Cotswold Link (West Oxfordshire) May June 2019

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May / June 2019

Local developments shortlisted for Building Excellence Awards Building standards in West Oxfordshire are being recognised for achieving high quality after two projects have been shortlisted for Building Excellence Awards.

The LABC (Local Authority Building Control) awards highlight excellent design and construction of safe, accessible, environmentally efficient buildings that go beyond simply complying with building regulations.

The Burrow and Coach House buildings at the Mulberry Bush School are shortlisted for Best Educational Building and Blenheim Estate Office is shortlisted for the Best Commercial Project.

Cllr Steve Good, Cabinet Member responsible for regulatory services, said: ”Our building control team has excellent working relationships

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within the construction industry developed over many years and built on professionalism, mutual respect and common goals.

He added, “We are proud that these two projects have been shortlisted for LABC awards as it reflects the high standards of building and design in West Oxfordshire.”

The Mulberry Bush School is a Therapeutic Residential Special School for children with severe social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and the new buildings will provide additional accommodation and a therapy suite. The school is part of a charity that provides care,

treatment and education for emotionally traumatised and troubled children aged five to twelve years of age.

Blenheim Estates needed additional office space within the park, and have achieved this with the new single-storey building (left), which sits comfortably within the World Heritage site.

from the Cotswold stone construction normally undertaken by the Blenheim Estates Contractors with the highly glazed steel frame building presenting a step forward into modern construction within the park.

The construction team rose to the challenge and achieved a high quality functional office building for its occupants.

The design is a significant deviation

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Burford Festival

The Burford Festival returns for 2019 and we find out all about the exciting plans for one of the areas biggest events

New way of living

out all about Brio 08 Find Beechwood Park

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02 Local Developments Shortlisted local news 06 Protecting against Cyber Crime local news: 08 New lifestyle at Brio Beechwood health 10 7 reasons to join a gym events 12 Local events across the area local news: FEATURED

FEATURED

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Summer of 1969!

Charlbury Beer Festival is back with an exciting theme

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14 Stonehenge & Summer Solstice local news: 14 Charlbury Beer Festival returns local news: 15 Burford Festival 2019 plans garden view: 18 Open Your Garden cotswold link 22 Advertising Details & Index astronomy: FEATURED FEATURED FEATURED

FEATURED

Welcome to the May - June issue Summer has almost arrived as the warmer weather finally makes a welcome appearance! In this issue we look at the return of some fantastic local events as both Burford Festival (p15) and Charlbury Beer Festival (p14) return for 2019. We also look at protecting businesses against cyber crime (p6) and why opening up your garden to visitors can be so rewarding (p18).

Don’t forget, if you have any news, events, updates or stories of local interest, please send them to editorial@jkanorth.com and we’ll do our best to publish them for you.

01609 777401 01609 779097 cotswoldlink.co.uk

I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in Summer.

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.

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Protect Your Business from Cyber Crime MD of Oxfordshire IT support company urges businesses to protect their email and information as cybercriminals get smarter.

Malware is frequently introduced into business and personal computers through email. Microsoft has recently announced that they are offering even further protection against cybercriminals for your business.

Cybercriminals prefer using Malware as a method to target large and small corporations with the hope that an employee opens an attachment.

These emails can be very convincing and seem like they are from customers asking for payment, an overdue invoice or offers of employment and notifications of fines from authorities. Anyone can easily fall into one of these traps as cybercriminals are getting smarter and smarter.

Simon Withers, Managing Director of S2 Technologies (www.s2technologies.co.uk) is raising awareness with businesses in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas on the importance of keeping their IT systems up to date and encouraging them to upgrade to more secure platforms in an effort to stay protected. “With the increase in cyber security threats and the continual push towards

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digitising the workplace, it is important to ensure that you and your company are taking all the necessary precautions and measures to protect your information.” He said. “We keep up to date with the latest protection available and make it a priority to set security measures in place so that business are secure.”

Microsoft has recently announced that they are now offering advanced protection for Office 365 (www.s2technologies.co.uk/cloud/office-365) users which builds upon the basic security measures that come with every account (spam, malware and known viruses). Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is cloud based and filters your emails which helps to protect all of your mailboxes from sophisticated attacks. It also offers immediate response and covers SharePoint Online, your company OneDrive and Microsoft Teams. Office 365 is a powerful IT solution with security at its core.

Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection highlights: Protection against malicious links: Messages are scanned in transit, blocking malicious hyperlinks if found, before a user can click on it. If a malicious link is hidden in a seemingly secure link and ends up reaching you, once clicked, ATP scans and shows you a screen which will inform you about the situation.

Protection against unsecured attachments: Safe Attachments and Dynamic Delivery are two protection features in particular that make use of machine learning techniques to evaluate any suspicious activity and malware behaviour analysis.

While the attachment is being scanned you are still able to read and reply to the email so it does not hinder your productivity.

Other features include protection against identity theft (Anti-Phishing), counterfeit emails from external domains (Anti-Spoofing) and having access to advanced reports that track message links. ATP provides managers with valuable insight into the attacks which are occurring in your organisation.

The advanced reports allow you to investigate blocked messages due to unknown viruses or malware.

Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection is simply charged at £1.51 per user per month with an existing Office 365 subscription.

Cybercriminals are getting smarter but so are the tools you can use for your business. Whether a start-up or an established business, Microsoft Office 365 offers even greater levels of productivity providing software online and into the cloud.

Ensure that your business is using a secure cloudbased email solution which offers regular updates to their security features.

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New home, new lifestyle at Brio Beechwood Park At Brio Beechwood Park you will not only be buying a new home you will also be buying into a new way of living – being part of a community where you can live life well and age on your own terms.

Set in the picturesque market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, Brio Retirement Living’s Beechwood Park is a new retirement community that is providing a range of stylish apartments and bungalows in a stunning location.

Today’s retirees are generally fitter and more active than ever before as they enter their retirement years, and many are looking for a new lifestyle as much as they are looking for a new home.

A Brio lifestyle combines good health, opportunities and independence with tailored care and support available as and when it is needed.

Brio Beechwood Park will have a range of onsite facilities including a brasserie, homeowners club lounge, hobby and activity room, fitness suite and spa, exercise classes, calendar of activities and gardens and lounges for people to get together for a catch up with friends.

Not only will this create a great environment to live in it will also help people connect and make new friends, preventing loneliness and boredom.

At Brio Beechwood Park you will be surrounded by like-minded friends and neighbours in a vibrant, safe and secure community.

We recognise that every homeowner will have different needs, some may be more active than others. Our service and care concierge teams at Brio Beechwood Park will be able to tailor support and activities around your own individual circumstances. Trusted

on-site care will be available 24/7 so you can access as little or as much as you need.

Located a short walk from the centre of Stow-in-the-Wold, Brio Beechwood Park will become an integral part of the wider Stow town life. Homeowners can explore the “tures” with its eclectic array of antique shops, art galleries and gift shops, before stopping off for a bite to eat in one of the many eateries located close by.

With its grand manors and landscaped gardens, quaint cottages and quiet backwaters, ancient woodland and rolling hills, there is plenty to discover in the quintessential Cotswold town and further afield.

Strong links are also being established with North Cotswold Rotary and other community groups and organisations for homeowners who are interested in getting involved and supporting local community events and initiatives.

Retirement today means something very different to what it did 10 to 15 years ago and at Brio Beechwood Park we are taking a different approach.

Retirement is now a time to be inspired, a time to live life to the full and to live life your way.

Brio Beechwood Park is exclusive to retirees and features a range of contemporary one, two- and threebedroom apartments and two- and threebedroom bungalows.

Prices range from £350,000 to £520,000.

All properties have been designed to the highest specification including a handle-less kitchen with integrated, easy to use NEFF cooking appliances and a floor to ceiling ceramic-tiled bathroom and walk-in, level access shower. Homes also feature a home automation system and online access to Brio’s vast range of guest services.

To enquire about purchasing a new home, please pop in and visit Brio Beechwood Park’s Stow-onthe-Wold’s sales office on Market Square, call the friendly team on 01451 888 217 or visit www.brioretirement.co.uk .

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MOVE IN SUMMER 2019

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NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS Talk to us on: 01451 888 217 • Visit us at: brioretirement.co.uk/beechwoodpark Or pop in for a chat at: 1 Talbot House, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1AB Communities coming soon in Chapleton, Poundbury, Buckingham and Hackbridge All information correct at time of going to press. All images for LOOXVWUDWLRQ SXUSRVHV RQO\ 6SHFLȴFDWLRQ ȴQLVKHV IDFLOLWLHV DQG DPHQLWLHV VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH ( 2( &/.

