Anger grows at the muted official response to thetons of toxic ‘sea lettuce’ invading the Breton coastline

Toxicbeaches:Publicdemandaction

Photo PHOTOPQR/OUEST FRANCE

Cleaning up the“green tide” on theCôtes d’Armor

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2 News Brittany Pages August 2011

group France Nature Environnement. Theimage shows the beach with a thick coveringof poisonous green slime, accompanied by thewords bonnes vacances.

Hoping to prove the beach was clean, themayor of Plouha, Philippe Destol, invitedseveral hundred people to start the summerseason with a public swim in June.Unfortunately, his attempt to set holidaymakers’ minds at rest backfired whenonly five people turned up.

Last month, when President Sarkozy visitedBrittany, he annoyed environmental activists bydismissing them as “fundamentalists”. As GillesHuet, a delegate from the Eau et Rivières deBretagne association (Waters and Rivers ofBrittany) noted: “None of the major players inthe fight against green algae were invited to jointhe discussion on coastal and sea protection.”

The group Halte aux Marées Vertes (Stop theGreen Tides) is planning a rally in the Baie deConcarneau in September to raise awarenessof public health problems, and to urge officialsto take action. They claim that whileconventional farming is expanding fast inBrittany, the development of organic farminghas not been encouraged.

The charges of these groups are refuted bygovernment claims that all necessary steps arebeing taken to fight the problem. Since thehighly publicised death of a horse in 2009,poisoned by rotting seaweed, the Brittany

regional council has been developing a planendowed with €20m for the first phase, from2011 to 2015. The plan involves chartesde territoire (territory charters) that aim totransform 60% of agricultural land intograssland over four years and to convert 20farms to organic production to decrease nitratelevels by 10%. The first two territory charters,for the Baie de Lannion and the Baie de Saint-Brieuc, were signed last month.

When did you become concerned aboutgreen tides?In the 1960s, I built a holiday chalet on a cliffon the Baie d’Hillion. The first green tidesappeared about 1968 and never left. I wasashamed when I invited friends from otherregions. They didn’t dare swim in this “sealettuce”. In the 1970s, I worked at the Gaz deFrance research centre and I brought backsome algae for analysis. We found methane,hydrogen sulphide and mercaptan, all verytoxic gases. I told the Hillion mairie about itat the end of the 1980s, but I wasn’t taken

seriously. I had had enough and, with otherresidents, we founded the group Halte auxMarées Vertes.

What health problems do the algae cause? Green tides pose a public health problem. Itisn’t just discomfort caused by the smell ofrotting algae. The first symptom is a rise inallergies. Then, if you breathe the gases fromthe algae, you will get irritations and seriousburns in your eyes. Ultimately, when thebody’s systems shut down in reaction to thepoison, the gases will cause oedema in the

THE WARM weather early this year hascaused a massive increase in green algae inBrittany. By the end of June, 20,321 tonnes hadbeen collected, almost double the amountgathered this time last year.

The shallow, sandy bays along the Bretoncoast provide perfect conditions for the toxicweed, whose growth is triggered by nitratesseeping into the water from farms. Called“sea lettuce” locally, the weed can be eatenwhen fresh, but once it starts to decay, itreleases deadly hydrogen sulphide into the air.

The phenomenon of this “green tide” hasmade headlines repeatedly. In July, the treat-ment plant at Lantic, in the Côtes d'Armor,became saturated with several thousandtonnes of algae. Winds from the south carried

the smell of rotting seaweed into an officebuilding, where workers complained about thefoul stink, respiratory problems and tinglingeyes.

At the end of June, 100 fish were found deadat Le Gouessant Aquaculture, thesupplier of fish food at Lamballe in the Côtesd’Armor. According to Jean-Luc Rouxel,president of the Fishing Society of Lamballe,the fish died of asphyxiation because of theuncontrolled growth of green algae.

Public anger is rising, but politicians havebeen trying to play down the issue, largelybecause the main culprit, agriculture, is stillthe dominant economic power in the region.

A photograph of Bréhec beach was used inan advertising campaign by the ecological

Green tides menacebeaches andhuman health

‘Image of Brittany

As theinvasion ofthe coastby deadlyseaweedgrows worseyear by year, ISABELLECARVALHOreports onever louderdemandsfor action

Sea monsters: the algae Ulva armoricana

Environmental campaigner Nicolas Hulot

André Ollivro, who was elected Breton of the year in 2009, has warned repeatedlyof the dangers caused by green algae in the books Le Scandale des Algues Vertes(The Green Algae Scandal) and Les Marées Vertes Tuent Aussi! (Green Algae Kill,Too!). He spoke of his worries to the Brittany Pages

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Welcometo yournew localnewspaperTHANK YOU for readingthe first edition of theBrittany Pages, your newmonthly newspaper inEnglish for Brittany.

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The scientific committee responsible forreviewing the two pilot projects has beenpositive about the plan for the Baie deLannion, but members expressed strongreservations about the Baie de Saint-Brieuc.While welcoming “the willingness of the farm-ing community to reduce the leakage ofnitrates”, they complain of “an overall ambitionthat may not be sufficient to reduce drasticallythe leaks of nitrates into the sea and, ultimate-

ly, to achieve tangible results.” Meanwhile, the problem is getting worse.

Between 2007 and 2010, the cost ofcollection and treatment of green algae rosefrom €345,000 to €850,000. Herbicidescannot be used at sea because of underwaterwildlife, so the only way to stop this plague isto reduce the use of nitrogen fertilisers. It willnot be easy to take on Brittany’s powerfulfarmers.

News 3Brittany Pages August 2011

lungs and possibly even heart attack. There areseveral beaches, for example, in Hillion, thatare prohibited to the public, with no reasongiven by the authorities. Local tourism and theglobal image of Brittany are widely harmed bythis phenomenon.

Can you explain politicians’ reluctance toacknowledge the danger of green algae? The economic issues at stake are enormous,and there is a powerful agriculture lobby thatputs pressure on politicians. The government’spolicy is completely incoherent: it plans torelax regulations on the spreading of nitrates,while promising a multi-million plan to fightalgae. This plan hasn’t even been applied yet.Only the collection of algae is in place so far.The good news is that on the day of President

Sarkozy’s visit to Brittany last month, theNational Agency for Health Safety (AgenceNationale de Sécurité Sanitaire) issued a reportrecognising the public health problem, so thegovernment will be forced to act. This is animportant step in acknowledging the actionsof environmental groups.

What solutions do you recommend?Communication is vital: we can’t let thegovernment use propaganda and “pseudoscientists” who claim that green algae comefrom climate change. We need to inform thepublic of the health risks and to fight onseveral fronts. It isn’t only agriculture that isat stake, we also have to address the problemsthat come from polluting industries and landuse, which also affect water quality.

GREEN TIDES are caused bya proliferation of one of theulva family of seaweeds, Ulvaarmoricana, which developevery spring and summer.The weed occurs naturally,floating in small quantities onthe north Breton coast.

Since the 1970s, however, ithas turned into a monster seaplant, dividing and growingby up to 20% a day.

These piles of algae arecaused by eutrophication, anexcessive build-up ofnutrients, in the bays alongcoast. The eutrophicationthat has been affectingBrittany’s coasts since the1970s is generated by asubstantial amount of nitratesof urban and agriculturalorigin, according to theFrench sea research instituteIfremer. Most of thesenitrates leach from the landand are carried to the sea byrivers.

The algae are found eithersuspended in sea water nearthe shores or rotting on thebeaches. They proliferatebetwen May and June andthis processed is increased bya combination of favourableconditions: warm weather,sheltered sandy bays and,above all, a supply of artificialnitrogen.

In the winter, the weedusually shrinks to its normalsize. But in the summer,when nitrates are beingsprayed on fields of cereal,and when battery pig farmsare in peak production, the

seaweed bursts once moreinto abnormal growth.

There are 10 places inBrittany that appear to beseverely affected, mainlyalong the shores of Finistèreand the Côtes d’Armor. Yearlymonitoring showed that thenumber of Breton sitesaffected by green tidesbetween 1997 and 2001increased from 34 to 63, andthe number of Breton townsaffected grew from 60 to 103.

In addition to the problemsexperienced in places thathave been saturated withgreen algae for many years,there is a new and worryingtrend. An increase in algaehas been noticed in areaswhere proliferations weresmall, and the green tidesseem to be remaining on theshoreline for longer.

The algae have also beennoticed at greater depths. Insome places, such as in theBay de Douarnenez, algaehave been found as deep as20 metres under water. Algae

have also been found atgreat depths in the Bay deConcarneau.

A horrific incident wasreported on the beach atSaint-Michel-en-Grève inthe Côtes d’Armor in 2009,when a horse fell on a heapof rotting seaweed and died.Following this highlypublicised event, thegovernment developed a“plan against green algae,”backed by a €134m budget.

Brittany is now leading aprogramme designed todecrease the flow of nutrientsinto coastal waters in ninedifferent places.

For now, the only action thelocal authorities can take is togather the algae from thebeaches mechanically.

Since 2002, EU regulationhas made it illegal for thiswaste to be thrown intolandfills, so the harvestedalgae are spread onagricultural land, or mixedwith other green waste forcomposting.

is harmed by this’

devastate a beach in north Finistère – and the problem is getting worse every year

How algaeturn intomonsters

at Saint-Michel-en-Grève with Yves-Marie Le Lay, co-author of Green Algae Kill, Too!

