We have over 50 years’ experience in the industry and have seen most types of windows and doors over the years and rarely find a problem we can’t solve.
From blown/misted units, draughty windows and broken locks, to a complete & full replacement of your windows or conservatory - reach out to us and it would be our privilege to pop round and see how we could help.
We have no overdraft to feed, run no accounts and pay up front for all our materials.
We have been proudly servicing the local community for over 30 years!
Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing
Parish News Magazine
Festive Events, Local Stories, and Community Updates we’re excited about! Welcome to the November issue of the Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing Parish News Magazine! As the winter chill begins to settle in, we bring you a heartwarming mix of local stories, seasonal activities, and community updates. This month, we take a look at the exciting developments at the Ingatestone Museum and Healthwatch Essex with the introduction of Susan’s Law. As always we feature creative inspiration from the Ingatestone and District Camera Club and look back at some of the fantastic recent fundraising efforts for the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. As the festive season approaches, explore delightful family recipes in Cosy Dishes to Delight the Family and discover the latest news about the Artisan Ingatestone Winter Market. Whether you’re looking for festive events like the Snow-White Pantomime or getting tips for your garden in November, there’s something for everyone. We also spotlight important local initiatives, including public health projects, solar power installations, and community safety programs. Dive in and enjoy all the wonderful happenings in our parish this month!
Editor of Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing Parish News enquiries@community-publishing.org
Front cover photo from Wirestock on Freepik.
Our thanks go out to all of the fantastic local businesses for supporting the magazine by advertising.
Introducing Susan’s Law
Have you ever felt uncomfortable trying to seek support as a carer? Perhaps overwhelmed by the thought of professional support? We know that this is the case for many carers in Essex, which is why our Carers Voices team have introduced ‘Susan’s Law’.
As a team, we know that it can be very daunting trying to seek support or share experiences with professionals. It can feel like there are the overwhelming expectations in this sort of environment, which is why we have made crucial changes to make you feel confident to speak freely with us.
‘Susan’s Law’ is about creating a more comfortable and safe space for carers to talk about their experiences.
Background of ‘Susan’s Law’:
During a Healthwatch Essex focus group for unpaid carers, one carer (having found the free time and strength to have a break and seek support), verbalised that she felt out of place. Most other people attending were wearing lanyards or name badges as ‘professionals’. She also felt that the experiences of other carers were far more overwhelming and important than her own caring responsibilities.
This was a defining moment for our Carers Voice Team. From that day we vowed to create an environment of trust and level out the environment, so that carers felt the confidence to speak freely about their experiences without judgement.
Since this experience:
We still want to maintain professional standards and be welcoming, but through introducing ‘Susan’s Law’ we have made
these changes which we believe will help ensure all carers feel welcome.
• Offering alternatives from lanyards or official badges – we can provide sticky labels or cards for everyone to display their names, so that nobody feels insignificant in mixed groups of carers and professionals.
• Working on making Susan’s Law an official document – so that we can share this learning with others.
• Guiding the conversation and reading the room – ensuring that we hear experiences from all in the room and making sure that everyone knows their stories have equal value.
Celebrating Susan:
Without Susan’s bravery in speaking up about how she felt, we would not have known to make these changes. This is why we are celebrating Susan for her contribution and bravery to speak out about this experience, improving the support available for herself and for others. Thank you Susan!
Sharing Your Experiences
There are a number of ways you can share your own experiences with our Carers Voices team, through focus groups, surveys or one to one conversations. Find out more here – www.healthwatchessex. org.uk/carers-voices
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Over £3,000 has been raised for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.
Firstly, Silver End Bowls Club held a fun day attended by members, family, friends and neighbours, and the proceeds from the day were donated to the charity.
Jenny McDonald of the Bowls Club said “Members of the Bowls Club held a fun day to raise money for the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. The event resulted in £1,041 being raised, which is totally amazing. Thanks to all who supported the event and well done to the team”.
and every penny will go towards supporting local people living with cancer. We could not offer the support that we do without the support of clubs like the Bowls Club and people like Andrew and Sam. We are so grateful to all of them.”
