Cotswold Link (North Cotswolds) Jan-Feb 2020

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North Cotswolds

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Bi-Monthly Royal Mail distribution: 16,300 homes & businesses

January / February 2020

Because we care here at Northleach Court Northleach Court specialises in

individually, they will put in place

nursing care, offering specialist

strategies and interventions to

support for people living with

help reduce or prevent any such

of Dementia. We also provide

recurrence.

respite and residential care.

We have a deep understanding of the challenges that come with living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia and are aware of the effects it can have on both residents and their families.

Regular activities are tailored to residents choice and include visiting entertainers, games, crafts, and a popular bi-weekly visits from a therapy dog. We have a number of fidget boards dotted around the home, along with interactive

Care is provided under the ever-

activity areas that offer stimulation

watchful eye of the Registered

and comfort whilst keeping

Manager and our Clinical Lead, by

residents active and aware of

our in-house nurses (RGN’s) who

their surroundings.

are available to our residents 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The nurses are supported by a fantastic team of senior carers and care assistants.

The Northleach team are very

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experienced in understanding

If you would like to chat with

why someone living with dementia

someone or arrange a visit then

may become upset, distressed or

please call us on 01451 798027 or

angry and not only do they know

email manager@northleachcourt-

exactly how to comfort people

carehome.com.

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inside

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20

Garden View

We take a look at the importance of Witch Hazel in the garden this Winter

Housing News

Broadband for all

new development 06 Rural properties accessing 08 Annington’s in Carterton high speed broadband

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06 Broadband to rural villages local news 08 Housing news in Carterton astronomy: 10 The Moon & Apollo Landings local news 10 Be alert to bogus calls & emails events 12 Local events across the area local news: FEATURED : FEATURED

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: FEATURED

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12 Old jewellery restored education: 16 What makes a good school? local news 18 Carbon neutral homes funding garden view: 20 All about Witch Hazel cotswold link 22 Advertising Details & Index general interest

FEATURED

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Welcome to the January - February issue We welcome January and the new year with a wide range of local updates and news, including the news of Gigaclear extending broadband to rural properties (p6), a look at the Moon and the Apollo Landings (p10) and what makes a good school (p16).

There’s also the importance of Witch Hazel in your garden this Winter (p20) Don’t forget, if you have any news, events, updates or stories of local interest, please send them to editorial@jkanorth.com and we’ll do our best to publish them for you. I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in the early Spring.

01609 777401 cotswoldlink.co.uk

Best wishes,

Christine Campbell | Editor Cotswold Link Magazine is published in good faith and the editors cannot be held responsible in any way for inaccuracies in reports or advertis-

in reports or advertising that appear in this publication and the views of the contributors may not be the those of the editors. Adverts and Your Cotswold LinkLink Magazine carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. All rights reserved. appearing in Cotswold 4ingadvertisers Please YourforCanyotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press. Cotswold Link Magazine cannotmention be held responsible errors or omissions.

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Gigaclear – Ultrafast full-fibre broadband Established in 2010, Gigaclear designs, builds and operates a full fibre, ultrafast broadband network in rural areas across central and southern England. Its network now reaches more than 200 communities across 20 counties – and growing. It works hard to provide rural properties, farms and businesses with the UK’s best broadband speeds.

Gigaclear now offers an in-home Smart WiFi ‘mesh solution’ for its customers, delivering unrivalled WiFi performance to rural communities. The Gigaclear powered by Linksys Velop router ensures that Gigaclear’s ultrafast broadband speeds are matched by its WiFi performance, delivering a fast, reliable internet connection anywhere in the home, no matter the size of the property or building material used.

Gigaclear understands the challenges of connecting rural communities better than any other provider.

The material used to build a property can have a huge impact on traditional WiFi performance.

Metal, mirrors, concrete, impenetrable stone walls, large rooms and unusual property layouts are all commonplace in country homes, all of

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which can severely interfere with WiFi signal.

