Nailsea Living June 21

Nailsea &Backwell

June/July Issue 2021

THE LOCAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE DELIVERED DOOR TO DOOR

HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY

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The importance of storing your will

By Nicola Richardson

Most people are aware of the importance of making a Will.

However, many underestimate the importance of registering the existence of the Will and its safe storage.

A lot of families can be hesitant to discuss making a Will or discussing it after it has been made, often due to a perceived element of morbidity around the conversation or fear of starting an argument. Even when a Will is made and communicated to the family, its location could be forgotten or changed over time. This can result in family members feeling like they have not carried out their loved one’s wishes.

We offer secure storage of all documents and addition to the Certainty National Will Register.

When a Will is placed into storage you are given retrieval

certificates to pass on to your executors so that they can access the Will when required.

If for any reason, there is doubt of the existence of the Will a simple check of the Certainty National Will Register will establish its existence.

There are many reasons for storing your Will other than the risk of it not being found and your wishes then not being met. It is not unheard of for Wills to vanish if a previous Will or the intestacy rules are more beneficial to a particular family member.

If you would like more information regarding making a Will or storage, please call Nicola on 01275 851056 or email nicola@richardsonswills. co.uk www.richardsonswills.co.uk

A Professional Will Writing Service Putting plans in place to help your loved ones once you’re gone is so important.

Richardson’s Wills will help you to make the right plans for you and your family.

Are you considering making a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Only £199+VAT To discuss or to arrange a FREE consultation, call us today: Bristol: 01173 215858 North Somerset: 01275 851056 Weston-s-mare: 01934 886766

EDITOR’S NOTE

Longer days and lighter evenings are with us once again, in a sign that summer’s finally here.

While the seasonal calendar might not be as full as in pre-2020 years, there’s still plenty planned for the coming months, including the return of several popular and muchmissed happenings, from the Nailsea Skate Park Festival and Trendlewood Community Festival to an all-new series of food and craft fayres – details inside. I’m sure I’m not the only one crossing fingers and toes that these much-needed events get the green light to go ahead and I look forward to seeing you at as many of them as possible. A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing a little summer cheer to the town, whether that be through organising events, planting flowers or

Nailsea Backwell Taxis litter-picking.

On the topic of enhancing Nailsea’s outdoor space, we’re delighted to have caught up this month with chainsaw sculptor Andy O’Neill, whose recently completed, wildlife-inspired sculpture has been such a talking point in Nailsea in recent weeks. Find out more about the process he used and his thoughts on local reactions to his work inside.

June and July are also wonderful months to enjoy the abundance of natural beauty on our doorsteps. If you’re tempted to finally get outdoors after what feels like a lifetime spent staring at four walls, you’ll find information inside on the wealth of walks available locally and an update on the tidal trail planned for North Somerset.

Enjoy your summer, however you choose to spend it.

Until next month,

LOCAL & NATIONAL TRAVEL

(01275)

79 99 99

www.nailseabackwelltaxis.co.uk

Miriam

Cover photo by Gordon Bennett

Gordano Media Limited, PO BOX 221, Bristol, BS20 1EA. To advertise call our team on 01275 849369 Email: miriam@gordanomedia.co.uk // Website: www.livingmagazines.online Copy deadline for our next issue is 30th June This magazine can and should be recycled after use to help protect the environment

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community news Getting streets ahead with litterpicking Did you know that nearly 150 streets have been adopted by volunteers across North Somerset to help keep communities litter free?

Under the scheme, volunteers choose the street they’d like to ‘adopt’, with North Somerset Council providing the necessary litter-picking equipment and safety information.

If you’d like to apply to become a volunteer, you’ll need to download and complete the council’s adopt a street application form, safety quiz and risk assessment. The council is also keen to be kept informed on how often you litter pick your adopted street(s) and how much you collect – something you can do by completing a litter log at the end of each month. To find out more about adopting a street or to download an application form, go to www.n-somerset. gov.uk/adoptastreet.

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Winning shots Despite having to accommodate the challenges of the pandemic, Backwell Camera Club successfully held its annual ‘Living World’ competition recently, with two contenders emerging victorious. The contest is divided into two classes: the Sheila Briggs Trophy for the best image taken by a camera and the Dick Drake Cup for the best image taken by a mobile phone. Alan Wood won the Sheila Briggs Trophy with his photo titled Bluebell Haze, while Grete Howard took the Dick Drake Cup with her entry named Watering the Tulip.

The club are currently holding their meetings on Zoom each Thursday at 7.30pm. New members are welcome and membership is currently free.

For more information, email backwellcameraclubzoom@ gmail.com.

Pictured right: Bluebell Haze by Alan Wood and Watering the Tulip by Grete Howard were the winning submissions

community news first

Wild about art A pair of owls, an otter, mice, rabbits, a woodpecker and a badger are among the beautifully carved wildlife on a stunning new sculpture that now takes pride of place in Nailsea after chainsaw sculptor Andy O’Neill was commissioned to transform the stump of a historic oak tree.

Despite some temperamental weather, Andy completed the sculpture in late May after spending an estimated seven days’ full work on the commission. “It was a lovely job to do,” said Andy, “although if the weather had been right, it would have been easier. But it all flowed quite nicely.”

Andy is one of a small but growing number of chainsaw sculptors in the country, a profession that allows him to draw on his artistic side, with a background in graphic design, and his expertise as a tree surgeon.

He was inspired to take up chainsaw sculpting 15 years ago after seeing a traveller living on a campsite near Bath, who was wintering on land and paying for his stay through creating chainsaw carvings. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and I thought I’ll have a go at it,” he said. Since then, he has built an impressive portfolio of work and is so popular that he is fully booked well into 2022. His next job finds him in his hometown of Yate, at Millside working on a sculpture trail.

For his most recent oak sculpture, Andy was commissioned by Nailsea Town Council to transform a former local landmark, the tree that had stood on the High Street village green since 1897 but which had been felled in 2019 after it died.

