Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Feb - Mar 2020

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COLLECTION 

N O W O N L I N E 

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Contents 

A Note 

from the editor 

The bleak midwinter. I often bemoan the loss 

of the twinkle of festive lights and Christmas 

wreaths - it seems a cruel, long stretch from 

early January into spring without something 

nice to look at - we can all fall victim to this 

pessimism, generally because after the chaos 

of the festive season, our diaries are looking a 

little empty and our doors a little sad… 

A Culinary recipes Journey to celebrate 

through 

19Three Fairtrade Northern Ireland Fortnight 

How about instead of succumbing to the 

midwinter gloom, we instead rejoice in 

something altogether more special than strings 

of lights or wrapped up presents - the gentle 

awakening of spring, the shift in the seasons. 

I won’t look for glitter, but instead for the 

solemn little heads of the snowdrops in shady 

patches or the gentle bob of yellow swathes of 

daffodils lining the roads on my drive to work. 

I’ll view my lack of social engagements not as 

a problem, but as a chance to take a breath 

- and maybe treat myself to a dinner without 

having to worry about anyone else. Finally, 

instead of filling my body with festive treats (I 

assure you, there were plenty), I’ll fill my lungs 

with fresh air during the little 20 minutes I’ve 

carved out of my day for a lunchtime walk. 

Foodie Santa 

Barbara 

IN THIS ISSUE... 

04 What’s On 

Spring is awakening! And we share 

with you the pick of the best local 

events 

15 Perfect Pancakes 

Three incredible pancake recipes 

to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with - 

including a curry version! 

17 Mitch Tonks 

22 

We catch up with the West Country 

chef on big business decisions and 

creating a community 

19 Fairtrade Fortnight 

Three delicious recipes celebrating the 

best Fairtrade ingredients - promising 

a fair price to farmers 

26 Liz Bonnin 

We caught up with presenter and 

wildlife expert Liz Bonnin ahead of the 

Planet Earth Live in Concert tour 

30 Bathroom Guide 

A guide to creating your own 

bathroom sanctuary and top tips for 

choosing tiles 

Presenter 

Liz Bonnin 

26 

28 

Amazing 

Glazing 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Key Account Manager Sam Sanders 

e samuel@minervapublications.co.uk 

dd 01225 308112 

twitter: @WokingBrackLife 

w www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk 

All things considered, then, February doesn’t 

feel too bad. It’s famously the month of love 

with Saint Valentine’s day in the middle - that 

love can manifest itself with showings of 

gratitude of kindness to your partner or pet, 

your best friend or brother - a little bit of love 

can lift even the gloomiest of spirits. 

This issue we have a bumper selection of 

goodies to keep you occupied too - with 

a fabulous bathroom and tile guide, some 

enviable inspiration on architectural glazing 

and some tips on modern Victorian styling. 

Add into that a catch up with the charming 

chef Mitch Tonks, some tasty recipes and a 

interview with the fascinating TV presenter and 

biologist Liz Bonnin - well, we are confident 

there is something for everyone. 

We will see you again in April - when we will be 

in full Easter mode! 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Katie 

Contributors Rebecca Williams, Kate O’Connell, Lucy Saunders, 

Angela Cave, Pete Lawrence. 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS 

County Gate, County Way 

Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 7FJ 

t 01225 308128 

w www.minervapublications.co.uk 

visit our website www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an 

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and 

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the 

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers. 

www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk | 3

EVENTS GUIDE 

Finally, the days are getting longer and 

spring is just around the corner. 

Looking for the best local places to visit and 

things to do at this time of year? 

Then make the most of the season with our 

extensive guide... 

Basildon Park 

Lower Basildon, Reading RG8 9NR 

0118 984 3040 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park 

Saturday 15 - Sunday 23 February 

February Half Term - 

Darcy the Dormouse 

Darcy the dormouse has woken up too 

early, can you help her find her way back 

to bed? 

Pick up a half term trail for 2 from 

the Visitor Reception and begin your 

adventure at Basildon Park. When you’re 

finished, you can collect your prize from 

the shop. 

Sunday 29 March, 10am - 3pm + 32 

other dates 

Please see website for further 

information 

A Carpet of Bluebells 

The parkland at Basildon Park gets a new 

lease of life as delicate bluebells burst 

through the ground, creating great family 

photo opportunities. 

National Trust 

Cliveden 

Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0JA 

01629 605069 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden 

Friday 7 February 

Spring Gathering 2020 

Go and find out all about what’s 

happening at Cliveden at their annual fair 

in Burnham 

Saturday 15 February - Sunday 23 

February 

Love Cliveden Half Term Trail 

It’s 1737 and love is in the air- Prince 

Frederick of Wales and his sweetheart, 

Augusta of Saxony-Gotha are arranging 

a secret meeting at Cliveden. Take a 

romantic stroll around the grounds, tackle 

some challenges and gather up clues to 

reveal where the couple should meet to 

declare their love! 

Saturday 29 February - Friday 1 May 

The Gilded Gardens 

The second year of Cliveden’s daffodilspectacular! 

Hundreds of thousands of 

narcissi will be springing up across the 

estate and rolling displays of rarer, potgrown 

varieties will be on show. 

Monday 2 March - Thursday 29 October 

Guided Tours of Cliveden House 

Book onto one of the short guided tours 

to discover more about the infamous 

4 | www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk 

Cliveden House. These tours allow you 

to see some of the rooms that were once 

home to Nancy and Waldorf Astor and 

soak in the atmosphere of 350 years of 

history. 

Saturday 28 March, 5.30am - 8.30am 

March Dawn Chorus 

Take an early morning walk through 

Cliveden’s woods and soak up the 

birdsong. This walk is guided by an 

expert, and finishes with breakfast at the 

Conservatory Cafe. 

RHS Garden Wisley 

Wisley Lane, Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB 

01483 224234 

www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 

Friday 7 February - Sunday 15 March 

Science Week at Wisley 

Join them at RHS Garden Wisley for 

a week-long science extravaganza 

showcasing the research of the RHS, 

along with hands-on activities, workshops 

and talks. 

Saturday 8 February 

British Iris Society 

Early Spring Show 

Join the British Iris Society for their Early 

Spring Show. Visitors will find collections 

and competition classes of early springflowering 

iris on display as well as a 

photographic exhibition, plants for sale 

and friendly experts available to answer 

your questions. 

Saturday 15 - Sunday 23 February 

February Half Term Family Fun - 

Whatever the Weather 

Enjoy a range of fun all-weather activities 

at RHS Garden Wisley and discover more 

about the wild weather of the UK. 

Friday 20 - Sunday 22 March 

Spring Plant Fair 

Meet the growers and choose quality plants 

from more than 30 specialist nurseries at 

the RHS Garden Wisley Spring Plant Fair. 

Plants on sale include many with an RHS 

Award of Garden Merit (AGM). 

South Hill Park Arts 

Centre 

Wilde Theatre, Ringmead, Bracknell 

RG12 7PA 

01344 484 123 

www.southhillpark.org.uk 

Tuesday 4 - Sunday 9 February 

William Shakespeare’s The Tempest 

“Hell is empty and all the devils are 

here” - Ariel 

A crash of waves. A ship torn in two. A 

family broken. Set sail into the mysterious 

and magical world of The Tempest with 

South Hill Park’s retelling of Shakespeare’s 

famous last play. 

Tuesday 11 - Wednesday 12 February 

Revenge 

Bill Crayshaw MP leads a charmed life, 

hailed in the corridors of Parliament, 

lauded in business, and loved at home. 

continued

That is until he returns from a business 

trip to find his party agent has been killed 

in a terrible, tragic accident or was it? 

Thursday 13 February, 8pm 

Suzi Ruffell - 

Dance Like Everyone’s Watching 

Suzi Ruffell has made a name for herself 

by turning tragedy and anxiety into big 

laughs. This year she is actually happy. 

This show answers the question are all 

stand-ups at their best when they are 

miserable? Fingers crossed no! 

Tuesday 25 February 

Much Ado About Falstaff 

Kick In The Head follow up recent 

successes with a new play about Sir John 

Falstaff - a rogue, a philanderer and a 

glutton, but also one of Shakespeare’s 

greatest and enduring comic creations. 

The Anvil 

Churchill Way, Basingstoke RG21 7QR 

01256 844244 

www.anvilarts.org.uk 

Friday 31 January, 7.30pm 

Sandi Toksvig Live! 

National Trevor 

Expect tall stories, fascinatingly funny 

facts, really silly jokes, a quick-fire Q&A 

and a quiz. Don’t expect tap-dancing, 

leotards or a forward roll. 

Wednesday 5 February, 7.45pm 

The King is Back - Ben Portsmouth 

Ben, a multi-talented musician, singer and 

songwriter had Elvis’ DNA in his blood 

from an early age. His father was an avid 

fan and Ben grew up on a diet of Elvis 

songs. He looks like Elvis, sings like Elvis 

and has an on-stage charisma that has 

audiences believing at times they are 

watching the King himself. 


Little Women 

Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, 

Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet 

Four sisters come of age in America in 

the aftermath of the Civil War. Pitchperfect 

adaptation of the treasured novel 

by Louisa May Alcott. Gerwig and her 

cast bring energy and authenticity to this 

charming story. Cert PG 

Friday 28 February, 7.30pm 

Anton & Erin - 

Dance Those Magical Movies 

Anton & Erin, the nation’s favourite 

ballroom stars, are back for a brand 

new show as they Dance Those Magical 

Movies. With sensational choreography 

set to music that made it big on the silver 

screen, expect a Hollywood red carpet 

premiere performance. 

The Haymarket 

Wote Street, Basingstoke RG21 7NW 

01256 844244 

www.anvilarts.org.uk 


Murder, She Didn’t Write The 

Improvised Murder Mystery 

A murder mystery is created on the spot 

in this ingenious and hilarious show 

from Bristol Improv Theatre’s resident 

company. 

You become Agatha Christie in this 

improvised comedy as each night an 

original murder mystery play is created 

based entirely on audience suggestions. 

Miss Crimson poisoned in the parlour? Mr 

Gold exploded by cannon in Sainsbury’s? 

You decide! But will you guess whodunit? 

Saturday 8 February, 7.30pm 

The Take That Experience 

As Take That celebrate 30 years as the 

UK’s best-loved boy band, The Take That 

Experience mark over a decade together 

as the ultimate tribute act with their best 

show yet! 

The Take That Experience bring you all 

the big hits you know and love from the 

90s through to the present, including 

Pray, Relight My Fire, Patience, Shine, 

These Days and Giants. 

Thursday 13 - Saturday 22 February 

Basingstoke Gang Show 2020 

This best-selling production is not to 

be missed as BGS presents its 27th 

stunning, variety show spectacular! 

With over 70 cast members from the local 

Scout & Guide associations, the audience 

will be delighted by magnificent live music 

& comedy. 

Tuesday 25 - Saturday 29 February 

A Murder is Announced - 

A Miss Marple Mystery 

“A murder is announced and will take 

place on Friday, October the thirteenth, 

at Little Paddocks at six-thirty pm.” 

The residents of Chipping Cleghorn are 

astonished to read an advert in the local 

newspaper that a murder will take place 

this coming Friday, the home of Letitia 

Blacklock. Unable to resist, the group 

gather at the house at the appointed time, 

when the lights go out and a gun is fired. 

The film Little Women - 

which has 6 Oscar nominations 


continued

Enter Miss Marple, who must unravel 

a complex series of relationships and 

events to solve the mystery of the killer... 

The Hexagon Theatre 

Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7UA 

0118 960 6060 

www.readingarts.com/thehexagon 

Thursday 6 February, 7.30pm 

The Best Of - That’ll Be The Day 

Prepare for a nostalgia extravaganza 

as the UK’s No.1 Rock & Roll variety 

performance returns with the Best of 

That’ll Be The Day. 

Saturday 22 February, 7.30pm 

Sun Records - The Concert 

The legendary record label that brought 

you Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, 

Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, 

Rufus Thomas and scores more rockin’ 

pioneers, comes to life live on stage. 

26 February -28 February 

Sarah and Duck 

Big Top Birthday 

The enchanting world of Sarah and Duck 

is brought to life featuring the wonderful 

characters from the BAFTA awardwinning 

CBeebies show. Join Sarah 

and Duck and a host of your favourite 

friends including The Ribbon Sisters, The 

Shallots, Flamingo & John and Umbrella, 

as they plan a birthday party for Scarf 

Lady in their garden. 

