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Allison Homes' 5 favourite walking routes

The health benefits of walking regularly are well-documented. A regular walk, at any speed, will help manage weight, reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, reduce the risk of certain cancers such colon, breast and lung cancer, improve flexibility and strength of joints, muscles and bones, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis - all while boosting the immune system and improving your mental health.

Luckily, if you live in or are thinking about buying a new home in an Allison Homes development, there are plenty of local walks to enjoy. Get out and about in the countryside, enjoy the fresh air and gain all those added health benefits too. It’s free, doesn’t require any specialist equipment or training. It’s safe and low impact and is one of the easiest activities to fit into your busy daily lives.

Allison Homes has developments at Oakley Rise in Corby and Pinchbeck Fields near Spalding. New developments are on their way in Boston, Colsterworth, Horncastle, Moulton, Nettleham and Oakham.

Here are a few of our favourite walking routes close to Allison Homes sites for you to enjoy:

• Thoroughsale and Hazel Woods in Corby, close to Oakley Rise, offer some lovely woodland trails to explore. There are also some other walks of various distances around East Northamptonshire. You can download them here. There is also plenty of countryside to explorer around Gretton and Weldon.
• Explore the Millennium Trail between Pinchbeck and Surfleet.
• This walk explores the hills around Horncastle and there is a choice of other walks in the area too.
• Lincolnshire County Council has published this leaflet which lists a number of beautiful countryside walks around Nettleham.
• If you are considering Oakham, then Discover Rutland has plenty of walking options for you from the local paths, such as the Rutland Round, and national long distance paths that run through the county, such as Macmillan Way or the Jurassic Way.    

Whichever Allison Homes development you choose, there is a choice of walking routes for you to enjoy. So, come along to one of our show homes today – it could be the start of a new you.

And the winner is?

 

Crowds flocked to a sun drenched Baston on the weekend of 4 & 5 August for the community’s annual Baston in the Blitz vintage event.

Baston in the Blitz is a WWII themed extravaganza. There were more than 60 trade stalls, some 70 display groups and over 500 WWII re-enactors putting on 1940’s themed displays over the weekend.

Entering in to the spirit of the event, the team from The Croft was on hand with a stall at the event.

We ran a successful prize draw at the event. The star prize from which was a Pimm’s hamper - the lucky winners of which were Mr and Mrs Brown of Baston.

As well as a thrilling battle re-enactment, there was plenty of food and drink on offer as well as music shows, presentations, a Punch & Judy show, a Dambusters presentation and George Formby experience among other attractions.

We had a great time over the weekend and can’t wait for next year’s event.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a new home in a community-spirited, friendly and tranquil village that offers age-exclusive living for busy modern lifestyles, then The Croft, Baston is for you.

The Croft is brought to you by The Larkfleet Group of Companies, which includes Allison Homes and sister company Larkfleet Homes.

The second phase of development at The Croft at Baston is a small development of new homes in this tranquil village in south Lincolnshire. It sits alongside the highly successful fully-sold first phase, extending the community but keeping it at a modest scale.

We will be offering free flooring on any plot purchase at The Croft up until 18 August.

Baston is a vibrant community with a range of community activities, clubs and societies to get involved with.

The Croft at Baston is not just a place to live. It offers a lifestyle of possibilities, leaving you with more time and energy to do the things you enjoy doing, every day, within a bustling community environment.

Make your life your own at The Croft at Baston, a stylish development surrounded by beautiful grounds, with a variety of facilities and services close by to suit your lifestyle.

Call our sales office today on 07917 761020 or visit http://larkfleethomes.co.uk/the-croft-baston

Lincoln Friends of Anthony Nolan receive charity cash boost

Thanks to the Larkfleet Homes Community Fund, a charity, which raises funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust, has received a much-needed cash boost.

The fund has given £250 to the Lincoln Friends of Anthony Nolan to help raise funds and awareness of the trust and to assist with patient care in Nettleham and other villages around Lincoln.

Julie Cook, who set up the Lincoln Friends of Anthony Nolan in 2014, told us: “I started Lincoln Friends of Anthony Nolan in 2014 because Anthony Nolan (the national charity) had found a stem cell donor for my granddaughter which enabled her to have a lifesaving stem cell transplant to cure her of blood cancer.

“Our local group holds coffee mornings, we have a ball coming up at Christmas and we attend village and school events where we hold tombolas, raffles and sell donated goods. We also do collections in supermarkets and people have done sponsored events for us such as the Lincoln 10k run and a 24-hour hockey match which was organised by a supporter.”

The Larkfleet Homes Community Fund supports groups which enhance or develop local communities. It makes grants to charities or voluntary organisations within ten miles (16 kilometres) of any housing development by Larkfleet Homes or Allison Homes, both part of The Larkfleet Group of Companies, which is based in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

We are currently building new homes at Deepdale Lane, Nettleham – a new development of 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom houses and bungalows. And we truly believe that a community is more than just houses. When we are building new homes, we want to support the local groups that our residents can participate in to help build a real community.

Anthony Nolan is a national charity that was set up in 1974 to match bone marrow and blood stem cell donors to those suffering from blood cancer, and other blood disorders, who need transplants.

The Lincoln Friends of Anthony Nolan helps local people going through treatment and recovery to access support from the charity, such as a grant and to a specialist post-transplant nurse funded by Anthony Nolan at Nottingham -  which is where local patients have treatment.

Funds raised by the group also go towards recruiting new donors. It costs £40 to put each new donor on to the register and the more potential donors there are, the more lives can be saved.

People age 16-30 can join the Anthony Nolan register. Research has now proven that younger donors are preferred by transplant centres as they lead to better outcomes for patients.

Visit the Lincoln Friends of Anthony Nolan Facebook page to find out about the local group or about being a potential donor.

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation manages The Larkfleet Homes Community Fund on Larkfleet’s behalf. Any community or voluntary group wishing to find out more about the fund can visit www.tiny.cc/larkfleet-fund, telephone 01223 410535 or email info@cambscf.org.uk.

On the Fringe

The Edinburgh International Festival starts today. And along with it the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – perhaps the world’s largest arts festival.

