Test Valley Gazette - July 2023

In this issue...

Councillor’s Column

Art Exhibition & Sale: Stockbridge Town Hall

Funding secured for Andover Town Centre Study

England Expects... at Women’s World Cup

Celebrity Interview: Michelle Yeoh

Top tips for a sustainable summer

Green ngers: Alan Titchmarsh Column

Recipe: Rachel Khoo’s Ice Box Cake

Southern Voices: Music for a Summer’s Evening

Welcome...

Dear Residents,

It is with great pleasure that we deliver your July issue of Test Valley Gazette. As always, we have reliable trades people and businesses that would love to hear from you. We are here for you to connect with your local business owners and help the local economy thrive. Helping each other has been an intention of mine from a very early age and I love what we do here at Modern Magazines. There are editorials and articles for you to read which we hope you enjoy, all in the comfort of your own home. We also have a Facebook page, and this magazine can be viewed online at:

www.modernmagazines.co.uk

In addition to that we now have a fully interactive Hampshire E-Magazine (only online) and if that is of interest, please email me at: debbie@modernmagazines.co.uk and I will add your details for a free subscription to that magazine which has online games, competitions, local trades and much more.

With the summer holidays about to begin we wish you the best of summers with time to spend outside with family and friends.

Debbie, Stephen & all the team at Modern Magazines

There’s a plea from Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) to support officers with any wasterelated investigations, after a woman was ordered to pay a total of £1,778.84 for failing to respond.

On 29 January 2021, TVBC became aware of a large fly-tip on land just off Lee Lane in Romsey.

The waste included fridges, a washing machine, mattresses, toys, clothes, bottles, a headboard and numerous other items.

Information obtained within the waste eventually led officers to Sarah Kepple, of William Macleod Way in Southampton.

On 28 November 2022, the defendant was sent an invitation

to attend an interview under caution on 14 December 2022. She failed to attend.

Kepple was sent a formal notice requesting her to attend the council offices on 5 January 2023 in order to assist with the investigation into the fly-tip. No response was received, and the defendant failed to attend.

At Southampton Magistrates Court on 5 May 2023, Kepple was given a fine of £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and costs of £854.84.

Portfolio holder for recycling and environmental services, Councillor David Drew, said:

“If you receive a notice from TVBC requesting your assistance with a fly-tipping investigation, the easiest and best thing to do is to respond and check how you can help. In situations like this, not only does it delay the investigation and cause more work for our officers, but it could also land you with quite a hefty fine.”

Test Valley residents urged to respond to fly-tipping notices after woman ordered to pay more than £1,500

England Expects

After winning the 2022 European Championships – the first major-tournament win in the Three Lions’ history, England go into the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with confidence, unity and a weight of expectation.

England’s women are on a high. Their sensational Euros success has driven a new wave of British Bulldog belief, and it would be a mistake not to believe our Three Lions can repeat the incredible successes from 2022 and, in the process, continue to inspire a nation of female footballers.

Plus, with England’s Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman recording an 81% win ratio –her team scoring 138 goals in just 31 matches, with only one single defeat in that time, against Australia in a friendly in April – optimism is at an alltime high.

Wiegman’s players will commence their campaign by facing minnows Haiti in Brisbane on July 22nd, with the games against the other sides in Group D seeing them encounter Denmark on July 28th in Sydney and Asian

champions China in Adelaide on August 1st.

Winning Group D, as they should, may well land England a toughlooking second-round game against Canada, who ended Wiegman’s long winning run on a cold night in January 2022, in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Beyond that, Germany looks the likely opposition in the quarter-finals.

While the majority of the personnel from the Euros triumph is set to go Down Under, Ellen White and Jill Scott retired on a high after the Euros win, so new heroes will be sought, particularly as the squad will be missing captain Leah Williamson, who was ruled out with an ACL injury in April.

Thankfully, there is much competition for

Williamson’s centre-back berth, and considerable versatility elsewhere with players able to adapt to new positions, something typical of Wiegman’s Dutch ‘Total Football’ roots.

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze are mainstays, with Maya Le Tissier’s addition to the England fold a huge bonus due to her ability in playing right across the back line. Lotte WubbenMoy is another utility player, as are Lucy Parker, Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Niamh Charles.