Now, gone are the days of having to walk nearer to the router to get a better WiFi signal. Gigaclear’s Smart WiFi ‘mesh solution’, powered by Linksys, works by effectively throwing a ‘WiFi bubble’ over an area and is easily extendable by adding a series of interconnected nodes to expand WiFi coverage. Unlike traditional boosters and access points which simply relay the signal, with Smart WiFi, devices connect to the nearest node, which ensures the best connection anywhere in the home. In comparison, using boosters means that the further away the user is from the router, the weaker the signal.

Ultrafast fibre-to-the-property has transformed the way people living in rural communities are operating, allowing the capability of working from home, diversifying businesses, increasing productivity or accessing online services such as banking, shopping, streaming seamlessly and getting the latest entertainment or even connecting with friends and family around the world. Gigaclear also understands that rural communities rely on high speed broadband to thrive, enabling schools,

village halls, shops and surgeries to better serve the people of the community.

Their new partnership with Linksys, a leader in wireless connectivity, delivers a market-leading, future-proof WiFi solution that allows customers to utilise the fastest internet speeds in the country at all times, from anywhere in their home.

The Gigaclear powered by Linksys routers are easy to install and come with an app which makes setting up easy. It also means that customers can easily troubleshoot any connectivity issues themselves or alternatively call Gigaclear for further support. As an added bonus, Gigaclear installation engineers will set up the initial network for new customers when the connecting them to the ultrafast network and it’s simple to add in additional nodes to extend the coverage.

To find out more about Gigaclear’s WiFi powered

by Linksys, please visit: www.gigaclear.com/smart-wifi

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EVERYTHING FOR THE MODERN FAMILY AT ANNINGTON’S NEW HOMES IN CARTERTON FAMILIES come in all shapes and sizes, and Annington’s selection of new three and fourbedroom homes at The Crescent, Carterton, in West Oxfordshire, have been designed to appeal to a wide range of buyers with a variety of house types.

“The houses themselves are very beautiful; with plenty of different designs and layouts, so there are lots of options to suit people’s different needs,” explains Paul Stachura, New Homes Sales Manager at the selling agent Connells. The first 14 homes to be released at the development, which go on sale on 8th November, have more than half a dozen different house types, to create a varied and interesting street scene as well as providing options for different lifestyles.

While the outside appearance and internal layouts of the homes vary widely, there are common factors that make them all equally appealing, says Stachura. “Every one of them has a garage and a parking space which is fantastic – on a lot of new developments parking can be problematic, but here even the two bedroom homes have a garage and parking space. All the houses in the first release also have en- suites.

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“The homes are ready to move into, with carpeting, Karndean flooring and Symphony fitted kitchens inside and turf in the garden all included as standard, so there are no hidden costs for extras. In fact, compared to other new homes in the area they are extremely competitively priced, especially for people using the Government’s Help to Buy scheme or discounts for the armed forces,” he says.

In total, Annington is building 135 brand new homes on the site of former MOD homes that were linked to RAF Brize Norton. While Annington refurbishes homes where possible, six blocks of apartments that were built in the 1960s of reinforced concrete panels couldn’t be brought up to modern standards, so the decision was taken to demolish them and to recycle the waste as a useful raw material for the new development. In the end, Annington was able to recycle over 90% of the demolition waste, which was crushed, tested and certified as fit for reuse then and turned into construction material for footpaths and minor roads and as a bed for drainage areas.

Approximately 2,500 tonnes of material was reused, and doing the crushing on-site saved a total of 250 journeys with an eight-wheeler lorry, significantly reducing contributions to landfill sites and air pollution. Charlotte Marinos, Senior Project Manager at Annington comments: “At

Annington, we are making a conscious effort to greatly reduce demolition materials from going to waste at our construction sites, including The Crescent in Carterton. With steps being taken across the nation within all industries to reduce negative environmental impact, we want to make sure we are at the forefront of this movement.”

The Crescent is a great place for those who want a more eco-friendly lifestyle as it is in walking distance of Carterton town centre. “It’s not a big town, but it has shops and supermarkets and there are lots of local amenities, including schools and plenty of activities for families such as a sports centre and skate park,” says Paul Stachura. The development itself includes a large play area and two additional smaller play spaces, so children will love exploring the varying levels of play equipment, taking them on exciting and imaginary adventures.

