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EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES and INTERVIEWS• Valentine’s Day for Teens...time for love? Page 5 • Top Thriller writer stirs the emotions. Pages 9 & 10

• Traveller’s Tales from India. Pages 13, 14 & 15

Administrative Support for businessHow Sophie Burnett can help you.See page 6Get your Garden ready for SpringSee page 16

Valentine’s DayWhat’s happening in Harpenden?See page 4.Harpenden historyread all about itSee pages 11 & 12

Special OfferBuy 2 soaps, & get a third soap half priceSee page 8Free SubscriptionSend an e mail for your free copy of HARPENDIA to info@harpendia.com

The Big Winter edition February 2011

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Can you detect the end of Winter yet? If you can see the first snowdrops in flower then Spring will not be too far away.

Interest in all the HARPENDIA activities seems to be growing. For starters, the Christmas Carnival video on YouTube has 324 hits and the the Bang and Olufsen video launching their docking system for Apple product has over a 1,000 hits to date. Then the web site, which has pulled in almost 600 hits in January and finally the magazine which goes out to over 1,100 local homes and businesses every 2 months.

Some readers tell me they love the in depth articles and photographs, others the clean and easy to read format uncluttered with page after page of boring ads.

I hope you enjoy the Winter edition which has plenty to keep you informed and entertained during the last weeks of Winter

Ron TaylorEditor30th January 2011info@harpendia.com

PS. The HARPENDIA web site will have some new features in February on a wide range of relevant subjects, with regular updates Why not check it out every week?www.harpendia.com

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EDITORIAL COMMENT.Pg 2. Ron Taylor. Editor.

VALENTINE’SPg 4. What’s happening in Harpenden.By Ron Taylor.

VALENTINE’SPg 5. Valentine’s Day for Teens. By Rupert Lloyd of Roundwood Park School.

BUSINESS SUPPORTPg 6. Administrative help for your business. By Sophie Burnett.

BEAUTY SOAP Pg 7 & 8. Hand made in Harpenden. By Joanna White.

THRILLER WRITERPg 9 & 10. An interview with Leigh Russell. By Ron Taylor.

HARPENDEN HISTORYPg 11 & 12. An interview with John Cooper. By Ron Taylor.

TRAVELLER’S TALESPg 13, 14 & 15. A report from Delhi on the success of The Commonwealth Games. By Duncan Lewis.

GARDENING COLUMNPg 16. Getting ready for Spring. By Renata Rybczyk-Savage.

HARPENDEN WILD LIFEPg 17. Winter birds of Harpenden. By Tim Hill.

LOCAL ARTPg 18. Galleries, artists and events in February and March.

In this issueWINTER 2011

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The power of flowers

Long-stemmed large-headed red roses hand-tied

with delicate foliage and finished with Valentine’s gift

wrap and a voile ribbon.Perry Florist 01582 764554

Order online at www.perryflorist.co.uk

If you haven’t visited Lola, Harpenden High Street’s

beauty and home specialist, then you are missing out on

a real treat. Here every Valentine’s Day purchase is

made that bit easier with owner Caroline Selley’s

personal service and advice.

Read the full Lola story on the Harpendia web

site from Feb 1stwww.harpendia.com

Say it with cakes Harpenden based

Cracking Cakes can deliver a box of bespoke cupcakes from just £12.00 for 6 or

£22.00 for 12. Decoration and colours can be tailored

to the individual and include messages, romantic

quotations or simply hearts and flowers.

For more information and to place an order

simply visit www.crackingcakes.biz

or call 07713 742420.

Sparkle on Valentine’s Day

Why not add an extra special sparkle to a perfect

Valentine's evening and enjoy a glass of GRIFFITH

PARK Sparkling Wine. Did you know that elegant, award-winning Griffith Park Sparkling Rose is made from the same blend of grapes as Champagne and fermented

in the bottle?Top wine experts have rated

Griffith Park above and alongside top premium

brands of Champagne - the only difference is the price

tag. With a RRP of just £7.15 from Morrisons nationwide, Griffith Park is a romantic

treat that doesn't have to be saved for just one day a year! 