Although Andy’s favourite wood to work with is sequoia, as “it cuts like butter, is durable and a carver’s dream”, oak for him is also fantastic as it is incredibly durable and nice to work with “but it needs really sharp saws, as it’s hard to cut”.

Chainsaw sculptor Andy O’Neill has really appreciated the positive reaction in Nailsea to his work

Like every work, the Nailsea sculpture was sculpted with different size chainsaws and in phases. “It’s an organic process,” Andy said, describing how he never plans any sculpture but rather allows it to progress and evolve as he is carving. Andy was particularly impressed by the local reception to his work. “Everyone has been so positive,” he said. “When they say that they really like what you’re doing, it buoys you up. Everybody I met was completely positive and that enables me to relax into my work.”

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community news

Book your next great read A new Fastback service being offered

by North Somerset Libraries enables fiction lovers to beat the queues for the latest bestsellers. Fastbacks are extra copies of new entries to the hardback bestseller charts, with popular titles from top authors like Victoria Hislop, Richard Osman and James Patterson among those on the list. They have a loan period of one week, aren’t reservable or renewable, to ensure as many people as possible get to enjoy them, but can be returned to any Libraries West library. Fastback titles are available at Clevedon, Yatton, Portishead, Nailsea and Weston libraries, with new entries to the top 10 fiction charts added each week. Keep your eyes peeled for the Fastback logo to make use of this new service.

Fosterers needed

North Somerset Council is on the lookout for potential foster carers, especially those who can look after children aged 11 and over, and brother and sister groups so they can live together.

Their call for possible carers comes on the back of a nationwide campaign in May. While the council currently has 64 registered foster carers, the number of children in foster care stands at 192.

Councillor Catherine Gibbons, North Somerset Council’s Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “As a result of the campaign we have had a number of enquiries from potential foster carers but we need to recruit more.”

She added that if the council is unable to place children and young people with foster carers, private fostering agencies have to be approached, which means the youngsters may need to be moved away from North Somerset. “Fostering can be so rewarding, watching a young person grow in a loving environment,” Cllr Gibbons said. “If you’ve ever thought of fostering, please get in touch with our team who can answer any questions you may have.”

To find out more, email the fostering team at fostering@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Getting Nailsea summer ready Volunteers from Nailsea in Bloom (NIB) were gearing up for a busy time in their efforts to brighten up the town following the arrival of almost 2000 plants.

The plants, which include bright and uplifting begonias, petunias, geraniums, osteospermum, nemsia and coleus, will be placed in the many beds and containers across Nailsea.

NIB volunteer Wendy Mobbs said that the team had this year

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purposefully chosen bright colours to help bring a splash of colour to the high street, with plants allocated to the hanging baskets and barrier baskets. “The last year has been challenging because of Covid, but thankfully the volunteers carried on maintaining the containers and beds,” she said.

Wendy added that NIB is keen to hear from businesses who would be interested in sponsoring the group’s efforts. She can be contacted at wendy.mobbs@outlook.com.

community news first

Funding award to help Holy Trinity Church welcome back groups Holy Trinity Church in Nailsea is a step closer to opening its doors to the community groups that were using Trinity Centre and Church Hall until March 2020 after being awarded a grant under the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage – Second Round Lottery Fund Scheme. The scheme was launched to help organisations cope with the effects of the pandemic and lockdowns over the last 12 months.

Like others, Holy Trinity has felt the weight of groups that were using its facilities having to suspend their activities, even though it has remained open. The grant of £76,200 will help the church to meet the costs of opening back up to community groups and completing some repairs.

James Packman, Rector of Holy Trinity, said: “This grant will really help us get back to serving our local community.

We estimate that we had 35,000 visits through our doors in 2019. People

came into the church building, Trinity Centre, Trinity House and Church Hall for all sorts of reasons, from those using our facilities for dance lessons to counselling, and from toddler groups to our lunch for seniors, and much, much more. It’s been really sad that many of these groups have been restricted or had to stop for periods of time over the past year, so this grant money is a great encouragement for us as we look to throw open our doors wide to the community once again.”

The funding awarded is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. It has been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England as well as the British Film Institute and Arts Council England.

Holy Trinity Church in Nailsea and James Packman, Rector of Holy Trinity

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community news

Visits resume at Stockway North Nature Reserve Anyone who enjoys visiting green open spaces will be thrilled to hear that Stockway North Nature Reserve is now open to the public every Wednesday and on the first Saturday of each month until the end of August, from 2pm to 4pm, weather permitting. The openings mark the first time that the nature reserve has been able to welcome visitors since March 2020.

Known for offering the public a welcome haven of tranquillity, the reserve will also showcase its usual diverse display of pond life. Rich in biodiversity, the reserve is home to a long list of species that includes 180 plants, 35 birds, 15 butterflies, nine dragonflies/damselflies, frogs, newts, fungi, mammals and many invertebrates.

Growing together as a community Bringing a fun community element to gardening, a new Seed Swap initiative was launched by Nailsea Town Council in May. Held from Monday to Thursday at No 65, Seed Swap provides an opportunity to bring along any spare and unopened seed packets or seedlings with a view to swapping them with what others have donated. The idea blossomed, according to Nailsea Town Council, after plenty of suggestions for a seed and plant swap were received when the council solicited opinions on the future of the telephone box it now owns. As well as bringing plants or seeds to No 65, visitors can also give donations to Nailsea in Bloom, supporting the drive to keep Nailsea looking naturally beautiful. The Seed Swap is open from Monday to Thursday 9.30-4pm and on Fridays from 9.30am to 1pm.

Happy low-key sixth birthday to the Leg Club The Nailsea and District Leg Club will be marking its sixth birthday on July 1, although celebrations, like last year’s fifth anniversary, are on hold for now. Full reopening of the club at Tithe Barn on Wednesday mornings remains in the pipeline, with more details to be announced when decisions are made. For now, members are being treated safely by the nurses and contact maintained with them by representatives Carole Brooke or Sandy Riley. If you’re concerned about issues such as leg ulcers, the team advises you to contact your surgery to arrange treatment and keep up your exercise regime. For more information on the Leg Club, contact Sandy on 01275 853547.

