Stratford-upon-Avon Living Nov - Dec 2021

Probably the best 

Afternoon Tea in 

the county!! 

01789 293908

Real Christmas Trees 

Delivered direct to your door 

We are a family run Christmas tree farm & have been 

growing Christmas trees for over 40 years 

Pre order your tree & delivery date from 

1 st November 

All our trees are grown here in the uk 

& harvested to order. 

We offer a Nationwide delivery 

service direct from the grower. 

All our trees 

are cut to order, 

packaged & shipped 

direct from the Farm 

Last year was a very busy harvest for us. 

Please pre order if possible. 

We can deliver up to the 23rd December 

We also have a large 

selection of Christmas tree 

stands & lights in our 

online store 

www.realfreshchristmastrees.co.uk 

office@realfreshchristmastrees.co.uk 

Call the farm office on: 01455 299911

Contents 

A Note 

from the EDITOR 

32 

Guest 

A Culinary Journey through 

Northern Ireland bedroom perfection 

It’s certainly the challenge of 

publishing that you always have your 

head in the wrong season - each year, 

Christmas begins for us in July, which 

is about the same time as I start to 

ask my friends and family what they’d 

like as a present or if they’re free for a 

meal in December - each year I’m met 

with the same furrowed brows and 

a ‘my god, I haven’t started thinking 

about that yet!’ 

Forward planning aside, it is a rather 

lovely, smug feeling to know that I’m 

mostly sorted for the festivities - my 

only issue being losing said gifts 

between July and December 25th. If 

your industry doesn’t quite prepare 

you in the same way though, we’ve 

got a bevy of festive features to help 

get you prepped. 

Our competition 

page returns 

06 

Alongside Christmas features, 

we’ve got a lovely interview with 

The Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda 

Owen, plus some delicious recipes 

from her new book. 

If you’re receiving guests this year, 

we’ve got some inspiration on 

creating the perfect guest room 

sanctuary. And if festive madness all 

gets too much, you can always slip in 

there yourself! 

Yorkshire Shepherdess 

Amanda Owen 

22 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-Press Manager Kate Norris 

Contributors Rebecca Rose, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs 

Angela Cave and Pete Lawrence. Front cover courtesy of Amanda Owen 

Key Account Manager Marion Cassidy 

e marion@minervapublications.co.uk 

d/l 01225 984502 

ttwitter: @LivingStratford 

27 

Recipes from 

Amanda’s new book 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton 

Trowbridge BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

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

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

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

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

The news has been all doom and 

gloom of late, but I think it’s important 

that, toy shortage/turkey drama/fuel 

crisis or not, this year’s Christmas is 

looking so much brighter than 2020’s, 

and there’s so much to be thankful 

for. This quote from the legendary Bob 

Hope really captured that for me: 

“My idea of Christmas, whether 

old-fashioned or modern, is very 

simple: loving others. Come to 

think of it, why do we have to 

wait for Christmas to do that?” 

We are looking forward to seeing 

you again in January - we are doing 

away with the New Year, New You 

nonsense and instead focusing 

on what 2022 can offer you. Until 

then, take care, have a very Merry 

Christmas and a peaceful New Year. 

Katie 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

Feel-good festive favourites featuring the full 

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, their massed 

choirs and a special celebrity guest presenter! 

Thursday 16 December, 7.30pm 

Friday 17 December, 7.30pm 

Sunday 19 December, 3pm 

Symphony Hall, Birmingham 

Book now at cbso.co.uk 

Christmas @ CBSO 

CBSO is a registered charity in England (No. 506276) 

CBSO_ChristmasConcert_110x153.indd 2 05/10/2021 19:50 

Santa 

Present for 

every child 

âââ 

Christmas show 

at Arley Station 

âââ 

Complimentary sweet 

treats for all passengers 

Trains 

SEVEN DEPARTURES 

EACH DAY! 

BOOK NOW AT 

SVR.CO.UK/SANTA 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 5

COMPETITION 

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. 

Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? Delight your friends 

and family with a selection box of delicious treats. One lucky 

reader will win a ‘Decadent Christmas in a Box’ containing the 

following: 

WIN 

A Laundry 

Bundle from 

Brabantia 

worth over 

£500 

6kg Free Range Whole Turkey | 4.5kg Unsmoked Ham | 1kg 

Side of Smoked Salmon | 1kg Organic Cheddar | 1kg Cropwell 

Bishop Stilton | Christmas Pudding | Harrow & Hope Brut 

Reserve (750ml bottle) | Classic Cranberry Sauce | Granny’s 

Apple Chutney | Artisan Coronation Sauce | British Goose 

Fat | Luxury Bread Sauce | Traditional Roast Gravy | Sage & 

Onion Stuffing | Pigs In Blankets | 200g Smoked Chicken 200g 

Smoked Duck 

WIN 

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a box! Worth 

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copasturkeys.co.uk 

Closes 10/12/2021 

Competition keyword ‘TURKEY’ 

For most of us, laundry is a bit of a chore, so to lighten the load, 

we’re giving away a luxury laundry bundle from Brabantia worth 

over £500. 

The prize includes Brabantia’s new Bo Laundry Bin Hi, which 

will blend effortlessly into your decor with its sleek finish and 

has two 45L compartments for easy separating your whites 

from your colours. When spring comes around again, you 

can then hang your washing out on Brabantia’s Rotary Dryer 

Lift-o-Matic Advance which can easily be adjusted to your 

ideal height. For those grey days, Brabantia’s 23m Drying Rack 

Tower is the perfect inside solution. Finally, prep your fresh 

laundry for the wardrobe with a Brabantia Ironing Board. ThisXL 

model is designed for easy ironing of any outfit! 

brabantia.com 

Closes 15/01/2022 - Competition keyword ‘BRABANTIA’ 

WIN 

2 prints 

each worth 

£250 

Eliza Southwood practiced 

as an architect for ten years 

before deciding to take 

up a career as an artist 

and illustrator full-time in 

2010. Eliza’s speciality is 

silk screen printing, but she 

also works in mixed media, 

watercolour and acrylic. As a keen 

cycling fan, she is known particularly for her 

cycling themed artwork, but she also produces 

work on a wide range of subjects such as 

cityscapes, dogs, sports and people. We have 

two prints worth £250 each to give away. 

Adagio, the European leader in aparthotels is giving one lucky 

winner a two-night stay for two at one of their amazing UK 

properties in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Liverpool. 

Adagio is the perfect option for that much needed getaway this 

year, providing all the services of a hotel with the freedom of an 

apartment. The apartments comprise of a kitchen, bedroom and 

living area with flat screen smart TV - great for lounging after a 

busy day of activities. 

WIN 

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Break with 

Aparthotel 

Adagio! 

adagio-city.com 

T&Cs available online. Closes 

15/01/2022 - Competition keyword 

‘ADAGIO’ 

elizasouthwood.com 

Closes 15/01/2022 

Competition keyword ‘ELIZA’ 


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CHOOSING A NEW SIXTH FORM 

The Good Schools Guide offers some suggestions to take into consideration when making the change 

Whether you want to change from a 

single sex school to co-ed or from day to 

boarding, private to state, A levels to IB - 

or vice versa there are plenty of reasons to 

move schools post - GCSEs. 

When to start looking 

We’d advise getting the ball rolling 

towards the end of their year 10 in time 

for sixth form open days and applications 

which generally take place the following 

autumn. 

Discussions about post-GCSE options 

will already be taking place at your child’s 

current school by then and looking at 

other sixth forms will widen your options. 

Maybe the broader based curriculum 

of the IB would suit them better than 

specialising at A level? Maybe they want 

to pursue a more practical, less exam 

based, route? Or perhaps your child 

simply feels ready for a fresh start and 

new faces. 

Choosing a new sixth form 

The decision needs to be a joint effort 

between parents and children, based as 

much on personal preference as objective 

research. Your child may have formed 

opinions about other schools via friends 

and social media but however popular a 

particular sixth form may be, it’s no good 

if it doesn’t offer the subjects they want 

to study. 