 With love, from Griffith Park  

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AY Valentine’s Day...a Harpenden affair?

How and where to show your love on the 14th.

Valentine Luxury at Lola

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On February the 13th, Harpenden will once again be overflowing with husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends all frantically searching for that last minute gift to show they care. Fortunately, Harpenden contains many shops like Threads and Valentines that are perfect for the last minute gift. Valentine's Day appears to be the same each year for the more mature members of the community, however for the younger people in Harpenden, February the 14th appears to have a different meaning.

Partners or singleFor those who already have partners, it would seem that Valentine's day is a time of love and good will, but for those who are single, Valentine's day is a reminder of that fact. This presents the teens of today a problem. There is increased pressure from School, Home and Peers to do well, to be the best. With so much effort being put into work, teens have little time to have a partner, resulting in more single people on Valentine's Day.Roundwood Park School researchOn a recent study of 20 Year 11 Students from Roundwood Park School, it was found that only 5 out of the 20 were in a relationship. When asked on their opinions on the matter of

Valentine's day for young people, One student said " Valentine's day is now just a commercialised opportunity to make the most of peoples guilty conscience." Another student said " For those who are alone, Valentine's day is often a sad reminder that they are single." With such a negative view on Valentine's day, will the annual event become lost?

On the face of the issue, Valentine's Day appears to be a fantastic event. But with ever mounting pressure, Teens can no longer enjoy the freedom of passion and Valentines. With apparently diminishing numbers of youthful partners, Valentine's Day might have less of an impact in years to come.

However, for those who are in relationships, Valentine's day is a celebration. Of the 5 people who were with partners, a unanimous claim was made that February 14th was the height of their relationship.Huge £1.6bn Valentines spend According to Independent Financial comparison site MoneyStop, over £1.6bn will be spent in Britain at this time. This shows that for now, Valentines is not going, however in future, I believe the day will change. Due to the combined factors on Teens, not only in Harpenden but also in the rest of the UK, I think the views on valentines are changing. Valentines is now not only a time for single loved ones, but a time for friends. With all the pressures and stresses of teen life, the word 'single' appears more often. For this reason I believe friends become the most important part of life for teens in Britain, and Valentine's day can bring people together. I don't think Valentines will ever be lost, however from the point of view of the youths in Harpenden, it will change.

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By Rupert Lloyd. Roundwood Park School pupil year 11

Far left. Now a time for teen friends not childhood sweethearts? Centre. Artwork created at Roundwood Park School.Left.Too much work pressure for partners?

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When asked to provide an article for the Winter edition of Harpendia, I was racking my brains on how to put across how passionate I am about my company PA Business Support; how do you put into words the work and stress, yet sheer determination and enjoyment that has gone into building a business from nothing?

I saw the opportunity to support businesses with my key products and started trading as PA Business Support in 2010. I had one client, and have continued to grow despite the ups and downs of the ever concerning recession.Working with different clientsI work with a variety of different clients, from consultants working on their own to the larger corporate companies. The joy of this is no day is the same, and every client is different. Choose the services you needMy clients’ requirements range from undertaking the typical PA duties, diary management, travel arrangements, or correspondence. Others have more complex

needs including PR calls, market research, event organising, recruitment and even personal shopping through my PA concierge lifestyle service.A day in the life of…An average day consists of a variety of things. If I’m working from home, neither my telephone nor keyboard stops. If I am working with a client in house it very much depends on the project I am working on. For example, I have recently organised a luncheon event at a major central London hotel on behalf of a client, and I was invited to attend. It is times like this that I feel a warm glow of appreciation and furthermore it adds to my business repertoire.Cost effectiveClients only pay for the hours that I work, and I am always at the end of the phone if they’ve had a bad day, this is definitely not a 9-5 job! The key to my business? Honesty, integrity, commitment, hard work and of course my interpersonal skills. I thoroughly enjoy organising other people’s lives, both professionally and personally and I thrive on working hard to achieve success. The key benefitUsing my virtual PA service buys back your time. It’s highly beneficial and frees you up to concentrate on your core business.For further information or for an informal chat, please contact Sophie on 07740 194 914 or via email sophie@pabusinesssupport.co.uk.

supporting your administrative needs

PA Business Support-supporting your administrative needsBy Sophie Burnett

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My soaps are 100% natural, gentle and moisturizing for the skin. They are made to be kind to you and to the environment.