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community news first

A thank you from Nailsea Recognised for their inspiring community volunteer work, Wendy Mobbs and Richard Simmons were both presented with awards at Nailsea Town Council’s annual meeting held at Nailsea School on May 28. As the Chair of Nailsea in Bloom, Wendy oversees a group of volunteers who spend countless hours designing, creating and managing the superb floral displays across the town. The group is known for its family-like and friendly atmosphere, with Wendy being the driver of this welcoming and supportive group. Receiving her award, Wendy requested that it be seen as something for all the volunteers of Nailsea in Bloom, in a show of thanks for all their hard work.

On the evening, Richard was awarded for his decades-long involvement with 2nd Nailsea Scouts, which has included organising the huge Mayfair Scouts fundraiser at Millennium Park for many years, playing a key role in acquiring the freehold building and land at Hannah More Road for use by the Scouts and also being the co-founder of the charity fundraising Christmas Post collections, organised by the Scouts for the town. During the evening, an award was also presented to the Council on behalf of the Scouts.

Wendy Mobbs and Richard Simmons were both recognised for their work in the community

George makes May a runaway success In an amazing fundraising feat, five-yearold George Crossman laced up his trainers, possibly with some help from mum Gem and dad Tom, and ran a mile for charity, also with his parents by his side, every day throughout the month of May. This fantastic display of sporty determination saw George raise more than £2000 for the Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal, which supports the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. “There was one day when George was feeling a bit unwell, but he still wanted to complete the mile, so I carried him some of the way,” Tom said.

“Luckily I’m quite fit myself!”

George chose the charity personally,

according to Tom, after telling his parents that he realised some children were more poorly than him and that he was lucky to enjoy good health.

“He was aware that the hospital played a really important role by looking after children who weren’t very well,” Tom said.

Many of George’s runs were completed in the park near his home, although the family were able to venture farther afield at weekends, putting their best foot forward at times at popular spots such as Weston-superMare.

Tom said family and friends have been incredible in their support, not only with their donations but also by cheering on George, promoting his efforts on social media and running with him.

George on his daily May runs

It will certainly be a month to remember for George, full of special memories, including the police escort he was awarded on one particular day and his final run, which took place at Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club on a glorious bank holiday and was completed with an army of fellow runners.

George is now busy working out the total raised for charity and is looking forward to presenting it to the appeal. “They’ve already voiced their support for George on Twitter which he really appreciated,” Tom said.

July 2 is Wrong Trousers Day and your chance to support the Grand Appeal. See page 10 for more information.

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community news

Pull someone’s leg for a great cause Wrong Trousers Day is back on Friday July 2, giving everyone the perfect excuse to dress in the silliest style possible for a good cause.

A highlight of The Grand Appeal’s calendar, this fun event sees favourite cine characters Wallace and Gromit urging us once again to don the most ludicrous legwear for a day as a way of raising

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funds for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Rest assured your donations will help support sick children and their families through the toughest of times. Donating has been made as easy as possible this year - simply text 70085 and: 1WTD to donate £1; 5WTD to donate £5; and 10WTD to donate £10. Don’t forget to share your photos and stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, tagging The Grand Appeal using #WrongTrousersDay.

community news first

Donations welcome at Community Foodbank The Community Foodbank team have expressed their thanks to everyone who’s dropped in produce recently, which has included a generous donation of tomato plants by a local allotment holder.

Any excess plants, fruit or vegetables will be gratefully received by volunteers, alongside other donations, for distribution at the Community Foodbank and Community Larder, located at No. 26 Somerset Square.

Don’t forget that the larder is now open daily from Monday to Saturday.

Opening times are: 10am-2.30pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 10am-12.30pm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Items are free since the idea is to reduce waste by finding food a home. All members of the community are welcome to take five items from the larder, along with bread, on a daily basis.

The Community Larder first opened its doors in September, with the aim of preventing food from going to waste and championing the message ‘Feed bellies, not bins!’

The Community Foodbank and Community Larder are located at No. 26 Somerset Square

Having a sort out?

Donate to CHSW Children’s Hospice South West are on the lookout for any good quality items to be donated to their CHSW shops, particularly summer clothes, children’s toys and bric-a-brac. By donating items, you will be helping to raise funds to support local children and families. The Nailsea CHSW shop is located at 18 Colliers Walk and open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Calling ahead is strongly advised before any drop-off, to allow shop staff to accommodate donated goods. To contact the Nailsea shop, call 01275 853 261.

Facebook group for new parents New or expectant parents affected by the restrictions imposed by lockdowns are invited to join a local Facebook group set up to help compensate for the lack of activities currently available, such as coffee mornings and antenatal classes,

due to lockdowns and other Covid-related restrictions. The private group aims to provide a virtual space for parents of newborns or toddlers and others with a baby on the way to chat and make new friends at a time when it’s easy to feel

isolated or lonely. For more information, search ‘Nailsea (and surrounding) lockdown babies’ on Facebook or call Suzie on 07581 171144.

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community news

Nailsea Skate Park Festival returns

Organisers of the extremely popular Nailsea Skate Park Festival are planning this year to run the event on Saturday July 3, provided the final Covid restrictions are lifted and announced on June 21.

Feedback from the community has been that all those involved with the skate park and including parents, guardians and friends are very keen to see the event return, with the organisers committed to making every effort to hold it in a Covidsecure format.

The main focus of the day will be the skate park and the scooter and skateboard competitions for all ages, and this will be supplemented with music, as well as a great range of refreshments. First time skateboarders are welcome to enter, as well as young

Wheel fans in action at previous editions of Nailsea Skate Park Festival 12

competitors, with previous events having seen entrants as young as four years old.

Unfortunately, the ‘showcase’ element, which has proved to be popular over the years, will not be happening for the 2021 event due to the challenges posed to organising it by the lingering uncertainty around Covid restrictions.