Guide your child to consider the areas 

of study they genuinely enjoy or find 

interesting. Also bear in mind that the 

demands of some A levels, such as 

maths, are a big jump from GCSE and 

most schools will set higher GCSE grade 

requirements for these. 

It may seem too early when your child 

hasn’t even finished their GCSE courses 

to start talking about university subjects 

and destinations, but if they are going to 

change school for sixth form it’s important 

to at least start thinking about the ultimate 

goal. For instance, if Oxbridge or medical 

school is the aim then A level choices 

need to be made accordingly and a 

potential school’s record of Oxbridge and 

medical school places taken into account. 

If university isn’t part of the plan then you’ll 

need to ask the school or college about 

provision for pupils who are interested in 

alternative post-18 options such as degree 

apprenticeships. 

You can find latest information on a 

school’s Oxbridge, medical school and 

non-university destinations in the ‘Exit’ 

section of The Good Schools Guide 

reviews. 

Day to boarding 

A move to boarding school for sixth form 

- see this article for more - is often said 

to be a good preparation for university. 

But manage your expectations – in our 

experience most sixth form boarding 

accommodation is more luxurious than the 

average university hall of residence! 

Most boarding schools have separate 

provision for sixth formers where they can 

live more independently and with fewer 

restrictions than younger pupils. If you 

are looking at full, as opposed to weekly, 

boarding then find out how many sixth 

formers are in school at weekends and 

what activities are on offer (our writers 

suggest looking at boarding house 

noticeboards to see sign-up sheets for 

weekend activities). 

While it’s usually possible, with 

permission, for boarding sixth formers to 

attend day pupils’ parties for instance, 

it’s unlikely that any school will allow the 

same freedom to socialise (particularly 

with regard to sexual relationships) as day 

school pupils. Discuss school rules and 

regulations frankly with your child - if they 

(or you) are horrified then maybe boarding 

isn’t the right choice. 

Independent to state 

A move from independent to state school 

is often determined by family finances, but 

we wonder whether it could also now be a 

strategic decision. 

State school sixth forms or sixth form 

colleges often have exam results that are 

comparable to independent schools and 

they may also offer a wider range of post- 

GCSE choices. 

And as the UK’s top universities strive to 

rebalance their admissions procedures to 

correct what was (rightly) criticised as an 

independent school bias, will this prompt 

more independent school parents to send 

their children to take A levels at state sixth 

forms? Time will tell. 

State to independent 

If you think your child would benefit from 

taking A levels at an independent school 

but are worried about affording the fees, it 

could be worth checking whether you can 

apply for a bursary. Some schools offer 

bursaries specifically for pupils joining the 

sixth form from the local state sector. 

Entry requirements 

These differ considerably but five or six 

GCSEs including English and maths at 

grade 6 or above, with grade 7 or higher 

in subjects to be studied at A level (can 

be 8 or 9 for maths/further maths), is the 

minimum for most selective schools. 

Many schools set the sixth form entry 

bar much higher and in addition to a 

full set of GCSEs at grades 9-7, also 

expect candidates to sit papers in their 

prospective A level subjects. Schools will 

usually interview prospective sixth formers 

too. 

The Good Schools Guide is the UK’s 

number one school guide, helping 

parents in every aspect of choosing 

the best education for their children 

using their unbiased and impartial 

school reviews, alongside a host of 

articles advising on all aspects of 

school life. Find out more at www. 

goodschoolsguide.co.uk 


Kaloo Lapinoo Rabbit, 

£17.99, jojomamanbebe.co.uk 

Guide 

The gift 

Unisex Mouse 

Babygrow Set, £45, 

magnetmouse.co.uk 

Woodland Nesting 

Creatures, £22, 

rosaandbo.com 

Help children 

learn to 

code with 

Blockly, Snap!, 

JavaScript, 

Python and 

C++ 

Exploding 

Kittens, £15.99, 

amazon.co.uk 

Artie Max, £110, 

amazon.co.uk 

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond + 

Shining Pearl (Nintendo Switch), 

£89.99, amazon.co.uk 

Nila Nepp Top, 

£22 and Kieran 

Kneepatch 

Joggers, £28, both 

welovefrugi.com 

Organic 

cotton and 

amazing 

colours and 

prints 

FOR KIDS 

GOTS Organic 

Cotton 

Pyjamas, £26, 

polarnopyret. 

co.uk 

Everhot 

Electric Stove 

£1,295, 

everhot.co.uk 

Luigi Starter Course 

Currently priced at 

£46.98, 

amazon.co.uk 

Available 

in a host 

of fab 

colours 

WHEN THEY HAVE EVERYTHING 

Le Creuset Evolution 

Oval Deep Teal Casserole 

Currently priced at £241, 

amazon.co.uk 

Aranya Hmong 

Cushion, £32, 

hauslife.co.uk 

Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer, 

£275, cuisinart.co.uk 

Hand-Sliced Side of 

Smoked Salmon, £54.95, 

formanandfield.com 

Truffle Guys 

Experience Box, 

£119.95, 

truffleguysuk.com 

Gusbourne Brut 

Reserve 2017, £39, 

gusbourne.com 


NEW & IMPROVED 

STRATFORD LEISURE CENTRE 

MEMBERSHIPS FROM 

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YOUR FREE DAY PASS * 

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MONTH 

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pass. In order to activate the pass you must book an appointment at your local 

centre. New customers only. 

UK bank account holders only, aged 18+. Price is for a full fitness membership. 

Direct debit membership. Must pay 1 month in advance, this will be used to cover 

your final month. Must cancel by 20th of month in order for the DD payment to 

stop on the 1st of the following month. Participating centres only. Concession 

and junior membership rates also available.

Tabitha Ribbed 

Cashmere Socks, £32, 

pantherella.com 

Candle Discovery Set, 

£18, floralstreet.com 

ESPA Jewels of Nature Collection, £195 

(Worth £365), espaskincare.com 

Perfect 

Christmas 

party 

make up 

Star Sheepskin 

Slippers, £39, 

onaie.com 

ILLAMASQUA 

Skyrocket Artistry 

Eyeshadow Palette, 

£39, lookfantastic.co.uk 

Alpaca Super 

Soft Hot Water 

Bottles, £45, 

chilcottuk.com 

FOR HER 

Great for 

deeply cleansing 

the skin and 

soothing 

stressed eyes 

Cashmere Sweatshirt 

in Emerald, £179, 

loopcashmere.co.uk 

Luxury Heavyweight 

Merino Scarf, £90, 

pantherella.com 

Mulo Slippers in Blue Corduroy, 

£124, muloshoes.com 

UBUNA Refresh 

Water Hydration 

Cream, £160, 

net-a-porter.com 

BeGlow Tia All-In-One 

Sonic Skincare System, 

£199, johnlewis.com 

Micro Merlin 

Japanese Knife 

Trio, £99, 

souschef.co.uk 

Eco Sports Cloak 

Long Sleeve, £119.95, 

charliemcleod.co.uk 

The Micro Explorer 

Electric Scooter, 

£349.95, reduced 

from £449.95 

micro-scooters. 

co.uk 

Amazing 

for the 

chef in 

your life 

FOR HIM 

18 mile range, 

foldable and 

ultra light 

weight with 

15mph top 

speed 

Scrivner For 

Men 5 Step 

Skin Strategy 

- £127, 

janescrivner. 

com 

Perfect if 

they love 

outdoor 

pursuits or 

sports 

Andrée Jardin Sneaker Care Kit, 

£33.50, souschef.co.uk 

Off White Sneakers, 

£175, muloshoes.com 


GIVE A GIFT 

that means a little more 

Looking for a unique 

Christmas gift? 

Arya 

Sponsor a 

rescued donkey 

or horse from 

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whole year from 

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Upgrade your gift! 

