Brandon SUFFOLK
TOWN MAGAZINE MAY 2014 - ISSUE 9
• More properties wanted for waiting tenants • Tenant finding service or full management • All tenancies managed locally, not from a central office many miles away • Rents paid promptly to landlords (usually within 2 working days) • All maintenance problems reported immediately and landlords’ instructions carried out • Member of ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) • Reasonable fees, no hidden extras • No VAT on fees
Tel: 01842 815777
Email: rentals@jwhichelow.co.uk
Northumberland House, 30 Bury Road, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0BU
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Brandon Office Tel: 01842 810534 (24 hours) London Road, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0EW Email: mail@mark-skinner.org.uk
Thetford Office Tel: 01842 752197 (24 hours) 30 Bury Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 3DE Email: info@mark-skinner.org.uk
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Welcome to Brandon Welcome to the May edition of your town magazine. This is 3rd month with our new printers using a slightly heavier paper and a silk finish instead of the gloss. Keep your comments coming with ways to improve and features you might like to see. This month we are running a public vote via social media and text, more details on page 21. Another feature this month comes from a new resident to the town, and should provide some amusement for the young and young at heart. See the centrefold for Ali’s creations. Regards The Brandon Town Magazine Team
To advertise your business please email magazine@brandonsuffolk.com
Deadline for June issue 16th May Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained within this publication, the publishers take no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by it’s contributors, in any advertisements or for any loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement. Reproduction of any part of this publication without permission is strictly forbidden. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher.
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Brandon & District Rotary Club We were very pleased with the interest shown in our photographic competition and many thanks to all those who entered. Brandon has two photographic clubs and both did well. All entries were judged by local historian Leigh Driver, who chose ‘Mooo…’ by Brandon FotoImaging Group member Clive Parsons as the winner and the Runner-up was Shirley Glaister from Brandon Camera Club for her entry, ‘A Frosty Glade’. Clive receives a cheque for £50 from Brandon & District Rotary Club and Shirley receives a £25 voucher from Studio 5. We will be organising the annual Beer Festival on Saturday 10th May - Sunday 11th May at Santon Downham. Come and sample some real ales; open to everyone with all profits going to local charities. Brandon Classic Car Club has been invited to come along again together with the motor cycle club. This annual event is growing year on year and we look forward to seeing our regulars again! Please log on to our Facebook page and ‘like’ it so that you can keep up to date with the club activities and events as they are announced.
Brandon Carnival 2014 With the 2014 Brandon Carnival fast approaching the time has come to put yourself forward. We need lots of help, both on the day and the run up to it. Can you help us , just an hour or so to maybe manning a stall on the day. Below are just some of the tasks we need a hand with. If you can help its the usual contact. By email on info@brandoncarnival.co.uk or call 01842 814488 or by post to 73 Rowan Drive, Brandon, IP27 0EX. Before the event... Putting up the bunting and flags, listing the event on social media sites. On the day... Help set up stalls, parade marshals, market place marshals, man a stall, man the control / info point, help pack away, litter pick. To put on the carnival takes many hours. We have a team of 3 and need others to join us in the planning process for this and future years. Above are just a few of the tasks we need help with on the day, without YOUR help the carnival wouldn’t happen. Please get involved, it’s our town and our event. Your help is vital in the continuing success of our town’s yearly carnival.
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Glade Primary School We finished the Spring term with our annual Easter Egg-stravaganza, where children were asked to decorate eggs for a whole school competition. We had some brilliant entries, with some pictured here. The children (with some help form the parents?) did a fantastic job and were all rewarded with an Easter egg for their effort.
