loving the simpler things in life
JULY/AUGUST 2016
JULY/AUG 2016
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Countryside + Food + Homes + Gardens + Wildlife + Crafts + Travel FREE!*
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escape to cornwall’s south coast
n Outdoor activities to get kids closer to nature n Learn about our hard-working farmyard felines n Delicious recipes using fresh summer produce Front Cover.indd 1
JULY/AUGUST 2016 £4.25
Find secluded bays, sub-tropical gardens & smuggler’s haunts
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Look for our Great Britain logo throughout the magazine to see which parts of the British Isles we’ve been to in this issue Editor-in-Chief Anna-Lisa De’Ath Assistant Editor Natalie Crofts Editorial Assistant Lauren Morton Editorial Assistant Charlotte Page Designer Laura Robertson Web Editor Peter Byrne Advertising Manager Julie Freestone Production Manager Reg French Back issues Hilary King Financial Controller Lesley Shard Managing Director Luke Patten Contact LandLove at Hubert Burda Media UK, The Tower, Phoenix Square, Colchester, Essex CO4 9HU Tel: 01206 851117; Fax: 01206 849078 Subscriptions Tel: 01778 392021 Back issues Tel: 01206 851117 ext 237 Editorial email: landlove@burdamagazines.co.uk Display and Classified Advertising Sales Tel: 01206 851117 ext 212 International Ad Sales Representatives Burda International Italy Mariolina Siclari T. +39 02 91 32 34 66 mariolina.siclari@burda.com Burda Community Network Germany Vanessa Noetzel T. +49 89 9250 3532 vanessa.noetzel@burda.com Michael Neuwirth T. +49 89 9250 3629 michael.neuwirth@burda.com Austria/Switzerland Goran Vukota T. +41 44 810 21 46 goran.vukota@burda.com France/Luxembourg Marion Badolle-Feick T. +33 1 72 71 25 24 marion.badolle-feick@burda.com USA/Canada/Mexico Salvatore Zammuto T. +1 212 884 48 24 salvatore.zammuto@burda.com Prices and availability were checked at time of going to press, but we cannot be held responsible for any changes. No part of LandLove may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means either wholly or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher. The publisher, editors and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services that may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references. We can’t guarantee that colours reproduced will be an accurate representation due to the printing process. Neither the Editor nor publishing company accept responsibility for any material submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. Competition rules apply to all competitions/giveaways in LandLove. Employees of Hubert Burda Media UK and associated companies are not eligible. There is no cash alternative to prizes. Should the prize become unavailable LandLove has the right to offer an alternative prize. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. LandLove is distributed by Marketforce Tel: 020 3148 3300
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ummer is at its height right now and I’m sure many of you will be heading for the coast at some point over the coming weeks, either for a holiday or just a day trip at the weekend. In this issue we take a look at some of the exciting marine species that can be found around our coastline, such as delicate seahorses and magnificent Orcas (p.106). So don’t forget to take your binoculars when you head to the seaside, you might be surprised at what you could spot amongst the waves. And if you’re a fan of beachcombing, then I know you’ll love our feature about artist Shirley Vauvelle, who makes beautiful artworks from flotsam and jetsam(p.98). Talking of all things seaside, we take a closer look at the South Cornwall coast in this issue (p.114). As well as glorious coastal walks and beautiful secluded sandy coves, its sub-tropical climate means that it has a whole host of lush gardens to explore, such as The Lost Gardens of Heligan and The Eden Project. But not only that, it boasts a wealth of fantastic food producers and is home to a number of stunning historic castles. So for a spot of horticulture with a dash of culture and a dollop of clotted cream on the side, it’s certainly worth taking time to discover more about this abundant part of the South West. The kids are on school holidays at the moment, so we’ve got some great ideas to keep them occupied and get them back in touch with nature. Turn to page 110 for inspiration. If you have room in your garden, you could even try building a barefoot path over the summer break, kids will love it and it’s also a fun alternative to a reflexology fix for grown-ups too (p.94)! Finally, the fruit and veg plot is burgeoning at the moment, so check out our scrummy recipes on page 48 that make the most of the season’s freshest produce.
Photo Lizzie Orme
Welcome
‘If there’s one thing you should do this month... It’s National Meadows Day on 2nd July so there’s no better time to head out to the countryside to explore a wild flower meadow and see what species you can spot (p.80). Take part in one of the weekend events to find out how you can help this declining part of our British countryside.
