Mudlarking: Community Newspaper for St Peter's and St Paul's Spring 2021

MUDLARKING
COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Spring 2021
FOR THE COMMUNITY OF
ST.PETER’S AND ST.PAUL’S

Hello Mudlarkers!
Welcome to the third edition of Mudlarking community newspaper
which is all about the excitement of Spring being well and truly
Sprung at last.
We know it’s been a strange and often very difficult time for
everyone, so we hope that this issue will bring readers some
optimism and a positivity for the coming months. As usual, you’ll
find a varied range of contributions sent in by local residents,
from upcycling and Victorian spring cleaning tips, to the pink
supermoon, some seasonal foraging, and chickens in jumpers, plus
the usual games and puzzles for your perusal.
As always, massive thanks are due to all contributors to this issue
of Mudlarking, Andrew Davies, Alexis Turner, Alison Samways, Ally
Goff, Amanda Steer, Amy Pope, Emma Evans, Geoff Moss, Joseph Walsh,
Kate Martin, Laura Kinnear, Louise K Wilson, Melanie Steele, Naomi
Belton, Rachel Sullivan, the Radical Embroiderer, Roland Jones,
Rowan Middleton, Sarah Wood, Shirley Halse, Steve Emerson, Suzanne
Barrett, Tim Fretter, Trudi Price, Cheltenham Animal Shelter,
Kelly Patterson and Zoe Worrall.
We’d also like to say a massive thank you to Geoff, Sarah and Tess
at WeCreate for the opportunity, and for supporting us so fully
over the last three issues.
This is the last edition of Mudlarking that Paam will be producing
sadly, we have loved the time we were able to spend exploring St
Peter’s and St Pauls pre lockdown, and latterly working remotely
with the community and gathering all the brilliant content that
you have created for the paper - we are going to miss working with
you.
But the good news is that the lovely people at WeCreate will be
taking over and Mudlarking will continue to run! So please send
them your ideas for the Summer issue (contact details on the back
page), and in the meantime we hope you enjoy some Spring Mudlarking.
Lots of love from Paam x

Illustration- Amanda Steer- @asamandadraws

Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
150g desiccated/shredded coconut
80g Caster or granulated sugar
2 egg whites
Melted chocolate (optional)
Method
Pre-heat your oven to 170/gas mark 5
Pop your egg whites into a large bowl and pour in your sugar and gently whisk together until
the mixture is frothy. Pour in your desiccated/shredded coconut and stir the mixture so that
it is well combined.
With your hands, form balls out of the mixture (about the size of a ping pong ball) and pop
them onto a lined baking tray.
Pop them in the oven for 10 – 15 minutes, (I put mine in for 12 minutes) until they are still
white but with golden crispy bits on top. Allow them to cool for around 15 minutes.
Melt your chocolate either in a microwave or by using a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of
simmering water.
Dip the bottom of the cooled macaroons into the chocolate and pop in the fridge for 10
minutes until the chocolate has set.
Eat and enjoy!
Alexis Turner, Cheltenham Borough Homes
Join me Live every Friday at 1pm on the What’s On – St. Pauls & St. Peters Facebook Group
for weekly recipe demonstrations and cook along sessions.

SPRINGTI M E
One of the four seasons succeeding winter and proceeding summer, it is the time
of warmer brighter, longer days and new growth, new beginnings, germination, and
renewal. A time when the sleepy winter earth bursts back into life, after her
long hibernation. All around us now, we see spring bulbs and buds on the trees,
sure signs that spring is on the horizon. This brings to mind a project that
has been in hibernation, the Mospots community wall mural, based around the four
seasons, with each panel comprising a mosaic of images from the clubs and groups
who regularly use the Gas Green Community Centre. Sadly, like many other great
community activities the project has been temporarily suspended due to lockdown,
but with the prospect of rejuvenation just around the corner it seemed a prime
time to take a look at the fabulous work that two of the local community-based
art groups have produced.
The completed mural illustrates the four seasons and will be sited on the courtyard
wall at Gas Green Community Centre’s entrance. This project is supported by The
Big Local, Barnwood Trust, Gas Green Church, Giant Tiles and Travis Perkins, and
has been a long time in the making due to repeated government restrictions.
Looking forward now to a brighter and more optimistic future I wanted to share
the progress to date of this project and shout out to all those local people who
have been involved, especially Vicky Hendzel-Walker ceramicist and tutor of both
the ceramics and mosaic groups who have been involved in the murals manufacture.
The Spring panel is bursting with colours and new life depicting, trees in bud,
spring flowers, boxing hares, nesting birds’ and a Palm Sunday cross. Each panel
comprises of a mosaic images in the centre, framed by handcrafted tiles that serve
as a decorative boarder. Many hours have been spent carefully piecing these mosaic
panels together, so it seems fitting that this article pays tribute to all those
who have contributed and been involved. Your efforts have not been forgotten nor
has the project itself, sadly like many other great community activities has just
been suspended, temporarily on hold until these difficult times have eased. We are
eager to return to the centre and look forward to installing the finished panels
where they will take pride of place at the centres entrance. Until that time let
us share with you the progress and finished splendour of the Spring panel. May
it bring some sunshine and joy to you. Here’s looking forward to happy, healthy
and creative springtime!
Ally Goff

Spring Cleaning the Victorian Way
Spring is not just about longer, sunnier days, daffodils and woolly lambs. It’s also typically the
season to dig out the mop and feather duster and give everything a good cleanse – in other words to get
going with the spring clean. But where did this tradition come from? Some see its origins in the Iranian
Nowinz – the Persian New Year which occurs in spring, as well as the Jewish festival of Passover. Both
have been long associated with sprucing up your home.
Certainly the Victorians took the tradition to their hearts, regarding March and April as the key times
to scrub and scour. These months were viewed as finally warm enough to live without smoky coal fires
(except in the kitchen and scullery of course!) and also to open all of the windows so that each room
could be ventilated. At 4 Pittville Terrace – now The Holst Birthplace Museum on Clarence Road – a regime
of daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal cleaning would have been established to banish the dirt and grime.
Clara von Holst – Gustav Holst’s mother – would have instructed the maid-of-all-work on what procedures
to follow, possibly with the help of popular housekeeping books. It is likely that Clara would have
assisted with some tasks, although the majority of the work would have been carried out by the servant.
What did a Victorian spring clean
consist of? A 1880s edition of
Cassell’s Book of the Household offers
a glimpse, devoting ten pages to the
subject. It details for example how
a carpet should be washed a yard at
a time, with a mixture of ox gall,
water and soap, and how - if a house
has Venetian blinds - they should be
taken apart and every slat wiped.
Mrs Beeton’s Everyday Cookery and
Housekeeping Book, published in 1865,
contains more than four pages on
spring cleaning. One of the central
recommendations is a deep clean.
Furniture should be moved out of each
room if possible, and those items
which can’t be removed should be
covered with sheets. The bedroom is
a particular focus, with Mrs Beeton
advising that everything should be
cleared to ensure dust is eliminated
from all surfaces. She also recommends
that the bedstead should be entirely
dismantled, examined and cleaned:
“in these days of much locomotion
and brushing against many people in
trains and trams and omnibuses, no one
knows how readily insect pests may be
brought into the cleanest house…”
What about the products used in the spring clean? Victorians used a mixture of natural and chemical
products to clean their houses. Some of these were toxic, such as a popular silvering-paste made from
tin-dust and mercury. Many products were made up from chemicals bought individually at the chemist.
This created risks when mixing the ingredients together and also if chemicals were incorrectly labelled.
However, many of the chemicals used by the Victorians still form the basis of branded products today,
for example borax and soda silicate.
Nevertheless even by today’s standards, with many 21st century products containing harsh and noxious
ingredients, the Victorians reliance on chemicals is still startling. Carbolic acid was a particular
favourite – used diluted as a disinfectant - but ultimately corrosive to eyes, skin and the respiratory
tract. As Cassells highlighted: ‘The powder is used for scrubbing floors, disinfecting urinals and
water-closets, and many other purposes, whilst carbolic acid soap is well adapted for disinfecting
hands. The only objections to carbolic acid are that its odour is not very pleasant and, that it is a
deadly poison.’
However, there were some less toxic products used around the home, some of which many of us could still
use today: Tea leaves to clean carpets – rinsed in water so they don’t stain and drained well so that
they are only damp, not wet Antibacterial cleaner made from malt vinegar, lemon juice and gum arabic.
An ironing spray made with lavender oil and vodka Lemon wash balls for laundry made with soap, fresh
lemons and starch.Hand salve, made from unsalted hog’s lard, rosewater, two egg yolks, a spoonful of
honey and handful of oatmeal
Perhaps you’d like to give them a try while spring cleaning this April!
Laura Kinnear, Curator at the Holst Birthplace Museum

