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JANUARY 2022 £4.99

HOMES DECORATING CRAFTS GARDENS FOOD TRAVEL HEALTH

Get set

WHEN YOUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

GLOW Golden wreaths and floral garlands Cocktails and canapés with a tasty twist Artisan gifts for last-minute shoppers

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WAYS TO REVIVE YOUR ROOMS WITH VELVET

A tale of two cottages TOTALLY TRANSFORMED

BEING WORZEL

MEET THE STAR BEHIND THE SCARECROW

ESCAPE TO LYME REGIS WHERE TO STAY WHAT TO SEE

NEW YEAR’S NORDIC BAKES JANUARY 2022

DECADENT AND DAIRY-FREE! countryliving.com/uk

B R I N G B AC K B U S E S ! J O I N T H E C A M PA I G N T O S AV E O U R R U R A L R O U T E S

JANUARY 2022 ISSUE 433

Contents 60 78 46

Houses & gardens

74

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EMPORIUM New ways to introduce elements of country style into your home

38

SHOW ME THE WAY TO AMARYLLIS Festive decorating with pink and scarlet blooms

60

20 WAYS TO REINVENT VELVET Fresh and surprising ways to work this opulent fabric into your decor

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CONE CENTRIC ’Tis the season to spruce it up with our splendiferous, coniferous craft creations

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A TALE OF TWO COTTAGES How a pair of estate workers’ cottages in Dorset have been transformed from dark and dingy to fresh and fun

VIEW FROM HERE Susy Smith celebrates the world’s wackiest New Year traditions

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LIVING THE GOOD LIFE Sally Coulthard shares her tried-and-tested tips for smoking food

108

WHITE MAGIC At Norfolk’s Hunworth Hall, a heavy snowfall conjures up a winter pleasure garden

GOING GREENER Our guide to a sustainable life

114

31 34

A WARM WELCOME IN WALES A remote stone cottage makes the perfect setting for a seasonal celebration

46

“I WANT TO MAKE BRITAIN BRIGHT AGAIN” Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on why maximalism is the new mantra for country interiors

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BEST OF BRITISH: NORFOLK PARSNIPS We champion regional specialities from artisan producers

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CURVE APPEAL Spirals, circles and looping pathways offer a surprise at every turn in this Essex garden

129

GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot this month

countryliving.com/uk

Features OUT OF THE OFFICE, INTO THE WOODS Mackenzie Crook reveals how he has nailed country quirk

A WORD FROM THE CL TEAM Please note that the content in this magazine was created during the evolving coronavirus crisis. We have updated features where we can, but it is not possible to anticipate all eventualities as we go to press. So please be aware that some events and offers may be subject to availability, postponement or cancellation. We do hope you continue to enjoy the magazine and that you stay safe and well.

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108 JANUARY 2022 ISSUE 433

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TURNING OVER A NEW WREATH Rowan MacGregor weaves together a passion for history with a love of the Somerset countryside to make exquisite copper garlands

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LORD OF THE DANCE Can a scheme to protect the capercaillie’s ‘dance halls of desire’ save it from extinction?

84

ALL HAIL THE HIGHLAND COW We tip our hat to the bovine beauty synonymous with Scotland

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KNITTING PRETTY Modern meets vintage in Jules Hogan’s studio where she creates her contemporary pieces on a replica 18th-century machine

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FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE How new ideas for rural transport are suddenly taking off

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A MONTH IN THE LIFE OF… Bake Off star, author and television presenter Nadiya Hussain

Wellbeing

84

News, views & events

133

DE-FRAZZLE YOUR FESTIVITIES The Country Living team offer ways to stop seasonal stress in its tracks

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137

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY Places to go, things to do and ideas to try in January

WELLBEING FOR MIND & BODY Natural tips and remedies to help you feel your best

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ORDER YOUR COUNTRY LIVING 2022 DIARY & CALENDAR! Get organised for the year ahead

92 132 131

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE

FARE SHARE Get everyone in the party spirit with our selection of celebratory cocktail and canapé recipes

136

NEW YEAR’S NORDIC BAKES Dairy-free sweet treats from the Swedish kitchen of Sofia Nordgren

ADD COMFORT & JOY WITH COUNTRY LIVING ACCESSORIES The new collections at Homebase

152

COUNTRY LIVING HOLIDAYS Exclusive trips

Food & drink 138

146 04

JANUARY 2022

COVER PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF LIVING4MEDIA

Contents

WHERE TO BUY Stockists in the magazine THE COUNTRY LIVING COLLECTION AT CARPETRIGHT Our quality flooring range

ON THE COVER Get set glow pages 68, 38, 138 and 17 20 ways page 60 A tale of two cottages page 100 Being Worzel page 34 Escape to Lyme Regis page 9 New Year’s Nordic bakes page 146 Bring back buses! page 94 COUNTRY LIVING HOME DELIVERY Subscribe to Country Living and delight in the British countryside from the comfort of your home. Details on page 92 COVER CREDIT Photograph by Sven-Caspar Raben

countryliving.com/uk

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GROUP EDITORIAL PRODUCTION GROUP MANAGING EDI TOR INGRID EAMES

ART PICTURES FEATURES FOOD & DRINK HOMES & GARDENS

HEALTH & BEAUTY WEBSITE

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CONSUMER SALES & MARKETING

COMMUNICATION PRODUCTION

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HEARST UK AND HEARST EUROPE INTERIM CEO, HEARST UK/PRESIDENT, HEARST EUROPE SIMON HORNE FINANCE DIRECTOR, HEARST UK JULIEN LITZELMANN DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, HEARST EUROPE MATT HILL CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER, HEARST EUROPE SURINDER SIMMONS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, HEARST EUROPE GIACOMO MOLETTO

HEARST MAGAZINES INTERNATIONAL

PRESIDENT JONNY WRIGHT SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/EDITORIAL & BRAND DIRECTOR KIM ST CLAIR BODDEN

COUNTRY LIVING, ISSN 0951-0281, is published monthly (12 times a year) by Hearst UK c/o Express Mag, 12 Nepco Way, Plattsburgh, NY, 12903. Periodicals Postage paid at Plattsburgh, NY. POSTMASTER: send address changes to COUNTRY LIVING c/o Express Mag, PO Box 2769, Plattsburgh, NY 12901-0239. Hearst UK is a trading name of The National Magazine Company Limited (Registered in England number 112955) and Hearst UK 2012-1 Ltd (Registered in England number 4474102) whose registered offices are at House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, London SW1Y 4AJ. Country Living is distributed by Frontline Ltd, Peterborough Tel: 01733 555161. This publication is sold subject to the following conditions: that it shall not, without the consent of the publishers first given, be lent, resold, hired or otherwise disposed of by way of Trade except at the full retail price of £4.99; it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition, or in any unauthorised cover by way of Trade of affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. Sources, uses and disclosures of personal data held by Hearst Magazines UK are described in the official Data Protection Register. Already a subscriber? Visit hearstmagazines.co.uk/managemyaccount to update your contact details, renew your subscription and find out when your next issue is due to be delivered. Contact us at hearstmagazines.co.uk/contact-us. Call us on 01858 438423*; lines open weekdays, 8am-9.30pm; Saturdays, 8am-4pm. Please note: you can also contact us regarding back issues and special editions.

All paper used to make this magazine is from sustainable sources in Scandinavia and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines you can help to reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure that you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. If you are unable to participate in a recycling scheme, pass your magazine on to a local hospital or charity. This magazine can be recycled either through your kerbside collection, or at a local recycling point. Log on to recyclenow.com and enter your postcode to find your nearest sites.

A note from the editor

PHOTOGRAPHS BY RANN CHANDRIC; RACHEL WARNE

As I write this letter, we are all about to head ‘home for the holidays’ and enjoy a proper break from the hurly-burly of work and everyday life. The Country Living office closes over the festive period (I know, we’re lucky) and it’s one of the few times that we switch off our screens, shut up our laptops and see family and friends.

Eventually, we all slow down, but that gear change isn’t easy or immediate and sometimes the frenzy leading up to Christmas can be overwhelming. If this resonates with you, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading De-Frazzle Your Festivities on page 133, where the team share how, each year, they manage to stop seasonal stress in its tracks. Their inspiring tips focus around one important theme: living in the moment. Reading their stories has certainly strengthened my resolve to take a more mindful approach to life. If I do one thing in 2022, it will be to embrace the art of ‘slow living’. It’s a topic that we have always championed in this magazine and will continue to talk about throughout the year.

Reading about different people’s lives is one of the best bits of my job and this issue is packed with compelling tales of how country-lovers spend their time. In our celebrity profile (page 34), Mackenzie Crook (below left) talks about his passion for fishing, tortoise breeding and enjoying things outdoors ‘with purpose’. And in Knitting Pretty (page 86), super-talented artisan Jules Hogan (below right) explains how her conscious decision to stop making knitwear for shops – in favour of selling directly to consumers – has enabled her to embrace a gentler pace of life and re-ignite her creativity. On which happy note, I wish a peaceful and joyous New Year to you all.

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A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY

PL ACES TO GO, THINGS T O DO, IDEAS T O TRY

January “The days are short, The sun a spark, Hung thin between The dark and dark” John Updike, January JANUARY 2022

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A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY

January

9mph

BACK FROM THE BRINK LADYBIRD SPIDER With its black-and-white stripy legs and red-and-black spotted abdomen, the ladybird spider looks like it has scuttled out of a fairy tale. Found on lowland heath, it was considered extinct for 70 years until a population of seven was discovered in Dorset in 1980. Since then, efforts to boost numbers have been successful, with 14 ‘clutters’ now established, totalling nearly 1,000 invertebrates. Most are in RSPB Arne Nature Reserve, where you can go spider spotting or walk through an interactive web installation to learn more (rspb.org.uk).

The speed at which the fastest snowflakes – full of supercooled water – float to the earth TRY YOUR HAND AT…

CARVING A LOVE SPOON Why wait until February to show your loved one how you feel? January 25 is the Welsh Valentine’s Day, celebrating its patron saint of lovers St Dwynwen, and the perfect excuse to exchange Welsh love spoons. These wooden tokens of affection – with their symbolic language of knots, hearts and horseshoes – date from the 17th century. Learn to whittle your own and you’re likely to get a big cwtch, or cuddle, for your labour of love. thelovespoonworkshop.com

OF THE BEST...

pubs with crackling fires

End a winter walk with a drink beside flickering flames THE DOG AND GUN, CUMBRIA Fuel up after a yomp on the fells with ale and goulash at this beamed inn (greeneking-pubs.co.uk).

THE ROYAL STANDARD OF ENGLAND, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE England’s oldest freehouse (right), this Beaconsfield warren of wonky beams offers cheer on chilly days (theoldestpub.com).

THE COVE HOUSE INN, DORSET Enjoy a pint at this Portland pub overlooking the 16-mile Chesil Beach (thecovehouseinn.co.uk).

THE BUSH INN, VALE OF GLAMORGAN Cosy up beside the huge inglenook fireplace of this 16th-century tavern (bushinn-sthilary.com).

THE STEIN INN, SKYE Tucked into the rugged folds of the Waternish Peninsula, Skye’s oldest pub has a roaring fire and an extensive whisky selection (thesteininn.co.uk).

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countryliving.com/uk

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY

January

MADE IN BRITAIN… RECYCLED CASHMERE GLOVES Wave off the January chill with these fingerless gloves made from recycled cashmere and available in a riot of colours. The original – and still bestselling – product from Shrewsbury company Turtle Doves, these luxurious and ethical winter warmers were borne out of founder Kate Holbrook’s passion to transform textile waste into beautiful new accessories (turtle-doves.co.uk).

EAT THE SEASONS Chervil PLANT CHERVIL IN AUTUMN AND BY JANUARY YOU’LL HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF THIS HARDY, LACYLEAVED BIENNIAL HERB. ANCIENT GREEKS CALLED IT THE ‘LEAVES OF JOY’. TODAY, IT’S ALSO KNOWN AS FRENCH PARSLEY AND IS THE BASIS OF CLASSIC FRENCH COOKING AS ONE OF THE FINES HERBES. THE MILD YET INSISTENT FLAVOUR WILL PERK UP EGG, POTATO AND FISH DISHES WITH SUBTLE LAYERS OF ANISEED. HEAT IT TOO LONG, HOWEVER, AND THE MAGIC IS GONE, SO DON’T ADD UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

SENSE OF THE SEASON...

Thundersnow

Last January, residents of Conwy in Wales were awoken by a deafening boom before formidable forks of lightning lit up the streets and countryside. This apocalyptic weather, known as ‘thundersnow’, occurs when cold conditions mean that heavy rain falls as snow (at a rate of up to 10cm per hour). Unlike a typical thunderstorm, which reverberates for miles around, thundersnow can only be heard if you’re in close proximity to the lightning – the swirling snow acting as an ‘acoustic suppressor’.

Although rare in the UK, our increasingly changeable climate suggests that it might not be too long before we experience this meteorological marvel again. Find out more at metoffice.gov.uk.

SPOTTER’S GUIDE Foraging birds Winter’s slim pickings turn our feathered friends into tenacious treasure seekers

Teasel thieves

HEDGEROW HUNTERS Boundary shrubs shelter chattering tits, searching for the fruits of hawthorn and blackthorn amid the branches.

TEASEL THIEVES Keep your eyes peeled for goldfinches flittering between the spiky plumes of these herbaceous plants, prising out seeds from between the spines.

Hedgerow hunters 12

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BERRY BANDITS Against January’s grey skies, clouds of blackbirds perch like charcoal marks on rowan trees and holly bushes, squabbling with thrushes over the best berries. Find out more at bto.org.

Berry bandits countryliving.com/uk

discover…

Scotland’s most photographed peak, Buachaille Etive Mòr stands sentinel over ancient Highland valleys. This munro is best bagged in spring or summer: it’s an arduous ascent requiring crampons and ice-axes. In winter, we suggest you simply admire it as you travel through the beautiful Rannoch Moor, en route from Crianlarich to Glencoe village on the A82.

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY

January

WEEKENDERS

Where to stay

Lyme Regis

Book a seafront suite at The Bell Cliff House for panoramic views over Lyme Bay and Charmouth Cliffs. Cinephiles may well get a sense of déjà vu, as this cosy cottage appeared in Ammonite (from £135 per night; airbnb.co.uk). Alternatively, wallow in the lap of luxury at the Alexandra, a historic house with seven elegant boudoirs (the Countess’s Room is shown above). An on-site massage at the end of the day is sure to ready you for more coastal adventures (from £180 per night; hotelalexandra.co.uk).

DORSET After the excesses and excitement of Christmas, reboot your batteries with a jaunt to the seaside. Perched on the Dorset-Devon border, Lyme Regis offers moody blue cliffs and beaches where prehistoric relics rest between boulders.

While you’re there, set a course for The Cobb – the bustling harbour straight from the pages of Persuasion and The French Lieutenant’s Woman…

WHAT TO SEE AND DO Follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning – the palaeontologist protagonist of last year’s feature film Ammonite – and go on a fossilfinding expedition. The Lyme Regis Museum runs daily tours (depending on tide times) to the Jurassic Coast’s fossil-hunting hotspots (£12.75 per adult; lymeregis museum.co.uk). To take a peek at marine marvels from Lyme Bay and beyond, head to the harbourside aquarium. You’ll see sea urchins, starfish and spiny lobster and learn about the area’s seafaring past (visit-dorset.com). A five-mile walk to Charmouth takes you past pretty churches via wooden kissing gates, while a stroll along the coastal path offers views of Golden Cap (dorsettravelguide.com).

WHERE TO EAT For a hearty lunch, The Whole Hog specialises in packed pulledpork rolls – served with crackling, apple sauce and gravy – followed by their delectable doughnuts (thewholehog.co.uk). For a seasonal supper, head to Robin Wylde (shown top right) for locally landed Lyme Bay prawns and white wine from Bridport’s Furleigh Estate (robinwylde.com). Doing Veganuary? The roast red pepper roulade and cashew croquettes at Tierra Kitchen will convert even the most committed carnivore (tierrakitchen.co.uk).

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Shops to visit Set in the shadows of an ancient waterwheel, Town Mills is Lyme Regis’s artisan quarter. For seaside souvenirs, stop by Molesworth & Bird (above left) for limited-edition seaweed prints, posters, cards and calendars (molesworthand bird.com). Got a hankering for haberdashery?

Sew La Di Da (above right) is a sewing school/ shop where you can join a workshop or pick up a pattern (two days from £160; sewladida vintage.com). For artisan delicacies, Ammonite Fine Foods offers everything from South Devon Chilli Farm’s Scorpion Sauce to Willie’s Cacao Hot Chocolate (ammonitefinefoods.co.uk). countryliving.com/uk

WORDS BY ANNA MELVILLE-JAMES AND LAURAN ELSDEN. INFORMATION CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS BUT MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION, SO PLEASE CALL IN ADVANCE TO CHECK DETAILS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; MATT AUSTIN; GETTY IMAGES; STOCKFOOD/DEBI TRELOAR; POLLY WREFORD. ILLUSTRATION BY ALLIRA TEE

Robin Wylde restaurant

SHOP SMALL Devon-based company Adams & Mack handcrafts beautiful door knockers in brass, such as this snipe for £142. There’s also an otter, hare and dachshund

Linen Aga cover with hand-printed pattern, £22,

by Helen Round. Other colours and designs are also available Slip-cast porcelain bell with sgraffito decoration, £26.

Made in small batches by Kate Russell of Skratch Studio in Llanblethian, Wales

This pretty wallpaper is from the Wild Meadow collection by Susie Atkinson in collaboration with Ellen Merchant, £90-£110/roll

emporium Our home and crafts editor Alaina Binks handpicks her favourite artisan presents for last-minute shoppers

Cotton Clara’s gingham paperchain sets come in seven colourways. Each pack contains 48 strips, which make roughly a 2.4m chain, £8.95

This Portland bench from The Dormy House is perfect for a hallway or boot room. It comes in several paint colours (seen here in ink) with an upholstered seat in a choice of fabrics or you can supply your own, from £400 The design on this beautiful velvet cushion by Susi Bellamy started as a collage on one of her own original marbled papers, £135

countryliving.com/uk

JANUARY 2022

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SHOP SMALL

Editor’s choice

FoldED Scottish elm and Douglas fir glazed dresser with brass hardware and leather handles, £5,200, Ted Wood.

Handcrafted to order in any size. Sgraffito stoneware bowl, from a selection, Laura Huston Ceramics

PHOTOGRAPH BY NATO WELTON

“Made from a single plank of elm seamlessly ‘folded’ to create the outer shell, this dresser is beautifully engineered.

You can choose from eight paint colours including this deep blue, which is a firm favourite of mine”

SHOP SMALL

Handmade natural and botanical hair and body soap by Farm Soap Co in Abbotsbury, on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, from £4

emporium

This wreath kit by printmaker Clare Dales features printed patterns on card that started as original lino prints, £12

These earrings by Judith Brown Jewellery have timeless elegance.

They are hand-stitched in oxidised silver wire with glass beads and finished with sterlingsilver ear hooks, £36

Garthenor’s Beacons yarn is made from a blend of Polwarth, Romney and Hebridean organic wool and is scoured, combed, spun and dyed in Yorkshire and finished in Ceredigion, £12/50g skein

Our classic Warwick plaid armchair comes in five colourways including Mulberry shown here, £699, Country Living Collection exclusively at DFS

Follow @CLArtisans on Instagram to see more unique products from talented makers FOR STOCKISTS see Where to Buy

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JANUARY 2022

RESEARCH BY DAISY BENDALL, AMY NEASON AND HOLLY RANSOME. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELAYNE BARRE; BJARNI B JACOBSEN FOTOGRAFI; PICASA. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

The design on this charming screen-printed lampshade by Sophie Sharp – made in her home studio in west Dorset – began as an original lino print, from £45 at Lupin Designs

This bunch of mistletoe is made from gold-painted metal with pearl-style beads, £49.75 from The Danes

COLUMN

View from here

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MAY VAN MILLINGEN

Susy Smith celebrates the world’s wackiest New Year traditions – and reveals how one has inspired her to take new adventures in 2022 begin this month with a question: have any of you ever celebrated the New Year in South America, most specifically Colombia? If so, perhaps you would be good enough to let me know if what they say is true: to mark the turn of the year, the locals carry an empty suitcase around with them, signifying, apparently, that they will have 12 months of adventure ahead?

Slightly weird? No more so than the many quirky customs that take place elsewhere in the world. In Denmark, they smash old plates and glasses on each other’s doorsteps to banish bad spirits (I just take mine to the charity shop). In Greece, it’s traditional to hang onions at the front door as a symbol of rebirth. The Spanish eat 12 grapes – one at each stroke of the clock at midnight – to represent good luck for each month of the coming year. And in Brazil, lentils – symbolising good fortune – are the favoured dish. Curious…

Mind you, these are no more eccentric than the practice we’ve adopted from the Scots, of welcoming a dark-haired man carrying a lump of coal across the threshold as the clock strikes midnight.

(The dark hair is important because, after the Viking invasions, a fair-haired man was unlikely to be welcome!) In truth, with Hogmanay and its origins stretching back to the celebration of the winter solstice, the Scots really own the New Year in Britain.

And this is fair enough, given that, after The Reformation in the late 1500s, they didn’t have much else to celebrate when the Protestant Kirk banned any kind of merrymaking at Christmas.

No wonder the Scots take their New Year traditions so seriously.

Aside from the token piece of coal to wish warmth for the coming year, first-footers also carry black bun (a type of fruit cake) and sometimes shortbread, representing food and prosperity. Last but not least, they bring whisky (of course) to toast the occasion.

Then there’s the singing: no New Year’s Eve is complete without a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Surprisingly, the song can be heard across the globe in many places far beyond the shores of The Auld Country. In fact, according to the Guinness World Records, Auld Lang Syne is one of the most popular songs sung in English, after Happy Birthday to You and For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.

Growing up in Belfast, my childhood memories of New Year’s Eve are of the whole family gathering round the black and white television to

tune in to The White Heather Club. I loved the swirling kilts and the ladies in their fancy dresses and net petticoats as they skipped gaily around the room to jaunty music played by a bank of smiling accordionists. I’d try to sing along with cheery chappie Andy Stewart, as he worked his way through a repertoire of Scottish ballads, but end up completely bamboozled by the indecipherable lyrics. As an adult, some of the best festive evenings I can remember have involved dancing Strip the Willow or the Dashing White Sergeant to the fast and furious fiddle music at a proper Scottish cèilidh.

Mostly, on New Year’s Eve, I expect a party and, perhaps, some fireworks. The latter probably have their roots in the ancient traditions of fire worship. In Allendale in Northumbria, the residents have been celebrating the atmospheric Tar Bar’l Festival on 31 December for more than 160 years. A procession of costumed barrel carriers, known as ‘guisers’ (because they are in disguise), parade flaming, tar-filled, whisky barrels through the streets to the centre of town where they are thrown onto a bonfire with the cry of “Be damned to he who throws last”. New Year’s Eve Fire Festivals also take place in the appropriately named Flamborough, in Yorkshire, and several Scottish locations, including Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. The Welsh, on the other hand, enjoy an altogether more harmonious tradition, when a group of singers parade the Mari Lwyd – a mare’s skull dressed in a sheet and ribbons – from house to house to try to gain entry by singing Welsh songs.

Ultimately, the theme of all these celebrations is to see out the old year and welcome in the new. It’s a chance to wipe the slate clean and begin again. But that creates its own pressure, as we try to think of self-improving resolutions for the coming 12 months. I find, as I get older, that I’m running out of ideas.

And, realistically, will I stick to them anyway? So, for 2022, my resolution is not to make any resolutions.

There again, on second thoughts, having been virtually housebound for the past 18 months, I vow to have more adventures. Now where’s that empty suitcase…?

NEXT MONTH Susy Smith ponders why her best-laid plans in the garden so often go awry…Meanwhile, you can follow her on Instagram @susysmithmacleod.

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Living the GOOD LIFE There’s never been a better time to go self-sufficient. In our new series, Sally Coulthard shares her tried-and-tested tips from her Yorkshire smallholding

THIS MONTH Smoking food countryliving.com/uk

JANUARY 2022

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Writer and seasoned smallholder Sally shares her Yorkshire plot with sheep, horses, chickens, ducks, an orchard, vegetable garden and pond y freezer packed in the other day. I suspect one too many bags of peas had been crammed in and it had had enough. I don’t pay much attention to white goods but it made me think how much commitment must have gone into preserving food before refrigeration became affordable. My dad remembers not having a fridge as a child and that was the 1950s.

We take the availability of year-round plenty for granted but it’s a recent development. When our ancestors discovered different ways of preserving food, it changed the course of history: having a non-seasonal food supply allowed humans to migrate, survive inhospitable environments and climates, and then plan for the future.

We don’t know when people first started to smoke food but there are some tantalising clues. Air drying was probably the first method of preservation but smoking came soon after. A recent archaeological dig in Jordan found a remarkable 19,000-year-old site. More than 10,000 bones were uncovered, mostly gazelle, along with remains of campfires and what experts believe to be evidence of smoking racks – meat preservation on an impressive scale.

