The Month Ahead, Beautifully Handpicked

Welcome to this month’s issue of Handpicked Local, your neat little parcel of ideas, local stories, seasonal inspiration and small business brilliance.

May always feels like the month that gently nudges us outdoors. The garden starts showing off, the longer evenings invite a little more lingering, and suddenly those “we’ll get round to it” jobs begin looking strangely achievable. So it feels only right that this issue opens with plenty of home and garden inspiration, from outdoor lighting that can completely change the feel of a space to long weekend projects worth rolling your sleeves up for.

Our teaser this month comes from “Outdoor lighting ideas that change everything”. It is a lovely reminder that lighting is not just practical, it is mood-setting magic. A few well-placed lights can turn a patio, path or garden corner into somewhere you actually want to spend time once the sun has clocked off.

Inside, you will also find local design expertise from Camilla Grayley Garden Design, spring rental property ideas from Renton & Parr, and a gorgeous look at bringing the garden in. For food lovers, May is having a very British moment with asparagus taking centre stage, alongside seasonal shopping advice, recipes and a proper coffee-ground myth-buster from Dancing Goat Coffee.

There is plenty for business owners too, including trust-building online, visibility for small businesses, marketing that moves things forward, and the very human shift from doing everything yourself to finally letting go. We also have wellness, skincare, exam season support, legal insights, local events, inspiring charity news and a few old-fashioned favourites making a comeback.

As always, this eMagazine is built around the people, businesses and stories that make our local area feel alive. So settle in, have a browse, discover someone new, and perhaps find the nudge you needed for your next project, purchase, outing or idea.