Cotswold Link (West Oxfordshire) May June 17

CotswoldLink

FREE

West Oxfordshire

Your

www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

|

Bi-Monthly Royal Mail distribution: 18,200 homes & businesses

May / June 2017

Old Manor Cottage, Halford

Holiday Letting Large Cottages What’s The Secret?

Cotswold Link interviews Character Cottages, a local holiday letting expert, to understand the local market for large holiday cottages

Barnsley Cottage, Barnsley

Owners of large houses are often under the impression that the demand for holiday letting is low and unprofitable. Are you able to shed some light on the market and the holiday letting opportunity?

Green Knoll Cottage, Broad Campden

groups of people, who want to get together to

At Character Cottages we are very experienced

celebrate an event, such as a 40th birthday party,

at marketing and maximising the returns on large

family gathering or a university reunion. Hotels

properties. We can offer owners a wide and detailed

often don’t appeal to large groups, as they some-

range of support and advice on many key holiday

times lack the desired communal feel and can of-

letting factors, including furnishing, pricing,

ten be too expensive.

occupancy, security deposits and overall property management. To find out what your large house

The great news is that big properties in the Cotswolds, especially those with traditional

A further attribute of the demand for big Cotswold

character, do very well as holiday lets! To under-

houses is that, being event driven, it is less impacted

stand why, a good place to start is by looking at

by seasonality. For example, if Grandpa’s 70th

the history behind the area…

birthday happens to be in January, then that’s

can do for you, just get in touch with us!

when the group will want to book their break, The Cotswolds has a long history of working with

regardless of the fact that this is traditionally a

wool, silk and other raw materials. As a result,

quieter month for holiday letting. This means large

many of the cottages in the area were built for the

properties can command strong prices through-

farm labourers and factory workers, and are quite

out the year.

small, typically with one or two bedrooms. Larger properties are less common and, consequently,

When you combine the limited supply of

this creates a restricted supply of big houses for

properties with the strong and constant demand,

the holiday letting market.

our experience has been that large holiday homes perform exceptionally well in the Cotswolds. For

Many people are surprised to learn that the

example, we have successfully generated more

underlying demand for large holiday lets in the

than £100,000 per annum of gross income, from

Cotswolds is very high. The central location of the

over 55 bookings, for a beautiful, detached, six

Cotswolds makes it the perfect location for large

bedroomed house in the North Cotswolds.

2

Your CotswoldLink

Shenley, Broadwell

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

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

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

Your CotswoldLink

3

inside

Your CotswoldLink

Burford Festival

take a snapshot look at some of the 55 events making up this years 06 We Burford Festival

18

Blooming Baskets

We look at hanging basket success

08

14

02 The secret to letting large cottages local news: 06 Burford Festival 2017 local news: 08 Local charity in quilt appeal education 10 What is ‘Fake news?’ events 12 Seasonal events across our area home 14 Choosing your next fridge holiday letting

FEATURED FEATURED

15

Festival of Food!

Enjoy the Witney Festival of Food & Drink this May

10

14 Chocolate Fondant Tart local news: 15 Witney Food & Drink Festival 2017 16 dental The importance of the hygienist view: 18 garden Blooming Baskets!

20 astronomy James Bradley link 22 cotswold Advertiser Index recipe: FEATURED

FEATURED

FEATURED

Welcome to the May - June issue

We welcome May, June and some warmer weather with a whole host of local news, events and updates.

Burford Festival features on p6 and p12, whilst the Witney Festival of Food and Drink (p15), looks like it will be another huge success!

Try our Chocolate Fondant Recipe on p14, it looks delicious!

Don’t forget, if you have any news, events, updates or stories 01609 777401 01609 779097 of local interest, please send them to editorial@jkanorth.com and we’ll do our best to publish them for you. cotswoldlink.co.uk I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in July.

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 carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. All rights reserved. All information is appearing in Cotswold Link Magazine 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.

4

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

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

Your CotswoldLink

5

BURFORD FESTIVAL 2017 The 2017 Burford Festival runs from 8th to 18th June this year with over 55 events, across several different themes, Gardens, Theatre & Film, Literature, Talks & Tours and Music, mainly in the magnificent, new, multi-million pound Warwick Hall

Here is a taste!

Gardens: Over 25 rarely-open private gardens and talks by experts: celebrated garden photographer Clive Nichols, brilliant designers Mary Keen and Helen Dillon, and Lord and Lady Heseltine, who will describe the development of their spectacular garden and arboretum at Thenford.

Theatre & Film: The speakers include Jan Harlan, the Hollywood producer of many of director Stanley Kubrick’s films, and Deborah Warner, who recently directed King Lear at the Old Vic with Glenda Jackson. There will be will river-side outdoor performances of The Comedy of Errors by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men – back again, by acclaim. And come and to a singalong to the ‘Sound of Music’!

Literature: The Festival welcomes wellknown authors John Julius Norwich, Dinah Jefferies and Catherine Merridale and there will be workshops on creative writing and publishing.

Talks & Tours: Tricia Stewart an original ‘Calendar Girl’ (as played by Helen Mirren in the film) will tell the hilarious real story. Lone Dresher Nielsen will relate the moving story of the rehabilitation centre for over 1000 orangutans in Borneo. The Festival will also welcome Antonia Boström (the V&A’s curator of sculpture), Frances Corner (Head of London School of Fashion) and Drew Gardener who will talk about Virtual Reality and show videos from normally unreachable places.

