy cabin made for two or a fully furnished holiday home. The holiday park has full camping facilities along with a bar and clubhouse which is open for anyone to use. If you want to stay at Stonham Barns Park again and again, why not purchase your very own luxury holiday home to use 11 months of the year. This is a ‘dog friendly’ site and open seven days a week. Whether you stay in the holiday park or visit for the day, Stonham Barns Park always has lots to keep you busy. For more information visit: www.stonhambarns.co.uk or their social media.

For the younger ones in your family there is a FREE bouncy pillow to let them to jump and play on or they can enjoy a train ride and visit the traditional fairground.

If you are feeling hungry during your visit, there are two great places to eat, Café 24 with its fabulous home cooked food and the Teapot Tea Room with speciality tea and coffee and delicious homemade cakes and pastries. With so much to do why not stay in the holiday

Moments Coffee Shop opens in Ipswich Town Hall

Independent Suffolk charity, St Elizabeth Hospice has officially unveiled its new Moments Coffee Shop at Ipswich Town Hall. Retail Area Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, Andrea Wedgwood, said, “It is fantastic to bring our Moments Coffee Shop brand to central Ipswich alongside Ipswich Borough Council, and we thank them for their support.

“St Elizabeth Hospice’s work is at the heart of the community throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney. Opening a third Moments Coffee Shop means we can engage further with the community who give us amazing support every year,

while also raising vital funds for our services which care for patients and their families during difficult times in their lives.”

Moments Coffee Shop at Ipswich Town Hall follows the success of the hospice’s Moments Coffee Shops in Stowmarket and at Heath Road, Ipswich.

Similar to the Moments Coffee Shops at Stowmarket and Heath Road, Moments Coffee Shop at Ipswich Town Hall will serve a

GETTING CRAFTY

Hopefully by now the weather will have improved and we can look forward to the three bank holidays which we have this month!

At Craftability they now have a huge range of ‘Groovi’ Parchment grids and stencils. Along with paper and vellum and a variety of tools these are the perfect pieces of equipment to start discovering the world of parchment crafts. They are all at a competitive price so what are you waiting for? Come in a get a bargain.

Have you ever tried to measure yourself when making your own clothes? We all know how difficult it is without help from a friend. Well, Craftability now have a ‘body’ tape measure which allows you to measure yourself without help.

They have a new range of fusible fleece in stock for those who enjoy making bags and purses. This, along with a huge choice of interfacings and stiffeners, means that you should be able to find the right weight to complete all your projects.

If you are looking for complete kits to enjoy or give a s a gift, Craftability now have a new selection of very reasonably priced ones available. These offer choices which include macrame, paper flower making, mosaic, veneer work, glass paining and much more.

Don’t forget that the workshops are now booking too. Craftability hope to see you soon and remind you that their opening times are 9.30 – 4.00pm Monday to Saturday.

familiar coffee shop favourites, including jacket potatoes, toasties, cakes and a range of hot beverages. With all funds raised going towards St Elizabeth Hospice, which every year delivers free care to over 3,000 people and their families in East Suffolk through to Great Yarmouth and Waveney living with a progressive or life-limiting illness.

The first customers at Moments Coffee Shop, Ipswich Town Hall, were Gerald and Veronica Jobson. Gerald said, “We heard about Moments opening at the Town Hall in the paper so we were keen

to come down. We really like the surroundings and being in the town centre, it is an ideal place to come while shopping.

“The food, drink and service has been lovely. We will certainly be coming back very soon. It so lovely to be able to support a local charity, like St Elizabeth Hospice, while enjoying a cup of coffee.”

To learn about volunteering opportunities at Moments Coffee Shop, Ipswich Town Hall, please email volunteer@ stelizabethhospice.org.uk

• Find out more about Moments Coffee Shop by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/moments-coffee-shop/.

Campaign to save pirate ship

A Charity which maintains the legendary former Radio Caroline pirate radio ship Ross Revenge has launched an ambitious Crowdfunder campaign to fund a move to dry dock the vessel for essential repairs to ensure it’s survival.

The registered charity MV Ross Revenge (Home of Radio Caroline) aims to raise £125k, to add to the £57k already raised, this will total approximately half the amount required to approach the National Lottery for additional funding to carry out initial surveys of the ship in dry dock - paint the hull and superstructure, and to carry out necessary repairs.

“Ross Revenge is a remarkable ship with a fascinating fishing and broadcasting history,” said Radio Caroline station manager and charity chairman Peter Moore. “One of only a couple of surviving British super trawlers, that once plied their trade in the North Atlantic, but were wiped out when the fishing industry went into steep decline in the late 1970s.

“It is the only remaining pirate radio ship still afloat, having avoided the cutter’s torch when sent to the breaker’s yard to become the floating broadcast base for Radio Caroline in 1983.”

The ship has endured many dramas during it’s time on the North Sea, including an armed raid by Dutch Authorities in 1989 and the 300ft radio mast falling overboard after the 1987 hurricane - nearly taking the ship down with it. Ross Revenge is also one of only a few ships to survive grounding on the notorious Goodwin Sands, when it’s anchor chain broke during a storm in 1991. It is now moored on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex and still used for regular offshore broadcasts. It is maintained by volunteers and is on the National Historic Ships Register.

“The Ross Revenge has played a significant role in the history of broadcasting in the UK,” said Peter Moore. “We have launched this Crowdfunder Campaign to ensure that the ship can continue to operate and provide a platform for independent radio broadcasting and be of interest to future generations, on which our future will depend.

“Our future plans to turn the forepeak area of the ship into an interactive fishing heritage centre will provide a hub for learning about maritime engineering and the ship’s deep sea fishing history.”

The Crowdfunder campaign started at 10am on Good Friday and runs for six weeks. To support the campaign visit the Crowdfunder campaign page for MV Ross Revenge (Home of Radio Caroline) at rossrevenge.com

Great Year Ahead for the Middy

2023 promises a great season for the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway with progress on their two major projects, track laying on the extension to Aspall Halt and the restoration of Hudswell Clarke no.1604, their own locomotive. The railway will also be running a full season of events in the summer steaming calendar.

All of which means the Middy needs more volunteers for this year’s activities. Whenever steam trains are running, all the railway’s usual facilities need to be open too. As one of the major tourist venues in Suffolk, Brockford Station obviously must have ticket office, platform and train staff. In addition, the railway needs staff to run Infrastructure and admin as well as the general engineering and maintenance of vehicles and the site.

The main ingredients for volunteers is enthusiasm and availability - training can be given for any of the roles requiring extra skills. During 2023 the Middy will be open every Sunday and Bank Holiday from 30th April to 3rd September with special events on 7th & 8th May and 28th & 29th May and, of course, Santa Specials 2nd to 17th December

Anyone interested please visit the MSLR web site www.mslr.org.uk/join us and complete the Volunteer Enquiry Form or contact the MSLR Volunteer Co-ordinator, David Clayton on volunteering@mslr.org.uk

Free Harness Fitting

WIN: Tickets to Forest Live!

Jack Savoretti has announced dates as part of Forest Live 2023, the summer concert series presented by Forestry England. Since his initial breakthrough with BBC Radio 2 airplay in 2006, a succession of crafted albums has built the Anglo-Italian singer-songwriter an impressive career. ‘Written in Scars’ (2014) and ‘Sleep No More’ (2016) confirmed his growing popularity with gold-selling status and these were superseded by No 1 albums ‘Singing To Strangers’ (2019) and ‘Europiana’ (2021) which spawned ‘Europiana Encore’, a special extended edition released this year. A number of his songs have featured in TV and film such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘One Tree Hill’. Jack Savoretti last appeared as part of Forest Live in 2019.

Jack Savoretti will be at Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk on Sunday 18 June. Tickets are available from www.forestryengland.uk/music

Forest Live is a major outdoor live music series presented by Forestry England. Forest Live 2023 takes place between 8th -18th June and

Thai Elephant encounters, adventure & beaches

Combining the camp idea of African national parks with the Thai tropical rainforest, Elephant Hills are Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camps and highly recommended.

Tucked away in the jungle of Khao Sak National Park are the Elephant Camp and floating Rainforest Camp. Both are within easy reach of numerous beach resorts, making it easy to detour into the wilderness.

In addition, the newly opened Bush Camp Chaing Mai in Northern Thailand provides another option for those in search of a little adventure, and Elephants. Set in a remote area beside the Ping River, the Bush Camp gives you a taste of Northern Thailand’s fascinating nature and culture.

Choose from two to four day tours which all include a variety of activities, such as simple forest walks or lengthy treks, scenic canoe or longtail boat trips. The highlight of any stay at Elephant Hills is the unforgettable Elephant Experience, where you ethically interact with these magical beasts. You’ll get up close with these gentle giants, watch them enjoy an extensive bath, before preparing and feeding them one of their daily meals. The elephants are then released back into their large free-roaming park area, where you can watch them play, interact and graze in their natural habitat.

At each camp you’re accommodated in luxury glamping tents, made from waterproof canvas and fully equipped with all the amenities you would find in a good hotel.

You can combine Elephant Hills with lots of beach resorts including Phuket, Koh Samui, Hua Hin and Krabi, Thailand’s capital city Bangkok and the Northern areas of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Deben Travel can tailor-make your perfect holiday.

Getting there

Non-stop flights from the UK to Bangkok take around 11 hours

In-direct flights via Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha can save money

A visa is only required for stays over 30 days

Local time is GMT +7 hours

Best time to go?

Thailand’s climate and rainfall varies. Elephant Hills recommend May to October although they are open year-round.

Special offer for June 2023

Five nights Phuket, one night Elephant Hills, five nights Koh Samui with flights 5* hotels with breakfast and all transfers from £1825 per person!

• If you would like Deben Travel to tailor-make your dream holiday email team@ debentravel.co.uk, call 01394 615620 or pop in to 25 The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge.

introduces forests to new audiences in unique, natural woodland arenas around the country. Over two million people have attended a Forest Live gig in the last twenty-two years, experiencing great music and supporting the nation’s forests when buying a ticket. Going to a concert helps Forestry England create beautiful places for people to enjoy, run important conservation projects and keep growing trees. Last year they planted some 6.8 million trees, caring for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests sustainably and welcoming 363 million visits annually. Forest Live in this region takes place in Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk and this year’s headline acts are: Tom Grennan + special guest Matilda Mann and support Liv Dawson – Thursday 15th June; Anne-Marie + guests – Friday 16th June; Paul Weller + special guests Far From Saints and support Seb Lowe – Saturday 17th June; Jack Savoretti + special guest Natalie Imbruglia – Sunday 18th June. For further info/tickets: www.forestryengland.uk/music — COMPETITION —

Ipswich24 has got a pair of tickets to see Jack Savoretti at Thetford Forest on 18th June. To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, just send your answer to the following question along with your name, address and a day time telephone number to: Jack Savoretti Competition, Ipswich24, 12A Britannia Road, Ipswich, IP4 4PE or you can enter online at www.ipswich24. co.uk. The closing date for entries is Wednesday 31st May 2023. Winning tickets are complimentary and cannot be resold. In the unlikely event the concert is cancelled there is no alternative prize.

To stand the chance of winning a pair of tickets to see the Jack Savoretti concert just tell us which of the following is a Jack Savoretti classic track: a) Moonlight; b) Candlelight; c) Headlight.

Nuturing Nature in the Neighbourhood

Ipswich Oddfellows is taking part in Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s “Next-door Nature” project which is bringing communities together to help nature flourish where they live and work.

The aim of the project is to leave a lasting natural legacy in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Suffolk Wildlife Trust will provide people with the advice and support they need to help nature on their doorstep.

The Oddfellows Hall in High Street has a large rear garden and is the perfect place for their members to get involved with the project and enhance it for the benefit of nature. Hedgehogs are in serious trouble and a simple step is to make a small hole in the base of the back gate to allow hedgehogs access. At Oddfellows they also plan to scarify the lawn and plant a strip of wild flowers seeds to encourage bees and other insects.

The Branch is keen for their local community (High Street) to get involved too. Having bat boxes is one idea but there isn’t a suitable tree. Maybe one of the neighbours can help? Two bird boxes made by members are set to be put up and a member has offered some logs for a log pile.

The Branch is also taking part in the “Save Our Swift” project and will be putting up swift boxes, with the hope that we can set up a neighbourhood swift project.

If there are any readers who would like to get involved in their own community then please contact Suffolk Wildlife Trust ipswich.learning@ suffolkwildlifetrust.org or phone 01473 890089

However, if you don’t have a garden; then come and help in the Oddfellow’s garden!

If you live in High Street and want to get involved in the project, then don’t hesitate to contact teresa.marrable@oddfellows.co.uk or leave a message on 01473 251867

Hospice announces WILLS MONTH

Independent Suffolk charity St Elizabeth Hospice has announced the return of its annual Wills Month, an initiative which encourages people to consider the distribution of their estate after their death. Research shows 54% of people of UK adults are currently without a Will and this annual initiative by St Elizabeth Hospice is calling on people to write or update their Will this May.