Registration for the contest will be from midday with the contest itself starting around 1pm. Entry forms will be sent out to all previous competitors, however if you would like a form, contact nailseaskatefest@gmail. com.

Once again, community support for this event, which relies entirely on donations, is strong and includes: Nailsea Town

Council, Nailsea Community Trust, Holy Trinity and Trendlewood churches, and Christians Together in Nailsea. In the words of the organising team, this is an amazing opportunity to give back to the town and to showcase the skatepark users, and all those related to them and their friends. Anyone that would like to get involved in any other form of sponsorship, or that has any questions, is invited to contact phil@christiansurfers.co.uk. Follow all the latest updates on Facebook at Nailsea Skate Fest and Activities Showcase and Nailsea Skatepark Project.

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feature

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Meanwhile, Michelle Baden-Daintree, Associate Director at Simpson, voiced her thanks to everyone from Nailsea and the surrounding area for all their support during the firm’s first five years.

With all the difficulties the country has faced, Wills and Powers of Attorney may be something you have put off. However, now is a good time to make sure you have up-to-date protection.

Claire Kindred, from Simpson Solicitors, said: “Wills and Powers of Attorney are the most important legal documents most people ever put in place. A well-written Will makes sure your wishes are followed if you die unexpectedly. It lets you protect those you love, as it is the only way you get to decide how to provide for those you leave behind.”

“We recently opened our new bigger Law Shop at the Sion in the Crown Glass Place Shopping Centre, opposite Lloyds Bank and Iceland, as part of our investment in providing easy to access, local legal services,” she said. “We look forward to seeing you.”

Simpson’s new offices provide a Covidsafe environment for accessible ground floor meetings or you can talk to them on

She added: “A well-prepared Power of Attorney makes sure your wishes are followed if you are seriously injured or ill and need to have someone appointed that

the telephone, by Zoom video or at your home, if you prefer.

Simpson Solicitors are offering readers a FREE Will Review meeting. This can include guidance on appointing Guardians for children, as well as protecting what you leave behind from unnecessary inheritance tax or from being used up in care home fees. Their friendly team will take as long as you need. If you then decide to use them, mention Nailsea Living and you’ll receive 20% off their already competitive full prices for Wills and Powers of Attorney.

Simply call 01275 857122 to find out more.

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what’s on nearby

Welcome return for Summer Show

Winning weekend of fun and competitions planned for July 24-25 With the less said about 2020 the better, the organisers of the Summer Show are pulling out all the stops to ensure the 2021 edition of one of Portishead’s most popular events provides visitors with two fantastic days out in a safe environment.

Taking place over the weekend of July 24-25 at its usual location of The Flower Show Field, this year’s extravaganza will feature hundreds of classes, a bake-off and great family entertainment in the arena, including jaw-dropping performances from two trapeze artists.

Linda Hodgetts, General Secretary of the Portishead and District Horticultural Society, which organises the show, said: “We are so looking forward to holding the event again for our local community and cannot wait to welcome our visitors.”

She explained that the show will feature a total of 300 classes, ranging from horticultural options and handicrafts to photography and painting, and with plenty of categories specifically devised for children.

The Great Portishead Bake Off is an

added attraction, aimed at all those with a passion for getting creative in the kitchen as they vie for a fantastic prize in the form of a specially commissioned cake-stand, made by Olwen KW. While the contest stays true to the original TV show, comprising a signature dish, a technical component featuring a recipe kindly provided by Mokoko, and the highly anticipated showstopper, Linda stressed that aspiring bakers are not required to bake in front of an audience.

The awesome array of entertainment across the weekend will range from circus acts Pirate Taxi and Tilly Lee Kronic on trapeze and the always popular Companion Dog Show to swing music from The Marionettes, Punch and Judy, a performance from the Stepping Stones School of Dance and much more. Other attractions will include the Royal British Legion, who will be celebrating their 100year anniversary by making a presentation to the Portishead Cadets. Food and drink will of course be readily available, with

options encompassing fresh pizzas and fair trade products.

With government guidance suggesting the number of visitors might have to be limited, the society is encouraging people to purchase their tickets for the show in advance. Tickets are priced at £7.50 for adults, with children under 17 able to enter free of charge. Free parking is also available. For more information and full details of the competition schedule, go to www.portisheadsummershow.com.

A taste of things to come

eat:Portishead is back for 2021

In a sign that more of our favourite happenings are finally resuming, May brought the welcome news that the fifth edition of eat:Portishead will take place on Saturday August 14.

Last year’s food festival won its organisers a Gold tourism award

Organisers Bev and Sarah Milner Simonds said that the free food and drink festival would once again be held at Portishead Marina, but also extend to Parish Wharf, making it their biggest event yet. “The new larger areas means we have more space between stalls and also more capacity to include new producers who can take advantage of our Start Out Strong [SOS] discount for those most affected by the pandemic,” they said.

The team successfully delivered six socially distanced and Covidsecure events between lockdowns in 2020, including last year’s eat:Portishead, which won a Gold Award at the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards. They have also begun their series of adapted markets for 2021, included a well-received festival in Clevedon on Saturday May 15. For more information, go to www.eatfestivals.org.

Plenty of prickly exhibits will be on show

Don't forget…

The 2021 South West Cactus, Succulent & Exotic Plant Fair takes place at Portishead Youth Club on June 26 from 9.30am to 1.30pm. After an absence last year, the ninth edition of the fair will bring together traders and sellers from across the UK selling a range of quality plants, compost, books, locally made pots and other sundries. Experts will also be on hand to offer specialist advice on growing cacti and other plants. The event will take place in a Covid-compliant setting, with masks and social distancing required. Entrance is free.

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what’s on nearby

Seaside Cinema makes a welcome return After an absence in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Curzon Cinema’s popular Seaside Cinema event is making a welcome return this summer. Taking place at Salthouse Fields, from Thursday July 8 to Sunday July 11, this year’s programme is bigger and better than ever, promising a fabulous experience in a beautiful setting beside Clevedon’s Marine Lake and sea front. The Curzon has utilised its Cultural Recovery Funding to pull off this set of community-based events, allowing it to host what it calls “a positive celebration that is long overdue”.

