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DIGGING DEEP

Plants making history

The colourful wreath that adorned Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin as it journeyed to Westminster Abbey was an expectedly beautiful arrangement, and as poignant as it was perfect.

‘At The King’s request, the wreath contains foliage of Rosemary, English Oak and Myrtle (cut from a plant grown from Myrtle in The Queen’s wedding bouquet) and flowers, in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, cut from the gardens of Royal Residences,’ explained a tweet from the official account of the Royal family.

Common myrtle is a medium-sized evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean which produces delicate, small white flowers.

Myrtle’s history with the royal family dates back to Queen Victoria’s time, but contrary to common belief, Victoria’s wedding bouquet was given over to snowdrops, not myrtle.

Myrtle debuted at the wedding of her eldest child, Princess Victoria, and has been present at every royal wedding since.

As mentioned, the myrtle which featured on HRH’s wreath was reported to have grown from the same plant that provided a sprig for her wedding bouquet in 1947.

It is believed that Sir Walter Raleigh returned from Spain with the plant in the 1600s, but it could well have been rooted here even earlier.

By the 17th century it was certainly a favourite of the aristocracy and a popular addition to perfectly landscaped gardens, or inhabiting an orangery.

If you want to introduce myrtle to your garden, you will be pleased to learn that it’s an easy grower, needing little support. It prefers moist, but well-drained soil. A sheltered place is best, and like many of us, it is a fan of sunny climes. Only the hardiest of gardeners relish the thought of working outside in November, so why not do some gardening indoors?

This is the best month to plant tulips, so try planting some in a pot indoors, for a lovely show in spring. I don’t mean the tall ones that sometimes become floppy, but the species tulips which are shorter and come in a variety of colours and forms. There are so many to choose from, and they can be as short as 6” (15cm).

‘Prepared’ indoor hyacinths can be planted now too, but need to spend about eight weeks in a cool, dark, place until the flower buds show, before bringing them out into the light.

I enjoy having a few colourful houseplants. My Streptocarpus Matilda (pictured), flowers for many months. It thrives on a north or east- facing windowsill.

There are also many with colourful foliage. Try Oxalis Triangularis with its deep purple leaves that close at night, Tradescantia - green and white leaves with purple undersides, or Aglaonemas Pink Star with pink leaves with green edges. Now, I am no expert on houseplants, but if you would like to spend an evening with an expert, why not come to Bletchley Garden Club’s November 8th meeting at the Freeman Memorial Methodist Church

Hall on Buckingham Road? Jane Perrone, a journalist specialising in gardening, is presenting Houseplants and their Care. She regularly writes for magazines including Gardens Illustrated and The Guardian. Details at bletchleygardenclub.org

Jan Taylor, Chair, Bletchley Garden Club

Pic: Flickr, UK Government

Great for courtyard and cottage gardens alike, it thrives just as well in borders and beds and in containers.

The majestic English oak is one of Britain’s most iconic, largest and most easily identifiable of all our trees, and our national tree represents strength and endurance.

It is entwined in history too, and has its own royal story; King Charles escaped the Roundheads by hiding in an oak tree before escaping to exile.

The tree was often the setting for marriages, with couples choosing to tie the knot under ancient oaks during the 1700s.

Oaks are home to 100s of species of insects, which in turn feed birds with invaluable food sources.

Its gorgeous green fruits (acorns) ripen before freeing themselves from their ‘hats’ (capule). Some will become the next generation of mighty oaks, but the vast majority will serve as dinner to all manner of mammals that will feast on them – squirrels, badgers and deer all use them as an important food source.

Much like the Queen faultlessly served her country, this magnificent tree serves the countryside.

Top Tip...

Rosemary was also used in the royal wreath, doubtless for its important symbolism with remembrance.

The familiar needle-like leaves of this popular herb can be taken all year round, but enjoy the new summer growth for the tastiest flavour. Use fresh, or freeze for later.

The wonderfully fragrant shrub is an ace at surviving in dry conditions, and stands up well in cool conditions. If you plan on growing your own, you need to plant between March and May and enjoy it in cuisine for years to come – if looked after, a plant will serve you for more than a decade.

How does your garden grow?

> Bletchley Garden Club (BGC) meet each month. New members welcome.

Award-winning team reflect on their success

This year T&K Home Improvements are proud to announce that they have been shortlisted in the finals for the G-Awards throughout three categories: the new Rising Star Award; Training and Development Initiative of the Year; and the Showcase, Fabricator of the Year category.

The G Awards have made a strong impression on the industry as the place to recognise and honour achievements in the glass and glazing sector. The purpose of the event is to honour the most innovative businesses with exceptional performance and ideas in the UK fenestration sector.

T&K decided to enter the G-Awards 2022 after winning Fabricator of the Year last year on the strength of operational efficiencies of up to 15 per cent. This helped them to meet their commitment to freeze costs for six months starting in February this year.

Ryan Johnson, managing director, said: “We are delighted to have made the Fabricator of the Year shortlist for the second time in two years and will clearly be keeping our fingers – and everything else – crossed, that we can repeat last year’s performance and come away with the award for a second time.

