Issuu

Issue 49

New showrooms now open at Bypass Nurseries, Capel St Mary and Glasswells, Ipswich

Town Council Update suggestions where improvements could be made in aim or action. The review during the Covid pandemic could not be made with direct meetings, so I was asked to discuss it with Councillors & key staff. I am grateful for the Mayor, Councillors & staff making themselves available by phone for discussions.

Cllr Graham Steady

Brightlingsea Town Council Cllr Graham Steady, Town Mayor: “The Council is doing well, but times & their requirements are changing. The Environment Policy & Review highlight what needs to be done”. Environmental Policy (Prepared by Cllr Ben Smith MSc (EnvRes) with members BTC Planning Committee; agreed at Full Council 17 Oct 2019) Environmental Policy & Actions Review with Recommendations 7th February 2021 Process Prepared by Roger Tabor MSc CBiol FRSB FBNAhc FLS FCFBA following discussions with BTC Mayor, Councillors, Town Clerk, Grounds Manager Terry Hamilton & local area County Councillor & others. I am happy to commend Brightlingsea Town Council (BTC) for producing an Environmental Policy & Action Plan, for keeping it active & updated & for requiring an annual independent review as part of public accountability as well as an evaluation. A parish or town council Environmental Policy review is an assessment of the policy & current environmental practice with

The nature of an Environmental Policy & Action Plan is that it is in effect a form of overarching document as the legislation that brings it into effect require that Environmental & Biodiversity issues are taken into account by Council in all its considerations & actions. Consequently, my conversations as part of the Review process with members of BTC were to elicit their views on the Policy & Action Plan, & one year on what actions had been or are due to be taken by the Council, BTC departments & Councillors, especially in their portfolio or other areas of responsibility with regard to the Policy & Plan. There are areas of overlapping responsibility between ECC, TDC & BTC regarding Brightlingsea, so I also had conversation with the local ECC Councillor who makes reports to BTC. He & Brightlingsea’s Tendring Councillors keep direct contact between the 3 bodies. There are a number of legislative Acts that require action or empower actions by parish & town councils that have a bearing on producing & acting on a local Environmental/Biodiversity Policy, and certain of these are listed in Appendix 1 with summary information. The statutory duty for a parish or town council to produce & act upon such an Environmental/ Biodiversity Policy is held within The Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 supported by the Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Act 2006. There is an obligation on Town & Parish Councils to tackle climate change & improve Issue 49

their energy efficiency & to have a Biodiversity Duty in exercising their functions. (Appendix 1 also contains reference to other bodies)

is being undertaken by BTC as a pre-requirement of action. Acting on its Environmental Policy BTC is responsibly helping to shape a safer future.

The UK aims to be net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

Roger Tabor MSc CBiol FRSB FBNAhc FLS FCFBA

Review Summary

Advice

I am happy to commend Brightlingsea Town Council (BTC) for producing an Environmental Policy & Action Plan, for keeping it active & updated & for requiring an annual independent review as part of public accountability as well as an evaluation.

The Discussions revealed the significant application by BTC & its Councillors & staff in acting on environmental & biodiversity issues for which they deserve proper & full acknowledgement. One of the benefits of BTC having required a review after one year, is that the discussions did reveal that not all councillors or staff fully appreciated that there is an underlying statutory requirement, that environmental & biodiversity issues must be taken into account, in all considerations & actions by a council, its councillors & staff in council duties. However, that has been addressed by the process of review. I thank all who took part for their courtesy & support.

I commend BTC on their Policy & Action Plan & agreed commitment to Specific Environmental Actions addressing issues of Water, Planning Authorities Local Plans, Climate Change & Energy Conservation, Waste, Dog Fouling, Transport, Biodiversity & Green Spaces, Sustainable Procurement, Awareness, Lobbying & Partnerships & Monitoring. BTC have demonstrated positive on-going support for biodiversity & environmental considerations from before the Policy & Action Plan and subsequently with enhanced focus. It has demonstrated commitment to minimising environmental impact & sustaining & developing biodiversity. Across this year BTC have achieved significant steps in their actions & plans in line with their Policy enhanced by co-operative involvement of the community, & this should only increase with growing awareness. The estuarine low-lying nature which makes Brightlingsea so attractive & so important in its wildlife that much of its marine & coastal edge is protected by layers of national & international designations, also makes it vulnerable in certain areas to seawater flooding. This is one of many areas where co-operation with other authorities