Properties at The Crescent start from £289,950 for a three-bedroom semi-detached house.

For further information and to register your interest, please call Connells on 01993 847309.

For more information on Annington, please visit www.annington.co.uk.

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The

Be on alert for bogus Council Tax phone calls and emails

Cotswold Sky

The Moon & The Apollo Landings I am often asked by youngsters and indeed parents if we can see where the Apollo space craft landed on the Moon. To give a little history on the landings they were: Apollo 11 - July 16-24, 1969 Apollo 12 - Nov. 14-24, 1969 Apollo 14 - Jan. 31-Feb. 9, 1971 Apollo 15 - : July 26-Aug. 7, 1971

Moon and a full Moon (a waxing or growing Moon) and between a full Moon and a New Moon (A waning or shrinking Moon).

Moon map courtesy of NASA

Cotswold District Council has issued a warning to residents to be aware of fraudulent council tax phone calls and emails after receiving several reports from residents.

People are receiving cold calls and emails about council tax from individuals who are claiming to be council staff. In each instance the persons were told that their council tax direct debit had failed and that payment was required over the phone.

Diary The Planets Mercury: Not visible during January. Between 9th and 16th Feb you

Fortunately, the offenders did not succeed in obtaining correct bank details from residents and no money was stolen.

Police Sgt Garrett Gloyn, from Cirencester Police, said: “We received Apollo 16 - Date: April 16-27, 1972 Apollo 17 - Date: Dec. 7-19, 1972 Note Apollo 13 - Date: April 11-17, 1970 developed a fault and those on Earth held their breath as the crew were brought back to safety.

A major film starring Tom Hanks was made of this venture in the 1990’s.

You do not need any equipment to visualise the approximate landing areas just hold the Moon map in front of you and let your imagination roam, but with a little knowledge of the Moon’s surface and a reasonable telescope it is possible to home in on the areas where the astronauts explored and perhaps surprisingly you do not need a full Moon. Observing the full Moon through a telescope can be difficult because of the excessive reflection of light from the Sun. The best way of observing specific areas is to observe in the region of the terminator (the shadow or boundary between the illuminated and nonilluminated areas of the surface when the Moon is going through its various phases between a new

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may be able to observe Mercury low to the left of due West around 18.00 hours.

Venus: Venus is going to be with us on early evenings viewable in the South West from the second week of January through to the Spring.

Note how close to the Moon it will be on 28th January and 27th February.

Mars: Mars will be seen hugging the South West horizon between 05.00 and 06.00 hours throughout January and February.

reports that scam calls have shown the call as coming from the district council’s telephone number. This was not the case and the way the calls were made is being investigated.

“We advise you not to engage with cold callers seeking your bank details even if you believe you know the number from which the call is being made.”

Cotswold District Council has confirmed that any residents who miss a payment of their council tax would be written to and not telephoned.

What do you need to do?

Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information. Just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and contact details), it doesn’t mean they are genuine. Instead,

Jupiter and Saturn Both Jupiter and Saturn are too close to the Sun to be observed during the months of January and February.

contact the company directly using trusted methods such as a known

Meteor Showers

you to make a financial transaction on the spot and they will never ask for

Quadrantids January 1st – 12th they peak on January 3rd/4th look North, if conditions are good they could reach a rate of 120 meteors an hour.

Wishing All Our Readers A Happy & Contented 2020 - John Harris

email address or phone number.

Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision. Under no circumstances would a genuine bank or some other trusted organisation force your PIN. Report phishing attempts. If you receive a call, text or email of this nature and have not lost money, report this as a phishing attempt to Action Fraud: www.actionfraud.police.uk

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Out & About First Monday - Monthly

Alvin Roy Jazz Quartet play at the Swan Inn, 21 Acre End Street, Eynsham, OX29 4PE every first Monday of the month.

Entrance is free and the music is from 8.00 pm till 10.30 pm.

The style of jazz played is of the mainstream/swing variety and features tunes from the “Great American Song Book” as well as some original compositions. .......................................................

