Halesworth & Southwold Community News - April 2026

y News

D.C. Patrick

D.C. Patrick

D.C. Patrick

NEWSAGENTS

4 Market Hill, Framlingham Has taken over Grange News

D.C. Patrick

NEWSAGENTS

4 Market Hill, Framlingham saH taken over ngeraG News

4 Market Hill, Framlingham Has taken over Grange News

Following Bob s retirement, David is taking on the rounds covered by Grange news

David has over 40 years experience and runs newsagents in Halesworth and Framlingham.

Bob

Following Bob s retirement David is taking on the rounds covered by Grange news

Bob s son Craig will continue to manage the service and will be delivering 7 days a to all the same locations.

hope you will continue to support the ase e any q ound Woodbridge and the surrounding villages.

4 Market Hill, Framlingham Has taken over Grange News Tel: 01986 874 305 & 07907 223 715

David has over 40 years experience and runs newsagents in Halesworth and Framlingham. aig wi the service and will be delivering 7 days a to all the same locations. hope you will continue to support the an h deliveries in and around Woodbridge and the surrounding villages.

Tel: 01986 874 305 & 07907 223 715

Tel: 01986 874 305 & 07907 223 715

New 100-seater stand installed at Halesworth Town FC

Another milestone for Halesworth Town Football Club: We have now installed our new 100-seater stand! This is the final stage of the Step 6 ground grading needed by March 31st.

impact on the club's progress.

Over £1,300 raised A heartfelt thank you to our supporters

email: kwclarkesorder@gmail.com

Email: sharmangary4@gmail.com

'Our FamOus barbecue packs' £39.99

4lb Flavoured Ribs

WINTER WARMER PACK 1: £43.99 Casserole packs for those cold evenings x2 1lb minced beef, x2 1lb diced beef, x2 1lb diced pork, x2 1lb sausages, x2 1lb minced pork

4lb

4lb Flavoured Chicken 4lb Sausages

10 Beef Burgers

5 Pork and Apple Burgers

WINTER WARMER PACK 2: £58.99 Slow roast joint pack x2 1kg shoulder of pork, x2 1kg shoulder of lamb, x2 1kg brisket slow roast

We are very pleased with the construction by Elite Stands UK; it looks fantastic. It was shipped from Wales to Halesworth on Friday morning (6th March) and is an important part of the club's most recent development at Dairy Hill.

Fantastic Attendances 2025/26

Thanks to our fantastic supporters (HTFC Ultras), the 1st team has had an average attendance of 170 in our debut season in non-league football. Our highest attendance was 344, which is unbelievable!

Thank you to Kerslake Construction Ltd for their involvement in the 100-seater stand project. We know this is something that Will Kerslake and Toby Chenery would have been so very proud of; they are both forever in our hearts.

A memorial bench in memory of Toby Chenery is now in place outside the clubhouse. This was made by Toby's stepdad, Gareth Wilson - it's a fantastic piece of work, and we're extremely proud to have this at the football ground. Finally, a special thanks to Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust for your amazing support of Halesworth Town Football Club.

Our first event of the year, our very popular Jumble Sale, was a great success! The hall was very busy with people enjoying catching up with each other over a cup of tea and a slice of delicious cake and finding some bargains on the various tables and clothes rails.

We're always so grateful that you all come along to support our events and we're delighted to tell you that you raised a fantastic £1,324.94. Thank you to Halesworth Co-op for providing a lovely hamper for the raffle which contributed £111 to our total and was won by G. Butler with yellow ticket 88. Thank you to everyone who baked for our refreshments.

and all the committee members were happy to continue to serve except for Valerie who stood down as she is hoping to move shortly, however she and husband Michael happily have said they will continue to help us for as long as they can. We're very grateful for everything they have done for The Halesworth Branch of Cancer Research and wish them well.

Our Area Manager, Sophia France was also present and informed the group of the science behind some of the research and how it is making a real difference to so many people especially people at high risk of getting cancer with preventative treatments before the cancer appears.

Small Barbecue Packs

Small Barbecue Packs £9.99

WINTER WARMER PACK 3: £57.99

£9.99

All barbecue meat available loose including... Fresh Flavoured Ribs, Chicken & Burgers

All barbecue meat available loose including...

1kg shoulder pork joint, 1kg shoulder of lamb joint, 1kg brisket, slow roast, x2 1lb mince, x1 1lb diced beef, x1 1lb sausages

Fresh Flavoured Ribs, Chicken & Burgers

Also Salads, Pickles and Sauces

24 HOURS NOTICE APPRECIATED

Also Salads, Pickles and Sauces

Traditionally-reared local beef, lamb, pork and poultry, home-cooked hams and home-cured gammons

OPENING HOURS

Mon-Fri 7am-5pm & Sat 7am-1pm

This season's Step 6 requirement was for a 50-seater stand, but we pushed that extra bit to get a new 100-seater undercover stand to cater for our fantastic home support and travelling fans alike.

We hope you all enjoy the new stand. We would like to thank everyone involved at the football club: players, managers, coaches, committee members, matchday helpers, and all our fantastic sponsors. Last but not least, a huge thank you to our supporters, the "Black & White Army" - you've all had a huge

We held our AGM on March 5th in Maureen's meeting room at Halesworth Co-op. Our President Dr. Clarke opened and also closed the meeting with some encouraging remarks about how far cancer treatments have advanced since he qualified 60 years ago. He also praised the successful year that the group had with all the fundraising events and how important it is to continue to raise money so that Cancer Research can continue its ground breaking research.

The election of officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) remains the same

We'll have completed our second event of the year, 'The Big Breakfast' by the time you read this; we'll let you know how we got on in the next edition. We don't have an event in April but looking ahead our Spring Fair is in Holton Village Hall on May 16th, please pop the date on your calendar!

We totally rely on your support and we are extremely grateful that you all continue to come along to our events. Thank you so much. For more information, please contact Dawn Davis on: 01986 873640.

Wenhaston Village Hall

unveils new kitchen

Wenhaston Village Hall Management Committee have been raising funds since June 2025 to enable the complete refurbishment of the old kitchen and associated café, to have a new design and all new appliances.

The company carrying out the refurbishment is Mulberry Kitchen Studios of Beccles, a family business established more than 50 years ago and who have a reputation for excellence. They started work on February 9th and it's scheduled for completion by February 27th.

The donors who have helped to make all of this possible are:

• The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement £4,000.

• Adnams Community Fund

£2,461.16

• The National Lottery Community Fund £16,490.

• East Suffolk Council (Cllrs. Beth Key-Holloway & Geoff Wakeling) £2,000.

• Wenhaston Village Hall

£10,000.

• Private Donations £ 1,000.

• Donations raised at Wenhaston Village Hall 50th Birthday Party £340.02

• Grand Total: £36,291,18 Thank you to all who have donated and made possible the kitchen modernisation of our Village Hall.

The raising of funds has proved quite a challenge, so a big thank you goes to all the Committee members who have contributed time and effort to this worthwhile project.

We held a 'New Kitchen Open Evening' on March 20th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm with wine and nibbles. This gave residents of Wenhaston and the surrounding area the chance to come and have a look at the new kitchen to see what has been accomplished. Our aim has been to make the Village Hall a more suitable venue for events and functions including Wedding Receptions, Birthdays, Wakes, Business Meetings, Children's Parties and more.

Susie Cooke (Chair, Wenhaston Village Hall Management Committee)

New General Manager

Southwold Arts Centre has appointed Gina Stock as its new General Manager, strengthening the organisation's ambition to expand its artistic programme and deepen its engagement with audiences across the region. Gina joins the Centre following the completion of a Masters of Philosophy, Film and Screen at the University of Cambridge, bringing a combination of academic insight, creative leadership and hands-on production experience.

Over the past year, she's directed and assistant directed work in Cambridge and London, for Barefaced Theatre, the INK Festival in Halesworth, and recently stage managed a tour of Macbeth in the USA. She has also held event management roles with

the Sunrise Film Festival at the Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, and at the Swan Hotel, Southwold. Gina said, "I'm thrilled to be joining Southwold Arts Centre at such an exciting moment. I'm passionate about creating work that welcomes new audiences, supports emerging talent and strengthens the cultural life of our community."

Chair of Trustees, Michael Rowan-Robinson, welcomed the appointment saying, "Gina brings energy, imagination and a strong track record across theatre, film and events. Her appointment marks an important step in the Art Centre's development, and we are confident she will help us build an even more ambitious and dynamic programme for Southwold and the wider area."

Kinda Elders in the Woods

Elders in the Woods opened for this year on March 19th in Kaliwoods.

Every Thursday from 12pm3pm, we explore the wood, the land and ourselves. It will be a year of growing on the land, planting seeds of madder and wort and plants to make dyes out of, as well as plants to eat, such as squash, which we had success with last year. All welcome! kindaelders.com/ 2026-elders-in-the-woods

4 sessions

• Discount for more sessions

• Ideal exercise, hydrotherapy or relaxation

• Only1 mile from Halesworth View video at www.valleyfarmholton.co.uk

Details: 01986 874521 mail@valleyfarmholton.co.uk

Halesworth Area Sustainability Hub

to solar power at a screening of the popular citizens' action film, Power Station. This takes place at The Cut at 7pm on April 24th, as part of the HASH Green Films strand (tickets £6, available from The Cut).

Homes Plan' to help millions of families benefit from solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and insulation. Despite the often confusing messages regarding domestic energy funding, our Energy Champion, William, held three "Energy Surgeries" in January and February, all of which were packed out. News about these sessions and William's recommendations on funding eligibility can be accessed on the Halesworth ASH website: halesworthash.com

There will also be a chance to be inspired to take the leap

Opergy (the energy consultants who carried out a carbon baseline study for the town) recently presented the Halesworth Baseline Report to Halesworth Town Council. Our Energy Champion, William, has been using their data to target homes with low EPC ratings and assist residents with government insulation grants.

Meanwhile, ahead of the arrival of new food waste containers, Caroline Chapman (Halesworth ASH schools lead) is busy engaging schools with an upcoming project on Food Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Healthy and Sustainable Eating.

If you want to find out more or get in touch, just visit the website.

