LIVING MADE SIMPLE

news & views Living made simple...

IN the latest instalment of his examination of living more simply, MARTIN FOSTER turns his attention to technology and the impact - positive and negative - that it has on a simpler, more sustainable, lifestyle. This time he’s coming clean about the dirtier side of his relationship with new technology - in the next issue he’ll plug into his life off-grid.

Appropriate technology

LET me state right at the beginning speakers. Perfect for music in the car that I am not anti-technology. too - where I also use the SatNav app. I own and drive a car, I own and Remember asking for directions? use a smartphone, I’m writing this on a The dark side of phone use, particularly laptop and I’ve just come indoors after its negative effect on social interaction, is strimming weeds for two hours in a bid obvious - except apparently to those who to stop nature reclaiming the land where indulge in it - and I make every effort not we keep poultry. to use it in the company of real people

I am aware that when I talk about the practical aspects of my lifestyle, it can come over a little negative; detailing things I don’t have, I don’t do and I don’t like. But remember that the idea here is to live more simply, staying in touch with the richly rewarding fundamentals of life and not losing myself in all the literal trappings of a ‘modern’ existence - and not having to spend every waking hour doing a job I hate in order to pay for them. So less is more. I try to adopt, and adopt in most areas of life, a conscious approach to technology; being realistic about its merits and weighing them up against its negative impacts before making a choice - and, admittedly, sometimes having to opt for the least bad option. I think the best way of explaining my personal approach (which might inspire you to consider what you think - even if you disagree) is to look at my own use of information technology hardware, and to a lesser extent, software. My next column will be dedicated to the greener technology in my life, and the following one to transport, mainly centred around car ownership and use. (and I make a point of only visiting Facebook on my laptop at home). I’m aware too that phones are not inherently sustainable: their carbon footprint, from manufacture and use, is not insignificant and I admit my only effort towards reducing my personal impact is by not buying a new phone. Very secondhand ones do everything I need them to do and my last two were discarded by my kids when they bought newer models. Treating the phone with some care - not sitting on it, not losing it, not dropping it in a bucket of water (yes, it was very close) and housing it in a cheap but effective impactproof cover - increases longevity. I never like to miss the opportunity to bemoan the evils of built-in obsolescence, as regular readers will know, and I hate the fact that phones, like most consumer products these days, are not built to last, something that is emphasised by the need to regularly update in order to run increasingly complex and capacity-hungry apps and operating systems. My laptop is for me a crucial piece of kit. Again bought secondhand and again far from state-of-the-art, it’s used in conjunction with a portable wi-fi unit

Probably the most common and (I don’t have a landline), for streaming powerful, example of modern technology carefully chosen TV programmes (never is the smartphone. The benefits of these left running in the background as TVs devices are obvious: they put the power often are), and for conducting all of of what relatively recently would have my non-land-based commercial work been a sizeable desktop computer, right (Google has revolutionised research), there in our pockets. As someone who and much of my creative work too. remembers the days before any kind of mobile phone, I still don’t take for granted the simple function of being to make a call to anyone from anywhere. I can’t now imagine setting off on a long journey without the ability to let The fact that I live off-grid (more on the nitty-very-gritty of that in the next issue) means I have to keep electrical consumption to an absolute minimum but the four solar panels and two chunky batteries I have here can easily handle someone know I might be late; or call charging phone, laptop and Bluetooth for help if I breakdown; or get in touch speakers all-year-round. with the emergency services if I come across an accident. So that’s a quick rundown on my cabin’s communication nervecentre. It does

I have a love/hate relationship with what I need it to do - enhancing my life, text messaging, but having created rather than dominating, controlling or

WhatsApp groups for members of both distracting from it. our family and the people with whom I share the land, we can update, stay in touch with, and occasionally horrify with bad puns, each other at the, in my own case ham-fisted, press of a button. Do I miss any gadgets from my previous, more conventional lifestyle? Well, maybe a turntable and decent hi-fi system on which to play vinyl - I have neither the space or reliable wintertime

As someone who finds most jobs power supply to make that viable. But are enhanced by a near-constant when I down-sized my music collection, soundtrack, my phone is also a source the local Oxfam store was very grateful of music - from my own eclectic library for many boxes of CDs and records. created on Spotify or the curated My son is enjoying the pick of the vinyl I playlists of the constantly wonderful couldn’t bear to let go.

