Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally
Issue 66 April 2020
www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages
Welcome
To our April issue, with a slightly different spin on things this month. As I write this I’m still unsure whether we will even be able to get this issue printed, or then, if we will be allowed to deliver it. On a brighter note, I must say it’s been really nice to see the local community pulling together in these uncertain times. The Baldock Corona Support Group has been set up to help support the elderly and those in the community that are self-isolating and can't get to the shops. The volunteers involved will be able to pick up shopping, post letters and help gather emergency supplies should you need them, their contact details can be found on page 21. You might have started to spot rainbows in the windows of some your neighbours' homes. The idea behind this is to help spread a little positivity during this time. Next time you pop out for a bit of fresh air or for a walk around the block see how many you can spot and why not add one to your own front window? After a few weeks in the house a little arts and crafts might be just the thing to lift your mood. Our monthly mood lifters are back with their own views on what’s happening at the moment. Nicky Hughes sums it up in her own way with a lighthearted rant and natter about what we’re all thinking. Whilst there’s no tech review from Matt Porter, AKA The Gadget Man, this month, he has shared his thoughts and 10 top tips on ‘working from home’.
As the cinemas have had to close, we’ve update the ‘Movies’ page with Stay at Home movie releases instead! In normal news, our youngest took part in her first bronze D of E expedition in Norfolk at the start of March. Laden with gigantic rucksacks strapped to their backs they set off on the Saturday morning walking the route they had planned themselves, eventually arriving at the campsite just in time to put their tents up as dusk was falling. Whilst you might think a group of teenagers would be excited to spend a weekend with friends and no parents, our youngest was more interested in planning her snack packs and how many marshmallows she should take to add to her hot chocolate! Until the next issue, stay safe
Paul & Jacqui
Jacqui Calver 07973 788418
Disclaimer All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however On Our Doorstep Baldock cannot take any responsibility for the content of adverts or services provided by the advertisers. Reproduction on whole or in part of this publication without prior permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.
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The Independent Baldock Beer Festival At the me of going to press the organisers of the 37th Baldock Fes val had put planning on hold in light of the COVIID-19 pandemic whilst the Government's posi on related to public gatherings becomes clearer. The change to the early May bank holiday from Monday the 4th to Friday 8th May to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE day had already made changes to the format and the Independent Baldock Beer fes val is due to kickstart the two week fes val. The Independent Baldock Beer Fes val has raised significant amounts of money over the last 12 years, with just over £90,000 donated into the community. In 2019 £11,220 was donated to a range of local causes (Baldock scouts, local schools, college and nurseries, the Alzheimer's society, local hospices, a number of local
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sports groups, MIND, Baldock community fireworks, Herts Young homeless and feed up warm up. Some of the dona ons then raised even more money. For example, the £1000 to the community fireworks generated more money split across local schools and groups and the £200 to the flour for the Langford ra race raised over £1000 for local groups! A whole range of groups have benefited thanks to support of the event by the residents of Baldock and so many people volunteering their me. We spoke to Tara Geere, Chair of trustees who explained the Beer fes val COBRA mee ng is on 30/3/20. Tara told us 'as soon as we have news we will let everyone know via our social media pages - Facebook page (Baldock Beer Fes val) and on our website
www.baldockbeerfes val.org If you check out their pages you will see lots of photos and details of their previous dona ons. The volunteer run event has charitable status with all their accounts available on the chari es commission website. The Independent Baldock Beer fes val charitable trust raise money to 'provide grants and dona ons for such charitable purposes for the public benefit in Baldock and surrounding area'.
