Cotswold Link January 2012

JanuaryFebruary2012

Ma FRE ga E zin e

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inside Your Cotswold

10

january february

14-15

18

10

Local News

Local Councils Support the HighSpeed Broadband Campaign

14-15 Education

Who wants to be an Engineer?

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24-25

Local Events

January & February at the Corinium Museum

24-25

A bit of snow!

Visit the stunning snowdrops at Colesbourne Park

Also in this issue...

5travel

Enjoy Dubai

8-9 local news

New Businesses & Services in the Cotswolds

16-17 leisure Out & About

20 local news

Land Mine technology to assist Breast Cancer Screening

22 local news

Fairford & Lechlade Business Club’s Awards

NEW

Distribution p29

26 the cotswold sky The Northern Lights

29 cotswold link New Distribution from Your Cotswold

30 cotswold link Index

I hope that you enjoy this edition of Your Cotswold . In March we are expanding the distribution, please see page 29 for more details. Please contact us if you would like to advertise your business in this publication.

Best wishes, t: 01609 777401 www.cotswoldlink.co.uk Christine Campbell Editor

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Sue’s

TopTravelTips In this issue...

Enjoy Dubai...

Only a 7 hour flight away from the UK, Dubai is a superb holiday destination with something for everyone. There are a wide range of exceptional beach hotels to suit families, couples and single travellers. All ages will enjoy the water parks and the choice is yours to either soak up the sun on beautiful un-crowded beaches or to take part in one of the numerous activities on offer including water sports.

For travellers passing through on a short visit, the downtown area of Dubai has some wonderful and luxurious hotels where you are pampered with the use of Spa facilities and fine dining.

The downtown area is only a 15 minute drive from the airport, and with a diverse range of entertainment this is a good alternative to the beach areas.

You can shop, visit the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) or simply sit and relax while you watch the beautiful fountain display set to music and lights on the Burj Khalifa Lake.

Other activities include, Browsing the Souks (markets) where you can buy gold, silk and spices at bargain prices. Taking part in a desert Safari (not for the feint hearted), an exciting ride in a 4x4 vehicle over the sand dunes, camel rides and dune driving. In addition, Dubai has become a very popular destination for golfing trips with a good selection of championship golf courses.

Whatever you are looking for in a winter break we are sure you will find it in Dubai.

Please call on 01451 822048 or email: bourton@carricktravel.com to discuss your holiday requirements.

CONTACT THE TEAM • Bourton-on-the-Water

• Chipping Norton

Moore Road t: 01451 822 048 10, Middle Row t: 01608 641 983

www.carricktravel.com

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New businesses & services come to the

Cotswolds

New Businesses & services we’re introducing:

• Deercrest Solutions NEW! Business

For flexible, cost effective office support...

• Clean-n-Restore

Deercrest Solutions offer a flexible, cost efficient office support service.

Owner Kirstie Fraser tells us more, “By utilising a Virtual Personal Assistant, businesses are able to reduce their overheads if they are unable to justify employing another member of staff. We also free them up from spending time on administrative tasks and allow them to focus on core business activities.”

NEW! Range of Services

Services include: • Copy typing Dissertations, books, journals, publications, manuals • Audio typing • Database design and maintenance • Diary Management

• Cox’s Yard NEW! Premises To feature within this section of Your Cotswold us on: 01609 777401

please contact

• Invoicing using Quick Books and Sage • Mail merge/Mail shots • Presentations PowerPoint, OH Transparencies, handouts and literature • General Secretarial duties

• Out of office service • Outgoing calls Follow up calls, scheduling • Proof reading • Mystery Shopping (Online and telephone) • Internet research • Social networking

Services are available on either an hourly or per task basis depending on the project.

For more details please contact Kirstie on 07525 267118 Kirstie@deercrestsolutions.co.uk | www.deercrestsolutions.co.uk

You can also email: Christine@cotswoldlink.co.uk or visit our website at: www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

First class cleaning service...

“Clean-n-Restore has gained the reputation as being a first-class carpet and upholstery cleaning service from the most discerning customers in the Cotswolds. We pride ourselves on our customer service and professionalism to ensure you get 100% customer satisfaction. Using some of the most powerful and efficient equipment available to the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry and a process recommended by most of the leading carpet manufacturers, we can clean and revitalise your carpets, removing the damaging dust, grit and other pollutants, spots and stains leaving your carpets looking better.