Radio 6 Music (courtesy of the And my carefully curated Spotify priceless BBC) - through headphones or rechargeable, portable Bluetooth playlists are something to behold… Martin 18 A very private estate retreat by Allegra Letts

DEVON Sculpture Park (DSP) natural solutions to the climate is at Mamhead Park (South) crisis while supporting the which is a very private environmental arts. Guests estate retreat on the outskirts of enjoy learning about smaller Exeter. Indeed, the first thing you scale rewilding, regenerative see as you enter is a ‘private’ estate management, carbon sign to remind us that we’ll be enjoying a relaxed, immersive and very private visit. farming, wildlife habitats and wildlife gardening, natural plant regeneration, environmental This historic estate harks back to art and culture and wild the Domesday Book and ancient, kitchen foods all mixed up in a distant times. The landscape has been restored and rewilded, whisking us back many centuries while bridging us to tomorrow Capability Brown setting with Robert Adam architecture. The family and the team with advanced natural climate approaches supported by digital technology. The family reside at the estate which gives any guest an instant feeling of home. Visits are warm and welcoming. The Letts’ have roots in Devon going back to the 13th century at the Shapcott estate, Knowstone. The family are private and deliberate, rarely inviting more than a handful of guests at a time. Visits are requested online and by email each meticulously managed by the team and hosted with treat each guest with the care. The integrity of this historical same welcome and the same retreat, the natural habitats, wildlife and environmental art can only be fully protected in this very private of private settings. A place where social distancing is comfortably managed. The family are often at the heart of things mingling with their various guests: artists, scientists, inventors, politicians, film makers, photographers, healthcare professionals, environmentalists or environmental and art enthusiasm for the environment, the arts, health, politics and new media - no matter what brings them to this project or what kind of meeting they will be enjoying. Guests are grateful for the hands on experience from the team in-park and online. Safety, health, education and mutual respect are practised by all. Most guests communicate with and visit the park and the various enthusiasts. Government, non projects online meaning that the profit and business leaders come in-park experience is private, here to learn about the various intimate and unique. The vast environmental projects and the majority enjoy this special place teams perspectives on the future digitally via DSP Online as only of environmental solutions, the a very few can meet and retreat arts and the publishing industry. here - combining the best in The Letts’ have been high profile modern technology with living participants of the publishing history and conservation. industry for 250 years. Mamhead Park (South) and Mamhead Park (South) and the Letts Group are today innovating by finding and developing Devon Sculpture Park have restored and reimagined the term ‘salon’ whereby supporters of the arts have for centuries been hosting guests in their home to view their private art collections and performances. It’s just that in this place the private gallery extends to the park. An oasis of magical tranquility and privacy layered with wild abandon and mystical moods. Guest after guest describe their time here as ‘fairytale’. l If you would like to request a visit go to www. devonsculpturepark.org.

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Life on the Hedge by Chris Smith

