WICKFORD will get greener from today with the planting of more than 1,000 new trees in the Memorial Park.

Some 1,500 saplings will be planted to create new woodland in the park on Rettendon View.

The trees will be introduced as part of the Woodland Trust's Jubilee Woods Project, in which six million saplings will be planted across the country.

This follows Basildon Borough Council's £1 million application for funding for the park to restore the Avenue of Remembrance, refurbish the offices and pavilion and improve access.

The park, which was created in 1949, is the largest of its kind in the UK and recently became home to a new war memorial.

John Tucker, director of woodland creation at the Woodland Trust, said: "The project has been incredibly successful in creating links with landowners such as Basildon Council to help us towards our aim of increasing native woodland cover across the country.

"It's also great to get the public out planting trees, hopefully providing them with an experience they will take away forever."

The project has been funded through the Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme.

Steve Prewer, manager of countryside operations and development at Basildon Council, said: "The trees selected to be planted are ones which have natural provenance to this part of Essex.

"There will be English oak, wild cherry, hornbeam and crab apple trees to suit the clay soil.

"The planting, which will involve local school children, will be using young trees known as whips that are about a metre in height.

"The reason for starting with smaller trees is because the older they are the longer they take to establish themselves. If they're young they are very quick to establish.

"There will be footpaths running through the area so that visitors can enjoy the wildlife and evolving woods first hand."

Hilltop Junior School, on Hill Avenue, will be taking part in the planting as well as Wickford Junior School, on Market Road.

Jo Lane, spokesman for Hilltop Junior School, said: "We are delighted to be involved and will be taking the gardening committee on the day. The group involves 21 pupils from Years Three to Six and at the moment we are creating our own garden in the school.

"They are very excited and are looking forward to getting their wellies on and starting the planting."

Councillor Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and arts at Basildon Council, said: "This project follows the recent announcement of plans to restore the park.

"The plans will see improvements made to the facilities on offer within the park, and this project will complement this by improving the ecology of the area.

"It's great that local schools have been able to get involved through the Jubilee Woods project, and I hope they will continue to engage as the wider park improvements take shape."

TWO feuding brothers have been ordered by a court to share the proceeds of the sale of their late mother's house in Billericay.

London's High Court was told that Nick Schrader, 62, had such "hatred" for his brother Bill, two years his junior, that he unlawfully tricked his mother into leaving him her £350,000 home near Billericay.

However, Mr Justice Mann invalidated the 2006 will of his mum, Jessica Schrader, who died in January 2008 aged 88.

Nick Schrader was ordered to pay the estimated £110,000 legal costs of the four-day court battle which ended on March 11.

The judge ruled that the "violent" and "irrational" elder brother had used "undue influence" on his mother to get her to make the 2006 will.

Under the terms of that will, he kept the home he shared with her, Southend Farm House, near Billericay, to himself.

Yet the judge found in favour of an earlier will from 1990 which shared the estate equally between the brothers.

In his ruling against Nick Schrader, the judge said Bill Schrader may have been at times "cavalier" but accepted his evidence that inequality of treatment between the brothers by their parents "did not exist".

The judge said: "Nick's personality is an important factor.

"He was a forceful man with a forceful physical presence.

"Nick's keenly felt view that he had not been treated equally with his brother is an important point.

"He would be more inclined to try to even things up."

The judge added: "He had clear views about his entitlement to his inheritance."

Now the farmhouse will have to be sold and the proceeds split equally between the brothers.

VINTAGE designer clothing for women of all shapes, ages and sizes will soon be on sale at a new garden centre boutique named after one of the county's most in-vogue canines.

Fashionista Laura Healy, 23, opened Princess and Pugs in Wickford on March 19 after spotting what she believes to be a gap in the market.

Now, along with her pug Ivy, she is looking forward to getting to know the locals and supplying them with the "feminine, girly things" they might need.

Miss Healy, who is from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, moved to Essex with her partner in December and thought that Wickford would be the ideal place to set up her shop – a business which, she insists, will not just cater for those aged 25 or under.

