Local Life - Wigan - March 2021

LocalLife Wigan Edition

March 2021

Local Vocals Page 24

Helping the Hospice Pages 30-31

Easter Fun for Kids Page 38

Chiming In Pages 40-41

Jack’s Tracks Ashurst’s Beacon Pages 70-73

Image courtesy of Archives: Wigan & Leigh

Wigan’s

Civic Spirit Pages 14-17

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALKS | COMPETITIONS | HOME & GARDEN SERVICES

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H

idden away behind the positive headlines of the Prime Minister’s road map, the one leading us to those sunny uplands, was the caveat that local or regional lockdowns may come into force if infections rise again.

Here in Wigan, we’ve had a bellyful of lockdown restrictions and every single one of us has a part to play in making sure that this doesn’t happen again. Crucially, when you are asked to go for your jabs, for God’s sake, go.

Affirming yourself as a proud anti-vaxxer might get you your 15 seconds of infamy on social media, but your actions could lead to you joining the many anti-vaxxers who have ended up in ICU, bitterly regretting their words.

Whilst a healthy sense of scepticism is a necessary quality to have in this world of fake news, wilfully ignoring scientific facts that show how well the vaccines have performed is unacceptable behaviour, and could be downright dangerous for both you and the unfortunate people around you.

New Season Online

Let’s just imagine being able to sink a pint at the local pub, meet with friends for a meal, hug your family, get your hair cut, cheer on Wigan at the DW, book a sunshine holiday and all the other pleasures that we used to take for granted - but will never do so again.

The faster we all have the jab, the faster we’ll be able to do those things again. So when that call comes, get the jab!

Come on Wigan, you can do it!

Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Keep in touch with the LocalLife Team!

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This month’s highlights 14. Wigan’s Civic Spirit

Contents 20. Travel The Sweet Life - discover Puglia.

26. Home Interiors Growing in style.

42. Tech Tracking your outdoor exercise

56. Home Create a cosy retreat!

30. Help the Hospice

40. Chiming In

60. Puzzles Pages Try these brainteasers for size!

64. Food Tartiflette and a lovely lemon tart.

66. Health Self help for sore knees.

75. Motoring

70. Jack’s Tracks visits Ashurst’s Beacon

Fiat 500 - hybrid power.

79. Home & Garden Services Find the best local traders for you.

46. Passion for Plants

50. Walking for NWAA

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6

Survey Results

Cleaner Poolstock

The editorial and survey in the last issue of Local Life magazine about the future of the stadium in Edge Hall Road in Orrell prompted a huge response from readers.

The stadium once homed Orrell RU and until last year was the training ground for Wigan Warriors.

A road improvement scheme has started on Poolstock and Poolstock Lane. The objective of the scheme is to move motorists from this congested traffic corridor onto the new A49 link road. The works will include creating new parking bays, a zebra crossing and enhanced walking and cycling facilities, which will transform the route as an attractive residential road.

Tracy Monckton, the Press Officer at Orrell RU, commented “We had a massive response to our survey and 929 people took the time and trouble to complete the survey (either electronically or the paper based version); which is amazing and shows the high level of interest the community has in the future of Edge Hall Road.

‘We are in the process of analysing all the results – especially all the comments and suggestions people have included with their survey answers – which again highlights the fact that, should the project come to fruition, it would be a well-loved and well used facility!”

“Brighter Better Orrell and Orrell RUFC would like to say thank you to each and everyone of you who took the time to complete the survey; we look forward to updating you with more information and details in the very near future.”

Cllr. David Molyneux, leader of Wigan Council said: “Poolstock and Poolstock Lane make up one of the borough’s busiest areas, often seeing queues in peak periods, which caused environmental impacts like poor air quality.

“The planned improvements will also make Poolstock and the immediate surrounding areas more attractive and accessible to residents.”

Wigan Council has been allocated £800,000 of funding to make the changes, which will take place over the next four months.

Easter Scarecrows The Standish-based charity, My Life, is hosting a scarecrow competition to be held over the Easter Bank Holiday.

Organisers are asking anybody who would like to take part to design and make their own scarecrow before Good Friday on 2nd April.

Entrants can bring their creations to the Thomson House Equestrian Centre, off Pepper Lane in Standish, where there will be a prize for the best scarecrow.

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Over the course of the Easter weekend there will also be a chance to take part in an Easter egg hunt, meet the farm animals, Easter crafting, and enjoy a fantastic picnic from the Stable Door Café.

All activities will be outdoors and will comply to COVID regulations.

For more information about event timings and booking, please contact My Life on 01257 472900 or email info@ my-life.org.uk.

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Camp Out for The Brick The Brick is inviting the community to come together again on Saturday 27 March for the Big Back Garden Sleep to raise much-needed funds for those facing poverty due to the pandemic.

The charity has experienced a 142% increase in demand for emergency food parcels over the last 12 months, and a significant upturn in calls to the helpline looking for support during these extremely difficult times.

During the lockdowns, the charity has closed its shops and most regular fundraising activities have been cancelled.

As a result, The Brick is calling for the community to help raise £10,000 which will enable the charity to provide the emergency food parcels and emergency accommodation that are needed now more than ever before.

Louise Green, CEO at The Brick, said: “Last year, we had to cancel the annual town centre sleepout and instead held the first Big Back Garden Sleep in April. We were humbled by how quickly the community came together and the £24,000 that was raised has helped The Brick to continue

to provide support to the community over the last 12 months.

‘This year we want to encourage even more families to join us to not only raise more money than last year but to have a wonderful night together. Our community has shown incredible support to The Brick over the last 12 months and without their help, we simply wouldn’t be able to continue to support families facing poverty throughout the pandemic”.

Staff and volunteers at The Brick will be releasing a host of activities, games and fire pit recipes to make the evening a really special one for all who take part. The Brick has asked that all those who take part in the Big Back Garden Sleep to donate via the Just Giving page or raise sponsorship for sleeping outside for the night.

To join The Brick’s Big Back Garden Sleep, people can register their interest on The Brick’s Facebook page to ensure that they are notified when new activities are released: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrickWigan

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World Book Day To mark World Book Day on March 4th, The Friends’ of Appley Bridge All Saints have organised a free walking trail which is running until Sunday March 28th.

The trail consists of 12 posters hidden around Appley Bridge, all designed by children at the school.

There is a choice of two activities for children to complete: either a scavenger hunt for ages 0-7, or a crossword puzzle for ages 7+. Simply follow the map around the village to find the posters and complete the activities. You could really get into the spirit by dressing up as characters from your favourite books!

Kate Hayes, The Chair of the Friends’ said, “Thank you to all

the teachers for organising the artwork, and to the local businesses and organisations who are displaying posters for us. We hope you enjoy the trail and don’t forget to share your pictures with us via our social media sites!”

Kate added, “Please ensure that you follow all COVID-19 regulations and advice from the UK Government whilst taking part in our trail. There are a few ‘rules’ to follow listed on the information pack.”

To access the activities and map, just register for free at bit.ly/ABAS-WBD-trail and you will receive links to download the information pack.

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Church Branches Out An ancient Upholland church is planning to deliver more than just religious services.

ease. The community gardeners’ group is now up and running from the church, and the Hub group also has long term plans to stage concerts and open a visitors’ centre, also at the church. Volunteers are the lifeblood of this project and are needed to help make all this grow and flourish.

From 15th March, St Thomas the Martyr on Church Street will open part of the church as a Post Office branch, almost six years after the village’s Post Office closed. The Post Office will operate between the hours of 9am-5.30pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am-1pm Saturday.

Member Helen Foster said “No matter what your circumstances and background, skills and abilities are, there is a volunteering opportunity for you”.

During the pandemic, personnel from the church and the wider Upholland community including the parish council and schools have come together to create a new community hub, and the Post Office is just one of the changes planned for the church.

If you’d like to volunteer for the community hub, you can download an applidation for from the website here www. uphollanddalton.org.uk/up-holland-community-hub or email info@uphollandcommunityhub.org.uk.

A new café called Becket’s Café and a community cinema will open at the church as soon as lockdown restrictions

The Upholland Community Hub is also on Facebook as @ UphollandCH

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Wigan’s

Civic Spirit

by Nicola Gray Civic buildings have been used for generations as central landmarks, symbols of power, dominance and authority, providing public services and meeting points for local people. Over the years buildings under the civic umbrella have come to include libraries, town halls, concert halls, theatres, public squares, government buildings and schools.

There are civic buildings in Wigan which are still being used for their original purpose whilst others have undergone a merry-go-round of re-purposing over the years. Some are iconic and recognisable in equal measure and a few are hidden in plain sight.

Local Life takes a closer look at some of Wigan’s best examples of civic buildings, to try and understand the history behind them and how important they were, and still are, to our community.

Town Hall The first Wigan Town Hall came into being in 1720. This two-storey building, known as the Shambles, was built in Market Place for £2,000 and the town’s MPs footed the bill. It was demolished in 1882.

In 1866, an Italianate style building with large round headed doorways and windows was built

Wigan Mining & Technical College now the Town Hall, Library Street

on the corner of Rodney Street and King Street at a cost of £12,000. Initially used as the borough’s courts, civic leaders moved their offices into the building in 1882 after the demolition of the Shambles. This was used as a Town Hall until 1990, when the council moved its staff to the current Town Hall, on Library Street. Despite being a Grade II listed building, Wigan’s second town hall was eventually demolished and turned into a car park.

The present Town Hall, designed by Briggs and Wolstenholme in the Baroque style, was originally the Mining and Technical College until the college moved

15

Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street

to new facilities in Walkden Avenue in 1990. The Grade II listed Town Hall is most noticeable for its red brick with terracotta dressings and green slate roofs, and its most recognisable feature are the steps that lead up to the central porch. It was officially opened by the Princess of Wales on 25th November 1991.

a central Wigan landmark today and as well as being home to the borough’s councillors it plays host to wedding ceremonies, civil partnerships and citizenship ceremonies.

During a renovation in 2016, contractors discovered a hidden network of tunnels, thought to be part of a heating system, as well an ornate mosaic floor and an antique stained-glass window. The Town Hall is still

Wigan Little Theatre started life in 1893 as the Alliance Hall, home to the Salvation Army and a local meeting point for residents. It later became the Alliance Picture House, known locally as Canada Pictures, before closing its doors and remaining derelict for many years.

Wigan Little Theatre

After World War 2, Wigan Little Theatre Group made the Crompton Street premises their new home, raising £3,500 to transform the building into a 250-seat theatre.

Old Town Hall, Rodney Street

Curtains opened on the group’s first production on Wednesday 10th March, 1947 with a rousing performance of Oliver Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer’. And as they say, the rest is history, the red-bricked building has been at the centre of the town’s entertainment scene for more than 70 years.

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Museum of Wigan Life This beautiful, red-bricked building started life as Wigan Public Library on 7th May 1878. The Grade II listed building was designed by noted architect, Alfred Waterhouse in an Elizabethan style and it was built on the site of the old Wigan Grammar School. It is said that this is where George Orwell researched his book, The Road to Wigan Pier, in 1936.

In 1990 the library was relocated to the Town Hall (and later to the Life Centre). In 1992, the newly formed Wigan Heritage Services opened the History Shop, hosting exhibitions and the Wigan local history collection, parish registers and census returns on the first floor.

The History Shop was closed in 2009 and following a £1.6million Heritage Lottery Fund refurbishment, reopened as the Museum of Wigan Life in 2010. The building was given a new lease of life and new features included an extra staircase, family study area and a refurbished reception area, meeting room and shop. At

the time we went to press, the Museum is temporarily closed due to the pandemic but the team are still providing online events.

Civic Buildings This imposing, red-bricked building on the corner of Parson’s Walk and New Market Street was originally a food and grain warehouse called Rushton Mill. The Mill was built in 1900, extended in 1905 and still proudly carries the Rushton name atop its three storeys.

