CI Chorlton Feb 14

community

February 2014

Chorlton & Whalley Range

Cracking Good u Food, helping yo make affordable home cooked meals

p16

This month...

nts Chorlton reside work and businesses meless together on ho e p15 delivery servic Meet the elusive er p20 Chorlton Rapp -less Local cafe cost coffee p32 LOCAL & T INDEPENDEN BUSINESS 30 DIRECTORY p

View the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk Delivered FREE to homes & businesses in Chorlton & Whalley Range

House Extension Specialists

Architectural & Building Services in South Manchester

0161 431 3080

www.housx.com

info@housx.com

Welcome

Contents

to the February edition of Community Index Dear Readers, We’ve got mad dogs, trees with no leaves, wild food courses, a mysterious disappearing engraver, an invitation from a school, a red velvet cake, affordable acupuncture, potatoes to chit, a request to slow down, a website for renters, an inter-generational football team and an elusive rapper. All in this month’s bumper edition! How on earth do we fit it all in?

Joe Beech Joe Beech

Lesley Swann

Editor

Director

Linsey Parkinson

Sam Paechter

Marketing & Development

Chorlton Traders Book Review Tea Hive’s Cake Corner Cracking Good Food The Story of Chorlton-Cum-Hardy Acupuncture.. who needs it?

Mad Dogs Homeless Food Delivery Service February In Your Garden 20’s Plenty Chorlton High School Co-Op Academy Trust There’s More to a Tree Than Just Leaves The Chorlton Rapper Community Index Rated Rentals Sport in Chorlton Business Index

4 6 7 9 10 11 13 14 15 15 19 20 25 27 29 30

Pick up a copy of Community Index at Chorlton Library, Unicorn, Chorlton Bookshop, JP & Brimelow, Battery Park, Simon Dunn, Village Dry Cleaners, Pad, Chorlton Fireworks, AJ Adams, King Bee Records, Chorlton Post Office, Chorlton Locksmiths

Accounts

Community Index T : 0787 589 5604 E: editor@communityindex.co.uk @communityindex www.communityindex.co.uk 149 Ayres Road, Manchester M16 9WR

Cover Image Cracking Good Food

Green

Deadline for next edition 14th February, 2014

Chorlton Contributors Andrew Simpson Tea Hive Chorlton Bookshop Katherine Watson Adele Jordan Geoff Garnett

Annie Walker Lesley Swann Sam Turner Sam & Aidy from Rated Rentals

Chorlton Traders

Established in 2012, initially to raise money for Christmas lights, Chorlton Traders has had a busy year. Businesses large and small have worked together to raise funds for local good causes, improve the appearance of Chorlton, establish and develop relationships with other local community groups and meet up regularly to share ideas, concerns and information.

Love is in the air in February and we know that there’s a great deal of affection for local businesses. It’s often expressed most vocally when we notice that a local business, perhaps even one that’s been around for many years, has shut up shop and closed down. BusyBee Toys, Monkey Puzzle Toys, H. Burt, HP Meats Barbecue; we find ourselves wondering who will be next?

Don’t be shy!

Express your love and affection by shifting some of your regular spending to local businesses.

The variety and range of independent businesses in Chorlton is unique in Manchester and it’s a vital part of what makes it such a great place to live, work, play, shop and do business.

It’s not about spending more money. If we all just shifted 10% of our spending to local businesses it would have a significant effect on the local economy. We know as Traders that money spent in local businesses is more often than not recycled back into the local economy. Independent cafes, bars, restaurants and shops tend to source lots of products and services locally. It’s this recycling (or flow) of money which underpins a thriving local economy.

4

Follow us on Twitter @ChorltonTraders

householders, schools, artists, gardeners, cyclists, campaigners, bee-keepers, makers and anyone else who is willing and able will be invited to participate.

Love the Local Discounts Don’t forget to get your new Tag! cards so you can enjoy savings at hundreds of south Manchester businesses and help support community initiatives too. Check out the website for details of participating businesses www. tagpassiton.com

Chorlton Art Market The market is back in February on Saturday 22nd at a new venue - The Post Office Cafe.

Put the date in your diary!

Chorlton Big Green Festival 2014 Plans are coming together for a new kind of festival this year. Green Chorlton, the organisation behind past festivals, will be working in partnership with Chorlton Traders to present a ten day celebration of all aspects of green living. Businesses, community groups, composters, performers, suppliers,

Look out for more details on Twitter @ chorltontraders and @biggreenfest and in next month’s Community Index.

Meeting Dates

Thursday 30th January 5.30-7.30pm Thursday 20th February 5.30-7.30pm Tuesday 25th March 5.30-7pm Venue: Chorlton Library Meeting Room Non-members are welcome to attend their first meeting for free.

Meet other local business owners, share information, get connected!

Why not come along and find out more?

Membership Fees: £15 for those working from home £25 for independents £75 for bigger businesses/ chains/nationals Contact us on chorlton@ chorltontraders.co.uk

Chorlton Traders community content is kindly funded by a cash grant from Manchester City Council

BATHROOM ANGELS

Supply • Design • Install

Why pay for costly showrooms?

Call Bathroom Angels - The Showroom that comes to your Home!

• Professional Design • Extensive range of both branded and non branded stock • Fantastic tile ranges • Quality Fitting, Fully Insured and Guaranteed

P SAVE U TOyo4ur5ne% w

on during bathroom eb 2014 Jan and F !

W BOOK NO

Call 0161 610 3684 Today! to arrange a no obligation design visit

Visit our website www.bathroomangels.co.uk Fast becoming the preferred way to buy your new bathroom in South Manchester/Cheshire

Book Review

from Chorlton Bookshop The Goldfinch Donna Tartt

This is Donna Tartt’s first novel for eleven years. She’s certainly been using her time productively as this latest epic comes in at just under 800 pages! Published in October 2013 it has received universal praise.

