Cotswolds

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APRIL 2016

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The Local

ANSWER

Cotswolds – 28,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Gloucestershire South – 41,000 copies Gloucester – 46,000 copies Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies

Chloe Reynolds Publication Manager – Cotswolds

01242 541072 chloe@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Editorial Lois Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Distribution Robert Kingscott – 01242 541071 distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Production Alison Hambling alison@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Accounts Kerry Fell accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

1 Ullenwood Court, Ullenwood, Gloucestershire GL53 9QS

01242 510500 thelocalanswer

Welcome to April ...

We have a fantastic competition this month in which you could be the lucky winner of a £500 holiday gift card courtesy of The Local Answer! For more details and to find out how you can enter, see the centre pages.

Take advantage of the glorious sunshine and get out and about in April. Why not forage for gorse in the countryside, or check out our What’s On section for some great entertainment including a Giant Duck Hunt, theatre productions and a Murder Mystery night!

Alternatively, get out in the garden and follow Julia Smith’s tips on spring flowers, or if you’d prefer to take it easy, have a go at making this month’s cocktail – a Bloody Mary – and put your feet up.

Inside this month ...

Food & Drink 5 Delicious Dishes 5 Cocktail Time 7 What’s On 12 Win a £500 Holiday Gift Card! 18-19 Wild Food Foraging 20 Wildlife Matters 21 Motoring 23 Homes & Gardens 24 In the Garden 25 Interior Design 27 Word Search 28 Sudoku 31 Quick Crossword 32 Money Matters 33 Index, Competitions, Solutions 34 Competition on pages 18-19

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Page 3

FREE CONSULTATIONS for Dental Implants, Invisalign, Tooth Whitening & Skin Treatments

Delicious Dishes with Helen Kingscott

Rhubarb panna cotta served with roasted rhubarb Tangy, light and creamy – a perfectly simple spring dessert Ingredients (serves 4): For the roasted rhubarb: 500g fresh rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces; 2 tbsp caster sugar; 4 tbsp apple juice For the panna cotta: 75g caster sugar; 150ml double cream; 2 gelatine leaves, soaked in a bowl of water until soft, squeezed dry; 300ml buttermilk.

Method: 1 For the roasted rhubarb: preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas 6). Place the pieces of rhubarb onto a baking tray, sprinkle with sugar then drizzle over the apple juice.

2 Roast in the oven for 8-12 minutes, or until just tender.

3 Blend 125g of the roasted rhubarb in a food processor to make a purée. Keep back the remaining roasted rhubarb to garnish the panna cotta.

4 For the panna cotta: put the sugar and cream in a pan and gently simmer. Stir continuously until all of the sugar has dissolved.

5 Soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Squeeze out all excess water.

Add the softened gelatine leaves to the sugar and cream mixture. Continue to simmer until they are dissolved.

6 Add the rhubarb purée to the pan and stir until well combined. Remove from the heat and put aside to cool slightly.

7 Add the buttermilk and stir until the mixture is combined.

8 Place four ramekins onto a baking tray. Split the panna cotta mixture between the ramekins and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or until set.

9 To serve, remove the panna cotta from the fridge. Briefly dip the base of each into a bowl of boiled water to loosen. Gently slide a knife around the edge of each ramekin and turn out into the centre of a serving plate.

Spoon the remaining reserved rhubarb and juices around the edge of the serving plates.

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Page 5

The Old Rectory Re staurant

Cole sbourne , Che lte nham GL5 5SB 01242 870120 Private Dining Room

Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott

Ideal venue for parties of all occasions and friends get-togethers No hire cost!

Cotswold Country Dining

A warm welcome awaits in this charming cosy restaurant. Offering locally sourced meats, fresh fish & vegetables, as well as delicious home made desserts.

Traditional Sunday Lunch £18.50 3 course multi choice menu

Spring Lunches £12.95 2 course multi choice menu Dinner from 6pm Lunch from 12 noon

Bloody Mary

01453 839949

The Bloody Mary is often called ‘the world’s most complex cocktail’ because of the vast number of ingredients it contains, and there are three different claims to who invented it.

