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Welcome

Welcome to this month's edition of On Our Doorstep!

February continued to be very cold and wet, but we did have a few blue sky days - a little spring preview we hope! Jacqui escaped the rain for a weekend to visit our middle child living in Stockholm, where temperatures dropped to a chilly -18°C. Despite the cold, the scenery was stunning, with lakes frozen solid and picture-perfect winter views.

The notorious Baldock Beast Half Marathon took place at the end of February and, once again, proved to be a fantastic success. A huge thank you to Karen Stephen and the dedicated team of volunteers who worked so hard to make the event happen. Congratulations to everyone who took part - whether you were running for a personal best, charitable cause or just for fun, it is a huge achievement! Fingers crossed Karen is up for the challenge again next year!

Looking forward to warmer days, the Baldock Events Forum has been busy behind the scenes preparing a full programme of summer events, starting with the everpopular Baldock Festival in May. There's plenty to look forward to and as always there's something for everyone. All the crowd favourites will be making a repeat appearance as well as some new events!

There have also been some signiﬁcant changes to the running of the Baldock Community Centre. Turn to page 15 to read more about what's happening and what it means for everyone.

We're pleased to welcome a few new local businesses to our advertisers this month. One of the most important things we aim to do with the magazine is to share local businesses and services and encourage everyone to shop and support local! If you're in need of a roofer, there's a new local specialist ready to help with all your rooﬁng needs. And if you're planning to brighten up your garden for the summer, J.S Jets are on hand to clean drives, patios and gutters, giving your outdoor spaces a fresh new look.

We also welcome Steve King from Challenge Central, oﬀering trekking and cycling challenges for individuals, groups and charities, a great opportunity for anyone looking for their next adventure!

Enjoy this month's issue!

Paul & Jacqui

info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or 07973 788418

BaldockFoodAngels

On the 8th of February 2024 our doors opened for the ﬁrst ever Baldock Food Angels Food Staon. We had a venue, the church hall, volunteers and our collecons were from two local Tesco express stores. We are at our two year anniversary and now have collecons from the Food shed Stevenage, Lidl Letchworth and the two original Tesco Express stores. We also fund a Fareshare delivery fortnightly. Our surplus goes onto Kings Cabin in Letchworth, so no waste from our collecons.

We have opened for 51 weeks of the year only closing for two weeks since we opened. We have raﬄes, made hampers for the Baldock community at Christmas, provided an annual regiing table at Christmas, Easter Eggs, coats for kids and we were lucky enough to be Lidl's toy donated charity in 2025 enabling us to give toys to families before Christmas.

We have over 25 volunteers including drivers who collect stock and volunteers who help on the day. I met an amazing lady in the beginning without whom I could not have started the Food Staon without her support and organisaon.

She seamlessly coordinates the weekly rota and runs our weekly Facebook page promong the Food Staon, all from a new home miles away from Baldock. We also have a fabulous volunteer who organises our Volunteer Social Group, where we celebrate our Food Staon community together.

Addionally, Brandles School volunteer weekly in the term and the boys have been well received by our community.

Community

We have rescued food and provided for over 4,220 people since we opened. We invite our customers to stay and have a cup of tea or coﬀee and a sweet treat. We hope we oﬀer a safe, warm welcome to the community, where friendships have been formed and customers meet up weekly. We connue to welcome regulars, new customers, food rescuers and those in need. We have had tears, hugs and gratude from customers that we have been able to help.

From an idea to provide a Community hub that oﬀered food to families to the provision we oﬀer two years on is something we are all proud of.

Firstly a big thank you goes to St Marys Baldock Church for the church hall as a venue.

We have been lucky enough to receive funds from the Baldock Beer fesval, Baldock Community from the annual Fireworks and the Baldock Area Forum. We have also collected over £800 in donaons from our volunteers and customers.

A special menon goes to Pip and Grant from Kaoc Food Angels have been instrumental in our seng up, they have just celebrated their 3rd anniversary and have always had a can do atude when we have been stuck. Without their posivity and support we could not have set up in the ﬁrst instance.

I also have to say a huge thank you to all the Food Angels who make Baldock a special place to be! Without each fantasc volunteer our Food Staon would not be able to run, so a massive thank you and happy 2nd anniversary!

“Kindness in My World”

Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery has launched their biggest community project to date, with a design compeon across all four of their studios and shops.

Based on the theme “Kindness in My World”, they're inving children to create illustraons based on someone special in their life, with a chance to have it hand engraved onto a silver pendant as their prize. Taking place between the 9th February and 27th March, the project aims to celebrate love, creavity, and acts of kindness. It encourages children to consider a design that reﬂects exactly why that person means so much to themacvies they do together, thoughul moments they share, or anything that brings a smile to their face- and to share the story behind it. As it is including all four of their studio and shop locaons (St Albans, North Herts, Cambridge and Primrose Hill) four winners will be chosen who will all have a consultaon with a Senior Designer to get their illustraon ready for engraving.

The expert goldsmiths will then transform their artwork into a bespoke pendant, adding a silver chain so the pendant is complete and ready to gi. Along with their prize, each winner will also receive a souvenir photobook that shows the complete journey of the pendant, and their winning design framed for them to display.

“Jewellery has always been about meaning, memory, and connecon,” says Managing Director, Rebecca Howarth. “With Kindness in My World, we wanted to celebrate kindness through a child's eyes and show how even the simplest drawing can become something truly extraordinary when it carries love behind it.”

From Sketch to Sparkle Children can download a template from their website www.hkjewellery.co.uk/events/pendant -design-compeon-kindness-in-myworld or collect one from their local Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery Studio & Shop. Submissions can then be posted or handed in in person, ﬁlling in their

contact details and a short note explaining who the piece is for and why.