After setting up home in Laindon, she found a unit at the Alpha Garden Centre on London Road and fell in love with the place.

"It's quite a quirky building with a thatched roof which is just how I wanted it," Miss Healy said.

"Princess and Pugs will sell second-hand designer clothes for women of all sizes, ages and tastes.

"Lots of places only focus on high-end garments but I want a variety and don't want to just cater for 25-year-olds."

Miss Healy previously worked from home selling second-hand clothes online.

"I get my clothes from all over the place, from flea markets in Paris and auctions to private sellers," she explained.

"As far as I know, there are no other shops around here which sell both vintage and modern pre-loved clothes so there's a gap in the market.

"I chose the name Princess and Pugs as I'm a little bit obsessed with pugs and have one myself, named Ivy.

"They're also very current and particularly popular in Essex.

"I also think people associate fashion with the word princess – with feminine, girly things."

She added: "I think Wickford will be a great place to be based."

Miss Healy has long wanted to run her own business and since leaving school after finishing her A-levels she decided not to go to university and focused her efforts on starting up her own enterprise.

She has run the business from home since she was 20, before then working in administration.

She said: "I will be running the shop entirely by myself and, although it is daunting, I believe it's people starting up small business like this which will pull us out of the recession.

"I love interacting with people and it's that that shines through – there's nothing worse than seeing someone working in a shop who looks like they would rather be anywhere else than there."

Miss Healy will also run private clothes parties and home visits on request.

If clothes she has bought from private buyers are not sold within four weeks she will sell them at a reduced rate with all takings donated to The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.

Miss Healy has a personal connection to the charity as her brother died of cot death when she was a toddler.

She said: "Anything I can do to help them I will and this is the best way I can do that."

The shop can be found at Unit 14, at the Alpha Garden Centre, in London Road. It will be open between 9.30am and 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

Visit www.princessandpugs.co.uk

ONCE a disco diva, now a graceful ballerina – a switch in dance styles has led a 12-year-old Billericay girl to the stage of a top London theatre.

Scarlett Mann is excited about taking part in the London Children's Ballet's 2013 production at Sadler's Wells Theatre next month.

Following a tough audition process, Scarlett was picked for a part in The Secret Garden, choreographed by the Royal Ballet's Érico Montes.

The former Buttsbury Junior School pupil has been winning medals on the ballet festival circuit since she focused on the form of dance at the age of nine.

Her decision came after she made it to national level in disco dancing, becoming the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) Nationwide Medallist of the year for under 9s in November 2009.

Scarlett said: "I loved disco but felt I had gone as far as I could so decided to concentrate on ballet. I really enjoy it. I have been dancing since the age of two."

The youngster, who goes to Chelmsford County High School for Girls, heads to London every Sunday for rehearsals – on top of the three other dance classes she attends each week at the Central School of Dance and Drama at the Brentwood United Reformed Church in New Road.

In London she rehearses with youngsters from across the south east in preparation for the production at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre from April 25 to 28.

Scarlett said: "I think I'm the only girl from Essex so I have made a lot of new friends, meeting people from across the country.

"I'm sure I'll be nervous nearer the time of the performance, but for the moment I am so excited.

"I have received so much support from school and my friends, which is helping me stay calm."

Mum Rebecca Mann, a journalist, said: "Over the years Scarlett has taken classes in so many dance styles: Latin, ballroom, rock and roll, freestyle and ballet.

"She reached the point where she needed to specialise and chose ballet."

Tickets can be bought by visiting www.sadlerswells.com or calling 0844 412 4322.

THE alleged killer of teenager Luke Harwood threatened to murder another man if he didn't help clean up the bloodstains, a court has heard.

Billy Duggan, 21, said he believed he was next after James Danby, 27, allegedly kicked and stamped 18-year-old Luke to death.

Duggan played no part in the attack on Luke at a council house in Crow Lane, Romford, but he was taken to the scene and was so horrified by what he saw that he threw up.

