ReConnect - issue 60

The good living and community magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and across South Devon APR/MAY19 ISSUE 60

produce ❋ energy ❋ land ❋ homes ❋ community ❋ wellbeing ❋ arts

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ring the bells of spring Celebrate with our guide to art, and music

A place in the sunrise Uniting together to share ideas

communities in springtime So many opportunities to get involved

THE time for renewal Immerse in the landscape of wellbeing

Celebrating local community life with inspiration, and information for the Summer - powered by the people!

Visit us online at www.reconnectonline.co.uk

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Upfront IT'SWHAT WE'REABOUT

Broughttoyou by...

INTHISISSUE...

WOODS REVIVAL

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Returning local wildlife EDITOR Scott Williams

BODY ACCEPTANCE

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Bodykind Festival returns

REASONS TO CELEBRATE 9 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Karen Williams

WELLBEING EDITOR Kate Philbin

10 years of Reconnect

GOING OUT

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Places to go, people to see

ORGANIC GARDENING14 Top tips in more light

NOURISHING FOOD 19 The trinity of real food

COUNSELLOR WRITER Leigh Smith

SUSTAINABLE LIVING 20 Living made simple

Embercombe - page 24

DEVON HEAT HEROES 22 Fuel poverty preventers

EMBERCOMBE WILDING24 A wilding for people

INTO THE WOODS 27 Reconnect with trees!

BEACH SCHOOLS

WELCOME...

TO the April/May issue of Reconnect, bursting with Spring goodness. Those longer days are offering us all the chance to get out in nature, immerse ourselves in the garden, head to the coast, to the moors, or the rivers and woodland.

This well loved corner of the South West has so many ecosystems to enjoy. We even had trouble deciding how to reflect this on the cover.

48 pages bursting with wellbeing, healthy eating and local events, how to put that in a nutshell? Then we realised there’s a fairly strong woodland presence. We thought we’d sum that up with a photo on the cover of yoga teacher Carolina amongst a sea of bluebells. I guess you could say it symbolises a Springtime of woods and wellbeing - our theme this issue.

Finally, I’d like to give a few words of appreciation for all the kind comments we’ve received about the last Feb/May issue’s article about staying in print. It was really, really lovely to receive so much support from you all. It’s terrific to know you like what we do so much.

Thank you.

Scott x

COVERSTORY...

The good living and community magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and across South Devon APR/MAY19 ISSUE 60

produce k energy k land k homes k community k wellbeing k arts

28

Please take one

FREE !

Sea-ing the difference

WELLBEING PAGES

30

EMOTIONAL HEALTH

32

Our holistic health guide GARDENING EXPERT Joa Grower

WEBSITE EDITORS www.doetsdesign.com

TECHNICAL AIDE Zelah Williams

STAY IN TOUCH...

EDITORIAL: 01392 346342 ADVERTISING: 01392 346342 SCOTT’S MOBILE: 07751 214656 EMAIL US: editor@reconnectonline.co.uk or adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk SEND US STUFF BY POST: 18 Millin Way, Dawlish Warren EX7 0EP FOLLOW US AND READ US ONLINE: www.reconnectonline.co.uk facebook.com/reconnectmagazine twitter.com/reconnectmag www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Celebrate with our guide to art, and music

Uniting together to share ideas

Functioning families Beach schools- page 28

FOOD WRITER Jane Hutton

ring the bells of spring A place in the sunrise

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a time for renewal

communities in springtime So many opportunities to get involved

Immerse in the landscape of wellbeing

Celebrating local community life with inspiration, and information for the Summer - powered by the people!

Visit us online at www.reconnectonline.co.uk

And if you book six, you pay for just five - a saving of 16%

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COVER IMAGES Main picture: Caroline in bluebells

by Samjhana Moon (www. samjhanamoon.com) Left to right: Holt Wood Harvesting; The Meeting Place (Embercombe); and Whitesand Bay coastline (Ruth Baker)

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JUNE/JULY issue out end of May - next deadline May 1 THESMALL PRINT...

PUBLISHED BY Reconnect Magazine, 18 Millin Way, Dawlish Warren EX7 0EP 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 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 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 Totnes dragons

ON May 16 at Totnes’ 7 Stars Hotel, as part of Totnes Local Entrepreneur Forum, will be this year’s Community of Dragons event based on the Dragons’ Den TV show.

This version is different – everyone’s a dragon! It’s a chance to come along and ‘invest’ money, expertise, neighbourliness or hugs to support your favourite local enterprise. Register your interest by emailing info@reconomycentre.org

Yoga fest

NEWQUAY will be home to Yoga Hub Fest held at Coastal Valley Camp & Craft on May 18-19. The two-day event also features live music, food and wellness activities.

Buddhahood

LAMA Lena Yeshe Katyup will be hosting an introductory evening talk (June 7) and a non-residential Weekend retreat (June 8-9) at Dartington Hall.

Merry wives

THE Cygnet Company will perform Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, on April 3-6 at Exeter’s Cygnet Theatre.

All the fun of the fair

THIS year’s Prawle Fair will take place on Sunday May 26 on The Green in East Prawle near Kingsbridge. The traditional family fair will offer family entertainment, stalls, swingboats, train rides, fancy dress, greasy pole and all the usual fun. Both the Pigs Nose Inn, and Piglet Cafe will provide watering holes, with a promise of a BBQ, Cream Teas, Pimms Stall and cakes. During the day on the Green live music will come from Rumpus and Frankie. Plus the aftershow at Pigs Nose Inn will see Tankus the Henge, New Daze and The Cabarats entertaining the crowd. Find out more at www.prawlefair.co.uk

OCCOMBE Festival returns on June 14-15 with over 40 varieties of local ales, beers and ciders to try, plus a feast of delicious local food. Their Friday line up so far includes The Trees, Rum Puppets, Firekind and Dr Oz. Daisy Clark, Jake Morrell, Blues Brothers Collective and Mammoth are some of Saturday’s line up, with more to be announced. To cram even more talent onto their line-up, the gates are opening earlier on Saturday, now at 12pm. First performance is 12.30pm. Tickets are on sale now at occombefestival.co.uk

Woods revival project receives much needed boost

LOCAL community group, the Friends of Grove Woods at Churston Ferrers, are celebrating after being awarded a whopping £9,950 from the National Lottery Community Fund towards their Grove Woods Revival Project. The money will give a much needed boost to the continued restoration of their precious ancient local woodland, which enhances biodiversity and encourages the return of wildlife and plant species once native to this area.

Nigel Wood, Chair of the Friends of Grove Woods said: “This is fantastic news and we are very grateful to the National Lottery players because this grant will allow us to accomplish things that were just a pipe dream a year ago. It will enable us to buy tools and provide essential training for our volunteers as well as installing interpretation boards and improving access to the woods for the benefit of the community and visitors to the area”.

In 2017, a large area of the woodland was cleared after showing signs of disease on advice from The Forestry Commission. Torbay

Autism day

APRIL 2 is World Autism Awareness Day focusing on the importance of empowering women and girls with autism.

Repair cafe

CREDITON Repair Cafe returns on May 18 to the Methodist Church and aiming to fix broken household or mechanical items.

Festival in the park A NEW festival comes to the region this summer.

Exeter Festival in the Park happens at Northernhay Gardens on July 6-7.

Contemporary craft festival

BOVEY Tracey’s Craft Festival will be celebrating 16 years this summer, returning to Mill Marsh Park from June 7-9.

The three day festival will showcase over 200 local Makers selling their work, plus yoga, films, live music, street theatre, kids, play area, workshops and demonstrations.

Sharing skills is so important at the Craft Festival and a hand-picked collection of makers will be demonstrating their craft throughout the weekend.

All this and great tasting food & drink in the Street Food Arena bursting with Westcountry food vendors.

Tickets are on sale now. Full details at www. craftsatboveytracey.co.uk

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Gimme some Occombe

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Money in the bag(?)

Coast and Countryside Trust, managers of the woodland, organised the planting of 4,800 new trees in March 2018 funded by the Woodland Trust and a TCCT crowdfunding initiative.

The Friends Group continued the restoration of the woodland which has shown signs of returning wildlife.

The future management will continue to enhance the opportunities for a wide range of other species too.

International artist returns to city

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OSAIC artist Elaine M Goodwin returns to Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) in April with a retrospective exhibition celebrating forty years of her work.

Elaine studied at Exeter College of Art and Design back when lessons were held in RAMM’s York Wing. She worked from studios in Exeter and Marrakesh before moving to her current studio in Burgundy, France. Bestknown for her commissioned mosaics that enliven the city’s public spaces, Elaine’s contemporary mosaic art has earned her worldwide acclaim.

The exhibition, Journeying to Light: The Mosaics of Elaine M Goodwin (April 10- June 23), brings together over thirty

luminous mosaics to chart the experiences, places and beliefs that have inspired Elaine’s work.

Elaine said: “My work is about light. For all who look, at each and every moment, light is held, captured, and let go - continually and continuously. It is, for me, a sublime engagement.”

A programme of activities will accompany the exhibition, including an evening talk, workshops for adults and for children, a gallery walk and talk and a chance for children to contribute to a large-scale mosaic during the Easter school holidays.

For more information see www. rammuseum.org.uk.

The folk artist speaking for a new generation FOLK singer, songwriter, and activist Grace Petrie is touring in support of her latest release, Queer As Folk, funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign last year. Grace appears live at Ashburton Arts on May 3 and on April 8 appears at Exeter Phoenix on the bill of Lefty Scum, a night of music, comedy, and revolutionary socialism alongside Josie Long, and Jonny & The Baptists.

Urgent appeal for your support for reuse charity

FOLLOWING on from last issue’s article (Feb/March - page 14) about Devon’s Community Reuse Sector being under threat, we’d like to urge our readers to be aware that the chance to have your say on the consultation is only open until April 5. Devon County Council are proposing to phase out or cut funding for The Reuse Credit Scheme (RCS) includes ReFurnish (as well as RIO, Turntable, Proper Job, and MASH). ReFurnish, who have 10 shops across Devon, dealt with 505 tonnes of furniture diverted from waste or fly tipping last year alone, and told us over 40 jobs are at stake. We urge readers to have their say about the main benefits of reusing local household goods rather than have them go to waste at tinyurl.com/yymvhnh2

Haydn’s creation

CLYST Valley Choral Society continue to celebrate their 50th anniversary singing Haydn’s Creation at St Margaret’s Topsham on Saturday May 4 and at Holy Trinity Exmouth on May 5. Haydn’s Creation was sung at Clyst Valley’s first concert in 1968.

Rhythm of life

REGULARS of our Wellbeing section Les Elms and Sally Free will be holding a Breath and Sound Workshop at Torquay’s Ozone Spa on May 26. The day will include an introduction to Transformational Breath and Sound Healing, a group breathing session with drums, a gong bath and a combined breath and sound session.

Local goodness

TUCKERS Local Produce Market has now opened at their new home at the Old Spinning Mill at Buckfast selling lots of wonderful organic fruit and veg and local produce.

Egg hunt

THIS Easter, Gara Rock at East Portlemouth near Salcombe are hosting the biggest Easter egg hunt in the area for chocolate loving little ones free of charge.

Pigstock

NORTH Devon’s family friendly festival Pigstock is back on May 18-19 at The Big Sheep.

Irish talent

ACCORDION maestro Sharon Shannon will be performing at Exeter, Phoenix on May 9.

Crashbox

The annual Drive it Day for Veteran, Vintage & Classic Cars to celebrate the first “Round Britain Car Rally” held in the early 1900’s returns on April 28 to The Lawn, in Dawlish.

New vegan store PLYMOUTH has a new a vegan supermarket at Faraday Mill Business Park. Called Plymouth Vegan Company, the new store will stock food, including a freezer department, cosmetics, cleaning materials, and even alcohol. All vegan and cruelty free.

NEWS&views Devon bats

EXETER Growers Co-Operative, who organically cultivate a four-acre field between Shillingford Abbot and Shillingford St. George, have taken part in an annual bat survey for the second year running.

They also plan to erect bat boxes and offer training in Hedge Laying which will encourage wildlife, and insects, on which bats feed.

End of notes

AFTER 12 years, the Totnes Pound Project is coming to its natural conclusion. At Totnes’ Seven Stars ballroom on April 4 there will be a free party celebrating it’s life and times including a potted history of the Totnes £ and community reflections presented by Rob Hopkins.

Philately

TORQUAY & Teignbridge Stamp Club will be hosting the Wessex Road Show at St Michael’s, Kingsteignton on April 11. Derrick White will be giving a talk on ‘Thematic Miscellany’ at St Michaels on April 25.

Kids go back to nature Seeking funding for a life ambition SCHOOL children at Exeter’s Trinity CofE VA Primary & Nursery School will be going back to nature to do their ‘business’ thanks to a new compostable toilet that’s been installed in their Forest School area.

Southern Co-op has helped to fund a range of items to help support the children including the compostable toilet.

Simon Clover, Southern Co-op’s Area Support Manager, said: “When we initially spoke to the headteacher about the school and its plans, we were inspired to get involved.

“As with most schools, funds are limited and they are reliant on fundraising events and donations. But all of our retail store managers agreed it was a worthy cause and we were only too happy to help. Together we have now donated nearly £9,000.

“The school really believes in grass roots teaching, the botanical garden project is massive and every new parent we meet for the first time is wowed by what they see and hear.”

Headteacher, Owen Wilder, said: “The support we have had from the Southern Co-op team has been fantastic.

As a new school they have not only helped us with equipment and resources, they have also helped to create a wonderful school community by supporting all of our parent events.”

The donations were made by Southern Co-op as part of its community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ promoting greener, healthier, safer, and more inclusive neighbourhoods.

To find out more about the school, visit www. trinityprimaryexeter.co.uk or for Southern Coop, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/ makingadifference/.

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O

UR very own ‘Naturally Nourishing’ nutritionist and resident foodie columnist Jane Hutton is realising a life ambition and launching a Kickstarter project to produce a healthy cookbook this year - and trying to raise £12,000 in just 30 days.

It couldn’t be a better time to bring the art of functional food into hardback form. The return to real, fresh, local food in ways that are time and budget friendly as well as local and sustainable translates to six words that encapsulate Jane’s Functional Foodie philosophy – real food, real life, real health. It’s really as simple, and scrumptious, as that.

When we nourish ourselves properly, everything works, and it works together beautifully. How do we nourish ourselves? By eating the right food in the right way.

Can anybody do it? Yes, they can!

Reserve a copy of the book and back the Kickstarter project to find out how!

So, what is a Kickstarter? It is a platform that sets out a project and

its production costs, and offers a range of tangible rewards for people pledging to support the project.

Jane’s collaborators are design wizards Skim New Media so on top of all that practical knowledge, this book will be as much a feast for the eyes as it will for your stomachs!

Putting it all into one book that is as visually delicious as the health and food content is an ambition Jane has had for most of the 25 years that she has been working with food and health.

The rewards that they have put together for this project give backers not just another book on healthy food – Jane wants to give backers a big boost when it comes to accessing the kind of information, advice and recipe collection that will create tangible benefits for their cooking, their health and their life.

The project launches in April, and is live for just 30 days! To find out more, and register to be notified when the project goes live, visit the web page at: https://www. functional-foodie.com/the-art-offunctional-food/

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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news&views Totnes Alive!

...IS the name a new free festival at St John’s Church, Bridgetown, on 8th June celebrating the community, and exploring new ways to help create a brighter future. There will be a showcase of local community groups and charities, inspiring talks and discussions, hands on workshops, kids’ activities, good food, singing, music and much more. See Totnes-Alive page on Facebook for more information.

Eggs-ellent fun

THE Hillyfield is hosting a small event for families including the egg-hunt relay race, egg-rolling and an egg and spoon race on Monday April 22 from 11 - 3pm. More information is available on the website www. thehillyfield.co.uk

Beach & river clean

SURFERS Against Sewage are hosting their Big Beach Spring Clean: Summit To Sea from April 6-14. For more information or to get involved, please email Jack on beachcleans@sas.org.uk.

petition Popular wellbeing show returns twice this year Fibrosis CYSTIC FIBROSIS is

NEWTON Abbot’s Wellbeing Show is set to return to the Racecourse twice this year following the success of its inaugural show in 2018.

Free to attend, this year’s shows celebrating all things wellness and wellbeing related will take place on Saturday June 1 and Saturday November 2.

Running from 10am until 5pm, the show features over 30 exhibitors showcasing a range of products and services from reflexology and reiki through to life coaching, crystals and more.

New for 2019 is the addition of free workshops for visitors to gain a real sense of what the presenters have to offer. Alongside the workshops, visitors will be able to view the fantastic array of products and enjoy taster sessions from practitioners.

Each show begins at 10am with free entry for all attendees and ample on-site free parking. A menu of treats will also be on sale throughout the day from the racecourse.

Jenny Paton, Business Development Manager at Newton Abbot Racecourse said: “Following the fantastic feedback that we had from both our exhibitors and attendees last year, we have decided to run two shows this year.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from businesses and practitioners for this year’s events so attendees are certainly in for another excellent visit.”

Applications are now open for wellbeing practitioners and suppliers to exhibit at the Wellbeing Show. For more information on the show, visit www.newtonabbotracing. com or email Jenny@newtonabbotracing.com

Hospital radio seeks volunteers for 50th celebration HOSPITAL Radio Plymouth, the award winning station, celebrates 50 years of broadcasting to hospitals around the Plymouth area this year.

They are looking to expand their live coverage of programmes both during the day and evenings.

To this avail, they are looking for additional volunteers to help their charity. If you have what it takes to get involved, then give Robert Goodall a call on 07733 055519.

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Britain’s most common fatal genetic disease, with 10,400 sufferers.

Children and young adults suffocate due to thick, infected secretions which fill the lungs. There are now very effective drugs which reduce the problem and add upto 23 years extra life. These drugs are available nearly everywhere else (even Greece & Ireland) but NOT the UK. CF sufferers have been four years waiting/dying. Their lives are dominated by illness, with many hours lost to daily treatment, in an effort to survive. Local mum Catherine Meredith is seeking 100,000 signatures to get a debate in Parliament, sign and share https//:petition. parliament.uk/ petitions/231602

Concert for refugees CLASSICAL pianist Margaret Fingerhut performs Far from the Home I Love at Exeter’s Southernhay Church on April 13. The special recital, to raise awareness of refugee needs and collect funds for City of Sanctuary refugee groups, tells the story of the many composers who were refugees because of war or persecution. Tickets available at Exeter Visitor Information Centre.

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NEWS&views

The festival of body acceptance returns

B

ODYKIND, the world’s first festival of body acceptance, returns for a second year to the Civic Hall in Totnes on May 3-4.

It’s all about honouring life in its various forms, promoting inclusivity, celebrating diversity, and illuminating and challenging non-acceptance.

There will be inspiring speakers, workshops, art, film, dance, theatre, song, and more…

It’s a grassroots, non-profit, wholecommunity event, genuinely inclusive, encouraging everyone to look at ways of feeling more comfortable in

their own skin. Content includes size, shape, age, colour, gender, sexuality and disability.

Weekend passes are available offering entry to the 3 main events including Miss Glory Pearl and friends night of comedy on Friday, The Variety Box day of talks, workshops, theatre, comedy, debate, subversive craft, cake and more on Saturday; and Sunday’s Dance Extravaganza with Zoe McNulty from the School of Strut.

For more information and to buy tickets see www.bodykindfestival.com

Support local art and enjoy a cuppa

We help individuals and businesses in the south west develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems.

SSE Dartington runs fully funded learning programmes with support from partners and funders who want to see your project thrive.

For more information visit our website www.dartington.org/social-enterprise or get in touch on 01803 847057

HARBETONFORD Open Studios returns this year. The arts trail and community event happens on the last Bank Holiday weekend of May: Saturday 25th to Monday 27th 2019, 10am to 5pm daily.

Just 3.5 miles south on the A381 from Totnes, Harbertonford Open Studios has taken place every two years since 1999 with a number of local artist-makers each time. Everyone is connected within the village in this popular biennial arts trail and some have been taking part with new work since the inception. This year’s offering includes: Printmaking, painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, photography, textile arts and clothing, local fibre basketry, children’s books and luscious Boho Cakes!

In years past it’s been a great way to support Wild swimmer Kari Furre’s local art, have a chat with practicing makers, fish leather vessels, and Brian Bond’s tartan have a cake and cuppa, and get some walking in along a scenic village. The route is a leisurely 2 miles this anniversary year, inclusive of a gentle, rural lane section along the River Harbourne valley.

For further details contact Prana Simon: on 07773797647 or see www. facebook.com/HfordOS2019

Wildwise reveal this year’s events DARTINNGTON based WildWise, who deliver experiences in nature with courses and events designed for adults, children and families, have announced what’s new for 2019. New events on the wild menu this year include an exclusive day out with none other than Bill Plotkin and Geenen Marie Haugen: • Wild Valley, Wild Mind, Wild Souls (June 29): an extraordinary immersive walk into Dartmoor’s wildest valley with Bill Plotkin and Geneen Marie Haugen • The Wolf, the Wild and Me (July 25-29): a tracking masterclass blended with an experiential enquiry and the chance to meet real wolves!

• Wild Child Weekend (June 28-30): for

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adults & children to spend meaningful time together outdoors • Wild School: action packed bushcraft days in the school holidays for 8-12 yrs led by WildWise’s Columb & Dotty • I am a teenager get me Outa Here! 3 bushcraft camps designed for teenagers More on WildWise can be found online here https:// wildwise. co.uk.

Evolution, Exeter’s Holistic and Ethnic Shop has now moved to 96 Fore St (same side at the top of the hill opposite St Olave’s Church) Come and see our incredible and Extended range of products including Books, Crystals, Cards, Candles, Clothes etc.

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

Jeff with Dr Tanisha Jowsey and Professor Phillipa Malpas of the University of Auckland Medical School.

Our global authority on medical humanities

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Jon Inder with Avril Harris from Owens Coffee.

Greenlife win sixth fairtrade business award

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REENLIFE in Totnes is one of the largest health food shops in the South West.

Located on the market square in Totnes, Greenlife has been trading since 1991, and offers a wide selection of wholefoods, vegan and free from foods, plus organic fruit and vegetables from local suppliers, and an extensive range of vitamins, herbal supplements, natural body care products and green household products.

They stock a large range of Fairtrade products and their efforts for the Fairtrade Foundation have been rewarded with a sixth Fairtrade business award this year. “We are very proud of our achievements for Fairtrade. Totnes is a Fairtrade town, and we are part of a community wide effort to support ethical lifestyle choices,” said their marketing manager Jon. l Greenlife is open from 9am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am – 5.30pm on Saturday.

T MAY be a well-worn cliché but the saying ‘It’s not what you know but who you know’ contains a lot of truth, particularly in the area of creating work opportunities. This belief and a willingness to explore new horizons has certainly helped to create an interesting new experience for actor, life coach and regular Reconnect advertiser Jeff Sleeman recently.

As part of his ‘portfolio career’, Jeff has been using improvised drama techniques to teach communications skills courses to trainee doctors at Exeter and Plymouth University medical schools for ten years. On a trip to New Zealand in 2018 he met up with academics at the University of Auckland medical school and in February this year was invited back to participate in an international medical humanities symposium held at the University.

