The Swanage Oracle - December 2013

The Swanage

s

Oracle

a

s

The independent directory of local businesses serving the residents of Swanage

Delivered FREE around the town In this issue: Purbeck Railway Circle Win a meal for two at the Bull & Boat Belvedere Singers at Christmas Dorset Wildlife Trust: The Robin Local Business Directory Christians Against Poverty in Swanage Purbeck events News from the National Trust in Purbeck

December 2013

2

Prevention, Education & Minimum Intervention At Personal Dental Care we offer a unique combination of services to our patients, using a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach looking after each individual’s overall health.

Our services include: General dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, implants, hygienist and dental therapist Our Cranio Facial Pain Clinic supports patients with symptoms such as jaw problem (TMD), clicky, painful jaw and facial muscles, bite problems, headaches, migraines, muscle pains, snoring and breathing problems. bOss performance mouth wear, orofacial myology (non-invasive facial fitness to sculpture your face without the need for toxic injections), homeopath, chiropractor, non-invasive testing of nutritional levels, followed by nutritional advice.

Lytchett practice: 1 The Axium Centre Dorchester Road Lytchett Minster Poole Dorset BH16 6FE Tel: 01202 601007

Swanage practice: Unit B Tilly Whim Mews Kings Road East Swanage Dorset BH19 1ES Tel: 01929 422585

London practice: 22 Harley Street London W1G 9PL For appointments contact our Poole surgery: Tel: 01202 601007

Oxford practice: St Luke’s Hospital Latimer Road Headington Oxford OX3 7PF Tel: 01865 761802

Payment plans available.

Principal Dentist: Dr G P Visser

info@personaldentalcare.co.uk

B.Ch.D, M.Sc

01929 408080

3

KITCHENS

PLUMBING

BATHROOMS

TILING

INTERIORS

BEDROOMS

60 High St, Swanage T: 01929 475793

Swanage Oracle

4

Introduction

The Swanage Edition 68

Oracle

Published by:

Stephen & Debbie Corney and Martin Budden at Purbeck Publications

Telephone: 01929 408080 Email: info@swanageoracle.co.uk

Copy deadline for the January 2014 edition: 20th December 2013

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 Swanage Oracle 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.

Proud members of

Dear Swanage, Welcome to our Christmas edition of The Swanage Oracle! It has taken me a little while longer to get into the Christmas spirit this year, but I have to say I am now really looking forward to my parents coming to visit and that all important turkey dinner. For me that is what this time of year is all about - family, friends, good food and a little bit of magic in the air.

There are of course those that are not so fortunate, especially those in the Phillipines right now. Summer Smith from the jewellery shop in Station Road will be travelling at the end of December to help those who have been badly affected, particularly the schools. You can read her story on page 12. Please help Summer to help the people of the Phillipines.

We have a full magazine for you this month with lots of local shops and businesses who would like to make your Christmas a special one. The index at the back gives you all there is to find inside. From hairdressers, to bathroom fitters, to electricians, butchers and many more. Please tell them that you saw their details in The Swanage Oracle. This makes all the difference, and makes our work all worth while.

Nellie took us a little further away last month and you can read about our weekend in the cold, fresh night air on pages 20 and 21. There is also a calendar you can pull out and fix to your fridge or pin board to help you keep organised this year. The lucky winner of the meal at the Bull and Boat last month was K Brookes.

Well done to you! The winner of the tickets to see Aladdin at the Pavilion in Bournemouth was Pam Hammond. We hope you had a great time!

Stephen, Martin and Myself Wish you All a Really Merry Christmas and a Very Successful 2014!

Very best wishes,

Debbie & Stephen Corney Useful Numbers Local Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Swanage Hospital

101 08457 708090 0800 111999 01929 422282

01929 408080

Train Enquires Wilts & Dorset Bus Wessex Water Emerg.

