Long Ashton and Failand Voice April 2024

The Save Church House Group updates us on the progress of its campaign to save the building and keep it as a community asset.

The battle to save Church House for the community is gathering pace, gaining traction and support.

The group now has in excess of 580 signatures in support of its efforts and, importantly, the support of the Parish Council. The group has made an application to North Somerset Unitary Council for Church House to be recognised as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ and hopes to have a positive answer by the end of March. Continued on page 5 >

Contacts

Ruth Drury sales director & publisher 07590 527 664

ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Please send news and editorial requests to Cathy at: editor@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Next issue’s copy deadlines:

Editorial: 12 April

Advertising: 17 April

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

southbritolvoice

MP

Dr Liam Fox

HOW

Email: liam.fox.mp@parliament.uk

Twitter: @LiamFox

My MP? Karin Smyth MP

Facebook: Dr Liam Fox MP

May 2022

Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk

Welcome all to the 13th edition of the Long Ashton and Failand Voice, which means that it is officially our one year birthday! How quickly that year has gone by since we launched.

We hope you love the Long Ashton and Failand Voice, and please do write in and tell us your thoughts and opinions, what you really enjoy about the paper or anything you’d like to see in it.

A huge thank you to all our deliverers for their hard work over the last year, delivering your papers through your letterboxes, in all weather.

By post:

By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk

The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Constituency office: 71 High Street, Nailsea, BS48 1AW

By phone: 0117 953 3575

Christine Townsend Green, Southville By phone: 07584183843 By email: Cllr.Christine.Townsend@bristol. gov.uk

Have a happy and safe Easter and enjoy any little glimpses of sunshine we might see throughout April!

Stay safe

Ruth x

My Councillor

In person: Call the above number for an appointment

Post: (all councillors)

My councillor?

Christopher Davies Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr. Christopher.Davies@bristol.gov.uk

c/o Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ

Phone: 07826917714

PS: Please send in your news and views to editor@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

Cllr Stuart McQuillan – Long Ashton

Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster

T: 07866 512 391

Gary Hopkins Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk

May 2022 southbritolvoice 4

By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk

E: stuart.mcquillan@n-somerset.gov.uk

Phone: 07977 512159

Ed Plowden Green, Windmill Hill

HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH ...

Cllr Ashley Cartman – Long Ashton

T: 07904 188 187

Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk

By phone: 0117 353 3160

E: ashley.cartman@n-somerset.gov.uk

southbristolvoice

Phone: 07584184577 By email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk

Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill

Phone: 07584186535

My MP? Karin Smyth MP

By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk

Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk

Tony Dyer Green, Southville

Cllr Bridget Petty – Backwell

By phone: 07584182862 By email:

T: 07935 282 129

Contacts

E: bridget.petty@n-somerset.gov.uk

Useful numbers

By email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk

By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

By phone: 0117 953 3575

In person: Call the above number for an appointment

North Somerset Council 01934 888 888

Ruth Drury Sales Director & Publisher 07590 527664

ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

North Somerset Council – emergencies outside of office hours

My councillor?

Thursday, 6 June marks the 80th Anniversary of D-DAY, the greatest amphibious challenge ever undertaken!

Christine Townsend Green, Southville By phone: 07584183843 By email: Cllr.Christine.Townsend@bristol. gov.uk

Christopher Davies Community Party.

Christopher.Davies@bristol.gov.uk

Phone:

Pests,

01934 622 669

Jane Williams Editor news@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

922 2900

Police Inquiries 0117 998 9112 Emergency 999

Next month’s deadline for editorial and advertising is

Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Long Ashton & Failand Voice, contact the Editor using the details below. We aspire to follow the the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code

Further details of the complaints process can be found on our website (below) or can be obtained by contacting the Editor by email: ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk or by post: 111 Broadfield Rd, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2UX or by phone: 07590527664 longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk/complaints-procedure

All stories and pictures are ©Long Ashton & Failand Voice (unless otherwise stated) and may not be reproduced without permission.

South Bristol Media Ltd | Co. no. 11948223 | VAT no. 322 3640 38 COMPLAINTS

To advertise,

Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster

By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk

Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk

To commemorate the anniversary, Long Ashton will be holding an event in Peel Park, which will start at 7.00pm with the Polka Dot Peaches, dressed in Military gear, and they will entertain us in their distinctive way.

By phone: 0117 353 3160

Tony Dyer Green, Southville

By phone: 07584182862 By email:

The Church Choir will follow with its rendering of nostalgic songs, and then more Polka Dots close harmony.

USEFUL NUMBERS

Gary Hopkins Community Party. Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk

Phone:

Ed Plowden

Phone: 07584184577 By email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk

Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill

service, remembering the 1,600 British servicemen who never made it off the beaches.

Phone: 07584186535

By email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk Bristol

We will also remember the 30 or so from the parish who were killed in the Second World War.

922 2100

At 9.00pm, the tone will change to a more sombre state, as the Royal Marine Guard of Honour takes its place at the Cenotaph, with the Nailsea Scout and Guide Band marching in, and the Drum Corps forming the altar with the drums.

The Village Beacon will be lit at 9.15pm, as part of the National Chain of Beacons. This will be followed by a short remembrance

As usual, there will be food, bar and ice-cream stalls in the park for the event.

Housing benefit 0117 922 2300

Social services 0117 922 2900

Long Ashton Royal British Legion members are all getting older, so any help you can offer will be appreciated. Please call Dave on 0780 181 6612 or email david@ addis.me.uk if you are able to help with the event.

By Dave Addis, Long Ashton Poppy Appeal Organiser

Madame Peel ‘Agent Rose’: Miracles Do Happen, Part One

Back in the late 1970s a brief but memorable craze swept through the playgrounds of the British Isles. Top Trumps was a card game in which you would compare such things as cars, fighter planes or battleships and pit their various strengths against each other to win cards and trump your opponent.

I was in proud possession of the car version of this game. As a sensitive and callow young boy, the lingering shame I felt that our own family car was the Fiat 126 knew no bounds. It was the one vehicle that was trumped in every single category by every single other car. One fine spring day my dad was out on the driveway washing the car with a watering car. At that point my arch nemesis Christopher Banks walked past and chirped, “He’s not going to make it grow bigger by watering it.” The sense of humiliation was both complete and utter, not to mention everlasting.

Unperturbed by our car’s lack of luggage space, horsepower and suitability for 1,000-mile round trips, my dad, mum and I set of for France in September 1981 for two weeks exploring Brittany. My dad drove, I was navigator and my doting mother was crushed amongst the luggage on the back seat. I was to learn the valuable skill of navigation using a Michelin map and the delights that the northwest of France had to offer at a young and impressionable age.

It was on that trip that I first discovered the sense of history and the long dark shadow that the Nazi occupation had cast over Europe and, in particular, France. It was more than a quarter of a century since the end of the war yet there were still signs everywhere of the occupation. Memorials, museums, cemeteries and many locals had vivid and lasting memories of that time. Our holiday itinerary included the attractive city of Brest. Little did I know that many years later this city would feature so prominently in one of the great heroes of mine and a woman who lived a truly great life.

Fast forward to 2024 and 8 March, International Women’s Day. When I consider who our community could offer up as an

inspirational woman worthy of recognition then it took the most fleeting and briefest of moments to say the name ‘Andrée Peel’ or to use her French Resistance code name, ‘Agent Rose’.

If Long Ashton had its own set of top trumps she would be the Mercedes 350 SE which hands down beat any other car in every other category from the original 1970s set: fearless work for the Resistance, saving 102 Allied airmen, surviving two Nazi concentration camps and then healing over 20,000 people. An awe-inspiring woman and one we can all be so very proud to have as part of our lives.

Her life is so inspirational that it warrants far more than just a cursory one-off article so this will be the first in a series on Agent Rose.

In researching her wonderful life, I have met many people – and still do – who speak so warmly of Madame Peel. My neighbour looked after her in her last days at Lampton House Care Home and, recently, I was introduced to a lady who had benefitted from her healing treatment. I also had the great pleasure of meeting Will Ennals and interviewing him on behalf of the Long Ashton History Society back in April 2021. Will was responsible for producing the film of Madame Peel’s life ‘Rose’.

An indication of the high regard in which she is held, the film was

shown in the Village Hall on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, 18th November 2018. The show was completely sold out and it was only by good fortune I procured a ticket. Will was generous enough to give me a copy of the film and it is the slightly longer version of the two that were produced.

I watched this again ahead of writing this article and it is just over 20 years since it was made. In that time many of those featured in the documentary have died. But the words and pictures contained within the hour-long feature remain very moving and powerful.