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Seven Reasons to Join a Gym Today Health benefits – Regular exercise has been proven to reduce your risk of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease. It’s also been proven to increase your good blood cholesterol and improve mental health.

Stronger mind – Exercise actually increases brain function. Because it improves the flow of blood to your brain it helps the brain remain healthy, increasing the ability to grow new nerve fibres and replace damaged ones, thus reducing your risk of Alzheimer’s.

Weight management – Exercise helps to burn unwanted fat and increase muscle mass, helping you control your weight and maintain it at a healthy level.

Motivation – Committing to a regular workout is not easy. And sometimes when we don’t get quick results, we tend to give up. At a gym you will see and meet people like you, slowly building towards their goal.

That sense of being part of a like-minded community is very motivating.

Socialising – Some of those people you nod and smile at in the gym will go on to become friends. The gym is an excellent place to hang out with people whose goals are aligned with yours.

National Smile Month National Smile Month is the largest and longest-running campaign to promote good oral health.

Between 13th May and 13th June 2019, National Smile Month will promote positive messages and to engage people with maintaining a healthy mouth.

For the best oral hygiene: Brush your teeth At least two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you clean your teeth before bed, as your mouth doesn’t have the same salivary protection during the night as it does during the day.

Floss Each tooth has five sides; a toothbrush

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only cleans three sides. The other two sides are where most decay and foul odours originate. To clean between the teeth requires dental floss or tiny inter-dental brushes.

Clean your tongue This is an important part of oral hygiene and works wonders with stale, smelly breath. You can use a tongue scraper or a toothbrush Give up smoking Smoking dries the mouth, depleting the protective saliva.

It also exposes your gums, soft palate and tongue to harmful and cancer-causing toxins, and it makes your breath smell.

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Use a mouthwash This freshens breath and coats the teeth with a protective layer, helping to prevent plaque build-up. Avoid those which contain alcohol though.

Cut out sugary foods and drinks Sugary snacks feeds the bacteria in your mouth which ultimately break down your enamel and cause decay.

Visit your dentist regularly! nationalsmilemonth. org

By Louise Addison

Uninterrupted workout routine – While your running or cycling routine might be interrupted by the weather, if you’re a gym member you can simply rock up there and exercise all year long.

Professional guidance – Good gyms have well-trained professional staff who can instruct you how to use equipment safely and give advice about technique and nutrition.

So, there’s no excuse. Pop along to your local gym today and start reaping the benefits of regular exercise.

By Louise Addison

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Out & About First Monday Monthly

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

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

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

Every 2nd Tuesday n Chipping Norton Bliss Probus Club

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

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

Third MondayMonthly

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

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

3rd - 12th May

n Oxford Beer Week 2019 - The aim is to raise awareness of the diverse range of fantastic locally brewed beers complemented by a range of artisan food producers. The brewers will showcase their wide-ranging beers of differing styles and tastes – IPAs to

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pilsners, sours to stouts, bitters to lagers – through a series of events across the week. Opportunities throughout the week to visit pubs and beer festivals across the county to sample the locally produced beers.

The “Big Event” on Saturday 4th May at The Oxford Artisan Distillery sets everything off with a celebration of all things locally brewed and produced, with the addition of live music.

1,000 tickets only for this event.

Tickets are available from outlets around the city – check out oxfordbrewers.org .......................................................

4th May

n Affordable Art

Asthall Leigh Memorial Hall between 10am and 3pm for a sale of 19th & 20th century prints, watercolours and oils. The paintings cover a wide variety of subjects from as little as £5.

There will also be some interesting antiques and collectables for sale so it will be an ideal opportunity to buy some unique presents. There will be a selection of photographic art works for sale. All the photographs are unique images signed by the artist. Many are of locations in West Oxfordshire. Tea and coffee will be available. Entrance free. Hope to see you there. .......................................................

16th - 18th May

n Chipping Norton Amateur Operatic Society

Performing My Fair Lady at the Theatre Chipping Norton Performances are 7.30pm on Thur,Fri and Sat evening and 2.00pm on Sat afternoon Tickets on sale from the Theatre at £15.00 for the evening performances and £13.00 for the Saturday matinee Call the box office on 01608 642350 or online at chippingnortontheatre.com .......................................................

