IN THE
The Property & Lifestyle Magazine COUNTRY & TOWN November 2022
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Within This Issue...
40. NEW ARRIVAL Baby seals back in Lincolnshire
40. BILL NIGHY On his new film Living
26 to 29. ENOLA HOLMES Millie Bobby Brown returns as fiery Enola Holmes
69. LAMBORGHINI URUS PERFORMANTE Off-roading in the most unlikely SUV
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16 to 19. WHY A TALL SHIP IS THE ONLY WAY TO EXPLORE ITALY’S AMALFI COAST
6 to 9
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18
22
16
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A collection of exquisite properties
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38
22
51
36
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46 to 50. FIRST DRIVE Flying Spur Hybrid
56 to 59. GINO D’ACAMPO On cancel culture & why women should rule the world
64. JIMMY DOHERTY How to keep bees happy in autumn
53. MELISSA THOMPSON On her ginger beer prawns recipe
66. ALAN TITCHMARSH A personal view on Rewilding
80. STEVEN BARTLETT The Dragons’ Den’s view on Knowledge and Money
80. MEN’S HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
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IN THE COUNTRY &TOWN Welcome to
Creating the inspiration to move
The Only Stable Show In Town!
With a chaotic backdrop of political, economic, and world circumstances most would think the residential property market should by now be entering a slowdown at the very least. So what’s going on and will it be bust for the robust house market that has been in place in recent years? As always, we look to the shop floor experience of today for indicators that will show us some insight into the near future. So much of the media commentary is geared to headline attention seeking, so bad news is the template of preference. Furthermore, most commentators obtain the house market statistics from the Land Registry which records house transaction completions, so such a source of statistical information will always be out of date with the market of the day and what’s happening on the shop floor. So here’s the real deal.The upward movement in house prices has stopped and flattened out, however, that doesn’t mean the market has slowed. House sale transactions are remaining very high and buyer demand remains strong.There is currently a remarkable resilience in the house market.When establishing market conditions and short term outlook, we look to the live experiences of what is happening in our High Street branches, especially in large towns where the range of property transaction is wide in terms of price sectors. Our Fleet branch is one such temperature gauge for the market, and the trading insights in September and October showed an outcome that demonstrated remarkable resilience. If the media headlines were to be believed, house buyers would have been withdrawing from purchases and new buyer enquiries would have been at a low level. Instead, this town branch alone recorded a level of property exchanges in September of £9.3m. and more importantly, that was supported by a similar level of new sales arranged in that month.That result was closely followed by a similar level of performance in October, so for now buyer demand remains very high but importantly, buyers will be cautious in buying at the right price level. In summary, the market remains resilient and there is plenty of positive life in residential house market as we head to the close of 2022. This digital version of In The Country & Town magazine is the first of what will be a monthly digital edition, so we hope our readers will enjoy the rich editorial content and the opportunity to see some of the finest properties in the house market.We look forward to proving market insights and amazing properties in the next issue of this magazine.
John Holden - Chairman McCarthy Holden
Published by Kilbricken Publishing and John Joe Photography Limited,Telephone: 07470 707275, email jjtopshot@outlook.com, web johnjoe.co.uk. Publishing 2022 - All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden except by express permission of the publishers.The content of this magazine is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed and it does not form part of any offer or contract. John Joe Limited cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors.
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Odiham / Basingstoke Borders, Hampshire Guide: £8,500 p.c.m.
Approached by a long, winding tarmac driveway through farmland, this fine country house offers 6/7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms and a wealth of character features. Off the driveway there is a large combined double garage with attached stables (two boxes). Paddocks are also available by separate negotiation. EPC E - Tenancy 12 months - To be let unfurnished - ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY (CONTACT AGENT) Telephone 01252 704851
• Beautiful Rural Setting • 6/7 Bedrooms • 5 Bathrooms •
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Elvetham, Nr. Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £1,950,000
• Beautiful Rural Setting • 5 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Beautiful Grounds •
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A Victorian Grade II Listed former School House, built circa 1860 and designed by Samuel Teulon who was an English Gothic Revival Architect noted for his use of polychrome brickwork. The nearby Elvetham Hall was also designed by Samuel Teulon and the School House was originally built as the school for the farmworker’s children on the Elvetham Estate, featuring a number of stone mullion windows with leaded octagons within a reticulated pattern. In 1990 the building was converted into a residential property and a large extension to the rear was added.Today, the exceptional architectural features of this old school house are retained and inside contemporary features abound within vast spaces. See the following pages for further images. Telephone 01252 842100
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Above top:The front elevation featuring superb architectural features Above inset: Part of the wonderful grounds feature a fine pond water feature Top right:The kitchen / breakfast room
Mid right:The fine drawing room Below right:The vast dining room
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Bill Nighy
Photo: PA / ©Sony Pictures
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Bill Nighy on his new film Living: ‘I’m already in the business of trying to make the most of every day’
By Gemma Dunn, PA
From a young age, Bill Nighy knew the nine-to-five wasn’t for him. He did try his hand at a desk job; first as a writer in Paris, attempting to pen the great English novel, and next on his local newspaper back in London. The multi-award-winning actor, who is 72, commuted to an office for about six months.“And I remember standing crammed into a train, thinking,‘This can’t be my life’,” he recalls . “It was embarrassing because there were all these people, but nobody was saying anything. I found it very awkward and uncomfortable.And I just thought,‘I can’t do this anymore’ and so I ran away from it. “I wasn’t very good at knowing what I wanted to do, but I was pretty good at knowing what I didn’t want to do,” he says.“And what I didn’t want to do was go to the same place every day, for the next 30 years, and know how much I was going to make.