He told an Old Bailey jury on Thursday: "I honestly thought Danby would kill me the same way he killed Luke.

"That's what he had said to me."

The court heard that Danby attacked Luke after a woman wrongly claimed he had raped her.

After allegedly beating him at the house, it is claimed Danby took Luke to a field off Broadmead Road, in Woodford Green, where his head was stamped on so severely it flattened "like a marshmallow".

Duggan said he was told to help clean up the bloodstains from Luke's room at the house and complied because he was so terrified of Danby.

"There was blood on a corner of the mattress," he recalled. "I was ordered to clean the corner of the bed."

Asked why he did not run away, he replied: "I was never out of that man's sight. Everywhere I went he was there also. I would not have made it to the front door – I know that for a fact."

Duggan said he was driven to the scene by Emma Hall, 21, accompanied by Danby and Tony O'Toole, 29.

At the scene he said he saw Luke's body under a mattress several yards away.

"All I could see was an arm hanging out one side of the mattress and his feet hanging out the bottom," Duggan told the court.

"Jay pointed out a massive patch of blood on the floor. You could see brain."

He said Danby told him that was where he had stamped on Luke's head.

He added: "He started to laugh and joke about it. I looked away and started to vomit."

Duggan said previously he was not sure whether Luke was really dead but "that's when it hit me," he told the court.

He said they went back to Crow Lane but he claimed Danby wanted to go back to the body to cut off Luke's fingers and pull out his teeth.

"He was laughing and joking about cutting Luke's head off," said Duggan.

"It was horrific. It was something I didn't want to do."

It is alleged that Danby took three kitchen knives and later collected several pairs of pliers and they got in the car again.

Duggan claimed Danby then put a knife to his face and warned: "I'm going to kill you."

But on the journey they were stopped by the police and arrested.

"I was relieved," said Duggan. "I did start crying and that when I was in the police van.

"Part of me was happy to be away from James, knowing this man cannot get to me and do the things he said."

Danby, Hall, O'Toole and Jovan Roberts, 28, all deny murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Hall, Danby, O'Toole, Duggan and Khalid Hassan, 20, all deny perverting the course of justice.

All the defendants lived at the bungalow in Crow Lane.

The trial continues.

GETTING one's hair dyed is not normally something worth worrying about, but one woman was feeling rather nervous before visiting a Brentwood salon.

Rosie Harlock, 20, had requested a full head of highlights but there was something unusual about the hairdresser's technique. Michelle Mack, 36, coloured Miss Harlock's hair blindfolded.

The risky challenge was taken last Friday to raise money for Comic Relief at The Lounge, 41 Kings Road.

Miss Harlock, of Harold Wood, said: "I'm feeling apprehensive as I've never had my hair coloured before and only recently let the hairdresser cut it shorter.

"She hasn't told me exactly what she plans to do to but I know it will be bleached blond in places."

Miss Harlock, whose mother Sarah is a beautician at the salon, works for Aviva and they have said they will donate an additional £250 to what they raise. They have already taken around £300 for charity through clients, friends and family.

Miss Harlock added: "My mum and Michelle came up with the idea and they chose me because I don't have my hair coloured as it is really dark.

"It's going to be a difficult task, particularly as my hair is so thick and it will look really different – hopefully it goes OK."

Mrs Mack, who lives in Chelmsford Road, Shenfield, has run The Lounge since it opened six years ago. She decided she wanted to do the blindfolded challenge as it was something out of the ordinary.

She explained: "I am a bit nervous but I always say I could dye hair in my sleep. Well, we will soon find out.

"Rosie is always up for anything so she was the perfect candidate. I think there will be quite an audience and it should be hilarious to watch.

"It will take a good hour to do the highlights instead of the usual half hour. My blindfold is sitting ready and waiting."

Mrs added: "We've had lots of support from clients in the salon and also through Facebook and Twitter, and of course with family and friends.

"We will have the salon open as normal so it should be funny for them to watch the action."

