Tltimes3proof1 3

Issue 3 Spring 2014

IN THIS EDITION

Pop Up Shop Triumph 16-17

Helping Your baby 23 Time Lord? 5

Making Sweet Music 22

Hot Stuff 11

Young Bridgford 29

Mums Making Business 28

Nottingham Symphony Orchestra 9

Playing Out 20

Film Maker 3

Fine Pastries IndeedBridgford’s first true Patisserie has opened. Tucked away on the corner of Exchange and Carnavon Road, Claire Elizabeth is now open for business. And what a business indeed!

Delicious french macaroons, desperately tempting Rocky Road slices, and a bewildering array of cakes to suit all tastes await you. There are even cakes espe-cially for those who have a gluten intolerance.

We asked Claire Elliott what had inspired her to begin at a time when most people are just waiting for an economic recovery around the corner.

“I have been making cakes successfully for Tiffin for a

few years now, but my true passion is the delicious del-icacies that you see in the Patisseries in Paris. As part of my research I travelled to Paris and London and investi-gated just what it was that people really wanted. It was clear that there was a demand for fine patisserie here in West Bridgford and yet it needed to be made available at

a much more competitive price than you see from the London based shops.”

Coffee & Cake

Claire Elizabeth not only offers cakes and fine pastries, but has teamed up with 200 Degree Coffee to offer a unique blend of coffee called “Biscuit Blend”.

Tim from 200 Degrees is delighted to have been able to work with Claire and produce a unique blend for her customers to accompany the delicious cakes and pastries on offer.

Britain’s Greatest Totally Locally

Success?When David Hargreaves of Fisher Hargreaves Proctor, (FHP Living) and Karina Wells from Totally Locally West Bridgford got together in November 2013 little did people know what would happen!

As it turned out, it resulted in over fifty local businesses and individuals discovering how much potential they had as makers and craftspeople.. But much more than that it delivered a striking message to the community, councillors and those who bemoan the state of the nation, and lack of enterprise.

Three Weeks - Then Take-off

For, just three weeks after that meeting, the first Totally Locally West Bridgford Pop Up Shop opened for business and welcomed in five weeks of hectic trading. It brought a massive boost to

the local businesses taking part but it also boosted more who supplied everything from advertising posters and point of sale material to the waste paper bins we suddenly discovered we needed.

£150,000 BoostOverall the triumph of this Pop Up event can be summed up in some numbers that might well surprise you. The traders in the shop took over £30,000, but the overall impact is likely to be much much bigger on the local economy. In fact it has been estimated by the New Economics Foundation that every pound generated by local independent businesses is likely to turn into a Fiver! That means that the local Bridgford economy will be boosted by as much as £150.000 and that must be good for everyone!

Fifty Businesses Boom

The range of businesses and individuals involved was quite staggering. There were established local businesses such as Heidi’s Home Furnishings from Portland Rd or Iguazu who had their shop just a few hundred yards away; but there were also dozens of individuals who had their chance to shine. These

ranged from brand new silversmith and jeweller, Silver Bells, to card makers, glass craftspeople, and co-operative ventures such as Minifolk market!

The one thing that they all shared was the chance to show the people of Rushcliffe just what a fabulously talented group of people live and work here and make it a success.

Opening of the Pop Up shop with the Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Brian Buschman

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Totally Local Times West Bridgford

Is a community paper, produced voluntarily. It is produced twice each year and is distributed in the West Bridgford area for residents. Print run for this issue is 7,000 copies. You can also find us on line at http://issuu.com/mikefinntl/docs/tltimes3

Publisher: Mike FinnEditor: Mike Finn - [email protected] Editor: Emma Harrison - [email protected] Follow us: @totalocalwb on Facebook or twitter.com/totalocal/wbwww.totallylocallywb.co.uk

0115 9811777

FISH & CHIPS • JACKET POTATOES • KEBABS

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEKMON-THURS: 11.30am - 2.00pm 4.30pm - 11.00pmFRI & SAT: 11.30am - midnightSUN: 5.00pm - 10.00pm

NEXT TO TEST MATCH PUBGORDON SQUARE, GORDON ROAD

BRIDGFORD CHIPPY

E.ON’s Energy Action Fund Powers Transition W.B’s Energy Education Community group, Transition West Bridgford, has been awarded a grant of £1,790 from energy company E.ON to promote energy efficiency across the local area.

The grant from E.ON will enable the organisation to purchase a thermal imaging camera, which will be used in free educational events for local residents.

These workshops will help residents to understand how energy is commonly lost in the home and subsequently how this can be reduced, potentially resulting in lower energy bills.

Images from the camera will also be used in educational materials and online to raise as much

awareness as possible across West Bridgford with the wider community.

The E.ON Energy Action Fund is part of the company’s commitment to helping local communities use no more energy than they need, benefitting both individual groups and the wider community. Jake Jackson, Treasurer at Transition West Bridgford, said: “The funding received from E.ON will have a positive impact on the local community. The camera will not only be used to support educational events and materials, but also to carry out paid thermal imaging surveys for individuals and businesses.

“The funding raised through these surveys will provide long term support to Transition West Bridgford, enabling us to continue running the awareness raising events.”

Amy Cross, Senior Community Relations Executive at E.ON, said: “We’re really keen to support this project as it has the potential to educate many people across the community and the initial funding will help this to continue. We hope this will make a big difference to local people.”

For further information about Transition West Bridgford’s forthcoming Energy Saving Event or to find out more about the thermal imaging surveys, email [email protected] or visit http://transitionwb.blogspot.co.uk/. To find out more about how E.ON can help you save energy visit eonenergy.com/savingenergy.

Telltale cold spots and leaks show up on the thermal camera

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All About Bridgford

The Game ShowWest Bridgford –based director John Edwards has

spent the winter editing his latest short film The Game Show. Filmed in and around Nottingham, with 35 cast and crew, it takes a satirical look at online gambling and reality TV shows. Set in the “dark side” of the internet, it shows a game of Russian roulette. Contestants win a million pounds if they pull the trigger – but if there’s a bullet in the chamber they’re dead. Meanwhile an online audience bets on a real game of life and death.

“It’s taking sensational reality TV shows to their logical outcome, in that the contestants on The Game Show are so desperate that they will actually risk their lives to take part,” John Edwards says. “I was interested in how reality TV somehow suspends our moral values in how we treat each other. I also wanted to explore how fact and fiction become blurred on the internet – and how that can affect people in real life.”

Screams AllowedThe film was shot over two weekends in

Nottingham. A disused factory in New Basford

doubled for the secret Game Show studios. With regular screams and shootings on set, the police

had to be notified in case they were called. A fire engine arrived unprompted when smoke was spotted escaping from holes in the roof – from the smoke machine on set. “Luckily they were very nice about it,” John said.

The second weekend involved scenes shot in a Long Eaton greyhound kennels, a Loughborough machine shop, and the last train from Nottingham to Carlton. Friends lent John their new house to create two festering student bedrooms – complete with grease-stained pizza boxes and mould-encrusted mugs. “Fortunately we are still friends,” John said.

Young Actors from Nottingham

Lots of local talent was involved including young actors from the renowned TV Workshop. Two of the film’s three co-producers live in West Bridgford, while award-winning Director of Photography Andy Taylor-Smith, who has worked for Nike and Adidas,

among many other clients, also lives locally. Friends and neighbours helped out on the film – from driving, set making – and making tea.

John’s last film was an hour long Channel 4 documentary about Ben Rushgrove, the Paralympian with cerebral palsy, shown twice last summer and still on 40D http://www.channel4.com/programmes/ben-rushgrove/4od.

The film has now been chosen for the National Film Archive. John is still working with Ben on an advert about a revolutionary new child’s wheelchair.

“With documentary you are trying to carve a story out of reality, whereas with fiction you start with a blank sheet of paper and your own imagination. Of course The Game Show isn’t real – but it almost could be. That’s what I want people to understand,” he said.

(More info on Facebook – The Game Show 2013)

Getting Into a BindWest Bridgford harbours a number of really niche businesses, some of which are hidden away from our view. One of these is a printers and bookbinders, The Print Quarter, on Exchange Road.

We asked one of the partners in the business just what they did specialise in. Russell explained: “We have a long history in making books and produce and bind everything from students’ theses to presentation gifts for large businesses and corporations.”

“We work to extremely high standards, for example we always recommend that people use materials that are going to last.”

“In the case of precious items we work to or beyond British Library Standards, which includes using special papers and bindings that are guaranteed for fifty years. We understand just how important these items are and make sure that they will stand the test of time.”

Not Just Theses

“Although we do all kinds of printing, we have become known for our bespoke binding service, where we take people’s photographs and memorabilia and then produce books that they can then leave to their children and grandchildren. We also get asked to produce limited edition or short runs of poetry or autobiographies.

We are fortunate to be able to produce things digitally as well as using conventional presses and so can even make single copies or just a few, depending on what the customer wants.”

“The same digital capability means that we can also produce Point of Sale material for people who only need one or two items. In the case of the Totally Locally Pop Up Shop, we were able to help out people with Individual signs.”

If you would like to find out more then you can either visit them in person at 251 Exchange Road,West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6DDTelephone 0115 9452070

Or you can email them at [email protected]

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Stretch yourself – Start Iyengar Yoga!

Would you like a yoga class where the teacher tailors the poses to your needs? Iyengar yoga teachers take into account students’ needs, whether students are stiff or flexible, have medical problems or are in perfect health. You do not have to be able to touch your toes to start yoga. The practice of yoga will bring suppleness, strength and increasing flexibility.

BKS Iyengar first introduced yoga to the west and his method is the most widely practised across the world. Now in his nineties, he continues to teach and practise yoga in Pune, India.

Iyengar yoga is highly regarded because of its high standards of teacher-training and teacher assessment. Local Iyengar yoga teachers Isabel Jones-Fielding, Geoffrey Fielding and Emma Harrison have each been

practising Iyengar yoga for well over twenty years. Emma and Geoffrey are fully certified Introductory Iyengar teachers and Isabel has gone on to further levels of teaching qualification, becoming an Intermediate Iyengar yoga teacher in 2011.

Safe AlignmentIyengar Yoga is based on the safe and precise practice of alignment of the body in the postures, which brings great benefits to posture, mental and physical wellbeing. Yoga means to join together, to unite. Often the different parts of ourselves are disconnected from each other. In yoga we apply awareness to our body and our breath and so we begin to feel more connected, more whole. It is this active awareness that distinguishes yoga from other forms of exercise, and makes it appropriate for all ages and body types.

Iyengar Yoga is ideal for anyone interested in the deeper study of movement. When practised daily and studied though teaching, Iyengar Yoga can provide you with a system of diagnosis and self healing that can help you to cope, adapt and grow mentally and physically in the face of our demanding 21st century living.

We will leave the last word to our students. One said: “I look forward to this yoga class all week, and it caters for me as much now as it did when I was a beginner. The tempo is perfect, and each week I feel myself improving. I can’t think of a better way to end my week and start my weekend on! It’s fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone!”

Another commented: “When I started yoga I was a total beginner. I’d never tried yoga before, but I soon realised the benefits of the classes. I am still enjoying it as each class is different and tailored to suit your body! Highly recommended!”

Classes & Times

Emma has day-time classes on Tuesday and Friday mornings, 9.30-11am, at the scout hall at the Friary Church, Musters Road.

Full details from www.emma-yoga.co.uk.

Isabel and Geoffrey teach 4 evening classes a week, and regular weekend workshops. Geoffrey has a class on Thursday 6.45-8.15pm at the Poppy and Pint, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay. Isabel teaches classes, ranging from beginners to intermediate, on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Geoffrey is also an osteopath with a practice in West Bridgford, as well as being a teacher of modern Pilates.

Full details for Isabel and Geoffrey’s classes from www.movement4health.co.uk.

Local News

Hambleton Bakery Opening On Melton RoadHambleton Bakery is planning to open a new shop in Melton Road, West Bridgford at the end of March. Tim Hart , owner of the business, says that he chose the site (formerly Trio Juice Bar) because “we like the convenience of the road for everyday, drop in shopping, which suits a bread shop.”

Hambleton Bakery started trading in 2008, when Tim Hart owner of Hambleton Hall in Rutland as well as Hart’s Nottingham, teamed up with Hambleton sous chef Julian Carter. Julian comes from a family who have been bakers for ten generations and after 9 years as sous chef in a top class restaurant , he was anxious to get back to baking.

Traditional BreadWhereas most high street bakery shops concentrate on cakes and savouries, Julian made his reputation with traditional bread products. With an almost religious fervour he believes that traditional slow fermentation makes bread, digestible, nutritious and tasty. Whereas 90% of supermarket bread is made by the Chorley Wood method in around 1 hour (needing many additives and enzymes), Julian’s bread is made

in 24 hours using only minimal yeast, quality flour, salt and water.

Through shops in Exton, Oakham and Stamford as well as 50 wholesale outlets, Hambleton Bakery has won a significant fan base throughout the region. “Some of our customers say that factory bread does not agree with them” says Tim Hart “others like the taste, texture and keeping quality.”

Since 2012 considerable effort has gone into developing a range of cakes and savouries which like the bread are made without additives or preservatives. The Rutland Pippin, (see below)

created for the ITV series , is a variation on the pork pie theme and won an industry award for new products in 2013.

The Bakery was given a considerable boost at the end of 2012 when they were featured on the ITV series “Britain’s Best Bakery” and were declared the ultimate winners from a field of 32. In 2013 Julian was voted “British Baker of the Year 2013” in the Bakery Industry awards.

Iyengar Yoga teachers, Isabel, Emma & Geoffrey reaching for the sky!

