NOW WYE VALLEY & THE MARCHES FREE Issue 40 November 2014

Transcription

WYE VALLEY & THE MARCHES
NOW
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HOME & GARDEN • FOOD & DRINK • COUNTRY WALKS •Wye
NATURE
NOTEBOOK • WHAT’S ON • COMPETITIONS
Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk
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Issue 40 November 2014
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Wye Valley and the Marches Now • November ‘14 • www.wyevalleynow.co.uk
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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.
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35Walk
Monmouth – the ‘Picturesque’ Wye Valley
36 Senior Living
Your guide to services and products for the older generation
38Past
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A Thankful Village
40 What’s On
Things to do in your area in November including Contemporary Craft Fair, Christmas Carvery and Vintage Fair
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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
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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
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
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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]
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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.
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home & garden
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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
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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
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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
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
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home & garden
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home & garden
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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.
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home & garden
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
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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
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
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
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property
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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
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
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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,
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.
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fashion
26
motoring
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
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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
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
29
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
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
31
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].
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
33
34
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
35
senior living
36
senior living
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:
“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
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.
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.
Cost: free event, normal
admission charges apply
Friday 21st
Christmas carvery
Croome Park
near High Green
Worcester
WR8 9DW
Contact: www.
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
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.
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
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.
41
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.
Cost: £17.00 / £21.00
Thursday 27th
Christmas alternative
wreath making
workshop
Croome Park
near High Green
Worcester
WR8 9DW
Contact: www.
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.
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.
Cost: £10 / £8 / £5
43
44

NOW WYE VALLEY & THE MARCHES FREE Issue 40 November 2014

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NOW WYE VALLEY & THE MARCHES FREE Issue 40 November 2014