Winchester Lifestyle Jun - Jul 2021

Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

16 

A 

A Culinary Journey through 

Northern 

spectacular Ireland 

garden transformation 

Excuse me for a moment, whilst I 

just finish wringing out my clothes 

and removing my flippers after the 

wettest May I can remember! I’m 

a May baby and I usually bank 

on good weather, but it’s been a 

mixed bag hasn’t it! The garden is 

looking pretty happy though... 

...and speaking of, we are a nation 

of garden fanatics - never more-so 

than when our patches of earth 

became our social spaces, home 

gym or just general respite from our 

four walls. 

12 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Slow cooker recipes to 

make you smile 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-press Manager Kate O’Connell 

Contributors Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, 

Front Cover courtesy of Kiera Williams Photography 

Key Account Manager Laura Rodney 

e laura@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984501 

twitter: @WinchesterLifes 

Our competition 

page returns 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, 

Trowbridge BA14 6JB t 01225 984 550 

w www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

04 

26 

Happy Healthy 

Dog Advice 

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

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

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

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

With that in mind, we’ve got a 

wonderful garden feature to help 

inspire you - and to show that 

no space is beyond help! This 

plot really was an eyesore and a 

challenge given its slope and poor 

access, but the owners have made 

something rather special and given 

us some tips into how they did it. 

On the foodie front we have some 

amazing recipes from a book all 

about the humble slow cooker. 

Once consigned as a product of 

a 70s housewife, the slow cooker 

has had an image reinvention in 

recent years - especially because 

its low-cost and minimal fuss 

cooking appeals to the modern, 

time-strapped family cook. They’re 

as beautiful as they are tasty, so we 

hope you enjoy digging in. 

Finally, we are bringing back our 

very popular competition page 

- this issue it has nearly £2,000 

worth of prizes! You can enter 

all the ones listed on the page, 

plus some web-exclusives at 

minervamagazines.co.uk - you 

can also opt into being the first to 

hear about new giveaways when 

they are launched. 

We are looking forward to seeing 

you again in August - hopefully 

after a long hot summer! 

Katie 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

COMPETITION 

Time 

If you’re looking for the full package when grilling, 

the Professional PRO is the one to go for. It is 

the grill of superlatives because it is extra hot, 

extra convenient and extra versatile. The innovative 

TRU-Infrared cooking technology guarantees that your 

barbecue food remains juicy and tender on the inside. 

To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at 

random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted. 

Char-Broil gas 

burner BBQ 

worth 

£719 

The high-performance sear burner positioned to the 

side perfects that really crispy crust - complete with 

professional grill strips on the outside. The grill is started by 

way of electronic SureFire ignition, at the touch of a button 

and without any open flame. Three low-consumption, upward facing highperformance 

stainless steel burners produce maximum, evenly distributed heat 

with low gas consumption. Find out more at www.charbroil.co.uk 

Closes 30/05/2021 - Competition keyword ‘CHAR’ 

Skincare and 

relaxtion goodies 

worth over 

£280 

Made By Copers is modern 

apothecary crafting natural and 

organic products for your skin and 

soul. We focus on the whole body, 

with an emphasis on emotional 

wellbeing. We believe in creating 

natural, clean products that leave 

your skin radiant, nourished and 

your mind and body restored to 

perfect harmony. 

The winner will receive a special 

hamper containing the sleepy 

head collection, a Relaxing 

Body Oil and the Superfood 

Face Serum (worth £147) and 

two runners up will each receive 

the Bath Salt Collection (worth 

£67.50) 

At home or in the Cotswolds, 

win two fabulous Macrame 

kits with everything else 

needed to create your 

stunning boho style 5 feather 

Macrame wall hanging from 

the comfort of home. 

Then visit Larkswold in the 

Cotswolds and experience 

their amazing scented candle 

making workshop for you 

to enjoy and treat a friend. 

There are plenty of dates to 

choose from. 

Why not check out: 

www.larkswold.com for a full 

list of courses. 

£220 

worth of 

crafting 

workshops 

Closes 30/05/2021 - Competition 

keyword ‘COOPERS’ 


keyword ‘LARKSWOLD’ 

Baby mat and 

block play set 

worth 

£220 

Give your child the best possible start 

with the play gym that gives you a whole 

year of play. New to the UK, baby brand 

Lovevery did all the research to bring 

your child the best stage-based play 

gym for their developing brain. 

The Parents’ Choice awardwinning 

play gym includes 

everything your child needs in 

an activity gym and play mat— 

from batting to teething to learning 

to focus—for playtime and tummy time with 

purpose. Designed by child development 

experts and crafted with safe, healthy and 

durable materials for babies ages 0+. 

Winners will receive a mat worth £140 plus The Block 

Set (worth £80), perfect for honing 

those 

spatial, language, and problemsolving 

skills. See the full 

collection at uk.lovevery.com 

Closes 30/05/2021 - 

Competition 

keyword 

‘LOVEVERY’ 

Wage war on dirt, bacteria and odours in the 

home with the new Vax Platinum SmartWash. 

Scoring 99/100 in Good Housekeeping 

Institute’s carpet washing tests, it also 

outperforms the UK’s leading rental and 

leaves carpets dry in as little as one hour. 

There is no trigger to press and hold down whilst 

cleaning, instead the motion sense technology 

automatically dispenses the correct mix of clean water 

and VAX Platinum Antibacterial Solution when you 

push forward to wash and dries when you pull back. 

Its FlexForce brush bars agitate the carpet to remove 

tough stains, dirt and spills, delivering a deep clean 

seven times more effective than vacuuming alone. 

Also included is a stretch hose, Spinscrub hand 

tool and 2-in-1 antimicrobial wash tool to deep 

clean and tackle above the floor stains on stairs, 

upholstery, in pet beds and in the car. 

We’ve got one to win worth £299.99 including a 

free steam cleaner worth £59.99 - 

www.vax.co.uk 


keyword ‘VAX SMARTWASH’ 

VAX SmartWash 

and steam cleaner 

worth 

£359 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

Unusual Plants Fair 

Saturday 19th -20th June 2021 

Two days of plants stalls! 

Adults/Concessions £8 & Children £2 

gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk 

Selborne, Hampshire , GU34 3JH 

CLEARLY 

Never miss out on the sounds you love 

with the latest comfortable and invisible hearing aids 

FREE 

HEARING 

AID TRIALS * 

FREE 

HEARING 

TESTS 

'NEW' 

HEARING 

AIDS TAKING 

THE WORLD 

BY STORM! 

WAX 

REMOVAL 

SERVICE 

BRING THIS 

ADVERT IN TO 

CLAIM YOUR 

SPECIAL HEARING 

AID DISCOUNT * 

or quote ref 

WLIF 

*on selected products 

WE ARE OPEN 

Covid-19 Compliant 

with full PPE 

TROUBLE HEARINGTHEN 

CONTACT USTODAY! 

www.winchesterhearing.co.uk 

* 

* 

Hearing 

aids 

independenthearingaidaudiologists 

don't have 

"We care about you & your hearing" 

68 Parchment St, Winchester SO23 8AT 

t:01962 865500 

to 

be 

seen! 


Nurseries Supporting 

children and families through the pandemic 

In the first national lockdown nurseries could only stay open for 

critical childcare - providing care for vulnerable children and those 

of critical workers. Once they could open for all children again it 

was clear that lockdowns had created a very challenging period for 

children and families. 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

According to the Department for Education’s figures only half of the 

usual number of children are back at nursery or other early years 

settings. Attendance dipped as low as 30% at the height of the third 

wave. 