It would be appropriate to include reference to the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in the Policy when noting the designated protected areas, as it protects the named species the native oyster Ostrea edulis, of particular significance to Brightlingsea. Although sections are headed in the discussions below corresponding to the Specific Actions sections of the Policy & Action Plan, nonetheless it will be appreciated that these are all interrelated topics eg addressing Biodiversity & Green Spaces by planting trees is also mitigating Climate Change; growing vegetables on an allotment or cycling are also reducing carbon miles & mitigating Climate Change which in turn reduces likelihood of increase in flooding continued on page 4

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What’s new at Colchester Zoo!

Help Colchester Zoo name their Asian shortclawed otter pups!

continued from page 3 Discussions & Comments on Actions relating to the Environmental Policy Mayor Cllr Graham Steady stated that BTC is pleased to have produced its Environmental Policy, produced with particular input by Cllr Ben Smith, (who brings his experience as a landscape architect as well as a former County Councillor & former Cabinet Member for Environment for Northamptonshire) with support from Cllr Mick Barry & input from Council members. BTC Council accepted the plan a year ago, so this has been the first year with it in place. The Mayor said BTC supports its plan, & it will protect &, where possible will continue to enhance Brightlingsea’s natural environment & open spaces. Although the 2006 Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act required an environmental policy earlier, it was not possible to proceed at that time for various reasons. BTC was not alone in not producing an early document but it was nonetheless mindful of & acted on environmental issues. For example, in May 2008 its Lozenge Nature Area was opened with support funding from partners & help from volunteers in planting. The Lozenge has become a great asset to the Town increasing its biodiversity & helping to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), & this has been continued with maintenance & other work by BTC Grounds department on the site. Species have been monitored with the on-going involvement of skilled volunteers of the British Naturalists’ Association, & plantings this year have been aided by the Brightlingsea Nature Network volunteers.

Help Colchester Zoo name their Asian short-clawed otter pups! On the 22nd of November, Colchester Zoo’s Asian short-clawed otter pair Summer and Ravi welcomed a litter of pups! As the months have passed, they have been enjoying exploring outside and have had their first health checks where we also found out their genders! Colchester Zoo can confirm that Summer and Ravi have successfully bred 4 female and 1 male pup! Now we know the genders of the new arrivals it is time for them to be named and Colchester Zoo are asking for your votes to help decide whilst also raising some much-needed funds for Colchester Zoo’s Emergency Operating Fund! The Animal Care Team have shortlisted their favourites and selected several names beginning with R or S in

honour of mum Summer and dad Ravi. Visit the Colchester Zoo website to find out more and keep an eye out for the big name reveal! Vote closes early March 2021. 20% OFF Pass Renewals on reopening! For Zoo Passholders who would like to renew their Zoo Pass when Colchester Zoo reopens, as a celebratory discount for reopening, Colchester Zoo will be offering a 20% discount until 28th May 2021! Renew early to avoid disappointment! This offer will only be live and available to purchase from the date of the Zoo reopening and valid until 28th May 2021. Terms and conditions apply visit the Colchester Zoo website to find out more including full T&Cs.

Community volunteer support with annual planting of flowers produces the spectacle of Brightlingsea in Bloom, which has made Brightlingsea a regular repeat winner in East Anglia in Bloom. Springmead Gardens, are supported by the same group plus the resident gardener. Brightlingsea in Bloom have given a special award to Brightlingsea Town Council Grounds Staff for their Care of the Environment. Biodiversity & Green Spaces In June 2019 BTC following a meeting with resident Susie Jenkins, the Council committed to an objective of linking up formal open space with green lung areas. In 2020 this was incorporated into the Biodiversity & Green Spaces Actions of the BTC Environmental Policy. Mr Hamilton with Cllr Ben Smith & Mayor Graham Steady have devised an approach to cut grass areas less where appropriate, which will save costs, fuel,