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Local News

Now open in West Bridgford at 31 Abbey Road is Mad Dog Sports, a new and vibrant sports shop selling top of the range sports equipment and sportswear.

After 4 years of trading on the internet an opportunity arose to open a sports shop in Abbey Road West Bridgford, an area that has not seen a sports shop for over 20 years.

Their aim is to liaise with all local Schools, Sports Clubs and the general public, to provide quality equipment and sports wear at affordable prices, together with good service and experienced advice if required.

Team Wear Specialists

Mad Dog Sports are also specialists in Team wear, and embroidery for all sports clothing and sports bags for all ages. They can also help in the design of a new logo offer advice on the different prices.The best solution to your requirements is Mad Dogs priority. They also supply the full range of trophies as well as an engraving service!

Embroidery time scales are usually vastly better than other companies you may use and certainly the prices are always competitive, just ask for a free no obligation quote!

Why the name?

It’s a great question, there are not many shops about named after a crazy canine, the temptation to say because to owner is always “dog tired” is just too obvious but the name does come from a crazy

dog.

The owner (Steve, an ex PE teacher and cricket coach) has a chocolate Labrador, Toffee, who loves all sports, watches it on television and follows the ball with a passion.

When thinking up a company name Steve was sitting by his computer trying to get his brain to come up with a workable name, to help the thought process he was bouncing a ball up against the wall and he noticed the dog watching and following the ball very closely, “you are a Mad Dog who loves sport” came out, the name stuck.Steve now has two Mad Dogs, Toffee the original and a new smaller but perhaps more mad terrier called Suki

who joined Steve’s family living in West Bridgford as a rescue dog from the RSPCA. Both dogs love sport, walks and food, and love to come in to the shop, they don’t come in very often, but photos of both can be seen on the counter!

Why did they open in West Bridgford?

Steve lives in West Bridgford and has done since the age of 19, so it’s close to home, also West Bridgford with its historic links to Nottinghamshire’s top professional and most of the top amateur sporting teams is massively underserved in the ability to get top

sports goods and top advice LOCALLY!What is the “Club Offer”?

When you spend any amount on the shop (excluding sale items) you can nominate your custom towards a clubs or school. Over ANY period of time, once a total of £500.00 has been nominated towards that club or school (collectively) they will receive £50.00 worth of free sports equipment (of their choice) Why? So that Mad Dog can support local schools and clubs and give just a bit back to the local community.

What’s next for Mad Dog

Sports?

Continuing to serve the public, schools and clubs the very best they can, but also improving their stock range, they have Ron Hill running wear arriving shortly and are very excited about several other new ranges they will be stocking soon.

So in conclusion, if you need great service, great quality and great brands visit 31 Abbey Road West Bridgford (next door but one to the BRILLIANT “Tiffins” Tea Shop and just down from the guitar shop Fuzz), give Mad Dog a call on 0115 9455697 or visit www.maddogsports.biz.

They also have the ability to source as well, which means that even if they

do not have the item you require in stock they will find it and get it in stock quickly, then call you to let you know it’s arrived!

Open Tuesday to Saturday and by appointment if required

Steve, Ian and staff also offer a 5% DISCOUNT to all TOTALLY LOCAL CARD MEMBERS so show your card when you purchase!

Specialists in Brands includeCricket Gunn and Moore & Gray NichollsCycling Clothes OptimumFootball Mitre & PrecisionHockey Grays & MazonRugby Gilbert & OptimumNetball Gilbert and MitreSwimming Speedo and UgliesTennis Slazenger and DunlopSports Socks UK Sock Mine and Precision

A full restringing service is also available if required!

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Local News

Take a Deep Breath & Smell the Coffee

There’s something in the air in West Bridgford - the tempting aroma of freshly ground coffee wafting from the doorway of Taste Cafe and Coffee shop in Clumber Road. Inside, manager Franco is serving thirsty customers to a soundtrack of hissing steam, frothing milk and clanking crockery. Like most Italians - coffee is in Franco’s blood.

Unlike most Italians, however, Franco gets his coffee from Nottingham! To be more precise, from Stewarts Coffees, based in a small but bustling unit on the banks of the Trent, a stone’s throw from many of the city’s iconic landmarks, and ideally situated to provide West Bridgford’s discerning coffee connoisseurs with their daily dose of caffeine.

The Perfect CupStewart Falconer founded his company in the 1980s when the coffee scene was somewhat less sophisticated. However, Stewart recognised that quality coffee could only become more popular, and

his ethic since then has been to deliver the perfect cup, every time. Stewart imported state of the art coffee machines from Switzerland and provided these to forward-thinking Nottingham venue owners who soon realised that quality and consistency make for happy, repeat customers.

Since then, Stewart has developed the art of roasting coffee using beans from Brazil, Colombia, Kenya and other far-flung places. Green beans need to roast to release their potential and flavour, and freshness plays an important role in the end product. Stewart roasts coffee in small batches, to order, and the coffee is then delivered to customers in sealed bags within days.

Building the Business

In keeping with Stewart’s vision of the future of coffee culture, business has boomed and what was once a one-man operation has needed more willing hands to keep up with demand.

The Sales team consisting of manager Mark Whittaker and Ladybay local Harry Ford are developing the client baseall over the East Midlands. Compton Acres resident Ong Srichan is learning the art of roasting from Stewart and is responsible for packing and dispatch of the coffee.

Stewarts Coffees can now be sampled in top class restaurants such as the Martin’s Arms Colston Bassett, Riverbank on Trent Bridge and in thriving farm shops and delis.

Stewarts became the principal coffee supplier to Castle Rock’s establishments, such as Bridgford favourites The Poppy

and Pint and The Stratford Haven.

Even at Home

But coffee fans don’t have to miss out if they don’t want to head outside. Online ordering is a hit with West Bridgford residents and many are placing repeat orders of their favourite roasts. Customers have the choice from a regular range such as Colombian or Old Brown Java, and additional seasonal blends and limited editions. Many wannabe baristas are investing in substantial machines and grinders for the home and so Stewarts coffee can be provided in whole bean as well as ground form, and in bags from 250g upwards.

Presence at local events is important to Stewarts Coffees, getting to know their clientele and building awareness of an artisan company practically on the doorstep for many customers.

Indeed, it was at the Riverside Festival last year that Tastes’s owner Franco and wife Jenny met the Stewarts team, leading to a great business collaboration which keeps

trading within a small, local radius. See www.stewartscoffees.co.uk or call them on 0115 8990610 to find out what they could do for you.

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Local News

We are all conscious of time, but for one man in Bridgford it plays a much bigger part! You see John Pankhurst fixes time, or to be more accurate, he fixes the things that measure and record it. An increasing rarity in this modern electronic and battery operated world, he repairs mechanical clocks

Here is a man who takes a delight in returning life to a household item that is not only functional but can evoke memories - That old clock that has perhaps ticked quietly for generations of family life. The clock that has marked the passage of time and family history but which now needs some care and attention so that it can carry on doing just that and also remind the present of the past.

John restores clocks for people who

want to preserve some of their heritage and memories ,the Westminster chimes accompanying Aunt Aggie’s Sunday teas or the strike of midnight when all the family gathered to see in New Year

“I’m an amateur not an expert,” he insists when we meet. “ more a clock bodger with a bit of experience, but I do like to get them working and not be beaten ! After I had to retire I took a couple of excellent course at the British Horological Institute They showed me what needed to be done and how to do it but in demonstrating my inadequacies reinforced the advice of my first teacher, an old clock repairer in Bedford that the best way to learn is through doing, and now I’ve been doing it for quite a long time”

“ I work on clocks, but not watches, for

individuals and only at their own risk, and there are limits to my abilities that I am well aware of. If a clock is particularly valuable or complicated then I always say no and encourage people to use a professional clock repairer. My intention is to work on family clocks where the value lies in the memories associated with them and when the cost of commercial restoration is prohibitive and the clock and its memories would then be lost to the future.

Timeless yet TimelyWhen you look round John’s wonderful Edwardian house you can see that this is a lot more than a simple pastime. The house is full - NO, that isn’t true at all! the house and workshop are bursting with clocks and clock mechanisms that will keep John busy for longer than you could imagine and will undoubtedly cause a headache for his executors when that time comes

“You can always get another picture or ornament but they aren’t alive and you only get to the heart of a house when you find a ticking clock and I like to help people who appreciate and value that. Clocks hold a special place in any house and I want them to be as they should, in good working order.” This is why, even though he has so many clocks, he will happily take on yet another project for someone who wants their heirloom in working order and back as part of the family. John also works not for personal payment but asks for a donation to a local charity, the Millwood Cat Rescue in Edwalton ~~where eight of his current nine cats have come from!

When he isn’t busy with clocks John is an overworked but quite talented wine maker, and I know this from experiencing

his delicious Damson wine. As well as producing for friends and family it is also a major attraction at the Lady Bay Open Gardens and Open Arts events with last year donations for some 200 bottles raising just under £1000 shared between Millwood and the Cheshire Home.

The real delight when meeting someone who clearly loves what they do as much as John does, is that you can see skills and craftsmanship returning life to a clock that has so many stories of its own to tell.

If you have a clock that needs looking at and don’t mind waiting then John might be your man! Your best bet to contact him is either at the Lady Bay Open Arts 17/18th May or the Lady Bay Open Gardens 21/22nd June - and you can try the home made wine as well !

Bridgford’s Time Lord?

Your Life In Film If you would like to find out more about John and his love affair with clocks then I recommend you to have a look at the work of another local talent. She is a young film maker who

discovered John at one of the open arts events and who has then gone on to make a wonderful short film. Tracey McMaster has made a number of short documentaries about people and how they spend their time.

Now she is developing a service for those people who want to make a visual history for their children and grandchildren. “We can now give the next generations a really wonderful gift. For the first time properly you can leave a living memory of yourself and your own history through the medium of film.”

“In the past we used to leave diaries or photos, but now we can actually tell our own stories and those of our parents and grandparents and so we have a way to let future generations have a much better idea of just what kind of people we were. We can share our likes and loves and even pass on important bits of family history, but in a lively and engaging way.”

You can contact her at [email protected] or look at her work at: www.traceymcmaster.com

A workshop where time never stands still - at least when success is achieved!

Not Just Steaks - But Afternoon Delights Too

Every cook on TV seems to mention their “Signature dish”. But here in West Bridgford, we have an entire establishment that has its own signature, and in the land where Beef is still king we have a right royal menu.Signature is the place in West Bridgford where true beef connoisseurs will feel right at home, because they serve only the best steaks available and prepare and cook them to perfection.

We’re talking a filet mignon, a rump and sirloin, to name just a few and all of their steaks come with a choice of delicious sauces and accompaniments too. They pride themselves on serving only the freshest ingredients. Whilst steaks are king at Signature, their menu also features plenty of other tempting options that you are sure to enjoy- even if you are a vegetarian!

What is not so widely known though is that they offer a delightful array of afternoon Tea platters, so if you want to treat yourself to something a little different then pop along to Melton Road and discover for yourself why Signature is such a hit with its customers. 100, Melton Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 6EP 0115 981 6249

www.signaturesteakhouse.co.uk

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Local News

Take time outWest Bridgford’s

First Boutique

Spa

Relax

Rejuvenate

Amidst luxurious surroundings at West Bridgford’s award winning hidden gem

Whether you’d like to achieve a state of deep relaxation, improved mood

and better sleep

Or a fresh, glowing and more youthful complexion

Treatments by appointment only.T: 07974 103 367 | E: [email protected] |

W: www.soothe-therapies.com | FB: SootheFLMAbove Isobel & Henry, Melton Road,

West Bridgford.

Soothe’s exclusive massage and natural age defying facial therapies will leave

you feeling wonderfully rejuvenated and incredibly relaxed.

“Really beautiful luxury space. The nicest beauty spa I have

visited. Lovely treatment. Highly highly recommended!”

“ In a word - WOW!”

Soothe Mag ad 230114.indd 1 27/01/2014 09:14

Adding Clicks to Bricks!How Two Bridgford Businesses are helping each other.

It is often easy to overlook the number and scope of businesses that operate in West Bridgford supporting not just the local economy but helping clients from further afield. As the internet and particularly consumers’ expectations of how they want to interact with companies has developed, businesses have had to navigate a range of choices of how best to use the web and respond to clients online.

Heidi’s Home Furnishings and Six Serving Men provide an excellent example of two local companies

working together to support each other. Heidi’s Home Furnishings on Portland Road (just off Melton Road) provide a range of quality gifts, home accessories and furniture, and home interior ideas. Owners Phil & Mel Wilson were facing a conundrum in determining what to do online as in addition to the range of products available within their shop. With local clients and across the country they wanted to ensure people with the ability to browse the range of products and buy online.

Juggling selling Offline with OnlineLuckily the solution they were looking for was (literally) right under their noses. “Whilst we had a basic website in place it was difficult to maintain or update and we did not fully understand how to use it to promote our business online.” Like a lot of businesses Phil & Mel needed to focus on what they did best and hand the technical bits to someone else.

“We attended the Rushcliffe Business Partnership event at the City Ground last October and met Stef Elliott from Six Serving Men, who explained how we should develop what we wanted to achieve.”

Six Serving Men is a local business which provides Digital Marketing support to a range of businesses in the East Midlands and further afield including Andrew Lloyd Weber, Fidelity Investments and BBC Worldwide. As Stef Elliott explained:“When we met Phil & Mel they had lots of great ideas but, like all of us, were constrained by limited time and “not knowing what they didn’t know”. Heidi’s were similar to a lot of our clients whose aspirations had outgrown a simple brochure website or who are unable to update their own content.

