Thirsk Easingwold InFocus Autumn 2019

thirsk&easingwold Quarterly Royal Mail distribution: 16,700 homes & businesses www.jkanorth.com/thirsk | Autumn 2019

InFocus

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inside

THIRSK & EASINGWOLD infocus

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The Clock

We find out about all the exciting activities that The Clock have been undertaking in the last few months

Rural Arts

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The Blue Cross

We find out about the Autumn An Autumn update from The schedule at Rural Arts!

Blue Cross Best in Show 2018 Mali Tribesman by Aynsley Halligan

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06 16 Runner Up 2018 Serenity feature feature:

by Caroline Lewis 08 18 local news: recipe 10 18 events local news: EASINGWOLD 12 20ART EXHIBITION local news: infocus & ART 14 22FAIR 2019 local news: FEATURED

garden view: FEATURED

Why we should drink more water

The History of Harvest Festival

News from The Clock

Trimming privet hedges FEATURED

FEATURED

Easingwold Art Fair

Walnut Stuffed Apples

Local events this Autumn

Autumn at Blue Cross

FEATURED

FEATURED

Update from Rural Arts

Advertising Details & Index

Welcome to the Autumn issue Galtres Centre Easingwold YO61 3AD We welcome Autumn with a range of local updates and news, from The ClockSaturday (p6) and the 19th Blue Cross (p20) to an20th October & Sunday exciting update about Easingwold Art Fair (p10). We also have a delicious Walnut Stuffed Apple recipe (p18), as well as some helpful garden tips (p16).

T: 01609 777401 Don’t forget, if you have any news, events, updates or stories www.jkanorth.com  them Showcasing over 40 Artists of local interest, please send to editorial@jkanorth.com and we’ll do our best to publish them for you. I hope you all enjoy  Meet the Artists in Residence this issue and I’ll see you again in November.  Leaping Hare Gallery & Framers Best wishes,

10am - 4pm

Entry £1

 Pop Up Café  Free Parking & Disabled Access Christine Campbell | Editor Original Artist’s Work for Sale InFocus Magazines are 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 appearing in the InFocus Magazines carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. AllPlease rights reserved.

All information is mention InFocus when contacting any of our advertisers Drawing Painting correct best of our knowledge at the time of going toLife press. InFocus Magazines cannot& be held responsible for anyWorkshops errors or omissions.

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Autumn Update @ The Clock The Clock and Thirsk Community Care

Aging Well Festival

The Clock is continuing to work with Thirsk Community

The Clock and Thirsk

Care to identify the best way of providing services for

Community

local people. All aspects of both charities have been

are

scrutinised and it has been agreed to work towards

an

forming one charity. There is still a lot of work to

partnership

complete before this happens but to help the process

Thirsk to make

Abigail Homer has been appointed as CEO designate

sure older people

and David Sharp has been appointed as

know about and can

Care

leading exciting

access

on new in

activities,

Chair designate.

support, advice and

The Trustees believe that this new way of working is

services in the area.

extremely exciting and feel that there is the potential

The

to develop new and existing services. More information

will

will follow as it becomes available.

together to find

partnership be

working

practical solutions AGM Date

to

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday

a c c e s s i n g

27th November at 6:30pm in Thirsk Methodist Church.

services including

It will be an opportunity to catch up on all that has been

how

going on at The Clock over the last year. Everyone is

promoted,

welcome.

people

problems

they get

are how to

them and lots more. a

voluntary

It

Catalyst

is

partnership

The Clock and Thirsk Community Care are excited to

organizations supported by a project called

of

likeminded

re-launch ‘Catalyst’, a project to support vulnerable

Hambleton Together funded by The National

women. The project is extending to support women

Lottery Community Fund. To officially launch

across Hambleton and Richmondshire and will offer

the partnership we are holding the Aging Well

support, advice and life coaching to help women

Festival, Friday 11th October, 1pm to 4:30pm where a

work towards their goals in life and to break down

new directory will be launched and many services will

barriers. The project is funded by The National Lottery

be available.

Community Fund for 5 years and will make a huge difference in women’s lives.

