EssentialsMAG July 2021 Rossett/Marford/Gresford/Holt/Farndon

Your monthly local community magazine

July 2021

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★ Shop local ★ Eat local ★ Spend local ★ Enjoy local ★

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Welcome...

Welcome to our July issue!

What amazing weather we’ve been having! These hot, sunny days make you want to head straight for the nearest beach! With the country continuing to move ahead with the roadmap out of lockdown, a far-flung overseas adventure might feel like the ultimate wish list trip. But, if you know where to go, a UK staycation has never been more appealing and can offer just as much beauty and adventure.

Summer is a great time for purchasing (or harvesting) some fabulous fruits and vegetables.

And our recipe this month is a mouth-watering Halloumi Burger - perfect for a family BBQ. If you are looking for an easy craft activity to do with the kids during the holidays, have a go at making our garden flower spinners. They are simple to make with empty bottles and will keep the little ones entertained for a while.

Please keep sending in your local news and stories to: vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk and please follow EssentialsMAG on Facebook and Twitter.

Have a lovely July!

All the best, Vicky Heathfield EMAIL: vicky@essentialsmag.co.uk CALL: 01978 855459

www.essentialsmag.co.uk

Cover Image: A fun day at the beach

August Deadlines: Editorial - 16th July Advertising - 23rd July

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Rossett, Marford, Gresford, Holt, Farndon, Churton, Aldford, Eccleston, Lavister, Poulton, Pulford, Dodleston, Burton and Golly.

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You can also read our magazines online at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk EssentialsMAG is published by Essentials MAG Limited, a local independent publishing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Essentials MAG Limited.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers. All dates, times, URLs and phone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print. © EssentialsMAG Limited 2021.

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Find the five other mice for a chance of winning £30!

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3. Closing date: 31st July 2021.

The first correct answer drawn at random wins.

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Local News

Rossett Festival on YouTube This year, Rossett Village Festival (RVF) will be held over the last two weeks of August on their very own YouTube channel! This online event will showcase local businesses, groups and organisations in the Rossett and Burton area.

The idea is to promote these resources during this challenging time while taking advantage of the video format!

For details visit: @RossettVillageFestival or follow #RVF2021.

Church Clock Appeal STOP PRESS! Keep a look out for information on the Rossett Church Clock Appeal via the Church noticeboard and Facebook page. #TickTockFixTheClock

100th Member Holt Local History Society is pleased to announce they have welcomed their 100th member. They have enjoyed an excellent series of talks from September to April thanks to Zoom. The society is working with Wrexham Museum and Glyndŵr University towards an exhibition at the museum called 'Hidden Holt, The History of a Roman site'.

The exhibition opens on 17th July and will run until 29th January 2022. Up to 80 artefacts are coming from the Museum of Wales in Cardiff. These items have not been seen in North Wales since 1925.

The talk on 23rd September at 7.30pm will be 'Place names and field names' by Tony Bostock (venue to be confirmed).

New members are welcome. Please contact Brian Payne, Membership Secretary on: 01829 270562 or email: briansue.payne@btinternet.com

VSEF 100 Club Winners Thank you to everyone who renewed their number/s to take part in the May 2021 draw, and to be included in the November 2021 Big Prize Draw of the VSEF (Farndon & Tattenhall) Hundred Club.

The May winners were: N. Reeve 6; C. Gauterin 12; M. Roseblade 42; R. Carter 60 The winners have been so generous and donated back their £25 cash prizes to continue supporting the services provided at the Farndon & Tattenhall Doctors’ Surgeries.

To make it to a 100 numbers sold, another 50 numbers need to be renewed/purchased before 22nd October 2021.

Each number is £10 and there are eight cash prizes available in that draw. Do get in touch via email: vsg.ppg@nhs.net or phone/text Helen on: 07803 045024 and how to take part will be explained.

Society of Model Engineers For the past 53 years there has been a 5" gauge track based just off the Pant-yr-Ochain car park at Gresford, run by Wrexham and District Society of Model Engineers. They have now re-opened and are inviting the public back for a ride on their model steam and diesel outline locomotives. Open every Sunday throughout the year from 12 noon until 4pm. There is no charge to ride but they welcome donations. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs not allowed on site, other than working dogs.

Scarecrow Trail If anyone in the Marford/Gresford area is interested in taking part in the Scarecrow Trail in late August by producing a scarecrow, could you please contact secretary.imagegm2021@gmail.com marking your email ‘SCARECROWS’. If you have taken part previously, you should have received an email – please check your junk/spam folders if you haven’t seen it.

Seeking Volunteers Citizens Advice Wrexham are looking to expand their volunteer team. Do you have good communication skills and can you spare some time to help the people of your community? Full accredited training will be provided.

Email Rob at: support@wrexhamcab.cabnet.org.uk Or apply online at: wrexhamcitizensadvice.com

Country Market Wrexham Country Market has a wide selection of jams, marmalades, chutneys, baking and craft items. To order: 07854 215040 / 07523 385048, Facebook: @WrexhamCountryMarket

A Winner!

The winner of our May ‘BOOTPAC’ competition was Suzie Heaton-Jones of Rossett. “I have never won anything before.”

Suzie told us "It’s perfect for the pram and days out to the beach.”

The BOOTPAC is now available to purchase at Bellis Brothers Garden Centre and Chester Small Plant. Please visit: www.bootpac.biz

Share your news with us!

Submit an article at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk/article

More Local News at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk/local-news

Local News A Feast For The Eyes!

Xplore! Science Discovery Centre is working with Farm Urban and BIC Innovation, as part of a Wales-wide project, bringing vertical urban farming into local communities across Wales. A brand new edible wall has been installed at Xplore! that uses hydroponics to grow leafy greens, with produce available to take home on harvest days. What’s more, this innovative growing system is being used to educate school children about urban farming techniques.

Xplore! told us, “Our ‘Feed the Future’ aquaponics workshop challenges learners to build a system that uses fish and water instead of soil to grow plants that we can eat. Children learn how aquaponics can be used to reduce our environmental impact by letting us grow food all year round, with less waste, less water and where space is limited.”

Xplore! Science Discovery Centre is at: 17 Henblas Street, Wrexham, LL13 8AE. Book a session today at: www.xplorescience.co.uk

Get Your Walking Boots On The annual Wrexham Walking Festival is taking place from Saturday 7th to Sunday 15th August and consists of nine days of walks celebrating the history and beauty of North East Wales. There are 19 walks planned of varying lengths and difficulty within the county borough of Wrexham and surrounding area. All walks are led by trained volunteers and are free-of-charge with no need to book in advance. Full details of the programme are available at: www.walksinwrexham.com. Walkabout Wrexham also run weekly and monthly walks throughout the year and everyone is welcome to join.

Wrexham Visitor Information Centre Wrexham Visitor Information Centre has opened its doors to their new home on Chester Street (next to Xplore! and Ty Pawb). Initially, the Visitor Information Centre will only be offering a staffed information service between Tuesday and Thursday (11am - 2pm). But, by the summer, they hope to have fully re-opened the brand new retail and local produce section of the store too.

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Three Steps to Fire Your Motivation

By EssentialsMAG motivation contributor SASHA KENNEY Have you ever struggled with getting things done? Maybe it is to ‘exercise more’, ‘clean out the winter wardrobe’ or anything in-between.

Let’s face it. ‘Adulting’ is rarely fun (unless you are hoola hooping, of course ;o).

Good news though! If you have ever struggled with motivation and getting things done - you are not alone. We have all been there at some point.