The first is a bartender from New York’s 21 Club named Henry Zbikiewicz, who supposedly invented the cocktail in the 1930s. The second, a frequent visitor of the 21 Club, is the comedian George Jessel. But the third comes from Fernand Petiot who claimed to have invented the Bloody Mary before the other two, in 1921, while working at the New York Bar in Paris – later known as Harry’s New York Bar. Petiot said that he adapted Jessel’s drink from being simply vodka and tomato juice by combining “four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of Worcestershire sauce”. He then added a dash of lemon juice, ice, vodka and tomato juice before shaking, straining and pouring.

The cocktail’s name is associated with several historical figures – most prominently Queen Mary I of England, who gained the nickname due to the mass executions she carried out while attempting to re-establish Roman Catholicism in England.

Ingredients: Ice; 50ml vodka; ½ lemon, juice only; 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce; 3 dashes Tabasco sauce; 150ml tomato juice; pinch salt and ground black pepper; celery and wedge of lime to garnish.

Method: 1 Place the ice in a tall glass and add the vodka.

2 Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce and tomato juice. Stir well.

3 Season to your taste with salt and pepper, garnish with celery and lime wedge, and serve immediately.

info@tipputsgrill.com

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Why not have a Mocktail?

For a non–alcoholic alternative, simply omit the vodka.

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Page 7

R EF EC UR EN BI TL SH Y ED R

Residential, Nursing and Dementia Care Home in the Heart of the Cotswolds Hyperion House Nursing Home has 45 Nursing Beds with en-suites ● Private and Social funding ● Diva Care Ltd has been providing Residential and Nursing care for people since 1985 ● 24 hour care, a comprehensive social activities programme, all meals and hotel and laundry services available ●

Redefining Care Diva Care Ltd | Hyperion House Nursing Home | London Street | Fairford | Gloucestershire GL7 4AH | Telephone: 01285 712 349 www.divacare.co.uk

Page 8

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What’s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors.

We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit.

EVERY WEDNESDAY BEGINNERS MAT PILATES FOR LADIES NEW CLASS STARTS April 20th. Ashchurch Village Hall, GL20 8LA. Wednesdays 7.15pm (except every 2nd Wednesday of the month). Cost: £8. To Book: 0752 847 1091 or www.synergispilates.co.uk.

1-31 MARCH DAFFODIL & EARLY MAGNOLIA MONTH March is the perfect time to see the host of golden daffodils in all their spring glory!

Wander through swathes of yellow and enjoy the spring sunshine from beneath the glorious tree canopy. Batsford’s 73 species of Magnolia will also start to bloom, filling the Arboretum with clouds of pink and white. Please call for an update on 01386 701441 or visit www.batsarb.co.uk. Batsford Arboretum, Batsford, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD. 25 MARCH – 10 APRIL THE GIANT DUCK HUNT

A group of giant ducks will be landing at Slimbridge this Easter holidays, can your family spot them all? Pick up an activity

sheet on arrival then set off on a fun hunt which will take you all round the grounds.

Spot them all and receive a yummy treat on your return. This Easter holiday there will also be some fun easter arts and crafts so you can make something to take home. While you are on the hunt keep an eye out for ducklings, handfeed some geese and go to hear an otter talk.

9.30am – 5pm. Price included in normal admission. 01453 891223. events.slimbridge@wwt.org.uk. WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. GL2 7BT. THE BIG BATSFORD CHICKEN HUNT!

You may have heard of an Easter Egg hunt, now find the chickens that laid them! They’re all hiding in the Arboretum – simply mark their locations on the map provided to win a prize! The chicken hunt costs £2.50 per child, plus Arboretum admission fee (children must be accompanied by an adult). No need to book, just turn up and enjoy! Visit www.batsarb.co.uk for details. Batsford Arboretum, Batsford, near Moreton-inMarsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD.

25 MARCH – 7 MAY MAMMA MIA Join the ultimate feel-good party at the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical! Set on a Greek island, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Various dates and times. 0844 871 3012. atgtickets.com/venues/bristolhippodrome. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 3 & 23 APRIL CHELTENHAM CROQUET CLUB Try Croquet at Cheltenham Croquet Club, Old Bath Road. Taster Days from 10am3pm. All you need are flat soled shoes and a shower proof top. Just turn up or book your slot on 01242 512933 or email klimseabright@gmail.com.