Theo Decker is thirteen when his mother dies in an explosion at a New York museum. Theo survives, but on leaving the scene decides to steal a painting. And so begins a deception which will lead him into all kinds of trouble in later life. Theo’s life is thrown into chaos, and he eventually goes to live with his much hated father and girlfriend in Las vegas. The plot is intense

and complex, loaded with conspiracy and double dealings.

However, there’s a gentler side of the story, dealing with the emotions of loss and isolation.

This will be a real treat for existing fans of Donna Tartt, but will also introduce a whole new generation to her skill. Her first two novels, ‘The Secret History’ and ‘The Little Friend’ are highly recommended.

Classic VW Camper Hire in Chorlton Self drive classic Volkswagen campervan hire.

For holidays with a difference or festivals in comfort and style.

www.coolcatcampers.co.uk /coolcatcampers

6

07763 207761

@coolcatcampers

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Tea Hive’s Cake Corner Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients For the cake 300g plain our 20g cocoa 300g caster sugar 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda pinch salt 120g butter 240ml whole milk

Method Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan/ Gas 4 Grease and line a 23cm round tin with greaseproof paper.

Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time, beating until well combined after each one.

In a separate bowl mix the cocoa, red food colouring and

vanilla extract to make a thick paste. Add paste to the butter mixture and mix thoroughly.

Slowly add half the buttermilk, then add half the sieved flour to the butter mixture, then repeat using rest of flour and buttermilk.

Add the salt, then mix the bicarbonate of soda and vinegar together and add to the butter mixture. Beat until well mixed.

Pour into prepared tin and bake in oven for 35 minutes or until

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 20ml red food colouring 240ml buttermilk 3 tsp white wine vinegar

For the icing 450g icing sugar 75g butter 185g cream cheese (cold)

an inserted skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool.

While cake is baking make the icing. Beat icing sugar and butter until combined. Beat the cream cheese to soften slightly then add to the butter mixture.

Remove the cake for the tin and ice the top and side.

Tweet your pictures to @teahivetweets, instagram @teahivechorlton or post them to the Tea Hive Facebook page

7

CHORLTON Locksmiths Keys cut while you wait Safe & Security Engineers Locks Opened & Replaced Follow us on Facebook & Twitter

24HR CALLOUT

Tel: 0161 881 8502

615B Wilbraham Rd • Chorlton • M21 9AN

Advertise to 20,000+ homes for as little as

£110

8

community

email editor@communityindex.co.uk

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Cracking Good Food Cracking Good Food is a Chorlton based not-forprofit social enterprise that encourages cooking tasty, nutritious meals from scratch through hands-on workshops and courses for paying customers and community groups. Their passion is that good food is not expensive when you know what to cook and how to cook it.

The Cracking Cooks include bread expert Rob Tomlinson, Hairy Bikers star Harjinder Kaur, game expert Robert Owen Brown, 1847 Bistro and Noma Copenhagen’s Wendy Swetnam, and Michelin-trained Jules Bagnoli.

They use seasonal, organic

and fair-trade ingredients from independent retailers, and they often source their produce for community events from Fareshare - food that would otherwise be destined for composting.

In 2012 Cracking Good Food was short-listed as a Food & Drink Pioneer in the Manchester Food & Drink Festival Awards.

The team has worked with various like-minded sustainable organisations, such as The Kindling Trust, and they’re currently in partnership with with Recycle For Greater Manchester offering free cookery sessions promoting the Love Food Hate Waste message.

Alexander Technique  balance and poise  ease of movement  stillness  strength in action  voice

individual sessions, groups, courses and workshops 

you can improve how you move, perform, look and feel 

Sue Fleming MSTAT

www.alexanderteaching.co.uk CNHC registered 0161 861 8848 WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Number One in Visit Manchester’s ‘Five Great Cookery Courses’, they run a rolling programme of cooking and bread making courses in Chorlton and Whalley Range, offering the cheapest cookery classes in the region. They also run wild food foraging events in Chorlton and Didsbury and in June they’re launching a new Dinner Party Cooking Club, hosted by Wendy Swetnam, in collaboration with And The Dish Ran Away with the Spoon in West Didsbury.

www.crackinggoodfood.org Facebook: Cracking Good Food Blog: http://crackingcooks. blogspot.co.uk/ Twitter: @CrackingFood Adele Jordan: 07910 673113

Cookery Schools in the Community Chorlton & Whalley Range

Great value!

Full day & half day breadmaking Half day Chinese, Cookies, Sushi, Punjabi, Wild Food & more Dinner Party Cooking Wild Food Forages & Bespoke Events For the novice & the foodie Vouchers available juliet @crackinggoodfood.org Book online at crackinggoodfood.org

9

The Story Of Chorlton-Cum-Hardy What Happened to William Mellow? by Andrew Simpson It is a simple enough question, but one for which I have no answer. And it is all the more frustrating given that his early life, up to the point when he moved to Chorlton, is well documented.

Now I have to confess William Mellor was unknown to me until a few days ago when my friend Barry Clark told me about him. He was born in 1886 and moved to Clarence Road in Chorlton around 1911. At the age of 30 in 1915 he had volunteered for the army, served in France and was twice gassed before being demobbed in 1919.

And that is pretty much it. Despite a heap of digging neither of us has been able to track him after the Great War, which is a puzzle, given that he was a well respected book binder and calligrapher, having won prizes for both. He exhibited with the Clarion Guild of Handicraft, was Secretary of the Northern Art Workers Guild before it folded in 1911 and his work appeared in various national art journals of the time.

Now there are plenty of clues still to follow up.

His father, William Mellor was also a book binder and was editor of the Book Binders Trades Journal and may have held a position in his union given that he gives his occupation as ‘secretary’ on the 1911 census. William Mellor senior stayed in Chorlton and died in 1925. By then he had moved to 9 Stanley Grove which was a more modest home as befitting someone who I guess at 64 may have retired.