2. Plan the heck out of it Ohhhhh, yes. Plan it. Plan it. Plan it. Why? The number one reason (aka excuse) for us not reaching the goal is ‘lack of time’.

So pre-plan your activities. Schedule it all in. Sit down on Sunday and plan a week ahead. Your weekly activities will depend on the goal you are aiming to achieve.

Here are 3 simple steps you can follow to fire up your motivation:

3. Ignore your inner chatter Be committed. When the time comes to take action, don’t wait for some sort of magic motivation spell or ‘I want to do this’ moment. Your desired actions are planned, so just get on with it.

1. Set a clear goal First you need to know: A) What you want B) How badly you want it Here’s the thing. If you don’t want it badly enough, it is not going to happen. So, be honest with yourself and decide if you do want it enough. If you do, your goal will be emotional and specific enough to spark up your motivation.

And Boom! You’ll start seeing the results and that is when that extra motivation will kick in.

You got this. ...You’ve totally got this!

With love, Sasha x

EssentialsMAG motivation contributor is Sasha Kenney of Hoola Nation, World Record holder and Motivational Speaker. sasha@hoolanation.co.uk

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Gone Fishing

By ROSSETT AND GRESFORD FLY FISHERS’ CLUB The River Alyn rises near Llandegla and rather tortuously, wends its way along the valley until it meets the Dee at Almere Ferry, Rossett. It is the longest of the Dee tributaries and was first written about as long ago as 1820 by the American novelist, Washington Irving, in a short story called the ‘Trout Stream’. Since then, most of the towns and villages along the valley have supported angling clubs. Although sadly, only four clubs operate today - Warrington Anglers fish from the Dee as far as Rossett; Rossett and Gresford Flyfishers from Rossett to Pont y Capel; Bradley Anglers through the Alyn Country Park; and Wrexham and District Anglers as far upstream as the Druids Inn. By any definition, the River Alyn has all the necessary qualifications to be defined as a ‘trout stream’ and in spite of the various trials and tribulations it has suffered over many years, it has provided excellent fishing for anyone who is prepared to develop their skills. The river allows the angler to relax and enjoy its solitude, the environment and that undefinable pleasure that fly fishing provides. This river does not harbour monstrous stew bred fish that can be knocked on the head, photographed or paraded in fishing magazines. Most of the Trout caught in the Alyn are born and bred in the river as are the Grayling, lately arrived from where is still unclear.

The age profile of all angling clubs is normally over 50 and sometimes much more. Clambering up and down slippery

GRAYLING

river banks, looking after the riparian environment, cutting trees and keeping paths accessible requires youthful qualities which regrettably reduce as age increases.

Clubs are facing an existential crisis of how to attract younger people to become involved. Learning how to read and understand the environment where Trout and Grayling live and skilful fly fishing cannot be achieved quickly, and no form of angling can ever provide instant responses.

Young people these days have so many alternative hobbies to occupy their spare time, learning how to fly fish is rarely considered. Without members, all the clubs in the valley will cease to be viable.

Primary school education currently deals with the ‘water cycle’, global warming, climate change and an increasing emphasis on our depleted countryside. Education may eventually assist the angling community to re-grow, as commitment to a sustainable environment is an intrinsic part of angling’s appeal to its adherents.

Rossett and Gresford Fly Fishers’ Club was founded in 1906, making it one of the oldest (continuously functioning) fishing clubs in Wales. For membership details or to try a ‘taster session’ visit their website: rossettandgresfordflyfishing.co.uk

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Furry Feline Companions

By KAREN VOLGER from DoggyBizzNizz For many pet owners, the Coronavirus pandemic has meant more time at home with their canine and feline companions.

A recent survey estimated that 51% of UK adults own a pet - 26% of UK households own a dog, 24% own a cat and 2% own a rabbit but currently there is no reliable data for the numbers of other pets!

Lockdown year was the 'worst ever' for dog thefts but, there has been little information in the news about cat thefts. Data from the Police shows the number of cats being stolen has risen almost threefold in five years, with a notable 12.3% in the last year.

The theft data comes as the cost of buying a cat rises, with the most expensive cat breeds reaching £2,000! Sadly though, following the unprecedented rise in pet ownership, many animal charities are being overwhelmed with the numbers of abandoned and abused pets coming through their doors as people return to normal lives and cannot cope or have no time to look after their pets.

In the UK, over a quarter of owned cats are not microchipped – that is an estimated 2.6 million cats! But under new government plans, cat owners will be expected to get their cats microchipped in the same way dogs already are, or face a fine up to £500.

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the right direction towards making owners responsible and accountable for their cats’ welfare. It also means they can be tracked and identified if stolen and resold.

While cats are generally low maintenance pets compared to dogs, they still require a lot of care and attention. Cats are a popular pet choice as they can be affectionate, playful, and comforting. On the downside they can shed hair, scratch furniture, and urinate/defecate in your house!

Fun facts A group of cats is called a clowder! They can also be called a clutter, a glaring, or a pounce! Groups of kittens are called a litter, or an intrigue or a kindle! Fab! Around one in four UK households own a cat. There are 10.9 million owned cats in the UK – 5.3 million are female, and 4.9 million are male. 70% of these cats are ‘moggies’, 24% are pedigree breeds and 6% are undetermined. Cats Protection estimate that in addition to the owned cats there are 9 million stray cats and 1.5 million feral cats!

Always consult your Vet if you have any concerns about your pet!

EssentialsMAG pet care contributor is Karen Volger, from DoggyBizzNizz www.facebook.com/doggybizznizz Mobile: 07488 270386 e-mail: karen@doggybizznizz.com

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Delmar World Latest Travel News

By DELMAR WORLD in Gresford Hello Everyone, I hope you are all keeping well and enjoying the BBQ weather while it lasts!

This month has been disappointing for the travel industry, with the Government’s Traffic Light system creating more confusion than clarity. The FCO’s (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) advice for Amber listed countries is that travel is permitted but with additional checks and restrictions, such as testing on arrival and quarantine at home on your return. By contrast, the media and the Government messages have given the impression that travel is not permitted unless urgent, which has understandably led to our clients needing clarification.

To help with this, please visit www.fco.gov.uk and follow ‘FCO travel advice’, then click on the country you are visiting and you will see the guidance and restrictions outlined.

Note that your insurance company will usually cover you for Amber listed countries, provided you abide by the requirements set out by the FCO, but check with them as this varies.

If you live in Wales, you will require a vaccination certificate to travel - even if you are boarding a UK based cruise.

You can apply for this by calling 0300 303 5667 to request a vaccination certificate allow 10 days.

If you live in England, you will need to download the NHS App, which will suffice for your travels.

Regardless of the hassle factor, many of you are taking holidays or at least planning them for later in the year.

Howard is travelling on Celebrity Cruises’ Silhouette around the UK soon and I am off to Barbados!

So, watch out for our social media posts on Facebook to keep you updated with what life outside the UK looks like. www.facebook.com/delmarworld Best wishes from us all at Delmar World.

Ann Anglesea Managing Director

Delmar World are leading travel experts in Worldwide tailor-made holidays & cruises.

Tel: 01978 853 886, www.delmarworld.com 54-56 Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8NE

NEW SOUTHAMPTON SAILINGS FOR 2021 Reconnect with family and friends with a choice of sophisticated bars and lounges, state of the art entertainment, restaurants that will take you on a culinary adventure, invigorating treatments and therapies in The Spa, or just simply enjoy the world go by as you relax on half an acre of real grass at the Lawn Club.

Discover the newly revolutionised Celebrity Silhouette, sailing brand new round-trip itineraries around the UK from July 2021 - plus get your drinks, Wi-Fi and tips always included.

