Signature Summer 2021

Signature Property and lifestyle magazine

Summer 2021

Expert legal advice regarding land and development From a specialist team of property, development, planning and construction solicitors.

Your partner in property, land and development matters. www.holmes-hills.co.uk East Anglia | 01206 593933

INTRODUCING THE B E OV I S I O N CO N TO U R Timeless design and award-winning sound in one television experience The new Beovision Contour ensures that staying-in remains very much the new going-out.

The latest addition to Bang & Olufsen’s television range combines the crisp visuals of OLED with powerful, full-bodied award-winning sound so you can immerse yourself like never before in the latest sporting event, blockbuster movie or a favourite album.

To find out more about the Beovision Contour, please visit our showrooms or contact us to arrange a private one-to-one demonstration.

Bang & Olufsen of Chelmsford 16-18 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0SP Telephone: 01245 266117 Email: chelmsford@bang-olufsen.co.uk Web: bang-olufsen.com/chelmsford

Bang & Olufsen of Colchester 61 High Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1DN Telephone 01206 763344 Email: colchester@bang-olufsen.co.uk Web: bang-olufsen.com/colchester

Welcome to Signature Contents

Introducing Fenn Wright’s new property and lifestyle magazine elcome to Signature - our lifestyle magazine offering a snapshot of some of the beautiful properties that Essex and Suffolk have to offer. Fenn Wright can trace its roots back to 1768 and is a multi-discipline firm of experienced chartered surveyors, property consultants and estate agents. The Alan Williams people working in our Signature team are dynamic, with a genuine passion for property and specialise in the sale of homes at the higher end of the market.

We delight in presenting properties perfectly. From the power of words to the quality of our professional photographers and videographers, we aim to fire the imagination of potential purchasers and help them to see that your house could become their next home.

If you enjoy browsing Rightmove or looking for interiors inspiration on Instagram or Pinterest, then we hope you will find this publication of interest. Relax, put your feet up and enjoy this stunning collection of stylish homes.

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Elsewhere we have interviews with the film actor Clive Owen, who flits between Hollywood and his home in North Essex, and an animal loving Suffolk woman who rescues and looks after hedgehogs at a hospital with a difference.

In addition we discover why this is an important year for John Constable’s most famous painting, go walking by the River Stour and Flatford Mill, admire the photography of Justin Minns, pick out some great places to stay along Britain’s coast, and ask a top golf professional to select the best courses to play in Suffolk and North Essex.

Do enjoy the magazine.

Alan Williams, Senior Partner

8 Pages 6 & 7 Meet our Signature team 18 & 9 Actor Clive Owen interview 10 & 11 The hogmother - hedgehog care 12 &13 Focus on Framlingham College 14-16 Happy birthday Hay Wain 17 Conveyancing advice from Birketts 21-25 Picture perfect photography

A selection of our top properties starts on page 29

Chelmsford

Colchester

Ipswich

20 Duke Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1HL 01245 292100

146 High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PW 01206 763388

1 Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BA 01473 232700

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Colchester Business Park Commercial Division 882 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 9YQ. 01206 854545

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58

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Woodbridge Nunn’s Mill, Quayside, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1BN. 01394 333346

26-28 Zoom the Room, interiors ideas to try 58 & 59 Fashion with Phoebe & Flo 60 & 61 Historic houses and gardens to view 62 & 63. Suffolk’s first Michelin star

Witham

64 & 65 How to order wine at a restaurant

64 Newland Street, Witham, Essex, CM8 1AH 01376 516464

67-69 Best coastal stays in Britain 74 No easy ride - looking after horses

Signature is published for Fenn Wright by Bury & West Suffolk Magazines Ltd. For more information call 01284 729117 or email richard@bbpmagazines.com. www.bwsmagazines.com Printed by the Manson Group www.mansongroup.co.uk

Kesgrave 127 Main Road, Kesgrave, Suffolk, IP5 1AB 01473 358400

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Manningtree 2 Station Road, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 1AA 01206 397222

Sudbury 26 Market Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2EN 01787 327000

Stanway 1 Tollgate East, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 8RQ 01206 216543

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Fenn Wright in Essex 6

Briege Rix

Jonathan Perry

James Gunther

Briege started her career at our Witham office, excelling in all aspects of residential sales but showing particular talent for selling larger properties and has now become an Associate Partner. She has a passion for country and equestrian homes and has an equine and country sports background. Briege lives in Nayland with her husband and Border Terrier.

Jonathan is a Salaried Partner with unrivalled experience, having joined Fenn Wright in 1988. Colchester born and bred, he has extensive knowledge of the premium property market in Colchester and the surrounding area and is the leading expert in the sought after Lexden Road area of the town. Jonathan and his family live in Colchester.

James started his career many years ago at Fenn Wright’s historic Colchester High Street branch.

Moving on to manage the Stanway residential sales office before moving back to manage Colchester in 2016. James has experience in the New Homes arena as well as the Signature homes marketplace and became an equity partner in 2018.

David Nesmith

Graham Buxton

Tony Cathro

David joined Fenn Wright in 2010 as an experienced Negotiator within our Witham office and progressed to become a Salaried Partner. He is a highly experienced professional with expert knowledge of the mid Essex prime property market.

Graham has been an estate agency professional for over 35 years and his extensive experience ranges from the coastal towns of Tendring Peninsula to Colchester and Sudbury. He became a Partner of Fenn Wright in 2004 and now works as a Consultant, specialising in the sale of properties in Colchester and villages on the Essex/Suffolk border.

Tony has worked in estate agency for over 30 years; starting as a trainee in Covent Garden in 1990 and moving to Colchester in 1993.

He has vast experience of the local area, having worked in Frinton, Clacton, Sudbury and Colchester becoming Associate Partner and heading up our hugely successful Manningtree office.

Fenn Wright in Suffolk

Caroline Edwards

Chris Jessup

Oliver Green

Caroline is extremely well regarded in the industry and has extensive knowledge of the local area. A familiar face to many on the Essex/Suffolk borders, Caroline has worked in the high-end property sector for over 25 years. A consummate professional who provides a fantastic level of personal service, Caroline has a loyal client following.

Chris has been an agent for over 30 years within Essex and Suffolk, joining Fenn Wright in 1998. He has since forged a highly successful career and gained a reputation for straight talking honest advice. He is now Partner and ‘the agent of choice’, when selling desirable high value homes around Christchurch Park in Ipswich and the surrounding villages.

Brought up in Suffolk, Oliver has experience of both the Essex and Suffolk country homes market and specialises in selling unique and character properties. Oliver lives locally to Sudbury and when not working he enjoys travelling, cooking, and running.

Sam Thornton

Peter Ruddy

Neil Sell

Sam joined Fenn Wright in 2016 as Associate Partner following the acquisition of independent Sudbury estate agency, Thorntons, which he established in 1989. A qualified Chartered Surveyor, Sam has decades of experience selling homes along the Essex/Suffolk border and brings his valuable skills and portfolio of clients to Fenn Wright.

Pete has worked in estate agency for over 20 years and has extensive knowledge of the market in Woodbridge, Kesgrave, Felixstowe and the surrounding villages. He now lives in Kesgrave with his family. His kind manner and approachable nature have kept many buyers and sellers happy over the years.

Neil has enjoyed a successful career in estate agency spanning over 25 years, the majority of which have been spent working in Sudbury and the surrounding villages. Neil brings a deep knowledge and passion for property of all types along with a loyal, happy and returning client base.

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Going unscripted The Hollywood actor and north Essex resident Clive Owen tells Richard Aldhous why, at 56, he’s happy to take a more casual view of life and work

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live Owen is your basic, no-nonsense, do the job, go home to the family brand of movie star. He has no entourage, usually travels with one carry-on bag, and graciously poses for selfies with his fans.

That's why this Essex man is generally considered to be one of the nicest in Hollywood – not that he faces tremendous competition for the title given what’s come out of Tinseltown in the past few years – and despite his sex symbol appeal, he is a devoted husband and dotes on his two daughters.

“I have one woman in my life and I've been in love with her for 25 years,” Owen says, referring to actress SarahJane Fenton. “I didn't become an actor so I could be a celebrity and enjoy a

luxurious lifestyle - your family is what gives you the greatest sense of fulfilment and happiness. Every man should feel inspired by his children and being the kind of father they can look up to and who will always be there for them.”

The Owens reside at the coast on the Essex/Suffolk border. In fact, terming where they live ‘the height of Wrabness’ makes the seductive, secluded village sound as if it’s been lined up for some sort of TOWIE-like reality stint. Not so – Wrabness is a quaint, rural setting on the Essex shore of the River Stour. It takes in woods, estuaries, protected animal areas, and the delightful Copperas Bay. To Owen and his family, it’s a perfect slice of privacy away from the mania of London, New York, and beyond.

The actor has been typically busy of

Clive Owen with Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Julia Roberts in Closer

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late. In recent times he’s yet to find a script that matches up to the noise created by standout dramas Croupier, King Arthur, Closer, Inside Man, Children of Men and The International, but in a sense you feel he is happy to sit a little deeper in the shadows and enjoy what’s around him.

That the 56-year-old has balance in his life is clearly a relief to him, not least because he comes from very simple, uncomplicated roots. His stepfather worked for British Rail in Coventry and his mother was a simple homemaker.

“I had a very working-class upbringing which may explain why I love playing tortured men,” he laughs.

“The truth is, I've always been attracted to creepy characters who have an element of danger to them. They are the only kinds of roles which I can measure myself against, but I have to admit that these career choices come at a price: in order to get inside the head of complicated characters it means working at a very high level of tension.”