4 News Brittany Pages August 2011

MONCONTOUR has signed, for the secondtime, the quality charter that brings it into thecharmed circle of the most beautiful villages inFrance (plus beaux villages de France).

The selection process is stringent, and only155 of 32,000 French villages have beenawarded this distinction. Applicants are evalu-ated against 27 criteria, on the extent andvalue of their heritage, as well as their archi-tectural, urban and environmental qualities.There are four other villages in Brittanyproudly wearing this label: Saint-Suliac,Rochefort-en-Terre, Le Faou and Locronan.

The village retains its medieval charm, andbeing part of this special group has alreadybrought great benefits. Surrounded by impos-ing ramparts and perched strategically on top

of a hill some 25km south of Saint-Brieuc,Moncontour played an important military rolein protecting the city of Lamballe, capital ofthe Penthièvre region. The village sufferedmany attacks from the 12th century, butconflict subsided from the middle of the 17thcentury, when the manufacture of linenbrought prosperity. Fabrics were exported toSpain and even to India, and many of themagnificent 17th and 18th century maisonsbourgeoises that line the narrow streets wereowned by wealthy merchants. The HôtelClézieux and Hôtel de Kerjégu, now the townhall, are striking examples. The ramparts andthe remains of the old castle, the PoterneSaint-Jean and the tiny Place du Martray allmake Moncontour a popular stop for tourists.

THE IDEA that air quality inBrittany is better than else-where is a myth, according toa new report of Air Breizh,which monitors air pollution.

“In Brittany, you find thesame pollutants as in otherregions, plus agricultural pol-lutants,” said Frédéric Venien,president of Air Breizh. “Theidea that westerly winds andrain wash the air is mistaken.”

Most pollutants are belowregulatory limits in Brittany,but two are frequently toohigh: nitrogen dioxide andparticulates. Bretons’ cars areolder than the French average,

with more diesel engines. Thereport shows excessive emis-sions of nitrogen dioxide,which is mainly produced byengines, in Brest and Rennes.Pollution peaks were on dayswith heavy traffic and in coldanticyclonic periods.

“There are an estimated130,000 premature deathsevery year in Europe becauseof particulates in the air,” saidMr Venien. “The EU believesthat France does not makesufficient effort in this area,”he said. There is a ray of hope,however. No ozone peakswere seen in the past year.

What a beautiful village

Brittany airnot as freshas we think

New eyes onthe roads

Tides to giveus power

Bookshop’s€1m boost

Warning ontravel pass

Facelift for‘cursed’ isle

Chateaubriandbrought to lifeon his newtourist trail

Moncontour, stillone of France’smost beautifulvillages

ROAD ACCIDENTS in theCôtes d’Armor have killedmore people in the first halfof 2011 than in the sameperiod last year. There arecurrently 22 fixed camerasflashing in the department,and four more will soon beinstalled in Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem, Belle-Isle-en-Terre,Jugon-les-Lacs and Pleslin-Trigavou.

About 20 extra cameras areexpected to be installed thisyear and in 2012. Signs warn-ing of the cameras will beremoved over 12 months.

A NEW tidal turbine park inPaimpol is to be operationalby autumn 2012. On a three-hectare site, the turbine willtransform tidal energy intouseful forms of power, mainlyelectricity. The park will con-sist of four turbines each pro-ducing 500 kilowatts.

The first test turbine will beinstalled close to the islandof Bréhat this summer. Thereare currents of three metres asecond off Bréhat, some ofthe most powerful in Europe.

AFTER three years of workand a €1 million budget, theRavy bookshop in Quimperhas reopened at 10 Rue de laProvidence in the GalerieCommerciale du ChâpeauRouge. It has expanded to1200m2 with 80,000 books,against 50,000 in its formershop. As well as stockingsome books in English, theshop now also sell CDs,DVDs and stationery andthere is a small tea-room.

“PASS KORIGO” may infringeon public transport users’ pri-vacy, the League of HumanRights in Quimper warns.

The pass, which will beissued by the FinistèreCouncil in 2012, is for use onTER trains, buses and coach-es, to simplify travellers’mobility. The League saysthat it contains an ID chipwith information about theuser’s identity, address, ageand journeys made.

TÉVENNEC island has beenuninhabited for 101 years,but the the National Societyfor the Protection of Light-houses and Beacons (SociétéNationale pour le Patrimoinedes Phares et Balises) plans todevelop its lighthouse forartists to use in a few years.

The island, in the stormyRaz de Sein, is said to havebeen cursed since a castawaydied there in 1869, before thelighthouse was built.

TEENAGERS between the ages of 16 and 19 in 2012 will beable to take up whatever sport they choose at a reduced price.The regional council is reducing by €15 the price of annualmembership of any Breton sports club for young people.Launched in 2008, the Chèque Sport scheme aims to giveaccess to sport for everyone, especially the young, and, in theprocess, to strengthen social links.

Sporting life gets cheaper

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News 5Brittany Pages August 2011

CARNAC is known theworld over for its standingstones, called menhirs,and its dolmens or burialchambers. There are about3,000 aligned megaliths,dating from 4000BC, inthree fields at Ménec,Kermario and Kerlescan.Archaeologists now knowthe alignments were erectedin the Neolithic period bytribes who built houses ofwood and clay, and whofarmed and reared livestock.

Many myths and legendssurround the standingstones. In traditionalMorbihan culture, it is saidthat dwarfs were involved inbuilding and visiting thesites. Another story tells offairies piling up the stones atLocmariaquer to help a poorwidow guide her returningson to safety.

The Carnac alignments arealso believed by some tohave life-giving powers.Infertile women would presstheir bellies against fertilitystones, such as the GrandMenhir of Locmariaquer,also known as the “vessel”,

and the dolmen at CruzMoquen in Carnac, where across was later placed to putan end to this practice.

One of the most enduringmyths is about a curse madeby the martyr Saint Cornély.He turned the legions ofRoman soldiers who weretrying to capture him, intorows of stone. The Carnacalignments, they say, are themain troops, while Kerzerhoin Erdeven is the vanguard.Two stragglers can be foundat Luffang near Crac’h and a

few deserters can be seen atResto, Languidic. In Saint-Pierre-Quiberon, SaintHelen is also supposed tohave turned Roman soldiersto stone.

In other parts of Brittany,the stones are said to repre-sent sinners who have beenpunished. In Langon, Ille-et-Vilaine, it was young womenwho preferred dancing togoing to church, and inBrasparts, Finistère, it wasmerrymakers who showeddisrespect to a priest.

COMBOURG has opened a circuit fortourists to follow in the footsteps ofFrançois-René de Chateaubriand, thefamous writer who spent some of hisunhappy childhood here in the château.

In Chateaubriand’s cheerfully entitledautobiography, Memoirs from Beyondthe Grave (Mémoires d’outre-tombe),the Château de Combourg is vividlydescribed, as is St-Malo where hewas born in 1768.

Chateaubriand has been seen bysome French people as a hero, but hehas also been heavily criticised for hisconservative political and Christianviews. These views can, perhaps, be

explained by the fact that he livedthrough the Revolution and his eldestbrother, Jean-Baptiste, and others inhis family were guillotined.

He had a fascinating life, embarkingon a journey through North Americaand becoming a political journalist, aswell as writing challenging fiction.

Eleven panels along this route tell thestory of Chateaubriand’s life. The projectwas carried out with students andteachers from two schools, the LycéeChateaubriand and the Collège Saint-Gilduin, together with their Frenchteachers. Jean d’Ormesson from theAcadémie Française also helped.

THE Brittany region andRennes métropole arelaunching an experimentwith the car maker PSAPeugeot Citroën on the use ofelectric cars. The company,which will begin to marketthe 508 hybrid diesel/electriccar next year, wants to carryout its electric vehicle trial inRennes because it plans tobuild 15,000 hybrid cars atthe La Janais plant there.

The idea is to develop theuse of electric cars over aperiod of three years. Duringthat time, PSA PeugeotCitroën and the local govern-ment will test the economicviability of various businessmodels, aiming to promotenew markets for carbon-freetravel.

The experiment will takeplace in two ways. The com-pany will supply up to 100electric cars for the pro-gramme, so that companies,government agencies and

individuals can test selectedmodels in the Rennes metro-politan area.

At the same time, Rennesmétropole will install a net-work of charging stations inthe town, including fastcharging points capable offilling up to 80% capacity in30 minutes.

Once confirmed, the trialswill start in the autumn.Suggested projects includeshort-term rentals at railwaystations and at the airport,the use of car-sharing fleetsfor local government offi-cials, for businesses, and forindividuals.

Electric vehicles will also beused to supplement existingforms of public transport.

Commercial fleets may alsouse electric vehicles for urbanand suburban deliveries, andfor travel on the Rennes toSaint-Malo route. Companieswithin a business district willtry using a car-sharing fleet.

Electric carsset to taketo streets

Lighthouseheritage plan

Ancienthistory instone

Protestsover airportTHERE have been clashesbetween 200 policemen andhundreds of demonstrators asprotesters campaign againstthe building of a new airportplanned to open in 2017 atNotre-Dame-des-Landes,30km north of Nantes. Theysay the airport, which hasbeen planned for 30 years,will destroy 2,000 hectares ofagricultural land.