It is just possible that something of the young William will be revealed in a further search through his father’s life and from his links with the Northern Art Workers Guild. Added to which there might Buy Andrew just be some Simpson’s book records from ‘The Story of his time as a Chorlton-Cumstudent at the Hardy’ or visit Manchester him online at chorltonhistory. School of Art. blogspot.com/

10

But as yet we can find

no record of his death or, for that matter, of when his wife died. There are two references to a William Mellor dying in 1923 and 1924 both in the Manchester area but neither can be definitely linked to our man. Likewise a trawl of the Manchester burial records threw up a number of candidates, but none that I can say are him.

All of which leads me at present to pursue the Clarion Guild of Handicraft, which is a fascinating area of study and may still throw some light on William Mellor.

Picture; poster advertising an exhibition of the Clarion Guild of Handicraft, at the Athenaeum in 1904, from the collection of Barry Clark.

Additional research by Barry Clark

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Acupuncture... who needs it?

by Annie Walker RGN BSc MBAcC Lic Ac The Acupuncture Works Acupuncture can be effective for conditions that don’t respond well to conventional medicine, such as stress, insomnia, migraine, fertility issues, anxiety, depression and low back pain. These conditions may be chronic and debilitating, and can reduced the sufferer’s ability to earn a living; meaning there’s a strong likelihood that chronically ill people are also poor.

The average cost of acupuncture in Manchester is £35-£50 an hour, putting it out of the reach of those who need

it most; a world away from Acupuncture’s original ethos.

In response to this, there are an increasing number of ‘Low Cost’ clinics where Acupuncture is offered for a minimum charge, without compromising the expertise of the practitioner.

The Acupuncture Works is one such clinic. It’s a not-for-profit community cooperative located in the city centre and at MMU. Treatments cost as little as £15 for those on a low income.

How do they manage it?

They use a multi-bed clinic, like a hospital ward. Patients are treated in one large space, with

screens for privacy, ensuring that everyone can be observed for safety, but enabling several patients to be treated simultaneously. The savings are passed on to the patient. The practitioners are members of the British Acupuncture Council and uphold its professional codes of conduct.

This low-cost, multi-bed option is ideal for people with long term conditions, including chronic pain, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, dementia, mental ill-health, substance misuse issues and even maternity needs.

ACUPUNCTURE

LOW COST - HIGH QUALITY TWO CLINICS, TWO VENUES Wednesdays at:

Thursdays at:

City Centre 24 Mount Street Manchester M2 3NN

Manchester Metropolitan University Elizabeth Gaskell Campus Hathersage Road M13 0JA

|

07590 903 714 www.acupunctureworks.org.uk r, M2tel 3NN. A workers co-operative and social enterprise trading under the name of Manchest er Accessible Acupuncture Project CIC.

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

11

Title

Name

Tel

Address Postcode

Email

Making a difference: Mad Dog Homeless Food Delivery Service Last August, after being inspired by the good work of Manzoor from Barakah Foods, Adrian Conway and a good friend founded Mad Dogs, with the goal of providing weekly food deliveries to the homeless and hungry of Manchester.

Things quickly escalated and they were soon making four or five deliveries a week!

“It was very chaotic at first,” said Adrian, “as well as the food, we were arranging clothing and sleeping bags. It did lack structure and organisation,

though it always got top marks for enthusiasm! We initially received quite a following from the people of Chorlton, but this has rapidly expanded to all over South Manchester with many collecting donations or offering their services as volunteers.”

Several businesses have helped out with donations and provisions and, two stand out for their continuous support; Frost’s Butchers and Elliott’s Fruit and Veg, both in Chorlton precinct, have given weekly donations from the very beginning.

A J ADAMS

Longest established Greengrocers in Chorlton

SEASONAL PRODUCE NOW IN STOCK

“The food is collected and cooked by a volunteer and then picked up in the evening by a driver and two helpers who give it out in Manchester” says Adrian, “The volunteers change from day to day as there are now so many who want to get involved. It’s a lot less chaotic than it was in the early days!

We are always looking for more volunteers and most importantly donations of food, warm clothing, waterproofs, sleeping bags etc.”

Mad Dogs are going from strength to strength and now have 170+ members on their Facebook page. For more information on how to help please go to Facebook and search: Mad Dogs Homeless Food Delivery Service

karl hutton fitted furniture

Primulas and Daffodils, Seville Oranges, range of nuts & preserves Unit 19, Chorlton Place, Wilbraham Rd Chorlton, M21 9AQ

Tel: 0161 881 1349

Why go to Auction?

Stamps Coins Postcards Bring your collection in to AJ Adams Greengrocers & talk to Tony Member of MDPTA Manchester & District Philatelic Traders Association Unit 19, Chorlton Place, Wilbraham Rd Chorlton, M21 9AQ

Mob: 07769 705 575

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

handmade furniture in solid wood fitted shelving • bookcases • libraries • studies • alcove cupboards • hand built kitchens established in 2000

07989 891581

0161 860 4848

www.karlhutton.co.uk

13

February In Your Garden

by Katherine Watson Since handing in my allotment keys, time-poor and shamefaced at my lack of discipline in the crop-rotation department, I have resorted to growing a few more manageable bits and bobs at home, not necessarily for the savings it creates in my weekly shop, but for the satisfaction in growing something that, a few weeks later, produces something else that you can eat. Radishes and cut andcome-again salads are great for garden growing, as are dwarf sugar snaps, peas and beans that can mingle in the borders happily. But perhaps the most exciting garden crop is the potato, producing a secret cache under the compost in as short a time as 8-10 weeks.

The good thing about potatoes is that you can start the first earlies in February. First earlies, often called salad potatoes, come to maturity the fastest of all the potato groups; second earlies and maincrop being the others.