St Elizabeth Hospice’s Wills month has been held annually since 2016, raising more than £88,175 for the hospice during this time. This year a number of local solicitors will once again be supporting Wills Month, with further details available on St Elizabeth Hospice’s website

Lynn Maskell, Legacy Officer at St Elizabeth Hospice, said, “St Elizabeth Hospice’s annual Wills Month provides a great opportunity to complete a simple process which provides great peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

“If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to St Elizabeth Hospice, no matter what size, every penny makes a real difference to the hospice, as we continue to develop and evolve our services to support more local people and their families, throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, during difficult times in their lives.”

Every year the hospice cares for more than 3,000 Suffolk patients and their families at a cost of £12.9m, of which 70% is raised by the community through gift donations in wills, St Elizabeth Hospice’s retail shops and local fundraising activities; with one in five patients cared for by funds donated by gifts in Wills.

Sue Tunaley, Head of Operations at St Elizabeth Hospice, said, “I joined St Elizabeth Hospice 23 years ago, having seen at first hand the difference our services can make. It was, and still is, a privilege to work at St Elizabeth Hospice and over the years I have met some extraordinary people, none more so than the dedicated staff and volunteers who, whatever their role, are all committed to providing the best possible care to patients and their families.

“By taking part in St Elizabeth Hospice’s Will Month, you are ensuring peace of mind for yourself and your family, while also supporting a vital cause in your local community. Please support Wills Month and leave a gift today which can make a difference for years to come.”

To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice’s Wills Month call 01473 723600 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/support-us/ make-a-donation/make-a-gift-in-your-will/wills-months/

Authors set to flock to Book Festival

Felixstowe Book Festival returns for its 11th year from 16th to the 25th June.

Some of the highlights of this years’ events include on the evening of Wednesday 21st June at Felixstowe Library. Suffolk author Lily Graham – will be talking about her latest book The Last Restaurant in Paris. Her writing career began with commercial women’s fiction, but when she wrote a story about a secret Jewish community living on a tiny island

Flying resumes at Sanctuary

Spring has definitely sprung at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. Whilst the Flying Team have got back into the swing of displays after an extended break due to Avian Influenza restrictions, SOS welcomed some new additions to the collection.

Two Critically Endangered Whitebacked Vultures arrived from a private collection and settled into their new home very quickly. A young female Yellow-headed Caracara joined the male, and a new Burrowing Owl is making itself at home by not using the burrows provided, preferring to sit on a high perch to watch the world go by! The Raptor Hospital is set up ready for another busy baby season, following a very busy 2022 which saw record numbers of young Tawny Owls requiring help. This species, the most common Owl found in the UK, is most often associated with woodlands, and prefers to nest in holes found near the top of big old trees. Today’s risk averse society sees old trees as dangerous, and the need for everything to look just-so has resulted in many suitable nesting trees being felled. Unfortunately, this has resulted in Tawny Owls choosing less-than-ideal locations, such as chimneys or single large trees with no surrounding branches for the young to explore and build up their confidence, balance and strength. This leads to the young falling to the ground and being “helped” by concerned members of the public, who pick them up and take them to vets or wildlife rescue centres such as Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. Often, the best thing to do is to leave the young alone, as they are quite capable of climbing back up the tree and mum will know exactly where they are (Tawny Owls are notoriously protective over their young and may attack a perceived threat!) If you find a young Owl on the ground, please observe from a distance, but if you’re concerned about ground-based dangers (dogs, roads etc) then call SOS for advice. You can also help by building a nest box and placing it in a suitable location, such as a woodland.

With May seeing an extra bank holiday to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, there are plenty of activities with a Royal theme planned. There will also be the opportunity for visitors to see birds being flown and to learn more about the vital conservation work carried out by the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary team.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is open between 10am and 5pm, seven days a week. The collection of over 80 birds of prey help to educate visitors about their work, including their Raptor Hospital for sick and injured wild birds of prey and a newly restarted nestbox project, which provides suitable nest sites for Owls and Kestrels across the local area.

For more information, please visit the website www.owl-help.org.uk or give them a call on 03456 807 897.

during the Spanish Inquisition, she switched to historical fiction and hasn’t looked back since. Join her from 7pm.

Book lovers will be delighted to know organisers of this popular, annual event have a truly packed programme for this years’ festival. Taking place across both stunning Harvest House in Cobbold Road in Felixstowe and also the Two Sisters Arts Centre in Trimley St Mary. Stages will be graced by both local, award-winning and international best-selling authors throughout the festival including…

On Saturday 24th June at 1.30pm sisters Esther Freud and Susie Boyt. Festival Patron Esther will be in conversation with Susie discussing their most recent books – I Couldn’t Love You More and Loved and Missed. The talk will be chaired by novelist Ruth Dugdall. Also, on Saturday you can meet Siobhan Daniels author of Retirement Rebel from 10.30am. Siobhan is a retired television and radio journalist who worked for the BBC for thirty years.

Nicola Upson will be on stage interviewing Amanda Craig discussing her fabulous new novel The Three Graces from 6pm.

Join in with one of the two hugely popular, cream teas and author chats. On Saturday afternoon from 3pm it’s the return of the popular Tea at Three. Mandy Morton returns to Felixstowe Book Festival featuring her unique, comedic world of cats in The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series. Reading from her latest book The Windmill Murders.

At 4.30pm it’s the turn of number one bestselling author Louise Doughty (Apple Tree Yard which was turned into a top TV series starring Emily Watson). Louise will be speaking to guests about her most recent book, Platform Seven, recently adapted as a four-parter for ITVX, and her original BBC One hit series, Crossfire, starring Keeley Hawes.

Festival Patron Terry Waite will round off Saturday evening in relaxed style from 7.30pm. During this special event he will read short extracts from his writings interspersed with music played by the pianist Matthew Ricard. Experience the harmony that words and music can offer.

On Sunday afternoon from 1.30pm join Sarah Langford in conversation with Lord Deben: Rooted - Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution. The nods to our rural county continue with two fascinating authors on Sunday afternoon from 3pm with a celebration of Suffolk Life. With not one but two hugely talented writers on stage. Ian Collins will be in conversation with Nicola Upson: Next to Nature - The Suffolk Life of Ronald Blythe. For a comprehensive look at all of the exciting talks, topics and workshops planned for this year’s Felixstowe Book Festival and to book your tickets go to www.felixstowebookfestival.co.uk you can sign up for the newsletter to be first to hear the latest news. You can also follow them on social media @felixstowebookfestival

The King’s Coronation: Top tips on planning your

Planning a street party for the King’s coronation? Insurance experts at A-Plan Insurance take you through some steps to help you get started – and some important pointers you can’t afford to ignore.

Last year’s Queens Jubilee saw street parties up and down the country – and served as a muchneeded reprieve from both COVID and the cost-of-living pressures. This year, we’re expecting as many, if not more, street parties as we celebrate the King’s Coronation on Saturday the 6th of May.

But there are so many things to take into consideration when it comes to party planning – no more so than when it involves an entire street or community. A-Plan Insurance offers some useful insights into where to start with planning and why you should consider insurance. Whether you intend to gather as

a group to watch the televised Coronation take place at Westminster Abbey, or enjoy some socialising, food and music with your neighbours, there are certain steps you need to take to make sure you, and attendees stay safe and on the right side of the law and mitigate risk.

Google trends data reveals that UK residents began searching for “Coronation Party’ back in January, with searches spiking the most over this past week.

live in a cul de sac, councils are generally happy for this to go ahead without permission. Otherwise, use driveways, parking areas and front gardens – none of these will require council permission. Ensure you don’t obstruct pavements. Another option is a ‘Neighbour’s Picnic’, which can be held in the local park, the only caveat is that you cannot have music or a barbecue, but it may work well for sandwiches and cake!

Involve your neighbours from the start. - Get your neighbours involved – and make sure everyone meets to discuss the Big Day beforehand. Ask everyone to bring a dish and drink, and don’t forget to include vegetarian/vegan type options. Please make sure you ask your neighbours to label ingredients, and flag anything that contains nuts. Consider classic British recipes, such as Scotch Eggs, sausage rolls, Bakewell Tart and Victoria Sponge cake. You could plan a barbecue, if you are using private land.

A right royal knees up - It’s estimated that millions will take part in the ‘Coronation Big Lunch’ on Saturday 6th May – whether it’s a family event, a picnic in the park or a street party. The important thing is to start planning now.

Start by picking a date from 6th to 8th May – and a time! You don’t need to stick to Saturday 6th May, or even the daytime, you could plan something on the Bank Holiday Monday evening, if preferred.

If you are planning a Street Party (i.e. you will need to close your road) you will need to contact your local council. If you don’t need to close the road, you can run what is called a ‘Street Meet’. If you

Consider whether you will buy plastic cutlery or reduce waste and encourage neighbours to bring their own. If you need crockery, consider buying some mismatched plates from a charity shop, they appear much more authentic, cause less waste and the charity will benefit from your purchase. You could even clean them up and return them for resale.

To keep decoration costs down, task the local children with creating bunting, flags on (paper) straws, and paper chains. Consider setting up a Spotify playlist and sharing the link with your neighbours who can add their music to it as well. Ask neighbours to chip in together to arrange party insurance.

Coronation: your street party

Do you need Coronation party insurance?

If you are organising an event as an individual or as a collective, yes, you do. While event insurance isn’t a legal requirement, it could protect you from a whole host of issues!

We would rather you enjoyed the fruits of your labour than spent the day worrying about damage, or accidents and injury claims.

It’s easy to take out single event insurance to cover you for a street party. But why do you need it?

Litigation can range from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands of pounds – could you afford this if a partygoer slipped on some food and injured themselves?

Consider as well that, although the council may have closed your street, not everybody will want to move their cars, so be prepared to consider any claims for damage to vehicles.

Safety first

While it’s common sense, it’s important that you and your neighbours work together to clean

up knocked over or spilled items and ensure that everybody behaves themselves. Labelling food to warn people of allergens is a simple but effective way of mitigating food allergies. It could also be an idea to make sure you have a First Aid kit for any falls or burns. Conducting a simple health and safety check is recommended.

And one last point you may not have considered is to make sure that your front door and windows remain locked while you are enjoying your street party, to avoid any disappointment when you get home after a wonderful day with your neighbours.

Whatever you do, we hope you have an enjoyable and safe day. Did you know that A-Plan can cover street parties? We know this is a pretty unique insurance to consider, so we are happy to answer any questions about party insurance that you can think of, to ensure your event goes smoothly and without worry. Contact your local branch at www.aplan.co.uk/branch-finder

Dressing for the occasion

At Masquerade they have a wide range of costumes available from mascot costumes to Superheroes to historical costumes to uniforms. Whatever the occasion they aim to dress you to impress!

The Coronation this year is giving the whole Country a reason to celebrate, and at Masquerade they are currently inundated with requests for Guard uniforms, Royal capes and cloaks, Kings and Queen regalia and outfits suitable for the get togethers throughout the bank holiday weekend.

Masquerade are often asked what the most popular costume is? - this varies from week to week, and with new films and themes it changes constantly. Bridgerton and Peaky Blinders remain popular party themes, whilst ‘A night at the movies’ gives so much scope that you can visit Masquerade, find the costume that you love, and then think of the movie that suits it best.

Masquerade costume hire and fancy dress is happy to be celebrating 16 years in business this year. The business was started out of a love of costume and has been trading since 2007 in Earl Stonham.

Masquerade is currently open from 10am - 2pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and Saturday 10am - 3pm. There is no requirement to book within these hours, but if this is not convenient, they can also offer appointments for times outside of these hours.

Masquerade, Church Farm, Earl Stonham. IP14 5EE www.masqueradeshop.co.uk

Tel: 01449 711109

Ipswich Borough Council is excited to share details of the event line-up to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort in Ipswich.

On Saturday 6th May Ipswich Cornhill will host a day of celebrations, with a big screen in place for friends and family to meet and watch TV coverage of the Coronation starting at 10am. There will also be free face painting for the younger members of the audience, available between 11am until 4pm - as well as food stalls for all the family to enjoy.

At 2pm, following the broadcast of the Coronation, the big screen will be used to show Roald Dahl’s Matilda, an adaption of the Tony and Olivier award-winning stage musical.

Ipswich Town Hall and the Cornhill will also be decorated with bunting for the occasion, bringing the community together in celebration. The festivities continue Sunday 7th May with live streaming of the Windsor Castle Coronation Evening Concert, a global music event which brings together icons and contemporary stars in celebration of the historic occasion. The Celebrations start from 3.30pm, with the Evening Concert start time still to be announced, with a fully licensed

An Ipswich Borough Council

spokesperson says, “Ipswich Borough Council is thrilled to support community events over the special May bank holiday weekend to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

“We are encouraging the community to get involved with our events, but we’re also inviting the public to hold events in their neighbourhood to bring everyone together for the celebrations.”

Ipswich communities wishing to organise celebrations including street parties, the Big Lunch or volunteering their time for the Big Help Out can find out more information

May at Two Sisters Arts Centre

Friday 5th May (after a break for Easter) the Two Sisters Arts Centre are back to their first Friday of the month jazz events with The Moondancers who include fabulous jazz singer Natalie Hodge, Vernon Leyton on bass, Tony Radford on sax and John Parker on guitar.