Secondly, father and son, Andrew and Sam Barker have just completed the London to Amsterdam cycle challenge. The 335 miles ride took 4 days to complete, and the pair raised £2,000 for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. Starting in Croydon, the first day’s ride through the Kent countryside provided the most challenging hills of the whole trip before a little respite heading down to Dover. The coastal route to Bruges was tough due to the 30mph head wind. The 3 miles promenade ride at Dunkirk delivered a full sand storm and nearly halted them in their tracks. On the third day, the ride to the Dutch city of Breda provided a scenic trip along the cycle paths next to the canals. On the final day the sun came out and a ride through Rotterdam, followed by even more beautiful canal paths, saw the challenge finish at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Andrew Barker said “Sadly last year our sister and aunt, Diane, passed away after a battle with breast cancer. A charity that she was very fond of and that gave her great support was the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity and we hope that we can still raise a little bit more for this great cause.”
Zoe Jay, head of the charity’s fundraising team said: “These are fantastic amounts,
THANK YOU
Ingatestone Museum Taking Shape
Exciting progress is being made on the Ingatestone Museum, which will be housed in the historic 1850s Gatekeeper’s Cottage.
Internal refurbishment began in July 2024, and work is expected to be completed by November. Key updates include new floors, ceilings, and a display panel that showcases the original lath and plaster construction. The walls have been replastered, a new accessible toilet has been installed, and modern electric circuits are currently being fitted, alongside window refurbishments.
This transformative work has been made possible through generous funding from the Railway Heritage Trust, Brentwood Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund, and additional support from the Ingatestone and Fryerning Parish Council, Essex Heritage Trust, and Brentwood Arts Society.
A Community-Centered Museum
The Ingatestone Museum will focus on the local history of Ingatestone and Fryerning, particularly the role of the stagecoach and railway in the villages’ development. It aims to foster strong connections with local community organisations and schools, such as the Anglo European School, which is contributing a book of memories from local residents. The museum will also feature rotating exhibits tied to school curricula, such as WWII evacuee memories and local artwork.
The museum’s design will ensure it is accessible to all members of the community, within the constraints of its listed building status.
It will host small school groups, offering a hands-on way to connect history to local students’ studies.
The Journey So Far
The restoration journey began in August 2021 when volunteers helped clear the overgrowth around the cottage. Major external renovations, including roof repairs, started in February 2022, thanks to the support of Greater Anglia and local builders. The interior renovations are nearing completion, with new floors installed and plasterwork almost finished.
How You Can Help
The museum’s success relies on community involvement. They are calling for volunteers and support to help make this project a reality. You can contribute in several ways:
• Donate or loan exhibits.
• Share interesting historical facts about Ingatestone.
• Help spread the word about the museum.
• Volunteer to assist in the museum.
• Join the “Friends of Ingatestone Museum.”
The museum also offers talks to local groups and can provide publicity materials to help spread the message. For more information, visit the museum’s website or contact us at secretary@imt.gb.net
Be part of preserving our local heritagevolunteers are the heart of this project!
Last month we wondered what was the reason for clearing the space in Patrick Green’s store, now we know!
Those enterprising people at Patrick Green’s have created a unique live music venue!
Freddie was there at the first evening on Saturday 6th October, where they had the hugely talented Menno from Medo music performing some great folk and country songs. Medo had just come from the O2 Islington on Friday and before that he was playing in Nashville, Tennessee, the Country Music capital of the world.
The crowd really appreciated Menno and really didn’t want him to finish. People were even more complementary about
Patrick Green’s Country Café for creating this unique music venue. We understand that there will be soft start to music evenings, but later in the year The Country Café will put on regular evening events.
The café remains open as usual for coffees, hot chocolate, snacks and cakes, why not pop in to find out what the future events will be?
And of course, Patrick Green’s still has its lines of hardware with some great autumn products.
Successful refill project empowers Essex primary school pupils
Launched in January by Essex County Council in collaboration with Pupils Profit, The ECO Refill project enables primary school aged children aged nine and above to set up and operate their own monthly ECO Refill shops on school premises.
The ECO Refill project is fully funded by Essex Year of Numbers, a £1.5m initiative launched in September 2023 to help children of all ages thrive in numeracy.
As part of the project, Essex County Council provided each school with an enterprise training toolkit and students are tasked with writing a business plan, applying for job roles within the shop and learning to evaluate the effectiveness of their business. Each shop also receives £200 worth of eco-friendly
products to help kick-start their refill business. The project encourages children to practise and build their numeracy and life skills whilst also engaging them with greener habits. The initiative started in January 2023, with shops re-opening in September 2024 with the start of the new academic year.
For more information about the Essex Year of Numbers and to access resources visit www.essexyearofnumbers.co.uk
If you’re a school looking to get involved with The ECO Refill project, email essex.yearofnumbers@essex.gov.uk
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Wreath Making Workshops in aid of Remus Horse Sanctuary
Create your own bespoke wreath this Christmas and make your neighbours green with envy!
