Cotswold Link (North Cotswolds) May June 2022 by JKA / Cotswold Publications

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CotswoldLink New Website Hello Everybody,, I am delighted to announce the launch of our new Your Cotswold Link website! Please visit www.cotswoldlink.co.uk to take a look. The new website is fully secure, with an updated design and new features to help connect local businesses and residents in the North Cotswolds and West Oxfordshire.

Benefits for businesses

• Browse a full range of advertising options & prices • Book standard print adverts online • Book online business directory listings online • Upgrade an existing business listing - Standard & Premium listings include SEO backlink to your website • Secure automatic payments for the duration of your subscription cycle - i.e. If you book a print advert with 2 insertions, one payment would be taken at checkout for your first insertion and the second payment would be taken automatically 2 months later for your second insertion • Ability to manage your print advert & business listing orders and subscriptions online • Submit your adverts, design requests, events and editorials online • Check Your Cotswold magazine distribution dates

Benefits for local residents & businesses

• Find a business using our online business directory • Local news - latest news from local councils & media • Upcoming events - find out what’s happening in the area • Useful editorials - Cotswold Sky, education, gardens & more • Browse previous editions of Your Cotswold Link magazine

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Your FREE online business listing

As an existing advertiser with Your Cotswold Link magazine, you’re eligible for a free online business listing. If you have not yet done so, please submit your business details here - www.cotswoldlink.myshopify.com/pages/ online-business-directorieslisting-form If you’ve already sent your details through, you can view your listing here www.:cotswold-link.myshopify. com/collections/cotswoldsbusiness-directories-list

Upgrade your listing with 20% off As a valued customer, we’re offering you the chance to upgrade your online business listing with 20% off! Our Standard and Premium business listings include online reviews and a link back to your website which can assist with your SEO. A Premium listing also includes location details and additional images for your business.

Here’s how to upgrade your listing:

• Visit www.cotswold-link.myshopify.com/collections/business-directories-online-advertising • Choose either a Standard (£10/month) or Premium (£15/month) listing • Choose your preferred billing frequency - if you choose to pay annually, you’ll receive an additional 25% off • Add to cart and proceed to checkout • Enter the discount code UPGRADE20 • Enter your details & pay (we prefer PayPal pay-

ments where possible please)

To confirm:

• If you choose a monthly subscription, one month payment will be taken immediately, with future payments being taken automatically once per month until you cancel • If you choose an annual subscription, the total amount for a 12 month listing will be taken immediately, with the next payment taken automatically after 12 months unless you cancel beforehand • You can cancel your subscription at any time by logging into your account or following the instructions in your subscription confirmation email While the new website allows businesses to book and manage your print adverts and business listings online, you can of course continue to contact me directly if you prefer. If you have any questions or feedback about my new website, please feel free to get in touch. You can contact me on 01609 777401, 07742 595747, or by email: christine@cotswoldlink.co.uk

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inside

Your CotswoldLink

Garden View

We look at how to utilise perfect partnerships in your Garden this Spring and Summer

Burford Festival

We get an update on the return of Burford Festival

link 02 cotswold New website launched 06 astronomy When does Summer start? interest 07 general Platinum Jubilee

Astronomy

look at the ‘official’ start of 06 We Summer

news 08 local Burford Festival 10 education Exam Support view 12 garden All about partnerships

Welcome to the May - June issue In this issue we look at some exciting local events on p8, as well as a certain Platinum Jubilee celebration on p7 We’ve also got exciting news here at Cotswold Link, as we launch our new website, it’s full of great content and ways to promote your business online. Please visit p2 and www.cotswoldlink.co.uk for details. I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in July.

01609 777401 cotswoldlink.co.uk

Best wishes,

Christine Campbell | Editor

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The

Cotswold Sky Are you confused when listening to the weather reports on the 1st day of June to hear the weather forecaster inform you it is the first day of summer followed some 3 weeks later to be told that Summer has arrived with the occurrence of the Summer Solstice. The majority of people associate the change of the seasons with the solstices and equinoxes not with the meteorological seasons so what is going on?

Meteorological Seasons

The meteorological seasons are split to make it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics. So Meteorological summer will always run from June 1st to August 31st. Thus, the meteorological seasons are made of 3 monthly seasons: Summer: 1st June – 31st August Autumn: 1st September – 30th November Winter: 1st December – 28th/29th February Spring: 1st March – 31st May

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On what day does Summer really start? Solstices and Equinoxes

The dates of the two solstices and two equinoxes are not fixed and can vary due to the Earth’s orbit of being approximately 365.25 days each year. This year’s dates are: Spring Equinox: 20th March Summer Solstice: 21st June Autumn Equinox: 23rd September Winter Solstice: 21st December

Do we need 2 dates for the change of seasons?