Purbeck Distict Council

08457 484950 01983 827005 0845 600 4600 01929 556561

fit

8 W 5 on mm e a to Qu lso p o ar su f y tz pp ou wo ly r e rk & f xis top it tin s g w tha or t kt op

AMAZING KITCHEN & BEDROOM MAKEOVERS Less cost, mess & hassle compared to a complete replacement Local Family Firm

We replace the doors, drawer fronts, handles and worktops

WE ALSO SUPPLY & FIT COMPLETE KITCHENS & BEDROOMS

REPLACEMENT WORKTOPS ‘The stone that fits on top’

We supply & fit

the appliances

magic corners / larders

Made to Measure Doors

new kitchen drawers

CONTACT US NOW FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE Tel: 01202 487697 / 07713 114060 info@flairinteriorsltd.co.uk Swanage Oracle www.flairinteriorsltd.co.uk

sinks & taps

Community News

6

Rainbows Coffee Morning and Christmassy Bazaar!

Saturday December 14th

From 10am till 12pm at The Mowlem Community Centre in Swanage.

Lots of stalls including beautiful crafts, books, toys, photography, cakes, jewellery, tombola and great coffee!

Cakes and biscuits too!

Come and join us... bring your friends for a chat and enjoy good company, good browsing and great sea views.

01929 408080

Distinguished Actors Star in

BELVEDERE SINGERS AT CHRISTMAS

On December 14th at St Mary’s Church in Swanage at 7.30pm, Thelma Barlow and Peter Baldwin will be the Special Guests in Belvedere Singers at Christmas Concert. Both have starred in the theatre and of course on TV, including married couple Mavis and Derek in Coronation Street. Thelma appears regularly on our screens in Dinner Ladies and has recently taken part in Celebrity Antiques Road Show for Children in Need. Our other guests include soprano Rebecca Price, organist Neil Sissons and children’s choir the Serrell Singers.

The programme will be our usual festive mix, including Hallelujah Chorus and carols for choir and audience.

This concert is in aid of the Friends of Swanage Hospital. Tickets available from Corbens, members of the choir or at the door; £10 (includes interval refreshment), children under 12 free.

7

Swanage Oracle

8

01929 408080

9

Your fundraising efforts make a real difference

Your fundraising efforts over the last two successful Jigsaw Appeals, to raise money for cancer and blood disorders and women’s health, are now being put to use. Work on the new Jigsaw build project at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital is now well underway, with the preparation work having started in October.

This is the first step in providing brand new purposebuilt cancer and blood disorder and women’s health facilities for local patients. The new Jigsaw building will be situated between the Eye Unit and the Derwent Suite for Orthopaedics, and will bring together oncology, haematology, gynaecology, breast care and early pregnancy. It will provide more space for rapidly expanding outpatient and day case treatments and will ensure better privacy and dignity for patients.

After three successful Jigsaw Appeals our fundraising efforts have now expanded to raise money for all departments across the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals under the banner of the Bournemouth Hospital Charity - and you can get involved.

Lindsey Sturman, Fundraising Manager, explains: “Through the Jigsaw Appeals our supporters have raised nearly £6m which is fantastic. Our staff and the public now wanted to focus efforts on fundraising that would help all areas in the hospital. The Bournemouth Hospital Charity does exactly this.”

Last year £1.2m of charitable funds were spent on items such as medical equipment and research, all directly benefiting the patient experience above and beyond what the NHS can afford. For example your donations funded exercise classes for oncology patients and each year we provide small patient gestures, such as presents, for those unfortunate enough to be an inpatient on Christmas Day. We must say a big thank you to our supporters who continue to organise fundraising activities. Here are just a small few: • Thomson Airways who have raised over £21,000 from onboard collections and who have chosen us as their Bournemouth charity of the year for 2013/2014.

• Two of our consultants took part in an epic cycle challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats and raised more than £7,500 for the Trust’s Rheumatology Department and Endoscopy Department.

Swanage Oracle

• The Luff family who raised £3,500 for ITU and the new Cancer and Blood Disorders Unit by organising a special fun day as a thank you for the great care received at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital by their son Sean Luff.

All of your money helps us to provide an even better patient experience above and beyond what the NHS can afford.

How you can get involved: • organise your own fundraising event • take part in a hospital charity organised event • make a donation • consider leaving a gift or legacy • volunteer • be a corporate sponsor of one of the charity events Some Bournemouth Hospital Charity events: • Tree of Light Service for the Jigsaw Building in the main atrium at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital on Monday 16 December • March for Men raising funds for prostate cancer from Bournemouth Pier to Sandbanks on Sunday 2 March 2014 • Twilight Walk for Women starting at Bournemouth Pier on Friday 6 June 2014 • Football Tournament at the Littledown Centre on Sunday 20 July 2014 How you can keep in touch: • visit our website: www.bournemouthhospitalcharity.org.uk • email charity@rbch.nhs.uk • call 01202 704060 • visit us in the Charity Office in the main atrium of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital • follow us on Twitter @bmthhospcharity or • like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ bournemouthhospitalcharity

10 Crawfords continues to go from strength to strength and has recently launched a “Build Your Own Veg Box” service under the heading “Food For You” on their website.