It’s hard to believe that we are into the summer term. This term is especially exciting as we are starting a new maths teaching programme across the school. Glade, along with a number of local schools, has joined the Primary Advantage Maths programme, which was developed by schools in Hackney. All of our staff have received training, with some staff spending time in Hackney learning about the programme and how it can boost mathematical understanding. We are all looking forward to seeing how our pupils develop through this new method of teaching maths. We are also well along the road to building our new classrooms. The builders have promised that they will get them ready for September, ready for our new Reception children joining Glade. Our numbers increased last year, and it looks like we will be expecting even more new children to be starting at Glade in September. For all of those parents with children starting Glade in the Autumn, don’t worry……we will be in touch over the next few weeks with information on how we will make your child’s entry to school as easy as possible. In the meantime you can find out more at www.gladeprimary.onesuffolk.net or at www.facebook.com/gladeprimaryschool.
Brandon Arts Society After 20 years as Chairman of the Brandon Arts Society, Mrs. Judith Mazur has stepped down. At the Annual General Meeting on the 1st April she was presented with a floral bouquet and a garden centre voucher, together with a framed art/photo collage of all the B.A.S members. The new Chairman, Mr. Terry Kimpton , was presented with the Joyce Lee Award for outstanding achievement during the last year. The meeting ended with tea/coffee and cakes.
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Brandon School of Dance Classes in ballet, tap, modern, freestyle, street & contemporary Principal: Kerry Shoop Please call Kerry on 07864 025041 or visit our website for more information:
www.brandonschoolofdance.com
(Ballet from 3 years, Tap from 4 years, Street/Modern/Freestyle from 5 years, Contemporary from 8 years)
Brandon School of Dance We still have a few spaces available in our 9-11years Street/Modern/Freestyle classes for both the Wednesday evening session, 6.45pm -7.30pm and the Saturday afternoon session, 1.15pm 2.15pm. Both of these classes are taught by Miss Lyndsay and cost £4.50 per class. If you would like to text me, Kerry, on 07864 025041 letting me know which class you are interested in I will get straight back to you. We are now starting to prepare all the students for the prestigious International Dance Teacherʼs Association (I.D.T.A.) exams in September. To help encourage the students along we will have a special visit in May from Ashley Glazebrook & Glen Murphy, better known as ‘Twist & Pulse’. Both lads studied at the Brit school of Performing Arts & Technology and we are all looking forward to spending time with them and maybe learning some new and inventive dance moves. Added to this we have many exciting things planned for the summer months including our popular Dance-a-thon. May I take this opportunity to thank all parents and carers for ensuring we have great attendances in all our classes.
Brandon in Bloom Make sure you’re wearing shades from July 13th and onwards if you are a resident or will be visiting Brandon. Why? Well, that’s the day of the judging of the ‘Bloomin Barrows’ on the Market Hill. Along with a colourful display on the day and then the barrows being positioned around the town, there will also be a performance from our very own Breckland Brass Band. The wheelbarrows were kindly supplied by Bullbarrows with P&R Garden Supplies arranging plants and compost. Any group in Brandon with members under the age of 16 are eligible to enter and with just a few barrows left to be allocated if you want one, don’t hang around. We have involvement from Scouts, Schools and nursery groups. The committee hope they contacted all eligible groups but if yours has been missed it’s not too late. Contact can be made to info@brandoninbloom.co.uk.
