Cotswold Link (North Cotswolds) May June 2015

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May / June 2015

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inside

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New Businesses & Services

We look at several new businesses and services across the North Cotswolds including a celebrity opening!

Character Cottages

Maximise your holiday cottage income this Summer

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Burford Festival

Enjoy this wonderful musical, literary & theatrical celebration

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08 4 dining events at Treebus 20 Burford Festival 2015 new businesses: health & beauty: 10 New Local Businesses & Services 22 Look Gorgeous This Summer education view: 14 Is Education too political? 24 garden Chelsea Flower Show 2015 out & about news: 16 Seasonal events across our area 26 local Young horticulturalists win award advertorial local news 18 Want to save money on Fuel? 28 CDC leader urges litter combatting advertorial: cotswold link 19 Holiday Cottage Summer success 30 Index astronomy 20 The Cotswold Sky advertorial

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Welcome to the May - June issue

Summer has finally arrived and we welcome this wonderful time of year with a whole host of fantastic local events and news. Burford Festival (p20) looks like it will be a huge success, as do the interesting dining events at Treebus (p8). Don’t forget, if you have any local news or a story of interest then please submit them to editorial@jkanorth.com.

01609 777401 We regularly published events submitted to our website too.

01609 779097 I hope you enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again mid Summer. 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 advertising 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 advertisers Your Cotswold Link appearing in Cotswold Link Magazine carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. All rights reserved. All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press. Cotswold Link Magazine cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

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BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER SYCAMORE BARN, BOURTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, BOURTON ON THE WATER, GL54 2HQ

BRAND NEW DECORATING CENTRE NOW OPEN! PAINT / PAPER / ACCESSORIES FOR ALL ENQUIRIES CALL 01451 414777

PERFECTING EVERY DETAIL NEW SHOWROOM OPEN NOW! BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER SYCAMORE BARN, BOURTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER, GL54 2HQ

CALL 01451 414234 OBSIDIAN-INTERIORS.CO.UK Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

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W E N businesses

s e c i v r e s & in & around our area

“New To The Area” is a new business feature specifically designed to help new businesses and those that are offering new businesses and services to promote themselves cost effectively.

Businesses are invited to submit their adverts to this feature at the regular price (Advert sizes available: 1/8 and

Looking after your best friend! mybestfriend is run by Jon and Clara Roff. They started the business in early 2015 after seeing an opportunity to offer a combined dog grooming, dog walking, doggy day care and home boarding service which would enable them to incorporate their love of animals into their everyday lives.

They are unique in that mybestfriend utilise secure GPS tracking collars when your dog is in their care, the system allows clients to access the easy to use on line app to track their dog at any time.

Based in the village of Langford, mybestfriend are ideally situated to provide services across the Cotswolds and also offer a collection and drop off service for the convenience their clients. They are proud to be part of The National Association of Pet Sitters and Walkers, The Pet Industry Federation and are also fully qualified City and Guild groomers. mybestfriend is offering 10% discounts off their already competitive prices for bookings in June and operate a loyalty scheme giving their clients a free groom on the sixth visit. They also operate a referral scheme to give happy customers more reasons to recommend mybestfriend.

Jon and Clara are looking forward to welcoming you soon!

¼) and they will receive the equivalent space in complimentary editorial*. This editorial provides excellent business exposure to 15,200 homes and businesses and allows further explanation of the new business or services available. * Editorial must be supplied completed.

To feature within this section of the magazine please contact us on: 01609 777401 / 01609 779097 | christine@jkanorth.com

St Mungo’s awarded contract for Gloucestershire-wide Assertive Outreach Homelessness Service Local authorities in Gloucestershire have been working together successfully since September 2012 to help reduce and prevent homelessness across the county. They established an interim service which ensured that rough sleepers were helped off the streets as quickly and effectively as possible. Now, two and a half years on, they have awarded a new outreach contract to St Mungo’s Broadway to build on the progress achieved so far and provide even more help and guidance to those who fall on hard times.

Following an extensive and robust procurement process, St Mungo’s Broadway has been chosen as the new provider of the Gloucestershire Assertive Outreach Homelessness Service. The new contract will run from 1 April 2015 for an initial period of 18 months, and will employ outreach workers operating across the county.

The Assertive Outreach scheme is a pivotal part of Gloucestershire’s response to central government’s ‘No Second Night Out’ initiative, administered by Homeless Link and funded through the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Homelessness Transition Fund. The initiative was originally introduced in London in July 2011 with the aim of helping rough sleepers off the streets, ensuring that nobody lived on the streets and that, once helped,

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people did not return to the streets. The scheme was subsequently rolled out across England.

Commenting on behalf of the Gloucestershire authorities, Councillor Sue Jepson, the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing at Cotswold District Council (the lead authority for the County partnership) said: “All the authorities in the County partnership look forward to a positive association and partnership with St Mungo’s. We are extremely impressed by the first-rate services that it currently provides for the homeless across London, and the south and south-west of the country.