Safety firstfor anglersTHE FIRST accredited fishingpath has opened on Bétineuclake, between Saint-André-des-Eaux and Evran. Theaward, from the NationalFederation of Fishing inFrance (Fédération Nationalede Pêche en France), ensuresoptimal safety conditions,and there is wheelchairaccess. Colour codes areused: pink for families, greenfor beginners and blue forexperienced anglers.

THE NUMBER of GPs is above the national average inFinistère, average in Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine, but lowerthan average in the Côtes d’Armor, according to the Atlas de laDémographie Médicale 2011. Finistère and Ille-et-Vilaine areabove average when it comes to the numbers of specialists.Overall, Brittany has 283 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants,which places it in 10th position. In 2010, 5,392 new doctorsqualified in France, an increase of 2.5% since 2009. Duringthe past six years, 35% more doctors have retired, while thenumber of doctors employed has risen by only 3.5%.

FINISTERE Council isplanning a museum oflighthouses and beaconsto bring together arti-facts scattered through-out the area. The existingMusée Ouessant will bemoved to a larger site,possibly in Brest becauseof its abundance of light-houses and beacons, andbecause it has sites avail-able, such as Capucinsindustrial estate.

Doctor numbers surveyed

Did you know?

Neolithic standing stones or cursed Roman soldiers?

Photo CRTB

6 What’s On Brittany Pages August 2011

notice board

Promote your community event, send details to brittany@connexionfrance.com

August 12-14 – Festival du Chant de Marins. Every two years some 100,000 festival-goerstransform the quayside of Paimpol into a cheerful sea of life. For its 10th edition the theme ofthe Sea Shanty Festival will be Celtic Calls, and it will explore music from all over the Celticworld from Asturias to Brittany, Ireland to Galicia, from Cornwall to Wales and Scotland – notforgetting the Celtic diaspora. Festival-goers will find many sea-shanty bands, along with brassbands, exhibitions and local food tastings. Nearly 300 traditional ships will fill Dock No. 1 in theold harbour, adding to the festive atmosphere with their multicoloured sails.Adults from €17, children 6-14 from €2, FREE for children under 6.Call 02 96 55 12 77www.paimpol-2011.com

Côtes d’Armor MUSICPaimpol

Côtes d’ArmorDinan

Côtes d’ArmorUntil August 16 (every Tuesday)Un château à laBelle Etoile. Spend thenight in a ruined medieval castle.A rareand unique experience awaits you at theChâteau de la Hunaudaye. First there is aguided tour of the castle, followed by teaand delicacies round the fire in the ceremonial salon to warm you, before youchoose your sleeping corner under thestars.The rest of the night is yours, you arefree to enjoy the castle as you please. Inthe morning, breakfast will await you.Thisexperience is limited to 15 people pernight.Adult €20, children under 16 €10.Advance booking required.Call 02 96 34 82 10www.la-hunaudaye.com

Until September 30 – Regards sur Dinan,il y a cent ans. Each summer the Château-Musée de Dinan hosts a special exhibitionabout the history of the city.This year itlooks at Dinan in the early 20th century.The reorganisation of the museum’s collections helped to uncover a series ofglass plates featuring Dinan and its surroundings dating from the late 19th century. Some of these plates are called“stereoscopic” and, with the help of specialglasses, visitors can enjoy the century-oldimages in three dimensions.You can see thedifferent planes shown more clearly as theimages come to life.This three-dimensionalillusion attracted many photographers inthe early 20th century before being sidelined in favour of filmmaking.Adult €4.40, FREE for children under 12Call 02 96 39 45 20www.dinan-tourisme.com

ARTPlédéliacFAMILY

MorbihanVannes

CULTURE

August 13-15 – Fêtes d’Arvor. Come and see a granddisplay of local tradition at the Fêtes d’Arvor. Celtic music,processions and rounds of folk dancing wind through thestreets and squares of Vannes and around the town walls.Every August they choose a young Queen of the Coast whowill ensure that the traditions of Vannes will live on.Call 08 25 33 56 10www.tourisme-vannes.com

August 13-21 – Festival de la Danse Bretonne à Saint-Loup.The folk dance and music Festival de Saint-Loup dates backto the 1850s and is one of the oldest in Brittany.Thissummer the squares, old streets and the public park will befilled with 2,500 musicians and dancers from all over theCeltic world, including Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and Galicia.Every year lovers of Celtic culture gather to enjoy dancing,concerts, entertainment, and fest-noz, a night of celebrationto Celtic rhythms.The festival is a high point in Bretonculture, so don't miss a bewitching experience.Call 02 96 43 73 89www.dansebretonne.com

Côtes d’ArmorCULTUREGuingamp

Photo: © H

ervé CohonnerPhoto: ©

Hervé Cohonner

August 2 (from 12.30): Royal BritishLegion monthly social meeting atRelais de L’Oust, rue de Pontivy,Josselin. Fun quiz with a prize.Second-hand books, videos andDVDs for sale. Call 02 97 38 74 13.

August 6 (14.00-18.00): St Bart’schurch summer garden party at LesTrauchandières, Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets. Afternoon teas, raffle, bookstall, bric-à-brac, plants, handicrafts,groceries, greetings cards and more.Call 02 99 46 77 00

August 7 (from 11.30): Sunday bythe Canal, organised by AIKB(Association Intégration KreizBreizh). Spend the afternoon at theFoirail beside the Nantes-Brest Canal,Gouarec. Bring a picnic. Apéritifs

August 8: Trip to La Vallée des Saintswith Association Dis-Want. Seesculptors at work creating hugestatues to be placed on a hill justbefore Carnoët from the Scrignacdirection. Call 02 98 78 20 02.

August 14: Sandcastle competition inSaint-Briac sur Mer on La GrandeSalinette beach. The team whosecastle resists the tide the longest wins.Maximum of 15 per team, no agelimit. Lots of prizes. Register yourteam at the mairie. Call 02 99 88 32 34or email: thibautmercier@saintbriac.fr.

August 19 Royal British LegionPoppy Appeal.at the Relais du Lac,Caurel, starts 14.30, after an optionalfish and chips lunch or the menu dujour at noon. Cost €12 or €14.50with wine. To book call 02 97 39 6069, or email: kissmekate@aliceadsl.fr.

August 20 (from 19.00): Fest-noz(traditional Breton festival) at ParkingKerfleuret, Kervoyal, in Damgan.Breton music and dancing with foodand drinks available. Free admission.Call 02 97 41 11 32.

August 21 (11.00-17.00): AIKBannual kermesse (bazaar) at the SportsGround on the road from Laniscat toGouarec.Call 02 96 24 87 90

Community events this month

Photo: © Rayons d’Action

Spokes people: Rayons d’Action raises the profile of cycling

Deals on wheels THE association Rayons d’Action,based in Rennes, was founded inSeptember 2005 to defend bicycleusers and promote cycling as a meansof transport in its own right, especial-ly in combination with other forms oftravel. The group’s name literallymeans “range” (with a politicalconnotation) and plays on the wordrayon, which refers to the spokes of abicycle wheel.

With 300 members today, the grouporganises cycle repair workshopswhere, in a few sessions, cyclists learnthe basics of bike maintenance,changing tyres and tubes, adjusting orreplacing brake pads, and so on. Italso promotes tagging using the bicy-code system to tackle the problem ofbicycle theft. See www.bicycode.orgfor more information.

Rayons d’Action engages in regular

meetings with local government aspart of the development of a cyclingnetwork in Rennes and to encouragethe use of bicycles as a greener alter-native to cars.

The group organises the annual Fêtedu Vélo (Bicycle Festival) in Rennesand its members take part in a varietyof environmental events, includingthe Semaine de l’Environnement(Environment Week), Salon Vivre etConsommer Autrement (Live andConsume Differently) and Salon Illeet Bio (Ille Organic Fair). Rayonsd’Action also participates in EuropeanMobility Week, which encourages thedevelopment of sustainable transport.

For more information, contactYves on 02 99 50 72 89 or emailrayonsdaction@no-log.org, or visitwww.rayonsdaction.org.

Photo: © www.dansebretonne.com

What’s On 7Brittany Pages August 2011

August

August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 (everyWednesday at 09.30) – Sortie nature etornithologie. Join in a nature andornithology walk, accompanied by a guidefrom the Réserve de Séné.You will be ableto see a myriad of birds, plants and smallanimals.These walks cover a wide varietyof terrains, from the marshes of Suscinio tothe edges of the Golfe du Morbihan, to thedunes of Goh’Velin or the Pointe dePenvins. If you love the wildlife that thrivesin Morbihan, these walks are a great opportunity to learn more. Adult €5.50,children under 12 €4.50.Advance bookingrequired.Tickets available at the TourismOffice.Call 02 97 53 69 69www.crouesty.fr

MorbihanOUT AND ABOUT

Arzon

August 5-14 – Festival Interceltique deLorient. Since 1971 more than 700,000 people have gathered every summer tocelebrate Celtic culture.This year about 200shows and 5,000 performers are on the bill.Follow the Grand Parade of Celtic Nations,experience magical nights in the Stade duMoustoir or in the fishing port, and don'tmiss the grand finale of the Breton pipeband, the bagad.Adult from €25, FREE forchildren under five (tickets have to beobtained directly at the Palais des Congrès).Advance booking advised but not required.Call 02 97 21 24 29 www.festival-interceltique.com