Told through a fantastic blend of 

puppetry, storytelling and music, Sarah 

and Duck’s Big Top Birthday will take you 

and your children on a magical adventure. 

Hawk Conservancy 

Trust 

Weyhill, Andover SP11 8DY 

01264 773850 

www.hawkconservancy.org 

Sunday 22 March 

Mothering Sunday Lunch 

Treat your Mum to a three-course Sunday 

lunch with a difference lunch will be 

served in the Griffon Rooms with a break 

after the main course for you to enjoy the 

Valley of the Eagles flying display. 

The Mill Theatre 

Sonning Eye, Reading RG4 6TY 

0118 969 6039 

www.millatsonning.com 

Sunday 2 February 

Sounds of the 60s Show with The 

Zoots 

The Zoots are coming! And they’re 

bringing the hits of the 60s! 

Experience The Sixties show that’s 

wowing audiences around the world. 

Feel the groove that’s thrilling audiences 

of stage and screen, in more than 30 

countries! 

Thursday 27 February - Saturday 18 

April 

Relatively Speaking 

A Comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. 

Greg only met Ginny a month ago but has 

already made up his mind that she’s the 

girl for him. When she tells him that she’s 

going to visit her parents, he decides this 

is the moment to ask her father for his 

daughter’s hand. 

Mistaken identities and cross purposes 

that click and fizz to the end, guarantees 

two hours of continuous laughter. 

Theatre Royal 

Windsor 

32 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1PS 

01753 853888 

www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk 


The Chicago Blues Brothers - 

A Night At The Movies 

Direct from London’s West End, join the 

Chicago Blues Brothers and their 11 piece 

band, for a brand new 

2-hour all singing, all dancing hit parade 

bringing you the greatest movie anthems 

of all time, performed live in concert. 

Monday 3 February, 8pm 

Josh Widdicombe - Bit Much 

The guy everyone can do an impression 

of is back with a brand-new stand-up 

tour. A show that will change your life and 

how you perceive your place in the world. 

Bit much? Fine, it’ll be a very funny night 

of grumbles and jokes in which Josh will 

finally tackle the hot comedy topics of 

advent calendars, pesto and the closing 

time of his local park. 

Thursday 6 February 

Swing ‘N’ Sinatra 

Celebrating 100 years of Sinatra and 

Swing Music! Join Five Star Swing for an 

evening of the famous songs spanning 

Sinatra’s career from the Tommy Dorsey 

band to Hollywood plus Vegas’ “Rat 

Pack” to recordings with the Count Basie 

band. 

Sunday 9 February, 7.30pm 

A Country Night In Nashville 

A Country Night in Nashville recreates 

the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in 

downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing 

the energy and atmosphere of an evening 

in the home of country music. 

Monday 24 - Saturday 29 February 

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story 

Experience the drama, passion and 

excitement as a cast of phenomenally 

talented actors and musicians tell Buddy 

Holly’s story, from his meteoric rise to 

fame, to his final legendary performance 

at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. 

New Victoria Theatre 

The Peacocks Centre, Woking GU21 1GQ 

01483 545900 

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoriatheatre/ 


Believe - The Cher Songbook 

Experience the ultimate tribute to 

Cher with dazzling costume changes 

and outstanding musicianship in this 

spectacular production. 

Tuesday 18 - Saturday 22 February 

Beautiful - 

The Carole King Musical 

Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of 

King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from 

being part of a hit songwriting team 

Rob Brydon 

with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her 

relationship with fellow writers and best 

friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to 

becoming one of the most successful solo 

acts in popular music history. 


David Baddiel - 

Trolls Not The Dolls 

Following his five-star Olivier-nominated 

hit My Family Not The Sitcom and the 

return to number 1 of his seminal football 

anthem Three Lions, David Baddiel comes 

back to the stage with a brand new oneman 

show, Trolls Not The Dolls. 

Thursday 5 March 

Anton & Erin - 

Dance Those Magical Movies 

Anton & Erin, the nation’s favourite 

ballroom stars are back with their brandnew 

show for 2020 as they Dance Those 

Magical Movies. 

Friday 6 March 

The Magic of Motown 

Prepare yourself for 40 back-to-back 

classic Motown hits, glittering costume 

changes, dazzling dance moves and 

outstanding musicianship in this explosive 

concert experience. 

Saturday 7 March 

Susan Boyle 

Singing sensation Susan Boyle returns 

to the stages of the UK and with her 

dazzling new show, part of The TEN Tour 

celebrating an incredible decade in the 

music industry. 

Monday 16 - Saturday 21 March 

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert 

The Musical 

The iconic musical Priscilla Queen of 

the Desert is touring the UK! With more 

glitter than ever before, this smash-hit 

show features a dazzling array of stunning 

costumes, fabulous feathers and a nonstop 

parade of dance-floor classics. 

Tuesday 24 March 

Rob Brydon - Songs and Stories 

Join celebrated comedian, singer, actor, 

presenter and impressionist - the brilliantly 

talented Rob Brydon, for a very special 

evening of toe-tapping tunes and sidesplitting 

laughter! 

We take great care in compiling the 

listings, however we recommend that you 

contact the venue in advance as events and 

activities can be subject to change. 


Time to trust in the future of prep schools 

It can’t be easy being a prospective parent of a prep school child. 

If you fall into this category you might have been forgiven, prior 

to the December election, for thinking that there’s not much point 

as the whole fee paying independent school sector could have 

been abolished... 

If the outcome of the election had 

been different don’t underestimate 

the independent school sector’s 

determination to fight for its existence 

with every legal pathway being followed 

to test the legitimacy of such a policy. As 

it is, the immediate prospect of a political 

threat has greatly subsided and the 

sector has the breathing space to make 

its case more forcefully that we have 

a right to exist and parents should be 

presented with options for the education 

of their children. It is for parents to 

choose the school which is best suited 

to their child’s needs, aspirations and 

talents. 

In the meantime, there is every reason to 

have confidence in prep schools and their 

future. IAPS (the Independent Association 

of Prep Schools) has over 600 of the top 

prep and fee-charging junior schools in 

the UK. The first step in your search for 

quality is to check if your possible short 

list of schools for your son or daughter 

carries the mark of quality by being 

a member of the heads’ association 

known as IAPS. This association has a 

history extending back over 126 years 

and the criteria for membership is strictly 

monitored to ensure both the head, and 

the school they work at, maintain the 

highest standards. School inspection 

reports are received by IAPS, for 

example, and any failings identified have 

to be rectified in good time to maintain 

membership. In one sense, therefore, 

the first level of due diligence a parent 

might feel it necessary to undertake is 

already done for them if the school can 

demonstrate they are members of IAPS 

and, better still, have been a member for 

many years. 

What should you do next as you are 

feeling your way through the maze 

of glossy publications and enticing 

web sites placed in front of you. The 

temptation is to look for a ‘brand’ name 

and, to some extent, this has merit as 

it will more often than not lead you to a 

school with a fine reputation polished 

over many years of conspicuous 

achievement. The question to ask, of 

course, is has the school a reputation for 

success in the areas which co-incide with 

the talents and interests of your child. A 

fine school’s sporting tradition is of little 

relevance if your child is a talented and 

developing musician – not that those two 

areas have to be mutually exclusive. 

The resort to social media and discussion 

forums is a likely step many will take but 

if your chosen pathway takes you in this 

direction then, at the risk of patronising 

you, the reader, beware. Do you use 

Tripadvisor when planning a stay away? 

Do you believe all the messages posted 

there and would you base your whole 

view of a school on the postings of a 

few with most likely a pro- or anti-line to 

promote for their own reasons. 

There might be themes to pick up on but 

it really needs each parent to seek out the 

things that are most important to you and 

your child. 

That brings me then to what you should 

do. The most important thing is to visit 

the school and not just on an official 

Open Day. If a school can’t buff itself 

up to look good on an official Open Day 

it really is a poor do. However, chose 

a day and time to suit you, though 

be reasonable when negotiating this. 

Nothing much is likely to be gained from 

a visit if a good proportion of the school 

is off their normal timetable or routine 

because it’s the day of the annual whole 

school cross country event. Ask to see 

the class your child would likely join at 

work and then visit older age groups, 

looking for obvious positive progression 

as revealed by the work displayed on the 

wall displays. Find out the answers to 

the questions you have about the areas 

important to you and judge how open 

and direct you find the responses from 

the school. In short trust your instincts 

and not wholly what others tell you. 

If you follow this advice you won’t go far 

wrong and then don’t lose any sleep at 

all over the long term future of your prep 

school. Let IAPS do that bit for you whilst 

you concentrate on finding the right 

school for your child. 

Christopher King 

CEO, IAPS 

8 | www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk

“A place with a palpable buzz and 

vibrancy that gets the balance between 

giving children the freedom to be 

themselves, whilst maintaining a focus 

on traditional values, excellent manners 

and respect, absolutely spot on.” 

The Good Schools Guide Review 2019 

OPEN MORNINGS 

5 FEBRUARY • 6 FEBRUARY • 29 FEBRUARY 

Goring Heath, near Reading • RG8 7SF • 0118 984 4511 • registrar@oratoryprep.co.uk • oratoryprep.co.uk 

EXPLORE FREEMEN’S 

Open Events in 2020 

“A school that produces confident, motivated, 

happy young achievers. A blessing to parents 

looking for a high-quality stress-free educational 

route that will take their academically able 

sons and daughters from age 7 right through 

to 18. Almost unique in this neck of the woods.” 

Good Schools Guide 

The best way to get to know Freemen’s is to see it for yourself. 

Join us at one of our Open Events this year to discover more about 

day or boarding places. 

To book visit www.freemens.org/openevents or call 01372 822423 

LEARN, LEAD, MAKE A DIFFERENCE @HelloFreemens www.freemens.org 


The importance of extracurricular 

activities for children 

build a lot of endurance. Every sport has 

something good to offer, whether they play 

in teams or individually. 

Your child has spent a long day at school, 

however their first port of call when they 

get home will probably be their X Box or 

something on the TV. 

However, we suggest that they will benefit 

greatly from a non-academic activity that 

they have an interest in. There are many 

activities to choose from sports, chess 

clubs, dance clubs, book clubs, and music 

clubs and so on… your child is bound to 

find something to like. 

Talk to your child about their interests and 

see what they would like to do. High energy 

children may prefer sports or dance, while 

children who are quieter tend to prefer the 

calmer activities like book clubs, cooking 

class or perhaps pottery. 

Here are some extra-curricular activities 

that your child might enjoy. 

1. Music 

Some children learn to play instruments, 

while others prefer to sing. There are some 

who are good at doing both. There are so 

many instruments to choose from that you 

are bound to find something that they will 

enjoy playing. 

There is a certain freedom in music, and 

many children find joy in it. Children also 

tend to learn a lot about history and culture 

while learning a musical instrument or song. 

2. Sports 

Sports such as football, basketball, cricket 

and softball require teamwork and a lot 

of energy, but if this type of sport doesn’t 

sound it would suit your child, there are 

other options such as tennis, badminton 

and golf to try. 

In team based sports they will learn how 

to work well in a group and they also 


3. Dance 

In dance there are so many forms to 

choose from that your child is sure to find 

the perfect fit. Be it ballet, tap or modern 

dance it is something that will help your 

child develop physically and mentally. Most 

forms of dance require discipline, a strong 

body and it keeps them active. In this 

day and age it is particularly important as 

there is very little physical activity at school 

anymore. 

4. Painting and Sketching 

Perhaps your child is a blossoming artist. 

Playing with colours is a lot of fun and 

creating different works of art may be 

something your child would prefer over 

more boisterous activities. 

These will improve creative skills as 

the brain begins to develop the areas 

associated with creativity. Painting and 

drawing can also help develop problemsolving 

skills. 

5. Crafts, Pottery and Sculpting 

Working with clay and creating something 

with their hands can give a child a sense of 

satisfaction that is not found through just 

any activity. Clay can have a therapeutic 

effect and is capable of keeping your child 

occupied for hours. 

Your child will develop sensory and motor 

skills through creative works. 

6. Martial Arts 

There are varied styles of mixed martial 

arts such as judo, Taekwondo and karate. 

These teach discipline and how to control 

strength. 

Martial arts also teaches self-control 

and self-discipline. They also help 

in socialisation skills and physical 

development. 