Time to Focus on the business

Heidi’s new website is launching in February 2014 and provides Mel & Phil with some key benefits “ In addition to showing our complete range of products that integrates with our stock system, we can provide a personal and professional service on line as well as off. We have a range of exciting products including paints and fabrics from Annie Sloan Interiors, and we are looking at running a series of workshops from the Spring (bookable on-line) to show people how to get the best from these products and introduce them to new ideas.”

To find out more, visit Heidi’s at www.heidishomefurnishings.co.uk, and visit Six Serving Men at www. 6sm.co.uk

9


All About Bridgford

The Magic FiverWhen you want to know just what a difference you can make by shopping locally at independent stores then the simple picture on the right says it all!

Each fiver you spend locally helps employ not just the people in the shop itself, but all their suppliers and so on. It includes the bakers who make the bread and also the accountant who does their books. And it doesn’t stop there!

Most of the staff live locally and also shop locally, that too ensures that yet more money comes into

the local economy. In fact the “multiplier” to give it its technical name is a factor of five in places like West Bridgford.

As the graphic on the right shows, if you go and spend money in a large supermarket or coffee chain then that money is nowehere near as busy locally.

In some cases the profits don’t even stay in this country at all! But all you have to remember is where your Fiver can be most magical of all - Locally! Here in West Bridgford!

Nottingham Symphony OrchestraBRITAIN’S PREMIER AMATEUR ORCHESTRA?

Scaling the heights of Western art is not something you might expect to happen outside the major capital cities of Europe, but that’s exactlly what does happen every Monday night at Rushcliffe School. Nottingham Symphony Orchestra, West Bridgford’s very own ‘orchestra in residence’, has been rehearsing weekly in the school hall there since 1978 and, despite the volume levels being liable to cause structural damage, continues to do so. NSO was recently described in the Sunday Telegraph as ‘arguably the premier amateur orchestra in Britain’. Heady stuff! NSO is very much a local affair with the conductor, Derek Williams, and a significant number of players being West Bridgford residents.

Living in Harmony Trombonist Philip Hawker, who teaches Physics at Nottingham University, and flautist Veronica French, a Mental Health Nurse & Music Teacher, met while playing in the orchestra and have lived in the area

for sixteen years. As well as playing, the pair manage the Orchestra website and organise the tea and coffee during the rehearsal half-time interval.

Arranging childcare for their two children, Magnus, 10, and Flora, 7, to cover rehearsals and concerts can be something of a logistical nightmare, but is worth it. Philip and Veronica both feel that playing in the Orchestra is an incredibly rewarding experience and their enthusiasm has rubbed off on the children, both of whom have started to play instruments.

Much more than just music

Heather Parkin, a clarinettist and local Music Teacher who has played with the orchestra for 30 years, said ‘during that time, the Orchestra has grown from being a group of musically minded friends, to become one of the best and most sociable orchestras in the region’ Similarly, Alison Devlin

of West Bridgford, a Solicitor who is a violinist and one of the Orchestra’s Charitable Directors, commented that she loves the rehearsals, ‘they are a therapeutic step outside the daily routine and I get a real buzz out of performing concerts with some amazingly talented musicians’. Another local resident, Nick Pidgeon, ‘cellist by night and Management Consultant by day’ is the Orchestra’s Membership Secretary. He particularly enjoys the wide range of music that NSO plays - ‘performing the Beethoven Violin Concerto with Desert Island Disc’s recent guest, virtuoso Nicola Benedetti, has been a particular highlight’ said Nick, ‘and our forthcoming concert, which will feature the mighty orchestral colour palette of Richard Strauss’s Alpine Symphony, is an evening I am really looking forward to’.

So, if you’re keen to hear some live classical music, why not check out the ‘Totally Local’ option and give the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra a go. The Orchestra’s next concert is on Saturday 15th March at the Albert Hall in Nottingham and full details can be found on their web site at http://www.nottinghamsymphony.org.uk.

NSO at rehearsals under the watchful eye of conductor Derek Williams

Clockwise from top left: Veronica, Philip, Magnus and Flora hit all the right notes

10


Local NewsThe Skills Exchange

Amongst the many initiatives that Karina Wells has set up in West Bridgford, very few have had such an amazing impact as the Skills Exchange. Put at its simplest it is just a way of getting things done using friends and acquaintances, but it is so much more.

Way back in the early twentieth century most local communities had an informal network of people who would happily offer their services to other members of the social group. With the advent of modern day living with both parents often having to work in order to pay for everything quite soon neighbours barely had time to even say hello let alone ask if they could beg a favour.

There have been a number of similar schemes but when Karina set up the current Skills Exchange some four and a half years ago, we were able to take advantage of modern technology as well as the old fashioned ways of getting it to work.

Today there are over 120 families involved with the Skills Exchange and more and more things are organised on line. But the curious thing is that people don’t simply offer their obvious skills.

As an example, in the picture you will see a plumber, Simon Charvet, a copy writer and PR person, an amazing woodworker in Steve Maddocks and many others with a myriad of skills to offer.

But in this particular instance they have all come together to help clear another member’s garden and make it look appealing.

Naturally there were a number of keen gardeners to instruct and lead the team, but everyone pulled together to turn what could have been a backbreaking and wearisome task into an enjopyable social occasion.

The new website being developed by Simon Bramley should make it even easier for members to get those awkward but essential jobs donewww.wbskills-exchange.co.uk

ITALIAN STYLE COMES TO TASTE

Taste, the independent coffee shop and eatery on Clumber Road, West Bridgford, has a new Italian owner, Francesco Senette. Francesco, born and raised in Dorgali in Sardinia, and married to former Rushcliffe pupil Jenny Crofts, brings his passion for coffee to the Melton Road shops.

Francesco, believes in independence and will ensure the café maintains its link to the Totally Locally initiative. Francesco, who graduated in art and design from Perugia University in 1997, has over 20 years experience in coffee and catering in Italy and Nottingham.

He now brings this experience to West Bridgford with a state-of-the-art Cimbali coffee machine and “Stewarts of Trent Bridge”, who provide the coffee. Cimbali have over 100 years of coffee making experience and are regarded as one of the worlds leading coffee machine manufactures.

Taste specialises in delicious and freshly made sandwiches, cakes and snacks, as well as providing a full breakfast menu, and many gluten-free products. The food is produced by an experienced and dedicated team for either eating-in or for take-away. So come to TASTE and experience freshly made coffee made with that Italian flair and passion.

Taste 65 Clumber Road, West Bridgford. Tel: 0115 9817817

A Resolution with a DifferenceI want to tell you all about my New Years Resolution. I have decided that I want to use supermarkets 90% less by next Christmas. I really don’t enjoy shopping in supermarkets, I feel like a bit of my soul dies when I’ve been in Tesco’s; everyone is so miserable and it is really expensive too. I use all the other supermarkets too, from Waitrose to Aldi, I have no loyalty.

There are very obvious reasons why I do use them – it is easy, it is habitual and it saves me time in my current lifestyle. But that is what I am going to change - my lifestyle. I want to start thinking more about what I will eat and where it comes from. This will be a gradual change little by little. I have set my target at 90% because it would be very difficult to eradicate their use completely. I also figured that I aim for 90% and get 50% it is better than aiming for 50% and getting 20%.

What works to my advantage: • I run my own food business and supply local delis and shops • I am part of: the Notts Nosh Network - a network for local food producers Totally Locally West Bridgford . A group of business start-ups called DAN Start Ups. • I take part in local food and farmers markets.

All of the above networks provide me with opportunities to meet other local businesses and find ways to source food. You would be forgiven for wondering why I’m not maximising on all of these already?!

Well, ease, laziness, or that I have had plenty of other changes in my life already over the last year. I stopped eating dairy, quit smoking, cut right back on drinking. Then on top of that in the last two years I found out I was Coeliac and went self employed. That was plenty enough change in my diet and lifestyle!

Now that I have all of that under wraps it is time to change other habits and behaviours. I want to • Use local businesses as often as possible • Use small businesses online that are located in the UK • Ensure I am getting good value for money • Buy wholesale if it suits • Look in to options of buying as part of a group.

I am telling you all to see if there is anyone else out there who would like to do the same and cut down on their supermarket dependency too. If anyone has already done this or anything similar I would love to hear any advice or tips that you may have. Please get in touch and get involved.

I ultimately want to put more money back in the local community and economy and promote using small and local businesses. I know how much I rely on the support of individuals to choose my food over that of a supermarket chain, I need to make the same choices. I also want to have more awareness of my food.

Since discovering that I was Coeliac my diet has improved 10 fold and I now know it is the key to all my health and well being. My life revolves around my food, but in a very good way. I want to keep improving my diet and health. I want to help the environment, reduce food miles and packaging and buy more organic food and meat from animals reared humanely. I love Lychees, I eat bananas and grapes and oranges! I can’t see that these will have been grown in the UK. Also, I can’t always afford to buy organic food or grass fed meat all the time, but maybe as part of a buying group I will be able to do it more often. Let’s see what happens!Samantha [email protected]

07970 815 80607956 076 993@glutenfreenottswww.glutenfreefoodnottingham.co.ukwww.facebook.com/glutenfreefoodnottingham

11


Local Business

More Comfort & Lower Bills!If saving money on the home energy bills or making the house warmer is on your list for 2014, read on! As someone who has recently achieved one of the most energy-efficient retrofits in the UK, you might think I’d want to start with super-insulation and all that jazz. But no – if you have not already done so, seek out all the free money!

Before you start, monitor your progress. Because the price of energy keeps rising, your bills may go up or stay static even if you have successfully cut your energy use. But if you know exactly how many units of energy you use each year, you can track your progress. (And it means you have accurate use figures to enter on price comparison websites if you are searching for the best deal).

Monitoring is very easy – just read the meters on the same day every month and note them down. Work out units used each month to see how use changes monthly and from one year to the next. If converting gas units to kWh looks too complicated, don’t bother – you will see your use go up or down whatever the unit of measure.

Saving the first third

Amazingly, the “average” household could save about a third on their energy bills just using energy saving habits. I’ve seen energy-savvy householders do this in homes of any age and condition from those built in the 1890’s onwards.

For example, take a typical single glazed, uninsulated 3 bed detached solid wall house in West Bridgford. The energy model predicted 38,000 kWh of total energy use. In 2010, the family living in that house used less than 24,000 kWh (gas plus electricity). How did they do it?

Option 1 – Cheap and cheerful

Simply pick the ingredients you like from the list and go for it! Better still, give your friends or family members (especially teenage children!) a piece of paper and pen each and see who can list the most free and low cost ways to save energy.

Turn down the heating Switch off lights and chargers Don’t put fridge next to cooker!Close doors and windows Be kettle-conscious Don’t have spare freezers!How long is the hot water on? (for tanks not combi boilers)When buying new white goods, go for low energy models Take a strategic look at your gadgets!Move furniture away fromradiators Close internal doors, use heating when & where needed Shorter showers, fewer baths, use less hot water generally.

And the second…

To save more energy, you’ll need to spend some money. If you’ve already done most of the obvious improvements, you’re probably already saving this third or at least some of it. While these will cost money in the short term, they will save energy and money in the longer term – some sooner than others. And remember – if you take some of the benefit by increasing comfort, the bills won’t shrink as much. It just depends which is your priority.

Option 2 – Common sense investments

Draught-proof round doors, windows and where pipes go through walls / into the attic When the time comes, replace old single / double glazing with modern double glazing. Put up thicker curtains, line them and make sure you draw them at dawn and dusk.

Put radiator panels behind the radiators, ideally with a shelf above for the curtains (so heat is not lost behind the curtains).

When replacing carpets or other flooring, maximise underlay and minimise draughts round the edges. Make sure every room has radiator controls and use timers and thermostats to good effect.

Replacing an old gas boiler with an efficient modern one can cut gas use by up to a third!

Replace energy guzzling halogen bulbs with low energy CFLs or better still LEDs.

Top up the loft insulation, (but take appropriate measures around pipes, cables and vents)

Even more savings?....

Can further savings be made? The short answer is “yes”, but this may cost a lot more. While the government continues to support the ECO subsidy, this is an option worth investigating as it will reduce the cost of installing internal and external wall insulation. What is more, adding insulation externally can improve comfort in both cold and hot weather

Option 3 – Full low energy refurbishmentSuper-insulation of walls, roofs and ground floors. Extreme draught-proofing. Ventilation with heat recovery.

The wary among you may be thinking “hang on - insulating and draught-proofing change the dynamics of a house – what about condensation and air quality issues?”

This is very true, there are all kinds of ventilation options to be considered, decisions relating to gas appliances, minimising cold spots where the insulation is thinnest or missing, and so on. But with the right combination of choices, both efficiency and

comfort can be achieved alongside building health and good indoor air quality.

Comfort and tiny energy bills? Really?

A full-on low energy refurbishment can change a house and the bills dramatically. For example, in 2013 I bought 6900 kWh of gas plus electricity combined (with no other heat sources). Not bad for a 4 bed detached house built in 1950. And it is beautifully warm with vastly improved air quality thanks to a well-designed ventilation system. Cold draughts, condensation and mould have been completely eliminated.

This level of efficiency, health and comfort takes a lot of thought and effort, not to mention a substantial budget. But it can be done if the right decisions are made.

The cheapest time to carry out a low energy retrofit is when an extension, maintenance or refurbishment work is needed. With home energy bills expected to more than double in the next 10 years, a warm and energy efficient home could be a good investment.

What did your annual energy bill come to in 2013? And how would you like to keep a chunk of that from the coffers of the big energy companies each year?

If you would like help with saving energy or making your home more comfortable, contact Tina Holt on 07962 453037, email [email protected] or visit http://www.ecohousenet.co.uk/.