I have just ordered four varieties of first earlies in a New Year haze of enthusiasm, so that I can start chitting them this month. After an afternoon’s trawl of t’internet, varieties recommended by proper allotmenteers include: Sharpes Express a heritage variety going since 1901, Lady Christl and

“...perhaps the most exciting garden crop is the potato, producing a secret cache under the compost in as short a time as 8-10 weeks” Home Guard which was one of the main potato staples during the second world war.

Chitting a potato requires an egg box or other container, some potatoes (obviously) and some light inside the house or in a porch or conservatory. When the

tubers have sprouted, around the end of February/beginning of March, you can plant them. I have used big plastic pots for my potatoes in the past but you can also use old compost bags (with holes for drainage) or special potato grow bags. Fill the pot/bag a third of the way with compost and place tubers at 30cm distances, sprouting bits upwards.

Cover in compost to a depth of 10cm. When the resulting growth starts to flower the potatoes are ready.

I found some good suppliers who can provide small quantities for modest aspirations: JBAseedpotatoes.co.uk and simply-seed.co.uk but there will be others to choose from.

Garden Design Planting Advice Consultation Service Project Managment

07989968841 www.fatgrass.co.uk 14

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Twenty’s Plenty

speedwatch volunteers are being trained by the police to monitor compliance.

by Lesley Swann Whilst out and about delivering Community Index over the last couple of months, I’ve noticed lots of houses are displaying 20’s Plenty posters. There are also a couple of banners dotted around.

What’s it all about?

It’s not, as it turns out, the Football Supporters’ Federation’s ‘Twenty’s Plenty for Away Tickets’ campaign.

Although this sounds reasonable enough to me.

It’s a campaign for 20mph to become the default speed limit on residential and urban streets.

The national campaign has

enjoyed considerable success, with many towns, cities and local authorities, including Manchester City Council, committed to adopting 20mph as the default for residential streets.

Of course this transition will take time, money and a change in our driving behaviour.

The 20’s plenty group in Chorlton Park are focusing their efforts on specific roads where there has been a 20 mph speed limit for nearly ten years - the Corkland Road, Nell Lane, St Werburgh’s Rd, Sandy Lane and St Anne’s Rd area.

The Council have recently upgraded the signage and

Become a community member of the Chorlton High School Co-operative Academy Trust In 2013 Chorlton High School became a Co-operative Academy, showing their commitment to developing an outstanding school for the Chorlton community, and to provide a voice for the stakeholders in the school. As a Co-operative we feel it is vital to work in partnership with our community and we would like to invite Chorlton residents to consider becoming a member of the Co-operative Academy Trust.

Membership is free and as a member you will have access to benefits such as discounted use of school facilities, and an increased opportunity to directly influence the future of Chorlton High School. As we develop the trust we hope to be able to offer further benefits for members such as discounts at linked local businesses. We hope by developing our membership we will be able to work more closely with the community, developing local partnerships and initiatives and making a positive contribution to the community.

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

The most important thing, of course, is raising awareness.

When asked, residents are very supportive; 20’s plenty volunteers have collected more than three hundred promises with an active campaign of door knocking, posters, leaflets and social media.

This is a great campaign and here at Community Index we are fully supportive. The sooner we make the transition to a 20mph default the better.

If you have any doubts - please have a look at the evidence at www.20splentyforus.org.uk And, if you’re as convinced as we are - why not get involved in the campaign and help make this happen?

Twitter @chrltnpk20plnty Facebook.com/ ChorltonPark20 isPlentyCampaign

You can find more information and sign up at www.chorltonhigh. manchester.sch.uk/ become-member. Or call Christine Taggart 0161 882 1150 for a membership form.

DIGGER AND DRIVER FOR HIRE Free quotes on all nature work

No obligation quotes

07725613458 15

ThePurplePages

Sales & Lettings

Welcome

Who can believe that we are now in to February. It doesn’t seem like 2 minutes ago that we were making New Years resolutions (visits to the gym have increased, detox, five a day and cutting out the chocolates).

The Chorlton office is buzzing with new instructions, valuations and a full viewing diary, and we have some fantastic new houses on the market and my staff are ready to take your details if you have a property that you are thinking of putting on the market and want us to do a FREE valuation.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to spoil someone special in your life and show them how much they mean to you. However, it is quite tricky finding a way to do this, especially with all the options available.

JP & Brimelow are proud to support

Green

Chorlton

To help, we have put together a few suggestions for restaurants in and around Chorlton for Valentines or if your loved one is happy with a coffee and a cake we have also some Coffee and cake suggestions.. We hope this makes things a little easier and keeps the day fun and enjoyable, just like it really should be.’

Edward Ellis, MNAEA - Director

Restaurants: Croma, 500 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Tel: 0161 881 1117 Laundrette, 32 Beech Road, Chorlton, Tel. 0161 881 5777 Olive & Thyme, 416418 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Tel. 0161 881 6695 Coriander, 485 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Tel. 0161 881 0340

Coffee & Cake:

Tea Hive, 53 Manchester Road, Chorlton, Tel. 0161 283 9869 Craftilicious, 127 Oswald Road, Chorlton, Tel. 0161 860 4814 Barbakan Deli, 6771 Manchester Road, Chorlton, Tel. 0161 881 7053

430 Barlow Moor Rd Chorlton M21 8AD

Also included in this issue are a range of eight properties, something to suit everyone around the Chorlton and Whalley Range area. Please feel free to call me and my team to discuss any of these fantastic properties on 0161 882 2233.

SALES: 0161 882 2233 chorlton@jpbrimelow.co.uk LETTINGS: 0161 882 2244 chorltonlettings@jpbrimelow.co.uk

the be Eight st for of sale

Brooks Road, Old Trafford

Weller Avenue, Chorlton

Hartley Hall Gardens, Whalley Range

Warwick Road, Chorlton

Gloucester Road, Urmston

Regency Court, Chorlton

Leacroft Road, Chorlton

Hampton Road, Chorlton

£335,000

£230,000

£90,000

£175,000

£170,000

£150,000

£125,000

£230,000

www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk Offices also in Didsbury 0161 448 0622 & Withington 0161 445 9700

@jpandbrimelow

Local Ethical Tree Work

OPEN 11-6pm Mon-Fri 11-5pm Sat

DO YOU HAVE LEAFLETS THAT NEED TO BE DELIVERED TO THE LOCAL AREA?