Speaking to the Gazette after the procedure, Mrs Mack said it had gone surprisingly well.

She said: "It was a very interesting experience but Rosie looks great.

"It was hard to do, I had to have girls to guide me left and right otherwise there would be dye everywhere.

"There was a great atmosphere in the salon and was a good laugh."

Readers can still sponsor this off-the-wall challenge with all proceeds going to Comic Relief. To donate, contact Michelle Mack on 01277 232737.

CRAIG EDWARDS has slammed allegations of match-fixing in the Blue Square Bet South as "despicable".

It emerged last week that the FA had written to all 22 clubs in the league in the wake of "suspicious betting activity on a number of matches" in the division.

Bookmakers – including title sponsors Blue Square – subsequently did not take odds on the weekend's games involving Edwards' Billericay Town, Chelmsford City and AFC Hornchurch.

But the allegations left Edwards fuming – and he believes all three clubs have absolutely nothing to hide.

"In 15 years of managing, that has got to be the most despicable thing I've ever heard," Edwards raged.

"I'm telling you now, I know people at Chelmsford, I know people at Hornchurch and I know people here. There is absolutely no chance whatsoever that anyone's doing anything untoward.

"When you see such a lovely club as this having aspersions like that thrown at it, it's despicable."

The FA have not charged anyone as yet over the alleged incidents, insisting in a statement they are "continuing to work together with the Gambling Commission's Sports Betting Intelligence Unit in further assessing the evidence regarding these suspicious betting patterns".

But Edwards, whose side were unlucky to lose 2-1 to leaders Welling United at New Lodge on Saturday, also sprung to the defence of the other two Essex clubs whose names have become linked to the story.

"Anything like that at this club is whiter than white," he added. "Anyone who ever thought that me or any of my players would ever do anything for a few quid extra, they've never met me.

"I know Jimmy McFarlane at Hornchurch and his players are the same, and I know Glenn [Pennyfather] and his players are the same at Chelmsford.

"And to throw that at our three clubs because people have looked at it and thought "there's something going on there", it's disgraceful, and I feel so strongly about it.

"What they want to kick out of football is the gambling. Get that out of it and you've got no corruption at all."

Edwards was also far from happy with the FA's appeals process after losing defender Rob Swaine for three games following his red card at Havant & Waterlooville.

The Blues received footage of the incident after the deadline to appeal his ban, meaning it could not be overturned.

"It's the worst decision I've seen," he added. "It's on the video, we wanted to appeal it and we ran out of time. "

LUCIANO BACHETA has set his sights on a successful season after signing up to race in AutoGP for 2013.

The 22-year-old will drive for the Zele Racing team in the worldwide series, which kicks off in Italy this weekend.

Brentwood's Bacheta won the Formula Two Championship last season, and had set his sights on earning a drive in GP2, but eventually signed up for AutoGP – a championship previously won by current Formula 1 stars Felipe Massa and Romain Grosjean.

"I'm finally sorted," he said. "It's been a pretty hectic winter, going from one thing to another, but it's good to get it sorted at this late stage.

"I was always aiming for GP2 and we got ridiculously close, but just didn't have the full commitment from the sponsors.

"AutoGP is still good, it's a much more powerful car than I've driven, I'll learn a lot and it'll be good preparation."

Bacheta is straight into racing when he heads to the Monza track this weekend for the first of eight races, which includes events at Silverstone and Donington Park.

And although it will be his first run in his new wheels, he is hoping to make an instant impression.

He added: "I'm going to be learning a lot but I know Monza, I've done well there and I'll never turn up at a track without thinking we'll be able to go for a result.

"With GP2 it's got a really specific tyre which takes a bit of time to learn, but with AutoGP it's a more conventional tyre so I should be able to go in and go straight for a podium.

"It's had some good drivers and you learn a lot from it. The car is really quick, it's got a lot of grip and they've updated the car this year so it's about two seconds quicker than it was before.

"I've got the engineer who worked with Romain Grosjean [when he won the title in 2010] so that's really good."

