The Christchurch
Directory
The independent directory of local businesses serving the residents of Christchurch, Mudeford, Friars Cliff and Burton
Christchurch
Delivered FREE around the town
August/September 2014
In this issue: Win tickets to see Classic Clapton at Regent Centre Presentations to Mayoral Charities for 2013/2014 LawSpot with Harold G Walker Dorset Wildlife Trust: Celebrate Marine Wildlife Gardening Tips: Deadheading Adventures of Nellie
‘Any colour, as long as it is black.’
Henry Ford, 1923
Ford has come a long way since
ISIT
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Christchurch
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The Christchurch Directory Welcome...
Edition 95
Published by:
Debbie & Stephen Corney at Dorset Publications
Telephone:
01202 894397
Email:
info@thechristchurchdirectory.co.uk
Copy deadline for the September 2014 edition: 25th August 2014
Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Christchurch Directory does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.
Dear Christchurch, Bargates, Mudeford, Burton and Friars Cliff! Wow! What fantastic weather we have had this year, except of course the flash flooding in some areas. We have been lucky enough to avoid this. Stephen, myself and our ‘roaming reporter’ son, Hayden (age 10), had a brilliant day at The New Forest Show. The show jumping horses were just magnificent, the Heavy Horses stood so proud and confident, in all their glory and the guys on the motocross bikes were riveting! We thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. Did you managed to get there too? We have a full summer issue of The Christchurch Directory for you this month. We do hope you enjoy reading the articles. We congratulate the Mayor of Christchurch who has raised over £5000 for his chosen charities this last year. The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals are really caring for their older patients. We celebrate marine wildlife with the Dorset Wildlife Trust. You can bring on a summer smile with Hoburne. Martin Lewis talks about banking. Jeremy Clarke writes and interesting piece about pensioners and buy to lets and Nellie, the Dorset Publications campervan, has new friends! Don’t forget to fill in your prize wordsearch. The lucky winner last month was Mrs M Angus. Well done to you! Lastly and most importantly there are our very own advertisers. They are definitely awaiting your calls and love to hear from you. Please get them to help you whenever you need them. Stephen and I thank you for continuing to support them. Wishing you a great end of August and beginning of September. May the sun keep shining! Best wishes,
Debbie & Stephen Corney Useful Numbers
Local Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Christchurch. Hospital
101 08457 708090 0800 111999 01202 486361
Train Enquires Christchurch Council Sembcorp Water Christchurch Library
08457 484950 01202 495000 01202 590059 01202 485938
5
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Christchurch
Full Page (190 x 128mm)
Community News
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Christchurch Mayor in 2013/14 raises £5,250 for his charities Mayor of Christchurch in 2013/14, Cllr John Lofts, has presented his three nominated charities with cheques amounting to £5,250. Each of the charities, Autism Wessex, The RNLI Mudeford and Christchurch Priory Fabric Fund, received £1,750. Cllr Lofts said: “I’m very grateful to everyone who contributed to the money raised for my charities during my mayoral year. All three of the charities are very deserving of support. The lifeboat crew at Mudeford provide life-saving services in all weathers, Autism Wessex give
children with autism an education, sometimes on a one-to-one basis, while the Fabric Fund at the Priory keeps Christchurch’s most treasured building in good condition.”
7
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Do you want a website or flyer but don’t know how to go about it and worried it will be too expensive? The good news.... We only charge for the time it takes Do you want a logo, business cards, signage? Or maybe a freelance designer to help you in your offices? Have a look at our website www.lizzysdesign.co.uk
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8
Queensmead 1 Bronte Avenue, Christchurch, BH23 2LX
Thinking of moving into a care home? We’re here to help Situated in the heart of the Christchurch community, Queensmead provides quality residential care in a home-from-home atmosphere. To request a brochure, arrange a visit or find out more, contact the Queensmead manager, Janine May on
Whether you’re looking for a short respite stay or a new home, we offer a warm welcome, compassionate care, comfort and peace of mind.