Crawfords has been servicing the catering trade for many years with Fresh Fruits, Vegetables & Salads and it seemed a natural progression to offer a web based Veg’ Box service following the successful launch of their sister company’s website; Crawfords Feed, where the customer can order all manner of animal feed, wild bird feeds, bedding and accessories.

The customer chooses exactly what they want in their box, then Crawfords pick, pack and deliver for FREE within the BH postcode. The website accepts all major Credit & Debit cards and also Paypal, and if you order before 4pm you get next day delivery (Mon-Fri).

Crawfords is a well established family company who have a genuine desire to provide the best service possible, while supplying great quality produce at competitive prices.

The service is already proving very popular with only a £10.00 spend required. Why not take some of the stress out of Christmas by getting all your Fresh Fruit & Veg from Crawfords Feed.



 

01929 408080

11

Your Local Chartered Accountants in Wareham discover how we can help you with...

Find us at: 18 West Street, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4JX

Accounts & Bookkeeping Personal & Business Tax Small Business Advice Financial Planning

01929 551551

wareham@wardgoodman.co.uk wardgoodman.co.uk/wareham

Looking for a hassle-free income from your property?

ÂŁ

If the answer is YES...

...then we want to

speak to you!

We can guarantee your rental income for 52 weeks of the year

We conduct regular inspections to ensure that your property is being maintained

We provide a professional service and full housing management

ÂŁ

We have a 24 hour, 365 day per year, repair service

We are looking for properties across Dorset, including Christchurch, Ferndown, Sherborne, Bridport, Dorchester, Wareham, Swanage and Weymouth

Contact us for more information

Call 01202 410500 Email enquiries@bcha.org.uk Website www.bcha.org.uk

Swanage Oracle

12

Community News

Swanage helps the people of the Philippines Local Swanage jeweller, Summer Smith, was born and raised in the Philippines.

She and her husband Michael are trekking half way around the world to take aid funds direct from Swanage to the local areas in the Philippines that need it the most. Summer says: “Our mission is to help a community in the Philippines hit by the recent typhoon.

The Philippines are a very Christian and family orientated country.. Most villages are dependent upon churches and schools. Much of the recent aid has been focused rightly so upon food, water and shelter. Nearly 80% of the structures have been flattened leaving nothing but devastation and contaminated land. Some of the worst hit areas have lost everything, houses, churches, schools shops and more importantly family.

“We aim to leave the UK at the end of December and hope to arrive in Tacloban and Eastern Samar in early January. We will travel to some of the remoter areas that have been worst affected by the Typhoon to find projects and communities that need help. We expect to find a school or community centre as they are vital to communities but are not likely to be on the top of the aid list as the focus at the moment is food and water. We will make contact with a school to find out what is really required. Simple things such as clean paper, books and pencils are likely to be in very short supply. But we don’t really know until we get there.

“We have already paid for our flights and accommodation to the Philippines at our expense. Therefore every penny donated will go directly to the people who need it. We will upload images

01929 408080

on to Facebook to show where your money is going. If schools in Swanage would like to help we will establish a link with a local school there. Nearly 80% of the Philippines speak English and 70% can speak English by the age of 5, this means it would be ideal for Swanage schools to form a link with a school.

“Schools are so important to communities in the Philippines, they bind the community. Young children would be delighted to receive communication from children here in Swanage. However we need to help these schools and communities get back onto their feet and that requires cold hard cash.”

Collection buckets can be found in the following shops: Summer Smith Nixons Swanage News Purbeck Electrical Arkwrights Convenience Store Kaffee und Kuchen Fortes Budgens If you require any further information please call 07809 685775.

13

INSURANCE THAT’S ON YOUR DOORSTEP Having a local office means we’re accessible, whether you need to make changes to your policy or make a claim.

