Zara Lenahan from More Than Sit Dog Training has some top tips to make walkies for you & doggo more enjoyable
Now we can start enjoying warmer, sunnier weather again – hurrah! – here are my top three buys for better dog walks:
A sturdy harness – increasingly more dog owners are moving away from attaching their dog’s lead to the collar for walks and are choosing to use a harness instead, with good reason: it spreads any pulling force more safely across the dog’s chest, instead of around the neck where the delicate windpipe, neck vertebrae and thyroid are. Contrary to some arguments, a harness won’t teach your dog to pull but will allow for more comfortable walks, so helping your dog engage their thinking brain better. Of all the styles available, I recommend Y-shaped ones. These are usually the easiest to put on and also leave the shoulder blades open, allowing for full freedom of movement of the forelegs.
A fixed-length lead – although a normal lead will do, I like a 2-metre lead, ideally with clips at both ends, which you can alter the length of according to where you are and what you are doing with doggo. You can still be consistent in teaching loose lead walking as the feedback through the harness will be the same whatever length you choose. I avoid retractable leads, which rely on tension to work and encourage dogs to pull for the chance to get more length.
A treat pouch – not only will this save your pockets from greasy doggy treat crumbs, but a readily accessible treat pouch makes delivering timely food rewards easier too. Reward any behaviours that you want to see more of on walk: when your dog automatically checks-in with you, walks nicely on a loose lead or doesn’t chase after that overly bold squirrel. Any behaviour that gets rewarded will be repeated so pay up for the stuff you want and enjoy the connection and freedom this brings you.
Men, book your place at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 26th April
Windsor Lions are holding their latest Prostate Cancer Screening event at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, 26th April.
This important event in the Lions’ calendar offers men between 40 and 75 the opportunity to book a free PSA blood test to check for signs of prostate cancer or other related problems.
The importance of such checks was highlighted at their last event in 2023 when over 1,000 men were tested in one day – and of those, nine previously undiagnosed cases of cancer were detected. One of those men – who asked us to share his story – was John.
John emailed the event co-ordinator, Diane Purchase, after the last event saying: “Can I say a big thank you for organising the prostate cancer event. I saw it advertised at Wexham Park Hospital and decided to book a place. My result was abnormal and I now have a positive diagnosis which can be easily rectified by surgery. Without your event I would be unaware of this so thank you so very much. I am now badgering people to get tested!”
John has recently told Diane: “I have now had surgery and they have removed the prostate and hopefully all the cancer…Thanks again to you and the Lions as without your event it would still be silently growing inside of me.”
Diane said of the event: “Stories like John’s are why we are so passionate about this event. Uncovering just one case like this makes it all worthwhile and we are very grateful to John for sharing this powerful story and encouraging other men to get tested. This is why we are staging another event at Ascot Racecourse on 26th April.
“We couldn’t do it without the help of many of our supporters: The Shanly Foundation, Savills Estate Agents in Windsor and Sunningdale, Grundon, The Berkshire Community Foundation and Ascot Fire Brigade Trust and Centrica. We feel it is very important to make this a free event so that all men can access it (although donations are always welcome!) and without their help, this would not be possible.”
Join Frimley Health Charity’s annual run to support life-changing care
Frimley Health Charity fundraisers return with stories of hope and gratitude ahead of the annual Run Frimley event at Frimley Lodge Park.
Frimley Health Charity’s annual Run Frimley charity event will take place on Sunday, May 4th, 2025, at Frimley Lodge Park. The event will raise vital funds for Frimley Health Charity, celebrating the exceptional care Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust provides.
This popular community event attracts participants with deeply personal connections to the Trust, including Michael Bates, who completed last year’s 10K run. Michael and his wife Kellie’s world changed dramatically when their son Mylo was born ten weeks premature on September 10th, 2022.
“The first six weeks of Mylo’s life were spent in Frimley Park Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” explains Michael. “The level of help and support the Unit’s staff gave us was unimaginable. We wouldn’t have coped or survived without their help, and our little bundle wouldn’t be where he is today.”