Tree Archive
‘Tree Archive’ is an ambitious environmental, participatory art project
devised to identify as many of the world’s tree species as possible. The
collection of images and information contributed by the public are used
to create a collection of associated lino prints, created by Cheltenham
based artist and project founder, Sarah Wood, forming the body of a
community led present archive of the world’s tree species.
Unbounded with collaboration, both nationally and internationally, the
aim of this project is to communicate with, engage and inspire as many
individuals, communities and publics as possible to form a community of
care and an awareness of the importance of the trees on our planet and,
most importantly, the relationship we have with them.
Looking at the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, concepts of the
‘Anthropause’ and an enforced slower pace of life, this project looks
at our relationship with the natural world and how our wellbeing and
overall existence is positively affected by trees and green spaces. Many
people have been subconsciously drawn towards nature during the 2020/21
pandemic, with a subconscious focus on returning to a more simplistic,
natural, eco centric lifestyle, manifesting in outdoor leisure pursuits
and plant cultivation. It is this reignited passion and awareness of our
natural world that is what this project aims to highlight.
To help spread an environmental message, activate a diverse community of
shared knowledge, skills and compassion and, most importantly, to really
make the change we need to protect our green planet, this project asks for
contributions to help build the ‘Tree Archive’. Alongside the submission
of images for the associated Lino prints, the ‘Tree Archive’ also asks
for participants to write a few words regarding their relationship with
the tree/s they have chosen; what significance the tree has to them and
the role the tree plays within the person’s life. This will result in an
accompanying written archive of just how important trees are to people
across the globe, whilst creating and bringing together a collective
community of raised care, concern and awareness of the world’s trees and
natural spaces.
As more and more people collaborate, this present archive will inspire
and elicit deeper appreciations for our natural world, both past and
present. By knowing where we’ve come from, we’ll know where we want to go
and how we can protect the world’s flora and fauna for a greener future.
To find out more about the project and ways in which you can contribute,
please visit www.tree-archive.com to find further information and
guidelines for submissions.
Guidelines for ‘Tree Archive’ submissions:
As many images as you would like of a particular tree you find interesting
or has some significance to you
Photo/s must be of the tree’s leaves and/or fruit/seeds specifically.
Please include the common name of the tree you have chosen to submit (if
known)
Colour or black and white images are welcome
Any size or quality (as long as enough detail can be obtained for the
creation of the final Lino print)
In addition to the photo/s please include the location of the tree
(i.e., country, town, park name, woodland name/location etc...) and a
description of why you chose this tree and its particular significance
to you
Please send all submissions, queries and collaborations to
sw.artist94@gmail.com
Sarah Wood

Pets in the Garden
Spring is here! Time to get out in the garden and enjoy the warmer weather.Whether you are a keen gardener, or
prefer relaxing in the sunshine while the family play, there are a few things you can do to keep your garden
safe and enjoyable for you and your pets.
Cats
Unless there is a medical reason or other concern
that means you need to keep your cat indoors,
access to the outside world can be very good for
their quality of life, especially if they share
your home with other pets or children.
Cats often like to nibble on plants, so it is good
to know which are good for them and which aren’t.
Lilies are particularly problematic, as even a bit
of pollen on your cat’s coat can cause issues. You
can find a list of other problem plants on the Cats
Protection website.
Plants like Cat Mint, Cat Thyme, Mint, Lavender,
Blue Fescue, Oat, Rye or Wheat Grass, and Lemon
Balm are great for making a cat friendly area in
your garden. You may need to put an upside down
hanging basket or other wire frame over some of
these plants, to stop cats rolling on them or
eating too much!
Letting your cat out only during daylight hours can
reduce the risk of fights with other cats, road
accidents and successful hunting!
Just as scratching posts, climbing frames and
hiding places are popular inside; providing outdoor
versions like logs, pallets, cat houses or shrubs
to shelter or hide under can help keep your cat
happy and discourage straying.
Toileting in the garden is often a source of conflict
between cats, their owners and neighbours. It is
worth keeping an out of the way bit of soil freshly
dug, to encourage your cat to toilet there. Make
sure that this is away from children’s favourite
play areas or sandpits.
Dogs
Both cats and dogs often prefer rain water to fresh
tap water, so make sure any bowls, buckets or
other containers are emptied, cleaned and refilled
regularly to avoid algae building up.
Poisonous plants and substances are an issue
for dogs too, and the Dogs Trust have a list on
their website. Make sure to keep sheds or other
garden storage secure, to avoid dogs getting into
fertilizer, pesticides etc.
Digging in flower beds or the lawn can be discouraged
by providing a more tempting area. Create a sandpit
and bury toys in it, or scatter treats to get them
started.
If your dog gets upset or excited by neighbouring
dogs, or passers by, there are a few things you can
try to reduce this, but you may need to consult a
trainer or behaviourist. Dogs may bark and run along
the fence line out of boredom or excess energy, so
try playing games with them in the garden, like
find the treats, hide and seek, or tug. Don’t leave
your dog unsupervised in the garden, and practice
recalling your dog when things are quiet, rewarding
them with favourite treats or a toy. You can then
build up to calling them away when people or dogs
approach. Try to block any gaps in the fence, or
create another barrier with hedging, shrubs or
chicken wire. If your dog is fine with other dogs
and people in other locations, like the local park,
try introducing them to neighbouring dogs, or
frequent passers by in that neutral territory. For
more advice, try https://www.bluecross.org.uk/petadvice/how-stop-your-dog-barking
Dogs should always have access to water/shade/shelter
and we do not recommend leaving them unsupervised,
especially with dog theft on the rise.
Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
Small furries face some of the same challenges as cats and dogs: poisonous plants and substances; extremes
of heat and cold; other animals. The most important thing you can do is provide a secure run or area of
the garden, large enough for them to run around and with access to their hutch or another hiding place/
shelter with food and water.
www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/rabbits/rabbit-proofing-your-garden
www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/small-pets/the-ideal-home-for-yourguinea-pig
Alison Samways www.pittvillepets.com