Third Monday-Monthly

West Oxfordshire WI at 7.30pm in St. Mary’s Parish Rooms, Chipping Norton. OX7 5NT. Friendly group of Women, ready to welcome newcomers. Come and enjoy a very varied programme.

For more information email wowi@oxfordshirewi.co.uk .......................................................

Every 2nd Tuesday n Chipping Norton Bliss Probus Club

The Blue Boar in Chipping Norton and meet at 12.00 midday every 2nd Tuesday of each month. We gather for drinks at 12.00, lunch at 12.30, followed by a guest speaker. We are a varied bunch of retired males who can guarantee you an equally varied menu of convivial banter and good

company.

New members always welcomre, contact Pat Lake, our Secretary on: (01608) 643458 or plake1970@aol.com .......................................................

Third Monday-Monthly

West Oxfordshire WI at 7.30pm in St. Mary’s Parish Rooms, Chipping Norton. OX7 5NT. Friendly group of Women, ready to welcome newcomers. Come and enjoy a very varied programme.

For more information email wowi@oxfordshirewi.co.uk .......................................................

Various Dates

n Shibashi Qigong Cheltenham

Simple, gentle exercises for good health. All ages and abilities welcome. Various days of the week, times and locations.

For more details please contact Karen Soo, Certified Shibashi Qigong Instructor.

Mobile: 07986 290250. shibashiqigong@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/qigongshibashi

The Arts Society Cotswolds Events

8 January th

n Lecture: Through the Glass Darkly, a Study of Glass through the eyes of the Artist with Jane Gardiner

11am to 12 am This lecture explores the ways in which artists have included transparent glass objects in their paintings, delighting in capturing shadows and reflections within the glass as well as displaying their skill in portraying what lies behind and beyond. It will include the remarkable depiction of glass objects in Roman wall paintings, works by artists such as Titian, Veronese as well as the proliferation of glass drinking vessels in Dutch still-life paintings.

12th February

n Lecturer: Tony Rawlins Art in Advertising. How the industry exploits Fine Art

11th March

n Lecturer: Susan Owens Royal Collectors: Victoria and Albert

8th April

n Lecturer: Sophie Oosterwijk Tulips in Amsterdam: Flower Painting in the 17th century Lectures begin at 11.00 at the Warwick Hall, Church Green, Burford, OX18 4RZ. Non-members are welcome (suggested donation £10). For more information see our website: www.theartssocietycotswolds. org.uk .......................................................

22nd January

n Bourton & District U3A

The next meeting of this group in the British legion Hall, B.O.W, is on Wednesday 22nd January, which is a social event to meet, have coffee and meet people. The U3A is designed for those who are retired or semi retired and looking for new interests. There is no age limit. We have nearly 40 special interest groups, among which will be found theatre viisits, table tennis and walking football. Do come along at 10 one month for a coffee to meet us and see if any of the groups we run or what we do is of interest to you.

Full details on our website: www.u3asites.org.uk/bourton .......................................................

Old Jewellery Restored We spoke to local jewellery designer Shelley Richardson about the current trend of restoring old jewellery. “Bringing old jewellery to life again is becoming more and more popular with my customers.

I have worked for many years restoring and repairing antique jewellery alongside designing more modern pieces. Drawing on my experience, I often suggest I use gifted gold and gemstones from much loved, but no longer worn jewellery in order to create something new and unique. In this way the sentimental value and history of the piece is once more woven back into the design.

It may be an engagement ring using gemstones from a family heirloom which can then be passed on to the next generation or simply a new design of some

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jewellery for a change of style.

I can sometimes adapt old, unworn or broken jewellery into a new piece. For instance I might make an odd earring into a bracelet or pendant, alternatively I could convert a brooch into a clasp for a string of pearls. A large selection of gemstones are available if you would like to choose something new.

I have a workshop in the Cotswolds near Stow on the Wold, I am happy to sit down and chat about your ideas or help you to be inspired with some new ones.

The possibilities are endless, so feel free to give me a call.” www.shelleyrichardson.eu info@shelleyrichardson.eu 07968 230934

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Having an event?