Nowadays, smoking food at home is more about gastronomy than necessity. While we don’t have a specific taste receptor for smokiness like we do for, say, saltiness, much of the flavour of smoked food is linked to its aroma. Our sense of smell resides in an ancient corner of our brain, the limbic system, which also deals with memory. Some food historians believe that smoked foods

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trigger a deep-seated, primal reaction, linked to when our ancestors smoked and ate food around open fires.

Smoking preserves food in a number of ways. Wood smoke has antimicrobial properties, which helps slow bacterial growth. It also has a drying action – removing moisture from food helps prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Whether you choose a hot or cold approach also makes a difference. Cold smoking, which doesn’t apply heat, is used mainly to give that campfire flavour. Although the smoke kills some bacteria, cold smoked foods – such as salmon or bacon – are usually cured first to ensure they’re safe. Foods that are fine to eat raw – vegetables, cheese and fruit – can be cold smoked without cooking. You can even smoke tea leaves (think Lapsang Souchong), sea salt, alcohol and spices. Different woods give subtly different flavours (see box opposite).

Hot smoking is where food is exposed to both smoke and heat, completely cooking and flavouring the food. Almost anything can be hot smoked but heavily marbled meats that lend themselves to slow cooking, such as pork shoulder or beef brisket, work well.

You can hot smoke food in any barbecue with a lid. The meat or fish shouldn’t be directly above the heat source, so light the charcoal, keeping it to one side, and put a handful of food-safe woodchips or shavings on top to create smoke. Place the barbecue grill, with an aluminium tray of water on top, over the charcoal and your food on the other side. Put the lid back on and check the thermometer stays at 110-130°C. You can add more charcoal to raise the temperature or more cold water in the tray to lower it. Or you can buy a smoker box.

Cold smoking is easier. Place a cold smoke generator – a small metal box you fill with wood dust and light it so it smoulders – inside a container with a bit of air flow. A kettle barbecue or metal dustbin with holes in the base and lid are ideal, but a trawl of the internet will reveal myriad homemade options, including filing cabinets and terracotta plant pots, one balanced upside down on the other. Just remember to take your petunias out first.

THE GOOD LIFE

Smoking food

Choosing WOODCHIPS & SAWDUST MAPLE As maple gives the most subtle of smoky flavours, it’s ideal for delicate-tasting foods including butter, cheeses and vegetables.

When our ancestors discovered different ways of preserving food, it changed the course of history

APPLE Fruit woods, such as apple and cherry, produce a gently sweet, almost spicy flavour. Great for all kinds of poultry, pork (especially ham) and fish.

OAK The most popular wood used in the UK, oak chips produce a mediumstrength smokiness – perfect for any red meat, game or pork.

GET THE KIT HICKORY The epitome of American-style smoking, hickory produces a robust bacon aroma for barbecue favourites including ribs, pork and brisket.

WEBER SMOKER BOX The easiest cheat to turn your barbecue into a hot smoker – fill the smoker box, £31.50, with woodchips and place on the grill. weber.com countryliving.com/uk

SALT SUGAR SMOKE This book by Diana Henry (£26, waterstones.com) includes great tips on how to smoke food without specialist equipment.

SMOKING STARTER SET Includes a ProQ Ranger Elite BBQ hot smoker, £294, with a cold smoke generator to turn it into a cold smoking chamber. souschef.co.uk JANUARY 2022

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THE GOOD LIFE

Smoking food

6 questions …with Staithe Smokehouse

Phil Hartshorne runs a traditional artisan fish smokehouse in Brancaster Staithe on the North Norfolk coast

1 HOW TO MAKE

Gin-infused smoked salmon PREPARATION 2-3 DAYS EQUIPMENT BAKING TRAY AND HOME SMOKING BOX 500G FILLET SCOTTISH SALMON, PREFERABLY THE BELLY/LOIN 300G TABLE SALT OR PURE DRIED VACUUM SALT 2 TBSP NORFOLK GIN OR, FOR A SWEETER FLAVOUR, TRY SLOE GIN

1 Take a deep baking tray and place a thin layer of salt to make a bed for the salmon to sit on skin-side down.

Sprinkle the rest of the salt over the fish, until it’s covered with a layer ½cm thick. Place in the fridge for 12 hours to draw out the moisture.

2 Take the salmon out and wash off all the salt under cold water.

Pat dry using paper towels.

3 Brush the topside of the fish with the Norfolk Gin or sloe gin. Do

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this slowly so it takes on the juniper flavour, then allow to sit for 30 minutes.

4 Light your cold smoker using oak chips. Follow the advice your smoker suggests for cold smoking salmon, as each one will be different. Generally, this stage will take between 10 and 15 hours, but you can smoke the fish for longer if you like a more smoky taste.

5 When smoking, check the weather forecast and make sure the ambient temperature won’t be higher than 20°C because the salmon will spoil.

The ideal temperature is 16°C. 6 After smoking, place the salmon in the fridge for a couple of hours.

This will help to firm up the flesh and trap the flavour. Then take it out, slice and enjoy.

RECIPE FROM Phil Hartshorne (see right).

2 3 4

What’s your ultimate smoked speciality?

Smoked salmon. It’s amazing how salting this beautiful fish, and then smoking it gently over oak sawdust, delivers this delicious piece of heaven that can be used in so many ways.

Any unusual smoked foods you can recommend? Smoked scallops cooked gently for a couple of minutes on each side and then finished off with some unsalted butter. Out of this world.

What’s tricky to smoke? Salmon can be fussy – too hot and it turns to mush, too cold and it doesn’t smoke well. It’s got to be pampered. We tend to smoke prawns and crevettes late at night when it’s cooler, as they don’t take long to do.

5 6

Which is your favourite sawdust? It has to be oak. That’s the perfect wood for fish or cheese. Woodchip from alder works well for eggs and apple for pork.

Any top tips for beginners? Cheese is the best food to experiment with. You’ll soon learn temperature control – if your smoker is too hot, the cheese will melt. Also put it in the fridge for at least 12 hours after smoking to allow the flavour to set.

FIND OUT MORE at staithesmokehouse.co.uk.

countryliving.com/uk

IN ORDER TO PROTECT AIR QUALITY, NEVER BURN FIRES FOR LONGER THAN NECESSARY AND CHOOSE CLEAN-BURNING FUEL SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR SMOKING. MAIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREW MONTGOMERY. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; STEVE BAXTER; GETTY IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK; STOCKFOOD. ILLUSTRATION BY ENYA TODD/ILLUSTRATION X

What’s the appeal of smoked food?

Done well, it should have a lovely undertone of smoke, which helps to bring out the natural flavours. At one time, smokehouses were dotted up and down the county’s coastal villages.

Great Yarmouth was famous for its smoked herring, known as bloaters – the town still has three herrings on its coat of arms.

ECO LIVING

Going GREENER Our quick and easy guide to a sustainable life

GIVE PLANTS

a chance

Up to half a million of us are expected to quit meat this month in the eighth annual Veganuary challenge. Research shows that a plant-based diet could slash our emissions by more than half*. If you want to put some meat-free alternatives on the menu, we recommend Pieminister’s meat-free pies (pieminister.co.uk) and This Isn’t Bacon (farmdrop.com).

Alternatively, sign up for a vegan recipe box from Riverford (riverford.co.uk).

*ACCORDING TO RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE JOURNAL NATURE **BRITISH CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS ASSOCIATION

A WILD IDEA Scotland is set to welcome a world first this year: the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre.

Surrounded by a 10,000-acre estate in the Highlands, the Centre will include an exhibition space, café and accommodation for up to 40 visitors. The land is owned by the conservation charity Trees for Life, which has spent the past decade reforesting it. Now, golden eagles can be seen for the first time in 40 years and the black grouse is also staging a comeback. treesforlife.org.uk

DID YOU KNOW… …the public have clocked nine million hours of birdwatching for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch since its launch in 1979? The campaign helped identify key trends in bird populations, such as the decline of the song thrush and the rise of the long-tailed tit. “It is only by us understanding how our wildlife is faring that we can protect it,” says Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive.

Find out how to take part this January at rspb.org.uk/biggardenbirdwatch.

{

“I feel like we’ve got to fall in love with nature again; we do incredible things for each other when we fall in love.”

Mark Rylance, actor, playwright and director

ONE CHANGE TO MAKE THIS MONTH…

Use solar outdoor lights Britain’s festive fairy lights are estimated to cost around £3.75 million per day to power. Save both electricity and money by switching to solar-powered decorations instead. Which? (which.co.uk) suggests Lumify’s USB solar vintage bulb lights (£70 for 20, thesolarcentre.co.uk).

8 million Christmas trees are sold each year in the UK**.

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Support garden wildlife by allowing yours to biodegrade

countryliving.com/uk

JANUARY 2022

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ECO LIVING

Going GREENER HOW MANY TREES ARE WE TALKING? The Trust sent someone to assess the site and then they delivered 500 oak, 125 silver birch and 125 hornbeam, plus lots of wild cherry, field maple, alder, crab apple, walnut and sweet chestnut. It was 1,000 trees in total.

SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF DIGGING…

SO YOU’RE CARBON-NEUTRAL NOW? Generally speaking, a tree will absorb about a tonne of CO2 in its lifetime, so these thousand trees will help to offset our emissions from touring. But we’d still like to do more. Coldplay recently cancelled their tours to cut their carbon footprint but folk bands can’t do that: touring is how we support ourselves.

ANY CHRISTMAS CONCERTS?

ASK AN

ECO ACTIVIST

This month Jon Whitley (above right), one half of Ninebarrow, the folk band on a mission to clean up its act

IS THE FOLK SCENE NOT SO GREEN? Ironically, although we sing about nature, it’s difficult to make performing eco-friendly. We spend a lot of time in the car, touring 10,000 miles across Britain every year. We calculated that generates two-and-a-half tonnes of CO2, with a further half tonne of CO2 – per gig – clocked up by our audiences travelling to and from the venues.

Hopefully! Remote gigs have enabled us to reach more people – one of our live shows attracted an audience of 3,000 where we’d usually have around 300 – but it’s important to be together in real time, too. It’s still a novelty that this is actually our job (I used to be a teacher and Jay was a GP) and I think we feel that most at this time of year.

WILL THERE BE GIGS IN THE WOOD? We’ve done a few virtual gigs there but we’d love to do a real-life performance. For us, the woodland was always about more than just planting trees – we wanted to plant ideas and inspire others. Not everyone can plant a woodland – but there are things we can all do, from reducing the amount of times we fly or eat meat to voting for political parties willing to make change. It’s always heartwarming when fans send us photos of their own pocket full of acorns, though.

NINEBARROW’S ALBUM A Pocket Full of Acorns is out now. Find out more about this and their touring dates at ninebarrow.co.uk.

TELL US WHAT YOU’RE DOING ABOUT IT… One of our songs, A Pocket Full of Acorns, gave us an idea. It’s about Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, who was secondin-command at the Battle of Trafalgar. He felt terrible about chopping down oak trees to build the naval fleet, so he would keep his pockets full of acorns, pressing one into the ground whenever he saw a suitable spot. We took a leaf out of his book…

SO YOU PLANTED SOME TREES? Exactly. Some family members had an unused three-acre field in Gillingham, north Dorset, so we teamed up with them to apply for the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods initiative – a tree-planting scheme open to anyone with over half a hectare.

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WHAT YOU CAN DO

Do it today…

Calculate your carbon footprint with the WWF’s online questionnaire (footprint.wwf.org.uk) and download the My Footprint app for tips on reducing your impact.

Do it tomorrow…

Jon and Jay planted their wood with the help of the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme. To find out more and learn if you qualify, go to woodlandtrust.org.

Do it this month…

If you can’t plant a wood, why not plant a tree? Now is the perfect time of year. For tips and advice, go to rhs.org.uk.

COMPILED BY AND INTERVIEW BY SARAH BARRATT. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; GREG FUNNELL; GETTY IMAGES

It was! We’d hoped to enlist volunteers but then there was another lockdown, so in the end there were just four of us – me, Jay [LaBouchardiere, the other half of Ninebarrow], his mum and her partner. We planted the oaks in a chequerboard pattern, then filled the gaps with the others. The alder went in waterlogged areas, which it prefers, and, in the centre, we put a ring of wild cherry. The soil here is heavy clay, so we were practically on our knees when we finished after five days.

Order your COUNTRY LIVING 2022 DIARY & CALENDAR!

Get organised for the year ahead with our beautiful stationery collection, filled with uplifting seasonal images to inspire you each month Calendar £7.99 Diary £11.99 TO ORDER Go to countryliving. jemdeals.com or call 01483 204445

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PROFILE

OUT OF THE OFFICE

into the woods

He breeds tortoises, takes Zoom calls with a robin and owns a wood. Here’s how Mackenzie Crook – once geeky Gareth, now creator of the Worzel Gummidge reboot – nailed country quirk WORDS BY LAURA SILVERMAN

ackenzie Crook has a confession: “As a kid, I had hobbies and collections, and that’s all I have now – except somehow I’ve monetised it, which is amazing, because I’ve got no skills.” Hang on, Mackenzie. No skills? What about writing, directing and acting in Worzel Gummidge, now in its third run on the BBC, and Detectorists, your comedy about a pair of metal-detecting friends, with its BAFTA? What about the Olivier and Tony Award nominations for the stage hit Jerusalem? What about The Office?

The list is astounding, but none of it was part of the plan.

Mackenzie had aimed for art school. Failing to get in, he ended up working at Pizza Hut. The head of his local youth theatre then suggested acting. Eight years in stand-up followed before The Office. “I didn’t think I wanted to do this until quite late,” he shrugs.

ONE MAN AND HIS SHED Tucked away in his shed, in a khaki shirt and baseball cap, Mackenzie is at ease. As we talk, he feeds the stickleback in the fish tank on his desk. Behind him, on the wall, hang hammers and screwdrivers, rolls of tape and boxes of nails. At the other end of the shed is a keyboard. The Crook family have just bought a piano for the house and Mackenzie is practising here “in secret” so that he will be really good on the proper one.

The shed is where magic happens: where Mackenzie turns into Mozart, and where he writes and edits. “When I’m working, I like to have the whole day before me,” he says, stretching out his lanky arms, a new tattoo visible on his wrist (he now has a swallow, a house martin, a cicada and a fish). “My mind flits about. I potter countryliving.com/uk

around for a couple of hours, then do a 15-minute blast of writing, then fix or make something, and swap between the two. When I write, I pace around, saying things out loud. It’s embarrassing if someone stumbles in on me.”

Since Detectorists, which first aired in 2014, Mackenzie has seen himself as a writer and director as much as an actor: “The writing and the editing, the processes on either side of filming, I love those most.”

Being on set can be fraught: “The filming, although it’s exciting, I find it so stressful: so many things could go wrong, so many people to rely on… I find that all a bit terrifying.” The weather is a worry, even though rain has to be “horrendous” to stop a shoot. “You get to set and it rains for nine days… Ah, man! It can be fixed afterwards, but at the time…”

READY, SET, GO Acting is still a thrill, especially when Mackenzie gets into a character. One day on a shoot for Worzel, where he plays the eponymous scarecrow, he ran into a gaggle of primary school children. Three hours of clay make-up coated his nose and brow for that gnarled look, roots sprouting from his chin: “I thought it would be creepy to look like that and speak as Mackenzie. It would be easier to stay as Worzel…

We had a real laugh.”

Mackenzie was surprised because he’s not an improviser: “I’ve never been the funniest guy down the pub and I wasn’t the funniest kid in class.” He has always loved making people laugh, though – a trait inherited from his dad, who introduced him to The Goon Show and Monty Python – but he likes to plan his words (even his stand-up was scripted). Worzel was JANUARY 2022

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PROFILE

NOTES ON A SCARECROW

Mackenzie’s Worzel – inspired by the books by Barbara Euphan Todd – is compassionate, trusting and trustworthy. His world, appearing in two more episodes over Christmas, is also steeped in nature – a passion for Mackenzie – as the scarecrow protects Scatterbrook Farm. The new episodes feature wide, dreamy shots of the countryside, taking in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and the Chilterns. Toby Jones, also in Detectorists, stars in one. Bill Bailey, a birder like Mackenzie, in another. “The environmental message in Worzel was a no-brainer because it’s in the countryside,” Mackenzie says. “You can point stuff out without having to crowbar it in. Kids are all over that stuff… It’s grown-ups that need reminding.” He’s passionate about the environment, but is in no way, he says, an activist. “My gentle way is pointing things out in my scripts and doing a bit of domestic stuff.” He recycles. He eats less meat than he once did.

Where possible, animals – rather than their CGI counterparts – make an appearance in his Worzel episodes. ‘Twitchers’ centres on a flock of choughs that Worzel must scare away. The birds are real, although, like Mackenzie, they were also in the make-up department before the cameras could roll. “We couldn’t find enough choughs, so we got jackdaws and painted their legs red.”

(It all came off in the wash and they were none the worse for it.)

Growing up, Mackenzie wasn’t aware of the books or the Jon Pertwee TV version of the late 1970s, but he fell for the project as soon as he was asked: “I immediately saw what Worzel would look like. I heard his voice very early on.” As Worzel, he wears an old military redcoat and carries a robin in his breast pocket where his heart would be. The robin is inspired by Winter George, a bird in his garden. “He’s usually here when I take Zoom calls,” says Mackenzie, patting a stack of books. “He’s not been around for a couple of days… He’s been chased off by one of his own offspring.”

During the nine-week shoot, Mackenzie was up at 4.30am most days for make-up: “It was a slow transformation, but it was strangely meditative. By the time it was over, I’d become Worzel.”

The hardest shoots were at night: “I hate night shoots and I hate getting wet, but I wrote this scene when Worzel’s out in this raging thunderstorm in the middle of the night… So I found myself cold and drenched to the bone in the dark. That was silly of me…”

MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS Mackenzie has cultivated a love of the outdoors since he was a child. As a boy, growing up near Dartford in Kent, he kept all sorts of animals at home in tanks and cages. “I guess I had a Gerald Durrell My Family and Other Animals fantasy going on.” Today,

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he breeds tortoises and keeps a crested gecko. Mackenzie’s dad, who worked for British Airways, taught him the names of wild flowers and birds as they explored the nearby countryside or went fishing in the river – knowledge Mackenzie has since built on. “I’ve always found names important: knowing which bird is flying across my path. If I don’t know what it is, it really infuriates me.”

Mackenzie lives with his wife, Lindsay, and children, Jude, 19, and Scout, 14, in north London, but he also owns eight acres of ancient woodland, an hour away in Essex, and gets out to the countryside whenever he can. He bought the woodland in 2008, after a near miss with a Ferrari: “As a child of the 1980s, I’d grown up loving Ferraris. I did a lucrative job and thought I’d buy one. I suddenly realised it wasn’t me, so I went for the opposite: a woodland.”

The Crooks might go as a family or Mackenzie might go alone to think. He’s now really into woodland management, using skills he learnt as a teenager, when he belonged to The Conservation Volunteers. His big project is replacing a wire fence around the outside with dead hedging. He’s also thinking about coppicing: “I’ve got this romantic idea that I’m going to do it myself… Can I chop down trees with an axe? I don’t know. It’s hard work to chop down a hornbeam tree.”

When Mackenzie’s not imagining himself as a lumberjack, he might be metal detecting, which he’s taken up off-screen, or thinking about fishing. He particularly likes Suffolk, where much of Detectorists was filmed: “I always take a fishing rod when we go on holiday, even though I never go. My wife calls it my imaginary hobby.” He loves the outdoors, as long as he has an aim: “The idea of just walking in the countryside has never appealed. Hiking… I don’t understand what hiking’s about.” His hobbies are different: “The lure of fishing is the same as metal detecting. It’s a day out in the countryside with the promise of treasure. It doesn’t matter if you don’t catch fish or you don’t find treasure. It’s being out in the countryside with a purpose: that’s what I enjoy.”

This spring, Mackenzie will get a further countryside fix when he reprises his role in Jerusalem, Jez Butterworth’s hit play lamenting a lost England, first staged in 2009: “I can trace everything I’m doing now to Jerusalem. The idea for Detectorists came out of this study we did for it. And Worzel seems like an evolution of Detectorists… being in the countryside with the lore and the landscape.”

After another Detectorists, Mackenzie will flit onto the next project. “I get obsessed by something for a brief period, then I move onto the next obsession,” he says. “I’m looking forward to seeing what else I have in my notebooks.” The promise of treasure awaits.

WORZEL GUMMIDGE is on BBC One over Christmas. For tickets for Jerusalem from April to August, head to jerusalemtheplay.co.uk.

countryliving.com/uk

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE BAXTER; BBC/LEOPARD PICTURES/AMANDA SEARLE; EYEVINE/ RANN CHANDRIC; NEWS LICENSING/DAVID BEBBER/THE TIMES

different. “I’m really fond of the character. I really love him. Maybe that’s why I can do it.”

“WHEN I WRITE, I PACE AROUND, SAYING THINGS OUT LOUD. IT’S EMBARRASSING IF SOMEONE STUMBLES IN ON ME”

Mackenzie’s MILESTONES 1971 Grows up near Dartford, Kent, maintaining a Gerald Durrell fantasy by keeping animals in tanks and cages

1990s Tours the comedy circuit, after failing to get into art school

2001-2003 Gets his big break as geeky salesman Gareth in The Office (below left)

2003-2007 Features in three of the Pirates of the Caribbean films as Ragetti, a pirate with a poorly fitted wooden eye

2009-2011 Stars in Jerusalem at the Royal Court, in the West End and then on Broadway.

Nominated for an Olivier in 2010 and a Tony in 2011 2011-2014 Writes and illustrates two children’s books: The Windvale Sprites, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2012, and The Lost Journals of Benjamin Tooth

2014-2017 Writes, directs and stars in Detectorists, a humorous BBC TV series about metal-detecting enthusiasts, winning BAFTA awards in 2015 for Best Writing in a Comedy Series and Best Situation Comedy.

A Writers’ Guild Award for Best TV Situation Comedy follows in 2019

2019-2021 Writes, directs and stars in a reboot of Worzel Gummidge (left), reuniting this year with Toby Jones, his fellow metal detectorist

2022 Reprises his role in Jerusalem for a revival in the West End from April to August, before searching for treasure in another series of Detectorists

S E A S O N A L I N S P I R AT I O N

Show me the way to AMARYLLIS For a contemporary twist on traditional festive colours, combine natural weaves with scarlet blooms, olive greens and crisp whites WORDS AND STYLING BY SELINA LAKE PHOTOGRAPHS BY RACHEL WHITING

SHELF ESTEEM A garland woven from hellebores, amaryllis and seasonal foliage makes a sumptuous backdrop when positioned on a mantelpiece against a plain white wall.

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countryliving.com/uk

Scarlet STARLETS

Arrange cuttings of red amaryllis and double hellebores with seed eucalyptus and foliage from the garden.

For merchandise credits, see overleaf

Simple SETTINGS

Create an elegant yet informal dining area by combining natural striped linens with a striking floral centrepiece.

Add twinkling tealights in brass dishes, pine cones and quirky pomegranate ‘place settings’.

Walls and fireplace painted in Cornforth White No.228 estate emulsion, £49.50/2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Oak and jute chairs, £525/pair, Cox & Cox. Natural stripe linen tablecloth, from £105, Nordic House. Dinner plates, £59/four; small plates, £51/four: all Far & Away. Pink water glasses, £34/six, Greige. Red stripe linen cotton napkins, £4.99 each, LinenMe. Low elm handmade cake stand, £70, Selwyn House. Green glass vase, £25; vintage cutlery, £2 (per piece), Snoopers Paradise. Recycled glass stemmed vases in amber, lilac and moss, £14.99 (small), £22.99 (large); metal tealight holders, £24.99/six: all Smith & The Magpie. Vintage Ercol Windsor chair, £175, Simply Ercol

S E A S O N A L I N S P I R AT I O N

CROWD-PLEASING PLATTER Style a plate of festive fruits, quince jam, cheeses, crispbreads and crackers on a handcrafted artisan board so guests can help themselves.

Handmade English oak grazing board, £120, Selwyn House.

Natural stripe linen tablecloth, from £105; napkins, £24/pair: all Nordic House. Red stripe linen napkins, £4.99 each, LinenMe, Plates and cutlery, as before

FORAGED FINDS Gather foliage from your garden – from dried bracken and seed heads to teasels and ivy – and combine to make festive arrangements or wreaths. Or you can use them to add a decorative signature to your wrapped presents.

A TOUCH OF GLASS Classic diamond-cut tumblers, artfully arranged on a wooden chopping board with a jar candle, are an eye-catching sight on a corner table.

Curtains made from Quartz Velvet parchment, £129/m, Zoffany.