If you haven’t already made plans to attend this weekend there’s still plenty of month left in which to enjoy all that the festival and the Fringe have to offer.

The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual festival of performing arts, the director of which invites top class performers of music (especially classical music), theatre, opera and dance from around the world to perform. The festival also hosts a series of visual art exhibitions, talks and workshops.

It was founded in 1947 by Rudolf Bing, Henry Harvey Wood, Sidney Newman and Edinburgh’s civic leaders to provide a ‘platform for the flowering of the human spirit’.

The Fringe was also founded in 1947 when eight independent theatre companies, who had not been invited to the festival, turned up to perform. They had to find venues on the fringes of the main event because all the major venues in the city were already being used.

Performances from big names in the world of entertainment as well as newcomers just starting out at the fringe fill a number of different categories including theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events.

Comedy is by far the largest group of performances at the Fringe. The Independent newspaper has listed the best of what’s on offer this year.

In 2016 there were 50,266 performances of 3,269 shows in 294 venues, making it the largest ever arts festival in the world.

Today, the Fringe is overseen by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, a registered charity, which has three core objectives:

• providing support, advice and encouragement to all the amazing artists, producers and venues who create the Fringe each year, from help with choosing a venue or writing a press release, to advice on touring, free access to rehearsal space, and professional development activities and events
• assisting the audiences who come to Edinburgh by helping you navigate what’s on offer with comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information and ticketing
• promoting this wonderful and unique festival to the rest of the world

For more information on the Edinburgh Festival, the Fringe and planning a trip this August visit https://www.edinburghfestivalcity.com/festivals/edinburgh-festival-fringe.

And if you don’t fancy travelling all that way – why not visit one of our show homes instead?

Allison Homes Marie Curie charity a cash injection

It was with great pleasure that the Allison Homes team was able to give palliative care charity, Marie Curie, a much-needed cash injection via the Larkfleet Homes Community Fund.

We recently handed Marie Curie £250 to help it provide home-based end of life care for patients in Spalding who are living with terminal illness.

Marie Curie’s community fundraiser for Lincolnshire, Lauren Alexander (pictured left with our own Mallory Matthews), told us: “The money will be used to fund night care for an end of life patient in Spalding.

“Thanks to this donation, an additional 12.5 hours will be provided to give one more person within the community the chance to stay at home with their loved ones and make the most of the time they have left together.”

The Larkfleet Homes Community Fund supports groups which enhance or develop local communities. It makes grants to charities or voluntary organisations within ten miles (16 kilometres) of any housing development by Larkfleet Homes or Allison Homes, both part of The Larkfleet Group of Companies which is based in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

We are currently building new homes at Pinchbeck Fields, Spalding – a new development of 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom houses and bungalows. Our show home is open between 10:00 and 17:00 from Thursday to Monday.

At Allison Homes we believe it’s important that, when we build new homes for people, we develop robust living communities as well. Being able to support the fantastic charities and volunteer groups, like Marie Curie, in the areas where we are working is really important. These groups are very often the backbone of the community. The support which they offer to the people who use their services is immeasurable.

Marie Curie supports anyone suffering from dementia, cancer, motor neurone disease, heart failure, Parkinson's disease, or any other illness, who has had a terminal diagnosis.

Marie Curie was founded in 1948 by five members of the committee of the Marie Curie Hospital in Hampstead, London. The charity is named after the woman who discovered radium and polonium and is remembered for her contribution to the fight against cancer. Marie Curie helps those living with, or affected by, a terminal diagnosis to achieve the best quality of life and supports them to retain their independence and dignity for as long as possible.

Help and support includes treating or managing pain and other symptoms with medicines, therapies and other specialist approaches. It also means giving emotional support to patients and their families when they need it most.

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation manages The Larkfleet Homes Community Fund on Larkfleet’s behalf. Any community or voluntary group wishing to find out more about the fund can visit www.tiny.cc/larkfleet-fund, telephone 01223 410535 or email info@cambscf.org.uk.

Come and enjoy a blitz in Baston this weekend

Come and visit the new show home at The Croft in Baston this weekend and enjoy the village’s Baston in the Blitz event.

Baston in the Blitz, held on the weekend of 4th and 5th August, is a WWII themed extravaganza.

There will be more than 60 trade stalls, some 70 display groups and over 500 WWII re-enactors putting on 1940’s themed depictions over the weekend.

The team from The Croft will be on hand with a stall at the event. They will be running a prize draw too, with the star prize being a Pimm’s hamper.

As well as a thrilling battle re-enactment, there will be plenty of food and drink on offer in addition to music shows, presentations, a Punch & Judy show, a Dambusters presentation and George Formby experience among other attractions.

Visit http://www.bastonblitz.org/Programme2018.htm for full details.

While you’re at the event, pop down to The Croft. You’ll be able to enter the prize draw and enjoy plenty of other goodies. We will also be offering free flooring on any plot purchase at The Croft up until 18 August.

If you are looking for a new home in a community-spirited, friendly and tranquil village that offers age-exclusive living for busy modern lifestyles, then The Croft, Baston is for you.

The Croft is brought to you by our sister company Larkfleet Homes.

The second phase of development at The Croft at Baston is a small development of new homes in this tranquil village in south Lincolnshire. It sits alongside the highly successful fully-sold first phase, extending the community but keeping it at a modest scale.

Baston is a vibrant community with a range of community activities, clubs and societies to get involved with.

The Croft at Baston is not just a place to live. It offers a lifestyle of possibilities, leaving you with more time and energy to do the things you enjoy doing, every day, within a bustling community environment.

Make your life your own at The Croft at Baston - a stylish development surrounded by beautiful grounds, with a variety of facilities and services close by to suit your lifestyle.

Call our sales office today on 07917 761020 or visit http://larkfleethomes.co.uk/the-croft-baston

12 tips for saving water in the garden

As we continue to swelter in one of the longest spells of hot weather for years, spare a thought for the garden. Lawns are a scorched golden-brown, flower beds are parched and the vegetable plot is starting to look like a war zone.