Award winning florist, Emma, from Blooming Occasions (www.bloomingoccasions.co.uk), has been running workshops for many years and will show you how to create your own stylish and truly unique seasonal door wreath.
From natural pine-cones, cinnamon and dried fruit, to baubles, glitter and ribbons –design your wreath to your style.
There are 20 spaces available at each workshop. To book your place please visit www.remussanctuary.org/events/wreathmaking-workshop.
If you have any questions about the workshops, please email Dee at funding@ remussanctuary.org or call 01277 356191.
Wreath Making Workshop
Date: Thursday 5th December 2024
Times: 10am-12.30pm or 1.30pm-4pm
Price: £45 (includes all materials)
Venue:
The Reading Rooms, 73 High Street, Billericay, Essex, CM12 9AS.
Where: Seymour Pavillion, New Road, Ingatestone CM4 0HH
When: Friday nights between 8pm and 10pm, September to May
Website: www.ingatestonecamera.club
- “One Amongst Many” by Jacqueline Simmonds
- “Walk Ingatestone Avenue” by Martyn Hart
- “Many A Brave Soul” by Simon Farr
- “Ely Cathedrals Choir” by Simon Hurst
Cosy Dishes to Delight the Family
As the chilly November winds roll in, there’s nothing better than a warm, hearty meal to enjoy with family.
In this edition, we’re bringing you four comforting recipes that celebrate the best of autumn flavours. Whether you’re craving a rich stew, a savoury bake, or a sweet treat to enjoy by the fire, these dishes are designed to bring warmth and satisfaction to your November evenings.
Cheesy Leek and Potato Bake
Ingredients
4 large potatoes, thinly sliced
2 leeks, thinly sliced
200ml double cream
100ml milk
150g grated cheddar cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh chives, chopped, to garnish
Hearty Beef and Root Vegetable Stew
Ingredients
500g diced beef
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 parsnips, diced
2 potatoes, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced
500ml beef stock
1 tablespoon tomato puree
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, to garnish
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
2. In a frying pan, melt the butter and sauté the sliced leeks and garlic until soft. Set aside.
3. Grease a baking dish and arrange half of the sliced potatoes in an even layer at the bottom.
4. Spoon half of the leek mixture over the potatoes, then sprinkle with a third of the grated cheese.
5. Repeat with the remaining potatoes, leeks, and another third of the cheese.
6. Pour the cream and milk evenly over the top, season with salt and pepper, and finish with the remaining cheese.
7. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
8. Garnish with fresh chives and serve.
Method
1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Brown the diced beef on all sides, then remove and set aside.
2. In the same pot, add the chopped onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
3. Add the carrots, parsnips, and potatoes, cooking for a further 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the tomato puree and dried thyme. Pour in the beef stock and return the browned beef to the pot.
5. Bring the stew to a simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the beef is tender and the vegetables are soft.
6. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot with crusty bread.
Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto
Ingredients
300g arborio rice
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1.2L vegetable stock
50g butter
50g Parmesan cheese, grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 fresh sage leaves
Salt and pepper, to taste
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Toss the butternut squash cubes in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast for 25-30 minutes until tender.
2. In a large pan, melt half the butter over medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic until softened.
3. Stir in the arborio rice and cook for 2 minutes until the grains are coated.
4. Gradually add the vegetable stock, one ladle at a time, stirring constantly and allowing the liquid to absorb before adding more. Continue for about 18-20 minutes until the rice is cooked.
5. Stir in the roasted butternut squash, remaining butter, and grated Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Fry the sage leaves in a little olive oil until crispy and use to garnish the risotto before serving.
Spiced Apple Crumble
Ingredients
4 large cooking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
100g caster sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
150g plain flour
100g cold unsalted butter, cubed
75g brown sugar
50g rolled oats
Vanilla ice cream or custard, to serve
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
2. In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with the caster sugar, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg. Transfer to a baking dish.
3. In another bowl, rub the cubed butter into the plain flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the brown sugar and rolled oats.
4. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden and the apples are bubbling.
6. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or custard for a perfect autumnal dessert.
Walk on a single side
If you are single and enjoy walking in our wonderful Essex countryside making new friends and renewing old acquaintances, why not join us on our next walk?