Our post Christmas meal at The Randolph Hotel, Reydon in February was enjoyed by all

Wenhaston Flower Club

At our March meeting, we gave a warm welcome to Sheila from Callendars Florists, Framlingham. It was her first time visiting our club, and she demonstrated 'A Spring Wedding' for us.

Sheila kept us entertained throughout the evening with her humorous stories while creating a top table spray, a buttonhole, and a spring-themed bridal hand-tied bouquet. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and we'd be delighted to welcome Sheila

back in the future.

Our meeting in April continues our wedding theme as we welcome back Nicola Wright for a Buttonhole Workshop. Details regarding what to bring will be included in the club's newsletter.

We'll meet at our usual venue, Wenhaston Village Hall, on April 7th at 7:30pm. The price remains £5 for the evening, which includes tea, coffee, and biscuits. For more information, please contact Jackie Chenery at 01502 478401.

Easter adventures with the National Trust's Easter egg trail

Taking place over the Easter bank holiday weekend (April 3rd-6th) and coinciding with local school holidays, there are more than 170 National Trust Easter trails to choose from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Each National Trust Easter trail features activities inspired by nature, beauty and history. From identifying spring flowers and wildlife to uncovering intriguing histories and local legends, every single Easter trail is jam-packed with outdoor activities and experiences.

Trails end with a chocolate egg, or a vegan/Free From chocolate egg, made here in the UK using cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

National Trust Easter egg trails cost £3.50 per child, plus normal National Trust admission/ free admission for National Trust members/guests of National Trust holidays.

Plus, a special National Trust membership offer (live from March 21st) will give new members the opportunity to enjoy the Easter trails for free!

Between March 21st and April 19th (inclusive), any new Family, Junior, Young Persons, Individual or Joint membership purchased at a National Trust property or online and paid for with annual Direct Debit, can receive a free Easter trails voucher. This voucher entitles all children under 18, to free 'Easter adventures' trails an unlimited number of times at participating National Trust properties.

To find your nearest trail visit nationaltrust.org.uk/easter

Dunwich Heath & Beach

• Easter Adventure Trail: March 28th to April 6th, 10am-3:30pm, £3.50 per trail.

Throw carrots in Bunny's basket to keep him well-fed, match animal tracks, play skittles and solve fun nature-themed riddles, all before collecting your prize at the end of the trail!

Once you're finished, round off the fun with a walk along the beach or time on the adventure play area, before re-fuelling with a treat from the Coastguard Cottages Tea-room. Car parking charges apply, free for National Trust members. nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunwich-heath

Bunny and Chick have returned for an Easter adventure at Dunwich Heath & Beach, with 10 fun-filled activity stations for you to try out! Challenge your friends to an egg and spoon race, find out who's hiding behind the door in Guess Who and measure your wingspan to see which bird you're most alike - a buzzard, an owl or a kestrel in flight?

Mallard Fencing

Lunches, marathons, and the 100 Club

Your HV news catch-up

An update from Halesworth Volunteers (HV). Community Car Service

A very warm welcome to our new volunteer drivers!

Our Community Car Service offers transport for medical appointments, shopping trips, and essential outings, ensuring people remain independent, stay connected, and are able to meet their everyday needs. Our drivers mostly support older people, vulnerable adults, and those with mobility challenges. These dedicated volunteers go above and beyond to ensure people get to their destinations on time and get home again safely.

If you're interested in joining us as a driver, or if you need to use the service for a booking or enquiry, we'd love to hear from you. Please call: 01986 874290.

Isolation Busters

Our programme provides social support to isolated older and vulnerable people. Isolation Busting is about bringing people together-whether through intergenerational befriending or group activities like lunches, afternoon teas, and trips-to help build lasting friendships.

Our next Community Lunch is March 25th from 1pm-3pm. We'll be back in St. Mary's Church, and hopefully, spring will be in full swing by then! Come and join us for a warm bowl of soup, sandwiches, cakes, and tea or coffee; everyone is welcome and there is no need to book. Additionally, our team of

volunteer shoppers continues to support those who struggle to manage shopping independently.

A warm welcome to the new volunteers who have joined the shopping team.

Chinny's Social Coffee & Chat is a relaxed opportunity to connect with likeminded people, make new friends, and enjoy the delicious food on offer at Chinny's. Our next date is April 7th in the Events Bar at Chinny's from 12pm-2pm.

To learn more about Isolation Busters, our programme of events, befriending, or shopping support, please call 01986 875600 or email: info@halesworthvolunteers.org.

Halesworth Community Larder

There has been lots going on at the Larder recently! In February, we held our first jacket potato lunch, welcoming 12 people to enjoy potatoes cooked in our new oven with a choice of chilli, beans, tuna mayo, or cheese. We hope to host more of these lunches soon and will announce dates shortly.

Amanda Veal, author of our new recipe book 'A Larder Full Of Recipes', joined us last month to sign copies. Amanda has compiled affordable, familyfavourite recipes to support our visitors. This community project includes guest recipes from local businesses and a cover designed by students at Edgar Sewter School. All proceeds will be reinvested into the Community Larder.

Grateful thanks to the Suffolk Community Foundation for

funding the project and to everyone who contributed.

Special thanks to Amanda for the incredible time, hard work, and passion she put into making this possible. Limited copies are available at the Larder for visitors, and books will soon be available at local businesses, the HV office, and on Amazon. If you create a dish from the book, please send us a photo so we can share it on our Facebook page!

Slow Cooker Demonstration

On March 14th (10am11:30am), Amanda will be demonstrating a sausage and bean hotpot recipe at the Larder. Come along for a taste at 11am! We have slow cookers generously donated by the Rural Coffee Caravan for those in need. We have 10 spaces available for individuals to receive a slow cooker, the book, and a "Morsbag" (kindly donated by Halesworth Morsbags) containing the ingredients to try the recipe at home. We're delighted that Annette from the Rural Coffee Caravan will be joining us.

Covid-19 Day of Reflection March 8th was a UK-wide Day of Reflection to commemorate the loss endured during the pandemic.

In Halesworth, we remembered loved ones lost too soon and the incredible way the community united to protect our most

vulnerable members. The Town Council has sponsored an olive tree (a symbol of peace) which was planted at the HV Office at the Patrick Stead Day Care Centre. Reverend Dominic Doble shared reflections and blessed the tree.

Fundraising

Our next event features the wonderful Kingsley Elliff, who will be running the "Reverse London Marathon" for us!

Kingsley won't be running backwards, but he'll be running the route in reverse, from The Mall to Greenwich, starting in the early hours of Marathon Day (April 26th). If you'd like to sponsor Kingsley, please pop into the HV office or speak to him directly. We'll post the JustGiving link as soon as it's live.

100 Club

We're excited to launch our 100 Club! For just £60 per year, you can join our monthly draw and win up to £100, with all proceeds supporting our vital services. Call us on 01986 875600 to join or for a copy of the rules. Our first draw is planned for April 2026.

Fundraising Quiz Night

Our next quiz is March 18th at The Stables (The Angel). 8pm start, £2pp, ideally in teams of four. There are prizes for the winners and nibbles at the interval!

Karen

Kerridge, Director

MARCH 28TH

Pop-up Mini Museum & Café

Laxfield Village Hall

10:30am-3:30pm. Come enjoy coffee & cake & view photos, local finds, small displays, etc.

APRIL 1ST

Easter Pottery Painting with Gallery Thea Southwold Library

10am-12pm & 2pm-3pm.

Limited spaces available. Pain egg cups, eggs & bunnies! £12 per child. Book place today: 01502 442817.

APRIL 1ST

Southwold Museum Opening Day Southwold Museum

2pm-4pm. A treasure trove of local archaeology, maritime & family history. Free entry, donations welcome.

APRIL 2ND

Eggtastic Experiments & Excitement for Kids

Southwold Library

11am & 1:30pm. Hands-on science experiments incl. eggtastic ones! Decorating eggs, making Easter baskets, buggy races! Aimed at 5-yr-olds & above. £2 per child. Book place today: 01502 442817.

APRIL 2ND

Rummikub Klub Southwold Library

2:15pm. 1st & 3rd Thurs of the month.

APRIL 3RD

Come & Read to Amber Southwold Library

3:30pm-4:30pm. Meet Amber, the Canine Concern Therapy Dog! Amber loves being read to by young readers! All children welcome!

APRIL 7TH

APRIL 2ND, 3RD & 4TH

Easter Art Exhibition & Sale

St. Mary's Church, Halesworth

10am-4pm. Chediston Art Group.

APRIL 2ND

Quiz Night

The Queen's Head, Bramfield 7:30pm start. Max team size of 6 (£2pp entry). Winner takes all, plus £50 Killer Question! Free nibbles. Prior booking strongly advised.

APRIL 4TH

Open Day Halesworth Library

We welcome customers old & new to find out about all the great things the library has to offer (it's not just about books you know!)

If you haven't got a library card, why not sign up on the day? It's free to join & only takes a few mins to sign up, just bring ID & our friendly staff will be able to help. There will be a book sale on the day with cake & refreshments. We hope to see you there!

APRIL 4TH

Elvis: Through the Decades Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm (doors 6:45pm). Starring Steve Halliday & special guest. All the nostalgia of Elvis' songs throughout the 50's, 60's & 70's incl. movie tracks. A show of happiness, nostalgia & humour. A must for all Elvis fans! £19.50pp.

APRIL 5TH

Easter Journey Experience

Wrentham Chapel

3pm. Chapel will be open for an Easter Journey Experience for all ages. Incl. Easter Egg Hunt, pauses to listen, think & sing, & Easter refreshments. Free to all. Everyone's welcome.

Easter Crafts

Southwold Library

11am & 2pm. Make bunny, egg & chick-themed crafts. Free, no need to book.

APRIL 7TH

Button Hole Workshop

Wenhaston Village Hall

7:30pm. Wenhaston Flower Club welcomes Nicola Wright. £5pp for the evening, incl. tea, coffee & biscuits. More info, contact Jackie Chenery: 01502 478401.

APRIL 9TH

Party with the Good Witch Southwold Library

11am & 2pm. Party games & magical fun with the Good Witch from Lucy's Princess Parties. £3 per child. Limited space, book today! 01502 442817.

APRIL 9TH

Scrabble Club

Southwold Library

2:15pm. 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month. All equipment supplied. Refreshments available.

