YEARS

Parklife HOWBERY CELEBRATES MORE NEWS INSIDE... November 2019 25 YEARS Howbery Business Park - Wallingford How do we measure up? l impact summary Environmenta NOVEMBER 2019 We have replaced the single-use plastics used in our delicatessen with Happy bio-degradableGo GTI and ParklifeWe producedAnniversary 830 compostable alternatives. e tonnesHowbery! in 2018, CO42 down 21% from 2017. 13 generated The Solar Park There's a Kilowatt Improving kWh’s buzz around kings 83water 8 econd Howbery 767, 2018 – the s f electricityecosystems in 3 alled o we inst 8 er! In 2018, 14best year ev vehicle Int wothis issue:electr 3 There'sic a buzz around Howbery 4 Happy Anniversary Howbery 8 Kilowatt kings 9 Catering news and events 10charging Honey harvest poin / Happyts. Howbery Birthday Annika 11 Strolls from the park 12 Happy Birthday Jewel! / Marvellous Miramar 13 A warm welcome to our new tenants / Go GTI! 14 River of life II 15 Grab a cup 16 News from HR Wallingford 18 Work on your wellbeing ricity 19 Style Acre events news 20 Lifestyles rehab, gym & performance centre 22 Waste on the park / Vibrant veg / Down on the allotment 23 In a cardiacof the emergency elect / Picture perfect 3 55% we use comes from compost sources We 185myear. renewable waste each in 2017. of garden - up from 43.5 % walks. and woodland gardens leakage repair A successful plan reduced and monitoring potable water tonnes of the by All consumption 44% 23 used last year wood we in 2018. was either recycled or reused. The 20%made in 2018 gas saving we ion of by the installat promised R3 GR148 gas boilers. 100% decentralised of our waste is recycled or used to generate energy. 3

There's a buzz around Howbery 3We will spend the next year at Howbery Park championing bees, having signed up to a scheme that rewards biodiversity initiatives.

To enhance conditions for bees, our team will have to meet a set of objectives set by As part of the new initiative, our gardeners Nurture (which maintains our grounds) and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust over will record sightings of all bees and the next year. These include introducing ‘homes’ for wildlife, buying certain ‘bee- encourage tenants to do so too. There are friendly’ plants, buying peat free compost and plants, and putting up information currently 24 species of bumblebee in the UK – two boards to improve our bee knowledge. species became extinct in the last 80 years and eight are When we complete this year’s objectives, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo endangered. will be inscribed on the blank petal of a flower-shaped award. We will then choose Nurture’s Business Development and Biodiversity Manager Simon Blackley said: “When another area of biodiversity – such as butterflies, insects, birds, amphibians or asked to improve biodiversity where do you start? Nurture has started a scheme which wildflowers – to focus on for the following year to gain our next petal. aims to improve biodiversity in small steps and raise awareness of some of the smaller “Encouraging biodiversity is very important to Howbery Park,” Howbery Park Estates conservation organisations. There are very few other awards that look specifically manager Donna Bowles explained. “We are seeking to make the most of our lovely at improving biodiversity in the gardens and grounds that we maintain. Nurture landscape for our tenants, and that includes supporting nature. We have already has created this award so that we can clearly demonstrate significant biodiversity developed diverse habitats ranging from ornamental flowers to wildflower areas, and improvements.” we wish to further this work. Concentrating on bees is an obvious starting point in Bumblebee Conservation Trust CEO Gill Perkins, said: “We’re delighted to see Howbery the biodiversity awards for our park, as we introduced beehives on site in 2016.” Business Park taking such impressive steps to help wildlife, in particular the bees. Introducing 'homes' for wildlife and planting the right flowers will provide food for our Bees are first step in initiative important pollinators. We very much look forward to seeing the results in the grounds.” Beehives were introduced after an aggregation of Ivy mining bees was discovered here in 2013. Ivy mining bees are a relative newcomer to the UK and were first “Encouraging biodiversity is very important to Howbery Park.” spotted in Dorset in 2001. Howbery Park Estates Manager Donna Bowles 4 4Happy 25th Howbery! We celebrated the 25th anniversary of Howbery Business Park in June with a week of events that brought together our wonderful community to mark the occasion.

