WYE VALLEY & THE MARCHES NOW FR HOME & GARDEN • FOOD & DRINK • COUNTRY WALKS •Wye NATURE NOTEBOOK • WHAT’S ON • COMPETITIONS Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk CO UN TY M AG AZ IN E YO U EE R Issue 40 November 2014 1 2 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 3 contents Wye Valley & the Marches Now 2nd Floor, Richardson House, 21-24 New Street, Worcester. WR1 2DP Tel: 01905 723011 [email protected] www.pw-media.co.uk November 2014 6 Home & Garden Heating Your Home With Solid Fuel, Wood or Biomass 12 Gardening November gardening notes 16 Wildlife Popping and crackling 18 Property Your guide to the latest properties 22 Health & Beauty Winter saviours Design Paul Blyth and Amy Thomas [email protected] 24 Competition Win a Clarins makeover Publisher Dawn Pardoe P W Media & Publishing Ltd and vouchers from Chave & Jackson 28 Recipe Wood pigeon and wild mushrooms For advertising enquiries please contact: Jill Warren Tel: 01905 727902 or: 01432 263777 [email protected] Suzie Scott Tel: 01905 727904 [email protected] Contributors Amelia Hanson Glynis Dray Garth Lawson Competitions Stanbrook Abbey S. Williams, Kington Clothes Show Live S. Griffith, Knapton L. Board, Hereford L. Langford, Dewsall S. Mellor, Leominster S. Scott, Kington D. Lloyd, Ledbury J.M. Kerby, Tenbury Wells M. Saunders, Ludlow ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited withouth permission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictoral media for this publication are sent at owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PW Media & Publishing Ltd or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorial submissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope. DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, PW Media & Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. Please note that if you enter a competition in the Wye Valley & The Marches Now magazine your name and address may be forwarded to the host of said competition. 4 6 12 24 35Walk Monmouth – the ‘Picturesque’ Wye Valley 36 Senior Living Your guide to services and products for the older generation 38Past 28 A Thankful Village 40 What’s On Things to do in your area in November including Contemporary Craft Fair, Christmas Carvery and Vintage Fair Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 38 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 5 home & garden Heating Your Home With Solid Fuel, Wood or Biomass Wood is the oldest fuel known to man, and is still one of the most popular for providing a warm welcome in many homes. W hilst open fires and wood burning stoves remain very popular, many homes also use biomass boilers to provide full central heating and hot water. Of course trees use carbon dioxide as they grow, wood fuel and biomass are considered carbon neutral. It’s important to make sure your heating is installed safely, works efficiently, and is maintained regularly. In the UK, HETAS is the official body for testing and approval of solid fuel and biomass appliances. It publishes lists of approved appliances, fuels and equipment designed to help consumers, installers, retailers, designers and specifiers meet the relevant building regulations and safety standards. With fuel costs rising, more and more people are choosing to use wood burning stoves to provide heat for individual rooms. Anecdotal evidence suggests this can help reduce total fuel bills as opposed to switching on the whole central heating system all the time. Biomass boilers are also gaining in popularity as a source of renewable energy, which will be further enhanced next year with the introduction of financial support from the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Use a professional Whether you’re thinking of installing a wood burning stove or a biomass boiler, all heating installations must comply with building regulations. In addition, your local authority must be notified of the work. The two routes to achieve this are either by applying for a works notification from your local authority building control, which will require an inspection and a fee. Alternatively, a HETAS registered installer is trained and approved to comply with these requirements and can self certify their own work, notifying the job for you. They will also be insured to 6 work in your home. You can search online at www. hetas.co.uk to find your nearest HETAS registered installer, service engineer, retailer or chimney sweep. Always ask to see a HETAS identity card as proof of HETAS registration, and if in doubt you can call HETAS to check their identity. Buy with confidence Make sure you get the right advice and the right product by shopping at a HETAS approved retailer or stove shop. Staff will be trained to help with a range of topics from energy efficiency through to building regulations. Plus any products on show at a HETAS approved retailer will have full product information on display. From July 2013 all wood burning and multi-fuel stoves which have been sold in the UK and throughout European member states should have been CE marked. CE marking gives the retailer, installer and customer an indication of product quality, safety and efficiency. HETAS approved retailers can advise customers on a whole range of topics including choice of equipment, fuel quality, carbon monoxide alarms, smoke control zones and chimney sweeping. You can find your nearest approved retailer by visiting the HETAS website. Quality assured fuel Make sure you use a good quality logs, pellets, briquettes or wood chips. A high moisture content Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk is the biggest enemy and will reduce heat output and efficiency as any water in the fuel has to evaporate away before the wood or biomass will burn, using up energy and reducing the amount of useful heat as opposed to steam up the chimney. Check your fuel supplier is verified by a scheme such as the Woodsure fuel quality scheme. The independent assessment recognises quality wood fuel suppliers and is proof of a reliable supply chain for safe and efficient wood fuel. Tip top condition Once your system is installed, make sure you keep your heating system working efficiently by getting it serviced every year by a HETAS registered engineer. Clogged up boilers and stoves will have to work