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Photos from our Summer Activities so far

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Water Works

Why we should all drink more water Ask most people how much fluid they are supposed to drink in a day, and they will reply “Eight glasses of water.” This number has seeped into the public consciousness over the past couple of decades so it might surprise you to know that it has very little basis in science!

However, it is important to stay properly hydrated. Fewer people know that if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated, and this has a real impact on how your body and brain function.

Dehydration leads to a decrease in our physical performance. Losing just 2% of your body’s water contact can cause fatigue, problems with temperature control, and make exercise feel more difficult, physically and mentally, and it’s not uncommon for people to lose 6-10% of their body’s total water content through sweat during a workout, and as muscle is 80% water this increases muscle stress.

Our brains are also strongly influenced by hydration. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration impacts brain function. In separate studies of men and women it was found that about 1.5% fluid loss impaired mood and concentration, decreased working memory, and increased feeling of anxiety, fatigue and the frequency of headaches. 1.5% fluid loss can easily occur during normal daily activities, never mind during exercise or hot weather. Worryingly the effects of dehydration are shown to be worse in children and the elderly.

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There has been some scientific interest in the effect of increasing hydration on migraine sufferers. So far, some studies have shown that while keeping hydrated doesn’t stop migraines completely, sufferers in the studies reported that the frequency and intensity of the migraines decreased when they were properly hydrated.

Constipation is a common health problem and can be serious in children and the elderly. Low water consumption does appear to be a risk factor in these cases. Some studies have shown that carbonated water seems to help the situation more than still water though scientists haven’t yet explained why.

Alcohol acts as a diuretic, so it makes you lose more water than you take in. The dehydration effects of alcohol are responsible for the thirst, fatigue, and headache which inevitably accompany a hangover. It’s a good idea to alternated alcoholic drinks with water and to drink a large glass of water before going to sleep, after a night out on the town.

Finally, water both increases satiety and boost metabolism so is great if you’re trying to lose weight. Studies show that dieters who drank half a litre of water before each meal lost 44% more weight over a period of 12 weeks.

Try it. Make a real attempt to stay properly hydrated for a week and monitor the results. You may be surprised.

By Tracey Anderson

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Art Fair

Easingwold & District Art Society (EDAS) are once again returning to the Galtres Centre on the weekend of Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October 2019.

On display will be over 40 artist’s original work in different mediums, ranging from framed pieces to mounted paintings, prints and greetings cards.

This is a great opportunity to view their work and invest in an original framed or mounted picture or stock up on greetings cards. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet some of the exhibiting artists during the weekend, as well as voting for their personal choice of ‘Best in Show’ – the results will be displayed on EDAS web site.

Work by 6th form pupils from local schools will also be on display.

For the first time we are delighted to welcome two ‘Artists in Residence’ who will be painting in the main exhibition hall throughout the weekend. They will be happy to explain techniques and talk to visitors who can watch them in action On Saturday 19th Shirley Davis Dew - uses a variety of mediums including Acrylics, Pastels, Mixed Media and Watercolours, painting many subjects from landscapes, figure work to still life. Shirley was commended at the York Art Society Exhibition held at the De Grey Rooms, her paintings were also accepted at the Ferrens Art Gallery Hull for 3 years in a row.

Sunday 20th October- Cath Inglis – an award-winning pastel artist based near York and is well known for her portrait and animal paintings. Cath is a full member of the Society of Women Artists and exhibits widely throughout the UK.

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There are two pre-bookable workshops: starting at 10.30am and ending at 2:30pm.

On Saturday 19th October Anita Daniel will lead a Life Drawing workshop £30 This includes the model and most materials. Anita as well as her own work is an experienced tutor in Art and Design.

On Sunday 20th October John Harrison will lead a Line & Wash workshop £20.

John is a master of pen drawing, to which he then applies a light wash with watercolors. John is also involved in running drawing/sketching workshops at many venues across the North, and in particular, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Early booking is advised as workshops have limited places and prove to be very popular- see below The Leaping Hare Gallery and Framers of Easingwold will have small gift items for sale and will be on hand to advise on their framing services.