The film is a wonderful introduction into her life and the starting point for anyone wishing to know more about our celebrated heroine. Touchingly narrated by Brian Gear, it documents Madame Peel’s early life and her family’s move to Brest and then the Nazi occupation in 1940.

It you have four-and-a-half hours spare, then seek out the remarkable documentary ‘The Sorrow and the Pity’ made in 1969 when the memory of World War II still weighed heavy on the population of France who lived through the occupation. It features a number of interviews with surly and bitter beret wearing French veterans along with stern looking former German officers.

It details the collaboration between those of the Vichy

Government and Nazi Germany. It gives you just some idea what some will do to survive in such terrible circumstances: betrayal of your friends; disloyalty to your nation; and collaboration with the enemy.

This was the very opposite of the stance taken by Madame Peel. In the summer of 1940 and the streets of Brest deserted and confronted by a German officer who in perfect French tells young Andrée, “This upsets you, does it not?” Her response to this is to say, ‘I am prepared to give my own life to give freedom to others.’ I wonder how many of us when faced with this situation could say they would do the same.

One of the most touching moments of the film is the part where Andrée describes meeting her future husband, John Peel, in Paris in 1945. Old flickering colour footage of a couple radiant in the warm glow of new love. Her thick French accent describes the sheer unbridled love she had for her husband. I have no shame in saying huge great tears flowed from my eyes watching it, the kind of tears that are accompanied with a big, thick lump in the throat.

So, dear history student, I am setting some homework for you all over the coming weeks. It is your task to get hold of a copy of her autobiography ‘Miracles do Happen’. I got my copy from Norman in the Tipple, but I have a spare copy somewhere. Seek out the film Rose. It really is wonderfully made and a fitting tribute to her life. Take a walk along Ridgeway Road where you can see the blue plaque on the wall of her former home. Then make your way to All Saints Church and pay your respects at her and her husband’s grave. It is to be found in the south-eastern corner of the churchyard.

Andrée Marthe Virot

Born 3 February 1905

Died 5 March 2010

Miracles Do Happen, ISBN 978-1874316374

By David

Milne, 07732 488816 milnedavidmurray@gmail.com

Andrée Peel, aka ‘Agent Rose’, a heroine of the French Resistance

Reading and illustration fun at Northleaze

March always brings the joy of books and reading alive for Northleaze Primary School.

On World Book Day on 7 March, so many different characters came to school, either in costumes or comfy reading pyjamas. From Paddington Bear and Alice in Wonderland, to the entire pack of Crayons and The Midnight Gang, everyone really embraced the day.

It started with an assembly led my Mrs Simmons, English Lead Teacher who read ‘The Book with No Pictures’. Then just after break, a bell sounded across the school and each class ‘Dropped Everything And Read’. There were opportunities to come together throughout the day to enjoy simply reading for pleasure.

The following day, the children

(and staff) were very excited to welcome Paula Bowles, illustrator of many books including the award-winning ‘Marv’ series, written by Alex Falase-Koya. Paula shared the story of becoming an illustrator with the whole school in the morning

and then visited each class to do a drawing workshop. Mrs Victoria Reyes, headteacher, said: “The children loved getting to experience being an illustrator themselves, creating their own superheroes. The vast range of creativity and ideas from our classes was just wonderful to see.”

Thank you to Asda

Also in March, Northleaze said a big thank you to Asda, Bedminster, who donated a wide range of books to the school.

The school’s active PSA kindly contacted the supermarket for raffle prizes last year and Asda offered £40 worth of books.

The PSA agreed that they would instead prefer to donate the books straight to the school library and so excited pupils took delivery of 20 books ranging from titles such as ‘Supertato’ for our youngest children through to some of the latest chapter books aimed at KS2 classes.

To find out more about Northleaze School, Long Ashton, visit www.northleaze.nsomerset.sch.uk

GPs want to prescribe ‘time out in nature’

Doctors call for investment in trees and green space to reduce pressure on NHS Policymakers must prioritise the environment to improve the health of the nation and ease pressure on the NHS, say doctors.

Research by the Woodland Trust reveals 96% of GPs surveyed want the Government to take action to combat health threats from climate change and extreme weather. From the poll of 255 doctors from practices across the country, 70% say they should be able to prescribe time out in nature to ensure the health of future generations.

The survey reveals 77% of GPs believe more trees could help reduce the financial burden on the NHS and 94% are calling for more trees around urban schools to combat lung diseases like asthma. Previous research has found significantly lower asthma rates among children aged four to five in areas with more street trees.

Almost half of doctors (45%) have seen a rise in patients reporting climate anxiety in the past 12 months, with the survey results showing that improving the environment must be integral to safeguarding people’s future health. Dr Darren Moorcroft, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, said: “This powerful research, from trusted medical professionals, shows the need to prioritise the environment to reduce the burden on the NHS and save lives. Policymakers must take heed of these results. A startling 96%

of GPs – who are on the frontline of healthcare in this country – want environmental issues moved up the political agenda. They recognise the potentially life-giving benefits of a cleaner, greener world, ever more important due to the greater effects of climate change, and want their patients to be able to access those benefits more easily.”

Trees can help reduce temperatures on the ground by up to 12 degrees. Doubling urban tree cover from 15% to 30% could lower average city temperatures by 0.4°C, and in some areas by as much as 5.9°C, potentially saving thousands of lives.

The Woodland Trust is urging people to join doctors in backing its campaign to get more trees in the ground to fight the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. There are two ways to get involved –buy and plant a tree from its online Tree Shop or sign up to its monthly enewsletter.

Dr Moorcroft added: “We know it’s going to take more than trees to solve the climate crisis, but we won’t have a world worth living in without billions more of them. We have made it our mission here in the UK to plant 50 million more trees by 2030. Woods and trees make us healthy and happy. They lock up carbon, fight the effects of climate change, improve our health and wellbeing and reduce pollution and flooding, protecting nature, people and our planet. This is why we are asking for people to support our climate campaign to plant more trees.”

Children receiving books donated by Asda

One KS2 class dressed up for World Book Day

Continued from page 1 >

Once registered, this will mean that Church House will not be able to be sold by the church for a period of six months. Whilst this will not guarantee success in acquiring the property, it gives the Long Ashton community time to get organised and raise funds to be in a strong position to purchase the property.

A charity is in the process of being formed, so that funding can be raised in the most efficient manner, as well as management of the property in the event of a successful acquisition. Also, the building is in need of essential renovation for which funding will have to be sought.

The Save Church House Group would hope to access the Community Ownership Fund but all these activities take time and lots of help from volunteers with the right skills in the community. The group is looking for people willing to come forward to help us achieve its goal of saving Church House for the Long Ashton community. It would be tragic if Church House is lost for community

n CHARITY EVENT

events, said group member Charles Cave, adding: “It was given to the village by the Smyth family and has been well used by residents over many years. With our community having doubled in size over recent years there is increased demand for space for community events.”

The group last month argued that Church House is ‘a muchused and needed facility within the village for a variety of uses, including: wedding receptions,

christenings, birthday parties, wakes, lunch club, harvest suppers, quiz nights, ceilidhs, LA Orchestra rehearsals, ballet, exercise classes, MIND support group, history society archive, storage, PCC office, local meetings, polling station and much more’.

Local resident Elizabeth Holford said: “If the village wants to save this building for community purposes, we need to get together to raise

funds to acquire and renovate it. The Community Centre is already heavily in demand all year round. Church House has until recently provided valuable community space for the village – and still could continue to.”

The sale follows a ‘comprehensive review of all three’ of the PCC buildings in Long Ashton, said Reverend James Harris last issue, in which the ‘material state repair needs’ of each was considered, together with its usage and ‘capacity for improvement or adaptation to serve our identified priorities now and going forward’. The outcome of which, said Reverend James Harris, was to ‘focus our mission and investment of resources for the long-term at Keedwell and All Saints’, saying these facilities had ‘great potential to help us connect better with, and make provision for, people at the heart of our community’.

The Save Church House group would welcome any expertise help with the various tasks involved in such a project.

Email Elizabeth Holford at savechurchhouseLA@ gmail.com The petition is at: https://bit.ly/49eq9CN

24hr swim relay series launches

Grab a team and take on this incredible open water challenge and raise vital funds for charity

Level Water, a national charity providing one-to-one swimming lessons to children with disabilities, is running a brand-new series of 24-hour swim relays, across six open water venues.

The first event of its kind, the 24hr Swim Relays are a celebration of open water and the swimming community. A completely unique experience, combining stamina, determination and team spirit, the challenge is simple – gather a team of up to eight and swim for an hour each, on rotation, for 24 hours.

The Bristol arm of the event takes place 15/16 June at Clevedon.