Highclere tumbler glasses, £50/two, Royal Doulton. Arran Single Malt Sherry Cask Scotch Whisky, £55/700ml, Arran. Handmade round oak chopping block, £65, Selwyn House. Cranberry and ginger jar candle, £10, Shearer Candles. Vintage Seventies Onyx marble goblets, £40/six, ebay. Green dish, £6, Snoopers Paradise JANUARY 2022

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S E A S O N A L I N S P I R AT I O N

Take a SEAT

A slat-back chair serves as a handy side table in a room limited on space. For a thoughtful touch to welcome visitors, add a simple bunch of flowers and a small gift.

White painted Ercol chair, from £175, Simply Ercol. Bottle vase, £12.99, Dobbies.

Vintage wallpaper, from a selection, ebay.

Present wrapped in green floral paper, £2.10/sheet, Paper Tree Nook. Ribbon, from a selection, Hobbycraft

Hearth WARMING

Heavy velvet curtains, a thick rug and an armchair draped with a cashmere throw offer a snug nook for guests to enjoy a coffee while opening presents.

Walls painted in School House White No.291 estate emulsion, £49.50/2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Arnon armchair in Natural, £750; Mono Beni rug, £375: both Cox & Cox. Pink velvet cushion, £30, Walton & Co. Everest brown cashmere throw, £244.99, LinenMe. Curtains made from Quartz Velvet parchment, £129/m, Zoffany. Log basket, £32, Basket Basket. Bespoke Burnt Oak side table, £80, The Journeyman & Co. Mug, £18, Snoopers Paradise.

Presents wrapped in green floral paper, £2.10/sheet; green foliage paper, £2.10/sheet; Parma green paper, £1.75/sheet: all Paper Tree Nook. Ribbons, from £10/2m, Cfleursdesign at Etsy. Olive and green velvet ribbons, from a selection, Hobbycraft. Copper blush and rose hand-dipped candles, £8/pair, Smith & The Magpie

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S E A S O N A L I N S P I R AT I O N

SLUMBER PARTY Dress a guest bedroom with natural linens, crisp white cotton pillows and velvet cushions in colours to complement a pretty floral wallpaper.

Kingsize headboard, £275, Cox & Cox. Washed cotton pillowcases in rust red and powder pink, £39.99 (duvet sets), H&M Home. Striped square pillowcase, £19.99; linen pillowcase, £15.99; linen kingsize duvet cover, £129; brown Everest cashmere throw, £244.99: all LinenMe. Scalloped-edge cotton pillowcases, £26 each, SarahK. Beige velvet cushion in Quartz Velvet parchment, £129/m, Zoffany.

Green rectangular cushion, £22, Barker & Stonehouse. Floral cushion in Framboise natural linen, £132/m, Inchyra. White Ercol chair, from £175, Simply Ercol. Vase and wallpaper, as before

LABELLED WITH LOVE Make gift tags, or tailor-make parcel tags, for a more personalised present. Cut pieces of white card and glue on floral shapes from giftwrap. Punch a hole in the centre at the top and thread through twine.

Baker’s twine, £4; parcel tags, £2.75/30; green velvet ribbon, 60p/m; green satin ribbon, 40p/m; raffia, £2/50g; all Hobbycraft.

Silk ribbon, from £10/2m, Cfleursdesign at Etsy. Wide stripe ribbon, from a selection, Cloth House

PRESENT PERFECT Match your parcels to your festive colour scheme by wrapping them in foliage-patterned papers.

Floral paper, £2.10/sheet; foliage paper, £2.10/sheet; Parma green paper, £1.75/sheet: all Paper Tree Nook. Ribbons, all as before

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countryliving.com/uk

Star of THE SHOW Bring a sense of occasion to a hallway with festive flourishes: a handmade paper star; a vase brimming with hellebores; twigs strung with paper baubles; and bowls glowing with jewel-like fruit.

Wall painted in School House White estate emulsion, £49.50/2.5L; understairs painted in French Gray estate eggshell, £67/2.5L: both Farrow & Ball. T&G panelling painted in Jewel Beetle (303) Intelligent eggshell, £33/L, Little Greene. Burned red jar vase, £110, Folk Interiors. White and natural check linen napkins, £10 each, Daylesford Organic. Indonesian stone bowls, from £60 each, Snoopers Paradise.

Glass bottle vase, £14.99, Dobbies. Vintage ceramic swan posy vase, £18, Etsy.

Handmade low ash candlesticks, £18 each, Selwyn House. Paper baubles, £8.99/six, H&M Home. For a similar marble-top console table, try Pale & Interesting FOR STOCKISTS see Where to Buy

INTERVIEW

“I WANT TO MAKE BRITAIN

bright again

”

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on the decor trends for 2022 and why maximalism is the new mantra for country interiors INTERVIEW BY SARAH BARRATT PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALUN CALLENDER

Happy new year, LLB! Talk us through the key trends for 2022…

There’s a revival of what was happening when I started in the industry: think chintz and swags and tails. Five years ago, rattan and crochet were the worst things you could think of. Now, they’re sexy. Pattern is the big thing, though. People are re-engaging with it because they found their grey bunkers difficult to be in during lockdown. With the right one, people can watch their walls like the television. It isn’t just some geometric thing made on a computer. When you get pattern right, it reads like a story.

You burst onto our screens in the 1990s. Are we more stylish as a nation now?

There’s no doubt about it. In the old days of Changing Rooms, we’d enter hideous, moribund spaces full of chip paper painted yellow with light fittings falling off the wall. People are more design-literate now but haven’t done anything for ten years and it looks it. There’s more emphasis on individuality today, too. In the Nineties, taste was perceived as something you conformed with. Now, people want their style to reflect their personality.

Is maximalism making a comeback?

We go through a cyclical obsession with understatement and overstatement and we’ve come out of the former. Maximalism

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is a rural concept. When you live in the country, as I do, there’s no space for minimalism: you’ve got firewood to store and the dogs are muddy (we have several spaniels). Maximalism is a house that lives around you rather than you having to live around it. There’s too much going on to have bare kitchen counters: too much happiness, love and fun. So, by all means, place the grandkids’ macaroni art next to a Victorian painting. All I want is for you to curate the clutter against a navy-blue wall.

How has your style evolved over the years?

My style is straightforward: it’s full-fat decorating, there’s nothing diet about it. I want to make Britain bright again, as we’re in the middle of a grey-naissance. Grey is a great structural colour, but by painting everything the same pale shade, you’re getting brutalism. You’ve got to have other colours, too. A mulberry wall, teal sofa or ochre cushion bring depth. I love peacock colour schemes at the moment – using blues, greens and purples together. People always associate me with purple, which is fine. Better than assuming I like beige…

Where do you shop?

I like Argos and Littlewoods, but I also love antiques. Prices are ridiculously cheap at the moment because no one wants haunted furniture. I personally want a chair someone died in, so long as the bodily fluids have been cleaned off. An Ikea dining table might cost countryliving.com/uk

“People always associate me with purple, which is fine. Better than assuming I like beige”

INTERVIEW

a fine artist and want to make pattern available to everyone. My wallpaper design, Suburban Jungle, was a direct reference to Strawberry Thief, but instead of strawberries and thieves, it’s leopards and ginger plants.

How do you deck the halls for Christmas?

We don’t have a tree. It’s all about garlands, as our Cotswolds farmhouse has low ceilings.

I also avoid green and red colour schemes.

Why would I want my living room to look like a set of traffic lights? And I find it difficult to get twinkly lights right in this new world of LED. For me, Christmas is about candlelight.

We’re in danger of over-lighting it. £200, but you could get a wonderful Edwardian piece for that at an auction, which will last longer and look better. We British think we must be modern or traditional, but a blend is best.

Who are your favourite designers?

I’m a fan of pattern designer Emma Shipley, rug designer Wendy Morrison and interior designer Kit Kemp. Then there’s Lulu Lytle.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing wrong with the Downing Street refurbishment – I just want to see it in Hello! But my overwhelming aesthetics are David Hicks [noted for bold colours and mixing antiques with modern furnishings] and, of course, William Morris – a fellow denizen of the Cotswolds.

Have you always been a fan of William Morris?

I can’t escape Bill. My childhood home was painted all white, and the only exuberance my mother permitted herself was William Morris. He aimed to make people’s lives look better.

Sadly, he didn’t have digital printing as I do, so everything had to be laboriously woven, making it expensive and elitist. I trained as

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Will you host a New Year’s Eve soirée?

There’s something pessimistic about drinking madly on New Year’s Eve, and I can’t assimilate that quantity of booze anymore. So, instead of Bacchic overindulgence the night before, we focus on New Year’s Day, with a big lunch for family and friends. I love concentrating on the start rather than the end. Making the first day of the year a thoughtful, enjoyable experience is an act of optimism.

It’s about reflecting forward. Better than the hangover from hell.

What’s in store for the year ahead?

Channel 4 has commissioned another series of Changing Rooms, so you’ll see much more of me in my leather trousers. And we recently opened an LLB showroom in Cirencester. We considered opening it in London, but to live and work here is important. Mr Clarkson and I bookend the Cotswolds with two very different retail offers. That’s what life is like here: muddy but silky, too.

VISIT Laurence’s new showroom in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, to browse his latest homeware and furnishing designs (llewelyn-bowen.co.uk).

countryliving.com/uk

LAZY SUZANI LAMPSHADE, £75; LAZY SUZANI TAMBOUR, £250; SUBURBAN JUNGLE SOFA, FROM £1,600; SUBURBAN JUNGLE CURTAINS, FROM £750; FRAMED LLB PRINTS WITH FRAME, FROM £180 EACH; VEGAN BONE INLAY TRAY, £85: ALL LLEWELYN-BOWEN.CO.UK. BESPOKE CARPET, CORINIUM CARPETS

“Making the first day of the year a thoughtful, enjoyable experience is an act of optimism”

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Parsnips

In our ongoing series highlighting delicious British produce around the country, we meet the artisans and farmers helping to bring it to our table. This month: NORFOLK

PARSNIPS WORDS BY CLARE THORP PHOTOGRAPHS BY NATO WELTON

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BEST OF BRITISH

Parsnips

Checking your phone constantly at work might seem like slacking off, but Nick Walton of Bagthorpe Farm has good reason to be twitchy. “We have to pre-empt the weather, so I have to look at the forecast about 20 times a day,” he says.

Winter is a particularly busy time at the 300-acre farm in north Norfolk. Throughout the year, Nick produces organic onions, salad potatoes, carrots, beetroot and cereal, as well as looking after cattle for beef. But come the festive season, it’s all about the humble parsnip, which the farm supplies in its thousands for organic box schemes, ready to be glazed, roasted and devoured on plates across the land.

With a tight time frame and numerous festive dinners depending on him, Nick must make sure that everything is meticulously planned – and yet the weather is the one thing no farmer can control. When it comes to parsnips, things turn out to be especially complicated. “Parsnips like a frost,” Nick says. “It makes them sweeter because it turns starch to sugar. All the locals will say that you shouldn’t eat a parsnip before there has been a frost.”

But a hard frost on a day Nick wants to harvest spells disaster: “You can’t get the machinery into the ground, so you can’t get the parsnips out.” If his weather app predicts trouble, then he has to dig out as many parsnips as he can before the frost hits and then put them into storage. “You’ve got to be ahead of the game,” he says. “With organic farming, you can do it all right and it can still go wrong because the weather is king.” But it’s not all bad.

“You can have an awful day, but the next day might be really good. Things change quickly. You’ve just got to stay positive.”

ROOTS MANOEUVRE Nick has become adept at dealing with these challenges since moving to the farm 14 years ago with his wife Emily. Back then, the couple were living a very different life in London – Nick worked in finance, Emily was in the music industry. When Nick’s company announced it was relocating to Zurich, the couple had to decide whether they wanted to move abroad, too. Around the same time, Donald Morton, the owner of Bagthorpe Farm and Emily’s father, was thinking about stepping back, and looking

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for someone to take over. “It was an easy decision for me because I had such a lovely childhood here,” Emily says. “I have lots of memories of riding ponies on the farm with my sisters. It was the sort of upbringing I wanted to give our own kids. I wanted to offer them that freedom and space.”

The couple arrived at the farm in the bleak midwinter of January 2008, fresh from a few months’ travelling and a Christmas spent in a scorching-hot Australia. “It was a bit of a culture shock, but it felt great to come home,” Emily says.

Despite having no experience, Nick threw himself into farming, taking plenty of guidance from Donald. “I was willing to give everything a go,” he says. “You’ve just got to ask a lot of stupid questions and learn as quickly as you can on the job.”

THE VEGETABLE VISIONARY Bagthorpe Farm has been in Emily’s family since the 1950s, with her father turning to organic farming in the mid-Eighties.

There was a burgeoning interest in organic produce at the time – Riverford had just launched its veg box scheme – but it was still early days for the movement. “You could describe him as a maverick,” Nick says. “Donald enjoyed doing things differently.

There was a lot of heavy pesticide use in the Seventies and countryliving.com/uk

OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE Nick and Emily grow their root crops and other vegetables organically at Bagthorpe Farm to support biodiversity in the surrounding countryside. Children Charlie and Beatrice enjoy eating the produce

BEST OF BRITISH

Parsnips

Eighties across the country and he wanted to get back to pre-chemical farming.”

Now fully organic, the farm supplies Abel & Cole and Riverford, as well as a range of smaller organic retailers across the UK. Regenerative farming, which improves the soil, is a buzzword now, but Bagthorpe Farm has been doing that for decades, too.

Nick loves being part of a regenerative organic community. “It’s a small world and everyone knows each other,” he says. He is keen to correct misconceptions: “There’s sometimes this idea that these sorts of farms can look a bit of a mess and that we’re toiling around in the soil with our hands, when actually we use plenty of modern technology and current methods. It’s a combination of old and new.” Keen to improve, Nick can often be found scouring the internet for the latest equipment. “I’m a sucker for a new hoe.”

This type of farming, together with a diversity of crops, encourages an array of wildlife at Bagthorpe, from deer and hares to partridges, corn buntings, barn owls, oystercatchers and lapwings, as well as plenty of insect life. “We have a very big ecosystem here,” Nick says. It’s particularly appreciated by guests staying in one of the farm’s two glamping options: a wood cabin in a five-acre field and a pair of biodomes nestled amid the farmland. “There’s no electricity, so it’s all candles and lanterns,” Emily says. “You’re quite exposed to nature and the elements, so it’s great for people who want to completely switch off.”

PARSNIPS AS PRESENTS When you’re running a farm, switching off is something you can’t do very often, but once the last of the festive parsnips have been harvested, the family – which includes the couple’s two children, Charlie (13) and Beatrice (nine) – enjoy a few days’ downtime, when they naturally eat a lot of their own produce. “The only thing we can’t get the kids to eat is beetroot,” Nick says. There’s plenty for friends and family as well. “People get a bag of vegetables rather than a bottle of wine when we turn up at their house. The cows love a parsnip, too.”

After a brief break, it’s time to think about ploughing and getting the ground ready for planting.

“There’s something going on at all times of the year,” Nick says.

“Sometimes I wish it were a little calmer, but all the activity is what makes the farm special. It’s always buzzing with crops, people and wildlife.”

Even early starts in the black and cold are bearable when they’re offset by dramatic winter sunsets and clear, starry skies.

“I really appreciate the ebb and flow of each season and I relish the challenges,” Nick says. “And being able to work outside in nature – I feel really lucky to be doing that.” Frost and all.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Bagthorpe Farm, including glamping options, see bagthorpefarm.co.uk. Produce is available through Abel & Cole (abelandcole.co.uk) and Riverford (riverford.co.uk). For more on how to use this versatile vegetable, read on…

PARSNIP, SAUSAGE AND TOMATO SOUP Adding Parmesan rind gives a wonderful flavour to this soup.

Preparation 30 minutes Cooking about 55 minutes Serves 4-6 225G FRESH ITALIAN-STYLE SAUSAGES 1 TBSP OLIVE OIL 1 MEDIUM ONION, CHOPPED 2 STICKS CELERY, ROUGHLY CHOPPED, PLUS ANY LEAVES

PHOTOGRAPH BY PHILIP WEBB. RECIPE AND FOOD STYLING BY ALISON WALKER. STYLING BY JO HARRIS

1 BAY LEAF 350G PARSNIPS, DICED 400G TINNED PLUM TOMATOES 600ML HOT CHICKEN STOCK LEAVES FROM A LARGE SPRIG OF THYME PARMESAN RIND (OPTIONAL) 200G TINNED BORLOTTI BEANS, DRAINED AND RINSED

You can batch-make and freeze this hearty soup – it makes a satisfying lunch with some artisan bread

countryliving.com/uk

200G TINNED FLAGEOLET BEANS, DRAINED AND RINSED SMALL HANDFUL CHOPPED PARSLEY GRATED PARMESAN, TO SERVE

1 Fry the sausages in the oil in a large pan until browned all over. Remove with a slotted spoon, cut into slices and set aside.

2 Turn the heat to low and fry the onion, celery and bay leaf for about 10 minutes until softened.

3 Add the parsnips and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and break up with a wooden spoon. Add the stock, sausage, thyme and Parmesan rind, if using, and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer gently for 30 minutes.

4 Add the beans and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes to heat through. Serve garnished with parsley and Parmesan.

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Parsnips

WARM PARSNIP SALAD Roasted parsnips turn a winter salad into a substantial dish.

Preparation 35 minutes Cooking 40 minutes Serves 4 2 TBSP SUNFLOWER OIL 400G PARSNIPS, CUT INTO CHUNKS A FEW THYME SPRIGS 55G STILTON, CRUMBLED 6 TBSP PLAIN YOGURT 1 HEAD LARGE RED CHICORY HANDFUL OF BABY SPINACH

EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, FOR DRIZZLING

With a tasty mix of textures, this winter salad is surprisingly filling

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1 Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan oven) gas mark 6. Pour the oil in a roasting pan and place in the oven to heat up.

2 Put the parsnips in a pan of salted water, bring to the boil, cover, then simmer for 5-7 minutes. Drain, shake gently to rough up the edges and leave to stand in a colander for a few minutes to steam dry.

3 Put the parsnips in the roasting pan with the thyme sprigs. Baste with oil and cook for 30 minutes, turning once, until golden.

4 Meanwhile, to make a blue cheese dressing, mash the cheese with 1 tbsp of yogurt, then stir in the remainder.

Add 2-3 tbsp of tepid water until it is the consistency of single cream.

5 Divide the remaining ingredients between four plates along with the parsnips and drizzle with the dressing and a little extra-virgin olive oil.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHILIP WEBB. RECIPE AND FOOD STYLING BY ALISON WALKER. STYLING BY JO HARRIS

25G TOASTED HAZELNUTS, ROUGHLY CHOPPED

INSIDER

GUIDE PARSNIPS BY THE BOOK… Veg in One Bed

by Huw Edwards (Dorling Kindersley, £16.99) This back-to-basics guide details everything you need to know about packing vegetables into a single raised bed. Plant seeds for a range of veg from parsnips to beetroot and you could have fresh produce on the table every month of the year. Huw favours the no-dig method, so while you’ll still have to attend to your edible garden, it should be pretty low maintenance.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; STOCKFOOD. *NHS GUIDELINES STILL RECOMMEND TAKING A 400MG FOLIC ACID TABLET EVERY DAY BEFORE PREGNANCY AND UNTIL YOU’RE 12 WEEKS PREGNANT. PARSNIPS ARE EXTRA

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WAYS TO YOUR 5 A DAY

PARSNIP & CHILLI CHUTNEY Sweet and fiery chutney from Wiltshire. Best with soft cheeses, cold meats and game (£4.50/425g, inapicklefoodco.co.uk).

JOE’S FARM CRISPS Carrots, parsnips and beets hand-cooked at a small family farm in Ballycurraginny, County Cork (£3.45/70g, joesfarmcrisps.ie).

Plate UP

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Allotment Vegetable napkin gift set Cotton napkins handprinted by textile designer Lottie Day in Norfolk (£40/six, lottieday.com).

PARSNIP WINE White wine with an earthy flavour made by a husband and wife in Yorkshire (£65/six 75cl; lvwines @btinternet.com; facebook. com/LuddendenValleyWines).

HEALTHY ROOTS

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Root Vegetables mug A hand-sponged design, made in Stoke-on-Trent by Peregrine Pottery (£12.95, peregrine pottery.co.uk).

In Roman times, parsnips were seen as an aphrodisiac. Modern science offers other ways they can help our health THEY CAN REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE Potassium in parsnips lessens the effect of sodium and eases tension in blood vessel walls.

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Root Vegetable print tea towel This tea towel in 100 per cent organic cotton is handprinted

by Cheshire-based Sophie Jackson (£8.50, sophiejackson.co.uk).

countryliving.com/uk

Parsnips

FRUIT LOAF WITH PARSNIP AND LEMON ICING This cake will convert anyone on the fence about the vegetable.

Made in Berkshire (£9.20/450g, blackberrycottagefayre.co.uk).

THEY CAN BOOST DIGESTION Parsnips contain four times as much fibre as potatoes, improving bowel health.

THEY MAY HELP PROMOTE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY Folic acid can help to reduce the risk of birth defects of the spinal cord and brain, and parsnips are a good source*.

PARSNIP & ROSEMARY SOUP A gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan soup that’s suitable for a low-FODMAP diet to ease troublesome digestion (£3.45/ 300g, bayskitchen.com).

HOME INSPIRATION

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WAYS TO REINVENT

Velvet It’s a lustrous, opulent fabric and it’s trending now. Here are some fresh and unexpected ideas to work velvet into your decor WORDS AND PRODUCTION BY BEN KENDRICK

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STANDING OUT In the living room of this Sussex farmhouse, a statement red velvet sofa is offset with blueblack walls (Down Pipe by farrow-ball.com) and a dark-painted floor countryliving.com/uk

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2 WARM THOUGHTS A dense, heavy cloth makes the ideal choice for a full-length door curtain when you want to exclude light and retain warmth.

This printed design features a decorative pattern reminiscent of a woven tapestry – The Brook velvet

by Morris & Co (morrisandco. sandersondesigngroup.com)

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3

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COLOUR PLAY A vibrantly coloured quilted bedspread (Pebble quilt, from £195, by grahamandgreen.co.uk) teamed with crisp white cotton sheets looks at once decaent

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A LIGHT TOUCH Velvet might be too heavy for some interiors projects but when used as trimming – say, on a linen-covered lampshade or the edge of a blind – it can elevate the everyday

PLUMP IT Toasty cushions in vibrant shades will add playful, plush accents to a sofa or bed. This one is from our Country Living Collection at Homebase and is also available in a square shape and a warm mulberry tone, from £18 (homebase.co.uk)

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RISE AND FALL Velvet’s lustrous quality means that it works well for piping or buttoning, as on this bedhead, where its pile and weave detailing catches the light

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DECORATIVE DETAIL Velvet-ribbon lampshades will bring smart and tailored style to any home. From £55 (baydesign.co.uk)

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TAKE A SEAT A button-back armchair in a deep-coloured velvet adds timeless elegance. This Reader design is £1,275 (loaf.com)

H O M E S & D E C O R AT I N G

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ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH Textured pieces can contrast beautifully with silky-smooth fabrics. Here, this effect is achieved with velvets offset by slubby vintage linen grain sacks fashioned into cushions, reclaimed boarded walls and a fluffy Moroccan rug

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MELD AND MARRY Mix and match upholstery designs with fabrics of similar weight to create a quirky effect, as with this woven check velvet and plain design. Pavia velvet, £98/m, and Shastri check velvet, £140/m (designersguild.com)

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FLIGHTS OF FANCY A highly patterned velvet, such as this heron lampshade with fringing – from £45 (lovefrankie.com) – will bring eye-catching drama to any room

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SETTLE DOWN Velvet works well on upholstered furniture, allowing you to play with cushions in accent colours. Pillowback Warwick Country Living velvet sofa in slate exclusively for DFS, from £1,799* (dfs.co.uk)

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BAND OF GOLD Plain linen curtains trimmed with horizontal bands of colourful velvet ribbon will look stylish drawn back or closed

*SOME OF THE CUSHIONS ARE SOLD SEPARATELY

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COME TO LIGHT Pair ambient lighting with velvet to lend a sense of opulence and aged grandeur. Pringle wall light, £69; 16cm velvet teal empire shade, £23 (pooky.com)

15 A COOL CONTRAST Velvet can create a strong focus. In this bedroom, forest green cushions sing out against pale furnishings and a decorative wallpaper from Colefax & Fowler (colefax.com). Lighting by David Hunt Lighting (davidhuntlighting.co.uk)

countryliving.com/uk

H O M E S & D E C O R AT I N G

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RING THE CHANGES A plump velvet sofa in a rich colour brings warmth and vibrancy to a rustic scheme with traditional beams and contemporary Arts and Crafts fabrics

by Morris & Co (morrisandco.sanderson designgroup.com)

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FLOWER POWER A painterly floral velvet cushion, £55 (rockettstgeorge.co.uk), will add a level of glamour and sophistication to your sofa or chaise longue

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SITTING PRETTY This elegant Quatrefoil velvet stool looks fabulously luxuriant and would enhance any bedroom or sitting room, £690 (anboise.com)

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MATERIAL PLEASURES Velvet in lighter shades – as on this elegant buttoned footstool – blends in rather than dominates a room. Loch Leven footstool, Country Living Collection at DFS, £549 (dfs.co.uk) countryliving.com/uk

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRENT DARBY; LIVING4MEDIA; LOUPE IMAGES/SIMON BROWN/LISA COHEN/POLLY ELTES/DEBI TRELOAR; RACHEL WHITING; PENNY WINCER

EDGE OF BEAUTY Use hot shades in measured doses by using velvet as a decorative trim or border on a heavyweight throw or cushion

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RURAL ARTIST

TURNING OVER A NEW

wreath

In her delicate copper garlands, Rowan MacGregor weaves together a passion for ancient history with a love of the Somerset countryside WORDS BY CAROLINE ATKINS PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALUN CALLENDER

here’s a dusting of what looks like frost over the leaves and flower heads clustered on Rowan MacGregor’s work table, matching the wintry view from her studio window on the outskirts of Bath. But all is not quite what it seems.