As a result of lockdowns children have been going into nursery 

having spent either all their lives away from other children and 

extended family or having not seen them for weeks or months at a 

time, which is a long time in a baby or toddler’s life. 

Early years education and care is crucial in a young child’s 

development as these are the most important years that help 

determine their futures. For many children early years settings have 

been the only place of “normality” and a place where they can 

interact in a safe environment. Children can play with others the 

same age, challenge themselves with risky play and become used 

to socialising again. They can also learn or re-learn behaviours 

important for being in a large group like exploring, helping others, 

sharing, communication skills and learning together. 

With time out of nursery or other early education settings, 

children’s basic communication skills have suffered, so their skilled 

professionals are now focussing on their needs. However, these 

dedicated staff need more time and government investment in 

training so they can better support children. Practitioners are facing 

lots of challenging behaviours from children and any problems 

children are experiencing at home have only been exacerbated by 

the events of the past year. 

Many nurseries have gone above and beyond, for families too. 

Many have helped to support children who were unable to come 

in – possibly due to shielding or concerns over Covid-19. This 

has included innovative ways of assisting them and their families 

remotely such as story time, suggested activities and hints and tips 

to parents. 

Nurseries have done so much for children and families throughout 

the pandemic. Now the attention is shifting to educational recovery 

we must not forget children’s early years. This is when they lay down 

foundations for lifelong learning. As a country we must invest in our 

children and the vital early education settings they need to ensure our 

little ones have the best start in life. 

01484 40 70 70 

www.ndna.org.uk 

CEO Purnima Tanuku OBE 

Now taking registrations 

FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS 

OPEN 7.30AM TO 6.30PM 

Fun is an essential ingredient 

in all our nurseries where 

the care and education 

opportunities for each and 

every child are as extraordinary 

as our colleagues who 

provide them. 

T: 01962 870977 

E: maples.nursery@childbase.com 

Maples Day Nursery and Preschool, 

39 Hatherley Rd, Winchester, 

Hampshire, SO22 6RT 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU 

T: 01962 827393 

E: west.downs@childbase.com 

West Downs Day Nursery and Preschool, 

West Downs Student Village, Romsey Rd, 

Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5HT 

www.childbasepartnership.com 


FOWLER 

& 

I N G 

PROUDLY 

SUPPORTING 

THE HAMPSHIRE 

COUNTRY 

& GARDEN 

FESTIVAL 

BERE MILL WHITCHURCH RG28 7NH 

helping to support our nhs hospitals 

EVENING FUN 

SATURDAY 26 JUNE 

COCKTAILS & CANAPÉS 

LUXURY PICNIC 

HAMPER SUPPER 

WITH WINE 

SILENT & LIVE 

AUCTIONS 

TREE OF LIFE RAFFLE 

MUSIC & DANCING 

FESTIVAL DAY 

SUNDAY 27 JUNE 

WORKSHOPS, TALKS 

& DEMONSTRATIONS 

NURSERIES 

& GIFT STANDS 

FOOD & DRINK 

KID’S ACTIVITIES 

FAMILY DOG SHOW 

LIVE MUSIC 

BOOK TICKETS AT hampshiregardenfestival.co.uk 

Raising money for the neonatal departments of Basingstoke, Andover & Winchester NHS hospitals 

GOLD SPONSOR 

SILVER SPONSORS 

A R C H 

I T E C T U R E 

P L A N N 


Park proms: 

an unmissable 

experience 

If you’re looking for fabulous 

things to do this summer, look no 

further than Park Proms... 

An unmissable experience featuring world-class artists, taking 

place at the beautiful Broadlands estate in Romsey, Hampshire. 

Park Proms promises to be a wonderfully British spectacle 

featuring prolific artists and entertainment for you and your family. 

Night one features performances by the prestigious Royal 

Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and special guests: The Welsh 

baritone, former boy soprano, television and radio presenter; Aled 

Jones & English mezzo-soprano, Laura Wright.. The 78-piece 

Orchestra will play a “Last night of the proms” styled concert 

with a number of pieces from some of the greatest films including 

Harry Potter, James Bond, Star Wars & Superman. 

And for Night 2, Saturday 28th August, a premium night of Pop 

Music! Headlining will be James Morrison, joined by special 

guests Pixie Lott, Scouting For Girls and Eliza and The Bear. 

Playing exclusively at Broadlands this summer, we can’t wait to 

see these incredibly talented, popular British artists take to the 

stage proving this to be the ultimate summer show of 2021. The 

all British line-up will entertain you with a compilation of much 

loved chart-topping songs and they will be showcasing their very 

latest releases. 

The event hosts a plethora of fantastic local delicious food treats, 

and a hospitality lounge for those seeking a little something 

special and a VIP experience. 

Tickets are available from the Park Proms website: 

www.parkproms.com. Park Proms also assures all customers 

that their tickets are safe. If the event cannot take place, they 

offer a ‘ticket promise’ – You may receive a full refund or carry 

your ticket over to 2022. 


GIVE A GIFT that means a little more 

sustainable, wellness-based gift boxes - customisable and beautiful, from £10 

available from hauslife.co.uk 


STEAM INTERACTIVE 2021 

Mark Budge, STEAM co-ordinator at Leighton Park School, 

reflects on the success of STEAM Interactive 2021, a virtual 

outreach event designed to engage young pupils in science, 

technology, engineering, the arts, and maths 

According to the World Economic Forum, the three most important 

skills for the future are creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. 

At Leighton Park, these are the skills we focus on in STEAM. Making 

creativity explicit is why we include the arts in STEM to make 

STEAM. It is this focus that is also the key to encouraging more girls 

to study STEM subjects and enter into STEM careers. 

During this year’s British Science Week, we hosted STEAM 

Interactive 2021, an outreach event attended by over 100 students 

from 18 primary and prep schools. Pupils had the opportunity to tune 

in to five interactive workshops, live Q&As, a keynote speech on The 

Future of Technology and six STEAM Stories, presenting the STEAM 

journeys of experienced industry professionals. The event was 

delivered through the school’s website, with links to pre-recorded 

workshop sessions on YouTube and live Q&As on Zoom. There was 

also an Art & Engineering themed competition for students to enter 

using their work from the sessions on Monday and Thursday. 

“Our commitment to educational partnerships is a key aspect of our 

work at Leighton Park,” commented Natasha Coccia, assistant head: 

outreach and partnerships. “We work with state schools to help raise 

engagement and progress in a range of subjects, but as a STEAM hub 

a real highlight of the academic year is our work with KS2 students in 

the area of STEAM through our Big Bang Interactive event which is 

usually in the spring term. This year’s event has taken a different form 

and gone online but has enabled us to reach even more participants. 

We are thrilled with this level of engagement during the week that 

schools have reopened across England. A particularly exciting feature 

this year is our focus on women in STEAM, with our guest panellists 

from Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, Design Nature, Ethical 

Reading and David Ross Educational Trust.” 

The sessions, which included the opportunity to construct a pop-up 

stage set, build a geodesic dome, witness a sheep’s heart dissection, 

undertake experiments with exercise and pulse, and send messages in 

morse code, certainly went down well with the pupils involved. 

Catherine Reeves, from Evendons Primary School, enthused about 

the Art & Engineering workshop: “All the children from Year 4 to Year 6 

were fascinated by the amount of weight the egg could withstand - we 

had a ‘sweepstake’ for the vertical test to add to the excitement and 

they loved it. It was the perfect combination of suspense, excitement and 

a challenging collaborative activity. Thank you!” 