We use Eco-friendly, plant based cleaning solutions that do not leave a sticky soil attracting residue as commonly associated with traditional detergent based carpet cleaning solutions. This means that once cleaned by Clean-nRestore, your carpets will stay cleaner, for longer.

Our cleaning services also include upholstery, rugs, tiles and stone flooring and mattresses and we offer stain shield services, using only the best fabric protectors.

Ask us about our completely FREE, no-commitment evaluation of your carpet & upholstery cleaning requirements now.”

Testimonial...

“I had given up hope of my carpets ever returning to their former glory but one visit from Nick at Clean ‘n’ Restore and they are as good as new.

I was amazed at the speed of the cleaning and the fast drying. I could not recommend him more highly.”

Michele, Gloucestershire

Tel: 01367 248084 | info@clean-n-restore.co.uk

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A mix of the

old & new!

Well known Moreton in Marsh architectural salvage dealers, Cox’s Yard, are moving warehouse and opening a new showroom at the beginning of January.

Staying on the same site next to the railway line the new premises, No.12 Fosseway Business Park, will encompass their traditional store in a more contemporary setting with new displays of period door knobs, cast iron radiators, belfast sinks, light fittings and a comprehensive range of waxes, polishes and oils.

New workshop machinery has been installed allowing more items to be manufactured from reclaimed timber. Worktops, shelving and other rustic joinery will all be produced alongside the well established Oak Cottage front doors. Door restoration will be speeded up with a new polishing shop using a wider range of stains and waxes as well as some of the new fangled oil finishes.

The company will continue to specialise in reclaimed oak, elm and pine floorboards. Cleaning of boards, previously a laborious dirty job undertaken by hand, is now handled through a special rotary combine brush and sanding machine saving much time and effort.

With a substantial part of their business generated by the internet, updating of the web site www.coxsarchitectural.co.uk and further investment in new hardware was considered essential and the new premises opened fully equipped for the tough times which appear to lie ahead.

Customers old and new are welcome to visit Cox’s new showroom and are assured of a traditional warm and informative reception.

Cox’s Yard @ Moreton Architectural Reclamation Yard 12 Fosseway Business Park Moreton-in-Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 9NQ

www.coxsarchitectural.co.uk Tel: 01608 652505 Fax: 01608 652881 Email: info@coxsarchitectural.co.uk

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Cotswold Parishes and Market Towns back high-speed broadband campaign

Communities throughout Cotswold district are backing a campaign to bring high-speed broadband to rural Gloucestershire. The Borders Broadband project is a multi-million pound initiative to secure private investment in a new fast broadband infrastructure for the county’s rural areas.

As part of the campaign, a Gloucestershirewide survey of households and businesses is underway to show there is demand for fast broadband services in rural communities.

(See www.gfirst.co.uk/broadband)

Volunteer ‘broadband champions’ are being recruited to link towns and parishes to the campaign, to highlight the benefits of high-speed broadband, and to encourage households and businesses to take part in the survey. So far 78 volunteers in46 parishes and towns in Cotswold district have stepped up to become broadband champions.

The Board’s own survey of internet speeds throughout the Cotswolds AONB area shows that nearly half of... (cont below)

...households in the area have broadband speeds below or at 2Mbps - the Government’s acceptable minimum level of service. Borders Broadband was awarded £14.4 million for Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, making this one of the first parts of the UK to share £530 million Government cash for rural high-speed broadband. Major private sector investment is vital to the project’s success.

The survey The Borders Broadband residents’ survey is available online at at www. gfirst.co.uk/broadband. There is also a separate survey for businesses available online at www.gfirst.co.uk/broadband.

If you run a local business and live in Gloucestershire, please complete both residential and business surveys.

Hard copies of the residents’ survey are also available at local libraries, or via parish and town councillors and broadband champions. They are also available from Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) on 01452 528491.