That means when time away from the camera allows him home, the actor is going to ensure he relaxes, wishing to be dedicated to, and revived by, the people he loves. “My saving grace is being able to go home to the woman with whom I can always recharge my batteries.

“For me it’s about getting away from the commotion; it’s about taking time to not think about work, but to enjoy the simplicity and ease that comes with being home. I love watching football,” – Liverpool are his favourite team – “and like to read, organise my books and watch old movies… or just spending time with the family, going on walks with my daughters, or shopping.”

All of that somewhat goes against the sex symbol status, but Owen is content

Essex ties: The actor Clive Owen

“I have no regret for not becoming James Bond.

Heroism is really not that interesting!”

with who he is, even if the press would like to present him in a way that’s slightly more in keeping with the characters he portrays.

“I grew up with my mother, four brothers and a stepfather who, for me, was like a father since my biological father had left to pursue his dreams as a country musician,” he continues. “There was nothing in my background that would have led me to be a particularly great observer of women, or people in general, that has helped me in my work as an actor. I guess sometimes it’s the things you fall into, and I was lucky enough to fall into this.

“For some reason I've always been attentive to female psychology and that's why I'm delighted to have had two daughters,” he says, referencing Hannah, 24, and 22-year-old Eve – the latter being a talented singer/songwriter. “I've learned so much from watching them grow up – it’s a privilege to be a father and to accept that responsibility.”

While there has been no sign so far that either will follow their father (and mother) into acting, Owen admits he would support them if the opportunity came along. “Most parents will say the same thing, but I’d only offer guidance if it was something they wanted to do. It's not a career you choose lightly because it can be a very tough and cruel business. I was very lucky.”

His luck shows little sign of running out.

Coming up, Owen is starring in Apple TV’s Licey’s Story, based on the Stephen King novel, plus the current American Crime Story, in which he plays none other than Bill Clinton.

“It’s difficult being away – it always has been and it always will be – but technology these days means being able to stay in touch very easily, no matter where I am in the world.”

It’s perhaps only small consolation that Owen won’t find himself globetrotting under the guise of 007. For a long while, the actor was touted as a possible successor to Daniel Craig, but the rumours have died down in recent years.

“I have no regret for not becoming James Bond,” he says. “I would rather play characters that convey ambiguity, fragility, and a profound awareness of human mortality. Heroism is really not that interesting!”

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’m hoping for a visitor. One that heralds the end of the dark, dank months and the beginning of lighter, brighter days – the humble hedgehog. Spring is the time of year when Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and her family come out of hibernation and start to snuffle around our gardens.

However, few of us get the pleasure of seeing them these days as shockingly the native population has decreased by 46 per cent. This means Britain’s favourite wild animal has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of vulnerable-toextinction species.

One woman who is determined that won’t happen is Sue Stubley, who runs registered charity Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital from her home near Newmarket. Sue, who’s passionate about animals of all kinds, set up the hospital 15 years ago after Shepreth Wildlife Park appealed for help.

She took on a few of their hedgehogs and it went from there. When word got out, so many people started bringing injured or orphaned hogs that she had to buy a piece of adjoining land to expand.

Today what she needs more than

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The hogmother Kim Smith talks to an animal lover who has dedicated her life to saving endangered hedgehogs anything else is a second, larger site within a 10-mile radius. “A lady did offer me some land and it would have been perfect, but unfortunately it was too far out. So if anybody knows of a place, please contact me. I’m desperate as I don’t want to turn any hogs away.”

Sue reveals that humans are the primary reason hedgehogs are now endangered.“It’s down to loss of habitat as people concrete their gardens and developers build everywhere,” she says.

“Strimmers and lawnmowers also cause horrendous injuries, as well as traffic.

Plus there are pesticides and natural predators such as badgers. I love badgers, and have even looked after a couple, but they can kill and eat hogs.”

An adorable little chap Sue has named Peanut has been in her care for three

months after being strimmed. “He had been split open the whole way round his body, there was no skin left on his bottom, the end of his nose had been severed and his tale was hanging off,” she says.

“I wondered if it was cruel to try to keep him alive, so took him to one of the fantastic team of vets who help me out, Rachel Phillips of Swayne and Partners in Newmarket. She said he was borderline, but decided we should give him a chance. She stitched him up and put him on a course of antibiotics.

“I tended Peanut’s wounds twice a day and syringe-fed him. And because he couldn’t stand properly, I massaged his feet. He got to the stage where he loved it and now, bless him, he puts his head back and rolls around with pleasure.

Pictured from left: Who’s a pretty boy? Sue holds up one of her cherished hogs Above: Injection of love: Just like us, the creatures have to endure innoculations Below: Land of soap and glory: Bath time at the hospital is a splash hit Photographs: Ellie Stones. www.elliestones

Unfortunately we’re not sure whether we’ll ever be able to release him, but we’ve got a little area at the back where he can stay.”

As if you hadn’t already guessed, Sue gets very attached to the hogs. “I can’t tell you how many tears I’ve shed when I have to let them go. You have to remind yourself that they’re wild creatures; they don’t do well in captivity. You know when they’re ready to go as they'll pace up and down and their personalities change.

“I do like them to go back to where they came from as they remember their territories and know where to source food and water.”

Sue has 30 volunteer assistants at the hospital and around 15 offsite foster carers, but always needs more. She provides training in cleaning, feeding and looking for parasites. Handymen and women are also welcome to tackle tasks including building hog houses and runs, and planting. Drivers and a sponsored van would be very useful, too.

If you’re interested in helping Sue, go to www.suffolkhedgehoghospital.com or make contact through its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Sue’s hedgehog tips 1. What should I feed a hedgehog?

Cat/dog biscuits, wet food and hedgehog specific food (wet and dry) are all great things to feed hedgehogs. Hogs can be fussy though, so putting out a few different types of food is recommended.

And despite the famous ‘bread and milk’ belief, you should NEVER feed bread and milk to a hedgehog. They are lactose intolerant so milk will make them ill.

2. How do I pick up a hedgehog?

Use a towel or thick gloves (gardening gloves are best), since they can be spikier than you may think.

3. How do I attract hedgehogs into my garden? n Build a hedgehog box for them to nest. n Leave autumn leaves on the ground for hogs to nest in. n Make a five-inch (about 12 cm) gap in your fence for hogs to pass in and out of – they can travel over two miles per night in search of food. n Build a log pile for hogs to hide under. n Create a feeding station – this involves putting food and water out for the hogs under a sheltered and dry area.

4. Will my dog/cat pick up fleas from hedgehogs?

No! Fleas are host specific, so ones found on a hedgehog are different to those attracted to a dog or cat.

5. Will encouraging hedgehogs benefit my garden?

Yes! They’re gardeners’ best friends as they are excellent at eating pests such as slugs and snails.

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There is no typical Framlinghamian.

At Framlingham College we believe in the individual.

There is no typical Framlinghamian, no singular path that we take: we are academics, actors, musicians, expeditioners, sports people, innovators, scientists, ruminators, decision makers, story tellers, teammates, artists, fun lovers, nurturers and thought provokers.

Often, we are many things within one.

But we are all individual, each with our own story.

01728 723789

admissions@framlinghamcollege.co.uk framlinghamcollege.co.uk

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Our A level Economics team called Titanic Investments that came third nationally in the London Institute of Banking and Finance, UK Student Investor Challenge Final. (Ben, Theo, Tom and Arthur).

Developing entrepreneurialism in our pupils

by Louise North, Principal of Framlingham College

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he pandemic has upturned the working world. While many businesses have faced huge challenges, there has been a significant spike in the number of new start-ups – around 30 percent more businesses launched in December 2020 than the year before, according to the Financial Times.

The Office for National Statistics has also suggested that entrepreneurs will play a “vital role” in the UK’s recovery, noting particular opportunities in online retail. The next generation of entrepreneurs will emerge into this environment, and they’ll have significant advantages in terms of environmental, diversity, and technological awareness.

At Framlingham College, we pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial culture.

We believe that fostering the skills such as creativity, resilience, and problem-solving that modern business demands, will set our pupils on the path to success as adults in a global society. Our Suffolk location, a county renowned for its entrepreneurialism, puts us at the centre of a thriving business hub. Some 60 percent of our parent body are business-owners and

entrepreneurs themselves, and we draw on their expertise and experience in our entrepreneurial programme that challenges for our pupils from Year 7 upwards.

Supporting pupils in the classroom and beyond The real world is far more complex than just high attainment . Aspiration and ambition permeates everything that we do at the College but we also put a large emphasis on essential life skills in our proactive programme designed for every pupil from age three up to 18.

Nurturing collaboration, cognitive flexibility, emotional intelligence, negotiation and leadership to name a few, in the classroom from an early age, are essential for all our pupils but it also ensures that young people with an aptitude for business will have all the personal skills they need by the time they are ready to start learning practical skills.

We recently added Business as a GCSE subject as well as A-level due to demand from our families. Our aim at both GCSE and A-level is to spark pupils’ imagination and teach commercial thinking and provide them with knowledge about

identifying business opportunities, putting a business plan into practice, and growing a business through marketing.

Young people aren’t waiting until they’ve been in the world of business for a decade to set out on their own. Some of the most successful brands of recent times were launched by recent graduates.

Gymshark, for instance, has made its founder a billionaire, and he started the business at just 20 years old, while the founder of the Cashmere app launched her project at age 24. It’s important to set pupils up to enter this competitive world so they can begin to pursue their personal goals as soon as they graduate, if not sooner.

It’s therefore vital to offer pupils the opportunity to hone their skills outside of the classroom. Our Titanic Investment team recently came third in the country at the national Student Investor Challenge, and we have supported one of our Year 13 pupils as he developed an app for his father’s restaurant business. Similarly, another Year 13 pupil has used her product design and computer science skills to launch a fashion business in lockdown, designing her garments to empower women. She has designed and created her own web platform from which to sell them.

