Hedgehog tip

Here's a random little tip for the winter months:! Hedgehogs are a welcome addition to any garden. They eat slugs, bugs and grubs. Hedgehogs need a helping hand in winter months. Traditionally they have been fed bread and milk, but they are lactose intolerant so this is not a good mix. They far prefer a plate of scrambled egg (without milk)! Try this at your own risk!! ;o)

Romantic Roses

Rosa Lovely Lady

My favourite flower, and indeed plant for the garden, is the Rose. No garden is complete without the roses’ fabulous blooms in summer. Not only does it give shape, form and colour, but also provides wonderful perfumes and conjures up the image of romance. I’m sure that most ladies all over the world have at some time received a bunch of roses that has brought a large delighted smile to their faces. In days gone by, even when I was young, it was very common to see a garden with at least one rose bed. Indeed my father started breeding roses from the early age of 13 and has built his success on growing roses for those rose beds. He is still growing roses to this day. These days fashions have changed and many gardens only house a standard rose, a climber or rambler for a pergola, or a rose whose name is for the remembrance of a special occasion or in memory of a loved one. Indeed customers tend to buy individual roses as presents. The most popular seem to be in celebration of weddings, birthdays and anniversaries such as Golden Wedding, Ruby Wedding, Silver Anniversary, Happy Birthday, Congratulations and many more. Roses for wedding presents are gaining in popularity too, named varieties such as the rambling Wedding Day which can grow up to 7 metres, the Bride, Special occasion, Honeymoon and many more.

The Royal National Rose Society whose patron was the Queen Mother was founded in 1876 (there is a rose named after the Queen Mother) but roses have been on the go much longer than that. Fossilized leaves have been found which suggest that roses were in existence some four million years ago, preceeding Man’s esistence. Roses from Asia spread into Europe over the centuries, but it was the Chinese that introduced roses from the 1790’s. These roses were the stock that made way for the many new colours and repeat flowering varieties, roses that we are used to seeing today. There are 6 countries that share the Rose as their national flower; England, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Iran, Luxembourg and Slovakia which just goes to show how well respected the flower is.

Today’s roses have generally been classified into eight categories, Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Shrub, Miniature / Patio, Old English, Climbing, Rambling, and Carpet/Ground Cover, each having own their own unique qualities. There are colours, shapes sizes, heights, and perfumes to suit everyone. Roses are fairly easy to look after, most varieties need to be pruned once and fed twice a year. Once the growing season has started one can spray to prevent any problems, then dead-head when the flowers are done and that’s pretty much it, easy peasie! So if you don’t have a rose in your garden, I suggest that you do try one, even in a pot on the patio for starters, you’ll not be disappointed.

written by Emma Horsfields from Horsfields Nursery, Pot House Hamlet
horsfields@pothousehamlet.co.uk

The Potting shed up and coming events

31st December - New years Eve Buffet and DJ

For further information please call the Potting Shed Café: Tel: 01226 792 525

Hamlet Christmas late night opening

Every Thursday in December


Thursday 6th Dec 10 am – 8 pm

Thursday 13th Dec 10 am – 8 pm

Thursday 20th Dec 10 am – 8 pm


Why not do a spot of late night festive shopping, choose your Christmas tree and treat yourself to a meal or drink in the Potting Shed

Sample day menu for the Potting Shed

Afternoon Tea For One
Tea or a coffee, sandwich of your choice excluding Hot Sandwiches
Homemade scone served with whipped cream and jam.
£7.95

Cream Tea for One
Accompanied by two scones
Served with whipped cream and jam
£4.95

Champagne Tea For Two
A selection of garnished sandwiches
Toasted teacakes
Fruitcake and Stilton cheese
Home made pastries
1/2 bottle Champagne
Tea or coffee
£32.00

Soup
Home made soup of the day served
with crispy bread
£4.10

Omelet
4 egg omelet with a filling of your choice. Please ask the staff for details.
£5.95



Jacket Potatoes

Oven - Baked Jacket Potatoes
All served with salad. All fillings are homemade

Cheese Savoury
Grated Cheese blended with peppers, spring
onion, mayonnaise and a hint of herbs
£4.95

Tuna and Lime Mayonnaise
Seasoned tuna with a lime mayonnaise and diced cucumber.
£4.95