Participants will experience outdoor swimming like never before, as they unite with swimmers from across the UK, to camp out overnight, test their endurance, make new friends and share their

love of the open water. Each event is open to swimmers of all abilities, and participants from every team start and finish each swim together on the hour. It’s not timed or competitive and the challenge is in longevity, not distance with the pace and laps all determined by the individuals.

It’s about coming together to take on a shared goal, keeping each other motivated – and cheering each other on at 4am when tiredness sets in. With an incredible sense of lakeside camaraderie, you’ll be huddling around the campfire, sharing stories and drinking hot chocolate to stay warm; you’ll be chatting through

to the early hours, whilst doing a heads-up breaststroke and watching the sunrise.

With all proceeds going to Level Water, the real reward is knowing that everything you’re doing is to raise money for a worthy cause –the provision of swimming lessons for children with disabilities. It’s knowing that, one day, they might be able to take part in this challenge with their friends or family because of your remarkable fundraising efforts.

The four swim relays will be taking place at the following locations in

2024:

8/9 June: Shepperton, London

15/16 June: Clevedon, Bristol

22/23 June: Box End Park, Bedford

29/30 June: TriFarm, Chelmsford

14/15 Sept: Lake 32, Cotswolds

28/29 Sept: Watersedge, Worcester

If you would like to join the adventure and use the power of swimming to help change lives, sign up at levelwater.org

Take the plunge and sign up for the open water challenge!

The lunch club at Church House

In memory of the Bedminster Coal Miners

Tina, a direct descendant of one of the coal miners caught up in the Bedminster pit disaster on 10 September 1886, has launched a fundraiser to provide a physical lasting memory for the 156 miners killed and, in particular, the Garland family.

Many were injured and William Garland Jnr, aged 28, died along with nine others. His father, also William, would sadly go on to die four years later in an accident at Ashton Vale Colliery in 1890, aged 72.

Tina is hoping to raise enough funds to:

• Pay for either a plaque and/ or a metal statue of a coal miner as a reminder of Bedminster’s historical importance that is often forgotten or at worst, not even known about. This is likely to be in the Dean Lane area, the Dean Lane Pit being the largest of its time and the site of the 1886 pit disaster.

n LOCAL SCHOOLS

• Raise awareness of, and act as a memorial to, all those killed in the Bedminster mining accidents or from causative healthassociated issues from working in them.

If you would like to support this fundraiser, simply go to: https://bit.ly/3TyBaJB

You may be a relative, you may be a historian, you may have lived in Bedminster or Ashton, you may feel you have a social obligation... whatever it is, please do give what you can, as every penny will help to bring this project to fruition and create a lasting tribute to those who perished.

Said Tina: “I am aware that some funding has also been secured by the Dame Emily Park Project with similar aims of remembering Bedminster’s mining history, and have begun discussions with local councillors about how the two projects can support each other.”

Birdwell School receives free backpacks

Costco in Avonmouth gave Birdwell School 36 new backpacks this month. They are given a supply each year to donate locally and we were very lucky to be the recipients of enough for the whole of our nursery class to have one each.

The school would like to thank Costco for their generosity.

Bedminster mining disaster descendant Tina is raising funds to create a lasting memorial to those who lost their lives in 1890

Spring growth at Birdwell

Birdwell School in Long Ashton has a two-form intake and the Reception year classes have their own outdoor play areas, as well as being able to use the wider school facilities. Sitting alongside woodland and countryside, our extensive site has allowed the children to explore the early signs of spring over the past few weeks.

The children have enjoyed observing emerging buds on trees in our forest area, identifying spring flowers around the pond area and special spring crafts on the school field. Back in their own playground, they have also been busy weeding in their polytunnel and preparing to sow some seeds.

Fostering a love of the outdoors and a curiosity for the world we live in is a huge part of the early years curriculum and we look forward to seeing the growth of the children – and the seeds – over the coming months.

Deal signed for new Library of Things

Share Bristol has been heading south for a while... but it looks like its Bedminster dreams are finally coming true

Share Bristol, the charity that runs the Library of Things in Kingswood, has just made a big announcement. After a year in planning, it has finally signed the lease for a unit in Bedminster, allowing it to bring its sharing experience to south Bristol.

Probably the most common question asked over the last few months is where the Bedminster Library of Things was going to be, but Share Bristol was sworn to secrecy until the lease was agreed. But now the secret is out – the location is the old Shoezone shop at the entrance to St Catherine’s Place.

Firmstone, the developer of the building, has granted Share Bristol a lease of up to two years, and Bristol City Council

has pledged a grant to help get the unit back into a decent state.

Lisa Harper, the Bedminster Library of Things manager, said: “We’re so excited to get working on the new Library of Things, and incredibly grateful

to everyone who donated to our Crowdfunder last year, all the people who have put Things aside ready for us to have, and all our amazing BS3 volunteers who have been waiting patiently for this news.”

Share Bristol still needs more donations of Things to lend out, with the items most needed being carpet cleaners, pressure washers, sanders and other DIY tools. It also needs more volunteers to help fix things and run lending sessions, and is asking the south Bristol community and beyond for help as well.

Anna Perry, trustee of Share Bristol, said: “We know lots of people have been really keen to see Share Bristol become accessible to people in south Bristol and beyond, and we now need them to support us by signing up for an annual membership, which will allow a full year of borrowing for free. This supports our tiny charity and will help our Bedminster Library of Things get onto a firm footing.”

With a fair wind behind them, the Share Bristol team hopes to open the Bedminster Library of Things in early April 2024.

Share Bristol finally signs lease for new Library of Things

NATIONAL PET MONTH

This year, National Pet Month runs from 1 April to 1 May 2024. To support the nationwide campaign, we spoke to Holly Hedge in Long Ashton and the Dogs Trust in Bristol about choosing and looking after your pet.

In focus: Holly Hedge

Holly Hedge shares advice about getting a new pet and introduces some of its pets looking for a new family

Getting a new pet can be exciting, but it is essential to think about whether they will be a good match for you and your family. If adopting an animal from a rehoming centre like Holly Hedge, the staff will be able to help you find the right animal, they will ask questions about your lifestyle and circumstances and ask to see photos of your home and garden to ensure you are a good match for your potential new pet.

You will be given lots of information about the cat or dog you are adopting, including their temperament, health, diet and some advice specific to them to help them settle in.

When bringing your new pet home, remember time, patience and kindness are key. For most animals this will be a big upheaval and they will take time to settle in.

If you are adopting a cat or kitten, ensure your home is fully secure and that windows and cat flaps are not left open. A cat’s sense of security is centred around their territory, so allow your cat to begin acquainting

themselves with their new home a little at a time. Dogs should have their own space to rest and feel safe. It is especially important that children understand not to disturb a dog when they are sleeping or eating. Although it can be tempting to show off your new pet, it is best to keep visitors to a minimum to begin with while they are settling in and learning they are safe. Ensure you register with a vet straightaway and consider taking out pet insurance. Vet treatment can be expensive and sadly we see animals surrendered because their owners can no longer afford

Looking for a new home

their veterinary costs.

Make sure the animal’s chip details are up-to-date and that your dog wears a tag with the contact details required by law. Follow the advice from your vet and rescue centre about neutering. This is especially important for kittens – a female kitten can become pregnant at just five months old and can be responsible for 20,000 descendants in just five years!

If you adopt a pet from Holly Hedge, the rehoming team is always happy to give advice and support to help you. Perhaps one of our long-stay animals could be your perfect companion…

Meet some of the pets at Holly Hedge who are looking for a new family

Lola

Lola is our longest stay resident at the sanctuary. Sadly she has spent over 900 days with us. Lola is extremely clever and loves puzzles as well as zooming around our secure fields. Lola had an unsettled start in life and is looking for a calm and quiet adult-only home without other pets.

https://hollyhedge.org.uk/ our-animals/rehome-adog/lola-new-staffy-x/

Hope

Hope is a beautiful staffy. She may only have three legs, but this does not slow her down! Her absolute highlight of the week is swimming at a local rehabilitation centre to build her strength and her confidence. Hope is looking for a quiet adult-only home where she can build a bond and enjoy some sofa snuggles.

https://hollyhedge.org.uk/ our-animals/rehome-adog/hope-staffy/

Buster

Four-year-old Buster hasn’t been at Holly Hedge long but is desperate to find his forever home as he finds the noisy and busy environment at the kennels quite stressful. Buster gives the best cuddles and cannot wait to return to a life of home comforts.

https://hollyhedge.org.uk/ our-animals/rehome-adog/buster-collie-x-staffy/

Princess and Bundle

These two beautiful girls are Savannah cats. Typical of their breed, they are bright and quite vocal. They will need a home happy to provide lots of enrichment and company. https://hollyhedge.org. uk/our-animals/rehomea-cat/bundle-princesssavannah-cats/

Bristol dog school helps make ‘happy pooches and happy owners’

A dog school in Bristol is working within the community to help make both owners and pooches happy

Dogs Trust Dog School, which has several locations across Bristol, offers practical training classes and expert advice.