We meet on every second Sunday of the month throughout the year at various locations in Essex. Each circular walk starts and finishes for a drink and lunch at a friendly country pub.
Our walks are at a reasonably brisk pace, usually covering between 4-5 miles. There are no lower or upper age limits - our members’ ages range from their 30’s to 70’s, as long as you are comfortable crossing fields and woodlands, stiles and streams at a reasonable speed, you’ll be welcome.
We have been running walks every month since 2006 with an
imposed break during lockdown and have raised over £5,800 for charity!
To find out more, please visit www.walk-on-a-single-side.org.uk.
Ingatestone, Fryerning
Another £500,000 for public health projects
Four unique public health projects have secured almost £500,000 funding. The funding comes from the Essex County Council Public Health Accelerator Bids (PHAB) major grants programme. The bids were chosen following assessment by a panel of experts. The four successful projects are:
• Home Start Essex: to support a project which assists families to take a proactive role in improving their mental and physical health.
• Sport for Confidence: to support the Essex Learning Arena, which will provide learning opportunities to integrate physical activity into daily practice across workforce sectors.
• The African Well Woman Project CIC: to support a project focusing on the health needs of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) men.
• Braintree District Council: to launch Beat the Street in the district, a mass participation behaviour change programme which transforms activity level.
PHAB projects support the aims of the Essex Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Business Plan. Through the programme, more than £4.6 million of grants have been awarded. The projects supported aim to improve the mental and physical health of Essex residents.
Council installs Solar Power and other energy efficiency measures at the Brentwood Centre
Following the recent approval of investment and permissions, work has now
been completed for installation of a solar panel array to the roof of the Brentwood Centre.
This green project, which was funded by the Swimming Pool Support Fund, will allow for considerable power generation at the Brentwood Centre, which will be used to help reduce the carbon emissions in the Borough and improve local energy security. It forms part of the Council’s commitment to being Carbon Net Zero in our operations by 2030.
In addition to the solar panel project, the Council have also upgraded the Building Management System (BMS), a computerised system that ensures the efficient operation of all building equipment and systems. This upgrade will improve energy use across the facility, further enhancing its sustainability. Furthermore, the Council have replaced much of the roof mounted air handling systems. These units now feature heat recovery technology, which will significantly improve heating efficiency throughout the Centre. The contracted works also include upgrades to the water heating systems and fire ventilation systems, providing further improvements to the building’s overall efficiency and safety.
Applications open for fund to boost community safety
Local groups can receive thousands of pounds to improve safety in their communities.
The Essex County Council Community Safety Initiatives Fund (CSIF) offers £500 to £2,000 for new or existing community safety projects.
& Mountnessing
Projects could inspire public confidence, raise awareness and support community events.
The CSIF aims to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour through community cohesion.
The fund follows our 2023 Community Safety Survey. This showed 58% of residents saw anti-social behaviour in a 12-month period. 56% saw drug usage or evidence of drug taking. Applications for the CSIF 2024 are open until 24th November. Find out more and apply online via consultations.essex.gov.uk/equalitiesand-partnership/community-safetyinitiative-fund-application-form.
More households to receive help with recycling food
This autumn, Essex County Council are helping 130,000 households to recycle their food waste. Households in Brentwood, Castle Point and Colchester will receive items to make recycling food even easier. These include a free roll of caddy liners and an information leaflet. Food waste makes up around a quarter of the general rubbish collected in Essex. This food goes to landfill where it rots. Landfill is the least sustainable and most expensive waste management option. For this reason, we are keen to increase the use of food caddies among Essex residents. Last year, we rolled out a similar approach to increase the amount of food waste recycled in nine areas. The project achieved great results within the first three months after the intervention. The areas saw an average increase of 21% of food recycled, compared to the previous year.
Find out how to recycle your food waste at www.loveessex.org/ideas/recycle/foodrecycling.
New Christmas Trees for the High Street
This year, Ingatestone & Fryerning Parish Council (IFPC) is making some exciting updates to the Christmas decorations along the High Street. Rather than the small trees used in previous years, three large Christmas trees will be installed at key locations:
• Market Place
• In front of St. Edmund and St. Mary’s Church
• By the Ingatestone Community Centre
Due to a number of shop closures, ongoing refurbishments, and the costs associated with providing the smaller trees, the council carefully reviewed the options to ensure the project remained cost-effective. After gathering feedback from local residents, the decision was made to shift away from the traditional display.
This seasonal display has been made possible thanks to a generous grant from Brentwood Connected, and the council extend their gratitude to the local businesses and organisations that have contributed to making Christmas special on the High Street.
