Pick of the Press 

 
Each month we receive masses of information from companies about new products and events. Here is a brief summary from the latest batch; please bear in mind these are just extracts from information we have been sent and we have taken no action to verify any aspects.

THIS MONTH’S PRESS RELEASES

FINANCIAL HELP AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WORLD WAR II VETERANS

Mr Ted Cachart, Chairman of the 49 Squadron Association, sent us the following:

I am writing to you on behalf of World War II veterans who, due to a lack of advertising, may not have been aware that in 2011 financial grants, Heroes Return II, were available from the Big Lottery Fund to enable veterans and or their widows to pay a visit of remembrance to the theatre of war that they were involved in.

Veterans, male or female, widows, and widowers of veterans, can all apply. The offer also extends to- Merchant Seamen, as well as WAAF’s and ATS who worked closely with active personnel.

It appears that the number of veterans claiming these grants were far less than anticipated resulting in these grants being extended to December 31st 2012. It would be extremely helpful if you can find space to make these details known so that veterans, who will now be aged 80 and over, may still take advantage of these grants and plan a visit.

The grants range from £150 to cover travel and accommodation for veteran, spouse and carer, within the UK, £1,300 to Northern Europe and £5.500 to the Far East.

As I have received a grant for a visit I made last December, I would be more than willing to advise any of your readers on how and where to claim.

Ted Cachart
4 Cottage Close
Heage, Belper,Derbyshire.
DE 56 2BS
Tel: 01773 853 181
e mail: ted@49squadron.co.uk
Chairman of the 49 Squadron Association

WHERE TO SPOT SNOWDROPS.

The National Trust has sent us their ideas on the top 10 spots for seeing snowdrops this month:

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill, Cambridgeshire
During February Anglesey’s garden majestically boasts 240 different varieties of snowdrop scattered across 114 acres. Meander through the paths and soak up the fabulous show that the garden offers during this time. Snowdrops will not be all that you see; the winter garden shows coloured tree barks, winter flowering shrubs and ground cover plants.
General admission charges apply.
For more information please call 01223 810080.

The Argory, Co. Armagh
This spectacular riverside estate shows a stunning display of snowdrops and other superb spring bulbs throughout February. Snowdrop self-guided walks run every Saturday and Sunday in the month, where the scenic walk shows off the garden as the frost thaws. The show keeps getting better and better each year with the stunning backdrop of sweeping vistas. With snowdrop plants available to buy, fun for children in the adventure playground, a trip to The Argory this February is well worth it.
Grounds admission charges apply.
Snowdrop Walks, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 February, 12pm-5pm
Booking is not required for this event
£3 per adult, £1.50 per child or £7.50 per family
For more information please call 028 8778 4753.

Attingham Park, Shropshire
Watch the woodland floor transform into a stunning carpet of snowdrops during Attingham’s snowdrop season. Stroll around this great estate between Shrewsbury and the River Severn and enjoy abundant sprinkles of the delicate flowers in beautiful parkland, designed to impress.
Park and grounds admission charges apply.
For more information please call 01743 708123.

Belton House, Lincolnshire
With delightful gardens, a luxuriantly planted Orangery and lakeside walks, Belton is a pleasure to explore all year round and never more so as the early signs of spring creep in. Don’t miss delicate displays of snowdrops that melt away all thoughts of winter.
Grounds admission charges apply.
For more information please call 01476 566116.

Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Chase away those winter blues with a bracing walk around the award winning gardens and woods carpeted with delicate snowdrops. Glimpses of the spring bulbs can be found throughout the garden. The snowdrops scatter between clipped yews, herbaceous borders, shrub and rock gardens, as well as a terrace with stunning views over the Cheshire and Salop plains. In early spring, don’t miss the drifts of snowdrops that dance through the woodland during the snowdrop days.
General admission charges apply.
Snowdrop Days, 1-29 February, 11am-4pm
Enjoy a walk around the award-winning gardens to celebrate the snowdrops.
Booking in not required for this event.
For more information please call 01691 777701.

Dunham Massey, Cheshire
Take a stroll in one of the North’s greatest gardens and discover the delights of Britain’s largest winter garden, where the white carpet will be rolled out for visitors. The garden contains almost 700 different plant species and a further 1,600 shrubs specifically bred for the 7 acre wonder. January heralds the first early signs of spring with the delicate charms of snowdrops, where clusters of over 100,000 double and single snowdrops and 20,000 narcissi bloom amongst the trees.
Garden admission charges apply.
For more information please call 0161 941 1025.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Yorkshire
This World Heritage Site, set in 323 hectares of beautiful countryside, offers an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the range of England's heritage and natural beauty. Walk on a white carpet of snowdrops in early spring as you explore the magnificent 12th-century abbey ruins and amble through the beautiful landscaped Georgian water garden of Studley Royal, complete with Neo-classical statues, follies and breathtaking views.
Normal admission charges apply.
For more information please call 01765 608888.

