National Trust spring gardens in Surrey

Karen Neville

Posted on

Surrey

Image: National Trust / Chris Lacey

Here are the best places to see spring flowers at National Trust gardens in Surrey this season. From blossom to bluebells, daffodils to rhododendrons, the signs of spring are sure to raise the spirits.

Everyone’s got a favourite flower, one that makes us happy, or brings to mind someone close to us. The hopeful sight of a swathe of purple crocuses or cheerful carpet of delicate bluebells can make our day.

As we emerge from the hibernation of winter, this is the perfect time to meet up with loved ones for a spring pilgrimage to see the bulbs and blooms, followed by a catch-up over a cuppa.

Find out more about the National Trust’s spring gardens near you:

Spring bulbs and blossom at Polesden Lacey

Near Dorking, Surrey, normal admission applies

Take in the views of the Edwardian house at Polesden Lacey framed by swathes of daffodils and spring bulbs, while the little ones can enjoy the brand new play area. Take a walk through the gardens to find floral fiestas in the spring borders, daffodils along New Lime Walk and anemones in the courtyard.

New for this year are 35,000 spring crocuses planted in the Ladies’ Garden to commemorate Mrs Greville. The garden team are planting a new Blossom Garden as you enter the property. In years to come 40 new cherry trees will blossom, among a meadow of wildflowers.

For well-established blossom trees, wind your way to Home Farm Orchard, where mature apple and pear trees are full of blossom in spring. Perch on a picnic bench under the apple blossom and breathe in the spring.

Image: National Trust / Megan Taylor
Image: National Trust / Eddie Hyde

Bluebells at Hatchlands Park

Near Guildford, Surrey, normal admission applies

The parkland at Hatchlands is a glorious place to visit for a spring walk. Delicate bluebells form a carpet of violet in the ancient woodlands in late April and early May. Pretty anemones and violets are scattered along the Long Walk, followed by the cheery sight of cowslips in the meadow and May blossom. Enjoy the scent of lilac and skimmia in the garden and see daffodils beneath a magnificent London plane tree.

The much-loved Hatchlands donkeys are moving to a new purpose built stable this spring. Close by will be a small play area for pre-schoolers and picnic benches.

Image: National Trust / James Dobson

Daffodils and rhododendrons at Claremont Landscape Garden

Near Esher, Surrey, normal admission applies

Take time out to enjoy the refreshing sights of spring, when Claremont Landscape Garden is at its loveliest. Swathes of daffodils and camellias first herald the new season, with azaleas and rhododendrons following on.

As the days get longer, stroll through corridors of rhododendrons, the sunshine sparkling on the lake and look out for tiny ducklings and goslings. There are wonderful viewpoints and vistas from which to watch the signs of spring emerge as the garden awakens.

Image: National Trust / Andrew Butler
Image: National Trust / Andy Millar

Bluebells and azaleas at Winkworth Arboretum

Near Godalming, Surrey, normal admission applies

Spring arrives at Winkworth with pops of daffodils and magnolias in bloom at first, then an explosion of colour: with rhododendrons, azaleas and bluebells spreading glorious colour across the arboretum.

Walking down the azalea steps at Winkworth Arboretum on a May morning is a moment of heaven in Surrey, with their boldly coloured flowers and the echoing song of blackbirds. The upper slopes of the arboretum and bluebell wood fill out with an unmissable carpet of native bluebells.

Thanks to recent conservation work by the countryside team, the bluebells will have even more opportunity to emerge throughout the arboretum this year.

Image: National Trust / John Millar
Image: National Trust / James Dobson

Rhododendrons and bluebells at Leith Hill

Normal parking charges apply

At the foot of Leith Hill, the winding paths of Caroline Wedgwood’s historic rhododendron wood are lined with vibrant rhododendron blooms and gently scented azaleas. The towering specimen trees, including redwoods, provide dappled shade and a place to relax.

A climb up to Franks Wood will be rewarded with the wonderful haze and scent of native bluebells and spectacular views across the south downs.

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Good Hotel Guide to R&A counties

Round & About

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Surrey

Take a road trip around Round & About land and stay at some of the best hotels in the area this summer

With summer around the corner there are holidays to plan, and while the temptation to go overseas is always strong, we’re heading towards the time of year when the UK is at its most beautiful and appealing. With each county offering its own unique charms, vistas and particular slant on hospitality, what could be better than a road trip across the seven R&A counties? From Berkshire to Buckinghamshire, Hampshire to Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex, here the Good Hotel Guide takes us on a roadtrip of some of their top hotels for UK staycations this summer.