BALDOCK YOUNG AT HEART CLUB We are a small social club run by volunteers, that meet from 2-4pm on the second Wednesday of each month, at Baldock Community Centre. There is entertainment, ac vi es, local trips out and much more. Many people feel lonely and isolated at some point in their lives for different reasons. If you are fed up with si ng at home looking at four walls why not come and join us? There is a small charge - £10 per year and an addi onal £2 for each mee ng. Transport is also available at
£1.50 each way. This needs to be booked on the morning of each mee ng with the Baldock Community Centre on 01462 894109. Please note our volunteers are not qualified carers therefore you will need to bring a carer with you if you are not self caring or independently mobile. For further informa on please call Irene 07980063450 Susan 07999303185 Karen 07814516436 We look forward to seeing you. Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, SG7 6DH
WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY! “In these unprecedented times we would like to reassure you that if you are considering contacting us we are still here to help! In place of face to face appointments, we offer Skype, telephone and Facetime”
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STRANGE TIMES If the shelves in the supermarkets and the newspapers are to be believed, we are in the midst of an apocalypse and its only going to get worse. The media overload on this thing is mighty and I would suggest that it surpasses the Brexit thing by miles. There is no other news, nothing is happening anywhere in the world except for this virus. I know that it’s important that we are all informed of the very latest advice, but what has happened with the terrible humanity crisis in Turkey? Has the earth stopped producing earthquakes, hurricanes and avalanches? What about all those poor people effected by the flooding, how are they ge ng along? It seems that everything else has been forgo en. My social media feeds are full of virus stuff, most of it is complete rubbish, totally unhelpful and in some cases downright dangerous. I'm not one of life's natural shoppers, I can't stand it. It's a chore, clothes shopping or food is just the same to me. I wander through my weekly shop oblivious to all around me except for what I need and where to find it quickly so I can get out of there. I do realise that I'm not the only person in the world, but people who stand in front of an item I need for more that ten seconds are just
the most annoying people in the world. If they have their children with them pushing one of those special child sized trolleys, I could do me for them. I've no pa ence for readers of packets and couples who cha er about the merits of one apple against another or fish through all the selec on to find the one that is a penny cheaper. I'm not a monster, I know that each person has a reason for doing what they do, but it s ll irks the crap out of me. I don't know about you, but since this invasion of virus I have no ced that I'm suffering from enhanced sensual overload whilst I'm in the supermarket, I hear every cough, every sneeze. I'm watching what people are doing with their hands, I'm aware of people touching stuff. I'm coun ng how many toilet rolls they have and judging them for it whilst feeling guilty if I so much as pop my usual bag of pasta shells in my trolley. I feel as though I need to jus fy every item in there just so they don't judge me too. There are some really crappy people out there, that's for sure. Hoarders are the absolute worst. My message to them (and you know who you are) don't do it, there is no need and if you have it, someone that needs it doesn't. It’s selfish and wrong.
But for every crappy person doing crappy things, there are a hundred fabulous people who are looking out for others, making sure they have what they need. Now that the schools are closed I see teachers offering to help parents with online lessons. Our public services are a bunch of the most amazing selfless people, they work relessly to keep us safe and well and aren't paid nearly enough. No words anywhere can truly express the gra tude we have for them. That famous Bri sh sense of humour has reared it’s childlike head again and I love it. We are absolutely brilliant at finding the funny in any crisis. In fact, in almost any scenario we seem to be able to pull something ridiculous out of it to giggle at it, like naughty schoolboys. I admit to sharing a meme about toilet roll and teenage boys (I will leave that there). So, we have our humour to see us through, meanwhile the Italians on lockdown sit on their balconies and have mass sing-a-longs, the Spanish have turned it into a Rave and the Chinese are having li le dance offs all over the place. How wonderful is that! How amazing are we, the Human Race, we always seem to find a posi ve way though bad mes, and we always find me to help each other out. Its so nice to see posi vity despite all of the bad news coming through. If you are fit and well, offer your services to the community groups that have sprung up to help others. If you are unable to get out, reach out, ask for the help you need. It is out there. So many people helping each other out. Stay safe people, look a er each other, limit your bog roll purchases and we will get to the other side of this, some of us will suffer greatly and for that I'm sad. But it's not The Walking Dead or Armageddon out there (not yet).
Nicky
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Working From Home in Difcult Times Such are the strange mes we live in, many of us now face working from home for the first me along with caring for our children. I have worked from home extensively over the past 20 years and I thought I would try and share some ps on how I have been able to work effec vely in a home environment. If you have been given a laptop to use at home, then there is a danger that you may find yourself si ng in an armchair trying to work and you will soon find this isn't going to work well. 1. Set up a work environment in a spare room or even your bedroom where you can away from disturbances and distrac ons as best as possible. 2. Find a comfortable chair and if possible sit near a window so you can get fresh air while you are working. 3. Set up your computer, so that it is a semi-permanent environment and will allow you to separate work from home and give you a place to 'go to work' 4. Get dressed, you don't go to your place of work in your pyjamas, so again, ge ng dressed gets your prepared for work. 5. Take plenty of breaks. If you have children at home, you will need to be able to give them a en on. If you can set specific mes during the day to stop work, get up and walk around and make yourself a drink.