Music: Classical music performances will include a Summer Rhapsody string concert, the story of Kathleen Ferrier from Diana Moore and a Finale Concert with piano soloist Maria Merchant and Brian Kay with members of the Burford Singers. This will be complemented by international singer and raconteur Jonathan Veira in an unforgettable one-man show, and a five hour extravaganza of Rock and Country Music with the award winning Treetop Flyers band on an open air stage.

Hugh Aston, Chairman of Burford Festival says “The 2017 Festival is our best ever. Come and join us there is something for everyone. The best way to spend summer is to come to the largest festival in the Cotswold AONB”

www.burfordfestival.org

Chadlington Beer Festival The 14th Great Chadlington Beer Festival takes place on Saturday 3rd June 2017, from midday to 11pm, in the village.

There will be a great range of around 20 real ales to enjoy as well as a selection of wines and ciders, Pimms and soft drinks. Each year the assembled punters vote for their favourite beer and a winner is announced. There will be great food options throughout the day and night, including a BBQ. An entertaining line-up of live music will play throughout the day and evening and there will be a whole heap of stuff to entertain the children too.

The gate price includes a Festival Glass, programme and beer tokens (beer tokens can also be used to purchase cider, Pimms and wine). Non-beer drinkers are free.

The Beer Festival is the chief fund raiser for the Friends of Chadlington School and all proceeds go to the school.

For more information, please go to: www.chadlingtonbeerfestival.com.uk or www.facebook.com/ChadlingtonBeerFestival

6

Your CotswoldLink

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

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

Your CotswoldLink

7

Quilt SOS – Gloucestershire Business, Alice Caroline, sponsors quilts to be made for children in need

Alice Caroline is very excited to be launching our successful ‘Quilt SOS’ project for a second year. Working with the fantastic charity SOS Children’s Villages and with a growing army of talented and kind-hearted quilters, we donate quilts to children who have lost their families.

What could be better than to make quilts for those who really need them? We are putting the call out to people who love to sew to make a Liberty SOS Children’s Villages quilt. We have so much in our lives that we forget that there are people in the world who have virtually nothing. We will be doing what we do best, making quilts for children who truly need them.

We were so overwhelmed by the response of our customers in 2016 that we have decided to run the project for a second year. 48 quilts were made by men, women and children across the UK and beyond. Their beautiful handiwork found very worthy homes with the wonderful children of SOS Village Hemeius, Romania. Many of our customers’ stunning quilts were displayed in the Liberty of London store before they travelled out to Romania with Alice Garrett, the inspiration behind the project and owner of Alice Caroline Ltd, the Liberty fabric specialist.

SOS Children’s Villages – this wonderful charity provides homes to children in need. Each child is looked after by a ‘mother’ in a home within the village. There are villages in 125 countries around the world and the charity works hard towards every child growing up in a loving family home so that they flourish and reach their full potential. They have been helping the world’s most vulnerable children for over 65 years. Alice Caroline has decided to help Lithuanian children in our second year of the project. Our goal is to make enough quilts to gift one to every child in the SOS Children’s Village of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

For more information on the charity visit www.soschildrensvillages. org.uk If people want to sign up to the project, we would love to hear from them. Alice Caroline will be heavily subsidising the cost of making the quilt, so if you love to sew then please do join us and sign up to make one. The quilts must be made from Liberty fabric on the front and you can sign up via our website, purchase a special quilt kit or choose your own fabric. Our goal is to donate 73 quilts this year, one for each child in the village.

To take part in the Liberty SOS Quilts project please visit our website: www.alicecaroline.co.uk Quilt SOS link: www.alicecaroline.co.uk/quilt-sos

8

Your CotswoldLink

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

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

Your CotswoldLink

9

Fake News:

What is it?

Until relatively recently the expression “Fake News” meant very little to we the public. The term has now become widely used and it is causing confusion in many circles of the population.

The media now has an additional task to perform prior to reporting a news article and more than ever it has a responsibility to give high quality and honest journalism.

Yes our minds are programmed for Fake News on the 1st April in the form of false information regarding advertisements in national newspapers from major companies, satirical jokes from radio presenters and of course tricks played on us by both family and friends, but we know and accept this because it only occurs for one day of the year.

The Fake News scenario appeared to rear its ugly head during the Presidential Election of the United States in November and since then has accelerated into the public environment.

Fake News and Education We can all be taken in by Fake News; for generations propaganda has been a weapon used by many a dictator and for that matter present day politicians of all parties.

A recent study carried out by Stanford’s Graduate School of Education revealed that researchers were shocked by students “stunning and dismaying consistency” to evaluate information at even a basic level of being able to distinguish advertisements from articles. This is an American research team and we in the UK are different you may say, but indications on this side of the Atlantic are showing that this not to be the case.

In the social media world of today it is essential that everyone from the schoolchild to the elderly are aware of this unwanted phenomena that can affects the minds and actions of all.

Daughter of the Forest n Juliet Marillier Authors draw inspiration from many places and it has been said that there are only so many stories to be told.