His Austria-based Zele team have not been regular winners in the series over recent years, but Bacheta is hoping to be part of a successful and consistent side.

He said: "They've shown really good signs of speed but not over the whole season, but with a consistent driving setup I'm sure we can do well.

"It's more about the engineering team and mine are proven to be good in AutoGP so we should be ok."

With the Formula 1 season having kicked off on Sunday in Melbourne, the issue of pay drivers has been a big one, with Max Chilton – who Bacheta beat in the T Cars tournament seven years ago – among them.

And Bacheta admits it is a tricky issue for young drivers looking to make their way in the top flight of motorsport.

"You've got to be quick as well and I think that's where it gets a little bit confusing," he added.

"You do need to have a lot of speed and a lot of backing. It is frustrating for me because I have shown signs of a lot of speed and even when I tested Formula 1 it went pretty well and I'd like to think that had it been five or ten years ago something would have come of it, but now unless you come to the table with millions, it's very hard to get a drive.

"Most of our effort is put into getting sponsorship.

"Eventually the cream will always rise to the top, but there are definitely people shortcutting the system."

A SUPERMARKET in Brentwood marked Red Nose Day with several activities, securing a total of £4,000.

Workers at Sainsbury's in William Hunter Way danced, dressed up and raffled their way to an impressive total.

Customer service manager James Bullock said: "There is more money coming and on the day just from customers we raised £2,200, which is fantastic.

"We had a superhero theme on Friday and Harlequin Too kindly donated a SuperTed and Batman costume.

"There was a £50 hamper raffled off, a pinball game and we held a Wii dancing night earlier in the week.

"Money is still coming in as we offer a recycling service for old red noses.

"They can be turned into carpet underlay instead of ending up as landfill."

A MOTHER-OF-TWO who has lost her long battle with cancer at the age of 46 has been described by her father as "a fighter to the last".

Brentwood resident Louise Eames died at Saint Francis Hospice on March 5, seven years after learning she had incurable brain cancer.

Following her diagnosis, the ex-City banker lived each day as if it was her last and took part in a range of fundraising activities including the London Marathon and a 12,0000 ft skydive.

Ms Eames, who lived in Regency Court, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer when she was sent for an MRI scan after suffering from severe dizziness.

The tumour, which was inoperable because a main artery ran through it, left her with epilepsy.

She had to bring up her two children – Emily, who is now 7 and goes to St Thomas' Infant School, in Sawyers Hall Lane and Tom, now 15 and at Brentwood School – alone after she split with her partner.

Emily is currently being looked after by her grandparents while Tom is living with another family in London.

Ms Eames, who was born in Barking and went to the then Hedley Walter School when her family moved to Brentwood in 1980, went on to a career in corporate finance for NatWest Markets.

She was told that she could have as little as six months to live when she was first diagnosed.

But it was after enjoying a special day at her beloved Arsenal FC with Tom in 2006 that she found a new focus and began setting goals for the future.

Two years later, Ms Eames completed the London Marathon in six hours 20 minutes to raise money for the Willow Foundation.

The Foundation arranges days out for people aged 16 to 40 with life-threatening illnesses, and organised Ms Eames' own trip to Arsenal Football Club.

Her father Derek Pearce said: "She was a fighter to the last.

"She did a half marathon and then in 2007 she did a full marathon.

"My daughter has always gone for it.

"She gained a lot of respect by the way she fought the disease."

Ms Eames' condition took a turn for the worse at Christmas when she was rushed to University College London Hospital where she spent more than three weeks being stabilised.

She spent a few days prior to her death at the family home in Doddinghurst.

Mr Pearce said: "She came back home on Friday and that day and Saturday, she was talking away.

"It was really nice, but by Sunday she was in a bad way again

"She was sent back to the hospice.

"She didn't talk anymore after that, but she was acknowledging people who were there.

"Unfortunately the big fellow up there had decided it was time to go."

She died two days later on March 5.

Friend Jenny Downs said: "She touched the heart of everyone she met.