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6. Try to begin and end your work-day as you would if you were going to your place of work. Let your employer know that these are your work mes. Se ng these boundaries will mean that you aren't on-call 24/7. 7. Most home-working requires an internet connec on. Over the coming months, our communica on links are going to be under a great deal of strain. The video streaming services are going to be used extensively and this will put a great deal of pressure on internet connec on speeds. Home internet is very different to work internet due to what's called 'conten on ra os', so you should be prepared for slower than normal connec on speeds. 8. Ask your employer to provide you with a mobile device that can be used as a 'tether'. This means that should tradi onal broadband experience issues, you can fall back onto connec ng to the internet by connec ng via a 'personal mobile hotspot'. 9. Make sure all of your internetconnected devices are up to date. This
means ensuring an -virus is updated where applicable and any opera ng systems on your computers, set-top boxes, TV's, IpCams etc are updated 10. Keep all of your ba ery-powered devices charged up, but don't leave mobile phones plugged in all of the me as the ba eries don't work as effec vely if they are con nuously charged. Finally, regardless of whether you are working at home or not, you WILL find the number of scam calls you receive will increase, mainly because you will find yourself at home so much more. NEVER give out any personal bank details over the phone including PIN numbers or passwords. Ignore all automated calls and just hang up. These people care li le for the health or financial well-being of their vic ms. If in doubt, speak to a trusted friend or member of your family before taking any ac on that will cost you money. Stay well and see you soon! Ma Porter - The GadgetMan WWW.THEGADGETMAN.ORG.UK
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THE ‘STAYING IN’ MOVIE GUIDE APRILS NETFLIX RELEASES
The Willoughbys - April 22 One to keep the younger members of the family entertained whilst being house bound. “Convinced they'd be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family.” -Netflix
Extraction - April 24 “Tyler Rake is a fearless black market mercenary with nothing left to lose when his skills are solicited to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. But in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible, forever altering the lives of Rake and the boy.” -Netflix
Coffee & Kareem - April 3 “While police officer James Coffee enjoys his new relationship with Vanessa Manning, her 12-year-old son, Kareem, plots their break-up. Attempting to scare away his mom's boyfriend for good, Kareem tries to hire criminal fugitives to take him out but accidentally exposes a secret network of criminal activity, making his family its latest target.” -Netflix
Dangerous Lies - April 30 "Katie Franklin takes a job as a caretaker to a wealthy elderly man in his sprawling, empty Chicago estate. When he unexpectedly passes away and names Katie as his sole heir, she and her husband Adam are pulled into a complex web of lies, deception, and murder. If she's going to survive, Katie will have to question everyone's motives — even the people she loves." -Netflix
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An official ceremony was held in Biggleswade on Monday 24th February to mark the commencement of construc on works for the new care home. Quantum Care provides specialist care for elderly people including those living with demen a. The not for profit care provider has been in opera on for over 27 years and currently manages 22 homes in Her ordshire, 2 in Bedfordshire and 1 in Essex providing a range of care services to over 2000 people. Former Mantles Auto's site on London Road in Biggleswade will be developed into a 76-bed Pictured above: LtoR Mayor of Biggleswade Cllr Madeline Russell and Maria Ball, Quantum Care Chief Executive
care home providing a much needed service for elderly people in and around the Town, as well as providing new employment opportuni es. The new care home will be named Mantles Court following approval from the Mantles family whose auto's business had previously occupied the site since it was established in 1933. Mayor of Biggleswade Cllr Madeline Russell was the honourable guest a ending the event and said that she whole heartedly supported the scheme. She said: “When a loved one can no longer be looked a er in their own home and the best thing for them is to move into residen al care, the last thing families want is to have to leave the Town so this is good news for people of Biggleswade. She also commented on Quantum Care; “A care provider with a good reputa on of providing a highquality service”. Project team consists of: Fron er Estates, Octopus Investments and Quantum Care. The main contractor building the new development is SAC Construc on Limited. For more informa on, visit www.quantumcare.co.uk.