Philly Hatton-Evans, from Waverley School, from the sixth form 

CTECH Sport students called ‘At the Heart of It’: “I just wanted to 

say thank you to Leighton Park for organising such an exciting and 

interactive STEAM week. The children have absolutely loved it so far 

and it has made the first week back in school even more exciting. I 

also wanted to say how impressive the sixth form pupils were just 

now on the live Q&A session. They spoke with great knowledge and 

confidence of their subject and the children here were completely 

gripped by the session. It is clear that they love their subject and the 

school.” 

Day, Flexi, Weekly 

& Full Boarding 

Book a visit to 

fi nd out more 

HA LEAL 

admissions@godolphin.org 

www.godolphin.org 

FRANC 

ETO GE 


Due to increasing demand, 

St Swithun’s Prep School is expanding 

Extra classes in Year 3 and Year 5 for 2021 entry 

• Diverse specialist subjects taught by experts every week 

• Wide range of sports including football, cricket, netball and lacrosse 

• Weekly swimming lessons 

• Programme of regular arts afternoons 

• Democratic citizenship programme 

• High Performance Learning World Class School 

• Spectacular teaching and learning environment in 45 acres of grounds 

To find out more, request a tour of the 

school and meet the head, please visit: 

Year 3 www.stswithuns.com/yr3 

Year 5 www.stswithuns.com/yr5 

E: prepadmissions@stswithuns.com | 01962 835792

Stroud School, Romsey 

King Edward VI Preparatory School 

Forever Undaunted 

A traditional prep school with a 

wild 

www.stroud-kes.org.uk 

heart

SLOW & 

The slow cooker is having a bit of a 

revival, not least because it takes the time 

pressures of home-cooked meals off of 

family life and offers hands-free dishes 

which warm the heart and soul. 

Katrina Meynink is such an advocate of 

the process that she’s created a beautiful 

booked, filled with inspiration for each 

cooking mood. Here we have some tasters 

from her new book, Slow Victories. 

EGGPLANT CHREIME 

Steady 

This is a bit of a slow cooker riff on the 

traditional Tunisian braised fish dish of 

the same name. But instead, here I’ve 

cooked down eggplant in a harissaspiced 

ragu and added the umami 

heat of urfa biber (Turkish red pepper 

flakes; available from specialist grocers), 

served on top of hummus and finished 

with some cooling coconut yoghurt and 

herbs. This one gets better with age, so 

embrace the leftovers. Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

2 garlic cloves, finely sliced 

2 medium eggplants (aubergines), 

trimmed, quartered lengthways 

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, 

roughly crushed 

1 teaspoon coriander seeds, 

roughly crushed 

bunch of coriander (cilantro), roots 

trimmed, cleaned and chopped 

2 ox-heart tomatoes, chopped 

2 tablespoons tomato paste 

(concentrated purée) 

1 × 400 g (14 oz) tin chopped tomatoes 

1 tablespoon rose harissa 

1 heaped teaspoon urfa biber 

(Turkish red pepper flakes) 

1 tablespoon brown sugar 

To serve 

150 g (51/2 oz) hummus 

125 g (41/2 oz/½ cup) coconut yoghurt 

fronds from 2 dill sprigs 

chilli flakes, to taste 

METHOD 

Preheat the slow cooker for 15 minutes 

on high. Set the cooker to the sauté 

function and add the oil, garlic, eggplant, 

cumin and coriander seeds. Sauté until 

fragrant and the eggplant starts taking 

on some colour. Add the remaining 

ingredients, give it a gentle stir, then close 

the lid and cook on low for 8 hours. 

To serve, smear the hummus onto the base 

of serving plates. Gently scoop out the 

eggplant and place on top, then finish with 

the coconut yoghurt, dill and chilli flakes. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

FREEKEH WITH KALE, 

CHILLI, YEAST & 

PEPITA SALAD 

I’m just going to say this up front: 

the nutritional yeast in this salad is 

a revelation. It truly adds the most 

phenomenal umami flavour, as well as 

being a superb seasoning mechanism. 

This salad has excellent holding power, 

so it’s always a good one for work 

lunches or those irksome bring-a-plate 

scenarios. Serves: 4 (as a side) 

INGREDIENTS 

200 g (7 oz/1 cup) whole freekeh, rinsed 

500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) vegetable stock 

50 g (13/4 oz/1 cup) nutritional yeast 

150 g (51/2 oz/1 cup) salted pepitas 

(pumpkin seeds), roughly chopped 

(see Note) 

125–185 ml (4–6 fl oz/½–3/4 cup) olive oil 

150 g (51/2 oz/2 cups) cavolo nero, 

finely sliced 

1 green chilli, finely sliced 

baby cavolo nero leaves, to garnish 

METHOD 

Heat your slow cooker on the low setting 

for at least 20 minutes. Add the freekeh 

and vegetable stock, give it a good stir, 

then cover and cook on low for 1 hour. 

Check it at the 45-minute mark and 

if there still seems to be quite a lot of 

stock, leave the lid off for the last 15–20 

minutes. Once cooked, fluff with a fork. (It 

should be cooked through, but al dente.) 

Turn out into a bowl and season 

generously with salt and pepper, then 

allow to cool. 

For the salad, add the nutritional yeast, 

pepitas and 125 ml (4 fl oz) of the oil to 

another bowl and stir to combine. If the 

mixture looks too dry, add more oil until 

it reaches a lose pestolike consistency. 

Add the cavolo nero and chilli and toss 

with your hands. Add the freekeh, season 

again with salt and pepper, and garnish 

with baby cavolo nero leaves, if using, 

then serve. If you need to revive this for 

another day, simply slice some more 

cavolo nero and toss it through. 

COOK’S NOTE 

Use unsalted pepitas if you prefer. You 

can even add these to a mortar and 


Time to Relax 

Time to Relax 

5 STAR ACCOMMODATION 

AWARD WINNING EASONS 

5 STAR ACCOMMODATION 

SHERBORNE, DORSET 

AWARD WINNING EASONS 

SHERBORNE, DORSET 

RESTAURANT 

RESTAURANT 

Spa 

LUXURY ROOMS | COTTAGE | BOUTIQUE SPA | FINE DINING | LOVELY GARDENS 

Winner 

“Best Luxury Value Hotel” 

Winner 

Spa 

Two hours and a world away 

from London” 

Country and Townhouse 2019 

“Two hours and a world away from London” 


“...a friendly team of staff, 

in England 

delicious food and walled garden” 

MS | COTTAGE “Best Luxury Value | BOUTIQUE Hotel” SPA | FINE DINING | LOVELY GARDENS 

Condé Nast Johansens 

“...a Sawdays friendly 2019 team of staff, 

Readers in England Awards 2020 

delicious 

“Touch of 

food 

class” 

and walled 

Condé Nast Johansens 

Dorset Living 2019 

garden” 

Readers Awards 2020 

Sawdays 2019 

The Eastbury is a luxury Georgian country house style hotel with a unique boutique spa, 

“Two hours and a world away from London” 

country gardens and the award-winning easons restaurant. Set “Touch in the glorious of class” 


Dorset countryside, adjoining the attractive ancient market town Dorset of Sherborne. Living 2019 

e Hotel” 

“...a friendly team of staff, 

The Eastbury is a luxury www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk Georgian country house style delicious Tel: hotel 01935 with food 813131 a unique and boutique walled garden” spa, country 

ansens gardens and the award-winning relax@theeastburyhotel.co.uk 

easons restaurant. Set in the Sawdays glorious 2019 Dorset countryside, 

2020 

adjoining the attractive ancient market town “Touch of Sherborne. of class” 

Dorset Living 2019 

www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk Tel: 01935 813131 

relax@theeastburyhotel.co.uk 

ry is a luxury Georgian country house style hotel with a unique boutique spa, 

ardens and the award-winning easons restaurant. Set in the glorious

pestle and give them a rough grind; it 

works wonders. 