“I wanted to gamble a little bit – and then somebody suggested being an actor…”
Fast forward five decades and Surrey-born Nighy (star of such classics as Love Actually and Shaun Of The Dead, as well as blockbuster series Pirates Of The Caribbean) is regarded one of the industry’s finest talents. Nighy has been reflecting on the humdrum working life he escaped due to his role in Living, a British drama film which sees him play a veteran civil servant reduced by years of oppressive office routine. The reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, the feature is directed by South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus, from a script by Kazuo Ishiguro (author of the novels The Remains Of The Day and Never Let Me Go). To set the scene, the year is 1953.A London shattered by the Second World War is still recovering.Williams (Nighy) is an impotent cog within the city’s bureaucracy. Buried under paperwork at the office and lonely at home, his life is empty and meaningless.
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Photo: PA / ©Sony Pictures
That is until a shattering medical diagnosis forces him to turn his otherwise dull life into something wonderful – one he can say has been lived to the full.
“I actually grew up with this film,” notes Ishiguro, 67.“When I was a little Japanese boy growing up in England, this was one of the very few Japanese films that was shown on television or in art cinemas, and it had a profound influence on me. So that’s partly why I wanted this film to be made, again, for a new generation,” he explains. “For me, the inspiring message is that you don’t have to turn yourself into a superstar or make huge achievements (in life) – rather you have to accept who you are and accept the limitations of your world.You can still live your life to the full, just by making a supreme effort within those limitations.” “It’s a story about an incremental change in one’s life; an incremental step that could unlock a real sense of value and satisfaction,” adds Hermanus, 39, who’s known for Moffie and The Endless River.“I think that’s what has appealed to anyone who’s ever seen the film.”
As for casting Nighy, Ishiguro says the actor “was integral to the whole thing” and the part had been written with him in mind.
“He has that English sense of humour, that ironic sense, a stoicism, and a kind of melancholy behind the surface.And he looked to me like all those men on the railway platforms. Bill Nighy is extraordinary,” says Hermanus.“It’s a privilege, a once-in-a-lifetime experience to work with an actor who understands the craft of acting in that way.”
Nighy was equally taken, saying:“It honoured the period very beautifully, apart from being powerfully put together in terms of the structure and the story.And it’s a great part!”
He describes his character as “a deeply conventional man who is institutionalised by grief”. In the two decades or more since his wife died, he has confined his life to narrow parameters to avoid further heartache.“He has never deviated from his schedule, ever,” says Nighy.“Until he is given a diagnosis by the doctor which shocks him out of his world.”
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Following this news,Williams, chaperoned by a local decadent (Tom Burke), takes to a seaside resort where he flirts with hedonism. Back in London, he finds himself drawn to Margaret (Aimee Lou Wood), a young woman who once worked under his supervision and is now determined to spread her wings.
Then one evening he is struck by a revelation: with a new energy, and the help of Peter (Alex Sharp), an idealistic new recruit to his department, he sets about creating a legacy for the next generation.
“We live in a time when people have to work so many long hours,” Ishiguro reflects.
“When you look at these bureaucratic offices that we present in Living, it becomes a metaphor for the way that many of us are forced to live,” he says.
“It’s about people who have been ground down by the anonymity and the daily burden of living this kind of life, when you don’t know how your work is connecting with humanity out there or what it’s doing.
“(This film) is about a man who manages to transcend that, who cuts through that.And so I’m hoping that this is a story that a lot of people in today’s world will relate to.”
It’s a universal theme, adds Hermanus:“At heart, this is a story about death affirming life. It’s about how, in the wake of this man realising that his life is coming to an end, he’s pressured into living. I always thought that this was an important story to tell today because we sort of live in distraction.
“We live looking at our cell phones, looking into the future,” he adds.“It’s interesting to take a step back and wonder what it means to be present, actually, in your own life.”
“The film is about how we deal with mortality, and how to best appreciate the time that we are given,” Nighy says.“It’s an opportunity to see what a regular person who has a very constrained existence does when they are brought face to face with extinction. “Broadly speaking, what he discovers is that what gives one’s life meaning is doing something for someone else.”
Did it change how the father-of- one lives his life?
“I try and remember how fortunate I am,” he says.“I have a tendency to project negatively, so I try and resist that. I’m already in the business of trying to make the most of every day, and some days you can, some days you can’t. “I hope this film is inspirational in that regard. Because that’s what it’s for, to encourage people to do stuff instead of not doing stuff – and to make the most of every day.”