A judging panel from the team will select ﬁnalists based on creavity, storytelling, and emoonal connecon. Community at the Heart

As part of the campaign, Harriet Kelsall will host in-studio “Kindness in My World” drawing staons, display children's entries on a dedicated wall, and work closely with local schools and families to encourage parcipaon. The iniave is designed not only to inspire young creaves, but to strengthen es with the local community and showcase the crasmanship, care, and storytelling that sits at the heart of HK Bespoke's values.

UNIT 12 BONDOR BUSINESS CENTRE, LONDON ROAD, BALDOCK. SG76HP

Fun by Design

Vauxhall Corsa Yes Edion

If you're in the market for a compact car that blends style, praccality, economy, and a pleasant driving experience, the special edion Vauxhall Corsa Yes is worth a look, writes motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay.

Under the bonnet, the limited-run hatchback comes with an eﬃcient 1.2litre 100PS engine, available with a sixspeed manual or an eight-speed automac transmission. I drove the model with the classic 'do-it-yourself' gears.

Whether you're navigang potholepocked city streets, pootling around rural roads, or cruising along the motorway, the handling is responsive, and the ride is surprisingly reﬁned for a small car.

Safety features are one of the highlights of this supermini, oﬀering advanced technology such as Intelli-LED headlights, LED dayme running lights, and high-beam assist to make visibility beer. The Corsa Yes is also ﬁed with lane departure warning, combined with lane-keeping assistance, speed sign recognion, and hill start assist.

Addional measures include a driver drowsiness alert, forward collision alert, and automac emergency braking. The vehicle also features cruise control with an intelligent speed limiter, six airbags, and rear parking distance sensors for easier parking.

By Tim Barnes-Clay - Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay

That is a lot of kit to cram into a compact car. Yet, inside, the five-door Corsa doesn't seem small. The cabin is thoughully craed, offering comfortable seang for at least four people – or five at a push. Plus, there's a user-friendly infotainment unit that keeps you connected while on the move.

There's also ample luggage space –390 litres of it, making this Vauxhall an excellent choice for shopping trips or weekend getaways. Drop the rear seats, and the cargo capacity expands to 1,118 litres.

The special edion model is available in ﬁve hues, including three new colours exclusive to the Yes grade. My test Corsa was painted in fetching 'Kiss' red, had a black roof, and was equipped with diamond-cut, high-gloss black alloy wheels and athlec body styling. The sleek look of this Griﬃn-badged car is complemented by its black lower side window trim and dark-nted rear windows. The black headliner adds to its sporty interior design.

For me, the main selling point of the Vauxhall is its eﬃciency. The threecylinder turbocharged petrol hatchbackemits only 118-121g/km of CO2 and achieves 52.3-53.3mpg. Those ﬁgures were quite accurate during my week with the car.

Indeed, I didn't need to ﬁll it up once, even aer a 290-mile round trip from Northamptonshire to Brighton, followed by three days of school runs and a separate 46-mile oung around Lincolnshire. Throughout that me, I averaged 49-50mpg, although I drove conservavely, rarely exceeding 65mph on the motorways.

The car's maximum speed is 120mph, and it can accelerate from zero to 60mph in 9.9 seconds. However, if you push it to those limits, your fuel eﬃciency will, unsurprisingly, decrease signiﬁcantly.

All in all, this Vauxhall Corsa is deﬁnitely worth shoung 'Yes' about.

Fast Facts

Vauxhall Corsa Yes:

Ÿ Max speed: 120 mph

Ÿ 0-62 mph: 9.9 secs

Ÿ MPG: 52.3-53.3

Ÿ Powerplant: 1,199cc, 3 cylinders, turbocharged petrol

Ÿ Power (PS): 100

Ÿ CO2: 118-121 g/km

Ÿ Price from: £19,215 on the road

St Mary’s Sports

Over the past few weeks, pupils from St. Mary's School have taken part in a wide range of sporng events, demonstrang skill, resilience, and outstanding sportsmanship. These events have included indoor athlecs, cross-country, and dodgeball compeons, with children from Years 4 to 6 proudly represenng the school in both hosted and external events.

In indoor athlecs, 27 pupils competed at Highfield School in a qualifying tournament featuring a variety of track and field events. Both the boys' and girls' teams performed strongly, finishing second and third overall and qualifying for the final on Wednesday 25th February. In addion, St. Mary's accepted an extra invitaon to the Small Schools Indoor Athlecs event, forming two mixed-age teams to compete against older athletes. Despite the challenge, the teams finished an impressive 4th and 5th out of eight schools, exceeding expectaons and gaining valuable experience.

Our cross-country runners also represented the school at the Herordshire County Finals on a demanding wet and muddy course. Having already qualified by finishing in the top ten at district level, the boys faced extremely high compeon. Strong performances in both Year 5 and Year 6 races, including a determined finish aer an early fall, highlighted their resilience and commitment.

Dodgeball proved another major success, with a mixed Year 6 team compeng against eight schools and finishing the tournament unbeaten. The team showed exceponal honesty, respect, and sportsmanship throughout, earning praise from staff at other schools. Their dominant performance in the final secured them the tle of tournament champions. Finally, St. Mary's hosted a dodgeball event for Year 4 girls alongside St. Francis School.

The atmosphere was ﬁlled with excitement, teamwork, and joy, with pupils thoroughly enjoying the experience and represenng the school brilliantly. Across all events, the children showed not only sporng ability but also integrity, enthusiasm, and pride in being part of St. Mary's School.

Sco Hagland - PE Coordinator

BLONDIES

TheBallad oftheOverExuberant DeliveryDriver

At nine ﬁeen, the Orange Tree

Prepared for rugby revelry,

An “urgent drop” of weekend cheer— A noble mission: more cold beer.

The staﬀ stood ready, calm and bright, For nothing seemed amiss… quite right. But fate, it seems, had other schemes— The kind that smash through wooden beams.

For with a rev and hearty shove, Our driver, keen, perhaps too much Approached the door with gusto grand… And took the roof oﬀ with his van.

The entrance groaned, the mbers sighed,

a chunk of doorway slumped and died.