Ickworth, Suffolk
Wander around Ickworth’s park and along Geraldine’s Walk, Oak Walk and the Trim Trail, where snowdrops are complemented by the golden glow of aconites. Discover amazing views of the estate, or warm up in the West Wing restaurant with delicious food and drink (Friday to Tuesday).
Garden admission charges apply.
For more information please call 01284 735270.

Kingston Lacy, Dorset
While the weather forecasters can't promise snow, Kingston Lacy can predict a dazzling blanket of snowdrops each winter. The garden wakes up in spectacular fashion in January and February when thousands of this favourite flower burst through the soil transforming the garden into a sea of white. Special snowdrop openings are a tradition at Kingston Lacy so visitors can wander through the displays and salute this first welcome sign of spring.
Park and garden admission charges apply.
For more information please call 01202 883402.

Nymans, West Sussex
This 20th-century garden is famed for its amazing collection of rare and important plants. At the start of spring, spot wonderful displays of snowdrops as well as camellias and magnolias underplanted with a host of daffodils and grape hyacinths. The bulb meadow in the Wall Garden is full of snowdrops and early narcissus and there are rare hellebores all around the garden.
Garden admission charges apply.
For more information please call 01444 405250.

Motor insurance information to help obtain the best cover
Defaqto sent us this story:

According to independent financial research company Defaqto:

• Only 22% of policies on the market will provide a courtesy car in the event of a total loss (where your car has been stolen and not recovered or is damaged beyond economical repair), as standard. A number of policies will offer this cover as an optional extension in exchange for an additional premium; however 39% of products offer no cover at all

• In the unfortunate event that you were to have an accident and your vehicle was immobilised, the service provided by comprehensive car policies varies widely within the market. Only 49% of policies arrange for the vehicle to be removed from the scene of the accident, while 46% expect you to arrange the recovery and simply pay for the costs

• In addition, following an accident where your car is not roadworthy, only 43% of current policies provide an ‘accident transport’ service and arrange for recovery of you and your passengers from the scene to a safe place, your home or intended destination

• 63% of policies provide a Legal Advice Helpline should you need help with regards to any personal legal matters; only 32% of these policies providing the helpline as standard

Defaqto has just launched its 2012 Star Ratings for comprehensive motor insurance, which aim to help people understand the overall level of features and benefits that different policies offer. Defaqto has given each policy on the market a rating from 1 to 5 depending on how comprehensive they are. The key is for people to identify products with the right type and level of features for their needs, whether this happens to be a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Star Rated product.

People can access Defaqto’s Star Ratings for comprehensive motor insurance at: www.defaqto.com/star-ratings/motor-insurance - where they will be able to:

• Identify which Star Rating their current product, or one they are considering, has so they can judge whether it is the right level of product for their requirements
• Find other products with the same Star Rating or with a higher or lower rating
• Compare the features and benefits of a product with others on the market

 

Exercise tool launched to help older people stay fit as a fiddle
We received this information from the NHS:

Adults over the age of 65 spend on average 10 hours or more each day sitting or lying down and consequently they’re paying the price for it, with higher rates of falls, obesity, heart disease and early death than the general population. NHS Choices, the health information website for the NHS, is encouraging older people to get active with the help of their new ‘exercises for older people’ tool available at: www.nhs.uk/exercises-for-older-people

The tool, which is clinically approved and available to download, provides step-by-step instructions on how older people can get active in the comfort of their own home. The exercises focus on building up strength, flexibility and balance, from mini squats and bicep curls to sideways walking and calf stretches. For those less active, there is also a set of gentle and easy sitting exercises to get started with.

GP, Dr Knut Schroeder, said: “As people get older their bodies no longer respond the way they used to, but there are specific things you can do to improve your quality of life, such as healthy eating and exercise. People who keep active as they get older have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancers, depression and dementia. Keeping fit also helps people maintain their independence, which I know from speaking to my older patients, is very important. Whether you’re fit and active, have difficulty getting around or are worried about falling, it’s worth using the NHS exercise tool.”

NHS Choices offers the following tips for older people on how to get started with exercise:

• If you’ve not done much physical activity for a while, you may want to get the all-clear from a GP before starting
• Use a stable chair without wheels for the exercises that require sitting down.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and keep water handy
• Attempt these exercises at least twice a week
• Build up slowly and aim to increase the repetitions of each exercise over time
• As your fitness improves look for a group session near you. Age UK has lots of ideas available.

For further information about staying fit and healthy visit www.nhs.uk

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