The plants are made from copper and the ‘frost’ is actually salt. When the salt is rinsed off, it will reveal patches of turquoise verdigris, the bright copper acquiring a bloom of age as though these were ancient treasures dug up after years underground.

Rowan’s love of history and the natural world have found a perfect meeting place in her unique craft: beautifully wrought garlands weaving together leaves, flowers, berries and seed heads – all cut from sheets of copper. She had always been creative as a child – copying illustrations from the Milly Molly

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Mandy books that still sit on her shelves or, once on holiday, “moulding mice from melted candle wax and making them climb up empty wine bottles.” But her interest in history took her in a more academic direction: a degree in archeology and anthropology at Bristol University; a year at Oxford’s Bodleian Library (with the vague idea of becoming an archivist); and finally a job in university administration. None of this left much time for pursuing her artistic side but she continued to “wait for a creative spark to catch”.

OLYMPIC LAURELS The spark caught in 2017, when Rowan found a picture of a Hellenistic gold wreath dating from a couple of centuries BC: “I knew I wanted to make something like it, but had no idea how.” After researching tools and materials, which involved “a lot of walking

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around B&Q looking at metal”, she started to experiment. She began marking out the design with jewellery-maker’s tools, cutting out the elements with embroidery scissors and then getting her father, an engineer, to show her how to solder them together. Her first piece was a laurel wreath, like those awarded to Olympians in ancient Greece. “It was quite clunky,” she says – not like the delicate ones she makes now – but the interest provoked by her Instagram posts encouraged her to keep refining her designs.

Soon she had set up a website and her work began selling steadily. Within a year, The Shop Floor Project, a prestigious online retailer specialising in top-quality contemporary craftsmanship, had commissioned her to make a collection based on spring flowers, and wreaths. There were plenty of customer commissions, too. However, because of the intricacy and amount of work each wreath involves, she usually found it more productive to design intuitively and then post her finished designs for sale on Instagram or her website.

Rowan has always drawn inspiration from the countryside around her home, picking hedgerow treasures on walks to nearby Kelston Roundhill or Midford village. “I love the fact that wherever you are in Bath, you can see green hillside,” she says. Favourite shapes include bramble leaves and rose hips, which often feature in her designs. Or she might fashion a wreath of long, slender pine needles clustered with tiny cones, or weave the frilly, half-open heads of dandelion flowers among spears of their jagged-edged leaves. “They’re not necessarily botanically accurate,” she says. “I take inspiration from things, but put my own spin on them.”

HISTORY IN THE MAKING Other sources of inspiration – including Georgian ephemera, architecture and lettering – tap into Rowan’s enduring passion for history.

“I love the font used for street signs in Bath,” she says. She’s also fascinated by mythical birds and beasts, the kind seen in medieval tapestries.

Sitting above her gold-handled embroidery scissors and teacups of copper leaves and berries, there are old maps, pictures of leaping hares and long-limbed hunting dogs, along with

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Rowan’s delicate copper wreaths are designed with the British countryside in

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mind: “I want them to look like pressed flowers or buried treasure dug up after hundreds of years underground” countryliving.com/uk

RURAL ARTIST

A wreath

HISTORY OF TIME 900-27BC ETRUSCAN CROWNS The Etruscan rulers in southern Europe wore crowns of ivy, oak and myrtle leaves, fashioned from gold and other precious metals. The practice was later adopted

by Roman leaders.

776BC GRECIAN GAMES In Greek mythology, the all-powerful god Apollo wears a laurel wreath, which is why it was used to crown victorious athletes in the original Olympic Games.

During this period, the practice of displaying ‘harvest wreaths’ also began, to please the gods and ensure a good crop.

395-476AD ROMAN REWARDS In addition to being worn by leaders of the Roman Empire, gold wreaths were awarded to soldiers for gallant military conduct.

1400-1700 PURITAN POLITICS Protestant reformers tried to ban wreaths, even raiding May Day celebrations to confiscate these alleged ‘tokens of paganism’.

1839 GERMAN LESSONS A pastor in Germany created the first ‘advent wreath’. During his mission work, children kept asking if Christmas had arrived yet. To demonstrate the passage of advent, he attached candles to an old cartwheel, large white ones for each Sunday and small red ones for each day in between.

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“There’s something timeless about the form itself, the unbroken circle” pages from garden magazines and her own watercolour sketches of plants discovered on her country walks.

A wreath of teasel seed heads hangs on one of the studio walls. “Sometimes I keep them for myself,” Rowan says. “I particularly liked that one for the simplicity of its shape.” There’s something innately satisfying about the wreath as a ready-made decoration, with no need for a hanging loop. There’s also something timeless about the form itself, that unbroken circle an ancient, pagan symbol of the cycle of the seasons, the new year and the renewal of life.

Rowan loves the fact that she’s working with an essentially functional – even ugly – material, turning it into something fragile and beautiful.

She’ll often listen to folk music as she works: it somehow feels in tune with the natural world and with that pagan quality.

Until recently, Rowan’s design work had to be squeezed into evenings and weekends, but she has now cut back her university hours, so the coming year is a new beginning. “It felt like an important shift to make,” she says. “I’d been wanting to do it, and then my dad died in May, which made the decision feel more urgent. He was always supportive of my creative work, and the fact that he taught me to solder means I still feel connected to him when I’m making.” And so the circle of life goes on – and her wreaths continue to weave their beguiling, timeless patterns.

FOR MORE DETAILS, see rowanmacgregor.co.uk.

OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE After taking country walks with her parents’ dogs, Rowan countryliving.com/uk

sketches designs in watercolour before transferring them onto sheets of copper JANUARY 2022

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Lord of the

DANCE

They are the disco divas of the Cairngorms.

Can a new scheme to protect their ‘dance halls of desire’ save the capercaillie from extinction?

WORDS BY KAREN LLOYD

am walking along a ride in a Scots pine woodland. It’s barely light. It’s so cold that every intake of breath feels as if a blunt-edged knife is prodding at my lungs. Something has just flown overhead, a body borne along on furious and tattered wings. It loomed so large it was as though the sky was blotted out. No mistake: it was a male capercaillie.

My guide is wildlife expert Simon Pawsey. Ten minutes after setting off to look for one of Britain’s most elusive and iconic species on one of the last Strathspey refuges for capercaillie, we’ve struck lucky. Then a second caper bursts out of the heather and blaeberry a metre or so from my feet. Another male. The bird swivels low between the trees, heads towards the edge of the wood and breaks across open ground. Then, as if confronted by something alien, it swings back and vanishes. Capers, huh? Ten a penny these days.

THE GIANT OF THE SPECIES You see them on YouTube – these outlandish, gigantic birds, strutting around the lek site like hedge-fund managers high on profit, acting cocksure of themselves in front of the womenfolk and making that sequence of ridiculous noises like marbles dropping through a run, followed by a ratchet tightening a rope. But it’s hard to sense their size until you spot them in the flesh. We’re talking huge cargo planes here.

The plumage of a male capercaillie is blue-black, their chest a viridian sheen. On each scapular, or shoulder, there’s a white ellipse and above the confident eye, a bright-red brow. The beak is white and chunky, a tool of a beak that looks as if it could effortlessly wrangle a dead animal. It deals, though, with a more mundane diet: berries, insects, pine needles.

Capercaillie are Red Listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Globally Threatened countryliving.com/uk

Index. Because of this, it’s illegal to go near a lek site – the clearing in the woods where the cocks show off for the hens – without a licence. Watch on a screen, though, and you see the male caper pushing out his chest while holding his tail feathers like a broad, decorated fan. Like this, the male caper struts.

The tail has an arc of white markings, like die-cut patterning.

Europe’s largest member of the grouse family moves in a strangely mechanical dance, uttering that mechanical-sounding call that doesn’t seem part of the animal world at all.

We’re walking through the forest and I’m looking up because I think that if there are males around, maybe I’ll see a female in the branches. Meanwhile, the ruptured ground demands that I look down and ahead, too, and, as we move around a bend, I see the terminus of the forestry track. Flying soundlessly across it is another male. As the caper crosses that avenue of light, it morphs into a symbol of what we have left – and of what we don’t.

Simon and I are now near the edge of the forest. In front is rough moorland. To the south, the low morning sun has turned the Cairngorm mountains into a linear dome of bright white as if someone has polished the snow. The middle ground, though (this area of moorland and, beyond it, another patch of forest), is a landscape under reconstruction.

PROJECT RESTORATION Cairngorms Connect is the biggest habitat-restoration project in Britain. RSPB Scotland, Wildland, Forestry and Land Scotland and NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency, are working together across 600 square kilometres of contiguous land dedicated to wildlife. From the floodplain of the River Spey through some of the last of Scotland’s ancient forests, the project aims to restore a functioning ecosystem around the entire Cairngorms. The JANUARY 2022

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A NUMBERS GAME A 2017 study by the RSPB revealed that 1,114 capercaillie remain in the last caper stronghold of Strathspey. This might sound like

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quite a few birds, but the numbers signify that capers are a hair’s breadth away from extinction. We have been here before.

In 1785, the last capercaillie was shot in Aberdeenshire. In the first half of the 1800s, capercaillie from Sweden were reintroduced to Perthshire. They thrived, wandering through the woods that used to persist across much of Scotland. Numbers expanded rapidly to 20,000 birds.

More recent losses articulate the story of the gradual but systematic erosion of woodland habitat across Scotland. All those isolated woodland discos. Add in the rise of the industrial forest and the protection of those commercial interests, where foresters erect anti-deer perimeter fencing to keep out red deer, but capers can’t see fences. As the birds crash out of the blaeberry floor and into the fence, there’s one less caper to compete at the forest disco.

We’ve ignored this for too long. We can’t do without the natural world. And yet, on we go, imposing our own needs rather than looking at the capers crashing into fences or the capercaillie trapped in the isolated dancehalls of caper desire.

Much of the work of Cairngorms Connect had already been happening inside each organisation. But there’s strength in numbers and a united vision. The project has begun to build relationships in the community.

What you don’t love you can’t save. Save what you love. For me, that’s the capercaillie.

ADAPTED FROM Abundance: Nature in Recovery

by Karen Lloyd (Bloomsbury Wildlife, £16.99), which is out now.

countryliving.com/uk

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; GETTY IMAGES

ambitious 200-year vision points to a future that is about an alignment of humans and the natural world. And the kinds of forest repair that Simon and I are looking out at – designed to join one forest relic to the next – represent part of that vision.

Because this is the thing: capers don’t travel in search of a mate. They live in the woods in which they live, and that is that. If you’re a cock, you’re not going to travel to other caper discos in the woods. You stay put. And if you’re a female, you come down from the safety of the pines to have a look at these few remaining males as they do that male thing around the dancefloor, because being pumped and primed for the continuance of their genes is what they know best how to do. When the results of your gene mix come into the world, they, too, will not travel to discos of other woods, not even across the open moor.

When that second caper flew out over the moorland, then swung back towards his familiar stomping ground, it was because of its inability to cross the divide. Without new pine plantings, that open ground represents fragmentation and the loss of species for whom connection and connectivity is critical. But the moor that Simon and I can see has been planted with conifers and other native trees. When this bridge of trees has grown in and the moor is no longer open and derelict, the capers will once again be able to wander through the woods to meet other hens and cocks in the cold of the early mornings. No longer will they be trapped inside the woodland discos of limited genes and limited opportunities.

WILDLIFE

THRALL OF THE WILD A quarter of rare and endangered species in the UK live in the Cairngorms. Here are five to spot… grey or near-black, live in Scotland. All shades display hairy ear tufts.

Watch them snack on Scots pine seeds along trails at Glenmore Forest Park (they don’t hibernate).

WILDCAT (Felis silvestris) The Scottish wildcat is stouter than its domestic cousin and sports a ringed bushy tail. There may be as few as 115 in the wild, but for a guaranteed glimpse, head to the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore.

GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) With a two-metre wingspan, a golden eagle is hard to miss against the skyline (if it flaps a lot, it’s probably a buzzard). The Findhorn Valley is a popular Highlands hangout.

SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) Spot the ‘snowflake’ on rocky snow slopes foraging for insects or in ski-centre car parks pecking away at crumbs.

The male capper struts, holding his tail feathers like a broad, decorated fan

RED SQUIRREL (Sciurus vulgaris) Most of our red squirrels, which may look brown,

PINE MARTEN (Martes martes) This elusive member of the weasel family lives in tree holes, squirrel dreys and old bird’s nests. Mainly chestnutbrown, each animal has a uniquely shaped creamy white bib.

Rent a hide in Speyside for a close encounter.

Cone CENTRIC ’Tis the season to spruce it up with our splendiferous, coniferous creations WORDS AND PRODUCTION BY ALAINA BINKS

CRAFT

SHELF LIFE Nestle, or wire, cones, baubles and berries into cut fir or spruce for a relaxed garland made to the length of a shelf, mantel or windowsill. Wire the branches together if they move out of place or spring back from where you would like them to sit.

YOU NAME IT This place-setting idea is ever so simple. Dab PVA and glitter, or metallic paint, onto the tips of an open cone and leave to dry. Write a name on a piece of pretty card and slot into the cone. Find craft glitter (95 per cent plastic free) at Hobbycraft (hobbycraft.co.uk).

UNDER THE CLOCHE This woodland-inspired display heroes the humble cone. Place a large specimen under a cloche or inside a bell jar. Alternatively, fill it to the brim with several smaller cones, in assorted types and sizes, and add a short string of battery-powered lights.

For similar large cones, try The Danes (thedanes.co.uk).

HOLD A CANDLE Add country charm to a hurricane lamp with a few pine cones – they help to hold the pillar candle in place, too! Finish with a length of gingham ribbon from Jane Means (janemeans.com) for some colour. As the candle begins to burn down*, replace it or remove some of the cones.

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CRAFT

PERFECT PAIR Topped with sprigs of cypress and dried rosebuds, these make sweet decorations for a winter wedding. Tie the posy to the top of the cone (you may need to glue the rosebuds in place) with red velvet ribbon and hang on the backs of chairs. Alternatively, you can use to decorate the tables or each guest’s place setting. Daisy Shop (daisyshop.co.uk) has dried rosebuds in a variety of colours.

BIRD PERCH Suspended from a tree, a cone provides an ideal perch for a bird to peck away at seeds set in a homemade suet or lard mix pressed between the scales. String up an apple and rosehips, too, when food is scarce during the colder months.

LABEL OF LOVE A piece of card with a decoratively cut aperture and cone tied in place within it makes a unique gift tag. Draw and cut out a shape – this scallop edge looks effective – and write a short ‘to’ and ‘from’ on the reverse.

SEASONAL CENTREPIECE To make this pretty arrangement, you’ll need candles of different heights and a low dish or tray. Secure the candles in place with Blu Tack, glue from a glue gun or by using a blob of melted wax. Build up a layer of cones and fresh hellebore flowers just before your guests arrive, keeping them clear of the candle flames*. You could also use small potted hellebores or cyclamens depending on how big your arrangement is.

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CRAFTY KINDLING Dry cones make great kindling (shake well first to dislodge any insects). You can also turn them into firelighters pressed into wax with a wick. Create a wintry display with a wire basket filled with kindling and a string of LED micro fairy lights.

NATURE TABLE Display a collection of woodland finds by placing cones, feathers, spiky sweet chestnut seeds, acorns and conkers in jars.

It’s a great way to teach children more about nature. Use jars in different heights to keep it interesting and decorate some with a jolly striped ribbon.

*NEVER LEAVE LIGHTED CANDLES UNATTENDED OR WITHIN REACH OF CHILDREN OR PETS. ALTERNATIVELY, USE ELECTRICAL OR BATTERY-POWERED ONES. ONLY COLLECT CONES THAT HAVE FALLEN FROM TREES. ONLY TAKE SMALL AMOUNTS FROM THE WILD AND NEVER TAKE FROM PRIVATE LAND WITHOUT THE LAND OWNER’S PERMISSION. PHOTOGRAPHS BY HANS BLOMQUIST; ALUN CALLENDER; CAMERA PRESS; EWA STOCK/CAROLINE BURECK/CHRISTINE ANN FOLL; HOUSE OF PICTURES/ KIRA BRANDT/TOMMY DURATH (STYLING GAIA RASMUSSEN AND ANNA ÖRNBERG); LIVING4MEDIA; NARRATIVES/RICHARD GADSBY; NASSIMA ROTHACKER

CRAFT

FIR-EVER WREATH This long-lasting ‘wreath’ can stay on display all year round.

Cut a circle of card as a base and use a glue gun to secure each cone in place on the card.

Work from the outside in, overlapping the cones and moving towards the middle in a loose spiral. Finish with a smaller cone at the centre.

PAPER CONES Run these decorations down the middle of a dining table as a wintry centrepiece. Draw and cut out a flat, symmetrical pine cone shape from card as a template. Use this to cut out the shape from several layers of newspaper. Layer the newspaper pine cones on top of one another and sew down the centre (with a heavy-duty sewing machine or by hand using a bradawl, thick needle and thread). Fold and fan out the layers.

WHITE MAGIC With a little white paint, cones are given a snowy effect. Most paints will work for this, including emulsion and acrylic. When dry, tie a length of thin wire to the base (under the scales) to attach into an arrangement or create a garland using several together.

FULL CIRCLE A circlet of larch cones glued together turns into a rustic decoration when adding a loop of ribbon to hang it from the tree. You could also use this to decorate presents and napkins on a dressed table.*

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ALL HAIL The

HIGHLAND COW

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WILD WONDER

As we prepare to celebrate Hogmanay, we tip our hat to the bovine beauty synonymous with Scotland

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALAMY. RESEARCH BY MOHAMMED ELASHKAR

WORDS BY LAURAN ELSDEN

nown in Gaelic as Bò Ghàidhealach, the Highland cow is the oldest registered cattle breed in the world, originating in the Scottish Highlands and islands and serving as ‘house cow’ for centuries.

Farmers from all over Britain would descend on the markets of Falkirk, Crieff and Carlisle to purchase these ‘Scots runts’ (so called for their comparatively small size), with thousands of guineas changing hands.

Famed for a wavy coat of ginger, black, brown or brindle and long, curved horns, the cow might look formidable but is known for its friendly, curious character. Remarkable mothers, too, these gentle giants often breed past the age of 18 years old, raising 15 or more calves in their lifetime. While you’re most likely to spot them in the wilds of Scotland, they thrive south of the border, too – with herds or ‘folds’ found everywhere from the slopes of the South Downs to the flat fens of East Anglia.

FIND OUT MORE at highlandcattlesociety.com.

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Knitting

PRETTY Modern meets vintage in Jules Hogan’s garden studio in Berkshire where chic, contemporary knits are created on a replica 18th-century machine WORDS BY SARAH BARRATT PHOTOGRAPHS BY RACHEL WARNE

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RURAL ARTISAN

ules Hogan welcomes the cold as a chance to swaddle herself in her own lambswool knitwear. “The yarns feel so soft and lovely against the body,” she says, pulling her pink merino wrap around her. There’s a nip in the air and a light dusting of snow on the ground.

Jules, however, radiates warmth. We’re walking near her home in Tilehurst, Berkshire, with her spaniel, Jaxon, bounding behind us. Jules has been plucking teasels, alder cones and acorns from the ground as she draws inspiration for her lambswool scarves and socks, jumpers and ponchos.

Our route takes us back to the studio in her garden, a duck-egg blue outhouse beneath an old oak tree. Along one wall stands a repurposed 1970s knitting machine.

It’s a miniature version of those used in mills during the Industrial Revolution and, while Jules’ conditions may be more comfortable, her methods are the same. Spools of yarn are lined up in orderly rows on shelves; illustrations and sketches hang on the walls. “There’s nothing better than being in my studio,” Jules says. “It’s my happy place.”

A KNACK FOR KNITS Jules got hooked on knitting as a child growing up in Reading.

Her mother taught her the craft, which she finessed during a degree at the Winchester School of Art. “I was drawn to knitwear because it’s so tactile,” she says. “It’s wonderful to create fabric from a single strand of yarn. You produce something practical, too.” After graduating, she worked as a colourist at a London consultancy, presenting new hues to designers. “I could look at a colour and know instantly which dyes would replicate it,” she recalls. Next, she produced knitwear designs for shops with her old university tutor: “Fashion designers [for catwalk shows] get the glory, but textile designers are the unsung heroes of the industry.”

Craving more control over what she made, Jules started her own collection in 2010, alongside her full-time knitwear job: “I wanted to see the whole process through, starting with the concept, then creating the fabric, before making and selling the final product.” Juggling two jobs, however, was tough: “The fast pace of a design studio, commuting and running my own project took its toll. I was so stressed, I lost my creativity and couldn’t think of any new designs.”

Five years ago, Jules gave up making knitwear for shops and decided to go it alone. “I wanted to slow down and enjoy the making process,” she says. “Life is much gentler now. Working in my studio allows me to take care over what I make.” Today, Jules is knitting a batch of wraps THIS PAGE Jules’s garden studio is her creative haven, where she makes the softest lambswool garments, including socks, scarves and wraps OPPOSITE She

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uses reconditioned 1970s knitting machines, producing contemporary pieces with yarn from a Yorkshire mill that’s been manufacturing since 1766

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Jules’s natural dyes are made with foraged finds – pine needles produce a nude pink, while birch gives a rosy hue

RURAL ARTISAN

like the one she is wearing. “I wear the first samples to see how they hang,” she explains. “I never sell anything unless I’m completely happy with it.” Each design starts as a sketch, before Jules calculates the number of rows and stitches required. She then works on the colours, taking her cue from walks in the surrounding landscape – her Horizon scarf, for example, includes a block of fiery orange inspired by a sunset she once saw on the nearby Sulham Estate. Her natural dyes may well be made from foraged finds, too: pine needles, she says, produce a nude pink, while birch bark gives a rosy hue.

Once she has mixed the precise shade, Jules dyes yarn sourced from a Yorkshire mill that’s been going since 1766 and then leaves it to dry. Next, she threads it through the machine’s four feeders, enabling her to use up to four colours at a time. Concentration is key as strands can snap or tangle up: “When I get into a rhythm, it feels magical.

I’m bringing to life an idea I have in my mind.”

It takes about an hour on the machine to make the fabric needed for a wrap, but the garment is far from finished. Now it must be pressed with a steam iron, put together using a linker (a sewing machine for knitting) and lightly washed: “When a piece comes off the machine, it doesn’t look too special. But once you wash it, it comes to life: the colours brighten and the structure of the knit closes up.” Finally, Jules stitches the seams and adds the labels: “These details are the icing on the cake. There’s something meditative about threading up yarn and finishing off loose ends.”

CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY Jules only opens her online shop for a couple of days each month, shutting when items sell out to allow her time to restock: “Thankfully, customers understand it takes time to handmake a piece.” This also creates demand among her 8,000 Instagram followers, many of whom like to add to their collection year after year. “I wasn’t great at social media when I started, as I felt shy, but I’ve been able to gradually meet people online,” Jules says. Now, she has customers across the world, from the US to Australia: “It’s exciting to think of my knits keeping people warm in faraway lands.”

And yet, for Jules, nothing beats seeing customers in person wear her creations: “It’s a real joy to see people try garments on. You know when something’s right for them by the way they hold themselves. It looks like it belongs to them straightaway.” Jules firmly believes in the transformative power of her designs. “Clothing has the power to make you feel great about yourself,” she says, holding up a newly finished wrap. Her sumptuous collection has the power to keep you warm, too.

TO BROWSE Jules’s designs, head to juleshogan.com. Country Living readers can get a free lavender bag with each purchase – claim yours by quoting CLWINTER21 at the checkout.

OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE Jules explores the Berkshire countryside with her dog Jaxon, countryliving.com/uk

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RURAL ISSUES

Fast forward TO THE FUTURE

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ou’re walking in the countryside, in a landscape unchanged for centuries, when an NHS drone drifts overhead. Incongruous, yes. Fantasy, no.

Welcome to the future of rural transport, where medical supplies are dispatched by remotecontrolled aircraft, villages linked by electric-bike lanes and farm produce delivered via an underground tunnel. It’s a brave new world and it could be coming soon to a locality near you...