APRIL 9TH

Suffolk Wildlife Trust AGM

Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. After brief formalities, we'll enjoy drinks, nibbles & beautiful film feat. Paul Heiney's canoe journey down an East Anglian river. Admission free, donations welcome. No booking required.

APRIL 10TH

Mah-jong Club

Southwold Library

2:15pm-4:15pm. Do you play mah-jong? Would you like to learn? Come join the group! £1pp.

APRIL 11TH

Halesworth Produce Market

St. Mary's Church, Steeple End, Halesworth For stall enquiries, please contact Geoff on 07818 060876.

APRIL 11TH

Halesworth Ukulele Band

St. Peter's Church, Holton

3pm-4:30pm. Refreshments available, raffle. Tickets £5pp from 01986 873575 or Halesworth Bookshop (cash only).

APRIL 11TH

Supersonic Queen

Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm (doors 6:45pm). Regarded as one of the UK's premier Queen tribute bands, Supersonic Queen bring all the

spirit & majesty of Queen to audiences all over the UK. £20pp.

APRIL 12TH

Halesworth Harmony

Rehearsal

The Huntingfield Hub, Halesworth, IP19 0QH

10:30am-12:30pm. A free taster session - no experience necessary, everything taught by ear. You'll receive a warm welcome. For details, email: halesworth. harmony@gmail.com

APRIL 13TH

Improvers Italian Southwold Library

1:30pm-3:30pm. 6 week Italian course. £120 for 12hr course. To book, contact Southwold Library 01502 442817.

APRIL 13TH

Italian Conversation

Southwold Library

3:40pm-5:40pm. 6 week Italian Conversation course. £120 for 12hr course. To book, contact Southwold Library 01502 442817.

APRIL 16TH - 19TH

INK Festival 2026

Halesworth

The UK's leading short play festival returns! INK Festival 2026 presents an exciting lineup of original plays, comedy, poetry, talks, & performances from acclaimed writers & artists. inkfestival.org

APRIL 16TH

Rummikub Klub Southwold Library

2:15pm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month.

APRIL 16TH

Book Talk

Halesworth Library

2:30pm. The Friends welcome back Suffolk-based creatives Jackie Carreira (patron of the Friends of Halesworth Library) & Andy Deane. They'll bring us an informative & fun talk about playwriting, & Quirk House Theatre, their EastAnglia advocating grassroots company. Entry's free, please let us know you're coming so we know how many biscuits to buy! friendsofhalesworthlibrary@ gmail.com or speak to library staff.

APRIL 17TH

Workshop with Rob John - Absolute Beginners Halesworth Library 10am-12:30pm. Want to write a play but don't know where/how to start? This practical hands-on workshop will give the tools you might need to open up your first dramatic script. Everyone has to start somewhere. Here's a safe, friendly place to take that first step. £20pp. inkfestival.org

APRIL 17TH

A Head Full of COLDPLAY Southwold Arts Centre 7:30pm (doors 6:45pm). A celebration of the music of Coldplay; capturing the energy and sound of one of the biggest bands in the world. £20pp.

APRIL 17TH

Alistair McGowan: 3-in-1 The Cut, Halesworth 7:30pm-9:20pm. Following the success of his album reaching No 1 in the Classical charts, Alistair McGowan reinvents himself as a 3-in-1 master impressionist, comedian & classical pianist. He's also something of a poet after publishing a collection last year 'Not What We Were Expecting'. inkfestival.org

APRIL 18TH

Nicola Werenowska: Telling Untold Tales

Halesworth Library 10:30am-1pm. Led by award winning neurodivergent playwright & creative writing tutor, Nicola Werenowska, this creative writing workshop is for writers of all levels & genres. inkfestival.org

APRIL 18TH

WCB Stand up in Southwold Southwold Arts Centre 7pm-9:15pm (doors 6pm). An unmissable night of comedy feat. headliners Angela Barnes (the sharp-witted host of Radio 4's The News Quiz) & satirical master Marcus Brigstocke (of Have I Got News for You fame). These 2 TV regulars will be joined by a supporting cast of incredible acts soon TBA, promising a powerhouse evening of top-tier punchlines & razor-sharp wit. £23pp.

APRIL 19TH

Improv Comedy Workshop with Joe McArdle Halesworth Co-op Community Room 9:30am-12pm. Ready to think fast, laugh hard, & unleash your inner comedy genius? Join awardwinning comedian, writer, & master improviser Joe McArdle for a fun & fast-paced improv workshop that will sharpen your wit, boost your confidence, & help you own the stage like a pro. inkfestival.org

APRIL 19TH

Sunday Funday

Market Place, Halesworth

A special event running alongside the INK Festival designed for all ages, feat. a lively mix of familyfriendly activities, storytelling, comedy, music, & interactive workshops. A chance for audiences to experience the joy of live performance in a fun & relaxed atmosphere. inkfestival.org

APRIL 19TH

Adrian Poynton Writing Comedy Workshop Halesworth Library 10:30am-1pm. An interactive workshop to help progress your comedic writing skills for TV, film & stage. A fun dive into dialogue, situation & character within comedy writing. inkfestival.org

APRIL 19TH

Halesworth Harmony Rehearsal

The Huntingfield Hub, Halesworth, IP19 0QH 10:30am-12:30pm. A free taster session - no experience necessary, everything taught by ear. You'll receive a warm welcome. For details, email: halesworth. harmony@gmail.com

APRIL 19TH

Enchanted Beach Children's Workshop with Esther Freud & Emma Chinnery Halesworth Bookshop 1pm-2:15pm. How is a picture book created? A workshop & storytelling session for children of any age to enjoy & discover the story behind 'Enchanted Beach' with both writer Esther Freud & illustrator Emma Chinnery. Free. inkfestival.org

APRIL 19TH

Hugh Bonneville: Downton to Darkest Peru - A Behind The Scenes Tour

The Cut, Halesworth Acclaimed actor Hugh Bonneville joins award-winning producer Paul Schlesinger for a rare stage interview discussing his versatile career, from Downton Abbey to his comedic roles in Paddington and the new series Twenty Twenty Six. Following the conversation, Bonneville will be in the foyer to sign copies of his children's novel, 'Roy Sparkes & the Elephant in the Room'. inkfestival.org

APRIL 21ST

The Story of Southwold Hospital - A Century & more of Community Action

Stella Peskett Millennium Hall, Southwold 2pm. Jessica de Grazia practised law on both sides of the Atlantic. She's lived in Southwold since 1987, serving for 8yrs as a Town Councillor. She led the campaign to preserve & regenerate

Southwold Hospital & is Chair of SouthGen (which owns & operates the Old Hospital Hub). This talk is part of Southwold Museum & Historical Societies Winter Lectures. Admission £5pp members, £8pp non-members.

APRIL 21ST

'The Science of Astrophotography'

The Cut, Halesworth 2pm. Join Halesworth & District U3A for a fascinating talk by local enthusiast Chris Mead. Discover how specialist telescopes & computer automation allow Chris to capture stunning "deep sky" images from his garden in Wrentham. Free for U3A members; £4pp for non-members (in adv. or on the door).

APRIL 23RD

Scrabble Club

Southwold Library 2:15pm. 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month. All equipment supplied. Refreshments available.

APRIL 24TH

Free Community Coffee Morning Reydon Village Hall

9am-11:30am. Tea, coffee & toast (pastries when available). Reydon Village Hall Management Committee in conjunction with Reydon & Southwold Community Fridge & Pantry.

APRIL 24TH

Mah-jong Club

Southwold Library

2:15pm-4:15pm. Do you play mah-jong? Would you like to learn? Come join the group! £1pp. APRIL 24TH Chess Club Southwold Library 4:30pm. Free play each week. Beginners teaching & assistance. 01502 442817.

APRIL 24TH

Halesworth ASH: Power Station The Cut, Halesworth 7:30pm-9:30pm. A screening of the acclaimed documentary 'Power Station'. The film follows activist filmmakers on an inspiring mission to transform their street into a communityowned solar hub. Local Energy Champion William Poulsen will be available to offer practical energy advice. Tickets £6pp. APRIL 24TH Southwold Jazz Club: The Cape Crusaders Southwold Arts Centre 7:30pm (doors 6:45pm). Some of the finest musicians in the UK celebrating & sharing the music, life & legacy of legendary South African pianist & composer, Abdullah Ibrahim. £20pp.

APRIL 29TH

APRIL 25TH

Quiz Night in aid of Reydon Rainbows

Cardinal Newman Hall (Old Sorting Office)

7pm. Teams of 4, £3pp. BYO drinks & snacks. Raffle! Book early to avoid disappointment, limited places. 07715 388916, email: frogclock@hotmail.com

APRIL 25TH

Peanutz Party:

Get Down Tonight

Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm (doors 6:45pm). A fantastic tribute show from the amazing Peanutz Party Band, celebrating the very best music from the 70s and 80s Soul, Disco and Funk era. £20pp.

The Choral (15) Southwold Arts Centre

3pm. Southwold Community Cinema. Drama. A choral society's male members enlist in WWI, leaving the demanding Dr. Guthrie to recruit teenagers & experience the joy of singing. £5pp (incl. refreshments). Book at: southwoldartscentre.co.uk or 01502 722572.

Got an event you'd like to promote to our thousands of monthly readers? If so, please email the details over to: edit@micropress.co.uk to be included in our 'What's on?' section.

Reydon Show

Are you a baker, an artist, a photographer, a crafter, a sewist, a knitter, a gardener, or a flower arranger? Then why not enter the Reydon Show?

The show celebrates your talents, big and small, with prize certificates and various trophies to be won. The show takes place on the first Saturday of August each year, so save the date for 2026: August 1st Entries must be submitted on the Friday night or Saturday morning, and the exhibition opens at 2pm. We also have a

SAVE THE DATE!

range of children's categories open to those under 12, so if your child is a keen Lego builder, gardener, or artist, they can enter too. Best of all, kids enter free!

So, plan your preserves, ready your radishes, and corral your carnations for August. A programme of categories will be available at Bridgefoot Stores, Reydon, nearer the date.

Photographic categories this year are: 'A Café Scene', 'Local Event', 'Steam' and 'A Creature with its Young'.