Building networks Networking is a fundamental part of having your own business. It’s a chance to meet likeminded individuals, exchange ideas, and discover potential colleagues.

For young people, networking offers opportunities to find mentorship and receive advice from more experienced entrepreneurs and businesspeople. This is why we are eager to create an environment where entrepreneurs can meet one another, even after graduation.

Framlingham College Business Club provides a valuable networking forum for current parents, former pupils, local businesses and friends of the College – offering career advice, internships, work experience, and help with our ‘Dragons Den’ activities. We draw on the expertise of those in the broader local community to facilitate real-world learning opportunities in business.

Creating tomorrow’s success stories Framlingham College is lucky to collaborate with so many interesting companies and people in this wonderful, creative county.

We believe that as part of our educational offering, it is our responsibility to develop an entrepreneurial understanding as we equip and prepare all of our pupils’ to thrive in their changing adult world.

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Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould featured an early version of Constable’s masterpiece in the BBC’s Fake or Fortune programme © BBC

Constable’s arresting milestone 14

Kim Smith marks the 200th anniversary of The Hay Wain by looking at the many ways it’s been re-created over the years

T

his year is a special one for Suffolk's famous son, John Constable, as it sees the 200th anniversary of the completion of his masterpiece The Hay Wain, a painting that is so intrinsically English it is said to be stamped on our DNA in the womb.

The National Trust will be marking the milestone at the place that is his living landscape, the very pretty hamlet of Flatford, and a spotlight is bound to be shone on the

Big bang theory: Peter Kennard’s radical Hay Wain with Cruise Missiles © Peter Kennard

many artists he influenced.

One of the most subversive was Peter Kennard, who started producing radical paintings and photomontages after his involvement in the 1968 anti-Vietnam War protests. Perhaps his most famous work was a very unusual take on our hero’s iconic landscape. Created in 1980, Hay Wain with Cruise Missiles sees the wain, or cart, carrying a shocking load – three nuclear warheads!

“The Hay Wain is the classic painting of rural Britain and I wanted to completely transform it,” Kennard has explained. “The basis of montage is you start with two things, but by putting them together you create a third meaning.

“Well, back in the early 1980s, Cruise missiles were arriving at Greenham Common (in Berkshire) and we were told the mobile missile launchers would circulate for miles around. ‘But don’t worry,’ the government said. ‘They’ll melt into the countryside.’ Those words inspired the image. I wanted to make people aware this was going on.”

The increasing use of RAF bases for the US bomber fleet, many of which were in Suffolk, was also a factor, along with a Ministry of Defence leaflet that

portrayed the missiles in delicate watercolours.

Kennard worked on a printed reproduction of Constable’s painting.

Once completed it did not hang in galleries, but was mass-produced onto placards used in the numerous Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament demonstrations.

Hay Wain with Cruise Missiles is not on public display, but is held in the Tate’s collection. It was purchased from the artist in 2007.

Surprisingly, Constable’s original version failed to create a big bang back in 1821, so he would no doubt be astounded by the explosion of interest it

Double take: Cat Auburn and Estella Castle’s live re-creation of the painting © Cat Auburn and Estella Castle

would cause in Kennard’s hands.

Passports have practically been rendered redundant by the pandemic, but did you know that Constable and The Hay Wain feature inside the ones issued from 2015 to 2019?

The Passport Office redesigns its 34 pages every five years in order to foil fraudsters. And back in 2015, they chose the theme Creative United Kingdom.

And who better to showcase British art than Mr C? Constable's face is embossed on page 10 and The Hay Wain is on page 11. Both overlay a map of the Dedham Vale.

By comparison, the 2020 issue has very little artwork. The burgundycoloured Constable one will still be around for a while, though, as passports obviously last 10 years.

The Hay Wain is popular worldwide, not least in Commonwealth countries as it reminds expats of their British roots.

Inspired by the printed reproductions on their grandparents’ walls and placemats, two New Zealand artists travelled to Flatford in 2016 to stage a live recreation of the six feet canvas.

Cat Auburn and Estella Castle sourced a hay cart and three Suffolk Punches, and persuaded local volunteers to dress ‘

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“In an episode (at the time of writing) yet to be shown, he (Andrew Marr) recounts how Constable was derided by the British art community in his lifetime, but became hugely popular in France.”

‘ up as the characters in the painting, filming the tableau to take on tour back home. Unfortunately, though, the Stour was too deep and silted up to risk entering the water so they had to contend with staying on the riverbank. Nevertheless, the whole thing looked impressive.

Television has not been slow in cashing in on the appeal of The Hay Wain. Andrew Marr, himself a dab hand with a brush, has featured the story behind it in his new Channel 5 series Great Paintings of the World. In an episode (at the time of writing) yet to be shown, he recounts how Constable was derided by the British art community in his lifetime, but became hugely popular in France. And although his work is now regarded as ‘chocolate boxy’, it was ground-breaking because he was one of the first artists to capture the true colours of nature.

The BBC’s Fake or Fortune visited Flatford in 2017 to investigate whether a painting purported to be one of Constable’s practice runs for The Hay Wain was actually by him. Fiona Bruce’s co-presenter, art expert Philip Mould, revealed he had a personal connection to the picture as he had bought and sold it twice in failed bids to prove its authenticity.

The current owner, a Gloucestershire businessman, was understandably euphoric to learn that it was a genuine Constable worth in excess of £2million, not bad considering he paid Mr Mould just £35,000 for it in 2000. Mould has since expressed his “utter and raw delight” that his conviction was vindicated, although that may have been through gritted teeth!

The madcap antics of staff at Hi-de-Hi!’s fictional Maplin’s holiday camp entertained around 19 million viewers every week for nine years in the 1980s, but did you know that Flatford had a starring role?

Resident comics Spike Dixon and Ted Bovis

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Andrew Marr tells the story of The Hay Wain in his Channel 5 series Great Paintings of the World © Channel 5

(played by Jeffrey Holland and the late Paul Shane) are seen enjoying a picnic overlooking the location of The Hay Wain at the end of 1981 episode Nice People with Nice Manners.

Glancing across at Willy Lott’s charming period home, Spike comments: “See that house? John Constable painted it.” Ted responds with a typical Jimmy Perry and David Croft line: “Did he? By the look of it, it could do with another coat!”

Flatford, of course, isn’t very far from the former Warner’s camp at Dovercourt where the show was shot. The camp has since disappeared to make way for a housing estate.

Despite Covid-19, the National Trust has managed to keep Flatford’s walking trails accessible to the public, although other facilities have been subject to closure.

So if you fancy a stroll in the footsteps of a Georgian genius, log onto www.nationaltrust.org.uk for the latest opening times and updates on The Hay Wain commemorations.

Hi-de-Hi! featured Flatford in 1981 episode Nice People with Nice Manners © BBC

Bespoke conveyancing for high value transactions

B

irketts has an established and proud heritage of acting for clients on high value property transactions ranging from large country estates to multimillion pound London penthouses.

With a specialist team undertaking high value and prime property transactions, Birketts is particularly well placed to

tailor make a conveyancing package to suit the circumstances of the parties involved.

Our additional services for high end transactions include extended hours access and priority handling.

We are often asked to achieve exchange within as little as three weeks, particularly on high value transactions.

Buying

Selling

Be ready with your source of funds information.

Your solicitor will need to see not only where the purchase funds will be coming from but how you have built up your wealth. Instructing a solicitor who can review complex arrangements is key

Instruct a solicitor as soon as the property is taken to market. Do not wait for a buyer to be found. Your solicitor then has time to prepare the sales pack before a memorandum of sale is issued. This is particularly important for leasehold property where the landlord needs to provide an information pack

If you are a cash buyer, consider your approach to risk. For example, obtaining search indemnity insurance will save time as opposed to applying for searches

Compile a comprehensive list of works to the property including electrical and central heating installations. Ensure that any works have the appropriate consents. If there missing consents it is vital to speak with your solicitor before approaching the local authority

Engage a surveyor early on. If the property has been recently purchased by the seller, see if the seller is willing to share the survey they obtained

Make your solicitor aware of any disputes concerning the property so they can advise you how these are can be handled the buyer’s solicitors

Make your solicitor aware of the position on the ground (eg, are there other dwellings or outbuildings, are there peculiarities with boundaries, is any land being used for grazing, etc) so they can advise on stamp duty land tax reliefs or savings that may be available

Make your solicitor aware of any boundary irregularities at an early stage for example land you are occupying but do not have title to (or vice versa)

Be clear with your solicitor at the outset on your intended use of the property (eg holiday letting, second home, main residence, etc) so your solicitor can check this is permitted within the title and advise on stamp duty land tax implications

Make your solicitor aware of any upcoming developments in the vicinity of the property

Ensure that your financing arrangements are well advanced eg ensure that you have a mortgage offer agreed in principle in advance of making an offer

If your property is tenanted, discuss what steps you need to take to remove the tenant as early as possible with your solicitors. Currently six months’ notice needs to be given before a Court order can be obtained for possession

So how can this be achieved?

Generally speaking, at this end of the market, the parties are well seasoned movers so we are able to focus on the legal due diligence. There are still steps that both parties can take which will help. n Instruct a solicitor who efficiently onboards clients by using a digital platform to avoid unnecessary administration and travel for clients n Proactively engage with your solicitor n Instruct a full service firm so that all legal and tax matters can be dealt with under one roof n Keep your solicitors informed of changes and respond quickly and clearly to communications from your solicitor n Be ready, willing and able to sign hard copy documents. If you need to appoint an attorney because you will be absent, let your solicitor know at the outset so they can put this in place n Discuss your completion requirements early so there are no nasty surprises close to exchange of contracts There are also specific steps that a buyer and a seller can take.