7. Sewing Classes 

Sewing may not be something that 

crosses very many people’s minds for an 

extracurricular activity, but it is a skill that is 

very handy indeed. Many children grow up 

with a passion for fashion, and this may be 

a very useful first step for them. 

Sewing is as creative a field as painting or 

sculpting, and it is to be noted that it can 

be very educational for those children who 

want to be future designers. 

8. Book Club 

Book clubs are a great way for little 

bookworms to have their fun and socialise 

with other book lovers. 

Many things can be gained from a book 

club. Not only will the literature teach your 

child a lot about the world, the way it works 

and so much more, and it will also help 

them to develop their reading skills, which 

will have a tremendous impact on their 

writing skills. 

9. Cooking Class 

Cooking classes are great for children 

as they are not only an essential skill but 

another area where they can express their 

creativity. 

There are additional benefits by joining a 

cookery class. Cooking food is something 

that will help your child develop focus, 

creativity and will also teach your children 

useful skills. They will learn about different 

ingredients and how to prepare healthy and 

balanced meals. 

10. Drama Club 

Your little drama kings and queens will love 

this one as it is a fun and productive way to 

use up their dramatic energies. 

Drama club helps your child to develop 

physical, artistic, social and public speaking 

skills. It also helps to improve a their 

memory and improvisation skills. Often, 

shy children who have a talent for acting 

become more confident and social through 

drama club. 

When you have a general idea of what your 

child wants, you can do some research 

to see who provides these classes in your 

area and then make the time to take your 

them to visit the place while a class is in 

session and see if is a stimulating and 

comfortable environment. 

The staff should be friendly and 

enthusiastic. It is always best to send them 

to someone who is properly certified. 

See if the children who are in the class are 

happy and look like they are having fun 

and learning at the same time. 

While education is important, children need 

additional outlets to express themselves.

WEDDED BLISS 

Planning your nuptials this year? Read on 

for top trends and lots of inspiration... 

Planning your wedding is a personal 

experience and to a large extent the 

format, style and little touches are more 

likely to be representations of your 

personalities and tastes over any trends. 

There is, however, an overwhelming body 

of inspiration online which can put even 

the most dedicated planner into a spin - 

sometimes some fresh, trend-led ideas 

might be just the spark to help you plan. 

Princess Dresses 

Channel your inner Disney princess - the 

more streamlined dresses we’ve been 

used to are making way for fuller skirts 

and ball-gown styles. For evening, lots 

of brides are opting for a second dress 

which is less constrictive - meaning they 

can dance the night away, carefree. 

Personal Details 

The wedding will be full of details that 

nod to you as a couple, but more and 

more brides are opting for personalisation 

in their outfits too. Some with meaningful 

words or dates embroidered into their 

veils or others more edgy with painted or 

stitched leather and denim jackets for the 

evening (these have the added bonus of 

being an item you can wear after the day!) 

Sustainability 

With a big shift in eco-friendly choices 

in everyday life, it’s natural that wedding 

venues and suppliers are upping their 

green credentials. Some considerations 

to make: ethical wedding rings and 

outfits, even consider hiring a dress 

(dresses take a lot of energy to create 

but are seldom worn after the event), 

give guests wildflower seeds as favours, 

employ caterers who only use biodegradable 

packaging, print eco-friendly 

invitations on recycled paper and for 

flowers pick seasonal blooms grown 

locally where possible. 

Wall Decorations 

In more non-traditional venues with 

plainer walls or in marquees, decor is key 

for setting the mood. ‘Green’ walls made 

from foliage and picked out with white 

lights look elegant and timeless, whereas 

paper pom poms in bright colours are 

cheerful and inviting. A new trend is a 

balloon wall - making arches to frame 

the ceremony. Lots of couples can add 

a DIY element here, making some of the 

decorations themselves (with a small 

army of bridesmaids or ushers to help!) 

Table Settings 

One of the biggest transformations in 

recent years is the style of tables and the 

seating arrangements. The more ornate 

chair covers with bows have made way 

for elegant chiavari chairs and tables 

are bursting with informal arrangements, 

made predominantly of foliage, picked 

out by the twinkle of fairy lights and 

mirrored platters. 

Incredible Venues 

Stately homes and castles are having 

a moment, making perfect backdrops 

for the big day. As well as being historic 

places to tie the knot, they are full of 

character and have many architectural 

gems - perfect for capturing those 

unforgettable photos. 

As ever, Pinterest is a great source of 

inspiration - but try not to get too bogged 

down and stressed with including every 

detail - the most successful weddings 

focus on bringing together a happy 

couple in an atmosphere of love and 

support - guests will remember how they 

feel on the day above all else.

S T O K E S F A R M 

B A R N 

B A R N 

B i n f i e l d R o a d , W o k i n g h a m , B e r k s h i r e R G 4 0 5 P R 

B i n f i e l d R o a d , W o k i n g h a m , B e r k s h i r e R G 4 0 5 P R 

Get in touch to discuss your 

Get dream in touch wedding to discuss at Stokes your 

dream Farm Barn, wedding a beautiful at Stokes 

Farm Victorian Barn, barn a beautiful set on a 

Victorian working barn farm. set on a 

working farm. 

Bespoke weddings in a 

stunning Bespoke setting weddings offering 

a 

stunning exclusive setting use, in offering house 

catering exclusive and use, full in wedding house 

catering planning and full service. wedding 

planning service. 

info@stokesfarmbarn.co.uk 

info@stokesfarmbarn.co.uk 

w w w . s t o k e s f a r m b a r n . c o . u k 

w w w . s t o k e s f a r m b a r n . c o . u k

Say I Love You 

This Valentine’s Day, why 

not ‘wow’ your loved one 

with a special breakfast 

treat, courtesy of VonShef. 

Here are a few products to make sure 

they start their way feeling truly spoiled! 

First things first, pop the coffee on. If they 

love the aromatic, rich flavour of freshly 

ground and freshly brewed coffee, you 

won’t go wrong with the VonShef 1.5L 

Bean to Cup Coffee Machine. Watch as 

the machine grinds, doses and extracts 

all the delicious flavours in just 3 minutes, 

quite literally from bean to cup! 

Next, have a think about how they like 

their eggs in the morning! VonShef have 

an amazing Electric Omelette Maker, so 

no excuses for not serving up the perfect 

omelette! This cool piece of equipment 

allows you to make two plain or filled 

omelettes together, so there will be no 

arguments who gets brekkie first! At just 

£14.99, it also doubles up to either fry or 

scramble eggs, so is a great addition to 

your kitchen. 

If boiled eggs are more up their street, 

have a look at the VonShef 2-in-1 

Egg Boiler & Toaster. Including 3 

interchangeable plates (1 x boiled egg 

tray, 2 x steaming trays & 2 x poaching 

dishes), this super cool machine can 

poach eggs in the poaching dishes or 

boil in the steamer tray whilst you toast 

your accompaniment of choice. Priced at 

£34.99, this makes boiled eggs and toast 

easier than ever before! 

Really spoil them with fresh waffles 

thanks to the VonShef Dual Round Waffle 

Maker (£27.99). This small but powerful 

machine makes two 6” round waffles at 

the same time - perfect for breakfast, 

lunch, dessert or a cheeky snack 

throughout the day. The non-stick coated 

plates make it super easy to clean too! 

Last but not least, you better take it up 

to them, and VonShef come up trumps 

again with their gorgeous Bamboo 

Serving Tray. Made from lightweight 

and durable bamboo, this tray is perfect 

for serving breakfast in bed, carrying 

drinks or wowing guests with canapés. 

Two large side handles make for easy 

carrying, and it even has non-slip feet 

for added stability. With a wipe clean 

surface, this is a steal at just £12.99! 

time to WIN 

VonShef have kindly given us a main 

prize bundle consisting of a waffle iron, 

coffee machine and tray and there are 

three waffle irons up for grabs for lucky 

runners up! 

To have a chance of winning, enter on 

the website minervacomp.co.uk using 

keyword Breakfast Bundle and giving 

your contact details. Competition closes 

25th March 2020. T&Cs apply. 

Classic waffles 

INGREDIENTS 

Serves: 5 

250g plain flour 

1 teaspoon salt 

4 teaspoons baking powder 

2 tablespoons caster sugar 

2 eggs 

355ml warm milk 

75g butter, melted 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

METHOD 

In a large bowl, mix together flour, 

salt, baking powder and sugar; set 

aside. Preheat waffle maker to desired 

temperature. 

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in 

the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk 

mixture into the flour mixture; beat until 

blended. 

Ladle the batter into a preheated waffle 

maker. Cook the waffles until golden and 

crisp. Serve immediately. 


Perfect Pancakes 

Get adventurous this Shrove 

Tuesday and try out these 

delicious recipes courtesy of 

Waitrose 

Buttermilk Pancakes 

with chilli chocolate sauce 

INGREDIENTS 

For the chocolate sauce: 

100ml double cream 

1 Chipotle Chilli, roughly chopped 

200g Divine Fairtrade 70% Dark Chocolate 

For the pancakes: 


Pinch of table salt 

25g golden caster sugar 

4 eggs 

100ml whole milk 

100ml buttermilk 

40g butter 

4 tbsp rapeseed or sunflower oil 

Vanilla Ice Cream, to serve 

METHOD 

To make the sauce, gently warm the 

cream and chilli in a pan then leave to 

infuse for 10 minutes. Break the chocolate 

into a bowl and place on top of a pan of 

simmering water, making sure the base 

doesn’t touch the water, and allow to melt 

slowly while stirring. 

Strain the warmed cream into the melted 

chocolate and stir. Discard the chilli. 

Keep the sauce warm while you make the 

pancakes. 

Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the 

salt and half the sugar. In a separate dish, 

crack 2 eggs into the milk. Separate the 

remaining 2 eggs and add the yolks to 

the milk. 

Add the buttermilk to the milk and eggs 

and whisk together. Slowly pour into the 

flour, whisking gently but being careful not 

to overmix. 

In a separate bowl, add the remaining 

s.ugar to the egg whites, whisk until light 

and fluffy then fold into the batter mixture 

in 2 stages. 

Heat a little butter and oil in a non-stick pan. 

Depending on the size of your pan, drop up 

to 5 large tablespoons of the pancake mix 

into it and fry each pancake for 40 seconds 

until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip 

over and fry for a further 40 seconds, then 

remove. Repeat in batches with the rest of 

the batter to make 18-24 pancakes. 

Divide the pancakes between 6 plates and 

top each with a scoop of ice cream and a 

drizzle of chocolate sauce. Serve swiftly. 

Chicken tikka pancakes 

with mango chutney 

INGREDIENTS 


1 egg 

300ml semi-skimmed milk 

1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 

1 tsp ground cumin 

2 tbsp sunflower oil 

2 x 300g packs Waitrose British Chicken 

Breast Chunks In A Spiced Tikka Marinade 

4 salad onions, sliced 

4 tbsp Geeta’s Premium Mango Chutney 

4 tbsp low fat Greek yogurt 

METHOD 

Sift the flour and a pinch of salt together 

into a bowl. Make a well in the centre 

and add the egg and half the milk. Whisk 

together well then stir in the rest of the milk 

to make a smooth batter. Stir in the chilli 

and cumin, and set aside for 30 minutes. 

Reserve 1 tbsp of the oil, then heat a little 

of the remaining oil in an 18cm pancake 

pan or shallow frying pan and add a ladleful 

of the batter. Swirl it around the pan and 

cook for 1–2 minutes each side until golden. 

Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Repeat 

with the remaining mixture to make 8 

pancakes, keeping them warm, separated 

with sheets of kitchen paper. 

Heat the rest of the oil in a large, non-stick 

frying pan and cook the chicken for 10–12 

minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked 

through with no pink meat. Divide the 

chicken between the pancakes, putting 

it on one quarter of the pancake, and top 

with the salad onions, mango chutney and 

yogurt. Fold up the pancakes to make 

parcels, and serve. 

Toffee Apple Pancakes 

with vanilla ice cream 

INGREDIENTS 

40g butter 

4 apples, cored and cut into thin wedges 

3 tbsp clear honey 

3 tbsp light brown soft sugar 

8 Pancakes - from scratch or store bought 

4 generous scoops vanilla ice cream 

25g hazelnuts, chopped and toasted 

METHOD 

1. Heat the butter in a large frying pan. Add 

the apple wedges and fry for 3 minutes until 

beginning to soften and turn golden. Stir 

through the honey and sprinkle over the 

brown sugar. Continue to cook for a further 

4 minutes until sticky and glazed. 