The day the boiler broke in the old

house!

External Wall Insulation - one way with non cavity walls.

Insulating the loft to a high standard

12


Fun & Stuff

T: 0115 846 1083

Open late Wednesdays

5 Portland Road, West Bridgford, NG2 6DN www.heidishomefurnishings.co.uk

Gifts • Home Accessories • Kitchen Items • Cards for Someone Special Decorate and Revitalise a Room • Home Ideas • Annie Sloan Interiors

Free Local Delivery

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With three rooms to explore you will find an interesting range of

items for yourself, your home or for someone special.

different!

REDEEM THIS ADVERT INSTORE AND GET 20% OFF WHEN

YOU SPEND OVER £25.00*VALID FEBRUARY 2014. (*does not include special buy or sale items)

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Greeting Cards

SUPER SPARKLE PARTIESIt all started with a mum’s love of fairytales, but this is no fairy tale at all. It is a story of real success! We talked to Monika Johnson whose brainchild this was.

“Before setting up the company, I taught speech and drama for several years After having my daughter in 2012, I felt I could use my background to

give mums and dads a little more ‘time out’ whilst offering magical fairytale children’s entertainment in and around Nottingham.

We attended a totally locally event last year and have not looked back since! Super Sparkle Parties has gone from strength to strength with new characters, wonderful feedback from parents and children and such support from other local companies and charities who have valued what we do.” “That includes: balloon modelling, face painting, glitter tattoos, photo opportunities, competitions, craft, storytelling and magic! It is truly a privilege to be able to bring some extra ‘sparkle’ to children’s parties and events.”

NetMums Nominee

We feel proud to have been nominated a Netmums party awards finalist for our work by the families who have enjoyed what we do! We aim to ‘make dreams come true’-as one mum wrote after winning a surprise visit for her son and his friend- ‘Thank you for making a prince and his princess truly happy. You brought huge smiles to their beautiful faces and made the moment magical.’ Super Sparkle Parties looks forward to making children smile-whatever their age-as another mum kindly wrote- ‘So many dreams came true; they met real Cinderella! It so beautiful to see that children are still living in the magical world.’

Being able to help build that ‘magical world’ for children is what, I think, makes being a part of Super Sparkle Parties so special. Monika Johnson

[email protected]

Monday 10th February & Tuesday 25th March 20148:45 – 11am & 2-4pm

5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions offered for 3 & 4 year olds 16 full day care places available

Applications for places starting in September 2014 arecurrently being accepted for children who will be 3 years old

by 31st August 2014

For further details visit:www.heymann.notts.sch.uk or call

on 0115 914 5035Heymann Primary & Nursery School: Swithland Drive, West

Bridgford, NG2 7FZ

Open Days at Heymann Nursery

10 X 5 HEYMAN PRIMARY:Layout 1 02/01/2014 13:01 Page 1

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Food Glorious Food

Hot Stuff! The Chilli Story

One of the new businesses who benefitted from the Pop Up Shop is Chilli Fundamentals, who are looking to relocate their business to West Bridgford.

As Debby Porter explained to us: “We have three new stockists in West Bridgford, The Tall Frog on Melton Road, Heidi’s on Portland Road who are stocking a special range and also Taste on Clumber Road who are looking to expand their range of speciality foods.”

“We already use quite a number of local businesses to get our ingredients

from and just love the whole feel of West Bridgford.”

“Our business is growing quite dramatically and we have been asked to supply some London Food markets because our reputation for quality is is making us the firstr choiuce for so many customers.”

“We have also agreed to take part in five new markets in 2014 mostly within a thirty mile range of West Bridgford, but we will also be taking part in all the major Chilli Festivals around the country. The newest of these will be the East Midlands Chilli

Festival which will be at Newark and that will be happening at the Newark Showground in March of this year. (Date to be added - Ed)

We are very keen to work with schools and community groups to encourage growing and discovering about food and will happily work on a regular basis to educate and encourage people about growing in a sustainable way.”

Hottest Ever Sauce

“We will be introducing a new sauce to be released in spring - even hotter than “Meltdown” using the amazingly named Trinidad Scorpion chilli.

We are also launching a “Spice Up Your Life” recipe book in the spring and are looking for ideas and suggestions (of the chilli based variety) that use our products. Anyone whose recipe gets chosen to be included will be mentioned and will also get a super Chilli Fundamental reward!

Totally Locally

As part of Totally Locally Debby will be organising the Melton Road markets, which start again in March. If you want to take part or get any information about the market then she can be contacted on 0115 8419019 or by email at

[email protected]

0115 981 3491email: [email protected]

www.thetallfrog.co.uk

• CORPORATE CATERING

• WEDDINGS

• BIRTHDAYS

PROFESSIONAL OUTSIDE CATERING SERVICE

Individual Tailored Buffets

Not Just Nice Writing

Calligraphy is one of those subjects that either grabs you or it doesn’t. It didn’t just happen though, my early handwriting was best described as appalling. Even at art college my handwriting failed to develop intoanything more than over elaborate ugly scribblings. Gradually though, it started to come together. I remember the turning point distinctly; I was writing something really quite mundane (like a shopping list) and there, nestling amongst the other scribbles, was a perfectly formed italic letter d.

From that point on, I felt able to take on the more challenging work of calligraphy itself. It has taken a long time, and I still have a great deal to learn about letters and letterforms, but even so sometimes I am asked to produce a piece of work for others. The piece shown is executed in a bastardised version of a seventeenth century style of lettering called Chancery, a stylefor legal documents.

The large initial letter T is what is known as a cadel, in a cadel style. I did this freehand, with a Round Hand pen, with additional detail added using a fine sable brush. The main text was executed using gouache for the ‘ink’. The rest of the ‘heraldic’ decorations were executed using gouache applied with sable brushes.

Contrary to the popular imagination, this did not just ‘flow from the end of the pen’; it required a lot of planning and laying out before final execution.

This is an important point because many people starting out in calligraphy can become disheartened if it doesn’t ‘just happen’. It never does. The skill takes time to master, a lot of practice, and a lot of mistakes, before it is possible ‘just’ to pick up a pen and write well. I am still practising, but maybe one day I’ll be able to say that I, too, am an expert calligrapher.

In the meantime I am happy to help anyone who would like to learn the basics of Calligraphy, either in small groups or even individually. Just get in touch with me at [email protected]

14


Bridgford Community

Our school, Edwalton Primary in Nottingham, is an amazing Eco School. We do all the usual Eco-activities such as recycling, gardening, growing our own vegetables and looking after animals. We have a great Eco Club that meets every week but we do a whole lot more too.

Starting out the right way

We do ‘eco-monitoring’ which means that groups of children look in every class and around school to check that computers and lights are switched off during lunch and breaktimes, that bins are used correctly, that no taps are left on and that windows are closed when the heating is on. The results of our surveys are announced in our Eco assemblies and everyone tries hard to improve. We are really excited about

the energy saving system we have for our lights. We have red or green stickers on every light switch.

Green for Good We turn on the green switches for normal lighting and we only use the red switches if it is dark and we need

extra light. Everyone could try this. It is very simple, saves money and is good for the environment.

Throughout our school we have some special new energy-saving lights. These lights use a lot less electricity. They will save us £2,500 a year. Asurprising thing to us is that our new lights are much brighter than our old lights. We all love our new lights.

Our school has been awarded the Green Flag four times and we are an Ambassador Eco School. People come to visit us from all over the world. We have even been invited to meet Prince Charles at Highgrove to talk about our Eco-activities. We are very proud of our school and our exciting Eco work.

Article by students Elizabeth Lodge, Ankita Anand, James MacDonald and Greta Fry

Humanitarian Aid For Phillippines & Local Causes

The last 3 months have been a very busy time for West Bridgford Rotary Club during which we responded to the humanitarian disaster in the Philippines and organised a record-breaking Christmas fund raising programme. Thanks to the generosity of Asda shoppers in West Bridgford who donated £1000 and club members who donated £3000 we were able to despatch £4000 of essential water sterilising equipment to the Philippines within weeks of the disaster. Our Christmas collections at Wheatcroft Garden Centre and door-to-door across West Bridgford raised £8000 which is £1000 more than last year. We are very grateful for the support from Wheatcroft’s, the Colts Tornados Football Team, 6th Formers from Rushcliffe and West Bridgford Comprehensive Schools as well as family and friends who all helped with the collections. Community projects which will benefit from the Christmas collections include the Friary Drop In Centre, the

Lincolnshire & Notts Air Ambulance and the Maggies Cancer Centre at the City Hospital. Internationally we continue our support for Aids Orphans in South Africa and make donations to the Rotary International programme to totally eliminate Polio worldwide. Rotarians come from a wide range of

different backgrounds but we are all united in a common aim to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Fund raising helps to provide the funds to support community and International projects but, as a club, West Bridgford Rotary Club provides a very active social life. We have regular speaker meetings, quizzes, theatre trips and two walking groups.

We support the DARE drug awareness programme in local primary schools and provide job interview training for 6th formers. We are always looking for new members to join us, both men and women. For more information or an invitation to a club meeting at the Country Cottage Hotel in Ruddington please email Jim Crane on

[email protected]

Packing Aqua Boxes destined for the Philippines. Our collections raised £4,000

Our School GardenCome rain or shine, from March to December a small team of volunteers, passionate about plants and gardening, lead whole classes and small groups of pupils in weekly gardening activities in the flourishing Jesse Gray garden.

Last year we added raised beds, which allow whole year-group planting and harvesting. A small Garden Club of children work in a safe and fun environment that offers an alternative to the traditional classroom environment. No pesticides or weed-killers are used; we recycle, re-use and make our own compost.

Produce is given to the school kitchens for the children’s dinners; or is made into chutneys and jams which are then sold at school events; staff and children in school are encouraged to taste the things they grow as alternatives to buying from the supermarket.

Chelsea Show Success

Last year we were part of a project that involved growing flowers and vegetables that were displayed in the Generation Gardens stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Four Jesse Gray pupils attended the show and spoke about their school gardening experience and what they know about growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and the project achieved a Silver-Gilt medal. The Jesse Gray gardeners have already started growing plants that they hope may feature in the Learning Journey Gardens at Chelsea this year.

In the Musters Road Open Garden annual event last September we played a part in raising nearly £3,000 for the Friary charity by throwing open our gates and showing what we have achieved in the Jesse Gray garden.

Acknowledgments: As with all projects it requires the support of lots of kind people. Many thanks to Barbara Gaffney who started the garden and is now handing over to Jane Barratt. Karina Wells who designed the crop rotation which works really well. We are very grateful to Sarah Law for her continuing support, she provides a pot of money that help to keep our projects running.

Special thanks to Joan Machin, Mary Wyatt, Chungfang Yu who are the engine of this machine and who show tireless patience and energy.

If you are interested in joining the team of volunteers or want more information, please contact [email protected]

By Alison Hill and Sally Thornton

Amazing Eco School

15


Bridgford Business

16

twitter.com/totalocal/wb Pop Up Shop Triumph!There have been Pop Up Shops in West Bridgford before, but the speed with which the Totally Locally shop went from idea to actuality surprised everyone.

Overall there have been more than fifty craftspeople and businesses involved and it has seen the birth of several new businesses already.

Claire Elizabeth is now in fuill swing producing fabulous patisseries on Exchange Road and there are three other businesses actiovely looking for locations in the area so that they can build on their success in the run up to Christmas 2013.

People involved in the Pop Up Shop not only had the opportunity to show their goods and services off to the public but also made many new friends and contacts amongst the other people involved.

Making New Contacts

Debby Porter from Chilli Fundamentals was already using local suppliers for a lot of her ingredients but has now discovered that she can make use of many other local businesses that she had never heard of beforehand.

“I have discovered for example that I can now get my labels produced locally using The Print Quarter who are on Exchange Road. Previously labelling has been a real headache, but now I can have them produced quickly and inexpensively and best of all they can now come pre-cut and ready to put on the jars”

Local Showcase

Local businesses such as Iguazu and Heidis who already have shops in West Bridgford, also took advantage of the chance to let people know what sort of goods were available.

As Phil Wilson from Heidi’s explained. “We love Bridgford, but our shop is not on a main road so our biggest challenge has been to get ourselves known. The Pop Up Shop has been our best way of advertising and it had an immediate impact on our business overall”

The range of businesses taking part was quite amazing. There were card makers, jewellery designers, cake makers, silversmiths, food producers and even a pop up spa for shoppers who wanted to pamper themselves a little..

Such a Lovely Place The range of people helping out was quite amazing. Volunteers who had nothing to gain for themselves gave of their time freely and without a doubt they made sure that the whole venture was the great success that it turned out to be. Some of the most common comments from shoppers were about the atmosphere they found in the shop.

“Everyone is so friendly and if I couldn’t find what I wanted they would alweays try and find something else for me.

“It was like going back in time to when service really meant something!”

Naturally one of the other most noted comments was that people hoped that we would be opening again soon. “This area really needs places like this”

“I was able to do all my present shopping in one go, Why can’t we have something like this all the time?”

“Will you be carrying on after Christmas?”

That last question had to be answered with a “No!” at the time, but that does not mean that we will not consider new opportunities as they arise. The main issues will be cost and location.

So, How did it all happen?We asked David Hargreaves of FHP who kindly donated the prime selling space to us at no charge at all why they had decided to be so generous.

“FHP Living are delighted to have partnered up with Totally Locally as part of its parent company’s (FHP) strategy to support new and small businesses.

Rushcliffe Mayor, Cllr Brian Buschma at the opening of the Pop Up Shop with FHP director David Hargreaves

Photographs courtesy of Diane Waby. www.dianewabyphotography.co.uk/

17

facebook.com/totalocalwbPop Up Shop Triumph!