We came to a halt at the crossroads
Many many ago I decided to catch a bus out of the city. I wanted to get some
place beyond the duty of my legs, so I waited for a bus.
It was a nice warm autumn day and fiercely clear. An old woman waited too.
Nothing unusual about that, as they say. She was also wearing an old hat with
plastic fruit on it and her eyes darted back and forth across her face like
fruit flies. She had a large bag and white gloves that fitted her hands like
the skins of vegetables. A Sikh fellow in his dastaar headwear came by on the
back of a motorcycle.. No helmet in those days. I had never thought about Sikhs
and their headgear riding motorcycles before. Sometimes reality is an awfully
close fit like the vegetable skins on that old womans hands.
I was glad when the bus came. There is a certain happiness sighted when your
bus comes along. It is, of course, a specialized form of happiness and will
never be a great one.
I let the old woman get on first and trudged behind in classic medieval fashion
with castle floors following me onto the bus.
I waited patiently with my fare getting hot in my hand while the old woman
shuffled with her bag, unzipped it, delved further down unzipping another
pocket, produced a purse, unzipped that, shuffled the coins and slowly counted
them out one by one. After the reverse process and the change in the hand into
the purse and the various zipping sequences a minute passed before I got on.
I sat down and looked the bus over to see who was there, and it took me another
minute after the bus started up to realise that there was something very wrong
with that bus, and it took the other people about the same period to realise
there was something very wrong with the bus, and that the thing that was wrong
was me.
I was young. Everybody else on that bus, about twenty of them, were men
and women in their sixties, seventies, and eighties., and I was only in my
twenties. They stared at me and I stared at them. We were all embarrassed and
uncomfortable.
How had this happened? Why were we suddenly the players in this cruel fate and
could not take our eyes off one another?
A man about seventy-nine began to clutch desperately at the lapel of his coat.
A woman maybe sixty-seven began to filter her hands, finger by finger, through
a white handkerchief.
I felt terrible to remind them of their lost youth, their passage through
slender years in such a cruel and unusual manner. Why were we tossed this way
together as if we were a weird salad served on the seats of a bus?
I rang the bell and got off the bus at the next possibility. There was a stop
when we came to a halt at the crossroads. Everybody was glad to see me go and
none of them were more glad than i.
Nobody got onto the bus at the stop and I stood there at the crossroads and
watched after it, its strange cargo now secure, growing distant in the journey
of time until the bus was gone from sight.
Fifty years later I was standing on a winters day at the very same bus stop at
which I had originally got onto the bus to get out of the city.
Roland Jones

Spring birdwatching
As the days lengthen birds will go from trying
to survive to breeding (although those handfuls
of bird food will still be most welcome until
May). The early signs of spring are already
with us. On mild days birds are already singing
and a chorus of Robins, SongThrushes, Wrens and
for many people the best songster of all – the
Blackbird, can be heard in town. Blackbirds
are common and will sing from every available
tree or rooftop aerial for months to come.
Birds are also seeking nest sites so any holes
in trees and buildings might be taken over by
the Tit family and thick hedges and scrubby
areas might attract other species. Be careful
not to clear areas in case you disturb nests
because some Robins and Blackbirds may nest in
late February. You can also put up nestboxes for
Blue and Great Tits but be careful where they
are sited to avoid cats and other disturbances.
As spring gets into full stride migrating
birds will return from Africa. Whilst many
of these are specialist feeders and unlikely
to stay in towns (but might be seen anywhere
as they fly through) some will breed in
towns. Perhaps a Chiffchaff (a small olive
brown warbler whose song is the same as its
name) in a piece of scrub or on the railway
embankment, House Martins (our Club emblem)
might build its nest of mud under the eaves of
a house and we will all once again thrill at
the sight of Swifts scything across the sky.
Below clockwise – Blackbird, Chiffchaff,
Swift, House Martin
Cheltenham Bird Club (Tim Fretter)
www.cheltenhambirdclub.org.uk

The Alternative Book Club
As the lockdown looks set to continue for at least
the next millenia, you may find fun, stay-at-homeactivity,
reading, to solve all of your problems. From
the latest Shakespeare play to the new Jane Austen
release, reading provides an excellent facsimile of
real life while we can’t actually do real life. Here
are our top five recommendations for books to get you
through the lockdown.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
You may feel that the title of this incredibly long
novel is a perfect description of our lives right now.
We’re stuck inside our bleak houses without very much
opportunity or energy for DIY. Sadly this book doesn’t
give any cheap interior design tips but, instead, may
make you feel less bad about your current situation -
at least you’re not embroiled in a 50 year-long court
case involving haughty Lady Dedlock. It’s also so long
that lockdown will definitely be over by the time you
finish reading.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This book perfectly describes lockdown, we started off
eating lots of fruit and veg - first one apple, then
two pears, next three plums. Now, every day I eat:
one piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one
pickle, one slice of swiss cheese, one slice of salami,
one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage,
one cupcake and one slice of watermelon. It’s not the
most balanced diet, but this is the only way to become
a butterfly.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Here we have a healthy reminder that over 150 years ago - just before the first lockdown started -
people were allowed to ramble about freely outdoors. This may be a great nostalgia trip (remember that
weekend break to Dorset back in ‘14) or a healthy reminder that, even when it wasn’t illegal to leave
your own house, things didn’t always work out well and people were still angry at each other. Let’s
stick to the Wuthering Hallway.
Bridgerton by basically Jane Austen
This series is just like all of Jane Austen’s other popular books, but it’s easier to read because it’s
on Netflix. As usual there is a man and a woman who we think might get together and then they (probably)
do. In a departure from other stories about the early 19th century, Bridgerton is pretty raunchy, which
is rather surprising as sex wasn’t actually invented until the 1960s.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
Unlike the tongue in cheek suggestions above, this is a genuinely excellent book - one of the best
books I read last year. In a world where we can more or less only experience the lives of others from
our own sofas, this is a beautifully written insight into various lives that are rarely represented in
our ‘cultural canon’.
Shirley Halse
www.facebook.com/altbookclub

Love, loss and bunnies: How the pandemic has affected
Cheltenham Animal Shelter
The staff at Cheltenham Animal Shelter describe their job as tiring and emotional, but say the good
outweighs the bad after what has been an incredibly rough year.
By Ulani Seaman
On a bright lockdown morning, the equally sunny
staff of Cheltenham Animal Shelter switched on their
webcams, ready to talk to Journalism students from
the University of Gloucestershire.
But they weren’t alone. Fortunately, social distancing
doesn’t apply to furry friends and we had the joy
of virtually meeting Willow the rabbit, Alfie the
dog and the fabulous Duchess, a longhaired cat who
seemed to enjoy walking across the desk in front of
Nicky Spanswick, the shelter’s Operations Manager.
“Duchess wants to steal the limelight, clearly,”
Nicky smiled, evidently used to the chaos caused by
working with animals. Throughout her three years at
the shelter based in Gardners Lane, she’s had the
joy of supporting the team.
Rosie Taylor-Trigg is the shelter’s animal
behaviourist. She specialises in dog training and
in normal circumstances runs community classes,
alongside dedicating her time to rescue animals.
Her colleague Tasmine Iles-Potter who takes care of
smaller pets also joined us, sat in a rabbit pen.
The virtual room was filled with joy every time
bunny Willow popped her head in view.
Currently, the shelter is home to approximately 50
animals, who need just as much financial support as
before the pandemic. Unfortunately, circumstances
mean the shelter has lost an estimate of £1,000 per
day, every day since March last year.
The shelter’s rehoming process has also been adapted.
Family visits are currently not permitted, only
virtual appointments can be made for those looking
to adopt.
“Our cats and small animals team has been working
to rehome some of our easier animals via online
meeting, we haven’t yet rehomed any dogs in this
way,” Nicky explained.
Some of the dogs have therefore been at the shelter
longer than expected, and don’t get to meet as many
new people as before. The staff have made sure to
keep the animals in a good routine, with daily walks
and plenty of enrichment, but their demeanour has
been a lot calmer this past year.
“When the first lockdown ended, we did then find
it was a bit overwhelming for the dogs to see new
people,” said behaviourist Rosie.
The pandemic has forced the team to adapt, but
fortunately not too much has changed for their
rabbits, they’re happy to be hopping around, and
the shelter is starting 2021 with a lot of them.
Tasmine puts this down to the cold, dark nights of
lockdown three.
“More people tend to sign their rabbits over to
us in the winter. It’s more difficult for them to
be looked after,” she said. “At the moment we’re
seeing a lot of younger rabbits which suggests they
were bought in the first lockdown.”Rabbits may be
small but have just as much love to give as either
a dog or a cat. They’re happy to approach you for
treats and provide great company in lonelier times.
The rabbits and their fantastic personalities can
be found on the shelter’s Instagram page, Tasmine
has even taught one bunny, Smokey, some pup-style
agility.
As we said goodbye to the staff, and animals,
it’s clear they have hope for better days. Before
leaving the call, Nicky welcomed us to the shelter.
“Hopefully one day we’ll all be back to normal, and
then we’d love to have you here,” She smiled.
For more adoption information, visit
www.gawa.org.uk