01202 485176
queensmead@care-south.co.uk
www.care-south.co.uk Care South is a leading provider of residential and home care across the south of England.
RESIDENTIAL
|
DEMENTIA
|
RESPITE
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NURSING
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Registered Charity No. 1014697
ASSISTED LIVING
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HOME CARE
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Improving the way we care for older people Services for older people are being transformed at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital through a combination of staff engagement, strengthened leadership and redesigning how we care for older people. More importantly, it’s the result of patient and carer feedback. We have also been working with Professor David Oliver who is PresidentElect of the British Geriatrics Society. Here are some of the ways we are improving the hospital experience for our older patients: Improving care for patients with dementia Ward 26 has been renovated to improve the environment and quality of care for patients who have dementia. The bays, reception area and facilities have received design changes that make wards less confusing for those with dementia. A communal area has been created with comfortable chairs and a screen showing appropriate images, giving patients the opportunity to socialise. Each bay has a flower theme with distinctive images on the entrance doors, helping to orientate patients back to their own bay and bed.
r developing a compassionate care training programme to improve the staff culture and patient experience. r an older persons’ nurse practitioner is working on ward 3 to support the needs of older people. The ethos of the ward is to provide ongoing transitional care and rehabilitation for medically stable patients, while waiting for intensive support from social and community health services, to support a timely discharge. r JNplemented a specialist training programme to strengthen the skills of our doctors, nurses and therapy workers to manage older people’s needs. We have also: r recruited rehabilitation healthcare assistants to provide interim care in patients’ own homes while they are awaiting long term packages of care. r developed ambulatory (day care or outpatient) care clinics for older people providing rapid access to consultant geriatricians, therapists and nurses. The clinics provide an alternative to being admitted to hospital. r introduced the Quality Mark for Elder Friendly Hospital Wards on all older people wards and the stroke unit, to ensure a continuous focus on the care provided to older people. This is our commitment to achieve high quality of care for all older people. Andrew Williams, Consultant Geriatrician, said “I am extremely proud of the improvements made over recent months. We are beginning to develop services that can be compared against national best practice. I am excited about the future as we aspire to become a centre of excellence for older people’s health care.”
Distinct images help orientate patients back to their own bay Redesigning how we care for older people We are improving how we care for our older patients from admission to discharge. We now have a short stay admissions ward. Patients are supported by designated social workers, discharge planning key workers and experienced therapists. This has been developed through a range of patient feedback forums and strong leadership - critical to providing safe, compassionate care. Other improvements include: r a transitional care ward (ward 3) supporting patients with complex needs to prepare for discharge from hospital back into a community setting
Christchurch
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Wildlife News
Talking about Wildlife...
Celebrate marine wildlife! The world’s oceans cover approximately 70% of the planet’s surface, supporting an amazing array of life, with thousands of different species and habitats. The British coastline is also rich and colourful with habitats from rocky shores to sea grass meadows, teeming with valuable fish stock and species such as basking sharks, dolphins, grey seals and puffins. Here in Dorset we have a spectacular range of marine species; Poole Bay is the home to the rare Couch’s goby, Chesil Beach is inhabited by one of our most glamorous soft-corals, the pink sea fan, and South Dorset hosts an area of mixed seabed habitat, to mention but a few.