For more details about Borders Broadband see www.gfirst.co.uk/broadband or contact Angela Presdee, GFirst,

10 Your Cotswold

01452 328309 Angela.Presdee@glosfirst.co.uk

Case study: Sue Coakley

Sue Coakley is one of a growing volunteer army of ‘broadband champions’, who are highlighting just how vital good internet services are to rural areas. Sue, an independent member of Cotswold District Council and Lechlade Town Council, volunteered for the role because she feels our villages and hamlets get a raw deal from internet service providers.

In her role as broadband champion for the Borders Broadband project, she gives talks at parish council meetings, helps promote the campaign and is encouraging local people to complete residents’ and business surveys.

Broadband Champion: Sue Coakley

“This is a key issue for rural areas like ours,” she said. “More and more services are only going to be available online. Already elderly people have to apply for bus passes online.Information about housing and health is all going online. For communities like ours, with no Jobcentre, the only way to find work is by going online.And for shopping, all the best deals are available on the internet.

With the increasing cost of fuel, people in rural communities can’t afford to drive miles to the nearest shops just to find they don’t have what they’re looking for.”

Sue believes there is huge hidden demand for good broadband services in rural communities around Lechladeand Kempsford. The issue is also key for small rural businesses and for increasing numbers of people wishing to work from home, she says.

“With the scarcity of jobs, more and more people are trying to create jobs for themselves, using the skills they have and working from home. So good broadband services are becoming essential to creating access to employment in rural areas.”

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Who wants to be an

Engineer?

I have recently listened to two radio programmes in which students have been asked what they want to embark on as a career. Media, the arts, politics, the armed services, architecture, medicine, law and teaching appear to be the most popular. Out of numerous responses only one student said that they wanted to become an engineer. While this is only a snapshot of a survey, I know from my own experience in teaching and reading reports from established universities and industry, that there is huge concern about the lack of suitably qualified engineers.

What is an Engineer?

Taking the definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary.

An Engineer is:1: A person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures.

• A person qualified in a branch of engineering, especially as a professional: an aeronautical engineer 2: A person who controls an engine, especially on an aircraft or ship.

• North American a train driver.

3: A skilful contriver or originator of something: • The prime engineer of the approach

Why be an Engineer?

Why are so few of our future generation not foreseeing their career in the field of engineering? This concerns me, because we have some of the best engineers in the world. One only has to look at the field of Formula 1 racing to realise that this is predominantly driven by British engineers. It could be that students are encouraged to take the easier none mathematically based careers or the students themselves are wary of treading down a path in which they will have to work much harder to obtain a degree or relevant qualification. Schools use computer based systems to assist the student select a career, but a computer will only churn out what it has been programmed to do, and they are programmed by subjective human beings.

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It is my opinion that many potentially good engineers are being overlooked by the education system. I strongly recommend students to research into the variety of engineering courses that are available and consider the benefits that engineering can bring. On leaving school I took that path and have no regrets whatever.

Useful internet sites:www.bconstructive.co.uk/en/apprenticeships.aspx www.ehow.co.uk/how_2301724_become-engineer.html www.graduate.monster.co.uk/6437_EN_p1.asp www.engc.org.uk/ John Harris

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ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION Loyal support for our dedicated Lifeboat Crews was once again demonstrated by the raising of the magnificent sum of £1015.97 during a recent two day collection outside Tesco, Stow on the Wold, by members of the North Cotswold Branch of the RNLI. Many thanks to the management of Tesco, who made this possible and to all those who helped by either collecting or giving.

By way of a few statistics many may not know that there are 235 lifeboat stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

All are manned by volunteers and that 8313 people were rescued from the sea during 2010. Each lifeboat station costs approximately £225000 a year to operate. Collections, such as this one at Tescos, are therefor crucial for the continuance of this vital lifesaving service.

Out & About in

January & February this winter Out and about 22nd January • Sunday Walk Starting at Minchinhampton near the church and hoping for a typical cold, bright, dry winter’s morning, this circular walk takes in the tiny hamlet of Box offering lovely views across to Nympsfield before reaching Amberley. We use some quiet lanes and there are two steep climbs out of Nailsworth onto the common. Our walk then levels out and continues flat across the common, where we take our lives in our hands dodging golf balls. It is doubtful that the Winstones ice cream van will be on the Common, but if it is, the Leader will buy! Grade: Moderate. Distance 5½ miles.

