local-life-wigan-march-2021

LocalLife

Wigan Edition

Local Vocals

Page 24

Helping the Hospice

Pages 30-31

Easter Fun for Kids

Page 38

Chiming In

Pages 40-41

Jack’s Tracks -

Ashurst’s Beacon

Pages 70-73

March 2021

Image courtesy

of Archives:

Wigan & Leigh

Wigan’s

Civic Spirit

Pages 14-17

Cover photo © Ian Bonnell Photograpthy

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New Season Online

Hidden away behind the positive headlines

of the Prime Minister’s road map, the one

leading us to those sunny uplands, was the

caveat that local or regional lockdowns may come into

force if infections rise again.

Here in Wigan, we’ve had a bellyful of lockdown

restrictions and every single one of us has a part to play

in making sure that this doesn’t happen again. Crucially,

when you are asked to go for your jabs, for God’s sake, go.

Affirming yourself as a proud anti-vaxxer might get you

your 15 seconds of infamy on social media, but your

actions could lead to you joining the many anti-vaxxers

who have ended up in ICU, bitterly regretting their words.

Whilst a healthy sense of scepticism is a necessary quality

to have in this world of fake news, wilfully ignoring

scientific facts that show how well the vaccines have

performed is unacceptable behaviour, and could be

downright dangerous for both you and the unfortunate

people around you.

Let’s just imagine being able to sink a pint at the local

pub, meet with friends for a meal, hug your family, get

your hair cut, cheer on Wigan at the DW, book a sunshine

holiday and all the other pleasures that we used to take

for granted - but will never do so again.

The faster we all have the jab, the faster we’ll be able to do

those things again. So when that call comes, get the jab!

Come on Wigan, you can do it!

Chris Pearce, Publisher

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

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info@locallife247.co.uk

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Local Life 247 Ltd, PO Box 779, Wigan WN1 9UB

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This month’s highlights

14. Wigan’s Civic Spirit

Contents

20. Travel

The Sweet Life - discover Puglia.

30. Help the Hospice

40. Chiming In

26. Home Interiors

Growing in style.

42. Tech

Tracking your outdoor exercise

56. Home

Create a cosy retreat!

60. Puzzles Pages

Try these brainteasers for size!

64. Food

Tartiflette and a lovely lemon tart.

66. Health

Self help for sore knees.

70. Jack’s Tracks visits Ashurst’s Beacon

75. Motoring

Fiat 500 - hybrid power.

79. Home & Garden Services

Find the best local traders for you.

46. Passion for Plants 50. Walking for NWAA

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Survey Results

The editorial and survey in the last issue of Local Life

magazine about the future of the stadium in Edge Hall

Road in Orrell prompted a huge response from readers.

The stadium once homed Orrell RU and until last year was

the training ground for Wigan Warriors.

Tracy Monckton, the Press Officer at Orrell RU,

commented “We had a massive response to our survey

and 929 people took the time and trouble to complete the

survey (either electronically or the paper based version);

which is amazing and shows the high level of interest the

community has in the future of Edge Hall Road.

‘We are in the process of analysing all the results –

especially all the comments and suggestions people

have included with their survey answers – which again

highlights the fact that, should the project come to

fruition, it would be a well-loved and well used facility!”

“Brighter Better Orrell and Orrell RUFC would like to say

thank you to each and everyone of you who took the time

to complete the survey; we look forward to updating you

with more information and details in the very near future.”

Cleaner Poolstock

A road improvement scheme has started on Poolstock

and Poolstock Lane. The objective of the scheme is to

move motorists from this congested traffic corridor onto

the new A49 link road. The works will include creating

new parking bays, a zebra crossing and enhanced walking

and cycling facilities, which will transform the route as an

attractive residential road.

Cllr. David Molyneux, leader of Wigan Council said:

“Poolstock and Poolstock Lane make up one of the

borough’s busiest areas, often seeing queues in peak

periods, which caused environmental impacts like poor

air quality.

“The planned improvements will also make Poolstock

and the immediate surrounding areas more attractive

and accessible to residents.”

Wigan Council has been allocated £800,000 of funding

to make the changes, which will take place over the next

four months.

Easter Scarecrows

The Standish-based charity, My Life, is hosting a scarecrow

competition to be held over the Easter Bank Holiday.

Organisers are asking anybody who would like to take

part to design and make their own scarecrow before

Good Friday on 2nd April.

Entrants can bring their creations to the Thomson House

Equestrian Centre, off Pepper Lane in Standish, where

there will be a prize for the best scarecrow.

Your scarecrow design will also be helping the charity

to keep bigger birds away from the site to protect the

goslings, ducklings and chicks that are due to be born

this spring.

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please contact My Life on 01257 472900 or email info@

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Camp Out for The Brick

The Brick is inviting the community to come together

again on Saturday 27 March for the Big Back Garden Sleep

to raise much-needed funds for those facing poverty due

to the pandemic.

The charity has experienced a 142% increase in demand

for emergency food parcels over the last 12 months, and

a significant upturn in calls to the helpline looking for

support during these extremely difficult times.

During the lockdowns, the charity has closed its shops and

most regular fundraising activities have been cancelled.

As a result, The Brick is calling for the community to help

raise £10,000 which will enable the charity to provide the

emergency food parcels and emergency accommodation

that are needed now more than ever before.

Louise Green, CEO at The Brick, said: “Last year, we had to

cancel the annual town centre sleepout and instead held

the first Big Back Garden Sleep in April. We were humbled

by how quickly the community came together and the

£24,000 that was raised has helped The Brick to continue

to provide support to the community over the last 12

months.

‘This year we want to encourage even more families to

join us to not only raise more money than last year but

to have a wonderful night together. Our community

has shown incredible support to The Brick over the last

12 months and without their help, we simply wouldn’t

be able to continue to support families facing poverty

throughout the pandemic”.

Staff and volunteers at The Brick will be releasing a host of

activities, games and fire pit recipes to make the evening a

really special one for all who take part. The Brick has asked

that all those who take part in the Big Back Garden Sleep

to donate via the Just Giving page or raise sponsorship for

sleeping outside for the night.

To join The Brick’s Big Back Garden Sleep, people can

ensure that they are notified when new activities are

released: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrickWigan

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World Book Day

To mark World Book Day on March 4th, The Friends’ of

Appley Bridge All Saints have organised a free walking

trail which is running until Sunday March 28th.

The trail consists of 12 posters hidden around Appley

Bridge, all designed by children at the school.

There is a choice of two activities for children to complete:

either a scavenger hunt for ages 0-7, or a crossword

puzzle for ages 7+. Simply follow the map around the

village to find the posters and complete the activities. You

could really get into the spirit by dressing up as characters

from your favourite books!

Kate Hayes, The Chair of the Friends’ said, “Thank you to all

the teachers for organising the artwork, and to the local

businesses and organisations who are displaying posters

for us. We hope you enjoy the trail and don’t forget to

share your pictures with us via our social media sites!”

Kate added, “Please ensure that you follow all COVID-19

regulations and advice from the UK Government whilst

taking part in our trail. There are a few ‘rules’ to follow

listed on the information pack.”

To access the activities and map, just register for free at

bit.ly/ABAS-WBD-trail and you will receive links to

download the information pack.

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Church Branches Out

An ancient Upholland church is

ease. The community gardeners’

planning to deliver more than just

religious services.

From 15th March, St Thomas the

Martyr on Church Street will open

part of the church as a Post Office

branch, almost six years after the

village’s Post Office closed. The Post

group is now up and running from

the church, and the Hub group also

has long term plans to stage concerts

and open a visitors’ centre, also at the

church. Volunteers are the lifeblood

of this project and are needed to

help make all this grow and flourish.

Office will operate between the

Member Helen Foster said “No

hours of 9am-5.30pm from Monday

matter what your circumstances and

to Friday and from 9am-1pm

background, skills and abilities are,

Saturday.

During the pandemic, personnel

from the church and the wider

Upholland community including the

parish council and schools have come together to create

there is a volunteering opportunity

for you”.

If you’d like to volunteer for the

community hub, you can download

an applidation for from the website here www.

a new community hub, and the Post Office is just one of uphollanddalton.org.uk/up-holland-community-hub or

the changes planned for the church.

email info@uphollandcommunityhub.org.uk.

A new café called Becket’s Café and a community cinema

will open at the church as soon as lockdown restrictions

The Upholland Community Hub is also on Facebook as @

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Wigan’s

Civic Spirit

by Nicola Gray

Civic buildings have been used for generations as central

landmarks, symbols of power, dominance and authority,

providing public services and meeting points for local

people. Over the years buildings under the civic umbrella

have come to include libraries, town halls, concert halls,

theatres, public squares, government buildings and schools.

There are civic buildings in Wigan which are still being

used for their original purpose whilst others have

undergone a merry-go-round of re-purposing over the

years. Some are iconic and recognisable in equal measure

and a few are hidden in plain sight.

on the corner of Rodney Street and King Street at a cost

of £12,000. Initially used as the borough’s courts, civic

leaders moved their offices into the building in 1882

after the demolition of the Shambles. This was used as

a Town Hall until 1990, when the council moved its staff

to the current Town Hall, on Library Street. Despite being

a Grade II listed building, Wigan’s second town hall was

eventually demolished and turned into a car park.

The present Town Hall, designed by Briggs and

Wolstenholme in the Baroque style, was originally the

Mining and Technical College until the college moved

Local Life takes a closer look at some of Wigan’s best

examples of civic buildings, to try and understand the

history behind them and how important they were, and

still are, to our community.

Town Hall

The first Wigan Town Hall came into being in

1720. This two-storey building, known as the

Shambles, was built in Market Place for

£2,000 and the town’s MPs footed the

bill. It was demolished in 1882.

In 1866, an Italianate style

building with large round

headed doorways

and windows

was built

Wigan Mining & Technical College

now the Town Hall, Library Street

Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street 15

to new facilities in Walkden Avenue in 1990. The Grade II

listed Town Hall is most noticeable for its red brick with

terracotta dressings and green slate roofs, and its most

recognisable feature are the steps that lead up to the

central porch. It was officially opened by the Princess of

Wales on 25th November 1991.

During a renovation in 2016, contractors discovered

a hidden network of tunnels, thought to be part of a

heating system, as well an ornate mosaic floor and an

antique stained-glass window. The Town Hall is still

a central Wigan landmark today and as well as being

home to the borough’s councillors it plays host to

wedding ceremonies, civil partnerships and citizenship

ceremonies.

Wigan Little Theatre

Wigan Little Theatre started life in 1893 as the Alliance

Hall, home to the Salvation Army and a local meeting

point for residents. It later became the Alliance Picture

House, known locally as Canada Pictures, before closing

its doors and remaining derelict for many

years.

After World War 2, Wigan Little Theatre Group

made the Crompton Street premises their

new home, raising £3,500 to transform the

building into a 250-seat theatre.

Old Town Hall, Rodney Street

Curtains opened on the group’s first

production on Wednesday 10th March,

1947 with a rousing performance of Oliver

Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer’. And as

they say, the rest is history, the red-bricked

building has been at the centre of the town’s

entertainment scene for more than 70 years.

Museum of Wigan Life

This beautiful, red-bricked building started life as Wigan

Public Library on 7th May 1878. The Grade II listed building

was designed by noted architect, Alfred Waterhouse in

an Elizabethan style and it was built on the site of the old

Wigan Grammar School. It is said that this is where George

Orwell researched his book, The Road to Wigan Pier, in 1936.

In 1990 the library was relocated to the Town Hall (and

later to the Life Centre). In 1992, the newly formed Wigan

Heritage Services opened the History Shop, hosting

exhibitions and the Wigan local history collection, parish

registers and census returns on the first floor.

The History Shop was closed in 2009 and following

a £1.6million Heritage Lottery Fund refurbishment,

reopened as the Museum of Wigan Life in 2010. The

building was given a new lease of life and new features

included an extra staircase, family study area and a

refurbished reception area, meeting room and shop. At

the time we went to press, the Museum is temporarily

closed due to the pandemic but the team are still

providing online events.

Civic Buildings

This imposing, red-bricked building on the corner of

Parson’s Walk and New Market Street was originally a food

and grain warehouse called Rushton Mill. The Mill was

built in 1900, extended in 1905 and still proudly carries

the Rushton name atop its three storeys.

The building was later renamed the Civic Buildings

but ask any Wiganer to tell you name of the building,

and the answer will come back loud and clear, ‘the gas

showrooms’. The building overlooked the constant stream

of people waiting with their suitcases to go on day trips

and holidays with local coach companies.

The building underwent a £5m refurbishment in 2013

for the Wigan UTC, and the former grain store became

a pioneering vertical farm and process hall. After the

Museum of Wigan Life

(formerly Wigan Public Library), Rodney Street entrance

Civic Buildings,

Parsons Walk

closure of Wigan UTC, Wigan & Leigh College announced

at the end of 2020 they are to take on the building and

open a Centre for Advanced Technical Studies.

The Royal Court

Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre on King

Street opened its doors on the

22nd of November 1886. Designed

by architect Richard T. Johnson,

who was also responsible for the

redesigns of the Theatre Royal and

Empire Theatres, the Royal Court

was widely believed to be one of the

most attractive playhouses in the

area, costing £18,000.

The Royal Court Theatre entertained

the people of Wigan and beyond

with live entertainment for the next

forty years until 1930, when

projection

was

and

installed,

the

equipment

silver screen took over. The Theatre reopened as the Court

Cinema in December 1930. In spring 1974 the cinema

closed and since that time, the building as acted as a

bingo hall and, more recently, a bar called The Hub.

The team behind The Old Courts bought it at auction

in 2018. The Grade II Listed building retains many of its

original features including the circle, complete with seats,

which was closed off to the ceiling with a plasterboard

partition. In addition, the original orchestra pit still exists

beneath the floor of what were the cinema stalls. The

team at The Old Courts plan to restore and reinstate

the Royal Court Theatre to its former glory and

make it a place of entertainment once

again.