DON’T LEAVE THEM IN A BOX...

LET COMMUNITY INDEX DELIVER THEM FOR YOU! £35 PER 1,000 EDITOR@COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

18

We are a unique social enterprise that provides high quality arboricultural services, including planting, pruning, emergency call-outs, dismantling and felling, along with tree safety surveys.

All byproduct upcycled to make wood fuels, planks, and other products - nothing wasted

Local hardwood firewood | Timber for joinery Mulch for local allotments Sleepers and Weatherboards Biomass woodchip

www.treestation.co.uk 0161 231 3333 Greater Manchester TreeStation Ltd - A Society for the Benefit of the Community committed to combatting climate change, FSA Mutuals registered number 31552R

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

All byproduct upcycled to make wood fuels, planks, and other products - nothing wasted

There’s More to a Tree Than Just Leaves

by Sam Turner BSc (Hons) Arboriculture, TechArborA Local hardwood firewood | Timber for joinery Mulch for local allotments Arboricultural Consultant, Greater Manchester TreeStationSleepers and Weatherboards Biomass woodchip

The ‘January Blues’ must surely be directly correlated with the final consumption of leftover Christmas confectionery. It may also be compounded by the fact that the urban greenery is looking rather bare to the untrained eye at this time of year. So, if you think that trees and shrubs don’t have much to offer in winter, please read on.

Less obvious tree features to admire at the moment include buds and bark. Buds come in all shapes, sizes and colours and there is a real satisfaction in observing them ripen and burst as the temperature warms up. Large obvious buds to get started with include horse chestnuts - an oppositely arranged and sticky to the touch affair, containing tiny undeveloped versions of its palmate leaves. Interesting bark can be found on introduced species such as the snake bark maples and paper birch, but our native birches (silver and downy) provide attractive silvery white stems and branches.

Winter flowering trees and shrubs bring a real level of sophistication to a garden or public space and have the added benefit of providing an otherwise largely absent source of nectar for the birds and the bees (a great argument against the ‘native trees only’ debate).

Glamorous trees and shrubs of this persuasion include the winter flowering Japanese cherries. Less glamorous but far more robust, the many varieties of Mahonia present large spires

www.treestation.co.uk 0161 231 3333 Greater Manchester TreeStation Ltd - A Society for the Benefit of the Community committed to combatting climate change, FSA Mutuals registered number 31552R

“...if you think that trees and shrubs don’t have much to offer in winter, please read on.” of (normally yellow) flowers which can be found in car park borders.

Then there are the berried trees, which provide all important winter fodder for birds and give us a wonderful colourful splash to brighten up even the greyest of Mancunian days. These include rowans, whitebeams and holly, but also large leaved cotoneasters which hold on to their berries for a very long time. Just this weekend I spent an hour watching a group of three Redwings feeding from one in a Chorlton back garden.

Other birds to look out for include mixed flocks of Blue, Great and Long-Tailed Tits.

These may be accompanied by Nuthatches and Goldcrests as they move around foraging for food. Winter thrushes such as

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Redwings and Fieldfares may still be seen and be sure to listen out for the sound of Mistle and Song Thrushes.

One thing for tree owners to bear in mind is that with the approaching spring comes the bird nesting season (the majority of UK birds nest from March to August), but we wouldn’t expect any to be nesting at this time of year.

So if you’ve been putting off any hedging work (leylandii especially…), now really is a critical time to get it done before the birds move in and get down to business.

19

The Chorlton Rapper

What about the Chorlton Rapper live experience? What can we expect?

Unfortunately for your readers I’m currently at a level where I only play private parties to a very select audience. My kitten, Snoop Catty Cat, is the luckiest pet in South Manchester!

Community Index recently caught up with the infamous Chorlton Rapper, currently causing a minor stir on the South Manchester rap scene.

Some detractors claim that you’re not even a real rapper, merely a poorly executed Twitter parody account. How do you plead?

They’ve obviously not heard my new single ‘Falafel Rap’…. though I guess that’s ‘cause it’s not been released yet. Um, or written.

For Chorltonites who don’t know you, can you give us a taste of your rapping skills?

You don’t know me? Where is your head?

I’m the best thing since Barbakan bread

Follow The Chorlton Rapper on Twitter at @ ChorltonRapper. His debut single, Falafel Rap, is set for release in Spring 2014 (so he claims).

Put Chorlton rap right on the map An icon, just like Damon’s hat….Braap!

Erm, great. Tell us a little about your musical past. Is it true you once worked with the aforementioned Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy? Yep, that’s right. I was in a folk duo with Damon in the late 90s, we were called the Poorly Sketched Lads. The highlight of our career was receiving a standing ovation in Dulcimer. Not that anyone had a choice but to stand, we played on their opening night before they’d got any chairs in.

One day Damon said he wanted to go it alone and become a solo star. I think his motivation deep down was that he knew I was destined to become a key figure on the Chorlton rap scene and he wanted to set me free. That, and the fact he said my singing voice sounded like Chris Eubank doing a bad Nick Drake impression.

0781 0147 070 info@greendesigns.eu

www.greendesigns.eu 20

• • • • • • •

Yes, you can have it all...

Successful business lady is seeking 5 working partners to work part time from home, without compromising current working or family commitments.

Do you have experience in one or more of the following roles?

Supervisory | Managerial | Sales | Marketing Recruitment | Self-Employment Call me now!