On Thursday 11th May touring drama group Oddbodies present a one man version of Shakespeare’s King Learwhich should be interesting!!

On Friday 12th May there’s an indie night double bill which includes folk band A Light Left On - a duo who have visited before and Matt White BearFootSoul – an American signer who has made Suffolk his home and wows audiences with his lovely voice wherever he performs. He will be showcasing his new album Gravity & Time

Saturday 20th May sees the return of Giles Shenton (Three Men in a Boat & Old Herbaceous) who brings us his original drama My Dog’s Got No Nose about a failing comedian, a performance which will be both funny and poignant And on Saturday 27th May the band that hail from Cuppa – Albion Mills – who came before with a Pink Floyd tribute –are this time covering The Beatles Book online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ two-sisters-arts-centre or phone the Box Office to reserve your tickets on 01394 279613

Spring: The perfect time to talk about Panto!!!

The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich has announced that 2023 will see them give the rock ‘n’ roll pantomime treatment to Dick Wittington and his Cat from Thursday 23rd November 2023 –Saturday 20th January 2024.

The New Wolsey is thrilled to announce that this year’s actormusician pantomime, which will feature a collection of both contemporary and classic pop and rock ‘n’ roll songs, will be written by award-winning comedian, writer and composer, Vikki Stone (Hey Duggee, Romeo and Duet), and will be directed by the theatre’s awardwinning Chief Executive/Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul. It’s the classic family-favourite pantomime, packed full of live music, crazy characters, awesome adventure and the purr-fect amount of feline flavour.

Vikki Stone made history as the first on-screen female musical director of a primetime entertainment show in the UK when she was musical director, pianist and band leader of the ITV Saturday night primetime show Romeo and Duet. Her writing credits include the Olivier Awardnominated Hey Duggee Live, which is currently on a major UK Tour until August 2023, and multiple

MAY 2023 EVENTS

Friday 5th – 7.30pm (£14/£12)

Jazz Night

THE MOONDANCERS

Friday 11th – 7.30pm (£14/£12)

Oddbodies present (a one man adaptation of)

KING LEAR by William Shakespeare

Friday 12th - 7.30pm (£14/£12)

Indie Double Bill A LIGHT LEFT ON & BearFootSoul (Matt White)

Saturday 20th – 7.30pm (£14/£12)

Giles Shenton Drama

MY DOG’S GOT NO NOSE

Saturday 27th -7.30pm (£14/£12)

ALBION

• SOLD OUT

pantomimes for London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

Vikki Stone said, “I’m very excited about Dick in Ipswich this winter. I thought I was more mature than jokes like that, but it turns out I’m not. But in all seriousness, the New Wolsey has a wonderful tradition of rock ‘n’ roll pantos, and I’m very excited about my first show in the venue!”

Douglas Rintoul said of the announcement, “It is such a privilege to take over the helm of the New Wolsey Theatre’s iconic and much-loved rock ‘n’ roll pantomime. Last year over 30,000 people came through the doors and I’m looking forward to reaching many more with Vikki Stone’s joyous and sparky take on this traditional tale. It’s a pleasure to be working with such a talented writer who is also passionate about the form and our audiences.”

Tickets are on sale now at www.wolseytheatre.co.uk.

Summer Concert

The Ipswich Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert, with guest pianist BBC Young Musician Finalist, Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, will take place on Saturday 24th June at 7.30pm at the Ipswich Corn Exchange. Jeneba made her Proms debut in 2021 and has toured in Europe and the Caribbean as a soloist and chamber musician. She has toured in Australia and New Zealand and appeared in TV programmes with her family. This is a special programme chosen by conductor, Adam Gatehouse, to mark his 20 years at the helm of The Ipswich Symphony Orchestra. Mahler’s mighty 1st symphony is a great classical favourite, and the Orchestra are proud to welcome Jeneba, from the remarkable Kanneh-Mason family, to play Chopin’s thrilling 2nd piano concerto.

For more information about The Ipswich Symphony Orchestra visit www.ipswichsymphonyorchestra.org To book tickets for the Ipswich Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert call the Box Office on 01473 433100 or visit www.ipswichtheatres.co.uk

SOLD OUT

MILLS does THE BEATLES

Taking a Walk on the Wildside with Ben

Broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle is about to tackle his latest walk on the wild side with a new tour full of hair-raising and uplifting stories from a life of amazing encounters. Best known from hit shows including Animal Park, Lost Worlds and New Lives In The Wild, the popular presenter will bring his new live tour BEN FOGLE – WILD to 22 towns and cities across the UK in Spring 2023.

BEN FOGLE – WILD will see Ben sharing stories of hope, possibility and positivity, all learned from his extraordinary encounters around the world. Ben Fogle’s career has taken him to some of the most extreme locations in the world, whether filming for documentaries or tackling some of mankind’s greatest physical challenges.

In BEN FOGLE – WILD, Ben will take audiences on a new journey to relive the inspiring and uplifting tales he has encountered along the way – in environments as diverse as the wilderness of northern Sweden, the jungles of Honduras, the hostility of Chernobyl and the mountains of Nepal. The brand-new show promises to be hair-raising, uplifting and wildly entertaining, as Ben shares the amazing encounters he’s had with people and animals around the world, and how they have changed his life. Speaking about his new tour, Ben Fogle said, “Adventures, expeditions and journeys have helped shape and mould me. They have strengthened me emotionally, physically and mentally and armed me with the skills for life.

“I’m looking forward to sharing some of those skills and life lessons, as well as the stories of the incredible people and animals I’ve met along the way, when I get out on the road with WILD.

“It could be my biggest adventure yet!”

Ben Fogle is an award-winning broadcaster and adventurer – currently on screens in Lost Worlds With Ben Fogle on Channel 5 – who has scaled Mount Everest, rowed the Atlantic and raced across Antarctica.

He is also a Sunday Times bestselling author who has written more than 15 books and is the United Nations Patron Of The Wilderness, a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, an ambassador to WWF, Tusk and Hearing Dogs For The Deaf, and patron of The Red Cross.

On Thursday 11th May the Suffolk Book League welcomes Hannah Lowe, author of The Kids (2021) which won the Costa Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize. Her collection of poems was inspired by her time working with sixth formers in London. She drew on her father’s Chinese-Jamaican heritage in her collections Chick (2013), Chan (2016) and in her memoir Long Time No See (2015). Hannah has a Masters in Refugee Studies, researching into the historicising of the Empire Windrush and post-war Caribbean migration to Britain. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and lectures at Brunel University. The Society of Authors gave her the Cholmondeley Award and she is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Doors open at the Ipswich Institute Reading Room & Library 15 Tavern Street IP1 3AA at 7pm with the event starting at 7.30. Tickets, £5 for Suffolk Book League members, £10 for non-members can be obtained via the League’s website www.suffolkbookleague.org

• BEN FOGLE – WILD will be at the Corn Exchange, Ipswich on Wednesday 24th May. Tickets are on sale from www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/ben-fogle

TO RAISE THE ROOF

Back by popular demand Gareth Malone 2023 UK tour - ‘Sing-Along-A-Gareth-Two!’

Get your song sheets ready, because the time has come to lift our voices once again as Gareth brings his new tour, ‘Sing-Along-A-Gareth-Two’, to venues across the UK this autumn.

Join Gareth, together with his band and singers, for this uplifting and joyous new show. Gareth Malone said, “Following the barnstorming, whirlwind success of Sing-Along-A-Gareth in 2022, I‘m back - new and improved with Sing-Along-AGareth-Two! Featuring a whole new list of classic tunes for you and your friends to sing your hearts out to. I’ll be up and down the nation warming your larynxes in a feel-good evening of fun that will leave you with a song in your heart.”

Playing piano, guitar and bass, Gareth will keep everyone entertained throughout the show as he creates songs on the spot and helps the audience to write their own songs too, discovering some hidden talent along the way. This is a feel-good evening of upbeat fun tracks we all know and love, which everyone can easily sing along to. The song list will be available to download in advance for

those wanting to practice. Whether you are coming with a choir, with friends or solo - all are welcome to join Gareth in this celebration of community and song. Audiences will get to enjoy a whole evening of new classic songs that Gareth will select to raise the roof of every theatre. Prepare your vocal cords for a night of pure joy that will uplift your spirits and bring everyone together through the power of song. Gareth’s achievements as choirmaster, presenter and populariser of choral music include three number one singles, two BAFTA Awards and countless popular television shows over the last 15 years – including The Choir and The Choir: Military Wives. He was also the pioneer of the hugely successful ‘Great British Home Chorus’ - which saw thousands of people across the country sing with Gareth from their kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms during the pandemic.

‘Sing-Along-A-Gareth-Two’ will be at the Ipswich Regent on Friday 10th November. Tickets are available at garethmalone.com

Your chance to get involved with Musical Group

If you are a music lover, you may have wondered what it’s like to perform a major work with other like-minded musicians. Or perhaps you have vivid memories of doing just that! Either way, you may be surprised to find that you can be part of a wonderful community of musicians which rehearses and performs major works and community concerts in Suffolk.

Trianon Music Group was formed in Ipswich in 1963 and has a track record of staging concerts in small, local venues which raise much-needed funding for local projects as well as performing major works in prestigious venues in Ipswich, at Snape Maltings and in the chapel at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook. Tours in the UK and in Europe have extended Trianon’s reputation. They’ve been performing wonderful music for 60 years and there’s a pretty good chance that your friend, neighbour or relative has been a member of Trianon!

So maybe it’s your turn now? When you join Trianon’s orchestra or choir you are assured of a warm welcome, support from established members and the chance to perform major works, smaller pieces and to enjoy the company of like-minded people. They are an inclusive organisation with competitive membership fees. The Group perform three major concerts a year, usually in January, April and September, so that the rehearsal schedule works well alongside existing music commitments which you may already have. The schedule also suits music students too so if you have someone in the family who is studying to become an orchestral player or choral singer, do encourage them to join us too.

For those of you who have had a break from singing or playing, why not think about resuming your passion for music? Trianon Music Group rehearse on the outskirts of east Ipswich at a venue with easy access and plenty of free parking.

So, if you are still waiting for your opportunity to feast with Belshazzar or tackle Carmina Burana, then take a look at the website and see what’s on the menu! They’d love to welcome you to Trianon. Contact the Choir Secretary John choirsecretary@tmg.org.uk, visit www.tmg.org.uk or the Orchestra Secretary Nigel orchestrasecretary@tmg.org.uk and they will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Summer Music at Newmarket Nights

One of the UK’s top sporting attractions, Newmarket Racecourses in Suffolk is also home to Newmarket Nights –events renowned for combining an electric evening at the races with a spectacular evening concert in an informal and relaxed open-air setting.

Newmarket Nights returned in full force in 2022, with show stopping headline performances from household names including The Script, Anne-Marie and Paloma Faith. The season was concluded with a sold-out set from Pete Tong & the Symphony Orchestra, which saw over 16,000 fans descend onto the green for a glorious summers evening.

Want to know which famous faces are making their way to Newmarket in 2023?

Bastille have confirmed they’re playing on 30th June, Craig David is returning to play on 21st July, Haçienda Classical will make their debut on 28th

July, McFly will take to the stage on Friday 11th August and Olly Murs is returning to the Newmarket Nights stage on 18th August.

Bastille’s debut will be part of a series celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the band’s chart-conquering, twice No.1 debut album, ‘Bad Blood’, giving fans the opportunity to hear the album played live in its entirety alongside other fan favourites.

Newmarket Nights is a favourite among fans and headliners. Don’t believe us? Hear it from the artists themselves!

Olly Murs said, “Newmarket! I can’t wait to come and play my new music and all my most-loved tracks for you all in 2023. We always have an awesome time at Newmarket Nights so know this show will be very special.”

Craig David said, “I had such an amazing time at Newmarket Nights in 2018 I’m thrilled to be returning on Friday 21st July. There is nothing quite like an outdoor summer show – bring it on!”

• Tickets are on sale now at thejockeyclublive.co.uk.

Sadie’s Nine Lives is about just that!

Join the iconic BBC Essex radio host and singer Sadie Nine for her one-woman show as she takes you through hilarious times, her crazy tours and true stories from her amazing radio career that has spanned over 25 years.

She’ll talk of stories of stars she’s graced the stage with, hilarious memories as a singer and actor, and talk movingly about her battle with cancer and what it means to be a survivor.

Featuring long-suffering husband Al and Sadie’s dogs Janice and Tiger Lily... audiences can expect anything!

Sadie’s Nine Lives will take place at the Mercury Theatre on Friday 5th May at 7.30pm as part of the theatre’s current season of visiting work. Tickets range from £15-£18 and can be purchased online at www.mercurytheatre. co.uk, over the phone by calling the Box Office on 01206 573948 or in person.

