Urgent plea for families in need

Round & About

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Could you help The Link Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting children affected by domestic violence, bereavement, disability and poverty?

This amazing volunteer-powered local charity is currently experiencing an unprecedented demands for beds, cots and mattresses. The team are looking to partner with businesses and individuals who want to make a difference in our community.

Is there a challenge you have always fancied taking? Are you a business which could hold a team building fundraiser? Perhaps you fancy joining The Link Foundation as they raise awareness and funds at the Maidenhead Boundary Walk?

The team, who help families in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, are always excited to brainstorm ideas on how they could work together to provide all the beds needed to give local kids a good night’s sleep.

Please call 01628 400600 or donate at The Link Foundation – JustGiving

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BBOWT’s Andree Church’s best of Bucks

Liz Nicholls

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Andree Church tells us about moving from Ontario to south Bucks and her wildlife trust role helping protect & enjoy the countryside

Hi Andree. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
“I’m 33 and have a very energetic 18-month-old who keeps me on my toes! I’m a learning manager for the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust [BBOWT], which means I’m lucky to spend my ‘work’ days on beautiful nature reserves teaching people of all ages about local wildlife. I manage BBOWT’s education centres in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, and we have centres near Tring, Maidenhead and Windsor. I enjoy sharing my love of nature and fielding questions from inquisitive children. One of my recent faves was ‘Do you sleep at the nature reserve?’ (I don’t, but there’s an event idea!).”

Q. Where do you live?
“I’ve lived in Chinnor with my husband since 2017. I grew up in Ontario, Canada, and came to the UK in 2013 to do some postgraduate studies. I planned on staying for a year but met my husband at university! Here I am, still in the Thames Valley area eleven years later!”

Q. What are your favourite walks?
“Any along with Ridgeway. The stretch between Bledlow and Princes Risborough is a particular favourite – the rolling hills provide some great viewpoints of the Chilterns. Amazing to think that people have been using these paths for thousands of years.”

Q. Any favourite local shops or businesses?
“Oakley Village Shop (recently opened) for delicious baked goods, great coffee and a park/playing field next to it. And Gloria’s in Thame.”

Q. What highlights are you looking forward to?
“Some summery family picnics in parks and local woodlands. Just need all this rain to stop!”

Q. What do you most love about where you live?
“The rich cultural history coupled with gorgeous countryside. As somebody who didn’t grow up in this area, I have a real appreciation for how lucky we are to live where we do.”

Q. What are hidden gems locally?
“Our local nature reserves, there are plenty just on our doorstep. BBOWT are a fabulous group of people who work tirelessly to look after wildlife and habitats in our area. We look after more than 80 nature reserves, run five education centres and two visitor centres. We feel everyone benefits from access to wildlife and nature – physically, mentally and/or emotionally. We offer programming for everyone, from Nature Tots (12 months+) through to our Teen Rangers clubs and events for adults. If you’d like to find out more about any of these, check out our website.”

Q. How can we help?
“As a charity, BBOWT relies on donations to fund our conservation work in the local community. If you’re not already a member and would like to support our work you can join us by visiting our website. Alternatively, you can donate to our Nature Recovery Fund [Nature Recovery Fund], our biggest fundraising campaign to date which aims to raise £3 million for nature climate and people.”

Q. Finally, if you could make one wish for the world, what would it be?
“That we all treat others as we wish to be treated. And that we do a better job of looking after this planet – after all, it’s the only one we’ve got! Oops, that’s two wishes!”

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Rebus Theatre Group fundraiser

Round & About

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Enjoy an evening’s entertainment with Rebus Theatre Group and help raise funds for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice rebuild. Ian Wilson-Soppitt invites us to take our seats and have a laugh

Rebus Theatre Group was formed 20 years ago for the purpose of performing original murder mystery plays for charities.

The man behind the idea was well known local actor, author and playwright, Alan Macland. Alan wrote a handful of entertaining plays with colourful characters and intriguing plots. They were performed by a small and very professional cast of local players.

The concept behind Rebus has always been that all proceeds go directly to the charity being supported and we work closely with sponsors to make sure we maximise their contribution. In the early days we supported local Rotary and Lions groups and their charities. We have more recently performed for Alzheimer’s Society, Cardiac Rehab, Citizen’s Advice, Cruse, Elstead Village Hall, Homestart and Prostate Cancer Research.

After the pandemic, we reformed and, as Alan Macland is no longer waiting, engaged another local author – in this case Alan Goodchild – to write some golf-themed murder mysteries which we performed at local golf clubs, once again for their selected charities.