Made from totally natural ingredients

They are made from organic and fair-trade ingredients where possible. The main ingredient is olive oil, and the bubbles come from coconut oil. There are no artificial detergents, parabens, preservatives or colourings in my soap. The scent comes from a mixture of essential oils, and the colours come from different clays.

How it all started

2 years ago, I made some soap for Christmas presents, and became immediately addicted to the wonderful smells, and how great they felt on the skin. I started making more and asking friends to be my guinea pigs. I was completely overwhelmed by their positive response, with various people saying that this is the nicest most gentle soap that they have ever used. They encouraged me to make more and get the soap tested by a cosmetic chemist, where it was passed as being gentle enough to use on the face as well as the body. Since then, the number of people using the soap is growing, mainly through personal recommendations.

Hand made in Harpenden

The soaps are made with care in small batches in my kitchen. They are then poured into wooden wine box moulds, and left to harden for 48 hours. I then take them out of the mould, cut them by hand, stamp them, and leave them on a drying rack to air-dry for 3 weeks. Each bar is then wrapped by hand in tissue and ribbon and is then ready to be enjoyed. Each bar varies in weight, as it is handcut, but is approx 90gms.

So much more than a beauty soapJoanna White, founder of Whitewash Soaps in Harpenden

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Making the soap requires precise quantities of ingredients which are carefully weighed, then mixed gently over moderate heat (two photos above) before being poured in the moulds (photo below on next page) to set and cool. Finally being hand cut and wrapped into various packs.

Continued on page below

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A range to suit all skin typesMy range includes:Lavender and honey, with Harpenden lavender, essential oils and honey to moisturize. This soap is great for the most sensitive of skins. Rosemary & Mint – with dried Harpenden rosemary to gently exfoliate, and rosemary, lavender and peppermint essential oils with green clay for colouring and drawing out toxins.Cinnamon & Orange – with dried orange peel, cinnamon, and essential oils.Lime & Patchouli – with lime, lemongrass and patchouli essential oils, with green clay for colouring and drawing out toxins.

English Rose – with rose, geranium, palmarosa essential oils, and pink clay for colouring.Tea tree & lemongrass – with tea tree, eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oils, and coloured with green clay. Great for teenage skins. All soaps are priced at £3.95 each.

Free local deliveryI will deliver to any Harpenden home, or the soaps can be posted to orders further afield.

My customers love the soap“Until I used Whitewash Soaps, the only soap I could use was baby soap, as every other soap brought my skin out in itchy red patches.  Your soap is so gentle,  I can use it as often as I like, and my skin stays soft.”. Mrs R. Goddard, Harpenden.

“These are the most luxurious soaps I have ever used.  Their texture is amazing, the colours beautiful, and the scents exquisite”.   Mrs P. Pollard, Harpenden.

How to orderI currently sell my soaps in local craft markets (details of the next dates are on my website www.whitewashsoaps.co.uk). The soaps can also be ordered by emailing me at joanna.white@whitewashsoaps.co.uk

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Whitewash Soaps continued

Special Introductory Offer for Harpendia readers

fromWhitewash Soaps

Buy 2 soaps, & get a third

soap half price

While stocks last. Offer valid until end of

February 2011.Contact Whitewash Soaps

to claim your offer

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As one of the star authors for Harpenden based No Exit Press, Leigh was featured briefly in the Autumn edition of HARPENDIA. In this issue I wanted to discover more about Leigh and what makes her work so successful so I met up with her in mid January.