If you live in a rural area, you’ll know that public transport is patchy at best and home deliveries can be hit and miss.

Take the buses. Or, rather, don’t take them because you’ll wait for ever. Buses are notoriously thin on the ground in the countryside – more than 3,000 local-authority-supported services have been axed or reduced in the past ten years. “It’s harder to make a commercial case for many routes because people in rural areas tend to be dispersed,” explains Silviya Barrett, head of policy, research and projects at advocacy group Campaign for Better Transport. “The local authority can’t afford to run a service frequently, so a route becomes less attractive. You then get fewer passengers, the routes become even more expensive to run and you’re on a downward spiral.”

FROM ISOLATION TO INNOVATION

The pandemic brought many of our lives to a standstill, but it did accelerate new ideas for rural transport – carrying people, food and medical supplies.

Jessica Powell reports on the accidental revolution

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The fact that rural residents often feel cut off has taken a serious toll on everything from job opportunities to mental health. But there’s good news in the air: the recent pandemic has inspired innovation. “Covid has kicked off a revolution for rural areas,” says Jenny Milne, who sits on the International Transport Forum’s working group for rural mobility and innovation and is studying for a PhD in rural mobility. “It has nurtured collaboration that would have taken years to get off the ground.” Shops and charities, she notes, made huge strides working with bus companies during the various lockdowns to deliver food to customers. The buses still took passengers, but the dual purpose reinforced their value.

The pandemic also accelerated an idea for the NHS to use drones to carry medical tests and supplies to Scottish islands.

“Drones can travel in straight lines at about 100km an hour,” explains Alex Brown, head of operations at Skyports, the company behind the drone deliveries. “They are faster and more direct than lorries. No one needs to worry about syncing road transport with ferry crossings.” Drones, he adds, don’t need individual drivers; fleets are overseen by a pilot at HQ. During a three-month trial, drones saved 12,000 hours in waiting and transport time for Covid tests and other pathology samples. This is life-changing. One patient was saved from going blind because the NHS staff could get a test result and start treatment so quickly. The scheme has now become permanent.

As well as shuttling medical supplies, drones are also being used to deliver post. Royal Mail has been testing JANUARY 2022

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Rural areas used to be the last places to see technology. Now they are the first to benefit

drone deliveries in Scotland and the Isles of Scilly. “Rural environments used to be the last place to see technology,” Alex says. “Now they are becoming the first to benefit from it.”

Drones have another benefit – they’re electric, which means they could help us tackle the climate emergency. Cycle lanes for e-bikes, allowing people to bike safely between villages, also fit the bill.

Zoe Avison, policy analyst for Green Alliance, points to a study by the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions, which showed that e-bikes might be more useful in rural areas than urban ones if we want to lower the amount of carbon produced by our transport because in cities there are other low-carbon options.

The challenge now is to show there’s demand for them. Villages could also make them available for local hire.

PLANS IN THE PIPELINE We’ve seen initiatives that are on the ground and above the ground, but what about those underground? Tech company Magway is designing small tunnels (or large pipelines) to deliver goods on ‘pods’ riding electromagnetic waves. It is aiming to roll out the first network this year. Like drones and e-bikes, the carriages, which are about the size of a tote bag and travel at about 30mph milliseconds apart, are eco-friendly as they are emission-free. (For the science, see magway.com.)

Co-founder Phill Davies points out that the tunnels will mean fewer large vehicles on the road, improving safety and reducing damage to road surfaces. As they are underground, they also can’t be seen, making them ideal for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Finally, we could soon see electric air ‘taxis’ or electric helicopters, which again could be useful in reaching remote

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spots. Skyports, the company behind the drone deliveries, is designing a vertiport (the area where they take off and land) in Shannon in Ireland. The future is on our doorstep…

USE IT OR LOSE IT Not all solutions to patchy rural transport, however, need to be expensive or take time to get going. Some may be considerably simpler, argues Jenny Milne of the International Transport Forum. “It’s about using the assets you’ve got,” she explains.

“In rural communities, your neighbour might be going to town and offer to pick something up for you. You may decline because you feel guilty. In Upstate New York, it’s different. Your neighbour would get ‘mobility credit’ for running this sort of errand – perhaps in the form of a shop voucher. In that case, you might take up the offer as there would be no need to feel bad: they would be getting compensated for their time.”

All this just leaves one question: what about people who have chosen to live rurally because they want a simple, old-fashioned life? They needn’t worry about drones blighting the landscape or interrupting their peace and quiet, says Alex Brown of Skyports.

“When people think of drones, they often think of ones you might buy as toys over the internet. These are different. You can hear them when they take off and land, but they’re mostly silent.

They fly so fast that they’re hard to spot.”

In any case, communities must be consulted, says Jenny Milne of the International Transport Forum. Do local people want drones? Do they want sky taxis? Or do they just want a frequent bus? It’s time to have your say…

LET US KNOW your thoughts by emailing country.living@hearst.co.uk.

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RURAL ISSUES

1 in 3 people say

they deliberately catch the bus to have some human contact Council bus budgets have been cut by

25% since 2010 Drones saved

12,000

hours in waiting and transport time for Covid tests

Saving the NUMBER 65 When they discovered that their bus service, the No 65, was going to be cut in 2018, the residents of Monmouthshire in Wales took matters into their own hands. They formed the Friends of the 65 Bus group and then started a petition to convince the county council to keep it going.

“The bus used to go off-route to do a school run twice a day, but the children it was picking up and dropping off had left school four years earlier,” explains member Jane Gilliard, “so we persuaded them to reroute the bus. Some villages saw a 40 per cent increase in services.”

The group has also created timetables for each village, as well as “time in town” journey planners that suggest when you can get the bus from certain places to allow you to have enough shopping hours.

Locals can follow a Facebook page, too, where drivers and passengers share updates on delays.

The group is trying to get the bus approved as a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ vehicle. “The accolade [issued by a community-led network led by Kate Ashbrook, vice-president of the Ramblers] is usually given to towns for providing places where you can visit in muddy boots, but we want it to apply to transport,” Jane explains. The group wants to turn the rural bus journey from functional into an adventure – and not because you might get stranded if the return bus never comes. Find out more about this successful grassroots campaign at friendsofthe65bus.org.uk.

GET ON BOARD GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE If a bus doesn’t take you door to door, consider getting a lift part of the way or using Dial-a-Ride (available to anyone who can’t easily use passenger transport, as well as the vulnerable).

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD Write to your local MP to highlight gaps near you. You could also join thousands of others by signing a petition to improve rural buses led by the CPRE, The Countryside Charity.

It is addressed straight to the Transport Secretary. cpre.org.uk/get-involved/take-action SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES The WI is also calling for reliable local buses. Have you seen any changes to your bus service recently? Email PA@nfwi.org.uk with your views.

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ABOVE The Friends of the 65 Bus: Stephen Dix, Brian Mahony, Jane Gilliard, Rob Furnival (driver standing behind), Rosemary Corcoran and Steve Gilliard

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRIENDS OF 65 BUS; GETTY IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK

USE IT OR LOSE IT Catching a bus in the countryside, where routes exist, shows local authorities and bus companies how vital they are.

BUY A LOVED ONE A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION

A tale OF TWO

COTTAGES

With bold new layouts and playful paint choices, a pair of estate workers’ cottages have been transformed from dark and dingy to fresh, colourful and fun WORDS BY RUTH CHANDLER PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOMINIC FRENCH

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small kitchen painted a deep and dramatic red, a mix of English antiques and rich Indian fabrics, and vivid-blue bunkbeds made for grown-ups: Plum and Apple Cottages have a vibrant and playful feel. Set within their own walled garden next to the orchard on the Deans Court estate near Wimborne in Dorset, the Grade II-listed properties were in need of a deep renovation when Ali Hanham and her art dealer husband William took them on.

Built for farm workers in the 1700s on the site of a 12th-century barn in the oldest part of the estate, the dwellings latterly served as accommodation for staff gardeners until the 1990s. “They were pretty grim,” says Ali, remembering the day in 2011 when she and William decided on a plan of action. “Everyone who’d lived here had been allowed to do whatever they’d wanted over the years. The cottages even had a weird mix of different windows.

We decided to totally gut them and commissioned an architect to redesign them.”

Previously, the properties were “a collection of small rooms”, so, in order to create a more open-plan feel, the couple’s builders moved the staircases from directly ahead of the front doors to the centre of each cottage. Ali replaced the old lino and concrete countryliving.com/uk

floors with beautiful wooden boards. All the work was carried out without changing the charming quintessential country cottage exteriors, which haven’t altered in their 300 years.

With her background as an antiques dealer, Ali – who founded shop Sharland & Lewis in Tetbury in 1998 and now runs Deans Court Home Store – was in her element when it came to finding pieces and making favourite items of furniture at home in Plum and Apple Cottages. She separated the head- and footboards of beautiful carved wooden beds that she had bought on one of her twiceannual trips to Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France (she hunts down treasures at Uzès and Barjac), and used them as the twin headers in Apple’s ground-floor bedroom. “That’s a great trick,” she says with a smile.

In addition to vintage and antique pieces, the cottages feature bespoke handcrafted furniture: when an elm needed felling on the estate, a local carpenter used the wood to make a beautiful dining table to seat ten in Plum Cottage, a contemporary coffee table for Apple Cottage and breadboards for both. Another carpeter was commissioned to build both the kitchens’ units and the bunks in Plum that comfortably sleep adults as well as children – the ideal solution for the small second bedroom

OPPOSITE At Apple Cottage, the kitchen walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Pink Ground, contrasting with the hand-built kitchen units in Monkey Puzzle. The blind is an old French ticking fabric THIS PAGE, ABOVE LEFT The dining table came from Deans Court Home Store ABOVE RIGHT In the slate and wood-flanked kitchen in Plum Cottage, the units are painted in bold Preference Red

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ABOVE In the sitting room at Apple Cottage, woodwork is painted in dark and distinctive Monkey Puzzle by Farrow & Ball, which works well with the vintage-style furniture and striking kilim cushions BELOW Ali bought the Victorian armchair in Apple Cottage’s bedroom at a market

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ABOVE William chose the artwork hung in Apple’s kitchen, while the mismatching chairs are vintage finds in an interesting range of different styles BELOW In the sitting room of Plum Cottage, the seed-head piece of art is by Moira Frith at The Shop Floor Project

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Antiques dealer Ali was in her element when it came to finding pieces of furniture for the cottages

H O M E S & D E C O R AT I N G

(and supplemented by the shepherd’s hut in the garden with its double bed and woodburning stove).

The cottages’ beautiful textiles are testament to Ali’s passion for fabrics and love of travel. In Apple’s sitting room, a red-striped antique Hungarian linen makes a striking blind, while a green kantha quilt, which Ali bought on one of her treasure-hunting trips to India, works as a curtain between here and the kitchen, complemented by the kilim cushions on a pair of grey chairs beneath the stairs – “just to add a bit of cosiness”. Sisal flooring from Crucial Trading in the bedrooms and on the stairs is the perfect texture and shade to complement Plum and Apple’s simple rustic nature.

When she initially decorated the cottages’ interiors a decade ago, Ali chose a largely neutral palette but when it came to repainting them last year, she decided to enlist the help of an expert – Farrow & Ball colour consultant Joa Studholme.

The result is an inspirational new scheme, including painting Plum’s diminutive kitchen – from the skirting board to the ceiling – in the company’s Preference Red (a tribute to the hue of the orchard fruit after which the cottage is named).

“If you have a small, dark space like this, it’s impossible to make it lighter – you can’t fight nature,” Joa says. “It’s better to just work with it, embracing the lack of light and creating a really countryliving.com/uk

special room.” Throughout the cottages, the new Farrow & Ball colours bring a sense of fun: Setting Plaster gives Plum’s double bedroom its all-over dusty pink glow, including its cupboard door that hides a surprise with its blue-grey interior (Pigeon).

This inside-outside trick recurs throughout the cottages. A broad spectrum of hues also serves to differentiate spaces and highlight features. “In both sitting rooms, I wanted the lightest colour on the walls and a darker shade on the woodwork to make them feel bigger,” says Joa, who not only works with the paints but has created many of them.

“An even stronger colour was used on the staircases to create a dark core through the cottages and make the walls feel lighter.” And paint shades are prescribed for every element of the rooms, not simply the plastered surfaces: the choices for skirting boards, doors and frames are just as considered as these larger elements.

The combined talents of Ali’s eye for antiques and textiles with Joa’s flair for colour has resulted in playful, vibrant and creative spaces full of character, like fun hosts ready to welcome and indulge their guests with unexpected treats.

OPPOSITE Ali found the antique washstand for Apple’s groundfloor bedroom in the attic at Deans Court THIS PAGE, ABOVE LEFT Preference Red floorboards highlight the beauty of the pale-blue and white clawfoot bath in Apple’s bathroom. The vintage towel rail was sourced at an auction ABOVE RIGHT The vintage French headboard in Apple’s ground-floor bedroom has been painted in Card Room Green, while the textiles were picked up from Ali’s travels in India

TO STAY IN Apple or Plum Cottage, or for more information about Deans Court Home Store, visit deanscourt.org. For further details about Farrow & Ball’s Colour Consultancy Service, see farrow-ball.com.

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magic

At Hunworth Hall in Norfolk, a heavy snowfall conjures up a winter pleasure garden with whimsical penguins and giant ‘walnut whips’ WORDS BY STEPHANIE DONALDSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICHARD BLOOM

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GA R D E N I N G

THE DETAILS STYLE Anglo-Dutch formal topiary garden SEASONS OF INTEREST Year round SIZE Just under 2½ acres SOIL Gravel and sand on chalk

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now does magical things to the subtle and muted winter hues of the garden at Hunworth Hall in north Norfolk, turning it into a place of near-monochromatic contrast, where shape and texture dominate. A deep, white carpet overlays the paths and lawns, and the pewtergrey frozen canals, with their sentinel topiary, lead the eye to the ornate pavilion and two-storey folly at either end. While the snow endures, some of the topiary shapes in this formal garden take on quirky personalities. The juniper pyramids, with their snowy topknots, resemble huddles of penguins and a couple of yew spirals become giant ‘walnut whips’.

A less transient transformation has happened within the walled garden since Henry and Charlotte Crawley moved here in the 1980s, taking on the property from Henry’s parents.

At that time, his father grew vegetables there, but the couple knew from a 1726 map that it had once been a formal garden. “We started looking at Anglo-Dutch gardens for ideas,” Henry says, “particularly Het Loo in the Netherlands. We also drew inspiration from 17th- and 18th-century Dutch prints that show wonderful pavilions overlooking canals, and from a visit to Westbury Court, the restored 17th-century Dutch-style

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water garden in Gloucestershire. “We decided to have a pavilion and some water, even though there had never been a canal here.”

This was a far-from-straightforward undertaking. In the late 17th century, the garden had been levelled and terraced and the walls were built around it, but it is not entirely flat. There is more than a half-metre drop from the folly on one side to the central pathway and another half-metre down to the pavilion on the other side. A similar slope exists from the house to the far end of the site. All this meant that there couldn’t be a single canal – it would have to be divided into two sections either side of a central path. As they are at right angles to the house and concealed by topiary, the canals can’t be seen from indoors and are only revealed once you go outside.

“This is an asymmetric garden – the house isn’t set in the middle because it is the surviving part of a larger house,” Henry says. “One side of the garden is much wider than the other, and a lot of the planting is on slight slopes, but actually, if you build in enough formality, people don’t notice these irregularities.” According to Henry, who laid it all out with lengths of string and stakes to fit it into the somewhat puzzling lay of the land, there never was a big plan, “just back-of-an-envelope stuff ”. Planting was

THIS PAGE Two formal canals are divided by a central path and lead the eye towards a Dutch-style brick pavilion OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The scarlet fruit of crab apple Malus x robusta ‘Red Siberian’ is long-lasting; niches have been cut in the beech hedge to frame some classical statuary; the handsome rendered house dates from around 1700 – topiary includes yew cones, clipped holm oak and box balls

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Henry’s top TOPIARY TIPS PLANT TOPIARY SMALL It will establish better and save lots of money.

CHOOSE PLANTS SUITABLE for your local conditions. Avoid yew on heavy, waterlogged ground. Juniper does well on dry soils. Box is pretty bomb-proof except where blight or box tree moth are a problem.

CONSIDER BOX ‘HANDSWORTHIENSIS’ It’s tough and resists blight, especially when grown as freestanding topiary.

USE TOPBOXUS HEALTH MIX (topbuxus.com) if established box plants develop blight.

THINK OUT OF THE BOX A couple of good alternatives to box are Ilex crenata and Euonymus japonicus.

PRODUCE IDENTICAL PLANTS with topiary cuttings; if grown from seed, there will be variability in habit.

TRIM AND SHAPE TOPIARY in August or September in dry weather.

YOU CAN SHAPE YOUR PLANTS with topiary frames, which are available to buy.

USE THE SHARPEST AND LIGHTEST TOOL for the job, whether shears or electric hedge trimmers, and clean the blades regularly to remove build-up of sap.

piecemeal – a hedge here, some topiary there – and all done very much by eye.

Virtually all the topiary went in 30 years ago as 15cm-20cm-high plants or as cuttings. The yew, box, holly, juniper and holm oaks were all chosen for their ability to withstand drought.

The Chinese juniper Juniperus chinensis ‘Keteleeri’ was quite an unusual choice but, having seen a similar juniper at Het Loo, Henry did some research and found it to be both very drought-resistant and a conical tight-leaved shape that would clip well. The box Buxus sempervirens ‘Handsworthiensis’ has large leaves and is much tougher and more resistant to box blight than most varieties. Also, growing it as freestanding topiary shapes gives it good air circulation, which helps.

“Some of the yews were from cuttings I took at our previous house many years ago,” Henry says, “and the holm oaks were grown from acorns I brought back from various trips to Italian and Spanish gardens. I’m much happier if I can plant from seed and it’s cheaper, but they can vary genetically. This is also the case with the yews alongside the canals where some grow outwards and others grow upwards, which can make it tricky when using them for topiary.”

Henry cuts and shapes all the topiary himself in August and September. He has had helpers over the years, but now that he’s retired he has

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more time. He has calculated that it takes about a hundred hours of cutting and clearing up – but then it is done for the year. “I use batterypowered hedge cutters now that batteries are so good,” he says. “They don’t make a lot of noise or spray fumes all over your face, so they’re much more pleasant to use. I also use handclippers where needed.”

Henry takes a relaxed view regarding the shaping. The yew cones tend to spread at the bottom, so he has let them gradually evolve into something resembling traditional chemist’s flasks. The ‘walnut whip’ yew trees didn’t do well in pots, so he planted them out and they shot up: “I decided to have a bit of fun with them and make spirals. You can have a strict spiral but these have expanded in their own way.”

Then there are the ‘penguin’ junipers that are gradually turning into the shape of Christmas baubles. They became a bit truncated at the top when Henry could no longer prune them without a ladder and then, when he couldn’t reach them with the ladder either, he let them curl over. “I’m aiming for a paisley shape,” he says, “although they have been described as Smurfs’ hats!”

There’s something wonderfully informal about this formal garden. Henry himself has described it as a pleasure garden and this does seem to sum it up – a place in which he and Charlotte and all who are invited to visit take much pleasure.

THIS PAGE Over time, Henry has allowed the yew spirals to take a more relaxed form OPPOSITE The ‘Keteleeri’ juniper is drought-tolerant and it clips well – the shape has been likened to penguins. Beech hedging is also kept in trim by Henry

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HOME INSPIRATION

WARM A WELCOME IN Wales

Between the Snowdonian mountains and the Llŷn Peninsula, a remote stone cottage makes the perfect setting for a seasonal celebration in splendid isolation WORDS AND PRODUCTION BY SIAN WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRENT DARBY

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PREVIOUS PAGE The sea urchin wallpaper in the living room was designed by Miles THIS PAGE, FAR LEFT An aged bauble wreath from Nkuku, dressed with cypress, dried hydrangea and a cluster of baubles, hangs from the anchor door knocker LEFT Miles and Julie take a walk with their Bedlington whippet cross, McGregor BELOW In the hallway, giant honeycomb paper balls, baubles, net bags and presents add a festive flourish to the peg rail from Baileys and a church pew bought at an antiques shop in Pwllheli OPPOSITE Modern blends seamlessly with retro in the kitchen. An Ercol table and chairs sprayed black tie in with the basalt floor tiles

n a chilly December day in North Wales, Ty Coch is a beacon of Christmas cheer.

Located along a remote track, the farm cottage windows are aglow with candlelight and a curl of smoke laces the cold winter air. Beyond the house, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia seem to stretch almost to the sea. “This was the dramatic landscape that really sold it to us,” says Julie Falkingham, who bought the smallholding with her husband Miles 15 years ago. “It’s a wilderness teeming with wildlife and looks beautiful even in the depths of midwinter.”

Christmas is always a special time for the Falkinghams, as they put aside their busy city lives in Liverpool and head to their Welsh retreat. Traditionally, there’s a short stop-off at Fron Goch garden centre in Caernarfon for trees – one for the cottage and another for their holiday guests in the converted outbuildings. Once they reach Ty Coch, they will stand the trees in the stream to keep them fresh overnight. Then, before the light fades, they’ll walk along the shore with their Bedlington whippet cross, McGregor, collecting foliage to decorate the house the following day.

Later that evening, Julie’s children Louis and Lily will arrive and the family gather around the fire bowl outside, warming themselves with hot toddies before retreating to a roaring fire indoors. “The cottage comes into its own at this time of year,” Julie says. “Most of the walls are dark, giving it an intimate, cosy feel. There’s a fire lit every evening and candles are always set on the deep windowsills, creating a lovely warm glow.”

Before buying the house back in 2007, the Falkinghams had been living on a smallholding in Cheshire with a flock of Soay sheep and a dozen rare-breed hens. They’d been looking for a property to renovate, to use as a family bolthole and holiday let.

Miles is an architect and design consultant; Julie is an interiors stylist and ceramicist. Neither intended to take on such a large

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project. “There was a daunting amount of work to be done,” Julie says, “but we loved it so much we bought it anyway!”

Ty Coch had originally been a campsite. Passersby still regale Julie and Miles with stories of camping here as children, with their families or the Scouts. “It also has a strong connection to the old pilgrim routes along the coast,” Julie adds. “And that made us feel even more compelled to create a place for travellers, carrying on the legacy.”

Originally a holiday home owned by an elderly local couple, the property – a typical Welsh rubble stone smallholding – needed a lot of restoration and the outbuildings were almost derelict. “Our first job was to sort out the water,” Miles says. The original drinking water had come from a well in the garden, which could be unreliable, especially in summer. “We consulted a specialist who told us that the mains water came straight from Snowdonia, and we couldn’t get any better. So we switched straightaway and had a new hot water and heating system installed, which is zero carbon with a ground-source heat pump.”

A biodiversity specialist advised on rewilding the ten acres of grazed land. “We’ve counted up to 80 species of native wild flowers this year, planted more than 1,000

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OPPOSITE In the entrance hall, a small window seat with a rustic cushion, made from an old grain sack bought

by Julie many years ago, makes a welcoming spot THIS PAGE A one-off rustic stool by furniture maker Sebastian Cox works as a fireside table displaying lights from Lights 4 Fun and frosted tree decorations from Greengate at Fine Nordic.

The large spruce is adorned with paper baubles from Talking Tables

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There’s a strong focus on Welsh design and folklore throughout the cottage

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H O M E S & D E C O R AT I N G

OPPOSITE The exposed stone wall, woven basket, traditional Welsh tapestry blankets and cushions add rustic charm in the bedroom THIS PAGE, LEFT The bathroom window was enlarged to maximise the scenic views BELOW LEFT Vintage love spoons are decorated for the festive season with sprigs of evergreen and silver baubles BELOW RIGHT Rough textured stone, covered with lichen and moss, is the inspiration behind the cottage’s colour scheme BOTTOM To make outdoor dining more magical, bulbs are strung above the garden table, which has a backdrop of the surrounding mountains

trees and created three wildlife ponds,” Julie says. “The wildlife is returning year by year – an otter was spotted recently.”

When planning permission finally came through for the cottage (Ty Coch is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Julie and Miles made some significant changes. One of the three bedrooms was turned into a family bathroom and the tiny kitchen was enlarged. All the uPVC windows were replaced with timber and metal frames, and the glazing was kept as large as possible throughout to make the most of the views.

For the decoration, they were keen to stay true to the original character of the cottage. “It is naturally quite a dark space, so we embraced that and went for darker colours, adding builtin seating and a log burner for the bitterly cold Welsh winters,” Julie says. There’s a strong focus on Welsh design and folklore throughout the cottage and outbuildings. Layers of Welsh blankets and cushions dress beds and sofas, and a collection of traditional vintage love spoons hangs on the wall in one of the bathrooms. All this sits alongside modern Scandi-style furniture – like the sofas in the living room – and simple lighting. Miles designed the sea urchin wallpaper in the living room, which features illustrations by artist and naturalist Ernst Haeckel.

