Voice Magazines - Clay Cross & Surrounding Villages - October 2026 by Voice Magazines and Artliff Design & Print

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From the Editor s,

Spooky Greetings Reader

ying Hockey, stuff for me was obvs pla a busy month! The good faves; Baby my Well, wasn’t September of e som h n a plethora of events wit the and s ion sess PT the ly friends Netball & my Carr with our love Parties, team socials, Jim ay thd Bir h oming 40t s, upc the wer Sho few! But, fitting with we never see, to name a to my ing pen hap who live so close and yet gs some not nice thin e gory bits as well and this is but ns, season there were som dow also are ere there are ups there Wh . ers mb me ily fam friends and de. where character is ma barely heating on? I mean, it’s up, who has turned the but I it in s ow Anyways, come on, fess ut 16 snuggly thr m in our house has abo k thin I t. osta rm affordable and every roo the the degrees on once it drops below 19 on the jog or it, must admit, I do struggle r bea can I if see come on at 18 though and r!! I’ve got to I might have to set it to rm again – it’d be cheape wa feel I il unt s ow thr rt days and sho spot whilst wearing 16 it’s the prospect of the for Autumn yet, I think ut it, and abo ic say, I’m not quite ready talg nos te cosy and there is something qui the whole in e tak little sunlight, but equally par not do we to note, start of it for me. Point oky themed Halloween signifies the y the reduced priced spo enjo do I but , een low n I should!! tha re Americanisation of Hal day after, far mo ilable in the shops the s and reds! wn sweets and chocolates ava bro and of orange love the autumnal colours And besides, who doesn’t #winkyface! If you know, you know! fire and a hot a good book, a roaring for sitting down with son sea this love r of Reading, Yea also I ntly the National know that 2026 is appare iration for insp chocolate to hand. Did you our see and I hope you is National Book Month m too, we the like add in to that October you e hop st! We obvs with a creepy twi – ers cov nt fro ’s as well nth lies this mo iously get the Negative Nel 90% of the time – we obv k bac feed ly love h suc get m!! but we don’t listen to the cks will living so close to a Starbu Spiced Latte – Oooooh, n the tur to off Right, time for a Pumpkin I’m e!! her wasted it, Halloween pun….I’m be the death of me!!! Get it. r notch so I can pay for thermostat down anothe edition!!! #mindblown – that’ll be the November See you next month team Emily x

for advertisers & contributors: Upcoming submission deadline ‘26 | DEC ‘26 EDITION - 6TH NOV NOV ‘26 EDITION - 8TH OCT ‘26

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made ines Limited for claims, errors or omissions responsibility is accepted by Voice Magaz of homes in North Derbyshire. Disclaimer: No by contributor or other sources. Reproduction ed express views for sible respon Printed by CPUK Ltd and distributed to 5,000 not are we 57 All advertisers are accepted in good faith and Registered in England & Wales No: 105505 er. publish in advertisements appearing in this issue. the of t consen prior the ed without the contents of this magazine is not permitt

PROFESSIONAL

Clay Cross, we’re now open ! Find us at Unit 2a Oakleaf Close, Egstow View Business Park, Clay Cross, S45 9UZ Mon-Sat: 7.30am to 5pm & Sun: 9am to 4pm We can’t wait to welcome you!

Celebrate with a £1 XL Roll To celebrate our new Clay Cross store, grab a Hot XL Sausage Roll or Hot XL Cheese & Onion Roll for just £1 when you present this voucher* *Offer available from Thursday 1st October to Saturday 31st October. 4 Only available in ourDon’t forget to One mention Magazines when responding to the Ads Clay Cross store. £1 roll Voice per voucher redemption.

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Contact or visit us at: Premier Community Mobility Shop King’s Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-In-Ashfield, NG17 4JL

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PROFESSIONAL

Call us for a free, no-obligation property valuation from a local expert.