RT. Last year looked like a very exciting time for you with the publication of ROAD CLOSED in June which drew critical acclaim. And CUT SHORT which sold out for the fourth time and was shortlisted for the CWA Dagger. LR. Since I signed a three book deal with No Exit Press my life has been so full of excitement, the time has flown by. I can’t believe my third book, DEAD END, will be published in a few months. RT. How did it feel to be competing with multi million selling authors like Val McDermid, Jeffery Deaver and Ian Rankin?LR. It’s a great compliment to be compared to such luminaries of the genre and I’m a fan of them all. I was thrilled when Jeffery Deaver

emailed me to say he ‘loved’ my first book and even sent my publisher a blurb quote describing CUT SHORT as a ‘top-of-the-line crime tale.’ Since then I’ve met him and he’s absolutely charming. I’ve found that my fellow crime writers are all very supportive of newcomers. RT. Do you read their work to understand how they appeal to such a wide audience?LR. I read their work because I enjoy their books, approaching them as a reader rather than a fellow author, but I think I appreciate their mastery more now that I know how much work it takes to produce a skillfully constructed book. RT. People judge a book by the cover so do you have any input on the design?LR. My publishers are lovely people to work with and they always consult me about the design of my book covers, but the choice is ultimately a sales decision. RT. What’s the most important factor for promoting your books?

LR. I’ve never studied marketing or PR so I can’t claim to know how results are achieved. My books have both been very well received, shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award for Best First Novel and very well reviewed in many publications including The Times and US Publishers Weekly, all of which gives an author credibility. I’m passionate about supporting bookshops and libraries and spend a lot of time chatting to readers. But the most important factor has been word of mouth recommendation as both my books became bestsellers with minimal promotion before the award nomination. RT. Is writing your books a 9 to 5 job or inspired periods of intensity and enjoyment.?LR. I have to say that disciplined isn’t how I’d describe my approach. When you’re doing something you love there’s no need for discipline. I teach, so in school holidays it’s an 11 to 2 job (that’s 11am to 2am - I’m not at my best first thing in the morning). In term time I have little time to write, but producing a book isn’t only about the physical act of putting words on the page. It takes a lot of planning, thinking and research. So I might mull over ideas and ...

Continued below

“Shocked, saddened, then a sense of relief” Ron Taylor interviews thriller writer Leigh Russell who wants to stir the emotions.

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Photo Top Left.Leigh Russell awarding prize to John Ward, winner of Watford Writers short story competition. Left. Book signing at WH Smith in Watford.

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...jot down a few notes during the week, and then write them up one evening. I’m not sure I could claim to be ‘inspired’...but the ‘intensity and enjoyment’ is absolutely right.RT. What fascinates you about the crime genre?LR. There are many reasons why the crime genre is so popular. At a basic level I think it’s about good versus evil and the appeal of seeing the bad guy caught. The problem solving aspect of crime novels is fascinating. In addition to the challenge of making the plot work out without being too obvious or too obscure, characters fascinate me. Until I can see the world through my characters’ eyes I can’t create them, which poses a challenge when I’m writing about my killers, but the bad guys are always more fun to write than the good guys!

RT. What do you want readers to feel after they have read one of your books?LR. I’d like them to feel shocked and haunted by my

villains, as well as saddened by the suffering they cause not only to their victims but to all the other characters affected by the death. At the same time I hope they feel a sense of relief that their own lives are relatively safe. Thankfully serial killers aren’t as common in real life as they are in fiction. RT. Can you give me any hints about the next novel?LR. In DEAD END, which will be published in May, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel returns to investigate a series of grisly murders… what else? My publisher, editor and agent all feel that DEAD END is my strongest novel so far and I like to think I’m improving as a writer, but we’ll have to wait and see what the reviewers say – and what my readers think. RT. And finally what can traditional bookshops do to compete with the on line trade and the supermarkets? LR. Bricks and mortar bookshops face huge competition from online suppliers, charity shops, supermarkets and free book campaigns – and that’s before considering the impact of ebooks. I’m passionate about the survival of bookshops and spend a lot of time in different branches of the major chains, and in libraries, talking to readers. I wish more authors would support bookshops and libraries in this way. But there is a more serious concern which is not how books will be

delivered in future, but whether people will continue reading on a significant scale, with all the other forms of entertainment on offer.