Hotels in Berkshire
Hotels in Buckinghamshire
Hotels in Hampshire
Hotels in Oxfordshire
Hotels in Surrey
Hotels in Wiltshire
Hotels in West Sussex

Hotels in Berkshire

The regal heritage of Berkshire offers style, sophistication and convenience for those travelling around the UK, with lots of local attractions (not least, Windsor Castle), as well as pretty towns and villages to explore. Meanwhile, hotels in Berkshire add to the experience with their own unique characteristics.

Cliveden, Taplow

This magnificent property has a reputation that precedes it. Architecturally awe-inspiring, and the former home of a Prince of Wales, two Dukes, an Earl, and the Viscounts Astor (not to mention Nancy Astor, wife of the second Viscount), it has also played host to a litany of famous guests, trysts and liaisons. It is little wonder that this is somewhere that attracts the good and the great – it is the pinnacle of luxury and excellence with five-star service, luxury spa facilities and award-winning restaurants, not to mention National Trust grounds to explore.

Cliveden House

Hurley House, Hurley

A great base for those who fancy exploring the Chilterns, Hurley House is a stylish hotel and restaurant in a picturesque riverside village. Offering laid back luxury, it has nine rooms and suites with five-star service. Following an extensive refurbishment, the interiors are contemporary and offer attention to detail from tranquil colours to underfloor heating. There are also electric charge points in the car park. Food is a big part of the experience here, with outdoor terraces and BBQ grill in the summer, as well as an elegant restaurant and bar serving Japanese menu, featuring the freshest sushi in Berkshire alongside more traditional dishes.

Hotel & Restaurant in Hurley, Berkshire

Hotels in Buckinghamshire

Brimming with chocolate box villages and historic towns, Buckinghamshire is also a favourite destination with easy transport links, making travel easy and exploration enticing. Home to attractions like Bletchley Park and Stowe National Trust property, hotels in Buckinghamshire offer refined elegance and a warm welcome.

Hartwell House, Aylesbury

Once home to the exiled King Louis XVIII of France in the 19th century, Hartwell House is now part of the National Trust but there’s still something distinctly regal about it. Decadent and luxurious from the food to the rooms, the Jacobean property is also home to an adult-only spa and it has an iconic ballroom pool. Luxurious spa treatments from Aromatherapy Associates await for those in need of a little extra R&R. Choose to stay in suits with four-poster beds for an extra special experience, and for those travelling with four-legged friends, there are also dog-friendly suites in a converted 18th-century riding school. Dress formally for dinner and turn it into a stay to remember.

Hartwell House

The Mash Inn, Radnage

The Mash Inn is a celebrated restaurant-with-rooms on a leafy back road in a scattered Chilterns village. Proprietor, Nick Mash, developed the retreat with the idea of helping guests to step back in time and reconnect with nature. As a result, the convivial 18th-century property is not only an enchanting combination of heritage style and contemporary comforts, but also has a unique and beautiful approach to food. Everything is authentic – for example, a wood-fired range forged by local ironmongers in the open kitchen. There are just four rooms above the restaurant and a further two in an annexe, all of which enjoy luxury features such as monsoon showers or hip baths and organic L:A Bruket toiletries. Dinner is a no-choice menu devised around the finest ingredients available on the night, courtesy of chef Tomas Topolar, who spends the day foraging, pickling, fermenting, curing and harvesting produce from the kitchen garden.

The Mash Inn

Hotels in Hampshire

Known for its New Forest ponies, national parks, stately homes and maritime history, Hampshire is an exceptional part of the UK to visit at any time of the year. Days can be spent hiking, exploring pretty villages or visiting two of Europe’s largest ports, Southampton and Portsmouth, with top attractions ranging from Queen Elizabeth Country Park to the resurrected Mary Rose. Hotels in Hampshire are also destinations in their own right – especially these two.

Chewton Glen, New Milton

A five-star country house hotel in Hampshire, combined with a celebrated spa, Chewton Glen is a quintessentially English escape with extra modern luxury. In addition to the rooms and suites in the main house (decorated in traditional style with sumptuous furnishings), the hotel has made use of its enchanting New Forest location by introducing treehouse suites. They allow you to wake amongst the treetops in decadent style, watch deer roam in the morning light and enjoy time and space to yourselves, all adding an extra layer of magic to your stay.

Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Montagu Arms, Beaulieu

A restaurant-with-rooms in the village on Beaulieu Water, the Montague Arms offers traditional architecture and contemporary hospitality. On the banks of the Beaulieu river on the edge of the New Forest, the wisteria-covered Victorian hotel is known for its food, offering both a fine-dining restaurant and a pub called Monty’s Inn. Many of the rooms overlook a Gertrude Jekyll-inspired garden, allowing you to wake and watch free-ranging ponies wander by. There are also dog-friendly, open-plan courtyard studios in the grounds, each with a private terrace, and there’s a general atmosphere of relaxation to ease you into your stay.

