Image: Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. University of Bristol, UK, 2017. Photo (c) Carolyn Eaton
Newbury BID welcomes you to enjoy the festival of the moon for three weeks of moon-related events!
Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) are holding a three-week festival between 15th August and 2nd September with over 100 unique events! With such a large number of events there is something perfect for everyone.
The centre of the festival is the globally renowned museum of the moon, where a seven metre, lifelike installation of the moon’s surface is displayed, created by artist, Luke Jerram and captured through NASA images. Accompanied by a beautiful soundscape composed by BAFTA-winner Dan Jones, you will feel as if you are transported straight to the lunar realm.
However, the excitement does not end there, as there are plenty more events taking place. Feel soothed by the moon-themed wellness sessions, engaged by films and interactive storytelling or compelled by talks that will leave you thinking. With a grand number of events, it is easy to spend multiple days at the festival. Especially exciting events, to name a few, include an outdoor cinema, paddleboarding and live music! For the younger ones, and adults too, there are some free arts and crafts to try your hand at.
Operations manager, Alison Drummond, at Newbury BID expresses how the ‘lively community and commitment to arts and culture shine through in these events’, and encourages you to come and join in.
“lively community and commitment to arts and culture shine through in these events.”
When attending, entry to the museum of the moon is complementary, with a range of time slots available, including evening sessions for a beautiful night-time lunar experience.
Nine up and coming designers are competing to win Jacobs the Jewellers annual competition as they search to boost their future careers
Coming into their 75 year anniversary, Jacobs the Jewellers are hosting their annual Emerging Designers competition.
This exciting event features nine fledging designers from Bishophead Educational Trust, all hoping to kick start their careers.
This competition combines both a virtual show with an instore experience to showcase the talents and help boost the designers’ fledging careers.
Each designer has been challenged with the task of making a piece for each of the two categories: a piece of jewellery and an object, which are to be judged between now and Wednesday 2nd August. Everyone is welcomed to vote for the pieces both online and instore. To participate in this, either visit the store at 25 King Street in Reading or vote online at: Jewellery: Bishopsland Designers.
Adam Jacobs, Partner, Jacobs the Jewellers said: “To think nine years ago we started working with Bishopsland; the time has flown by and my compliments to both the gang and their tutors! Seeing this year’s high standard work is both inspiring and gratifying – we look forward to seeing how the public vote and sharing with everyone. As ever, thanks to our co-presenting partners – they’ve amazing supporters.”
Angela Cork, Principal of Bishopsland Educational Trust added: “We are thrilled to be showcasing the next generation of Bishopsland’s silversmiths and jewellers work at Jacobs the Jewellers. This is the ninth year in which we have collaborated on this initiative, and it is an important part of our annual programme, and we remain thankful to Adam Jacobs, HS Walsh, and The Goldsmith’s Centre for their ongoing support for our makers and for our craft.”
The winners will be revealed on Thursday, 3rd August. The winners of each category are to win £250, and the runners up £100; with this great prize, winners can further boost their careers as designers. This money is granted for them to use at HS Walsh, a leading UK jewellery tool supplier, so they can buy a variety of different items to help them with their creations.
M&S are here to feed your BBQ obsession with their three for £12 grill deal of bangers, burgers and kebabs
Do you love BBQs? Are you searching to find new dishes to impress your friends and family? M&S are here to the rescue. With their new three for £12 grill deal, you can make both your friends and your taste buds happy!
Not only do M&S offer such a banging deal, but they also offer a new range of bangers, burgers and kebabs, which holds a vast range of flavours. Having a staycation, but fancy a trip to Asia? Try their Asian-style chicken wing kebabs. If Greece is more your style, indulge in their Greek-style pork skewers. Where you are at home or away, M&S grant the opportunity to experience all the flavours from your very own home with their new selection.
Vegan? Don’t fret! They have a very special treat for you! M&S have made sure that there is something for everyone and have officially introduced their iconic posh dogs as a vegan dish as well. Now everyone can enjoy the BBQ together with their new selection, with food requirements posing no threat.