Today’s youngsters spend their time in front of television, computer or mobile phone screens and bookshops have their work cut out to attract them. But it’s a campaign worth fighting and one they must win if they are to survive.

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Photo left. Leigh Russell at Harrogate with Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham. Top. Book signing at Waterstones, Hemel Hempstead.Above. Talking to Verulam Writers in St. Albans.

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With 3 books about Harpenden published in as many years John Cooper has become a mini literary celebrity in Harpenden, even though he moved out of the town several years ago. I met up with John at WH Smith (below) in Harpenden in December where he was due to sign copies of his latest work ‘A Postcard from Harpenden’

RT. What inspired you to become an author at such a late stage in your working life?JC. It happened quite by accident really. I had originally intended to write up the Family History that I had researched for a great many years as a permanent record for my children. However, it wasn’t long before I realised that with so many childhood memories of Harpenden from those far-off days, I probably had the basis for a book, not realising at that stage that it would ever get published. I then changed direction, the result being ‘A Harpenden Childhood Remembered’.

RT. Why did you focus on Harpenden history as a subject?

JC. It was the obvious choice as I was born in Harpenden and spent the next thirty years of my life there before I married and moved to my wife’s home town of Watford.

RT. Where did you get all the material to support the research?JC. The sources are too numerous to list here. Please see attached Acknowledgements Lists.

RT. Who helped you with the detailed knowledge?JC. Please see the Acknowledgements Lists. which are published at www.harpendia.com

RT. How did you persuade a publisher to back your projects?JC. Initially, I submitted a typescript to several publishers, subsequently receiving three or four offers. I opted for the first publisher to offer me a contract.

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R Harpenden history brought right up to dateRon Taylor interviews history writer John Cooper

Photo left. John in WH Smith Harpenden for his latest book signing in December 2010. Above.John at a book signing for 'A Harpenden Childhood Remembered' at the Bookstack, Harpenden' in December 2007Continued on next page

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RT. Give me a brief resume of each book

“Making Ends Meet A Working Life Remembered” (Published 2009)The narrative, which is peppered with many anecdotes and historical aspects, recounts the author’s journey through the ups and downs of a working life spanning nearly half a century of constant change and upheaval. Starting from the early days in the 1950s as a young apprentice at the industrial plant of Vauxhall Motors, the fascinating and sometimes amusing saga ends with the ten-year period spent in the more tranquil surroundings of the Building Research Establishment at Garston in Watford. "A Harpenden Childhood Remembered" (Published 2007)

Takes us on a fascinating journey through the picturesque village in the 1940s and '50s. John Cooper vividly recalls the dark days of the Second World War - air raids, rationing, Home Guard manoeuvres, prisoners of war on the doorstep and the excitement of VE Day - and the long, carefree days of post-war childhood that followed, when the pace of life was much gentler than today. “A Postcard from Harpenden” (Published 2010)Arguably one of the most attractive areas in the wooded county of Hertfordshire, if not the country, is the small town of Harpenden, still known locally as ‘the Village’ by the older residents, where the lush, verdant expanse of the Common reaches almost into the town itself. Situated approximately midway between St. Albans and Luton on the busy A1081 road, Harpenden has a beauty and a character all of its own, from the wide

boulevard that is the High Street to the well manicured greens. Harpenden was captured countless times on camera by a small but dedicated group of photographers, and the many images taken during the first part of the twentieth century provide a wonderful record of the development from agricultural village to the town we know today. A full synopsis of each book can be found at www.harpendia.com

RT. When you returned to Harpenden in 2006 what were your feelings and impressions about the town and the people who live here.JC. I’ve never really left Harpenden as with family and the many friends living in the town, coupled with numerous research visits, Harpenden will always be an important part of my life. As I mentioned in the Introduction to my latest book, Harpenden still exudes a certain charm of its own and is undeniably a pretty place in which to live, work or visit and is arguably one of the most attractive areas in the county, if not the country.