Photo: PA / ©Sony Pictures
Living is in cinemas from Friday,
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Finchampstead, Berkshire / Hampshire Borders To Let or For Sale Guide: £3,250,000 (for sale) / £8,500 p.c.m. to let
• Grounds of around 1.5 acres • Exquisite Interior • Circa 7,400 sq. ft. •
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A fine home with many breath-taking interior features, first built during the 1930’s with Art Deco influences of the period. More recently the property has benefitted from significant enhancements and vast enlargement by the present owner. The property is situated in grounds of around 1.5 acres and located in a most sought after Berkshire location known as The Ridges, nearby to internationally renowned Wellington College. This significant property is built over two floors and has been enhanced with meticulous attention to detail, providing almost 6,500 sq. ft. of stunning space (approaching 7,400 sq. ft. including garage and outbuildings). EPC D (66) Telephone 01252 842100 (RENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE)
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Photo: Star Clippers/PA.
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Why a tall ship is the only way to explore Italy’s Amalfi coast
By Josie Clarke, PA
It’s 11pm on a clear, starlit night just off the coast of Amalfi, and the 115-metre Star Clipper is creaking with what you imagine could be anticipation. Captain Dominique Rollin is pacing the deck with an expression of extreme concentration. The crew are hoisting the sales high above us, metres upon metres of canvas straining and flapping in the stiff breeze and then, we hear it. Conquest of Paradise by Vangelis starts blasting from the ship’s speakers.“Sailaway” time has arrived. We have joined the ship to experience a fresh view of one of Europe’s most beautiful coastlines, excited by the Star Clipper line’s dedication to sail over engine whenever the winds allow.Tonight has offered up the perfect conditions, the twinkling lights of Amalfi slowly fading into the distance as the graceful tall ship takes on a gentle lean as the sails take over, the silence broken only by the sounds of creaking wood and the occasional flapping of canvas. Our course will take us from a sun-soaked day in Amalfi, eating lobster linguine at the edge of the hill top Hotel Caruso’s famous infinity pool, along the coast to Sorrento, stopping off at the islands of Capri and Ponza, before arriving in the port of Rome Civitavecchia. Styled on the tea clippers of the 19th century, our four-masted barquentine has a full 16 sails at her disposal should conditions allow. She and her two tall ship sisters, the Royal Clipper and Star Flyer, offer a genuine sailing experience that bears little – if any – resemblance to the cruise behemoths that disgorge thousands of passengers at the world’s busiest tourist destinations. There were barely 150 other passengers on our sailing – Star Clipper carries up to 166 guests – united by the belief that the “the best way to travel is to sail” and lured by the promise of a “unique adventure, combining the romance and nautical heritage of a traditional clipper ship, with the relaxation and sophistication of sailing aboard a modern- day private mega-yacht”. The ships have an open bridge policy while sailing, allowing guests to discuss navigation techniques and learn about the instruments with the genial crew, take the wheel and help haul ropes. The whole atmosphere would be entirely relaxed if it weren’t so thrilling,theTropical Bar supplying rum to passengers who chat under the tall sails with the crew for a couple of hours, before heading down for the night, lulled off to sleep by the gentle sway of the ship, as it makes its way silently to Sorrento. We awake next morning to find ourselves anchored off Sorrento with plans to hop over to Capri after breakfast.The wind has picked up and conditions are choppy, meaning climbing into the ship’s tenders is not for the faint-hearted. Some passengers opt to stay on board but those prepared to take the leap – literally, with the help of the crew – are rewarded with a day of sightseeing and shopping. However, those who remain on board can listen to the captain giving talks on sailing ships and techniques, or join knot-tying sessions, deck-top yoga and fitness sessions.The sports crew offers the chance to try complimentary kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding. Expansive teak decks offer two small swimming pools filled with sea water, while the décor is reminiscent of the grand age of sail – all gleaming mahogany rails and brass and paintings of racing ships.An open-seating dining room allows guests to socialise together as the cruise goes on, while the indoor-outdoor bar and Edwardian-style library offers plenty of options for inclement weather or simple quiet time. But as the night falls and the ship lights up, everyone safely back on board, it’s time to eat, drink and partake in the much-anticipated passengers and crew talent show. A world away from the slick productions seen on the biggest cruise lines, this one has the crew showing off their best magic tricks and musical numbers, culminating with an all- singing and dancing rendition of PSY’s Gangnam Style to much hilarity.Then the guests find their sea legs for a disco on the deck, now at a distinctly jaunty angle thanks to us having set sail. It is possible to find a quiet spot on the top deck, where all is calm, and I listen to the ship as she slices through the waves. It’s so peaceful that one guest asks the captain if we’re actually moving, to which he replies:“Of course we’re moving. Six knots! She is not a rocket!” Overnight, we travel 68.4 nautical miles to Ponza, the tiny but largest island of the Italian Pontine Islands archipelago, just in time for the sun to return.
The fishing village is a popular summer holiday destination for Italians, as Rome and Naples are only a short drive and ferry ride away. Known as ‘Capri without the tourists’, it is characterized by steep white cliffs and crystalline water.
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Photo: Star Clippers/PA.
With a population of around 3,500, Ponza remains fairly quiet for most of the year and maintains a small-town atmosphere.
