Letters to the Editor January 2023

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27 January 2023

Want to reply? Read something you feel needs commenting on? Our postbag is open! Please send emails to [email protected].
When writing, please include your full name and address; we will not print this, but do require it.

But first, this month’s Letter from the Editor…

Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year? When does it stop being appropriate and become just awkwardly late?
Well, probably about now, but it’s our first issue of the year and I’ve not seen you yet – so Happy New Year!
We had a wonderfully packed house over Christmas and New Year. It’s astonishing how full it feels when you have four children and they all turn into adult-sized human beans when you’re not looking. Then one gets himself a wife, some of them bring a friend or two over and before you know it you’re making toasted sandwiches for 12 while vociferously defending your position that cheese has no place in a hot tuna sandwich (and yes, in the interests of science I tried it and will now acknowledge that my previous position may have been foolish. I have, in fact, wasted the 20 years since I discovered toasted tuna by not having melted cheese in it).
Thanks to a small … hiccup … in editorial organisation (ahem) there’s no Random 19 or Dorset Island Discs in this issue – apologies, I know they’re popular. Instead may I suggest that you spend some time on the solar farm debate with Rupert Hardy, and mosey through some of the columns you might usually flick past (I know, I do it too. But trust me – every single page has earned its place, and is worth a few minutes of your time. Jane’s wildlife column deserves to be read slowly. Charlotte (flowers) always makes me laugh, Andrew (farming) makes me think. Roger Guttridge always has a good story. Tracie and Courtenay manage to combine words and pictures perfectly every month in A Country Living. Readers photos are a joy.
I know that everywhere we look right now there seems worry, despair, gloom and uncertainty. And a bill that needs paying. Except here in the BV of course – we always try to leave you feeling a little lighter and perhaps knowing something new. And we’re free, obviously.
Meanwhile, we shared a small note on social media which has been popular and I think bears repeating: It’s January. Rest. Get some fresh air. Find a new favourite show (we’d personally recommend Yellowstone if you’ve not seen it yet). Eat some chocolate. Keep cosy. Cook your favourite foods. Get yourself a big bunch of flowers. Plan some adventures.
See you in three weeks!

Why do people in Blandford have to drive fast?
Taking a few things to my car on Christmas morning, a car was coming towards me at speed. When I said to the woman who was driving ‘slow down’ I got ‘f**k off!’ back.
Charming – and on Christmas morning.
There just is no need for either.
Susan Holmes
By email

I thought It appropriate to contact your magazine in the hope that a warning note could be posted. I have just returned from walking along the North Dorset trailway towards Shillingstone station with my five-year-old Cocker Spaniel.
From a side footpath a youngish Boxer Dog appeared, stopping some 20 feet from us. A few moments later a pack of five or six dogs, including two aggressive older Boxers, chased out of the same path and went for me initially, barking and salivating, but then attacked my spaniel. The dogs were acting as a pack.
The two women who were with the dogs subsequently appeared and while trying to intervene had no impact on stopping the attack. Getting my dog out from under the two larger Boxers, we managed to walk away – we will live to fight another day, but the Spaniel is a bit shaken up.
I did tell the women concerned that the dogs were acting as a pack and should either be muzzled or at least on leads. This was met with a somewhat vacant look.
I am flagging this up not to cause trouble but to alert others. If this were a young child or a family out with their dog or puppy the outcome could be very unpleasant. I understand these women are local so a repeat of this matter is highly likely.
Name and address supplied

Do fellow North Dorset residents feel that they receive value for their Council Tax? It recently came to my attention that we have the third highest Council Tax rates in England – but do we get the third best services? I’m failing to see where all the money goes – I would welcome someone pointing me to the information?
Council tax is for our streets, lighting, rubbish, planning, policing etc.
But our streets are constantly being washed into pot holes (or, as in Sturminster Newtons case, falling into the river), there’s very little street lighting except in the towns, and there’s even less police (through no fault of their own).
But we know the government have no wish to lose votes by raising the taxes required to foot the rising social care bill, so they pass it down the line to local councils – and I presume as Dorset has an aging population our social care bill is higher than most?
At least the plentiful new housing developments springing up around the north of the county will be filling up the council tax coffers nicely – have spending budgets increased accordingly?
Robert McKenzie
Blandford