and allow more wildflower meadow plantings. This will reduce the need for as much strimming. That would for particular locations change the regime from weekly to an annual cut, others have changed from weekly to every 3rd week, with savings and benefit to biodiversity & the environment. BTC has also encouraged the community involvement of the Brightlingsea Nature Network whose volunteers have planted two hedges in March & November 2020. The planting in November was organised in accord with Covid restrictions to limit site access on a strict rota so that at any one time only those of individual family bubbles could plant. Eastern Waste Disposal (now the Dunmow Group) have been supportive of the planting scheme. BTC actively supports tree planting. For the Lozenge Nature Area cutting is managed to support biodiversity. The planned paths & open areas are cut, plus manual maintenance work undertaken to control bramble to keep it in balance for the site & other species requirements. Works have been undertaken with advice from the British Naturalists’ Association (BNA) who have also undertaken species monitoring since the opening of the site. For example, BNA identified the presence of the nationally important dittander Lepidium latifolium, which Terry’s management has allowed to increase. Further works will be undertaken to restore the pond in the Lozenge with suggestions from the BNA. Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic has not allowed the Grounds staff to undertake as much planting as envisaged for this year. There has been hedgerow planting by Brightlingsea Nature Network volunteers when Covid restrictions allowed, bringing environmental & biodiversity gains for years to come. Green cut materials, grass, are removed to a BTC site & composted. Chipped shrub/tree material & grass clippings are mixed with soil to stimulate compost formation. [I have advised addition of nitrogenous animal waste to the mix at 10:1 ratio C:N, which will reduce a significant release of CO2 & retain a larger volume of finished compost. Mr Hamilton advises he will incorporate that]. This composted material will be ideal for soil amelioration, & only non-peat compost material in the BTC Estate in accord with the Action Plan. (In addition to the biodiversity damage to significant wetland habitats, the use of peat in gardens removes it from its historic locked state releasing CO2 as it oxidises). (Not all public area grass is managed by BTC, some is by TDC & ECC).

Upskill for brain health Learning new things has all kinds of fringe benefits Lots of us began 2021 with the ambition to learn a new skill: beginner’s computer programming, conversational Italian, or how to paint with watercolours maybe. We learn new skills for many reasons. Perhaps we need to improve our computer literacy to gain a promotion, or Italian so we can speak to our new in-laws, or we’ve always fancied learning to paint. Learning is fun but its benefits go way beyond the actual skill learned, and the skill is irrelevant, whether its crochet or advanced mathematics, the extra benefits are the same. Positive brain changes - The white matter in our brain is comprised of nerve fibres covered in a fatty sheath called myelin. It is involved in learning and co-ordination of communication between different brain regions. The more we practice a new skill the more our white matter increases in density, which helps us when we learn other new skills. Increased learning speed – When brain neurons are stimulated, more neural pathways are formed and the faster our brains process new information. It’s as if ‘learning’ is a muscle which strengthens as its exercised.

Interconnections - When we learn a new skill our brains draw on information and skills we already possess, and we build on that existing knowledge. But a wide knowledge base also makes it easier for us to learn more new skills. Increased interestingness! - (Yes, it’s a real word!) Well-rounded individuals tend to find it easier to relate to others because a wider knowledge base makes it easier to find things in common and thus make friends. Beat boredom - Repetition can quickly become monotonous. Following the same routine every night, ‘supper, bath, TV, bed’ makes it easy to become bored. Learning new things breaks the cycle of monotony and gives our brain something to do. Increased adaptability - Learning new things physically alters our brains in such a way that our outlook and perceptions change. These alterations make it easier for us to adapt to sudden life changes, like a global pandemic for instance! Adapting to change is a skill, and the more varied our life experiences are, the easier it is to draw on them and adjust Prevent cognitive decline - Learning origami doesn’t mean we won’t get dementia. There are many

types of dementia and the causes are nuanced. But there are many studies which suggest that people who learn new skills are less likely to experience cognitive decline including dementia. Mental decline is linked to demyelination of our brain. People who actively learn new skills are not giving their brains a chance to demyelinate, and their neural pathways are primed to create workarounds if some area of the brain does begin to fail. The key

seems to be to learn things outside of our comfort zone, so if you are a knitter, don’t choose to learn crochet, which is similar, choose Russian, or salsa dancing, or the ukulele instead, subjects which push you out of your comfort zone, but (importantly) which you actually want to learn and will enjoy. Keep exercising your brain!