NEW 2021 SOUTHAMPTON ROUND-TRIP ITINERARIES 3 July 6nt Glasgow & Belfast 9 July 8nt Inverness, Kirkwall, Belfast & Portland 17 July 6nt Inverness & Belfast 23 July 8nt Kirkwall, Inverness, Liverpool & Portland 31 July 6nt Inverness & Liverpool 6 Aug 8nt Liverpool, Glasgow, Kirkwall & Inverness 14 Aug 7nt Inverness, Belfast & Portland 21 Aug 7nt Inverness, Kirkwall & Glasgow 28 Aug 7nt Liverpool & Belfast 29 Oct 3nt Bruges

Tel: 01978 853 886 • email: sales@delmarworld.co.uk • www.delmarworld.com 54-56 Chester Road, Gresford LL12 8NE Only residents of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are permitted to sail at this time. Celebrity Silhouette will sail with all guests aged 18 and over vaccinated against COVID-19, and those under the age of 18 with negative PCR test results. Additional testing and protocols will be confirmed nearer to the point of sailing in line with the most up to date recommendations of the UK government and our Healthy Sail Panel.

Due to evolving health protocols, some imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect current onboard and destination offerings, or the public health standards and government requirements that modify or limit these offerings. Onboard and destination experiences, features, itineraries, and guest conduct rules vary by ship and destination and are subject to change without notice.

Cask Ale to Your Door Beech Avenue Brewery started life as a homebrew project at the start of lockdown.

But it wasn’t long before Brian and Melissa were dreaming of bigger things, and with a redundancy on the horizon they soon set their sights on starting their own microbrewery business in Holt.

“We were lucky to have met Sarah and Jonathan Tomlinson from Lodge Farm in Holt.” said Brian. “They had a disused grain silo they were able to convert into our microbrewery and by October 2020 we were moving in. The farm supplies us with renewable energy from their anaerobic digester, so we can minimise our carbon footprint which is very important to us.

We also use lightweight packaging, recycle our used grains and keep our food miles reduced by offering local delivery only.”

The beer produced at Beech Brewery is based on traditional real ale. Each one is cask conditioned before being packaged for sale. “We have recently started looking at producing new flavours, including cherries, strawberries and raspberries.”

Brian told us.

The following beers are available to buy: Pale Ale - 4.3%, Gold - 4.5% 3 litre pouch £12, 5 litre bag in a box £20.

To order please email Brian and Melissa at: info@beechavenuebrewery.co.uk Free delivery on orders within 3 miles of the brewery in Holt, collection available by appointment. Also available at Cwtch Ceramics in Rossett.

WIN

WIN a 5 Litre Bag of Beer BEECH AVENUE BREWERY are giving away a 5 litre bag of beer in a box (worth £20) to one lucky reader.

For your chance of winning this prize draw, simply complete the competition form on our website:

www.essentialsmag.co.uk/beer Closing date for entries is: 31st July 2021 You must be 18 years old enter this competition Terms & conditions apply The promoter of this competition is BEECH AVENUE BREWERY

Tel: 07917 841304 facebook.com/BeechAv.Brew

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BRHS - Burton Rossett Horticultural Society Gardening News

By EssentialsMAG gardening contributor CAROL EDWARDS Hallo everyone, I am pleased to be back. I had a fall in early April and broke my shoulder so couldn’t write an article for the last two months. So here we are in July and at the time of writing this the weather is lovely, hot and sunny and we have been able to sit out under the pergola in the garden. I haven’t been able to garden so far, however the garden looks good as everything is in full bloom and very colourful too. The secret is not to look too closely at the weeds! I tell myself that this is only temporary as I am improving every day.

Enough of my story, here are your jobs for July - keep up the weeding and remember to deadhead your perennials and pots as this will encourage new growth and blooms. Roses will need deadheading too and will appreciate a feed.

Remember to keep terracotta pots damp as this will keep their roots cool and prevent the plants from drying out. Tall plants and climbers will need to be supported in case we have wet and windy weather as they can get damaged or broken. In the vegetable garden, the potatoes will need earthing up, or you can use grass clippings which will do just as well. Keep an eye out for the cabbage white butterflies as they lay their eggs underneath the leaves and do a lot of damage if not removed.

In the greenhouse your pepper plants can be potted up into larger pots and remember to give your tomatoes a good water in the morning and evening.

Keep picking the runner beans and courgettes as they ripen very quickly this time of the year.

It has been good to write my article again even though I have to type one-handed at the moment as I keep knocking the keys, which would make for interesting reading!

Information provided by: www.brhs.org.uk

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Local Birds and Wildlife News

By REVEREND HUGH LINN Spring's erratic weather has adversely affected some of our summer visitors.

Locally, House Martins and Swallows have either arrived later than expected or simply failed to return to some of their traditional nesting sites. Research has shown that Swallows returning from their wintering grounds in South Africa tend to come back to within five miles of where they were born. Every summer for the past 20 years or so we have had House Martins nesting under our eaves. This summer our nests remain unoccupied although some birds have returned to nests a few doors away, but fewer than in previous years.

Other summer visitors whose migratory journeys are shorter and less demanding do not seem to have been unduly affected.

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, for example, arrived in force and have been heard singing all round the neighbourhood. Song Thrushes, Blackbirds and Robins which are largely sedentary seem to be doing well locally. For many years now, Song Thrushes have only been occasional visitors to our garden but recently at least three have been singing nearby.

TREE BUMBLEBEE

SONG THRUSH

Channel from France. Since then, they have colonised most of England and Wales where nowadays, they are more likely to be found in nest boxes intended for birds or holes in buildings, rather than trees.

One of our bird boxes, usually occupied by House Sparrows, has been taken over by Tree Bumblebees. As their name suggests, unlike most bee species which nest on the ground, Tree Bumblebees prefer to colonise holes in trees.

At Gresford Flash birds come and go.

Recent sightings include a pair of Canada Geese with goslings, Mallards with young, the resident pair of Great Crested Grebes (no sign of young yet at the time of going to print), Coots, Moorhens and Tufted Ducks. On May 23rd a Hobby Falcon was seen unsuccessfully chasing Swifts over the Flash for about a quarter of an hour before flying off in a westerly direction.

Tree Bumblebees are recent arrivals in this country. They were first discovered 20 years ago in Wiltshire, having crossed the

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Do You Have Natural Balance?

By PHIL CABRAL from Natural Balance Here at Natural Balance Physiotherapy, Sports Injury & Podiatry, we offer multiple services for many different conditions, illnesses and injuries. But did you know that successful and effective rehabilitation relies on good physical health and mental wellbeing?

A recent report by NHS Digital revealed that there were more than a million obesity-related hospital admissions in England in the 12 months leading up to the pandemic. This equated to a 17% increase year on year which, in turn, was equal to almost 150,000 more in hospital admissions where obesity was a factor 64% of those were women.

COVID-19 has shown that being overweight and clinically obese are significant risk factors for severe COVID symptoms and life-threatening complications. They also increase the risks for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, lung diseases, kidney disorders, chronic pain conditions and even some cancers.

So how can we help?

Have you put on weight during the pandemic? We know that, as gyms were closed, exercise has taken a back seat and yet it has a significant role to play in turning our lives around positively. It is only now, as life begins to return to normal, that we are truly realising the impact of eating more and exercising

less with the number of overweight individuals increasing at an alarming rate – and with it, the number who could become seriously ill with respiratory disorders, heart attacks, strokes and various cancers.