The staﬀ looked on in stunned dismay— “Well… that’s the drop-oﬀ done today.”

The driver, poor soul, pale with fright, Apologised with all his might.

The pub forgave him on the spot— “We all make errors, do we not?”

And so by noon, with grit and grace, The team restored the stricken place. By kick-oﬀ me, the doors were wide, And rugby fans poured back inside. So raise a glass (but mind the beams), To pubs, to staﬀ, to shaered dreams, And drivers bold, whose zeal, unchecked, Can leave a doorway… somewhat wrecked. Steve Mason

Podiatry is back at Amber Health!

We are delighted to say that we are once have a Podiatrist as part of our team. Lilian Caxton has joined us and oﬀers a wide range of roune treatments (see our advert), as well as custom orthocs. No maer what age you are it is important to look aer your feet. Your feet are complex made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 9 muscles and 57 ligaments. They may take you 100,000 miles, in your lifeme so it's deﬁnitely worth looking aer them.

Are you tying your shoes correctly?

Tying your laces with your foot flat on the floor does not create a good fit. Flex your foot up towards your shin bone. This will mean your feet will move around less in your shoes, prevenng blisters, dry and hard skin.

Verrucae are just bad luck?

Not really! The virus that causes a verruca gets implanted through breaks in the skin.

If your soles are dry and cracked, the risk of geng verrucae is more likely.

To avoid this, keep your feet well moisturised and wear ﬂip ﬂops at the pool.

Is it an in-growing toenail?

Many paents believe they have an in-growing toenail. The term usually refers to nails that have pierced the skin causing a wound. Involuted nails are caused when the edge of your nail is curling inwards but has not penetrated the skin.

Not all heel pain is related to the plantar fascia.

While the majority of heel pain aﬀecng the heel are plantar fasciis related, this is only the case if the pain is on sole of your foot, where the plantar fascia is located, and even then, somemes it isn't plantar fasciis. Heel pain on the sides and back of the heel

is likely some other condion. The Importance of your ankles 85% of ankle injuries are sprains. Sprains can lead to ankle sffness with reduced co-ordinaon of your ankle and lower limbs – walking becomes compromised and other joints further up your body compensate for these changes leading to imbalances elsewhere. For good balance, your brain relies on signals from your inner ear, vision and receptors in your muscles. Taking one of these away has a dramac effect of your balance. Try standing on one foot with your eyes open, then with your eyes closed, you will noce the difference. Good mobility in your feet is important as they are your body's connecon to the ground.

Amber Health 01462 490141

With 20 years experience selling homes locally

Thank you to all the people that have recommended me as their personal estate agent in Baldock. I love working here and the town has always held a special place in my heart, it's just great!!

ANewChapterforBaldockCommunityCentre

The Baldock Community Centre has for many years been a much-loved place to meet and enjoy the many acvies held there over the years.

From children's dance classes to Judo, Zumba and senior lunches, we are sure that anyone who lives in Baldock and surrounding areas will have visited the Community centre at some point, even if just to cast your vote in the local elecons or more recently to enjoy the Beer Fesval. In recent years, the centre has faced financial challenges, including that of a large building that is expensive to run and maintain. It has been a difficult me for the staff and there has been a real risk that the centre would close.

Further to public meengs held last year, and a lot of work done in relaon to managing exisng debts, I am pleased to announce that from the 1st April 2026 the Community Centre will be run by a new charitable trust and team of volunteers, chaired by Brent Copsey.

To mark this milestone, there will also be a rebranding of the centre to the “Baldock Community Hub.”

The exisng staﬀ will remain and will be assisng us with the transion and providing much welcomed support and guidance in how the centre has been run and they will be part of posive change for the future.

The new trust's focus will be on: keeping the centre running; improving cashﬂow to help fully clear the current debts; to provide much-needed addional funds to facilitate improvements; and to promote wider and more diversiﬁed use of the centre. As a team, the aim is to welcome many new users, whilst connuing to look aer our exisng patrons. We are looking to broaden the spectrum of events and acvies and inject new life into the centre for the good of the community. We are

also planning improvements to the café area, the general décor and outside areas, as well as implemenng energy saving measures. We will create a new social media presence, as well as launching a website to facilitate online bookings and connecons with the other charitable groups in the town.

As a facility being run for the community, we would love to hear from you with ideas of what you would like to see at the Baldock Community Hub. If you run a class or a club and are looking for a room or hall to use, we want to hear from you. If you are a business looking for a venue to run ad-hoc meengs or regular team events, please do get in touch. We have a number of rooms opons available and welcome any quesons you may have. In the ﬁrst instance, please contact either myself or Brent Copsey using the details below:

STOP PRESS!!

The following events are now in the diary:

Ÿ Friday 10th April – Quiz Night

Ÿ Friday 17th April – Danny's Disco

Ÿ Friday 24th April - Quiz night

Ÿ Saturday 25th April – Bingo

Further details will be available shortly via the new website and social media.

Please give us a follow on Facebook (“Baldock Hub”) and Instagram (@baldockhub).

Contact details

Brent Copsey - 07703516914

copsey.brent@gmail.com

Paul Wheeler 07835300260

paul.w.wheeler@outlook.com

Paul Wheeler - Vice Chair

Baldock Community Centre

Charitable Trust 2025 (BCCA25)

Stronger For Longer

The Advantages

of Taking Creane in

Later Life

For years, creane was seen as something reserved for bodybuilders and elite athletes. But increasingly, research is showing that this naturally occurring compound may have powerful beneﬁts far beyond the gym ﬂoor — parcularly for people in midlife and beyond.

If you're looking to stay acve, independent and mentally sharp as you age, creane might be worth a closer look.

What Is Creane?

Creane is a substance naturally produced by the body and stored primarily in the muscles. It plays a key role in producing quick energy, parcularly during short bursts of acvity such as liing, climbing stairs or geng up from a chair.