With both in-person and virtual training courses available, Dogs Trust Dog School Bristol helps owners and their dogs understand each other better. The sessions work on skills including recall and walking on the lead – teaching owners how to communicate effectively with their pooches.

Dogs Trust Dog School uses

reward-based training, as this helps change behaviour and enhance the bond between dog and owner in a positive way.

Sam Western, head coach at Dogs Trust Dog School Bristol, said: “We are so excited to be working within the Bristol community to help make people and their pets happier and more in tune.

“Training classes are not only for pups showing unwanted behaviours... and all dogs can benefit!”

For advice, or more information about Dogs Trust Dog School Bristol and the services it offers, please visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/dogadvice/dog-school

n NEWS FROM YOUR COUNCILLORS

This month, I have organised and participated in a visit to Kingcott Mill Farm Park home site with the North Somerset executive member for highways. This was to discuss long running safety concerns regarding the speed of traffic and the accessibility of bus stops. Options were discussed and work set in motion.

Councillor Stuart

(he/him) Green Party

I have also received many emails regarding the Bus Lane proposals at Rownham Hill – please keep letting me know your views and responding to the consultation, the deadline for which is 22 March. I will do my utmost to ensure the issues raised by residents are looked at thoroughly by officers before any decision is made on the scheme.

I have also been engaged in some detailed scrutiny of several areas of North Somerset policy – weed management, highways maintenance and flooding. At an enquiry day on weed management, I was part of a panel that looked at options to phase out use of glyphosate and what other councils have done in this area. I will be looking to make sure North Somerset policy in this area strikes the right balance between risks to pollinators and the need to keep our highways accessible and clear of invasive species.

I also took a close look at how North Somerset conducts highways maintenance – potholes, surfacing and patching of roads. It’s very clear that North Somerset, like all councils, has nowhere near the resources needed to conduct all the surfacing and repair work needed, and officers are working hard but having to manage a gradual but inevitable degradation of our highways. I pushed for greater transparency around how roads are prioritised and when work will be carried out, so that residents are more aware of how the money we do have is used.

Finally, I joined other councillors in looking at how flooding risk is managed with the environment agency – another area, sadly, where the money available from government is not sufficient to do all the work required.

Finally – I want to say I have no indication yet as to when the EPIC application will come to North Somerset’s planning committee, but I will let residents know the minute I have an update.

T: 07866 512 391

E: stuart.mcquillan@n-somerset.gov.uk

Bus Back Boris, Bus Lanes, and Bother!

Boris Johnson’s tenure as Prime Minister was a complete disaster for our country on many levels, but one aspect I found myself aligned with was his focus on buses. I love buses, and as a regular bus user I am supportive of measures to improve bus journeys by making them easier, quicker, and cheaper.

As our environmental challenges mount, we must do all we can to support sustainable transport.

Councillor Ashley Cartman

Liberal Democrats

Although his scheme was significantly reduced by Rishi Sunak, our council has received almost £50m to implement a Bus Service Improvement Plan. Good news for bus users, and good news for the environment. I worry that is where the good news ends.

Take, for instance, the Long Ashton bypass. Regardless of specifics, it’s evident that the bus lane’s excessive length serves little purpose; its disproportionate length inconveniencing road users without tangible benefits to buses, squandering taxpayer funds that could be better spent elsewhere.

We now face a couple of new schemes: one at the Lime Kiln roundabout on the A38 and one in Leigh Woods between Beggar Bush Lane and the entrance to Ashton Court. I absolutely agree that these locations need to be considered, but any changes must be practical, effective and value for money. If they can meet these three criteria, I will support them; if they cannot, I won’t.

North Somerset Council is presently consulting on both schemes, and I encourage you to respond with your concerns. For my part, I shall continue to work to ensure bus schemes that are practical, improve journey times, and are a good use of public money.

T:

McQuillan

n NEWS

Local Girlguiding volunteer wins award

Congratulations to volunteer Jane Penrose

who has been recognised for outstanding service

Long Ashton Girlguiding is alive and thriving in the village with around 74 young girls taking part (14 Rainbows, 48 Brownies, 12 Guides) and 24 volunteers (in various capacities). One of those invaluable volunteers is Jane Penrose who has fulfilled many roles in her 45 years’ volunteering for Girlguiding, including leader and district commissioner.

Jane’s current role is as caretaker for the Long Ashton Guide Headquarters (along with husband Dave) as well as being a trustee and helping with the accounting for the various units.

Jane was recently awarded the Somerset North County Brooch with thanks and in recognition of Jane’s outstanding service and contribution to Guiding within

Girlguiding Somerset North. Congratulations to Jane (and Dave) and a huge ‘thank you’ for a much-deserved award.

Despite the apparent large number of volunteers, the guides are still looking for more, and there are so many ways to volunteer. Can you make all the difference and donate just a little of your time? Find out more at www.girlguiding. org.uk/get-involved/ become-a-volunteer/ register-to-volunteer/ or message: Facebook.com/ GirlguidingLongAshton

n PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

Annual meeting of the Parish Residents’ Meeting

Come and see what we’ve been up to, meet the councillors, have tea and biscuits and ask questions on Monday 22 April 6.30pm at Jubilee Pavilion, Long Ashton Community Centre

Illegal parking

Recently, somebody bolted two traffic cones to the road opposite the Co-op, no doubt fed up with people parking on the zig zags. North Somerset Council is arranging for the cones to be removed.

Taking action like this is illegal, and wastes council time and resources. The best way for people to tackle the problem of illegal parking is to take photos and report it online. This way, North Somerset Council is alerted to problem areas and can direct their enforcement officers to the right places. The more people report it, the more likely issues are going to be prioritised.

If drivers are stopping on the zig zags then this is an enforcement issue and should be directed

towards Parking Services. Report in online at https://forms.nsomerset.gov.uk/report-request/ form/parkingillegally#/1

Reporting issues to North Somerset Council

The most effective way to report problems is on the North Somerset Council website under Report or Request Services. There is a whole range of issues that can be reported such as concerns about a nearby rented property, flooding on the highway, a problem with a litter bin, a dog you’ve found, or reporting anti-social behaviour. All sorts! If possible, include a photograph.

Find out what the Parish Council is responsible for

Ever wondered who does what?

Whether it’s North Somerset Council or Long Ashton Parish Council? Visit our A-Z of Services on our website at : www.longashtonparishcouncil. gov.uk/atoz

You’ll find all the information you need to get in touch with the right people.

A selection of recent local planning applications…

Ashton Court Music Room flooring

Certificate of Lawfulness for the proposed works of sanding and restoration of the Music Room flooring.

Ref: 24/P/0440/LBL

Validated: 7 March 2024

Determination deadline: 18 Apr 2024

https://bit.ly/49QxDMs

First floor side extension & more

5 Heath Ridge Long Ashton BS41 9EW

Proposed erection of a firstfloor side extension, installation of external insulation and roofing re-cladding, re-tiling and alterations including: extension of gable roof to the East elevation, creation of 1no. dormer to the South-East elevation, extension of existing dormer to the North elevation, removal of existing chimney

and installation of 1no. roof light. Placement of PV panels to the South and West elevations.

Ref: 24/P/0392/FUH

Validated: 23 February 2024

Determination deadline: 19 April 2024

https://bit.ly/49Ot0Cq

Home demolition & rebuild

30 Providence Lane Long

Ashton BS41 9DJ

Demolition of existing twostorey three-bedroom dwelling & erection of new replacement two-storey four-bedroom dwelling.

Ref: 24/P/0435/FUL

Validated: 29 Feb 2024

Determination deadline: 25 Apr 2024

https://bit.ly/3wTv25R

Single story extension

79 Weston Road Long Ashton BS41 9AD

Proposed erection of a single

storey front extension & porch and associated works.

Ref: 24/P/0459/FUH

Validated: 06 Mar 2024

Determination deadline: 1 May 2024

https://bit.ly/4cf3nMI

Off-road parking proposal

12 Providence Lane, Long

Ashton BS41 9DQ

Proposed creation of off-road parking and alterations to the pathway.

Ref: 24/P/0318/FUL

Validated: 1 Mar 2024

Determination deadline: 26 Apr 2024

https://bit.ly/3wYuP1k

For details of other planning applications, go to: https://planning.nsomerset.gov.uk/onlineapplications/

n LOCAL EVENTS Movie night

The Creator is showing at LA Cinema on Saturday 20 April 2hr 13m, Rated: 12

This is one of the best original Sci-fi films in recent years. British director Gareth Edwards brings us an exceptionally impressive example of film-making.

