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FREE Inside ... Easter Useful local info A Proverbial Life Playwrights Home Security And much more... your local community magazine supporting local businesses APRIL 2012

Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

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Page 1: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

FREE

Inside ...Easter

Useful local infoA Proverbial Life

PlaywrightsHome Security

And much more...

your local community magazinesupporting local businesses

APRIL2012

Page 2: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

Costco Coventry51 Torrington Avenue

CoventryCV4 9AQ

T: 02476 854 660E: [email protected]

Central Membership: 01923 830 477www.costco.co.uk

DO YOU QUALIFY?discover the secret

Costco is a membership warehouse club that sells a wide selection of top qualitybrand namemerchandise at lowwarehouse prices.

Speciality departments include Fresh Deli and Produce, In-House Bakery andButchery,ServiceDeli, Cafe, TyreCentre,Opticians, FineWines,BeersandSpirits,Electrical Appliances andmuchmuchmore!

TradeMembership

Youqualify forTradeMembership if youareabona�debusinessownerormanager,orareselfemployed.To joinCostcoandstartsavingpleaseprovide evidence of trading in the form of either a VAT Registration

Certi�cateor twootherpiecesofbusinessstationery (cheque, letterhead, invoice),PLUSacurrent business utility bill (electricity, gas, telephone,water).

The annual membership fee for Standard Trade Membership is £20 (plus VAT),which includes a complimentary card for your spouse or domestic partner.

IndividualMembership

You qualify for Individual Membership if you belong to speci�cemployment groups – please see below for details of qualifyingcategories. To join Costco and start saving please provide your

employee IDcardor current pay slip to prove your employer, PLUSacurrent utilitybill (electricity,gas, telephone,water)orabankstatementaddressed toyourhome.

Theannualmembership fee for Standard IndividualMembership is £25 (plusVAT),which includes a complimentary card for your spouse or domestic partner.

IndividualMembers Eligibility Criteria

Current or retired employee of: Banking/Finance, Civil Servant, Education,Fire/Rescue, Insurance, LocalGovernment,Medical/HealthService, Police Force,Post Of�ce, Airline.Quali�ed as: Chartered Architect, Chartered/Civil Engineer, Chartered Surveyor,Dentist, Optician, Pharmacist, Quali�ed Accountant, Solicitor/Barrister,Magistrate/Advocate

62 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ALREADY KNOW

For further information, please contact ourMembership Team at Costco Coventry on 02476 854 660

Acceptedmethods of payment: cash, debit card, cheque orAmerican Express.Membershipmust be obtained before purchases can bemade.

CASH & CARRY MEMBERSHIPWAREHOUSE CLUB

You can join online:visit www.costco.co.uk/membership

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Steer Tyres is an established Tyre and Exhaust supplier based in Lutterworth and provides a friendly convenient service to local car and van owners and business users in the area. It is important to us that our customers vehicles are in the best condition possible to see them safely on their way.

We are open Monday to Friday 08.00 to 17.30 and Saturday from 08.00 to 12.30.

Leicester Road, Lutterworth,

Tel 01455 553666

Page 4: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

Contact us: Amanda : 07841831127 www.aroundmagazines.co.uk

4

Welcome to the April edition of Around Lutterworth Magazine

Welcome to the April edition of Around Lutterworth and Hello! from the new owners.

Firstly, we would like to thank Natalie for all her hard work so far in producing not only this magazine but also its sister magazine, Around Rugby. She has put a lot of time and effort into setting up these publications and bringing them to the level they are at now. They are lovely magazines and we look forward to carrying on her good work and continuing to share them with you. We wish Natalie great success with her new career, knowing that she will put 100% effort into it and we are sure she will achieve all she is hoping for.

Change is always difficult to get used to so we would like to assure you that both Roy and I are committed to the local area as individuals and as local business owners. We want to promote your town, the beautiful surrounding area and the people who live and work in it.