We take a few hours to relax off the ship before heading back in time for sailaway at 3pm.The wind has picked up and, as it’s the last full day of the cruise, the word goes out that the captain will allow guests to take to the tenders to photograph Star Clipper under full sail.Armed with our cameras, we watch the extraordinary sight of the crew hoisting all 16 sails up the ship’s four masts.The wind by now is presenting ideal sailing conditions, the anchor comes up and she’s off, picking up speed and keeling gently into the wind. She is slowed to allow us back safely on board, where the gusty wind and warm sun make way for a glorious sunset. Guests are encouraged to lie in the bowsprit net suspended above the sea and try to spot dolphins and to climb the 32 rungs to the crow’s nest, secured by a safety harness, although the wind by now is so brisk that we miss the opportunity.
Not that it matters, as the experience of sitting on the deck as the sun goes down, nothing but the sound of the wind and the sails and the gulls overhead to interrupt the endless expanse of blue sea ahead, is exciting enough.
Rum punch in hand, I stay on deck until dark with the wind blowing in my face, absorbing the beauty of tall ship travel, a newly-converted sailing enthusiast.
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How to plan your trip
A seven-night Rome round-trip on Star Clipper costs from £1,632pp (two sharing). Multiple departure dates from May-October 2023. Price includes 10% Early Booking Discount, valid on bookings made until January 31, 2023.Visit starclippers.co.uk or call 0845 200 6145.
Photo: Josie Clarke/PA.
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Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Offers in excess of: £1,650,000
A truly unique property situated in a rural location just half a mile from Hartley Wintney village centre., this property offers exquisite accommodation in excess of 2,800 sq. ft. and is set on a plot of 0.42 of an acre. Finished to a very high standard inside and further benefiting from stunning landscaped grounds. EPC D (68) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Text • Text • Text • Grounds of c. 0.42 of an acre • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Circa 2,800 sq. ft. •
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,800,000
• Around 3,600 sq. ft. • 6 Bedrooms • Beautiful Grounds c. ¾ of an acre •
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This impressive family home which offers in excess of 3,600 sq. ft. of accommodation sits on a plot approaching three quarters of an acre, set in a desirable non-estate location within easy access of schools, leisure facilities, town centre and transport links including Fleet mainline railway station. This is an impressive six bedroom family home in a desirable non-estate location within easy access of local schools. EPC C (73) Telephone 01252 620640
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,450,000 - SOLD GOING TO PRESS - multiple viewings, sale agreed
• Prime Location • Stunning Kitchen • Beautiful Grounds c. ¼ of an acre •
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A well-presented detached family home occupying a mature plot measuring in excess of 1/4 of an acre and situated in the heart of Fleet’s Blue Triangle. The property is offered for sale in excellent decorative order and has undergone much improvement internally. The current owners have also extended the property to give well balanced accommodation over two floors, with a recent ground floor extension to the kitchen/dining room. EPC D (68) Telephone 01252 620640
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Enola Holmes
Photo:Alex Bailey/Netflix ©2022.
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Millie Bobby Brown returns as the fierce and fiery Enola Holmes in ‘dream come true’ Netflix sequel
By Rachael Davis, PA Entertainment Features Writer
Follow in her brother Sherlock’s footsteps as one of London’s finest detectives. Of course, she doesn’t yet have the contact book and reputation of her older brother, and many won’t take her seriously thanks to her age and gender, but nonetheless we join Millie Bobby Brown’s Enola in Enola Holmes 2 as she receives her first case. Enola is approached by a young working class girl who has lost her sister, last seen at the match factory where she – and lots of other girls like her – worked. Soon enough, it becomes clear that the case bestowed on Enola is much bigger than one missing girl – it’s a tale set amidst the Match Girls’ Strike of 1888, one of the most significant events in the evolution of workers’ rights, and women’s empowerment. “The first film had been set around the Great Reform Act, the battle for the vote,” explains director Harry Bradbeer, “so we wanted to have another historical event that was relevant. “Having the first film being about the constitution, we wanted the next film to be about industry,and the struggle and the exploitation of working rights. “We knew that Enola was going to travel into London, that was where we left her, and that she was going to find a dirty and a more difficult world. And I love the idea of her interacting with girls of her own age, but from a completely different background.” Thus, the idea for setting the film around the Match Girls’ Strike was born, because the strike was “a story of sisterhood, and of bravery, and the need to collaborate”. “At the end of it,you have a strike which involved women gathering together and finding the courage to stand side by side, and risk their livelihoods for a better future,” says Bradbeer, who’s also known for his work on Killing Eve and Fleabag.
“That felt like a natural progression of the suffragette and emancipation story we told in the first.”
For star and producer Millie Bobby Brown, returning to the role
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Photo:Alex Bailey/Netflix ©2022.
of Enola was “really easy” because, she says, “we are both very similar – quite dry and brutally honest … Enola feels like I’m coming back to a place of normality and consistency”. I think we also both learn a lot from each other,” the 18-year-old Stranger Things star adds. “It becomes a fun part of my job because I can implement flaws that I think are flaws in my personality and put that into her. I can also put things that I think are good about me. I really like making Enola quite emotional, but headstrong as well, and can detach when she needs to, which is a strength that I have.
