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10 days to go before the first ever Witney Festival of Food and Drink

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There are less than 10 days to go before the first ever Witney Festival of Food and Drink, takes place in and around St. Mary’s Church, Church Green, at the heart of the historic wool town of Witney, Oxfordshire on Saturday, May 18th 2013, from 9.30am to 5.00pm. The festival will be opened at 10.00am by the well known comedian and television presenter, Alexander Armstrong.

There is an up to the minute festival web site www.witneyfoodfestival.co.uk for all the information needed about the stalls, programme of events and visitor information.

As well as over forty stalls from which to taste and buy local food and drink, there will be food related talks by, amongst others, restaurateur and head of the government’s school food plan, Henry Dimbleby and cookery demonstrations by some of our fabulous exhibitors as well as the Ravenous Rector, St. Mary’s own Toby Wright.  Tickets for all the demonstrations are currently available to purchase either from local outlets (see the website) or on the day. Talks are free to attend and are not ticketed.

Since first coming up with the idea of a local food and drink festival, the festival co-ordinator Elpie Lewis, has been amazed and delighted by the number of local farmers, producers, retailers and businesses that have come on board.  “We now have over forty stalls and four major sponsors.  We have had a level of support and enthusiasm that we could never have imagined possible in our first year” says Elpie Lewis.  Chris Keating of the local Wychwood Brewery said, “It is the type of event that Witney should have had years ago”.

The aim of the festival is to celebrate and showcase local producers, including farmers, butchers, bakers, brewers and cooks, to promote the abundance of high-quality food and drink produced in our area and to support local growers and producers in very challenging times when the provenance of our food is more important than ever.

For more information on Alexander Armstong, Henry Dimbleby, Toby Wright (aka the Ravenous Rector) and all the festival participants please refer to our web site www.witneyfoodfestival.co.uk or contact: Elpie Lewis

Tel:  01993 703070

Inspiration, camaraderie, sunshine and smiles at the inaugural She Runs Windsor 10K

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The bank holiday weekend saw the happening of the inaugural She Runs Windsor 10K & Expotique in Windsor’s Great Park, with a great friendly vibe in the air all weekend and lots of happy runners crossing the finish line on the Long Walk yesterday.

Sarah Wilkins from Reading AC took the lead as soon as the start horn went off and clearly dominated the field, finishing in a time of 0:41:59. Anna Bartlett came second in a time of 0:42:17 whilst Helen Preedy, who is part of the Sports Development Team at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, took third place in 0:42:20. Full results are available on www.sherunswindsor.com .

A total of 1247 runners crossed the finish line on Bank Holiday Monday (6th May), with more than a quarter saying that She Runs Windsor had inspired them to run and get active, and that it was the first race they had ever signed up to and taken part in. More than 340 runners and walkers were raising money for Cancer Research UK, the Official Event Charity.

Prizes for the top three runners included a specially commissioned hand turned bowl from the ancient oaks at Windsor Great Park, a pair of sports earphones from the Yurbuds Inspire for Women range, a Shock Absorber sports bra, a Halo Headband and a pair of CEP compression socks.

The race was started by The Worshipful the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Councillor Rayner, The Mayoress and Miss International Great Britain Zara Ramsay Nortley.

Shauna Buffington, VP for Competitor Group Europe, commented: “I would like to extend massive congratulations to all the women who ran the 10K today. It was a stunning day in Windsor Great Park and we are appreciative of the crowds who joined us to support the event in its inaugural year. The atmosphere all weekend was fabulous and very inspiring.  It was clear that many people achieved something meaningful by taking part and by conquering their own personal challenges.

“The idea behind She Runs Windsor was to put on an event that was open to female runners and walkers of all ages and from all walks of life, and I think we can say that we truly achieved that. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2014 and will announce details of next year’s race shortly. A big thank you also to the volunteer teams from the local Scout and ATC Groups, and to everyone who came to the Great Park to cheer on the runners.”

The Free Fitness Funday which ran alongside the Expotiquer on Sunday, saw fitness demonstrations from Intelligent Running, Just Jhoom!, The Fit Body Formula, Five Star Fitness and Box Bell Fit. A range of specialist retailers were exhibiting in the EXPOtique which featured the Fit Me, Treat Me, Inspire Me and Buy Me areas as well as the Teapigs Organic Matcha Tea Bar, the Clif Bar Sports Nutrition Bar and the Macdonald Windsor Hotel Bubble and Cupcake Bar.

CEP was the main sponsor of the event whilst event partners included Clif Bar, Yurbuds, Halo Headband UK, teapigs, Shock Absorber, Vita Coco, Cliff Roe Sports, Macdonald Windsor Hotel and The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Please go to www.sherunswindsor.com for the full results, photos and further details, like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/SheRunsWindsor and follow She Runs Windsor on Twitter @SheRunsWindsor . The date and registration details for She Runs Windsor 2014 will be announced shortly.

Print KDA_0543 She Runs Windsor 2013 finish She Runs Windsor running crowd on Long Walk Happy Cancer Research UK runner KDA_0469 Top three podium_She Runs Windsor 2013

Cotswold Wildlife Park welcomes baby Colobus Monkey

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The tiny primate, named Alan, was recently born to parents Kasaka and first-time mother Bez and is only the second of this particular species to be born at the Park. Last year, Kasaka fathered his first baby, Christopher, who is keeping a watchful eye on the youngster as he finds his feet.