“It is reassuring to know that those in need across our County will benefit from a wealth of experience that dates back as far as 1969. The work of the charities that came together to form St Mungo’s Broadway has been highly commended over the years, and has led to the development of many ground-breaking services. It is also gratifying to note that St Mungo’s recognises that the solutions to homelessness are as varied, complex and individual as the people it supports.”

Adam Rees, Regional Director for St Mungo’s Broadway services in the South and South West, said: “The starting point for our work is that rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous, and that no

one should have to sleep rough in this day and age. We’ll be working with people to find out why they became homeless and to connect them with services to get them back on track, as needed, into housing, into health services and into work opportunities.

“We look forward to running this service in Gloucestershire and to working with local partners across the area to support people as they move away from homelessness and on with their lives.”

Councillor Mrs Jepson added: “While we are now focussed on what we might achieve in the future, we would like to thank the GEAR Assertive Outreach team for their hard work and tangible achievements over the past two and a half years, and we look forward to a smooth transition to the new provider, ensuring that no vulnerable homeless people are detrimentally affected.”

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Official Cotswolds Smartphone App launched As part of the celebrations for English Tourism Week earlier this year, The Cotswolds are launching a brand new phone app to increase promotion of the area.

People from around the world have commented on the usefulness and high quality of The Cotswolds Official Visitor Guide and this has led to a high demand for a FREE downloadable version to be made available using an iPhone and Android handset. Cotswolds Tourism has been working with technology experts to develop an app which provides an interactive guide to The Cotswolds at the touch of a button. It is a comprehensive directory, providing users with an easy way to discover the best sights, attractions, events, accommodation, food, drink and shopping in the Cotswolds area.

Here are some of the great features which users of the app can enjoy: • Search accommodation and find where to stay • Learn about what to see and do in The Cotswolds • Find out what’s on in your local town or the wider area with our events guide • Search restaurants, cafes and bars and get directions to their door • Find your favourite high street shops and fabulous independent boutiques Featuring rich content, high quality images, opening times, prices and ratings, users will be able to get directions to attractions from their current locations using GPS or Google Maps. They will also be able to save places of interest as ‘favourites’ and build their own itinerary.

Anna Sanders, on behalf of Cotswolds Tourism, is very excited about the launch of the app which has been timed to coincide with English Tourism Week: “This is what people have been a long time waiting for and the apps are now available to download from the destination website. “We are confident that The Cotswolds app will be easy to use and - because the data is stored in the app itself - it will also be very economical as far as phone data charges are concerned. This means that users will only need to access the internet if they want to use GPS or download photos.”

To download the app visit www.cotswolds.com/travel-guide/cotswolds-phone-app

Cotswold PR Company announces new discount for charity work Andrea Sexton PR is pleased to announce that they are now able to offer a special rate for charities.

and marketing and now has a small team working for her at the office based in Dursley on the edge of the Cotswolds.

“We are passionate about charity work so are glad to announce a special discount for PR and Marketing activities for charities. We are experienced in finding unique and inventive solutions for promotion and are able to work with almost any budget”.

“The Cotswolds is a fabulous place to live and base a business and although my work takes me nationwide and to Europe, working with Cotswold based businesses is always a pleasure.

My passion is to see my clients businesses thrive” Andrea Sexton

Andrea Sexton PR has been established for 3 years and specialises in working with sports,charities and events. The client base is wide ranging; from athletes and sports clothing brands to charity events, local businesses and shops.

Andrea has a background in equestrian and countryside sales To find out more about how Andrea Sexton PR can help promote your brand or business please contact: asexton.pr@gmail.com | 07887 997922

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

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New Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom & Decorating Centre opened by Laurence Llewellyn Bowen The 161 year old sixth generation family run business Bence’s have stepped out of Cheltenham and opened a stunning new Kitchen and Bathroom showroom and a fabulous Decorating Centre in Bourton-onthe-Water.

Paul Bence, managing director, commented; ‘After extensive market research we concluded that there was a clear gap in the region for a specialist locally run decorating centre. We have spent considerable time finding the right location and the right brands to collaborate with. Our Obsidian kitchen and bathroom showroom is already a success in Cheltenham and opening a second branch in Bourton is part of our long term strategy to develop our exciting concepts and products to the wider Cotswold area.

We are thrilled to develop our business into the heart of the Cotswolds and believe that our knowledgeable

and experienced staff will benefit the local trades and indeed the local community. Across the Group this is our third branch and fifth endorsed brand including Bence Building Supplies, Bence Eco, Bence Roofing Supplies, Obsidian and now Bence Decorating with further regional presence targeted in the near future’ The new branch was installed and completed in less than 5 weeks and officially opened by Laurence Llewellyn Bowen.

wallpapers. With two mixing machines for the various brands, any paint colour can be achieved for the home.