Tickets £0/£4

THE SCIENCE OF ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Tue 21 April, 2pm Thu 23 April, 7:30pm Fri 24 April, 7:30pm

Tickets £18.50

HONEY & THE BEAR

Chris will describe the techniques used by amateur astrophotographers, such as himself, to capture images of distant objects and the science underpinning the techniques. The talk will be illustrated with some images of gas nebulae and galaxies taken from his back garden in Wrentham. The image is one he took of the Bubble nebulae and Chirs will explain in his talk how it was captured and processed. Free to members, for non- members tickets are available at £4 in advance or on the door. All welcome.

Presenting music from their new fourth album. Honey & The Bear are UK Folk & Roots multiinstrumentalists Lucy & Jon Hart. Formed in 2014, the duo have gone from strength-to-strength, releasing 3 critically acclaimed albums and gathering an enthusiastic following of loyal fans.

Recently shortlisted for the FATEA Band/ Duo of the Year (2023), their live performances are full of variation, from emotive and dramatic fullbodied ballads, to rip-roaring tales of adventure on the seas.

Tickets £6

POWER STATION

Halesworth ASH is delighted to present “Power Station” another in our strand of engaging and thought-provoking Green Films. A compelling documentary by activist film-makers Dan Edelstyn & Hilary Powell, charting their mission to bring solar panels to the roofs of houses in their street and to “turn every house into a power station”.

Tickets £24

16 to Sun 19 April

SONGBIRD

Tickets £15 NT: ALL MY SONS

When it comes to Fleetwood Mac tribute bands, there are few as skilled and authentic as Songbird. Their passion for the music, and the impact it has had on generations of fans is evident in every performance they give. They perform paying close attention to detail in order to replicate the energy and atmosphere of a live Fleetwood Mac show as closely as possible, while adding their own creative twists to make it something really, really special. Their reputation precedes them. To put it simply, Songbird deliver unforgettable shows that exceed all expectations!

Directed by the visionary Ivo van Hove, this 5-star National Theatre Live production features Bryan Cranston & Marianne Jean-Baptiste in a powerful revival of Arthur Miller’s classic drama. Set in the wake of WWII, the story explores the fracturing of the American dream as Joe Keller’s forced to confront the moral cost of his wartime profiteering and the disappearance of his eldest son. Filmed live in the West End with a stellar supporting cast, the play remains a disturbingly relevant look at

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A spring update from Slimming World

It's

Imagine enjoying days out with your family or perhaps your

feeling confident, having more energy to enjoy fun times whilst being proud of what you've achieved losing weight! All because you made the decision to take the first step into joining one of my friendly Halesworth groups. The good news is we're a friendly bunch, who all understand how you'll be feeling because we all took the first step! In group each week you'll get the help and support you need -

Victor & Layla

Find

when you're a Slimming World member, you're never on your own! Summer won't wait - we need to be ready so don't put off joining any longer! Feel free to get in touch if you'd like to find out more or just come along on Tuesday - no appointment needed! Find us at Halesworth Day Centre, London Road, Halesworth, IP18 9LW at 9:30am, 5:30pm and 7pm. 07912 849995. I look forward to meeting and supporting you!

Bev Hansey

Dee's Den Charity Shop news

As we approach Easter and sunnier weather, we're beginning to put our springwear out on the rails. We have dresses of all lengths, jackets of all sizes, skirts, and trousers. To complete any outfit, we offer a wide variety of accessories, including jewellery, shoes, and sandals. For the men, we have a range of shirts, t-shirts, shorts, trousers, jumpers, jackets, and sportswear, as well as shoes, sandals, and trainers. We also have reasonably priced children's clothes, games, toys, and books. Come see us! We're open Monday to Saturday, 9:30am1pm.

kitchenware, pictures, and photo frames. We even have several small pieces of furniture available, along with plants and delicious homemade marmalade made by Jenny, one of our volunteers.

Everyone's welcome at Dee's Den! We have our regular discounted £1 rail of adult clothes (outside if dry). If you can't see what you're looking for in the shop, please do ask; it may be in the stock room or our storage shed.

Exciting News!

We have a wide assortment of books to suit all readers, covering every subject and a range of authors. Paperbacks are 50p, and hardbacks are just £1 or £2. CDs and DVDs remain at only 50p. You can also browse our bedding, curtains, bric-a-brac, glassware,

We'll be selling items on several online platforms over the coming weeks. Take a look at our brand-new selling page on Vinted (deesden2019) and give us a follow! A big thank-you to Clare for all her help with this; the extra funds this raises for our charity are so valuable.

Donations & Volunteering

Please note: We only accept new and boxed electrical items. We cannot accept pillows or duvets. Any items that aren't sold are put through our recycling process, which provides extra income for the charity. We're always looking for more volunteers, so if you're interested, please call in to leave your details and pick up an application form.

Finally: We're running our Easter raffle again this year; come and try your luck! Thank you all for your continued support in buying and donating; we really appreciate it.

To contact the shop, please phone Nikki on: 07733 668221.

We welcome donations of clean, saleable clothes, bric-abrac, toys, games, and small pieces of furniture. Please drop these off at the shop during opening hours. We have more staff available for sorting on Monday and Thursday mornings, but if you're unable to deliver, we can arrange a collection.

Winners of record-breaking photo competition announced

Three winners have triumphed in the 'East Suffolk Through the Lens' competition, which received over 530 entries.

Organised by East Suffolk Council, the competition was open to photographers of all ages and experiences, with the aim of celebrating the people and places that make the district special. This year's competition broke the record for the greatest number of entries ever submitted since the first competition in 2023.

Entrants were invited to submit photos for three categories: 'People', 'Place' and 'Under-16s'. Each image submitted captured a unique aspect of East Suffolk and the judges had a difficult decision

in choosing winners. One winner was selected from each category, with one overall winner then chosen from these three. The overall winner was chosen from the 'People' category, with Albert Morhall's image of a morning dog walk in Kenton Hills coming out on top. This photograph unanimously impressed the judges with its use of light and ability to capture the beauty of enjoying East Suffolk with family and friends... also including the four-legged variety!

In the 'Place' category, the judges chose a striking image of Southwold in the snow, captured by Fleur Bateman, as the winner. The image was chosen for its

HOOKER HOUSE DENTAL PRACTICE

composition, with the pastel colours of Southwold's iconic buildings contrasted with the white snow.

Many young photographers dazzled the judges with their excellent photographs; however, Sam Cleverley's image of Bawdsey was chosen as the winner of the 'Under-16s' category. The judges particularly enjoyed the photographer's ability to confidently capture different elements of East Suffolk in just one image.

Cllr. Caroline Topping (Leader of East Suffolk Council) and Cllr. Sarah Whitelock (Cabinet Member for Communities), who both judged the competition, said: "Yet again, we received an incredible number of fantastic photos and choosing the ones we felt were best was almost impossible. We wanted to go with the photos which we felt truly captured the essence of east Suffolk and what we all love about this part of the world - but any number of the images we received could have won and it was truly wonderful to see East Suffolk through the photographers' eyes. We'd like to thank and congratulate everyone who took part this year."

Albert Morhall's winning photograph will grace the cover of the next East Suffolk magazine when delivered to every household in the district next spring.

High street retail vouchers are also on their way to the winner of each category.

For decades, the local butcher was the undisputed cornerstone of the British High Street. They were the keepers of Sunday roast secrets, the masters of the midday banter, and the reliable source for the "good cut." While the convenience of the supermarket era briefly pushed these craftsmen into the shadows, the tide has turned. Today, the local butcher isn't just a relic of the past; they are the leaders of a modern food revolution.

Beyond the Plastic Wrap Choosing to "Buy British" is often framed as a patriotic duty, but for the discerning cook, it's a matter of logic. When you step away from the fluorescent lights of the supermarket aisle, you're trading mystery for mastery.

A local butcher can tell you not just which county your beef came from, but often the specific farm and the breed of the cattle.

This transparency creates a food chain you can actually trust. In an era where we are increasingly conscious of our environmental footprint, reducing "food miles" isn't just a buzzword - it's a commitment to a sustainable future that starts on your dinner plate.

The Art of the Cut

There's a unique magic in the art of butchery. It's a skill passed down through generations, involving a level of precision that no machine can replicate.

Whether it's the perfect Frenchtrim on a rack of lamb or advice on how to slow-cook a cheaper,

overlooked cut to perfection, your butcher is a living library of culinary knowledge.

• Expert Advice: Don't know how to handle a brisket? They'll give you the recipe.

• Customisation: Want your sausages a little thicker or your steaks cut to a specific weight? You only have to ask!

• Zero Waste: Butchers use the whole animal, respecting the produce and ensuring nothing goes to waste.

The Heartbeat of the Community

Perhaps most importantly, the butcher remains a vital organ in the body of our communities. They represent a human connection in an increasingly digital world. They know your name, they remember your favorite order, and they care about the quality of the meal you're serving to your family.

By supporting your local butcher, you aren't just buying meat; you're investing in the vibrancy of your town, ensuring that the High Street remains a place of expertise, passion, and character for the next generation.

This month, we invite you to skip the supermarket queue. Rediscover your local butchers and the unrivaled taste of local British produce at its absolute peak.

Support your local butcher today and bring home more than just a meal - bring home a piece of British heritage and the very best of your community!

Roast Rack of Lamb with a Garden Herb Crust

A celebration of British livestock and seasonal simplicity. With Easter Sunday approaching, there's no better time to rediscover this seasonal tradition; a succulent rack of British lamb isn't just a meal, it's a celebration of the spring season and the fantastic quality found only behind your local butcher's counter.

Ingredients:

• 1 large rack of British lamb (6-8 cutlets), french-trimmed by your local butcher.

Ask your Butcher: Don't be afraid to ask for the 'chined' bone to be removed. It makes carving at the dinner table much easier and shows off the craftsman's skill!

• 2 tbsp English mustard. For the crust:

• 50g fresh breadcrumbs

• A large handful of flat-leaf parsley

• 1 tbsp fresh mint

• 1 tsp lemon zest.

To serve: A knob of butter and seasonal greens (asparagus or peas).