“It is a fiercely contested category with some great fabrication businesses shortlisted in it, so all we can do is do our best and see how it goes on the night. Either way, we’re pleased to have made the cut and delighted that the hard work of the team and our commitment to our customers has been recognised.

“Being noticed for all our hard work and forward-thinking movements we are consistently working towards is a wonderful achievement, especially against other highly qualifying competitions. If we can repeat last year’s performance and win Fabricator of the Year for the second consecutive year it will highlight that we take pride in what we do and are focused on improving industry standards.”

The Fabricator of the Year submission has highlighted the company’s smart complaints development. This new digital process streamlines customer complaints, returns and re-ordering actions. In addition to this, the quality road-mapping programme includes weekly reviews for T&K Home Improvements in the retail sector. Not to mention, sourcing energy through their own solar panels. T&K Home Improvements are committed to driving their sustainability agenda, which is why they have upgraded their fleet to new loweremission engines.

Dawid Hajduk has been shortlisted in the Rising Star category. Now Operations Support Leader, he joined T&K Home Improvements straight from school as an operations apprentice. Three years on, and three promotions, later, he was nominated after picking up significant additional responsibility and performing a vital role in the planning and scheduling team during COVID-19 disruption. This included single handily managing Kolorplas’s bespoke paint spraying service, including processing orders, stock control and line management responsibilities – when he was still only 18 years old!

“We are a big and complex business. If you step back and you look at what we make every day, the majority of products that we make are bespoke, no two frames the same – it is incredible.” said Ryan.

“Planning that, scheduling production so that products get made but also are manufactured as efficiently as possible and on time, with multiple competing demands, it is almost a miracle every day.

“It is the product of a great team in the factory but also testimony to our planning, the systems we have and those that we’re developing – and Dawid plays a massive part in all of that,” he concluded.

T&K Home Improvements are excited about the announcement of the winner of this prestigious award and, regardless of the outcome, will continue to serve excellence and strive towards bettering the business being highlighted by the advanced movements they are taking.

Trusted award-winning installers If you want reliable and trusted installers, then contact T&K Home Improvements today. They are award-winning and highly accredited and only supply and install A-Rated energy efficient products.

Dawid Hajduk has been shortlisted in the Rising Star category

To find out more visit www.tkhi.co.uk or call 0800 622 716.

MK:U campaign continues

and Starship competition winner announced

The pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine have helped to cause a global increase in the cost of living and I know this is worrying many of my constituents. I want to reassure you the government is committed to supporting the most vulnerable households as we approach the winter months. Those most in need will receive at least £1,200 in direct support from the government this year, with those on certain benefits receiving the £650 targeted payment, the £400 energy bills discount and payments to pensioner households and individuals receiving disability benefits. The government has also capped the rate you pay for each unit of energy to prevent a large increase in energy bills over the winter period.

I know small and medium-sized businesses across my constituency are also concerned and I want to thank local blogger Sophie Etc. for getting in touch to arrange a business round table so I could understand I could understand the specific issues impacting our local businesses. I have been feeding this back into government.

If you want to find out more about the Cost Of Living support available from the government please visit this website: helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk

Campaign For MK:U Continues In The House Of Commons I continue to press ahead with the campaign to get boots on the ground for a brand new university campus in Milton Keynes.

MK:U is a fantastic project, led by Cranfield University, which can help us deliver the skills for the future for the jobs for the future. It is time Milton Keynes had our very own on-site fully fledged university and one focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics is exactly what MK is all about. That’s why I raised the project with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at Treasury Questions in the House of Commons recently.

Ever since I was elected back in 2019, I have been working hard to help deliver MK:U whether that’s been lobbying ministers in Westminster, working with MK:U’s CEO Professor Lynette Ryals, or working on a bid for funding through the government’s Levelling Up Fund. Previous ministers and Secretary of States I have spoken to about this have been overwhelmingly positive so I am hoping we can finally get the plan off paper and get a spade in the ground. Starship Robot Competition Winner Announced! Congratulations to Poppy Waterson from Giffard Park Primary School who has been crowned the winner of the Design A Robot competition in partnership between the Milton Keynes MPs and Starship Technologies. The competition asked children to draw their new robot inventions and describe what modern challenge or problem their robot invention will solve. We had so many incredible entries from children all across the city and I know the judges at Starship found it very difficult to choose a winner.

Poppy’s design has now been printed on a Starship robot which will be out delivering to people all across the city. It was lovely to join Starship and present Poppy with the robot at a school assembly and see how excited all of her classmates were for her. Well done Poppy! Over the last month… ▸ I also have been fighting to protect bus services in Milton Keynes and arranged an urgent meeting with Stagecoach to discuss the future of the 41 route; ▸ I was delighted the government is now reversing the increase in National

Insurance. I voted against the initial rise as I believe we should be letting workers keep more of the money they earn; ▸ I had an update with Thames Valley

Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew

Barber on the latest crime statistics and continued discussions around tackling crime in Milton Keynes.