Wild & Rooted!
My name is Kate Martin and I live on Marsh Lane with my children James and Belle.
Back in December we read an article about Wild and Rooted, an organisation which rescues hens
from battery farms, they were looking for people to take on their latest farm closure with
over 5000 chickens to rehome. We signed up and in a few days on the 12th of December we took
home 20 hens in the wettest weather to date. We didn’t realise their “oven ready “ condition
until we got them home, some were in better condition then others but all where obviously
distressed and had been badly treated.
We appealed to all local knitters on Facebook to knit some
jumpers for the chickens who were really featherless. It
was getting colder and wetter and we were worried they
wouldn’t be able to keep warm, luckily because we had 20
they could huddle up together.
The response was amazing with over 500 shares and people
sending us jumpers within days, even from London. We had
to get people to stop as we learnt quickly that jumpers
are only for extreme cases, the hens need to feel the
cold so their feathers will start to grow back quicker,
the weather didn’t stop raining so that made the jumpers
heavy as well.
When the really cold spell came, and then the snow we did
sadly lose 3 in total. We brought special hay infused
with pine oil to help guard against infection. Syringing
warm honey water into them and using a heat lamp at night,
we now have 17 healthy, feathered friends and have just
around 11 to 13 eggs a day to date. We have been baking
like mad during January and February and have finally
perfected a few recipes to share with the local community
and help pay for these beautiful birds in their final
retirement home.
We can offer:
Scotch Eggs - £1.60 each
Traditional vegetarian ot fafafel
Made with fresh local ingredients where possible,
and dry fried for a healthier option
Portuguese tarts - £1 each
Beautiful crunchy, buttery, flaky pastry with soft,
velvety vanilla custard filling
Large meringue nests - £2 each
Pick up between the hours of 7am-5pm
To pre order please phone 07791169663
For more information about Wild Rooted
visit instagram.com/wildandrootedwv
or www.facebook.com/Wild-Rooted-WV

Why now is the best time
to find yourself a penpal
Let’s face it 2020 has not been the best of
years for many of us. Thankfully, however,
there have been amazing volunteers working
in Cheltenham. They have worked tirelessly
throughout the pandemic to make life that
little bit easier for those in need.
I am lucky to have lived next door to a
couple of unsung heroines. I witnessed them
every day during lockdown going out to
collect donated food and essential items
from the supermarkets. They also assigned
themselves to do all the personal shopping
for the folks of our local residential and
care homes.
I asked my kind-hearted neighbours if there
was anything I could do to help. “You could
write a letter to one of the residents of
the care home, you could be a penpal “
It wasn’t the answer I was expecting. I
hadn’t written a letter in such a long
time. What would I say? Would they find
my news interesting? How would I start?
Scriptophobia had set in!
As I am currently working as a receptionist.
I am very comfortable tapping away on a
keyboard or scrolling away on a ipad. It all
seemed a bit scary to be writing a personal
letter. I had sadly almost forgotten how
to write.
That evening I was determined to put pen to
paper. To my surprise I started to really
enjoy it. I wrote about my family, job and
hobbies but also remembered to ask lots of
questions in the hope that someone would
take a vague interest and reply!
It seemed like a long wait, but thankfully 2
weeks later an envelope arrived through the
letterbox. It wasn’t the usual brown coloured
envelope or one marked with a utility stamp.
Not the season for a birthday or Christmas
card. It was a personal addressed letter to
me.
The letter was written in beautiful old
fashioned handwriting, the kind they sadly no
longer teach in school. There is something
about ink on paper in our modernised world
that made that letter a real treasure. I
had been assigned a penpal.
My lady is 86 years old and I am 43. There
are a few years of living between us. We
have both exchanged lots of letters in the
last few months, and during so have found
we have many shared interests. We write
of our past adventures, gardening, animals,
and how the covid19 virus has changed life
for us mentally, socially and physically.
I was still able to leave my house at the
time, so I explained what life was like on
the outside as my lady was confined to her
flat.
In an ever increasing world of isolation,
whether that be a virus distancing us or
modern technology having us glued to our
phones or computers. I have personally found
that being a penpal is so worthwhile, the
experience, benefits and importance and
hopefully encourage others to do the same.
Taking the time to slow down,to write a
letter to connect with someone has had huge
benefits for us both. It has been proven
that a social connection can help lower
anxiety and
depression. It also has a number of health
benefits including a sense of belonging, a
purpose. It regulates your emotions which
in turn leads to a higher sense of self
worth and confidence.
Today for the first time in months, we spoke
on the telephone. Our conversation lasted
for over an hour! We were happily chatting
away when I said “It really feels like we
have known each other for such a long
time”, “Yes, I agree”, came the reply “Age
really is just a number”.That certainly is
very true for us. I have made a lifelong
wonderful friend.
I would like to thank the volunteers for
making this connection possible. During
these current uncertain times. It really
is about kind gestures and looking after
one another that will pull us through into
a brighter happier future.
If you are interested in linking as a penpal
please contact Kelly at SPTM Big Local on
07879113748
By Zoe Worrall

Melanie Steele
Celandine
Pigeons
Welly Boots

Elmfield Park Needs You!
Local parks have been a large part of my Covid experience, and I think this is true for many of
us. We exercise in them, socialise in them, take our lunch breaks in them, take the dogs and kids
to them to blow off steam, and enjoy the scenery.
Elmfield Park is the closest green space for many residents of St Peter’s, Wyman’s Brook and St
Paul’s, but is often overlooked in favour of the neighbouring Pittville Park.
Friends of Elmfield are a new group, and we are looking for your opinions on what you would like
to happen in your local park, and also for volunteers to help with fundraising events, planting
and maintenance, litter picks, plant swaps and more.
We are also collecting stories and memories about the park, and would love to hear yours!
You can get involved by:
joining our Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/friends.of.elmfield.park
visiting our information page on the Big Local website www.sptm.org.uk/volunteering/friends-ofelmfield-park/
or emailing alison.friendsofelmfieldpark@gmail.com

Local artists create Kingfisher Trail
The Kingfisher Trail is an arts trail of 21 kingfisher sculptures which have been decorated
by local artists for public display in and around the Cotswolds National Landscape in 2021.
Residents and visitors are invited to follow the trail in the summer of 2021, get out into
nature and enjoy the outstanding natural beauty of the Cotswolds region.
Well known local artist Andy Davies was asked to participate and select some artist friends
from urban setting- he invited five graffiti artists. They will be painting the kingfisher
sculptures over the coming months and walkers will be able to view in April/May.
Links to the local artists below.
nkie - www.instagram.com/inkiegraffiti
Curtis Hylton - www.instagram.com/curtis_hylton
Philth - www.instagram.com/philthblake
Peachzz - www.instagram.com/_.peachzz._
Gemma Compton - www.instagram.com/gemmacomptonartist
The Kingfisher Trail is designed to bring businesses, arts and local communities together and
at the end of the project all of these wonderful sculptures will be auctioned to art lovers and
businesses to raise funds for the vital conservation work (for projects that support children
and young people in the Cotswolds National Landscape.) of the Cotswolds National Landscape.
Andrew Davies Tel 07932823642
Andy Dice Davies - www.dice67.co.uk
www.kingfishertrail.org

Who's gathering some
Spring goodies from
this flower? Join
the dots to find
out!