Method:

• Prep the Meat: Pre-heat your oven to 200°C. Season the lamb generously with salt and pepper. Sear the fat side of the lamb in a hot pan for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

• The Coating: Once slightly cooled, brush the meat side of the rack with the English mustard.

• The Roast: Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes. For a mediumpink finish (Medium-Rare to Medium), you're looking for an internal temperature of approximately 55°C to 60°C (130°F to 140°F) before resting. Since we're using fresh breadcrumbs and herbs, the crust can sometimes brown faster than the meat cooks. If you notice the crust getting too dark or looking "toasty" around the 15-minute mark, loosely tent a piece of foil over the bones and crust to protect them while the meat finishes.

• The Crust: Blitz the breadcrumbs, herbs, and zest in a processor. Press the mixture firmly onto the mustard-coated lamb.

• The Secret Step: Rest the meat for at least 10 minutes before carving into individual cutlets. This ensures the meat is succulent and tender. During this resting time, the internal temperature will actually rise by about 3°C to 5°C. Never skip this step; it prevents the juices from running out the moment you slice it.

and Coppa. Our products are available in local shops and farm shops across Suffolk and Norfolk. For more information, visit: www.lanefarm.co.uk or www.suffolksalami.co.uk

Hampers & Gift Vouchers available

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Competitive Prices & Quality Guaranteed

• Locally Sourced Meat, Poultry & Game

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• Award Winning Sausages, Bacon, Gammon & Ham

• Locally Sourced Meat, Poultry & Game

• Award Winning Sausages, Bacon, Gammon & Ham

• Gluten free products Free Deliveries or visit our shop at The Firs, Redenhall, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9QN (just off Redenhall Roundabout) Tel: 01379 852590 SHOP ONLINE www.pepperellsmeats.co.uk

• Gluten free products Free Deliveries or visit our shop at The Firs, Redenhall, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9QN (just off Redenhall Roundabout) Tel: 01379 852590

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Diet

Pet

Whether

care: grooming, nail

flea treatments, and regular check-ups. Even short-haired breeds benefit from a good brush and routine care to keep their coats healthy and to spot any concerns early.

In the end, the rewards far outweigh the effort. A well-cared-for dog is a happy dog-and a happy dog brings joy, companionship, and a little extra sunshine to everyday life.

But

From the stunning coastlines of Norfolk and Suffolk to the rolling hills of Warwickshire, we help you uncover the very best of where you are with our Town & Village Guides.

At Community News, we’re immensely proud of our partnership with local Town and Parish Councils. Together, we’ve produced 28+ bespoke guides (and counting!) across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire.

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Olive Tree planted in Halesworth to mark COVID Day of Reflection

On March 8th, Halesworth took part in the UK-wide Covid-19 Day of Reflection in commemoration and recognition of the loss that was endured during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Halesworth Town Council sponsored a beautiful olive tree, which was planted at the Halesworth Volunteers Office at the Patrick Stead Day Care Centre on the morning of March 8th.

An olive tree is a sign of peace and a sapling at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. During the planting ceremony, Reverend Dominic Doble said a few words about remembering loved one's who were lost and how the community joined together to support and protect its older and vulnerable members.

Spring at Halesworth Library

We have a busy spring planned at Halesworth Library - read on below to find out more about what you can discover! Creative Workshops & Library Day Come and join us on Wednesday, March 25th, 10am12:30pm for a special Time Out+ session. We will be making Easter-themed rush-work nests, decorating eggs, and turning our hand to needle felting! This event is free, but donations are welcome. Open to all adults and kindly funded by the Friends of Halesworth Library.

On April 4th, 10am-3pm, we'll be celebrating our very own Halesworth Library Day! We welcome customers old and new to find out about all the great things the library has to offer. If you haven't got your library card yet, why not sign up on the day? It's free and only takes a few minutes - just bring some ID and our friendly staff will help you out. There will be a book sale, cake, and refreshments available. This event is organised by the Friends of Halesworth Library, who will be there if you'd like to chat about getting involved.

Talks & Theatre

On Thursday, April 16th at 2:30pm, the Friends welcome back Suffolk-based creatives

Jackie Carreira (a patron of the Friends) and Andy Deane. They will give an informative and fun talk about playwriting and their grassroots company, Quirk House Theatre. Some may remember the couple's first visit in November 2018, when they performed Jackie's award-winning play, 'Talking in the Library'. Entry is free; please contact the Friends at: friendsofhalesworthlibrary@ gmail.com to reserve a place. Children & Families With half-term on the way, we have extra activities for children! Pop along on Tuesday, March 31st and April 7th (10:30am11:30am) for Lego Club, and a Children's Craft Club on Friday, April 10th (10:30am11:30am). Thank you to everyone who attended our mask making workshops in February half term. The event was a big success and fun was had by all involved!

The children's creations filled our window display (pictured)!

The Friends kindly funded these

workshops, and we hope to run more in the future.

We also host regular weekly sessions:

• Rhyme Time & Play: Every Tuesday (term-time), 10am11:30am.

• Time Out Sociable Group: Wednesdays from 10am.

• Knit & Natter: Alternate Tuesdays, 2pm-4pm.

• Lego Club: Every Saturday, 11am-12pm.

• Family Fun Time: Every Sunday, 10:30am-11:30am.

Sundays & Socials

Join us for Sociable Sundays on April 5th and 19th, 10:30am12:30pm. Enjoy a chat over cake and a cuppa! (Please note: the rest of the library will be closed on the 5th). We also have our Board Games Café on March 30th and April 27th, 2pm4:30pm. Suggested donation of £1.

Home Library Service

Did you know we can deliver books and audiobooks straight to your door? If you're unable to visit us in person, one of our friendly volunteers can come to you. Please contact us on: 01986 506062 for more details.

Easter holiday activities in Halesworth

There are Easter trails happening around Halesworth throughout the Easter holidays, launching on March 28th. Trail sheets are £1 and available from Hetty's Little Copy Shop, The Halesworth Bookshop and the Library. Follow the clues and win some super prizes along the way! Pop in to the Families Together Charity Shop in the Thoroughfare to take part in their special colouring competition.

• April 1st & 9th: Free Family Picnics at St. Mary's Church, 11:30am-1pm.

• April 4th: Easter Egg Hunt in the Thoroughfare! 11am-12pm. Will you meet the Easter Bunny?

• April 6th: Easter Crafts at St. Mary's Church, 2pm-4pm.

• April 7th: Easter Crafts at the United Reform Church, 10am12pm.

• April 7th-11th: Free workshops with INK Festival at Edgar Sewter School. For those aged 8-11 who are interested in screen-writing or acting. 10:30am-4pm, they will have the opportunity to create a short stage play and perform it at INK Festival! Contact INK Festival to book.

• April 8th: Children's Pottery Painting Workshop at Purple Pumpkin Creative Studio. (Suitable for ages 7-11 years old) Spaces are limited so please book early with Purple Pumpkin.

• April 10th: Free Nature Play activities at Millennium Green. Willow weaving, crafts and pond dipping. Meet at the White Bridge at 10am-12:30pm. For more information, visit: halesworthtown.co.uk/easterholiday-activities

Sheila Dunce "Penguin"

We were absolutely devastated to learn of the sudden passing of our dear Sheila (also known as Penguin) at Brownies, at the end of January.

Alison Nichols and Sheila Dunce started 2nd Halesworth Brownies in 1984, over 40 years ago! Sheila has been a dedicated Brownie leader ever since, starting off as Tawny Owl, until we modernised our names and she then became Penguin. Sheila was compassionate, kind and caring and always had time for everyone. There will be many ex-brownies who will have fond memories of Sheila from over the years, including the fun pack holidays and sleep overs along with Alison in Southwold.

The photo above is from October 2024, when we had a

Penguin party to celebrate Sheila and her fantastic achievement of 40 years service to Girlguiding. We made Penguins from socks and Sheila made the most amazing Penguin cake for us all. We were joined by Jenny Allen, our District Commissioner, who presented Sheila with her long service award.

We're going to miss Sheila/ Penguin very much at Brownies but we'll always remember her warmth, patience and kindness and she will live on in our hearts and memories. Our love and thoughts are with Carenann and Howard, Roger and Polly and families at this incredibly sad time. Sheila - Go well and safely, the lord be ever with you. Karen, Sarah & all at 2nd Halesworth Brownies

Gardens are coming back to life!

April's when the gardening season really kicks off! Not only is it a busy month for gardeners in general, but it also sees the start of National Gardening Week (April 28th-May 4th).

Weather permitting, you can get a head start on your growing plans, whilst keeping an eye out for any late frosts that might threaten your efforts. It's always a good idea to have some cloches or horticultural fleece close to hand to protect seeds and young plants if the temperature dips.

A good way to ensure some heat stays in the ground (and that also provides much needed nutrients to growing areas), is to apply a layer of mulch around your perennials, trees and shrubs. If you do this once you have weeded, then the surface of the soil will have been loosened and the mulch will help conserve

ground moisture and make weeding later on easier. You can use home grown garden compost or buy bagged mulch from garden centres. Shovel it in between the plants, and spread to a depth of about 5cm. Work from the back to the front of beds to avoid walking on the newly mulched areas. It's also a key month for planting fruit and veg in the garden, and from now on until late autumn you'll be sowing, planting and harvesting. Finish off sowing seeds for early lettuces, summer carrots, dwarf peas, summer spinach and broad beans and start sowing beetroots, brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and cabbage), peas, turnips and swede. You can also plant first early potatoes, weather dependent. For beginners, some of the easiest fruits to grow are berries. Strawberries and

blueberries love containers and both will crop heavily once established. Another plant that loves container life (as well as being in borders) is Lavender - and now is the perfect time to plant it so that you can enjoy it throughout the summer. It's a favourite with gardeners not just for its beautiful form and fragrance but also because it attracts essential pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Most gardeners get the urge to plant it in their garden sooner or later as it can add real value with its scent and shades of purple flowers and silver leaves.

To successfully grow lavender, it needs to be planted in a warm, well-drained soil with full sunand it doesn't like 'wet feet' as it promotes root rot and 'dampness' is often the reason that it doesn't perform well. It's a tough plant

April is the perfect month to grow Lavender though and once established only requires regular pruning after flowering has finished in the Autumn.