We can help you insure your: • Home & Car • Horse & Horse box • Business • LGV & Commercial Vehicle For a real conversation about your needs call

NEW 2014 HOLIDAY BROCHURE OUT NOW! All our tours are fully escorted with a tour manager, you can be sure of being well looked after from start to finish. All coaches have a toilet, air conditioning and drinks service.

4-Star London Show Weekend January 17th - 18th £219

Come and kick off the year with a fantastic two-day break in London. Included in the price are the best available seats for the London Show “Once”, a Medieval Banquet with unlimited food & drinks and tickets to go up the Shard.

Winter Escape To Eastbourne

01929 553472

March 10th - 14th £229

Come & lose those winter blues on our 5 day holiday staying in the fabulous Haddon Hall Hotel.

NFU Mutual is The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. A member of the Association of British Insurers. For security and training purposes, telephone calls may be recorded and monitored.

Swanage Oracle

FOR BOOKINGS OR A BROCHURE REQUEST

CALL US ON 01305 851697

Or visit your local Tourist Information Office

14

     

     



 

 

   

/z ĨŽƌ ďĞŐŝŶŶĞƌƐ <ĞĞƉ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞĂƚ ŝŶ͊ &ŝdžŝŶŐ ĂůƵŵŝŶŝƵŵ ƌĂĚŝĂƚŽƌ ƉĂŶĞůƐ ďĞŚŝŶĚ LJŽƵƌ ƌĂĚŝĂƚŽƌ ǁŝůů ƐƚŽƉ ƉƌĞĐŝŽƵƐ ŚĞĂƚ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ǁĂůů ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů ƌĞŇĞĐƚ ŝƚ ďĂĐŬ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽŵ ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ŐŽŽĚ ĨŽƌ ƌĂĚŝĂƚŽƌƐ ƐŝƚĞĚ ŽŶ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ǁĂůůƐ͘ <ŝƚĐŚĞŶ ĨŽŝů ŝƐ Ă ĐŚĞĂƉ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŵŽƐƚ /z ƐƚŽƌĞƐ ŶŽǁ ƐĞůů ŐŽŽĚ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ͘ :ƵƐƚ ĐƵƚ ƚŽ Įƚ ĂŶĚ ƵƐĞ ǁĂůůƉĂƉĞƌ ƉĂƐƚĞ ƚŽ ƐĞĐƵƌĞ͘

01929 408080

  

    

 

15

All the Furniture you Need for your Home Standard or Made to Measure Bedroom, Lounge, Office Free Standing Kitchens Pine, Oak, or Painted Also 2nd Hand Clearance tiles Gifts

Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm www.sunrisewarehouse.com and www.sunrise-kitchens.co.uk 4A Sunrise Business Park, Blandford Forum DT11 8ST 01258 459903 also check out www.sunriseremovals.co.uk

Here’s a great way to make more storage space...

Install a loft ladder and make more use of your loft!

Loft ladder, Light & Switch plus 50 sqft of flooring from as little as £277+VAT which includes FREE fitting in less than a day.

Over 1500 people have chosen us to fit their loft ladder, this is because we offer: • A FREE home visit • A FREE written quotation

• Fully guaranteed • A large selection of ladders

more than “cost effective space”

Swanage Oracle

Swanage

18

PURBECK RAILWAY CIRCLE Community News

The Local Support Group for the Swanage Railway The Purbeck Railway Circle (PRC) is the area group for Swanage Railway Trust members in Dorset and the surrounding area. Activities include meetings with railway-orientated talks, slide and film shows. There is an annual ‘Summer Outing’ to another preserved railway or museum (e.g. in 2012 – West Somerset Railway. In 2013 – Amberley Museum). Our meetings include an ‘update’ on the latest happenings on the Swanage Railway and we provide information on the activities of other local railway and model railway groups and societies.

The Circle publicises its activities in the Swanage Railway Magazine but the Swanage Railway Trust website will always be more up to date. If anyone would like to be placed on our email listing we offer an email reminder 10 days before each meeting. Please send an email to Gordon Jakes, our General Secretary, at gordonjakes21@btinternet.com. Monthly advertisements are also placed in the local press e.g. The Swanage Oracle.

Meetings are normally held on the second or third Friday evening of the month in the wellappointed new village hall at Harman’s Cross which is just a step from the Swanage Railway station of the same name. Our meetings are open to members and non-members alike and everyone will be made welcome.