Still craving more flavours after this? Well, M&S still have plenty to please you! Explore their range of sauces to spice up your meals. From Piri Piri Marinade to Buffalo Sauce, they have a number of different sauces perfect for marinating, dipping and drizzling your dishes with, making them even more delicious.
Has this taken your interest? Click here to find out more: Best Ever BBQ.
Discover the best barbecue wines for the summer. Round & About’s Magazine’s wine columnist Giles Luckett shares his red, white and rose recommendations
Hello. The great British Summer wouldn’t be the same without the great British barbecue. Sociable, affordable, and fun, they’re a great excuse for an alfresco glass of wine or two. But which ones? Barbecued food is one of the trickier food and wine matches. OK, it’s not as tricky as mutton vindaloo (Merlot, by the way. My fiery food-loving friend swears by it), but it presents challenges. The combination of fish, fowl, flavourings and flame all need to be considered. Traditionally bigger the better was the approach, but with chefs such as double Michelin star winner Tom Kerridge taking barbecuing seriously, here are some equally serious selections for your summer’s alfresco dining.
Let’s begin in a civilised fashion with a fizz. Well, two, actually – you can never have too much fizz, that’s my motto. The first is the Villa Maria Sparkling Cuvée Brut (Sainsbury’s on offer at £11 down from £14). I’ve been a big fan of Villa Maria’s wines since the late 1990s, but I’d not come across this until recently. A blend of mainly Chardonnay with some Pinot Noir, it offers New World joy with Old World complexity. Golden in colour and with a nose of apple crumble, the soft, textured palate offers melon, peaches, and pears and a touch of tropical fruit and honey. It’s a delightful solo sipper, but it has the weight and character to partner with seafood or white fish.
My second recommendation comes straight out of the Bonza Barbie Book! (Cliché Publications £9.99), it’s the Bleasdale Langhorne Creek Sparkling Shiraz (the Wine Society £12.95). Good sparkling Shiraz is one of the wine world’s great oddities. A hefty, moderately acidic, thick-skinned peppery grape should not make good fizz, but this is one of those so wrong its right wines. The Bleasdale has a lovely purple colour crowned by pink foam. The nose is a riot of crushed blackcurrants, with peppery mint notes in the background. For me, it was love at first sip, as raspberries, chocolate, and yeast offset the sweetly toned, spicy blackberry fruits. Good on its own, it’s amazing with honey mustard chicken.
And so on to the whiter side of life. Whites and barbecued food can be tricky. Too much new oak and your mouth can feel like you’ve smoked a Woodbine; too little body and it gets drowned out; too much acidity and it can taste harsh and sour. So, what to serve…?
Well, you can start with a white Rioja. White Rioja is one of the great unsung heroes of the wine world. Take the Cune Barrel Fermented Rioja (Waitrose £7.99 on offer down from £9.99 (still a bargain at £9.99)). This is at once creamy and luxurious yet clean and crisp. No, I’ve no idea how they manage it, I’m just glad they do. It offers masses of red apple, apricot and grape fruit with undertones of vanilla, honey and crushed nuts before a lemony finish sweeps in. This is a great glassful that will stand up to barbecued white meats or fish while being equally at home on its own.
Alternatively, why not try a Riesling? Something like the Trimbach 2019 (West End Wines £19.50). Despite its appearance, name, grape and historical-geographic alignment (best not open the Treaty of Versailles debate here) this is from Frances’ Alsace. Trimbach has been making wine since 1626, and I have to say they’ve really got the hang of it. Elegance, purity, and intensity are the watchwords here. The bouquet melds white berries, blossom, citrus, and a hint of honey, while the palate offers green apples and white currants before pears, grapefruit, and minerals come in at the finish. Medium-bodied, but with such dazzling persistence, this is sublime with fish, white meats, and green salads.
A pause for a rosé thought. I’ve always found rosé to be good with barbecued fish, seafood, and white meats, but most struggle to match smoky red meats. I’ve tried newer styles of rosé that put the emphasis on power and while they work to an extent, the lower acidity means something vital is lost. A wine that manages to match all grilled foods with effortless aplomb is the Muga Rosado (Waitrose £10.99). Pretty as a pink picture, this is an upfront style of rosé with juicy citrus mingling with red berries, apricots and cranberries.