Tenants, suppliers and contractors gathered on the Manor House patio on 6 June for a special celebration. The Howbery management team gave speeches and ceremonially cut the anniversary cake. Afternoon tea was then served to a background of jazz with former employee Fleur Stevenson on vocals and Pete Billington on keyboards. Earlier that day, local historian David Beasley, another former employee, shared his knowledge and wonderful collection of archive photographs from the site. He explained that the Manor House had a host of fascinating characters from MPs to Lords in residence at various times. On 4 June, Hugo Loudon from Heritage Tree Services led a tour describing the impressive range of trees on the site, and imparting some fascinating facts. The week ended with a tour by HR Wallingford of its state-of-the-art Froude Modelling Hall and ship simulator. Continued... 5

Sustainability through solar In 2011, Howbery Park became the UK’s first solar-powered business park. The adjacent solar farm generates around a quarter of the park’s annual energy needs. Across the sunny summer months of 2018, this rose to an impressive 40%, with occasional periods 5 when the park was completely grid-free. In 2018, enough electricity was also exported back to the grid to supply 20 average size homes for a year. In 2017, the park undertook another major energy saving project, installing high- efficiency boilers. This has led to further significant carbon savings, and was followed in 2018 by the installation of electric vehicle charging points. Since 2012, the park’s waste has been zero to landfill. Continued... The Howbery Park Estates team

Building on our rich history Today Howbery Business Park is home to over 50 different businesses, ranging from small family enterprises to large organisations. The Environment Agency (EA), known at the time as the National Rivers Authority, was the park’s first tenant, and started life at Howbery Park in several small buildings. The EA is now one of the site’s major occupiers in state-of-the-art 35,000 sq ft Red Kite House which opened in 2005, and which was awarded the ‘Best Bespoke Office Development Outside Central London’ in the same year. Four years later, a second BREAAM excellent-rated building, Kestrel House, was built to mirror Red Kite House for park landlord HR Wallingford. With each of these new buildings, the aim was to show a model of best practice in sustainable office development. The projects have managed to demonstrate that a small increase in building costs can result in significantly-reduced carbon emissions and greater efficiency, while at the same time creating light and well-ventilated working environments for their occupants. 6 6 Hugo Loudon gives a tree tour

These include William Blackstone MP, who bought the estate in 1833 but tragically never saw the house finished, Count de Morney who completed the building in 1860, and Henry Bertie Williams–Wynn, a solicitor, who purchased the house in 1867. The house has even hosted royal visits, including Prince Henry who camped as an ordinary solider at the park in 1927, through to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II signs the Visitor Book in the Manor House de Morney room in November 1956 visited the house in 1956 a part of a tour of the then government-owned Hydraulics Research Station who occupied the site from 1951. This led to the creation of a water science cluster at Howbery Park which continues to develop today. Dating back to the 15th century Whilst embracing new technology to improve the park, today’s Estates Team also But Howbery Park and its Manor House can also boast a much longer and unique history. takes its responsibility to care for the 70 acre landscaped parkland and Grade II listed There is evidence that Howbery Park had a former Manor House as far back as the 15th Manor House very seriously. Many of the park’s mature trees are protected with tree century which Henry VII visited in 1489. Meeting rooms which can be booked in the preservation orders, and new planting ensures a healthy balance of trees will be present Manor House carry the names of various noblemen and political figures from its preserved across the park for the future. Bee hives producing the park’s own honey fascinating past. were introduced in 2016. Continued... 7

On-site activities include a family-friendly Bee Education Workshop. Sense of community Howbery Park places a real focus on maintaining a sense of community on the park with on-site activities and amenities such 7as free-to-use pool bikes, and allotments which were introduced in 2017 and which went on to win a Green Apple Award. There are also plenty of open spaces to practice team sports, or simply to enjoy a lunchtime walk, all helping to encourage a healthy work-life balance.