Laura Dunlop 07554 667 477

professional garden design full construction service planting driveway tree surgery fencing & hedging free initial consultation WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

HMC Professional Painters & Decorators

Basement Conversions

home office • gym • playroom wine cellar • bathroom • wetroom

Roy Nesbitt Tel: 0161 300 0530 Mob: 07921 710 563

northwest

best ce ars

Domestic & Commercial Interior & Exterior Local Decorator Call Harry:

0161 881 7982

07799 107 741

basement conversions

Free Estimates All Work Guaranteed

www.bestcellarsnw.co.uk Best Cellars North West • Unit 204 792 Wilmslow Rd • Didsbury • Manchester • M20 6UG

Over 30 years experience

Hana K Plumbing Qualified Female Plumber

Qualified Female Plumber

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS • • • • • •

FAST DRYING SYSTEM FREE STAIN & ODOUR REMOVAL STAINGUARD PROTECTION 10% RETIRED PERSONS DISCOUNT ALL WORK IS FULLY INSURED ALL FURNITURE MOVED BY OPERATIVE

We are a local company based in Chorlton Fully trained to NCCA standards Ring or email for a FREE ESTIMATE

07742 369 231

or leave a message on 0161 881 4822 contact@pro-fresh.co.uk www.pro-fresh.co.uk

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

T:07538 249229 / 0161 408 4605 E: hana@hanakplumbing.co.uk

Hot Installation& &Maintenance Maintenance Hot&&Cold Cold Water Water Installation Fixing Toilets,Taps, Taps,Baths, Baths, Pipes Fixingleaks. leaks: Toilets, Pipes Bathroom Bathroom Fitting Fitting Radiator Replacement&& Alterations RadiatorRepairs, Repairs, Replacement Alterations Thermostatic Valvesfitting fitting Thermostatic Valves Bath and shower sealantHeating repair Treatment Powerflushing & Central Outside tting Outsidetaps taps fi fitting

No Job Too Big or Small For a trustworthy, friendly & tidy service from a reliable professional, call Hana Kubacova

Tel: 07538 249229 www.hanakplumbing.co.uk

21

clive victor gale mobile hairdressing Want a change from the Salon experience? Call Clive on

mob 07947 509 411 tel 0161 281 1122

Same Day Service Available Rewarding customer loyalty up to

20%

off

with our customer loyalty card scheme (terms & conditions apply)

20% DISCOUNT ON FIRST

APPOINTMENT

OPENING TIMES Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 8.30-5.30pm Thurs (late night) Saturday

8.30-7.00pm

8.30-4.00pm

Hairdressing to the highest standard

M Duffin Property Repairs Chimneys Pointing Roofs Gutters

Free Estimates 22

0161 789 6640 07944 729 608 WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

hen I’m w d n a e o j my names is magazine I do g th not makin

C I H P A GR

N G I S DE

Next Meetings : Thursday 20th February 5.30-7.30pm at Chorlton Library Meeting Room

JoeBeech.co.uk

Tuesday 25th March 5.30-7pm

07528 617 870

info@chorltontraders.co.uk @chorltontraders

beechjw@gmail.com

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

23

Select Plumbing & Heating

Steamed Up Windows?

Handles and Hinges too hard to handle?

Door & Window locks behaving badly?

Central Heating Installation Power Flushing Servicing & Repairs Gas Cooker & Fire Installations Landlord Safety Certificates All types of Plumbing Work Fully Tiled Bathrooms Contact Tony Goss 0161 865 6657 07973 908 592

Gas Safe

Registered No. 196842

10 Year Guarantee On The Glass No Minimum Order No Credit Card Charges Contact your local WindowGeek today for a free, no obligation quote

Sample Price List: (including VAT & fitting)

24

Steamed Up Windows

from £30

Replacement Handles

from £35

Replacement Hinges

from £55

Replacement Locking Systems

from £60

Anti-bump/Anti-snap Security Locks

from £69.95

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Community Index Clubs, Societies & Groups Barlow International Folk Dance Group Tuesday

evenings at St.Ninians, Wilbraham Road Mary O’Mahony 0161 881 8955

Chorlton Afternoon Townswomen’s Guild 2nd

& 3rd Tuesday of the month, 2pm, Chorlton Library.

0161 881 2544

Chorlton Aikido Club

Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm St Ninians, Wilbraham Rd www.lancashireaikikai.org 861 8456

Community Allotment & Apiary Scott Avenue

Allotment 07973 139068 07521 500223 uk.groups.yahoo.com/ group/grow_for_it/

Chorlton and Friends Gardening Group

3rd Monday monthly, in Chorlton Library, 7.30 - 9pm.

Admission £3.00 candfgg@ yahoo.co.uk

Chorlton Bookshop Book Group 3rd Tuesday of the

month at The Horse and Jockey Pub 7.45pm Details from Chorlton Bookshop or call 881 6374

Chorlton Bridge Club Christine Blackburn 225 8854 www.bridge webs.com/chorlton

Chorlton Civic Society

Chorlton History Group

Meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, 1.30 - 3pm at Chorlton Good Neighbours St Nininians Church, Egerton Rd South

Chorlton Knits 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Lloyds Chorlton Kung Fu

Wednesdays 8pm, Albany Estate, behind Morrisons 07774 723839

Chorlton Philosophy Group Tuesdays 7.30pm,

upstairs at the Lloyds pub chorltonphilosophygroup. wordpress.com/

Chorlton Reading Group

Once a month in the meeting room behind Chorlton library 7.30pm All welcome 881 1813 chorltonreadersgroup@ gmail.com

Chorlton and District Rotary Club Every Wednesday 6.45 pm Hough End Centre, Mauldeth Road West, rosie.paver@gmail. com

Coffee and Craft Mornings at Chorlton Good

Neighbours. Meet friends and have a coffee, with arts and crafts group. Thursdays 10-11.30am Wilbraham St Ninian’s Church 881 2925 www.cgncg.org.uk

Co-op members’ group

Chorlton Library meeting room. Tuesday 12th Nov 7.30pm. Chair - Jenny Slee 0757 0879 091 chorltoncivicsociety.org.uk

Every 2nd Wed of the month at 7.30pm, room above the Hardy Lane Co-op.Talks, trips, events. Call Brenda 0752 507 1672 brenda. copnall@gmail.com

Chorlton Evening Townswomens Guild

French Circle Led by

Meet every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at 7.30pm Chorlton Library.