When you need refreshment our ever-popular Pop Up Cafe will again be serving teas and coffees, delicious cakes and light lunches.

The event is held on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October 2019 between 10.00am – 4.00pm. Entry £1 The Galtres Centre, Market Place, Easingwold YO61 3AD. Free Parking & Disabled Access For more information about the exhibition, become a ‘Friend’ of EDAS or to book a place on a workshop contact Lynda Bullus: lynda.bullus@talktalk.net or tel. 01423 325955.

Or visit: www.easingwoldartex.org

Best in Show 2018 Mali Tribesman by Aynsley Halligan

Runner Up 2018 Serenity

by Caroline Lewis

EASINGWOLD ART EXHIBITION & ART FAIR 2019 Galtres Centre Easingwold YO61 3AD Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October

10am - 4pm

      

Entry £1

Showcasing over 40 Artists Meet the Artists in Residence Leaping Hare Gallery & Framers Pop Up Café Free Parking & Disabled Access Original Artist’s Work for Sale Life Drawing & Painting Workshops

To book a workshop call 01423 325955 or email Lynda.bullus@talktalk.net For further information www.easingwoldartex.org

Easingwold & District Art Society

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Out & About

Various

n Husthwaite & District Gardening Club Visitors will have the opportunity to meet some of the exhibiting artists during the weekend, as well as voting for their personal choice of ‘Best in Show’ – the results will be displayed on EDAS web site. For further information please contact Simon Eedle on 07970 246033or look at our web site www. husthwaitevillage.com/organisations. php and click on Gardening Club. ........................................................

31st Aug – 22nd Sept

n Great North Art Show 2019 Venue Address: Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4 1QS. 10am – 4.30pm.

An exciting and diverse exhibition featuring hundreds of artworks by some of the finest Northern contemporary artists in the spectacular setting of Ripon Cathedral. Discover prints, paintings, photography, textiles, sculpture and more.

All work is for sale. Free entry. www.greatnorthartshow.co.uk Facebook /GreatNorthArtShow Twitter @GreatNorthArtSh ........................................................

15 September th

n Husthwaite Village Autumn Market Husthwaite Village Hall YO61 4PY 11.00am – 3.00pm Our markets, professionally run by volunteers for the benefit of the community, offer a range of food and craft stalls. We proudly support our locally sourced sellers, with an ever growing selection of produce, from free range seasonal vegetables, poultry, meat, dairy, oils, and honey. Award winning jams and preserves, artisan breads, cheeses and pastries. All this plus an interesting range of quality items from jewellery to soy wax candles and diffusers, learning money box tree and refillable eco-friendly cleaning products to soft fabric and wooden items means you are bound to find that unusual gift. The Apple Tree Café will be serving up delicious home-made hot and

Easingwold Players Present HAPPY FAMILIES

By John Godber 20th – 23rd November, 7.30pm

Full of warmth, understanding and humour, this is an affectionate and appealing portrait of an ordinary family struggling with change, bereavement and the generation gap. On his graduation day in 1978 John looks back over his teenage years, from 1967 – 1973, recalling all the embarrassments, tensions, joys and sorrows of family life in West Yorkshire. Older and better

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cold food and beverages. Free entry – all ages – wheelchair access Charity number 1013186 ........................................................

26th September

n Talk: “Nosterfield: A Stepping Stone for Nature” Brompton Methodist Church, The Green, DL6 2QT at 7.00pm. Brompton Heritage Group Talk. Simon Warwick, Director and founding trustee of the Lower Ure Conservation trust will talk about the twenty two years of development of this important wildlife refuge created from former gravel workings.

Admission on the door £3.50 including light refreshments for information phone 01609 780633 or www. bromptonmatters.co.uk. ........................................................

Thirsk Town Hall 4th October

n Snake Davis concert With Helen Watson and Dave Bowie Doors 6.45pm on stage at 7.30pm Full details: www.snakedavis.rocks

26th October n Craft Fair All British made goods, 10am - 4pm

10th November n Blue Cross Xmas Fair 11am - 4pm.

Westgate, Thirsk YO7 1QR. 01845 522650 ........................................................