Email us your event details to: christine@jkanorth.com and we’ll publish it for you. Magazine distribution dates are on p22.

Australian art from the convict years to the modern era. Artistic responses to life in the strange new continent.

The Arts Society Blockley.

2.45pm at St Georges Hall Blockley GL56 9BY Contact Elaine Parker on 01386 840326 to book your place. .......................................................

Rissingtons Local History Society 17th January

n “The Duttons of Sherborne”

A talk by Mike Marshall on this remarkable and most influential family who lived at Sherborne from 1551 till 1982.

2.30pm: Great Rissington Club GL54 2LP

4th April

n Burford Singers – Bach St John Passion

21st February

n “The Building of Regency Cheltenham”

A talk by Dr Steven Blake on how Cheltenham grew from a small market town to one of England’s leading inland spa resorts.

2.30pm: Great Rissington Club GL54 2LP Visitors Welcome £3.50 to include refreshments. For enquiries, contact Sue Brown on 01451 820233 / spsb@hotmail.co.uk or Sue Lee on 01451 822692 / sueleeoffice@gmail.com . .......................................................

17th February

n Art down under

Burford Singers with James Oxley – Evangelist John Stainsby - Christus Alison Rose – Soprano James Neville – Counter-tenor Laurence Kilsby - Tenor Freddie Long - Bass Canzona Leader: Theresa Caudle Conductor: Brian Kay 7.30pm: Church of St John the Baptist, Church Green, Burford OX18 4RY Tickets reserved at £25, £20, £15, unreserved £10, children and students half price Postal booking from 13th - 24th January. Online booking from 10th Feb at www.burfordsingers.org.uk/box-office/ .......................................................

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How I beat type 2 diabetes When his diabetes doctor suggested he should share how he put his diabetes into remission, John Spring went one better, he wrote a humorous book about it.

I’ve now been in remission from type 2 diabetes (T2D) for eight years, so I guess I must be doing something right. Being in remission means that T2D isn’t damaging me anymore. The newly diagnosed will have been made well aware of the longer-term havoc it can do to their bodies. Unless, when they were told, they put their fingers in their ears and started humming, “La, la, la, I’m not listening”. Which is exactly what I did for several years.

5% of the UK’s adult population have been diagnosed with T2D, and another 1.3% don’t know they have it yet. By the year 2035, 10% of us will be type 2 diabetic. That might make the recently diagnosed feel a little better, as there is some safety in numbers, but the NHS isn’t too keen on the prospect.

New patients may not be feeling any immediate effects of T2D, so it be-

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comes easy to be complacent. You can liken it to a mild acid flowing around your body, slowly eating away at your nerves, your organs and your eyes. It is the end of this slow production line of diabetic damage that the NHS is now contending with.

I’d read about rapid weight loss having a high success rate in putting T2D into remission and the NHS is now trialling liquid-based diets of 800 calories per day. There’s also bariatric surgery, but it isn’t infallible as a patient’s bad eating habits can find ways around it.

Likewise, you probably don’t want to survive on liquids for the rest of your life, especially if they don’t contain alcohol.

I devised my own practical regime for losing weight fast. The most positive benefit of this workable approach was that I learned how to avoid temptation by becoming the master of my own food. I also learned how to fit exercise into my busy life. These are the lessons that have kept me in remission.

I started by identifying the heavy hitters in my diet. I then developed workarounds to drastically reduce my consumption of those.

I also pre-prepared my own breakfast and lunch, thus avoiding the calorific temptations lurking in coffee shops and lunchtime sandwich bars. My home cooked dinners featured healthier ingredients and I soon realised that there really is no such thing as a low-calorie takeaway. They are all evil.

surgeon’s knife may well kick T2D into remission, but they’re arduous procedures to undertake. Staying in remission is also hard work, but that has been made easier for me by using a new lifestyle to beat this lifestyle related disease.

By John Spring ‘How I Beat Type 2 Diabetes’ by John Spring is available on Amazon. £7.99.

