The photographs below were taken at various schools on Thursday and Friday, when children took part in various activities for World Book Day.

Children at St. Joseph's dressed up as characters from their favourite books, as did those at Gorsley Goffs.

At Lea primary, the theme was Little Red Riding Hood. The children were split into teams who made 'Food for Grandma' puppets for a puppet theatre and acted out the story, directed by Owen Calvert-Lyons, Education Officer for the Courtyard Theatre.

I have not been out 'nature watching' much this week due to illness but I did catch this rather distant shot of a grey heron in flight whilst walking the dog on Wednesday.

It was stated in the Ross Gazette last week that 16.6% of the local population in the HR9 Postcode work mainly from home. Others managing small businesses are no doubt located at their work place.

Regardless of where business people, entrepreneurs and the self-employed work from they probably need some sort of business support. It is clear that a need exists for an effective service of business support for these people. Rosemary Hemingway who owns and manages a couple of small businesses and who is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses has for some time been providing business support services.

Rosemary who founded Ashfield Care over 20 years ago is a well known local businesswoman. She has now formed Kern Business Support and already has local clients and some from neighbouring Counties. Kern Business Support, based at Kern Place, Alton Road (near the Royal Mail Delivery Centre) provides an extensive range of business support services. These include telephone answering and messages and secretarial support to small office and meeting rooms which are available to rent on an hourly basis.

Comprehensive information about all the services will shortly be found on the web site ­ www.wyenot.com. In the meantime business people should call Rosemary Hemingway on 01989 564429.

Bob Purvis