“So I love mixing the both of us together. I think we’re both very similar and it makes it very easy.”
Henry Cavill, who has just announced his return as Superman, reprises the role of Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes 2. Audiences are once again treated to a more emotional portrayal of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character, as the sequel digs deeper underneath the skin of the detective and his budding professional relationship with his younger sister.“For me, it was a joy to come back,” says Cavill, 39. “I’ve always approached Sherlock as a support character for Enola’s story and for Millie’s performance. In the first movie, we definitely have Sherlock being the wiser of the two and more of the guide, and in this second movie the roles are reversed. And I like the way that’s shown, it’s not shown in an unrealistic way.Very often the younger siblings can be the wiser of a pair.” The biggest thing the fiercely independent Sherlock learns in the sequel, Cavill says, is “that he doesn’t have to do everything all by himself … as much as he may be capable of it”. Enola Holmes 2 sees the blossoming of Enola’s romance with theViscount Tewkesbury, played by Louis Partridge, who was pivotal in passing the Reform Act in the first film. Refreshingly, the romance remains a subplot, never detracting from Enola’s work as a detective or her heroism in the story.“It’s easy for her to say, well, I don’t need a man, and leave it; the fact is that whatever our strengths and ambitions, we are still prone to love,” says Bradbeer. “Most of us, we still want to make connections. And the toughest thing is to be able to have a relationship and still keep your own individual identity, power, self assurance. So that was the challenge. It was just a question of doing it without compromising our themes and our principles.”
“In many romance films, the man or the woman is searching for a partner, they find that partner and all of a sudden the character arcs and the romance is the real pivotal moment of the film,” adds Brown.
“But really, in this film, in the way that Harry directed and wrote it and made it happen, and the way Louis performed it, is that really Tewkesbury is an addition to Enola’s life, but doesn’t change the part of the story.
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Photo:Alex Bailey/Netflix ©2022.
“I think that’s a really important message to show girls, that you can have allies along your journey, you could have romantic interests, you can have platonic interests. But either way, you will go on this journey and path on your own.”
This sequel is permeated with the theme of sisterhood and of women rising up against injustice, which is both inspiring and, Brown says, a pertinent reminder of how women across the world are still facing a fight for their rights.
“Women have been fighting for their rights, their equal rights, their workers’ rights,” the star says.
“We don’t realise how much women do: they’re mothers, they’re wives, they’re homemakers, they also have dreams and ambitions.And luckily, in this day and age, we get to have opportunities that are far better than the 1800s.
“But we still struggle with them.There are still stigmas and standards and hurdles that we must leap.
“I think it’s really important to remember that we can find camaraderie within each other, a kindred spirit that we can connect with, and sisterhood – which is the message of the film, I think.
“Meaningful stories like that can reach broader audiences, especially with Netflix, and to be able to be a part of that is a dream come true.”
Enola Holmes 2 is on Netflix now.
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Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £1,650,000 )
A unique detached property, designed and built by the current owners circa 2007, situated in one of Fleet’s most prestigious tree lined roads within the Blue Triangle. Internally the property benefits from a wealth of luxury fixtures and fittings and is nestled in a mature landscaped plot approaching 0.4 of an acre. EPC B (80) Telephone 01252 620640
• Text • Text • Text • Grounds of c. 0.4 of an acre • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Exquisite Interior •
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Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £900,000 to £950,000
Constructed to a high standard by Bewley Homes in 2016, this detached family home offers superb accommodation and is situated within a short walk of Hartley Wintney village centre and schools. The property presents four excellently proportioned bedrooms with the principal bedroom having a balcony, 4-piece en-suite and walk-in closet, as well as a wall of built-in wardrobes. Bedroom two also offers an en-suite shower room. EPC B (85) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Elegant living space • Superb Kitchen • Short Walk of Hartley Wintney Village •
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,150,000
A four double bedroom 1920’s built family home with accommodation in excess of 2,500 sq. ft. This handsome property sits on a generous corner plot in a desirable residential area of Fleet. The property is located close to Fleet mainline railway station, town centre and Fleet Pond Nature Reserve. EPC D (62) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Generous Kitchen / Breakfast Room • 4 Bedrooms • Around 2,500 sq. ft. •
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Crookham Village, Hampshire Guide: £795,000
A delightful Grade ll listed cottage with a wealth of character features, constructed circa 1600 and situated in the heart of Crookham Village.The 130ft rear garden backs onto fields, and features a summer house and studio/store (currently used as an office). EPC D (55) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Text • Text • Text • Beautifully Presented • Superb Kitchen/Diner • Wonderful Garden•
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Timber Stables, Mobile & Fixed Field Shelters and American Barns - designed to withstand the rigours of equine life and trusted by generations of horse owners.
CHARTSTABLES.CO.UK
01233 611123
Garages, Carriage House, Carports and Workshops - designed to sit perfectly in rural and contemporary settings. Available as a kit or fully installed.
CHARTGARAGES.CO.UK
01233 229898
Garden Rooms, Summer Houses, Pavilions and Gazebos - timber garden retreats, for outdoor dining, quiet contemplation and family enjoyment.