"She was always there to help people.

"She would do anything for anyone."

Ms Downs became friends with Ms Eames after the pair met in hospital during the births of their daughters.

Ester, seven, and Emily are best friends at St Thomas Infant School.

Ms Downs 43, is now organising an 80s-themed disco to raise money for Saint Francis Hospice

She said: "Three weeks before she died she said she had a job for me to organise a fundraiser.

"It was to help pay back Saint Francis Hospice for all the care she had given her.

"She specifically wanted an 80s disco.

"She was convinced that she was going to be there.

"But she will be there in spirit."

To help her to raise as much money as possible she is holding a raffle and an auction and is asking for donations of prizes or auction items.

Tickets for the disco at St Helens Cathedral Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, on Saturday May 18 between 8pm and 12am cost £10.

Please call 07962 115127 for tickets.

Louise's funeral service will be held at St Thomas' Church in St Thomas' Road, Brentwood, at 1.30pm on March 27.

THE owner of a shop made famous by The Only Way Is Essex is threatening to quit Ropers Yard in Brentwood after a three-storey, multimillion-pound development dubbed Towie Towers was granted planning permission in nearby Crown Street.

Suzanne Wells, the mother of Towie stars Sam and Billie Faiers, is considering moving Minnies Boutique elsewhere in the wake of Brentwood Borough Council's decision to permit the construction of a development containing 14 flats and shops at the corner of Hart Street and Crown Street.

The project is the brainchild of Paul Mecklenburgh, the father of Towie star Lucy Mecklenburgh, a friend of the Faiers sisters.

Mrs Wells, who has run the shop since 2011 with her sister Libby Low, believes the towering development will block out so much sunlight that she will have no choice but to move away from Roper's Yard.

She is not alone. Corinne Nunn, who has operated her nail studio from the yard for the past eight years, is also unhappy with the plans, as is former Towie star Dino Georgiades, owner of sports supplement shop GX2.

The borough council insists it sent consultation letters out to each of these businesses on Demceber 7 after the Crown Street application was submitted.

However, all three of them say they did not receive any correspondence from the authority.

Mrs Wells said: "We have had no letter at all. We are even contemplating moving because of the development.

"It's going to block all our light out – we get very little light as it is. We are really going to struggle with that huge development hanging over us.

"I just can't understand why the council has not told us about it."

The Towie Towers proposal was first revealed by the Gazette in December 2011.

Initially, Mr Mecklenburgh had asked the council for permission to build a four-storey block of 17 flats plus ground floor shops.

However, this was rejected by the authority's planning development and control committee in July last year after it was deemed too large.

Ms Nunn, who owns Nails At Studio 4, said: "Who is going to compensate us for the disruption the work is going to cause the business?

"We will not be able to work with the doors open – and in the summer it gets really hot.

"No one is going to want to sit in a shop when it's more than 80C.

"I'm going to have to get air conditioning – that's going to cost a fortune.

"I don't think people will not want to come down here. It's going to be horrendous."

Mr Georgiades added: It's not so much of a big block towering above the shops, but we are more concerned about the loss of trade while the building work is going on.

"I can't see how it is going to go smoothly with machinery having to work so closely to us.

"You would have thought we would be the first to get a letter."

BROWNIES from Billericay were silent as mice in their latest fundraising challenge.

The 6th Chantry Brownies took part in the Blue Peter Challenge by holding a 12-hour sponsored silence for Comic Relief.

Impressively, the group of 29 girls, aged seven to 10, did not utter a word the entire time.

They completed the challenge at Queen's Park Methodist Church, in Queens Park Avenue, on Wednesday while simultaneously making jam tarts.

During the day, the girls carried signs to communicate with one another.

Unit leader Helen Harpole said: "The girls were really enthusiastic and it was such fun to see them throw themselves into planning and taking part in the event.

"Not only did the girls raise more than £700, they pushed themselves and rose to the challenge."

The Blue Peter challenge gave groups of children the opportunity to organise their own fundraising events in the lead up to Red Nose Day.