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FIRST AID FOR PETS
With the current situa on it is important to care for our pets to. Why not have a First Aid box at home to deal with any emergency's un l you can get to a Vets. In some emergency's you might not have to act quickly, so it is important to be familiar with your first aid kit and know what to use for different injuries. Your pet definitely needs to be seen by a Vet for any of the following:Ÿ if the animal is not breathing or having difficulty in breathing Ÿ are unresponsive Ÿ are having a fit/seizure Ÿ having difficulty in coordina ng movements Ÿ have collapsed and can't get up
may have eaten something toxic Ÿ have been Vomi ng/Diarrhoea for more than 24 hours Please call your Vets if any of the above condi ons occur so you can be seen as soon as possible. If your emergency is something you can deal with at home then it is worth having a Pets First Aid Kit to hand. Please contact your Vet to see if they have any First Aid Kits you can purchase. If you need any informa on about any of the above then please contact us on:Baldock Vet Centre 01462 895579 or Ÿ
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Baldock Gardens By Graham Tapp
April 2020 This month, as a continuation from last month's piece, I will cover some of the pests you might come across and not know what they are? Or how to cure them. As we progress through the year and the temperature rises, you may find your plants leaves looking a bit dull, with a bronze look and a fine webbing covering the top of the plant and on the ends of the lateral branches. Tetranchus urticae is the culprit otherwise known as spider mite. Spider mites use their mouthparts to spike into the host plant, feeding off the plants sap. The plant will show small white chlorotic spots caused by the mesophil cells in the local area collapsing where they have had the chlorophyll removed by the feeding mites. The leaves will eventually turn bronze, which is the typical sign of a severe infection. The next stage is the death of your plant. Early stages are notoriously difficult to detect unless you have some experience, you need excellent eyesight, most of the time, professional growers will have a magnifying glass and instinct on their side from years of experience. The almost microscopic mites will be seen running up and down the central spine of the leaves. From my many years of fruit growing, I found I had a minor allergy of the red spider mite, so when walking the orchards, I could brush the leaves with the back of my hand, and within minutes I could tell if that plantation was building a colony of mites and I would need to take action. Spider mites have the ability to become resistant to pesticides in a very short time; it is generally thought to be as short as four years. Most growers have recommended that predators are the best way to control them. There is a problem in that 16 degrees centigrade is the minimum temperature that the predators will thrive; the mites will populate at much lower temperatures than that, so they will have a big head start. Constant inspection is critical to control and introduction of the predatory mites
called Phytoseiulus Persimillis, do follow the instructions sent with the kit. Do not buy them from a garden centre or garden shop as they will have been standing around for a time with nothing to feed on and may well be dead or so week that they will not be able to control your infection. I suggest purchasing them online from a specialist company; you will get them very quickly and in good condition and with a full set of instructions. To help control mites you should keep the humidity as high as you can, in your greenhouse or polytunnel, try and keep the paths, beds and tables watered down as often as you can, do not overwater the plant pots, misting the leaves will help. Whitefly. These are the little white triangular shaped flies that flit about when you knock the plant leaves. Whiteflies are usually found on overgrown plants (grown too fast) very soft, often given far too much nitrogen feed, over-pruning will also cause soft growth. The soft leaves are where the whitefly is found, usually in great masses. Trialeurodes vaporiorum (whitefly) suck sap from leaves reducing the vigour of the plant; they excrete honeydew a sugary substance that makes the surface of the plant sticky, this, in turn, allows black sooty mould to grow, making the plant a terrible mess. How to get rid of them? Firstly, try blasting them off the plant with water, a hosepipe with a soft nozzle when outside and a hand spray bottle with warm water for house plants, this will reduce the numbers but unlikely to remove them all. What you need to do next is to purchase some encarsia, a predator that comes supplied on a white card that you hang within the crop or on the house plant, introduce them as soon as you detect the first sign of infestation. Again, I suggest buying them from a professional company online. Horticultural netting used for prevention of some pests is not usually successful for whitefly as they are so small, they can get through. Encarsia Formosa is a natural parasite which seeks
St Johns
Tapps, The Baldock Garden Centre out the whitefly scales and lays an egg inside it, as the eggs hatch and the predator grows the scale will be destroyed and turn black just before the encarsia emerge to repeat the cycle. Each adult is capable of producing three hundred eggs, laying each one inside a scale every thirty days; all crops can be harvested and eaten as encarsia is entirely safe. Saw Fly, most people have seen the results of this pest. This is the nasty little pest that strips the leaves off your plants overnight, a couple of nights and the plant will be only sticks, completely bald, or the leaves will look like skeletons. Now, something annoying but not so damaging, you may not have heard of. Fungus Gnats or Scarid flies, the adults are the annoying little flies that wiz around your house plants and often around you, causing you to swat at them although not seeing what it is that's annoying you. The worm-like larvae live in the top layer of the compost; sometimes there can be so many that it looks like the compost is moving. The best way to rid yourself of this pest is to keep the compost as dry as you can. If you cover it with grit or gravel, the adults will not be able to lay their eggs. Try not to use homemade garden compost as its full of organic material which they love. As a last-ditch cure, you may find some household fly sprays will kill them but do not use them unless the instruction/information wording on the can approve its use. There are predators you can use, but they are so expensive that it will not be cost-effective. Finally, I wanted to say that at the time of writing this, we are entering a severe virus pandemic, and we have just heard that lots of businesses are being closed by compulsory order. People are self-isolating, transport being restricted. I have no idea what that will mean for us all in Baldock? Very scary times. So to finish, I wish you all good luck, let's look after each other in these terrible times.