MorbihanMUSIC Lorient

MorbihanSaint-Malo-de-Beignon

Until August 31 – Port miniature. Parentsand children can pilot their own boat in anatural setting on the edge of theBrocéliande Forest. Jump aboard scalemodels of a fishing trawler, a Mississippisteamboat, a fire boat, a customs boat or atug boat. Each can carry two to six people.A wheelhouse worthy of a ship’s captainprovides aspiring sailors with all they need– a fun way to learn about navigation andtake a breath of fresh air.You can also enjoyother activities on site, such as pedalos,playground areas, gardens or a hiking trail.Adult €4, children under 16 €3.Call 02 97 22 50 74www.brittanytourism.com/things-to-do/activities/family-fun/port-miniature

FAMILY

Finistère OTHERRoscoffAugust 20-21 – Fête de l'Oignon de Roscoff.To support the farmers who obtained thecertification AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) in 2009, Roscoff hosts a yearly OnionFestival. Producers sell onions grown organically or conventionally in bulk or in braids.They also organise tasting sessions of all sorts of onion-based food: bread with stewedonions, onion tart, bread stuffed with onion and, of course, the inevitable onion soup.There will be dancing, music, games and entertainment for children, as well as bike rides.There is also the chance for you to see traditional bread and cider making, and there isan exhibition of old tractors and tools.Call 02 98 61 12 13www.roscoff-tourisme.com

Ille-et-Vilaine SPORTSaint-MaloAugust 25-28 Championnat de France Océan Racing. Océan Racing is a long-distance competition for sea kayaks and canoes. Some 400 competitors from all overFrance will compete on routes of seven and 12 nautical miles from Saint-Malo to Cancale,and inside the Saint-Malo bay. Many international athletes are also expected.Whether youare a fan of water sports or just a curious bystander, this is a very entertaining show.Enjoy the view from the ramparts of the old walled city along the coast and at Port Mer.Call 02 99 40 92 04www.kayakdemer35.fr

Photo: © CRTB

Photo: © Jean-Patrick Gratien

Photo: © CRTB

Photo: © Office du Tourisme de Roscoff

Photo: © Brittany Tourism

Photo: © www.kayakdemer35.fr

8 Horses Brittany Pages August 2011

THE PAST 20 years have seen equestrianismenjoying a huge surge in popularity through-out France, with the numbers of registeredriders increasing by almost 400%. The FrenchEquestrian Federation (FFE) now has morethan 650,000 riders on its books. For Britishresidents who wish to take up riding seriously,however, it is worth bearing in mind that therules governing the sport here are differentfrom those in the UK.

The first port of call is the local poney club,which will generally welcome children asyoung as four. Anyone attending a riding clubis required to have a licence pratiquant, whichcosts €25 for children and €36 for adults.

Sarah Pugh runs a riding club at Saumort inthe Poitou-Charentes region. She says:“Children join a pony club at any age fromfour upwards, starting on Shetland ponies,often riding without stirrups for some timeuntil their balance is sound.

“The clubs link in with the school calendarand lesson costs include an annual subscrip-tion, an FFE licence and a fee for the term.During the holidays, the clubs run daycourses, but normal lessons stop. Annual costscan vary immensely from region to region, butin my area the cost would be around €1,000.”

Most clubs provide the pony and tack, butyou will need to hire or borrow a riding hatand wear suitable footwear. Riders in Franceare quickly taught how to groom a pony orhorse, as they are expected to get their horsegroomed and tacked for lessons, unlike in theUK, where it is done for you.

More experienced riders who wish to partici-pate in one of the many competitions that takeplace all over the country need a licence com-pétition from the FFE and are expected to passriding tests. “The FFE have a fantastic country-wide system called Galop tests,” says Ms Pugh.“The main ones are Galop 1-7, which most

people take. In order to compete at a higherlevel you have to have passed these tests.”

In theory, riders taking the Galop 7 shouldpass practical and theory tests in French, butmany riding clubs simply watch them to verifytheir skills and, if they are satisfied, apply for acompetition licence.

Alternatively, British residents in France whoare experienced riders can ask the BritishHorse Society for documentation showing thatthey have competed in affiliated competitionsin the UK.

“There is no such thing as an unaffiliatedevent in France,” explains Ms Pugh, “otherwisethe showjumping competitions are very simi-lar to the UK.”

A competition licence costs €80 and youapply through your riding club. You mustprovide a medical certificate and, for children,a parental permission form must be signed.

For youngsters, there is no shortage of localpony competitions and they can lead to partic-ipation in national events for under-18s, suchthe annual competition held in July at the ParcEquestre Lamotte-Beuvron in the Sologne.

Xavier Bourdon, PR manager for Pixizone,an equestrian events company, says: “TheFrench national pony championships cover alldisciplines – showjumping, eventing and dres-sage – with many categories depending on theage of riders and the level of skill.”

In August, Lamotte-Beuvron is host to theSologn’Pony French national breeding champi-onship, featuring pedigree breeds such as NewForest, Shetland, Welsh Cob and Connemara,and also some competitions. This year’s cham-pionship takes place on August 18-21.

Young riders with talent who wish toprogress to senior showjumping events willneed parents with deep pockets.

A good three-year-old pony with showjump-ing potential will cost between €20,000 and€50,000, while the very best will commandprices up to €100,000, or even more for ananimal with a proven record in competition.On top of that, there are the costs involved instabling and transporting animals to events.That is why many competitors are children offormer riders and landowners. On the other

hand, showjumping horses can still be com-peting at 10 years old or more.

Sarah Pugh, though, points out: “You can doa lot more competing here without your ownhorse than in the UK. Some people do chooseto buy their own, but not all.

“Many have their own land so can keep ahorse at home, but if they want to competethey have the horse in livery at the club, andthat can be quite expensive.”

Equestrianism is extremely well-organised inFrance, but it is also true that it is quite tightlyregulated. Even Ms Pugh, a very experiencedriding instructor who set up a small livery andriding club at Saumort eight years ago, hadofficial hurdles to overcome.

“The main problem was that initially myEnglish qualifications were not recognisedhere, so all I could do was hire horses to peo-ple to ride alone,” she said.

“The regulations here were enormously strictand complicated. Over the years, my husbandZak and I have managed to establish a smallloyal customer base of liveries and riders by

HorsesenseRiding and competing in equestrian eventsare becoming increasingly popular in France,but in order to enjoy them to the full, you haveto stick to the rules, as JOHN GILMORE explains

RIDING in France is en plein boom, saysthe Fédération Française d’Equitationwith an increasing number of licenceseach year and it the country’s third mostpopular sport.

Nearly one person in three rides regu-larly or occasionally and surveys showriding is parents’ preferred pastime fortheir children. Half the population saythey would consider a horseback holiday.

You can get information on riding onthe French Horse and Country site, aimedat the English-speaking community,www.frenchhorseandcountry.com

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Horses 9Brittany Pages August 2011

word of mouth. Now, though, I have the rightto teach, the right to run shows and to awardGalop tests. The insurance costs are not tooscary, so we are hoping the business willexpand and we’ll be able to do some ridingholidays too.”

It is important that anyone thinking aboutinvesting in riding, and especially of buying ahorse, is aware of the commitments involved,particularly the costs. Otherwise, things cango badly wrong.

Ann Heighington, who runs the Anglo-French equestrian charity Epona Trust in LaLucerne d’Outremer, near Avranches,Normandy, says: “Ponies and horses arrive atour trust as a result of financial difficulties or afamily split. Sometimes the animal is neglectedand may have to be removed from the owners.

“We provide hay to animals that are leftwithout feed and we also pay for vets to visit asick animal if the owners have no money orrefuse to pay. Any equine that comes to therefuge will be provided with housing, feed andmedication.”

HORSE and man have been inseparable inBrittany for hundreds of years. In the 18thcentury, the region became the leader inbreeding draft horses. The “Breton” horsewas developed at the beginning of the 19thcentury through the crossbreeding of maresfrom Léon, in the north of Finistère, and stal-lions from Norfolk.

Usually chestnut in colour, with a strongand muscular body, the breed has been usedfor military, draft and agricultural purposes.

In Brittany today, 36,050 people ride regu-larly, including 151 professionals and 8,010competitive riders.

The Espace Découverte du Cheval (DiscoverHorses), Hennebont, is dedicated to theworld of horses – as a means of transport, asthe farmer’s helpmate, as a weapon in warand as a leisure companion peacetime. Themuseum and stables will help you to under-

stand the way of life of man’s most noblefriend. You can also explore some of thecrafts of the equestrian world, watching thelikes of saddlers and farriers at work.Professional guides take you round thestables to see the 60 or so national stallions,including the real stars of the show, the mag-nificent Breton horses, before showing youthe saddle museum.Guided tours: Adults €7.20, children 5 to 17€5.60www.haras-hennebont.fr.

Fête des Courses, created by the Fédérationdes Courses de l’Ouest (Racing Federation ofthe West) in 2004, is a series of free eventsorganised around a one-day race. Forchildren there are bouncy castles, pony rides,face-painting and mock bets to discover theworld racing and win lots of gifts. Adultswho bet on the races can take part in raffles

on losing tickets throughout the day. Thisyear the 43 Fêtes des Courses, which beganin April, run until October on all the race-courses of Brittany.www.fetedescourses.fr.

The Centre d’Activités Equestres deBrocéliande in Tréhorenteuc offers horseand pony rides to discover the Forêt deBrocéliande. Experienced or novice riders,families, young people and groups arewelcome to join in the rides or follow in ahorse-drawn carriage. To book, call Auréliaor Malou on 02 97 93 01 05 or checkwww.chevalbroceliande.com.