The meteorologists want their dates purely for the purpose of statistics, The Astronomer uses the dates for measuring the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. This year we have had temperatures approaching 20º in March followed by snow in early April. However; the seasons continue to change but these do not occur overnight, so does it really matter if we have 2 dates?

Diary

Summer Solstice: 10.13am Tuesday 21st June (The longest day)

Meteorite Showers: May 5th/6th The Eta Aquarids created by debris from Comet Halley. These can be observed between the east and south east in the early hours around 02.30 – 04.00 hours. Mercury can be observed during the first 10 days of May at Sunset, but cannot be seen again during the following weeks leading up to July. Venus Almost hides low down in the eastern sky during May but can be seen very close to Jupiter (what is known as a conjunction) on the 1st May. Will be difficult to observe during the lighter months of June. Mars can be observed during the pre-dawn sky looking towards the eastern horizon; close to Jupiter between 26th May and 3rd June. Jupiter As described above Jupiter has pre-dawn encounters with both Venus and Mars and continues to rise higher in the eastern/south eastern sky during June. Saturn Starts to rise during the second week of May towards the south east in the pre-dawn sky and continues its rise in the sky throughout both months of May and June. John Harris

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The Platinum Jubilee

It’s a mug’s game! Unless you’ve been living as a hermit it can’t have escaped your notice that a significant event takes place this month. That’s right…we all have an extra day’s holiday to look forward to. Oh, and Her Majesty celebrates her Platinum Jubilee Jubilees have always been significant events in the history of our country. Even as I type the shop shelves are groaning under the weight of commemorative mugs, and TV adverts exhort us to send off for decorative coins. I’d always assumed that Royal souvenirs were a relatively modern invention, but in fact they have been a popular way of marking royal jubilees and weddings for the last three centuries. The earliest known English commemorative items date from the Restoration of Charles II, in 1660. They must have been a hit because more followed for his Coronation in 1661 and wedding in 1662! At first such items were purchased only by the wealthy, but as new manufacturing methods developed the ordinary general public was able to buy a little piece of Royal history too. What they bought hasn’t changed a great deal over the years: the most popular items are and have always been coins, stamps and ceramics, especially mugs. Oh us Brits do love a Royal mug. Maybe it’s related to our love of tea! Special issue coins were first used to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. The majority of jubilee coins are issued in ‘crown’ size. This has nothing to do with a royal crown but is in fact the size of an old crown coin, which was equal in value to 5 shillings. The reason for this is that the large size of the coin allows for more detail. These special coins are not intended for general use and are almost always collected in uncirculated mint condition. The first stamps associated with a Royal event were those issued in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Interestingly they were not intended as commemorative issues and were never released as a set. Specific Jubilee sets of stamps were first issued in 1935 for George V’s Jubilee. Ceramics have always been popular Royal souvenirs. Commemorative jugs, vases, mugs, and plates survive in significant numbers from the reign of George III onwards. But it seems the imaginations of the souvenir producers know no limits. Everything from wallpaper to underwear has been given some sort of a Royal twist in times past. Because most souvenirs are now mass produced they have little commercial value long term, but they’re fun and colourful, and a nice little piece of history. I still have the Silver Jubilee coin I was given at primary school. By Sarah Davey

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Rissingtons Local History Society “Tea, Coffee and Chocolate: How we fell in love with Caffeine”

Burford Festival

9th- 19th June 2022

After a Covid-enforced break of 3 years the Burford Festival is back and will be running from the 9th -19th June 2022. As always there will be a great selection of events and activities including: • the ever popular Open Gardens (June 11th-12th) • drama (Twelfth Night, Lady Bracknell’s Legacy and Under Milk Wood), • writers including Jeanette Winterson, Anne Youngson, Francesca Gibbons and Sue Leigh, • talks from Lord Hall (previously the Director General of the BBC) Brian Kay (founder of the King Singers and presenter on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3), Jack Straw (MP and both Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary) and Stanley Johnson (Author, and former MEP) • an Alice in Wonderland themed cream tea

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• a panel discussion on sustainability issues in Cotswolds • workshops on dance, poetry and creative writing • historical walking tours as well as a dramatic ghost tour • a free family fun day on the Rec • a fashion show • a Ghanaian Gala evening • a traders market (Sunday 19th) • lots of music including Jazz, Folk, an Organ Recital and, of course, the Festival Finale Concert with the Burford Singers.