The Montagu Arms Hotel

Hotels in Oxfordshire

Combining countryside with the beauty of Oxford itself, a trip to Oxfordshire is multifaceted. It would be remiss not to spend a little time in the collegiate city, exploring the world-famous university, the Ashmolean Museum and Bodleian Libraries. However there’s much to see beyond these hallowed streets, whether it’s shopping at the popular Bicester Village or exploring the grounds, the Baroque Blenheim Palace, or the hotels in Oxfordshire themselves.

The Feathered Nest, Chipping Norton

An 18th-century malthouse turned restaurant-with-rooms, The Feathered Nest sits proudly overlooking the Evenlode Valley. Combining modern hospitality, Adam Taylor’s gastropub-with-rooms is particularly well known for its food courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Matt Weedon. Alongside the luxury foodie experience however, the atmosphere is underpinned by an innately cosy vibe, complete with plenty of space for pint in the pub by a crackling fire and with live music in true pub style.

The Feathered Nest Country Inn

The Lamb Inn, Burford

In a quiet town on the River Windrush, The Lamb Inn has been welcoming guests since the 1750s. A weaver, cooper and chandler once occupied the 16-century cottages, and inside there are still lots of nods to that history around the property. The mullioned windows and log fireplace sit alongside beautiful interiors that envelope you as you walk in, and luxury touches such as homemade flapjacks and Molton Brown toiletries are ready and waiting in your room.

The Lamb Inn, Burford

Hotels in Surrey

Known for its world-class golf courses, home to one of England’s largest vineyards, Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking (as well as lots of smaller vineyards), Bronze Age forts and pretty villages, Surrey is an enchanting place to add to your summer road trip. The hotels in Surrey also serve to enhance the experience exponentially.

Broadway Barn, Woking

A restored 200-year-old barn in a historic village, Broadway Barn is a B&B that takes the experience to the next level. Described as ‘Nigh on perfect’ by one reviewer, it’s a pretty property filled with characterful antiques and artwork as well as little luxuries. Each room has its own style, and all guests are welcomed with dressing gowns, slippers, flowers and home-made shortbread. Breakfast is served in a bright conservatory overlooking a walled garden, as you tuck into a feast of home-made breads, jams and granola, and house-recipe chipolatas.

Broadway Barn Properties

Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond-upon-Thames

Overlooking the river in Richmond-Upon-Thames, Bingham Riverhouse combines the best of London with a sense of tranquillity and wellbeing. Spend time paddleboarding on the river or strolling to see the deer in Richmond Park, wake in stylish rooms and suites, and enjoy fine dining in a library lined with Penguin classics. Smart and sophisticated but welcoming at the same time, the Georgian house has a sense of theatre to it, with each room named after poems and verse dramas by Michael Field, nom de plume of two Victorian poets, Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper, who lived here until 1914. It’s a unique experience and definitely worth the visit.

Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond

Hotels in Wiltshire

Head towards the South West and Wiltshire welcomes you with open arms. Brimming with prehistoric monuments and beautiful countryside, the area is well known for its foodie expertise as well – all served with skill at Wiltshire’s hotels and inns.

Widbrook Grange, Bradford-on-Avon

This Georgian farmhouse is a treasure trove of interesting details. Filled with upcycled agricultural salvage, it’s all about heritage and character. Honouring the history of the property, the owners have turned vintage miscellanea like churns, handcarts, seed spreaders and weighing scales into part of the shabby chic decor. The dog-friendly hotel is both fashionable and welcoming, with friendly staff and tasty food. Explore the surrounding countryside by day and tuck into large portions of regional fare in the evening.

Widbrook Grange – Country House Hotel in Bradford on Avon

Lucknam Park, Chippenham

A Palladian mansion in 500 acres of parkland and gardens, Lucknam Park is grand and decadent – a real treat on your road trip. Arrive in style along a mile-long avenue of lime and beech trees and enter a world with its own arboretum and rose garden, horse riding, a luxury spa and more. Children are treated like mini VIPs with sports and pony rides, while adults enjoy the understated elegance. For meals, choose between chef Hywel Jones’s Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant and the informal contemporary brassiere.

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa | Luxury Hotel near Bath, Wiltshire

Hotels in West Sussex

Spanning Adur, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, and Mid Sussex, as well as the boroughs of Crawley and Worthing, West Sussex is known for its natural beauty as well as its arts and musical heritage. A diverse place of country, coast and city sites, the hotels in Sussex reflect the area’s heritage and virtues.