We have a 

gorgeous selection 

of Adoption Star 

merchandise 

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online gift store 

www.redwings.org.uk/shop 

sustainable, wellness-based 

gift boxes - customisable and 

beautiful, from £10 

www.redwings.org.uk/adopt 

01508 481000 

available from hauslife.co.uk 

Fantastic Holidays 

for the Festive Season! 

Festive and New Year Getaways from £399pp 

What Makes a Johnsons Festive Holiday? 

Home pick up & drop off service 

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High-quality hotels 

Award-winning itineraries 

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Festive entertainment 

Be looked after throughout by our couriers 

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Request your FREE brochures 

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View all departures at www.johnsonscoaches.co.uk

LINDA ROSE LINGERIE 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Linda Rose is an award winning 

Luxury Lingerie and Swimwear 

Boutique based in the heart of 

Alcester... 

Established in 2006, it has been a 

favourite destination for thousands of 

customers over the years and established 

a fantastic reputation for both the brands 

and quality of lingerie and swimwear that 

it stocks, as well as its customer service 

and fitting. New owner Jude Hough fills 

us in on what customers can expect... 

We do not fit using a tape measure, 

we establish your size and fit each bra 

individually according to the style. 

We have in depth knowledge of the 

brands and products we stock so 

understand how the fine work in our 

lingerie affects the shape and fit of each 

of our luxury brands. 

Now Jude has been running Linda Rose 

since December 2019 her spring summer 

collection is starting to show some of 

the changes customers can expect. 

Alongside much loved brands like Marie 

Jo, Prima Donna, Empreinte, Aubade and 

full length silk nightdresses and robes 

that are gorgeous and perfect for brides. 

“I am expanding my ranges all the 

time, and am enjoying introducing new 

products and brands to the boutique. 

Customers can expect to see new 

products every time they come in and be 

able to constantly discover new high end 

luxury brands.” 

To combat COVID-19 and make sure 

customers are safe, Linda Rose have 

changed their opening hours to Tuesday 

to Saturday 10-4 and customers can 

drop by, or if they are uncomfortable 

shopping in the boutique Linda Rose has 

an excellent on line shop 

www.lindaroselingerie.shop or 

items can be ordered by phone on 

01789400152 and posted out. We are 

still doing fittings - just visit or book an 

appointment online or by calling the shop 

We are a real shop, with a real boutique. 

Come and have a look at our gorgeous 

“Come and have a look at our gorgeous gifts instore. 

You are guaranteed to find something for 

that special person in your life, just in time for 

Christmas!” 

Simone Perele, Jude has expanded some 

of the ranges. She now stocks a wider 

range of sportswear and bras alongside 

Fantasie Lingerie and Elomi Lingerie. 

Jude did well with her designer silks 

from French brand Marjolaine when she 

introduced them before Christmas. She 

now has a curated spring range including 

gifts in-store. You are guaranteed to find 

something for that special person in your 

life, just in time for Christmas! If you can’t 

quite make up your mind, we also sell gift 

vouchers, which all come boxed and gift 

wrapped. 

Linda Rose Luxury Lingerie 

and Swimwear 

2 Market Place, Alcester B49 5AE Free 

Parking 

Tel: 01789 400 152 

www.lindaroselingerie.co.uk and shop 

online lindaroselingerie.shop

BOOK 

ONLINE 

to save money 

24 Nov – 8 Jan 

From £15* 

13 – 23 Dec From £10* 9 – 24 Dec 

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BOOK NOW www.belgrade.co.uk 

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TEA ADVENT CALENDAR, 

£39, BIRDANDBLENDTEA.COM 

Spread kindness and happiness this 

year - there is not one but two tea 

bags in each box. You can share 

your advent experience with 

a special someone, gift it or 

experiment with it. 

THE AMAZON 

BEAUTY ADVENT 

CALENDAR 2021, 

£70, AMAZON.CO.UK 

A superb beauty advent calendar 

featuring 24 full or deluxe-size 

products from beauty brands 

such as Foreo, Max Factor, 

John Frieda, Elemis, 

Neal’s Yard and L’Occitane 

worth nearly £260. 

Alternative 

ADVENT 

CALENDARS 

PORK CRACKLING& BEER 

ADVENT CALENDAR, 

£65, SNAFFLINGPIG.CO.UK 

Three delicious flavours of pork 

scratching, paired with three 

specially brewed beers - perfect 

if you’re more on the 

savoury side. 

MIXED WINE 

ADVENT CALENDAR 

£89.99, 

VIRGINWINES.CO.UK 

It’s back! The ultimate alcohol filled 

calendar boasting 25 reds, whites, 

rosé and bubbly...with a full-size 

bottle for you to enjoy on Christmas 

Day. Expect customer favourites 

and best-selling wines from around 

the world including exclusive and 

limited-edition bottles. 

ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE 

CALENDAR,£9.99 

MONTEZUMAS.CO.UK 

TERRE EXOTIQUE 

SPICE DISCOVERY 

CALENDAR, £25, 

SOUSCHEF.CO.UK 

Up your cooking game with a fabulous 

new spice to try each day - spices, 

herbs, salts and peppers in a mix of 

sweet and savoury finishes. 

Also available in milk, white and absolute black 

100% dark chocolate 

VERY MERRY CALENDAR, £45, 

SHOP.TOUCANBOX.COM 

7 Christmas Crafts (including a juggling bear 

bauble and snowman puppets), 4 Festive 

Recipes, 5 STEAM Team Story Books, 8 Elf 

Challenges and 1 adorable Merry Mischief 

Elf plushie 


Amanda Owen 

The yorkshire Shepherdess 

Tells us about her life in the Dales 

Known to millions as The Yorkshire 

Shepherdess, Amanda Owen is the author 

of five best-selling books about her life 

on Ravenseat ,one of the most remote 

farms in the country, where she lives with 

her husband Clive and nine children. She 

currently stars in Channel 5’s popular TV 

show Our Yorkshire Farm and her latest 

book is Celebrating the Seasons includes 

stories, recipes and photos from the farm 

and is out now. 

I understand that you had had no 

previous links to farming, may I ask 

how you became so involved in this line 

of work? 

I grew up in Huddersfield and no one in 

my family is from a farming background. 

I loved the James Herriot books when I 

was a child, and watched the TV series. 

Because of James Herriot I loved the idea 

of being a vet, probably like most other 

children of that era, but was told at school 

that I was not academic enough to make 

the grades. One day in the school library 

I picked up a book called Hill Shepherd. 

It was a photographic documentary of 

hill farming in Yorkshire and Cumbria. 

Reading that book was an epiphany for 

me, the pictures of the hill shepherds on 

the moors with the sheep made me realise 

it was where I wanted to be. It ticked the 

box of wanting to work with animals in 

the countryside and importantly it also 

ticked the rebellion box as it was so the 

opposite of my townie life up until then. 

Years later after I had married my husband 

Clive, we realised that there was actually a 

photograph of him in Hill Shepherd! So it’s 

a very important book to me. 

How did you learn your crafts? One of 

the many things I learnt from your book 

was how important it is to get the grass 

in - in good time. 

I started out as a farm hand, and then 

moved on to being a contract shepherd, 

working on different farms all over the 

country. But really, I learnt everything as I 

went along. 

Most of my crafts came through natural 

progression, learning to ride a horse 

by riding it, learning to clip a sheep by 

clipping my first one, learning to work a 

dog, by taking the dog out with me for the 

first time. 

You can only learn what to do by doing it, 

you have to get practical on the ground 

experience. Nothing comes close to 

learning how to be a shepherd, other than 

actually doing the work of a shepherd and 

it’s not just about learning about sheep, 

it’s about learning about the land. 

With the grass it starts with the sheep. 

You’ve got to have your sheep in good 

order - we grow hardy stock through the 

winter, so it’s absolutely vital that you grow 

your crop well, so they have food to eat 

throughout the winter. 