4 APRIL BIG HERO 6 An action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. From 1pm join Art Playground in the theatre foyer for super hero craft activities before the film starts at 2pm. Tickets £7. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.

16 APRIL CHELTENHAM’S 2ND VEGAN FAIR Fantastic range of stalls – all things vegan – food stalls, clothing, books, make up, animal rights stalls, animal charities, and talks throughout the day. Entry fee is donation only. 10am-4pm. St. Andrews Church, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham.

Vol unt eer wit h us a nd do som ethi ng a ma zi ng!

If you have a few hours to spare each week, why not become an RDA Volunteer? No experience needed – we’ll train you on the job. For anyone with more experience, have you ever thought of teaching? Find out more on our website or give us a call, join us for a coffee and see our wonderful work.

• Call 01242 584420 to speak to Claire or Debbie • Visit www.cotswoldrda.org.uk Cotswold • Email info@cotswoldrda.org.uk Jackie Brutton Riding Centre, Prestbury Park Racecourse, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 4SH

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It’s what you can do that counts

Riding for the Disabled Association

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17 APRIL VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: SWAN LAKE One of the best known love stories, performed by the ever popular Vienna Festival Ballet; lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars and the glorious music from Tchaikovsky make this a night not to be missed. Swan Lake is the most popular ballet in the world, capturing the full range of human emotions like no other – from hope to despair, from terror to tenderness, from melancholy to ecstasy. 5pm. £19 (£18, children £14). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.

19 APRIL FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD

Based on the literary classic by Thomas

Hardy, this is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love, as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.

21-24 APRIL THE COTSWOLD ART & ANTIQUE DEALER’S FAIR The very best of each discipline will be represented, including furniture, pictures, silver, early needlework and antique boxes, sculpture, bronze, clocks and barometers, carpets and textiles, glass, jewellery, English and Oriental ceramics, garden ornaments and statuary, as well as other decorative items. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from £100 – £100,000+. 10am – 5.30pm daily.

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP. 22 APRIL WE’LL GATHER LILACS – THE MUSIC OF IVOR NOVELLO An evening of Novello nostalgia, all those wonderful melodies from Glamorous

Night, Perchance to Dream, The Dancing Years and King’s Rhapsody. Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham. 7.30pm Tickets £17.50. Booking: 0844 576 2210 or www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk.

23 APRIL THE MERSEY BEATLES

Like the original Fab Four, Cavern Club favourites, The Mersey Beatles are Liverpool lads born and bred. They perform the best music ever made with the spontaneity, energy, excitement and respect which this fantastic music deserves, including Love Me Do, Let It Be, Beatlemania and Pepperland; for an unforgettable evening of Beatles classics in one concert. 8pm. £16.50. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.

Do you have a who could benefit from our Befriending service?

A befriender is there for support and friendship.

They pop in for tea, or take clients out providing regular social contact.

All our befrienders are DBS checked and fully trained and supported.

They are there when family and friends are not always available If you’d like a befriender for someone you know, call us and we’ll help brighten the week.

Call us today on 01608 652019 or email kirsty@cotswoldfriends.org The Local Answer

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 13

25 APRIL BLUNDERBUS: THE OWL WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK

Plop is a baby Barn Owl. He has big round eyes and very knackety knees. Plop is exactly the same as every barn owl, except for one thing… he is AFRAID of the DARK. Join him as he journeys into the night-time world of campfires, fireworks, and moonlit adventures. With an irresistible blend of live music, puppetry and storytelling, this funny, gentle and reassuring tale is written especially for small people aged 3-7 and grown-ups who sleep with the big light on! Based on the classic children’s book by Jill

Tomlinson. Ages 3yrs+. 10.30am. £10 (£8, family £32). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.

28-30 APRIL WUTHERING HEIGHTS BY CHARLES VANCE Wychwood Players embrace the power, pain and torment of Heathcliff and Cathy’s heart breaking relationship. 7.30pm at New Beaconsfield Hall Shipton under Wychwood. Box office opens 11th April.