Very often the skill of the storyteller is not in the story but in how it is told. Ancient mythology is a common source of inspiration and it is from the old Celtic myths of Ireland that this New Zealand author has turned for this historical fantasy fiction.

Based loosely on the legend of the

10

Your CotswoldLink

Children of Lir and elements of the German fairy-tale ‘The Six Swans’ Marillier manages to conjure up the rich and mystical landscape of ancient Ireland.

Sorcha is the youngest of seven children and is raised largely by her six older brothers following the death of her mother during her birth. Her father remarries but his new wife is...

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Andreas Schleicher the education director of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is of the opinion that schools should teach how to identify Fake News. We are all aware that many youngsters only obtain their information about what is going on around the world from the social media.

Image: Lucien Bonaparte

The OECD wants schools to teach students how to identify Fake News. This may be easier said than done for example who is going to train the teachers?

Students carrying out research now have to be doubly or even more assured of confirming the origin of their research as do their mentors and teachers.

Fake News or Not? Lucien Bonaparte, Prince Franรงais, 1st Prince of Canino and Musignano and the brother Napoleon Bonaparte lived near Worcester for a short period during the Napoleonic wars. He was also an astronomer who bought a telescope from William Herschel who discovered Uranus.

His son Louis-Lucien was born in England and is now buried in Kensal Green cemetery, London. ...................................................................................................................................

Would the above information be credited as Fake News in its day?

Can this story be true?

All will be revealed in the next issue of Cotswold Link.

May I take this opportunity of wishing all those young and old Good Luck in their forthcoming examinations.

For further information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39272841 http://www.nesta.org.uk John Harris

A Good Read ...jealous and attacks the children. Sorcha escapes but her brothers are all turned into swans. Desperate to save them she learns that they will be freed if she weaves six shirts out of nettles without speaking a word to anyone. Retreating into the forest to complete

her task she is cared for by the faerie-folk and visited twice a year by her brothers in human form. But if Sorcha thought that this seemingly impossible task was all that awaited her she was very much mistaken.

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

Your CotswoldLink

11

Out & About Every 4th Thursday

n Chipping Norton Flower Club With demonstrations, outings, workshops and more. Join us in the Lower Town Hall every 4th Thursday of the month Starting 21st September at 7pm More details: Ann 01608 683289 or Kaye 01993 831146 ........................................................

11th May

West Oxon Decorative and Fine Arts Society.

May 11th Lecture by Sally Hoban The Glasgow GirlsWomen in Art and Design in Glasgow 1890-1920. Venue: Methodist Church, High Street, Witney OX28 6HG 7.30pm Refreshments from 6.45pm.

Visitors and Guests £6.

June 8th Lecture by Bertie Pearce The Punch and Judy Show Venue same as for May. ........................................................

17th May

Rotary Club Bluebell Walk for Charity

9.00 a.m - 12.00 noon Start/finish: Charlbury station.

The route is 8 miles & takes 3 hrs (shorter route of about 3 miles is available). The Burford & Kingham Rotary Club’s annual Charity sponsored walk takes place every May. The route takes in the beautiful bluebells in the Wychwood forest and, with special permission, through Cornbury Park. It is a great opportunity for you to suppport your favourite charities and to help our Club raise money for our charities at the same time. Please contact us if you would like to join in - it is a lovely walk. Club members and friends marshall the event for you - all you have to do is walk -

12

Your CotswoldLink

and raise sponsorship. Individuals wanting to walk without sponsors are welcome.

For further info please contact terry.a.best@btinternet.com ........................................................

19th May

n Rissingtons Local History Society

7.30pm at Little Rissington Village Hall GL54 2ND. A short AGM followed by a talk - The History of Communications

by Hugh Collins. From Runners, riders and the early postal service - a fascinating look at the development of communication from the beginning of time to the present day, culminating with the internet and social media.

Visitors welcome £3 to include refreshments 01451 820233. ........................................................

27th May

n Hailey Plant Sale

The famous Hailey Gardening Club Plant Sale will be held on Saturday 27th May from 10:00am in Hailey Village Hall. Arrive early for the best choice of vegetables, geraniums, annuals, perennials and shrubs.

Tel 01993 899125 for details. ........................................................

27th May

n Burford Singers

Come and Sing with Bob and Brian.

The Burford Singers invite you to join them for a day of lively musicmaking, led by our President, Bob Chilcott and our Director of Music, Brian Kay. The works we will sing include Bob Chilcott’s recently published work ‘Gloria’, with a view to a performance at the end of the day. Main Hall, Burford School, OX18 4PL. The booking form containing details can be downloaded from www.burfordsingers.org.uk ........................................................

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Having an event?

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

3rd June

n Chadlington Beer Festival

From midday to 11pm, in the village. There will be a great range of around 20 real ales to enjoy as well as a selection of wines and ciders, Pimms and soft drinks... ...See Page 6 more details For more information, please go to: www.chadlingtonbeerfestival. com.uk or https://www.facebook. com/ChadlingtonBeerFestival ........................................................

6th-8th June

n Bledington Music Festival

7.30pm, St Leonard’s Church, Bledington, OX7 6XD 6th June - Catrin Finch, harp, Juliette Bausor, flute and Ruth Gibson, viola 7th June - Katona Twins, Guitar duo 8th June - Albion Quartet led by Tamsin Waley-Cohen Tickets, 01608 658669 or www.bledingtonmusicfestival.co.uk ........................................................