We have some exciting new ideas for Around Lutterworth that we hope will make the magazine even more enjoyable, accessible and of even greater value to you the readers and advertisers. After all, without you, we have no reason to produce a community magazine. So watch this space over the coming months!

Well, enough about us! Spring is definitely here – the crocuses have disappeared, daffodils are in full bloom and Easter is beckoning. I’m sure we will all be looking forward to April whether

that’s due to the Christian celebrations, the thought of a mountain of chocolate eggs, newborn chicks, or just a day off over the Bank Holiday. Whatever your reason, we hope you enjoy all April has to offer. This month’s magazine highlights a wealth of local businesses so why not pop along to one of them over the Bank Holiday and treat your car to a new tyre, spruce up your home or garden or, have a leisurely stroll around Lutterworth town and visit some of the amazing treasures there. If you don’t fancy that, have a bash at the gorgeous, chocolaty Easter Mousse Cake recipe in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Just a last minute reminder before you read on. If you are organising something special for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee or this years 30th Summer Olympics then let us know. We’d like to share it with everyone. Maybe you are organising a charity event, why not let us help to promote it? Give me a call or email me! I look forward to hearing from you.

Amanda

In this issue...

Knight in Shining Armour ..6

A Proverbial Life .....................8

Home Security ......................10

Recipe of the month............ 12

Will writing guidelines ....... 14

Easter ....................................... 18

Slugs and Snails ....................20

The Plays the thing..............22

Useful Info .............................23

Get in touch with Around Rugby’s new Managing Director,

Amanda Avery...

t: 01788 440015 m: 07841831127

e: [email protected]

aroundmagazines.co.uk

Advert copy to Caroline Smith [email protected]

As of March 1st 2012 we can

now accept card payments.

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Towers & Son Funeral ServiceChurch Street, Crick 01788 822349 of Funeral Directors

®

1905 Est

Natio

nal Association

Coventry Road, Market Harborough01858 4310121 George Street, Lutterworth01455 558713

of Funeral Directors®

1905 Est

Natio

nal Association

Midlands Co-operative Society Limited

Providing a caring and sympathetic service for more than 70 years

Fires fit 4 U

Call Andy on

07736 925861

www.firesfit4u.co.uk

Page 6: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

Contact us: Amanda : 07841831127 www.aroundmagazines.co.uk

6

The Knight in

Shining ArmourHello everyone, my name is Patrick. I have been cleaning carpets around Lutterworth for ten years.

White Knight Cleaning is a family runbusiness that

prides itself on it’s excellent reputation. We provide an old fashioned service using the latest equipment. I am a fully qualified technician and a member of the NCCA, who’s motto is ‘service with integrity’. All of our work is fully insured and guaranteed.

Do your carpets look grubby? Are you thinking of replacing them?

BEFORE YOU DO... why not give us a try? With our thorough deep cleaning system there’s a very good chance that your carpets can be restored or given a new lease of life!!

Here’s what Valerie Nilson from Rugby recently said,‘I recently bought a house where the carpets were in such bad condition that I thought I would have to replace them all. After Patrick had cleaned the carpets, the result was amazing….almost as good as new. I would totally recommend White Knight Cleaning. Thank you so much.

Just as the clothes we wear need regular washing to keep them fresh and hygienic,carpets and upholstered furniture requireperiodic cleaning.

Accumulated soil and grit are majorcauses of reduced carpet and fabric life and enable destructive and health harmful mites and bacteria to work unchecked. Cleaning costs are minimal when you consider the replacement cost of carpets and furnishings, so regular cleaning makes economic sense too.

You can call us any day and anytime up until10.00pm. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and we are always friendly.

See our advert for our ‘special offer’ or simply call or email us for a price. We do not charge you VAT!

We look forward to being of service to you.