At Natural Balance, we support and guide you back into exercise on a 1-2-1 basis while managing and addressing many medical and physical conditions. We are the link between medical and exercise services. We help you become more active, fitter and stronger with consequent improvements in your general health and mental wellbeing.

Our experience guides you through the change-process regardless of your starting point. We identify your goals, address the barriers that stop you from being more active, show you what to do, how to do and when to do, track your progress, and nurture your accountability so that you can sustain the life-changing process to bring about life-enhancing changes over the longer term.

Don’t worry, working with us is not scary!

It can sound a massive hurdle but, by using our expertise, you can be assured that we will help you achieve your goals while optimising your health so that you can lead a healthier, more active and hopefully, a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.

by Phil Cabral at Natural Balance Physiotherapy, Sports Injury & Podiatry Tel: 01244 639898 E: lorna@natbalance.co.uk www.natbalance.co.uk Facebook: @philthephysio

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HEARING CHECKS & HEARING AID TRIALS Contact Olivia to discuss your hearing problem today Tel: 01978 316770 E: info@integratehearing.co.uk Schwarz Opticians, Charles Street, Wrexham LL13 8BT

HIGHEST STANDARD OF PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL HYGIENE This photo was taken pre-COVID-19. Please be assured that all necessary safety measures are adhered to.

Sarah Atherton MP Member of Parliament for Wrexham Summer is upon us and at this time of year I always notice an extra spring in people’s steps. As the days get warmer and longer, we are also buoyed by seeing loved ones and being able to spend time together after so long apart.

Any establishment based in the Wrexham constituency can be included: from the town centre, Borras, Gwersyllt, Holt, Llay, Gresford, Rossett, Marford to Garden Village. The competition closes on 20th July so get your votes in quickly!

Businesses, as well, are optimistic about the summer and the opportunities presented by the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Pubs (and the hospitality sector more generally) are an important part of the local economy here in Wrexham and are also close to my heart as a former brewer.

I have been pleased to read that Wrexham’s town centre has been recovering; footfall is up, businesses are starting to recruit, and households are starting to spend some of what they might have saved during the pandemic – this is all good news for our town and it bodes well for our high street’s long term recovery.

In due course, I look forward to spending time with the Town Centre Manager to see our high street’s recovery for myself, to taking the results of my parking survey to Parliament to highlight the impact unsuitable parking options have on town centres up and down the country and to continuing my support for Wrexham’s businesses of all sizes.

Given the tough year that pubs have had due to the COVID restrictions, I want to celebrate the amazing pubs we have in Wrexham and encourage people across the town to get back into their favourite pub or to try a new one.

The results of the competition will be announced on my website in due course, and I would urge everyone to get out to one of the winning pubs when you can!

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please make contact with me at sarah.atheron.mp@parliament.uk

To help our town’s recovery and to continue encouraging people to get out and about again, I am also looking for Wrexham’s favourite drinking establishment to present an award as the people’s choice. Simply email me on the address below or go to my website at: www.sarahatherton.org.uk/news/findingwrexhams-best-pub to let me know your choice for the best pub.

Tel: 020 7217 4885 / 01978 291742 sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk www.sarahatherton.org.uk

EssentialsMAG Easy Crafts

How to Make...

Garden Flower Spinners Spending more time in the garden lately, I thought we could brighten up our flower beds a little with these fun garden flower spinners. They are simple to make with empty bottles and a fun activity for all the family.

YOU WILL NEED...

• Empty clean drinks bottle • Scissors • Paint

• Kebab sticks • Pliers • Split pins

INSTRUCTIONS...

STEP 1:

Draw a flower shape on both ends of the bottle and cut them out. At the same time make holes in the centre of the flowers. One hole will be in the lid and the other in the centre of the bottom of the bottle.

STEP 2:

Bend back the petals and paint them. I used acrylic paint but nail varnish works as well.

STEP 3:

When dry, thread the split pin through the holes, make a small bend behind the flower, then twist it around the kebab stick. I found pliers helped make it tighter than just using my fingers.

STEP 4:

Place your finished flowers in the garden and watch the wind spin them around.

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2

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Once you’ve made your flower spinner share your photos with us on Facebook @EssentialsMag Wrexham

BY VICTORIA GREEN - mum to three young children.

In her spare time, Victoria loves to get creative whether that be knitting hats for her kids or painting the local scenery.

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Life After Lockdown With WCRu3a

By LINDA DAVENPORT, Treasurer WCRu3a Let’s face it, most of last year was nothing to write home about – most of us were already at home! Being out and about again, unrestricted, is tantalisingly close, so after a haircut and switching off Zoom, what then?

For some of us, daily life has changed a lot and we now have more time on our hands than ever before. Leaving full-time work, especially if unexpected or earlier than planned, can feel like a loss and, whilst a lack of routine may be liberating, it can also be unsettling, particularly in the early days.

West Cheshire Rural u3a (WCRu3a) began in Tattenhall some 11 years ago.

We welcome members from surrounding towns and villages no longer in full-time work - from all walks of life - who want to meet socially to share their interests and explore new ones.

Interest groups are at the heart of what we offer – enjoy a friendly ramble (long or short) with the Walking Group, have a lively debate in the Discussion Group or explore your creativity in the Drawing Group and there are many more. Every fortnight the Ukulele Group meets in Farndon Memorial Hall to make music, while the Dining Group look forward to sampling a different menu around our locality each month.

As one of our members recently said: “Last year would have been pretty miserable without the u3a groups to look forward to.”

We are run by our members for our members, so if your special interest doesn’t yet have a group of its own – go ahead and start one!

Solving Cryptic Crosswords and the Reading Group both started during lockdown. French or Spanish for Holidays and Bridge are in the wings. New ideas are always welcomed and supported by our Interest Groups’ Co-ordinator.

Where do we meet?

Our meetings are held at the Barbour Institute, High Street, Tattenhall CH3 9PX. We meet at 2pm on the third Thursday of each month.

We invite visitors to come along for a taster session. All visitors will be charged a £2 entry fee - this will be deducted from the membership fee if you decide to join.

Annual membership is currently £15.00.

For more information To find out more, or to come along to a taster session, please contact Hilary Scarratt, our Membership Secretary via email: WCRu3a@hotmail.com Or visit our website: https://u3asites.org.uk/west-cheshire Facebook: @WCRU3A We would love you to join us!

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EssentialsMAG Tasty Recipe

Smoky Barbecued Halloumi Burgers Rethink burgers for ever - halloumi and burgers really do go hand-in-hand, especially when there's avocado and a tomato salsa. Whip this up for a veggie barbecue or a quick Friday night dinner the whole family will love.

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 4

250g block halloumi cheese, cut into 8 thick slices 1 tbsp olive oil 4 brioche buns 4 tbsp hummus 2 ripe avocados, sliced 1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced 1 red onion, thinly sliced 1 small cucumber, sliced 300g mixed lettuce leaves 4 tbsp fresh tomato salsa

METHOD Heat your barbecue until the coals are glowing white hot. Brush each side of all the halloumi slices with olive oil and cook them on each side for 2-3 minutes or until golden.

If you do not have a barbecue add the halloumi slices to the hot nonstick frying pan and cook over a medium heat for 2 minutes each side until golden.

Split the brioche buns (toast them very briefly on both sides if you like, but be careful not to burn them) and spread the bottom halves with the hummus.

Add some tomato, cucumber and avocado and then the halloumi, then finish with the lettuce, red onion and salsa and top with the other half of the bun.

Serve with chips and enjoy!

Trying out our recipe?

Share your photos with us on Facebook @EssentialsMag Wrexham

Simply Delicious!