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PROFESSIONAL

National Year of Reading 2026: Go All In! Remember picking up a book intending to read for ten minutes and suddenly discovering you’ve completely lost track of time, only to be dragged out of your book trance by the realisation that you’re absolutely starving? That’s the magic of reading – and in 2026, the National Year of Reading is encouraging us to rediscover it. The campaign, led by the National Literacy Trust in collaboration with the Department for Education, has a wonderfully simple message: “Go All In.” Rather than telling us what we should be reading, it encourages us to start with what we already love. And that makes perfect sense. Love football? There’s a whole world of biographies, sporting stories and match-day history waiting for you. Mad about cooking? Find a recipe book and work your way through it. Fascinated by history, gardening, travel, music, cars, crime or celebrity? There will be a book, magazine or article with your name on it. You don’t even have to be a “book person”. Reading has changed enormously over the years, and there are more ways to do it than ever. You can curl up with a paperback, download an e-book, listen to an audiobook while walking the dog or get your reading fix from a magazine, comic, graphic novel or online article. And let’s be honest, there are few things better than finding that book – the one you can’t put down. The one you think about while you’re doing the washing up. The one where you tell everyone, “Don’t talk to me, I’m reading!”

Of course, not every book is going to be a winner. Sometimes you can get halfway through and wonder why you’re persevering. If it isn’t grabbing you, put it down and try another one! There are far too many brilliant books out there to waste time struggling through one you don’t enjoy. Reading can also be wonderfully simple. A chapter before bed, a few pages with your morning coffee, an audiobook in the car or a magazine while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil. It doesn’t have to involve finding hours of spare time – sometimes just a few minutes is enough to escape into another world. And what better month to embrace it than October? Alongside the National Year of Reading, October is National Book Month, giving us another reason to celebrate the written word and perhaps discover something new. Why not revisit a favourite from your childhood? Swap books with a friend. Pick something completely outside your usual genre. Ask someone what they’ve enjoyed reading recently. Or, if you haven’t been in a library for years, pop through the doors and see what catches your eye. Because reading isn’t about how many books you finish, how quickly you read or whether you’ve read all the “classics”. It’s about finding something that makes you want to turn the page. So, this October, Go All In on something you love. Pick up a book, open a magazine, press play on an audiobook and see where it takes you. You never know – your next favourite story could be just one page away.

To advertise please call 01773 549 035

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Sewing Machines My mum had a treadle sewing machine, she used it to make our curtains. I can still picture her pedalling, one foot in front of the other, the machine clattering as fabric passed furiously through her hands. Before she married, she had worked as a factory machinist, so she knew how to sew at speed. It was a heavy old beast: cast iron, solid as anything, and hardly ever troublesome. A drop of oil now and then was all it asked, and it felt as though it could stitch its way up one side of the street and down the other. I loved the little wooden drawer underneath, with its half-used bobbins, spare needles, and unmistakable scent of machine oil. It was also very satisfying the way it folded away after use. My mother-in-law had a Singer too, first worked by hand crank and later converted to electric with a foot pedal.

Singer Hand Crank Singer Treadle

She was a wonderfully skilled tailor and seamstress, though her husband would not let her run a business or take any form of payment. In our sessions, we meet many people with memories of sewing machines and the work done on them. One woman told us about her grandmother, who ran a market business mending stockings - another small story stitched into everyday life.

Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information.

Janet

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KIDS & FAMILIES

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

JOIN ILKESTON LADIES HOCKEY CLUB WANT TO GET FIT? NOT PLAYED SINCE SCHOOL? FED UP OF YOUR CURRENT CLUB? Whether you’re returning to the game or picking up a stick for the first time, there’s a place for you. It’s all about fitness, fun, and feeling great. Get active, make friends, and enjoy every session.

GIVE IT A GO - YOU’VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE!

EVERYONE WELCOME

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FOOD & RETAIL

MORE THAN JUST FOOTBALL

Grassroots football is about much more than what happens on the pitch.

At New Tupton Ivanhoe FC, we believe football helps young people develop skills that stay with them long after the final whistle. Every training session, match and team activity gives players the chance to learn, grow and become more confident. Being part of a team teaches players how to work with others. They learn to communicate, listen, support their teammates and understand that everyone has a role to play. Football also teaches responsibility. Players learn the importance of turning up, being prepared, looking after their kit and respecting their coaches, teammates, opponents and officials. Not every game goes your way. Learning how to deal with losing, mistakes and disappointment is an important life skill. Players learn to keep going, learn from

what happened and try again. Equally, winning teaches them to celebrate together and remain humble. Grassroots football also helps build confidence and independence. Young players are encouraged to make decisions for themselves, solve problems and take responsibility on the pitch. Perhaps most importantly, football creates friendships and a sense of belonging. Players learn that they are part of something bigger than themselves. At New Tupton Ivanhoe FC, we are proud to develop footballers, but even prouder to help develop young people who are confident, respectful, resilient and ready for whatever life brings.