19th & 20th October

n Easingwold Art Fair The Galtres Centre, Easingwold Easingwold & District Art Society (EDAS) are once again returning to the Galtres Centre. On display will be over 40 artist’s original work in different mediums, ranging from framed pieces to mounted paintings, prints and greetings cards. This is a great opportunity to view their work and invest in an original framed or mounted picture or stock up on greetings cards. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet some of the exhibiting artists during the weekend...

educated, he finds himself alienated from his working-class family who cannot understand his growing intellect and theatrical aspirations.

A delightful mix of humour and poignancy combine to present a delightful evening in the company of one of Britain’s most popular and widely performed playwrights.

Tickets: £10 / Under 16 £7 Available from Galtres Entertainment Centre: 01347 822472

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. ...as well as voting for their personal choice of ‘Best in Show’ – the results will be displayed on EDAS web site.

Work by 6th form pupils from local schools will also be on display. For the first time we are delighted to welcome two ‘Artists in Residence’ who will be painting in the main exhibition hall throughout the weekend. They will be happy to explain techniques and talk to visitors who can watch them in action...

When you need refreshment our ever-popular Pop Up Cafe will again be serving teas and coffees, delicious cakes and light lunches.

10.00am – 4.00pm. Entry £1 The Galtres Centre, Market Place, Easingwold YO61 3AD. Free Parking & Disabled Access For more information about the exhibition, become a ‘Friend’ of EDAS or to book a place on a workshop contact Lynda Bullus: lynda.bullus@ talktalk.net or tel. 01423 325955. Or visit www.easingwoldartex.org ........................................................

21st - 26th October

n Northallerton Musical Theatre Company Present the ever popular “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” at The Forum, Northallerton 21st to 26th October 2019, each evening at 7.30 pm and a matinee also on Sat. 26th at 2.15 pm. This is the tuneful, heartwarming story of the Von Trapp Family Singers. It tells the tale of Maria, a postulant at an Austrian Abbey who becomes governess to the 7 children of a widowed naval captain and who brings a new love of life and music into his home. With a talented cast of adults and children and lovely music “Climb Every Mountain”, “Do Re Mi”, “16 going on 17”, “So Long Farewell” This is one NOT to be missed. Tickets (£10 to £14) which are selling fast, are on sale at The Forum, Northallerton either by telephone on 01609 776230 or on line at www.forumnorthallerton. org.uk ........................................................

Thai Curry Train

We are really excited to be working in partnership with Hasip Hasip to bring you the FIRST EVER Thai Curry Train on Wensleydale Railway!

Join the train at Bedale Station at 18.10 on September 14th and enjoy a scenic journey into the Yorkshire Dales while tucking into a delicious evening meal.

28th October n Bat Walk Tour Kiplin Hall’s grounds, and see the sky come to life with bats on a twilight walk. Bring a torch for a glimpse of Kiplin’s hidden heritage as the sun fades.

Charges apply, and spaces are limited – contact 01748 818 178. ........................................................

2nd November

n Charity concert Northallerton Woodwind will be presenting their 10th Anniversary Autumn Concert on Saturday 2nd November 2019 at East Rounton Village Hall starting at 7.30pm. Raising funds for East Rounton Church.

Tickets are £7 with under 18s free and available from 01609 774158 or 07933 337877. ........................................................

23rd November

n Concert Mowbray Singers with Strings Attached “John, George - and Tony” 7.30 pm on Saturday St Oswald’s Church, Sowerby. F​ amous and popular choruses by Bach and Handel, together with two concertos by Vivaldi with guest guitar soloist Adrian Bramley, are on the programme for The Mowbray Singers and Strings Attached concert.

Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze, Handel’s “Largo” and See The Conquering Hero Comes together with his best-known coronation anthem Zadok The Priest are just some of the Baroque delights in this concert.

If you want to know more about us have a look at our website (www. mowbraysingers.co.uk) and come to the concert. Tickets are £7,(16s and under, free) and are available from White Rose Books, Thirsk, choir members or at the door. ........................................................

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.

All curries will be served with sticky rice The train will arrive back into Bedale at approximately 9pm.