Patrick and Lynne,White Knight Cleaning0800 028 004102476 31233207977 631734www.whiteknight-cleaning.co.uk

See our advert opposite for our ‘special offer’

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White Knight Cleaning02476 31233207977 6317340800 028 0041 www.whiteknight-cleaning.co.uk

+ Our most thorough deep down clean eliminates carpet mites, dirt, fungi, pollen and pet dander and restores pile.

+ Call us for a free, friendly quote, 7 days a week.

+ Professional, small family business covering Rugby, Daventry and surrounding villages.

Grubby Carpets?

3 carpets cleaned for £99 (no VAT!)*room sizes apply

CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

QUICK DRYING

Professional, small family business covering Lutterworth and surrounding villages

Polka-dot PartiesThe only place for Beautiful Balloons

forWeddings,Chistenings, Anniversaries, Birthday’s and

much, much more!

Home-made Cupcakes. Cake Toppers, Cake and Table Decorations

Cake decorators take note! Fantastic range

of decorations in stock!

Orders for Autumn

wedding now being taken few Summer

dates remaining

Balloons at any venue can be transforming, we

specialise in wedding balloons and table

decorations, mix, match, transform a room

and wow your guests with stunning balloon

decorations. Call Dawn now to discuss your

bespoke needs High Street Lutterworth LE17 4AY

01455 207596

new designer shoe rangeSHOE OF THE MONTH

Suede Court Shoe, Sizes 3-9

07815 795981email: [email protected] TO YOUR DOOR

www.1921shoes.co.uk

Page 8: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

by A. O’Brien

A Proverbial Life...

I’ve come to the conclusion I’m a wimp who must always be warm, comfortable and, if possible, cosseted from the vagaries of the British weather.

If there’s a nip in the air I’ll be wrapped up warmly. If it’s raining I’ll be wearing boots, raincoat and carrying an umbrella. If it’s windy I’ll be buttoned up, tucked in and firmly anchored to my clothing. Yep, I’m definitely a wimp.

I never used to think I was a wimp. I was just sensible, dressed appropriately and ‘keeping out the chill’. However, a number of recent events have caused me to question this belief.

Firstly, last week the sun shone briefly, weakly and without any warmth. It certainly wasn’t hot enough to discard any clothing, but that’s just what I saw in my local town. Several people (admittedly in their teens) strutting around in shorts and t-shirts. Now, from a distance they looked very nice, but up close the chattering teeth, goose bumps and mottled legs told the true story. I was so tempted to tell them to put on something warm. Not that it’s any of my business...but I am at that age when I feel I can comment on anything and everything.

Secondly, whilst driving home one very wet night, I saw a large crowd of teenagers (there’s a theme developing here), absolutely soaked to the skin. All their finery dripping wet, their hair bedraggled, mud splashed up the back of bare legs and trousers trailing in the puddles. They strolled casually, heads down, shoulders hunched against the rain and sleeves pulled down over their hands – as if that would keep them dry! As it had been raining steadily all day I assume they had not simply been ‘caught out’ by the weather, but had gone out without coats or jackets.

I drove past at a snail’s pace to avoid splashing them further, but they were so wet already that I’m sure they wouldn’t have noticed a tidal wave engulfing them. I also resisted the urge to wind down the window, ask them where their coats were and advise them that a bin bag made a good emergency waterproof – not that they had any bin bags of course.

Finally, I saw a male jogger cracking along at a great pace one very chilly morning; clutching a plastic bottle of water, headphones in ears and wearing what looked like very expensive trainers. His only other clothing was a pair of tiny black silky shorts; he was totally bare - chested (I would like to say ‘topless’ but I’m not sure if this applies to males). Jogging or running would soon have anyone ‘glowing’, but this guy was positively steaming heat into the cold morning air – can’t be good for you.

I mentioned him to my son who said that perhaps he was training for an Iron Man event. I didn’t even know such things existed. If he doesn’t take care he’ll soon be ‘rusty man’ with the amount of sweat he was generating.