With Alan and Mandy Macland’s blessing and keeping charity fundraising as our rasion d’etre, we are now in rehearsal for two one act comedies by yet another Alan-Ayckbourn of West End and Scarborough fame, Mother Figure and Between Mouthfuls.

We are looking forward to welcoming audiences to Shackleford’s charming Village Hall on July 26th and 27th. On this occasion we are raising funds for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, in particular for their rebuilding project.

Tickets can be booked through the website Ticket-Office at £16 each to include a glass of Prosecco and cheese and biscuits in the interval.

It will be most enjoyable and entertaining evening. We look forward to welcoming you.

Ian Wilson-Soppitt

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice rebuild

The purpose-built hospice will be larger and better equipped than the building it will replace. It will have a specialist 18 bedded unit, to care for those with the most intensive medical and nursing needs and will also include a therapy suite and treatment rooms, an education suite, café, a rehabilitation suite and counselling rooms. All wrapped by beautiful gardens to improve wellbeing.

The state-of-the-art facility will offer inpatient and outpatient care and will support men and women, young and old, with cancer and other terminal and advanced illnesses as well as supporting local families and children through their grief and bereavement.

It will serve a community of over 500,000 people across Surrey and Hampshire. The hospice will not receive any government help to fund the £6million needed. Find details at Phyllis Tuckwell – Building a new hospice | Phyllis Tuckwell (pth.org.uk)

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Enjoy later life

Karen Neville

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Later life gives much to embrace and much to consider but it can also be a worrying time, help is at hand whatever your needs

With a variety of options available how do you choose the care which is right for you and yours? Broadly speaking there are three main options: domiciliary, live-in and residential.

Domiciliary care allows you to stay in your own home with visits from a carer. The intensity and frequency of domiciliary care visits will be determined by your needs, it maybe that short-term ‘dom care’ will suffice after a hospital stay for example, but it may be that more regular care is needed albeit for relatively low-level care needs. You may find that just an hour or two a day is sufficient to meet your needs which may include just daily care and essential tasks.

Dom care allows you to maintain easy contact with family and friends and grants a degree of independence where possible.

If your care needs are more acute but you would still like to stay in your own home then live-in care may be suitable. You’ll benefit from one-to-one care from a professional caregiver focussing on your needs and giving you and your loved ones peace of mind. This increasingly popular option is more financially viable than residential care. Some care assistants live in all the time whilst others work on a rota system.

There are a wide number of residential care homes providing comfortable living specifically for elderly care. Many are purpose-built to account for a wide range of circumstances with one of many people’s key deciding factors being the social aspect they offer with the chance to live alongside others on a day-to-day basis and enjoy a variety of activities.

Residential care is designed for those needing round the clock care and can also provide practical, emotional and personal support. Residents can keep their independence but also enjoy help with tasks such as bathing and house keeping.

Whatever your living circumstances in later life, staying in touch with friends and family are essential for your wellbeing. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone. Technology can help connect people and provide access to essential services online.

Two devices are tailor made for seniors. GrandPad is an eight-inch tablet which has a touch sensitive screen and includes simple one-touch buttons to access video chats. Families can create a secure social network that only includes approved contacts who can communicate with the GrandPad and share photos and emails. They can also be customised to suit the user’s needs.

KOMP is a one-button computer designed by No Isolation specifically for video chats with loved ones. Looking like an old-style TV with a large screen it has just one button.

KOMP is a receiving device and loved ones will need to download an app to start a video conversation.

The Amazon Echo Show also allows video calls. The latest version includes an interactive screen that rotates with you as you move or interact with it.

There are many kinds of smart devices that can make a big difference to quality of life and help keep you connected with essential services and loved ones.

Smart heating controls can help ensure the home isn’t being heated when it needn’t be and will help save money. Most devices can be fitted to a boiler or heating system and linked to an app. Smart lighting and plug controls can also be activated automatically. Voice activated devices can also help control heating and lighting and can be set up with a ‘trigger word’. Most devices can also make voice phone calls with just a command, vital in an emergency or if not near a phone. Camera doorbells are also worth considering for added peace of mind, especially if you live alone.

How to spot and prevent scams

It’s a sad fact of life that as you age you are often more susceptible to cruel scams and ruthless fraudsters trying to trick you out of your money. It’s perfectly normal to feel worried about these scams but there is plenty of advice to help you spot and avoid scams.

On average, four people aged 50+ are scammed in England and Wales every minute. Age UK has embarked on the Scams Prevention and Support Programme with the aim of helping older people be more aware and to help avoid them.