Keira Walsh and Georgia

Stanway look to have cemented their places in midfield, while Jordan Nobbs and Ella Toone are sure to be on the plane. The rest of that part of England’s squad is harder to call.

Alessia Rousso is looking more and more like the number nine, and with Beth England and Ebony Salmon pushing into contention, the squad looks competitive and should go close to that elusive World crown.

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Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

2. Inn (3)

5. Relating to nature (6)

7. Associate (6)

9. Situation (11)

10. Scramble (6)

11. Comfortable position (6)

13. Take off (6)

Down Clues:

1. Frédéric (6)

2. Upper part of a woman’s dress (6)

3. Recover (6)

4. Relating to a state (6)

6. Writing in shorthand (11)

8. Not necessary (11)

16. Republic in Central America (6)

18. Rich country controls others (11)

19. Colour again (6)

20. Empty (6)

21. Humid (3)

10. Large Australian bird (3)

12. Seventh letter in the Greek alphabet (3)

14. Unpleasant sound (6)

15. Die (6)

16. Small nuts, under the ground (6)

17. Animals (6)

Word Ladder

Make

History Quiz

1. What year was the Battle of Hastings?

2. In which year did World War 2 start?

3. When was the Great Pyramid built?

4. What year was the Declaration of American Independence?

5. When was the formation of the League of Nations?

6. In which year was the Twin Towers attack?

7. What year was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

8. In what year did the Black Death outbreak start?

9. What year was the invention of the phone?

10. When did the Coronavirus pandemic occur?

Everything, Everywhere...but not all at once

Even at the age of 60, the 2023 Academy Award win may be the start of something big for Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh.

Multiverse sci-fi brain-wrecker Everything Everywhere, All At Once, starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh – who scooped the coveted Best Actress gong – is a movie that’s divided opinion. There are those who enjoyed it for what it is and how it was intended… a far-reaching film about love and acceptance, fun, creative, hilarious and unique; while others found it difficult to locate that necessary suspension of disbelief required for such a complex piece of theatre.

Either way, the main star of the mindbender, Michelle Yeoh, gave a virtuoso performance, deservedly won her nominated category (one of seven awards the film scooped at the prestigious event), in the process becoming the first Asian and only the second woman of colour to do so.

“When I was young back home in Malaysia, I never ever dreamt of being where I am today,” says the actress, who is now in her fifth decade of performing.

“There wasn’t a huge movie industry there and when I looked up at the screen to see stars mainly from the Western Hemisphere up there, shining

bright and looking so amazing, it was never

in my mind to think I could emulate them or.

“I appeared in an advert with Jackie Chan for Guy Laroche watches, but even then I thought that was the furthest I would venture, and that my life and my career was destined to remain back at home.”

Quickly though, Yeoh began to realise she had much more in common with the martial arts legend Chan than a simple timepiece, given she performed most of her own stunts in films such as Yes, Madam and Magnificent Warriors, as her career began to blossom.

she soon

The actress worked hard at refining the way she went about acting, and soon global acclaim arrived when she appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan in the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

Big projects arrived in the form of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then a slew of Hollywood projects, including Memoirs of a Geisha, Reign of Assassins, The Lady and Last Christmas.

“My biggest piece of advice is to listen to everyone and anyone!” she laughs. “It’s sometimes very easy to be precious about who you are and to what extent you want to bend and flip for the industry.

“We all go in with ideas of people loving us for being us, where really we are all products of everyone else’s influence, and we should be proud of that. You can never stop taking in the enrichment of others, no matter where you are in your career.”

Crafting Exquisite Spaces: Taylored Room Designs

We are a small, local, family run business. Passionate about serving our local community, by providing bespoke, beautiful, inspirational and practical fitted furniture designs and installations for any room in the home – fitted wardrobes, under stair storage, home office, kitchen refurbishment, living room and dining rooms.

Originally coming from a furniture designing and making background over 20 years ago, I quickly developed a real love for the design side of things and decided to focus on that. Having practical experience though really helps develop inspirational yet realistic designs.