Some of you will have had the hosepipe out for a while now. Forget about the grass, it will revive come the next significant rainfall. But the flowers and veg still need regular watering.

The problem of course is that we are facing a ban on the use of hosepipes in the garden if this dry weather keeps up for much longer. There is already a hosepipe ban in force in the north west of England and it’s only a matter of time before we have one in the East Midlands and East Anglia - normally the driest parts of the country.

Here are our tips for beating the ban and keeping your garden in great condition during the hot weather:

• Water less; most mature plants will survive a dry spell
• Adjust your lawnmower to cut your grass longer – this will shade the roots from the sun
• Leave cuttings on the lawn – they will form a mulch to protect and feed the grass
• Keep lawns and beds weed-free, but avoid turning soil during dry weather
• Water seedlings and planters around the roots early in the morning or in the cooler evenings
• Mulch around your borders: this will keep your soil cooler and deter weeds
• Avoid deep or large paddling pools and re-use the water for plants in the evening
• Invest in a water butt and use the water as much as possible
• Use a watering can
• Save cooled grey water from baths and showers and use to water around the roots of plants – not leaves - and avoid using water with too much soap or household detergent in
• Use a water retaining gel in pots and hanging baskets
• Plant flowers and vegetables that require less water

Ideas for great a summer weekend

School’s out, but many parents are still working. If you’re stuck at work, how do you make the most of the time with your kids over the summer? That’s what weekends are for.

Here are a few ideas for things to do over the next six weeks of the summer holidays.

Are you a countryside enthusiast? Do enjoy country pursuits? Then the Game Fair could be just the thing for a weekend of fun and shopping. This year it is being held at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire from Friday 27 July until Sunday 29 July. There’s plenty to see and do, not just hunting, shooting and fishing. There's even a ‘Go Wild’ kids’ zone

If you have an ‘Astronut’ in the family, the National Space Centre in Leicester could be just the place for a weekend visit. The centre is open from 10:00 until 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer. This summer they're taking a journey through the secret world of gases. 

Why not enjoy a spot of camping in the heart of England at Belvoir Castle? Located in Woolsthorpe by the Dirty Duck Public House on the Grantham Canal, it is perfectly situated for exploring the Viking Way walk and the surrounding areas.

Looking for something really imaginative to do? Go and get befuddled at BeWILDerwood in Norfolk. You’ll encounter some intriguing characters including Boggles, Twiggles, the Thornyclod Spider and vegetarian Crocklebogs, as you and your family enjoy traditional, imaginative and outdoor play together. Visit https://www.bewilderwood.co.uk/ for more details and plan your day out.

The well-known Alton Towers is a great family choice for summer holiday fun. All ages are catered for. CBeebies Land is hosting Bings’ Picnic and there’s loads on offer for older children and adults alike.

You could also head to the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. The park is open from 09:30 to 18:00 every day throughout the summer. There is so much to see and do that you certainly won’t be bored

House hunting? Come and visit one of our show homes in Collingham, Corby or Pinchbeck near Spalding. We are open on weekends throughout the summer holidays.

Whatever you’re doing, have a great summer.

Outdoor workouts for summer fitness

Health experts agree that we need more exercise. There is plenty of evidence showing that aerobic outdoor exercise like running and cycling has enormous health benefits.

Benefits include reducing stress and improving mental health, not to mention our overall cardiovascular fitness.

Summer is a great time to get outdoors, enjoy the warm weather and get some quality exercise at the same time. And, let's face it, it’s much easier to motivate yourself when the sun is shining.

There are plenty of options. Go for a brisk walk or a jog in the park – whatever takes your fancy. Long slow cardio exercise is a great way to lose the pounds.

At Allison Homes we have developments in Collingham, Corby and Spalding which are all within easy reach of open spaces where you can do your outdoor workouts.

Here are some ideas for things that you could try.

Collingham Community Park in the centre of Collingham has plenty to keep the kids amused, but there is also an array of adult outdoor gym equipment to use.

If you are into cycling, you can find some of the best countryside and roads for cycling in Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. Rutland Water is nearby with plenty of cycle ways and footpaths, not mention lots of other opportunities to get out in the fresh air and exercise.

Parks often have outdoor gym equipment – you could devise a few routines like these to help with your general fitness. Weldon Woodland Park near our Oakley Rise development has footpaths, grassland walks and an outdoor fitness trail.

Running is one of the easiest forms of outdoor exercise. Following a training plan for any distance will have terrific benefits for your health. There are plenty of footpaths around our developments if you’re looking to pound the pavements. Slightly further afield there are parks and countryside trails to walk, jog and run along.

These are just a few of the things you can do in and around Allison Homes’ developments, so get out and about, enjoy the summer weather and get fit at the same time.

If you are thinking of moving to a new home, and your priority is having plenty of open space around you in which to exercise, then look no further than our developments at Oakley Rise in Corby, Pinchbeck Fields near Spalding or Collingham Brook in Collingham.

Time’s running out on your chance to win £1,000

Time is nearly up on our customer survey. Now is the time to act if you want to be in with a chance of winning £1,000 for you and your family. You’ve got until 31 July to take part in our survey to get the thoughts and experiences of discerning house buyers like you.

Go to www.tiny.cc/larkfleet-survey to take part in the survey.

Complete our survey and we will enter you into our prize draw for a chance to win £500. Agree to a follow up interview and you will be entered in a second draw to win a further £500.

The Allison Homes team is always working to develop new ways to provide the best possible products and services for our customers. We want to know what house buyers really think of the housing market and what they want from housebuilders like us.

To help us, we teamed up with First Time Buyer Magazine, What House and What Mortgage to develop and deliver this comprehensive survey to find out what you, our customer, is really looking for in a new home.

The survey covers everything from the type of property people are looking to buy or have bought (whether it’s for their own use or an investment) through to topics such as location, size and energy efficiency.

It takes less than ten minutes to complete at www.tiny.cc/larkfleet-survey. The survey is being managed by independent marketing company OlsenMetrix Marketing and all the data collected will be anonymous.