So there you have it – I’m a wimp (or I could just be getting old). I like to be dry, warm and protected from the elements. As the months pass I will gradually divest myself of layers of clothing: first the hat and scarf, then the boots and finally the coat.

A good indication that summer has arrived is when I’m seen without a cardigan... but I’ll always have one close to hand.

Ne’er cast a clout till May be out

Contact us: Amanda : 07841831127 www.aroundmagazines.co.uk

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Does this worry you?Your loved ones may NOT receive all your home and savings?

With the RIGHT Will you could ensure they receive the maximum possible

NOT MADE YOUR WILL YET?

Our wills start from

£49.95 + vat (£59.94 inc vat)

We come to you!To arrange a home visit or for a free “facts” pack, call now

Members of the Society of Will Writers

Midlands Legal Services Ltd

Freephone:

0800 118 2244(24 hours/ 7 days)

Page 10: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

TurnBurglars into Bunglers

with home security aids

By Helen Taylor

An Englishman’s home is his castle and today it is a castle under siege. The stark rise in crime and anti-social behaviour has homeowners - in rural and urban areas alike - running scared and ever more concerned with a problem that law and order fails to address.

But despite this sad fact there is a fast-growing home security market that is equal to the problem; ready and able to empower the individual and preserve the sanctity of home.

If the statistics are to be believed many of us will fall victim to crime, but thanks to an extensive range of affordable, simple and easy-to-use home security devices, protecting your property, possessions and family is becoming easier.

This is a guide to some of the most popular products around at the moment.

Fence Prikka Strip, £8.95 - A simple, cheap and effective way of protecting your property from intruders. Each anti-climb strip consists of a series of closely arranged cones that are formed from durable weatherproof PVC. Easy to trim to the size you require, the strips can be glued, screwed or nailed into place and are perfect for use on all perimeter fencing.

Byron CS11D Dummy CCTV Camera Unit, £12.29 - Flawlessly replicating a real CCTV unit, the dummy camera is extremely realistic. The accurate design and flashing red light gives the appearance of a genuine and operational camera.

Driveway Monitor, £18.49 - Recognising intruders up to 100ft away, the Driveway Monitor offers cordless infra-red detection of heat or movement and alerts the homeowner via a radio signal that’s sent directly to the indoor receiver.

Frostfire Home Security Bar, £23.50 - Designed for use with both standard hinged doors and sliding patio doors, the Frostfire Home Security Bar can be wedged at any angle to prevent forced entry. Because it’s made from 20-gauge steel, the bar is incredibly strong and exceedingly robust, and so protects against forces of up to 150 kg.

Fake TV Burglar Deterrent, £24 - Simulating the appearance of an active television set, the Fake TV helps to create the illusion that someone’s at home by using realistic LED lighting. An inbuilt sensor automatically triggers the system at dusk and thanks to its compact design, it’s perfect for use anywhere in the home.

Security Wireless Camera, £29.50 - Suitable for use both inside or outside the property, the wireless camera makes for fast and easy positioning and transmits images both day and night - due to its night vision capabilities at 8-10 meters.

Ex-Pro Complete 2.4GHz CCTV Camera, £94.97 - A robust weatherproof design makes this wireless system ideal for outdoor home security. With automatic activation of LEDs at night and good quality night-vision combined easy connectivity, it’s just the thing for all your home security needs.

Yale Locks Alarm Wireless Home Starter Alarm Kit, £124.98 - Completely wireless and ideal for flats, garages or terraced and semi-detached homes, the alarm system is easy to install - causing no damage or disruption to home décor - and comes complete with a wireless remote control access pad that’s easy to operate.

Not every device is necessary however, or easy to fit. So before you rush off to shop for gadgets, it would be well worth taking advice from a locksmith or security consultant and ensuring you have the right solution for your home.