Photographs courtesy of Diane Waby. www.dianewabyphotography.co.uk/

FHP as a group works with all sizes of retailers, from supermarkets through to small independents and has not only provided a free shop for Totally Locally on Central Avenue, West Bridgford, but also instigated the “Inspiring Retail” competition which saw 49 entrants and 2 winners chosen after a “Dragon’s Den” style of competition at the end of November, with those winners going on to open shops in the city centre.

FHP’s Commitment to West Bridgford

“We are thrilled with the success of the Totally Locally store on Central Avenue over Christmas - it created a real buzz. Quite a large proportion of our 60 staff live in West Bridgford and the surrounding areas and all thought the store was “brilliant”.

We also as a company purchased 15 Christmas hampers that Karina put together sourcing all the products from the Totally Locally partners, for our key clients over Christmas and this went down particularly well.

What we were particularly pleased to see through the Pop Up Christmas shop was not only the new friendships which were created between some 40+ retailers in the store, but also the new markets which were opened up for those retailers through trade amongst each other.”

Green Shoots Emerging

The Local Data Company, who track vacancy rates, announced recently that for the first time in 5 years the shop vacancy rate around the country fell, which should continue as a result of a variety of new businesses starting up off the back of the improved availability of finance and an improvement in confidence in cities and suburbs alike.

“There is a real ground swell in the retail sector at the moment led by small independent and local retailers and organisations such as Totally

Locally which provide a network and a support system are certainly playing their part, and FHP and FHP Living will continue to support such organisations” said Hargreaves.

A Few Thank You’s

There are so many people to thank for giving of their time so willingly, But there are one or two individuals who deserve special mention. One volunteer gave up her time every Sunday for the entire time that the shop was open. So a huge thank you to Averil Johnson who made sure that it certainly was not her day of rest!

Amongst the many Pop Up Partners or PUPs as they were known, one in particular gave a huge amount of time above and beyond the required hours. Mel Wilson from Heidi’s Home Furnishings not only put in time looking after the shop but also helped enormously with the back room operations. Each evening she took the daily sales records and transposed them to spread shetts and then worked tirelessly collating sales and allocating them to the individual businesses.

This regularly meant extremely late nights, and on more than one occasion, emails were being sent out at two or three o’clock in the morning to ensure that people c ould be paid as promptly as possible.

Whilst everyone played their part, both Mel Wilson and Karina Wells put in an extraordinary amount of time and effort. Without all their work behind the scenes it is certain that the operation would not have run anywhere nearly as smoothly as it did.

Karina not only did all the ground work leading up to the opening of the shop, but also managed to organise a raffle for the Friary Drop in Centre and also the Melton Road Christmas Fair before manning the shop almost every day in the latter stages of the opening.

18


Science on StageAfter retirement from a lifetime of teaching, West Bridgford resident Dave Quick and former colleague Jon

Wakefield developed a unique idea. They would combine Dave’s scientific expertise with Jon’s musical ability and

bring science to life through music for schoolchildren. Together they produced their first Science on Stage musical “Stardance” at Arnold Hill School in 1995.

The Big Bang?

This show was the beginning of something big. Science on Stage shows now feature hundreds of schoolchildren from across Nottinghamshire and take place at the Nottingham Concert Hall.

The pair dedicate themselves full-time, with no pay, to their mission. Dave is the wordsmith, who ‘morphs’ abstract ideas into stories and images while Jon is the musician who has created the songs and scores. He has trained up many generations of young and adult singers who have performed with Science on Stage.

As well as spending months rehearsing their shows with local schoolchildren, dance and drama groups, Dave and Jon also visit Nottinghamshire schools to present exciting workshops on a variety of scientific and technological themes. These invariably involve flashes and bangs and always involve singing.

Science on Stage shows involve young people and adults, both professional and amateur. This year’s show includes several dance troupes, including West Bridgford dancers from the Sandra Taylor School of Dance. The shows give young performers the chance to sing and dance in wonderful theatres as well as see what the experts can

do. The extended interval features a range of scientific displays and demonstrations.Science on Stage is strictly non-profit and pays no salaries. Expensive shows are made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from local businesses and organisations, district councils and individual councillors. In these straitened times fund raising is getting increasingly difficult, any suggestions would be gratefully received!

Science on Stage shows have appeared at the Royal Concert Hall, the Nottingham Playhouse, the Albert Hall and two of them have been taken to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

From Evolution to Steel

Science on Stage shows tackle the big challenges facing all of our futures. In 2009 they presented an evening which looked at global warming. In 2010 they examined the world food problem. 2011’s show looked at recent developments in genetic engineering. In 2012 they examined recent developments in cybourg technology. 2013’s show looked at the evolution of our planet from its earliest beginnings to its final death, as it becomes engulfed in flames, foreshadowing

earth’s eventual end in millions of years, as the sun turns slowly into a red giant.

This year Science on Stage will present the production ‘Steel’, on March 16th at the Royal Concert Hall. This is a story about the love between iron and oxygen. Steel was first performed by Science on Stage in 2005 at the Royal Opera House. Tickets are available from the Royal Centre (0115) 989 5555.

For more information on Science on Stage visit

www.scienceonstage.co.uk

Heaven Helpers is a West-Bridgford based commercial and domestic cleaning business which has been trading for over 10 years. We pride ourselves on quality rather than quantity with the emphasis being “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well”. We undertake all types of cleaning - domestic, commercial, spring-cleans and one-off cleans. We also do end of tenancy cleans and over the summer we clean student accommodation in readiness for their return in September.

Fully Vetted Staff

All the staff are fully vetted, we are fully insured and we bring all our own very good equipment with us, ensuring the job is carried out to the highest standard. Each client will always have the same member

of staff as it is important for the client to know who is cleaning for them, and the staff get to know the house or office, room by room. It is very important to us to make our client’s lives easier, hence our name Heaven’s Helpers. In February and March we will be offering every new domestic client a free basket of ironing to be done whenever they choose.”

Heaven Helpers Contacts

We can be contacted on: 07805 941739 or 07759 410047between the hours of 8.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday and 8.00am to 1.00pm on a Saturday.

Alternatively please email at:[email protected]

Bridgford Community

19


100, Melton Road West Bridgford Nottingham Telephone 0115 981 6249

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20


All About Bridgford

Playing Out - the best of YesterYearIn the age of the Internet, there is definitely something missing. Too many children get the majority of their exercise at school and when they get home simply sprawl in front of a computer or Playstation.

This has caused a lot of parents some concern, especially with all the newspaper headlines about childhood obesity, and some parents are taking matters into their own hands.

We asked a local West Bridgford resident, (and incidentally one of the major contributing editors to Totally Locally Times) Emma Harrison, just what she had in mind.

“I started by asking mums and dads

in my neighbourhood some simple questions such as:

“Do you miss the days when children played out freely in the streets? Do you feel modern children are missing out on a vital part of childhood, the freedom to explore and play outside, to be independent?”

It was common for children to play out in the streets until the 1980s. Increasing traffic and adults’ fear that their children may be at risk from strangers, has combined to stop this once normal part of growing-up.

But some parents are acting to reclaim the streets for their children.

Last summer part of Florence Road, West Bridgford, was closed to traffic one Friday after school, so that children could come out of their houses and play together in the street.

Florence Road resident Emma Harrison, who organised the event, said: “As my children have grown older, they became increasingly frustrated being kept indoors or in our garden. But there was no easy way for them to range more freely.

“They also never had the chance to get to know other children who lived nearby in the street. If they weren’t in the same year at the same school, then they never got the chance to mix.

“When I was young, I knew all the children in my street, as I was playing outside with them often.”

Then Emma heard about Playing Out, a scheme that had started in Bristol, where residents closed off their roads so children could play out. It inspired her to organise a similar event in her road. Using guidance on the Playing Out website, www.playingout.net, Emma talked with neighbours about a Playing Out day, then applied to close the road via the Highways Department of Nottinghamshire County Council. On July 12, 2013, part of Florence Road, between its junctions with Albert and Abbey Road, was closed.

Children coming back from school arrived home to find the road closed. They played out on scooters, on roller-blades and bikes. They drew colourful pictures with chalk. They played with a football and a beach ball. They started to get to know each other. They had lots of fun!

Christina Sharkey, also of Florence Road, whose children enjoyed the Playing Out afternoon, said: “I’d love to see it become a regular event.”

Other roads in West Bridgford are going to hold similar events. Selby Road residents plan a Playing Out event this year.

The road is closed much as for a street party, as happened in many areas for the Royal Wedding and for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. But Playing Out is more low-key. It is simply children playing out.

If you would like to know more about holding a Playing Out event in your street, then visit www.playingout.net. Anyone wanting to know more about the Florence Road event, can email [email protected]

www.emma-yoga.co.uk07530 [email protected]

day-time classes with Emma HarrisonIyengar Yoga Teacher

emma yogaemma-yoga-Have anything you would like us to cover in the next edition of Totally Locally Times? Or perhaps you feel strongly about an issue, then get in touch with us.

We are a community based publication and we aim to cover the items that are uppermost in your hearts and minds!

Even if there is something you don’t like, then tell us and we will do something about it.

You can let us know through email: [email protected] or by post to Totally Locally Times, 65 Selby Rd, West Bridgford, NG2 7BP

21


All About Bridgford

Sew, a New YouMy business is a local sewing service for clients who need a personalised fit or have an item that it might not be possible to get made, mended or altered elsewhere. I’m getting more sewing requests for items that have been bought online but don’t fit well. Or sometimes clients have changed size and want to have clothes adjusted.

Recently I’ve taken on projects like making an indoor conservatory canopy to block out strong sun, and mending a much-loved vintage astrakhan-look coat. I’m expecting to get some more prom dresses this year, perhaps bought online, or made to measure from customer-bought fabric.

If you’re looking at the clothes in your wardrobe, you need to balance how much money and time it’ll take to repair or alter it against finding a replacement. So does it still fit well and just need updating by tapering or shortening? You can ask a friend for a second opinion, or take it to a dressmaker. If you consult a dressmaker it’ll be

easier to experiment with fitting to see how it looks before making up your mind.

I think clothes do express something about you, I love to experiment with colour and pattern because of my textiles background. I find it really

difficult to throw things away. I dug out some old jumpers recently and reshaped them by overlocking the edges, and chopping the arms off. Sounds drastic, but I’ve made the arms into wrist-warmers, and the body can still have short sleeves. Alternatively the body could be used for

hats or neckwarmers. I’d like to experiment more in sewing knitwear and incorporating fabric. There are plenty of sewing ideas out there on Pinterest.com and other websites. Also I’m available for individual sewing sessions if you’re a complete beginner or have a sewing machine you’d like to dust off.

You can see pictures on my Facebook page ‘Stitched by Oonagh’. If you’d like to contact me to make an appointment, I’m on: 07913 401580 (M); 0115 8780470 (H); or email [email protected].

Creating the Mood - And the Impact of a FireBeing a professional artist is a nice way to earn a living, but a bit solitary at times… so it was great to get an invitation to paint in the USA, as part of a team - building a ‘mood theatre’ for a North Charleston Fire Museum fire-awareness project.

‘Mood theatres’ are about storytelling; using video, electronics and high-tech trickery like holograms as well as traditional Victorian theatrical devices and sometimes live actors, to push the boundaries of interpretation, engage the imagination and create a memorable experience for visitors on a repeat basis.

Scrims and turntables with scenic sets are often built into the project, and my job is to paint them to look real; this involves a fair amount of trompe l’oeil and manipulation of perspective to create something believable - for the duration of the show, anyway.

Special Effects for Impact

Look up www.jonathanbeandesign.com for pictures of past projects. Jonathan was the designer of the first Jorvik Viking Centre in York, which set a new direction in heritage and education concepts. I met him first on the sets of the ‘Tales of Robin Hood’ in Nottingham city centre, and I’ve been a painter on a number of his projects since then.

.For this job he designed a multi-screen theatre with a turntable, moving scenery, sounds, visual effects and specialist lighting. The sets depicting fire hazards and their consequences were slightly cartoony, which will work well given the number of children’s groups expected to visit…

and built of cut-out mdf shapes which I painted with the USA version of Dulux emulsion, and Flashe paint which is a French water-based mural paint with intense pigment. We had to work fast given I was

only in the USA for a week and a bit.Jennifer Bell www.campionbell.com or telephone 0115 9812547

A Before & After to bring home the impact

Local Friendly Litigation Experts!Nicholson Davis Solicitors are a local (Melton Road) niche litigation practice. We specialise in any sort of dispute for individuals and businesses ranging from contractual disputes, professional negligence claims, property litigation to clinical negligence and personal injury.

We have an excellent record with our clients – 100% of those who responded gave us a “good” or “very good” rating for our services and confirmed they would use us again and recommend us to others. John Gordon and Paul Davis have over 50 years experience between them in the

area of litigation.

If you need advice give us a call on 0115 9338 636 or email us [email protected]. We are at 128a Melton Road, above A W Lymn.

First impressions last forever!

We work with you to make sure you stand out from the crowd.Whether you need eye-catching window displays or superior signage. Your premises, vehicles and even printed leaflets can all be produced for you at a competitive price.

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22


Bridgford Skills

Violin maker hits the right note When Patrick Jowett started making violins nearly 40 years ago it wasn’t based on an idea that was just plucked out of the air. Basically, he says, the only thing he was any good at was chopping wood and making things. Now he is one of the foremost modern violin makers in the country with his instruments making music the world over. His violins clearly hit the right note!