Belle Tout Lighthouse, Eastbourne

A unique destination, Belle Tout Lighthouse is a former lighthouse situated at Beachy Head. Built in 1832 it was restored after WW2 and today, it stands proud on the clifftop. Guests wake to 360 degree views of the English Channel, the South Downs and the enigmatic Seven Sisters. Stay in a choice of rooms ranging from the Captain’s Cabin to Old England or Keeper’s Loft, enjoy dramatic sunsets, picnic suppers in the lounge and then ascent to the lantern to view the star-spangled sky.

Belle Tout Lighthouse

Gravetye Manor, East Grinstead

A romantic Elizabethan manor house, Gravetye Manor sits deep in the countryside surrounded by 1,000 acres of historically important gardens. An exceptional destination with a fantastic reputation, the interiors both honour the heritage of the property whilst embracing the best of contemporary style. Food sees guests enjoy Michelin-starred menus with ingredients from the orchard and kitchen gardens as well as forged ingredients. The gardens are a treat to explore, overflowing with flowers and embracing both beauty as well as wild and natural gardening.

Gravetye Manor

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Get Fully Charged LIVE in Farnborough

Karen Neville

Posted on

Surrey

Fully Charged LIVE is a fun-filled, knowledge packed festival of electrification from April 28th to 30th at Farnborough International

Designed to inspire people to #StopBurningStuff, this year’s show includes an array of visitors attractions, dozens of ‘live sessions’ and an exhibition of hundreds of companies, with electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes. And a huge selection of home energy options too.

An array of experts will offer advice and tips in the Giga and Mega Theatres where you can get involved in more than 50 expert live sessions. Among the experts is Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden,

One of the most popular ‘attractions’ is the home energy advice team. Powered by OVO Energy, home energy experts will be on hand throughout the show to offer advice on ways to improve your home, whilst reducing your impact on the planet. They can offer help with heat pumps, insulation, batteries, smart meters, home EV charging, solar PV, solar thermal and energy bills. Appointments are available for a chat and it’s advisable to book a session on arrival at the show.

Fully Charged LIVE also offers the chance to test out the latest micro machines on an outdoor test track – hop aboard a scooter, skateboard or bike and put micro mobility to the test.

If you’re thinking about changing to an EV, get behind the wheel and take one for a test drive. There’s a display of the latest EVs on show and if you’re considering making the switch with your business then take a look at the commercial vehicle zone.

The zero carbon kitchen will be serving up plant-based cookery shows and food tastings and children are never too young to start learning in the Kids Zone with an eco-themed Lego city and inspirational artwork on show.

Find out more and book tickets at https://uk.fullycharged.live/south/

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Hogs Back welcomes Little Ginger Swine

Karen Neville

Posted on

Surrey

New addition to the low alcohol beer family for Surrey brewery

Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery is adding to its Little Swine family of low alcohol beers with the launch of flavoured craft ale Little Ginger Swine.

With an ABV of 0.5%, and spiced up with natural ginger extract after brewing, Little Ginger Swine is a full-bodied, flavoured pale ale, brewed with four speciality malts and three hop varieties including aromatic Cascade from Hogs Back’s own hop garden, and dry hopped with Mosaic for a robust citrus finish.

The addition of ginger gives a spicy kick which complements the crisp, smooth, ale, creating a memorable beer that punches well above its weight in flavour terms, despite its low ABV. Little Ginger Swine join Little Swine 2.8% and Little Swine 0.5% in Hogs Back’s expanding range of low alcohol beers.

Hogs Back Brewery managing director Rupert Thompson said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our Little Swine family. The strong consumer response to the existing Little Swine beers has shown that demand for low alcohol beers with plenty of character continues to grow.

“Little Ginger Swine has all the fiery character you’d expect from ginger with some to spare. We think that’s all part of its charm. It has a wonderful flavour that offers something different for the increasing number of beer drinkers enjoying low alcohol beers, making Little Ginger Swine a welcome new addition to the Little Swine family of beers.”

Little Ginger Swine 0.5% ABV is available in 500ml bottles with an RRP of £2.40.

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Can you help save the Dormouse?

Karen Neville

Posted on

Surrey

Image: Danny Green

Surrey Wildlife Trust launches fundraising drive to save the adorable Dormouse

One of Surrey’s most-loved but rarely-seen residents – the Hazel Dormouse – is the focus of a major new conservation and habitat creation campaign led by Surrey Wildlife Trust.

The fundraising effort is part of a wider push to halt and reverse the decline of nature in our county. The campaign aims to raise £25,000 to enable the Trust to improve and protect the hedgerows and woodlands that Dormice and many other species rely on. This will create healthy and connected corridors of habitat across the county, enabling Dormice to shelter, breed, feed and sleep safely.