Tickets: Adult £27 Child (age 5- 15) £15.00 Our telephone number (10:00 15:00 weekdays, answerphone other times) is 01677 425805 www.wensleydalerail.com

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Autumn at Rural Arts Soak up creativity and celebrate summer with Rural Arts!

Visit us: Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Westgate, Thirsk, YO7 1QS We are open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm (Café closed Mondays)

ARTIST WORKSHOPS

Get inspired at one of our unique workshops ran by friendly and experienced artists. All workshops are suitable for beginners.

Find out more and book online at www.ruralarts.org or call 01845 526 536

Oct, £18 Oil Painting, 6 Nov, £15 Ceramic Christmas Garlands,13 Nov, £18

WEEKLY WORKSHOPS

Open Studio with The Arts Collective Thursdays (Ceramics) and Friday (Printmaking), 10am – 3pm, £12 per session

iPAD WORKSHOPS

Friendly and informative sessions with iPad expert Claire Ford.

Sessions are 2 – 4pm and £12.50 each

Beginners’ Mosaics with Kershaw Sat 28 Sep(10am – 4pm), £60

Sue

Hard Ground Etching with Dawn Brooks Sat 5 Oct (10am – 4pm), £65 Oil Painting (6 week course) with Jennifer Cottis Mon 7 Oct – 11 Nov (1-3pm), £90 Life Drawing (2 days) with Rosie Skaife D’Ingerthorpe Fri 18 + 25 Oct (10am-4pm), £80 Ceramic Heads with Kay Latto Sat 19 Oct, Sat 2 Nov (10am-4pm), £65

Setting up your iPad, Sat 7 Sep Navigating the Keyboard, Sat 14 Sep How to use Safari (Internet), Sat 19 Oct Setting up and using Email, Sat 26 Oct iTunes and App Store, Sat 9 Nov

WORKSHOPS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN Crafty Tales

Tuesdays from September, 10.15am – 11.30am Ages 2-5, £4, booking essential A new weekly crafting and storytelling session run by professional theatre makers, Story Craft Theatre.

Fused Glass Winter Landscapes with David Teece Sat 9 Nov (10am-4pm), £65

Wood Gouache Painting, 18 Sep, £15 Embroidery Hoop Screen Printing, 25 Sep, £15

Fleabag (Encore) Thu 24 Oct, 7pm See the hilarious, award-winning, one-woman show starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series Fleabag, screened at cinemas from London’s West End.

A Night at the Musicals

EVENTS

Sat 12 Oct, 7.30pm Adults: £15, U18s: £10 Stars of the West End bring the music of Wicked, Phantom and more to life in this one-night-only event. Top class voices, stories from the stage and a great night out!

Art Club Thursdays, (4pm – 5.15pm), ages 6-16 Saturdays, (10am – 11.15am), ages 6-10 Saturdays, (11.30am – 1pm), ages 10-18 £6.50 per session.

A programme of arts, crafts and digital activities that changes each term to remain appealing and challenging!

Celebration of Dance Sun 22 Sep, Adults: £12-20, U18s: Free Whether you’re young or old, an experienced dancer or a complete beginner, this fun day of workshops has something for everyone.

Edwina Hayes Sat 26 Oct, 8pm Adults: £12, U18s: £10 A true talent of gentle folk and Americana, Edwina Hayes performs both originals and classics with her signature charm.

Climb That Tree Wed 30 Oct, 2pm Adults: £8, U18s: £6 A musical journey through musician David Gibb’s hilarious and often surreal imagination. David’s folk, jazz and rock ’n’ roll blend is guaranteed to have both parents and children singing along in no time.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE

TASTE OF…

With all materials included and each workshop suitable for beginners, our Taste Of… sessions give the perfect introduction to a range of artistic styles and techniques. Wednesdays 10.30am12.30pm.

It’s back! Laugh your socks off to three of Yorkshire’s finest comic talents, hosted

by MC Tom Taylor.

Headline act: English Comedian of the Year finalist Nina Gilligan.

Tickets – Adults: £10, U18s: £8 One Man, Two Guvnors (Encore) Thu 26 Sep, 7pm Featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden, the hilarious West End and Broadway hit returns to the big screen to mark NT Live’s 10th birthday.