Estates Manager Donna Bowles is proud of what has been achieved and is now looking ahead to the next chapter in Howbery Park’s story. “Much of the park’s success is down to the vision and enthusiasm of former Howbery Business Park Chief Executive, John Ormston, who oversaw the park’s development for many years. I am priviliged to work with a fantastic team of people at Howbery Park, and we are now looking forward to working on the future development plan for the park’s next phase. It is very much our aim to build on what John started, and continue to make the most of Howbery Park, expanding sustainably From left: Mark whilst preserving the park’s unique character and Baxter, Donna Historian David Beasley with Rodney Bowles and landscape.” White, both are former employees. Paul Middleton. 8

How do we measure up? 8Kilowatt kings Environmental impact summary The Solar Park celebrated its 8th birthday on 24 We have replaced the June this year. single-use plastics used We produced in our delicatessen with 830 CO2e tonnes in 2018, bio-degradable and We have now generated over 6.5million kWh to date. In comparison, down 21% from 2017. compostable alternatives. the average home uses 3,750kWh a year. The Solar Park generated We have also exported 778,600kWh back into the National Grid over In 2018, we installed 767,838 kWh’s two electric vehicle of electricity in 2018 – the second this time, which is a carbon saving of 405,160kgCO2e charging points. best year ever! So far, 2019 has been our best year for exporting electricity, with just 3 over 106,400kWh sent into the National Grid. The year 2014 was in We compost 185m 55% of the electricity 2nd place with 104,820kWh. of garden waste each year. we use comes from renewable sources Car charging point gardens and woodland walks. - up from 43.5 % in 2017. Since installing the electric car charging point in April 2018, there A successful leakage repair have been 25 users, with a total of 161 recharges, consuming a total All 23 tonnes of the and monitoring plan reduced wood we used last year potable water of 1728kWh. This equates to a carbon saving of 1446kgCO . 2 was either recycled or consumption by 44% reused. in 2018.

The 20% 100% gas saving we made in 2018 of our waste is recycled promised by the installation of

or used to generate energy. decentralised gas boilers. GR148 R3 9

News and Events from 9 The Manor House Catering Team Come and join us for our themed menu days where we do our best to provide a little something different for your taste buds Thanksgiving Thursday 28 November with an American themed menu

Christmas Lunch will Pre book your Christmas Lunch Served be served from the in the Manor House Hospitality Rooms servery, Wednesday on Thursday 12 December. Look out for 11 December. No the menus & booking forms in the coffee need to book. lounge area.

So why not make a date to join us on these days? 10

Honey harvest Happy Howbery Birthday Annika 10In total 165 jars of honey have been harvested Annika, assisting manager in the catering team, celebrated 25 this year. They will be on sale for Christmas. years at Howbery in August. She describes her time here. I started out temping for Howbery Park, covering maternity leave, and then 25 years ago On 13 September Nurture held a honey extraction workshop on my 16th birthday I received a permanent contract. During my time here, I managed the which was well attended. Our beekeeper showed attendees how deli in the Red Kite building for a few years, which then helped me get my current job as to uncap honeycomb, use the extractor and put the honey in a assisting manager. The grounds and the atmosphere at Howbery Park have kept me here jar. And they got to take home a jar of Howbery honey. this long. I like the team I work with, and I’ve built a good relationship with the customers. The next workshop with Nurture will be wreath making on Friday 6 December. Look out for the email invite.