The building was later renamed the Civic Buildings but ask any Wiganer to tell you name of the building, and the answer will come back loud and clear, ‘the gas showrooms’. The building overlooked the constant stream of people waiting with their suitcases to go on day trips and holidays with local coach companies.

The building underwent a £5m refurbishment in 2013 for the Wigan UTC, and the former grain store became a pioneering vertical farm and process hall. After the

Museum of Wigan Life (formerly Wigan Public Library), Rodney Street entrance

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Civic Buildings, Parsons Walk

closure of Wigan UTC, Wigan & Leigh College announced at the end of 2020 they are to take on the building and open a Centre for Advanced Technical Studies.

The Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre on King Street opened its doors on the 22nd of November 1886. Designed by architect Richard T. Johnson, who was also responsible for the redesigns of the Theatre Royal and Empire Theatres, the Royal Court was widely believed to be one of the most attractive playhouses in the area, costing £18,000.

The Royal Court Theatre entertained the people of Wigan and beyond with live entertainment for the next forty years until 1930, when projection equipment was installed, and the

The Royal Court, King Street

silver screen took over. The Theatre reopened as the Court Cinema in December 1930. In spring 1974 the cinema closed and since that time, the building as acted as a bingo hall and, more recently, a bar called The Hub. The team behind The Old Courts bought it at auction in 2018. The Grade II Listed building retains many of its original features including the circle, complete with seats, which was closed off to the ceiling with a plasterboard partition. In addition, the original orchestra pit still exists beneath the floor of what were the cinema stalls. The team at The Old Courts plan to restore and reinstate the Royal Court Theatre to its former glory and make it a place of entertainment once again.

Images courtesy of Archives: Wigan & Leigh

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Dreams Come True Local social enterprise company Daffodils Dreams has launched an Easter appeal to provide Easter gifts for disadvantaged youngsters.

to be given a big storage space to sort out the appeal.

Social workers and schools have been contacted for their referrals and will distribute them to children before Easter”.

Daffodils Dreams ran a similar appeal at Christmas to provide disadvantaged children with gift boxes on Christmas Eve, and the appeal was widely supported by both businesses and members of the public, bringing Christmas cheer to hundreds of youngsters.

Can you help? Eggs and other Easter-based gifts for children, such as bonnets or cuddly toy chicks can be donated before Easter at the following drop-off points; Alan Batt Estate Agents on Market Street in Wigan, Faith Boutique on Cross Street in Standish, Chorley Nissan on Pottery Road and The Balcarres Arms in Haigh. The closing date for donations is Friday 26th March in order for them to be distributed by Easter.

The organisation was set up two years ago to create opportunities for children and their families who find themselves living in hardship in the Wigan area. Daffodils Dreams provided Easter gifts in previous years via selected schools to those in need, but this year the appeal has widened thanks to the number of bighearted local businesses who have again offered to help.

For more information about Daffodils Dreams, visit the website at www.daffodilsdreams. org or their Facebook page @ daffodilsdreamswigan or call Maureen on 07896 811178.

Pictured is Maureen with members of staff at Alan Batt Estate Agent in Market Street, Wigan.

Maureen Holcroft from Poolstock, who runs Daffodils Dreams, said: “We have been lucky enough

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Food for All! A new community grocery store is on a mission to make food accessible to anyone in the town who needs help with their weekly grocery bills.

you would expect to see in your local supermarkets, including fresh fruit and vegetables, tinned goods, baked items, frozen food, sanitary and household items, all donated by local suppliers and supermarkets.

The Edge Community Grocery Store recently opened to help struggling residents bridge the gap between food banks and supermarkets.

Based on Riveredge, off Pottery Road in Wigan (WN3 5AB), the Community Grocery is an initiative of UK charity, The Message Trust. The new Wigan store, being run in partnership with Today’s Community Church, hopes to help feed hundreds of families every week.

Members can shop from 9am-4pm every weekday and will be able to bag a potential saving of up to £40 on a regular supermarket visit. Memberships cost £5 for the year and then you pay £3 for each shop, where you can select up to 20 grocery items, twice a week.

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Members will also have access to a range of other services including employment clubs, debt advice, and cookery courses.

Andy Hawthorne OBE, Chief Executive and Founder of The Message Trust said: “Community Groceries are all about making it easier for our members to put food on the table, whilst also providing them with support and courses too. We can’t wait to welcome people to the new Community Grocery.”

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Sweet Life The

Where are you going for your first holiday AC (After Covid?).

A holiday is the top of everyone’s to do list for 2021, ideally to a destination with sunshine, good food and the new ‘must haves’ - access to good health facilities and close enough to get home quickly should we need to.

for and the olive green seas of the Adriatic. The senses of travellers, which may have dulled by frequent visits to Italy, will once again awaken as they find release in places like Lecce, known as the Florence of the South, and other beautiful Pugliese towns and villages.

After much deliberation, we plumped for Italy. After a year like 2020, a bit of la dolce vita is much required and very welcome, thank you. Italy sounds like a safe bet, but rather than face the crowds of Rome, Florence and Milan (and the prices in Venice), we’ve opted to travel south to the Mezzogiorno to discover the little known and ruggedly beautiful region of Puglia.

But it is perhaps outside of its cities that Puglia shines brightest. From the ancient countryside to its dramatically broken coastlines, and above all, its proud and generous people, eager to share the delights of Puglia with you.

Situated in the boot heel of Italy, Puglia offers everything the Italophile craves: ancient towns steeped in the history of many cultures; extravagant architecture, food to die

Let us start in the baroque splendour of Lecce, where buildings of beauty and interest are to be discovered almost around every corner. The Lecce Cathedral, originally built back in 1144, is just one of numerous religious buildings of note which are over 500 years old in compact Lecce. The city’s amphitheatre, built by the

21 Romans, is situated near Sant’Oronzo Square and was once able to seat more than 25,000 people.

The city has a long traditional affinity with Greek culture and the Messapians who founded the city are said to have been Cretans. Even to this day, a group of nearby towns not far from Lecce, the griko language is still spoken. Whilst visiting in this gorgeous baroque grandeur, you can soak up the ambience of Leece’s streets, cosy cafes and elegant boutiques.

Most visitors pass by the port of Bari on the way to Lecce, but bustling Bari doesn’t lack history or culture. The old town contains the bones of St Nicholas (aka Santa Claus – yes, that Santa Claus!) in its Basilica di San Nicola, and there’s an excellent archaeological museum. Superb seafood and a bustling street food scene in Bari appeals to all foodies. Bari’s port is a point of departure for those

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Lonely Planet describes the town as ‘a cross between Naples and Dubrovnik, with a bit of Puglian magic mixed in’. Some of the finest vistas at Vieste though are actually at sea, as the nearby coastline is made up of grottoes and arches, their calcareous rock shaped by water and wind, so do take in a boat trip whilst visiting Vieste.

Otranto is Puglia’s and Italy’s eastern-most town, and is one of the region’s most charming and picturesque towns; a fascinating mix of history, architecture, sea-front promenades and an amazing white sandy beach with turquoise waters.

But it wasn’t always like this – when 18,000 Turkish soldiers landed in 1480, they laid waste to the town and its

population. 800 survivors barricaded themselves inside the Cathedral with their bishop, Stefano Agricoli, to pray for deliverance. Divine intervention was not forthcoming, however, and they were beheaded whilst their bishop was cut to pieces and his head paraded round the town on a pike. Years later, a Papal decree formally beatified the 800, who became known as the Blessed Martyrs of Otranto.

Just beyond the borders of Puglia, but often visited by tourists is Matera, the jewel of neighbouring Basilicata, which is reputed to be the world’s third-longest continuously inhabited human settlement.

Natural caves in the tufa limestone attracted the first inhabitants perhaps 7,000 years ago. In the 1950’s, Matera’s clustered sassi (cave dwellings), were little more than one-room caves containing appalling poverty and unthinkable living conditions, and the town was denounced as the ‘Shame of Italy’. Today, the value of this extraordinarily built environment has been recognised, and in 2019 the city was recognised as a European Capital of Culture.

The sweet life in Puglia is just waiting for you…

23

One final word...

If there is one thing that the pandemic has painfully illustrated, it is the very real value of booking via a travel agent. Many of those who booked independently without cover sadly lost money, whilst others struggled to get to where they need to be.

Whilst booking via a travel agent can be more expensive sometimes, in todays’ current travel climate it’s worth using a travel agent, if only to have an experience and knowledgeable person on your side should the unexpected happen whilst you are on holiday.

family fun

advEntuRE

luXuRy

City BREaK

Rail EXPlORE

CRuiSE/RivER CRuiSE

WEddinG/HOnEymOOn

Call your personal travel expert 01942 912334 / 07786 311 282 julie.moss@notjusttravel.com @NJTJulieM

www.juliemoss.notjusttravel.com

24

Local Vocals A brand-new online choir, based in Wigan, has been singing their way through the latest lockdown. Since forming in January, 120 voices have joined the Local Vocals choir, taking in people as far as Preston, Lytham and Chorley. But how does an online choir work?

Choir leader, Laura Bennett, said, “We deliver two live tutorials a week to help with mastering the harmony part and then we host two live Zoom sessions each week as well. This format helps our Local Vocals to attend the live session feeling more prepared. The live sessions are also a much-needed opportunity to socialise with each other, check in and have a good laugh!”

Sessions currently run on Mondays & Wednesdays, but once COVID restrictions are lifted the choir hopes to have meeting points in Wigan, St Helens, and Leyland.

Meanwhile Laura will still be offering online help to those who aren’t comfortable with face-to-face group meetings.

During lockdown 3.0, the choir decided to put their vocal cords to the test and help to raise funds for Wigan Stars, releasing their online recording of ‘Best of My Love’ by the Emotions.

Wigan Stars is a charity that offers young people and adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to develop social skills through planned activities.

Like many local charities over the past year, Wigan Stars has been affected by Covid-19 restrictions and the aim is to raise £500 to go towards the much-needed service. At the time we went to press, the choir had raised more than £300 through Facebook video shares alone.

Laura added, “Working with local musicians, supporting local charity, and celebrating the local community we have here across Lancashire & Greater Manchester is especially important to us. We are delighted that we can support such a wonderful cause through the joy of singing together, especially during this difficult time.”

To watch the online recording, donate to the fundraiser or to find out more information about the choir, please visit www.localvocalschoir. com or find Local Vocals on Facebook at www. facebook.com/localvocalschoir.

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25

Don’t Miss Out on the Staycation Boom!

We are now taking bookings from 17th May 2021 and UK holidays are going FAST!

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26

Growing in Style Show off your house plants and keep them happy and healthy with these great accessories.

FOLLOW A FEW BASIC PRINCIPLES AND YOUR INDOOR GARDEN IS BOUND TO FLOURISH. • Regular watering is crucial, but choose an indoor watering can that doesn’t take up too much space and looks nice on display. The narrow spout and high handle help when watering hanging pots, plants on high shelves or tabletop terrariums.

Grow your own indoor kitchen garden with herbs in recycled planters on a sunny window sill.

Seeds and compost from Dobbies.

Water plants and herbs with a galvanised steel watering can.

Garden Trading indoor watering can, £16, Heavenly Homes and Gardens.

• Use pruners to remove spent leaves or take off live stems in order to reshape your plant or encourage bushier, dense growth. Those with stainless steel blades are rust-resistant and easy to keep clean.

• Check whether your plant will benefit from regular misting. Leaf curling, yellowing and brown leaf edges are all signs that it needs a bit of extra humidity. Choose a mister with a fine, gentle spray – the aim is not to make the leaves soaking wet, but to keep them clean (it helps them photosynthesise) and change the air quality around them.

A pruner helps maintain healthy, happy plant growth.

Made in London out of Jesmonite in collaboration with homeware designer Salt Studios, this handmade propagation station comes with a glass test tube to display your cutting, plus a bookmark with useful instructions.

Burgon & Ball house plant pruner, £12.50, Leaf Envy.

Propagation station, £35, Leaf Envy.