My first red is the Gaia Red Blend 2019 (Vintage Roots £17.95), which is another clever conjuring trick of a wine. An intriguing blend of Argentinean Malbec, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, its inky blue-black colour and nose of super-ripe smoked black berries, cherries, coffee, and prunes give you an impression of all-out power. When you taste it, however, you find balance, harmony, and a lightness of touch. While the juicy Malbec black and blueberry tones lead the charge, there are fruits of the forest, mint, warm spices, and a lovely floral lift that make it feel poised and precise. I had this with steak – it was a perfect foil – but it would be just as good with roasted veg with garlic, grilled halloumi, or blackened peppers stuffed with couscous.
My next recommendation is a stone-cold classic – though serve it at room temperature for best results. It’s the Journey’s End V5 Cabernet Franc (Ocado £18). This was my first encounter with a South African Cabernet Franc. In fact, it was my first encounter with a varietal Cabernet Franc in years. Too often, I find the leafy blackcurrant tone rather green and sour. This had none of that. Very deeply coloured, on opening the nose offered cassis, peppers and black cherries with a lovely leafy herb note. Full-bodied yet fresh, it offers everything from brambles and cherries to smoky vanilla, graphite, star anise and plums. An hour open and exuberance turned to subtlety, and flavours of chocolate and strawberry came through. I had it with a heavily peppered steak, and it was excellent. The juiciness and the wine’s dry tannins complimented the food perfectly.
And finally, something for the adventurous amongst you. If you’re the sort of person who does quail piri piri or slaps a lobster on the grill (I’m free that evening, by the way) then the Au Bon Climat Santa Maria 2021 Pinot Noir (Berry Bros. & Rudd £31) is for you. This last vintage of the founder and Californian wine pioneer Jim Clendenen is a suitably fitting tribute to a man who did more for American Pinot and Chardonnay than anyone else. Gorgeous nose of red and black berries, roses, and cocktail cherries with a touch of menthol, the palate is tightly packed with strawberry, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla notes, that are lent further complexity by meaty tones, and a savoury edge. The bright acidity means it will happily partner fish, foul, or flesh, but make sure you give it a couple of hours open.
“The bright acidity means it will happily partner fish, foul, or flesh.”
Well, I’m off to fire up the grill – those unami mushroom burgers won’t burn, I mean cook, themselves.
Next time I’ll take a look at the wines of New Zealand – surprises are in store…
Have fun taking part in Create and Grow activities with your young ones at Squire’s Garden Centres this summer!
Looking for something fun to do with your children this summer? Squire’s Garden Centres has just the thing for you!
Running from Monday, 24th July to Friday, 25th August, Squire’s Garden Centres welcome you to participate in their fun Create and Grow activities. Whether you choose to ‘decorate a pair of pebble animals’ every Monday between 9.30am and 12.30pm, or simply have fun doing their worksheets, Squire’s Garden Centres have a variety of exciting things to do.
Chairman Sarah Squire says they are ‘delighted to welcome young visitors back’ and that their activities will take ‘just the right amount of time to keep little ones busy’. All centres, excluding Chertsey and Reigate, are participating in this wonderful event, so there is plenty of opportunity for you to take part.
If decorating a pebble takes your fancy, get along and book your place either in store or online. Your child can create a cool create for only £3, and with this comes a range of fun after, as they will now have a brand-new toy to play with.
With the painting itself taking around 20 minutes, Squire’s also offer a free, wildlife themed activity sheet every day. Once your child finishes crafting their pebble pet, they will be able to take part in a range of games and challenges. From the ‘Pond Word Search’ to the ‘Butterfly Maze’, your child will never find themselves short of fun things to do. Once completing the challenge, they will be rewarded with a sticker, and what child wants to miss out on that prizw?
If you begin to grow hungry after your hard work as an artist, feel free to grab a light bite to eat at the Centre’s Café Bar. The ‘Little Gardeners menu’ contains a range of delicious meals for your child to munch on.