harder to burn fuel, wasting money. If your solid fuel or biomass heating equipment has a chimney, you need to make sure it’s swept annually to keep it clear. Chimney fires are a common source of house fires, but can be avoided by regular sweeping to keep flues clear. n For more advice on heating your home with wood or biomass please visit www.hetas.co.uk or call 01242 681270. home & garden C J BAYLISS (HEREFORD) LTD HEATING & PLUMBING For all your heating requirements Boiler Service or Repair (Domestic & Commercial) Boiler & Central heating Upgrades & Installations Gas Safety Certificates for Landlords & Homeowners All Plumbing works | FREE Quotations CALL 01432 265 130 or email [email protected] Albert House, Holmer, Hereford, HR1 1JN www.cjbayliss.co.uk Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 7 home & garden Pugh’s Antiques Quality Interior Furnishings Portley House - North Road - Leominster - HR6 0AA Visit our 3000 sq/ft showroom filled with a wide selection of antiques Good parking Self Storage available From 48 sq/ft - 110sq/ft • Only £1 a sq/ft per month Open Monday - Saturday from 9:30am to 4:30pm Tel: 01568 616 646 email: [email protected] or [email protected] 8 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk home & garden WYNNE’S OF DINMORE Visitors & Enquiries Welcome Open: Tuesday - Saturday Upper Buskwood Farm Hope under Dinmore HR6 OPX 01568 797314 www.wynnes.co.uk Best Laying Brown Hens from £10. Also Bluebells, Speckeldy, Light Sussex & Rhode Rocke. Pymgy Goats & Miniature Pigs. Top Selling Feed & Bedding. Animal, Pet & Poultry Housing. Strong Walk-in Pet Enclosures & Aviaries - Made on our Farm. Wild Bird & Aviary Feed etc. Hardwood Woodchip from £7.50. Health, Hygiene & Pest Products. Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 9 home & garden 10 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk home & garden Specialising in Traditional & Contemporary Wedding flowers. Tel: 01432 371221 ‘The Florist of King Street’ 24b King Street, Hereford, HR4 9BX Email: [email protected] Web: www.SarahJaneFloristHereford.co.uk Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 11 home & garden Gardening notes for November There’s something cosy about autumn. Gardening proper has to stop around 4 for a cup of tea and a biscuit, and by then, it’s virtually twilight. Hardy Chrysanthemum ‘Mrs Jessie Cooper’ Geranium ‘Rozanne’ Winter squash – a harvest worth remembering S o there you are, conscience clear: time to pull the curtains, open your recipe books and cook something spectacular from your autumn hoard. Marrows, onions, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers, squash – all the gifts of this bumper year are waiting for your creative spark. Of course, you need to make sure that these fruits of your hard labour are going to keep. Marrows and squash should be picked as late as possible and with a decent length of stem. Condition them in a warm room for 10 days or so (to harden up the skin) and then store not touching, in a cool but frost-free place. Rub off the papery, outside skins of your onions and store in a similar cool place – you can plait them to look pretty, store in a single layer in old mushroom crates or beg a netting sprout bag from the greengrocer to hang them up. Try to check stored produce every couple of weeks for the proverbial bad apple. Tomatoes and peppers will freeze without blanching, to be used in stews and casseroles. If you have the space, try freezing tomatoes whole – that way, it’s simple to remove the skin when they start to defrost. Courgettes do freeze, but try growing one with high dry-matter content (often the white ones, like Trieste White Cousa). These stay firm after a minute’s blanching and survive freezing better. I’ve talked about hardy chrysanthemums before, as wonderful plants for this time of year, with sheaves of sunshine-coloured flowers to the frosts and beyond. Sadly, there’s a lot of confusion around as to the different types available: we’re not talking pot-plant chrysanthemums, that come as a gift and live scarcely longer than cut flowers. And we’re not 12 Hardy Chrysanthemum ‘ Rumpelstiltskin’ talking exhibition chrysanthemums, that need special treatment and a greenhouse for their inflated blooms. We’re thinking back to your grandad’s garden, where in a sunny, well-drained spot, there’d be a patch of wiry stems topped with tousled mop heads of amber, toffee and gold, that sailed through the frost and gave stalks for picking till nearly Christmas. Luckily for us, Judy Barker has lovingly gathered a National Collection of these treasures, and holds them on 3 allotments in Hertfordshire. Rules don’t allow her to sell from her allotments, so she’s made some available to nurseries, notably Norwell Nursery (www.norwellnurseries.co.uk) and Daisy Roots Nursery (www.daisyroots.com) , who sell online. Try any of their rich autumnal colours next to azure blue geranium ‘Rozanne’, which flowers until the frosts. If you haven’t already done it, it’s important now to go around the garden and make sure it’s ready for winter. Tidy up odd pots, clear away spent plants in the green house, bring in or protect anything borderline hardy, coil up the hose and store inside, move outside pots to a sheltered spot and raise them on feet or bricks, bring in canes and equipment and have fleece on hand as an emergency measure in case of frost. Remember that if snow should strike, everything will vanish under a white shroud and you won’t know what needs protecting unless you’ve identified it first. Jobs you can still do include: • Sow your garlic in a well-drained spot. • Last chance to sow hardy broad beans (Aquadulce types). • Take root cuttings of suitable perennials – oriental poppies, verbascum, brunnera, dicentra Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk acanthus, eryngium and phlox. • Check greenhouse and frames for the grey powdery signs of botrytis and remove and dispose of infected material before it spreads. • Keep tunnels, green houses and frames ventilated in the day time so botrytis has less chance to develop. • Net your brassicas before pigeons start to show an interest. n by Gill Mullin I mentioned in passing last month the delights of raspberry gin and this has occasioned no little interest. As this is best left for a year to