Set in 2055, AI (artificial intelligence) has detonated a nuclear warhead over Los Angeles. The Creator, an elusive architect, has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war – and maybe mankind itself. Joshua (John David Washington) is a hardened ex-special forces soldier recruited to hunt down and kill The Creator.

Who will win this war between humans and robot AI?

The community centre doors and cafe/bar open at 7pm; film starts at 7.45pm.

Tickets are £6 adults and £3 for 15yrs and under from the Long Ashton Post Office or via lacinema.uk (Bring a cushion for a more comfortable seat.)

ADVICE FROM A PHARMACIST with Ade Williams

Flights booked, international passport ready. Don’t forget your travel jabs!

Booked your foreign trip? Do you need travel jabs or Antimalarials?

After a particularly wet and damp winter, travelling can offer escape, adventure and much-needed relaxation, plus discovering local food and culture.

No surprise that many people will make plans, ticking off bucket-list foreign destinations, head off to exotic destinations, whether for a gap year travel, volunteering or a career break – and also work travel. Whatever the inspiration reason for the trip, it is vital to do so safely.

Discovering another country’s health system is not usually on your wish-list or a memory to cherish. Remember those Channel 4 documentaries, the ones… where ‘Unfortunate person stranded on a hospital bed in Paradise’ … travel insurance was not taken out (‘I knew I had forgotten something’) or cover invalidated (‘I did

not know they required me to have travel jabs!’).

The unplanned additional cost and anxiety then become an endless expensive nightmare.

Many countries will have health risks that require vaccinations for protection.

First thing is to contact your local GP to find out about availability for NHS travel health appointment and also obtain records of your previous vaccinations. Many people will now have those available on their NHS App. Getting all the information together saves time and ensures you only obtain the required private vaccinations.

The recommended time to seek health advice is eight weeks before your trip.

Last-minute? Don’t panic, just get in touch with Bristol Travel Clinic on 0800 7723575.

Our prices reflect our ethos that money should not be a barrier to accessing health services. We also offer treatment to delay menstrual periods

while on holiday and to prevent altitude sickness. Not travelling but need vaccinations to protect you from Chicken-Pox, Meningitis B or any other work-related risks? We can help.

To get advice or book an appointment:

Call Bristol Travel Clinic on 0800 7723575

Complete the online query form at www.bristoltravelclinic.co.uk

Or drop into Bedminster Pharmacy today.

We’ll get you ready for wherever your journey takes you.

Heritage Heroes winners

A group of volunteers who have supported Clifton Suspension Bridge have been recognised for their exceptional service to the UK’s heritage sector. The Ecclesiastical Heritage Collaboration 2023 Award, one of two Ecclesiastical Heritage Hero Awards, celebrates the Clifton Suspension Bridge Volunteer Hard Hat Tour Guides, a group of volunteers who lead hard hat tours into the Leigh Woods Abutments – a series of 12 vaulted chambers supporting the structure of Brunel’s Victorian suspension bridge.

Volunteers have researched and created props to bring the story to life and their enthusiasm and dedication led to visitor numbers doubling.

Sponsored by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical, the Heritage Heroes Awards are the Heritage Alliance’s celebration of the outstanding contribution Britain’s heritage volunteers make to society. Volunteers are vital for the protection of England’s heritage. From caring for rural heritage sites to engaging the next generation of visitors, volunteers’ skills, passion, and commitment are the backbone of the heritage sector.

The awards were presented by Laura Carter, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical,

n LOCAL SCHOOLS

and Ingrid Samuel OBE, interim chair of the Heritage Alliance. Each of the winners received an Ecclesiastical Heritage Hero 2023 winner presentation plaque. Speakers included Lord Parkinson, Minister for Heritage, Lord Neil Mendoza CBE, chair of Historic England, and Ros Kerslake CBE, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Laura Carter said: “… this year celebrates two incredibly deserving winners for their outstanding contribution to the heritage sector. Congratulations to the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Performance Research

Democracy in Action

Nailsea students attend Prime Minister’s Questions

Nailsea School A level Politics students were able to attend Prime Minister’s Questions after receiving tickets from the office of Liam Fox MP. Toby and Tom, accompanied by Mr Jones, head of humanities and politics, spent the afternoon in Parliament.

In addition to attending Prime Minister’s Questions, Tom and Toby toured the Parliamentary Estate and were given a personal tour of the House of Lords by Baroness Willcox of Newport, a former drama teacher turned politician.

Tom said: “It was fascinating to be in the heart of Westminster, being in the Commons, seeing Prime Minister’s Questions in person and experiencing the electric political tension in the Commons chamber. It really brought the textbook to life. I am hoping for an exam question this summer on the House of Commons as I feel the day

really did open my eyes to how Parliament works in practice.”

Tom added: “Baroness Willcox’s tour of the Lords was fascinating and her story of how she went from a drama teacher to a local councillor, to council leader and then to the Lords was inspiring. A great example of the possibility of normal people ending up in the Mother of all Parliaments.”

Toby said: “Being in the Commons rubbing shoulders with the ambassadors of Panama and Costa Rica, and seeing familiar political faces like Lee Anderson, Jacob Rees Mogg, Caroline Lucas, Lord Mandelson and Sir Lynsey Hoyle was an experience I will never forget. However, the highlight of my day was seeing Pru Leaf from Bakeoff meeting her Tory MP son in the lobby.”

The Houses of Parliament welcomes students in to learn about democracy in action and this was a great opportunity for the Politics students to see the place and procedures of how the country is run.

Volunteers and Clifton Suspension Bridge Volunteer Hard Hat Tour Guides!”

Lizzie Glithero-West, CEO at the Heritage Alliance, said: “It’s a pleasure to see such a high-quality and diverse range of nominees for an award that celebrates the commitment and passion of volunteers in the heritage sector. These projects are driven on voluntary effort and are achieving incredible things in conserving, celebrating and opening up special places to new audiences... congratulations to the winners [and] all those nominated for their hard work and dedication.”

A Clifton Suspension Bridge Volunteer Hard Hat Tour Guides spokesperson said: “We are delighted to have won the Heritage Heroes Award! The team puts a lot of time and effort into developing its knowledge of the bridge’s history, engineering and geology, and works hard to share the vaults with a wide range of people. The team does everything from helping visitors to overcome vertigo to explaining how stalactites are formed and answering technical questions from professional engineers! This kind of recognition is a celebration of the work of our incredible team and all the individual achievements which led to a record-breaking 2023 season!”

Nailsea School A level Politics students were given a personal tour of the House of Lords by former drama teacher Baroness Willcox of Newport

Gordon Young, volunteer Hard Hat Guide, inside the Leigh Woods Vaults

Spring Open Day

Friday 26th April 2024

Preschool to Year 8

Ages 3 - 13

Come and discover life at Clifton College Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory School. You will have the chance to meet staff, tour the classrooms and explore the wider facilities. Children encouraged to come along!

If you can’t attend our open day, book a personal tour at a time convenient to you at: cliftoncollege.com

SS Great Britain celebrates the Australian roots of the English Garden

Brunel’s SS Great Britain to reveal botanic installation

From Royals to rhododendrons, Brunel’s iconic ship carried precious cargo during the Victorian era.

Living plants will return to the SS Great Britain for the first time in 150 years. From March 26, the ship’s weather deck will display six beautifully reconstructed Wardian cases for visitors to explore. Wardian cases were mini glass houses which, in 1833, were adapted to transport living plants on the decks of ships across the oceans.

In its day, the SS Great Britain transported royalty, nobility and sports stars alike. But this year, the team behind the iconic vessel is marking the ship’s role in horticultural history by celebrating its lesser-known plant passengers.

The modern-day cases are replicas of the last surviving ship-board example designs, which are kept in the Kew Gardens archive. The cases will celebrate the inbound and outbound plant species that the ship transported across the world

between 1859 and 1875.

As the fastest ship travelling to Australia in her day, many traders (nursery workers, planthunters and botanists) used the SS Great Britain to transport their precious cargo across long distances. Antipodean ferns and tree ferns, hugely popular in the conservatories and glass houses of Victorian Britain, were often transported. The SS Great Britain also carried orchids, which could command huge prices as ornamental pieces.

Each case will be planted with a true-to-life ‘order’ to make the global crossing. The innovation of the Wardian case revolutionised long-distance plant transport. Each sealed case created its own microclimate, allowing the fauna and flora

Subscribe to join North Somerset garden waste collection service

People living in North Somerset can now subscribe to receive garden waste collections between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

The subscription rate is £60 for each garden waste bin, with a maximum of two per household.

