Herald - Issue 389

4th June 2020 • The HERALD • Page 27 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v 38 Pylewell Road, Hythe, Southampton, Hants SO45 6AQ Tel: (023) 8084 1000 Fax: (023) 8084 5651 www.hythevets.co.uk An Independent Local Practice The Pet Healthcare Centre ANIMAL MAGIC Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has launched a new survey to nd out what lifestyle changes local people would choose to keep once restrictions are li ed and if there are lessons from lockdown that businesses and government should consider as they plan for recovery. ere have been some reports in recent weeks of people enjoying cleaner air, noticing bird song and recognising the importance of getting outside to help deal with the pressures of this pandemic. Other surveys have found that only 9% of people want to return to the way things were pre-lockdown and many are calling for a ‘Green Recovery’, that better balances the needs of people and planet. e Wildlife Trust would love to hear from people across the two counties about their hopes for the future. Debbie Tann, Chief Executive at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “Lockdown has forced a pause in the pace of so-called normal life and we have witnessed some signs of wildlife enjoying the space to breathe. But let’s not kid ourselves, while nature may be enjoying a temporary respite, it’s not in recovery yet. When this crisis is over, nature will still be in decline. The threat to humanity from climate and ecological breakdown mustn’t be side-lined. We need local people to tell us what they think a new normal should look like and help us to push for a better, wilder future.” In response to the climate and ecological emergency, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust launched their ‘Wilder 2030’ plan at the end of last year, calling for a third of land and sea to be given for wildlife, as well as measures to reduce the pressure on nature in the wider countryside and urging many more people to take action for nature’s recovery. e Wildlife Trust believes that, following the very rapid and dramatic changes that have happened across the world in the past few months, governments, businesses and individuals must ensure that we ‘build back’ in a way that creates a stronger, healthier and more resilient society and economy for everyone’s sake. To take part in this survey and share your views, visit www.hiwwt. org.uk/get-involved/ looking-after-yourself- and-nature/after-crisis- what-happens-next Wildlife Trust Wants to Hear What You Think a ‘New Normal’ Should Look Like NATION TURNS TO HOME-BAKING DURING LOCKDOWN AS CHEESE SCONES TOP RECIPE LIST WITH 3,009% INCREASE Visits to National Trust home bake recipes during lockdown jumps by 891%. Cheese scones, apple and rhubarb crumble, fruit scones and sponge cake tops list of most popular bakes. Cheese scone recipe increases by 3009% compared to last year. e nation has turned to baking to cope with the lockdown with cheese scones, apple and rhubarb crumble and sponge cake topping the list of favourites, according to the National Trust. Recipe downloads on the charity’s website show that since the country was locked down in mid-March, visits to home bake pages have increased by almost 900% compared with the same time last year. Cheese scones are top of the list with more than 54,000 people visiting the page in the rst four weeks of lockdown – an increase of 3,009% on last year. Coming in at second place is apple and rhubarb crumble with nearly 15,000 visits (an increase of 581%) and the popular National Trust fruit scone is in third place at almost 10,000 visits (an increase of 737%). It appears more ‘complicated’ recipes have languished at the bottom of the pile, with treats like salted caramel mousse seeing a fall in visits. Matt Drew, the Trust’s Head of Food and Beverage, said: “The lockdown seems to be rekindling our love of regional top ve lists included: Hampshire: Apple and rhubarb crumble, fruit scones and apjacks Figures revealing what people nationally are looking for on internet search engines show that recipes have increased by almost a third compared to last year, with cheese scones taking the country by storm with a 174% increase in recipe searches. To sample a taste of the National Trust at home during lockdown visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/recipes baking as more comforting, nostalgic recipes come out on top, with crumbles and sponges taking the place of what some may see as lighter or more contemporary bakes like lemon drizzle and chocolate orange bread twists. Even though the Trust has closed its places to help stop the spread of coronavirus, we’ve been encouraging our supporters to enjoy the huge amounts of inspiring content we have on our websites, including our recipes – and it seems to be paying off. I’ve always believed food is at the heart of relationships and family life, and this huge increase in recipe searches reflects that. With children at home and trips out of the house for essentials only, home baking is a brilliant way of not only keeping us fed, but also having fun and creating joyful memories at a challenging time. While we know some ingredients are tricky to get hold of at the moment, like flour and eggs, it’s great to see so many people enjoying their time at home with some traditional baking, and what better thing can there be than the smell of freshly baked cake or scones wafting through your house.” ere has also been some interesting regional variations. While many places across the UK saw similar recipes hitting the top spots, exceptions in Cheese scones ©National Trust Images, William Shaw Hidden Heroes One of the NHS top doctors has paid tribute to the many veterans who are working as ‘hidden heroes’ in the NHS e orts to tackle the virus. To date the world-leading services have improved the lives of thousands of former services personnel supporting their physical and mental health needs for those who struggle with civilian life. While a growing number of veterans have been referred for help year-on- year, latest data indicates a drop in the number of people reaching out to specialist services in April. But despite the coronavirus outbreak help is still available and has been adapted to o er more digital services, including video consultations with psychotherapists and support by phone, in response to social distancing rules and travel restrictions in place. e NHS lead for armed forces’ health has issued a timely call urging veterans to seek help as dedicated services remain open for business. Kate Davies CBE, Director of Armed Forces at NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: “The VE Day commemorations were a reminder of the remarkable difference our armed forces have made to our country throughout history and the contribution they continue to make today on the NHS frontline in the fight against coronavirus. At a time when we are facing significant uncertainty and long periods of isolation which can be particularly worrying, it has never been more important for veterans to reach out if they need support– help is available – with new digital offers which ex-personnel are already benefiting from.” e NHS is committed to making sure that every veteran gets the best possible support for their physical and mental health with dedicated services available for those who struggle with civilian life including targeted mental health services for veterans. ese include the NHS Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), which identi es and treats mental health needs early, and the NHS Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS), which gives intensive support to those with military-related complex mental health concerns not improved by earlier care and treatment. Since the TILS service was launched in April 2017 it has had over 11,000 referrals up to May 2020, while there have been almost 1,500 CTS referrals in total up to April 2020. Both o er local community-based support ranging from therapeutic treatment for complex challenges or trauma, to helpmeeting wider needs that can have an impact on mental health, such as physical health, employment, housing, nances, social relationships and drug and alcohol misuse. Following the announcement last month, the Government have issued guidance to help employers, employees and the self-employed understand how to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance is issued across eight sectors/work environments and includes information about social distancing, cleaning the work area and workforce management. It is important that businesses and individuals consider all those which may apply to them especially where they may be working across more than one location. Guidance can be accessed at www.gov. uk/guidance/working-safely-during- coronavirus-covid-19 Working Safely During Covid-19