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Forest Academy Although academic success remains a high priority at Forest Academy, we are also committed to enabling children to achieve in many different areas across the curriculum, and develop a wide range of skills. On an overcast Thursday afternoon Miss Edmeades, Miss OSullivan, 15 excited children and very supportive parents made their way to the much anticipated tag rugby tournament at Newmarket Rugby Club. The children had trained hard and were ready to show the 9 other schools what Forest can do. The children played the sport to a fantastic level making every match a joy to watch, win or lose. We may not have reached the finals but they were winners to us for the impeccable way they represented the school, demonstrated great sportsmanship and played their socks off! Watch this space for all the summer sports coming up including tennis, cricket, rounders and athletics. Recently Miss Edmeades, 9 excited girls and their supportive parents travelled to Great Heath Primary School for an Under 11s Girls Football Tournament. In the run up to the tournament the Junior Sports Leaders of year 6 took their lunch time to train, coach and manage the girls as to which position they should play in. Their hard work paid off as the girls finished 5th in the tournament, missing out by one more goal on the semi finals. The girls played fantastically, not losing a single match and not even conceding a single goal! One player shone in particular, no one could get past Molly in defence almost mechanically shutting down any who dared to come into her half. Finally special thanks must go to the supportive parents who stood huddled with us when the heavens opened and helped Miss Edmeades to keep the girls’ spirits high. On Friday 14th March, the children taking part in the Dance East project ‘Finding Home’, set off early for their technical rehearsal at the Jerwood Theatre in Ipswich. The children have been rehearsing since January and they were all very excited. They ran through their piece two or three times to get used to the size of the stage, the entrance and exit points. Everything went really well and by lunchtime they were on their way home. On Saturday 15th they arrived early and set off in nervous anticipation! On arrival, all the dancers, around 200, were gathered together. After a quick pep talk and warm up they did a complete run through. There was no audience at this time as the performance was being filmed. They then did two further performances with a packed theatre both times. The Dance East organisers had done an amazing job to make this event fun and memorable. The children were asked to create some artwork in school and this was exhibited in the foyer. There were opportunities to draw all over the many glass surfaces and work with an artist. Some children created a cartoon carpet. One of the favourite activities was the dressing-up photo booth. They played giant Jenga, giant Twister and other games.
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Brandon
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Brandon Car Centre is an independant garage offering used car sales, service and MOT testing for cars. We service and repair all makes and models at competitive prices and guarantee all our work and parts for 12 months. Our technicians are all qualified and we have the latest diagnostic equipment which is continually updated. Call us today on 01842 819999 for a quote or to book your car in for a MOT or service. To view our current car sales stock list please visit our website at www.brandoncarcentre.co.uk
Great Value
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Only Available at Brandon Leisure Centre
Spend some time with us
£28 per month
for just £28.00 a month, you will have full use of our facilities Not including Birthday Parties and Function Hire
Roczny kontrakt dostępne za £28 miesięcy Metinės sutartis prieinami £28 mėnesių Contrato anual disponível por £28 por mês
Brandon Leisure Centre Church Road Brandon IP27 0JB 01842 819150 www.angcomleisure.com
Puzzle Page Sudoku
Code Word
Enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Each letter A-Z is represented by a number 1-26. Can you crack the code and solve the crossword? Every letter of the alphabet us used at least once.
Number Pyramid Fill every box in the tower with a number. The value in a square is the sum of the numbers directly beneath it.
Word Wheel Find as many words as you can. Words must be at least 3 letters and must use the central letter. No letter can be used more than once. There is a 9 letter word to be found.
Solutions can be found on page 31
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FLOWER COURSES FROM BEGINNERS TO ASPIRING FLORISTS
Why not have an afternoon or night out in our flower school. Everything is provided for you so all you need to bring is yourself and you will get to take your beautiful design home with you. 22nd May • 2-4pm • Get ready for the wedding & prom season! Corsage/Hat & Handbag design 29th May • 6-8pm • Get ready for the wedding & prom season! Corsage/Hat & Handbag design 19th June • 2-4pm • Modern Summer Flower Arrangement using wonderful sunflowers! 26th June • 6-8pm • Modern Summer Flower Arrangement using wonderful sunflowers!
Only £35.00 each course! Remember you get to take your arrangement home!