Every Monday

New Horizons Club for older people, St Audry’s Club, Melton, 10am-2.30pm. Activities and entertainment and a home cooked lunch for £10 per day. Further information tel. 07514 364752

Suffolk Carers Natter: A chance for family carers aged 55+ to come along and enjoy some “you” time, share experiences, make new friends and enjoy a cuppa and cake. At The Unity Centre, Meredith Road, Ipswich, 10am12noon. Further info Tel: 01449 707030 Group Exercise Classes: Stretch & Strengthen 5.15pm-6.15pm and JazzFit 6.15pm-7.15pm. Copdock & Washbrook Village Hall. Contact dancefituk@mail. com / www.dancefituk.com

Badminton, Sidegate Lane Community Centre, 7.30-10pm, £2.50, over 18s only. Tel: 07711 811748

Line Dance Class: Improver to Intermediate, 7.00pm, Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Rd, Ipswich. Bookings or more information contact Louise, 07941 069881 Woodbridge Citizen’s Advice, Woodbridge Library, 10am-noon. Independent and provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everybody.

Every Tuesday

Ipswich Reggae Choir. Come and join the fun with this reggae singing group. £3 a week. John Mills Theatre, Gatacre Rd, Ipswich, 7-9pm, all welcome, call Pat: 07533 867445

Craft Group. The Salvation Army, Queensway 10-12noon. £1.50 per session. Refreshments and lunch available at extra cost. Everyone welcome. For more details please call 01473 710721 or email ipswich.priory@ salvationarmy.org.uk

Carpet Bowls at Martlesham Community Hall, Felixstowe Road, IP12 4PB, 1.304pm. £2 per session (first 2 free) inc. tea and biscuits. Contact Sheila 01473 636608 – or just turn up!!!

Memory Lane Cafe, The Meeting Place, Limerick Close Ipswich IP1 5LR 11-2pm. For people living with dementia and their carers. Contact Tina on 07742 300293

Charity Bingo Night, Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Rd, Woodbridge, IP12 4AU. 7.45pm9.45pm. More information call 01728

660766

Co-op Senior Singers, friendly group singing a wide variety of songs for pleasure. No audition required. 10.0011.30am at the West Suffolk College, formerly the Co-op Education Centre, Fore Street, Ipswich, IP4 1JW. Contact Vera on 01473 879817.

Arts & Crafts Group, Castlehill Community Centre, 1.30-3.30pm. Everyone welcome, £2 per session. For more information call 07951 779271

Every Wednesday

Pinewood Art Club, Pinewood Community Centre, Laburnum Close, Ipswich10am till 12pm, £3 per session. Contact 01473 211095 or 01473 658957

Lunch Club, The Salvation Army, Queens Way 12.30. Main course, dessert and cup of tea £5. Everyone welcome. Please call 01473 710721 to book in advance.

Every Thursday

Bike Nights, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Rd, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

The Orwell Singers, female voice choir, Museum Street Methodist Church, Ipswich, 7-9pm during school terms. Call 01473 635955

New Horizons Club for older people, St Audry’s Club, Melton, 10am-2.30pm. Activities and entertainment and a home cooked lunch for £10 per day. Further information tel. 07514 364752

Kurling and Boccia. Ipswich Oddfellows, 37 High St Ipswich, 10m, £2.50 members. 01473 251867

Co op Senior Singers. Come and join a friendly group who sing a wide variety of songs for pleasure and friendship. West Suffolk College, Fore Street, Ipswich. Parking at the rear. For info call Vera Manning on 01473 879817.

Line Dance Class: Improver to Intermediate, 7pm. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich. Contact Louise - 07941 069881

Bingo Club, Dumbarton Road Hall, 2-4pm, entrance fee £1. Tea & coffee served. Info: Chris on 01473 404190

Every Friday

Reading Round - a book group with a difference! Ipswich County Library, Northgate St, Ipswich, 1.45pm till 3.15pm. FREE. Book a place, contact louise.millar@rlfeducation.org.uk

Carpet Bowls at Martlesham Community Hall, Felixstowe Road. 1.30-4pm. £2 per session (first 2 free) inc. tea and biscuits. Contact Sheila 01473 636608 – or just turn up!!!

Art for fun, The Salvation Army, Queensway 10-12noon. £2.50. Refreshments and lunch available at extra cost. Everyone welcome.

Dance & Fitness: Fridays at Copdock Village Hall. JazzFit 10am-11am. Adult Ballet (all abilities) 11.15am-12.15pm. Stretch & Strengthen 12.15pm-1.15pm. Contact dancefituk@mail.com

Short Mat Bowls at Pinewood Community Centre, Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP8 3SL, 10am-12pm £4 members and guests. Tel 07785 236726 or 07808 628945

Carpet Bowls in a friendly atmosphere at Sidegate Lane Community Centre, Ipswich IP4 4HZ, 2.30-5pm. £2.50 per session . More details 01473 410 740.

Every Sunday

Stonham Car Boot Sale, weather permitting. Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Car Boot, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Rd, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Mon 1st May

Woodbridge Collectors’ Fair, Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Rd, Woodbridge, 9.30am-4pm. Food and refreshments all day.

Wed 3rd May

Talk: Suffolk & Pirate Radio. Suffolk links and experiences with those pesky Pirate Radio Ships and old WW2 Military Towers broadcasting off the Suffolk Coast. Suffolk Family History Soc, The Salvation Army Citadel, 558, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, 7.30pm, pay on door. 01473 274300

Thurs 4th May

Life on the Road: memories of a singer, comedian, actor and presenter by Peter Regelous. Salvation Army Hall, Felixstowe 10.30am-12.30www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk

Fri 5th May

Live Music: John Permenter - Country & Western. 8-11pm. Licensed bar. Cooked food. £5 Members, £6 Nonmembers. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Rd, Ipswich

Sat 6th May

Coronation Disco for Families. 7-11pm. Licensed bar. Cooked food. Free Entry. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich

Sun 7th May

Live Music: Mister Pink. Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Stonham Motorcycle Show, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal. www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Tues 9th May

Felixstowe Garden Club, Talk by Matt Tanton Brown on Climbers and Wall Shrubs, 7pm. Old Felixstowe Community Centre, Ferry Rd, Felixstowe, 01394 211739 for info

Sat 13th May

Live Music - Andy Ottley Elvis Tribute 8-11.15pm. Licensed bar. Cooked food. £3 Members, £6 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich

Live Music: with Logan Paul Murphy, Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Ipswich RSPB Local Group Field Meeting. Ipswich in Song – Birdsong in Christchurch Park. Meet at 07:30 at Soane Street entrance IP4 2BE. Map ref TM165448. Contact 01473 258791. No charge. All welcome.

Sat 14th May

Open Mic Afternoon, Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Spring Break Kustom Kulture, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Mon 15th May

Dressing Henry VII, 10.30am-12.30pm. Woodbridge Football Club, 17 Fynn Rd, Woodbridge, www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk

Wed 17th May

Ipswich RSPB Local Group Field Meeting to Newbourne Springs Suffolk Wildlife Trust Reserve for Nightingales. Meet at 18:30 at reserve car park. IP12 4NY. Map ref TM276433.2 hours. 2 miles. Can be muddy underfoot. Contact 01473 258791. No charge. All welcome. Community Cuppa. Social group for over 65’s. enjoy a cuppa and chat and find out how the Later Life Community Team can help you or your community. The Meeting Place, Limerick Close, Ipswich, 2-4pm. More info from Tracey 01284 334516

Fri 19th May

Nikki Jo Brown - Country & Western 8-11pm, £5 Members, £6 Nonmembers. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich

Sat 20th & Sun 21st May

Steam & Vintage Show, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Sat 20th May

Bandeoke, Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Sun 21st May

Live Music: The Jive Aces. Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Fri 26th to Mon 29th May

Ska, Skins & Scooters, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT. More info go to www.stonhambarns.co.uk or call 01449 711111

Fri 26th May

Live Music - Simply Jackson - Michael Jackson Tribute, 8-11.15pm. £3 Members, £6 Non-members. Rosary Conservative Club, Bramford Road, Ipswich

Sat 27th May

Open Mic Afternoon, Aspal Theatre, Stonham Barns Park, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal. Info call 01449 711111 www.stonhambarns.co.uk or Coffee Morning, 10am-12 noon St Mary’s Church Room, Bramford. Refreshments. Sale of books, jigsaws, DVDs and more. iao church maintenance

Tues 30th May

Ipswich RSPB Local Group Midweek Walk round Kiln Meadow and Spring Wood. Meet at 10:30 at Marbled White Drive. IP8 3TL. Map ref TM143417.

A new study has revealed that people should think about increasing their daily step count to help their mental and physical wellbeing.

According to the report, conducted by the Public Health Agency (PHA), adding more walking into your day can not only help with physical health issues such as obesity, but it can also help to reduce anxiety and help you sleep better.

So with the first signs of spring finally starting to appear, why not take time to improve your physical and mental wellbeing?

Below the team of experts at Private Rehab Clinic Delamere have revealed their top tips on ways you can boost your overall wellbeing this spring!

1. Practice yoga

Yoga has many health benefits including mental relaxation and can be easily participated in from the comfort of your own home. If you are a beginner there are lots of entry-level tutorials available online to get you going. Yoga is often used as part of addiction recovery, as it helps to regulate stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. The method of relaxation helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings for alcohol and provides a healthy outlet to cope with potential triggers and everyday stress.

2. Have a bath

A soothing bath helps you to switch off and unwind, as submerging your body into water can not only reduce inflammation and muscle aches, but it also calms the nervous system and reduces stress levels. There are also a wide variety of calming bath oils and salts that you can add to your bath for additional relaxation.

Yoga classes from comfort of your home

Times have changed and we have all become used to doing things online – shopping, ordering meals, chatting to friends and family. So how about enjoying your weekly yoga session online too?

A regular yoga practice helps to improve your balance, strength and flexibility. New research has shown the health benefits of yoga breathing techniques for managing anxiety, stilling your thoughts and improving your energy levels.

Izzy Ixer and Linda James are qualified British Wheel of Yoga tutors and we lead a weekly online yoga session on zoom. Join us for a free, taster session at 9am on a Tuesday morning during term time. Each session lasts for 90 minutes and we encourage you to reach your potential whilst encouraging you to practice safely. These sessions are ideal for those with some experience of yoga or who are returning to yoga after a break. The timing is perfect for parents whose children are older and at school and for those who are caring for loved ones at home and may not be able to get out to a class. We don’t mind if you need to pop out of the room and check that someone you love is OK! And maybe you can encourage them to join in a little too?

And for those of you who like your yoga face to face, join us at Melton or at Martlesham Heath where we have regular yoga sessions. There are a few spaces available for the Summer term! Or ask about one to one sessions also available online and in Martlesham Heath and Melton. To find out more go to www.izzyyoga.co.uk, contact Izzy Ixer by email at izzy.ixer@btopenworld.com or by phone on 01473 625115. We’d love to hear from you.

Yoga

Improve your balance, strength and mental wellbeing with yoga!

Weekly groups available online using Zoom

In person weekly groups in Martlesham Heath and Melton

One to one yoga in Martlesham Heath, Woodbridge and online Beginners – Returners – Advanced

3. Read a good book

Reading allows your mind to escape to a quiet place and switch off from the world for a few hours, but it also has many relaxation benefits on the body too, including slowing down your heart rate and easing the tension in your muscles to help you relax.

4. Get physical

Incorporating exercise into your daily routine not only boasts a variety of health benefits, but it also promotes relaxation too, reducing levels of stress hormones in the body like adrenaline and cortisol. Whether you choose an exercise class, a bike ride or even a run, exercise will not only reduce your body’s stress hormones but it will also benefit from the production of endorphins.

5. Meditate

Meditation is another great way to relax and unwind in the evening, as it helps you to silence any noise in the brain and focus. There are lots of apps you can download to get you started on your meditation journey that will help you to relieve stress and improve your focus and self-awareness.

6. Practise deep breathing

Deep breathing also known as diaphragmatic breathing, is a quick and easy way to relax at the end of a day. Proven to reduce stress, calm nerves and make your body feel more relaxed. You can practise a deep breathing session for as little as 5 minutes or as long as 20 minutes.

https://delamere.com/blog/2023-wellness-report

The topic of ‘Food and drink’

Part of the mental health and wellbeing advice series

How do you look after your mental health and wellbeing?

That’s the basis for a new campaign for 2023 which focuses on 12 ‘emotional needs’, one for each month, to bring you practical tips, people’s stories, and support to keep you well.

Be Well, Feel Well: A healthier Suffolk in 2023 is a partnership between Suffolk Mind, Public Health and Communities and a range of community groups teaming up to focus on ways for you to be well throughout the year. Look out for a new article every month with information for how you can keep healthy, get the help you need and even save money.

Jon Neal, Chief Executive, Suffolk Mind

Eat Well, Feel Well!

The ‘Eat Well, Feel Well’ campaign aims to raise awareness to families and schools of the importance of eating well and building good relationships with a variety of food to maintain good mental and physical health, and preventing eating problems in children. The campaign brings together webinars, tips and advice on various topics centred around eating to support parents, carers, teachers and young people.