By following this guidance, you will give yourself the best possible chance of achieving tight timescales for exchange.

Amanda Angel Legal Director, Birketts LLP 01473 406269 amanda-angel@birketts.co.uk Nicola Lebish Senior Associate and Head of Enfranchisement, Birketts LLP 01603 756564 nicola-lebish@birketts.co.uk

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Flatford Mill

Strolling in a land of artistry A walk in beautiful Constable country and a refresher at the Red Lion pub WALK HIGHLIGHTS The village of East Bergholt is associated with John Constable, the famous artist who was born here in 1776. You pass both Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s Cottage, which featured in his masterpiece The Hay Wain. (see page 14).

THE WALK From the car park, turn right along the road, past the Red Lion to the first junction by the post office where you turn right again, along a little lane that runs past the Congregational Church.

Continue to the gate to Vale Farm, where you take a footpath to the left going down to a wooden footbridge across the brook. Continue straight on going back uphill. At the top you emerge into an open field with views to the left of Dedham Church and the surrounding countryside. At the end of the field at the footpath junction turn left down a shady tree-lined path. At the bottom, just before the metal gate, turn left.

Continue for some distance winding between the trees. When you reach a planked bridge and stile, bear left through a grass field. Cross another stile

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THE PUB The Red Lion (no website but there are various reviews on tripadvisor and suffolkcamra.co.uk) Tel: 01206 298332 CO7 6TB HOW TO GET THERE: East Bergholt can be reached by turning off the A12 onto the B1070 which takes you into the village. Turn into Gaston Street and the Red Lion is at the end, in the heart of the village.

PARKING: There is a large free public car park directly behind the pub.

to follow a narrow path by a barbed wire fence. Negotiate another stile and immediately swing left to the next stile by the house. Turn right along a wide track. You cross a bridge and soon after reach a more substantial bridge where you cross the River Stour.

You are now on the Essex side of the river. Bear slightly right on the path that runs across the field to the culvert that crosses a stream and continue through the meadow with the River Stour to your left on the

path that runs parallel. You merge closer to the river further along. At the next bridge, cross back over the river and at the 16th century Bridge Cottage, turn right. Continue to the end of the lane, passing the Granary, the Flatford Mill Field Centre and the famous Willy Lott’s Cottage, where you reach an information board.

At the path junction after Willy Lott’s Cottage, turn left by the board along the track, part of the Stour Valley path.

Where the footpath bends right, go straight on through a kissing gate onto a permissive route and bear left, following a wide grass path that swings left and goes uphill. At the top by the bench, go straight on through another gate and gently up along the field edge. Proceed straight on to where the path narrows between fences. At the path T-junction turn left and soon after, go through a wooden gate, joining an access road which leads down to the lane.

Take the footpath almost opposite taking you gently down over a brook and then back uphill

A peaceful corner of the River Stour on the Suffolk/ Essex border

through the trees for some distance.

Negotiate a stile and cross a small meadow.

Cross the next stile and immediately turn right along a little path that runs parallel with the lane. Eventually the path merges onto the lane where there is a seat where you can rest if you choose.

Proceed along the lane and up to the road junction by the war memorial opposite the parish church, notable for not having a spire or tower. Turn left, using the pavement on the other side of the road.

The pub and the car park are further along the road on the left.

PLACES OF INTEREST NEARBY The famous Flatford Mill, once owned by John Constable’s father, has a visitor centre providing a history of the family.

The John Constable Museum at Bridge Cottage is also worth a look and has free admission. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ flatford-bridge-cottage

n Taken from the Guide to Suffolk Pub Walks by Countryside Books

The route East Bergholt 4 miles (6.5 km) 19

Set in the beautiful Suffolk coastal region, Woodbridge School is the perfect place to raise your family and be part of a welcoming community.

Woodbridge School is a co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 4 -18.

Please contact our Admissions team for more information about joining our School community at: admissions@woodbridgeschool.org.uk or 01394 615041.

Woodbridge School | Burkitt Road | Suffolk | IP12 4JH

www.woodbridgeschool.org.uk 20

Water margins Stowmarket based photographer Justin Minns brilliantly captures the waterfronts and landscapes of Suffolk and Essex, as the images on the following pages show

Dawn on the River Deben at Woodbridge

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Above: Spring in Constable Country

Left: The River Stour at Manningtree

Right: Low tide at Walton

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Above: A summer evening at Thaxted Below: A misty morning in Constable Country

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Above: Tollesbury saltings from the air and right, Sunrise at Tollesbury

To see more of Justin’s images, buy prints or his latest book, Photographing East Anglia (shown left), visit justinminns.co.uk. If you want to learn how to take photographs like these, Justin runs workshops and gives talks to camera clubs

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Making garden dreams a reality Award winning design and construction Roger Gladwell Landscaping and Construction is a multi-award winning family business with over 25 years experience creating beautiful gardens for the distinctive landscape and architecture of East Anglia. From initial consultation to completion, everything is done in-house by our own skilled team of garden designers, landscapers and craftsmen so we can assure the highest quality of service.

Roger Gladwell Landscape Design & Construction Contractors Maypole Green, Dennington, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 8AH Telephone: 01728 638372 Mobile: 07785966221 www.rogergladwell.co.uk www.classicsuffolktimberframes.co.uk

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Colourful wall art “An assortment of artwork in a variety of mediums works brilliantly on an accent wall, as shown above.

Think about mixing an antique oil painting with a pair of contemporary prints, a set of watercolours and a textile.

When you plan a gallery wall, lay the items you wish to hang on the floor and plan what works best and where. If the frames don’t all match it doesn’t matter, you can even include an unframed piece – it’s all about the planning and working out the best configuration to showcase what you wish to display.”

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Summer chic (consider these sustainable interior design ideas)

W

ith summer finally arriving and temperatures heating up, here are four simple ideas that will transform your interiors, giving a fresh new summer look. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to cost the earth. British interior designer, and founder of Zoom That Room, Benji Lewis, offers a myriad of options from ecoconscious ideas to fresh new colours and vibrant wall art. There’s no time like the present to add some summer flair to your living space.

A splash of colour “The use of pastel colours (shown right) in interiors suggests a fresh yet daring approach to things, blending pistachio with soft pink, turquoise, lilac and yellow sorbet – imagine looking through the window of an ice cream store for inspiration.

The trick with a pastel colour palette is to work on colour tones and be unafraid of including a little clash here and there – soft red works brilliantly with dusty pink for example. For the less daring, use pastel colours as accents only – scheme a grey room with interesting textures and then accessorise with duck egg blue cushions, or add a lavender velvet armchair.”

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Work with pre-loved “The auction houses and antique shops are brilliant places for sourcing pre-loved items. The trick is knowing exactly what you’re shopping for and how you wish it to fit.

Always check measurements, both with the seller and in the space you would wish to position things, so that in spite of you buying a pre-loved piece, it looks as if it was made for the space. Even if you wish to shop ‘new’ for the main pieces of furniture in your room, consider accessories that have a story to tell – mid-century glass, antique textiles and a stack of coffee table books will make your room more interesting.”

Layered Rugs “They are invaluable when it comes to adding softness – literally underfoot but they can also be a big help when it comes to acoustics so consider a layered rug approach. There’s nothing smarter than one that has been sized to furnish a room, and for that slightly scuffed ‘country house look’ you can add additional rugs. I should add that with layering they will cover patches where an old rug might have worn through. When it comes to choosing how to use them, I always think of textures – a velvet pile rug on a velvet pile carpet wouldn’t be a look that I would propose, but a velvet pile rug on floorboards looks fantastic.”

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enji Lewis is a well-established British interior designer with extensive experience working on residential and commercial properties both at home and abroad. These include flats and studios, town and country houses, listed properties and commercial spaces such as the redesign of London’s Universal Studios offices.

Zoom That Room is a contact-free, bespoke design offer. A one-hour home consultation costs from £90 per zoomed room. Via whichever video communications platform you choose (FaceTime/zoom etc), you can dial in with Benji and discuss your interior design issues and aspirations in return for tailored advice for you and your home.

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A selection of beautiful townhouses, country homes and properties with character in Essex and Suffolk 29

West Mersea Occupying an idyllic waterfront position in West Mersea, this unique 5 bedroom home has exceptional views of the Blackwater estuary and is the perfect place for watersports enthusiasts. Downstairs, there are four bedrooms, two of which are ensuite, all with underfloor heating. Upstairs, the spacious principal reception room spans the length of the house, with high vaulted ceilings creating a light and airy feel. From here, there is access to the bespoke kitchen, pantry and master bedroom with en suite. French doors lead to a balcony where you can enjoy the breathtaking sunsets and the south facing terrace is ideal for alfresco dining.

Guide Price £900,000

Call 01206 763388 colchester@fennwright.co.uk 30

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Layer de la Haye This modern 4 bedroom detached family home provides exceptional entertaining and living space, standing in generous grounds with mature gardens. The property has been meticulously renovated and now boasts a beautifully finished interior with well­proportioned and light rooms. Originally a bungalow, this property has undergone a comprehensive transformation to include an upper floor and rear extension. The principal reception room and kitchen comprise a bespoke kitchen with imported Italian work surfaces, integrated appliances and sliding glazed doors leading to the sun terrace. Upstairs, the master suite has a balcony allowing for wonderful views of the garden.