Top: Fence Prikka Strip. Bottom: Fake TV

Contact us: Amanda : 07841831127 www.aroundmagazines.co.uk

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Page 11: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

TheGrey Goose

Set Menu Mon - Fri: Lunch 12pm – 2pm, Tues – Fri: 6pm – 7pm A choice of Two Courses or Three Courses 2 Course £12.95, 3 Courses £14.95

Early Bird menu available Monday - Friday Lunch, Tuesday - Friday evenings between 6pm-7pm. 2 Course £12.95, 3 Courses £14.95

Sunday Carvery 12-7pm plus a la carte

Saturday 3 Course fixed price evening menu £28.95 per person

Also serving lunchtime & evening specials and fresh cut sandwiches dailyFull a la carte menu available everyday

The Grey Goose, Lutterworth Road, Gilmorton, Leics LE17 5PN - close to Juntion 20, M1

For Reservations Call 01455 552555

greygoosegilmorton.co.uk

from

Every Monday Evening

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BASE• 3 eggs • 70g caster sugar• 50g plain flour • 2 tbsp cocoa powder

MOUSSE• 2 x 150g bars good quality white chocolate, broken into pieces

• 3 tbsp milk • 1 tsp vanilla extract• 300ml double cream • 3 large egg whites

• 2 tsp powdered gelatine

GLAZE• 85g plain chocolate • 20g unsalted butter

• 4 tbsp double cream• Melted white chocolate and small candy coated

chocolate eggs, to decorate

Serves 8

Perfect for a special Easter Sunday meal this

indulgent dessert has a chocolate sponge base,

creamy white chocolate mousse filling and a rich

and dark chocolate glaze. It can be prepared the

day before or made a couple of weeks in advance

and frozen.

Easter Chocolate Mousse Cake

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 20 cm round spring-form tin. To make the base, whisk the eggs and sugar together in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until very thick and pale – the whisk should leave a trail in the mixture when lifted.

Sift over the flour and cocoa and fold in gently. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 12-15 minutes until just springy to the touch. Turn out and leave to cool completely. Clean the tin and lightly grease and re-line the base. Place the cold sponge in the base of the tin.

To make the mousse, place the white chocolate, milk and vanilla extract in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water and leave until melted. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth then stir in 4 tbsp of the cream.

Dissolve the gelatine in 2 tbsp hot water. Cool for a few minutes then stir into the chocolate mixture. Softly whip the rest of the cream and fold into the chocolate mixture. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold in. Spoon the mousse over the sponge base and chill for 3-4 hours until set.

For the chocolate glaze, melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Remove from the heat, stir until smooth then stir in the cream. Leave until cool and thick enough to spread, stirring occasionally.

Remove the mousse cake from the tin and gently spread the chocolate glaze over the top. Drizzle with melted white chocolate and decorate with the chocolate eggs.

Ready in1¼ hours plus 3 - 4 hours chilling

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Page 14: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

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14 Lutterworth based probate services provider Roy Watson of Collective Legal Solutions welcomed the introduction of the guidelines to protect consumers which were recently approved by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

They have been introduced to prevent consumers from losing money, by not shopping around for will-writing and probate services. The OFT estimates that failure to shop around is costing consumers around £40 million a year.

The OFT points out in particular, that the costs for a professional executor to administer an estate (probate) vary considerably from £3,400 at the lower end of the scale up to £9,000 for an average estate, or 1.5 to 4 per cent of the estate’s total value. This clearly underlines the OFT’s belief that consumers will save huge sums of money by shopping around for probate services.

Roy Watson of Collective Legal Solutions based in Lutterworth said|: “The guidelines reflect the values, ethos and working practices that we have always adhered to. We whole-heartedly support the OFT’s efforts to make charges for probate services both completely transparent and fair, and we urge consumers to act on the OFT’s good advice by shopping around.

“ When we act as the professional executor administering an estate we

typically charge one per cent or less depending on the value of the estate, but we never charge more than 1.5 per cent of the estate’s worth which is the lowest end of the price scale according to the OFT.