• If you are short on sunlight, try indoor growing lights, which are more intense than ordinary light bulbs. They also have a range of colour spectrums optimised to aid plant growth. Look for all-in-one kits or separate bulbs or tube lights.

This planter combines two styles of natural rattan. The upper pot includes a waterproof liner, keeping the lower shelf (and floors) safe and dry.

Mayfield plant stand, £75, Garden Trading.

Stylish round metal hanging lamp and plant pot in sleek gold and black. £95, Cult Furniture.

Perfect for orchids and succulents, this plant mister makes a pretty addition to a kitchen or bathroom windowsill.

Botanical-style plant mister, £14, Ella James.

These seagrass baskets are tactile and soft without being floppy.

Redford round baskets, from £40 each, Neptune.

Try a plant subscription – you’ll be sent a new plant monthly, with information and care instructions. A Plant Doctor is on hand to help with any problems.

Plant & Pot monthly plant subscription, £35, Leaf Envy.

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28

READY

s

in 1hr 30min plus cooling Serves 8

Orange and apricot loaf

Get the kettle on and enjoy a slice of this delicious fruity loaf cake.

Ingredients 175g unsalted butter, softened 175g caster sugar 175g self-raising flour 3 medium eggs Grated zest and juice from 1 small orange, plus extra zest to decorate 75g ground almonds 125g ready-to-eat dried apricots, chopped

Method 1 Preheat the oven to 170C / fan 150C / gas mark 3. Grease a 900g (2lb) loaf tin and line the base and two long sides with baking paper.

2 Place the butter, sugar, flour, eggs and the orange rind and juice in a bowl. Beat with an electric whisk until thoroughly combined. Toss together the ground almonds and apricots and fold into the mixture.

3 Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and gently level the surface.

Bake for 50 minutes - 1 hour 10 minutes until risen and golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Serve dusted with icing sugar and decorated with the extra orange zest.

Icing sugar, to dust

TIP: If the top of the cake starts to over-brown before the end of the cooking time, cover loosely with a piece of foil.

29

A Home away from Home The past year has undoubtably been one of the most challenging times for families across the UK. We have seen families separated and shielded from their support network for almost a year and although many of us live in hope that these times are coming to an end we continue to live under the most difficult circumstances we have experienced in some time.

For the vulnerable and older people it has been an exceptionally difficult and distressing time as their lives have been so greatly disrupted with many being left feeling a sense of confusion and loneliness during long periods of isolation.

There is, however, a source of respite and relief for those who are particularly vulnerable, providing much-needed companionship as well as support for their families.

Bridgewater Day Care is an adult day care service held at their centre in Golborne, providing a lifeline for those who are unable to manage independently at home, and for their family members who have caring responsibilities.

The day care centre is part of a wider service offering with Bridgewater Home Care, one of the leading home care providers across the North West winning numerous awards for the quality of care they provide.

The aim of the Day Centre is to provide a ‘home away from home’ for clients where they can socialise, interact with others in the local community and receive the support and stimulation that they cannot currently receive from

home. It is also a service that aims to give back some time to the family members that have daily caring responsibilities and provide a form of respite from the ongoing challenges of everyday life.

The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and provides a variety of activities such as games, reminiscence therapy, cognitive stimulation, nutritious meals, arts & crafts, physical activities, armchair aerobics, refreshments throughout the day and engagement in technology; all of which aim to improve mental health, wellbeing and quality of life.

The Day Centre has been fully operational since the outbreak of the pandemic, implementing full COVID-19 guidelines with social distancing measures in place including clients sitting 2 meters apart and staff members wearing full PPE, so clients and their families can rest assured they are in safe hands.

The services Bridgewater Day Care provide really do make such an important difference to people’s lives and for many it has become something they would find it difficult to live without. Some clients visit the centre one day a week, whereas others attend the centre every day, with services being flexible around the needs of clients and their family members.

For further information about Bridgewater Day Care or to arrange a visit to the Centre please call the Day Centre Manager, Lisa, on 01942 723 115.

A privately funded Day Care service providing high quality care

Call us today:

01942 723115

Welcoming new clients • Activities & entertainment • Socialisation with others

• Nutritious meals & refreshments • A stimulating environment

We welcome private clients and those who receive funding for their care

To arrange a consultation, call our centre Manager Lisa on 01942 723 115 Find us on Queen Street, Golborne, Wigan, WA3 3AF

www.bridgewaterdaycare.co.uk

Open 10am-4pm Monday-Friday

info@bridgewaterdaycare.co.uk

30

Help the Hospice!

By Nicola Gray 2020 was an unprecedented time for most of us, with many people and businesses facing financial hardship. Wigan Hospice and the dedicated staff and volunteers have found themselves in the same position. The charity has had to cancel fundraising events, close shops for several months and lottery collectors can no longer collect subscriptions door to door.

Additionally, fundraising events held by other organisations, such as the London Marathon, which also raises funds for the hospice, have also been put on hold or cancelled. Hospice income has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic; they are facing a substantial financial deficit for the year and now, more than ever, they need your help.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice has been providing palliative and end of life care for adult patients across Wigan

Borough for almost 40 years. The team annually cares for around 1,200 people with a life-limiting illness including cancer, neurological and respiratory conditions.

The hospice needs to raise £3.5million every year to carry on providing all of its services including community nursing teams, the Inpatient Unit, complementary therapy, counselling, bereavement support and their education service, Hospice in your Care Home.

Kate Gaynor, Head of Income Generation for the hospice, said: “Income generation has been hit incredibly hard by COVID-19 and our year has been practically unrecognisable. We are doing everything we can to innovate and come up with new ways of generating funds that won’t be so severely impacted by the ongoing restrictions but I fear in spite of all our best efforts we are going to see a drastic drop in income in 20/21.”

31

Here’s 5 ways you can raise money for Wigan and Leigh Hospice this year.

Come dine with me competition Everyone has seen the TV programme, so why not invite a group of friends to set themselves against each other. Get 4 groups of 4 to compete, with everyone putting in £25. The winner from each group of 4 then plays in a final, the winner receives a cash prize, and the rest goes to the hospice. Set up now for a date later in the year to comply with COVID safe regulations.

Car Boot Sale If you can gather enough sellable items from your loft or the children’s rooms, you can raise a decent amount by taking it to the local car boot. Instant cash for the hospice and you get to de-clutter.

Promise Auction Ask friends, family and your local community to write down a promise of what they could do for someone else, from a years’ worth of garden maintenance and car valeting to walking your dog and the promise of time in a holiday home. Auction off the promises to the highest bidder and donate the money to the hospice.

Foreign Coin Exchange With foreign holidays off the agenda for the time being, seize the moment and let all your friends and family know that you will be collecting foreign coins to give the money to charity. Foreign currency can be exchanged back into pounds to add to your fundraising and the feeling of helping the hospice will be better than any exchange rate available.

And for those who want to help but don’t want the faff of organising events – here are 3 suggestions on how you can help the hospice.

Play the lottery Sign up via the hospice website www.wlh.org.uk for just £4.34 per month. There are 30 prizes to be won every week including a top prize of £1,000

Donate Commit to making a regular donation by joining the ‘Daisy Chain’. Sign up at www.wlh.org.uk

Small Change Every little helps and all adds up. Get a copper box for your loose change and send it back once it is full!

Hold a Scavenger Hunt This one is great at Easter or Christmas time and to get the kids and their school involved. Charge for entry and hide some themed, edible treats and give each team some clues to try and find them. The fastest team to gather the most items wins and gets to eat what they have found.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice, Kildare Street, Hindley, WN2 3HZ

01942 525566 Email: fundraising@wlh.org.uk www.wlh.org.uk

32

Book to Dip

Into

Sometimes we just can’t face a whole novel or autobiography.

With these books, you can dip in and out whenever you have a spare five minutes.

Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You Adam Kay

Toksvig’s Almanac 2021 Sandi Toksvig

Adam Kay brings us a series of essays and musings from a range of household names, from Malala Yousafzai to Dame Julie Walters and Johnny Vegas. Each tale is about how the NHS has stepped in to help the writer. There’s a story of a suspected heart attack that turned out to be trapped wind, several about household accidents (often involving kitchen knives) and plenty of sentimental stories to boot. Plus, all profits go to charity.

Fancy ‘An Eclectic Meander Through the Historical Year’? The main focus is on women that have been all but forgotten. There’s Begum Samru – an Indian dancer who led an army of mercenaries, Ida B. Wells – an activist and suffragist who co-founded the largest civil rights organisation in the United States, and Annette Kellerman, whose stunts including diving from 60 feet into a pool of crocodiles. There are also poems, trivia and other fascinating snippets.

Encounters: A Photographic Journey

Back to Nature: How to Love Life and Save It

Levison Wood Award-winning reportage photographer Levison Wood has travelled to more than 100 countries. Encounters brings together 140 of his images, along with text about each one. You’ll meet a young shepherd girl in Ethiopia, resourceful teenagers in the Congo, stranded nomads, fishermen in Yemen and families in war-torn regions.

Sapiens: A Graphic Novel Yuval Noah Harari et al.

The original Sapiens is fascinating, but there’s an awful lot of information to take in. If you’re interested in the origin of humans, but want something a little easier to digest, try this instead. It’s the first volume in a graphicnovel adaptation of the global bestseller. Full-colour illustrations and straightforward text take the reader on a journey from the very birth of humankind. It’s absorbing, suitable for older children as well as adults and has a good spattering of humour throughout.

Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin Whether you’re an avid nature lover and wondering how to stop the catastrophic decline in biodiversity, or you’re feeling disconnected from the wild and want to reap the benefits of it once again, this is a great book to help you.

There are lots of interesting titbits to digest over a coffee (ever wondered how trees communicate?) and plenty of ideas for how to take action.

The Repair Shop: Tales from the Workshop of Dreams If you love the TV series about expert craftspeople restoring much loved family heirlooms, you won’t want to miss the accompanying book. It goes into more detail about some of the most interesting items shown in the series, from a rusty miner’s helmet to a circus performer’s dress. It’s the book version of a mug of tea and hot buttered crumpet.

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Windows |

|

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T:T:01772 01772601200 601200

E: info@select-windows.com E: info@select-windows.com W: www.select-windows.com W: www.select-windows.com Towngate Works, Dark Lane, Mawdesley L40 2QU Towngate Works, Dark Lane, Mawdesley L40 2QU

34

UNIVERSITY CENTRE ST HELENS OUR DIGITAL 2021 HIGHER EDUCATION GUIDE IS NOW LIVE!

Discover a variety of higher-level qualifications and degrees, studied on a full and part-time basis, with smaller class sizes and lower tuition fees.

Stay local and study a degree right in the heart of St Helens!

• Applied Chemistry • Applied Microbiology • Business Management • Computing • Criminal Justice • Early Years

• Engineering • Exercise, Health and Fitness • Fine Art Painting • Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media Practice • Game Art

• Graphic Design • Media Production • Social Policy, Health and Housing • Teacher Training • Theatre and Performance

Download your copy at:

sthelens.ac.uk/applynow

35

Zero Waste Shop Opens Shops that minimise the environmental impact of our consumer habits are springing up across the UK, and the latest one has opened in Parbold. The idea behind zero waste shops is that shoppers buy just what you need, making it easy for you to stock and re-stock your everyday household items without wasteful packaging.

small changes to our shopping habits can make a big difference.“ Rachel’s sister Katie Street added, “A couple of years ago we had the idea to open a zero-waste shop but the timing didn’t feel right, but lockdown has given us the opportunity to do it and the feedback we’ve had is incredible.

A Greener Weigh is the shop our community has been waiting for”.

A Greener Weigh is now open and is using a multi-purpose space within The Wayfarer. The family who owns the restaurant, which is based on Alder Lane in the village, hopes that the new refill shop will inspire and enable the local community to be more sustainable.

Those Wayfarer customers eager to sample the food and drink again need not worry. The new shop is not replacing the restaurant but will be located in the conservatory, and this space will switch between shop and restaurant seamlessly.