The Pink Moon
April’s Full Moon rises on the night of Monday, April 26.
Traditionally called the Pink Moon, this Full Moon will also be a spectacular
supermoon! This natural phenomenon is always linked to the date of Easter
because it appears after the Spring equinox when the days start to get longer
again. The term ‘Pink Moon’ came about due to a spring flower called Wild Ground
Phlox, which is very pink and appears in America at the same time as April’s
full moon, the Pink Moon is also sometimes called the Egg Moon, Full Sprouting
Grass Moon, Growing Moon or the Full Fish Moon.
In 2021, we’ll be treated to two supermoons, with the first occurring on April
26 and the second on May 26. On average, supermoons are about 7% bigger and
about 15% brighter than a typical Full Moon, and reduced air pollution due to
the coronavirus lockdown means April 2021 could be one of the best ever times
to view a supermoon.
Noah Petro, a NASA Scientist offers these tips for anyone hoping to catch this
astronomical phenomena : ‘If you can’t get outside, viewing the pink supermoon
doesn’t require leaving your house, if you have an east, south or west facing
window, you should be able to see the moon from inside. You don’t need a fancy
telescope or other equipment, just clear skies and clear eyes. Set yourself up
looking East, the opposite direction of the sun, about an hour before sunset.
I think a moonrise and a moonset are the most under-appreciated astronomical
phenomena that can be easily viewed. Catching the moon as it passes your local
landscape can be dramatic and simply gorgeous, and it’s perfectly safe to view!“
Despite its name, the Pink Moon will actually look orange as it rises because
you will be viewing it through a greater thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Earth’s atmosphere filters out the bluer wavelengths of moonlight when the
Moon is close to the horizon, known as light refraction, this filtering process
results in more of the red component travelling directly into your eye.
For centuries, our ancestors have been looking to the night sky as a means
of reflecting on our humanity and our place in the universe. The history of
scientific discovery and even human curiosity itself is indebted to the natural
night sky, and has inspired science, religion, philosophy, art and literature.
So next time you’re outside, and it’s dark, remember to look up!
love Paam x

Rare Meteorite Fragments
Recovered in Gloucestershire
On the night of Sunday 28 February 2021, shortly before 10.00pm, a fireball was spotted
blazing across the night sky over the Western part of the UK. Lasting about six seconds,
the bright flash of light was reported by hundreds of people and recorded on doorbell
cameras and car dashcams. Footage was also picked up by the dedicated network of cameras
across the UK trained at the sky for precisely this kind of event.
Fragments of this rare meteorite, weighing just under 300 grams, have now been recovered
and will give scientists at the Natural History Museum a glimpse into what the solar
system looked like as it was forming some 4.6 billion years ago.
This is the first time since 1991 that a piece of space rock has landed and been recovered
in the UK and marks an incredibly rare and exciting moment.What makes this even more
special is that the type of meteorite is something known as a carbonaceous chondrite.
To understand just how rare this is, consider the fact that out of 65,000 known meteorites
in the entire world, only 51 of them are carbonaceous chondrites.
Carbonaceous chondrites originated from an asteroid that formed when the planets themselves
were only just being born, taking the form of dust and ice swirling around the early
solar system as it began to coalesce. This makes them the earliest known materials in
our universe, and offers scientists a unique opportunity to understand more about the
formation of planets and the beginnings of the universe as we know it today.

Amanda Steer- @asamandadraws

Emma
Evans
Sunset at
Wistley Hill
emma@emmaevans.net
emmaevans.net
Excerpt from a zine
Lowndown 3:

Spring Quiz
Q1 Who is the main male presenter of BBC’s Spring Watch?
Q2 What is the nick name of the South African Rugby team?
Q3 On the 21st April 2021 the Queen will celebrate which birthday?
Q4 Which American rock singer had success with the song and album called ‘Born In The USA’ in 1984?
Q5 On Wednesday 28th April 2021 a tidal wave will surge through Gloucestershire at a speed of around
10mph and a height around 2m/6ft in height. What is this tidal wave called?
Q6 If you were born on April 1st, what star sign would you be?
Q7 On what day in April do residents of England celebrate St George’s Day?
Q8 Name the popular TV show set in 1950s rural England, aired in the 1990s, that had the central
characters Ma and Pop Larkin, the latter played by David Jason?
Q9 What is the name of a rock guitarist of a famous band that is also an astrophysicist?
Q10 What is the distress word used internationally via radio communication to signal a life
threatening emergency?
Answers
Q1 Chris Packham
Q2 Springboks
Q3 95th
Q4 Bruce Springsteen
Q5 The Severn Bore
Q6 Aries
Q7 23rd April
Q8 Darling Buds of May
Q9 Brian May
Q10 Mayday
Spring Tree by Suzanne Barrett
www.suzannebarrett.co.uk

by Naomi Seadon

Time Travel(s)
in the Archive
In September 2020 I was selected as
Hardwick Gallery’s first Artist-at-
Distance, a kind of digital artist
residency, as the gallery moved
online during lockdown. I proposed
working with the university’s Special
Collections and Archives as a way of
‘armchair travelling’ through time
and space. I explored the archives
with the help of archivist Peter
Morphew, who began photographing the
Chelt Volumes for me – these are
hand-made scrapbooks made by students
that were put together almost every
year from 1886 to 1958. I could only
imagine their physical qualities,
how they felt, their smell, and I
became fascinated by mapping the
stains of time on worn pages.
My residency has taken the form of blog entries on the Hardwick Gallery website – often incorporating
video, audio, photography and drawing. There have been some recurrent themes, and I have often felt
there might be embedded codes in some of the visual repetition, such as floral imagery, in the
photographs placed in the Chelt Volumes. I embedded a brief Morse Code message a short video in the
blog entry Floriography.
I am also fascinated by the students’ dramatic productions. In A Doll’s House, I worked with the
few archived images of the play – seeking to ‘animate’ the time in-between production photographs.
This semester gives time for further experimentation, more collaboration and most excitingly, the
production of a new Chelt Volume by students at the University of Gloucestershire documenting this
extraordinary year.
Louise K Wilson
www.hardwickgallery.org/residencies/time-travels-in-the-archive/

RADICAL EMBROIDERER
I found a box of two beautiful men’s handkerchiefs in a charity shop just before the 1st lockdown
and it struck me that these would be perfect to embroider as my response to the pandemic. This is
how my series “Covid-19 a handkerchief” began. Little did I realise that almost a year later I would
be on Part 5!
Part 1 covers the period to end of May 2020, the first period of lockdown. The word ‘Cheltenham’ was
the 7th section that I embroidered. It, of course, relates to the horse racing festival that took
place from 10-13 March 2020. I chose purple thread reflecting the royal connection to horse racing
and running stitch representing the idea of the virus being seeded through the event. The font is
based on Georgia, a play on Cheltenham being a Georgian (Regency) town.
Cheltenham strikes me as representing a pivotal point in the story of Covid-19 in England. By day 3
of the festival, confirmed cases in the UK had doubled in 2 days. But there was still no suggestion
that mass gatherings should be halted. In fact, on that day Sir Patrick Vallance told the BBC that
he was opposed to further restrictions and that “our aim is to…build up some kind of herd immunity”.
Three days later the government significantly changed its stance, & on 23rd March a full lockdown
was introduced. For some reason I didn’t put the dates of the first lockdown. I assumed there would
only be one!
Radical Embroiderer specializes in hand embroidery. She is interested in the way embroidery can be
used to highlight, question & challenge. She is interested in the interplay of word, stitch, font,
colour & material. Her work can be seen on Instagram @radicalembroiderer and has been featured in
book, videos & exhibitions.