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Having an event?

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

1st June

n Chadlington Beer Festival

Noon onwnards. Chadlington Memorial Hall.

Beer, cider, lager, wine, Pimms, gin. Live music. BBQ, tea tent, kids stuff.

Gate price £10 includes Festival Glass, programme and two drink tokens.

Non-beer drinkers free.

Children’s entry £3 for unlimited free activities (except face painting). .......................................................

4th - 6th June

n Bledington Music Festival

St Leonard’s Church, Bledington - 3 concerts on 4th, 5th and 6th June. Bella Tromba, trumpet quartet, Albion Quartet, string quartet and ZRI - gypsy spirit!

Tickets, £22 including interval canapes, Madhatter Bookshop, Burford, Jaffe & Neale, Chipping Norton, Borzoi Bookshop, Stow on the Wold., King’s Head, Bledington and Kingham Stores.

Details and booking form on the website: www.bledingtonmusicfestival.co.uk .......................................................

8th June

n Bledington Fete

Village Green, Lunches from 12noon, Fete opens at 1pm.

Lunches, Barbecue, Beer Tent, Teas. Aunt Sally, Skittles, Jousting, Tombola. Maypole dancing, Static Falconry Display, North Cotswold Wind Band, Raffle and much more! .......................................................

Hailey Events

Hailey Annual Rounders Match

tion for the coveted ‘Hailey Bat’.

Licensed Bar, BBQ, stalls. Free entry. Open to all ages - especially family teams. For info and to register you team Tel 01993 703070

Hailey Festival Scarecrows

They’re back!

From Saturday 8th to Sunday 23rd June. This year’s theme – FILM TITLES. Free maps from Lamb & Flag. Competition to identify all of the film titles sports closes on Thursday 20th. Results at Fete on 22nd. Tel 01993 700162.

Join us for the annual Hike for Home-Start Cotswolds The popular annual ‘Hike for Home-Start Cotswolds’ is back!

On Wednesday 8th May at 9.30am, we will set off on a 10km walk through the beautiful Coln Valley, starting and ending at Cripps Barn.

You can even enjoy a delicious two-course lunch there afterwards.

Tickets are available at our website.

Your support will help families who are going through challenging times to give their children the best start in life.

Walk and refreshments £15 Walk and two-course lunch £30 We look forward to seeing you there!

Hailey Festival Big Party

Saturday 8th June, 7pm -midnight at the Lamb & Flag, Hailey Live Band and Groove Town.

WW2 Variety Show

Sunday 9th June 12.30am. St John’s Church, Hailey. Bring a picnic lunch. Details to follow.

Info 07935 763224 Hailey Summer Fete Saturday 22nd June 12-5pm, Hailey Recreation Ground.

Scarecrow results, Radio Cherwell, Bar, BBQ, Tug-O-War, Stalls, Bouncy Castle, Bouncy Slide, Traditional Fair Ground rides, Ice Cream, Tea, Coffee and Cakes, Flight simulator, Radio controlled banger racing, Reptile enclosure, Sheep shearing and lots more. Free entry.

Traditional Afternoon Tea with Prosecco, finger sandwiches and sweet treats.

Sunday 23rd June, 2.30-4.30pm Hailey Village Hall For tickets or further details call 01993 776471

Friday 7th June, 6.30pm, Hailey Recreation Ground. CompetiPlease 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.

18th - 27th May ST. MARY’S CHURCH GROUP, CHARLBURY There are new delights in store for visitors to Charlbury Artweeks.

Changes are afoot in the diverse mix of artists exhibiting in Charlbury’s St. Mary’s Church, and while old friends remain, there are new and exciting talents to add to what is already a stimulating visual Artweeks experience.

The exhibition will be open from 11 to 6 o’clock, (from 12 to 5 on Sundays only) and Charlbury’s other artists are all within walking distance from the Church.

Teas will be available throughout the week and on Thursday morning the Font Café will be open to provide you with delicious homemade cake and coffee to keep you going as you do the rounds.

This is a great opportunity to visit our pretty Cotswold town, and you are all warmly urged to come and see what remarkable talent can be found in our part of the county.