These nocturnal and once-common rodents, characterised by large black eyes, golden-brown fur and long black whiskers, have been present in Surrey since at least the Ice Age but have suffered big population declines due to the destruction and fragmentation of their woodland and hedgerow homes. Dormice numbers have fallen by 75% in Surrey over the last 25 years alone, with research suggesting they are now in chronic decline nationally and should be reclassified as endangered.

These nocturnal and once-common rodents, characterised by large black eyes, golden-brown fur and long black whiskers, have been present in Surrey since at least the Ice Age but have suffered big population declines due to the destruction and fragmentation of their woodland and hedgerow homes. Dormice numbers have fallen by 75% in Surrey over the last 25 years alone, with research suggesting they are now in chronic decline nationally and should be reclassified as endangered.

Image: Ian Pratt

Weighing a maximum of 30 grams and living for up to five years, Dormice are the only small British mammal with a furry prehensile tail, which they use to wrap around their body during lengthy winter hibernations as well as to assist with climbing. As their name suggests, they spend up to seven months of the year asleep in tightly-woven, low-level leafy nests approximately the size of a tennis ball.

Rarely seen on the ground when awake, these agile climbers favour the branches of native trees such as hazel, hawthorn and oak, where they live in small family groups and feed on flowers, pollen, fruits, insects and nuts. They need a healthy and diverse ecosystem to survive and have been chosen as the focus of SWT’s new appeal because protecting Dormice and their homes will have positive effects on a myriad of species from Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies to other mammals including Hedgehogs to birds like Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings.

Surrey Wildlife Trust CEO Jane Chimbwandira says: “It’s easy to love Dormice, but their decline isn’t just a tragedy for people who care about cuteness – it is symptomatic of the decline of the wild places that we all depend on. The hedgerows and woodlands that Dormice need to survive and thrive also support hundreds of other species, help to protect us from flooding and soil erosion, block out traffic noise, keep the air clean and store thousands of tons of CO2.

“By supporting our campaign to save Dormice, you can help secure the future of Surrey as a great place to live not just for wildlife but for people too.”

Katy Fielding, project manager of Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Hedgerow Heritage programme says: “Hedgerows are the forgotten heroes of Surrey’s landscape. With a properly-managed hedgerow supporting up to a dozen types of native tree, not to mention a huge variety of plant life at the margins and base, they are superhighways of biodiversity, offering shelter and safe passage to countless species.

“With something in fruit or in flower all year round, mature hedgerows also offer a permanently-stocked buffet for bees, bats, birds and butterflies as well as Dormice and other mammals. But with many in poor condition due to the decline of traditional management skills, our hedgerows are in urgent need of help.

“Even if you can only give a little, there’s no better way to assist nature’s recovery than by backing our campaign to install and restore miles of these priceless habitats across the county.”

Surrey Wildlife Trust has a positive vision for nature in Surrey. By working with landowners, local people and public bodies to create connected corridors of habitat – including wildflower meadows, hedgerows, and woodlands – right across the county, it believes that wildlife can not just be protected, but also become more abundant, enriching the lives of people from all our communities.

Where they live

Shy and nocturnal, Dormice are elusive during daylight hours. They are present across Surrey, but recent records suggest they are largely confined to small pockets of habitat, with only a few known strongholds.

Discarded hazelnuts with a neat round hold nibbled in their shells are the best giveaway to their presence in local woodland and hedgerows.

What your money could do

£10 – plants a new hazel with the guards needed to allow it to flourish into a future nesting place.

£30 – delivers one metre of maintenance or restoration work (such as hedgelaying) on an existing hedgerow, which is vital for the long-term survival of hedgerows.

£50 – funds coppicing work in woodland habitats to create ‘natural nesting places’ for Dormice.

£2,000 – enables SWT to manage coppice rotation of 1 hectare of woodland reserve over four years.

Find out more and donate at Save Surrey’s Dormice | Surrey Wildlife Trust

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Gyles Brandreth jumpers at Petersfield Museum

Karen Neville

Posted on

Surrey

The first-ever exhibition of colourful novelty knitwear as designed and worn by Gyles Brandreth is on show throughout the year

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery is delighted to announce the premier exhibition of Gyles Brandreth: Fun and Fabulous Jumpers, opening on 21 March.

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, actor, former MP and award-winning podcaster. In the 1970s and 1980s he became well-known for the distinctive jumpers he wore on breakfast television. Gyles designed these jumpers with his knitwear partner, George Hostler and their ‘Gyles & George’ brand has been a favourite among pop stars and celebrities since the 1980s, counting Princess Diana and Elton John among its early fans.

In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Gyles decided to share a jumper-a-day with his followers on Twitter and on Instagram and started wearing them again on TV, including Celebrity Gogglebox. A selection of these jumpers will be on display in this two-part exhibition. The Spring/ Summer selection will include the famous I’m A Luxury design as worn by the late Princess of Wales. In contrast, later in the year, the Autumn/ Winter selection will feature designs that take their inspiration from performance and pantomime.