Paams
DREAM
PAGE
Through Lockdown Paam has been helping those of us who just cant cant cant cant cant work out our dreams dreams dreams dreams dreams
“I keep dreaming I’m just doing my job. In excruciating, realistic detail. I wake up and
feel like I’ve already worked an eight-hour shift. And then I have to actually work an
eight-hour shift.”
Overworked, Fiddlers Green
Dear Overworked,
Sadly, this is a very common experience for people with demanding jobs, there is
no hidden meaning.
Like many of us, you are working too much and also possibly bored by your work?
We suggest you pull a sicky and spend a day doing nothing but the things that you
like doing, also try making yourself a nice hot drink before you go to bed.
“I was in a classroom from my elementary Catholic
school. I was in the back of the class, as a 28-year-
old woman, with my classmates. I was panicking
because for some reason I thought that I had to eat
the molding art clay that was in front of us. It was
so vivid I felt like I could taste it while dreaming.
Then all of a sudden Bernie Sanders is there, and he’s
reprimanding me for eating clay. He’s like, pretty
upset. I’m super embarrassed. There’s no way to hide
it because my mouth is full of clay. I believe this
dream ended with him telling me to go spit it out. I
felt like I let everyone down. I’d really prefer to
not let Bernie Sanders down.”
Bren, St Pauls
Dear Bren,
Clay in the mouth often means that you are having
trouble expressing yourself, that you literally
can’t get your words out. Your embarrassment
suggests guilt about something - maybe you have
failed to speak out about something that is
important to yu? The presence of Bernie Saunders
could represent an older person in your family
who you feel that you have let down perhaps, or
not been able to visit during lockdown?
Our advice is to give that person a call and tell
them you love them pronto.
“I was walking down the aisle
toward a man who wasn’t my
husband. There were frogs
everywhere.”
Dear Ian,
Ian, Hesters Way
In the symbolism of dreams frogs can carry several meanings, they can mean
that good fortune is coming your way, but they can also mean change and
transformation. We’re wondering if you’re happy with your current husband,
and whether perhaps you’re thinking about some one else? You don’t say if
this is a recurring dream or if it was just a one-off, but we suggest that
you take some time to reassess your current situation, and look within
yourself - are you truly happy?
“Last night I dreamed that I am walking down a sidewalk alongside a
human-sized banana with legs. We walk by a man who yells, “Hey, are you
sure that’s the way you want to go?” I respond by saying, “No, it’s not.”
I turn around and start walking in the direction I came from, and the
banana continues on.”
Tired & Confused, Badgeworth
Dear Tired & Confused,
Dreaming about bananas is traditionally associated with fertility, maybe you are
facing some difficult decisions, or perhaps you are feeling conflicted about the
future - if you have a partner, perhaps you are not in agreement about children?
The prospect of having them, or having more, or not having them at all? If you
are not in a relationship, it could be that you’re thinking about your plans
for the future and if they include a family - the switch in direction and the
splitting of the banana from yourself suggests that you’re quite happy with the
way things are!

You Make me
The project was about documenting the contrast of lifestyles within the St Paul’s area.
Despite the contrast I often felt a sense of community embedded within the area hence the title,
“You Make me Feel at Home”

Feel at Home
Joseph Walshe @josephwalshephoto

Springtime
Foraging
It’s that time of year when plants and
flowers are bursting forth and the verges
and parks around us a finally saying
goodbye to Winter and turning greener!
Here are a few ideas for plants that you
can pick and cook with, or eat raw, but
please keep in mind, that these are only
a rough guide to what you can eat - if
you aren’t 100% sure of a plants identity
then DO NOT EAT IT!!
love Paam
Wild Garlic
Allium Ursinum is the Latin word for garlic, although its original derivation is unclear. Ursinum means
“bear-like” or “of bears”, and is believed to refer to the idea that bears were Wild Garlic bulbs when
they emerged from hibernation
Leaves late winter to late spring, flowers spring, seeds late spring
Wild Garlic loves damp shady places in woods and gardens. Leaves are long and pointed with a smooth edge,
individual six-petalled white flowers. After the petals drop, three spherical seed pods remain
All parts of Wild Garlic are edible, so it has a lot of uses in food and also in herbal medicine. It
contains vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and copper. Studies have also shown that it
may help reduce blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Wild Garlic Pesto
Serves 4 - 6 Prep 5 minutes
Ingredients
10 - 15 Large Wild Garlic Leaves
4tbs Parmesan cheese (leave this out for a vegan pesto)
1.5tbs Pine nuts
2tbs Olive oil
Squeeze of lemon juice
Good grind of salt and pepper
For pasta sauce: Cream or dairy alternative
Method
Clean and pick through Wild Garlic
Put the parmesan, pine nuts, lemon juice, salt, pepper and oil into a bowl and blitz with stick blender
or pound with the end of a rolling pin to required coarseness/smoothness
Tear the garlic, adding and blitzing in stages
Sample the pesto and add more seasoning as required
Serve with pasta, or on toast with soup, or add to sauces for a garlicky kick.

Stinging Nettles
The Latin for the nettle plant is ‘dioica’. It means
‘two houses’ and is a reference to the fact that the
male and female flowers are carried on separate plants.
It has been suggested that the term ‘nettle’ is derived
from the Old English for needle – a reference to the
stinging leaves.
Stinging nettles have a long history as a foodstuff.
Native Americans would harvest the young plant in
spring, and nettle cordial can be traced back to the
Romans. Stinging nettles taste similar to spinach and
are very good for you – they have an unusually high
protein content for a vegetable and are rich in vitamins
A, C, D, iron, potassium and calcium. Nettles grow in
abundance everywhere in the UK throughout the Spring
and Summer, and are easily recognisable. Be sure to
wear gloves when picking them!
Nettles are so jam-packed with vitamins and minerals
that they are classified as a superfood. This nutritious
soup is as tasty as it is simple, and at its best when
made with fresh young nettle tips in April and May,
never gather nettles after they have flowered.
Stinging Nettle Soup
Serves 4 Prep 5 minutes Cook 25 minutes
Ingredients
About 80g (roughly 2 pint glasses full) of young nettle
tips
1½ tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
850ml vegetable stock
140ml single cream, can be left out for vegans
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Wearing gloves, wash the nettles in cold water and
leave to drain
Warm the olive oil in a medium pan and add the onion
and a pinch of salt. Cook gently until the onion is
softened and add garlic
Add the potato and stir well to combine with the onions.
Allow to cook gently for a couple of minutes, then add
the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for about ten
minutes, until the potatoes are tender to the point of
a knife.
Add the nettles, pushing them down to submerge them
in the stock and cook at a steady simmer for five
minutes. Blitz the soup using a stick blender, or mash
vigorously with potato masher
Bring the soup back up to simmering point, then take
the pan off the heat and stir in the cream (you can
replace this with a non dairy alternative)
Serve hot with crusty bread
Common Sorrel
There are many types of Wild Sorrel including the
more commonly known (and foraged) Common Sorrel,
Sheep’s Sorrel and Wood Sorrel. Distinctive arrowshaped
leaves and small red and green flower stalks
that appear from May to August, Sorrel has a lemony
or sharp apple taste. Sorrel in all its forms and
varieties is a truly delicious addition to salads
and is regularly used as a herb in its own right.
The plant is high in vitamins such as A, B and C and
in the past has been used to prevent scurvy. It is
also a good source of potassium which may help to
reduce blood pressure and water retention.
Medicinally, due to its high levels of Vitamin C it
is also provides an excellent boost to the immune
system, especially when coupled with the high levels
of Vitamin A in that this humble plant provides as
well.
Common Sorrel can also be used to remove the stains
from linen and the plant can be used as a dye with
the roots creating greens, greys and blues with the
stems and leaves producing a blue-grey colour.
Sorrel Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cooking time: 5 min
Ingredients
20g butter
200g sorrel, shredded≥
1 heaped tbsp crème fraîche (or double cream)
salt and pepperMethod
Method
Melt the butter in a small pan, stir in the sorrel
and cook gently until it has just wilted.
Stir in the crème fraîche, cook for 1 minute, then
season to taste.
Season to taste Serve hot
Delicious with fresh salmon or poached eggs, or try
it in a fish finger sandwich, yum!