2. Warm the pancakes in the microwave or 

oven, according to the packet instructions. 

3. Divide the toffee apples between the 

warmed pancakes then fold each one in 

half and in half again. Place 2 filled pancake 

cones on each plate and top with a scoop 

of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle over any sauce 

left in the pan and scatter with hazelnuts 

before serving. 


NATIONAL BUTCHERS' 

WEEK 2020 

National Butchers’ Week gives us the 

opportunity to celebrate and support a 

mainstay of the British High Street 

One of the most popular events in the butchery calendar, 

National Butchers’ Week takes place 9-15 March 2020. National 

Butchers’ Week highlights the great work being done by butchers 

from around the UK that sets them apart from the competition. It 

also focuses on the fantastic innovation that takes place within 

butchers’ shops across the land. 

Never has it been more important to understand our food 

provenance - especially as more of us are reshaping our diets to 

eat meat less often, but crucially eating better quality when we 

do. That means engaging more with the process of buying meat 

- selecting carefully reared livestock, butchered properly. It’s not 

always possible to get that information from the supermarket. 

This engagement with our food chain is essential, and should 

start in the butchery shop - a butcher can not only tell you where 

your meat has come from (usually a farm whose name you will 

likely recognise!) but also can advise on the best cuts for certain 

dishes, give you great value for money on cheaper cuts and 

impart their wealth of knowledge with ready cooking tips. 

Throughout the awareness week, butchers across the area will 

be participating in events and putting on offers to help educate 

and inform potential customers of the benefits of shopping 

with them. The key takeaway is that consumers don’t need to 

feel intimidated about shopping there - far from needing an 

extensive knowledge of each and every cut available, shoppers 

can ask advice and can learn about cuts not commonly 

available in the shops. As well as in the shops, lots of online 

butchers will be running specials in this time, so it’s well worth 

looking out for those - premium meat with all the convenience 

of your regular weekly shop. 

So, when you’re planning your meals this week, why not carve 

out 10 minutes to go and visit your local butcher - you’ll come 

away with a lot more than the ingredients for tonight’s dinner. 


THE CHEF 

that rocks 

Famed for his growing group of fabulous fish restaurants, 

Rockfish, Mitch Tonks is a chef, author, restaurateur and a 

passionate, lifelong advocate for all the morsels that emerge 

from the deep blue sea. Sally Thomson caught up with him 

to discuss expansion plans, career motivations and why his 

heart will always belong to the kitchen... 

Sally: I hear you have another book 

on the horizon? 

Mitch: I do! We’re doing another 

Rockfish book. It will be published 

October. All very exciting! 

Fantastic! How many Rockfish 

Restaurants have you got 

now? 

At the moment there are 

seven but there will be 

nine by the end of the year. 

They will be in Poole, Lyme 

Regis, and Sidmouth. Poole 

opened in January, Lyme 

Regis will open in June 

and Sidmouth will open 

in October. We then have 

two or three sites ready 

for 2021 that we are just 

negotiating on. 

That is incredible, 

when you think about 

where you’ve come 

from. 

It’s kind of been an 

up and down journey, 

because we had 

Fishworks, which 

grew to thirteen, 

but it was a public 

company and the 

wrong environment 

to grow restaurants 

in and ultimately 

the project failed. 

But since 2009 

Seahorses has existed down in 

Dartmouth, and Rockfish is ten years 

old, so we’ve done well to rebuild over 

that period. 

When we last had a chat you’d 

opened Joe’s Bar, how’s that going? 

It’s going really well, and since May last 

year we actually moved the entrance to 

the restaurant through Joe’s Bar, and 

that’s been a real success as people 

enter the restaurant through Joe’s 

Bar, have a drink and start their dining 

experience off with something more 

special and fun. 

So how do you stretch yourself with 

everything going on? 

Well the business is over three hundred 

people, with a really good senior team, 

finance, marketing, and then over four 

hundred in the summer. So, I obviously 

work very closely with my senior team 

and I am clear about what I want to 

achieve in a period of time and helping 

other people to achieve those goals. 

Sometimes its challenging but when you 

work as a team and you are supporting 

each other you can make stuff happen. 

That’s it really! 

Managing those people, helping them 

manage others, then I spend my time in 

the restaurants, as well as consistently 

looking at the business as a whole and 

thinking ‘How can our business provide 

better solutions for jobs, how can we 

be better than anywhere else to work 

"I tend to think of the restaurants like a 

community now. Everybody who works for 

us belongs to the community. We talk a lot 

about family but of course family are hard to 

get rid of and communities are made up of 

people all contributing" 

17

"I think when Fishworks 

failed…well it gives you 

plenty of time to reflect on 

what’s really important to 

you and what’s not" 

So I made a phone call to my agent who 

was on the train on the way up. He was 

mortified! All I could say to everyone was 

that 'I’m sorry, I just don’t want to do 

it'. Financially it was suicide as it was a 

very well paid job but it was prime time 

television and all the things that go with 

it and I didn’t want to be known as a guy 

on telly. I wanted to build my reputation 

as a restaurateur and a chef which is 

what I actually really enjoy. 

I think when Fishworks failed…well it 

gives you plenty of time to reflect on 

what’s really important to you and what’s 

not and allowed me to make my own 

choices, not get swept along with ‘this is 

a great idea’. It was a great idea, it was 

magnificent. The TV show would have 

been great but it just wasn’t for me. So 

the answer is I am regularly asked to do 

television bits and I will 99% of the time 

turn them down and occasionally I might 

do the odd thing but I don’t wake up 

thinking ‘I’d like to do more television’. 

18 

for, how can we have a really amazing 

strategy over five years that gives people 

top pay, freedom, how can we create a 

development programme so that people 

can develop in the organisation.’ 

I tend to think of the restaurants like a 

community now. Everybody who works for 

us belongs to the community. We talk a lot 

about family but of course family are hard 

to get rid of and communities are made up 

of people all contributing, so when people 

don’t contribute they move out of the 

community and new people move in. 

One thing I didn’t realise is that you 

made significant changes to your menu 

with regards to being gluten-free. That 

must have been a big change? 

Yes! About ten years ago we set about 

rebuilding all of cooking ranges and 

changing all of our practices so that offer 

everything gluten-free. We committed to 

the business being gluten-free, not just 

by saying ‘here’s a gluten-free menu’. 

Everything we do is gluten-free. If we 

have to swap a bun for a gluten-free bun 

we do, and it basically means that the 

whole menu is available to somebody 

with a gluten intolerance rather than 

them feeling in a minority and only being 

able to choose from say five things on 

the menu. 

Going back, I first met you at the 

beginning of the century! 2000, a 

long, long time ago! Since then you’ve 

appeared on TV, most notably with 

Matt Dawson, the rugby player, but 

do you find yourself too busy to make 

room to do any shows as of late? 

The television career took off back 

around 2008/09. The series Mitch and 

Matt’s Big Fish became very successful 

and Denham Productions and the BBC 

wanted to do series two. So there was a 

lot of euphoria and excitement from Matt 

and the team, and they were on their way 

to London to sign the deal. 

We had agreed it, gone through it all and 

I started to get cold feet. I was sat in the 

restaurant having a brandy and a coffee 

and I was just thinking to myself ‘I don’t 

actually want to be a television chef, I 

want to be in this restaurant cooking’. 

Surely your heart has to be in it if it’s 

what you are going to do? 

I think you are either on telly to drive 

people to your restaurants, well I’ve been 

there when you are in a restaurant and so 

many people want to talk to you because 

they’ve seen you on telly but never for 

the right reasons, and the thought that 

somebody comes to the restaurant just 

to catch a glimpse of the person they’ve 

seen on telly is just the wrong motivation. 

I want people to restaurants because 

they are really great places socially to 

go and they have importance in the 

community and they like your food and 

that it’s somewhere they want to come to 

celebrate birthdays and all of that stuff! 

Absolutely, and you’ve done so, I mean 

The Seahorse is just brilliant I’ve got 

to be honest. It’s just delightful the 

minute you walk in there, it’s such 

a lovely place to be and I absolutely 

love coming down there and hopefully 

when the weather brightens up I’ll be 

back. One last question; are you doing 

Salcombe Crab Festival this May? 

I’m still not sure if I’m going to do it this 

year. I didn’t do it last year, but I did 

the year before, but I am hoping to do 

a fish festival in Brixton, a crab festival 

in Dartmouth which we always do, and 

also Dartmouth Food Festival in October 

which is always great. 

www.mitchtonks.co.uk

ALL'S 

FAIR 

Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 forges ahead from 24 February - 8 

March in the fight to secure sustainable livelihoods for farmers 

in the global south. Sadly, the shocking exploitation of the people 

who grow our food is still rife around the world and Fairtrade 

Fortnight 2020 will highlight this reality, focusing on women 

cocoa farmers, who are some of the most marginalised and 

face the greatest challenges. To raise awareness, we've brought 

together fabulous recipes showcasing Fairtrade ingredients 

Okra Stew 

Images Chris Terry and chef for 

photography Danny Jack 

19

20 

CEVICHE DE 

ALCACHOFAS 

By Martin Morales, chef, writer and 

founder of Ceviche Family. Serves 4. 

‘On a recent trip to the region of Junín, 

near a town called Concepción, in 

Peru, I drove by field after field of 

beautiful, ripe artichokes. There were 

women in the fields harvesting and 

collecting them. Knowing then that the 

freshest artichokes would be on offer, I 

stopped by a roadside restaurant and 

had a perfect artichoke ceviche – the 

inspiration for this recipe.’ 

Fairtrade ingredients: olive oil, black 

pepper. 

Taste the good: Fairtrade spice farmers 

in India invested Fairtrade Premium in 

community kitchens to cook lunch for 

schoolchildren to encourage those from 

poor families to attend school. 

INGREDIENTS 

8 artichoke hearts, quartered 

2 small parsnips, peeled and cut into thin 

batons 

2 carrots, peeled and cut into thin batons 

2 red onions, finely sliced 

A small bunch of basil leaves, finely 

chopped 

A few iceberg lettuce leaves, shredded, 

to serve 

For the dressing 

2 tbsp Fairtrade olive oil 

Juice of 12 limes 

2 medium-heat red chillies, deseeded 

and finely chopped 

Salt and freshly ground Fairtrade black 

pepper 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Bring a saucepan of salted water to the 

boil. Blanch the artichoke hearts and 

parsnip and carrot batons for 3–4 minutes 

until just tender, then drain thoroughly 

and either chill in iced water or cool under 

running water. 

Put the red onion in a large bowl and add 

the cooled blanched vegetables. 

Make the dressing by whisking together 

the olive oil, lime juice and chilli and 

season with plenty of salt and pepper. 

Pour the dressing over the vegetables, 

sprinkle over the basil leaves and stir very 

gently to combine. 

Serve on a bed of shredded iceberg 

lettuce. 

OKRA STEW 

Ceviche de 

Alcachofas 

By Zoe Adjonyoh, chef, writer and founder 

of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen. Serves 4. 

‘Okra is a common west African 

ingredient and one I use in my restaurant 

kitchen as well as my home. When I 

started Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, I looked 

for new ways to incorporate this unique 

vegetable into dishes. Okra stew is one 

of my absolute favourites and one of the 

most traditional Ghanaian dishes I cook.’ 

Fairtrade ingredients: peanuts, curry 

powder, chilli, ginger. 

Taste the good: Fairtrade peanut 

farmers in Nicaragua used their Fairtrade 

Premium to equip themselves with new 

skills and tools to make handicrafts, 

bringing in vital additional income. 

INGREDIENTS 

200ml (7fl oz) sustainable red palm 

oil or carotene oil (can be substituted 

for Fairtrade coconut oil, rapeseed or 

sunflower also) 

1tsp Fairtrade chilli powder 

1tsp extra hot Fairtrade curry powder 

tsp salt 

2 medium red onions, finely diced 

2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped 

7.5cm (3-inch) piece fresh root ginger, 

finely grated (un- peeled if organic) 

1 Scotch bonnet or habernero chilli, 

deseeded and diced 

750g ripe plum tomatoes, cubed or 

blended 

1tbsp tomato purée 

250ml good-quality vegetable stock 

500g okra, trimmed and sliced 

150ml water 

Chopped Coriander and sliced Anaheim 

chillies to garnish 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Heat the oil on low–medium heat until it 

melts (palm oil has a low smoke point, 

so be careful not to let it burn), add the 

onion and sauté gently for a few minutes 

until translucent. Add the spices, garlic, 

ginger and Scotch bonnet and stir well, 

then sauté for a further 5 minutes. 