Over the festive season, Julie makes use of the resources to hand for her decorative themes. The love spoons, for example, are strung from the tree or tied with colourful ribbons to mark table settings.

Paper honeycomb decorations in varying sizes are draped on and around the tree, while candles and sprigs of aromatic spruce and fir are scattered along the tables in the dining and living rooms, interspersed with homemade edible treats.

Visitors will often bring their own decorations, too. “We always have guests over Christmas,” Julie says. “I love the fact that we’re carrying on the tradition of the farm as a traveller’s resting place.” And when she and Miles tire of city life themselves, they plan to uproot here to enjoy the splendid isolation full time.

TO STAY at Ty Coch, call 07866 467979 or go to red-welly.com.

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Curve

APPEAL

There are few straight lines at Longyard Cottage garden. Step along the looping pathways for an intriguing journey with a surprise at every turn WORDS BY PAULA MCWATERS PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANNA OMIOTEK-TOTT

THE DETAILS SIZE ¾ acre

SOIL Fairly neutral, after being worked for many years, with underlying boulder clay

STYLE Eclectic conceptual garden with natural curves and a sense of journey through the various spaces

SEASONS OF INTEREST All year round with plenty of emphasis on structural and planting highlights for autumn and winter

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ongyard Cottage, in Nazeing, Essex, is on a bend in the lane and one glance over its ‘wavy’ wooden gates and cloud-pruned front hedge will tell you that this is a garden that merits exploration.

Mature crack willows draw the eye skywards, their bare winter branches framing a beautifully proportioned 1740s cottage at the end of its long gravel drive.

To your left and right, there are well-kept lawns, studded with trees, with hints of intrigue beyond.

And intrigue is exactly what owners Jackie and John Copping set out to achieve in their garden when they moved here 25 years ago. The drive is, in fact, the only straight line here, as every other pathway meanders, leading invited visitors around a series of little cameos and features. Spirals and curves are recurring themes: a weathered, Corten-steel sculpture captures a vista; a labyrinth, which everyone finds hard to resist tracing with their feet, is carved into the lawn; and there’s a curved brick folly with moss-covered seats, which draws people to rest awhile.

“There are no straight lines in nature,” Jackie says. “I wanted the garden to be very natural and to feel as though it is ‘holding’ you, like an embrace but without constraint.” It is a philosophy borne out of Jackie’s long experience as a professional counsellor. Before she retired, she used to see clients here and many found solace in this space: “Life is a journey and we wanted to represent that. There is a sinuous route winding its way around the whole garden: you can start at any point along it and choose which direction to go in.”

To help them realise this quest, Jackie and John, who are both keen all-weather gardeners themselves, called in Alistair Bayford, a landscape architect they met at the 2004 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Initially, they commissioned him simply to create an outdoor dining area. The couple have three daughters and sons-in-law and seven grandchildren who visit often, so a screened space was needed in the garden’s sunniest spot for large gatherings. Alistair achieved this with York paving set into gravel, backed by a series of oak uprights and a large clump of miscanthus that gets cut back into a different sculptural shape each winter.

Happily, the couple just clicked with Alistair. More ideas were discussed and so began a friendship that continues to this day. “As well as drawing up and instigating designs, I came and gardened here every Saturday for years,” Alistair says. “It presented a rare and

OPPOSITE John has trained bay (Laurus nobilis) into sharply clipped corkscrew shapes THIS PAGE, FROM TOP LEFT Ferns, euonymus and fragrant sarcococca line the path to the brick folly; the wobbly wooden

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wonderful opportunity to work closely with clients, trialling things together, enjoying a project’s evolution and seeing it through.”

The levels around the back of the house were all uneven and, as Jackie and John wanted this to be their retirement house, John shaved off the soil to make smooth ramps and slopes and do away with steps. Alistair used the soil that was taken off to create little grassed mounds elsewhere, which proved hugely popular with the grandchildren when they were toddlers. “They would run in and play ‘I’m the king of the castle’,” Jackie recalls. “It’s interesting to see what a big draw even the smallest difference in height is to small children.”

Jackie insists that this is a garden for everyone to enjoy. “We’re not precious about the space. We’ve never made a fuss about balls being kicked around.” In 2012, the ‘journey’ round the garden came into its own as a running track: the extended family staged their own Olympics with relay races, badminton and football games. “One child even wanted to fetch his running spikes to gain an advantage, but we drew the line at that,” Jackie says, smiling.

The arrival of each of the much-loved grandchildren has been marked with the planting of a Chinese ‘Fascination’ birch tree, creating a tiny glade.

There’s a certain amount of dynamic tension in this garden.

John is tidy-minded, while Jackie is more laid back. One of John’s favourite areas (“because it always looks good without too much fuss”) is in front of the house, where mature silver birches are underplanted with low-maintenance evergreen Euonymus ‘Silver Queen’. He has a good eye for detail and takes charge of clipping the neat topiary for structural interest. Jackie favours a wilder look and likes to keep swathes of grass long with mown paths in between.

(A compromise is usually reached after a little bit of discussion.)

Biodiversity is a priority, too. Any fallen branches are cut up and used around the garden, to edge woodchip paths through the woodland dell or, if larger, to provide seating. Transitions in the walkways are subtle: a gravel path gives way to oak sleepers and gravel, then sleepers and grass until it reaches all grass. This is important to keep the natural look and feel they want to achieve.

Plants that make an impression in winter include hellebores, bergenias and heucheras, stinking iris Iris foetidissima with its bright red berries spilling out of brown papery cases, red- and orange-stemmed cornus and lots of evergreen ferns. Seed heads are left for the birds and winter interest. Alongside the mature trees are shrubs such as witch hazel, Lonicera ‘Baggesen’s Gold’, corkscrew hazel and an old winter-flowering stalwart Viburnum tinus, which was here when the Coppings came. Topiary includes bay and yew.

“The continuous paths mean that we can be out here working practically any day of the year,” Jackie says. “It’s an extension to our home and we love being outside because it makes such a difference to our mood to be in nature. This is what keeps us fit.”

LONGYARD COTTAGE, Nazeing, Essex, opens for the National Garden Scheme Snowdrop Festival on 20 February 2022. See ngs.org.uk for details. Alistair Bayford, chartered landscape architect (07985 505898).

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP A beech hedge frames the gate that looks towards the house; bright flowers of witch hazel; a woodland path with evergreens, tree trunks and ferns Asplenium scolopendrium and Polystichum setiferum; the

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nodding heads of Helleborus foetidus; white-flowered hellebores sing out against the bright green ferns OPPOSITE Birch trees have been underplanted with variegated euonymus and an evergreen hedge

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Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ is a lovely evergreen shrub to have in a pot by the front door.

It is compact (H120cm) and, even when its yellow flowers have finished in autumn, the feathery, spinefree leaves go on providing textural interest.

Choose a sheltered spot. £17.99 for a 15cm pot, J Parkers (0161 848 1100; jparkers.co.uk).

A good read Although primarily aimed at horticultural newbies and dabblers, RHS Gardening School by Simon Akeroyd and Ross Bayton (Mitchell Beazley, £20) has good advice for old hands, too. The handy tips cover everything from how to choose and use plants to growing undercover and formative pruning. Basic design principles and step-by-step projects (such as how to plant a hedge and make a planting plan) are clearly and succinctly explained. A useful reference tool for any gardener.

Gardener’s notebook Gardening editor Paula McWaters shows how to get the best from your plot in January

To-do list Trim deciduous hedges

always look forward to this time of year. With the froth of spring still a way off, I can take stock and plan changes, especially to the structural elements that give any garden its bones. And when it’s too wet underfoot to stray far from the back door, we turn our attention closer to the house. A growing passion for ferns – which I’ve admired in so many gardens I’ve visited lately – has encouraged me to revamp the shady brick path to our back door, lining it with terracotta pots and troughs to make a miniature fernery. It’s a project that can be completed in an afternoon, and top-dressing the containers with fine gravel gives them a satisfyingly smart finish. Right outside the door, we have used upcycled wood to make some fence-hung shelves for pots of miniature spring bulbs such as grape hyacinths, Iris reticulata and ivory ‘Elka’ narcissi. As they catch my eye from the window, it’s easy to chart their emerging growth on a daily basis – ideal winter gardening. Follow Paula’s progress on Instagram @paulalifeandsoil.

such as hornbeam and beech

Prepare for seed sowing in a greenhouse or a heated propagator

Turn your compost heap and cover it up

Avoid compacting soil by standing on a plank when you’re working it

Sprinkle sand on paths that are snowy or slippery

Keep birdfeeders clean and topped up with seed

Cover rhubarb crowns with straw and a forcer or bucket for early stems JANUARY 2022

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Let it grow SNIP SNIP

WEST SUSSEX

Now is the time to head over to Wakehurst, Kew’s sister garden near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, where the Winter Garden, expertly replanted in 2018, will be in peak condition.

Two of my favourite trees are highlights: glowing white-barked Jacquemontii birches and rich coppery-barked Tibetan cherries (Prunus serrula tibetica), both of which make great specimens for small to medium-sized gardens. Daphnes, witch hazels, cornus, cyclamen and bergenias provide fragrance, texture and colour around them. Take a camera and notebook to capture all the ideas you will glean, and also leave time to visit the fascinating Millennium Seed Bank, which houses precious threatened seeds from around the world. For details, see kew.org or call 01444 894066.

When hedging shears are too big and secateurs too small, these super-sharp carbon-steel-bladed shears are ideal. Designed to be self-sharpening, their low-tension spring makes them really comfortable to use for light cutting. They cost £31.95 from Bud To Seed (budtoseed.co.uk).

SWOT UP ON SPUDS

GOING

under cover

A cloche is invaluable for warming your soil and bringing on early crops. With toughened safety glass, this powder-coated antique ivory version by Access is especially roomy (79cm long x 53cm wide x 41cm high) and comes with a 25-year guarantee. The design has built-in convection ventilation to help regulate the temperature inside on sunny days. £144 (01788 822301; garden-products.co.uk).

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If you’re planning to grow some spuds this year (and I recommend you do), going to a Potato Day is a good place to start. These friendly one-day events are held all over the country from now until March.

You’ll find a wide variety of seed potatoes for sale, as well as helpful advice. Ask your local allotment society or search online for your nearest event. countryliving.com/uk

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; JIM HOLDEN © RBG KEW; SABINA RUBER. ILLUSTRATION BY ALLIRA TEE

Wakehurst

Lavender-grey flowers have sparked interest recently, so I suggest nabbing yourself some seed of Delphinium consolida ‘Misty Lavender’ before it sells out. This pretty larkspur has a subtle vintage feel to it, with papery-looking flowers that are excellent for cutting. £2.75 for approximately 148 seeds (01491 824675; chilternseeds.co.uk).

THE RIGHT CHOICE

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where to buy Stockists in the magazine this month

A ADAMS & MACK adamsandmack.com

ARRAN 01770 830264; arranwhisky.com

B BARKER & STONEHOUSE 0333 010 2352;

I INCHYRA inchyra.com J THE JOURNEYMAN & CO thejourneymanandco.com

JUDITH BROWN JEWELLERY judithbrownjewellery.co.uk

barkerandstonehouse.co.uk BASKET BASKET basketbasket.co.uk

L

CLOTH HOUSE clothhouse.com COTTON CLARA cottonclara.com COX & COX 0330 333 2123; coxandcox.co.uk

N NORDIC HOUSE 01872 223220; nordichouse.co.uk P PALE & INTERESTING 01797 344077; paleandinteresting.

C CLARE DALES etsy.com/uk/shop/ClareDalesCreative D THE DANES thedanes.co.uk DAYLESFORD ORGANIC daylesford.com DFS 0800 110 5000; dfs.co.uk DOBBIES 0131 561 6406; dobbies.com THE DORMY HOUSE thedormyhouse.com

E EBAY ebay.co.uk ETSY etsy.com F FAR & AWAY uk.farandaway.co FARM SOAP CO

farmsoapco.com FARROW & BALL 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com FOLK INTERIORS folkinteriors.co.uk

G GARTHENOR garthenor.com GREIGE greige.co.uk H H&M HOME hm.com HELEN ROUND helenround.com HOBBYCRAFT 0330 026 1400; hobbycraft.co.uk HOMEBASE 0333 003 7084; homebase.co.uk

LAURA HUSTON CERAMICS laurahustonceramics.com LINENME 020 8133 3853; linenme.com LITTLE GREENE littlegreene.com LUPIN DESIGNS lupindesigns.co.uk

com PAPER TREE NOOK papertreenook.co.uk

R ROYAL DOULTON royaldoulton.com S SARAH K sarahk.co.uk SELWYN HOUSE selwynhouse.

co.uk SHEARER CANDLES shearer-candles.com SIMPLY ERCOL simplyercol.co.uk SKRATCH STUDIO skratchstudio.com SMITH & THE MAGPIE smithandthemagpie.com SNOOPERS PARADISE 01273 602558; snoopersparadise.co.uk SUSI BELLAMY susi-bellamy.com SUSIE ATKINSON susieatkinson.com

T TED WOOD tedjefferis.co.uk W WALTON & CO waltonsofyorkshire.co.uk Z ZOFFANY zoffany.sandersondesigngroup.com

Wellbeing F O R M I N D & B O DY

DE-FRAZZLE

your

FESTIVITIES Feeling Christmas-crackered? Here are some easy ways to stop seasonal stress in its tracks from the Country Living team HAVE A HOT PICNIC

BLISS OUT WITH A BATCH BAKE

Ben Kendrick Home and style director While the fantasy of a winter walk in the glittering low sun is often trumpeted as the perfect antidote to festive chaos, the reality more often involves tramping through the rain before diving into the pub! So my favourite way to de-compress after Christmas is to have a ‘hot picnic’ – disappear into the countryside with a flask of homemade soup and some fresh, savoury scones. There’s always the option of a pit-stop at the pub before we go home!

Lauran Elsden Commissioning editor Every year, I pop on my pinny and reach for my rolling pin. I’ve experimented with many a mince pie recipe – Nigella’s star-studded sweets and Mary Berry’s marzipan morsels – and although mine are never quite as tasty as my friends’, there’s something so satisfying about batch baking.

I find catharsis in the kitchen, methodically rolling out pastry, spooning out mincemeat to the beat of The Little Drummer Boy and finishing with a flourish of icing sugar.

SING FOR SERENITY

WRAP UP YOUR TROUBLES

Lisa Joyner Digital writer Nothing lowers my anxiety levels like singing the beautiful, traditional carols at my local church. Not only does it stir up warm feelings of nostalgia from Christmases past, but it gives me a moment to pause, reflect and listen. There really is no greater mood boost – even if you haven’t got the best voice in the world. Fingers crossed that Covid rules will allow us to sing out loud this year!

Michele Jameson Group chief sub editor I’ve found that setting aside an evening to wrap presents transforms it from an angsty last-minute chore into a lovely way to unwind. I turn up the festive tunes (the cheesier, the better), pour a glass of something delicious, then clear the living room floor and lay out all the gifts, paper and ribbons. The rest of the family are banned from entering until I’ve finished wrapping.

It’s funny how that can sometimes take a whole evening…

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“I love to make a splash at Christmas, both literally and figuratively” BRAVE A BRACING DIP

LISTEN WITH MOTHER

Sarah Barratt Features writer I love to make a splash at Christmas, both literally and figuratively. Every year must be bigger and better than the last, which means I’m often rushing about too much to enjoy any of it. But a dip in the sea soon sets me straight. The cold is so startling, it’s impossible to worry about anything else, and after a couple of minutes the shock subsides into a pleasant tingling sensation. By the time I return to shore for a hot chocolate, I feel revived – and ready to dive back into the festive fun.

Kate Langrish Contributing health and beauty editor While the excitement of children at Christmas is magical, it can also be exhausting – especially when they are too hyped up to go to bed. So on Christmas Eve, my kids are allowed to open one present, which is always a new set of PJs. They put them on, leave a mince pie for Father Christmas, and then we snuggle up to read The Night Before Christmas and other wintry tales. In recent years, we’ve taken it in turns to read. Listening to a story has the most calming effect – whatever your age.

GET BLOWN AWAY ON THE BEACH Charlie Hedges Picture researcher Every year, on 26 December, my family and I take a windswept stroll along the grey shores of West Wittering beach. The silvery light, and the rhythmic sounds of the waves lapping the shore, is calming and soothing after the frenzy of Christmas. For many years, we would take our dog, a Lucas terrier aptly named Cracker. She loved it so much that, when she passed away, we decided to scatter her ashes on our Boxing Day beach walk. Alas, when it came to it, we couldn’t actually prise open the wooden box! We still laugh about that as we remember her – with great affection – on our annual walk.

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SET A DEADLINE Paula McWaters Gardening editor At 6pm on Christmas Eve, we pop over to a friend’s house for a buffet, quiz and a festive singsong. It’s a tradition that has been in our family for more than 20 years and marks the ‘start of Christmas’. However, it also acts as a useful deadline for all the preparations that can otherwise run over. Everyone goes hell for leather wrapping presents, laying the table and tidying up so that most things are done before we leave – but it means that, come Christmas morning, everyone is feeling cool, calm and organised.

WELLBEING

PLAY POSTMAN PAT Anna Jury Features editor Toddlers plus Christmas equals chaos. But last year I discovered one thing that cut through the commotion and helped me refocus on what’s important. I took my son with me to deliver cards to my neighbours, knocking on their doors rather than just posting them through the letterbox. The lovely smiles we got from everyone, and my son’s delighted response, is one of my favourite festive memories.

SEE THE LIGHT SHOW Lindsey Jordan Creative director A dose of fresh air is the only way to counterbalance the full-on festivities in our home (think Wham! on repeat), but it’s not an option my kids (like many others) embrace.

Luckily, they are always keen to take a tour of Christmas lights. We wait until dark, then stroll around our local streets, admiring the houses twinkling with icicles and gardens lit up with giant snowmen.

Our thoughts are focussed on one thing: picking a favourite (usually the one that most resembles Blackpool Illuminations).

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; CAMERA PRESS; LIVING4MEDIA; ANDREW MONTGOMERY;NEVA NEMETH; NASSIMA ROTHACKER; RACHAEL SMITH; HANNAH TAYLOR. *ONLY FORAGE SMALL AMOUNTS AND NEVER TAKE FROM PRIVATE LAND WITHOUT THE LANDOWNER’S PERMISSION

GO TREASURE HUNTING Alaina Binks Home and crafts editor You’ll often find me with a pocketful of treasures from a slow stroll through the countryside, in readiness to embellish a gift or reinvigorate last year’s twig wreath.

I start in late September, gathering seed heads and dried grasses*, before moving onto fallen acorns and cones in late autumn, and finally to holly and mistletoe (from my mother’s garden) in December. Searching for interesting shapes and textures takes my mind away from any pre-Christmas worries, and I find just as much joy in creating the arrangements.

SHOP ’TIL YOU FLOP Vicky Carlisle Executive editor Six years ago, I had a little epiphany about how to de-stress the Christmas shopping. The annual shopathon had become a migraine-inducing marathon (I have a big family), so I decided to merge it with a me-time treat. I booked a mini-break in Winchester and topped off a day at the German markets with a massage, long bath and lavish dinner. I’ve repeated the format (in different market towns) every year since. Call me a smug Santa, but I’ve found it a great way to nail my shopping without shredding my nerves.

Read Country Living’s review of Hotel du Vin Winchester and book at countryliving.com/uk/hdvwinchester.

GIVE YOURSELF LOTS OF TIME Patricia Taylor Picture director Christmas Eve is always joyous in my house as I love preparing the festive feast. I have a large family (there’ll be 12 of us on the day), so the food prep takes a long time. But I always find it quite relaxing, so long as I leave myself plenty of time. Once that’s done, and after adding the final touches to the decorations, I have a long soak in the bath before getting ready for my joy of all joys – Midnight Mass.

ESCAPE FROM IT ALL Laura Silverman Features editor After years of working on Christmas Day on a daily paper, these days I treasure the time to myself. I’ll merrily see parents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and all manner of cousins on Boxing Day. But the heat is too much on the day itself: there’s too much expectation for jollity and pressure for perfect behaviour. Instead, I book a cottage in the Cotswolds for a couple of days, and enjoy Christmas on the sofa with a book and – my concession to festivities – a smoked salmon sandwich. countryliving.com/uk

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ADD COMFORT & JOY WITH COUNTRY LIVING ACCESSORIES AT HOMEBASE With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for the festivities ahead by adding a little style, warmth and comfort to your space with the new season’s range of accessories at Homebase.

Created with inspiration from the Country Living style experts, these beautiful cushions and throws come

in traditional shades of rich red and forest green for that quintessential Christmas ambience.

Crafted from cotton velvet or pure new wool, the premium cushions are available in either plaid or plain fabrics – there’s even a statement embroidered bolster cushion to bring extra ‘Joy’ – while the pure wool checked throws are perfect for snuggling under on chilly winter nights.

COLLECTION SHOP THE COUNTRY LIVING COLLECTIONS AT HOMEBASE HOMEBASE.CO.UK/BRANDS/COUNTRY-LIVING.LIST

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Clean start I’d never been one of those people who find joy in the washing-up (more to the pity) until I discovered the new essential-oil-infused cleaning products from Aromatherapy Associates.

With zingy peppermint and tea tree oil, Aromatherapy Associates x Laundress Support Breathe Dish Soap (£25, aromatherapyassociates.com) and Surface Cleaner (£25) give a mood-boosting lift to humdrum household chores. Meanwhile, Signature Detergent in Deep Relax (£35) will infuse your bedding with soothing camomile to encourage restful slumber.

Wellbeing

Add a little New Year’s Eve sparkle with Dear Dahlia Mesmerizing Moment Collection Palette in Celestial Glow (£49, lookfantastic.com). The pigmented eyeshadows create shimmering combinations, while extracts of cacao seed and shea butter protect the delicate eye area.

F O R M I N D & B O DY Feelgood tips and advice from our health and beauty editor Kate Langrish

TURN OVER A NEW LEAF My new year’s resolution is to write a diary. We’re not talking Pepys here – just jotting down my thoughts, feelings and things I’d like to remember.

It was something I tried on a wet and windy camping trip last summer.

I found that taking a few minutes each evening to think about what I’d enjoyed – or not! – that day made me feel less anxious about the holiday not going to plan and reflect instead on the carefree moments of fun.

Journalling in this way can be therapeutic. Writing down worries can make them seem less overwhelming and taking time to notice the good things helps train the brain for a more positive outlook. Any notebook will do, but a wellness journal (Papier has a good selection from £24.99, papier.com), with prompts to record mood, energy levels, goals and gratitude, gives a good framework if you’re unsure how to get started.

Shelf help PHOTOGRAPH BY GETTY IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK

Thirteen Ways to Smell a Tree (Hachette, £12.99) invites you to connect with trees through the sense most aligned to our emotions and memories. Essays explore the evocative scents of trees and suggest practical ways to experience them, from inhaling the delicate scent of spring blossom to savouring the smell of a new book as you open its pages.

Boost your immuni-tea! At the start of a cold, infuse half a teaspoon each of dried echinacea root, dried elderberry, fresh ginger and honey in a mug of hot water. countryliving.com/uk

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Fare SHARE

Celebratory cocktail and canapé recipes to get everyone in the party spirit RECIPES BY GIOVANNA RYAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY LISA LINDER STYLING BY AMY NEASON

FOOD & DRINK

FIG, PECORINO AND HONEY FLATBREAD Figs aren’t in season at the moment, but there’s something about them that’s so wonderfully festive.

Good-quality semi-dried figs make an excellent alternative, if you’d prefer. Try to get the best-quality pecorino cheese you can find – it’s worth it.

Preparation 30 minutes, plus proving Cooking 30 minutes Makes 2 large flatbreads, enough for 15 as canapés FOR THE DOUGH 700G STRONG WHITE BREAD FLOUR ½ TBSP SALT 1 TBSP CASTER SUGAR 1½ 7G SACHETS OF FAST-ACTING YEAST 4 TBSP OLIVE OIL 500ML WARM WATER FOR THE TOPPING 6 FRESH OR 12 SEMI-DRIED FIGS SMALL BUNCH OF ROSEMARY LEAVES, PICKED 100ML GOOD-QUALITY HONEY OLIVE OIL, FOR DRIZZLING SEA SALT 100G PECORINO

1 First, make the dough, ideally the day before. Place the bread flour in a large bowl with the salt and sugar on one side and the yeast on the other. Add the olive oil and most of the warm water.

Use your hands to combine to a very soft dough. If it feels too dry, add the rest of the water. It should feel quite wet.

2 Knead the dough on a lightly oiled surface for at least 5 minutes or mix in a food processor with a dough-hook attachment. Place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with clingfilm. Leave in the fridge overnight or in a warm place for an hour or so, until the dough has doubled in size.

3 Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan) gas mark 7. Once risen, remove the dough from the bowl and knead again to knock out the air. Divide into two balls and roll or pull apart each one to cover the bases of two lightly oiled baking trays or cake tins.