10th - 25th June

n Hailey Festival Scarecrows

They’re back! From Saturday 10th to Sunday 25th June the scarecrows reveal their OCCUPATIONS. Free maps from Lamb & Flag. Competition to identify all of the occupations closes on Thursday 22nd.

Tel 01993 700162 for details ........................................................

16th June

n Windrush Valley School Conservation Centre (GRAND OPENING) 12pm to 4pm: Windrush Valley School will be hosting the grand opening of our new and exciting Conservation Centre, open to the public with free entry for the day.

Robert Courts MP will be officially opening the Centre at 1.30pm.

Come along and enjoy our bar, ice cream van, stalls, talks, face painting and historic walks all in this 52-acre former working farm.

Windrush Valley School Conservation Centre, Manor Farm Barn, Ascott-underWychwood ........................................................

24th June

n 20th Annual Charlbury Beer Festival

CharlburyCricketClub,Oxfordshire from 12 noon to 10pm.

For previous years’ events, the festival has attracted around 3,000 visitors, and raised money for community projects, both in the Charlbury area and overseas.

Our vision for our 20th year is to raise the £20,000 we need to take us over £200,000 of funds made available for good causes.

For further details, please visit the Charlbury Beer Festival website at: charlburybeerfestival.org/ or email nick.millea@btinternet. com ........................................................

25th June

n Burford Singers – Karl Jenkins The Armed Man

7.30pm: Church of St John the Baptist, Church Green, Burford OX18 4RY. Burford Singers with Cotswold Chamber Orchestra leader Kate Bailey, Angharrad Lyddon, Mezzo-Soprano. Brian Kay – Conductor Tickets reserved at £23, £19 and £15, unreserved £10. Postal booking (advised) opens on 29th April 2017.

Telephone booking opens on 13th May on 01993 822412. Booking in person opens on 3rd June. The Madhatter Bookshop, 122, High Street, Burford OX18 4QJ. Full details and booking form available on our website: burfordsingers. org.uk ........................................................

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.

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

Your CotswoldLink

13

Cool Customer

Choosing a new fridge The fridge has come of age. Gone are the days of a squat little white cupboard with a tiny freezer compartment. Fridges have gone large! Some even come with custom panels that exactly match your kitchen cabinets.

There are six basic types of fridge: Top Freezer - A traditional fridge, that’s good for a fairly tight spot. These tend to offer the most space for their size but need space for a wide swing of the doors. They also require you to crouch to reach the lower shelves which may be an issue if you are tall or have arthritic knees.

Bottom Freezer - We tend to use the freezer less so it might make good sense to have the fridge shelves at eye-level. You tend to need a larger model to get the same useable capacity as a top freezer.

French Door - This has two narrow doors on top, opening from

the centre, and the freezer below. The space-saving smallswing doors have the added value of opening only half the fridge when stashing smaller items. They tend to be wider than top or bottom freezers.

Side-by-Side - With the fridge on one side and freezer on the other, these usually have throughthe-door ice and water dispensers and temperature-controlled.

The narrow doors can be useful if your kitchen is small abut some don’t open wide enough for large boxes, and the tall, narrow compartments can mean some items disappear to the back, never to be seen again!

Built-In - These are made to fit almost flush with cabinets and

Chocolate Fondant Tart

counters. They are typically bottom-freezer or side-by-side styles and match your cabinets.

Compact or Mini - Perfect for a bedsit or a kitchenette. Keep in mind these models may have only one quarter the capacity of a regular fridge, but cost just as much to operate.

Always measure where you plan to put the fridge before you buy.

Check too that it can fit through doorways and remember that you will need space to open the swing doors and for a one inch clearance around sides and back for adequate airflow.

Method For the pastry Place the flour and icing sugar in a large bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Add the egg yolk and water and mix quickly so that it comes together to form a firm dough.

Wrap in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200C/ Gas 6 (180C fan).

Preparation time: 45 mins (plus chilling time) Cooking time: 30 mins Serves: 6-8 Ingredients Pastry - 100g/3.5 oz plain flour - 50g/1.75 oz icing sugar - 50g/1.75 oz chilled butter, diced - Yolk from 1 large egg - 1 tbsp water

14

Your CotswoldLink

Filling 100g/3.5 oz butter 150g/5.5 oz dark chocolate (70%) 150g/5.5 oz golden caster sugar 75g/3oz plain flour 6 medium eggs To serve Icing sugar Strawberries or raspberries Cream

Dust the work surface with flour and then roll out the pastry to form a circle about 5cm/2in larger than your flan tin. Line the tin with the pastry. Pop it into the fridge to chill for a further 15 minutes.

You now need to blind-bake the pastry. To do this prick the base of the pastry with a fork then line the pastry case with a circle of greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans (these are ceramic beads, but you can use lentils or dried beans if you don’t have

Energy efficiency - All new fridges are a lot more efficient than they were a decade ago.

They all have to be A+ rated now. Yet even between A+ models running costs can vary widely.

Your fridge runs for 24 hours per day so it makes sense to d your research. Compare the Energy Guide labels of your favoured fridges, and then compare the annual operating costs and the kilowatt-hours used per year.

