Spring in the Garden PONDS IN SPRING


WITH warm weather imminent, this is the time to clean out any garden ponds that were not attended to during the Autumn, which is the preferred season for pond maintenance. In the case of wildlife ponds, amphibians such as frogs and newts will start to congregate to breed and once the spawn and eggs have been depos- ited it is inadvisable to disturb the pond until later in the year when the breeding cycle has finished and young animals have left the water. The only exception to this rule


is when the pond becomes so pol- luted through neglect that the water turns stagnant and de-oxy- genated. In these conditions most of the animals and some of the plants will actually die unless the pond is emptied and cleaned out and the water changed. These conditions are also fatal to fish


and can be detected when the pond actually begins to smell bad even though the water is undis- turbed. If a pond is maintained regu-


larly and thoroughly every year or two – and different ponds vary in their maintenance intervals, it should rarely be necessary to empty the pond and change the water as the various aquatic plants should help to keep the pond fresh. However, I have noticed that ponds with large fish popula- tions can build up considerable deposits of silt even when a filtra- tion system is in operation and this will eventually necessitate emptying and re-filling the pond. M L Jones


(Wildlife Ponds)


ENJOY YOUR GARDEN AS winter becomes a distant


memory and we move well and truly into Spring your garden is beginning to come to life, and for those fair weather gardeners


WILDLIFE PONDS


Water Garden Services • Established in 1985 • Specializing in Wildlife ponds • New Ponds built from scratch • Ponds Relined or Repaired • Ponds cleaned out or renovated • Ponds planted out


Covering The Norwich and Ipswich Areas


Tel: 01502 478140 Please call Mark Daytime & Evenings


The Lilacs, St Michaels Way, Wenhaston, Halesworth, IP19 9EH


amongst us now is the time to head outside and get involved. We, at the Community News, would encourage our readers to use reputable local suppliers such as those on this page. Please don't be afraid to ask for help and advice when shopping for new plants. No one knows what will thrive better than the knowledge- able staff at your local garden centre. A gorgeous garden makes the perfect place to entertain guests, enjoy some al fresco din- ing with family and friends or perhaps just relax with a cool drink on a lazy summer day. Please remember that your gar-


den is also home to a great many other creatures. If you are so inclined, put out bird feeders to encourage winged visitors. Now is the time they are nesting so it won't be long before they have many hungry mouths to feed, you will be doing them a great service by simply topping up your bird feeder and in return you get to watch many beautiful different species in your garden. I reckon to having around 10 different regu- lar visitors to my little patch of wilderness. Look out for bee friendly plants and try to get a few scattered around your flower beds. It is well documented that bee numbers are in decline so any help we can offer is invaluable. Perhaps, like me, you enjoy


Garden Landscape Supplies


SAND, BALLAST & CEMENT RECLAIMED RAILWAY SLEEPERS FENCING DECORATIVE AGGREGATES TOPSOIL


NATURAL STONE PAVING FROM £17.55 + VAT + VAT £19.50 m2


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cooking freshly picked fruit and veg. Well, the shear variety of what you can grow in your own garden is staggering. Again, ask the experts at you local centre about what grows well in local conditions but you should find you are able to grow more runner beans, and courgettes than you can eat. In the greenhouse, toma- toes, cucumbers, peppers, chilli's and salad are all easily grown and cared for. This really is a wonderful time


of year so get out there and make your mark.


David Burns Community News


Modern Dog Reward Based Dog Training by Pauline Hamilton and Alex Wilson


WOODBRIDGE natural pet store, The World of Pets prides itself in the fact that most of its staff are dog training instructors and always keen to offer advice and help with issues relating to dogs. Our instructors are also available to offer one to one help if it is required. The World of Pets instructors Pauline Hamilton and Alex Wilson look at modern methods of dog training. Dog Training has certainly


changed over the years. In the past the choke chain was com- monplace. If your dog wasn’t walking properly you would “check” him by giving a sharp tug on the lead. There is no doubt that this method works, but why would we do it to our best friend? Not knowing any better, the dogs behaved because they had to, they didn’t enjoy training and relation- ship between the dog and owner was not a partnership, this was compulsion training. In dog training terms, we talk


about the four quadrants of oper- ant conditioning. Positive rein- forcement or R+ is adding some- thing nice so that the dog antici- pates a reward or something pleasurable. Positive punishment (P+) adding something unpleas- ant that will cause anxiety or fear; negative reinforcement (R-) with- holding something nasty that will cause either anxiety or relief and finally negative punishment (P-) withholding things that are nice that can cause anticipation or even frustration. Today positive reinforcement


training (R+) is far more com- monplace, most modern trainers will use food, toys and praise to reward dogs for the correct choic- es and they go on to repeat these behaviours. The main difference is that we are not forcing our dogs to do anything; we ask them to sit for example and then reward them, usually with food or a toy. Dogs will repeat behaviours


which are rewarded, in fact they progress through each day mak- ing choices based on what has


been rewarded in the past. Non- desirable behaviours should either be ignored or re-directed. It certainly does not mean that dogs can do whatever they please! Positive reinforcement training


builds the relationship between you and your dog. Most of us want our dogs to be our compan- ions - part of the family and this can only be achieved through positive reinforcement training. Instead of punishing incorrect behaviour such as indoor toileting or jumping up, you reward the correct behaviour and you will be successfully communicating what you want. In other words, teaching a wanted behaviour is far better than punishing an unwant- ed behaviour and the dog learns that it is more rewarding for them to offer up a behaviour that is rewarded. This will also avoid creating


problems such as aggression, which can easily be fuelled by physical punishment, fear or frus- tration.


One of the great things about


positive reinforcement training is that your children can also get involved in training your dog. We all want our dogs to come


when called, and if the dog is rewarded for coming they are more likely to want to come back, even around distractions in the park or on the beach etc. This is because the recall is a refection on the relationship you have with your dog. The World of Pets is thrilled to


be sponsoring two, one day Tell- ington TTouch training work- shops on Easter Sunday and Eas- ter Monday in Ipswich - details can be found at www.theworldof- pets.com Useful websites: www.


theworldofpets.com www.top- streetdogtraining.co.uk www. dogt rainingcol lege.co.uk www.xtradog.training apdt.co.uk


www.


Pauline Hamilton and Alex Wilson


Martlesham Brass


MARTLESHAM Brass will be hoping the sun shines on April 23rd when they will be taking part in the St George’s Day Parade in Felixstowe. A date for you diary - our


Spring Concert on Saturday 20th May at 7pm in St Michaels’ Church Centre, Martlesham, Heath. Our special guest will be Alan Fernie, who composed ‘Sound of St Michael’s’ for our 20th Birthday. More details to follow. We would love to hear from


new players, young and old, with or without experience. Our aim is to encourage anyone who feels they would like to play in a brass band to come and have a go! If you would like to join us, or if you already play or have previ- ously played a brass instrument and would like to come along and meet us, please contact Liz Howard (Publicity Officer) e_m_howard@talk21.com,


01473 625617 or via the website www.martleshambrass.co.uk Registered Charity No


1100922.


The Turban Centre 8 Hamblin Walk Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1DE


01394 386739


sales@creaseyswoodbridge.co.uk www.creaseyswoodbridge.co.uk


APRIL 2017


WOOD 11


037828


03134869


371792


045103371665 045103


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