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The

Cotswold Sky

Stonehenge and the Summer Solstice

As we approach the Summer Solstice; which this year occurs at 17.00 hours on Friday June 21st; the media will be present in force along with thousands of onlookers at Stonehenge reporting of people celebrating the occasion when the Sun reaches its most northerly point and gives us our longest day. Similarly there will be as much publicity on December 22nd when this year’s Winter Solstice occurs.

The mysteries of how Stonehenge came to be are legendary and cannot be fully conveyed in an article as short as this. For those wishing to expand their knowledge please refer to the references.

The age of Stonehenge is still open to question but the consensus of opinion is that it was fully operational some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. The building took place over a period of around 400 years. Our understanding is still changing as excavations and modern scientific techniques yield more information.

It is an unique prehistoric monument and an extraordinary source for the study of prehistory.

Our understanding of Stonehenge is still changing as excavations and modern scientific techniques yield more information. Was it built as a place of worship, pilgrimage, burial or of celebration for the changing of the seasons? The answers to these questions we may never know but we are aware that when the Summer and Winter Solstice’s occur the Sun is guaranteed to appear at specific points close to the Heel Stone.

The knowledge and ability of our

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1969: from Woodstock to the Moon

ancestors should never be underestimated in working out this precise point.

Diary Summer Solstice

Friday June 21st 17.00 hours (BST) Summer Solstice

The Planets Mercury

Barely visible during May but in June may be observed after sunset close to the horizon when looking North West. During mid-June it will be seen to be close to Mars.

Venus: Observable during the early hours of May on the eastern horizon, but by June will be too close to the Sun to be seen.

Mars: In May Mars is observable in the North West during the sunset and will remain there for the month of June.

Jupiter: During May can be seen low above the southern horizon during the early hours of the day where it remains throughout the month of June.

Saturn: Look to the left of Jupiter and you will note that Saturn is following our largest planet throughout the whole of May and June during the early hours of the day.

References: https://www.history.com/topics/ british-history/stonehenge https://www.english-heritage.org. uk/visit/places/stonehenge/ https://www.smithsonianmag. com/history/new-light-on-stonehenge-11706891/

Free admission in 2019 to anybody dressed as an astronaut … or who arrives by rocket!

There’s a real buzz around this year’s main event, so make sure you keep your right arm strong as we start the countdown to the 22nd Annual Charlbury Beer Festival taking place on Saturday 29 June at Charlbury Cricket Club, Oxfordshire from 12 noon to 10pm. We will be celebrating the optimism of the summer of ’69, and the 50th anniversary of Woodstock and the first Moon landing.

For previous years’ events, our festival has attracted around 3,000 visitors, and raised money for community projects, both in the Charlbury area and overseas. Last year we took our total of funds raised for good causes to over £230,000, hopefully skyrocketing to a quarter of a million this year. Our festival tries to appeal to everyone, ranging from local mums and dads whose kids come to enjoy the children’s entertainment, to serious beer, cider, wine, and gin lovers, who visit from far and wide, and even from overseas. The day will incorporate 48 real ales, a variety of craft beers, a range of ciders and perries, wine, gin, and Pimm’s; a great selection of food; live music throughout with all our acts including a track from 1969 in their sets; the Culture Club tent with a varied programme of performances and talks; children’s entertainment; PLUS high-octane sport with the 9th World Aunt Sally Singles Championships.

Charlbury Cricket Club provides a glorious setting, so just take one small step from Charlbury Station and make a giant leap to land on some memorable entertainment – excellent all-day (including late night) bus and train services to and from Charlbury to Oxford, Chipping Norton, Reading, Witney, Worcester and London, so you don’t even need to drive if you want to have a drink. And you’ll be able to see as far as the Moon if we have a clear evening.

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

John Harris Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Small town with a

big festival Burford may be one of the smallest towns in the Cotswolds, yet it’s Festival with around 50 events over a 10 day period is one of the areas biggest events It starts with an Open Gardens weekend of Open Gardens with around 20 rarely seen private gardens

and two talks on the English Garden Abroad from George Schoellkopf, from Connecticut and Anna Pavord.

Theatre and Film events include All in Good Time – Letters from Broadway, and the associated film of Bill Naughtons hit, The Family Way, starring John and Hayley Mills.

The Three Inch Fools, will perform a vibrantly musical take on Much Ado About Nothing.