Images courtesy of Archives:

Wigan & Leigh

The Royal Court,

King Street

Dreams Come True

Local social enterprise company Daffodils Dreams has to be given a big storage space to sort out the appeal.

launched an Easter appeal to provide Easter gifts for Social workers and schools have been contacted for their

disadvantaged youngsters.

referrals and will distribute them to children before Easter”.

Daffodils Dreams ran a similar appeal at Christmas to

provide disadvantaged children with gift boxes on

Christmas Eve, and the appeal was widely supported by

both businesses and members of the public, bringing

Christmas cheer to hundreds of youngsters.

The organisation was set up two years ago to create

opportunities for children and their families who find

themselves living in hardship in the Wigan area. Daffodils

Dreams provided Easter gifts

in previous years via selected

schools to those in need, but

this year the appeal has widened

thanks to the number of bighearted

local businesses who

have again offered to help.

Maureen Holcroft from Poolstock,

who runs Daffodils Dreams, said:

“We have been lucky enough

Can you help? Eggs and other Easter-based gifts for

children, such as bonnets or cuddly toy chicks can be

donated before Easter at the following drop-off points;

Alan Batt Estate Agents on Market Street in Wigan, Faith

Boutique on Cross Street in Standish, Chorley Nissan on

Pottery Road and The Balcarres Arms in Haigh. The closing

date for donations is Friday 26th March in order for them

to be distributed by Easter.

For more information about

Daffodils Dreams, visit the

website at www.daffodilsdreams.

org or their Facebook page @

daffodilsdreamswigan or call

Maureen on 07896 811178.

Pictured is Maureen with

members of staff at Alan Batt

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A new community grocery store

is on a mission to make food

accessible to anyone in the town

who needs help with their weekly

grocery bills.

The Edge Community Grocery

Store recently opened to help

struggling residents bridge the

gap between food banks and

supermarkets.

Based on Riveredge, off Pottery Road in Wigan (WN3

5AB), the Community Grocery is an initiative of UK charity,

The Message Trust. The new Wigan store, being run in

partnership with Today’s Community Church, hopes to

help feed hundreds of families every week.

Members can shop from 9am-4pm every weekday and

will be able to bag a potential saving of up to £40 on a

regular supermarket visit. Memberships cost £5 for the

year and then you pay £3 for each shop, where you can

select up to 20 grocery items, twice a week.

In the store you will find the same range of products

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you would expect to see in your

local supermarkets, including

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supermarkets.

The Community Groceries are

about more than just food.

Members will also have access to a range of other services

including employment clubs, debt advice, and cookery

courses.

Andy Hawthorne OBE, Chief Executive and Founder of

The Message Trust said: “Community Groceries are all

about making it easier for our members to put food on

the table, whilst also providing them with support and

courses too. We can’t wait to welcome people to the new

Community Grocery.”

To find out more about The Edge Community Grocery

please visit the website at www.communitygrocery.org.

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The

Sweet Life

Where are you going for your first holiday AC (After Covid?).

A holiday is the top of everyone’s to do list for 2021, ideally to

a destination with sunshine, good food and the new ‘must

haves’ - access to good health facilities and close enough to

get home quickly should we need to.

After much deliberation, we plumped for Italy. After a

year like 2020, a bit of la dolce vita is much required and

very welcome, thank you. Italy sounds like a safe bet, but

rather than face the crowds of Rome, Florence and Milan

(and the prices in Venice), we’ve opted to travel south

to the Mezzogiorno to discover the little known and

ruggedly beautiful region of Puglia.

Situated in the boot heel of Italy, Puglia offers everything

the Italophile craves: ancient towns steeped in the history

of many cultures; extravagant architecture, food to die

for and the olive green seas of the Adriatic. The senses

of travellers, which may have dulled by frequent visits to

Italy, will once again awaken as they find release in places

like Lecce, known as the Florence of the South, and other

beautiful Pugliese towns and villages.

But it is perhaps outside of its cities that Puglia shines

brightest. From the ancient countryside to its dramatically

broken coastlines, and above all, its proud and generous

people, eager to share the delights of Puglia with you.

Let us start in the baroque splendour of Lecce, where

buildings of beauty and interest are to be discovered

almost around every corner. The Lecce Cathedral,

originally built back in 1144, is just one of numerous

religious buildings of note which are over 500 years old

in compact Lecce. The city’s amphitheatre, built by the

Romans, is situated near

Sant’Oronzo Square and was

once able to seat more than

25,000 people.

The city has a long traditional

affinity with Greek culture

and the Messapians who

founded the city are said to

have been Cretans. Even to

this day, a group of nearby

towns not far from Lecce,

the griko language is still

spoken. Whilst visiting in this

gorgeous baroque grandeur,

you can soak up the ambience

of Leece’s streets, cosy cafes and elegant boutiques.

Most visitors pass by the port of Bari on the way to Lecce,

but bustling Bari doesn’t lack history or culture. The old

town contains the bones of St Nicholas (aka Santa Claus

– yes, that Santa Claus!) in its Basilica di San Nicola, and

there’s an excellent archaeological museum. Superb

seafood and a bustling street food scene in Bari appeals

to all foodies. Bari’s port is a point of departure for those

adventurous travellers departing across the Adriatic for

the shores of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania or Greece.

Strategically placed atop the steep Pizzomunno cliffs

between two sweeping sandy beaches is Vieste.

Surrounded by the Parco Nazionale del Gargano,

Vieste is perfect for cycling and hiking and all things

considered, it is one of the south’s most complete all-inone

destinations for the whole family.

Discover Undiscovered

Italy!

Fly/Coach Tour of Puglia

including Lecce & Vieste

£1,169 p.p.

8 days in 4* hotels

Most meals included

Price based on 2 sharing – single passenger price is £1,344.

Depart from Manchester on 4/4/22 – other dates available

Independent Travel Specialist

Riviera offer over 100 global escorted fly/coach tours.

Call us today or pop in to collect a Riviera brochure.

200 Main Street, Billinge, WN5 7PE | Tel: 01744 893291 | www.markentravel.co.uk

Lonely Planet describes the town as ‘a cross between

Naples and Dubrovnik, with a bit of Puglian magic mixed

in’. Some of the finest vistas at Vieste though are actually

at sea, as the nearby coastline is made up of grottoes and

arches, their calcareous rock shaped by water and wind,

so do take in a boat trip whilst visiting Vieste.

Otranto is Puglia’s and Italy’s eastern-most town, and

is one of the region’s most charming and picturesque

towns; a fascinating mix of history, architecture, sea-front

promenades and an amazing white sandy beach with

turquoise waters.

But it wasn’t always like this – when 18,000 Turkish

soldiers landed in 1480, they laid waste to the town and its

population. 800 survivors barricaded themselves inside

the Cathedral with their bishop, Stefano Agricoli, to pray

for deliverance. Divine intervention was not forthcoming,

however, and they were beheaded whilst their bishop

was cut to pieces and his head paraded round the town

on a pike. Years later, a Papal decree formally beatified

the 800, who became known as the Blessed Martyrs of

Otranto.

Just beyond the borders of Puglia, but often visited by

tourists is Matera, the jewel of neighbouring Basilicata,

which is reputed to be the world’s third-longest

continuously inhabited human settlement.

Natural caves in the tufa limestone attracted the first

inhabitants perhaps 7,000

years ago. In the 1950’s,

Matera’s clustered sassi

(cave dwellings), were

little more than one-room

caves containing appalling

poverty and unthinkable

living conditions, and the

town was denounced as the

‘Shame of Italy’. Today, the

value of this extraordinarily

built environment has been

recognised, and in 2019 the

city was recognised as a

European Capital of Culture.

The sweet life in Puglia is just

waiting for you…

One final word...

If there is one thing that the pandemic has painfully illustrated, it

is the very real value of booking via a travel agent. Many of those

who booked independently without cover sadly lost money, whilst

others struggled to get to where they need to be.

Whilst booking via a travel agent can be more expensive sometimes,

in todays’ current travel climate it’s worth using a travel agent, if

only to have an experience and knowledgeable person on your side

should the unexpected happen whilst you are on holiday.

family fun

advEntuRE

luXuRy

City BREaK

Rail EXPlORE

CRuiSE/RivER CRuiSE

Call your personal travel expert

01942 912334 / 07786 311 282

julie.moss@notjusttravel.com

@NJTJulieM

www.juliemoss.notjusttravel.com

WEddinG/HOnEymOOn

A brand-new online choir, based in Wigan, has been

singing their way through the latest lockdown. Since

forming in January, 120 voices have joined the Local

Vocals choir, taking in people as far as Preston, Lytham

and Chorley. But how does an online choir work?

Choir leader, Laura Bennett, said, “We deliver two live

tutorials a week to help with mastering the harmony part

and then we host two live Zoom sessions each week as

well. This format helps our Local Vocals to attend the live

session feeling more prepared. The live sessions are also

a much-needed opportunity to socialise with each other,

check in and have a good laugh!”

Sessions currently run on Mondays & Wednesdays, but

once COVID restrictions are lifted the choir hopes to

have meeting points in Wigan, St Helens, and Leyland.

Meanwhile Laura will still be offering online help to those

who aren’t comfortable with face-to-face group meetings.

LeafLet Distribution

service

Your leaflets delivered alongside this magazine

to up to 39,000 local homes

Flexible service for all businesses, large and small

Prices from £27.50 per thousand (minimum 4,000 leaflets)

Call or email us for a Leaflet Coverage List

then simply chose the postcode areas

you want to target

Call us on 01695 627999

Email chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

www.locallife247.co.uk

Local Vocals

During lockdown 3.0, the

choir decided to put their

vocal cords to the test

and help to raise funds for

Wigan Stars, releasing their

online recording of ‘Best of

My Love’ by the Emotions.

Wigan Stars is a charity

that offers young people

and adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to

develop social skills through planned activities.

Like many local charities over the past year, Wigan Stars

has been affected by Covid-19 restrictions and the aim is

to raise £500 to go towards the much-needed service. At

the time we went to press, the choir had raised more than

£300 through Facebook video shares alone.

Laura added, “Working with local musicians, supporting

local charity, and celebrating the local community

we have here across Lancashire & Greater

Manchester is especially important to us. We are

delighted that we can support such a wonderful

cause through the joy of singing together,

especially during this difficult time.”

GPs

Tracked

Distribution

DesiGn

& Print

services

also available

LocalLife

To watch the online recording, donate to the

fundraiser or to find out more information about

the choir, please visit www.localvocalschoir.

com or find Local Vocals on Facebook at www.

facebook.com/localvocalschoir.

Don’t Miss Out

on the Staycation

Boom!

We are now taking bookings from 17th May

2021 and UK holidays are going FAST!

Call us on 01942 728960 now

for your Free 2021 brochure

or download a copy from

www.memorylanetravel.co.uk

TheSe exTrA hOliDAyS FOr 2021 Are nOT in The 2021 BrOchUre

Devon Delights Diner Tour

27th June – only £389

5 nights dinner, bed & breakfast

Queens Hotel, Paignton

Entertainment every night, day excursions to

Totnes, Buckfast Abbey, Exmouth & Dartmouth

lake District Diner Tour

28th October – only £299

4 nights dinner, bed & breakfast

Cumbria Grand Hotel, Grange-over-Sands

Day excursions to Ambleside, Bowness

& Ulverston

Diner Tours include; A hostess serving coffees, light lunches and snacks - see website or brochure for full details

DAy excUrSiOnS re-STArT 17Th MAy 2021 See WeBSiTe FOr DeTAilS

holidays ~ Short Breaks ~ Day excursions

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01942 728960 • www.memorylanetravel.co.uk

Memory Lane Holidays is a trading name of Ashcrofts Mini Travel Ltd. Company Number 06950361

Growing in Style

Show off your house plants and keep them happy and healthy

with these great accessories.

FOLLOW A FEW BASIC PRINCIPLES AND YOUR

INDOOR GARDEN IS BOUND TO FLOURISH.

• Regular watering is crucial, but choose an indoor

watering can that doesn’t take up too much space

and looks nice on display. The narrow spout and

high handle help when watering hanging pots,

plants on high shelves or tabletop terrariums.

• Use pruners to remove spent leaves or take off live

stems in order to reshape your plant or encourage

bushier, dense growth. Those with stainless steel

blades are rust-resistant and easy to keep clean.

• Check whether your plant will benefit from

regular misting. Leaf curling, yellowing and brown

leaf edges are all signs that it needs a bit of extra

humidity. Choose a mister with a fine, gentle spray

– the aim is not to make the leaves soaking wet, but

to keep them clean (it helps them photosynthesise)

and change the air quality around them.

Grow your own indoor kitchen

garden with herbs in recycled

planters on a sunny window sill.

Seeds and compost from Dobbies.

Made in London out of Jesmonite

in collaboration with homeware

designer Salt Studios, this handmade

propagation station comes with

a glass test tube to display your

cutting, plus a bookmark with useful

instructions.

Propagation station, £35, Leaf Envy.

Water plants and herbs with a

galvanised steel watering can.

Garden Trading indoor watering can,

£16, Heavenly Homes and Gardens.

A pruner helps maintain healthy,

happy plant growth.

Burgon & Ball house plant pruner,

£12.50, Leaf Envy.

• If you are short on sunlight, try indoor growing

lights, which are more intense than ordinary light

bulbs. They also have a range of colour spectrums

optimised to aid plant growth. Look for all-in-one

kits or separate bulbs or tube lights.

Stylish round

metal hanging

lamp and plant

pot in sleek gold

and black.

£95, Cult

Furniture.

Perfect for orchids and succulents, this plant

mister makes a pretty addition to a kitchen

or bathroom windowsill.

Botanical-style plant mister, £14, Ella James.