This year, an LED screen will allow films to be shown at any time of day rather than having to wait until the sun goes down, which has allowed a brilliant line-up of eight screenings over the four days to be

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put together, starting with cult 1980s classic Back to the Future on July 8.

In addition to muchloved family favourites, the films on show include Against the Tides, an awardwinning feature-length documentary that follows marathon swimmer and world record holder Beth French, who will be in attendance for a talk after the screening, as well as a series of short films curated by Clevedon Skate Park and Curzon Cinema that explore the vibrant communities that surround skateboarding, roller-skating and BMX riding. In tandem with the latter, from 10am to 4pm on the same day, activities will also take place at the skate park, namely skateboarding sessions with Keep Rolling Company funded by The Barn, free flatland BMX coaching sessions with Fusion Extreme paid for by The Veg Box and creative ‘zine making workshops with It’s Okay Proj funded by the YMCA. Ticket holders for all Seaside Cinema

screenings are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or camping chair, with food and drink available at the site and plenty of space to spread out. Full details and timings of all screenings can be found at www.curzon.org.uk. To grab free tickets for the coaching and workshops visit www. clevedonskateproject.com or follow them on social media @ClevedonSkateProject.

Screenings Thu 8 July 7.30pm Back to the Future (PG) Fri 9 July 4.30pm Up (U) Fri 9 July 8pm Bohemian Rhapsody (12A) Sat 10 July 10am Finding Nemo (U) Sat 10 July 1.30pm The Lion King (1994) (U) Sat 10 July 4.30pm Clevedon Skate Project X Curzon: Creativity on Wheels (age rating tbc) Sat 10 July 8pm Mamma Mia (PG) Sun 11 July 10am Swimming Under the Sky: Against the Tides + talk with Beth French (12A)

what’s on

Food & Craft Field Fayres

After having to cancel all events in 2020 and the North Somerset Show again for 2021 in the wake of Covid, the North Somerset Agricultural Society is launching a new Food & Craft Field Fayre with the hope of reigniting the region’s passion for local producers and bringing together a family-friendly crowd. The Food & Craft Field Fayre will celebrate creative makers and food producers from the South West and will take place at the North Somerset Showground on several dates this summer, with the first of these happening on June 26. Others will follow on July 10, August 7 and 21, and September 4, while September 18 will see a ‘countryside showcase’ - a new event for the society – take place, featuring workshops and countryside crafts and traditions on show.

cancelled for the last two years.

“We also wanted to provide something which the local community could come along and enjoy in a Covidsafe environment as the event will be outdoors.”

The field fayres will be free to attend and will see around 30 different businesses from across the region set up stalls. North Somerset Agricultural Society secretary Tim Ledbury said: “We wanted to do something to give back to our stallholders who have supported us over the years and also to give them an opportunity to trade, especially as the main show has been

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what’s on Trendlewood Community Festival

Don’t forget to keep Saturday August 28 free for the return of the popular Trendlewood Community Festival. The notfor-profit, free-entry event will take place at Golden Valley School playing fields in Nailsea, complete with live music, food and drink, market stalls and various activities for all the family. For more details and updates, go to trendlewoodcommunityfestival.org. uk.

Next litter pick

Nailsea Community Litter Heroes, the new group that saw Better Nailsea join forces with Nailsea Community Group, hold their regular organised litter picks on the first Saturday of every month. Their next outing is Saturday July 3, from 10am until noon, meeting at No. 26. Nailsea Town Council has provided the group with new equipment which can be borrowed by anyone who wants to clean up their local areas. Contact Jules or Shelley for details. For more information, go to nailseacommunitygroup.co.uk.

Previous editions of the festival

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Rooms are equipped with: Free Wi-Fi, LCD TV with DVD player and freeview • Tea and coffee facilities, Ensuite facilities • Free off street parking is also available Tel: 01275 858004 82 Silver Street , Nailsea North Somerset BS48 2DS Email: mail@highdalebb.co.uk Web: www.highdalebb.co.uk 18

Carers' group resumes Backwell and Nailsea Support Group for Carers plans to resume its get-togethers from Wednesday July 7, government guidance permitting. The group will reconvene at the Women’s Institute hall in Backwell from 2pm to 3.30pm. The speaker at the first meeting will be Terry Merrett-Smith, who will talk on the subject ‘Till the Clouds Roll by’. All measures will be taken to ensure the safety of attendees in accordance with the regulations and anyone who is in a caring role or has been a carer is welcome.

The group will also be holding its annual free cream tea and plant sale on Wednesday August 4 at the same venue from 2pm to 3.30pm.

Carers are encouraged to bring along friends, relatives and neighbours.

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Save the date

for summer fair Christ Church Nailsea’s summer fair will take place on Saturday July 17 in the Rectory Garden from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Activities and attractions will include a bouncy castle, balloon modeller, bubbleologist, crafts and a variety of stalls, complete with refreshments, including candyfloss.

Admission is free.

health and fitness

Ways to take care of your mental health in June

By Clare Drake

IRL (In Real Life) activities For example, June is welcoming the return of the Clevedon Literary Festival (June 11-12) - with so many great activities to enjoy, including art exhibitions, live music and yoga at the bandstand!

Learn a creative skill As we all know, easing out of lockdown can seem anxiety-inducing for a lot of us - so here are some ways to take it slow and care for our mental wellbeing in the coming month!

Walks The Mental Health Foundation’s theme this year is nature - and we are lucky enough to have so many great places around us here in Clevedon to enjoy. The restorative nature of nature helped me hugely during difficult bouts of anxiety last year. My faves are the Yeo River walks and Clevedon woods, where I walk my doggies Calvin and Hobbes. If a yellow lab has jumped up and given you a kiss - I’m sorry! Discover Clevedon has a great list of walks available to us which you can check out at www. discoverclevedon.co.uk.