That is why grassroots football matters.

If you are interested in Little Ivanhoes, The Wildcat Centre or joining a team please message the clubs facebook page at: www.facebook.com/newtuptonivanhoefc/ visit: www.newtuptonivanhoefc.co.uk

To advertise please call 01773 549 035

THE LI

USE HO

FOOD & RETAIL RED HEN LE TT

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STUNNING HOLIDAY COTTAGE IN WARKWORTH, NORTHUMBERLAND Treat yourself to a luxury break at the 4* Gold Award winning Little Red Hen House. An elegant and cosy holiday home just a 7 minute drive from award-winning and dog-friendly Warkworth beach. ✽ 2 spacious en-suite bedrooms ✽ A fully enclosed garden ✽ 2 small to medium dogs welcome (3 upon request) ✽ Fully equipped kitchen, including an American style

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3rd Tuesday of each month 9am - 12pm | Blackwell Community Centre 3rd Thursday of each month 9am - 1pm | Alfreton Severn Square Car Park (Outside Poundstretcher) 3rd Friday of each month 9am - 1pm | Sutton-in-Ashfield, Portland Square

GOLDEN HILL BY FRANCIS SPUFFORD Golden Hill, is a very unusual book. It’s set in the mid-1700s in New York – and written in that style, although the author is very much 21st century. Mr Smith, the mysterious hero, arrives from London to this start-up city of only 7000 souls, with a £1,000 order to cash and spend. He’s a good looking and charming young chap who knows nobody when he lands, and keeps his cards very close to his chest. He moves through this mistrustful society in a somewhat sideways fashion, from almost being murdered, to being jailed and threatened with hanging, acquiring friends in high place, and being challenged to a duel for cuckolding the governor the everyday life of a chancer. Or is he? It’s immense fun, quite snarky, sometimes dark and deep, brilliantly descriptive – imagine Bridgerton and The Other Bennet Sister mixed. And driving you through all this, is the mystery of why he’s there and why he won’t tell anyone – the reader included - what he’s up to. Until, the final reveal, which is a cracker. Not for everyone, but definitely worth a punt if it sounds like your kind of thing.

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FOOD & RETAIL

A dogs Day out

This is a lovely walk, taking in a pretty stretch of the Cromford Canal before heading uphill to take in some lovely views and beautiful countryside. Unfortunately, since we originally did this walk, some of the paths have become inaccesible, so we had to divert along a country road for a reasonable stretch. Hopefully we can get out again soon to find a new route but in the meantime it is still well worth the diversion. Flake certainly thought so!

4.5 MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM HIGH PEAK JUNCTION A moderate walk for you and your dog. This fairly undulating walk should take around 2 to 2½ hours to complete. There is a range of terrain, with some muddy and uneven sections, so make sure you wear appropriate footwear. Due to some inaccessible paths we had to divert the walk along a significant section of road, so take plenty of care. And as always, follow the Countryside Code.

START: High Peak Junction Car Park, Lea Road, Matlock, DE4 5AE Please be aware there is a charge to park at the High Peak Junction Car Park. At the time of going to print it was £3.50 for 3 hours and £7 for a full day. 1.

Beginning in the car park, head to the back left corner and climb the steps and head left then follow the path round to the right to cross the bridge over the river. Follow the path round and up to cross a railway bridge and then a canal bridge. Then turn left following the High Peak Trail and with the canal on your left.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY 2.

Continue straight ahead until passing ‘The Wharf Shed’ on your left and then after a short distance turn left onto a footpath sign posted for ‘Ambergate’. Continue straight along a footpath with a canal on your left. Eventually pass over a railway bridge and then continue with the canal on your left for some distance until reaching a tunnel. Just prior to reaching the tunnel turn right onto a footpath sign posted for ‘Homestead Cottage A6’.