Honey, extraction workshop, picture courtesy of Nurture and Ecocleen

CEO Bruce Tomlinson with Annika Broadway 11 Strolls from the park

Strolls from Howbery Park River/country Benson 11Path CM3 (Marsh Lane to This walk was originally to the Crown All walks start and finish from the Gifford) can be less obvious when the in Benson (2km, 20 mins) but it is Manor House. The map is based on crop is high. Take care crossing the currently closed (due to re-open the Chiltern Society Footpath Map no. A4074. under new ownership soon). Instead, 10. The purple, red, green and blue you could go on a small diversion to routes use the route via the solar park Distance: 3.25 miles / 5.2 km the Waterfront Café in Benson, which into Crowmarsh playing fields. Time: 59 mins Steps: 6880 can be reached via the road from Wallingford Calories: 400 to Benson. The To the market place and back entrance is where the minor road Distance: 2 miles / 3.2km River/country re-joins the A4074. Time: 34 mins Use the field edge path to Preston Distance: 3 miles /4.8km Steps: 4220 Crowmarsh to avoid the road. The Time: 55 mins Calories: 250 from to Steps: 6530 Wallingford can get very muddy in Country Calories: 370 wet weather. Path CM6-CM6A (Carmel College Farm to the river) can be hard to spot, Distance: 3.38 miles / 5.4 km and there may be livestock along Time: 63 mins the route. Steps: 7150 Calories: 420 Distance: 3.13 miles / 5km Time: 56 mins Steps: 6550 Calories: 390 12

Happy Birthday Jewel! Marvellous Miramar Jewel Training and Development has been Creative and digital marketing agency Miramar has been 12celebrating 20 years of Jewel, reflecting on shortlisted for four awards. how far it has come, and excited by what is coming next. For the B2B Marketing Awards, Miramar has been recognised in the ‘Best use of direct mail’ category for an innovative direct mail campaign its implemented for a global The business has come a long way and the team would like to technology firm. Its recent partner incentive for an IT service provider has been thank all those who have supported them along the journey. shortlisted in the ‘Most commercially successful campaign’ category. They are looking forward to the next 20 years with lots of opportunities and growth ideas to come. Miramar’s progress has also been reflected in its shortlisting as a finalist in the Wirehive 100 ‘One to Watch’ category. The Wirehive 100 is a celebration of the best creative and

technical digital talent that the South of has to offer. The agency has also been nominated in the Client Services Category of The Drum Agency Business Awards. Miramar’s Managing Director, Craig Bowers, said: “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for these awards and have our work recognised. The last few years have seen us make exciting strides, growing as a trusted partner with current clients as well as winning new ones. As an independent agency we’re determined to keep our responsive client-centric service as we continue to grow. The future looks bright!” The Drum Agency Business Awards will be announced on 26 November, while the winners of the 15th annual B2B Marketing Awards will be revealed on 28 November 2019. Follow Miramar on social media for updates on how they fare at both events. Instagram: @miramaragency Twitter: @MiramarAgency 13 A warm Go GTI! 13 A huge congratulations to the GTI A Team who won the Howbery welcome Park Volleyball final last month, for the second year in a row. to our new tenants

Howbery welcome new tenants Kite Creative International Water Specialists Virus Bulletin 14

River of Life II: Creating vital wetland habitats

14Earth Trust, our local environmental learning charity and proud guardians of the iconic Wittenham Clumps and surrounding farmland, have been busy working on an exciting new project only a short distance up the river from Howbery Park. Rebecca Chiazzese of JCTR, an Environmental Planning Consultancy based at Howbery Park, is the Pre-construction Project Manager for River of Life II. Building on the success of the first wetland creation project, River of Life I, near , Earth Trust is partnering with local landowners, Church Farm Partnership and The Hurst Water Meadow Trust, to improve water ecosystems along the and River . The project, River of Life II, will also create several new ponds in Wood, home to one of the country’s most significant populations of great crested newts. Nationally, populations have dramatically declined due to loss of habitat and these new ponds will help strengthen the population of newts and other amphibians as our climate changes in the future. The locations for River of Life II are shown opposite: The project is being funded through the Water Environment Grant (WEG) scheme which provides funding to improve the water environment in rural England. The scheme is managed by the Environment Agency and Natural England, with payments administered by The Rural Payments Agency. Funding comes from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). 15