Born completely white, these primates do not take on the more familiar colouration of the adults until they are around three months old.  Jamie Craig, Curator of Cotswold Wildlife Park, said: “The group now has two playful infants to keep an eye on as they make the most of the warm spring weather. All adults take a role in babysitting and luckily, Kasaka is a very patient dad!”

Like all primates, they are highly social animals. They live in family groups composed of a dominant male, several females, and their young. The female Colobus Monkey usually announces that she is ready to mate by tongue smacking. Females give birth to a single offspring approximately every twenty months. In the wild, males leave their birth groups before they are fully mature, either by choice or by force, and live alone or in small bachelor groups. Some will eventually take over a harem of their own. Each group has its own territory in the tree canopy that is well defined and defended.

Additional information:

  • The word ‘colobus’ is derived from the Greek ‘kolobus’ meaning ‘mutilated one’ and refers to the colobines’ thumb, which is little more than a short stub.
  • Native to Africa, the Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys (Colobus guereza) are the most arboreal of African primates and run on all fours along familiar routes through branches.
  • They take turns sleeping at night so that one member of the troop is always awake and watching for predators.
  • Males defend their group and territory from others with roars, tongue-clicks, chases, and an unusual stiff-legged display.
  • Both native people and westerners wear the coats of these primates. One form of Red Colobus (Piliocolbus badius waldronae) was hunted to near-extinction by the middle of the 20th century.
  • The baby was named after employee Alan Price, who has been working at Cotswold Wildlife Park since 1997. This particular species of Colobus Monkey are his favourite.

Cotswold Wildlife Park opens its doors at 10am every day†, with last admission at 4.30pm††- ENDS – For further information, please contact Debbie Ryan, Press Officer, Cotswold Wildlife Park on 07787 133837 or email ryan.debbie@gmail.com. †Except Christmas Day ††3.30pm during winter months.

monkey

WWW.COTSWOLDWILDLIFEPARK.CO.UK

@CotsWildTweets www.facebook.com/cotswoldwildlifepark

Sponsors and event partners announced for She Runs Windsor 10K & EXPOtique

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Competitor UK, a leading active lifestyle sports media and event entertainment company and organiser of the She Runs Windsor 10K and EXPOtique, has announced some high profile sponsors and partners for the event which takes place on 5th and 6th May 2013 in Windsor’s Great Park.

With a 2 day EXPOtique and a Free Fitness Funday on Sunday 5th May the event is aimed at women from all walks of life who like to keep fit as well as their families and friends, with entry to the EXPOtique free for everyone.

Shauna Buffington, VP for Competitor Group Europe, commented: “She Runs Windsor is a unique event in our sports portfolio, and one that I feel very passionate about. At Competitor Group women are at our core, accounting for over 60% participation in our US events. We are delighted to announce some fantastic sponsors and event partners with a like minded commitment to sport, fitness and wellbeing which take this event to the next level.”

CEP has been announced as a main sponsor whilst event partners for the She Runs Windsor 10K & EXPOtique include Clif Bar, Yurbuds, Halo Headband UK, teapigs, Shock Absorber, Vita Coco, Cliff Roe Sports, Macdonald Windsor Hotel and The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

A unique media structure is in place too with running fitness, Women’s Fitness, Health & Fitness, Running4women, DIVA and Round & About Magazine featuring as media partners for the event.

Places to the inaugural She Runs Windsor 10K on 6th May are still available with runners, PB chasers and walkers welcome. Anyone wishing to take part should go to www.sherunswindsor.com to register and for further details, like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/SheRunsWindsor and follow She Runs Windsor on Twitter @SheRunsWindsor .

Cancer Research UK is the Official Event Charity for She Runs Windsor.

Fly-tippers and rubbish dumpers cause recycling bank rethink

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Irresponsible companies dumping business waste and a few lazy individuals fly-tipping their household waste has led to a rethink over recycling banks across the Vale.

The district council is looking at removing the large green mixed recycling bins from its bring bank sites and wants residents to voice their opinion on the matter.

The sites have become a magnet for fly-tippers.  They’re often located in public car parks and have become a local eyesore, piled high with rubbish.

When fly-tipping takes place at these sites, the recycling in the bins becomes contaminated meaning all of it has to be sent to landfill.

All of this means the Vale has decided to ask residents what they think, and if they agree with the council, the green mixed recycling banks will be removed.

At the same time the council is reminding residents that they can leave any excess recycling that won’t fit into their green wheeled bin in a clear bag or open box, next to their bin – so there is no reason why they would need to use the recycling banks.

The mixed recycling banks have already been removed from a few sites at the request of the land owners.  This has put an end to fly-tipping at these sites and has not led to any complaints, nor has the council noticed an increase in fly-tipping elsewhere.

Cllr Reg Waite, cabinet member for waste at the Vale of White Horse District Council said: “It is a real shame that we’ve been forced to consider this course of action.  Many of our residents are keen recyclers and use these bins in good faith. Sadly some businesses and individuals are ruining it for everybody.  Thankfully, there are plenty of other recycling options and I would urge everybody to leave their extra recycling next to their green bin for collecting at the kerbside.”

The council has no plans to remove the charity containers that sit alongside the green bins.  These will remain in place.

We would like residents to tell us what they think by emailing comments to waste.team@southandvale.gov.uk before 3 May.