Diversity of life is one of the most valuable and fascinating things about the marine environment. Unfortunately, marine wildlife all over the world has come under constant pressure – mainly due to human activities. Overfishing and marine litter are amongst the biggest threats, and it is estimated that 100,000 marine mammals
Barrel Jellyfish by Peter Tinsley
Bottlenose Dolphins by Stewart Canham
and turtles and one million seabirds are killed every year by litter. It is therefore vital that everyone do their part to help safeguard our coastal environment and the marine ecosystems. Small steps such as making sure that household waste and plastic are properly disposed of or recycled, never using the toilet as a bin, and by reducing unnecessary packaging all go a long way. Seashore is a wonderful place to explore at any time, and to celebrate UK’s marine wildlife the Wildlife Trusts are organising the annual National Marine Week, which this year runs from Saturday July 26 to Sunday August 10. Dorset Wildlife Trust is providing a range activities, including dolphin watching, The Big Wild Chesil Event for the whole family, rock pooling and an exhibition on marine giants. For more information on the events during the Marine Week, go to: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events By Niina Silvennoinen
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sinks & taps
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Law Spot ...providing the answers
to your legal questions
Every month the solicitors and lawyers at Harold G Walker will be providing answers to your questions about the law. I’ve heard people talking about Parental Responsibility. What does it mean? Parental responsibility means the legal rights, duties, powers responsibilities and authority a parent has for a child. A person who has parental responsibility for a child has the right to make decisions about their care and upbringing. Important decisions in a child’s life must be agreed with anyone else who has parental responsibility. The following are some aspects of parental responsibility have been acknowledged by the courts: t Naming the child t Determining the child’s religion t Determining the child’s education t Lawfully correcting the child t Consenting to/refusing medical treatment for the child t Consenting to a child to leave the country whether for a holiday or permanently t Allowing the child to be interviewed t Allowing the child’s confidential information to be shared/published. Who automatically has parental responsibility? t A mother t Fathers married to the mother at the time the child was born t Fathers who are not married to the mother, but are registered on the child’s birth certificate after December 2003 t Civil partners and partners of mothers registered as the child’s legal parent on the birth certificate
How can a biological father get parental responsibility? t Re-registering the birth – by agreement with the mother t Making a parental responsibility agreement with the mother t Applying to the Court for a parental responsibility order t Marrying the mother t When the court makes a Child Arrangements Order providing for a child to live with the father t When the court makes a Child Arrangements Order for contact the court must decide whether it would be appropriate for him to have Parental Responsibility
Jennifer Miles Family Lawyer
Send your questions by email to LawSpot@hgwalker.co.uk
Law Spot is brought to you by Harold
G Walker
Your Friend-in-Law
There is no guarantee that your question will be used and you will not get a personal response.The answers in this feature are for guidance purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
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Bring on that summer smile! There are many dentists and dental surgeries in Dorset and her neighbouring counties – so why choose Hoburne Dental Practice? Well, here’s why. Our facilities are state-of-theart to ensure maximum comfort, we have the only accredited Dental Phobia Clinic in Dorset (as seen on BBC South Today recently), we do everything from examinations and teeth whitening to implants and invisible braces – oh and Hoburne’s dentists are fantastic at what they do. That’s why Hoburne Dental Practice has been awarded the British Dental Association’s ‘Good Practice Gold Membership Scheme’ for ten years - at the very top of dental and patient care. Very few dental surgeries in the UK hold this award, so it is very rare and we’re really rather proud of it. Dentists Peter Willy and Chris Gollings both also hold diplomas in dental implant treatment and have a wealth of experience in that field. We can replace a single tooth, several teeth or even stabilise a loose denture so come and see us for a free consultation.
We also understand that waiting for a dental appointment, either for yourself or for a friend or relative can fall short of exciting. We’ve got that covered too. We offer a range of things to ensure that your dental experience is a positive one such as great disabled access and disabled toilets, air conditioning in all rooms, daily newspapers and magazines, books and colouring pages for children, free tea, coffee and water, Molton Brown and L’Occitane products in the guest bathroom, free disposable brushes and paste for last minute freshen-ups and free guest Wi-Fi throughout the building. But don’t take our word for it – come and say hello, see what we have to offer and decide for yourselves. We are confident that you’ll be more than happy at Hoburne, and we look forward to your visit or call.
Hoburne Dental Practice:
“Not just dental care - but caring dental.”