CHARTGARDENBUILDINGS.CO.UK
01233 229898
North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £1,400,000
• Prime Location • Stunning Kitchen • Beautiful Grounds •
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Situated within the sought-after village of North Warnborough, Strete Farm is a delightful Grade II listed, detached family home.The property has been sympathetically updated and extended by the current owners to a high standard, whilst retaining a wealth of character and charm. Offering five bedrooms, kitchen/breakfast/family room, three further reception rooms, two bathrooms, utility room, garden and driveway parking. No onward chain . Telephone 01256 704851
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These winter plants will help attract wildlife to your garden
By Hannah Stephenson, PA
As autumn creeps into winter, you’ll likely start seeing less wildlife activity in your garden – but it’s a time when many visitors, including birds, small mammals and some insects, need us most.
“Plants are the bedrock of a wildlife-friendly garden, and that includes throughout the winter, despite many being reduced to their skeleton,” says Adrian Thomas, gardening expert at the RSPB (rspb.org.uk) wildlife gardening expert.
“There are two key benefits that plants offer: cover and food. Getting through the long, cold nights is challenging for garden birds, so plants that offer dense safe cover will allow them to snooze safely out of the elements, saving valuable energy. Evergreens such as holly and ivy are ideal.” When it comes to plants providing food,Thomas adds:“An easy starting point are the plants that offer food that we can easily see, such as berries and winter flowers. Garden trees that will often hang on to their fruits well into winter include various rowans, such as Sorbus vilmorinii and ornamental crab apples, while ivy berries continue to ripen sequentially through winter and are rich in fat. In terms of winter nectar and pollen for insects such as bumblebees that may be on the wing in warm winter spells, winter honeysuckle, winter- flowering cherry and mahonia are good choices,” he continues.“And you’d be amazed what titbits birds will continue to find in deciduous hedges and trees, food such as moth eggs, so try to delay hedge cutting and tree pruning until the tail end of winter.” Wildlife-friendly plants - As well as the many plants which produce berries for birds, including cotoneaster, pyracantha, berberis and yew, make sure you plant species where the berries should last beyond Christmas, such as skimmia and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus). Fieldfares and other birds may visit gardens to feed on windfall apples when it’s really cold. While ivy remains the bane of some gardeners’ lives, its berries are a valuable source of nutrition for birds in late winter and early spring, when food is scarce. It has been said that one bundle of ivy berries has nearly the same amount of calories as a bar of chocolate, gram for gram.
Adult red admiral butterflies feed on nectar-rich plants such as Verbena bonariensis, which is still visibly in flower in many gardens at this time of year, while the caterpillars eat leaves of the common nettle. Native plants including crab apple, elder and birch also create natural food supplies for birds over the winter, the RSPB suggests. Shrubs - Winter shrubs including Viburnum x bodnantense, Lonicera fragrantissima and Christmas box (Sarcococca hookeriana) not only provide food and shelter for wildlife, but also give off the most amazing scent. Seedheads - “Think about the value that comes from leaving the seedheads of herbaceous plants standing through winter, everything from lavenders to Verbena bonariensis, rudbeckias and sedums.They’ll look great in frost and will harbour insects and seeds,” says Thomas. Leave architectural seedheads such as teasels for seed-eating birds, including chaffinches and goldfinches, which use their thin beaks to extract ripe seeds from the spent flowerheads for food. Bulbs - There’s still time to plant late winter and early spring-flowering bulbs including snowdrops and crocuses, which may prove a magnet for any bees venturing out during late winter sunshine. Other small bulbs which are tempting for wildlife include scilla and chionodoxa. In pots - If you have a small garden, pollinating insects will head hungrily
Photo: Alamy/PA.
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Photo: Alamy/PA.
to your nectar-rich container plants in late winter and early spring.The nodding heads of hellebores, which appear at that time, not only provide a subtle hue to any arrangement, but are also a good food source for emerging queen bumblebees. Winter-flowering heathers such as Erica carnea ‘Winter Snow’ are among the hardiest of dwarf evergreen shrubs and are ideal for brightening up winter containers, as well as being a magnet for early-flying bumble bees Hedging - Hedges make great shelter and provide food for birds, and now is a great time to plant species such as yew and hawthorn, before the ground gets too hard.You’ll save money by opting for bare-rooted hedging or rootballed trees and shrubs, says the RSPB. Lawns - You may think they’ve gone out of fashion, but in late autumn and early winter, lawns can be invaluable to blackbirds and song thrushes, who venture on to your grass in search of leatherjackets (the larvae of craneflies), earth worms and fallen fruit, the RSPB adds. Longer grass provides shelter and egg-laying opportunities for the insects on which birds and other wildlife feed Consider leaving the dandelions in your lawn, which provide nectar and pollen in late winter and early spring, when queen bumblebees are coming out of hibernation. Think about the future Looking ahead, shrubs like honeysuckle, lavender and ivy can all be planted in autumn and are ideal for providing food and coverage for birds, insects and other wildlife, according to specialists The Greenhouse People (greenhousepeople.co.uk). Some bee varieties can still be seen around your garden in autumn, as they prepare to enter their hibernation phase in winter.Autumn flowering plants which provide a great source of pollen when food supplies are tougher to come by include Japanese anemones, red cauli and crocosmia, which are still blooming in a warm autumn
Photo: Alamy/PA.