“Not surprisingly our average charge for probate services is less than £2,100, compared to the minimum price of £3,400 quoted by the OFT.”

Collective Legal Solutions are experts in the field of inheritance planning and wealth protection. They provide a depth of specialist expertise ranging from will-writing, powers of attorney and probate, to trust funds, estate planning and chartered tax advice.

For further information about services on offer call 07790035523 or view the OFT guidelines at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/before_you_buy/thinking_about/Will_writing/

Office of Fair Trading introduces guidelines on Will Writing Services

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18

Let’s start with the word itself, Easter. We have it on the word of the Venerable Bede, writing in the very early 8th century, that “Eostre” is derived from “Eostre-monath”, the month in which pagan Saxons celebrated the festival of the goddess Eostre. It’s a simple explanation, and one with which with which scholars of philology have had endless fun ever since – some even denying that there ever was a goddess Eostre and that Bede (uncharacteristically) made the whole thing up. But “eostre” is cognate with “öster”, the German for east, and is therefore associated with sunrise and hence spring, so Bede’s explanation at least has context on its side. Indeed the feast is only called “Easter” in Germanic countries: in France it’s called “Pâques”, a variation on the Jewish spring festival Pesach, and other Latin countries use names of the same derivation.

Fascinating stuff, but it doesn’t get us much closer to the chocolate. And the answer is eggs. Eggs have been associated with spring since... well, since birds started

laying them in spring. There are Persian wall-paintings of eggs being given as gifts from 2,500 years ago; the tradition survived the country’s conversion to Islam and persists to this day. In Egypt, another Islamic country, there is a seasonal tradition of egg decorating of unknown antiquity; in eastern Orthodox countries they paint eggs red (for Christ’s blood) and green (for returning spring); in England and North-Western Europe there is a tradition of rolling coloured eggs down hills at Eastertime, echoing the rolling away of the stone from the Holy Sepulchre; in America the White House puts on an annual display of decorated eggs from every state of the union, and favoured children (how are they selected?) are invited to a spot of egg-rolling on the White House lawn.

Egg decoration seems to have evolved into making eggs out of solid chocolate in France or Germany in the early 19th century, and the first Easter egg in England came from Cadbury’s in 1842. These eggs can hardly have been for the mass market since the chocolate of the time was very expensive and also very bitter. Finer, less harsh, and less expensive chocolate was made possible by more sophisticated processing equipment in the later 19th century, and Cadbury’s produced its first hollow egg (filled with sweets) in 1875. The first milk chocolate Easter egg followed exactly 30 years later and... well, what more do we need to know? Except that Easter eggs sell for a far higher price per gram than the slab chocolate of which they’re made, and as they’ll keep almost indefinitely any left unsold can simply go into cold store until next year – at which time next year’s prices can be charged for last year’s stock. As I said, it’s all a very long way from the Mount of Olives!

Well, that’s just about it for Easter – except that I forgot Easter bunnies. Well, springtime, fertility, rabbits, breeding, etcetera... need I say more? Oh, and Easter bonnets.

Sorry, no idea.

EasterIt’s been a long road from the glory of Jesus Christ’s death resurrection – the central miracle of the Christian faith – to gorging on chocolate. And it’s a road that those of a philosophical bent might liken to the descent of Western civilisation into gluttonous consumerism. But leaving such considerations aside, how did it happen?

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20

It never ceases to amaze me how much damage something as small as a slug can do and in such a short space of time. But then the truth of it is, there is never just one slug or one snail, you can always be sure that there will be hoards of them. I garden on clay and our soil is alkaline and so we have a plentiful supply of snails; if you garden on an acidic soil you will generally find that snails are not a problem as they need the calcium to make their shells.