Bunches & Bows 57 High Street • Brandon • Suffolk • IP27 0AU www.bunchesandbows.org.uk
To find out more or to book please call 01842 819600
Ernie’s Traditional Fish & Chips
108A London Road, Brandon (opp Tesco) - Tel: 01842 815067
Lunchtime Special 12 till 2 Cod and chips - £3.40 KEBABS AND BURGERS
Skinless fish 36 years in the trade Ernie’s recipe batter
Chronicles of Brandon at War May 1914... It seems we have had all four seasons in one month. We woke up to a severe frost one morning which affected the farmers’ crops and the vegetables growing in people’s gardens. The potatoes didn’t do well from it and one resident is said to have lost five hundred tomatoes plants! With that and the fruit trees being affected I reckon the harvest won’t be a good one this year. There was also a terrific thunder storm, and Mr Talbot’s chicken shed on Lingheath was struck by a bolt of lightning and burst into flames. Lucky for him he was on the scene quickly and managed to put the fire out before too much damaged was caused. Later in the month we learned of the terrible sinking of the ‘Empress of Ireland’. Over a thousand poor souls drowned just off the coast of Canada after the liner was in collision with another ship. Apparently it went down within fifteen minutes, which gave too little time for people to escape. The Baptist chapel on the High Street held a special service for those poor souls and the pastor told his congregation that, “life’s end might come to one with unexpected and tragical sadness.” He then went on to preach that if men learned how to live then they would learn how to die when the moment came. It certainly felt apocalyptic this month. Did he know something we didn’t? Ah, talking of the Baptist Church. This month 67-year-old Frederick Rissbrook celebrated fifty years with the Baptist Church. I got his picture here for you to see. His wife sadly died four years ago, but regardless of this, he still carries out his duties for the church and can always be seen at the front of the summer Sunday School parade through the High Street. Last month Brandon’s football team finished their season and this month it’s the turn of the town’s cricket team to start playing. However, unlike the football team, cricket is not open to absolutely anyone; no it helps if you have some social standing. The team features Mr Rought who owns the huge fur factory and who is also a Brandon councillor and magistrate, as well as other business men from the town. Anyway they got off to a flyer in their first match of the season when Croxton were the visitors. Charlie Farrow, the Brandon school teacher, was a sensation for the team, bowling out six Croxton lads for only four runs, and catching out another. Croxton were all out for thirty-one. Charlie then followed this up by being Brandon’s highest run scorer with twenty-four, contributing to Brandon’s score of seventy-three for four. It was a walk over! It just might be a good summer after all. Darren Norton Brandon at War www.brandonatwar.co.uk
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Methwold Nursery School Learning through play!
Open all year, flexible sessions to meet your needs, now offering funded places for 2 year olds Monday to Friday 7.30 to 6pm Ages 2 - 8 years Breakfast, After School & Holiday Clubs Call: 01366 728419 Visit: 39 Stoke Road, Methwold
www.methwoldnurseryschool.co.uk
READ YOUR TOWN MAGAZINE ONLINE WHENEVER, WHEREVER
ADVERTISE HERE FULL COLOUR DELIVERED TO BRANDON AND WEETING HOMES RATES FROM £21.25 A MONTH EMAIL US ON magazine@brandonsuffolk.com £21.25 IS THE DISCOUNTED VALUE FOR A 12 MONTH BOOKING OF A 1/8 PAGE ADVERT
IES Breckland We had an amazing day on Friday 21st March celebrating Sport Relief. The school was turned into a shade of red as you walked through the corridors. All pupils made a fantastic effort to get involved in our Sport Relief mile, either by running, walking or 3 legged. We are hoping to raise £700!
The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company came to IES Breckland on Friday 28th March. The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company strive to provide a different view of hip-hop. They also aim to help young people build their self-confidence and unlock their creative and artistic abilities by having a platform to showcase their own creative ideas, with the support and guidance from leading music and theatre industry professionals. They ran a workshop during the afternoon which the students really enjoyed. In the evening the school hall was transformed and the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company entranced and captivated the audience with their performance of a combination of rapping and Shakespeare. We were really fortunate to have a Professional Dance Instructor from the dance company ‘Dance East’ visit the school at the end of the Spring Term. Pupils were fully involved in an hour and a half Contemporary Dance workshop. This involved a variety of different technique exercises and learning a piece of Contemporary choreography. All pupils did extremely well and worked very hard throughout. Ypres Battlefields Trip by Livvy Rought-Rought & Carmen Evans, Year 9: “On Saturday 22nd March we went to Belgium with Miss Pitts. We visited 6 different cemeteries, mournful, beautiful, meaningful and touching cemeteries. We also visited a museum and walked through the trenches to experience what life was really like in the war. We learnt about where the soldiers fought and died and about all the nurses who were also buried in the cemeteries.” “On our trip to Belgium we visited many cemeteries – some like the British Cemetery were very beautiful and touching. The tour guides spoke about the soldiers and how they were identified when they died. We went to the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony which had all the names of the lost soldiers – it was so meaningful. The atmosphere was so great and it was an amazing experience. We had a great time, a nice meal and chocolate was also included! We met some nice people and learnt a lot.” I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community, our parental and Governing body for their continued support for all of us here at IESB. As always your support is very much appreciated. Mrs Tilbrook, Principal IES Breckland.