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,795,000
A highly individual property on a grand scale, in grounds of around 1.4 acres.The property is currently divided into two separate areas of habitation with the potential of being combined into one extensive family home, subject to any planning requirements. .There is a former stable block which is now a high specification office suite
generating an income from a tenant. EPC A (92) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Almost 1.4 Acres • Around 5,800 sq. ft. • Detached Office Suite •
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Fleet(Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £1,750,000 (SOLD / EXCHANGE GOING TO PRESS)
• Sought After Location • Five Bedrooms • Tree Fringed Grounds •
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A most impressive family home that has been modernised and extended by a local prestigious developer, while sympathetically maintaining the character of this 90-year-old home built originally by the renowned builder Pool and Son. The property occupies a mature plot measuring approx. 0.6 of an acre. The property has many new features including a new roof, new plumbing throughout, including new boiler system, underfloor heating to most rooms and five new en-suites to all bedrooms. EPC C (71) – Telephone 01252 620640
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Baby seals back in Lincolnshire as pupping season returns
By Danielle Desouza, PA
Baby grey seals are back on the Lincolnshire coast as pupping season returns.
The mammals were born at Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in the East Midlands county, which regularly witnesses the birth of baby seals – or pups – from late October to December.
Many stayed close to their mothers as visitors went to get a glimpse, with one seemingly being cradled by its parent.
A pup was also seen sharing a tender moment with its mother, with the pair’s faces inches from each other and the pup appearing to have a slight smile.
Expectant seals tend to return to Donna Nook annually to give birth near the sand dunes.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust said there are 47 pups at the Lincolnshire reserve, with 11 visible from a viewing area.
On October 27, it said the first pup was born at Donna Nook but could not be seen.
The local wildlife conservation charity has an ongoing ‘seal appeal’ to protect grey seals in Lincolnshire. More information can be found at lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update
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Upton Grey, Hampshire Guide: £499,950(SOLD GOING TO PRESS)
Situated within the sought-after village of Upton Grey, Byways Cottage is a semi-detached period cottage which has been maintained to a high standard by the current owners. Benefits to this property include; two bedrooms, two reception rooms, kitchen, bathroom and externally; south-east facing rear garden and a secluded location next to St Mary’s church. EPC F (38) – Telephone 01256 704851
• Four Bedrooms • Two Bathrooms • Exquisite Interior •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 47
Photo: Bentley/PA.
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Photo: Bentley/PA.
First Drive: Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid
By Jack Evans, PA Motoring Reporter
WHAT IS IT?
B entley and big engines have a history that goes back decades. Even today, Bentley’s V8 and W12 engines form a key part of its engine range, delivering that luxurious performance many buyers are after. But even Bentley has to acknowledge the future of motoring is electrification, which is why the Crewe outfit is continuing to explore alternatives. Following in the wake of the Bentayga Hybrid comes the Flying Spur Hybrid – a version of Bentley’s luxury saloon outfitted with a fuel-sipping petrol-electric setup. But can it deliver the kind of sumptuous experience Flying Spur customers are traditionally after?
WHAT’S NEW?
From the outside at least,this Flying Spur gives away very little about its hybrid underpinnings. Sure, there are some small ‘Hybrid’ badges on the flanks, but it’s a car that doesn’t shout loudly about its electrical assistance. Inside, you’ve got the same ultra-luxurious cabin as you’d find on the regular Spur, albeit with a few hybrid-specific driving mode buttons. The Flying Spur, despite its switch in powertrain, still has a firm focus on comfort and refinement. This new Hybrid version, it should be mentioned, doesn’t replace existing petrol-powered versions but acts as an addition to the range for now.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?
With its promise of being the ‘most environmentally friendly Bentley to date’, the Flying Spur comes complete with a 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine, which is then linked to 100kW electric motor. Combined, you get 536bhp and 750Nm of torque, with zero to 60mph taking 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 177mph possible if you have the space and ability to do so.
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 49
Photo: Bentley/PA.
But thanks to an 18kWh battery, the Flying Spur Hybrid will also manage over 25 miles on electric power alone – and after a full charge (which takes two-and-a-half hours on a rapid charger), we saw around 30 miles in the electric tank. Bentley also claims up to 85.6mpg combined and impressively low CO2 emissions of 75g/km.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
The ability to drive on electric power alone only elevates the quiet experience you get from the Flying Spur. It can be used at motorway speeds too, but we found the EV power was best saved for around town, where it makes the Flying Spur even more relaxing to drive. But this hybrid engine definitely isn’t lacking in performance. In fact, with that battery fully topped up, there’s some real zip away from the line, with the petrol engine chiming in when more performance is required. But it’s all extremely well calibrated together – there’s very little to showcase the transition from electric to petrol power – and once the electric energy is fully depleted, you’re still left with a very refined V6 engine.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
As mentioned, there’s not an awful lot to distinguish the Hybrid from the rest of the Flying Spur range.You’ve got an extra
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filler cap to cover the charging point, of course, while oval exhaust pipes are another tell-tale feature of these battery- assisted versions. But, in truth, this approach works well for the Flying Spur.The only real flag came from pedestrians, who look at this more than five-metre-long saloon and wonder why it’s moving without making any noise.