Browse our collection of tasty lunch, dinner, dessert and cake recipes on our website:

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The Importance of Fibre

By SAMANTHA GRIFFITHS The health benefits of fibre are endless, yet it is a nutrient group that is often overlooked. Fibre is the name for a group of complex carbohydrates that are found in all plant foods, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses and grains. Unlike other carbohydrates (sugars and starches) which are digested in the small intestine, fibre passes to the large intestine, where it is broken down by gut bacteria. This unique way of digestion is what gives fibre it’s health boosting properties.

Why do we need fibre?

A diet rich in fibre is essential for a healthy digestive system. Fibre in the diet has been shown to aid weight loss, as it keeps us fuller for longer! There is strong evidence to show that adequate fibre intake can improve heart health, as well as reduce the risk of bowel cancer, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and many other conditions.

How much fibre do we need?

The recommended intake of fibre for adults is 30g per day, with teenagers and children needing less. Most of us don’t get enough fibre, with the average person in the UK eating an estimated 18g per day.

Eating a balanced diet, with plenty of wholegrains, fruit and vegetables can help you get enough fibre.

Which foods have the most fibre?

The best sources of fibre are wholemeal bread, wholemeal cereal, wholemeal pasta, beans, peas, lentils, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Before you peel your fruit and vegetables, remember that most of the fibre is found in the skin!

Tips for getting more fibre into your diet • Choose wholegrain varieties of bread, pasta and cereal • Snack on nuts and seeds • Eat the skins of fruits and vegetables • Add beans or lentils to stews, soups, curries and chillis • Check food labels and choose ‘high fibre’ varieties • Have fruit for dessert, particularly berries, pears, melons and oranges.

Remember these can be fresh or tinned!

If you’re considering increasing your intake of fibre, make sure to do so slowly. If you’re not used to it, too much fibre can lead to gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating.

It’s also important to drink adequate water (8-10 cups per day!) if increasing your fibre intake.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have a long-term illness and want to make any dietary changes always discuss these with your GP or a Registered Dietitian first.

EssentialsMAG nutrition contributor is Samantha Griffiths of Samantha Kate Nutrition Tel: 07958 207711 samanthakatenutrition@outlook.com www.samanthakatenutrition.com

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Maes y Pant Latest News

by Chair Ian Happs

Maes y Pant has been looking amazing in the sunshine. The ‘garden’ area in the car park is bursting with life, the trees planted by young people on that cold wet day in November 2019 are coming on really well and the flowers in the meadow have been stunning. It’s great to see so much beauty in the natural world on our doorsteps.

It’s also been good to see organised groups returning to the site as restrictions have eased. 2nd Gresford Brownies, 1st Marford Guides and All Saints School have all visited and we’ve appreciated the reports and photographs of the activities they’ve enjoyed and the work they’ve done to help us. As well as learning about the plants and animals in Maes y Pant, the Brownies helped us to complete and test two ‘Tippy Taps’ for handwashing and pupils from All Saints School are looking at designs for a new play area. The Tippy Taps are based on a design from Water Aid and they came in very handy(!) when we held our first volunteer session on 5th June.

Along with the new handwashing facilities, we prepared appropriate risk assessments and processes and we were delighted to welcome 18 volunteers that day. The volunteers worked in small groups, as family ‘bubbles’ where possible and we got a lot done. The play area is now almost cleared and made safe, paths were tidied and repairs were made to the steps to the

viewpoint and to the safety barrier on the path behind Quarry Brow. Many thanks again to everyone involved!

Our plans for the play area are progressing.

We are working with a company specialising in children’s play equipment to design and build the new playground and we are in the process of applying for lottery funding. We still need to raise money ourselves, so if you would like to contribute, please visit: www.gofundme.com/10th-anniversaryappeal MyPAG exists because of a dedicated group of volunteers, none more dedicated than John Leece Jones. We were shocked and deeply saddened by his sudden death on 1st June. John was a prominent supporter of many voluntary organisations in the Wrexham area and company secretary of MyPAG. His hard work and wise counsel are missed by us all.

If you would like to hear more about Maes Y Pant and support our work, you might like to become a Friend. Please visit our website at: www.maes-ypant.com/become-a-friend.html

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Gresford Trust Newsdesk

By Jenny Dutton The Memorial Hall is slowly re-opening and we were recently delighted to be able to welcome the first children’s party since March 2020. Having indoor social gatherings is a big step forward and we look forward to seeing many more in the coming months.

COVID regulations regarding social distancing (especially for adults) will sadly restrict the numbers we can cater for over the coming months - providing suitable booking slots for regular users is proving to be quite a challenge. This will undoubtedly have an impact on our income this year and it needs to be stressed that, had it not been for the support schemes put in place by both the Welsh and Westminster governments, the Trust would have sustained a considerable financial loss last year.

The Trustees will have to continue to manage outgoings very carefully as we seek to rebuild our business base as the support schemes will obviously be withdrawn shortly. Thankfully, we have an excellent team of Trustees. Over the last 12 months, many have given their time tirelessly to minimise expenditure as much as possible. We wish to extend our thanks to the Trustees and welcome a new village Trustee, Steve Bland, to the team.

If you would like to be more involved in the Trust, please do get in touch.

The Woodland Walk is a popular addition, with the new gate on Clappers Lane proving a useful access point.

A big thank you to the residents who pickup rubbish littering the grounds as they take their exercise and to the school children who took part in the GB Spring Clean. Litter has a huge impact on our environment and wildlife, so please bin your rubbish or take it home.

The Memorial Hall recently suffered some structural damage from a vehicular collision which fortunately did not result in any casualties or affect the opening of the building. The damage was quickly made secure by a local builder. Repairs are now subject to the surveyor’s report.

Over the summer, Gresford Cricket Club will be trying something new; cricket summer schools. Their plan is to introduce them for year 4 to 6 pupils initially. They will also be expanding their girls/ladies section over the summer.

Much more detail on these initiatives and the club in general is available at www.gresfordcricketclub.com

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Alyn Family Doctors Latest News Update on vaccinations At the time of writing, we have administered over 15,000 vaccinations.

We would like to thank the staff at the Llay Royal British Legion and many volunteers who have given their time to support the efforts of protecting our communities.

All adults aged 18 or over should now have received an invitation for a first dose, either by letter or text message. If you have not yet had your first dose and would like to be booked in, please send us an email at GeneralEnquiries.AlynFamilyDoctors@ wales.nhs.uk The vast majority of our patients should also have received their invitation for their second doses. We aim to have completed the vaccination programme for adults aged 18 and over by mid-August.

Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.

To access, just dial 111.

The easy-to-remember number is free to call from landlines and mobiles. Please note that this replaces the old number for accessing the GP Out of Hours service.

Patients will be fully assessed and if they need to be seen by a doctor or another healthcare professional out of hours while their own GP practice is closed, this will be arranged.

Patients can also access healthcare information and urgent care advice 24/7 by dialling 111. Please remember in an emergency to call 999.

Remember with the Delta variant circulating, evidence shows the best protection for you and others around you is two doses of the vaccine. If you have any concerns about receiving the vaccination, we urge you to attend your scheduled appointment where there is opportunity to discuss these with a clinician.

New out-of-hours service The NHS 111 Wales service launched in our area on 22nd June. This gives free access to urgent out-of-hours medical care and round-the-clock health support and guidance. This service is run by the

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Financial News with Hadlow Edwards Time is money...right?

How much enforced change has everyone seen across the last 16 months? I would suggest for many as much has changed in that short window - as perhaps most of us saw across several years previously. For me, the enforced lockdowns have seen me spend much more time at home (pretty obviously!) drive a LOT less, miss my colleagues, friends and family and quickly having to adjust to different ways of keeping in touch.