I very much enjoy Andrew Livingston’s articles, and the recent A Bugger’s Muddle (BV, Dec 22) was no exception. I had yet to see a lack of eggs in the shops, although I had seen much talk of empty shelves, and I felt perhaps it was another media frenzy over a non-existent issue (apologies BV!). Until I looked a little more closely and realised that the eggs in my trolley were from Italy, just as Andrew Livingston had predicted.
Further reading has lead me to understand that it’s not just chicken farmers who are unable to re-invest in the next cycle of egg laying hens, it is happening across a number of food industries where the producers are seeing profits squeezed not only by rising costs but also by increasing supermarket pressures.
At what point can and should the government intervene? I refuse to accept we need a ‘nanny state’ interfering – enterprise should naturally be self-regulating. But what is an industry to do when the playing field is very far from level? How can our producers – held, quite rightly, to the very highest of welfare, traceability and chemical standards – possibly compete with cheap imports from less regulated countries?
Surely if those are the standards we hold ourselves to, any product sold here should maintain the same standards? Not doing so rather makes a mockery of the system – and enforces the fact that only the wealthy can afford to eat well.
If everyone had the same standards, the prices would be the same for all?
Betty Jeans
Shaftesbury
(You may find George Hosford’s article in Farming this month even more illuminating Betty – Ed)

I was so surprised when I had a call just before Christmas telling me that I had won the Boxing Day racing prize. On Boxing Day we joined the queue of cars winding slowly through Wincanton to the racecourse. The going was good to soft – and that was just the car park! Thankfully there was a tractor on site to pull out anyone who got stuck.
We had a great day, chatting to other racegoers, cheering on the finishers – the noise in the stands when the horses are coming in to the finish is incredible. Thank you for organising the prize, it was a great day out and one we will repeat.
Pam Ferguson
By email

Above is a photo of a recent cheque presentation to the Milton Abbas Surgery. The £2,000 was raised primarily by monthly charity pub quizzes held at The Crown in Winterborne Stickland throughout 2022, the remainder being raised by a local resident who match-funded some quizzes, local donations, and the profits from local Artsreach shows.
The main aim of the fundraising was to allow the Milton Abbas Surgery to buy a second online heart monitor which transfers results directly to the patient’s records, reducing administration work by the practice staff.
This equipment is very rare in Dorset, so Milton Abbas are leading the field in detecting and recording heart issues. In the picture are (L to R) Ash Millar (landlady of the The Crown), Dr. Julian Rees (Senior Practice Partner), Sarah Noble (Practice Manager) and Graeme Gale (Quiz Organiser)
Graeme Gale
Milton Abbas

Understanding the lessons from grief

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Editorial team

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27 January 2023

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Gordon Fong looks back at a year of loss that left his family stunned – and shares what he has learned about coping when tragedy happens

It’s always good to remember, as we make it through another Christmas season, that the holidays can be a difficult time for many people. The colourful TV adverts and magazine photographs of happy family gatherings may have been the total opposite experience for some people this year. For me, this was the first Christmas without dad, who had recently passed away from a severe bleed on the brain.
Actually, if an author set out to write a story of family tragedy, they would have looked at my last year and paused, thinking ‘this is too much’. Because it wasn’t just my dad.
On the day my dad died, mum came to the hospital and told us her eldest brother had just died earlier that morning.
Two days later, I had to wake my mum to tell her that her eldest sister had just died. Within minutes we were in the car, to go and comfort that family.
Just before dad’s funeral, we visited my favourite aunty. I always remember her kind words, and it was pleasing to see her smile and hear her laughter again. However, once home, we heard she had collapsed and been rushed into the critical unit at hospital. We didn’t even have time to go home after dad’s funeral service because we needed to go and say our last goodbyes to aunty, who was waiting to be taken off breathing support.
There was to be one more sad event, for one more of my mum’s siblings. The youngest sister would lose her 12-year-old grandson to a brain tumour just two weeks later.
The whole family was just stunned and numb.
Reeling.
Five gone in such a short space of time.
Funerals were interspersed with the weddings that had been planned for so long. I learned a lot from this short period.

Be there
I saw the importance of having others around in numbers, whether visiting the hospital or the bereaved household.
I also saw patients who had no visitors whatsoever; I think that is worse.
Even families dealing with their own grief travelled to support others. Be there if you can – they can always say no.
Once dad was in his own side room, the whole family took a turn to watch over him, 24 hours a day. It was an opportunity to say what we needed to say and to help during his times of discomfort.