Gyles’ passion for patterned knitwear began in 1975 when a friend gave him a bright yellow jumper with a Scrabble board on the front. The tiles on the board spelt out ‘Gyles Brandreth loves Scrabble’. From then on, Gyles finds fun and humour in his novelty knitwear and, most importantly, a desire to connect with people.

Through the 1980s, Gyles appeared regularly on British television; when he did, he always wore colourful knitwear. He has hundreds, at least one different jumper for every day of the year. George Hostler (1939-2018), Gyles’ creative partner, originally trained as a sculptor. But in the 1970s, formed his own design house, selling jumpers in London, New York and Paris. In the early 1980s, Hostler was based in Leicester, so their creative partnership involved Gyles sending designs sketches on a postcard, which Hostler would then create into a jumper, parcel up and send back to London by train.

Today, the ‘Gyles and George’ brand has been launched in partnership with American designer Jack Carlson. As Gyles says: “Without realising it, I like to think George and I were creating ‘classics’ – fun, and fabulous sweaters that have stood the test of time.”

Gyles Brandreth: Fun and Fabulous Jumpers
21 March – 2 September 2023
5 September – 23 December 2023
Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery
Petersfield Museum

The first-ever exhibition of colourful novelty knitwear as designed and worn by Gyles Brandreth. From a flying pig, corgi, and hearts to bow ties, a piano keyboard and penguins, this two-part exhibition celebrates these distinctive joyous jumpers. Designed over 40 years ago, they continue to bring fun to a new audience today.

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Dancing dinosaurs at Farnham Maltings

Karen Neville

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Surrey

Roustabout Theatre’s acclaimed stage adaptation of Michael Foreman’s Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish plays Farnham Maltings on Sunday, 26th March

One man’s passionate dream to find his paradise beyond the stars leaves the world in ruins. Can the dinosaurs who sleep deep underground wake up in time to sort out the mess and save Planet Earth?

Expect a riotous hour of dancing dinosaurs, space travel and catchy songs when Roustabout Theatre’s adaptation of Michael Foreman’s classic children’s book, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish, plays Farnham Maltings on Sunday, 26th March at 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Foreman’s cautionary environmental tale for children celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, having sold more than 150,000 copies world-wide. The book and theatre adaptation deliver an important message of ecological awareness: “the Earth belongs to EVERYONE, not parts of it to certain people but all of it to everyone, to be enjoyed and cared for”.

Multi-award-winning writer and illustrator, Michael Foreman, said: “When I wrote, and illustrated, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish in 1972, it was because of the growing threat to the environment. I never imagined the book would be even more relevant more than fifty years later, and I am delighted that director Toby Hulse and Roustabout are bringing it to a wider audience. I saw the show and thought it was BRILLIANT! We really enjoyed it. Sitting there, I felt so proud that my ancient book had played a part in this joyful experience. For me, as an author/illustrator, it was a rare and special treat to feel, at first hand, such a warm and enthusiastic response from parents and children together. Thank you all for bringing the story to life in such a glorious and fun production, I feel deeply honoured.”

Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish is created by Roustabout (Luna, This Island’s Mine), and performed by actor-musicians Oliver de Rohan, Robin Hemmings and Shaelee Rooke.

It is directed by Toby Hulse, who said: “I am thrilled that, after the roaring success of the first tour, we are able to bring the show to so many more families in so many more venues. This is a book that I devoured as a child, and it’s such a treat to share it with all kinds of brand new audiences.”

Alongside the underlying green message, Roustabout’s signature silliness will abound in this vibrant musical show which promises to have audiences tapping their toes.

Roustabout is proud that this production is sustainable, monitoring its carbon footprint in every area of production including set and costume, travel and marketing.

Originally commissioned as a digital production by Watermans, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish was shortlisted for Best Theatre for Children, OFFIE Awards 2022. It is produced by arrangement with Penguin Books Ltd, a Penguin Random House company.

Recommended for 3-8 year olds and their families.

To book tickets contact the Farnham Maltings Box Office: Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish by Roustabout Theatre | Farnham Maltings

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Adopt a grandparent and help out

Karen Neville

Posted on

Surrey

Charity of the Year: ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ secures Co-operative support for fundraising push

‘Adopt a Grandparent’ has been nominated to benefit from Co-op’s Local Community Fund – being named as one of its charities of the year and making a major step towards its 2023 fundraising goals.

The independent charity works to pair elderly care home residents with volunteers worldwide to combat loneliness and isolation. What began as a project based out of one Surrey care home group became a fully-fledged charity in 2022 and now works with care homes across the UK, with almost 100,000 volunteers signed up to ‘adopt’.