Those unable to have garden waste bins pay the same cost of £60 for three garden waste sacks. Households can have a maximum of six sacks.

Customers who renew will receive a new permit sticker for each bin. This should be received through the post within 15 working days. Addresses will again be printed on permits to help crews identify which households have signed up.

Garden waste sack customers

will receive one permit tag for every three garden waste sacks. Those customers are asked to write their address on the tag before attaching it to one of their bags.

The cost of subscription is subsidised for the most financially vulnerable households.

Customers eligible for a discount will pay £15 for each bin or three sacks. This 75% discount is automatically applied at sign-up or renewal.

The easiest way to sign up or renew your waste collection is to go online at www.n-somerset. gov.uk/gardenwaste

You can check your collection dates via: www.n-somerset. gov.uk/calendar

to survive despite only being watered once during a twomonth crossing.

Visitors to Brunel’s SS Great Britain can also enjoy a new botany-themed discovery talk and participate in horticultural workshops. The ship will also add a ‘botanist’s cabin’ to its museum, depicting the sights, sounds and smells of life onboard and highlighting the important work and research of Victorian botanists and ‘plant hunters’.

By enabling the global migration of plants, the SS Great Britain connected key botanists, entrepreneurs and ‘plant hunters’ from across the world. The plants the SS Great Britain transported inspired some of our most famous thinkers. It’s thought the Australian orchids, which supported Darwin’s theory of evolution, were sent to his home in Kent via the ship.

Iona Keen, head of

interpretation at SS Great Britain, said: “We’re so excited to bring the horticultural history of the SS Great Britain to life for the first time... visitors can immerse themselves in the untold botanical story of Brunel’s famous ship and discover the delights of our Wardian cases.

“Each has been faithfully restored with the help of our partners from across Bristol’s growing communities, and collectively, they offer a fascinating insight into the floral favourites of the Victorians.

“Our new exhibits provide insight into just how significant the use of Wardian cases and steamships were as living plants started to be moved between continents for the first time.”

The new permanent botany exhibits will launch on 26 March 2024 and you can buy tickets from www.ssgreatbritain. org/tickets

Mark SHELFORD

Your Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner candidate

More Police officers in Avon and Somerset

1,500 newly recruited police officers which has delivered 500 extra officers to our communities.

More rape cases brought to court

3 4 5 6

A 300% increase in rape cases reaching the courts thanks to our radical new approach to investigations called Operation Bluestone –now rolled out nationally.

Increased focus on Rural Crime

Tackling drugs

Holding the Chief Constable to account with monthly live streamed accountability meetings. 1 2

A dedicated rural crime team with increased capacity to help isolated farms and communities.

Top performing constabulary in England for illegal drug disruptions for the last 18 months (as a result of a South West Conservative PCC partnership, Operation Scorpion).

Tackling anti-social behaviour

Over £1m investment in making our streets safer – tackling anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls, thanks to Safer Streets grants from the government.

Greater Accountability

Manage a multi million-pound police budget

Set local policing priorities

Help deliver the Government’s plan to cut crime

Hold the police to account

A home office in the garden and a growing family

Families in North Somerset and South Bristol are enhancing their living space by adding home offices and family cabins to their gardens. Regardless of garden size, a welldesigned and crafted cabin can accommodate home working and a growing family. This option is often less expensive and disruptive than a traditional home extension, and a high-quality cabin can increase property value by 5% to 15%, according to recent national studies.

Cabinmakers, located in Backwell, specialise in designing and making custom garden home offices that also serve as family spaces. They’re perfect for parents during the day and provide a safe breakout area for children and teenagers in the evenings and on weekends.

Each cabin is a unique, low-carbon, sustainably built design tailored to the family’s needs. Cabinmakers

organise everything needed for yearround use. All cabins are efficiently heated, well-insulated, and fully equipped with power and Wi-Fi, and materials are locally sourced. Cabinmakers can accommodate any garden size and shape – small Bristol back gardens to larger North Somerset gardens. With a bespoke design that takes into account your needs and garden will result in a cabin that can evolve with your family as it grows.

Frequently, Cabinmakers get asked about the necessity of a planning application. Most garden rooms fall within Permitted Development Rights in England and do not require a Planning or Building Control involvement. There are some restrictions such as property location, size, height, and garden position but Cabinmakers can help manage the whole process in order to realise your

perfect garden room.

If you’re considering adding a home-office cabin to your property, contact Matt Tipping for a free consultation. Viewings to chat with past customers and delve into how they use their cabins can also be organised.

A garden office and family cabin in Backwell

A studio cabin and garden store in Bristol

Four family members to run Paris marathon for charity…

A man from Dundry who has never run a marathon before is planning to run two in two weeks in April, in a bid to raise £4,000 for a charity very close to his heart, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF). Tom Barker, 38, will be joined by wife Rachael, 37, brother Lucas and his girlfriend Lucy, both 29, for the Paris Marathon on 7 April. Two weeks later, Tom and Lucas will run the London Marathon.

The family fundraising challenge is prompted by a sudden and serious trauma suffered by Tom and Rachael’s daughter, Clara, two years ago when she was just two.

“It all happened quickly,” said Rachael. “Clara was at nursery and I got a call from them saying they’d noticed the tops of her legs looked a bit yellow when they were changing her nappy. I took her straight to our GP who advised we head to the Emergency Department at Bristol Children’s.

“There, doctors told us they believed that Clara was suffering from acute liver failure. Two days later, she was listed for transplant, and six days later, she

n LIFESTYLE

received her new liver. If she’d had to wait any longer, she may not be here with us today.

“… the hospital staff told us about Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. The charity provided information which helped us understand what this meant for Clara and we also called them a couple of times for advice and support.

“We stayed at Birmingham Children’s for eight weeks and only managed two weeks at home before Clara was admitted again as it looked like her body might be rejecting her new liver.

“Thankfully, this was caught early enough and was able to be treated. Everyone told us the first six months after transplant would be really hard but at times it felt impossible. In truth, it was about a year before we started to get used to our new way of life.

“After a year of relative stability and seeing Clara live the life we all hoped she’d be able to, it felt like time to give something back and raise awareness of children’s liver disease. Tom, Lucas and Lucy decided they’d like to run the London Marathon for CLDF but after being unsuccessful in

the ballot, thought they’d give Paris a try. It was at that stage I had a rush of blood to the head and said I’d join them! We started training and a few weeks later had a call from CLDF to say that a couple of charity places had become available. It was too good an opportunity to miss, so now all four of us are running the Paris marathon and Tom and Lucas are doing London two weeks later.

“... marathon training is tough, especially when it’s wet and cold

outside. I just keep thinking that we got through the worst time in our lives so we can get through this. It’s just one foot in front of the other with the help of podcasts and lots of jelly babies!

“Fundraising has been going well – people have been so generous and we’ve already hit our £4,000 target. Knowing we’ll be helping other families who’ve been through our experience is a real motivator, so we just want to raise as much as we can.”

Michelle Wilkins, head of services at Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, commented: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases... To do this, however, we rely on voluntary donations, so we are delighted to hear about this amazing effort from the Barker family!

“It’s great to hear that Clara is now doing well. Her family’s fantastic fundraising will enable us to continue to be there for her and for other children like her in the future.”

You can support Tom, Rachael, Lucas and Lucy by going to: www.justgiving. com/team/ClaraRose

5 ways to improve lighting in your garden

Garden lighting can totally transform your outdoor space – and how you use it. As your local electrician in Bristol, I have helped many families improve their gardens with garden lighting installations.

Here are my top 5 tips for improving the lighting in your garden:

1. Safety First

This is often overlooked but you need to consider how you and your guests will move around your garden. No one wants their evening

ruined by an accident, so be sure to add good lighting to steps, paths, and any trip hazards.

2. Highlight Favourite Features

If you have a particular feature in your garden that you love – highlight it! Trees, sculptures and ponds all look beautiful when lit up.

3. Add Atmosphere

The lighting you choose will affect the overall atmosphere. Choose bright task lighting where you need to see clearly, such as food prep areas. Add softer, mood lighting like fairy lights to areas where you would prefer to create a cosy feel.

4. Layered Lighting

Lighting works best when layered. Combining low-level lights amongst your beds, with festoon lights on your pergola, and feature lighting on your trees will create a beautiful effect.

5. Have Fun!

Garden lighting allows you to experiment with different styles. Choose the lighting you love and have fun!

Have any questions about garden lighting? Contact me, Jason, at www. fairwayelectricalbristol.co.uk where you will also find lots more useful tips and information.