Like many West Bridgford artists and craftspeople he doesn’t have far to go to work. From his workshop in his garden at Musters Road, he relishes his creative life working with English Maple and Spruce from the Alps and talks with a passion about the tools of his trade – many of which are hundreds of years old.

Save Me That Tree!

“Sometimes I will buy a whole tree through a wood dealer,” he explains. “The trees need to be forest grown so the lines in them are very straight, with regular growth throughout the seasons.”

Patrick has made around 200 violins over the years and although many of them are used by students at top music colleges in the country, at the end of the

day he is the local guy on the block who makes instruments. A lot of his violins are used by musicians in local orchestras such as the Nottingham Philharmonic, Nottingham Symphony and chamber orchestras and his reputation spreads by word of mouth.

“I will sometimes get an invitation to listen to one of my violins being played in a special concert or I will be sent CDs featuring them. Quite a lot of my instruments remain locally and it is great to sit on the back row in the auditorium at the concert hall thinking the orchestra is sounding quite good tonight! It’s a nice feeling to know you had a bit of a hand in it.”

Patrick’s journey into violin making began way back in the ’60s when he was interested in folk music, played guitar (badly!), made a few guitars and went travelling.

“I was a bit of an itinerant. Everybody was doing folk music – well it was the 60s,” he says by way of an explanation. “I lived in Australia for a while, but when I came back I wanted something more substantial to do. Something more meaningful and interesting,”

He was taken on by Wilfred Saunders,

a well-known violin maker who lived in Lady Bay and quickly realised this was for him. He then went on to the Newark school of violin making and ended up practising his craft full time making violins, violas and cellos.

Still Travelling

Picking up on the travelling theme he says: “Artistically you are always striving for something more. You never really arrive, you are only travelling. For all the so-called great violin makers, the next violin is always going to be the best one. It’s what gets you out of bed in

the morning, that impetus of creativity. And at the end of the day, you’ve got something to show for where you’ve been. That log of wood has changed. From something inanimate, you have created a living, speaking, working violin and each one is different.”

Despite his passion for creativity, Patrick still sees violin making as a six week process involving drawings, templates and moulds. The most difficult part is getting the acoustic shape right. “Carving the flowing shape and getting that to work acoustically is very difficult and machines are not very good at it. They are not sensitive enough to create the graded thickness which is the nub of violin making.”

Patrick now describes himself as a man of a certain age and although he doesn’t work 10 hours a day anymore he still goes down to the workshop most days. After all, Stradivari made his best violins – the ones that make the big money – between the ages of 60 to 80 and was still making them two weeks before he died at the age 93. Patrick, therefore, has no plans to hang up his chisels for quite a while.Liz Jones is a freelance journalist and writer based in West Bridgford.

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Magpie Brewery – News from the nest.

Since the last edition of the Totally Locally West Bridgford Times we have been very busy at Magpie Brewery. In 2013 we had a great year, increasing

production and taking on an assistant brewer to help Gavin keep up with demand.

Lady Bay & Clumber Road

We have increased our bottled range of beers, and these can always be found at your local Laksh Food and Wine on Clumber Road, and N&S Stores in Lady Bay.

In December one of our beers was nominated by our local MP Lilian Greenwood to appear in the guest ale rotation at her local, The Strangers Bar in the houses of parliament. This was a great opportunity for us to head south, to meet Lilian and also Richard Capper, owner

of stocks farm and grower of some great British hops. We all toasted the success of the British beer and hop industry with a pint of our Hoppily Ever After.

Best of Britain

2014 looks to be a promising year, as we open our first brewery tap. The Crafty Crow, which is situated opposite the Castle, will be a unique British Pub, showcasing the best that Britain has to offer, with all of our beers, wines and spirits sourced from independent producers.

Our food will be sourced locally, using some of the fantastic West Bridgford producers that we have met at the Summer Gathering and Totally Locally pop up shop.

For more information on what were up to check out our website www.magpiebrewery.com, Facebook or Twitter @magpiebrewery. Stop Press ▪ New Phone No. 0115 950 3366 ▪ Stop Press

23


Healthy Matters

Childhood Colic - What You Can Do!Colic is described as “excessive, frequent crying” and affects approximately 30% of infants. Typically half of these babies will grow out of colic by the time they’re three months old but during this time it can be a very distressing condition for the baby and mum and dad too.

What is cranial osteopathy?

Cranial osteopathy can help to reduce symptoms of colic by using extremely gentle techniques aimed at reducing tension of not just the head but the whole body. Osteopaths have completed a four or five year degree course and are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. Cranial osteopathy is a post-graduate qualification.

What can you do to help?

Colic in itself is somewhat of an umbrella term and can be caused by a number of things. Diagnosing the correct cause of the pain or discomfort is key for effective treatment. 1: Reflux Baby may show discomfort immediately on feeding or within the first 20 minutes afterwards

If the valve at the top of the stomach fails to close properly, food can escape along with some of the acid from the stomach, causing pain as your child feeds or soon after. Posseting (bringing up small amounts of semi-digested milk) may also occur. This can be caused by tension in the diaphragm, the muscular sheet that sits directly above the stomach. This can be twisted through a particularly fast or assisted delivery.

Some Suggestions▪ Infant Gaviscon is often prescribed to control stomach acid ▪ More frequent, smaller feeds may help reduce symptoms ▪ Feeding in an upright position can also help

▪ Cranial osteopathy can help to reduce tension in the diaphragm, improve mobility of the rib cage and reduce compression of the stomach. 2: Infant Gut Irritability

Baby’s symptoms start approximately 30-90 minutes after a feed The stomach can empty too quickly, sending undigested food through the small intestines at high speeds.

This can result in explosive nappies, ‘trapped wind’ and a noisy, gurgling gut. Compression of the head from a prolonged labour or assisted delivery can result in a heightened stressresponse in the child which, in turn speeds up the digestive process.

An Alternative Approach

The very gentle cranial osteopathy approach can have fantastic results in calming the baby down by reducing compression of the bones of the head.

3 : Lactose Intolerance

Baby’s symptoms start around 2 hours after each feed

The baby lacks the ability to produce the enzyme that breaks down the sugars in the mother’s milk (lactase). This results in explosive nappies, wind, a bloated abdomen and significant pain. There is often a family history of

lactose intolerance.

What you can do:

Colief is often prescribed as this helps to break down the lactase in the milk

Although cranial osteopathy doesn’t directly affect the ability to digest lactase, making sure that the child has no significant tensions or dysfunctions can help it settle and feel comfier.4: Food allergies Baby’s symptoms relate to the foods

eaten by the mother rather than the timing of feeds

Colic as a result of a food allergy is often accompanied by vomiting, clear mucus production and other symptoms such as a rash, cradle cap, dry skin or eczema.

What you can do:

The best approach is to identify which food or substance is causing the reaction by systematically removing foods from the mother’s diet until symptoms decrease and then removing the offending foods from the diet.

Only remove one food at a time for the most effective results. Trigger foods are different for everyone but alcohol, spicy foods and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) are said to be common triggers. Richard Moore is principal osteopath at Moore Osteopathy, 39-41 Loughborough Road, West Bridgford. To book a consultation call 07990 548519 or visit www.mooreosteopathy.co.uk

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24


Healthy Matters

The Winter/Spring Herbal Life in West Bridgford.

Whether we call a plant a herb or a weed depends on two things: Whether it’s making our borders look untidy and whether we know what to do with it in order to improve the flavour of our food or condition of our health. Walking around West Bridgford herbs turn up everywhere if you know where to look.

Obviously gardens and allotments are good places to start but as you walk along the road take a look at the bases of garden walls, the cracks between bricks and stones and cracks in the pavement.

Chickweed is visible virtually all year round and is important in medicine and animal care, especially the feeding of chickens, because of the high nutrient levels.

Coughs & Colds

Used as a tea or decoction, chickweed can be applied to skin to reduce itching, as part of an oil or fat based salve to soothe eczema, sore cracked skin or dermatitis and cradle cap in infants. Taken internally it is expectorant, helping to soothe a cough, calm the mucous membranes and along with other common spring weeds/plants it is highly nutritious and was commonly held, with newly sprouted goose grass and nettles to cleanse the blood.

Detox Naturally

Blood cleansing is an old term for what we now refer to as detoxing. These old remedies, being highly nutritious are believed to improve cell function, promote cell renewal and improve the way cells remove toxic/dead material. They strengthen the effects of the excretory organs. After a dark cold winter of preserved food and pickled vegetables these fresh newly sprouted greens were an essential part of a good diet and should be again.

Goose Grass or Sticky Willy is also starting to sprout. Early in the season it can be eaten as micro greens or added to soups and is used traditionally to promote lymphatic activity. The lymph system runs roughly parallel to our blood vessels and helps to drain away excess

fluid and by products of the immune system. It also transports immune cells around the body. By adding herbs with a lymphatic effect to our diets we may strengthen our resistance to disease.

Calendula is so named because it is seen each month of the year. The common pot marigold is a fantastic addition to garden or allotment. The golden flowers have astonishing wound healing properties and are used to speed the healing of scratches, grazes and more serious wounds such as gunshot. A note of caution here:

Calendula can reduce healing time of an external wound so much that either internal damage has not healed or internal infection is sealed in. It is important to ensure a wound is extremely clean before applying calendula either as an infused oil, crushed petal poultice or even bathed as a tea. As well as their medicinal effects these wonderful and often unnoticed plants can usefully be dug into the ground as green compost to improve the soil. So as the winter progresses take a little time to get to know some new friends.

Katherine Bellchambers-Wilson MNIMH is a medical herbalist who lives in west Bridgford with her family, chickens bees and cats. She works at Optimum Health on Central Avenue. She also serves as financial director for the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.

Common Chickweed

Goose Grass or Sticky Willy

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Pedals - Pedalling HardGetting new or improved facilities for cyclists, or even proper maintenance of existing ones, is becoming ever more difficult with increasing spending cuts. Pedals has therefore had to find new ways of making progress, including taking advantage of any spending on major transport and planning schemes, some of which are very controversial.

Pedals is keen to ensure that these include proper cycle paths alongside the NET lines, and including the stretch between Wilford Lane and Ruddington Lane, to connect with other local cycle routes. Also in this area the new Sainsbury’s superstore and new Health Centre will include some new additions to the cycle network.

Major housing development proposals do at least offer opportunities for new links. In the case of the housing in the Sharp Hill and Edwalton area, the plans already include proposals for a ‘spine footway-cycleway’ through the development to connect with Boundary Road (and the Green line). Pedals is keen to support this major new link, particularly if it includes upgrading of the subway under the A52 south of Sharp Hill, off Landmere lane. This would provide a much safer route to and from Ruddington but needs the support of the Highways Agency. This is proving very difficult!

On a different tack Pedals is keen to see a local hub in West Bridgford for the City Council’s very successful Citycard Cycle scheme (www.nottinghamcity.gob.uk/cycling) For more information on Pedals activities visit: www.pedals.org.uk

25


Healthy Matters

One of the purposes of the Totally Locally Times is to let independent businesses explain a little bit more about themselves and why their service differs from that of national or international chains. Here we talk to Winson Opticians which is an independent opticians in West Bridgford, locally-owned by Optometrist Stephen Bradshaw.

“We offer eye examinations, spectacles, contact lenses, exclusive West Bridgford product ranges such as Tom Ford (sunglasses will arrive summer 2014), Reykjavík Eyes titanium frames, Costa sunglasses, and Zoobug’s award-winning children’s frame range (sunglasses will arrive summer 2014), and as much time and advice as you need.”

Stephen Bradshaw goes on to say ‘’I am so proud to have my own practice after a varied and enjoyable career in the optical profession. I am finally in a position to offer the type of optical service that I am comfortable with.

I now also have the opportunity to develop a few areas of special

interest, namely UV Protection, Dry Eye Problems, and Visual Stress/Scotopic Sensitivity (reading problems).’’

Ultra-violet Protection

UV protection for the eyes is essential at all ages if the eye is to remain as healthy as possible during our lifetime. Lifelong UV light exposure is indicated in the development of many eye conditions such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Living in the UK carries significant risk, as does skiing and summer holidays abroad. We offer a range of spectacle lenses, sunglasses, and contact lenses that offer the best all-round protection against the risks of UV damage.

Dry Eye Problems

A significant percentage of the population suffer dry eye symptoms which generally become more severe with age. Symptoms include red eyes, sore eyes upon waking, difficulty opening the eyelids upon waking, a sensation of something in the eye, watery eyes especially when windy, cold or when reading, and possibly a sharp pain when blinking. We offer dry

eye appointments during which we determine the cause(s) of the symptoms, give specific advice to manage the condition, and even supply any treatments required.

Reading difficulties

Many people of all ages suffer problems when reading that are not related to quality of vision or educational standard. Symptoms include misreading or missing words, problems tracking lines of text and missing whole lines of text, words and text that jump around or float above the page, and significant eye tiredness and eye strain during and after reading.

This is a particular problem during educational years, especially for children, as it affects speed and accuracy of learning, possibly resulting in under performance. We offer an assessment for all ages using coloured

holoptic filters that can help a significant proportion of people with these symptoms.

‘’Please call in to ask me any questions regarding the above or anything else optical or to book an appointment. I look forward to being of service to you at some time in the future.’’

Stephen Bradshaw BSc(Hons) MCOptom FBDO C L Winson Opticians, 2 Priory Road, West Bridgford, NG2 5HU Tel: 0115 981 6932

[email protected]

Looking After Your Sight

Boosting Your BodyFed up of rebounding from diets?Don’t know what to do to lose weight and keep it off? Then look no further.

West Bridgford based personal trainer Alex West has released a new 60 page eBook, The Ultimate Weight Loss Guide For Women, which he is giving away for free.