Work began this year and included discussions with local communities and other interested stakeholders, negotiating access agreements, archaeological and ecological surveys, and refining designs. Following a series of public exhibitions in Grab a cup October, Earth Trust will be submitting two separate planning applications, one for 15Little Wittenham Wood great crested newt ponds and one for the three riverside We still have some Howbery cups for life wetland areas. Planning applications will be submitted this autumn with a view to starting earthworks in summer 2020. left. One could be yours for a £2 donation This important project not only restores the ecosystem in the immediate area but is which will be split between the British Heart an inspirational example of what can be achieved nationally too. To find out more Foundation and Maggie's. see: https://earthtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/water-wetlands/river-of-life-2/ 16 16News from HR Wallingford HR Wallingford is expanding its space-based work to Over the next two years, HR Wallingford will use the ground-breaking DAMSAT software to improve monitoring of water dams and surveillance monitor movement at several water dams in the Cerro de Pasco region of Peru. Ultimately the technology could be employed worldwide. DAMSAT’s potential is huge as, globally, nearly 60,000 of dengue fever, thanks to extra funding from the UK dams are registered with the International Commission for large Dams. Space Agency. A stream of visitors The early warning system for dengue fever that HR Wallingford has used in HR Wallingford has welcomed a stream of visitors over the last six months. Some sought a Vietnam is being rolled out to six other countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, taster of its work, for example, GCSE geography students from Icknield Community College in Thailand, The Philippines and Sri Lanka. The ground-breaking software, Watlington. Others came for a longer stint, such as the Flood and Coastal Engineering students Dengue forecasting Model Satellite-based System (D-MOSS for short) from Brunel University. They spent a week building flood defences as part of their courses, which combines satellite data with weather forecasts and a hydrological model to HR Wallingford experts help deliver in partnership with Brunel and the Environment Agency. predict dengue epidemics up to six months in advance. Continued... Key to controlling dengue is costly surveillance and control of the mosquitos that spread the disease, so better prediction helps hugely with the distribution of scarce resources. Forecasting also allows more targeted support to help local communities reduce their mosquitos by measures such as improved water storage and waste management, and the use of mosquito coils. Meanwhile, HR Wallingford’s space-based dam monitoring system, DAMSAT, will widen its remit to include water dams in a bid to reduce the risk of failures. It follows on from a pilot project to monitor tailings dams used to store toxic mine waste in Peru.

MSc students from Brunel University build flood defences. 17

Visitors also came from further afield, including the U.S. Army Engineer Research Like the ARCboat, it has a quiet, zero emission electric motor. Both the original and Development Center, the Florida Earth Foundation, engineers from Indonesia’s ARCboat and the Lite will continue to be developed, as the larger version is needed 17Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi, and a group of government officials to tackle surveys in faster flowing rivers and in situations where a higher speed vessel from the Chinese province of Hainan. is needed. You can watch the ARCboat Lite in action on YouTube.

The ARCboat Lite in action on the Thames.

ARCboat scoops another award

Florida Earth Foundation visitors asked to be photographed with Howbery’s replica of the US President’s desk. The ARCboat picked up another accolade in September at the Thames ARCboat Lite fits in a hatchback Valley Tech Awards 2019, winning the Innovative Tech Company category. HR Wallingford introduced the compact ARCboat Lite in October to enable safer This follows success at the South and more efficient river surveying. The newcomer, which easily fits inside the boot and Vale Business Awards in March of a typical family hatchback, is a more portable and compact version of the award- when HR Wallingford took home winning remote-controlled survey vessel, the ARCboat. the Established Innovation Award Developed with HR Wallingford’s neighbour, The Environment Agency, the ARCBoat for its entry focusing on ARCboat Lite measures the water levels and flow data in rivers, and helps mitigate against and innovation in flood and water potential future flooding. management. From left: Graham Leeming, Stephen Richardson and Simon Tiedeman attended the awards. 18