The website of the Comité Régionald’Equitation de Bretagne lists the 396affiliated riding clubs in the region as well asall the competitions.www.bretagne-equitation.com

Where to find out about riding in Brittany

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Left: a competitor clears a fence at the Sologn’Ponyevent, held in August. Above: youngsters are introducedto riding with the Fédération Française d’Equitation

10 Food Brittany Pages August 2011

SUMMER holidays should be the perfect timefor relaxed, happy, al fresco meals, a time tointroduce your children, grandchildren andother assorted small people to healthy, abun-dant seasonal produce and regional speciali-ties. But unless they are long-time gourmets,your efforts are unlikely to elicit coos of appre-ciation, rather groans of disgust.

“Don’t like that.”“Yuck! I want baked beans.”“I hate tomatoes.”“What’s that funny stuff on the lettuce?”Until they were about four years old, our

children and grandchildren ate just about any-thing, from snails to quails and olives.Everything we offered was tried and enjoyed.Then their tastes seemed to change.

We tried to fight back in a subtle way, start-ing with getting them to help Grandad in thepotager. At Easter they dug, planted andsowed seeds, and when summer came theyreaped the rewards of their efforts, pickingand digging up all the produce.

We extended this education to market visitswhere they chose less familiar things. At the

the fish stall it was gambas or squid, at thecheese stall there was “mouldy” cheese orcreamy goat cheeses.

Then they moved on to the fruit stall wherewe encouraged them to try nectarines if thepeaches were too “furry”. Apricots were “cool”and melons were always popular. What aboutreine-claudes? They look sour but taste likehoney. Sometimes closing your eyes andtrusting helps.

In France we are lucky because merchantsrealise the importance of encouraging futurecustomers. Samples and smiles are always onoffer for nervous young palates.

Here, with patience and imagination, fussykids can be turned into shoppers and cooksand even real foodies. Simple things such asallowing children as young as two to makedressing for a salad, tossing it messily andserving it on their own, make them feel good.

I must confess that, having been a teacher for30 years, I rely on my training and instinctswhen it comes to helping children to be braveand creative with food.

Of course this usually involves a bit of riskand a lot of mess, but what fun it is to beallowed to wear a chef ’s hat and to be trustedwith Granny’s big knife and, with carefulsupervision, to be allowed to cut up the veg-etables they have picked or bought for a rata-touille inspired by the film. Suddenly a childwho has been unable to look at an auberginebecomes an addict.

Let them cook what they have picked or cho-sen, let them taste what you have chosen wheneating out – and remember that we all have totry a new taste about 15 times before weaccept it.

How to turnyour childreninto gourmets

After she was chosen asfirst BBC Masterchef in1990 JOAN BUNTING wassoon writing a foodcolumn and doing BBClocal radio. Now the former advisory teacherhas retired and is livingpermanently at her homein France but is still keento tell Advertiser readersabout good food

Quick, easy and delicious corn cobsJoan’s grandson Haydon was already playing his part in the kitchen at the age of seven

Now for a recipe loved by all ages in thishouse. Fun and simple to do, it can becooked in the oven or under the grill aswell as on the barbecue.

Barbie Sweetcorn(serves 8)

8 corn cobs with husks250g butter1 tsp Dijon mustard2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs

2 tbsp lemon juiceSeasoning

Mix together all the butter ingredients(clean hands are fine). Peel back the cornhusks but leave intact, remove the silkand soak the cobs in water. Rub a table-spoon of the butter on each cob. Coverwith the husks then wrap in foil.

Cook on the coals, or in the oven, for10-15 minutes or until tender, unwrap andserve with any remaining butter.

Call FREE from France 0800 91 77 56 Or for just 4p/min from the UK 0844 256 9881Or subscribe at www.connexionfrance.com

Find a copy in a newsagents near you, or to subscribe

DragonpicksFrancefor hisDen

Poldarkactor’scookingpassionin Tarn

France’sEnglish-language

newspaper

WhySarkozynevertakes the train

FINANCE

RESEARCH starts with being clear aboutwhich product or service you areoffering and where your geographic anddemographic market is. In Brittany, youcan spend most of your time driving toand from clients. Also Brittany is arelatively poor region and if your targetmarket is English-speakers, you mightwell find your market is too small tosustain your business. Always under-stand your competition: for example,only good, well-marketed gîtes succeednow. Finally, make an honest assessmentof how your knowledge, training andcapability match your planned business.

Financial and regulatory aspects are thenext stages on the journey. A tradesman(artisan) needs to be registered with theChambre de Métiers, so be clear whereyour trade fits and if you require anyspecial clearance.

You will need to understand and deter-mine under which regime to register.The auto-entrepreneur regime, launched

in 2009, simplified small businessregistration, but it has drawbacks if yourpurchase and running costs are high. Donot expect the entrepreneurial culturethat exists in the UK to apply here. Thisnew scheme is not universally welcomedby established French businesses.

Aim to have at least a 12-month finan-cial cushion when starting a business;do not expect to pop into your localbank and get quick short-term financeif things get tight. Social charges(cotisations) are high in France, so budg-et prudently – do not be too optimistic.

Self-employment takes getting used to.Many who start small businesses inFrance have not been self-employedbefore – it can be a very differentexperience from being salaried, and notjust the financial aspects. If you haveworked alongside colleagues, you maymiss the camaraderie or the opportunityto exchange ideas.

Brittany, as elsewhere, is seeing newinternet-based businesses with theadvantage of being located anywhere.However, unlike traditional “bricks andmortar” businesses, you may havelimited face-to-face interaction withother business people.

When starting a family business for thefirst time, ask yourselves if you are pre-pared for the strains that a 24/7 lifestyle

may place on relationships, particularlyif you are living in a remote location.

Networking, both formal and informal,is normal in the UK for small businesseswith less geographic restriction. Brittanyis a rural region where face-to-facecontact with others is not easy, but thereare advantages in networking, one beinghelp in the first years to seek informedopinions on a range of subjects based onreal personal experience and knowledge.This is preferable to reliance on the“expert” at the local bar !

A business network can help providesupport to compensate for the voidscreated when you are self-employed andfeeling alone. it can also be one of thebest ways of expanding your client base.

Future articles will be guided by you, thereaders, where possible. Please tell mewhat you would like to see featured and Iwill try to incorporate your ideas.

Business 11Brittany Pages August 2011

Making Brittany work for you

JIM ADCOCK moved to France in 2007 after many years’ experience in corporate and small businesses, including practicalfreelance support for SMEs. He runs Stairs2measure.com,providing made-to-measure wooden staircases, and is a founder member of The Brittany Business Network. He will be writingregularly for the Brittany Pages on local business issues andwelcomes your feedback, comments and input.

The Brittany Business Networkwww.synergienet.com

Agence pour la Créationd’Entrepriseswww.apce.com

Chambre de Métiers Brittanywww.crma-bretagne.fr

Useful websites

Reasons for coming to Brittanyvary but include wanting a betterway of life, lower property prices,and a better environment for ourchildren. However, incomepossibilities from conventionalemployment are very limited,even if you have a profession orare well-qualified. For manypeople this leads to researchingthe self-employment option,which is the starting point forthis first article.

To contact Jim Adcock directly, email brittany@outsourced-org.com

Sponsored by

Joanna Reintjes, from AFA Expertise, responds:The first step in terms of French formalities is to declare thegîte with your local mairie. In effect, this formality serves toclassify your property and also ensure you are “registered”with officialdom in France. If your commune is subject totaxe de séjour (tourist tax), the information from yourregistration will also be transferred to the relevant tax office.

Once this is done you can advertise your rental. However,be aware that you should also consider registering for aSIRET number – a requirement for certain publications, andalso expected by most French enquirers, as it showseveryone that you are declared for tax purposes (and keepsthe taxman in France happy). You can obtain this by declar-ing the start of your activity at your local French tax office.Some tax offices still do not insist on a SIRET number beingissued to you, but simply accept your annual income taxdeclaration.

There is also an option to declare the activity at theChamber of Commerce, but this would normally be requiredonly if you were trading professionally, if you had a large gîtecomplex, or lived in France and this was your main source ofincome. Letting your holiday home for a few weeks a yearwould not normally be considered “professional”.

How is my income taxed?This income will be liable to tax in the UK, since this iswhere you are resident for tax purposes. BUT, you shouldalso declare this income in France as it arises from a Frenchproperty. Under the double taxation treaties, you will showthe tax already paid on your UK self-assessment tax return,so you do not suffer tax twice on this income.

In effect, you will have to declare the gross rental income,less any rental expenses – advertising, interest on a loan,repairs, laundry and furnishing costs. You cannot, however,deduct expenses for your own holiday stays.

You could also opt for the micro regime in France, whichallows a fixed deduction for your expenses and is verysimple to administer. The current income rate for non-resi-dents in France is 20%, and the tax is levied without yourbeing given a personal allowance in France. It is collectedannually, and as a non-resident you will have a taxdeclaration to submit by June 30, 2012 (based on the lettingsfor the 2011 season).

I would wholly recommend that you consider engaging aFrench expert to handle this aspect of your income in orderto help you choose the right tax option for you, as well ashandling the declaration formalities. You will need to seekan accountant who also specialises in income from yourtype of property and the French tax system, and one whospeaks English will help ensure that you understand exactlywhat is required. Good luck with your French project!