0161 881 6354

Chorlton Good Neighbours 881 2925

goodneighbours@btconnect. com

meadows.blogspot.com

Friends of Longford Park

info@folp.co.uk friendsoflongfordpark.org.uk

Intergen Volunteer

Monday of each month, 8-10pm, Whalley Range Venue. Ann 07814 861285

Manchester Flower Lovers’ Guild St

Music & Entertainment

Werburghs Church Hall, Chorlton. Anne 881 6591 flowersnorthwest.net

Shakespeare House Community Centre

Whalley Range M16 8NR, 823205 admin@r-squared.org.uk

Simply Cycling Longford

Park, Athletics Stadium Mon & Fri 9.30 - Noon, Sun 1-3pm. All abilties and ages welcome Sue 0775 342 8937 Helen 0787 162 1778 www.simply-cycling.org

St. Clements Fellowship

Barbara - 0161 881 5912 or Ida - 0161 861 7158

Whalley Range Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club

every Friday indoor cricket nets :Years 5 & 6: 6.30-7.30; Years 7-10: 5.30-6.30: Seniors (16+): 7.30-8.30. £4 Springbridge Road, William Hulme Grammar School

Whalley Range Forum

JN8 Youth & Community Centre, 82 Cromwell Ave, M16 0BG 881 3744 info@ whalleyrange.org www. whalleyrange.org

Whalley Range 4 Wildlife wr4wildlife@yahoo.co.uk wr4wildlife.wordpress.com

Arts & Crafts Chorlton Art Group

Tuesdays, 10.00 to 12.00 at St. Werbergh’s church hall.

Brenda at brensidebeck@ aol.com

Friends of Alexandra Park

Chorlton Sewing Club

Friends of Chorlton Meadows 881 6276

www.friendsofchorlton

Playing Brazilian and Cuban rhythms. Thursdays 7-9pm St. Margarets Church, Whalley Range Sue 226 4311

opportunities for Chorlton residents 55+ to work with local primary school children.

Estelle Longmore 0161 264 0089 or 07946761785 www. intergen.org.uk

enthusiastic native speaker.

Tuesday afternoon or evening at St Werberghs Church Hall 881 88314

226 7525 www.friends ofalexandrapark.org.uk

Drum & Percussion Group

1st Thursday of the month 7.30 - 9.30pm Chorlton Library chorltonsewing.wordpress. com

Dolls House and Miniatures Group 2nd

Chorlton Film Institute

Blue Jasmine - Thurs 20th February. Doors open 8.10 pm, film starts 8.30 pm Entrance £5 St Clements Church

Chorlton Folk Club

Thursdays 9pm Ellesmere Rd Cricket Club

Folk Songs and Tunes at The Beech 1st & 3rd

Wednesdays for Songs 2nd & 4th for Tunes.

Beech Road, Chorlton, M21 9EG

Manchester Sing Out Choir (Gospel Choir)

Tuesdays 7-9pm St Johns Centre, Old Trafford. manchestersingoutchoir.org msochoir@live.co.uk

Therapy & Support Groups Breast Cancer Care Walking Group Every other Friday at Chorlton Water Park bestfootforward@ breastcancercare.org.uk

Chorlton Anxiety Group 226 3871

Manchester Diabetes Support Network:

Details/ venues/ monthly dates etc Register interest with Mike 860 5688 diabetesinmanchester@ gmail.com

New Family Social

UK charity for LGBT adopters, foster carers and their children. Meets every month in south Manchester. newfamilysocial.org.uk

Rainbow Families 07903 397 108 rainbowfamilies@ hotmail.com

25

PERSONAL ASSISTANTS/ SUPPORT STAFF REQUIRED

A lady who is living independently in her own home in the South Manchester area is looking to employ a team of staff to support her both at home and in the community with all aspects of her care including personal care and PEG feeds.

She is an essential wheelchair user with extremely limited mobility and communicates nonverbally through gestures and body language.

She enjoys going out, socialising and being in

the fresh air.

The ability to work with a person-centred approach is essential, as is a calm and caring nature.

Previous experience is desirable although full bespoke training will be provided for all successful applicants. Part-time, Full- time, weekend and sleep over shifts are available. Applicants must have full UK driving licence.

For application pack please phone Imagineer on 01422 363817

• rewires, repairs & alterations • fire and burglar alarm systems • inspection & testing inc. P.A.T.

Call Andrew on 07729 241 860 or visit www.amelectricalandalarm.co.uk

We clean your oven… so you don’t have to Call today to have your oven, hob, extractor or Aga professionally cleaned Ian Glancy Mob Tel: 07580 765765

www.ovenwizards.com 26

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

The ‘Trip Adviser’ for rented homes needs your reviews!

by Sam & Aidy, Rated Rentals The idea for Rated Rentals came about after one too many freezing cold, soaking wet, semi-naked trips downstairs to re-set the boiler whilst trying to have a shower! We thought ‘If only we had known we were moving into a house with the worst boiler ever in the depths of winter!’

So, we have set about trying to change that. As long as there are people, there will be renters, and we want the rental community to help each other out.

N A Evans

The idea is to create a level playing field for tenants, landlords and agents. We aren’t saying all landlords and agents are bad, or all tenants are perfect. We just want to create a forum for open and honest feedback.

Things that you can’t really get from an energy performance rating or spending 5-10 minutes walking round the place.

We need your reviews What we need now, are your reviews, and lots of them! The more reviews we get, the better tool the site will be for other renters.