ham Cheers Gra
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years this has been at various mes including Christmas, Easter and Baldock Summer. This year we are having a summer lunch on June 15th and ckets cos ng Baldock Trefoil Guild You may be wondering who ÂŁ10 will be available from the community centre a er we are. Trefoil Guild is a branch of Girlguiding open to our April mee ng. Occasionally we meet with women and men aged other local Guilds for events eighteen and over. The and there are opportuni es Baldock Trefoil Guild was to travel further aďŹ eld. established in 1997. We are You don't have to have predominately a social group been in the Guiding and meet once a month (usually on the third Monday movement to join us, but if you have you will know how at 7.45pm) at the Guide much fun it can be. Why not Headquarters, Mee ng come and see what we do at House Lane, Baldock. no expense. We are a We have a varied friendly bunch and would programme including speakers, cra s, ou ngs and love to meet you. Our April mee ng (an illustrated talk occasional group projects on Japan by Lisa Paterson) is (you may have seen the fall in the of poppies in Baldock Guide Headquarters, museum recently, or the Mee ng House Lane, kni ed pigs in St Marys Baldock. at 7.45pm church). Every October we run a fundraising quiz and For mor informa on phone once a year we hold a Eileen Haily (secretary) fundraising meal. Over the 01462 895167
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Baldock is coming together to support those who need to self- isolate. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t feel you’re on your own. Our volunteers will contact you and help you through it, whether it is delivering shopping from local shops, delivering your medication from our local pharmacies or being at the end of the phone to make sure your ok. Contact us on 01462 892838 or email baldockcs0@gmail
We will respond as soon as we pick up the message. The phone line will be checked once a day. If you need to check whether you have the virus or have other health questions phone the NHS 111 or go to NHS 111 online. Also remember to keep an eye out for the elderly and frail in your neighbourhood. Give them our details. If you are a local organisation and you have people who would like to volunteer please get in contact and we can discuss how you can help.
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CONTINUATION OF SERVICE As I write we currently have all three of our Osteopathic and Health Clinics open and we are con nuing as normal as we are able to with increased hygiene rou nes to protect our pa ents, prac oners and staff. Should we become 'further shut down' by our governing bodies or the government, we can s ll offer help and advice by face to face communica on via media device or on the phone. This means help is available on best prac ce for the management of any acute or chronic musculoskeletal condi ons. Our advice can include first aid for acute injuries including: hot and cold therapy, postural advice, exercise advice and the best (non-prescrip on) medicine regime and also include more help for more chronic condi ons or injuries. Injuries will s ll occur even though the virus is here and with so much tv and sofa me coming up for us all, bad posture could lead to aches and pains. If you find yourself at home because of isola ng and being unwell, use this me to do stretches and exercises and
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don't sit or lay down for too long if you are well enough to do so. Working from home to limit your contact with people - limit the length of me you use your phone and computer and take regular breaks. Make sure your working space isn't going to compromise your neck, shoulders and back, by placing your laptop at eye level and within easy reach. Working at a desk is the ideal and refrain from using a laptop on your lap. Look a er your mental health too with the kids at home. Escape to a quiet room and grab some “me me”. Use a medita on or relaxa on app to centre yourself even 2 to 3 minutes can help. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with us if you are concerned about your physical or mental health in any way. We're here to help and very happy to. Call us on 01462 490141. Tim Moynihan Osteopath Amber Health
HARTSFIELD Our Year 3 classes were excited to receive a le er from Oliver Heald MP this half term. The children had wri en to him to raise their concerns about the loss of rainforests happening around the world and to ask him to work to ensure the government made it a priority. In their geography, science and English lessons, the children have been learning about how important rainforests are for everyone. They were par cularly concerned about the deforesta on caused by the growing of palms for palm oil and the reduc on in oxygen genera on and increasing carbon dioxide levels caused by the decreasing rainforests. In his le er, Mr Heald was able to reassure the children that the Bri sh government were working hard to help protect the rainforests along with other countries around the world. On Thursday 13th February, our year 6 pupils a ended a primary music fes val at Knights Templar School. They joined with other schools from around the local area for a day of singing. They learnt two songs in advance ('Happy' by Pharrell Williams and 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from Toy Story) and learnt some more on the day. The event was a great success; the children had fun and the parents enjoyed the performance and some of them even joined in!