Word Search Can you find all of the Greek and Roman gods hidden in the grid?

Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis

Athena Ceres Demeter Diana

Dionysos Hephaestos Hera Hermes Juno

Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva

Neptune Poseidon Venus Vesta

Vulcan Zeus

Pick up a Dragon Fruit in your next shop Have you ever seen the fruit in the photo and wondered, ‘What is that? How would I even begin to eat it? Starting with the ‘what?’, it’s a Dragon Fruit, sometimes called a pitahaya or even a strawberry pear. A ripe fruit has bright red/pink, evenly coloured skin that gives slightly when squeezed, like a ripe mango or avocado. To eat it you cut it in half using a sharp knife to reveal the sweet seed-speckled pulp, which you scoop out with a spoon. Dragon fruit is low in calories but packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre. It’s also high in beneficial plant compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and betacyanins which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest that diets high in antioxidants are key to helping prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Dietary fibre is important for gut health and Dragon fruits also contain prebiotics which help promote good gut bacteria. Dragon contains more magnesium than most fruits. One Dragon fruit provides 18% of your recommended

daily intake. Magnesium is present in every one of our cells and is integral to 600 important bodily biochemical chemical reactions including the breakdown of food into energy, muscle contraction and bone formation. Enjoy it in salads, smoothies, and yogurt, or simply grab a spoon and dig in. By Hannah Merry-Wade

Quick Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS 1 Hot on health, Uri could be sanctimonious (6-4-4) 9 Earns roughly a pound for the team (7) 10 One responsible for hospital cuts? (7) 11 Dines on lamb and beef, perhaps, but no starter(4) 12 Passage is a tissue of lies (5) 13 See daughter at opening of exhibition (4) 16 Awful ordeal involving Penny’s cat (7) 17 Hemingway for example is said to be serious(7) 18 British equestrian sport is stimulating (7) 21 Very full, having bolted a stew (7) 23 Doctor I perceive at first as ineffectual type (4) 24 I wander back to find New Zealander (5) 25 One who ruled in bygone Rome (4) 28 Not good to move out the country, an Islamic one (7) 29 I’m following Milan team for the meantime (7) 30 Ben hid tatty newspaper that’s out of date (6,3,5) DOWN 1 Stars and models have them? (8,6) 2 So hotel failed in African country (7) 3 English cricket side initially stagnated for ages (4) 4 Agreed everyone’s bound to go outside (7) 5 Jack’s new love is free from blame (7) 6 Sounds like rush or weed (4) 7 What 10 Across does for work (7) 8 Quotes could provide varied comments (8,6) 14 First off, wrongly naming street urchin (5) 15 Think anxiously of offspring (5) 19 Annie is foolishly idiotic (7) 20 Leader of Indian state gives permission to proceed (2-5) 21 To polish with running water is hard (7) 22 Those people will accept alternative energy principle (7) 26 One boy raised by painter (4) 27 A flier is up to no good (2,2) SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1 holier-than-thou. 9 arsenal. 10 surgeon. 11 eats. 12 aisle. 13 date. 16 leopard. 17 earnest. 18 bracing. 21bloated. 23 drip. 24 Maori. 25 Nero. 28 emirate. 29 interim. 30 behind the times.DOWN: 1 heavenly bodies. 2 Lesotho. 3 eons. 4 tallied. 5 absolve. 6 tare. 7 operate. 8 inverted commas. 14 gamin.15 brood. 19 asinine. 20 go-ahead. 21 burnish. 22 theorem. 26 dali. 27 at it.