If there's one job to be done this month it's to plant out sweet peas. Their fabulous fragrant blooms are an essential part of summer and perennial varieties come back year after year. Sweet peas need plenty of feed and moisture, so add compost or well-rotted manure to the soil. Water the plants in their pots before planting out and get supports ready to position at the same time. Plant sweet peas 20cm apart, pinch out the tops of leggy stems and protect

them from slugs.

Other RHS April garden jobs:

• Keep weeds under control

• Start sowing seeds outdoors

• Sweet peas can be sown and planted outside

• Plant out main crop potatoes

• Plant new pond plants and divide waterlilies

• Sow new lawns or repair bare patches

• Lightly cut back lavender to stop it getting too leggy or woody

• Last chance to prune climbing or rambling roses

• Divide bamboos

• Protect fruit blossom from late frost

Edgar Sewter Playschool & Out of School Club

Our independent Edgar Sewter Playschool runs from Monday to Friday during term time. We currently have some availability for children aged two years and up. beststartinlife.gov.uk

Our breakfast from 8am and After School Club from 3:30pm6pm for children from ages four years and up.

Our holiday club runs during half terms and Easter and summer

holiday with flexible hours to suit individual needs and we welcome children from all schools. We run from Edgar Sewter School and have been established for over 25 years. For further details, please call: 07796 044277 or email: esplayschool@gmail.com to register, book a place or arrange a visit.

Hayley, Anthea, Yvonne and Stacey

Bowls, the sport of kings

If anyone had asked me what is the sport of kings, I might have answered hunting or polo... but bowls? In fact, kings and queens and others of royal birth have played or otherwise been involved in bowls for seven centuries.

The chronicles show that Edward I (1273-1307) was the first king to play bowls, but the real enthusiast was Charles II. He was the one who insisted that bowls should be played on "a level playing field". That did not mean that he was against crown bowling, but he wanted every green to be roughly the same. Before his time, the game had local rules. When Charles II got involved, he laid down the foundations of the present game.

Southhampton Bowls Club is credited with having the oldest green in the world (1299). It has a set of laws drawn up by King Charles II: "Rules for the game of bowls settled by his most

Excellent Majesty King Charles II, HRH James Duke of York and his Grace George Duke of Buckingham in1670; the game to consist of five or seven points as maybe agreed upon by a party engaged four or six bowlers constitute a set."

Well, we don't have any royalty at Halesworth Angel Bowls Club (apart from a handsome prince who woke Snow White with a kiss in our Christmas pantomime), but we do have a long history. Some old documents mention the bowling green marked out by stakes by Mr. Mark Butler, the landlord of The Angel, in 1784. As The Angel was built in 1543, it's likely that there was a club before 1784.

And here we are looking forward to the start of the season in 2026. Come and join us! We're having taster sessions on April 25th and May 2nd, starting at 2pm, top of Dairy Hill.

News from Walpole Old Chapel Unwrapped

Although the chapel has looked rather sad throughout the winter (mainly because of the sacking on the north elevation), spring is in the air, and the sacking has prevented any frost damage to the new lime plasterwork from the Phase One repairs.

We only had one public event in 2025 because of these works (although we maintained our regular Open Saturday Afternoon sessions). However, after a 'spring clean' by Cliveden Conservation workers, we were able to hold our annual Carol Service by Candlelight in December. We were led this time by the Revd. Dr. Catherine Ball, our newly appointed minister, who's taking over from our much-loved Revd. Bill Mahood, who has now retired (again!). This year, however, we're running a full series of events prior to a probable closure in 2027. We hope that the final conservation works will commence then, provided we are successful with our second bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We will re-open for our regular Saturday afternoon sessions at Easter on April 4th, between 2pm and 4:30pm. Our events are listed on our website, and booking is now open via TicketSource. Do look to see what's on! New this year is a Harvest Festival service on September 19th - the first for over 50 years! We also have an Artist in Residence programme featuring Grace Adam, who will be working in the chapel between April and October and holding workshops (dates available on our website). Meanwhile, behind the scenes, we have signed the contract for the Friends to take over ownership of the chapel from the Historic Chapels Trust and await completion. We'll then be in full charge of our destiny! If you'd like to be a Friend of Walpole Old Chapel and play your part in keeping the chapel open and thriving, please consider joining the Friends from only £2 per month. Details available from: friends@walpoleoldchapel.org or via our website.

Art activities at The Day Centre

Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund Activity Update

Staying connected and supported makes all the difference when navigating the challenges of dementia.

The Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund (HDCF) continues to provide a warm, welcoming space for both carers and their loved ones through a variety of engaging weekly activities and essential support services.

From physical wellness and creative outlets to practical advocacy, here is the latest update on what's happening in our community this season:

• Seated Movement to Music: Every Monday at Holton Village Hall, 11am-12:15pm.

• Memory Café: Every Tuesday in the Co-op Community Room, 2pm-3:30pm.

• Seated Yoga: Every Thursday at the Patrick Stead Day Centre, 10:30am-11:30am.

• Singing with Friends: Every Thursday at the Patrick Stead Day Centre, 2pm-3:30pm.

• Creative Art: Every Friday at the Patrick Stead Day Centre, 10am-11:30am.

• Carers Support Group: Every Friday at the Patrick Stead Day

Centre, 2pm-3:30pm.

• Day Care: Fridays (booking required), 9:30am-3:30pm.

Other services

HDCF is able to offer an advocacy service for anyone needing help with things like doctors appointments, and we can also offer training days for any organisations that would like to enhance their staff training programme.

100+ Club

The latest winning numbers are: 102 (£100), 17 (£75), 156 (£50) and 70 (£25). To join the 100+ Club, please contact Anna: 07721 842802.

Golf Competition

There will be a fundraising golf tournament at the Halesworth Golf Club on May 6th. We'd love to hear from people wanting to enter teams or help with he sponsorship. For full details, please call John Giles: 07789 991046.

For full details of all our activities please contact us on: 07990 199632, email: info@ halesworthdementia.co.uk, visit: halesworthdementia.co.uk or see our Facebook page.

Spring update from The Wednesday Wonders

Every Wednesday, a team of volunteers meet to look after Millennium Green. They do essential conservation work to encourage wildlife, and keep Halesworth's much-loved open space attractive for visitors.

The wet weather has curtailed grass cutting recently so they've been working in dryer areas such as the Folly, the Orchard and Arthur's Wood.

Last year saw a bumper harvest of community fruit, but some was too high to pick.

Trees have now been pruned back hard, which will mean a smaller harvest in 2026, but more lowhanging fruit in subsequent years for you to collect.

Volunteers recently learned how to make a willow fence, dead hedges, orchard pruning and the importance of woodland management.

Peter Aiano (Group Leader &

Conservationist) said: "People are sometimes perplexed when they see us cutting down trees, but wildlife does not thrive if all the trees are the same height. Vegetation needs to be at different stages of growth to encourage dormice, low-nesting birds, lizards, frogs, and toads."

Peter added: "Volunteering is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air, learn about conservation and make new friends. We are a welcoming, jolly bunch."

If you'd like to join The Wednesday Wonders, please contact us through the website or the volunteering centre. Our email address is: thegreen@halesworth.net

You'll find a plan of the orchard with its many apple varieties not to mention pears and quinces on our website: www. millenniumgreen.halesworth.net

Blyth Valley Parkinson's Support Group update

Our speaker on April 9th will be Elizabeth Storer from Healthwatch Suffolk, which should be informative and helpful, so please make an effort to attend.

We run a support group for people with Parkinson's disease and their partners/carers which is a friendly meeting on the second Thursday of most months, in Holton Village Hall from 10:30am to 12pm.

We normally have a speaker on some relevant subject and time to chat and share experiences over a cup of coffee or tea.

Everyone's welcome to attend our meetings. If you'd like any further information, please contact either:

• Margaret: 01502 478502 margaret@wrush.plus.com

• Gail: 01502 817004 aandgattfield@btinternet.com

A journey through the stars at The Cut

On April 21st at 2pm at The Cut, Halesworth & District

U3A welcomes Chris Mead who will be presenting his talk entitled 'The Science of Astrophotography'.

Chris has always been fascinated by astronomy and cosmology. Now retired, he can devote much more of his time learning astrophotography techniques. For example, he's developed an interest in deep sky astrophotography and uses specialist telescopes to help capture images from his back garden in Wrentham, when cloud cover permits!

He enjoys the problem solving

aspects of astrophotography, combining, as it does, computer automation and image processing techniques and will talk us through how he captures his stunning images such as the Bubble Nebulae photo above. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover firsthand how it's possible to create spectacular snapshots of the stars above. The talk is free to current Halesworth and District U3A members and for nonmembers, tickets are available at £4 in advance, or on the door at The Cut. Why not come along early and enjoy a delicious lunch in The Cut Café?

Talks of the town

the idea was born.

Volunteers clear path in record time

A team of 14 volunteers from World Land Trust made short work of clearing the cycle and footpath at the Millennium Green during a sunny of afternoon of conservation work.

The group (who had travelled from across the UK for a meeting at the head office in Halesworth) decided to spend part of their day doing something practical for the local community. Their efforts helped clear the edges of the well-used path at the popular green space.

Peter said that with so many hands on deck, the job was completed far more quickly than usual. He added: "They made pretty short work of it. We have a wonderful team of regular volunteers, but it would have taken us weeks. It was great to have so many people working together at once."

Not content with revamped premises, new displays, and the launch of a unique local history service, the Museum is doubling the output of its popular talksdelivering six over the course of 2026 instead of three as in previous years.

First off the blocks in April will be a presentation on the Halesworth History Map by its developer, Simon Parker.

"I hope the Map will become the first place that people will look for information about the people and buildings of Halesworth and a resource for research into our community and how it has changed over the years," Simon says.

As for the location for the Map, Simon believes the Museum is the obvious choice. 'Our Museum punches well above its weight for a small market town. I want the Map to complement the Museum's offering, rather than compete with it.'

The work was led by local conservationist Peter Aiano, who has been volunteering at the green for the past eight years.

The path is wellused by local walkers and cyclists who enjoy the peaceful green space on the edge of town. Regular volunteers are needed to help with conservation at Millennium Green. If anyone would like to help please contact via: www.millenniumgreen. halesworth.net

This new resource, housed at the Museum, will enable local people to research the history of their families, homes, and neighbourhoods free of charge. And what could be a better starting point than a talk by the man who built the Map?