The Co-op donates 1p from every £1 spent on selected Co-op members who chose to support Adopt a Grandparent will be directly benefiting the charity through this Fund when shopping. With the charity requiring a minimum of £100,000 a year to stay in operation, and hopes of growing this to £1million, support such as this is essential to maximise its potential impact. Co-op members can choose Adopt a Grandparent as their elected charity by visiting its page on the Co-op Membership site: Co-op (coop.co.uk)

Deborah Speirs, Co-op Member Pioneer for Surrey and Sussex Borders, said: “We’re thrilled that Adopt a Grandparent is one of the charities and causes set to benefit from our Local Community Fund. We proudly support projects across the UK that our members care about, giving local causes a helping hand whenever our members buy selected Co-op products and services. Since 2016, £117million has been raised by our members, helping to make a significant difference to countless people.”

As part of the package of support from Co-op, Adopt a Grandparents will be taking part in a community morning at its local Co-op in Farncombe, Surrey on Tuesday 21st March. The event will give the charity the chance to raise awareness of its work among local residents and encourage them to choose it as their nominated cause for the year.

Shaleeza Hasham, founder of Adopt a Grandparent explained: “Loneliness became a huge crisis during the pandemic. The health risks related to loneliness include a higher risk of mental and physical conditions including heart disease, depression, anxiety, dementia and premature death. By helping volunteers to virtually ‘adopt’ a grandparent, we hope to alleviate loneliness and generate companionship in as many communities as possible, with both parties benefiting from the enriching relationships.

“It’s exciting to be a part of Co-op’s Local Community Fund and we love that members are able to support a cause that matters to them while doing their regular shop. We’re hoping lots of people in our local community will nominate to support us for the year, but also that those further afield will do the same since the charity’s work benefits older people throughout the country.”

It costs £1 to become a Co-op member and those who wish to donate towards the charity’s £15,000 target through the initiative, will have until October 2023.

While financial support is critical to the charity’s continued work, so are people. The charity is currently on the lookout for ‘Adopt a Grandparent Community Champion’ volunteers, who can help spread the positive work of the charity in their local communities. Those interested in getting involved and being trained up as a volunteer, can email Michelle Husserl at [email protected].

Those who wish to sign up as a volunteer can do so by visiting the website or downloading the free app, which is available through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. They can also donate to the charity’s GoFundMe page.

For more information on Adopt a Grandparent, please visit Adopt a Grandparent

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Good year for the rosés

Round & About

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Surrey

Our wine columnist Giles Luckett invites us to enjoy all things pink

Hello. You’ll have to excuse the punning on that famous Elvis Costello song in the headline… But given Elvis’s predilection for all things boozy back then, I’m sure wine played a part in creating his 1981 album. Surely he’d had to have had a few to think doing a country and western album was a good idea for a follow up to his Motown-inspired Get Happy!

Anyway, rosé wines have certainly been on my mind of late. The warmth of the early spring sunshine always gives me a craving for rosé, and a recent trawl past many a tasting table has introduced me to some glorious new wines, ones that will ensure that 2023 will be a good year for the rosés.

First up, the Moulin de Pontfract Rosé 2021 (Laithwaites £8.99). This is a Provençal-style rosé from the neighbouring department of Var. If it was from Provence, it would probably come in a bottle that Jean Paul Gautier rejected for being outrageous and have a similarly outlandish price tag. This is a lovely, gentle rosé that offers a softly scented nose of red berries and blossom, while the palate is suffused with notes of strawberries, cranberries, and a hint of citrus on finish – just the thing for a spring lunch aperitif.

Next, a wine from Chile. Chilean wines offer an amazing combination of value and quality, and while the reds often steal the show, the rosés can be sublime. Take the Phantom River Sauvignon Blanc Rosé (Sainsbury’s £5.25). As you might expect from a Sauvignon, this is bright, zesty, fresh, and full of grapefruit and citrus. The addition of Shiraz (hence the colour) lends it weight and depth and imparts a satisfying note of blackcurrants to proceedings. Try this with green salads and roasted poultry or baked fish.

Spain is another good source of outstanding rosés – or rosados. Over the years, I’ve tasted hundreds, and rarely have I been disappointed. Recently I tried a new wine from a classic producer. Freixenet is best known for their excellent range of Cavas (more of those soon…), but they are also dab hands at still wines. Take their excellent Freixenet Rosado (Slurp £10). Garnacha-based, this is disarmingly pretty in pink but packs a punch. Bright strawberry and raspberry tones are joined by flavours of red cherry, orange and a touch of spice. Lovely on its own, I think this would partner well with rice dishes and cured meats.