There is no separate membership or subscription of the Circle for Trust members. Admission is free for everyone, including tea/coffee and biscuits, but we do ask for a donation in aid of the Swanage Railway Trust. A raffle is held at each meeting, usually with attractive railway orientated prizes.

Please see the list of forthcoming meetings below and come along to one of the meetings

01929 408080

to see what the Purbeck Railway Circle has to offer you. We look forward to seeing you there.

All our meetings are Wheelchair Accessible.

Finally, we are always interested in your requests or suggestions and if you have a railway orientated presentation or are thinking of putting one together we would like to hear from you.

Friday 17th January “Around Dorset’s Rail Routes” A slide presentation by Colin Stone plus the PRC Annual General Meeting.

Friday 14th February “Waterloo to Wenford Bridge” A slide presentation by Hugh Compton.

Friday 14th March “The Bluebell Railway and its Connection to East Grinstead” A slide presentation by Roy Watts.

On each evening the doors open at 19.00hrs and the show commences at 19.30hrs.

Attractions later in the year include a Model Railway Exhibition as part of the Swanage Railway’s Diesel Gala, a visit to the Bluebell Railway, a talk/slide show on the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum and a presentation on the History of Narrow Gauge Railways in France.

Members special train at Amberley in June 2013 hauled by the Museum’s newly restored narrow gauge loco named Polar Bear

19

      

Swanage Oracle

Adventures of Nellie

20

The Adventures of Nellie The Purbeck Publications Camper Van Well this month we actually went further afield and Nellie took us to see friends in Brighton. In the last issue of The Swanage Oracle I called us ‘fair weather campers’ so this month I thought we would brave the cold overnight and see if we survived!

Well I am here to tell the tale, so I guess you could say that we did.

Hayden had a sleep over much to his delight at Connor’s house. He very eagerly said “Goodbye Mummy!” as Stephen and I left in the rather nippy night air to find where we were staying. We are members of Brit Stops, having paid a small fee of £25 for the year. This gives us access to hundreds of pubs, farms and farm shops where we are able to stay in the Campervan for free for the night. This time we stayed at The Tavern at Telscombe, just outside of Brighton. We arrived in the dark and parked up. Having remembered the coffee but not the tea, we decided to go into the pub and get a cuppa. I must admit I felt a bit old entering the dwelling, with lots of local young people and rather loud music playing. Stephen just walked through to the back and much to our delight there was a roaring fire hidden behind the wall with two very comfortable

Brandy by the real log fire!

01929 408080

The view from the “bedroom” window arm chairs! Such a site to behold… There was no tea, but a small (honestly) glass of brandy went down very well!

So now it was time to brave the autumn breeze and settle down for the night. We had bought a hot water bottle on route and Nellie’s whistling kettle was much appreciated for something other than a cuppa! We kept the roof down to keep in as much warmth as we could and snuggled in. We were on a very slight slope which meant blood was rushing to my head! To save me passing out, I asked Stephen to park the other way round and then my feet could benefit from the extra blood flow.

Much more comfortable…The wind was blustering around the van and I really liked the feeling of being warm and protected in our little ‘den’. I woke up once in the middle of the night with a very cold nose.

I did wish I had brought a woolly hat, but I soon curled up, warmed up and went back to sleep. We didn’t wake up particularly early which I thought was a good sign and much to our amazement when we opened the curtains, we had a sea view!

Having parked in the dark we had paid no attention to where we actually were… at least we weren’t hanging off the cliff edge! I put the kettle on and we sat having

21 a lovely cup of coffee watching the clear blue sky and very calm sea. Bliss. I left the gas stove on for 20 minutes to warm the van as we got dressed and that made all the difference. Our very own heater.

We then set off to see if Hayden had got any sleep. The previous day he had mischievously said, with a wistful glint in his eye, “I wonder if Connor will have a midnight snack...?” The boys were very excited when we arrived, fully awake having had a full English breakfast. We took them out to see the sights of Brighton, so onto the Pier we went. One thing to note about Brighton is that parking is expensive. The car parks also do not cater for vans well, as the headroom just isn’t enough. We managed to find a spot in the town centre which was £6 for two hours. It was just enough time to play and then decide what we would do next. It was a gorgeous day, very bright, sunny and crisp. On the pier we bought 30 tokens for £20 which was the cheapest deal. The boys had great fun on the dodgems. I have to say that Hayden’s driving left a lot to be desired, and if he wants to be a pilot, as he keeps telling us, he will have to learn a few skills!