We also obtain small amounts from foods such as red meat and ﬁsh, but supplementaon increases the body's stored supply — and that's where the potenal beneﬁts begin.

1. Preserving Muscle Mass and Strength

One of the most signiﬁcant challenges of ageing is sarcopenia — the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength that typically begins in our 30s and accelerates later in life.

Research consistently shows that creane supplementaon, especially when combined with resistance training, can:

Ÿ Improve muscle strength

Ÿ Increase lean muscle mass

Ÿ Enhance recovery aer exercise

For older adults, this isn't about aesthecs — it's about maintaining independence. Stronger muscles reduce the risk of falls, support joint health and make everyday tasks easier.

2. Supporng Bone Health

Emerging evidence suggests creane may indirectly support bone density by improving muscle strength and the ability to perform weight-bearing exercise. Stronger muscles create beer smulus for bone maintenance, which is parcularly important for those concerned about osteoporosis.

While it's not a replacement for calcium or vitamin D, it can form part of a broader strategy to maintain skeletal resilience.

3. Enhancing Brain Funcon

Perhaps surprisingly, creane doesn't just beneﬁt muscles — it also plays a role in brain energy metabolism. Studies have suggested potenal improvements in:

Ÿ Memory

Ÿ Cognive processing speed

Ÿ Mental fague

As we age, maintaining mental clarity becomes just as important as physical vitality. While research is ongoing, early ﬁndings are promising, parcularly in individuals experiencing cognive decline.

4. Supporng Recovery and Reducing Fague

Older adults oen noce slower recovery from physical acvity. Creane can improve cellular energy availability, potenally reducing fague and supporng quicker recovery from exercise.

This can encourage more consistent physical acvity — one of the most powerful tools for healthy ageing.

5. Safe and Well-Researched

Creane monohydrate is one of the most extensively studied supplements in the world. When taken at recommended doses (typically 3–5g daily), it has been

shown to be safe for healthy individuals. As with any supplement, those with kidney condions or other medical concerns should consult their GP before starng.

How to Take Creane in Later Life

Ÿ Form: Creane monohydrate is the most researched and cost-eﬀecve opon.

Ÿ Dose: 3–5g daily is generally suﬃcient; no “loading phase” is necessary.

Ÿ Timing: It can be taken at any me of day, ideally with a meal.

Ÿ Hydraon: Maintain good fluid intake. For best results, combine supplementaon with regular resistance training — even simple bodyweight exercises can make a significant difference.

The Bigger Picture

Ageing well isn't about chasing youth, it's about preserving capability. The ability to li shopping bags, climb stairs, travel conﬁdently or play with grandchildren all depend on strength, balance and mental sharpness. Creane is not a magic soluon. But alongside strength training, a balanced diet and good sleep, it may be a valuable tool in supporng healthy longevity. As the conversaon around ageing shis from decline to performance, creane is emerging not as a bodybuilder's supplement — but as a potenal ally for strength, independence and vitality in later life.

* Disclaimer: This arcle is for informaonal purposes only and does not constute medical advice. Always consult a qualiﬁed healthcare professional before starng any supplement

Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

March has arrived, and the garden centre could easily be mistaken for a quirky beach scene, with gardeners donning snorkels and flippers as their unofficial uniform. As I sit here, pen in hand, two weeks before you read this, the rain continues its endless performance, drenching everything in sight. Usually, I'd watch from our cafe window as the allotment holders across the road spring into action, digging, raking, and planting their winter dreams into reality. This year, though, the plots lie deserted, and for good reason. Unless you are a seasoned pro, working soggy soil now risks damaging its structure in ways that can take years to repair.

Imagine healthy soil as a freshly fluffed sponge, packed with tiny air pockets where roots and soil creatures can stretch out and breathe. But after weeks of relentless rain, those pockets fill with water, squeezing out every last gasp of oxygen. Without that essential breath, roots and underground life start to suffocate, and some may not make it through.

Here in Baldock, we're lucky to stand on chalky loam, a soil that drains beautifully—so long as we resist the urge to trample or overwork it when it's wet. The deep chalk below acts like a silent caretaker, quietly draining away excess water if we simply let it do its job.

Lawn Care After a Wet UK Winter and Restoring Your Garden to Its Former Glory.

After a soggy UK winter, your lawn might look more like a patchwork quilt of puddles and moss than a green oasis. Saturated soil, waterlogged spots, and mossy takeovers are all too familiar as spring peeks around the corner. But with a bit of know-how and some well-timed care, you can breathe new life into your lawn and set the scene for a lush, vibrant garden all summer long. My guide will walk you through practical, hands-on steps to help your lawn bounce back after a season of rain.

Assessing the Damage

Before rolling up your sleeves, take a stroll across your lawn and play detective. Spot where the grass is thin, yellowing, or where moss has staged a takeover. Keep an eye out for puddles, muddy patches, and areas where the soil feels hard underfoot.

This first investigation helps you pinpoint which spots need the most TLC and shapes your plan of attack.

Dealing with Waterlogged Soil

After such a wet winter, waterlogged soil is often the biggest headache. Poor drainage can choke grass roots, leaving you with patchy, sickly growth. To help, grab a garden fork or mechanical aerator and spike the lawn—this aeration lets air and nutrients reach the roots and helps water escape. If some spots stay stubbornly soggy, consider adding drainage channels or mixing in sand and organic matter to give your soil a fresh start.

Combating Moss and Algae

Wet weather is paradise for moss and algae, which can swiftly crowd out your grass. To reclaim your lawn, arm yourself with a spring-tined rake and tackle those mossy patches with gusto, pulling up as much as possible. If the moss is stubborn, use a moss killer as directed. Once the battle is won, rake again to clear away the leftovers. More sunlight and better aeration will help keep moss from sneaking back, since it thrives in shady, damp corners.