He remarked; ‘I think that Bence’s are extraordinarily impressive. As a nation we love our independent brands and when you are dealing with a family business which has been around for a very long time it makes your shopping experience become incredibly personal. In my field, of how we decorate our home and how we express ourselves at home, it means so much more to be able to talk to people that you know and trust. A brand like Bence isn’t just about survival, its certainly going from strength to strength.

At Obsidian Kitchens & Bathrooms, every detail will be taken care of. An extensive range of brands will firstly wow you. All budgets can be catered for and they offer a complete design service including free site surveys and CAD drawings.

We want our homes to be individual and to reflect our personality, something special and something different which no one else has got. It is incredibly important that we have access to businesses like Bence Decorating and Obsidian and I am delighted that I have been asked to open this new venture for the Bence Group’

The showroom and decorating centre are definitely worth paying a visit. ..............................................................................................

Laurence & his wife Jackie also became Bence Decorating Centre’s first client as they purchased a set of brushes and a stanley knife! At the Bence Decorating Centre you are able to purchase Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Dulux paints along with an extensive range of

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Villeroy & Boch, Duravit, Imperial, Matki, Majestic, William Holland & HansGrohe are among the bathroom products on display. With kitchens, Sheraton, Obsidian’s own bespoke range of kitchen furniture, Neff, Smeg and an array of stunning worktops are all on show.

Sycamore Barns, Bourton Industrial Park, Bourton on the Water GL54 2HQ Obsidian www.obsidian-interiors.co.uk 01451 414234 Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm Sat: 9am-4pm

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Bence Decorating www.bence.co.uk 01451 414234 Mon-Fri: 7.30am-5pm Sat: 9am-4pm

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Should Education be Non-Political?

By the time you read this article we will be very close to knowing the makeup of the new Government. Teachers will be taking a deep breath and wondering what changes to the education system will be implemented next?

Our education system is in dire need of some continuity and stability, it has become a political football for far too long. Policies change along with Governments and new Secretaries of State for Education (often referred to as the Education Secretary) who according to a past incumbent said, “Each one likes to leave their mark” this brings along with it uncertainty, insecurity and instability.

Our Educational System has become too political Since the 1980’s when the National Curriculum was introduced, politicians have slowly gained a stronger influence on Education and as time has progressed they have become more concerned with the potential economic impact of education through raising pupils’ academic achievement in literacy, numeracy and science.

There is nothing wrong with this admirable and correct philosophy however; policies are now introduced by political parties based on ideology as opposed to the benefits of the student. For example there is evidence that examinations are introduced in a race against time to ensure that at the end of a Government’s tenure it is too late for a new government to intervene so the new incumbents then produce multiple amendments. This rate of change to our educational structure is leaving no time for proper trial and evaluation.

There is now the possibility of having our third Secretary of State for Education in less than one year. The situation is on par with that of changing football managers – and we know what happens to football clubs who change their managers too frequently.

An Unbiased View?

A recent study undertaken by The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR); which is an independent charity, reportedly one of the UK’s leading progressive think-tanks (http://www.ippr.org/ ).

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The study concentrates on ideas for developing the education of GCSE and A Level students. Amongst its aims are: ‘We want the English upper-secondary education system to ensure that every young person is equipped with the knowledge, skills and capabilities to participate fully in society, whether at work or in further and higher education, and in the wider civic life of the community.”

Everyone in Society would want the above to be achieved by this generation however; the study concluded that the “Upper-secondary schooling system in England today is confusing and fragmented”, and cries out for “a more coherent system of secondary education post-14 (years of age)” Surely it is not beyond intelligent politicians to work together to attain agreed objectives without scoring political points off each other at the expense of the progress of students, who after all are our future generation.

There are countries such as Singapore that treat education above party politics

and they have found it necessary to bring on board the Head Teachers.

Yes there will be problems, but in a democratic country disagreements can be overcome without disadvantaging the student.

The Way Ahead?

Non-politicisation of education would free teachers from constant and often unnecessary change allowing them to concentrate on what they do best i.e. teach. Amendments to specifications and syllabi are necessary and can be achieved by constant monitoring as opposed to the present unrelenting pace. Yes there will still be differences of opinion regarding issues such as, Free schools, Academies, Independent schools and State schools, but our children will have a much smoother journey into the next stage of their careers.

Good Luck Finally Good Luck to all students taking examinations during the coming weeks.

John Harris

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Out & About Community

5th - 14th June

3rd - 10th May

6th June

n Burford Festival The biennial Burford Festival is a 10-day celebration with musical evenings, literary events, special interest talks, theatrical events, and Burford’s Open Gardens. With around 50 events, there will be something to suit every taste.