LAMB SHAWARMA 

I suggest doing this with a small leg 

of lamb as you get the best results 

by being able to lay the meat as flat 

as you can in the base of the slow 

cooker. This allows the braising 

liquid to come up the sides so that 

the glorious spicy crust can be 

maintained. Obviously, slow cooking 

a lamb leg is a far cry from roasting it 

on a rotisserie, but the spice-addled 

preparation is the same and the end 

result is freaking delicious. I love 

serving this as part of a spread with 

flatbreads, pomegranate, bundles of 

mint and tahini.This works best if you 

can prepare it ahead. The day before 

you want to serve it, rub the spices 

into the scored meat and rest it in 

the fridge overnight. You will need a 

large, shallow-base slow cooker for 

this recipe. Serves: 4-6 

INGREDIENTS 

2 teaspoons black peppercorns 

6 cloves 

1 star anise 

1 teaspoon cardamom seeds 

½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds 

1½ teaspoons fennel seeds 

1 tablespoon cumin seeds 

1 tablespoon coriander seeds 

½ tablespoon ground cinnamon 

1 teaspoon nutmeg 

1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika 

½ tablespoon sumac 

4 garlic cloves, crushed 

zest of 1 lemon 

1–1.2 kg (2 lb 3 oz–2 lb 10 oz) lamb 

leg, bone in 

1 litre (34 fl oz/4 cups) chicken or 

vegetable stock, or enough to come 

three-quarters of the way up the side 

of the lamb 

To serve 

tahini 

pomegranate arils 

finely sliced red onion (optional) 

flatbreads 

mint and coriander (cilantro) leaves 

METHOD 

Add the peppercorns, cloves, star 

anise and all the seeds to a frying 

pan and briefly dry-roast over a 

medium–high heat until the spices 

pop and become fragrant. 

You can also do this in your slow 

cooker if you have it nice and hot. 

Grind them in a spice grinder or using 

a mortar and pestle. Add to a bowl 

with all the remaining ingredients, 

except the lamb and stock, and stir 

to combine. 

Score the lamb leg in several spots. 

Rub the spices into the skin and top 

of the leg, then set aside to marinate 

for a minimum of 2 hours, but 

preferably overnight. 

Set your slow cooker to low. Add 

the lamb, then gently pour the stock 

into the bowl, being careful not to 

pour it over the top of the lamb; you 

want to keep as much of the spice 

mixture on the meat as possible to 

form a crust. Cover and cook for 10 

hours. Remove the lid for the last 30 

minutes of cooking. 

Let the lamb rest for 10 minutes 

before serving with tahini, 

pomegranate arils, red onion, if using, 

flatbreads and herbs. 

SPARKLING ROSÉ 

POACHED PEACHES 

The sweetness of white peaches at 

their peak and the pure pink fizz of 

this 

dessert really encapsulate late 

summer eating at its best. The 

peaches are 

delightful on their own or with a 

dollop of crème fraîche. Serves: 6 

INGREDIENTS 

500 ml (2 cups) sparkling rosé 

115 g (1 cup) caster sugar 

1 tablespoon rosewater 

1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste 

6 white peaches 

To serve 

organic rose petals 

3 tablespoons roughly crushed 

freezedried raspberries or 

strawberries 

METHOD 

Combine the rosé, sugar, rosewater 

and vanilla in the bowl of your slow 

cooker. Set to the sauté function 

and cook for 10 minutes, stirring to 

dissolve the sugar. Turn the heat to 

low, add the peaches and close the 

lid. Cook for 2½ hours. 

Allow to cool completely in the syrup. 

Gently remove the peaches and 

place in a large serving dish. Pour 

over the syrup, then scatter over 

the rose petals and the freeze-dried 

berries to serve. 

You can, of course, cut the peaches 

in half and remove the stones, but 

I like throwing the whole lot in for a 

more low-maintenance approach. 

The stones are so easily removed 

once the peaches have slow-cooked, 

and it stops the fruit from losing its 

shape as it cooks. 

Slow Victories by Katrina Meynink 

(Hardie Grant, £16.99) Photography 

©Kait Barker, Katrina Meynink 


Quality Wine 

ON YOUR DOORSTEP! 

How much are we all looking forward to summer 

2021? Overseas holidays may be questionable for 

some, but in their place are countless gems on our 

own doorstep just waiting to be discovered, along 

with delicious regional food and drink to enjoy... 

One shining example is the home wine industry and the many 

award-winning wines now produced, attracting high praise from 

pundits here and across the globe. 

England’s vineyards are looking forward to throwing open their 

doors and welcoming visitors back again. Happily, the full lifting 

of restrictions falls during English Wine Week (Saturday 19 – 

Sunday 27 June). During this week, the growers and producers 

in England are inviting everyone to celebrate with some English 

wine – look out for events and promotions. 

English and Welsh wines are gaining popularity and are easy 

to discover, buy and enjoy – many are now readily-available in 

supermarkets, independent retailers and restaurant lists. Last 

year retail giants Waitrose, Majestic and Sainsburys all reported 

a boom in sales of English wines. And course you can buy direct 

from the vineyards themselves, either online or from the cellar 

door. Of the 700 or so vineyards in England and Wales, over 200 

vineyards are open to visitors and summer is the perfect time to 

visit them. 

Vineyards now offer a range of experiences from tours through 

a vineyard, to visiting the cellar door for a tasting. Some have 

a shop, restaurant, and a variety of accommodation options. 

Visitors will take away some great memories and new discoveries 

– and hopefully a bottle or two to enjoy at home and with friends. 

Some vineyards have got together to promote their region 

and enhance other local attractions: Kent, Surrey, Sussex and 

Hampshire all have such trails, and launching just ahead of 

English Wine Week is the first Yorkshire wine trail. There are also 

an array of wine tour companies offering vineyard visit packages 

in the UK. 

So let’s enjoy a summer of English wine and celebrate one of our 

home grown successes – cheers! 

English Wine Week runs 

Saturday 19 – Sunday 27 May 

Image courtesy of Ashling Park Wine 

Estate/WineGB 

Events, activities and promotions will be taking place – visit 

www.wingb.co.uk for more information or follow WineGB on 

@winegb on Instagram/Facebook or 

@Wine_GB on Twitter. 

W I N E U T O P I A 

knowledgeable original independent 

Visit our website for our latest finds & advice 

Join the WU Club for special 

Free 

offers, 

delivery 

discounts, 

in 

wine 

Hampshire* 

➤ 

➤ 

knowledge, tastings & more 

➤ Great wines from around the world 

➤ Local beers, wines & spirits 

➤ Case discounts 

➤ Free local delivery on 12 bottles or more* 

WINEUTOPIA.CO.UK 

KINGS WORTHY 

UNIT B1, THE FOUNDRY 

LONDON RD, KINGS WORTHY 

SO23 7QG 01962 883 145 

STOCKBRIDGE 

UNIT 1, THE VINE 

HIGH ST, STOCKBRIDGE 

SO20 6HF 01264 252080 

Get your dad a tasting 

experience this Fathers' Day! 

• Gift vouchers from only £25 

• Beautiful presents, 

beautifully presented 

• Open dated 

• Valid for 2 years 

• valid for both virtual and 

face-to-face tastings 

• Valid for wine/beer/gin/ 

rum/whisky tastings, food 

& wine pairing events or 

cocktail-making workshops 

• Plenty of dates to choose from 

• £1 per every place/voucher sold 

is pledged to NHS Charities 

Awarded 8 Certificates of 

Excellence by TripAdvisor 

in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 

2020 alone! Now in their 

‘Hall of Fame’ for their 

consistent and outstanding 

service. 