Summer home security tips

Home security can be an issue at any time of the year. During the summer months, however, the security of your home can be easily compromised.

A lot of us keep doors and windows open in hot weather to keep air flowing around the house. This can be an open invitation to an opportunist housebreaker, especially if we forget to close them before we go out – so be extra vigilant.

Here are some tips to help you make sure your home is secure during the heatwave. 

• Don’t leave windows open that are easily accessible from, for example, a flat roof.
• Don’t leave anything, such as a ladder, visible or accessible that could help an intruder get through a window.
• Don’t leave windows open that face on to a street, particularly on ground floor level.
• Always close windows and lock up when you leave the house – even if you’re just going into the back garden.
• Pay attention to which windows you leave open at night. Make sure they are not accessible from outside.
• The key to keeping cool is moving air. Consider using fans instead of opening your windows.

Here is some more advice from Cambridgeshire Constabulary about preventing burglary.

It includes a few handy hints about taking steps to prevent crime while you are away on holiday.

Perfect summer recipes

While we’re sweltering through one of the warmest summers we have had for a while perhaps the last thing we want for dinner is stodgy traditional fare. Boiled beef and carrots anyone?

Perhaps not. What about fresh seafood, fruit and salads? Fresh fish is an excellent summer choice. Sea bass and mackerel with herbs served with fresh vegetables are a great choice.

You could serve other seafoods such as prawns, or lobster if the budget will stretch to it.

Barbecue is a summer favourite. Go for some high-quality beef if you are looking to impress. Try a succulent sirloin or rib eye of beef.

We have trawled the web and found a few websites that are just bursting with epicurean inspiration.

The Great British Chefs website has some terrific ideas for entertaining this summer – inside or out.

This is a great time of year for all you dessert lovers. With so much summer fruit around try Peach Melba, Eton Mess or Summer Pudding. You could also create a delicious jelly using Pimm’s and serve it with a palette-cleansing sorbet.

The key to a summer supper is to keep it light and ‘herby’. Try these summer recipes from the BBC Good Food website.

This website has a great list of ingredients that will give you the full flavour of summer. Savour the best the season offers if you are feeling adventurous in the kitchen.

And don’t forget other summer favourites like these soups, salads and trifles from Delia Smith.

We think that you will find plenty to tickle the palette with these choices. To work up an appetite why not come long and visit one of our show homes this summer?

Go Promming this summer

The BBC Proms starts today and runs throughout the summer until 8 September.

The Proms is a summer-long classical music festival based at the Royal Albert Hall with something for all you classical music fans to enjoy.

The First Night at the Proms features an all-British line up featuring two major responses to WWI; Holst’s The Planets (1918) and Vaughan William’s choral work Toward the Unknown Region.

A work by Ann Meredith called Five Telegrams draws on communications sent by young soldiers in 1918 and features specially produced digital projections.

The Proms, or Promenade Concerts, have their origins in the pleasure gardens of 18th Century London. Moving to indoor venues in Victorian London, the Proms were designed by impresario Robert Newman to popularise concert music to a wider audience, and he achieved that aim with the assistance of conductor Henry Wood with the first Prom in 1895.

Following Newman’s death in 1927 the running of the concerts was taken over by the BBC.

This year there are 75 different concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, including the famous Last Night of the Proms, and a series of related events such as the BBC’s Proms in the Park held in Hyde Park.

The Last Night of the Proms has a party atmosphere and will feature the music of Stanford, Parry and Elgar – think Songs of the Sea and Pomp and Circumstance.

For a full calendar of events, ticket sales, social media and broadcast details visit the BBC Proms website.

There's so much on the radio and TV that you could enjoy hosting your own Proms Party. Get your guests to dress as if they were attending the Royal Albert Hall and serve champagne, Pimms and cocktail food.

10 tips for caring for pets and animals in the hot weather

A lot us may be feeling the heat this summer. But spare a thought for your pets. Dogs in particular can suffer when the weather gets hot. Here are our top 10 tips to help you help your animals keep their cool this summer.

• Never leave animals in hot cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans, even for a short while.
• Make sure your pets have access to fresh drinking water. You could put ice cubes in the water to keep it cool.
• Put an animal friendly sun cream on exposed parts of your pets’ skin.
• Walk your dogs in the morning or in the evening. Avoid taking them out for a walk in the hottest part of the day to prevent them burning their paws on the tarmac or getting heat stroke.
• If you have fish or amphibians, keep their tanks out of direct sunlight.
• Keep your ponds topped up and create shaded areas for fish by planting aquatic plants such as lilies.
• If you have caged birds keep them out of direct sunlight and ensure aviaries have shaded areas.
• Make sure your birds have access to clean, fresh drinking and bathing water.
• Help garden wildlife by providing fresh water for drinking. Keep it clean and topped up.
• Set up a paddling pool in the garden that your dog can splash around in.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has some more excellent advice on caring for pets, farm animals and wildlife of all kinds on its website.

Top 10 outdoor games to play in your garden

Now that the sun has got his hat on and he's come out to play it’s time for you to go out to play in the garden. You might not always want to get out the paddling pool or the water balloons. You can play these classic garden games and stay dry.

Here are the Allison Homes top 10 classic garden games for you to enjoy this summer.

1. Quoits – the classic deck game of hand and eye coordination where you try to get rope hoops over pegs to score points.
2. Skittles – another classic and there are several versions of the game available online.
3. Rounders – rounders is a great game but you will need to have some space to play. If there isn’t enough room in the garden, why not nip down to the local park?
4. Kwik Cricket – this is also a great game for all the family but, like rounders, you’re going to need some space to play in.
5. Giant Snakes and Ladders – the kids will love this classic game, upsized with a sticky board just for outdoors. There are also versions with inflatable game pieces available.
6. Croquet – this might sound painfully posh, but it’s a lot of fun to play, especially if you are having a few friends around for an al fresco party.
7. French Cricket – this is a favourite with younger and older children alike and you won’t need anywhere near as much space as you will for Rounders or Kwik Cricket.
8. Giant Jenga – using giant wooden blocks making ‘tumble towers’ is a lot of fun. There are several versions of this classic available online.
9. Twister – Twister is a classic party game and ideally suited for playing outside on the lawn. Guaranteed to liven up any BBQ.
10. Swing Ball – this is a fun game for the competitive members of your family. You could have your own Wimbledon knock out in your own back garden.