See p20 for more details. ........................................................

n Watercolour Exhibition at The Windrush Gallery Well-known Welsh artist David Bellamy is having an exhibition of his watercolour landscapes in the Windrush Gallery in the village of Windrush. The gallery will have a wide selection of cards and prints for sale, including many by the Cotswold artist, James Fletcher-Watson, and information about painting courses.

David will be demonstrating in Windrush Village Hall on 9th May: please phone in advance to book a place.

Gallery open 11am - 5pm, NOT OPEN on 7th & 8th May. Windrush Gallery, Windrush, Nr Burford OX18 4TU Tel. 01451 844425 www.jamesfletcherwatson.com ........................................................

30th May

n Naunton Country Market 10.30am - 4pm on the Currently we have attracted over 40 local artisan food and drinks producers ranging from chacuterie, locally reared meats, cheeses, free range eggs from a variety of fowls, pies, M’Hencha as well as a variety of craft stalls. In addition there will be the usual cream teas, cakes, ice creams, hot dogs and burgers. Entance for members of the public is free with all proceeds going towards the village hall restoration fund.

A website, nauntoncountrymarket.co.uk is currently under construction.

Nauton Village recreation ground (GL54 3AS). ........................................................

n Literary Festival Celebrating the 900th Anniversary of the Church. St Mary the Virgin Church, Shipton under Wychwood. Coffee from 9.30am: 1st Speaker 10.15am. 3 well known lecturers. Tickets £20, to include coffee and a light lunch.

For details and to reserve a place, please tel: 01993 830244. www.wychwoodbenefice.org.uk ........................................................

6th & 7th June

n Burford Collectors Club Rally Burford Collectors Club 5th Annual Rally Start 10.00am, Classic Vehicles, Trade Stands, Raffle and Programme draw each day. Admission £4.00 Adults. £2.00 Concessions. Under 16`s Free (Must be accompanied by a paying adult.) Come along with the family and enjoy the day. www.burfordcollectorsclub.co.uk Rough Grounds Farm, Lechlade, GL7 3EU ........................................................

13th June

n Broadwell & Donnington Fete 12 - 4pm: Broadwell village green is the setting for an afternoon of traditional fun and entertainment for all the family on Broadwell village green...Jake the Entertainer, Pony rides, fun races for the children and of course our ever popular duck races! Bring your dog along and enter them in our very popular Dog Show. Plenty of stalls for the adults books, cakes, bottles, bric-a-brac, toys, tombola, plants. BBQ, Pimms, ice creams and teas. Grand raffle - it will really be an afternoon to remember - fun for all the family! Free Parking too. ........................................................

Promenade Productions Proudly Present An amateur production by arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH LTD.

Music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Lyrics by Tim Rice Based on an idea by Tim Rice

8th-11th July 2015 at The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham Tickets: £12-£16 Concessions available

)RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ FDOO WKH ER[ RIÀFH RQ 01242 258002

or visit www.promenadeproductions.co.uk Sponsored by

AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION

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Having an event?

Email us your event details to: events@jkanorth.com and we’ll publish it for you. Magazine distribution dates are on p30.

Chedworth Roman Villa 17th May

n Dawn Chorus Walk 5.15am – 7.15am.

Join us for a rejuvenating walk and a truly memorable experience of the dawn chorus and beautiful rolling countryside.

Booking essential.

23rd May – 24th May

n Roman Pottery Demonstrations 11am – 4pm Discover how Roman pottery was made and watch live pottery demonstrations.

23rd – 31st May

n May half-tern activities Meet our costumed interpreters to watch Roman themed demonstration and enjoy a variety of craft activities.

20th – 21st June

n Father’s Day Gladiator Arena 10:30am – 4pm: Legio II Augusta, the premier Roman re-enactment group return with their gladiator arena. Bring your dad along and see him sold as a slave to fight in the arena. Enjoy demonstrations, chats and great family fun.

Yanworth, Cheltenham GL54 3LJ 01242 890256 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworthroman-villa ........................................................

oils, you name it we have it! A colourful display from the North Cotswold Arts Association amateur and professional artists all at very competitive prices. www.sites.google.com/a/ northcotswoldsarts.org/ncaa ........................................................

19th July

n Naunton Classic And Vintage Transport Show and Fete Entrants are encouraged to bring their cars, bikes, etc. along by 10am with gates opening to the public at 12.00 and closing at 16.00hrs. We have already been promised cars from a range of manufacturers including: Jaguar, Audi and Vauxhall. Those interested in the event can go the dedicated web site: www.nauntonclassicandvintagetansportshowandfete.co.uk to download the entry form. We will again be combining elements of a traditional village show with the classic vehicles that will include children’s’ games, stalls, tombola, raffles, plant and book stalls, cream teas, a bar and a barbeque. There will also be a chance for the public to vote for their favourite car of the day and a children’s quiz based on the cars attending. ........................................................

25th July:

9th - 20th July

NCAA Summer Exhibition St Edward’s Hall, Stow on the Wold.

