Month: September 2020

Vote For Our Group Parish Council

Broadwindsor Parish Group Council has been short listed with four others as Council of the Month.  Organised by Public Sector Executive – give them your Vote on Twitter HERE. There’s still a few days left!

Nominated for their Outstanding Community Spirit, Helen Cudmore said “In the five years that I have been Clerk, the Parish Council has produced a comprehensive Neighbourhood Plan which was successfully adopted in 2019, initiated a Community Land Trust which has just received planning permission for fifteen much needed affordable homes for local people, completed an Emergency Plan which was successfully implemented during the recent pandemic and fundraiser for the installation of play equipment area for young people which was highlighted in its 2012 Parish Plan.”

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BGPC,#Vote,#Twitter,#CommunitySpirit,#PSE,#SocialDistancing,#BeKind,#StaySafe

Sloe Gin

Sloe gin is a British red liqueur made with gin, sloes and sugar.

There are many locations in and around our lovely village where one can gather sloes from the Blackthorn bushes which had beautiful white blossom in the Spring.  The number of sloes you will find on a blackthorn bush or tree each year is very much linked to the weather during the previous spring and summer. Too dry and the sloes will be small and shrivelled. Too wet and cold and they will not develop at all. A good crop of plump, well-ripened sloes needs the perfect balance of warmth and water. This year – crops are good 🙂

There is a lot of debate about when to pick sloes. For the best flavour, wait until the berries are ripe. They should be a rich dark purple and should squash easily between your fingertips. It’s a good sign if they’ve already started to drop naturally to the ground.

If you’re picking them for sloe gin then traditionally you wait until after the first frost. These days, there’s no reason why you can’t pick them earlier, bag them up and pop them in your freezer to mimic that first frost. The theory behind this is that the frost splits the skins so the juices can flow into your gin without you having to go to the effort of pricking all the berries.

Ingredients

  • 1 litre bottle of gin
  • 500g sloes
  • 250g caster sugar
  • 1 large sterilised jar or 2 empty gin bottles

Method

  1. Wash sloes and seal in an airtight bag. Freeze overnight or until you’re ready to make the gin.
  2. Put frozen sloes into sterilised jar or empty gin bottles.
  3. Add gin then the sugar directly onto frozen sloes. Their skins will split which means you avoid the laborious pricking of each individual sloe berry.
  4. Seal jar tightly and shake well.
  5. Store jar in a cool, dark place and shake every other day for a week. After the first week you only need to shake it once a week for 2 months.
  6. Leave for a minimum of 12 weeks.  The liquid should now be dark red and ready for drinking, although it does improve over time.

Serve sloe gin neat, over ice or drizzle over ice cream.  You can also make the cocktail Sloe Royale by adding some to sparkling wine, prosecco  or champagne.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#Harvest,#Madron,#SloeGin,#Drink,#BeMarry,#BeKind,#BeSafe

 

Broadwindsor Cricket Club Broken Into

Last night (Friday, September 18th) a mower and scarifier were stolen from Broadwindsor Cricket Club.

The thieves probably had a car or small van as none of the larger items were taken.  The lock is cemented to the ground and this was broken. The top small gate was open so it is likely they gained access this way.

The incident has been reported to the police. If you saw or heard anything suspicious, or if you have been offered these items of machinery then please contact: Dorset Police – online HERE or call 101.
The crime/incident no. is: 55 200 141 436.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#Theft,#CrimeStoppers,#DorsetPolice,#BroadwindsorCC,#StaySafe

 

 

Madron – the Autumn Equinox

The Autumn equinox occurs on Tuesday, September 22nd*.  Summer has come to an end.
Madron, sometimes called Mabon is the time of year when crops are harvested and a time where once again light and dark are in balance. The wheel of the year turns: the sun is rising later now, and nightfall comes sooner.
Themes of celebration include grain, balance, thanksgiving and gratitude for what you’ve “harvested” – and abundance 🙂 Prepare your chutneys, jams and preserves and store for winter. It is a time to throw out the old and take on the new although it is also the feast of the healer, bringing justice. This Sabbat is marked by the release of symbolic prisoners such as old arguments or regrets,
Madron is very much about healing and putting mistakes behind us so we can move on and learn from the lessons we have had and move on with lessons yet to be learned.

*By the meteorological calendar, the first day of Autumn is always 1 September; ending on 30 November.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#Autumn,#Equinox,#Madron,#Mabon,#Harvest,#Heal,#WinterIsComing,#SocialDistancing,#BeKind,#StaySafe

 

Our Shop Needs More Volunteers!

Our marvellous Community Stores is in desperate need as new volunteers are needed to cover staff and other volunteers being on holiday. The large white board to the right of the counter in the shop displays the names of people who have put their name down and volunteered to man the shop for a 2 hour shift next week – could YOU fill in any of the blanks to cover a 2 hour shift?  Once a shift has been agreed it is then the volunteer’s responsibility to arrange a relief should that be necessary.

You can be reassured that all the necessary measures are in place to keep you Covid-19 safe in the shop environment.
There is also a panic alarm fitted to ensure your safety.

Ready? Download an application form to volunteer HERE. Email your completed form to Volunteer Co-ordinator, Teri Small (her email address is on the form) or call into the shop and leave it there and speak to Kevin (Shop Manager) or if you prefer, phone him: 01308 867922.

Haven’t helped in the shop before?  Not confident in operating the till or debit card machines? This is NOT a problem. 🙂

Broadwindsor Community StoresAll new volunteers are supported by another experienced team member or a member of staff (Kevin, Jane & Margaret) – a “Buddy”.  You are given training and support to carry out the everyday tasks: either on the till, serving customers, or if that’s not for you, then help with administration, cleaning, or stock replenishment.
You can read and download their policies HERE which includes the Staff and Volunteer Handbook which outlines all the duties that must be undertaken in the successful daily running of the shop.