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Snap these up
for your garden Snapdragons have become a permanent fixture in our country gardens. Available in countless variations, they bloom right through summer and up until autumn
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napdragons – the name alone evokes childhood memories. What a delight it was each time the mouths of the delicate flower heads opened up at the gentlest squeeze between thumb and forefinger. Fortunately, they were always so numerous in flower beds and bouquets that nobody ever noticed if one or two flowers were missing... Snapdragons are undoubtedly one of the most well-known summer flowers. The wild form of the common snapdragon (Antirrhinum) is indigenous to the Mediterranean, where this shrub grows on gravel plains and in rocky crevices. The decorative value
of the plant was recognised as far back as the late Middle Ages, when it was introduced into gardens. The crimsoncoloured wild variety was later joined by a growing number of varieties with flowers of different shapes and colours as a result of selection and eventually targeted breeding. Today,
1 The single flower heads of the snapdragon are arranged on long, upright panicles and open from bottom to top. Over the course of the summer, one plant will produce seven to eight panicles 2 These colourful summer bloomers have long been the pride of country gardens. This is also down to the fact that they make good cut flowers 3 Pictured, a bee gains access to nectar and pollen. Only powerful flying insects such as these are able to push the bottom lip of the flower down in order to reach the much sought-after food inside
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4 An old willow basket on which a little patina has already formed suits the rural charm of this continuously flowering plant. The inside of the basket is lined with jute or weed membrane 5 Snapdragons make for an easy-going neighbour in mixed beds with shrubs, grasses and annuals. Combinations with different flower shapes look particularly pretty
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1 1 The compact growing, roughly 30cm-tall variety ‘Twinny Appleblossom’ sports double flowers that are almost round in shape 2 These gleaming white snapdragons really stand out among zinnias and cosmos in pink and magenta 3 Hanging varieties such as ‘Lampion’ are cultivated especially for hanging baskets and planters. Compared to the more upright varieties, their panicles are much more loosely formed 4 To encourage abundant flowerage, it is advisable to cut back any shoots that have finished flowering. It is also worth taking the scissors to young plants, too: if the middle shoot is cut back by around half, the plants branch out better and therefore grow bushier 4
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the spectrum ranges from crimson through pink, red, orange and yellow, right up to shades of white. As well as varieties with the typical gullet-shaped single flowers, there are some with almost circular blooms. Depending on the height to which they grow, a distinction is made between dwarf (up to 20cm), medium-height (up to 60cm) and tall varieties (up to 120cm). Whilst the tall varieties are primarily grown for use as cut flowers, the more robust medium-height snapdragons are more suited to life in the garden. Due to their cushion-like growth formation, the dwarf varieties make for good border plants or pot plants. The best growing conditions for these summer bloomers can be found in sunny to semi-shady spots with permeable, nutrient-rich and slightly calciferous soil. In Britain, snapdragons are cultivated as annuals, as they are not winter-hardy. If you wish to grow them from seed, start cultivating them on a windowsill or in a cold frame as of February. As of April, the seeds can also be sown directly in flower beds. With a little bit of luck, however, snapdragons will self-seed if a couple of the wilted stems are left in place. That way, there will be a new array of bright flowers to greet you next summer, too.
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Wild doppelgängers The common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris, pictured) is commonly referred to as ‘wild snapdragon’. Like the common snapdragon, it belongs to the Plantaginaceae family, and is often found on sunny embankments and alongside paths. Much rarer is the pink-flowered lesser snapdragon (Misopates orontium), which primarily grows on fallow land.
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Delectable dishes
from the orchard Apricots are a real summer treat as a juicy, sweet ingredient in jams, cakes and savoury dishes
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Apricot jam Makes 6 jars (250ml each) 1kg apricots juice and zest from 1 organic orange 1 cinnamon stick 1 vanilla pod 500g jam sugar
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Wash the apricots, remove the stones and chop the fruit into small chunks. Add to a large pan together with the orange juice and zest and cinnamon. Cut the vanilla pod open lengthways, scrape out the seeds and add both the pod and seeds to the pan containing the apricots. Add the jam sugar and mix well. Put the lid on the pan and leave to stand for about 1 hour. Bring to the boil over a high heat, stirring continuously, and then simmer for approx. 4 minutes. Test to see if the jam has set by placing a cold metal spoon into the mixture. Take the spoon out and turn it so the jam can run off of it, if the jam is thick and hangs off the spoon then it is ready. Remove the cinnamon stick and vanilla pod. Put the jam into sterilised preserving jars and fill to the brim. Seal the jars tightly then turn them upside down and leave to stand for about 10 minutes. Turn the jars back the right way up and leave to cool.
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Tip
The jam should keep for at least a year if stored in a cool, dark place.
Apricot puff pastry tartlets Makes 6 tartlets For the pastry: 300g frozen puff pastry
Roasted apricots Slowly heat 30ml olive oil and 3 tbsp honey in a pan. Cut 10 apricots in half, then place in the pan with the flat side down and cook slowly. If the honey turns brown too quickly, add a little water. Serve warm drizzled with the liquid from the pan.