It was hilarious watching him spin, then suddenly shoot backwards as he turned the wheel too sharply. This was the first time Hayden was able to go on the rides on his own, due to his height, so it was all

Nellie says goodbye to the Brighton Eye

Swanage Oracle

Hang on tight for the Twister! very exciting for him. The Waltzers were equally entertaining and I am happy to say that the boys did not go on The Booster ride which made my legs go like jelly just watching it! The people we did see on it, seemed to love it, so if you have a head for heights and like being spun high in the air, above the waves of the sea, then this is the one for you! Personally I think I am getting old, as once upon a time I may well have given this a go.

After leaving the Pier with the amusements and fair, Nellie took us to have fish and chips, again overlooking the sea. We found a free parking spot! The boys excitedly put the roof up and went ‘upstairs’ while Stephen and I chilled out, drinking another cup of coffee made with Nellie’s whistling kettle.

To finish the day off we all went down to the pebbly beach and threw stones into the gently rippling waves. Connor was very pleased with himself as he managed to skim the stones twice, bouncing them softly on the water. Well done Connor!

A great weekend was had by all. This would not have happened without ‘Our Nellie’ with her long black skirts and whistling kettle!

Where will Nellie go next… find out in next month’s edition of The Swanage Oracle!

By Debbie Corney

Community News

22

The Isle of Purbeck is named as one of 16 new centres to open across UK LOCAL people struggling with overwhelming debt are set to get free help from an acclaimed charity opening a new centre in Swanage. Growing debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has partnered with Emmanuel Baptist Church in Victoria Avenue to bring its in-depth service to the area.

Swanage is one of 16 places opening a centre this month - rare good news for the UK amid continuing economic difficulties and the latest centre will join one in neighbouring Poole. Swanage centre manager Christine North said: “The Church has always been about offering hope and we’re really pleased to be able to give a tried-and-tested route out of debt alongside other great free debt advice in the area like Citizens Advice.

“There is a lot in the Bible about looking after the poorest. In our society, a lot of poverty is debtrelated so our congregation has been working

hard to open a CAP centre to help get people back on track.”

CAP offers people a uniquely in-depth, caring service to people with spiralling personal debt regardless of their age, gender, faith or background. Every client is visited in their own home, the charity does all the negotiating with creditors and local volunteers offer support to each person face-to-face until the day they are debt free.

Christine added: “Typically, debts can build up when a relationship breaks down, or someone loses their job, or through bereavement – so often when people are least able to cope with a financial headache. We’re just so pleased to be able to partner the care of our church with the financial expertise of CAP’s head office in Bradford.”

To find out more visit www.capuk.org or call 0800 328 0006.

    

01929 408080

23

 

    

Swanage Oracle

What’s On

24

01929 408080

25

V K V K P V B G Y R L Y V B P

T C N V N E R U D O L P H O R

N Z E U Z E W G M A Y E F O E

D C F I J R L O O C L M J W S

I R P Z W T Q Q V Q O U E R E

R Y E S U A L C A T N A S S N

E X G I R E I N D E E R L O T

K G N B S H Q R T Y R Y U B Q

C H S D Q E P N L E O Y R P W

A J D W W T S Z S N X D R F C

R F O Q E U D H E M O P R E T

C N J D M K H D E I A M T U T

S S L E I G H V S H S B M P M

I R D J W U K M W C X C P Z N

H Z W F Q X A N C C A S T U A

COAL SNOW CHIMNEY SLEIGH TREE PRESENT SANTA CLAUS CRACKER REINDEER RUDOLPH

This month, the prize is a meal for two at the Bull & Boat in Swanage, so please complete this page by 30th December and send to: December Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Swanage Oracle, Address: ______________________ 1 Moorlands Rise, ______________________ West Moors, ______________________ Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone: ______________________

Swanage Oracle

Prize Wordsearch

The Swanage Oracle Prize Wordsearch

26

Wildlife News

Talking about Wildlife...

The Robin

Traditionally seen as a cheerful symbol of Christmas, the robin is frequently depicted on Christmas cards, and a national favourite amongst birds. It is broadly distributed around the UK, and a familiar sight in parks, gardens and woodlands.