Cook in the tomato purée stirring well, 

then pour in the vegetable stock to de 

glaze the pan, reduce the heat to low, 

then add the tomatoes and salt, cover 

and simmer for 25 minutes until they start 

to lose their tartness. 

Add the sliced okra to the pot with the 

measurement water, stir though once or 

twice and replace the lid and simmer for 

a further 15-20 minutes until the okra is 

just tender. Season to taste. 

This dish is traditionally served in a bowl 

with banku on a side plate and fried 

plantain along with a finger bowl. 

SOOJI HALWA 

LADOO 

Semolina halwa balls By Asma Khan, 

chef, writer and founder of Darjeeling 

Express. Serves 6-8. 

‘Indian desserts can often be too rich 

and sweet for many people. But this is 

an ideal end to a festive meal as it is 

light and – unlike many other desserts – 

soaked in neither cream nor milk. Nutmeg 

is best grated yourself from the whole

Sooji Halwa 

Ladoo 

spice, as shop-bought ground nutmeg is a 

shadow of the whole spice.’ 

Fairtrade ingredients: saffron, cassia bark, 

cloves, sugar, raisins, nutmeg, cardamom 

seeds, cashew nuts. 

Taste the good: Fairtrade cashew nut 

farmers in Burkina Faso have spent their 

Fairtrade Premium on increasing adult 

literacy, bicycles and cereal banks for food 

security. 

INGREDIENTS 

¼ tsp good-quality Fairtrade saffron strands 

1 piece Fairtrade cassia bark, 2.5 cm long 

2 whole Fairtrade cloves 

150g/ ¾cup Fairtrade granulated sugar 

125 ml/ ½ cup melted ghee or unsalted 

butter 

25g Fairtrade raisins (golden or green) 

200g/ 1 ¼ cup fine semolina flour 

½ tsp freshly grated Fairtrade nutmeg 

½ tsp freshly crushed Fairtrade cardamom 

seeds 

40g Fairtrade cashew nuts, chopped 

A few edible rose petals, to garnish (optional) 

INSTRUCTIONS 

In a bowl, infuse the saffron strands in ½ tsp 

of tepid water. Set aside. 

Place the cassia bark and cloves in a pan 

and cover with 500ml/ 2 cups cold water. 

Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. 

Lower the heat, add the sugar to the pan 

and cook, stirring until all the sugar crystals 

have dissolved. 

In a large non-stick karai, wok or frying 

pan, heat the melted ghee or butter over a 

low-medium heat. Add the raisins and stir, 

then remove them with a slotted spoon 

just before they expand and burst. Add the 

raisins to the pan with the sugar syrup. 

Now add the semolina flour to the pan with 

the ghee or butter, together with the grated 

nutmeg and crushed cardamom seeds. 

Gently stir until the grains of the semolina 

darken and smell toasted (approximately 10 

minutes). Keep the heat low as you do not 

want to burn the semolina grains. Remove 

the pan from the heat and slowly add the 

sugar syrup, stirring constantly. The contents 

will sputter initially but then calm down. 

Put the pan back on the heat and stir to 

break up any lumps. Keep the pan on the 

heat until all the sugar syrup has been 

absorbed. Towards the end of the cooking, 

add the chopped cashew nuts and saffroninfused 

liquid. 

Once the halwa is cool enough to handle, roll 

it into ladoos, or balls. Alternatively, you can 

serve the halwa as it is, warmed and placed 

in a serving bowl, and let your guests serve 

themselves. To serve, scatter over a few 

edible rose petals and chopped pistachios, 

plus a scattering of raisins to add a festive 

flourish to this dish. 

From Monday 24 February to Sunday 8 

March, all are invited to join together to 

celebrate farmers and workers and stop 

exploitation of the people at the bottom of 

the supply chain. One easy thing people can 

do to make a difference is choose Fairtrade. 

21

a 

Slice 

of 

SANTA 

BARBARA 

Kate O’Connell tackles 

the culinary scene of 

Santa Barbara. One 

mouthful at a time... 

Harbor View Inn Hotel 

22

When it comes to traveling, shockingly enough I had yet to actually 

get round to visiting the USA. This also came as a surprise to my 

travelling companions on this trip. Our two nations are bound together 

by much history, an overlap in religion, a common legal system and 

language, so how had I not visited at least one state at one time or 

another? 

Who knows. Our family holidays didn’t stretch that far I guess. Which 

may explain my eagerness when I was offered the chance to explore 

Santa Barbara. Quite the destination for a first time visitor to the USA! 

Aptly nicknamed ‘The American Riviera’, Santa Barbara is situated 

90 miles (a 2 hour car journey) north of Los Angeles, tucked within 

a south-facing pacific coastline on one side, and the rolling hills that 

stretch into the Santa Ynez Mountains on the other. But it is its charm 

and sense of style that makes this small city so tempting - indeed it is 

a hotspot favourite for the rich and famous, with a whole host of A-list 

celebrities calling Santa Barbara home. 

If there’s one things that strikes you, it’s that Santa Barbara doesn’t 

really feel like a city at all. There’s no hustle and bustle here, instead 

just a wonderfully laid-back, chilled vibe. Infused with the spirit 

of Spain, we were informed that 6.8 magnitude earthquake near 

enough flattened the city back in 1925. Devastating yes, but like a 

phoenix from the ashes, this proved the making of the city in terms of 

architecture, as the city planners were convinced to rebuild the city in 

a unified, Spanish Colonial Revival style inspired by the historic Old 

Mission (founded by Spanish Franciscans in 1786). Red-tiled clay 

roofs and white washed walls are a feature of every building, and in 

addition to the climate, give the city its Mediterranean charm. 

Our first stop; checking in to the newly developed North Wing of 

Harbor View Inn hotel. A premier beachfront hotel, Harbour View Inn is 

centrally located within the city, and made for a fabulous base to start 

our trip. My room featured a very inviting king size bed, complimented 

by gorgeous modern Spanish Colonial furnishings, and to top it off - a 

balcony view, a chance to sip on a morning coffee and watch the 

world go by. But not yet. First; dinner! 

We made a short walk around the block to Loquita Restaurant for 

some authentic Spanish tapas. Created as a love letter to the Spanish 

origins and history of Santa Barbara, Loquita showcases a medley of 

paellas, charcuterie, cheeses and seafood. We were offered a sample 

of a variety of dishes on the menu, with the squid ink seafood paella 

being a personal favourite of mine. 

After a restful night's sleep in my luxuriously comfy bed, I was ready 

for a day of exciting activities. To get us started, we required a hearty 

breakfast, and Goat Tree was just the place to go. A gourmet cafe 

with a relaxed vibe, Goat Tree offers everything from fresh pastries 

and baked goods cooked in-house by their resident pastry chef, 

through to cooked breakfasts with a Mediterranean twist. I opted 

for the classic Shakshuka, accompanied by homemade flat bread. 

Possibly the best, tastiest start to a morning ever. 

Feeling suitably energised, it was time for a spot of kayaking down 

at the harbour front, courtesy of Santa Barbara Adventure Company. 

Kayaking is a great way to view a side of Santa Barbara that perhaps 

few visitors get to see, so it felt like such a treat. Not only this, it was a 

perfect opportunity to spot some of the resident wildlife. 

Loquita Restaurant 

23

24 

It was perhaps my enthusiasm at this 

opportunity that had me labelled a 

‘Twitcher’ on this trip. On every dock 

we manoeuvred around brought hoards 

of enormous pelicans, gangly herons 

and rather amusing loons to name but a 

few. We even managed to paddle right 

up to a raft of sealions. So much of the 

wildlife on show were species that I had 

never seen out of captivity, it was a very 

special morning indeed. I can’t say I am a 

particularly experienced kayaker, having 

only dabbled on holidays in the past, but 

I needn’t have worried. The Adventure 

Company specialise in providing tours for 

all abilities, so I was in safe hands! 

A great way to experience the harbour 

front is to sample some of the 

specialities, and so with this we took a 

stroll over to Stearns Wharf; California’s 

oldest wharf named after builder John 

P. Stearns. There we took some seats at 

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, and 

were served an array of locally caught 

seafoods, all washed down with some 

local beer. 

To get more of an overview of the city, we 

then took a ‘trolley tour’ via Santa 

Barbara Trolley Co. This 90 minute tour is 

lead by a highly insightful guide, who 

beguiled us with all sorts of interesting 

facts about the city, as well as a little 

local celeb gossip on the side! 

After a quick freshen up it was time for a 

bite to eat. Cue...Cubaneo restaurant! 

Californian Cuban cuisine served 

alongside cocktails from Shaker Mill who 

neighbour within the same premises. It is 

easy to see how you could happily waste 

away an evening here, and we did just 

that! With a cubano sandwich in one 

hand and a ‘Bay of Santiago’ cocktail in 

the other, you could have easily fooled us 

into thinking we were in Havana! 

After another restful night's sleep, I 

skipped breakfast in order to make room 

for the immense amount of food we 

would be sampling on the Eat This, Shoot 

That! Funk Zone Food & Photo tour. A 

three-hour expedition, this is a chance to 

sample some of Santa Barbara’s finest 

fodder, as well as learn a little more about 

the city’s history, all while discovering 

how best to maximize your photo-taking 

ability, achieving the most Instagramworthy 

images that will make you the 

envy of all your friends. 

The tour is also a great chance to get to 

grips with the layout of the city. Santa 

Barbara is made up of several districts, 

one of which, The Funk Zone, has seen 

its popularity boom in recent decades. 

Comprising of a series of converted 

warehouses, this contemporary district 

is very much the place to be to sample 

artisan foods from up-and-coming chefs, 

and out-of-this-world Santa Barbara 

Country wines. Shop fronts and walls 

are adorned with graffiti murals and art 

pieces; this district really is an everevolving 

artistic neighbourhood that is 

well worth a visit. 

It was then time to travel up into the 

foothills to our next hotel. And what an 

iconic hotel indeed. The Belmond El 

Encanto. Recently renovated in 2013, 

Belmond El Encanto offers stunning 

views of the American Riviera and a 

whole heap of Hollywood glamour on 

the side. This resort manages to feel 

relaxed and low-key, while at the same 

time feeling like the most exclusive place 

on earth. Sitting poolside whilst sipping 

a glass of ‘Belmond El Encanto Cuvee’, 

life truly feels timeless up here. It’s little 

wonder that it was a favoured getaway of 

the Hollywood elite. 

We made our way back down from the 

hills to State Street for an Italian feast 

at Due Lune Cucina. Serving fresh 

ingredients and hand-made pasta, I 

would have been mad not to order the 

Linguine alle Vongole. This was paired 

with some fabulous local wines, and the 

staff couldn’t have been more friendly 

and attentive. We topped off the night 

with a nightcap at Pearl Social; an 

intimate and beautifully furnished cocktail 

bar. The night felt like a very classy affair 

indeed. 

Somehow, our final day had sadly rolled 

around already! It was time to do a spot 

of botanical sight seeing. Lotusland was 

our destination. This 37-acre estate and 

botanic garden is situated in the foothills 

of Montecito, which is located to the east 

of Santa Barbara. Purchased by the 

rather marvellous socialite Madame 

Walska (Google her, honestly!), she spent 

43 years designing the gardens to her 

liking. To say they were breathtaking is 

an understatement. Home to all sorts of 

exotic, rare collections of plants, this is 

truly a garden like no other. 

After another spot of wine tasting at 

some of the local establishments (it 

would be rude not to!), we made our 

way to Bibi Ji for dinner. A modern take 

on traditional Indian cuisine, Bibi Ji are 

experts at pairing quality, local wines 

with the most brilliant of dishes. The 

moment came when the aptly nicknamed 

‘Californian Gold’ was bought out; Santa 

Barbara’s locally caught sea urchins. 

Beautifully presented, and filled with 

biryani rice, I couldn’t lie...I was a little 

hesitant to try them. After all, my only 

knowledge of them was to avoid standing 

on them when on sandy beaches abroad. 

I needn’t have worried. Creamy and 

indulgent, they were fantastic. 

What a dish. And what a trip. 