Guide Price £850,000

Call 01206 763388 colchester@fennwright.co.uk 32

Mundon Holmfield Bungalow is a beautifully presented 2/3 bedroom family home in grounds of around 2.1 acres. The property has a bright and contemporary feel with a modern fitted kitchen, LED lighting and integrated appliances. There are stables and a storeroom which provide potential for a variety of uses, along with a well­maintained garden which features a tree house, summer house and an impressive outdoor bar. The property has lapsed planning permission for an extension and loft conversion. Occupying a wonderful semi­rural position, the property is in the small village of Mundon, just three miles from Maldon.

OIEO £900,000

Call 01245 292100 chelmsford@fennwright.co.uk 33

Waldringfield Thatched Farm is a delightful 4 bedroom Grade ll listed farmhouse on the outskirts of Waldringfield, a desirable village which lies on the banks of the River Deben, close to Woodbridge. Set in established grounds of around 2 acres, the property is on a quiet country lane and is currently set up to run as a bed and breakfast. There are two holiday let cottages and a number of traditional outbuildings, ideal for use as a studio or home office, with plenty of space for garden machinery and outdoor equipment.

Guide Price £1,200,000

Call 01473 358400 kesgrave@fennwright.co.uk 34

Martlesham This immaculate gated 5 bedroom family home was built in 2008 and has been further improved in recent years. Downstairs, there are white marble effect floor tiles, underfloor heating and an impressive solid wood floating staircase in the reception hall. The vast sitting room has glazed doors leading to a sun terrace as well as a cantilevered balcony. The property has a contemporary and beautifully appointed kitchen with integrated appliances, a large dining room and conservatory. Martlesham lies around two miles from Woodbridge and the boot room is ideal when returning from walks by the River Deben.

Guide Price £795,000

Call 01394 333346 woodbridge@fennwright.co.uk 35

Felixstowe Cautley House forms part of an award­winning development by Gipping Homes, who restored this landmark building on Felixstowe’s seafront. With 3 bedrooms, this ground floor apartment has underfloor heating and a spacious open plan sitting/dining room which flows into the contemporary kitchen. The master bedroom suite opens onto the south­facing courtyard garden and the property offers glorious sea views as well as benefitting from two allocated car parking spaces. This stunning apartment is within easy reach of the four miles of promenade which stretches almost the entire length of the beach from Languard Point to Felixstowe Ferry.

Guide Price £500,000

Call 01473 358400 kesgrave@fennwright.co.uk 36

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Coggeshall Originally two houses, Mowers is believed to date back to the 1500’s and has been sympathetically and lovingly restored over the years to create a stunning 5 bedroom home. Stylish and spacious, the property is packed with period features and has a wealth of exposed timbers, sash windows and original fireplaces. The kitchen has light grey units, integrated appliances and an Aga, and flows seamlessly into the dining area with a wonderful window seat.

Outside there is a fantastic terrace, ideal for entertaining and alfresco dining, which leads to the south­facing garden, shed and garage.

Guide Price £900,000

Call 01376 516464 witham@fennwright.co.uk 38

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High Roding This striking Grade l listed former manor house has been sympathetically restored to provide beautifully presented and well­balanced accommodation.

Set in grounds of around 2 acres, the property is in the hugely charming village of High Roding and is believed to date back to the 14th century. As one may expect, the property houses a wealth of medieval features and is an important building of historic interest. Outside, the property is approached by a private gated drive and also benefits from a brick­built granary and paddock offering potential for those with equestrian interests.

Guide Price £1,195,000

Call 01245 292100 chelmsford@fennwright.co.uk 40

Ardleigh White House is a picture­perfect property which has been extensively refurbished and improved in recent years. With 4 bedrooms, the interiors have been tastefully decorated and the bespoke kitchen­breakfast room is the main focal point of this characterful home, providing a wonderful space in which to entertain. A stylish and spacious dining room opens into the conservatory and bi­fold doors lead to the terrace and rear garden with fabulous views over the surrounding open countryside. The property has a handy office in the garden, off road parking, a garage with wood store and there is an outside utility room.

Guide Price £650,000

Call 01206 763388 colchester@fennwright.co.uk 41

Mundon Furzewood House is an exceptional family home in mature grounds of around 1.2 acres, occupying an idyllic position in a private gated community. On the southern fringes of the village of Mundon, The Furze is an exclusive development consisting of four executive style homes. The accommodation is spacious and well­balanced with a good flow between the sitting room, bespoke kitchen and open­plan dining room. To the first floor are 4 generously proportioned bedrooms, a tiled family bathroom and ensuite to the master. The property is approached via a gated entrance and there is ample parking along with garages and a cart lodge.

Guide Price £1,100,000

Call 01245 292100 chelmsford@fennwright.co.uk 42

Chelmsford This 4 bedroom detached family home occupies a prominent position within the prestigious development of Beaulieu Park, approximately 3 miles from Chelmsford city centre. Offered to the market with no onward chain, the property benefits from off road parking and a double garage. The kitchen/breakfast room spans the rear of the property with a formal dining room to the front. The good sized sitting room runs from the front to the back of the property allowing plenty of light. To the first floor are four generously proportioned bedrooms, one of which is ensuite, and the family bathroom.

Guide Price £700,000 ­ £725,000

Call 01245 292100 chelmsford@fennwright.co.uk 43

Monks Eleigh Meadow House is a superb 5 bedroom detached house, set in around 1 acre, built in vernacular style on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Monks Eleigh.

Constructed just over twenty years ago, a panelled front door leads into the large reception hall with double doors leading to the rear garden. Accessed from the hallway are three reception rooms and a large open­plan kitchen/dining room.

On the first floor, the master bedroom suite has a dressing area and en suite bathroom whilst there are three further bedrooms, one of which is ensuite, and the family bathroom.

Guide Price £850,000

Call 01787 327000 sudbury@fennwright.co.uk 44

AN EXCLUSIVE GATED DEVELOPMENT OF 4 & 5 BEDROOM DETACHED LUXURY HOMES LOCATED IN BRAISWICK, COLCHESTER

To register your interest please call 01206 763388 OAK HOME DEVELOPMENTS LTD

Langford Formerly the keeper’s cottage to Langford Hall, this 4/5 bedroom detached property has been extended and updated to a high standard. The principal reception rooms both feature log burning stoves, and glazed doors in the sitting room lead to the south facing rear garden. The contemporary kitchen has granite worktops and is an ideal space for entertaining. Langford is a village on the outskirts of Maldon and the property has stunning countryside views. In approx.

9 acres, equestrian facilities include eight paddocks, three stables, a tack room, manège and a large timber framed garage with space for multiple vehicles.

Guide Price £1,250,000

Call 01376 516464 witham@fennwright.co.uk 46

Woodbridge This exceptional split­level property is located in sought­after Dukes Park in Woodbridge. Built in 1998/99 to exacting specifications, this unique home with high ceilings now provides around 4500sq ft of flexible accommodation which is ideal for family living and entertaining. Features include a stunning reception hall, large drawing room opening onto the sun terrace, dining room, open plan kitchen/breakfast/family room, media room, gym and superb master bedroom suite with dressing room and fantastic ensuite facilities. Underfloor heating runs throughout the property and there is an integral double garage and an electric car charging point. The established garden is south facing and amounts to about 0.6 acres. Woodbridge has recently been voted the ‘Best place to live in the East’ by The Times.

Guide: £1,450,000 Call 01394 333346 woodbridge@fennwright.co.uk

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Offton Set in a stunning rural location abutting open fields and farmland, this 4­bedroom contemporary detached house is in the village of Offton, 6 miles from Ipswich. Set in a plot of around an acre (STS), the property is accessed via a reception hall with vaulted ceiling, leading to the exceptional open­plan kitchen/living/dining room with underfloor heating. There are dual aspect windows and bi­fold doors lead out to the garden. The kitchen comprises a range of bespoke units, integrated appliances and a central island. A recent addition to the property is the fantastic garden room which has bi­fold doors, Karndean flooring and air conditioning.

Guide Price £925,000

Call 01473 232700 ipswich@fennwright.co.uk 48

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Felixstowe Balfour Place is a prestigious development of five unique properties in a beautiful setting with sea and estuary views. In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, each of these contemporary homes provides stunning views of the coast and picturesque rural countryside, as well as overlooking the undulating fairways and historic landmarks nearby.

The new build homes at Balfour Place have an unrivalled specification where modern finishes mix with contemporary design to create spaces for everyone to enjoy. A sweeping wave of angled rooftops unites the development and their form provides a distinctive new skyline. Sea views extend from the inside out to protected balconies, and panoramic views from the second floor crow’s nest will surprise and delight.

Subject to the time of reservation, you will have the opportunity to work with award winning architects, Wincer Kievenaar, to complete the bespoke interior design of your new home. This will be a home to be proud of, finished to an impeccable standard, providing contemporary living amongst a wealth of history.

Prices start from £1,150,000

Call 01473 232700 ipswich@fennwright.co.uk 50

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PHASE 2 LAUNCHING IN MAY 2021 Lawford Green is one of Tendring’s most desirable new neighbourhoods, offering a superb collection of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes consisting of bungalows, chalet style bungalows & traditional 2 storey houses. It is perfectly placed close to the appealing Stour Estuary and rolling countryside. This vibrant community is expertly designed for contemporary living, built seamlessly around you.

Bromley Road, Lawford, CO11 2JE

Show Home available to view by appointment only please contact;

01206 392613

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Lawford Green

A closer look at one of Tendring’s most desirable new neighbourhoods

S

urround yourself in a wealth of parkland, unique history and picturesque coastal scenery, all encapsulated in the unrivalled beauty of the Stour Estuary. Welcome to Lawford Green. It’s one of Tendring’s most desirable new neighbourhoods, offering a superb collection of 2, 3, 4and 5-bedroom houses.