RT. Any thoughts about a permanent return?JC. No, but with so many visititations back to the place of my birth, I sometimes feel that I have never really left. After all, we all have a great affinity to the place where we spent our formative years.

RT. Do you have a desire to continue writing?JC. Yes. I am currently researching a similar project to ‘A Postcard From Harpenden’ with a ‘Then and Now’ book on Watford.

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RJohn Cooper interview continued

Photo top left. John relaxing on a social visit in St. Albans. Above. John at a book signing for 'Making Ends Meet' in Waterstones Luton in November 2009.

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In July 2009 Harpenden resident Duncan Lewis took up a role leading Marketing and Commercial strategy for the England Commonwealth Games team. In a previous edition of Harpendia he outlined his involvement and some of its challenges in the build-up to Games in Delhi last October. Here he tells us about the culmination of the project – a trip to the games themselves.

Adverse media coverage had dogged the build-up to the Delhi Games in the UK, but the 17 sports that made up the England team were unanimous in their desire to compete for their country and by the time I boarded my flight for Delhi the athletes village was up and running and the first English medals had been won. My role at the Games was to help host a party of commercial VIPs – current and potential partners of the team for whom we wanted to really bring the unique Games experience to life.

Landing at Delhi I was led through the impressive new terminal by the first of an army of smiling young volunteers who made us feel so welcome wherever we went. Their courtesy and helpfulness were matched only by their

gratitude if you were able to give them a ‘We are England’ pin-badge (pin-badge collecting is a big deal at international multi-sport events as many will discover when the Olympics come to London!).

The journey from the airport to the Oberoi hotel was swift and smooth along dedicated ‘Games traffic only’ lanes. Security had been one of the issues highlighted in the media and it was evident that the host nation had taken no chances on that front with a policeman or soldier stationed every few hundred metres along the entire route. This visible show of security was something we all soon got used to and as the games passed off without incident it can only be deemed to have been effective.

On arriving at the Oberoi I met-up with colleagues who had been out since the start of the Games and fell swiftly into the already established routine that characterised the remainder of the stay. With VIP guests coming and going throughout the games and 17 sports to choose from the logistical challenges of making sure that everyone got to see what they wanted to and had a good time were significant! A breakfast meeting would start the day bright and early and we would then split up with hosts escorting guests to the events of their choice (usually three or four sports at a variety of locations around the city in the course of a single day). We would then meet as a group for dinner in the evening and once the guests had gone to bed the hosts would convene to work out the itinerary for the following day – a task that often stretched into the early hours of themorning. It was undeniably great fun -and a real privilege tohave the accreditationon a lanyard around...Continued on next page

Delhi dazzles...despite the headlines!By Duncan Lewis

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Photos. Above. You never know who you might bump into at a major sporting event -Duncan Lewis with cricketing legend Sir Vivian Richards. Right. A Commonwealth Gold Medal.

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...your neck that enables you to get access to such a huge sporting event, but also a lot of hard work.

My week out there went by in a blur and the blow by blow account could fill an edition of Harpendia all by itself – but here are some of the snap-shot highlights.

Delhi traffic is truly remarkable – and apparently there was significantly less of it than usual! One minute a small herd of cows will bring a busy dual carriageway in a relatively built-up area to a halt as they casually saunter across the road and the next a family of four will whizz past weaving their way through the traffic balanced on a moped without a helmet between them!