Don’t be quiet
Remember to talk about those you’ve lost; their good parts AND bad parts. Even joking about them helps keep their memory alive. Those conversations might bring some emotions, but when shared, I found it comforting.
Share photographs on social media or in private messages – in their turn they might bring out some unseen ones from others.
Enjoy those memories.
Try and remember that grief and a strong wave of sadness can catch you at any moment or be prompted by any situation. Something so simple as seeing their favourite drink on a supermarket shelf, as I did, or hearing a place mentioned that was a favourite family holiday destination. Turn it into a positive memory there and then, if you can.
And we all need help sometimes. Reaching out to friends, family and the many support organisations is important.
Gordon Fong is a business owner known for being a champion of Southbourne

Looking back to move forward

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Editorial team

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26 January 2023

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Reflecting on your last growing year should mean a better new season, says flower farmer Charlotte Tombs. Also … excitement as we start all over again!

New beginnings, new starts, new catalogues, new varieties, new compost, new trays, new gloves, new seed markers, new tools (it’s always their fault) … they’re all signs of one the things I love most about growing from seed. It’s another chance to try again each year. You can wipe clean all those gardening mishaps and go in with a clean slate; a new approach, a determination to do things better or differently. A bit like Groundhog Day, but with you in control (ish).
I don’t start seed sowing in earnest until February, when the natural light levels improve, but I will sow a few sweetpea seeds somewhere warm this month, and then put them in the greenhouse as soon as they germinate. I might also soak a few anemone or ranunculus corms and claws and get them to sprout, then plant them up and put them in my little zip-up greenhouse next to the back door so I can monitor the new life emerging.

Try those old seeds
I use January as a month to plan and dream … but, yes, mainly to procrastinate.
Did you know that seed, if stored correctly, only loses 10 per cent of its viability per year? You can do the maths – nine year old seed will have a 10 per cent germination rate! So never give up on an interesting old packet of seeds found in your grandparents drawer; you may just get a successful outcome, even if only partial.
If you can save seed from your own plants, that seed may well grow better for you than purchased seed, as it could have adapted to your soil type and growing conditions. This is why those self-seeded young plants in your gravel path are often so much healthier than the ones you mollycoddled last year.
So check what seeds you have left, pore over those seed catalogues, make a list of everything you want to grow, (also check with a fellow seed geek – you may be able to share or swap seed varieties, or they may have grown it before and it was a waste of space or time). Then, if you are anything like me, you’ll need to cut your list down considerably as you never have as much space as you need for your entire wishlist.

Some gardenkeeping
Use this quiet time to tidy up and organise your seed trays and pots. Use an old brush to clean out all the old soil if they are lying around outside and have been buried under a pile of leaves (like mine). Obviously we were meant to clear up, wash the trays and pots in warm soapy water and put them away for the winter – there may be slugs and snails (or their eggs) hiding, and the last thing you want is a slug chomping through your newly emerging germinating seeds.
I do love the theory, but the practice takes discipline I simply don’t possess. In my defence I don’t, however, buy new plastic pots; all gardeners have hundreds and they can be re-used time and again.

Start journalling
If you haven’t done so, think about keeping a gardening diary, or at least make notes. It really does become a very useful aid and if you have gardening geek tendencies like I do you’ll find it fascinating that last New Year’s Eve the temperature was +14ºC and this new year matched it, but two years ago on New Year’s Eve the temperatures dropped to -3ºC…
I keep a note of when I sowed a seed and when it flowered, but some gardeners go further, recording dates of germination, potting on, planting out, flowering and then when they were ripped up and another flower grown in its place.
The RHS has a great 5 year diary and you can start it at any time in the year.

Shaftesbury Business Awards -Winners 2023

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Editorial team

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26 January 2023

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Congratulations to all the winners of the Shaftesbury Business Awards 2023

Shaftesbury Business Awards -Winners 2023

Family Business

Winner – La Fleur de Lys (http://www.lafleurdelys.co.uk/)

Award Sponsor – Shaftesbury Town Council (https://www.shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk/)

New Business

Winner – Dan Pitman Media (https://danpitmanmedia.com/)

Award Sponsor – Farnfield Solicitors (https://farnfields.com/)

Cafe/Pub/Dining

Winner – The Salt Cellar (https://thesaltcellargoldhill.co.uk/)

Award Sponsor – Johnsons Stalbridge (https://www.johnsons-stalbridge.com/)