Call for Volunteers for Community Orchard
Ingatestone & Fryerning Parish Council acquired a plot of land on Steen Close early this year which has now been cleared and will soon be fenced. This space is set to become a community orchard, with heritage fruit trees being planted this autumn. The orchard will serve as an educational resource for local schools and provide fresh fruit for parish residents to enjoy! The apple trees will be provided by the East of England Apples and Orchards Project, who also offer pruning workshops for volunteers—a great opportunity to learn while contributing to this community initiative.
IFPC are seeking volunteers to assist with maintaining the orchard, including tasks such as watering, pruning, and general upkeep of the trees. If you’re interested in lending a hand, please reach out to the parish clerk.
Third and Final Instalment In Thrilling Mason Made Trilogy.
Simon Marlowe, up-and-coming British crime thriller author and programmed author at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival 2024 (Harrogate International Festivals), signs off his latest novel with a bang, in this mad, bad, and darkly comic crime meets spy thriller, ripping into everything you thought you knew about love and debauchery, politics and justice – and all washed down with a pint of schadenfreude!
Simon Marlowe is an up-and-coming British crime thriller author, and a selected author at theTheakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival 2024 (Harrogate International Festivals). A consummate wordsmith, he has excelled as a darkly comic crime author, with his fast paced and action-packed Mason Made trilogy. Like reading a Guy Ritchie movie with a Ken Loach conscience, Simon skilfully blends social and political issues to create a compellingly relevant narrative, on a par with the best in modern crime fiction today. Simon spent his formative years living in South London, indulging in political activism and music, graduating from a number of universities in politics, education and management. He eventually moved back to his home city in Essex, and after studying for a creative writing MA, settled down to developing as a writer. Since 2017, he has been successfully publishing, making people laugh, cry and scream!
Published on 26th November - The Heart Is a Cruel Hunter is a standalone novel that follows chronologically from the end of Medusa And The Devil, making it the third and final instalment in the Mason Made trilogy.
Follow Steven Mason when he is left at his lowest, as he delves into the darkest and cruellest parts of our society, with drug addictions, far-right conspiracies, warmongering, and more, in this crime thriller meets spy novel.
The Heart Is a Cruel Hunter reflects upon some of the key political issues that have plagued us in the last few years. The novel integrates Steven into a conspiratorial world, where ultra nationalism and the morality of war and its victims take centre stage.
Blurb:
Steven Mason has an axe to grind, he just needs to work out who deserves it!
Falling fully into the darkness of Hell, Steven lives a crude, rude, cruel, and heartless life in the streets of Amsterdam, cutting himself off from his old life to indulge in drug-fuelled debauchery.
In an attempt to reestablish his criminal career during the coronavirus pandemic, he immerses himself into the blood and
The author says:
“The book is a conclusion to the Mason Made trilogy, so the inspiration goes way back four or five years, to when I formulated the journey protagonist Steven Mason was going to go on. I knew he wanted a better life for himself in The Dead Hand Of Dominique, I knew he would end up on an island in Medusa And The Devil, and I knew he would end up travelling around Europe in The Heart Is Cruel Hunter, the most political f the three novels in terms of narrative and underlying themes.
he intention was to use Steven as the classic anti-hero, to write page-turning thrillers that could be read on two levels, so the reader enjoys the story whilst also being offered the opportunity to consider more serious contemporary social and political issues - if they were so inclined. solve my literary dilemma, as I was struggling to overcome a degree of didacticism, because I always have something to say. It was just a question of finding the right vehicle to drive the crime enre, without putting people off! Along the way I have discovered my strengths as an author, especially the sardonic and comic side that compliments the rather dark, dirty realism that I tend to ndulge my characters in. So, I have tried to pull decades of reading, decades of many pathways, to finally synthesise what I believe is distinctly Marlowe: a satirical dirty realist, with a touch of the surreal, indulging in the darker side of life.”
ublished by Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, The Heart is a Cruel Hunter (ISBN: 978-1-80378-247-8) is published on 26th November and is available in paperback (£9.99) and Kindle format.
ocial media:
Instagram: @simonmarloweauthor @simon_marlowe
Facebook: Simon Marlowe Author @simonmarlowe5
W hat to do in the garden in November
It’s getting colder and wetter as we draw into November.
Trees are putting on their autumn displays and winter stems start to come into their own. As autumn turns to winter, your main jobs in the garden are mostly about protecting plants and structures from the wilder weather to come.
