Newsletter 11 May 2021 Rural Links with the Village Agents

Contact us: 01275 333 700 or [email protected]

Welcome to our May issue. We hope it finds you safe and well.

Finger’s crossed, we’ll be restarting some of our activities this month, as well as bringing you some new opportunities to benefit your health and wellbeing. There are plenty of dates for your diary, so read on to find out what we’re planning…

Getting Back together... As more people are receiving their second vaccinations, including all of our team, we feel we can start to reopen our support groups. At the beginning, numbers will have to be restricted but we look forward to the latter part of June when, all being well, we can get together in greater numbers and with less restrictions. Ketyn’s Extend classes are also able to restart with restricted numbers.

Chew Valley Support Group and Extend exercise class, Pensford Memorial Hall Wednesday 19th & 26th May, 2nd & 16th June; 11am-1pm (Pavilion Room being used for Sight Loss session on 9th June) Restricted numbers so call us. Sight Loss Drop-in Advice Clinic Pensford Memorial Hall Wednesday 9th June and 14th July, 10am-12noon

Specialist advisers from Vision West of England will provide information, advice and guidance on living with sight loss. Farmborough Support Group, Farmborough Village Free drop in sessions for you to discover new approaches and solutions for Hall - Thursday 20th May, 17th June; 11am-12noon reducing your isolation. A chance to chat with each other and meet Maria, Contact us if you need help with your local Village Agent. Restricted numbers until transport to get to this session. July when we will can open for more people.

For more information on any of these groups, or to book a place, please call 01275 333 700 and leave a message. We will get back to you. Get Moving, Get Walking!

From May 24th Rural Moves with the Village Agents are planning a series of gentle accompanied local walks to beauty spots such as Chew Valley Lake, Folly Farm and East Harptree Woods. For anyone who needs to start more slowly and maybe rest along the way, Ketyn and the Village Agents will meet people at locations where the path is level and there are benches for resting. We have a few suitable locations in mind where you can get used to walking outdoors again at your own pace, breathe fresh air and have some company too. The full programme of walks and meetings outdoors will soon be available. To register your interest call 01275 333 700 and leave a message. Alternatively, up to date information will be available to download from the WERN website: wern.org.uk/rural-moves

Our walks will be in memory of Bettina Cohn, our friend and Easy Walks leader, who died in 2019 just two days after her 99th birthday. Proof that walking is good for you in so many ways!

Keep Active with Ketyn: ready for walking

Over the last year it’s likely Sitting, have your feet hip Reverse the move and sit back that you have been doing width apart and make sure down in a controlled fashion, less physical movements your knees are over your toes. do not slump back into your than you were before the Try not to use your arms to chair too quickly. lockdown, including stand up (place them on your Try and repeat this 5 times and walking. Because of this, thighs or in front of you) but if build up to more repetitions if people may not have you do need to use them, then possible. realised how quickly their obviously do. muscle density can deteriorate; so now you can Lean forward with your nose go out more, it’s important over your toes and think to take things gently and about the “heel to toe” feel “walk ready”. Try last movement as you stand up. month's Heels and Toes Have the weight on your Balance exercise along with heels as you come up to the following to help to stand as the weight transfers make your legs and ankles towards the toes. stronger. Try to avoid your knees bending towards each other

Sit to Stand and touching. Make sure you are using Keep your head up, shoulders a suitable chair, back and chest open, breathe something like a dining normally. chair – firm and sturdy. Stand up straight and pause for a moment.

What's the fuss about WhatsApp?

What is it?

It’s a messaging service that allows you to send messages, make calls and send and receive videos or images.

Doesn't my smartphone already do that?

Yes, but the difference is that WhatsApp uses your phone’s internet Anything else that might connection and allows you to send persuade me to give it a go? unlimited messages, pictures and videos, so you don’t need to worry Yes – group chats! You can about using up your allocated text or message multiple people at the call allowances. same time – really handy if you want to chat with a few family There must be a catch? members or make arrangements with a group of neighbours or

club. Someone you know can Well…you could still go over your data add you to a WhatsApp group if allowance, so it works best if you can they have your number, or you connect to wi-fi for things that use a can start your own. lot of data, such as video calls or downloading images. Ah, but is it safe?

Is it easy to use? Your messages and calls are protected so that only you and

the person you’re chatting with Yes! It’s similar to texting. There are can read what is sent. But, as step-by-step guides and video with anything online, you always tutorials on the Age UK website on how need to be aware of scams and to use messaging, make phone calls viruses. Only respond to people and use the video call function. Go to you know and don’t click on www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice anything sent by people who aren’t contacts. Video Calls? That sounds interesting…

Ok! How do I get it? Yes, it can be a nicer way of chatting to someone, especially if you haven’t It’s free to download from the seen them for a while. And remember, App Store if you have an iphone if you’re using a wi-fi connection, or ipad; or from the Play Store if there won’t be any extra charges for you have an Android phone or the call. tablet. Wordsearch: Flowers Acacia Lily Agave May Arnica Musk Arum Pink Aster Poker Balm Poppy Briar Reseda Canna Rose Cosmos Sesame Daisy Stock Flag Thrift Geum Tulip Iris Whin Ixia Yucca Jasmine Yulan

Directory: Garden Centres

We know many of you enjoy a trip to a Garden Centre so we've been asking for a list of the best on our recent Zoom calls! All Garden Centres are open and most of them that have cafes are currently open for take-aways and outside eating. But do check with the Centre if you plan to make a special journey.

Rocky Mountain, Masbury, Wells BA5 3HA www.rockymountainnurseries.uk Fonthill, Bath Road, Bitton BS30 6HX “Near Bitton steam railway” Chief Trading Post, Barry Road, Oldham www.fonthill-lakeside.com Common BS30 6QY “Includes a reclamation site and farm shop” Dobbies, Mendip Avenue, www.chieftradingpost.com Shepton Mallet BA4 4PE Whitehall, Norton Lane, Whitchurch BS13 0BT www.dobbies.com www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk Hilliers, Whiteway Road, Bath BA2 2RG Cleeve Nursery, Main Road, Cleeve BS49 4PW www.hillier.co.uk www.cleevenursery.co.uk Prior Park, Prior Park Road, Bath BA2 4NF Cadbury, Smallway, Congresbury BS49 5AA “Sells very good cake!” “Sells everything: pets, plants, clothes, gifts, www.priorparkgardencentre.co.uk food…” www.bluediamond.gg Sanders Garden World, Brent Knoll, Burnham-on-Sea TA9 4HJ Hilliers, Draycott Road, Cheddar BS27 3RU www.bluediamond.gg www.hillier.co.uk

West of England Rural Network Registered charity 1146165 PO Box 1181 Company number 7956 732 Bristol BS39 4YX