Beauty/Fashion

Winner – JLA Beauty (https://jlabeautyshaftesburyandgillingham.co.uk/)

Award Sponsor – The Grosvenor Arms Hotel (https://grosvenorarms.co.uk/)

Health & Fitness

Winner – CrossFit (https://www.crossfitshaftesbury.co.uk/)

Award Sponsor – Shaftesbury Chamber (http://www.shaftesburychamber.co.uk/)

Green Eco

Winner Coconut & Cotton (https://coconutandcotton.co.uk/)

Award Sponsor – Action Coach (https://westherts.actioncoach.co.uk/)

Customer Service

Winner – Elite Garages (https://www.elitegarages.co.uk/shaftesbury)

Award Sponsor – The Wincombe Centre (https://www.thewincombecentre.co.uk)

Retail

Winner – Willow (https://willow-natural.co.uk/)

Award Sponsor – Gavin Dixon Finance Solutions (http://www.gdfinancesolutions.co.uk/)

Young Entrepreneur

Winner – Brad Hansford (Meyers)(https://www.meyersestates.com/)

Award Sponsor – Wessex Fire & Security (https://www.wessexgroup.co.uk/wessex-fire-and-security/)

Independent

Winner – Kit & Kaboodle (https://www.kandkdorset.co.uk/)

Award Sponsor – Shaftesbury Town Council (https://www.shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk/)

Best Place To Work

Winner – Shirley Allum (https://www.shirleyallum.co.uk/)

Awards Sponsor – Action Coach (https://westherts.actioncoach.co.uk/)

Innovation

Winner – Wessex Fire & Security (https://www.wessexgroup.co.uk/wessex-fire-and-security/)

Awards Sponsor – Hub Chartered Accountants (https://hub.accountants/)

B2B Business

Winner – The Wincombe Centre (https://www.thewincombecentre.co.uk)

Awards Sponsor – Ward Goodman Chartered Accountants (https://www.wardgoodman.co.uk/)

Artisan Crafts

Winner – Golden Snowdrop (https://www.goldensnowdrop.co.uk/)

Awards Sponsor – Marketing West (https://www.marketingwest.co.uk/)

Digital

Winner – Woodfrys Farm (https://www.woodfrysfarm.co.uk/)

Awards Sponsor – Dorset Tech (https://dorset.tech/)

Overall Business of the Year

Winner – Shirley Allum (https://www.shirleyallum.co.uk/)

Devil’s Brook river restoration

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Editorial team

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25 January 2023

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This winter, Dorset Wildlife Trust has been deliberately installing dead trees in a valley near Ansty, says conservation officer Stephen Oliver

The Large Woody Debris features under construction in Devils Brook. All images: Stephen Oliver

Implementing nature-based solutions to reduce the flood risk from surface water and improving water quality and habitat for wildlife are the two main objectives of river restoration work.
Dorset Wildlife Trust’s rivers conservation officer, Stephen Oliver, describes the work involved in the Devil’s Brook project:
‘This exciting partnership project involved two kilometres of river restoration work completed on Devil’s Brook, a 14-kilometre long watercourse rising in the chalk hills near Higher Ansty and flowing south to join the River Piddle near Athelhampton. Much of the river has, over time, been heavily modified, straightened and over-widened, which has significantly reduced the habitat quality and biodiversity of the river.’

The Devil’s Brook river restoration work covers a two-kilometre reach of the river

Fallen trees
‘A partnership of organisations – including Wessex Water, Wild Trout Trust, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Southwest – with the support of Environment Agency and Natural England, has been working with local landowners and managers to look at the opportunities to undertake river restoration work.

The fallen trees are left and biodiversity will naturally increase as the river’s course becomes less uniform

Trees, whether standing or fallen, provide vital habitat along a watercourse. Unfortunately, modern land management practices mean that fallen trees are often removed. Our Rivers and Wetlands team, with the help of local land managers, trustees and Wessex Water volunteers, have installed 33 Large Woody Debris (LWD) features along a two-kilometre targeted reach to replicate fallen trees. The LWD consists of locally-sourced trees of different shapes that are positioned in the river and pinned in place using chestnut stakes.
Fallen trees naturally provide much needed shelter and food for an array of wildlife. But this necessary habitat is often lacking due to our tendency to ‘tidy up’ and remove these features, fearing that they are causing a problem.
In fact, nine times out of ten, a fallen tree along a watercourse causes no hazards and should be left in place to encourage natural processes along our modified rivers and streams.‘

The fallen trees were carefully selected and then pinned in place with chestnut stakes

Riffles and scours
‘The LWD features that have been installed will dramatically transform the current uniform habitat (same flow, same depth) in this area – they will physically change water flow and direction. This will allow gravel riffles and scour pools of varying depths to form, increasing the diversity of wildlife that can make its home in and around the river.
‘Dorset Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers working on site were treated to excellent views of kingfishers and dragonflies, who were quick to perch and admire these newly-installed habitat features! Now that the project has been completed, we will be carefully monitoring for changes to the habitat and wildlife abundance in order to see what impact the work has had.’