There will be talks by Rick and John Stein.

Michael Morpurgo will discuss his latest novel, Flamingo Boy and Prue Leith will enthral with her naturally witty style.

Tweedy the clown will

add cheer while Anne Youngson will talk about her new novel. Deborah Warner will provide a director’s perspective on her production of Benjamin Britten’s dramatic opera, Billy Budd and Rosamund Young, from Kites Nest Farm, near Burford, will discuss her extraordinary Best Seller, The Secret Life of Cows.

One event not to be missed on June 11th is Dr. Chadden Hunter,from the BBC Natural History Unit (where he has worked with Sir David Attenborough) who will be sharing neverbefore-seen footage.

Jo Ruxton will discuss her thoughtprovoking film A Plastic Ocean.

Lysander Ashton will introduce Deep Field. a film combining Hubble Space Telescope’s imagery with an ethereal musical score including an

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8,000-strong Virtual Choir.

Music includes The Songbird Trio’s Incurable Romantics concert, Jazz aficionados can enjoy Roger Beaujolais, vibraphone and pianist David Newton celebrating Milt Jackson of MJQ. The internationally-acclaimed, 80-strong Pendyrus Male Voice Choir will perform as will the award-winning a cappella group All the King’s Men. Swing From Paris will bring the sounds of a chic Parisian café and the finale gala concert will feature The Burford Singers, the Cotswold Chamber Orchestra and superstar pianist Maria Marchant.

Full details can be found on -www.burfordfestival.org

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Is English the most spoken language on Earth?

As we enter the examination season examinations will be sat not only in this country but throughout world and may I take this opportunity of wishing all youngsters and those not so young who are taking examinations of all types and categories during the next few weeks the very best of luck.

3rd English

The question that comes to mind is “How popular is the English Language? Is it the most spoken language of all? For the answer read below you will find for such a relatively small nation we punch well above our weight.

4th Hindi

The latest count is around 360 Million native English speakers.

The spread of the English language being due to our adventurous ancestors spreading their wings to all the corners of the Earth including the USA who are now arguably the richest nation

Made up of 2 dialects apparently it is argued that Hindi constitutes 2 languages

5th Arabic

The Top Ten Spoken Native Languages

Arabic is another language made up from several dialects from a population of 250 Million people who are placed into one language category.

1st Chinese

6th Portuguese

The most spoken native language is Mandarin but this is not surprising considering that it is the most common language in China and has around 1 Billion speakers.

2nd Spanish Perhaps surprisingly Spanish is the second most popular native language and is spoken by approximately 400 million people and is no doubt due to the Spanish conquests of the American continent some centuries ago.

Like its European cousins of England and Spain Portuguese earns its right to be in the top ten of spoken languages due to its colonial past and 215 Million speakers.

7th Bengali Bengali is the primary native language of Bangladesh with around 170 million speakers.

with Bangladesh and is one of the 6 official languages spoken in the United Nations.

9th Japanese The 130 Million Japanese native speakers are mainly concentrated in Japan making it the most highly geographically concentrated of all the World’s languages.

10th Punjabi Punjabi is spoken by almost 100 Million people situated in large areas of India and Pakistan.

Surprisingly there is no mention of French or German in the above, but there is another list published by Babble (www.babble.com) who lists the top ten numbers of languages by the total number of speakers.

In other words this second table includes those that can speak at least 2 languages:

8th Russian One of the most powerful political nations has a population on par

Top Ten Languages By Total Number Of Speakers 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

From this table it would appear that the English language is the most spoken of the other languages on Earth.

References: https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/the-10-most-spoken-languages-in-the-world/ https://www.accreditedlanguage. com/languages/the-10-most-common-languages/ John Harris

A Good Read One Day

n David Nicholls Ah, the hazy days of university. When we are young, with the responsibilities of a family far in the distance, full of potential, with the world at our feet. How many of us sat around with our friends and thought about what our lives would be like when we were 40. Would we be happy?

Would we be married with children?

Would we even still be friends?

Dexter and Emma are both studying at Edinburgh University and on following

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their graduation they spend the night together. Both have dreams and plans and they wonder what their lives will be like in the future. This night marks the beginning of their friendship. A friendship that is revisited in the book every 15th July for 20 years.