We have a second home (a gîte) in the Morbihan,where my husband and I are looking to retire oneday, but from next year we would like to let it overthe summer months. Please could you tell us whichformalities to consider before advertising and, as weare still UK residents, whether the tax on any rentalincome should be paid in the UK or France?

Rules for lettinga second home

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Looking to buy a

house?See page 15 for a wide

range of properties

BUILDERS & RENOVATION

COMPUTERS, TV & INTERNET

ESTATE AGENT

GARDENS & POOLS

MOTORING

PLUMBERS

RETAIL

PROPERTY SERVICES

BRETON COUNTRYCOTTAGES

Property Management andHoliday Letting ServicesWe will take care of your

second home or holiday propertyleaving you free to enjoy it.

Tel: 0297398742www.bretoncountrycottages.comwilkinson.bcc@wanadoo.fr

Villager, Hunter, Aarrow& Stratford Stoves

Esse Cooking RangesQuality Stoves Delivered throughout Francewww.woodburningstovesandcookers.com

Tel: 02 97 74 73 48Based in Josselin 56

All Plumbing and Heatingrequirements

Oil Boiler Breakdowns & Servicing - Chimney Sweeping. Prompt /reliable service

TTeell:: ++3333 ((00)) 22 9966 2244 7788 1111 oorr MMoobbiillee ++3333 ((00)) 66 4422 7722 3399 0000EEmmaaiill:: vviinnccee@@vvbbpplloommbbiieerr..ffrr - WWeebb:: wwwwww..vvbbpplloommbbiieerr..ffrr

Contact: Vince or Mandy Boon

Ian TorodeServicing and repairs for most makes of

vehicle and garden machinery.Car Help - Advice - Parts Sourcing.

Web: www.mowermaninbrittany.nete-mail: admin@partsbroker.net

Tel: 02 97 39 95 52

Les BocagesDavid Robins

Royal Forestry Society trained Arboristwww.lesbocages.com

Felling, pruning, plantingall aspects of tree care.

Tel: 02.97.39.99.82 56160 LOCMALOSiret No. 480 997 584 00028

Le Jardinier Anglais.com

Tree surgery servicesAll tree work undertaken within 150km of

Rennes. Specialists in dismantling difficult &dangerous trees, wood chipper, stump

grinder, extreme hedge cutting.

FREE CONSULTATIONenquiries@lejardinieranglais.com

www.lejardinieranglais.com+33 (0) 7 86 53 67 26

Siret: 483 859 203

bml angloagence.comEnglish registered cars

House insurance - Health cover1700 British clients trust us

02 96 87 21 21contact@angloagence.com

Dinan, Brittany

English and Fluent French speakingagent, always needing more houses

for sale, 8 years experienceinfo@normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.com

TEL FR: +33 (0) 6 19 17 34 61TEL UK: +44 (0) 7880 501 116

www.NormandyandBrittanyhousesforsale.comSiret: 519 751 465

English TV in yourFrench Home

EVERYTHING SATELLITE!Professional installations in Brittany &

NormandyMail-order throughout FranceFree, friendly, helpful advice

TVBrittany & TVNormandyRing Trevor on

02 97 74 24 56www.tvbrittany.com

Bilingual EnglishElectrician/Plumber

Registered and insured in France

Mike and Pam DerbyTel: +33 (0)2 96 84 86 28

Email: catch22services@aol.comWeb: www.electricianbrittany.com

Siret: 480 938 083 00015

56 MORBIHAN 56All types of work, Exterior-Interior,

New - Renovation-Repair.Entreprise Brown Robert

Tel/Fax: 02 97 51 10 11Siret: 424 531 069 00013

St Malo, Dinard, Dinan

SARL BCBPStonework, RenovationGroundwork, Gardening

Full and Part Renovations & Conversions

Connection to MainDrain and Septic Tank

From Mini-Diggersto 20t Diggers

Paving & DeckingPerfect English Spoken

Bruno BonnierTel: 06 71 05 60 82

Email: bonnier.cleran@orange.frSiret : 47942748600010

12 Directory Brittany Pages August 2011

BML Angloagence is a tradi-tional French agency, offeringinsurance and finance advice –with a twist, all the staff areeither British or bilingual andare there to help with any prob-lems you face living in France.

“All the team have experiencewith both UK and French insur-ance. This is vital for us, so wecan explain the differencesbetween French insurance andBritish insurance, some ofwhich are fundamental, forexample the notion of privateliability,” said agency ownerTrystan Street.

“Some companies also offerpolicy translations however, justa translation creates a false senseof security. This is why we taketime to explain the fundamentaldifferences. Otherwise when weclaim it is always too late,” saidMr Street.

The clients of BML Anglo-agence receive help in all aspectsof their daily life when dealingwith French administration.

“It could be a new circularfrom their Cpam which con-tains important informationthat they don’t understand. Weare able to translate it, as well as

explaining any follow-up actionthey need to take. Sometimesclients say they don’t like tobother us but actually, everytime someone brings us a prob-lem it increases our collectiveknowledge.

“You can be sure that at least50 other people have receivedthe same communication andhave the same problems, so weare prepared for their calls,” saidMr Street.

“We are there to help with taxreturns, registering cars, joiningsocial security, setting up asmall business, inheritance andso on.

“In the month of May I givearound 85 hours of work to help

fill out the income tax returnsfor our clients, for free, with asmile,” he said.

“We don’t charge because wehave always said that we workin a close community whereword of mouth and reputationare extremely important. All weask is that if customers are sat-isfied then they tell theirfriends about us.”

The agency was started in2002 by Alain Montagnon whosaw the potential of the English-speaking community. TheirEnglish client base grew so largethat a separate agency was setup which now counts 1,800clients.

Mr Street puts the success ofthe group to their philosophy of‘going beyond’.

“Our agency has always beenabout going beyond, not justfor our knowledge of insuranceand finance for private individ-uals and businesses, or ourafter sales services, but for allthings you might face living inFrance,” said Trystan.02 96 87 21 21contact@angloagence.comwww.angloagence.com

ADVERTISING FEATURES

‘Going beyond’ for financeand insurance in EnglishClients of BML Angloagence get help with health, translationsand other queries about life in France – in addition to policies

“In May I givearound 85 freehours to help fillout income taxreturns for clientsTrystan StreetBML Angloagence

THE TEAM: Wayne Mundy,Trystan Street, and CélineRey du Boissieu

Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily

English-speaking firms near youFor your security, we check that the French businesses in this section are officially registered with the authorities

BRITTANYPAGES

Advertise here ALL YEAR from just €165HT

Call free on 0800 91 77 56

or email: directory@connexionfrance.com

BRITTANY DIRECTORY

Directory 13Brittany Pages August 2011

IAN Torode has been runningMower Man in Central Brittanysince September 2009 and over thelast two years has seen his business

grow dramatically. Aprofessional mechanicwith over 20 years’ expe-rience as a self-employedcar and machinerymechanic and garageowner in Guernsey - thelast nine years were at aUnipart Car Care Centre- he is now a registeredartisan and auto-entre-preneur working out ofhis home-based workshop.

There are severalaspects to his business:car and machinemechanics, the buyingand selling of second-hand garden machinery

and a car parts supply service. When it comes to machine

mechanics, Ian can service all makesof light machinery for home and

light trade use, includ-ing small plantmachines, such aswater pumps andcement mixers. He isalso experienced atfixing ride-on or self-pro-pelled mowers and car servicing,which he offers throughout the win-ter period from September to Marchat a competitive rate of €35 perhour, a fee that is comparable withthe cheapest of French garages.

“I am fully registered and insuredin France for carrying out this workand coupled with my parts supplyservice I can probably save people alot of their hard-earned cash,” saidIan who says ride-on mower beltsand blades start at €20.

Ian now has an extensive networkof suppliers who he deals with toobtain original, quality aftermarketparts, which he estimates can save

customersbetween 20%and 50% offFrench retailprices. “Forexample, Ihave somePeugeot 407headlights for€200 and phase1 Citroën

Berlingo head-lights for €60 and I can also supplyexhaust parts, alternators, startermotors, sensors and switches, brakeparts, steering racks and suspensionunits - customers just need to get intouch with their requirements,” saidIan who does his utmost to sourceparts as quickly as possible.

When it comes to the collectionand delivery of machines, whetherfor buying or selling or repairs, Ianis able to drop off and pick up, how-ever, during the peak summer peri-od he has to limit this service totwice a week: mid-week and theweekends.

Ian charges €45 per hour to coverthe travelling costs, but if a destina-tion is less than an hour away hewill calculate the amount according-ly. “As Guémené-sur-Scorff is a 15-minute drive it would be just a €25call-out charge in total and, say, forCallac or Josselin, which are about45 minutes each way, it would be€70 overall,” said Ian. “Clients arealso welcome to deliver and collectfrom me, it is up to them,” he added.

Ian’s business growth is in part dueto local recommendation and wordof mouth and as a result he is verygrateful to his current clients whohave backed his venture so far.

Ian said: “I’d like to say a really bigthank you to everyone who has supported me during the first twoyears of trading and I am lookingforward to meeting more new customers in Brittany and helpingthem with their machinery needs.”

www.mowermaninbrittany.netadmin@mowermaninbrittany.net02 97 39 95 52

Whether it is your car or your sit-on lawnmower that needs tuning, or you arein the market for some used garden machinery, professional car mechanicand Brittany's “mower man” Ian Torode should be your first port of call

Ian Torode’s Mower Man business has grownsubstantially in Brittany over the last twoyears

Machinery problems solved by “mower man”

BUYING and selling property inFrance is vastly different than in theUK and finding an estate agent whocan reliably guide you through theprocess is not always an easy task.

