MeridenMag Winter 2025

Meriden Mag

See inside to find out what's happening in Meriden this Christmas, including Santa's sleigh, the Santa Fun Run, an HS2 Open event and lots more. Plus articles from all the usual local groups, schools, doctors, churches and charities.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year

Events in Meriden

BUBBLES HAND CAR WASH

T’ai Chi and Meditation and Relaxation T’ai

and Meditation and Relaxation

The perfect start to your day………..

Chi

Mer ide n Fi sh and Chips s

The Green

Mer iden

You can try the rest but we’re the best!

Opening hours

Monday – Saturday

11.30am - 2pm and 4.15pm – 9.30pm

Closed Sundays 01676 248100

All Photos courtesy of Heather Ross.

CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW OPEN – Search MERIDEN FARM on Facebook for locally raised, lamb, turkeys and more.

Untilnextti me, best wishes from usallatMeridenFarm.

A

GARDEN FOR MERIDEN (AT THE BACK OF THE METHODIST CHURCH)

All Together Café Meriden Sports Pavilion Any time between 2pm and 4pm

12th December

9th January

13th February

Winter in the Garden

As the chill of winter settles over Meriden, many gardeners hang up their gloves until spring. But there’s still plenty of joy to be found outdoors, even as the days grow shorter and the air bites with frost. Winter o ers a unique opportunity to give your garden some TLC and plan for a vibrant new year.

Protect Delicate Plants: Use cloches or horticultural ﬂeece to shield vulnerable plants from frost. Mulching around the base of perennials and shrubs will also help retain warmth and moisture.

Prune with Purpose: Now is the time to prune apple and pear trees, as well as wisteria and climbing roses. Remove dead or diseased branches to encourage healthy growth come spring.

Clear Fallen Leaves: While a carpet of leaves looks picturesque, it can harbour pests and diseases. Gather leaves from lawns and borders and add them to your compost heap or create leaf mould—a wonderful soil conditioner.

Feed the Birds: With natural food sources dwindling, garden birds appreciate a helping hand. Hang feeders ﬁlled with seeds, nuts, and fat balls, and provide a shallow dish of water for drinking and bathing.

Winter is the perfect time to dream and scheme for the seasons ahead. Take stock of your garden and browse catalogues for new seeds and plants.

If you’ve got a greenhouse or windowsill, why not start sowing sweet peas and broad beans indoors? There are plenty of hips, haws and holly berries and dried grasses to use this winter to decorate your home for Christmas.

There’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of soup after a brisk walk outside. This recipe uses classic winter root vegetables that may be harvested from your garden or sourced locally.

2 carrots, peeled and diced

2 parsnips, peeled and diced

1 small swede, peeled and diced

1 onion, chopped

1 litre vegetable stock

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried thyme

Olive oil, salt and pepper

400 g mincemeat

I cooking apple cored peeled and sliced about 225 g

½ tsp mixed spice

2 tbsp brandy

2tbsp brown sugar

I pack of ready rolled pu pastry

Gently sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the chopped vegetables and thyme, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes. Pour in the stock, bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 minutes until all veg is tender. Blend if you prefer a smooth soup, and serve with crusty bread

Roll pastry into 45x30 cm and cut into two strips 45x15 cm

Pile the mincemeat on top of one slice and moisten the edge for about 2cm

Place sliced apples neatly on top, sprinkle with mixed spice and sugar and drizzle brandy over.

Take the other piece of pastry, fold in half and cut diagonal strips across keeping a 2cm border. Wet the base edge and stick the two parts together and trim the edge neatly.

Brush with milk and sprinkle sugar over Bake in a hot oven gas mark 6, fan oven180 degrees, serve warm with cream, custard or ice cream.