Repairing Bare or Patchy Areas

Winter can leave your lawn looking a bit patchy, thanks to waterlogging, frost, or hungry pests. To bring these bare spots back to life, gently loosen the soil with a fork, sprinkle on grass seed that suits your lawn, and top it off with a light layer of compost or topsoil. Keep the area moist with gentle watering, but avoid turning it into a swamp. For bigger problem areas, laying down fresh turf is a speedy way to restore a smooth, green finish.

Managing Compaction and Thatch

Heavy rain and busy feet can pack the soil down, making it hard for roots to stretch and water to flow. Aeration is your secret weapon, whether you use a digging fork or a machine. While you're at it, hunt for thatch—a tough layer of dead stuff that smothers the soil. Rake or use a special tool to clear it out. This clean slate encourages fresh growth and gives your lawn a real boost.

Feeding and Top Dressing

After a tough winter, your lawn is ready for a pick-me-up. Feed it with a spring fertiliser packed with nitrogen to spark lush, healthy growth.

Spread the fertiliser evenly and water if the weather is dry. Top dressing with a blend of sand, loam, and organic matter can also work wonders—improving soil structure, smoothing out bumps, and encouraging strong roots. Just remember, less is more: apply a thin layer and gently brush it in so the grass can still breathe.

Regular Mowing and Maintenance

As spring sunshine returns, get back into the mowing routine, but resist the urge to cut the grass too short at first. Set your mower higher to protect those tender new shoots. As your lawn thickens and gains strength, you can gradually lower the blades. Keep them sharp for a crisp cut, and steer clear of mowing when the ground is wet to avoid squashing the soil and damaging your grass.

Pest and Weed Control

Mild, damp winters can invite unwelcome guests like leatherjackets and chafer grubs, which feast on grass roots. If you spot yellow or dying patches despite your best efforts, take a closer look beneath the surface for signs of these pests. Try using biological controls, such as nematodes, to tackle them safely. As the soil warms, weeds may also pop up—pull them by hand when you can, or use selective weedkillers for bigger outbreaks, always following safety advice.

Preventing Future Problems

To dodge next year's headaches, make lawn care a year-round habit. Aerate once a year to help drainage, avoid overwatering, and let your lawn soak up plenty of sunlight. Trim trees and shrubs to open things up, and clear away debris to keep grass healthy. For extra strength, overseed in autumn so your lawn is thick and ready for whatever winter throws its way.

Conclusion

A wet UK winter can challenge even the toughest lawn, but with the right care and a little patience, your garden will spring back to life. By boosting drainage, tackling moss, feeding, aerating, and sticking to a regular mowing schedule, you'll transform your lawn into a lush, inviting retreat. The secret is simple: give your lawn steady attention and adapt your care as the seasons change, and it will reward you year after year.

mothers pride hoppers

The ﬁlm follows the Harley family, who are grieving the loss of their matriarch while struggling to keep their failing local pub aﬂoat. Their fortunes begin to change when they decide to start brewing their own real ale and enter the Great British Beer Awards. What starts as a desperate act of survival evolves into a journey of renewal and restoring pride to their village.

07572 532618

www.bb-carpentry.co.uk

CertiﬁcateRunningTime 12A 90mins

how to make a killing

19 year old, animal loving Mabel uses revolutionary technology to "hop" her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver. Going undercover in the wild, she befriends a charismatic beaver named King George and discovers she can ﬁnally communicate with animals. However, Mabel must rally her new forest friends to thwart a powerhungry mayor’s plan to destroy their habitat.

CertiﬁcateRunningTime PG 105mins

the magicla farawy tree

Out 27th March

The movie centers on Becket Redfellow, who was disowned by his wealthy family at birth. After his impoverished mother passes away, Becket becomes determined to claim his $28 billion inheritance. He plans to achieve this by eliminating the seven relatives in line for the fortune. During this time, he is also managing his relationship with his girlfriend, Ruth, and reconnecting with an old ﬂame, Julia

Certiﬁcate RunningTime 18 105 mins

Based on Enid Blyton’s classic series and follows the Thompson family, parents Polly and Tim, and their children, Beth, Joe, and Fran, who relocate to the remote English countryside. The children discover an enchanted forest and a giant, magical tree inhabited by eccentric characters. By climbing to the top, they travel to everchanging, fantastical lands, learning to reconnect as a family.

Certiﬁcate RunningTime U 110 mins

Step into Freemasonry

Integrity

Rather than working on buildings like the Masons of old, today's Freemasons focus on building themselves as people of integrity, and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.

Friendship

One of the oldest social organisations in the world, Freemasonry is not deﬁned by an ideology. It is open to people from all religions and political persuasionand provides the common foundation for friendship between members many of which will last for life

Respect

With a membership of more than 4000 people in Hertfordshire, Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived diﬀerences that can divide us as a society.

Service

Whether participating in events, fundraisingfor a charitable cause or volunteering for public or community organisations, service is at the very heart of Freemasonry. Our members make valuable contributions by donating time, resources and skills.

The Best Pub Dog Ever

We were desperately saddened to hear that Arf, from The Orange Tree had sadly passed away during February.

Rob knew the end was near and took him to his favourite beach, Mawgan Porth in Cornwallon his ﬁnal day so he could say goodbye to the sea.

Anyone that frequents the Orange Tree will know Alf and how well loved he was by everyone.

Robs partner in crime for the past 16 years through the greatest and the toughest mes, he will be sorely missed.

'OpenGardens'

Rotary Club Seeks New Gardens for 'Open Gardens' Event in May

As part of the Baldock Fesval in May, the Rotary Club of Baldock will once again be sponsoring and organising the very popular Open Gardens event.

As is tradional, it will be held on the last aernoon of the Fesval on Sunday, 17th May and we ask gardens to be open between 1.00pm and 5.00pm.

Our Open Gardens are usually a mix of gardens some of which are open for the ﬁrst me and others that have opened previously. This always gives people a choice of which gardens to visit.

In order to provide an even wider choice of new gardens to visit we would like to give people the opportunity to volunteer to open their gardens.