Overall, it sounds like a great morning out with your kids and prevents the cries of boredom at home.
Bestselling author & historian Alison Weir, one of the stars of Guildford Book Festival in October, shares a few thoughts with us…
Q. Hello Alison. Henry VIII occupies a large place in the nation’s heart? What is the most surprising aspect of him that is maybe lesser-known?
“That he was a thinking man, who cared deeply about the laws passed by his Parliaments, an intellectual who read the classics for pleasure, and a talented musician and composer.”
Q. Do the experiences of this Harry perhaps shine a light on the newsworthy experiences of our modern-day Prince Harry, do you think?
“I’m not sure how they would do so, as I believe that the experiences of both were shaped by their vastly different upbringings and those who were in a position to influence them. What they have in common is the loss of their mothers when they were just boys – but then they had very different mothers, so that loss would have impacted in different ways.”
Q. Would you like to live in Tudor times (even for a day), and if so why?
“Probably not! Unless I could be a noble lady in a beautiful country house, but even then I shudder to think of living without access to painkillers if I needed them, and of the poor hygiene of the age. I’d like to go back to discover the truth behind some of the most dramatic events of the age, such as the fall of Anne Boleyn, but to do that I’d have to be close to events, which would be way too dangerous!
Q. You are an oracle on our history… Having done so much research, which queen do you have most admiration for?
“My favourite queen of all would have to be Elizabeth I. What a survivor! She inherited a bankrupt kingdom at the age of 25 and was regarded by Catholic Europe as a bastard, a heretic and a usurper – and she was a woman in man’s world. But she was still there, revered as Gloriana, 44 years later!”
Q. Did you enjoy school? And where did your love of history begin?
“I did, but they didn’t teach the history about which I wanted to learn. When I was 14, and had graduated from books to pop magazines, my mother marched me into an adult library and told me to get a book! I wandered around, bored, until I saw the lurid jacket of a novel called Henry’s Golden Queen by Lozania Prole. I devoured it in two days and raced off the school library to find out the truth behind the fiction – and I’m still searching for it today!”
Q. Which royal palace in the UK is worth a visit, or perhaps underappreciated?
“To get some idea of the magnificence of the Tudor Court, the best palace to visit is Hampton Court – it’s stunning, even if most of the Tudor private royal apartments don’t survive. To see a complete set of them, in the wing built for the visit of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in 1535, I recommend visiting beautiful Acton Court in Gloucestershire, a remarkable survival.”
Q. Who was your favourite author growing up? And now?
“My favourite was Norah Lofts, the novelist – and she still is. I have all 63 of her books. She was one of the great unsung writers of the 20th century.”
“My favourite was Norah Lofts, the novelist – and she still is.”
Q. Do you think our monarchy will continue, and continue to win public support, in King Charles’ reign and beyond?
“I’m a great monarchist, so I very much hope so. I think the King sets a fine example and it’s clear that there is a lot of good will and public support for him.”
Q. What’s your favourite piece of music?
“There are so many that it’s hard to choose! It’s a toss between the Pavanne la Bataille (1551) performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London of You Don’t See Me by the Sisters of Mercy.”
Q. What do you do to unwind, when you’re not writing and researching?
“I exercise, get together with my husband and/or friends over a meal, or watch TV. When I get time, I update i-Tunes or my extensive collection/catalogue of royal portraits. I’ve been collecting images since the 1960s, and have well over 100,000 on my computer, not counting those in hard copy.”
Q. If you could make one wish for the world, what would it be?
These hot dogs are based on everyone’s favourite Christmas side: pigs in blankets. Like Christmas trees, hot dogs are thought to originate in Germany, so I’ve added a bit of curry powder, German mustard and Bavarian cheese as a nod to that. Great to cook outside on a cold day!