20 or so vultures (but think huge eagles rather than the scrawny, bald cartoon variety), riding the thermals above the main hockey stadium and periodically swooping to grab one of the many huge insects that would venture onto the pitch and find that astroturf didn’t provide them

with many hiding places. According to the hockey team coaches the players were so ‘in the zone’ concentrating on the match that they remained oblivious to this! Watching England beat Australia in their final rugby 7s pool match in the company of Commonwealth Games England Board Director and former England Rugby Captain and Sevens World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, and the track and field with our President, Dame Kelly Holmes. There’s nothing like having your very own experts who have ‘been there and done it’ to hand to bring an event to life with their insights and experiences.

Dinner at the British High Commissioners residence – complete with pre-dinner drinks on the patio overlooking the croquet lawn! Our guests included Lord Coe and Prince Edward as well as a number of our medal winning athletes and selected VIPs. A great guest list, very refined surroundings, excellent hospitality and a relaxed atmosphere made for a truly memorable evening. Continued on next page...

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Photo. The flag of St George is raised at the pool as Tom Daley wins an individual gold in the diving.

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Visiting the athletes village. Scene of much controversy in the build-up to the Games, but a very impressive complex when I looked round. Excellent facilities on a massive scale (a dining room that could have doubled as an aircraft hanger!) and a pleasant multi-cultural buzz from all the athletes – although I did leave with a bit of a complex about my age and fitness!! The last night of track and field in the main stadium. Sat on the finishing straight to see England win gold in the Men’s and Womens 4x100metres relays and then experiencing a unique atmosphere and noise like I have never heard before when 75000 passionate Indians went wild as their ladies 4x400M team stormed to the gold medal.

Seeing the red lion team emblem that I had helped to develop looking so great on competition kit and being worn by athletes on the podium. Being able to judge the effectiveness of some of our commercial work first hand and hearing from athletes how much they liked the adidas kit and New Balance trainers we had negotiated for them and visiting the team lodge hosted by G4S that enabled the athletes to meet and mix with friends and family in a secure and welcoming

environment outside the athletes village. These are small things but they can combine to make a big difference to the success of the team when the margins in elite sport are so slim.

There are many more snapshot memories and the England team had a hugely successful games winning more medals and more golds than in Melbourne four years ago. My final word, however, should be for our hosts.

Despite all the headlines and media-led doom-mongering in the build-up, India delivered in the end. Armies of smiling helpers, quality venues, stunning opening and closing ceremonies and by the end, passionate crowds all made the games an unforgettable occasion for everyone involved in the team – whether athletes or support staff. Their reward came with a strong performance in the medals table and, it is to be hoped, a broader sporting legacy that will stretch into the future – watch out for the continued rise of India as a sporting nation at London 2012!

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Photos. Top left The England team at the opening ceremonyAbove. Members of the Commonwealth Games England board and VIPs gather for the closing ceremony.

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The season of Spring is always a busy one - especially in the garden. Forward thinking and good preparation is the key to a successful gardening year and it all starts now.

Whether it is flowers or vegetables that you intend to grow the key things to think about are digging, weeding and soil nutrition. It may sound boring to hear that digging and weeding are high on the list but there are very good reasons as to why you should concentrate on these and getting them done properly.

Firstly there's digging. As we are still during our winter months it is important to remember never to attempt to turn your soil over when the ground has fallen victim to a harsh frost. Not only is it difficult to dig in the first place but you may be doing more harm than good and this is because frozen ground when dug will not be warm enough in spring to plant seedlings. The cold, frosty soil, once turned will not defrost properly, thus leaving young roots trying to survive in colder than normal temperatures. So, let the ground thaw out properly and you will save both your plants and your back!

As you start to dig your soil introduce some organic matter to revive tired and nutrient poor beds. Most plants will need nitrogen and other minerals for the right start to the new year. Use compost from your own garden or bags bought from garden centres, stable manure or chicken manure or any other fertilisers which will increase the compounds your soil needs. Always remember to check

whether you are using the right stuff for your planting needs. Manure can be too strong for plants such as root crops and some plants and crops prefer adequate amounts of lime.