However, Normandy and BrittanyHouses for Sale supports its cus-tomers in all aspects of propertyownership, including sale and pur-chase, property and project man-agement, translation, foreign cur-rency exchange, mortgages, inheri-tance issues, accountancy and taxadvice.

“Of course Normandy andBrittany Houses for Sale is notlicensed to work in all these fields,but we have built up an excellentnetwork of professionals to ensureour customers have the best adviceand support,” said Philippa.

“Supporting people as they settleinto France means they are far morelikely to succeed in their new lifehere.” The company also has a web-site that offers a wealth of informa-tion about living in France:www.normandyandbrittanylife.com.

Philippa works out of DelamarcheImmobilier in Gavray covering thearea from Coutances to Saint-Lôdown to Villedieu-les-Poêles andAvranches, and for the rest ofNormandy and Brittany she worksfor Agence de la Seulles. “Bothagencies are happy with thisarrangement and it works verywell,” said Philippa, who also runs aUK-based company that deals withthe marketing of properties in theUK, as well as having a number ofagencies in the UK and Channel

Islands that refer customers to her.As the British market currently

makes up just 10% of the entiremarket, Philippa has developedstrong links with other Frenchagencies and uses a number ofFrench and international websites.Normandy and Brittany Houses forSale also has a new website,www.normandyandbrittanyhouses-forsale.com that is in both Frenchand English. “We realise thatalthough you may be English, theperson wishing to buy your house islikely to be French speaking,” saidPhilippa, who says that the marketcurrently favours houses under�150,000.

While many property agenciesacross the country struggle to stayafloat, Philippa’s hard work and cus-

tomer commitment at Normandyand Brittany Houses for Sale is pay-ing off. “I have just had my bestquarter ever and this completelybucks the trend,” said Philippa.

“According to official notaire sta-tistics in some areas prices are ris-ing slightly, but in others they arestill falling. I believethat the market isimproving in thelocal Gavray area,but this is notreflected every-where.” It is for thisreason that workingwith an agent commercial such asPhilippa can beincredibly beneficialto those looking tobuy and sell. “I cantap in to French andinternational mar-kets, and not justthe British market,said Philippa. “Mostof my customersthis year are north-ern French, but notfrom Normandy.”

Philippa believespart of her

success is due to her company’sstrapline: “Enjoy the best of bothworlds - France is only just acrossthe Channel!” which reminds peo-ple that making a life in both coun-tries is very feasible. “This straplinehas been important to the success ofthis company,” said Philippa.

One stop property shop inNormandy and Brittany

Philippa taps in to French, UKand internation-al markets

Many estate agents say sales are slow and prices are falling, but for agent commercialPhilippa Weitz, owner of Normandy and Brittany Houses for Sale, business is booming

www.normandyandbrittanylife.comwww.normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.cominfo@normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.com+33 6 19 17 34 61 or +44 7880 501116

EVEN the most integrated of expatsfinds watching English language tel-evision in France a good way torelax and keep in touch with thenews and their favourite UK pro-grammes.

However recent changes in tech-nology, designed to improve thatviewing experience, can also seemto be a bit of a minefield.

According to Trevor Dallas of TVBrittany, since the digitalchangeover in the UK people oftenget confused between Freeview,Freesat and Sky.

“Essentially, Freeview is digitalviewing from a TV aerial and isbroadcast from your local transmit-ter,” he explains. “In France thetransmitter only broadcasts inFrench so Freeview will give youyour French channels. Anyonewanting English television will need

a satellite dish and a digibox."So, what is the latest technology?

“Most people today opt for Freesat,which is a BBC/ITV consortiumbroadcasting more than 100 TVchannels and 40 radio channels - allof which are free,” said Trevor.“There are several models availablestarting with a Standard Definitionreceiver, popular with gîte and holi-day homeowners because of thelower start-up price. However, morepeople are now selecting the HighDefinition digiboxes to take advan-tage of HD Ready televisions, withBBC1, BBCHD, ITV1 and Channel4 all broadcasting in HD.”

Recording favourite programmesis another issue. Imagine wanting towatch the latest TV drama series,scheduled to be shown between9pm and 11pm in the UK. With theone hour difference, you would

need to stay up until midnight orremember to set your videorecorder to the right channel andtime to be sure of seeing it - andthen to do the same for the rest ofthe series.

Is there an easy solution? “Yes, thelatest digibox on the market, andour most popular seller, is the

Humax Foxsat High DefinitionRecorder (HDR). This is a Freesatdigibox with many great features.

“With an eight-day TV guide, youcan choose what you want to watchlater in the week. Just one press of abutton will pop it into your record-ing schedule; you can even add aseries link so you don’t miss future

episodes - it’s simple. You can bewatching another channel whileyour recording is taking place oreven record two channels whilewatching a previous recording.”

Another benefit is that when thephone rings, right at a crucialmoment, you just press the “pause”button, take your call then continuewhere you left off. You can evenrewind live TV to watch that specialgoal again. If you already have asatellite dish then you just need anew LNB on the dish and a secondcable running to the new receiver. Ifnot, TV Brittany offers a full instal-lation service. They will even installyour old digibox into another roomfor you, so it is not wasted.

Sky+HD is similar, with morechannels, but requires a subscriptionfor all the features to work.

www.tvbrittany.com02 97 74 24 56

English TV in your French homeTrevor Dallas of TV Brittany explains some of thepopular choices available and latest innovations

TV Brittany &Normandy also coversthe Loire-Atlantique, Vendéeand the Mayenne

ADVERTISING FEATURES

14 Property Brittany Pages August 2011

DIY tips

MANY old houses throughout France have old terracottatiled floors. This lovely flooring can, over time, becomestained and dull and, being porous, can be difficult to clean.However, instead of replacing it with more practical mod-

ern tiling, have a go at restoring the tiles and bringing themback to their former glory.

The first step is to get rid of any old dirt and watermarks.There is only one way to achieve this and that is throughelbow grease and scrubbing. Use either a stone floor cleaneror black soap and warm water. Apply the soap or solutionand leave for at least 15 minutes, then go back over the areawith a scrubbing brush. If marks are stubborn, apply puresoap to them, wait and scrub again. Finish this step bymopping up the residue and rinsing the floor with warmwater, then dry mop the floor.

Next, prepare the floor for oiling. The tiles must becompletely dry after the first step – it is worth waiting atleast a couple of days to make sure this is the case – and thefloor should be protected during this period. Once dry, thefloors must be as free from dust as possible.

Traditionally, boiled linseed oil is used for protectingterracotta floors. It also gives them a nice finish. To make theoil easier to apply, leave it overnight somewhere warm andapply to a warm floor that has either been heated upnaturally by the sun or turn on the heating in the room a fewhours before application. Apply freely with a paintbrush –the more the tiles absorb the more resistant they will be.

After application, wait for about 20 minutes and check tosee whether there is any excess oil. If so, go over these patch-es again with a brush to spread it out. If, after another 20minutes, there are still patches of excess oil, remove with apiece of cloth. Leave the tiles overnight, or for at least eighthours, before applying a second coat.

Once the two coats have been applied and have dried, it isa good idea to apply a coat of oil-based stone floor sealer.

Finally, test the floor for water-tightness. Simply pour asmall amount of water onto a tile and check 15 minutes laterwhether it is still visible or not. If it is, your floor is watertight. If it has been absorbed then it is wise to apply anothercoat of sealer.

Maintain the floor by mopping up any spills straight away,hoover and mop when needed and every year test forwater-tightness.

Bring back shineto terracotta tiles

Outdoors or in, terracotta tiles can be difficult to clean

Photo: antmoose/Flickr

AUGUST is a month whenwe would all like to be out onthe terrace but mosquitoes,wasps, ants and flying insectscan take the pleasure of a gar-den barbecue away. Here are a few tips to claim

your patio area back fromnuisance insects.

WaspsIf you are eating outside thelast thing you want is to haveto wear or do anything spe-cial to protect yourself frominsects. Instead we suggestthree easy tips: Use simpletraps, apply repellent toexposed body parts and elim-inate any nests you find.

You can buy ‘lure traps’ sothe pests are more likely to gofor these than your food. Ifyou use a trap, add a coupleof drops of washing-upliquid. This reduces the sur-face tension of the water sowasps actually sink in andcannot skate on it.

Also, look for nests underthe tiles on your - and yourneighbour’s - roof. Use anexpert to get any removed.AntsPest control experts advise

putting sugar in an area sothe ants go there instead of toyour patio.

A glass of elderflower cor-dial, for example, left to standaround for a few hours willcatch a lot of black ants.MosquitoesIt makes sense to keep the

grass cut as short as possibleand remove any containerswith stagnant water in whichmosquitoes love to breed.

Used alone, no method islikely to be effective. Plantsaround your terrace willattract insects so you couldmove these on to your lawn if

you have visitors. Mosquitoes pick up on

body functions such as lacticacid, CO² output and bodyheat so there is very little wecan do other than usingrepellent. You can usecitronella candles and amixture of different productson the market. Lemongrass isanother natural mosquitorepellent which can be plant-ed around the patio.