mature, and a batch made now will be ready for next Christmas, this seemed an ideal time to share the recipe with you. Take 300g of your home-grown raspberries (either fresh or de-frosted), and place in a large coffee jar, or similar. Add 300g sugar and top up with the cheapest supermarket gin – Lidl’s is good value. Stand where you’ll notice it, so you can turn it each day till the sugar has dissolved (beware, coffee jars leak if you shake them!) then store in a dark place. After 3 months, remove the fruit (which you can eat with ice-cream) and adjust the sugar to taste – it’s now drinkable, but will taste much better if you can be strong and leave it for a year. Of course, if you made more than one jar, you could do comparative tastings throughout the year... home & garden Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 13 home & garden 14 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk home & garden Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 15 home & garden Photo credit Rosemary Winnall Photo credit Philip Precey Photo credit Rosemary Winnall Popping & Crackling Photo credit G H Green Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust “ cycle in timber; there’s a whole range of species, known as saproxylic invertebrates, that rely on dead or decaying wood for all or part of their lifecycle. This is why we leave dead and decaying wood on our nature reserves. More often than not, it’s the larval stage that hangs out in the wood but cracks, crevices and loose bark on trees also provide shelter for a whole range of adults too from harvestmen and spiders to beetles and millipedes. Take the cheeky cobweb beetle as an example. The larvae of this small beetle lives under loose bark and in tunnels made by other insects in old broadleaf trees (the kind of tree you may not have in your garden but exactly the kind of thing you’d love to throw on your bonfire). It doesn’t just live somewhere that has been made by something else – it also steals the remains of dead bugs from spiders webs to munch on. The long bristles all over the body of the larvae give some “ I t’s nearly here; the annual fireworks and bonfires that light and warm up our chilly November evenings. A time when pets and livestock huddle into a corner wondering what on earth is going on as rockets whizz into the sky and bangers make us all jump! You’ll already know all about checking your bonfires for hedgehogs before you set them alight but what about the wildlife you can’t see – the hidden insects that pop and crackle when you light the fire? Creepy crawlies that fascinated (or repulsed) you as a child have fascinating stories to tell and could be in danger this November 5th. If you’re having family and friends round for a bonfire, you’ll be looking for all sorts of things to make the fire burn bright but if you can avoid burning old tree limbs, there’ll be lots of grateful minibeasts. Many creepy crawlies spend part of their life- We musn’t forget the rare and beautiful noble chafer beetles that live in old decaying fruit trees protection from the spiders whose webs they raid. What about the more common species that you may find in your garden? To the untrained eye pill millipedes look indistinguishable to woodlice but they can roll into a ball for protection; you may know them as roly-polies. They have a shiny ‘armour’ and a shield-like plate behind their heads. Unlike the cobweb beetle, you need to look out for these when you’re throwing leaves onto the bonfire – they feed on rotting leaves and are really important nutrient recyclers in your garden. We musn’t forget the rare and beautiful noble chafer beetles that live in old decaying fruit trees. Worcestershire is one of just three hotspots in the UK for these iridescent beetles. So if you’re tempted to grub out old fruit trees to throw on the bonfire, please think again. Logs from conservation work in our woodlands across the county are sold at monthly log sales at Tiddesley Wood, near Pershore; the funds raised are ploughed straight back into our conservation work. We can’t, however, guarantee that our logs are minibeast – and guilt - free! n For information on supporting our work visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk. Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust. Discover our wildlife www.flickr.com/groups/worcestershirewildlifetrust. 16 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk home & garden Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 17 andrew-grant.co.uk The Incline Cottage, Bedlam Lion Lane, Knowle Individually Designed Home Set In The Tranquil Shropshire Countryside Exceptional Character Two Bedroom Detached House Sitting Room, Kitchen Breakfast Room, Study Area, Reception, Conservatory, Two Double Bedrooms, Ensuite Bathroom And Family Shower Room. EPC = D Attractive Sitting Room / Open Fire, Character Kitchen / Diner, Two Bedrooms, Fitted Bathroom, Garden, Ample Off Road Parking, Garden Shed. EPC = E Guide Price £285,000 Guide Price £219,950 18 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk For your free market appraisal, please contact us on: 01584 877778 or [email protected] or pop in and see us: 15 High Street, Ludlow, SY8 1BS Blackbridge Cottage, Leintwardine Seifton Batch, Shropshire Substantial Country Home Offering Versatile Accommodation In An Idyllic Setting A Substantial Detached Stone Cottage Of Great Charm And Character Porch/Hallway, Cloakroom, Sitting Room, Kitchen/Dining Room, Utility, Family Room, Study, Boot Room, Storage Room, Six Bedrooms (Two EnSuite), Family Bathroom, Separate Studio, Double Garage, Four Stables, Dog Kennel, Outbuildings, Tennis Court, Gardens. EPC = E Sitting Room, Breakfast Kitchen, Conservatory, Dining Room, Four Double Bedrooms, Bathroom, Second Kitchen, Reception Room, Dutch Barn, Gardens. EPC = D Guide Price £550,000 Guide Price £375,000 Ludlow, Shropshire High Thorn, Bucknell Exceptional Original Townhouse With Parking Bungalow With Landscaped Gardens & Rural Views Sitting Room, Kitchen Breakfast Room, Downstairs Bedroom/Study With Ensuite Cloakroom, Three Further Bedrooms, Two Ensuites, Family Bathroom, Walled Courtyard Garden, Off Road Parking Guide Price £340,000 Sitting Room, Conservatory/Dining Room, Breakfast Kitchen, Guest Bedroom With En-Suite, Further Double Bedroom, Family