At a glance 

2 nights at harbor view inn 

hotel, 2 nights at belmond 

el encanto hotel, private 

transfers and return 

flights with Norwegian air. 

Parking and lounge access 

with holiday extras. 

No1 Lounge at Gatwick 

Airport (South Terminal) 

from £26 PP 

Harbor view inn - Nightly 

Rates vary from $268.00- 

$400.00 

belmond el encanto - 

nightly room rates start 

from $560 (inc tax), 

suites from $811 (inc tax) 

www.santabarbaraca.com

Belmond El Encanto Hotel 

Kayaking around Santa 

Barbara harbour 

Bibi Ji Restaurant 

25

A NATURAL 

curiosity 

The 'Planet Earth II Live in Concert' 

arena tour will be hosted by science 

and natural history TV presenter Liz 

Bonnin. With a masters in wild animal 

biology, Liz has presented over 40 

primetime programmes including 'Blue 

Planet Live', 'Super Smart Animals', 

'Galapagos' and 'Horizon'. 

With her recent landmark BBC One 

documentary 'Drowning in Plastic', Liz 

investigated the ocean plastic crisis, 

with her hard-hitting environmental 

reporting raising the level of public 

debate on this important topic. 

Here Sally Thomson was able to 

discuss with Liz her passion for our 

planet prior to the start of the tour. 

26 

Sally: When did your love of the world 

and all it’s creatures begin? 

Liz: Well it definitely started when I was 

a kid. I grew up in the south of France in 

the hills above Nice and we had a little 

wood beside the house. Myself and my 

sister used to play outdoors all of the 

time. There were snakes and hedgehogs 

and spiders and birds…and we had a 

ball! I knew that, without thinking about 

it then, that that’s what set me off with 

this passion for wildlife. I used to stare 

at the birds for hours, wondering how 

their eyes moved in their sockets and I 

really wanted to just understand how it all 

worked, down to the chemical equations 

that make up all of these reactions. 

So that was a natural progress for you 

then, to go into biochemistry? 

Exactly! It all started in the woods in 

the south of France! That’s why when I 

give talks in schools, I make sure to tell 

that story because it doesn’t take a lot 

to remember our connection to nature 

and what’s important, you just have to 

be in amongst nature to be inspired and 

to reignite your natural curiosity that 

we’re all born with, and with that comes 

an inherent want to protect our natural 

world. It reminds you that we’re all 

connected to it. 

What you are doing is highlighting the 

dangers that the world's creatures are 

facing, particularly when you went on to 

do ‘Drowning in Plastic’. I know when I 

watched it my heart bled, but being so 

close to it when you made to programme, 

you must have found it difficult? 

I wish that as a communicator of the 

natural world, I could just be celebrating 

it and continuing to inspire people about 

all of these incredible creatures that we 

share the planet with, but unfortunately 

I am living through a time where we are 

experiencing the greatest existential 

threat to our future, and it is very clear 

that the way we live on this planet is not 

sustainable and is damaging not only the 

health of the wildlife we share the planet 

with, but is ultimately damaging our 

health and threatening our future. 

I feel a responsibility to communicate 

those things. As we set off making the 

plastics film, I knew what we were going 

to be filming, but it really did hit me like 

a ton of bricks to see it with my own 

eyes. It’s hard to describe. It’s been 

really moving and difficult, but also I 

feel like I have a very well-stoked fire in 

my belly now that feels like it won’t be 

extinguished. It is my responsibility to 

engage with the public in order for us all 

to become part of the solution. 

I recently watched the trailer for Planet 

Earth II Live in concert. Isn’t that going 

to be fantastic on the big screen?! 

It’s going to be magnificent; I can’t 

wait! Obviously it’s an extension and 

adaptation of the iconic series, but I 

think bringing it to a ginormous screen 

like that and then having a 74 piece 

orchestra playing the music of Hans 

Zimmer, it’s going to be a very emotive 

and very powerful experience. I think we 

are desperately in need of those types 

of experiences to help remind us of the 

beauty of the natural world, and the 

beauty of humanity as well. Our ability to 

write music and to be capable of making 

those types of programmes, and for us 

to be all together in these huge arenas 

having that connection is a much-needed 

experience, and I for one am very much 

looking forward to it. 

Some of the things we see in these 

programmes can be shocking, such as 

the killer whales going after the seals. 

But we of course have to remember 

that they have to survive too! 

You see for me I don’t find any of it 

shocking, isn’t that strange? And it’s 

really weird but I’m always rooting for the 

predator! Obviously there’s tension and 

it’s quite a powerful experience to watch, 

but I’m always rooting for the predator 

because from my studies I’ve seen just 

how difficult it is for a tiger to get its prey. 

It’s something like 1 in 100 attempts are 

successful. So I celebrate that, that’s part 

of nature and I think it’s a beautiful thing. 

There is an iconic moment in Planet 

Earth II with the iguana and the 

snakes… 

Ah that one! Okay, I have watched that 

sequence four times, and every time I find

my screaming ‘COME ON’ at the camera. 

Funnily enough with that one I really want 

the iguana to escape! That’s so funny, 

with me saying I root for the predators. 

That is one of the most magnificent 

scenes I have ever seen, not least 

because of this almost inconceivable 

situation, with all these snakes coming 

out of the crevasses of the volcanic 

rocks, but how it was shot! You can not 

underestimate how difficult it is to make 

that sequence work. The smoothness 

of how the camera works was absolute 

perfection. So not only is it a celebration 

of the magnificent wildlife we share the 

planet with, it’s a celebration of these 

incredibly talented film makers, who 

sit there for days and days to get the 

magical shots that will affect us to our 

very core. It’s just wonderful. 

Am I right in hearing that you went a 

kilometre underwater in the Galapagos? 

Yes! We were on this research vessel for 

two weeks, joining all these scientists 

at the tops of their fields who were 

investigating different aspects of these 

islands and how to better protect them. 

At one point we got into this submersible 

and went down to a thousand meters, to 

a part of the Galapagos that nobody had 

ever been to before, so I truly felt like an 

astronaut of Earth’s inner space, rather 

than its outer. Everything I pointed to the 

scientists would say ‘Yep. New species... 

Yep, don’t what that is, never seen one 

of those before’. So we were discovering 

new life at those depths. It was the most 

incredible experience. 

It must be dark down there? 

It’s pitch black, so you have these types 

of sharks down there called Chimaera, 

who do have these big, bulbous eyes. 

There’s no iris, it’s just this big, white 

circle of an eye, which is supposed 

to help it absorb any smidgen of light 

that there might be down there, and it’s 

just a surprisingly colourful place in the 

crevasses of all the rocks. Galapagos 

are all volcanic islands, so what we 

were doing is following the flanks of the 

volcano all the way down to the depths. 

We were down there for seven hours and 

it passed by like we were down there for 

an hour, time sort of stands still down 

there. It was a thrilling experience. 

I was watching you recently talking 

about the African jungle, and you spoke 

about chimpanzees, and how much 

they fight. You showed how much the 

alpha male will fight to protect what is 

his, and it is a bit sinister! 

They’re not the only species that have 

to fiercely protect their place in the 

hierarchy. The males often are exhausted 

having to protect their females from 

usurpers to the throne as such, but 

chimpanzees in particular can be very 

violent and because we are so closely 

related to them I suppose it shouldn’t 

be a surprise that they all have different 

personalities, and sometimes you just 

get a really nasty character. At the end 

"it’s a celebration of these incredibly 

talented film makers, who sit there for 

days and days to get the magical shots 

that will affect us to our very core" 

of the day you can argue that the nastier 

the male, the more successful he will be 

because it all boils down to him and his 

offspring and protecting his gene pool. 

I suppose it’s like when male lions get 

rid of any cubs that aren’t their own 

There is infanticide in many species. It’s 

all about making sure you have as many 

offspring as possible, so if you kill a 

female's offspring then you can mate with 

her straight away. 

Are there parts of the world or 

creatures that you would like to visit/ 

see for the first time? 

Yes. Snow leopards. I need to see a 

snow leopard. And part of it is because 

it is so difficult to see them now. They 

are extremely elusive and live in an 

extremely inhospitable part of the planet. 

They’re probably the most elusive cat, 

so that’s the dream. I will fall crying if I 

ever see one in the wild. They are the 

most glorious animals. Actually, it was 

on Planet Earth II, and again it is a scene 

that I’ve watched about three times and 

it always brings me to tears; the first 

time I heard the vocalisation of a snow 

leopard. I had never heard that before. 

And the fact that because our technology 

is improving, Planet Earth II was able to 

capture this glorious snow leopard at the 

top of this mountain that was vocalising. 

It brings me to tears every time I hear it, 

it’s the most glorious sound in the world. 

Are they as endangered as other 

leopards and big cats? 

Yes. I mean, the Amur leopard is the 

most endangered cat, but all big cats are 

facing extinction. They are all incredibly 

threatened and their populations are 

dwindling. 

We’ve spoken about the man-made 

situation with plastic. But is there 

anything else in the natural world that 

you have seen that has shocked you? 

In terms of the natural world, I think it 

is all magnificent. I really do. Even with 

something that might look to us to be 

violent, or a little bit uncomfortable 

to watch, I think that the more we 

understand how animals live and all of 

their adaptations that have allowed them 

to find solutions to all of their problems in 

order to survive - the more I understand 

it, the more I am in awe of it and the more 

it makes me humble and very small in 

comparison. So I find it all too wondrous 

to ever think that something is too much 

or too shocking. 

The dates for Planet Earth II Live in 

Concert are as follows: 

Thursday 6 March 

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff 

Friday 27 March 

Manchester Arena, Manchester 

Saturday 28 March 

First Direct Arena , Leeds 


O2 Arena (matinee), London 


O2 Arena (evening), London 

Wednesday 1 April 

3Arena, Dublin 

Friday 3 April 

Resort World Arena Birmingham 

Saturday 4 April 

SSE Hydro Arena, Glasgow 

Tickets are available from 

www.planetearth2live.uk. 

27

AMAZING 

GLAZING 

When we think about our homes, it’s really the windows 

and doors that create the wow factor. We are all so 

keen to flood our properties with natural light and the 

constantly evolving technology in the world of glazing is 

making some truly astonishing designs achievable, not to 

mention more affordable than ever. 

Whether you are self-building, extending or even 

renovating your home, apportioning budget to windows 

and doors is a savvy move. As well as making your home 

more valuable - 69% of people say that light rooms make 

them more inclined to buy - investing in clever glazing can 

make you fall in love with your space once more. 

BI-FOLD vs SLIDING 

DOORS 

Bi-fold: 

PROS - for those looking for that wonderful sense of a 

garden room that brings the outside in, bi-folds can help 

create the sense of one open-plan space as the panels 

fold away fully to the walls. 

CONS - an expensive option - poorly constructed bi-folds 

can also suffer from air-tightness issues around the joins 

so do your research and get guarantees. 

Sliding: 

PROS - generally cheaper than bi-fold doors, sliding 

doors also have fewer frame elements, meaning when 

they are closed your view is less obstructed. 

CONS - you won’t get the full, uninterrupted view of the 

garden - instead only a portion of the doors are openable. 

Bi-fold 

Sliding 

69% of people say that light rooms make 

them more inclined to buy - investing in 

clever glazing can make you fall in love with 

your space once more... 

28

Roof Lanterns and Skylights 

Compared to windows of the same surface area, skylights and 

roof lanterns can increase light in a room by up to five times. 

They are particularly good in extensions and for channelling 

light to darker corners of the home and adding opportunities 

for ventilation. These additions are no longer considered just a 

luxury and can be used in a wide variety of scenarios: 

• In a loft extension, tucked beneath sloped rooflines, the 

presence of skylights may spell the difference between a 

bright, friendly space and a murky cave. 

• In a home built between closely adjoining neighbouring 

houses where overlooking might be an issue, skylights may be 

the best solution for introducing good natural light into rooms. 

• In a single storey house build or extension, built with an open 

floor plan, skylight shafts can bring much needed natural light 

into the centre of large spaces. 

Many of the issues experienced in the past of rooms 

overheating or being hard to clean have been mediated with 

a tranche of new technology, including glass panels with heat 

regulatory and storage abilities and self-cleaning glass. 

SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION? 

In a single storey house build or extension, built with an 

open floor plan, skylight shafts can bring much needed 

natural light into the centre of large spaces. 