UPDATE Our Netball A and B teams have both been in ac on at tournaments recently. Our A team did incredibly well to come third against some very tough opponents. We had a par cularly huge achievement from our B team, who won their tournament in very wet and windy condi ons. We are incredibly proud of both teams! The Friends of Hartsfield fundraise relessly to help us provide the best provision for our children. The new grass bank and sea ng area, installed by Perfect Ar ficial Lawns at Radwell, to the side of our lower playground would not have been possible without addi onal funds such as these. Children are already enjoying the extra open space this provides. As the term progresses and Spring hopefully brings be er weather, we look forward to making the most of our outdoor areas to enhance physical ac vity and wellbeing.
BALDOCK ROTARY NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT PAYS DIVIDENDS As you may have read in previous ar cles regarding Baldock Rotary, the club has been looking for new members to join its ranks. The club, therefore, is par cularly pleased to have welcomed four new members who have joined the club. . New members are par cularly important in order to ensure that Baldock Rotary can con nue to deliver the projects and ac vi es that it undertakes for the community. The Christmas sleigh collec on, maintaining, installing and removing the Christmas lights, organising Open Gardens and the annual Jazz Concert all take considerable resources to deliver. Therefore, new members Thomas Odd, John Wilburn, John Aus n and Gordon Brooks have all been enthusias cally welcomed into the club over recent months and are now ac vely par cipa ng in the various ac vi es currently underway. Baldock Rotary President Prue Dixon commented “the enthusiasm of our new members in wan ng to 'give something back to the community' and suppor ng the Rotary ethos of 'Service Above Self' will help to ensure that Baldock Rotary sustains not only its current ac vi es but also the new ini a ves that are currently in the pipeline, all of which are for the greater benefit of Baldock”.
In an effort to recruit addi onal members a leaflet drop is being organised which will invite people poten ally interested in joining Rotary to make contact with the club. Ini ally leaflets will be distributed on Clothall Common during April, so keep an eye out for them. We would love to hear from you. If you are the type of person who is able to “give something back” to the Community, Rotary might be just right for you. If you are interested in any aspect of what Rotary has to offer please contact us on our website address below, or contact our Membership Secretary, Paul Redwood, tel. no. 07999 350990, email paul49redwood@gmail.com Rotarian - Paul Lucke
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For most people their home is the biggest investment they will ever make and the things they keep in it are their most prized possessions. As your local broker our role is to select the policy most suited to your individual needs. Ensuring peace of mind for our customers is at the heart of what we do. To make sure your most treasured possessions are properly covered contact the Emperor of insurance. QUOTE REF: DOORSTEP
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FRIENDS OF ST MARYS BALDOCK The Friends of St Mary's are pleased to present a programme of events to be held in the coming Baldock Fes val. The programme has something for everyone and includes an evening concert by acclaimed local cellist Catherine Wilmers who will perform in the Church on Tuesday 12th May at 7.30pm. On Friday 15th May, why not join us for 'An evening with Flanders and Swann' as interpreted by Peter Chapman and Mike O'Neill – a special opportunity to enjoy all your old favourites including 'The Gnu' and 'The Hippopotamus'. These are just two of several events to be held as part of the Fes val in May and full details including how to book will be
published in the Fes val brochure. Friends of St Mary's was founded in 2006 with the aim of raising funds for the essen al repair and restora on necessary to protect and enhance our beau ful Church building . Since then, with the support of the community, we have achieved so much - but there is s ll much more to be done! Please come along to the events with family and friends , enjoy them and accept our grateful thanks for suppor ng us in the is vital work. If you would like to know more about our work or join Friends of St Mary's if you are not already a member, please contact our Chairperson , Aileen Barry by email ailenjbarry@gmail.com or by leaving a voice mail on 01462 339105 Many thanks, Marianne Cusworth, Friends of St Mary's Commi ee member