In fact, it was an earlier Museum talk by local historian Kevin Wooldridge that initially sparked the idea. As Simon explains: "In October 2023, Kevin gave a well-attended presentation on The Hidden Landscape History of the Blyth Valley. He showed how surveys using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) could create images of the landscape which, when overlaid onto contemporary maps, revealed underlying topography - including watercourses that are no longer visible."

In 2024, Kevin ran a course on the underlying software (QGIS) for the Halesworth U3A Local History group, suggesting the technology could serve as a platform for building a body of local history knowledge. And so,

All six talks in the 2026 programme will take place at Halesworth United Reformed Church, Quay Street IP19 8EP, at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm). The entrance cost is £6pp, or £3pp for Museum Friends. (Pay at the door, no need to book.) Schedule is as follows:

• Apr 23rd: The new Halesworth History Map, presented by Simon Parker.

• May 21st: A Halesworth doctor in his times: Petrus Johannes de Nyssen, presented by Anne Shearer.

• June 18th: The magical (local) history tour: some interesting places and artefacts you may have missed, presented by Museum Chair David Wollweber.

• July 23rd: A talk on local archaeology, presenter to be announced

• Sept 17th: The history of Quay Street, Halesworth, presented by Halesworth U3A Local History Group.

• Oct 22nd: The history of theatre in Halesworth, presenters TBA.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

A botanical tour of Suffolk Wildlife Trust nature reserves

The March meeting of the Blyth Valley and Southwold Wildlife group were given a taste of spring as Steve Aylward, from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, treated us to a round tour of our nature reserves.

Suffolk is fortunate in having a wide range of soil types, and therefore of plant habitats. Some of the meadows have soil that has been untouched for hundreds of years, giving them a rich variety of flora. At Martins' Meadow, fritillaries, early purple orchids and cowslips carpet the floor in spring, and varieties of grass, such as the delicate quaking grass, add contrast. There are old fruit and nut trees, with new Suffolk varieties added to replace fallen timber. Winks Meadow is another exceptional site for orchids. By contrast, woodland areas, such as Bradfield Woods, offer primroses and oxlips, dog violets and wild garlic, and the rare, crested cowwheat. Our own Reydon Woods is lucky in that the old coppices weren't bull-dozed away when the conifers were planted, leaving the dormant seeds to re-populate the woods once given the chance.

The marshes offer further diversity, and it's often the ditches that are most plant rich. The common bladderwort traps tiny insects for nourishment, and frogsbit and water soldier abound.

Taller species like ragged robin and marsh pea add stretches of colour.

The valley fens are different again, with low nutrient levels encouraging other insectivores such as the lovely round-leaved sundew, although you might need to get close to the ground to appreciate its beauty! In the east, the heathlands offer heather, foxgloves and purple milk vetch in abundance. The Saltings and shingle reserves support sea campion, and succulents like stonecrop. Lastly, Steve talked about the new reserve of Martlesham Wilds, which is being left completely alone to re-wild, the only interference being some light grazing. It will be interesting to watch it change over the years.

The beautiful photographs were evidence of the wonderful variety of flora to be found in our county, and they encouraged us to look more carefully at the plants beneath our feet.

Our next meeting is back in the Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, IP18 6JP, on Thursday April 9th at 7:30pm. Our brief AGM will be followed by refreshments, and a short film 'A Suffolk River by Canoe' featuring Paul Heiney. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Contact us at: swtblythvalley@gmail.com Penny Mansfield

Framlingham and Saxmundham Cats Protection news

One of the many services our branch provides is assistance with cats reported as feral. Last year, we were asked to intervene with several cats that appeared to lack shelter or domestic homes. These were predominantly young cats and kittens scavenging for food around bins at a local hotel.

homes. Some remain traumatised and will require additional time before they're ready for adoption. Without the dedicated support of our branch and the generosity of our donors, these cats would have faced a precarious, uncertain future.

Adrian Ramsay MP brings together community groups to inspire local eco projects

The Sustainable Communities Conference, held at the Corn Hall in Diss and organised by Adrian Ramsay MP, brought together a wide range of organisations and community groups to support and encourage grassroots environmental projects across the Waveney Valley.

the health and environment of our local areas. Today has been about helping people connect and learn from each other."

INK Festival announces 10th anniversary programme with playwriting commissions from Richard Curtis and Esther Freud

April 16th-19th, 9:30am9:30pm.

The UK's largest new short play festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary year in 2026 led by special short playwriting commissions from renowned writers Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Blackadder, Bridget Jones' Diary) and Esther Freud (Hideous Kinky, The Wild, The Sea House). The extraordinary programme will stage 70 new short plays over the course of the four-day festival. These will sit alongside headline performances and talks from award-winning creatives, as well as free youth and community events, offering something fun for all the family. From its beginnings as a showcase of just 15 plays, INK has grown into a nationally recognised celebration of shortform storytelling - vibrant, inventive and accessible.

The core festival programme will see fantastic new short plays, grouped together in fours, staged across Halesworth in hour long 'pods' performed by over 50 professional actors and directors. Designed to showcase a variety of genres, these are performed in an eclectic variety of venues across the town, from traditional theatres to striking outdoor and pop-up locations across

Halesworth such as the local Food Larder, Bowling Club, Scout Hut even a Community Bus. The plays have been handselected by INK from over 1000 script submissions and will be produced as stage plays, radio plays, and rehearsed readings. Highlights of the programme include Richard Curtis's Portrait, which follows a famous actress as she engages a professional artist to paint her portrait for her husband's birthday. Alongside this, Esther Freud's Signs and Whispers will look at a couple on their way home from a magic show when a stranger from their past joins them on the tube station platform. The INKredibles' plays have been a running initiative over the past decade of the festival, where a handful of famous writers are invited to submit a piece of writing.

Alongside the short play festival, INK will also be running an exciting programme of headline events, from talks with award-winning authors and Bridgerton's intimacy coach, to readings from some of the best stories featured at the BBC National Short Story Award, and screenings of the best of short films from the 2025 Suffolk short Film Festival. Some highlights include performances from

award-winning comic Alistair McGowan, Dead Ringers' Jan Ravens and Jon Culshaw, poet Luke Wright and Di Spiers plus talks from Hugh Bonneville and Sir Tony Robinson. The INK 2026 programme also hosts a free 'schools' day' on Monday 20th April which allows hundreds of students across the region to access new writing and theatre, the only one of its kind in the country. The festival will also host workshops for budding writers, and free youth and community events to encourage the local Suffolk community to get involved in the festival's activities.

Artistic Director of INK Festival, Julia Sowerbutts comments, It's hard to believe all those years ago what began as a tiny showcase of 15 shorts has now grown into the world's biggest carnival of new short plays. Yes, ten festivals is a lot of festival. But INK has never just been about that.

Associate Director of INK Festival, James Christopher comments, Because these plays are short you never get bored. That doesn't mean they lack ambition, wit, talent and twists. What makes INK so unique is the magic mix of performers and art. There really is something for everyone!

The event connected groups and parishes interested in starting practical, community-led sustainability initiatives, as well as those looking to strengthen and expand existing projects in ways that reflect the rural context of the Waveney Valley.

Speaking after the event, Adrian said: "There's a huge amount of concern about our environment across Waveney Valley, and lots of good initiatives already happening. I've brought together communities, parish councils and local groups from across the Waveney Valley to talk about how people are already running practical environmental projects, or how they want to start them. The aim is for people to learn from and be inspired by one another.

"Across a range of topics, we've talked about the strong desire within our communities to run more grassroots environmental initiatives that make a real difference to the resilience, and

Ensors Accountants

The event, organised in response to strong interest from across the constituency, aims to help establish a collaborative network of practitioners, policymakers, land managers and community groups.

Adrian added: "We've had around 100 people here from across the constituency, representing parish councils, community groups, district councils, businesses and residents. Many are already involved in grassroots environmental projects, whether that's nature restoration, natural flood management, or community-owned energy, while others want to get involved.

I've had many parish councils say to me, 'We want to develop a sustainability plan.' They want to take practical action on things like nature recovery, food growing or flood management, but they want to learn more about how to get started. The Waveney Valley and the wider region already have some great examples of community-led environmental projects, and bringing people together like this allows others to learn from them. Today has been about making those connections, and it's been really inspiring."

Financial focus on... Exemptions from MTD

If you declared gross rental or self-employed income of £50,000 or above in your 2024/25 Tax Return, Making Tax Digital (MTD) is about to start. From 6 April 2026 (or 1 April 2026 by election) you'll need to file quarterly electronic Returns, with a fifth or balancing Tax Return after the tax year end.

But are you MTD exempt?

HMRC have a list of MTD exemptions that may apply to you. The following (correct at the time of writing) is not comprehensive but does include either automatic exemptions or those that should be applied for.

One of our foster volunteers conducted an assessment and began feeding the cats using unset traps to acclimatise them to the equipment. Over time, she was able to set the traps and successfully captured ten cats, and then brought them into our care.

All the cats were severely malnourished and infested with fleas, worms and ticks. They underwent veterinary examinations, and those old enough were neutered. It became apparent that the cats were not truly feral but rather frightened domestic cats, which had probably been abandoned. Unfortunately, one kitten required euthanasia due to a stomach obstruction caused by stones and was too small for surgical intervention. Two kittens had ingested plastic, which fortunately passed through them without complications.

Following weeks of dedicated and compassionate care, many of these vulnerable, abandoned cats have been adopted into new

Looking for a home: Cally (pictured above) came in as a stray with her kittens. The kittens have been homed and now it is Cally's turn. We believe she's approximately two-years old. Cally is extremely affectionate and playful. She likes to get up onto your lap, although she's not a fan of being picked up for cuddles. She will need a home with a large garden, in a safe area.