Preview Thursday 9th July 6.30 to 8.00pm and then daily, 10am to 5pm until Monday 20th July, last day finish 1pm. View a fantastic collection of work, including landscapes, portrait, animals, photomontage, prints, pastels,

n Swanfest 2 ~ Folk, Ale & Cider Festival Starring Barbara Dickson - Live!

B.B.Q Lunches served from 1.00pm Festival Starts at 2.00pm Tickets £22.50 available from The Swan At Ascott-under-Wychwood or the Wychwood Folk Club www.swanatascott.com ........................................................

Please note: the editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to events listed.

Please contact event organisers directly. All events correct at time of going to press.

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Want to save money on your fuel bills?

THE sun is a natural and environmentally friendly way of generating power and reducing household bills.

With soaring energy bills putting pressure on already stretched household budgets and the promise of further increases predicted, it is no wonder that more and more people are looking towards renewable energy sources, such as the sun, the wind and water.

Solar energy is now firmly established as a practical alternative to carbon energy sources. Daylight rather than sunshine generates solar power and the solar panels also work in cloudy conditions.

Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors and hot water in your home.

Air Source heat pumps works in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. It can get heat from the air even when the temperature is as low as -15° C, they extract from the ground, air, or water is constantly being renewed naturally.

Here at the Alderminster Group, a local family run business established in 1983, we are passionate about delivering excellent client service and pride ourselves on getting it right first time. Our staff have a reputation for being honest, reliable, enthusiastic and punctual. All the members of our team receive regular training to ensure we are up to date with the latest regulations.

We are approved installers under the Government MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) which means our customers are eligible to benefit from the Feed-In Transfer (FIT) scheme, system which actually pays you to generate electricity!

We will guide you through every step of the process, from advice on the best system to installation and aftercare. To reassure our customers, we have in place a deposit protection scheme which means that your funds are held in separate bank account during the 14 day cooling off period.

It is little wonder that the majority of our work comes through personal recommendation.

In most areas installation of solar panels is viewed as ‘permitted development’ with no planning permission required, however there maybe restrictions for Listed buildings.

Give us a call today 01608 690605 to find out more.

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Maximise Your

Holiday Cottage Income This Summer

Main Image: Chippy Cottage, Chipping Norton

April Cottage, Mickleton

Sixpenny Cottage, Clapton-on-the-Hill

Cotswold Link talks to Character Cottages, a local holiday letting expert, about what cottage owners should do to ensure they make the most of this year’s summer letting season.

When exactly is the summer season?

Prices start to increase from May onwards, reaching a peak during the school holidays, which run from the middle of July until the end of August, when demand is high from families seeking a beautiful country holiday. Prices reduce a little in September, however, this can still be a popular month in the Cotswolds, with the famous towns and villages a little quieter than during the school holidays.

What sort of booking values can I expect during summer?

The prices that can be charged vary depending on the size and quality of your cottage, however, a typical, well presented four bedroom cottage, capable of sleeping eight adults, could fetch over £1,600 a week in August.

An important aspect of the holiday letting market in the Cotswolds is the demand for short, flexible breaks. As long as booking slots

are correctly priced, owners who offer guests flexibility can typically make significantly higher profits than those who only offer week long bookings.

Why does offering flexibility mean higher profits?

Flexible break strategies typically involve splitting a week into two main time slots: a mid-week slot and a weekend slot. The key to higher profits is to ensure that the price of these shorter slots is not just a pro-rata of the weekly rate, but that they are priced according to market demand. Typically, this means that weekend rates are 70-75% of the weekly rate and mid-week rates are 65-70% of the weekly rate.

booking, the owner will earn approximately 135-140% of the weekly price! While there are two turnarounds to deal with in such a week, rather than one, owners should still make much higher profits than if they stick to the old adage of “weeks only in summer”.

I am sold! What are the next steps in order to get started?

If you have a high quality, characterful property, which sleeps five or more people, then get in touch! We provide a range of guidance and support, and it can take as little as two weeks to get your cottage ready to holiday let.

Once the property marketing has started, many owners are amazed at how quickly the bookings start to come in!

During the summer, a popular property can expect to get a good mix of week long, weekend and mid-week bookings. In those weeks where there is both a weekend and a mid-week

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

www.character-cottages.co.uk owners@character-cottages.co.uk Tel: 0208 935 5375

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Burford Festival 2015

The

Cotswold Sky

Friday 5th to Sunday 14th June

The biennial Burford Festival runs from Friday 5th to Sunday 14th June this year. It is a 10-day celebration with musical evenings, literary events, special interest talks, theatrical events, and Burford’s Open Gardens. With around 50 events, there will be something to suit every taste.

Astronomy in Summer

Summer is not necessarily the time of the year when Observing Astronomers take a break. Indeed they will argue that there are still a few hours of darkness left to carry out their observations.