So, taking all of that into account, particularly NOT spending hours in the car - and getting much better at doing 30/40 minute virtual meetings too... how come I absolutely don’t find myself with time on my hands? We are just busier than ever!

What has happened to the hours spent driving to the office every day, driving to and from meetings or waiting for a train?

This has puzzled me these last few months in particular!

PrinciPal Partner Practice of St. JameS'S Place Wealth management

Telephone: 01978 311 611 email: hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk www.hadlowedwards.co.uk

I think the answer is - that things have changed for ever and we can engage now with colleagues, friends and family - and our clients as well, so much more efficiently (and in greater numbers too).

But the ‘new busy’ may mean that the idea of dedicating hours to planning how to secure your future financial wellbeing and peace of mind - doesn’t thrill you (or, of course, maybe it never did!).

Time, therefore, is as precious as it has ever been - so here is a menu of ideas, in ‘time brackets’ suggesting how you can be both really efficient AND get some things moving on our specialist subject as follows; • The 20 minute ‘coffee’ group (Now you really are time pushed!). Call or email and suggest a 20 minute time slot for a call back (telephone, Zoom, Whatsapp video) – as suits you. Simply tell us what your financial challenge, concern or goal is and we will spend 20 minutes with you discussing that topic.

Text Text

Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

• The 40 minute ‘lunch’ group A lot can be covered in this time - which will allow us to understand ‘where you are now’ and perhaps start to think about where you would wish to be in say 3, 5 or 10 years time.

Works well on Zoom or any virtual platform - or we could go ‘old school’ and actually meet!

• The 1 hour ‘proper date’ group Dedicate an hour (yes... a whole hour!) to come into The Old Brewery, meet at your home or at your place of work - and really identify your concerns, issues and challenges - and allow us to help you take some of those in hand.

Back to ‘Time is Money’ - I honestly have no idea how true that is. I do know how much more we value it hence our ‘time slot’ offering - which we hope you will take us up on whatever your financial challenge, priority or goal may be.

By Warren Hadlow of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Tel: 01978 311 611 www.hadlowedwards.co.uk

Please do drop us an email or call as you wish and I look froward to spending a valuable 20, 40 or even 60 minutes exploring how we can help you set off in the right direction or achieve a key financial objective that is important to you.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up.

You may get back less than you invested.

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Lesley Griffiths MS Member of the Senedd for Wrexham Wales’ incredible vaccination rollout continues to move from strength to strength, with latest figures showing we have one of the best programmes in the world. This is a truly remarkable achievement. We are on the road to recovery and there is reason to be hopeful thanks to the vaccination teams’ hard work and dedication over these past seven months or so.

Staff and volunteers in Wrexham are playing their part in this incredible effort.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, I visited Alyn Family Doctors at the British Legion in Llay to congratulate them on administering their 10,000th vaccination.

Originally, the aim in Wales was to offer all adults their first vaccine by the end of this month, but the target was met six weeks ahead of schedule. The next goal will be to offer everyone a second dose by the end of September.

Getting fully vaccinated is vitally important as evidence shows a double dose of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca is highly effective against the so-called Delta variant. The spread of this new variant in parts of the country reminds us that we must remain vigilant and emphasises how important it is that we all get vaccinated, particularly as restrictions gradually ease.

increasing numbers of people are missing their appointments.

If you did not attend your appointment for whatever reason, or you believe you have been missed, it is never too late to get vaccinated. I do not want anyone to be left behind and I am urging everyone in Wrexham to get the vaccine. Not only will it protect you, but it will also help protect your loved ones and the wider community.

The speed at which we return to normal life could depend on how quickly the remaining population is vaccinated.

It’s now easier than ever for people to book an appointment through the online booking service on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board website, or by calling the Covid Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840004.

My staff and I are continuing to work remotely during these challenging times, offering advice and support to constituents in Wrexham. I am also holding virtual advice surgeries on a regular basis.

If there is anything I could help you with, please contact me via the details below.

During my visit to Llay to meet Alyn Family Doctors, it was concerning to hear

Talwyd costau’r cyhoeddiad hwn gan Gomisiwn y Senedd, o gronfeydd cyhoeddus / The costs of this publication have been met by the Senedd Commission from public funds.

Tel: 01978 355743 Lesley.Griffiths@senedd.wales www.lesleygriffiths.co.uk Facebook & Twitter: @lesley4wrexham

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Where The Wild Things Are

By EssentialsMAG environment contributor ROB RENOUF A recent UN report found that an area the size of China needed to be rewilded in order to meet nature and climate commitments. We’re facing yet another massive challenge, but if we have a garden we can help out by applying some of the same principles.

Rewilding can take different forms: Active rewilding - reintroducing native species that are no longer present - an example is the current project looking at the feasibility of reintroducing eagles to Wales. It can also be as simple as scattering wildflower seeds in your garden.

Passive rewilding - stepping back and letting nature take its course. Rather than proactively reintroducing species of plants and animals, this involves allowing them the opportunity to re-establish themselves.

Rewilding your garden may seem like a very small contribution, but it can have a really positive impact. Even small habitats can act like an oasis in an urban desert and provide corridors that enable animals to travel across them.

The most difficult part of rewilding a garden may actually be changing your mindset; ‘weeds’ is just a label we’ve chosen to apply to some plants, many of which are incredibly beautiful, edible or have medicinal properties. These local plants are well

suited to our environmental conditions, so don’t need watering and looking after in the same way as some non-native species. Many also provide food for indigenous species of animals. The appearance of Rosebay Willowherb in our garden was quickly followed by an Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar. A local organic farmer explained how aphids might be a problem in the short-term but, given time, the ladybirds who are their natural predators are likely to appear and restore the natural equilibrium.

Rewilding a garden offers a fantastic way of educating ourselves about the natural world and connecting with it. Rather than driving somewhere to experience wildlife, we can let it come to us. Seeing how ecosystems work and the complex interrelationships within them can enhance our understanding of the climate and ecological emergency and the actions needed to address it.

Gardening can become an endless battle against nature, but it doesn’t need to be.

There’s growing recognition of how much harm our desire to exploit and exert control over the natural world is causing. Rethinking our relationship with our garden can help us to develop a more healthy relationship with our planet and all the life we share it with.

EssentialsMAG environment contributor is Rob Renouf robsrenouf@gmail.com

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What Exactly is Reflexology?

By GAYLE WHITTAKER If I were to tell you that your whole body can be mapped out on the soles of your feet you would no doubt think I was crazy!

But that is exactly what happens in reflexology.

Reflexology has been used in the East for many thousands of years as a way of maintaining health and homeostasis (a balance within mind and body). It is known to have been used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Japanese and native Americans.

In the Western world reflexology is classed as a complementary therapy, something that can be experienced on its own or alongside conventional medicine if required, to aid with physical and emotional symptoms.

It works by the therapist gently holding or moving over reflex points in the soles of the feet (or sometimes the hands or face), that correspond with the organs and systems of the body. The aim is to restore balance naturally. Reflexologists work the whole body and mind in every treatment and, as holistic therapists, they take into account the whole person, not just the symptoms that are being presented.

Reflexologists can’t diagnose conditions or illnesses but they can sometimes see or feel that an area of the body might be lacking in energy or over energised for example, or maybe that shoulders are tight, or digestion is sluggish.

This information, combined with the information given to them by the client about their symptoms, lifestyle and how they are feeling, enables the reflexologist to create a treatment tailored specifically for the individual.