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Brandon Town Flag June 1st will not only see Brandon play host to the 2014 carnival, it will also be the unveiling of a new flag that will be commissioned for the town by the carnival committee. Various styles and designs were looked at and, following a brief straw poll, a short list of four were picked for you to now go ahead and choose your favourite to become the Brandon town flag. The colours chosen were representative of the town’s successful youth football club and unconfirmed the original colours of Brandon Town FC. All four flags bear the letter ‘B’ with the graphic taken from the recently opened Brandon Centre. Chosen for it’s modern, crisp and forward thinking style it is hoped it will give the town’s residents the vision to look ahead and think towards to the future. You can vote for your favourite flag by text message or through social media. There will also be a polling box in the Brandon centre for those unable to vote in either of these formats. All votes will be counted and recorded and in the event of a tie the casting vote will be made by the carnival committee and Christine Mason, the town clerk.
A
B
C
D
To vote for your favourite flag (closing for votes is midnight 12th May 2014)... Text A, B, C or D to 07523 018176 (sms will be charged at standard message rate) Visit the Facebook poll at www.facebook.com/brandonsuffolk Or cut out and place your favourite flag in the box at the Brandon Centre
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Pantry Patter - Something to celebrate Unbeknownst to most of us every month has certain days or entire weeks when we can celebrate various foods. April saw National Garlic Day and National Bread Week. May is dominated by the start of the very short asparagus season however there are many other food based celebrations during this month. From the 11th-17th May it is British Sandwich Week. Evidence of the first sandwiches date back to 1st Century B.C. when a jewish rabbi started the custom at Passover of putting nuts and spices between two matzohs (unleavened bread). During the middle ages thick blocks of bread were used as plates. These were called ‘trenchers’. The bread absorbed the juices and fats from the food and they were either eaten, thrown to the dogs or given to the less well off at the end of the meal. This is probably the forerunner of the open sandwich. The closed sandwich appeared in the form we know it as today during the 16th century when it was just called ‘bread and cheese’ or ‘bread and meat’. It wasn’t until the mid 18th century that two slices of bread with a filling became known as the ‘sandwich’. John Montague, the fourth Earl of Sandwich was a serious gambler to the extent that he would sit at a gaming table for several hours ordering his valet to get him food and drink. One of his favourite meals was ‘meat tucked between two pieces of bread’. His gambling comrades took to asking for ‘the same as what Sandwich is having’ and over time this got abbreviated to… the sandwich. The 10th-17th May also sees National Doughnut Week. The origins of the doughnut are certainly more disputed than many other foods. Washington Irving, in his 1809 ‘History of New York’ describes balls of sweetened dough fried in hogs fat and calls them ‘dough-nuts’. These nuts are probably what we would now call ‘doughnut holes’. There is a thought that the Dutch settlers to North America during the 19th century may have brought with them a recipe for a deep fried cake called an ‘Oliekoek” or ‘oil cake’. Hanson Gregory, an American, claims to have invented the ring doughnut in 1847, however the first mention, allegedly, in this country was in 1803 in an English volume containing American recipes. Thus, by the mid 19th century the doughnut looked and tasted like the ones we know today and by then they were viewed as a thoroughly American food. However, as previously mentioned, origins are somewhat unclear as as far back as the Middle Ages the people of Poland were eating Paczki, a sweet treat made from dough, filled with jam and deep fried. Sound familiar?? So who really knows where they originated from as most countries have their doughnut equivalents?