Everything we create is bespoke, made to measure and unique to every customer, making our service truly specialist. We use UK based manufacturers as much as possible for all the components needed to create our fitted furniture and we have a wonderful team of highly skilled installers.

Our integrity is second to none and honesty is the cornerstone of our business. We live to complete an excellent job for each and every one of our customers so they will come back to us time and time again and recommend us to their community. We will do what we say we’ll do in the time frame we’ve said we’ll do it in and are available to them at every stage of the process.

Any waste that accumulates from our projects is disposed of responsibly, recycled as much as possible.

www.tayloredroomdesigns.co.uk

Councillor’s Column

Congratulations to Cllr Phil Lashbrook and Cllr Linda Lashbrook who were elected the new Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley at our Annual Council meeting recently. A busy year lies ahead for them, attending various events and good causes as well as chairing our council meetings. I’d also like to use this column to thank Cllr Alan Dowden and Cllr Celia Dowden for serving the borough as Mayor and Mayoress for the last 12 months. Although we represent different political parties, they’ve both done a superb job, attending hundreds of community events. Thanks too to my fellow councillors for formally re-electing me as Leader of Test Valley. It’s a huge honour to lead the council and I will continue to work relentlessly for local residents. My first job following Annual Council was to visit our Environmental Services depot to record a video about our recent switch from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil in our bin lorries. Reducing the council’s carbon emissions generated from our fleet vehicles by 95%. Using this biofuel does not require expensive vehicle changes and is completely fossilfree, fulfilling one of the pledges we made in our Climate Emergency action plan.

Sticking with the environmental theme, the council has also been taking part in a national campaign to support pollinators by leaving stretches of land to grow wild. Creating essential habitats for bees and butterflies. Not only great for the environment but making our parks, verges and the edges of our recreation spaces look even more attractive. This year this includes 30 hectares of urban meadowland, which have been blooming with wildflowers.

Finally, I’m pleased to report that thanks to our prudent investments, the council brought in another £2.23M in additional income during the 2022/23 financial year. Enabling us to maintain frontline services and fund our generous community grants programme, whilst also ensuring Test Valley’s portion of the council tax remains £40 lower than the average for the rest of England.

Cllr. Phil North

Leader of the Test Valley Borough Council

Top tips for a sustainable summer from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

From barbecues to ball games, every outdoor summer activity can impact the environment in some way. Here are some easy ways from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to help you, help nature this summer.

Using reusable or recyclable plates and cutlery

Everyone loves a good picnic or barbecue –little brings more joy than a delicious meal accompanied by the sounds and sights of nature. Disposable plates and cutlery are an attractive option compared to lugging your entire dinner set to your desired dining spot. However, these items are often designed for single usage, a fact which does not do the environment justice given the contribution of trees and fossil fuels to their manufacture. Instead, try using reusable, lightweight alternatives such as travel-friendly cutlery and bamboo plates. These last much longer than their disposable counterparts, meaning you save money and the environment!

Eco-friendly cooking

Whether big or small, barbecues are what make summer great. However, some outdoor cooking methods can release harmful pollutants into the fresh surrounding air and damage nearby wildlife. Charcoal, though seemingly a natural and sustainable fuel for barbecues, is often made from hardwood of tropical rainforests which are already vanishing at an alarming rate. The solution? British lumpwood charcoal from sustainable sources such as coppiced trees or managed forests.

Reduce your electricity consumption

Summer days are brighter, hence we can use less electricity for lighting. Not only will this reduce our reliance on unsustainable fossil

fuels, you can also save a great deal on your energy bills! You can also save energy by opening windows to ventilate your house or workplace instead of blasting the air conditioners at full power. Window shutters or blinds also help block strong sunbeams from blazing through windows and intensifying the summer heat.

Ditch the car

With summer comes sunshine. This means that travelling between places offers the perfect opportunity to get some vitamin D and muchneeded fresh air by walking or cycling. It’s been proven that exercise and being outside can both boost physical and mental wellbeing. On top of that, walking and cycling are safer for wildlife and have a much less detrimental effect on the environment than cars.

There’s a plethora of simple actions we can take to reduce our impact on the environment. While reducing waste production and saving energy are important throughout the year, our connection with nature through summer walks, seaside visits, or evenings lounging in the garden is particularly evident during summer, strengthening the motivation to do everything we can to protect the irreplaceable beauty of nature.