I discovered convenient exercise by walking set routes every day and I built up to being the world’s most unlikely runner. After four months I had lost four stone and my blood sugar came down from 60 mmol to 42mmol (48 mmol is the diabetic threshold). Most importantly I’d also equipped myself with the knowledge of how to maintain that weight loss.

The low-calorie liquids or the

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A Good Read

WHAT IS A GOOD SCHOOL?

Mad Girl

Recently a loving grandmother asked me “Is …………. a good school?” I gave her an objective reply, so what makes a good school?

Is it examination results? Position in the school performance tables?

Outstanding Ofsted reports? the list goes on. Indeed there is a monumental amount of data on the internet giving information on individual schools. In fact there may be too much for some parents to take in and analyse. On searching the internet we are taken to the performance tables of each individual school so that comparisons with other schools in the local area and nationwide can be made. Immediately one is faced with a mass of statistics given in percentages and occasionally in numerical form comparing

n Bryony Gordon Mental health is in the news a lot these days with high profile campaigns by the younger royals to raise awareness, and discussions over funding for people who need help. When we talk about mental health it helps to reduce the stigma surrounding the issues, and people have been shown to be more likely to seek help. And this is where the book by Daily Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon comes in.

This is a funny, inspiring, and frank look at mental illness as Bryony recounts her own personal experiences. Starting in her childhood when she developed OCD and bulimia she looks back on her experiences and doesn’t shy away from reality of her life back then.

A pervasive fear that she had killed someone but had forgotten about it led to her to try to find some aspect of her life that she could control – which led to the bulimia. Each chapter then leads the reader through different phases of her life as it begins to spiral out of control with drug abuse, before an inspiring trip to the Arctic Circle as part of her job helps her to turn her life around. It was a slow process, but she finally decides to take control and starts on the journey that lead her to the present day.

This is a must-read for everyone, regardless of how good, or otherwise your life currently is. We all struggle at times and Bryony’s story provides plenty of food for thought.

King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table n Marcia Williams

Much has been written around the mythology

- Expected standards - Reading, writing and maths progression - Average score in reading and maths - Percentage of pupils reaching expected standard - Percentage of pupils reaching higher standard - Number of pupils at end of Key Stage 4 - Percentage of students staying in education after Key Stage 4 - Percentage of students attaining Grade 5 or above in English and Maths The list goes on and saturates the mind with statistics. Does the above information tell the parents what they need to know? For example: Is there an entrance examination to be taken?

Are there minimum requirements for entry to the school’s sixth form (Years 12/13)?

- Policy on bullying?

- Policy on homework?

- Policy on discipline?

In fact it will not tell you anything about the school’s policies and for those you need to look at the school’s internet site and indeed contact the school itself and see how receptive they are to your requests.

It is also not uncommon for parents to make great personal sacrifices by moving their home to be within a catchment area of their preferred choice. Sometimes this is done because School A has better examination results than School B. For those who do move solely for these reasons I advise them to tread carefully. Does a school with excellent examination results over pressurize those students who struggle or do they obtain their results by being selective?

of various cultures – from the Greeks and Romans to the Norse gods. All too often our own mythology is forgotten though, so this wonderfully illustrated comic strip style book is a treat.

It retells the British myths of King Arthur for a new generation.

Marcia Williams has gathered together a number of different stories and, with a wonderful sense of humour, presents them for young readers. There is something for everyone: the sword in the stone, the origins of the round table, and the search for the holy grail, to name a few. Familiar characters are on every page including Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, and Lancelot. She also introduces characters who are not so familiar such as Sir Pellinore, and Sir Accolon, who nearly kills Arthur in a case of mistaken identity!

This is a fantastic introduction to the stories of King Arthur and is bound to inspire young readers to want to learn more about these stories that have gripped readers for centuries.

By Willow Coby

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Howard Sherwood – Creative Consultancy • Less is usually more • Say it once, say it clearly • You only have one chance to make a first impression!

This is my core design philosophy developed and tested by working in marketing and design for 40 years.

I have gained a wealth of experience primarily in the arts, heritage and publishing sectors where long and productive relationships have been built with clients developing costeffective creative solutions.