You can see her and all our cats looking for homes on: cats.org. uk/framandsax#adopt-all

Please visit our website: Website: cats.org.uk/framandsax, email: enquiries@framandsax. cats.org.uk, or phone: 01728 723499 for more information about adopting cats in our care; how to become a member of the branch; event dates; neutering; cat-care leaflets; how to become a volunteer fundraiser or fosterer, make a donation and other ways you can support us. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Doughlicious® launches Cookies & Cream Ready to Bake Cookies with Sainsbury's

launch of its newest Ready to Bake Cookie Dough flavour, Cookies & Cream (RRP from £3.20 per box of six cookies),

available from Sainsbury's stores across the country now alongside Doughlicious' award-winning Chocolate Chip Ready to Bake Cookie Dough. When the urge to bake hits and you want a gourmet experience but without the fuss, Doughlicious has the answer with Doughlicious Ready-to-Bake Cookie Dough. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, these gluten free certified delights are made with 100% British oats and are packed with the finest natural ingredients to deliver a gourmet snacking experience in minutes - no mixing bowls, no washing upjust pop in the oven and go! Doughlicious cookies bake to perfection in minutes with pre-portioned dough, maximising convenience while minimising food waste.

Cookies & Cream Cookie Dough is comprised of dark cocoa cookie dough with white chocolate chips; Doughlicious has combined dark cocoa and black cocoa for that iconic deep, almost-black colour and rich chocolate flavour, then added creamy white chocolate pieces for the ultimate cookies and cream experience. Made with Doughlicious' signature glutenfree oat flour blend, these cookies are buttery and rich in taste but surprisingly light on the palate. Bakes into thick cookies with crispy edges and a soft centre that will have Oreo lovers declaring their new allegiance. Pop the oven on and let that fresh-baked cookie aroma fill your kitchen! Bake the whole pack to share or have a super sneaky solo snack. The Doughlicious Cookies & Cream Ready to Bake Cookies are available now in the frozen section at Sainsbury's. doughlicious.co.uk

Automatic Exemptions with no time limit include partnerships, trusts and estates; and those who have in place and have enacted a Power of Attorney due to physical or mental incapacity. Additionally, anyone without an NI number is exempt too.

Some Automatic Exemptions currently last until April 2027 only. These include those claiming farmers/artist averaging, have relevant estate or trust income or are foster carers. Additionally, those filing form SA109 (non-residents and those arriving or leaving the country) are exempt for a limited time but individual tax advice is crucial.

Other non-permanent Automatic Exemptions that currently extend beyond April 2027 include individuals claiming or transferring the Blind Person's Allowance or the Married Couples Allowance (but not the Transferable Married Allowance TMA). Lloyds Underwriters and Ministers of Religion (who file the SA102M page) also attract a limited automatic exemption. By concession, there are also exemptions for those who are

"Digitally Excluded" that can be applied for which HMRC will consider on a case-by-case basis. These include those whose religious beliefs are at odds with using digital technology; those with no internet access at home, business or suitable alternative location; and importantly anyone affected by age, health condition or disability where your condition stops you from using a computer, tablet or smartphone to keep or submit digital records to HMRC. You will not be granted exemption from MTD if you simply prefer using paper; do not want the additional cost; are unfamiliar with software; or have few digital records to submit. That said, HMRC's guidance does say that you are not automatically precluded from claiming if you currently have assistance to help you file Tax Returns as it is how it affects you that is considered. The full current list is available at: gov.uk/guidance/ find-out-if-you-can-get-anexemption-from-makingtax-digital-for-income-tax - assuming you can access it! Hope this helps Contact details: For further information please contact Robin Beadle (pictured) via email: robin.beadle@ensors. co.uk

Disclaimer: Specialist advice should always be sought prior to taking any action on matters discussed in this article.

Green Films Power Station

Halesworth ASH presents 'Power Station', the latest in a series of engaging and thoughtprovoking Green Films.

Screening at The Cut on the evening of April 24th, this compelling documentary by activist filmmakers Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell charts their mission (hatched during lockdown) to install solar panels on the roofs of their street and, in their words, to "turn every house into a power station."

Along the way, they fundraise for solar panels on the local junior school roof (aided by an ambitious attempt at a Christmas number one!) and even enjoy a visit from royalty. At a time when energy prices are soaring, our Halesworth Energy Champion will be on hand to offer practical support.

Power Station has enjoyed a nationwide series of screenings, sparking discussion about community engagement,

domestic solar (alongside insulation and batteries), and community-owned energy projects. Now, Halesworth ASH is delighted to share the film with Halesworth and our neighbouring towns and villages. Energy Champion William Poulsen will share news of local initiatives and plan energy-related events around the screening; check the Halesworth ASH Facebook page or website (halesworthash.com) for updates.

The film has been screening to sell-out audiences. To experience this fun, informative, and timely production, book tickets in person at The Cut or online at: thecut.org. uk. Tickets: £6.

"I can't recommend this film enough. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll kickstart a community-led renewable energy revolution... This is one of the most important films ever made."

- Rob Hopkins, Co-Founder of Transition Network

Local bowls club inspires next generation

On March 9th, Halesworth Angel Bowls Club presented Holton St. Peter Primary School with a Bowls Buddies Kit. The Club also presented a kit to Edgar Sewter Primary School on March 17th.

Bowls Buddies Kits are ideal for introducing children to the sport of bowls. All children will be captivated by the challenge of the different activities on offer, such as landing the bowls onto a target mat, knocking down skittles, scoring points in a target wedge or simply getting closest to the jack.

Bowls is a wonderful game for developing hand eye coordination and decision making, both skills used in all sports. The best thing about bowls is that it can engage those children who are not identifiably sporty. There's not the rough and tumble of football

or rugby. It can also be easily played by those with a disability. There's no doubt that bowls is attractive to old people, as it's a low impact sport. Nevertheless, it requires fitness and judgement. Most bowlers I know wish they'd started earlier. I was typical, progressing from rugby to golf to bowls. We hope that a number of our primary school children will take to the sport and play throughout their lives.

Our chairman's been involved in the sport over 40 years and we have members in their 90's. So give it a go! We're holding open days at our club at the top of Dairy Hill on April 25th and May 2nd at 2pm. If you can't make it on those days, anybody's welcome at 2pm on a Tuesday or Saturday.

Ben Cardwel (Secretary) 07470 811426

News from Halesworth Tennis Club

Tennis & Pickleball

When the weather plays ball, so do our tennis and pickleball players and it's always good to get back onto the Club's tarmac (still looking glorious after last season's huge fundraising efforts) and play some games. We have two newly resurfaced tennis courts and lines painted for pickleball on one of these.

Membership

We currently have 73 members covering a wide spectrum of ages and abilities as well as our Pay and Play facility for non-members. With the months racing by, and the end of the 2025-2026 season rapidly approaching therefore, we are looking ahead to our next season and welcoming new

members from our ever-growing local area and welcoming back this season's members.

Playing Groups Often facing some cold temperatures during the winter period, both our Juniors and Adults in the coaching groups have boldly set aside their wellington boots and slipped on their trainers, whilst our various regular tennis and pickleball players have taken advantage, when their time permits, of any opportunity to play. Our most recent members are a family who play pickleball - a lovely way to enjoy both a physical and fun activity together. Members and the public can book courts online.

Floodlights

Although the days are now

lighter for longer, we do have the advantage of floodlights so tennis and pickleball can be played after work and school hours at any time of the year.

Dates for your Diaries The Club will hold its Annual General Meeting on April 22nd at 6:30pm in the community meeting room at the Halesworth Co-op. To find out more, come along as we welcome both members and non-members (as observers) to attend. As usual, we're planning an Open Day in May and the proposed date for this is May 17th. It'd be great to see you at both events and then to welcome you onto the courts! halesworthtennisclub.co.uk

Location: Dairy Hill, Bungay Road, Halesworth, IP19 8JS

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The

for the duration of the school Easter holidays. It's a fun day out for the whole family, with seven cheeky bunny character boards hidden discreetly around the play park. It's the task of visitors to find the bunnies and complete their sticker card to receive a prize.

The Golden Egg Challenge is becoming a firm favourite; each day, a golden egg is carefully hidden in the play park, with a prize up for grabs for the winner, including summer maize maze family tickets! It's best to arrive in good time for this one as, once the Golden Egg is found each day, you'll have to wait until the next day for another chance.

Alongside the Easter activities, tickets include access to all facilities within the play park, which includes three jumping pillows, double zip line, ride on tractors, nest swing, climbing towers and slides, downpour derby water play, two giant sand pits, and the recent addition of

play cafés and kitchens.

Owner Bella Hall shares her plans for 2026 at Old Hall Farm, including the Café, maize maze and play park: "After a busy 2025, where we celebrated a milestone 20 years of Southwold Maize Maze, we are excited to bring you yet another year of fun and excitement at Old Hall Farm!

We will be kicking off the year with our Easter event, opening the gates to our play park for family entertainment over the Easter Holidays. And we will soon be announcing our theme for this year's maize maze. We are also thrilled to share our plans for a broader and more exciting events programme in our Big Barn, starting with an Antiques and Vintage two-day Market on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, our Makers Market in May, and a new Fine Art and Sculpture Fair in June."

Over the Easter weekend, on April 3rd and 4th, Wendy Rabbit will be joining the bunny hunt at the venue, adding extra fun for young visitors. The two-day Easter Antique and Vintage Fair will also take place on the same dates in the big barn.

The play park will be open from 9:30am-4:30pm each day during the Easter Holidays, with last entries at 2:30pm.

Old Hall Southwold Café and Walks, which shares the site overlooking the River Blyth, will also be open for the duration of the Easter holidays, with a seasonal menu featuring freshly baked spring and Easter specials.

"We're also delighted to be hosting the first ever Southwold Sausage Summer Festival in conjunction with the original Southwold Sausage Walk founder, Laura from Empire Training. We hope to see

hundreds of Sausage Dogs (and their owners!) descend on Old Hall for a day of live music, food, walks, market stalls and more, all focussing on celebrating the brilliant Dachshund!" Bella adds.

The event will take place on July 4th, and will be a ticketonly event. Tickets go on sale very soon, with information on where to get tickets shared on social media.

Visitors note: Maize mazes aren't planted until May, which means the mazes and go kart track won't be open until late July. Until then, the play park and the accompanying events offer a day full of fun for everyone.

Tickets available online (£2.50 adults, £7.50 children). There's an advantage over gate prices (£3 for adults, £8.50 for children). For further information and to book tickets: southwoldmaizemaze.

co.uk/easter