Visitors welcome. No Dogs. www.cirencesterramblers.btik.com. Meet at Beeches Car Park for 9.30am start. Tel: 01285861486 Email: info@soundsfair.freeserve.co.uk ......................................................................................................................

25th January • Fairford Country Market

If you are able to help with future events, please contact Mrs Diana Porter, Branch Chairman, on 01451 830508.

Also importantly, the Branch is always seeking new fund raising helpers.

(Also on 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th February & 7th March) Fairford Country Market is a co-operative of local people selling homemade/grown produce including Cakes & Savouries (all of which can be frozen). Preserves, fresh seasonal Vegetables, Free Range Eggs, Plants, Herbs, Cards & Clever Crafts. Free entry.

Opening times: 8.30 - 11.30 every Wednesday morning. Coffee, Tea & Cakes always available. www.fairford.org/CountryMarket Tel: 01285 810616 Email: chhy41@aol.com Fairford Community Centre, Fairford GL7 4AF ......................................................................................................................

28th January • Festival Trials Day @ Cheltenham Probably the best one day Jump racing meeting anywhere, with seven races of huge quality that also provide some final clues to the destination of the big prizes at The Festival. This meeting includes The Argento Chase, a valuable trial for the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. Many of the horses that run on Festival Trials Day are having their final start before The Festival and it is rare that this meeting doesn’t feature at least one subsequent Festival winner. Gates open at 11.00am, with the first race at 12.55pm and the last race at 4.20pm. 01242 513 014 | www.cheltenham.co.uk ......................................................................................................................

29th January & 25th March • Stitch back in time Lavinia’s Tea Party Studio - Stratton, Cirencester (2-5pm) Come and learn how to knit or crochet a vintage item, or get help with your current projects. Workshops are £35 pp and include: a woolen kit to takeaway with instructions, supervision and demonstrations by Crafty Queen, Janice Botterill; afternoon tea with sandwiches, homemade cakes and unlimited tea all served on vintage china- of course!

Call: 07891017717 or email Laviniasteaparty@hotmail.co.uk to book a space now. You can book a workshop in your home or at venue of your choice, please call for details. ......................................................................................................................

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30th January - 4th February • Bourton Panto Group Present: Robin Hood Victoria Hall - Bourton on the Water The Box Office for Bourton Panto Group is based at the Victoria Hall, Bourton on the Water.

Opening Hours are - 10.00am - 12.00pm Please Note - You can also call 07799 546226 or email: bourtonpantogroup@hotmail.co.uk for tickets. ......................................................................................................................

4th February - 4th March • Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park Colesbourne Park Celebrate the end of winter with a visit to the magnificent snowdrop display and winter garden at Colesbourne Park.

Set in the beautiful Churn valley in the heart of the Cotswolds, the snowdrop display and collection at Colesbourne Park is world-famous. Started by the Victorian traveller-naturalist Henry John Elwes and developed in recent years by his great-grandson Sir Henry and Lady Elwes, it is now regarded as among the finest in the country. Colesbourne Park is open on Saturdays and Sundays only from 4 February to 4 March. Gates open at 1 pm. Entry £7.00 Located on the A435 between Cheltenham and Cirencester. Dogs on leads are welcome. Teas are served by local charities.

Plants for sale. Further information: www.colesbournegardens.org.uk ......................................................................................................................

10th - 12th February • Cheltenham Folk Festival Various venues - Cheltenham Set in various venues around Cheltenham, the Folk Festival is a celebration of music for all the family. For more information and for tickets please visit www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/ folk-festival/or call the Box Office on 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/folk-festival ......................................................................................................................

24th – 26th February • The Tortworth Court Antiques and Fine Art Fair The Luxury Antiques Weekend is a boutique-style fair bringing together 22 antiques dealers from all parts of the UK, predominantly members of The British Antique Dealers’ Association and LAPADA The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers showcasing an eclectic mix of unusual and decorative antiques and works of art, including contemporary paintings, sculpture and jewellery. Time: Opening Hours: Friday 11am – 6pm, Saturday 10.30am – 6pm, Sunday 10.30am – 5pm Tickets: £5 to include catalogue and re-admission. Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel, Tortworth, Wotton-under-Edge, South Gloucestershire GL12 8HH info@adfl.co.uk | Tel: 01797 252030 ......................................................................................................................

The editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to the events listed. All events are correct at time of going to print.

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News

Corinium Museum

January & February at The Corinium Museum The Corinium Museum has a myriad of lectures, exhibitions and events planned for the coming winter season.

Come out of the cold and into the warmth of the Corinium Museum this January and February. The beginning of January sees a transition of exhibitions from Pam Harmer’s stone sculptural works which ends on the 7th January to Jane Johnson’s exhibition of handmade ceramics. This quirky exhibition of handmade ceramics opens on the 14th January. Jane’s work is inspired by nature and gardening and creates functional items with a twist. Graduating from Bath Spa University with a first class Honours Degree in Ceramics, this exhibition offers up first class work. Jane’s pieces are highly textured and distinctive and will be on show at the museum until 3rd March 2012.

shiny coin of their own to take home and on 14th February children will be able to make a stretchy Cavalier all inspired by the period.

Civil war coin horde

If you’d prefer something Roman, then come along on the 16th February and create your own Victory pendant to let everyone know you have been victorious in battle. Don’t forget about our holiday trails, which encourage children to find clues around the museum leading to a special prize at the end. Two different trails are suitable for under and over 5s.

Hamdmade Ceramics

In January, the Museum’s evening lecture programme welcomes Neil Holbrook, Chief Executive of Cotswold Archaeology, as our first guest speaker on 26th January 2012. Neil will discuss ‘The End of Roman Cirencester’ and review the evidence for what was happening in Corinium in the latter decades of the 4th century.

If you’re a film buff, why not visit come over to the Museum on one of our Rural Cinema days. The film showing at the Corinium Museum on 28th and 29th January will be Jane Eyre. Films are shown at the Museum on the last Saturday and Sunday of each month.

For More Details...

Telephone: 01285 655 611 museums@cotswold.gov.uk Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 2BX

Continuing the Roman theme, Dr Robert Bewley, Director of Operations for the Heritage Lottery Fund, returns with a lecture exploring Aerial Archaeology and the Roman Empire. He will highlight the extent to which aerial archaeology has helped advance knowledge and understanding of the Roman world and the contribution it has made to mapping the extent of the Roman Empire.

This lecture takes place on 23rd February 2012 from 7pm.

For those of you out there with an interest in the conservation of Museum objects, Ben Harridge will discuss how museum’s and conservators fight to stem the deterioration of archaeological artefacts.

This short lunchtime talk talks place on 28th February at 12.30pm.

Aerial view of a Roman settlement

Medieval ideas about the edges of space and place will be the subject discussed by Avis Lloyd for a day school on the 15th February. Avis will use a variety of media, including architecture, manuscripts and maps to uncover the origins of the ideas of the earth, the portal and the cosmos in the Middle Ages. The session runs from 10am to 4pm.

Moving through the ages, we reach the Civil War which is the theme for February’s half term activities. On 13th February, children will learn about the fantastic coin hoard found in Western Sub Edge in 1981 and make a

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Land mine technology to give women fast, accurate breast cancer screening

New trials show MARIA system is not only safer and more comfortable, but is now edging close to detection rates of traditional methods.

A safe, low-cost system that would allow women of all ages to be screened for breast cancer in GP surgeries, or even high street shops, has come a step closer following a third clinical trial. Developed by Micrima, a spin-out from Bristol University, the revolutionary new screening technology – developed from a land mine detection project now takes just eight seconds to provide a three-dimensional breast scan that provides results that are comparable with X-ray mammograms.

However, the MARIA (Multistatic Array processing for Radiowave Image Acquisition) system is not only safer and cheaper than current breast screening methods, it should also provide more reliable results in younger women who are overlooked for screening at present, with the additional benefit of being more

sults. Meanwhile, only women aged over 50 in the UK are invited by the NHS for regular screening, and then only every three years.

X-ray mammography also suffers from relatively high missed and false detection rates and tends to have poor results in the denser breast tissue associated with younger, pre and peri-menopausal women.The latest phase of the clinical trial involved women at Frenchay Hospital’s Breast Care Centre in Bristol, as well as Southmead Hospital, also in Bristol.