Awarded the ‘Commitment 

to Excellence Award’ for 

2019 by Food & Drink 

Magazine. Awarded ‘Best 

Wine Tasting Experience 

of 2020’ by UK Wedding 

Planner. 

Book online at: 

WWW.HAMPSHIREWINESCHOOL.COM 


AL FRESCO 

living 

Brits are a nation of garden lovers, this much 

is undeniable, but this last year and all its 

challenges have deepened our appreciation for 

our outdoor spaces. 

This issue we catch up with a remarkable 

transformation - the change in this edition was 

that of a derelict, unused and overgrown space 

on a steep slope, into a smart, tiered city garden. 

WORDS Katie Thomson 

PHOTOGRAPHY Kiera Williams Photography 


o you have grand transformation 

plans for your garden but don’t know 

Dwhere to start? We caught up with 

the owners of this amazing redesign, couple 

Daniel and Katherine, and found out their 

motivations for the change and how they 

went about the transformation on a budget. 

FIRSTLY, CAN YOU TELL US MORE 

ABOUT THE GARDEN BEFORE AND 

WHY YOU DECIDED TO TAKE ON THE 

PROJECT? 

Like many people, we were desperate for 

some outside space - our flat had a small 

courtyard but we wanted somewhere we 

could entertain and somewhere for the dogs 

to enjoy. 

The details surrounding actually buying 

the land were a bit unusual - it was a plot 

backing on to the communal garden of 

our building and came up for sale from a 

previous owner. Despite the state it was in, 

we snapped it up, knowing we could make 

something special. 

THE BEFORE PHOTOS SHOW THE 

LEVEL OF WORK NEEDED - WHERE DID 

YOU EVEN START? 

We realised early on that we would need 

professionals in - not only was the site 

overgrown, it was steeply sloping and had a 

strange slab of hard-standing in the middle. 

We enlisted the help of a garden landscaper 

and together devised a plan to make a 

sociable space with lots of room for plants 

but also a big deck. The layout was in part 

influenced by formal Georgian planting - the 

garden backs onto a Regency-era building, 

so it felt right to nod to that heritage. 

First there was a lot of clearance work - an 

old stump had to come out and then years 

of brambles. Then it was on to a mix of 

excavating and filling the various layers. 

The site also had literally tonnes of stones 

in it, so it made sense for us to use gabions, 

the metal cages, as our retaining walls. We 

had planned to buy more stones for facing 

them, but in the end we didn’t need to. 

We wanted the space to be pretty low 

maintenance, so the bottom section is a 

material called hoggin, which is a selfbinding 

gravel (it’s mixed with cement). It 

creates an even, solid surface but it is also 

free draining, which was important as this 

was the lower section. It’s really good value 

for money too. 

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR PLANTING 

SCHEME? 

We were aware that we wanted this to be a 

good space for city creatures and insects 

- the planting included lots of pollinatorfriendly 

plants to try and encourage them 

- in turn we have lots of birds which is 

lovely. We filled the raised bed, which was 

created with sleepers, with top soil and 

got to work planting a mix of plants - we 

have geraniums, cornflowers, sedums, 

geums, sweetpeas, alliums, violas, salvias, 

foxgloves, thistles and some Ravenswing 



LANTERNS (ON TABLE, DECK AND 

FENCING) ALL LIGHTS4FUN.CO.UK 

cow parsley - there is also some interest for early spring 

with lots of daffodils, hellebores, muscari and tulips. 

Either side of the lawn, a more formal, framing effect is 

achieved using boxus - it’s literally instant impact and 

really helps enforce those tidy lines. 

Alongside the borders, we really wanted a tree in the 

mix too - so we ordered a lovely small silver birch from 

primrose.co.uk - it moves in the breeze so beautifully. 

We can pot it on as it grows and eventually plant it in 

the garden of a future home. 

THE DECK LOOKS AMAZING - IS IT A SUN TRAP? 

Absolutely! We were adamant that we wanted 

something low maintenance so we went for composite 

decking from a company called NeoTimber - in 

essence it has the natural look of wood to without the 

associated problems of cracking, splitting, warping and 

excessive maintenance requirements. It also had a 25 

year residential warranty which was perfect for us as 

we can make the best of it now, but when we move it 

also gives the new owner peace of mind. 

We went for the Essential range which is hollow in the 

centre - it makes it really lightweight and by extension 

really easy to fit. It’s also crazily cost effective at 

£6.25 per linear metre! It has given the space such an 

elevated look. 

THAT FURNITURE IS AMAZING! 

We really lucked out with these! Good garden furniture 

is a little hard to come by at the moment, but as soon 

as we saw the Salone range from Moda Furnishings, 

we knew it was the right one. Its modern lines and 

beautiful colour pairings look perfect against the 

tumbled Bath stone walls and the configuration of this 

set was the ideal size for our space. 

Continuing on the low maintenance scheme, it was 

essential this was furniture that could stand up to the 

SILVER BIRCH FROM PRIMROSE.CO.UK 

KHADI CUSHION FROM HAUSLIFE.CO.UK 


elements, not lease because we don’t have room inside for the 

cushions. The frame is powered coated aluminium and comes 

with a 7 year guarantee and the cushions are what is called 

‘hydrophobic’ meaning they repel water - they’re UV resistant too. 

We can leave it out all year - thought we have bought a cover to 

protect it for when it isn’t in use. 

The access for the site is also dreadful! But the delivery team 

made it look effortless and even did it with a smile - we were so 

impressed. 

HOW IS IT LIT? 

We don’t have a direct power source up there so lots of installed 

lights were an issue - so we opted for a mixture of options from 

lights4fun.co.uk - mostly their amazing solar-powered lights, 

which have a great output given their diminutive size! We also 

have some festoon lights from there - these come in connectable 

5m lengths so it’s great to have options to make the right size for 

your space. 

WHAT’S NEXT? 

The craze for fire pits continues and we’d like to get our hands 

on one - we always intended it for the hoggin area in the bottom 

section with some more seating around it. That spot also tends to 

get the last of the afternoon rays. 

IMAGES: 

Cushions and throw: All from hauslife.co.uk 

Furniture: Salone Range from Moda Furnishings, 

modafurnishings.co.uk 

Decking: Essential Decking from NeoTimber, neotimber.com 

Lights: All from lights4fun.co.uk 

Plants: Primrose.co.uk 


I 

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A 

WARDROBE REFRESH? 

UNSURE OF HOW TO STYLE THE 

CLOTHES YOU ALREADY HAVE? 

OVERWHELMED BY A CLUTTERED 

WARDROBE? 

DO YOU NEED AN OUTFIT FOR A 

SPECIAL OCCASION? 

As a qualified personal stylist, 

I can help with all this and more! 

Contact me at: 

@STYLESOLUTIONSBYSARAH 

STYLESOLUTIONSBYSARAH.CO.UK 

STYLESOLUTIONSBYSARAH@GMAIL.COM 

haus 

HOME | LIFESTYLE 

ARTISANAL SOFT 

FURNISHINGS FOR 

THE MODERN HOME 

HANDMADE 

RESPONSIBLY 

SOURCED 

ONE OF 

A KIND 

Use code LIVE15 for 

an exclusive 15% off 

your order 

NEW COLLECTIONS OF MUDCLOTH 

AND KILIM PILLOWS AND LEATHER 

POUFFES COMING SOON - 

AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW 

FREE UK P&P ON ALL 

ORDERS 

www.hauslife.co.uk 

Image courtesy of cityfarmhouse.com 



sit back 

and relax 

with BTLH 

Buy To Let Hunter is a fresh approach to investment property 

purchase and management – they recently sat down with one of 

their investors Melinda who lives abroad and uses BTLH services... 