There are plenty of places to find these classics. Online, simply look at Amazon, Ebay or any one of a hundred specilaist retailers. On the high street, you could try your independent toy shop, although these are becoming increasingly rare these days, or visit your local garden centre.

Is the ‘Waitrose effect’ reversing?

It’s been documented that living near a Waitrose supermarket can boost house prices. But what happens when the high-end supermarket leaves your area?

It’s called the “Waitrose effect”. Studies have shown that living near to a branch of the high-end supermarket can add thousands of pounds to the value of your home. Just last month research from Lloyds Bank found that homes in the same postcode as a Waitrose cost on average £43,571 more than those in the wider town in which they’re located. Living near a Marks & Spencer or Sainsbury’s can boost house prices by £40,135 and £32,707 respectively but it’s Waitrose that has the biggest impact.

So, what happens then when your local Waitrose closes down? It’s a question some homeowners may be asking themselves following the news that the supermarket is set to close some of its stores in the wake of a profit warning issued by the John Lewis Partnership.

While some high-end outlets tend to be positioned in more affluent areas property values are unlikely to plummet as a result of Waitrose vacating the area according to emoov.co.uk.

While the general decline of a high-street may impact the local market, these desirable shop spaces will no doubt be repopulated by another business. This is already happening in some areas where former Waitrose premises are being taken over by the likes of the Co Op and Aldi.

That’s good news for homeowners as the Lloyds Bank survey also revealed properties near an Aldi have seen their values rise by 15 per cent over the past four years.

Paula Higgins of the HomeOwners Alliance summed up the situation, “While the amount added to the value of your home can be even greater if located next to a brand which is perceived as upmarket, there are many other drivers of house prices beyond having a high-end supermarket on your doorstep. The most important thing here is that large flagship stores near your home aren’t left empty. ”

Let’s have a look at some of the stores that you can find around some of our developments.

Pinchbeck Fields, Spalding – Morrisons
Oakley Rise, Corby – Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, M&S, Weldon Supermarket
Collingham Brook – Co Op, Morrisons, Asda, Lidl, Sainsburys

As you can see, there are plenty of options for grocery shopping around our developments and prices as a result are unlikely to be adversely affected by the departure of a flagship supermarket any time soon!

‘Staycations’ are the in-thing this summer

As the British summer weather becomes increasingly reliable, more and more of us are staying at home to holiday rather than travel abroad.

Especially since the current heatwave is set to continue for a few more weeks.

There are some great destinations in the UK for a holiday – from Cornwall to the Western Isles. But staying in the UK for holiday comes with its own problems, particularly when it comes to insurance.

According to recent research over 60 per cent of people who stayed in the UK did not insure themselves adequately.

You wouldn’t dream of going abroad without adequate insurance. But millions of holiday makers are potentially at risk during their summer staycations should something go wrong such as a missed train, loss or damage of personal items, or hotel cancellations, according to personal lines insurer Liverpool Victoria.

Things that you can get cover for a staycation include cancellation; personal effects/baggage, medical emergency, travel delay/abandonment and personal liability.

But where can you go? With award-winning beaches, internationally acclaimed cultural and historical attractions and 15 national parks, the British Isles have something for everyone.

Go here for a list of Britain’s best beaches and resorts.

If you prefer being more active and hillwalking and rambling are more your thing here is information about what the UK’s national parks have to offer.

If a city break is more your cup of tea this blog has more information.

And everywhere you turn in the UK there is culture and history to enjoy.

You might even visit a showhome or two while you are away!

Summer books for the beach

July is here, the school year is almost over and many of us are looking forward to the beach, either here in the UK or further afield.

Even if you’re simply spending time at home in the garden soaking up the sun what better way to pass the time than by catching up on your reading.

Whether you’re into history, art, sport, literary fiction or a quick ‘pot boiler’, we’ve got something here for you.

Fiction

• Lincoln in the Bardo - George Saunders
• Warlight – Michael Ondaatje
• Circe – Madelaine Miller
• The Ministry of Utmost Happiness – Arundhati Roy
• The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock – Imogen Hermes Gowar
• Ordinary People – Diana Evans
• The Shepherd’s Hut – Tim Winton
• The Only Story – Julian Barnes
• The Lido – Libby Page
• Fear – Dirk Kurbjuweit
• Friend Request – Laura Marshall

Non-fiction

• Arnhem – Anthony Beevor
• First Man in – Ant Middleton
• Factfulness – Hans Rosling
• Spitfire – John Nichol
• Everything I know About Love – Dolly Alderton
• Ikigai – Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles
• The Language of Kindness – Christie Watson
• Lose Weight for Good – Tom Kerridge
• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*@k
• Coming Home – Fern Britton
• The Summer of Impossible Things – Rowan Coleman
• Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls – Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo

Children and Young Adult 

• Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi
• The Moxie – Jennifer Mathieu
• The Start of You and Me – Emery Lord
• Not if I Save you First – Ally Carter
• One of us is Lying – Karen McManus
• The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
• The Kissing Booth – Beth Reekles
• Letters from the Lighthouse – Emma Carroll
• The Legend of Podkin One-Ear – Kieran Larwood
• See you in the Cosmos – Jack Cheng
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon – Kelly Barnhill
• The Book of Dust – Philip Pullman

There are some great titles in here. There’s nothing wrong with getting your books online, but if you can, and there is one where you live, do consider using your independent bookshop.

Hope you have a great time this summer.

We’re having a heatwave

Settled summer weather is well and truly in charge now. There is plenty of sunshine in the forecast, and no rain to speak of. While we’re basking in a heatwave spare a thought for your garden and the wildlife in it. Our lawns are the colour of straw and the ground is hard under foot.

While there is not a hosepipe ban currently in force it is important to remain ‘water wise’ when you are tackling watering the garden and the allotment.