Your garden doesn't have to be;

Ÿ a show garden – there are no prizes at stake

Ÿ a large garden – small can be just as interesng

Ÿ prisne – weeds have a habit of appearing overnight!

Ÿ It does, however, have to be a safe environment.

Baldock residents are always interested in the Open Gardens event and ideas and comments (always posive) are shared on the day.

However, with greater publicity the event now aracts visitors from further aﬁeld.

All gardens are marshalled throughout the aernoon by Members or Friends of Rotary who take responsibility for checking ckets and supporng the garden owner.

In previous years people have responded to this request and found it an enjoyable experience.

If you are interested in opening your garden and would like to volunteer or would like more informaon about the event please contact Janet Hammond, telephone number 01462-894603 or email janet.hammond4@bnternet.com Rotarian - Paul Lucke

Industry Season 4 – BBC Iplayer

Too much choice out there?

Spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something? LET BALDOCK'S RESiDENT TV GLUTTON HELP YOU ON YOUR MiSSiON!

If Season 3 of Industry was the explosion that levelled the 150-year-old financial instuon of Pierpoint & Co then Season 4 is the inevitable radioacve fallout. I have been raving about Industry since it's first season in 2020 – the freshfaced finance grads taking to the trading floor for the first me was intoxicang; full of hope and opmism in the City before the inevitable crushing corporate pressure and expectaons weighed them all down. The electro synth soundtrack and sharp dialogue remain 6 years on, and even though I sll have no clear grasp of what the trading and finance dialogue means half the me, you can't help but be drawn in to this world of cuhroat trading and relaonship development and sabotage.

Now halfway through its season 4 run, the series has shed the freshman grad skin of its origins to become a sprawling, globetrong autopsy of late-stage capitalism. The core cast remain centred on Harper, Yasmin and Eric but we have clearly moved away from the trading ﬂoor now and into new realm of splinter trading funds and unethical movaons and desires.

We ﬁnd our central players scaered but spiritually tethered by their mutual dysfuncon and origins. Harper Stern (Myha'la), no longer the scrappy underdog haunted by her traumac childhood, is now a fund manager under the wing

of the predatory Oo Mostyn (Roger Barclay). She is trading "signature shorts" with a ruthlessness that makes her earlier seasons look like a rehearsal. Meanwhile, Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela – who I maintain played a great Amy Winehouse in the 2024 ﬁlm Back to Black) has traded the trading ﬂoor for the gilded cage of high society, having married the chaoc aristocrat Sir Henry Muck (a superb Kit Harington). While she manages seang charts for social events and the tabloid opcs to escape her father's own shady past and legal shadows, she remains the show's emoonal lightning rod—a woman performing "stability" yet at the same me drowning in a sea of cocaine and resentment played through manipulaon of others.

The season's focus and engine is Tender, a ﬁntech payment processor (think PayPal turning into Monzo) led by the enigmac Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella). Tender is trying to pivot from its seedy roots in payment processing for online adult content toward legimacy a transion that serves as the season's primary baleground.

The acng this season in my view takes on a new level parcularly from Ken Leung as Eric Tao. Seeing Eric, once the undisputed lion of the Pierpoint ﬂoor, navigate a crumbling sense of self-worth is heartbreaking to a point – the performance lulls you into a false sense of empathy before their next dastardly act reminds you none of these characters are good people.

Industry has always been sharp, but Season 4 is a serrated blade. It tackles really contemporary issues such as the Online Safety Bill and age verificaon with eerie prescience, using the fintech startup Tender to explore how so called democrac digital plaorms are oen built on foundaons of fraud and exploitaon. Polical engagement with the corporate beast is on full display here - and we can all link this to current shock following recent polical and financial scandals.

Industry has successfully moved beyond the oﬃce drama genre to become a high-stakes psychological thriller – it is quite the pivot. It is a show about the fragility of alliances in the face of ambion, proving that while you can leave the bank, the Industry and the chase never really leaves you

Noble Sceptre

The Noble Sceptre is a compact Bluetooth audio transmier designed to improve wireless sound quality from phones, tablets and laptops. Rather than relying on the built-in Bluetooth hardware in your device, Sceptre acts as an external transmier, enabling support for higherquality audio codecs such as LDAC and aptX Adapve.

Priced at £64.99, the Sceptre connects via USB-C and is powered by Qualcomm's QCC5181 chipset with Bluetooth 5.4.

By handling Bluetooth transmission externally, it allows compable headphones and earphones to receive improved wireless audio compared to standard built-in Bluetooth soluons. Supported codecs include LDAC, aptX Adapve, AAC and SBC.

The device is compable with iOS, Android and Windows plaorms and works with a wide range of Bluetooth audio products, including true wireless earphones, over-ear headphones and powered speakers. Inial setup is completed using the Noble app, aer which the Sceptre can be used as a simple plug-and-play USB-C device.

One praccal feature is the chargethrough USB-C port, which allows users to power their phone, tablet or laptop while using the transmier. This makes it suitable for extended listening sessions during travel or desk-based use.

The Sceptre supports common Bluetooth proﬁles including HFP, A2DP and AVRCP, ensuring compability with music playback, calls and media controls.

Noble quotes a wireless transmission range of up to 20 metres in typical environments.

In terms of design, the Sceptre is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry or leave connected to a laptop. Its understated appearance reﬂects Noble Audio's focus on performance-driven products.

The Noble Sceptre is aimed at users who already own quality Bluetooth headphones or earphones and want to improve wireless performance without replacing their exisng equipment. It oﬀers a straighorward way to access higher-resoluon Bluetooth audio from compable devices.

Justicemust beServed

Once again I have found myself being hunted down by the law. There I was, innocently opening my mail on a chilly Saturday morning at the end of January and there it was: a summons. His Majesty has not-so-cordially invited me to aend Jury Service once more. I immediately set about trying to ﬁnd out how to get out of it, but no dice. Apparently, there must be a gap of two years between serving, and so they cunningly invited me two years and four months aer my last appearance.