For the filling: 9 apricots 1 vanilla pod 300g quark 1 tbsp cornflour 3 egg yolks 50g caster sugar Plus: 6 tartlet tins (approx. 12cm Ø) baking parchment biscuit cutter icing sugar for dusting
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To make the pastry tartlet cases, line the tartlet tins with baking parchment. Leave the puff pastry to defrost for a short while then roll the pastry out to a thickness of around 4-6mm and cut out 6 circles (approx. 12cm, using a fluted cutter if desired). Line the tartlet tins with the pastry. To make the filling, pour boiling water over the apricots, then rinse in cold water, cut in half and remove the skin and stones. Cut the vanilla pod open lengthways and scrape out the seeds. Mix the quark, cornflour, egg yolks, vanilla seeds and sugar together until creamy. Pre-heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan oven)/425°F/Gas Mark 7. Spread the creamy quark mixture onto the pastry, leaving the edges uncovered. Then place 3 apricot halves on top of each tartlet. Bake in the oven for approximately 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the tins, leave to cool and dust with icing sugar to serve.
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Playing cat
and mouse
Photos Alamy
Despite their independent spirit, domestic cats are trusty companions for humans. Traditionally, they have also taken on the role of mouser on farms
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1 Stalking small prey, especially mice, is in cats’ blood from when they are kittens. This has traditionally made them trusted guardians of grain stores and barns. 2 Cleanliness is a must for cats. A cat’s rough tongue is a practical aid for keeping its fur well groomed. It is covered with spiked barbs which point backwards, allowing dirt or loose fur to be picked up when licking. 3 This little tiger looks as if he is sleeping peacefully. But it could just be that he is resting with his eyes shut, so he can be wide awake again at the slightest noise. 4 Cats want to look as big and powerful as they can when they feel threatened or want to scare off rivals. They do this by arching their back, turning slightly to the side and puffing their fur out.
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omestic cats offer quite the contrast to the straightforward and amenable dog. They decide for themselves where the borders of their territory are, what they want to climb or sharpen their claws on, and what makes a suitable spot for sleeping. Even affection towards their owner is not necessarily guaranteed, but rather something they grant at their discretion, and according to their current mood. Nonetheless, or rather because of this, house cats, with all of their wilfulness, have won a place in our hearts. Perhaps we recognise something of ourselves in them from time to time. The relationship between humans and cats began in rather unsentimental fashion. It is presumed that, not long after people started building permanent homes and began farming and keeping livestock, feral cats moved closer to them in order to feed off the
waste from their settlements. There are clear indications of this in the discovery of human and cat bones in the Middle East, dating back to around 7,000 BC. During the third millennium BC at the latest, the process of domestication was well under way, with wild animals gradually becoming household pets and living in harmony with people. There is evidence for this in the form of drawings from Mesopotamia, which depict cats wearing collars. Even at this early stage, these nimble predators were used to keep mice away from storerooms. Then from the Middle Ages onwards, with more and more rats and house mice coming to these shores from afar via trade routes, we also learned to treasure the domestic cat’s hunting skills. As a result, from the 10th Century onwards, they quickly spread throughout Europe and, according to statistics, 17 per cent of the pet population of the UK www.landlove.com
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Lend me your ear Sunny yellow cereals capture the essence of summer and provide inspiration for rustic decorations
Whether it’s for a garden party or just for your everyday pleasure, these two bouquets of corn stalks make for a magnificent table decoration
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No vase is required for these table bouquets (left), as the stalks are already dried out. Instead, they need to be tied together in such a way that they can stand unaided. 1 After removing the leaves, gradually arrange the stalks diagonally one on top of the other so that the ends stick out in opposite directions. Use as many stalks as you can fit in one hand. Tie with natural-coloured cord. 2 Only trim the stalks to the same length once the bouquet is complete. 1
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3 3 Surrounded by stalks, this glass bottle is transformed into a pretty vase. Attach the stalks of wheat so that about three quarters of the ears are poking out below the base of the bottle. The ends should stick up a few centimetres above the top, too. This provides good support for the sunflowers and orpines, whilst the folded-out ears at the bottom stabilise the arrangement. 4 To make this napkin ring, remove the leaves from six stalks and tie them together just below the ears using one of the leaves. Take three strands, each made from a pair of stalks, and plait into a ring. As the ends of the ring are about to meet, poke the ears in between the stalks and continue plaiting. 5 This country bouquet was created by combining stalks of oat and wheat with bramble tendrils, goldenmosa, golden feverfew, small scabious and purple loosestrife.
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