Pigs in blankets • 4 jumbo sausages • 2 heaped tsp mild curry powder • 12 rashers of streaky bacon
German mustard mayo • 100g thick mayonnaise • 40g German mustard • 3 tsp finely chopped shallot • 10 cornichons, finely sliced • 2 tbsp finely chopped dill • salt and freshly ground black pepper
To assemble • 4 long hot dog rolls • 8 thick slices of smoked Bavarian cheese • 8 large slices of dill pickle • A bunch of spring onions, green part only, finely sliced
Method:
1. To cook the onions, place a cast-iron pan on the hot barbecue and add the oil. When it is hot, add the onions with a generous pinch of salt. Stir well and cook for about 20 minutes until softened, dark and caramelised. 2. Meanwhile, prepare the sausages. Poke a metal skewer through the length of each sausage and lay the skewers on a tray. Season with the curry powder, trying to get an even coating all over the sausages. Wrap each one in bacon, using 3 rashers per sausage, and secure the bacon with a couple of cocktail sticks. 3. Lay the bacon-wrapped sausages on the hot barbecue and cook for about 10 minutes, turning every minute or two. While they are on the barbecue, mix the German mustard mayo ingredients together in a bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste; set aside until needed. 4. Once the sausage are cooked through, lift them off the barbecue and place on a tray. Remove the cocktail sticks and metal skewers. 5. To build the hot dogs, slit the rolls open through the top and lay the cheese slices in them. Add the baconwrapped sausages and top with plenty of caramelised onions and the pickle slices. 6. Place the hot dogs on a sturdy baking tray on the barbecue, put the lid on and leave for a minute or two so that the cheese becomes all gooey and melted. Transfer the hot dogs to plate and spoon on the German mayo. Scatter over the spring onions for freshness and serve.
Tandoori fish skewers (makes eight)
Salmon has a high fat content so it stays lovely and moist when cooked over direct heat. It can also be eaten a bit pink in the middle, so you don’t need to worry about undercooking it either. Quick pickled red onions cut through the rich flavours, as well as adding amazing colour.
Ingredients:
• 8 skinless salmon fillets (about 125g) • 2 large garlic cloves, grated • 2.5cm piece of fresh ginger, grated Juice of 1 lime • 200g Greek yoghurt • 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder • 1 tsp ground tumeric • 1 tsp ground cumin • 2 tsp ground coriander • 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika • A little vegetable oil to brush • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pickled red onions • 2 small red onions • 125ml water • 125ml white wine vinegar • ½ tsp fennel seeds • ½ tsp cumin seeds • 1 tbsp salt • 2 tbsp sugar
To serve • Naan bread or roti • A handful of coriander leaves • 1 long green chilli, finely sliced • Lime halves • Sweet chilli sauce
Method:
1. Prepare your pickled red onions an hour or so ahead. Slice the onions and place in a clean jar or bowl. Put the water, wine vinegar, fennel and cumin seeds, salt and sugar into a small pan over a medium heat and stir until the sugar and salt are fully dissolved. Pour the hot pickling liquor over the onions and leave to cool slightly. Pop the lid on (or cover the bowl) and place in the fridge to pickle. 2. To prepare the salmon, cut each fillet into four equal-sized chunks. Place these in a bowl with the garlic, ginger and lime juice and mix well. 3. In another bowl, mix the yoghurt with the spices and some salt and pepper. Add this spiced yoghurt to the salmon and mix well again. Leave to marinate in a cool place for at least 20 minutes, or up to an hour. Meanwhile, if using wooden skewers soak eight of them in water to avoid scorching on the barbecue. 4. Once marinated, thread the salmon onto your skewers, putting four chunks onto each skewer. 5. Brush the hot barbecue grid lightly with a little oil then lay the skewers on it. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and lightly charred. Meanwhile, warm the naan or roti on the edge of the barbecue. Once cooked, transfer the skewers to a warm plate. 6. Serve the skewers on the warm naan or roti. Scatter over a little pickled red onion, some coriander and sliced green chilli. Serve with lime halves for squeezing over, and sweet chilli sauce on the side.
Water, water everywhere or at any rate over 71 per cent of the world’s surface and there’s plenty to enjoy where we are too in pools, lidos, lakes, water and splash parks
At this time of year with temperatures on the up and the need to cool off, nothing can beat the urge to enjoy a dip in a pool or a splash in the sea.