There are various methods of being scammed to be aware of: Phone scams and cold calls, postal scams, doorstep scams, email scams, investment scams and pension scams.

In all cases, the old adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” should be paramount. Being scammed can be very distressing, and the impact is often emotional as well as financial. There is support available.

Call the police on 101 if it’s not an emergency or 999 if you feel threatened. If you notice any unusual activity on your bank account get in touch as soon as possible, you’ll find a contact number for your bank on the back of your card.

There are various other support services out there too – Action Fraud: Action Fraud or call on 0300 123 2040. Victim Support provides 24/7 free and confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Find out more at Victim Support or call 08 08 16 89 11.

Contact Citizens Advice for information and advice about how to avoid scams and fraud. Their consumer services also provide information and advice on consumer issues by telephone and online, Citizens Advice.

For more advice and support visit Scams advice – How to spot and avoid scams | Age UK or call the free advice line on 0800 678 1602.

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Planet friendly living in Petersfield

Round & About

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Head to Petersfield Heath on July 14th for ideas, advice and fun ways to celebrate earth-friendly living for the whole family

Find out more ways to enjoy earth friendly living at this year’s Petersfield Eco Fair on Sunday, 14th July when along with day-long live music, food and drink, it will be a celebratory occasion.

There will be more than 30 stalls themed around various aspects of eco living and plenty of activities for children, such as face painting, storytelling, the Woodland Theatre Company and a children’s activity marquee – all adding up to a fun day out for all the family at Petersfield Heath.

Find out about our local bees, bats, birds and more and what you can do encourage nature in your garden with ideas and inspiration at the Nature stalls: Petersfield Community Garden, Friends of Petersfield Heath, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Hampshire Bat Group, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and RSPB.

From solar panels to insulation and heat pumps, there’s advice on how to make your home more energy efficient and learn about plans for community energy in our local area.

Travel more sustainably advice on bikes and electric vehicles. There will be bicycle repairs on offer, bikes for sale and EV owners to chat to, courtesy of Petersfield Bicycle Buddies and JPAC Electrical.

Pick up some great ideas on low waste living from recycled products to plastic-free alternatives, with ways to help you consume less and recycle more. Among those offering low-cost living advice will be Petersfield Men’s Shed, Coffee Pod Creations and Green Boutique.

Discover the wide range of local community groups doing their bit to respond to the climate crisis, and join them in making a pledge to protect our planet.

There’s a brilliant line-up of live music to keep you entertained, plus woodland theatre, storytelling, face painting and other children’s activities, delicious food and refreshing drinks local suppliers with Crepe Britain, Dylan’s Ice Cream, Langhams Brewery, Roots and My Little Coffee Co at the Eco Fair. A cup deposit scheme will operate at the bar, so bring an extra £1 for your drink which will be refunded when the cup is returned.

And there’s the chance to showcase your skills with a photography competition where you can be in with the chance of winning a hamper of eco goodies and a young writers competition – can you write a short piece of fiction or non-fiction that has a nature or eco theme? You can win a book token prize.

For more details about the day and the two competitions, visit petersfieldcan.org/projects/eco-fair-2024 

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Big Butterfly Count is flying high

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You can help protect the future of local species under threat thanks to Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count, 14th July to 6th August

Butterfly spotting can be one of summer’s most wonderful experience. As the sun appears, and flowers bloom, more and more sightings of our fluttery favourites can be seen.

You may be able to identify some common butterflies quickly. The Brimstone, for example, is a yellow-green butterfly that’s one of the first species to be spotted in spring. The Comma is another favourite for many, and has distinctively scalloped wing edges and its underwings resemble dead leaves as a form of camouflage.

A number of stunning day-flying moths bring the same buzz. The Six-spot Burnet has striking red spots on each forewing. Butterfly Conservation has a handy online identification tool. You may also like to familiarise yourself with different species’ habitats. Red Admirals enjoy almost any habitat from hedgerows to the top of mountains. Others, such as the Speckled Wood inhabit woodland.

Holtspur Bottom Butterfly Reserve, HP9 1DH, covers an area of about 4.5 hectares (11 acres), and is managed thanks to the hard work of local Butterfly Conservation volunteers.

And, Yoesden HP14 4AR, is home to an impressive array of butterflies, considered by many one of the jewels of the Chilterns AONB, with some 28 species recorded, including three scarce blue species: Adonis, chalkhill and small blue butterflies, all of which rely on the flower-rich grassland that makes up half the reserve, owned & managed by Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. Park at Bledlow Ridge; more info at Yoesden | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)

The Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen science survey of its kind. By recording your sightings, you’ll provide valuable data on the populations and distributions of common species. Last year revealed species such as the Common Blue and Holly Blue had a good summer, with an increase in sightings of 154% and 120% from 2021 respectively.