There’s still sowing and growing to do this month to keep the garden ticking over. Here is a list of the top jobs to do in the garden during the month:
T imely Tips
Invest in bird feeders and bird baths for the winter months
As the weather starts to get more wintry, your garden needs some protection:
• Insulate your outdoor containers from frosts. Use hessian or bubble wrap held in place with garden twine.
• Prevent containers becoming waterlogged by raising them off the ground for the winter using bricks or ‘pot feet’.
• Encourage hungry birds into your garden by investing in bird baths and bird feeders. Our feathered friends will keep garden pest numbers down and bring joy on a bleak winter’s day.
• Protect roses from wind-rock by pruning them by one-third to half their height. This will stop them swaying in strong wind and prevent roots coming loose in the soil.
I n the vegetable garden
Harvest parsnips now that their flavour has sweetened
Here’s what to do in the vegetable garden this month:
• Lift parsnips after the first frosts, when their flavour will have sweetened.
• Prepare a perennial vegetable bed to plant up with rhubarb plants and asparagus crowns.
• Keep planting onion, shallot, and garlic sets. Dig over heavy soils adding organic matter before planting.
• Place a scaffold plank on the ground along the main access route into your plot. This allows access but prevent the soil compacting as you walk across it.
• Spread well-rotted farm manure across the surface of your vegetable beds to rot down over winter.
• Build a metal raised bed while the garden is clear to take the backbreaking bending out of vegetable growing.
• Stake top-heavy brassica and leafy green plants. Draw up some soil around the base of their stem to prevent wind from rocking the plant and causing damage to the roots.
• Check over your summer harvest of onions and garlic, removing any rotting bulbs immediately.
The neck of the bulb is usually the first area to rot. Try using onion bags to improve air flow around the bulbs.
• Check stored potatoes and remove any that are rotting. Use hessian sacks to store your potatoes to allow the crop to breathe.
In the flower garden
Cut some holly stems for festive garlandsbut remember that birds love to eat these too!
Here are your main jobs to do in the flower garden this November:
• Remove fallen leaves from around the base of any rose bushes which suffered from blackspot or rust this summer, to reduce the chance of reinfection next year.
• Continue to lift dahlia tubers, gladiolus corms and begonias tubers to store dry over the winter months. Remove the dead foliage before storing.
• Cut back the yellowing foliage of herbaceous perennial plants, and lift and divide overcrowded clumps to maintain their vigour.
• Cut a few stems of holly with berries for making Christmas garlands. It’s early, but now’s the time to do it before the birds eat all the berries. Stand them in a bucket of water in a sheltered spot where birds can’t take them.
O ther jobs about the garden
• Reuse spent compost from annual container displays as a mulch on your garden beds and borders.
• Build a cold frame to protect young plants from extreme winter weather.
• Sweep up debris and fallen leaves from paths and beds to prevent fungal spores, slugs and snails from overwintering.
• Keep an eye on your potted conifers. Tall varieties may need staking for added security in exposed, windy gardens.
• Lift and relocate plants if you need to when they are dormant.
• Create bins for composting fallen leaves and dead plant material. Oak, alder and hornbeam will rot down in a year but beech, sycamore, horse chestnut and sweet chestnut will take a couple of years to compost. Shred fallen leaves to help them rot down even more quickly. A quick way to do this is to mow through leaves on the lawn using a rotary mower with a collection box.
• Start a bonfire heap with twigs and prunings. Make sure you check for hedgehogs before lighting your bonfire.
• Net ponds to prevent leaves falling into them. If you need to clear pond weed, lay it next to the pond for a day after removal, to allow wildlife to escape back to the water.
• Clean out water butts and let the autumn rains refill them. Install a new waterbutt ready for next year.
• Use the last of the dry weather to paint sheds and fences with preservatives before the winter arrives.
• Give evergreen hedging a final trim before the bad weather sets in, so they look neat and tidy for the winter.
Gardening tips supplied by Thompson & Morgan. For a full list of what to do in the garden in November and beyond please visit their website: www.thompson-morgan.com/in-thegarden-this-month
Ingatestone, Fryerning
Artisan
Ingatestone
Winter Market
Saturday 9th November, 10:00am –4:00pm at Ingatestone Community Centre
Join us at our seventh Artisan Ingatestone Market, where you can:
• #SupportLocal with High Street activities and special offers
• Discover indie businesses and unique artisan products
• Enjoy live music in collaboration with Hey Joe Music
• Explore the beautiful village of Ingatestone
Free parking at Anglo European School (Willow Green CM4 0DJ).