Awarded British Dental Association’s (BDA) Good Practice Scheme for the last ten years - a very rare national achievement and we’re extremely proud of it! We are also Dorset’s rst accredited Dental Phobia Clinic Family & general dentistry | Dental implants Teeth whitening | 0% interest & monthly payment plans Cosmetic dentistry | Free on-site parking Hoburne Dental Practice, 104 Saffron Drive, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 4TG.
Tel: 01425 277245 or www.hoburne-dental.co.uk Not just dental care, but caring dental. Come and see for yourselves.
Christchurch
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Christchurch
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Christchurch
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18 18
Money Saving Tips
Martin
LEWIS Banking It’s not yet time to hoot the horn in celebration, but There's a bank account price war. They're desperate for switchers - paying cashback on bills, 5% savings, or just bunging you cold hard cash. Yet just 2% of people have switched in the last year. Unless you're 100% happy with your bank, check now if you can gain. The contest has stretched far beyond traditional banks. Even M&S wants to be, well, the M&S of banking. It’s just launched its first fees-free account. In fact so much so, it’s willing to bribe you with a £100 voucher if you switch. So here’s what you need to know about the best fee-free bank accounts…
7-day switching means it's now mostly no hassle. The 7-Day Switching system now moves your direct debits and standing orders, closes your old account and ensures payments made to it get forwarded to your new bank - all set up within seven working days. £100 switching bribes galore. If they’ll pay you to switch, unless there’s a compelling reason, grab the cash. Though you'll need to pass the credit check and genuinely switch to get the money….. The new www.marksandspencer.com account gives £100 on an M&S gift card if you switch, one reward point for every £1 spent at the store, a £100 interestfree overdraft and doesn’t require you to pay a minimum amount each month. While decent for regular M&S shoppers, basic rate taxpayers will need to spend £500/mth there for it to beat Halifax and its bank's service is untested compared to First Direct.
minimum pay-in is low too, at £500/mth (equivalent £6,000 salary). As Kelly tweeted me (@martinslewis) "I'm getting about £18 per month back after my fee - fantastic. £6 just for my mortgage." Switch bank and earn 5% savings. A range of top feefree bank accounts now offer high savings rates as lossleaders to get you to switch to them – such as TSB for up to £2,000 at 5%, for up to £5,000 Lloyds is 4% and for up to £20,000 (see above) Santander is 3%. Slash overdraft costs. An overdraft is a debt like any other. The key is to cut the interest so you can clear it quicker. There are two main choices… - Switch to a 0% overdraft. www.firstdirect.com offers £100 to new joiners and a £250 0% overdraft (min pay-in £1,000/mth). www.nationwide.co.uk FlexDirect account gives a one-year no-fee overdraft (amount depends on credit score) but it only lasts a year. So use that time to clear it. Full info in www.mse.me/overdrafts. - Or shift it to a 0% credit card. A few specialist credit cards offer 'money transfers', where it pays cash to your bank to clear your overdraft, then you owe it instead. The longest is 31mths 0% with a one-off fee of 4% of the amount transferred. It’s hugely powerful and cheap, but needs to be done right, so please see full best buys and instructions at www.moneysavingexpert.com/ moneytransfers Think banks are all b*****ds? Get an ethical account. And it won’t even cost you extra. Here, we factor in both finances and the rating given by Ethical Consumer evaluating behaviour on the environment, human and animal rights, politics and where they invest.
The www.firstdirect.com account has smashed every customer service poll I've done, 92% rate it 'great'. New switchers get paid £100 cash, a £250 0% overdraft and a linked 6% regular saver account. The min monthly pay -in is £1,000, equivalent to paying in a £13,400 plus salary.
Despite its recent scandals, the www.cooperativebank.co.uk is still rated one of its top picks on ethics, it pays £100 to switch to it and donates £25 to one of seven charities.