Congratulations to Poppy Waterson from Giffard Park Primary School, pictured, who has been crowned the winner of the Design A Robot competition in partnership between the Milton Keynes MPs and Starship Technologies

Ben EverittMP for Milton Keynes North

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 686830 | Email: ben.everitt.mp@parliament.uk www.beneveritt.com | Facebook: beneverittmk Suite 102, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood MK14 6GD

Maple Centre opens doors

and a visit to The Woodside Café in Linford Wood

Iain with the Mayor of Milton Keynes Cllr Amanda Marlow presenting The Woodside Café with their certificate after winning the MP’s Best Café competition

October has been another busy month for me in the constituency and it is a pleasure to share with you some of the highlights.

Maple Centre I had the opportunity to have a tour of the new Maple Centre at Milton Keynes University Hospital before its planned opening on 31 October. It was brilliant to see the facilities now available to the doctors and nurses as they look after the residents of Milton Keynes. It will have 26 beds with more space and equipment for both patients and staff. The Maple Centre will be a real benefit to local residents as it delivers an integrated approach to same day emergency care. I want to put on record my thanks to the team at Milton Keynes University Hospital for making it all possible. Also, I am thankful for this Conservative Government providing £10 million in funding to make the Maple Centre possible.

The Woodside Café Throughout the summer, along with Ben Everitt MP, I hosted the MK MPs’ Best Café Competition. The public voted for The Woodside Café in Linford Wood to be the best café. I was able to visit The Woodside Café with the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr Amanda Marlow, to congratulate them on their success and present them with a certificate acknowledging their achievement. If you have not yet been, I would encourage you to visit.

DS Smith I also visited DS Smith in Snelshall, near Tattenhoe, to learn more about their business and their operation. They are helping businesses of different sizes to use recyclable materials in their packaging. This is done in a circular cycle that is normally completed within 14 days. It was great to learn of the 52, soon to be 72, people employed at the Milton Keynes site. I had a tour of their facilities including their package testing facility. This allows DS Smith to test different scenarios to ensure the packaging is protecting the goods inside.

Hate Crime Awareness Week From 8 – 16 October it was National Hate Crime Awareness Week. On the Friday, I visited a stand at Westcroft District Centre to learn more about Hate Crime and spoke with a team from Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police about how they are raising awareness of hate crime with residents. I am proud that the United Kingdom is built on the historic values of unity, inclusivity, tolerance and mutual respect. Hate crime, in all its forms, goes directly against these values and it is completely unacceptable that anyone in our society should live in fear of intimidation or violence. That is why I am committed to standing up for diversity and facing down discrimination wherever it is seen.

If you have a concern, question or invitation that you wish to share with me, please do get in touch on the contact details provided and I will endeavour to assist where I can.

Iain with Ben Everitt MP outside the Maple Centre at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

Iain StewartMP for Milton Keynes South

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 686830 Email: iain.stewart.mp@parliament.uk www.iainstewart.org.uk Suite 102, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6GD

Increased cost of living

Tips to help you through the cost-of-living crisis this winter

In last month’s column, I outlined some extra support that Milton Keynes City Council has put in place to help families through the cost of living crisis. Our Winter Plan includes a telephone helpline offering financial advice and assistance, an online voucher portal, and energy performance reviews.

Aside from accepting the City Council’s offer of support mentioned above, I also encourage those who are struggling to consider how else they can unlock extra money and resources through our tips below.

Check what you’re entitled to - up to seven million people in the UK are missing out on income-related benefits with £15bn of benefits going unclaimed every year.

You can visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/benefits to check if you’re eligible for Housing Benefits or a reduction in Council Tax.

In addition, visit www.gov.uk to check your eligibility for Universal Credit, Job Seekers’ Allowance, Pension Credit, and Tax Credits.

You should also check your bank account to make sure you’ve received national payments including the Winter Fuel Payment (up to £300 for people born on or before 26 September 1955), Cold Weather Payment (£25 payment for people on certain benefits every week of very cold weather between November and March), Warm Home Discount (£140 discount for some people who get Pension Credit or are on a low-income), and the £150 Disability Cost-of-Living Payment (if you’re entitled, you should’ve received it by the end of October). Get help with childcare costs - many people are missing out on free childcare for children aged between two and four, or help with childcare costs if your child is under 16 (or under 17 and has a disability).

Carer’s Allowance - if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week, and they get certain benefits, you may be entitled to £69.70 in Carer’s Allowance.

Water bill discount - If you’re on a low income you could get a discount of up to 50% on your water bills by switching tariffs.

Talk to your energy supplier - many energy companies offer help schemes and you don’t always need to be their customer. Ask about being put on your suppliers’ Priority Services Register, a free energy support service if you are vulnerable.

To find out more information on the tips mentioned above, and find out further support available, visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/benefits/ cost-living-support to view a factsheet that has all of the tips in one place. It also lists local groups that offer help including emergency food parcels, discounts on food, and free domestic essentials.

Pete MarlandLeader of Milton Keynes Council

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01908 252442 Email: peter.marland@milton-keynes.gov.uk Facebook: @mklabour ADDRESS: c/o Milton Keynes Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes MK9 3EJ