Dr Mike Shere, breast specialist at Southmead Hospital said: “We are very excited about the potential of this completely new method of breast imaging. It has none of the disadvantages of the current methods, ultrasound, mammography and MRI. It is quick, safe, comfortable

comfortable for women undergoing the test.

The team behind Micrima is now raising new funding to help them achieve their goal of commercialising the targeted product – making breast cancer scans as normal as a dental or eye check-up.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 35 and 55 in Europe, and the leading cause of death in many countries. Early diagnosis dramatically improves survival rates, yet most tumours are not discovered early enough – particularly in younger women.

National breast screening programmes, using X-ray mammography, are the front-line weapon in the fight to improve survival statistics. But the equipment is bulky, expensive and involves uncomfortable compression of the breast in order to produce re-

and cheap, and is already producing good images with high sensitivity.”

The MARIA technique uses an innovative radar system developed from land mine detection by a team at Bristol University led by Professor Ian Craddock, Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Professor Alan Preece, Emeritus Professor of Medical Physics. The project is founded on Professor Ralph Benjamin’s pioneering work on microwave focusing. This trial, completed in 2011, showed a diagnostic success rate of around 80% and already represents a strong competitor to X-ray mammography in dense tissue. The team are aiming for a success rate of over 90%.

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Get Set for Fairford and Lechlade Business Club’s Awards Ceremony!

When the world is steeped in doom and gloom over the future of the world economy, it is pleasing to see that Fairford & Lechlade Business Club is continuing to promote and support local businesses and the local economy with its 5th annual Business Awards Ceremony, recognising the achievements of new and existing businesses and the potential of the young moguls of tomorrow.

Business people from all around Gloucestershire and Wiltshire – not just Fairford and Lechlade – will meet at the Crown of Crucis Hotel in Ampney Crucis on Friday 27 January hoping to win the coveted prize of: · Business of the Year · Business Person of the Year · New Business · Most Innovative Business · Most Outstanding Business Student · The Howard Dowler Award The Outstanding Business Student of the Year award, which is aimed at applauding the efforts of budding young entrepreneurs, is presented to the Year 11 Business Studies student at Farmor’s School, who has shown the most promise and has put together a good business plan. To involve young people in the Business Club is a great way to create a two-way opportunity for local businesses to harness the enthusiasm that young people have and for the students to learn more about how a business operates.

The Howard Dowler Award is chosen by the Chair of the Business Club and is awarded to the business or business person, who has made a significant contribution to the local community and is in memory of a founder member of Club, who passed away in September 2009.

Award nomination packs are available from admin@flbc.org.uk or phone 01285 712150.

FLBC is pleased to have Cotswold Life as their media partner and

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grateful to the following sponsors: Business West (Glos Chamber of Commerce), Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Lakes by Yoo, Lechlade Garden Centre, and RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises (RIAT).

Following the 3 course dinner in the newly refurbished Crown of Crucis Dining Room and the presentation of Awards, there is to be a Grand Auction presided over by Roy Bowyer, professional auctioneer from Moore, Allen & Innocent.

Tickets are available for the Business Awards Ceremony and Dinner at a cost of £30 for FLBC members and £34 for non-members. They are available from admin@flbc.org.uk or telephone 01285 712150.

The next event for Fairford & Lechlade Business Club will be the Food & Drink Festivals, which is now in its third year. The Lechlade event will be on Sunday 6 May and the Fairford event will be on Sunday 3 June. This exciting initiative not

only promotes joint working between these two Cotswold Market Towns, but also celebrates and highlights the variety and quality of local produce.

To find out more about the Awards Ceremony or the Fairford & Lechlade Business Club, visit www.flbc.org. uk and to find out more about the Food and Drink Festivals, visit www. fairfordlechladefoodanddrink.co.uk or email admin@flbc.org.uk

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snowdrop ‘England’s greatest

garden’

-Colesbourne Park-

S

et in the beautiful Churn valley in the heart of the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, Colesbourne Park has been the home of the Elwes family since 1789. The historic snowdrop collection, started by Henry John Elwes with the discovery of Galanthus elwesii in Turkey in 1874, has been greatly developed by Sir Henry and Lady Elwes in the past 25 years. It has been called ‘England’s greatest snowdrop garden’

by Country Life.