- The www.halifax.co.uk Reward account gives £100 cash to switchers and pays a flat £5 (after basic rate tax) each month you're in credit. Avoid its costly overdraft though. The min pay-in's £750/mth.
Also try www.nationwide.co.uk, mentioned above, and www.nandp.co.uk, whose debit card allows cheap spending abroad. Or for a real change, find a credit union - a local savings and loan non-profit co-operative, 25 of the 500 offer current accounts. Find one near you www.abcul.org.
Santander wins my ‘most innovative account’ pick. While technically not fee-free - www.santander.co.uk 123 account only charges £2/mth fee and for most this is dwarfed by what it pays back. While Santander was once known for poor service, the 123 account is our second highest-rated, with 75% saying it's great. The
@MoneySavingExpert
DW 2014 90 X 128
28/4/14
11:10
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www.partytubhire.co.uk Christchurch
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A Beautiful Clean
Domestic cleaning and garden maintenance • No job too big or small • OAP discount • One off cleans • Spring cleans • Regular cleans • Holiday home assistance
07788 454487 01202 477812
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22 22
Adventures of Nellie
The Adventures of Nellie The Dorset Publications Camper Van Nellie has friends! Well I am nearly 50 years old…sshh, that is not for public knowledge so please keep it to yourself… and I have a 10 year old, active son. He loves cycling and has most definitely outgrown his last bike that we bought him a few years ago (Why do they grow so fast!). We had one of those family meetings where it was decided that a new bike each would be great to take with Nellie on our trips out. That way we could drive to the countryside or the seaside and cycle where Nellie was just too big to go. I used to cycle quite a bit in my younger days, so I was ok with the idea, though a little apprehensive. The things you do for your children… All three of us went into Motabitz in Ferndown and I instantly saw the bike I wanted… you know one of those lovely new, retro looking, relaxing style bikes with a beautiful basket on the front. That was the one for me, no doubt, totally certain and I knew I would love riding it. I didn’t say this at the time, but I knew
Rockie getting a checkup from Mike
Rosie, Rockie and Mega ready to go what I wanted! Hayden also saw the bike he wanted. A gorgeous bright yellow mountain bike, Megabyte. Steve was a little more uncertain, so the chap who was serving that day suggested we went to their bigger store in Boscombe and see more of the bikes on display there. Off we went. Fortunately Karl, who was working at the store that day, gave me some great advice. Not having ridden for, well a few years now (since I was last at High School, so at least 5 years…), I was totally unfamiliar with all the different types of bikes. Karl asked where we would be riding. I confidently told him, off road, bridle paths, walkways etc, standing there smiling. He smiled back. He looked at me, looked at my ideal, perfect bike and said, “You will feel every bump on that bike.” That wiped the confident smile off my face! I actually really appreciated all of Karl’s knowledge. I needed it. When you don’t know something and are about to spend money that could be totally
23 23 wasted and the whole family plans in ruins, due to lack of data, you really do want the advice of an expert. I also wanted to be able to walk after riding, and be able to sit in a chair… Karl was an expert and really willing to spend the time with us to ensure that we did get what we not only wanted, but what was best for our needs and what we would get the best use out of, as well as fun. In fact all the staff at Motabitz are really friendly and helpful. They do pride themselves on good service and are not just a shop to go and buy things for the bike and car from. They provide an excellent bike service and give this for free in the first 6 months of the new bike’s life. Excellent! So… after a little more debate and me tearing myself away from the ‘old fashioned/fashionable’ bike I so desired, I saw another I really liked. A good mountain bike, which was shining pink and white. “That’s it!” I declared. Again Karl caringly said, “Ok, let’s try it and see if you like it.” I went outside and rode around the car park at the back, just to see if I really could manage her. Hayden followed on his bright, yellow Megabyte, grinning from ear to ear the whole time. He loves cycling! We were