Do all this and you will be a very cool customer when it comes to making your purchase.

By Tony Ashcroft

any). Bake the pastry for 10 minutes, or until just lightly goldenbrown, then remove the paper and the beans and return the tart to the oven to cook for a further 5-7 minutes, or until goldenbrown and dried out.

For the filling Melt the butter in a medium pan over a low heat, then add the chocolate and stir until melted, smooth and glossy. Remove from the heat and beat in the sugar and flour, then beat in the eggs, one at a time.

Place the pastry case on a baking tray. Pour the chocolate mixture into the pastry case, filling it almost to the top then place in the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until just set around the edges and still slightly wobbly in the centre.

Remove from the oven. You can serve it warm with raspberries or strawberries, or allow it to cool and dust with icing sugar.

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Join us for

Witney Festival of Food & Drink Witney Festival of Food and Drink returns for a fifth year on Saturday, 20th May from 9.00am to 5.00pm at beautiful St. Mary’s on Church Green, which provides the perfect setting in the heart of this beautiful, old wool town. Festival Champion Bruce Young of Shaken Oak Products will officially open proceedings at 10.00am.

Festival Patron, TV presenter and comedian, Alexander Armstrong, is passionate in his support of the festival, “Witney Festival of Food and Drink has gone from strength to strength. It proved so popular – and grew so rapidly – that within two years of the first festival every available inch of St Mary’s and the surrounding area was filled. So, being the foodie’s West Oxfordshire Glastonbury, the onus is now on us to ensure that we focus each festival on exciting new culinary innovations in the area, as well as celebrating the continued success of our many old friends”.

Our stallholders, over 60 of them, all come from within a 35 mile radius of Witney and never fail to dazzle us with the variety and quality of their produce. Excited about being more involved than ever in this year’s event, Bruce Young comments that, “Buying locally produced food and drink is a growing trend in the UK and this festival offers an

excellent opportunity for the public to meet many of the best producers in our area.”

Local businesses and charities are also represented in the Local Focus Area, which gives a further taste of what West Oxfordshire has to offer. As well as all the wonderful stalls, festival cafe and bar there will tractors on display, a challenging Clerical Culinary Cook Off, live music and dancing. Children are well catered for in their own dedicated tent where fun, foodie activities themed around our Hungary Caterpillar Collage can be enjoyed interspersed with popular, interactive music sessions from Salt Box Music.

Find out more about this great community event and fantastic day out for the whole family at www.witneyfoodfestival.co.uk Entry £3 on the door, children under 12 free.

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

Your CotswoldLink

15

The Importance of Seeing Your Dental Hygienist Dentists are committed to patient care and they often have multiple hygienists to assist the dentists, ensuring you receive the best treatment possible.

patients may be required to see the hygienist for several visits until the problem is brought under control.

After that depending on clinical need, patients may be seen at 3 or 6 monthly intervals.

What is a Hygienist?

A hygienist is specially trained to work alongside dentists to help patients care for their teeth and gums. Their role is a combination of clinician; treating and preventing gum disease; and educating, teaching and motivating patients to care for their own teeth and gums whilst also helping patients to establish a good homecare routine.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is very common, yet many people are unaware they have it as it is usually painless.

Early diagnosis of gum disease is very important.

Gum disease along with tooth decay is a major cause of tooth loss.

What causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on and in between the teeth. If the plaque isn’t removed efficiently it will irritate the gums resulting in gum disease, also known as gingivitis.

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums.

The gums around the teeth become very red (instead of pink), swollen and inflamed.

The direct cause of gingivitis is plaque; plaque is the sticky, soft colourless film of bacteria that forms over the teeth, it contains toxins which are harmful to the gums and if it is not thoroughly removed daily with either brushing or flossing it will lead to aggravation and inflammation of the soft tissues.

At this point, scrupulous oral hygiene, consisting of vigilant

16

Your CotswoldLink

Advice and Education

brushing, flossing and professional cleaning will reverse the problem and get you back on track to healthy gums. If you are susceptible to periodontal disease because it runs in your family or if you have diabetes, don’t give up the fight to keep your teeth. Whilst good oral hygiene, a healthy lifestyle and regular professional care may not prevent periodontal disease, they can help to keep it under control.

If gingivitis is left untreated it can lead to periodontitis.

The hygienist will provide you with a programme of oral care that is appropriate to your needs and lifestyle, in order to keep your mouth as clean and healthy as possible. They are an excellent source of information on all matters of maintaining good oral health.

Hygienists can also apply fluoride varnishes and gels, carry out tooth whitening and give dietary

What is Periodontitis?

Gingivitis progresses and causes damage to the tissues and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth causing the teeth to become loose. At this stage good dental hygiene alone cannot stop it but it can stabilize it. Periodontitis must be treated by your dentist and hygienist in order to slow down the progression of the disease and help prevent tooth loss. In very advanced cases surgical intervention may be deemed necessary.

Unfortunately this problem reaches far beyond the discomfort and harm to nutrition, self-image and lifestyle caused by losing one’s teeth. Recent scientific research has uncovered an apparent relationship between periodontal disease and other serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, more recently Alzheimer’s and possibly pre-term low-birth weight babies.