You enjoy sheep shearing - were you 

nervous when you cut your first fleece? 

Of course, but you know, you have to be 

nervous in order to be any good at what 

you’re doing. If you’re lambing sheep you 

are dealing with nature first hand, but 

there is no room for you to have time to 

be nervous as you have to get on with the 

job. It’s you alone in that moment and it’s 

not optional to be nervous. That pressure 

makes you work fast. 

The first time I clipped, I would clip the 

sheep while the professional shearers 

were having their dinner, and they 

would encourage me or discourage me 

depending on what I was doing, and then 

the more you do it you get faster. You 

keep practicing and eventually you will 

get there. 

How do you spread yourself between 

9 children - it must quite a noisy 

household at times? 

It is a noisy household. But we’re very 

privileged to live where we do which 


FESTIVE MENU 

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE SOUP 

Toasted Almonds, Truffle Oil 

CORNFED CHICKEN AND APRICOT TERRINE 

Roasted Shallot, Mango Compote, Melba Toast 

DUO OF SALMON TARTER 

Compressed Cucumber, Wasabi Aioli 

TRADITIONAL TURKEY 

Served with Chatcau Potato, Buttered Brussel Sprouts, Festive Vegetables, Cranberry and Orange Relish, Giblets Gravy 

BEEF WELLINGTON 

Served with Chateau Potatoes, Christmas Vegetable Panache, Porto Jus 

DILL ROASTED SCOTTISH SALMON, 

Festive Vegetables, Smoked Chorizo and Pernod Sauce 

ROASTED AUBERGINE STUFFED WITH MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES 

Peruvian Quinoa Napoli Sauce 

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS PUDDING 

Brandy Sauce, Cherry and Orange Compote 

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE 

Berries, Bon Bon 

BURNSIDE CHOCOLATE ASSIETTE 

MINCE PIE 

£48 per person 

CHRISTMAS DAY MENU 

APERITIFS 

Chefs Selection of Canapes 

PARSNIP AND WARWICKSHIRE APPLE VELOUTE 

Parisian Pearls and a hint of Vanilla 

AGED COGNAC AND CHICKEN LIVER PATE 

Brioche, Frisee Salad 

BRANDY FLAMED SCALLOPS 

Wilted Pak Choi, Andalusian Pancetta 

KUMQUAT SORBET 

Tropical Fruit Parcels slowly roasted in Rum & Belgium Chocolate 

TRADITIONAL TURKEY 

Apricot and Chestnut Stuffing, Chateat, Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, Festive Vegetables, Giblets Gravy 

ROASTED COD 

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VEGETABLE WELLINGTON 

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TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS PUDDING 

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means that there’s plenty of room for 

everybody to get some space outside. I 

enjoy the busyness and noise of family 

life in the house. But I can get away from 

it by walking out my front door. Plenty 

of people can’t as they leave their front 

door and if they live in a city, it’s still loud 

and busy when they get out. We’re lucky 

here to have the wide open spaces and 

the kids spend a lot of time outdoors. 

We’re working farm and that means that 

everyone mucks in - no matter what 

the age, it could be collecting hen’s 

eggs, feeding the horses, or helping find 

uniforms for everyone, also cooking. Real 

dough is just as good as playdough and 

the kids love learning to cook. The only 

time when we all come together is tea time 

at the farm, when we all come together to 

eat, it’s my favourite time of day, when I 

get to hear what everyone’s been up to on 

the farm and school. 

Your children must have a wonderful 

time and appear to have no fears with 

any of the animals. Do they each have a 

special one? 

I suppose they do. Quite a lot of the girls 

loves the horses. Violet loves the cows, 

she was excited recently that our pet cow, 

Ciara has now come in from the fields. 

Violet hand reared Ciara from a calf, so 

she thinks she belongs inside the house 

and doesn’t like the other cows. Miles is 

very taken with the hens and his flock of 

30 sheep. Through the winter and up to 

lambing time Miles looks after his flock of 

sheep after school. Sidney has his own 

dog, Nell a sheep dog and she runs for 

him, so that’s quite a big thing for a young 

lad to be able to work his own sheep dog. 

It’s a level up from being a pet. The terriers 

are wonderful they are real characters, 

they are source of frustration as they 

will have fights with each other, or they 

wander off from the farm to the local pub 

quite a few miles away! The terriers, are 

Chalky and Sprout, sadly we lost Pippin at 

the beginning of lock down. Tony the pony 

(pictured above right) is loved by Annas, 

Clemmie and Nancy, they look after him, 

feed him, brush him and ride him. They 

also love the bigger horses Josie and 

Princess. Princess is very good with the 

kids and often two of them ride her around 

the fields. They also like to take the horses 

down to the river and give them a bath 

and wash and comb their tails. 

Will any of them follow in your 

footsteps? 

Yeah, I think so, at the moment Miles and 

Sidney are very keen on farming and Edith 

is a good shepherdess. That said I never 

place any expectation on any of them 

to follow me into being a farmer and a 

shepherd. You don’t know where life will 

take you. I’m not sitting here going: “I want 

you to be a shepherd”, because life goes 

through stages, and what you want to do 

changes, so I’d rather they make their own 

choices, they can do whatever they want 

to do. It’s a difficult thing to ask a child 

what they want to do with the rest of their 

life. They’ll figure it out as they go along. 

What is your favourite season and why? 

Summer. But really I mean June. June is 

my favourite month, because all the sheep 

have had lambs and been turned back 

out onto the moor and it’s before hay time 

and clipping, so there’s a lull and a pause 

in the farm work, and at the same time 

everything comes to life - the flowers, the 

birds on the moor. In June, the Curlews 

are back, as are the Lapwings, Golden 

Plover, Black Grouse. All you can hear 

is birds, wherever you’re walking. There 

are woodcock and snipe too - they are 

all ground nesting birds up here on the 

moor, so you get to see their nests as 

well - and it’s just beautiful. The flowers 

you see in June are marsh marigolds, 

globe flowers, all the hay meadow 

flowers, rare orchids - it’s really pretty. 

What made you decide to write this 

book? It is a delightful read and the 

recipes are a treat…. 

Celebrating the Seasons, came about 

because I wanted to answer some of the 

most frequently ask questions, how do 

you cater for such a big family? Tell us 

about the practicalities? What do you 

cook? It was really difficult selecting 

recipes for the book. I wanted to include 

forgiving recipes. Recipes that it was 

totally fine to get distracted in the middle 

of and would still turn out good. Recipes 

that were achievable with the most 

basic of ingredients, simple feel good 

food, that was nutritionally good too. My 

absolute favourite is the Tagine recipe, 

it’s a people pleaser, for me its so easy 

and the smell always brings everyone 

to the kitchen - which is helpful! Every 

time I cook it it’s different, sometimes 

chick peas, sometimes wild rice, some 

times couscous - it always comes out 

slightly different each time. In addition 

to the recipes, people have told me they 

loved my photos and images of the farm 

that I post on twitter and would always 

suggest I do a photograph book. If you 

go back to basics it was a photography 

book - Hill Shepherd - that inspired me 

to become a shepherd. So it’s nice to 

go full circle. I know how inspiring a 

photography book can be - how it can 

really steer you and how a picture can 

tell a thousand words. I really hope that 

when people buy the book, that they 

look at the pictures over and over again 

and still find something new in them, as I 

have with Hill Shepherd. 

What would you like to tell our readers 

about your life? 

I want people to know that Celebrating 

the Seasons is a book about going your 

own way. It’s not a blueprint for how you 

should live your life, it simply says this 

is what we do as a family this is how we 

do it, feel free to follow the recipes, or 

do them your own way. I want people 

to not let themselves to be stereotyped, 

to know that all things are achievable if 

you really want to do it. So many people 

said you won’t have time to write a book, 

you won’t achieve that. But I believe you 

can do anything you just have to start 

doing it. If you want to write a book, 

start writing. I got an E in GCSE English, 

and this is my fifth book. Anything is 

possible. 