Happy Birthday Candice & Laura
Lots of Love Lorraine
10 th April Gareth Adaway on the 21st
To our very special son, lots of love from Mum and Dad xxx.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Wishing you a very special day from all your family xx
KIM
BARBER
60 JENNY 1 APRILOAKLEY
Herd it was your Birthday
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Vehicle Accident Repair Specialists Crash Care Centre Hitchin Ltd
MOT’s, SERVICING, REPAIRS, AIR CON, DIAGNOSTICS
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2020
AIR CON RE-GAS £69.99
+ VAT
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FREE MOT WITH FULL SERVICE
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01462 Hitchin 895933 SG4 0SE
Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk
April Gallery
Where’s Wally - Mia Lloyd
Some of the students from Weston School,
Hermione Granger and Dobby - Donna Jacquet
Joshua as Captain Hook, his favourite part of his costume was his parrot - Anita Mead
Willy Wonka - Rebecca Louise Nelson
Sam Bulley’s Catin the Hat Twins
Bouncy Castle Hire
R.H GARDEN DESIGN The Garden Specialists Some of our many services offered include:
rich.humphreys@btinternet.com T: 01462 612033 M: 07738 246568
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2020
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Regular maintenance Garden Make-overs Jungles tamed Patios Fencing Turng Planting Articial grass Decking Driveways Pressure washing of patios and drives
Slimming Wld Recipe Supplied by
Sandra Lloyd
Macaroni Cheese A healthier version of a family favourite meal
Ingredients Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
300g dried macaroni Low calorie cooking spray 1 red onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 roasted red pepper in brine from a jar, finely chopped 1 courgette, coarsely grated 400ml vegetable stock 4 tbsp tomato purée 200g low-fat natural cottage cheese 1 tsp English mustard powder mixed with 1 tsp water 2 eggs, lightly beaten 160g reduced-fat vegetarian cheddar, coarsely grated Salt and freshly ground black pepper A salad of mixed leaves and thinly sliced yellow peppers, to serve
Method 1. Preheat your over to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6. Cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions, then drain well and tip into a wide mixing bowl. 2. Meanwhile, place a large frying pan sprayed with low cooking spray over a high heat. Add the onion, garlic, red pepper and courgette, and cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes. Add to the macaroni. 3. Put the stock, tomato purée, cottage cheese, mustard and eggs in a jug and whisk until smooth. Pour this over the macaroni mixture, then stir in three-quarters of the Cheddar. Season and toss well. 4. Transfer to a shallow, ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over the remaining Cheddar and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbling and golden. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then serve with the salad. mobile
hairdressing to make an appointment or for a free consultation call 07973 788418 01462 640307 hairbyjacqui@hotmail.co.uk baldock I letchworth I stevenage I stotfold I villages
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Through Coloured
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2020
Weston Primary & Nursery School What a month at Weston Primary & Nursery School! We had a great me celebra ng World Book Day. The children at Weston Primary & Nursery School came to school dressed as magical beasts, beast keepers or magizoologists, taking their inspira on from JK Rowling's Book, “Fantas c Beasts and Where to Find Them”. The children became authors for the day, wri ng about their very own fantas c, magical beasts. Our history topic this term is The Great Fire of London. We were lucky to have the Great Fire visit us at Weston. The children in Years 1,2 and 3 had a wonderful me learning about the Great Fire through drama workshops, bringing the fire to life. The children enacted the whole story from before the fire started un l the rebuilding. The children became flames, persuaded the Mayor to take ac on to stop the fire and formed a court room to decide how to rebuild the City.