Now with a collection of 250 varieties, visitors can enjoy the snowdrops throughout the ten acre garden with its woodland and lakeside paths, the Spring Garden and Formal Garden, alongside drifts of cyclamen, hellebores and other winter plants. The surrounding park, arboretum and nearby church are also open.

Open Days

• Saturday 4th to Sunday 5th February 2012 • Saturday 11th to Sunday 12th February 2012 • Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th February 2012 • Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th February 2012 • Saturday 3rd to Sunday 4th March 2012 • Sunday 27th May for National Gardens Scheme

Opening Times

• Gates open at 1.00pm. Last entry 4.30pm

Admission

• Adults: £7.00 • Children under 16: FREE

Dogs are welcome. Please keep them on a short lead.

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Visit Colesbourne Gardens Email: info@colesbournegardens.org.uk Tel: 01242 870264 or 01242 870567 Colesbourne Park, Colesbourne, Nr. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 9NP A435, Halfway between Cheltenham/Cirencester

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Cotswold Sky The Northern Lights

You may have heard of the Northern Lights but never observed them. They are stunning night sky spectacular shows, free of charge and occur over our northern skies. The first record of an aurora was made by the Chinese in 2,600BC and for centuries our early astronomers struggled in finding what caused them. Galileo thought that they were caused by sunlight reflecting back from the atmosphere; however he called them “Aurora Borealis” after Aurora the Roman goddess of the morning, a term that is still in use today.

In 1716 Sir Edmond Halley was the first person to notice that there was a connection between the Earth’s magnetosphere and an aurora.

View of Aurora taken from the International Space Station September 17th 2011 - Courtesy of NASA images

What causes an Aurora?

The Earth has around it a giant magnetic field referred to as the magnetosphere – we can demonstrate its existence in a simplistic way, by using magnetic compasses which always point in the same direction i.e. towards magnetic north. Auroras are caused when the Sun ejects charged particles which are carried by a solar wind towards the Earth. When they meet the magnetosphere some instability occurs and they flow down the magnetic field lines producing a wonderful coloured affect. The size of the aurora is dependent on the quantity of charged particles in the solar wind. In the northern hemisphere aurora are known as the Aurora Borealis and in the southern hemisphere aurora are known as the Aurora Australis.

Where and when to observe an Aurora

Ideally the further north you are towards the magnetic north pole then the more likely you will observe one, and sitings in the UK are not uncommon. The website http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ will inform you of any impending aurora activity and also gives a more detailed scientific explanation of their cause.

Diary

Meteor Shower: Feb 25th: At 20.00hours, look west and observe the crescent Moon close to Venus with Jupiter slightly higher and to the left of the Moon Feb 26th: Again at 20.00hours, look west and observe that the Moon will be closer to Jupiter

26 Your Cotswold

with Venus slightly below to the right of them.

John Harris

(Below) February 26th: 20.00 hours looking west

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Index

Art & Antiques

Antique Coin Collector: p4 Cox’s Yard @ Morton: p9

Architectural Planning Eastabrook Architects: p7 Spirit Architecture: p11

Attractions

Corinium Museum: p18

Builders & Contractors C. Williams Building Maintenance: p28 Country Roofing & Building: p22 Eastabrook Architects: p7 Green Flow Plumbing & Heating: p4 Just Carpentry & Locks: p22 Loft Company UK: p30 Mustoe’s: p11 Phil Dadge Maintenance: p28 Premier Tiling: p6 Prior Products: p28 Renu Track: p24 Spirit Architecture: p11 Stephen Hill: p5 Thomas Contracting: p25

Business Services Deercrest Solutions: p8

Children’s Services

Barn Nursery: p15 Cotswold Tutor: p14 Guiting Manor Nursery: p15 Kitebrook House: p14 Stepping Stones Nursery: p15

Carpets

Cotswold Carpets: p23

Cleaning Services Casio Oven Clean: p26 Chem Dry: p23 Clean-n-Restore: p8 Dial A Dog Wash: p26

