Landscape christmas 2014

LandScape - Life at nature’s pace

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Life at nature’s pace

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Christmas 2014

Amaryllis | Snowy garden | Christmas feast | Edible gifts | Wrapping presents in fabric | Dolly peg decorations | Candlemakers | Highland cows | Haworth

Rich flavours of a joyful feast Nature’s needle work Hillside town filled with festive spirit

Christmas 2014

CHRISTMAS WONDER Issue 19 | Christmas 2014 | £3.99

a vision in white A Scottish garden takes on new dimensions when the snow falls

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Needle work Pine sprigs trimmed from a Christmas tree are used to create natural, fresh-scented decorations

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Green stardust Six similarly-sized sprigs of pine are bound together with string.

Hung in a window, they replicate falling snowflakes.

A feast for

Sweet and savoury starters, a trio of main course roasts and rich chocolate desserts

all wrapped up A square of fabric tied with a simple double knot is a reusable alternative to wrapping paper • Project: Emma Kendell • Photography: Richard Faulks

How to wrap a bottle The side of the fabric square should measure slightly more than twice the height of the bottle.

Step 1: The square of material is laid face down on a flat surface, with a corner at the top and bottom. The bottle is placed in the centre.

Step 2: The top and bottom corners are lifted and tied in a single knot over the top of the bottle.

Step 3: The two ends are twisted and tied into a double knot to form a handle.

Choosing a fabric

Any lightweight material that is thin enough to be easily tied into a knot is appropriate. Cotton poplin is ideal. To add interest the material may be torn to create a frayed edge, or cut with pinking shears.

Step 4: The left and right corners are wrapped around the back of the bottle and brought to the front.

Step 5: The two ends are tied into a double knot. The fabric is adjusted to make a bow.

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Peg nativity family Ned and Florence use dolly pegs and a sheet of cardboard to make wooden tree decorations

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Rolling back the past

Nigel Parker and Amanda Barry create intricate and beautiful candles using antique wallpaper rollers

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The broad plateau, 3,120ft (950m) high on the top of Helvellyn, runs from northwest to south-east for approximately half a mile. The snow-covered east face falls away to the side.

The snow man For nearly 40 years, weather conditions on the top of one of England’s highest peaks have been monitored daily throughout the winter

H

igh above the Lake District on Christmas Day, Jon Bennett is alone in a world of savage winter beauty. The crisp, compacted snow crunches under his walking boots. He crests the knife-edge ridge known as Striding Edge, on his way to the shining summit of Helvellyn.

Jon is one of two fell top assessors who work in the Lake District’s fells. His job is to climb this mountain, which soars to a height of 3,120ft (950m), every day. From the top, he reports the weather conditions

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daily throughout the winter months.

To reach this point, he has crossed ice patches and navigated treacherous cornices and overhangs.

The ultimate weatherman Between December and Easter, his meticulous and detailed reports are essential information for thousands of keen walkers. Contemplating their own assault on the region’s mountains, they rely on Jon’s advice to know what they face.

In winter, conditions on the high fells

are substantially more dangerous than in summer. It is the challenge these conditions set that attracts people to the Lakes at this time. Over the Christmas holidays, Helvellyn can have at least a dusting of snow on the top. Conversely, it can also be clear. The unpredictability of the snow was one of the reasons the job was originally established.

“The brief is simple,” says Jon. “To climb Helvellyn, take the readings and a photo, and submit the report by 5pm. I do it for seven days continuously, and then ›

Jon uses a hand-held anemometer to take readings of the maximum and minimum wind speeds on the top of Helvellyn.

Ullswater

Thirlm

Glenridding

ere Route one

Route two Striding Edge

Helvellyn

The two routes fell-top assessor Jon takes to the summit of Helvellyn. Route one is from Thirlmere reservoir to Helvellyn, route two starts at Glenridding in the east.

THE OLD BREED Highland cattle have evolved to survive the snow and gales of Scotland’s north-west

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The large, curved horns and long dossan or fringe give Highland cattle their distinctive appearance

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Coming next issue

the delicate beauty of cyclamens Pom-Pom blooms

warming winter soups

Amphibians awakeN A message to new

readers from the Editor

Dear reader...

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June Smith-Sheppard Editorial Director

Photography: Stockfood; Alamy; Richard Faulks; GAP

Jan/Feb on sale 17 December