Rockie and Rosie meet Nellie
Christchurch
Rosie and Mega’s first adventure! both very happy. Stephen found a bike too, a similar ‘male version’ of the one I picked, in red and black. The bikes were all thoroughly checked and a few days later we went, very excitedly, to pick them all up. Saddles were adjusted for all of us and we were kitted out with helmets and gloves. I even got a basket for the front, which I did insist on, much to the fun of Mike who was serving us this time. He asked if it was for a dog, and I told him it was just for my handbag… Women, hey. So we are now the proud owners of Rosie, Rockie and Mega who join Nellie on our outings! We have lots planned and are now busy looking at maps with not only campsites but with cycles paths as well. Where we live is ideal as we can cycle all the way to Moors Valley through the plantation, though Nellie may feel left out, so we will have to watch that. Thank you Motabitz, you all did a great job! To get their expert advice for your car accessory or bike requirements, give Motabitz a call on 01202 395579. You can also pop in to any of their five local stores. Where will Nellie go next…? By Debbie Corney whereisnellie
@whereisnellie
What’s On
24 24
EST OVER 40YRS
Proprietor: William McLean
HIGH STREET, CHRISTCHURCH
Tel: 01202 499199 www.regentcentre.co.uk Sun 10, Mon 11, Wed 13 & Thur 14 Aug 7.30pm
X MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (12A) 2D Mon 11, Tues 12, Thurs 14, Mon 18, Thurs 21, Fri 22, Sat 23 & Mon 25 – Thurs 28 Aug 2.30pm
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (PG) 2D Tues 12 Aug 7.30pm £24.50 Concs: £22.50 The World’s greatest cricketer. An Evening with Cricket Legend SIR GARFIELD SOBERS LYRICS & LAUGHTER PRODUCTIONS formerly Olde Tyme Players Wed 13 Aug 2.30pm £13.50 Conc £12.50
KNEES UP MOTHER BROWN – Olde Tyme Music Wed 20 Aug 2.30pm £13.50 Conc £12.50
LYRICS & LAUGHTER SHOW – 60s music & fun Fri 15 Aug 11am & 2.30pm Tickets: £12.50 Child: £10.50 Family of Four: £39
THE SOOTY SHOW
Sooty, Sweep & Richard Cadell - comedy capers Fri 15, Sun 17, Mon 18, Wed 20 & Thur 21 Aug 7.30pm
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (12A) Sat 16 Aug 7.30pm £19.50 Concs £17.50
60s Superstars! - THE SEARCHERS
Sweets for My Sweet, Needles & Pins, Sugar & Spice Tues 19 Aug 7.30pm £12 Conc: £10 ImpAct Theatre – TALKING HEADS by Alan Bennett Mon 25 – Wed 27 Aug 7.30pm Adult Humour
MRS BROWN’S BOYS D’MOVIE (15)
New Roofs - Flat & Pitched Slating, Tiling & Felt All Types of Leadwork Flat roofs Roof repairs UPVC Soffits & Fascias All building work & property repairs References available All works guaranteed & fully insured
25 Sunnyhill Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 5HR
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Prize Wordsearch
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The Christchurch Directory Prize Wordsearch PIMMS TRAVEL BREEZE POSTCARD TENNIS STRAWBERRIES CREAM BARBECUE TOWEL BEACH
This month, the prize is a pair of tickets to see Classic Clapton at The Regent Centre on Saturday 13th September, so please complete this page by 25th August and send to: August Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Christchurch Directory, Address: ______________________ 1 Moorlands Rise, ______________________ West Moors, ______________________ Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone: ______________________
Christchurch
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Gardening Tips
a beginner’s
GUIDE Deadheading
You will nearly always get more flowers for longer if you can spend some time regularly ‘dead-heading’. That means removing faded flowers to stimulate the development of more flowers, and of new shoots on shrubs and roses.
plants next season, saving plenty of money.