Photo: Go green with eco-friendly and re-usable alternatives on your next summer picnic © John Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Whitchurch’s Silk Mill: Preserving Industrial Heritage

Set in the idyllic Hampshire town of Whitchurch, the Silk Mill, built in 1813, is a gem of industrial heritage, located on the River Test.

A Silk merchant, William Maddick purchased the Mill in 1817, and began extensive alterations. Today your visit helps our charity to ensure that we can continue to teach the endangered Silk weaving skills to future generations.

Visitors can rest a while in our riverside café and gift shop and learn about the intriguing process of silk weaving as you explore the fascinating museum building.

Throughout this summer our ‘Whitchurch Play Town’ will be located on the 1 st Floor, where you will find imaginative role play areas such as vets, doctors, shop, café plus a willow den and play activities outside.

• Working Silk Weaving museum

• Riverside café & gift shop

• Events & workshops

• Annual tickets

whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

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Southern Voices: Music for a Summer’s Evening

Winchester based Chamber Choir, Southern Voices present a fabulous, light, summer concert in St Peter’s, Stockbridge SO20 6HF at 7.30pm on 8 July.

The programme is a summer fizz of madrigals, folksongs and toe-tapping jazz – including : Little Jazz Madrigals by Bob Chilcott; Songs & Sonnets from Shakespeare by George Shearing and Three Elizabethan Part Songs by Vaughan Williams.

Two very special musicians provide accompaniment: Nicholas Sawley (Head of Keyboard, Winchester

College) and Alastair

Hume (found member of the King’s Singers).

The choir’s brilliant new conductor Jamal Sutton will be in charge.

Jamal opens the concert with four well known Elizabethan madrigals : ‘Now is the month of Maying’; ‘Weep, O mine eyes’; ‘O that the learned poets’ and ‘Fire! Fire!’. Later in the programme these madrigals are exactly repeated … but this time arranged by Bob Chilcott to some very modern jazz vibes ! A perfect programme for a summer’s evening light entertainment.

The choir are well established in Winchester and the South and 2024 marks their 40th Anniversary year. See the choir’s website: www.southernvoices.co.uk for information on this and more details about becoming a member, a friend and much more.

Tickets £16 (Concessions £1 age 18 and under)

ticketsource.co.uk/southern-voices

Telephone 0333 666 3366 (booking fees apply); or at the door.

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A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about getting back to the basic elements of how a home should make us feel.

I was in conversation with someone the other day and they asked me what sort of feeling I thought they should give to a new home interiors project of theirs.

What I found interesting about the question is the fact it’s an almost impossible one to answer, for the main reason that you can’t force anyone to feel any way about something that they don’t naturally, instinctively, unintentionally feel themselves.

If a person dislikes something with a passion, it’s very likely

there is no positive slant you can put on things that will encourage them to change their mind. This is just who we are.

My answer was instead to think about stimulating positive feelings in the way the house was designed. In essence, to realise the things we want to feel, then style and create in order to fulfil those emotions. So, for example, it’s always important to create a sense of place and belonging in our homes. These homes are not just physical structures, but also repositories of our memories, emotions and personal identities, and should be designed to reflect our values, personalities and lifestyles.

Most people know I am a big fan of authenticity in home

design, so that comes into it; and I also believe in the importance of creating space that is functional and practical, rather than simply beautiful, perhaps with references given to the environment or sustainability.

Mostly though, above all those things, a home should be a place that feels safe, comfortable, and happy. Only then will it feel ’right’, and it may take several failed attempts along the way to finally get to that place where you are content.

And then prepare for the point a decade down the line when your evolving tastes talk you into ripping it all up and starting again!

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Lasting Powers

of Attorney: Why it makes sense to appoint a professional

Many people very sensibly confer lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) on others so that their affairs can be properly managed in the event that they lose the ability to do so themselves. However, as a High Court ruling underlined, it often makes good sense to appoint a professional, rather than a loved one, as your attorney.