The Royal Horticultural Society advises that you should check the moisture in your garden twice daily during hot weather. Watering early in the morning to avoid evaporation and then again in the evening are the two optimum times of day to water.

Here are the RHS’ tips for economical watering:

• Established trees and shrubs do not generally need watering, as they have such wide-ranging roots that they are drought-proof. But their growth may be improved by watering when they are under 'drought stress'.
• Trees and shrubs planted less than five years ago have increased water requirements and may suffer drought stress without watering.
• Newly sown or newly planted areas are very vulnerable to water-stress, and watering these should be high priority.
• Herbaceous perennials often need watering to boost their performance in hot, dry spells. Plant choice is crucial if you want to achieve a drought-proof border. See the RHS advice on drought-resistant plants for more on plant choice.
• Edible produce yields and quality are greatly improved by watering at times when drought stress would affect the part of the plant that is gathered. Leafy crops such as lettuce and spinach should never be short of water. Onions require little or no watering. Most other crops need watering at sowing and transplanting time, and then again as the fruits, roots or tubers are developing. It is also a good idea to give a single, thorough watering about two weeks before harvest.
• Lawns require great quantities of water for thorough irrigation, and this is a questionable use of a scarce resource for any other than high quality lawns or sports turf. Instead of watering in dry periods, mow less closely and less frequently. Brown patches usually recover when the autumn rains return.
• Mulching with a layer of organic matter or gravel at least 5cm (2in) thick, or using opaque mulching sheets, reduces moisture loss from the upper layers of the soil. This may amount to as much as the equivalent of 2cm (0.75in) of rain.
• Removing weeds is vital, as weeds use up valuable soil moisture reserves.
• Planting new plants between autumn and spring gives them the best chance of growing roots before dry weather begins.

Visit the RHS website for more advice on correctly watering your garden.

In hot, dry weather it’s also important not to forget the wildlife. Birds need water for drinking and bathing so, if you have a bird bath in your garden, keep it clean and topped up with fresh water. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has some excellent advice on birds and water

And don’t forget mammals like hedgehogs. Leave a shallow dish of water out for them.

Commendation for Karl

Our CEO Karl Hick has been highly commended in the Social Responsibility category in this year’s East Midlands Institute of Directors Awards.

The IoD East Midlands Director of the Year 2018 awards were hosted by the BBC’s Dominic Heale at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nottingham.

The judges were impressed by the way in which Karl has set sustainability – environmental, social and economic – at the heart of the management agenda for the Larkfleet Group of Companies.

Karl said: “We aim not only to develop an economically sustainable business but also to support local communities, invest in education both inside and outside our business, and build the highest standards of environmental protection into our products and our business practices.”

In particular, we were praised for our investment in developing new and sustainable methods of construction, our approach to training and education and the establishment of the Larkfleet Homes Community Fund.

The Larkfleet Homes Community Fund supports projects that enhance or develop local communities. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to any charitable cause or community project that operates within ten miles of any Larkfleet Homes or Allison Homes development.

Since its inception the fund has given away more than £50,000. For more information on the fund visit www.tiny.cc/larkfleet-fund

In addition, The Larkfleet Group of Companies is pledged to work with suppliers, subcontractors, local colleges and others to help to plug the ‘construction industry skills gap’ by signing the Home Building Skills Pledge developed by the Home Builders Federation.

We are one of just six employer sponsors of the recently opened Greater Peterborough University Technical College (GPUTC) and have been involved in the project since its inception. Karl sits on the board of governors and several Larkfleet colleagues serve on various committees and provide practical support in a variety of teaching activities.

Karl added: “On a day-to-day basis, the outputs of all our community initiatives are reported to me and colleagues on the board of directors. We are still a small enough organisation (just over 100 staff) to permit me to take a personal interest in these issues without ‘micro managing’.

“Since starting Larkfleet in 1998 I have actively pursued environmental gains for the industry and society at large through investment in a range of exciting and forward-looking R&D projects. I wish to invest in the future of the construction industry and renewable technologies to the benefit of future generations.”

Congratulations Karl!

Anyone for tennis?

Wimbledon fortnight is nearly upon us. Arguably the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon sees the world’s finest tennis players battling it out on the grass courts of South West London in front of an audience that runs the social gamut, from royalty to the ball boys and girls who help to keep the games flowing.

Wimbledon is a great social occasion. If you can’t get there yourself then television is the obvious option. But while you’re watching it anyway, why not have a few friends over and a make an evening of it?

The Radio Times has the full listings for Wimbledon matches and broadcast schedule.

The Allison Homes team has put together a few ideas for hosting a tennis-themed soiree of garden party.

There are probably two key ingredients that you cannot afford to leave out, Pimm’s and strawberries and cream.

Once you have put up the bunting it’s time to cut up fresh citrus fruit, cucumber and mint and share around refreshing glasses of Pimm’s and lemonade. Pimm’s No.1 Cup is perhaps the most famous and is based on gin, but there are also cups numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 based on different spirits including whisky, brandy and rum. Visit the Pimm’s website for some other recipe ideas.

There are plenty of gentile foods to serve including cucumber and salmon sandwiches and cream teas. The great British BBQ is a staple and here are some recipes.

But a Wimbledon party would not be complete without strawberries and cream. You could also change things up a bit with some crushed meringues to make a wonderful Eton Mess.

It’s Pimm’s O’clock – enjoy.

Stay on trend this summer

If you are looking for the latest in housewares and décor one of the most interesting places to look is the website Houzz.

We use the latest design trends where possible in our show homes. Our homebuyers like to do the same.

Here are eight British design brands that Houzz has picked to watch out for this summer that we think you’re going to love.

Bentley & Bo – quirky, fun accessories and objet d’art to inspire and excite.
Betsy Benn – bespoke prints like these beautiful topographic ‘postage stamp’ prints.
Modlo – on trend pattern and colour in interior design for soft furnishings and accessories.
Tom Dixon – fantastic lighting and accessories.
DI Designs – contemporary furniture that are perfectly on-trend for modern homes.
Thomas Belmont – traditionally crafted lighting.
Ohpopsi – give your rooms a focal point with wallpaper that will transform your rooms.
Mineheart – quirky interior design with a sense of fun that fuses the classic and the modern

Come along to one of our showhomes for more interior design ideas.