If the dying flowers are left until they form seed pods, the plant thinks its job is done for the year and it won’t bother to produce any more flowers.
When the seed capsules turn brown and start to split, cut them off and spread on paper lined trays until they’re fully dry. Take out the seeds and store in small labelled envelopes until ready for sowing.
However, with many of your plants, which have probably cost a packet from the local garden centre, you may want to leave some of the flowers until seed heads are produced so that you can collect the seeds and grow your own
Try it with plants with quite large seeds to start with, like Marigolds or try Aquilega (Grandmother’s Bonnets) or Foxgloves.
They may not grow exactly the same in character and quality as the original plants but it’s great fun to watch the results of your efforts spring into life.
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Christchurch
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Bournemouth Investments Ltd Certified Financial Planners
• We work with financially focused families and business owners. We help them to clarify and achieve their financial goals and they in turn, trust us to be with them during their own journey through life. • We are known for taking the complexity and jargon out of the financial planning process and specialise in investments, pensions and estate planning. • Our major clients receive monthly reporting for fund switching to maximise performance and reduce volatility in their portfolios. • If your bank or building society has left you without ongoing advice, we are able to help. If you would like to meet with us:
Contact Steve Chislett on 01202 891852 www.bournemouthinvestments.com Bournemouth Investments Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (584293).
Registered address: 7 Laburnum Close, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9TX
Could 2015 see the rise of ‘Buy to Let’ pensioners? With the recent unlocking of rules on how people can access their savings in retirement, could a new breed of ‘buy to let pensioners’ be ready to enter the local property market? Nationwide property lettings specialist, Belvoir, is advising caution in the wake of the Budget announcement that savers will be allowed to withdraw their entire pension fund from the age of 55 or over, rather than take the money slowly as an annuity.
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Jeremy Clarke
“Since the last Budget many financial commentators have speculated that following the new rules – due to come into effect from April 2015 – pension savers could draw down some or all of their money to invest in options such as buy to let property,” says Jeremy Clarke who owns the Belvoir office in Christchurch. “With recent surveys reporting that buy to let has outperformed all other mainstream investments over the past 18 years, this could be an extremely attractive option for anyone wanting to safeguard their capital and maximise their income in retirement. Whilst this may be true, we believe that anyone considering their first move into the sector should take expert advice. Buy to let continues to offer great opportunities, but potential investors must have a clear strategy, and it should never be considered as a ‘get rich quick’ scheme.” This year marks the 18th anniversary of the buy to let mortgage initiative launched by the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA). Tracker studies indicate that since its introduction, buy to let investment has provided an average return of 16.3 per cent – considerably more than most other asset classes. Over a third of Britain’s 1.4 million private landlords already view their buy to let portfolio as the main component within their pension plan – with the relative ‘safety’ of bricks and mortar investment coupled with regular rental returns as income, making it an attractive investment choice. Dorian Gonsalves, Commercial Director for Belvoir, comments: “The recent pension reforms have ignited a great deal of interest in buy to let as a viable & attractive alternative to more traditional pension plans. Market demand for quality, well maintained, private rental property remains high and even before the recent Budget announcement our offices throughout the UK were experiencing a growing number of enquiries from people seeking advice and guidance on how to enter this sector for the first time.” Some industry commentators are predicting returns of around 11 per cent per year over the next decade and a number of specialist, buy to let lenders have also started to reconsider current age restrictions to allow people up to age 70 to apply for long term buy to let mortgages – subject to them meeting certain criteria. Jeremy Clarke adds: “With all the excitement generated by the new reforms we would recommend that anyone looking to use pension savings to fund a buy to let investment should – as a first step - take professional financial advice and then sit down with a property lettings specialist, such as Belvoir, to map out a strategy for their future goals. “It is important for first time investors to buy property at the right price, in the right location and to identify the type of accommodation that people will want to rent from them both now and in the future. “With our local knowledge we can look in detail at potential property yields - taking into account all outgoings, such as maintenance costs - and provide novice investors with a realistic expectation on returns. “There are many legislative and other issues to take into account but all Belvoir local offices are staffed by experienced, highly trained specialists who can advise on all aspects of property investment and management. “We are happy to offer a free initial – no obligation – consultation to anyone wanting to learn more about how to become a successful property investor. And for those who do decide to invest their pension funds into property we can provide a full range of management and other services to ensure their new alternative pension investment is a trouble free one.” Jeremy Clarke, Belvoir - T: 01202 588920