Work on your wellbeing 7 reasons why we encourage you to find time for a break every week Grace and Gravity Studio has arrived on Howbery Business Park, 18 and we’re here to help with all your wellbeing needs. We've We work and live in a busy world, with long hours in front of computers or with phones created a friendly, tranquil environment where you can get away glued to our ear. These habits take their toll on our minds and bodies. While we applaud your from the noise and concentrate on your mind and body. dedication, we want to encourage you to stop and take a wellbeing break. We have a variety of yoga and pilates classes available, suitable Taking a yoga break in the working day has proven one of the most effective ways to help for all levels including complete beginners. Join us before work, relieve stress. And yes, you can justify those minutes on the mat in terms of productivity too. during your lunch hour, after work or on the weekend and treat We’ve gathered some of yoga’s biggest benefits for you and your employees. yourselves to a wellbeing break.

Yoga: Book yourselves on here: www.graceandgravity.studio • increases your productivity, motivation, and work performance. We look forward to welcoming you in person! • improves your decision making and creativity. • increases your energy, mental alertness, and clarity. Yasmin & Janine • improves your stamina. [email protected] improves your memory, focus and concentration. Grace and Gravity Studio, • Innovation Annexe, • reduces muscle tension and pain. W-13, improves flexibility and physical strength. Howbery Business Park, • Wallingford, OX108BA 19

Style Acre Friday 13 December Style Acre events news Supporting people with learning disabilities Christmas at the Manor You’re cordially invited to get your festive spirit in gear with Style Acre has a fun-packed events programme Style Acre and Howbery Park at this year’s Christmas at the 19coming up over the next few months and Manor. On Friday 13 December, come and taste test some we would love to see lots of our Howbery Park mince pies, guzzle some mulled wine, peruse pressies for purchase, and most importantly spend a few hours away community joining in. Please do support us and come from your desk to mingle with your along where you can. All of our events are run to help us continue our work lovely Howbery Park community supporting people with learning disabilities and autism. Take a look through at Christmas. There’ll be a fantastic hamper raffle too – with all our events below to see what takes your fancy. proceeds helping Style Acre to continue our work supporting Sunday 1 December people with learning disabilities Wallingford Santa Dash and autism. We can’t wait to see you there. Style Acre presents the Wallingford Santa Dash, back for its 4th year Festive elves needed running. On Sunday 1 December at We’re on the lookout for festive 11.30am, join us and hundreds of elves to help with our Christmas events. If you’re up for Santa lookalikes for this year’s 3km donning an elf hat and marshalling at our Santa Dash, jog/walk/run from Wallingford School selling Christmas raffle tickets on Howbery Park, or giving to the Market Place. Passing through out tasty mince pies at Christmas at the Manor, don’t wait Wallingford’s lovely parks, you will – contact us today. To get in touch with Style Acre about arrive in the town centre to coincide events, fundraising and volunteer opportunities, please with the very festive Christmas email Cheryl Claxton, Fundraising Manager on Shopping Extravaganza. Santa Suits [email protected] or call 01492 827593. are included in the ticket price. Tickets and further info: https://styleacre.org.uk/events/santadash2019 We look forward to hearing from you. 20