Being stuck indoors during lockdown urged me to learn a new skill, which was calligraphy.

It not only helped my boredom, but was also a great reliever for my anxiety. It allows you to slow down and be more present and focused because it’s not easy! It’s also a great way to take time for yourself, which is something we all need and yet don’t get often enough! Why not look at ways you can learn something new and creative?

Journalling This is something that my clients swear by - and helps them sleep so much better! Journalling or ‘brain dumping’ is particularly great if you find your mind racing before sleep and find it difficult to

nod off. Before bed, write down everything on your mind. Just get it out of our head.

It’s very therapeutic!

Clare Drake is a mental health coach for individuals and business owners who want less stress and more joy in their life and business! You can find her at claredrakecoaching.com or email hello@ claredrakecoaching.com

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wellbeing

Discover a new you with Ladye Bay Aesthetics Launched by Deborah Sawkins, Clevedonbased Ladye Bay Aesthetics is a bespoke clinic for men and women who want to look and feel their best, offering a variety of treatments using scientific and medically approved technologies.

For a quick beauty boost, eyelash and brow tints as well as eyelash lifts are available. As Deborah explained, “An eyelash lift can give you a brighter and more awake look,” which is particularly important in an era that finds us wearing masks when out and about and with the eyes the main focal point.

For those looking to refine their silhouette ahead of beach season, Deborah offers ultrasound lipolysis, a body contouring treatment that is used to remove fat deposits. Facials are another specialty, including an anti-ageing light and galvanic facial, a brightening and rejuvenating facial and even a tailormade facial.

Currently, Deborah is offering a special introductory price of £30 for her one-hour

anti-ageing facial treatment, which usually costs £45.

“A lot of people don’t know that our skin starts to lose its elasticity from around 25 years of age,” said Deborah. The anti-ageing facial treatment uses the power of LED light therapy/ microcurrent and massage.

“Exposing the skin to three specific wavelengths of light using the certified LED mask activates the skin’s photoreceptors and lets the skin absorb its energy,” said Deborah. “This accelerates cell biochemical circulation and stimulates the production of collagen, while microcurrent and massage helps to tighten and smooth the muscles and

connective tissue in the face by increasing cellular activity.” Deborah added, that regular treatments have excellent longerterm effects. For more information, visit www.ladyebayaesthetics.com and follow Ladye Bay Aesthetics on Facebook.

Anti-ageing Facial Treatment Offering our clients the very best in the world of Beauty Technologies and Aesthetics Treatments include : Anti-ageing light & galvanic facial • Brightening & rejuvenating facial Tailormade facials • Eyelash lift • Eyelash & brow tint • Ultrasound lipolysis Anti-ageing Facial Treatment - Normal Price £45 Special Introductory Offer £30 (Discount with code: Living June)

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wellbeing

Optometry:

the science of vision

By Lynne Fernandes Optometrists

“We’re so lucky to have an optometry practice like yours in Nailsea.”

Maybe I experience confirmation bias when I hear this from our patients. Yet it pleases me that the term optometry is gaining wider understanding. When we set up Lynne Fernandes Optometrists, the marketing advice given was to always use the title ‘opticians’ because “the public will not know the difference”.

Our patients experience the difference.

Most opticians employ optometrists to test eyes. In Nailsea, one Optometry practice has the following as its key focus: eyecare management and treatment. It may surprise you that more than 2500 patients are now members of EyeSense,

our bespoke care plan for looking after their eye health - perhaps not so much when you consider which sense we value most. More about EyeSense in the future, but if you can’t wait, do have a look at our website.

Optometry literally means the science of vision. To correct vision, like opticians we dispense eye wear. However, unlike the average optician, we do it differently. No longer are you overwhelmed by walls of frames that all look the same. Instead, we handpick designs to enhance your style.

Our dispensing team are all qualified in EyeStyle: they will present around 10 models to you that they already know will fit, be comfortable and make the most of your prescription. Perhaps most

importantly, they will make you feel great, as they complement and enhance your features. This is bespoke personal styling for eyes. Does this make you feel concerned about cost? Our team want you to be happy about value. With this in mind, we always include designs from our Affordably Fabulous range, alongside more exclusive brands. You’ll experience a range of colours based on our understanding of different shades of hair, eye colour and skin tone. The team will also stimulate you with at least one design you wouldn’t have considered yourself. We are positive you will be delighted with your eye wear. Do book in for an EyeStyle appointment today and know you will look your best, on Zoom and in real life.

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wellbeing

Physio that’s different – in a good way

It’s fair to say that the public perception of physiotherapy isn’t always positive, with cost-cutting in the NHS limiting what physiotherapists are able to do.

That’s why at Nailsea Physio, owner Emma Klijn emphasizes how the practice is decidedly different to what people are generally used to. “We take time to listen to patients,” Emma said, “and we genuinely put our all into our treatment sessions, which are a good, full 40 minutes compared to the more common 20 or 30-minute sessions offered elsewhere.”

In addition to Emma, who has over 20 years of experience, Nailsea Physio offers the services of Kate, who is completing a master’s in sports therapy and specialises in sports massage, and Anastasia, a physiotherapist with a diploma in advanced physiotherapy.

The practice operates out of a brand new clinic, featuring a new rehab area

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and room for gait analysis, which helps identify weaknesses in patients’ posture as they walk or run. Another key point that makes a difference is there is no hard sell. As Emma explained “There is no payment in advance and we do a session-by-session analysis, and never pressure a patient to continue.”

While the clinic is well equipped to cater for elite sports performers, it also counts a wide range of patients who are non-sporty or disabled and can assess anyone over the age of eight years.

Booking an appointment is simple, either by using the online booking system at www.nailseaphysio.com or by calling 01275 219 948. “We are usually able to offer an appointment within a week, if not sooner,” said Emma.