Tickets £8.50. 07817426305 or wychwoodplayersboxoffice@yahoo.co.uk 3 MAY WOMAN IN GOLD

Woman in Gold is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the

Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting The Lady in Gold. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.

7 MAY PAWS ON PATROL

Paws on Patrol in Gloucester Park from 12 noon. Displays from Police Dogs, The Quack Pack, LG Agility and Ali Magic. Free to enter novelty dog show, lots of stalls and fun activities. Free entry. See www.safergloucester.co.uk.

13 MAY RHYTHYM & BLUES NIGHT Enjoy a martini cocktail reception followed by a divine three course dinner, with the serenading sounds of our five piece live Rhythm & Blues band, then dance the night away with music provided by the DJ. £38 per person. Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane GL4 8ED. 01452 632632.

Come and see, feed and stroke our beautiful fallow deer, our wonderful collections of peacocks, waterfowl, pheasants and the amusing pygmy goats ... all very tame and will feed from your hand!

NEW VISITOR CENTRE OPEN!

Give your child a magical birthday party in our beautiful gypsy caravan!

Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm • 01452 812727 • www.thebirdpark.com The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8EX Page 14

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ÂŁ29.95 per person per event GLOUCESTER

Includes exciting Murder Mystery entertainment, delicious three course meal plus disco!

Join us for our

MURDER MYSTERY NIGHTS BOOK TODAY!

27th May 17th June 22nd July 19th August

23rd September 21st October 18th November 11th December

Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Matson Lane, Robinswood Hill, Gloucester GL4 6EA e gloucester.events@hallmarkhotels.co.uk w hallmarkhotels.co.uk t 01452 525 653

Celebrating five years The Cotswold Art & Antique Dealers’ Association (CADA) Fair will celebrate its fifth anniversary in the stunning setting of Blenheim Palace from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th April 2016. Since its inception, the fair has cultivated an ardent following of collectors, art consultants, interior designers and the public alike, making it a ‘must-visit’ destination. A complimentary invitation is available to download from the CADA website – www.thecada.org – admitting two to the fair and Palace grounds.

This is the only antiques fair to take place at Blenheim Palace, home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, in the glorious setting of the Orangery and Campaign Rooms, overlooking the Italian Garden. Patron of the Association and Fair – and CADA member – is Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, sister of the present Duke.

The very best of each discipline Twenty-seven of the Association’s forty-eight members are taking part in the fair, with new exhibitors including Parkside Antiques, Iona House Gallery, Greenway Antiques, Strachan Fine Art and Jeanette Hayhurst. Five guest dealers have also been invited to bring their expertise and additional contribution to the fair.

The very best of each discipline will be represented, including furniture, pictures, silver, early needlework and

antique boxes, sculpture, bronze, clocks and barometers, carpets and textiles, glass, jewellery, English and Oriental ceramics, garden ornaments and statuary, as well as other decorative items. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from £100-£100,000+.

The dates of the fair encompass major anniversaries of historical significance – HM The Queen’s 90th birthday on 21st April, St Georges Day on 23rd April, as well as Shakespeare’s birthday and the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on 23rd April. Amongst the many art and antiques to be exhibited, participating dealers will bring works of art relating to these key dates.

Embracing these themes, new member Parkside Antiques will exhibit an English Regency period needlework on silk, depicting a grieving lady laying flowers at the grave of William Shakespeare. Architectural Heritage will show a stunning mid 19th century painted and stained glass panel showing a portrait of Shakespeare. Legge Carpets will bring a fragment of an English roller-printed cotton plain weave entitled Shakespere's (sic) Seven Ages of Man. English pottery specialist John Howard will exhibit a pair of earthenware lions and a unicorn, as well as a rare glazed stoneware of St. George slaying the dragon.

Items of local interest Mary Cooke Antiques will exhibit a fine snuff box with illustration of Buckingham Palace. It is exceptionally rare to find this subject on a table Snuff Box and this example was made in Birmingham in 1846 by Nathaniel Mills, the finest of all the Birmingham box makers.

Many items of local interest will also be exhibited, including an aquatint painting of Blenheim, after Joseph Farington, RA 1747-1821.