Artisan Ingatestone is supported by Brentwood Connected, the unique
Business Improvement District (BID) in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone, and Ingatestone & Fryerning Parish Council.
Christmas Sale – Stock Sunday 10th November, 11:00am –2:00pm at Stock Village Hall
Come and join Remus Horse Sanctuary at Stock Village Hall CM4 9LY on Sunday 10 November from 11am to 2pm. There will be lots of good saleable items, homemade cakes & preserves, china, jewellery, books, bric a brac, all at bargain prices. Plus of course you can shop our Remus merchandise and gifts.
For more details, please contact Daphne on 01277 840217.
St. Edmund’s and St. Mary’s Church Bazaar
Saturday 30th November, 10.00am till 12.00pm at Ingatestone Community Club Entrance fee £1.00 with children free. Expect a raffle, homemade cakes, goodies, refreshments, Christmas gifts, books for children and adults and much more!! Plenty of parking.
& Mountnessing
Upcoming events with Ingatestone Community Centre:
BINGO!
Thursday 14th November
Join us at Ingatestone Community Centre, as we get ready to shout “ BINGO!”
Tickets are £8 for IFCA members, £10 for non-members and this includes entry, hot drinks, slice of cake and 4 games of Bingo with cash prizes! Bring a friend or come alone and meet new people. Tickets are available to purchase on the door, or in advance at our regular Tuesday coffee morning, or from the IFCA Office (Mon – Thurs between 10am – 1pm).
Ingatestone Community Cinema – Mrs Harris Goes To Paris
Thursday 21st November
Tells a humorously heartwarming tale about a London housecleaner, Ada Harris (Lesley Manville) who thinks her lonely life might be turned around if she became the owner of a Christian Dior gown (2022). Running time 116mins. The doors open at 2pm with the film starting at 2.30pm. Tickets are £5.00 for IFCA members and £7.00 for non-members and can be purchased from the IFCA office or call 01277 352064. Office opening hours are 10am to 1pm, Monday to Thursday.
Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ and other Christmas classics
Saturday 7th December 2024, 5pm
Brentwood Choral Society
Ingatestone Choral Society
Conductor: Art Wangcharoensab
Accompanist: Dominic Bentham
Hutton and Shenfield Union Church Roundwood Avenue CM13 2NA
Tickets: £15 (under 16s £8) Includes programme
For tickets go to: https://www.brentwoodchoralsociety.org.uk/tickets
For enquiries please email: info@brentwoodchoralsociety.org.uk
BCS Charity Number: 295838
&B rentwood Connected C hristmas
E vents &
Brentwood Connected brings Christmas to Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone High Streets.
Brentwood Connected, the Business Improvement District (BID) across Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone is working in partnership with Brentwood Borough Council to host three free Christmas events for families this festive season.
Lighting Up Brentwood, a joint event between Brentwood Connected and Brentwood Borough Council, will take place in Brentwood High Street on Saturday 23rd November from 12-6pm, featuring live entertainment, food and Christmas gift buying opportunities, a Santa Parade and the Christmas light switch-on. A road closure will be in place to allow visitors to enjoy entertainment, activities and stalls in the High Street.
The Giant Christmas Bauble from Brentwood Connected will return to the Chapel Ruins, this year sponsored by Mullis & Peake. Visitors are encouraged to take selfies with this attraction and tag Brentwood Connected when posting on social media. Lighting Up Brentwood will be supported by Brentwood Theatre, Razzamataz Theatre Schools and Stagecoach Performing Arts Brentwood.
Christmas comes to Shenfield on Sunday 1st December with ‘Festive Shenfield’ from 12-6pm, a free event from Brentwood Connected, supported by Brentwood Borough Council, Brentwood Theatre, Rainer Hughes, Razzamataz Theatre Schools and Stagecoach Performing Arts Brentwood. Hutton Road will be taken over by festive activities including entertainment and walkabout acts. There will be live music performances hosted in and around Shenfield businesses, with food and drink available from the wide
range of businesses on Hutton Road. The Ingatestone Christmas Market takes place on Sunday 8th December from 126pm, delivered by Brentwood Connected and supported by Brentwood Borough Council, Brentwood Theatre, Razzamataz Theatre Schools and Stagecoach Performing Arts Brentwood. This popular event returns to Ingatestone Community Centre with over 50 outdoor market stalls selling food, gifts and a wide selection of festive and handmade items. There will be a community stage with live music performances throughout the day, as well as an indoor market with stalls from community groups and a Santa’s grotto.