Nailsea Physio operates out of a brand new clinic

the community great outdoors first

Work set to begin on next phase of tidal trail

The Portishead to Clevedon route is part of the North Somerset section of the England Coast Path National Trail Photos by Bob Cartwright and Les Baker Work is set to begin this summer on the local section of the North Somerset Tidal Trail, which begins at the River Avon, Portishead and follows the coast to Poets’ Walk, Clevedon. The route is part of the North Somerset section of the England Coast Path National Trail, a country-wide project launched in partnership with Natural England aimed at providing the public with access to walking routes along the entire coast of England.

Work is already under way on the section of the North Somerset trail between Woodspring Priory and Uphill, with the installation of signage, ramps and new gates progressing and resurfacing taking place.

North Somerset Council said that once these sections are established, 24 of the 32 miles of the North Somerset Tidal Trail will be ready for the official opening of this

part of the England Coast Path National Trail later this year or in early 2022. The council hopes that the trail will provide local people with opportunities to explore more of North Somerset, while also increasing visitor numbers to the coastline and towns.

Footpath off-limits to pedestrians Due to development work by Taylor Wimpey, and the likelihood of danger to the public, North Somerset Council has given notice that Footpath LA13/24/20 off Youngwood Lane will be closed to pedestrians from June 1. The footpath runs from Cherry Orchard for 500m in a north-easterly direction from Youngwood Lane to the stream running West of Youngwood Farm. This closure is temporary and will be implemented as necessitated by the duration of the works for a maximum period of six months.

Exemptions are included for emergency services and works access only.

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the great outdoors

Walk the walk in Nailsea

Photos by Gordon Bennett

Pre-Covid Health Walk

The easing of Covid restrictions is bringing with it a variety of new opportunities for walking in Nailsea.

Health Walks

and weekend walks as Covid restrictions are lifted. Many walks are local, but for added variety and interest, the programme usually also includes areas such as the Mendips, Cotswolds and Quantocks.

These are now back up and running, with a variety of walks taking place on Monday mornings. The walks, run under the auspices of North Somerset Council, are intended to help people become more active, but they also offer an opportunity to socialise, walk and chat! There are walks of 30 minutes, 40 minutes and one hour, so everyone should be able to join a group with a pace that suits them. Although it is no longer necessary to book, the start times are staggered because of Covid.

In addition to the above, every Wednesday there is a 2½ to 3-mile stroll. These popular walks start at a variety of locations around the area, including many local beauty spots.

During June, walks will be from the Grove and in July from Scotch Horn (by the red dome).

For those who prefer to walk alone or with a small group of family members or friends, the Nailsea Round is a 9-mile walk in the beautiful countryside around Nailsea, with a slightly shorter option. The route is explained in a book of the same name which also contains six shorter walks, ranging from 3¼ miles to 6 miles.

Times are: 60 minutes, 10.45am; 40 minutes, 11.00am; and 30 minutes, 11.10am.

For more details, including a faster 60-minute walk, contact Diane Bennett at hwinfo@nfpg.org.uk.

Nailsea and District Footpath Group walks The group currently hold a 5-mile morning walk and an 8-mile all-day walk every Thursday. However, the programme may expand to include pub walks, longer walks 24

End, then back to the Lake via Morgan’s Hill. However, you can start at any point on the walk.

There is a special lockdown price for the book of £4, down from £4.95, plus 70p for postage, although it can be collected. For details of how to order, email info@nfpg. org.uk.

New members are always welcome to join this friendly group. For more information go to https://nfpg.org.uk or email info@nfpg.or.uk.

Nailsea Round

All of the walks, except one, have an accompanying map and are waymarked with distinctive waymarks. Each walk is described in detail with notes on points of interest.

One of the shorter walks is a history walk around the town. The Round starts at Backwell Lake and goes to Wraxall, Tower House Woods and West

Nailsea Round is available to buy

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home and garden

Heaven scent

By Elly West, a garden designer.

For more details, visit www.ellyswellies.co.uk.

Our sense of smell is extremely powerful and aromatherapists have long extolled the benefits of different fragrances for improving our mood and wellbeing. A strong scent can instantly bring back a forgotten memory and floral notes are the most popular in the perfume industry. For this reason, I nearly always try to include scented plants in my garden designs near the areas where clients want to sit and relax. At this time of year and onwards into summer, it’s easy to find flowers that are full of fragrance. Roses are bursting into bloom this month, along with lavender, sweet peas and lily-of-the-valley.

Honeysuckle is a fast-growing climber that’s great for fences near to a seating area, and is beneficial to wildlife as well.

The flowers will attract bees and pollinators, while birds will enjoy its berries later in the season, plus the dense shelter it provides. Trachelospermum jasminoides is another scented climber, which has the benefit of glossy, semi-evergreen leaves, and will quickly clothe a pergola or fence.

Enjoy fragrant plants by placing them near paths, seating areas and walkways, or in pots next to the front door. Don’t forget leaves for fragrance, as well as those with scented flowers.

Mint and lemon balm spring to mind, but both are fairly rampant growers so need to be contained. Salvia, rosemary and perovskia all have leaves that produce a fragrance when brushed against or crushed.

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Plant of the month Lavender

Instantly recognisable for both its scent and appearance, lavender is an English country garden staple and for good reason. The silvery evergreen leaves provide structure all year round and its versatility means it can be grown as a hedge, in a pot, in a herb garden or as part of a mixed border in both contemporary and traditional schemes. The flowers are loved by bees and are generally shades of purple, but there are also pink and white varieties. Some forms are more compact than others, so better suited to hedging. Hicote is the classic English lavender and has a neat and tidy habit, while Grosso is much larger and more sprawling. There are also French varieties (pictured) with ‘ears’ on top of the flowers, although these tend to be a little trickier to grow and need frost protection in colder areas.