Continue through some trees for some distance and then turn right to cross over a river bridge. Continue to pass through a tunnel underneath a railway line and then continue to follow a tarmac lane back to a main road.

Taking care, cross directly over the main road and take a bridleway going right and uphill. Pass by the majority of houses, ignoring an earlier turn to the left. As you approach the final houses on your right, take a sharp left to head uphill into a wooded area.

Continue for some distance and exit the woods, then the path bears to the right. Now follow the path with a dry stone wall on either side until reaching a road.

Turn right and continue along the road for some distance. (We had to divert the walk here as the previous roiute used paths that are no longer accessible. So take care along the road as there isn’t much space for cars to pass.) Pass Birchwood Farm Caravan Park on your right and continue ahead. As you approach houses on either side of the road take a signposted Public Bridleway on your right (Intake Lane).

Continue along the lane for some distance and then pass through a metal gate. Continue straight ahead for some distance and pass through a second metal gate. Continue straight ahead until reaching a T junction. Turn right and immediately pass through a metal gate. Continue for a short distance and then follow the path around to the left. Continue for some distance until reaching a finger board sign. Bear left and uphill following the sign for ‘High Peak Trail’.

After a short distance ignore the path bearing left and steep uphill and bear slightly right passing by a wooden bench on your right. After a very short distance turn sharp right onto a trail sign posted for ‘High Peak Junction’. Continue for some distance going downhill until passing through a tunnel underneath a road.

After a short distance pass a railway carriage on your right and buildings on your left. You have returned to High Peak Junction. Cross back over the canal bridge and the railway bridge to follow the path back to the car park.

This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.

To advertise please call 01773 549 035

UPDATE: CLAY CROSS PARISH COUNCIL FORTHCOMING EVENTS TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Festive Wreath SS P

AR I SH

Making Evening

CIL

CLAY

FOOD & RETAIL

MONDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 2026

Saturday 31st October 2026 AT CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE, MARKET STREET, CLAY CROSS S45 9JE

DOORS/BAR OPEN FROM 6PM Music through the decades by I DO EVENTS Come along in your best spooky outfits! Prizes for ‘Best Dressed’ Adult and Child

AT CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE, MARKET STREET, CLAY CROSS S45 9JE

Doors/Bar open 6.30PM Wreath Making from 7PM

Join us for a creative evening where you will make your own festive door wreath TICKETS ARE PRICED AT JUST £25 EACH INCLUDING ALL MATERIALS AND FESTIVE BUFFET SUPPER Places are limited so get your ticket early to avoid disappointment!

TICKETS INCLUDING HOT FOOD SUPPER ARE PRICED AT:

ADULT £7 EACH CHILD UP TO 12 YEARS £5 EACH FAMILY OF 4 TICKET £19 EACH A GREAT VALUE, FUN NIGHT OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Tickets ON SALE NOW from:

Clay Cross Parish Council Office, Clay Cross Social Centre, Market Street, Clay Cross S45 9JE FIND US ON FACEBOOK! CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM: CLAY CROSS PARISH COUNCIL OFFICE CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE, MARKET STREET, CLAY CROSS S45 9JE

FAMILY FIND US ON FACEBOOK! CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE

PART Y

SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER

AT CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE, MARKET STREET, CLAY CROSS S45 9JE

Doors/Bar Open from 4PM

CLAY CROSS PARISH COUNCIL

ENTERTAINMENT FROM 4PM – 8PM

CHRISTMAS MARKET ON

SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER 2026 FROM 10AM – 2PM AT

CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE MARKET STREET, CLAY CROSS S45 9JE SANTAS GROTTO: FREE GIFT FOR EVERY CHILD VARIOUS CHARITY, CRAFT & TRADE STALLS GIFTS AND STOCKING FILLERS FOR ALL AGES PRICES TO SUIT EVERY BUDGET

FREE ADMISSION!