Bathroom, Garage, Landscaped Gardens With Stunning Views. EPC = C Guide Price £280,000 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 19 property 20 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 21 health & beauty health & beauty 22 ESTEE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion Synchronized Recovery Complex II. Re-ignite the youthful light of your eyes. Renews the look of past damage around the eyes. Helps reduce the look of every key visible sign of ageing around eyes. £46.00 AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES LANOLIPS For extremely dry, rough, itchy and Experience the deeply penetrating and unhappy skin. Winter skin disasters conditioning powers of rich murumuru can range from sore red noses to butter, coconut oil and a blend of essential very dry hands and feet. Lanolips oils to leave your hair looking smooth, Golden Ointment is a powerful sleek and revitalised. beauty hero which will nourish and £28.00 soothe the driest skin patches leaving it soft, dewy and healthy. £17.99 NOURISH Containing extracts from the miraculous Rose of Jericho to detect changes in the skin and repair and hydrate dramatically based on skin type and environment. Skincare is proactive, protective and individual. £25.00 SHAVATA Three eyebrow shadows in a sleek compact that can be used individually or together to create the perfect shade when enhancing your brows. The Shadows can be used to fill in brows and also to darken lighter hairs. The powders tint the skin and hair giving a more natural finish than a pencil. £19.50 BENEFIT Majorette booster blush to amplify your flush. Pep, poise & popularity! Majorette is your cream-to-powder booster blush. Wear this peppy pink-peach shade alone or under your favorite blush for an instant “pep-up.” £23.50 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk Stockist Details: Estee Lauder - 0870 034 2566 - www.esteelauder.co.uk. Aromatherapy Associates - 020 8569 7030 - www.aromatherapyassociates.com. Lanolips - www.lanolips.com. Nourish - www.nourishskinrange.com.Shavata - www.shavata.co.uk. Winter Saviours Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 23 competition Win a Clarins beauty makeover plus vouchers up to £150 from Chave & Jackson One lucky winner could be in with the chance to win a Clarins beauty makeover and £150 worth of vouchers to spend within the store. Plus two lucky runners up will receive a Clarins beauty makeover and £50 in vouchers each. C have and Jackson is one of Hereford’s longest standing businesses. Established in 1832 and still trading from its Broad Street site it is still an independently owned Pharmacy specialising in pharmaceutical services as well as fine fragrances and cosmetics. Chave’s second branch in Hereford, Chandos Pharmacy also has a mobility aids section. Although Mr Chave and Mr Jackson’s family no longer have any involvement in the business the current owners Ian & Geoff Shackleton have a long heritage in the pharmaceutical trade. Both are qualified pharmacists and run the 5 branches of their 5th generation family business, H Shackleton Ltd in Monmouthshire, alongside their 2 Hereford Pharmacies. Stocking brands such as Estee Lauder, Clarins, Clinique, Christian Dior and having Hereford’s largest range of fragrances for men and women it has the feel of a small department store. Competition For your chance to win a Clarins beauty makeover plus vouchers up to £150 from Chave & Jackson, simply fill out the entry The store had a major refit completed in 2012 to bring the look of the store well and truly into the 21st Century without forgetting its core values of quality merchandise and excellent customer service whether you are looking for a fine fragrance or having a prescription dispensed. Chave and Jackson is the perfect place to visit for that unusual gift and we still offer a free giftwrapping service for that personal touch. n Answer: Name: form with the correct answer to the following question: Address: Which street is Chave & Jackson situated on? Tel: Send your answers in a sealed, addressed envelope to: Chave & Jackson WVMN, If you do not wish to receive information on forthcoming events, Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk news and offers from Chave & Jackson please tick this box PW Media & Publishing Ltd, 2nd Floor, Richardson House, New Street, Worcester, WR1 2DP. 24 Closing date for entries is 26th November 2014. health & beauty / fashion New gift ideas from Clarins, Estée Lauder, Clinique, L’Occitane, Floris, Crabtree & Evelyn. Plus Hereford’s largest selection of fine fragrance. Free gift wrapping service available. Open on Sundays and late night on Wednesdays throughout December. Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 25 fashion 26 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk motoring Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 27 festive food & drink Wood Pigeon with Wild Mushrooms From the historic Railway Inn, Dinmore N estling in the woodland of Dinmore Hill, The Railway Inn is fast becoming a top food destination in the County. With the opening of the new 30 seat a la carte restaurant on the upper floor and the extensive use of local produce, this lovely 17th century Inn is set to enhance its reputation still further. Already well known for its steakhouse, with meat sourced from Willersley Court Farm by Master Butcher Neil Powell, Chef Manager Richard Taylor has created some delightful dishes to tantalise the taste buds! Serves 4 Ingredients • 200g Wild mushrooms • 2 x Golden beetroot • 1 x Pickled beetroot • Walnut pesto • 1 x Sheet of pre-made ready rolled pastry • Dressed pea shoots or endive lettuce • 1 x Egg for egg wash • 4 x Wood pigeon breasts 28 Method 1 To cook the golden beetroot, bake in the oven for 35 minutes wrapped in tin foil with a touch of oil and seasoning. Once cooked allow to cool and dice into cubes. For the walnut tart: 2 Using a template, cut 4 rounds out of the puff pastry about 3 inches in diameter, apply the walnut pesto to the centre of each disc, egg wash the edges and bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees C or gas mark 4. 3 Gently pan fry the wild mushrooms in a little oil with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. 