John Howard, Chairman of CADA says: “This year’s fair promises to be an especially exciting one and is a much anticipated event in the antiques calendar, providing collectors and first time buyers with the opportunity to view and purchase outstanding antiques and works of art, showcased in the most stunning setting. The fair is now established as one of the best quality events in the country”.

This year CADA’s chosen charity is The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust, which opened in Woodstock in June 2015.

The main core of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum is the collections – both objects and archives – of the two county regiments, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.

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Page 17

WIN A £500 HO

LIDAY GIFT CARD courtesy of

The Local

ANSWER

It’s easy to enter our draw...

How many copies of The Local Answer are distributed in Gloucestershire every month?

For your chance to win a £500 Thomas Cook Gift Card to use on a UK or foreign getaway, send your answer to the above question, along with your name, address (including postcode) and telephone number to ‘TLA Getaway’, The Local Answer, 1 Ullenwood Court, Cheltenham, GL53 9QS. Alternatively, enter via email by sending your answer and details to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Getaway’ in the subject line. Closing date: Monday 11th April 2016.

In addition to our usual competition rules, by entering you agree to have your name and photograph featured in our next issue and online should you win.

Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley

07803 016993 01451 821421 elaineboyer559@gmail.com www.felinesandfriends.co.uk

I’m sat on the sofa in my thermals with a rolled up piece of tissue lodged up each nostril. I’ve been kicked out of bed by my wife because – allow me to paraphrase for the younger readers amongst you – my persistent whimpering is causing her to seriously consider the benefits of a lifetime in jail! Even my dog has given up on me and remained in the warm, quiet bedroom. My only comfort is the eerie blue glow from the TV, which has been warning me of its inability to find signal for the last hour. A part of me knows I should get up and turn it off, but I take some comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one functioning incorrectly.

My feverish melancholy is hardened by the knowledge that I’m quickly running out of hot herbal refreshments.

When gorse is out of flower, kissing is out of fashion Because the last week of the month is always a gentle reminder that I’m only one pay cheque away from financial ruin, I quickly write off the thought of a shopping trip in the morning to replenish my tea supplies and instead turn my attention to a gorse bush I spotted about an hour’s walk from home.

It’s said that when gorse is out of flower, kissing is out of fashion, so you can usually be sure to get a good crop of the delicate yellow petals most of the year. They can be used to garnish a salad, or an unopened flower bud can be pickled and used in the same way as you would a caper. But always partial to a hot beverage, I prefer to just steep a couple of flower heads in a mug of hot water before slurping noisily in plenty of company. I mean, what good is being poorly if you can’t take every opportunity to announce it to the world?

If you’re not 100% sure that the plant you’re picking is safe for human consumption, don’t pick it. If you’re prone to food allergies, or pregnant, always seek medical advice before consuming anything foraged in the wild.

Page 20

VINYL RECORDS VINYL WANTED

Local buyer pays cash for your unwanted LP’s, EP’s & 45’s. Most 60’s, 70’s, 80’s & 90’s records considered, large or small collections.

Prog, Psych, Punk, Heavy Rock, Britpop & New Wave especially wanted e-mail lists to: willowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk 01242 702947 or 07785 515987

Shipton Golf Course

“A 9 hole pay & play course in the Heart of the Cotswolds” No need to book – Open every day from 7am until dusk ● Family run course offering affordable golf for all ● Coffee shop and terrace ● Small stock of ‘everyday’ golfing equipment and clothing ● PGA Fellow Professional available for lessons and advice PGA Approved ● Children’s holiday workshops Establishment

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Wildlife Matters with John Bromley

Slimy old slugs and snails For many people April is a time of planting seeds and buying young plants for the garden. Unfortunately, garden pests such as snugs and snails, who just love their spring greens in the form of juicy young seedlings, will magically appear from nowhere to ravage your garden. In the UK there are 30 slug species but 95% live underground and are rarely seen, whilst only four species really cause any damage to plants. There are about 110 snail species but again very few live in gardens and only small numbers cause problems.

The garden’s natural vacuum cleaner

munching their way through fallen and rotting plant debris, fungi and other garden rubbish. They are also food for a host of other wildlife mentioned above.