The Magic Dragon

Spring Clean Be Green? When the spring light catches the surfaces in my home, I see smears and dust, and I fall victim to ‘the springcleaning bug’. Suddenly I want to scrub, dust and polish everything in sight. A few years ago, I made a big effort to become a ‘greener cleaner’. I worried about the active ingredients in my cleaning products and wondered how much damage that chemical cocktail was doing to the planet? Most of us have a miniature chemical factory stashed under our sinks: detergents, bleaches, and degreasers, all containing potentially hazardous substances which find their way into groundwater and contaminate the lakes and the oceans. Phosphates are some of the main culprits. They are common in laundry detergents and some cleaning products. An average consumer uses the equivalent of 14Kg of detergent a year. High phosphate levels in water cause ‘algae blooms’ which contribute to the death of fish and other waterdwelling creatures. These algae blooms are becoming more common thanks to a combination of pollutants and global warming. Cleaning products can have an adverse effect on our health.

Household ammonia is often found in window or general glass cleaners. It is a skin and eye irritant and deadly to fish, even in low concentrations, so it’s not something we should flush down our drains. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is corrosive and an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. It is especially toxic to people with heart conditions or asthma. D-limonene is a degreasant found in citrus and orange cleaners. It is also a neurotoxin, an irritant and can cause respiratory distress. But as I investigated Eco products I stumbled into a minefield. Many big companies produce eco-brands, but this involves ‘greenwashing’, which is defined as an attempt to make consumers believe a company is doing more to protect the environment than it actually is. They use unregulated words like ‘natural’ and ‘eco-friendly’ while still using potentially harmful chemicals. They don’t list ingredients or information about manufacture and supply, and if you check their websites there are no environmental targets published nor information about progress on their environmental impact. I won’t lie, truly environmentally friendly products are more expensive so the cheapest way to do a green spring clean is to make your own and

there are some great websites around with detailed instructions on how to do just this. I did try to make my own but found that work constraints meant I struggled with some of the more time-consuming concoctions, but I’ve listed a couple of websites in case you feel you’d like to try this. I am a huge fan of distilled white vinegar which I use to clean toilets, windows, and mirrors. I also like Bicarbonate of Soda which is a great degreaser, scouring agent, and deodoriser. For ready-made

cleaning products I’ve suggested a couple of UK websites which are certified environmentally and vegan friendly. I’m not perfect. Sometimes I do grab a regular cleaning product for convenience but I’m gradually becoming greener and if we all switched even one or two of our products for a greener cleaner, the planet would thank us.

Switch off to care for your air New signage in pollution hot spots provide drivers with a timely reminder to switch off their engines

an important issue in Colchester, affecting everyone who lives and visits our town.

Colchester Borough Council has installed new signage in two of the most highly polluted areas of the town, asking drivers to switch off their engines while stationary. Roadside signs can now be seen by all road users at the traffic lights on Brook Street, in both directions, and at the East Gates rail crossing.

"Cars are a major source of air pollution, with as much as 30% coming from vehicle engines running whilst stationary. We hope the installation of these new signs will help remind drivers of the simple actions they can take to help improve the air we all breathe."

The road signs feature three different psychological messages that build upon previous academic research in this field1. They focus on: • Responsibility: “Join other responsible drivers in Colchester” • Effectiveness and recognising that your own actions have an impact: “You will improve the air quality in this area” • Reflection: “Think about your actions” To evaluate the effectiveness of each sign the council is working in partnership with the University of Essex. Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment and Transportation, said: "Air quality is

Dr Marie Juanchich, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Essex, said: “We were very happy to support Colchester Borough Council in their plans to cut pollution in our town and to improve air quality. As scientific advisors on the project, we ensure that the benefits of this programme are thoroughly evaluated so that findings could inspire future actions to curb pollution.” Research Assistants will regularly monitor the number of drivers switching off their engines, and the impact on air quality near to the signs, for the next 18 months. It is hoped that by taking a psychological approach the signs will encourage as many drivers as possible to take immediate action. The researchers will also consider whether the signs need to be rotated to help maintain positive

behaviour change and to reduce the risk of drivers becoming tired of the messages. The project is funded by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and supports the Colchester-wide CAReless Pollution

campaign. Launched in October 2020, the campaign encourages drivers to switch off their engines while stationary to bring important health benefits to everyone inside the car and cut pollution in Colchester by up to 30%.