These beautifully appointed residences enjoy a high specification both inside and out, resulting in homes that are built to stand the test of time.

Perfectly placed just a mile from Lawford Green, the charming market town of Manningtree is a beacon of community life and renowned as one of the smallest towns in the country. It is a town steeped in history that’s well connected to both London and beyond.

Alex Leader, Director of Sales and Marketing at Rose, comments: “The design and layout reflect all that is great about traditional design and detailing. We are all hugely proud of Lawford Green which delivers a wonderful collection of new homes, fit for the 21st Century and beyond – a place to enjoy life and proud to call home. The village is popular with those looking for a country setting with good schools but within easy reach of major towns.

Commuters from Manningtree station can be in the heart

of London’s business district in under an hour.”

Excitement and adventure are never far away at Lawford Green. Explore the River Stour by kayak or enjoy a day with the sand underneath your feet at Manningtree’s delightful small family-friendly beach.

Lawford boasts its own sports centre with activities including climbing and racquet sports. Nearby is Wrabness with its impressive 60-acre nature reserve and located just across the border in Suffolk, Alton Water offers some 400 acres to enjoy those leisurely strolls or a day of action-packed water sports. n For further information please contact Fenn Wright or Alex Leader on 01206 392613, or visit lawfordgreen.co.uk

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The Phoebe & Flo shop in Church Street, Woodbridge

Wrap dress, £89. Shorts, £59 puff sleeve top, £49, by part two Copenhagen

Going with the flow at Phoebe & Flo Beautiful floaty summer dresses and tops headline new season fashions at this stylish Woodbridge and Framlingham boutique

Leisurewear from bybasics, a Danish brand specialising in ethically produced separates in organic cotton

Somerville cashmere scarf, £89

22a Well Close, Framlingham, IP13 9DS 01728 720110 White dress by part two Copenhagen, £109

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25 Church Street, Woodbridge, IP12 IVS 01394 384405

White top by Indi and Cold, £55 and culottes, £72

Linen tunic and trousers with orange stripe by Ecoalf top, £95 and trouser, £110

Pink dress POM Amsterdam, £129

Assorted jewellery from Emily Mortimer Star necklace, £175, Initial necklace gold/silver, £95. Stud earrings from £55

Yellow dress by part two Copenhagen, £99

Green trouser £72 and top £65, Indi and Cold San Sebastian

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Simply majestic Why not seek out some of the region’s stunning historical houses and gardens this summer and autumn?

D

uring the past year we’ve all come to appreciate that spending time outdoors is important for our well-being, and there can be few better places to enjoy the beauty of nature than an English country garden – especially one surrounding a spectacular historic house.

At Kentwell Hall in Long Melford and Helmingham Hall near Stowmarket,

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wide moats and extensive gardens surround imposing red-brick Tudor houses. With a 30-acre garden to explore, Kentwell Hall offers a tranquil breathing space, surrounded by clipped yews, espaliered fruit trees and towering cedars, while at Helmingham Hall, the influence of Lady Tollemache, a Chelsea gold-medallist, can be seen in the classic parterre and the rose, knot and herb gardens.

Bedfield Hall and Columbine Hall are

moated houses on a more domestic scale, but equally romantic and both encircled by splendid gardens. The two-acre garden at Bedfield Hall, near Framlingham, incorporates formal yew hedges and topiary, a potager, shrub roses, iris beds, a woodland area and five connecting bridges. Columbine Hall, near Stowmarket, sits in an acre of formal garden designed by Chelsea gold medal winner George Carter, with another 28 acres of orchards, woods,

Main image: The house and moat at Columbine Hall, near Stowmarket.

Above: Helmingham Hall’s Tudor house and moat and below, the entrance gates at Kentwell Hall, Long Melford For Kentwell Hall: © Kentwell Hall and Historic House. For Helmingham Hall: © Helmingham Hall and Historic Houses

parkland and bog gardens beyond the moat.

Further afield, water also features strongly at Abbots Ripton Hall in Cambridgeshire, where a river cuts through the eight-acre gardens, and there’s a five-acre lake and a monastic eel pond filled with waterlilies.

The garden includes closely mown checkerboard lawns, wide herbaceous borders, a rose circle, rare trees and follies designed by Peter Foster.

JUNE DATES & BEYOND The cooperative association Historic Houses are constantly adding new tours to their website as properties reopen to visitors in accordance with government restrictions.

For the latest information and booking links visit historichouses.org Helmingham Hall: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 11:00 – 16:30. No booking required.

Free entry for Historic Houses members.

Kentwell Hall: open until 30 Sept, 11:00 – 15:00. Booking required. Free entry for Historic Houses members.

Bedfield Hall: Wed 2 and 30 June, £19.50 including house and garden tour, tea/coffee and cakes. Booking essential.

Columbine Hall: Tue 15 June, £18 including house and garden tour, tea/coffee and cakes. Booking essential.

Abbots Ripton Hall: Thu 24 June, £20 including house and garden tour, tea/coffee and cakes.

Booking essential.

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A star in the making

I

t seems no-one - outside of a little close-knit circle of reviewers and judges - knows how the Michelin stars system works. Certainly chef Justin Sharp is bemused by it, but also thrillled, as he and his Bury St Edmunds restaurant Pea Porridge have been awarded a much sought after star the only one in Suffolk.

“You never know who is judging you.

Sometimes a single diner comes in and you think ‘ah, he or she was taking notes and asking about the menu, so they must be doing a review,’ but the person could be part of a group, or just a passer-by wanting to have a quick look at the restaurant and what we do, “ says Justin.

“But the common denominator is they all pay and don’t draw attention to themselves.”

That the awards criteria and rankings

Earlier this year the Pea Porridge restaurant in Bury St Edmunds won a much coveted Michelin star - the first in Suffolk.

Richard Bryson talks to its chef and owner, Justin Sharp are shrouded in a little mystery rather appeals to Justin who says he had no idea one was coming his way. “I didn’t think our restaurant, and our food, fitted the remit, I wouldn’t know how to go about trying to earn one.”

Wasn’t he a little suspicious when a call came in from Michelin’s French headquarters asking if he could appear in an awards ceremony?

“Not really. It had been a decade to the week that we won the coveted Bib

Gourmand award and I thought they wanted to talk to me about that. Also the caller had a strong French accent so the conversation was polite but fairly short...I didn’t ask too many questions.”

Maybe when the organisers began making sure the Zoom connections were up to par, and instructed Justin what to wear, the penny may have dropped. But no, he did as he was asked and was absolutely stunned to be told he was a winner.

“We cook from the heart, with simplicity, championing flavours and working with the best suppliers - perhaps whoever has been judging saw that,” says Justin who is quick to include the success with his colleagues, front-of-house wife Jurga, and fellow chef, James Carn, who has been helping him in the kitchen.

He sees gaining a Michelin star (it’s like winning an Oscar in the culinary world) as

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Annaka Defreitas and Dominik Rapala (front of house), chef James Carn, and Pea Porridge owners Justin and Jurga Sharp Image: Andy Abbott a collective triumph for Suffolk, and especially for Bury St Edmunds.

“We are delighted but I also see it as a much needed boost for the county and I hope it will help local tourism too.”

Messages of congratulations have been flooding in and there are times this hard working chef, orginally from Speyside but one who has gained valuable culinary experiences in Wales, London and Hertfordshire, can’t take it all in. That said, it won’t change the basic philosophy behind Pea Porridge.

“We’ve been able to grow our business organically, saving up money along the way so we can own the freehold of our property and run it the way we want to run it. The award may draw in people from further afield but we still want to welcome and look after our loyal local customers.”

What new and old customers will find, when the Cannon Street restaurant reopens this summer, is a refreshed menu.

Several of the more popular dishes remain but in addition there will be some with a Moorish influence.

Says Justin: “We’ve been in Bury for ten years and maybe needed a bit of a change of direction from sweetbreads and certain types of meats. Jurga was behind it and I bought into it, so now there is a North African and Mediterranean flavour to our menu. I’m excited about it - the first lockdown gave us the chance to learn and try out new ingredients and dishes.”

Goat meat, which is said to have superior nutritional values to beef and chicken, is among the tasty new offerings and Justin likes the connection with his supplier, a fellow artisan. “Our goats come from an exLondon chef who has set up a business called Cabrito in Devon. He has delivered here in person, once it was early evening and he was going to take in drops across England before getting home at around 4am in the morning. That’s dedication - he wanted me to know him, and build up a relationship that way, rather than through a third party.

“Like us he has a small, niche business and is passionate about what he does.”

Clearly those qualities shine through at Pea Porridge as those Michelin inspectors have discovered.

Lavenham Joinery Bespoke Kitchen and Cabinetry since 1985

01787 248452 www.lavenhamjoinery.co.uk 63

How to read Our favourite places to eat are re-opening, but does that also mean a return to the

a restaurant

tricky issue of how to choose the right wine from the list? Follow some of our tips

wine list and you’ll be enjoying some great tastes and impressing your friends

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eturning to our favourite restaurants got us thinking about a sticky problem. It’s what to do if you’re the ‘designated wine chooser’ and how do you pick the right wine when faced with all those endlessly positive descriptions on the list.

Choosing a wine should be a fun, relaxing experience. But why do so many of us prickle with sweat at the sight of an unknown grape, or panic order the same variety over and over again to save the embarrassment of pronouncing another option incorrectly?