This planter combines two styles of

natural rattan. The upper pot includes a

waterproof liner, keeping the lower shelf

(and floors) safe and dry.

Mayfield plant stand, £75, Garden Trading.

These seagrass baskets are tactile and

soft without being floppy.

Redford round baskets, from £40 each,

Neptune.

Try a plant subscription – you’ll be sent

a new plant monthly, with information

and care instructions. A Plant Doctor is

on hand to help with any problems.

Plant & Pot monthly plant subscription,

£35, Leaf Envy.

READY

in 1hr 30mins

plus cooling

Serves 8

Orange

and apricot loaf

Get the kettle on and enjoy a slice of this delicious fruity loaf cake.

Ingredients

175g unsalted butter, softened

175g caster sugar

175g self-raising flour

3 medium eggs

Grated zest and juice from 1 small

orange, plus extra zest to decorate

75g ground almonds

125g ready-to-eat dried apricots,

chopped

Icing sugar, to dust

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 170C / fan 150C / gas mark 3. Grease a 900g (2lb)

loaf tin and line the base and two long sides with baking paper.

2 Place the butter, sugar, flour, eggs and the orange rind and juice in a

bowl. Beat with an electric whisk until thoroughly combined. Toss

together the ground almonds and apricots and fold into the mixture.

3 Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and gently level the surface.

Bake for 50 minutes - 1 hour 10 minutes until risen and golden and a

skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes

then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Serve

dusted with icing sugar and decorated with the extra orange zest.

TIP: If the top of the cake starts to over-brown before the end of the cooking time, cover loosely with a piece of foil.

A Home away from Home

The past year has undoubtably been one of the most

challenging times for families across the UK. We have seen

families separated and shielded from their support network

for almost a year and although many of us live in hope that

these times are coming to an end we continue to live under

the most difficult circumstances we have experienced in

some time.

For the vulnerable and older people it has been an

exceptionally difficult and distressing time as their lives

have been so greatly disrupted with many being left

feeling a sense of confusion and loneliness during long

periods of isolation.

There is, however, a source of respite and relief for those

who are particularly vulnerable, providing much-needed

companionship as well as support for their families.

Bridgewater Day Care is an adult day care service held

at their centre in Golborne, providing a lifeline for those

who are unable to manage independently at home, and

for their family members who have caring responsibilities.

The day care centre is part of a wider service offering

with Bridgewater Home Care, one of the leading home

care providers across the North West winning numerous

awards for the quality of care they provide.

The aim of the Day Centre is to provide a ‘home away from

home’ for clients where they can socialise, interact with

others in the local community and receive the support

and stimulation that they cannot currently receive from

home. It is also a service that aims to give back some

time to the family members that have daily caring

responsibilities and provide a form of respite from the

ongoing challenges of everyday life.

The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 10am to

4pm and provides a variety of activities such as games,

reminiscence therapy, cognitive stimulation, nutritious

meals, arts & crafts, physical activities, armchair aerobics,

refreshments throughout the day and engagement in

technology; all of which aim to improve mental health,

wellbeing and quality of life.

The Day Centre has been fully operational since the

outbreak of the pandemic, implementing full COVID-19

guidelines with social distancing measures in place

including clients sitting 2 meters apart and staff members

wearing full PPE, so clients and their families can rest

assured they are in safe hands.

The services Bridgewater Day Care provide really do

make such an important difference to people’s lives and

for many it has become something they would find it

difficult to live without. Some clients visit the centre one

day a week, whereas others attend the centre every day,

with services being flexible around the needs of clients

and their family members.

For further information about Bridgewater Day Care

or to arrange a visit to the Centre please call the Day

Centre Manager, Lisa, on 01942 723 115.

A privately funded Day Care service providing high quality care

Call us today:

01942 723115

Welcoming new clients

• Activities & entertainment

• Socialisation with others

• Nutritious meals & refreshments

• A stimulating environment

We welcome private clients and those who receive funding for their care

To arrange a consultation, call our centre Manager Lisa on 01942 723 115

Find us on Queen Street, Golborne, Wigan, WA3 3AF

www.bridgewaterdaycare.co.uk

Open 10am-4pm Monday-Friday

info@bridgewaterdaycare.co.uk

Help the Hospice!

By Nicola Gray

2020 was an unprecedented time for most of us, with many

people and businesses facing financial hardship. Wigan

Hospice and the dedicated staff and volunteers have found

themselves in the same position. The charity has had to

cancel fundraising events, close shops for several months

and lottery collectors can no longer collect subscriptions

door to door.

Additionally, fundraising events held by other

organisations, such as the London Marathon, which

also raises funds for the hospice, have also been put on

hold or cancelled. Hospice income has been hit hard by

the COVID-19 pandemic; they are facing a substantial

financial deficit for the year and now, more than ever, they

need your help.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice has been providing palliative

and end of life care for adult patients across Wigan

Borough for almost 40 years. The team annually cares for

around 1,200 people with a life-limiting illness including

cancer, neurological and respiratory conditions.

The hospice needs to raise £3.5million every year to carry

on providing all of its services including community

nursing teams, the Inpatient Unit, complementary

therapy, counselling, bereavement support and their

education service, Hospice in your Care Home.

Kate Gaynor, Head of Income Generation for the hospice,

said: “Income generation has been hit incredibly

hard by COVID-19 and our year has been practically

unrecognisable. We are doing everything we can to

innovate and come up with new ways of generating

funds that won’t be so severely impacted by the ongoing

restrictions but I fear in spite of all our best efforts we are

going to see a drastic drop in income in 20/21.”

Here’s 5 ways you can raise money for

Wigan and Leigh Hospice this year.

Come dine with me competition

Everyone has seen the TV programme, so why not

invite a group of friends to set themselves against each

other. Get 4 groups of 4 to compete, with everyone

putting in £25. The winner from each group of 4 then

plays in a final, the winner receives a cash prize, and the

rest goes to the hospice. Set up now for a date later in

the year to comply with COVID safe regulations.

Car Boot Sale

If you can gather enough sellable items from your

loft or the children’s rooms, you can raise a decent

amount by taking it to the local car boot. Instant cash

for the hospice and you get to de-clutter.

Promise Auction

Ask friends, family and your local community to write

down a promise of what they could do for someone

else, from a years’ worth of garden maintenance and

car valeting to walking your dog and the promise of

time in a holiday home. Auction off the promises to the

highest bidder and donate the money to the hospice.

Foreign Coin Exchange

With foreign holidays off the agenda for the time

being, seize the moment and let all your friends

and family know that you will be collecting foreign

coins to give the money to charity. Foreign currency

can be exchanged back into pounds to add to your

fundraising and the feeling of helping the hospice

will be better than any exchange rate available.

And for those who want to help but

don’t want the faff of organising events

– here are 3 suggestions on how you

can help the hospice.

Play the lottery

just £4.34 per month. There are 30 prizes to be won

every week including a top prize of £1,000

Donate

Commit to making a regular donation by joining the

‘Daisy Chain’. Sign up at www.wlh.org.uk

Small Change

Every little helps and all adds up. Get a copper box

for your loose change and send it back once it is full!

Hold a Scavenger Hunt

This one is great at Easter or Christmas time and to

get the kids and their school involved. Charge for

entry and hide some themed, edible treats and give

each team some clues to try and find them. The

fastest team to gather the most items wins and gets

to eat what they have found.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice, Kildare Street, Hindley, WN2 3HZ

01942 525566

Email: fundraising@wlh.org.uk

www.wlh.org.uk

Book to Dip Into

Sometimes we just can’t face a whole novel or autobiography.

With these books, you can dip in and out whenever you have a spare five minutes.

Dear NHS: 100 Stories

to Say Thank You

Adam Kay

Adam Kay brings us a series of

essays and musings from a range

of household names, from Malala

Yousafzai to Dame Julie Walters and

Johnny Vegas. Each tale is about how

the NHS has stepped in to help the

writer. There’s a story of a suspected heart attack that

turned out to be trapped wind, several about household

accidents (often involving kitchen knives) and plenty of

sentimental stories to boot. Plus, all profits go to charity.

Encounters: A

Photographic Journey

Levison Wood

Award-winning reportage photographer

Levison Wood has travelled to more

than 100 countries. Encounters brings

together 140 of his images, along

with text about each one. You’ll meet

a young shepherd girl in Ethiopia,

resourceful teenagers in the Congo, stranded nomads,

fishermen in Yemen and families in war-torn regions.

Sapiens: A Graphic

Novel

Yuval Noah Harari et al.

The original Sapiens is fascinating,

but there’s an awful lot of

information to take in. If you’re

interested in the origin of humans,

but want something a little easier to

digest, try this instead. It’s the first volume in a graphicnovel

adaptation of the global bestseller. Full-colour

illustrations and straightforward text take the reader on a

journey from the very birth of humankind. It’s absorbing,

suitable for older children as well as adults and has a

good spattering of humour throughout.

Toksvig’s Almanac 2021

Sandi Toksvig

Fancy ‘An Eclectic Meander Through

the Historical Year’? The main focus

is on women that have been all but

forgotten. There’s Begum Samru – an

Indian dancer who led an army of

mercenaries, Ida B. Wells – an activist

and suffragist who co-founded the

largest civil rights organisation in the United States, and

Annette Kellerman, whose stunts including diving from

60 feet into a pool of crocodiles. There are also poems,

trivia and other fascinating snippets.

Back to Nature: How to

Love Life and Save It

Chris Packham and Megan

McCubbin

Whether you’re an avid nature lover

and wondering how to stop the

catastrophic decline in biodiversity,

or you’re feeling disconnected

from the wild and want to reap the

benefits of it once again, this is a great book to help you.

There are lots of interesting titbits to digest over a coffee

(ever wondered how trees communicate?) and plenty of

ideas for how to take action.

The Repair Shop: Tales

from the Workshop of

Dreams

If you love the TV series about expert

craftspeople restoring much loved

family heirlooms, you won’t want

to miss the accompanying book. It

goes into more detail about some

of the most interesting items shown

in the series, from a rusty miner’s helmet to a circus

performer’s dress. It’s the book version of a mug of tea

and hot buttered crumpet.

Windows | | | |

01772

601200

E: info@select-windows.com

W: www.select-windows.com

Towngate Works, Dark Lane, Mawdesley L40 2QU

UNIVERSITY CENTRE ST HELENS

OUR DIGITAL 2021 HIGHER EDUCATION GUIDE IS NOW LIVE!

Discover a variety of higher-level qualifications and degrees, studied on

a full and part-time basis, with smaller class sizes and lower tuition fees.

Stay local and study a degree right in the heart of St Helens!

• Applied Chemistry

• Applied Microbiology

• Business Management

• Computing

• Criminal Justice

• Early Years

• Engineering

• Exercise, Health and Fitness

• Fine Art Painting

• Foundation Diploma in Art,

Design and Media Practice

• Game Art

• Graphic Design

• Media Production

• Social Policy, Health

and Housing

• Teacher Training

• Theatre and Performance

Download your copy at:

sthelens.ac.uk/applynow

hEritagE opEn days

WhEElton moor Walk

a hEalthiEr hEart

september 2018

Cover photo © Ian Bonnell Photograpthy

Zero Waste Shop Opens

Shops that minimise the

small changes to our shopping

environmental impact of our

consumer habits are springing

up across the UK, and the latest

one has opened in Parbold. The

idea behind zero waste shops is

that shoppers buy just what you

need, making it easy for you to

stock and re-stock your everyday

habits can make a big difference.“

Rachel’s sister Katie Street added,

“A couple of years ago we had

the idea to open a zero-waste

shop but the timing didn’t feel

right, but lockdown has given us

the opportunity to do it and the

feedback we’ve had is incredible.

household items without

A Greener Weigh is the shop our

wasteful packaging.

A Greener Weigh is now open

and is using a multi-purpose

space within The Wayfarer. The family who owns the

restaurant, which is based on Alder Lane in the village,

hopes that the new refill shop will inspire and enable the

local community to be more sustainable.

Rachel Birkett from the Wayfarer said “We want to make

it easy for customers to stock and re-stock everyday

household items without wasteful packaging. Making

community has been waiting for”.

Those Wayfarer customers eager

to sample the food and drink

again need not worry. The new shop is not replacing

the restaurant but will be located in the conservatory,

and this space will switch between shop and restaurant

seamlessly.

The opening times are Wednesday – Saturday from 10am

until 4pm.For more details please visit the shop’s website

www.agreenerweigh.co.uk.

SPRING

foRwaRd

all our magazine

distribution is

monitored using

GPS

tracking

Prepare now

to boost your

business when

lockdown lifts

LocalLife

Wigan North Edition

Education spEcial

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Duo Celebrate

Bike Success

LocalLife

Wigan Edition

Forgotten Buildings:

Winstanley Hall

a BrightEr orrEll

sandstonE trail Walk

FREE

october 2018

FREE

march 2020

St Helens Edition

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with

LocalLife

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Remembering

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october 2018

Call today to discuss how we can help you...

01695 627999 | www.locallife247.co.uk

Members Appeal

A popular community group is looking for members to

join them. The Upholland & District u3a enters its 16th

year in 2021 and now has an impressive 770 members.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the group had over

50 different interest groups meeting on a regular basis.

Groups facilitated the learning of skills and knowledge

in addition to taking every opportunity to socialise with

other members.

The organisation went from being a busy, enthusiastic, and

active group of people, to all having to stay at home and

embrace technology to stay in touch with other members.

Now the restrictions are easing, the group is preparing

for the time when members can meet up and continue

to enjoy all the usual activities. If you are no longer in

full time employment and want more information about

joining the Upholland u3a or the activities they offer, then

please contact Barb Beesley on 01744 603304 or email

bbeesleyu3a@gmail.com.

You can contact other local u3a groups here; Wigan

(01942 324430), Parbold & Newburgh (01772 300407)

and Ashton-in-Makerfield (ashtoninmakerfieldu3a@

outlook.com).