It takes just 15 minutes and whether you’re in a park, garden or looking out of your window, taking part helps us understand UK butterflies’ plight. Some 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s and two thirds of common moth species have declined in the last 40 years.

Visit Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) to take part & Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) to find out more.

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Step out in Haslemere

Round & About

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Haslemere’s annual Walking Festival is back with expertly guided walks exploring the history and wildlife of the area from Friday 12th to Sunday, 14th July as Adaleigh Buckrell writes

Delve into the rich past and exquisite countryside of the area as part of Haslemere Walking Festival which offers a varied programme of free walks around the town centre and its surroundings.

Depending on your choice of walk you might be led at a leisurely pace through the market town’s charming streets, the ponds of Waggoners Wells, or around the Devil’s Punchbowl in the Surrey Hills, one of the UK’s protected National Landscapes.

The joint initiative run by Haslemere Town Council and Visit Haslemere allows everyone to get outside, learn new things and have fun with all the family. Those coming from further afield can easily travel to the town by train or bus to access the beautiful heathland, woods and rolling hills on its doorstep.

All the walks in the festival are led by informative volunteers who are experts in their field and experienced in guiding walks. Local tree warden Clive Davidson invites you to discover the most notable trees in Haslemere and the tallest trees in Surrey. Additionally, you can join local historian Tim Winter if you are keen to learn about Haslemere’s political, artistic and war-time history.

Returning due to popular demand, the wonderful local author and playwright Jo Owen Smith and a supporting cast will bring to life Sir Robert Hunter, one of the founders of the National Trust, and friends. The group will shed light on the fascinating history of Hindhead Common in this dramatised walk.

More drama will be uncovered in John Casey’s historical walk discussing, amongst other things, the murder of a sailor on the Devil’s Punchbowl in 1786 and the 1945 plane crash on Gibbet Hill, the second highest point in Surrey.

Don’t miss out on the new Blue Plaque Trail of Haslemere and Hindhead, led by Chris Harrison from the Haslemere Society. The homes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Viscount Montgomery of Alamein are just two of the remarkable places you would visit, contributing to the richness of the area’s cultural heritage.

Whether you fancy a breath of fresh air to clear your mind, an activity to do with the kids and grandparents, or a longer trail where you can meet friends, old and new, a walk for everybody can be booked online at Haslemere Educational Museum – Art Tickets.

The festival programme with descriptions of the walks and their lengths and challenge levels can also be found at Haslemere Visitor. Further walks will be announced on Facebook when they are finalised, so keep an eye out.

Numbers are limited so do book early. For any enquiries call Visit Haslemere on 01428 645425 or email [email protected]

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Alice Day: artist’s ox & exhibition

Round & About

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Abingdon artist Caroline Ritson tells us about her amazing Wonderland-inspired ox, part of the Sobell House OxTrail, and exhibition at St Ethelwold’s this weekend

Amooong the beautiful OxTrail creations is an Alice In Wonderland-inspired masterpiece by Abingdon artist Caroline Ritson.

She tells us: “I was inspired to create my design for my Ox for the OxTrail by the illustrated book of Alice in Wonderland that my mum had had as child and read to me. I also wanted to create images related to Oxford.

“I hope children and adults will spend time looking for all of the creatures and different Alice images and maybe go back to read the books again, or for the first time. I was thrilled that my design was chosen and to help raise money for Sobell House Hospice. It was a great experience and I have made many connections with other artists.”

OxTrail features a herd of 138 large and mini oxen on display to form a fun and family-friendly trail. Each sculpture is unique and has been painted by artists, schools, community groups, or local media (including Round & About). OxTrail is raising money for Sobell House Hospice, who provide expert and compassionate care to people at the end of life, and support to their family and friends.

Alice’s Day, Oxford’s city-wide celebration of all things Alice in Wonderland, is back on Saturday, 6th July. This year’s theme is Fabulous Monsters and Curious Creatures, celebrating anniversary of the birth of wonderland. As well as the giant Alice puppet, a 3ft Jabberwock will roam the city, crafted by the acclaimed theatre-makers and specialists in large-scale puppetry and magic, Rag and Bone. For more info please visit Alice’s Day | About Us | The Story Museum

You are also all welcome to an art exhibition featuring work by Caroline, Marion Owen & Bruce Bignold at St Ethelwold’s garden in east St Helen’s Street, from 5th to 7th July. Tea and cake will be on sale on Saturday 6th, 2.30-4.30pm.