4 Slice the figs and place on top of the dough. Scatter over the rosemary leaves and drizzle first with honey, then a little of the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the dough is golden and the figs lightly coloured.

5 Just before serving, shave some pecorino over the top.

CHRISTMAS-SPICED PECAN POPCORN There’s nothing quite like this freshly popped salty-sweet popcorn to please both children and adults.

Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 20 minutes Makes 2 big bowls 1 TBSP VEGETABLE OIL 200G POPPING CORN 150G BUTTER 50G BROWN SUGAR 1 TBSP GROUND CINNAMON 1 TBSP GROUND GINGER countryliving.com/uk

1 TSP ALLSPICE 1 TSP SEA SALT FLAKES 100G PECANS

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) gas mark 4. Heat the oil in a large pan with a tightly fitting lid over a medium heat. Add the popping corn, cover and leave to pop.

2 Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in the sugar, spices and salt. Once the corn has popped, spread out on a baking tray with the pecans and cover with the butter mixture. Mix together with your hands until well coated.

3 Bake for 10 minutes until the sugar just starts to caramelise.

When cool, serve in bowls.

BAY NEGRONI Bay releases lots of flavour when broken up, so make sure you give it a proper bash at the bottom of the glass.

You can easily pre-mix this in a jug and keep in the fridge until required.

Preparation 5 minutes Makes 6 servings 6 FRESH BAY LEAVES 6 SHOTS GIN 6 SHOTS CAMPARI 6 SHOTS MARTINI ROSSO 6 SLICES CLEMENTINE

1 Bash the bay leaves at the bottom of a jug with the end of a rolling pin or similar implement. Add the gin, Campari and Martini Rosso and leave to chill in the fridge.

2 When ready to serve, pour over ice in a short glass and serve with a slice of clementine.

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PRAWN, CUCUMBER AND RICE NOODLE LETTUCE CUPS If you’re after something a little lighter as an antidote to festive excess, this recipe is for you. The Thai flavours give a bit of a kick. For a less spicy option, replace the fiery bird’s-eye chillies with a milder red chilli.

Preparation 25 minutes Makes 12 2 BABY GEM LETTUCES 250G COOKED VERMICELLI RICE NOODLES 200G COOKED KING PRAWNS LARGE HANDFUL OF MINT LEAVES 2 TBSP CHIVES, VERY FINELY CHOPPED FOR THE DRESSING 1 MEDIUM BANANA SHALLOT, VERY FINELY CHOPPED SMALL CLOVE GARLIC, PEELED AND VERY FINELY CHOPPED 4 RED BIRD’S EYE CHILLIES, VERY FINELY SLICED THUMB-SIZED PIECE OF GINGER, PEELED AND FINELY CHOPPED 4 TBSP SESAME OIL 1 TBSP CASTER SUGAR JUICE OF TWO LIMES 1 TBSP FISH SAUCE 2 TBSP SESAME SEEDS, TO SERVE

1 For the dressing, mix together the shallot, garlic, half of the chillies, ginger, sesame oil, caster sugar, lime juice and fish sauce in a bowl.

2 When ready to serve, pull the leaves off the baby gem lettuces, discarding the very small ones, and lay out on a platter or tray. Place a small amount of the cooked rice noodles in the bottom of each

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lettuce cup, followed by two or three prawns. Drizzle with the dressing, scatter with the mint leaves, chives and the remaining chillies. Sprinkle over the sesame seeds.

ROAST GRAPE, GOATS’ CHEESE AND HAZELNUT CROSTINI Roasting grapes brings out their sweetness – delicious against the salty, zesty goats’ cheese. Buy the crostini ready-made or make your own.

Preparation 20 minutes Cooking 50 minutes Makes 12 12 READY-MADE CROSTINI OR 12 SLICES OF CIABATTA OR LARGE BAGUETTE, CUT TO ROUGHLY 1CM THICK 2 LARGE BUNCHES BLACK GRAPES 3 TBSP BALSAMIC VINEGAR 100G SOFT GOATS’ CHEESE 200G SEMI-SOFT, CRUMBLY GOATS’ CHEESE LARGE HANDFUL OF HAZELNUTS, ROUGHLY CHOPPED DILL FRONDS, TO SERVE

1 If you’re making your own crostini, dry the slices of ciabatta or baguette in the oven at 120°C (100°C fan) gas mark 1 for roughly 30 minutes, so that they’re crisp but not coloured.

2 Raise the oven temperature to 190°C (170°C fan) gas mark 5.

Place the grapes on a baking tray and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar. Roast for around 20 minutes, turning occasionally, until dark and pleasingly sticky.

3 Spread the goats’ cheese over the crostini and crumble over the firmer cheese. Add the grapes, hazelnuts and top with dill fronds.

countryliving.com/uk

FOOD & DRINK

The sweetness of grapes offsets the saltiness of goats’ cheese

A fresh and fruity cocktail is perfect for toasting the New Year

countryliving.com/uk

FOOD & DRINK

PINEAPPLE AND MINT SODA This non-alcoholic cocktail is a great choice for children or non-drinkers. You can always add a splash of rum for an alcoholic version.

Preparation 10 minutes Makes 6 servings ½ SMALL, RIPE PINEAPPLE TIN OF CRUSHED PINEAPPLE IN JUICE 4 LIMES, CUT INTO QUARTERS 3 TBSP CASTER SUGAR TWO LARGE HANDFULS OF MINT LEAVES 500ML SODA WATER TWO LARGE HANDFULS OF ICE

1 Peel and core the fresh pineapple and cut into small chunks.

Empty the crushed pineapple into a jug with its juice. Squeeze the lime quarters a little to loosen the juice and add to the pineapple. Stir in the sugar.

2 Add the mint leaves, pineapple chunks, soda water and ice.

Divide into six glasses and enjoy.

ROSE AND WHITE CHOCOLATE MADELEINES These white chocolate and rose versions are so pretty and their size makes them an ideal petit four after dinner. To get their beautiful distinctive shape, you’ll need a madeleine pan.

Preparation 30 minutes, plus resting Cooking 20 minutes Makes 15 125G BUTTER, PLUS EXTRA FOR GREASING 40G PLAIN FLOUR, PLUS EXTRA FOR DUSTING 40G GROUND ALMONDS 100G ICING SUGAR 3 LARGE EGG WHITES 2 TSP ROSEWATER 150G WHITE CHOCOLATE 2 TBSP DRIED ROSE PETALS 2 TBSP SHELLED PISTACHIOS, ROUGHLY CHOPPED

1 First, make the beurre noisette (brown butter). Heat the butter in a saucepan until melted and bubbling. When the bubbling stops and the butter has gone a nutty colour, remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl. Don’t leave the butter in the pan, as the residual heat will burn it.

2 Sift together the dry ingredients in a bowl, then whisk in the egg whites one at a time. Once the beurre noisette has cooled, add and whisk thoroughly. Add the rosewater, a little at a time to taste – you might need more or less depending on its strength.

3 Cover the mixture with clingfilm and leave to rest in the fridge for at least an hour. Preheat the oven to 170°C (150°C fan) gas mark 3 and grease a madeleine pan liberally with butter.

A silicone pan will help the madeleines pop out perfectly. If you’re using a metal pan, make sure you dust it with flour, too.

4 Pipe or spoon the mixture into the pan, being careful not to over-fill. Leave to rest in the fridge for another 30 minutes. This

will cause a skin to form, allowing the madeleines to rise into their signature shape.

5 Bake in the preheated oven for around 14 minutes, or until golden brown and risen. Leave to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a cooling rack.

6 Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. Dip the cooled madeleines into the melted chocolate and sprinkle with a few rose petals and chopped pistachios.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE SANDWICHES Counterbalance the madeleines with dark, spiced mini chocolate biscuits – they’re wonderfully decadent and perfect for nibbling on after dinner.

Preparation 30 minutes, plus infusing Cooking 25 minutes Makes 15 FOR THE BISCUITS 140G PLAIN FLOUR 40G CORNFLOUR 60G COCOA POWDER 60G ICING SUGAR 170G BUTTER, SOFTENED FOR THE GANACHE ½ CINNAMON STICK PEEL OF SMALL ORANGE 90ML BOILING WATER 100G CASTER SUGAR 2 TBSP COLD WATER 120G DARK CHOCOLATE (AT LEAST 70% COCOA), BROKEN INTO PIECES 50G BUTTER, CUT INTO CUBES

1 Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan) gas mark 3. Sift together the dry biscuit ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on a low speed, then add the butter to form a breadcrumb consistency.

2 Form into a dough and roll small amounts (about a teaspoon each) into balls. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment and press down gently with the back of a fork dipped in icing sugar to spread into small discs.

3 Bake for 25 minutes, remove from the oven and gently transfer to a cooling rack. Be careful, as they’ll be quite delicate.

4 While the biscuits are cooling, make the ganache. Place the cinnamon and orange peel in the boiling water and leave to infuse for 20 minutes. Place the sugar with the cold water in a saucepan and place over a medium-high heat until the sugar melts. Increase the heat and bring to the boil until the sugar turns a light amber colour.

5 Remove from the heat and strain the orange and cinnamon water into the caramel. Add the chocolate and allow it to melt.

Add the butter, a little at a time, stirring until it’s a smooth, thick ganache. Put in the fridge.

6 To assemble, sandwich a little of the cooled ganache between two biscuits and gently press together.

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FOOD & DRINK

Rose-petal madeleines and spiced chocolate biscuits are deliciously decadent

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countryliving.com/uk

New Year’ s NORDIC BAKES

FOOD & DRINK

From gingerbread bundt cake to chocolate pie: plant-based, dairy-free bakes from the Swedish kitchen of Sofia Nordgren PHOTOGRAPHS BY SOFIA NORDGREN

GINGERBREAD AND LINGONBERRY BUNDT CAKE This soft cake tastes just like classic gingerbread cookies, flavoured with warming spices. The lingonberries add a tartness to the otherwise sweet cake, and the contrast is perfect.

Preparation 15 minutes, plus cooling Cooking 50 minutes Serves 12 180G PLAIN FLOUR 135G CASTER SUGAR 1½ TSP GROUND CINNAMON 1 TSP GROUND CLOVES 1 TSP GROUND GINGER 1½ TSP BAKING POWDER 75G VEGAN MARGARINE, PLUS EXTRA FOR GREASING 250ML NON-DAIRY MILK (SUCH AS OAT OR ALMOND) 60G LINGONBERRIES, PLUS EXTRA TO DECORATE (IF YOU CAN’T GET HOLD OF LINGONBERRIES, USE THE SAME QUANTITY OF DRIED CRANBERRIES OR OMIT THE BERRIES COMPLETELY) countryliving.com/uk

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) gas mark 4 and grease a bundt cake tin.

2 In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, ground spices and baking powder.

3 Melt the margarine in a saucepan set over a low heat and add the milk. Stir together briefly, then pour this into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Carefully fold in the lingonberries.

4 Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake in the lower part of the oven for about 40 minutes, until risen and slightly golden.

A skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean.

5 Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for about 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto a wire rack, remove the tin and leave to cool completely.

6 Decorate with lingonberries just before serving, if you like.

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CHRISTMAS CAKE Soft ginger cake is paired with a fluffy vanilla filling and decorated with gingerbread cookies. If you want a less sweet version, try adding 1 tsp dried lingonberry powder along with the filling ingredients.

Preparation 50 minutes Cooking 1 hour Serves 8-12 FOR THE SPONGE 150ML AQUAFABA 45G CASTER SUGAR 60G POTATO STARCH 180G PLAIN FLOUR 1 TBSP GROUND CINNAMON 1 TBSP GROUND CLOVES 2 TSP GROUND CARDAMOM 1 TBSP GROUND GINGER ¼ TSP SALT 1 TSP VANILLA BEAN PASTE 2 TSP BAKING POWDER 100ML RAPESEED OIL FOR THE FILLING 200ML VEGAN WHIPPING CREAM 1 TSP VANILLA BEAN PASTE 30G ICING SUGAR FOR THE FROSTING 250G VEGAN CREAM CHEESE 1 TSP VANILLA BEAN PASTE 60G ICING SUGAR FOR THE GINGERBREAD COOKIES, TO DECORATE 150G VEGAN MARGARINE, AT ROOM TEMPERATURE 225G CASTER SUGAR 50ML MAPLE SYRUP ½ TBSP GROUND GINGER 1 TBSP GROUND CINNAMON ½ TBSP GROUND CLOVES 1 TSP GROUND CARDAMOM ½ TBSP BICARBONATE OF SODA 600G PLAIN FLOUR, PLUS EXTRA FOR DUSTING

1 First make the gingerbread cookies at least 1 day ahead, allowing for resting time overnight. In a large mixing bowl, combine the margarine, sugar and syrup and stir until smooth. Add 200ml water, along with the spices and bicarbonate of soda.

2 Gradually add the flour and stir until you have a dough. Work the dough on a floured surface until firm but a little sticky. Leave to rest in the fridge overnight.

3 When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan) gas mark 7 and line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment.

Divide the dough into 4-6 pieces. Wrap all but one in cling film to stop the dough drying out. Roll out the first portion to a rectangle 2mm thick.

4 Use cookie cutters to stamp out shapes and transfer to the baking sheet. Once the first baking sheet is full, put in the middle of the oven and bake for about 5 minutes until golden. Watch carefully, as they burn easily.

5 While the first batch is baking, continue to stamp out cookies to fill the second sheet. When the first tray is baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a table.

6 Put the second tray of cookies in the oven to bake while you

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roll out more dough and stamp out more cookies to refill the first tray. Repeat until all the dough is used. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container.

7 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) gas mark 4 and grease and line a round cake tin 15-18cm in diameter, with a depth of at least 10cm.

8 To make the sponge, put the aquafaba and sugar in a large bowl and beat with a hand-held electric whisk until white and fluffy.

9 In a separate bowl, combine the potato starch, flour, ground spices, salt, vanilla and baking powder, then gently fold this into the aquafaba and sugar mixture.

10 Add the oil to the batter and stir until smooth. Pour into the prepared cake tin and bake in the lower part of the oven for 50-60 minutes until risen and golden. A skewer inserted into the centre of the sponge should come out clean.

11 Let the sponge cool in the tin for about 15 minutes, then remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, using a serrated knife, carefully cut the sponge horizontally into two even layers.

12 For the filling, place the cream, vanilla and icing sugar in a bowl and beat using a hand-held electric whisk until very firm – this usually takes about 10 minutes.

13 Place one of the sponges on a serving plate or cake stand, then spread the filling over. Top with the other sponge.

14 To make the frosting, place all the ingredients in a large bowl and stir until combined. Using a palette knife, carefully coat the entire cake in an even layer of frosting. Leave the finish rustic (to mimic snow) or smooth the sides and top using a cake scraper.

15 While the frosting is still wet, carefully press the gingerbread cookies onto the sides to surround the cake. You can even top with a miniature gingerbread house. Place in the fridge for a couple of hours to set before serving. countryliving.com/uk

FOOD & DRINK

CHOCOLATE PIE Traditionally, pies and tarts contain fruits and berries but, as the saying goes, traditions are meant to be broken – at least when they can be turned into something just as good, such as a thick and indulgent chocolate mousse.

Preparation 30 minutes, plus resting and chilling Cooking 40 minutes Serves 8-10 FOR THE PIE CRUST 180G PLAIN FLOUR, PLUS EXTRA FOR DUSTING 1 TBSP CASTER SUGAR PINCH OF SALT 150G VEGAN MARGARINE, CHILLED FOR THE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE 150G DARK CHOCOLATE (AT LEAST 70% COCOA SOLIDS), PLUS EXTRA FOR GRATING 150ML AQUAFABA 2 TBSP COCOA POWDER 1 TBSP CASTER SUGAR TO DECORATE 100ML VEGAN WHIPPING CREAM FLAKY SEA SALT

1 To make the pie crust, combine the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Dice the cold margarine and rub it into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

2 Add 2-3 tbsp ice-cold water, 1 tbsp at a time, until a dough just comes together, then form into a ball with your hands. Shape the dough into a disc, wrap in clingfilm and let it rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

3 Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) gas mark 6 and grease a 20cm pie dish. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a circle, about 5mm thick and a little bigger than your pie dish.

4 Carefully transfer the dough to the pie dish and use your fingers to gently press it into the base and sides of the dish. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

5 Prick the base all over with a fork, then bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

6 To make the chocolate mousse, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. In a large bowl, beat the aquafaba until very fluffy and firm using a hand-held electric whisk (if you turn the bowl upside down, it should stay put).

7 Add the melted chocolate, cocoa powder and sugar to the aquafaba and beat again to combine.

8 Pour the mousse into the cooled pie crust and spread evenly.

Place in the fridge for at least one hour.

9 In a medium bowl, whip the cream using a hand-held electric whisk until fluffy. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle, then pipe little mounds of cream all over the top of the pie. Grate over some dark chocolate, sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt and serve.

BAKING WITH NATURE'S PANTRY Baking with plants isn’t difficult – it only requires a few different ingredients. Canned beans are a treasure when baking without eggs – the liquid that cooked beans are stored in, called aquafaba, behaves just like egg whites.

When choosing chocolate, read the ingredients list. Great chocolate should contain nothing more than cacao mass, sugar and cacao butter. Just avoid varieties that contain dairy.

Try to use stoneground, unbleached flours without additives, as they have a lot more flavour and nutrients.

And, finally, only use fresh produce when it’s in season.

Otherwise, turn to the bags of berries lovingly picked and then frozen when they were in season.

FOOD & DRINK

CARROT CAKE Traditionally in Sweden, carrot cake is not really a cake – more like blondies made with grated carrot and seasoned with cinnamon and cardamom, then topped with a thick layer of frosting. This is my version in layercake form. If you want to make a four-layer cake (as pictured above), make two batches of the sponge and double the amount of frosting.

Preparation 35 minutes Cooking 1 hour Serves 8-10 150ML AQUAFABA 180G CASTER SUGAR 60G POTATO STARCH 180G PLAIN FLOUR 2 TBSP GROUND CINNAMON 1 TBSP GROUND CARDAMOM ¼ TSP SALT 1 TSP VANILLA BEAN PASTE 2 TSP BAKING POWDER 100ML RAPESEED OIL 150G CARROTS, PEELED AND GRATED FOR THE FROSTING 150G VEGAN MARGARINE 120G ICING SUGAR 250G VEGAN CREAM CHEESE 1 TSP GROUND CARDAMOM 1 TSP VANILLA BEAN PASTE

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1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) gas mark 4 and grease and line a round cake tin 15cm-18cm in diameter, with a depth of at least 10cm.

2 Put the aquafaba and sugar in a large bowl and beat with a hand-held electric whisk until white and fluffy.

3 In a separate bowl, combine the potato starch, flour, spices, salt, vanilla and baking powder, then fold this into the aquafaba and sugar mixture.

4 Add the oil and grated carrots to the batter and stir until smooth. Pour into the prepared tin and bake in the lower part of the oven for 50-60 minutes until risen and golden. A skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean.

5 Allow the sponge to cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

6 Once cooled, cut the cake in half horizontally with a serrated knife so that you get two even layers.

7 To make the frosting, place the margarine in a large bowl, sift over the icing sugar, then beat until light and fluffy using a hand-held electric whisk. Add the cream cheese, cardamom and vanilla and beat again until smooth.

8 Place a sponge layer on a serving plate. Cover with some of the frosting, then place the other sponge on top. Using a palette knife, cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.

9 Place the cake in the fridge for about an hour before serving to allow the frosting to set. countryliving.com/uk

SWEDISH SEMLOR These cardamom buns are filled with almond paste, then covered with whipped cream before you put a lid on and sprinkle with icing sugar. In Sweden, semlor were traditionally eaten on a particular day in February, called Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.

Preparation 45 minutes, plus proving Cooking 15 minutes Makes 12 buns 25G FRESH YEAST (OR 12G DRIED YEAST) 200ML OAT MILK, PLUS EXTRA FOR BRUSHING 1 TSP CARDAMOM SEEDS 45G CASTER SUGAR PINCH OF SALT 75G VEGAN MARGARINE, AT ROOM TEMPERATURE, DICED 330G PLAIN FLOUR, PLUS EXTRA FOR DUSTING FOR THE ALMOND PASTE 100G GROUND ALMONDS 5 TBSP CASTER SUGAR ½ TSP VANILLA BEAN PASTE TO FINISH 250ML VEGAN WHIPPING CREAM ICING SUGAR, FOR DUSTING

1 Crumble (or pour) the yeast into a large mixing bowl. Add the oat milk and stir until the yeast is completely dissolved.

2 Grind the cardamom seeds using a pestle and mortar, then add 1 tsp of the ground spice to the milk mixture (reserve the rest for your almond paste).

3 Add the sugar, salt, margarine and half the flour to the mix. Work the dough for a few minutes until the margarine is mixed in.

4 Add the rest of the flour and work the dough in the bowl with your hands for at least 10 minutes (or 5 minutes if using a stand mixer) until smooth. Shape into a ball and nestle in the bottom of the bowl, then cover the bowl with a tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

5 Prepare a large baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Once proved, tip out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a couple of minutes. Divide the dough into 12 evenly sized pieces and roll each one into a ball.

6 Carefully transfer the buns to the lined baking sheet, loosely cover with the tea towel and leave to prove for another 30 minutes.

7 Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan) gas mark 7. Brush the buns with oat milk and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the buns to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

8 Using a sharp knife, cut ‘lids’ from the buns downwards in a triangle shape, with the knife slightly angled towards the middle of the bun.

Prise the triangular lids out of the buns and then use a teaspoon to scrape a well in the centre of each one. Reserve crumbs and lids.

9 For the paste, combine the almonds, sugar, vanilla and the reserved ground cardamom in a medium bowl. Add 2-3 tbsp of cold water, a little at a time, until the mixture comes together to form a paste. Add the reserved crumbs from the buns to the almond filling. If it gets too dry, add a splash of the whipping cream to get the desired texture.

10 Using a teaspoon, fill the holes in the buns with the almond paste.

Using a hand-held electric whisk, beat the whipping cream until fluffy and firm. Pipe or spoon cream onto the top of each bun.

11 Place the lids on top of the buns and dust with icing sugar.

EXTRACTED FROM The Nordic Baker by Sofia Nordgren (Quadrille, £20).

HOLIDAYS E XC LU S I V E TO U R

COMBINE GARDENS AND ART IN FRANCE NEXT SUMMER

Visit Monet’s former home and the gardens he spent half his life painting (left) Enjoy a gourmet stay at the Château de Montvillargenne

Discover

Visit Giverny to see the inspiration for much of the artist’s work with Country Living’s former editor-in-chief MEET OUR EXPERT Former editor and now Country Living columnist, Susy Smith says: “I last visited Giverny in 1997 and came away feeling so inspired, we featured it in Country Living that same year. As a passionate gardener, I can’t wait to return with like-minded CL readers.”

T

he house and gardens at Giverny, which are full of delphiniums, peonies, colourful bridges and weeping willows, provided Impressionist artist Claude Monet with inspiration for his work.

On this four-day tour, you’ll explore the lovingly restored gardens in the company of Country Living’s former editor-in-chief and current columnist Susy Smith, who will also join you for a private talk and Q&A session. You’ll visit other wonderful houses and gardens, including the Château de Chantilly and the Musée de l’Orangerie.

Other highlights include a visit to Giverny on Sunday morning, when the gardens are at their most peaceful. There will be ample time to explore on your own, before heading into the town to visit the tiny church and cemetery where the artist is buried. You’ll also have the chance to see the Les Nymphéas murals, which extend to almost 200 metres in length, in two vast rooms in the Musée de l’Orangerie.

OUR TRAVEL PARTNER Brightwater Holidays is an award-winning travel operator specialising in garden and specialist-interest escorted tours worldwide.

YOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 Travel to Paris; transfer to Chantilly DAY 2 Senlis and Château de Chantilly DAY 3 Giverny with Susy Smith, talk and Q&A DAY 4 Musée de l’Orangerie and return home WHAT’S INCLUDED Talk and Q&A with Susy Smith Return standard-class rail travel from St Pancras International to Paris (first class and regional connections available on request) Three nights’ dinner with wine and B&B at the four-star Château de Montvillargenne near Chantilly Comfortable coach in France Visits to Musée de l’Orangerie, Monet’s garden at Giverny, Château de Chantilly and Senlis Services of a tour manager

THE PRICE From £1,095pp* DEPOSIT £100pp** THE DATES 29 July-1 Aug 2022 TO BOOK Call 01334 440192, quoting CL MONET GARDENS For more details, go to countryliving.com/uk/ susysmith

FIND MORE unforgettable tours and cruises to

*Price based on a twin/double. Single supplement is £210. **Deposits are non-refundable. Low deposits available on all Brightwater tours up to 12 weeks (84 days) prior to departure when full balance becomes payable. Brightwater Holidays reserves the right to amend offers at any time. Brightwater Travel is ATOL- (4498) and ABTOT-bonded (5001). Cancellation information available at brightwaterholidays.com/booking-conditions. Photographs by Brent Darby; Shutterstock

MONET’S GARDENS with SUSY SMITH

Explore the Provençal city of Avignon

Indulge in elegant dining

THE ULTIMATE TRIP FOR FOOD AND DRINK LOVERS

HOLIDAYS BESTSELLING CRUISE

YOUR ITINERARY

Taste THE RHÔNE’S foodie treasures with JAMES MARTIN and SUSY ATKINS Join two experts on this eight-day river cruise to discover France’s premier gastronomic region

W

orld-famous for its rich Burgundy wines, fine cheeses and rosé from Provence, south-eastern France is the ultimate foodie destination.