If you look West between 22.00/22.30hours during the last 10 days of June you will see Jupiter and Venus edging closer together to form a close conjunction on Tuesday 30th June. As you will have noticed Astronomers use a number of words which many interested people do not understand so here are the definitions of a few of the common words used in Astronomy: Conjunction – When 2 planets (or planetary bodies including stars) appear

sphere surrounding the Earth.

Celestial Equator – The projection of the Earth’s Equator on to the Celestial Sphere.

Ecliptic – Apparent yearly path of the Sun. Elongation – The angular distance of a planet from the Sun as seen from Earth.

Opposition – The position of a planet when it is exactly opposite the Sun – The Sun, Earth and Planet are approximately lined up.

Zenith – An imaginary point that is directly above a person.

Universal Time – A single time agreed internationally for dating all astronomical events. It is equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time.

The first weekend of the Festival starts with 25 open gardens on 6th/7th June, several open for the first time, and features three very respected guest speakers: Baroness Rebuck (Chair of Penguin Random House UK Publishers), Mary Keen (renowned garden designer) and Deborah Warner (international opera and theatre director). The weekend is rounded off with a baroque chamber concert arranged by, and featuring, the violinist Michael Bochmann.

During the week, literary activities come to the fore with talks from authors (including Jack Straw, Peter Tickler and Scatty Chef - Katherine Frelon), creative writing workshops and a Speed Book Review evening.

These are supplemented by an eclectic series of talks on a wide variety of subjects, including Robin Mills on “100 Days – Elba to Waterloo” commemorated the 200th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, and Lord Hurd on one of his favourite subjects - “Disraeli – The Double Life”.

Two professional touring groups will bring theatre to Burford midweek: Scary Little Girls will present a ‘Living Literature’ event set around Burford’s secret places, and The Lord Chamberlain’s Men will perform Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ in a romping open air production.

Above: Venus,Jupiter & the Moon - Look West 22.15 hours Saturday 20th June

to pass each other. In reality Jupiter and Venus are Millions of miles apart.

Inferior Planet – Applies only to Venus and Mercury because their orbits are between Earth and the Sun. Inferior Conjunction – When Earth and either Mercury or Venus are directly aligned with the Sun. Apparent Magnitude – The apparent brightness of an object as it appears from Earth. Bright objects have low magnitude (e.g. -2), dim objects have high magnitude (e.g. +2) Celestial Sphere – An imaginary

Sky Diary

Summer Solstice - Sunday 21st June 17.38 hours (BST) the June solstice is the longest day of the year for people in the Northern Hemisphere, north of the equator.

Planets: Mercury – Finely positioned during the first part of May. Reaches Inferior Conjunction (see definition above), not

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Astro News

• The New Horizons spacecraft will make its closest approach to Pluto on July 14th. It began its journey on January 19th 2006; it is now closer to Pluto than Earth is to the Sun. • Planets with 4 Suns in the sky may be more common than previously thought – http://www.space.com/28925g i a n t - a l i e n - p l a n e t - fo u r - s u n s . html?cmpid=559184

very favourable during June.

Venus – Moving towards the West during May/June finally forming a close conjunction with Jupiter (see above) Mars – Not visible during May or June.

Jupiter – Good for observing as it edges closer to Venus (see above).

Saturn – is at opposition on May 23rd visible all night during May and June.

John Harris

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For art aficionados, the final weekend includes a lecture by Dr Antonia Boström, Director of Curatorial Affiars ar the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City on the creation of an American tradition of sculpture parks.

For the music lovers, the Festival concludes with three quite different concerts: the Corinium Players guitar ensemble, the very popular ‘Night at the Musicals’ celebrating the showtune, and the Festival Finale Concert - a modern choral feast with the Burford Singers and Cotswold Youth Choir supported by the Cotswold Chamber Orchestra.

For more information see www.burfordfestival.org or buy tickets at the Madhatter Bookshop, Burford

Don’t miss this charming Festival in one of the Cotswold’s most beautiful towns.

Hugo Ashton, Chairman, Burford Festival 2015 Organising Committee (07908 256342 or festival@madhatter.co.uk)

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Look Gorgeous this Summer!

Depilation is the term used to describe hair removal. It is a procedure which has been popular since ancient times, and encompassed some amazing fashions.

In Egyptian times for instance it was popular to remove all bodily hair, even that on your head with tweezers, pumice stone, beeswax or sugar based waxes. Hair removal was seen as a sign of class in Roman Times and hair removal and was popular with high society men and women. In the Middle Ages, Queen Elizabeth set a trend for removing eyebrows so that the forehead looked bigger. Now, we tend to follow the fashions of Hollywood when it comes to hair removal, and new techniques often emerge from the States.