Another grateful participant, Laura shares how Frimley Park has been instrumental in her son Aaron’s care journey. After noticing developmental delays, Dr Kian Lee took Laura’s concerns seriously, leading to extensive investigations. “If it wasn’t for Dr Lee’s dedication and unwillingness to give up on Aaron, I feel this diagnosis could have taken many more years,” says Laura. In January 2023, Aaron was diagnosed with KBG Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder with only around 400 known cases worldwide.
“These powerful stories illustrate why events like Run Frimley are so important”, says Megan Parry, Events Manager at Frimley Health Charity.
“The funds raised directly support departments like the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatric A&E, enabling our dedicated healthcare professionals to provide exceptional care to patients like Mylo and Aaron.”
The Run Frimley event offers something for everyone, with routes suitable for all ages and abilities. Participants can register online at https://www.frimleyhealthcharity.org/event/run-frimley-2025/ or sign up on the day. All proceeds will benefit Frimley Health Charity, supporting vital services across Frimley Park Hospital.
Frimley Health Charity is the official charity of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. It raises funds to enhance patient care, support staff wellbeing, and provide state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at Frimley Park Hospital, Wexham Park Hospital, and Heatherwood Hospital, and throughout the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Vote for your favourite decorated egg until April 21st
Local young creativity will be on show at The Lexicon this Easter with giant Easter Eggs decorated by 10 local primary schools displayed around the town centre.
Local schools were invited to participate in the trail and design competition, sponsored by Bracknell-based fine arts manufacturer Daler-Rowney, and have spent weeks perfecting their designs.
Carola Bustos-Loyola, Trade Marketing Manager at Daler-Rowney, said: “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring such a fun and creative competition. It’s fantastic to see how much excitement can be generated when kids are given the freedom to express themselves.”
Visitors to The Lexicon, will be able to look at all the decorated Easter Eggs, as they follow the Easter Trail around the town centre and then vote for their favourite online.
The school with the most votes will win a £500 donation from The Lexicon plus £300 of art supplies from Daler-Rowney and the runner-up a £250 donation plus £200 of art supplies.
The Giant Easter Egg Trial and Art Competition runs until Monday, 21st April, giving everyone plenty of time to view and vote for their favourite creative designs.
Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, added: “A huge thank you to Daler-Rowney for sponsoring our art competition once again. All the schools have done such a fabulous job, we think it will be hard for visitors to choose just one design to vote for.”
The schools participating in this exciting competition are Ascot Heath Primary School, College Town Primary School, Cranbourne Primary School, Crown Wood Primary School, Meadow Vale Primary School, New Scotland Hill Primary School, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, The Pines School, Wildmoor Heath School and Winkfield St Mary’s CE Primary School.
Musicians and performers invited to take part in the parade to launch this year’s Newbury Spring Festival, May 10th-24th
Newbury Spring Festival is launching this year’s celebration with a free outdoor festival parade with an open invitation to musicians and performers to take part.
The parade will be led by the Giant Bandmaster Puppet through Newbury town centre marking the start of this year’s festival which runs from May 10th to 24th.
Newbury Spring Festival and the Corn Exchange are now working together looking for performers. Community bands, choirs, musical ensembles and dancers are all invited to take part and make the parade a vibrant and exciting celebration of music in all its forms. The Festival Parade will take place from 3pm until 6pm on Saturday, 10th May.
Rehearsals of your act should take place through your own group meetings and acts will need to be available for a parade rehearsal the week before the event in addition to being fully rehearsed and available for the parade on the day itself.
The parade will launch what promises to be “two weeks of world class music”.
Newbury Spring Festival is one of the most popular and successful music festivals in the South of England. Over the last 40 years the Festival has grown hugely in size and quality building up a reputation of international status. The very best young musical stars appear alongside some of the world’s most distinguished and famous names.
Mike Pollard of Wild Oxfordshire Curlew Recovery Project asks for your help with is conservation
The Curlew’s wonderful ‘bubbling’ call is one of the most evocative sounds of springtime in meadows and pastures across Oxfordshire.
Something we cherish, but which is sadly under threat. The Curlew is arguably the most pressing bird conservation priority in the UK, where nearly half the breeding population has been lost over the last 25 years and where range contraction has seen Curlews disappear from many traditional sites.