Find out more about Dorset Wild Rivers: dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/DorsetWildRivers

January – chocolate, marmalade …and kale?

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Editorial team

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25 January 2023

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Caz Richards of Dorset Food & Drink rounds up some of her January favourites to brighten up your plates in the glummest month of the year

After the holly jolly frolics of December, January can be a welcome respite. Kick back, slow down, and get back to planning those comforting dishes. Whether you’re tightening your purse strings, embracing Veganuary or simply trying to eat more nutritious, seasonal veg this month, there’s plenty of great food and drink to enjoy. Plus, you can dive into new cookery books that Father Christmas might have tucked into your stocking!
It’s definitely the time for warming stews and casseroles so make the most of your local butchers and farm shops for locally-reared meats, game, and some delicious deli. If you’re looking to replace red meat with a healthier alternative, try something different this winter; venison is lean, nutritious and currently in season. There’s a couple of cracking venison recipes on Dorset Food & Drink – venison con carne and venison taco bowls.

Seek the colour
With winter in full swing, you might think the season is lacking in colour, but visit your local market or greengrocers, and you’ll be delighted by the array of beautiful winter fruit and veg. From juicy immunity-boosting grapefruit, clementines, pomegranates, English apples and pears, to beautiful green superfood spinach, kale, and cabbage. How could you not be inspired to eat fresh and seasonal?
Our top picks for your January larder:
Washingpool Farm Shop
Jurassic Coast Farm Shop
Bridget’s Market, Bridport
Talking of a seasonal colour- here’s a winter treat that’s worth seeking out. Baboo Gelato’s Orange, Lemon, or Blackcurrant sorbet. Sounds bonkers in the middle of winter, but it’s a crowd-pleaser, especially if you need a lift and something vitamin packed fruity to ease a sore throat. The West Bay or Lyme Regis kiosks are a great way to get your hands on these jewel-like scoops of icy loveliness on a brisk day out, but check out the opening times online and for stockists.

Hola! Its Seville Orange time
January can only mean marmalade magic! Bittersweet, three fruit, or classic. You’re sure to find a jar of something yummy to spread on your toast! Browse the range of DF&D members’ preserves, honey, and jams. Or have a go at making some yourself!

Sláinte Mhath
Have a great Burns Night if you celebrate – Sláinte Mhath (good health!) Enjoy traditional Burns night tipples from Morrish & Banham.

Hot, hot hot, hot chocolate!
It’s ‘National Hot Chocolate’ day on January 31. Our picks for the divine drink are Chococo’s 72% Ecuador origin Hot Chocolate Flakes Tin and Deluxe Hot Chocolate Callets from Grounded Coffee. Mmmm …
Here’s to a gurt lush hug in a mug, and a happy, healthy 2023, filled with love, kindness, and all the good vibes.
Warm wishes from all at Dorset Food & Drink

MARION EDEN

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Editorial team

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25 January 2023

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Passed away peacefully on the 19th January 2023 aged 91 years.

She Will be sadly missed by all of her family and friends.

Family funeral to take place at Bournemouth Cremetorium.

No flowers please, but donations in Marion’s memory if desired to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance Service

New year, same problem

By

Editorial team

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23 January 2023

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The times are challenging, says Dorset Chamber CEO Ian Girling, but growth and innovation remain critical, as do long term solutions

As we return to work after the Christmas break, I’d like to wish everyone a happy, successful, and prosperous 2023. As we look to the next few months, we know the economic climate will remain challenging but my hope is we start to see improving conditions as we go further into the year.