To say that they infuriate me would be an understatement, but the type I hate most are those small grey-black keeled slugs that do such a lot of damage to crops such as potatoes. I garden without chemicals so there is no question of using pellets, but I have tried pretty well every other trick in the book. When it comes to potatoes I grow largely earlies and early mains and these crops are less susceptible because they are lifted relatively promptly. It also

pays dividends if you grow varieties such as Pentland Dell, Wilja, Charlotte, Estima and Pentland Ivory all of which show a good degree of resistance to these slugs.

I also use the biological control nematode Phasmarhabdites hermaphrodita. True this may prove quite expensive but it works brilliantly against slugs, poses no environmental problems (it is a naturally occurring parasite of British slugs) and is perfect for controlling any slug that spends time underground. If you time the applications so that the crops, flowers or other plants are protected while they are at their most vulnerable, it shouldn’t be too much of an outlay.

Slug and snail traps also work well, whether you buy your own ‘Slug Pubs’ or make them by plunging plastic beakers into the soil close to susceptible plants and then part filling them with beer. I once did a mini trial on Gardeners’ Question Time to see which beers slugs and snails liked best, and Guinness came out tops....with alcohol-free lager proving least popular! I also find that milk (stale works well) is good, and if you add a small quantity of grain or porridge oats to the liquid, the pests come in at an amazing rate. Do make sure that you leave a centimetre or so of the rim of the beaker protruding above the soil level as this will greatly reduce the number of beneficial creatures such as ground beetles that inadvertently fall in to the traps. Upturned half grapefruit skins or even large

Slugs and Snails

This is the time of year when you’re likely to start to notice the presence of slugs and snails in your garden, greenhouse, coldframe, window box....indeed just about everywhere. There are many different species; the most common in gardens are probably species of Milax (the keeled slugs) and Arion (e.g. the garden slug and the large black slug), plus the grey field slug (Deroceras reticulatus). The garden snail, Helix aspersa is generally the most troublesome but may also be joined by various species of the banded snail, Cepaea.

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by Pippa Greenwood

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and make Veg Growing Easy. Just select the vegetables you’d like to grow and you’ll receive garden ready veg plants PLUS every week Pippa emails you hints, tips and advice about your chosen veg. From just £39 for up to 66 garden-ready plants, 6 packets of seed and the weekly emails. Pippa’s website now also offers a great selection of growing frames, cloches, raised bed kits and biological controls.

cabbage leaves can also be used as traps, but remember to empty or replace these daily or else the slugs and snails will re-enter the garden.

If you create barriers around plants this can help, but I find it less reliable. My preferred materials are coco-shell (the mulching material), pine needles and crushed shells (e.g. oyster shell sold by poultry feed suppliers). But whatever you use do remember to put it in a complete circle around the base of the plant, not just a ring or the slugs may simply come up inside the ring and of course check it regularly, replenishing the material as necessary.

So before they start to really get a hold, show them who is boss, and take action straight away:

• Encourage wildlife such as ground beetles, birds and hedgehogs as these may help to keep numbers down.

• Create barriers around particularly susceptible plants.

• Buy or make slug traps.

• If growing potatoes concentrate on earlies and lift these as soon as possible.

• Grow varieties of potato that show some resistance to attack.

• Use the biological control as a soil drench to control slugs (not snails)

• Attach copper strip around the circumference of pots containing slug susceptible plants.

• Go on night-time slug and snail hunts.

• In late autumn collect up snails from their hibernating places.

Page 22: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

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Alan BennettFame came knocking overnight for Bennett after the Oxford university lecturer teamed up with Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Peter Cook to write and perform in the satirical revue Beyond the Fringe. One of his most-loved series is Talking Heads which was originally written as a series of hilarious character monologues for the BBC. Bennett enjoyed further acclaim with his play The History Boys. Set in a fictitious boys’ grammar school it follows a group of students preparing for the Oxbridge exams. It won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2005 and scooped Best Play at the Tonys the following year.