The Ingatestone Christmas Market is a long-running event, previously organised by the Rotary Club of Ingatestone, which attracts thousands of Christmas shoppers to Ingatestone. It’s well-supported by the community, including High Street businesses who will host activities and attractions on the day, encouraging visitors to explore the entire village. There will be free parking on the day at Anglo European School (Willow Green CM4 0DJ).
Kaye Thurgood, Chair of the Brentwood Business Partnership (the advisory board of Brentwood Connected), and owner of Sincerely Yours in Shenfield, said, “Working in partnership with Brentwood Borough Council, we are delighted to announce the festive events for this year, which have been carefully curated for Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone by business representatives of Brentwood Connected. I hope these events will provide a fantastic opportunity for our community to get into the festive spirit and celebrate our wonderful high streets.”
Councillor David Kendall, Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee at Brentwood Borough Council, said: “Lighting Up Brentwood is the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season in our borough, and we’re excited to partner with Brentwood Connected to spread festive cheer across Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. With the Christmas lights switch-on, live entertainment, and a variety of local food and gift stalls, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We can’t wait to welcome residents and visitors to experience the best of what our high streets have to offer. This is a time for families to come together and enjoy the magic of Christmas in our borough.”
Brentwood Connected is a unique Business Improvement District (BID) supporting the borough’s three high streets and funded by town centre businesses to improve the experience of residents, visitors, employees and businesses in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. For information about Brentwood Connected, including events listings, business directories and local information, visit www.brentwoodconnected.co.uk.
Details about local Christmas events, including Lighting Up Brentwood, Festive Shenfield and the Ingatestone Christmas Market, is available on www.brentwoodconnected.co.uk/ christmas.
Find Your Active Essex
Physical activity offers more than opportunities to get moving.
It can encourage new connections, breaks down barriers and fosters a sense of belonging. No matter your ability, age or background there is a place for all to get active and find what works for them.
Inclusion extends to many different elements of physical activity. Following from the success of the Paris Paralympics, one important factor to consider is the accessible opportunities offered to those living with disabilities and long-term conditions. For many, there is a lack of knowledge about resources, clubs and support available for residents however by developing and enhancing these opportunities more people can engage and feel included.
In Harlow, Active Essex were able to work alongside Sport England utilising their Together Fund to facilitate regular Bounce trampoline fitness sessions for students at Harlow College. These students are all living with a disability and for them this experience has been invaluable as they can access a movement in a safe and inclusive environment. Not only has it become a form of weekly physical activity but also a wellbeing session.
Black History Month aligns with the focus on inclusion this month and it is an opportunity to celebrate the amazing black athletes that have inspired many. From historical figures like Jesse James to Great Britain’s Kelly Holmes, there is an overwhelming amount of black athletes who have paved the way for those looking
to get active and try something new. Active Lives data has previously outlined the inactivity levels in black adults and by addressing the reasons for possible exclusion we can begin to address these issues.
Addressing possible barriers to physical activity is something to onset from a young age and the Move With Us campaign is looking to challenge any stereotype or preconceptions associated with certain movements. The campaign encourages young people to find what works for them, regardless of ability, gender and background. If we can support young people in exploring different movements in a safe and inclusive environment, positive experiences will be carried into adulthood. Girls can play football, boys can join a dance class and nothing is off limits if it makes them feel happy, healthy and positive!
Embracing physical activity can bridge gaps, celebrate diversity and make movement truly accessible and inclusive for all.
Go online and visit: www.activeessex.org/find-your-active
Guidance for healthcare professionals: www.activeessex.org/i-am-a-healthcareprofessional
Research* shows that a combination of security actions provides up to 50 times more protection for your home versus no security.
A combination of WIDE actions is the most effective and recommended by police throughout the country. Additionally, at Neighbourhood Watch, we believe that neighbours keeping an eye out for each other is also key to preventing burglary.
WINDOWS: Lock your windows
INTERIOR: Put your interior lights on a timer
DOORS: Double or deadlock your doors
EXTERIOR: Put your exterior lights on a sensor
(N)EIGHBOURS: Keep an eye out for neighbours
*https://www ntu ac uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2019/02/research-reveals-best-burglarydeterrents,-and-identifies-those-most-at-risk Visit our website for more information on protecting your home!