Other than the two-year rule, there is no geng out of it. The invite can be delayed, but it cannot be refused. In fact, the only way I can get out of it is to get sent to prison. I'm tempted; not only would it get me out of this, I would save money on the lecky bill. Warm bed, three square meals, and a PlayStaon, I have to ask myself, why not?

It's supposed to be a random selecon. I have my doubts. There are people that go through their enre lives without receiving the call and others (I've done my research) who have been called ﬁve or six mes. This is my luck. Random draw to win a house? Nope. Random draw to sit with strangers for two weeks and cast judgement on my fellow man? Here, have it twice.

It's worse this me because I know what's coming: a fortnight of incredibly

structured boredom, excruciang small talk, and a daily drive up the A505 and back. I understand that it is part of my civic duty; I get that I am doing a service. But I've done it once. I did my part, didn't enjoy it, and didn't find it remotely interesng, so why, oh why, am I forced to repeat myself? I didn't enjoy that evening in my teens when I mixed Pernod with lager; I'm certainly not going to do it again. I truly believe that having done it once, you should be able to politely decline any further invitaons, it's not like there aren't enough random people to call upon. In fact, if the Ministry of Jusce truly wanted a representave sample of humanity, they'd be beer off ditching their 'random' computer and sending a scout to the local smoking shelter. I could pick the perfect jury from the people I meet whilst indulging in my guilty pleasure. Now that we have goen used to being removed from civilised society and forced outside, I have found some of the nicest people hovering in the 'backdoor acon' that smoking has become. Lawyers, doctors, teachers, binmen—all sorts from everywhere, all with a story to tell. I think juries might be more interesng and efficient if they were run by these fascinang people, who could solve praccally any problem given to them.

I only smoke cigarees when I drink, and as alcohol tends to soothe the savage beast and make me more sociable, I am oen quite chay when I'm loitering in a puﬀ of blue haze. It's where you ﬁnd out all the latest gossip and have total strangers tell you how prey you look. Like a lot of folks my age, I've been doing it all of my adult life. I wish I never had, but I did, and here we are. Yes, I've given up several mes, but then life throws a spanner in your works and it's easy to reach for that old crutch.

Give it another twenty years and we will all be gone—taxed out of existence, shamed into conformity. There will come a me when cigarees and vapes will no longer exist, the smoking shelters will be pulled down, and archaeologists will wax lyrical when they stumble across a nest of ancient dog ends buried outside the ruins of a twenty-ﬁrst-century public house. They'll probably conclude it was a site of ritualisc gathering, and they wouldn't be far wrong. It's certainly more of a community than the one His Majesty has invited me to join.

Ÿ GREEN WASTE REMOVALS

Ÿ LOG SUPPLIES & SPLITTING

Ÿ FENCING

Ÿ LAND CLEARANCES

Ÿ EMERGENCIES

5 minutes with...

...Martin & Carlie Lees from

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Chicken Cacciatore

March is a wonderful time to visit the restaurant. A true transitional month, that lovely in-between season when evenings are still cool but the promise of spring lingers in the air, and this rustic Italian classic feels just right. I also have Italian food and wine very much on the brain as we prepare for our Italian Wine Supper Club on Thursday, 19th March. There's something about simmering tomatoes, herbs and a splash of good wine that seems to set the tone beautifully for the week ahead.

Certain dishes carry a story in every spoonful, and for me, Chicken Cacciatore is one of them. It's a recipe I learned very early on in my career, standing beside chefs who understood that the simplest combinations, treated with care, can be the most memorable. It's also a dish I love to cook at home on my days oﬀ and I can honestly tell you, my children are some of its biggest fans. When something wins over both a busy dining room and your own family table, you know it's worth holding onto.

It's generous, comforting food. Deeply ﬂavoured, yet wonderfully straightforward to make. It won't break the bank when feeding the family, and it's a brilliant one-pot wonder for those evenings when friends pop round and you'd rather be at the table with a glass in hand than tied to the stove.

As always, buy the best quality ingredients you're comfortable with and support local where possible. Good chicken, ripe tomatoes, fresh herbs, they make all the diﬀerence.

This recipe will comfortably feed a family of four. Let's Cook

¬ 1.4 kg free-range chicken thighs (bone-in, skin on)

¬ 10 g sea salt

¬ 4 g freshly cracked black pepper

¬ 40 g plain ﬂour (light dusting)

Pat the chicken dry. Season with the salt and pepper, then lightly dust with ﬂour — this helps create a lovely golden crust and gently thickens the sauce later.

¬ 40 ml extra virgin olive oil

Heat the olive oil in a heavy casserole over medium heat. Brown the chicken skin-side down ﬁrst for 5–6 minutes until golden. Turn and colour the other side for 3–4 minutes. Remove and set aside.

¬ 150 g brown onions, ﬁnely sliced

¬ 120 g red peppers, sliced

¬ 120 g yellow peppers, sliced

¬ 200 g chestnut mushrooms, halved

¬ 18 g garlic (about 3 large cloves), minced

In the same pan, add the onions and cook gently for 5 minutes until soft and sweet. Add peppers and mushrooms, cooking for another 4–5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

¬ 120 ml dry white wine

¬ 800 g good-quality chopped tomatoes

¬ 30 g tomato purée

¬ 250 ml good chicken stock

¬ 2 fresh bay leaves

¬ 6 g fresh thyme leaves

¬ 4 g dried oregano

Pour in the white wine and allow it to reduce by half. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, chicken stock, bay, thyme and oregano. Return the chicken to the pot, skin side up. The liquid should come about two-thirds of the way up the chicken. Cover loosely and simmer gently for 30–40 minutes until tender and rich. It's probably just enough time for a glass of wine (or two!).