Designed to help as many women as possible improve their health, lose weight and increase their energy levels the eBook covers a wide range of subjects.

It tells you what to eat, how much to eat, when to eat it, what type of exercise is best for your health and appearance and how to design your own exercise programmes.

It even tells you how you can eat chocolate and still drop dress sizes whilst toning up.

Alex said “When I started Boost Your Body I set myself a goal of helping 20,000

women by 2020 and this eBook will let me help women all across the country. I wanted to write a complete guide on how to look and feel great as, whilst people can get bits of information from lots of websites, it can be confusing trying to piece it all together.

Based on my experience designing weight loss and wellbeing programmes for women I have learnt a lot about the key components of a healthy lifestyle over the years. For the first time I have been able to combine some of that into an eBook.”

You can download your copy of The Ultimate Weight Loss Guide For Women by visiting www.boostyourbody.co.uk and following the link.

If you would like to experience working with Alex first hand he is currently offering free taster sessions. To organise your free taster session you can drop a line on 07834 779721 or [email protected]

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26


All About Bridgford

Keep Swimming Family FriendlyA modern multi-purpose swimming pool is what a group of West Bridgford grandparents are calling for, when leisure facilities for West Bridgford are consolidated onto one site.

On 14th January Rushcliffe Borough Council Cabinet decided to merge the two existing West Bridgford leisure centres (Rushcliffe and The Arena) into one, by expanding The Arena site. The specification for the new centre includes a swimming pool, but a traditional rectangular lane swimming pool, with small training pool alongside, rather than the imaginative leisure pool which exists at Boundary Road.

Easy Learning for Kids

The current pool at Boundary Road caters for children of all ages, from babies, through to teenagers, as well as confident swimmers and divers who have four 20metre swimming lanes to use. It provides a paddling pool, a sloping beach area, an “island” for climbing and jumping off, toys and a slide for toddlers, flumes, and areas of water suitable for children learning to swim.

“Under 5s” and “Inflatable Fun” sessions are extremely popular. The pool encourages children to take part in healthy activity and to develop water safety skills. The current leisure pool is a vital and popular facility for families in West Bridgford, and

the proposed pool at The Arena is not an equivalent facility.

Include Younger Children in the Plans

Jean Stansfield, Sandra Coker and Juliet Woodin have lobbied councilors to encourage them to consider the needs of families and young children as well as those of competent swimmers. There has been considerable media coverage and councilors say they are listening and will incorporate “family friendly” facilities.

“It is extraordinary that the needs of our children are being marginalized for the sake of a few extra metres of swimming lanes” said Juliet Woodin. “The plan for a traditional pool feels like going back in time – we should have a modern facility that Rushcliffe and West Bridgford can be proud of, and that will attract people into the area, as the current Rushcliffe pool does.”

Following the council decision on January 14th the group has asked for more information from the Council about their proposals to make the pool more “family friendly”, before deciding on a further plan of action. If anyone would like to help get West Bridgford families the pool they need, they should contact Jean Stansfield by emailing [email protected]

Your Views Wanted.

This is a marvellous chance for you to make your voice heard. If you feel that you want to safeguard facilities for younger swimmers and families then you really do need to make your views known to your local councillor.

Jean and her colleagues are a great starting point for making sure that we all have a say, but you too need to do your part by getting in touch with them as well as your local councillor.

Jean, Sandra and Juliet - standing up for youngsters,

I’m Mary a qualified British Wheel of Yoga teacher teaching from the person centered approach. I specialize in pregnancy yoga and yoga nidra (yoga sleep-but you don’t sleep!)

Yoga is a 5,000 year old holistic path to health and self-development that begins with your body and affects all aspects of being. By balancing your body, breath, mind and spirit regular yoga practice will help you to accept and adapt to the things life throws at you.

I currently teach classes in and around the Nottinghamshire area. I also teach in corporate establishments, at schools for

students and teachers, run workshops, retreats abroad and offer one to one sessions in Yoga and Pilates.

CLASSES (please see website for full list of sessions and workshops offered)

WEDNESDAY – 19:30-20:30The Nottingham Emmanuel School, Gresham Park Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7YF£7.50 pay as you go or £20 for I month (consecutive sessions)

JEWELLERY EXPRESSIONS

I also specialize in sterling silver genuine gemstone handmade jewellery made by myself.

Contact Mary on 07931 340 [email protected] www.mindandbodyyoga.co.uk

Willow Tunnel in the ParkBridgford can boast a number of people with a wide variety talents and skills, but working with live willow is probably one of the more unusual. Yet local resident, Julie Palmer is an expert. The tunnel was funded by Groundworks Greater Nottingham for, and on behalf of, the Friends of West Bridgford Park. If you want any further information about her willow work please look on her website

www.whim-wham-willow.co.uk

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Bridgford Business

A unique collection of inspirational items

to accessorise the home

67 Clumber Roadoff Melton RoadWest Bridgford

Nottingham NG2 6DP0115 9818686

www.livinghq.co.uk

Sunday & Monday - ClosedTuesday - Thursday 10-17.30

Friday - Saturday 10 -17.00

Sunday

LOCAL STOCKIST OF

FARROW & BALL PAINT &

WALLPAPER

F&B Colour AdviceInterior Design Service

Bespoke Curtains & Blinds

Upholstery

Designer Wallpaper & Fabric including:

Brian Yates, Cole & Son, Designers Guild, Harlequin,

Osborne & Little, Romo, Villa Nova,

home accessories & unique gifts

New Year, New Look...

For many, it seems to be the season for a touch of re-decorating and refreshing the look of our homes and perhaps adding some new colours to the walls (or front door!) and as the only independent stockist in Nottingham of Farrow & Ball wallpaper and paint, LIVING HQ offers the perfect start to helping you choose an inspirational look for your home.

The shop, on Clumber Road, West Bridgford, is a home interiors inspired business. The friendly showroom boasts an exciting new collection of Farrow and Ball wallpaper along with 132 paint colours, available in a range of finishes for both interior and exterior projects. Furthermore, LIVING HQ offers wallpapers and fabrics from designer brands such as Osborne and Little, Harlequin, Designers Guild, Cole & Son, Romo and Brian Yates, so there are plenty of looks to choose from that should inspire and help you create a look that suits your home. If choosing colours or wallpaper is not your forte, a professional colour / interior advice service is available.

If you require any further information regarding products or services, please visit LIVING HQ at 67 Clumber Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6DP or call 0115 9818686. For opening hours please visit www.livinghq.co.uk

Good & Old Fashioned - in the best wayGael Clarke is the director of Nottinghamshire’s newest home care provider, The Good Old Fashioned Care Company. The name was chosen to portray the type of care in the home Gael felt was required in an industry where old fashioned values of care and trust are vital to the customer.

With this philosophy in mind, Gael recruited Corrina Morrison as her Care Manager. Corrina has worked in care for the last 7 years, originally starting work as a care assistant and gradually working up to management level. Another vital member of the team is Wendy Collins who has joined us from the NHS where she was the Admin Lead and Medical Secretary for a busy city Community Team.

However, the most important members of The Good Old Fashioned Care Company team

are the carers who visit customers each day to look after their needs. These are carefully chosen by Gael and Corrina to provide only the best level of service to customers. “Our primary focus, when recruiting carers, is to ask ourselves if we would be happy with this carer looking after our own Mum or Dad?” says Gael.

Our carers assist with morning wake up, evening tuck in, bathing, dressing, preparing meals, cleaning the home, trips to see

family and friends, leisure activities, shopping, washing, ironing, medication, respite care, overnight care and live-in care, providing conversation and good company.

The Good Old Fashioned Care Company looks forward to providing West Bridgford and the surrounding areas with the highest standards of care, delivered with

kindness and compassion. We are based at 6a Gordon Road, West Bridgford, Telephone 0115 871 6835.

Stop Press ▪ Stop Press ▪ Stop Press

Carers Wanted. Because of such success, The GOFCC are looking for high quality carers to help meet the needs of clients in W. Bridgford. If you are committed to offering great care and are a car owner then contact them on 0115 871 6835.

Minifolk Market Saturday 29th March 2pm - 5pmWest Bridgford Community Hall

Church Drive

Minifolk Market is a children’s market that opens its doors once every season in West Bridgford.

It is now in its 4th year and continues to grow in popularity. The market offers a wide range of high quality gifts and products for children, free crafts and a lovely creative café space with homemade cakes. The Spring event will also offer handmade Easter gifts and some unique and affordable Mother’s Day presents for children to buy for that special lady in their life!!

As Seen at The Pop Up Shop

The Minifolk Collective has also popped up at various places, over the last year. In particular the collective was part of the very successful Totally Locally Pop Up Shop.A few of those you may have come across in the Minifolk Collective were;

Rock Villa Designs a small studio based in West Bridgford producing bespoke collaged artwork. Each piece includes your special dates, names, memories, locations and nostalgia. You can find our full range at www.rockvilladesigns.co.uk and at most Minifolk Market events - a truly lovely community market full of originality and creativity.

Daisycat cards handmade and digitally printed at Tori’s house in West Bridgford. It’s just a small team of Tori and her daughter Daisy (age 4). Her work is inspired by her love of pattern, colour, vintage, retro and nature, but mainly by daisy and her wonderful imagination. Find Daisycat cards at www.daisycat.co.uk

Diane Waby Photography Freelance photographer specialising; in work for local businesses, wedding photography and fine art photography. Diane has taken great pictures for Minifolk and has supported

lots of local craft people in photographing their work. www.dianewabyphotography.co.uk Cloudberry Design, by Lucy Brown textile artist, using tweed and flowery fabrics to make iPad and phone holders, cushions and bags. Her work is quirky and fun and she will be displaying her wares at Minifolk on the 29th April.

Please follow Minifolk Market on facebook to see the array of stalls at the next event and details of our other Minifolk Collective ventures or contact Alison on [email protected]

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Bridgford Business

Walking GroupDo you enjoy an amble along the canal or a stroll in the local countryside? We’re looking for walkers of all ages and levels of fitness who want to join a new West Bridgford/Gamston walking group to meet regularly for strolls in the local area.

We have some tried and tested routes from around two miles upwards, such as a lovely loop from the Grantham Canal over to Bassingfield. We believe there to be lots of other nice local walks in the area.

Or for those wanting to go further afield, the Vale of Belvoir offers an abundance of options for walks with some excellent pubs en route.

Initially we’d like to meet on Sunday’s with a plan to also including an evening in the summer when the weather and light is better. But if you have any other suggestions or

ideas then we would love to hear from you. As with any new venture the most important thing we want is ideas and enthusiasm, and I am sure there is plenty of that around here.

For more information, to register, or if indeed you would like to run the group, then please ring/text Lorraine on 07861 827 966.

Parenthood Sparking New BusinessesOne of the big issues facing mums with young families is having to put their ca-reers on hold. But for a number of people it became the spark for a completely new business. Here are four enterprises, all hoping to make it big with their new ideas.

NonnyrabbitClare Deaville

My eldest daughter Imogen was look-ing through a bag of her old clothes to see which ones we could pass onto her younger sister, Maisie, when we came across an old Tigger t-shirt.

Imogen said, “Oh, I remember this t-shirt. I used to love it. It was my fa-vourite. Can you make something with it that I can cuddle at night?” And that’s where Nonnyrabbit began...

I now make beautiful memory quilts, bunting, stockings, snugglers and pictures for my clients; turning their children’s clothes and memories into family heirlooms.

www.nonnyrabbit.co.uk

Minifolk MarketAlison Reaney

My first small business, called Oggs Toggs, came about as my own and my friends’ children were all rapidly out-growing their clothes. A few years later

I started my own market. Other craft markets were more general but I wanted to have more of a focus around chil-dren. Minifolk Market was launched in 2011.

It is a market for all the family and cap-tures the Totally Locally ethos, offering a platform for local businesses, a space for families to sell once-loved items, opportunities for children to have stalls and promoting creativity by offering free craft activities.

The majority of makers and creators in Minifolk are parents developing busi-nesses that fit with their families.

I am now making jewellery called Rosehip. It fits in with my children and my daughter Blythe often helps with my designs. People seem to really like Rosehip and it has led me to other events outside of Minifolk as a jewel-lery designer. I sell in a few independ-ent shops in West Bridgford and in Hockley.

I will be taking my wares to a Moth-er’s Day event at Escabeche restaurant

on the 18th and 19th March and plan to do some jewellery parties and get my designs on line in 2014. The next Minifolk Market is Minifolk Spring on the Sat 29th March 2pm – 5pm at West Pavilion.

Namees Brydie Filer and Kath Crowther

We are two local mums who spotted a problem: a school and park full of identical children’s scooters. We came up with a way of helping our kids spot their own scooter, a bright, personalised name plate strapped to the front.

A prototype was made and as the kids proudly showed off their new accessory an increasing amount of children and parents commented on how great they were and enquired where they were from?

Realising there might be a market for our idea we decided to create our busi-ness. We thought of the name ‘Namees’ in the sandpit! We now have a really funky website and our range includes Namees for scooters, bikes, doors and mini ones for rucksacks, PE bags, school book bags and luggage.

Customers can choose from nine great colours for the front and background and then personalise the Namee with a child’s name and even icons such as hearts, stars or tractors to make the product truly unique. It certainly seems to have caught on with local children, and now on line as well.

www.namees.co.uk

Knitted Swimsuit Gerry Rennie and Bryony Lunn

Knitted Swimsuit is a West Bridgford based small business run by Gerry Rennie and Bryony Lunn, named after the least practical piece of clothing ever created! We share a compulsive urge to knit, sew, crochet and make, (dinner doesn’t count) and so, when our boys want to be Biggles, a Viking, Lara from Spy Dogs, a superhero, out come the sewing machines.