What were you hoping to achieve? 

Asking Buy To Let Hunter to manage my 

flat in Richmond as a short term serviced 

accommodation made sense whilst I was 

spending time abroad. I wanted to keep 

my flat, to maintain a toe hold in London, 

but it was a purely commercial decision 

to sweat my assets whilst I choose to live 

somewhere else. 

I didn’t think too much about traditional 

pensions during my working life; instead, 

I mostly invested in properties in the 80s 

and 90s where I could afford them and by 

default I now rely on that rental income 

in my retirement. BTLH can help you find 

the perfect pad to set up as a serviced 

apartment, too. 

Why did you choose BTLH? 

The onset of Covid caused a dearth of 

options in the lettings market. The world 

has changed in rental terms. I spoke 

to the agents who used to handle my 

property and found their model no longer 

really fit for purpose, for me anyway. I 

needed shorter lets so I can come and 

go from time to time. The BTLH model 

is flexible and more cost effective for my 

needs. The old agents were proposing 

a 25% charge on any rental income and 

then a range of expenses that added up 

to £500-£600 for every letting! They were 

billing me for inventory and administrative 

costs which seemed to be in addition to 

the fees I was already paying. It’s one 

thing if you are having lets of a year or 

more, but it really didn’t make sense for 

the shorter term serviced accommodation 

model that I needed. 

I was also unsure about the due diligence 

when the agents took references for my 

tenants as they always seemed to be 

outsourced – BTLH have a much more 

personal and less algorithmic approach! 

- the advantage of having a very small 

office! 

So, Melinda, what has your experience 

been working with BTLH? 

It’s been very good! Even from 

Switzerland where I was locked down up 

a mountain. A lot of my girlfriends who 

got in to “buy to let” are local so don’t 

need to rely as heavily on management 

as I do. I can trust BTLH to make the right 

decisions and it helps finance my lifestyle 

whilst retaining flexibility. 

I feel the security of knowing I have a 

bolt hole but can’t afford to just leave the 

asset standing. 

Fancy a bit of a nomad retirement like 

Melinda? Get in touch and the Buy to Let 

Hunter team can find you the perfect pad. 

Call: 020 7550 9396 or 

hello@buytolethunter.com. 

For more information check out 

www.buytolethunter.com 

Quadrant Road, Richmond, 

London, TW9 1DH 


Remortgaging is easier 

than you think 

? 

Many of our mortgage members – particularly 

those who are coming to the end of their 

fixed term product – ask us what exactly 

remortgaging is. 

Misunderstood, remortgaging is often unfairly 

dismissed as ‘confusing’, when it is a lot simpler 

than you may first realise. 

What exactly does ‘remortgaging’ mean? 

Remortgaging is when you choose to replace your 

initial mortgage with another without moving to a 

new house. This tends to happen when a fixed-rate 

period ends, and you are about to move to your 

lender’s standard variable rate. 

How easy is it to remortgage? 

The remortgaging process is a lot easier than 

many mortgage holders first believe, especially 

when compared to the initial purchase process. For 

example, there’s no property chain to worry about, 

no house to buy or sell, no contacts to exchange 

and the general legal process is a lot smoother. 

When can I remortgage? 

Comparison site, uSwitch, suggested those 

interested in changing mortgage deal should look 

at what’s on offer no more than three months 

before their current one expires. This will give you 

enough time to do your research and complete the 

application before a standard variable rate kicks 

in. 

You should avoid looking to remortgage too far in 

advance as you may have early repayment fees 

(ERC) to pay. Always check the small print of your 

current mortgage so you don’t get caught out. 

How long does it take to remortgage? 

Remortgaging is a lot quicker than first anticipated 

– especially if you’re sticking with your current 

lender. If you’ve taken steps to move your 

mortgage to a different lender, it may take a little 

bit longer as there may be a couple of extra hoops 

to jump through. 

Is remortgaging worth it? 

There are lots of reasons why remortgaging could 

be the right choice: 

• Your current mortgage deal, such as a fixed 

rate, is about to come to an end and move 

onto a variable rate 

• You want to lower your monthly payments 

• You want to pay more of your mortgage off 

faster 

• You want to take advantage of better rates in 

the market 

• You want to move to a new house 

• You want to release equity to fund projects 

such as an extension to your current property 

If you are looking to remortgage, please contact 

us or use our online mortgaging booking system 

to book an appointment. We provide a tailored 

and individual service, and we are available for 

Saturday appointments. 

Winchester branch: 

143 High Street, Winchester, SO23 9AY 

Call: 01962 852716 

Email: winchester@newbury.co.uk. 

Senior Branch Manager, 

Cliff Osborne of Newbury Building 

Society’s Winchester branch. 

YOUR MORTGAGE IS SECURED ON YOUR HOME. THINK 

CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR 

HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT 

KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. 

Newbury Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the 

Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 206077). English Law applies and we will communicate with you in English. 

We are participants of the Financial Ombudsman Service. We have a complaints procedure which we will provide on request. Most complaints 

that we cannot resolve can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. 8374 

Newbury 

Building Society

BUILDING IN A 

CONSERVATION 

AREA 

Just because your home 

is not listed, does not 

mean there might be 

restrictions in place from 

Conservation Area laws. 

Here the HomeOwners 

Alliance tell us what 

we should be aware 

of if planning home 

improvements which may 

fall outside of permitted 

development... 

WHAT IS A CONSERVATION 

AREA? 

These are designated areas of historic 

and architectural interest in which there 

are legal restrictions on what changes 

can be made to buildings, greenery and 

street furniture in order to preserve the 

unique character of the place. The first 

conservation areas were established in 

1967 and now there are around 10,000 in 

the UK including estates, parks, stretches 

of canal, historic town centres and some 

entire villages. 

The precise restrictions on what you can 

do will vary according to the rules set 

by your local authority and the nature 

of the area they are trying to protect. 

For example in some areas the rules 

might prevent changes to railings, street 

lighting, trees, windows, right down to the 

colour of paint that residents are allowed 

to use on their front doors. 

WHAT ARE THE PLANNING RE- 

STRICTIONS FOR HOMES IN A 

CONSERVATION AREA? 

Local authorities place extra restrictions 

on properties within conservation areas 

known as ‘Article 4 Directions’. These 

limit the changes that home owners 

would otherwise be able to make to their 

properties under their normal ‘permitted 

development rights’. These rights govern 

the home improvements that property 

owners are usually allowed to make 

without requiring planning permission. 

If you live in a conservation area, these 

automatic rights are more limited. 

You should speak to your local planning 

authority and look on its website in order 

to find out what specific restrictions apply 

to the conservation area that you live in. 

However the general rules are that you 

cannot, without permission, demolish: 

• A building that is more than 115 

cubic metres 

• A gate, wall or fence that is over 1 

metre if it borders the road or higher 

than 2 metres if not. 

You would also need permission for the 

following alterations 

• A single storey extensions that 

extend more than 3 metres beyond 

the back wall of the house or 4 

metres if the house is detached 

• Extensions greater than one storey 

“Local authorities place extra restrictions on 

properties within conservation areas known as 

‘Article 4 Directions’. These limit the changes that 

home owners would otherwise be able to make to 

their properties under their normal ‘permitted 

development rights’.” 

• Side extensions 

• Roof extensions or alterations 

• Cladding in any material 

• Any new construction of sheds, 

outbuildings, swimming pools. 