Energy Efficiency 

Our homes are one of the biggest energy wasters out there and 

traditionally windows are the biggest energy leakage point, so 

with any renovation, it can really pay to invest in glass tech to 

ensure the best temperature regulation - creating huge savings 

down the line. We all know that double glazing is much more 

efficient than single, but newer technologies like triple glazing 

are making windows nearly as efficient at energy retention as 

the walls they are installed within. 

As well as the glass, it is important to do you research into 

frames and opt for the most airtight models. 

With great green credentials, triple glazed units have the 

added benefits of better thermal comfort, noise reduction and 

a reduced risk of condensation between panes – so for the 

self-builder or home improver looking for a premium finish with 

added benefits, it’s a natural choice. 

29

2 

1 

dark ARTS 

3 

The trend for sleek black finishes 

continues, with lots of companies 

now supplying dark taps, shower 

enclosures, towel rails and tiles 

Dark tiles and fixtures look amazing - the only thing 

to be aware of is living in a hard water area and the 

effects that will have on the finish of taps over time. 

For a sleek look, pair large-scale dark floor tiles with 

white tiles on the walls, framed by black hardware. 

5 

Images: 1. Aquaglass Velar 8mm Black Crittall Corner 

Entry Enclosure, frontlinebathrooms.co.uk; 2. Original Style 

Tileworks Steel Midnight Blue, originalstyle.com; 3. Merlyn 

Black Showerwall With End Panel, merlynshowering.com; 

4. Duravit - Stonetto (Sand) Shower Tray, duravit.co.uk; 

5. Contour Radiator, frontlinebathrooms.co.uk; 6. Pitch 

Bluetooth Mirror, purebathroomcollection.co.uk; 7. Finissimo 

Black Bath Filler, bathroomdealsuk.co.uk; 8. Valverdi Iguazu 

Tile, londontile.co.uk; 

8 

4 

7 

BATHROOM 

TECH 

With homes becoming 

smarter in the main, it 

makes sense that similar 

technology would be 

extended to the bathroom. 

We love this bluetooth 

mirror which can play 

your favourite songs and 

has automatic demisting 

technology 

6 

30

THE BATHROOM 

& TILE GUIDE 

A roundup of the trends that can beat the bathroom blues 

and turn your bathroom into your own slice of heaven 

1 2 

3 

ensuite DREAMS 

According to a survey carried out by Nationwide 

Building Society, an ensuite can add as much as 5% 

to your home's market value - if you have the space, 

it's a great investment which is luxurious too 

If space permits, a roll top or freestanding 

bath looks wonderful in an ensuite and 

gives a true sense of luxury. If your space 

is more modest, the smaller scale is a great 

place to experiment with some interesting 

tile combinations and colours. There are 

some fabulous examples of encaustic tiles 

out there at the moment, but if you do opt 

for those, be aware and prepared for more 

maintenance than printed tiles. 

Images: 1. products from Original Style; 2. String 

lights from Lights4fun.co.uk; 3. image from 

carleyrowena.com; 4. Floris tile from Boniti 

4 

31

1 

TILE STYLE 

THE way to add style and personality to 

your bathroom - choices are limitless. 

Avoid following trends too closely and pick 

something you really love 

3 

4 

2 

When choosing 

tiles, functionality 

is key - tiny mosaics look amazing, but you 

don't want them in high traffic areas of a family 

bathroom. Try to keep floor tiles low maintenance 

and add decorative flourishes in smaller spaces. 

Ceramics aren't the only option either - vinyl tiles 

and laminates can work effectively. 

5 

6 

Images: 1. Selection from Ripples; 2. Havana Dawn Self 

Adhesive Vinyl Floor Tiles, zazous.co.uk; 3. Odyssey 

- 8051V Seville Tile, originalstyle.com; 4. 3D Offset 

Hexagon Tiles, bakedtiles.co.uk; 5. Original Style Living 

Spirit Tile, originalstyle.com; 6. Windmill Geometric 

Tile, tonsoftiles.co.uk; 7. Odyssey - Persian Floor Tile, 

originalstyle.com 

7 

green SPACES 

Houseplants are taking over - and 

we love it! If you have natural light 

in the bathroom, lots of plants can 

thrive in the space! 

The best plants for bathrooms are 

moisture lovers - these are our 

favourites: - 

Zamioculcas zamifolia (the eternity 

plant - so named because it is hard 

to kill!), the spider plant, most ferns, 

snake plant, aloe vera, cast iron plant 

and orchids. 

Image, left, from Dobbies - plants and 

plant pots available. 

NO WINDOW? 

No problem! LED growing lights can be 

easily installed to help your plants grow, 

even without natural light. 

32

Sherborne Windows 

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Look Before You Leap 

While the SPAB warmly encourages people to take the 

plunge and make an old building their home, it’s easy 

to be swept away by romance. SPAB Director Matthew 

Slocombe offers a checklist of key considerations to 

help potential buyers make the right choice – both for 

themselves and for the building of their dreams. 

Think with head and heart 

Old buildings are more than a space in 

which to live. If all that really interests you 

is location or floor area, an old building is 

unlikely to be right for you. If you appreciate 

style and character, and are keen to 

embrace the quirks and idiosyncrasies of an 

old building, the potential rewards are great. 

Compromise to get what you want 

For the majority of buyers, historic interest 

is a desirable factor but not the key. If your 

number one aim is to live in an interesting 

old building, but your means are limited, 

compromising on other requirements can 

sometimes help. 

Authenticity can’t be re-created 

If you want something genuine and 

authentic, recreation of lost parts is unlikely 

to act as a fitting or worthwhile substitute. 

Look for genuine survivals. It may be that 

fireplaces have been boarded up and plaster 

overlaid with modern materials, but if the 

originals survive behind this offers a much 

better starting point than a gutted interior. 

Choose something that will fit your 

longer term needs 

Look a few years ahead and try to consider 

whether the building is likely to fit your plans. 

If you think you might need more bedrooms 

or a bigger kitchen, consider whether the 

building is likely to be able to accommodate 

this without major change. In a modern 

house, adding extensions or knocking down 

walls may be relatively straightforward. In an 

historic building it may not. 

Consider auctions 

Many old buildings needing work are sold 

at auction. This can be a way to find an 

interesting project, and perhaps also a 

bargain. But the buyer must beware and it 

is especially important to do your homework 

seeking specialist help in advance. 

Purchase is not the only possibility 

If living in an old building is your goal, but 

prices are unaffordable, other options 

may exist. The commercial rental sector 

general lets buildings that have been heavily 

updated, but estates, farms and some 

private owners may offer old buildings to 

rent in a more rustic state. 

Distinguish between decorative and 

structural needs 

This is vital. Small cracks are normal in old 

buildings and can be easily remedied as part 

of the redecoration process; larger cracks 

may hint at structural movement. 

Get good advice 

The cost of professional advisers can 

seem off-putting, but sound advice is 

an investment. There are accreditations 

schemes run by the RICS, RIBA and AABC 

and the Society can offer suggestions 

via its Technical Advice Line (0207 456 

0916 weekday mornings). The advice of a 

structural engineer, conservator (see ICON’s 

accreditation list), quantity surveyor or 

historian may also be invaluable. 

Put together the right team 

If work is needed, the right team will be 

crucial. Consider not just price, but the 

expertise of team members. Listen to 

craftspeople - good ones know exactly 

what they’re doing and the expertise is often 

under-appreciated. 

Adjust your lifestyle 

Occupying an old building brings huge 

benefits to your quality of life, but don’t 

expect it to be the same as a perfectly level, 

hermetically sealed modern box. Floors 

may slope, windows may be draughty, and 

elaborate modern services may be difficult 

to accommodate. 

Research and understanding 

Understanding an old building includes 

knowing how it’s put together and what 

it’s made from, as well as the uses it’s had 

over time and the changes previous owners 

have made. Combine this with background 

research, advice from organisations like the 

SPAB, and knowledge from neighbouring 

owners and a rounded picture of the 

building should emerge. 

Don’t ignore consents and other statutory 

requirements 

Planning consents and building regulation 

requirements should always be adhered 

to. This is particularly so in the case of 

listed buildings. If you buy a listed building 

that has been altered without permission 

you inherit the liability and enforcement 

action could be taken against you. If you 

alter or demolish a listed building without 

permission you could be prosecuted. 

Don’t count on grants 

Grants for private owners were once 

relatively common. They are now rare and 

should not be counted on. 

Settle in before making big changes 

A vacant house offers an opportunity 

to tackle problems without upheaval to 

occupants, but avoid the temptation to do 

too much, too fast. A period of occupation 


often brings realisation about what’s 

necessary and what’s not important. 

Deal with the boring things first 

Kitchens, bathroom and decorative works 

may be most fun, but they should be bottom 

of your list. Fixing the roof and making sure 

the gutters, drains and electrics work will 

provide you with a sound basis from which 

to make other changes. 

Scratches and Witches 

Loving the lumps and bumps is all part of 

old building ownership. Appreciate them 

as part of the building’s character and 

history and avoid erasing them for the sake 

of tidiness. Think too about witches! Old 

surfaces often carry superstitious markings 

designed to ward off bad spirits. 

Repair is good 

Building conservation is a branch of 

environmental protection and sustainability: 

repair is better than replacement. Decay 

is rarely uniform and repair can allow 

the undamaged parts to remain. An old 

window with 20% new timber is better for 

the environment and our history than a new 

window with 100% fresh timber. 

Make sure materials are compatible 

New, innovative building products can 

be valuable, but historic buildings are not 

generally the place where they should be 

tested. The potential for side effects is great 

if incompatible materials are used. 

Get involved but know your limitations 

The SPAB has always encouraged a handson 

approach. There is no better way to get 

to know your building than through practical 

work. However, it is important to know the 

limitations of your own skills, to consider 

safety issues, and to get training if you are 

unsure. The SPAB and others run practical 

conservation courses. If in doubt, call on an 

experienced craftsperson. 

Good new design 

Where a strong and justifiable case exists 

for a change or addition, sympathetic 

new design offers the best approach. 

This requires good design advice and a 

thoughtful choice of materials. 

Enjoy it! 

An old building deserves to respected and 

cared for, but it should be enjoyed rather 

than revered. 

Call the SPAB Technical Advice Line on: 

020 7456 0916 


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2 

3 

1 

STYLE WATCH: 

MODERN VICTORIAN 

Move over Scandi minimalism - it’s time to maximise - make 

the most of period features and be bold with colour and 

pattern - these beautifully proportioned spaces can take it 

STYLE TIP: 

Victorian and Edwardian staircases 

are beautiful and deserve to be centre 

stage. They look wonderful styled with 

carpet runner over wood alongside 

restored original tiles or painting the 

staircases to match the wall. 

5 

4 

Dark colours like F&B’s ‘Railings’ 

look fabulous in well-proportioned 

Victorian rooms 

1. Sofa, £999, made.com; 

2. London Graphic Map 

(50x50cm), made.com 

3. Curvarella Turmeric Velvet Chair, 

£708, audenza.com; 

4. Leather Pouffe, £95, hauslife. 

co.uk; 5. Alana 6 Lighting Pendant, 

£96, darlighting.com; 

6. ‘Railings’ Paint by Farrow & Ball; 

7. ‘Deep Water’ Paint by 

dowsingandreynolds.com 

Image from 

craftberrybush.com 

7 

6 

GET THE 

LOOK: 

The alcoves either side 

of a chimney breast lend 

themselves well to bespoke 

fitted wardrobes in a bedroom. 

The colour scheme in this room 

is calming, with a touch of 

brightening yellow. Image from 

Colin Poole. 


GET THE 

LOOK: 

The dark wall here is 

an excellent foil for the 

period features - it brings 

out the cornicing, picture 

rail and marble fire 

place, with complementary 

period-style lighting. Then 

modern touches are added, 

like the bookcases, the 

luxurious coffee table and fun 

typography. 

Main image from Rachel Smith 

1 

STYLE TIP: 

Victorian spaces look great 

with unexpected furnishings, 

like bold Sputnik chandeliers, 

boho soft furnishings and mid 

century modern pieces. 