Said Jeff: “Having had a casual conversation over coffee with Professor Phillipa Malpas, who teaches Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Auckland last year, I was surprised

to find myself billed as the ‘International guest speaker’ for the symposium and invited to share the wisdom of my experience through delivering a keynote speech to the delegates and facilitating some workshops. The rapid promotion to becoming a global authority on medical humanities was a bit daunting at first but fortunately the other well tested cliché of ‘acting as if’ (or fake it until you make it!) gave me the confidence to carry it off. The symposium was so successful that there are now plans to make it a regular biannual event at the University.” l To find out more about Jeff’s work, visit his website www.jeffsleeman.com

St Matthew Passion comes to Plymouth INTERNATIONALLY renowned tenor and musicologist Neil Jenkins will join Plymouth Philharmonic Choir to perform J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion at Plymouth Guildhall on Sunday April 14. Neil, who will be singing the role of the Evangelist, edited the New Novello score with English translation of the text, the version they will be using for this concert.

The Passion tells the story of the final suffering of Jesus. The measured style of the music contrasts with the deeply emotional, highly dramatic nature of the drama being played out. Especially evocative around Easter time, this is an opera in all but name.

For more information and ticket availability please visit www. plymouthphilchoir.org

Cyclical living

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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 plants, seeds or herbs, taking us on a virtual Reconnect herb walk.

WE’VE kept it low key (after our big 50th issue) but it’s actually now ten years of Reconnect! But that’s not the only reason Scott has something big to celebrate this year.

Two reasons to celebrate in 2019

T

HIS is the 60th issue of Reconnect, that means we have been around for 10 years (that’s longer than Brexit). Back then the time was right to begin a magazine like this. We’d seen a prolonged financial crisis last over a year and a sudden increased awareness in the green agenda, and all the issues it encompasses, which began with the creation of the Climate Change Act at the end of 2008.

Climate was the word, clean air a cleaner planet. The fair trade movement came to the fore in 2009, aiming to improve the living conditions of low-paid farmers and producers of basic goods like coffee, cotton and rice by paying them fair wages. Locavore became a popular a tag and foodies committed in numbers to eating only foods that had been grown and produced locally, with the local food and slow food movements gaining a foothold in public consciousness for the first time. As did carbon calculators to measure our carbon footprints and environmentalists strived to reduce or even eliminate their carbon output. I was working as a festival website editor at the time and remember putting a ‘We’re Carbon Offset’ ribbon on the corner of our webpages.

A story I remember from 2009 concerned Devon artist Alex Hartley from Dunkeswell, who announced he would tow a floating island to Devon. He’d discovered it in Norwegian waters and named it nowhereisland. The island only came into existence as a result of glaciers retreating because of climate change and he wanted to use it to explore issues of climate change, land ownership, national identity and the exploitation of the earth’s remaining natural resources.

Writing this I looked it up, and Alex’s micronation still exists, and currently resides off Bristol (www. nowhereisland.org).

Ten years on, and all these issues have continued to be important issues for us all and free range good living, community, wellbeing, and keeping it local are still the crucial ingredients to this region’s sustainable future. For those wanting a more sustainable lifestyle climate change is still at the top of our worries, now combined with biodiversity collapse, and widespread species extinction. It’s not really a lot better yet, but at least it’s no longer being denied by the majority of those in power, and slowly things are changing - little by little. I have to go back another twenty years to remember when I first became a supporter of green issues. I remember writing

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an impassioned speech about gold mining I delivered to my unsuspecting class. I was one of only three males in the group, and wearing a lot of bling was the in thing for the girls in our class studying catering at South Devon Tech at the time.

It’s not just a decade of Reconnect this issue, it’s also my 50th orbit around the sun. Time to celebrate, to observe the event with ceremony, festivity, and rejoicing. People ask how will I celebrate? I tend not to go very wild, and I’ve not really been a big fan of my own parties.

Too many bad experiences.

When I was a child I remember parties invariably went wrong, and that put me off. I can remember two examples when I lived in the Pacific.

Firstly having a beach party and swimming out inside a reef, only for a tiger shark to breach the reef. My father thankfully saw it and risked his own life running barefoot along the reef to haul a splashing happy me out of the water – his lacerated feet and overwrought parental fears meant the day went rapidly downhill. A year later and I get my first watch. Instead of the beach we went to the pool; turns out expensive new watch wasn’t waterproof – again the celebration fizzled out rather fast.

Fast forward to my teens - the big one, my 18th. I end up getting arrested in Plymouth on the day of my birthday along with a guilty friend, and end up arriving at my own party rather late and rather annoyed. The year later I have a house party in Newton Ferrers, which rapidly descends into glorious chaos and gets shut down by my parents.

Since then I’ve not really done parties. I have had a few good gatherings over the years with people around a fire into the early hours or a late night with a few ciders in the company of good friends down the pub, or a feast with family in a local restaurant.

Now, in more recent years, my birthday has coincided with the first major outdoor archery competition in the region - Exeter’s Grand Day. I’ve opted to observe getting a year older focusing on my drawing form and letting arrows fly. I rather hope I’ll be doing that again this year, it’s a lot easier than trying to protect treasured household items, ensuring my friend’s don’t break the law, preventing major fire outbreaks, or avoiding sharks. Though I suspect I’ll have a nice glass of something organic once I get home, and wish Reconnect many happy returns too.

Scott

S

EAWEED may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of herbal medicine, but it has been found to have antibiotic, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects, joint and bone health support, and to contain high enough levels of vitamins and minerals to be truly considered top super foods.

As with land plants, harvest considerately, take scissors to cut off up to two thirds of the leaves or fronds only, leaving the rest to grow and never collect off the beach for eating as you don’t know how long it has been there (or whose dogs have been around!).

There are no poisonous seaweeds around the UK, though some taste better than others and they vary in their medicinal virtues.

Dulse (Palmaria palmata) This seaweed particularly promotes good bone strength, promoting osteoblast (healthy bone cell) growth and contains the perfect ratio of bone minerals needed, in a highly bioavailable form, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, omega 3 fatty acids and collagen promoting vitamin C. Like many red seaweeds, Dulse has shown some promising antiviral activity so might be worth considering as a regular part of the diet for winter health. If you aren’t keen on the taste, a tiny amount in soups and stews is barely detectable but will be adding in those health promoting constituents.

Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) A bright green leafy seaweed, which, as the name suggests, looks very much like floating lettuce leaves. All the green seaweeds are

Sea lettuce

Dulse

particularly high in protein, often as much as up to twenty times more than beef on a weight for weight comparison. For those who don’t eat meat, this can be an excellent source of improving protein intake.

Studies have shown a reduced blood glucose spike after meals in tests on diabetics, suggesting it slows down the absorption of sugars and carbohydrates. There is also some evidence to show the nutrients slow down UV age related skin damage when eaten regularly.

All seaweeds contain varying amount of iodine which is important for thyroid health. However, if you have an existing thyroid condition, it is important to obtain professional advice before consuming large amounts.

Worries about the indigestibility of seaweeds are largely unfounded.

Seaweeds, especially the red ones, have a symbiotic population of friendly bacteria alongside enzymes which help break down the seaweed into digestible components. If you add small regular amounts of seaweed to your diet, you will gain the ability to benefit from these wonderful nutrients. As with any food we consume, the digestive flora which thrive in our guts are the ones we feed. Dietary changes are best done gradually rather than sudden huge alterations which might cause upsets. l Find out more about herbalism and Dawn at www.torbay-herbalist.co.uk

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

9

NEWS&views The naturally vegan plotters

Capturing life on the ocean waves

INSPIRED by pioneering veganic gardeners and the principles of forest gardening, The Naturally Vegan Plot is a volunteer run initiative dedicated to low impact vegan organic land management and organising vegan community events. They have evolved through decades of experience, research, demonstration, and information sharing, designing, implementing and managing many projects from small container gardens to 84 acres.

Housed on a succession of rented and borrowed land, the initiative want to put down sustainable roots. Last year they attempted to raise funds to buy land through a Crowdfunder, but the campaign was unsuccessful.

However the initiative have some positive news.

The Naturally Vegan Plot’s Elaine Avery said: “We continue to manage a few small allotments locally, organise fundraising events, supply a selection of related books and badges and have set up a Facebook Auction Group whereby items generously donationed are auctioned to members of the group.”

A couple of exciting opportunities have also come their way. Firstly sanctuary at Cornwall’s Last Chance Hotel Animal Rescue - where they are helping establish and maintain the sanctuary gardens whilst attending to a 2 acre plot.

THE OLD WAY

A yearlong journey towards re-wilding our ancestral blueprint

5 journeys in Devon 2 weeks in the Kalahari

April-December 2019

HOSTS

Emily Fawcett

Robin Bowman

Elaine said: “We look forward to being able to supply food for some sanctuary animals and in the not too distant future having veganic produce for sale.”

Secondly, Naturally Vegan Plot have accepted the opportunity to garden a 5 acre field also in Cornwall at Chyan.

Elaine explained: “We aim to involve people and share the experience wherever possible, provide an information resource and to host courses, workshops, field trips, volunteer opportunities, open days, tours and presentations.

“Now that our relocation is well underway we are in a position to continue creating a garden of abundance growing edible and otherwise useful plants with a focus on perennial crops through applying our principles of least harm.”

Elaine and her team will still be holding regular events (often in Plymouth), generally at least 3 monthly around the Solstice / Equinox, the next of which will be around the Summer Solstice in June.

See naturallyveganplot on Facebook for more and the auction group: tinyurl.com/y4o7h7z4

GUEST

Charlie Loram

Jon Young

Jessie W-B

Mac Macartney

Exploring Indigeny Hunter-gatherer life-ways Tracking and bird language Food procurement Ancient crafts Learn from the San Bushmen

www.theoldway.info theoldwayexperience@gmail.com

10

PLYMOUTH based photographer Tony Fitzsimmons’ has been capturing life at sea around our waters. This issue he experiences the ocean for the first time in the southern Atlantic.

L

EAVING the Falklands behind was like nothing I had ever seen before. Thick low lying cloud continued its grip upon the land, just as it had the previous evening as I landed in the murky darkness of RAF Mount Pleasant.

My early morning journey out of Stanley onboard the CFL Hunter, a stunning newly launched 60 metre Longliner fishing for Patagonian Toothfish, was a considerably haunting experience.

Eerie barren landscapes stretched for miles either side, reminding me of a time spent wandering the moors during uni, with a slight twist of the prehistoric thrown in for good measure.

Back then, if you had said I would be where I was now, I’m not sure if I would have laughed or cried. With land now faded and my view became nothing more than a split horizon of light violet and milky white, I noticed my breath form as a chill of icy wind caught my cheek; a stark reminder of where in this world I was.

For much of the first few days, I continued to go around in circles, as each corridor and stairwell quickly appeared to resemble the last. Navigating the vessel was made even more difficult by the constant rocking this way and that, as I quickly discovered there was nothing calm about the Southern Atlantic. Back home onboard a UK trawler, I had seen our waters almost mimic textured

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rippled glass. Out here there was always movement, dictated by a wind front and an ocean swell that had nothing to challenge it from Argentina to Australia.

Waves as big as houses were very much the norm.

Yet whatever this environment decided to throw our way, the Hunter was intended for this very ocean.

She was a glorious vessel, built in 2017

by Nodosa Shipyard and owned by Consolidated Fisheries Limited, a Falkland Islands company that held 100% of the quota for Toothfish in this fishing zone. CFL once operated in these waters on the Gambler, a vessel still held in high regard by many, with much of the same officers and crew now onboard the Hunter. At the helm was the ever watchful and extremely knowledgeable El Capitán Cándido Sánchez Lema, accompanied by trusted officers, Cándido Crespo Rosale and Juan Carlos Santamaria Blanco. They knew and respected the waters and had a very good inkling as to what it could do at any given time. But even then, the Southern Atlantic still had a few surprises up its sleeve. l You can view my Life at Sea series so far at www. tonyfitzsimmons.com

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Goingout

APRIL/MAY 2019

OUR BIGGUIDETO BIG LOCAL EVENTS ART EXHIBITIONS SAM BOUGHTON’S DEVON Until May 26, RAMM, Exeter.

How to get YOUR events into Going Out...

WELCOME to Reconnect’s out of this world GoingOut pages...

We connect all the hot stuff from across the region, categorised for easy access.

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.

‘FINE ART OF METAL’ CHRIS DERUBEIS Until Apr 7, Host Galleries, Plymouth.

PAINTINGS & PRINTS

BY THE 21 GROUP OF ARTISTS Until Apr 27, Artmill Gallery, Plymouth.

EXTREME IMAGINATION: INSIDE THE MIND’S EYE Until Jun 2, RAMM, Exeter.

ARRIVALS: OPEN ART EXHIBITION Apr 6-23, Harbour House, Kingsbridge.

VIV WILSON: TEIGNMOUTH RETRO Apr 6, Pavilions, Teignmouth.

WHAT DO YOU COLLECT? DETECTORISTS Apr 9-Jul 07, RAMM, Exeter.

JOURNEYING TO LIGHT: ELAINE GOODWIN MOSAICS Apr 10-Jun 23, RAMM, Exeter.

JOURNEYING TO LIGHT: WALK AND TALK Apr 11, RAMM, Exeter.

WESC WEEKEND ART SHOW Apr 13-14, WESC Foundation Exeter.

PRECIOUS ?

Apr 16-28, Precious Collective, Plymouth.

SPRING EXHIBITION APR 27-MAY 8 Harbour House, Kingsbridge.

SHIFTING STRANDS II May 24-29, Harbour House, Kingsbridge.

RAGGED VICTORIAN WEEKEND May 25-27 Morwellham Quay, Tavistock.

BALLET

COPPELIA Apr 25, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

CHILDREN/FAMILY MOSAIC MANIA Apr 9-12, RAMM, Exeter.

CREATIVE KIDS Apr 12, Little Acorn Furniture, Cheriton Bishop.

EASTER THEATRE PROJECT FOR CHILDREN Apr 15-18, Pavilions, Teignmouth.

BURIED HISTORY: BE A DETECTORIST Apr 16-17, RAMM, Exeter.

ENCHANTED PRINCESS PARTY Apr 17, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.

SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR Apr 16, St Werburgh’s Church, Wembury.

Apr 17, Woodford Methodist Church, Plympton.

LIGHTING UP RAMM May 18, RAMM, Exeter.

EASTER AT THE HILLYFIELD April 22, The Hillyfield, Harbourneford.

EGG HUNT April 22, Gara Rock, East Portlemouth.

EXETER CHORAL SOC CONCERT HAYDN THE SEASONS May 4, Southernhay URC, Exeter.

SEEING IS BELIEVING: BRAIN PUZZLES & TEASERS May 28-29, RAMM, Exeter.

CLASSICAL MUSIC EMMA JOHNSON Apr 3, RAMM, Exeter.

EXPLORING YOUR SENSES May 30, RAMM, Exeter.

DEVON & SOMERSET FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE BAND SPRING CONCERT FOR HOSPISCARE Apr 6, St Thomas Methodist church Exeter.

STEP INSIDE YOUR BRAIN - EXPLORER DOME May 31, RAMM, Exeter.

DIVERTIMENTO STRING QUARTET WITH JUDITH HALL Apr 13, Community School, Teignmouth.

CHOIRS

SING EXETER Every Tuesday, St Sidwell’s Community Centre, Exeter.

FAR FROM THE HOME I LOVE Apr 13, Southernhay URC, Exeter.

SING PLYMOUTH Every Thursday, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Plymouth.

DEVONLY VOICES Apr 6, Seven Stars Hotel, Totnes.

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO Apr 18, Palace Theatre, Paignton.

SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR Apr 12, Crownhill Methodist Church, Plymouth.

WATERLINES May 10-15, Harbour House, Kingsbridge.

THE CHOCOLICIOUS ORIGINS OF CHOCOLATE Apr 18, RAMM, Exeter.

SOUTH DEVON CHOIR Apr 13, Central Church, Torquay.

PORCELAIN AND PAINT May 17-22, Harbour House, Kingsbridge

FOUND IN THE GROUND: JUNIOR FINDS DAY Apr 18, RAMM, Exeter.

DAG SPRING EXHIBITION Apr 27-May 3, Dawlish Art Group, Teignmouth.

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NO FEATU W FREE RING O ENTR NLINE I E MOR S AND E IN EXPO -MAG SURE

PLYMOUTH PHILHARMONIC CHOIR SINGS BACH Apr 14, Guildhall, Plymouth.

REQUIEM Apr 14, Dartington HALL, Totnes.

JAMES OWSTON QUINTET Apr 26, Powederham Castle, Kenton.

SYRINX: BLAST FROM THE PAST Apr 2, St Mary’s Church, Totnes.

GEORGE TODICA May 1, RAMM, Exeter.

SHALDON SINGERS SPRING CONCERT May 11,St Peter’s Church, Shaldon.

ELIZABETH-JANE BALDRY May 12, Duke of Cornwall, Plymouth.

THOMAS BOWES May 23, St Michael’s Church, Shute May 25, Awliscombe Parish Church May 26, Clayhidon Parish Church

RADIO ACTIVE May 17, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

JULIAN CLARY May 22, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

SIMON DAY May 24, The Flavel, Dartmouth REGINALD D HUNTER May 24, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

ADAM KAY May 31, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

JERRY SADOWITZ May 29, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

DANCE MARKED May 3, Cygnet Theatre, Exeter.

VIOLIN & PIANO DUO ‘ELEGANCE’ May 31, St Nicholas’ Priory, Exeter.

EVENTS/FESTIVALS

COMEDY

PSYCHIC AND WELLBEING FAIR Apr 13, Discovery, Torquay.

EXETER COMEDY CLUB Until May 3, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

SIMON BRODKIN Apr 6, Northcott Theatre, Exeter MIKE OSMAN TRUMPED Apr 11, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

COMEDY CLUB - APRIL 2019 Apr 12, Pavilions, Teignmouth.

HENNING WEHN Apr 13, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay.

SEAN MCLOUGHLIN Apr 16, Phoenix, Exeter.

STEWART FRANCIS Apr 18, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay.

RUM & REGGAE FESTIVAL Apr 6, Matford Centre, Exeter.

HOLIOFEST Apr 6, Phoenix, Exeter.

HONITON MUSIC AND THOUGHT FEST Apr 20, Honiton.

FLETE PARTY IN THE PARK Apr 27, Ermington.

DRIVE IT DAY Apr 28, The Lawn, Dawlish.

TOBY’S GARDEN FESTIVAL May 3-4, Powderham Castle, Kenton.

BODYKIND FESTIVAL May 3-4, Totnes.

SALTASH MAY FAIR May 4, Saltash.

ALFIE MOORE May 5, Phoenix, Exeter.

BRIXHAM PIRATE FESTIVAL May 4, Brixham.

ED GAMBLE May 16, Phoenix, Exeter.

Turn over the page for more GoingOut listings

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

11

GOING OUT EVENTS/FESTIVALS EXETER FESTIVAL OF SOUTH WEST FOOD & DRINK May 4-6, Exeter Castle.

SALCOMBE CRAB FESTIVAL May 5, Salcombe.

DART MUSIC FESTIVAL May 10-12, Dartmouth.

EXETER PRIDE May 11, Exeter.

DEVON COUNTY SHOW May 16-18, Westpoint, Exeter.

RAINBOW’S END HOLISTIC WELLBEING AND NATURAL CRAFTS May 18-19, Civic Hall, Totnes.

PIGSTOCK May 18-19, Big Sheep, Abbotsham.

YOGA HUB FEST May 18-19, Newquay.

EXMOUTH FESTIVAL May 24-27, Exmouth THE MASKED BALL May 24-26, Porthleven MAD HATTERS MUSIC FESTIVAL May 24-26, Seaton SEA CHANGE FESTIVAL May 24-26, Totnes BUDE & STRATTON FOLK FESTIVAL May 24-27, Bude BRIXFEST May 25-29, Brixham MANIFEST May 29-June 2, Dunnbridge, Dartmoor KINGSBRIDGE FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL May 31-June 2, Kingsbridge

NEWTON ABBOT RACECOURSE WELLBEING SHOW Jun 1, Newton Abbot.

MUSIC GIGS TANKUS THE HENGE Apr 4, Phoenix, Exeter.

NICK THE FISH Apr 5, Oyster Shack, Bigbury.

RYAN COOK April 5, Buckland in the Moor Community Hall.

DR MEAKER Apr 4, Phoenix, Exeter.

SECKOU KEITA Apr 6, The Flavel, Dartmouth.

GYPSYFINGERS Apr 6, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

DARIA KULESH Apr 13, Mamhead Village Hall.

PHIL BEER Apr 13, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

REMI HARRIS April 13, Phoenix, Exeter.

THE DRYSTONES April 13, Sheepstor Village Hall SOLANA Apr 14, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

MARTIN TURNER Apr 14, The Flavel, Dartmouth.

HENRY LOWTHER’S STILL WATERS Apr 18, Fougou Jazz, Paignton.

BOG LOG III Apr 6, Phoenix, Exeter.

DAVEY MALONE Apr 19, Whimple Village Hall.

NINEBARROW Apr 7, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

THE DRYSTONES April 19, Black Dog Memorial Hall.

THE CARLTON BIG BAND Apr 7, British Legion, Plymouth.

FEROCIOUS DOG Apr 19, Phoenix, Exeter.

LEFTY SCUM Apr 8, Phoenix, Exeter.

MARY COUGHLIN Apr 9, Phoenix, Exeter.

HANNAH SANDERS & BEN SAVAGE Apr 9, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

UNDERCOVER HIPPY Apr 10, Phoenix, Exeter.

CHARLIE LANDSBOROUGH Apr 10, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

NEW ORLEANS HEAT Apr 21, British Legion, Plymouth.

IDLEWILD Apr 22, Phoenix, Exeter.

JESS KLEIN Apr 26, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

THE CUBAN BROTHERS Apr 27, Phoenix, Exeter.

TAMARA STEWART Apr 28, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

JIM CAUSEY Apr 28, Phoenix, Exeter.

Get YOUR event out there with Reconnect’s Going Out pages TO ADVERTISE your event on our diary website, Reconnecthub, simply visit www.hubcast.co.uk/reconnect and register - then you can enter your own events whenever you want.

AND many of them will appear in the next (June/July issue of Reconnect magazine.

AND they will be viewed through other HUBCAST websites (across the SW).

AND it’s all FREE! (There are some online advertisements available too and it’s first come, first served - so call Scott now on 01392 346342)

12

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GOING OUT MURRAY A. LIGHTBURN Apr 30, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

FLOOK May 2, The Flavel, Dartmouth.

GRACE PETRIE May 3, Arts Centre, Ashburton.

HEG & THE WOLF CHORUS May 4, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

BOWJANGLES May 4, Clayhidon Village Hall.

AVOCET May 5, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

KRIS DREVER May 6, Phoenix, Exeter.

EYAL LOVETT QUARTET May 8, Fougou Jazz, Paignton.

WILDWOOD KIN May 9, Phoenix, Exeter.

SHARON SHANNON May 9, Phoenix, Exeter.

LOST SOUND: DEVON FOLK CHOIR May 11, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

THE HENHOUSE PROWLERS May 14, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

SHOW OF HANDS May 15, Corn Exchange, Exeter.

JOHN OTWAY, WILD WILLY BARRETT May 18, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

EMILY BACON May 19, British Legion, Plymouth.

SARA GREY May 22, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

JINNJOO YOO May 22, Fougou Jazz, Paignton.

KITTY MACFARLANE May 25, Kingskerswell Parish Church.

MAD DOG MCREA May 31, Morwellham Quay, Tavistock

THEATRE STARBURST Until May 8, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay.

FRANKENSTEIN Apr 6, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.

TRAP FOR A LONELY MAN Apr 15-20, TOADS Theatre Company, Torquay.

WAIT UNTIL DARK Apr 24-27, Palace Theatre, Paignton.

NAMING THE VIEW May 4, Cygnet Theatre,Exeter.

SUNFLOWERS AND BUDDHA BABIES May 10, Cygnet Theatre, Exeter.