4 For the pigeon, season, panfry the breasts in either oil or clarified butter for 1 minute on a medium heat and leave to rest for at least 2 minutes before slicing and serving. 5 Arrange on the plate as shown in the picture with the lettuce as the base for the tart and the two types of beetroot around as garnish. n Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk festive food & drink Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Afternoon Tea Licensed Caffè. Open 9am- 4pm Monday - Saturday Now taking Christmas party lunch bookings. We will be offering a festive & seasonal menu throughout December. 1st Floor Ceci Paolo, 21 High Street, Ledbury, HR8 1DS T: 01531 632 400 www.caffeno21.co.uk Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 29 festive food & drink End of Evening Christmas Wines Award-winning wine merchant, Tanners Wines, recommends four celebratory bottles to finish your Christmas day in style. A fter the weeks of Christmas mania (whether you’ve been painstakingly picking out perfect presents for family and friends, or making frenzied, last-minute dashes for secret Santas – to say nothing of carol singing, office parties, or nativity plays), you’ll probably want to do nothing more than sit down and relax with a glass of something restorative. Then again, there’s Christmas dinner. To ease a bit of the festive stress, you can’t go wrong popping into an independent wine merchant such as Tanners. When it comes to wine, it doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or a connoisseur, the welcoming and knowledgeable staff will help find the right match for your favourite dishes. Here are just a few recommendations to get cosy with after the dust has settled. It wouldn’t be Christmas without a sherry (especially if you’re looking to partner ice cream or chocolate logs), and Don PX Pedro Ximénez Gran Reserva, Montilla-Moriles, Toro Albalá 1983 (£20.50 for a half bottle) is tough to beat. With a deep black colour that matches its gorgeous liquorice-fig flavours, this sweetie would be a marvel with almond crumble and vanilla ice cream. 30 If by this point you’re feeling too guilty to indulge in dessert, a lighter option is a medium-sweet Spätlese paired with fine cheddar. Urziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese, Dr Loosen, Mosel 2011 (£22.90) is a great Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk counterpoint to the richer foods and wines you’ve already enjoyed, bringing balance as well as fruit that work as a lovely foil to the cheese. With whiffs of Christmas cake and flaming plum pudding, Henriques & Henriques 10 Year Old Malmsey Madeira (£20.95 for a 50cl bottle) shows a nose of rich, intoxicating aromas, while staying light on the tongue. Outside the bounds of traditional British desserts, this would be a cracking match for pecan pie. What better way to cap off a lovely Christmas dinner than with an exceptional nightcap? An all-purpose Tawny Port whose rich, fruity and nutty flavours are at home with a decadent Christmas pudding, Wine & Soul 10 year old Tawny Port (£24.70), is also a wonder with an artisan cheese board. Smooth and long, a heartwarmingly brilliant way to end a terrific meal that will leave everyone smiling. n To order, or for more information on these and other wines, please call Tanners on 01432 272044, pop into our Hereford branch on St. Peter’s Square or visit www.tanners-wines.co.uk festive food & drink Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 31 festive food & drink Welcome to The Charlton Arms Real ales, fantastic food and a warm welcome await you at The Charlton. I ndependently owned and family run, we offer something for everyone. Whether returning from a muddy walk through the Whitcliffe common or organising a special romantic supper, you will find exactly what you are looking for with us. Well behaved dogs and children especially welcome! We carry a wide selection of local draft ales and a small, carefully designed and eclectic wine list. Our menu of modern British and pub classics feature the best seasonal produce available at the time. We take great pride in sourcing all our meat in the counties within the Marches. The Charlton has nine en-suite rooms ranging from cosy and well equipped double rooms through to our luxury Othello Suite featuring a superb double spa bath and private terrace with hot-tub. Many of our rooms enjoy spectacular views of the river Teme, the medieval bridge, the picturesque townscape of Ludlow or the stunning surrounding countryside. For multiple occupancy or business travel we have a twin room and a family rooms that will sleep 2 adults and 2 children. We are certain we have a room to match your requirements. Breakfast is served in our restaurant where you 32 can relax over the morning papers or take in the views of the River Teme. Cedric Bosi and family have recently expanded their accommodation in Ludlow with the re-opening of the rooms that once belonged to the much loved De-greys which sadly closed in January this year. The Townhouse Ludlow is a beautifully restored B&B in the centre of historic market town of Ludlow, located in a grade 2-listed area adjacent to DeGrey’s main building. Each of the nine luxury en-suite bedrooms have individual character with ancient exposed timbers and original features, they offer plenty of space to sit and enjoy the surroundings with elegant period style furniture and luxurious soft furnishings. The bathrooms are stunning and superbly equipped with powerful walk-in showers and most feature roll top baths. n For The Charlton Arms, Ludlow reservations please contact: 01584 872813 or email: [email protected] For The Townhouse, Ludlow reservations please contact: 01584 877143 or email: [email protected]. Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk Christmas Party Menu Available from 1st December - 23rd December 2 Courses £18.95 - 3 Courses £21.95 Starters: Lightly curried parsnip soup and chestnut dumplings. Ham hock and sweet potato hash, poached egg and sauce choron. Colston Basset stilton twice baked cheese soufflé, cheese sauce and Waldorf salad. Irish smoked salmon, watercress, horseradish and celeriac remoulade, caperberries and blinis. Mains: Aberdeenshire slow cooked feather blade of beef, potato cake and Bourguignon sauce. Free range guineafowl, pigs in blanket, sage and onion mash and cranberry jus. Risotto nut roast, garlic raita, wilted pak choi and pomegranate sauce vierge Sea bass en papilotte, piquillo peppers, fennel, black olives, basil and garlic All meals served with seasonal mixed vegetables Desserts: Golden syrup treacle tart and Cornish clotted cream Chocolate marquise and berry coulis Steamed Christmas pudding with brandy butter and custard Selection of artisan cheese and trimmings New Year’s Eve £20 Ticket including buffet & party bag with Hot Climate - The UK’s most Exciting Party Band festive food & drink Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 33 festive food & drink 34 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk wye valley walks Monmouth – the ‘Picturesque’ Wye Valley In the late 18th century, a number of artists were taking ‘tours’ in the Wye Valley. One of these artists was William Gilpin. In June 1770, he and others took a covered rowing boat from Ross-on-Wye to Monmouth and eventually on to Chepstow. In his journal he wrote ‘the hills gradually descend into Monmouth which lies too low to make any appearance from the water but on landing we found it a pleasant town and neatly built. The Town House and Church are handsome’. This walk starts in Monmouth and goes along the Wye Valley Path to Redbrook. The route then climbs gently along the Offa’s Dyke Path up to ‘The Kymin’. The Round Tower on its heights was built in 1794 and was an early acquisition of the National Trust. The views from here are worth the effort and it is all downhill from here! Start / Finish: The walk starts and ends on the old Monnow Bridge. Public Transport: The nearest Railway Stations are at Abergavenny, Chepstow and Hereford, There are bus services connecting these places to Monmouth. Please check timetables and set out early. Parking: There is all day parking in the car park near the old Bridge. O/S Maps: Landranger 162 / Outdoor Leisure 14 Distance: approx. 9 miles or 8 miles (slightly shorter walk). Time: You can allow all day to enjoy the route at a leisurely pace and maybe have a picnic en route. (Note: The walk can be done in two halves using bus 69 either to or from Redbook on A466). Refreshments: There are plenty of eating and food places in Monmouth but nothing along the route. A Picnic is a good idea! Terrain: The outward walk through the Wye Valley is fairly flat but from Redbrook there is a steady climb almost up to ‘The Kymin’. Try a ‘there and back’ walk along the River Wye to Redbrook or catch the bus back to avoid the hill. Sensible walking shoes or boots are recommended and poles are useful. There are some spectacular views across the valleys from higher up and a lovely view of Monmouth from ‘The Kymin’ on a clear day. The walk is not ‘wheel-friendly’ but the town of Monmouth itself and the riverside along the River Monnow (see map) has a pleasant triangular route marked for those with wheels’. There are numerous gates and kiss-gates along this pretty walk. Warning: If the River Wye is in flood, please do not attempt this walk! Route: (1) The walk starts on the Monnow Bridge, a 14th century fortified bridge. Walk up into the town and take a path between the shops just beyond Waitrose. This leads to Chippenham Mead. Walk diagonally through an avenue of Lime trees to exit the park in the far corner. Walk straight on and follow the road round to Glendower Street. Turn right, passing Glover Music School then right along Almshouse Street (the Almshouses on your right were founded in 1615 and have recently been redeveloped). Further along is the original Grammar School first built in 1614 and rebuilt with the Chapel by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1865. Continue into St James Street then turn right down Wye Bridge Street, crossing to the Wye Bridge opposite via the subway beneath the busy A40. (2) Walk to the far end of this beautiful bridge and turn right down the track leading to the Monmouth School Sports Centre. You are now on the Wye Valley Path and this goes through a kiss-gate to the right of the pavilion and along the riverside path which skirts the playing field. This area is known as ‘The Gamblings’ and it was once a ship-building yard. The ‘Monmouth’ boat was built here in 1920. If you look at the top of the hill on your left, you will see The Kymin Tower featured in the painting here. After 650 yards, you will reach an iron viaduct which carried the Ross to Monmouth railway line. It was built in 1873. Just beyond this are the remains of a beautiful stone viaduct, sadly falling into disrepair. This carried the line from Monmouth to Pontypool and was built in 1857. Passenger services to Monmouth stopped in 1959 and goods traffic stopped in 1964. Local stone was used to build this viaduct, the pinkness of the stone comes from the iron content. Iron production in the nearby Forest of Dean was one reason that the railways were built. (3) Continue along the Wye Valley Path (marked by posts) with glimpses of the beautiful River Wye below until you come out onto the A466 at Lower Redbrook. (4) Walk carefully along the pavement for 300 yards, passing the road to Newland, to a path opposite the Riverside car park. Follow this track back on yourself gently uphill to join the lane at Upper Redbrook. You have just walked along the old track-bed of one of the industrial railways from the Forest of Dean ironworks that closed in the 1950’s. Just ahead of you is an incline that crosses the road over a bridge. Follow the road below for a half mile to a footpath on your left. Upper Redbrook had several inns, a watermill, malthouse and forge. The village takes its name from the iron-stained stream beside the road. (5) Fork left up the ‘Offa’s Dyke Path’ (O.D.P.) and keep climbing gently until you reach open fields high up the slopes near Duffields Farm. Look back at the network of valleys and forested slopes that characterize this area. The River Wye is hidden down below on your left. (6) Keep climbing up to Cockshot Ash Barn where the slightly shorter route goes downhill to Monmouth. The main walk continues through a wooden kiss-gate a little further along on your right. The O.D.P. goes along the left side of this field and through a small wooden gate, along another path to another gate into woodland. Climb up the bank and follow the path along the edge of this woodland to