The obvious first port of call is your local pool or lido. The historic Thames Lido is anything but just a pool for a swim and to cool off, tuck into Mediterranean tapas and mains in a glass-walled space at the historic renovated pool in the heart of Reading. The outdoor pool is heated year round and if you like it hot why not try the saunas or hot tub? Spoil yourself with a massage, or make a day of it with a delicious lunch or try the twilight package with a swim, use of hot tub / sauna, a massage and glass of Prosecco – heaven!
If it’s rowdy, crazy water fun you’re after then Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell is a must. One of the largest interactive water worlds in England, it has a huge range of different ways to enjoy the water with thrilling waterslides, an erupting volcano, a pirate ship and a variety of other features, there’s something for everyone in the pool area. If you’re after something a little more chilled, the adults-only Coral Spa area is the ideal place to relax and get away from it all.
Caversham Lakes is a natural open space showcasing the great outdoors and nature in what is a real social sanctuary with a safe playground set on a freshwater lake in the heart of the Thames Valley. There’s something for everyone – open water swimming, stand up paddle boarding, make a splash with aqua park fun, the family beach is a great place to relax in the sun or follow a nature trail.
Bucks
Wycombe Rye Lido boasts a 33m heated pool, with grass and terraced sunbathing areas, a summer’s day at Wycombe Rye Lido is a day dream come true. It has all year round heating, and also sports underwater lights for those who want to swim when the sun goes down.
Longridge Activity Centre in Marlow is another option for a fun day out on the water with kayaking, canoeing, dragon boating, rafting and bell boating all available in addition to a wide range of land-based activities to throw yourself into too. Book on to an activity day or check out the weekend courses. Stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking can also be tried at Engage Watersports in Taplow who “learn by having fun”.
Providing a first-class outdoor swimming facility that makes a positive contribution both to the community and to the health and wellbeing of the residents of Woburn and the surrounding areas is the mission of Woburn Lido and they are achieving this with their 23 metres long and nine metres wide pool. The variable depth of the pool also makes it perfect for both families and lane swimmers.
Water safety tips
It is never a good idea to swim alone in open water, even if you are highly experienced. Beginners should always swim with another more experienced swimmer or at a venue with safety crew or lifeguards.
Choose your venue carefully. NOWCA affiliated venues require all swimmers to wear a NOWCA wristband. The sophisticated safety system allows the crew to keep track of who is in the water.
Open water spaces can harbour harmful microbes. Make sure the venue meets requirements (Directive 2006/7/EC and Bathing Water Regulations 2013).
Go at your own pace. Swim in the stroke you are most comfortable with – except backstroke, you need to see where you are going! Start with a short swim course. If you do find yourself in trouble, stay calm and raise your hand so the safety crew can assist you.
Remember to have fun! There is a strong supportive community and it’s a great social activity. Learn from other swimmers and their experiences. Visit (nowca.org) for more.
Oxfordshire
Growing up I spent many an hour in the summer at the Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool in Abingdon. Newly renovated and heated (which it definitely wasn’t in my time), it offers lane swimming and ‘swim for all’ sessions. Parents can sit back and watch kids playing under the spray fountain in the splash pad in the park. Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool is a fully accessibly facility, with ramp access and toilet facilities.
Really make a splash at Oxford Wet ‘n’ Wild at Queenford Lake, the park offers activities for all ages – run wild on the inflatable obstacle course and slides or hire paddleboards and kayaks. Whether you are a competitive swimmer, a triathlete or just enjoy wild swimming, the lake at Berinsfield is a very popular spot with four well-marked loops to navigate of distances from 350m to 1,000m – it’s the ideal spot for triathletes who like a cycle after their swim. Rinse off after in the outdoor lakeside shower and spend some time at the Wandering Kitchen café, the ‘burger & swim’ is a top choice!
Leisurely swim or fun splash time with the kids? Whichever you’re after Riverside Park and Pools in Wallingford next to the Thames and is the ideal spot. The heated outdoor pool offers a variety of sessions, including Swim for Fitness, Swim for All, Outdoor Aqua Aerobics and Swim Doctor. The Jubilee Splash Pad has been refurbished to create a more modern and fun splash pad for youngsters to enjoy.