Watch our ‘Curlew River’ film which explores the work of farmers and volunteers to help our wonderful Curlews as well as highlighting the fabulous ancient meadows and wet grassland habitats that they inhabit in our area. https://www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk/projects/curlew
Thank you so much for all you have done for nature’s recovery in the last year. Together we have brought people together, created more space for nature, and inspired more people to act for nature. Many people contribute to Wild Oxfordshire, and this support enables us to create a more natural, resilient, and biodiverse Oxfordshire for the benefit of all.
If you would like to join in and are able to, we would greatly appreciate a contribution towards our work, either through a one-off contribution, or a monthly contribution. Check out our website to find out more about the many ways you can support us and our recent achievements.
Mike Pollard, Wild Oxfordshire Curlew Recovery Project
Chobham Carnival has it all on Monday, 5th May and it’s set to be out of this world!
Racing camels will be thrilling the crowds at this year’s Chobham Carnival, which is again vying to be the biggest community event of the year in the area, writes Rob Searle.
Some spectacular attractions have been lined up for the bank holiday event including displays from elite dancers and skilled acrobats, with camel racing as the main arena act while local groups are planning their entries for the procession, which has Space as the theme.
“Camel racing was much enjoyed when it featured at the carnival in 2012,” said carnival association chairman Tim Elwin. “We are sure they will be another big hit this year.
“There is a myriad of options for creating some impressive procession entries, from depictions of the planets and UFOs to Buzz Lightyear and the International Space Station.”
The carnival fete will also feature performances by the Rock Choir, St Lawrence School maypole dancers and Chobham Morris and a traditional Punch and Judy show. There will be a full-scale fun fair, dozens of stalls and sideshows and a large selection of food and drink.
Tickets are on sale for the association’s May Ball on Saturday 3rd May which again features entertainment by the Pink Fish tribute band. Tickets, £45 pp, include canapés, a two-course meal, coffee and live entertainment. Tim added: “It’s a highlight of the Chobham social season and ideal for a group of friends to get together to make up a table.”
Visit chobhamcarnival.co.uk to download application forms for stall & sideshow pitches, ball tickets & procession entries, email enquiries to chobhamcarnival@outlook.com
This month author & journalist Michael Smith introduces us to Hector Bywater who talked his way around the dockyards
Regular readers will remember the story of Walter Christmas, that “wonderful man” who spied on the German navy for Mansfield Cumming the first ‘Chief’ of MI6 during the First World War. But Cumming’s first spy inside Germany reporting on preparations for the First World War was another fascinating character albeit not quite so colourful as Christmas.
Hector Bywater, a 27-year-old British journalist based in Dresden, wrote on ‘naval matters’ for a number of US newspapers and journals. Bywater was recruited in late 1911 and is listed in Cumming’s accounts, now released to the archives, as a “fixed agent abroad” with the designation H.H.O., or sometimes H2O, a typically Cummingesque joke. He travelled around Germany mapping out defences and using his role as a naval journalist as an excuse for talking his way into the dockyards.
Bywater described how he managed to get on board the battle cruiser Von der Tann, which was anchored off Hamburg. “I determined to visit her, though the risk was considerable,” he said, resisting any false modesty. “By a stroke of luck, I found that a local shipping man, to whom I had a letter from a mutual friend in Berlin, knew several officers of the ship, and had visited them on board. He was going again, and by very tactful manoeuvring I got him to invite me to accompany him. I remarked to my companion that, being a foreigner, I might not be welcome on board. He spoke to the officer of the watch, who was one of his friends, explained who I was (or, more strictly speaking, who he thought I was), and I was promptly invited to come up. We spent two hours in the ship and saw nearly everything except the inside of the gun-turrets and the engine-room. I memorised all the important details and subsequently wrote an elaborate report on the ship.”
But Bywater’s greatest claim to fame is arguably that in his 1925 book The Great Pacific War he predicted a Japanese air attack on US warships based in the Pacific leading to war, albeit he said it would occur in the Philippines, rather than Pearl Harbor. Senior Japanese naval officers subsequently confirmed that the book played a key role in their planning. Bywater died in 1940 so was not alive to see his prediction vindicated in December 1941 when the Japanese launched the Pearl Harbor attack bringing America into the war.