What do you get out of it?  Working as part of the team, you can:

‣ Participate in an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
‣ Increase your connection to the community.
‣ Feel productive.
‣ Use your skills and share your experience, interests and knowledge.
‣ Learn new skills.
‣ Make new friends.

Our award winning Broadwindsor Community Stores can only continue with your help.
Please don’t assume that because it’s only two hours, that there will be someone else to fill it because there isn’t!  Please help if you can.  Thank you.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BroadwindsorCommunityStores,#VillageShop,#Volunteers,#Help,#Food,#Drink,#Community,#SocialDistancing,#StaySafe

 

Take Part In An Advent Window Trail This Christmas

Our lovely Rev. Jo has had the most lovely, community spirited idea and needs your participation for the project to be a success. Here are her words:

“Something I had been thinking about for Christmas was a community activity that wouldn’t be Covid 19 sensitive. It is unlikely, I think, that we will be singing carols in the pub this year for example and our community carol services in church would need to be different too. I wondered about an Advent Trail around the village with different window displays every evening in Advent.

If you have a little search around the internet you will find many different Advent calendar ideas from beach huts in Brighton to windows around villages in Nottinghamshire and everything in between. Perhaps if we choose a theme, maybe Christmas carols, make a list of 24 and then families volunteered to decorate a window according to the theme. Then every evening in Advent, perhaps as early as 4pm, the new window was lit up so we could come and look on our evening strolls.

You would need a window visible from the street, as we don’t want to encourage people to walk up drives, but I think we probably have lots of visible windows in Broadwindsor and Drimpton. The final window, 24, probably should be at the church.  I’m happy to coordinate the idea but need a bit of local interest to make it succeed. If you think you would like to be part of an Advent Window Trail this December in either Broadwindsor or Drimpton then send me an email to revneary@gmail.com and we can get planning.”

Rev Jo Neary
Pioneer Priest
Beaminster Area Team
01308 867816

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#Drimpton,#BeaminsterTeamChurches,#Advent,#Christmas,#Fun,#Community,#AdventWindowTrail,#TakePart,#BeKind,#StaySafe

Change of Hours at Beaminster Food Bank

The Food Bank in Beaminster is located in the Prout Bridge Building, 6 Prout Bridge, Beaminster DT8 3AY  and is an invaluable source to many.  They now open 10am – 12noon on Mondays and Fridays every week.

Those who need to use the Food Bank can get in contact via telephone: 07434 654 652 or email beaminsterfoodbank@gmail.com and arrange to collect a parcel. You do not need a referral – but it helps! If you have been referred, you’ll be given a voucher – which you should take to your nearest foodbank. There, your voucher will be redeemed for 3 days worth of nutritionally balanced food.

They are still taking donations which are always needed and very welcome. donation boxes can be found at:

  • Beaminster Pharmacy
  • Yarn Barton Centre
  • Co-op
  • Prout Bridge

Vouchers are accepted at Nick Tett‘s butchers and Fruit and Two Veg. Delivery can be arranged in emergencies.

They thank you so much for your support and do please encourage those who are in need to contact them. They provide fresh food and free groceries. They are fully stocked and ready to help. 🙂

Food Banks normally provide non perishable foods unless stated otherwise and will try to tailor if possible any special dietary requests e.g. vegetarian. Please note: Food Banks are not a long term solution. They are there to help in times of crisis.

#Broadwindsor,#WestDorset,#DiscoverBeaminster,#Dorset,#FoodBank,#Help,#Donations,#Hungry,#BeKind,#SocialDistancing,#WearYourMask,#StaySafe

Local Employment: Part-time Cook at Symondsbury Kitchen

Symondsbury Kitchen is part of the Symondsbury Estate: a countryside cafe in the heart of Symondsbury. Open everyday for breakfast, lunch, brunch, afternoon tea and private bookings.

They are looking for a part-time cook looking to grow their skills in their busy kitchen. Responsibilities will include basic food preperation and cooking. Trained chef experience is not required but previous cook experience is preferred.

Hours will involve regular weekend work, weekdays and some requirement for evening work.

Please email your CV to sarah@symondsburyestate.co.uk to apply.

The Symondsbury Kitchen is now serving delicious seasonal dishes including their autumn salad and their braised pork, butter bean and chorizo stew. They also serve Hollis Mead organic milk as an option for their coffees!  Dogs are welcome to bring their owners 🙂  Tel: 01308 424116 to book.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#Jobs,#Work,#Local,#Cook,#chef,#PartTime,#SymondsburyEstate,#HollisMead,#Food,#DogsWelcome,#SocialDistancing,#BeKind,#StaySafe

Apologies! It’s Only 100 Days Until Christmas!

Today, Wednesday, September 16th 2020 marks just 100 days remaining until Christmas Day.  No one is able to predict what restrictions we will be in place by then but Christmas 2020 will certainly be a bit different this year.  This may disappoint many – but, it may at least help you spend less.

On *Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website – he offers 40 different things you can do prepare now to reduce the financial stress and avoid being skint in January 2021. His guide covers those listed in the photograph below (Click on the photograph to see larger print size) and much more.  Read all 40 of them HERE.
Matin Lewis - Xmas tips*Martin Lewis OBE is a financial journalist and TV presenter of his own programme who founded MoneySavingExpert.com in February 2003.  His website provides both British consumer finance information and a platform for discussion.  All free. He was appointed OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June 2014 for services to consumer rights and charity.  Well done Martin 🙂

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#MartinLewis,#Christmas,#MoneySavingExpert,#SaveMoney,#SpendLess,#100Days,#SocialDistancing,#BeKind,#StaySafe