Sipsix: Basics of Food & Wine Pairing Fri 4th October, 7pm £15pp (includes welcome drink) Sip your way through six delectable wines (and one glass of fizz!), learning how to perfectly pair food and wine with our trained wine professional.

Podcast Social Club Fri 22 + 23 Oct We all love a podcast. Get together to listen to and even take part in live podcasts by some of our favourite podcasters. Who knows who you might meet!

EXHIBITIONS

Exhibitions at Rural Arts are free and open 10am – 4pm

Halloween Half Term

Botanical Monoprints, 2 Oct, £12 Mindful Drawing, 9 Oct, £12 Rag Rugs, 16 Oct, (10.30am-1.30pm) £25 Ceramic Gourds and Squashes, 23

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10am –12 noon, £4.50 per session Spooky Stop Animation, Tue 29 Oct Creepy Cupcakes, Wed 30 Oct Monster Masks, Thu 31 Oct

PERFORMANCES

Comedy at The Courthouse Wed 18 Sep, 7.30pm £10

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Encore) Thu 17 Oct, 7pm Step into a dream world of flying fairies and moonlit revels with Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), directed by Olivier award winning Nicholas Hytner.

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Verge Sat 2 – Sat 16 Nov A group exhibition exploring the concept of verges: the edges of physical space, the periphery of society, the cusp of psychological breakthrough or the transition between different states of emotion.

1 Market Row | Barkers Arcade | Northallerton | DL7 8LN

Telephone: (01609) 760 056

Autumn Essentials From staple to exuberant, we’ve got your Autumn shoe-drobe covered.

Introducing our brand New 2019 Autumn Winter Collection. The collection showcases an irresistible range of styles designed to coordinate with a whole host of ensembles.

With party season just around the corner, be sure to discover our range of evening shoes all with matching handbags. With bold statement

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colours, to leopard prints and sparkle, we have something to suit all occasions.

For effortless styling, added comfort and true modern classic design, we are confident you’ll find the perfect accompaniment to your winter looks this season.

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GARDEN VIEW

Trimming Privet Hedges One of the questions I’m often asked as a gardener is ‘How do I trim my privet hedge?’

Privet hedges aren’t a particularly sexy subject for a gardening article, but hedge-trimming seems to cause a lot of angst so let me tackle it here.

Privet is one of our most popular hedging plants. It has dense foliage which is green all year round, and it’s hardy which means it’s suited to a wide range of planting sites. It’s also available in a selection of varieties and root types, so there’s a Privet hedge to suit most gardens.

Autumn is a good time to trim them because there’s little chance of disturbing any birds who might be nesting in them. Nesting season generally runs from March to early August.

If you have a small hedge like those outside terraced town houses, then

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hand-held hedge shears are fine, but for large hedges an electric or even a petrol hedge-trimmer is definitely easier. If you have one, give it a check over and make sure it’s sharp and well lubricated.

on both sides. This will mean the base is wider than the top and light can reach the bottom of the hedge, which means the hedge will be greener and look healthier.

Safety should be paramount. Wear safety goggles and sturdy gloves. It’s not overkill. I once spent Saturday afternoon in eye casualty because a small sharp twig flew into my eye while I was trimming a hedge. It hurt and took ages to heal properly so be warned. Before starting, remove any potential obstacles on the ground which might prove to be a trip hazard. Avoid using powered tools above shoulder height; instead use a sturdy step ladder set on stable ground. If your hedge trimmer is electric use a residual current device (RCD) for safety purposes, and don’t use it in damp conditions.

Top tips to ensure an even, symmetrical hedge: - Straight edges are difficult to cut by eye.

Use a taut horizontal string tied between two stout canes to act as a guide so you can cut the top of the hedge level. - For vertical lines use canes or stakes pushed into the ground.

- When using shears, ensure that the top of the hedge is cut level and flat by keeping the blades of the shears parallel to the line of the hedge.