Computers & Internet Select Systems: p10

Dwight

01609 779097 dwight@cotswoldlink.co.uk www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Counselling & Life Coaching

RMH Services: p25 Stephen Hill: p5 Thomas Contracting: p25 Thomas Fox Landscaping: p25 Treetech: p24

Gifts

Education

Hair & Beauty

Elderly Services

Hearing & Mobility Store: p27

Electrical Services

Alan P Davies Electrical Services: p4 Alderminster Electrics: p32 Cotswold Aerials: p32 P Wheeler Electrical: p22 Vision Repairs: p10

Entertainment

Carrick Travel: p5 Corinium Museum: p18 Scottish Country Dance Group: p14

Food & Drink

Cacao Bean: p17 Dial House Hotel: p19 Redesdale Arms: p16 The Lamb Inn: p29 Wesley House: p17 Wiltshire Farm Foods: p27

Fuel Supplies

Cotswold Logs: p1 South Midland Fuels: p28

Furniture

Armstrong Interiors: p7

Gardening & Hard Landscaping

Distribution: w/c 5 & 12 Mar ‘12 Copy: 8 February ‘12 ...............................................................

July / August 2012 Distribution: w/c 2 July ‘12 Copy: 6 June ‘12

Is Your Life In Crisis?: p20 Time For Change Counselling: p17 Barn Nursery: p15 Corinium Museum: p18 Cotswold Tutor: p14 Guiting Manor Nursery: p15 Kitebrook House: p14 Stepping Stones Nursery: p15 Youth Education Service: p14

March / April 2012

Distribution: w/c 7 & 14 May ‘12 Copy: 11 April ‘12 ...............................................................

01904 709462 elspeth@cotswoldlink.co.uk

The Crock Ltd: p3

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May / June 2012

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When’s the next issue?

Motoring

Little Compton Garages: p24 Never Despair Recycling: p28 Troopers Lodge Garage: p26

Oven Services

Casio Oven Clean: p26 Cookers & Co: p30

Living Green: p5 The Crock Ltd: p3

Pets & Animals

Leah’s Mobile Hairdressing: p19 Vuolo Hair & Beauty: p21

Healthcare & Wellbeing

Charles Wright Massage: p21 Stow Pilates: p20 Unwinding: p19

Hearing Aids

Hearing & Mobility Store: p27

Heating

Green Flow Plumbing & Heating: p4 Fosse Fires: p1

Hire

Fosseway Tool Hire: p27

Home & Interiors

Dial A Dog Wash: p26

Painters & Decorators Cotswold Decorators: p7 Geoff Ludlow Decorating: p22 Phil Dadge Maintenance: p28 Stephen Hill: p5

Property Maintenance C. Williams Building Maintenance: p28 Green Flow Plumbing & Heating: p4 Just Carpentry & Locks: p22 Phil Dadge Maintenance: p28 Stephen Hill: p5

Recycling

Joe Gilder: p28 Never Despair Recycling: p28

Romance

Cotswold Dating: p17

Roofing

Country Roofing & Building: p22

Solar Energy

Heidi Solar: p32 My Power: p12-13

Sports & Leisure Runnerbean: p21 Stow Pilates: p20

Travel & Tourism

Carrick Travel: p5 CCH Motorhome & Caravan Repairs: p16 Stow Taxis: p17

Tuition

Sewing Tuition: p19

Weight Loss Lighter Life: p21

Windows

Milena Windows: p31 Prior Products: p28 Stow Windows & Conservatories: p2

Angela Hay Soft Furnishings: p6 Armstrong Interiors: p7 Cotswold Carpets: p23 Dream Doors: p1 Fosse Fires: p1 Katie Hamer Upholstery & Curtains: p5 Loft Company UK: p30 Parsons Flooring: p23 The Tile Barn: p6

Kitchen Design & Installation

Adam Boothroyd Design: p6 Dream Doors: p1 Phil Dadge Maintenance: p28 The Tile Barn: p6

Eynsham Park Sawmill: p11 Fosseway Tool Hire: p27 Renu Track: p24 The Index is a free service offered to our customers. No responsibility can be held for errors or omissions. Multiple entries included on a space available basis

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