¬ 10 g fresh parsley, chopped (to ﬁnish)

¬ 10 g unsalted butter (optional, for gloss)

If needed, simmer uncovered for 5–10 minutes to thicken the sauce a little. Stir in a small knob of butter for a glossy ﬁnish. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

Let's Serve

At home, I serve this with 400g of creamy mashed potatoes or soft polenta, something to soak up that deeply ﬂavoured sauce. A crisp green salad and some focaccia alongside keep everything balanced.

And if you're opening a bottle, choose a mediumbodied Italian red like a Chianti or a Barbera. (We'll be pouring a few beautiful examples at our Italian Wine Supper Club, a relaxed evening of great company, seasonal dishes and carefully paired wines hosted by our wine expert James. If you've been meaning to join us for one of these evenings, this month's gathering would be a perfect introduction.)

Until then, I hope you'll enjoy cooking it at home as much as I do. There's something deeply satisfying about bringing a pot like this to the table, letting everyone help themselves, and watching it quietly disappear.

It'sThatTimeOfYearAgain…

Baldock Fesval is back this May, bringing two weeks of fun, creavity and community spirit to the town. Running during the ﬁrst two weeks of May, the fesval has become a real highlight of the local calendar and is packed with events for all ages, whether you're looking for live music, family acvies, food and drink or a chance to get involved in the community.

Things get started with a returning favourite - the Baldock Beer Fesval at the Community Centre from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd May. It's the perfect way to kick oﬀ the celebraons, with a great selecon of real ales, cra beers, ciders

and live entertainment to get everyone in the fesval mood and bring people together at the start of the fortnight. There are a few key dates to pop in your diary. Fesval cket sales will be outside Tesco on Saturday 11th April, and ckets will also be available at the Street Fair on Saturday 9th May and the Classic Car Show on Sunday 10th May. There are sll stalls available for the Street Fair, so if you'd like one, please get in touch via email.

This year sees the return of some much-loved favourites.

The Fesval Quiz is back (and always sells out!), along with the Book Fair

supporng Garden House Hospice. The School Disco returns too, plus popular wine, whisky and rum tasngs, and even a German beer tasng.

The Scarecrow Compeon will run for the whole fesval from Friday 1st to

Saturday 17th May. It's free to enter this year and there are prizes up for grabs, so we'd love to see as many creave scarecrows popping up around town as possible.

The full programme will be in April's edion of On Our Doorstep, and new events are sll being added, so keep an eye on the website and social media for updates. If you'd like to add an event to the programme, book a stall, or ﬁnd out more, get in touch via socials or email info@baldockfesval.org.uk or visit www.baldockfesval.org.uk

r Baldock Scaecrow Competiti

It’s me to start thinking about your entry to the Baldock Scarecrow Compeon. The inaugural scarecrow event last year produced some great entries and plenty of entertainment.

But did you know that the tradion of scarecrows in Baldock goes back a lot longer. There has been a long history of crowning Scarecrow 'May Queens' up and down the country, which is why you oen see scarecrow compeons.

Baldock however, used to celebrate the May Lord & Lady. Two Scarecrows or eﬃgies would be created out of rags, canvas, straw and other similar materials, and these would be dressed in donated clothes from friends and neighbours.

So we want you to think about your Scarecrow entries this year, we would really encourage as many people as possible to get involved let's have some fun and maybe you can win a prize!

This year’s event runs from 1st May @ 8:00 am through unl 17th May @ 12:00 pm and it’s sponsored by SRM Security and is free to enter.

To enter, applicaon forms from the community centre or print oﬀ from our website here: Baldock-FesvalScarecrow-Compeon-EntryForm-2025

Then return your form and a photograph of your scarecrow by Friday 7th May (or before) to the community centre along with your entry fee.

Judging will take place during the Street Fair on Saturday 9th May.

ROGERSONS REMOVALS

Most of us in the area know Cliff — our friendly local postman who always delivers the mail with a smile, a wave and oen a chat. This year, however, Cliff will be taking on a very different route as he prepares to run the iconic London Marathon, in memory of his beloved wife, Julie.

Earlier last year, Cliﬀ proudly ran a marathon for Cancer Research UK. In a cruel twist of irony, later that same year Julie was diagnosed with cancer.

Despite the devastang news, Julie was determined that Cliﬀ would connue with his next challenge ,

CliffsRunForJulie

running the London Marathon for Cizens Advice.

“She really wanted me to run this marathon,” Cliﬀ said. “She was determined she'd be there at the ﬁnish line cheering me on. If you knew Julie, you'll know she absolutely wouldn't have let me give up.”

Julie spent her 60th birthday in hospital. The family also marked their son Jake's 21st birthday in December during an incredibly difficult me. Julie had been receiving treatment at University College London Hospitals since 3rd September, facing a long and challenging fight. Yet through it all, Cliff says she never once complained.

“She was always so posive. No maer how tough it got, she kept that strength. I'm just trying to keep that going and make her proud.”

During Julie's illness, Cliﬀ reached out to Cizens Advice for help and support.

“At a me when everything felt overwhelming, they were there with praccal advice, guidance, and real people who genuinely cared. The work they do every single day quietly changes lives.”

That experience is why this marathon is about far more than personal achievement.

“This isn't just about running 26.2 miles. It's for Julie, and for everyone who needs support when life throws the unexpected at them. She was so happy when she found out I was running it. Not doing it has never been an opon.”

Julie sadly passed away on 29th December aer months of courageous baling. But her spirit connues to inspire every early-morning training run and every mile Cliﬀ puts in.

On marathon day, as thousands line the streets of London, Cliﬀ knows Julie will be with him every step of the way, from the starng line to the ﬁnish.

If you would like to support Cliﬀ's fundraising eﬀorts for Cizens Advice, donaons are gratefully received as he runs in loving memory of Julie — a devoted wife, mum and friend whose strength and posivity touched so many lives.

Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk

March Gallery

Puzzle Break

Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be lled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

Our word wheel challenge. Create as many words as you can, using the letters once only and always including the letter in the middle of the wheel. Also, can you nd the 9 letter word?