DAISY PULLS IT OFF May 13-18, TOADS Theatre Company, Torquay.

STARBURST May 14-Aug 7, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay.

OPERA

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM May 15-19, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA: THE CHAGFORD SINGERS Apr 6, Jubilee Hall, Chagford.

LES MISERABLES: THE MEMOIRS OF JEAN VALJEAN May 31- Jun 1, Brixham Theatre, Brixham.

W oR FR Ks EE h oP s

ROBYN HITCHOCK May 12, Phoenix, Exeter.

JIM MORAY TRIO May 13, Phoenix, Exeter.

Sat 1 June & Sat 2 November 2019 FREE ENTRY

10.00am - 5.00pm FREE PARKING Wellness is a proactive approach to our physical, emotional, social and mental health.

Come along and join us and meet a wealth of like minded people who can support you to feel refreshed, with a complete holistic approach.

Exhibitors will offer you a variety of solutions and treatments to support your general wellbeing.

Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3AF

www.newtonabbotracing.com Tel: 01626 353235

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

13

ORGANICGARDENING SPRING is here and for our very own gardening expert JOA GROWER that means it’s an industrious time planting all that fresh veg.

Making good use of that extra daylight

I

Joa’s A-Z of Organic Gardening

C is for Comfrey. An absolute must for any organic garden. For those of you that haven’t heard of Comfrey, it is a perennial plant (which means that it will grow year after year). The best and only variety that you should be growing is a variety called Bocking no.14, which has the highest potassium content, is resistant to rabbits and sterile so that it doesn’t set seeds after flowering. Don’t be tempted to dig up and replant the wild variety on your plot as you will find it popping up all over the place. So now you’ve got your plants what are you going to do with it? Well a few things really. Soak the leaves in a barrel of water for 14 days to produce a brilliant liquid fertilizer, which is great for feeding most plants but especially tomatoes. Add wilted leaves to potato planting holes and the compost heap as a activator. To harvest the leaves I use garden shears to cut the stems very close to ground level and always wear my gloves as the stems are slightly prickly.

Harvest 4 or 5 times a year. How good is that!

D is Diary. Keeping an allotment/garden diary can be so helpful.

It will become your very own reference book. I have them dating back 30 years or more and still refer to them now. I record weather conditions, temperature, is the soil wet or dry. What varieties I’ve planted and what I’ve harvested.

Reconnect’s Organic Gardening column is written by Joa Grower of Growers Organics. Meet her at Totnes market on Fridays and Saturdays.

Visit www.growersorganics.com, or call 01752 881180.

14

A master in class

C

REATING and supporting the next generation of makers is one of the cornerstones of Studio 45’s ethos. Their vision is to create a space that offers diverse and highly skilled training, not only for their own apprentices, but open to any who wish to learn and develop.

Studio 45’s Mel Chambers explained: “As part of that ongoing commitment we invite a wide spectrum of Master Teachers within the ceramic world to share their knowledge, skills and experience within practical workshops and master classes throughout the year. Each year brings us new teachers, new knowledge and new experiences.”

These Masters are specialists in their field who have spent many years honing their skills and knowledge to create beauty and wonder and help rebuild our relationship with hand made objects.

This year Studio 45 are extremely excited to have 3 beautifully diverse teachers covering a multitude of different aspects in ceramics. Mel added: “In April we have the internationally renowned Master Potter Ruthanne Tudball (pictured) to share her wisdom in “Expressive Throwing” in a week-long workshop. Using various methods and exercises the goal is to help people realise and explore their own creativity and personal style in clay.

“March and June introduce us to the lovely Imogen Taylor-Noble (pottery

pictured) as she takes us through the creative process of hand building techniques, including Kurinuki (a Japanese term relating to a particular hand-forming process), to create pots which have a textured surface suitable for Obvara Firing. This is followed on with an outdoor Obvara firing workshop (a technique which originated in Eastern Europe around the 12th Century) similar to Raku but using a specific obvara yeast mixture before being dunked in water to rapidly cool the piece resulting in extremely stunning effects.

The month of May takes us to another spectrum of ceramics in the magical world of glazing. Linda Bloomfield will be sharing her in depth knowledge and research to help create our own stunning colours and effects as well as the tools to continue our own research.”

Studio 45’s cornucopia of workshops and master classes are open to one and all who wish to learn and reignite their creativity. All they ask is an open heart and an open mind to share in the magical world of ceramics and reconnect with the earth.

For more information please contact info@studio45.uk.com or see www. studio45.uk.com

Second zero waste store for Exeter

NOURISH of Topsham are helping green up the residents of Exeter with a second zero waste store.

Since she launched Nourish in March 2018, founder Sarah Martin has found that the zero waste provisions store in Topsham has been a runaway success and she has been on the lookout for an additional location.

The perfect opportunity arose when Phil and Stella Brock, owners of wholefood shop The Bran Tub, decided to retire.

The shop in the independent shopping collective on Magdalen Road will become a second branch for Sarah who expects it to open midApril. “The position is spot on and Magdalen Road is a great fit for the business,” Sarah explained.

“It’s like having an entire shop on a single street; with a greengrocer, fishmonger, butcher, deli and soon a provisions store for dry goods, fresh products and environmentally

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friendly non consumables; astute shoppers can bypass supermarket shopping entirely if they want to.”

She believes that having two stores to Sarah Martin choose from will help customers from a wider area begin to change their shopping habits, lessening reliance on single use plastic packaging and other waste materials; the Nourish model encourages customers to bring their own reusable containers to fill.

For Phil and Stella Brock, it’s a perfect ending to their own 30-year journey with The Bran Tub as they were keen for a business with a similar ethos to take on the premises. See www. nourishoftopsham.com

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Photo Bridget Batchelor Photography

should soon grow back through.

T’S that busy time of year This can be done several times again! So thank goodness that during the next few months. This the clocks have finally gone will make the plants provide a forward, giving us a few more bigger crop. valuable hours in the evenings to spend on the vegetable garden.

When it comes to the onion Well where to start? If you patch, it is really important to haven’t already started clearing keep this area weed free as too away the weeds then that’s your many weeds will really effect the first job. Perennial weeds (ones bulbs growth. Be gentle and try that come up every year) such not to disturb as dandelions, or damage the docks, couch onions. The grass, nettles easiest method etc will require is to hand weed digging out them. right down April is an to their roots. ideal sowing Whereas annual month for root weeds (plants vegetables and that only grow you just have for one season to give carrots reproducing by a go. Choose flowering and an area of the then going to garden that seed) are much isn’t too stony easier to deal and rake it with. Take a thoroughly. sharp hoe and Carrot seed is slice through the Sowing the seeds very tiny and stems, the weeds therefore very can then be either left on the easy to over sow and a good tip surface of the soil to wilt and rot is to mix it with some very dry down or raked off and placed in horticultural sand and then sow the compost bin. into trenches 1-2cm deep and Clear away any old brassica 15cm apart - this helps to spread plants that have finished the seed a bit further apart. producing, such as purple All the tender things such as sprouting broccoli (I hope you sweetcorn, runner beans, French had a good crop this year. We beans, outdoor tomatoes, certainly did!) These can go on courgette and squashes can be the compost heap but you may sown or planted out towards the want to break up the stems a bit end of May when we will be to help the rotting down process. clear of frosts. They may need a Those of you who planted seed little bit of hardening off, so do potatoes earlier in the new this by placing your trays and year, these will now need to be pots out side during the day and ‘earthed up’. Using a hoe gently taking them back in over night draw the earth up around the for approx. 7-10 days. After that young shoots, don’t worry if you they should be okay to plant out. completely cover them. They What ever you get up to, enjoy!

NEWS&views

Amelia from Ethica’s Devon vegan diary OKEHAMPTON’S gorgeously quirky vegan cafe Mooplehog has a myriad of events coming up. Their next monthly Buffet Social Nights are April 27 & May 25, with all profits going to charity; and for the early birds, charity coffee mornings are April 5 and & May 9, from 9-11am. New Vegan Support & Recipe Sharing runs every Saturday from 9-11am, and Vegan Cake Club is April 11 and May 9 from 2-4pm.

Also, over Easter weekend there is a Good Friday meet up at 10am, and an Easter Sunday Brunch from 10am for Change the Lives Project. Mooplehog have just picked up Start-Up Business of The Year award for the whole of the South West, a fantastic achievement and definitely well deserved!

Another new venture worth a visit or two is Passiflora, Seaton; a beautifully serene space serving coffee, cakes, hot food, and their signature CBD oil infused edibles, plus an outdoor yoga space & cocktail garden in the works.

Keep an eye out for events and developments from them, and visit them at 3 Cross Street, Seaton.

Earth Café is settling into its new home at Union Corner; January’s event was a full house with people being turned away! The dates for April and May are still being confirmed, but keep an eye on the Facebook page (Earth Café - Plymouth UK), and be sure to get there early to grab your seat!

The next date for Exeter Friends for Animals vegan market is May 25, from 10-2.30 in Exeter Corn Exchange. Over forty stalls including hot food, cakes, vegan cheese, handmade clothing, cosmetics and craft beer, plus free samples and information on going vegan. l Ethica is on Armada Way in Plymouth and a 100% vegan store, visit www.ethicaveganstore.co.uk

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TARTING up a small business is a terrifying but very exciting adventure, especially in a quiet town like Teignmouth. With a high population of older people, a plethora of charity shops, pubs galore, fish and chips at every turn and more than a handful of cafés, Teignmouth is a popular seaside holiday hotspot. And for good reason, it’s gorgeous!

That in mind, I totally understood why opening a Vegan shop seemed, to everyone else, like a bizarre idea.

But I had the vision heavily embossed in my mind, I had the drive to make it happen, and I had some wonderful ideas, which meant I had to do it before someone else did!

Since opening just before Christmas last year, business has been booming. It has come as a big surprise to learn how many Vegans are in the local area alone, not to mention Vegetarians, Flexitarians and those who are just curious.

I’m most surprised and absolutely delighted by the amount of older people who have decided to radically change their diet towards Veganism. Usually for health reasons, they tell me that they’ve noticed dramatic positive changes, which is wonderful. Although I’m yet to guide them away from dairy milk; to which people seem to be superglued. My quest continues.

My most popular dish amongst the locals is my homemade sausage roll with portuguese potatoes and sweet coleslaw (which I’m told is famous now. Hooray!)

I like to have an exciting and wellrounded menu focussing on quality over quantity. I aim to make most of the meals gluten free, so the menu will often feature pimped up Persian and Asian rice recipes, as well as vegan adaptations of my Dad’s traditional Caribbean meals.

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THERE are always new businesses cropping up across Reconnectland.

Tanya Perry-Smith shares her experience of opening Kub, her new vegan bakery in Teignmouth.

Discovering new ways of cooking, new ways of using ingredients, is incredibly exciting and is one of the best things about Veganism.

The trusty aquafaba for meringues and jackfruit to replace meat are amongst favourites.

Xantham gum has become a good friend of mine in baking and is the key ingredient in all the cakes I make to ensure a good fluffy structure. I love making and decorating cakes, and I love the reaction they get when people realise they’re gluten free. It’s all worth it!

It was my goal to have a space where people wouldn’t have to worry about what has gone in to their food, for people to choose anything they like from the menu and not have to ask (too many) questions. And I’m chuffed to say I’ve achieved that. l To see more visit www.facebook. com/kubbakesvegan and instagram.com@kubbakes

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land matters

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Built by the community TRANSITION Homes Community Land Trustee Ruth has more news from the small charity run by volunteers and their £6 million, 70% affordable housing scheme.

UNFORTUNATELY it isn’t good news from Transition Homes Community Land Trust this month.

Our hopes for starting work on site in the spring have been dashed.

The contractor we have been in negotiations with has let us know that for various reasons they won’t be taking on the contract at this stage and so after more than a year of work from all parties involved, Transition Homes are back to square one regarding finding a suitable contractor to build Clay Park.

It’s very disappointing, especially as it is quite difficult to find a company that’s big enough to have a proven work record to satisfy our funders’ financial

requirements and also ecologically focused, skilled in eco building methods and local.

However, we have started the whole tender process again and hope to appoint a new contractor in April, to enable building to commence in November.

Working with a community project of this size will always be an interesting journey with many ups and downs, successes, disappointments and delays.

One thing the Transition Homes team have definitely had a good chance to practice over the last 10 years is tenacity and resilience in the face of disappointment and challenge. There is always a lot to learn and so the past year’s work is in no way wasted and has helped to clarify issues and inform the team so that the next tender process should be easier and more efficient.

So fingers crossed for a smooth journey to starting on site in November 2019!

Your Garden can offer you so much

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HINK of all things a garden has seen! If it could weave stories it would tell tales of children playing; of summer barbecues and winter fires; of hanging washing and storing fire wood; of proudly producing food and providing a space for wildlife to thrive; and of quiet moments of companionship between humans and nature. All these things, and more, unfurl within the steady embrace of our gardens.

Abudant Gardens’ Ross Adams has lived in many different climates and tended to many different gardens, both in his personal and professional life.

Ross said: “Over the years, a seed of quiet appreciation has grown within me for how a garden can be a great support for wellbeing. I have felt it in myself and I have witnessed it in others, as I work with them to develop a relationship with the piece of land, large or small, that they tend.

“All too often, keeping up with your garden can feel overwhelming. There are slugs to contend with and the raw nature of the elements can feel overpowering. It’s common to shy away from your garden and dampen the creative vision you may have for the outdoor space that exists on your doorstep. This is unfortunate as your garden has so much to offer and can come to give you so much in return for a little input. Often what is needed is simpler than we think.

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Quince Flower “In my work, I enjoy supporting clients to fulfill the creative vision they have for their gardens. I do this by creating simple designs and working with them to develop a garden that is functional and productive, as well as a joy to be in – because that’s the point, to create a space that invites you in, that you can relate with in some way and that, by its very nature, supports your wellbeing.”

Ross adds: “Do you have a vision for your garden that you would like some help with? Do be in touch.” l Contact Ross on 07811608359 or rossadams51@gmail.com, and visit www.abudantgardens.uk.

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news & views Kingsbridge’s latest artworks

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OR art lovers in the area Harbour House Gallery in Kingsbridge have announced their exhibitions for the next few months for you to enjoy.

Kali Sana - March 26-31 Printmaking exploring myths and memories by Iona DeSouza Arrivals - April 6-23 Open art exhibition featuring a wide range of works produced in response to the theme.

Devon Artist Network - April 27- May 8 Spring Exhibition of members’ painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, wood and metal works and jewellery.

Helping you get the most from your garden

living willow structures scything fruit trees organic growing edible planting com posting raised beds wildlife areas 07811608359 www.abu ndantgardens.uk

Waterlines - May 10-15 Watercolour paintings by Colin Allbrook RI, RSMA, SEA Porcelain and Paint - May 17-22 Ceramics by Tim Gee and paintings by Jane Hagan Shifting Strands II - May 24-29 Devon Weavers’ Workshop – an exhibition of members’ work Marking the Land, Westwards - June 1-12 The south Devon landscape is the arena for creative collaboration by three related women artists: mother, daughter and cousin. Working in different media and materials, Rafaele Appleby, Bethany Murray and Frances Murray each follow a personal path, exploring old and new connections to this part of the landscape.

Studio 45 is an open-plan learning environment for potters and ceramicists where members and students have access to wheels, kilns and equipment, as well as technical know-how from our experienced teachers.

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Non-toxic plant based remedies

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HERE is a lot of hype about CBD, but is it all it’s cracked up to be?

Jonathan Abery runs Therapia, a Torquay-based company that has been producing medicinal cannabis products since 2001 and is a member of Cannabis Trades Association UK. He said: “More people are choosing to go down the route of natural, non-toxic, plantbased remedies that don’t have the negative side effects of prescription drugs. CBD, already well-established in the wellbeing community, is already available in some high street pharmacies and many doctors now believe it has genuine medicinal value.”

CBD is a naturally-occurring substance in the cannabis plant that, unlike its fellow cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), isn’t psychoactive.

Jonathan explained: “The human nervous system is bristling with cannabinoid receptors that are needed for the body’s own endocannabinoid system to keep the body in balance. And while we can’t make any medicinal

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claims regarding CBD and its health benefits (regulations control the claims we can make), there is overwhelming evidence that it can be used to treat a range of conditions from neurodegenerative diseases and auto-immune system problems, to calm anxiety, lift mood, and fight pain. What is definitely known is that incorporating CBD products into your daily routine can have significant benefits for your physical and mental health.”

The world’s largest cannabis company has recently opened a site in Britain and, following changes in drug laws that allow it to be prescribed to patients for medicinal use, millions of pounds are being invested in the CBD market.

Jonathan strikes one word of caution: “In a rapidly growing market like this, people should educate themselves by doing research into any company behind a CBD product.”

Therapia, Fleet Walk Shopping Centre (next to TKMaxx) Torquay TQ2 5EN is open 10.30 to 4.30 daily. Info/Mail Order call: 0800 0747 319 / 07817 454390 www.therapiaonline.com.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

17

LOCAL PRODUCE Starting seeds - tips and tricks FRED Groom from Vital Seeds, the organic seed company, offers some timely advice for growers.

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PRING is an exciting time for us gardeners, we cannot stop thinking about sowing seeds.

We are all itching to get things growing as early as possible and if we have two sunny days in a row in February we panic as we think summer has arrived. But hold your horses, we cannot control the seasons by planting our tomatoes earlier!

We must honour the seasons and not rush ahead of them, or our crops will suffer later on. Here are some tips for starting seeds that we have learned over our years of growing.

Tomatoes, peppers and aubergines These crops need both heat and light to grow well. If you have a heat mat and an LED grow-light then you can get them started off in January.

However, if you do not have these things then you are better waiting until the beginning of March when there is more natural light available.

Plants grown with only extra heat and no light become very leggy and will not grow into strong plants. We sow multiple seeds into 10cm pots and then prick them out once germinated.

Lettuce Lettuce can be a bit tricky to germinate, and if you use module trays, its really annoying to have gaps in them. Our technique for lettuce: spread moist compost in a seed tray, create a ‘groove’ in the compost by pressing a pencil down into it, sow a line of lettuce seeds into the groove and then press the seeds into the groove using the same pencil. Once the seeds have germinated, prick them out into cell trays.

Courgettes and pumpkins Although these seeds can be sown directly in the ground, we really think it is much more effective to sow them

into 10cm pots at the beginning of April and then plant out large healthy plants in May which will take off nicely once acclimatised.

Carrots and parsnips We recommend not starting them too early, unless you need a really early crop. The seeds will germinate and grow much faster if sown into warm soil in early May and have a better chance of beating the weeds! l To find out more about Vital Seeds Ltd see vitalseeds.co.uk, facebook. com/vitalseedsltd.

Offering a menu that caters for all

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HE Coombe Cellars pub and restaurant at Combeinteignhead near Newton Abbot has had a major refurbishment both inside and outside. The pub with beautiful views across the Teign estuary has always been very pleasant and relaxing, now they have a new opulent looking restaurant and spruced up outdoor areas.

When we work on Reconnect we tend to do it remotely, rather than face to face - there’s a constant flow of emails back and forth as the magazine comes together.

That means we don’t get to spend much time in collaborating face to face. We jumped at the chance to meet at The Coombe Cellars for a fabulous foodie experience before their opening night following the completion of the major refit.

The pub’s menus have been given a complete makeover, with the introduction of a vegan menu packed full of plant-based goodness and delicious flavours alongside the seasonal menu. They also offer a range of low and non-alcoholic drinks including beers and a ‘wellness’ drinks menu, a wine list, bar drinks and a choice of cocktails.

Your editor was rather taken by

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his first taste of Seedlip Garden 108 - the world’s first distilled nonalcoholic spirit!

We were all very impressed with the pub’s new decor and the new look restaurant. Jane our resident foodie gave it a glowing report, saying: “For local friends, highly recommended - beautiful decor, gorgeous food, attentive service, and a food and drinks choice that leaves no one out, which is a huge challenge in itself.

“Vegan friends, go and visit this gem - an extensive and imaginative vegan menu alongside the omnivore and vegetarian menu. Great range of nonalcoholic drinks too!”

We do like a restaurant that caters for everyone, and we’ll definitely be back.

See www.thecoombecellars.co.uk

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Naturally nourishing OUR resident foodie, JANE HUTTON, explores the trinity of real food, real life and real health - both physical and mental.

Stay healthy, eat well, and go local

Grass - a true whole super food

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VONNE Scepanik of Fieldgrassjuice is as passionate about wheatgrass as the first time we heard of her produce, grown on the coast at Beeson, when she pitched at The Community of Dragons last year.

She said: “Herbivores get all their nutrients including protein and calcium from Earth’s endless green carpet under our feet, hoofs and paws. Grass is impossible to ignore, we just need to relax, bend down, sit down, lie down and suckle its juiciness, just like calves do.”

The list of benefits of integrating grass juices into our diet is almost as endless as the carpets of green blanketing the Earth. Books have been written about it; the first modern study stems from 1883.

Wheatgrass juice rebuilds and alkalinizes the blood, is anti-bacterial and anti-parasitical, neutralises toxins, repairs DNA, enhances immunity, inhibits free radicals, inhibits carcinogens, helps skin diseases, enhances stamina & endurance and provides antioxidants. Grass juices are packed with at least 90 minerals, vitamins and enzymes. They are also a rich source of Chlorophyll.

Yvonne enthused: “Chlorophyll is sunlight - our lifeforce. Plants can absorb it through photosynthesis: a magical spell cast from Earth, Air (oxygen), Water and Fire – for all our energy needs.”

But don’t just take Yvonne’s word for it, the ancient Essene Gospel of Peace Book IV sums it up beautifully: “Here is the secret, suns of light; here in the humble grass. Here is the meeting place of the Earthen Mother and the Heavenly Father; here is the Stream of Life which gave birth to all creation.”

Yvonne added: ”We have the pleasure of scything well weathered, organically certified wheatgrass on lush Devon pastures overlooking the beautiful sea, then juicing this green energizing elixir for you. Because it is frozen straight away, the juice stays fresh and as rich as possible, unpasteurised.

“Its quality is comparable to an excellent wine, and the taste of our Wheatgrass juice is sweet and fresh, like a spring meadow. All the packaging is compostable or biodegradable.

“We drink around 28ml/1oz/ 1shot per day. Some feel the need for 2 shots per day, children love it in apple juice every other day. We sell it in bags of 28 shots, enough for 1 moon month.”

To Yvonne, above all, it is spiritual food: “grassjuices bring light into your being.”

Find out more about Fieldgrassjuice and see for yourselves at www. fieldgrassjuice.com, or call 07972 092338.

L

locally, cooked from scratch and ET’S talk about the trinity of true nourishment. If that sounds eaten mindfully? If that sounds vaguely evangelical, it should like a utopian ideal, you might be. Whatever we choose to have some rethinking to do! respect or reverence in life, you In this relatively short space, the full would think that these amazing picture is impossible to elaborate vehicles that allow us to do on, but in essence, the most whatever we want or need to achievable way to stay healthy, eat do would be held in the highest well, look after our local economy, esteem and treated with the and make the greatest care. most of our time There’s frequently and budget an element of silo is to use local thinking when it producers, have comes to health, a staple range of and to food. ingredients and I’m constantly favourite recipes, surprised how spend a little many still time organising consider them ahead, engage to be separate our creativity in the or only partially kitchen, associate interdependent, what we eat with even in the the non-negotiable medical maintenance of community, after ourselves, and the recent growth Find out more about Jane’s actively enjoy food. of mainstream Kickstarter campaign for recognition of the her new book on page 5. To conclude, let me direct links between highlight one thing that I bring in food and health, physical and regularly, and that is combining mental. creativity and food waste goals Food is divided into good and by doing whatever I can to bad too often, with healthy food make sure I throw away as little placed wistfully in the ‘good’ as possible. Even the smallest box, whereas food to indulge in leftover bits and pieces can make and enjoy is shoved guiltily in scrumptious meals that give the ‘bad’ box. The eco elements immense satisfaction in both taste encompassing sustainability, and virtuosity with a little practice shopping, sourcing and food and an open mind! waste are a different animal Ingredients like cream, crème altogether! fraiche, lemons, ends of cheese, In fact, they are a trinity that and various veg are often are all inextricably bound knocking around my fridge, so together, and part of what I call this issue’s recipe is one that is a consciousness which dictates a firm favourite in my house. how we behave towards our Healthy, and extremely indulgent, body on a holistic level. Do you it makes a great dish for supper truly nourish yourself with the for friends too. most fresh, natural, nutritious and delicious food daily, bought Who said leftovers were boring?

Lemon leftovers linguine

Bespoke food to your requirements THE Kitchen Table based in Totnes is a small, seasonal and creative caterer, offering a bespoke and friendly service. They design menus in tune with the seasons using locally sourced and often organic ingredients.

They will be at RAM (Rotherfold Artisan Market) on June 22. It’s a makers’ market organised and curated by Me and East; a lovely shop on the Rotherfoldland and The Kitchen Table. The latter will also be serving lunches 12-2 Mon - Fri from now until Christmas.

Sima Cutting and her team will be busy with lots and lots of weddings and parties booked-in and The Kitchen Bar will also return to Woodland Presents again. The

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Kitchen Table work with their customers to come up with a delicious and unique menu to wow guests and celebrate a special event with fantastic flavours, variety and colours. Sima added: “We are very adept at meeting your friends and family’s dietary needs as well as providing you with the menu you want. We take our ethics seriously!

From our produce sourcing policy, to using plant based cleaning products and reducing waste whenever we can and always being open to learning and improving our practices.” l Contact Sima for a free quote! 07583400998 sima@ thekitchentable.org.uk

Linguine butter garlic a lemon 2-3 egg yolks double cream crème fraiche hard cheese rocket (or watercress or spinach) leftover veg like peppers, mushrooms, courgettes, or onions.

creating an unctuous, luxurious sauce out of leftover bits and pieces. Beat the egg yolks until slightly volumised, and then separately beat together crème fraiche and cream to combine, adding the zest of the lemon and grated hard cheese. Combine well.

When the pasta is cooked, drain it, return to a large pan with a little melted butter or oil to loosen it, and mix through the veg. Add the eggs to the cream mixture along with the juice of the lemon, combine well, SAUTE the thinly sliced veg until and pour over the pasta. Turn to caramelised, adding the minced coat everything, weave the greens garlic at the very end. Put the through it, season, and grate a little pasta on to cook, and while that is cooking, whip up the velvety, lemony more cheese on top. concoction that will coat the linguine, Enjoy!

Naturally Nourishing is written by nutritionist and “confirmed foodie” Jane Hutton. Visit her new website, www. functional-foodie.com, and sign up for programmes, recipes and advice.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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living: made simple MARTIN FOSTER continues his examination of simpler, more sustainable living, with a little deconstruction work…

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N this, the third of my new series of columns, it’s time to think about what’s really important to us and how we might change our lives accordingly. Or at least you can - I’m not doing all the work.

In my last column (Feb/Mar issue – check it out online) I wrote about the need for planning – making big lifestyle changes is not something to undertake without careful consideration. It is important that you are honest about how your life currently is; that you’re sure about what is truly important to you; that you know how to bring that about in your own life; and that you have some framework in place to ensure it is practical, and possible, to live that way.

My intention is to help with every stage of that process through my columns over the coming months.

Life today is so complex, and full of so many distractions, it makes sense to look at one area at a time, so I suggest you first break your life down into prime components; the primary elements of living. As a starting point, consider the following: shelter, work, food, clothing, relationships, leisure, exercise, creativity, spirituality. Remember, these need to be the deconstructed elements of your entire life. You might think my examples don’t work for you, but let’s run through them one-by-one before you make any decisions – some are broader than you might think; some will probably overlap others. If, at the end of the process, you feel there’s something lacking, you can come back and add it to your basic list.

I’ll just introduce the areas this time around, with a few notes to get you thinking about them, and then we’ll explore them together, one-by-one, in future issues of Reconnect.

Shelter One of life’s necessities. And a biggy on the conspicuous consumption hotlist too – nothing says ‘I’m coining it’ better than a spectacular spread. As I mentioned in the last column, the simple dimensions of your home will play a large part in determining how material your life will, or can, be. Consider: size, but also: location (all right, location, location); energy consumption; insulation; materials; community living (sharing resources if not actual living space); food production and preparation; furniture and fittings.

Work Another one we touched on last time.

Although we all (well, most of us) need to earn money, work is about so much more than just a job - it can also feed into relationships, creativity, exercise and many other aspects of life. And there’s a work element in many of the things we do for pleasure or just to get from one day to the next. This is one complicated Venn diagram. Consider: a more varied work pattern – how about part-time employment, self-employment, money-making hobbies, producing food, volunteering?

Food On the most basic level, it’s fuel for your body. But we’ll also be looking at food quality, nutrition and the social aspects of eating. How you source your food also has a massive impact on your community and the wider world. Consider: producing your own food; eating more fruit and veg; eating less processed food; eating less and only high-welfare meat; eating seasonally; supporting local producers and independent shops.

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Clothing Again we looked briefly at this last time, as an example of one of the parameters you can set to make life changes easier.

It’s one of the mainstays of consumerism and, as a result, has a huge negative effect, both environmentally and ethically.

The fashion industry is estimated to produce as many greenhouse gases as all the planes flying in the world.

The clothing trade also consumes vast volumes of fresh water and creates chemical and plastic pollution. And, as that nice Mr Attenborough keeps telling us, manmade fibres are even found in the digestive systems of deep ocean creatures. Consider: buying fewer, and better quality, new clothes; buying more secondhand clothes.

Relationships Arguably the most important element in most people’s lives – and the things that cause us most grief when they go wrong. And yet we still hype up our lifestyles until they become the worst environment in which to conduct any sort of meaningful relationship: no time for family; too distracted to truly be with our partners; aggressive, competitive workplaces. Changing your life could give you more time to spend with those you love – and involve you in new relationships in other parts of your life.

Consider: setting aside time solely for partner/family (we do it for work); working collaboratively; volunteering; getting involved in community projects.

Leisure We all need a little of it – just look how dull Jack became without it. But does yours have a negative effect on others?

And just how restful or enjoyable is it, really? If you change your life, you’ll probably change the way you work, which in turn might mean designated ‘leisure time’ doesn’t feel quite so necessary. Consider: increasing your contact with the land and nature; getting out to more live entertainment; joining (or starting up) community groups.

Creativity This plays a vital role in everyone’s life.

Not necessarily an obvious creative pursuit; it might be the creative element of another aspect of your life. And it is not to be confused with consumerism’s ‘style’, which really just amounts to buying someone else’s creativity. Consider: actually doing something about that art or craft project you’ve been thinking about for so long; making things for your home; printing out some of your photos rather than leaving them on your hard-drive (they might even make good greetings cards or framed gifts).

Spirituality Recent surveys show that more than half of UK residents say they have no religion.

But methods of inward exploration, including yoga, meditation and tai chi, continue to grow in popularity. We might also find something we’d describe as ‘spiritual’ in nature – walking in the countryside, perhaps, or along a coastal path. Hard to define but it undoubtedly has a beneficial impact on your life.

Consider: meditating daily – when we get to look at this, I’ll include some tips.

Remember, these are just starting points – we’ll look at each of these areas over the coming months, starting with shelter/ homes/housing in the June/July issue.

In the meantime, do please get in touch with any feedback or input – email me at martinfoster4242@ gmail.co.uk.

in

Mart

The Woodland Presents ‘Woodlab’ A WHILE back the folks at The Woodland Presents thought: “let’s build a place where people can share timber skills, knowledge and machinery”, so that’s what they are doing! Woodlab is set to be a centre for the exploration of British trees and timber.

They told us: “In our wildest dreams, it’s a game-changer and a place to do things differently; a place where renewal is at the heart of the activity and people may forge meaningful relationships between trees, woodlands and timber.”

They’re developing an education

programme and will be offering workspace and machinery-access to makers who are seeking out a different way of being in the woodsector. “We want to unite small wood-based businesses together with timber suppliers, processors, ecologists and foresters. We are open to anyone who works with trees or timber to share their ideas, or ways they might like to be involved.”

If you think this might be you, contact them at https://thewoodland. co/contact-us/ or sign up to the newsletter, see the website thewoodland.co/woodlab for more.

Ros Brady’s Nature Diary

ENVIRONMENTAL composer, musician, author and poet Rob Brady is a deep ecologist who spends a lot of time out doors in the woods and moors - writing, being, meditating, and walking.

Here she brings her Nature Diary exclusively to Reconnect.

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PRIL has arrived. The joy of watching beech trees break into leaf, one of the most beautiful sights of the year. I wake at dawn in our new house, leave the front door, hike up the hills and down into the valley below – hundreds of acres of pine and old growth broad-leafed forest. I cross a track beyond an ancient beech hedge-bank. I pass goat willow, unfurling fern, leafing woodland, blackbirds, a misselthrush, and the newly arrived birds, chiffchaffs, willow-warblers and blackcaps, singing above. ‘I’m here - I’m here - don’t forget me’: the misselthrush.

‘Houeet- soeee- soeetooo’: the willow warbler.’

I pass damp meadows, pools of Ragged Robin creased, new; a mossy old wood. I realise I have come across a unique place. I feel immense waves gather within me.

I never planned to write. Or spend my days in nature. I just wanted to lie under the trees on the wood edge and look up at the sky. I had a rare syndrome that was taking away my vision. That was back in 2002. Dartington, where we lived, seemed wilder then. I picked my way into the woods and fields and found favourite places; quiet uninterrupted places.

May The lane cut down through an old wood. The rustle of fresh leaves. I follow deer paths through acres and acres of bluebells. Green-veined butterflies hang from blue corollas, sipping nectar wings closed then opened. And that most ancient of butterflies – the orange-tipped among the stitchwort. A male greenveined butterfly pulls off a blossom and swishes by my cheek. I inhale the scent of its wings; lemon balm.

I catch the first smell of summer

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coming from the north, the honey like smell of the earth.

I remember one spring morning watching a hawk race after a skylark over the wood canopy. But with a twist the lark soared out of the hawk’s claws far away up into the clouds.

My new life began. I learnt to meditate outdoors, to sit quietly and lose myself in nature, to love nature.

In 2005 my eyesight fully returned.

Three years ago I was granted permission to work and write in the small, wild valley discovered that April day. Surrounded by forests lies my valley, my sanctuary. Living here, loving the earth, has become my greatest adventure.

My first book Next To Me, A Robin (2013), written outdoors on Dartington Hall Estate, is available from all Dartington Hall outlets and Totnes Bookshop. I’m finishing the sequel, ‘The Green-Notebook’ - out soon (and currently looking for a small house to buy/house-sit in a secluded situation in which to write.) I am also a singer-songwriter devoting my work to writing with environmentalists seeking to save earth systems. YouTube clips/ bookings: www.rosalindbrady. co.uk.

Excerpt/ illustration from ‘Beadon: finding sanctuary in a broken world’ Copyright Ros Brady 2019.

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news & views Si Ford: Chagstock festival organiser SI FORD has been running Chagstock since its first fledgling outing in his mother’s garden in 2003. We asked him how he picks the line-up.

Si Ford said: “This year we asked our audience if there were any bands that they would like to see again at Chagstock and the response was enormous!

We therefore have a line up with a mixture of bands that we have asked back and new acts.

Our Saturday night headliner, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, played Chagstock 2012 and had the arena jumping up and down and we expect the same this year.

Other returners include Mad Dog Mcrea and Noble Jacks, both very popular in the survey. We also have the return of Glamping in the form of Bell Tents that can be hired from Tee & Toast Glamping.

They will be set up ready for your arrival and there are various size and outfitting options.

“This will be our 13th public Chagstock and the Theme for this year is ‘Under the Sea’ so plenty of scope for wild fancy dress costumes!

“There are many festivals of all shapes and sizes over the summer months but we try to offer a safe, non-corporate, party feel to Chagstock with a varied line up and other entertainment and

refreshments and welcome loyal and new audiences alike.”

Set in 70 acres of farmland on the edge of Dartmoor, Chagstock is renowned for its stunning location, diverse line-up of artists and non-corporate, family friendly atmosphere. Chagstock showcases the best music, food and entertainment that the Westcountry and the UK have to offer. Starting life as a small private party, Chagstock has now grown into a major fixture on the Westcountry festival circuit.

Chagstock takes place on Dartmoor on July 19- 20, find out more and book tickets on their website chagstock.info

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Slowing it all down… update

The Coombe Cellars

LAST issue CASPAR WALSH author, poet, film maker, journalist and Mindful Man decided to slow his life down.

We find out how he’s getting on...

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friend is organising a festival for later in the year. I ask him how he’s doing. ‘Busy as hell, man, so much to figure out…so little time.’ Tis the season: events, gigs, festivals, the rite of spring into summer and getting out there with all our gifts. And here I am, rising up recharged from the sleepy calm of days and nights of winter. Warm fires and food with friends and family, slowing it all down, freeing it all up. What? You weren’t chilling this winter as you’d promised because you had too much going on? In truth, neither did I. But I fantasise every year about it. Going with the restoring, descent energy of winter is not an option for most of us, it seems. How do I live in old time when the world is clearly moving faster and faster into new time? But my stubborn streak may save me. My response when everyone around is speeding up is to do the opposite. If you tail gate me, you’ll see what I mean.

My Vision Quest three years ago was a slow-down marker still unfolding. I was physically forced to stop because of ill health. I let the adrenaline and high frequency of all my noble ‘doing’ fall away to reveal what was underneath.

The raggedy scarecrow of my exhaustion creaked out into the light of the wood. I lost a stone in weight over four days and nights fasting

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at Coombeinteignhead

with nothing but boredom as a guide. And being bored seems key to all this, an antidote, a healer to an overwrought mind doing more than is human.

There is a growing tribe of busy in the world. So, choosing to stop and slow down, to take time to watch the clouds and rain and sun move past our living room window with no destination, is tough. Even the most aware seem to struggle finding space in life to sit and breathe and stare.

I like to connect. Choosing this path means that I’m feeling more alone.

But I choose increased loneliness over the kind of life I was living.

I still connect, I still work. I’m still living a productive, happy, inspired life. My body won’t tolerate much more relentless adrenaline and striving. The medicine is kindness; to myself and others. Telling the white noise of doubt, pushing me to do and be more, to hush up.

As W.H. Davies put it: “A Poor life this, if full of care, we have no time to stop and stare.” l For signed/dedicated copies of The Mindful Man Words from the Earth and Upcoming events and retreats: wwww.wordsfromtheearth.co.uk

Offering a wide choice of starters, light bites, mains, and sharing platters, as well as a superb new vegan menu and extensive drinks menu.

Call 01626 872423 Visit www.thecoombecellars.co.uk Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4RT

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I can write effective copy for your website, press releases, leaflets, social media, etc.

Get in touch for a friendly chat.

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Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

21

news & Views Can you help say ‘Curtains to Cold’?

PLYMOUTH Energy Community’s PEC Pals volunteers are launching ‘Curtains to Cold’, a curtain bank that will redistribute unwanted curtains to residents who can’t afford them. Not only will the free curtains keep out the cold, they’ll help to make a house a home. PEC Pals will be organising donation points across the city shortly. The project is also being supported by St Luke’s Hospice who have kindly donated a storage facility in the city centre. Residents will be referred in for help . If you would like to find out more or donate, please call PEC on 01752 477117 or email support@plymouthenergycommunity.com.

Lin Etherdon, Sarah Wollaston and Sophie Phillips at the ceremony

Devon’s heat heroes win award

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WO local Energy Advisors have been recognised for their energy advice work with vulnerable residents across the South Hams at an award ceremony in the House of Commons.

Lin Etherdon from Citizens Advice South Hams and Sophie Phillips from South Dartmoor Community Energy (SDCE) both received a national Heat Hero Award earlier this year, after being nominated by colleagues. The awards are organised by fuel poverty charity National Energy Action and recognise people for going above and beyond in helping their clients to reduce their fuel bills and stay warm and healthy at home. Lin and Sophie were 2 of 16 awardees from across the UK. Sarah Wollaston MP attended the award ceremony and was delighted to see two South Hams ladies receive awards. Over the last couple of years Lin and Sophie have helped hundreds of South Hams residents to sort out their fuel bills,

reduce fuel debt, apply for grants for home improvements and link up with other support services. Both are finding that the needs of residents are getting more complicated and desperate, which is a worrying trend, but they always do their best for the people they support.

Citizens Advice and SDCE both deliver fuel poverty projects across the South Hams and often work together to ensure residents receive all the support that’s available to them. They run regular drop in advice sessions in community venues, can attend community groups and can undertake home visits for more vulnerable clients. Their energy advice is all free and impartial.

To find out more about the energy advice offered in the South Hams please visit their websites southhamscab.org.uk or www. southdartmoorcommunityenergy.org or call them on CAB:03444111444 / SDCE:0800 112 3044.

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Inspiring local music agency

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ERE’s news of an inspiring locally based business.

Fromthewhitehouse is a small Totnes based music agency representing world class singer-songwriters run by Katie Whitehouse. Katie understands the importance of branding and positioning and believes that knowing values and key messages and communicating these consistently is important for any business, small or large wherever they are based.

The vast majority of music agencies are based in London, Katie was booking one of her musicians into a festival this week and the voice on the other end of the phone said “how does that sit with your London ideas?” “Well it sits very well with my Totnes ideas!” she replied.

The music programmer was surprised and said that when he’d looked at her website he’d assumed he was dealing with a top London agency. This is what happens when you put together a varied career of working in brand and corporate identity design, running songwriting courses and retreats and a passion for music.

As well as booking and organising gigs and tours in the

UK and overseas for the likes of Reg Meuross, Charlie Dore and Harbottle & Jonas, Katie also puts on monthly gigs, ‘Whitehouse Sessions’, at Ashburton Arts.

She is also involved in curating and promoting community events including Party In The Town and loves singing herself.

She runs the Totnes Pop Up Choir as well as singing her own songs (her next local gig is Holbeton Village Hall on April 6). Totnes suits Katie’s entrepreneurial spirit and her ethos. “Everything I do has a check-list: is it going to make a difference to the world in some way, do I believe in it and will I enjoy it. If it does tick all three boxes then I don’t get involved.”

Katie’s new venture is threewisewomen.co.uk, running empowering marketing workshops for women with fellow entrepreneurs Penny Little and Lucy Matthews.

Big barn build-it volunteer camp

IF YOU have ever wanted to turn you hand to timber-framing maybe this Spring / Summer is your chance?

Following their great success at last years Public Inquiry into the needs of small woodlands, they are now building three timber-framed barns with the help of Tom Hilliard and various experts. Timing is tight due to funding deadlines (Eurofunding through the Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund).

Volunteers are welcomed for a week upward to camp at The Hillyfield and get involved in the process of turning tree to timber to barn. Local residents are welcome to join in too. There will also be some professional workshops in timber framing with expert framer Henry Russel.

Contact Doug for more information on 07976589927 or visit the website www.TheHillyfield.co.uk

Dartmoor Society News - Changing Times HAVE you ever wondered who represents the voice of the people of Dartmoor? Some say it is the Dartmoor Society, a charity set up in 1998 that supports those who find Dartmoor a source of livelihood or inspiration. This month, after 21 years at the helm, Dr Tom Greeves is standing down as chair.

Dr Tom Greeves is a cultural environmentalist. He has worked as a consultant for Dartmoor National Park, English Heritage and the Ministry of Defence and also runs holiday journeys in cultural environmentalism. It only takes meeting Dr Tom Greeves, or talking to anyone who knows him, to discover quite what a remarkable man he is and the depths of his commitment to life on Dartmoor.

In his 21 years as chair he has spoken out unfalteringly in support of the importance of a vibrant living Dartmoor, acted as consultant in many legal cases as well as organised and held tours throughout Dartmoor to a plethora of inspiring projects. Members of the Dartmoor Society enjoy a regular newsletter, tours, talks and other ways to engage in life on Dartmoor. Visit their website https://www.dartmoorsociety.com/home

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Tom and Lucy on Dartmoor.

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Visit us at www.reconnectonline.co.uk Harvesting from a forest garden Finding hope at a time of crisis

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VER wondered what the best way to harvest and preserve medicinal herbs is, or how to make herbal remedies such as syrups and tinctures? Fancy discovering what preparations for health and bodycare can be made using medicinal trees and shrubs?

If you join Dr Anne Stobart on her course on Thursday May 30, based at Holt Wood near Great Torrington, and from 10.30-4pm you can spend a delightful day finding out the while learning all about harvesting medicinal herbs and making herbal remedies.

Holt Wood Herbs is a specialist project in Devon, where a redundant conifer plantation has been transformed into a thriving medicinal forest garden. A wide range of native and introduced plants with medicinal uses can be seen, including native and introduced trees and shrubs.

Not normally open to the public, Holt Wood provides an excellent location for a relaxed day in a small group learning about harvesting and using medicinal herbs.

Anne explained: “During this day we will consider harvesting of bark, flowers, fruits, leaves and roots of

disconnection, fear and a belief in scarcity, what we need to become is bold and profoundly connected to our abundant source.

trees, shrubs and other plants. There will be sessions on good harvesting practice, drying and preservation techniques. You will see how to make a variety of preparations suitable for health and skin care, such as capsules and ointments.”

Anne is an expert herb grower and historical researcher with publications including Household Medicine in Seventeenth-Century England (Bloomsbury, 2016). Anne previously taught herbal medicine at Middlesex University, and is a founder of the Herbal History Research Network.

The course is popular, and alternative dates are Saturday June 15 or Sunday June 23. Advance booking is essential and the full registration cost is £68, inclusive of learning materials and refreshments.

For further details of booking and other courses at Holt Wood see our website at www.holtwoodherbs.com l Call Dr Anne Stobart on 01363 777531 or 07855 479622 to find out more, or email a.stobart@ herbaid.co.uk See the website: www.holtwoodherbs.com

MANY of us realise humanity has reached a point of crisis in our history.

AEVA Magazine’s Isabella Lazlo explores how we can each learn to deal with this overwhelming dilemma.

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T AEVA we are asking what will it take for us as humanity to put on the brakes and change the course we are on? Are we willing to make the changes necessary?

Overwhelm and despair are not comfortable feelings and sometimes we have to travel through them to arrive at the place of hope and possibility and transformation. Certainly we need to let go of the multi-dimensional layers of our perceived reality to make way for new possibilities.

As Albert Einstein said, ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.’ We need to loosen ourselves from our narrow view of reality and reconnect with our sovereign nature; we are vast beings, infinite in our scope.

What humanity has become is not divinely orchestrated but led by

Given the present crisis we are in on Earth, we each need to be holding the space in all ways that we can for a profound reshuffle of the cards here, no small measures are going to hit the mark. How can we, without shame and revenge, allow and make ourselves available for the profound transformation that is needed? To begin with, I believe we need to welcome the overwhelm that is often triggered, without having to do anything, just to be with it, to feel it as a first step of engagement. Answers and inspiration come when we are open to receive, but if we are blocking the overwhelm and the fear, then our doors and windows are shut to so many levels of experience and possibility.

What do you need to face in yourself to make the next shift?

What do you need to let go of to create more space and connection with your divine essence and to hear the next steps? We are each a microcosm of the macrocosm, by plugging into our sacred origins we can create space to do the work of feeling, shifting through and befriending the disconnected, fragmented and fearful aspects of our psyche, creating a map within ourselves for the transformation we need to see in the outer world. As Spring emerges, may new avenues of communication, effortless letting go and miraculous transformation become apparent for us all. l Find out more about AEVA at www.aevamagazine.co.uk

Educational experiences await at farm

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NDEPENDENT charity organicARTS are based at West Town Farm, Ide, 3 miles from Exeter.

Established in 2004, they promote natural arts and rural issues through educational visits and walks, classes, workshops, community projects, exhibitions and performances. organicARTS offer outdoor activities for many different groups including young people, those with mental health issues, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, and people in recovery from substance abuse.

Lou, a community garden volunteer at the charity, told us: “organicARTS is like a world away from daily life. It provides a special place where people can enjoy being productive in the outdoors, away from challenges at home”.

They are running the following events throughout the April and May. Every Thursday throughout April and May (and ongoing) Mosaics Drop-in Create mosaic artwork or contribute to an organicARTS mosaic in the community garden.

April 14 Mini open day Springtime with children’s workshops, garden

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tours, talks and arts displays.

April 2-23 Farm creativity walks in partnership with the Devon Recovery Learning Community A 4-week course exploring the hedgerows, and old railway line whilst collecting materials grown and produced around the farm. Transport available from Exeter. To book, visit the DRLC website devonrlc.co.uk From May 4 Boatyard Bakery organicARTS Exhibition on Exeter Quayside.

Showcasing associate artists’ work and the natural art techniques practiced at organicARTS, taking inspiration from the farm and its resources.

May 12 Spring at the Farm See the farm in Springtime with children’s workshops, garden tours, talks and arts displays.

May 27 Workshop Day Celebrate the opening of the grain barn which has been renovated following a successful crowdfunder in 2018, with a range of craft and

arts workshops.

May 29 Grain Barn Official Opening & Exhibition launch The grand opening of the new space with an accompanying exhibition.

May 29-June 26 Introduction to hand building in clay and raku techniques (5 week course) A short course in handbuilding with different clays and firing techniques for beginners or the more experienced. Ending with a raku and smoke firing day on the last day. Dress for mess and warm. All tools, materials provided. £110. l Please visit www.organicarts.org.uk/projects/ whatson/ to find out more, or contact info@ organicarts.org.uk or 01392 811080.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

23

rewilding

Embercombe Wildin

By Rachel Fleming

I l Embercombe undergoing a refurbishment

New Courses At Embercombe Return of the Beaver with Ben Goldfarb and Derek Gow, June 3 – 6 The Children’s Fire with Mac Macartney, Nigel Shaw and guests, June 15 – 21 Wilding Consciousness with Ben Rayner, June 9 -15 Women Rising Rooted with Pat McCabe and Sharon Blackie, July 4 – 8 Plus, The Journey, Catalyst, Speaking Out and many more to be announced www.embercombe.org.

Nature … as if people mattered

T’S becoming clear that something has gone wrong.

School children are taking to the streets in protest and many people you speak to are considering their position on civil disobedience in response to harrowing projections from the Extinction Rebellion. At the last Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management conference, Alastair Driver from Rewilding Britain opened the debate by saying that in 50 years of conservation effort things have only got worse (I’m an ecologist by trade and most of my friends have worked their lives so we don’t have to hear this) – “it’s time we did something completely different”.

One different thing, proposed by many at the moment, is this idea of letting go completely – ceasing the man-made struggle to manage our environment and turning over large tracts of land to natural processes. Perhaps it’s time to accept that we do not have the answers on how nature should work, and by this active letting go, a process called rewilding, let her manage herself. But … whilst wonderful in principle, many of us do not have blocks of land at our disposal and, understandably, those that do are asking the

Ecology and Rewilding

Fran Southgate from Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Knepp Estate

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ILDING is exciting, because we really don’t know what wild and natural means any more, and it allows the emergent properties of unknown natural abundance to appear of its own accord, rather than at our will.

Wilding doesn’t necessarily mean wolves and bears, it just means Fran Southgate allowing things to be ‘as wild as possible’ in their current circumstances, and starting to work with nature on longer timescales, rather than our hurried human ones. Wilding can happen in the urban sprawl, or in people’s psyche’s, not just in the countryside or wilderness.

When Embercombe put out a call for people to help them re-wild, I couldn’t resist stepping forward. Embercombe has a unique vision of how to reconnect humans with nature, and I am looking forward to seeing where their Wilding journey takes them and the many others who work with them.

Sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk Knepp.co.uk

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Embercombe’s yurts

Permaculture

Caroline Aitken from Patrick Whitefield Associates FEEL as humans we have a sense that the world would be better off without us and to let nature thrive, we must put ourselves out of the picture. I would like to see us thinking more about the positive impact we can have and how we can be an integrated part of a thriving natural ecosystem.

As a permaculturist I work with people and organisations to look at how they can shift the way they look at their situation, how they can integrate their activities in a way which saves time,

I

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question of what it is we will eat. And w exactly does the human sit in this rewild agenda? Do we need to fence ourselve completely, or is there a way we could of the nature we are trying to restore?

When I stepped into the role of Directo Embercombe, I saw a beautiful 50 acre that has for twenty years (big birthday t year!) been a place where people com and understand their relationship with n Often they come from places where exp to the wild is not the norm. And whilst i to say that Embercombe is not particula wild on the wild scale, it does seem tha through living close to the land and hea of the indigenous teachings upon which place was founded by Mac Macartney, people have experienced a closer, and transformative, connection with nature. to me that if there was ever a place wh peo cou com exp hum som the So rew mu tha pla Est Wi acr for Sco in o for on Wh we our wh set we hap gra mim fau

energy and resources, while improving their own wellbeing and the health of the ecosystem. Thinking in this way is a big shift for most of us. We need the time, space and opportunity to explore our own wildness first.

Embercombe offers a wonderful opportunity to meet nature, meet one another, and most importantly to meet ourselves. To understand the value of nature, we first need to meet it. This rewilding project will provide valuable insights into how natural regeneration can work on a relatively small scale with people at the very heart of it.

Patrickwhitefield.co.uk

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Visit us at www.reconnectonline.co.uk

ding

Natural design and building

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d

l eat. And where n this rewilding ce ourselves out y we could be part o restore? e of Director at iful 50 acre valley g birthday this people come to try nship with nature. s where exposure And whilst it’s safe not particularly es seem that and and hearing upon which this Macartney, many closer, and often with nature. It seems a place where people could come to explore the role of the human in our ‘doing something different’, then this could be it.

So Embercombe is rewilding! Not the big multi-acre rewilding that’s happening in places like the Knepp Estate in Sussex, or Wild Ennerdale, or across those glorious forested estates in Scotland, but wilding in our way, wilding for people, wilding on a human scale.

What will happen if we lift the fences in our small acreage, what starting point or set of conditions will we choose, what will happen if we introduce grazing animals to mimic what the natural fauna would have

Caroline Aitken

James Shorten from Terra Perma EWILDING Embercombe is timely.

As individuals and a society we need to find new ways of relating to land which are more in tune with the patterns and rhythms of nature.

Embercombe’s amazing land, and its connection with so many people means it James Shorten can be a place where rewilding can come to life for organisations and individuals, and send out rewilding ripples near and far.

I’m working with the staff, trustees and other specialists to put together a new masterplan and management plan for Embercombe. We are addressing not just the land, but also how to use existing buildings and what new buildings might be needed over the next months and years to accommodate and inspire everyone visiting the site and also the people who live and work there. We’re carrying forward Embercombe’s legacy with new purpose. It’s great to be doing this work – it’s a special place.

Terra-perma.co.uk

Embercombe - the meeting place

done to this land hundreds of years ago, and what will be left for us to eat? This is not a fast moving project! It is a very slow experiment, the results of which will be witnessed probably by our grandchildren. We will likely not be seeing wolves here in our lifetimes.

But alongside this, and perhaps something that could really help now, in the strange times we find ourselves in, we’ll be doing something that has always happened in this valley. We’ll be looking at what it means to rewild ourselves. What happens when we let go of our cultural overlays, our conditioning and the negative stories we tell ourselves – what happens when we spend time around the fire, watching the sunset, waking to bird song? What can we learn from those who came before us, on these lands and others, who lived a more simple and slower, and dare I say it probably wilder, way of life?

We’re not doing much different than we’ve always done at Embercombe. But it does feel like time to step up, put on our big pants, and ask what it is that we can offer to those who do want to try something different. In this place, where the wildness of the land can meet the inborn wildness in our individual and collective souls, we’re having a go at restoring liberty to nature, whatever that means, now and for the future, in the knowledge that we all matter too.

We are opening at the end of May - see our courses and events at www.embercombe.org

A word from Mac Macartney

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E mark Embercombe’s 20th year on 1st May. It has been an amazing, exhilarating and frequently challenging ride - a journey that has touched the hearts and imaginations of a great many visitors to our beautiful and rugged valley. For the last few years Embercombe has been seeking what I consider to be one version of the holy grail - a mutually respectful union between the purpose, vision, and values of Embercombe together with competent, confident, responsible, and professional business management. Without one or the other we fail. The change process we’ve been negotiating this last eighteen months is now bearing fruit and I am very happy and excited to be part of this new era in Embercombe’s emergence.

Over the same two decades Rewilding has risen above the conservation world’s horizon and confronted assumptions that have underpinned conservation policy and practice for as long as I can remember. Controversial, and inciting strong reactions

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Mac at Embercombe

founder of Embercombe

across the spectrum, it does however seem that rewilding is here to stay and will in time make a huge and positive contribution to the restoration of ecosystems around the world. For Embercombe there is another dimension to rewilding that we believe is fundamentally entwined with the rewilding of landscape, and this is the rewilding of our own species.

In this context, rewilding concerns the re-vitalisation and reimagining of how we as a contemporary society can once again live in deep relationship with the rest of nature. Like the cartoon, we have been sat on a tree branch busily sawing through everything that supports our welfare and the tree’s capacity to leaf, fruit, and flourish. It is time for us to wake up, grow up, and re-join the family that so graciously enabled our evolution.

The rewilding of the human spirit is essential and urgent, and Embercombe is set to play its part in this.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

25

NEWS&views Arty happenings

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IRDWOOD House in Totnes are hosting an exhibition called Body Of Work featuring paintings, poems and drawings by Su Scotting and Sam Harrison from May 26 to Jun 1.

Partnership creates a special space

Plymouth walks inspire artworks ‘PLYMOUTH Labyrinth’ is a collaboration with artist Helen Billinghurst (as Crab & Bee) together they have been making a series of walks around the margins (mostly) of Plymouth; and then responding to the walks with paintings, drawings, postcard art and poetry.

They have now opened bookings for (free) making workshops and walks during the ‘Plymouth Labyrinth’ April 5-19 exhibition in Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Find out more at https:// plymouthlabyrinth.wordpress.com

Your editor has happy memories of playing on this wreck (featured on crabandbee. tumblr.com) at Hooe Lake as a teenager.

Helen and Crab & Bee’s writings, artworks, interventions and actions inspired by the walks can be found at https://crabandbee. tumblr.com.

New age composer to make UK debut in Devon CHINMAYA Dunster, world-renowned World/New Age music composer will be playing his first ever UK concert at Ashburton Arts Center on May 25.

Chinmaya performed for Sir Paul McCartney at his wedding in Ireland in 2003 and has twenty CDs to his credit over the past thirty years. Chinmaya will be joined by musicians from the Indian, Celtic and World Fusion traditions.

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CHOOL for Social Entrepreneurs Dartington (SSED) is a beautiful partnership. The union sees the School for Social Entrepreneurs, which helps 1,000 people a year develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems, join up with Dartington Trust, the ambitious experiment for rural generation based here in Devon.

They both share the belief that we can build a more caring, creative, equal world where people live a fuller life. The latest development in their partnership is the opening of a co-working community based within the beautiful Lescaze offices in Shinners Bridge.

They are building a co-working space with a difference, in keeping with the ethics of both parent organisations - the space is specially tailored to support individuals and organisations who do good in their work. Bringing together people with aligned values to create an environment where they are not only able to work more effectively, but also to continue accessing learning opportunities.

Partnership development associate Jessica Holliland said: “The light and colourful room has obvious energy to it, and the open space makes for a welcoming entrance that echoes their collaborative mentality. A sharing wall where you can post this week’s challenge or inspiration and your co-workers can respond runs alongside a chillout zone complete with beanbags and regular shared lunches give people the opportunity to come together and talk about what they’re doing, problem-solve and make friends. They are also keen to make use of the wealth of experience on hand from the SSE team and people in the community through weekly learning sessions that are open to any co-working member.

“If you’re interested in learning more about how you can become a member of this vibrant and positive community then please do get in touch with the team by email, phone or social media.” @SSEDartington dsse.admin@dartington.org 01803 847066

Events for Dangerous Dads

the new artworks gallery 10 Station Road South Brent TQ10 9BE Tuesday-Saturday 10 - 5 Wednesday 10 - 1 only three doors up from the old artworks 26

THE Dangerous Dads Network, who work across the UK and internationally to set up and support fathers’ groups, have announced the daring activities for children & their dads the social enterprise and Community Interest Company are running in April and May. April 6 Dangerous Dads fun & games in Ham Woods (Plymouth) Learn how to light a fire, toast some marshmallows, make a den and track animals with an expert. Where: Ham Woods, PL2 2NU. No need to book. Free Event (donations welcome).

May 18 Dangerous Dads Muddy Safari - visit to Kinterbury Creek, Plymouth with EarthJump for exploration, spotting wildlife, games & more. No need to book. Cost: Free Event (donations welcome).

May 19 FAMILY EVENT - beach trip to a secluded bay. Find out about rock-pool life, cook on the beach, eat seaweed and play games, maybe even see some snakes. Where: Meet at Ayrmer Cove car park, Ringmore. TQ7 4HL. Cost: Donations please, suggest £10 per adult.

Please book.

Dangerous Dads’ Summer Camp will take place on July 13-14 at Beryl’s Secret Campsite, Beeson, nr. Slapton. One night camping with archery, mackerel fishing, beach trip, BBQ & Worst Dad Joke Competition.

Info and booking Ian 07731795160 or email: info@dangerousdads. org.uk see www.dangerousdads.org.uk

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rewilding

Into the woods – returning to nature’s perfect playground EARTH Wrights’ INEZ APONTE explores how we can get our children to reconnect with trees.

”This oak tree and me, we’re made of the same stuff.”

Carl Sagan HE relationship between humans and forests is an ancient one. From Yggdrasil, the Norse tree of life, to the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, trees and woods are at the core of world folklore and mythology.

As a species we evolved in a forest-edge setting and on a neurological level the woods are still our natural habitat.

With this thought in the back of my mind I took a stroll through North Woods in Dartington on a (far too sunny) morning in February. Small creatures stirred in the undergrowth and the air was full of bird song. But one distinct sound was missing: that of the young human animal - climbing, laughing, running, playing – inhabiting the forest.

At Earth Wrights we believe nature is the ultimate environment for play and our designs aim to replicate the way Mother Earth fosters children’s innate biophilia. Yet countless studies have shown that children are spending less and less time outdoors and even less in the forest. How can we invite children back into nature’s perfect playground?

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DREAMING THE FOREST

Our children’s connection to nature can be nurtured through our stories and culture. Many traditional folktales, classics such as Winnie the Pooh and a whole range of contemporary children’s books are set in the woods. For older children films such as Bridge to Terabithia depict the woods as a magical place to escape the protagonist’s turbulent family life.

Activities such as decorating a tree with wishes or

finding a special place to visit at different times of the year create both a physical and mythical connection with the woods.

Picture by Kat Jayne

EXPLORING THE FOREST Play opportunities in the woods are endless – there is no better place for hide and seek - but if your children need encouraging why not try one of the following: Bird song bingo. On your walk through the forest find a nice play to sit. Close your eyes and listen out for the different bird songs you can hear. The first person to count 5 different calls wins or if you have younger kids you can count together and see if you can get to 10!

Find your tree. In pairs one person is blindfolded and the other person leads them to an interesting looking tree. The ‘blind’ person uses their hands to get to know the trees, the feel of the bark and leaves and any quirky features. After they have explored the tree they are led away, their blindfold is removed and they have to guess which tree was theirs.

Treasure hunt. Requires a bit of preparation but always popular. Especially if you reward them with an ice cream at the end.

GROWING THE FOREST

I remember the look of wonder on my son’s face when he discovered a chestnut shoot in the garden and I told him that it was the first beginnings of what would become a mighty tree.

Planting a tree is a great way to help children

build a relationship for life, allowing them to return to their tree, watch it grow and create memories that connect them to a specific place. It is also essential activity to safeguard our children’s future in the face of climate change.

There are several tree planting schemes for schools and communities. The Woodland Trust are currently taking applications for trees to be delivered in November 2019. Why not talk to your neighbours or your child’s school to see what you can do together? http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/ free-trees/ And if you would like to further explore ways to invite our children back into their natural habitat, I am hosting a panel discussion titled Inhabiting The Forest at the Evolving the Forest conference which takes place from 19-21 June at Dartington Hall.

Embercombe Wilding Opening May 2019 for events and ceremonies old and new Courses with Mac Macartney, Sharon Blackie, Pat McCabe, Martin Shaw, Colin Campbell, Manda Scott, Ben Rayner and more Check the dates for The Journey Catalyst Speaking Out

Nature... as if people mattered

Come along to our Summer Solstice Festival and Experience Weekends or simply camp and enjoy the view

See you on the other side of the fence www.reconnectonline.co.uk

embercombe.org

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

27

childs play Tempting teenagers into the wild

Beach learning for kids

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ISADVANTAGED children in Devon are to benefit from Co-op teamwork after Beach Schools South West CIC was chosen as Community Fund beneficiaries for this year.

Shoppers will be able to choose to donate to the organisation to raise funds to transport kids to the beach for outdoor learning in the marine environment.

Beach Schools South West teach on the beach and they are already offering some schools in Plymouth free sessions - but the schools cannot afford the transport to get there.

Now the Co-op Local Community Fund is offering those disadvantaged children a lifeline to make a real difference to kids in Plymouth and help them access fun and learning all in one.

Beach Schools is a community-interest company which has been running for 6 years that teaches curriculum-linked learning on the beach, helping children understand about the world they live in, the environment around them, sea safety, plastics pollution and helping to improve their mental and physical health.

“At a time when funds for charitable organisations are becoming more difficult to access, we’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity to make a real difference in Plymouth,” said Tess Stuber, Beach Schools South West Director.

“We are raising funds to provide transport and subsidise costs for outdoor learning in the marine environment for primary school children in Plymouth, of which approximately 45% in some wards of the city are living in poverty.

“Shocking numbers of primary school children in Britain’s Ocean City have not ever been to the beach. This is due to a variety of factors, transport and the cost of actually getting there.

We have funding available for schools but the barrier for them is actually getting there: the cost of transport.

“To help us raise vital funds, we’ll be relying on Co-op shoppers. Every time they buy Co-op own-brand products they get a 5% reward for themselves, and a further 1% goes to local causes like ours. Co-op members can decide which local group they would like to back by going online www.coop.co.uk/membership. We really hope that people will visit the website and choose to support us. When a community comes together we’re able to achieve great things, so we hope you can help promote our project.”

If you’re not a member and would like to support the Beach Schools transport challenge, you can join at your local store or online at www.coop.co.uk. l For more information visit www. beachschoolssouthwest.co.uk

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WHEN many of you were young, in all likelihood you regularly played and roamed in wild places, compared to just one in ten today. With the average British teen spending 37 hours a week looking at screens and only one in ten playing in wild places anymore, it is clear that many of our children are suffering from what Richard Louv coined ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’.

Research shows that the benefits to children exposed to nature is overwhelming. They score higher in almost every category, whether concentration and reasoning, or reading and writing, whilst consistently showing general overall behavioural improvement, as well as responsibility, better attitude and leadership.

For over 20 years, Devon based WildWise have been enticing teenagers into the great outdoors running several 5 day camps based on and inspired entirely by the trilogy of books and films The Hunger Games, which tell the story of the 16 year old girl Katniss Everdeen living in a post apocalyptic nation and surviving thanks to the bushcraft and wilderness skills she learnt from her father.

As well as the deep nature connection time and mentoring WildWise offers, they provide an experience where participants learn to test themselves, work as team, make new friends and in the process help create a supportive and beautiful community village vibe for the week.

Robin Bowman and his team run two 5 day camps for 11-17 year olds to practice nature awareness skills such as sneaking, ambushing each other, and camouflage, as well as wilderness and bushcraft skills such as fire making, shelter building, and edible and medicinal food use.

Robin said: “Such is their popularity that the two camps normally fill up with kids and their friends returning each year. We have several 17 year olds who have been coming site since they were 12. It warms my heart to leave you this quote from one: ‘I’m usually so competitive but when I come here it’s all about the experience. All year I wait to come on this camp. It’s the best thing I have ever done. I just feel so accepted in who I am here, as well as happy and free’.”

WildWise are running two camps this summer holidays, The Hunger Games Camp on Aug 20-24, and The Mockingjay Camp on Aug 2630, and cost £260 . See www.wildwisehungergames.co.uk

Schoolchildren explore wildlife on estate

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ORE South Hams schoolchildren and families will get to experience the special environment of The Sharpham Estate, now that there is a new Education and Events Coordinator at The Sharpham Trust.

Lisa Carnell will be encouraging Totnes and Torbay primary schools to visit the Estate and learn about its rich wildlife and habitats.

And as a biologist, botanist and trained teacher, she’ll be sharing her own extensive science and environmental knowledge by leading some of the activities on the visits.

“I love plants, wildflowers and trees and I did my degree in biology, so this role is perfect for me to be able to be spreading awareness of the natural world amongst young people,” said Lisa. “I really like birds as well so it’s great to be able to pass on some of my love of the local wildlife.”

Her post has been funded for a year by the Ernest Cook Trust, a charity promoting learning from the land. In that year, Lisa will be putting on 10 nature days for local schools.

Walks from schools to Sharpham At least half of the visits from Totnes schools will include a walk from the town to Totnes, through the Sharpham Estate: set along 3 miles of the River Dart in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Lisa added: “It will be an exploration and a journey, as they walk from their school gates and end up somewhere very special and beautiful - and discover lots of interesting things along the way.”As part of her work, Lisa will also be organising and adding to the programme of animal, insect and botanical events that happen all year round at The Trust. Look out for more nature trails and family walks, plus some complementary wildflower and tree events to sit alongside the Trust’s existing foraging, wild food and wild medicine days.

“I want to encourage people to open their eyes to what is around them, because it’s when you look closely that you discover more,” she said.

And being at Sharpham means she’s in the right

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Lisa Carnell place to do that.

“The beauty and exquisite landscape here is also so rich in natural wildlife because there’s such a variety of habitats on the Sharpham Estate - and that’s what makes my heart sing,” she said.

How to get involved l If you are interested in involved your school with The Sharpham Trust, you can contact Lisa Carnell on outdoors@sharphamtrust.org l If you’d like to find out about Trust nature events, subscribe for the Trust’s e-newsletter from the top of the website Home page at www.sharphamtrust.org or email marketing@ sharphamtrust.org

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rewilding Invaluable help for parents

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E all want to do the best for our children especially in these difficult times with climate change and many other challenges facing us and future generations. Additionally, these days with so many expectations it can feel like there are mounting pressures and tensions for parents which doesn’t make their task any easier.

Connect Parenting is here to help.

The Devon based service offers invaluable help for parents through their in-depth coaching and delivery of the internationally renowned 8 week Circle Of Security® programme groups, which offer support to parents and caregivers in the everyday challenges and struggles of parenting.

“We offer supportive spaces for parents to find space for themselves and with others for safe reflection.

The key for us is sensitivity in parenting relationships. We work with what we as parents teach our children to ‘know in themselves’ through the parenting relationship, so we give attention and support to the parents”, said Audaye of Connect Parenting.

Connect Parenting are now trialling new services – Family & Parent Circle Walks for parents to connect as families and with others in nature.

The coaching led Parent Circle Walks are timed to happen when the kids are at school, to give parents

a rare opportunity to find support and reflect with others in nature whilst receiving an introductory or a refresher experience of some principles of the Circle of Security® Parenting programme.

The Family Circle walks are available to whole families and are run by arrangements; this may suit home schooling families.

Walkers are supported with coaching in a supportive and therapeutic manner, enabling them to more deeply touch into the many experiences of parenthood as a gift to enjoy even in difficult times.

Walks take place monthly near Exeter and the Teign Estuary for more see the website connectparenting.uk or contact 07543114535

Holt Wood Courses

Learn about growing medicinal trees and shrubs at our forest garden near Great Torrington.

For details tel: 01363 777531 or see www.holtwoodherbs.com

Make Your Community Hub Fit for the Future

Fully funded training events for the Community Shops and Pubs of Devon 0930 - 1600hrs Thursday 4 April and Thursday 23 May - The Clay Factory, Ivybridge Day 1: Thursday 4 April 0930 - 1600 hrs Keynote speech by Gareth Hart from Iridescent Ideas and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network, followed by workshops on explaining your business purpose through vision, mission and values, measuring social impact, increasing your customer base through marketing and how to use Twitter and Facebook.

Day 2: Thursday 23 May 0930 - 1540 hrs Learn how to make your business sustainable in the long term through financial and strategic planning, increase visits to your website through website planning and improve teamwork and organisation using the cloud.

Refreshments including a networking lunch will be provided. Opportunities to engage and exchange knowledge throughout the day.

Places are limited so registration is required. Register for Day 1 or both Day 1 and 2. If you have any questions please contact Susanna Jones, Marketing Officer for the Enhance Social Enterprise Programme by email: susanna.jones@devon.gov.uk.

Register at http://bit.ly/2BpVGns Or search: The Enhance Social Enterprise Programme Events | Eventbrite

Funded & supported by:

The Heart of the South West Enhance Social Enterprise Programme is receiving funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

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Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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wellbeing email: wellbeing@reconnectonline.co.uk

WELLBEING

THE natural health and personal development PAGES Inside wellbeing...

Finding Active Hope

Emotional health Kate does sandplay therapy

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Understanding sexological bodywork

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Belonging is healing

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Mobilising inner climate change 37 Harrness the unconscious mind The time to declutter Tools for your mind

38 40 42

Natural burials in a meadow

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The classified adverts

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And there’s lots more to read inside

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EXUALITY is an area of our life where issues - such as the ability to relax our vigilance, be more spontaneous, know what we want and ask for it - can show up more starkly than in other part of our life where it may be easier to navigate or avoid them.

The Sea School of Embodiment offers a Certificate in Sexological Bodywork which focuses on developing the ability to sense what is going on within ourselves (sensations, feelings, emotions). The training is founded on the principle that this is the key to being able to name and differentiate sensations and modulate arousal. It uses Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent (the “why” as opposed to the “what” of practice) to inform all aspects of bodywork.

Kian de la Cour said: “There is a revolution in neuroscience happening that is providing empirical support for the importance of embodied work.

The mindful practices of Sexological Bodywork™, also known as somatic sex education, facilitate greater presence and embodiment in every area of life, moving the nervous system into greater integration and coherence. In this way, mindful erotic practices can increase your capacity for empathy with yourself, with others and with every aspect of life.”

Katie Sarra brings 30 years of

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practice and research to her work at the centre. She understands the evolutionary roots of our emotions, motivations and the inhibitions we can experience in trusting spontaneity. She has developed somatic practices that offer routes back to embodied intimacy and self-expression, as well as a profound understanding of the dynamics of intimacy.

Kian has 25 years of bodywork experience having trained with the Body Electric School in the 1990s.

The next Certificate in Sexological Bodywork begins in June. It will cover three modules over six-months and involves detailed self-practices, online study, working with others and a twoweek embodiment intensive, along with supervised practice.

In addition, on April 27-28 Katie and Kian will be bringing their Consensual Touch™ Wheel of Consent weekend to Totnes for the first time, assisted by Catherine Hale. It will be held in Glastonbury in July and October – see the ad in this issue. l For more information about the Certificate in Sexological Bodywork visit: www.sexologicalbodywork. co.uk l For details of events at the Sea School visit: www. seaschoolofembodiment.com

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 (June/July) issue is May 1 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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WELLBEING

Become present to the moment

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INDFULNESS is not about a nirvana experience of an empty mind. We cannot stop our thinking, explained Ruth Baker who offers courses in mindfulness, sandplay and therapeutic art.

“It’s simply a space to become present to the moment – this moment now,” said Ruth. “Every time we do this we’re developing a mindful moment even if the urgent need to make that phone call keeps makes itself felt in the next moment. I’m interested in how we develop these practices to support ourselves both in a classic sitting form and out in nature. As an introduction I encourage people to develop a practice called the Three Step Breathing Space.”

The three steps are: Step 1: Becoming aware of what’s going on now.

What am I thinking/feeling… right now?

Step 2: Become aware of your breath.

Focus on the sensation of breathing.

Every time your mind wanders bring it back to this.

Step 3: Expanding your awareness Become of aware of what’s happening in your body, how your breath is expanding through all the cells of your body. Then bring this awareness out into the world – what can you see, what can you hear, what can you smell, what does the air feel like on your skin? When this is complete, acknowledge this practice and continue with your daily life.

Ruth explained that these steps only need to take a minute (longer if you wish) and you can incorporate them into your everyday activities.

She is offering mindfulness days at The Nautilus Rooms in Totnes and out in nature. Ruth will also be offering a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, as well as Mindfulness and Sandplay and Mindfulness and Therapeutic Art. She also runs Integrative Sandplay courses (see Kate Does… Sandplay). l For more information email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com or phone: 07736 334454 www.ruthbakerpsychotherapy.co.uk

Breathing - learn how to breathe effectively Laughter – get your powerful endorphins flowing Movement – stretch gently or dance wildly (your choice!)

Meditation – simple techniques to de-stress any situation Weekly classes at Totnes Natural Health Centre, Wed. 6.45-8pm. Special introductory price of £5. See website for details or just turn up on the night.

07485 170718 • info@blamm.co.uk • www.blamm.co.uk

Breathe, dance and be inspired!

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EN Clark has been actively engaged in the field of health and wellbeing for over 20 years. In his teens, he was attuned in Reiki, and since then has worked with various therapeutic approaches including nutrition, massage, yoga, and meditation.

At the heart of Ben’s work, is a trust in the power of these intentional healing practices of breathwork and movement, to re-connect us to our true nature; to bring alive the light of our beings and wake us up to our place in the world.

In 2005, he qualified as a Rebirthing Breathworker after training with Leonard Orr, the founder, in the USA. Since 2013 he has been training with Ya’Acov and Susannah Darling Khan, the founders of The School of Movement Medicine, most recently as an apprentice teacher.

Ben said: “With Rebirthing Breathwork, blocked energy and limiting beliefs can be released by learning to breathe energy as well as air with a simple and powerful technique called conscious connected breathing. This allows a free flowing of life force energy, creativity, and possibility.”

“In Movement Medicine, we awaken the dancer by moving the body with awareness. There is no need to move or look a certain way and we are encouraged to be with what’s

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arising in the moment rather than follow a prescribed set of movements.

Movements may range from small and simple to large and expansive; all is welcome and in this way, anything is possible as we allow the intelligence of life to dance through us.“ “At the core of both Rebirthing Breathwork and Movement Medicine is an intent to bring balance and harmony to our bodies, hearts, and minds, to support us to be at peace in our humanness, and to bring our gifts to the world.”

Ben offers one-to-one Rebirthing Breathwork sessions, group breathes and a free consultation for potential new clients.

Among the Movement Medicine classes is a morning class called Re-Evolution Dance, which is focused on working with the four elements through conscious movement practice to support us to connect, nourish, and inspire. Classes are open to all genders, ages and abilities, including those who are new to using movement as medicine and to more experienced dancers.

Ben works in Exeter, Totnes, and Dartington. l For any more information, class schedules and bookings call 07969 042396 or visit www. breathedancebe.com

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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EMOTIONAL HEALTH WELCOME back to our exploration into all things emotional. In this edition our Emotional Health columnist Leigh Smith looks at the importance of a healthy functioning family, and explores the ABC of creating a resilient family dynamic.

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AMILIES are unique, no two are ever going to be the same, and with such a complex list of ingredients making up a family it is impossible to find a method by which to create the perfect functional family. And anyway, who would want that? Surely all families contain a few dysfunctional elements? In my view these wild cards give colour and uniqueness to a family. We may well strive for some idealised idea of the perfect nuclear family, but in reality the valuable core ingredients of ‘family’ can be present in all shapes and sizes.

Studies show the importance of the family environment on health and wellbeing, and we understand more now about how our early caregivers played a huge part in our ability to form and maintain healthy relationships.

As I get older I am noticing more and more just how like my mother I have become, I hear her words coming out of my mouth. I vowed never to become my mother, but I feel a deep connection to her when I navigate the latest family crisis, asking myself “what would mum have done?” and a growing appreciation for how she managed nine of us!

Our caregivers design the blue-print for how to be a family, but that isn’t always healthy, and we may well be paying homage to some very unhealthy family dynamics without consciously realising it.

How healthy is your family?

To check the health of our family we need more than a thermometer, and we may well be too personally involved to see the wood from the trees. In some families the dysfunctionality is easy to see; huge disputes and battles rage, lifelong grudges cause rifts, fractures and lasting emotional scars. In these families there can be a sense of deep unease, mistrust and alienation. It can feel like an endurance to spend time together and conflict may be a normal part of life, which if not resolved can linger.

An unhealthy family dynamic can be influenced by a number of factors: historic alliances, financial strain, infidelity, personalities, abuse, mental and physical health issues, beliefs, morals and values, traumas, and the effects of substance and alcohol addictions. With so many negative contributors how can we work towards creating the healthiest family life for ourselves and our children?

What makes my family sing?

From upstairs I can hear my daughter belting out the rude lyrics of a rap song, down in the kitchen the hubby hums to a Van Morrison tune. The family are singing and this is a good sign, for now at least, that all is well!

Like any family, I am aware the next obstacle is around the corner, life will present us with something to challenge the harmony and throw us into a cacophony of discord. We will fight,

words will be said, emotions will flood every corner taking up residence and threatening to destroy everything.

Understanding the ABC of family resilience can be so helpful: Attune A healthy family looks out for each other, and attunes to each other’s needs. Family is a top priority and everyone is considered before a decision is made. Attuning to the family members means attempting to enter the inner world of each member, and develop a web of connectivity which is deeply empathic, and not just based on the individual needs, but the good of all.

Build Healthy families repair damage to relationships; when it isn’t working they want to fix it. Family members take responsibility for their part in a conflict, work to compromise and sometimes will defer their own point of view in order to really validate the view or feelings of another, even when views are opposing.

Family members are dependable and always try to be there for each other in times of crisis.

When there is conflict between family members, it is resolved in a positive and healthy manner. Repairing rifts and fractures in a family can actually build resilience and make relationships stronger.

Communicate When communication is strong and prioritised in a family it allows for all members to share their desires, their struggles and their dreams.

Communication isn’t all about mature dialogue, sometimes it’s about creating an opportunity for emotions to be heard too. Any emotional communication is valuable, even anger, rage and sadness. Invite an open and safe space to express feelings, not just talk, even if you do not understand the feelings, or agree with the sentiments. Having our emotions heard and witnessed has a powerful effect on us and can make us feel valued and gives great expression to our experiences. It is important to validate that a member of the family is feeling something strongly and their experience is important. The details of the situation (narrative) is not as important as an opportunity for them to be witnessed, heard and emotionally held.

The times they are a-changin’ ‘Come mothers and fathers throughout the land’ we all have the chance to take some positive steps into consciously creating a healthy family dynamic, no matter what type of family we personally survived. Every member of a family is important, each member has a role and brings their own special contribution to the table. Let’s learn to show gratitude and respect for each other and appreciation that we all belong and are part of something greater than ourselves.

Leigh Smith is director of studies, course designer and tutor at Heartwood Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Training.

Visit www.heartwoodcounselling.org or call 01803 865464.

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Awareness with horses

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HAT’S in a name? Quite a lot actually, which is why one of our regular contributors has decided on a name change to more accurately reflect the nature of her business.

Adventures with Horses, a not-forprofit community interest company based on Dartmoor, is becoming Awareness with Horses CIC. Sue Blagburn, Founder and Managing Director explained why: “Awareness with Horses describes what we do much better. We facilitate groups and one-to-one sessions in learning and growth through the naturally-occurring therapeutic and transformative opportunities that horses can provide. The idea is to build self-awareness and wellbeing, and help people develop their potential and skills, which can be transferred into their everyday lives.”

Equine facilitated or assisted learning and therapy is still a relatively new intervention. It involves participants working with the horses on the ground but with no riding, A major drawback

of the name “Adventures with Horses” was that it created a misconception that people would be participating in horse riding or natural horsemanship training.

Sue added: “We don’t do anything like that. Obviously, to run a business like this we need to be very experienced and knowledgeable about horses, but our clients do not. We work as facilitators, coaches and counsellors and our clients – who include people of all ages - learn experientially and experimentally from the horses, which act as the guides and teachers.”

Awareness with Horses uses a humanistic and gestalt approach to working with clients. It employs eco-psychology principles to expand and develop the connection between humans and other-thanhumans and the natural world.

The old website will continue to function in April at http://www. adventureswithhorses.co.uk/ but look out for a new website, launching some time in May.

Ola turns 10! Celebrating ten years of progressive health care in Totnes

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VER 70 people celebrated the 10th anniversary of Ola Chiropractic on February 1.

Described as the ‘heart of Totnes’ Ola Chiropractic treats over 250 people each month for conditions ranging from back-pain to fertility challenges... and the occasional race-horse with a sprained leg.

When Ola Chiropractic launched in 2009 just up from the Seven Stars Hotel, Totnes had the highest number of health practitioners per capita for any town in Europe and still the clinic has managed to thrive.

It’s a big achievement, realised in an unconventional manner. Heart, Spirit and hard work have made this a success. Ola Chiropractic has been able to build up a really strong and thriving practice here in Totnes.

At the celebration, founder Claire, a doctor of chiropractic, laid out her vision for the next 10 years.

She said: “In this time of uncertainty – like Brexit, Climate Change, and a challenged NHS, it is more important than ever to have strong and healthy communities. At Ola Chiropractic, we are bringing people together in healthy wellbeing through our new ‘Feel-Good Community’, a membership programme for practice members who value their health and prioritise self-care.

It is time for us to stop relying on health models to ‘symptom fix’, but instead commit to truly looking after our own health and by default caring for each other.

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Photo Becky Strong

You can pick your friends but not your family

At Ola Chiropractic we are happy to share what it is to be well. We invite people to get curious about what makes us healthy, and what lies behind ‘illness’ when it shows up at the door. There is no ‘One remedy-fits-all’ solution. But just making the decision to take action in a positive direction for your health has the power to open up possibilities that otherwise might never have been realised, and along the way, you might just find you feel more comfortable in your own skin.

What is sure – don’t miss the next anniversary of Ola; with canapes from the Kitchen Table, Prosecco, and a Ceilidh with live music led

by Kip Pratt, it’s already in the Reconnect diary!

Also this month Ola will have another Chiropractor taking care of people - Hannah Green is joining the team, look out for her at the Totnes market on Fridays chatting to people about Spinal health. l See Ola’s website www. totneschiropractic.co.uk for more details.

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WELLBEING

Catherine Hale

Claiming back your right to pelvic health

Real food, Real life,

Real health

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OU could be forgiven for not having heard of vaginal steaming. It is a historical and largely forgotten practice but now Catherine Hale, women’s empowerment coach and sexological body worker is excited to be bringing it back to Totnes.

Catherine said: “Like many of us living in our modern day world, I’d become disconnected from the generations old practices of my ancestors. I knew many practices had been forgotten even before my birth, but I am learning to remember, deep in my belly, a better way to take care of our health, our wellbeing and our relationship to the earth.

“I’m currently witnessing a global revolution in vaginal steaming and I want to share this knowledge.”

“As a practitioner working in the field of trauma and sexuality I’ve learned about the human body, about the complexities of the nervous system, about relational dynamics, empowerment, selflove and radical self care. For me vaginal steaming is another way for women to claim back their right to pelvic health, healthy periods and a vibrant life.”

Catherine pointed out that many women have a difficult time when it comes to periods: “You may have cramping, bloating, spotting, brown blood, and like me you’ve probably been told this is normal and nothing can be done about it, or to go on the ‘pill’. So maybe you’ve reached for the painkillers, grabbed the hot water bottle and looked forward to it all being over each month.”

However, she believes that a woman’s period is a way to measure her health and wellbeing and that any symptoms are indicators of dis-ease.

She said: “When explored from this

perspective, we can use this monthly body data to begin to make radical changes in the way we take care of ourselves.”

Vaginal steaming clears out a buildup of residue from inside the womb.

Catherine explained that if you have cramps, brown blood before or after your bleed, and/or mucus, or dried blood, these can be signs that the uterus is not doing its job of self-cleansing.

She said: “Vaginal steaming has been known to support all gynecological issues from cysts, to bacterial vaginosis, to scar tissue, fertility issues, recovery during the post-partum period, reclaiming moisture post-menopause and supporting an increase in libido through awakening your connection to your pelvis.”

Steaming is a simple yet powerful practice so Catherine is keen to stress that it should only be done under the guidance of a trained practitioner who understands when steaming is contraindicated and which herbal formulas are correct for which particular health conditions.

She said: “I’m excited to now be offering both in person sessions and online sessions for women, supporting them to claim back their pelvic power and creativity.” l For more information visit: catherinehale.co.uk or email info@ catherinehale.co.uk.

Take a deep breath, believe and be CONNECT with your breathing, your beliefs and your being at a new weekend workshop hosted by transformational breath facilitator Les Elms, transformational coach Alan Fry and mindfulness teacher Lois Fry. Breathe...Believe...Be... takes place from 2 to 4 August and on 20 to 22 September at The Breathing Space at Eastdown on the edge of Dartmoor.

Les said: “This amazing workshop will offer you the chance to stop, take stock, review and rest. If you find yourself feeling anxious, fearful, lost, in need of some personal development or would appreciate a nurturing weekend in a magical setting, this could be the ideal thing for you.”

The training sessions will include: • Breath - group transformational breath workshops • Belief - waking up from the hypnosis of social conditioning workshops • Be – mindfulness and meditation with crystals and Reiki Places are limited to 12 people and include two nights’ accommodation on Friday and Saturday (based on 2 people sharing a twin room), healthy mainly veggie meals and group training sessions. The cost is £250 per person.

For more information or to book a place contact Les on: 07828 566553 Email: les@ breathsouthwest.com or Lois on: 07980 745339 Email: lois.fry@hotmail.co.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Classes Targeted advice Books Eating plans Free resources Online courses Healthy recipe blog 1-2-1, online, phone/Skype ME, gut disorders, mental health nutrition, cancer recovery & weight management.

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Jane Hutton The Functional Foodie

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BioEnergetic Health

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Free taster sessions at the BioEnergetic Health Clinic and Greenlife in Totnes 07503 111057

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WELLBEING DRAMATHERAPY

GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH RACHEL PERRY HCPC registered Dramatherapist (over 30 years expirience) Totnes, Exeter and Torbay, Student / low income rates NEW weekly group starts 22nd April, Totnes

Kate does… Sandplay Therapy

YOUR wellbeing editor Kate tries out a treatment or event or activity each issue to give you a bit more of an insight into what it’s like to take part.

This issue Kate tries Sandplay Therapy with Ruth Baker of Nautilus Rooms (see advert page 47).

like figure, Tinkerbell, a dice, a severed finger wrapped in a bloody bandage…

01803 473079 • rachel.perry59@googlemail.com www.dramatherapy.org.uk

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Applied Zoopharmacognosy

Animals can relieve their health or behavioural problems by using their instinctive abilities to choose natural remedies for themselves. Find out how or to discuss your pets needs 07739 477050 brybax@hotmail.com 34

AND… that stuff that squidges deliciously between your toes on the beach, that you may have used for your earliest attempts at building when you were a child, that gets everywhere and is almost impossible to get out of the carpet.

It may not spring naturally to mind as a therapeutic medium but for this issue I was introduced to the sheer joy of sandplay and discovered how it can be used to quiet the mind and reveal some of the workings of the subconscious.

Ruth Baker offers sandplay therapy and training at The Nautilus Rooms in Totnes. I have been writing about her work for a couple of years now and often been intrigued at her descriptions of “shelves full of symbols”, trays of sand and people gaining insights into themselves by playing in sand.

It is hard not to gasp when you walk into her room. You are greeted by row upon row of symbols – small plastic figures, natural items like shells and driftwood, ornaments, spiritual objects, frivolous objects and more. In front of them are rectangular trays filled with soft white sand.

We began our session with a brief explanation from Ruth about how the therapy works. She was keen to reassure me that “you can’t get it wrong” before inviting me to relax and just start to experience the sand.

There is something remarkable satisfying about pushing your hands into cool, soft sand, watching it change shape, stroking your fingers through it, hearing it crunch slightly as it moves, creating satisfying wave and spiral patterns. I quickly found my mind emptying and my whole focus shifting to the sand in the tray.

I could have done nothing else but experience the movement of the sand for the whole hour but after a while I remembered that Ruth had invited me to pick up whichever of the symbols called to me, as well as maybe those that I felt an aversion to.

Basket in hand, I approached the rows and rows of symbols. One by one, I filled my basket – a nest full of eggs, a three-headed snarling dog, a unicorn, a wily goblin-

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I found myself placing them in the sandtray, some half-buried, some facing each other in combat, others on the edge of the tray reluctant to enter the sand. When they were all in place, we began discussing the tray. Ruth asked me how some of the characters were feeling, whether any of them wanted to move or leave the tray. I moved the figure on the edge of the tray to sit on the back of a unicorn. I unburied the goblin and placed him next to the dice.

I recognised that some of the symbols represented emotions – fear, hope, sadness. Others symbolised stages on my journey.

This fleeting insight into my mind remains with me as clear as day even now as I write. It feels like a privileged insight into the language of my unconscious mind – intriguing and mysterious.

I can understand why this therapy, on the face of it so simple even frivolous, is such a powerful a way of accessing thoughts and feelings that may not find expression in any other way. l For more information email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com Or phone: 07736 334454

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WELLBEING NATURE WISDOM

Nature~based Soul Initiation & Cultural Healing Practices Vision Quests ~ Transitional Rites & Soul Initiation Ceremonies Medicine Walks ~ Way of Council ~ Grief Tending Embodiment Practices ~ One-to-one & group work on Dartmoor

Belonging is healing Rebecca@naturewisdom.life • 07960 520128 • www.naturewisdom.life www.facebook.com/NatureWisdom.life/

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Feel better with a holistic, gentle and effective approach to wellbeing using tailored nutritional advice and energy balancing designed to match your health needs.

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that we are familiar with in our daily lives, it is about leaving that physical place and it is also about leaving our friends and families for a short while to find our true sense of home – inside and also outside ourselves. The result is often something quite profound.”

Sometimes, vision quests are followed by a homecoming ceremony, which can help to symbolise coming home to ourselves and our place on this earth.

Rebecca believes that reconnecting with this sense of home and belonging is particularly needed at this time. She said: “Without this fundamental knowing we are, as a species, denying possibly the most valuable gift available to us. I believe that claiming this holds the key to our survival on this earth, at this time.” l Rebecca is offering a Vision/ Healing Quest on Dartmoor, June 11 – 20. For more information visit: http://naturewisdom.life/ event/summer-vision-quest or email rebecca@naturewisdom.life

YO 20 SE UR O SS F F IO IRS F N T

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SENSE of belonging. This is a fundamental aspect of being fully alive and yet many of us do not often experience it.

According to Rebecca Card, our disconnection from nature is a big part of the issue. She helps people to reclaim their innate connection to earth and find their way back to being part of the natural cycles of life. As well as nature connection practices, or simply spending time in nature regularly, Rebecca finds that ceremony helps to deepen our sense of belonging to the earth.

She said: “One ceremony I find very powerful – for myself and for others – is called a Vision Quest or Healing Quest. This last name is my favourite as, while a vision may or may not be experienced, healing nearly always takes place.

This is mainly because there is an intimacy with one’s surroundings in the natural world. We are stripped of things to do, the endless lists and we therefore have the chance to come to know earth as home. This ceremony is about leaving the home

Applied Zoopharmacognosy

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HEN a friend’s dog was exhibiting difficult behaviour, Briony Baxter suggested he might benefit from Applied Zoopharmacognosy.

“Applied what?” was her friend’s understandable response. So, Briony set about explaining the nature-based therapy that had captured her imagination and in which she had recently qualified as a therapist.

Briony said: “in the wild, many animals have been observed choosing particular leaves, bark or even soil that they would not normally eat as food.

“Researchers discovered that these items were selected for their medicinal compounds and the term Zoopharmacognosy was coined to describe this behaviour. Applied Zoopharmacognosy is the science of enabling domestic or captive animals to choose natural remedies that they do not have access to in their daily lives.”

Briony had studied canine communications and worked with wolves before going on to train in Applied Zoopharmacognosy.

So, could it help her friend, Jan’s terrier, Rosco?

Briony said: “Rosco was extremely excitable, could not focus on

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anything he was asked to do and was constantly itchy with red patches of skin. I tried offering him remedies for his skin first but he was not interested in those at all, choosing instead remedies for digestive problems and anxiety. We discussed some changes to Rosco’s diet and after recommending some ways that Jan could help him feel more secure, I left him with some of the essential oils he had chosen.”

A week later Briony returned to find a calmer dog whose skin was showing signs of healing. After a further session, Rosco was able to focus well and has had no more itching.

Briony has since gone on to work with a range of animals, from hamsters to horses.

She said: “I am fascinated by their ability to choose exactly the essential oils, plant extracts, clays or minerals that they need. The animals are always able to move away from any remedy offered, so I am not diagnosing and administering products as a vet would do. In fact, many vets have recognised how effective zoopharmacognosy can be and are now studying this system.” l For more information email brybax@hotmail.com or call 07739 477050

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INSIGHT MEDITATION IN THE BUDDHIST TRADITION

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WELLBEING Peak behind the scenes at Sirona

The Feldenkrais Method® with Lifeworks Somatics

I

• Reduce pain • Relieve stress • Improve performance • Move with ease

Functional Integration© individual lessons for those with chronic pain and injury, muscle pain and tension, RSI, chronic stress, physical and emotional trauma, degenerative and neurological disorders.

Awareness Through Movement© group lessons: Somatic movement explorations to help with posture & poor movement habits, to increase body awareness, help relaxation, & improve balance and coordination. Suitable for those wishing to maintain/improve mobility.

Learn naturally & organically. The way of “less is more” to being more flexible, strong & agile.

With Nikhila M Ludlow (registered Feldenkrais Guild UK 2005)

07989 394904

www.lifeworks4.me.uk | info@lifeworks4.me.uk

F you have been wondering what goes on behind the gates of the Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship site in Dartington, there are some treats in store later this year.

Sirona moved to its new purpose-built site in October.

Horses, humans, dogs and resident yard cat have all settled happily into their new home, which is the culmination of a five-year fundraising journey.

CEO Dr. Hannah Burgon said: “It has been a huge undertaking, so it’s wonderful to be here finally.”

The charity provides equine-based therapeutic and educational activities to disadvantaged young people and adults. The aim is to improve health and wellbeing and build resilience.

Due to the confidential nature of its work, Sirona is closed to the public most of the time. However, some exciting events are planned which will enable people to find out more and take a look behind the scenes.

On May 18, it is hosting a course for anyone interested in equinefacilitated work or who is already an equine-facilitated practitioner.

Introduction to Equine-Assisted Interventions: The Sirona Approach is a one-day course that will provide participants with an overview of theory and practice.

The day will blend classroom learning with the opportunity to experience some of Sirona’s session activities out in the yard. It costs £155 (early bird £145).

Sirona will also be at the Dartington Family Day in the summer, along with a couple of its ponies. Activities will include horseshoe painting.

At its open day on June 15, from 11am to 3pm, there will be an opportunity to see the new yard, meet the horses and find out more about Sirona. There will be a classical dressage demonstration by Heather Moffett, plus the chance to take a look at her saddles. Other activities include a bric-a-brac stall, lucky dip and a raffle. There will also be refreshments.

For more information, visit www. sironaequine.org.uk where there are links to events and you can sign up to their newsletter to keep up to date.

psychotherapy plymouth

COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY IN PLYMOUTH OUR EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS WORK WITH A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFICULTIES INCLUDING:ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, ANGER MANAGEMENT , ANXIETY & STRESS, BEREAVEMENT, LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS, COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES, EATING DISORDERS, RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS, LOSS OF CONFIDENCE/SELF ESTEEM, LOSS OF DIRECTION AND WORK RELATED DIFFICULTIES.

BRING IT, SAY IT, SOLVE IT Call 01752 560002 or visit www.psycotherapyplymouth.com Waterloo Wellbeing Centre, 191 Devonport Rd, Plymouth PL1 5RN

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£41.85 WELLBEING

Mobilising inner climate change

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HE threat of procrastination climate change and time-wasting engenders and in doing the a multitude of inner preparation responses. work. There is vast energy For Carmella B’Hahn, caught up in who has been habits, imprints watching talks from and wounds the Global Ecovillage which we could Network’s summit: be freeing for the ‘Climate Change and greater good.

Consciousness’ at Let’s do it!”

Bowden Community, it has prompted To support this, Carmella B’Hahn her to issue a clarion Carmella offers: call for us to look to our inner 1. TRE (Tension and Trauma “climate”.

Release) ~ therapeutic tremor Carmella said: “We need to get bodywork that helps reset our inner houses in order NOW overactive reflexes in the nervous so that we are as prepared as system and releases stuck patterns possible for whatever external in our neurophysiology of fight, challenges arise. Of course, to flight and/or freeze. create fulfilling lives, we need to 2. Grief Support ~ assisting do the inner work anyway, but anyone in grief about anything significant threat is a damn good through practical, emotional and reason to mobilise inner climate inspirational support. change.”

3. Heartful Relationship Coaching She believes that any unresolved ~ supporting the release anxiety, trauma and behaviour of dysfunctional patterns in patterns we carry will be triggered behaviour and communication that as we witness increasing struggles prevent fulfilling relationships with of the planet and her creatures. ourselves, others and our planet.

Carmella explained: “Spending For further information visit: my days helping others find their www.heartofrelating.com, email resilience and stand strong in who carmella@heartofrelating.com or they are is my version of activism. call 01803 867005. There is a We’re in this together and I thrive special deal for all 1.5 hour trial in knowing that others are with me in my commitment to stopping sessions.

Book a series of ads this size and it will cost you just £41.85 a month - including free editorial. Regular advertiser Marc Blausten can vouch for the success of advertising. He said, “The advert and articles are generating enquires and bookings. So I’m very pleased with it .” You too could find customers through an advert in these pages, call Scott on 01392 346342.

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Waking woman

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HAT does it mean to become a “waking woman”? Women’s empowerment coach, Katheryn Hope, who works with women to help them discover their calling, described how it feels when we are prompted that it is time for change.

“Several times in my life I’ve woken up and seen things from a totally new perspective. In this moment I realised that, at some point, I’d got caught up in everydayness and lost not only my inner spark, but my connection to it. We live in a peculiar world that doesn’t encourage us to express in our natural way so we feel we must play a role. Whenever we feel unfulfilled and dissatisfied with our life, it’s a sign we have grown out of it; it doesn’t fit us anymore.”

So, what are the signs that it’s time for a change?

Katheryn suggests they include: l Feeling consumed by habit l Waking with a sense of despondency l Fogginess, forgetfulness, lack of focus l No energy, yet restless l Lack of motivation l Feeling lost l Yearning for more, yet not knowing what l Irritability But rather than feeling anxious, she urges patience and vigilance: “Take

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Katheryn Hope heart as these are signs that change is both necessary and needed.

Change comes from within so pay attention because all these messages are telling you now is the time. You’re being called.”

Katheryn tells clients “for things to flow for you, you need to let things flow from you”. She explained that feeling small happens over time when you haven’t given yourself permission to be who you could be.

She said: “This isn’t the truth. It’s time to find what you have been seeking that is yours to offer the world. My calling has led me to help other women find what that is and bring it into the world and now it is your turn.” l Contact Katheryn for a free discovery call on 07971 416630 or email coach@katherynehope.plus.com

Empowerment Through Embodiment 7th April ~ Vaginal Steaming Talk ~ Torquay 27th - 28th April ~ Consensual Touch - The Wheel of Consent ~ with Katie Sarra and Kian De La Cour ~ Totnes 12th May ~ Vaginal Steaming @ Spirit Fest ~ Bristol 26th May ~ Womb Love Day with Vaginal Steaming Ceremony ~ Bristol

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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Movement is life

Kate Tilston

Getting the best results for you

“MOVEMENT is Life” ...”And without movement life is unthinkable” Nikhila Ludlow, Dartington-based registered Feldenkrais practitioner, adds to this quote of Dr Moshe Feldenkrais’ “and awareness important too.”

Dr. Feldenkrais understood the importance of body awareness, and the link between thought processes and a healthy functioning nervous system. He was a martial artist – Europe’s first Judo black belt, and held a Doctorate in Engineering.

He had also studied various Eastern Awareness Techniques.

Nikhila discovered Feldenkrais on a visit to India, where her early experiences of the Method came while living at a meditation centre.

“Developing the capacity to be self-aware took on a whole new level when I attended Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement© lessons - which are designed to both go deeply into the structuring of everyday movements, but also to take the student beyond their habitual known patterns and thus, the nervous system, the body’s selforganizing mechanism, makes more effective movement choices having more options to choose from: Dr. Feldenkrais said: “A healthy person is one who can recover quickly and easily...” Nikhila found that the process of paying attention to

experience while moving, helped dissolve stress and pain, and find become a comfortable state of relaxed awareness.

Feldenkrais said: “Do everything very slowly ... to enable you to learn at your own rate of understanding and doing...When one becomes familiar with an act, speed increases spontaneously and so does power.... Efficient movement or performance of any sort is achieved by weeding out and eliminating parasitic superfluous exertion”. Nikhila had discovered a similar teaching in Tai Chi. Dr. Feldenkrais went on to say: “Look for the pleasant sensation” – He taught students to learn exactly the way they all had as they grew from newborns to children and adults.

The group ‘Awareness Through Movement©’ lessons, though highly structured, allow a ‘cross-pollination’ between students as a ‘knowing field’ is created. One-to-one Functional Integration® lessons allow the joining of two nervous systems – improvement comes from non-verbal interaction. We learn and grow from each other.

To find out more try one of Nikhila’s weekly Tuesday classes in Dartington, or her workshops in Totnes. Or take a one-to-one Functional Integration© lesson - see visit: www.lifeworks4.me.uk

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. Workshops and 1:1 sessions available.

Intro workshop – Dawlish 6 April / Rock 27 April £25pp Breath & Sound - Torquay 26 May £50pp Breathe, Believe and Be Weekends 2 to 4 August / 22 to 22 September (See the website for details of these and other events)

Transformational Breathing Les Elms • les@breathsouthwest.com www.breathsouthwest.com

07828 566553

Well-Being Wisdom & Wealth Coach

Coaching for Women 07971 416630 / www.theseedcoach.com coach@katherynehope.plus.com

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LIFE coaching focuses on the here and now and what can be done to achieve your goals. Kate Tilston has a knack of looking through the clutter, whether it’s emotional or physical and helping my clients find a way through it, making space for them to move on...

HERE doesn’t have to be anything “wrong” with you to enlist the services of a Life Coach. Life Coaching is a process designed to take you from where you are now to where you want to be. It works on the belief that each person actually has the answers they need and knows what they want even if you don’t feel that way – the Life Coach’s job is to help you increase your resourcefulness.

Friends & family, with the best will in the world, still see your life from their perspective and will advise you accordingly. As your Life coach, I have the ability & skills to be objective and help you get the best results for you.

Whether you’re a Gorgeous Granny, a Distressed Director, a Harassed Husband, a Mutinous Mummy & not feeling so yummy - if you are asking yourself even one of the following questions, life coaching could help you. l I know what I want but how do I get it? l I don’t know what I want, how do I change that? l What’s holding me back from making change in my life?

l What would motivate me to achieve my goals? l How do I stay focused and on track?

During coaching sessions I work with you to create a plan of action that can be applied to your home life, working life or both.

In each session (which can be face to face or via skype or phone), we set realistic, achievable goals. I then support you with emails between sessions to achieve these goals… whether it’s organising all the office admin, finding a regular babysitter to give you some life back, or completing those business expenses that have sat in your in-tray for the last three months!

I offer a free 30-minute chat on the phone to see if coaching would work for you. To arrange a call, please email me on Kate@ katetilston.co.uk or look at my website for more details www. katetilston.co.uk I work from a variety of locations including “The Fountain” Therapy rooms in Teignmouth and Exeter’s Natural Health Centre in Queen Street.

Harness your unconscious mind LIFE is like a river… sometimes it flows smoothly, sometimes it freezes then thaws, sometimes its waters are turbulent and murky.

Gwen Channer, who teaches a stress relief class with a difference called From Stress into Flow, said: “We don’t expect a river to stay the same and we would do well to embrace this idea in our lives, too. If we accept that life changes and we choose to flow with the current rather than struggling against it then our life will often start to flow in a direction and a way that is more to our liking and that will bring us more peace of mind. We have the wonderful capacity to make choices and to adjust as our life changes, however, we don’t always use that capacity.

In creating this class, Gwen has brought together everything she has learned personally as well as in her work as a Modern Psychology practitioner and Life Transformation coach.

She said: “Anyone who would like consciously to tap into their unconscious mind to harness its power is very welcome to join.

You will learn excellent stress management tools, as well as experiencing deep relaxation. The classes teach people how to manage day-to-day stress. However, even if you are affected by more severe stress and anxiety, you will get a lot out of them especially if you back them up with private sessions.”

Phil, who has attended the class, said:

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“I have always been a bit cynical about these types of programs, but the tools we were given to work with have been very useful, especially in my day-to-day stress management.

“I liked the way the program progressed through the four weeks and how each week we were shown a new resource that was beneficial in recognising what each of us was dealing with and how we could manage these things better. I feel much more confident now and regularly use these tools us to deal with the daily routine. I appreciated Gwen’s polite and gentle approach, it has changed the way I go through my day.”

The next series of four, two-hour long, weekly From Stress Into Flow classes will be held in Exeter and Moretonhampstead. For more information phone 07394889383, email welcome@inherentwellbeing. co.uk or visit www.inherentwellbeing. co.uk

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WELLBEING Find what you want

A time of personal empowerment

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OULD you love the confidence, focus, and selfbelief to go after what you want in your life?

Life coach, Kate Harris explains that it is often our thoughts and beliefs that hold us back…. that feeling of not being good enough, the lack of clarity about where we are going, the fear that we are not in control of our lives or don’t have what it takes to succeed.

Life coaching can help you to clarify what you really want, to identify what might be holding you back and to overcome these obstacles, many of which are only imagined or the result of habitual ways of thinking.

Kate said: “In days gone by, our ancestors might have turned to a trusted wise woman or village elder for help when they needed guidance. In the modern world, a life coach fulfils a similar role but with the added benefits of modern day insights into psychology and brain function.”

So, how does life coaching work?

A life coach is a qualified professional who works alongside you to support you on your journey from where you are now to where you want to be.

Kate said: “A life coach won’t tell you what to do because, actually, all of the answers are already inside you, you just may not realise it yet! I will help you to access your own inner resources using a range of proven tools and techniques and support you to create the life you want.”

No two sessions are the same

because they are based on what the individual needs in that moment.

However, they may include: goalsetting and planning; visioning your future life; tackling anxiety and stress; identifying limiting beliefs and how to change them; improving confidence and self-esteem, and being held to account for commitments that you’ve made.

People may turn to the support of a life coach at times of change, when life feels difficult or challenging, when they are faced with making an important decision, when they have lost their direction or sense of identity, or simply when they feel the need for more support in their life.

Kate has a background as an occupational therapist within the NHS. She has worked in mental health for her entire career, specialising in self-esteem issues, anxiety management, confidencebuilding and goal setting. She is qualified in cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling and life coaching, along with many other therapeutic skills. l For more information visit: www. kateharrislifecoaching.com

active - words that S we often put people celebrate off - but while this the Spring class will improve Equinox, we your fitness levels experience the and increase seasonal energy your stamina and transform from strength, all of the the dark depths of other elements winter (Yin time) of yoga are also to the outward included, like awakening of mindful breathing, nature when we can stretching and really feel the sun relaxation. gaining strength.

This shift in energy Natalie said: can also be felt “Don’t be scared of Natalie Austin within ourselves as trying something that we move into the Yang cycle of the takes you out of your comfort zone, year. once you get the hang of the basic movements in Vinyasa, the physical Natalie Austin, who teaches yoga and emotional benefits to your classes in Totnes, explained that this body will be apparent very quickly. is a great time of empowerment.

You will feel stronger and fitter, She said: “We can use this energy clearer in your mind and more to move forward, make things grounded in your body.” happen and begin new ventures.

For new and novice students We are moving away from the Natalie recommends her Tuesday restful Yin energy of winter and as morning flow class at the Civic Hall the days lengthen we are entering in Totnes as a good place to start. into a more balanced equilibrium.

She said: “I always ensure students The Spring Equinox is a time where feel comfortable and encourage day and night are of equal length them to do only what feels good for all over the world; it is the festival of their bodies.” balance. Really understanding this balanced flow of energy that we Vinyasa yoga is on Tuesdays are a natural part of can boost your at 9.30am at Civic Hall and health, your mind and spirit.”

Thursdays at 6.30pm at Chapel House Studios.

Natalie’s Vinyasa yoga classes are a perfect way to awaken Booking is essential, please contact your body and mind as we go natalie@loveyogatree.co.uk, call through this change of direction.

07516 720246 or visit website www.loveyogatree.co.uk This style of yoga is dynamic and

Angels in your life

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NGELS have no philosophy but love, said quotation anthologist,Terri Guillemets.

Helen Stott, who works with angels and archangels said: “One of the misconceptions about angels is that they are linked to Christianity. Actually, the word “angel” means a messenger between earth and the divine, or universal, source. Messengers are found in almost all faiths, although with different names.”

She reminds us that St Thomas Aquinas said: “Angels as beings of Light transcend every religion, every philosophy, and every creed. Angels have no religion as we know it. Their existence precedes every religious system that has ever existed on Earth.”

Maybe you have noticed that growing numbers of people around the world talk about how angels have helped them, or consider how they might bring them into their lives. Helen believes this is because angels bring hope, direction, support - a different awareness of ourselves and companionship.

She said: “People are drawn to their beauty, light and high vibrational frequency.”

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Leading-Edge, International Trainings in Somatic Sexology Certifcate in Sexological Bodywork &

Helen Stott Helen believes that the angelic realm is happy to work with us in whatever way we are comfortable and now more than ever their help is needed.

She said: “Angels can offer a deep and profound healing for both ourselves and our planet at this time. I work most deeply with the Archangels. They have shown themselves as gate-keepers to the wisdom and teachings of the Sacred Seven Rays of Creation, working with colour and vibration to link us back to the knowledge and healing of Source. To me it feels the right time to bring these ancient teachings into day to day consciousness, to be accessed and used by everyone.” l Helen offers one to one sessions, meditation groups and workshops.

For more information visit: www. angelsinyourlife.co.uk.

Consensual Touch™ Trainings 27-28 April, Totnes 8-9 July, Glastonbury

Certifcate in Somatic Sex Education

26-29 October, Glastonbury

17 June 2019 – 25 January 2020:

with Kian de la Cour & Katie Sarra

with Katie Sarra & Kian de la Cour

Immerse yourself in an embodied experience of Betty Martin's Wheel of Consent.

This is the sixth UK training in this amazing and comprehensive modality.

This 6-month professional training involves detailed selfpractices, online study, working with others, a 2 week Embodiment Intensive and 4 months of supervised practice.

The U.K & Ireland training uniquely includes 2 full days of Wheel of Consent practice which provides the context for all of our work as well as a focus on neurobiology and being a trauma-informed practitioner.

27 June – 1 July: The Somatica Method - Working with Couples on Sexual and Emotional Intimacy with Danielle Harel & Celeste Hirschman This training ofers the foundation you need to add couples work to your practice or enrich the couple's work you already ofer.

You will come away with the skills and confdence you need to navigate the unique challenges of working with couples.

www.SeaSchoolofEmbodiment.com

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WELLBEING Spring is the perfect time to declutter

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Angels In Your Life with Helen Stott

Angelic healing & guidance Intuitive readings Meditations & workshops www.angelsinyourlife.co.uk M 07720 782532 ł E hstott57@gmail.com

Dartmoor Centre

Counselling & Psychotherapy & Safe Space for Counselling

Newton Abbot

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LUTTER… the word derives from Old English, meaning to coagulate. Clutter blocks energy and holds us back, resulting in lethargy, tiredness, confusion and also shame.

Jason Burns, who works with people to change their lives by decluttering, points to the energy of the Spring Equinox as being the perfect time to clear out clutter.

He said: “Decluttering, clearing out the old, generates the possibility of a fresh energised perspective.

Clutter can place one’s life on hold, as the focus tends to be in the past, rather than on taking responsibility for creating a more optimistic future. How do you give your life a much-needed boost towards the possibility of a better tomorrow?

Start clearing stuff out!”

Over the past eighteen months, Jason has helped many people, in various circumstances, change their lives through decluttering. He points out that having him to support you can help with motivation, focus and accountability.

If you want to give Springtime clearing a go yourself, his top tips include: l Be kind to yourself. If stuff has accumulated over years, it’s going to take time, and effort to get it cleared. The fact you have decided to embark on this means that you are addressing a way of life that may have been with you for some time. l Work out the best time of the day to clear stuff, and the best day of

the week, and dedicate a regular time to doing it, however short. l Break the task down into manageable chunks. Log all the areas you want to tackle, and choose some smaller areas that you can clear with least effort. Early successes will help motivate you. l Focus on what you will do with the extra time you have when you’re not drained and depleted… maybe a new hobby or one you haven’t enjoyed for a while l Get out in the sun for a walk and enjoy coming back into a newlyenergised space.

Contact Jason for a free, no obligation consultation and find out how to release the trapped energy in your home, office, and inside yourself. Call 07886 353504 or visit: www.space-works.co.uk

Gratitude for every tiny thing

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RATITUDE is a practice that Bell Bartlett, psychic tarot reader, finds sustaining throughout her life and she offers it as a suggestion to clients who come to see her seeking answers to their questions, particularly those who are overwhelmed with responsibilities.