Us gardeners can also sound like "weed bores" but there are also very good reasons as to why we work so much getting rid of unwanted plants. Weeds will compete for nutrients against your planted flowers, fruit and veg - even more so for water over dry summer periods. Weeds that are related to certain plant cultivars and some crops may also hinder growth by introducing diseases or pests that thrive in particular plant varieties. Banish the weeds and you can banish most problems that face gardeners on an annual basis.

There are also many other jobs that you can do in the garden. Below is a list compiled for the spring season so don't delay - get stuck in!

February. Chit potatoes. Start growing early crops under cover. Force rhubarb.

March Trim/prune winter flowering plants. Keep weeding. Start to take care of your lawn in late March. Sow seeds of any summer bedding plants.

www.theplantsitter.co.uk

renata@theplantsitter.co.uk

Getting ready for SpringBy Renata Rybczyk-Savage. The Plantsitter

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Images: Top left. Renata cleaning the greenhouse. Above. Preparing beds in the greenhouse.

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Tim Hill, Conservation Manager with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust suggests where to go and what you might see around Harpenden during the winter months.

“It bounces just like Tigger!” This was my young son’s exclamation as he peered into my telescope overlooking the River Lea at East Hyde as he watched a Jack Snipe (below) for the first time. This bird is the diminutive cousin of our more widespread Common (but not that common) Snipe. For reasons known only to themselves, they habitually bounce up and down when feeding or walking. Whilst their plumage is beautifully camouflaged for their chosen muddy habitats, they give away their presence with their spring-like movements."

Along with the occasional Jack Snipe there are usually Common Snipe and a selection of waterbirds to be seen including ducks such as Gadwall and Teal. The berry-laden Hawthorns here and on Harpenden Common are a magnet to feeding flocks of winter thrushes. Listen out for the, “chack, chack, chack”, of Fieldfares and the, “seeep” calls of smaller Redwings. Hedgerows also provide cover for Yellowhammers, seed-eating birds which feed in the weedy margins of arable fields. It’s always a good idea to look up regularly when out and about otherwise you’ll miss all those birds flying overhead. In the skies above Harpenden, Buzzards are now common and Red Kites are seen daily now, their forked tail helping with identification.

For those able to travel a little further, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s Lemsford Springs Nature Reserve, near Welwyn Garden City is a gem and access is freely available to members of the Trust. Two hides provide breathtaking close-up views of stunning birds such as Kingfishers and Little Egrets (above) as they feed just metres away in the old watercress beds. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of one of our rarest mammals, the Water Shrew, which feed on shrimps. Look closely at the Green Sandpipers (below) wading here and you may notice birds wearing coloured rings on their legs. These have been fitted to the birds as part of research into their movements, helping us to conserve those areas on which they rely.

For more information about Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust please visit www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk or call 01727 858901

Winter Birds of HarpendenBy Tim Hill. Conservation Manager with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

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GALLERIESA & K WILSON GALLERY

11, Station Approach,Harpenden. 01582 760824

FEBRUARY.Gallery owner Drew Wilson will have an

exhibition of his own work.Example below

THE LEMONGROVE GALLERY32 High Street

Harpenden.01582 462222FEBRUARY

Mixed Exhibition - Philip Gray seascapes, alongside Spring’s brand

new releases MARCH

Carol Gillan SOLO EXHIBITION  March 10th-20th.

Example below

ARTISTSHAYDN DICKENSON

FEBRUARYHarpenden-based artist Haydn

Dickenson at The Maddermarket Theatre Bar, Norwich,

http://www.maddermarket.co.uk/ whose work has been described by French

Photographer Manon Vuillermet as "vibrating with an unbridled and intuitive passion"

MARCH The Maltings Arts Theatre,

St Albans. Call 01727 864511 to check opening times. Both shows

will consist of recent Abstract work,(example above) all of which will be for sale. www.haydndickenson.com

for further details.

Artistic activity for all in Feb. and MarchT

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