Activate Keeping Kids Fit The National Child Measurement Programme for England (NCMP) includes nearly all children in reception year (aged 4-5) and year 6 (aged 10-11).

Shakespeare week March 15th – 21st the beauty of Shakespeare’s language. His soliloquies and monologues are some of the most eloquent every written.

According to their statistics 10% of reception age children are obese (not just overweight) and this figure rises to around 20% by year 6. We’ve spent a year with kids not being in school, and for the most part not being allowed out to play so experts expect this figure to rise. The scientific advice is that children should engage in 60 minutes of physical activity each day and encouraging them to become more active now will help them maintain a healthy weight, improve their general fitness and wellbeing and reduce the risks of serious health problems in the future. So, what can we do when activities are still restricted? Be the Example - Children will model the behaviour of their parents. If they see you are active, they are more likely to be active. If they see you watching television, eating jammy dodgers, so will they. Exercise with them - Go cycling or walking together or put on an exercise DVD and do it together as a family.

Give them chores - Doing a bit of vigorous vacuuming or walking up and down stairs a few times putting laundry away will get the cardiovascular system working. Play with Your Kids - Play tag or runaround games. Try an egg and spoon race, or Twister…anything to get them (and you) moving. Be the Parent - We need to encourage healthy behaviours and limit unhealthy ones – sometimes this means making unpopular decisions like limiting your children’s screen time outside of home-school hours. Make these tough decisions for your children but explain why. They may not recognise the benefits immediately, but the idea will percolate and feed into decisions they make for themselves in the future.

Has your teenager lamented ‘WHY do we have to study Shakespeare? It’s BORING! Perhaps that was also how you felt when you were in school? In a world of amazing modern writers why do we still teach Shakespeare? Rich language - Shakespeare loved language and played with it, subverting it, changing nouns into verbs, verbs into adjectives, and connecting words never previously used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and even inventing completely new words. Scholars estimate that Shakespeare invented at least 1700 of our common modern words. Phrases from his plays have been repeated so often we don’t even realise they are Shakespearean in origin: ‘heart of gold’, ‘wild goose chase’, ‘love is blind’. Our language would be poorer if not for the bard. Few other writers have ever matched

How to play Sudoku it’s simple! Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1

Complex characters - Shakespeare understood people. His heroes were not cardboard cut outs, but nuanced human beings, capable of the full range of emotions. He also wrote great parts for women (though they would most likely have been played by men in his time). Themes – Shakespeare’s themes as relevant today as they’ve ever been: love, loss, treachery, honour, tenderness, anger, despair, jealousy, contempt, fear, courage, and wonder. He questions morality, politics, war, wealth, and death. To read and understand Shakespeare takes effort. If students can engage with the rich, dense language and syntax of Shakespeare, they can handle other demanding study situations. It sharpens their brains for other modern languages but also the languages of science and maths. Shakespeare may not be the ‘be-all and end-all’ (that’s one of his) but I hope he continues to be read in schools ‘forever and a day’.

through to 9 with no repetition. You don’t need to be a genius. These puzzles use logic alone. Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

Garden View

This month Tools of the trade The right tools make gardening easier, and in my opinion you should buy the best you can afford then look after them so they will last many years. But which tools are essential? Gloves - Gardening is hard on the hands. Weeds, roots and digging are brutal on the skin. Buy a thick, good quality multi-purpose pair to begin with. Make sure they fit. My first pair were too large and cumbersome. I was so naive I didn't realise they came in different sizes...much like gardens... and gardeners! Secateurs - The task of pruning comes around with alarming regularity, so a good pair of secateurs is one of the most used items in my garden tool kit. Find a pair that feel good to hold, are well-balanced and easy to operate with one hand. Keep them clean and sharp and they will serve you well for many seasons. Trowel - Useful for hand weeding, dividing smaller plants, planting, potting on, and seed sowing.

Hand Fork – A hand fork is essential for breaking up compacted soil. Sometimes it’s easier to use than a trowel and is less likely to damage roots in more densely planted areas or when separating smaller plants. I like a comfort handle for my hand tools but make sure to choose tools where the shaft of the handle and trowel (or fork) are one unit, not welded or rivetted together, as they are not as strong and snap with repeated use. I choose stainless-steel tools because they are rust resistant. Watering can - A large watering can is great, but very heavy when full so if you have arthritis or not much upper body strength choose a smaller watering can that you can handle easily and make a few more trips to the tap. A rose allows for a gentle sprinkler effect on tiny seeds and seedlings. You can use a hose if you garden a larger area. Choose a multitasking one with misting and sprinkler attachments Spade –You can't dig large areas

without one. As with hand tools, I prefer stainless steel. Keep it clean, with a sharp edge for digging, planting, and edging beds. Choose one that feels right for your height. Fork - A stainless-steel fork is great for stony soil, and for breaking up compacted earth. It's also good for lifting shrubs without damaging the root system too much. Dutch Hoe - Weeding is a necessary task (and a somewhat relentless one during the growing season). The

Dutch hoe has a shallow angled blade with a front cutting edge for keeping weeds down between seedlings and established shrubs and plants. Ground rake -. Use this for breaking down the soil to that fine tilth gardening books go on about. Use the wide head and teeth to open and level the top surface of the soil, then use the back of the rake to firm it down. It makes seed-sowing easier and more likely to produce healthy seedlings.

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Classic Steak and Ale Pie Quick Crossword Puzzle

Serves 4 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: Filling - 3.5-4 hours (plus cooling time) Pie - 45 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients Pie Filling Lard or dripping (you can use sunflower oil at a push) 700g boneless beef shin – cut into mouth size chunks 25g plain flour, seasoned 200g smoked bacon (diced) or lardons 225g whole baby onions 400ml sweet dark brown ale (Theakston’s Old Peculier works well if your ale knowledge is not strong!) 400ml beef stock 1 tsp dried thyme 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp dark muscovado sugar 1 tsp red wine vinegar 1 tsp cocoa or 1-2 squares of very dark (80%+) chocolate For the pastry: 400g plain flour, plus extra for rolling 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp mustard powder (optional) ½ tsp salt 175g suet Iced water A little milk or egg, to glaze Method

Place the seasoned flour into a large plastic bag. Add the beef in small batches and shake thoroughly to coat evenly. Reserve the floured pieces to a plate. Heat a generous chunk of lard or dripping a large frying pan over a high heat. Brown the beef pieces in small batches, transferring them to an ovenproof casserole dish as you go. Reduce the heat a little and add the chopped bacon or lardons and the onions to the pan. Cook until the bacon fat begins to render, and the onions are brown on all sides, then add into the casserole. Pour a small amount of the beer into the pan and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom to incorporate all the flavoured meat scraps and flour. Pour this into the casserole too, then pour in the rest of the ale, and add the stock, herbs, sugar, vinegar, and cocoa (or chocolate squares) and bring to a simmer.

ACROSS 1 Grand house (7) 5 Verifiable truths (5) 8 Dividends, earnings (5) 9 Ghoulish, spooky (7) 10 Evened the score (7) 11 Coach, teach (5) 12 Animosity, hatred (6) 14 Stick, attach (6) 18 Permit (5) 20 Sincere (7) 22 Beasts (7) 23 Belief (5) 24 Ledge (5) 25 Pudding (7)

DOWN 1 Important business person (7) 2 Sound (5) 3 Brilliance, astuteness (7) 4 Wanderers, travellers (6) 5 One side of a many-sided object (5) 6 Savoy, Red, or Napa (7) 7 Severe, sombre (5) 13 Depression, sickness (7) 15 Ridicules (7) 16 Drain, take out (7) 17 Stopped (6) 18 Collect, compile (5) 19 Dock, levee (5) 21 Bald, Golden or Pygmy (5)

Cover, and place into the oven for about 2 hours, then uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 1½ -2 hours (depends on your oven), until the meat is tender. Set on one side to cool then transfer to a pie dish. To make the pastry place the flour, baking powder and mustard powder in a bowl with ½ tsp salt. Stir in the suet, and then add just enough iced water to bring it together into a dough. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for an hour or so. Preheat the oven to 190C / 170C (fan) / Gas mark 5. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to about 1cm thick. Place over the filled pie dish, sealing the edges tightly. Cut vent slits to allow the steam to escape. Brush with beaten egg or milk and then bake for 45-50 minutes until golden.

Preheat the oven to 170C or 150C fan / gas mark 3.

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Surgery Update Website: www.colnemedicalcentre.nhs.uk Facebook:@Colnemedical Mental Health During the Pandemic The pandemic and the lockdowns have had a huge impact on many people’s mental health, and the importance of looking after ourselves has become evidently clear. Here are five tips to help improve mental health, stay motivated and feel more positive during lockdown. 1. Remember the basics Make sure you’re looking after yourself. When we feel rubbish the self-care basics can slip. It’s really easy to let these boring, normal everyday things slip when we’re struggling with our mental health, but they can make a big difference to how you’re feeling, so make sure you’re showering regularly, eating breakfast and taking your medication and vitamins. 2. Get outside and exercise We all know that physical exercise is good for us and we need to see and experience natural light when we can, so if the weather is good try and go for a walk outside as it will really help boost your mood or spend some time in the garden to get some fresh air. 3. Stay connected Be social and try and stay connected. Reaching out and socialising with friends and family that can make you laugh and lift you up is so important. We are lucky to have so much technology which allows us to stay in contact. It is very important to talk about mental health. If you find yourself struggling please find someone to talk to. Talking to someone you trust can help to get your thoughts and feelings out of your head. As the saying goes - a problem shared is a problem halved. 4. Be kind to yourself It is normal to feel strange right now because it is a strange, uncertain and anxious time. Accepting that you will feel all sorts of things and that there will be good and bad days goes a long way to maintaining your mental health and not exacerbating your stress. 5. Concentrate on what is in your control It is extremely easy to be overcome by worrying. It is important to remember what is in and out of your control. If you find yourself worrying a lot, try and make a concerted effort to change your thinking to concentrate on what you can control and worrying about what is outside of your control. For instance, you can control your actions, the work that you do at home and the activities that you do which will help your mental and physical health, but you cannot control whether other people are following social distancing rules and you cannot control when you’ll get your vaccine. Ideas for Managing Stress Be mindful that you have likely switched to a new mode of ‘being’. COVID-19 could be impacting your daily habits, sleep and overall mood. Here are some things to consider when managing stress. •

Practice good sleep hygiene by avoiding blue lights before bed

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Stick to your regular sleep-wake cycle

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Limit alcohol intake and choose nutritionally rich foods where possible

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Limit news intake and read from reputable, reliable sources

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Connect with friends and family as often as you can

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Implement a good self-care routine

Vaccination update So far, 3675 patients from our practice have received their first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca (Oxford) Covid vaccination. The practice will continue trying to contact the remaining patients in groups 1-4 who have not yet booked a vaccine. Patients in group 5, those aged 65-69 can book an appointment by calling 119. Invitations have started to go out for group 6, which includes those aged between 16-64 with an underlying health condition and our registered carers. Please use the link sent via text message to book an appointment at the next available vaccination site. Our admin team will contact those without a mobile telephone number to assist with bookings. Thank you for reading. Katie Pirie Practice Manager

Holy Cow!... ...Michaels now do Mortgages too?

The Michaels Property Group are thrilled to announce the launch of Michaels Financial, our very own mortgage Brokers, on the 5th of April. Fully independent with access to every lender on the market, Michaels Financial will guide you through what can be a stressful experience with the very best advice, to individually tailor a package that suits your needs... and your pocket. Borne from a company that prides itself on a reputation based on recommendation, trust, and transparency, we’re very excited to embark on this new venture, and look forward to discussing your mortaging needs with you very soon.

Telephone: 01206 576999 Email: info@michaelsﬁnancial.co.uk

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. As with all insurance policies, conditions and exclusions will apply. Buy to Let Mortgages are not usually regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.