How often should I see a Hygienist?

This will depend on the state of a patient’s oral health and is completely individual to each patient. In the initial phase of treatment, some

advice for adults and children.

How to get the most benefit from seeing the hygienist • Ask questions and seek clarification of anything you are unclear about • Ask the hygienist to demonstrate any tricky procedures such as flossing • If problems develop between visits, tell the hygienist about them so that she can advise or treat you appropriately • Try and carry out the cleaning procedures as best you can and stick to the programme suggested by your hygienist.

Although the hygienist plays a crucial part in maintaining the hygiene of your mouth, the most important person responsible for your oral health is you!

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

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

Your CotswoldLink

17

GARDEN VIEW

Blooming

Baskets!

It’s hanging basket season! They can be a source of delight but also a source of stress. It’s easy for a hanging basket to fail badly. Too sparsely filled and they look be-

Hanging baskets are extremely heavy,

draggled. Too little water and death is swift!

Planting is easiest if you balance the

The secret to growing a successful basket lays both in the way it’s planted but also in sensible aftercare.

Plant the basket with bedding plants at the beginning of May but don’t plant them out for a couple of weeks, especially if you live in a more exposed area.

Instead give them some shelter in a porch, or unheated greenhouse, or even under polythene at the side of the house.

This allows the new plants to grow and toughen up a little before they are hung in their final position.

especially when they are wet and you really don’t want your lovingly-planted orb of flowers to be deposited unceremoniously all over the floor!

basket on a large flowerpot or bucket. Fibrous liners help to retain water and look

Plant quite densely and gradually build

nicer than polythene. For extra moisture

up layers of plants and soil. When it’s full

retention place a circle of polythene in

to within 3 cm of the rim you can plant

the base of the basket before filling with

up the top with more upright, compact

soil.

bushy plants like begonias, petunias and

The best planting medium is soilless multi-purpose compost, mixed with

Make sure your basket never dries out.

water-retaining granules. Place a layer of

It will be reliant on you for all water and

compost in the base of the basket and

nutrition. If you water it at least once a

push the first layer of plants through.

day and feed with dilute tomato fertilizer

Trailing plants such as lobelia, bidens

once a week I promise it will be blooming

and ivy-leafed pelargoniums look lovely

basket in the best possible way.

but you can be as creative as you like.

Water the plants in their containers

Check that your bracket and chains for

before planting them and squeeze the

signs of rust and also check that the

rootball firmly to make it small enough to

bracket is securely fixed to the wall.

push though the mesh from the outside.

Hedgehog awareness labels get to the point

Staff from West Oxfordshire District Council’s grounds maintenance contractor Ubico are being warned to watch out for some prickly customers.

All strimmers at the Witney depot have been given special labels telling operatives to check areas for hedgehogs before using the equipment.

The labels have been supplied by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) as part of an ongoing campaign which will also see the launch of Hedgehog Awareness Week running from 30 April to 6 May.

18

Your CotswoldLink

pelargoniums.

Ubico has now been added to the BHPS roll of honour in recognition of its pledge to keep a sharp eye out for the creatures as they awake from hibernation.

Environmental Operations Manager Bob Lightfoot said: “Hedgehogs have declined in numbers in recent years because their environment is under threat from a wide range of factors including the use of equipment such as strimmers.

“They are fantastic creatures and deserve our protection so we must do everything we can to ensure they thrive in West Oxfordshire. Signing up for this campaign is just one way of doing this.”

Happy gardening

By Rachael Leverton

BHPS Chief Executive Fay Vass said: “Every year we receive lots of reports of hedgehogs coming into rescue centres with horrific injuries caused by strimmers and many don’t survive.

“We have been delighted with the response to this campaign and thank Ubico for getting involved.”

For more information on how to get involved with Hedgehog Awareness Week and the BHPS, see www.britishhedgehogs.co.uk

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Get ready for Summer!

Local business J. A Whitton Machinery and Garden Maintenance are busy getting ready for the Summer months. They fix any of the following:

• Garden Shears • Chainsaws • Disc Cutters • Hedge Trimmers • Pedestrian Mowers

• Ride On Mowers • Generators • All types of garden equipment

Give Jack a call today on: 07975 509969 and get your garden ready for Summer!

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

Your CotswoldLink

19

The

Cotswold Sky

James Bradley

James Bradley (1693 – 1762) Gloucestershire’s own Astronomer Royal Born in Sherborne and educated at the Westwood School, Northleach. “……..the greatest astronomer who has ever held the office of Astronomer Royal in nearly three centuries” Sir Richard Woolley (Astronomer Royal 1956 – 1971) “……..assured the most distinguished place (after Hipparchus and Kepler) above the greatest astronomers of all ages and all countries …..…” Joseph Delambre (Director of the Paris Observatory) “The most brilliant and useful discoveries of the century” - Jean Baptiste

With the light nights now with us in these summer months and having limited dark skies to observe, the following summary of the life of a local boy namely James Bradley may be of interest to readers.

From Northleach Grammar School (now the site of Westwoods Community Centre and Surgery) he went to Balliol College, Oxford.