Lifestyles rehab, gym & performance centre What we do: Lisa Treacher 20There is rarely a one way fits all kind of treatment so we use many of the tools in our various Position: Owner of Lifestyles tool boxes to steadily work through layers of problems that may have accumulated over and Movement Therapist months or even years. About me: My vision was to have a centre that was Our bodies work like a cog system. Imagine one cog turning one way influencing the next unique. A one-stop shop where we could help people to and so on. Well if one clog is tight or blocked then the next cog down (or up) tries to work develop a healthy body and mind and for it to be accessible hard for the one that is stuck, then the next one in the chain must work even harder as it’s to everybody no matter what their condition or ailment was. now compensating for two tight cogs and so on. So, the pain that is showing in the neck may A place of energy, friendliness and creativity where everybody would feel welcomed come from the pelvis or even the foot. and comfortable. I have such passion for my work and to be able to see a smile appear For example – a client may come to us with shoulder pain and a stiff neck that is tight on someone's face as they achieve something, they never thought possible just makes particularly on one side. They may have one shoulder higher than the other (to try to stop my day. If I can get peoples' bodies to move in a way it hasn't for a long time, then that the tightness but it will exaggerate it over time), she may be rounded through the shoulders feeling is mind blowing not only for the client but also for me. Going to work feels like (protective position), she may turn her upper body instead of just the head to look to the side playing in my own playground each day. that is tight and all this has a knock-on effect throughout the body as everything is connected. Interests: Martial arts, especially Aikido-te and sword, running, general gym training, We look at every joint and the job it is doing or invariably not doing, and we look to re- horse riding, climbing and self-development through study of myself and others. introduce the movement required to run all the cogs smoothly again. Working in this way Qualifications: Reiki Master, Quantum Touch Therapist, REPS Level 4 Personal Trainer, usually brings the emotions to the fore as memories tend to flood back as the body releases Level 5 Peak Performance Instructor with AiM, NKT Practitioner, Restorative Breathing, itself from weeks, months and often years of built-up ‘stuff’ – very much a technical term. BACPR Phase IV Cardiac Rehab, GP Referral, Voila method, Master Personal Trainer This means stepping outside your comfort zone. but you will be in a very safe environment (Dip), Nutrition (Dip), Gravity Trainer, Advanced Circuits, Spin Instructor, Pre/Post Natal, and nothing will be asked of you that you really believe you can’t do. As you take small steps Special Populations. out of your comfort zone you will find that your comfort zone grows along with your belief of Personal Goals: To keep learning all I can – The connection of mind, body and soul getting better, reduced pain, feeling more empowered, improved posture, feeling freer in your fascinates me and to work all three together to bring them into harmony keeps me body, improved movement, greater confidence and much more. pushing my own boundaries. 21

Mark Thouless Anthony Richardson Ryan Treacher-Collins Position: Personal Trainer Position: Personal Trainer Position: Fitness Instructor & Movement Therapist & Movement Therapist About me: Fitness has always 21About me: I grew up in About me: I qualified as a been a large part of my life as I Abingdon, went to University in personal trainer in 2004 then, in started practising Karate from a Northampton studying Business. 2012 I travelled to the US and young age. Things like sports days I then went on to work in Banking, Chemical Safety, trained in Foundation Training. Since then I have and PE classes in school were always one of my and Environmental consultancy. I had a career change developed a passion for helping people move in a pain favourite parts of the day, to the point where I took an into personal training in 2009 after deciding I couldn’t free way. I work a lot with people who suffer from back optional GCSE in Physical Education before moving on face sitting in an office anymore. In my spare time I like pain teaching them techniques to help them regain to do my apprenticeship. My initial goal was to work watching classic movies, football, cricket and late nights control of their movement which helps them move away with children in a fitness setting, but after I began watching the NFL. I also like hiking and mountain from pain. I was born and bred in Bristol, and grew up coaching adults’ fitness sessions I realised that I enjoy biking, nothing serious, and a bit of cross country playing a lot of football, rugby, cricket and any other sport teaching people of all ages and so should widen my stuff. I now live in Brightwell cum Sotwell with my wife I could. This has led to a love of triathlon, despite hating prospects by adding adults’ fitness coaching to my Lucinda, 16 month old son Billy and giant fluffy cat distance running when younger. I have lived in apprenticeship course. Arnie. for five years with my wife and now have a three year old My new goal is to be able to work on an individual Interests: Training, mountain biking, football, NFL, boy and a four month old daughter. level with clients in order to help them achieve goals cricket, and playing guitar Interests: triathlon, rugby, reading, spending time with that they may struggle with on their own Qualifications: Level 3 NKT Practitioner, Restorative family and friends Interests: Martial arts, fitness, video games, outdoor Breathing, Anatomy in Motion, Kettlebell Instructor, Tri- Qualifications: Foundation Training, AiM, Pre and Post activities (fun runs, Mudder Runs etc.) plane Kettlebell instructor, CAFS practitioner, Precision natal, GP Referral, Kettlebell Instructor, Suspension Training, Qualifications: Level 2 NVQ in Employment Nutrition, Gravity Trainer, REPS Level 3 Personal Trainer REPs Level 3 Advanced Personal Trainer Awareness in Active Leisure and Learning, Level 2 Personal Goals: To keep improving my own Personal Goals: To help introduce Foundation Training to NVQ in Activity Leadership, and Level 2 NVQ in knowledge base and gain more qualifications I’m a UK wide audience. To continue my professional learning Active Leisure. currently working my way through the Gray Institute to enable me to help more people out of pain. To beat my range of qualifications. PB at Hever Castle Triathlon next September.