Celebrating 

the Seasons with The Yorkshire 

Shepherdess by Amanda Owen by Pan 

Macmillan, £20.

Christmas 

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Dinner is served 

Tasty recipes from Amanda Owen 

Wild Mushroom Soup with 

Wood Sorrel & Hazelnut Pesto 

Prep time 10 minutes 

Cooking time 35 minutes 

Serves 4 

2 tbsp Yorkshire rapeseed oil, plus extra for 

garnish 

1 medium onion, finely chopped 

1 large clove garlic, crushed or grated 

450g wild mushrooms, such as yellow 

chanterelle, roughly chopped 

50ml Madeira or sweet sherry 

850ml hot vegetable stock 

3 sprigs fresh thyme 

200ml double cream 

1 tsp mushroom powder 

Salt and black pepper 

Pesto 

25g chopped toasted hazelnuts 

1 small bunch wood sorrel 

2 tbsp olive oil 

10g Parmesan 

Garnish 

Handful of wild mushrooms 

Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add 

the onion and garlic and fry gently for 5 

minutes, until softened but not coloured. 

Next, add the mushrooms and fry on a 

medium heat for 8 minutes, until they are 

golden. 

Pour the Madeira over the mushrooms and 

cook on a high heat for about a minute until 

the alcohol evaporates. 

Lower the heat and pour in the hot stock, 

then add the sprigs of thyme. Bring to the 

boil then cover and simmer gently for 20 

minutes. 

Remove the pan from the heat, blitz with 

a hand blender or in a liquidizer until the 

soup is smooth. Return the soup to a clean 

pan, stir in the cream and sprinkle over the 

mushroom powder, then season the soup 

and gently reheat over a low heat. 

Meanwhile, place the pesto ingredients into 

a small food processor and blitz for a few 

seconds until combined. Add extra oil if the 

pesto is a little thick and season to taste. 

For the mushroom garnish, drizzle some 

oil in a small frying pan and gently fry the 

remaining mushrooms for a couple of 

minutes until golden. 

To serve, ladle the soup into warm bowls, 

scatter over the whole fried mushrooms, 

and top with a spoonful of pesto. 

Tip 

Try serving with homemade spelt bread. 

Moroccan Lamb Tagine with 

Jewelled Couscous 


Cooking time 1 hour 15 minutes 

Serves 4 

Tagine 

2 tbsp olive oil 

600g lamb shoulder, diced 

1 large onion, sliced 

2 cloves garlic, crushed 

1 tbsp ground cumin 

2 tsp ground coriander 

1 tbsp hot smoked paprika 

40g tomato purée 

400g can cherry tomatoes 

1 cinnamon stick 

50g dried apricots, chopped 

2 large pieces orange peel 

285ml lamb stock 

1 small bunch coriander, chopped 

Jewelled couscous 

200g couscous 

200ml hot vegetable stock 

1 red onion, chopped 

100g pomegranate seeds 

1 small bunch mint, leaves roughly chopped 

1 small bunch coriander, chopped 

3 spring onions 

20g almonds, toasted 

Salt and black pepper 

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/ gas 4. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large 

heatproof casserole dish, then add the 

lamb and sear and brown on all sides for 

about 5 minutes. Remove the lamb from 

the casserole dish with a slotted spoon and 

set aside. 

Return the casserole dish to the heat and 

add the remaining oil. When hot, add the 

onion and fry gently for approximately 8 

minutes until golden. Add the garlic and fry 

for a further minute. 

Sprinkle over the ground spices and stir 

in the tomato purée then fry for a further 

minute. Return the meat and any juices 

to the pan with the remaining Tagine 

ingredients (except the fresh coriander), 

bring to the boil then cover with a lid and 

transfer to the middle shelf of the oven. 

Cook for 1 hour, or until the meat is tender. 

Meanwhile, while the Tagine cooks, put the 

couscous into a bowl and pour over the 

hot vegetable stock. Cover the bowl tightly 

with cling film and set aside for 10 minutes 

until the couscous has absorbed the liquid. 

Season the couscous, then stir through 

the remaining ingredients, saving a few 

almonds and herbs to garnish. 

To serve the Tagine, remove the cinnamon 

stick and check seasoning, then sprinkle 

over the chopped coriander. Serve in warm 

bowls with the jewelled couscous. 

Tip 

This recipe can also be cooked slowly in a 

Tagine over a barbecue. 


And time for pudding... 

More tasty recipes from Amanda Owen 

Rhubarb & Custard Crumble Cake 



Serves 4-6 

Rhubarb 

250g Yorkshire rhubarb, cut into 2cm 

chunks 

50g caster sugar 

Crumble 

50g plain flour 

25g butter, cut into cubes 

40g chopped mixed nuts 

25g demerara sugar 

Cake 

170g butter, softened, plus extra for 

greasing 

85g caster sugar 

85g soft brown sugar 

3 medium eggs, beaten 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

170g self-raising flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

30g custard powder 

Icing sugar to dust 

Custard to serve 

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 

Grease and line a 21cm round spring-form 

cake tin. 

Put the rhubarb into a saucepan and 

sprinkle over the caster sugar. Heat very 

gently until the sugar dissolves into a syrup. 

Simmer for 6–8 minutes until the rhubarb 

just begins to soften. Set aside to cool. 

Meanwhile make the crumble. Place the 

flour into a mixing bowl and rub in the 

butter with your fingertips until it resembles 

breadcrumbs, then stir in the chopped nuts 

and sugar. 

Next make the cake. Beat the butter, caster 

sugar and soft brown sugar in a bowl using 

an electric mixer for 2–3 minutes, until light 

and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract 

with 2 tablespoons of the flour, beat for 

a minute until combined, then fold in the 

remaining flour, baking powder and custard 

powder. 

Drain any excess juices from the rhubarb 

28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

and discard the syrup, then gently fold the 

cooled rhubarb through the cake mixture. 

Transfer the cake batter to the prepared tin 

and gently smooth the top with a spatula. 

Sprinkle the crumble over the cake and 

press down lightly with the back of a spoon, 

then bake on the middle shelf of the oven 

for 40 minutes, until the cake is golden, firm 

to touch, and when a skewer is inserted it 

comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly in the 

cake tin, then transfer to a plate. 

Dust lightly with icing sugar before serving 

warm with custard. 

Tip 

Also delicious served with ice cream or 

single cream. 

Hedgerow Nutty Crumble 



Serves 4 

Fruit filling 

40g butter 

40g golden caster sugar 

2 Braeburn apples, peeled and sliced 

200g Bramley apples, peeled and sliced 

300g foraged berries or any mixed berries, 

such as blackberries and wild raspberries 

Crumble topping 

125g plain flour 

85g unsalted butter, diced 

85g demerara sugar 

50g rolled oats 

30g chopped toasted hazelnuts 

Custard or ice cream to serve 

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. 

For the fruit filling, melt the butter in a 

pan, add the sugar and apples and gently 

simmer for 5 minutes. Add the berries and 

simmer for 2 minutes, then transfer to a 

23cm round oven-proof dish. 

Meanwhile prepare the crumble topping. 

Put the flour into a mixing bowl and rub 

in the butter with your fingertips, until the 

mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir 

in the sugar, oats and hazelnuts. 

Sprinkle the crumble topping over the 

fruit, then place the dish on the middle 

shelf of the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, 

until the crumb is golden and fruit 

bubbling. 

Allow to cool slightly before serving with 

custard or ice cream. 

Tip 

Try using other seasonal fruits such as 

damsons or gooseberries.

Our Christmas plans 

are in place and we 

can't wait to share this 

Christmas with you. 