The case concerned a woman who, by her will, bequeathed her home equally to her four children. About two years prior to her death, aged 93, an LPA was registered in favour of her daughter. The daughter subsequently used the power conferred on her by the LPA to purportedly transfer the property, which was formerly owned solely by her mother, into her and her mother’s joint names, as tenants in common.

The result of the transfer was that, when the mother died, her daughter’s half share of the property fell outside her estate. That in turn meant that the inheritance of her other three children was significantly reduced. Acting as executor of her estate, her son challenged the transfer on the basis that the daughter had no power or authority to make it. Upholding his claim, the Court noted that the half share in the property was a gift to the daughter. Section 12 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires

that an LPA may generally only be used to make gifts of reasonable value to charity or to loved ones or other connections on customary occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries. Gifts that do not fall within those exceptions must be authorised by the Court of Protection.

Such authority having neither been sought nor granted, the High Court concluded that the transfer was void. The registration of the daughter’s half share in the property was therefore a mistake on the face of the Land Register. The Court ordered that the Register be rectified to the effect that the mother remained the property’s sole owner at the date of her death.

This is intended for general guidance only. In all cases specific advice should be sought.

Bells are a specialist Wills, Probate and Conveyancing practice. The office opens five days a week Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm and home and hospital appointments can be arranged where appropriate. Our professional service is right on your doorstep. Join us again next time for another legal insight.

Tel: 01794 513328

E: bells@bells-romsey-solicitors.co.uk

Art Exhibition and sale Stockbridge Town Hall

24th and 25th July

The art exhibition will run from 10:30am -17:30pm each day

Hugh Dumas, a local artist, has decided the time has come for local artists to show what they have been creating in “Lockdown”. He has organised an Exhibition and Sale of the work of Test Valley artists in The Stockbridge Town Hall on the 24th and 25th of July. He says he will be showing an interesting and varied collection of art works, painted by himself and the many other artists in the Stockbridge area.

Hampshire has been at the forefront of looking after Ukrainian Refugees who, only a year ago, were living a normal life in Ukraine! In the Stockbridge area

in particular, several families have opened their hearts and their homes to look after these wonderful people. He is planning to donate 20% from the net sales to assist Ukrainian Refugees as they go forward with their lives in this country.

He is most grateful to Alix Baker, Julia Cassels, Caroline HarveyBathurst, Christina Meade, Sally Milligan, and Lisa Steinke who have, he says, “taught him all he knows about painting”, and who have kindly painted or donated to this Exhibition.

He would also like to thank other local artists and helpers who have given so freely of their time; and the many Sponsors (mentioned elsewhere) whose contributions will undoubtedly help to ensure the success of this fund-raising Art exhibition and sale.

For further information please contact Hugh Dumas at:

Tel: 01794 388 275

Email: hpedumas@gmail.com

tax and help protect their share from care fees

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits.

Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper

Making the most of where we live…. Young, old, history, contemporary. Daichi loves them all. Wherever we look around us there is history alongside new, contemporary and sometimes controversial. Have you ever taken a look to see where new meets old and bygone days live next to the future, where you live? Are you a philosopher who prefers the distant past and long-lost customs, or are you a person of state-of-theart décor and new ways?

For Daichi, living here in Weymouth, a seaside town dating back to the 12th Century, it is easy to see the many shifts in time. Punch and Judy came back to our beach this year. Apparently, the original shows first appeared in Italy in the 16th Century where the characters were marionettes. Then in 1662 on May 9th the very first performance in England was enacted. It is a more modern feature of the

Van

show today, that the audience is encouraged to shout out and warn the characters in the ‘box’ of the dangers. Certainly, watching the excited children on the beach recently, the eager spectators really enjoyed screaming out, “he’s there!” at the top of their voices. What fun. Some characters like the ghost, the hangman (probably a blessing) and Pretty Polly may have disappeared, but the show remains to entertain its guests, centuries after it began.