Surrey
Guildford Lido is one of the country’s few remaining original 1930s pools and one of the most popular, attracting more than 60,000 visitors on average each season and it’s not hard to see why. Set in four and a half acres of landscaped gardens, the heated Olympic size pool is the ideal spot to chill out, have fun (there’s a mini golf course too), take a picnic and swim, of course. If you like to make a splash there are three exciting slides to whizz down including a mini slide for water babies.
The large paddling pool in Stoke Park, Guildford is shallow enough for tots of all ages to enjoy a refreshing dip. A beach design on the yellow part and the flow of the pool comes up gently to make youngsters feel at ease. A play park, mini golf and 52 acres of glorious gardens make it a great spot to spend a few hours all round.
Aldershot Lido is the largest open air pool in Hampshire and is the perfect spot to spend a hot summer’s day. Three fun waterslides (suitable for 8 years+), a toddler paddling pool and large sandpit, 1m mixed diving board, picnic area in a scenic landscaped garden, basketball area and refreshments all make this a very popular place to cool off.
West Berkshire & Wiltshire
The 150-year-old Newbury Lido has undergone a renovation and while the pool itself has been reduced in length to 50m, it now boasts a new splash toddler pad and racer slides. The revamp means the pool is shallower to allow easier maintenance. New changing facilities have also been added to improve the overall experience to make summer more enjoyable for all. Pre-booking has been introduced this year too.
How about this to add some real glamour and style to your wild swimming experience? Wasing Estate at Aldermaston invites you to enjoy the beautiful tranquillity of the woodland lake as you enjoy a dip before warming up again in the wood-fired sauna and enjoying the stunning views across the lake. You need to be a member here to enjoy this level of luxury, you’ll be more than rewarded for splashing out!
A 25 metre, deck level, pool catering for a wide range of local swimmers and clubs can be found at The Link Centre, Swindon; Marlborough Leisure Centre; Kennet Leisure Centre in Thatcham and Hungerford leisure Centre; all have 25m pools – perfect for swimming some lengths.
I have decided that watering is a very specialised subject and I feel I could run a 10-week course on the subject!
The challenges for getting water to the roots of plants this year and last is off the scale. I remember saying how important it was to harvest the rainwater as it is so precious and would love to know how many of you did that?
Soil improvement
Anyone who knows me knows that I champion soil improvement and liken it to the gut biome! My go to compost to improve fertility and water retention is wool and bracken compost. I have covered my garden in it this year and those of many clients. We are reaping the benefits.
Harvesting the rain
We complain about it in the winter but in the last two summers have prayed it will fall out of the sky! I have been like a mad woman filling up water bottles by the thousand and installing water butts everywhere as well as leaving out trugs and trays to put in thirsty plants. I am now watering my plants with harvested rainwater as another hosepipe ban looms!
Watering the garden
New planting will need watering. If you have improved the soil or mulched this will be possible. If it’s just dusty dry soil it will just run off. Mulch now to absorb the water you put on. Spray to wet the mulch and then allow as much water into the soil as you can. If you are not sure just scrape the surface or dig down with a trowel to see if it’s wet. Use spiked bottles or tubes to get the water to the roots, do not just spray the plants.
Watering the lawn
Do not waste water doing this! A sign of a good gardener is a ‘dead’ lawn in the summer. It will revitalise as soon as the rain comes, it’s not dead it’s summer dormant.
Pots
Someone once said to me ‘It doesn’t rain in pots’ so make sure you still water. If it’s hot and sunny you will need to water more than when it is cool and cloudy. Do the plants need it? Are they wilting because they are dry, waterlogged or damaged by pests? Is the pot heavy or light? Is it normal multi purpose compost or wool compost? Is it a desert plant or a tropical rainforest plant?
If in doubt stick your finger into the soil!
CGS Courses
Please ask for details as I am now meeting potential students for Autumn and Spring Courses as well as bespoke workshops. I can also come and teach you in your own garden and am happy to chat over a coffee at Ashdene. Consultancy gift vouchers available too.