In terms of what reflexology can help with, the list is endless. Sleeplessness, anxiety, stress, pain and inflammation, headaches and migraines, hormonal imbalances, the menopause, PMT… It is a therapy that is safe for any age, including babies, but occasionally there may be a requirement for medical permission or it may be best to avoid a treatment altogether with certain health issues.

With stress being seen as a major modern-day factor affecting people’s health, reflexology is also increasingly becoming a popular choice for people looking for relief from the day-to-day stresses that today’s fast-paced world can create.

If you’ve never tried reflexology but wonder if it might be for you, why not give it a try? Always look for a reflexologist who is registered with either the Association of Reflexologists or the Federation of Holistic Therapists as they will be qualified to a required standard and insured to carry out treatments.

By Gayle Whittaker, Reflexologist at The Universal Therapist Tel: 07766 701479 www.theuniversaltherapist.co.uk

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Summer

BY JO YOUNG

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Local Gresford Poet, Jo Young

Lighter days and nights A sun that shines bright Birds busy chattering away Gives you a moment to think and encourage you to stay But to day to day life you have to turn With new lessons we have to learn!

The warmth of the sun, the fields so green Only makes us scream Summer is here!

New life we have to steer Flowers are beginning to bloom New buds, new blossom – it’s not too soon!

The fragrance of the magnolia tree to the petunia plants Make us forget for the moment those pesky ants Fleeces, sweaters and sleeves are now rolled up Pub gardens we flock to with beer to sup!

To the seaside we must go Fresh air, sand and sea – will only help us grow To grow in our wellbeing Spending quality times with other human beings Summer helps us generate a plan And develop that all important sun tan!

Pulford & Poulton Local History Group

By EssentialsMAG history contributor PETER GOSMORE The Pulford Privy - an anti-social history We all learn something new every day and while a few of us were working in the ‘back yard’ of the Village Hall at Pulford, I discovered something I had not seen before a privy toilet - this traditionally ramshackle building also has other monikers: The outhouse or ‘outhous’ in Victorian parlance was often used to colloquially describe a toilet but, we can continue onto Biffy - a contraction of the portable toilet company Browning Ferris Industries. Karzy - which is thought to be a contraction of the Italian word ‘Casa’ for ‘house’. Another which particularly amuses me is Cludgie - a Scottish term being a combination of ‘closet’ and ‘lodge’.

We English speakers love euphemism.

I remember back to my early teens, I and a friend (a ‘well heeled’ friend (euphemism again) were visiting an aunt and uncle of mine who lived in quite a humble and rural situation. My friend needed to relieve himself and asked my aunt if he could ‘go upstairs’ (euphemism yet again!) and was politely directed to the privy (out the back).

What a moment and it has stuck in my mind for over 60 years.

The best of all for me is the ‘house of the August moon’. Quite simply, a cheap way of putting a door handle on a door is to cut a crescent shaped hole in it - hence this name for the privy!

Going back 70 years, after the war when I was four or five years old my parents took a house in the countryside and for the first few months, I remember the privy toilet as being the only facility we had.

Happily, things did improve and my parents built an indoor bathroom (yes, upstairs) and the sandstone privy was demolished to knee high and creatively turned into a raised flower bed. For years, I was told to ‘go and weed the privy’.

Getting back to Pulford Village Hall, traditionally at an AGM, the worst jobs of all can be doled out at the end to those who had sent their apologies and who perhaps had unwisely stated that they would be willing to undertake any responsibility in order to be helpful.

There, firmly and clearly in the minutes, John Smith is in charge of the Privy maintenance - for sure, that would focus his mind to attend next year!

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EssentialsMAG Book Club

The Switch

by BETH O'LEARY

Leave the World Behind

by RUMAAN ALAM

You Are A Champion

by MARCUS RASHFORD

Eileen is sick of being 79.

Leena's tired of life in her 20s. Maybe it's time they swapped places...!

A pensioner and her granddaughter swap lives for eight weeks in O’Leary’s enchanting and hilarious novel, The Switch. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire.

A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong. Leave the World Behind, a compelling literary thriller, explores how our closest bonds are reshaped in moments of crisis - and how the most terrifying situations are never far from reality.

Tear up the rule book.

Find your own lane. You are only in competition with yourself. Marcus Rashford MBE draws on stories from his own life to show you that success is all about the mindset - discover the unstoppable power of your own voice. An empowering and life changing children’s book full of practical advice and engaging illustrations.

Deliverance

by THE REV. JASON BRAY The Rev. Jason Bray, vicar of St Giles Church in Wrexham, has an unlikely sideline – Jason is an Anglican deliverance minister, which means that he banishes poltergeists and ghosts and explains the church's teachings on demons.

Deliverance is a story of oppression and possession, of ghosts, poltergeists and other paranormal phenomena and how to deal with them. A strangely comforting book that shines a light into a world that's little talked about.

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Business Partners and Divorce The coronavirus pandemic has sadly resulted in the demise of businesses and also marriages. Worse are cases where husbands and wives or civil partners work together in a family business and the demise of the marriage has forced the demise of the business. This highlights the importance of business owners taking necessary steps to protect the business and its assets.

Courts largely used to try and avoid making final orders in a divorce case that resulted in a business having to be sold, because the business was usually viewed as a source of income. However, that approach has changed significantly in recent years and Courts are now far more likely to make an Order resulting in the need to either restructure the business, or force its sale, to effect the terms of any settlement.

When a marriage or civil partnership breaks down between couples who are also business partners, all assets held in their joint or sole names must be valued and included for consideration in the financial settlement. The only exception may be where a family business has been handed down through generations to one party, in which case it may escape going into the matrimonial pot and being divided between the parties.

There are steps that limited companies and partnerships can take to protect the business assets, such as discretionary trusts, shareholder agreements and prenuptial agreements. Where a business has been owned by just one party, the best way to protect the business assets is with a PreNuptial or Pre-Civil Partnership Agreement set up early in the relationship as possible.

Following a relationship breakdown, the Court will decide what happens to the business, taking into account its structure so getting the right legal advice before setting up the business is of paramount importance. The Court will want to see a valuation of the business and its assets, normally determined by the joint instruction by the parties of a specialist forensic accountant. This information will provide the basis for the Court to consider how the value of the business interest should affect any settlement.

Engaging a larger firm of lawyers with both matrimonial and commercial teams who can work together is an advantage, especially as they also usually enjoy close links with experts who can assist with, for example, forensic accounting.

This article has been written by Robert Williams, Partner with GHP Legal Tel: 01978 291456 To get in touch please use the ‘Contact us’ form on the website: ghplegal.com

We continue to provide our high levels of client service both in the office and remotely. Appointments can be via Zoom, telephone, or in person by prior arrangement. Clients attending the office by appointment will be required to wear a mask. Your lawyer will be wearing a face mask and/or face shield. These may be removed in rooms where social distancing is possible.

Hugh Jones Councillor for Rossett Autograss Track. I share residents’ concern around the use of farmland on Dark Lane for the purposes of Autograss Racing.

I have explored all options with both Planning and Public Protection and the regulations permit the activity for up to 14 days in a year without the need for approval. If they lay out a hard surface track they would need planning permission but this is not the nature of such activity.

I have asked officers to monitor activity on the grounds of noise and animal welfare regulations. We will keep a close eye on what is going on.

Darland Lane/Gamford Lane Flood Relief.

Having encouraged officers to submit schemes to the Welsh Government I am pleased that funding has now been allocated and the detailed arrangements for the work to be commenced is in hand.

It is hoped that work will start very shortly and be completed before the winter. It has taken eight years to get to this point and I will continue to keep a very close watch to ensure that we deliver the scheme.