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My approach endeavours to distil the essential requirements, develop an agreed strategy and implement it methodically through the creation of robust and durable communication assets. To fulfil the brief, I use language, image and graphic design to produce coherent and consistent messages for both print and web communications.

If you think I may be able to help with your project, please contact me to discuss your requirements – I am always happy to have a conversation without any obligation.

What then is a Good School?

Schools, educational institutions including the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) will all give their interpretations which may include: - A good school improves its local community - A good school does not make empty promises - A good school will produce students that think objectively - A good school makes individual students know that they are cared for - A good school changes students for the better.

We could go on and on but why when the answer is obvious:

The answer to “What is a Good School?�

A GOOD SCHOOL IS ONE THAT PRODUCES HAPPY CONTENTED CHILDREN References: www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk Wishing All Our Readers A Happy & Contented 2020 - John Harris

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Council Partnership awarded £30k funding to enable the design and delivery of carbon neutral homes Cotswold, West Oxfordshire and Forest of Dean District Councils have been awarded £30,000 from the Local Government Housing Advisers Programme to develop a toolkit to aid the delivery of highly efficient carbon neutral homes.

This year, each of the partnership councils declared a ‘climate emergency’ with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality in their areas within the next decade. With this in mind, they have successfully bid into the Housing Advisers Programme to secure expert advice to assist in the production of a toolkit (similar to a residential design guide) that will guide how carbon neutral developments could be achieved.

Cllr Lisa Spivey, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, Cotswold District Council, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for us to innovate and provide a robust guide for developers and homeowners to advance carbon

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neutral design in what is a very rural area. As the lead authority on this project, we are committed to working together with our partner councils to create sustainable and vibrant developments whilst protecting our landscape and heritage.

Cllr Steve Good, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, West Oxfordshire District Council, added: “This funding allows our partnership to produce a bespoke carbon neutral development policy. With a well-designed toolkit, including Passivhaus standards to provide virtually zero heating bills, the partnership will embrace the challenges of design and delivery on major developments including a new garden village, single dwellings, rural exception sites and the retrofitting of existing homes across the partnership.”

Cllr Di Martin, Cabinet Member for Housing, Forest of Dean District Council, explained: “A key strategic aim of this partnership is to help tackle climate change. This will be achieved by accelerating the delivery of energy efficient and carbon

neutral dwellings in the district while addressing the demands of existing stock that meets the needs of a growing population and promotes growth in the local economy.”

Work towards the toolkit will run alongside the production of local plan policies with an aim to introduce the toolkit for publication by spring 2021.

The carbon neutral toolkit will assist developers, housing providers, existing homeowners, selfbuilders and local communities wishing to work with the councils to bring forward sustainable carbon neutral applications.

The Local Government Association’s Housing Advisers Programme 2019-20 is designed to support councils seeking to innovate in meeting the housing needs of their communities.

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Bringing Cotswold Communities Together, One Grant at a Time The Cotswolds is home to an incredible range of community projects which bring people together and positively contribute to the quality of community life.

Cotswold District Council’s Community Activity Support Grant scheme offers each ward in the district a pot of £2,500 to help proposed projects in their areas.

Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis between £100 and £1000 but in exceptional circumstances, or where the project will benefit across multiple wards, larger grants may be considered. Applications for new grants are open and submissions must be made by 13 January 2020.

To apply for a grant, visit: www.cotswold. gov.uk/communitygrants There have been several successful applications in the latest round of funding including Cotswold Friends, who were granted a £1000 award in grant funding to provide community activities for older people who live alone.

Cotswold Friends Community Activities

Programme aims to tackle social isolation amongst older residents and other groups in the community. For over 40 years Cotswold Friends have provided excellent services for the community and this new programme will provide weekly lunch clubs and monthly activity groups, together with an integrated transport service, to keep people connected.

This project will enable older residents to live independently for longer and avoid isolation, loneliness, and the associated health conditions which frequently result from being alone.