Christchurch
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Index of advertisers
Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Directory... Bathrooms K & B Installations............................................20 Bedrooms Custom World...................................................17 Flair Interiors....................................................11 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds..................................................... 3 Tuscany Blinds..................................................31 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners Cleaning Doctor................................................13 Cars — New & Used Keith Motors..................................................... 1 Chimney Sweeps Oliver Chimney Sweeps.....................................24 Community News Adventures of Nellie.........................................22 Art & Ceramics Exhibition at the Hayloft.......... 6 Beginner’s Guide: Deadheading.......................26 Christchurch Mayor charities presented........... 6 Dorset Wildlife Trust: Marine wildlife..................10 Festival of Remembrance.................................14 LawSpot............................................................12 Martin Lewis: Banking......................................18 What’s On at The Regent Centre......................24 Dentists Hoburne Dental Practice..................................13 Denture Services Dorset Denture Clinic........................................ 8 Domestic Cleaning A Beautiful Clean..............................................20 Time for You......................................................27 Drainage Services All Drains Cleared.............................................15 Drain & Plumbing Solutions..............................19 Financial Advisers Bournemouth Investments...............................28 Funeral Plans Harmony Funeral Planning Service...................21 Furniture Sturtons & Tappers........................................... 5 Garage Doors Skandoor...........................................................15 Garage Services Keith Motors..................................................... 1 Garden Services Ashley Tree Surgeons........................................19
Gr8 Grass..........................................................14 Graphics Designers Lizzy’s Design.................................................... 7 Health & Care Bournemouth Careline.....................................14 Hearing Aids & Services Kellear Hearing................................................. 8 Hospitals Bournemouth & Poole NHS Trusts.................... 9 Hot Tub Hire Party Tub Hire...................................................19 Kitchens Flair Interiors....................................................11 K & B Installations............................................20 Letting Agents Belvoir!.............................................................29 Locksmiths Cross Keys Locksmiths...................................... 3 Lofts Loft Services......................................................15 Mobile Car Repairs Up 2 Scratch..................................................... 7 Party Supplies Peeks: The Event Makers..................................16 Plasterers D. Browne Plastering........................................ 3 Plumbing & Heating Engineers Drain & Plumbing Solutions..............................19 J C Gas..............................................................28 Puzzles & Competitions Prize Wordsearch..............................................25 Residential Care Homes Care South: Queensmead................................. 7 Roofing Broadway Roofing............................................24 Solicitors Harold G Walker...............................................32 Turfing & Garden Supplies Sherborne Turf.................................................. 7 Window Repairs Mr Demister..................................................... 2 Windows, Doors & Conservatories Allglaze.............................................................16 Dorset Windows...............................................19
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Traditional & Contemporary Solutions All aspects of blinds supplied and ďŹ tted Specialist in Plantation Shutters, Shaped Conservatories & Awnings
For a free consultation contact us on:
Tel : 01202 848 628 Mob : 07543 963 376 Email : info@tuscanyblinds.com
www.tuscanyblinds.com Christchurch
Your Team of Specialists in Christchurch Jennifer Miles
Rebecca Suthers
Family
Wills & Probate
Dee Woodcock Employment
Alan Fairley
Conveyancing Broadstone:
01202 692448 Verwood:
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Harold G Walker
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hgwalker.co.uk
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The Christchurch Directory 1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR