The good living and community magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and across South Devon JUNE/JULY 20 ONLINE EDITION
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Reflection in solitude Positive mindfulness during lockdown
community wellbeing Online classes spreading the love
postcards from the Hedge Local nature thriving in quiet spaces
local FEEL GOOD stories Acts of kindness helping our residents
Your local community life magazine full of Devon life and inspiration during these times of change
Visit us online at www.reconnectonline.co.uk
STAY SEA SAFE
The Socially Responsible BEACH GUIDE
Follow Government advice: Follow Governments social distancing advice at all times.
Beach Bound
Check the water quality Download and check the Safer Seas Service App for water pollution alerts.
Be prepared Check the weather forecast and remember your refillable water bottle, ocean friendly sun cream and some warm clothes.
Tell someone Let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
Know your limits We aren’t all pro’s, so swim, surf and enjoy the water within your abilities and let’s help protect our emergency services.
Enjoy it The water is great for mind and body so enjoy it, be thankful for it and help look after it.
Stay local Walk or drive to your nearest beach where possible, not your favourite beach.
At the beach
Be aware Obey all signage and if available, be sure to follow lifeguard’s advice at all times. Remember, the tides and wind can rapidly change.
Keep your distance Observe social distancing and keep 2m apart from others, including when you’re in the water. If it’s too busy, come back later.
Heading home Do a mini beach clean Take everything you came with home and if you see rubbish please pick it up. Every piece of plastic pollution removed from the beach is a victory for the ocean. 2
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Home time Avoid gathering in groups and head home as soon as you’re done. Don’t forget to wash your hands and gear, as soon as possible. www.reconnectonline.co.uk
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Upfront
WELCOME...
IT'SWHAT WE'REABOUT
Broughttoyou by...
INTHISISSUE... FREE RESOURCES
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For children’s wellbeing EDITOR Scott Williams
OUR HERB WALK 9
Medicinal herbalism
AQUAPONICS 10 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Karen Williams
WELLBEING EDITOR Kate Philbin
COUNSELLOR WRITER Leigh Smith
Life on the hedge - page 17
Eco fish and veggies
SAVE DARTINGTON
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Preserving the estate
A NEW MILL
14
19
SUDDEN RESILIENCE
The spring of our lives
Be aware of the flours
ECONOMY TRANSITION 21
LIVING MADE SIMPLE 16 Beneficial meditation
PRICKLES IN A PICKLE
VIRTUAL REWILDING 18
WELLBEING PAGES
A digital experience
A new climate economy
to our online only issue - full of positivity. At the time of writing we are tentatively coming out of lockdown. However, many of our regular distribution places are still closed, so we are not able to get paper copies to our regular readers. We are so lucky to live in a region reasonably untouched by this virus compared to other parts of the country that have found it so deadly. The numbers of those who have died is staggering, and we are just relieved that society itself has survived through lockdown. As I’m a self employed publisher working from home, I completely relate to just how tough a time small independent businesses have gone through. We have not charged any of our advertisers this issue, and we ask you to please support them and all of our local businesses as much as you can please. We champion resilience here, we hope trading can continue in the region as we learn to live with this virus. We hope to be back in print next issue, and that businesses continue to advertise. Stay safe, be kind, and all the best - I hope you enjoy reading this issue.
COVERSTORY...
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Helping hedgehogs
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Our holistic health guide
KATE DOES...
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Online coaching GARDENING EXPERT Joa Grower
LOVE IN LOCKDOWN Poultry keeping - page 18
FOOD WRITER Jane Hutton
WEBSITE EDITORS www.doetsdesign.com
TECHNICAL AIDE Zelah Williams
STAY IN TOUCH...
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Emotional focused therapy
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sustainable sources. It is printed using vegetablebased inks and the paper used has been carbon balanced with an area of land preserved in perpetuity with the World Land Trust (WLT) - an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats acre by acre. To learn more about them see www.worldlandtrust.org and carbonbalancedpaper.com. All by-products of the production and printing processes are recycled. Please recycle this magazine by passing it on to someone else after you’ve read it COPYRIGHT © Reconnect Magazine. All rights reserved. No
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COVER IMAGES Main picture: French actress Julie Delaurenti by Samjhana Moon (www.samjhanamoon. com) Left to right: Life on the hedge by Chris Smith (www.chrissmith photographic.com); Joy Prater (www. totnesyoga.co.uk); and hedgehog photo by Emma Stoner (www. emmastoner.com) That’s a saving of £93.90. Or book at least three issues and pay £140 a month. Our full-page advertisements These cost £522 for one issue. If you book three, you get a 10% discount, so you pay £1409.40 That’s a saving of £156.60. Or book at least three issues and pay £234.90 a month. All that and editorial too! Editorial is free for advertisers and is written by our team of professional journalists who will get your message across without compromising your ethos. Like you, we are a small, ethical, independent business doing what we love. And we’d love to help you. Call us now for a chat.
AUG/SEPT issue out end of July - the next deadline is July 3 PRINTED BY William Pollard & Co Ltd, Exeter www.pollardsprint.co.uk WEBSITE Visit our website at www.reconnectonline.co.uk. Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook. com/reconnectmagazine ECO ETHOS Reconnect is written, designed, printed and distributed locally, using materials from
part of Reconnect can be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. But do ask – if you’re genuinely spreading the word, we’ll try to help. The publishers, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services advertised or referred to in this issue, or any errors, omissions, mis-statements or mistakes in any advertisements or references.
Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk
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news&views Covid help
FOR Coronavirus advice in Devon and latest updates see www. devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advicein-devon/
City gospel
YOU may be are aware that Exeter-based Soul of the City Gospel Choir has been raising funds for PPE for frontline workers with their fabulously fun filled video of a Jackie Wilson classic “Higher & Higher’ which raised spirits as well as funds for so many key workers. See the video at youtu.be/O-69yvPZAqg. But did you know the NHS replied with a video of their own? The NHS response can be watched here www.soulofthecity. co.uk/2020/05/26/response-toppe-choir-video-from-nhs
Talk to the Frog
EAT That Frog, the community interest company who have training centres in Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton and Plymouth, are reaching out to anyone who is stuck at home and getting bored, stressed and isolated, by providing access to free online courses to help them manage their health and wellbeing. Everyone who books a place will get telephone support from friendly tutors and access to short, fun, modules that can be accessed from a computer or smartphone, with topics such as Sleeping Well, Managing Healthy Relationships, Personal Safety, Diet & Fitness and Emotional Resilience. Eat That Frog are also helping people who need to find work during the crisis, with free online support for Job Applications, Interviews and Writing Your CV. The short modules are achievable in a few hours and give people tools to help them manage through this difficult time – local residents who have taken up the offer of support have found it’s really helped their wellbeing. The courses are available to anyone in Devon who is in need. l If you’d like to take advantage of this free support, please call 01803-551551 or email info@eatthatfrog.ac.uk. More details can be found at: eatthatfrog.ac.uk/online-adultcourses/
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Craft Festival to return in September
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HE CRAFT Festival Bovey Tracey was scheduled to take place on June 12-14, but has now been postponed until September 18-20. Sarah James, Craft Festival Director said: “We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused but I hope you understand that it’s been a very difficult decision to make but we feel it’s the best decision for everyone. We have contacted all exhibitors and ticket holders. Your tickets are valid for the event you have booked, with the new dates. You do not need to do anything. We are currently in the process of re-scheduling all the workshops, so please bear with us as we make new arrangements.” As a small, non-profit making organisation, event organisers are also very mindful of their amazing ‘Makers’, all of whom are small businesses and have prepared stock for Craft Festival Bovey Tracey. Many of these Makers also sell online, all those that would normally have visited Craft Festival Bovey Tracey are asked to show their support by visiting their platforms and support them if you can by buying something handmade. Sarah added: “We exist to support contemporary makers of craft and we are very pleased that we were able to secure dates later in the year. We are working very hard to make sure the transition to September goes smoothly, when we can showcase a highly selective group of 200+ makers & artists set on the edge of Dartmoor.
“All of us at The Craft Festival Team would like to thank you all sincerely for your support. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all exhibitors, visitors, workshop leaders, demonstrators, musicians, food sellers, contractors, sponsors, volunteers and Craft Festival staff for your understanding and support.” l You can find all Craft Festival Bovey Tracey Exhibitors details via the website www.craftfestival. co.uk/Bovey-Tracey or via madebyhandonline.com with regular Live events happening on their Facebook page facebook.com/ theoriginalcraftfestival
Shielded creativity EXETER Museum (RAMM) together with the Exeter Community Wellbeing hub and Exeter City Community Trust are sending out physical activity packs to shielded, vulnerable and isolated people in the city to help ease lockdown boredom. Lockdown has created a stark digital divide with many households having no access to the internet and others reliant on expensive pay-as-you-go services. Councillor Rachel Sutton from Exeter City Council said: “Vulnerable groups such as elderly people and households with lower incomes often find it difficult to access the wealth of online creative resources that is available at the moment. We also know that some elderly people also do not feel comfortable using online services.” Taking part in creative activities can help people’s wellbeing and mental health and this is more important than ever right now. The physical packs ensure that everyone can benefit from the sense of achievement and connection that doing something creative can bring. The packs contain three creative activity sheets, a museum word search, some drawing materials and a postcard of an object or painting from RAMM’s collection for creative inspiration. The pack adheres to Public Health England guidance for infection control. l People who feel they fit in the “shielded, vulnerable or isolated” category, can request a pack by phoning 01392 265960 and leaving their name and postal details or emailing jamie.vittles@ecfc.co.uk.
Dad Dancing Fit Club has now launched online
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OCKDOWN has for many of us seen an increase in our waistlines. Now Dangerous Dads Network have launched the Dad Dancing Fit Club™ online giving dads, mums, children and anyone who wants to get fit the opportunity to converge to demonstrate their dancefloor moves. Launched in 2018 by fitness instructors in the South West, they now have classes running via Zoom across the globe. There will be twice weekly Dad Dancing Fit Club sessions taking place on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 9am with sessions lasting about 50 minutes, and all the family (but especially dads) can attend. Founder of the Dangerous Dads Network and the inspiration behind Dad Dancing Fit Club, Ian Blackwell, said about the launch of new online Fit Club:”We are very excited about our move on-line. Dad Dancing Fit Club was designed by fitness instructors in 2018 and was launched at our annual, award-winning
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event DadFest just before start of The World Dad Dancing Championships. DDFC has been a big success in leisure centres and village halls but now, with lockdown, we are going online so families can continue to boogie, stay fit and have fun. “DDFC includes classy moves like The Robot, The Air Guitar and, of course, The John Travolta, all set to the best tunes around. Dad Dancing Fit Club was originally developed by professional fitness instructors thanks to funding from Subway, Heart Research UK and The Big Lottery, and is not like your traditional fitness class with shouty instructors and lycra. “We want to help adults and children get fit and to encourage healthy hearts, and DDFC is designed to be great fun by encouraging physical activity through the ancient art of ‘dad dancing’. DDFC has been set up to appeal to men and their children but classes will be open to everyone who feels the urge to dad dance. “ The classes are free (although
donations are always welcome. DDFC is full of cool moves, games and the sessions are lots of fun, so why not give it a go? l To join in with DDFC on-line via Zoom, people need to pre-book their place. To book a place go to daddancingfitclub.com/what-is-ddfc-online
NEWS&views No go green event
DAWLISH against Plastic have had to cancel their inaugural Go Green Festival planned to happen in Dawlish on July 26. Dawlish against Plastic’s Dave Hutton said: “Our planning group has been meeting regularly for over 9 months to bring the first ever festival of its kind to Dawlish. We had been in contact with many groups and individuals and started to confirm bookings. “However, we have decided to cancel the Go Green Fest for this year. We hope to be able to hold the event in July 2021 and will confirm this as soon as possible.” Part of their planning has involved the organisation of an illustrated writing competition for KS2 and KS3 students, with prizes up to the combined value of £100. This competition will still go ahead this year. More details can be found on the website www. dawlishagainstplastic.org.uk/ go-green-fest/childrens-storycompetition
Covid artistry
RAMM is offering artists the opportunity to create new art in response to the Coronavirus. Open to professional visual artists and craftspeople living or working in Exeter the new artwork will be displayed in the museum next year.
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Free resources for children’s wellbeing
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XETER based Musician & Educator, Laura Loft is offering her new book, Big Emotions: Mindful Music For Little People, beautifully Illustrated by Nia Gould as a free audio book along with free resources for EYFS & KS1 for anyone who is self isolating or social distancing to use with their child. Laura created the book as a wellbeing toolkit for young children to recognise their Big Emotions with ideas to help regulate them. Laura said: “Following a car accident when pregnant and other variables I had developed CFS/M.E/ Fibromyalgia and during this time I could only manage a few hours activity a day. So we spent a lot of time creating stories, adventures and games from the comfort of a bed or a chair. My son struggled with the usual array of toddler ‘big emotions’ especially anger plus the added frustrations of adapting to a mummy that couldn’t do much so we came up with songs and stories to help deal with this.”
Reconnect online
WE don’t know what will happen in the next few months, we hope we will be able to publish the next issue, and be able to deliver it to most outlets. We will let you know, via our website, if it becomes necessary to publish an online version again next issue.
#saveourvenues
The book received recent funding from Persimmon Homes Community Champions to launch a pilot event at Trinity Primary School Exeter for World Book Day. Laura planned and led music workshops, art activities and a live interactive performance. Laura added: “This event went so well and we couldn’t believe the turn out to the live interactive show for all! I love that the children explored how to look after their mental health in a creative way and left with a toolkit full of resources and their own book!” The free Schools Activity Pack includes: an online video of the book with instrumental soundtrack; flash cards of 8 emotions with activities; mindful colouring; big emotions song book with workshop ideas and online videos of the songs! l Visit www.lauraloftmusic.com to receive your free downloads or purchase your own printed copy.
THE ‘Save Our Venues’ campaign is hoping to reach artists, music fans and the wider music industry in order to help save the hundreds of grassroots music venues across the UK. Acts are being encouraged to head to the campaign’s website if they wish to help save a venue currently in crisis, where they can access “the tools and guidance to perform an ‘at home’ gig in support of that particular venue”. See saveourvenues.co.uk.
Dawlish market
FOLLOWING a survey that Sustainable Dawlish carried out in support for the reinstatement of Dawlish’s Farmer’s market Dawlish Town Council have engaged Richard Gieson to organise a mid week market. Planned to take place each Wednesday the market will start once the lockdown is over. Email projects@dawlish.gov.uk for more information.
Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk
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news&views PLEASE contact us if you have a story to share with Reconnect readers. editor@reconnectonline.co.uk
RAMM goes online ONE of the first online resources to be made available to Key Stage 2 children (7 to 11 year olds), but also available for all was the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM)’s resources to support teaching and learning at home. The extensive resources are based on their collections and local links making them a great way to learn about local residents in The Second World War, or what Roman Devon was like or to travel to exotic locations in history like Ancient Egypt. The resources are crammed full of historical facts, fun learning opportunities, creative ideas, and quizzes and are designed to help both teachers in their planning and to set as exciting challenges for their class; as well as for parents and carers looking for activities to do at home. The museum continues to be closed until further notice. Once RAMM re-opens schools will be able to book onto a programme of visits for primary aged children. l For more information on these free resources visit www.rammuseum.org.uk/young-visitors/schools/ online-learning
Weekly art challenge
Each Friday, RAMM at Home are showing us how to make a mini museum collection in our own home through a series of step-by-step videos, pictures or how-to instructions. Some of the challenges include creating different objects each week that make up the colours of the rainbow.
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Annual Dartmoor celebration postponed until to 2021
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RGANISERS of the Dartmoor Folk Festival have announced that the event due to take place at South Zeal in August, has been postponed.
The Dartmoor Folk Festival Association said: “It is with much sadness that we have made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Dartmoor Folk Festival. We have been working hard to try to find a way to run the event as planned, but the ongoing developments surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic will not The Dartmoor Pixie Band at last year’s Dartmoor Folk Festival. allow us to do so safely. After 42 years of being an annual event, you will appreciate that this decision has not been taken lightly. “Our top priority has to be the well-being of everyone involved in staging the festival, the hundreds of visitors who join us every year, and most importantly the wider local community. “We know that this news will be a huge disappointment to all involved and appreciate that it will have a significant impact on local businesses, our suppliers, traders, and the artists we had booked to perform. “On a brighter note, we look forward to welcoming everyone to the Festival again next year on August 6-8, 2021 for a ‘proper job’ celebration of the music, song and dance traditions of Dartmoor. “We are already taking ‘steps’ to move artists’ bookings to the 2021 line-up and details will be confirmed later in the year. Those who have booked tickets for this year will automatically roll over to 2021, or if requested, refunds will be made. “We will all miss catching up with old friends this August, and as well as sending our best wishes, we thank everyone for their understanding and support.” The Association adds that to keep up-to-date about further developments or to keep in touch, discuss sponsorship or sign up for volunteer roles, visit: www.dartmoorfolkfestival.org.uk . l Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01837 840102 or email: enquiries.dartmoorfolk@gmail.com
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NEWS&views Hit Training offer free skills training for all
FOR anyone in Devon currently furloughed, self employed, employed, or unemployed and finding themselves at a loose end and looking for an opportunity to develop themselves, then Hospitality Industry trainers Hit Training have got full funded online short courses available. The company usually offer professional short courses in hospitality, but during the COVID-19 outbreak they are also offering free courses that do not have to be specific to an industry, all titles are available to everyone. There are many titles to choose from. Most course titles are generic to any industry, here are a few of the subjects: Certificate in Principles of Team Leading Certificate in the Principles of Customer Service Certificate in the Principles of Business Administration Level 2 Certificate in Equality & Diversity Level 2 Certificate in Safeguarding, Prevent and British Values Certificate in Allergy Awareness TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health (RQF) Certificate in Awareness of Bullying in Children and Young People Certificate in Behaviour that Challenges in Children Level 2 Certificate in Falls Prevention Awareness Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Care Planning Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Behaviour that Challenges (GENERIC) Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Care and Management of Diabetes Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines (RQF) Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Nutrition and Health Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems Level 2 Certificate in Common Health Conditions Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Difficulties Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Dignity and Safeguarding in Adult Health and Social Care Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Dementia Care Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of End of Life Care Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings l Find out more at hittraining.co.uk or contact Maria Cooper, the Business Consultant for Devon and Cornwall, on 07940 320498.
Recognition for local adoption charity LOCAL adoption charity Families for Children have been recognised in this year’s Parliamentary Review for their Families for Children’s best practice article. The Parliamentary Review, co-chaired by former ministers Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, also features commentary from the prime minister and senior politicians alongside leaders across both the private and public sectors, the review aims to share and promote best practice among executives and policymakers. Ruth Marriott, Families for
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Children CEO said: “We are delighted to be involved in this year’s Parliamentary Review and we hope our story is read widely.” Reconnect has regularly featured Families for Children the specialist independent voluntary adoption agency based in the South West. The article higlights the Agency’s best practice in supporting adoptive families for vulnerable children. To view the Families for Children’s article in the review visit www.theparliamentaryreview. co.uk/organisations/families-forchildren
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Evolution, Exeter's Holistic and Ethnic Shop will very soon be moving again or maybe already by the time you read this. It's only just across the road and down a bit to 157 Fore Street. We're making some changes and may include therapy rooms and a coffee shop eventually. Hope to see you there soon! Tel: 01392 410759 Mobile: 07773282861 Email: info@evolution-exeter.co.uk Website: www.evolution-exeter.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/evolutionexeter Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk
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NEWS&views Time to view our jobs holistically
Rescue pets enliven meetings
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F there is one thing the corona virus lockdown has given us (apart from those working doubly hard in the healthcare sector) it is time away from our usual busy schedules to reflect on our lives and what we value. With so many people becoming used to unusual work patterns (be it working from home, having meetings by video call or the relative luxury of being paid to pursue their own activities via the Furlough scheme) now could be a particularly good time for anyone who wants to do so, to take stock of their work situation. It seems likely that post-virus there will be a substantial re-evaluation of the merit of various jobs with the realisation that traditionally lowly paid roles such as care workers, hospital cleaners, transport workers and shop assistants are in fact some of the most essential people in the country and should be paid accordingly. More generally, perhaps it is time that we dispensed entirely of the outdated concept of ‘having a good or bad job’ and just recognised that all work has value, particularly if it benefits others or contributes to the general wellbeing of society. One person who has a particular interest in all aspects of work is life coach and regular Reconnect contributor Jeff Sleeman. Said Jeff: “I strongly believe that we should think about work much more holistically, not just as something we do to earn money but to include everything we do that utilises
our time, energy and innate talents for the greater good. The concept of work as ‘Love in Action’ as defined by the Findhorn Foundation (a well-established educational establishment based in Scotland) is an idea that really resonates with me. I believe that embracing this concept can help people to understand and find the work that they are truly called to do in their lives - be it running a company, driving a bus, working in a charity shop or caring for a sick relative. Without the arbitrary label of high or low status jobs, these could all be seen as of having intrinsic value and there should be no stigma in opting to do what, up until now, has been seen as menial work. Of course, generating sufficient income is usually an important consideration but if you don’t genuinely love what you do most of the time, you’re probably not in the right job.” Jeff offers life coaching and support or anyone wishing to make positive changes in their life, including the quest to find truly fulfilling work. l For details see his website www. jeffsleeman.com
ARE you working from home and fed up of endless Zoom meetings? You can now transform your dull meeting into a thing of joy by booking a rescue pet to attend. Yes, you read that right, and no you’re not dreaming. You can now book a rescue pet to join your Zoom meeting! Animals in Distress in Ipplepen have launched a new service where a pet from their rescue centre can join you for the first 10 minutes of your Zoom meeting. It may be a dog, cat or rabbit who will join you via a live link up. For a fee of £5, the Charity’s website warns you to expect “lots of cuteness and feelings of joy; some headbutting of the camera; a deep interest in your meeting (dogs love meetings); a feigned disinterest and snooty aloofness (cats, obviously); pretty much non-stop eating throughout, or throwing things about in their pen and making a right mess (rabbits); a feeling of happiness for the rest of your day after the meeting.” Rowana Rowan, Fundraising and Communications Officer, said “This is a new fun service that we are offering to people stuck at home in these unprecedented times. We want to bring some joy into people’s lives, as well as showcasing some of the animals we have at our rescue centre hoping to find new homes after lockdown, and raising some vital funds for the animals at the same time. “We want to stress that this service is just for fun, and does not form a part of our rehoming service – however if you are interested in adopting the pet at your meeting, we can talk to you afterwards about the animal and how to apply.” l To find out more about this novel service see https:// Bit.ly/AiDPetsOnZoom“
Living in harmony with the natural cycles is an easy way to reduce stress and enhance your wellbeing, even with a busy schedule. Our clocks show the day of the moon phase or menstrual cycle so you and your family are always aware of the energetics both within and around you. Making it easy to manage your diary in flow with the natural rhythm, whilst staying present to your energy levels and emotions.
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"Choosing to live life in a cyclical way is an empowering adventure that leads you to your own true North."
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NEWS&views The Reconnect herb walk
south westerlies...
TORBAY herbalist Dawn Ireland of Green Wyse explains a little about medicinal uses of common seeds or herbs, taking us on a virtual Reconnect herb walk.
THE presses may not be rolling this issue, but Scott’s still confident a better future awaits us all.
Anything is possible
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HIS time last year (in 2019’s June/July issue) I was celebrating that climate change had finally been put at the forefront of lives thanks in great part to the actions of Extinction Rebellion. I went on to say we now need to be positive about a low carbon future. Little did I know a more immediate greener transitioned future would be born out of necessity to survive 2020 as a society. A year on and we’re experiencing a ‘Pandemic’ but not the kind always portrayed in Hollywood disaster movies! Society has not collapsed into chaos, looting, burning, and lawlessness have not been a part of this apocalypse. Instead we have in the main been kind, as we deal with the situation, we’ve remained on our sofas to save the world. It’s brought out the best in us, as we mobilise volunteers to help our shielded, and applaud the essential workers in our society we realise now are the most crucial to all our lives. We are entering a post-apocalyptic world and it’s nothing like Mad Max, instead of oil being scarce it’s almost worthless. As Rob Hopkins points out in his April blog ‘When a resilient future calls by to see if you want to come out to play’ (tinyurl. com/ya389kew) geese, goats and other wildlife are wandering though town and city centres. There has been an explosion in people growing food, we have had over 3 million people order food direct from a local farm for the first time. Online searches for ‘how to cook’ have increased hugely. Artists, actors, musicians, orchestras and performers are all going online, exploring the practicalities of life without flying and touring huge shows around the world, some performing for the first time to their neighbours in their streets. Businesses who felt they had no choice other than to hire premium office space and fly their teams to meetings are realising that actually meeting online and working at home can work perfectly well. Airlines have been grounded, factories closed, lockdowns have driven down air pollution around the globe. Satellite images from the European Space Agency and NASA show a dramatic reduction in the amount of harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. CO2 output levels have dropped by 17% to levels last seen in 2006, and urban air quality has improved dramatically. We have had months of blue skies and breathing clean air and around the world things are changing. In the UK surface transport emissions - including vehicles and industry - declined by 43%, the same as the drop from industry and power generation combined. That green new transition Extinction
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Rebellion called for last year, is gaining political traction. The European Commission have announced a ‘Just Transition Fund’ and increased five-fold its proposed EU fund to wean carbon-intensive regions off fossil fuels, with fresh cash from a new recovery fund to help Europe’s ailing economies rebound after the new coronavirus pandemic. Predominantly the lowcarbon sectors of their economy will benefit, with hundreds of billions ploughed into promoting electric vehicle sales, renewable energy projects and into making new, green technologies economically viable. China announced a transition to cleaner modes of growth, starting with finally excluding clean coal projects from their revised list of projects eligible for green bonds. They are developing cleaner forms of energy for winter heating, and offering green finance for steel mills to pay for mandatory upgrades to their emissions control technology. China’s central bank has added shared bicycle and scooter services to the list of eligible projects, and will also allow green financing to support China’s carbon and green power certificate trading sectors. The Norwegian government propose spending 3.6 billion Norwegian crowns (£300 million) on investments to make its economy greener promoting Hydrogen power solutions, battery technology, ocean windfarms and efforts to cut pollution from the shipping industry. At the time writing we have not seen the UK government announce their new transition plans other than pledge £250m for improvements in cycling and walking infrastructure. I hope they do announce plans even more ambitious than those above, and we don’t just return to the same old normal. I am just a bit disappointed we have not all ended up wearing giant shoulderpads, feathers, chains and leathers (no one’s stopping me I guess) whilst Tina Turner became our Warrior Queen. I’m sure we can continue to be kind and keep safe, daily life has unfortunately become a little more dangerous. The possibilities are now there for society to move to a more sustainable lifestyle, and now more than ever a new transition will be crucial to our wellbeing. We know pollution is one of the factors behind increased vulnerability to COVID-19 and must ensure air quality does not deteriorate, it will determine our immediate future now more than ever.
Scott
Mint – Mentha species The mint family is large, with a multitude of hybrids and cultivars. Everyone is familiar with this most common of herbs, spearmint in toothpaste, mint teas, mint sauce, peppermint sweets and much more. Easy to grow in the garden, mints are best grown in pots or within a root enclosure in the ground to avoid unchecked spreading, unless that is what you want. Many pleasant tasting mints also grow in the wild, such as water mint and horsemint. Most have similar properties medicinally. Mint is well known for its digestive benefits. Most easily taken as a tea, from fresh or dried leaves, mint relieves trapped wind and colic, from the lower digestive tract. It does have some anti nausea effects, particularly for those who can’t tolerate the heat of ginger, but generally it is more effective for easing lower digestive discomfort than upper. The menthol content of mint can help ease sinus congestion, and is often included in a hayfever or rhinitis remedy or tea. A lesser known use of mint is on the skin for it’s anti-itch properties. Insect bites, or any itchy skin condition can be cooled and inflammation reduced by bathing the area in mint tea, or using a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil in a cream or carrier oil to apply to the skin. This does not necessarily cure the cause of the itch, but it relieves the symptoms very well. Wild lettuce – Lactuca virosa A common wayside weed with small dandelion style flowers in clusters, which needs careful identification having similarities with many other weeds. The leaves are used in modern herbal medicine for their calming and relaxing effects, and for helping combat insomnia. The effects are
Wild lettuce
Mint initially to reduce chaotic thoughts, and then to calm and promote healthy sleep. Think of it as filing your thoughts away in their proper place, like a pile of papers waiting to be put away, then leaving clear calm space, a tidy desk, to relax without those thoughts intruding. This plant is one of the wild versions of our cultivated lettuce, but tastes much more bitter, with a milky sap similar to dandelion. In Culpeper’s time they used the whole plant, including the fleshy roots, to create a syrup by boiling the chopped root, straining and adding sugar to the resulting liquid. The plant can be made into a vinegar or alcohol extract tincture by chopping the plant material and putting into a jar, covering with either cider vinegar or wine vinegar, or a spirit such as vodka and capping tightly. This should be shaken daily to maintain moisture throughout, not allowing any dry floating bits to form which could grow moulds. After 2 – 6 weeks, strain off and keep the liquid in a bottle or jar in a dark cupboard. Refrigeration is not necessary and it will keep for at least a year. Use up to 3 teaspoons per 24 hours diluted in a cup of water for helping to calm the mind, or promote restful sleep. Can be safely used daily for several months. As always, it is recommended you consult a professional for any symptoms which persist and don’t try to self diagnose. Those taking existing orthodox medication need to check for interactions before using herbs. Harvest plants mindfully and respectfully, never taking more than you need and always leaving some behind to continue growing. Plants in the wild should be harvested with the land owners permission. Stay well. Dawn l Find out more about herbalism and Dawn at www.torbay-herbalist. co.uk
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Old Quarry Farm’s Aquaponic grow house.
Converting to an e-bike
Growing fish and vegetables
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HEN it comes to future food production, the combined farming of fish and vegetables through aquaponics could be a viable solution. Researchers from Germany’s Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have just published an extensive profitability analysis of a facility that already produces fish and vegetables on a large scale. Their results were no surprise to us, they suggested aquaponics may have both environmental and cost benefits if produced according to good agricultural practice and under suitable conditions. However they did suggest there were obstacles, so we asked our local Aquaponic expert Old Quarry Farm Aquaponics’ Bruce Reed, to comment. Bruce runs an aquaponics farm outside Newton Abbot home to a massive grow-house with six Aquaponic systems, supplying a farm shop, and local veg box scheme. With climate breakdown potentially making traditional outdoor growing problematic aquaponic production could provide a more suitable indoor solution to communities. The report said that “the main obstacles for commercial aquaponics are the high investment costs and, the high operating costs such as for fish feed, labour and energy.” They also state that: “undertakings must have the necessary expertise in both aquaculture and horticulture.” We asked Bruce whether those obstacles were a problem for him and his team. Bruce said: “Lighting? If you grow in a growhouse with seasonal crop choices the cost is zero for capital and running costs.” What about fish feed is that a high cost? Not according to Bruce, who added, it was: “A reasonable cost when compared to the hydroponic nutrient one would be buying for similar growing methods or for fertiliser for other growing methods. When one considers the fish food is needed to raise the fish (the selling them either as ornamental or for food - smoking them to add value) then the fertiliser is essentially free.” Did that mean it was a profitable way of farming? We asked Bruce: “If it is run as part of a diversified holding with tours and a mix of retail and wholesale then it can be profitable But the labour needs to be skilled not unskilled and this is
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what adds up.” So perhaps it would be handy to convert empty indoor spaces that may arise after this pandemic to urban hydroponics farms to feed communities. The lead author of the study, Goesta Baganz, sees great potential in the system, despite the risks. Citing the example of urban spaces, he stated: “The already profitable model case would cover an overall space of about 2,000 square metres. This would mean that professional aquaponics would also be possible in urban and peri-urban areas, where space is scarce and often relatively expensive. If, therefore, urban aquaponics can make a profit, there is even greater opportunity for local food production, which is becoming increasingly important throughout the world as urbanisation progresses.” The reports goes on to suggest ecofriendly, efficient aquaponic food production can combat current problems like climate change, population growth, urbanisation as well as overexploitation and pollution of natural resources, “A wide range of aquaponics approaches exist, many of which originated from amateur settings. The approach developed by IGB researchers is based on two recirculating systems in which fish and plants are produced in separate units. Smart software and sensors continuously take measurements and interconnect the two cycles, whenever needed, to make optimum use of synergies, whilst still creating the best growth conditions for both units.” Bruce thinks it’s still unlikely to become a mass production method. “It all depends how one sets up. In a warehouse with lighting and high rental costs etc in the middle of a city it would be very pricey, but you’ve also got a target of pricey restaurants etc to sell in to. In our situation there is no rent or lighting but we cannot command a high price.” Bruce added: “Honestly just trying to grow with no diversification I suspect they are spot on the money and we say as much to people that it has a niche for high value products but is not the answer to farming of the future.” l You can find the report here: tinyurl.com/y8zg2k8o and the Old Quarry Farm’s website is www. oldquarryfarm.co.uk
Swan therapy
WE are considering joining the latest craze that's being promoted by the government. That green(ish) form of transport to replace Shanks’ Pony the electric bike. We did consider getting an electric scooter, but the lockdown diet would suggest an e-bike may be more suitable. Then we looked at the cost, most would appear to be around the £12K mark! That is rather expensive for those of us who haven’t had a regular income in months. Plus what about the idea of recycling? So, we looked in the garage and found a rather rusty looking bike, and considered the idea of converting one. A quick search online revealed a complete Swytch kit for £450, that’s around a third the cost of an e-bike. Then we discovered Lynn and Bill at Newton Electric Bike Conversion in Newton Abbot. The couple promise to give you and your bike a new lease of life with a custom electric conversion from £650. Has any of our readers discovered a cheaper option to convert bikes so those Devon hills are not a problem for lockdown legs anymore?
ARTIST and craft maker Yuli Somme has created a new tutorial with her daughter on how to make a Felt Origami Swan. There are interviews within it from conservationists with their swan stories. For each kit sold, a donation will be made to Earthwatch, an environmental charity with science at its heart. The origami needle felting kit was designed by Yuli a few years ago as part of a Rights of Passage course on the theme of transformation. The swan appears in many ancient myths as the bringer of new life, symbolising transformation and the Cycle of Life. The kit is priced at £34. See bellacouche.com/ product/origami-feltswans-kit-needle-felting-kit for more information.
Mark Jefferys, Share Shed Manager and the Mobile Share Shed
Share shed continues to grow
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NE of our favourite projects, the Share Shed - Totnes’ library of things, has been awarded a grant and a place on a learning programme to improve the local community.
Mirella Ferraz, the Share Shed Coordinator, in Totnes, is one of 71 leaders across England selected for a competitive learning programme and a grant of up to £10,000. The Community Business Trade Up Programme is run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), in partnership with Power to Change. The programme supports people improving their local communities through trade. The programme will help to grow the Share Shed, which offers over 350 everyday/useful items for people to borrow at a low cost, helping many people to get things done, whilst saving money and resources. Mirella Ferraz has just started a nine-month learning programme at the SSE, which helps people develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems. Mirella said: “I am delighted to have been accepted onto the Community Business Trade Up Programme, run by the School for Social Entrepreneurs, in partnership with Power to Change. The programme and grant of up to £10,000 will help the Share Shed grow, so we can support more people in Devon as we’re about to launch the world’s first mobile library of things, extending our services to Ashburton, South Brent and Buckfastleigh.” Amber Sorrell, programme manager at the School for Social Entrepreneurs, says: “We are thrilled to welcome Mirella onto the programme, where they’ll learn alongside other community leaders how to create lasting social impact for the region.” Mirella adds: “We’re thankful for this opportunity as it’ll help us extend our services beyond Totnes, and support even further a more sustainable and collaborative lifestyle.” l To see everything the library of things offers and for more information, visit www.shareshed.org.uk. For any enquiries, contact info@shareshed.org. uk. l Find out more about the programme and register your interest for the 2020/21 programme at www.the-sse.org/courses/community-business/
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NEWS&views CAMPAIGN group Save Dartington’s spokesman and chair of planning at Totnes Town Council Georgina Allen explains the ongoing effort to preserve the iconic Dartington Hall’s great Estate.
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AVE Dartington is a campaign group set up in November 2019 in response to the firing and gagging of the last CEO Rhodri Samuels and the subsequent decision by the Dartington trustees to sell several fields in the village for development. We were very concerned at the direction of travel of the Hall and their public claims of near bankruptcy needed answering. It’s been a complicated and difficult campaign. There are about 1,800 people in the Facebook group and roughly 8,000 people have signed our petition. We have had articles in the Independent, the Times, the Western Morning news and the Daily Mail. There has been a lot of interest and an encouraging amount of help and engagement. There have been meetings of several hundred people, we’ve been on the radio, discussed on air and quoted widely. Originally our aim was to get the trustees to open up to the community. We hoped they would hold back from the sale of the fields and discuss with us other routes, less disastrous for their neighbours, but which would help them with their financial woes. We wanted them to continue in the spirit of Rhodri Samuel’s approach, which was to include the community as much as possible and to be transparent in their approach. Sadly that was not to be the case. I think it’s fair to say that most of the core group of campaigners, those who came forward at the beginning, have come to the conclusion that the trustees as a group need to change. We have no faith in those who are there any more, so our focus has shifted from trying to work with them to solve their financial issues together, to the position that unless the executive group go, Dartington will lurch from bad to worse. We haven’t reached that conclusion easily. The key thing in my mind about this group is the decision we made right from the start that we would not be a group who would demonstrate or oppose those at Dartington Hall; we wanted to work with them, we were very clear about that. We wanted answers to serious questions of
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course. Not one of us thought much of the management at DHT that’s fair to say, but we wanted to improve the relations between the Hall and the community and help solve the financial mess they had created and that was our primary goal. Dartington was too lovely, too important to let fail without a fight. We have spent a lot of time, energy and effort trying to do this. We originally approached the Chair Greg Parston to ask for a meeting, but there was no response until a group made up of XR and another campaign group Don’t Bury Dartington Under Concrete demonstrated outside the Trustees meeting and were eventually asked in and a further meeting was agreed. An experienced accountant in the group had constructed a memorandum of financial questions designed to help give a fuller picture of the Trust’s accounts and this was sent to Greg Parston in the hope that we as a group could help. The letter was never shared to the other trustees. In our first meeting, we asked again for some answers to these queries and also suggested some ways that the Trust could help finance itself. We were a very professional bunch with a lot of contacts that the Trust might have made use of, but it was clear at the meeting that the trustees were just going through the motion and our suggestions fell on deaf ears and our questions remained unanswered. This has been the pattern since then. We ask questions and suggest things, they ignore us. It turned out later that of course, despite denials to the contrary, the Trust were finalising the deal with Baker Estates, that their promises of limited eco style houses were inaccurate to say the least and that their financial situation was not quite what they were making out. They had also been approached by another local builder offering millions for one of the other fields, but for reasons known only to them, they had turned him down. One of our number began to investigate old business deals and sales by the Trust. Everyone knows that DHT has been living off its assets for over 50 years, but as Greg Parston put it, they now have nothing left to sell. They will continue to sell off land we believe, until there is no more land to sell either. After a few more letters and representations were
Photos by Gillian Modrate
The saving Dartington Hall Estate campaign
ignored, we went to the charity commission. A lawyer, an expert in equal rights and an investigator put together a letter of notice and then the nearly 30 page complaint. It is depressing reading, a list of mistakes made, people and businesses ignored. It paints a picture of a Trust contemptuous of local people, totally isolated and far too willing to sell off what they wanted to keep the illusion of Dartington as a great estate, alive. The charity commission promised to keep an eye on them. We then heard that the Trust had been keeping tabs on some of the people in the group and had created a list with personal information on it, which they attached to an all staff folder. This was a clear and alarming breach of data protection, which the press quickly heard about and which we went to the ICO regarding. Our hopes of working with the trustees had obviously disappeared and it was no surprise to hear that the fields in the village had been sold to a mass developer. The campaign is now focussed on two areas. We have one group working on issues of air quality in the village, talking to lawyers and SHDC officials and trying to limit the damage the development of the fields will cause and the other group is still looking to bring the Trust back from the brink. There is no financial plan going forward that we can see and as a planning officer from SHDC said to us, ‘the plan I believe is to continue to sell and continue to build and to do that until there is nothing left’. We very much hope that this is not the case, but the evidence we have to accept, points that way. l Visit the Facebook page Save Dartington and sign the petition to Save Dartington Estate here: https://www.change.org/p/dartington-hall-trustsaving-dartington-hall-estate/u/26730698
Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk
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ORGANICGARDENING OUR gardening expert JOA GROWER offers summertime advice for gardeners to make the best of the longer days.
Extra feeding for Summer days
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ERE we are, Summer at last. way between each leaf. Way back in April I didn’t Potatoes will need to be earthed think it was ever going to up to increase the crop. If they’ve stop raining! got blight you must take off all So, what do we need to get on with the affected leaves (this goes for over the next few months? Well, tomatoes also). Burn the leaves or by now all your vegetable plants get rid of them, but don’t put them in will probably benefit from an extra your compost heap, or it will spread. feed to give them more strength Brassicas (summer to produce their cabbages, crops. Organic kales, kohl rabi, feeds can be cauliflower purchased from and calabrese) quite a lot of are most in garden centres danger from the or DIY stores now Cabbage White and we (Growers butterflies. So Organics that is) if you see them certainly stock a hanging around few. Or you could your crop, check be adventurous to see if they have and make your Flowering Comfrey laid their eggs on own! Both the underside of the brassica leaves comfrey and nettles make great liquid feeds. First get a large bucket and, if so, remove them as soon as or water barrel and fill it with either possible. Else they will hatch into masses of tiny caterpillars, who will nettles or comfrey and then fill it to in no time strip your plants bare! the top with water. Place a lid or We always net our brassica crops a piece of wooden board on the top and leave it to stand for at least to keep the Cabbage Whites out. 2 weeks, then it’s ready to use. While protecting your Summer Be warned your mix will be very brassicas, you could start thinking smelly and I would recommend ahead to your winter brassicas, that you wear rubber gloves when (winter cabbages, kale and purple using it. Your homemade fertilizer sprouting). Plan ahead where you is particularly great for your fruit want them to go and start clearing bearing crops, so that of course those beds in preparation. They includes tomatoes, peppers, can be planted from as early as aubergines etc. July onwards, so get them in as soon as you’ve got the space. If When you feed the tomatoes, you’re buying your plants from always water them first before us at market or from the nursery, adding a liquid feed. If you don’t don’t worry we’ll have them ready water first, the feed will just run for you in time! Don’t forget that straight through the dry pot and be the brassicas need plenty of space wasted. Tomatoes will need to be between them (about 30-45cm) tied up to stakes so they don’t keel as they’ll grow quite big. You can over with all that lovely fruit. The fruit will start to turn red by the end of always plant some quicker growing July. Keep taking out those side shoots crops in between them. Plants such as lettuces and kohl rabi will be too. These are the small shoots that harvested long before the larger appear just above the leaf; not the flower trusses, which you’ll see half brassicas are ready.
Seasonal squashes and courgettes
EARLY June is still okay for sowing or planting courgettes, cucumbers and squash seeds or even better to get a head start, purchase ready grown plants (we have quite a few different varieties.) Take care not to over water them at this stage and always water around the plants rather than directly onto the foliage. Start to apply an organic foliar feed when flowers and small fruits begin to appear. With courgettes try not to let the fruits get to big and pick regularly otherwise the courgettes will turn to marrows, which is fine if marrows are what you want! Winter squashes are a bit different. If you want to produce just a few large fruits, pinch the growing tip out when your plants has set about 6 small fruits. Otherwise just let them do there own thing and you should end up with an abundance of smaller squashes, just right for baking whole in the oven. After harvesting in the autumn leave them out in the sunshine to dry out properly before storing. Have fun in your vegetable garden and enjoy all the food you grow! And don’t forget the rubber gloves when handling the comfrey/nettle liquids! Reconnect’s Organic Gardening column is written by Joa Grower of Growers Organics. Visit www.growersorganics.com for the online shop, or call 01752 881180.
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Help for our struggling insect pollinators
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E all know that pollinating insects like bees are crucial to our survival. An ambitious plan to help our bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other pollinating insects has been launched by Buglife. The Devon B-Lines mapping, funded by Defra, aims to connect some of the county’s best remaining wildlife sites through targeted wildflower habitat creation, linking the moors to the coast and towns to the countryside. Working with partners including our local authorities Buglife have mapped out a network of potential wildflower habitat – called B-Lines, and inviting farmers, landowners and the public to get involved in creating new pollinator habitat, and practically restoring wildflower-rich grasslands. Bees and other pollinators are disappearing from our countryside because of a lack of wildflower-rich habitats. Three million hectares, 97%, of the UK’s wildflower-rich grasslands have been lost since the 1930s. Creating rivers of wildflower pollinator habitat will help wildlife move across our countryside, saving threatened species and making sure that there are plenty of pollinators out there to help us grow crops and pollinate wildflowers and enable them respond to threats such as climate change. Sarah Jennings, County Ecologist at Devon County Council said: “We all rely on pollinators and know that we need to take urgent action to help restore their habitats across Devon. B-lines help us take forward the Get Devon Buzzing initiative as part of a network of action across England. B-lines will also form part of the wider Devon nature recovery network map which is being developed by the Devon Local Nature Partnership.” Ed Parr Ferris, Conservation Manager at Devon Wildlife Trust added: “B-Lines identifies key networks where wildflower-rich restoration will be beneficial and is one part of a wider network being developed to restore nature, called the Devon Nature Recovery Network. I would encourage everyone to get out and restore existing wildlife habitats and create new native wildlife habitat.” Richard Knott, Ecologist at Dartmoor National Park said: “The project demonstrates how Dartmoor’s wildflower-rich grassland habitats, already the focus for local projects such as ‘Moor Meadows’, are contributing as part of this wider network through Devon and beyond.” l If you have land which you are interested in restoring to wildflower-rich grassland, or if you would like to get involved in other ways, please get in touch with Buglife – www.buglife.org.uk
Help to make families’ food go further
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O you know the difference between the Use By and Best Before dates? Do you know if you can safely reheat last night’s leftover rice? Are you fed up with throwing away mouldy bread? Well Recycle Devon are offering the answers in a digital book called ‘Have Your Food & Eat It’, a digital book created by Recycle Devon to help families make food go further. In the UK, we throw away 6.7m tonnes of food a year – that’s a third of the food we buy, even more when we panic buy and it all goes out of date. Nearly half of that is fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy, rice and pasta. Recycle Devon believe a family of four could save you as much as £800 a year with the book’s guidance. Here are their top tips: Shop smart – write a shopping list, look for food with the longest use by date and buy local, seasonal food. Meal planning – planning your meals will save you time and money and help you make the most out of the food you buy. Be a freezer hero! You can freeze pretty much everything – milk, hard cheese, bread and much more! Some items change texture once defrosted so they may be better suited for cooking with instead. Know your dates – it’s best to plan your meals around “use by” dates and freeze any food that won’t be used in time. “Best before” dates refer to quality (ie flavour or texture). Portion size - portion planning will make sure you only cook what you need. The book is packed with facts, tips and advice, it’s the ideal go-to for making your food go further and money last longer. Whatever food you love, this book can help you waste less and save you money with ease. l Download your FREE copy of ‘Have Your Food And Eat It’ at tinyurl. com/tg2dgmk. l For more food saving ideas and recipes, visit www.recycledevon.org.
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news & views
Newton Downs solar farm
How to get YOUR events into Going Out...
Yealm solar farms offer Covid funds IN these uncertain times local initiatives are always seeking financial support to help tackle the coronavirus emergency. Local group Yealm Community Energy (YCE) has made available £48,000 from the Community Benefit Funds of the solar farms it manages, Newton Downs and Creacombe, near Yealmpton, to support local initiatives. £10,000 has been made available immediately with £2,000 allocated to each of the five parishes of Brixton, Holbeton, Newton & Noss, Wembury, and Yealmpton supported by YCE. Applications for these funds are invited now via the YCE website. So far funds have been allocated to Holbeton Covid-19 Emergency Food Welfare Group, and Newton and Noss Coronavirus Emergency Fund. As efforts to overcome the virus continue, a further £20,000 will be made available for additional support measures as needed. A third tranche of £18,000 can also be made available if it’s needed. If these funds are not required for coronavirus mitigation they will be used to support other local community projects with an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability. Andrew Moore, Director, Yealm Community Energy, said: “This pandemic is the biggest national emergency most of us are likely to see in our lifetimes, and it has been inspiring to see the local community come together to support one another. We know that even a small amount of money can make a big difference in the hands of local people, and we hope that these community funds generated by our solar projects will not only be used where they are most needed to provide immediate assistance, but also help with the longerterm recovery in the Yealm community area.” YCE expects to launch the first community solar investment offers this summer, allowing local people to have a stake in their local green energy generating assets, and resulting in additional community benefit funds over the lifetime of the two solar farms of £3 million. l See www.yealmenergy.co.uk/service/community-fund for more information.
WE have currently paused Reconnect’s out of this world GoingOut pages... they will be back When they do we connect all the hot stuff from across the region, categorised for easy access - including your future event. We have an EVEN MORE comprehensive online version at www.hubcast.co.uk/ reconnect - also available via our busy website at www.reconnectonline.co.uk. To get YOUR event listed online (and when possible, have it listed here in the mag too), simply register at ReconnectHub and enter the info free of charge. To advertise here or online, email adverts@ reconnectonline.co.uk or call 01392 346342.
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Donations needed for those in hardship
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XETER Community Energy (ECOE) who assist hundreds of people across East and Mid-Devon, Teignbridge and Torbay are seeking donations for their Healthy Homes Hardship Fund. The fund helps them to support low income and vulnerable households during the Covid-19 crisis with requests for basic necessities such as fridges or cookers, dealing with missing food boxes, broken boilers, and other emotional difficulties for low income and vulnerable households. Tara Bowers, Chair of ECOE said: “With winter now gone, we are starting to witness a whole new level of poverty and issues. The current Covid-19 crisis brings challenges to us all, especially to those who are already vulnerable or struggling financially.” Many vulnerable households already find life difficult in Devon and this is being compounded by difficulties in getting to shops or getting deliveries. Without the right help to deal with the conditions created by Covid-19, residents who are economically vulnerable and insecure may find themselves battling illness, hunger and debt. Vulnerable groups already at greater risk face further barriers such as lack of internet access and increased social isolation. The Healthy Homes team have since lockdown seen a threefold increase in the level of requests for support from their Hardship Fund. “Low income households would normally go to a charity shop, or use local recycling/reuse options when their fridge or cooker breaks down, but with social distancing restrictions in place and charity shops closed, these families have little to no options”, explains Gill Wyatt, project manager at Healthy Homes. “Unable to afford to buy new appliances they are turning to us for a solution.” ECOE are seeking donations for their Healthy Homes Hardship Fund to help them quickly respond to requests for basic necessities for low income and vulnerable households such as electric heaters, fridges, washing machines, cookers, fuel vouchers and basic repairs. Gill added: “During the past three years, we have seen too many examples of extreme poverty and we know that in many situations just a small grant can make all the difference to a struggling household. Donations no matter how small can help us to make a real difference in the local community.” l All donations can be made via the Just Giving website at https://www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ecoe or by calling ECOE on 0800 772 3617.
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New mill uses locally grown grain
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NE of the benefits to come out of the lockdown is a big uptake in baking at home with the National Trust reporting visits to home bake pages increasing by almost 900% compared with the same time last year. Home bakers will be pleased to hear the region has a new mill. Dartington Hall Estate’s Parsonage farm is home to the new mill which is the culmination of many years work, based originally on “Grown in Totnes”, and now a partnership between Parsonage Farm, The Almond Thief and Apricot Centre. This project has been supported by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development LEADER Programme, LUSH and local support from the LEF “Community of Dragons” in Totnes. The mill is the first of its kind in the UK, a New American Stone Mill from Vermont and has started milling two types of locally grown wheat. One is grown at Huxhams Cross Farm in Dartington is a special wheat called YQ, which stands for “yield” and “quality”. This wheat was specially bred by Wakelyns Agroforestry, in collaboration with the Organic Research Centre. 20 varieties of wheat were crossed to create a diverse “population wheat” that is suited to an organic low input system. The YQ flour is fully organic and biodynamic and is perfect for making cakes and pastry, imparting a rich, nutty flavour. Although lower in gluten than “normal” bread flour, YQ flour can also be used to make a very decent loaf of bread, especially as part of a blend with some higher gluten flour. Dartington Mill is also milling EHO Gold organic wheat grown by Nicola and Richard Rogers from Higher Farm, Beeson, near Beesands. This is being used by The Almond Thief bakery in their new stoneground sourdough loaves. The silky-smooth and aromatic flour helps to produce a high-quality bread that is flavoursome and nutritious.. Andrew Heyn, the American mill maker said: “Freshly ground flour retains more flavour and aromas than pre-ground flour, translating to a more complex, aromatic, and delicious baked good. Stonemilling grinds the bran and germ into the flour along with the endosperm, keeping valuable nutrients in the flour. Coarser elements can be sifted out as you like to produce finer flours, which still retain some of the nutritional benefit of milling the whole grain. Granite millstones help to keep grain cool as it travels through the mill, protecting naturally occurring oils and nutrients. Buying whole grains presents an opportunity to work with local grain growers, and for those farmers to access a local market via a new avenue: your bakery. It’s good for you, your bread, and your community.” Dartington Mill is milling in small batches so freshly milled flour can be delivered to either The Almond Thief or the Apricot centre on a weekly basis. The flour is for sale directly from the Apricot Centre on their online shop www.apricotcentre.co.uk/shop, or email info@apricotcentre.co.uk or call Bob Mehew on 07507841158, and can be delivered locally. The flour will also be available from in other local outlets and Totnes Market on Friday, when it re-opens. It is also stocked in the small shop on Parsonage farm Dartington Hall. The Almond Thief bread is currently available for delivery through their website (https://www. thealmondthief.com/), or via the Apricot centre online shop. You can also buy their bread from The Kitchen Table (thekitchentable.org.uk) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
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news & views
Lockdown offers a window into gardening ROSS Adams, he with the greenest green fingers in Devon, has been busy over lockdown and receiving high praise. We know this because we received this glowing review from his latest happy customer - his wife.
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t’s true. I am his wife. You may think me bias to give him a glowing recommendation. Perhaps I am. Ross didn’t ask me to write this and if I didn’t feel inspired to, I wouldn’t. So, here I go. Our small garden has been an ongoing project for some time now. As a family with a young child at home and Ross out working on other people’s gardens, we’ve often looked out at our garden with frustration, wondering if there will ever be the time to bring it to life. Lockdown has seen Ross at home more and the most rapid developments have been made in our garden during this time. I love witnessing the dedication and care that Ross gives to our garden. It offers me a window into his professional life that I may not otherwise see. Witnessing him fills me with pride. Ross’ business tagline is ‘bringing
gardens to life.’ This is something that is close to his heart and is true on more levels than one. As our garden blossoms and grows, with the help of Ross’ green fingers and our son’s enthusiasm, for the first time since we moved here I am enjoying being in our garden. Not only is it more aesthetically pleasing but, as I walk barefoot to the ground, I can feel the life pulsing within it and, with this, a connection to the wider web of life within and around me. A smile forms in the deep ground of my belly. Flowers; vegetables; fruit trees; birds; butterflies; bees; insects; we even have a tiny pond with tadpoles and a pond snail, and they are thriving in our garden. It shows me what is possible, even in a small space, and inspires me to dream big and get involved! Ross is available for bringing your garden to life and I thoroughly recommend him and will (begrudgingly) hand him back into your service. l If you would like your garden brought to life, contact Ross: 07811608359, rossadams51@ gmail.com, or visit www. abundantgardens.uk
Volunteers supply free meals to the vulnerable
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URING lockdown Teignbridge Community and Voluntary Services, have been supporting our local charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises in Teignbridge to build a stronger community. Whilst their office may be closed, they have been working hard to support the coronavirus pandemic response in the local area. Teignbridge CVS have been co-ordinating and finding the funding for a free hot meals delivery service across Teignbridge delivering to the old, vulnerable and people in self isolation during Lockdown with roasts on Sunday and Fish & Chips on a Wednesday evening. Teinbridge Councillor David Cox Said: “It’s an amazing partnership between voluntary and community groups. All the people are volunteers, the only cost is the food. 303 meals from Teignmouth and 146 from Newton Abbot, expertly cooked by Dave Matthews and Chris Jenks.” David added: “The volunteers in the background are the stars. They phone up every week to confirm the delivery and sort out the admin. The ladies in the hot rooms serving and sorting out the food. Bailey, Dave Matthews and team in the hot kitchen prepping and cooking the food, when they could be out relaxing in the sun! Those are the real stars, we have just been rolling up on a Wednesday evening and Sunday lunchtime and taking a leisurely drive in the sun, delivering and chatting to people.” Volunteer David Cook commented: “It is a really rewarding thing to be doing. We are now building up a very good rapport with some of the people we deliver to and it is good to chat with them, even if only for a couple of minutes.” l For more information see www.teigncvs.org.uk.and to help contribute to running costs visit www.gofundme.com/f/q5z2z-a-cause-i-care-aboutneeds-help
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news & views
Living made simple... MARTIN FOSTER continues his quest for a simpler and more sustainable way of living. Having looked at the practice and theory, he’s this time taking a more inward journey - but argues it’s actually the most fundamental and down-to-earth subject of them all…
Are you sitting comfortably?
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F I was writing this with book-sized word-counts in mind, this ‘chapter’ would include religion, drugs and addictions (the popular narcotics of choice, plus the less obvious but more common examples like consumerism and social media) and a wide range of personal development, therapies, etc. Maybe with a strapline something like ‘Mid-altering substances and practices’… But I actually only have around 1000 words, so instead I will concentrate on something I believe has virtually infinite potential for personal and societal development - meditation. And to keep it all within the target wordage, I intend to apply my recently developed ‘What You Need To Know’ principle. (You will also find it applied - and more fully explained - over the page in this online issue where I write about keeping poultry). While a great deal can be said about meditation (read the books, trawl the websites, experience the workshops) the core principle is actually very simple and can be enjoyed by everyone. I believe it’s a natural, primal function - and that we simply need to remember, or rediscover, how to do it. I see the act of meditation as being a return to how we are naturally; the ‘self’ we were before life threw all kinds of shit at us. Us without all the worries and doubts and communication and preoccupations that busy up our lives. Meditation takes us back to a personal ground zero that’s a place of peace and contentment. I’ve heard meditation described as a kind of personal reboot. But if we’re staying with
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the computer analogy, it’s more like a return to factory settings. There’s one other very important principle we need to establish. That peaceful state of mind, like this whole (and I mean ‘whole’) simpler way of being and living, is simple - but it’s not necessarily easy. Think of meditation as being very like a physical exercise - running, for example. It will feel difficult at first, but it will get easier with practice; the more you do it, the more benefit you’ll get; and you will eventually experience its rich rewards in other parts of your life. Also like running, it really helps if you do it regularly so it becomes part of a routine and, ultimately, a habit. Do everything you can to remove any barriers to meditating regularly. Try to sit: at a regular time of day (generally the mornings are best - feeling sleepy is a real problem for beginners); for a fixed period of time (30 minute is good - use your phone timer); and ideally in the same place - somewhere that’s always free and private at that time. More difficult for people with young children, I realise. Like I said, ‘simple, but not easy…’ And so to the practise itself… Your aim is to become totally relaxed physically, with a clear mind. So, let’s sort the physical stuff first. Meditation technique is all about the breath – we do it automatically anyway, it’s rhythmic and it literally energises the body. Sit upright, but comfortably and relaxed: imagine a string attached to the top of your head, gently pulling you upwards (you can sit crosslegged on the floor if you
prefer - I always sit on an upright dining chair). Rest your hands in your lap. Start with five deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth – count to five on the in-breath and five on the out-breath. Then, on your next (deliberate, but ‘normal’) breath, concentrate on the sensation of the breath coming in through your nostrils; and as you breathe out (normally, also through your nostrils), imagine your feet relaxing… almost melting into the floor. On your next breath, again concentrate on the air entering through your nostrils and on the outbreath, imagine your lower legs relaxing. Next, notice incoming air in your nostrils and on the out-breath relax your thighs. Repeat this process with all your body: lower arms; upper arms; your lower torso (let your belly go soft) and your upper torso (left your shoulders drop down – but keep your back straight). Finally, relax your face, letting your jaw drop. Take half a dozen breaths, concentrating on how the inbreath feels in your nostrils – and notice on the out-breaths how your whole body feels relaxed. It’s now time to clear your mind. And this is the reason most people who’ve tried it say they can’t meditate. ‘I can’t stop thinking,’ they say. Or ‘I just keep having new thoughts…’ That’s fine. You will. Everyone does. As you gradually dump some of life’s mental debris, it leaves space for memories to resurface. For new ideas to be born. This is a good thing. That’s just your mind doing what it wants to, rather than what the world tells it to do. Don’t try to ‘block out’ your thoughts. You can’t. Instead, acknowledge each thought and then let it go. You can act on them later if you need to – this is not the time. This is the one time you have NOT to think. If you catch your thoughts drifting, notice your breath coming in and as you breathe out, let your thoughts go with it. If it helps, you could imagine the breath entering your head through your nose, swirling around
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your head, gathering up your thoughts and taking them away on the out-breath. Even if you realise you’ve been thinking for ages, don’t worry, it doesn’t matter. Enjoy the realisation that right NOW you are back in the moment. Drifting is inevitable – but that you have noticed it, and that you are back in the moment, is something to celebrate. Clearing your mind really is the trickiest bit but you will get there. It’s like developing a new muscle. It will take time and practice. No-one decides to start running and immediately plunges into a 10k stormer… Right, now we’re going to the next stage. Some might think of this as ‘going deeper’. This bit will be really tricky until you’ve been able to truly relax your body and at least start to calm your mind, so don’t worry if you can’t do this straight away. Maybe not even in the first week. Just stick at it. It’s going to be worth the effort - I promise! And lo, you are meditating! I can see that my apparent dismissal of other techniques, methods and practices sounds like it’s somewhere on the spectrum between ‘rude’ and ‘dismissive’. I truly mean no offence. Perhaps my stripped-down form won’t take you to the higher state of consciousness and enlightenment for which some strive, but it’s simple, free, universally achievable and can be truly in Mart life-changing.
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news & views DO YOU WISH YOUR 11-16 YEAR OLD SPENT MORE TIME IN NATURE?
Life on the Hedge by Chris Smith
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absolutely 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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WILD CAMPS FOR 11-16 YEAR OLDS NEAR BRISTOL: HUNGER GAMES AUGUST 20 - 24 MOCKINGJAY AUGUST 26 - 30
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rewilding Rewilding park goes online for virtual ALLEGRA LETTS from Devon Sculpture Park talks about bringing the UK’s leading smaller scale rewilding project and environmental art centre to a virtual audience. While the park is closed they enable anyone to visit every day with their visitors app - DSP Online. Devon Sculpture Park is bringing its rewilding project and environmental art into the digital space. The outbreak of Covid-19 inspired us to find new avenues to spread the news of rewilding and perform our mission to teach and expose real life smaller-scale rewilding to the public. The method of rewilding has been vital to the restoration of our ecosystems, and in reversing the deteriorating condition of our environment. DSP puts this theory into practice. In order to continue to spread our environmental message during the current pandemic, we have been focused on bringing the DSP experience to your phones, laptops and tablets - getting involved has never been so easy. It has become evident to us that our holistic approach to healthier living through rewilding,
Time for your birds K
EEPING chickens is not difficult. If the trusty ‘rocket science’ benchmark is at one end of the difficulty spectrum, keeping hens is definitely near the other, ‘rocket growing’, end. But before getting into the practical basics, there are a couple of important principles for us to address: keeping any living creatures is a commitment and they will be dependent on you for their lives. If you do not provide all their (admittedly) basic requirements, they will definitely suffer and possibly die. You will also be responsible for spotting any unusual behaviour that might point to injury or illness - which means you will need to be very familiar with their usual behaviour. And that means you will have to spend time getting to know them. So, while I and my (farmore-knowledgeable-than-me) wife Jenn can advise you on keeping poultry without breaking the bank, you will have to invest lots of that other valuable commodity, time. You still up for it? Let’s get practical… The basic requirements for keeping poultry is much the same as for other living creatures: the birds themselves, shelter, food, water, security and wellbeing. Now we’ll examine each one in more detail (but only as much as you need). The birds
There’s lots and lots of choice, of course. Traditional pure breeds are generally cuter and more, well, traditional, but also not such good layers. And sometimes not so friendly either. Commercially developed hybrids have many of the characteristics of pure breeds (including decorative plumage and a range of brown, dark brown, white, blue or even green eggs) but lay way more. They will become tame with handling but don’t expect that high egg yield to last much beyond four years. Shelter
The priority is that it should be dry and
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wildlife gardening, environmental arts, culture, our wild kitchen and kitchen gardens have become hugely relevant and timely given the current Covid-19 pandemic. If there ever was a time to start making big lifestyle changes, and to scale back to nature - now would be it. You finally have the time to plant, to paint, to read, and to educate yourself about the climate crisis at hand. We’re here all along the way with guidance and information to keep you in the know. While we do plan to begin reopening certain activities at Devon Sculpture Park in July, we thought you might be interested in how you can remain involved and connected with this vital climate change project; online. At the beginning of April, we launched DSP Online, our virtual visitor and supporters’ app. Here, we post exclusive images, videos and articles about our wildlife conservation, our environmental art, and our wild kitchen. It is everything that has always made up the DSP experience, but now in online form. For just the price of your daily cup of coffee, you can purchase a month’s worth of content - you get exclusive access to upcoming projects, interviews with globally-sold artists who exhibit at the
Yes, it is another guide to poultry-keeping. But no, it’s not the same as all the others. This one doesn’t give you nearly as much information AND it requires you to give up lots of your time. I’m not selling this very well, am I? asks MARTIN FOSTER
relatively draft-free. The most common (but by no means only) option is the good ol’ chicken house - basically a short shed. Keep it high enough off the ground to avoid rot and ensure you’re not also providing rodent accommodation. The hens will need boxes or compartments in which to lay and some kind of bedding (straw, shredded cardboard, wood shavings, etc) to keep them cosy, encourage them to lay and ensure the shit doesn’t stick to the floor. Give them perches (batten’s fine) too. Food and drink
Drink is easy: clean water every day, in a poultry drinker or just a bowl if they don’t keep knocking it over (some don’t, some do for a hobby). Food needs to be proper poultry pellets (ranging from cheapo commercial stuff to organic - check the ingredients against your bank balance), plus scraps (although, if Defra are watching, nothing from your kitchen). Security
Nature is just full of predators that want to eat your chickens - and chickens love to get out and destroy your garden (and your neighbours’). Good fencing and gate/s are essential. Foxes, badgers, stoats and the like will dig (bury the bottom of fences to dissuade them); mink, rats and other small rodents will get through really small holes and gaps (use heavy-grade, small-mesh wire); and foxes are even better at jumping than they are at looking cute (and sly). Electric wire or mesh is the ultimate but also costly and the batteries (also expensive) need care and recharging. Completely predator-proof fencing is possible but difficult and expensive. Do as much as you can and trust to fate. But ALWAYS shut them away before dusk - and be sure predators will drop in on the night you forget. Wellbeing
Just as there are larger creatures with an eye on your fancy feathered friends, there
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are smaller bugs who fancy the taste of chicken too. Red mite live in the chicken house and jump on your hens each night to drink their blood - herbal treatments and a liberal dusting with a fine powder called diatomaceous earth will help keep the buggers at bay; mites can be similarly treated; worms too require a natural remedy or chemicals. There are many other bugs and illnesses that can attack your birds (and those superwordy ‘basic’ guides will tell you about them in great detail), but this is where we come to the all-important message about spending time with your poultry. Yes, these are the basic requirements and they will get you up and running. But that is only the beginning - the start of years of caring. Chicken-keeping is, and should be, timeconsuming. To do it properly, humanely and effectively, you need to be committed. But, as is often the case, if you put the thought and time in at the beginning, it will mean less work is required in the medium and long term. So, to keep poultry successfully, you don’t need to be an expert in anything other than how they normally behave. Then, when they’re behaving abnormally, you’ll spot it. And then you can find all the expert help you need in one of those books, or from all the information online. In time, of course, you’ll learn and become an expert yourself… l To find out more about our birds (and to find out more about those herbal anti-bug treatments), search for ‘Tigley Tump’ on Facebook. We also sell a wide range of fertile hatching eggs - again, info on our FB page, or call Jenn on 07976 504918.
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Top: C garde Cochi
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visitors
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sculpture park, photos and videos with tips on how to garden in an environmentally-conscious method, with our rewilding techniques, and so much more. The greater you contribute to DSP Online on a monthly basis, the more you will get back - online chats and livestreams with founder and environmentalist Philip Letts, priority bookings and discounts on tours, workshops and visits in-park; the list of perks is constantly growing and developing. At the sculpture park’s planned reopening in July, numbers will be greatly constricted as we remain wary of the current Covid-19 pandemic. In lieu of this, DSP Online has never been of greater use. Join DSP Online and receive a 10% discount on all activities in-park. The app is not purely beneficial in the digital sphere, but also for those coming to the park, enjoying a greater number of activities at an even lower price. Join DSP Online, and become a valued partner of Devon Sculpture Park - both online and in-park. l Visit www.devonsculpturepark.org to find out more about joining DSP Online, and other details about affordable membership packages so you can get involved with Devon Sculpture Park.
Chocolate Pekins - sweet temperaments. Middle left: Silver Partridge Pekins en-friendly. Bottom left: Blue Orpington Bantams - pretty and productive. Right: Buff in cockerel - the gentle giant. Inset: Muscovey ducks - quiet and good layers.
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Foxes bold as love ROB HOPKINS founder of the Transition Network and Transition Town Totnes believes we have the perfect opportunity to bounce forward after what has been ‘the Spring of our lives’.
I met a friend in the street the other day, and we chatted, whilst maintaining our obligatory 2 metres distance. It is amazing how quickly this has become normal. For decades the idea of Totnes without hugs would have been utterly unimaginable, and yet there we were. He is someone who gets up earlier in the morning than I usually do, and he told me of encounters with deer in the street, foxes bold as brass strolling down morning streets, blue tits landing on his shoulder whilst sitting in the garden. It resonated with to stories from elsewhere, of herds of wild goats roaming town centres and dolphins popping up in the canals of Venice for the first time in living memory. Another friend who lives on the High Street told me of finding an owl on her windowsill for the first time ever. As I write this, a pair of bullfinches are sitting outside my window. I feel as though I am being visited by royalty. I have lived through a Spring that, as Charles Dickens would have put it, “was the best of times [and] … the worst of times”. It has, in many ways, been the most glorious Spring of my life. Dazzling sunshine, grass and leaves greener than I can ever remember, birdsong louder than I’ve ever experienced, sunrises and sunsets that took the breath away, a sky free from contrails, streets free of cars, air fresher and more delicious than I ever recall. Vegetable gardens popping up everywhere. Seed companies overwhelmed with orders. Local food producers tripling, quadrupling production in order to keep up with demand. In many ways, this has been the Spring of our lives. And yet at what cost? We have arrived here through the absolutely worst route. No-one would have chosen this as the way to arrive here, and it is almost certain that by the time you read this, business-as-usual will have clawed back most of the gains set out above. But what these weeks of lockdown have done is to give us a taste of what a more localised, more resilient future would actually be like. Hold on to that. Emblazon it in your memory. Remember what it felt like, smelt like, sounded like. Two weeks into the lockdown I took part in a ‘Teach-In’ with novelist and activist Arundhati Roy. She talked about how COVID-19 has been like an MRI scan for each nation it has visited, highlighting the inequalities and injustices in each. In the UK we have seen that BAME people have been 4 times more likely to be killed by this virus, and that air pollution, suffered predominantly by those in the poorest urban areas, has been a key factor in exacerbating vulnerability to it. The government was happy to send poorer workers Linocuts by Rob who back to work in unsafe conditions whilst the is passing the time in middle classes continued working from home, lockdown by doing and while state schools re-opened, private something artistic schools remained firmly shut. every day. This has, of course, been ruinous to the economy, and Totnes is not exempt from that. Many small businesses will not survive and many families have suffered huge financial hardship. I fear for the damage this will do to Totnes High Street, with its 80% of businesses being independent, familyowned enterprises. Some people of course have done well out of this crisis but not many. A French friend once told me a saying used there to describe how some people do well out of even the worst of crises: “we have a saying, that the sinking of the Titanic turned out very well for the lobsters in the kitchen”. Jeff Bezos may well also be thinking that this is the best Spring of his life, but for very different reasons. What matters now is that we do everything we can to ensure that we do not go back to how things were before, that we ‘bounce forward’ rather than ‘bounce back’. It is entirely possible that we move from a growth economy to a wellbeing economy, one whose main purpose is the cultivation of those very things we have cherished over these months, the clean air, the sense of shared purpose, the biodiverse towns and streets, the birdsong. In Totnes we already have many pieces of the puzzle. What matters going forward, and with urgency, is that we more skilfully work together, forge partnerships and connections, raise our level of ambition. We need to build on this going forward, use it as the launch pad that enables us to leap to new heights, rather than just slumping back into a business-as-usual that, in reality, actually worked well for very few people. Build back better. l Rob has just launched a podcast series, ‘From What If to What Next’. Subscribe a www.patreon.com/fromwhatiftowhatnext . His latest book, ‘From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want’, is now out now. Follow his blog at www.robhopkins.net
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That time when we are together again ONLINE get togethers have for many healed our feelings of isolation during lockdown. But not just a way of staying in touch for Dr Rachel Fleming, the Director of Embercombe, a charitable organisation based in a wilding 50 acre valley near Exeter. Online ceremonies, stories and conversation have for now at least replaced residential programmes and experiences based on nature-based and indigenous wisdom and practice. Rachel writes.... S the birdsong more enthusiastic, more joyful and exquisite in these days, or is it that we love more that which we are separated from? We are so much looking forward to standing together on the land, around the fire, in simplicity, telling stories of this time and looking to the stars for navigation ... some day soon! But in the meantime we are enjoying rich sharings, thoughts and singings on Embercombe Online, from alchemy and animism, to activism, word magic and dark road dreams. Do join us on Wednesdays and Fridays if you haven’t already. In conversation with Stephen Jenkinson this week, our specialist on grief and dying wisely, we talked about the importance of learning how to stop, of paying close attention to the detail of what is happening in this very moment, of considering who we will be rather than what we will do when the time comes. “Would that the day come when we realise that we are someone else’s ancestors” Stephen said, “that they need us more than we can ever imagine needing them. And they will want to believe that they came from people worth coming from.” Perhaps this is our guiding star in these strange days on the dark road, that were strange to begin with but became even stranger: who shall we be, from this time to them. And as we set out again, not knowing if our redemptive actions will ever lead to redemption, we go on, even as we say that we cannot go on. l Find out more about Embercombe online at https://embercombe.org/ embercombe-online/ Stephen Jenkinson will be teaching at Embercombe in early May 2021, Dark Road Dreams, book now here: https://embercombe.org/dark-roaddreams/
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Help for parents and children FAMILIES struggling to come to terms with all the uncertainties of a ‘new normal’ during lockdown are being offered online support through Children’s charity, Action for Children. Supported by Devon County Council, Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council, the new service – parents.actionforchildren. org.uk – offers advice, support and educational and play material for parents and caregivers of children aged 0–19 years. There’s one-to-one support from an experienced parenting coach through an online chat service, Talk. Parents get free, expert advice on anything from home-schooling or helping children with their worries
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about the pandemic, through to managing finances during the crisis. John Egan, from Action for Children, said: “Families need to know they’re not on their own, parents are dealing with huge new challenges during the crisis. Our incredible key workers have worked relentlessly alongside their Public Health Nursing colleagues to find new ways to support parents and children through these worrying times, and our Talk service means we can offer much needed help to any parent in Devon who is struggling – both now and long after the crisis ends.” l For information and advice from the Talk services, please go to parents.actionforchildren.org.uk.
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Naturally nourishing OUR resident foodie, JANE HUTTON, has been quite busy over the last few weeks, while healthy food and slow cooking has been in the spotlight.
Healthy cooking is the new normal
This Pandemic brings new possibilities for economic transition JAY TOMPT, manager of the REconomy Centre in Totnes, sets out a pathway to a new climate economy, and plots a route to a new economic transition.
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ANY people don’t want to go ‘back to normal’ but want to go forward to something better. This is obvious by now. The economy crashed but what many notice is bird song, clean air, simpler patterns of life. Citizens also notice the billions of pounds the government suddenly conjured up. There’s always been plenty of money for things like healthcare, education, housing, energy transformation, it’s just that there’s been a lack of leadership, honesty and justice. Now we know addressing climate and ecological crises is possible and affordable. Might this bring new political expectations backed by a greater willingness across all parts of society to act; to hold those in power accountable or depose them? The government is acting to save business as usual, with bailouts for banks and big business. Action on the climate and ecological crisis remains in the background. We’re facing, perhaps, another Great Depression and wise government spending is the obvious remedy. Some conservatives are poised to reimpose austerity. But calls for a ‘green new deal’ and #buildbackbetter are rising and getting louder. The Totnes REconomy Project has tried to be a catalyst for fair, ecological and resilient economic transition. The importance of these goals has become crystal clear during this crisis. Maybe now there’s a chance to realise them. What might an ambitious, inspiring, transformative ‘Local New Deal’ response look like from this point of view? Economic Transition and Resilience Programme – Our economy must change to meet everyone’s needs, dramatically shrink our ecological footprint, and increase resilience. This requires more local and bioregionally appropriate methods, more local and regionally-based ownership and accountability. This programme must be ambitious – like the climate economy version of ‘the Moonshot’, perhaps. It would include: l Regional Mutual Bank Network. There are a small number of startup banks of this kind, such as the South West Mutual. These banks would be essential financial services providers to a vibrant and growing relocalised and resilient economic system. Let’s fund 100 such banks across the country.
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l Regional Transition Enterprise
Ecosystem Fund to accelerate the development of bioregionallyappropriate economies. It could fund 10,000 co-working and incubation spaces across the country; entrepreneurial training programmes,startups and young companies, networks, ‘fab labs’, research and ‘enabler’ organisations. l Farming Regeneration Programme to increase adoption of ‘agro-ecological’ methods, producing more of our food domestically in ways that build soil, ecosystem health and food security. And attract new farmers, too. l NHS Resilient Provisioning Network would create a robust and resilient supplier ecosystem for essential goods and services for the NHS, social/ green/cooperative enterprises able to produce a range of goods and services, as well as being flexible, adaptable, mutually supportive. These practical programmes would help us meet the imperative delivered by the IPCC 1.5° report to reduce emissions 45% 2030. And they would build the foundation for long term economic resilience and prosperity. Clearly, more needs to be done - a just overhaul of the tax system, reforming the planning system, reappropriating land from aristocratic and royal families, and so on. These and other sensible proposals for economic transformation won’t become part of the national political discourse without the backing of a strong, credible movement. What we learned in the last election is that the party political system is, well, unreliable. This pandemic brings a rare opportunity. It requires citizen action and energy to grasp it.
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OW are you? We’re all asking this of pretty much everyone a lot more since these extraordinary times brought into focus what is really important. Isolation, social distancing, restricted movement, working from home, schooling at home, and all the juggling that this entails have made everyone more mindful. Food and health have been brought into particularly sharp focus. Raising immunity, shopping less, eating fresher while having a good store cupboard to A chickpea in make food go the wild further have been priorities for many. Most importantly, not just having time to cook, but actively needing to find things to do have seen a rise in interest in cooking, baking, recipes and feeding the family. All in all, the lockdown has seen healthy food, and healthy habits, become almost the norm, and at the very least, desirable. So, how can I help tired readers to cook something that uses a healthy, cheap store cupboard ingredient easily and deliciously? This issue’s recipe is an easy, quick and healthy fritter for lunches, snacks or a starter, depending on the size you choose. The health benefits come from using just a few nutrient-dense, simple ingredients, and frying in rapeseed oil. Put together, they produce a wide range of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. Chickpeas are a source of protein as well as complex carbs
in equal ratios, with a good balance of fatty acids. and high levels of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, biotin, folate, K and E. Bursting with minerals too, they contain high levels of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, selenium and molybdenum. Chickpeas are also fantastic sources of phytooestrogenic compounds (natural plant oestrogens, helping to balance hormones in anyone experiencing conditions related to hormonal imbalances. Some tend to avoid pulses and beans because they wreak havoc with their digestion don’t panic though, this is usually an indication of gut inflammation or lack of digestive enzymes, particularly.one called gluco-amylase. Taking an all-round digestive enzyme tablet before meals generally, but especially when eating problem foods, should alleviate issues, and allow for better nutrient absorption generally. That has to be good! Adding feta, fresh coriander and carrots fill in the gaps, adding vitamins A, B12, and C, plus manganese, calcium and omega 3 fats. Buying an authentic feta (not made form cow’s milk) helps anyone trying to avoid cow’s dairy products, like eczema and asthma sufferers.) All together these little golden nuggets of goodness pack a hefty health punch, looking after your immunity, heart, circulation, skin, hormones, and more. So, time to fritter. Stay well!
Chickpea Fritters (gluten free if using GF baking powder) 2 cans of chickpeas 3-4 large carrots, grated 300g hard feta, chopped 4 eggs 40g coriander, chopped 100g rice flour 2 tsp baking powder (gluten free if desired) salt and pepper, to taste rapeseed oil Mash the chickpeas in a large bowl, adding the carrots, coriander, and feta, mixing together. Beat the eggs and add to the chickpea mixture, then stir in the flour, baking powder and salt/pepper. Mix well to combine thoroughly.
Taking a large frying pan, heat approx 1 cm of rapeseed oil on a medium heat. Add the mixture in spoonfuls, as big or small as desired, and fry until golden on each side, keeping the heat medium, and not overloading the pan with too many at a time. These can be served with any number of accompaniments as a quick supper or lunch, or as snacks. Mint yogurt, raita, salads like spinach and watercress, couscous or brown rice would all complement these to make a healthy meal.
Naturally Nourishing is written by nutritionist and “confirmed foodie” Jane Hutton. Visit her website, www.functionalfoodie.com, and sign up for programmes, recipes and advice.
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rewilding Prickles in a pickle JUDY THOMSON together with her partner Alan, from Stoke Fleming near Dartmouth, manage ‘Prickles in a Pickle’ a home based hedgehog rescue that takes in injured, poorly and underweight hedgehogs for care and release, plus other animals and bird too. Judy tells us more...
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O misquote a well-known film, ‘If you build it, they will come’ certainly applies to us. As with many people that fall into wildlife rescue, we found that it found us rather than the other way around. I have always been animal mad and constantly bringing broken feathered or furred souls’ home to be mended. When I arrived home with a Tawny Owl, my Mother uttered the immortal words: “I would have thought you would have grown out of this by now!”, I was 31 at the time. I am now in my 60th year and my passion for wildlife and especially hedgehogs, has increased rather than diminished. My partner, Alan, comes from good old-fashioned Devon farming stock. His views on some issues have been different to mine but let us just say that some of these views have mellowed in time! His knowledge of the countryside and all the creatures that live within it knows no bounds. Plus, he is good at making various homes, houses, and pens. Between us we make a decent team.
The week we decided to move in together brought about an incident that was to change everything for us in the future, we did not know this at the time! This was 12 years ago. I was carrying out a spring clean of the stables we rented when my shavings fork picked up a nesting hedgehog and her 4 tiny hoglets. All I knew was that I had to put them immediately back where they came from and leave well alone. Hedgehog mothers do not take kindly to disturbance. I was concerned that they may be abandoned and perish, so Alan and I kept watch over the situation, from a distance for a couple of days. Our worst fears came to fruition on the second morning when we found distressed hoglets scattered all over the stable ‘peeping’ for mum. We gathered them up, put them back in the nest and rechecked in the evening. They were all out of the nest again, cold, and only 2 of them. We sorted through the rest of the shavings, like the graded grainers on the flour advert, with the aid of a head torch but could not find the other 2. We took them home,
warmed them up and with the aid of a glass ear dropper, some kitten milk, and the will to get them to live, we awoke every 2 hours through the night to feed and toilet them. We learned a lot from these little creatures, Piglet and Roo we called them. They grew up and left home and the rest as they say is history. We had no idea at this point how dire things were for the humble hedgehog. In the 1950s there was an estimated 30million, we are now down to our last 500,000 approximately. A high proportion of this loss has been in the last 2 decades. When you consider that out of every nest of babies, usually between 3 and 6, only 1 will survive to adulthood. They are sexually mature by their second year and in the wild live to about 3 or 4 years if they are lucky. Add to these poor odds the obstacles put in front of them and survival, it is no wonder we have lost so many. Roads, pesticides, herbicides, tiny non interconnecting gardens with no wild areas, garden machinery, modern agricultural practice, badgers, global warming to name only some.
Ironically, it seems that ‘new build’ estates may hold the key to many wildlife species being able to thrive. Integral bat and Swift boxes, hedgehog highways and built in wildlife corridors are some of the things designers are having to incorporate into their plans. ‘Prickles in a Pickle’ was created to give us a recognisable name. For years we had been just quietly helping hedgehogs and other wildlife, out of our own pockets. As we got busier and busier, we learned more and more by attending courses, networking with other rescues, reading and researching. I am lucky to have a lot of transferrable skills as I am a Registered Nurse, this has helped tremendously. Last year was phenomenal, the number of hedgehogs needing help was increasing day by day and this year we decided to register as a charity. It came to the point that I was literally working to look after the hedgehogs. l You can find Prickles in a Pickle on Facebook.
Caught on camera at Sharpham
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OXES, a tawny owl and a hedgehog are amongst the creatures caught unawares by hidden cameras on Sharpham Estate, around the site of the Sharpham Trust’s rewilding project which began earlier this year. The Trust near Totnes was awarded £177,400 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to make more space for wildlife and take action for nature in a three-year project called Sharpham Wild for People. The grant will help in turning the Sharpham Estate organic, re-wilding parts of its historic landscape and helping more people engage with the nature there – from members of the public to students of conservation learning to use camera traps. “These first pictures of hedgehogs are amazing because as far as we know this is the first record of them being this far into the estate for over 20 years.” said Simon Roper, from Ambios Ltd, the nature conservation & education organisation which deployed the cameras via its trainees. “Although our rewilding project has only just begun it is so encouraging to get this image of an animal likely to benefit from our future work in restoring nature. Sharing these pictures is a step towards connecting people with nature,” he added.
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An important aspect of the project Sharpham Wild for People is the exploration of organic farming techniques such as less-intensive grazing, in order to support biodiversity. Ambios Ltd already operates Lower Sharpham Farm, an organic farm on the Sharpham Estate, and has just signed a tenancy to take over a further 50 acres of Sharpham parkland, which will be restored to parkland and wood pasture (a habitat with trees that would have characterised Sharpham parkland at the time of its design, in 1762). An additional 137 acres of land has been leased to farmer David Camp for organic conversion. “A key mission for Sharpham is to care for wildlife and enable people to connect with our natural world,” said Trust Director Julian Carnell. “Because of this project, almost all the estate land will be managed organically which has proven benefits for wildlife,” he said. The project was to include school visits, public events, volunteering & training opportunities this summer and the pandemic has meant that these have been postponed. However, the Trust hopes to start some of these in September, and is pressing ahead with other project goals such as introducing livestock, fencing and surveying wildlife.
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HILL TRIBE A new Rites of Passage programme for 12-16 year olds
Step up and shine in uncertain times AS our world changes faster than we ever dreamt possible, Jennifer Stevens and Pollyanna Darling of women-led reforestation charity TreeSisters suggest seven ways to use this time of uncertainty and change to develop our gifts and strengths. 1. Boost your wellbeing listening to the sounds of Nature: right now they are louder, clearer and more needed than ever before! If you can spend some time in your local park, sitting beside a tree, or just closing your eyes and listening to the birds outside your window, this can help centre your thoughts and calm internal turmoil. In a calmer state, your natural creativity and energy can emerge. 2. Sit back and listen: slowing down can also be a way to step up! Despite pressure from your social media feeds, it is perfectly okay to come out of self-isolation without having learnt a new language, mastered cookery or built your own empire. However, this time is a good opportunity to listen deeply to yourself and your loved ones. On average we only ‘listen’ to 50% of what is said to us, so using this time to learn to really listen could have a hugely beneficial impact.
17-23 AUGUST 2020 ON THE HILL, DEVON Contact: 01647 252 643 or info@onthehill.camp For more info visit www.onthehill.camp
3. Tap into your inner wisdom and power: understand your gifts and build yourself a toolkit to bring them forward …when you listen deeply to yourself, what do you long to offer the world? What are you doing when you feel most yourself and most alive? How could you liberate that energy or activity in service to our planet and all life - and what do you need to do to support yourself in that? If you’re stuck for ideas, try journaling (see point 6). TreeSisters also has many useful free resources for tapping into your inner wisdom here: https://treesisters.org/grow-yourself#paths-to-growyourself 4. Build an Earth-friendly legacy: as the saying goes ~ “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” If you have a garden, or access to outside space, why not start your legacy? If you don’t have the ability to plant trees at home, you can donate to a tree planting organisation such as TreeSisters and fund the planting of tropical trees that grow quickly and benefit the whole world! 5. Volunteer your skills: at this time, many small businesses and charities are in need of a helping hand. Often volunteering can be done online from the comfort of your own home. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to share your skills, support your passions and give back to your community 6. Keep a Journal: Weird things are happening every day and the only certainty we have is uncertainty. Writing things down can help you organise your thoughts and process the events of each day. It can increase empathy, reduce stress and unleash creativity. It is also fascinating to document your own experiences and read them through at a later date 7. Make a Plan: after all that listening, time in Nature and journaling, create a vision of how you’d love to contribute to a healthy planet and build a plan. Good plans empower, provide structure and help give us a sense of direction. Right now it may feel impossible to plan anything, but that isn’t true. Build a plan for one of your days at the weekend or for a new craft project. What do you deeply care about and what would bring you joy to contribute, even in uncertain times? Planning helps us to focus on what really matters and bring that to our lives. l TreeSisters exists to elicit collective responsibility for planetary restoration at the grass roots level with a focus on women and tropical reforestation. They are growing a global network of women who donate monthly to fund the acceleration of tropical reforestation as an expression of collective planetary care. Find out more at treesisters.org.
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WELLBEING
THE natural health and personal development PAGES Inside wellbeing...
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Living and dying well Habits determine your life The divine feminine
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STAY Safe” – it’s become the mantra for our times. We hear it in Government soundbites, commercials and conversations between friends. How many calls, Zoom sessions and FaceTimes now end with the words “stay safe”, even between strangers? But, what do we mean by “safe”? Carmella B’Hahn, who works with clients in grief, states of anxiety or transformation shared this moving personal story: “One Friday morning back in 1992, my five-year-old son, Benjaya, did something I’d never witnessed him do before. He put his finger into a pot of sacred ash (vibhuti) on my altar and made a mark with it in the centre of his forehead, saying happily, ‘This will keep me safe today!’ A few hours later he slipped into the river at South Brent while playing and drowned. “Was he wrong about the ash keeping him safe? If “safety” means ‘alive and kicking on the earth’, then yes, he was wrong, but perhaps he knew that he needed help for a safe and smooth transition. Perhaps he blessed himself for an inevitable initiatory event that he intuited was coming.
It comforts me to stay open to this possibility and to trust that there is an intelligence - far more aware than my wanting self - that is orchestrating such initiations for the greater good. “Many months later, an extraordinary visionary informed me of the ease of Benjaya’s death. She said that he had felt no pain in his exit and was showing her, metaphorically, how he had simply slipped down a silver slide from this side to the other.” Carmella helps people, through counselling, to find an inner sense of safety. She supports them to become conscious about conditioned fears around death/loss so that they can live more healthy lives. She also offers heartful communication support and TRE (tension and trauma release). By triggering the body’s natural tremor mechanism, TRE releases patterns and imprints that have become stuck. Everything except TRE is available online. l For information on sessions and Carmella’s three books visit: www.heartofrelating.com, email carmella@heartofrelating.com or call 01803 867005. Special offer for all first sessions.
Kate Philbin
The home of natural wellbeing WELLBEING is the home of natural health and personal development in South Devon - the perfect place to find your perfect therapy, retreat or workshop. And if you work in natural health, it’s the perfect place to get your message out there. A 1/8-page advertisement, like those below, can be yours for just £41.85 a month. A 1/4-page is only £66.60 a month. And you can tell the story behind what you offer in our free editorial - with help from our Wellbeing editor, Kate Philbin. Our designers will even put the artwork together for you at very affordable prices. The Wellbeing deadline for the next (August/ September) issue is July 3 so get in touch today and let’s get the ball rolling. Call Scott on 01392 346342 or email editor@ reconnectonline. co.uk
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Totnes Yoga & The Angel Hall: a bountiful spring!
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INCE October last year – and right up until lockdown - The Angel Hall at Bowden House had been open as a new yoga studio and venue for workshops, concerts and events. A resident of Bowden House Community, Joy Prater, is the brains behind this innovative project, which transformed the beautiful historic hall at Bowden into a fully equipped yoga studio called Totnes Yoga. Until midMarch she was holding a weekly yoga class there, which has been temporarily halted until the lifting of current restrictions. The 18th Century stately home of Bowden House is located in peaceful grounds on a hill above Totnes. The Angel Hall was once the main hall of the house and is a beautiful space with highly ornate walls and a spectacular ceiling painted with gods and cherubs. It faces south, so sunlight streams in through its large windows, Temporarily reconfigured to become an office, the Angel Hall is now being used by Joy to host her online live yoga classes and film yoga videos. Joy said: “Until we are able to open the doors of The Angel Hall to the public once again, the main focus is on sharing yoga online with anyone who wishes to join us.”
Joy has created a YouTube channel called Totnes Yoga. She has been busy filming, editing and uploading yoga videos for visitors to the channel to enjoy. She said: “Every week I share a new video to the Totnes Yoga channel, ranging from longer fullbody classes to shorter sequences that target specific areas of the body, such as hips, shoulders or abdomen. Soon there will be yoga videos focusing on sequences for deep relaxation, morning energising, individual asanas (postures), the chakras, and many more, including menstruation, pregnancy and postnatal. Visit and subscribe to Totnes Yoga on YouTube for a whole load of free yoga videos, home-grown right here in Devon!” Alongside yoga videos, Joy is continuing to offer live online classes from The Angel Hall. She said: “Until The Angel Hall is able to open again for harmony singing, yoga, beautiful acoustic music and workshops of all kinds - stay well, happy, relaxed and keep spreading your love and light. Big love to you all.” l For more information about online classes or for questions about yoga videos, classes and The Angel Hall, please contact Joy by email: totnesyoga@gmail.com or visit www.totnesyoga.co.uk
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A gift of lockdown
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HAT have been the gifts of this lockdown for you? Have there been any? For Nikhila Ludlow, being unable to hold her normal Feldenkrais Functional Integration sessions has pushed her to start offering Somatic Counselling, which is a form of body-centred therapy that looks at the connection of body and mind. It combines talking therapy with physical techniques such as deep breathing, relaxation exercises and meditation. Somatic Counselling is based on the premise that the stress of past emotional and traumatic events affects the central nervous system and can cause changes in the body. The technique can improve brain and body function. Nikhila has been running her private practice, focused on The Feldenkrais Method, in Dartington since 2004. She is known for her popular classes and individual work. Since 2013 she has completed a range of training courses including Holistic Counselling, Authentic Leadership, Relationship Counselling, and Advanced Counselling studies. Lockdown was the spur for her to expand her support to clients.
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Nikhila explained: “With my face-to-face Feldenkrais Functional Integration sessions on hold I was given a push– a bit like a fledgling out of the nest – to learn to fly. It’s not that I haven’t been giving Somatic Counselling – I have – but it was never in the foreground as it was always overshadowed by my love of Feldenkrais. So, the gift of lockdown – and I do believe it’s important for us to find the gifts if we can– is that I am now officially offering this work. It has given me such a lot and I believe it can really help other people. All you need to bring is a problem you want to resolve and an open mind.” l All counselling sessions and online Feldenkrais classes are currently being held on Zoom. For more information visit: www. lifeworks4.me.uk or call 07989 394904
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WELLBEING Kate does… Online Body Wisdom Coaching YOUR wellbeing editor Kate tries out a treatment or event or activity each issue this time she samples virtual coaching.
I INSIGHT MEDITATION IN THE BUDDHIST TRADITION
www.gaiahouse.co.uk
Jenny Heaton BA RSHom Registered Homeopath and Massage Practitioner Natural, holistic healthcare
07794 288172 jennytheaton@gmail.com
Take a deep BREATH...
Learn how to use your breath to overcome stress and re-energise your body. Improve your health and help clear emotional blockages. Online 1:1 sessions available. Introductory workshops will recommence when it is safe to do so, please check the website.
Transformational Breathing
Les Elms • les@breathsouthwest.com www.breathsouthwest.com
07828 566553
“Rough Diamonds”
Festival of Solo Autobiographical Theatre 10-12 July Totnes Angel Studios and on-line
Directed by Agata Krajewska and Phil Barber of Stories for Change Tel: 0779 500 2816
www.roughdiamonstheatre.co.uk www.theatreofawakening.co.uk 26
N THE last issue before we moved into this strange, virtual world, I met up with Fiona Montgomery from Body Wisdom Coaching for a taster session. I was so inspired both by hearing Fiona’s story of recovery and by my brief introduction to her work that I’ve continued to work with her in the ensuing weeks and months. So, for the first time ever, this issue’s Kate Does… is a follow-on from the last. The only difference is that these sessions have been online rather than face-to-face. We’ve all faced our own challenges in adapting to our vastly curtailed freedoms. I’m not alone in experiencing personal, health, work and financial pressures and I have been very grateful for my weekly, and latterly fortnightly, Skype sessions with Fiona. To summarise how the therapy works, all of us have an emotional brain, which exists in our gut, and a thinking brain, which is the rational, reasoning part of ourselves. Body Wisdom Coaching – which is derived from Mickel Therapy – says that any physical or mental health symptoms we experience are an attempt by the emotional brain to get its needs met. In an ideal world, we would respond to messages from this deeply intuitive part of ourselves using our thinking brain. However, all too often, the logical part of ourselves overrides our gut instinct. We may become overanalytical or negative and this is where the problems start. Failure to act on what the emotional brain is telling us leads to something called a suppression neural pathway. The hypothalamus (responsible for the body’s fight or flight response) becomes overstimulated and, unable to get our attention in any other way, the emotional brain may start to create chronic symptoms within our body. Body Wisdom Coaching teaches us to reconnect with this more instinctual part of ourselves, to listen to what the body is trying to tell us and to act on these messages. The therapy appeals to me because it is dynamic and proactive. Rather than simply identifying issues, it provides a range of “keys” that you can use to address them.
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The issues I face are a mix of physical symptoms – I’ve had a frozen shoulder for nearly two years and a deep ache inside my hips for a year – and mental health challenges – I’ve had ongoing depression and anxiety for a few years. Using the pain in my hips as an example, Fiona asked me to “tune into” the area to see if I could identify any particular emotion associated with the pain. I was surprised to experience a flush of hot anger bordering on rage. We began discussing what might be causing the anger and I identified a number of issues from past and present day. Over the last few weeks I have been trying to acknowledge this anger, communicated from the deepest part of myself, and respond using some of the techniques recommended in the coaching. The pain hasn’t yet gone but it is no longer constant and I’m finding it less debilitating than I did. Like any kind of coaching, the process is emotional and challenging and it can feel like a hard grind. But I am constantly inspired by Fiona who spent 12 years in bed, unable to walk and barely able to eat due to a severe energy disorder. She used the process she now teaches to heal herself and is now the picture of radiant health and vitality. When my energy starts to wane, I reinvigorate myself by watching the Facebook video of her leaping into the River Dart and singing with sheer joie de vivre. Some of that please…. l To book an online Body Wisdom Coaching session email Fiona at: fionamonty1@ gmail.com. Visit: www. bodywisdomcoaching.co.uk
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WELLBEING A welcome return back to practice
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FTER 10 years some ways. For the as practice past few years, I’ve manager of specialised in this Exeter Natural Health area. Having been an Centre, Ali Morrish analysand of Julian relinquished that role in David for 18 years, October to focus on the I was grateful for Homoeopathic Practice his endorsement as she shares with her I brought my love of husband, Mo. Jung – dreams, stories, rituals -more and more Many people may into my work.” not even realise that Ali is a registered Julian David, who homeopath with 25 is a Senior Jungian years’ experience. Psychanalyst said: “I Ali Morrish She stepped back have known Ali since from her practice following the 2002 and have been impressed by tragic death of her eldest daughter, her natural skill with the soul and Anna, in 2008. its needs. I support her expansion Ali said: “Whilst one can never get from homeopathy into dream-work over such an event, I feel ready to and a broad intuitive therapeutic return to work. Indeed, in many approach.” ways surviving such a loss augments Sometimes people see Ali purely for my understanding and compassion homeopathy. Some people choose for anyone who is suffering with to have a few sessions with Ali to trauma, bereavement and general work with dreams, even if they are mental health issues.” an existing patient of husband, Mo. After qualifying in 1995, Ali had a Some come to focus purely on the busy practice. In 2005 she took up Jungian work, looking at a deeper the role of homeopath at St Luke’s more soulful exploration of the Hospice in Plymouth as part of the unconscious. palliative care team, working with One said: “My years with Ali as inpatients and in the busy outpatient a patient of her homoeopathic clinic. She undertook training in practice were unquestionably bereavement care. enhanced by her knowledge of Ali took her knowledge of working Jungian therapy. Her breadth of with cancer around the country as experience makes her a unique CPD for homoeopaths and other therapist.” clinicians. For many years she was Ali holds clinics from her home on also clinical director of the South Dartmoor and from Exeter Natural West College of Homeopathic Health Centre. Medicine (formerly The British School). l For more information, to book an appointment or a free Alongside her homeopathy, Ali has introductory session call: 01364 always had an interest in Jungian 661397. Or email: enquiries@ psychology and working with thehomoeopathicpractice.co.uk dreams. She said: “People may not www.thehomoeopathicpractice. be aware that homeopathy and Jungian work are quite similar in co.uk
ELL HOUSE
The source of your wellbeing
Touch for Health KINESIOLOGY Massage • TFH Kinesiology • Training 07971 106 572 liz@devonwellhouse.co.uk www.devonwellhouse.co.uk
Healing from a distance
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ANY of us may be feeling in need of healing during these difficult times and it can be frustrating to be unable to access therapeutic support when we need it most. Sound Healer, Teresa Wickstead is offering free Distant Healing for anyone who would like it. There is no need to travel anywhere as she is able to offer healing completely remotely. She explained how it works: “Modern physics now supports the ancient belief that all matter consists of vibration/sound. Physicists have found that the physical world is made up of vibrating energy (the so-called ‘String Theory’). Using clear, strong intention, I can perform a Sound Healing session exactly as though you were lying on my treatment couch. All you need to do is relax comfortably at home. Although you cannot hear the sounds I make, the vibrating energy fields targeted by my strong intention have the power to reach out across distance to you. How far this distance measures is immaterial. Normally, we have a brief chat on the phone at the start of the session, then I invite you to
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email feedback afterwards.” Clients report a range of benefits from Sound Healing including: a release of emotions and trauma, changing from negative to more positive thought patterns, less physical pain, relaxation, feeling calmer, and having deeper insights into life situations. Teresa reassures clients that she will be resuming face-to-face Sound Healing in her Yurt as soon as possible. l For more details about Distant Healing, or to book an appointment email Teresa at teresa@teresawicksteed.co.uk
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WELLBEING Love in the time of lockdown
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OR some of us, life in lockdown has served to shine a spotlight on our closest relationships. Whatever dynamics normally exist between us, these have been magnified during this extraordinary time. In the light of this, some couples may be wondering about the way forward for their relationship. Philip Jones is an Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist. He said: “Being with the people we love can feel like home, a safe place where we can thrive. Or, it can feel like a place of conflict, pain and confusion. For some, this time of lockdown has provided a very welcome opportunity to slow down and share more time and space with the people they love. For others, it has revealed the difficulties in their intimate relationship and posed questions about whether they can continue in these relationships. Some may be thinking about
seeking help with their problems.” Emotionally Focused Couples’ Therapy is about helping couples to find ways out of their repeated cycles of conflict and back into loving and constructive ways of re-connecting . Philip said: “It is inevitable that we will meet challenges in the lifetime of our relationship but it’s not inevitable that these challenges will be detrimental. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy believes challenges can actually bring us closer together and increase the depth of our love connection, if we work with them. “The approach is founded in empirical scientific research and it applies to all relationships regardless of sexual orientation or racial origin. It can help to resolve negative styles of communication between couples who keep having the same painful, frustrating conversations over and over again.” Philip is running an online workshop online for up to four couples from June 27 to 28. He said: “It will be an educational weekend that will offer each couple a number of ways out of the painful patterns of conflict and confusion that they might be stuck in. The aim is to create a safe and enduring connection which will support each person to love and be loved in return.” l For more information visit www. howloveworks.co.uk or call 07568 356695.
Ola aid TO local businesses who may be opening soon... Ola Chiropractic in the heart of Totnes have spent quite a bit of time thinking through their safety measures and required PPE to be able to open Ola Chiropractic safely from June 1st. They have designed this infographic (see next page) to help patients/ clients understand what to expect when they come to see them and to ensure we are all safe! If anyone would like the pdf the Ola team are happy to share it with you to save you some leg work. Also they can let you know where they have sourced their masks and aprons and signage etc!
l See Ola’s website www. totneschiropractic.co.uk for contact details.
Sessions offered for free and by donation
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EGENERATIVE breathing supports you to reduce stress and tension, increase immunity and let go of that which is limiting your capacity to live fully, by opening to the flow of clear fresh life force energy to renew the body, heart and mind from the inside out. Through a series of sessions practitioner Ben Clark will teach you how to breathe more fully and deeply, increase your lung capacity, strengthen the immune system, maintain greater presence alertness and energy, as well as releasing stored emotions that inhibit your breathing capacity and support you to live your full potential. Ben said: “In these changing times all my work is now held online via Zoom either for free, by donation or on a sliding scale. I want to make it accessible and of benefit to anyone who is interested in working consciously with the breath as now more than ever the importance of breathing for optimal health and wellbeing is being recognised.” Ben offers: Free initial one to one consultations. 1-hour seated introductory sessions and 2-hour full sessions on a sliding scale. Free Breathing Circles and Breathwork Ceremonies by Donation. A series of 5 one-to-one sessions for people who want receive the maximum benefits of this work. He said: “The techniques used are simple and ancient time tested practices that are fully applicable
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for the modern lifestyle. They combine embodied breathwork techniques, mindfulness practices and conscious connected breathing.” The core principles of his work are: RESOURCE: Bring awareness into your body and connect to the innate healing capacity within you that knows exactly what’s ready to heal. RELEASE: That which limits you and is ready to move from the mental, physical, energetic and emotional levels of your being. RENEW: Your connection to potent life force energy, insight, creativity and power that is available to you in every moment, in every breath. Ben added: “Please be in touch for more information. I’m available on the phone, by email and on Zoom.” l All his contact details and booking links are on his website: www.regenerativebreathing.com
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WELLBEING
COVID 19 CLINIC PROTOCOL Step 1.
The steps we are taking to keep us all healthy and relaxed.
Step 2.
EMAIL TRIAGE We will email you a pre-treatment questionnaire to complete ahead of your appointment. Please keep an eye out for it!
Please arrive within 5 minutes of your appointment time... (Come unaccompanied, unless essential for your care.)
Step 5.
Step 3.
HAND HYGIENE Please wash your hands with soap and water before taking a seat...
Step 6 TA K E A SE AT
To help you maintain a safe 2m distance, there are now only two chairs in reception ~ but we also have an additional waiting room. Please wait until you are called.
HAND HYGIENE
Step 4. TEMPERATURE CHECK Please wait when you get to the top of the stairs ~ our receptionist will use a hand-held thermometer to take your temperature.
In addition to asking you to observe these procedures, we are also taking the following steps: ONG OI NG C L E A N I NG
P ROT E C T I V E E QU I P M E N T
T R E AT M E N T RO OM S
We are frequently disinfecting commonly touched areas & hard surfaces such as door handles, keyboards, hand wash & toilet facilities.
All clinic staff are following PPE protocol by wearing gloves, masks & aprons. Masks are available if you would like one. We are also adhering to strict hand-cleaning procedures between patient visits.
We are alternating treatment benches between patients, as well as allowing for a 20 minute disinfection process using anti-viral spray, along with a UV wand on headrests.
Step 7
EXIT VIA THE BAC K D O OR
We are operating a ‘one-way system’. Once your treatment is finished, please follow the markings on the floor to leave by the rear exit on the first floor.
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Before you enter the clinic, please use the automatic hand sanitiser mounted in the hallway to the left of the front door.
Thank you.Please feel free to call or email us with any questions.
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WELLBEING TFH Kinesiology training
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Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) (Stimulates the immune system to function optimally)
The Bowen Technique Scar Tissue Release Chapel House Studios, Totnes Home Visits AMANDA MORRIS CLT – MLDUK – CertECBS
For an appointment please call 07931 505 312
amanda@amandamorris.co.uk www.amandamorris.co.uk
OUCH for Health Kinesiology is a non-invasive approach to natural healthcare that is performed over clothes. It combines the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan energy techniques, Nutrition and Western bodywork techniques. Energy and body function are assessed using muscle monitoring. This gives feedback regarding where energy imbalances lie and what the body needs to restore balance. This process empowers the person by releasing trauma and resistance and gaining insight and tools that help to align the mind, body and soul. Liz Reddish was inspired to begin teaching TFH Kinesiology after her own life was transformed by the approach. She said: “The TFH Kinesiology training offers an educational model that not only teaches students how to work with TFH kinesiology to support others, but through it’s practical approach, it supports and facilitates students with their own personal health and wellbeing. Benefits include: increased energy and vitality; breaking down blocks, barriers and emotional triggers; increases confidence and personal motivation; improves posture and relief from physical pain and tension; stress relief and day-today stress management; setting
and achieving personal goals; processes trauma; enhances brain function, and supports and improves co-ordination, balance and general performance.” With a wealth of knowledge and experience in both Massage and TFH Kinesiology, Liz runs a busy practise as well as teaching and supporting her students throughout the academic year. The next set of courses are as follows: Kinesiology training Level 1: Oct 9-10 2020 Level 2: Nov 12-13 2020 Metaphors: Dec 11-12 2020 Level 3: Jan 22-23 2021 Level 4: Mar 5-6 2021 Proficiency: May 8-9 2021 Assessment: June 26 2021 l For more information call Liz on: 07971 106 572 or email: liz@ devonwellhouse.co.uk
Your invitation to a festival
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OMING up from July 10 to 12 at the Angel Studios in Totnes– and live-streamed online – is the Festival of Solo Autobiographical Theatre and launch of The School of Rough Diamonds. It is hosted by the leaders of Stories for Change workshops, Agata Krajewska and Phil Barber, and will be performed in front of a small, invited audience. Phil said: “Our performers have been exploring, catching, crafting, and honing significant stories of their lives in local workshops and subsequently online during lockdown. The next step is to make a Living Theatre from the events and experiences that have shaped us, bringing artistry and raw experience together. We call this transformational theatre. It is an alchemical experience for performers and members of the audience alike and we invite you to join us online.” Agata explained: “This work is a celebration of humanity, of our unique quirks, the particular winding roads we travelled that made us who we are today. Every Body Wisdom Coaching is a powerful therapy used to treat one of us is a rough diamond, energy disorders such as M.E, Fibromyalgia and CFS. Using being polished by life’s events. you ever seen African the messages from the body as our guide, we restore the “Have tribes dancing in a circle? Every mind/body connection allowing health to return. now and then one person steps in and gives a great performance, Fiona Montgomery then somebody else. Taking turns everyone has their moment Tel: 07920 461400 | Email: fionamonty1@gmail.com centre stage. We believe people www.bodywisdomcoaching.co.uk can experience this through solo
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autobiographical theatre and in doing so retrieve their sense of belonging.” She described the creating and sharing of solo performance as “closing a chapter, being received back by the village” and pointed out that sharing stories often brings attention to important social issues, and shows that “the personal is political.” Maya Angelou said: “There is nothing more painful than carrying untold story.” Phil agreed: “This was certainly my experience before I wrote my memoir. It’s about turning our story into art and giving it back to life. It has a mentoring, transformational power. It’s not just for us. The trials we came through are for the benefit of others. You can’t help but fall in love with someone once you’ve heard their story.” l Find out more about joining the online festival of autobiographical theatre here: www. roughdiamonstheatre.co.uk and www.theatreofawakening.co.uk
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£41.85 WELLBEING
The dance of freedom and constraint
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T is said that ‘When we can accept our limitations, we no longer feel limited’ (Adyashanti). So, what is your experience of these interesting times? Are you emerging from the lockdown brimming with new ideas and fresh enthusiasm? Bell Bartlett is a local psychic reader with 40 years’ experience. Far from being fazed by such times, she has a passion for seeking heart-centred, practical solutions. She said: “Many of my clients feel they are navigating their way through unreliable waters with a mixture of excitement and fear. During lockdown, I have been doing readings online for some. And, as we emerge from lockdown, I expect many will be seeking guidance on the best way forward. “My readings centre on accessing information that is most beneficial for you, personally and professionally. Timing can be crucial - when is it best to act, and when to wait, when is the right time to make an important decision and when to put it into action? As a colleague once said to me, ‘the secret of good timing, is good timing!’ So, if you are considering a significant change it can be worth checking out in advance how that will work out for you.”
Bell believes that for the next couple of years we are likely to have to find a great deal of flexibility within ourselves to respond to changing freedoms and constraints. She said: “The time will hold many more surprises for us, individually and collectively. If you find yourself not knowing what to do or when to do it, a reading with me can give you greater clarity in your direction, reassurance for your heart and confidence in your decisionmaking.” A client recently commented: “I love the way you bring the sacred into the everyday.” l For more information visit: www. conscious-tarot.co.uk or call 07796 900509
Book a series of ads this size and it will cost you just £41.85 a month - including free editorial. Regular advertiser Jason Burns can vouch for the success of advertising. He said, “I’m pleased to say that I have had a very good booking for my services, because of advertising with you, so I’m happy to commit to the full year.” You too could find customers through an advert in these pages, call Scott on 01392 346342. Vegan, organic, zero waste packaging, handmade in Torquay
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Five tips for a self-love practice
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ET’S face it, we are all having to do a lot of self- reflection at the moment, mainly because we are all stuck at home with our own thoughts, which in many cases, can cause depression and despair. Are these loving kind thoughts, or are they thoughts that are leading us into despair or depression? Judging from the rise in alcohol sales in the last few months, I would say there are a number of people looking for an answer. As channel for the voice of the bees, Shamanic body worker and workshop facilitator, Belinda has worked with many clients over the years to support them with depression and despair, and helped them to move forward in their lives. Belinda believes it is important to take note of what is happening right now with the rise of mental health issues and fact that the N.H.S is unable to cope with them. She believes self-empowerment is the key, and she is offering five easy tips to help those struggling with low self-esteem, depression, and despair. Tip 1 Write any thoughts down when they come into your mind. By doing this you can make a clean space for new ideas. Tip 2 Go for a daily walk in nature (Meet with a friend too as long as you are social distancing.) Tip 3 Make a space in the day to sit quietly with your self. Light a candle to help you focus, and play some nice relaxing music.
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www.torbay-herbalist.co.uk
THE HOMOEOPATHIC PRACTICE of Mo Morrish RSHom & Ali Morrish RSHom Tip 4 Any kind of physical exercise, such as jogging, yoga, dance, are good for releasing tension and moving toxins around the system. Toxins can be removed by drinking warm water regularly. Tip 5 A regular gratitude practice, of writing down everything you are grateful for is good way to focus on positive thoughts. Belinda has written an e-book called Poetry For A New Paradigm. The themes of the poems include death and rebirth, self-love, self -forgiveness, finding personal sovereignty, and a powerful poem where she received her mission to become the voice of the bees. Go to her website to download a free copy of her book .The themes of the poems include death and rebirth, self-love, self -forgiveness, finding personal sovereignty, and a powerful poem where she received her mission to become the voice of the bees. l Belinda is also offering low cost Shamanic Bee Journey’s from now till the beginning of July. See www.thevoiceofthebees.com. You can also email her belinda@ thevoiceofthebees.com
ESTABLISHED in 1990 Committed to restoring health 01364 661397 www.thehomoeopathicpractice.co.uk Clinics held at: Exeter Natural Health Centre & Ilsington, Nr Newton Abbot
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WELLBEING SPREAD THE COST OF ADVERTISING I can't believe it's not expensive! A 1/8-page advertisement like this will still cost you just £41.85 a month if you book three or more issues and pay by direct debit AND we can help you write and design your ad AND we’ll write an editorial for you
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Shamanic Healer Training Accredited course Totnes, Devon Further details
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Children understand death
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HERE is a school of thought which still thinks young children shouldn’t go to funerals, that they’re too distracting, they don’t really understand what’s going on and become upset when they see their parents in distress. I disagree. I was seven years old when my father died, and in keeping with the mores of the time, did not attend his funeral. This was my mother’s biggest parenting regret. It made me furious for years, planted a seed of doubt in my mind that he was even dead at all. To me, he simply walked out of the door one morning and vanished. He was a soldier, and I fantasised he was on a secret mission. On his rare appearances in my dreams, he held a finger to his lips conspiratorially and winked. Now, we meet with parents who want to shield their children from this pain, the death of someone they love dearly, for all the right reasons, but with a desperate futility. They’ve convinced themselves before we even meet that the children should stay at home. We don’t insist that they bring them to the funeral, but we do use our considerable powers of persuasion to convince them otherwise. Children understand death on an instinctive level. What confuses them is ambiguity, adults pretending something won’t happen when it clearly will, flat contradictions to what their instincts are telling them. They need the truth, delivered clearly, each word chosen with precision. Grandpa isn’t lost, nor has he fallen asleep, he is dead, and yes that’s really sad. At the funeral, lots of people will be crying, including me but that’s okay, it’s only love. For a child who has had a parent die, every moment must be choreographed like a play, for
The Green Funeral Company’s Claire and Rupert Callender do not believe children should be shielded from the funerals. Ru rationalizes children just want to feel encompassed and that includes to the truth of the death of someone loved. the funeral will be an event they will revisit in their future, much more than they will actually be present to at the time. They will need a map to find their way back, landmarks to orientate them, flags saying I was here, so we create a strong memory, photographs, keepsakes, recordings, witnesses for corroboration, even smells. They will return years later in search of answers, and their grief will be there patiently waiting for them. Children are stronger than we give them credit for, and simpler too. They just need to feel included and welcome in their own lives, even the painful bits, especially the painful bits, for that is when we all really need to feel loved. l Visit www. thegreenfuneralcompany. co.uk or email enquiry@ thegreenfuneralcompany.co.uk or call 07759 890 639.