To find out more, visit: suffolk.gov.uk/eatwell

Eating on a budget

There is plenty of support available to make your food last longer and to spend less while enjoying a healthy diet.

www.foodsavvy.org.uk - Food Savvy is about turning your food leftovers into a delicious new meal to save money, with ideas to plan and store your food to make it last even longer.

www.bbc.co.uk - The BBC’s Family £1 recipe meal plan introduces a budgetfriendly meal plan which is flexible and cost effective.

Infolink.suffolk.gov.uk - Visit the cost of living pages on InfoLink for a wealth of information about saving money and support available to people in Suffolk.

Food and mood

What and when we eat is

not just important for our physical health, but for our emotional health. Here are some top tips to help you eat well for your body and mind:

1. Eat regularly - if your blood sugar drops, it can make you feel tired, irritable or depressed. Eating regularly will help keep your sugar levels steady, especially foods with slow-release energy that are high in protein like eggs, nuts, and seeds.

2. Get the right fats - your brain needs fatty oils such as omega 3 to keep it well, so rather than avoiding all fats in your diet, it’s important to get the right ones. Oily fish is good, but walnuts are great too (and shaped like a brain).

3. Increase your protein - protein contains amino acids, which helps your brain regulate your thoughts and feelings, plus your blood sugar levels. Protein rich foods include lean meat, eggs, fish, cheese as well as oats, brown rice and nuts.

4. Drink more - if you’re not hydrated enough, you may find it harder to concentrate, experience changes to mood and headaches. Water and herbal teas are best.

Where can I find out more?

5. Eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables - the minerals, vitamins and fibre in fruit and vegetables are essential to keeping us physically and mentally well. Eating a variety of colours every day - a ‘rainbow’ - is the best way of achieving a good balance.

6. Cut down on caffeine - drinking too much caffeine can make you feel anxious, and even depressed, and affect your quality of sleep. You don’t have to stop completely, just cutting down on the amount of caffeinated drinks can work wonders, especially in the latter part of your day.

7. Pay attention to your gut - your gut and your brain use similar chemicals, so looking after one supports the other. Foods to include for a healthy gut are high in fibre including fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and live yoghurts.

www.suffolk.gov.uk/eatwell

www.suffolkmind.org.uk

Sally’s Story

Sally’s wish was to die at home with her family beside her and the hospice team made sure she was able to have this granted.

Every year St Elizabeth Hospice’s memorial event Suffolk Remembers, sees 5,000 candles displayed along Felixstowe seafront as hundreds of people gather to remember their loved ones.

Now in its seventh year, the annual event sponsored by East of England Co-op Funeral Services will once again take place on 21st June, with the hospice inviting all who have lost a friend or relative to take the opportunity to join others from across the region in remembering them.

Peter Girt attended Suffolk Remembers 2022 with his familyson Matthew, daughter Claire and grandchildren - to remember his wife Sally Girt who died from cancer, aged 67-years-old, in February 2022 at home, while under the care of St Elizabeth Hospice.

“My family and I attended Suffolk Remembers for the first time in 2022 and it truly was a marvelous event,” explained Peter, who is from Ipswich.

“It was a very memorable and moving evening, which saw hospice supporters, the local community

With hay fever usually worse between March and September local health care professionals in Suffolk and north east Essex are offering useful advice to those who suffer from a hay fever allergy.

Although there is no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it there are actions you can take to ease the symptoms, which include a runny, itchy or blocked nose, sneezing and itchy, red and watery eyes.

and families, like mine, gather to remember those we have loved, who are no longer with us, with the peaceful backdrop of Felixstowe seafront providing the perfect setting.

“Claire and Matthew carried the letter ‘R’, this had been sponsored by Ryder Davies Veterinary Practice where my daughter works as a nurse. I also had the privilege of being asked to carry the letter ‘L’, which coincidentally included the five candles we had dedicated to Sally, I felt very honoured. It was very poignant.”

Annually, St Elizabeth Hospice cares for more than 3,000 patients and their families throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

This care sees the independent Suffolk charity providing free services - whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice - to those living with a progressive or life-limiting illness.

Sally came under the care of St Elizabeth Hospice in January 2022, after having been diagnosed by

Ipswich Hospital for cancer of the kidney, which had then spread to her liver and lungs.

Peter said, “From the time Sally received her diagnosis, that her condition was incurable, the St Elizabeth Hospice team were brilliant.

“We were referred to the hospice by a doctor, but were well aware of its services having been supporters of the charity for many years and one of Sally’s uncles used to visit St Elizabeth Hospice’s Day Care services (now known as Community Care Unit) for support.

“Family was everything to Sally and it was Sally’s wish was to die at home with her family beside her and the hospice team made sure she was able to have this granted; without St Elizabeth Hospice, I don’t know what would have happened.

“Their care was so important to us, especially knowing we had 24/7 support via the hospice’s round the clock phone line, OneCall, which we called on a number of occasions and they always gave us reassurance and advice on how to make Sally as comfortable as possible.

“Everyone thinks the word ‘hospice’ means the end, but this really isn’t the case and as an organisation the breadth of their services supports

the whole family, as well as the patient.

“For example, our family has received support via the hospice’s bereavement and wellbeing service, LivingGrief. Their services are nonjudgmental and caring, with all the staff taking the time to listen and offer guidance to help.

“The compassion and dignity St Elizabeth Hospice nurses gave to Sally and my family will never be forgotten and we will never be able to thank them enough, especially the nurse who came to Sally on her passing, the care that was shown was remarkable and a credit to St Elizabeth Hospice.”

Further information about Suffolk Remembers can be found at www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ suffolk-remembers.

The Foxhall Centre, Lavender Trust is Welcoming New Members

We are delighted to now be able to welcome new members to the centre.

We are a friendly centre providing day services for older people including those living with dementia and/or other specialist needs.

Dr Freda Bhatti, a GP in Great Bentley, said, “One in five people suffer from hay fever, so the coming months may be an uncomfortable time for many. Unfortunately, it isn’t like a cold that will go away after a few days. Instead, those susceptible to hay fever may have to live with it for months on end, but there are things you can do to make the situation easier.

“One of the best ways to control hay fever is with antihistamines, which you can buy without prescription from the pharmacy. Start taking them now so they can get into your system. Taking antihistamines regularly is much more effective than taking them only when your symptoms are bad.

“You don’t need a prescription for hay fever medicine, so I would recommend patients with hay fever symptoms to make their pharmacy the first place to go for help and advice.”

Tania Farrow, Pharmacist and Chief Officer of Suffolk Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said, “You can help to reduce the severity of hay fever symptoms by getting advice from your local community pharmacy early on this spring. Community pharmacy staff are fully trained on the range of hay fever products available and the best way to help you manage your symptoms. Thinking about this now will help you to enjoy the warmer weather as it continues to improve.’’

The Met Office website offers a daily and five day pollen forecast at https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/ seasonal-advice/pollen-forecast#?date=2023-03-27

We pride ourselves in providing a safe and person centred environment where our members always come first and are respected for their individuality. Our caring staff will warmly welcome you and provide the appropriate level of personalised care, support and encouragement to ensure you have an enjoyable day.

There is a choice of daily activities which are both fun and stimulating and the cause of much laughter within the centre. Our aim is to ensure our members go home happy and relaxed having had a fun time; a nutritional two course lunch and a good old natter with their friends. Members can even have their hair and feet done by our hairdresser and chiropodist by appointment.

home

The Great Garden Trail

From Woodbridge to Leiston through to Felixstowe and Halesworth, a number of gardens across the region are opening for the public to visit and enjoy this summer in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice as part of its annual Great Garden Trail.

Hew Stevenson, from Columbine Hall added, “It’s a privilege to share our garden with visitors to help St Elizabeth Hospice who provide the kindness and support we may all need one day. We’ve done so for a number of years now and the hospice team are such nice people to work with.”

A full list of locations and dates of the gardens taking part in the trail can be found by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ great-garden-trail/, as can details regarding entry and tickets.

A season pass, which allows you to visit all the trail gardens for just £25 this summer, can be purchased here - https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/ GREATGARDENTRAILSEASONPASS2023

• To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice call 01473 723600 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk.

The 2023 Great Garden Trail is being held from now until to September, featuring a great variety of gardens supported by whole villages as well as beautiful hidden gems for the public to explore in return for a donation to St Elizabeth Hospice.

Lesley Rawlinson, Community and Partnerships Fundraiser at St Elizabeth Hospice, said, “It is that time of the year again where gardens across the region open their gates in support of the hospice and we cannot wait to join everyone in enjoying all the gardens taking part in the hospice’s Great Garden Trail 2023.

“Every year it is a real privilege to see the fantastic green fingered skills of gardeners throughout the county and we are so thankful for their support. So do make sure to visit our website to see a full list of gardens taking part in this year’s trail and to find out more about how you can support your local hospice.”

In total 26 locations will feature in this year’s trail, from solo gardens to communities opening together for the public to explore this summer, including Rydal Mount (near Halesworth), Otley Hall, Kersey Village Open Gardens and Columbine Hall.

Save Money: Shower with a Friend!!

Researchers found 30 per cent are curtailing their showering habits as the cost-of-living crisis bites, with 27 per cent worried about how their hygiene routine is impacting bills.

A third of those cutting back are even turning off the water when it’s not needed - such as when conditioning hair - and 11 per cent now use dry shampoo instead of washing. While 17 per cent combine a shower with brushing their teeth.

Yet, the typical adult still has six showers a week, lasting an average of eight minutes each time – with three quarters claiming anything longer than 10 minutes is ‘too long’ to spend in the shower.

The poll of 2,000 adults found 42 per cent opt for washing in the morning compared to 27 per cent in the evening - the most popular times are 7.45am and 7.54pm.

A spokesperson for energy firm Utilita, which commissioned the research as part of its Bill Busters energy education sessions, said, “While the cost of heating up water is so expensive, households are clearly keen to do what they can to save, including showering together to cut costs by half.

“By cutting the average shower time in half – to four minutes - we can each save £112 a year, which could be spent on food shopping or other outgoings instead, and in doing so we reduce the impact we have on the environment, too.”

The research also found only 74 per cent of the time in a shower is spent washing, with the rest of the time spent doing other things such as cleaning it. Others admit they listen to podcasts (15 per cent) and even have a wee (29 per cent). Seven in 10 also admitted they let the water run before getting in for an average of 17 seconds. And, 41 per cent confessed they never turn

the water off mid-way through, while only 15 per cent do when exfoliating and 18 per cent do as they wait for conditioner to set.

Four-minute shower challenge

It also emerged shower times increase by an average of three minutes when adults wash their hair three times a week, while shaving adds on five additional minutes, which people do twice a week. Women also frequently use hair masks (17 per cent) and face masks (12 per cent) in the shower, both of which add on seven minutes to the standard time. As a result, people argue with others in their household three times a week about washing times, with 31 per cent complaining others spend too much time under the water. And 26 per cent have been accused of this themselves.

Of those polled via OnePoll, 44 per cent have been known to wash more than once a day, including after exercising (48 per cent), before attending an event (41 per cent) and following sex (33 per cent). But 32 per cent admitted they feel dirty if they don’t shower every day, although 18 per cent often lose track of time and forget how long they’ve been under the water. As a result, a fifth would like to know how to have a more efficient shower.

Utilita’s spokesperson added, “Until you’ve given the four-minute shower challenge a go it’s hard to imagine cutting your shower time in half, but it’s actually very easy with a bit of practice.”

Clean up or break-up Messy partners put strain on relationships

Research of 2,000 adults in a relationship revealed 47 per cent argue on a weekly basis about clutter in their home, with 30 per cent claiming the amount of clutter their other half builds up gives them the ‘ick’. And 23 per cent have admitted their partner’s approach to tidiness has put a strain on their relationship.

The most common messes that fuel arguments include piles of random items sitting around, stacked up dirty plates and wet towels left where they were last used.

The research was commissioned by local-sharing app Olio, to encourage people to pass on their unwanted possessions to those who live nearby, to help declutter their space this Bank Holiday weekend.

Master KonMari, consultant and professional home organiser, Sue Spencer, who is working with the brand, said, “We all have different levels of ‘clutter tolerance’ and this can inevitably cause some frictions in relationships if your partner’s view of a tidy home isn’t in line with how you’d like your home to look and feel.

to children’s belongings. However, 18 per cent admitted the issue lies with them. Over a third would be embarrassed for other people to see the state of their home on an average day.

A quarter of adults rate themselves as the indecisive type, while 24 per cent consider themselves a sentimentalist and 19 per cent struggle to prioritise having a tidy. One in five of those polled, via OnePoll, declutter their home once a year or less, though 34 per cent do so every three to six months.

Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio, which has given away eight million household items and 95 million portions of food since its launch globally in 2015, added, “As the research has shown, clearly different people have different levels of clutter tolerance.

“By giving away items you no longer need, not only are you doing a good thing for your community and the planet, you could also be saving your relationship too – unless you’re giving away your partner’s possessions without checking of course.”