So rather than reaching for the poison, why not look at better and safer ways of managing them?

The first thing to bear in mind is that they need moisture, which is why they mostly appear in wet weather and at night. Dehydration will kill them so they spend daytime hours hiding in cool damp places around the garden.

Working with these molluscs is one option. Planting extra seeds or seedlings to allow for a few losses will still leave your garden looking lovely. Allowing plants to grow a bit bigger before planting out will enable them to survive otherwise fatal leaf and stem attacks.

So before you rush for the slug pellets take a moment to look around your neighbourhood – how many gardens can you see? Imagine the impact if every garden becomes a toxic zone full of poisoned slugs and snails, which in turn will poison frogs, toads, hedgehogs, blackbirds, thrushes, beetles and all the other Anywhere cool and damp wildlife that feed on them. will be a haven for them Slugs and snails do actually serve Creating a mollusc friendly area a useful purpose. They are the will quickly attract them. A paving garden’s natural vacuum cleaner, slab put down, a sack of leaves composting in a corner, a stack of flowerpots, an

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area of dense plant growth – basically, anywhere cool and damp will be a haven for them. By controlling where slugs and snails will be you then create options.

Collect them daily and relocate them or humanely destroy them, or feed them bran, which ironically leaves them bloated and ‘sluggish’ making them easy prey for their predators. Alternatively you could make or buy a beer-trap so at least they drown happy!

Control them – it’s so much better than harming our already hard-hit wildlife The other option is to make your garden unappealing to them.

Remembering they eat debris and like cool damp places, simply remove these attractive areas from your garden. Keep the soil free of fallen plant debris and other rubbish – even large pebbles provide cool damp shelter. Put down a mulch of wood chippings, scatter broken eggshells or spread coffee grounds around vulnerable plants. If you have a lot of potted plants, raise the pots onto stands to keep the lovely cover-providing bases off the ground.

By exploring your garden in detail and learning where to find molluscs you will soon be able to control them, which is so much better than harming our already hard-hit wildlife.

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 21

Motoring with Luke Edwards

The Golf R – a hole in one In the sophisticated, practical and fun hatchback category, the Volkswagen Golf has always been a clever choice.

The ‘R’ version of the Golf is pretty special and has been winning car awards throughout the last few years.

When Volkswagen’s UK press department offered me their Golf R on test it was difficult to refuse. The car was a beautiful Lapis Blue – a colour now associated with fast Volkswagens – and the three door version. Golfs have always had kerb appeal and the Golf R will age like a fine wine.

Race inspired seats and a well-designed dashboard The Golf R’s interior is a nice place to spend time. Sliding into the Titan Black and Grey R logo race inspired seats, they gripped all the right places. The dashboard functions were welldesigned, clear and easy to reach. I particularly loved the blue needles on the dials.

The beautifully stitched leather and gloss black R logo height/reach adjustable steering wheel felt good and the six speed manual gearbox with golf ball gear knob felt classic Volkswagen. There is an optional DSG dual clutch box, which is one of the best in the business and takes the 060 mph time to 4.9 seconds verses 5.3 for the manual.

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The Golf R manages 296bhp via front and rear electronic differentials and grip through its clever fifthgeneration 4MOTION four wheel drive system. It is lowered on sports suspension by 20mm which gives a planted feel.

Several driver settings

The options were ‘Eco’, ‘Race’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Individual’. A fifth profile ‘Comfort’ was available on this model as it had optional Adaptive Chassis Control. I tried the ‘Normal’ setting and the car felt like an everyday commuter. I then selected ‘Race’ and the game changed completely.

The quad exhausts fired a fresh new tone and the engine management ordered a different animal. A lighter throttle when pushed gave a delicious harmony of turbo whirr, a higher growl of rev range – an exciting prospect for the road ahead.

The Golf R shares the same fourcylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine as the GTI, however the R’s engine has a modified cylinder head, exhaust valves, valve seats and springs, pistons, injection valves and turbocharger. The combined fuel A perfect all rounder consumption is a quoted 39.8mpg (40.9mpg with the DSG).