Houses Plan

Plans have been submitted to Wigan Council to transform

the former site of Abraham Guest High School on Orrell

Road into a housing development consisting of 61 homes.

The proposed Morris Homes development consists of 27

four bedroomed houses, 19 three bedroomed houses

and 15 two bedroomed houses, along with 163 parking

spaces. Proposed road access to the development would

be via Orrell Road, and there would also be pedestrian/

cycle access via Redwood Park/Bankes Avenue.

The school was relocated to Greenhey in 2010 and

the site has remained derelict since then. Back in 2015,

planning permission was granted to develop the site into

an elderly care facility consisting of 101 apartments and

30 bungalows, but this scheme fell through.

Further details can be found on www.wigan.gov.uk,

using the planning application reference A/20/90543/

MAJOR. The final date for neighbourhood consultations

is 20/3/21.

Earn extra

cash!

Local Life require distributors

for the following areas;

Newburgh

Ash Brow, Course Lane, Sandy Lane

& Cobbs Brow Lane areas

369 copies £26.76 + leaflet pay

Beautifully furnished

Stone Cottage

Holiday Let

– sleeps up to 4

Situated near Sedbergh,

in the Yorkshire Dales,

and also within easy

reach of the Lake District

Children & pets welcome

Call 01942 216 058

www.millthropcottage.co.uk

Ashton-in-Makerfield

Alexandra Rd & Edward Drive areas

335 copies £24.29 + leaflet pay

Interested?

Please email your name, address,

contact number and date of birth to

sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

Pulling Off - Standish St Wilfrid’s

Chiming In!

By Nicola Gray

The distinctive sound of church bells ringing is deeply rooted

in our culture, the peal of a church bell is the soundtrack

to many of our lasting memories; they add joy to our

celebrations and empathise with our grief.

The melodies we hear from bells today is called ‘change

ringing’. During the sixteenth century church bells began

to be hung with a full wheel, enabling the bell to swing

in a full circle and back again. This gave ringers much

more control of their bell, which allowed sets of bells to

be rung in a continuously changing pattern. The music is

created by moving bells up and down the ringing order in

a sequence known as a method.

There are believed to be around 40,000 bellringers in

the UK, and Wigan has several dedicated groups across

the borough. They fall under the Wigan branch of the

Lancashire Association of Change Ringers and they are

always on the lookout for new members.

Chris Barr, the assistant Ringing Master for the Wigan

Peal Band - Parbold

branch told Local

Life, “Ringing is

great fun and

really is an activity

that anybody of

any age can start

to learn. I got into

ringing because

it was something

that my Mum

started up when

we moved to

Standish in 1994.

I started learning Sophie Barr - Learner - 8 Years Old

towards the end

of primary school

and I’ve been involved in one way or another ever since.”

Chris currently holds the post of Ringing Master for two

towers in the branch; Standish, St Wilfrid’s & Coppull,

St Johns, as well as being the Assistant Ringing Master

for the whole branch which takes in towers including

Hindley and Newton-le-Willows all the way to Rainford

and Southport.

Chris added, “At the moment we aren’t meeting to ring, but

once COVID restrictions are lifted we’d love to hear from

new ringers. So, if anyone wants to have a go at ringing,

or would even just like to have a look at what’s going on,

then they’re welcome to contact me. We have a number of

people across the area who have been on training courses

and would love to teach people how to ring.”

For more information about how to get into ringing please contact Chris

by emailing assistantringingmaster@lacrwiganbranch or go online at www.lacr.uk/branch/wigan-branch

Ringing Myths Explained:

• There is a lot more to

ringing than just pulling

a rope. Controlling a bell

takes physical skill, whilst

change ringing needs

mental skill to keep up.

• English bells are hardly

ever rung by machine.

When you hear bells

ringing, there is a band

of skilled ringers in

the tower who have

practiced and honed Standish - St Wilfrid’s - 7th Bell

their skills.

• Ringers can be male and female, old or young, and

from all walks of life. Skill is the key when it comes to

bell ringing.

• You do not have to be a member of the church to ring.

Many ringers do it for the satisfaction that they get

from ringing, for services and being part of a group.

R BANKS & SON

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Independent Funeral Directors

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are one of the largest independent funeral

directors in the Wigan Area

ESTABLISHED 1921

Golden Charter Pre Arrangement Funeral Plans

and Memorial Plans available

FINANCE AVAILABLE on Funerals &

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Platt Bridge 01942 863936, Atherton 01942 318025

Head Office:

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Pemberton, Wigan WN5 8BB

www.rbanksandson.co.uk T: 01942 222156

• Ringers do not need to be strong, once you have

learnt the technique you will be in full control of the

bell. And don’t worry about being taken up by the

rope, this is so rare that most ringers have never seen

it happen!

Bells - Coppull St Johns

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COMPUTER

If you prefer pedalling to

pounding pavements, Sigma’s

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track your performance on

every ride and deliver every

conceivable kind of statistic.

£59, Wiggle.co.uk

Track your outdoor

Exercise

Great gadgets from simple trackers to the smartest smartwatches

One of the simplest and cheapest exercise trackers

is the pedometer, which tells you how many steps

you’ve walked in a given period. There are lots of them

around for very little money: for example, the Omron

Walking Style One Step Counter, a pocket-sized digital

pedometer, is around £16.

However, if you’d like to track more than just steps

you’ll need to look at a dedicated fitness tracker. These

aren’t necessarily much more expensive – you can get

Huawei’s attractive and effective Huawei Band 4 for less

than £30 – but they’re more useful, as they typically add

heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, calories burned

and other key data. Some also offer sleep tracking.

Although they’re battery-powered they usually last

much longer than smartwatches, typically going for

over a week between charges and not needing long to

recharge. There are versions designed for kids, too, such

as the Fitbit Ace, which track activity but not calories.

The next step up from fitness trackers is the smart

watch. Apple’s watch is the market leader here, but it’s

also one of the most expensive, and you can get good

smartwatches such as the Samsung Galaxy (£159) or

the Huawei GT2e (£99) for a lot less. These devices offer

a wider range of fitness tracking features and usually

connect to your smartphone to share data with your

health and/or fitness apps.

In many cases the line between fitness trackers is blurred.

For example, the Fitbit Versa Lite is a smartwatch, but

really it’s a super-powered fitness tracker and unlike

more expensive devices you can’t install your own apps.

The latest generation of the Apple Watch is really

impressive, both as a smartwatch and as a fitness

tracker. It isn’t cheap – the latest model, the Series 6,

starts at £379 – but the more affordable Apple Watch

SE starts at £269. The older Apple Watch Series 3 is £199,

although we think the SE is more capable and worth

paying slightly more for.

HONOR BAND 5 SMART

FITNESS TRACKER

A fully featured fitness tracker

for under £30? That’s what

this little marvel from Honor

delivers. It’s a great little device

available in a range of colours.

£29.99, Amazon.co.uk

OMRON

WALKING STYLE

ONE 2.0 STEP

COUNTER

APPLE WATCH SE

This is the current

mid-range Apple

Watch and it’s

effectively a cut-down

version of the rangetopping

Series 6. It’s

packed with fitness

features.

£269, Apple.com

This pocket-sized

device contains

the same kind of

3D accelerometer sensor you’ll find in smartphones, enabling you

to track your steps, kilometres and miles.

£15.99, Argos.co.uk

FITBIT INSPIRE HR

This Fitbit is cheap but that

doesn’t mean it’s lacking in

features. It has a workout

monitor and heart rate

sensing as well as step

and calorie counting, and

it syncs nicely with Fitbit’s

phone app.

£59, Fitbit.com

Quiz

Theme: Happy

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2. “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”

is part of a famous speech from which William

Shakespeare play?

3. Also the title of a well known TV show, what

word meaning “extreme happiness” can also

refer to a type of song that originated in 18thcentury

England and is sung by three or more

unaccompanied voices?

4. The TV sitcom Happy Days was set in which city

in Wisconsin?

5. Who famously sang Happy Birthday Mr.

President at a birthday celebration of John F.

Kennedy held at Madison Square Garden in

1962?

6. In March 2020, which country was named

the happiest country in the world for a third

consecutive year?... a) Switzerland; b) Finland;

or c) Thailand?

7. Is the first note sung in the song Happy Birthday

To You higher or lower in pitch than the last

note sung in the song?

8. In 2014, which internet-based company

launched a new marketing campaign that

featured the slogan “find your happy”?

9. Which 2019 film was advertised with the tagline

“put on a happy face”?

10. In 1982, what became the first UK number one

hit single to have the word “happy” in its title?

Quiz solutions can be found on page 93 of this magazine

The Perfect Buy-to-Let

Buy-to-Let Guide

With investment

properties on the rise

and an ever-growing

demand for rental

properties, it’s clear

that we haven’t lost our

appetite for buy to let.

Here’s a few essential tips

in our mini guide to the

world of property rental:

Know your Market -

Who is your ideal tenant?

If you’re after a single

professional, you might consider a small flat or studio, in

a good, central area. If you want a family, for a longer-term

let, you might look at three-bedroom properties in the

suburbs.

How Much to Invest - So you’ve got a bit of money in

the bank and it’s not gathering much interest. Do your

homework. Research mortgage options and calculate

your likely profit. Only then are you ready to go out and

start spending.

Location, Location, Location - Key to a great buy-to-let

is having it somewhere where people want to live. A city/

town centre location, close to transport links or handy for

shops – all these will help drive tenants to your door.

Layout - Most modern apartments and houses will have

straightforward layouts. If you have an older property,

check if you can change the layout easily because that’s a

good way to increase its appeal to tenants.

Add Value - Even if it’s not going to add to your rental

income, it’s often worth making improvements such as

double glazing, a new

bathroom or kitchen.

They’ll add value when

you come to sell, and

they’ll make the house

easier to let.

DIY or GSI? – Are you

planning to do the

renovation yourself or

will you Get Someone

In? Weigh up the cost,

the time it will take and

whether you are capable.

Remember that skilled

workers can often do the work in a fraction of the time.

Decoration - Don’t spend too much money on the

decoration – you won’t be living there. New carpets

throughout can change the feel of the property. You might

get away with new kitchen cupboard doors and fresh

grout in the bathroom, rather than starting from scratch.

Presentation - Give everything a good clean. Bathrooms

and kitchens should be sparkling. If there’s a garden, clear

it. Kerb appeal is crucial when you are selling a house and

tenants are no different to buyers in their responses.

Hidden Costs - You need to be able to cover your costs if

the property is left empty for a couple of weeks or months,

or if the tenant gets into rent arrears. You can get landlord

insurance to cover this.

These tips are just a small selection of things to

consider when you’re thinking of buying a buyto-let.

For more information and for a sample of

perfectly suited buy-to-let homes in the Wigan area,

call me now on 01942 233 999.

Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has

worked within the Wigan property market for over 30 years.

Alan Batt

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out his blog at

www.alanbatt.co.uk

Ravencrag, Hall Lane, Wrightington, WN6 9EL £600,000

Dating back to the early 1900’s, this magnificent, detached house occupies a large plot near Parbold

Hill and offers stunning internal presentation. Comprising of 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 reception

areas, conservatory and breakfast kitchen, inspection is essential to truly appreciate this stunning

residence.

229 Wigan Lane, Standish, WN1 2RF £280,000

This immaculate penthouse apartment with breath-taking views is located in an impressive building

with delightful communal gardens. A short stroll away from Standish centre, this exceptional

property comprises of an open plan living/dining area with kitchen, a private balcony, bathroom,

shower room and two bedrooms.

Wigan Office • 78 Market Street, Wigan WN1 1HX • 01942 233 999

www.alanbatt.co.uk

Go green in style with our guide to creating

a beautiful indoor garden in any room

Passion

for House Plants

House plants look amazing, adding colour, pattern, texture,

interesting forms and a feeling of vibrancy. They can fill a dull

corner, provide soft screening and help dampen noise. The Royal

Horticultural Society reports that indoor plants have been shown to

lower blood pressure and reduce fatigue and headache. Intriguingly,

patients in hospital rooms containing plants report decreased postoperative

pain. The psychological benefits include the satisfaction

of nurturing a small seedling to a healthy, mature plant, as well as

the pleasure of watering, misting and pruning, while the RHS says

that house plants have been shown to reduce stress levels, improve

mood, increase productivity and potentially lengthen attention

span. Plants make us feel good.

What plants to choose?

Select plants suited to homes, where it is shadier and temperature

fluctuations are greater than in their normal habitat. Good

examples include the spider plant, the Boston fern, several

varieties of dracaena, Sansevieria trifasciata, rubber plants, peace

lilies, aspidistra and ivy. Succulents and cacti tend to be easy to

care for and come in a range of shapes and sizes.

Personalise a home work space

with a series of small plants,

placed at different heights for

variety.

Gerry Floor lamp, £161; Drax

desk lamp in black, £137: both

Pooky.

Many plants thrive on humidity, so placing

them in a bathroom is a great idea.

Ionian bath in copper, £5,082; Sherwood

porcelain replica-wood flooring in Rowan,

£71.88 per 80x80 cm panel; both Fired Earth:

01295 812 088; firedearth.com.

For fashion followers, the most-discussed

plants on Reddit in 2020 included the pothos,

monstera, philodendron, hoya and peperomia.

Where to put your plants

Generally plants need good light (but not

bright, direct sunlight) and should be away

from heat sources, draughts and cold. Darker

rooms like bathrooms need shade-tolerant

plants. Provide a stable, waterproof base, and

keep harmful plants away from children and

pets. Huge statement plants look incredible in

hallway, living room or dining room corners,

or group several plants together for a similar

effect. Place smaller plants on tables or use

tall planters, or put a row of small plants on

a mantelpiece, shelf or window ledge, or dot

them among books and vases in a bookcase.