We had a spectacular STEM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths). We had visits from the Secret Science Agent and Thomas Alleyne School. We looked at the life cycle of frogs and engineered frogs, we made lemon juice ba eries, planned experiments looking at variables, made boats out of different materials to see how well they floated and carried objects based on the Cu y Sark, made catapults, dropped eggs and con nued to look at germs and health. We finished the week with a Weston Welly Wang to see how far we could throw a welly. A great, inspiring week was had by all. APRIL
2020
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YOUR RIVER NEEDS YOU! The RevIvel Associa on was formed last year in response to the drama cally declining state of the Ivel Springs and upper River Ivel and our aims are Ÿ To monitor and raise awareness of the state of the upper River Ivel from its source at Baldock to its confluence with the River Hiz at Henlow. Ÿ To secure a minimum flow in the river of 5 Ml/day at Blackhorse farm and 14 Ml/day below Radwell Mill. Ÿ To secure a water quality in the en re upper Ivel adequate to support a permanent popula on of Brown Trout for which the upper Ivel was once famous. History shows us that prior to 1904 when the first borehole was sunk by First Garden City Ltd at Baldock Road, the Ivel was a gushing perennial chalk stream from its very source. It supported extensive watercress beds (at today's Ivel Springs Local Nature Reserve, and at Radwell), trout fisheries at Norton and Radwell Mills, and six substan al corn mills (Blackhorse, Norton, Radwell, Sto old, Taylors and Bowmans). There are few, if any, people living who remember the Ivel in this vibrant fast -
flowing state. It flowed all year round and there is considerable evidence to demonstrate this. Why is this important? The Ivel is one of only 225 chalk rivers worldwide, 80% of which are in England. Ivel Springs, the source of the Ivel, are fed en rely by water from the aquifer underground. The river was dry from its source in Baldock to Radwell in 2019. This was not solely due to climate change and low rainfall. The river flow rate over the last few years has been drama cally reduced by over abstrac on by the water company. The river valley dries, water levels drop, the river ceases to flow and wildlife dies. Currently the Ivel, is the only northwards running chalk river in Her ordshire which does not have augmenta on. This could be achieved on the same model as has existed at Ashwell Springs since 1971. Water is pumped into the springs when groundwater levels fall to a trigger point. To achieve this Ÿ Flow is constantly measured at a gauging sta on (see photo below)
If flow falls below a certain threshold, Affinity Water are required to augment the flow. Ÿ All water added to keep the Ivel flowing, would count against Affinity Water's abstrac on licence. In November NHDC unanimously voted to declare the state of the river an environmental emergency and declared an inten on to ques on Affinity Water over its plans for a reduc on in abstrac on rates. Please join us and help protect Ivel Springs and the river for future genera ons. We need abstrac on to be linked to the flow rates of the river. Our children and our grandchildren have a right to walk and play along the river and to see the waters abundant with flora and fauna. No water results in a dead river without iconic species such as water vole, o er and king fisher. If you'd like to be involved, or have more informa on, please contact our publicity officer, Sharon Moat , sharon@sharonmoat.co.uk Ÿ
FABULOUS GLAMPERVAN Just pick up and go – The motorhome is fully equipped ready for you to start your holiday. Available for short breaks and longer holidays all year round.
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Tel: 01462 491035 / 07985315632 2020
Useful numbers Advice Citizen’s Advice Bureau Trading Standards Advice Samaritans
03444 111444 0300 300 8136 116 123
Councils North Hertfordshire District
01462 474000
Doctors Baldock Surgery
01462 892458
Dentist Victoria Place Dental Surgery
01763 313869
Emergency Utilities Gas Emergency Electric power cut
0800 111 999 0800 7838838
Hospitals Lister Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 EMERGENCY HEALTH
01438 314333 01707 328111 111
Library Baldock Library
0300 123 4049
Police Police
01707 354000
Schools Knights Templar Hartseld St Johns St Marys Brandles
01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 01462 892189
Travel Arriva Buses National Rail Enquires National Bus line
08701 201088 03457 484950 0870 6082608
Vets Baldock Veterinary Centre
01462 895579
Nurseries Weston Way Nursery Merry Go Round
01462 892172 01462 896322
Play Groups Magic Moments Merry Go Round
07709 618434 01462 896322
Plumbers Maben PE James
07949 120911 07816 586777
Window & Door repairs JML Windows Repairs Warrens Windows
01438 906300 01462 261401
Florist Blooms of Baldock
07747 195325
Barbers Micks of Baldock
01462 895002
Locksmith Lock and Glaze
07737885528
Mobile Hair Dresser Hair By Jacqui
07973 788418
Funeral Directors Shires - CPJ Field Baldock
01462 491149
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Lawn Care & Landscaping Specialists
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07713 774 338 thomasgardenscapes@yahoo.com
Courtlands Riding Stables & Pony Club Centre Always fancied horse riding but don’t know where to start? Why not come down and have a chat and see what we have to offer Our friendly staff and clients are always around Saturdays and Sundays 9am -12pm
A safe and relaxing environment for the whole family
Pony club rallies and activities Indoor & outdoor riding facilities
Full livery and schooling
www.courtlandsridingstables.co.uk
01438 355121
Courtlands Riding Stables, Old Chanrty Lane, Todds Green, Stevenage, Herts, Sg1 2JE
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AND VIEW THE FULL RANGE OF OUR PRODUCTS
Come along and view our full range of products on display in our new show room. Kindlelight’s friendly staff will be on hand to assist with any queries. Everyone is welcome. Ample parking and refreshments available.
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