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Pantry Patter - Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich Having spent a few of my impressionable years in the U.S. I find that certain things have never left me. Many recipes have stayed with me like Shoofly Pie, a favourite amongst the Amish that lived nearby, creamed chipped beef (sounds horrendous but is magical on toast), Catalina Sauce and Philly Cheese steak sandwiches. It is the recipe for cheese steak sandwich that I am going to share with you. I make no apologies for the calorie content. It is high but as a treat, every now and then, this is something worth waiting for. Ingredients - Serves 2 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 onions, sliced as thinly as you can and the rings separated 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms 12oz chipped steak (Rib eye is good). Chipped means sliced wafer thin. The easiest way to do this is to freeze the steak and slice whilst frozen then allow to completely thaw before cooking. Salt & pepper Squeezy cheese in a bottle or processed cheese slices (the calorie bit!) 1 french baguette Method Heat a large frying pan over a high heat and add the oil. The oil needs to get hot enough that a drop of water onto the oil makes a sizzling noise. Lower the heat slightly and add the onions and mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms turn dark and the onions start to look translucent. Move to one side of the pan. Add the steak slices and cook for about 3 minutes until lightly browned. Season to taste.! Mix meat and onion mix together and heap up into a pile across the length of the pan. Lay the cheese slices over the meat until it starts to melt. If using squeeze cheese heat in the microwave until liquid. Slice the bread lengthways and using a spatula lay the meat and cheese mix along the bread trying to keep the cheese upper most. If using squeeze cheese, add at this stage. Slice into two and serve.
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Cooking with Poo How was it that 60 people from Brandon and surrounding areas found themselves paying for the pleasure of ‘Cooking with Poo’? Well in the words of the amazing woman herself - “It’s a name not an ingredient”! In Thai, Poo’s name actually means ‘Rose Apple’ but as chance would have it, her name is so memorable to English speakers that she has been able to put it to good use. For the past month Poo has headed up a small team of Thais that have been visiting UK schools, churches, conferences and even Jamie Oliver to use their fabulous cooking skills to raise awareness of the issues arising from urban poverty both here in the UK and throughout the world. Poo comes from Klong Toey - the biggest slum in the capital city of Thailand; Bangkok. She lives in a 1 mile² area, amongst 100,000 other slum residents who each face the challenges of slum poverty every day. 12 years ago a couple from the Christian organisation ‘Urban Neighbours Of Hope’ (or UNOH) moved into Klong Toey to live along side those in the slum and encourage residents to pursue their dreams. Poo had been selling street food from her house for 7 years before her UNOH neighbours persuaded Poo that her cooking was so good that people would pay to be taught how to make it themselves. Poo’s daily income dramatically increased from £2 for 12 hours work to a wage that allows her to have an average working day, days off with her family and even some holiday time. But Poo hasn’t kept her success to herself, she has used the profits from the Cooking School and her ever increasing profile to help other slum neighbours to start their own businesses or come to work for one of the other established projects supported by UNOH. UNOH is so excited about Poo’s story and the hope that it offers to other slum residents, but also recognises that for real change to happen the stories of the millions living unseen in slums around the world need to be shared and heard. On Sunday the 12th of April The Harvest Centre in Brandon hosted an evening of Thai food, where the Cooking With Poo team catered a sit down Thai meal and engaged the audience in Cooking demonstrations and stories from Klong Toey by UNOH workers. At the end of the evening everyone agreed that the food was delicious, the company fabulous and the challenge to share our lives with our neighbours movingly expressed. Having travelled to Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham and London, hosting 45 events in 4 weeks the team were still really excited to come to Brandon the home town of Jo Stroud. Jo joined the UNOH Bangkok team last July and has been living and working with Poo and her other neighbours in the Klong Toey slum. F or more information on the Cooking With Poo Team and the work of UNOH throughout South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand go to: www.cookingwithpoo.com and www.unoh.org or look out for Poo’s recently filmed episodes Jamie Oliver YouTube.