Energy support
The new deal on energy support offers cold comfort for businesses in Dorset. Although continued assistance and the 12-month duration of the scheme is welcome, the 85 per cent drop in the financial envelope of support will fall short for those who are seriously struggling – and we’re aware that these costs are already significant enough to cause the closure of businesses.
Clearly, the Government must consider the public finances. But the correct level of support must be viewed as an investment in the economy, helping businesses to get the UK back to growth and prosperity in the critical year ahead.
In the short to medium term the Chancellor must be ready to intervene with additional assistance should it be required, and long-term solutions must be considered urgently.
This must include reform of the business energy market, including the potential strengthening of Ofgem’s powers, as part of an energy strategy to promote longer-term market stability and ways to allow firms to improve their energy efficiency.
It’s essential that business leaders maintain their focus on growth and innovation and that we push forward with our business plans.
Dorset Chamber will continue to provide support for businesses in the county and support the British Chambers of Commerce in its lobbying of the government. Through our national voice within the British Chambers of Commerce, we will continue to lobby the government on critical issues such as the energy costs. We will continue to do all we can locally not only for our members but for the wider business community.
I wish you all the very best for 2023 – Ian

Oatally delicious breakfasts

By

Editorial team

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23 January 2023

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It’s that time of year again, when we feel driven to make a healthy new start after an indulgent Christmas break. These two recipes take a handful of simple ingredients
to make a delicious breakfast that is still full of flavour.
I often choose to use gluten-free oats and dairy-free milks too, really stripping them back to let the beauty of the fresh (or frozen) fruits shine through. Heather x

Coconut Granola

(makes enough for six to eight breakfasts)

This recipe makes the perfect addition to some yoghurt and fresh fruit. It is simple to make and uses basic ingredients, but packs a flavour punch! You can add to/change the coconut for any nuts of choice and you can easily add any dried fruit once the granola has been baked.

Ingredients

450g bag of oats (I use gluten-free but any kind works. Oats that are milled so the flakes are still quite large tend to make better granola than the small flakes).
2 heaped tablespoons (ish) of coconut oil (in its solid state)
100g (ish) maple syrup
1 bag of desiccated coconut

Method

Preheat the oven to about 180 º (gas 6).
Line a pan with baking parchment. I use a 9” x 13” cake pan which is about 1” deep.
Melt the coconut oil so that it is liquid. Add the coconut oil, maple syrup and desiccated coconut to the oats and stir together until well-combined. Use your hands to really make sure the oil and syrup have coated the oats. You can add more oil and/or syrup if you don’t think you have quite enough to coat the whole mixture.
Pour into the tray and place in the oven.
Check the oats every 10 minutes, stirring thoroughly each time, until the oats have all gone a pale golden colour. It will take around 30 minutes.
Leave to cool. If you store in an air-tight container, it should keep for a good couple of weeks.
Simply serve the granola scattered on top of yoghurt and your choice of fresh or cooked fruit for a delicious breakfast, snack or dessert.

Heather Brown is on the committee of the Guild of Food Writers; she is a home economist with a passion for Dorset’s brilliant foodie scene, as well as a dab hand at fixing websites, and with a penchant for taking a good foodie photo. Heather runs Dorset Foodie Feed, championing Dorset’s food and drink businesses, as well as working one-to-one with clients.

Almond & Cherry Overnight Oats

(makes enough for four)

This recipe is the ultimate one-size fits all. It doesn’t need to be exactly measured; I simply use half as many oats to the amount of milk, but I also use frozen fruits which tend to add some extra liquid as they thaw. Be confident and adjust as you like, playing with the quantities – especially if you prefer a softer finished product (just add more milk).
You can also change the fruit to your own favourite, of course, and this recipe works just as well with fresh fruit (just add a little more milk).
I have opted to use almond milk as I think it complements the flavours, but the recipe works just as well with any kind of milk – oat, nut or cow’s! Previously I have also used hazelnut milk, exchanged the cherries for chocolate chips and finished with some Nutella for a rather more indulgent overnight oats!

Ingredients

250g rolled oats
500ml almond milk
a couple of handfuls of frozen cherries
glug of maple syrup to taste
1tsp almond extract
flaked almonds

Method

In a large bowl or tupperware tub, add the rolled oats, almond milk, maple syrup, cherries and almond extract. Stir until well combined and all the oats are fully covered with the liquid.
Sprinkle the flaked almonds on top, cover the mixture with cling film (or a lid) and place in the fridge overnight. Your oats will be ready for your breakfast in the morning. Just take from the fridge and serve (lovers of hot porridge may prefer to heat it gently first, the choice is, again, yours).