Lavenders are originally from the Mediterranean region where they are found growing wild in dry, exposed and rocky areas. As such, they will do best on free-draining soil in full sun. Always make sure you cut them back hard after flowering, using a pair of shears, and chopping off the flower stems and firmly into the new leaves to keep plants flowering well in subsequent years and to stop them getting woody.

home and garden

Getting your garden summer ready with GreenThumb With warmer, longer days on the horizon, the beautiful bright colours of your garden are best enjoyed alongside a lush, green lawn. GreenThumb Lawn Treatment Service will ensure your lawn takes its rightful place as the centrepiece of your garden, reaching its full potential as a weed-free, healthy, and well-loved lawn.

fully coated fertiliser, designed to give your lawn a timed release of nutrition over several months, feeding your grass and stimulating growth. This sophisticated treatment also includes a weed control to help eradicate those which are unwelcome on your lawn, keeping your lawn looking its best and ready for summer.

Not only do we have over 30 years’ experience in caring for millions of lawns, but we also continue to pioneer innovative solutions in lawn care, boldly leading the way in our industry as the most recommended lawn treatment service in every part of the UK.

An added benefit of our ‘Summer Ready’ treatment is that you’ll also receive an application of our fantastic water conserver, Oasis. Now is the perfect time for an Oasis treatment as it helps your soil to make the best use of any available moisture, meaning you’ll need to water up to 80% less. Our popular Oasis treatment now features an innovative, highly concentrated seaweed extract, which has proven to have an almost immediate visual effect on the colour of your lawn. This unique solution also improves the quality of your grass, benefits root development and helps with stress tolerance; what’s not to love?!

As summer approaches, it’s essential that you keep your lawn healthy and strong in preparation for the rising temperatures, increased humidity and reduced rainfall; this is where our NutraGreen ‘Summer Ready’ treatment can help.

Our ‘Summer Ready’ treatment is applied between April and June, and features a

At this time of year, we also recommend implementing a regular mowing regime to help your lawn be the best it can be. Dry, sunny days are the best conditions for mowing; however it’s important that your mower blades are kept sharp or replaced when needed, to avoid causing damage to the grass plant. It is also important, especially during the summer months, that your grass isn’t cut too short as this will weaken it, attracting unwanted weeds. When dry, we advise raising the height of your cut from 1 inch up to 2 inches and giving it a good drink the day after mowing.

Let’s create the lawn we both love.

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business

Ongoing coronavirus support

By Leon Savage, Practice Manager at Dury & Co Accountants Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) continues to provide support for employers and employees until September 30, 2021. However, the grants that employers are able to claim under the scheme are being gradually reduced in the final months. Fully and flexibly furloughed employees will continue to receive 80% of their usual pay for their unworked hours up to the level of the cap, set at £2500 per month or equivalent. Where the employer is unable to claim the full amount of the grant payable to the employee, they must make up the shortfall.

For May and June 2021, the employer can

claim 80% of the employee’s usual pay for their unworked hours up to a cap of £2500 per month or equivalent; for July 2021, the employer can claim 70% of the employee’s usual pay for their unworked hours up to a cap of £2187.50 or equivalent and for August and September 2021, the employer can claim 60% of the employee’s usual pay for their unworked hours up to a cap of £1875 or equivalent.

Claims must be made on a calendar month basis by the 14th of the following month, or the next working day if this falls on a weekend. Claims must be made via the online PAYE portal using your Government Gateway Account.

Fifth grant under the SEISS Self-employed taxpayers who have suffered a reduction in turnover as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic will be able to claim the fifth and final grant under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). The grant is designed to cover the five-month period

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from May 2021 to September 2021.

The amount of the fifth grant will depend on the extent to which turnover has fallen.

Where turnover has fallen by at least 30%, the grant will be worth 80% of three months’ average trading profits, capped at £7500. However, where turnover has fallen by less than 30%, the grant will be worth 30% of three months’ average trading profits, capped at £2850.

To be eligible to claim, as well as meeting the turnover test, you must have traded in 2019/20 and 2020/21 and intend to continue to trade, while your profits from self-employment must not be more than £50,000 and must account for at least 50% of your income. You must also have filed your 2019/20 tax return by midnight on March 2, 2021. The claim portal is expected to open in late July 2021.

While we can advise you on your claim, we are unable to make it on your behalf. Please contact us on 01275852255 or leon@ardury.co.uk

feature

Have you made a Will during lockdown?

Wards Solicitors will check it, for free Laura Jakeways, Wills and Probate Partner, Wards

and not necessarily as you wanted.

it’s challenged in the future

Family disputes over Wills, already growing in number, are expected to rise further this year, with the popularity of DIY Wills considered a key factor.

• Explain wealth preservation steps to maximise tax relief and minimise liability for Inheritance Tax.

As the DIY Will market is unregulated, there is nowhere to go for legal comeback if something goes wrong.

How we can help

The pandemic has prompted many people, young and old, to get their affairs in order by writing a Will. In fact, recent figures showed the demand for online Wills rocketed by 267% in 2020, with many keen to get the ball rolling with a DIY version, easily bought online.

But making a Will is not always straightforward. Family set-ups can be complicated and the legal process for correctly drawing up a Will is strict.

What can go wrong with a DIY will?

At face value, a DIY online Will can look attractively cheap. But the real cost can end up being disproportionately high if it turns out that the Will has been incorrectly drawn up and is therefore declared invalid.

For example, if your Will is not signed or witnessed correctly, your estate may end up being treated as if you had died without making a Will at all. This is called dying intestate and means your estate is left to your next of kin in a fixed order, decided by law

Get in touch To find out more, speak to our Wills and Probate Partner Laura Jakeways in our Portishead office on 01275 850460 or email info@ wards.uk.com

At Wards, we will check your DIY Will for free. Our team is highly experienced and qualified, and most are members of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Both organisations require the highest standards from their members with proven qualifications and experience.

A correctly drawn-up Will is an inexpensive way of avoiding difficulties for your family and friends after your death and brings peace of mind by putting you in control of your estate.

We will: • Review your DIY Will for free to make sure it has been drawn up correctly • Advise you how to amend it if necessary, to protect your wishes • Ensure your Will is as robust as possible, in case 29

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