MeridenMag Summer 2026 by MeridenMag

Summer 2026

See inside for lots of summer events and news and photographs from all the Village organisations

Meriden Primary School

Thursday 2nd July 5.00- 7.00pm

Cake stall and refreshments

Lots of games and stalls

Bottle Tombola

Raffle

Firebird Singers - contact Valerie Martin 01676 522963

“I'm absolutely overwhelmed by the love and support I received on 8 th March for my ‘Divas of Jazz ‘Concert. It was my very first solo debut in celebration of female music artists. I did wonder how it would all turn out, but I knew I was extremely fortunate to have a wonderfully talented team to make "Divas of Jazz" a success!

Of course, the presence of a warm and friendly audience, made this experience all the more delightful! I can say with certainty that this is my greatest achievement yet. I cannot thank everyone who attended that day enough for sharing such a magical experience. Here’s to many more! “

Kind regards Lucia

’aiChi

and Meditationand Relaxation T

’aiChi

and Meditationand Relaxation

The perfect start to your day………..

BUBBLES HAND CAR WASH

The fourthmonk ey ha s emerged. He sees noone , hears noone, and spea ks tonoone .

A Garden for Meriden (at the back of the Methodist Church)

Postcard from Meriden

Summer Tubs and Hanging Baskets

Planting hanging baskets and tubs can be both rewarding and enjoyable. However, with changing climate conditions and rising water bills, it is essential to adopt methods that make this process as easy and e icient as possible. The mainstay of summer containers and baskets are tender perennials, often referred to as 'patio plants' . Those such as fuchsia can overwintered in the greenhouse as plants, rooted cuttings or bought fresh each year, With the cost of water bills in mind and changing weather patterns choosing strategies that reduce water usage is crucial. Opting for drought resistant plants and employing e icient watering techniques can help ensure that tubs and baskets thrive. A water butt is useful and can be attached to a down drainpipe. Hardy perennials like lavender can be used and later transplanted into the garden. Additionally, you might consider ﬁlling a tub with herbs or ornamental grasses.

Choose a focal plant such as a structural shrub or annual climber grown on a small tripod for the centre of the scheme.

Water resistant plants include geraniums, petunias (especially newer weather tough varieties), verbena (trailing varieties attract pollinators and are ideal for hanging baskets), calibrachoa (million bells), santolina, with a silvery foliage adds colour. Small ivies look good in hanging baskets.

Choose a good quality peat free compost, make sure you put crocks at the base of the tub to ensure drainage. feed regularly and dead head often.

Plant summer hanging baskets from late May onward when the risk of frost is over, if you have a wire basket use a standard purchased liner and place a small pot tray to prevent water draining out too quickly, if you have more baskets it may be worth installing an automatic watering system.

Easysummer recipes

Strawberries with caramel dessert sauce

This very simple dessert comes French Languedoc

comomes es frorom th the

A slice of brioche bread per person, pile up with strawberries and drizzle with caramel sauce. delicious

Raspberry syllabub

1 lemon

3 tbsp caster sugar

60ml sweet wine

300 ml double cream

150g crushed raspberries

Grate the lemon zest into a bowl with the sugar and the wine.

Leave to cool in the fridge for at least two hours.

Slowly beat in the double cream with a whisk very carefully, making sure you do not over beat.

Fold in the raspberries, spoon into chilled glasses and leave in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Summer Pudding

750g mixed summer fruit such as raspberries, Red and black currants, loganberries, blackberries, cherries and blueberries

185g caster sugar

1 medium loaf good-quality white bread, and cut into thin slices with the crusts removed

2 tbsp cassis or blackcurrant cordial

Place the fruit in a saucepan. Remove the stems from the redcurrants (if using) with a fork, pour the sugar over the fruit and stir gently.

Place the pan over a moderate heat and slowly bring up to the boil.

Allow the fruit to simmer until the fruit is soft and the juices run.

Leave to cool.

Line a I litre pudding bowl with the slices of bread, with the crusts removed.

Cut a circle of bread for the base, and triangles for the sides, making sure there are no gaps and save a slice for making the lid.

Dip the bread in the juices and then ﬁll the bowl with the fruit and place the lid on top

Put an upturned saucer on top and a weight on top (a tin of baked beans works well here) leave overnight (12 hours) in the fridge.

Serve with cream.

Over the past 12-18 months we have been working hard at Heart of England School with regards to aspects of our student leadership. This academic year we expanded our school council so that each tutor group were able to elect one of their peers to represent student aspects of our school culture.

The student council’s work at the end of changes we have made to our rewards policy and Mrs Vowles has led assemblies talking to students about such changes, including end of year trips to the British Science Museum or a West End show for those with the highest recognition points in their year group. These changes have been born through negotiation and discussion and developing an understanding of different perspectives

perhaps a little stubbornness of my part in not relenting to a model of allowing every student in every year group to go on a school trip to a local theme park!

student council were set the challenge charities for this year, Teenage Lives Versus Cancer and Winston’s Wish. The Student Council set themselves the target of raising £750 and planned a variety of activities in order to raise money…be under no illusion that a bake sale at break or lunch can motivate a lot of teenagers! In addition to this there were activities such as solving the members of staff disguised as the Easter Bunny, guessing the number of Easter eggs in the jar, a charity football competition and a staff Easter Bonnet competition that saw originality and novelty far in excess of what I could ever have predicted.

The result of this cumulative effort from the Student Council, student body our target of £750 was shattered and a staggering £2,700 was raised! It goes without saying how proud I am of each and every member of our school community who contributed to raising such a spectacular amount.

At a time when, regardless of political colours or leanings, our social discourse can be scathing and barbed towards those who lead us and there can be a prevailing sense of frustration or futility, I often look at Heart of England’s students (and in particular our

Student Council, Head

hope for what may lie ahead. No one compelled them to give up their time and energy to raise money; there was no threat or imperative motivating their endeavours, they rallied together to do something to make our community (inside and outside of the school gates) a better place…that’s leadership!

The amazing fund-raising students with Mr Bennett and the Head Boy

Out and About this Summer

nec starting 23rd May

18th Century Formal Gardens and Local Nature Reserve Parkland (Grade2*)

10 acres of a unique survival of 350-yearold early 18th century formal garden design. The walled garden, once part of the Earl of Bradford’s estate, rescued, nurtured and owned by an independent Charitable Trust. A further 30 acres of the former estate’s historic Parkland, now a Local Nature Reserve, encircles the formal garden. Keeping largely to a periodrelevant style with plant species and heritage fruit from 1680-1760 it’s like visiting the Baroque countryside in the middle of a 21st century city.