Whether you're dining in a large group, 

having a work party, or gathering with 

family and friends to make up for lost 

time, our Bistrots will be ready to 

welcome you. We have a choice of group 

menus available from Thursday 25th 

November until 30th December where 

you can come and enjoy our… 

Festive Menu Pierre 

3 courses £19.95 

Festive Menu Prestige 

3 courses £25.95 

Our all-day menu will also be available 

in December and includes Bistrot classics 

as well as classic Christmas dishes 

(yes that includes Turkey with all the 

trimmings and Christmas pudding!). 

We're here to bring a bit of Bistrot magic 

to your festive plans so take a look at our 

menus and book your Christmas. 

Book now 

Swan's Nest, Bridgefoot, 

Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7LT 

bistrotpierre.co.uk

SharE le 

Joyeux 

de Noël 

Available 23rd November – 24th December 

Enjoy an elegant 3 course menu, packed full 

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£29.95 

Tis’ the Season! Scan to book now. 

or visit: cote.co.uk/christmas


The Fourteas is today, probably 

the most popular Tea-Room in 

Warwickshire! Without exaggeration! 

The queues outside our door in the weekends, our numerous 

awards, the excellent reviews we attract and above all our very 

large numbers of repeat clients, strongly suggest that we must be 

doing something right! 

The Fourteas is very much a customer 

and service-orientated Tea-Room. With 

a theme too. That of the Forties! The 

obvious pun is well intended! 

During lockdown we wanted to reach 

out to our customers to reassure them, 

that there was light on the other side of 

the tunnel of COVID-19, so our online 

shop began with our finest homemade 

goods and products complemented by 

England’s most sought-after independent 

suppliers. We now deliver 7 days a week, 

all over the country. From our gift cards to 

our exquisite hampers filled up with you 

in mind, there is so much to choose from 

you’ll want it all. We also have some great 

original & replica memorabilia for those 

people who look into the forties with 

great nostalgia. 

One of our most famous products is 

our gas mask Cream Tea Box with our 

freshly made scones baked to order, 

then vacuum sealed for total freshness, 

accompanied with clotted cream and 

some of the best jam money can buy! 

alongside a replica gas mask information 

leaflet and our famous Fourteas blend, all 

encased in a replica gas mask box. This 

box serves four, or two persons if you 

after an extra generous ration. 

We have seasonal Hampers ready for any 

occasion, one of which is our “Autumnal 

Delights” with a handmade Amaretto & 

cherry, fruit celebration cake, pheasant 

and champagne pate & all butter bucks 

fizz curd just to name a few items! Our 

Hampers come without the rationing but 

with all the elegance needed for gifts to 

friends and family. 

Our kitchen team are always working on 

new and existing products for us to list on 

our website. We have homemade, freshly 

baked cakes available for collection, 

for any occasion. There is a choice of 

chocolate, coffee and walnut, carrot, 

Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle. 

We proudly offer our Fourteas loose 

leaf tea blend online too; blended for 

us especially, as it cannot be brought 

from anyone else. The Fourteas Blend 

consists of only the finest, high grown 

fruity single estate orange Pecoe Ceylon 

and a luxurious multi Keemun from 

China, resulting in a coppery full-bodied 

cup, bursting with freshness and flavour. 

Delicious with or without milk it enhances 

all our afternoon tea items, to which it has 

become a serious accomplice. 

With our Christmas Collection just around 

the corner, look out for our gift proposals 

coming up soon on our website, as they 

are currently being designed to offer love, 

class and elegance over the Christmas 

Festive Season. After all, the Forties 

was all about coming together and the 

Fourteas is doing just that for you. 

fourteas.co.uk 01789-293908 


www.anboise.com 

www.norsu.com.au 

GUEST BEDROOM 

perfection 

DON’T: WORRY IF YOU 

DON’T HAVE LOADS OF 

SPACE 

Ultimately you have to work with what 

you’ve got - in the last 18 months, 

many of us have seen our guest rooms 

overhauled into home offices. If you’ve 

ditched the bed don’t worry - how about 

adding an attractive sofa bed that you 

can actually use the rest of the time as a 

break out area from your desk. 

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The more things you can put in the room 

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and perhaps even a hair dryer. A bedside 

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help themselves to water too. 

DO: INVEST IN 

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As you might have never 

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window treatments are for 

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DON’T: SETTLE FOR A 

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The same goes for the mattress as the 

window treatments - spend a night in the 

room and see if the bed is up to scratch. 

DO: PROVIDE GOOD 

LIGHTING 

Multi-level lighting is key for making a 

space feel cosy - make sure there are 

two bedside lamps and then another 

light source in the space, such as a 

standing lamp in the corner or a lamp on 

a dressing table 

DON’T: SKIMP ON THE 

BED LINENS 

Good bed linen really is worth the money 

- and it tends to wash better too. Provide 

a good quality duvet and pillows, linens 

and some additional blankets if your 

guests feel the cold. 

DO: CREATE 

SOMEWHERE THEY CAN 

UNPACK 

We all know it’s a bit stressful trying to 

live out of a suitcase - allowing for some 

hanging space and a few drawers to 

unpack into, can really help guests keep 

on top of things whilst they’re with you. 

DO: MAKE IT SMELL 

LOVELY 

Kit the room out with either fresh flowers, 

a reed diffuser, or room sprays. Pillow 

spray to help deep sleep is also a lovely 

touch to make the space feel homely - we 

love Olverum’s new Restful Pillow Sleep 

Mist, £25, olverum.com 

DON’T: BE A 

PERFECTIONIST 

If your guests were hoping for hotel 

standards, then that’s where they should 

have stayed. Just aim to make sure 

the space is clean, comfortable and 

functional, then relax - there’s enough to 

be worrying about in the festive season 

without adding high expectations on top 

of that. 

If you’re looking for a total decorative 

overhaul, check out our moodboards! 

www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 


Twelve 

Friends 

Reunited 

Padstow 

12 Guests, 6 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 2 Pets 

4 full English breakfasts, 5 dramatic sunsets 

3 short little saunters down to the pub 

Then back for a nightcap in your steaming hot tub 

One sensible trip to Botallack tin mine 

(A less sensible lunch in Padstow at Rick Stein ) 

One seal-spotting boat trip out of St Ives 

3 sea swims, 4 beach naps, 2 basking shark dives 

Old friends reunited in the flesh, not online 

Thanks to Original Cottages. Simply Divine! 

Original Cottages. 

The clue’s in the name. 

Staying with us, or letting with us, 

fall in love with local at originalcottages.co.uk

Bromley Chest, £399, 

Made.com 

Black Branches Print, from £6.99, 

www.juniqe.co.uk 

Jute Effect Daylight Roller 

Blind, from £22, John Lewis 

Bedroom by Pure Salt Interiors 

BRIGHT 

& CRISP 

Off-White Linen Bed Set. 

£170.99, www.truelinen.co.uk 

Limestone Wood Paint, £18 

750ml, thorndown.co.uk 

Dar Lighting 

NUS422, from £82, 

wtlighting.co.uk 

Furn Contra Olive Cushion, 

£25, www.persora.com 

London Bench, from £499, 

www.boconcept.com 

Mala Pile Rug, 

200x290cm, £299, 

Made.com 

Reims, Iron/Metal Four Poster Bed Frame, from 

£649, www.obc-uk.net 

Black Bud Vase, £29, 

room356.co.uk 

Achieve this look by 

layering different 

neutral textures, and 

adding structural 

touches of black and a 

few strong accent colours 

Juna Striped 

Cushion, £34, 

hauslife.co.uk 


gifts & interiors 

Christmas Collection 

Thank you for your continued custom...... 

We would like to invite you and your 

friends to celebrate 

95 YEARS OF 

HILLERS 

Please join us and 30 of our suppliers 

for a taster day in our Marquee 

Saturday 3rd October 10am-4pm 

the maize maze , trains and sandpit will all be open 

Lots of great gift ideas from stocking fillers 

to something for that special someone. 