Keep a cool head in a heat wave

With the increasingly sunny days come soaring temperatures – at least that’s what we hope. And it looks like the weathermen have predicted a short heat wave to round off 'flaming June'.

Whilst it’s always nice to enjoy warm sunny weather, sometimes the heat can become oppressive. So, what are some good ways to keep you and your home cool during a heat wave?

We have pulled together our top 10 tips on keeping your home a cool haven:

1. If you can, avoid air conditioning – and it’s not normally required in the UK anyway.
2. Keep curtains and blinds closed during the day – and if you don’t have them you could also invest in some blackout blinds. Most of the heat coming into the home comes from solar gain via the windows.
3. Keep doors throughout the home open to allow air to circulate.
4. Make your own air conditioning unit. Place ice in a bowl and angle a fan behind it to blow cold air into the room.
5. Make sure you have plenty of cooling drinks on hand to regulate your body temperature.
6. Open your windows at night to allow cooler air to flow into your house.
7. Cook outdoors, weather permitting. This avoids adding to the ambient temperature of your home with heat from the oven or grill.
8. Don’t use your lighting, particularly when the sun is shining. The bulbs, especially incandescent bulbs, give off a lot of heat. The same is true of other electrical devices like laptops, PCs, games consoles and TVs. Switch them off and go and do something less boring.
9. When you have chores like laundry to do, try to do it at night. Appliances give off a lot of heat. The ambient temperature will generally be cooler at night.
10. Keep air outside cool. Take a tip from hot, dry countries like Morocco and Spain – install a water feature in the garden. This will create a wonderful cooling effect.

However you keep cool, enjoy the summer.

Giving nature a home...

… is the tagline for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). But giving nature a home is not just about feeding the birds.

You can create a garden that is ideal for wildlife but still be nice to look at and a space for the family to use as well.

The idea of a nature-friendly garden is to provide food and shelter for a variety of different species in order to improve biodiversity. After all, on new housing developments things can end up looking the same and seem a bit sterile.

The RSPB’s website has some great ideas for ways in which you can give nature a home in your own back yard. Its list of garden activities provides a comprehensive guide and has plenty of tips and advice for growing food for moths, making a home for frogs and toads or opening a bird café.

You can filter by your type of garden, what kinds of wildlife you want to help, the difficulty of the activity and how long it will take you to complete.

Here are some other things that you can consider:

• Build a swift box
• Build a bat box
• Build a bumble bee B&B
• Build a bug hotel
• Create a compost heap
• Grow an insect-friendly wildflower garden

It all depends on how creative you’re feeling. The website includes full details and instructions for each project.

Visit https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/ for details.

Our survey now gives you more chances to win!

We have extended the closing date for the survey into house-buying that we are running with our sister company Larkfleet Homes and leading media organisations.

You now have until 30 July to let us know what you think about houses and housebuilders – and to put your name into a draw to win £500.

We have created an online questionnaire here (www.tiny.cc/larkfleet-survey) to capture the thoughts and experiences of people who have bought – or who are trying to buy – a new home.

It takes less than ten minutes to complete and, as an incentive to take part, we are offering a £500 prize to one lucky winner. People who are willing to take part in a brief follow-up telephone survey will be entered into a second draw for an additional £500 prize.

Larkfleet Homes CEO Karl Hick said: “We are keen to hear from anyone currently searching for a new house or who has purchased a new house in the past twelve months.

“Whether your search and purchase involved a brand-new home or an established property, and whether you looked at a Larkfleet home or not, your views will help to shape the way we meet the needs of home buyers in the future.”

Enjoy the Summer Season with Allison Homes

At Allison Homes, we love the summer season – but we don’t like to slosh about in wellies in farmers' fields.

We are more focussed on the finer things. Here are some of the summer events that make up the traditional British Summer season which we think you may enjoy.

Nevill Holt Opera – 14-30 June - Features performances of Mozart’s La Nozze di Figaro and Thomas Ades’ Powder her Face. Click here for details and ticket information.

Glyndebourne – 19 May-26 August - Glyndebourne is quintessentially English and well-established as part of the summer season. It’s a must for all classical music fans. There is a programme of six operas during the course of the festival. Booking is now open.

Royal Ascot – 19-23 June - This is one of the world’s most famous horse racing meetings. Highlights include the Queen’s parade and fine horse racing. Visit the course website for more.

Wimbledon fortnight – 2-15 July - Enjoy tennis and strawberries and cream in South West London. Click here for more details.

Henley Royal Regatta – 4-8 July - This rowing event, held annually on the Thames, attracts thousands and is regarded as one of the most important social events of the season. Visit the regatta website to find out how you can join in.

Barclaycard British Summertime – 6-14 July - Set in London’s Hyde Park this music festival features the UK’s leading bands and singers. Organised by AEG Live the event features headline acts including Michael Buble and Bruno Mars.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed 12-15 July and the Goodwood Revival 7-9 September both celebrate the best in motorsport and automotive heritage past and present.

Dorset Seafood Festival – 14-15 July - It’s the UK’s largest free seafood festival. Visitors to Weymouth Harbour will be able to enjoy all kinds of sea food and see demonstrations from top chefs.

Qatar Goodwood Festival – 31 July-4 August -‘Glorious Goodwood’ is one of the flagship events of the season.

Cowes Week – 4-11 August - This is for all you sailing enthusiasts out there

Of course if you can’t visit any of these events there is plenty of coverage on the television and radio for armchair fans.

And our show homes are open all summer!

Pack the perfect picnic

As the Spring slowly gives way to Summer and the warm air is abuzz the Allison Homes team starts to venture into the great outdoors for picnics. What better way to enjoy the countryside or a local park than organising a lovely picnic with friends and family?

Pick a sheltered location in a dappled woodland glade, a wild flower meadow, next to babbling brook, river or canal, by a lake or on the Downs. We are spoiled for choice in the beautiful British countryside.