Bellis Brothers Planning. I continue to work with residents to object to the detailed schemes. The plans submitted are inaccurate in so many ways and the flood mitigation scheme is a joke. The developers are trying to export the flooding from their site to the problematic area of Gamford and Darland Lanes. There are a significant number of challenges to this application and we will continue to represent the best interests of residents.

The Green. The traffic scheme is currently going through the legal process and I am chasing it up reminding officers that it was promised for June and there is a degree of urgency given the recent accident.

The Hwb. I have attended a Hwb meeting and pleased to see that work is proceeding along the lines indicated by the Planning Officer, respecting both the Conservation Area and the open space. I am hoping that as soon as regulations allow, we can have a residents meeting to discuss the project and hopefully enable residents to have a better understanding of the project.

Harwoods Lane, Bungalows. The cost of the fencing work, to the Housing Revenue Account was significantly less than £20k and not the rumoured £140K. Ken Dolan. Ken was passionate about Rossett and served the Community as Chair of the Community Council and of the Friends of Alyn Family Doctors and is a loss to our community. After leaving the Community Council he continued to raise issues concerning residents and cared for their welfare.

I offer Janet and Ken’s family my thoughts and prayers at this sad time.

Tel: 07769 706999 hugh.jones@wrexham.gov.uk

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Andrew Atkinson Councillor for Gresford Traffic Lights. I could probably fill this whole column on the traffic lights saga this month. It’s been an absolute nightmare and taken up huge amounts of time as I’m constantly on the phone and emailing Highways officers. Unfortunately I don’t have any power to change the situation myself so find I am constantly suggesting changes and requesting emergency call outs. Residents are in touch telling me how bad it is, which I see for myself, every day.

There's no argument, I don't need convincing, I'm on side and trying to help, as are the Community Council.

The Bypass issues are Welsh Government and not the council so we have extremely limited influence. Every time there has been any kind of closure or diversion I've requested traffic calming measures etc and every time it's been denied.

Please do contact Welsh Government / Highways, or your Member of the Welsh Parliament for assistance as we need the help of those that can influence this.

With regards to the traffic lights, that is a council issue and as previously raised it will be a long wait to fix them as they will be completely refurbished but there is a wait for certain parts. The council have been helpful in trying to speed this up for us and I've met contractors on site and invited Community Council representatives too.

There are localised issues too such as the sensors not picking up those coming from Old Wrexham Road to Chester Road and I've raised that too.

It was raised with me about lorries parking on Clappers Lane which has exacerbated the problem so I contacted our brilliant PCSO's who were straight out to move them on. I've had concerns raised about Wynnstay Lane, Hoseley Lane, Vicarage Lane, parts of Chester Road, Hillock Lane all being impacted.

I’ve had support given to man the traffic lights but that’s not been good enough and I’ve requested more. At the time of writing I’m told there’s a good chance that we can have them manned 12 hours a day 7 days a week. I am doing all I physically can and will continue to do so.

Please do contact Welsh Government.

Bin Collections. When I’ve not been on the phone about traffic lights it’s been bin collections. There does seem to have been problems of late and issues with lorries which seem to have impacted the County Borough. I will keep following up any issues raised with me and keep you posted.

I've asked the question many of you have raised about whether we need them or not as it seems to work so well without them.

I’m told categorically that we do have to have them.

Tel: 07914 211631 andrew.atkinson@wrexham.gov.uk

Useful Numbers ANIMAL CARE Daleside Veterinary Farndon Kennels & Cattery Gatehouse Veterinary Green Lane Veterinary Park Lane Kennels Rhyd Broughton Veterinary RSPCA Vets4Pets

01978 311 881 01829 270 198 01244 570 364 01244 683 858 01978 852 914 01978 720 362 0300 1234 999 01978 352 499

COUNCILS Cheshire West & Chester Wrexham

0300 123 8 123 01978 292 000

DOCTORS Alyn Family Doctors Farndon Village Surgery Marches Medical Practice Strathmore Medical Practice NHS Direct

03333 323 260 01829 771 588 01244 520 615 01978 352 055 111

DENTISTS Bridge End Dental Practice Chapel Cottage Dental Practice Rossett Dental Care Springfield Dental Care

01978 762 030 01978 854 745 01244 571 544 01978 851 300

OPTICIANS Gresford Eyecare

01978 855 828

HOSPITALS Countess of Chester Wrexham Maelor

01244 365 000 01978 291 100

LEISURE CENTRES Gwyn Evans Northgate Arena Plas Madoc

01978 269 540 01244 380444 01978 821 600

LOCAL FACILITIES 3C Pest Control Adult Social Services Citizens Advice Foodbank - Chester Foodbank - Wrexham Recycling Centre - Chester Recycling Centre - Tattenhall Recycling Centre - Whitchurch Recycling Centre - Wrexham Samaritans

01948 838 111 01978 292 066 0300 330 1178 0151 355 7730 07538 547971 01244 372 764 01829 771 337 0345 678 9007 01978 292 000 116 123

In an EMERGENCY always dial 999 For your local POLICE STATION in a NON EMERGENCY dial 101

LOCAL SERVICES Air Ambulance - Wales Fire & Rescue - Cheshire Fire & Rescue - North Wales Environment Agency National Grid Natural Resources Wales Severn Trent Water Welsh Water

0300 0152 999 01606 868 700 01745 535 250 03708 506 506 01926 653000 0300 065 3000 0800 783 4444 0800 052 0130

LIBRARIES Chester Library at Storyhouse Gresford Library Llay Library Overton Library Wrexham Library

01244 409 113 01978 852 627 01978 855 100 01978 710 557 01978 292 090

SCHOOLS & NURSERIES Abbey Gate College All Saints’ Primary School Benison Nursery School Bishop Heber High School Dandelions Day Nursery Darland High School Dodleston Pre-School Dodleston Primary School Eccleston Primary School Farndon Primary School Gresford Playgroup Holt Primary School Holt Under 5’s Playgroup Leaps and Bounds Pre-school Little Scholars Nursery Marford Playgroup Rhosnesni High School Rossett House Nursery St. Paul's VA Primary School St. Peters Primary School Shocklach Primary School The Catholic High School The Homestead Day Nursery The King’s School The Maelor School The Queen’s School The Rofft Primary School The Spinney Day Nursery

01244 332 077 01978 852 342 01244 676 199 01948 860 571 01829 272 277 01244 570 588 01244 661 611 01244 981 080 01244 981 000 01244 981 280 07523 398 880 01829 270 021 07496 231 275 01244 678 997 01978 314 912 07947 473857 01978 340 840 01244 571 872 01978 661 556 01244 570 594 01829 250 285 01244 981 600 01978 853 946 01244 689 500 01948 830 291 01244 312 078 01978 853 116 01244 577 948

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Puzzle Page...

Just For Fun Crossword ACROSS 1 7 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 21 22 23 24 25

Blunders (6) Science of classification (8) Slippery fish (3) Relating to the lower back (6) Movement of water causing a small whirlpool (4) Stitched (5) Motivate (7) Fighter (7) Rise to one's feet (3,2) Where darts players throw from (4) Lender (6) _ Botham: former cricketer (3) Teaches (8) Colours slightly (6)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 12 14 16 18 19 20

Welcomes (6) Pursue (6) Cigarette ends (5) Take out (7) Lacking confidence (8) Among (6) Establish firmly (8) Release air from something (7) Assent or agree to (6) Growing weary (6) Naples (anag) (6) Middle of the body (5)

If you want to find out the answers they will be published in next month’s edition.

Here are the answers from June:

Classic Sudoku

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