Pittville Lake Birdlife
Over the years Pittville Lake has developed a variety of semi-resident and resident
Wildlife species- from local celebrities such as the Swan pair George and Zelda, the
Kingfisher to the Ducks and Gull flocks.
However, from time to time unusual and rare visitors appear on the lakes, sometimes staying
only a few hours, others several weeks. here are a few from recent years.
A common visitor (though oddly only one this year very briefly) is the black and white
Tufted Duck
Another Visitor which has become more frequent over the last few years either here or at
the Park campus is the stunning Mandarin Duck, originally from the Far East where numbers
are declining, now a UK resident-
Finally, the rarest visitor in recent years in terms of appearances is the handsome
Goosander- 2 males and a female appearing at different times over the past couple of years-
Hopefully, some of these will appear again during this year and bring some more colour and
variety to our favourite Park.
Steve Emerson

south side of the lake.
park of the Pittville Estate- it was brought
together in 1894.
On your right you will see one of the many
bridges which cross over the Pittville Lakes. This
is a new bridge, designed with the help of local
school children in 2012.
Puzzle 7: How may bridges are there across both
lakes in the park?
Hint- you have already crossed most of them.
If you want a shorter walk cross the bridge here and go to point 19.
Continue walking around this edge of the lake.
On your left you will see a large field known as
the Agg- Gardner Recreation ground.
Take the left fork and continue on the path.
Puzzle 8: Which sports team played here in the
1880’s?
Hint: their current ground is not far away.
At the side of the path are some obstacles for
you to cross - who can cross the quickest?
Welcome to the GO
Outside Pittville Park Trail!
Follow the directions and
answer questions along the
way.
Directions
With the Boat House behind you, facing the
tennis courts, turn right and walk along the
path around the lake.
Go over the small bridge and turn left into the
tunnel to go under the road.
You are now in the original East side of Pittville
Park. Turn left and go over the bridge
Facts and Puzzles
Puzzle 1: What date was the Boat House built?
Hint- can you find an information board on this
path?
The tunnel was previously much bigger but had
to be reinforced as the road got busier- you can
still see the outline of the old entrance from this
side
Puzzle 2: What do you think the surname of the
man who established the Park was called?
Hint- he named the park after himself.
Contact: rachel@go-outside.co.uk
The paths re-join and bends right, around the 2 Puzzle 8: What do you think this used to be?
edge of the lake. On the far side of the lake you Hint: This 4 letter building is where wheat is
will see a weir, and lots of large stones.
turned to flour.
Cross the brook and loop back around to the
right, following the path alongside the lake.
Continue along the north side of the lake with
the golf course on your left.
Before it was demolished in the 1960’s Marle Hill
House stood on the top of the hill you can see
on your left.
You will see many tree trunks and large
branches which have been left along this edge
of the lake.
Continue along the path until you reach the
Boat House- it’s probably time for an ice cream
or a hot drink after all that hard work! Well
done!
Fact: This land used to belong to Robert Capper
who owned the Marle Hill estate.
Puzzle 9: Other than gardens, what 7 letter
word do you think was left on the land here?
Hint: it was probably very smelly!
Puzzle 11: Which 3 letter animals’ home do you
this think is?
Hint: They have many legs.
Congratulations! You have completed the Go Outside Pittville Park trail!
Tag us in your Instagram pics @goutsideuk
Send us some feedback via our website (www.go-outside.co.uk) to let us know what you thought!
If you want a shorter walk cross teh bridge and follow the path to the right, around the lake and go to
point 7.
Originally the whole of the park was surrounded by railings and gates similar to what you have
just walked through. It was only used by those who owned the houses surrounding the park- their
servants could only come here with permission!
Follow the path up and to the left, around the
playground heading towards the Pump Room
at the top of the hill.
Keeping the Playground on your Contact: left, head rachel@go-outside.co.uk
up Puzzle 4: The Pump Room is now used for lots of
to the Pump Room- when you get there turn 1
and look down the lawn to the lake. This is
very similar to the view people would have had
nearly 200 years ago!
With the Pump Room on your left, follow the
path around and back down towards the lake.
Continue down the path and turn left to go
around the lake and over a second bridge.
Keep following the path around to the right -
you will see the old boundary fence again on
your left.
You are now in ‘The Long Garden’. This area
woudl have origionally been completely fenced
off from the public. It was designed to be used
by the owners of the houses you see around
you. Walk straight on, keeping the road to your
left.
You will see a small building to your right- this is
the Central Cross Café and dates back to 1903.
events and often weddings. What other uses do
you think its had?
A) School
B) Hospital
C) Army Base
Puzzle 5: Can you see a large house on your left?
Fact: This is where the original dams were built
to create the lake. This initially was mostly
used for fishing.
Puzzle 6: There also used to be another building
near this spot what do you think it was?
A) Spa
B) Dance Hall
C) Toll booth
If you need a snack stop here to get an ice cream or a drink!
Walk back up the centre of the park towards the
lake. Go back through the tunnel underneath
the road.
Puzzle 3: What do you think was ‘pumped’ here?
There has been a playground of some sort here since the 1890’s. The animals were introduced
in 1936 and were relocated during the refurbishment in 2016.
Fact: This footpath has been here since the
estate was developed.
In the last 12 months more and more of us have been spending
time outside, potentially meaning our favourite walk or park to
play in has become a little overused and not as exciting as it
used to be!
If you are looking for a new way to explore your local area,
find new parks and playgrounds as well as learning some new
things Go Outside’s trails are definitely for you!
The trails are guided walks around St Peters and The Moors,
as well as along the Honeybourne Line and other areas of
Cheltenham and Gloucester which have been designed for
children and families- quite like a local treasure hunt!
You can download the
Contact:
existing
rachel@go-outside.co.uk
trails from the website at www.
go-outside.co.uk/trails as well as 3 following the Facebook page
Go Outside UK to be the first to know when new trails are
created. There is also an iphone app coming soon which will
have more trails and other things to find whilst out on your
walks.
If you would like the opportunity to create a trail of your own
you can contact Rachel Sullivan, the founder on
rachel@go-outside.co.uk with your ideas.
These can then be put into the app with a dedication to you so
lots more people can enjoy your walk!
Rachel Sullivan
Take the path to the left and walk around the
south side of the lake.
Fact: This side of the park was not originally
park of the Pittville Estate- it was brought
together in 1894.
On your right you will see one of the many
bridges which cross over the Pittville Lakes. This
is a new bridge, designed with the help of local
school children in 2012.
Puzzle 7: How may bridges are there across both
lakes in the park?
Hint- you have already crossed most of them.
If you want a shorter walk cross the bridge here and go to point 19.
Continue walking around this edge of the lake.
On your left you will see a large field known as
the Agg- Gardner Recreation ground.
Take the left fork and continue on the path.
Puzzle 8: Which sports team played here in the
1880’s?
Hint: their current ground is not far away.
At the side of the path are some obstacles for