Friday 20th May @7.30pm. Melanie King will enlighten us on the history of our favourite food / drink and how they came to Europe in the 1650’s. Venue: Upper Rissington School Hall GL54 2PL

More details on the website: www.burfordfestival.org Tickets Now on Sale!

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Visitors welcome £3.50 to include refreshments. Enquiries information.RLHS@gmail.com 01451 820233

Taynton Village Fete Nr. BURFORD, OX18 4UH Saturday 25th June. 2pm – 5pm A traditional village fête set in an idyllic Cotswold garden Come and enjoy the many stalls, games for children of all ages, Pimms Bar, afternoon teas, Chedworth Silver Band and much, much more at Taynton’s traditional garden fête. Forage around the White Elephant stall for that bargain, choose a delicious homemade cake to take home for afternoon tea, get lucky at the bottle stall, Tombola and Raffle, visit the Home Made Produce and many more inviting stalls. Don’t forget the children – there are games galore! Entrance £2 and under 12s are FREE. All proceeds are in aid Taynton Church and Village Hall. A fun afternoon for all the family! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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A message to all students:

How to approach the most difficult During the next few weeks students throughout the UK will be facing the most academically difficult period of their young lives. For the cohort of the sixth form, and due to Covid lockdowns it will be their first formal examinations which is quite extraordinary. Fortunately, Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) have liaised with schools and the examination boards in an effort to relieve some of the stress from the students. This has accumulated with the examinations being written on selective topics which were published in February of this year. To allay fears of overstressing students, the Government has issued the following statement, “Remember you will be graded more generously this year”. The weakness with this message is that it sends the wrong message to some who may interpret that they can switch off. Advice to students (childline.org.uk/info-advice) It can seem scary to talk about stress or anxiety. You might feel like nobody else is feeling this way. But bottling up stress and trying to deal with it on your

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own can often make the stress worse. So, it can really help to talk. You may ask, “Who can I talk to?”. Suggestions include: • Parents • Teachers • Friends Methods of preparation Organise yourself: • Keep to a program of study • Don’t panic if you cannot keep up with your schedule. Ask for help and re-assess. • Break down your studying into small chunks. • Set yourself targets for each session e.g., “today’s target is Photosynthesis” • Include past exam questions in your targets (past papers with answers are available on the internet) check the answers and learn from your mistakes. • Give yourself regular short 10/20 minute breaks during your study periods. • Vary your methods of revision. There are innumerable excellent study resources on the internet including BBC Bitesize and various YouTube programmes. Your school will no doubt give you advice on

series of exams EVER which to use. Conclusion We all want you to do well so do not be shy in asking for help, and if you; the student; can say in all honesty that you have done your very best in preparing for your exams, then you will have no regrets as you progress through life. References: www.gov.uk/government/publications/additional-help-for-studentstaking-exams-in-summer-2022-

postcard • www.childline. org.uk/info-advice/ school-college-andwork • www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html • www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/staying-mentally-healthyduring-exams/ Wishing students of all ages the best of luck in their forthcoming examinations. JOHN HARRIS

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Garden View

Partnership Perfection This month

When we think about climbing plants, we most often think about growing them to cover a wall or a fence. We might think about growing them over a dead tree stump too, but one of the nicest ways to grow them is through a living tree or a shrub. It’s an excellent way of providing more interest in the same space, either by timing each plant’s display so they follow on from each other, or by timing the flowering so they bloom at the same time, thus doubling the impact of the display. There are a few rules you need to follow when you plant a climber with the intention of growing it up a living host. First, the host shrub or tree should be established, woody, and strong enough to hold up the climber’s weight when it’s fully grown and flowering. Second you don’t want to use too vigorous a climber, otherwise it might swamp the host. Finally, avoid fast-growing evergreen climbers because they

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prevent light getting to the host, and may cause it to develop disease and die. You can certainly use less aggressive evergreens such as the ivy Hedera ‘pedata’ or Hedera ‘Curlylocks’ around the base of well-established trees. These will look beautiful without overwhelming the structure and flowering of the host plant. Climbers that look good over trees and shrubs are typically, clematis, honeysuckle, and roses. Look for species that grow to 3m or less as these are ideal for growing up most garden trees. Species that are cut back to 15-20cm every winter are also ideal. Clematis ‘Abundance’, ‘Etoile Violette’ and ‘Little Nell’ are all good choices. Honeysuckle can often be seen (and smelled) growing through trees in the wild. For your garden look for cultivars of the common honeysuckle, such as Lonicera periclymenum. Rambling roses can grow to monstrous proportions,

so look for smaller varieties such as ‘City of York’ and ‘Parade’, which also have a long season of interest. If you have a cool moist area try growing the perennial nasturtium, Tropaeolum speciosum. The jewelcoloured flowers will brighten a darker space. Tips for successful pairing Don’t plant the climber too close to the base of the host or they will be competing for the same water and nutrients. Counterintuitively plant the climber on the shadier side of the host. That way the climber will be forced to c=grow towards the light. If you plant the climber in a large plastic pot with the bottom cut out, it helps contain the plant and reduces competition. Happy Gardening, Rachael Leverton