A few weeks ago, “El Galeon”, a replica of a 17th century Spanish Galleon glided into our waters here on the Jurassic coast and opened its decks to the general public, for around a week on Weymouth Harbour. These Galleons were used to transport cargo from America, Spain and the Phillipines between the 16th and 18th Centuries. Walking on board now I almost felt the rocking of the ship and the huge waves sweeping over the high ship sides. I could almost feel sea-sick… and we were in very flat waters! Impressive indeed is this

Debbie & Stephen by El Galeon

Traditional Punch & Judy on the beach

ocean sailing vessel. Built between 2009 and 2010 it has now sailed to hundreds of ports worldwide and had thousands and thousands of visitor gaze in awe at its miles of rope, and its magnificent decks. Daichi loves history, and imagining sailing across massive expanses of sea surrounded by scores of people, some running up and down all of those extremely high poles, was quite an experience. In the 1600’s many did not make the journey, with scurvy and other untreatable diseases in abundance due to the lack of hygiene. There were less bottles of hand sanitizer in those days! It would have been very different to any cruises we sail on today.

That brings me to the subject of seaweed which has attracted so much attention and controversy recently. Our Blue Flag Beach with its wonderful fine sand has been encroached in certain parts, by sea kelp driven in by storms and heavy winds. Daichi’s first reaction was indeed one of “Oh No! Our beautiful beach has been destroyed…” However, he has had a change of heart. Our ecosystem on this planet has had much interference from us, the ‘intelligent species’ on this planet, and we may not have always got it right. Nature has a profound way of correcting itself, and in fact creating certain situations in order to survive. So, we

have continued to go to the beach, lie on the gorgeous fine sand of which there is a huge abundance and swim in our amazing ocean. Rubber shoes protect the feet if needed, but there is a lot of space and much enjoyment to be had, despite a little natural interruption. One of Daichi’s bug bears is the press and its sensationalism.

So, what about what’s new? We live in a ‘coffee culture’ where having a coffee and cake (or even a waffle and ice-cream…) have become part of our daily lives. Daichi loves this and will go for a coffee at the drop of a hat, especially with a friend for a good old chat. The Theatre is also still popular, centuries later and we believe we should make more of this. The atmosphere is great, the entertainment can lift the soul and we get to go out with family and friends. Similarly, the cinema. What great block busters there are! “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise was a must for us. Hayden loves ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, so we all went to see “Honour Amongst Thieves” recently with Hugh Grant, Chris Pine and John Francis Daley. Myself, being of the older generation and Hayden being nearly forty years younger, yet we all enjoyed it and had a great evening out!

So, whether it is an old tradition, history to soak in, or a coffee and waffle with a friend, there is so much to do right on our doorsteps. Daichi would love to know what you like best about your area. You can write to him at:

daichi@modernmagaiznes.co.uk

By Debbie Corney

Weymouth’s beautiful beach, winner of both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award

Family & friends having a “waffle”

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the holy grail of ensuring flowers and plants flourish to their full potential – soil quality!

I get asked a lot what the best way to bolster soil quality is, and the truth is there are a variety of methods. Naturally, keeping soil well-watered is important, but not overwatered. Instead, water deeply and less frequently than you would expect. To water deeply you need to keep the soil light and uncompacted too. I’ve even gone to the extent of walking on wood planks if I need to cross over soil, as this spreads the weight and avoids interrupting good soil structure with big clumsy boots.

To actually enrich the soil, I try to regularly add organic matter. Compost, obviously, is key, with well-rotted manure. This helps with boosting drainage, adding fertility, and encouraging beneficial microorganisms.

In a similar way, if you’re looking to capitalise on what’s already in the soil, consider the benefit of crop rotation, and the fact that plants or flowers can feed o the nutrients left behind from whatever was present before.

Changing the location of specific plant families each year also helps to prevent the build-up of pests and diseases, and maintains soil fertility. Finally, it’s always worth applying a layer of mulch – such as wood chips or straw – around plants. It helps to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulates soil temperature, and adds organic matter to the soil. It also looks good!

To determine how good your soil is, or isn’t, why not invest in a soil-testing kit? This will help you determine the soil’s pH and nutrient levels, and with that information you can construct an accurate plan for amendments to improvements to your soil quality.

Ultimately, don’t expect change overnight, as good things come to those who wait; but do take comfort in the fact you are doing all you can to move forward the health of your garden.

Council Slashing Carbon Fuel Emissions by up to 95% by Switching

Vehicles to Diesel Alternative

Test Valley Borough Council’s (TVBC) fleet of vehicles have now all switched from using diesel fuel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), cutting carbon dioxide fuel emissions by up to 95%.