• To find out what your ‘clutter type’ is, take the Clutter Quiz at https://olioapp.com/en/olio-updates/whats-your-clutter-type/ which will give you some insights from Master KonMari, consultant and professional home organiser Sue Spencer on what could be causing your clutter and how to tackle it.

The most annoying types of household messiness

• Piles of random items left sitting around

• Dirty plates stacked up

• Wet towels left lying around

• Used tissues not chucked away

• Used breakfast bowls left lying around

• Drinking glasses left in the living room from the night before

• Worn clothes left in the bathroom

• Empty crisp packets lying around

• Socks left everywhere

• Old cups left to go mouldy

• Piles of opened letters

• Pants strewn across the floor

• Bagged up items for the charity shop that never leave the house

“The environment we live in impacts our emotions and moods and therefore when things at home aren’t aligned it can cause arguments and resentment – neither of which are good for a joyful life.

“When you aren’t comfortable in the way your home feels you are less likely to relax, connect and spend quality time with each other – especially if one of you feels they are constantly tidying up the space.

“Clutter has been shown to impact on cortisol levels so if you are sensitive to the level of clutter in your space you are more likely to feel stressed.”

The study also found toys never tidied away, bagged up items for the charity shop that never leave the house and used breakfast bowls and old drinking glasses are among the major irritations.

Messy living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms were the rooms proven to wind people up the most. But despite the bust ups, 15 per cent reckon their home is tidied to a satisfactory level. Almost half feel there is a lot of clutter in their home, with 40 per cent blaming their partner and 22 per cent putting it down

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Fruit trees under threat

n The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has released its annual disease ranking, revealing the most prevalent problems for gardeners in 2022.

The top ten list shows an increase in diseases of fruit trees, nine of the top eleven have the potential to impact fruit crop, cause leaf defoliation and even plant death. These diseases are largely linked to the extreme weather conditions we are seeing under climate change, including periods of drought, high temperatures and heavy rainfall which cause plants to become stressed and therefore more susceptible to problems. An uptick in planting of fruit trees in gardens in recent years, including heritage varieties that could be more prone to disease, is also thought to be a factor. There were a high number of enquiries about brown rot of fruit, apple and pear scab and silver leaf, which most often kills Prunus fruit trees. These pathogens can ruin fruit and cause blossom to wilt in spring. Damage to fruit can be a particular concern for gardeners, as it affects their crop and many diseases cause very visible problems.

The list continues to be topped by honey fungus, which has taken the number one spot every year since the list was first published in 1995. The fungus has a large host range of more than 140 garden plants, particularly large woody ones, and results in dramatic symptoms, including death, cracked and bleeding bark and failure to flower. Stress is known to leave plants more susceptible to honey fungus.

To minimise plant disease this year, gardeners are advised to ensure the right plant is in the right place, and should consider good plant care and hygiene, including mulching plants now while the soil is moist, ready to trap water in case of another dry summer, and pruning any dead or diseased material at the right time of year. For apple and pear trees this can be done in winter while they are still dormant, while Prunus should be pruned in summer when silver leaf is less prevalent.

Liz Beal, RHS Plant Pathologist, said, “The prolonged drought last summer followed by a wet and mild autumn provided the perfect conditions for fungi

to spread, so it is unsurprising that we have seen an increase in many diseases, particularly in fruit trees which can be very susceptible to rot and other fungi. Gardeners can help combat many of the most common diseases in our ranking by practising good hygiene, keeping tools clean and removing diseased plant material from their gardens. Providing the preferred conditions for the plants in your garden can also help ensure plants do not become stressed and less able to fight off infection.

“The RHS is also calling on gardeners to remain vigilant to new plant problems. For example, blueberry rust could become more of a concern as an increasing number of gardeners try out crops that were previously the preserve of warmer climates.”

The RHS Plant Health team uses the disease ranking to inform their research and advice. Ongoing research projects at RHS Garden Wisley’s Hilltop: Home of Gardening Science include investigating the efficacy of silicon as a treatment for rose black spot, the prevalence of honey fungus spread by spores versus underground mycelium to help inform management and whether Phytophthora root rot is still present in previously cleared areas. RHS members get free access to the charity’s one-to-one Gardening Advice Service, available by phone or email. Find out more about becoming a member at: www.rhs.org.uk/join

RHS advice pages are available for everyone, for further information, visit: www.rhs.org.uk/advice

The top diseases for 2022 are:

1. Honey fungus

2. Phytophthora root rot

3. Powdery mildew on Prunus (cherry laurel)

4. Rose black spot

5. Peach leaf curl

6. Brown rot of fruit

7. Silver leaf

9. Apple and pear scab

= Pear rust

= Apple and pear canker

= Bacterial leaf spot and canker of Prunus (fruit trees)

Achieving a night’ssatisfyingsleep

A top sleep expert has given 10 top tips on how to curate your bedroom space for the perfect night of slumber – including banishing the floordrobe, putting bed socks on and keeping anything work-related away from the bed.

Expert Hannah Shore revealed that watching TV to doze off isn’t always bad - if the content is calming.

She said, “You’ve all heard about blue light, how this can stop you from sleeping and we should be off our phones for at least an hour before bed – but this doesn’t work for everyone.

“Blue light isn’t always bad, and most devices now come with an eye comfort mode setting anyway, swapping out those harsh blue tones for softer yellow ones. It is the content we are looking at which causes more harm. Looking at the news or watching something tense can all lead our bodies to be on edge, producing wake promoting hormones like cortisol.

“Instead of watching anything overly addictive and intense like Happy Valley, which makes you think ‘just one more’, it’s best to watch something you’ve already seen before like re-runs of Friends, or a relaxing programme.”

It comes after a poll of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Premier Inn, found people have tried different ways to make their bedroom a more relaxing environment, including getting new pillows, a new mattress and blackout curtains.

And really nailing down these basics such as bedding can significantly improve the quality of your rest, according to Shore, who is working with Premier Inn in partnership with Silentnight.

She said, “How you sleep predicts the thickness of your pillow.

“Front and back sleepers need a thinner pillow, side sleepers need a thicker pillow to fill the gap between the ear and the shoulder. Another easy fix for better sleep is to wear appropriate nightwear and being aware of what you eat and drink two hours before bed.”

Hannah said, “PJs should be loosefitted and light, while bed socks can increase the blood circulation which can help with cooling the body down. Avoid eating large meals late in the evening, because digestion causes our body temperature to raise when it should be dropping.

“Also be mindful of what you drink as caffeine can block receptors in our brain making our bodies think we are not tired. Alcohol can act as a sedative for the first phase of sleep, however it then acts as a stimulant

leaving the rest of the night’s sleep light and fractured. Many alcoholfree drinks contain a lot of sugar which can also keep you awake.” More than half of those surveyed believe a messy bedroom affects their sleep, despite 57 per cent utilising their ‘floordrobe’ – chucking clothes on the floor each night rather than hanging them up. A quarter also don’t make their bed in the morning.

It also emerged seven in 10 of those polled, via OnePoll, claim a bad night’s sleep has a negative impact on their mood. While 52 per cent can’t remember the last time they had what they’d describe as a perfect night’s sleep.

Simon Ewins, managing director at Premier Inn said, “It seems there’s a big sleep gap across the nation, with millions not nodding off how they’d like.”

Sleep expert Hannah Shore’s top 10 bedroom tips for a better night’s sleep

1. TV and devices: Tech isn’t always bad. If you are using a device before bed, use it in eye comfort mode to create calming sounds, listen to podcasts or even help with certain breathing exercises. Avoid viewing content such as news - it promotes wake hormones.

2. Socks: Bed socks can help with cooling the body down. Ideally your body temperature needs to naturally drop by a couple of degrees to get good quality sleep.

3. Clutter: Banish the floordrobe! A cluttered bedroom can cause the mind to feel stressed and stress is sleep’s worst enemy. Ensuring you have places to put away all your belongings and keep sides and floors clear can really help this.

4. Pillows: Finding the right pillow to support your sleeping position is a must. If you are a front or back sleeper, you will need a thinner pillow. Side sleepers will need a thicker pillow to fill the gap between the ear and the edge of the shoulder.

5. Dark Light: When you are going to bed try keeping the light levels in your room low by using a bed side lamp instead of the bright ceiling light. Dim light helps our bodies to start producing sleep hormones, like melatonin.

6. Bright Light: Bright light when the sun rises too early can wake you easily by telling your body to stop

producing sleep hormones. At home make sure to have blackout blinds or curtains, or even an eye mask to block out those bright lights.

7. Working: We often take our work to bed with us, either trying to remember to do things the following day or literally checking emails whilst we should be sleeping. This can cause our minds to work overtime, struggle to switch off and therefore struggle to fall asleep.

8. Comfort: Comfort is essential for a good night’s sleep. From different types of pillows, a new mattress or even adding a padded mattress topper can improve sleep comfort. Some hotel chains (like Premier Inn) sell their beds and bedding so is the

perfect opportunity to ‘try before you buy’.

9. Bed sharing: Sharing a bed is great, cuddles can relax and destress you. However, the number one cause for disrupted sleep is partner disturbance so make sure you have the right conversations and prioritise each other’s sleep.

10. Winddown routine: As adults we often forget the importance of a good winddown routine, allowing your mind and body to switch off from everything that has happened throughout the day. Our body needs time to relax so it can stop producing all those wake promoting hormones and allow our bodies to realise it is time to sleep.

Create your own Coronation Container

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will kick off National Gardening Week 2023 on 1st May, for a week of gardening across the UK, in the lead up to the coronation of King Charles III. This year the theme for National Gardening Week is ‘Create Your Coronation Container’ as the RHS calls on people to celebrate King Charles and his love of horticulture by creating colourful planting schemes in whatever available space they may have, whether that be a window box, a hanging basket, or even an old pair of wellies.

The King is known as a champion of the environment and an ardent supporter of the

nation’s passion for gardening, so the RHS is inviting people to produce jubilant planting schemes to mark the beginning of his reign.

their social media channels, using the hashtag #nationalgardeningweek.

National Gardening Week is the nation’s biggest celebration of gardening and raises awareness of the difference that gardens and gardening can make to the lives of everyone in the UK. It inspires more people, particularly the next generation of gardeners, to experience the joy of growing and creating beautiful green spaces.

Participants are encouraged to let their imaginations run riot in concocting colourful displays, whether they feature a nod to the King in the form of his favourite flower, the delphinium, or perhaps Alchemilla Mollis, the preferred plant of the Queen Consort.

The RHS is calling on those who get involved to share images that capture the coronation spirit on

Clare Matterson, Director General of the RHS, says, “Immersing our hands in soil, gardening and being in nature brings joy and happiness, lifting our spirits and benefiting our physical health. National Gardening Week is all about encouraging even more people across the country to experience that joy for themselves, regardless of their background or plant knowledge. Given King Charles’ well documented love of gardening we’re calling on the nation to get planting in the week of his coronation, and I can’t wait to see people’s creativity come to life.”

• For more information about National Gardening Week, visit the RHS website at: www.rhs.org.uk/nationalgardeningweek.

FLOWER FESTIVAL

Deben Flower Club will be displaying a spectacular array of floral designs in St. Marys and St. Martins Church, Church Lane, Kirton IP10 0PU on Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th June from 10am to 4pm each day.

“Musicals in Flowers” is the theme of this year’s Festival and there will be a wide range

Set your alarm for Dawn Chorus Day

International Dawn Chorus Day takes place on Sunday 7th May and the RSPB is inviting you to wrap your ears around nature’s finest musical experience. Wherever you live, this amazing festival of bird song (known as the Dawn Chorus) happens on your doorstep.

Starting about an hour before sunrise (around 4.30am) birds take advantage of the still, quiet air to trumpet, squeak and caw to attract a mate and warn off rivals from their patch. Don’t worry if that’s a bit early for you, though – they often continue singing until about 7am so you can catch their final encore.

engaging events and guided walks on its nature reserves designed to help you experience the magic of the dawn chorus first-hand.

not set an early alarm call and join an event near you.”

If you’re not sure what you’re hearing and you’d like to have a go at identifying your local singing superstars, the RSPB’s Birdsong Identifier at https://www.rspb.org. uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-songs/ what-bird-is-that/ will help you put a name to some of those mysterious unmasked singers!

A recent YouGov poll commissioned by the RSPB found 91% of UK adults agree that seeing birds and hearing birdsong have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.

of colourful and imaginative designs depicting musicals old and new, arranged throughout the Church.

Tea coffee and cake will be available in the Church Hall throughout the festival and if you would like to treat yourself to something special, Afternoon Tea consisting of a delicious selection of sandwiches, cakes, jam and cream scones and tea or coffee will also be available throughout the Festival but must be ordered in advance. Last orders 3.30pm each day. £14.00 per person. There will be plants to purchase and a raffle. For further details and to book your afternoon tea please Telephone 07910463158 or email wa@sandlings.co.uk

While it’s still dark, you may hear the first robins and blackbirds, even in city centres. As it gets progressively lighter more and more birds will join in and by dawn the springtime chorus will be in full swing. Even if you don’t know which bird is which, simply immersing yourself in the amazing sounds of this free concert can be a breath-taking experience that will eclipse any Glastonbury headliner.