Robins are very friendly with humans, and with time, can become tame and feed from your hand. Winter-time especially is a good time to help them out as food is scarce during the cold months, and they will happily accept anything from kitchen scraps to cakes. Make sure, though, that once you start a feeding routine, you stay with it, as the birds will become reliant on the food source. For the rest of the year, the robin menu is a varied mix of seeds, berries, fruits and worms.

The male and the female are identical in appearance with the bright red breast and brown wings and back. The young robins

are a duller brown until about two or three months of age, when they gain their famous red colour. Robins build their nests in hidden spots near the ground, often very close to humans, and breed twice a year, from March onward.

Its adorable appearance and cheerful disposition has made the robin very popular with humans, but amongst themselves and rivals they are fiercely territorial, with their red breast acting as a warning signal. The British robin is mainly residential, with small numbers migrating to Southern Europe for the winter.

The robin is a fantastic wildlife spot as it is easily recognisable and its territorial song can be heard all year round, even on Christmas day, with the male and female songs sounding identical.

By Niina Silvennoinen Robin with its distinctive red breast Photo: S Davis

01929 408080

27



  

Swanage Oracle

28

Local Events

Purbeck Events for December 2013 Date

Event Name & Type

Time and Location

Contact Details

All Month

Wareham’s Street Markets

Thursday: East Street 8-1pm Saturday: The Quay 8-2pm

Various Activities & Courses

Burngate Stone Carving Centre

www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk

Walks, Talks, Courses, Exhibitions, Demos

Durlston Castle and Country Park

01929 424443 www.durlston.com

Wed’s

Discover Arne

RSPB Arne 10-12noon FREE

01929 553360

14, 15, 21-24

Santa Specials

Swanage Railway

01929 425800

10

Summer in February

Harmans Cross VH 7.30pm £4

www.harmanscrosshall.co.uk

12&19

Farmers Market

Wareham Town Hall 8-12noon

13

Craft & Produce Market

St Martin’s Broadmayne 2-3.30pm

14

Rainbow Coffee Morning and Christmassy Bazaar

The Mowlem 10am - 12pm

14

Dance

Harmans Cross Village Hall 7.30pm

14

Belvedere Singers at Christmas

St Mary’s Church, Swanage 7.30pm

15

Jurassic Jaunt

21

Winter Solstice

Corfe Castle 7.15am £10

0844 249 1895 Booking Essential

21-5J

Christmas at Corfe

Corfe Castle

01929 481294

31

Bryan’s Saturday Dance

Furzebrook Village Hall 7.30pm

01929 551332

01305 853765

01929 551332

www.jurassicjaunts.co.uk

All the information has been compiled by Discover Purbeck Information Centre (01929 552740) and Swanage Tourist Information Centre (01929 422885) www.visitswanageandpurbeck.com and is correct to the best of our knowledge

01929 408080

29

National Trust in Purbeck

Swanage Oracle

building and skimming stones.

The initiative came about in response to fears 21st century children are increasingly disconnected from the natural world and risk missing out on some of the most important childhood experiences.

It also prompted Project Wild Thing – a collaboration between film makers Green Lions and the National Trust – which produced a feature length documentary and a movement dedicated to tackling what has been dubbed ‘nature deficit disorder’ in children.

The find out where Project Wild Thing is showing, or for more information, visit www. projectwildthing.com. For more ideas about natural play, go to www.50things.org.uk.

Corfe Castle has been shortlisted in two categories for this year’s Bournemouth Tourism Awards, backed by Bournemouth Council.

The castle is in the running for Tourism Attraction Experience of the Year, with the focus on the Medieval Village event, and Best Evening Experience of the Year for the Medieval Falconry and Jousting.

Conservation work at the castle is meanwhile progressing as planned, despite the St Jude’s Day storm.

“We didn’t have any particular issues with the storm and all our scaffolding was in good order afterwards,” said Project Manager James Preston of contractor Sally Strachey Conservation.

“It’s all been going as planned apart from the sheep going onto the scaffolding, which is quite a funny thing to see in the morning!”

Work to conserve stonework on the first, third and fourth towers, as well as the north tower and south west gatehouse, is due to continue until December 23.