Festive fun for ALL the family! Disco, Karaoke and Magic Show TICKETS INCLUDING HOT FOOD SUPPER ARE PRICED AT: ADULT £7 EACH | CHILD UP TO 12 YEARS £5 EACH FAMILY OF 4 TICKET £19 EACH Tickets ON SALE NOW from:

Clay Cross Parish Council Office, Clay Cross Social Centre, Market Street, Clay Cross S45 9JE FIND US ON FACEBOOK! CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE!

COME ALONG & SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY EVENT!

REFRESHMENTS & FOOD AVAILABLE TO BUY FIND US ON FACEBOOK! CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE!

CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE MARKET STREET, CLAY CROSS The ideal venue for your party or celebration event and is available to hire from just £12 per hour including the bar!

SOCIAL CENTRE AVAILABLE TO HIRE BOOK YOUR DATES NOW FOR 2027!

Further details and ticket information will be published WE ARE NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2027! BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT! on the Parish Council website www.claycross.gov.uk and For further information contact the Clay Cross Parish Council Office on: the Clay Cross Social Centre Facebook page 18 Don’t forget to mention Voice Magazines when to the Ads 01246 862 812 •responding www.claycross.gov.uk Find us on Facebook

FOOD & RETAIL

SLIMMING WORLD

NAME Carrot and Swede-topped Veggie Cottage Pie SERVES: 4

SWIPS: FREE

READY IN: 1 hour 30 minutes Pure comfort in every bite! Packed with hearty vegetables and topped with a deliciously golden carrot and swede mash.

Method: 1.

Ingredients: 600ml hot vegetable stock made with 1 low-salt stock cube

1 cal cooking spray 1 onion, finely chopped

2 tsp Marmite, or other yeast extract

3 large celery sticks, finely sliced 250g button mushrooms, halved or quartered 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsp tomato purée 300g frozen plain soya/vegetable protein mince, defrosted 400g can chopped tomatoes

2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme

2 small swedes (roughly 750g in total), peeled and roughly chopped 400g carrots, roughly chopped 2 tbsp fat-free natural Greek yogurt Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, to serve

Spray a large, deep, non-stick frying pan with 1 cal cooking spray and put it over a medium heat. Add the onion, celery and mushrooms and fry for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until starting to soften. Add the garlic with a splash of water and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the tomato purée and mince and mix everything together. Stir in the tomatoes, stock and Marmite. Season with pepper and add the thyme, then bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes until the veg are tender. At the same time, preheat your oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas 7.

Boil the swede for 5 minutes, then add the carrots and boil everything for a further 15 minutes until very tender. Drain, season with pepper and add the yogurt. Mash until smooth. 4.

Spoon the pie filling into a 2-litre ovenproof dish. Top with the mash and rough up with a fork. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the topping is turning golden.

Scatter the pie with the parsley and serve with your favourite Speed Free vegetables, discarding the thyme sprigs before eating.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR S42 If you’ve noticed a few changes happening behind the scenes at S42, we’re so excited to finally share what’s been in the works…

Say hello to S42 & Co.

S42 Café and S42 Catering Co. are coming together as S42 & Co. From brunches & coffee to grazing tables, buffets, afternoon teas & event catering, it’s still the same S42 you know and love. Same food. Same faces. Same warm welcome.

Welcome to S42 & Co. Opening Times: Mon to Fri: 9am - 3pm • Sat: 9am - 1pm

07380 956 325

184A Queen Victoria Road, Tupton, S42 6DU Hello@S42andco.co.uk | FIND US ON

To advertise please call 01773 549 035

- S42&Co

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

A TRIP TO THE STARS AT SHERWOOD OBSERVATORY It had been far too long since the Voice team had enjoyed a little outing together. We’ve been so busy that finding the time hasn’t always been easy, but when we do venture out, we want it to be somewhere we can genuinely recommend to our readers. So, when we were invited to spend an afternoon at Sherwood Observatory, we jumped at the chance – and we’re very pleased to say that it was well worth the trip! Set in an area that benefits from darker skies, the observatory is home to an impressive planetarium built within a beautifully converted Victorian reservoir. The transformation really is something to see. Following a £6.8 million redevelopment, the centre reopened in November 2024 and the renovation has already received well-deserved recognition. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel incredibly welcome. Susanna Holt, Marketing, and Centre Manager Tony Booth greeted us before we were treated to a special planetarium show by Planetarium Lead, Matt Nutter. We could quite happily have stayed there all afternoon – and perhaps a little longer! Matt brought the universe to life with fascinating explanations, plenty of opportunities to ask questions and some truly spectacular visual displays. And that’s what makes Sherwood Observatory such a lovely place to visit. Behind the friendly team is a dedicated group of volunteers who clearly have a real passion for astronomy and for sharing that enthusiasm with others. There’s plenty more to discover too, including a fascinating exhibition, a lovely volunteer-run café and a shop. You don’t need to be an astronomy expert either. Whether you’re introducing a curious child to the wonders of space, looking for a new hobby, or simply fancy discovering something a little different, there really is something here for everyone.