Hang them from the ceiling, stage them in

steps, or pop them on wall racks. Grouping in

odd numbers looks best, and a range of widths

and heights looks relaxed. Opt for varying shades of leaf

colours or try a more regulated appearance, and contrast

leaf shapes for natural variety.

Huge plants make a grand statement in a living room, especially

combined with bold colours and architectural fittings.

Charlotte Chandelier, £380, with 18cm pendant shades in Posh Pink

velvet, £35 each, Pooky.

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We cover the

North West Region

Mum & Son Write a Book!

By Nicola Gray

A mother’s love knows no bounds, and this couldn’t have

been truer for Winstanley mum-of-two Lynsey Gregory. After

coming to terms with her cancer diagnosis she set about

helping those dearest to her by publishing a book called

‘Mummy goes to Hospital’, whilst also raising money for

charity.

Lynsey has so far managed to raise £2,300 to spilt between

The Christie Foundation Trust and Mummy’s Star, a charity

dedicated to helping women and their families who have

been diagnosed with cancer during their pregnancies, up

to 12 months after birth. With books still left to sell she’s

hoping that she will be able to donate more.

In January 2019, Lynsey’s world fell apart when she was

diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. She

was taken to Manchester to have immediate treatment

at Christies Hospital and eventually needed stem cell

treatment.

Lynsey told Local Life, “I was so upset thinking about the

children. I asked at the hospital about books that might

help them to understand or if there was anybody that

could go out and speak to them.”

Lynsey added, “Theo was young and Tillie was a baby,

so I really wanted a resource that was heavily illustrated,

with a simple message that my mum and husband, Chris,

could use to try

and explain why

I wasn’t at home.

“So, I set about

writing notes

and taking

screenshots of

our video calls

to send home

to the children.

I even sent

home a little

plastic cannula

attached to a

teddy bear,

so that if the

children saw me with one, it was a little bit more familiar

to them.”

Lynsey continued, “My friend suggested that her Aunt

could pull together some illustrations for me, and the

book was born from there. I could see that it was helping

my family and that it might be able to help others.”

Local Dad, Matt Bacon, stepped in and his Wigan printing

firm, LMB Publications, along with a few generous

donations meant that Lynsey could publish and print

her book and start to raise much needed funds for two

charities close to her heart.

Lynsey added, “We have had enough printed to be able

to gift books to charities and have already sent them to

hospitals, health centres and schools. If anyone would

like to donate in return for a book, or knows of anywhere

in need of this resource, they can get in touch on our

Facebook page ‘Mummy goes to Hospital’.”

“I would like to thank all of our family, friends and the

wider community for supporting us with the book and

other charity events. The more awareness there is the

more we can raise for these essential charities.”

If anyone would like more information about becoming

a stem cell donor, please go online at www.dkms.org.uk.

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Stepping Out for NWAA

A keen walker has pledged

to raise funds for the North

West Air Ambulance by

completing 80 North West

walking routes.

The popular Jack’s Tracks

walks have been published

in Local Life magazine for the

past ten years and Michelle

Bradshaw, the owner of

Wrinkles Out Ironing Service

in Wigan, has pledged to do

the entire set of walks by the

end of October 2021.

Local Life met with Michelle

Bradshaw, along with

husband Dave, at Orrell

Water Park where she was

introduced to Jack, the

Border Collie who inspired our series of walks, Jack’s

Tracks.

And as you can see from the newspaper clipping, it’s not

the first time that Michelle Bradshaw, who is originally

from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, has pulled on her

walking boots to raise money for charity. In 1968, aged

just 3½, she once walked 19 miles with her dad to raise

money for the homeless.

The efforts of the emergency

services during the pandemic

have been the inspiration

behind Michelle’s decision to

take on the challenge, as she

explains, “All the emergency

services have been amazing

during the past year, but

because the North West

Air Ambulance receives no

central funding, I decided to

try and raise £500 for them”.

Jennifer Berry, the Regional

Fundraiser for NWAA

applauded Michelle’s efforts,

“We are delighted that

Michelle and others like her

take on challenges to raise

money for us here at North

West Air Ambulance Charity. It is thanks to supporters

like this that we are able to raise the £9.5 million we need

each year to operate our life-saving service.

We wish Michelle the best of luck and hope that she has

inspired other Local Life readers to take on challenges

for us! For more information about North West Air

Ambulance, please visit our website www.nwaa.net.”

Michelle aims to do two or three walks a week,

accompanied by various members of her immediate

family as and when restrictions ease.

She admits that there is another motive to take on the

walking challenge, “I really do want to get fit. I’ve recently

lost some weight with Slimming World and I would like to

lose some more and get toned up.”

You can donate towards Michelle’s efforts to raise £500

North West Air Ambulance here;

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/catherine-bradshaw25

All Jack’s Tracks walks are

available to download free from

the Local Life website here;

www.locallife247.co.uk/freestuff/

Designs for Life

STUDIO

BATHROOM & KITCHEN CENTRE

COVID 19 UPDATE:

As an essential supplier, our

Showroom remains open.

Please help us to keep our

customers & staff safe by following

safety guidelines whilst in store.

We are continuing to do

installations and measures, whilst

adhering to all safety guidelines.

TOTAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT from START to FINISH

We offer a range of fitted

wardrobes & sliding doors

tel: 01942 274844

TRADE WELCOME

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• Full service from design to fitting

• Over 20 bathroom & kitchen displays

• Wide choice from many famous brands

• Boiler Upgrades and Central Heating installations

• Friendly family run business

• Large showroom with ample free parking

Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am-5.30pm, Saturday 9am-2pm

Designs for Life

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YOUR LOCAL BLINDS, CURTAINS & SHUTTERS SPECIALIST

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• I provide expert advice on

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• Ask me about

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Call me for a free in-home appointment:

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Wigan

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

• traditional service, state of the art results •

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For a FREE, no-obligation security survey of your

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EstablishE d 1982

Oxbridge Achievement

17-year-old Ben Ledwith from Worsley Mesnes

is celebrating after confirmation that he is one

of 31 Winstanley College students to get an

offer for a place at Oxbridge in September. Ben

holds an offer to read Law at Oxford University

and hopes to become a barrister in the future.

What makes the former Dean Trust pupil’s

achievement even more impressive is that

he applied for Oxford as an aspirational target since his

GCSEs, although good, did not match the usual profile

required. Ben also has dyslexia and receives support from

the college’s supported learning team.

Ben said: “With my GCSEs and background I thought I had

no chance of getting an interview never mind

an offer! The support I received from college

definitely helped to make this achievement

possible. Because of my dyslexia, college

confirmed my extra time in exams which really

helps me to put down everything I need to in

order to get top marks”.

Ben’s Personal Tutor at Winstanley, Kerry

Hetherington, commented: “I am so happy for Ben he is

just brilliant and really hard working. This achievement

is very much deserved and he is an inspiration to others

proving if you aim high and work hard, anything is

possible, no matter what your background is”.

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Create a

Full-length curtains help block out light, sound and

draughts. Curtains and headboard in Knot Garden Grey,

£75 per metre, James Hare: 0113 243 1204; james-hare.com.

Cosy Retreat

Warm and quiet, dark and comfortable – ensure your bedroom

has all the ingredients for a great night’s sleep.

Lack of sleep has a profound effect

on our physical Lack of sleep affects

our physical and mental health,

and as many as one in three of us

suffer from poor sleep. So, make

your bedroom sleep-friendly: dark,

quiet, tidy and comfortably warm.

Start with the mattress

First, decide whether you would

prefer a sprung or non-sprung

mattress. Sprung mattresses are

filled with lots of springs and

the best are individually ‘pocket’

sprung to adjust to the body and

eliminate ‘roll-together’. An option

is a sprung mattress ‘zoned’ across

the middle to give extra support

for heavier hips and shoulders,

or made ‘half and half’, to provide

different tensions on each side

of the bed. Another solution for

sleeping partners of very different

weights is a ‘zip and lock’ system of

two different mattresses fastened

together.

Sprung mattresses can be filled

with a variety of materials and

tufted construction is generally

considered better than quilting. In

cheaper mattresses, fillings usually

come in compact pads, while in

better quality mattresses there

will be layers of loose fillings in

greater volumes. Look for a highquality

mattress cover with hand

stitching on the sides and sturdy

handles to help with turning.

Non-traditionalists might consider

a non-sprung mattress where the

A handmade bed frame with an entirely natural,

organic mattress. Eva bed with storage, from

£1,470 for a small single, Naturalmat: 01392 877

247; naturalmat.co.uk.

A soft, curving headboard could help your bed

feel enclosed and cosy. Matilda Dove Grey bed,

from £549; Amazonia Toile duvet cover set, £28;

Farrah Palm Leaf ceiling fitting, £65; all Dunelm:

0845 165 65 65, dunelm.com.

choice of materials includes latex,

memory foam, polyurethane foam

and gel. These mattresses mould

to the sleeper’s shape and are often

warmer than sprung mattresses.

Alternatively, ‘hybrid’

mattresses

provide the traditional support and

comfort of springs with a pressurerelieving,

non-sprung top layer.

What about the windows?

Windows can be a source of earlymorning

light, and noise, heat

loss and draughts at any time. For

regularly opened single-glazed

sash windows, specialist seals fitted

into a rebate will improve draughtproofing,

while secondary glazing

is ideal for seldom-used windows.

Well-fitting timber shutters can

be at least as effective as double

glazing. The traditional solution

is a thick, floor-to-ceiling curtain

with a thermal or blackout lining.

Extend the curtain pole beyond the

window edges so that light cannot

creep in. If using blinds, thick,

blackout versions fitted close to the

wall are best.

Don’t forget about the

floor

A fitted carpet with thermal

underlay deadens sound and

prevents draughts from suspended

timber floors. If you prefer original

timber floorboards, seal any gaps at

the base of the skirting boards and

add thick bedside rugs for extra

comfort. Insulation added below

the boards is also effective.

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What is Ethical

investing?

Over the years many investors have become frustrated

that their investments do not take into consideration

the environmental impact or corporate behaviour of the

underlying companies in the funds. To answer this demand

an increasing number of ethically focussed investment funds

are now available, which invest only in companies that are

environmentally and socially responsible.

Environmental and socially responsible policies are more

central to our everyday lives and so investing according

to these principles is becoming more mainstream. The

challenge with ethical investing is in the detail. The

easiest method to build ethical investments is to simply

avoid firms or funds that are active in activities such as the

sale of arms or the production of fossil fuels, for example.

This is called negative screening.

The flip side of this approach – positive screening –

seeks investments that set out to make a difference, in for

example, renewable energy or technology infrastructure.

The combination of avoiding sectors with poor ethics and

supporting those that make positive contributions to the

environment and socially responsible practices, ensures

that investors money is being used to only support

business that are aligned with their outlook for the future.

Prosper’s ethical portfolios invest in best-of-breed ethical

funds that have standards similar to those we aspire to for

our portfolios and can also deliver attractive performance

to investors.

Prosper’s approach to ethical investing

Within our portfolios, we select fund managers who

can demonstrate that they can successfully balance

ethical strategies and investment outlooks to create a

harmonious investment portfolio that can create growth

potential without adding investment risk.

Investing ethically adds another layer of scrutiny since

investment selections must also work from an ethical

perspective too. One of the challenges is that, currently,

there is no industry standard or rulebook as to how

ethical criteria are applied. There is considerable overlap

in approach but much is based on interpretation,

therefore two ‘ethical’ funds can appear to be similar but

differ significantly in their approach.

Our portfolios combine a sophisticated investment

process with a set of negative and positive ethical

screens, meaning that we can exclude any companies or

industries that ethical investors would rather avoid, but

also can seek out those companies who are committed to

sustainable and socially responsible practices.

Investing ethically does not mean sacrificing investment

performance, it is possible to achieve long-term growth

by investing in businesses that contribute to the

wellbeing of society.

For clients looking to adopt

an ethical approach to

investing I am delighted to

report that we offer a range

of risk rated portfolios that provide investors

with a full ethical investment strategy at

a very competitive price. Please call us on

01257 423800 if you would like to discuss.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up

and you may get back less than you invested.

David Barton

APFS Cert CII (MP)

Chief Executive Officer

Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

Puzzle Pages

CROSSWORD

DOWN

1. Item of food associated with Christmas (5,3)

2. Divisions of the school year (5)

4. Female reproductive cells (3)

5. Vehicle of extraterrestrial origin (6,6)

6. Land area, especially of a farm (7)

7. Flip (a coin, for example) (4)

8. Popular tourist area in north-western

England (4,8)

12. Unemotional person (5)

13. Graveyard (8)

15. Horse’s bit (7)

19. Mammary gland of bovids (5)

20. Tori ___, singer whose albums include

American Doll Posse (4)

22. Quoits target (3)

ACROSS

1. Traditional story (4)

3. Woman’s hairstyle in which the hair has a puffy appearance (8)

9. Place of complete bliss, delight and peace (7)

10. Imperial units of length (5)

11. Day in spring on which the Resurrection is celebrated (6,6)

14. Uncertainties, doubtful factors, ___ and buts (3)

16. Devotional paintings of Christ or other holy figures (5)

17. To stretch out (3)

18. Trend-setting fashions (5,7)

21. Civilian dress worn by a military person (5)

22. Lever operated with the foot (7)

23. Climbing garden plant having fragrant flowers (5,3)

24. Land force of a nation (4)

WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten

minutes to find as many words as possible, none of

which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns.

Each word must be of three letters or more, all must

contain the central letter and letters can only be used

once in every word. There is at least one word that uses

all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET

EXCELLENT: 36 or more words

GOOD: 28 words

FAIR: 25 words

WORDSEARCH

GOLF WORDSEARCH

APPROACH

BALL

BIRDIE

BOGEY

BUNKER

CART

CHIP

CONDOR

COURSE

DIVOT

DRIVER

EAGLE

FAIRWAY

FORE

GREEN

GRIP

HOLES

HOOK

IRON

PAR

PUTTER

ROUGH

RULES

SHOT

SLICE

STROKE

SWING

TEE OFF

TREES

WEDGE

WOOD

SUDOKU

WIGGLE WORDS

CLUE: have a private

reason for doing or

being involved in

something.