Tom and Rachael are pictured with their daughter, Clara

n WHAT’S ON

23 March – 14 April

Easter Adventures at Tyntesfield

Follow the eggs around 10 activity stations and take part in the fun and games. £3 per child with bunny ears and an edible treat at the end. Normal admission applies.

https://bit.ly/43eAxId

28 March – 14 April

The Giant’s Easter Hunt at Clifton Observatory 10am-5pm. Help the giants find their eggs around the Clifton Observatory attractions. Tickets on arrival or book in advance. £3.50 per child, who needs to be accompanied by a fee paying adult £5. Over-4s only.

https://bit.ly/4a2i188

29 March – 14 April

Easter Eggcitement at the American Museum & Gardens Easter trail around the gardens, creative activities, American Roadtrip Exhibition, and family trail in the museum. Facepainting 29 March – 1 April. Storytelling 2, 5, 9 & 12 April. Admission: Adult £16.50, Child (5-17) £9.50, under-5s Free. Family tickets available. Tickets also available for the gardens only – Adult: £11, Child £7.50. https://bit.ly/4c77LgT

23 March – 1 September

Bristol Zoo Project

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt Trail. Get ready to swish, splash and squelch your way through the new sensory trail to find real bears! Times and pricing: https://bit.ly/43aRFP4

29th March – 14 April

The Enchanted Cave, Cheddar Gorge 16+ £22.95; 5-15s £17.20; 0-4 free. Discover a charming and magical illuminated trail within Gough’s Cave this Easter, where fairies glisten, flowers grow and eggs glow. www. cheddargorge.co.uk/whats-on/theenchanted-cave

2 April

No place like home – Easter family activity 2–5 April, Westonbirt Arboretum. All Ages. Learn about the variety of wildlife homes at Westonbirt; hedgehog nest building challenge; create your own spiders web; animal homes quiz; reading and colouring. www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/ easter-family-activity

3 April

‘Password Cracking’ Easter Egg Hunt 10am-12pm or 12pm-2pm; Cost: £8 per child (they can bring their adults for free!) The Easter Bunny will be visiting Penny Brohn UK again for its annual Easter Egg Hunt! https://pennybrohn. org.uk/event/easter-egg-hunt-2024/

Cabot Tower Codebreaking Walk

Explore Bristol on a fun puzzle-solving adventure with the Tramble App’s Cabot Tower Codebreaking Walk.

longashton&failandvoice

Tramble Walks are self-guided and can be downloaded from the Tramble app. Each walk is 99p. Follow the route, solve the questions and see the sights on any day of your choosing. All Trambles are designed to be completed in daylight.

16 April

Rhymetime (by Mobile Library staff), Long Ashton Community Centre Tuesday, April 16. 2.00–2.30pm. Every 2 weeks on Tuesday. Help build your child’s literacy. Book a space at the fun, free sessions sharing specially selected songs and rhymes! For children aged 0-4, plus a parent or carer. Alternate Tuesdays, 2pm to 2.30pm (term-time only). Places are limited so please phone or email the library to find out more details. Tel: 01275 888 864 or email mobile.library@n-somerset.gov.uk

23 April

Long Ashton Horticultural Society

Guided visit around the Lower Burial Ground at All Saints Church, Long Ashton. Arrive 10.45am for 11.00am start. Members free; non-members £3. Lisa Nunn will tell you about the changes that have taken place over the last few years to improve its biodiversity from making the wild flower beds, reducing the amount of mowing in the meadow, building a pond and improving soil fertility. Sturdy footwear and warm clothing recommended. There are no facilities on site. Meet by the shed on the path of the lower burial ground. If you would like to become a member please contact Mary Lord on longashtonhortsoc@gmail.com

REGULAR EVENTS

Scout Group

Birdwell School, Hollis Close, Long Ashton. Tuesdays Beavers 6-7pm age 6–8. Thursdays Cubs meet 6.30-8pm age 8-10.5 years. Scouts (for boys and girls) 7.30-9pm age 10.5–14 years. Contact Marc Stickley, group scout leader, 01275 394 562 or Gsl.lascouts@gmail.com

Failand Village Hall The Failand Village Hall is a local community hub set in the North Somerset countryside. We are a large hall with licensed bar, commercial standard kitchen, stage and ample parking. A perfect venue for everything from wedding receptions to yoga classes, pop-up markets and children’s parties. For more information, go to www.failandvillagehall.org.uk

Failand Tots

Failand Tots meets monthly at the Failand Village Hall and is for parents and grandparents with babies, toddlers and preschool children. £2.50 per adult (cash). Tea, coffee & biscuits provided. Please bring a mug with a lid and fruit or a snack for your little ones. Contact: https://m.facebook.com/groups/1320 318405445072/?ref=share

Antique, Vintage & Collectables Fayre

Ashton Court Mansion House, BS41 9JN

Sunday 7th April – 10am-3.30pm

Fine jewellery, gold and silver, china, militaria, books, prints, paintings, vinyl. Vintage clothing and accessories, furniture, watches, toys and lots more. Over 40 stalls all inside the mansion house, Café serving teas, coffees, cakes. £2.00 entry; under-16s free

Mondays

Youth Club 18.00-20.30 kathy@epicyour@gmail.com

Long Ashton Health Walks

Mondays 8, 15 and 22 April at 10.30am. Meet at Long Ashton Community Centre. No need to book, just come along; it’s free! A longer away walk is also available on 29 April; please contact Ruth or Karen for details. Visit: www.betterhealthns. co.uk/get-active/walking or call Ruth 07814 671369 or Karen 07855 402768 for details.

Long Ashton Community Choir Meets each Monday in term-time

7.30-9pm, Keedwell Church Hall. No audition necessary. Email longashtoncommunitychoir@gmail. com for more information.

Probus

1st and 3rd Monday of the month

from 10am to 12pm Jubilee Pavilion, Keedwell Hill, Long Ashton. Probus Clubs are for retired or semi-retired business or professional people. Contact Dave Addis on 07801 616612.

Wednesdays

Walking Football at Portishead

Town FC is expanding to a Wednesday evening session. If you are an over-50 male or over-40 female and want a bit of exercise, fresh air and make new friends in a fun environment, please contact Martyn on 0730 582 4527 or email dennis19622@hotmail.com

Failand Arts & Crafts Group

2.00–4.30pm. Bring your art, craft or hobby along and join the group at Failand Village Hall, Oxhouse Lane. £2.50 per visit; first one FREE plus £12 per year (pro rata) from Jan to Dec. Tea/coffee and cake/biscuits included. Occasional demos, members’ skills sharing and chat always welcome. Please contact Fi Harris feltbyfi@gmail.com

Cafe@Keedwell 10-12:00

Pop in to Keedwell Church for a coffee and a chat, meet new people or just enjoy a change of scene. Run by volunteers from the community and church. Open every Wednesday morning. Contact office@allsaintsla.org. uk or tel 01275 393109 for more info. We look forward to seeing you.

Long Ashton Running Group

7pm. Meet at the Little Tipple. A key principle of the running group is inclusivity; encouraging people of all kinds to get out and enjoy running. Two

groups meet on a Wednesday evening: the main group runs for up to 10km, and a new slow running group runs for about 40 mins, plus some basic group coaching. For more information, contact Mark Wilkins via www.facebook.com/ groups/186093084749610

Manshed

A group open to anyone interested in working on woodwork or metalwork projects. Learn a new skill helping retired craftsmen create things or fix them. Repairs, tea, coffee & chat. Wednesday mornings. Contact Dave Addis 07801 816 612 david@addis.me / manshed@ longashton.plus.com

Youth Club 16.00-18.30. kathy@epicyour@gmail.com

LAMBS

11.00-13.00. A group for mums with babies to meet and chat. henna.crabb@n-somerset.gov.uk

Thursdays

Youth Club 18.00-20.30 kathy@epicyour@gmail.com

Failand Whist Club We are a small club that is looking for new players to join us each week. We meet at Failand Village Hall on Thursday evenings at 7pm. For information, please contact Val on 01275 463263 OR Helen on 01275 392676 or 07837 379076.

Long Ashton Memory Café

This free to attend event runs every fourth Thursday monthly at the Jubilee Pavilion. Refreshments are provided. Please email: lamemorycafe@gmail. com or tel: Liz Anderson 07967587411

Long Ashton Art Club 9.30–12 noon

(There is a small cost circa £3 per session to cover hire space.) We meet on Thursdays in the Jubilee Pavilion. We are an informal and friendly group, so why not join us for relaxing mornings of painting, drawing or craft? Beginners welcome! Please bring your own projects/supplies to the club.