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North Cotswolds

There are 16,900 thousands of reasons to West Oxfordshire advertise with us... 20,500 1/4 Page from only

£115!

homes & businesses

Index Art SOTA Gallery: p7 Bathrooms Country Bathrooms: p4 Builders & Contractors Calarel Developments: p5 Country Roofing & Building: p15 Garolla Garage Doors: p5 Hooper Joinery: p15 Mitre Oak Buildings: p16 North Cotswold Builder: p15 Rooflight Company: p3 Phil Dadge: p15 Thomas Contracting: p13 WB Home & Garden Maintenance: p13

Wychwood Oak Frames: p3 Children’s Services Cotswold Tutor: p11 Education Cotswold Tutor: p11 Elderly Services Hearing & Mobility Store: p10 Windrush Care: p6 Electrical Services Aerial Solutions: p11 MJ Harris Domestic Repairs: p5 P Wheeler Electrical: p4 Events Burford Festival: p8 Taynton Village Fete: p9 Furniture Amanda Hanley By Design: p1

Graham Lane Furniture: p4 Hilltop Joinery: p4 Hooper Joinery: p15 Phil Dadge: p15 Roundabout: p14 Framing Witney Framing: p7 Fuel Cotswold Petroleum: p16 Garage Doors Garolla Garage Doors: p5 Gardening & Outdoors Coln Clearances: p12 Stockwell Davies Tree Contractors: p12 Thomas Contracting: p13 Tom Negus Tree Care: p12 Waterside Landscaping: p13 WB Home & Garden Maintenance: p13 Gifts Alain Rouveure Galleries: p9

Next issues

West Oxfordshire July-August Copy: 8th June Dist: w/c 4th July

Haulage Mustoes Haulage: p2 Healthcare & Wellbeing Bourton Podiatry Clinic: p1 Cotswold Deep Tissue Massage: p11 Cotswolds Foot Clinic: p11 Lumiere Laser Clinic: p1 Paul Brookes Foot Health: p11 Runnerbean: p10 Hearing Aids Hearing & Mobility Store: p10 Home & Interiors Alain Rouveure Galleries: p9 Amanda Hanley By Design: p1 Country Bathrooms: p4 Country House Curtains: p3 Hilltop Joinery: p4 Rooflight Company: p3 SOTA Gallery: p7 Locksmiths Just Carpentry & Locks: p15 Motoring Cotswold Garage: p16 Painters & Decorators Phil Dadge: p4 WB Home & Garden Maintenance: p13 Plumbing MJ Harris Domestic Repairs: p5

LIVE JAZZ

Friday The Alvin Roy Jazz Quartet regular “first been has Alls, Five the at gig of the month” h, changed to the first Tuesday of the mont startand nce entra Free 7th. June on ng starti ing at 8pm finishing at 10pm. ....................................................... “Jazz Concert for Ukraine”. Thursday 30th June at the Chipping Norton Theatre. 8 Tickets £12 from the box Office. 0160 re 642350. 14 jazz musicians from Oxfordshi raise and Gloucestershire are taking part to ee money for the Red Cross Ukraine refug campaign. All musicians are playing for free

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North Cotswolds July-August Copy: 8th June Dist: w/c 4th July

Property Maintenance Coln Clearances: p12 Country Roofing & Building: p15 Dovecote Property: p12 G & B Power Washing: p13 Garolla Garage Doors: p5 Hilltop Joinery: p4 Hooper Joinery: p15 Just Carpentry & Locks: p15 MJ Harris Domestic Repairs: p5 Phil Dadge: p15 WB Home & Garden Maintenance: p13 Recruitment Mustoes Haulage: p2 Removals Coln Clearances: p12 Sports & Leisure Cotswold Archery: p8 Cotswold Riding: p9 Runnerbean: p10 Tree Surgery Stockwell Davies Tree Contractors: p12 Tom Negus Tree Care: p12 Tuition Cotswold Tutor: p11 Windows RJB Window Restoration: p15 Rooflight Company: p3

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