Cards • Stationery • Jewellery & Accessories • Toiletries 

Toys & Baby • Kitchenware & Furnishings • Clothing • Men’s Gifts 

Dunnington Heath Farm • Alcester • B49 5PD 

Tel: Dunnington 01789 772771 Heath Farm • www.hillers.co.uk 

• • Alcester • B49 • B49 5PD 5PD 

Dunnington Tel: 01789 Heath 772771 Farm • • www.hillers.co.uk 

Alcester • B49 5PD 

Dunnington Heath Farm • Alcester • B49 5PD 

Tel: 01789 772771 • www.hillers.co.uk 

Hillers Strawberries A5 Ad.indd 1 08/06/2016 19:41 

Tel: 01789 490991 • Email: info@hillers.co.uk • www.hillers.co.uk 

Hillers Strawberries A5 Ad.indd 1 08/06/2016 19:41 

Hillers_DL_Alt_210x99mm.indd 11 08/09/2015 08:19 08:19 

Hillers Taster Day Oct 17.indd 1 06/09/2017 12:44

Stone and porcelain tiles from £15.65 M2 

(Excluding VAT & Delivery) 

www.terzettostone.co.uk 01926 427470 sales@terzettostone.co.uk 

Oxfordshire 

Coming Soon 

Wetherby 

Yorkshire 

Leamington Spa 

116 Regent Street 

Royal Leamington Spa 

Warwickshire 

Knutsford 

Cheshire 

St Albans 

Coming Soon

ESCAPE URBAN LIFE & START ENJOYING 

ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE AT IT’S BEST! 

w 

ARK 

NEW FOR 2021 

THE VISION 

Park home by Omar 

Onsite Mid Nov, fully furnished 

£225,000 

LUXURY PARK LODGES FOR 

SALE FROM £179,000 

WILLOW PARK is a tranquil luxury development set in over 6 acres, 

it’s quietly nestled behind an impressive Cotswold Stone entrance 

with secure electronic operated gates and resident Park management 

on site so your security and peace of mind are guaranteed. 

Located in the picturesque award winning village of Salford 

Priors, it’s within walking distance of all local amenities with a 

bus stop outside the entrance. Neighbouring the historic town of 

Shakespeare’s Stratford upon Avon and Broadway in the Cotswolds 

with it’s rolling countryside, Willow Park is areal hidden gem! 

There are show homes on site ready to view, please note larger plots 

are selling fast with only a few remaining. Call our friendly Park 

Manager Sue today to arrange a viewing 

01789 565791 or 07538 552020 

DON’T MISS OUT, WE’RE SURE 

YOU’LL BE IMPRESSED!

ALSTERS KELLEY 

SOLICITORS OPENS FIFTH 

OFFICE WITH ACQUISITION 

OF BONELL & CO 

Coventry and Warwickshire solicitors 

Alsters Kelley recently announced the 

acquisition of Stratford-based Bonell & Co 

Solicitors, further extending its presence 

across the region as it brings its total 

number of offices to five... 

It is an exciting development for the Legal 500 firm which already 

operates in Coventry, Nuneaton, Leamington Spa and Southam 

and represents its first acquisition for 15 years. 

Bonell & Co, which is situated in Chestnut Walk, Stratford, has 

been established for over 30 years. It currently offers services in 

conveyancing and family law. 

The deal, which was conducted throughout the height of the 

COVID-19 pandemic, will allow the firm, which will become 

known as Alsters Kelley incorporating Bonell Co, to extend its 

range of services to the region*, whilst continuing to provide 

a high level of personal service for which it has always been 

renowned. 

Cathy Wahlberg, Managing Director at Alsters Kelley, said: “The 

acquisition of Bonell & Co marks the start of an exciting new 

chapter for both firms. 


“Bonell & Co boasts an impressive pedigree and has a highly 

talented and experienced workforce. It has an excellent reputation 

throughout the Stratford region and the acquisition seemed like 

the next natural step in Alsters Kelley’s own journey. It provides 

us with an excellent platform for growth and we look forward to 

developing the business in the years to come for the benefit of 

both the staff and our clients.” 

Both firms pride themselves on their friendly, approachable 

service combined with expert legal advice with Alsters Kelley 

operating on the mantra of being kind, helpful and excellent in the 

delivery of its service at all times. 

*Alsters Kelley’s range of services include Family (divorce, 

finances, children matters) , family care (adoption, care 

proceedings, abductions), private client (wills, powers of 

attorney, tax and trusts), conveyancing, personal injury, medical 

negligence, dispute resolution and criminal cases including 

motoring offences. 

Tailor-made Home Insurance 

Your home is as unique as you are, so let us help find the right 

tailored cover for you. Call A-Plan Stratford-upon-Avon today. 

AP210912 

44 Guild Street, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 6QY 

01789 339 825 

Trustpilot rating correct as of 16/09/21. A-Plan Insurance is a trading style of A-Plan Holdings which is 

authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 2 Des Roches Square, 

Witney, OX28 4LE. Registration number 750484. 

aplan.co.uk/stratford-upon-avon 


HOUSING-WITH-CARE 

Allowing older people to live where they want to live 

Imagine you’re an older person in your 

70s, approaching your later years and 

perhaps in need of more support soon, 

but still with so much to give, so many 

talents to unlock, so many friends to 

make. You’re thinking about moving 

from the family home you’ve lived in 

for years to somewhere which provides 

security and care if and when you need 

it, but which also allows you to keep 

your independence and connections to 

the local community, and which has a 

range of activities and facilities to keep 

you busy. 

It’s this middle ground, this golden 

mean, combining independence with 

care and support, which housing-withcare 

settings across the country are 

offering to older people in increasing 

numbers. Sometimes called retirement 

communities, retirement villages or extra 

care housing, these settings give older 

people the opportunity to rent or own 

a flat or apartment, on a site with 24/7 

staffing, high-quality care provision if 

needed, and facilities like restaurants, 

bars, cafes, gyms, activity rooms and 

much more. 

While long-standing options for older 

people like care homes and traditional 

retirement housing will continue to have 

a vital place, there is a growing need 

for middle options like housing-withcare 

which allow older people to stay 

independent and healthy for longer. 

The evidence is clear: housing-withcare 

improves health and well-being, 

drastically cuts down hospital and GP 

visits, and reduces feelings of loneliness. 

Not only do older people themselves 

benefit, but so too does the NHS and 

whole social care system. 

Housing-with-care settings can be in 

either rural or urban locations, giving 

older people the chance to choose the 

lifestyle they want. Often, they are closely 

connected with the town centre, and 

people of different ages are able to use 

the facilities at the retirement community 

and mix with older residents. Far from 

being ghettos of the elderly, housingwith-care 

settings can be hubs of 

intergenerational connection. 

ARCO’s role as the representative body 

for the housing-with-care sector is to help 

our members provide the best possible 

service to their older residents, and to 

ensure the sector thrives and grows in 

the way that it should. An important part 

of ARCO’s work is helping members 

set high standards through the ARCO 

Consumer Code, a new edition of 

which was launched in September this 

year. The code upholds the principles 

of transparency and fairness, giving 

customers and residents confidence that 

housing-with-care operators achieve 

high levels of consumer protection in 

everything from marketing, sales and 

lettings, and resident relations. 

Because, ultimately, housing-with-care is 

all about the residents. About responding 

to the growing demand from older 

people for housing options that combine 

independent, active living with care 

and support if needed. About allowing 

residents to live the life that they want 

to live. 

For further email please visit 

www.arcouk.org 


Your local Bupa care homes 

in Stratford-upon-Avon 

We are welcoming 

new residents 

Whether you need to find a local care home now, 

or are just starting to look into options, we can help. 

We’re welcoming new residents to join us for as long as 

they need – a few weeks, a month or a permanent stay. 

Call us for advice today 

01789 863 914 

Lines are open 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm Saturday. 

Closed Sundays and bank holidays. Calls are charged at no more than local rate and 

count towards any inclusive minutes from mobiles. We may record or monitor our calls. 