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A traditional Traditional Plant Plant Based Based Garden Garden Centre Centre 7
OPEN Perennials £1.80 each or 3 for £5 DAYS A Shrubs £3.99 each or 3 for £10 WEEK Summer Bedding & Basket Plants in store now Mr Fothergill’s tough lawn seed 500g £4.99 or 2 for £8 Massive range of terracotta, glazed & plastic pots from 99p Vegetable Plants in store now including: Tomato Plants 75p each Bamboo canes 3ft up to 8ft from 99p per pack
P&R Garden Supplies, Fengate Drove, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0PW www.p-rgardensupplies.co.uk • 01842 814800 • info@p-rgardensupplies.co.uk
Are you in need of someone to look after your garden? Are you finding it hard to keep on top of your garden, or maybe all you need is someone to do an extensive or light tidy up? Or look after your garden while you are on holiday? Do you need a gardener on a weekly or monthly basis, to trim the hedge or just cut the lawn? We can also redesign your garden and provide plans, rotovate new or old beds, and organise construction if wanted. Whatever your gardening needs, we can help. References available.
Just The JOB Gardening Call Jacquie on
07919371994 for a chat and quote
May Gardening A sure sign summer is on its way is that spring bulbs are fading and the herbaceous border is growing in leaps and bounds. Plants and lawns love the warmer weather of May, but unfortunately so do many garden pests. One garden pest that many of you have been plagued with over the last couple of weeks is Green & Black flies also known as Aphids. Aphids are very common sap-sucking insects that thrive on soft, new sappy growth of most garden plants. Aphids can cause distorted growth, and often excrete a sticky substance (honeydew) on foliage allowing the growth of sooty moulds. Aphids transmit viruses, which is a particular problem for strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, dahlias and sweet peas. Virus infected plants should be destroyed to prevent the spread onto other plants. Aphids have many natural enemies, including ladybirds, hoverfly larvae, lacewing larvae and parasitic wasps. Unfortunately, damaging aphid infestations often build up on garden plants before the natural enemies are active in sufficient numbers to achieve control. Where practical, infestations can be squashed by hand. The most commonly used non-chemical remedy is to spray them with soapy water. However, this method became illegal in September 2013 following new legislation from the EU. Which states: “Any chemical or other product used to control pests, diseases and weeds is strictly legislated, under EU and, therefore, UK law. All pesticides must be approved, and it is illegal to use unapproved materials even if these are household materials such as washing up liquid, coffee, vinegar or baking powder.” During the growing season there are many insecticides that can be used to control Aphids. The three main types are: • Pesticides based on natural compounds and/or with a physical mode of action. These include Pyrethrum, fatty acids and winter tree wash. • Contact Insecticides. These usually have more persistence than those based on natural materials and so can give longer lasting control but will have limited effects on aphids within distorted leaves. Products include Deltametherin (e.g. Bayer Sprayday Greenfly Killer, Bayer Provado Ultimate Fruit & Vegetable Bug Killer). • Systemic Insecticides. In addition to some contact action these are absorbed into plant tissues and may have an effect on aphids hidden within distorted leaves. (e.g. Bayer Provado Ultimate Bug Killer and Rose Clear Ultra). As well as looking out for garden pests, here are a few other jobs to do in May: 1. Earth up potatoes, and promptly plant any still remaining 2. Collect rainwater and investigate ways to recycle water for irrigation 3. Regularly hoe off weeds 4. Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days 5. Mow lawns weekly 6. Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges 7. Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs As a final note, beware of frosts. There is always a last frost in late May that catches us all unaware. Keep vulnerable plants and new shoots protected at night if frost is forecast. Rachel Sobiechowski BSc (Hons) P&R Garden Supplies, Fengate Drove, Brandon 01842 814800 www.p-rgardensupplies.co.uk
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Picture framing Oils, water colours, pastels, prints, photos old and new, medals, football shirts, cross stitch, tapestry, canvas stretching etc. All aspects of picture framing undertaken in our workshop, 100s of frames to choose from, liven up that old picture with a new mount and frame.