Our test car came in a particularly striking green shade with contrast orange sections, though as with any Bentley, there are loads of exterior colours and trim pieces to choose from.
WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?
The cabin remains as exquisitely fashioned as you’d expect a car from this brand to be.There are some clear aspects that come from Bentley’s Volkswagen Group owners – the steering wheel buttons being the most noticeable – but everything is well fitted together and easy to access.Those sitting in the rear can enjoy loads of legroom too, alongside independent seat adjustment controls and motorised fold-out tables. In terms of boot space, the Flying Spur Hybrid offers 351 litres.That’s considerably down on the 420 litres you’d get in the petrol-powered Spur and much of the Hybrid’s boot is taken up by the charging cables. Having said that, you’re most likely to leave the large three-pin connector at home rather than carting it around with you, so this does free up more luggage space...
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Photo: Bentley/PA.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
Our particular Flying Spur Hybrid came in at £168,300,accompanied by that aforementioned British Racing Green paintwork alongside 22-inch wheels and a dual-tone cabin finished in tan and exterior-mirroring green leather. Some options had been added, including Bentley’s rotating display which, though awfully secret spy-esque, comes with a £4,865 price-tag.
The level of fit-and-finish you get feels more than up to the standard you’d expect from a car this price, with the quality of screens and displays right up there with some of the best around.
VERDICT
The Flying Spur Hybrid is a really compelling example of why the future doesn’t have to be bleak for big-engined Bentleys. It’s got the kind of performance that you’d expect from a car of this type, while its ability to travel on electric-only power means that the refinement levels are taken up a notch over the petrol version.
It’s a shame that this transition in powertrain has dented boot space considerably, but in all other areas this is one impressive plug-in hybrid.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Price as tested: £168,300
Engine: 2.9-litre V6 petrol with electric motor and battery
Power: 536bhp Torque: 760Nm
0-60mph: 4.1 seconds Top speed: 177mph
Economy: 85.6mpg
Emissions: 75g/km CO2
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North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £870,000
This charming, well presented four-bedroom character property sits in a desirable village.This property has been sympathetically updated and extended by the current owners whilst retaining many of its period features including exposed beams and brickwork, sash windows and fireplaces. Benefits to the property include; four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen/breakfast/family room, three reception rooms, utility room and externally a
lovely garden, driveway parking and a garage. EPC D (68) - Telephone 01256 704851
• Four Bedrooms • Two Bathrooms • Exquisite Interior •
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Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire (SOLD IN EXCESS OF GUIDE) Guide: offers in excess of £1,000,000 This handsome neo-Georgian double fronted family home is centrally located for both Fleet town centre and mainline railway station.The property offers generously proportioned accommodation to the ground floor with a triple aspect living room measuring 26ft in length and French style doors to the garden.To the rear of the house is a large kitchen/ breakfast/dining room with access to the garden making it an ideal entertaining space.To the first floor are the four double bedrooms and family bathroom.There is the added benefit of a dressing room adjacent to bedroom three. EPC C (74) – Telephone 01252 620640
• Four Bedrooms • Kitchen / Breakfast Room • Sought After Location •
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Melissa Thompson’s ginger beer prawns recipe
Method:
1. Remove the heads and shells of the prawns, leaving on the tail sections. (You can also use shelled prawns, as long as they are raw.) Mix in a bowl with the garlic, ginger and some pepper and leave for 30 minutes.
By Prudence Wade, PA “My idea for this dish came from Japanese tempura: the sweet prawns encased in a light, crispy batter is a dream combination,” says Melissa Thompson. “While tempura calls for soda water, ginger beer is a great alternative. It brings both delicate flavour and sweetness, while the bubbles make the batter as light as air.” Ginger beer prawns Ingredients: (Serves 4 as a starter) 16–24 shell-on raw king prawns 1 garlic clove, crushed 2.5cm piece of ginger, finely grated vegetable oil, for deep-frying
2. Pour oil into a medium-sized saucepan, following all the usual precautions for deep-frying and heating to 180°C.
3. Mix the flours in a bowl and pour in the ginger beer. Stir loosely, as vigorous mixing will get rid of the bubbles you want to keep; don’t worry if there are some lumps. 4. Just before cooking, season the prawns with a good pinch of salt. Holding a prawn by the tail, dip into the batter, then drop into the hot oil. Cook until the batter puffs up, about two minutes. Repeat to cook all the prawns, frying them in small batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. 5. Drain on a wire rack placed over kitchen paper, not directly on kitchen paper or the batter will go soggy, and serve with a squeeze of lime.
50g cornflour 50g plain flour
120ml ice-cold ginger beer (not diet) Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Lime wedges, to serve
Motherland by Melissa Thompson is published by Bloomsbury Publishing, priced £26. Photography by Patricia Niven.Available now.
Photo: Patricia Niven/PA.
Photo: Patricia Niven/PA.
www.mccarthyholden.co.uk
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 55
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