Smoked Bacon and Yorkshire Blue Cheese
Smoked bacon, crumbled Yorkshire blue Stilton cheese
with a lemon zest, blended together with mayonnaise, and sliced red onion.
£5.25

Coronation Chicken
Diced chicken pieces with apricots pineapple, curried mayonnaise, sultanas and flaked almonds
£5.20


Special Sandwiches

Pear and Blue cheese
Sliced conference pear with grated Yorkshire blue cheese, oven baked and then grated on ciabatta bread, served with a salad.
£6.20

Steak Ciabatta
Sliced beef pan fried with onion and mushroom served on a fresh Ciabatta with homemade coleslaw and mixed leaf salad
£8.50

The Potting Shed Club
Rashers of smoked bacon and strips of chicken served on ciabatta bread with a Marie rose sauce, garnished with a crisp side salad
£7.95

Brie and Cranberry
Crisp Ciabatta layered with cranberry jelly, and French Brie. Served with a salad.
Also available with bacon at a £1 supplement
£6.20

B.L.T
Smoked bacon, lettuce and tomato. Served with mayonnaise
£6.75

Smoked salmon and fresh water prawn
Scottish smoked salmon and north Atlantic prawns bound with a Marie rose sauce on a crisp brioche loaf
£6.85

Brie with Apple and Peach
Sliced brie with apple and peach chutney served with a mixed leaf salad. Served cold
£6.20

Slow Roasted Duck Wrap
Gressingham duck braised in a hoi sin and ginger sauce shredded with cucumber and spring onion served in a wrap with salad.
£7.25

Chorizo Sausage and Misto Olives
Sliced chorizo sausage on a toasted ciabatta with a garlic olive tapenade and dressed leaves.
£6.50



Main Dishes

Haddock
Grilled Haddock fillet simply served with a pea purée and home cut chunky chips
£8.95

Kates Pasta Carbonara
Mushrooms, bacon lardons, peppers and onions fried with white wine, Parmesan and cream tossed through tagliatelle. Also available without bacon.
£8.50

Sirloin of Beef
8oZ Beef sirloin served with home cut chunky chips and a crisp side salad
£12.50

Wild Mushroom Risotto
Assorted mixed wild mushrooms tossed through risotto rice cooked with white wine cream and a hint of lemon.
£8.25

Swiss Burger
Homemade prime beef Burger topped with grilled mushrooms, bacon and mature cheese served on a fresh Ciabatta with side salad and coleslaw
£7.95

Lasagna
A traditional bolognaise layered with pasta and béchamel, topped with mozzarella and served with a dressed side salad and garlic bread
£8.95

Linguini of Salmon
Flaked Scottish salmon tossed with chilli and lime sauce and parmesan shavings.
£9.50

Fillet of Beef Skewers
Marinated in a honey, Soya sesame and poppy seeds served on a bed of egg fried noodles
£9.50

Thai Spiced Chicken
Diced chicken breast marinated in a Thai spice with coconut and mango rice.
£9.45

Salads

Warm Chicken & Bacon Salad
Chicken and bacon sizzled
together with a honey and mustard dressing,
served on a bed of crispy lettuce,
tomatoes, peppers and cucumber.
£8.50

Silkstone Salad
Scottish smoked salmon, prawns, cucumber and a mixed leaf salad with a lime and coriander dressing and a hint of fresh lemon.
£8.95

Greek Feta Cheese Salad
Diced Greek feta, cos salad leaves with sun blushed tomatoes and misto olives
£7.95


Side Orders
Chipped Potatoes £2.50
Garlic Bread £1.50
Side Salad £2.25
Bowl of olives £1.85
Coleslaw £1.45


Cakes

Toasted Tea Cake
£1.35

Warm Croissant with Butter and Jam
£1.45

Warm Croissant with warm chocolate sauce
£2.25

Fruity Banana Loaf
Mrs. Clare Horsfield's recipe
£1.95

Sunflower Flapjack
Made to another of Clare Horsfield's recipes
£1.95

Scone Jam and Cream
Sultana scone served with jam and cream
£2.45

Scone and butter
£1.95

Caramel Slice
£2.20

Bakewell Slice
£1.95

Chocolate Brownie with cream
£2.90


Sandwiches

All sandwiches can be served on white, granary or
wholemeal bread and are accompanied with a side salad