Trace a path through all

the letters to find the

word or phrase that fits

the clue.

D H N A

N A A X

I V E E

R G O T

NUMBER BLOCK

The numbers in each row add up to totals to the

right. The numbers in each column add up to the

totals along the bottom.

The diagonal lines also add up the

totals to the right.

2 9

4 3

8 1

18 21 13

All the puzzle solutions can be found

on page 93 of this magazine

Keeping Busy

by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy

Tradespeople are busy people, often working six or

seven days a week. On any given week, you’ll be visiting

potential customers, preparing quotes, moving from job

to job, submitting and chasing invoices and dealing with

the occasional emergency call-out too.

It doesn’t leave a lot of time for you and your family, so

the last thing you want to be doing at the weekend is

sorting out essential tasks such as bookkeeping, payroll,

managing cashflow or getting on top of your accounts

and tax returns ahead of the deadlines.

That’s where CMA Accountancy can help you - we work

with the full range of trades such as plumbers, electricians,

gas engineers, plasters, painters and almost any other

trade you can think of.

All businesses need the support of an accountant who

knows their industry well.

By specialising in this sector, CMA Accountancy have an

extensive experience of how to;

• Select the best cloud accounting software and

associated apps to use

• Understanding the Construction Industry Scheme so

you are fully compliant

• Manage your VAT and Making Tax Digital reporting

• Understand the Domestic Reverse Charge VAT

changes being implemented by HMRC and how

these will impact your business

• Pay your staff

• Structure your business in the most tax-efficient

manner

We can help with all of that and advise on how you can

scale-up your business using cloud accounting software

such as Xero and QuickBooks for on-the-go financial

recording and reporting. This will enable you to invoice

clients as soon as the work is completed and help you stay

on top of your cashflow.

Whilst we have a selection of packages for the trades, we

also understand that not every business is the same. After

an initial meeting or call between us, we will be able to

tailor our services to suit your individual requirements

and allow you to retain as much control over your

bookkeeping and accounts as you would like.

If your business is just you, operating as sole trader, we can

handle your end of year tax return and advise on ways to

reduce your tax bill overall. But if you employ a number of

staff, we can look after your payroll, workplace pension’s

administration and give advice on how to structure your

business for ultimate tax efficiency.

If you have any questions regarding the any of the topics

covered in this article or would like to see how switching

to online software such as Xero can make your business

life easier then please do get in touch.

Chris Alcock ACMA - CMA Accountancy

39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR

01257 255521 chris@cma-accountancy.com

www.cma-accountancy.com

Do you need

help and

guidance with;

Company Accounts?

Auto Enrolment?

Self Assessment?

Cloud-based Software?

Payroll Services?

Making Tax Digital?

SA deadline

VAT

Benefits

FREE

INITIAL

CONSULTATION

Call CMA Accountancy today

www.cma-accountancy.com

info@cma-accountancy.com

Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. 01257 255521

READY

in 1 hour

Serves 4

Tartiflette

This rich and cheesy potato gratin makes a fabulous warming supper.

Serve with salad and crusty bread.

Ingredients

1kg Charlotte potatoes, halved

1 tbsp olive oil

2 small onions, peeled and thinly sliced

1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

4 smoked bacon rashers, finely chopped

100ml dry white wine

100ml double cream

4 tbsp crème fraiche

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

150g Reblochon cheese, rind removed

and sliced

Sprig of parsley, to garnish

Method

1 Boil the potatoes in a large pan of lightly salted water until just tender.

Drain well, cool for 10 minutes then cut into thin slices. Preheat the

oven to 200C / fan 180C / gas mark 6.

2 Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and fry the

onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, stirring. Add the chopped bacon

and continue cooking until the onions are golden and tender. Pour the

wine into the pan and bring to the boil. Boil until the liquid has almost

evaporated.

3 Layer the potatoes and onion mixture in a large square baking dish. Mix

together the cream and crème fraiche and season with salt and freshly

ground black pepper. Pour over the potatoes.

4 Lay the cheese slices on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30

minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve garnished with parsley.

TIP: Use any other cheese you prefer. Try mature Cheddar, taleggio or Gruyere.

READY

in 1hr 30mins

plus cooling

Serves 8

Lemon Tart

This divine dessert has a crisp and buttery pastry case

filled with a tangy lemon cream filling.

Ingredients

300g ready-made sweet shortcrust pastry

Flour, for dusting

Grated zest and juice from 3 large lemons

100g caster sugar

2 medium eggs

2 medium egg yolks

150ml double cream

Lemon slices and mint leaves, to decorate

Method

1 Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 23cm

loose-based fluted flan tin. Trim the edges and prick the pastry base all

over with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 30 mins.

2 Preheat the oven to 200C / 180C fan / gas mark 6.Place a baking sheet

in the oven to heat up. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper and

baking beans. Bake on the hot baking sheet in the preheated oven for

10 mins. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-10

mins until the pastry is pale golden.

3 Reduce the oven temperature to 170C / 150C fan / gas mark 3. In a

large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, sugar, eggs and egg yolks.

Gradually whisk in the double cream and lemon juice. Leave the mixture

to stand for 10 mins.

4 Pour the lemon mixture into the pastry case and bake for 30-40 mins

until the filling is just set – it should still be a little wobbly in the centre.

Leave to cool in the tin. To serve, carefully remove the tart from the tin

and decorate with lemon slices and mint leaves.

TIP: Allow the pastry to come to room temperature for about 30 mins before rolling out, otherwise it may crack.

Self Help for

Sore Knees

Are you one of the ten million UK residents suffering from osteoarthritis (OA)? This painful

condition affects around one-third of people aged 45 or above. Although it can affect any joints,

around half of sufferers have arthritis in their knees.

The WHO regards osteoarthritis as a ‘priority disease’. It

ranks in the top ten of most disabling conditions and as the

population ages, along with the growing issue of obesity,

numbers of OA sufferers are set to rise.

What is osteoarthritis?

When you bend a joint, the two bone surfaces rub against

each other. Cartilage pads on the ends of your bones

cushion the movement. The joint is enclosed in a capsule

and lubricated with synovial fluid.

WIth OA, the joint is gradually destroyed. The cartilage

becomes thin and roughened, the bone surfaces become

irregular, and debris collects within the joint space.

The joint is supported by muscles and ligaments. If these

become weakened through age or accident, there is too

much pressure on the joint.

OA causes

Outside of an accident such as damage to a cruciate

ligament, the exact cause of OA is unknown, but it’s linked

to your genetics, ageing and obesity. It’s more common

in females and is associated with other chronic diseases,

such as diabetes.

OA symptoms

Pain, stiffness, and joint swelling are the most common

symptoms. Your knees may look deformed.

OA treatments

Exercise is very important, even when your knees are

hurting, plus using the joint helps reduce stiffness and

encourages blood flow. Not using your knees worsens the

problem as it encourages the thinning and softening of

the cartilage. Exercise reduces chronic inflammation – a

metabolic process that exacerbates cartilage breakdown.

A physiotherapist can help. Cycling and swimming are

good options as they cushion the knee from direct weight

bearing, and hydrotherapy is also worth considering.

Medical studies confirm that weight loss and exercise

result in significant benefits. For example, in a 2013

randomised trial, 399 participants aged 55 and over and

with BMIs between 27 and 41 were randomised into three

groups: diet; exercise; or both diet and exercise. They

were then followed up for 18 months.

The diet and exercise group did the best, losing an

average of 10.6Kg – 11.4% of their body weight. This

group also had significant reductions in pain, better knee

function and improvement in quality of life compared to

the other two groups.

Lose weight

Losing weight may seem an impossible task. However,

it can be done and studies prove this often leads to a

significant reduction in pain and improved mobility.

In a 2007 review (Christensen R. et al) of four studies

involving 454 patients with OA, those who lost 5% of their

body weight over twenty weeks demonstrated a marked

improvement in pain and much improved mobility.

Pain relief

Try paracetamol along with non-steroidal anti-

Inflammatory (NSAID) drugs such as ibuprofen,

diclofenac and naproxen. NSAIDS reduce inflammation in

the arthritic joint.

Take them regularly – don’t wait for the pain to build-up.

An NSAID gel rubbed into the joint may be helpful. If you

suffer with gastritis, these are sometimes prescribed with

medication to protect your stomach lining.

Your GP will discuss other medication options with you:

• Drugs called COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib, are

very effective anti-inflammatories. Sometimes opiates

such as co-codamol are advised.

• Capsaicin cream can be applied to the knee joint.

• A steroid can be injected directly into the joint. Steroids

are powerful anti-inflammatories and can be very

effective.

• Alternatively, try Transcutaneous electrical nerve

stimulation (TENS).

• The efficacy of hyaluronic acid injections has not been

substantially proven but may have benefits for some.

Other lifestyle tips

• Try to reduce the strain on your knees and spread your

weight evenly by using a stick.

• Start the day with a hot bath or shower – the heat eases

joint stiffness.

• Try using hot pads or an ice pack on the sore joint.

• Massage has been found to be helpful for pain relief.

• Sometimes your doctor may suggest use of a knee

brace.

Complementary and Alternative

therapies

Glucosamine, curcumin, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty

acids all appear safe, but there is a lack of medical

evidence for their efficacy.

Mindfulness, meditation and acupuncture have all been

advocated and can help improve symptoms.

Surgery

The NHS no longer recommends arthroscopy for arthritic

knees. Research studies found this failed to improve

symptoms for most patients.

However, you may be referred for a knee replacement if

your symptoms are severe. Knee replacement surgery is

highly effective and greatly improves symptoms, mobility

and quality of life.

Brain aging: what are the signs?

Lost your keys again? Feeling accident-prone? Does it seem

harder to concentrate these days?

While these signs could just be indications that you’re unwell

or feeling stressed, they are also symptoms of an aging

brain, and some scientists believe that evidence of neural

decline may reveal itself from the age of just thirty.

Invisible changes

While grey hair, stiff joints and laughter lines are all

clear signs that our bodies are aging, the chemical and

structural alterations happening inside our heads are

completely unseen. While our skull size remains the same,

our grey matter reduces in size, with some areas of the

brain shrinking more, and faster, than other parts.

The biggest losses appear in the prefrontal cortex, the

cerebellum and the hippocampus, areas associated with

attention focus, memory, speech, muscle co-ordination

and learning. The wrinkled outer layer of the brain, known

as the cerebral cortex, also thins as we age and this is also

more pronounced in some parts than others.

Other symptoms of an aging brain include decreased

blood flow, less communication between nerve cells and

an increase in inflammation.

Wandering attention

An older person taking a test or doing a job that requires

concentration will probably be more easily distracted

than someone younger. Youngsters have more ability to

‘zone out’ when they are doing an important task (think

about the teenager who does homework while listening

to music and using social media). It’s all linked to our

reduced ability to handle emotional arousal, which means

the more important the task is to us, the more we find

ourselves distracted by outside noises and interruptions.

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Clumsiness

If you’ve been more accident-prone than usual recently,

or have found it harder to deal with fiddly tasks like fitting

a key into a lock, that could be due to brain aging.

Research carried out in America suggests that as we

age, we become less able to judge distance when we

encounter nearby objects. We also concentrate more on

the objects we are interested in and less on any obstacles

that lie in the way of our goal: typically that might mean

reaching for the pepper grinder and knocking over a

glass of wine on the way.

Losing your sense of smell and taste

If things don’t smell or taste as good as they did when

you were young, don’t blame the cook. We are all born

with around 9,000 taste buds on our tongues. These buds

are very good at regenerating, which is why, when you

burn your tongue, your sense of taste returns so quickly.

But as we age, our taste buds become less able to replace

themselves and we lose the sensitivity that helps us

identify different flavours.

The senses of smell and taste are closely linked and age can

be a factor in the loss of both, but if you notice a sudden

change in your sense of smell, there may be other causes,

such as nasal polyps, blocked sinuses or seasonal allergies.

Forgetfulness

You may have noticed that as you age, it becomes

harder to remember names, or recall something that

you have learned. The ability to remember learned facts,

life events and the names of people you have met is

called ‘declarative memory’, while remembering how to

tie a shoelace or ride a bike is part of your ‘procedural

memories’, which don’t tend to fade as quickly.

Another aspect of brain function affected by age is

‘working memory’: the ability to hold information such as

phone numbers, or where you have parked, in your head.

Working memory also applies to problem solving and the

speed at which you can process information.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

A study of over two thousand people, published in

America last year, reported that signs of brain aging were

more obvious in participants who smoked, had thicker

waists or who had health issues related to cardiovascular

disease or inflammation.

It’s clearly important to maintain a healthy lifestyle,

but this research also suggests that symptoms of brain

aging could arise from a medical condition, either a

current illness or one that is yet to be diagnosed. If your

symptoms came on quickly or are causing you distress, it

may be advisable to see a doctor.

Thankfully it’s not all a downhill spiral for our brains.

Neuroscientists are discovering that even old brains

have ‘plastic’ qualities that allow us to reroute neural

connections so we can adapt to new challenges. It’s good

to know that a healthy lifestyle, paired with activities that

keep your brain alert, can boost cognitive abilities and

ward off the signs of aging.