In the UK, many salons now offer the following: Waxing, either using strips or free running wax. For women all areas can be covered, including face, arms, legs and intimate areas. In recent years there has been a considerable increase in male waxing, with more men opting to have their chest, abdominal area or shoulders waxed.

Plucking using traditional tweezers is generally less common now, but is still used for the removal of facial hair, particularly eyebrows.

Threading is one of the safest, quickest and easiest ways to remove unwanted facial hair. It is an ancient art which removes the whole hair, including the follicle, and can last up to six weeks. A cotton thread is pulled along unwanted hair in a twisting motion, to trap it in a mini lasso before pulling it out.

Bleaching and treatments using washes or sugar bases are also available.

More sophisticated treatments which aim to reduce hair growth include electrolysis and laser hair removal. They are offered at specialist salons and private clinics, and suitability can depend on skin tone and hair colour. In recent years there has also been an increase in barbers offering hot towel shaves to their customers.

Outside the salon there are many ways we can remove hair at home. Kits for waxing and bleaching and many depilatory creams can be found at most pharmacies and supermarkets. Manufacturers continue to develop their products adding new fragrances and additional benefits such as moisturising.

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There is a growing industry in male grooming products too which includes post shaving balms and moisturisers for men.

Despite the fact that all depilation methods seem to have some pain attached we seem as keen as ever to be fuzz-free!

Pedicures

Most of us neglect our feet. They spend much of their lives covered up – out of sight and out of mind – and yet I for one love to give them the occasional pamper and am convinced they thank me for it!

A pedicure, professionally done, is a therapeutic treatment for feet which can support chiropody if you have foot problems, can assist posture by helping you to walk more comfortably and can soothe and relax you whilst being done.

Typically, a pedicure will begin with a soak of your feet in warm, scented water which will both cleanse and soften the skin. This is then followed by an exfoliating rub to get rid of dead skin. Salts and minerals are used, but exfoliation may also be done with pumice, especially on the heels or ball of the foot.

A massage of the feet with creams and aromatherapy oils follows, to refresh and soften the skin. You may also be treated to a massage of the lower leg.

Finally, cuticles will be clipped and nails cut and shaped before nail polish is applied to send you away with pretty toes! Any style of polish can be applied, from a French pedicure with white tips to gel polish which gives a long-lasting glossy finish which dries instantly.

With summer approaching, now is the time to get your feet ready for those open toe sandals!

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Garden View The RHS

Chelsea Flower Show Chelsea 19 – 23 May The Chelsea Flower Show is to gardening what the Paris catwalks are to fashion. Paris fashions may seem outlandish, but they push certain trends, which in a watered-down version end up in high-street shops.

Likewise, though many of Chelsea’s show gardens are fantasy pieces which demonstrate outrageous ideas, the horticultural trends on display will find their way into our own more modest plots.

For example; did you know that bonsai specimens and topiary gardens were introduced at Chelsea in 1913? Rock gardens were introduced in the 1940’s and decking in the eighties. All of these can now be bought in garden centres up and down the land.

In 2006 James Dyson even produced a water feature in which the water ran uphill. Actually I’m still waiting for my garden centre to stock one of those! Maybe one day...

Chelsea isn’t just about high fashion though; it reflects environmental trends too. In recent years there have been hosepipe bans in the great Pavillion and many of the gardens have showcased drought-tolerant planting schemes.

Chelsea draws over 150 000 visitors each year. For the past ten years it’s been held over five days instead of four, such is its popularity. The sheer quantity and varieties of plants on display to the general public is breathtaking.

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Chelsea really is windowshopping at its finest.

It’s like walking through a real-life version of the best garden design catalogue in the world.

And if you visit on the last day you don’t have to restrict yourself to window shopping. At 4pm precisely a bell rings and the great Chelsea sell-off begins. The poor designers, after all their hard work, begin the mammoth task of dismantling their creations. The good news is that the public can buy them. It’s perfectly possible to end up owning a little piece of a prize winning garden. So what should you choose?

If it were me I’d want something special; a reminder of my visit. I’d go for a species which I know would grow in my garden, but an unusual variety, not available in my local garden centre. In my case it would probably be an unusual lavender or fuchsia.

Choose carefully and you could have a little piece of Chelsea gold adorning your plot for many years to come.

By Rachel Leverton

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Deer Park horticulturalists win Council’s ‘gRRReen’ competition!

A group of young horticulturalists from Cirencester Deer Park School are celebrating after winning the first prize of £1,000 in Cotswold District Council’s first ever ‘gRRReen’ awards competition.

The competition ran for three months during late 2014 and early 2015, and entrants were encouraged to identify innovative ways to Reuse, Recycle and Reduce waste.