- When using a hedge trimmer, keep the blade parallel to the hedge and use a wide, sweeping action working from the bottom of the hedge upwards, so that the cut foliage falls away

One little trick I learned at a hedgecutting course a few years ago is to cut hedges so that they are slightly tapered

Happy Gardening,

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Harvest Time

The history of the Harvest Festival Take a look at a modern harvest festival and you’ll no doubt see many ‘urban’ offerings of pre-packed cakes and tins of sweet corn. It’s so easy to pop down to the supermarket these days we forget that until relatively recently in this country, people’s lives depended upon the success or failure of their crops.

Harvest festivals were a way to say thank you for a good harvest while trying to guarantee the fortune of the next one.

Saxon farmers offered the first cut sheaf of corn to the gods of fertility in order to please them and ensure they were kind the following year.

The last sheaf was used to make a Kern baby; a doll, dressed in white and trimmed with coloured ribbons to represent spring.

Most peasants were tenant farmers who farmed for a landowner. Harvest time meant weeks of back-breaking work, so it became a tradition for the landowner to host a harvest supper as a thank you to the whole community once the harvest was brought home safely. There was no set date, but the celebrations generally took place around the time of the full Moon, known as the Harvest Moon.

Harvest festivals are closely associated with the church, but actually date back to Pagan times. It was 1843 before the Church became involved. The Reverend Robert Hawker invited members of his parish to a service of

harvest thanksgiving at his Cornish church. The practice spread rapidly and led to the custom of decorating churches with harvest produce.

The story of John Barleycorn You may never have heard of him, but John Barleycorn is a character in a medieval folksong. He represents barley, the most important cereal crop of the harvest, and also the alcoholic beverages beer and whisky which were made from it.

In the song John Barleycorn suffers attacks, indignities and death which correspond to the various stages of the harvest such as reaping and malting.

It begins…

There was three kings into the east, Three kings both great and high, And they hae sworn a solemn oath, John Barleycorn should die.

They took a plough and plouh’d him down, Put clods upon his head, And they hae sworn a solemn oath, John Barleycorn was dead.

The song has many verses and poor old John Barleycorn suffers dreadfully throughout, particularly when he’s ground between the milling stones! But the story has a neat twist as our hero, who’s finally turned to alcohol, wreaks his revenge on everyone who drank him so merrily, and they suffer for their sins the following morning with gargantuan hangovers!

It is a mark of how important the harvest was that there are more versions of this song than any other in the English language!

By Sarah Davey

Walnut-Stuffed Baked Apples • Serves: 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes • Cooking time: 30-40 minutes ................................................

Ingredients • 100g brown sugar • 75g walnuts • 50g golden raisins • 60g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves • 4 large eating apples (Gala work well) • 120ml fresh orange juice ................................................

Method Preheat oven to 190C / Gas mark 5. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, walnuts, raisins, butter, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

Slice about 1cm off the top of each apple. Use a corer or a sharp knife to remove the core and seeds from inside of each apple but take care not to go all the way through. Arrange the apples, cavity side up, in a ceramic baking dish. Fill each cavity with 2 tablespoons of the brown

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sugar-walnut mixture. Sprinkle remaining brown sugar-walnut mixture on top of apples. Pour the orange juice around apples.

Bake the apples for 30 to 40 minutes or until they are tender. Rotate the baking dish halfway through the cooking time. Spoon the juices in the dish over apples and serve warm with ice cream or creme fraiche.

Enjoy!

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Autumn at the Blue Cross Look after your pets this Autumn While many of us enjoy the cooler days, crisp blue skies and crunching through fallen leaves in autumn, some of our pets can find it the most stressful time of year.

The doorbell ringing all evening and strangers in scary costumes at the door can be very stressful for our pets at Halloween. Make sure your pets are microchipped 9now compulsory by law for dogs) in case they bolt when you open the door. If they want to go and hide then let them and don’t disturb them if they want to be left alone.

Soon after Halloween comes Fireworks night. Many pets are very frightened by the flashes and bangs of fireworks. While some pets don’t bat an eyelid, if your pet is afraid it is a good idea to make sure there are safe hiding places for them – under the bed or behind the sofa for example. Walk dogs earlier in the day and keep windows and doors tightly closed to avoid pets bolting in fear. If your pet gets worried around this time of year check our advice at www.bluecross.org.uk/fireworks or pop into the centre for a free leaflet.

longer than other colours like ginger, tabby and tortoiseshell.