Jon Carter, the RSPB’s Dawn Chorus Manager, said, “Whether you’re a seasoned dawn chorus festival-goer or a newcomer keen to experience nature’s celebratory symphony, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with nature on your doorstep. You don’t even need to leave your home, simply fling open your windows and doors and enjoy nature’s free concert.”

If you want to go further afield, the RSPB is offering a wide range of

Jon added, “Our expert guides will bring nature’s concert to life. Whether you’re at the Wetland stage (headliners include Bittern, Reed Warbler and Swallow), the Woodland stage (where you can catch sets by such big names as Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Nuthatch) or the Garden stage (give it up for the Song Thrush, Blackbird and perennial festival favourite, the one-and-only Robin!) you’re sure to have a thrilling and memorable experience. So, why

Sadly, bird populations in the UK are declining and 38 million birds have vanished from our skies in the last 50 years. Many of the birds who lend their song to the Dawn Chorus are struggling. Song thrushes have declined by 49% since the 1960s, while Starlings have declined by over 80% since the 1970s.

Visit: www.rspb.org.uk/dawnchorus to see the full festival line-up and to find events near you.

Join in our celebration of the Dawn Chorus on social media, using the hashtag #DawnChorusDay.

n Blue Tit

n Green Finch

The results are in for the Big Garden Birdwatch

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results 2023: House Sparrow tops the UK charts for 20th year running, but bird declines since the survey began are “startling”.

In Suffolk, more than 12,000 people took part this year, with the Blue-Tit taking the top spot as the most commonly seen bird, followed by House Sparrow and Woodpigeon. House Sparrows have held on to the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch UK top spot for an incredible 20 years running, while long term trends in the number of Long-Tailed Tits, Greenfinches and Chaffinches recorded in gardens over the past decade highlight the fragility of our natural world.

This year’s findings come as Sir David Attenborough says, “We must act now” to Save Our Wild Isles; joining forces with the National Trust, WWF and RSPB to sound an urgent SOS call for nature.

Since the RSPB’s first Big Garden Birdwatch, in 1977, more than 38 million birds have been lost from our skies, and this shocking figure is only set to rise without urgent action.

While nearly 1.5 million House Sparrows may have been spotted across the January weekend, these popular garden birds have sadly suffered severe declines. In fact, the number spotted in gardens across the UK has dropped by nearly 60 per cent since the survey first began, and nearly 22 million House Sparrows have been lost from the UK since 1966.

The RSPB’s Chief Executive, Beccy Speight said, “With so many people sending in their sightings over the weekend from across the UK, Big Garden Birdwatch really helps paint a picture of how our garden birds are faring.

“While we celebrate the 20-year stint of the House Sparrow at number one, the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the startling declines of some of our once common birds. We are in a nature and climate emergency. We’ve lost 38 million birds from our skies in the last 50 years.”

Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in Song Thrush numbers, which are still down 80 per cent compared to the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979. This species was a firm fixture in

the top 10 in 1979 but by 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded 44 years ago. The Song Thrush came in at number 20 in the rankings this year, seen in just nine per cent of gardens. This year’s results have also highlighted the vulnerabilities of garden birds, from weather changes to disease. The Long-Tailed Tit, a much-loved species, rose five positions in the rankings this year, with numbers 39 per cent higher than in 2022. However, LongTailed Tits are susceptible to harsh weather conditions, with the numbers recorded fluctuating since the Big Garden Birdwatch began, highlighting the fragility of some of our smaller garden birds. Meanwhile, Greenfinches and Chaffinches have been badly affected by a disease known as trichomonosis. As a result, the UK Chaffinch population has declined by 34 per cent over the last decade, while Greenfinches have declined by 65 per cent over the same time frame.

Trichomonosis can be spread by contaminated food and drinking water and garden owners can help by ensuring that feeders, bird tables and bird baths are moved around to stop food waste building up, regularly cleaning with a mild disinfectant and only filling up feeders with enough food to last up to two days. If you see sick birds where you are feeding, temporarily stop feeding for at least two weeks and leave bird baths dry.”

The TRUE cost of hard water

Hard water affects 17m UK households and not only increases your energy bills, but also damages expensive appliances, as well as your home’s plumbing system.

Untreated hard water causes limescale to build up on every surface it comes in contact with. While you can physically see limescale on your taps, shower heads and elsewhere around the home and it’s a pain to clean, it’s the hidden limescale that does the most costly damage. How does hard water damage plumbing and appliances?

Hard water creates limescale build-up which acts as a powerful insulator when it accumulates on any heating element, meaning that the element must work longer and harder in order to heat the water surrounding it. As a natural process, the build-up will occur unless it’s actively addressed. This additional strain causes heating elements to burn out prematurely or even explode, resulting in expensive engineer visits and costly parts replacement.

Steve Griffin, Technical Manager for national plumbers, MetroPlumb, says, “Households can expect to pay £500 or more for every engineer visit to repair boiler components damaged by limescale and for boiler replacements it can be well over £1,000 which is why we recommend treating hard water in the home as a preventative measure.”

In addition to your appliances, your plumbing is also at risk of costly damage. Limescale causes narrowing within pipework, affecting your water pressure and flow rate and damaging plumbing components. Which appliances are affected?

Limescale is a common sight in the kettle, and while it’s not very nice to look at, more importantly it means you’ll be replacing the kettle more frequently than you should. However, there are many more places for limescale to accumulate and cause damage which may surprise you, for example inside your dishwasher, washing machine, steam iron, steam oven and inside boiling water taps. While these appliances are by no means inexpensive to replace, we’ll address three other areas which have the potential to cause the most havoc in your home.

Boilers

While you might assume the damage is done when you turn on your central heating, that’s not actually the case. Central heating is a ‘closed system’, meaning the water that is inside the system remains there and continually circulates, so limescale is not actually much of a problem when it comes to heating your home. However, when you heat water for your shower, bath or for any other purpose, limescale adds up to 25% or more to that energy consumption which accounts for around 14% of your energy bill. Being one of the most expensive appliances to replace in the home, limescale damage inside your boiler is extremely costly and a great inconvenience if it fails during the winter months. Of course, it’s not just the boilers which can be damaged by limescale, the scale will impact in much the same way on any immersion heater element in a hot water cylinder with a costly consequences.

Steve Griffin adds, “Appliances are prone to limescale damage from the moment they are installed and your boiler is no exception. In my personal experience, I’ve seen this result in boiler replacements within 10 years of installation or less, as opposed to 20 years or more when they are protected against hard water….combi boilers and immersion heaters are particularly susceptible due to their compact size while limescale can actually corrode hot water cylinders resulting in leaking systems.”

Toilets

Toilet cisterns are prone to limescale, affecting the function of the ball valve which controls water flow. When limescale builds up and prevents it from functioning properly, the toilet can run continuously, wasting water. If your water supply is metred, this wasted water will increase your bills while the damage done inside the cistern will eventually require repair or replacement. And just like built-in showers, if you have a built-in toilet, repairing or replacing it will require access through the wall, adding expense and inconvenience to the problem.

Showers

Shower heads are particularly susceptible to limescale, reducing the flow of water and eventually blocking it completely. However, shower heads are reasonably easy to clean. If you have an electric shower, limescale damages the unit internally where it’s almost impossible to clean, eventually leading to premature failure. And if you have a mixer shower that is built into your

shower wall, the outlook is even worse. The thermostatic or manual valves which controls your shower temperature are typically built into the wall so you can imagine the work involved to replace it when it fails due to scale build up. Similarly tap valves and their cartridges also suffer badly with limescale affecting their ability to perform properly or start to leak, needing maintenance or premature replacement.

Steve Griffin Continues, “Electric showers are particularly prone to failure due to limescale as the design is very similar to that of a combi boiler.”

How do I treat hard water in my home?

While there are many limescale treatments available, they typically use harsh chemicals which are then washed down the drain and into the watercourse, and that’s bad news for our rivers and their wildlife. However, by treating hard water as it enters the home with a sustainable water conditioner which does not use any salts or chemicals, you’ll be protecting your expensive appliances and plumbing system from damage, and saving money on your energy bills while protecting the environment too. “It costs on average about £300 to have an engineer clean the accessible parts of your boiler, but it won’t be long before the scale reappears. Prevention is far more effective and economical than regular maintenance.” Samantha Mant, CEO of Halcyan Water Conditioners, said, “As the cost of living continues to rise, the last thing a household wants is to spend money fixing or replacing expensive appliances in the home or wasting energy. We’re very concerned that no one is talking about this easy energy saving action and we’re keen to spread the word as fast as possible. This small device takes under an hour to install, requires no space or maintenance and the water is entirely safe to drink. It not only prevents future limescale but also removes existing limescale in your system and with a 30 year warranty, users can relax knowing that limescale damage is one thing less to worry about.”

You’re never too young to catch the gardening bug!

Are you green-fingered or do you stay well away from house plants, seeds and gardens? How excited do you get about a trip to the garden centre? Do you know how courgettes are grown? How confident would you feel about growing a plant from a seed?

It comes after a study of 2,000 adults found Brits get the bug for gardening at just 26. Despite the pastime having an ‘older’ stereotype, young adults are gaining a new-found love for it, with 56 per cent putting this down to its mental health benefits. Others enjoy gardening because plants can brighten up a home or a garden or find it therapeutic to watch something grow. And 66 per cent want to do more fruit and vegetable growing from seeds and plants to keep themselves fed.

But many feel they are stopped from pursuing an interest in gardening more by a lack of time, not having any outdoor space and not knowing enough about how to do it.

One in four don’t believe they have the right equipment to successfully grow their own, while 23 per cent are too frightened of bugs and spiders to get their hands dirty.

A spokesman for seed and plant producer Mr Fothergill’s, which commissioned the research, said, “Gardening and growing your own from seed can be super rewarding and great for your wellbeing, so it’s great people are getting stuck in at such a young age. But many feel there are a few barriers in their way, including a lack of outdoor space. This isn’t the case though, as it’s possible to grow a great range of things indoors, if you can put in a bit of work.”

The research also found 47 per cent of those polled feel there is something ‘special’ about eating things they’ve grown themselves. Carrots, onions and peppers were included in the top 10 vegetables people would like to grow themselves. And 64 per cent would prefer to grow their own veg than buy it from a supermarket, according to the OnePoll.com data.

The main reasons for this are wanting to ensure it’s the freshest produce possible, finding it rewarding to monitor its progress and knowing exactly where it’s come from. But for those who feel held back by a lack of outdoor space, 47 per cent have tried growing something on their windowsill. And of these, 79 per cent believe their attempt was successful.

TV gardener David Domoney, who is heading up the Mr Fothergill’s Windowsill Gardening campaign to encourage new people to grow veg indoors and save money, said, “Growing plants on the windowsill is many people’s first experience in gardening. The more experience we develop with growing plants indoors, the more our windowsills become populated by a variety of plants that brighten our homes and purify the air indoors.

“Growing plants indoors has many benefits, including feeding the family with fresh, healthy, and flavoursome produce, generating excitement at the first signs of germination, and the true happiness at watching it grow before our eyes.

“There are significant mental health benefits of tending and nurturing plants, and the enhanced vitamin enriched flavour of picking fresh and making use of the produce in meals within your own home results in physical wellbeing also.”

n David Domoney

FLY TIPPING INCIDENTS HAVE DROPPED

n The number of fly-tipping incidents in the region has fallen, new figures have revealed.

In the wake of government findings, a rural insurance specialist is calling on landowners to double down on their efforts to keep environmental criminals at bay in a bid to maintain the positive trend.

According to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), a total of 75,664 fly-tipping incidents were recorded across the region in 2021/22. This was down from 79,726 in the previous year.

Anderson Fossett, of rural insurance broker, Lycetts, said, “The figures are very encouraging, but it is important that landowners continue to remain vigilant if the downward trajectory is to continue. Making it difficult for environmental criminals to access land is one of the most effective preventative measures you can take.

“Gates should be locked when not in use, fences should be in a good state of repair and hedges should be cut back to allow good visibility for property owners. Flytippers tend to operate under cover of darkness, so exterior lighting should be installed, if possible.

Security cameras can also be an effective deterrent, and can help secure successful prosecutions.”

As well as posing significant and environmental health risks, flytipping can be a legal and financial burden. While local authorities

will pay the clean-up costs of clearing waste from public land, farmers and other landowners have responsibility for cleaning and removing waste from private land. With 564 incidents of agricultural fly-tipping in the region, and with clean-up costs averaging £1,000, and large-scale incidents costing £10,000, it can be an expensive business.

Failure to comply can result in prosecution.

Fossett advised a combined farm insurance policy, which covers the clean-up costs, typically capped between £10,000 and £15,000 for the insurance period.

• Conservation Group Update

The Portal Woodlands Conservation Group volunteers returned to clearing the perimeter track in March.

Over winter, the accumulation of decomposed leaves had created a lot of mud, and they try to keep this clear and safe for visitors. As we enter the bird nesting season, the Group ask dog owners to please keep their dogs to the marked paths, using leads if necessary. This is to prevent disturbance in the areas around bird boxes, and particularly ground-nesting birds.