Jon Bish, Communications Officer

Community News

A natural play area for children in Corfe Castle is due to start taking shape in the Spring.

The play area in the woods near West Mill was first discussed two years ago when local children and their parents were invited to the woods to talk about what they would like to see there.

Since then there have been discussions with planners with the result that the scheme has now been simplified.

It is not thought that a formal planning application will be necessary, however, the project will be phased and local people will be asked for their views as it progresses.

“What is now being proposed is using totally natural materials to create a space for children to play in and experience nature,” said National Trust Ranger Jim Cribb, who is leading the project.

There will be balance beams to run along, logs to climb on and tree stumps to jump over.

Natural wood will be used throughout and there will be no equipment with moving parts.

“All the wood will be sourced from our own woodlands along with some living willow,” said Jim. “The idea is it will blend into the surroundings and won’t intrude into the landscape. It’s really just an extension of existing trackways that people have made themselves through the woodland. We are making those safer with things to entertain kids along the way.”

The area is part of a nationwide drive to help children reconnect with nature through play and the Trust hopes it will appeal to visiting families and locals alike.

Children are being encouraged to enjoy the great outdoors through 50 Things To Do Before You’re Eleven and Three Quarters – including childhood favourites like camping, den

30

Index of advertisers

Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Oracle...

Accountants Ward Goodman................................................11

Hairdressers Philip Mills Hair Design.....................................19

Bathrooms Bubbles Bathrooms Dorset............................... 8 C+C Plumbing & Bathrooms.............................22

Hospitals Bournemouth & Poole NHS Trusts.................... 9

Bedrooms Flair Interiors.................................................... 5 Ivamy Designs................................................... 3 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds..................................................... 3 Carpenters Total Woodwork - Peter Albin...........................19 Carpets & Flooring Living Floors...................................................... 8 Community News Adventures of Nellie.........................................10 Christians Against Poverty in Swanage............22 Dorset Wildlife Trust: The Robin.......................26 National Trust in Purbeck.................................12 Purbeck Railway Circle.....................................18 Computer Services AJV Computing.................................................27 Purbeck Computer Centre.................................19 Whizzbits..........................................................14 Dentists Personal Dental Care........................................ 2 Domestic Cleaning David Chalmers................................................27 Electricians J. Taylor Electrical.............................................27

Insurance A-Plan...............................................................32 NFU Mutual......................................................13 Kitchens Flair Interiors.................................................... 5 Ivamy Designs................................................... 3 Portman Stone.................................................. 1 Locksmith & Key Cutting John Hagans..................................................... 6 Lofts More Than Loft Ladders...................................15 Meat Deliveries Neway Meats...................................................31 Plumbers C+C Plumbing...................................................22 Gasways Heating..............................................14 Heatwise...........................................................13 Property Maintenance Total Woodwork - Peter Albin...........................14 Property Rental BCHA.................................................................11 Puzzles & Competitions Prize Wordsearch..............................................25 Renewable Energy Solutions Nick Good Property Services............................. 7 Restaurants Bull & Boat.......................................................23

Events Belvedere Singers at Christmas........................ 6 Mowlem Theatre..............................................24 Purbeck Events.................................................28 Purbeck Railway Circle.....................................23 Rainbows Coffee Morning & Christmassy Bazaar.... 6

Taxis DMB Cars.......................................................... 8

Fruit & Veg Deliveries Crawfords Feed.................................................10

Tool & Plant Hire Sydenhams.......................................................10

Funeral Directors James Smith......................................................27

Travel Crossways Travel..............................................13

Furniture 1st for... Quality Used Furniture........................ 6 Sunrise Warehouse...........................................15

Tree Services Purbeck Arborists.............................................11

Garden Services Purbeck Arborists.............................................11

01929 408080

Shoe Repairs John Hagans.....................................................31

Worktops Portman Stone.................................................. 1

31

Swanage Oracle

Looking to renew your car, van or home insurance?

Talk to A-Plan in Poole.

Our expert team will search for the policy that matches your needs and we’re confident we can save you money too.

With 70 branches and over 50 years’ experience you’re in good hands.

For the right insurance, at the right price, right now visit A-Plan Insurance in Poole.

A-Plan Insurance, 140 High Street, Poole, BH15 1DN www.aplan.co.uk/poole

Call 01202 644 390 Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Swanage Oracle

1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR