Active Magazine // Stamford & Rutland // March 2022
Editor and Publisher Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com
Deputy editor Kate Maxim kate@theactivemag.com
Art editor Matt Tarrant
Contributors Will Hetherington, Jeremy Smithson-Beswick, Richard Faulks
Advertisement Sales Director Lisa Chauhan lisa@theactivemag.com
Production assistant Gary Curtis
Front cover image @theoldbuilding Accounts accounts@theactivemag.com
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Active magazine is published monthly 12 times per year.
ISSN 2059-8513
Published by Triangle Publishing Ltd Printed by Warner’s of Bourne www.theactivemag.com
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EDITOR’S LETTER
‘And it’s only just over a month now until the clocks change. Hurrah.’
AT LONG LAST the nights are drawing out and thoughts can turn to spring; but not with too much enthusiasm as it’s a long way to go and we’ve yet to see any snow (I hope I’m not tempting fate). But at least the snowdrops are out and other bulbs are poking their heads through the soil so things are de nitely looking up. And it’s only just over a month now until the clocks change. Hurrah. And with days lengthening thoughts turn to getting outside and gardening. I’ve enjoyed talking to Neil and Nina, a couple of guerrilla gardeners who are part of Team Stamford. And without them the town would be a much ore scruffy neglected place so we residents are all hugely grate ul to them.
Swapping seeds and seedlings is the perfect way to ring the changes in your garden without it costing a fortune, as are plant fairs; and we’ve been meeting people who do just that.
I can knit; albeit very badly and scarves only. And never put me in front of a sewing machine; I wouldn’t know where to start and would probably do a great deal of damage, to the machine if not to myself - or probably both. So I have really enjoyed chatting to the business owners who run workshops and own haberdasheries about needlecraft and sewing and am even tempted to join one of their classes, but I would probably need to come with a very large public health warning.
ate and Lisa have been nding out what they are ade o literally - and it makes for fascinating reading. Enjoy the issue including some great walks from Will this month. I’ll be out with Midge my lurcher enjoying the longer days and the fantastic sunrises we’ve been having recently. Long may they continue.
Mary - Editor
Lonsdale Road Stamford
£565,000
This stylish four bedroom detached family home has been fnished to a high standard by the current owner and offers spacious family accommodation set over two foors. The modern style kitchen leads to the open plan family room that over looks the west facing garden.
The accommodation comprises: - Entrance hall, cloakroom, sitting room, kitchen, family room, study, landing, Master bedroom with en-suite, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.
To the front of the property is off street parking that leads to a single integral garage, whilst to the rear is a west facing patio and lawn garden. The property is set approximately 20 minutes walk from the town centre and offers good access to the A1 and local schooling.
NO CHAIN
the maltings wothorpe at £335,000
A unique opportunity to acquire this two bedroom semi-detached home that is set in a highly desirable location that provides easy access to Stamford town centre, Burghley Park and the A1. The property is well presented and comes with two double bedrooms, a modern style walk-in shower and a triple aspect sitting room that has an open fre place.
The accommodation comprises: - Entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen, cloakroom, landing, two double bedrooms and a walk-in shower room. There is a private courtyard garden as well as communal gardens and a tennis court, plus an integral single garage and parking space.
Viewing is highly recommended in order to appreciate the location on offer.
NO CHAIN
ISSUE 111 / MARCH 2022
ACTIVE LIFE
18 SEWTASTIC e nd out about all things abric sewing and nitting
26 THE STUDIO ne enterprising couple have ade their converted property dual purpose
28 THE TOWN’S TEAM uerilla gardening is thriving in ta ord than s to Tea ta ord
35 SEED SWAPS ne way to reduce the cost o gardening is to swap seeds with a neighbour
42 WILL’S WALKS This onth ill has en oyed two winter wal s
SERIES
40 MANAGE YOUR LIFE odtastic with eters leaners
ACTIVE BODY
52 DISCOVER WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF body scan brea s down your body ass
ACTIVE KIDS
55 SCHOOL NEWS
ACTIVE SPORT
58 ON YOUR BIKE This ride is airly flat but the wind can be challenging
ActiveLife
Meet Team Stamford | A dual purpose property | Seed swaps Manage your life; Peters’ Cleaners | Two walks from Will
EDITED BY MARY BREMNER
Sewtastic p18
Sewing and knitting are fun, sociable and creative, what’s not to like?
Conservatory too hot in the summer and too cold in winter? visit our showroom 12 St Leonard’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2HN Open: Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Sat 9am-2pm
Classic have the answer to this problem and you do not even have to change the existing windows/ doors, although you can. Structurally very strong which means your new sun room meets full Building Regulation Approval.
WE ARE DELIGHTED to say that Will’s Walks volume 2 was Walkers’ bestseller this Autumn and it’s still selling really well as we go into the spring. Thank you to everyone who has bought it.
Tim Walker of Walkers bookshops said: “Our walk-away bestseller this Christmas was Will’s fabulous second instalment of his local walking guides. We sold hundreds of copies more than our next bestseller, which was Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat. It is interesting, because people are still discovering ill s boo s or the rst ti e and his rst boo which was published in was also in our top ve this autu n Will’s Walks books are available from £7.95 from Walkers and a wide network of other local stores and online from www.theactivemag.com (plus p&p)
More help from the Travers Foundation
THE TRAVERS FOUNDATION has announced new funding for young people in 2022.
The Foundation, which is run by a team of volunteers, provides vital nancial support to young people who otherwise cannot pursue their dreams in sport, creative and performing arts.
Terry Forsey, Chairman of The Travers Foundation says: ‘We’re looking for young sports people who we can support by funding their coaching and competition costs; young musicians we can support by funding live video performances and recording studio time and young actors, dancers and producers who we can help with coaching and production costs.
‘Since our inception, we have spent almost £250,000 funding over 600 young people.’
The application process is quick and easy to complete; visit www.travers-foundation.org.uk
Athena Studio
A NEW TATTOO studio and art gallery has opened in Stamford (where Sukie’s used to be) run by husband and wife team Jamie and Megan Blackbourn. Artist and tattoo artist Jamie is exhibiting his artwork as well as taking tattoo appointments. Megan and a ie are also offering gallery space to other artists op in and see them and follow them on instagram @athena_stamford
New shop for Barbara
STAMFORD HEAVENLY CHOCOLATES has opened a new shop in Oakham’s Mill Street. It’s full to the brim of delicious chocolates including Barbara’s specialty, her hand ade tru es he still runs her workshops and retail from Sacrewell but this is her rst shop ongratulations! www.stamfordheavenlychocolates.co.uk
Aspen Manor
CARE HOME, ASPEN Manor in Oakham, has recently opened and is now available for residential, dementia, nursing and respite care. There are 80 rooms in total and residents are made to feel like it is a home from home. There is a hairdressers, cinema and library as well as a beautiful cafe and bar. www.aspenmanorcarehome.co.uk
Easter Holidays:
What’s on...
Great things to see and do in the region
TICKETS ARE ON sale now for Classic Ibiza, an open air celebration of White Isle-inspired house music to be held at Burghley House on July 30; it’s a great night! And they are keeping their ‘party spaces’ from last year which were really popular. Tickets are selling fast so if you want one go to www.classicibiza.co.uk
TOM FLOWERS’ CRICKET coaching is holding Easter training camps during April. For more information and to book visit www.tomflowerscricketcoaching.com
STAMFORD FLOWER CLUB are returning to Barn Hill Methodist church for their 2022 programme, including workshops. Many of you will recognise their arrangements on the roundabout near the hospital Their rst demonstration will take place on March 14 at 6pm for a 7pm start. There’s no need to book just turn up and pay £6 at the door. April’s demo is on Monday 11th and follows the same criteria. For more details email karenlawrie@icloud.com
STAMFORD’S SHOESTRING THEATRE launches its 2022 season at the Arts Centre with ‘I am a Camera’ by John van Druten on March 8-12. This production depicts life in Berlin between the wars and is based on the same book as the musical Cabaret. There are many more productions in the pipeline this year To boo tic ets and nd out ore ring the bo office on 01780 763203
JOIN HISTORIAN DAVID Maile at the Old Town Hall in Bourne on March 19 for an ‘evening remembering Hereward.’ David will talk about the cultural impact Hereward had on British society. Hereward the outlaw was the son of the Lord of Bourne and waged a ve year guerrilla ca paign against illia the on ueror To nd out ore and or tickets go to www.herewardthewake.co.uk
SHEKLETON WINES IN Stamford are now hosting their wine tastings and wine and cheese evenings again. Tickets get booked up quickly so keep an eye on their website for dates. The next available one is Italian wine tasting on May 13. To book tickets go to www.shekletonwines.co.uk
THERE WILL BE bargains galore at a ‘posh jumble sale’ to be held at Cotterstock village hall on March 26 starting at 9.30am. There’s something for everyone ranging from china and pottery to bikes and jewellery and branded clothing as well as much more. Entry is £1.
CHURCHILL SUMMER CAMPS’ 2022 programme continues with the Easter camps starting on April 4. For full dates and details visit www.churchillsummercamps.co.uk
The Crown is a 16th-century coaching inn with boutique letting rooms set in the heart of Rutland, on the quaint high street of Uppingham. Serving fresh food, real ales, gins and hot drinks, sourced, where possible, from other local independent businesses.
RECIPE
Cullen skink
We’ve got to use this recipe just for its fabulous name! But as well as that it’s a really delicious dish of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions which originates from Cullen in Moray in Scotland
INGREDIENTS
• 500g cooked smoked haddock
• m fis s c e
• 3 sliced leeks
• c ppe i s
• 1 garlic clove
• e
• 450g potatoes
• m e c e m mi
• Salt and pepper
METHOD
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the leeks, onion and garlic and cook gently for 15 minutes until soft but not coloured.
• p es se em pee e i c s - cm e p e s c e e e p es ee s i i
• Cook for 10 minutes and then using a potato masher, mash the potato lightly to help thicken the soup.
• e e c s i i e c e m Se s i s peppe s e i c e i e se e imme i e
Castor Lodge Care Home
Castor Lodge Care Home provides the
• 68 Spacious en-suite bedrooms
• 6 Premium self-contained suites
• Bistro Café and themed pub
• Sociable lounge and dining areas To find out
Sticky Willy
Did you know cleavers, aka sticky willy, could be used as a coffee substitute?
Rowan Griffiths explains
CLEAVERS OR GOOSEGRASS (though sticky willy is a far better name) is a common weed most of you will remember from school days. Children used to, and I still do, grab handfuls of it and throw it on friends’ clothes where it would cling tenaciously causing much annoyance to the victim and mirth to the perpetrator.
The plant is a fast growing native and common straggling wayside plant with a square stem and thin leaves that encircle it in stalkless rosettes. All parts of it, apart ro the flower are covered in ne hairs that when examined under a lens appear hook shaped, hence its ability to stic to any rough sur ace The flowers are tiny, white in colour with four petals. When they appear, the seeds (actually a fruit) are again tiny and covered in the hooked hairs.
Although a bane to gardeners and those of us with hairy dogs, Galium aparine to give its botanical name, used to be grown as a pot herb and was useful in earlier centuries since it could easily be found during the lean early months of the year before other green plants were about. Just the fresh young tops are gathered and certainly before the seed cases appear. After then the plant is brous and bitter nce harvested it is boiled, as say spinach, which miraculously dissolves the hairs and the result is a mild tasting vegetable that can be used to add substance to spring soups and stews. It is also high in vitamin C. In hard times the seeds have been dried, roasted, ground and are said to produce an acceptable coffee substitute That would appear likely since sticky illy and the coffee plant are o the sa e family. The plant has a medicinal use as a laxative and diuretic so if you are tempted, consumption should be in moderation!
GARDENING
Houseplant Heaven
Houseplants are back in fashion so enjoy bringing your garden inside as well
SPRING IS HOPEFULLY only just around the corner and the garden will now be starting to show signs of coming back to life with bulbs pushing through the ground and snowdrops in full bloom.
But this month we are moving indoors to talk about houseplants which have seen a huge resurgence in popularity over the last few years. Many people start their gardening journey with houseplants and with the help of social media houseplants have attracted a new younger audience.
Go back a few years and no 1970s lounge would be complete without a spider or rubber plant. And how many of us had a lucky bamboo plant in the house somewhere in the 1990s?
The trend for plants to come inside was only made possible when architecture and house styles allowed. In Victorian times, as homes were heated and windows became bigger, plants were able to survive in an indoor environment, particularly more exotic plants that required warmer temperatures.
ver the years there have been pea s and troughs in houseplant interest. aga ines and television initially offered glimpses of how to style our homes with plants. But now information is readily available across the internet and social media.
As well as being aesthetic, houseplants have science bac ed health bene ts too ne we probably are all aware o is that
they can improve the air quality of a room, including the trusty spider plant cus or Boston fern. Studies have shown that real plants in the office or ho e can help reduce stress levels and also help focus attention and boost productivity.
We have all heard that working with plants can be very therapeutic and can help alleviate depression, anxiety and raise the ood ou will always nd our plant area staff with a s ile on their ace! t has also been shown that houseplants can help you recover from illness, injury and surgery more quickly. A 2002 report showed that those surrounded by plants needed less pain relief.
Houseplants can also help us with our sleep. A lavender plant can help create a relaxing atmosphere with its scent and also helps reduce blood pressure and heart rate. ther plants you can eep in the bedroo include sansevieria or ‘Mother in Law’s Tongue,’ peace lily, aloe and the Areca palm.
There have been many stories doing the rounds on the internet that a pineapple plant can help stop snoring. Sadly it seems these claims are not true so if you are after a cure for your snoring you may need to look somewhere else rather than a houseplant.
We have a range of houseplants, feeds and pots available at both our centres and if you need advice about what to buy and where to situate a plant our friendly team are on hand to help.
www.bosworthsgc.co.uk
Sewtastic
Kate fi nds out why sewing, knitting and other creative crafts are so popular with everyone, regardless of age or gender, and where you can fi nd supplies and workshops
IFAILED MY sewing O’ Level, which is not an easy achievement. I only had to make two garments, write a project and make a macramé pot holder. I did manage the latter quite successfully. It was the threading of the sewing machine and measuring of the pattern that threw me. I ended up with an oversized pair of trousers and too tight a blouse. Not a great look.
My Mum wasn’t too impressed as she’s a whizz with the sewing machine and has earned herself the title of ‘sweatshop Grandma’ in our house as we all give her our dressmaking jobs to do. She’s always been very creative: she’s knitted, dabbled in crochet and fabric painting, is a brilliant flower arranger and in recent years has beco e an expert in patchwork. She’s travelled to exhibitions in New Zealand, Japan, USA and France. Some of her quilts have been on display at exhibitions too, and she’s won several prizes. But she’s not in it for the prizes.
Like thousands of other people, she does patchwork because she’s passionate about it. She loves to design the patterns, choose the fabric and then spend hours hand and machine sewing huge quilts to cover the family’s beds.
During lockdowns it was the one thing that kept her sane and occupied, except she missed going to her patchwork workshops. There she meets up with friends, shares ideas and whiles away many an hour engrossed in a creative flow so eti es with gin! or shops are not ust or women or the more advanced in age either. Plenty of men are getting in on the act, think Tom Daley and his passion or nitting or shops are a wonder ul way to a e new riends have a laugh and learn different s ills – they truly are ‘sewcial’ events.
There are lots o creative wor shops on offer in our area ranging from patchwork to Knit and Natter, felting, upholstery, dressmaking, embroidery, macramé and crochet (and more) with some wonderful teachers who impart their skills, generally with a sense of humour, and share their knowledge of the correct techniques and the best tools to use for the job.
e are also ortunate to have any local haberdashers also willing to share their time and expertise. You might be a complete beginner, perhaps inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee on TV (strangely addictive) or an expert in one cra t but een to try another hatever your level there is a workshop for everyone.
Where to take part
There are many small informal groups in the area who eet in village halls and co unity roo s that offer the space to bring your sewing or knitting to do alongside others. Teaching is generally done on the basis that there will always be someone in the room who can sort out a beginner s uddle Tea coffee and biscuits are always in good supply. And there are more structured classes where you can pay or the day or or a course with a uali ed teacher who gives instruction and advice.
Lyndon Nature Reserve
From stitch to papercrafts, print to knits, whatever you are interested in, come along with your own project, or even try your hand at something new. No experience needed.
These are drop in sessions on Tuesdays from 10:30am12:30pm so there’s no need to book. The cost is £3 including refreshments and basic materials.
Contact Laura at lbrady@lrwt.org.uk
Stamford Arts Centre
ane cho eld a ta ord based creative, runs adult craft workshops regularly at the Arts Centre. Her next one is Easter garlands on March 26 from 10am-12.30pm. She will demonstrate how to make hanging garlands using whatever is to hand (bits of fabric and felt) in light spring colours.
Bring small pieces of fabric/felt and a basic sewing kit with you (scissors, needle, pins, thread). Aged 16 or over, £10. www.stamfordartscentre.com
The Place
The Place on Stamford’s St Mary’s Street is a crafter’s dream. They hold workshops for all ages. Craft and chat workshops are very popular and are exactly as described. You can turn up with your own ongoing craft or there’s always a project for you to try, and like minded people to chat to.
As well as workshops if you have crafts to sell you can rent a shel in their shop To nd out ore visit www.theplacestamford.co.uk
Sew Ab Fab
If you want to learn anything about sewing, knitting and crochet, and everything else in between Caroline at Sew Ab Fab based at the King’s Centre in Barleythorpe near Oakham is who you need. This Saville Row trained tailor runs a sewing school where everyone is welcome from beginners to improvers aged from nine upwards. As well as dressmaking courses she has other experts who run classes as well.
The list o classes on offer is huge and people co e to meet new people and for mindfulness as well as to learn new skills. And you will be welcomed with open arms, ‘it’s all about having fun,’ says Caroline. www.sewabfab.co.uk
Knit and Natter
Oakham Knit and Natter is a drop-in community group of about 40 held at Oakham Community Hub, Lands End Way.
Members knit and crochet for charity and for personal use. Help, advice and teaching is given as needed. New members always welcome. Cost is £2 per session. Contact Helen at knitsockmama@gmail.com
‘This Saville Row trained tailor runs a sewing school where everyone is welcome from beginners to improvers aged from nine upwards.’
Stamford Stitchers
Stamford Stitchers are an embroidery and textile art group based in Stamford. Meetings take place at 7.15pm, on the third Thursday of the month in the Stamford AFC Social room at Borderville Sports Centre.
Letzcraft
Sewing and knitting aren’t the only workshops available locally. Ursula and Cara opened Letzcraft in Oakham last July. They had met at work and found they had a shared love of crafts, particularly glass fusing. They started teaching family and friends and it grew from there. They focus on traditional crafts including willow weaving, silversmithing, calligraphy, chainmail, felting, stained glass and loom weaving as well as wood carving; and others too. Their craft hub is a hive of activity with different local e perts co ing in to run wor shops ary is de nitely going bac to try the silvers ith course watch this pace.
www.letzcraftworkshops.co.uk
Where to buy supplies
The Stamford Fabric Company
Sewers need to be able to buy supplies. And there are some local specialists who have all the fabric, cottons and tools you need as well as lots and lots of knowledge. One of these is Lucy at the Stamford Fabric Company in Stamford Walk.
Since reopening after Covid Lucy has been rushed off her feet. Many, many of us turned to sewing, crafting and knitting whilst at home and went to Lucy for advice, fabric and materials.
‘My customers range from people who’ve been coming to the shop for 40 years to someone who is staying in the town and needs a needle and thread to sew a button back on.’
Lucy has a lot of customers who are patchwork quilters and sells ‘fat 1/4 yards’ especially for them as well as off cuts of some lovely materials. Embroidery hoops are available, thimbles, threads, sewing machine accessories including bobbin boxes, needles and darning mushrooms.
‘I’ve sold so many of them,’ she told me.
There are lovely curtain fabrics as well as clothing textiles. And of course patterns for virtually anything you can think of. And for those not so keen on sewing Lucy offers a making up service as well.
‘Many people who were furloughed got their sewing machines out during lockdowns to make masks and scrubs for NHS staff and they have carried on sewing ever since. I am also finding that a lot of youngsters are taking up sewing and crafting as well.’
Lucy assures me that anyone who can follow instructions should be able to use a pattern but would need to be able to thread a sewing machine. She is friendly, knowledgeable and very willing to give advice so pop in and see her. www.thestamfordfabriccompany.com
Rutland Sewing
Rutland Sewing based at Rutland Garden Centre in Ashwell opened eight years ago. Owner Lynn Vale has years of experience in the business starting sewing at the age of three!
‘I danced from the age of three (and still do) and my parents made all my costumes. I got all the scraps of materials so my dollies and teddies had some very exotic outfits!’
This love of sewing led her to study fashion and design and then work in the Husqvarna studios (now Coles) in Nottingham. In 2011 she moved back to Rutland to be nearer her family and ended up living opposite the garden centre in Ashwell, and had her eye on the unit she is now in. ‘It was empty for a couple of years, I was missing my job and I just thought it would be a perfect space to do something similar, so I did!’
The large premises offer everything someone interested in sewing could need. Lots of fabric, crafting gear, patterns, paraphernalia, haberdashery and sewing machines as well. Anyone who buys a machine from Lynn ‘gets tuition to learn how to drive it.’
As well as being able to buy anything concerned with sewing and crafting Lynn runs a sewing school and many workshops including dressmaking, quilting, patchwork and many more that I don’t have space to mention.
Rutland Sewing really is a friendly place. Lynn, her staff and her students all welcome you with open arms. Tea and cake are always on hand and you just feel you can slot right in. Beginners are very welcome as are the more experienced. www.rutlandsewing.co.uk
Uppingham Yarns
Step through the doors of Uppingham Yarns and you won’t believe what s behind the rather ordinary door ou ll nd yourself in a treasure trove of yarns and threads. e started off supplying the achine nitting ar et in 1980 and now supply anyone who needs a thread yarn,’ says owner ic Traylen ow achinists hand nitters spinners weavers cra ters elters and fly tyers buy our yarn e carry a vast range o stoc including la bswool erino hetland alpaca cash ere and ohair a ongst other natural bres e have reflective yarns organic and sustainable yarn and cottons biodegradable nylon and other synthetic bres e supply custo ers all around the world probably because it s a niche ar et and we supply lots o interesting stuff e used to get coach loads o people in but nowadays it tends to be smaller groups and we see a lot of grannies co ing in with their grandchildren een to ta e up nitting Lots o hand nitters wal in as we do various thic nesses o hand nitting yarn and accessories too
There was a resurgence in hand nitting about ten years ago and then again during the ovid loc downs nd ic is the per ect person to as or advice e visits universities and colleges ro al outh to berdeen to tal to ashion textiles and design students, even students on printing courses
In the textile trade everything happens slowly but there are ore and ore sustainable yarns beco ing available and interest is growing ro the world o ashion as ed ic what he d say to so eone who thin s it s too e pensive to nit your own u per when you can buy one ro ri ar or e agreed ast ashion is a big ar et To produce your own gar ent will be ore e pensive but it s all about creating so ething uni ue that will last ou have the i ense satis action o saying ade that www.wools.co.uk
Ewe Shop
achel at the we wool shop in ta ord al is a very e perienced nitter who sells yarns and patterns or all budgets with prices co parable to online
he can offer advice to so eone who is new to nitting and will even teach you to nit ro scratch and will do the casting on or you or shops are ust restarting you buy your yarns ro her she is always on hand to offer advice and is ore than happy or you to pop in with your nitting so she can give you a hand nd as a pattern writer she nows what she s tal ing about
he sells so e beauti ul natural bres ro sil s to alpaca ohair and cash ere The shop is a flagship one or owan arns any o her custo ers travel ar and wide to visit and since loc down she has been selling worldwide he can also offer a a ing service with a tea o nitters available.
nitting is therapeutic says achel and rather addictive and any o her custo ers will agree www.i-love-ewe.com
Dot and Dab
ec y at ot and ab in t ary s oad in ar et arborough has had her cra t supply shop or eight years he started out selling beads at the indoor ar et which grew into a shop selling all cra t supplies ec y is very e perienced and can offer lots o advice s well as a haberdashery ec y also sells wool there isn t a day when we don t sell wool ra ting and nitting grew during loc down and is still very popular now www.dotdab.co.uk
Well upholstered
Kate took her piano stool to a class in Uppingham to discover what upholstery is all about
I HAVE A piano stool in desperate need of re-covering so I went along to one of Jo Sutton’s upholstery workshops at 40 High Street East, Uppingham. She immediately told me it would be very simple to do. She always advises her students to bring along a piece of furniture they have a passion for as they’ll be going on a journey with it. You just don t now what s underneath until you ta e off the top cover t s li e an investigation you ll nd out how old it is and you may even want to research who made the frame. Upholstery is all about layers eople o ten start off with one item then move on to another project. And you are also going on a journey with others in the room.
o currently has up to ve people per class and you boo in for the day or days. Many people work on their projects at home in between classes. They are held in a beautiful old building which has been likened to Gepetto’s toy making workshop, and the sense of easy companionship is palpable. Some students already knew each other being part way through re-upholstering their items of furniture. Emma had been working on a pair of French beds that looked very elaborate. Andrew, a retired design and technology teacher, had been given a gift voucher by his partner as he’d acquired his chair in an auction years ago and it had been languishing in a shed. No stranger to woodwork, he had to ll in old tac holes be ore he could even thin about starting on the panels. Sonia was attaching webbing to the back of her chair; Abi was tacking a layer of calico to her
panels and Helen was turning a ‘red velvet monstrosity with a broken leg’ into a beautiful new incarnation for her daughter-in-law.
elen told e she nds the classes rela ing a way o switching off and a great way o eeting new people Andrew is keen on rescuing things so is looking forward to restoring his chair to its former glory but he’s also planning to design and build his own chair.
Constantly moving through the room, Jo seemed to always be on hand with calm, reassuring advice and a wic ed sense o hu our hatever uddle you ay nd yoursel in she nds a solution nd the coffee and homemade cake breaks give another opportunity to unwind and chat.
You can borrow Jo’s tools or buy them from her and the process always follows the same pattern: you start with the frame then work on the webbing, hessian, springs, horsehair or coir bres Then depending on the pro ect you ay add elt calico and cotton floc be ore you nish with your top fabric.
‘If you pay an upholsterer to do it for you,’ Jo told me, ‘the labour and top abric costs are the ost e pensive you do it yourself, you save on that and create something completely unique.’
Jo found her way into upholstery when she saved her university friend’s chair from being sent to the tip. She discovered while taking a night class in upholstery that doing something crafty gave her a great sense of release after a busy day working in marketing. Fast forward a few years a ew different roles and having astered the cra t o had the opportunity to buy the building she’s in now. And she took over former teacher Betty Wilmer’s classes as well.
The bene ts o upholstery are the pure en oy ent and satisfaction of doing it yourself. You also learn a range of skills in the process. Some people arrive who have never held a hammer, others have never handled a sewing achine t doesn t atter you re all at different stages and you learn as you go along.’ For details about the classes and gift vouchers, visit www.joatno40.co.uk
Dual purpose property
Converting a barn into holiday accommodation and a film studio is a clever move. Mary finds out more
STAMFORD AND THE surrounding area is home to a large number of creative people, many of whom have gone on to launch their own businesses, be it magazines, creative agencies, design studios and many more. This area attracts so many like-minded individuals because, historically, many of us would have worked for EMAP, once one of the largest publishing companies in the country.
One such couple who did this is Martin and Julie Dupree who launched their business in 2001. Initially a creative agency it has now grown into a brand development agency with clients all over the world; Dupree International.
The company helps companies grow once they have initially, organically reached a growth ceiling and need that extra push to expand. In 20 years of business they have helped many businesses move their brand forward ‘and are very proud that we have never had a failure,’ says Commercial Director, Julie Dupree, who has a long professional history of business development and marketing.
Some of the brands they have worked with are country sports clothing Seeland and Harkila, American brand Streamlight and RAGT which is a worldwide agricultural seed producer, to name a few with brands based all over the world.
The business which employs 11 people is now based in Castle Bytham run from a converted barn next to their house. As well as
this barn, there are more buildings and in 2019 Julie decided it was time to convert another one of them. nother o our clients is Teflon who ost people will have heard of,’ says Julie. ‘As well as managing the brand we also run an annual cookery competition for them, the ICG (Inspiring Culinary Generations) which is for young chefs. Dupree manages the whole process and so need to hire kitchen space. We used to hire a commercial kitchen in London but this cost us £4,000 a day which was a prohibitive price and we did not necessarily need to be in London anyway. We needed a ‘super duper kitchen’ as well as cameras and lighting. As we have other culinary clients as well I decided we would build our own.
‘We had a redundant barn that could be converted so I got permission and work started in October 2019. As well as a kitchen and studio, as we had so much space we decided to add accommodation as well. This meant that we would be able to produce extra revenue by not only having commercial studio space or l ing but we could also have holiday acco odation too nd to make even more use of the space I designed the downstairs bedroom to be able to be used as a board room/meeting room as well so that can be hired just for a couple of hours if needed.’
Julie is certainly inventive. And her design skills means they have
'As well as The Studio, in the other half of the converted barn is a much larger kitchen with bi-folding doors leading out on to a pretty walled garden. '
nished up with a high end converted barn or sel catered acco odation a eeting roo which can be let out and a antastic itchen space that can be used or l ing or ust en oyed by guests
The acco odation sleeps our and has a very pretty outside courtyard This courtyard with an outside itchen and bb area along with the large interior eans that they have been able to hold s all weddings here or up to people which have been very popular This acco odation has also eant that obs have been created locally and i guests do not want to coo they also use the local pub and shop
The conversion started in ctober and was able to continue throughout loc downs being nished in ugust ulie waited until pril or it to go live as we wanted to a e sure we had it ust right and o course wanted to be ree o loc downs nd it has been ully boo ed virtually all o the ti e since it opened t s very popular with guests who either co e or a rela ing wee end or to attend local weddings and parties or to visit riends and a ily ut this is only o the boo ings The other hal are co ercial boo ings or people wanting to use the itchen or l ing de onstrations or co ercial coo ing loggers and influencers use it olland and arrett and any local co panies too including The live ranch at lipsha nd o course the co petition is run ro here as well There s plenty o space to par and or e tra e uip ent
The acco odation is lu urious verything has been thought o and all urnishings and e uip ent are high end The itchen is obviously superbly e uipped and it s uite nice to now that you could be using the sa e oven there are two o the as a well nown che perhaps their culinary s ills ight rub off on you or people ust wanting a l studio the hob can be covered up and because it has been designed so cleverly you would then not
even now you were l ing in a itchen astle ytha is an ideal location as it is ust off the and easily reached ro ta ord a ha and rantha a well as ro urther a eld
s well as The tudio in the other hal o the converted barn is a uch larger itchen with bi olding doors leading out on to a pretty walled garden This is not available or residential acco odation but is popular or co ercial use
The uprees have ade e cellent use o their newly converted barn and with their creative thin ing have ade it doubly use ul able to welco e residential guests and co ercial ones too nd so eti es their international clients a e use o the acco odation as well as the beauti ul itchen luc y the
Guerilla gardening is a thing, and it’s thriving in Stamford. Mary finds out more
ANY OF YOU will have heard of the term ‘guerilla gardening’ but some of you won’t so I’ll explain. Guerrilla gardening is quite si ple t is the tidying up beauti cation and cultivation o bits o land around a town or city that are neglected scruffy and o ten piled high with rubbish and debris. A guerrilla gardener will appear and cultivate this area albeit illegally planting vegetables and flowers a ing good use o the land and bene tting the area olunteers oin in and help with the cultivation so a co unity is or ed t is technically illegal as they are supposedly trespassing on land that is either owned by the council or by a private individual and uite o ten no one nows who actually owns it hence the neglect nd it is easier to ust get on and clear the area tidy it up and plant it as getting per ission to do so can ta e onths so eti es years and uite o ten will ust never happen as the can will be ic ed down the road so o ten that the thread is lost
This method of gardening is obviously very popular in big cities particularly London where there are lots o neglected areas which need TL ut one o the ost beauti ul towns in the country ta ord has its own group o underground gardeners or nin as as they are nown eet Tea ta ord o ounded in by eil c vor and ina an yc Tea ta ord is well nown and well supported in the town Tea ta ord grew ro the ride o ta ord
Litter ic ers which was started by eil and ayne artley in These two could not stand the litter that was in the town particularly at wee ends so started going out early in the orning and clearing it up They were then oined by any li e inded people including ina who would be
‘Co-founded in 2019 by Neil McIvor and Nina Van Dyck, Team Stamford is well known and well supported in the town.’
out and about clearing the ess that was le t by thoughtless individuals aceboo page encouraged others to oin the group pic s were organised which have oined pic ing litter is surprisingly therapeutic and gradually over the years the a ount o litter being pic ed has dropped on t get e wrong ta ord s litter proble has not disappeared co pletely but ta ord s tea o litter pic ers have highlighted the proble and educated any people to use a bin pretty si ple you would thin but surprisingly not so for many individuals.
eil is out every orning usually at about a he doesn t need a lot o sleep and whilst the town sleeps this nin a is clearing up ess and spotting areas that need the garden nin as Tea ta ord really was a natural progression ro ride says eil have a van and tools as y ob is groundwor and gardens s was tidying up would spot overgrown parts o the town such as ivy on walls, piles of leaves and just generally overgrown areas. Rather than try and get permission to sort areas out I just got on and did it li e to eep the place nice and tidy d tried getting per ission but was ust obbed off or pushed from pillar to post so I wasn’t going to waste any more time. We have now been joined by many volunteers. We’ve got the equipment so we just swoop in, do the job and disappear. Quite often we aren’t spotted at all.’
Neil and Nina came together through litter picking and realised that more was needed in the town than this, hence Team Stamford. These two ‘garden ninjas’ as they describe themselves just gelled and now work together as well as run Team Stamford. They pop up all over the place, tidying areas, planting others and just making the town look better. They have been joined by other volunteers and have really ade a difference o e people don t want to pic litter but enjoy a spot of gardening, be that cutting back, pruning or planting. It’s sociable and fun and you really do make a difference
People in the town now ask them to clear areas. Quite often no one knows who owns the spot, or who to gain permission from so they just get on with it. Thank goodness for guerrilla gardeners.
Neil and Nina are a couple of characters who ‘love Stamford’ and have been brought up here, and that love shows. ‘The town has a spark and it deserves to be cared for and looked after. I go into town everyday,’ says Neil. ‘It never bores me and it’s stunning.’ ‘There’s always so ething different to see or notice says ina and the beautiful stone and gorgeous buildings have a calming effect These renegades are prepared to ta e on the council the SKDC and private landowners to improve the town. ‘There are many groups in the town,’ says Neil ‘including Shop Stamford, Stamford in Bloom and the council who are all doing their bit but there’s no co-ordination between them. We can help. We have heaps of energy, equipment and a van so we can swoop in and clear up a mess, help with planting or placement of bins, benches and planters. It’s amazing what Nina and I can do in a couple of hours. You could say that we are the centre of the wheel with all
the other groups being the spokes that we lend a hand to.’
Team Stamford is set up as a CIC (community interest company) which is a special type of limited company that is set up to bene t the local co unity This eans they are able to accept donations and gifts and many companies and individuals are very generous. Local garden centres donate plants and bulbs. Timber is given for planters. Cheques ro places li e aitrose and people offer us cash in the street,’ says Neil, ‘which of course we can’t take, it’s got to go in the bank account!’ It’s not unusual for Neil to be stopped in the street and handed a sack of bulbs. Even the town council, whose land they sometimes trespass on has given them equipment such as a strimmer, as of course Neil and Nina are doing them a massive favour. ‘We work with the councils,’ says Neil, ‘it’s not a them and us situation even if we do bend the rules slightly.’ Many local businesses see them working near their premises and then either help, donate or both. Team Stamford are encouraging people to have pride in the town, and to own it, so to speak.
Many of you will have noticed the planters that have popped up on the way into town, all down to Team Stamford. The south bank of the river adjoining the Cattle Market car park has been transformed with scrub cut back, a new footpath put in to the beach and even an old boat which eil shed out o the river being used as a planter
The Darby and Joan on North Street has been tidied up, ivy cut back and planters situated and planted up. And it’s all guerrilla gardening. Do they ever get into trouble?
o eti es an official ro the council turns up to have a look and we have had the odd solicitor’s letter from an obscure landowner but why would anyone object? We are a ing the space better and effectively doing their ob or the e rarely get than ed by officials but always do by
‘Many of you will have noticed the planters that have popped up on the way into town, all down to Team Stamford.’
residents.’ Have they ever been told to dismantle what they have done, or stop? ‘They wouldn’t dare!’ he said with a big grin. And no they wouldn’t as everyone in the town is behind this much admired team.
‘We improve the scabby bits of town. It’s a disgrace in places,’ says Nina. ‘Leaves pile up and they are dangerous as well as unsightly. These jobs can be done very quickly and easily. It’s just having the will to do it. We make the time to do it as neither of us can stand mess. We will put something on facebook asking if anyone is available to help, or to weed somewhere and someone always turns up to help.’
‘If a place looks a mess and is uncared for it will stay that way until it is sorted out. Once you’ve tidied up a space, it’s usually kept that way.’ Says Neil.
Team Stamford also help with bigger projects such as the local Guide’s hut, the hospital’s garden, planting trees in the town and collecting aluminium cans to help fundraise for
‘Locals see what Team Stamford are doing and often come and help. They then take ‘possession’ of the spot and keep it tidy; dead heading, pruning and watering. ’
the new outdoor gym that Frank Newbon is working on.
But these guerrillas sometimes have to toe the line and get permission. ‘We have a friendly councillor in Amanda Wheeler,’ says Neil. ‘She has got us permission from Lincolnshire ighways to plant wildflowers on orth Street, Casterton and Tinwell Roads. This permission took about a year to get so an onboard councillor is a great asset or the tea These wildflowers are now in their second season and are just beginning to sprout and are now being nurtured by local residents eil and ina o ten nd this is the case. Locals see what Team Stamford are doing and often come and help. They then take ‘possession’ of the spot and keep it tidy; dead heading, pruning and watering. A community of like-minded people has been built through Team Stamford and for those who don’t have a garden it offers uch needed sanctuary and even therapy a ter a long day at wor The biblical loaves and shes story springs to mind here and on many occasions.
And all because ‘We love Stamford.’ Thank you Team Stamford.
Team Stamford can be found on facebook. Volunteers are always welcome so do join them.
Seed swaps
One way to reduce the cost of gardening is to swap seeds and seedlings. Kate meets a group of friends and a village community group who have done just that
YOU KNOW HOW it goes; as the days begin to warm up and we smell spring in the air, we rush out to the garden centre and buy packets and pac ets o seeds to grow our avourite flowers and vegetables. Then, once they’ve germinated, we end up with hundreds of seedlings of the same variety. And that’s not much fun. If you’re lucky, you have like-minded friends who you can swap your seeds with so end up with far more variety in your garden.
I met local Ketton resident Annie Hall who had been inspired by the Oundle Waste Less group (Owl) who had set up a seed swap in Oundle. She immediately approached the Ketton Horticultural Society and Mary Cade, a parish councillor whose husband was involved In Ketton Green Spaces. They set up a village facebook group, Ketton Seed Swap, and in no time at all the news was buzzing around the village.
‘The trick,’ says Annie, ‘is to keep it free and simple.’ Ketton Green Spaces provided money for a large plastic storage box that is situated conveniently next to the village shop. Anyone who has seeds to spare can put them in the box which keeps them dry, with a label giving the plant’s name, growing tips and descriptions of height, spread, etc. Then people come and take what they want, hopefully leaving seeds in return. Gardeners with seedlings can leave their telephone number in the box or on the facebook page advising people where to collect them from.
Annie is particularly pleased that so many children come with their parents to choose the seeds they’d like to grow.
‘They get very excited and the box has become a focal point in the village. At Christmas we were lucky enough to have mistletoe to share from a tree in the village paddock owned by the Rutland and Leicestershire Wildlife Trust. And a local businessman, Tim Wade at Dynamics Environmental, donated so e unds which were spent on wildflower seeds These were bagged up and shared via the box at the end of the summer, giving instructions on how and where to sow them. We’re waiting for photos of the results with great e cite ent egetable and flower seeds are split airly evenly with runner beans being the most commonly shared seed last year.
Tons of Tomatoes
In Great Easton a group of friends decided to set up their own mini seed swap concentrating on the seeds of heritage tomato plants.
Keen gardener Andrew Connon mentioned to his friends he’d stumbled upon the quirky specialist heritage vegetable grower Thomas Etty and was planning to order some heirloom tomato seeds, but he wanted to get a good selection. As there are normally 50-100 seeds in each packet, unless you keep them until the next year (and seeds do have a shelf life) when you sow them you end up with too many plants - who can cope with up to 100 tomato plants? It was agreed he would order 10 packets and each household in the group would germinate two or three packets and then swap them at the seedling stage. This way, everyone would end up with a sensible amount of plants of each of the 10 varieties.
Everyone in the group had grown tomatoes before but always standard hybridised tomatoes which, although usually more blight resistant and designed to produce heavier crops, ‘they just don’t taste as nice,’ villager John Boulter told me. ‘We wanted to try tomatoes with more flavour and as broad a range as possible
The varieties chosen were Anna Russe, Carters Golden Sunrise, Garden Peach, Golden Queen, Pantano, Pineapple, Yellow Pear, Brandywine, Red Zebra and Black from Tula. any o the pac ets still have the flowery descriptions on them from when they were originally grown in the 19th and early 20th century.
The seeds arrived during one of the Covid-19 lockdowns so Andrew distributed them whilst on his daily walk, then each household germinated them. Everyone in the group owns a greenhouse and even though you can, of course, grow tomatoes outside, ‘you get a better crop and longer season with a greenhouse,’ John told me. ‘We were still
picking some towards the end of November. I made green chutney with the ones that didn’t turn, and obviously ate and gave plenty away during the season. And I like to roast then freeze them to make a base for tomato sauce for the rest of the year.
‘Some varieties were more successful than others,’ John continued. ‘Peche Jaune was the most challenging and had slightly furry skins, but were delicious. Some of the big beefsteak ones were particularly good and we did a mix of colours including black ones, a very dark red called Black from Tula, yellow tomatoes and one in the shape of a pear.
‘Mine got a little bit of blight at the end of the season but there was a lot of blight around last year even for the modern ones.’ Things did get a little competitive and Andrew thinks he had the best tomato harvest he’s ever had and considered it a great success. Plans are afoot to extend the seed swap to additional vegetable varieties although the friends have decided to reduce the amount of tomato varieties to six or eight this year.
Menus from £14.95 per person or à La Carte available, booking in advance recommended.
Harborough Road, Great Oxendon, LE16 8NA 01858 452 286
thegeorgegreatoxendon.co.uk
Walkrite Specialist Foot & Ankle Clinic
Serving Cambs, Lincs and Rutland
Walkrite incorporates the best clinical care and technology to alleviate painful foot and ankle conditions of all descriptions.
New, purpose-ftted Podiatry clinic in Peterborough. Now also providing Orthotist service.
John Chadwick BSc(Hons), FRCPodM, FFPM RCPS(Glasg)
Walkrite, Runrite, Feelrite
Medbourne Plant Fair
Keen gardeners Rebekah and Jane tell Kate how they came up with an inspired idea to fundraise thousands of pounds for local charities while indulging their passion at the same time
‘IN 2005 WE were sitting in a arent Teachers ssociation eeting at ringhurst ri ary chool loo ing or undraising ideas ebe ah told e when ane and announced we would organise an event based around gardening and plants e ca e up with the idea o running the rst ever plant air in the area The idea is si ple people donate plants ro their gardens and we sell the to the public t this ti e o year you re always busy dividing plants and realised was putting stuff on the co post heap that we could sell or p or so started potting it up veryone has asses o stuff in their garden that grows adly that they don t want but or so eone else it s a treasure
The rst year we ade nd then it too on a li e and a culture o its own The air grew and grew and we started serving soup ca e ho e ade bread and sausage rolls ne year our advertising was so success ul we had a coach load ro ilton eyes and even got as ar as the events page in the aily Telegraph The ueues were li e
the rst day o the arrods sale we were holding people bac at the gates
eople donate all sorts o plants ane e plained including vegetables shrubs bunches o rhubarb and wild garlic wrapped up in string pond plants house plants you na e it they donate it ut all are or us to sell and the oney raised went rst to ringhurst ri ary chool and now to edbourne re chool e ve done years so ar and raised over eople co e as it s a happy co unity event ebe ah continued and they go away with a bo o plants that are good uality locally grown and well loved and co e bac again ne t year eople co e who don t now about gardening and we re able to tell the what plants grow in the shade the sun etc ll the volunteers who serve at the stall are gardeners and now what the plants are and what they do e pass on plants advice and reco endations ne year we had so eone who had inherited a brand new garden and they ust wanted to ll it t was late in the day so we said they could have the whole lot le t over or nother year so eone as ed or Lady s antle as she wanted a Lady s antle border and she too all we had which was a lot!
Then ovid struc so we couldn t do the event at edbourne illage all as usual ut as we d potted up the plants already did it outside y house and we raised ro the door Last year we ade even ore than that
The plan this year is to run stalls ro the end o arch outside their houses in ain treet edbourne and igh treet reat aston with a uni ue drainpipe syste that people see to love which collects the oney
Lots o people in this area have lovely gardens said ane and people li e to re resh the This is a very low cost way o doing it now there s a whole bed in y garden going to redo this spring ut over the years y garden has started to loo ore and ore li e ebe ah s as eep buying her plants
'The customer drops their cleaning off and the business is notified they’ve done it. The van comes out from Lincoln Road, picks up the items and takes it back to be cleaned and then returns it to the pod for the customer to pick up - so simple!'
commuting to London Monday to Friday and working long hours the last thing you want to do on a Saturday is go into town to drop your dry cleaning off nd you have to do it on a Saturday as by the time you get ho e ro London the shops are shut Then the ollowing aturday you ve got to pic it up again t is ust another chore to add to the list and for many people there are much better things to do
nd these people who are regular custo ers are o ten the people who are hopping on the train at a o the obvious thing to do was to open an outlet at eterborough station The station was een but again staffing costs didn t add up as an outlet would need to be open early in the orning and late at night when everyone ca e ho e again ut ic y new she was on to so ething here
nventive and entrepreneurial ic y devised a sel service pod ound so ething si ilar in ustralia but they weren t interested in shipping to the U so thought ll develop y own then ter lots of research and planning they opened their rst sel service pod at erpentine reen in eterborough ust be ore the rst loc down nother per ect location as everyone goes to the super ar et and can drop their cleaning at the sa e ti e t literally ta es three seconds to drop your cleaning off and less than to pic it up you can use a cashpoint you can use ic y s pods The custo er drops their cleaning off and the business is noti ed they ve done it The van co es out ro Lincoln oad pic s up the ite s and ta es it back to be cleaned and then returns it to the pod for the customer to pick up - so simple!
course ovid put paid to ic y s plans and they ust had to ride out the loc downs Cutting hours during lockdowns and then reopening along with everyone else nd they made it whilst sadly many dry cleaners locally and nationwide didn t decided that a ter the last two years we ve had it was either go large or go ho e nd decided we would go large e have had to sit it out but opened a second pod at the station in une t was going steadily when icron hit ut now is nishing we are pic ing up again and are ust waiting or the trains to run ore regularly and be used ore and they will y plan is that we will have pods within ve years and certain it will happen
t is such a si ple concept and so obvious hy on earth hasn t this been done be ore n ti e e pect we will be seeing eters leaners pods everywhere www.peterscleaners.co.uk
Essential information
WHERE TO PARK
Wherever you can in Corby Glen.
DISTANCE AND TIME
Five miles/two hours.
HIGHLIGHTS
Rolling open country, plenty of pubs and exploring Corby Glen. Plus this walk is a train spotter’s delight.
LOWLIGHTS
It can be muddy in places.
REFRESHMENTS
The Cholmeley Arms in Burton-leCoggles, the Fighting Cocks, The March Hare Tea Rooms and the Woodhouse Arms in Corby Glen and the Royal Oak in Swayfield.
DIFFICULTY RATING
Three paws. It’s quite hilly and can be muddy in places.
THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE
I didn’t see any livestock on the way round and there are some good access points to the West Glen river.
For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.
Pickworth and the Drift
Most of this route is on excellent farm tracks and tarmac so it’s a good late winter option.
By Will Hetherington
Images: Will Hetherington
This route is almost all on good farm tracks – great for avoiding the mud in the winter.
WILL’S WALK
The route
Park responsibly somewhere in Pickworth. The Drift heads east away from Pickworth at the main junction in the village. Walk gradually uphill along this ancient drover’s track and you will soon be transported away ro any traffic noise and nd yoursel in one of the most peaceful places in the whole area. Stay on the track for more than a mile, passing Turnpole Wood on the right as you go, and you will eventually come to a smart red brick house on the left, with a few other houses behind it ere you will nd the gate in the hedge on the right ta ing you off the Drift and into the farmland beyond the hedge.
The path heads south west for a few hundred yards before coming to a small plantation. Follow the sign into the plantation and take the right turn within 100 yards. Then you should very soon come to the main farm track. Turn right here and after another 200 yards turn left at the sign. Stay on the track following the footpath signs for another kilometre and if you are lucky you may see a few hares out on the elds to the le t and right
When you reach the no entry sign on the ar trac ta e the right turn off the trac and on to the grassy path along the northern edge of a piece of woodland. It’s a nice change of scene for a few hundred yards before you reach Pickworth Road ahead. Turn right and walk the last three quarters of a mile along the road, passing Taylor’s Farm and Christian’s Lodge along the way. I have done this walk twice in recent months and have seen a grand total of three cars on this stretch of road so it really is a good option for the wetter months of the year.
ACTIVE INFO
John Clare, the nationally acclaimed ‘Peasant Poet’ spent his early working life in Pickworth as a labourer in the limekiln in the early 1800s and met his future wife on Walk Farm which features heavily in this route.
Difficulty rating
Beautiful rolling arable land between Ryhall and Pickworth.
START/ FINISH
Essential information
WHERE TO PARK
Responsibly somewhere in Pickworth.
DISTANCE AND TIME
Three and a quarter miles/an hour and a quarter.
HIGHLIGHTS
An extremely quiet and peaceful piece of countryside and pretty little Pickworth. Brown hares if you are lucky.
LOWLIGHTS
There is no pub on the route.
REFRESHMENTS
The Crown in Great Casterton.
DIFFICULTY RATING
One paw. It’s fairly flat and mostly on farms tracks and roads. No stiles.
THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE
This is mostly arable land so very little livestock although there isn’t really any fresh water on the route either.
For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.
If it’s peace and quiet you are after then Pickworth is the place.
ActiveBody
EDITED BY KATE MAXIM
A blow to the head
Concussion is usually mild but a return to normal life can be gradual.
Physiotherapist Sarah Babbs explains
CONCUSSION IS DESCRIBED by the NHS as ‘the sudden but short-lived loss of mental function that occurs after a blow or other injury to the head’ or body. We see it most in contact sports such as rugby but it can be found in those who simply fell and hit their head on a pavement.
The brain is a soft organ protected by the bony skull. If there is a direct or indirect hit there can be movement of the brain against the skull causing physical or chemical changes in the brain tissue.
Concussion is a type of brain injury, the most common but generally the least serious. Symptoms can clear very quickly with return to normal life within days. But symptoms can last longer and delay a return to normal life.
Recovery in children appears to take twice as long as adults with a return to normal life taking up to four weeks. This may be due to the developing brain taking longer to recover. Only 40% of children with concussion present to medical care, 30% have symptoms after two weeks and most will recover fully. Recent discussions have focused on receiving multiple concussions whilst doing a sport and the effects that ay have in later life.
If a person is involved in a collision type injury, immediate care must be given correctly. Priority is to manage your own safety, as in all emergencies, and the person involved. Be aware of risk of spinal injury or internal bleeding. The concussion should be assessed by an experienced and trained person and the player should not return to play until full examination has taken place. speci c assess ent tool nown as SCAT5 is used by medical clinicians to assess whether there is a medical emergency and as a baseline measurement for future
management. It takes at least 10 minutes to perform. For children under 13 there is a separate Child Scat. Serious symptoms and neurological changes imply a medical emergency and hospital care must be sought.
Symptoms of concussion include a loss of consciousness after the head injury, visual disturbances, memory problems and/or confusion about the current or recent events. Vomiting, nausea, balance problems, headache and later mood changes, lethargy and difficulty concentrating or a return o early symptoms with mental or physical activities are often noted.
In the immediate aftermath of mild concussion, recent evidence shows that icing the head is helpful and there are even ice caps available or this purpose n the rst hours after a concussion the person should not be left alone and regular checks should be made on their physical and cognitive state. This includes waking them regularly overnight checking that they are alert, can understand and follow instruction, answer questions, and respond to pain and other stimuli.
ollowing the rst to hours probably the most important care is reassurance and education with rest and planning for a return to activities. In the fairly recent past, children were told to sit in a darkened room with no
screens until all symptoms had resolved. But current practice is to manage mild symptoms such as a headache and a gradual return when symptoms ease with repeated exposure to exercise.
Sleep management and good nutrition are important to get back to school or work. Symptoms may return but with appropriate repeated exposure, symptoms will lessen and good progress will be made. If after two weeks there is little progress then further medical help should be sought.
Having both psychological and physical therapy may be required to support the person and, with children, their parents and family. Anxiety (including that of parents) can lead to a risk of persisting symptoms so anxiety management is important in recovery.
Rehabilitation starts simply with a few minutes walking. This progresses to longer walks, short sessions of exercise bike or jogging while monitoring heart rate. As symptoms abate then progression to more intense exercise can take place, gradually adding higher intensity running, sports drills and eventual contact drills. If all is well and symptom free, full sport, activities and daily li e can be resu ed with con dence
To contact Sarah ring 07780 900201.
Step away from the cake
Food addiction coach Dr Bunmi Aboaba gives us some hard hitting facts about overeating and how to avoid it
T’S A FACT, many of us overeat and indulge ourselves from time to time. But most of us manage to reign it in (or try to) when our waistbands start getting tight. But for some it can be a problem, a serious problem.
vereating can cause diabetes arthritis chronic infla ation bro yalgia and ental health proble s t least illion people a year die as a result of being overweight or obese. Shockingly a third of children leaving primary school are now overweight and more than 4,000 people a day are searching online for how to lose weight. It’s obvious our overall relationship with food needs to be addressed. If you want to make a change to your eating habits, it is vital that you give yourself the best chance of success so set out your intentions and use so ething called T oals
To progress and reach your goals you ust start with understanding where you’re at now. You can then set out your intention of where you want to be.
Create a clear picture in your mind of where you are going and what you want to achieve. Intentions and beliefs are powerful and can a e a huge difference
s a ood addiction coach reco end that all y clients set the selves T goals This acrony stands or speci c easurable attainable realistic and ti e speci c n e a ple o how this could be applied to a goal such as e ercising ore could include
• Specific – Setting a particular goal such as achieving couch to 5k.
• Measurable – Logging progress each week.
• Attainable – Understanding personal limitations which could prevent this goal from being reached.
• Realistic ltering the challenge i necessary and set a new basis rather than giving up.
• Time-specific – Setting a date that this will be achieved by, such as si onths
Those who do not set the selves T goals are ore li ely to beco e disheartened rustrated and i patient s a result they lose sight of their goal and the intention behind it.
Discover your triggers
Do certain situations, feelings, moods or times of day prompt you to overeat so it is li ely you are being triggered Triggers are habitual and often unconscious so will have you reaching for food, even when you re not hungry to satis y an un et need There ore it s critical to identify your triggers and how they contribute to your negative behaviours towards ood and eating denti y the speci c oods you nd hard to resist and aybe then don t have the in the house so that you can become more aware of your personal food triggers.
‘Triggers are habitual and often unconscious so will have you reaching for food, even when you’re not hungry, to satisfy an unmet need.’
Practice mindful eating
ow you eat and where you eat is also crucial To develop a ore ind ul way o eating
• Remove as many distractions as possible Turn off the T and remove all smart/screen devices from your mealtimes.
• Eat in a positive space Try to ensure a clutter ree dining space lay the table, use favourite crockery, and perhaps light a candle. This can encourage you to be ind ul and en oy the o ent
• Practice gratitude – ind ully e press than s be ore and during your eal This could be saying a blessing over your ood or e pressing than s to yoursel or the person who has prepared the meal.
• Share your meals – Where possible, do not eat alone. Instead, share ood with loved ones Try and choose people with a positive attitude who will encourage and support you with your eating goals.
Plan your meals
Meal planning involves thinking ahead and planning the foods you will eat This helps you a e healthy ood choices so you are less likely to return to old habits and pick up unhealthy foods. t is vital to ocus on bringing oy and e cite ent into your eals rather than think about what you are missing out on. Changing what you eat requires dedication and forethought, so try and plan a week in advance elect oods that will nourish both ind and body Thin about colour te ture flavour and variety This will help ensure that you do not get bored with your new eating routine nd o course think of portion sizes.
About the author:
Dr Bunmi Aboaba will be running 7-day self-care retreats for clients suffering from food addiction in 2022, and is author of Craving Freedom, a new book for those wanting to build a healthy relationship with food. Visit www.thefoodaddictioncoach.co.uk for more information.
Discover what you’re made of
Kate and Lisa met a body composition specialist to find out exactly what their bodies consist of
AFEW WEEKS ago Lisa announced we had an appointment with Duncan McSporran of SmartBodyScans who would be able to tell us what percentage of fat, muscle and water we carried in our bodies was a little sceptical at rst and wondered what the point of it was.
Lisa sustained a leg injury last year which had stopped her cycling and walking and wanted a catalyst to ic start a new tness regime. I have been losing muscle mass gradually over the years so thought this would be a good way to see how much, and what I could do about it.
You can meet Duncan at Westside Gym or Fusion3 Fitness in Stamford, or he can come to you. He’d been general manager at Westside for twenty years since leaving the Air Force, having trained as a personal trainer. He retired as manager seven years ago but, as he told us ‘after going travelling for a while, there’s only so much golf you can play and got a bit bored ealth and tness are his passion and once he discovered body scanning, he realised this was his niche.
He bought the machine from InBody who are the market leaders in this technology. It’s been around for 15 years but the design has
become much more advanced, even the NHS are starting to use it. Duncan has the mobile version so it folds down into a bag with a printer.
But how does it work? Our bodies are made up of approximately 60-70% water which an electrical impulse passes through. You don’t feel anything, you just stand on the scanner and hold the handles. Muscle is 80% water and fat 20% so based on how that current flows through your body it wor s out what your body is made up of. That also depends on age, sex, height and body weight. It looks at your arms, torso and legs individually.
Percentage body fat is one of the key metrics. If you hop on the scales and decide you want to lose ve pounds that s not that helpful. You want to lose fat not muscle so you need to know what your percentage body fat is. Body mass index according to Duncan is a crude measure as it’s just height and weight, it doesn’t consider what the weight is made up of. Two people can have the sa e but loo totally different
For females 18-28% of body weight should be fat and for males 10-20%. The rest should be muscle, water and bones. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolic rate. One
pound of muscle obviously weighs the same as at but loo s very different in ter s o volume. And if your muscles aren’t being used they will waste away.
Once the machine prints your results Duncan goes through them in detail with you and gives broad recommendations for improvement and he can also pick up on some serious conditions. ‘We look at bone density and if someone is low I’ll recommend they go to their GP to have a DEXA scan as it may be the beginning of osteoporosis. I’d also advise they take on more protein and do more weight bearing exercises. Three half hour sessions a week of resistance training for starters, many people do too much cardio instead of weight training.’
People go to Duncan for a kickstart but then they need a plan for what they’re going to do a ter the scan t will re uire effort and sacri ce but it can be li e changing Levels o visceral at can be off the page and that can be a shock,’ he told us. ‘You can have slim people with high visceral fat which is gained through excess calories, not moving enough, too much stress and alcohol and too little sleep which is when your body repairs itself. You don’t get to where you are overnight, it’s probably taken 20 years. Visceral fat surrounds your heart, kidneys, liver and sto ach and gives off its own to ins leading to a higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.
‘Most people don’t eat enough protein and need that to gain muscle, and they don’t drink enough water. Sleep and hydration are key; it can change your life as every cell in your body is made up of up to 70% water and if you’re low in muscle you’ll be carrying less water.’
‘People
go to Duncan for a kickstart but then they need a plan for what they’re going to do after the scan. It will require effort and sacrifice but it can be life changing.’
The idea is to go away and make changes then book in to see Duncan again in 8-12 weeks to see what has improved. Both Lisa and I were at the lower end of muscle mass and hydration levels, and had higher levels of body fat mass than we’d like. We want to shallow out the curve until we get to the point where weight, muscle and fat all fall within the normal range, not under or over.
His advice to both of us was to continue our diets of a healthy blend of fats, carbs and protein. Walk 10,000 steps minimum per day, and go to the gym. ‘It’s not easy to gain muscle,’ Duncan said. ‘Do you have the motivation and determination to do weights at home? Go to a gym and follow a programme, but don’t then do the same thing all year, you need to change your weights. You have to coax your body to change, it won’t do it on its own.’
Body composition scans are useful for people of all ages from teenagers to the elderly. Exclusions are pregnant women, anyone with prosthetic limbs or a pacemaker. You can also download the InBody app onto your phone or tablet to track your progress.
One scan costs £30 but Duncan is now offering a be ore and a ter scan i paid or in ull at the rst session or only The second scan is to be used within three onths o the rst which ust be ta en during March 2022.
‘I love doing this,’ he told us. ‘I get a lot of satisfaction when people come back and have made positive changes. I normally tell people to start with two or three changes as you can’t do everything at once.’
For more information email dmcspee@ hotmail.co.uk or phone 07727 624682.
MULTI-ACTIVITY HOLIDAYS FOR CHILDREN AGED 4-14
Our OFSTED registered Camps, which have been running in the area for over 25 years, offer a wide range of over 30 fun activities to keep your child entertained in the holidays.
Our OFSTED registered Camps, which have been running in the area for over 25 years, ofer a wide range of over 30 fun actvites to keep your child entertained in the holidays. Some of the actvites that we ofer include bouncy castles, arts and crafs, sports, food making, crossbows, orienteering, computer games and den building.
Our OFSTED registered Camps, which have been running in the area for over 2 5 years, offer a wide range of over 30 fun activities to keep your child entertained in the holidays.
Some of the activities that we offer include bouncy castles, arts and crafts, sports, food making, crossbows, orienteering, computer games and quad biking
All staf are DBS checked and have the necessary experience and training to deliver the wide range of actvites we ofer. We pride ourselves on the quality of our childcare and our excellent staf ratos.
Some of the activities that we offer include bouncy castles, arts and crafts, sports, food making, crossbows, orienteering, computer games and quad biking.
All staff are DBS checked and have the necessary experience and training to deliver the wide range of activities we offer. We pride ourselves on the quality of our childcare and our excellent staff ratios.
We accept payment by childcare vouchers.
All staff are DBS checked and have the necessary experience and training to deliver the wide range of activities we offer. We pride ourselves on the quality of our childcare and our excellent staff ratios.
4th-8th April 11th-14th April (4-day camp)
May/June 2022 Camp 30th May-1st June (3-day camp)
11th-15th July 18th-22nd July 25th-29th July
1st-5th August 8th-12th August 15th-19th August
Easter Camps
4th-8th April 11th-14th April (4-day)
11th-15th July
We accept payment by childcare vouchers.
18th-22nd July
25th-29th July
1st-5th August
8th-12th August 15th-19th August 22nd-26th August Summer
8th-12th July 29th July-2nd August 15th-19th July 5th-9th August 22nd-26th July 12th-16th August 29th July-2nd August 19th-23rd August 5th-9th August 12th-16th August 9.30 am – 4.30 pm (early and late care available) CAMP COST - £165
Easter Camps Summer Camps
8th-12th April 8th-12th April 22nd-26th July 15th-18th April (4 day) 15th-18th April (4 day) 29th July-2nd Aug
May Half-Term Camp Summer Camps 28th-31st May (4 day) 15th-19th July
Summer Camps 22nd-26th July
8th 12th July
We accept payment by childcare vouchers Tel. 01572 868 304 Email: info@churchillsummercamps.co.uk
29th July 2nd At
Cost: £172 per week
Active Kids
All change for UCC PE
UCC HAS INVESTED heavily in PE and school sport including a newly built health and fitness suite. Four new trampolines have been bought along with seven outdoor table tennis tables that students have access to during break and lunch times.
The sports’ curriculum has also been revamped to offer new and exciting sports to include Tchoukball, Danish longball, ultimate frisbee and more. And from September PE lessons are moving away from focusing on performance related skills in sport to skills such as resilience, communication and managing change.
Fantastic Finn
FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Finn who goes to UCC has recently been selected for the GB National Development Squad for climbing. Finn has been climbing indoors since the age of seven and on rock outside for the last two years.
Finn’s aim is to be a professional climber and he is a member of Team Foundry in Sheffield where he climbs four times a week with the hope of qualifying for the GB and European Youth Climbing Championships later this year. Go Finn!
Gymnastic success
CATMOSE COLLEGE HAS been celebrating two successful gymnastic competitions.
In the British Schools’ Gymnastics Association Floor and Vault they entered an U14 girls team, U14 mixed and an U19 mixed team. The U14 girls got bronze, the U14 mixed and a silver medal and the U19 mixed won gold and will now progress to the BSGA Floor and Vault National Finals to be held on May 1.
The Team Milano competition involves an individual floor and vault as well as a team group floor routine. Both the U13 mixed team and U16 mixed won gold and will now compete in the National finals on March 11 and 12.
The U16 Girls’ team won bronze and have been invited to represent the East Midlands in the U19 category at National Finals. Well done!
Netball success
TWO TEAMS FROM Oakham have made it through to the National Schools Finals which take place in March. The U16s and U19s both successfully qualified with the U14s sadly narrowly missing out. It’s a great achievement as last year the whole season was cancelled. The teams are now training hard in the gym and getting lots of practice in for the tournament on March 12 and 13.
Oxbridge offers at Oakham
CONGRATULATIONS TO FOUR Oakham students who have received Oxbridge offers. Zsolti, Peter, Alan and Oli will be going on to study a wide range of subjects including Computer Science and Maths, French and German, Music and Natural Sciences. Zsolti has also received a choral scholarship at Somerville College, Oxford. Well done!
Two womens’ rugby teams make a good start to their campaigns and Oakham gain the bragging rights in the local mens’ derby. Jeremy Smithson-Beswick tells us more
STAMFORD RFC STARTED the month with some good news and ended it with some bad but, fortunately, it’s the good news that will have the ore lasting effect on the overall health and vibrancy o the club ll at Hambleton Road were delighted that Stamford Women played their inaugural co petitive ture and won it t was the cul ination o a lot o hard work by people like Caz Dalby, her husband arren and chu aisy ttley who told e they’ve been trying to grow the numbers in the section or so e ti e until all o a sudden in September the numbers s yroc eted according to a oth o the too part in that rst ture and Daisy, who was named player of the atch ad itted that there was a palpable eeling o sel doubt as they too to the eld running out in ront o an i pressive crowd that had turned up to show their support and nu bered in the hundreds ere they going to be good enough ter about ten inutes all those doubts evaporated when they scored their rst try through annah ennis who was to go on to clai a hat tric and was replaced by a tangible relie as the realisation dawned we can do this! They went on to win handsomely 67-14 and I hear the rosecco was in ull flow a terwards
The s uad is a i ture o players who d been at other sides, returners to rugby and co plete beginners There are about twenty of them in all and they’d like more – any wo an who s loo ing to i prove her tness ight want to consider it e have so e non contact players they told e ou don t have to want to play the full game to join up and be a valued part o the s uad oth tal ed enthusiastically about the instant riendships they ve ade and how it s li e a new a ily
nterested s they say on aceboo e train every Tuesday and ednesday ro p p eginner to e perienced we guarantee you a war welco e even i it is outside and the chance to be part o our
‘All at Hambleton Road were delighted that Stamford Women played their inaugural competitive fixture, and won it.’
ever growing tea ! rop us a essage or e ail wo en sta ordrugby co
The a ore entioned bad news is that against the form book, the men lost their eagerly awaited home derby against a ha which eans a s have now well and truly cornered the ar et in the local bragging rights, having done the double over the or two seasons running s they d also gone down to a heavy defeat against ortha pton ld couts the ga e be ore coach u chwar will be concerned that things seem to be moving in the wrong direction lthough th in the table promotion is now beyond them, but it’s only fair to mention that Oakham would gladly trade places as they re ain in the relegation slots si points ro sa ety behind t ves ou wait ages or a new wo en s tea and then two co e along at once es a a ingly another recently played their rst ull contact ture in late anuary This one was over at ar et arborough and the ga e was a friendly, against Old Sillhillians, as preparation or their opening league atch which too place a ew days later Unli e Stamford, they were to go behind early on but a aiden try – ro ull bac lora ngland wasn t long co ing They were to go on to score our o the in all in a narrow de eat but it was plainly ust the
Stamford RFC Women XV
preparation they needed as the following rst ga e proper saw the stroll to a victory over oventry out t ar ers utts irst hal tries ro annah en ins hristine iebis leanor o all and nally lora ngland again eant they were co ortably ahead at the brea The second period then saw the li t their ga e to another level with tre endous orwards play according to the club s own atch report
Li e ta ord they are actively recruiting new players (and they too describe the squad
as a i o e perienced players and total newbies who want to have a great deal o un get tter and play a new sport The contact point is their head coach davidhenderson h yahoo co u ta ord ollege ld oys are having a pretty good season and progressed to the se i nals o the Lincs up beating egness with tries ro ir s ell raser and rierley Lewis They incurred a nu ber o in uries in the atch however so s ipper aydn ohns will be hoping they re not long ter ones
ro to now and ar et arborough s ootballers are en oying a purple patch recently notching up no less than their twelfth consecutive victory with a win over third placed ewport agnell ncredibly despite that record they are only second in the table behind inc ley who are having a spectacular season the selves but Town can ta e the top spot i they win their ga e in hand recent win against iggleswade with hat tric s or both a es reland and oel arta won t have har ed the goal difference either
Up a ew tiers in the orthern re ier League ta ord aniels were on a winning run o their own They hadn t atched arborough s twelve but a ho e win over iston ade it our on the bounce ew signing onathon argetts with a superbly e ecuted stri e as the club put it scoring the only goal
t all ca e to an end against utton old eld as they were narrowly beaten away ro ho e by a single goal owever they re ain in the play off positions with ten atches to go
Whilst we’re on the topic of runs of good or eeping angers certainly deserve a ention having ta en si teen points ro the last twenty one although it too a very late goal ro a e howler to salvage a point against astwood in their last ga e be ore we went to press s anager aniel rench re ar ed they re now loo ing up to the top si whereas three onths ago it was very uch a botto si scenario
On your bike!
This month Gary Waterfall suggests a virtually fl at 24 mile ride with only 547 feet of climb. But don’t be fooled, battling the wind can make this hard
THIS IS A gentle route with only a couple of climbs. But the wind could make a huge difference so decide which direction to take so you can enjoy the tailwind on King’s Street.
Start at the recently refurbished Millstone pub at Barnack. Leave the village and head south through Southorpe and turn left just before the A47. Then turn right after a gentle hill through the hamlet of Upton before crossing the busy A47 at the roundabout to Ailsworth.
Heading north out of Ailsworth is probably the only really challenging incline on this route so make the most of it. Then cross the road and head into Marholm. On leaving Marholm cross the main railway line and enjoy the break if the barrier is down. Head to Maxey and turn left then right to Market Deeping.
There’s a long north stretch now (or south if ridden in reverse) before turning left for Greatford. Go through the village and turn left and then right to Uffington – the poshest village in Lincolnshire according to The Telegraph! Leave Uffington briefly on the main road before turning right at the bend to follow the road back to Barnack. Once back at The Millstone there’s lots of places to park your bike and lots of great food and drink to enjoy.