2 

3 

5 

6 

4 

8 

1. Eichholtz Infinity Chandelier, 

£1989; sweetpeaandwillow. 

com; 2. Industrial Mesh 

Cupboard, £825, vincentandbarn. 

co.uk 3. Atlantis Oval Coffee 

Table, £208, sweetpeaandwillow. 

com 4. Doris Occasional Chair, 

£179.99, my-furniture.com; 

5. Lumbar cushion cover with 

tassels, (30x70cm), £36, hauslife. 

co.uk; 6. Gold Window 

Style Wall Mirror 

(82x100cm), £160.95, 

melodymaison.co.uk; 7. Sabra style pillow, £32, 

hauslife.co.uk 8. Merrick Dark Antique Brown 

Trapeze Pendant, £175, artisanti.com; 9. Large 

Round Mirror (80cm), £195, minkinteriors.com; 

10. Wicker Grey Floor & Wall Tile, £12.27 per 

m² tonsoftiles.co.uk 

7 

GET THE LOOK: 

9 

10 

Restore fireplaces in bedrooms and living 

rooms - if the old tiles are past the point 

of repair, modern tiles with a Victorian 

feel work well. This room showcases a 

soft, calming palette. 


Discoverthe 

ExoticGarden 

Anewexclusivecolectionfrom theRHS,inspired 

bytheExoticGardenatRHSGardenWisley 

Availabletobuynowin-storeandonlineatrhsshop.co.uk 

RHSGardenWisley,Woking,SureyGU236QB 

Yourpurchasesupportsourworkasacharity 

RHSRegisteredCharityNo.222879/SC038262

a plant for every 

space in your house 

The sale of houseplants has grown considerably in the last few 

years - a 10-15% year on year increase since 2013 according to 

the RHS. It is particularly prevalent among young people - not 

so much as part of a décor choice but more to fulfil a desire to 

have something to care for and look after. For urban dwellers and 

workers there are also the perceived health and well-being benefits. 

The RHS website has the following: ‘As well as looking good, 

houseplants support human health in homes, offices, school and 

hospitals. Research suggests that the greatest benefits of indoor 

plants are through well-being and productivity improvement. There 

is discussion around their influence on indoor air quality’. 

If you have never had a plant in your life, having a plant at home 

is the perfect place to start – and there is such a lot of choice! 

Gone are the days of a dusty ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’ Sanseviera 

trifasciata or a Kentia palm Howea forsteriana waving brown 

fronds in distress - we have a plethora of options to suit every mood 

and every place in your home. My first books were on the subject of 

house plants and I love to have plants of all types sharing our family 

home. 

There is an enormous body of research going on at the moment 

into the beneficial effects of various species, how many you need 

to benefit either physically or mentally, what specific problems 

they can alleviate and which species can best tolerate the various 

conditions they are exposed to indoors. Lack of light, temperature 

fluctuations, infrequent watering - or too much watering - pity 

the poor indoor plant and yet for all of the privations we put them 

through they still flourish! 

As I travel around the country I see so many lovely orchids on 

windowsills and the moth orchid or Phalaenopsis must be present 

in a high percentage of 

British homes. These 

orchids are incredibly 

long lasting and even with 

the most basic care will 

flower again and again. 

You could also chose a 

Spathiphyllum or peace 

lily, a Madagascar Dragon 

Tree, Dracaena marginata 

or an English ivy Hedera 

helix - drape them from 

cupboards and bookcases, 

group them for more 

impact, have one large statement plant for a 

Wow factor, whatever you choose make room in your 

life for a plant! 

A Practical Guide to Growing Healthy Houseplants 

by Matthew Biggs 

www.matthewbiggs.com 

GET READY 

FOR SUMMER 

kamadojoe.co.uk 


social care needs 

Social care seems to be in the 

news a lot at the moment, often, 

unfortunately, in conjunction with 

the word ‘crisis’. Given that if you 

need care it’s a necessity, it makes 

sense to understand the basics – well 

before that time might come. 

Social care is there to support you because 

you need some extra help with daily living 

or are caring for someone who requires 

additional help themselves. There are a 

wide range of social care services, including 

care in your home or in a care home, live-in 

care services, day centres, home adaptions 

like handrails, and technology of various 

kinds. 

The first step if you or your loved one 

needs some extra help and support is 

to ask your local authority to carry out a 

needs assessment. You might have to wait 

several weeks at least for this, because 

councils are strapped for cash and staff, 

but it’s important to have it because it’s the 

gateway to the wider system. Someone 

from the council usually visits to establish 

the type of support you might need. There’s 

no charge and the assessor will create a 

care plan specific to your needs. 

When the type of care you need is decided 

and agreed the next stage is to establish 

how it will be paid for through a financial 

means test - which can be complex and 

quite confusing. Social care isn’t a free 

service provided by the NHS as many 

people think. Most of us have to pay for 

all or some of our care and the amount 

depends on the level of need and the value 

of any assets we have. 

Your home will not be included in the means 

test if you’re arranging care and support 

at home but other capital assets, including 

savings will be. Currently, if you have more 

capital that £23,250 you will have to pay all 

your care fees. If you have under £23,250, 

you’ll get financial assistance but may have 

to contribute from your income. 


The cost of care varies by area but it is not 

unusual to have to pay about £20 an hour 

for a care worker to come to your home 

(domiciliary care) to help you with, say, 

getting up, washing and dressing, if that’s 

what you need. You can see how the bills 

add up if you need more than one visit 

every day. 

It is also possible that rather than 

‘personal care’ you need a different kind of 

support, such as companionship, because 

you are very alone and lonely. If so, in 

some places the council may refer you to 

a scheme run by a charity like Age UK, 

where you might have to pay a modest 

amount to take part. 

If your needs are such that it is best for 

you to move permanently into a care home 

your property, if you own one, will be 

included in the means test at its present 

market value, but less any mortgage 

or loan you may have on it. However, it 

will not be included if your partner still 

lives there or, in certain circumstances, a 

relative. Your home is also not included if 

you need a temporary or short-term stay 

in a care home. Two in five of all the older 

people living in care homes now pay for 

their own care. 

To avoid property or other assets being 

counted in the financial means test, some 

people consider giving them away to a 

child or grandchild. However, this could 

be interpreted as ‘deliberate deprivation 

of assets’, and your local authority may 

still ask you to pay the same level of care 

fees as if you still owned your home or 

the other assets you have given away. It 

is really important to take advice if you are 

thinking of doing something of this kind. 

If you do have to pay towards a care 

home place it is possible to avoid selling 

your property during your lifetime in order 

to release the money required, namely a 

deferred payment which endures while 

you are alive. The council provides a loan 

for your care costs secured against your 

property and this is repaid either when 

the property is sold or from your estate 

after you have passed away. There is an 

interest charge if you choose to do this 

but every council is supposed to offer a 

scheme of this kind, even though relatively 

few people take advantage of it, possibly 

because they do not know it exists. 

If you have care needs and you are 

not already claiming a benefit called 

Attendance Allowance it is always 

worth doing so. This benefit is there for 

older people, to help offset the costs of 

disability. In practice, many older people 

use their AA to help fund their social care. 

Your local Age UK can help you fill in the 

forms and will be pleased to help. AA 

is paid at two rates, £58 or £87 a week, 

depending on your needs. 

As you can see, finding social care and 

paying for it is not straight forward and 

there are lots of questions to ask, but Age 

UK can guide you through the process 

and provides independent information and 

advice. If you are online there’s a lot about 

care on our website, or there’s a free 

advice line if you prefer to talk to someone 

instead. Visiting your local Age UK is a 

third option. 

Social care has a bad reputation at the 

moment, largely because it is underfunded 

and there isn’t enough to go round. You 

may also have read horror stories in the 

press of care workers being neglectful. 

Please don’t be put off seeking care 

though - there are many wonderful care 

workers. It pays to get advice and go 

into it with your eyes open, but there are 

hundreds of thousands of older people 

whose lives are immeasurably better 

because of the good care they receive. 

Caroline Abrahams 

Charity Director, Age UK 

www.ageuk.org.uk/ 

information-advice/care

TVWS - Power of 

Attorney experts 

TVWS explains the importance of an LPA 

WHY do I need an LPA? 

If you become mentally unable to manage your own affairs, no-one 

else has the automatic right to do this on your behalf (unless they 

have been nominated in an LPA). 

WHO is involved in an LPA? 

The DONOR is the person granting the power to one or more 

ATTORNEYS who may have to act together or be allowed to act 

individually. There may also be people the donor wishes to be 

notified when the LPA is registered. Every LPA must be registered 

with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and stamped by them 

before it can be used. 

WHEN must I have an LPA prepared? 

The sooner the better. Like insurance, no-one wants to have to use 

it, but just as applying for insurance once the damage has been done 

is too late, no-one knows when illness or accident will strike and if it 

does it is then too late to prepare LPAs. Unlike most insurances, they 

do not have to be renewed each year. 

WHEN will it come into force? 

An LPA is valid and ready for use as soon as the registration process 

has been completed. Once registered, an LPA HW can only be used 

when the donor does not have mental capacity to make the decision, 

but an LPA PFA may be used at any time. 

WHAT do I need to do now? 

Phone THAMES VALLEY WILL SERVICES on 01344 641885 or 

e-mail them at tvwills@yahoo.co.uk to arrange a free no-obligation 

consultation at your home or for more information. 

Thames Valley Will Services 

• PROFESSIONAL HOME VISIT SERVICE 

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• Wills 

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• Daytime evening or weekend 

appointments 

• Fees set out in advance 

• Member of the Society of Will Writers 

• Approved by Trading Standards -see 

www.buywithconfidence.com 

• 10% discount for readers of this 

publication 

4 Dunley Villas, Forest Road, Binfield RG42 4HE 

01344 641885 

tvwills@yahoo.co.uk | www.tvwills.com 

Live-in care can be a 

better solution 


Astbury Manor 

Care Home 

The Peace of Mind You’ve Been 

Looking For... 

Are you worried about how your loved one is coping at home on 

their own? With so many families dispersed across the country 

in modern times and unable to visit family members on a daily 

basis, there is growing concern about our older generation being 

vulnerable to falls, forgetting to take medication and receiving a 

balanced and nutritious diet. Now may be the time to consider 

their options as you help them to look for a better lifestyle. 

Astbury Manor Care Home can offer support and the benefit of 

the full-time company of others in a comfortable and enriching 

lifestyle. Located in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, 

this beautiful home delivers the highest standards in residential 

and dementia care and all the support an individual needs in a 

safe and secure environment. 

Resident well-being is at the centre of Astbury Manor’s quality 

care. A wide range of healthy exercises, well balanced and freshly 

prepared dining, along with trips out in the private minibus and 

daily activities and events are all a part of a supportive lifestyle. 

Everyone is encouraged to become active participants in the 

home’s life and friends and family can stay in contact using 

Skype and social media, and for those special celebrations there 

is a private dining room available. 


refreshments in the garden, relax in one of the quiet lounges, 

have a hair or beauty treatment in the salon or catch a film in the 

cinema. 

Astbury Manor offers the best in care from highly trained staff at 

an all-inclusive price, no matter how much care is needed. We’ll 

look after your loved one just as you would. 

For more call 01344 359100 or Search ‘Astbury Manor Care’ 

online or on Facebook. 

Residents can enjoy home baked cakes in the cafe, take 


“I WANTED A 

simpler life 

SO I MOVED TO 

LYNWOOD VILLAGE.” 

MRS B, LYNWOOD VILLAGE OWNER 

One of the many reasons people move to 

Lynwood Village is to make life a little easier. 

You don’t have to worry about maintenance 

or gardening. You can access support if 

and when you need it. And your home, 

indeed the whole village, is designed to be 

futureproof, accessible and easy to live in. 

(Not to mention the company, support, 

enjoying life as part of a vibrant, welcoming 

community, the restaurant, coffee shop, 

physiotherapy practice, a daily choice of 

activities, events and excursions...) 

COME AND ENJOY THE EASY LIFE. 

CALL US TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE 

AND TO VIEW AVAILABLE PROPERTIES. 

Independent living made easy for the over 65s 

Owned and operated by Ben 

Ben – Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. Lynwood Court, Lynwood Village, 

Rise Road, Ascot, SL5 0FG. A charity registered in England and Wales (no.297877) 

and Scotland (no.SC039842). A company limited by guarantee, registered in 

England and Wales (no.02163894). Registered with the Homes and Communities 

Agency (no. LH 3766). 

SUNNINGHILL | ASCOT | BERKSHIRE 

To arrange a visit, please call: 01344 874 250 

visit: lynwoodvillage.co.uk or 

email: sales@lynwoodvillage.co.uk

Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Feb - Mar 2020

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