Harpen’s Grove. Go through a gate and up the slope to a metal kiss-gate that leads along a woodland path between two fences exiting onto Kymin Road via another kiss-gate. (7) Go straight across this road to the National Trust area known as The Kymin. First you will reach the Naval Temple built in 1800 to honour 16 Admirals. You will then come to The Round Tower, built a few years earlier (1794) as a two storey Georgian banqueting house for use as a dining club for the gentry who mastered the wooded slopes. From here there are lovely views of Monmouth on a clear day. The walk continues along the front of this Round House and it is important to find a direction post 100 yards further on. Turn left down the stone steps. Follow the O.D.P. to the right down more steps and down an ancient hollowed out path. Take the right fork down the wooded slope and through a kiss-gate into a track, turn right for 75 yards and take the path on the right. Follow this well marked route downhill past a series of paddocks to the Kymin Road. (8) Continue down the road to a corner and turn left passing an orchard. After 150 yards, take the O.D.P. on your right and walk down a wide woodland path that contours round the hillside dropping down to the River level once again. On reaching the Coleford Road, turn left, passing the Mayhill Hotel. (9) Here, the shorter route rejoins the main walk. Continue with care down to the Wye Bridge and retrace the outward route to St James Street. (10) Turn right down St Mary’s Street then left down Church Street. Turn left through the shops to Agincourt Square, passing the statue of Charles Rolls of Rolls - Royce in front of the Shire Hall built in 1724. Walk on down Monnow Street back to the Monnow Bridge where the walk ends. n Written and Illustrated by Glynis Dray Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 35 senior living 36 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk senior living Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 37 wye valley past A Thankful Village Knill is one of those rarest of British locations, a ‘thankful village’. The term was coined in the 1930’s to describe the handful of communities which suffered no military fatalities in World War I. Knill, a village thankful for the return of all of its soldiers in the Great War A rustic scene to which the soldiers of the Great War returned T here are just 52 such civil parishes in England and Wales which welcomed back all of their soldiers. Knill is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as Chenille from the Old English meaning ‘Place by the hillock’. The village of Knill is situated 3 miles south west of Presteigne, just on the Herefordshire side of the border with Wales, and very much in ‘The Marches’. Above the village, Offa’s Dyke marks the ancient boundary between Mercia and the Welsh. The modern border with Radnorshire runs along the valley of the Riddings and Hindwell Brooks. The scale of the good fortune of the thankful villages is extraordinary. Between 1914 and 1918, there were actually no settlements in Scotland or Ireland which did not lose a member of the community. In the whole of France, there is just one: Thierville in Normandy. In England and Wales, the thankful villages are dwarfed by over 16,000 which paid a sacrifice. Indeed, in a war that touched everybody in the British Isles, it was often small communities, villages and hamlets in which the psychological burden of the carnage was most painfully felt. Largely to blame for this, according to the historian Dan Snow, was the system of Pals Battalions - units of friends, work colleagues and relatives who had been promised they could fight alongside each other when they enlisted amid patriotic fervour. These battalions were a 38 Knill Church, which holds the thankful tribute useful recruiting tool for Lord Kitchener, the War Secretary, who believed that mobilising large numbers of enthusiastic recruits quickly was the best way to win the war. But the reality of the trenches, where thousands of men could be wiped out in a single day meant that small communities could face disproportionate levels of bloodshed within a matter of hours. There is the unfortunate example of Accrington in Lancashire whose contribution of about 700 ‘pals’ all participated in the Somme offensive: some 235 were killed and 350 wounded within just 20 minutes. By the end of the first hour, 1,700 men from Bradford were dead or injured. Some 93 of the approximately 175 Chorley men who went over the top at the same time died. It was a pattern repeated many times - and on each occasion the wounding to a town or village was both deep and instant. The ‘pals’ system was phased out in 1917, but not before it left an indelible mark on the British consciousness. Fourteen villages are termed ‘doubly thankful’ because they also avoided casualties in World War II. Remarkably, two of them are also in Herefordshire, Pipe Aston and Middleton-on-the-Hill. Since there is no war memorial in the village, the wall inside Knill’s church of St.Michael and All Angels bears a carved stone plaque which greets visitors with the inscription: Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk “TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKSGIVING TO HIM FOR THE VICTORY GRANTED TO US IN THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-1918 AND FOR HIS MERCIES IN BRINGING SAFELY HOME THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY OVERSEAS.” The gently flowing Hindwell Brook runs through the idyllic hamlet and prize Holstein and Jersey cattle from Knill Farm graze in the lush green fields on either side of its banks. The village was under the control of the Walshams and the Knills from Norman times and the Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels dates from the 13th Century. The Lords of the Manor lived at the great Elizabethan House ‘Knill Court’ which was largely rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 1942. The village today looks much the same as the one that welcomed home its sons at the end of the hostilities. It must have been a heartfelt, welcome sight to the war weary ‘Men of the Marches’ as they trooped home from the horrors of the Great War. Knill remains a truly beautiful, tranquil and most thankful village. Its most fitting motto must be ‘Nil Desperandum’. n by Garth Lawson what’s on Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 39 upload your event for free on www.wyevalleynow.co.uk what’s on NOVEMBER Saturday 8th Remembering Them Caldicot Castle Church Road Caldicot Monmouthshire NP26 4HU Contact: www. rememberingthem.co.uk Cost: £20 Sunday 9th Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Symphony Orchestra St David’s Hall The Hayes Cardiff CF10 1AH Contact: www. stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Cost: £12.00 Tree planting party Croft Castle and Parkland Yarpole near Leominster HR6 9PW Contact: www. nationaltrust.org.uk Cost: £10 Monday 10th Tuesday 11th London Contemporary Theatre present Macbeth in Pitch Black The Courtyard Edgar Street HR4 9JR Hereford Contact: 01432 340555 Cost: £13 / £12 40 Wednesday 12th A Night of Musical Theatre St David’s Hall The Hayes Cardiff CF10 1AH Contact: www. stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Cost: £9.95 Thursday 13th Fascinating Aida The Blake Theatre Almshouse Street Monmouth NP25 3XP Contact: www. theblaketheatre.org Cost: £19.50 Friday 14th Oh Brother Where Art Thou and The Cadbury Sisters The Courtyard Edgar Street HR4 9JR Hereford Contact: 01432 340555 Cost: £12 / £11 Friday 14th Sunday 16th Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair The Courtyard Centre for the Arts Edgar Street Hereford Herefordshire HR4 9JR Contact: www.brightstripe.co.uk Cost: £4 (£3 after 4pm) Wednesday 15th Leominster Historical Society Meeting - The Victorian Footbridge across the Wye: why was it built? Earl Mortimer College Leominster Herefordshire HR6 8JJ Contact: 01568 611398 Cost: members free. Visitors welcome £3 entry fee. Saturday 15th Sunday 30th Comparing a Georgian and Victorian Christmas Berrington Hall near Leominster HR6 0DW Contact: www. nationaltrust.org.uk Cost: free event, normal admission charges apply Friday 21st Christmas carvery Croome Park near High Green Worcester WR8 9DW Contact: www. nationaltrust.org.uk Cost: £12 per person for 2 courses or £15 per person for 3 courses The Hollies Malvern Theatres Grange Road Great Malvern Worcestershire WR14 3HB Contact: www. malverntheatres.co.uk Cost: £28.56 - £30.80 Saturday 22nd Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk Potter’s Wheel Workshop - One Day Eastnor Pottery Home Farm Eastnor Ledbury HR8 1RD Contact: www. eastnorpottery.co.uk Cost: £120 Saturday 22nd Sunday 23rd Preparing for a wartime Christmas Croft Castle and Parkland Yarpole near Leominster HR6 9PW Contact: www. nationaltrust.org.uk Cost: normal charges apply Potter’s Wheel Workshop - Weekend Eastnor Pottery Home Farm Eastnor Ledbury HR8 1RD Contact: www. eastnorpottery.co.uk Cost: £215 Sunday 23rd Toy Collectors Fair Three Counties Showground Malvern Worcester WR13 6NW Contact: www. threecounties.co.uk Cost: TBC Christmas Vintage and Craft Fair upload your event for free on www.wyevalleynow.co.uk Celebrate in Style Celebrate a creative Christmas in style by doing your seasonal shopping at Taurus Crafts, where you can choose from an inspirational selection of art, crafts, gifts, food and drink. A t the Gift Shop, browse the region’s best selection of design-led gifts, art, local crafts, ceramics, fair trade products, gift wrap and greetings cards. Buy direct from the on-site artisan and craft businesses; Chocolatiers, Picture Framer, Jewellery, Artworks, Knitting, Corsetiere, Leather worker, Men’s fashion, Ethical fashion, Stone Mason, Antiques, Health and Beauty treatments. For gifts for ‘foodies’ visit Cowshill Farm Shop; local meats and pies, local and deli cheeses, fresh veg, patisserie, bread, organic wine, local cider, perry and ale.. Turkey, geese and all the traditional accompaniments can be ordered and hampers arranged. Taurus Café, serve meals prepared on site, using many local and organic ingredients, handmade cakes and a range of coffees and teas. Taurus Christmas Shop specializes in stylish and traditional Christmas accessories and to complete the effect choose from a selection of locally grown high quality Christmas trees, of varying sizes and species. Christmas Markets over the weekends of 6th and 7th and 13th and 14th December will provide even more seasonal ideas, featuring local crafts, gifts, antiques, local food and drink, jewellery. Local choirs and bands feature throughout the markets. n Check the website www.tauruscrafts.co.uk for more information or telephone: 01594 844 841. This vibrant, familyfriendly venue is easy to find - located at The Old Park, just outside Lydney on the A48. Open 10am to 5.30pm daily. Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 41 upload your event for free on www.wyevalleynow.co.uk what’s on The Courtyard Edgar Street HR4 9JR Hereford Contact: 01432 340555 Cost: free Tuesday 25th The Sensational 60s Experience St David’s Hall The Hayes Cardiff CF10 1AH Contact: www. stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk Cost: £17.00 / £21.00 Thursday 27th Christmas alternative wreath making workshop Croome Park near High Green Worcester WR8 9DW Contact: www. nationaltrust.org.uk Cost: £25 per person includes tea and coffee Friday 28th Madama Butterfly Malvern Theatres Grange Road Great Malvern Worcestershire WR14 3HB Contact: www. malverntheatres.co.uk Cost: £25.76 - £39.20 An Evening with Monty Don The Blake Theatre Almshouse Street Monmouth 42 NP25 3XP Contact: www. theblaketheatre.org Cost: £12.00 Friday 28th November – Sunday 4th January Jack and the Beanstalk The Courtyard Edgar Street HR4 9JR Hereford Contact: 01432 340555 Cost: £18.50 / £17 Saturday 29th Christmas card making for Children Croome Park near High Green Worcester WR8 9DW Contact: www. nationaltrust.org.uk Cost: free event, normal admission charges apply Brockhampton School Christmas Fayre Brockhampton Primary School Bringsty United Kingdom WR6 5TD Contact: www. brockhamptonschool.org.uk Cost: free A Very Marie Christmas Brockhampton Estate Greenfields Bringsty near Bromyard WR6 5TB Contact: www. nationaltrust.org.uk Cost: £10 / £8 / £5 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk upload your event for free on www.wyevalleynow.co.uk Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk 43 44 Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk
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