As regular readers of this column may have gathered, I’m something of a fizz fan, in the same way that pandas are partial to bamboo. I recently had another encounter with an English sparkling wine with which we toasted the Queen’s Jubilee, the Balfour Brut Rosé (Waitrose £39.99). I recall being struck by how harmonious and refined this was when I first tried it and revisiting it; it’s even better. Bold strawberry, raspberry, and red currant notes tinted with creamy yeast, a lively, fresh mid-palate, and a long, salted digestive biscuit finish make this a class act.

“I’m something of a fizz fan, in the same way that pandas are partial to bamboo”

When most people think of Sancerre, their thoughts turn to gloriously leafy Sauvignons with their dry, mineral-rich finishes. Sancerre also comes in red and rosé styles which are produced using that most noble of vines, Pinot Noir. These tend to be more expensive and can be quite hard to find, so I was surprised to find an affordable example at Tesco, their Finest Sancerre Rosé (as opposed to their non-existent ‘ordinary’ or ‘value’ Sancerre Rosé – £13). This retains the classic Sancerre freshness and minerality, but with raspberry, strawberry, beetroot, black cherry, and pepper touches. This is fresh enough to be enjoyed on it’s own, but it would go brilliantly with pork or salmon.

And to finish, how about something indulgent, refined, and utterly exquisite? The Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Rosé (Mr. Wheeler £62.50) is all these things and more. This is one of the best rosé Champagnes I’ve ever had – and believe me, I’ve gone miles out of my way over the years to try as many as I can. The magic of this wine is how they manage to combine intensity with grace and generosity. This is a stunning wine offering layer upon layer of ripe strawberry, tangy blackberry, creamy yeast, soft apricot , and a dash of leafy blackcurrant. I’ve been fortunate enough to try this beautiful wine in various formats; the halves sit perfectly in the secret pocket of a Barber when you fancy a cheeky rinse at the cricket, and in magnum, it shows how well Champagne can age and develop. In any size bottle, this is a wine every wine lover should try.

Well, there’s a bottle of Freixenet Rosado in the fridge needing my attention, so I must away. Next time out, I’ll dive deeply into my favourite red wine region, Rioja.

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Sports Marketing In The Digital Age

Round & About

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Surrey

The digital age has brought about a significant change in the way sports marketing operates. Sports brands, events, and athletes have had to adapt to the new digital landscape to reach their audiences effectively. The challenges and opportunities of sports marketing in the digital age are many and varied, and the following article will explore them in detail.

Cheltenham Racing Festival

One example of the challenges and opportunities of sports marketing in the digital age is the Cheltenham Racing Festival. This annual event, held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire, England, is one of the most significant events in the horse racing calendar. The festival takes place over four days, with the Cheltenham racing dates set for March 14-17. The festival attracts a wide audience, including horse racing enthusiasts, punters and causal observers.

One of the biggest challenges facing sports marketers at the Cheltenham Racing Festival is the sheer scale of the event. With tens of thousands of people in attendance and millions more watching online and on TV, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd and make an impact. However, with careful planning and a strategic approach, there are many opportunities to engage with fans and create memorable experiences.

Social Media

One way that sports marketers can take advantage of the digital age is by leveraging social media to connect with fans before, during, and after the event. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide a powerful way to build buzz, share news and updates, and engage with fans in real time. By creating compelling content and leveraging influencer partnerships, sports marketers can generate excitement and drive engagement in the run-up to the event.

During the event itself, sports marketers can use a variety of tactics to create memorable experiences for fans. For example, offering free merchandise, exclusive access, or VIP experiences can help to build loyalty and create positive associations with brands. Live streaming and social media activations can also be effective in engaging fans who are unable to attend in person.

Tradition and Innovation

Another challenge facing sports marketers at the Cheltenham Racing Festival is the need to balance tradition and innovation. While horse racing has a rich history and culture, sports marketers must also embrace new technologies and trends to stay relevant and engaging. For example, using augmented reality or virtual reality experiences can help to bring the excitement of the races to live in new and innovative ways.

Finally, sports marketers must also be mindful of the importance of data and analytics in the digital age. By tracking engagement metrics, analysing audience behaviour, and monitoring sentiment, sports marketers can gain valuable insights into what is working and what is not. This can help to inform future campaigns and improve the overall effectiveness of sports marketing efforts.

Bottom Line

Sports marketing in digital age presents both challenges and opportunities for marketers looking to promote their brands and products at events like the Cheltenham Racing Festival. By leveraging social media, creating memorable experiences, embracing innovation, and using data and analytics, sports marketers can engage with fans in new and exciting ways and drive long-term brand loyalty. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the key to success will be staying flexible, adaptable, and always willing to try new things.

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