It may be that black cats are not as visible in their cattery, especially if they are a bit shy. There are also lots of superstitions around black cats and their association with witches – especially at this time of year!

At Blue Cross we just think black cats are beautiful and just as affectionate and loving as other coloured cats.

If you would like to find out more about Blue Cross in Thirsk, have an hour or two to volunteer at the centre or would like to make a donation to the charity’s work please contact the centre on 0300 777 1540, email thirsk@ bluecross.org.uk, or join us on Facebook. every day except Wednesday when it is closed.

Black cats most unwanted Blue Cross takes in more black and black and white cats than any other colour combination and sadly they seem to be the most overlooked and are homeless for

A Good Read Circe

n Madeline Miller

Stories about the Greek gods have existed for centuries, and in this novel from US author Miller we learn of the story of Circe, a character in Homer’s The Odyssey, but this time told from her point of view. Circe is the daughter of the sun god, Helios, but is considered neither beautiful nor powerful, unlike his other children. Shunned by those around her, including her once devoted younger brother Aeetes, Circe is sent alone to an island where she turns to a mortal, Glaucos, whom she falls in love with. Having discovered the power of witchcraft she brews a potion to turn Glaucos into a god so she can marry him.

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However, her plans go awry, and her revenge leads her to be hated and despised by both mortals and gods. Circe has been a fascination for authors since the time of Homer and has influenced such writers as James Joyce and Margaret Atwood. In this novel Miller breathes new life into her, along with other figures such as Medea, Achilles, and Zeus: a mixture of legendary Titans, Olympians, and mortals. Woven into the story are familiar legends such as the Minotaur in the labyrinth, and Icarus, who flew too close to the sun.

With such a large cast of characters it would have been helpful if the publishers had provided a crib sheet so the reader might remember who is who, but this is a story well worth persevering with.

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Design & Print Printing.com: p22 Elderly Services St. Johns House: p4 Electrical Services Aerial Services York: p19 Electrocare: p22 Handy Andy: p22 Finance & Legal NFU Thirsk: p1 Food & Drink Spilmans: p13 Funeral Services Dales of Thirsk Memorials: p11 Furniture Brian Jones Upholstery: p6 Harelooms: p6 Searles Beds: p5 Garages Station Autos: p2 Gardens & Outdoors Design Exteriors: p1 Resin Drives: p24 Gifts BATA: p17 Granary Picture Framing: p21 Spectrum Framing & Gallery: p21 Hair & Beauty Beauty Within: p3

Tollerton

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Healthcare & Wellbeing Amanda Haywood: p3 Clock Tower Dental: p9 Market Place Dentistry: p3 Smile Denture Clinic: p8 Thirsk Chiropractic Clinic: p9 Home & Interiors BATA: p17 Brian Jones Upholstery: p6 Court Homemakers: p2 Dales of Thirsk: p11 Dream Doors: p5 Granary Picture Framing: p21 Harelooms: p6 Hovingham Fireplaces: p5 Jody Gray Upholstery: p3 Rooms By Design: p7 Searles Carpets: p1 Spectrum Framing & Gallery: p21 Kitchen & Bathrooms Court Homemakers: p2 Dales of Thirsk: p11 Dream Doors: p5 Rooms By Design: p7 Machinery Black Dog Machinery: p22 Memorials Dales of Thirsk: p11 Motoring Station Autos: p11

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Pets & Animals Abbotsway Kennels: p21 Plumbing Johnsons Heating: p16 Property Maintenance Aerial Services York: p19 Design Exteriors: p1 Handy Andy: p22 NYG Ltd: p19 Peter Cox Ltd: p19 Resin Drives: p24 T. G & H Harper Builders Ltd: p10 Yorkshire Loft Ladders: p23

Removals Smart Removals & Storage: p4 Solar Power Peak Power Systems: p19 Sport & Leisure Venture Cycles: p12 Storage Sycamore Storage: p4 Windows NYG Ltd: p

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