The Golf R gripped like it was on rails On the road there were several due to the intelligent four wheel drive driver settings to select on the system. The accurate steering feel and excellent 5.8inch colour touchscreen. stopping power was superb. I can imagine the Golf R would be a reassuring winter companion for a slippery journey to the office.

The Volkswagen Golf R can be classed as a perfect all rounder. It has a generous standard kit list, ideal for family duties (huge boot space), and at the weekend is a car to be savoured.

Prices start at £29,900 for the threedoor model with six-speed manual gearbox, and £31,315 for the threedoor with six-speed DSG gearbox. The five-door versions cost £30,555 and £31,970 respectively.

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In The Garden with Julia Smith

Green green grass As daffodils finish flowering the faded flowerheads can be removed.

The small daffodils which are being grown to naturalise can be left to form seedheads. Don’t cut off the foliage as it needs at least six weeks dying to replenish the bulb underneath so it can flower the following year. Moreover, don’t tie it up in strange bundles with elastic bands, as this can damage the leaves.

This could be a good time to buy winter flowering trees and shrubs whose price may be reduced in garden centres – giving you a good show next winter. This is also a good time to plant evergreens into wellprepared soil with a balanced fertilizer added. Make sure you keep plants that have been sown in them well-watered during the baskets will have become pot-bound summer if it is dry. and need dividing and repotting with Reinstall pumps and filters ordinary garden soil (not rich compost which will contribute to the Now is also a good time to reinstall growth of algae) and top dressed pumps and filters in your pond that with grit to keep the soil in place. have been kept out of the frost since If you have a pond that gets autumn. Some of the marginal several hours of full sun a day you should consider growing water lilies.

They like still water with no fountains or waterfalls and have large leaves that spread over the surface of the water, creating shade, which reduces algal growth. The flowers come in lots of colours and even sometimes have a scent as well.

mown don’t apply weedkiller for two or three days. Don’t compost the clippings that have been treated with weedkiller. However, I personally don’t mind seeing a lawn containing daisies and other flowers and life is easier if you learn to love them!

Keep a look out for red lily beetles Keep a look out for the red lily beetles on newly emerging lily shoots. Pick them off and squash them and, if you want, use a systemic spray like Provado Ultimate Bug Killer to keep them safe for up to six weeks.

Encourage the grass to grow Begin feeding the lawn in April when growth starts again. Apply a proprietary spring/summer lawn fertiliser in two applications. It should be high in nitrogen to encourage the grass to grow nice and green. If you need to apply a weedkiller on the grass apply it two or three weeks later when everything is growing strongly. Don’t mow for two or three days after applying, and if you have

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Interior Design with Caron Burrows

The home office The way we work is changing. As technology improves, more and more of us are embracing the opportunity to work from home. Alternatively, to have a dedicated space where bills and emails can be dealt with and crafting can take place is becoming increasingly popular.

Where

task light placed on your desk or attached to the wall provides extra light for close work.

Window treatments A blind is a good idea to help with glare.

Venetian blinds are a good choice as they can be tilted at differing levels, and also come in many colours and finishes to blend with your chosen or existing colour scheme.

Not everyone is blessed with a spare room that can be turned into a home office, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the dream of having a dedicated work space – you just need a bit of imagination. Perhaps you have an alcove that isn’t being used, a spot under the stairs, or an area within the kitchen that can be transformed into a Colour work space? An office doesn’t have to If you are using the corner of an existing room, try to integrate your be huge, so anywhere will do. colour choices to avoid the office area Lighting standing out like a sore thumb. The Natural light has many benefits when colour blue is believed to encourage positioning your laptop or computer intellect, while yellow stimulates screen – the last thing you want is glare thinking and orange triggers creativity affecting your vision. Choose a good – these are all common choices for general light that will match your office or study environments. existing decor. A dimmer switch will also help you regulate the light Seating strength and is adjustable throughout Your choice of seating is the most the day depending on natural light. A important and should be chosen

carefully. Comfort is paramount to support and protect your back, especially when you’re spending long periods of time sat at your desk. There are many choices available that can be purchased from charity shops and DIY outlets, as well as specialist shops. Fit your seat into your chosen colour scheme with cushions that will also help support your back and provide comfort for long days at the office.