Something Spooky This Way Comes! The October programme is now out, and it seems the universe is getting a suitably mysterious feel for autumn!

autumn and winter, making the most of the longer, darker nights and the opportunities they bring for observing the skies. There’s also a new Discovery Hour, taking place once a month, giving visitors the chance to explore the building and exhibitions at their own pace – and perhaps enjoy a coffee and a snack from the café while they’re there! Make sure you book online in advance to avoid disappointment for Planetarium shows, Open Evenings and Discovery Hours. For more information and sherwood-observatory.org.uk.

see

what’s

coming

up,

visit

From the Voice team: We’ve visited plenty of places over the years, but there was something particularly special about spending an afternoon looking up at the stars. We’re incredibly lucky to have somewhere like Sherwood Observatory right on our doorstep – and if, like us, you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what’s out there, we’d definitely recommend paying them a visit.

VISIT OUR SHOW

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(

)

Across 5 Jump that’s a bit riskily taken! (3) 7 Flypast said to be worse than a cold (3) 10 Fine linen made from river block, say? (7) 14 Smorgasbord, straight out of the cooker (3) 15 Furrow has a bad start for champagne (3) Down 2 Sensed in a woolly sort of way? (4) 3 Lazy tickover? (4) 9 There, somewhere below, is a revolting person (5) 12 Egg unmoved by endless changes (4) 13 Chicken nuggets: fashionable up front! (4)

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Across 1 Do this, being unpopular with lenders if so minded (4,7)

Down 1 How dieter misplaces a kilogram? (5,6)

Later on it could be imaginary (3,4)

Rest easy in marquee in continental area (6,5)

11 Potter in line up for a swim, say? (4,3)

Picks an awful lot of fungus you shouldn’t drink with (3,4)

16 Teach, in mime, how to use teleporter through the ages (4,7)

Shine now and then in a fickle way, right? (7)

ANSWERS FOR LAST MONTHS PITCHERWITS Across: 1 Hexameters, 6 Aura, 7 Via, 8 Navy, 9 Weakness, 11 Turned on, 14 Ever, 15 Ago, 16 Rapt, 17 At the least. Down: 1 Horned toad, 2 Away win, 3 Track, 4 Revue, 5 Cause a riot, 10 Nanette, 12 Roost, 13 Earth.

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08/06/2022 08/06/2022 09:31:35 09:31:35 08/06/2022 09:31:35 08/06/2022 09:31:35

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SUDOKU #75!

Fill in all the numbers This is a sudoku 1 square grid 81 cells 9 3x3 blocks 1 simple rule: Use all the numbers 1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block.

08/06/2022 09:31:35

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These puzzles are devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk

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GARDEN SERVICES So much changes in the garden in autumn. The soil’s still warm, so you can lift and divide perennials, giving them a good chance to settle in. You can plant a few later flowerers such as Japanese anemones and winter pansies to take you through into winter. And of course, get your spring bulbs in. Then there’s the tidying up, adding to the compost heap or making leaf mould for next year. October is the big bulb planting month. Daffs, crocuses, alliums, fritillaries, grape hyacinths, dwarf iris, anemones. Garden centres are full of them. There’s been a growing trend to plant smaller bulbs in lawns – given that you’re not going to be mowing until well into spring – and they do look lovely poking through the green. You could plant them singly – use a bulb planter to lift and replace turf and soil chunks - or with very small bulbs even a stick pushed about four inches deep would create enough space to drop a bulb and push a bit of soil on top. Or you could lift a patch of turf, dig down a few inches, plop in a few crocus or dwarf iris bulbs and replace the turf. The main rule is to plant bulbs at a depth of least two to three times their size. Cut back perennials to within a couple of inches of their base, unless - as with honesty or others with attractive seed heads - you leave them till spring to give the garden a bit of winter shape. If you have perennials which are more tender - cosmos or coleus or penstemon - it’s worth leaving this year’s stems till spring to give the crown a bit of protection over the winter. And if there’s any new growth on any of your perennials again leave until spring. If you are cutting off seed heads, don’t put them on your compost pile – you might have more than compost next spring – without any way of identifying what you’ve inadvertently planted. Lift tubers of begonias, dahlias and cannas once the first frost has nipped them. Cut the stems off about two inches above the base, lift and remove soil by hand and store them upside-down in a cool place for a couple of weeks. Then put them in boxes filled with spent compost, dry sand or soil – or a combination of all three with the old stalks exposed at the top and keep in a frost-free space until spring.

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EN FEEDERS

BIRDS ON GARD

NATURE NOTES FROM THE PEAK DISTRICT

SEASONAL CHANGES SIGNAL A NEW INFLUX TO WILDER GARDENS

The change from a long, hot, dry summer to a cold, wet August can come as something of shock, especially to smaller birds which suddenly need to bolster their energy intake. Accordingly, in recent weeks there has been an influx of, for example, titmice and various finches, particularly flocks of Greenfinches and Goldfinches, with the latter in abundance. A drop in temperature immediately triggered flocks of twenty to thirty Blue Tits, Great Tits, and Coal Tits, boosted every so often by ten to fifteen Long-tailed Tits and an occasional Nuthatch. About the same time, the locallyresident House Sparrows seem to be doing well and joining the feeding frenzy. Of course, many of these birds also take to local hedgerows, lane-sides, and fields where the late-summer pickings are quite easy and accessible. The big boost in numbers in both gardens and in the wider countryside is in a large part down to the post-breeding fledging of youngsters leading to excited mixed flocks of adults and juveniles. I have also noticed this year that some of the young Greenfinches and Goldfinches in particular, have become rather bold to the point of being almost tame. Along with the immature titmice, the finches especially, seem totally unbothered when I go out to top up the feeders. I have even had birds land on a feeders at the same time as I am holding it and filling it with food. This is quite extraordinary and something I have never known before, which the exception perhaps of one of my bolder Robins. In terms of visitors to the garden, the Wood Pigeons have reduced somewhat but numbers have been

supplemented by regular visitations of Collared Doves (altogether prettier and less hassle in terms of pigeonpoop), and of the delicate-eyed Stock Doves. I have also noticed an increase in visits by urban Feral Pigeons, something we don’t often see here. Other exotic ‘feral’ species include the increasingly ubiquitous Canada Geese, introduced to ornament grand estates in the 1600s and 1700s, and now breeding widely alongside now feral populations of native Grey Lag Geese. Over the last few weeks, I have seen and heard flocks of fifteen to twenty Canada Geese flying in v-formation low over the garden. Their distinctive and very loud call is described as a repeated ‘wagh-onk’ and this adds to their impact as they pass at roof-top height. No doubt as autumn progresses, we will be seeing and hearing large flocks of Pink-footed Geese heading north-west to south-east on their long migration from the tundra landscapes where they breed. As the long, drawn out skeins of Pink-feet pass overhead, their presence is characterised by high-pitched calls of ‘unk-unk’ and ‘wink-wink-wink’. These birds have increased greatly in numbers and whereas they used to be heading down to the Lincolnshire Wash and East Anglian marshes, it seems that many pitch down closer to the Peaks on farmland and wetlands around the Trent Valley and the Humberhead Levels of South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. As the seasons change and the weather drives many species southwards, others will move in from northerly climates to take their place. Nature is constantly in flux as species come and go, and we see this in the wildlife garden, in the countryside beyond. And all part of a living tapestry.

COLLARED DOVE

BIRDS ON GARDEN FEEDERS JUVENILE GOLDFINCH NUTHATCH

Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter Don’t forget to mention Voice Magazines when responding to the Ads @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social

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