Iabsolutely Love hedgerows, and when Scott invited me to write something about this for Reconnect, I thought; “Why not?...share the love!”. Hedgerows are so much more than just the boundaries that ‘hedge in’ the fields. It’s so easy to just blip past them in our cars on the way from A to B without really noticing what marvels they contain, but I’d really recommend slowing down and really paying attention to these treasures around us. ‘Hedgerow rambling’ is of my very favourite pastimes. In fact, during the restricted movement time of the Covid-19 lockdown, I have found myself appreciating and being ‘resourced’ by this simple pastime more than ever. I’ve come to think of it almost as a kind of daily mindfulness activity. All the stresses and mental pre-occupations of the day just drop away for a while whilst I wander along and get ‘lost’ in the hedge. Sometimes I might pick myself a delicious hedgerow salad with Hedge Garlic, Wild Ransoms and young hawthorn leaves, or whatever other edible delights I find. Sometimes I find a plant or a type of Bee I don’t recognise, so I pay close attention to its appearance, then look it up in one of my identification guides. At other times I get out my camera and try to make some kind of art out of this inspiration. It’s an endless source of fascination that changes everyday as different plants grow into season. I’ve realised that I have a kind of ‘hedgerow calendar’ in my head, where I mark the passage of time in terms of which plants are out when. I call the first two weeks of May, for instance, the time of the ‘Mayflower Power’, when the hawthorn blossoms (known in folklore as ‘Mayflowers’) light up the lush green of spring with their brilliant white floral explosions, accompanied by a symphony of colour from bluebells, pink campion, red valerian, yellow archangel and so much more. It’s such a joy to behold. The more I think about it, the more I think that the hedgerows of Devon might just be one of our greatest treasures - Devon has over 33,000 miles of hedges. That’s enough hedgerows to go all the way around the world and about a third as much again! Over three-quarters of these hedgebanks are thought to be of at least medieval origin (AD 1150 – 1450). In ecological terms, hedgerows are invaluable wildlife corridors, made particularly rich in diversity by their ability to offer a home to many woodland species in their shady interiors and the ideal conditions for sun loving woodland edge species on their exterior edges, as well as a welcome refuge for many meadow plants from the plough or from the grazing livestock in the fields. Apparently, one member of the Devon Hedge Group surveyed an 85m stretch of hedge over two years and recorded 2,070 species living within. Supposing that was at least moderately typical biodiversity for a Devon hedge, just think how much life those 33,000 miles of hedgerow are supporting! Throughout history, hedgerows have been, and still are, incredibly important for people too, as a source of food, firewood and herbal medicine for instance. They are playing a vital role in helping us draw down carbon to combat climate change and in helping us manage soil erosion and water storage. If you’d like to find out more about hedgerows yourself, I’d say the first thing to do is simply to get out there and start exploring them! Maybe download a plant ID app like PlantSnap, or take an identification guide. Take a camera too maybe. You can also find out more online at https:// devonhedges.org or hedgelink.org.uk, or you could even check out my ‘Postcards from the Hedge’ videos on youtube on the Be BuckfastleighTV channel, and my photographs on my website at www. chrissmithphotographic.com/ Postcards-From-The-Hedge.php

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Gardening courses, volunteer opportunities and events at Foxhole Community Garden. Our Thursday Garden Volunteer day starts at 9:30am with a hot drink, catch-up. Finish at 1pm. All abilities welcome - there are also many opportunities for a more gentle morning gardening and the garden is wheel chair accessible. No skills or experience are necessary you’ll learn lots about growing organic veg, herbs and gardening with nature. Due to the coronavirus we have limited spaces available so you do need to get in touch to arrange to come. We work at a distance to each other and tools for you are cleaned and laid out before the session City and Guilds Award in Practical Horticulture Skills Level 1 – Whether you want to grow your own food or start a gardening business, this course will build your knowledge and confidence to get you started. Working with nature you will learn about soil, seeds, and caring for plants and the land. This Level 1 course is suitable for those who want to grow on any scale, whether it is a small patio garden, an allotment or on a larger piece of land. Every Tuesday from 15th September 2020 to 24th November from 9:30 – 3pm. There is also a Thursday course running at School Farm CSA. Cost is £260 and there is funding available for those in receipt of benefits or on low income. For information about the course content contact Zoe (details below) or information about fees and enrolment contact Bicton College via their website or on 03301 232 523 Social and Therapeutic horticulture training with national organisation Thrive. Over the year we host a series of workshops on using horticulture to benefit a range of people with additional needs. Check the Foxhole Garden website for the latest details.

Venue: Foxhole Community Garden, Old School Farm, Dartington Estate, Totnes, South Devon TQ9 6EB For further details on the courses visit www.foxholecommunitygarden.org.uk or Zoe Jong 07505 805111 zoe@foxholecommunitygarden.org.uk