It’s free and quick to leave a review, there aren’t any annoying ads and we don’t bombard people with emails.

Just go to www.ratedrentals. com, add the property and leave a short review.

Before you can think about moving into a property, you have to provide credit checks and references, but what do you Open really know about the place?

HOUSE Simple questions like; ‘is the Calling Allwww.ratedrentals.com Chorlton & Whalley Range Renters! landlord reliable when it comes twitter We’ve launched a new@RatedRentals review website for people just like you to fixing things quickly?’ or ‘what can finda chance us onof winning a £100 To find out You more and toalso be in with are the bills like in winter?’ worth of Ikea vouchers, log on to www.ratedrentals.com Facebook

Electrical Services

www.ratedrentals.com

Family run, serving South Manchester for 25 yrs • • • • •

No job too large, no job too small. Quality above all Energy saving and eco friendly advice and installation Inspection and Testing, Installations, Maintenance and Repairs Weekend and out of hours work All work fully guaranteed and to relevant regulations

Tel: 0161 881 6705 Mob: 07711 032 761 Trustmark / ECA / City and Guilds / Part P and JIB approved/ MIET WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

27

28

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

Sport in Chorlton A family affair at Whalley Range FC Whalley Range FC fourth team, which largely comprises veteran players with excellent soccer skills also welcomes young players to learn from their vast experience.

One of their stars is club legend Alf Thomas, now 63, who has been strutting his stuff in midfield for over 45 years..

He was spotted as a teenager at Pontins, Blackpool, by

Tangerine superstar Stan Mortensen but later returned to his Manchester roots, playing for AVRO, Oldham Town and then Old Chorltonians before joining near neighbours Whalley Range to be with his old pals.

Now Alf’s twenty year old grandson, Jake, has joined the team .

Range legend Paul Wood said: “Alf is a great role model for all

Paul with Alf and Jake

of our younger players. Jake has obviously inherited plenty of skill from Alf. “We’ve heard of sons following fathers in the same team, but we’re sure that this is the first time a grandfather and grandson have played together at our 108-year-old club or in the league. Is this a UK record?”

Scroungers do it for Nathan Over the past 25 years the Scroungers Golf Society have raised well in excess of £200,000 to buy state-of-theart powered wheelchairs for youngsters with disabilities.

Receiving their 171st wheelchair was 15-year-old Nathan Oldham from Hyde.

Scroungers secretary Syd Barton said: “Nathan suffers from cerebral palsy but he doesn’t let this restrict his sporting activities.

He attends Newbridge School, where he plays both wheelchair basketball and football for the Oldam Owls disabled teams.

Nathan also plays wheelchair football for Man City’s u15

disabled team, the only downside is that he’s an Arsenal supporter!”

Joining him at the presentation were his family led by mum Donna and dad Steve.

The Scroungers comprise members of local clubs; each year Chorlton Golf Club host the presentation with the Scroungers Captain, Alex Reynolds.

Nathan with, left to right, Gail Hegarty (Chorlton Lady Captain), John Davies (Chorlton Captain), Syd Barton, Alex Reynolds, Pam Draper (Chorlton President)

If you have any stories about sport in Chorlton or Whalley Range contact Geoff on 0161 881 7550 or ggggarnett@aol.com

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

29

Painting & Decorating

Business Index Bathrooms Bathroom Angels

5

Best Cellars

21

HouseX

2

M&H Building Contractors Window Geeks

8

Tea Hive

7

Nina West Decorator

28

SK Plastering & Decorating

24

Fat Grass Garden Designs

14

Plastering

Green Designs

20

SK Plastering & Decorating

Plumbing

24

Chorlton Gas

28

BG Plumbing

28

Select Plumbing & Heating

24

Hana K Plumbing

21

Select Plumbing & Heating

24

Graphic Design Joe Beech

Cleaning Oven Wizards

26

Hairdressing

Profresh Carpet Cleaners

21

Clive Victor Gale

Copywriting 26

Collectables 13

Digger Digger & Driver for Hire

15

Dry Cleaners Villlage Dry Cleaners

22

Electrician AM Electrical

26

NA Evans Electrical

27

Estate Agent JP & Brimelow

16-17

Food & Drink AJ Adams

13

Cracking Good Food

23

Retirement Apartments McCarthy and Stone

22

Acupuncture Works

11

Alexander Technique

9

Sewing Courses Ruth Lazarus

Laura Dunlop

20

Chorlton Traders

Personal Assistant / Support

26

Tree Services

Joinery & Furniture

Tree Station

Evolve Joinery

28

Karl Hutton

13

Language 31

Locksmiths Chorlton Locksmiths

8

Logs Seasons Logs

9

22 11

Trade Associations

Jobs

Instituto Cervantes

12

Roofer M Duffin

Health & Wellbeing

AJ Adams

24

Gas Safe Engineer

6

Chin Up Duck

21

Horse & Jockey

30

Camper Van Hire Cool Cat Campers

30

HMC Pro Painters & Decorators

Gardening

Building & Maintenance

Carol Smith Home Improvements

11

4, 23

18

Vintage & Retro In The Middle

18

Woodland School We Are Adventurers

32

Please note: Community Index accepts no responsibility for transactions entered into or work undertaken by any of the businesses advertising in the Index or any loss, harm or damage arising from using any of the products & services listed.

21

M & H BUILDING CONTRACTORS over 10 years experience

• Extensions • Renovations • Plastering General building repairs • Garden wall Re-pointing • Patios • Bricklaying/block work Cheap rates, excellent quality & reliable friendly team

Tel: Stephen Harrison 07912351114 Joe Murphy 07525415612 email: m.hbuilders@hotmail.com

30

WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK

T Ema EL. 0161 visiT iL. cE 661 4 . ww nma 201 w.m n@c anc Erva hEsT nTE Er.c s.Es Erva nTEs .Es