Rachel Birkett from the Wayfarer said “We want to make it easy for customers to stock and re-stock everyday household items without wasteful packaging. Making

The opening times are Wednesday – Saturday from 10am until 4pm.For more details please visit the shop’s website www.agreenerweigh.co.uk.

SPRING LocalLife d R a w R o f with

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36

Members Appeal A popular community group is looking for members to join them. The Upholland & District u3a enters its 16th year in 2021 and now has an impressive 770 members.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the group had over 50 different interest groups meeting on a regular basis.

Groups facilitated the learning of skills and knowledge in addition to taking every opportunity to socialise with other members.

The organisation went from being a busy, enthusiastic, and active group of people, to all having to stay at home and embrace technology to stay in touch with other members.

Now the restrictions are easing, the group is preparing for the time when members can meet up and continue to enjoy all the usual activities. If you are no longer in full time employment and want more information about joining the Upholland u3a or the activities they offer, then please contact Barb Beesley on 01744 603304 or email bbeesleyu3a@gmail.com.

You can contact other local u3a groups here; Wigan (01942 324430), Parbold & Newburgh (01772 300407)

and Ashton-in-Makerfield outlook.com).

(ashtoninmakerfieldu3a@

Houses Plan Plans have been submitted to Wigan Council to transform the former site of Abraham Guest High School on Orrell Road into a housing development consisting of 61 homes.

The proposed Morris Homes development consists of 27 four bedroomed houses, 19 three bedroomed houses and 15 two bedroomed houses, along with 163 parking spaces. Proposed road access to the development would be via Orrell Road, and there would also be pedestrian/ cycle access via Redwood Park/Bankes Avenue.

The school was relocated to Greenhey in 2010 and the site has remained derelict since then. Back in 2015, planning permission was granted to develop the site into an elderly care facility consisting of 101 apartments and 30 bungalows, but this scheme fell through.

Further details can be found on www.wigan.gov.uk, using the planning application reference A/20/90543/ MAJOR. The final date for neighbourhood consultations is 20/3/21.

Earn extra

cash!

Local Life require distributors for the following areas; Newburgh Ash Brow, Course Lane, Sandy Lane & Cobbs Brow Lane areas 369 copies £26.76 + leaflet pay

Beautifully furnished

Stone Cottage Holiday Let

Situated near Sedbergh, in the Yorkshire Dales, and also within easy reach of the Lake District

– sleeps up to 4

Children & pets welcome

Call 01942 216 058

www.millthropcottage.co.uk

Ashton-in-Makerfield Alexandra Rd & Edward Drive areas 335 copies £24.29 + leaflet pay

Interested?

Please email your name, address, contact number and date of birth to sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

37

38

39

40 Pulling Off - Standish St Wilfrid’s

Chiming In!

By Nicola Gray

The distinctive sound of church bells ringing is deeply rooted in our culture, the peal of a church bell is the soundtrack to many of our lasting memories; they add joy to our celebrations and empathise with our grief.

The melodies we hear from bells today is called ‘change ringing’. During the sixteenth century church bells began to be hung with a full wheel, enabling the bell to swing in a full circle and back again. This gave ringers much more control of their bell, which allowed sets of bells to be rung in a continuously changing pattern. The music is created by moving bells up and down the ringing order in a sequence known as a method.

There are believed to be around 40,000 bellringers in the UK, and Wigan has several dedicated groups across the borough. They fall under the Wigan branch of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers and they are always on the lookout for new members.

Chris Barr, the assistant Ringing Master for the Wigan

Peal Band - Parbold

branch told Local Life, “Ringing is great fun and really is an activity that anybody of any age can start to learn. I got into ringing because it was something that my Mum started up when we moved to Standish in 1994.

I started learning Sophie Barr - Learner - 8 Years Old towards the end of primary school and I’ve been involved in one way or another ever since.”

Chris currently holds the post of Ringing Master for two towers in the branch; Standish, St Wilfrid’s & Coppull, St Johns, as well as being the Assistant Ringing Master for the whole branch which takes in towers including Hindley and Newton-le-Willows all the way to Rainford and Southport.

Chris added, “At the moment we aren’t meeting to ring, but once COVID restrictions are lifted we’d love to hear from new ringers. So, if anyone wants to have a go at ringing, or would even just like to have a look at what’s going on, then they’re welcome to contact me. We have a number of people across the area who have been on training courses and would love to teach people how to ring.”

For more information about how to get into ringing please contact Chris by emailing assistantringingmaster@lacrwiganbranch or go online at www.lacr.uk/branch/wigan-branch

41

Ringing Myths Explained: • There is a lot more to ringing than just pulling a rope. Controlling a bell takes physical skill, whilst change ringing needs mental skill to keep up.

• English bells are hardly ever rung by machine.

When you hear bells ringing, there is a band of skilled ringers in the tower who have practiced and honed their skills.

Brian Halliwell Dip F.D M.B.I.E.

ESTABLISHED 1921

Independent Funeral Directors Monumental Masons A local family run business, R. Banks & Son are one of the largest independent funeral directors in the Wigan Area Golden Charter Pre Arrangement Funeral Plans

and Memorial Plans available

FINANCE AVAILABLE on Funerals & Memorials Subject to status, written details on request Standish - St Wilfrid’s - 7th Bell

• Ringers can be male and female, old or young, and from all walks of life. Skill is the key when it comes to bell ringing.

• You do not have to be a member of the church to ring.

Many ringers do it for the satisfaction that they get from ringing, for services and being part of a group.

• Ringers do not need to be strong, once you have learnt the technique you will be in full control of the bell. And don’t worry about being taken up by the rope, this is so rare that most ringers have never seen it happen!

Bells - Coppull St Johns

R BANKS & SON FUNERALS LTD

24 hour service • Caring family firm Branches: Standish 01257 422011, Beech Hill 01942 829200, Bryn 01942 271392, Scholes 01942 820526, Leigh 01942 261415, Coppull 01257 793880, Upholland 01695 622099, Platt Bridge 01942 863936, Atherton 01942 318025

Head Office: Halliwell House, 758/768 Ormskirk Road Pemberton, Wigan WN5 8BB www.rbanksandson.co.uk

T: 01942 222156

42 SIGMA ROX 7.0 CYCLE COMPUTER If you prefer pedalling to pounding pavements, Sigma’s GPS cycle computer can track your performance on every ride and deliver every conceivable kind of statistic. £59, Wiggle.co.uk

Track Exercise your outdoor

Great gadgets from simple trackers to the smartest smartwatches FITBIT INSPIRE HR

One of the simplest and cheapest exercise trackers is the pedometer, which tells you how many steps you’ve walked in a given period. There are lots of them around for very little money: for example, the Omron Walking Style One Step Counter, a pocket-sized digital pedometer, is around £16.

However, if you’d like to track more than just steps you’ll need to look at a dedicated fitness tracker. These aren’t necessarily much more expensive – you can get Huawei’s attractive and effective Huawei Band 4 for less than £30 – but they’re more useful, as they typically add heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, calories burned and other key data. Some also offer sleep tracking.

Although they’re battery-powered they usually last much longer than smartwatches, typically going for over a week between charges and not needing long to recharge. There are versions designed for kids, too, such as the Fitbit Ace, which track activity but not calories.

This Fitbit is cheap but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in features. It has a workout monitor and heart rate sensing as well as step and calorie counting, and it syncs nicely with Fitbit’s phone app. £59, Fitbit.com

HONOR BAND 5 SMART FITNESS TRACKER A fully featured fitness tracker for under £30? That’s what this little marvel from Honor delivers. It’s a great little device available in a range of colours. £29.99, Amazon.co.uk

The next step up from fitness trackers is the smart watch. Apple’s watch is the market leader here, but it’s also one of the most expensive, and you can get good smartwatches such as the Samsung Galaxy (£159) or the Huawei GT2e (£99) for a lot less. These devices offer a wider range of fitness tracking features and usually connect to your smartphone to share data with your health and/or fitness apps.

In many cases the line between fitness trackers is blurred.

For example, the Fitbit Versa Lite is a smartwatch, but really it’s a super-powered fitness tracker and unlike more expensive devices you can’t install your own apps.

The latest generation of the Apple Watch is really impressive, both as a smartwatch and as a fitness tracker. It isn’t cheap – the latest model, the Series 6, starts at £379 – but the more affordable Apple Watch SE starts at £269. The older Apple Watch Series 3 is £199, although we think the SE is more capable and worth paying slightly more for.

APPLE WATCH SE This is the current mid-range Apple Watch and it’s effectively a cut-down version of the rangetopping Series 6. It’s packed with fitness features. £269, Apple.com OMRON WALKING STYLE ONE 2.0 STEP COUNTER This pocket-sized device contains the same kind of 3D accelerometer sensor you’ll find in smartphones, enabling you to track your steps, kilometres and miles. £15.99, Argos.co.uk

43

Quiz

Theme: Happy Introducing ICare Meals on Wheels 1. In the film Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler stars as the title character, who discovers a talent for golf after struggling to find success at which other sport?

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3. Also the title of a well known TV show, what word meaning “extreme happiness” can also refer to a type of song that originated in 18thcentury England and is sung by three or more unaccompanied voices?

4. The TV sitcom Happy Days was set in which city in Wisconsin?

5. Who famously sang Happy Birthday Mr. President at a birthday celebration of John F. Kennedy held at Madison Square Garden in 1962?

6. In March 2020, which country was named the happiest country in the world for a third consecutive year?... a) Switzerland; b) Finland; or c) Thailand?

We stock building products including: • • • • • • • • •

2. “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” is part of a famous speech from which William Shakespeare play?

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7. Is the first note sung in the song Happy Birthday To You higher or lower in pitch than the last note sung in the song?

8. In 2014, which internet-based company launched a new marketing campaign that featured the slogan “find your happy”?

9. Which 2019 film was advertised with the tagline “put on a happy face”?

10. In 1982, what became the first UK number one hit single to have the word “happy” in its title?

Quiz solutions can be found on page 93 of this magazine

44

The Perfect Buy-to-Let Buy-to-Let Guide

double glazing, a new bathroom or kitchen.

They’ll add value when you come to sell, and they’ll make the house easier to let.

With investment properties on the rise and an ever-growing demand for rental properties, it’s clear that we haven’t lost our appetite for buy to let.

Here’s a few essential tips in our mini guide to the world of property rental: Know your Market Who is your ideal tenant?

If you’re after a single professional, you might consider a small flat or studio, in a good, central area. If you want a family, for a longer-term let, you might look at three-bedroom properties in the suburbs.

How Much to Invest - So you’ve got a bit of money in the bank and it’s not gathering much interest. Do your homework. Research mortgage options and calculate your likely profit. Only then are you ready to go out and start spending.

Location, Location, Location - Key to a great buy-to-let is having it somewhere where people want to live. A city/ town centre location, close to transport links or handy for shops – all these will help drive tenants to your door.

Layout - Most modern apartments and houses will have straightforward layouts. If you have an older property, check if you can change the layout easily because that’s a good way to increase its appeal to tenants.

Add Value - Even if it’s not going to add to your rental income, it’s often worth making improvements such as

DIY or GSI? – Are you planning to do the renovation yourself or will you Get Someone In? Weigh up the cost, the time it will take and whether you are capable.

Remember that skilled workers can often do the work in a fraction of the time.

Decoration - Don’t spend too much money on the decoration – you won’t be living there. New carpets throughout can change the feel of the property. You might get away with new kitchen cupboard doors and fresh grout in the bathroom, rather than starting from scratch.

Presentation - Give everything a good clean. Bathrooms and kitchens should be sparkling. If there’s a garden, clear it. Kerb appeal is crucial when you are selling a house and tenants are no different to buyers in their responses.

Hidden Costs - You need to be able to cover your costs if the property is left empty for a couple of weeks or months, or if the tenant gets into rent arrears. You can get landlord insurance to cover this.