Chicken & Salad Sandwich
Chicken breast, mixed lettuce leaves, peppers, tomatoes and cucumber, served with tomato chutney
£5.85

Smoked Bacon and Yorkshire Blue Cheese
Smoked bacon, crumbled Yorkshire blue Stilton cheese with a
lemon zest, blended together with mayonnaise and sliced red onions.
£5.20

Tuna and Lime Mayonnaise
Seasoned tuna with a lime mayonnaise and diced cucumber.
£4.95

Coronation Chicken
Diced chicken pieces with apricots pineapple, curried mayonnaise, sultanas and flaked almonds
£4.95

Prawn and Avocado
Freshwater prawns and avocado puree blended with a spicy pot house dressing.
£6.75

Cheese Savory
Grated cheese, spring onion & diced
Peppers mixed in a creamy mayonnaise sauce
£4.95

Yorkshire Ham and Piccalilli
Sliced Yorkshire Ham with home-made piccalilli
£4.95

Ice Cream Sundaes

All soft vanilla Ice Cream

Knickerbocker Glory £4.95

Kate's Special Sundae £4.95

Banana Split £3.95

Choc -o - Nut Sensation £3.95

Teddy Bear's Picnic £2.65

Coco the Clown £2.65

Create your own Ice Cream Choice of Toppings: Raspberry, Strawberry, Caramel, Chocolate Kiwi, Hazelnuts, Chocolate Crunchy Drops, Fruity crunchy

Drops, Crunchy Crystals, Marshmallows ,

Small Plain £2.50

Small £2.95

Medium £3.95

Large £4.95

Side Orders
Chipped Potatoes £2.50
Garlic Bread £1.50
Side Salad £2.25
Bowl of olives £1.85
Coleslaw £1.45

Children’s Meals

Soup and A Roll £2.95

Omelette with your choice of filling, without salad. £3.95

Sandwiches Without salad £3.50

Plain grated Cheese, Tuna Mayo, Ham, Bacon Jacket Potatoes £3.50

Beans, Plain Cheese, Tuna Mayo Cheese and Beans £4.00

Pasta served in a cream sauce with cheese on top £3.50

Main meal + Tub of ice cream + child’s drink= £4.95

The Potting Shed Festive menu

Why not book your christmas party at the Potting shed though December on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings.

Starters

Warm Poached chicken on a new potato stack with a
Soft free range poached egg and dressed with a mint hollandaise.

Salad of Cassis Poached Pear
With hazelnuts and rocket, wholegrain mustard and honey dressing.

Chilled Seared Duck Breast
Served pink over a marinated beetroot salad

Well of Melon
Filled with mulled wine poached figs and a rich port syrup

Fresh Water Tiger Prawns
Tossed through a lightly spiced seafood sauce, placed on a mixed leaf and fresh herb salad.

Cream of Honey Roasted Pumpkin and Chestnut Soup.

Main Courses

Roasted Turkey
With apricot and sage stuffing, mini Cumberland sausage and fresh cranberry jus.

Supreme of Chicken
Served with chestnut and stilton stuffing and a port sauce.

Herb Crusted Lamb
Stuffed with rosemary and red currents

Roasted Halibut
With Confit garlic and spinach mash with white wine and dill volute

Spinach and Field Mushroom Puff pastry Tart (v)
With plum tomato and basil sauce

Wild Mushrooms, Leek and Honeyed Butternut Squash Strudel (v)

All the main dishes are served with seasonal panache of vegetables, nutmeg scented Brussels sprouts and roasted potatoes.

Desserts

Trio of British cheese, with biscuits, grapes and celery.

Mille Feuille of Chocolate with spiced red wine syrup

Individual Christmas Pudding with a vanilla and brandy anglaise

Glazed Orange Tart with cinnamon ice cream

Chocolate and Cherry cheese cake served with kirsch anglaise.

Coffee and Mints

£26.50 per person

Top Ten Pookie Fashion tips for Autumn

1. Deep Purple and klein blue

2. Chunky Knits

3. Patent shoes, Booties and Mary Janes

4. Shift Dresses

5. Hats all shapes and sizes

6. The clutch bag

7. Coloured Tights

8. A touch of Leather

9. Wide leg Trousers

10. High waisted Skirts and Trousers