When you've found the ideal location, look around for a level spot that is not in an animal field or on top of an ants' nest for example.

What about the menu? It’s easy to fall back on pre-packed supermarket foods but try to avoid this if you can.

Food: The BBC Good Food website has some great ideas for packing the perfect picnic. Why not try some chorizo Scotch quails eggs, mini pork pies with piccalilli or a pork and rabbit pie.?

Take some salads. New potato with chives and spring onions is a classic. You could change it a bit and use sweet potato instead.

Chicken and chorizo combinations are great. Here are a few other recipes to give you some inspiration.

Take crusty bread and a nice ripe brie and pair then food with a cider to drink.

For desserts try summer fruit salads or Eton mess. What about water melon cut into chunks or a simple cake?

Drinks could include sparkling wines of your choice, a chilled rose or a full-bodied red, elderflower and cucumber G&Ts or Pimm’s. Or you could take some refreshing alcohol-free cordials.

Once you have planned your location and got your food together, you need to think about what you’re going to pack your picnic in and what utensils you will need.

A good blanket is essential. Pack your picnic into a classic wicker basket or use a more modern picnic set – especially good with an eye to food safety. John Lewis, Next, M&S and Joules all do some lovely classic wicker picnic sets.

If you want to go a little more up market try the Castleton Home set or Fortnum and Mason’s four person set.

For some more modern picnic-ware that won’t break the bank try Domu.

However good the location, the food and the company, you probably won't spend all day on your picnic - so why not fit a trip to a show home into your schedule for the day? Well, we would say that, of course - but, really, why not?

Classy treats for Fathers’ Day

Fathers’ Day is just around the corner. While it’s less well observed than Mothers’ Day, even us chaps deserve a bit of a pamper once in a while.

Fathers’ Day has its origins in the United States. There are two versions of the first Fathers’ Day.

According to some accounts, the first Father’s Day was celebrated in Washington state on June 19, 1910 after a lady called Sonora Smart Dodd came up with the idea of honouring and celebrating her Civil War veteran widowed father while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at church in 1909. He brought up six children by himself on their small farm in Washington. Sonora initially suggested June 5th, the anniversary of her father’s death to be the designated day to celebrate Father’s Day, but the celebration in Spokane, Washington was deferred to the third Sunday in June.

The other has it that the first Fathers’ Day was celebrated in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908 when Grace Golden Clayton suggested to the Methodist minister that services be held to celebrate fathers after a deadly mine explosion killed 361 men.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended that Father’s Day become a national holiday. But it wasn’t until 1966 that Lyndon B. Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as the official day to celebrate Father’s Day. It took another six years until Father’s Day was officially recognized as a national holiday in the US.

More recently other countries have followed suit and the third Sunday in June has been designated as Father’s Day in the UK and many other countries around the world.

Now you know a little of the origins of Father’s Day, here are a few ideas to help you give the dad in your life a bit of treat this coming Sunday.

Not on the High Street has plenty of ideas including loads of things for those on a budget.

The website Menkind has some unusual and classic gifts that your Dad might actually like.

The Independent has also published a list of fashionable gifts that are sure to go down well.

Books can also go down well. For the history buff the Top 10 has some interesting stuff including Arnhem by Anthony Beevor and Spitfire by Tom Holland. For the fiction lover there is Anthony Horowitz’ latest James Bond outing Forever and a Day, or Stephen King’s The Outsider.

And for the father who is relocating, why not have a look at one of our show homes and then take him out for a pub lunch?

Whatever you do have a great day! Happy Father’s Day from the team at Allison Homes.

The future of housebuilding?

At Allison Homes we like to think that we have got our fingers on the pulse when it comes to innovative house building.

But even we can’t beat the futuristic new houses that are set to be built in the city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands later this year.

The new houses will be built from concrete using 3D printing techniques. According to The Eindhoven University of Technology, which is behind the project, 3D-printing using concrete is a potential game changer in the building industry. It means that homes can be constructed in almost any shape or colour. New homes could be customised to each buyer’s requirements.

3D printing is also a highly sustainable method of construction because much less concrete is needed thereby reducing the CO2 emissions originating from cement production.

The first house, which will be a single-floor house, is expected to be ready for occupation mid-2019. The other four houses will be multi-storey houses. The concrete dwellings will be subject to normal building regulations and will meet the demands of current-day occupants concerning comfort, lay-out, quality and pricing.

The five houses will be built consecutively. The building elements of the first house will all be printed by the concrete printer at the university. As the project progresses the 3D concrete printing will be carried out on the construction site, further reducing CO2 emissions and transport costs associated with transporting materials to the site.

It will be some years before we’re building houses like this in the UK. But it gives you an insight into how the future of housebuilding is shaping up.

Allison Homes sponsors Priors Hall Right Royal Event

The team at Allison Homes is helping the Priors Hall Park Neighbourhood Committee put on a right royal event this weekend to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday.

The weekend of fun will kick off with a Mad Hatter’s Tea party from 3:30PM and 6:30PM. Fun for all the family will include a tea party with delicious food held in a themed marquee surrounded with Alice in Wonderland props.

There will be a fancy-dress competition with prizes for the best prince, princess and Alice in Wonderland character judged by DJ Charlie Stone.

Charlie will keep the tunes playing throughout the afternoon and there will be performances from local schools to keep everyone entertained. Other attractions will include children’s games and competitions, a bouncy castle, face painting, a street boules competition, ballroom, Latin and Salsa taster sessions.

For the thirsty there will be a licensed bar selling artisan beers and ciders and there will be stalls selling soft drinks, candy floss, chocolates and sweets, arts and crafts. There really is something for all the family.

There will also be a full programme of events in the evening including bands, solo artists and other performers staged in the Festival Amphitheatre from 6:30PM to 9:30PM. Bands include ‘North London’s number one party band Back to Square One, Jo Collins and Friends and acoustic duo Two Piece Temple.

A grand prize raffle will round off the evening.

Members of the Allison Homes team will be on hand throughout the afternoon to dish out goody bags.

Come along early to avoid missing out. We’ll see you there!