For a more environmentallyfriendly option, you couldbuild a bat house. Batsnaturally control mosquitoesand the houses are oftenavailable from garden centresand bird box suppliers.

You can also build yourown using scrap wood. Seetinyurl.com/bathouseguide

Follow the instructions toput the houses up at thecorrect height and amount ofsunlight, then sit back andwatch in the sunset as thebats do their work.FliesElectronic fly killers buzz inthe corner of the patio butavoid those which have anelectric current as the insectswill explode. This isunpleasant to look at and

smell and you can end upwith bits of leg and body inyour food. Glue boards whichyou buy in a hardware orcamping shop are probablythe most effective.

Fleas and tics If you suddenly start gettingbitten in the garden or grasssurrounding your patio, a foxor other wild animal may beregularly following the sametrack through your garden. Aprofessional would spray aresidual chemical on to thearea and you can make surethe animal doesn’t return byputting something in its way.

Tips compiled with help fromSimon Berenyi of Wasp Kill UK– www.waspkilluk.co.uk

Reclaim your garden and enjoy the great outdoors withoutbeing troubled by mosquitoes. Follow our tips.

Tell nuisance insects tobuzz off this summer

Photo: Kzenon - Fotolia.com

Photo: LaurenWebb14

- Flickr.com

Build your own bat house

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PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

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Bare-root trees available to order now!

Buying or selling a property inor around Brittany? We can help.

Our website www.connex-ionfrance.com carries detailsof more than 14,000 homes forsale across France.

We also feature properties forsale in this dedicated sectionof the Brittany Pages everymonth. Use the code undereach property to find out moreon the website.

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Contact us on 0800 91 77 56(freephone in France) or emailsales@connexionfrance.com

More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in theproperty for sale section of

www.connexionfrance.com Simply enter the code under each home to find out more

Houses for sale in and around Brittany

REF: IFPC18476

€€87,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

RostrenenThe property has an EntranceHall, Separate W.C.Kitchen/Dining Room, Lounge,Bathroom, 2 Bedrooms, Gardenswith patio area.

REF: IFPC18043

€€129,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

QuimperléThis property comprises of 4 bedrooms, extensive outbuildingsincluding- working cider press,pretty longere and useful barnboth double storey.

REF: IFPC20367

€€230,000

ENERGY RATING = E & C

PontivyThis beautiful property comprises of 4 bedroom stonelongere together with a pretty 2bedroom stone cottage andoutbuilding.

REF: 86076

€€300,000

ENERGY RATING = F

La Vicomte Sur RanceCharming stone house with 3bedrooms, living room with fireplace, charming kitchen with fireplace, study, utility room and 2bathrooms.

REF: 2093-XML

€€200,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Vic-Fezensac, GersThe villa comprises 2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms, living room of 31m² and kitchen. Adjoininggarage of approx 41m² whichcould be easily converted to provide additional bedrooms.

REF: IFPC19489

€€250,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Bailli the Renaissance Cottagenext to Château de Bellenavesnow has a modern kitchen, largebathroom with shower and tub, 3bedrooms, lounge with fireplace,central heating and ADSL internet connection

REF: 183

€€302,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Vence, Alpes-MaritimesBeautiful 72m² 2 bedroom flat.Located on the first floor of aresidence of good standing, theliving/dining room and one bedroom have direct access to a13m² terrace.

REF: IFPC16428

€€420,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

PontivyStunning 5 bedroomed house(split into two homes) plus 3bedroomed detached cottage.Set within 5 enclosed acres ofbeautiful grounds with stablesand outbuildings.

REF: IFPC19701

€€190,000

ENERGY RATING = C

Fougères3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house.Plus a self contained 3 bedroom2 shower room Gite. Situated ina small Hamlet at the end of aquiet country lane.

REF: BVI0005112

€€100,000

ENERGY RATING = E

Brantome, DordogneA fabulous historical 2 Bedroomproperty set over 3 floors, formerly part of a 17th centuryconvent, overlooking a medievalChateau.

New Consumption and Emission Chart- e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions

Make cash from your unwanted items. Classified adverts are FREE for private sales of items under €250. send details by email to

sales@connexionfrance.comCLASSIFIEDS

Photo: illustrez-vous - Fotolia.com

AFTER a year of hard work, August is the month when gar-deners can take a rest and enjoy the rewards – with flowersin bloom and an abundance of fruit and vegetables ready toconsume.

Courgettes, aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, beans, onions,radishes, cucumbers, cabbages, spinach and potatoes shouldall have reached maturity by now, and figs, oranges, peach-es, pears and prunes will also be ready for a delicious sum-mer fruit salad.

The hot, dry weather is certainly a better time for lazingaround in the garden than working hard in it, but there area few tasks that can be done this month to keep the gardenin good shape and prepare for the autumn.

Plants will need watering and tidying – but you shouldcheck about water restrictions in your area beforehand. Ifyou are heading away on holiday, consider moving pottedplants to the shade so that they do not suffer in yourabsence, especially with the exceptionally dry weatherFrance has had so far this year.

Keep a daily eye on remontant roses and cut off any wiltedflowers to give others the best chance of flowering later thismonth and through September.

Also on a tidying theme, remember to remove dead leavesand other plant matter on a regular basis. This is particular-ly important if you live near woodland – there are strict ruleson débrousaillement that are designed to prevent forest fires,as too much vegetation on the ground helps fires to spread.There also limits on when you can burn vegetation on yourland, and how close tree foliage can be to buildings. Checkwith your local mairie.

The hot weather encourages aphids and other nasty bugsto spread. Treat your plants regularly and look out for earlysigns of mildew and other fungi and parasites.

Finally, late August is the time to plant spinach, radishes,turnips and parsley.

French August weather proverbs

Temps trop beau en août, annonce hiver en courroux (if theweather is too good in August, prepare for wrath of winter).

Tels les trois premiers jours d’août, tel le temps de l'automne(the first three days of August are a sign of the autumn tocome).

Jamais d’août la sécheresse, n'amène la richesse (a droughtin August will never bring richness).

Enjoy the fruitsof your labour

August brings an abundance of fruit and vegetables

REF: 008

€€310,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Lot-et-GaronneVery charming 3 bedroom cottage in mint condition andlocation with views over therolling hills, woodland and forest for long walks.

REF: IFPC20178

€€330,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Troyes, Aube4 bedrooms all en suite and a further study/bedroom above thegarage (also with shower room/w.c.). Kitchen/Dining room, sitting room and outside terracewith fabulous views.

16 News Brittany Pages August 2011

JANICK BRETON’S childhoodmemories of summer seasideholidays have inspired her all herlife. Since 2009, she has put this loveof the sea to good use in her shop,BO Carré, where she sells a varietyof objects made from recycled boatsails. Everything, from bags andbaskets, to books, lampshades,cushions and curtains, is given herunique touch.

“I discovered sewing at school atthe age of 14, and since then I havenever stopped,” she says. She callsher passion for sewing anddecorating “stronger than reason”.

As far back as she can remember,Janick has been fascinated by allkinds of materials – fabric, wood,earth, and stone. “For me, even apainting is a tactile experience,” shesays. “Volume and colour are alsoimportant. Colour is life. Withoutcolour I am lost.”

Her passion for the sea andBrittany began when she was achild, when holidays were spent inMoguériec, a small fishing port inFinistère. Then, at the age of nine,

she came to live in Saint-Brieuc.It is no coincidence that Janick

brought the worlds of sewing andsailing together. She is the grand-daughter of a seamstress, sister of aprofessional sailor and daughter of asteelworker, who built his own 8.5mboat.

After studying for a BA inliterature, followed by some timespent in the worlds of business andsailing, she decided to return to herfirst love. In February 2009, sheopened her shop, BO Carré, inQuimper, and started spending longhours researching materials at nauti-

cal centres and sailmakers. Herclients come direct to her now.

She loves the quality of sail fabric,how its strength and durabilitycontrast with a transparency thatallows her to layer the material,creating an interesting range ofcolours. Dacron is used to make

sails for amateur sailing boats, withMylar and carbon used for racingboats. Each has different qualities,but all are machine washable and goin the tumble dryer.

Every piece Janick designs isconceived individually, making eachone unique. “The sails I use to makethe objects tell the stories of sailorsfrom all round the world and fromall walks of life,” she says.

Janick loves to work with otherartists, and there are no limits to hercreativity. She made cushions withpainter Marie de l’Ille, lamps withphotographer Thierry Bécouarn,and she also works with landscapearchitects.

When she began her work in deco-ration and interior design, ordersfrom restaurants and bars startedflooding in. The 21e, a trendycoffee shop in Quimper, was thefirst to ask for her bread baskets andflower pots.

L’Alhambra in Bénodetcommissioned menus, ottomans,cushions, lamps, baskets andcurtains. Luna Parc, a games barin Carnac, asked her to create 40chairs made of boat sails. Janickadvises homeowners and those whojust love sailing on interior design.

So how about a roller blind, alampshade or a cushion made froma windsurfing sail? Your living-roomsofa could make you feel you aresailing in the open sea.Janick’s website: www.bocarre.fr

Sailing into your homeJanick Breton gives new lifeto old sails by creatingindividual pieces that are bothpractical and beautiful.ISABELLE CARVALHO talksto Janick in the first of ourseries about local people whomake a difference to our lives

Janick Breton brings the worlds of sewing and sailing together, transforming an old sail in her atelier