Alveston Leys Care Home 

Nursing | Palliative | 

Residential | Short stay 

9.5 

carehome.co.uk 

Review Score 

59 reviews † 

Canning Court Care Home 

Dementia nursing | Dementia 

residential | Short stay 

9.6 


Review Score 

38 reviews † 

Safety 

Promise 

We follow strict UK infection control standards. Roll out available vaccines. Carry out regular 

tests and make sure our team always have PPE. That’s our Safety Promise you can rely on. 

All types of funding welcome No health insurance needed 

†The Review Score is based on the quality and number of independent reviews this home has received on carehome.co.uk in the last two years, at the time of going to print. 

Q121285 SEP21 CS 02174

DO YOU KNOW HOW STRONG 

YOUR BONES ARE? 

The DEXA is a low radiation bone-strength scan and 

is available to anyone. Book in for a scan and receive 

personalised advice from an Osteoporosis specialist doctor 

on how to keep your bones strong for a healthy future. 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 

YOUR BODY’S DISTRIBUTION 

OF FAT, MUSCLE AND BONE? 

Find out more about your body composition to 

help with diet or fitness plans and understand 

your potential health risks 

A body composition scan provides an in-depth 

analysis of your body’s fat and muscle distribution 

and can tell you much more about your health and 

fitness than standing on the scales. 

Your scan will be reviewed by a leading expert in 

DEXA body composition scanning. 

For more information visit www.newsonhealth.co.uk 

Newson Health, Winton House, Church Street, Stratford Up Avon CV37 6HB 

shipston 

bathrooms 

NOW OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 

PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE TO ARRANGE A SHOWROOM VISIT 

Units 1 & 2 Shipston Industrial Estate, Tilemans Lane 

Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 4PR 

01608 663535 | www.shipstonbathrooms.co.uk 



LIVING RETIREMENT TO 

THE FULL IN 

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 

Local retiree, Margaret Beard, talks 

about how she’s living her retirement 

years to the full at McCarthy Stone’s 

Harvard Place in Stratford-upon-Avon. 

When Margaret Beard decided she 

wanted to downsize her home and 

relocate from Leicestershire to enable 

her to make the most of her retirement 

years, she looked all over the UK for the 

perfect location and lifestyle. Fortunately, 

McCarthy Stone’s Harvard Place in 

Stratford-upon-Avon popped up at just 

the right time. 

Margaret, a former civil service employee 

and advertising executive, explains: “We 

lived in a lovely village in Leicestershire, 

but decided we wanted a lower 

maintenance lifestyle, both in terms of 

the upkeep of our home and proximity to 

amenities. I’d been keeping my eye out 

on retirement properties for over 10 years 

and had been looking all over the UK. 

We were regular visitors to Stratford and 

loved the town, so when my daughter 

mentioned Harvard Place, we got in 

touch with the sales team right away. As 

soon as I spoke with the McCarthy Stone 

team, I knew it was the place for me and 

signed up to buy a property off-plan. 

“My apartment is lovely, and I have 

fantastic views over the local woodland. 

Harvard Place also has a rooftop terrace 

and the views from there are even better, 

perfect for enjoying with a nice coffee. The 

gardens are fantastic too and it’s great to 

be able to enjoy them without having to 

bother with the gardening myself. The best 

thing though, is that we have a Waitrose 

next door and a bus service into town, 

perfect for a shopaholic like me! I’ve made 

some great friends here, one of which is my 

kindred spirit when it comes to shopping, 

so we love to hit the shops together. 

“There’s a wonderful community here 

too. We have film nights, a choir, keep fit 

classes, coffee morning and afternoon 

teas. There’s always something going 

on and it’s brilliant to be able to pick 

and choose when you want to socialise 

or when you simply want to relax in the 

privacy of your own apartment. Plus, we 

have an on-site restaurant and options for 

domestic support, so I really don’t have to 

lift a finger if I don’t want to. 

“I can’t speak highly enough of the team 

here either. They’re always here to help 

and are very accommodating of our 

ideas. It’s like having a second family.” 

“I can’t speak highly enough of the team 

here either. They’re always here to help 

and are very accommodating of our ideas. 

It’s like having a second family. Moving 

to Harvard Place was one of the best 

decisions I have ever made and I can’t 

recommend it highly enough to retirees 

who are looking for a relaxed lifestyle that 

will enable them to live life to the full.” 

Harvard Place features a selection of 56 

one and two-bedroom Retirement Living 

Plus apartments, exclusively designed 

for people aged 70 and over. Prices 

at Harvard Place currently start from 

£272,950 for a one bedroom apartment 

and from £384,950 for a two bedroom 

apartment. There is the option to 

purchase an apartment outright or to take 

advantage of flexible rental and part rent 

part buy solutions. 

More than nine out of 10 customers 

would recommend McCarthy Stone to 

a friend, ensuring it has received the full 

Five Star award for customer satisfaction 

from the Home Builders Federation for 

16 years’ running. McCarthy Stone is 

the only UK housebuilder of any size 

or type to achieve this accolade for 16 

consecutive years, which is every year 

the awards have been run. 

For more information about retirement living 

in Stratford-upon-Avon, please contact 

McCarthy Stone on 0800 201 4741 or visit 

www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/. 


Trusted to care 

Award winning care homes 

Our highly trained care home teams are specialists 

in residential, nursing, dementia and respite care, 

so whatever your needs and personal preferences, 

we’re here to help you and your family at every step 

of the journey. 

If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved 

one, call 01789 867338 or email 

julia.joy@careuk.com 

Rated 

9.8 

out of 10 on 


Ambleside care home 

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire 

careuk.com/ambleside

Quality care in 

STRATFORD UPON 

AVON you can trust 

When a family is thinking about 

care for a loved one, they want 

the best - they want to know that 

the care home they choose will put 

their loved one’s safety, happiness 

and wellbeing first... 


Care UK’s Ambleside care home in Dodwell provides residential, 

dementia and nursing care, giving families peace of mind that 

their loved ones can stay living at the home should their needs 

change. 

Living at Ambleside is all about quality of life. Every colleague 

in the home is passionate about enabling residents to enjoy 

a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around their unique needs and 

preferences. The lifestyle team organises a huge variety of group 

and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each day. 

Often families are so caught up in the day-to-day care of their 

loved ones that the personal relationship they share can take a 

step back. Once their relative has settled into Ambleside they 

are able to focus on spending quality time with them again just 

enjoying each other’s company. 

Whether your loved one enjoys a quiet cup of tea in bed before 

starting the day, loves going for strolls in nature, or enjoys a chat 

over a beer, the team at Ambleside will spend time to enable 

them to continue living life the way they want to. 

Ambleside care home, Dodwell, CV37 9TG 

care.uk.com/ambleside 

Email: Julia.joy@careuk.com 

Tel: 01789 867540 

Want to make a difference? 

Start your career in care now 

Every day well lived 

Registered charity number 

1012788 

We’re recruiting carers in our 

Warwickshire care homes. 

Benefits include: • a free DBS check • roles start from £9 per hour 

• company sick pay • free workwear • free training • fixed rotas 

• discounts on days out & shopping • free health & wellbeing support 

Apply 

now 

www.wcs-care.co.uk/opportunities 

or call our recruitment hotline 

on 07719 074 810 

for more information. 


NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE TO 

HARVARD PLACE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON. 

One and two bed apartments available in a 

beautiful development designed to let you 

live your way. 

• Exclusively for the over 70s 

• 1 and 2 bed apartments 

• Buy from £264,950 # 

• Rent from £2,640 # pcm 

Harvard Place, Springfield Close, 

Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 8GA 

To book your viewing, call 0800 185 5483 

or search McCarthy Stone Harvard Place. 

# 

Subject to availability. Imagery is representative and facilities vary by location. 

SC010396 

Harvard Place Living Mag 171X245 (20.8).indd 1 20/08/2021 13:53

Stratford-upon-Avon Living Nov - Dec 2021

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