Desk Let your imagination run wild when choosing a desk – it does not have to be the conventional desk that we all relate to in an office environment. A kitchen table, leftover kitchen worktops fitted to the wall, a vintage find in a charity shop – the list is endless.

Walls/storage Make the walls work hard. Blackboard paint is a wonderful thing and is a popular choice of mine – not only is it fun, it also means you can keep updating the wall with notes. You can also use clipboards in a new way by fixing them to the wall – this is a fantastic method to display ideas, memos and photos. By using labelled boxes you’ll keep all your documents easily to hand, meaning you can work in an orderly and organised manner.

Empty coffee jars are a great up-cycle – use for pens, pencils and paint brushes.

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Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

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Quick Crossword 1

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2H

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of Andorran

Would you believe it?

Regular readers of this column will be familiar with my view that big is certainly not beautiful, as I champion the cause of small and medium sized businesses. So it was with gaping mouth that I read statistics recently on some of the very biggest organisations on the planet.

Top of the lot, the biggest corporation (as the Americans like to call them) in the world is Alphabet.

Who? I hear you cry. Well, it’s the ultimate parent company of Google, amongst others. Ah, makes more sense now. At the start of this year its £379 billion valuation saw it overtake Apple at the top of the tree, with Microsoft lagging behind at number three. You can see the connection as to market sector very easily.

In the UK there are a range of industries in the top ten, with banks, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and oil companies all doubly represented. Royal Dutch Shell (do they only add Royal into the name to make us think they are from these parts?) top the list and have done so for some time, but they are only a fraction of the size of the USbased high tech companies.

An uncaring, dispassionate attitude towards customers

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Sadly I am not privy to the list of biggest companies ranked by the amount of tax that they pay in the UK, which would make interesting reading when you consider some of the stories circulating about the world’s new number one force.

The presence of HSBC and Lloyds in the UK top ten, with Santander, Barclays and RBS all hot on their heels, serves to confirm my long-held view that the banks are in it for their shareholders not for their long-suffering customers.

Even my own profession doesn’t escape the plague of over-exaggerated size. Last year PricewaterhouseCoopers rose to the summit of the accountancy world in terms of fees charged – a staggering £24.3 million for doing accounts and tax returns! Not really – they are essentially consultants rather than accountants these days, but their annual turnover is still phenomenal.

What’s the key to their success? Monopoly. Not the board game (although this is the source of its name), but control over the markets in which they operate and what appears to be an uncaring, dispassionate attitude to customer service, because as soon as one customer leaves, another three come along.

Rant over – see you next month when I will look at some of the key issues arising from the Chancellor’s recent Budget.

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Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK Corner Cupboard The Old Rectory Tipputs Inn

5 7 7

WHAT’S ON

Norton Park Park Home Life Richmond Villages

RETAIL Assured Mobility Vinyl Records

CLUBS & SPORTS Shipton Golf Course EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS CADA Hallmark Hotel The Bird & Deer Park

20 16-17 15 14

HEALTH & BEAUTY Cirencester Dental Practice The Haven

4 8

INFORMATION Cotswold Riding for the Disabled 12

PROPERTY Campden Cottages

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HOMES & GARDENS BATHROOMS Lifestyle Bathrooms Severn Vale Bathrooms BUILDING SERVICES B.E Rudman Best Roofing Glos Build Home Care Roofing & Building Marshalls Driveways R. Richards & Son CARPENTRY 2H Carpentry & Joinery

30 31 24 32 2 30 31 24 33

Three Piece Joinery CLEANING SERVICES Barden Clean Ecoclean FURNISHING & APPLIANCES Bella’s Interiors Just Fabrics HEATING & PLUMBING Black & White Plumbing PBT Installations Seasoned Hardwood Logs GARDENING SERVICES Adrian Gibbs DW Tree Services Handylink Mark Clifford Landscapes Prestbury Tree Services KITCHENS Hatherley Worktops

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WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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CARE SERVICES Barnwood Trust Cotswold Friends Diva Care Lifelink MOTOR SERVICES Warners Cars PET SERVICES Felines & Friends SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling

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