Upcycle for Spring!
Why not give yourself a wardrobe update for that next jaunt around the park or just sitting in
the garden enjoying the birdsong, and repurpose an old t-shirt.
No sewing is needed to make this scarf and save an old t-shirt.
You Will Need
An old t-shirt/top (thinner fabric is better)
A pair of sharp scissors
A ruler
A biro
Several pins
Firstly, put the t-shirt on a flat surface and smooth it out, don’t worry if the sides seams are
twisted.
Using the biro and ruler draw a straight line across the front of the t-shirt, just below the
arm pits or lower if you don’t want your scarf to be too deep.
Pin just above the ruler line making sure that you pin through the back and front of the fabric.
Cut through the back and front of the t-shirt along the marked-out line, then remove the pins.
Turn the t-shirt around, so the cut line is nearest you. Now you need to work out what length
you would like your tassels.
Mark a line using the pins of how far up you would like to cut your tassels.
Start cutting the tassels, mine are about 1cm wide, I did it by eye so they are not exact.
Once you have cut your tassels, gently pull them (pic 5) and the edges will start to roll inwards,
do this several times and as you wash the scarf the tassels will soften and roll more.
Trudi Price
(3)
(6)

Spring in FCH Edible Garden
Spring is an exciting time for the Edible Garden. The frogs have returned to the pond, croaking and
splashing as mounds of frogspawn are piled up among the yellow irises. Soon the fruit trees will start
to blossom, with different varieties coming into flower at different times.
It’s time for us to get our beds ready for planting. Radishes are an easy crop that can be sown early
in the season for quick results. Some varieties of lettuce can also be sown early on. Because our
garden is fairly sheltered, potatoes are another crop that we plant early to minimise the risk of
blight later in the season. While we are waiting for that first taste of the garden, stinging nettles
can provide a nourishing springtime flavour.
They can be added to recipes instead of
spinach, or sautéed on their own. The fresh
young tops are best, and they must not be
eaten at all once they start to flower, as
this can cause kidney problems. Flowering
often starts at end of April.
The spring can also be a time for thinking
even further ahead by sowing crops of Brussels
sprouts or purple sprouting. It’s always
interesting to try something new, and this
year we are going to try growing Florence
fennel. During the quieter winter period,
the Edible Garden team have been extending
their activities by planting some yew trees
in the grounds of St Paul’s Church.
You can follow us on our facebook page:
www.facebook.com/EdibleGardenFCH/
Rowan Middleton

Field Fare
Join We Create and gardener Cynneth in planting a temporary Community
Garden on Hardwick Green over summer 2021!
Our new project, Field Fare, will see us growing and foraging for ‘useful
plants’ – such as herbs for cooking and infusing, and flowers and roots
that make natural dyes and inks – in raised beds on Hardwick Green. You
can help yourself to the produce when it’s ready or we can distribute
community growing packs to residents to cultivate in their own gardens,
pots and window boxes.
Our cultivated plots will also create beautiful sensory gardens, filled
with carefully selected plants for colour, scent and texture. In talks
and workshops we will explore the botanical heritage of St Peter’s and St
Paul’s and relearn traditional methods of using home-grown plant-life.
Catch us when we’re working on the Green or get in touch by email at
hello@we-create.org.uk to find out more, or to get hold of a growing
pack. Or find us on Facebook, Insta and Twitter.

WE CREATE CELEBRATES FIFTH BIRTHDAY!
We Create arts action group are celebrating
five years of community activity since first
meeting at Hardwick campus in March 2016. The
meeting followed a Residents Day organised by
Hardwick Gallery to introduce local people
to the new artspace at the University of
Gloucestershire.
We Create has developed as a collaborative
partnership between Hardwick Gallery and
residents in the communities of St Peter’s and
St Paul’s, Cheltenham, in association with Take
A Part. We Create, which recently became a CIC,
aims to stimulate interest and understanding of
the area’s rich heritage, connect residents,
and to catalyse opportunities for people to
engage with creativity through ambitious
projects and public events co-created with
residents, artists and allies. In doing so,
we hope to change perceptions of the area and
encourage further investment.
The arts action group’s first project was Love
St Peter’s, Love St Paul’s in 2017. This project
invited residents to take part in creative
activities led by artists such as film-making,
baking, foraging, and modelling with locallydug
clay. Children from Gardner’s Lane Primary
School visited The Wilson and created objects
for the Museum of St Peter’s and St Paul’s.
In 2019 the group, now named We Create, set
up the Creative Network with local artists
and makers meeting socially to listen to and
discuss each other’s artistic journeys. We
also worked with Rachel Dobbs to present the
Creative Enterprise Programme, a series of
workshops for people interested in running
their own arts and community projects.
In February 2020 artist collective Paam began
meeting with residents to develop the Mudlarking
project which, with the onset of the pandemic,
adapted to become a community newspaper that
showcases the wealth of creativity, passions and
interests of residents and is very much rooted
in the local area, although its distribution
is wider.
Next up is Field Fare, a project to grow and
forage for ‘useful plants’ – such as herbs and
seeds, and flowers that make natural dyes and
inks – in the green-spaces, gardens and wild
places of the local area. We will explore their
botanical heritage and relearn traditional
methods of using home-grown plant-life relevant
to our diverse communities. Mudlarking will
continue, with residents guest-editing and
illustrating the newspaper, gathering stories
and tracking the progress of the Field Fare
project.
Please contact We Create if you’re a local
resident interested in sharing your skills
and knowledge or taking part in any of these
projects. We always welcome new members to
our steering group – anyone living, working,
studying or with a connection to the area can
join in. Get in touch!
Email hello@we-create.org.uk
Website www.we-create.org.uk
FB www.facebook.com/WeCreateChelt
Insta www.instagram.com/wecreatechelt
Twitter www.twitter.com/wecreatechelt

Aptitude Fitness and Wellbeing
Aptitude Fitness and Wellbeing is a Cheltenham based company run
by Amy Pope. In January 2021, she launched the Empowered Project
in Association with Sport England and The National Lottery, following
a successful bid to the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign. The Empowered
Project allows women in Gloucestershire to access up to two FREE
Bootcamp classes each week, eliminating any financial barrier to being
able to take part.
The classes are currently run online due to Covid restrictions. They are
fun, and fully inclusive for all women no matter what level of fitness and
ability. All exercises are coached and adapted by Amy depending on
personal circumstances and whilst online, any equipment ladies may
have access to (however, you don’t need equipment to take part!).
The classes are free until the end of June. Interested? Have a look at
the video clip below.
https://youtu.be/sI0i4wZ5DtM
For more information, please do get in touch with Amy either by email
info@aptitudefitness.co.uk or on Facebook
(search for Empowered by Aptitude Fitness’)