These tips are just a small selection of things to consider when you’re thinking of buying a buyto-let. For more information and for a sample of perfectly suited buy-to-let homes in the Wigan area, call me now on 01942 233 999.

Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has worked within the Wigan property market for over 30 years.

Alan Batt

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out his blog at

www.alanbatt.co.uk

45

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46

Passion for House Plants

Go green in style with our guide to creating a beautiful indoor garden in any room

House plants look amazing, adding colour, pattern, texture, interesting forms and a feeling of vibrancy. They can fill a dull corner, provide soft screening and help dampen noise. The Royal Horticultural Society reports that indoor plants have been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce fatigue and headache. Intriguingly, patients in hospital rooms containing plants report decreased postoperative pain. The psychological benefits include the satisfaction of nurturing a small seedling to a healthy, mature plant, as well as the pleasure of watering, misting and pruning, while the RHS says that house plants have been shown to reduce stress levels, improve mood, increase productivity and potentially lengthen attention span. Plants make us feel good.

What plants to choose?

Select plants suited to homes, where it is shadier and temperature fluctuations are greater than in their normal habitat. Good examples include the spider plant, the Boston fern, several varieties of dracaena, Sansevieria trifasciata, rubber plants, peace lilies, aspidistra and ivy. Succulents and cacti tend to be easy to care for and come in a range of shapes and sizes.

Personalise a home work space with a series of small plants, placed at different heights for variety.

Gerry Floor lamp, £161; Drax desk lamp in black, £137: both Pooky.

Many plants thrive on humidity, so placing them in a bathroom is a great idea.

Ionian bath in copper, £5,082; Sherwood porcelain replica-wood flooring in Rowan, £71.88 per 80x80 cm panel; both Fired Earth: 01295 812 088; firedearth.com.

47 For fashion followers, the most-discussed plants on Reddit in 2020 included the pothos, monstera, philodendron, hoya and peperomia.

Where to put your plants Generally plants need good light (but not bright, direct sunlight) and should be away from heat sources, draughts and cold. Darker rooms like bathrooms need shade-tolerant plants. Provide a stable, waterproof base, and keep harmful plants away from children and pets. Huge statement plants look incredible in hallway, living room or dining room corners, or group several plants together for a similar effect. Place smaller plants on tables or use tall planters, or put a row of small plants on a mantelpiece, shelf or window ledge, or dot them among books and vases in a bookcase.

Hang them from the ceiling, stage them in steps, or pop them on wall racks. Grouping in odd numbers looks best, and a range of widths and heights looks relaxed. Opt for varying shades of leaf colours or try a more regulated appearance, and contrast leaf shapes for natural variety.

Huge plants make a grand statement in a living room, especially combined with bold colours and architectural fittings.

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48

Mum & Son Write a Book!

By Nicola Gray A mother’s love knows no bounds, and this couldn’t have been truer for Winstanley mum-of-two Lynsey Gregory. After coming to terms with her cancer diagnosis she set about helping those dearest to her by publishing a book called ‘Mummy goes to Hospital’, whilst also raising money for charity.

Lynsey has so far managed to raise £2,300 to spilt between The Christie Foundation Trust and Mummy’s Star, a charity dedicated to helping women and their families who have been diagnosed with cancer during their pregnancies, up to 12 months after birth. With books still left to sell she’s hoping that she will be able to donate more.

In January 2019, Lynsey’s world fell apart when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. She was taken to Manchester to have immediate treatment at Christies Hospital and eventually needed stem cell treatment.

Lynsey told Local Life, “I was so upset thinking about the children. I asked at the hospital about books that might help them to understand or if there was anybody that could go out and speak to them.”

Lynsey added, “Theo was young and Tillie was a baby, so I really wanted a resource that was heavily illustrated, with a simple message that my mum and husband, Chris,

could use to try and explain why I wasn’t at home.

“So, I set about writing notes and taking screenshots of our video calls to send home to the children.

I even sent home a little plastic cannula attached to a teddy bear, so that if the children saw me with one, it was a little bit more familiar to them.”

Lynsey continued, “My friend suggested that her Aunt could pull together some illustrations for me, and the book was born from there. I could see that it was helping my family and that it might be able to help others.”

Local Dad, Matt Bacon, stepped in and his Wigan printing firm, LMB Publications, along with a few generous donations meant that Lynsey could publish and print her book and start to raise much needed funds for two charities close to her heart.

Lynsey added, “We have had enough printed to be able to gift books to charities and have already sent them to hospitals, health centres and schools. If anyone would like to donate in return for a book, or knows of anywhere in need of this resource, they can get in touch on our Facebook page ‘Mummy goes to Hospital’.”

“I would like to thank all of our family, friends and the wider community for supporting us with the book and other charity events. The more awareness there is the more we can raise for these essential charities.”

If anyone would like more information about becoming a stem cell donor, please go online at www.dkms.org.uk.

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50

Stepping Out for A keen walker has pledged to raise funds for the North West Air Ambulance by completing 80 North West walking routes.

The popular Jack’s Tracks walks have been published in Local Life magazine for the past ten years and Michelle Bradshaw, the owner of Wrinkles Out Ironing Service in Wigan, has pledged to do the entire set of walks by the end of October 2021.

Local Life met with Michelle Bradshaw, along with husband Dave, at Orrell Water Park where she was introduced to Jack, the Border Collie who inspired our series of walks, Jack’s Tracks.

And as you can see from the newspaper clipping, it’s not the first time that Michelle Bradshaw, who is originally from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, has pulled on her walking boots to raise money for charity. In 1968, aged just 3½, she once walked 19 miles with her dad to raise money for the homeless.

NWAA The efforts of the emergency services during the pandemic have been the inspiration behind Michelle’s decision to take on the challenge, as she explains, “All the emergency services have been amazing during the past year, but because the North West Air Ambulance receives no central funding, I decided to try and raise £500 for them”.

Jennifer Berry, the Regional Fundraiser for NWAA applauded Michelle’s efforts, “We are delighted that Michelle and others like her take on challenges to raise money for us here at North West Air Ambulance Charity. It is thanks to supporters like this that we are able to raise the £9.5 million we need each year to operate our life-saving service.

We wish Michelle the best of luck and hope that she has inspired other Local Life readers to take on challenges for us! For more information about North West Air Ambulance, please visit our website www.nwaa.net.”

Michelle aims to do two or three walks a week, accompanied by various members of her immediate family as and when restrictions ease.

She admits that there is another motive to take on the walking challenge, “I really do want to get fit. I’ve recently lost some weight with Slimming World and I would like to lose some more and get toned up.”

You can donate towards Michelle’s efforts to raise £500 North West Air Ambulance here; www.justgiving.com/fundraising/catherine-bradshaw25 All Jack’s Tracks walks are available to download free from the Local Life website here; www.locallife247.co.uk/freestuff/

51

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52

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54

Oxbridge Achievement 17-year-old Ben Ledwith from Worsley Mesnes is celebrating after confirmation that he is one of 31 Winstanley College students to get an offer for a place at Oxbridge in September. Ben holds an offer to read Law at Oxford University and hopes to become a barrister in the future.

What makes the former Dean Trust pupil’s achievement even more impressive is that he applied for Oxford as an aspirational target since his GCSEs, although good, did not match the usual profile required. Ben also has dyslexia and receives support from the college’s supported learning team.

Ben said: “With my GCSEs and background I thought I had

no chance of getting an interview never mind an offer! The support I received from college definitely helped to make this achievement possible. Because of my dyslexia, college confirmed my extra time in exams which really helps me to put down everything I need to in order to get top marks”.

Ben’s Personal Tutor at Winstanley, Kerry Hetherington, commented: “I am so happy for Ben he is just brilliant and really hard working. This achievement is very much deserved and he is an inspiration to others proving if you aim high and work hard, anything is possible, no matter what your background is”.

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56

Create a

Full-length curtains help block out light, sound and draughts. Curtains and headboard in Knot Garden Grey, £75 per metre, James Hare: 0113 243 1204; james-hare.com.

Cosy Retreat Warm and quiet, dark and comfortable – ensure your bedroom has all the ingredients for a great night’s sleep.

Lack of sleep has a profound effect on our physical Lack of sleep affects our physical and mental health, and as many as one in three of us suffer from poor sleep. So, make your bedroom sleep-friendly: dark, quiet, tidy and comfortably warm.

choice of materials includes latex, memory foam, polyurethane foam and gel. These mattresses mould to the sleeper’s shape and are often warmer than sprung mattresses.

Alternatively, ‘hybrid’ mattresses provide the traditional support and comfort of springs with a pressurerelieving, non-sprung top layer.

Start with the mattress First, decide whether you would prefer a sprung or non-sprung mattress. Sprung mattresses are filled with lots of springs and the best are individually ‘pocket’ sprung to adjust to the body and eliminate ‘roll-together’. An option is a sprung mattress ‘zoned’ across the middle to give extra support for heavier hips and shoulders, or made ‘half and half’, to provide different tensions on each side of the bed. Another solution for sleeping partners of very different weights is a ‘zip and lock’ system of two different mattresses fastened together.

Sprung mattresses can be filled with a variety of materials and tufted construction is generally considered better than quilting. In cheaper mattresses, fillings usually come in compact pads, while in better quality mattresses there will be layers of loose fillings in greater volumes. Look for a highquality mattress cover with hand stitching on the sides and sturdy handles to help with turning.

Non-traditionalists might consider a non-sprung mattress where the

What about the windows?

A handmade bed frame with an entirely natural, organic mattress. Eva bed with storage, from £1,470 for a small single, Naturalmat: 01392 877 247; naturalmat.co.uk.

Windows can be a source of earlymorning light, and noise, heat loss and draughts at any time. For regularly opened single-glazed sash windows, specialist seals fitted into a rebate will improve draughtproofing, while secondary glazing is ideal for seldom-used windows.

Well-fitting timber shutters can be at least as effective as double glazing. The traditional solution is a thick, floor-to-ceiling curtain with a thermal or blackout lining.

Extend the curtain pole beyond the window edges so that light cannot creep in. If using blinds, thick, blackout versions fitted close to the wall are best.

Don’t forget about the floor

A soft, curving headboard could help your bed feel enclosed and cosy. Matilda Dove Grey bed, from £549; Amazonia Toile duvet cover set, £28; Farrah Palm Leaf ceiling fitting, £65; all Dunelm: 0845 165 65 65, dunelm.com.

A fitted carpet with thermal underlay deadens sound and prevents draughts from suspended timber floors. If you prefer original timber floorboards, seal any gaps at the base of the skirting boards and add thick bedside rugs for extra comfort. Insulation added below the boards is also effective.

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What is Ethical investing?

Over the years many investors have become frustrated that their investments do not take into consideration the environmental impact or corporate behaviour of the underlying companies in the funds. To answer this demand an increasing number of ethically focussed investment funds are now available, which invest only in companies that are environmentally and socially responsible.

investment selections must also work from an ethical perspective too. One of the challenges is that, currently, there is no industry standard or rulebook as to how ethical criteria are applied. There is considerable overlap in approach but much is based on interpretation, therefore two ‘ethical’ funds can appear to be similar but differ significantly in their approach.

Environmental and socially responsible policies are more central to our everyday lives and so investing according to these principles is becoming more mainstream. The challenge with ethical investing is in the detail. The easiest method to build ethical investments is to simply avoid firms or funds that are active in activities such as the sale of arms or the production of fossil fuels, for example.

This is called negative screening.

Our portfolios combine a sophisticated investment process with a set of negative and positive ethical screens, meaning that we can exclude any companies or industries that ethical investors would rather avoid, but also can seek out those companies who are committed to sustainable and socially responsible practices.

The flip side of this approach – positive screening – seeks investments that set out to make a difference, in for example, renewable energy or technology infrastructure.

The combination of avoiding sectors with poor ethics and supporting those that make positive contributions to the environment and socially responsible practices, ensures that investors money is being used to only support business that are aligned with their outlook for the future.