When a local school celebrated its centenary we were asked to make 15 Victorian aprons and mob caps and we’ve never looked back. We hope that the little people who come to own our products have many happy moments using their imaginations. Hmmmm, today I’m going to be......www.etsy.com/shop/knittedswimsuit

www.facebook.com/RainbowsLemondropswww.twitter.com/rainbowslemon

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Young Bridgford

A super-fun soft play centre on your doorstepEden Soft Play is a prayer delivered. I was looking for a local easy access play centre for my one year old, and travelling to Beeston or Sherwood was stretching the definition of ‘local’! So I set out to find out if there was anything closer to home. Fortunately I came across the ideal solution close by in the MeadowsIf you know about soft play, you will know how liberating it is for parents or carers; the ability to sit back, relax and drink ethical fair trade coffee, have a snack and feel that all is well with the world.

Opened in November, Eden Soft Play does all this and more: it is helping to enrich the lives of local young families in the Meadows. Set up as a not-for-profit business by KM Play Ltd. and St Saviours Church, Eden Soft Play fulfils a pressing need to deliver affordable activities, and is a meeting place for families with children between 0-10. It aims to reduce childhood obesity by delivering quality, freshly prepared food that is great for kids and nurturing physical activity and cooperative play. It is also helping to reduce unemployment in the area.

Situated inside the main church, the centre is open, bright and spacious with loads of room to spread out – a great place to host

a child’s party. There is a baby area for 0-3 year olds and the main four storey soft play structure has a large ball pit (try not to lose your socks!), two large slides, climbing areas, and loads of room to run around in; I can almost stand up in there too.

The staff are friendly and welcoming and always willing to help. The price is £3.50 or £1.75 for Meadows residents and there is car parking available. It is very easily accessible by bus and a short walk from Trent Bridge or a little longer from West Bridgford Town centre (about 15 minutes).I am very impressed with the work and energy that

has been put into this community project, so please do support it. Contact Eden Soft Play 0115 986 4118 or find it on Facebook. Highly Recommended! Kate Troy

Sprouts - So Much More Than a Vegetable

Sprouts, a young children’s drama company, has been running in Nottingham for over 5 years now. Headed by Helen Barton, Sprouts’ fun and energetic after school classes provide drama for children between the ages of 4 and 13 through exciting and inspiring after school classes during term time. The classes are split into age groups of 4-7, 8-11 and 11-13, each group giving the children a new set of creative challenges!

Time For Superheroes!

They have been running in West Bridgford since their first year, and now have three venues in the area, catering for children up to 11. Each term a new theme provides inspiration for the classes. This Spring it’s

Super Heroes. The younger group are being swept off on an adventure with Spectrum, the Super Hero trainer, which will result in them saving the world, as well as learning some original songs, and a dance routine! The older 8-11 group investigate and improvise around the theme, and must create their own characters and scenarios, as well as choreograph their own dance.

Not just Playing

Helen says “At Sprouts we love to play, and at the centre of all our activities is an emphasis on fun and freedom, but within the exercises lie useful skills that children can build on and take into other areas of their life; in the classroom, in the playground and in new social

situations.

Our focus is on the process, rather than the product, and as they progress through the classes, we look to help them become independent actors; able to think and create their own work, as well as understanding how to look at scripts to bring them to life in their own unique ways. I am very lucky to have a fabulous team of skilled and enthusiastic staff who work with us at various venues, making sure there are plenty of opportunities for children across Nottingham to come and join in the fun!”

In the area Sprouts’ classes for 4-7s and 8-11s run on a Monday at the Lady Bay Primary School, and Thursdays at St Giles’ Church Hall (no 8-11 group at this venue). There is also a class in Radcliffe on Thursdays at St Mary’s Church Hall.

For the older 11-13s it’s a Saturday morning in the centre of Nottingham, working with youngsters from across the city that share a love for acting.

As well as their weekly sessions, Sprouts’ also run and fun holiday workshops when school is out, putting together mini half hour versions of famous stories over a few days.

For more information contact:

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Local Activities

Lady Bay Garden GroupIf you’re interested in gardens or gardening, why not come along to a meeting of our friendly Garden Group?

We have speakers on the first Monday of the month from October to April. As well as talks, we have plant sales, demonstrations, and garden visits. In May, June and August, we visit local gardens in the evening and in July we have a coach trip to a more distant garden for the day.

Programmes are varied. In the past, topics have included : -

Gardening in the shade Roses Extending summer colour Vegetable growing Flowering shrubs Gardening for wildlife

Our programme for the rest of the season is:- 3rd February – Low Maintenance Gardening 3rd March – A Year of Colour 7th April – Hands-on Seasonal Gardening Tips Meetings are held in All Hallows Church, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay at 7.30. Entry is £3 for members (to include tea or coffee and biscuits) while non-members pay £4. If you would like to become a member, there is a £5 annual subscription. So come along – you will be most welcome! Contact Liz Garnham [email protected] or Kate Lewis [email protected] if you would like further information.

Wanted CD`s/DVD`s & Vinyl Records for Wildlife

Notts Wildlife Trust are running their annual Ruddington Spring Fair again this year on Saturday May 17th to help support nature conservation work in Rushcliffe. Every year this event is supported by the generous donations of plants and cakes, but in addition we are interested in selling DVD`s and CD`s (not cassettes), but also Vinyl Records. So if you have some taking up space in a cupboard or tucked away in the loft we can perhaps take them of your hands. Please contact Gordon Dyne on 0115 8784842 or [email protected] if you can help.

Last year the Spring Fair helped us donate £1,400 to the purchase of the greatly extended Skylarks nature reserve at Holme Pirrepont, the most exciting wildlife project in the area for two decades. If you want to find out more about the work of NWT in Rushcliffe please see our web site at www.southnottswildlife.co.uk

West Bridgford Hockey Club

WB Hockey Club is very much a community based club. With 10 mens and 4 ladies teams we are also one of the largest hockey clubs in the country! However, we try to keep the feel of a small club which welcomes new members and makes them feel part of our community.

Over the past years, we have also developed a thriving junior section, with almost 200 having signed up this season. These youngsters are coached every Sunday morning through the winter at the Becket School and, when old enough, are given the opportunity to play for our adult sides. So much so that when our 1st team was promoted for the first time into the National League at the end of last season, 9 of the squad were “home grown”.

More recently, we have started two further initiatives. Our summer “Family Hockey Nights”, which we started during the Olympics, invite families to come down to play hockey through the summer

holidays. In addition, this season, our “Get Back into Hockey” sessions have invited ladies who may not have played for a while to come down to West Bridgford School on a Wednesday night and have a go. To our amazement, a steady trickle of ladies who haven’t played for 30 years or so, have turned up every week come rain (usually) or shine.

The club has gained Clubs First accreditation which is a Sport England based scheme which means that we are okay! Most of our coaches are qualified to Level 1 in the national coaching scheme while our lead coaches are either Level 2 qualified or woking towards it. Off the field, we have a thriving social calendar, based on clubhouse and real ale bar, which is situated by the Fire Station on Loughborough Road. Anyone wanting more information on the club can look at the club website www.wbhockey.co.uk or contact Junior Organiser Bob Douglas at [email protected].

As an independent electrical retailer we supply a wide range of appliances from Washing Machines, Fridges, Cookers to TV’s and small appliances. Be-ing part of EURONICS LTD gives us massive buying power so we can pass on the savings to our customers.

We pride ourselves on Customer Service offering FREE DELIVERY AND INSTALL on certain items. After sales service is also part of our commit-ment to the customer.

Situated on Central Ave in West Bridgford where there is ample parking, so come and browse around the store or you can visit our web site at www.grices.co.uk.

0115 9821 7908 Central Ave West Bridgford

Nottingham NG2 5GR

Future Gardening PlansIn the next issue we will be looking forward to some useful gardening hints and tips from our new Gardening Corresponcdent, Cheryl Silcock. Cheryl has the distinguished background of being one of Chelsea Flower Show Winners and we are delighted that she will be giving us all a chance to find out more about how to create `award winning gardens. If you would like more direct information, then contact her as shown on the advertisement below.

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Fiver Fest

L P PharmacyUnit 3, Compton Acres Shopping Centre, 0115 945 5256. Oral B bundle: 1.2.3 toothbrush, toothpaste & mouthwash for £5.

The Rectory Road Fish Bar 16 Rectory Road 0115 9819352 Small Fish, Regular Chips & Peas £5 Belle & Jerome 33-35 Central Avenue 0115 9817070Bacon Sandwich with Tea or Coffee £5 Monday to Friday 8am-11.30am Normally £6.45

The Cycle Garage2B Exchange Road 0115 9452790Get a puncture repair including anew inner tube for just £5 Central Shoe Repairs35 Central Avenue0115 9146679Ladies Stiletto Heels £5Not Saturday Normally £5.99

Grices of Nottingham8 Central Avenue0115 9821790Headphones £5Normally £8

Jayline13 Tudor Square0115 9811091Dylon Machine Dye + Salt £5Full range of colours availableNormally £6.64

The Health Store29-31 Central Avenue01159814080Quest Multivitamin – one month supply £5 Normally £9.49

Inspirations18 Central Avenue0115 9821200Two Standard Helium Filled Foil Balloons £5Normally £2.99 each

AlfrescoBridgford Park07791327418Any regular hot or cold drink plusToastie with two fillingsOr Pizza with two toppings plusShortbread Biscuit - All for £5

Henry Brewer Gallery3 Tudor Square01159811623Five selected greetings cards for £5from the Totally Locally Promotion range

Daisy Daisy91A Melton Rd0115 9827005Cath Kidston Star Body Mist 150mlUsual Price £8.00Now only £5.00

The Salon181C Loughborough Rd0115 9813481Gents Hair CutUsual price £9.00Now only £5.00

Isobel & Henry102 Melton Road0115 9455119Ballet style slippers by Ruby & Ed. Originally £18.00 Now only £5.00

The Tall Frog99 Melton Rd 0115 9813491A Meal Deal Any baguette, + packet of crisps + any can, + any tray bake cake. All just £5.00

Paolo’s Seafood97 Melton Road0115 98124412 fresh trout for £5.00

Slades Florist79 Melton Road0115 9813153A collection of five different fruits, including bananas, apples, pears, satsumas, oranges. All for £5.00

Canterbury’s Delicatessen93A Melton Rd0115 9812365A Meal Deal Baguette & a cake/samosa/sausage roll & bag of crisps & a soft drink, water or a can.All for £5.00

Scotts NewsagentsA bag of groceries – 2L milk, Kingsmill 800g loaf, 1L apple juice, Bag of porridge oats & 2 Easter Chocolate treatsAll for just £5.00

Hopology126 Melton Rd0115 98163463 bottles of Blanche de BruxellesNormally £6.60 Now only £5.00

Mystic NailsGordon RdEyebrow Shaping for £5.00

It’s Brilliant Dry Cleaning Gordon Rd A suit dry cleaned for £5.00

Little Shoe Company Gordon Rd£5.00 off a pair of shoes if you mention seeing the offer in Totally Locally Times

Jolie LingerieGordon Rd£5.00 off any bra. “Please come in to find out your size”

Iguazu Gordon RdAny 5 packs of incense sticks for £5.00

Rainbows & Lemondrops Gordon RdA shelf of £5.00 offers including some offers from Hopscotch Bakery in her shop

Bridgford Chippy Gordon SquarePie & Chips twice for £5.00

Claire Elizabeth, 128 Exchange Rd0115 9232320Bring a friend and get two coffees and one cake of your choice from the ‘fiver fest’ selection

Heidi’s Home Furnishings5 Portland Rd 0115 8461083Lily-Flame candles and room mist sprays,selected scents for only £5(usual price £8.50).

Hopscotch BakeryFind out the offers from Rainbows & Lemondrops & The Tall Frog

Taste 65 Clumber Rd, (Off Melton Road)01159 817 817Lunch menu. Any Specials of the day and a regular tea or coffee for £5.00

Davies Road

Blake Road

Eltham Road

Priory Road

Florence Road

Ethel Road

Abbey CircusClumber Road

Portland Road

Manvers Road

Carnarvon Road

Compton AcresShopping Centre

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Henry Brewer Gallery 3 Tudor SquareJayline 3 Tudor Square

Grices of Nottingham 8 Central AvenueInspirations 18 Central AvenueThe Health Store 29-31 Central AvenueBelle & Jerome 33-35 Central AvenueCentral Shoe Repairs 35 Central Avenue

Alfresco Bridgford Park

Bridgford Chippy Gordon Square

The Cycle Garage 2B Exchange RoadClaire Elizabeth 128 Exchange Rd

Slades Florist 79 Melton Road Daisy Daisy 91A Melton RdCanterbury’s Delicatessen 93A Melton RdPaolo’s Seafood 97 Melton RoadThe Tall Frog 99 Melton Rd 0115 9813491Scotts Newsagents 99A Melton RdIsobel & Henry 102 Melton RoadHopology 126 Melton Rd

Mystic Nails Gordon RdIt’s Brilliant Dry Cleaning Gordon Rd Little Shoe Company Gordon RdJolie Lingerie Gordon RdIguazu Gordon RdRainbows & Lemondrops Gordon Rd

The Rectory Road Fish Bar 16 Rectory Road

The Salon 181C Loughborough Rd

Heidi’s Home Furnishings 5 Portland Rd

L P Pharmacy Unit 3, Compton Acres Shopping Centre

Follow us on facebook or twitter to find out more details of any new or extra Fiver Fest Deals. Check us out regularly for any updates:

facebook.com/totalocalwbtwitter.com/totalocal/wb

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