Brownie Annie Cheesman, 8, said: "It was a real challenge and we all enjoyed it.

"It's great to think that by working together, we've made a difference to people in need."

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Braintree pair James Mulley and Matt Paine are in contention for their side's home game with Nuneaton.

Midfielder Mulley missed Tuesday's 1-1 home draw with Woking, but has shaken off the dead-leg he sustained in Saturday's win at Stockport.

Defender Paine is available after sitting out a three-game ban following his recent dismissal in the win over Luton.

Manager Alan Devonshire must decide whether to recall either player to his starting line-up for the first of four home league games Braintree face in the space of seven days.

Striker Sean Marks is expected to resume up front after signing a new one-year contract with the club.

Club captain Kenny Davis recovered from a knock to start against Woking and lasted the full 90 minutes, but Bradley Quinton will miss out again as he continues to recover from a knee problem.

Nuneaton boss Kevin Wilkin must decide whether to change a winning formula as his side prepare for their third game in six days.

Wilkin watched relegation-threatened Town record a 1-0 win at home to fellow strugglers Lincoln last Saturday and kept faith with the same starting line-up for Tuesday's impressive 1-0 triumph over Grimsby.

But with Nuneaton in the middle of a gruelling fixture schedule as they play catch up with the rest of the Blue Square Bet Premier, and with a further match at home to Woking this weekend, Wilkin faces a dilemma as to whether to freshen up his side.

The likes of James Dance, Jon Adams, David McNamee and Delroy Gordon are among those pushing for recalls.

No new injury or suspension problems are anticipated, with only long-term absentees Connor Taylor (broken arm) and Mark Noon (broken leg) on the sidelines.

NOWADAYS the average household couldn't be further from the Good Life as children and their parents spend the majority of their time indoors.

But we at the Essex Chronicle would like to see things change. Barleylands Farm Park, Billericay, have kindly donated us our very own collection of eggs which we will follow from the right through the hatching process and into adulthood.

Our lucky readers will have the chance to not only name the chickens but also win their very own brood when they are fully grown.

Manager of Barleylands, David Finkle, said: "I think the days of the hamster and rabbit are over.

"People want to know where their food comes from and chickens are easy to keep and affordable. Keeping hens is a brilliant way to educate children about how they lay eggs instead of having other pets which the parents will end up looking after.

"Families can get a lot out of keeping hens and they are surprisingly affectionate."

Mr Finkle added: "It's a fantastic thing that modern society wants their kids to get their hands dirty and don't want everything clean and clinical any more. There's nothing better than having a trio of hens in the garden for the family to enjoy."

Hen keeping is becoming more popular as people crave the nostalgia of being self-sufficient and are spurred on by the interest in local produce and sustainability. 'Backyard' chickens are popping up across the country as people realise that keeping their own poultry is easier than they might think and also a lot of fun.

Mr Finkle explained: "Chickens are making a comeback as people are pining for the days of seeing Nan and Granddad on the allotment with the hens."

Our feathered friends are now at the first stage of life and are being carefully incubated and watched over by the staff at Barleylands.

Mr Finkle explained the process: "The eggs go into the incubator for 24 days before they hatch.

"The incubator is nothing other than an artificial mother hen which keeps the eggs at a constant temperature of 38C which is the same temperature as a hen would keep them at. The eggs are due to hatch on Good Friday."

The Essex Chronicle eggs are blue in colour and there are around 24 eggs under the incubator.

The Chronicle chickens are of the Legbar breed. Legbars are a small type of chicken who are good egg layers and produce an unusual 'designer' blue egg.

Mr Finkle said: "It's surprising how many colours of eggs there are out there. Blue, pink, brown, speckled – we thought it would be fun to have chickens which lay such an interesting colour of egg."

Once hatched the chicks will grow up to be a mixture of red, orange and grey feathers.

Now the eggs have been set we must watch and wait for the new spring arrivals. Keep your eyes peeled for hatching stage which will be in time for Easter.