The first challenge, and believe us, it is a big issue, is to decide what it is you actually want from your wine. Is it good value wine that you will enjoy, or a wine that will go with the food you’re going to eat? This question may sound obvious, but the answer will decide the direction that you take. Best value can lead you into taking a step into the unknown; new grape varieties, new regions, or even new countries. But if it’s compatibility with your food that you’re after, then welcome to the (often) crazy world of food-andwine matching, and its biggest issue, what do you choose when you’re all eating different dishes?

Firstly, a great wine list myth; the second cheapest wine on a list is the one to avoid as it’s got the biggest mark-up, and

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restaurants put it there to catch out those who don’t want to look cheap, but don’t know anything about wine. Is it true? If we think that restaurateurs aren’t aware of the myth then we are perhaps fooling ourselves and anyway, more and more restaurants have given up following the old two or even three times mark-up policies of the past and have adopted a cash markup policy where a certain amount (say £10 or £20) is added to all bottles no matter what the cost price. The result of this, of course, is that the more expensive wines are far better value than the cheap bottles.

This is an important change. More and more bar and restaurant lists are put together by people who love, and know about wine, and these people want their customers to drink well, so that better quality wines are marked up much less rapaciously than inexpensive wines. So our first tip to choosing the right wine on a list, after of course you’ve settled on the previously mentioned initial approach, is to decide on a realistic price that you are willing to pay. But be realistic, don’t expect supermarket prices.

Once a price has been set then you can

start to scan the list, and here’s our second tip, don’t just look for the wine names that you recognise. Forgo Chablis, Sancerre, Rioja, or even grape varieties that you are used to such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Malbec. In other words, leave your comfort zone behind. Most restaurant wine suppliers specialise in finding good, interesting wines that are often produced in much too small quantities for supermarkets to be interested, and smaller batch wines tend to be produced by people who are more passionate about their wines than large scale ‘factory’ producers. They use unusual, often local

indigenous grape varieties, create unusual blends of grapes and use different techniques of wine making.

Increasingly the wine world is aligning itself with the world of food. We look out for words such as ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ on food menus so why not in our wines too? It’s not the big producers who do this, they are more concerned with a consistent product, but small-scale wine producers use ‘biodynamic’ practices with minimal intervention between vineyard and bottle using wild yeasts, wild fermentation and less filtering. You won’t find these in shops but a good restaurateur whose number one concern is taste and quality will seek out these wines to go onto their lists.

This leads to tip number three; trust your waiter/waitress or, if they’ve got one, sommelier. Everyone would love to be the type of person who explains to the rest of the table all about which of those indigenous northern Italian white wines – the Pigato or the Verdicchio – will perfectly complement the seafood risotto

that someone’s just ordered, but that’s not us. We eat out to enjoy the full scope of a restaurant’s offerings, and a huge part of that experience is the wine service, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or follow the recommendations of those who are providing the service. The passion of any sommelier, server, or bar manager worthy of the title is to be of service. When in doubt, the best possible advice is to strike up a conversation, ask for suggestions, and enjoy letting someone else do the work.

Four quicks tips to finish: 1. When in doubt, choose house. The house wine should be a direct reflection of the restaurants’ style and standards. If you like the food, then you should like the wine they recommend too.

2. Go for a glass rather than a bottle. We particularly enjoy the trend of restaurants offering lots of different wines by the glass. It’s all down to new technologies allowing the storage of opened bottles for longer, but it enables you to choose a few different wines rather than stick to

one throughout the meal.

3. Ask for a taste first, and don’t feel obliged to buy afterwards if it’s not your thing. This is particularly relevant when following our previous tip and going for by-the-glass wines.

4. Learn more about wines yourself. It’s a fascinating subject, the more you learn the more you’ll understand about the differences between wines, grapes and wine regions. You’ll become more confident when confronted by a list and we’ve always found that showing knowledge and interest leads to better conversations and recommendations from those serving you.

Words: Martin Higginson of The Suffolk Wine Academy n Our wine tastings and courses will return after lockdown. Follow Suffolk Wine Academy on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or check out our website www.suffolkwineacademy.co.uk to find out more about us and our events.

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We believe that by offering our pupils a broad range of academic and co-curricular opportunities they can find their passion. We support them with the best pastoral care and individual tutor support to reach their potential in everything they do.

COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF 25 Sept- Taste of RHS Event • 2 Oct - Open Day 6 Nov - Taste of RHS Event • 14 Nov - Open Day Register for an Open Day or Event by visiting our website where you'll find an 'Register for an Open Day' button.

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Sea views as standard There’s no place quite like home, or is there? After a year of domesticity we’re all itching for an escape. Instead of booking the first flight out, says Lulu Townsend, why not turn the page and select a break by the British seaside?

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The Ship Inn, Fife

The Anchor at Walberswick, Suffolk Set on the unspoilt Suffolk coast, the Georgian village of Walberswick is the perfect place for a family bucket and spade holiday. The award-winning Anchor sits in an acre of garden overlooking the dunes and beach huts.

There are 10 bedrooms in total, four bedrooms in the main building and six large family-friendly eco-clad chalets in the garden where dogs are welcome too. Much more than a place to stay, The Anchor is a warm and welcoming village local serving exceptional local food with the focus on fish; oysters are from West Mersea and the smoked fish from Lowestoft. Seasonal menus are complemented by local and international beers and a thoughtfully curated wine list with wines from growers such as Huet, Ridge, Anne Gros and John Forrest. Bread is baked in house daily and during the summer months the outdoor woodfire pizza oven never stops. There are plenty of outdoor terraces and new for 2021 is a heated marquee making outdoor dining a much more pleasurable experience on cooler days. During the winter the crackle of the wood fires will lure you inside to one of the cosy bars.

Rates from £110 per night B&B www.anchoratwalberswick.com

Visit Lulu’s website www.lulusluxurylifestyle.uk

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New England meets Scotland on this white sandy beach in Elie, a quintessential seaside town in the East Neuk of Fife. The six rooms at The Ship Inn are more akin to those you’d find in a luxury boutique hotel with Egyptian cotton sheets, Nespresso machines, free WiFi and products from Scottish brand Siabann. Four of the rooms have direct sea views and all can be made up as twins; you can bring your four-legged friend with you as two of the rooms are dog-friendly. Food? Some of the best in Fife with the focus on local and seasonal (their fish and meat are 100% Scottish) including Scottish mussels and Isle of Arran ice cream. Visit in the summer and you can watch the pub’s cricket team compete on the seashore the only pub in Britain to have a cricket team with a pitch on the beach. Rates from £100 per night B&B www.shipinn.scot

Beadnell Towers, Northumberland Small and cosy Beadnell Towers is a home-from-home in a small fishing village on the Northumberland coast. The 18 rooms at this 18th-century hotel have been styled in a soft nautical theme with seascape oil paintings set against patterned walls. The snug bar, sitting room and kitchen are open all year round with a relaxed vibe; flipflops, muddy boots, bare feet and all ages are welcome, dogs too! The menus bring together local produce and food heritage resulting in delicious seasonal dishes, there’s also a great wine list and ale menu. It’s hard to beat the feelgood factor of returning windswept or sun-kissed from one of the spectacular sprawling beaches nearby to this warm and welcoming boutique hotel.

Rates from £129 per night B&B www.beadnelltowers.co.uk

Llys Meddyg, Pembrokeshire The Pembrokeshire coast stretches for a spectacular 186 miles with a coastal path starting from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south, the perfect terrain for country lovers and keen hikers.

Within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park nestled under Carningli is Llys Meddyg a Georgian coaching house in the coastal town of Newport. Walking distance from a dune-flanked beach this charming stone house is decorated in a neutral palette and filled with original artworks. After a day’s rambling, return to refuel with simple, seasonal food in the dining room or bar in front of the fire.

Rates from £105 per night B&B www.llysmeddyg.com

“Walking distance from a duneflanked beach this charming stone house is decorated in a neutral palette and filled with original artworks.”

Cary Arms & Spa, Devon Multi-award winner Carys Arms & Spa sits quietly in Babbacombe Bay in Devon. Set amid pretty tropical coastal gardens and the dramatic red cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, the hotel’s enviable location is second to none. It ticks all of the boxes when it comes to a seaside holiday whether it’s for a romantic break, luxury spa break or a family holiday with your dog. The Beach Huts are the latest addition to the rooms, full of seaside charm with contemporary interiors and bespoke furnishings. Soak up the sun on your private deck and enjoy the far-reaching views across Lyme Bay and the historic Coast. If the sky is the limit and you’re after plenty of space book one of the larger beach suites.

The Beach Huts and beach suites each sleep two and boast a terrace, sitting room, wet bar, feature fire, bedroom and en suite bathroom. These unique hideaways hug the crystal-clear water’s edge in a sheltered sunny spot next to the hotel.

Rates for a Beach Hut from £335 B&B www.caryarms.co.uk

Westcroft Guesthouse, Cornwall Hidden away in a quiet corner of Cornwall is Westcroft Guesthouse, one of the best B&Bs in England. It’s not accessible by car (the car park is a short walk away) and is close enough to the beach at Kingsand for you to be splashed when the surf is up. Choose one of three exquisite rooms, or take over the whole place for you, your family and your dog. Attention to detail and a bespoke service are the norm here; fresh flowers, the latest magazines, warmed coffee cups and a daily changing breakfast are just some of the little luxuries that make this cute B&B the little gem that it is.

Rates from £135 per night B&B www.westcroftguesthouse.co.uk

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10

of the best Suffolk and North Essex golf courses As chosen by Ufford Park PGA professional and Golf Doctor Stuart Robertson

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Aldeburgh A 6,603 yards Championship course with no par fives. But don’t for a moment think that makes this course easy. Every hole presents an examination in shotmaking and accuracy; a stroke given away to the course is difficult to recover. The gently rolling countryside allows views of the River Alde and glimpses of the North Sea. It looks lovely under blue skies and a warming sun but it’s an agreeable place to be on grey days too. There is a yesteryear feel to the clubhouse - old fashioned, but friendly and very civilised.