A privately funded Day Care service providing high quality care

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01942 723115

Welcoming new clients

• Activities & entertainment

• Socialisation with others

• Nutritious meals & refreshments

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To arrange a consultation, call our centre Manager Lisa on 01942 723 115

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Ashurst’s

Beacon

by Chris Pearce

Distance: 3.1 miles

Difficulty: Medium

Beacon Country Park in Up Holland is a popular

local facility. 300 acres of rolling countryside and

woodlands, the park is used throughout the year

for walking, golfing, picnics, kite flying, sledging

and occasional events. However, because the

main car parks and much of the activity takes

place well away from the Beacon that the

park is named after, Ashurst’s Beacon, many

people don’t even know it is there.

This 3.1 mile route starts from a small

public car park just downhill on the left

from The Beacon Inn (WN8 7RR). Once

parked up, exit the car park and turn

left by the roadside for 150 yards.

Just before you reach Beacon

Villa – turn left and head

downhill.

Great views of Merseyside and Cheshire here as you head

on the path through the golf course. Just before the path winds

left to cross the bridge, you need to head straight on over a

smaller bridge straight into a copse.

Follow the path in the same direction running parallel to the

brook until you exit opposite Beacon Cottage on the single- track

Elmers Green Lane. Turn right and follow the lane up a gentle

incline for 500 yards until you arrive at a crossroads dominated by

St Michaels and All Angels Church.

Cross over and walk by the front entrance of the church down

Dalton

Beacon Covert

Beacon Villa

Beacon House

Farm Stopforths

Farm

Edward Henry

Plantation

Cricket Ground

Chisnall’s Farm

Long Heys Lane

Ashurst’s Hall

Ashleigh

Farm

Long Heys Lane

Ashurst’s Beacon

Barker’s

Farm

Atherton’s

Farm

Bangham’s

Farm

Stone Hall

For those with the OS Maps

app on your desktop, mobile

or tablet, this walk is named:

JT-Ashursts-Beacon

Beacon Lane

A577 Stannanought Road

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure

that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability

to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

Higher Lane

A577 Stannanought Road

Beacon Lane

Higher Lane. Take the next right turn - a shared entrance

to the church car park and a cobbled road to the Grade 2

listed Ashurst’s Hall – you need to turn into the car park

and then pick up the path on the left that runs parallel to

the cobbled road.

Head past the pond on the right and very shortly

afterwards, look for the ancient path up Ashurst Hill,

which is totally enclosed by trees. This pathway is 250

yards long and is rough with uneven cobbles. Once you

pass through the wooden gate at the end of the path,

you’ll have a short steep climb to a plateau with four

different pathways – go straight on and you’ll soon see

the shape of the tower at the top of the Beacon.

Once you’re at the top of the hill, look for the directional

plaque set in stone to the left. Using the directions on

the plaque, take the path in the direction of Winter Hill.

Go down the slope, through the wooden gate and head

diagonally across the field.

Cross the brook via the footbridge and follow the path

round the field until you exit onto Long Heys Lane. Turn

left and follow this single track road downhill for 350

yards and then turn right at the entrance to Banghams

Farm. Pass though the garden gate to the right of the

main farmhouse gate, and follow the path round and

away from the farm.

At the farm’s boundary, you’ll cross The Dingle stream

and arrive at the dirt track known as Stone Hall Lane.

Turn right and follow the track uphill bearing left for 400

yards, bearing left towards a rather handsome Grade 2*

listed building called Stone Hall. Bear right through the

farmyard when you arrive and go through a couple of

gates to exit.

Keep left as the track splits and take the next opening

on the left near the stone stile, heading uphill along field

perimeters for 0.4 mile until you again reach Long Heys

Lane. Turn right and head past Stopforths farm and the

entrance to Bradshaws Farm. Look for a set back footpath

to the left just before The Manor House and follow this

rather slender footpath for 325 yards across a field, a

driveway and then an enclosed wooden area. Once you

hop over the final stile into a wooden area, you’re back

at Ashurst’s Beacon. Turn left and follow the path to the

main road. The starting point is just across the road to the

right.

A history of

Ashurst’s

Beacon

The tower at Ashurst’s Beacon was built in 1798 by Sir

William Ashurst to act as a watch tower in preparation for

the Napoleonic War. However, there was a previous tower

at the site, which was used as part of a relay of beacons

stretching from Liverpool to Lancaster during the Anglo-

Spanish war of 1585.

The land surrounding Ashurst Beacon was acquired in

the 1920’s by Thomas Meadows, the Editor of the Wigan

Observer, who apparently twice restored the tower at

his own expense. In 1962, his widow Florence Meadows

donated the 17 acres of land to Wigan Corporation on

condition that ‘this land should forever remain a beauty

spot for the enjoyment of the people of Wigan’.

for

Pet Vaccines

Dogs and cats are just as prone as humans to

picking up viruses, albeit different ones to us!

This means that vaccinations and boosters

are essential part of caring for your pet.

For Cats

Core vaccinations include one for feline

parvovirus and others to prevent cat flu. As

with people, flu can spread rapidly and has

many different strains, which means that it

will never be completely wiped out. A cat

flu vaccine – given from around eight weeks

of age – will boost immunity. A booster

vaccine should be given a year later.

For Dogs

There are many diseases that dogs should be vaccinated

against. However, most vaccines are combined, and the

schedule starts when the puppy is about six weeks old. As

an adult a Lyme disease jab should be given once a year,

particularly if you walk in grassy or woodland areas.

Will This Hurt?

Pets are generally given an injection underneath the skin

at the scruff of the neck. Dogs’ kennel cough vaccine

is usually administered as a nasal spray, however. The

single-use disposable needle is very sharp and shouldn’t

trouble your dog or cat too much.

Don’t Forget!

Make a note in your diary to get these shots done

regularly. It’s part of the cost of owning a pet and of course

prevention is so much better – and cheaper – than cure.

Diploma Qualified by Diane

Tel: 01695 624 098

Mob: 07442 015 490

Email: OrrellPoochParlour@gmail.com

Facebook: Orrell Pooch Parlour

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• FREE 1 Week Hearing Aid Trial

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QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time

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We deliver 30 hours free entitlement

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Flexible sessions available

We take children from 2 years old

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain

lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outdoors & being down in the forest

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01257 252647

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UK Drive: Hybrid power keeps the

Petrol Fiat 500

going a little longer

Charming it may be, but Ted Welford finds the Fiat 500’s age has now got the better of it.

What is it?

As recognisable and as loved as a Mini or Land Rover

Defender, the 500 was Fiat’s icon throughout a big part of

the twentieth century until 1975, followed by a revival of

the model in 2007.

That reincarnation was a hit and Fiat still sells 400,000 of

these city cars every year, despite a multitude of rivals.

What’s new?

This year saw the introduction of a new electric 500.

It looks similar to the petrol car but is rather different

underneath, and should be yet another hit as it’ll be

one of the cheapest EVs around thanks to a sub-£20,000

starting price.

There is also Fiat’s new 500 Hybrid. It’s not a full hybrid, but

rather a petrol engine with a small electric motor, battery

and belt-integrated starter-generator that improves

efficiency and aims to allow for a smoother drive. So does

it succeed?

What’s under the bonnet?

If you want a manual 500, the only option is this new mildhybrid

petrol, with automatic models using the 1.2-litre

unit that Fiat has been using for years.

With just 69bhp, 0-60mph takes 13.6 seconds, but around

town it’s more than up to the task. A six-speed manual

gearbox is also a pleasant surprise for a car of this size.

The mild-hybrid system is also noticeable with the

regenerative braking when you take your foot off the

accelerator, though the engine can ‘switch off’ while

coasting in order to improve fuel economy.

What’s it like to drive?

It’s in urban areas where the Fiat excels. It bucks the trend

of city cars growing in size, as at 3.5m-long it remains tiny

and an absolute doddle to park, helped by great visibility.

The steering is also brilliantly light, and even gets a ‘City’

mode to make it even lighter.

But elsewhere the 500 shows both its age and its flaws. The

ride quality is poor while the driving position leaves a lot to

be desired – you feel like you sit on the car, rather than in

it. Refinement is also poor, even by city-car standards. Next

to rivals like the Volkswagen Up!, it’s well behind the pace.

How does it look?

It’s likely buyers choose the Fiat 500 because of the way

it looks. And with its scope for personalisation, bubblelike

shape and cool retro-inspired design, it offers bags

of charm and appeal in this respect. A range of trim and

liveries add to the appeal.

It’s more impressive just how fresh the 500 looks

considering it’s been around since 2007 in its current

guise – the only real design changes in that time being

some new lights at the front and rear, fresh alloy wheel

designs and updated bumpers. Some subtle ‘Hybrid’

badging is also fitted as part of this update, however.

What’s it like inside?

The interior also has charm – not least with the cool colourmatched

dashboard, which is a particular highlight.

There’s a clear instrument cluster, with an optional seveninch

TFT display in the middle. A seven-inch touchscreen

is also fitted, and while not the best system you can get

today, it’s simple to use and gains Apple CarPlay and

Android Auto. A panoramic glass roof is also a nice touch.

But the colourful dash and technology can only go so

far with the Fiat 500, as other areas feel especially cheap,

with hard and scratchy plastics littering the cabin. It’s also

small even by city-car standards, with a dinky 185-litre

boot and compromised rear space.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Fiat 500 start from £13,020 and for that you

get a Pop-spec car. It’s not especially well-equipped but

gains air conditioning, a DAB radio and a speed limiter.

But our choice is the £14,750 Lounge model, which adds a

touchscreen, leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors

and a glass roof.

Prices rise through to £17,150 for the top-spec Launch

Edition, which includes sat nav, 16-inch alloy wheels and

special seats made from recycled materials. But at that

price, you can buy a far more accomplished supermini.

Verdict

It’s a testament to the 500’s cool retro design, easy-to-drive

nature and quirky interior that this Fiat continues to be as

popular as it is. Used around the city it’s really appealing,

and the Hybrid system has added greater efficiency to the

package – meaning it will be very cheap to run.

But none of these traits can hide some glaring weaknesses

of the 500, which are really just down to its ageing design. Its

poor driving experience away from town and cheap cabin

make it fall off the pace of rivals, and given it’s not especially

cheap, it means this Fiat – is tough to recommend. Consider

the electric model instead…

Services

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Diagnostics

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Car Paintwork Repairs

Sloping Gardens

Award Winner

by Angie Barker

There can be many challenges to deal with

when faced with designing a garden. It may

be north facing so it does not get much

sun, it may be an odd shaped plot or it may

have terrible clay soil filled with rubble left

behind by the builders – or indeed all three!

With all of these issues there are solutions

but I’m finding that more and more plots

have yet another challenge, and that is a

sloping garden, whether this be sloping

down away from the house or more usually

sloping up from the house. This comes about

as developers look to build on every piece

of ground they can lay their hands on and

as long as they can build a decent house, it

seems that the homeowner is left to their own devices

when it comes to tackling the sloping garden.

The best piece of advice I can give is to work with the lay

of the land as much as possible. This is because whatever

amount of soil you move to achieve a level surface,

say for a patio, the slope and/or the soil that you have

excavated will need a retaining wall. Rather than have a

high structural wall it is usually more pleasing to the eye

to have a series of smaller walls, some of which can be

planted up thereby softening the hard landscaping. This

also gives you the opportunity of making a feature of the

walls themselves, perhaps setting some lights into them

or some interesting stone work.

Having a sloping garden will mean you need steps to

safely navigate your plot. These can be made into a

feature in their own right and if the budget allows, the

wider the better. If you have the space you may also want

to think about having a gently sloping path somewhere,

just so that you can move a wheel barrow about the

garden or should you need disabled access.

Our gardens have been a sanctuary for many of us over

the last 12 months and as we move into spring and the

warmer weather comes, we will want to make the most of

them again. Hubby asked me only the other day whether

it was warm enough to sit out on the decking, not yet I

said (brr) but hopefully it won’t be long before it is and

when it is we’ll be there with a glass of wine to toast the

prospect of a better 12 months for all of us.

Angie is a qualified awardwinning

garden designer

who will plan your garden

to your needs from start to

finish, supplying reputable

contractors and the ideal

plants.

Call Angie now for your free consultation!

Angie Barker Dip GD (Inst GD) BA (Hons)

Garden Design For All Seasons

Tel: 01942 522 405

Mob: 07857 008 383

www.angiebarker.co.uk

Award Winner

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• Garden maintenance

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Tree Felling & Pruning

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Eve: 01942 214 121

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Garden Design &

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Our aim is to deliver a creative,

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Large projects or small makeovers

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All aspects of garden

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Driveways - Paving - Fencing

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Winstanley Road, Billinge

for

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Find the borough’s best online at www.wigan.gov.uk/goodtrader

or phone 03454 040506

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We repair

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Do your worktops, UPVC & glass,

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Check out before & after pics here;

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Call Magic Nick for a free quote on

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Or email details to;

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Design & Print

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QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time

We operate a booking system for the

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Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

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lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outdoors & being down in the forest

which is good for your child’s health and we l-being

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A l Saints’ Primary School | Finch Lane | Appley Bridge | WN6 9DT

01257 252647

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LocalLife

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• Conservatory repairs

• Locks, handles and hinges

• Replacement glass

• Windows and doors installed

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roofs

Call MARK now on

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0776 315 1720

conservatoryrepairs@gmail.com

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Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

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We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest

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8-10 Gathurst Road, O re l, WN5 8QH

www.wiganhearing.co.uk

10% off

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Ask us about our wide range of hearing aids

this voucher for 10% OFF your next

hearing test or earwax removal.