This is an interesting format for a novel: one chapter for each day. We see nothing of what happens in the intervening 364 days and are left to deduce what happened from the text. Will their lives turn out as

English Chinese Hindi Spanish French Arabic Russian Bengali Portuguese Indonesian

they hoped – will Emma improve the world as she wanted to on that first 15th July?

Life, it is clear, never quite turns out as we planned. As joy and tragedy play out for the reader, we are reminded that events have a habit of not asking us for permission first and taking us down a different path.

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Chipping Norton Library Monday: 9:30am–5:30pm

01608 643559 chippingnorton.library@ Wednesday: 9:30am–4pm oxfordshire.gov.uk Thursday: Closed Tuesday: 9:30am–4pm

Friday: 9:30am–7pm Saturday: 9:30am–4pm Sunday Closed

Goddards Lane Chipping Norton OX7 5NP

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GARDEN VIEW

Open Your Garden

This month I’m going to talk about The National Garden Scheme. This wonderful initiative gives garden-lovers unique access to more than 3,500 exceptional private gardens in England and Wales.

people get the bug and open their gardens year after year.

Most people start by opening once in a year, but many go on to open twice a year, to show off their garden in different seasons.

It also raises money for nursing and health charities through admission fees, teas and cake. Beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.

By opening your garden to visitors, you’ll give people a great day out, and raise money to help those in need. Even better you’ll connect with a community of like-minded garden-owners, all passionate about their beautiful gardens.

You don’t need a big garden.

There are some tiny plots in the NGS. What matters is quality, character and interest.

Is your garden worth visiting?

Do friends and family wax lyrical about your plot? Do neighbours ask for advice and cuttings? Do you sometimes wish you could show other people the result of all your hard work? If you answered yes to these questions, then it’s very likely other people would love to see your garden too.

And if you don’t feel as though garden is worthy of being part of the scheme, why not visit open gardens in your area to gain inspiration, hints and tips, make new gardening friends, and raise a bit of money for charity.

Happy gardening.

It might seem a somewhat daunting experience but opening your garden to the public can be very enjoyable. Many

Call 01483 211 535 to speak to one of the NGS team Or visit www.ngs.org.uk

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NGS will support you all the way with their network of helpful, friendly volunteers. Initially you’ll be visited by one of the team during the season you feel your garden would look best.

By Rachael Leverton

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Hiring a Tree Surgeon Tree surgeons plant, maintain and perform hazard assessments on trees. They prune or cut down trees where necessary. It can be a dangerous job, involving the use of power tools, a lot of climbing and working at height. Yet surprisingly anyone can call themselves a tree surgeon!

So, it’s up to you to research the company or individual carefully before hiring them.

What qualifications should you look for?

The National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) is part of the City & Guilds group and is the governing body which issues certificates of competence for tree surgeons. As a minimum, any tree surgeon you hire should hold the following certificates: CS30 – Maintenance of the chainsaw, on site preparation and basic cross cutting CS31 – Fell and process small trees CS38 – Climb a tree and perform aerial rescue CS39 – Use of a chainsaw from a rope and harness

First Aid at Work You should ask if the tree surgeon works to British Standards and see if he or she can name the relevant ones. The two main British standards for tree work are: - British Standard 3998:2010 Tree work. Recommendations - British Standard 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction – Recommendations It’s also worth asking whether they have any other qualifications - like a relevant degree, additional NPTC certification, or whether they are a member of the Arboricultural Association (AA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) or the Royal Forestry Society?

The difference between an arborist and a tree surgeon is education. The International Society of Arboriculture has developed a certification program and testing that gives the individual the distinction of being called a Certified Arborist. The responsibility of being a Certified Arborist means maintaining the educational credits every year.

These are highly skilled and qualified individuals who care about trees.

Any contractor should provide you with a free quotation, in writing. This should break down exactly what’s included in the price. For example, does the final price for the job include the hire of any equipment, stump grinding, taxes, and the clearance and disposal of waste?

They will also be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of how the law applies to their job.

Take a look at the equipment your chosen tree surgeon brings with him to the job - and how he uses it. In particular: Any worker should be wearing the right personal protective equipment. This should typically include a helmet with visor and ear protection, chainsaw boots and chainsaw trousers. Anyone working up in a tree should be wearing - and using - a harness and a rope.

Follow our tips and any contractor you employ should do a tree-mendous job.

