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contents Issue 75 | OCTOBER 2016
8 | Design | HALSTED
Halsted Design is rooted in Africa and its contemporary designs reflect the continent’s art in a variety of different ways. Fleur Heyns, Fée Halsted and Jonathan Berning established the company in 2013 to execute a simple vision: to transform African art into global design.
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16 | Travel | GOWER PENINSULA
Britain’s beach resorts can be a tad depressing out of season, but not the Gower. Hanna Lindon enjoys lip-licking food, incredible natural beauty and plenty of outdoor adventures on a shoulder season break to Wales’ most lauded peninsula.
22 | Gardening | HTA
Berry-bearing trees and shrubs come into their own in autumn, creating colourful displays that can last well into winter and add a new dimension to any garden.
26 | Motoring | BENTLEY
Louise Alexander-O’Loughlin test drives one of the world’s most luxurious cars, the Bentley Bentayga.
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Motoring | BENTLEY
32 | Fashion | KAREN MILLEN
Beautifully crafted clothes with individual style from the Autumn Winter collection. PHOTO COPYRIGHT H.R. OWEN
IN THE
40 | Artisan food | EAT SURREY
FAST LANE
Food writer Shirlee Posner of Eat Surrey introduces essence readers to some Italian artistry in the shape of Farretti Bakery in Lodsworth.
Louise Alexander-O’Loughlin morphs into ‘The Stig’ to sit in the lap of luxury test-driving one of the world’s most luxurious cars, the Bentley Bentayga, with a price tag on it that boasts ‘only in your wildest dreams’ or ‘I’ve made it’.
44 | Food | CRATES LOCAL PRODUCE
Crates chooses current seasonal offerings, game and pears, together with recipes to enjoy.
46 | Restaurant Review | THE TALBOT RIPLEY
Food writer Laura Scott visits a historic hotel and eaterie, The Talbot in Ripley, a presence in the area since 1453.
50 | Legal | MUNDAYS
Mitchell Thompson, Associate in the Private Wealth Department at Mundays, discusses important issues relating to Wills.
T
he Bentley Bentayga may just be the fastest, most powerful, luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world. This elite and elegant hand crafted machine is not for the faint hearted, hitting 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds. The Stig (aka Lou) experienced how Bentley’s SUV glides like a GT, tows up to 3,500kg with consummate ease and takes off-road conditions in its stride! Ushered to ‘my’ car, at H.R. Owen's top selling dealership outside London, Brooklands, the home of British motor sport, a smart key entry system with its electronic mechanism opened the door of the Bentayga and the soft closing door feature shut me inside, leaving the world very much outside. The cabin was impressive: its style, space and quality oozed with tradition. The wood, metal and leather interior with quilted hand sewn leather seats, its aroma and beauty, made me realise why the Bentley marque has always been much sought after. The steering wheel, a lot smaller than I had imagined for a two and a half ton car, I felt would be
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52 | Finance | PMW
Simon Lewis CEO at Partridge Muir & Warren Ltd investigates whether there will be a change in fortune for investors in global emerging market equities.
54 | Leisure Breaks | UTRECHT
Utrecht, located in the heart of the Netherlands beside the flowing waters of the Rhine, offers Rebecca Underwood an intriguing glimpse into a vibrant culture and a rich and colourful history.
58 | Events | SURREY
Linda Seward’s detailed diary of the best of what’s on in theatre, music, exhibitions, arts and the countryside.
66 | Property | ARCHITECTURE
It’s not always and only about how large a house is: views do matter. Jane Pople finds some properties with the most spectacular panoramic views.
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Gardening | HTA Cotoneaster Dammeri
Top four shrubs with colourful fruits and berries Firethorn – (Pyracantha varieties)
Berried
Skimmia – Many female varieties produce wonderful displays of berries including Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana, Skimmia japonica ‘Nymans’ and ‘Obsession’. Male varieties are equally appealing with great flower displays, such as ‘Magic Marlot’ and ‘Rubella’.
treasures
Gaultheria Mucronata – (formerly called Pernettya). Cotoneaster – wide range of berrying shrubs including Cotoneaster horizontalis, Cotoneaster ‘Coral Beauty’, C. ‘Cornubia’, C. lacteus, and many others.
Berry-bearing trees and shrubs come into their own in autumn, creating colourful displays that can last well into winter. From elder berries to rose hips, crab apples to firethorns, berrying plants add a new dimension to any garden, says The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA).
Skimmia
A
s well as being colourful, berrying plants can provide homegrown food for hungry birds and wildlife too, enhancing their appeal and value to any garden. Evergreen shrubs provide structure and form to a garden throughout the year, but many produce early displays of flowers followed by autumn berries. One of the best compact shrubs for borders or patio pots is a Skimmia with a mouthful of a name: Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana. However, don’t let this be offputting, as its displays of bright red berries are second to none! The compact and spreading Viburnum davidii, a hardy shrub with distinctly veined evergreen foliage, produces the most unusual metalliclooking blue-black berries. It really is quite a talking point. To create seasonal pots for autumn colour include a small Gaultheria mucronata carrying brilliant berries in pink, red or pure white. Combined with pansies and violas, trailing ivy, heather, carex or skimmia, pots will put on a display that lasts for months. Trained against walls and fences, firethorn is a valuable evergreen shrub. Its thorny stems make it a great choice for producing secure garden boundaries, but don’t let the spines deter from buying Pyracantha. >>>
Top tips for planning and planting 1. 2. 3. 4.
Many shrubs can be given a permanent home in large patio pots. Plant pots using a free-draining, loam-based compost. Always stand pots on feet during winter to prevent drainage holes becoming blocked and pots filling up with water, literally drowning their roots! Small berry-bearing shrubs included in seasonal patio pot arrangements can be removed and planted out in the garden next spring. Some plants have both male and female varieties, so it might just be the female one bought that’s carrying berries. Ask for advice, as in future years it may be necessary to grow male forms alongside the females to ensure flowers are pollinated and develop future crops of berries. PHOTO COPYRIGHT KINSJEROEN | DREAMSTIME.COM PHOTO COPYRIGHT CATARII | DREAMSTIME.COM
22 essence-magazine.co.uk | OCTOBER 2016
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