Prosper’s ethical portfolios invest in best-of-breed ethical funds that have standards similar to those we aspire to for our portfolios and can also deliver attractive performance to investors.

Prosper’s approach to ethical investing Within our portfolios, we select fund managers who can demonstrate that they can successfully balance ethical strategies and investment outlooks to create a harmonious investment portfolio that can create growth potential without adding investment risk.

Investing ethically adds another layer of scrutiny since

Investing ethically does not mean sacrificing investment performance, it is possible to achieve long-term growth by investing in businesses that contribute to the wellbeing of society.

For clients looking to adopt an ethical approach to investing I am delighted to report that we offer a range of risk rated portfolios that provide investors with a full ethical investment strategy at a very competitive price. Please call us on 01257 423800 if you would like to discuss.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested.

David Barton APFS Cert CII (MP)

Chief Executive Officer

Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

60

Puzzle Pages CROSSWORD

DOWN

1. Item of food associated with Christmas (5,3) 2. Divisions of the school year (5) 4. Female reproductive cells (3) 5. Vehicle of extraterrestrial origin (6,6) 6. Land area, especially of a farm (7) 7. Flip (a coin, for example) (4) 8. Popular tourist area in north-western

England (4,8)

12. Unemotional person (5) 13. Graveyard (8) 15. Horse’s bit (7) 19. Mammary gland of bovids (5) 20. Tori ___, singer whose albums include

American Doll Posse (4)

22. Quoits target (3)

ACROSS

1. Traditional story (4)

17. To stretch out (3)

3. Woman’s hairstyle in which the hair has a puffy appearance (8)

18. Trend-setting fashions (5,7)

9. Place of complete bliss, delight and peace (7)

21. Civilian dress worn by a military person (5)

10. Imperial units of length (5)

22. Lever operated with the foot (7)

11. Day in spring on which the Resurrection is celebrated (6,6)

23. Climbing garden plant having fragrant flowers (5,3)

14. Uncertainties, doubtful factors, ___ and buts (3)

24. Land force of a nation (4)

16. Devotional paintings of Christ or other holy figures (5)

WORDWHEEL Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns.

Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET EXCELLENT: 36 or more words GOOD: 28 words FAIR: 25 words

C

P

D

R U

O E

61

WORDSEARCH

GOLF WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU

APPROACH COURSE

HOLES

SLICE

BALL

DIVOT

HOOK

STROKE

BIRDIE

DRIVER

IRON

SWING

BOGEY

EAGLE

PAR

TEE OFF

BUNKER

FAIRWAY

PUTTER

TREES

CART

FORE

ROUGH

WEDGE

CHIP

GREEN

RULES

WOOD

CONDOR

GRIP

SHOT

NUMBER BLOCK The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right. The numbers in each column add up to the totals along the bottom.

21

The diagonal lines also add up the totals to the right.

2 8

WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: have a private reason for doing or being involved in something.

Trace a path through all the letters to find the word or phrase that fits the clue.

D N I R

H A V G

N A E O

A X E T

5 4 3

9 1

14 21 16 16

18 21 13 15 11 All the puzzle solutions can be found on page 93 of this magazine

62

Keeping Busy

by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy Tradespeople are busy people, often working six or seven days a week. On any given week, you’ll be visiting potential customers, preparing quotes, moving from job to job, submitting and chasing invoices and dealing with the occasional emergency call-out too.

It doesn’t leave a lot of time for you and your family, so the last thing you want to be doing at the weekend is sorting out essential tasks such as bookkeeping, payroll, managing cashflow or getting on top of your accounts and tax returns ahead of the deadlines.

That’s where CMA Accountancy can help you - we work with the full range of trades such as plumbers, electricians, gas engineers, plasters, painters and almost any other trade you can think of.

All businesses need the support of an accountant who knows their industry well.

By specialising in this sector, CMA Accountancy have an extensive experience of how to; • Select the best cloud accounting software and associated apps to use • Understanding the Construction Industry Scheme so you are fully compliant • Manage your VAT and Making Tax Digital reporting

• Understand the Domestic Reverse Charge VAT changes being implemented by HMRC and how these will impact your business • Pay your staff • Structure your business in the most tax-efficient manner We can help with all of that and advise on how you can scale-up your business using cloud accounting software such as Xero and QuickBooks for on-the-go financial recording and reporting. This will enable you to invoice clients as soon as the work is completed and help you stay on top of your cashflow.

Whilst we have a selection of packages for the trades, we also understand that not every business is the same. After an initial meeting or call between us, we will be able to tailor our services to suit your individual requirements and allow you to retain as much control over your bookkeeping and accounts as you would like.

If your business is just you, operating as sole trader, we can handle your end of year tax return and advise on ways to reduce your tax bill overall. But if you employ a number of staff, we can look after your payroll, workplace pension’s administration and give advice on how to structure your business for ultimate tax efficiency.

If you have any questions regarding the any of the topics covered in this article or would like to see how switching to online software such as Xero can make your business life easier then please do get in touch.

Chris Alcock ACMA - CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR 01257 255521 chris@cma-accountancy.com www.cma-accountancy.com

63 SA

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64

READY

in 1 hour Serves 4

Tartiflette This rich and cheesy potato gratin makes a fabulous warming supper.

Serve with salad and crusty bread.

Ingredients 1kg Charlotte potatoes, halved 1 tbsp olive oil 2 small onions, peeled and thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 4 smoked bacon rashers, finely chopped 100ml dry white wine 100ml double cream 4 tbsp crème fraiche Salt and freshly ground black pepper 150g Reblochon cheese, rind removed and sliced Sprig of parsley, to garnish

Method 1 Boil the potatoes in a large pan of lightly salted water until just tender.

Drain well, cool for 10 minutes then cut into thin slices. Preheat the oven to 200C / fan 180C / gas mark 6.

2 Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, stirring. Add the chopped bacon and continue cooking until the onions are golden and tender. Pour the wine into the pan and bring to the boil. Boil until the liquid has almost evaporated.

3 Layer the potatoes and onion mixture in a large square baking dish. Mix together the cream and crème fraiche and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour over the potatoes.

4 Lay the cheese slices on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve garnished with parsley.

TIP: Use any other cheese you prefer. Try mature Cheddar, taleggio or Gruyere.

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READY

s

in 1hr 30min plus cooling Serves 8

Lemon Tart This divine dessert has a crisp and buttery pastry case filled with a tangy lemon cream filling.

Ingredients 300g ready-made sweet shortcrust pastry Flour, for dusting Grated zest and juice from 3 large lemons 100g caster sugar 2 medium eggs 2 medium egg yolks 150ml double cream Lemon slices and mint leaves, to decorate

Method 1 Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 23cm loose-based fluted flan tin. Trim the edges and prick the pastry base all over with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 30 mins.

2 Preheat the oven to 200C / 180C fan / gas mark 6.Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Bake on the hot baking sheet in the preheated oven for 10 mins. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-10 mins until the pastry is pale golden.

3 Reduce the oven temperature to 170C / 150C fan / gas mark 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, sugar, eggs and egg yolks.

Gradually whisk in the double cream and lemon juice. Leave the mixture to stand for 10 mins.

4 Pour the lemon mixture into the pastry case and bake for 30-40 mins until the filling is just set – it should still be a little wobbly in the centre.

Leave to cool in the tin. To serve, carefully remove the tart from the tin and decorate with lemon slices and mint leaves.

TIP: Allow the pastry to come to room temperature for about 30 mins before rolling out, otherwise it may crack.

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Self Help for

Sore Knees Are you one of the ten million UK residents suffering from osteoarthritis (OA)? This painful condition affects around one-third of people aged 45 or above. Although it can affect any joints, around half of sufferers have arthritis in their knees.

The WHO regards osteoarthritis as a ‘priority disease’. It ranks in the top ten of most disabling conditions and as the population ages, along with the growing issue of obesity, numbers of OA sufferers are set to rise.

What is osteoarthritis?

When you bend a joint, the two bone surfaces rub against each other. Cartilage pads on the ends of your bones cushion the movement. The joint is enclosed in a capsule and lubricated with synovial fluid.

WIth OA, the joint is gradually destroyed. The cartilage becomes thin and roughened, the bone surfaces become irregular, and debris collects within the joint space.

The joint is supported by muscles and ligaments. If these become weakened through age or accident, there is too much pressure on the joint.

OA causes Outside of an accident such as damage to a cruciate ligament, the exact cause of OA is unknown, but it’s linked to your genetics, ageing and obesity. It’s more common in females and is associated with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes.

OA symptoms Pain, stiffness, and joint swelling are the most common symptoms. Your knees may look deformed.

OA treatments Exercise is very important, even when your knees are hurting, plus using the joint helps reduce stiffness and encourages blood flow. Not using your knees worsens the

problem as it encourages the thinning and softening of the cartilage. Exercise reduces chronic inflammation – a metabolic process that exacerbates cartilage breakdown.

A physiotherapist can help. Cycling and swimming are good options as they cushion the knee from direct weight bearing, and hydrotherapy is also worth considering.

Medical studies confirm that weight loss and exercise result in significant benefits. For example, in a 2013 randomised trial, 399 participants aged 55 and over and with BMIs between 27 and 41 were randomised into three groups: diet; exercise; or both diet and exercise. They were then followed up for 18 months.

The diet and exercise group did the best, losing an average of 10.6Kg – 11.4% of their body weight. This group also had significant reductions in pain, better knee function and improvement in quality of life compared to the other two groups.

Lose weight Losing weight may seem an impossible task. However, it can be done and studies prove this often leads to a significant reduction in pain and improved mobility.

In a 2007 review (Christensen R. et al) of four studies involving 454 patients with OA, those who lost 5% of their body weight over twenty weeks demonstrated a marked improvement in pain and much improved mobility.

Pain relief Try paracetamol along with non-steroidal antiInflammatory (NSAID) drugs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen. NSAIDS reduce inflammation in the arthritic joint.

67 Take them regularly – don’t wait for the pain to build-up.

An NSAID gel rubbed into the joint may be helpful. If you suffer with gastritis, these are sometimes prescribed with medication to protect your stomach lining.

Your GP will discuss other medication options with you: • Drugs called COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib, are very effective anti-inflammatories. Sometimes opiates such as co-codamol are advised.

• Capsaicin cream can be applied to the knee joint.

• A steroid can be injected directly into the joint. Steroids are powerful anti-inflammatories and can be very effective.

• Try using hot pads or an ice pack on the sore joint.

• Massage has been found to be helpful for pain relief.

• Sometimes your doctor may suggest use of a knee brace.

Complementary and Alternative therapies Glucosamine, curcumin, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids all appear safe, but there is a lack of medical evidence for their efficacy.

Mindfulness, meditation and acupuncture have all been advocated and can help improve symptoms.

• Alternatively, try Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

Surgery

• The efficacy of hyaluronic acid injections has not been substantially proven but may have benefits for some.

The NHS no longer recommends arthroscopy for arthritic knees. Research studies found this failed to improve symptoms for most patients.

Other lifestyle tips • Try to reduce the strain on your knees and spread your weight evenly by using a stick.

• Start the day with a hot bath or shower – the heat eases joint stiffness.

However, you may be referred for a knee replacement if your symptoms are severe. Knee replacement surgery is highly effective and greatly improves symptoms, mobility and quality of life.

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Brain aging: what are the signs?

Lost your keys again? Feeling accident-prone? Does it seem harder to concentrate these days?

While these signs could just be indications that you’re unwell or feeling stressed, they are also symptoms of an aging brain, and some scientists believe that evidence of neural decline may reveal itself from the age of just thirty.

and learning. The wrinkled outer layer of the brain, known as the cerebral cortex, also thins as we age and this is also more pronounced in some parts than others.

Other symptoms of an aging brain include decreased blood flow, less communication between nerve cells and an increase in inflammation.

Invisible changes

Wandering attention

While grey hair, stiff joints and laughter lines are all clear signs that our bodies are aging, the chemical and structural alterations happening inside our heads are completely unseen. While our skull size remains the same, our grey matter reduces in size, with some areas of the brain shrinking more, and faster, than other parts.