From Arles, you’ll sail on the Rhône to Lyon, stopping at Avignon, Viviers, Tournon-sur-Rhône and Chalon-surSaône. You’ll feast on the region’s best bites, visit vineyards and enjoy a Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale, a finalist in the French TV show Top Chef.

Along the way, TV chef James Martin will give a cooking demonstration, prepare a gala dinner for you, with wine pairings

by Susy Atkins, and share his culinary secrets in a special Q&A session.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

MEET OUR EXPERTS Chef James Martin has travelled through France, working in the kitchens of French châteaux Susy Atkins is an award-winning wine writer, broadcaster and author of 11 books on wine

SAIL IN STYLE Your stay on Emerald Liberté includes all meals in the Reflections Restaurant, plus an onboard pool, cinema and bar.

EXCURSIONS GALORE Hike in Avignon, go on cycling trips, tour Roman monuments and much more***.

SEE JAMES IN ACTION James will create some of his favourite recipes during a live demonstration and cook an unforgettable gala dinner.

WINE-TASTING WITH SUSY ATKINS In the heart of Burgundy, you’ll join Susy for a wine masterclass and tasting.

Sit back and relax on board Emerald Liberté

OUR TRAVEL PARTNER Emerald Cruises offers classic river cruises on board spacious, modern ships.

Its award-winning, state-of-the-art fleet is among the newest in Europe.

beautiful locations at countrylivingholidays.com

DAY 1 UK to Marseilles/Marseilles to Arles DAY 2 Arles DAY 3 Avignon DAY 4 Viviers DAY 5 Tournon-sur-Rhône DAY 6 Lyon DAY 7 Chalon-sur-Saône DAY 8 Lyon and return to the UK WHAT’S INCLUDED An exclusive cooking demonstration and tasting with James Special gala dinner cooked by James, with wine pairings by Susy Wine masterclass with Susy Excursions, including canoeing, vineyard hikes and a visit to Arles Amphitheatre Tours of the beautiful and historic Arles, Avignon, Viviers and Tournon-sur-Rhône Seven nights in a deluxe stateroom or suite Feasting on local delicious produce, with all meals, plus wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner Save £500pp (flexible booking policy and deposit protection) ALSO INCLUDED Return flights, taxes and transfers, plus all tips and gratuities

THE PRICE From £2,345pp (saving £500pp)* DEPOSIT £300pp** THE DATES 22-29 October 2022 TO BOOK Call 01615 165487, quoting CL JAMES MARTIN For more details, go to countryliving.com/uk/ jamesmartin CL recommends that readers CARBON OFFSET all flights.

Find more information at climatecare.org *Price based on two people sharing the lowest-grade available in an Emerald Stateroom. Price includes relevant discount of £500pp. Single supplement applies. Subject to availability. **Deposit payable on booking. This trip is ATOL- (11681) and ABTA-protected (Y6692). Cancellation terms are available at emeraldcruises.co.uk/terms-and-conditions. ***Discover more excursions at additional cost. Timings of James’s and Susy’s events are subject to change and there may be slight alterations to the itinerary due to operational restrictions. This trip is operated by Emerald Cruises and may be made available to other selected media partners. Always check the FCDO travel advice, as it includes the very latest information on safety, security, travel warnings and health. For more information, visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Travel across the Glenfinnan Viaduct

HOLIDAYS

THE STEAM ADVENTURE YOU’LL NEVER FORGET

E XC LU S I V E TO U R

See the SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS by Experience breathtaking scenery by boat and the iconic Jacobite steam train

F

or centuries, the hills, glens and lochs of the Trossachs have inspired visitors. You will travel over land, sea and loch, powered by steam, on this exclusive trip. Travelling on the Jacobite and the paddle steamer Waverley†, you will see Ben Nevis, experience the Falkirk Wheel boat lift and pass over the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct.

REASONS TO BOOK CRUISE ON LOCH KATRINE Named after Sir Walter Scott’s poem, Lady of the Lake will take you past breathtaking scenery. It has a heated saloon in case of inclement British summer weather.

Cruise on magical Loch Katrine

JOURNEY BY STEAM TRAIN

of the Great Glen, in the shadow of Ben Nevis. Hopping aboard the Jacobite, you will puff past stunning scenery, craggy coastlines and inland lochs.

Your Fort William to Mallaig steam train round-trip begins at the southern end

PADDLE STEAMER TRIP Aboard the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, PS Waverley, you’ll cross the Firth of Clyde, enjoying the beauty of the Kyles of Bute from the deck†.

STAYING IN LUXURY Stay at the lovingly restored Winnock Hotel

You will spend three nights at the threestar Winnock Hotel, Drymen, an 18thcentury hotel inn near Loch Lomond, amid dramatic scenery that inspired both Turner and Wordsworth.

OUR TRAVEL PARTNER Brightwater Holidays is an award-winning travel operator specialising in garden and specialist-interest escorted tours worldwide.

YOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 Falkirk Wheel DAY 2 Firth of Clyde on PS Waverley† DAY 3 Fort William to Mallaig (return trip) on the Jacobite DAY 4 Checkout; Loch Katrine on Lady of the Lake WHAT’S INCLUDED Three nights at the three-star Winnock Hotel, Drymen, with breakfasts and dinners (with wine) included Ride on the Falkirk Wheel boat lift Journey on the PS Waverley† Travel on the Fort William-Mallaig line on the Jacobite steam train Sail on Lady of the Lake Return flights from London Stansted to Edinburgh and services of a tour manager

THE PRICE From £995pp* DEPOSIT £200pp** THE DATES 25-28 June and 4-7 July 2022 TO BOOK Call 01334 441881, quoting code CL STEAM For more details, go to countryliving.com/uk/ scotlandbysteam CL recommends that readers CARBON OFFSET all flights. Find out more at climatecare.org *Based on two sharing a room and flying from London Stansted. Regional flights and/or overnight accommodation before/after tour are available and at a supplement. July supplement £30. Single rooms are available on request at a supplement. †Subject to confirmation of sailing schedule.

An alternative excursion will be provided if necessary.

**Deposits are non-refundable. Brightwater Holidays reserves the right to amend offers at any time. Brightwater Holidays is ATOL- (4498) and ABTOT-bonded (5001). Cancellation information available at brightwaterholidays.com/bookingconditions. This promotion is exclusive to Hearst UK and may be promoted by other Hearst UK brands

STEAM

DISCOVER MORE financially protected trips at countrylivingholidays.com

OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE IS ON SALE FROM 30 DECEMBER

next month...

Old meets new in a pair of 18th-century Cotswold barns Fields of gold on a family farm in Cornwall Nigel Slater shares his favourite recipes and food memories NEVER MISS AN ISSUE TURN TO PAGE 92 TO SEE OUR LATEST SUBSCRIPTION OR RENEWAL OFFER

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Email: events@cjsbirdsofprey.co.uk or call 07922 093056 quote CL 21. www.cjsbirdsofprey.co.uk

CHINASEARCH

PLUS SIZE COMFORT BRA

Whether you’re looking to replace a broken cup or extend your dinner set, Chinasearch specialises in discontinued china with hundreds of thousands of items in stock.

And if they don’t have the item you’re looking for you can register for their no-obligation FREE ‘Search For Me’ service.

Browse online or call 01926 512402 www.chinsearch.co.uk

The All Woman Pull On Bra from The Big Bloomers Company is super-soft and comfortable. Wide, gentle straps and a high back reduce pressure on the neck and shoulders, and there are no clasps or fastenings to dig in. A wonderful bra, even to sleep in. Sizes 38-56B/E (Fits to 56” back) Call 01326 373268 or order securely online at www.thebigbloomerscompany.co.uk

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THE YARD @ PRINGLE FARM Luxury comes as standard at Pringle Farm, a range of superb 4* and 5* boutique barn conversions in rural Cambridgeshire. Fully equipped kitchens, luxurious living spaces and bedrooms, ideal for escaping life’s stresses, for romantic breaks, for groups and as a base from which to explore the East of England. Superfast broadband and smart TV’s throughout and EV charging available.

07741 005634 | pringlefarm.co.uk | reservations@pringlefarm.co.uk

CLASSIC AND ELEGANT CUTLERY DESIGNED FOR MODERN LIVING This delightful range is Old English mirror finish stainless steel with dishwasher safe cream handled knives.

Exclusive price – Set for six people at £360, this includes six seven-piece place settings (as shown) and two table spoons.

A set for four people costs £250.

Prices include VAT and UK delivery. www.glazebrook.com Tel: 020 7731 7135.

CHRISTMAS CHEER Fun and quirky art from North Yorkshire artist, Aaminah Snowdon. You’ll be spoilt for choice with her beautiful range of designs depicting British wildlife, farm animals and pets at www.aaminahsnowdon.co.uk.

Complimentary pack of robin Christmas cards with every print order!

Stylish living For you and your home

INDIGO AND ROSE A collection of gorgeous gifts and homeware inspired by the great outdoors. Celebrate the festive season with our hand-felted decorations, exclusive lavender-scented animals, and our cosy cushions and throws.

See our extensive range of unique gifts for family and friends online at www.indigoandrose.co.uk or call us on 01628 531555.

BOUTIQUE RETREATS From raising the flag on your own private island and sailing a boat to your cottage, to watching the stars over the sea from your hot tub, Boutique Retreats specialise in unique, stylish properties across the UK that celebrate their surroundings whilst embracing luxurious living. Whether you’re after something large and luxurious or beautifully bijou, a long weekend or a two-week summer holiday, our carefully selected properties will take your breath away.

We know how good getaways should be.

01872 553 491 | enquiries@boutique-retreats.co.uk boutique-retreats.co.uk

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Stylish living For you and your home

TINTERN ABBEY COTTAGE

THE SPINNING BARN HAND SPINNING STUDIO

Across from the magnificent Abbey, unsurpassed idyllic Wye Valley views. Fully renovated, warm 18C cottage. Sleeps 2-6.

Two smart bathrooms, whirlpool bath, cosy woodburner, CH incl’, range cooker, garden, parking, WiFi. Easy M4/ M5, Stroll to pubs/ eateries. Excellent walking. Pets welcome.

5*Multi award winner 01600 860341 www.monmouthshirecottages.co.uk

Spend a day, or more learning the ancient craft of hand spinning using wool from our own flock of sheep. With workshops tailor made to suit all levels of spinner from beginner to the more experienced. Dates by mutual agreement. Located in King’s Lynn, Norfolk www.thespinningbarn.co.uk or chat with Theresa on 07930605578 We look forward to welcoming you soon.

BUTTON DOLLS Magical handcrafted fairy dolls sewn with love in beautiful rural West Sussex. Made from tea-dyed calico, dressed with beautiful fabric and embellished with trinkets and trims vintage and new, our dolls make special gifts for daughters, mothers and friends. www.buttondolls.com 01903 893266

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This delicate and oh so effective serum for lines, wrinkles, crepey eyes and neck, vertical lip lines, sun damage and much more. Unique formulation of retinol palmitate, aloe vera, vitamin E, SPF, moisturiser – perfect to use twice daily. 35ml £29.95, 50ml £44.95, 105ml £79.95, 200ml £149. To receive exclusive 15% reader discount apply code CL15 when ordering. www.regentiv.com or call 01923 212555 for advice or to order. Please see website for full range and special offers.

Lifestyle essentials Treat yourself KRILL OIL – THE NEW SUPER OMEGA 3

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COUNTRY DIRECTORY House & Garden

Handbags

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Huge choice of stylish wipeable tablecloths custom cut to size

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Excellent light, it’s made reading so much easier.

G

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FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

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CODE

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2 x Bays (1800h x 900w x 450d mm)

AAAF

£89.99

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AAAL

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with 8 x 33.5L Nestable Really Useful Boxes

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ONLY

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62L CAPACITY MADE IN THE UK FROM TOUGH RECYCLED PLASTIC BOXES FIT SHELVES PERFECTLY, 2 PER LEVEL

400kg UDL per shelf

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4 x Bays (1800h x 900w x 450d mm) Plus 1 x Workbench (900h x 1200w x 600d mm)

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£17.99

£173.98

SIMPLIFYING STORAGE

Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm Carriage charges are per 3/4 bays. Additional bays incur extra charges. Go online or call for details. *Saving calculated on buying single item price. ** Extra charges for Saturday delivery and choosing a delivery date apply, go online for details. † Conditions apply, see online. Carriage prices to Mainland UK only with some exceptions – go online for details. Prices correct at time of going to press. E&OE. Copyright Tufferman 2021. All rights reserved. Co. number 8224210. Tufferman Ltd Unit 4, Galleywood Ind. Estate,Rignals Lane, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8RF.

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QUOTE COUNTRY LIVING WHEN ORDERING TM19001

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

HOW TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP AND IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH

CELEBRATING 12 YEARS OF TRACEABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WOOL PRODUCTS

Discover how wool is better for You, and better for the Planet The secret to a good sleep is to have your body temperature regulated, so you go into a deep, dormant sleep allowing the body to repair cells, fight illness and generally rejuvenate itself There was a time when everyone in the UK slept under wool, but as many of you may well remember they were itchy and heavy and by the time winter came you were locked down under three blankets and even a quilt eiderdown. Oh happy days! And we had to make the bed up every day; all those blankets.

After the Second World War, more people travelled abroad where they discovered French wine, cheeses and the ‘continental quilt’, which eventually became known as the duvet. It was nice and snugly at night and you didn’t have to make the bed, just shake it out.

But since then, times have changed for the better. The vast majority of us now have double glazing and central heating as well as loft insulation and so on.

Our houses are warmer, our beds are warmer and our duvets seem to have become hotter.

THE SECRET TO A GOOD SLEEP The secret to a good sleep is to have your body temperature regulated, so you go into a deep, dormant sleep allowing the body to repair cells, fight illness and generally rejuvenate itself.

To go into that deep, dormant state our blood pressure must drop, our heart rate must go down, but most of all, our temperature has to drop.

Under normal duvet fillings, polyester, feather and even the most expensive down duvet, only one thing can happen during the night: your temperature will rise because they’re all insulators. So, during the night you toss and turn or

throw the duvet off in order to cool your body down. This leads to disturbed sleep.

And it’s ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND TOTALLY SUSTAINABLE.

what Tog you use mainly during the year; and how cold or warm your house is.

But help is at hand with a British-made wool Baavet, finely combed pure wool encased in a high-quality pure cotton outer, a wool duvet.

HOW LONG WILL YOUR BAAVET LAST? As long as you look after it, then it should last a lifetime.

But DON’T WORRY we will change your Baavet if you pick the wrong one with our NO QUIBBLE 30 DAY RETURNS POLICY.

WOOL IS A TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Not many people know that a sheep’s wool is how it regulates its temperature.

Think about it, where are all the dead sheep in summer heat waves with their big woolly coats if they haven’t been shorn? They may pant a bit, but they don’t die. Wool is the only fibre on the planet that can do this due to the structure of each fibre.

ARE WOOL DUVETS TOG RATED? No, because wool regulates heat.

However the more wool in a duvet the warmer it will be, like a mountain sheep has a big heavy fleece which is much warmer than lowland shorter fleece, obvious really.

Normal prices start at £91 for a single super light, up to £182 for a Super King winter. But you can get a 20% discount with your first order using the code CL2.

So we have 4 Baavet duvet options and approximate TOG ratings, remember wool is both cooler and warmer than other duvet fillings and not everyone is the same nor is every house.

20% DISCOUNT

WOOL IS NATURALLY HYPOALLERGENIC Wool naturally wicks away moisture: (it’s the way a sheep sweats).

This means that moulds can’t develop nor mould spores, as long as you keep your Baavet dry. The secret is in the structure of the fibres, which are hollow, and absorb moisture leaving the surface of the fibre dry. Wool can absorb 30% of its own weight in moisture. ALSO DUST MITES HATE WOOL and can’t survive because of the very dry nature of the surface of the fibres.

Super Light (2-4 tog); Light (4-8 tog); Medium (8-12 tog) and Winter weight (12+ tog).

TO RECEIVE A

ON YOUR FIRST ORDER USE CODE: CL2

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE WITH OUR

30 DAY NO QUIBBLE RETURNS POLICY

When choosing your duvet, just think of

It’s not just a duvet, it’s a Baavet.

AND BACTERIA CAN’T SURVIVE IN WOOL so, no sweat; no dust mites; no bacteria all making wool incredibly clean and naturally hypoallergenic.

Normally you don’t have to wash your Baavet duvet, you simply need to air it on a fine sunny day. For serious soiling see care label.

We also make wool pillows, mattress protectors, and wool mattresses, all are British made using British wool.

See our website for further details. Buy online at WWW.BAAVET.CO.UK or phone to speak to someone from our friendly customer service team.

01766 780 780

YOU CAN’T BUY BETTER THAN A BAAVET, NATURALLY BETTER FOR YOU, AND NATURALLY BETTER FOR THE PLANET FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

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S “Extraordinary CUMB LE name.

GOOSIE

Extraordinary furniture.”

£39 (free p&p) Large Pure Silk Scarf various designs 01263 732643

TM

Georgian Moisture Resistant Wall Panelling

01453 731305

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.

www.scumblegoosie.com

Handmade in Norfolk | Guaranteed to last a lifetime

WINTER SALE starts December 27th

General Interest Personalised fleece blankets for dogs and cats

view our full range at

www.wroughtironandbrassbed.

Tel: 01482 440221 www.mrmoleblankets.co.uk

Fashion

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THE ORIGINAL DUFFLE

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SINCE 1896

Montgomery first cap tured the nation’s attention mo re than a centur y ago, when the compan y was selected by the Admiralty to make the first duffle coats. They made suc h an impact that

by World War ll, they were proudly worn by all the allied ser vic es.

The ability to keep ou t the worst of the British weather wit hout restricting movement made them ideal for motorcycle dispatch riders, delivering urgent orders and me ssages between headquarters and mi litary units.

Women excelled as dis patch riders and took their motorcycles , in the name of duty through perilous conditions.

Montgomery duffle co ats are still tailor made in England, and quality is still paramount - a philoso phy as important today as it was when we made our first duffle coat over 100 yea rs ago.

D H HE RI TAGE BR AN

THE ORIGINAL DUFFLE

ISS UE D BY MO NTGO ME RY OL DE ST DU FFL E CO - TH E WO RL D’S AT CO MPAN Y

THE CHOICE OF HEROES originalmontgomery.com

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FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

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167

Advertisement

Now’s the time to tackle your iPad (or Android tablet)

T

ablets – iPads and Android tablets – can be great once you know how to use them. It’s amazing all the things they can do.

And possibly the best thing tablets can do for you is help you keep in touch with family and friends. I don’t just mean letting you send emails instead of writing paper letters, though that can be handy.

In just a few taps of the screen you could be talking to them as if they were sat right there beside you.

But when you buy a tablet, there’s something missing.

It’s not the charger (hopefully!).

It’s not a case, though it’s usually a good idea to buy one to protect your new tablet.

It’s a manual – something to show you how to use the thing. The manufacturers seem to assume that you’ll just know how to use it, as if by magic. It’s “intuitive,” they say.

Well, it can be. In parts. But there are other things you simply need to know how to do. It’s not obvious that you have to swipe from the top of the screen, pull up from the bottom or tap with two fingers instead of one.

Who would know you had to use two fingers and pull them apart on the screen or rotate them... or that they’d bury the option you want behind three little dots?

Things like that you just can’t know – someone has to explain it to you.

But if you do ever find a book about it or get someone to tell you, they always seem to assume you already know how to do it. Daft, really – you wouldn’t be asking if you did. But they whizz through it so fast you can’t possibly take it in. Not to mention the steps they leave out because “everyone knows that”!

That’s where a set of books from a small, employee-owned company based in Cumbria comes in. They’re called The Helpful Book Company and lots of their customers say they certainly live up to their name!

They’ve published iPads One Step at a Time and Android Tablets One Step at a

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These helpful books mean there’s nothing to fear about using tablets – from sending a quick email to video calling your family and friends.

Time – and these books have proved hugely popular with all sorts of people who have a tablet – but who aren’t experts at using it.

Whether you’re frustrated with the very basics, want to know what else it can do for you or wish you knew how to do some of the slightly fancier things, this book might be just what you need.

It explains everything nice and simply, in plain English, without all the confusing jargon and gobbledegook. And it has lots of pictures showing exactly what to do – where to tap the screen and so on.

“Plain English without all the confusing jargon and gobbledygook” The company have already published books about computers and smartphones

that have helped thousands of people. But they actually started much smaller – the author wrote some notes to help his Mum and Dad on their PC and realised that other people might find them useful too.

Several thousand happy people later, he decided to bring out a book on tablets as well – and if you’ve ever been frustrated with your tablet, it’s worth finding out more.

As a small independent publisher, the books aren’t in the shops or available on Amazon, but you can get a free information pack telling you about what’s covered in the books, who they’re suitable for and how to get hold of them.

Just ring 01229 777606 today (lines open weekdays 8am-6pm, and Saturdays 9am-3.30pm). Or post back the coupon below or email CL1221@helpfulbooks.co.uk

Or call: 01229 777606

Yes, please send me a free info-pack about: iPads One Step at a Time and Android Tablets One Step at a Time It’s free & there’s no obligation.

Quote ‘CL1221A’

Name Address Postcode

Post to The Helpful Book Co, 13B Devonshire Rd Est, Millom, Cumbria, LA18 4JS or call 01229 777606 We use the details you give us to send you information on the products mentioned. We store the details securely and only share them with the Royal Mail for posting the information. Full privacy notice at www.helpfulbooks.co.uk/privacynotice

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

JANUARY 2022

169

A month in the life of…

NADIYA HUSSAIN

January is a time of forced relaxation for me. Work has been slowing down since mid-December, so even though I’m still sending emails – I’m not good at slowing down – no one is responding. I do relax eventually.

As Muslims, we don’t celebrate Christmas, but we do the same things as many families over the holiday season: eating, pausing, then eating again. It’s my birthday on Christmas Eve, so we have a feast at our house, where everyone brings a dish.

We grow carrots, parsnips and broad beans, so I might cook with them. But I’m happy as long as we have roast potatoes.

I make them with clarified butter, baking powder for a crisp coating and salt, and eat them cold. This year, I might make a mandarin custard pie [from Nadiya’s book Fast Flavours].

Once we’ve entertained relatives at Christmas, it’s all about hunkering down: getting cosy and having family time. It’s fun to watch a festive film, but it’s even more fun for my husband Abdul and I to show our children [aged 11, 14 and 15] films we used to watch, such as Back to the Future.

The kids love ice-skating at the local rink. They think they’re Torvill and Dean, even though they’re always falling over. I’m like Bambi, but I still enjoy it. I won’t be joining in, though, because

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I hate snow. That might make me a Scrooge, but I don’t care. I can’t see why anyone likes it: it’s cold, it’s wet and it gets everywhere.

I wrap up in winter because I don’t like being chilly. It’s refreshing to have the cold on my face, but the rest of me must be warm. Having said that, I feel better mentally in winter. I love the short days and the long nights: it feels safe and comforting.

We go out in the dark as a family. Every day, we go for a five-mile walk in woods near our house. Evening walks can be fun – we attach torches to our heads and tramp along – as long as Abdul doesn’t jump out from behind a tree to surprise us.

We always stay awake on New Year’s Eve. Knowing everyone’s awake makes it hard to go to bed. I’m a bit of a kid like that – and the children love it. We watch local fireworks from the top of the house.

Every year, I vow to learn something new. Last year, I taught myself to knit. This year, I might take up pottery.

From the second week of January, it’s go, go, go. There’s no stopping. I’m everywhere: discussing ideas with producers, making TV programmes or doing promotion for a book.

At weekends I try to be at home with the kids. If I’m at a food festival or doing an interview, I might take my daughter. She loves it, although she recently asked if we could take the cat. I said, “Absolutely not. I am not Taylor Swift.”

My ideas never stop, nor would I want them to. My big fear is writer’s block: I hate the thought that I might not be able to express myself.

I long to travel this year: I’d love to discover more about dishes from my Bangladeshi heritage. I hope a trip will be on the cards. But first, I’ll try to enjoy the change of pace or entertain relatives instead.

NADIYA’S LATEST BOOK, Fast Flavours (Michael Joseph, £22), is out now.

countryliving.com/uk

INTERVIEW BY LAURA SILVERMAN. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; THANASSIS KRIKIS

The Bake Off star loves ice-skating and torchlit woodland walks in winter – just don’t ask her to build a snowman