Bell said: “One of the joys of being self-employed, as I am, is being responsible for everything. It was during a period of examining the endless ‘to do’ list that I noticed myself becoming mired in anxiety.

However, I also spontaneously felt a wave of compassion for this “me” who was worrying. I was both the observed and the observer at the same time. I realised that every part of me – the good, the bad and the ugly – is beautiful when I accept it as it is.”

The warmth of that experience stayed with Bell and nourished a well of gratitude that sustains her through challenging times.

“I have found that expressing gratitude for every tiny thing, and not just the good, allows an openness of heart that enables me to receive the ‘good ‘ more easily. So especially in times of great change or challenge, this simple habit of giving thanks for everything allows my life to flow and not get stuck focusing on obstacles.”

For Bell, giving thanks for the woods next to her home where she walks daily is a helpful practice.

“I feel so fortunate that living in this area allows me to be in nature easily and often,” she said. “I am so thankful for my community of friends and for living between the moor and the sea in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. I get to rest my gaze on beauty and stillness, and even though my life isn’t remotely perfect, it’s good.

“I tell clients, when unsettled times come and shake our expectations or rattle the carefully tended structures of our lives, gratitude can provide a resting place to regather ourselves for the everyday.”

Bell offers readings and workshops in Dartington. For more information call 07796 900509 or visit: www.conscious-tarot.co.uk

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WELLBEING Phew! How was winter for you?

What can energy medicine do for you?

ALL OF us can appreciate that when something goes wrong with our physical body, we don’t feel great, but did you know that your energy body is every bit as real and important as your physical body?

By your energy body, I mean the numerous energy systems that weave and interconnect within and around the physical body, including the aura, chakras and meridians, says Emma Rushe. Most of us aren’t able to see our energy systems, but the great news is that we can easily interact with them in order to keep them flowing, healthy and balanced. And by doing this, we can really make a difference to how we feel every single day.

Emma, who has trained in Eden Energy Medicine, has recently relocated to Devon. She is also fully trained as a nutritional therapist, and is able to offer a combination of these therapies to match the health needs of her clients.

Emma finds that this combination works brilliantly for most people, because while there’s no getting around the fact that what and how we eat is vitally important to our health, energy medicine works at a deeper level, helping to restore

H

balance and reset patterns that can’t be corrected through healthy eating alone. Energy medicine and nutritional therapy can help with so many common symptoms and health conditions including fatigue, stress, anxiety, weight gain, hormone imbalance and digestive discomfort.

It’s a reciprocal relationship though, says Emma, and I always educate my clients and send them away feeling empowered, with lots of practical and realistic things that they can do for themselves between appointments.

Emma has a special interest in working with women of all ages, to help with their hormonal challenges, energy levels, stress response and outlook on life.

Emma offers one-to-one appointments in Totnes and Kingsbridge, for more information visit www.emmarushe. com or call 07974 569696. Take advantage of Emma’s introductory offer for new clients - £20 off your first session.

Lilah points out OW was winter for that this work you, asks isn’t always easy Lilah McLean who but reminds us: runs Persephone’s, “Without the a women only obstacles that healing space in hold back the Ashburton. energy, things can begin moving She admits to not more freely. The understanding same issues astrology or are presenting planetary themselves but are alignments but being handled said: “I have found differently, in a myself turning Lilah McLean way that enables to whatever could new possibilities help me make and previously unimagined sense of the tumultuous energies outcomes. that disrupted my hibernation time this winter. Everywhere I “We cannot alter our reality on looked people were feeling the the same frequency that it was same sense of deep longing… created and so we are choosing longing for health, family, youth, to vibrate at a different rate to opportunities, vitality, purpose, break from that which no longer and freedom.” serves us. Whilst still hard in many respects there is optimism She has noticed a willingness and hope that all we have been among the women who attend working towards personally, her deep shamanic bodywork in community and globally is sessions to dive into their shadow actually paying dividends. There places. is movement. There is change. In Lilah said: “These women turn my case, I have found astrology to up fully to meet these energies be quite informative so I will keep and the possibilities that can a weather eye on it.” manifest through deep shamanic l If you would like to explore bodywork. Many of them are the depth of Shamanic bodywork breaking free of freeze responses as a tool for unblocking, contact to long forgotten traumas that Lilah on 07966 931416 or pop continue to play out in their adult into Persephone’s on East Street lives. And in this time of fast in Ashburton. https://www. moving energies, all are happy to lilahmclean.co.uk let go and begin living fully.”

Love Yoga Tree @ Chapel House Studios Totnes

Yoga with Natalie Yin Yoga - Gentle Passive Meditative Mondays - 6.30pm, Wednesdays - 10.45am

Vinyasa Yoga - Dynamic Active Flow Tuesdays - 9.30am, Thursdays - 6.30pm

Massage Clinic

Wednesdays and Fridays

NEW BEGINNINGS 2019

Love Yoga Tree Online! Download Yoga classes, guided meditations, workshop sequences from www.loveyogatree.co.uk "Since starting yoga with Natalie, I have become so much stronger in my body and calmer in my mind. Her weekly classes are like therapy!"

Susan, Totnes

07516 720 246 natalie@loveyogatree.co.uk | www.loveyogatree.co.uk

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WELLBEING Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) (Stimulates the immune system to function optimally)

The Bowen Technique Arcturus Clinic, Totnes Home Visits AMANDA MORRIS

For an appointment please call 07931 505 312

amanda@amandamorris.co.uk www.amandamorris.co.uk

CLT – MLDUK – CertECBS – BTPA

Theatre of Awakening & Stories for Change Women’s Groups with Agata Krajewska and Men’s Groups with Phil Barber 1st-2nd June weekend workshop, Totnes “Making Story Together” Meeting of Stories of Women and Men Agata: 0779 500 2816 Phil: 0775 9588 071 www.theatreofawakening.co.uk

Meeting those close to death

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E meet a lot of people who are dying.

It is at the extreme end of what doctors used to call, ‘getting one’s affairs in order.’

Their bravery in doing so astounds me, being as frightened of death as I am.

It is one thing to finalise your will, settle the practicalities, cut your various material ties, but the act of calling in the people who will be called when you have died, who will carry you from the world of the living into what the poet Rabelais called ‘The Great Perhaps’, is an act of staggering bravery, but it happens over and over.

We sit with them and talk, or not; sometimes their illness is so advanced they are beyond speech.

I remember being led up into the attic of a large cosy house at Christmas time to sit beside a woman with advanced cancer that had reached her brain. Her children brought me into her room and we sat together, while she felt into the weight of my presence, considered whether she felt comfortable with me being the person who would both attend to her body when she had left it, and hold the ceremony over it.

She couldn’t speak, and I answered the questions her children asked on her behalf while she watched me. Most of the time we sat in a companionable silence. It was intimate, peaceful. It felt like we were in a Victorian print. At some point she sighed her approval, and I took my leave.

Others look deceptively far from death, bright eyed and clutching lists of questions, musical requests, timings, instructions for ashes, trying to hold off the tide of emotion behind a wall of practicalities. It is only their exhausted, tight faced families that reveal the enormity of the visit.

The Green Funeral Company’s Claire and Rupert Callender’s role involves meeting those in their final moments.

Often there is a delicate negotiation to be made between the dying and those who are left, and it falls on us to facilitate this. I remember the first time that this became apparent, that this was part of our role.

A young man, not yet forty, dying unfairly of a cancer he shouldn’t have was telling us in detail what he wanted to happen, who would build his coffin, where on his land he would be buried, and Claire turned to his wife and asked, “And how is all of this with you?”

It was a seminal moment in our work. We had understood that, unless you are a hermit, dying is not just something that happens to an individual, but partly to everyone who loves you. It took courage on Claire’s part to shift the focus, but it deepened the process for all of us.

We have been doing this for nearly two decades, but I will never become blasé about these encounters, the grace with which people invite us in, the intimacy of the encounter, the courage.

When we leave, we shake hands and look into each other’s eyes. It is a moment outside of time.

Tools for your mind

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◆ TRE reaches parts that talking cannot reach ◆ Releases chronic patterns, calms anxiety and ◆ Allows your body intelligence to lead the healing. with Grief Guide Carmella B’Hahn at Bowden House, Totnes ◆ Carmella@HeartofRelating.com £15 off trial session ◆ 01803 867005

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ONE in four people experience mental health issues each year, according to the mental health charity, MIND. Rosa Weber, who works for the charity Young Devon, shares insights from her journey with depression…

Ten years ago, towards the end of my first serious depressive episode, a good friend said to me: “The real problem is you don’t have any tools to help you cope. You need some tools.” At the time I felt that I was the only person in the world without these tools. Her words contributed to my sense of complete inadequacy.

Now, though, I see her words as nuggets of wisdom.

I think of depression as a “negative converter” in my brain: whatever information is given to me, whether good, bad or neutral, everything is converted into negativity, selfloathing. During a depressive episode, I believe the terrible things my mind is telling me and I’m floored - for days, weeks, sometimes months.

I began managing my depression by learning to listen differently - firstly to myself, then to those closest to me – friends, family, or a good doctor.

I realised we ALL need tools to cope with life. Some people have them earlier, some later. It wasn’t my fault that I didn’t have tools at that time.

They are not given, but learnt. The

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first tool that’s really helped me is: Be kind to yourself.

I apply this by thinking as follows: if someone I loved was going through what I am, what advice would I give them? Would I judge them the way I’m judging myself? Would I speak to them as unkindly as I speak to myself? Of course not. I try to speak to myself the way I would a loved one. Or the way I would soothe an innocent, wounded animal. My inner voice is so powerful, I must use it gently.

I believe a mental wound can take longer to heal then a physical one, because progress is not measurable the way it is for a broken bone.

There are no X-rays for depression or anxiety, no bandages. This is why tools are important when in comes to improving mental health. They aid my recovery and help me maintain mental wellness thereafter.

I practice listening and talking kindly to myself everyday. I’m patient, I keep trying. Every time I replace that critical voice with kindness, I feel stronger.

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WELLBEING Understanding chakras - The Throat

THERE are seven primary chakras in the Human Energy field. Helen Stott, graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, and founder of Helen Stott – Transformation and Training, introduces the Throat Chakra in this series of articles…

S has been discussed in the four previous explorations of the chakra system our relationship with others, and the outside world is exchanged through our chakras.

Our chakras and the degree with which they are functioning are a clear map to our physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Each chakra has an individual function within these aspects of health. While exploring or working with the chakra system it is important to remember that there is a strong link between emotional issues and physical manifestation.

The fifth, or throat chakra, is located on the front and back of the throat. On a physical level the throat chakra feeds energy into our physical throat and supplies energy to the thyroid gland the bronchi, lungs and alimentary canal. It is also associated with the senses of hearing, tasting and smelling.

On the emotional level the fifth chakra is concerned with our ability to reach out for and to receive our needs. This is not just in the verbal sense but also

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in the energetic sense. It is about freedom of expression of self. If during your life you have been given the message that asking and reaching for your needs is not appropriate, a belief system can develop that tells us that being self is unsafe and we begin to close down this expression. Hence the distortions that can then develop with the throat, the vehicle through which we naturally “give voice” An indication of this underlying belief system can be persistent throat issues such as sore throats and coughs.

In the previous issue we explored the understanding that our chakras have a developmental path and the throat chakra begins to fully function at about the age of 12/13 when the need to speak up for our needs becomes more apparent. This can be clearly seen within relationship dynamics when teenagers start and continue to express themselves.

Our first experiences of reaching out for our needs can form our expectations of life, whether or not we expect to be received and our needs met. This affects our self-confidence, relationships and view of life.

On the spiritual level the throat chakra invites us to stand in and speak our own personal truth and have the courage to stand in this truth. But also, to understand that everyone has their own voice and beliefs. Many wars have been fought in the name of truth. With our new Aquarian age we are invited to meet together and find a universal voice, joining together for planetary and evolutionary healing.

Helen runs a healing practice in Exmouth and Exeter. l For more information visit www. livingyourdivinespark.co.uk.

The creative process of dramatherapy

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PRING is a great time to clear out the old and welcome in the new. If you recognise that you are stuck in your old, familiar patterns of behaviour, acting out your frustrations and demanding that your unconscious needs are met, Rachel Perry has some words of advice.

She said: “This type of behaviour does not serve us or our relationships, but it can be difficult to change, however much you might want to. Dramatherapy offers a path back to our authentic selves, and the opportunity to connect to others in a real and mutually supportive way.”

Dramatherapy uses drama as a vehicle but it is not about performance or technique and no acting skills are required. It is about the creative process, which means there is no wrong way to do it.

Instead the focus is on spontaneity, intuition and the freedom to experiment.

Rachel explained that this, in itself, can be liberating: “Dramatherapy offers a creative vehicle for the transformation of feelings, aiding spontaneity and offering permission

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to play. It incorporates various forms of expression through and of the body, increasing our self awareness and self-confidence and our ability to communicate.”

In a dramatherapy group, people are encouraged to express themselves as they are in that moment, creatively and holistically.

The group provides empathic support, acting as a witness to people’s lives at the same time as acting as a container for the exploration and release of feelings.

Individual dramatherapy also offers a safe and nourishing space in which people can self-witness.

Rachel explained: “Through personal story, embodied archetypal journeying and creative dialogue, the client comes to understand their own inner cast of characters and the roles they play in their lives, including the hidden shadow parts of themselves. This enables them to integrate and connect with themselves and others more fully.” l For more information call 01803 473079, email rachel.perry59@ googlemail.com or visit www. dramatherapy.org.uk

Offering bespoke massage for women that encompasses training in lomi lomi, abdominal sacral and myofacial as well as deep energy healing.

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,

WELLBEING Connection modelling in Devon

I

● Would you like to change your life? ● Are your thoughts and beliefs holding you back? ● focus, and self-belief to go after what you want? ● Are you feeling overwhelmed, fearful or out of control? ● Do you wish you could feel better?

Then Kate Harris can help you. www.kateharrislifecoaching.com info@sandwellfarmhouse.co.uk P: 01803 847 674 M: 0777 9496240

T IS our birthright to experience connection to the world, to each other, to ourselves and to all living beings.

According to Rebecca Card who teaches the principles of the 8 Shields, once we’ve felt this sense of wholeness and connection there is no turning back. We recognise when it’s not there and we know that there is something amiss.

Rebecca took part in her first 8 Shields event in 2012.

She said: “I didn’t know what I needed to feel fully alive until I went to that event. It changed my life (and this is coming from someone who had done many trainings, workshops and much personal development work). The 8 Shields model allows people to experience themselves as part of the bigger whole and it is not esoteric - far from it, it couldn’t be more down-to-earth and accessible. 8 Shields is based on a well-researched and carefully applied set of principles gleaned from many years of experiential explorations by anthropologist Jon Young and his colleagues and mentors. He spent a lot of time (and still does) with indigenous people the world over and sees that they have values and activities in common.”

The 8 Shields map is based on the cycles of nature and was created to be shared. It is a model

of connective practices and ways of being that can be experienced from ‘below the brain’.

Rebecca said: “We are hard wired to be in connection. The issue we are currently facing is that most of us have lost that connection, on many levels. So, this model offers us the chance to reconnect, to return to our most natural and regenerative state of being where we are fully welcomed, where our gifts are honoured, where we are listened to, where we have fun, and where we learn many ways to connect with nature, to each other and to ourselves.”

Rebecca Card and Peter Cow are hosting an introductory weekend on Dartmoor from 2426 May called Nature Culture Regeneration.

For more information email: naturecultureregeneration@gmail. com information about 8 Shields can be found at: http://8shields.org

A place of safety and healing sound

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UR voice is the simplest, most accessible form of sound we have, according to sound healer, Teresa Wicksteed.

The sounds we make instinctively to soothe a baby link us to a time in pre-history before spoken language, when we communicated via vocalisation, humming and toning. These types of sounds originate in the emotional, expressive side of the brain rather than the intellectual, discursive side that is responsible for verbalisation.

Teresa said: “Much of the power of vocal sound for healing goes back to ancient collective consciousness. All humans share a universal memory of unconditional love, the love of mother for child. The sounds made by the voice in healing revive this subliminal memory. For many clients, a feeling of returning to a mother’s love, or to the womb as a place of safety, is re-awakened by the rhythmic toning.”

One client recently said: “Some of the tones Teresa made reminded me of a game I had played with my children, when I made a toning sound and vibrated my lips against their cheeks, like a bee buzzing, and then they did it back to me and it made me feel comforted….It made me feel safe.”

Another commented: “Immediately following the session, I felt enveloped, emotionally safe.

“The calm stayed with me throughout the evening. I drank plenty of water and was ready for bed earlier than usual. Over the next few days I had to work a lot; however, the calm remained. I have slept well since, I am aware that I have dreamt once but cannot recall the details, I was not disturbed so assume it was not negative. For me the healing was a very unique and positive experience.”

Teresa explained that as sound flows through the body the client experiences a feeling of very deep relaxation, sometimes entering an altered state of consciousness which allows the brain waves to change from normal Beta consciousness to an Alpha state of contemplation and relaxation, or to a Theta state, as in deep meditation, hypnogogic or hypnopompic states.

She said: “In this balanced and deeply relaxed state, it is easy for healing to take place on physical, emotional and energetic levels and for there to be an attitude shift towards wellbeing and self-healing.” l Teresa offers a first hour appointment free. For more information email: teresa@teresawicksteed.co.uk

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Natural burials in a meadow

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F you have ever wanted to take a look at the natural burial ground at Sharpham, you are warmly invited to an Open Day on Saturday 18 May. The Sharpham Trust, which operates the natural burial ground, is inviting members of the public and funeral directors to come along to Sharpham Meadow from 11am to look around the beautiful site and find out more about green burials and interment of ashes.

The open day will begin with a short talk about the meadow at around 11.15am. After that, visitors are free to ask questions and explore the site in their own time. Sharpham Trust staff will be on hand for the first two hours of the day to answer any questions. There is no need to book.

Katie Tokus from The Sharpham Trust said: “With stunning views to Dartmoor and the sea, and across the South Hams Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sharpham Meadow offers an ecological alternative to traditional burial or cremation.

“The site is cared for as a hay meadow, hence the grass is allowed to grow long and cut each summer. Only simple flat headstones are permitted. The site is open 24-hours a day.”

Site Administrator, Margot Eliadis pointed out: “Sharpham Meadow is different to many natural burial sites because it is an open site with an incredible vista and setting, It’s not woodland, nor are trees planted, and as its name suggests it’s a wild-flower meadow, supporting a rich eco-system of flora and fauna, including skylarks and hares.

“Lots of people tell me how peaceful and beautiful the meadow is, and how different it is to other burial sites, churchyards or cemeteries.”

A ceremonial building has been constructed at the meadow built using natural materials with cob walls and a green sedum roof. There is also a compost toilet nearby.

The Ancestors’ Fire circle is a focal point where visitors can gather and be seated,

communicate, light candles, leave messages or simply sit in meditative peace. It has a brass fire surround, inscribed with the motto In My End Is My Beginning, which was created by previous Sharpham Trust artist-in-residence Robin Lacey.

Sharpham Meadow Natural Burial Ground is open to all, regardless of faith or local residency, whether people are using a funeral director or not, having a religious ceremony, a secular ceremony, or no ceremony at all.

Organisers hope that the open day will provide an opportunity to find out how to reserve a burial plot or an ashes burial plot, or explore alternative funeral ideas. Funeral directors and businesses who may be unfamiliar with Sharpham Meadow are also invited to the day.

Sharpham Meadow Natural Burial Ground is located on the Sharpham Estate, about three miles out of Totnes on the Totnes Down Hill road towards Ashprington. l For more information visit: www.sharphamtrust. org/burials Or email sharphammeadow@ sharphamtrust.org

Who would you be if nothing was wrong with you?

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NSIDE each of us as well as are the seeds of contentedness. All a great story. But are a doorway our lives become to the richness of entangled with being alive and conditioning from offer a deeper whatever culture connection with our we were raised fellow travellers. in, our natural In our workshops resourcefulness we have witnessed may become the beauty of these blurred and doorways opening. burdened and we Working with what can lose sight of comes through; our calling. the stories take on Phil Barber and Agata Agata Krajewska their own warmth, Krajewska and Phil Barber, becoming wise and who run Stories for Change and mentoring resources for others.”

Theatre of Awakening, believe From 1 to 2 June, Agata and that telling our stories can be a Phil are running “Making Story vehicle for transformation.

Together”, a weekend workshop Phil explained: “Capturing, for men and women that will focus crafting and telling our personal on owning and disentangling from stories activates the part of us that gender stories to reveal a new truth. wants to draw back the veil on It is part of Stories for Change, our experiences. Vulnerability is funded by National Lottery. essential to real transformation, As well as helping people to and solo-autobiographical is craft their stories, there are a vulnerable and courageous opportunities to perform at journey. When we break our shells we reveal our hearts and community events. These include claim our genius self, already the groups Heroine’s Journey and present and trying to awaken.”

Stories of MEN, and festivals Stories for Change 29-30 June He believes we can access a and Drop the Story 17-20 Oct. place inside us that is beyond There’s also a new Making Herour stories, a sacred and creative story group starting in May. place that is always present. l For more information visit: Phil said: “We carry the joys www.theatreofawaking.co.uk and beauty of life, as well as or call Phil: 0775 9588 071 or the sorrows, losses, fears and confusions. We carry longing Agata: 07795 002816.

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Scaravelli Yoga “VANDA Scaravelli cultivated an approach to yoga that was more radical than many people realise” said Caroline Lang of The Yoga House.

“The essential elements were awareness, breath, gravity and the spine but there was no form, no method to follow. Her practice evolved over 40 years and into her nineties she shared with a handful of students. Through them and the publication of her book ‘Awakening the Spine’ this yoga has been spreading worldwide since she died in 1999.”

“The practice is subtle, an invitation to let go of all sorts of assumptions, expectations and ingrained habits and tendencies, to discover a way of being that is not imposed by an outer authority but born from our own curiosity,

attention and sensitivity.”

Caroline said: “As a teacher without a method to fall back on I can only teach that which makes immediate sense. I love the challenge and experiment involved in articulating that which can only be experienced, a language that can speak directly to the body.”

‘It’s incredible how people transform, how empowered they feel as they gather into their body and start to trust their own inner listening and find themselves able to respond to life more rooted, more resourced, connected to a deeply felt authority.”

Caroline teaches weekly classes, one-to-ones, days, courses and retreats. l For more information visit: www.carolinelangyoga.com

Editorial: Editorial: 01392 01392346342 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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T HE NAUTILUS R OOMS

Fabulously located in the centre of Totnes yet tucked away in a quiet alley with easy access to parking.

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Sandplay Therapists Courses Foundation in Integrative Sandplay Therapy (2 day course): 27th and 28th April 2019 Enquire for a July date 26th and 27th October Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Therapy (4 3-day weekends): This course will start in either Autumn 2019 or early in 2020.

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Mindfulness Courses

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Continuing Professional Development Courses: Introduction to the Archetypes in the Sand 2-day course 14th and 15th September 2019 Introduction to Integrative Therapeutic Art 2-day course Introduction to the Enneagram 3-day course The Lady and the Unicorn Symbols of the Souls Journey 2-day course Introduction to Alchemy: The work of Edward Edinger 3-day course Return of the Goddess 4-day course for those who have completed the Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Therapies.

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The Nautilus Rooms • 35a Fore Street • Totnes • TQ9 5HN www.nautilusrooms.uk • nautiluscentre@gmail.com Call Ruth on 07736 334454 or Peter on 07826 414404