An older person taking a test or doing a job that requires concentration will probably be more easily distracted than someone younger. Youngsters have more ability to ‘zone out’ when they are doing an important task (think about the teenager who does homework while listening to music and using social media). It’s all linked to our reduced ability to handle emotional arousal, which means the more important the task is to us, the more we find ourselves distracted by outside noises and interruptions.

The biggest losses appear in the prefrontal cortex, the cerebellum and the hippocampus, areas associated with attention focus, memory, speech, muscle co-ordination

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Clumsiness If you’ve been more accident-prone than usual recently, or have found it harder to deal with fiddly tasks like fitting a key into a lock, that could be due to brain aging.

you have learned. The ability to remember learned facts, life events and the names of people you have met is called ‘declarative memory’, while remembering how to tie a shoelace or ride a bike is part of your ‘procedural memories’, which don’t tend to fade as quickly.

Research carried out in America suggests that as we age, we become less able to judge distance when we encounter nearby objects. We also concentrate more on the objects we are interested in and less on any obstacles that lie in the way of our goal: typically that might mean reaching for the pepper grinder and knocking over a glass of wine on the way.

Another aspect of brain function affected by age is ‘working memory’: the ability to hold information such as phone numbers, or where you have parked, in your head.

Working memory also applies to problem solving and the speed at which you can process information.

Losing your sense of smell and taste

A study of over two thousand people, published in America last year, reported that signs of brain aging were more obvious in participants who smoked, had thicker waists or who had health issues related to cardiovascular disease or inflammation.

If things don’t smell or taste as good as they did when you were young, don’t blame the cook. We are all born with around 9,000 taste buds on our tongues. These buds are very good at regenerating, which is why, when you burn your tongue, your sense of taste returns so quickly.

But as we age, our taste buds become less able to replace themselves and we lose the sensitivity that helps us identify different flavours.

The senses of smell and taste are closely linked and age can be a factor in the loss of both, but if you notice a sudden change in your sense of smell, there may be other causes, such as nasal polyps, blocked sinuses or seasonal allergies.

Forgetfulness You may have noticed that as you age, it becomes harder to remember names, or recall something that

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

It’s clearly important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but this research also suggests that symptoms of brain aging could arise from a medical condition, either a current illness or one that is yet to be diagnosed. If your symptoms came on quickly or are causing you distress, it may be advisable to see a doctor.

Thankfully it’s not all a downhill spiral for our brains.

Neuroscientists are discovering that even old brains have ‘plastic’ qualities that allow us to reroute neural connections so we can adapt to new challenges. It’s good to know that a healthy lifestyle, paired with activities that keep your brain alert, can boost cognitive abilities and ward off the signs of aging.

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70

Ashurst’s Beacon

by Chris Pearce Distance: 3.1 miles Difficulty: Medium

Beacon Country Park in Up Holland is a popular local facility. 300 acres of rolling countryside and woodlands, the park is used throughout the year for walking, golfing, picnics, kite flying, sledging and occasional events. However, because the main car parks and much of the activity takes place well away from the Beacon that the park is named after, Ashurst’s Beacon, many people don’t even know it is there.

This 3.1 mile route starts from a small public car park just downhill on the left from The Beacon Inn (WN8 7RR). Once parked up, exit the car park and turn left by the roadside for 150 yards.

Just before you reach Beacon Villa – turn left and head downhill.

Great views of Merseyside and Cheshire here as you head on the path through the golf course. Just before the path winds left to cross the bridge, you need to head straight on over a smaller bridge straight into a copse.

Follow the path in the same direction running parallel to the brook until you exit opposite Beacon Cottage on the single- track Elmers Green Lane. Turn right and follow the lane up a gentle incline for 500 yards until you arrive at a crossroads dominated by St Michaels and All Angels Church.

Cross over and walk by the front entrance of the church down

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to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure

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Bangham’s Farm

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Higher Lane. Take the next right turn - a shared entrance to the church car park and a cobbled road to the Grade 2 listed Ashurst’s Hall – you need to turn into the car park and then pick up the path on the left that runs parallel to the cobbled road.

Head past the pond on the right and very shortly afterwards, look for the ancient path up Ashurst Hill, which is totally enclosed by trees. This pathway is 250 yards long and is rough with uneven cobbles. Once you pass through the wooden gate at the end of the path, you’ll have a short steep climb to a plateau with four

different pathways – go straight on and you’ll soon see the shape of the tower at the top of the Beacon.

Once you’re at the top of the hill, look for the directional plaque set in stone to the left. Using the directions on the plaque, take the path in the direction of Winter Hill.

Go down the slope, through the wooden gate and head diagonally across the field.

Cross the brook via the footbridge and follow the path round the field until you exit onto Long Heys Lane. Turn left and follow this single track road downhill for 350 yards and then turn right at the entrance to Banghams Farm. Pass though the garden gate to the right of the main farmhouse gate, and follow the path round and away from the farm.

At the farm’s boundary, you’ll cross The Dingle stream and arrive at the dirt track known as Stone Hall Lane.

Turn right and follow the track uphill bearing left for 400 yards, bearing left towards a rather handsome Grade 2* listed building called Stone Hall. Bear right through the farmyard when you arrive and go through a couple of gates to exit.

Keep left as the track splits and take the next opening on the left near the stone stile, heading uphill along field perimeters for 0.4 mile until you again reach Long Heys Lane. Turn right and head past Stopforths farm and the entrance to Bradshaws Farm. Look for a set back footpath to the left just before The Manor House and follow this rather slender footpath for 325 yards across a field, a driveway and then an enclosed wooden area. Once you hop over the final stile into a wooden area, you’re back at Ashurst’s Beacon. Turn left and follow the path to the main road. The starting point is just across the road to the right.

73

A history of

Ashurst’s Beacon The tower at Ashurst’s Beacon was built in 1798 by Sir William Ashurst to act as a watch tower in preparation for the Napoleonic War. However, there was a previous tower at the site, which was used as part of a relay of beacons stretching from Liverpool to Lancaster during the AngloSpanish war of 1585.

The land surrounding Ashurst Beacon was acquired in the 1920’s by Thomas Meadows, the Editor of the Wigan Observer, who apparently twice restored the tower at his own expense. In 1962, his widow Florence Meadows donated the 17 acres of land to Wigan Corporation on condition that ‘this land should forever remain a beauty spot for the enjoyment of the people of Wigan’.

74

Pet

Vaccines

Dogs and cats are just as prone as humans to picking up viruses, albeit different ones to us!

This means that vaccinations and boosters are essential part of caring for your pet.

For Cats Core vaccinations include one for feline parvovirus and others to prevent cat flu. As with people, flu can spread rapidly and has many different strains, which means that it will never be completely wiped out. A cat flu vaccine – given from around eight weeks of age – will boost immunity. A booster vaccine should be given a year later.

For Dogs is usually administered as a nasal spray, however. The single-use disposable needle is very sharp and shouldn’t trouble your dog or cat too much.

There are many diseases that dogs should be vaccinated against. However, most vaccines are combined, and the schedule starts when the puppy is about six weeks old. As an adult a Lyme disease jab should be given once a year, particularly if you walk in grassy or woodland areas.

Don’t Forget!

Make a note in your diary to get these shots done regularly. It’s part of the cost of owning a pet and of course prevention is so much better – and cheaper – than cure.

Will This Hurt?

Pets are generally given an injection underneath the skin at the scruff of the neck. Dogs’ kennel cough vaccine

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75

UK Drive: Hybrid power keeps the

Petrol Fiat 500 going a little longer

Charming it may be, but Ted Welford finds the Fiat 500’s age has now got the better of it.

What is it?

What’s under the bonnet?

As recognisable and as loved as a Mini or Land Rover Defender, the 500 was Fiat’s icon throughout a big part of the twentieth century until 1975, followed by a revival of the model in 2007.

If you want a manual 500, the only option is this new mildhybrid petrol, with automatic models using the 1.2-litre unit that Fiat has been using for years.

That reincarnation was a hit and Fiat still sells 400,000 of these city cars every year, despite a multitude of rivals.

What’s new?

This year saw the introduction of a new electric 500.

It looks similar to the petrol car but is rather different underneath, and should be yet another hit as it’ll be one of the cheapest EVs around thanks to a sub-£20,000 starting price.

There is also Fiat’s new 500 Hybrid. It’s not a full hybrid, but rather a petrol engine with a small electric motor, battery and belt-integrated starter-generator that improves efficiency and aims to allow for a smoother drive. So does it succeed?

With just 69bhp, 0-60mph takes 13.6 seconds, but around town it’s more than up to the task. A six-speed manual gearbox is also a pleasant surprise for a car of this size.

The mild-hybrid system is also noticeable with the regenerative braking when you take your foot off the accelerator, though the engine can ‘switch off’ while coasting in order to improve fuel economy.

What’s it like to drive?

It’s in urban areas where the Fiat excels. It bucks the trend of city cars growing in size, as at 3.5m-long it remains tiny and an absolute doddle to park, helped by great visibility.

The steering is also brilliantly light, and even gets a ‘City’ mode to make it even lighter.

But elsewhere the 500 shows both its age and its flaws. The ride quality is poor while the driving position leaves a lot to be desired – you feel like you sit on the car, rather than in it. Refinement is also poor, even by city-car standards. Next to rivals like the Volkswagen Up!, it’s well behind the pace.

How does it look?

It’s likely buyers choose the Fiat 500 because of the way it looks. And with its scope for personalisation, bubblelike shape and cool retro-inspired design, it offers bags of charm and appeal in this respect. A range of trim and liveries add to the appeal.

It’s more impressive just how fresh the 500 looks considering it’s been around since 2007 in its current guise – the only real design changes in that time being

76

some new lights at the front and rear, fresh alloy wheel designs and updated bumpers. Some subtle ‘Hybrid’ badging is also fitted as part of this update, however.

What’s it like inside?

The interior also has charm – not least with the cool colourmatched dashboard, which is a particular highlight.

There’s a clear instrument cluster, with an optional seveninch TFT display in the middle. A seven-inch touchscreen is also fitted, and while not the best system you can get today, it’s simple to use and gains Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A panoramic glass roof is also a nice touch.

But the colourful dash and technology can only go so far with the Fiat 500, as other areas feel especially cheap, with hard and scratchy plastics littering the cabin. It’s also small even by city-car standards, with a dinky 185-litre boot and compromised rear space.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Fiat 500 start from £13,020 and for that you get a Pop-spec car. It’s not especially well-equipped but

gains air conditioning, a DAB radio and a speed limiter.

But our choice is the £14,750 Lounge model, which adds a touchscreen, leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors and a glass roof.

Prices rise through to £17,150 for the top-spec Launch Edition, which includes sat nav, 16-inch alloy wheels and special seats made from recycled materials. But at that price, you can buy a far more accomplished supermini.

Verdict It’s a testament to the 500’s cool retro design, easy-to-drive nature and quirky interior that this Fiat continues to be as popular as it is. Used around the city it’s really appealing, and the Hybrid system has added greater efficiency to the package – meaning it will be very cheap to run.

But none of these traits can hide some glaring weaknesses of the 500, which are really just down to its ageing design. Its poor driving experience away from town and cheap cabin make it fall off the pace of rivals, and given it’s not especially cheap, it means this Fiat – is tough to recommend. Consider the electric model instead…

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Sloping

Gardens

by Angie Barker

Award Winner

There can be many challenges to deal with when faced with designing a garden. It may be north facing so it does not get much sun, it may be an odd shaped plot or it may have terrible clay soil filled with rubble left behind by the builders – or indeed all three!

With all of these issues there are solutions but I’m finding that more and more plots have yet another challenge, and that is a sloping garden, whether this be sloping down away from the house or more usually sloping up from the house. This comes about as developers look to build on every piece of ground they can lay their hands on and as long as they can build a decent house, it seems that the homeowner is left to their own devices when it comes to tackling the sloping garden.