the craft cabin 16 London Road, Brandon - Tel: 01842 814178
WHEREVER YOU GO, TAKE
BRANDON WITH YOU
Open 9.30am till 5pm weekdays and some Saturdays
Bridge Hotel Refurbishment The Bridge Hotel in Brandon has reopened following a major refurbishment project. In spring of last year work was started to refurbish the bathrooms in stone and in the summer a new logo and new signage was introduced which was to reflect the new modern leanings of the changes to follow. After a consultation process with Forest Heath District Council the hotel was closed in December so that the major work could begin. It was the intention to strip everything back to the bare walls and make good where possible however it soon became clear that much more work would be required. The decision was made to rebuild some of the walls and replaster all of the rooms of the former B&B before any further work could be carried out. The upgraded rooms now all include Mattison Monarch pocket sprung divans which are the same beds that can be found at the Gleneagles hotel in Scotland, flat screen LED TVs with Freesat service and Corby luggage stands. Dark brown wooden side tables, desks, wardrobes and curtain poles along with modern lighting complete the contemporary look. New laminate flooring has been laid in the restaurant and reception to compliment the new deep brown carpeting throughout the rest of the hotel and the swirl where they meet in reception is an exceptionally clever feature. Branded logo doormats help give the hotel that corporate feel and underfloor heating in the restaurant means the conservatory will no longer have a chill in the mornings and guests can really relax over breakfast. The final touch was the replacement of the restaurant toilets to bring them in line with the new, clean, smart look of the overall refurbishment. Matt Arnold, manager at the Bridge Hotel, said “The transformation that has taken place at the new Bridge Hotel Brandon has given the town a new small hotel to be proud of. “Fit for the 21st century we are ready to welcome visitors to the area whether they be coming because of the beautiful expanse of forest in this region which I believe is the most brilliant resource for families young and old that the town could possibly have or whether they are visiting friends and family and need a smart, modern and comfortable place to stay. “We will be happy to show you round any time you care to come and have a look at the changes we have made. It’s a great location for a family party or special celebration so please come and check us out.” More photos of the refurbished Bridge Hotel can be seen on BrandonSuffolk.com.
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Useful Telephone Numbers Councils Brandon Town Council (Town Clerk)
01842 811844
Forest Heath District Council (Main Switchboard)
01638 719000
Suffolk County Council (Public Enquiries)
0845 606 6067
Health Services Doctor - Brandon Medical Practice (High Street)
01842 810388
Doctor - Forest Group Practice (Bury Road)
01842 810206
Dentist - Apex Dental Care (Bury Road)
01842 812276
Dentist - The Dental Surgery (High Street)
01842 812381
Hospital - West Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds)
01284 713000
NHS 111 - Medical Help (Less urgent than 999)
111
Help & Advice Citizens Advice Bureau (Brandon Office)
01842 811511
Social Care Services (Customer First)
0808 800 4005
Suffolk Constabulary (Non Emergency)
101
Utility Companies Electricity - UK Power Networks (Fault Line)
08007 838 838
Gas - National Grid Gas (Emergency Number)
0800 111 999
Water - Anglian Water (24 Hour Leakline)
0800 771 881
Puzzle Page Solutions Sudoku
Pyramid
Code Word
Word Wheel 9 letter word: liability
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At
Chilterns
01842 813466
we’ve hatched a plan to get you moving!
Judges Report, The Times/Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year Awards 2013
“Chilterns works smart and hard for it’s clientele; they will always go the extra mile.” –