• The installation of chimneys, flues 

or vents at the front of the house or 

at the side if it faces the road 

• Installing satellite dishes or 

antennae that face the road. 

• Fitting solar panels to the front 

of the roof facing the street than 

150mm from the roof slope. 

• Fitting solar panels that protrude by 

more than 150mm from the roof 

In addition your local authority may 

have imposed specific rules on the 

conservation area that you live in so it 

is vital to check these. Such rules could 

prevent you from: 

• Replacing original windows or 

doors 

• Altering the guttering or pipes 

• Felling trees or shrubs 

• Painting the facade or changing the 

colour of window frames and doors 

WHERE CAN I GET ADVICE 

ON CARRYING OUT BUILDING 

WORK WITHOUT BREAKING 

THE RULES? 

Speak to your local planning authority at 

an early stage and talk through your plans 

to find out if they are likely to require 

planning permission. If you do need to 

apply for permission, you could get your 

builder, architect or a planning consultant 

to submit an application on your behalf. 

Find out more at www.hoa.org.uk 


NOTES FROM THE GARDEN 

Brighter, lighter days ahead 

Matt Biggs, the gardening expert, gives us some excellent tips 

on how to brighten up our gardens this summer... 

www.matthewbiggs.com 

Lockdown is finally easing and whilst we have all been dealing 

with so many changes in our lives, Nature has just carried on doing 

what she does with very little intervention from us! One effect of 

lockdown has been people sharing various goods and plants with 

their neighbours. 

On my walks I have seen lots of items put at garden gates for 

passers by to take and use. A friend of mine saw a wrought iron 

bedstead put out, carted it home and it now supports a Clematis, 

hanging pots and fairy lights in her garden - creative recycling 

indeed! 

With that thought in mind there are so many ways we can reuse 

what we have, plastic and polystyrene trays for seed sowing, old 

dustbins for potato growing, a little imagination and you can save 

money and be kind to the planet too. 

Colour is certainly something I want in my garden this year and so I 

will be searching out some unusual plants to provide it. Of course, 

I will have Pelargoniums (pictured), Petunias and all the usual 

suspects but will add some plants that I think will provide just that 

extra zing too. 

Cannas are beautiful plants, vibrant and with a real Wow factor and 

I will overwinter them in the greenhouse so they will survive and 

flourish for next year. I will try Caladium or Elephant’s Ears too and 

enjoy visiting local nurseries and garden centres to seek out that 

certain something. 

Gardening is wonderful for so many reasons, not the least is the 

challenge to try different things, discover new varieties and perhaps 

create our own version of the holiday destination we would like to 

be in without the necessity to remove our belts or shoes! 

Reduce uncomfortable heat & glare 

Conservatory blinds from Marla Custom Blinds 

Call today 01962 277177 

or visit us at www.marlacustomblinds.co.uk 


safety tips for dogs 

The Kennel Club gives some excellent advice on looking after your pooches 

Spring is an exciting time for our fourlegged 

friends to get out and about. As we 

spend more time outside, it is important 

that dog owners keep an eye on their dog 

to ensure they are enjoying the season 

safely, and are ready to face the world 

post-lockdown. 

The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest 

organisation dedicated to dog health, welfare 

and training, has rounded up top tips to keep 

your dog safe: 

Out and about 

As nature wakes up, there are several plants 

and creatures you should look out for to 

prevent any health concerns for your fourlegged 

friend. 

The bulbs and other parts of several spring 

flowering plants can be poisonous to 

dogs, including daffodils, tulips and spring 

crocuses. Keep an eye on your dog in the 

garden and always keep bulbs out of their 

reach. If you think your dog might have eaten 

a poisonous plant, don’t try to make them 

sick, contact your vet. 

26 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Spring is also a time when some creatures 

become more active, including slugs, snails 

and toads, all of which can be a source of 

a dangerous lungworm infection. When 

your dog is exploring during spring, check 

on them regularly and if they show signs of 

coughing or breathing problems, speak to 

your vet. 

Adders also wake up at this time of year 

and during the early spring months, the 

likelihood of your dog being bitten is the 

highest. Adder bites can cause swelling, 

bleeding and pain, and if you suspect your 

dog has been bitten by an adder, make sure 

not to touch the wound and take your dog 

to the vet immediately. 

Lastly, make sure you check your dog 

for ticks regularly, especially after walks, 

and always remove any ticks quickly and 

carefully. Speak to your vet if you are 

unsure how to do this. 

Coming out of lockdown 

As Covid-19 restrictions gradually lift, there 

are lots of changes for our us and dogs. 

Many owners could be concerned about 

their dog’s socialisation, behavioural issues 

and separation anxiety as we come out of 

lockdown. 

It’s crucial that owners teach their dogs 

social skills which enable them to be 

confident, happy and safe in a range of 

environments, including having household 

visitors, meeting children, staying calm while 

left alone and encountering other dogs. 

To tackle separation anxiety, make sure your 

dog has a quiet space that makes them feel 

secure, such as a crate, and use positive 

reinforcement - like toys and treats - to 

make them comfortable in this spot. Start 

getting them used to be alone now - move 

around the room or house whilst the dog 

stays in their safe place, and slowly build up 

the time you leave your dog on their own. 

Never leave a dog alone for more than four 

hours, much less if they’re a puppy. 

Many dogs have lost vital socialisation and 

training opportunities due to lockdown 

restrictions. Training ensures your dog or 

puppy is well-trained, confident and happy, 

and qualified dog trainers, such as a Kennel 

Club Accredited Instructor, can help improve 

your dog’s behaviour and ensure they enter 

the post-lockdown world safely and with 

confidence. 

Restrictions lifting also means access to 

new dog walking routes further afield. New 

environments can be very exciting for dogs 

and it’s important to keep your dog, as well 

as other animals and humans safe whilst 

exploring new territories. 

When discovering a new route, always 

familiarise yourself with local or seasonal 

restrictions, such as dogs being banned 

from beaches during certain months 

or keeping your dog on a lead around 

livestock. 

The Kennel Club website has a useful hub 

with advice and information to ensure you 

and your four-legged friend can confidently 

enjoy the season and new freedoms, whilst 

staying healthy, happy and safe. 

For more information visit: 

www.thekennelclub.org.uk

Its been a strange and trying year for all of us, but many of you have found comfort in a new furbaby for 

the family. Dog and Cat ownership this year has grown, and we recognise it is a minefield knowing what 

to feed, how to train and what to buy for your new arrival. Grovely Pets has created a hub of specialists 

who can help you through the learning and enjoyment of your new family member. 

As specialists in Pet Nutrition and Healthcare, all of our team are trained Nutritional Specialists and can 

offer advice with getting the right start for a long and healthy life, to addressing quite serious health 

issues such as allergies and sensitivities to foods and treats. 

Our ethos is a natural approach to Pet Health and Wellbeing, stocking the largest range of healthy foods 

for all dogs and cats, whether that be raw, wet or high quality dry food for dogs and cats to overcome 

common health conditions which are caused by poor diet. 

We also work with like minded businesses such as Trainers, Groomers and Doggy Care Services, so you 

can be assured that you are getting the right qualified advice and services. 

All of our accessories, where possible, are made in the UK and we love working with small family owned 

businesses who love creating beautiful things. 

Check out our Facebook page Grovely Pets Winchester, or all products can be seen on our full 

e-commerce website www.grovelypetsupplies.co.uk where we also offer a Click and Collect service. 

Free local deliveries to the area are offered on a Thursday. 