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Waste on the park Down on the allotment Waste collection, recycling and disposal procedures & guidance. Cat Robinson, Biodiversity Officer at the 22It is our intention to reduce the waste produced by our activities and to maximise opportunities Environment Agency, describes how their for reuse and recycling. To meet our legal and environmental obligations we need to keep records of waste disposal so as to demonstrate that wastes are disposed of properly and by registered novice team is faring on the allotment. contractors. We plan to set targets to reduce the waste we produce. We are a team of novice allotment holders whose enthusiasm All site users are strictly prohibited from bringing personal or household waste from their homes definitely outweighs experience and skill! We have learnt a lot this or any other premises onto site. Advice on the disposal of personal and household waste can be year (including that the last tenant’s potatoes will keep growing obtained from your local council offices. back no matter what) and are making plans to be more organised about what we plant and when. We have had some success with our edible flowers, lettuce and runner beans (pictured hiding under the leaves), but are hoping to do much better next year.

Cat Robinson Vibrant veg Biodiversity Officer – Environment Agency Amelia Couldrey from HR Wallingford has been growing all sort of colourful plants on her allotment.

Last Christmas from my brother-in-law I received a At one point we had so many that we ran out of space box full of seeds to grow psychedelic coloured salads, in the fridge to keep them, so we had to pickle the lot! vegetables and flowers. The burst of colour that these With edible flowers in the jars they look quite attractive, plants brought to my allotment was an absolute so I’m hoping that a few might still be left this Christmas joy. In fact the edible flowers were so beautiful that I to give as gifts. But my husband and I are rather enjoying found eating them difficult and most of the time I just them with cheese and crackers in the evening, so time kept them on my desk as decoration. This year I had a will tell if any will be left by Christmas. bumper crop of yellow courgettes. 23

In a cardiac emergency Picture perfect HR Wallingford has two defibrillators, one is in the Manor House - 23Estates Office and the other is located in Kestrel House. A collection of Autumn pictures taken at Howbery In an emergency you should call Ext 2244 or 01491 832244. An experienced defibrillator user will by a tenant on site, Rebecca Chiazzese then come to your assistance. of JCTR. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) ran a lunchtime training session in how to restart a heart at Howbery in August. Participants made donations to British Heart Foundation and Maggie's Centres, HR Wallingford’s chosen charities for the year. The latest advice from the BHF is to give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 mouth-to-mouth breaths. If the person giving CPR isn’t comfortable giving the breaths, it is ok to skip them. https://www.bhf.org.uk/CPR

CPR training at Howbery News… News… News A Note From The Editor: Keep us posted – to include your news and stories in Parklife, please email them to me, Donna Bowles [email protected]

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