HVO is a drop-in diesel alternative that benefits from an instant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions without the need for changes to engine infrastructure or machinery. It’s also made from 100% renewable raw materials, biodegradable and is odourless.

The entire fleet, from waste collection vehicles to plant machinery, is now using HVO, after council leaders approved plans earlier this year.

In 2019, TVBC declared a climate emergency, and this is another step towards the ambition of becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North, said:

“Switching all of our vehicles from diesel to HVO is a huge step in the right direction as we cut our carbon emissions generated from our fleet vehicles by 95%.”

“Using this biofuel does not require expensive vehicle changes and is completely fossil-free, fulfilling one of the pledges we made in our cross-party Climate Emergency action plan.”

Spot the Difference!

There are 10 differences between the two images below. How many can you spot?

Stockbridge Cinema July Showings

Friday 7 July 7.30pm

Tár (15)

Starring Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár, the groundbreaking conductor of a major German Orchestra. Tár is at the height of her career, as she’s preparing both a book launch and a muchanticipated live performance of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. Over the ensuing weeks her life begins to unravel in a singularly modern way. The result is a searing examination of power, and its impact and durability in today’s society. (Partly subtitled)

Common to both films: Showings at Stockbridge Town Hall SO20 6HE. Tickets can be purchased online from the 1st April - price per ticket £6.00 (including £0.50 booking fee) via www.stockbridgecinema.org.uk or by telephone from TicketSource 0333 666 3366 (additional £1.80 charge per booking). Visit our website for more details.

Wednesday 12 July 4:15pm and 7.30pm

The Fabelmans (12A)

Loosely based on Spielberg’s childhood growing up in post-World War 2 era Arizona, from age seven to eighteen, a young man named Sammy Fabelman falls in love with films after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother. When he discovers a shattering family secret, he explores how the power of movies helps us see the truth about each other and ourselves.

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Rachel Khoo’s Ice Box Cake

When summer comes around, it feels somewhat incongruous to be putting the oven on; yet baking isn’t all about putting up the heat and expecting something to prove or rise. And who in this weather wants to build up a sweat in the kitchen?! Instead, why not whip up this delicious ice box cake with just a stove top and a freezer. This decadent dessert with a crunchy hazelnut praline rippled through it makes a crowd-pleasing finale.

Ingredients

(10 to 12 servings)

• 35g dark chocolate, cut into small pieces

• 50g unsalted butter

• 100g digestive biscuits, crushed to crumbs

• 3 medium eggs

• 2 medium egg yolks

• 1 tsp vanilla essence

• 180g sugar

• 500ml double cream

• Hazelnut praline

• 50g blanched hazelnuts

• 75g sugar

• 2 tbsp water

Method

1. Prepare a 20cm cake tin by lining with baking paper.

2. To make the praline, line a baking tray with baking paper. Toast the hazelnuts in a dry saucepan until they are golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Put the sugar and water in the pan and heat gently

until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high (avoid the temptation to stir it). When the caramel begins to turn a dark golden brown, remove from the heat and quickly stir in the hazelnuts. Pour immediately on to the lined baking tray and spread out evenly. Leave to cool. Once the caramel is cool and hard, blitz to a fine powder in a food processor.

4. Make the biscuit base by melting the butter and chocolate together in a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of just-simmering water. Add the crushed biscuits and stir to combine. Press into the prepared cake tin to form a crust and place in the freezer.

5. Place the eggs, extra yolks, vanilla and sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. You want the bowl to just be resting over the

saucepan – don’t let the bowl touch the water. Whisk the mixture continuously for six to eight minutes or until it becomes thick and pale. If you have a handheld electric whisk, opt for that. When the whisk leaves a ribbony trail in the mixture when you lift it up, it is ready. Remove from the heat and allow mixture to cool slightly.

6. Whip the cream in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold through the cooled egg mixture until well combined.

7. Stir two-thirds of the praline into the ice-cream mixture and pour into the cake tin over the crumb base. Scatter the top with the remaining praline and leave to chill until frozen (at least four hours). Slice and serve.

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