The best piece of advice I can give is to work with the lay of the land as much as possible. This is because whatever amount of soil you move to achieve a level surface, say for a patio, the slope and/or the soil that you have excavated will need a retaining wall. Rather than have a high structural wall it is usually more pleasing to the eye to have a series of smaller walls, some of which can be planted up thereby softening the hard landscaping. This also gives you the opportunity of making a feature of the walls themselves, perhaps setting some lights into them or some interesting stone work.

Having a sloping garden will mean you need steps to

Angie is a qualified awardwinning garden designer who will plan your garden to your needs from start to finish, supplying reputable contractors and the ideal plants.

safely navigate your plot. These can be made into a feature in their own right and if the budget allows, the wider the better. If you have the space you may also want to think about having a gently sloping path somewhere, just so that you can move a wheel barrow about the garden or should you need disabled access.

Our gardens have been a sanctuary for many of us over the last 12 months and as we move into spring and the warmer weather comes, we will want to make the most of them again. Hubby asked me only the other day whether it was warm enough to sit out on the decking, not yet I said (brr) but hopefully it won’t be long before it is and when it is we’ll be there with a glass of wine to toast the prospect of a better 12 months for all of us.

Call Angie now for your free consultation!

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o

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your next for 10% OFF Present this voucher earwax removal. apply hearing test or Terms and conditions

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WE REPAIR ALL MAKES OF BOILERS! Registration No.

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John Bailey 01942 495785 or 07721 040620 & 07710 153238 Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan

01942 221 996 07769 203 056 hartheatingwigan@gmail.com Winstanley-based

651511

FULL BOILER SERVICE FROM JUST £58

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10238

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Call MIKE on 0787 113 1012 Established since 1967 ~ WIGAn BASEd

• Extended warranties available FINANCE • 24 Hour Call-out

OPTIONS

AVAIL ABLE

• Domestic + Commercial Freephone:

0300 3030121 Dave: 07769 942218 Matt: 07969 183809 21 Naburn Drive, Orrell wN5 8SB Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk www.orrellheating.co.uk

Pay nothing upfront for your new boiler* • Boilers servicing, repairs & installation • Central Heating upgrades and energy saving • Smart Controls installations & upgrades 4622825

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Call Paul

a Registered insured NCFE Certified Company

call Paul for a Fast, Reliable, Professional service

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Jon Wright Electrical Ltd All types of Domestic & Commercial work undertaken

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91 A.J.S.

BAILEYS

ELECTRICAL

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01942 215 769 07739 709 005

Certificate of excellence winner 2017, 2018 & 2019

ToTal ElEcTrics for your HomE or BusinEss Installation Service Maintenance Repairs

call us today for friendly advice and a free quotation

01942 836 937 www.ghewigan.co.uk

4 complete re-wires 4 new/moving sockets 4 all lighting needs 4 Burglar alarm systems

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check out our facebook reviews @ghe.info

07557 914 788

suite 1a, Kirkless industrial Estate, cale lane, Wigan, Wn2 1Hf

W.Hurst & Son Ltd ELECTRIC CONTRACTOR

www.whurstandson.co.uk

4 NAPIT part ‘P’ registered 4 JIB Approved Technician

Call: 0800 6446100 or 07904 127663

4 38 Years Experience 4 Local, Honest & Reliable 4 Domestic

Covering all North West Areas

4 Industrial & Commercial

• All types of electrical work • 35+ years experience • No job too small • Friendly and reliable For a free quote & advice call Jeff

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92 Promote your company here for

£30 + VAT

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LTD

Skilled interior and exterior work undertaken at reasonable prices!

01942 392398 or 07707 321383

Chris Smith - Painter and Decorator

01257 415388

Professional Painting and Decorating

or 07545 065119

Shevington based business

• Domestic & Commercial Work • Interior & Exterior work welcomed • Old/listed buildings a speciality Call us today for a free quotation

Home Service available Choose from 1000s of paint & paper samples in the comfort of our own home

01942 212096 07831 102 511

www.jpmoorcroft.com

AJH DECORATORS Painting and Decorating 4 Exterior & Interior Decorating 4 Domestic & Commercial work undertaken

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Award Winner

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Free quotes

Contact Graham now free estimate provided

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01257 426234 07954 139069

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Arley Cabinet Company Ltd

Design & Print Flyers, postcards, brochures and distribution service.

• Kitchens & Bedrooms since 1952 •

Put your hearing first with

We Measure ~ We Make ~ We Fit

01942 246 190

www.arleycabinets.com

al

• Earwax Remov Tests • FREE Hearing & Repairs • Hearing Aids Hearing Aid Trial • FREE 1 Week

Drop in

on: or contact Darren

391 215 WN5 01942Road, 8QH Orrell, 8-10 Gathurst

ou t

b

214a Gidlow Lane, Wigan, WN6 7BN

All staff paediatric & first aid QUALIFIED

sa Ask u

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rural Village NUrSErY

ng.co.uk

www.wiganheari

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rated by oFStED as oUtStANDINg FUNDED PLACES Available for 2/3/4 year olds

LANgUAgE & SPortS LESSoNS for pre-schoolers

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We cater for CHILDrEN 3 months - 4 years

term time : 8am till 5.30pmfor the Open Mon-Fri a booking system We operate saves you money ent holidays which entitlem 30 hours free We deliver day £29 for a full s available Flexible session from 2 years old We take children

a id s

MOORCROFT

• No job too big or too small

oPEN Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM

ring

J&P

• Interior & exterior work

ea

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Call Sarah on 01744

s Nursery Bridge | WN6 9DT Little AcornLane | Appley

School | Finch

47 01257 2526 sery.com -daynur

www.littleacorns

for further information.

886166 for more information

or admin@cranknursery.net www.cranknursery.co.uk

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GDR Driveways ALL ASPECTS OF PAVING & tuRfING

4 Block Paving Clean & Re-seal 4 Indian Stone service available 4 Flagging 4 Turfing 4 Artificial Grass Winstanley-based

www.gdrdriveways.com Call Gareth for a fREE quotation: 01942 217 113 or 07715 177 754

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94

JJ Driveways Imprinted Concrete Specialists

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No job too small!

Call Mike Darbyshire on

01942 513 584 07917 352 181 Orrell based

from

£350 Oak Door from

All aspects of building works No job too small Call Peter for a free quotation

Day: Eve:

07961 516 677 01942 745 428

£130

Joinery services include; gates, decking, flooring, skirting, handrails and balustrades, kitchen makeovers, loft boarding and ladders, fencing, external doors and garden buildings.

call Mike for a free quote

01942 590514 07988 260621

Cambridge Road, Orrell

Number One for House Maintenance!

6 Doors

Orrell based

We can also revive your old drive!

Ask about our sealing service

Call Joe for a free quotation on

Prices include suPPly & fit

Huge range of colours & patterns • Resin Driveways • Block Paving • Indian Stone • Flagging

28 Years Experience

www.orrelljoinery.co.uk

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Promote your

company here for

company here for

just

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Des Pilling Plastering • Plastering • Skimming • Artexing

Coving & Cornice work also welcomed Orrell based – Established 1986

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£30 + VAT

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Fully qualified & Insured Plasterer.

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL All plastering work undertaken including: • All types of rendering • Skimming • Dry lining • Basement tanking • Damp proof courses Call Westley Gillett for a FREE no obligation quote

01257 413206 or 07802 710685

95

No job too small!

Superior craftmanship at competitive rates

Quality Handyman Service from a qualified Joiner

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Property Maintenance & Handyman Services 3 Kitchens & Bathrooms 3 Painting & Decorating 3 Joinery 3 Electrical 3 Building 3 Paving, Decking & Fencing 3 Tiling 3 Plumbing

Telephone Keith on

07812 110476

ALPINE LTD Roofing & Building Services

For all aspects of renovations and maintenance -

no job too small!

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LocalLife

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• Flat roof specialists • Damp proof specialists • Quality workmanship • Affordable pricing • Quick response to all repairs

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SERVING CHORLEY, W EST LANCASHIR E& WIGAN

Your local roofing company from repairs to re-roofs, fascia’s, soffits & gutters.

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96

Home Improvements Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements!

Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters We specialise in seamless aluminium gutters.

Clean, stylish and guaranteed for 25 years!

Call: 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183 www.orrellroofline.co.uk

K Stone Building Services All types of building work undertaken • Brickwork • Pointing • Garden Walls • Patios

• Roof Repairs • Flagging • Alterations • Driveways

25 years experience

01942 495412 07974 496676

P P

Building services Joinery Specialists

• Conservatories & Orangeries • Extensions • Refurbishments & Alterations • Fencing & Decking

• Fitted Kitchens & Bedrooms • Garage & Loft Conversions • Floors, Doors & Windows • Composite Doors • Garden Gates For all your home improvement needs call David on...

01942 203 804 07851 225 876

DS Joinery Your Reliable, Friendly, Professional & Honest Building & Joinery Specialists • Garage & Loft Conversions • Kitchens & Fitted Bedrooms • Doors & Windows • All aspects of joinery work

“Attention to detail is second to none. Can’t recommend Phil enough” Facebook Review, July 2018

97

First Class Workmanship 4 All types of re-roofs 4 Strip & re-slate or re-tile 4 Built up felt/flat roofs, dormers etc.

4 Insurance work undertaken 4 Roofline uPVC fascias, soffits & guttering

W.Newman

All aspects of roofing & roofline NEW ROOFS REPAIRS FASCIAS, SOFFITS & GUTTERS

Dormers and Garages

ROOFING & REPAIRS

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• From a broken tile to a full re roof.

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MOBILE: 07774 943 706

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Established Over 30 Years

M: 07894 687 384

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01695 622 704 07968 652 320 www.baberry.co.uk

• WILSON •

NEIL SIMPSON BUILDER

Est. 1985

Can’t find a reliable local builder?...look no further

BROS

Roofing & Roofline Specialists • All aspects of maintenance & repair • Fascia & soffit installation • Guttering and felting services Call us now for a free estimate

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brickwork joinery roofing plastering internal alterations all types of building work undertaken garden construction garden walls patios gravel gardens flagging decking pergolas

No job too small Reasonable prices Quality work

Call Neil 07939 961190 (day) or 01942 230402 (eve)

7th April

13,191

Wigan Edition

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march 2020

Forgotten Buildings:

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© David Bancroft Photography

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALkS | COmpETiTiON S | HOmE & GArDEN SErViCES

NEXT ISSuE DEADlINE May/June 2021 14th April

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september 2018

in Autumn

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ST HELENS

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Heritage

hEritagE opEn days

Open Days

WhEElton moor Walk a hEalthiEr hEart

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June 2021

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LocalLife Wigan North Edition

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LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALkS | COmpETiTiON S | HOmE & GArDEN SErViCES

tickets to Martin Mere

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Art Trail mEmOriES OF CENTrAL

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want to book advertiSinG? Call us on 01695 627999 for more details or email sales@locallife247.co.uk

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Come and visit the largest showroom in the North West Quality installations of windows, doors, fascias, soffits and gutters First for quality First for service First for reliability No contractors No salesmen Just a smile and a honest price from a family run business

Transform your conservatory into a home office

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Call us for a Free Quote Office Number: 01942 871 777 Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Street, Leigh, WN7 5SE warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk

Representative example: Total cash price £1164, deposit £0, amount borrowed £1164 over 12 months. 12 monthly repayments of £97. Interest rate 0%. Total repayable £1164. Credit is subject to the lenders T&C. Warmlight Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 7700524. We are a credit broker, not a lender and have a facility with one lender.

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Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value Windows

Bi-Fold Doors

Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs expertly fitted by accredited installers

Orangeries

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Manufacturers and installers since 2004

Contact us on 01744 891717 for a no obligation quote

28544

Visit our showroom/factory at; Crows Nest, Ashton Road, Billinge, WN5 7XX (near Windy Arbour crossroads)

www.orrellwindows.co.uk