We take a fresh look at the Sussex seaside with a stay at one of the Beach Hut suites at Beachcroft Hotel
What are a pair of thirsty sun-seekers to do if a foreign holiday isn’t on the cards this summer? Well, did you know that Bognor Regis is recognised by the Met Office as the sunniest place in Britain, soaking up more than 1,900 hours of sunshine every year? Who needs to jet off to the White Isle when you can enjoy that level of glow without leaving Blighty?!
This was one of the questions we surprised ourselves with earlier this week while staring into the swirling turquoise sea from our private deck while staying in a Beach Hut Suite, at the Beachcroft Hotel in Felpham. There are four of these suites, designed by Peter de Savary and Ivon Blumer Architects, which were opened in 2019. They have a Tardis-like quality, looking dinky from the outside but offering a regal sense of space, with a cosy double bunk room, and ample living area (complete with min Smeg fridge & kettle) as well as king size master mezzanine bedroom hovering above, offering wondrous views over the sparkling sea through the round window.
Image: Peter Flude / Flude Foto
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside… don’t you find it makes you hungry? I’m rarely not thinking about my next meal, but after a short mosey along the pebbled paradise panorama in the fresh sea air, my appetite had reached whale proportions. Just as well because the friendly staff here will make sure you’re well fed – how about a delicious picnic hamper of fresh goodies to enjoy without taking your eyes off the stunning view? Or else you can book in to enjoy afternoon tea or delicious dinner (fish & chips, of course) in the Tamarisk restaurant, adjoining Monty’s Bar just over the way, or how about a sundowner at Blake’s Bar & Beach Terrace?
The hotel’s new Doorstep Discoveries stay aims to inspire people to take a break closer to home, including a bottle of sparkling Sussex wine from local vineyard, Tinwood Estate, and after a long day exploring, two wood-fired pizzas and a salad at Blakes (which has a gorgeous pod) right on the seven-mile coastal path. There is so much to enjoy nearby – we revelled in the beauty of Petworth on our way down, and there’s Goodwood, gorgeous gardens, and ample breweries and vineyards to enjoy in this rich foodie area. The rolling hills and quaint villages are world-class, but still peaceful and untouched by stress. And then there’s Bognor itself, which was born thanks to Sir Richard Hotham’s 18th century vision to turn the small fishing hamlet of Bognor into a seaside resort which would attract nobility away from the increasingly busy Brighton and Margate. If you don’t fancy a windswept 20-minute blue-sky thinking walk, the smiley Beachcroft staff can lend you a bike to tootle off and explore the compact town of Bognor, immortalised by William Blake as “England’s green and pleasant lands” when he wrote Jerusalem while living here in the 19th century.
Image: Peter Flude / Flude Foto
Image: Peter Flude / Flude Foto
As well as being home to a recent “Pier of the Year”, Bognor has more than just Butlins to recommend it, with retro arcades, a lovely old Sweet Shop (the-sweet-jar.co.uk; the fudge is insane) and perfectly Instagrammable Sweet Flamingo ice cream parlour (Sweet Flamingo), which is sure to help you hit a sugar high with its homemade gelato.
Each foray we made tuck into another Sussex gem, we were so glad to retreat to our Beachcroft hideaway where every detail is taken care of (we kept asking ourselves if we could work remotely & move in here). A recent convert to wild swimming, I did attempt a fudge-fuelled dip in the sea but this was too bracing – luckily there is a cosy indoor heated pool at Beachcroft. The hotel also offers 40 bedrooms, including dog-friendly rooms, family sea view rooms for up to four people with a private terrace and Penthouse Suite with balcony with a private terrace with direct beach access.
We all need to shine some more light on our own homegrown, independent hotels so we reckon that a stay at Beachcroft deserves its time in the sun, as does Bognor itself. This gorgeous part of the world can even like the likes of Bondi & Copacabana a run for their money… see you there!
Check out our current July competitions, you can win a stay at the Beachcroft Hotel – July competitions.