By Ian Robbins

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There are thousands of reasons to advertise Moretonin-Marsh with us...

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Bathrooms Chris Smith Plumbing Services: p7 Country Bathrooms: p6 Blinds Associated Blinds: p24 Builders & Contractors Churchill Surfacing: p21 CN Glass: p1 RGS Build: p3 JA Shirley Building Services: p21 SC Services Water & Sewage: p19 Children’s Services Cotswold Tutor: p17 Chimney Services Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p21 Mr Sweep Chimney Services: p21 Cleaning Services MRK Services: p19 The Laundry: p7

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The new scheme, to be built in Rockhill, Chipping Norton, will comprise of 80 extra care homes 40 one-bed and 40 two-bed apartments - designed to meet the needs of older people. It will offer a number of communal facilities including

Gardening & Outdoors Churchill Surfacing: p21 MRK Services: p19 WHC Hire Services: p19 Gifts Cotswold Frames: p13 Healthcare & Wellbeing Cirencester Dental Practice: p11 Footworx Clinic: p10 GP Acupuncture: p11 Personal Training By James: p11 Three Valleys Osteopathy: p10 Heating Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p4 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p6 Home & Interiors Amanda Hanley By Design: p1 Bob Dadge Carpentry: p7 Chipping Norton Flooring: p5 CN Glass: p1 Country Bathrooms: p6 Paul Dadge: p3

Tiles Et Al: p7 Kitchens & Bathrooms Chris Smith Plumbing Services: p7 Country Bathrooms: p6 Laundry The Laundry: p7 Office Space HQ Offices: p23 Painters & Decorators Paul Dadge: p3 PMO Decorators: p7 Pets & Animals Dial A Dog Wash: p12 Plumbing Chris Smith Plumbing Services: p7 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p4 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p6 ID Godden: p21 Property Maintenance Chipping Norton Roofing & Property Maintenance: p19

gardens, a dining area, lounges and hobby / activity areas.

Some of the apartments will be let at affordable rents and others will be available for shared ownership.

Priority will be given to people who have a local connection to Chipping Norton and the surrounding area, then cascade to the whole District.

Extra care housing enables older people with care and support needs to live independently in selfcontained accommodation.

Next issues

West Oxfordshire July / August 2019 Dist: w/c 1st July ‘19 Copy: 7th June ‘19

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North Cotswolds July / August 2019 Dist: w/c 1st July ‘19 Copy: 7th June ‘19

Christine 01609 777401 07742 595747 christine@jkanorth.com www.cotswoldlink.co.uk Elspeth 01904 709462 elspeth@jkanorth.com

Carterton

A planning application for an extra care housing scheme in West Oxfordshire has been approved, subject to conditions.

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Northleach

Extra care homes for Chipping Norton

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Index

Little Rollright Over Norton

KinghamChurchill Dean Sarsden Naunton Chadlington Wyck Bledington Taston Lower Slaughter Rissington Church Greenend Spelsbury Westcote Shorthampton Nether Westcote Notgrove Shipton-underIdbury Little Wychwood Chilson Rissington Fifield Milton-under- Ascott-underClapton-on-the-Hill Great Fawler Wychwood Wychwood Turkdean Rissington Finstock Langley Ramsden Great Leafield Barrington Fulbrook Taynton Asthall Hailey Windrush Little Leigh Eastington Swinbrook Barrington Crawley Upper Slaughter

Whittington

Great Rollright

Churchill Surfacing: p21 CN Glass: p1 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p4 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p21 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p6 JA Shirley Building Services: p21 Mr Sweep Chimney Services: p21 Sound & Vision Cotswold Aerials: p23 Mayday Aerials: p4 Sport & Leisure Cotswold Archery: p13 Tree Surgery Stockwell Davies Tree Contractors: p21 Russell Nicholls Tree Services: p20 Tuition Cotswold Tutor: p17

A care team will be available on site 24 hours a day, catering for people with a range of needs from low care needs to high care needs. There will also be the flexibility to adjust the amount of care given, as people’s needs change over time.

The Rockhill scheme will be developed by specialist provider Housing and Care 21, and will receive £2.9m of funding from the Oxfordshire Growth Deal which is also backing a similar scheme in Great Western Park, Didcot.

West Oxfordshire District Council is contributing additional funding of £300,000.

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

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