Thorpeness A lovely place for relaxing seaside golf. Play alongside or near to the village’s famous Meare, spot Sizewell’s mighty dome and, on the 18th green, you are just a few yards from the House in the Clouds, a water tower converted into a private residence.

Plot your way around carefully, gorse and heather line the fairways and will claim any errant shots. A rare micro climate, low lying coastal plain and sandy fast draining soil mean

Ufford Park, Woodbridge that this James Braid designed heathland course stays in exceptional condition year round, whatever the weather. In fact, it’s only been shut for a handful of days in the past five years and that was due to snow.

Colchester Just off the A12, the club at Braiswick is a delightful challenge to all levels of golfer with the best scores achieved with the premium on direction over distance! The condition of the course is consistently well presented, with greens running very quickly in the summer months (beware of any downhill putts on the gently sloping greens!) There are several short par 4s that will tempt the longer hitters, (1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th) but with trees and hazards close to the greens, a well placed iron or hybrid off the tee, and a solid wedge shot to the green may well produce better results.

It is the type of course that on paper suggests you should score well, but in reality can often be a lot ‘

Hard but fair might be a good description of this parkland course near Woodbridge, (pictured above). For many the signature hole is the par four 8th. You drive from an elevated tee aiming to hit the downslope of a fairway that snakes towards a green guarded by a pond. A slight fade is required to steer clear of a large cedar tree on the left and other trees in a thicket on the right.

A long drive and run earns you a pitch onto the green, something shorter may demand you lay up before the water.

The long par five 6th is a demanding hole for the average player, needing at least three mighty and straight blows to get you anywhere near the green. But there are several par and birdie opportunities elsewhere particularly at the short par three 3rd (though bunkers, ridges, trees and a sloping green have to be negotiated) and the dinky par three 10th which needs distance control and a mind that isn’t distracted by the pond in front of the green.

Not so serious golf can be enjoyed at the Congo Rapids Lost World Adventure near to the 18-hole course. Have a go - it’s good family fun.

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The 18th at Thorpeness ‘ different, particularly in the summer months when there is a lot of run on the ball on some sloping fairways.

Frinton

Flempton, near Bury St Edmunds

Just a few minutes off the A12 into Chelmsford you will find an oasis of green space and a short and tight 18 hole course that is always presented well with the greens playing very quick in the summer months. Another course that on paper suggests that a good score can be made, but the reality is that you will need to control the direction of your ball to put a good score together. This is not really a course you can overpower with distance, although it can be useful on a few holes, it is a course that will give all players a chance to score well. With several dogleg holes, the strategy of playing to the corner can often work out better in the long run.

The 1st is a tough start where a long straight drive can roll down the right leaving an awkward shot off of a slope to a green above you with Out Of Bounds not too far over the back, score two points and you are off and running. Watch out for the 3rd and 10th as both are tough par 4s, and the final hole, par 3 can appear daunting with the clubhouse appearing right at the back of the green.

The coastal course at Frinton is a flat course that can be an easy walk, but the sea breezes still make it a challenge. The par 3s can be as much as wood into the wind and a wedge downwind! With all four par 5s around 500 yards, there are some good scoring opportunities, although two will play into the wind if the others are downwind. The stretch of holes from 4th to 7th all run along the sea wall, and if the wind is behind will represent some great birdie chances. There are some meandering ditches that run across the course taking water out to the sea, these need to be avoided if you don’t want to incur any penalty shots. The thatched building in the middle of the course (affectionately known as the Zulu hut) that is located at the back of the 10th green is often used as a halfway house. With two par 5s to finishthere is always a chance to finish strongly, particularly if the wind is in your favour.

Once your round is over, a celebratory drink (or one to drown your sorrows) on the terrace or in the bar commands a great view of the 18th green and most of the rest of the course as a great backdrop. I hope you enjoy your round there as much as I enjoyed my time as a junior there!

A great nine holer with three loops of three, meaning you are never far away from refreshment. The course is always in good condition with greens as good as any in the area. Would be wise to avoid the many sand traps as they add quite a challenge to many holes. The 7th requires a straight long drive followed by a pitch, but there are 15 bunkers to be avoided.

Woodbridge

Felixstowe Ferry

Two exciting options with an 18 hole and a nine hole course. Both are set in spectacular heathland surroundings while quick draining conditions enable all year round golf at your leisure.

The Heath Course, for better players, is a 6299 yard course requiring accuracy and strategic skill to manoeuvre around make sure you bring your A-game.

The wind makes all the difference here on a calm day it can be relatively easy to play but in a stiff breeze the four par fives (at around 500 yards) can be quite a challenge. Beware the several ditches that span the course, regular players here will know where they are, visitors may discover them at their cost.

Chelmsford

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Ipswich One of James Braids finest, a game at Purdis Heath is always a pleasure. Tees are great surfaces and greens and usually of a high standard and can play quick particularly during the summer months when the light heathland soil can turn it into a links. The club have recently taken a lot of trees and gorse bushes out to improve views and air flow. This coupled with a heather regeneration process will keep this club in the lists of Top 100 courses for a number of years to come.

There are several good scoring opportunities with the short par 4s (around 320 yards) on 1st, 9th and 16th.

But look out for some tough longer par 4s (all over 400 yards) on the 5th, 7th, 13th and 18th. All the par 3s are strong holes and a score of 12 for the four holes should see you winning the money!

The clubhouse has recently gone through a modern renovation and has helped open up views of the 1st and 18th with a large decked area.

Call 01394 383480

doctorgolf.co.uk

Hidden treasure for all to enjoy...

A warm welcome and fantastic views await you.

Everyone welcome.

Locally-sourced food served all day. t 01394 383555

w www.uffordpark.co.uk

Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1QW 73

My message to the ‘neigh’-sayers Keeping and looking after a horse can be tough, but the rewards are worth it, says Caroline Fardell

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n 2019, there were about 850,000 horses in the UK and the economic value of the industry was almost £5bn. The horse world supports a range of ancillary businesses which include farriers, feed, hay and straw merchants, fencing contractors, trailer and lorry dealers as well as vets, equine physios and riding instructors. It is big business, particularly in West Suffolk.

Horses are without doubt breathtaking creatures; their power, grace and beauty has inspired countless poets and artists down the centuries, but there are times especially during the winter months when horse owners wonder why they didn’t take up knitting instead.

I’m not talking here about professional racing yards or riding schools. I’m talking about ‘recreational’ riders who keep a horse for pleasure, often on a shoestring budget, throwing all their energy and spare cash at the love of their life – their equine. Often juggling family and fulltime jobs, they crawl out of bed at 5.30am to head to the stables or the livery yard.

There, they turn out their horses, muck out stables, fill hay nets and water buckets, sweep yards and wheel very heavy barrows up steep slopes to the muck heap. Who needs the gym? Then, they dash off to do a full day’s work, peeling off layers of usually soaked, muddy clothing, pulling a comb through unruly hair and spraying on perfume to mask the odours of horse. Once the work-

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day is over, they head back to bring their horse in from the field, poo-pick paddocks, groom and throw on tack in an effort to snatch twenty minutes of exercise before darkness falls.

It’s not a good idea to ask a horse person, during winter months, why they keep a horse and last winter was particularly vile. From about October to the end of February this year, it rained non-stop (or so it seemed). We endured floods, gale force winds, snow and driving rain. In the west of Suffolk clay is a predominant soil type so horse owners wade knee high through claggy mud trying to turn out and bring in horses, losing patience and wellington boots in gateways. In the depths of winter, routine continues by dint of headtorch; we break ice on water troughs, lose all feeling in our fingers and toes, and porches fill up with a succession of wet coats and muddy boots.

Remnants of wood-shavings and hay stick to socks and hair and end up in curious places. Winter is a time of year when horse owners often question their sanity.

Horses are designed to roam in large herds, grazing on a variety of grasses and herbs. In reality, many of our horses are stabled for more time than we’d like, adapting to individual turnout in small paddocks, grazing on a bland monoculture. Because of this compromised management, we need to ensure our horses – half a ton of spooky prey animal – are mentally, physically and

emotionally fit enough to safely and willingly carry their rider. So, we ensure our horses get saddles and bridles that fit them, have the farrier for regular trimming or shoeing, and try to have the odd lesson now and again to improve our own riding and horsemanship skills. We may have to buy supplements and hard feed to give them a balanced and nutritional diet that meets their exercise and management regime, and depending on type of horse and available shelter, they may need rugs, or we might have to restrict grazing for ponies that only need to look at a blade of grass to pile on the pounds. Paddock management is also crucial and involves harrowing, rolling, scarifying, regularly picking up droppings and fixing fencing. There are a million nuances of equine management to consider – and a thousand different opinions. Horse owning is definitely not for everyone!

It is so much more than a hobby or a lifestyle choice. It is a lifelong passion that can never be extinguished by any cold, wet winter. Horse owners are brave, strong and resilient. They exhibit a mental and physical toughness that keeps them going through the hard times – of which there are many. Because eventually the sun comes out, the ground dries up and we can climb on board and go for a ride.

Every second of the mud, sweat and tears is worth it for the privilege of being carried by such extraordinary creatures.

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Just clarity Getting it and getting straight to it. That’s the point. We’re not here to waste time – yours or ours. We’re here to listen intelligently and sympathetically to your issues, then get down to business straightaway. We’ll use our expertise and experience to cut through complexity, giving you the plain-speaking clarity you need. No hedging.

No grass growing under our feet. And definitely no beating around the bush.

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