Fridays

Warm Lounge 10:00-13:00

Long Ashton Community Centre. Pop in for a cuppa and a chat. info@la-together.org

Toddler Group 10.00-12.00.

n FAILAND VILLAGE HALL NEWS

Bringing local environmental education to the village hall

The Failand Village Hall has teamed up with Tesco Stronger Starts to raise money for a series of educational boards located around the grounds to increase awareness of the local habitat and of interacting safely with the environment.

Tesco will donate up to £1,500 based on the number of votes our bid receives in their Nailsea and Portishead stores.

Voting will run from 1 April –30 June, so get voting!

Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday 31 March

10am-Midday

Join us at the hall for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. If you would like to volunteer to help or come along, please join the ‘Failand Easter Egg Hunt 2024’ group on Failand Connected (via Facebook) or contact Liz Garfitt via lizcorny@gmail.com

Summer Fete

Sunday 21 July

We are setting up a committee of volunteers to help organise this year’s Summer Fete. We would love lots of you to be involved. For more information contact Lorraine Green via failandvillagehall49@gmail.com

Community Bar

Join us for a drink at the village hall for our monthly get-together. These are familyfriendly events, where everyone is welcome. Last month’s event was another success, with locals of all age groups gathering to admire the Failand Winter Windows which were on exhibition. The next dates for your diary are:

Friday 22 March, 5.30pm-7.30pm

Friday 26 April, 5.30pm-7.30pm Volunteer bar staff are very welcome at this event and throughout the year to help run the bar for both community

n LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

and private hire events. Contact failandvillagehall49@gmail.com to get involved.

The Village Hall Piano

The Monington & Weston upright piano at the village hall is no longer used. It stands 126cm high and is 57cm in depth. It is lockable. We would like to donate it to a local resident or organisation. For more information, contact Lorraine Green at failandvillagehall49@gmail.com

Family Fun at the Village Hall

The hall is a perfect venue for families and children. In March

& April we are hosting the following:

Failand Tots

Friday 22 March & Friday 19 April A locally run playgroup. No booking necessary, so just pop along. £2.50 cash entry.

Little City – role play adventure for under-6s.

Thursday 7 March & Friday 26 April. www.littlecityuk.com

Dinky Drivers – vintage pedal car fun for under-5s

Friday 15 March & Tuesday 16 April. www.dinkydrivers.co.uk

Track and Train Play – huge tracks & motorised trains www.trainandtrackplay.co.uk

Friday 8 March & Friday 5 April

Little & Curious – touring playgroup for under-6s

Friday 29 March & Thursday 18 April

The Great Hedge Creation Project takes wing

feel positive about helping the environment and wildlife – with one kind person bringing down home-made cakes to share.

The Great Hedge Creation Project is a collaboration between North Somerset Council, Forest of Avon, Bridge Farm and the Long Ashton Nature, Community and Environment Trust. The planting of well over 6,000 saplings got off to a flying start despite the slight setback of working on wet, slippery ground with occasional driving rain.

Over 150 volunteers have planted a chain of species-rich hedging to link up two semiancient/ancient woodlands within Long Ashton. Interspersed with saplings every 15 metres that are destined to grow into standard trees, it’s the most ambitious hedge-planting project in North Somerset.

People of all ages and from as far afield as South London, plus neighbours from just up the road, came together to work hard, make connections, enjoy each other’s company and

Some people came from the corporate sector to help and one particularly heart-warming tale comes from Hewlett Packard Enterprise who sent a group – and donuts – to help on a particularly damp and misty day. Said a spokesperson: “Hewlett Packard Enterprise allows us 60 hours per year paid working time to volunteer for projects such as this. We are then allocated £10 per hour volunteering funds to donate to a charity of our choice.

“For this project, we donated our volunteering hours to Little Hearts Matter. One of our colleagues, Harry Tucker, lost his young brother Sam in December 2023 to a congenital heart disease. We raised £1,000 for the charity from our tree planting activity. A double win!”

Many people are keen to come back next year and help with the after-care of the hedge. However, as various wildlife charities have highlighted recently, other

hedges in our country have been less fortunate. Old laws which once protected farmland hedgerows from being cut during the bird nesting season no longer exist. However, on 4 March after a public consultation with key stakeholders including farmers, the Government has promised that new legislation to protect farmland hedges will be passed when parliamentary time allows.

The consultation reveals that 98% of all respondents agreed with the proposal to maintain a cutting ban period and to maintain a buffer strip of 2m measured from the centre of the hedge. We know healthy, thick hedges are ace for wildlife.

Increasingly, rare farmland birds such as bullfinches and linnets choose hedges like this for their nest sites whilst the ground below provides habitat and food for hedgehogs as well as insects, amphibians and fungi.

Healthy hedgerows can lock up and store carbon at the same time as benefitting nature, so the more hedgerows we can create, the more they can help

mitigate climate change. They also soak up rainwater and prevent floods downstream as well as protecting nutrients in soil from being washed away.

Other hedges such as garden hedges and those in parks, playgrounds and other public areas have no protection at all.

So if you’ve got some time, please write to our MP, Dr Liam Fox, and urge him to ensure the Government acts swiftly to protect England’s hedgerows.

And for an update on The Great Hedge Creation Project or if you want to get involved in further work on the hedge, please go to: www.lancetrust.org/post/thegreat-hedge-creation-project

Amanda Barrett from LANCETrust updates us on the new hedge planting initiative

Picture LANCE Trust

The Great Hedge Creation Project nears completion

The official day of spring this year is 19 March and before too long, the daylight hours will be longer and the nights shorter. With a couple of sunny days under our belt, it feels as if summer is just around the corner.

And to get the New Year off to a flying start, the Environment Committee, as required by national government, drew up and agreed its local Biodiversity Action Plan. Towards the end of the month, it will be submitted to Full Council and programmes to help local swifts, hedgehogs and brimstone butterflies will be instigated alongside encouragement for gardeners to help out, too.

And to get local community engagement off to a flying start, the Long Ashton Nature & Community Trust has almost completed The Great Hedge Creation Project.

Thanks to a collaboration

between Bridge Farm, North Somerset Council, Forest of Avon and the LANCE Trust, over 5,000 saplings planted by over 150 volunteers during a few short, wild, wet and windy days has laid the basis of a new Great Hedge. The final 900 saplings or should be planted by 14 March.

Stretching between the semiancient/ancient woodland of Dawson’s Walk to Hanging Hill Wood, the new hedge will provide a wonderful wildlife corridor as well as soaking up both carbon and excess water. It may take a few years but soon the residents of Long Ashton will enjoy the sight of birds and butterflies utilising the blossoms of the new hedge with many of them relishing the enjoyment of being part of its initial creation.

If you would like to get involved in the aftercare of the Great Hedge, please email LANCET2021@protonmail.com

April gardening tips

As April arrives, it means longer days as well as warmer and (hopefully!) drier weather, so work in the garden should be in full swing.

If you haven’t mulched in March, now is a great time to give your soil a good feed. You should have taken down all dead seed heads and be able to see the signs of new growth on the majority of your perennials. If you lifted some of the more tender perennials such as Salvia ‘Amistad’ over the winter, it is a good time to start hardening them off ready to go out at the end of the month or in early May, if we don’t have a late frost.

Roses should be really coming into leaf – if you haven’t already, it’s a good time to start feeding them with a balanced rose feed. This helps to prevent black spots and gives them a good start to the season. Move to a feed higher in potash when they start to bud to encourage healthy blooms.

It’s a great time to plant cool season vegetables such as spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes and beetroot in a greenhouse or, depending on the weather, straight in the ground. If you’ve been growing tomatoes and chillies indoors, they will need potting into larger pots.

If the weather is warm and the frosts

have passed, you can prune some of the evergreen shrubs such as Pittosporum, Choisya, Hebe, Nandina. More tender perennials can be pruned now as well such as Salvia, Artemisia, Penstemon. Forsythias have bloomed early this year in a lot of places and if the flowers are over, now is a great time to prune them.

Remember March through to August is bird nesting season, so it’s strongly advised not to do any pruning of hedges, large shrubs or trees in this period. If you deem it absolutely necessary to trim your hedges or do any tree pruning, you must thoroughly check them for any signs of nests – I usually watch the shrub for a week or so to see if there is any bird activity as well. If you see a nest, leave it alone and do not prune.

Spring is a joyous time in the garden. If you have a pond or live near a body of water, take time to enjoy this wonderful ecosystem coming to life.

Happy Gardening!

Ben Collison, garden designer, www.collisongardening.co.uk

Early 20th century Belle Époque diamond tiara, assessed clarity Sl2 Sold for £8,000

Extensive collection of Spode ‘Stafford Flowers’ dinner and tea wares Sold for £8,000

25% OFF during Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) Month

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But they must be put in place

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