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Mon-Fri

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Large

outdoor

PLAY ArEA

We cater for

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Ca l Sarah on 01744 886166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net

www.cranknursery.co.uk

For more information

Call 01695 627 999

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time

We operate a booking system for the

holidays which saves you money

We deliver 30 hours free entitlement

£29 for a fu l day

Flexible sessions available

We take children from 2 years old

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain

lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outdoors & being down in the forest

which is good for your child’s health and we l-being

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A l Saints’ Primary School | Finch Lane | Appley Bridge | WN6 9DT

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prices start from £45

let us clean your oven so you don’t have to!

professional oven cleaning

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call Steven today on 07393 818 392

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FIXED PRICE

GUTTER

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ONLY

01942 530483 • 07771 924 887 • www.totalcleaningnorthwest.co.uk

Power

PB Washing

PROFESSIONAL EXTERNAL

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Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

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lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest

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Li tle Acorns Nursery

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01257 252647

www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com

Wigan’s premier domestic

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minimum 2 hrs

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01942 203442

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www.acleanbreak.co.uk/wigan

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www.locallife247.co.uk

for

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includes moving furniture for you

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A l staff

paediatric

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Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

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lots of wonderful educational experiences.

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rural Vi lage

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paediatric

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for

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year olds pre-schoolers

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rated by

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in 2019

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rural Vi lage

NUrSErY

FUNDED LANgUAgE

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paediatric

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2/3/4

for

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year olds pre-schoolers

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outdoor

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rated by

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Bulldog Tools Ind. Est.

Darlington Street East Wigan WN1 3BT

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Little Acorns Nursery

QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time

We operate a b oking system for the

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We deliver 30 hours fr e entitlement

Flexible se sions available

We take children from 2 years old

Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain

lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest

which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being

A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT

Li tle Acorns Nursery

www.locallife247.co.uk

01257 252647

www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com

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or 07801 295483

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Little Acorns Nursery

QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!

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Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain

lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest

which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being

A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT

Li tle Acorns Nursery

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Gas Safety Certificates

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www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com

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01942 564 226

07397 391 935

acampbellheatingandgas

597379

for

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4 573747

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Design & Print

• Earwax Removal

• FREE Hearing Tests

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Drop in or contact Darren on:

01942 215 391

8-10 Gathurst Road, O re l, WN5 8QH

www.wiganhearing.co.uk

10% off

Presen

Flyers, postcards, brochures

and distribution service.

Put your

hearing

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Ask us about our wide range of hearing aids

this voucher for 10% OFF your next

hearing test or earwax removal.

LocalLife

rural Vi lage

NUrSErY

A l staff

paediatric

& first aid

QUALIFIED

oPEN

Mon-Fri

8AM-6PM

FUNDED

PLACES

Available for

2/3/4

year olds

£37.50

per day

LANgUAgE

& SPortS

LESSoNS

pre-schoolers

Large

outdoor

PLAY ArEA

rated by

oFStED

oUtStANDINg

We cater for

CHILDrEN

3 months

- 4 years

NEWLY

rEFUrBISHED

in 2019

Ca l Sarah on 01744 886166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net

www.cranknursery.co.uk

For more information

Call 01695 627 999

Little Acorns Nursery

QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time

We operate a booking system for the

holidays which saves you money

We deliver 30 hours free entitlement

£29 for a fu l day

Flexible sessions available

We take children from 2 years old

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain

lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outdoors & being down in the forest

which is good for your child’s health and we l-being

Little Acorns Nursery

A l Saints’ Primary School | Finch Lane | Appley Bridge | WN6 9DT

01257 252647

www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com

www.locallife247.co.uk

StoveS

by Andy

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• InStallatIonS

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07899 752 225

stovesbyandy@gmail.com

A Genuine Family Run Business

With Friendly & Courteous Staff

SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL HEATING INSTALLATION, BOILER REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES

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Telephone: 01942 504 429

TEL: 01257 421 660 MOB: 07515 505 501

Accredited Installer & Service Partner

WE REPAIR ALL

MAKES OF BOILERS!

Registration No.

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www.fgwelch.co.uk

£29 for a fu l day

rural Vi lage

NUrSErY

FUNDED LANgUAgE

A l sta f

We cater for

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paediatric

CHILDrEN

Available for LESSoNS

& first aid

3 months

2/3/4

for

QUALIFIED

- 4 years

year olds pre-schoolers

oPEN

Mon-Fri

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£37.50

per day

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rated by

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Large NEWLY

outdoor rEFUrBISHED

PLAY ArEA in 2019

Plumbing & Heating

Specialist

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01942 495785

or 07721 040620

& 07710 153238

Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan

651511

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Boiler Finance Available

Landlords Gas Safety Reports

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Credit Cards accepted

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07769 203 056

hartheatingwigan@gmail.com

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4622825

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07469 185 776

or email

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• Most aspects of

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01695 624769 or

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21 Naburn Drive, Orrell wN5 8SB

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506515

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Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

Little Acorns Nursery

QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time

We operate a b oking system for the

holidays which saves you money

We deliver 30 hours fr e entitlement

Flexible se sions available

We take children from 2 years old

Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain

lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest

which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being

Li tle Acorns Nursery

www.locallife247.co.uk

A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT

01257 252647

www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com

Call Paul

Locksmiths

EstablishEd 2000

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tELEPhoNE

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moBiLE

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FEE

a Installation & Maintenance

a Inspection & Testing

a Nest Pro Installer

a CCTV & Alarms

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repAirS

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Promote your company

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cost from

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4 Free artwork

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Alarm installations,

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www.uklocksandalarms.co.uk

info@ianwalkerservices.co.uk

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Electrical Ltd

All types of

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work undertaken

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Call now on: 07983 387448

Email: jonwrightelec@live.co.uk

Certificate of excellence winner

2017, 2018 & 2019

J.Dillon

Electrical Services Ltd

Electrician ~ Standish

• All types of electrical work

• 30+ years experience

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• 24 hour call out service

Call: 01257 424918

or 07821 139826

www.jdillonelectrical.co.uk

A.J.S.

BAILEYS

ELECTRICAL

All electrical work undertaken

Free quotations

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• Mains board upgrades

• Extra sockets to full rewires

01942 215 769

07739 709 005

ToTal ElEcTrics for your HomE or BusinEss

Installation Service Maintenance Repairs

call us today for friendly

advice and a free quotation

01942 836 937

www.ghewigan.co.uk

4 complete re-wires

4 new/moving sockets

4 all lighting needs

4 Burglar alarm systems

check out our facebook reviews @ghe.info

suite 1a, Kirkless industrial Estate, cale lane, Wigan, Wn2 1Hf

4 ccTV systems

4 security light installations

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4 no Job too small

07557 914 788

Call: 0800 6446100

or 07904 127663

Covering all North West Areas

4 NAPIT part ‘P’ registered

4 JIB Approved Technician

4 38 Years Experience

4 Local, Honest & Reliable

4 Domestic

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W.Hurst & Son Ltd

ELECTRIC

CONTRACTOR

www.whurstandson.co.uk

• All types of electrical work

• 35+ years experience

• No job too small

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For a free quote

& advice call Jeff

01695 622 191

07850 622 191

for

Promote your

company here for

just £30 + VAT

Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

J&P

MOORCROFT

LTD

Professional Painting

and Decorating

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Work

• Interior & Exterior work

welcomed

• Old/listed buildings a

speciality

Call us today for a free quotation

Home Service available

Choose from 1000s of paint &

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our own home

01942 212096

07831 102 511

www.jpmoorcroft.com

• Quality workmanship

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work

• No job too

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small

01942 392398

or 07707 321383

4 Exterior & Interior

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undertaken

4 Competitive rate

Award Winner

Contact Graham now

free estimate provided

01257 426234

07954 139069

graham@topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk

www.topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk

Need a new

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at reasonable prices!

Chris Smith - Painter and

Decorator

01257 415388

or 07545 065119

Shevington based business

AJH DECORATORS

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assured

Over 30 years

experience

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Arley Cabinet

Company Ltd

• Kitchens & Bedrooms since 1952 •

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Drop into our

showroom or call us

for a free estimate

214a Gidlow Lane, Wigan, WN6 7BN

01942 246 190

www.arleycabinets.com

Design & Print

• Earwax Removal

• FREE Hearing Tests

• Hearing Aids & Repairs

• FREE 1 Week Hearing Aid Trial

Drop in or contact Darren on:

01942 215 391

8-10 Gathurst Road, O re l, WN5 8QH

www.wiganhearing.co.uk

10% off

Presen

Flyers, postcards, brochures

and distribution service.

Put your

hearing

first with

Ask us about our wide range of hearing aids

this voucher for 10% OFF your next

hearing test or earwax removal.

rural Vi lage

NUrSErY

A l staff

paediatric

& first aid

QUALIFIED

oPEN

Mon-Fri

8AM-6PM

FUNDED

PLACES

Available for

2/3/4

year olds

£37.50

per day

LANgUAgE

& SPortS

LESSoNS

pre-schoolers

Large

outdoor

PLAY ArEA

rated by

oFStED

oUtStANDINg

We cater for

CHILDrEN

3 months

- 4 years

NEWLY

rEFUrBISHED

in 2019

Ca l Sarah on 01744 886166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net

www.cranknursery.co.uk

For more information

Little Acorns Nursery

QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!

Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time

We operate a booking system for the

holidays which saves you money

We deliver 30 hours free entitlement

£29 for a fu l day

Flexible sessions available

We take children from 2 years old

Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland

se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain

lots of wonderful educational experiences.

We are big on the great outdoors & being down in the forest

which is good for your child’s health and we l-being

Little Acorns Nursery

A l Saints’ Primary School | Finch Lane | Appley Bridge | WN6 9DT

01257 252647

www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com

Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

GDR Driveways

ALL ASPECTS OF PAVING & tuRfING

4 Block Paving

Clean & Re-seal

4 Indian Stone

service available

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www.gdrdriveways.com

Call Gareth for a fREE quotation: 01942 217 113 or 07715 177 754

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CROSSWORD

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DOWN: 1. Mince pie, 2. Terms, 4. Ova, 5. Flying saucer, 6. Acreage, 7. Toss, 8. Lake District,

12. Stoic, 13. Cemetery, 15. Snaffle, 19. Udder, 20. Amos, 22. Tee.

WORDWHEEL

ANSWER:

PRODUCE

WORDSEARCH SUDOKU WIGGLE

WORDS

Have an axe to grind

NUMBER

BLOCK

2 8 1 3

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7 4 3 2

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18 21 13 15

PUB QUIZ

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JJ Driveways

Imprinted Concrete

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Huge range of colours

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• Resin Driveways

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We can also revive

your old drive!

Ask about our sealing

service

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free quotation on

01942 621 959

07867 697 972

www.jjdriveways.co.uk

28 Years Experience

Extensions & Refurbishments

Kitchens & Bathrooms

Conservatories & Orangeries

Windows & Doors

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Day: 07961 516 677

Eve: 01942 745 428

Cambridge Road, Orrell

Prices include

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Orrell

based

6 Doors

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Oak Door

from

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call Mike for a free quote

01942 590514

07988 260621

www.orrelljoinery.co.uk

Number One for House

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07917 352 181

Orrell based

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LocalLife

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Des Pilling

Plastering

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LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

Fully

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01257 413206

or 07802 710685

Quality Handyman Service from a qualified Joiner

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Andy

Building / Joinery

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07899 752 225

tradesbyandy@gmail.com

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ALPINE LTD

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07812 110476

SERVING

CHORLEY, WEST

LANCASHIRE &

WIGAN

Your local roofing company from repairs

to re-roofs, fascia’s, soffits & gutters.

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& Extensions

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or 07852 202867

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LocalLife

• Flat roof specialists

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Mob: 07730 351523

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Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements!

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K Stone

Building Services

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work undertaken

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25 years

experience

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01942 495412

07974 496676

We specialise in seamless

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Your

Building services

Joinery Specialists

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Improvements

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call David on...

01942 203 804

07851 225 876

DS Joinery

Reliable, Friendly,

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“Attention to detail is second to none. Can’t recommend Phil enough”

Facebook Review, July 2018

First Class

Workmanship

4 All types of re-roofs

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dormers etc.

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fascias, soffits

& guttering

W.Newman

ROOFING & REPAIRS

01695 627 212

MOBILE: 07774 943 706

52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS,

UP HOLLAND

Established Over 30 Years

WILSON

BROS

• •

Est. 1985

Roofing & Roofline

Specialists

• All aspects of

maintenance & repair

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installation

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services

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a free estimate

01695 633173

Colin: 07958 302 166

Brian: 07760 160 988

www.wilson-bros.co.uk

All aspects of

roofing & roofline

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REPAIRS

FASCIAS, SOFFITS

& GUTTERS

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Rubber Cover Roofing Specialist

Guaranteed 50 years

Call for free quote

M: 07894 687 384

• All aspects of home

improvements

• one stop for all the trades

you require

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Kitchens &

bathrooms

We design and manage

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start to finish

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free quotation

Tel: 01257 401 243

Mob: 0777 602 4045

SpeakmanpropertyServiceS.com

B.A.

Berry

Building & Roofing

Specialists

• All building work undertaken.

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re roof.

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repaired.

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Structural repairs including

Lintels.

Your local fully

qualified tradesman

with 30 years experience

Call us now for a free,

no obligation quote

01695 622 704

07968 652 320

www.baberry.co.uk

NEIL SIMPSON

BUILDER

Can’t find a reliable local

builder?...look no further

No job too small

Reasonable prices

Quality work

brickwork

joinery roofing

plastering

internal alterations

all types of building work undertaken

garden construction

garden walls patios

gravel gardens

flagging decking

pergolas

Call Neil

07939 961190 (day)

or 01942 230402 (eve)

Promote

your

business

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warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk

Representative example: Total cash price £1164, deposit £0, amount borrowed £1164 over 12 months. 12 monthly repayments of £97. Interest

rate 0%. Total repayable £1164. Credit is subject to the lenders T&C. Warmlight Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd is authorised and

regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 7700524. We are a credit broker, not a lender and have a facility with one lender.

100

Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value

Windows

Bi-Fold Doors

Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs

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Orangeries

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Manufacturers and installers since 2004

Visit our showroom/factory at; Crows Nest, Ashton Road, Billinge, WN5 7XX (near Windy Arbour crossroads)

www.orrellwindows.co.uk

28544

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