Michael Smith’s latest book The Real Special Relationship: How the British and American Secret Services Work Together is out now in paperback.
Want to chat spies or books with Michael? Get in touch at editor@roundandabout.co.uk
Many ‘weeds’ are edible and important sources of food for insects & caterpillars. Wild meadow flowers can colonise the garden as a ‘weed’ as gardening expert Cathie Welch explains
My garden is full of ‘weeds’ as I teach the subject to my students, that’s my excuse anyway! The most important thing is to identify the ‘weed’ you are dealing with and make the decision if it is allowed to stay.
Ephemeral weeds such as Cardamine hirsuta (hairy bitter cress) have many lifecycles in a season and is delicious in salads!
Annual weeds complete their life cycle in one growing season and seed prolifically such as Geranium robertianum with it’s delicate pink flowers and feathery leaves..
Biennials complete their life cycle in two years with a period of winter chilling in between (vernalisation). These include Dipsacus fullonum (teasel) which has beautiful lilac flowers loved by bees and prolific seeds loved by finches!
Perennial weeds can cause real problems like bindweed, ground elder, Pentaglottis, brambles and creeping cinquefoil but they have beautiful flowers loved by many insects. Nettles are the food source of some of our loveliest butterflies!
Wild Flower Meadows: There has been a huge decline in wild flower meadows over the years and we all need to try and have an area in our garden where we let the grass grow long and allow the wild flowers (weeds?) to thrive. They are not easy to establish and you will need to manage it. Often one plant such as oxe-eye daisy or wild carrot can take over at the detriment to others. I add to my meadow areas every year but only the plants that want to grow will flourish as so much depends on the soil type and weather.
A Note from Cathie… I teach courses to cover most subjects and weeds form an important part of our lives as gardeners. I will be talking at Greenhills Estate, pictured, for a fundraising event by Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in June. Please ask if you would like to know more.
Take your garden from zero to hero this spring & then sit back and enjoy when the summer rolls in
How does your garden grow? I doubt there are many cockle shells or pretty bells but you can add all the bells and whistles and turn it into a showpiece worthy of being on display.
In need of ideas? Fortunately there are several garden shows on the horizon which will help plant lots of seeds of inspiration.
Head to BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu in Hampshire, May 2nd-4th, for everything from stocking up on gardening kit and plants to exploring the beautiful gardens. A must see is the exciting collection of Showcase Gardens celebrating how imagination and creativity can transform your outdoor space – you’re sure to pick up ideas galore here. The Beautiful Borders are always awash with take-home ideas to help you squeeze the most into your garden.
There are more amazing garden designs to explore, drool over and copy at Chelsea Flower Show, May 20th-24th. The show gardens here are some of the finest examples of garden design you’ll see with inspired plant combinations and cutting-edge landscaping. And if you only have a small space to work with discover what’s possible for balcony and container gardens. Top designers have conjured up clever ways to make the most of a small space, making them practical as well as inspirational.
Discover your favourite plants, flowers and an array of gardening goodies from unique garden gazebos, greenhouses and arbours to beautiful flowers, gardening sundries and hundreds of other products at Blenheim Palace Flower Show, June 27th-29th. Tour the Grand Floral Pavilion and pick up expert tips and take a walk down Floral Street for creative decoration inspiration. Create your perfect garden sanctuary with outdoor buildings, top quality garden furniture and BBQs or perhaps treat yourself to a little outdoor luxury with garden huts and buildings on show.
There’s more garden design inspiration than you could shake a spade at at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, July 1st-6th. This year’s festival theme is Wonder so expect to be greeted by gardens full of whimsy and delight. Show Gardens represent the best in horticultural excellence and Gardens of Curiosity put the spotlight on designers’ creativity with plenty of take-home ideas for you to recreate in your green space.
Many of the gardens on show will encompass the idea of gardens for health and wellbeing. The National Garden Scheme champions this with its Gardens & Health Week, May 3rd-11th, the centrepiece of its programme which raises awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of gardening for everyone. Find out more about the impact on our health and wellbeing of gardening and pick up tips at https://ngs.org.uk/gardens-and-health-week/
With a shed load of ideas at your disposal it’s time to get to work and ‘pimp up’ your garden for the summer whether you decide to go full-on makeover or just make a few superficial changes.