His interest in astronomy was nurtured by his uncle the Rev James Pound. This gave him the opportunity to impress none other than Edmond Halley (of Halley Comet fame); the then Astronomer Royal; with his ability to take miniscule astronomical readings. He initially saw his career serving the Church, and became the Vicar of Bridstow in Monmouthshire but James was to resign this appointment when offered the Savilian Profes-

Flood prevention measures pay off Hundreds of properties in West Oxfordshire have been saved from flooding thanks to a programme of measures across the district.

In July 2007, 1,631 homes and 72 businesses were flooded in West Oxfordshire, and many roads and bridges became impassable, following intense storms.

As the 10th anniversary of the 2007 floods approaches, the District Council has spent more than £1m on a comprehensive rolling plan of prevention, maintenance and improvements in the intervening period to

20

Your CotswoldLink

sorship of Astronomy in Oxford.

James Bradley’s Discoveries The Aberration of Light This is a highly technical subject for those who wish to study it in more detail please refer to the references at the end of this article. The discovery of the aberration of light was the first observational proof that the Earth orbited the Sun. Note: • Galileo’s observations of Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto orbiting Jupiter were used as the analogy that the Earth must therefore be orbiting the Sun. • Kepler showed that the motions of the planets could be far more easily explained as being due to elliptical motions around the Sun, rather than some complex combination of circular motions around the Earth; The genius of Galileo and Kepler did not produce observational proof of the Earth’s movement.

This left some intelligent scientists of the time in the disturbing position of trusting in a theory without the observational evidence to support it.

In addition through utilising James Bradley’s observations it was possible to make more precise measurements of the speed of light.

The Nutation of the Earth

By September 1747 he had completed a series of observations that had taken him over 20 years to complete and resulted in the discovery of the nutation of the Earth’s axis.

James discovered that the movement of the North

Pole was not as uniform as previously thought. He traced this to the gravitational pull of the Moon’s orbit causing the North Pole to oscillate.

Appointed Royal Astronomer Edmond Halley the Royal Astronomer died on 14th January 1742, leading to James Bradley being appointed the third Astronomer Royal one month later.

Honours and later life Other honours included election as a Fellow of the Royal Society when 25 years old and he was awarded the Copley Medal in 1748.

There is little known of James Bradley’s private life. He married a daughter of Samuel Peach of Chalford, a marriage that produced one daughter.

He passed away on 13th July 1762 aged 69 and is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton.

References: James Bradley, Third Astronomer Royal – Sir Richard Woolley Great Astronomers – Robert Stawell Ball Astronomers Royal – Emily Winterburn A&G News and Reviews (Dec 2012) – KAP Walsh http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1963QJRA S...4...47W/0000049.000.ht http://cseligman.com/text/history/bradley.htm John Harris

help ensure the impact of any future flooding events is reduced or removed completely.

and watercourses as well as reacting to messages from residents about specific locations which are causing concern.

Most recently, workers from West Oxfordshire District Council’s maintenance company, Ubico, have completed a major programme of ditch clearance.

A total of five kilometres of ditches controlled by the council have been cleared of debris such as branches and litter as well as general silt. Areas cleared include parts of Bampton and Carterton as well as Madley Brook and Judd’s Close in Witney.

Council engineers are also working with landowners to clear ditches

The work is in addition to routine inspections of known problematic pinch points, culvert inlets and critical drainage systems.

And every new development of up to 10 homes is scrutinised to ensure adequate flood prevention measures have been taken.

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Councillors respond to proposed healthcare changes

Cabinet members in West Oxfordshire are preparing a robust response to proposals for a major shake-up of healthcare services across the county.

The Oxfordshire Healthcare Transformation Programme is a five-year Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) designed to make changes to healthcare to ensure services are improved with smarter use of resources.

The programme is designed to help plug a predicted £479m gap in NHS funding across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire in the face of rapidly increasing demand.

Phase 1 of the plan includes changes to the way hospital beds are used with more care being provided in patients’ homes, a reduction in the level of critical care at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury and moving all high risk pregnancies for treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

In preparing their consultation response, councillors acknowledged the need to improve services in the face of increasing demand and the aim of treating more patients at home.

But they remain concerned about what is contained in Phase 2 of the plans and stressed that there should be no reduction in care in West Oxfordshire with midwife-led maternity and first aid units continuing in Chipping Norton while car parking should be increased at the John Radcliffe.

And councillors have asked that district authorities be added to the STP board to allow for greater participation on the development of Phase 2 proposals.

Cllr Jeanette Baker, Cabinet Member for Community and Health, said: “We recognise the NHS has to be radically changed as there are services which are inefficient and do not meet patients’ needs.

“The Council will be firm with its response to Phase 1 of the proposals. It is absolutely dependent on there being no reduction in services for residents in West Oxfordshire as part of Phase 2.

“As a result, we feel very strongly that the districts and Oxford City Council should be included on the STP board as we play a key role in decisions on housing and the economy of our areas. As part of this, we are keen to emphasise the importance of staff training and retention.”

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

Your CotswoldLink

21

There are 1/8 Page thousands £70! of reasons to advertise with us...