Tetbury Men in Sheds volunteer group has been awarded £330 towards their project that is working to encourage individuals facing loneliness, isolation and depression to move away from a solitary existence and come together to participate in practical activities.

Men in Shed’s have plans to use the funding to enhance their environmental offering by purchasing materials and

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safety equipment for the management of beekeeping at their rejuvenated allotment.

The volunteer group is also keen to offer younger participants help to complete Duke of Edinburgh award whilst providing new interests and challenges for older participants.

Community Wellbeing manager, Jacqueline Wright, said: “These grants can be of great benefit to local communities. We hope people from across the whole district will apply for funds to support events, activities or projects that will enhance the quality of life for local people. It’s particularly important to support projects that involve young people, positively impact on mental health or schemes that will improve the quality of our environment by taking action to combat waste and climate change.”

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GARDEN VIEW

Witch Hazel January is a great time to plant deciduous trees and at this time of year a tree with added winter interest is always a welcome sight. Enter the witch hazel.

These lovely trees with their citrusscented spidery flowers are widely sold in garden centres as container-grown plants Look for plants with a number of evenly distributed well-placed branches and avoid those showing signs of stress, damage or disease.

Ideally choose an open, sunny position in the garden. They also work well if planted next to pathways and doors where you can enjoy their gorgeous scent on win-

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tery days. Avoid very shady sites though or the plant may become straggly Witch hazels need free-draining soil that doesn’t dry out in summer. A light soil mixed with plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost, is best. They will also grow on heavier clay soils but make sure that as well as digging in plenty of organic matter you ensure good drainage by planting on a slight mound, about 25-30cm (10in-1ft) high and 1m (3ft) in diameter. The only soil witch hazels won’t tolerate is a shallow chalky soil. And make sure you don’t plant them out if the ground is waterlogged.

Witch hazels grow slowly but eventually make large spreading shrubs. They aren’t fond of pruning so make sure you leave enough space around your plant for it can develop naturally. Make sure they are well-watered throughout the first couple of springs and summers as they take a long time to fully establish and lack of moisture can cause flowers to drop.

They don’t need regular feeding but applying a top dressing of a general in late winter or early spring will help young plants to grow.

Happy New Year and Happy Gardening!

By Rachael Leverton

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The care you need, in the home your love We spoke to David Chalk, Director of local home care service Windrush Care, to find out more about the company and his inspiration for starting it.

What inspired you to start Windrush Care?

I set up Windrush Care to provide top quality home care in Gloucestershire, having seen from first-hand experience looking after my father what a complex and difficult process finding excellent private care can be. We aim to make it as simple as possible for those families that want to make their own choices for care at home and provide the real alternative to residential care that is right for so many people.

We know the importance of having the right care and the right carers - and the huge difference this can make to people’s lives, both those cared for and their families

What makes you (Windrush Care) special?

Two words: Personalised Care. We recognise that no two people are the same, which is why we tailor our care plans to suit the specific needs of the individual. The quality of our care as shown by feedback from our clients, their families and our Regulator, the CQC. We take an active role in the care sector. I am a

director of both our Professional Body, the UKHCA and the Gloucestershire Care Providers Association.

How confident are you in delivering what people want?

We apply the ‘mum test’ to everything we do and ask “is this what we’d want for our own family?” That gives us confidence that we are doing the right thing.

What are the options for elderly care at home?

This ranges from an hour or two a week helping around the house, shopping or escorting to appointments. Regular daily visits include personal care, washing and dressing. Getting people home from hospital and more extensive care including overnight, full time and palliative care support.

community. Costs too, as even quite extensive care costs less than a residential care home.

Do you offer specialist care?

Yes, we have specialists in dementia and end of life care and look after some very complex cases where we work very closely with GPs, District and Specialist Nurses. Every client is assessed regularly to spot changing needs.

Do you offer respite care?

What are the benefits for caring for people in their own homes?

Yes, we have clients that we look after for specific periods so that family members can have a break. We also look after people who are visiting family or staying at a hotel but need support to be independent.

Keeping our clients’ independence and the security of being in familiar surroundings in their

Photo: David Chalk, Windrush Care Director

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