The next Volunteer work morning

is Saturday 20th May from 10am to Noon, meeting at the Education Area. New volunteers of all ages and abilities are always welcome. No experience needed. For further information, please contact the Group at pwcg.martlesham@gmail. com, phone: 01473 612632 or visit the website: pwcg.onesuffolk.net or join the members’ Facebook Group by messaging Duncan Sweeting.

Stephen Corley, Chairman

Superhero volunteers helped the RSPCA collect, transport and release nearly 2,400 wild animals last year - and now the charity wants people to give a little bit of time this summer to do their bit for wildlife, as part of the Big Help Out.

The huge contribution made by the animal charity’s animal rescue volunteers is highlighted as the RSPCA is urging people to sign up as a ‘Wildlife Friend’ and join thousands of others making a difference as part of the Big Help Out on 8th May - a mass volunteering initiative to mark King Charles III’s Coronation celebrations.

By generously offering their time and expertise, animal rescue volunteers (ARVs) provide invaluable support for the RSPCA’s frontline officers, freeing them up to focus on the animals who are victims of cruelty and neglect who most need their specialist skills. The volunteers collect sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and transport them to RSPCA wildlife centres, external wildlife rehabilitators or veterinary establishments. They also help release rehabilitated wildlife back into the wild and have now started transferring some small domestic animals from centres and private boarders to vets.

Now the RSPCA wants more animal lovers to take action for wildlife and follow in the footsteps of their animal rescue volunteers. By becoming Wildlife Friends they can make a pledge to volunteer their time on the 8th May and beyond to complete small tasks to support, nurture and protect the wildlife with which they share their communities - with even small contributions potentially making a big difference.

Wildlife Friends includes a choice of simple ideas to help wildlife on the doorstep either on your own, or as part of your family or group of friends, or even the wider community.

For example, volunteers could:

- Organise a litter pick

- Plant wildlife-friendly plants in gardens and window boxes

- Build nest boxes for wild animals

- Put food out for hedgehogs or create a hedgehog highway

- Get together with their neighbours to start a wildlife project

- Join ‘No mow May’ and make a habitat for butterflies, bees and insects in gardens

- Join online social media groups and signpost RSPCA advice about wildlife

RSPCA head of volunteering Brian Reeves said, “Volunteers are critical to the RSPCA. We have some 10,000 volunteers including a network of about 140-branches across England and Wales which help tens of thousands of animals every single year. That work is made possible thanks to people who care generously by giving up their time to make a kinder world.

“But we can all do our bit for animals and Wildlife Friends is great for anyone who can spare a few minutes, or a couple of hours. Could you get together with friends or family to undertake a litter pick, so wild animals in your area don’t get injured by or tangled up in litter?

“Or do you fancy making a bug hotel to encourage minibeasts to your community which in turn will bring birds, butterflies and creatures like hedgehogs? Or perhaps you could get together with neighbours to create a wildlife garden in your street? Or are you a whiz on social media, so you can help share our vital wildlife education messaging so people know exactly what to do if they find a baby bird out of the nest?

“These things will all make a huge difference for wild animals, and their welfare - and we’re hoping even more amazing volunteers join us as part of the Big Help Out.”

Those interested in becoming a Wildlife Friend can find out more information on the RSPCA website at www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer/ thebighelpout

Join the RSPCA’s vice president, Steve Backshall, on May 8th for the Big Help Out by signing up to be a Wildlife Friend at www.rspca.org.uk/thebighelpout

Windows that look good and save money

Eastern Counties Home improvements Ltd’s well engineered A rated windows achieve a U Value of 1.4W/m²K and will reduce energy consumption while looking good for years to come. They provide A rated energy efficient windows for no additional cost so you can minimise your impact on the environment while both saving money and enhancing the appearance of your home.

Single glazed windows, or those installed before April 2002, could be losing heat and therefore money. Switching to energy efficient windows can save energy and reduce your heating bills by up to £461.00 per year

The British Fenestration Rating Council states, “If you live in a single glazed house and install Energy Efficient Windows, you could reduce the energy you use by 0.30 tonnes or 18% - almost reaching the Government target of 20% reduction per household.

Add to this other simple energy saving measures – such as insulating your home and turning down the central heating by 1° C - and you could be making a real impact on reducing your carbon footprint.

Swift return

After two years of planning and preparation, Woodbridge Swifts has installed a row of 15 well concealed nest boxes under the eaves of St Mary’s House in the Market Square. The aim of the project has been to return nesting swifts (a red listed species) to the Market Square after an absence of many years.

The success of the project will be slow to emerge. The only measurements they can take will be the number of years it takes for the boxes to be occupied and the number boxes occupied. But the presence of the boxes should cause an immediate increase in public awareness resulting in more enquiries about swifts and nest boxes and an increased response to activities.

Because at Eastern Counties Home Improvements Ltd they do not produce dramatic television campaigns, they can supply energy efficient windows for a much lower cost than many of the national double glazing companies.

Eastern Counties Home Improvements Ltd are also registered installer of the Sarnafil Roof Assured roofing system. A unique 1 ply membrane with a 40 year plus life expectancy and all installations carry a 15 year manufacturer’s material guarantee.

Sarnafil products were first developed in Switzerland in 1958, primarily for use on commercial and industrial buildings. Designed to cope with temperatures ranging from -30°C to 120°C and to withstand all weather conditions.

Whatever your flat roofing requirement Sarnafil Roof Assured will provide you with a solution that looks good and provides lasting performance, with minimum maintenance required.

Sarnafil flat roofing provides perfect roofing solution for homes and extensions, conservatories, balconies and terraces, dormers, porches and garages. Available in a range of colours, the weather resistant hardwearing membrane provides value for money and can improve the thermal efficiency of your home.

So, if you’re looking to reduce your energy bills and do your little bit for the environment too, then talk to Eastern Counties Home Improvements Ltd. Not only will can they enhance the look of your home they will save you money on your heating bills too!

For more information contact Eastern Counties Home Improvements Ltd for a free no obligation quotation 01473 206299/01206 252393 or visit www.ec-homeimprovements.co.uk/

• Come and visit us on our stand at Hadleigh Show on 20th May.

Woodbridge has had a thriving swift population which has declined. The work over the past six years has aimed to halt that decline.

Woodbridge Swifts have provided more nest sites by installing over 150 nest boxes, a number of which are already occupied. The Market Square, with its medieval and C18th buildings will have been home to many swifts in the past.

One of the buildings in a good position for swift nest boxes is St Mary’s House, the shop and offices of St Mary’s Parish Church. The Rector and the PCC are fully supportive of this project. The boxes have been installed on the north side facing the square.

Woodbridge Swifts are delighted to have completed this project with a grant from the Coast and Heaths Community and Conservation Fund.

Woodbridge Swifts have printed a leaflet about swifts in Woodbridge. This will be available in Woodbridge Library and Tourist Information Point as well as St Mary’s House and shops around the town. This will give information about the project and swifts in general to the people of Woodbridge. Those residents and visitors who pass through the Market Square during the summer, or sit outside the cafes and pubs on summer evenings, will it’s hoped, in years to come be able to enjoy the sight and sounds of swifts as they swoop and circle around the roofs. In the wider sense – this is a small piece in a large jigsaw of environmental action. The climate emergency, environmental degradation and loss of species can be mitigated to some extent by small projects such as this. Projects which catch the public eye are important for raising general awareness of these issues.

n For more information email woodbridge.swifts@gmail.com or visit group.rspb.org.uk/woodbridge/get-involved/

Most dangerous MoT failures

Lamps, reflectors and indicators continue to be the most frequent reasons for vehicles fail their MOTs, but it’s problems with brakes and tyres that are more likely to lead to the most serious failures, according to DVSA data analysed by the RAC.

Failures for non-working headlights, indicators and reflectors accounted for just over a quarter of all MOT failures in the 12 months to March 2022, while faulty or broken suspensions represented just under a fifth of all failures. Problems with brakes and tyres were the third and fourth biggest reasons for an MOT failure, with bad visibility – likely cracks on windscreens – rounding up the top five, representing just 8.7% of all MOT failures.

While a third of all initial MOT tests of cars, vans and small passenger vehicles – the equivalent to 7.3m vehicles – resulted in a fail and mean drivers need to fork out for remedial repair work, nearly one-in-10 tests – 8%, equivalent to 2.4m vehicles – worryingly result in a fail where at least one dangerous defect had been found.

In these most serious cases, where an examiner states a vehicle cannot be driven until that defect is repaired, brakes and tyres represent 88% of all such failures, emphasising just how critical it is for drivers to carry out routine checks on these items. Although the biggest causes of MOT failures have remained consistent over many years, the proportion of tyre failures has increased slightly from 10% in 2018-19 to 12% in 2021-22.

All cars require MOTs three years after first registration and annually thereafter. With drivers paying up to £54.80 for a car MOT test (class 4 vehicle) costs can soon mount up if work and parts are required, particularly if a vehicle has not been serviced regularly.

Even with cost-of-living pressures, it’s vitally important drivers keep

on top of vehicle maintenance otherwise they risk falling into the false economy trap where they pay much more later for repairs. To help with budgeting and to keep things simple, the RAC now offers MOT and Service Plans which spreads the cost of two years’ servicing and MOTs, and means drivers pay just one simple and affordable sum each month – with prices starting from just £18 a month for RAC members and £20 a month for all other drivers as of March 2023.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said, “Many drivers dread taking their vehicle for its annual MOT for fear they could end up having to spend lots of money on repairs in order to get it to pass. This is no doubt the case for an unlucky third of owners whose vehicles fail their MOTs initially.

“Drivers should never ignore dashboard warning lights as they could end up putting themselves or others at risk and costing themselves a lot of money with a bigger repair bill than necessary had they acted straightaway. Additionally, routine servicing helps reduce the chance of a vehicle failing its MOT as it includes a host of important basic checks.

“It’s also advisable to have someone check rear lights and indicators are working if the vehicle does not have modern dashboard warning lights. Keeping tyres properly inflated and having a smooth driving style will often help prolong the life of the rubber. And if something doesn’t sound or feel right, to get checked at a trusted garage as soon as possible.

Having been in place across the UK since 1960, the scope of the MOT has been expanded over the years to include additional checks, such as vehicle emissions which were added to the list of items required to be scrutinised in 2018. In 2021-22, emissions failures represented 5% of all failures when combined with noise and leak faults.

It also underwent a major change in May 2018 with the move away from a simple pass or fail with advisories to a new five-category system. Failures were split into two classes: major and dangerous, while three pass categories were introduced: pass; pass with minor defects; and a pass with advisories.

Last year, the UK Government was reported to be considering switching the MOT from annually to every two years, a move that over half of drivers (55%) thought was a bad idea according to data gathered by a survey of the RAC Opinion Panel.

Nicholas Lyes added, “With more than 7.3m small passenger vehicles initially failing their MOTs, and alarmingly around 2.4m of these failures having at least one dangerous defect, the idea of relaxing rules on MOT tests could very well result in making our roads far more dangerous with the number of unroadworthy vehicles increasing. We hope the Government has finally consigned such an idea to the bin.”

n Ford's Focus with Daniel Ford

If I was to say the name Ben Proud to you I can say with a fair degree of confidence that the majority of your responses would be “who?”.

As you know I like to shine a light on some of this country’s lesserknown sporting superstars, so here is a little profile on perhaps Britain’s most successful athlete that no one has heard of.

In 2022 Ben Proud won the following titles: the World Championship; the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games. The gold medal at the Commonwealths was his fifth in total, his gold at the European Championships was his third that he has won, his gold at the Worlds marked his second triumph. So, as you can tell he is pretty good. These medals were all won in the swimming pool. In fact, Ben Proud is technically the fastest man in water given that he won the world title in the 50 metres freestyle. It is effectively the equivalent of a British man winning 100m gold at the athletics World Championships, imagine the publicity that would get! Moreover, to make this achievement more impressive he became the first British man in history to win the 50 metre freestyle world championship.

When it comes to his lack of popularity I think there are a number of factors that contribute to it. Firstly, Proud does not have a big

personality, he isn’t the dynamic character that fellow swimmer Adam Peaty is and tends to be quite introverted in his nature. Secondly, I think that in this country in order to become a national name as a swimmer you need either to completely dominate your event which Proud has ultimately not done or you need to win an Olympic medal which is also something he has failed to do. He is the sort of character that is under appreciated in every sport, that one consistent performer who always delivers a solid effort and is there to pick up the pieces if the bigger names do not deliver.

To be the best in the world at what you do is an utterly remarkable achievement, I really hope that as Ben Proud nears the end of his career which may well culminate in Paris 2024 that he wins that Olympic medal which will thrust him into the limelight. I think what this also shows though is the work that swimming needs to do to recapture the imagination of the public, the sport needs more big characters to ignite public interest, the sport needs more iconic rivalries to ignite between competitors. Having said all that his still doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate the quiet man stood at the bag of the holding room earphones on totally in the zone, because that man is the fastest swimmer on the planet.