Sharing yoga and meditation online
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NE of the things that has been most heartwarming in recent months is how people are continuing to find ways to come together, albeit not physically. Scaravelli Yoga teacher Caroline Lang explained how her work has continued, she said: “After years of teaching groups in the intimate space of The Yoga House I have, for now, shifted my classes online. I am heartened that so many arrive in these sessions with great commitment from near and further away and that intimacy with the practice, the group and oneself continues. There is opportunity for people to share and listen and then I guide deeply embodied yoga, meditation and rest. As long as everyone is visible, I can teach intuitively, based on what I see and feel. Without hands on guidance, language and creativity has become even more important and finding words that suggest and hold rather than instruct. Caroline added: “It is really touching to hear from so many about all that is being shaken and stirred and revealed during these times. Our online practice allows for people to feel they are not alone, to rest close in towards themselves and what it is that they can deep-down trust. People value the grounding and continuity of coming together each week and the simple goodness of settling into the body and discovering that however burdened, overwhelmed, fragmented or full the mind may seem, in the intimacy of our being there is freshness, joy, potential and space.” l The sessions are on Monday mornings and evenings, Tuesday mornings, and Wednesday mornings and evenings, with a maximum of 14 in each group. For more information email carolinelangyoga@yahoo. com or visit www.carolinelangyoga.com..
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WELLBEING Mindful man REGULAR contributor and Write to Freedom founder CASPAR WALSH touches on a subject he’d rather avoid, one we all would...
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Y partner, Amber asked me what I was going to write for this issue about the pandemic. I told her, to be honest, I’d rather write about something else. We’ve been saturated by just about everything Covid-19 these past months apart from the virus itself - as far as we know anyway. We keep the news flow low to zero where possible; do our best to connect to the amazing spaces we live and work in; connect to loved ones online and phone and immerse ourselves in our imaginations through books, films, music etc. All this as antidote to what we are living through. And here I am writing about the pandemic. Sorry. It’s not easy to look at the state of the world and not feel fear and fret and even a little panic. And to try and find some kind of mechanism to soothe the rising dis-ease or imagine a time when things were easier, a past I can aspire to and draw some peace from. It doesn’t help to compare this time we’re in to another and say its worse now, harder, darker. For me it’s more realistic to see it through the phrase I use more and more, same shit, different century. Life has never at some point in human history been easier in the way I sometimes wish or imagine, or some would have me believe. I heard a quote a while back (its origin has escaped me), to paraphrase: life isn’t about ending corruption, conflict or defeating the evil deeds of men, it’s about learning to navigate what it brings day to day, the pressure, the grief and darkness with as much grace and love as we can; to make connections, to give and receive kindness. Maybe if more humans live from this ideal, it will multiply like a different kind of virus and less chaos will prevail? I do what I can to make the world a better place, or at least to try and leave behind something worthwhile but
how I respond and connect to the trouble and strife of life is what I really aspire to change, heal and improve - not people, places, things. I’ve spent a lot of my life regretting things I didn’t do. The Banksy I nearly bought for a few hundred quid back in my Bristol days. The fear of buying a house. Not following a career in the film industry, broken relationships. The list is long. But in the current global crisis, (still writing about it) the blessings and gratitude for the decisions I did make, for the life I created for myself out of the ashes of a poor start, has helped me become even more present to the abundance I can name in so many ways today. My appreciation for life, what I have and what I’m able to give back has always been strong. But these last few months have taken it to another level. Who knows how the crisis will unfold in the coming years. But I do know how alive and connected I feel in this moment. My mental and emotional health have been challenged but I’m still standing on solid foundations of faith and love. Our addiction recovery charity, Write to Freedom is offering extra support to those in recovery both in and out of work during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond. We’re putting an online Experience Weekend on for people in recovery and the wider community of family, friends and colleagues on June 13 and 14.10am-6pm. By donation, Check our website for more details. It seems the pandemic was the only thing I could write about for this issue... May we live in interesting times. l Caspar is founder of the award-winning addiction and trauma recovery charity, Write to Freedom. www.writetofreedom. org.uk
Yoga with Natalie @ Chapel House Studios, Totnes Tuesdays 9.30am, Thursdays 6.30pm Vinyasa Monday 6.30pm and Wednesday 10.45am Yin ALL CLASSES NOW ONLINE 07516 720 246 | natalie@loveyogatree.co.uk | www.loveyogatree.co.uk
Sanctuary by Chris Roe Shafts of light Through cathedral windows. Dappled shade Upon the leaves Beneath my feet. Bird song In the branches above. In the distance Hind and fawn Cross the forest track. The sweet fragrance of autumn Fills the misty air. A gentle breeze
Moving colours To the forest floor. So precious Such beauty, So hard to find Such peaceful sanctuary.
In Search Of Silence Beyond the storm, Where blue sky Still cradles The morning sun. In the clearing, Where shafts of light
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Hold back the shadows Of the ancient wood. Beyond conflict and pain And the inhumanity of man. Beyond duty And this journey That has seemed so long. Beyond the history That has brought me To this sacred place, This spiritual sanctuary. This peace, This silence, This love.
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WELLBEING Creating a little nature paradise OKKA NELA is a Totnes-based GAPS practitioner (GAPS stands for the gut & psychology connection) & Natural Health Nutritionist, specialising in gut microbiology and a gardener. She writes about the challenges and opportunities of our transforming world, and her own recent journey of transformation.
O
UR world is transforming. We’ve known for decades that our modern western culture is unsustainable. But we didn’t change and now nature is making the changes it needs on its own. This might be the right thing in the long-term, but it brings suffering, uncertainty and discomfort for us in the short-term. The climate crisis overshadows the future of humankind like a dark frightening cloud and it is now the impact of a microscopic virus that shows how vulnerable we truly are. The global system which the western world often proudly praised to be so “clever” and “advanced” starts to shake like a house of cards touched only by the slightest wind and with it the virus threatens the most basic things living creatures need: sustenance and loving connections. In these times, I believe it’s even more important that we root ourselves in nature and regain the feeling of being one with it. Nature will, in the end, balance everything out. Over the last few weeks, I imagined myself as a little stick floating downstream towards
a huge waterfall. After my initial fear, I let go of resistance. After the disturbance and swirl of the waterfall, I believe there will be peace and new life on the other side of it. In nature, there’s no ending only transformation. Nature is a self-regulating system. And if we feel one with nature instead of detaching us from it, then the fear of transformation vanishes. I’m sensing all of these things so clearly because I’ve experienced my own painful, personal loss. On February 9, my partner Matthew, the most loving, humorous, kind, gentle, honest and creative being I ever knew, died suddenly. Many of you were in your hearts with me during the last weeks, sending love and support to me and more importantly sending prayers and love to Matthew. I would have never thought to be able to experience this love so deeply. It was like I could feel so clearly and undoubtedly Matthew deeply wrapped in a soft cloud of all your love and the universal love and peace from where everything is coming and everything is going.
June 27th & 28th
Whenever the pain comes, whenever the numbness and emptiness overwhelms me, I try to listen deeply to the underlying hum of that love and peace. I softly hug the pain and rock the emptiness like trying to soothe a baby to sleep. Slowly the feelings pass like waves and the quiet hum of this love and peace then reaches my heart. Matthew experienced this deep, peaceful oneness of all things. He opened my eyes to see that we’re all different forms of the oneness of life. We come out of nature and will go back to it, just like waves coming and going out of the sea. Despite the pain, fear and suffering, there’s an underlying melody of life, which is where everything comes from and everything is going to. If we feel at one with nature, instead of separate beings who want to control it, if we reconnect and feel the oneness of everything and
every being then there’s no ending, only transformation, and there’s nothing to fear. Our gardening business “Happy Gardens & Organic Landshapes” has transformed, too. I still work as a gardener, but on a smaller scale and without a business name, until new shapes might form one day. But something I still hold onto are our shared dreams and imaginations. So I will still live for Matthews and my dream and our hope to develop a little nature paradise and herb garden at Hole Hill in Cornworthy.
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Living and dying well in Devon
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new End of Life Doula service is offering free telephonebased support to anyone who needs it across the UK. Awi Frances, who supports people living with life-limiting illness, and their families and friends, is part of the new service and also hosts Death Cafes on Zoom every fortnight. Awi posts details of the End of Life Doula service on her Facebook page Living Well and Dying Well in South Devon, along with news and articles about person-centred dying. She is also continuing to offer Doula support, albeit remotely, and there is currently no charge for this service. Awi said: “These are unprecedented times and we recognise that many people need extra support right now to cope with anxieties and life challenges. We are Doulas – volunteers who do not have a medical background but who are trained to provide support to people at times of transition. We provide
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telephone-based support to people who are terminally ill or who are concerned about caring for someone who is terminally ill or who is frail, or elderly or who has dementia. Maybe they are caring for a dying person at home or maybe the person they are concerned about is in physical isolation. “As well as providing support and reassurance we can assist with completing Advanced Decision/ Living Wills. People talk to us about death anxiety or fears that they may become seriously ill. They may be struggling with social distancing and feelings of loneliness or feeling afraid when they anticipate the death of their loved-one and ensuing grief and loneliness. “There is no need for anyone to struggle with anxieties alone in these difficult times. End of Life Doulas are available for free conversations seven days of the week. You can contact us at https://eol-doula.uk/get-doulasupport/.”
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WELLBEING Your habits will determine your life
T
HESE challenging times have altered our concepts of time and space. Right now, there is a strong, natural pull to reflect. We’re being given the chance to examine our core beliefs and ask ourselves whether or not we’ve been living in alignment with what we want in life. Saghar Amozgar is an ayurvedic yoga massage practitioner, yoga teacher and psychologist. She said: “As humans we evolved together, not on our own, and I’ve always felt the missing part in one-toone work was the lack of group and community support. Through online yoga health coaching, I’ve experienced the power of this group dynamic, so I’m pleased to say that I’m launching an online group coaching programme in May/June called Joyful Living. “The questions I’ll be inviting people to ask themselves are ‘Are my beliefs aligned with my actions? What are my beliefs around personal integrity? What are my beliefs regarding how I want to live, how I want to lead, how I want to celebrate?’ I will be offering online courses, coaching and support to help people adopt the 10 habits of Ayurveda to reach their full potential.” She explained that the word ‘Ayurveda’ comes from ‘ayuro’ meaning life and ‘veda’ meaning knowledge. The belief behind Ayurveda is that if we go against our primal-ancestral rhythms we will suffer and/or cut our life short. There are 10 key habits: 1.Eat an Earlier Lighter Dinner Is lunch your main meal? Eat a satisfying lunch to diminish skyrocketing blood sugar crashes and cravings. 2.Get to Bed Early If you want to sleep better, put the lights out by 10pm. 3.Start Your Day Right Wake up, hydrate, poop. 4.20 minutes Breath Body Practices before Breakfast 5.Eat a Plant-Based Diet Focus on local, native produce and eat seasonally, including seeds, sprouts, roots, shoots, leaves and fruits. 6.Self-Massage Your skin is your largest organ. The yogis rubbed themselves down with sesame oil before practicing outdoors. Oil lubricates the joints and wards off old age. Use organic cold-pressed oils on your skin daily and chuck chemical-laden lotions. Benefits include: relaxed nerves, deeper sleep, glowing skin. 7. Sit in Silence Practice sitting in silence to tap into the self beyond the mind. If you can, upgrade to meditation. It will help you make better choices. 8. Follow Healthier Eating Guidelines Do you eat again before previously eaten food is digested? The result is that blood sugar stays high and instead of burning fat, you’ll burn sugar and crave carbs. Eat three meals a day. Don’t starve or overstuff your stomach, drink only water between meals, eat in a calm environment, and invoke gratitude before digging in. 9.Come to Your Senses Your senses are the gateway to your experiences. Take a break from your computer, rest your eyes on the horizon, apply oil in your ears (karna purana) and nostrils (nasya), and scrape your tongue. When done regularly, these practices open your lenses of perception and aid the longevity of your sense organs. 10.Choose Easeful Living over Stress Symptoms like headache, sleeplessness, irritability or skin rashes are signs that you are experiencing stress and pressure. Don’t self-prescribe with alcohol or medication Saghar explained that these habits from Ayurveda are the secret of a healthy and joyful life. She said: “Notice which habits resonate with you, Start with an attitude of curiosity and take baby steps daily. If possible, find a buddy to co-navigate the process with. Join us in our online Joyful Living programme and experience the power of the group dynamic. “The question is ‘Are you ready to change? Do you want a healthier body, more stable emotions and happier relationships? If so, this can help you thrive in your body and your life.” l Saghar is offering a free 20-minute consultation for anyone who is serious about changing their habits and their life. Call her on: 07974470610 or email: saghar_amozgar@hotmail.com or visit http:// ayurvedicyogamassage.org.uk
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Working with the Worldwide Community
Daily Online (Lock-down) Qigong Offering a free daily morning practice 8.30 – 9.30 am (via Zoom) to help us connect with ourselves and the world around us at this time. Happening every weekday, until further notice.
https://shiatsuforchange.co.uk/projects/daily-online-qigong/ Kirsty Hurd-Thomas
shiatsuforchange.co.uk
Lifeworks Somatics for The Feldenkrais Method® and Holistic Counselling • Helping You Take Back the Power & Find Heart
• Online via Zoom • Functional Integration© individual lessons: will return once social distancing rules relaxed - to help rehabilitation, chronic pain, RSI, trauma, degenerative & neurological disorders Awareness Through Movement © groups: Somatic lessons help to relax, relieve stress, increase body awareness, maintain and improve general mobility Awareness Through Movement © individual lessons: tailored specially to your movement needs Somatic Counselling sessions: to explore the roots of chronic or long-term issues via the wisdom of the body “Nothing is permanent about our behaviour patterns except our belief that they are so” Dr Moshe Feldenkrais
www.lifeworks4.me.uk With Nikhila M Ludlow
(reg. Feldenkrais Guild UK 2005/SIAF 2013)
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WELLBEING Arcturus Clinic
Holistic Health Centre
Visit our Professional Colonic Hydrotherapy Suite for The Ultimate in Gut Health & Detoxification
THE DIVINE FEMININE THERAPIST, facilitator and writer Sapphira de la Terre explores empowerment and awakening from a feminine perspective.
Why is it so hard to follow our bliss?
S
OMETIMES I get annoyed by people telling me to follow my bliss. If it were easy, we’d all be doing it already.
47 Fore Street Totnes . arcturusclinic.co.uk . 01803 868282
The truth is that everything that we do has value, and takes us closer to that magical place of bliss. It doesn’t matter whether you’re stuck at home with Covid-19 or going for a lovely walk by the river. It all matters. I do however think identifying what your bliss is enormously helpful. And taking baby steps in that direction is obviously important too. But the reality is that, as you do so, resistance will come up, and processing that resistance is almost more important than any end result you are seeking. By processing what I mean is: allowing the resistance to be there, naming it, feeling it, perhaps expressing it in some way, and staying with it until it disappears. Of course big stuff like illness, penury, fear of being loved, that you’re not good enough… these are all major obstacles that may take some dispersing. Each time an issue gets triggered, you might only clear a layer… and then another layer will come up soon afterwards. But staying with it and allowing it is what allows it to fall away. Right now, we’re all being confronted with huge stuff to deal with. On one hand what is going on at the moment is a shocking global viral pandemic, potentially leading to a major recession. At a deeper level there is a battle going with between the powers that be (I’m not talking about most politicians here, I mean the shadowy people who pull the real strings, who are running most of the politicians). They are massively feeling the pinch these days because people have stopped giving away their power away to priests, doctors, politicians, even most journalists. The ‘powers that be’ need new ways to control the masses, and that means designer viruses, 5G, compulsory vaccination and apps which monitor our every movement. If we cannot be controlled just with brainwashing then they need to bring in the big guns. But at a deeper level still… there is something much bigger going on. Something truly beautiful. You could call it the awakening of humanity. You could call it a shift in consciousness. Waking up. Becoming who we truly are.
sapphira
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Essentially, with the lockdown, everything has slowed down for the majority of the population. Given that being busy is an addiction for most of us, taking away a layer of busy-ness allows the stuff we are keeping locked down within us to come to the surface. People are talking about depression, grief, being endlessly wound up by their partners, financial challenges, fear of death, mid life crises… all the stuff we normally keep at bay is suddenly in our faces and can no longer be ignored. In our families and relationships we suddenly have more time to be triggered by each other, and less opportunity to put our attention elsewhere. In a nutshell, we are being forced to face things we’d probably rather not face. Of course, it’s also an opportunity to heal old wounds, and uncover more of our true selves. By facing these triggers - naming whatever is really going on, feeling it, expressing it and staying with it until it shifts, we uncover more of ourselves. In myself I would describe it as opening doors within myself which I didn’t even know were there. But it’s certainly not easy. However, the more of this sludge we shift, the more we do actually know what we truly want in our lives, and the less resistance there is to taking steps towards it. Plus most of us have more time to look inside and ask ourselves: is this really want in our lives? Are we in the right relationships? Doing what we love? It’s a very hard time, but it’s also a time of breaking out of the chrysalis, and becoming more and more… who we truly are. l Sapphira de la Terre is a therapist based in Totnes. She uses a technique called EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique - in a very deep and person-centred way. She describes it as ‘allowing what is, in the presence of love’. She is currently doing sessions by phone. 01803 862628 or www.sapphira.com. Sapphira has also just launched a free online micro-coaching programme to help people identify what their bliss truly is. It’s called Sacred Inquiry and you can find it on Facebook - www.facebook.com/ sacredinquiry.
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