88a Olivers Battery Road South, Winchester SO22 4EZ 

Tel: 01962 877544 / 03300 948738 (Opt 3)

ADAPT YOUR HOME FOR SOMEONE WITH 

DEMENTIA The Key Changes to Make a Safer Space 

Maintaining independence is 

important for someone living with 

dementia, as is having a familiar 

living space. Whilst some people 

may move out of their home into 

residential care, some families are 

helping their loved ones remain at 

home. 

With small adaptations to their living 

space, it’s possible for someone with 

dementia to stay in their own home 

both safely and comfortably. Many local 

authorities have funding available to make 

minor adaptations to the home, and for 

those with more acute needs, there are 

also grants available to support with larger 

adjustments. 

Here are some of the key adaptations to 

consider for the home to ensure it’s a safe 

space for someone living with dementia. 

Kitchen 

If your loved one is in the mid to later 

stages dementia, they may need 

additional assistance and may even have 

a carer living with them. If this is the case, 

it’s unlikely they’ll be left unsupervised in 

the kitchen. However, in order to ensure 

the highest safety levels, it’s advisable to 

consider: 

28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

• Fitting cookers and any gas-supplied 

equipment with an automatic cut off 

• Ensuring all smoke detectors and 

carbon monoxide alarms are working 

• Removing any obstacles, such as rugs 

and mats, to avoid trips or falls 

• Clearing out the fridge regularly to 

remove out-of-date food 

• Storing cleaning products, irons, 

knives and sharp equipment in a locked 

cupboard or drawer 

Bathroom 

The bathroom can sometimes present 

challenges for those with limited mobility 

or cognitive challenges. Whilst your loved 

one may have a carer present to help with 

personal hygiene, it’s best to ensure the 

bathroom is a safe and easily navigable 

space: 

• Clearly marking the taps for hot and cold 

• Installing grab rails around the shower 

and toilet 

• Adding textured pads on surfaces which 

may get slippery 

• Removing the lock from the bathroom door 

• Locking away any medication, cleaning 

products, and sharp items 

Bedroom 

In order to ensure the bedroom is a 

calming space where your loved one can 

sleep safely, the following should be of use: 

• Avoiding electric blankets 

• Installing a night light in the bedroom, 

hallway, and bathroom to provide easy 

vision if they get up in the night 

• Making sure the room is a good 

temperature 

• Putting a clock next to the bed that 

indicates whether it is day or night to 

avoid confusion 

Living Room 

This is often where you spend most of 

your time relaxing, so to ensure the space 

is comfortable, familiar, yet safe, try: 

• Removing obstructions which can cause 

trips or falls 

• Ensuring the room is well lit 

• Having a clear path in and out of the 

room - especially if your loved one needs 

mobility aids 

Hallway and Stairs 

• Consider installing handrails up the stairs 

• Making sure the front and back doors 

are locked and car keys are locked away 

- particularly if your loved one is prone to 

wandering, 

• Removing any obstructions such as 

hallway tables or cables from phones 

If you require further information the 

Alzheimer’s Society have a support line 

0333 150 3456

Telephone: 023 8076 4389 

Fax: 023 8091 4413 

Email: info@southcoasturology.co.uk 

South Coast Urology (SCU) 

are a team of seven consultant 

urological surgeons providing 

a comprehensive service in all 

aspects of urology... 

Each consultant holds a teaching hospital appointment at 

University Hospital Southampton and has the extensive 

expertise in a specific area of urology. 

You may choose to see any of our experts for a consultation 

and diagnosis, our philosophy is that through subspecialisation 

and team-working we are able to guarantee 

that should they require an operation, it will be performed 

by a high volume surgeon – something that has been shown 

time and again to improve outcomes for patients. 

Our services include: 

• 2 week wait (e.g. raised PSA, 

abnormal DRE, haematuria, 

testis and renal masses). 

• Prostate cancer diagnostics 

using multi parametric MRI, 

specialist and targeting 

biopsy techniques (template, 

fusion, smart), robotic surgery, 

salvage treatments. 

• Benign prostate disorders 

such as benign enlargement, 

infections, inflammation. 

Treatment options include 

TURP, HoLEP (laser surgery), 

Urolift, PAE (Prostate Artery 

Embolisation). 

• Urinary tract stone disease 

with shockwave lithotripsy, 

ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy, 

micro/mini/standard PCNL 

and chemical pathology 

support to prevent further 

stones. 

• Bladder conditions such 

as over-active bladder 

(OAB), infections, stones, 

incontinence, supported by 

a high quality urodynamics 

service. 

• Men’s health conditions 

including erectile dysfunctions 

(ED), andropause, 

contraception (vasectomy). 

• Complex robotic, 

laparoscopic and open cancer 

options for those with bladder, 

renal, testis and neighbouring 

organ tumours. 

South Coast Urology work 

closely with a wider network 

of specialists including 

radiologists, oncologists, nurses 

and chemical pathologists. 

Appointments are available 5 

days a week at 3 leading private 

hospitals in Southampton, 

Bournemouth and Chandler’s 

Ford. 

Our efficient administration 

team will be happy to help 

direct your patient to the most 

appropriate consultant for their 

condition at a time that suits. 

www.southcoasturology.co.uk

St Anne’s – An Excellent Choice 

for Secondary Education and 

Sixth Form 

St Anne’s provides a distinctive 

educational experience for girls 

from 11 to 18 and boys from 16 to 

18. St Anne’s is a Catholic school 

with a strong Christian ethos 

which is embedded in all aspect of 

school life. This strong foundation 

underpins everything and provides 

students and staff with their moral 

purpose ‘to work together to strive 

to be the best that we can be and 

to live life to the full’. 

St Anne’s – An Outstanding 

School and Sixth Form College 

Since the ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted 

judgement in 2016, St Anne’s has 

received an ‘Outstanding’ rating 

from Portsmouth Diocese as well 

as remaining outstanding in local 

authority judgements annually. 

Executive Headteacher, Lyn 

Bourne said ‘We have a clear 

vision of uncompromising ambition 

and consistent improvement 

at St Anne’s, so being judged 

‘Outstanding’ doesn’t mean we’ve 

‘arrived’. We have taken the 

opportunity to build on our success 

and find more 

ways to make 

a difference for 

all members of 

the St Anne’s 

family.’ 

‘It is clear that our pupils and 

students make the most of every 

opportunity and work very hard 

indeed at all aspects of life at St 

Anne’s. Their positive attitude, 

commitment, diligence and 

enthusiasm combine to make 

them truly exceptional and through 

sheer hard work and resilience, 

pupils of all levels of ability achieve 

astounding success across and 

beyond the curriculum. With a 

staff team who encourage our 

girls and Sixth Form students 

to achieve even more than they 

thought possible, it is easy to 

see why a recent visitor to the 

school described St Anne’s as 

not just ‘Outstanding’ but ‘In the 

stratosphere’! 

St Anne’s – applying to be part 

of our School and Sixth Form 

Applications are welcome for 

our year 7 and sixth form for a 

September 2021 start. If you 

would like to speak to someone 

about what we offer at St Anne’s 

or simply to request a prospectus, 

please contact us and we would 

be delighted to assist you. Please 

see our school website for further 

information. 

Carlton Road 

Southampton 

SO15 2WZ 

023 8032 8200 

WWW.ST-ANNES.UK.COM 

WWW.STANNES6TH.UK

so much more than 

a furniture store 

New website 

launched 

www.pine-oak.co.uk 

Midgham 

RG7 5UX 

01189 712666 

Visit our stores: 

Winchester 

SO23 7RU 

01962 865775 

Winnersh 

RG41 5HG 

01189 797355

Winchester Lifestyle Jun - Jul 2021

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?