To enjoy a long, stretched-out summer this year, contact Ambassador Projects for details of their high-quality outdoor garden buildings. They’re a helpful, progressive company, with great ideas for 2025, whose ranges including outdoor gyms, games, leisure, and music rooms, as well as custom-made leisure rooms for entertaining – or for just chilling out. So, for something distinctive with panache, flair and individuality, give them a call on 0333 344 9577 and at ambassador-projects.com
Do you need more space, are you thinking of a garden room for office, gym or leisure use? Modern garden rooms are super-well-insulated and are a great investment for all-year use. A quick build timescale, no planning permission and great functional design means you could be enjoying a comfortable new room in weeks. Contact Garden Rooms by Drumbeat now for a free survey and quote. Visit gardenroomsbydrumbeat.co.uk or call 01483 768273.
Bourne Buildings is the UK’s largest garden building showsite with more than 200 buildings on display. With standard and bespoke designs of varying qualities and styles, fit for all budgets, there truly is something for everyone. Bourne Buildings also has more than 100 furniture sets and 5,000 stone ornaments on display to really enhance your garden. Find out more at bournebuildings.co.uk
Well established, family run SBI Ltd have friendly and professional teams ready to supply & install made-to-measure awnings, Victorian & contemporary verandas, glass verandas, glass rooms & canopies, carports, vertical screens, manual, electric or solar-powered security shutters & roller garage doors, conservatory sail blinds, louvred roof pergolas, aluminium fencing and more. Their professional advisors and installers will be more than happy to help you create the perfect solution for your shade and shelter requirements. More at sbiproducts.co.uk
Add the final touches to your interior look with good quality made to measure blinds from Blindscape. They specialise in designing and installing bespoke and made-to-measure blinds, curtains and shutters and awnings in homes of all styles and periods. From sleek modern vertical blinds to solid or plantation shutters, they’ll have a solution for you. Whether it’s for aesthetics or shading, enjoy the best of both worlds with attractive and functional home blinds and window coverings. Find out more at blindscape.co.uk
Passionate about outdoor cooking? Visit the Black Box BBQ Shop near Liss, for top-quality Charcoal, Gas and Pellet grills, all the accessories, fuel and expert advice. Exciting news – The Artisans Kitchen & Cookery School is launching soon, offering hands-on classes to master fire cooking and more! Whether you’re a BBQ pro or a beginner, there’s something for you. Visit them in-store or online at blackboxbbq.co.uk Black Box BBQ – The Flavour Makers. Let’s fire things up!
New Dawn Design, landscape and maintain gardens with every effort to understand the garden their customers are looking for and come up with ideas to achieve this. They can provide a rough sketch or a full colour scaled drawing to help you visualise the end result.Whatever sort of garden you want – low maintenance, child safe, bright summer colour, bee friendly – they can help. Get in touch via bark.com/en/gb/b/new-dawn-garden-life-ltd/dRJgK/
Laurel Hill Gardens is an award-winning garden design studio based in the Surrey Hills. They offer consultation, design services, and advice on all styles of gardens. The gardens they create range from smaller family gardens to larger traditional and contemporary spaces. Find out what they can do for you at laurelhillgardens.co.uk
Everyone deserves an outdoor space they love. Whatever your budget or vision, Kebur Garden Materials will help transform your garden with quality landscaping supplies. The one-stop shop stocks over 2,500 products, from paving and decking to fencing and aggregates, all with free local delivery. No matter the size of your project, the friendly team will guide you from product selection to delivery and aftercare. They also offer an award-winning installation service. Visit the displays or call six days a week – they’re there to help! More at kebur.co.uk
When your patio, pathway, drive or terrace was first laid, the stone would have looked beautiful. Overtime microscopic lichen spores carried by the wind and the rain from surrounding trees, land on the stone. If left untreated the entire surface gets covered in what is known as ‘black spots’ which no amount of pressure washing will fully remove. Patio Black Spot Remover removes lichen, algae and instantly restores the natural colour to patios, paths and garden stonework just as they were when new at a fraction of the original cost to lay. Find out more at patioblackspotremoval.com