A panel of judges drawn from the Council, its environmental services company Ubico Ltd and the Gloucestershire Joint Waste Partnership, was particularly impressed with the winning entry from Cirencester Deer Park School. Led by Chris Germaine, the Applied Learning Coordinator at the school, a group of 30 students have developed an organic plot – with raised beds and a polytunnel - on what was previously waste land. They make their own compost and leaf mould to produce excellent plants and organic produce, most of which is sold to members of the school community. They have also re-used old wooden pallets, which would have been burnt, to make benches for outdoor use, and have created planters from old wood. However, their future plans are especially noteworthy as they strive to build on their success and embrace the wider community.

Commenting on the award, Cllr Sue Coakley, CDC’s

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Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “This entry stood out because it had so many ‘RRR’ plus points. Since the group started up two years ago they have redirected two tonnes of potential landfill waste to compost bins. The students are also gaining horticultural skills and qualifications, as well as developing their abilities to solve problems and tackle challenges as a team. Further afield, they have worked in tandem with a similar project at a school in India to compare notes and share advice. They also set up a ‘Trashformers’ project to create and sell usable products from potential waste, which raised funds to purchase geometry sets for Indian orphans.

“In particular, we felt that the Cirencester Deer Park group’s plans for the future were worthy of the £1,000 prize. They aim to invest some of the money in solar energy to power lighting in the polytunnel and they also want to expand their rain water harvesting. This will equip them better to fulfill their objective of broadening the appeal of sustainable gardening both within and beyond the school. In fact, they have already forged links with local community groups such as The Phoenix Gardeners. They are also very imaginative and one of their future aims is to build a new greenhouse from used plastic drinks bottles.”

Chris Germaine was delighted when he heard that his group had won the competition: “The students have worked so hard on this horticultural project,

often putting in many extra hours, and it makes it all worthwhile when we receive such a glowing accolade – and a generous cash prize courtesy of Ubico Ltd. The £1,000 funding will enable us to expand this fantastic school resource and spread the word to others about the many direct and indirect benefits of sustainable gardening. We have tried to build sustainability and enterprise into our teaching, and Horticulture lends itself naturally to this.”

Headteacher of Cirencester Deer Park School, Chiquita Henson, commented: “I am thrilled that Chris Germaine’s and our young horticulturalists’ environmental and enterprise skills have been recognised. Our pupils are proud of their achievements and remain keen to promote both re- and up-cycling.

Through our curriculum they learn about stewardship and sustainability. I am confident that the prize will be re-invested to ensure our learners continue to develop their entrepreneurial and green credentials.

Congratulations.”

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Councillor urges more public awareness of ways to combat littering Cotswold District Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Sue Coakley, has stressed the need for more public awareness about the harm caused by littering in the District and how to deal with it.

Additionally, the environmental wardens at CDC have established good relationships with local people and organisations that are just as keen as we are to combat littering and fly tipping.”

Responding to a motion raised at the Cabinet meeting on 5 March, Cllr Coakley outlined that CDC operates both a proactive and reactive programme of street and road cleansing depending on location involving 13 workers who respond to alerts from local residents and Councillors when a local issue needs attention. However, she also emphasised that there was scope to spread the word more about the help at hand from CDC via the Council’s website homepage and to educate the public generally about ways to combat littering.

She continued: “Despite all this good practice, littering is still a concern and we want to make sure that the public are fully aware of our reactive service, as well as reminding them about the lawful means of disposing of their litter. As a result, we have modified our website to simplify the process for reporting littering – including fly tipping - which requires the attention of our clean-up teams. Our homepage now displays a green button marked ‘Report littering or fly tipping’ which takes you straight to the relevant webpage for reporting an incident, and enables us to attend to the matter promptly.

She explained afterwards: “We operate both a proactive and demand-led service and, due to the efforts of our environmental services company Ubico Ltd, we can use efficiency savings from the waste collection service to fund additional street cleaning when the need arises. Ubico do a first-class job – a dedicated crew works in Cirencester all day, and other town centres in the District are also cleaned from 6 am to 9 am each day. Ubico also works to a schedule which ensures that other villages through the District are cleaned on a regular basis.

“We are very fortunate that we have extremely efficient and proactive environmental service professionals and also many residents who take such great pride in the appearance of the District and want it to look its best, at all times of the year.

There is, however, more to be done and we have already allocated an additional £68,000 to the street cleansing budget for 2015/16.

“Ubico also operates a programme of roadside clearance which is adjusted according to need.

“We appreciate all the help we get from local communities that are willing to undertake their own litter picks. CDC provides gloves, pickers, bags and high visibility jackets and also arranges to collect the filled bags after the event.

Anyone interested in organising an event should call 01285 623000 and speak to our Customer Service team. I have personally organised litter picks in Lechlade for the last five years and have seen a significant reduction in litter in the town as a result. I know that several other Councillors have done the same in their wards and have achieved similar outcomes.

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Finally it is worth mentioning the national Big Tidy Up initiative which encourages all communities to undertake local litter picking – we very much encourage Cotswold residents to get involved – details are at: www.thebigtidyup.org”

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