Harold PinterThe best thing about seeing a Pinter play is hearing everyone in the interval trying to work out what it all means. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature so you know it’s good stuff, you just may not know whether you actually like it or not. Although Pinter didn’t win critical acclaim until The Caretaker, it’s

April sees us celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday. He’s our most celebrated playwright but who else believed ‘all the world’s a stage’?

The Play’s the Thing

worth reading his earlier work, The Room, which he wrote in three days. The Dumb Waiter produces a lot of laughs with an excellent twist at the end and A Slight Ache might leave you examining your own relationships.

Alan AyckbournPlaywrights don’t come more prolific than Alan Ayckbourn who’s written more than seventy plays. In Absurd Person Singular, three married couples take it in turns to host a dinner party on three consecutive Christmas Eves. It was adapted into a television drama with Geoffrey Palmer, Maureen Lipman, Michael Gambon and Prunella Scales among the cast. Sisterly Feelings is a challenging Ayckbourn play following the lives of siblings Abigail and Dorcas. The first and last scenes always remain the same, whilst the decision to go with either Dorcas’s story or Abigail’s is made on a coin toss at the end of the first. Some companies rehearse just one version but others

learn both.

Sir Tom StoppardStoppard began his career as a journalist before becoming a drama critic and then a playwright. His works often centre on themes of human rights, politics and

freedom of expression. His first great success, Enter a Free Man follows the story of George who has unrealistic dreams about a reusable envelope empire he’s planning on building. In his Tony award-winning play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead his two main protagonists are the actors playing the parts of the messengers in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Most of the action takes place in the wings during Hamlet and great confusion and ambiguity ensues.

Sir Noel CowardThere’s still time to catch Noel Coward’s Hay Fever which is currently enjoying a successful run in the West End. Hay Fever is a lesson in the importance of paying attention to your house guests. Set in the 1920s it deals with the four eccentric members of the Bliss family and the farce that ensues when they all invite a guest to stay for the weekend. Coward’s Blithe Spirit is also a theatrical mainstay. This time the socialite Charles Condomine is tormented by the ghost of his first wife who is hell-bent on ruining his second marriage.

Page 23: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012

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Useful Local Information

Around LutterworthSchool Holiday Dates

SUMMER TERMSchools Open

Monday morning 16th April 2012May Day Monday 7th May 2012

Mid Term Break Friday 1st to 8th June 2012

(Note change of half -term date)Schools Close

Friday evening 13th July 2012AUTUMN TERM

Schools Open Thursday morning 30th August 2012 77

Mid Term Break Monday 22nd to Friday 26th October 2012

Schools Close Friday evening 21st December 2012

Taxi numbers

Fast Track Taxi 0800 0931112

George’s Taxis 01455 559000

Lutterworth Taxis 0845 4817297

Pinnacle Hire 01455 554368

Smart-Moves Taxis 01455 202698

When you’ve finished reading Around Lutterworth why not keep it as a useful local guide to businesses and services. You could also pass it on to someone who may not have read it....and always remember to put old editions in your recycle bin!

Local Churches & places of Worship

All Saints Church 01788 860409

Swinford, Leicestershire, LE17 6BQ All Saints Church

01455 552119 Church Lane, Gilmorton, Leicestershire, LE17 5LU

Living Rock Church 01455 555468

LE17 4SPLutterworth Community Church

01455 557806 Lutterworth Grammar School,

Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4AG

Lutterworth Methodist Church 01788 576929

Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth. LE17 4EZ

Lutterworth United Reformed Church 01455 552594

George Street, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4ES

Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church 01455 552523

28 Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4EY

St Marys Church 01455 282261

Old Rectory Close, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, LE9 6PP

St Marys Parish Church 01455 558797

Church Street, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4RL

Sutton Elms Baptist Church 01455 283874

80 Leicester Road, Sutton Elms, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, LE9 6QF

Page 24: Around Lutterworth Magazine April 2012