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Artist RAWZ & his inspiring ox

Round & About

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We asked multidisciplinary artist Rawz to tell us a bit about what inspired his wonderful ox, part of the Sobell House OxTrail…

Among the large oxen grazing in Oxford’s beautiful buildings and streets you will find Dreams of the Spires (also gracing our July cover), outside Saïd Business School, designed by RAWZ.

An established poet and musician from Greater Leys, RAWZ represents a less acknowledged side of Oxford with his intricate design which beautifully reinterprets Oxford’s iconic skyline, symbolising unique stories, influences and people of the city.

He says: “For countless hours, years, centuries, Oxford’s famous spires have stood in silence, witnessing the city’s dreams as the world changes around them. This work re-interprets the iconic skyline’s shapes, weaving an abstract narrative through patterns. The forms interlock like puzzle pieces; a visual metaphor for the lives that inhabit the city, the unique co-existing stories and ideas that constantly influence each other, and the world around them, in an interconnected, interdependent exchange, creating a perpetual state of transformation and evolution.

“It’s been a great experience working with the team at OxTrail and it’s such a good opportunity to share what I do with lots of people. Sobell House’s work is so important, and it means a lot to be able to support it in this way. There are so many talented artists involved in this trail, I hope everyone enjoys exploring the city to find the whole herd. I’m sure a lot of good memories will be made while doing it!”

Ox-plore the trail and collect the sculptures using the official OxTrail 2024 app or through the beautifully-decorated OxTrail map, which is available at all Sobell House shops and some of the mini herd locations. What’s more, there is a range of ox-clusive merch and fun activities for children to get involved in available at the Westgate Hub Shop.

All the proceeds raised through OxTrail will help to fund Sobell House Hospice, who provide expert care to people facing life-limiting illness and support to their loved ones. The hospice relies upon the support of its community to raise over £3million each year.

Join the moo-vement to explore Oxfordshire’s iconic attractions, uncover some hidden gems, and have lots of fun along the way!

To find out more or donate to this worthy cause please visit OxTrail – Sobell House.

To work with Rawz, The Urban Music Foundation or Inner Peace Records email [email protected]

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Petworth’s world class arts festival

Round & About

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If ever there was a year to enjoy the thrill of live performance in Petworth, this is clearly it with an array of world class performers in the South Downs from July 10th to 27th

“We have always sought to bring the greatest quality of performance to Petworth, but when you add in the sheer charisma of so many of this year’s artists, I can only look forward to the festival with the most extraordinary degree of anticipation!”

Petworth’s Artistic Director Stewart Collins is clearly delighted with this year’s line up and backing up his comments, he points to a whole series of unique talents who will be taking to the Petworth stage.

Classical stars Simon Keenlyside, Boris Giltburg and Joanna MacGregor all have what Stewart describes as ‘that crucial x-factor’, as do stellar talents from other genres, jazz musicians Eliane Correa and Petworth favourite Joe Stilgoe, world music star N’famady Kouyate, performance poet and storyteller Luke Wright, and Mike and the Mechanics front man Roachford, who brings his own band to the festival. 

Image by: Sasha Gusov

Image by: Pal Hansen

And it goes way beyond this. The South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is a force of nature whether playing Bach or traditional African music; Martin Harley is genuinely one of the modern blues-guitar greats; percussionist Delia Stephens playing in tandem with harmonica genius Will Pound… virtuosity simply doesn’t sum it up!

Image by: Mlungisi Mlungwana

Image by: Silvia Cruz

And that’s not to mention the ‘Big Gigs’ at The Petworth House Stable Yard and Midhurst Rother College

Thurs 18th: The Wonder of Stevie – a triumphant celebration of Stevie Wonder’s music
Fri 19th: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours – a vivid recreation by The Transatlantic Ensemble
Sat 20th: Jazz in the Stables – headlined by Anglo/Cuban powerhouse Eliane Correa
Wed 24th: Aretha – the brilliant Vanessa Haynes of Incognito stars
Thurs 25th: Roachford – the dynamic front man of Mike and the Mechanics with his own band
Fri 26th: Comedy Double Bill – with Mark Watson and Mark Simmons

Petworth Festival kicks off on Wednesday, 10th July and runs through to Saturday, 27th July when events culminate with a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (‘blue’ being a theme that runs through the festival) in the hands of yet another astonishing talent, Ronnie Scott’s supremo pianist James Pearson.

Events run every day including a dozen daytime/lunchtime events with family events scheduled for both Coultershaw Heritage Site and the Leaconfield Hall. More information and tickets at petworthfestival.org.uk/whats-on

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