Aston Magna

from only

Next issues

Blockley Bourton-on-the-Hill

Moretonin-Marsh

Little Compton Evenlode

Longborough Condicote

Little Rollright Over Norton

Chipping Norton Cornwell

Oddington Broadwell

Winchcombe

Great Rollright

Stow-onthe-Wold

Lidstone

KinghamChurchill Upper Slaughter Dean Sarsden Naunton Chadlington Wyck Bledington Taston Lower Slaughter Whittington Rissington Church Greenend Spelsbury Westcote Shorthampton Nether Westcote Notgrove Shipton-underIdbury Dowdeswell Andoversford Little Wychwood Chilson Rissington Fifield Shipton Milton-under- Ascott-underClapton-on-the-Hill Great Fawler Wychwood Wychwood Turkdean Rissington Compton Finstock Abdale Langley Ramsden Great Withington Leafield Barrington Fulbrook Taynton Hailey Asthall Windrush Little Leigh Eastington Swinbrook Barrington Crawley Chedworth Asthall Minster Lovell Coln St Dennis Witney Bradwell Village Aldsworth

North Cotswolds

15,600 homes & businesses

Charlbury

Northleach

Burford

Shilton

Christine 01609 777401 07742 595747 christine@jkanorth.com

Dwight Elspeth 01609 779097 01904 709462 dwight@jkanorth.com elspeth@jkanorth.com www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Dist: w/c 3rd July ‘17 Copy: 9th June ‘17

............................................

Heythrop

Icomb

Bourton-onthe-Water

West Oxfordshire July / August 2017

Brize Norton

Carterton

North Cotswolds July / August 2017 Dist: w/c 3rd July ‘17 Copy: 9th June ‘17

West Oxfordshire

18,200 homes & businesses

1/4 Page from only

£110!

Index Attractions & Events Burford Festival: p12 Blinds Associated Blinds: p24 Builders & Contractors Churchill Surfacing: p21 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 CR Building & Small Works: p19 JA Shirley Building Services: p21 P & S Property Services: p21 PJC Services: p23 RJB Window Restoration: p5 The 50 Plus: p8 Carpets & Flooring Chipping Norton Flooring: p7 Children’s Services Cotswold Tutor: p11 Chimney Services Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 Mr Sweep Chimney Services: p4 Cleaning Services Cleaner: p8 The Laundry: p13 Dentist Cirencester Dental Practice: p17 Education Cotswold Tutor: p11

Windrush Valley School:p1 Elderly Services The Langston Care Home: p10 Electrical Services Cotswold Aerials: p15 Mayday Aerials: p8 PJC Services: p23 Flooring Chipping Norton Flooring: p7 Food & Drink Hose & Groom: p1 Furniture Bob Dadge Carpentry: p4 Churchill Surfacing: p21 Cottonwood Interiors: p3 Eynsham Park Sawmill: p3 Once A Tree: p5 Gardening & Outdoors Eynsham Park Sawmill: p3 Fig Garden Design: p1 J. A Whitton Machinery & Garden Maintenance: p19 Russell Nichols: p19 Healthcare & Wellbeing Cirencester Dental Practice: p17 David Brookes Foot Health: p11 Footworx Clinic: p10

Ramona Gogolos Foot Health: p17 Heating Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p23 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p9 Hire Cotswold Marquees: p13 Holidays Character Cottages: p2 Home & Interiors Associated Blinds: p24 Chipping Norton Flooring: p7 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 Cottonwood Interiors: p3 Country Bathrooms: p5 Once A Tree: p5 Paul Dadge Interior Design: p9 Sewing Tuition: p11 Hypnotherapy Jacquelyne Morison: p17 Kitchens & Bathrooms Country Bathrooms: p5 Cottonwood Interiors: p3 Once A Tree: p5 P & S Property Services: p21 PJC Services: p23 Laundry The Laundry: p13

Locksmith P & S Property Services: p21 Painters & Decorators Paul Dadge Interior Design: p9 PMO Decorators: p3 Pets & Animals Dial A Dog Wash: p11 Vets Home Visit: p17 Plumbing Carl Thompson Plumbing: p4 Chris Smith Plumbing Services: p4 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p23 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p9 PJC Services: p23 Property Maintenance Bob Dadge Carpentry: p4 CN Glass: p9 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p23 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p23 CR Building & Small Works: p19 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p9 JA Shirley Building Services: p21 Mr Sweep Chimney Services: p4 P & S Property Services: p21 PJC Services: p23 The 50 Plus: p8

The Index is a free service offered to our customers. No responsibility can be held for errors or omissions. Multiple entries included on a space available basis

Boost your business in 2017!

With 2 great value packages (FREE & £70 annually) Cotswold Link Online is the perfect way to promote your business online to Cotswold residents

www.cotswoldlink.co.uk 22

Your CotswoldLink

Repairs J. A Whitton Machinery & Garden Maintenance: p19 Sewing Sewing Tuition: p11 Sound & Vision Cotswold Aerials: p15 Mayday Aerials: p8 Sport & Leisure Cotswold Archery: p12 Cotswold Riding: p13 Dance with Pat Anslow: p13 Travel & Tourism Character Cottages: p2 Tree Surgery Russell Nichols: p19 Tuition Cotswold Tutor: p11 Sewing Tuition: p11 Weddings Cotswold Marquees: p13 Windows CN Glass: p9 RJB Window Restoration: p5

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Business search & listings Images & website links* (If in package selected)

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

Your CotswoldLink

23

www.cotswoldlink.co.uk